Death by "dismemberment": How does God feel about healthcare?

Death by "dismemberment": How does God feel about healthcare?

It has proven to be a greater concern and painstaking issue for President Obama than the recession.
At this point, we’ve heard from every side on the issue: the Democrats, the Republicans, the moderates, the conservatives, and last Wednesday night, we heard from the President himself who attempted to slay the vicious rumors and conjecture of his harshest critics. Even church organizations have weighed in on the debate.
Yes, we’ve heard from every side – except one – the One. What is God’s opinion on the matter? Of course there is nothing in the Bible about healthcare and its reform. But there is something in God’s word about fairness and equality. That’s what the healthcare issue is truly about – fairness and equality.

We as Christians can not allow ourselves to be influenced by conjecture or uneducated guesses, but rather, by the Scriptures. That must be our focus as Christians – not rumors or speculations.

Before we go any further, read this excerpt from the latest report found on CNN.com –

“A freelance cameraman's appendix ruptured and by the time he was admitted to surgery, it was too late. A self-employed mother of two is found dead in bed from undiagnosed heart disease. A 26-year-old aspiring fashion designer collapsed in her bathroom after feeling unusually fatigued for days.
What all three of these people have in common is that they experienced symptoms, but didn't seek care because they were uninsured and they worried about the hospital expense, according to their families. All three died.
Research released this week in the American Journal of Public Health estimates that 45,000 deaths per year in the United States are associated with the lack of health insurance. If a person is uninsured, "it means you're at mortal risk," said one of the authors, Dr. David Himmelstein, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

The researchers examined government health surveys from more than 9,000 people aged 17 to 64, taken from 1986-1994, and then followed up through 2000. They determined that the uninsured have a 40 percent higher risk of death than those with private health insurance as a result of being unable to obtain necessary medical care. The researchers then extrapolated the results to census data from 2005 and calculated there were 44,789 deaths associated with lack of health insurance.

…The ranks of the uninsured have grown, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It says the number of Americans without health insurance rose to 46.3 million last year, up from 45.7 million in 2007. The percentage of the uninsured remained at 15.4 percent. Young adults are more likely to be uninsured.” (http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/18/deaths.health.insurance/index.html)
The above photo source for Elisabeth Machol, Sue Riek, and Paul Hannum is CNN.com

Now you understand why I named this piece “Death by dismemberment”. Though it sounds morbid, that is the case – 45,000 Americans died because they were not members of a health insurance plan. With many American households reduced to one steady source of income, the number of uninsured Americans is sure to rise.

What would God have to say about 45,000 people dying for lack of health insurance? What would He say about the number of uninsured people in this great nation that we say God has so richly blessed?

Is it acceptable that insurance companies profit while unfortunate families suffer or that members of Congress are given some of the best healthcare benefits known to mankind while the very Americans that employed those senators and representatives reap little or no benefits at all? Is that fair, is it right?

See my full article at http://www.examiner.com/x-15850-Charlotte-Baptist-Examiner~y2009m9d20-Death-by-dismemberment-How-does-God-feel-about-Healthcare

Let me know what you think.

The passing of a pop icon: A fan remembers Michael Jackson

June 25, 2009 was the day the earth actually stood still. Television ratings for CNN and other news networks went through the roof. It was the day that the internet literally shut down because of the tens millions that sought more information about Jackson’s sudden death. Though this page is specifically for religious issues in the Charlotte area, I felt that my first article should at least acknowledge the man who became the “King of Pop”. Michael Jackson seemed to validate, at least in part, the authenticity of the American Dream. He went further than anyone could imagine. He climbed higher than the human eye could see. He spread his wings and soared above issues of race, creed, or color, sending the barriers of prejudice and intolerance crashing downward engulfed in flames. And with only his great talents and sheer willpower, he set the world on its toes and made us dance; more importantly, he taught us how to dance together as a nation, as a planet, regardless of our skin tones. But no more. Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 2:26 p.m., Michael Jackson spread his wings for the last time and flew home.

He left no note, no words of goodbye. He only left us his music, his dance, his videos, and his memory to console us. We have cried, and some of us are still crying, we have mourned and some are still mourning, we have done all that we can do to shake the pain, the shock, and the dismay. But the grief hasn’t really left us. We watch his videos and smile, then we sob again because we know he won’t be back. We play his CDs and sing at the top of our lungs, and then we slump in a remote corner, whispering “I miss you Michael”. And those who didn’t care for him, those who hurled the accusations and spread the rumors, may ask, why are his fans in such disarray over his passing. But the answer is simple – because when Michael died, he took a piece of us with him and just as we can’t have him back, we can’t have that part of ourselves back again either. He represented our high school days, our graduation parties, our wedding receptions, our Friday nights on the dance floor, and our children’s births. We took him and his music everywhere with us and he helped us get through the bus ride to school and the long days at work. No matter how hard the task, no matter how bleak the situation, no matter how cold the night was, no matter how lifeless the party was, Michael uplifted us. When we couldn’t sink down any lower, he caused us to get up and bounce Off The Wall. When we fell into despair, he helped us to Beat It and when we lagged in boredom, he gave us a true Thriller. And just when our hopes sunk to the bowels of the earth, he showed us how to walk on the moon. He wasn’t merely an entertainer, he was another part of us, a part that we couldn’t touch, yet we could feel him. We couldn’t always see him, yet we could always see ourselves in him. You see, every Michael Jackson song brought back a memory, a joyous thought from some aspect of our lives.

And now, things will turn ugly; they have already. Allegations of prescription drug abuse, addiction to painkillers such as Demerol, track marks on his body, and requests for another autopsy by the Jackson family, will no doubt cause further speculation concerning Michael’s death. The possibly of custody battles over his three children and his estate because of his will purposely omitting his offspring’s’ mother, only adds to the media frenzy. And in the process, his perseverance as a pop icon will be challenged. No matter what derogatory statements have been made against him, Jackson’s influence on both American and international culture can not be denied or ignored. And now, his legacy and memorabilia is expected to surpass that of Elvis Presley and Graceland. Reportedly, Michael’s CDs are selling out all across the planet. His talent and success may never be equaled.

I have listened to and watched Michael for over 35 years and I'm still memorized by him. I have many memories linked to Michael’s music, but my fondest memory is from tonight - my 19 year old daughter and I had a rift between us for awhile now, but since his passing, we've talked more than we have in years. We stayed up most of the night watching his videos and we began reconnecting as we discussed our favorite Michael Jackson songs and videos. We found out that we had so much in common still and I'm thankful that she and I could remember Michael together as family - I am indebted to him. He brought people together during his life and now he's bringing people together through his death. As we mourn his passing, let's keep in mind that as long as we keep his memory alive, he's never truly gone. I leave you now with this quote:
“If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with”. Michael Jackson

Michael once said “The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work”. Here is a true master at work and the final video is my own tribute to MJ.

Michael's Memorial Moment

As sad an occassion as it was, Michael Jackson's memorial service was classy, tasteful, and completely honorable in my humble opinion. Though most people have noted 11 year old Paris' heart-felt and tearful speech to be the most significant and memorable moment, I also noted a few others as well. Without a doubt, Paris brought the entire arena to tears (even men were openly crying and rightfully so). However, I was also deeply moved by Stevie Wonder's comments and performances of "I never dreamed you'd leave in Summer" and "They won't go when I go" (one of my all time favorites among Stevie's tunes). I thought his performance were the best, but again, that's my humble opinion. But Usher brought a tear to my eye with his rendition of "Gone too soon", especially when he broke down at the end - for some reason, it seemed as if I could feel his pain. Michael meant a great deal to him and he knew that his mentor was gone forever. What was your tear-jerking moment?