AMERICANS OVER USE AND NEED TO  DRASTICALLY IMPROVE     Our "over consumption" in the USA is not only hurting our waist line  but our waste line.  We are 5% of the world population but consume about 25% of the resources and  cause about 30% of the pollution,   This is placed into our Key Individual Issues section because each of us can do things to encourage fairer and better living.  Each one of us has responsibility for caring for and improving His earth,  whether it is utilizing resources for the good of our neighbors also  or picking up bits of trash as we walk down the street.   Failing our responsibility and the  American Corporatocracy is destroying the USA and the world--such according to John Perkins who spoke for   http://www.booktv.org/   about his   The Secret History of the  American Empire.   He pointed out how corps. slyly  intimidate foreign leaders to offer the corps. great economic advantages,  often getting such assistance from our own govt.   The Military-Industrial complex,  warned against by Pres. Eisenhower,  has overwhelmed  USA public and private policy. In his earlier book   Confessions of an Economic Hitman,  Perkins shamefully admits that he participated in such intimidation that causes even the foreign citizens to dislike if not hate the superior advantage that USA corps  and we receive.   Perkins says that we fail the world with our use of the World Bank monies, world oil, and rain forests to for our interests and our economy.   Our aggressive warrior policies hurt us.  He says we are responsible in part for the attitudes that led to the Twin Towers being destroyed  (tho not condoning that action).    We need to realize that many of these our problems come from our greed in wanting to monopolize and use earth resources for our plush living-at   great harm to other world citizens.   Pray that we awake and become  a better brother and keeper.        Perkins is optimistic that we can be like a Rosa Parks and take is stand (or seat) against wrong;  he does not see the conspiracy that satan places in the minds of "fallen" men  nor apparently the power of God that is needed to change hearts to do what is right.  Pray we all become new people and act responsibly in His Kingdom here below.   

Dr Ed O Wilson,  professor of biology emeritus of Harvard,  in his book Creation   written to encourage Christians  (tho a Baptist as a young man, he admits to being a secular humanist now) to also protect and enhance the earth by protecting the species.  In addition to plants for food and photosynthesis purifying CO2,  bees and some birds pollinate, worms till the soil,  beavers can build helpful dams,  bats eat mosquitoes,  many species   produce helpful antibiotics.     In an interview on PBS,  he estimated that the non-human contribution to the GNP was about the same as human  contribution,  yet  humans are along the path to   kill about half of all species by the end of the 21^st century-- including man.    We say that Christians are in the middle of the hourglass ready to go up to Heaven when the Father calls --and gravity is reversed for us.  In the meantime, Christians should be the leaders in enhancing and preserving all aspects of His Kingdom on earth-conservation of resources,  correct allocation of resources for health and useful purposes, and whenever  possible  using those close to home and replenishing. 

CHRISTIANS SHOULD DEVELOP A REPETITIVE  REVISITING  PLAN  OF THE WHOLE BIBLE    One  of the best ways to allow the mind to  review (and learn some facts) is to use Bible T(rivia) cards (by Bible Trivia  game #811 by Cadaco,  Chicago,  5400 questions;  7 questions on ~ 2x3"  cards; eBay is best source for now).  We do not wish to convey that  Bible facts are trivial  so we call it "Bible T "  and "play" it a unique way.      Thus one can "play" Bible T alone or with others.   The  Questions  on one side of the card  are usually significant facts from the Bible,  with those Answers and Chapter/ verse on the reverse side.  Playing the game with just the cards and not the board++   has many advantages:  it takes little space to carry a small stack of cards   and person(s) can play most any place  even while traveling,    it is not competitive,   it gives all the persons 2 chances to check themselves and learn the answers,  you can easily change the  level of difficulty (there is also an easier-questions Bible T card set )   so that few or most can give the answer(s)  the first time (more on that below),  but almost all can get the answers the 2^nd time  i.e.,  when the card is reversed --so it is a wonderfuk,  quick-learning game.

The 7 questions cover both the OT and NT.   One reader  (any one of the group for that card) --without looking at the back of the card  for the answers--asks the question(s)  and anyone can guess at the answer(s)  proceeding one question at a time.   Here is an example  "What OT prophet indicated that the Messiah/King  would come from in Bethlehem? "  (If the group wishes  to make the game even more challenging,  add "What book and chapter gives the answer?   Then the reader goes to the next question WITHOUT REVERSING  the card until all 7 Questions are asked. 

THEN the reader turns the card over and reads the first Answer and the citation-- Book/chapter/verse where it is found.   Anyone may guess at what was the Question (and the citation if you agree to increase to that level of difficulty/learning)  but the reader waits till last-- for he has had the benefit of also SEEING the question.    No record of  who answers the most questions.    Almost no one can get all the questions  let alone citations  right  (which keeps us all humble),  but many who know little of the Bible can recite the Questions when the cards are reversed   if they are motivated to learn.  Pray for that.   THEN you can look up the questions/answers as the Spirit prompts you to investigate further   and integrate into your head and heart.   Caveat:  a few cards have errors on them.      Please let us know your interests and results with Bible T.  It is God's gift.

If  any questions about the game as above,  just contact us.  We want to encourage everyone to learn more about God and His great gift to us of the Bible and His Son--and have fun.        draft 7/07

DIFFERENCES EXPRESSED WITH LOVE    These are individual ideas with biblical bases that are wide open  for individual interpretation and consideration.  E.g.,  we are both Pro Life for all 6+ billion of us and are willing for the Death Penalty in certain cases for reason expressed elsewhere on this website.   We are not Pro Choice whereby a mother may decide on her own to abort the baby that God “knit together in mother’s womb” (Ps 139:13).   But only one of us, believes that after much prayer, listening to God  and voluntarily-accepted counsel of other knowledgeable humans, a mother yet may decide to abort a very severely impaired baby,  or after rape or incest, when she is below  the age of 12,  or when the life of the mother is in grave danger (especially when she has other dependent children).  So there seems room for loving, civil, discussions and differences.   If we cannot discuss wholesomely,  chances are we hold a very flawed view.               Draft  5/06

WEIGHT/FOOD LIMITING is needed by about 2/3rds of us in the USA.    Part of the problem  is that we do not tax gas enough to bring the cost up to international prices—about $4 a gallon--so we drive most places instead of walking.   And riding begets the easy life.  North Americans need more exercise (we too should do more than our 45 minutes every other day).     A climbing study revealed that lifting the knees above the hips lowered triglycerides and walking down steps lowered the blood sugars.    Almost everyone limits their food intake some of the time.  But we need to limit it consistently; about 99.9%!    For we can binge and intake more calories in 5 minutes than we need the whole day.    We need to strengthen the weak links in our behavior.   We need to remember that God sees all.    A great solution is Absolute and frequent Accountability,  which we Christians should know is a procedure that should be practiced:  before God,  our closest friends, and society—and for the benefit also of our children and future caretakers.   Most of us know that we should eat healthy food; veggies, fruits, fish and whole grain bread are biblical fare.  Few really consider that white flour  and simplex sugars   clog the immune process (though not as startling as adding sugar to our gas tanks).   Most know that being overweight fosters mobility limitations  and diseases,  but few realize that it is killing us minute by minute.   And that even the feasting/overeating  puts a terrific strain on our bodies and generally is evidence of gluttony and greed.  (We need realize that “neighbors” own the corporate restaurant.)   When we eat too much, we ARE taking food from others  and we are loving ourselves more than our neighbors.  Most would love a trim body, but few seriously consider that God designed us to maintain an optimum, healthy, useful shape and that He wants us to live to that form and in “moderation.”   That requires the discipline He expects us to use.   And He as well as our neighbors are judging us on our progress   While our neighbor may not say or think that,  he likely questions in himself whether we are living the Christian life   and does the Christ really help one to live properly.    CAUTION:  we can not judge a person’s spirituality on weight for we do not know 1) if the problems is glandular (about 2% of the population)  or 2)  if the person had just asked for forgiveness  or 3) has (re)committed to a plan to reduce.  To adhere to good eating is very difficult in our fast food, ad-filled economy,  but as we exercise discipline and  encourage one another, it can be done. Some hints we have found helpful are:  eat little of the fattening foods, eat small bites chewing and savor them, and lay down the fork after eat bite.      Never go back for seconds. (we need to remember this!) 

    HEALTH CARE    while not the #1 issue for the Christian, it is very important and perhaps 2^nd  in importance even to our God.  He frequently healed persons as an intro to forgiveness.    Our most repeated life verse/prayer is “Beloved,  may you prosper and be in good health, as your soul prospers”  (3Jo2).   Soul is #1.    And in praying for someone’s healing,  we always are more concerned for their immortal soul or the souls of  friends.

 If health is so important, then we should do all we can to improve it or at least keep it from “decaying…day by day” (2Cor4:16).  We in the Church should strive for health with at least as much fervor as praying for healing.   The OT contains many eating instructions,.  “But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales…you are to detest”  (Lev 11:10).  In part this is because shell fish retain more toxins in them and are often bottom feeders.   While the OT “ceremonial laws” are not mandatory under the NT covenant  (2 Cur 3:6: Col 2:16),   we know that they were and are helpful.    And we have many studies today that show that most adults in the USA eat much more “red meat” and food than is healthy;  we still do not know the full effects that  hamburgers and hot dogs have on the body development of our children—though we can theorize that it is not good. 

The Bible relates that in the last days there will be misuse and deception with  drugs/pharmakee- (Rev 9:21; 18:23).  Most are familiar with the great increase in illegal or street drugs since the ‘60s but only recently have we been made aware of the mishandling and deception of drugs companies and even the FDA.   At least 5 major drug cos. have been fined for misleading at least and the FDA, according to the Cato Institute has regulations that cost the USA about $350bil/yr., about double what it should.  Yet the FDA, according to its own administrators, lacks good control of a drug use once it has been approved

Almost all health care from  insurances or the government should have a modest percentage copay-- except for  poverty, rarities,  certain mandatory shots or testing, and Acts of God or Satan..  Some states do require copays.    Copay will slow many from taking undue advantage of the system—individuals, practitioners, hospitals, and drug companies.  Higher copays might lead to a greater reliance on faith and being more careful.   Further,  health insurances ought to be “rated”  and/or benefits paid based on the care which the person has taken of himself:  body fat %, smoking,  drinking, drugs,  dangerous activities like stock car racing,  mountain climbing,  extreme sports, and other dangerous health habits.   Health would greatly improve and costs reduced if persons had added reasons for caring. Most medical needs are related to lifestyle: habits, exercise, etc.   A State Senator and MD in MI is proposing lower client payments for non-smokers, immunizations, and health seminars.       3 GRPress 6/3/05  Tom George Kzo       Even churches should  encourage more responsible eating and living—and using “believing prayer,” James 5:13ff and other means of health care.   The New England Journal of Medicine  Feb 2005 reported studies revealing that testing of nearly all adults for HIV would be cost effective to reduce the spread of  HIV/AIDS.   Now with  MedicareRx  paying for Viagra and its kind,  the government is sadly supporting a lifestyle vs. health needs,  and it is encouraging older and often single men to get more “deeply involved” with a sexual partner(s).  While HIV drugs, stomach reduction, and cosmetic surgery  are useful to recover health in some instances,  their extensive medical treatment should not be government or insurance funded.

DANGEROUS  DRIVING   is just one concern of careless living.   Over 1/4^th of the adults in the USA are very interested in auto racing, such as NASCAR, even  many evangelicals.    Not all of them would consider racing,  but their interest promotes that activity,  which we find is almost  without benefit to man.     However, we  see press clippings and photos of “Faster Pastor” races being promoted; one had at least six pastors who were enticed, complete with suits.    #2  GRPress 5/7 05 d8     Various pastors are quoted as saying:  “It was a great thing for the [track] to do this; the thrill of a lifetime;  I loved it;  I was ready to go to another one;  I am going to work this into my Sunday sermon. …”    Some of the many reasons we find auto racing counterproductive should be evident:   Taking foolish chances with our bodies,  Tying up ambulances and police, Detracting from our mission; Misleading others as to what is important or helpful fun,   Assembling wild crowds,  Setting a pattern for youth to race, Making idols,  Materialism, Burning up precious gas, oil and rubber even by driving to and from the track,   Costly,  Polluting the air and drains,  Taking valuable land for the track/parking for a non-wholesome use,    Mistreating and often wrecking cars,

 OBITUARY DRAFTS      OUR OBITUARIES in the future and in full are likely to appear here,  modified as needed at death: