Healthcare

Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Mark 12:17


I'm not big into politics, and I don't get to concerned with what is going on in D.C. For the most part the things they decide have no direct effect on me. However, it seems this healthcare is stirring up quite an ado. I've only read a little about it, so I might be somewhat naive. From my understanding, if this is passed I'll have to buy healthcare by 2014 or face a penalty that is a percentage of my income. I'm sure there are pro's and con's for both sides, but it doesn't really matter to me. 


The government is able to do what it wants to do. That's just the reality of the deal. As a Christian, my response is to obey what they tell me to do. Romans 13:1 & Titus 3:1 are specific about obeying government that is placed over us. Titus says specifically to willingly submit to government. 


You may disagree with the government about healthcare, taxes, or a number of other issues. However, as a Christian it is out job to submit to their authority. If they want a few more dollars for taxes and healthcare then so be it. Give to the government what is theirs. And give to God what is his. 


What is his?


You are his. Your time is his. Your thoughts are his. Your very being is His. You are not your own. You were bought at a price. A price of God's only son, and if you have bowed your knee and surrendered your heart to Jesus Christ, then it is your responsibility to comply with President Obama's plan of healthcare. Whether you agree or not, it makes no difference. And you are to do this without grumbling and complaining. Obama deserves your respect as an authority figure. 

Lord

Lord keep me strong. Remind me of who you are. Remind me of the completeness that there is in you and in you alone. Even though the earthly body may die, we are alive in you for all time. Remind me. Help me not to ask 'why' but 'how'. How can I bring you glory and honor?

The dilemma with eating...

Why is it that eating is so comforting? Taking a nice big bite of ______, in my case, usually something greasy and unhealthy. Trav's has thee best bacon cheeseburgers ever. Add fries and BBQ sauce and I'm set. I could eat them multiple times a week. When I don't, Papa Murphy's is just down the road. I love Papa Murphy's pizza. Especially the cheese. I try to avoid going in there when its being held up, but if its a pizza day, its a pizza day. Today is a pizza day(but payday isn't until tomorrow). So tomorrow will be pizza day. Sundays should be designated pizza day. There's just something so nice about coming home from church and eating a nice cheesy pizza. Or grilling.

But here's the dilemma... if I were to eat like that all the time I would resemble something like John Madden mixed with an elephant. In other words, its not healthy. But it tastes so good.

So, how do you curve(curb?) an appetite? You can eat a head of lettuce and get as many calories as 3 M&M's... its just not fair. Who wants to eat a head of lettuce? Or three M&M's for that matter. You see, I am on this LGN diet, and there is an ideal weight that I would like to reach, but I would also like to eat. And it must be possible, because while I was across the ocean a few years ago I ate just fine and lost plenty of weight. Which I managed not to gain back for probably almost a year. Thats when I succumbed to a love of fast food again. Perhaps therein lies the problem. Back to rice and beans? Maybe a little chicken?

I have managed to cut out almost all of my soda intake... and I'm working on the snacking thing. Its just so easy when there is nothing else to do. But, I'm trying to drink water instead of girl scout cookies... oh how I love girl scout cookies.

So, what to do? Anyone have some good recipes? Healthy recipes?



P.S. I'm going to hopefully remember to 'label' all my posts.

Saturday

Its Saturday. I already vacuumed, did two loads of laundry, dishes, and thirty minutes on the treadmill. And I got the mail. Oh, and I folded the clothes. Now just to get them put away. But what's the rush? The other load is still in the dryer.

I would like to take a nap, but thats not very productive. I would like to plant grass too, but its way too wet. There is also many things I'd like to work on in the house, but that won't come till later this summer.

I guess I will go read. And then take a nap. :-)

Xanga

I happened to return to my old xanga today, much to my suprise all of my posts are still there, including this poem written sometime in late 2007.

Dusk turns to night,


The pain and tears set in.

Lonliness encompasses my being,

As dusk turns to night.



The night gets cold,

Feelings follow suite.

And soon I grow numb,

As the night grows cold.



Cold gives way to dawn,

The light starts peaking.

Emotion flows in,

As the cold gives way to dawn.



Dawn breaks into day,

While the sun shines high.

Hope begins to grow,

As dawn breaks into day.

Learn

I thought I would add a nice little something to my profile, so there is a Calvin & Hobbes. There are many different strips that I could put up of them, but I found this one to be nice. Learn something everyday. Learn something from everyone you meet. Not only will it help you improve your attitude, you will learn tons of awesome things. Be a lifetime learner.

I finished my dinner of corned beef and toast not too long ago. Mrs. Clare made a very tasty dinner. And I ate just enough to satisfy my hunger. After I was done eating I had the oddest thought...why is it that Batman had Robin? Superman had no one, The Hulk had no one, Spiderman had no one. Is Batman so lame and weak that he needs help? Or, is it that he is above all else and goes beyond what other super heros go, that he needs someone to catch his back every now and then? I guess it could be either way.

I heard some interesting things today regarding money. I'm listening to a series on being content by Chip Ingram(amazing teacher) and at this point he ties it in to our material wants etc... anyway, the point being this: he said that money is all about worship. I had never thought of it that way before. It was quite a nice thought. He also was talking about giving sacrificially and how we get our needs and wants mixed up. God always provides for out needs. Needs. Needs. Needs.

Those who sow abundantly will also reap abundantly. 10% is not abundantly. Scripturally, 10% is the MINIMUM. Convicted. Guilty. Not sowing abundantly or sacrificially. Also, you don't reap in the same season you sow. This being a rather rural area I can understand that. The farmers don't plant corn one day and harvest it the next. Rather, it takes months for the harvest to be ready.

And think of this, if you need a friend, instead of complaining about no one talking to you and being your friend, be a friend to someone. If you need love, give love. If you need affection, give affection(appropriatly of course). The underlying theme is this: if you need... give.

Are you the fly?

The fly didn't know it was going to die yesterday.

Harriet is a very precious cat. She's just 7 or 8 months old now, and full of energy.

She's also a precarious cat, jumping about from here to there. Onto the dresser, back to the floor, onto the shelf in the wall, to the table(before she is shooed away) back to the floor. She loves to chase pieces of paper on the floor too. Wadded up receipts is one of her favorites! When she is finally worn out she lay on the top of the couch and sleeps. Only to be awaken by the sound of a fly. She awakes with a start and sits right by the lamp, because thats where the flies like to gather this time of the year. Her jaws move in the most fastest of ways, make the oddest noise I've ever heard out of a cat. Then, without notice she will leap up at the wall and try to snatch the unsuspecting fly. She had been trying to catch this fly for several days now, if not a week or two. Yesterday she got him. Allyson and I were watching a movie, and we heard her leap up the wall, we turn to each other and ask, 'did she get it?' then we look at Harriet on the floor munching on said fly like a mid-afternoon snack. Harriet loves to eat flies. Especially that one. And I'm glad she does. They are the most miserable insects to have bothering you in the summer time. I hope she eats them all.

It leaves me to wonder if I am a fly. Am I just buzzing around the light, not paying attention to what's going on around me? Am I desensitized to the hurting, the lost, and those without hope? Am I susceptible to an unknown attack? The devil is seeking to devour me. How aware am I? I pray I am more aware than the fly. I do not want to be eaten like a mid-afternoon snack. I pray that I am engaged in battle, defeating the enemy and his minions.

Come one come all!

Alas, I have entered into 'blogosphere'. Its not quite 'a whole new world' as Ariel would say. I have been here long ago, long, long ago. Does the name Xanga ring any bells? Thats how long its been. Before the days of Facebook, (there was such a time) and perhaps even before the days of MySpace. However, as my life become more uninteresting to the world, my blogs became far and few between. But this blogging is the hip new thing, as it was 10 years ago, so here I am to give it another whirl.

What should be the topic of my first blog? Thats a legit question. One that I may even answer. However, its something that should be seriously considered. After all, this is the FIRST blog. I need to be able to leave a good impression, if there isn't a good impression you won't bother to read it again, and I will fall out of 'blogosphere' again. In the process of writing this unimportant paragraph, I came up with a good topic for my 'first' blog.

Dessert.

Do not underestimate the importance of dessert. If you eat dessert after breakfast, lunch, dinner, or anywhere in-between it makes no difference. It also makes no difference what you like to have for your dessert. It may be cheesecake from Chicago shipped in on dry ice, or from your local grocery store. Maybe its cookies, or grandmas cake recipe. Perhaps you are fancy and love the art of cooking, maybe you make chocolate mousse, or pie. There are even some of you who lack a 'sweet tooth' (why God made you that way, I have no idea) and you simply prefer celery and peanut butter, pita and hummus, or a little bowl of fruit. What you eat for dessert makes no difference. Its the fact that it truly is dessert. Its important to have that special food that you enjoy and just the right time of the day. So, fellow blogger, whatever it is that you enjoy as a dessert, go and have some. Enjoy your little snack and smile. Smile knowing that no one can take that dessert away from you, and even in all of life's troubles you will have that dessert to cheer you up when nothing else will.