The Obvious Healthcare Solution

            Someone has said the “obvious is not always so obvious” and it seems the solution to providing healthcare in the U. S. is not so obvious, though it should be to a nation that has a long history of providing healthcare to certain groups.  Among these groups are American Indians and Military Veterans.  My personal experience as a member of both groups is this:  I may use these healthcare services, or I am free to purchase insurance and use the private healthcare system.  Many veterans and Indians choose to use the private healthcare system because they do not like the “no frills” care offered in clinics, but for those that cannot afford private healthcare, these facilities provide the safety net they need.

            Why not expand these government-operated systems to include all citizens?  All people will then have access to affordable healthcare based on income, and people that do not like the clinic atmosphere will be free to purchase private healthcare.  The inherent checks and balances of competition, supply, and demand are obvious:  When insurance rates or medical costs are too high, people will opt for the Public Health Service clinics.  When private costs fall, people will use private healthcare. 

            Drug companies, insurance companies, medical equipment companies, and medical care providers will be forced to earn your business, rather, than milking the “cash cow” that has existed in the industry for far too long.

Jim

http://www.jim-mac.com/

Stop Exporting Our Energy

Recently, a group of Democrats in Congress called on the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission to limit excessive speculation in oil markets, even as a position limits rule is being challenged in court by the financial industry.  Meanwhile, the President maintains that his energy policies are not the problem and there is nothing he can do about rising gasoline prices.  Wall Street says the problem is foreign demand for gasoline in Asian markets where people are willing to pay more.  The bottom line for American motorists is that gasoline prices are rapidly increasing despite large supplies and low demand.  While politicians waffle, and contrary to the laws of supply and demand, energy suppliers and oil speculators make record profits.

Profit is not a dirty word.  Profits drive our economy by providing incentive for innovation, industry and investment.  In a healthy environment, costs and profits are kept in check by the laws of supply and demand—supply increases, price decreases; supply decreases, price increases.  However, the laws of supply and demand do not work to control costs and profits, when either supply or demand are manipulated by forces outside the economy in which goods or services are sold.  Despite large supplies and low demand for gasoline in the U.S., prices continue to increase because excess gasoline is shipped to foreign countries.  Clearly, we have enough gasoline to meet our needs since the excess is being exported.  Even so, the price will not come down as long as excess supplies are shipped to other countries. 

Our government has a long history of banning the export of products and information that are vital to our national interests.  Energy is vital to our national interests and it is time to stop exporting our energy.  Forget the political posturing.  An Executive Order to ban the export of domestic energy will stop the imbalance, and give the laws of supply and demand the opportunity to work for Americans.

Jim

www.jim-mac.com

Against Foreign Entanglements

Founding Father and First President, George Washington, warned against foreign entanglements in his Farewell Address.  The following excerpt demonstrates that his wisdom is as important to our nation today, as when first written.

“Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government, but that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial, else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender their interests.”

The “insidious wiles of foreign influence” are destroying our economy with one-sided trade agreements; diluting our military power and resources with protracted engagements in foreign lands; rewriting our Constitution with United Nations resolutions and treaties; draining our coffers with “foreign aid;” and permeating our society with the worship of foreign gods.

Additionally, the “insidious wiles of foreign influence” are tied to our quest for world peace and security, but we forget the words of Benjamin Franklin, who wrote, “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

It is past time to quit trying to re-invent human nature and realize the God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuits of happiness can be enjoyed by individuals, only when these same rights apply to nations wherein they reside.  The more we are entangled with foreign powers, the more our God-given rights are restricted.

Methinks the old dudes in tight britches, high-heeled shoes, lace shirts, and white wigs, were not as foolish as they look to some folks, today.

Jim

www.jim-mac.com

The Right To Bear Arms

“A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”—U.S. Constitution, Second Amendment.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/21/new-hampshire-man-faces-felony-charge-after-firing-gun-into-ground-near-burglar/?intcmp=obnetwork

Years ago, something similar happened to one of my neighbors.  Four men in a pickup were dumping a load of trash on his driveway when he apprehended them while carrying his 22 cal. rifle.  No shots were fired, but the deputies arrested him and let the men he was holding go.

History demonstrates that citizens in civilized societies do not want the daily responsibility of law enforcement.  Neither, do reasonable people want criminal activity to go unchecked.  Therefore, the governments established by law-abiding people, employ police officers to apprehend criminals, with a judicial system to determine guilt or innocence, and mete justice to fit the crime. 

However, the institution of professional law enforcement does not rightly, negate the individual responsibility to interrupt criminal activity in the process.  Neither does having insurance to cover the losses.  Too often, law-abiding citizens turn away when they see crime in progress.  Perhaps, they think it is not their business.  Perhaps, they fear for their own safety, or perhaps, they realize they might be arrested for their efforts. 

Criminal investigations, tracking suspects or fugitives, after the fact, and administering justice should be left to the professionals, but when law-abiding citizens fear arrest, for intervening to stop criminal activity in the making, the right to keep and bear arms is effectively thwarted, and just as when guns are outlawed, the criminals win.

With rare exception, our law enforcement officers do all they can to stop crime and apprehend criminals, but they cannot be everywhere at once, and they must enforce the laws equally when they do arrive.  To force them to arrest citizens that try to stop crime gives the criminals great advantage.  No reasonable person advocates “open season” on criminals or anyone else, but when a firearm is used to apprehend a criminal in the act, and no one is injured, the law should recognize the individual responsibility to resist crime.

It seems our lawmakers are more interested in stopping the use of firearms than they are in stopping crime.  If they can't take our guns, they will take away the right to use them. 

Jim

http://www.jim-mac.com/

Top Ten Reforms For The United States Congress

1. U. S. Senators will be elected and limited to one (1) six (6) year term in office, with one-third (1/3) of the terms expiring every two (2) years.
2. U. S. Representatives will be elected and limited to one four (4) year term in office, with one-half (1/2) of the terms expiring every two (2) years.
3. No person elected to any public office will be eligible for election or appointment, to the U. S. Congress, prior to the expiration of two calendar years, and no person will be elected to the U. S. Congress, without one (1) year of employment in the private sector, immediately prior to election.
4. Total compensation for service in the U. S. Congress, including wages and benefits, will be the lower of that determined by the respective states, or the compensation received during employment in the private sector, immediately prior to election.
5. No person, organization, or group, will be allowed to campaign, or contribute, in any fashion, to the election of any person to the U. S. Congress, unless said person, organization, or group, is permanently domiciled in the State where the election is being held.
6. Persons elected to the U. S. Congress and their staff members will have public office space only in the State Capitol Building of their respective states, and Congress will meet in Washington D.C. for a maximum of seven (7) consecutive calendar days, per calendar quarter, per calendar year, for the sole purpose of voting on final forms of legislation, provided that no legislation will be brought to a vote without first being made public, no less that seven (7) days prior to vote.
7. All business of the House and Senate, other than in-person votes during each calendar quarter, will be conducted via secure communication links to each respective state office, and all lobbyists will be heard in scheduled public meetings, within the respective State Capitol Buildings only.
8. No person elected to the U. S. Congress, including staff members, or family, will receive anything of monetary value from any person, organization, or group, other than their respective salary and benefits, as a result of, or favor of, their term in office, at any time prior to, during, or following the term of office.
9. Congress will pass no legislation, or enact any law, or regulation, that does not apply equally to every United States citizen, and all existing legislation, laws, or regulations, not meeting this provision, will be null and void.
10. Congress will pass no legislation, or enact any law, or regulation, that requires expenditures of money, resources or manpower, by any state or local government, or agency thereof, or any private person, business, or corporation, to enact or enforce, said legislation, law, or regulation, and all existing legislation, laws, or regulations, not meeting this provision, will be null and void. 

         Jim

         http://www.jim-mac.com/

Real Insanity

            Gallup Poll numbers released today reveal that Congress has a 10% approval rating:  The lowest in recorded history.  Strangely, the approval rating in December of 2010 was 13%.  This followed an election and was prior to seating of the newly elected Congress, meaning that voters re-elected a majority of incumbents with an approval rating of 13%.  With a track record like this, it is no wonder that politicians feel they have no accountability to voters.

            Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  However, when politicians do the same things over and over again and are re-elected, they are not insane, the voters are.

Jim

www.jim-mac.com

Dump Congress

            For decades, voters have been deceived into thinking that professional politicians are preferable to citizen legislators, in defiance of the system instituted by our forefathers, designed to limit the absolute power that corrupts absolutely.

An NBC/ Wall Street Journal poll released today shows that 56% of registered voters think the entire Congress should be replaced.  Perhaps, Americans are beginning to realize the best solution to such things as influence peddling, lobbying, PAC’s, 24/7 campaigning, and ignoring the public, has been available all along. 

An obvious reason for elections is to remove people that fall short in performance and integrity, otherwise, politicians would be elected once and hold an office for life.  Lifetime officeholders are not what The Framers intended and recent history demonstrates their wisdom in realizing this.  ZERO INCUMBENTS!

Jim

http://www.jim-mac.com/

The End of Global Warming

Those who reject the Creator, or doubt His ability to sustain His creation, have within their grasp, a solution to one of their concerns for planet Earth.  Fears of global climate change, formerly known as global warming, caused by greenhouse gases can now be laid to rest.

According to data released by the EPA, 72 percent of the offending gases are released by power plants.  Clearly, converting these plants to nuclear power will reduce the bulk of greenhouse gases, thereby saving the planet, and allowing government agents to release their chokehold on the oil, gas, and transportation industries. 

I’m guessing this won’t happen.  When the greenhouse gas scare is over, the regulations and expenditures will continue, and government officials will invent a new disaster to expand control over our lives and fortunes.  Remember the ozone hole that was supposedly caused by auto exhaust emissions and leaking Freon?  The hole was determined to be a naturally occurring event, but Americans are still burdened with regulations that require spending billions of dollars for vehicle emission systems, inspections, inefficient gasoline, and replacement of air conditioning equipment.

It is strange that humans will reject the Creator who gives them the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, to depend on the gods of government that seek to strip their subjects of these same endowments, with far-reaching regulations and restrictions under the guise of saving the planet. 

It is past time for our government officials to quit assuming the prerogatives of God and devote their efforts to peace and tranquility.

Jim

http://www.jim-mac.com/

He Had A Gun

            Perhaps, it was suicide by cop.  Maybe, it was just a foolish juvenile act.  Unlikely, it was an attempt to murder, since the weapon was a pellet pistol.  Whatever the case, when noticed, the presence of the “gun” brought a wave of hysteria to the Brownsville, Texas middle school and police officers arrived twenty minutes later, to end the threat with bullets.  Within moments of their arrival, a fifteen-year-old boy lay dead with gunshot wounds to his chest and back of head.

            On the day before this event, a seventeen-year-old boy walked into a Bartlesville, Oklahoma tech school with a loaded 9mm pistol in his belt.  When noticed, an instructor and a security guard confronted the teen and took the gun.  After his arrest, the boy told police he brought the gun to sell it.

            Two youthful acts of foolishness with two different results.  Perhaps, demonstrating that when there is a “take no prisoners” attitude, people “shoot first and ask questions later,” but where cooler heads prevail, the body count is lower. 

Jim

http://www.jim-mac.com/

Yesterday's Christmas

            A Sunday afternoon stroll through the local shopping mall revealed the dearth of Christmas decorations.  Only two businesses displayed signs in their storefronts that mentioned Christmas. In one, a sign read, “We have your Christmas shopping needs” and in the other store were two small pictures of wreaths encircling the words, “Merry Christmas.”  What a letdown.  I expected to see people enjoying the season as they shopped, but there was little to distinguish that day from any other. 

            How times have changed.  The Christmas season in America during my childhood, was a somewhat magical time, when a shopping trip to downtown Tulsa was equivalent to a trip to Disneyland, in later years.  Bus and trolley drivers greeted people with “Merry Christmas” as did elevator operators, and every department store clerk.  Store windows were decorated with fake snow and holly.  Inside, the stores were decorated with every conceivable decoration and ornament.  Frequently, the store employees were dressed as Santa’s helpers.  Huge Christmas trees were normally located near the toy departments and children would stand in line to sit on Santa’s lap, or in his sleigh.  Parents, grandparents and strangers alike were filled with contagious joy as they watched happy children. 

In those days, the Savior and His birth were not forgotten, or hidden in fear of reprisal.  Manger scenes, ranging from miniature to life sized, were prominently displayed.  Often, people stopped to survey the scenes, perhaps, pondering the impact of that first Christmas, or perhaps, praying, while others passed without giving a glance, unbothered by the religious thoughts of others. 

The atmosphere and experiences of those long departed days, promoted what was called the “Christmas spirit” of joy, peace, and goodwill that clears the human mind and refreshes the soul.  It was a time in our history when Americans came together regardless of their faith, or lack of faith, to enjoy the season.  It was a time for peace and goodwill toward all people.  Even warring armies laid down their weapons on Christmas.  It was a festive time, as birthdays should be, especially the birthday of The King.

Jim

http://www.jim-mac.com/

A Proper Response to the Birth of Christ - Lk 2:1-20

Several years ago, the news services carried a story that told of a department store Santa Claus in one of our big cities, who was attacked by the children he had been hired to entertain.  

It seems the crowd was much larger than expected and he ran out of candy to distribute among the children.  Those who did not receive treats began screaming, some even cursing, and several even went so far as to kick the department store Santa in the shins, while their parents watched with tacit approval.

          What does this indicate about our society?  Are Americans so caught in the materialism of the season that we have raised a generation of children who see Christmas solely as a time when they can expect, even demand, that they be given something?  Hopefully, not!  Hopefully, this was and will forever be an isolated incident.  But at the same time, perhaps this story indicates how these particular children and the parents who condoned their behavior view Christmas.

          Clearly, they are missing the Christmas spirit and more than likely they are missing it because they are missing the Savior, as so many people do each Christmas, and one wonders how these people would respond to the birth of the Savior had they been there that first Christmas, some two thousand years ago.

          Today, as on that first Christmas, there are different responses to the announcement that a Savior is born, and as we look at some of the different responses revealed in Scripture, we need to ask ourselves, “What is my response to the birth of Christ?” 

I.  Mary’s Response

Mary’s initial response was one of disbelief.  In Luke 1:34, she is quoted as saying, “How can this be since I do not know a man?” 

Surely, this is her reason for not believing.  Mary knew she was a virgin and she simply did not believe that she could have a baby.  In other words, Mary did not initially believe the virgin birth.  This is the initial response of most people when they learn about the virgin birth of Christ.

Talk about Jesus being born King of kings and Lord of lords and people may listen.

Talk about Jesus being born Savior of the world and people may listen.

Tell people that Jesus was born of a virgin and their response is normally the same as Mary’s, they do not believe it.

But we must believe it, for it is His virgin birth that sets Jesus apart from the rest of humanity and makes Him unique among all who have ever been born. 

We know the sin that resides in the flesh is passed from generation to generation through the fathers, meaning, a human father would make Jesus a born sinner, as are all other people.  Therefore, to take away the virgin birth of Christ is to take away His sinlessness, His deity, and to reduce Him to a mere mortal, no better, no worse, than the rest of us.  And if this is true, we are dead in our sins and there is no hope of salvation because Jesus cannot possibly be our Savior.  But it is not true. 

Jesus was born of a virgin and His Father is God.  Therefore, Jesus was not born with the fleshly desire for sin.  He had no sins of His own, so that He could take our sins on His own body and die in our place, to pay our penalty.

It is not unusual to initially respond to the virgin birth of Christ with disbelief, but this response is deadly, and the consequences are eternal for the person whose mind never changes.  Mary quickly changed her mind and believed fully in the virgin birth.  She knew with certainty that Jesus was born of a virgin, just as everyone must, if they are to trust Him as Savior.

II.  Joseph’s response

 

We read in Matthew 1:18-21,

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:  After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 

Joseph’s initial response to the birth of Christ was fear.  The angel clearly said to Joseph, “Do not be afraid,” and it is safe to say this indicates Joseph was afraid.

Surely, the thing bothering Joseph was that Mary was going to have a baby before they consummated their marriage, and while Joseph was a just man, knowing he must deal with this situation, he was also a man of compassion because he planned to put Mary away, that is divorce her, secretly.

Viewed through the eyes of contemporary American society, Mary being pregnant out of wedlock is no big deal, but in Joseph’s day it was a very big deal. 

Then as now, if an unmarried woman is found to be with child, there are really only two possible conclusions.  Either, she consented to that which caused her condition, or she was forced to that which caused her condition. 

Under the Law of Moses, if she consented, she was to be stoned.  On the other hand, if she was forced, the man who forced her was to be stoned.  So, we might say that Joseph was between a rock and a hard spot.  He knew he was not the father, and not only was his heart aching because he felt betrayed, he knew if Mary’s secret was revealed, one of them might be punished by stoning.  Do not doubt for a moment that Joseph was afraid.

Fear is a common response to Christ.  When a person truly recognizes that Jesus the Christ is Lord and Savior, and the Holy Spirit is drawing that person to come to Jesus in one great response of faith, in Jesus alone, for salvation—fear enters.

First, there is the fear that coming to Jesus will take all the fun out of life.  Too often, there is the idea that Christianity is for older people or for people that have no ambitions in life.  People often tell themselves that when they get older they will think about Jesus, but right now they have a lot of living to do.  But Jesus was not born to destroy our quality of life, the Bible says, He came so we might have life and have it more abundantly.

Then there is the fear that family and friends will think we are foolish, or that we are a wimps, or that they will desert us and we will be alone.

Several years ago there was a fire in a hotel casino in Puerto Rico.  One account tells of a woman who smelled smoke and warned her friends to go outside until they discovered the source.  Because her friends did not smell smoke, and because they were having a good time at the gambling tables, they laughed at the woman and told her she was imagining things.

At first, the woman sat at a table, embarrassed that she had spoken.  But again, she caught the faint odor of smoke and this time she walked from the building without her friends.  She barely cleared the outer doors when an explosion engulfed the casino in flames.  Had she listened to her friends, she too, would have been killed.

Fear of what others will think can sometimes have deadly consequences.  Mankind’s response to Jesus should be faith, not fear.

III.  The Innkeeper’s Response

“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” (Luke 2:7).

One of the most frequent complaints these days is the lack of time.  Many people are so busy that time, traditionally set aside for church and God, is now appropriated to do such things as grocery shopping, laundry, and lawn work, or for recreational activities such as sports.  And while the activities these folks engage in may be different from the innkeeper’s activities, they are in reality, responding to the Lord just as he did.

Imagine with me if you will, how the conversation might have sounded when Joseph inquired about a room at the inn.

We start with Joseph knocking on the door (knock, knock).  The Innkeeper comes to the door and as he cracks it open we hear the noise from a house filled with people eating, drinking and making merry.

“What can I do for you?” He says, really more intent on getting back to his guests than in talking to Joseph.  “My wife is about to have a baby,” says, Joseph.  “We need a room in your inn.”  The innkeeper responds, “Sorry pal, we’re full up, we’ve got no room for you here.”

“But this child is the One promised by the Prophet Isaiah.  This child is Messiah,” says Joseph.  Impatiently, the innkeeper replies, “Look friend, I’m busy, my wife’s busy, and we just don’t have room.  Can’t you see we have all we can handle?”

“Do you mind if we stay in your stable?”  Begs Joseph. “We’ve got to have a place for my wife and baby.”  “Sure, sleep in the stable if you want but just be sure you don’t interfere in my business,” and with that the Innkeeper closes the door. 

Many people today respond to Jesus just as the Innkeeper did.  They do not make room for Him among life’s other activities.  They simply shut Him out of the Inn and confine Him to the stables where He won’t be in the way.

IV.  The Shepherds’ Response

The shepherds’ response is far different from the others we have seen.  They did not allow their lack of understanding, their fears, or their busy lives keep them from Christ.

Notice in Luke 2:15, they say, “Let us now go...”  Keep in mind that this was in the middle of the night—the time when their sheep would have been most vulnerable to predators.  The time when the shepherds stood to lose the most by leaving their flocks to go to Jesus.

Indeed, the lives and fortunes of these shepherds were tied to their sheep.  Yet, in these four simple words, “let us now go,” we see the willingness of the shepherds to forsake all to come to Jesus.  All the sheep in the world were not worth missing the opportunity to come to Jesus.  And so it is today, nothing in this world is worth keeping a person from coming to the Lord.  Jesus said in Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

“They came with haste,” Luke 2:16.  The shepherds made coming to Christ an immediate priority in their lives.  Ben Franklin said, “Never put off until tomorrow, what you can do today” and better advice was never given as it concerns coming to the Lord.

Harry Grimshaw was well known in the construction industry in Tulsa.  His father, W.  R. Grimshaw founded Grimshaw Construction Company and Harry was raised in the high dollar, fast-moving world of big-time construction.  Over the years, Harry made and spent several fortunes.

Many years ago, when I was just starting in the plumbing and mechanical contracting business, Harry gave me the opportunity to do a job that established me as a contractor.  Needless to say, I thought a lot of Harry, because he gave me a life-changing opportunity.

More than twenty years later, Harry and I sat in his car, in front of my home, where for the first time Harry listened as I told him about Jesus, and just before he drove off, Harry told me that he was almost convinced.  But he still drove away.

Later that week Harry asked me to meet him for breakfast at the Camelot Inn, saying he had something to show me.  He brought the certificate of water baptism he received when he was baptized in the military.  I suppose Harry wanted to believe he was going to heaven, because he had been water baptized.  But salvation is not based on water baptism.  It is based on God’s grace made available only through faith, in the sacrificial death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Faith and faith alone is the vehicle God has chosen to bring salvation to men.  I tried explaining this to Harry, but again, Harry put off trusting Christ until some other time.

Less than two weeks later, my wife and I went to visit Harry in the hospital.  He suffered a stroke that left him incoherent and unable to communicate.  Harry died a short time later.  He spent the final hours of his life fighting the restraints that held him in his bed, with a look of terror on his face, and screaming unintelligible sounds.

If Harry went into eternity without Christ as his Savior, he did so because he did not come with haste, as the shepherds did that first Christmas night.  Harry put off until tomorrow, what he should have done today.

There is something else the shepherds did that is noted in Luke 2:16.  They “...found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.”  The key word is “found,” and the fact the shepherds found something indicates they were looking for something.  The sad truth is many people never look for Jesus, therefore they never find Him. 

We get a feel for how diligent the shepherds were in looking for Jesus when we consider they immediately left their sheep and traveled to town looking for Him.  Neither job, nor time, nor distance, nor other people kept them from coming to the Lord.  And so it must be with humanity today.  When the Holy Spirit moves in the heart to draw one to Christ, it behooves that person to not allow job, or time, or distance, or other people to keep him from responding.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “...he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”  God promises that anyone who believes and seeks the Lord Jesus Christ will be rewarded.  Today, if you will seek Christ, you will be rewarded.

V. Conclusion

The Christmas message is still the same today as it was two thousand years ago.  “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

However, some will not respond because of unbelief.  Some will not respond because of fear.  Some will not respond because there is no room in their lives for the Savior.  But some will do as the shepherds did.  They will, as soon as they hear, quickly and diligently, seek the Lord Jesus Christ.

I encourage you to do as the shepherds did.  Come to Jesus.  If you have never come to the point of believing that He died for you, in your place, for your sins, and rose from the dead, then you need to trust Jesus, now, and know for sure that you will spend eternity in Heaven with the virgin-born Savior of the world.

Jim

http://www.jim-mac.com/

Lowes Knows

Lowes slogan, “Never Stop Improving,” has new meaning, now that they are taking heat for pulling their advertisements from a TLC television show called, “All-American Muslim.”  Predictably, Muslim groups and their sympathizers, along with several elected officials, are frothing and fuming while writing letters of outrage, name-calling, and threatening a boycott.

Funny, I thought elected officials were supposed to be neutral in matters of religion and that private businesses could spend their advertising dollars where they want.

Perhaps, the folks at Lowes realize that Islam is a religion that controls the government and lives of people in every country it overtakes, and maybe, Lowes does not want to finance the concept of “All-American Muslims,” when the danger is an “All Muslim America.” 

Thank you, Lowes.  May your business “Never Stop Improving.”

Jim

www.jim-mac.com