COVID19 Our Lives Matter

I’ve been watching as the world turns and evolves and grapples with the devastating crisis for which there is no cure. Lives are changed forever–and some are lost–leaving grieving families and friends, wondering what happened. Though I am not a health expert or scientist, I can say with confidence, this didn’t have to be this way.

When it was first known–with the confirmed case in November in Wuhan, it should have been taken seriously and every effort made to make sure the loss of lives was mitigated by attempts to thwart the spread of the virus–not deny its existence. The denial of its existence and refusal to address the damage the virus could cause is the reason we are seeing what we see now in America.

When will the lives of human beings become more important than a election to trump? Oh, he’s doing “something” now, but what he could have done when he was first told of the possibility of widespread contagion and didn’t do, will never make up for the lives lost. And the first thing he did–dismantling the agency that could have prepared America for this pandemic–should have been a red flag about his incompetence. Anyone supporting his position right now is just as guilty of murder as he is.

What we don’t need is a petty, grudge-mongering self-indulgent narcissistic bully in charge of anything that has to do with this crisis. America deserves to have leadership who at least understands the importance of having experts direct the path we take to navigate us to victory, with the least number of lives lost in the process. What we don’t need is a pathological liar who blames everything he did wrong on others. What we don’t need is a bloated egotistical orange menace trying to explain anything.

What we need is strong leadership capable of assessing the situation and doing what’s right, no matter who does it. Now is not the time for egos to rise to the surface–whoever comes up with a viable solution should be welcomed, no matter what their political party affiliation. We need appropriate supplies for our healthcare system and workers, tests for those who need to be tested and a populace who takes the warnings and admonitions seriously. We cannot stop a virus from spreading if we’re not willing to do our part to keep it from spreading.

STAY HOME!  STAY HOME! STAY HOME! BY STAYING HOME, WE SAVE LIVES–OURS AND OTHERS!

What we really need in this situation (aside from appropriate medical care) is a wealth of common sense exercised in every community. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the more we isolate ourselves from potential harm, the fewer lives will be at risk of contracting this virus.

The stories–of lost lives and hurting families are numerous–primarily because families didn’t get a chance to say good-bye to those afflicted and died. We can do better folks. We must do better. Use technology to communicate with others rather than attempting to congregate in public places where the virus can attach itself. If we exercise a little wisdom now, we’ll have plenty of time to gather together when the decline of the virus is known and we can all breathe a little easier.

This is not a great time for any of us–most can’t stand to be isolated–but we must do, what we must do, because our lives matter. We must listen to the experts, not the know-nothing menace in the WH!

 

 

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Would Jesus Sacrifice Lives For Money?

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25: 32-46 NIV

Okay, so which of these statements by Jesus can the pseudo-Christians use to justify their lack of empathy and compassion for the poor and the needy and vulnerable?

Those who care only about money and their donors and how much they might benefit from the “billionaires” like the Koch brothers, have essentially sold their souls to devil with their constituents as the leverage. Would Jesus really sacrifice lives for the sake of receiving money?

With the Graham/Cassidy Bill –designed to deprive over 30M people of healthcare, we see how much the GOP Senators care about money rather than saving lives. This is not the first time the Republican-Right-Wing-Religious hypocrites have shown their true colors and I’m sure it won’t be the last. However, healthcare is a right that should be accessible and available to all, whether they have pre-existing conditions or not; whether we are rich or not. If they truly want to do something about the rise of healthcare, they should start with the Insurance Industry but they won’t do that because most of the GOP are heavily invested in the industry and they’re making money, hand over fist and they’re not about to diminish their income. Again–it’s all about money and not about lives.

I know people who are being treated for cancer, are diabetic, have heart conditions, children born with health challenges and special needs. Cutting $243B dollars out of the budget for healthcare is not a good move for anyone. Rather than move $700B dollars into the military budget–especially since the military pays exorbitant prices for the most basic of needs, they should reduce the military allowance, and put the money where it’s needed the most–education and healthcare–not a border wall.

I’m not the only one speaking out about this horrendous bill, there is much to research and learn.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/graham-cassidy-bill-would-cut-funding-to-34-states-new-report-shows/2017/09/20/48741d92-9d58-11e7-9083-fbfddf6804c2_story.html?utm_term=.95957b90dfc9

http://www.businessinsider.com/graham-cassidy-health-care-obamacare-repeal-bill-funding-issue-2017-9

For those who insist upon believing Republicans care about the poor and needy, they prove they do not know Jesus and will not accept facts in order to make a decision, but will promote false propaganda for the benefit of a few.

We need elected officials who are making decisions for all to care about all.

 

Praying For Wisdom

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:13-24 NIV

In light of all the uproar and disastrous policy-making in Washington, DC by those who appear to lack wisdom, we must pray for wisdom–for them and for us. If they refuse to hear The Lord speak to their hearts, we must be open to hearing The Lord speak to our hearts and proceed with wisdom and knowledge in electing future legislators and in making the best decisions for our bodies and healthcare–if we plan to see long life.

We must look to The Lord for our example–moving in wisdom, knowledge and understanding and when we do, we’ll end up with the results He promises–blessed beyond measure with riches and honor, long life, peace and sweet sleep. There’s no need to fear when the love of Christ abides in our hearts and we know how to love others–unconditionally.

Father, in the name of Jesus,

We acknowledge that our wisdom is as dust in the wind and we have no idea where the dust will land or what will become of it. To You, O Lord, we look for direction, seeking Your Wisdom and knowledge in order to complete the journey of life You have planned for us.

Forgive us for thinking in our arrogance that we did not need You; we need You every hour of every day and our hearts are open to hearing what You have to say. We are determined to obey You in all things and we know that love covers a multitude of sins and that You know our motives for doing everything we do. Help us to keep our focus on You, Your Word deeply embedded in our hearts, and our tongues always exercising caution and wisdom so others will hear what we have to say.

Lord, for all those who have hardened their hearts against You and hearing what You have to say about all things, cut away the insecurities, the fear, the hate, the bigotry, the animosity and envy that has hardened their hearts and replace all that is not like You, with love overflowing.

Let compassion, wisdom and understanding reign in the hearts of all who are in positions of authority so that none have any reason to fear the outcome of decisions that affect millions of lives. Pour knowledge and understanding into the hearts of those who choose persons to be in positions of authority so wisdom wins and none will know lack–of anything.

We give You praise and thanks for all You have done and all You will do on behalf of all those who sincerely love You and act as You will have us to act–representing all You are. Let no one deter us from following the path You have established for us so You and only You get the glory for all we do.

Amen!

No matter what happens in life–we must move forward knowing that with Jesus going before us–we have nothing to fear when Love is our guiding force.

I encourage all to seek wisdom, knowledge and understanding for all upcoming elections and seek The Lord as to who will provide us great leadership, acting out of love–not envy, hate, or pride–doing what is right for the sake of doing what is right–not drawing attention to self–acting out of pride.

I have sought The Lord and I’m seeking a path to run for president in 2020–making an official announcement in 2019 and I encourage all to seek the Lord and then obey what You hear.

Our Turn Is Coming!

Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God; you love the wages of a prostitute at every threshing floor. Threshing floors and winepresses will not feed the people; the new wine will fail them. They will not remain in the Lord’s land; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria. They will not pour out wine offerings to the Lord, nor will their sacrifices please him. Such sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat them will be unclean. This food will be for themselves; it will not come into the temple of the Lord. Hosea 9:1-4 NIV

Taking a little literary license this morning, I’m substituting words to bring to light the disastrous policymaking we have in Washington.

Substitute GOP Congress for Israel, lobbyists for prostitute, GOP policy for threshing floors, Tea Party for Ephraim, the 1% for Egypt, the wealthy for Assyrians.

The Republicans in Congress appear to be jubilant in their efforts to keep millions of Americans from having access to affordable healthcare. Remember this is the party who claims to be the “moral majority” the Conservative Christian rights–the only ones who matter when it comes to Christianity–“they say.”

So if we go by what they say, God warned us in His Word about them. They have fallen short and will return to a place where they will eat “unclean food” (toxic from all the roll-back of regulations implemented to safeguard consumers). Their decisions won’t provide food or clean water for the poor and certainly not healthcare. The savings in tax cuts will only benefit the very wealthy, not the poor and the needy who Jesus commanded us to care for.

The Republican Congress has allowed their greed fed by lobbyists to drive their ambitions and policymaking which does not benefit all Americans. They are driven by a minority of voters (not the majority since the majority didn’t vote), many of whom have said, they wanted to keep their existing healthcare–now that they know it is the ACA, and not Obamacare. But then we have to look at how bigoted Republicans perpetuated hatred of “Obamacare” by refusing to call it by its right name–Affordable Care Act. They knew exactly how to erode trust in a product by appealing to racism and bigotry in their rhetoric–across the land.

Now that people are becoming wise to the fact–Obamacare is the ACA–many are protesting losing their only access to healthcare and to make matters worse, trump and the GOP have sabotaged the system by withholding payments creating a wariness within the insurance providers’ community. This was done intentionally to make it look like–Obamacare was failing.

For those who haven’t read the 142 page draft for healthcare, I suggest you do to see who really benefits from the billions cut from Medicaid–and you’ll discover–if you’re not part of the 1% of the wealthiest population, it does not benefit you.

Just remember this–even if the repugnant republicans pass this bill and trump signs it–we will simply have to wait until 2020–to create a new bill–one with compassion and teeth that actually benefits all Americans and is truly representative of who Jesus Christ is. Apparently, the GOP have forgotten that being a Christian means that we follow Jesus Christ and do what He did and does–not a political party agenda.

I am a blood-bought Believer in Jesus Christ, living according to His command to love–unconditionally. I know when He was crucified, His blood was shed for me and I refuse to make a mockery of who He is, by supporting policies that dehumanize any human being. Because of my love for people–especially those who are not able to speak up and out for themselves, I will announce my official candidacy in 2019 in my bid for president in 2020. Watch for it. With the Lord leading me in all things, we will rejoice across the land and every other country will know–America is the greatest nation on earth!

The Battle!

This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:46, 47 NIV

Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 1 Corinthians 14:7-9 NIV

The battle indeed is The Lord’s and I am so grateful that He spoke to the hearts of those who would hear Him and they did. Regardless of the reason for hearing Him, they heard Him and now millions of people can be assured of maintaining their health coverage–until the next round–and there will be a next round because the leadership in the White House is ego-driven and will not accept responsibility for the “loss” experienced by the Republican party at the hand of the Republican party.

Already he’s back-pedaling–saying he never said he’d “repeal and replace Obamacare in 64 days.” He’s right–his claim was that on “day one” he’d repeal it. How quickly he forgets when things don’t go his way.

As with so many other things that were supposed to occur on “day one” we see (and many of us saw it then) most of what he said was simply empty rhetoric because he had no clue as to how government works. Being in the White House as a leader is not the same as being the CEO of a private business. It is hard work as Ryan so aptly put it. “We’ve been the opposition party for ten years and it was easy. Governing–taking the lead–is hard.”

The Resistance remains committed to oppose any and all legislation that favors the rich and vilifies the poor. We will remain vigilant in watching the proceedings into the Trump/Russia connection and the increasingly clear “treasonous acts” committed by those in the White House. We will continue to pay bombard legislators with our concerns about all policy issues by phone, email, tweet and participation at town hall meetings. We are The Resistance and we will stay in the battle for the victory we know will be sustained because we know–The Battle is The Lord’s!

Thanking God for hearing and answering prayer and for the strength and the courage to be obedient when He speaks–no matter what the outcome or how many others oppose what I do or say. In the end–it is to Him–I give the glory for all things.

For more on the subject of the epic, “Trumpcare Fail” look me up on Medium where I will address the issues in more detail from a political platform.