An Email Sent to Me Today ... Supposed to be a Simple Fix for America's Economic Problems

Shazzam! All fixed! Bush was so stupid, he never thought of this. It only takes:

$40 mil To Fix The Economy
"This is from an article in the St. Petersburg Times Newspaper.

The Business Section asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?"

Seems like this guy nailed it!

Dear Mr. President:

Please find below my suggestion for fixing America 's economy. Instead of giving billions of dollars to companies that will squander the money on lavish parties, travel and unearned bonuses, use the following plan. You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:

• There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force. Pay them $1 million apiece severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:
• 1) They MUST retire. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.
• 2) They MUST buy a new American CAR. Forty million cars ordered -Auto Industry fixed
• 3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed.
• It can't get any easier than that! If more money is needed, have all members of Congress and their constituents pay their taxes...
• If you think this would work, please forward to everyone you know.
• If not, please disregard. "

Is this a test? It sounds ok on the surface, with it's digs at the Wall Street thieves, but NO, I don't think this plan would work. I think I will disregard it!

First, if there are 40 Million people over fifty years old in the workforce, who like myself, are doing jobs that require some level of skill and knowledge of the field, I promise you that you are going to be hard pressed to find 400,000 people to fill their shoes, much less 40,000,000. Have you ever noticed that there are always job vacancies available, but often they are in specialized fields that not everyone can fill?

Second, If you have $40 million, that would only provide a $1 million check for 40 people. Or a $1.00 check for all 40 million people. I can't retire on a dollar.
1,000,000 x 40,000,000 = 40,000,000,000,000. That's 40 Trillion. The plan below would cost $40 Trillion. That's more than we can produce as a nation in ten years.

Hey..... Wait a minute! I think the Obama administration might go for this! Contrary facts and feasibility (or the lack thereof) do not seem to bother them too much. Be careful! Before you know it, there will be a big fight in the media among the Democrats and a few of the Republicans, over who came up with this plan first!

It's like what happened earlier this year. On April 15, this year ('09). A reporter-ette from MSNBC mocked the the Tea Party protesters for claiming that stimulus spending would cause tax increases. She kept quoting the president that no one who makes less than $250,000 a year would pay more taxes. She yelled at one who had a sign that said, "Don't Tax Away Our Freedoms" and she said, "What does raising taxes have to do with freedom, anyway?" She wasn't even smart enough to be embarrassed. (I was embarrassed for her.) "Hey Lady!" I was yelling at the tv set, "Did you ever hear of the American Revolutionary War ? ... Duh! " They thought taxes had something to do with freedom. Some of us still do.
.
Phil Strickland

Liberty and the Healthcare Debate

I am a working class Christian Conservative, raised in a family of union construction workers and former Democrats. I love the concept, the dream, the idea, of liberty. I will never give in to trading liberty for security.
I still believe that the core value of the American experience is Liberty. The engine and the inspiration that has produced "America" as we know it, has been liberty. Take it away and you have "killed the goose that laid the golden egg."
It's a liberal/Democrat/MSM lie to say that people without health insurance don't or won't pay for their own health care. It’s true that some don’t. But people with integrity pay their bills. My wife and I had two babies without health insurance and paid for them in full, cash. It was a struggle, and it took time, but they are paid in full. If I am free, I have to provide for my family.
The nationalization of healthcare that sounds like such compassion will take away our freedom to choose and control our own lives in ways far beyond healthcare. The same people who fall for this scam are the ones who run up bills on their credit cards with no plans or twangs of conscience on how they will pay for what they spend. They feel they can have all they want with this magic little card. Shazzam!
This is the common denominator of everything for which the Obama administration stands.
I have seen and witnessed that Government spoils everything it controls i.e. public education and public housing - the worst of which are in the Democrat controlled areas of the country. You want to do for medicine what you did for education and housing for the poor?
Referring to the Constitution, Obama once said, "The US Constitution is almost completely negative toward the expansion of Governmental authority." And he was right! What it says is very, very limiting to liberals.
We have had a king. We didn't like it. We the people wrote/ratified the Constitution as a defense and a final line in the sand that no man or party is allowed to cross or manipulate. Every part of Federal Government swears an oath to protect, and honor and uphold the Constitution. That is the one greatest condition of their employment.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence pledged their lives, their fortunes and their SACRED HONOR. The problem is that many now have no honor. Their word is as empty as the beer can on the side of the road. Their lies are simply a means to achieve their own will, like a king, in spite of the fact that other people don't want what they are peddling.
I can live without forced, government-controlled healthcare. I can't live without liberty.
I want liberty or nothing.

Time to Remember
Just a quick note to remind you...

When you are feeling like nothing is working as it should;
And the prayers you prayed to change them
Didn't feel particularly anointed;
It is time to begin to talk!

Not to others, but to your own soul.

It’s time to remember what God did for the Men who first trusted Him …
The Leaders of our faith …
It is time to remember!

Ask your soul, "What is your problem?"
Tell your soul to quiet down and listen!
Say out loud, so your soul must hear - "I serve the God of Abraham!"
What does that mean?
“I serve the God who led Abraham and kept his promise,
“Even though there was no book to read or map to follow.
"I serve the God of Isaac."God kept his promise to Isaac,
Even though he was not as bold and forceful as his father had been.

"I serve the God of Jacob.
"He kept his word to Jacob...Even though we all know he shouldn't’ve!

Why?

Because Jacob was not the firstborn son.
And because Jacob was not his father's favorite.
Also because Jacob was not a strong man
Not like the brother who was the “right” brother.
Jacob was a weasel and a cheat.
But somehow, by letting Jacob be the victim
Of the same kind of schemes he pulled on others,
God drew out the great man only he could see inside
Drew him out and changed him
Changed Jacob from a schemer to a Man of patience and trust
And a praying man who persists
Who would pray until he prevailed
And became a Prince with God, a prince named Israel!

Wow!

It’s time to remember
Remember this passage from Hebrews
Chapter 13.7,8.
"Never forget the leaders,
Who first spoke to you the Word of God.
Remember how they lived and
Imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is always the same
To you today, as he was to them …
Yesterday, today, and forever."

What he did for them, will he really do for you?
That’s what he said.
He said, Remember! Never forget!
Remember, how they lived - how they trusted him – and how he answered their prayers.
Now picture Jesus and see yourself with Jesus,
Living like they did for him and
Trusting Him …
He has not changed.
He is answering you – helping you.
Then, remind your own soul of all the other times
That things seemed dire, dark and then as now,
That you felt completely alone...
And in that dark place, you prayed and
God came through for you!
Walk through it all again in your mind,
Now quietly, give thanks!

That’s right – drink deeply from that well!
Say it! “Thank you, Lord!
Thank you for what you did.
“Thank you for bringing me through hell and then,
“For breaking the habits and chains of sin
“That used to seem would never be broken.
“Amazed, I stand in stunned relief“
And worship you because I know you now,
In ways I have never known you before.”
Now it’s time to remember and worship His Name.
He told Moses, "I Am.
Tell them ‘I am’ sent you"
“I am the Bread of Life.
I am the True Vine.
I am the Gate and the Lord that heals you.

Now ...
Go do what you must today.
Praising God each step of the way.
Knowing he will see you through;
So live your faith in all you do.
Praise... the... Lord!

Raising Money for God's Work? Watch Your Motives!

A lot of the fund raisers/raising on Christian TV based in the U.S. give me the "creeps". It does not feel like it is based on pure motives. I have had the unfortunate experience to see some weird people on TV the last few days, making promises of "wealth and miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit if you go right now to the phone and call us with your credit card in hand." He/they might ought to go back and read the stories in Acts 5 and Acts 8. Peter said, "May your money perish with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." (Acts 8.20-23) I recommend that we avoid tying the Holy Spirit and his Gifts to money.
When you have the opportunity, read 1 Thessalonians 2.1-12. Paul said that the anointing he had from God was based on the fact that God had proven him - tested him and his motives - and found him to be trustworthy in the things listed out in this passage. One of those things was "You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed - God is our witness."

I am not judging anyone in particular, but I have often heard them (several of them) say, "You can't be happy, you can't have joy, you can't have peace, if your bills are unpaid."

I am here to testify that this statement is wrong. That doesn't mean I like it when I face difficulty or that I want to be behind in my bills. But I can testify Jesus has been more real to me when I didn't have anything, than when we were flush with money and in good times. He has filled me with Joy and Glory and his Presence and being/abiding in him, made me forget all my troubles.

I have laughed hysterically under the power of the Holy Spirit right in the middle of the worst situations of my life. Psalms 23.5 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." (Look that chapter up in Moffat's Translation.)

I have been years at a time where we did not have any extra money for anything but our most basic needs, but God was our companion and I didn't care if the sun came up!

I highly recommend that everyone - rich or poor or anywhere in between, "Make the King and his Kingdom your first priority." (Jesus Christ ... he is the king!)

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." 1 Timothy 6.17. Wow! and by the way, he will come through for you and meet your needs, but ask him to help you to FOCUS on Christ. That is the Holy Spirit's favorite assignment.

An Interesting Quote ... I like it!

Scripture’s task is to tell people, at the risk of their displeasure, the mystery of God and the secrets of their own hearts—to speak out and make a clean breast. There are many ways to say and write these truths: in oracles, in poems, in novels, in sermons, in satire, in journalism, in drama. Honestly written and courageously presented words reveal reality and expose our selfish attempts to violate beauty, manipulate goodness and dominate people, all the while defying God. Most of us most of the time, whether consciously or not, live this way. Honest writing shows us how badly we are living and how good life is. Enlightenment is not without pain. But the pain, accepted and endured is not a maiming but a purging. “Every significant utterance is a wound” but ‘faithful are the wounds of a friend.” - Eugene Peterson, Run With the Horses

Say No to Suicide

Please! Please! Please! Do not commit suicide.

You are not alone.

There is hope for you in the days just ahead!

I am telling you something you can pray. This is not a magic chant that you have to email to others. This is not a repetitive chant for you to lift yourself through the great karma... There is a man named Jesus who loves you hears you when you pray. Give him a chance to help you.

Out Loud, right where you are, call Jesus Christ and ask him to hear you and help you. Ask him, "IF YOU ARE REAL - IF YOU CAN HEAR ME - Help ME. JESUS, GIVE ME HOPE.

Find a Bible, look in the index and find the Book of Matthew. It gives the testimony of real people, in real trouble, who needed hope and shows you how God helped them. The whole point is that if God can give these people hope and a reason to live, he can do it for you.

I am not selling anything. The offer here is what Jesus has done and will do for you!

Hello World! How is everybody out there in Radio Land!
We are signing on today to let you know we are back, we are strong, and we are ready to BLOG somebody!
You can safely respond using the comments button, so let's get this thing rolling for the new year.
You can also respond to these posts by email, and I will put key elements of your comments on without using your contact info. pmstrickland@dow.com

Newsflash:
Cara and I are going to visit the Philippines in January. I will be staying one week and she will be staying 2 weeks. Our time will mostly be with Carmelita Ofrecio-Langaoan and her husband, Benny. I have the honor to speak at their church's first year aniversary celebration. This will be in Baguio, about six hours drive, north of Manila. They are working with many college students and are having a great impact on the area.

I have many important friends in the country and hate it that I will not be able to contact them all. I love them all and I treasure their friendships. I just cannot get around to see everyone on this trip. I hope it is not my last trip. Maybe someone else will invite me back in the future?!

I would greatly appreciate your prayers. According Philippians 1.19, we supply the Spirit of Christ to each other through prayer. I need your help and support as I have never felt more INADEQUATE as a speaker and elder, but I am a servant of Jesus and will do as he commands and leads me. I definately believe I am in the perfect will of God in going. So pray for me for wisdom to give and and for me to learn the things God wants me to learn on this trip. Pray for Cara to be blessed and be a blessing. Pray for the safety of my family at home during this time. Actually, we have more support at home than we have ever had since I quit traveling with Kenneth Copeland.

Pray for the Philippines and for me to speak from heaven's authority. Thanks.
Later.