Health Care - what Gives?

As a person who has seen both universal(I grew up in Canada) and the current system here are a couple of my thoughts.

1. The Current System is Broken, it needs to be fixed!

2. Universal Health care and more taxes is not the solution.

3. Sure I have health insurance but why am I spending more for individual versus group? I have a family of 5 and pay a mortgage payment to get health insurance? what gives?

4. Why am I paying more when I pay so much already and am healthy? (see #3)

5. Why does it have to be a "Right"? Doesn't it have to be more of a responsibility to make sure you are taking care of yourself and your family?

6. Why all the fighting? Why does it turn into a Jr. High fight - that I'm right, you're wrong or "My party can beat up your party because our health care plan is better idea?"

7. Shouldn't health care look like what we're paying for? I mean what we pay for that our elected officials are getting?

8. I have a solution ... cut away all the bureaucracy and red tape. Get rid of the middle man. Let's just have our money for Health savings accounts. The doctors give us a flat fee for visits and have insurance for more costly procedures. Do away with all the lobbyist and red tape jobs.

9. Bring back Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman. Whatever happened to the local, friendly, doctor that made house calls?

10. Take away the Rich politicians health care and have them pay for it themselves with their own insurance and give all elected officials insurance to everyone else ... for FREE. From the local, state, federal elected officials. I think once they know they have to pay for their own healthcare they might rethink the plans they are proposing.

No matter what side of the aisle you are on in this issue - there isn't an easy solution - though I like to think there is.

There is No Crying in Youth Ministry

I wrote this on another blog a few years ago and thought to share here:

I think the newest line or oldest line in Youth Ministry "There's No Crying in Youth Ministry."

I've seen the tears. I've seen them not only from youth and emotions and hormones run wild but of youthworkers. Sure there are times to quit; sure there are times when the church abuses you; sure there are times when bad things happen but fact is - God doesn't want the weak to lead nor babies to keep focusing on the elementary things.

Youth Ministry isn't for whiners, criers, quitters, or is it a stepping stone, easy, all fun and games, babysitting, or for just the young or just the old.

Whiners need not apply!

There is NO Crying in Youth Ministry.

Youth Ministry is tough. Youth Ministry is for those that feel the call to love God's people that want to love God. Who see beyond themselves and see what God can do rather than what they can do on their own.

Youth Ministry isn't about gimmicks; being first; last or inbetween. It is about passion. It is about grace, mercy, forgiveness, pressing on, not looking back but stepping forward to see where God can take you and other people in being the Church where you are!

The problem is we have too many whiners in youth ministry. We have too many churches that just don't get what youth ministry is about. It isn't so much about teens, family, nor increasing the size of your group as it is as much about doing what God would have us to do.

It isn't for the weak, lame, those that want to do nothing but for those that can't depend upon themselves and can give none of the credit but to the Lord.

Basically Youth Ministry is more about Jesus and less about us. The more our churches get that point - the better off we'll be.

Stop Making Excuses!

People like to make Excuses. Excuses for anything. Especially for the Christian life and coming to the Worship Services.

Things like:

1. It is too hard.

2. Sunday is my day to sleep in (Umm there is this great invention its call the Sunday Afternoon nap, and who sleeps in to 10am?)

3. The Church services is boring. (Ever been to ours? It is far from boring - we're very much a low church congregation - laid back)

4. It is too hot. (WE have AC)

5. I don't know anyone. (You can come and meet new friends)

6. I don't like to dress up. (You don't have to - just wear clothes is all we ask)

7. There are too many hyprocrites there. (There is always room for one more - you're welcome too)

8. I don't know how to get there. (There is this wonderful invention called the Internet and Google maps ...)

9. I can worship at home by myself or just watch TV and watch those guys. (You can but do you? There is nothing like being around others worshipping HIM)

10. My dog ate my Bible. (That's ok - we have extras)

Any others?

We tend to make excuses, but the real issue comes down to the heart. Where are you and God? Do you even know Him?

Stand for the Weak!

Came across some of my old notes on a Youth Elective I did for CIY
(Christ In Youth) It was over 12 years ago. The theme was Stand. (I did an earlier Elective entitled: Stand on Your Ear - on Music)

In my Stand for the Weak ... I had Three points.

I.What is Weak? Definition.

II.Who are the Weak?

III. What are some ways we can serve and stand for the Weak?

Scriptures: Luke 10:25-36. Matt. 25:31-46.

3 E s.

There was a time (Back 5years ago) that a small band of people met in Chicago to see what can be done to help Hurting Youthworkers. (Hence my own writing on Hiring and Handling a Forced Exit due to my own journey as well)

Hard to believe that was over 5yrs ago.

We came up with a name: E3. Focusing on

effective, excellent, and enduring aspects of faithful youth ministry

Interesting enough is I really haven't used 3Es or points until this past weekend.

(Our little band kind of fell apart due to about 70& of the band had lost their own jobs and had struggles of their own ... Weird is later came YMX and some passionate people and other organizations came to light on this pastors in pain issue - especially youthworkers in pain. Though I still think there needs to be a book out there on Youth Pastors In Pain and addressing the Quiet Suffering that happens in firing a youthworker.)

So what 3Es came to me this past week?

To be Empowered by the Spirit.

To be Encouraged by the Word.

To be Enabled to do the work of the ministry.

Seemed to be a challenge for myself and others to lead where God is leading; listen to the Word; and don't give up!

My prayer is this post encourages you to do the same.

The 3 Things that make Up a Person!

I. Your Genetics. If born ugly - stay ugly. (Unless plastic surgery). You inherit the physical traits from your Mom and Dad.

II. The Environment. Influences such as family, friends, TV, radio, internet. People say music doesn't affect me ...really? So ... finish the following ...

Born to be ..........

Its fun to goto the Y M .....

Music and TV doesn't influence? So why do they spend millions on a 30 second commercial during the Superbowl if it doesn't have an influence? It does.

III. The Will. You choose to sin or not. sorry - No scapegoat. No time to blame others. We already play the blame game and make scapegoats enough. That's why we have talk shows. Things like "It wasn't my fault I killed 10 people - it was my parents." Actually it was. You killed 10 people because you choose to. You're an idiot and need to take responsibility for your actions.

Interesting enough on the day of judgment every deed, action will be revealed. Almost a youtube of our entire lives. No excuses. No blaming others. We have to take responsibility for what we do, say, and think. Let's start now.