Congressional Reform

I don't know if this is really from Warren Buffet, but this email I received has some good points. Congress and other public servants should not become a wealthy class unto themselves as a result of taking it from the people they represent in the form of taxes. That sounds like a little too much like the monarchs our ancestors left behind in Europe.

"Winds of Change....

Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

_*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*_

1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the
American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their
term(s), then go home and back to work.


THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!"

Blessings

Standing with Israel means blessings for those who support her. As Psalm 128:5 says, "The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!"

At this moment, as in times past, Israel is threatened on all sides and by most of the world. And, no one is neutral on the subject. You are either for the state of Israel or against it. Therefore, if you dare stand with Israel, I challenge you to go to the website below and make a public declaration of the fact.

Those who support Israel are blessed to be a blessing.


http://unitedwithisrael.org/declaration/

Other Biblical references:
Psalm 20:2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
Psalm 134:3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
Psalm 135:21 Praise be to the LORD from Zion, to him who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.

My God is not....

Sometimes, descriptions of the nature of God lose their meaning. For instance, God is love. God is kind. After a conversation with a discouraged person who is upset with God, I began to think. Maybe it would help to specify what God is not. Especially in light of the horrible weather tragedies. So, here goes...

God is not arbitrary.

God is not cruel.

God is not unjust.

God is not callous.

How can we understand, then, the bad that happens to us and others? By changing the way we think.

Being on the receiving end of discipline as a child was not fun. I did not think that it was an expression of my parents' love. I thought a spanking hurt - especially my pride. I usually disliked being corrected when I said or did something mean to my siblings. But, the result was that discipline shaped my character for the better. I have benefited by it.

I'm not saying that tragedy equals discipline. But, as in discipline, it is not fun or enjoyable. Despite that, in tragedy and hardship, let's search for goodness, pour out love, banish bitterness and learn something. God created good. Life is good. Every breath is a blessing.

Goodbye to Endeavor

The last flight of the space shuttle Endeavor is scheduled for tomorrow. After it, Atlantis will make a final voyage in July. These will end an exciting 30-year chapter in our nation's history. A history that included tragedy and amazing discoveries.

NASA has not developed a replacement or improved spacecraft. The last flight of Endeavor really does mean an end to our country's heart for space endeavors. So much has been gained and so much remains yet to done.

I mourn the loss of this dream and my heart aches to see the passion of our country for space exploration fade out and fizzle only to be replaced by an obsession with fantasy sci fi. We don't seem to have the passion to be a world leader any more. And, I believe this stems from a spiritual failure.

We lack the faith to dream, to fail and to try again. Our vision has been obscured by greedy corporations, terrorist threats and, worst of all, complacency. We want our MTV, our refrigerators, our HD TVs, and our cell phones. And, if we have those, we can retreat from the world and the responsibilities that come with privilege and freedom. So, goodbye Endeavor - in every sense of the world.


http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/05/15/chiao.spaceshuttle.farewell/index.html?hpt=C1

NASA and Our National Vision

I visited the Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida for the first time recently. I had already been mourning the rumored gutting of our country's space program. In 2003, I was fortunate enough to watch the launch of the Mars probe in person. The launch amazed and enthralled thousands of other spectators as well. All my life, I have been so interested in all of the launches, in the Hubble telescope's amazing pictures and in the courage, persistence and endurance of the men and women working in all aspects of the program.

After touring the Space Center, I was struck anew by the waste of abandoning the Space Shuttle program and scaling back our country's dreams and visions. In this time of hardship, it is even more important to grasp onto a vision. It is more important than ever to push forward with innovations and new technologies and new explorations. Working for NASA has been the dream and goal of the brightest and best. It has been a beacon to students encouraging the study of Math and the Sciences. Our national heroes are Astronauts and the people who get them up into Space. What do we have without it? A generation of students addicted to computer games and who never leave their bedrooms?

I ask every voter to consider the value of the program for future generations. "Without a vision, the people perish."

Topaz

Did you know that Topaz in its purest form is colorless? The various shades of the jewel Topaz come from impurities! Information like this comes from my husband, who listens to scientific discussions for fun. Aren't husbands great?!?!?

Oh How I Love Saturdays

For me, Saturday mornings hold the delicious promise of time. Like choosing from a menu in your favorite restaurant, Saturday mornings offer a wonderful assortment of choices like: to listen to Handel's Messiah while cleaning up the kitchen; or to sit, listen and meditate on lyrics from a favorite song; or to gaze out at the sparkle of clean snow; or to call a long-neglected sister. And all the while your story plot sits in the background soaking in it like meat in a marinade. There is no hurry. There is no deadline.

How delightful!

I Am NOT a Mormon

I've noticed Mormon advertisements popping up on my blog. I don't endorse Mormonism, nor do I equate it with Christianity. Mormons do not confess the Apostle's Creed or the Nicene Creed. They do not believe in the Trinity. Their main scripture is called "The Book of Mormon." This book was written by Joseph Smith, the religion's founder, in the United States in the mid 1800's. Mormons also call their church "The Latter Day Saints." Many Christian leaders have categorized Mormonism as a cult. From my point of view, other than the violence of Islam, those two religions treat women in much the same way.

I AM NOT A MORMON nor would I ever encourage anyone to adopt the Mormon faith.