"Dr. Jones' office, can I help you today? Excuse me for saying 'today'. The earliest we could possibly see you would be December. Before we make you an appointment I will need to ask you a few questions. I hope you have insurance because if you don't, I will have to turn you into the IRS. The first offense I believe is 2500 dollars. I f this is your second offense, you may receive up to six months in jail. I'm not sure of the details, but I thought you should be informed..Oh you have insurance, that's great.
I only have a few more questions. How old are you? 66, oh."
"Why did you say oh?"
"Well if you are 66, you must be on medicare"
"So"
"Well I thought you said you have insurance."
"Isn't medicare insurance?"
The receptionist can hardly control her laughter.
"Medicare is insurance like monopoly money is money. Do you know anyone who will take monopoly money in payment for a bill you owe? "
" I have good news for you, there are no more questions to answer. You probably ought to look for a burial policy instead of a doctor. Have a great day...click"
Monday, March 22, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Ground Hog is coming out before his day. Nothing like a Scott heard round the world to surface those in hibernation. Two quakes have awakened me: one a disaster of mammoth proportion and another metaphorical quake that has been felt throughout America and particularly in Washington D.C..
I. HAITI--The death and devastation are beyond imagination. Seasoned reporters and military personnel confirm that they've never seen anything like it. Such natural disasters remind us of the fragility of life and hopefully compel us to begin experiencing life differently than maybe we have in the past. Let us not take for granted our security and the presence of our family and friends. In a moment, in the twinkling of the eye, all can be snatched from us and them.
Is such a disaster what insurance companies call an act of God? Apparently such a description would be approved by Pat Robertson. Mr. Robertson said Haiti had been placed under a curse because of a pact it made with the Devil. Upon hearing Robertson's comments, I couldn't help but wonder why God decided to punish one of the poorest countries in the world when wealthy, powerful countries were just as evil if not more so and they get a pass. Does God discriminate against the poor and ignorant while showing favoritism to the rich and powerful? If I had such thoughts, I would have to believe that unbelievers would be led to ask the same question. "Wannabe prophets" constantly present obstacles to belief by idenitfying their own conclusions with the mind of God. Those who rush to interpret history and acts of nature as the consequence of evil are in danger of making themselves god. I don't believe God has appointed Mr. Robertson to be his word to the world. Only His Son can speak authoritatively for God and He has done so. Haiti is never mentioned by Jesus. However, Jesus does say in John 9 that some are wrong in assuming that the blind man was blind because of his sin. Rather he said that the blindness presented an opportunity for believers to reveal God to the blind man through their love and service. Christians should join with people of good will around the world in seeking to reveal God and His love in the midst of incredible pain and loss.
2. QUAKE 2: Massachusetts election for senate seat
A growing wave of anxiety and anger has reached the hallowed grounds of the center of liberalism's power. A place where the royal Kennedy family have presided for nearly 50 years. Who could have predicted the outcome of this election two months ago when the winner was trailing by 30 points. As the wave reached Ma. and passed through Boston a miracle occurred. A Republican senator was elected for the first time in nearly 60 years. Was this God's doing, as some claim Haiti was His doing? If so, will that mean that the next Democrat who wins a senate seat will have won because of God willing it? Folks Democrats and Republicans alike pray in order to make a difference, but the difference that is made is known only to God. We must be careful in offering conclusions that are ours as though they were God's. Such caution does not mean that we live as though God is not involved, it means instead that we will not presume to know the mind of God when He has not revealed it to us. Its fine for us to have faith, but there is a difference between my faith and God's knowledge and actions. I trust God with my future, but I don't always know what He is doing in that future. I trust Him because of what has been documented in the past. I trust Him because of what Jesus has revealed to humanity of His nature and character. I know He keeps His promises and if He says, "NEVER WILL I LEAVE YOU, NEVER WILL I FORSAKE YOU" then I can say "THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME" (Heb 13: 5,6).
What I have learned from the election is how little we know about the future. Where is the expert that two months ago predicted a Scott Brown victory? Paul asked the Corinthians "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the Philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"(1 Cor. 1: 20)
He has the whole world in His hands, but I don't know what tomorrow brings for I don't have God's will in my Hands or mind. Nature can produce disasters of biblical proportion, but without a commentary such as the prophets of old to tell us what role God plays and what role humans and natural law play, we are left with the need to simply trust God. Since the world and 6billion plus people are more than I can handle, I'm glad to leave both in the hands of someone big enought to handle it.
I. HAITI--The death and devastation are beyond imagination. Seasoned reporters and military personnel confirm that they've never seen anything like it. Such natural disasters remind us of the fragility of life and hopefully compel us to begin experiencing life differently than maybe we have in the past. Let us not take for granted our security and the presence of our family and friends. In a moment, in the twinkling of the eye, all can be snatched from us and them.
Is such a disaster what insurance companies call an act of God? Apparently such a description would be approved by Pat Robertson. Mr. Robertson said Haiti had been placed under a curse because of a pact it made with the Devil. Upon hearing Robertson's comments, I couldn't help but wonder why God decided to punish one of the poorest countries in the world when wealthy, powerful countries were just as evil if not more so and they get a pass. Does God discriminate against the poor and ignorant while showing favoritism to the rich and powerful? If I had such thoughts, I would have to believe that unbelievers would be led to ask the same question. "Wannabe prophets" constantly present obstacles to belief by idenitfying their own conclusions with the mind of God. Those who rush to interpret history and acts of nature as the consequence of evil are in danger of making themselves god. I don't believe God has appointed Mr. Robertson to be his word to the world. Only His Son can speak authoritatively for God and He has done so. Haiti is never mentioned by Jesus. However, Jesus does say in John 9 that some are wrong in assuming that the blind man was blind because of his sin. Rather he said that the blindness presented an opportunity for believers to reveal God to the blind man through their love and service. Christians should join with people of good will around the world in seeking to reveal God and His love in the midst of incredible pain and loss.
2. QUAKE 2: Massachusetts election for senate seat
A growing wave of anxiety and anger has reached the hallowed grounds of the center of liberalism's power. A place where the royal Kennedy family have presided for nearly 50 years. Who could have predicted the outcome of this election two months ago when the winner was trailing by 30 points. As the wave reached Ma. and passed through Boston a miracle occurred. A Republican senator was elected for the first time in nearly 60 years. Was this God's doing, as some claim Haiti was His doing? If so, will that mean that the next Democrat who wins a senate seat will have won because of God willing it? Folks Democrats and Republicans alike pray in order to make a difference, but the difference that is made is known only to God. We must be careful in offering conclusions that are ours as though they were God's. Such caution does not mean that we live as though God is not involved, it means instead that we will not presume to know the mind of God when He has not revealed it to us. Its fine for us to have faith, but there is a difference between my faith and God's knowledge and actions. I trust God with my future, but I don't always know what He is doing in that future. I trust Him because of what has been documented in the past. I trust Him because of what Jesus has revealed to humanity of His nature and character. I know He keeps His promises and if He says, "NEVER WILL I LEAVE YOU, NEVER WILL I FORSAKE YOU" then I can say "THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME" (Heb 13: 5,6).
What I have learned from the election is how little we know about the future. Where is the expert that two months ago predicted a Scott Brown victory? Paul asked the Corinthians "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the Philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"(1 Cor. 1: 20)
He has the whole world in His hands, but I don't know what tomorrow brings for I don't have God's will in my Hands or mind. Nature can produce disasters of biblical proportion, but without a commentary such as the prophets of old to tell us what role God plays and what role humans and natural law play, we are left with the need to simply trust God. Since the world and 6billion plus people are more than I can handle, I'm glad to leave both in the hands of someone big enought to handle it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)