40 Days for Life Day 6

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DAY 6 INTENTION
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Pray that those tempted to abort may understand
that their child is already present, and already a
real person.

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SCRIPTURE
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And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting
of Mary that the babe leaped in her womb; and
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said,
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the
fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For
indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting
sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb
for joy."

-- Luke 1:41-44

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REFLECTION
--------------------------------------------------

Jesus not only loves unborn children -- He was one
himself!

Think about this for a moment.

We often hear people speak of a pregnant mother by
saying, "She's expecting a child."

Now if one is expecting a package, the package is
not yet there.

As reflected in our verse for today, however, this
is not the case with the mother.

Her gift is already there.

The pregnant woman, a mother already, does not
have a child "on the way," but has a child,
already present and in full possession of his or
her human rights, starting with the right to life.

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PRAYER
--------------------------------------------------

Jesus, open my eyes to your presence in the life
of every child. Open my heart to joy in the birth
of every child, a birth that reflects the joy of
your own birth in Bethlehem.

As you shared life in the womb of Mary, so now
send your protection upon every child still in the
womb, and grant to their mothers the strength and
joy that comes from welcoming the gift of life. We
pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.

--------------------------------------------------

Let's give thanks to God for all the wondrous
things He is doing through this effort!

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

Shalom~~

40 Days for Life Day 5

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DAY 5 INTENTION
--------------------------------------------------

May God's justice sober our society; may mercy
triumph over judgment.

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SCRIPTURE
--------------------------------------------------

Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a
reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will
require it, and from the hand of man. From the
hand of every man's brother I will require the
life of man.

Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall
be shed; for in the image of God He made man.

-- Genesis 9:5-6

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REFLECTION
--------------------------------------------------

The value of every human being can hardly be seen
more clearly than with this verse. God, the King
of the universe, has created all human beings in
his image, and declares forthrightly that shedding
the blood of any individual will require the blood
of the one who shed it.

God's concern for human beings is not limited to
any particular group. Indeed, his concern is
universal, and includes male and female, young and
old, born and unborn, disabled and able-bodied,
the citizens of every nation on earth.

Abortion, the deliberate killing of the unborn, is
the shedding of innocent blood. Surely the blood
of millions upon millions of innocent children
cries out to God.

It is true that we live in an age of grace, and
yet this passage (among many other texts which
express similar sentiments) should give every
thinking Christian pause.

Christians of all people, entrusted with the Word
of God as we are, must take a stand. We must speak
out. We must do all that we can to protect the
innocent, to pursue justice, and to encourage the
repentance of all those who bear responsibility
for this great evil.

Only in this manner can we hope to forestall the
judgment that must otherwise surely come.

This passage should also be seen as an
encouragement to educate and disciple our children
and grandchildren about what it means to be human,
and the responsibility that will become theirs in
this ongoing struggle.

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PRAYER
--------------------------------------------------

O Father, forgive us for our lack of courage and
our want of compassion for the unborn and for
those lost and hurt by abortion. Fill us anew with
your Spirit.

Renew our minds, strengthen us in righteousness,
help us be people of salt and light within our
nation.

May every human being, from conception to natural
death, be treated with the respect due those made
in your image. We ask this in the name of Jesus
Christ, Amen. Amen
--------------------------------------------------

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shalom~~

40 Days for Life Day 4

Today's reflection instructs us to put on the full armor of God. This is so very important whenever we engage in spiritual warfare. We can cover ourselves and our families. If you are not familiar with this or have never done this, please read the reflection below very carefully and learn how to put on the full armor. Then put it on in prayer and be a warrior for Jesus.


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DAY 4 INTENTION
--------------------------------------------------

Pray that we each will daily put on the full armor
of God, so that we are strong in the Lord and the
power of His might.

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SCRIPTURE
--------------------------------------------------

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places.

Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand.

-- Ephesians 6:12-13

--------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION
--------------------------------------------------

I am confounded to see how the battle over the
issue of life is perceived more often in churches
today as political rather than spiritual.

Ironically, the enemy has used this twisted
perception to silence many in the body of Christ.

We must see the battle for what it is and we must
daily "put on" the armor God has given us:

-->> Gird your waist with Truth (vs. 14) -- Commit
your emotions to believe truth and to speak truth,
regardless of the repercussions.

-->> Put on the breastplate of Righteousness (vs.
14) -- It will protect our hearts -- the innermost
springs of our beings -- from all unrighteousness
so evident in this fallen world.

-->> Shod your feet with the preparation of the
Gospel of Peace. (vs. 15) -- Preparation is vital
if we are to be effective in God's work.

-->> Taking the shield of faith (vs.16) -- The
Accuser will instill doubt, fear, and guilt. Faith
acts as an invisible shield that deflects such
false accusations.

-->> Taking the Helmet of salvation (vs.17) -- A
helmet protects the head, the brain and in turn
our mind and thoughts. Satan hopes we will set
aside divine revelation for human reasoning.

-->> Taking the sword of the Spirit (vs.17) -- The
Word of God, the only offensive weapon in this
armor, was used by the Lord Jesus against Satan.
The living Word is powerful and effective.

Our armor is complete. We are ready to wage war,
and the next verse tells us how, "Praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the spirit."
(vs.18)

--------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
--------------------------------------------------

Dear Lord, as you lead us into the spiritual
battle of abortion may we be reminded that the
battle is truly Yours. Thank you for hearing our
requests for direction and protection. Thank you
for the victory that is ours because of Your Son
Jesus and in His name, Amen.

--------------------------------------------------

Let's press on with the full armor of God!

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

Shalom~

40 Days for Life Day 3

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DAY 3 INTENTION
--------------------------------------------------

May God's people understand that the Lazarus of
the 21st Century is the unborn child, and respond
accordingly.

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SCRIPTURE
--------------------------------------------------

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and
fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his
gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with
sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich
man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his
sores.

The time came when the beggar died and the angels
carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also
died and was buried. In hell, where he was in
torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away,
with Lazarus by his side.

So he called to him, "Father Abraham, have pity on
me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger
in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony
in this fire."

But Abraham replied, "Son, remember that in your
lifetime you received your good things, while
Lazarus received bad things, but now he is
comforted here and you are in agony.

"And besides all this, between us and you a great
chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go
from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over
from there to us."

-- Luke 16:19-31

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REFLECTION
--------------------------------------------------

The rich man did not go to hell because he was
rich. He went to hell because he ignored the other
man. He thought that because Lazarus had less,
that he was worth less.

He failed to recognize that Lazarus was his
brother. Lazarus was waiting at the door of the
rich man for scraps of food; the Lazarus of our
day, the unborn child, is waiting at the door of
the womb for birth itself.

God does not only prohibit aborting the unborn; he
prohibits ignoring them.

--------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
--------------------------------------------------

Father, I thank you for the life that I possess,
and for the birth that you granted me. I hear the
cries of the Lazarus of our day; I see them
sitting at the door.

Grant that I may never ignore them, and that
through this 40 Days for Life campaign, I may stir
many others to pay attention to them as well.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

--------------------------------------------------

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

Shalom~

40 Days for Life Day 2

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DAY 2 INTENTION
--------------------------------------------------

May the King of the Universe, who entered this
world as a helpless infant, give us the humility
to be healed.

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SCRIPTURE
--------------------------------------------------

My power is made perfect in weakness.

-- 2 Corinthians 12:9

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REFLECTION
--------------------------------------------------

The great mystery of the Humility of God is very
near and dear to the mission of those serving in
pro life and in a special way, post abortion
ministries across this nation.

For those wounded by their participation in
abortion, the door to healing often feels like
crossing an abyss of great fear: fear of judgment,
fear of being torn apart by the pain, by self
hatred and rage at those who hurt and abandoned
you, and manipulated you in your time of
temptation.

For men in particular, entering the unknown waters
of emotional vulnerability, so necessary to
healing calls for a different kind of courage that
feels deceptively like weakness.

The door to healing is humility.

It is born in the inability to no longer control
the pain, to live with the consequences of that
tragic decision to reject life. The hearts cries
out, "I have committed a grave offense against my
Creator and I am consumed by regret, grief and
sorrow!"

During these forty days let us pray for all who
have participated in abortion and with love call
them to healing and reconciliation. With healing
these women and men can become as John Paul II
proclaimed in the Gospel of Life, "the most
eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life."

Jesus proclaimed, "I am the Vine, you are the
branches" (John 15:5). To bear the greatest fruit,
the branches must be pruned. Each level of pruning
of the vine requires a deeper level of humility so
that we can abandon ourselves to His will.

This is not a lofty theological concept as much as
it is an earthy experience of pulling weeds,
tilling rocky soil, pruning and healing the vines.
"If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny
his very self, take up his cross, and begin to
follow in my footsteps" (Matthew 16:24).

--------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
--------------------------------------------------

Lord, during these forty days, we ask that with
each day of this sacred vigil, everything in us
that separates us from your perfect will would be
pruned from our hearts and souls.

In this blessed freedom may we experience a
powerful anointing of your Holy Spirit. Filled
with confidence and trust may we proclaim with the
mother of Jesus, "Let it be done to me, according
to your Word." In Jesus Name, Amen.

--------------------------------------------------

May God richly bless everyone who is sacrificing
their comfort and convenience to "speak up for
those who cannot speak for themselves!"

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

Shalom~

40 Days For Life Day 1

David Beriet is sponsoring another 40 Days for Life Campaign. It will run from Good Friday to Easter. If you do something special during lent perhaps this would be something you would consider doing. If you chose to participate in these divotions you will honor God, be of great benefit to the world and bring yourself closer to God.

The prayers at the end of the devotions are some of the best examples of what it means to humble yourself and pray! May you be blessed as you participate.
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DAY 1 INTENTION
--------------------------------------------------

For God's blessing upon the coming 40 Days for
Life campaign.

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SCRIPTURE--------------------------------------------------

If My people who are called by My name will humble
themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn
from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.

-- 2 Chronicles 7:14

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REFLECTION--------------------------------------------------

Not unlike God's chosen people of Israel, we must
humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn
from our wicked ways, if we expect God to hear
from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land.

The need for repentance has not been greater since
the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade in 1973.
The number one cause of death in America is the
needless sacrifice of our children at the altar of
convenience called abortion. Conservative
estimates put the number of deaths at nearly 48
million.

And lest we think this is an issue outside the
church walls, 43 percent of women obtaining
abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and
27 percent identify themselves as Catholic. One in
four women has at least one abortion by the age of
45 -- both non-Christian and Christian alike.
Where was the voice of Truth -- the church?

Mary Comm of In Our Midst Ministries, Inc. sums up
the issue best as she writes, "We (the church)
have been an unintentional accomplice to the
millions of lives lost and to the multiplied
millions of lives devastated by abortion. We
didn't want them to abort. We didn't mean for them
to abort. But, because of our lack of knowledge,
because of our fear, we have continued to stand by
and do nothing."

"We, God's hands and feet in this dark and hurting
world, have been an unintentional, unknowledgeable
accomplice, but an accomplice nonetheless."

May today mark the beginning of change within the
church, as God's people, in unity, seek His
forgiveness.

--------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
--------------------------------------------------

Heavenly Father, we have turned our backs on you
and your principles in your Word. We have allowed
man to usurp Your role as God over life and the
number of our days.

But we come to you in brokenness and repentance
over our sin.

We cry out for Your mercy and ask you to remove
the scourge of abortion from our land. Use us as
your vessels, Lord, to bring the light of Your
Truth to our nation once again. Because of Christ
and in His Name we pray, Amen.

--------------------------------------------------

Yours for Life,

David Bereit

Shalom

February 5th Primary Day

Super Tuesday is upon us. If for any reason you cannot vote in the Super Tuesday primary elections, RUN to the voter registration link on our Home Page and register!!! It is too late to register in time to vote on Super Tuesday but, it is SOOOO important that you register NOW so you CAN vote in the November elections!!!!!

PRAY: for candidates that are God-fearing, pro-life, pro-marriage, and pro-family to get each parties nomination and be supported and find favor and ultimately be elected in all local, state, and national campaigns. Pray against media and special interest manipulation and against dirty tricks from succeeding during this election cycle. Ask God to expose corruption, immorality, bribery, the occult, and hidden anti-biblical agendas and pray that the electorate will not vote for those who practice the same. PRAY that all Christians will register to vote and will participate in the election process.

The New York Family Policy Council exists to reaffirm and promote the traditional family unit and the Judeo-Christian value system upon which it is built. Use the information below to cast an educated vote.

Obama & Clinton, Huckabee, Romney, McCain

On abortion:
pro-choice, pro-life, pro-life, pro-life

On Federal Marriage Protection Ammendment:
Opposed, Supports, Supports, Opposed

On Embryonic Stem Cell Research Taxpayer funding
that destroys Human Embryos:
Supports, Opposed, Opposed, Supports

On appointing Originalist Judges to Federal
Courts: Opposed, Supports, Supports, Supports

On Taxes: Pledge not to raise Taxes:
Not Signed, Signed, Signed, Not Signed

On Iraq: Immediate Troop Withdrawal:
Supports, Opposed, Opposed, Opposed

On drilling oil in ANWR:
Opposed, Supports, Supports, Opposed

Clinton & Obama, Huckabee, Romney, McCain

On Illegal Immigration support beyond emergency care:
Supports, Supports, Opposed, Supports

On Education: No Child Left Behind:
Opposed, Supports, Supports, Supports

On Health Care: Health Savings Accounts:
Opposes, Supports, Supports, Supports

On Secure Borders:
Obama Supports, Clinton no info,
Huckabee no info, Romney, McCain Support

*This information was obtained from Advance USA a www.advanceusa.org.
This is information only, not an endorsement of any candidate.
The New York Family Policy Council neither endorses nor opposes candidates or political parties.


Shalom~~

President Bush agrees to "The Final Status Plan"

Israel, our closest ally, our sister democracy, is being sold out by the United States and by President George Bush. George Bush is in Israel right now laying the ground work for "The Final Status Plan". Dr. Michael D. Evans reports, "The Plan" calls for Palestine to be a state within one year, with East Jerusalem as the capital. This "Final Status Plan" calls for vigorous, unceasing, aggressive negotiations that would end in the creation of a two-state region by the end of 2008."

Bush wants to accomplish this before he leaves office. He has been working feverishly toward this end at the Annapolis Summit and now in Israel. While at the Annapolis Summit, President Bush agreed in what is called "The Final Status Plan" to divide Jerusalem before the end of his term. He has also demanded that Israel halt construction in the settlements for refugees. The plan is to turn those settlements over to the PLO. This is an absolute outrage.

What could our Christian President possibly be thinking? Some think that President Bush believes the Palestinian cause is the root of Islamic hatred for America. They suggest that Bush's advisors are telling him that this agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will affect his legacy in a positive way. How wrong can they be??? Why is George W. Bush so consumed by his legacy that he would sacrifice Jerusalem and hundreds of thousands of innocent Jews to attain his goal? Israel would have to give up the Temple Mount, the Western Wall in East Jerusalem and evacuate most of the strategic West Bank which would leave it vulnerable to rocket attacks in Tel Aviv and at its international airport. I am appalled that it appears that President Bush believes the Palestinian cause is the root of Islamic hatred for America.

HISTORY
The Annapolis Peace Summit, which took place last summer, was the first international peace conference since the U.S. organized the Madrid Peace Summit at the end of Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The Madrid Summit destroyed the economy of Israel and caused the overthrow of the the Israeli government. Furthermore, we [the U.S.] froze $10 billion in loan guarantees to Israel resulting in tens of thousands of destitute Russian Jewish immigrants being forced to sleep in tents because of a lack of housing. Also, as a result of the Madrid Summit, Israel was ultimately forced to give up more that 80 villages and towns, including Jericho, Hebron, and Bethlehem. Bethlehem!!! [Bethlehem has continued to be under Muslim control ever since.] With friends like the U.S. who needs enemies? For an encore we are forging ahead with "The Final Status Plan".

The U.S. is not the only nation in favor of "The Final Status Plan". Saudi Arabia the UN, the EU, Russia, China, and the Arab League also favor "The Plan". Saudi Arabia and the Arab League invented the original plan, The Road Map to Peace [see my first ever blog]. The Road Map was designed to force Israel to the bargaining table. Ariel Sharon had asked for 14 amendments to the Road Map which Secretary of State Colin Powell flatly refused. Phase Two of the Road Map was to be the dismantling of all terror organizations and their infrastructures. HAMAS, Islamic Jihad, al-Aksa Martyrs Brigade and others would have been forced to turn over all illegal weapons and stop terror incitement. Phase Two was never implemented by Abbas. Quite the opposite occurred: HAMAS took over Gaza: Abbas' own terror organization, Fatah and al-Aksa Martyrs Brigade continue to kill Jews.

ITS TIME TO ACT:
President Clinton attempted to divide Jerusalem in January 2001, before the end of his term of office. He almost succeeded. Now President Bush is pushing a plan to divide Jerusalem and relinquish the Temple Mount, Christian holy sites and half of the old city. The UN, EU, Russia, China, Arab League have united with the U.S. and are in favor of "The Final Status Plan". We must do everything in our power in prayer and action to stop this. If we are a party to this plan, which we [the U.S] certainly are, we will reap God's judgment. Joel 3:2 states, "I will gather all nations . . . there I will enter into judgment against them concerning My inheritance, My people Israel, for they scattered My people among the nations and divided up My land." Jerusalem has certainly become a "cup of trembling".
PRAY:
Pray that the U.S. has nothing to do with the plan to divide Israel and Jerusalem. Ask God for mercy and to spare you and your family from His judgment if the U.S. continues to be a party the plan to divide Jerusalem and Israel.
TAKE ACTION
*Call the Presidential Comment Line: 202.456.111
*Tell President Bush that the plan he is pursuing will lead to judgment for him and the United States.
*Ask him to withdraw his support for "The Final Status Plan".
*Tell him that backing "The Plan" will not gain the U.S. favor with the terrorist nations but will backfire and unify radical Islam against Israel and the United States.

And by the way, Shalom~

Social Security Preservation Act H.R. 219

Almost everyday I get something in the mail regarding saving Social Security, most of the mailings are from organizations that I am not familiar with. Today I got something from Traditional Values Coalition. I trust them as a reliable source of information and therefore I will relate to you their facts about Social Security and the Social Security Trust Fund.

You may remember that when Al Gore was running for President he wanted to put the Social Security Trust Fund in a "locked box". That sounded like a good idea to me then and it still sounds like a good idea. The problem is that there are people who say that there is no trust fund only a bunch of IOUs. If they are right the locked box would be empty. Others say there is a trust fund but it will be out of money in 2009, and others in 2017. Most young people believe that there won't be any Social Security for them. That does not have to be so, but read on.

The Washington Post reports that there is a Social Security surplus, but that Congress spends it every year and that in four years we will have a budgetary squeeze that will require new taxation or new borrowing.

In a different article the Washington Post says there is in reality a trust fund but in "this year alone [2008], the government will take in nearly $173 billion in payroll taxes that it will spend on programs other than Social Security. [Perhaps the war in Iraq.] [Other sources state $186 BILLION.]

For those dollars borrowed from Social Security taxes, the Social Security Administration receives Treasury bonds equal in value plus interest. When Social Security benefits surpass Social Security taxes, between 2018 and 2020, the Social Security Administration will begin redeeming those trust fund assets, which will peak at nearly $6.6 trillion.

Once redemption begins, future administrations will have to make good on their IOUs, or risk a potentially destabilizing default on U.S. sovereign debt.

To redeem those bonds, the government will have three choices: raise taxes, cut spending or borrow more money."

All this information is very troubling. The primary problem is Congressional spending. Why does Congress spend Social Security money on other programs? When the Social Security laws were written were there no safeguards or guidelines for spending the money collected and limiting there use to the purpose for which they were collected -- Social Security Benefits? Evidently not.

Traditional Values Coalition reports that Congress has been raiding the Social Security Trust Fund for personal political self-interest for 20 years. TWENTY YEARS! They report ". . . many Americans don't know our politicians have already taken and spent a whopping $2.071 TRILLION from the Social Security Trust Fund . . ."

Both my husband and I receive Social Security Benefits. When I hear candidates say they want to revamp the Social Security benefits, scale them down, to balance the budget by reducing benefits, a shiver goes down my back. If you are not at retirement age yet, let me tell you, when you are at retirement age you will need every benefit you ever thought of having.

When you hit 65, you will have to start paying around $100.00 a month for Medicare Part B (Part A is free)and you will also need to start paying for Part D, your drug coverage. That $100.00 for Part B is deducted from your Social Security check. Right now, there is a huge doughnut hole in the Medicare Benefits. Under the standard plan the government picks up the bulk of drug costs only until the beneficiary and the government together have spent $2,250 for the year. At that point, you enter the doughnut hole where you must pay 100 percent of the cost of your medication. When you have spent a total of $3,600 of your own money (That's $7,200 for a couple over 65.), you reach the other side of the doughnut. Then the federal subsidy resumes, paying 95 percent of any additional expenses. The doughnut hole is a tremendous problem for seniors 65 and over. In fact, it spells financial disaster for many seniors. Some seniors could have to spend all the money they get from Social Security on medication alone.

Cutting the Social Security Benefits to balance the budget is NOT a good idea. Lowering Social Security Benefits or eliminating them altogether would bankrupt many seniors.

We don't have to stand by and wring our hands. There is something we can do. There is legislation that has been introduced that would prohibit politicians in Washington from taking our Social Security savings out of the Social Security Trust Fund and spending it on their pet special interest programs. It is called The Social Security Preservation Act (H.R. 219). Traditional Values Coalition reports that ". . . passing H.R. 219 would immediately stop Washington Politicians from robbing the money hard-working taxpayers have contributed to their Social Security retirement, and would:
*Create enough surplus funds to pay all Social security benefits for
many, many decades to come.
*Keep politicians from cutting present Social Security benefits, and
*Stop politicians from raising our taxes."
*require 100% of our Trust Fund money be saved.

Why haven't we heard about this before and why hasn't Congress passed this bill into law? It appears that our elected officials care more about their own reelection and their own welfare than the welfare of their constituents. TVA says, "Politicians are keeping their mouths shut about their shameful and reckless waste of money that is supposed to be SAVED in the Social Security Trust Fund. Instead, they are scaring the present and future retirees with talks of benefit cuts and tax hikes, rather than cutting themselves off from raiding the Social Security Trust Fund "till."'

"Government Officials want to reserve the Social Security Trust Fund savings for "special interest" spending projects as favors to those who will help them get reelected. So far they've spent $2.071 TRILLION of our Social Security Trust Fund money for projects like:
*a $50 million indoor rainforest in Ohio
*$223 million for a "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska
*$800,000 for an outhouse"

Our politicians don't want us to know that they are squandering the Social Security Trust Fund and putting the "golden years" of a majority of Americans in jeopardy. It is scandalous and immoral for politicians to be squandering our Social Security Trust Fund money. We must make them stop. We need a great grassroots movement to do so. What Can You Do?

PRAY
Pray for the passage of HR 219, The Social Security Preservation Act.
TAKE ACTION
Call your Representative and urge him/her to vote for HR 219.
Washington Switchboard: 202.224.3121
If you don't know who your Representative is, tell the operator your zip code and she/he will connect you with your Representative's office.

Tell your friends and neighbors about HR 219.
Ask them to pray for HR 219 to pass into law.
Ask them to call their Representatives.

We can and we must preserve Social Security.
Shalom~

Stem Cell Research

FRC has an update on the pluripotent stem cells made from skin cells that make embyronic skin cells obsolete. The argument given to congressional Representatives is that only pluripotent stem cells work on all types of cells and therefore, pluripotent stem cells are the only stem cells worthy of research. Until now, the only cells that were pluripotent were Embryonic Stem Cells (ESC). In actuality, you can get stem cells that will treat similar cells in the body from a wide variety of different sources in the body. The entire body is covered from the many sources of adult stem cell. With iPS (Skin Stem Cells) the argument for ESC research is more of a mote point than ever. Representatives can now funnel money into iPS research and abandon giving money to those who are doing ESC research.

It is sad that some research scientists still want to continue research on ESC. You will find FRC's article timely and informative.

"iPS Success: Hardly Skin Deep
From the looks of it, 2008 is shaping up to be the year of the stem cell. The news that researchers had developed embryonic-type stem cells from ordinary skin cells is still sending tremors through the scientific and political communities.

In the brief two months since the announcement, the success with induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells has been replicated by three research teams. One such group, comprised of scientists from Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston, managed to extract skin cells from a volunteer rather than relying on commercial laboratories to grow the cells. Elsewhere, a new technology developed by Columbia's Osiris Therapeutics is putting the finishing touches on Prochymal, a drug created from adult stem cells that may soon treat everything from gastrointestinal disorders to heart attacks.

Yet despite this surge of principled progress, some embryonic stem cell (ESC) supporters are still clinging to a method that may soon be obsolete [Certainly immoral]*. California's Institute of Regenerative Medicine easily houses the greatest number of these scientific holdouts, including President Richard Murphy. Although many of his colleagues are abandoning the ESC approach in favor of iPS, Murphy says, "We still think human embryonic stem cells are the gold standard."

Before making such statements, perhaps Dr. Murphy should have read a copy of FRC's new Insight paper, "Adult Stem Cell Success Stories--2007." Authored by our own Dr. David Prentice, Bill Saunders, and Michael Fragoso, "Success Stories" catalogues the medical treatments using ethical alternatives that appeared in scientific literature throughout 2007. The scoreboard count of such successes is now 73, while successful embryonic stem cell treatments continue to hold steady at--zero.

Additional Resources Adult Stem Cell Success Stories-2007 Update "

*[my comment]

Pray for the acceptance of the iPS cells in the scientific community. Pray that government officials will stop funding ESC research and will funnel money in to iPS research. Pray for the success of iPS based medication to cure a great number of diseases.

Shalom~~