Sydney McLaughlin gold medal winner: “Records come and go. The glory of God is eternal.”, Dalilah Muhammad wins silver, Praised God and USA
“for those who honor Me I will honor”…Samuel 2:30
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.”...Eric Liddell
“But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”….Isaiah 40:31
To the glory of God and in honor of Eric Liddell.
From Gateway Pundit.
“Lovely Winners: US Hurdlers Break World Record, Win Gold and Silver at Olympics then Both Praise God and the USA
On Wednesday American hurdlers Sydney McLaughlin and Dalilah Muhammad both broke the previous world record in the 400-meter hurdles by nearly half a second. This is unheard of in track and field.
The race was billed as one to watch and the lovely American women did not disappoint. The fact that they are both extremely attractive and gracious made it even more memorable.
31-year-old Dalilah Muhammad is the former Olympic champion and world record holder. Sydney McLaughlin, who is only 21, held the world record she set recently at the US Olympic trials.
Dalilah, who battled COVID earlier this year, took off and led the race until the very end when Sydney McLaughlin outsprinted her in the final 20 meters. They both broke the previous world record by nearly half-a-second!
The two lovely athletes then spoke to NBC where they praised God and their country. Unfortunately, NBC is hiding this video.
“Google’s values” replaces “Don’t be evil” in code of conduct, Also removed “doing the right thing more generally – following the law, acting honorably”
“Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.”…John 3:20
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”…Edmund Burke
“Everything I need to know… I learned in kindergarten.” …Robert Fulghum
From The Guardian.
“A Christmas Carol has been described as the most perfect of Dickens’s works and as a quintessential heart-warming story, and it is certainly the most popular. It’s a ghost story with a moral, a message of hope, good cheer and Christian redemption, and an assertion of the value of the Christmas festival when families get together for feasting, and quarrels are made up.
At the end of the tale, a sick child who seemed destined to die is cured, and a bad man turns over a new leaf and becomes generous and affectionate. Good triumphs over evil, good-heartedness and good cheer over poverty and misery. Yet two terrifying children who have been introduced into the story are left at the end, their fates unresolved, to haunt us.”
Most of us have some basic, instinctive concept of good and evil.
I have long believed that evil is something that hurts somebody.
Even good people do evil deeds. Every single one of us.
So why did Google remove it from their code of conduct preface?
Old Code of Conduct.
““Don’t be evil.” Googlers generally apply those words to how we serve our users. But “Don’t be evil” is much more than that. Yes, it’s about providing our users unbiased access to information, focusing on their needs and giving them the best products and services that we can. But it’s also about doing the right thing more generally – following the law, acting honorably, and treating co-workers with courtesy and respect.
The Google Code of Conduct is one of the ways we put “Don’t be evil” into practice. It’s built around the recognition that everything we do in connection with our work at Google will be, and should be, measured against the highest possible standards of ethical business conduct. We set the bar that high for practical as well as aspirational reasons: Our commitment to the highest standards helps us hire great people, build great products, and attract loyal users. Trust and mutual respect among employees and users are the foundation of our success, and they are something we need to earn every day.”
“The Google Code of Conduct is one of the ways we put Google’s values into practice. It’s built around the recognition that everything we do in connection with our work at Google will be, and should be, measured against the highest possible standards of ethical business conduct. We set the bar that high for practical as well as aspirational reasons: Our commitment to the highest standards helps us hire great people, build great products, and attract loyal users. Respect for our users, for the opportunity, and for each other are foundational to our success, and are something we need to support every day.
So please do read the Code and Google’s values, and follow both in spirit and letter, always bearing in mind that each of us has a personal responsibility to incorporate, and to encourage other Googlers to incorporate, the principles of the Code and values into our work. And if you have a question or ever think that one of your fellow Googlers or the company as a whole may be falling short of our commitment, don’t be silent. We want – and need – to hear from you.”
“All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum
“These are the things I learned (in Kindergarten):
1. Share everything.
2. Play fair.
3. Don’t hit people.
4. Put thngs back where you found them.
5. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
6. Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
7. Say you’re SORRY when you HURT somebody.”
“Apathy is the glove in which evil slips its hand.” (Anonymous)
“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”…Albert Einstein
“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it.”…Martin Luther King Jr.
“The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it.”…Ayn Rand
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans “Code of Conduct” vs my claims experience, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity”
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal”…1 Corinthians 13
“We ended the year with a total adjusted surplus of $ 4.6 billion.”…Thrivent Magazine spring 2010
“How might my behavior be perceived if it appeared in social media feeds, on the news or in tomorrow’s headlines?”...Thrivent’s latest “Code of Conduct”
I recently received a “gift” from the NC Insurance Commission regarding my claims with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
This “Rosetta Stone” reveals the “Alice in Wonderland” protocol and subsequent treatment of me and my claims.
I have a code of ethics.
First and foremost, I do not lie. I do not misrepresent the policy provisions or claims information.
Thrivent has indicated that they do not like what I have written. They have threatened me with legal action.
I gave Brad Hewitt, Chief Executive Officer a heads up in a Citizen Wells article dated July 30, 2018.
I gave their outside attorney a heads up in an email dated August 22, 2018.
I am prepared to move forward with the truth.
Below are some relevant highlights from Thrivent’s “Code of Conduct” from several years ago.
“How would my action look as a headline in tomorrow’s newspaper?” from Page 4 seems relevant.
Page 2
“Just as The Thrivent Way encourages all of us to be trustworthy in character and competence, our Code of Conduct helps us live out and demonstrate the principles of The Thrivent Way. Thrivent’s Code of Conduct helps guide our actions and choices.
At its core, the Code of Conduct boils down to common sense—treat others with
respect, follow the law and adhere to Thrivent policies and expectations. It’s a simple concept that helps us best serve our members and society.”
Page 4
“The Thrivent Way
Our mission, vision and values
We are a membership organization of Christians, and our members are our owners. Our purpose is to serve our members and society by guiding both to be wise with money and live generously.
We believe that all we have is a gift from God and that generosity is an expression of faith.
We succeed when our members, their families and their communities thrive.
We value our relationships, so we will:Be trustworthy in character and competence,
and Act like owners and treat each other as owners, and Live balanced and generous lives.”
“Thrivent Financial is dedicated to acting in the interest of our member-owners.
Ethics matter, and we expect everyone acting on behalf of Thrivent to know and
understand our Code of Conduct and follow its principles.”
“Making the Right Decisions
Our Code highlights key principles that guide our behavior at Thrivent, but it can’t address every ethical situation. In those cases, use your best judgment to make the right decision or seek guidance.
Consider these questions before you act:
• Does my action conflict with The Thrivent Way?
• Is it legal?
• How would my family or friends view my behavior?
• How would my action look as a headline in tomorrow’s newspaper?
• Could my behavior harm Thrivent’s reputation?”
Page 13
“Know the Signs of Fraud
Fraudulent activities are known to have occurred in most companies.
Although most people have honest intentions, it’s in our best interest
to remain vigilant and help prevent fraud by understanding the common
signs of fraudulent behavior.”
“Misrepresentation related to an application or claim.”
Page 14
Fraternal Status
To protect our fraternal heritage and maintain our fraternal status, Thrivent will follow the federal and state requirements applicable to fraternal benefit societies.
We will not inappropriately utilize our fraternal status to competitive advantage.
A Christmas message, Christ is born praise be to God, Jesus leads us to the father and guides our actions, Christianity changed the Roman Empire the Vikings and caused a spontaneous truce on 1914 battlefield, God intervened in 2016 election
Luke 2
“2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there,
the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;
because there was no room for them in the inn.
2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
2:10 And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Merry, blessed Christmas.
I have about a million things that I want to say simultaneously.
But the message is simple.
Christ was born to lead us to the father and salvation.
The prince of peace who abhorred evil.
Who overturned the money changers’ table in the temple.
Whose message and followers changed the Roman Empire, the warrior Vikings and caused a spontaneous truce on the WWI battlefield in 1914 with the singing of “Silent Night.”
The problem with our world is not guns or money .
The problem is not obeying and respecting the creator of the universe, God and his messenger, Jesus Christ.
God does work in mysterious ways.
I told several of my friends after the election that the hand of God was involved.
I was pleased to find the following.
From the Greensboro News Record December 20, 2016.
“Franklin Graham: It wasn’t Russians who intervened in election, ‘it was God’
Evangelist Franklin Graham doesn’t believe it was the Russians who intervened in this year’s controversial presidential election.
It was God, he declared during President-elect Donald Trump’s final public rally before the Electoral College vote Monday.
“I don’t have any scientific information. I don’t have a stack of emails to read to you,” Graham told the crowd in Mobile, Ala., according to the Washington Examiner. “But I have an opinion: I believe it was God. God showed up. He answered the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people across this land who had been praying for this country.”
His comments also included a prayer that God heal “the divide that we have in this country.”
I encourage everyone—whether you voted for President-elect @realDonaldTrump or not—to come together & pray for him. https://t.co/qbbZuH6k1S
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) December 18, 2016
Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, hosted well-attended prayer rallies across the nation before the election, urging Christians to vote. He’d like to believe those rallies succeeded.
When Trump took the stage Saturday, he praised the younger Graham and said he’s heard that Billy Graham, at age 98, “is doing well.””
Noah, The great flood, Genesis Chapter 6 , The earth was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence, Take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it
“That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.”…Ecclesiastes 1:9
Genesis Chapter 6: 6 – 22
6 And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.
7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, [and] perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God.
10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
14 So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.
15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.
16 Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks.
17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.
18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark–you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.
19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you.
20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.
21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.
Easter March 31, 2013, Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Shroud of Turin, Luke 24:1-53, Strips of linen lying by themselves
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”…Jesus, John 8:32
In case you are still a doubting Thomas, the Shroud of Turin evidence confirms the passage from Luke:
“Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves”
Luke 24:1-53
“Jesus Has Risen
24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Manmust be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
On the Road to Emmaus
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them,“This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations,beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
The Ascension of Jesus
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”
Good Friday March 29, 2013, The case for Christ, Historical evidence of Jesus, Crucifixion more brutal than portrayed, Shroud of Turin evidence, Atheists converted to believers
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”…Jesus, John 8:32
I am not preaching to the choir….necessarily.
Today is Good Friday, March 29, 2013, the remembrance of the Crucifixion of Jesus, a punishment far more brutal than has been portrayed to most of us.
We live in an Orwellian age of misinformation, secularism and attacks on Christianity.
That is why the truth is so important about the essence of Christianity.
Not necessarily what people say about Jesus and Christianity. But what Jesus said, did and endured.
First from “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel.
What struck me the most from the book, when I was first introduced to it years ago, was the fact that there is much historical evidence of the life of Jesus.
From the publisher.
“A Seasoned Journalist Chases Down the Biggest Story in History Is there credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God? Retracing his own spiritual journey from atheism to faith, Lee Strobel, former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates from schools like Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis who are recognized authorities in their own fields. Strobel challenges them with questions like How reliable is the New Testament? Does evidence for Jesus exist outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual event? Strobel’s tough, point-blank questions make this Gold Medallion-winning book read like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it’s not fiction. It’s a riveting quest for the truth about history’s most compelling figure. What will your verdict be in The Case for Christ? ‘Lee Strobel probes with bulldog-like tenacity the evidence for the truth of biblical Christianity.’ Bruce M. Metzger, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary ‘Lee Strobel asks the questions a tough-minded skeptic would ask. His book is so good I read it out loud to my wife evenings after dinner. Every inquirer should have it.’ Phillip E. Johnson, Law Professor, University of California at Berkeley”
“The documentary The Case for Christ follows reporter Lee Strobel as he interviews a number of religious and historical scholars in order to find out if there is any proof of the resurrection, and to discover the historical veracity of the New Testament. In trying the case for Christ, Strobel cross-examined a number of experts and recognized authorities in their own fields of study. He conducted his examination with no religious bias, other than his predisposition to atheism.
Remarkably, after compiling and critically examining the evidence for himself, Strobel became a Christian. Stunned by his findings, he organized the evidence into a book he entitled, The Case for Christ, which has won the Gold Medallion Book Award for excellence. Strobel asks one thing of each reader – remain unbiased in your examination of the evidence.”
Mark Antonacci, an attorney and agnostic and another author, became a believer after researching the Shroud of Turin.
From the Amarillo Globe News April 14, 2001.
“Mark Antonacci said he was a committed agnostic until he stumbled upon an article about a subject he would eventually spend nearly 20 years researching.
Antonacci, a St. Louis lawyer, is author of “The Resurrection of the Shroud.” He spoke in a telephone interview about his book about the cloth that he and others believe wrapped the body of Jesus Christ.
His book delves into questions about the wounds suffered by the man whose impression is on the shroud, the shroud’s history and scientific challenges to the carbon dating of the shroud.
Now a Christian, Antonacci said much historical, medical and archaeological evidence exists to prove Christ’s death was consistent with Gospel accounts. The evidence he said he found changed his mind about God.
“I came to the conclusion that the literal, actual crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ occurred,” he said.
So why did it take nearly two decades to publish his book?
“I just had no idea the breadth of the evidence and the difficulty in finding a publisher,” said Antonacci, whose publisher is M. Evans and Company Inc. in New York.
Antonacci said scientists from many religious and nonreligious backgrounds have examined the shroud, and none think it is a forgery, although they have varying opinions about it. The shroud has been kept in Turin, Italy, for the last four centuries.”
NC Obama Democrat party God country and common sense, Charlotte sells soul to devil?, Democrats destroy jobs and economy boo God and Jerusalem
“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011
“Most college students are in the peak of health. Hence, covering their health care is usually a pretty easy thing to do. A number of colleges—particularly small, private liberal-arts institutions—offer their students what are called “limited-benefit” plans, which cover health expenses up to a defined cap, such as $10,000. Because expenses are capped, these plans are extremely inexpensive, with premiums ranging from $150-500 per year.
However, Obamacare prohibits capping insurance payouts, causing premiums to skyrocket. For 2013-2014, the law prohibits caps below $500,000 per year; after 2014, caps are banned entirely.”…Forbes June 5, 2012
“We tried our plan—and it worked. That’s the difference. That’s the choice in this election. That’s why I’m running for a second term.”…Barack Obama
My ancestral roots go back to the early 1700’s in NC and though my recent ones do not include participation in the NC Democrat Party, the old conservative Democrat Party of NC, which did not shun God, country and common sense, would have been easier to embrace.
This is not your father’s Democrat Party!
For example.
You have heard Barack and Michelle Obama and other democrats lie about job creation, inheriting a mess and blame George Bush.
The Democrats took control of both houses of congress in January 2007 and Obama took control of the White House in January 2009. A perfect storm of incompetence.
From the 2012 Democrat Platform.
“When President Obama took office, the economy was in the deepest economic crisis since the Great Depression. His Recovery Act represented the largest education investment since President Johnson, the largest infrastructure investment since President Eisenhower, the single largest clean energy investment ever, and the broadest tax cut in American history. It helped keep teachers, police officers, nurses, and firefighters on the job. It ensured that as we re-built our country, we bought American-made iron, steel, and manufactured goods wherever feasible, consistent with our international obligations. It helped the President stop the bleeding and reverse the free fall.”
“We’ve come a long way since 2008. The President took office in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression; that month 800,000 Americans lost their jobs – more than in any single month in the previous 60 years. On Day One, he took immediate action to stop the free fall and put Americans back to work. In the midst of the crisis, President Obama knew what Democrats have always known: that American workers are tougher than tough times. Since early 2010, the private sector has created 4.5 million jobs, and American manufacturing is growing for the first time since the 1990s.”
Let’s examine for a moment a microcosm economy, Greensboro, NC, the third largest city in NC, the home of UNCG, where Michelle Obama recently bragged about jobs and what they had done for college students.
In January 2007, when the Democrats took control of congress, the unemployment rate was 4.6 to 5.2 percent (looks like somebody has been “tweaking” the numbers).
In December 2008, after 2 years of Democrat control, the rate was 8.2 percent. In January 2009, when Obama entered the White House, the rate was 9.6 percent. Did the rate jump actually jump 1.4 percent in one month (to maybe help Obama)? Since the Democrats were in control anyway, who cares.
The rate for July is listed at 10.2 percent.
So, with the efforts of the Democrats beginning in January 2007 and Obama working with them beginning in January 2009, the unemployment rate went from 4.8 – 5.2 percent to 10.2 percent.
That is certainly change!
From the 2012 Democrat Platform.
“These values are why we enacted historic health care reform that provides economic security for families and enacted sweeping financial reform legislation that will prevent the recklessness that cost so many their jobs, homes, and savings.”
“They’re why we helped American families who are working multiple jobs and struggling to pay the bills save a little extra money through tax cuts, lower health care costs, and affordable student loans.”
“We’ve already made historic progress. States have more flexibility to raise standards and reform schools, more students are receiving grants and scholarships, and young adults can stay on their parents’ health insurance plans as they finish their education and enter the workforce.”
From Citizen Wells September 4, 2012.
“I just spoke with a young man a few minutes ago who attends Greensboro College, a private college in NC. He mentioned that his health care costs had just almost doubled. Recently, reported here, was a report that the UNC system, NC public colleges, had almost doubled the health care costs for students and the reason was provisions in Obamacare.”
“Health Insurance Costs Skyrocket For College Students Due To ObamaCare”
“Can we stop calling ObamaCare the Affordable Care Act now?
A Young America’s Foundation activist forwarded an email from the Vice President for Finance at his school, Guilford College (Greensboro, NC), informing him that, “For the 2012-13 academic year, the annual cost of the student health insurance is increasing from $668 to $1,179. This insurance premium has been charged to your student account.”
Why the increase? “Our student health insurance policy premium has been substantially increased due to changes required by federal regulations issued on March 16, 2012 under the Affordable Care Act.”
“Student healthcare choice has been replaced with expensive ObamaCare mandates.”
“Registration cancellations rising at UNCG, A&T”
“UNCG about two weeks ago canceled the registrations of about 1,300 students because they had yet to pay their tuition bills — the highest number of cancellations since fall 2009, university officials said.””
“Amid chants of protest from about 100 students, the UNC Board of Governors this morning approved President Tom Ross’ proposal for tuition and
fee hikes over the next two years.”
“The cost of health insurance will climb from a range of $61 to $77 monthly to a range of $118 to $133 monthly, according to a memo sent from UNC President Tom Ross to the UNC Board of Governors. On an annual basis, most students will pay about $500 to $700 more in 2012-13, depending on the campus.”
“Obamacare Increases Costs of College Health Plans by as Much as 1,112%”
“Last March, I wrote a detailed pieceon why Obamacare will dramatically increase the cost of insurance for young people. Yesterday, Louise Radnofsky of theWall Street Journal reported that some colleges are dropping their student health plans for the new academic year, because the new law increases the cost of those plans by as much as 1,112 percent. And no, that’s not a typo.
Most college students are in the peak of health. Hence, covering their health care is usually a pretty easy thing to do. A number of colleges—particularly small, private liberal-arts institutions—offer their students what are called “limited-benefit” plans, which cover health expenses up to a defined cap, such as $10,000. Because expenses are capped, these plans are extremely inexpensive, with premiums ranging from $150-500 per year.
However, Obamacare prohibits capping insurance payouts, causing premiums to skyrocket. For 2013-2014, the law prohibits caps below $500,000 per year; after 2014, caps are banned entirely.”
“Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C. paid $245 per student per year for 2011-2012. Next year, they’ll have to pay $2,507 to meet the law’s requirements.”
The folks in Charlotte have been celebrating the success of the convention.
There are a lot of good people there. I hope that they have retained enough religious convictions and common sense to not be blinded by the light. The false light. And not to sell their souls to the devil….again.
Easter 2012, Jesus face from Shroud of Turin, April 8, 2012, Italian scientists created by flash of supernatural light, God save us
“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”…First Corinthians 1:25
Have a blessed Easter
From Citizen Wells April 23, 2011.
What I am about to present is intended primarily for the Doubting Thomases out there. First some observations. Jesus was born in the Middle East. His skin color, neither lilly white or black, was average. He was born into a lowly existence and therefore could speak to everyone regardless of status. His message is simple and true. I can find no fault with it. He was crucified. No other method of death would have gotten the attention of humans. If that is not enough for you, I have studied the Shroud of Turin for years. I believe that it is real.
Presented here on April 5, 2010.
Is this the face of Jesus?
From the History Channel
“What did Jesus look like? Artists, scholars and millions of Christians around the world have been pondering the question for centuries. And on Tuesday, March 30, at 9/8c, HISTORY viewers may get closer to an answer than ever before, thanks to a special two-hour event.
The Real Face of Jesus? follows a team of graphic experts as they use cutting-edge 3D software to bring a holy relic known as the Shroud of Turin to life. Many believe Jesus Christ was buried in this ancient linen cloth, which bears traces of blood and the faint, ghostly image of a man. With the help of modern technology, can HISTORY finally unlock the secrets of one of the world’s most scrutinized and controversial artifacts?
To attempt this feat, HISTORY turned to computer graphics artist Ray Downing of Studio Macbeth, who used photographs and digital animation to reconstruct Abraham Lincoln in 2009. As Ray and his team grapple with the task, we delve into the Shroud of Turin’s long history, along with the many perplexing questions that centuries of scientific research have failed to settle. How, for instance, did the figure’s imprint appear on the cloth? And how can we extract 3D information from a two-dimensional piece of linen?
In The Real Face of Jesus?, HISTORY unveils the fruit of many months of labor, made possible by sophisticated computer tools in very capable hands: an accurate depiction of the man many believe to be Jesus Christ. For the devout and curious alike, this is a compelling story of transformation—a fascinating journey from the realm of creativity and imagination into the domain of science and technology.”
“The advent of photography in the late 19th century forever altered the course of the shroud’s history. In 1898, a lawyer named Secondo Pia took the first known photograph of the cloth, and his negative revealed new details—including strikingly clear facial features—that could not be observed with the naked eye. Scientific interest in the relic immediately picked up. In 1902, the French anatomist Yves Delage, an agnostic, inspected the photographs and pronounced that the figure on the shroud was indeed Jesus Christ.
The first direct examinations of the cloth were conducted in the 1970s, most famously by the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP), a team of scientists led by physicist John P. Jackson of the University of Colorado. The group found that the markings on the cloth were consistent with a crucified body and that the stains were real human blood; they also suggested that the image’s shading patterns contained three-dimensional information. They could not explain how the imprint ended up on the fabric in the first place.
In 1988, scientists removed a swatch of the shroud for radiocarbon testing. Three independent laboratories concluded that the material originated between 1260 and 1390, leading some to deem it inauthentic. Since then, however, further studies have cast doubt on those results, suggesting that the shroud may indeed date back to the time of Jesus Christ’s life and death.
In March 2010, researchers unveiled a revolutionary radiocarbon dating method that could allow scientists to safely establish accurate ages for precious artifacts like the Shroud of Turin. Unlike traditional carbon dating, the new process does not require samples; instead, the entire object is exposed to an electrically charged gas that gently oxidizes its surface without causing damage. This means that, someday soon, the world may have a more precise estimate of the Shroud of Turin’s real age.
In the spring of 2010, the Shroud of Turin will be available for its first public viewing in 10 years, scheduled from April 10 to May 23.”
After reading numerous books and articles on the Shroud of Turin beginning over 30 years ago, I found a book that convinced me that the Shroud could be authentic. Mark Antonacci wrote and published “The Resurrection of the Shroud” in 2000. From the preface:
“It actually began out of nowhere on a Sunday afternoon. I had just had a serious argument with a girlfriend. The problem was that she was religious, and I was not. She was very committed to her religious views, and I was definitely a committed agnostic. Because it was over a matter that threatened our relationship, it caused me great anxiety. Not wanting to hang around the apartment and continue to think about it all day, I decided to go to work at my law office to take my mind off the argument.
When I got to my office, I couldn’t concetrate on my work. Hoping to get my mind off the disagreement, I decided to go across the street and catch some lunch at Hummel’s, my favorite restaurant, and read the paper. On the way I happened to buy a particular newspaper for the only time in my life.
As I was moving down the serving line at Hummel’s with the newspaper on my tray, I couldn’t help but notice the words across the top of the paper, advertising what was inside the weekend edition. In the upper right-hand corner was a facial picture of the man on the shroud; next to it, a caption asked if this was a picture of the historical Jesus Christ. The paper was featuring an article on a recently published book about the Shroud of Turin. The picture was staring up right at me, and as I went down the line, I muttered to myself, “Great, this is just what I need.”
“I did not like seeing this picture and being reminded of the subject and the argument, so I pushed the paper a little bit away from me. As I continued reading, I noticed the picture again and pushed the paper farther away still. I did the same thing another time until, noticing the picture yet again, I finally said, “all right, I’ll read the !$#?% article,” and angrily threw down the sports page and picked up the article on the shroud.”
From an interview posted on Amarillo.com on April 14, 2001
“Ex-agnostic researches, writes book on shroud”
“Mark Antonacci said he was a committed agnostic until he stumbled upon an article about a subject he would eventually spend nearly 20 years researching.
Antonacci, a St. Louis lawyer, is author of “The Resurrection of the Shroud.” He spoke in a telephone interview about his book about the cloth that he and others believe wrapped the body of Jesus Christ.
His book delves into questions about the wounds suffered by the man whose impression is on the shroud, the shroud’s history and scientific challenges to the carbon dating of the shroud.
Now a Christian, Antonacci said much historical, medical and archaeological evidence exists to prove Christ’s death was consistent with Gospel accounts. The evidence he said he found changed his mind about God.
“I came to the conclusion that the literal, actual crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ occurred,” he said.”
“With the passing of a generation of research and development, science may now be able to move beyond the question of authenticity and prove some of the most startling events in history, while disproving the results of the Shroud’s controversial carbon dating. Mark Antonacci, author of The Resurrection of the Shroud, the most comprehensive and substantive book ever written on the subject, and Art Lind, a retired physicist from McDonnell Douglas Aerospace and the Boeing Company, have devised a series of tests and experiments that will test what they consider to be the most likely explanation of the Shroud’s images and unprecedented features, while explaining the cloth’s aberrant carbon dating. Scientific tests and experiments utilizing nuclear reactors and accelerator mass spectrometers could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that:”
Particle radiation irradiated the Shroud.
The particle radiation emanated from the length, width, and depth of the body wrapped within the cloth.
“Turin Shroud ‘was created by flash of supernatural light’: It couldn’t be a medieval forgery, say scientists”
“The image on the Turin Shroud could not be the work of medieval forgers but was instead caused by a supernatural ‘flash of light’, according to scientists.
Italian researchers have found evidence that casts doubt on claims that the relic – said to be the burial cloth of Jesus – is a fake and they suggest that it could, after all, be authentic.”
Pope Benedict to retire soon?, April 16, 2012 birthday, Pope Benedict XVI turns 85, Saint Malachy prophecy last pope next, Destruction of Rome
“In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.”…Saint Malachy
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”…Jesus, John 8:32
From The Raiders News Network April 5, 2012.
“Prophecy Has Catholics and Protestants Watching Pope Benedict in April”
“As April 16th looms, speculation is mounting concerning the possible post-birthday retirement of Pope Benedict XVI. These speculations are fueled by statements last year from Italian media personality journalist and Vatican insider, Antonio Socci, who wrote in The Times of London, “In short: the Pope does not discard the possibility of resigning when he reaches 85 in April next year.”[i]
Benedict was 78 when appointed pope in April of 2005 and was quoted then as having preferred a peaceful retirement, “At a certain point, I prayed to God ‘please don’t do this to me’…Evidently, this time He didn’t listen to me.”[ii] Even more, in his book, Pope Benedict XVI Light of the World, when asked if he thought it appropriate for a pope to retire he responded, “If a pope clearly realizes that he is no longer physically, psychologically and spiritually capable of handling the duties of his office, then he has a right and, under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign.”[iii] This widely reported predisposition adds credence to recent rumors.
While official sources assert his recent trip to Cuba as evidence of his ongoing vitality, a December 2011 Associated Press story from Vatican City asserted, “Pope Benedict XVI seems worn out.”
The internet and Bible prophecy community have been buzzing due to an ancient prophecy attributed to Saint Malachy which predicted some 112 popes culminating in the destruction of Rome, Benedict being next to last. Adding fuel to the fire are assertions from a soon to be released book titled after the predicted last pope concerning a cryptic cipher published by a Belgian Jesuit back in 1951.
Bestselling author, Thomas Horn (Apollyon Rising, Forbidden Gates), has teamed up with a Christian apologist and author Cris Putnam (Pandemonium’s Engine) in the soon to be released book, Petrus Romanus, which explores the intricacies of the Malachy prophecy and the potential role of the pope in biblical prophecy. According to the blog promoting the soon to be released book, the deceased Jesuit priest and codebreaker, René Thibaut, decoded 2012 explicitly as the year for the final conclave. According to calculations at Putnam’s website the date coincides with the recent rumors.
While some Catholic scholars are divided on the Prophecy of the Popes, John Lupia Ph.D. at Roman Catholic News has deemed it genuine. Loyal Catholics are likely incredulous due to Rome’s predicted doom during the next pontificate. This foretold apocalyptic demise has Protestants like Hal Lindsey and Jack Van Impe speculating that the “rapture” of the church — a time when true believers will be caught away into the heavens and saved from great tribulation — will occur very soon. For believers in the rapture, this seems all the more exhilarating amidst the numerous 2012 predictions.
Other Protestants see a remarkable potential that the predicted final pope may personify the false prophet predicted in the Book of Revelation in chapter 13 verses 11 onward. That end-time figure is said to appear as a lamb, a Christian, yet speak like a dragon pointing to the same book’s symbol for Satan. Prophetic commentators have been quick to point out recent Vatican statements calling for an increased role for the United Nations and a world financial authority. While many Catholic faithful are incensed by the insinuation that the next pontiff is the predicted second beast, it is not without precedent. In addition to respected Catholic seers down through time who predicted Rome would become the seat of the Antichrist, Pope Benedict himself, while still a Cardinal, shocked the Catholic community when he confessed that he did not think the Holy Spirit was necessarily involved in the conclave that elects popes. When asked on Bavarian television in 1997 if the Holy Spirit is responsible for who gets elected pope, Cardinal Ratzinger responded, “I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the pope. … There are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit would obviously not have picked.”[iv]
Cardinal Ratzinger’s startling admission seems at odds with the traditional dogma of papal succession all the way back to Jesus’ disciple Peter and inadvertently lends credence to the election of a false prophet.
The Vatican has done little to silence the building buzz concerning the next pope and Malachy prophecy. Ratzinger also created a stir when he chose the name “Benedict” seeming to intentionally fulfill the Malachy prophecy’s characterization of him as the “glory of the Olive” (the Benedictine order is symbolized by an Olive branch). With the recent rumors concerning the pope’s soon retirement, this begs the question of whether the Vatican is intentionally fulfilling the Malachy predictions and setting the stage for the coming of Petrus Romanus.”
RT @catturd2: Good morning to everyone except the evil demons who claim someone one who goes to a school and starts murdering 9-year-olds i… 10 hours ago
Citizen WElls 