Truth About Social Security

The Truth About Social Security

A woman dies at age 65 before collecting one benefit check. She and her employer paid into the system for almost 50 years and she collected NOTHING. Keep in mind all the working people that die every year who were paying into the system and got nothing.

And these governmental morons mismanaged the money and stole from the system, so that it's now going broke.
BEAUTIFUL! And they have the audacity to call today's seniors "vultures" in an attempt to cover their ineptitude. DISGRACEFUL!

The real reason for renaming our Social Security payments is so the government can claim that all those social security recipients are receiving entitlements thus putting them in the same category as welfare, and food stamp recipients.
THIS IS WORTH THE FEW MINUTES IT TAKES TO READ AND DIGEST!
F.Y.I. By changing the name of SS contributions, it gives them a means to refute this program in the future. It's free money for the government to spend under this guise.
The Social Security check is now (or soon will be) referred to as a Federal Benefit Payment ?
I'll be part of the one percent to forward this. I am forwarding it because it touches a nerve in me, and I hope it will in you.

Please keep passing it on until everyone in our country has read it.
The government is now referring to our Social Security checks as a "Federal Benefit Payment."
This is NOT a benefit. It is OUR money , paid out of our earned income! Not only did we all contribute to Social Security but our employers did too ! It totaled 15% of our income before taxes.(This should be enough for you to forward this message, If not read on.)

If you averaged $30K per year over your working life, that's close to $180,000 invested in Social Security.
If you calculate the future value of your monthly investment in social security ($375/month, including both you and your employers contributions) at a meager 1% interest rate compounded monthly, after 40 years of working you'd have more than $1.3+ million dollars saved.

This is your personal investment. Upon retirement, if you took out only 3% per year, you'd receive $39,318 per year, or $3,277 per month.

That's almost three times more than today's average Social Security benefit of $1,230 per month, according to the Social Security Administration. (Google it – it's a fact). And your retirement fund would last more than 33 years (until you're 98 if you retire at age 65)! I can only imagine how much better most average-income people could live in retirement if our government had just invested our money in low-risk interest-earning accounts.
Instead, the folks in Washington pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madoff ever did (or Lyndon Johnson).

They took our money and used it elsewhere. They "forgot"(oh yes, they knew) that it was OUR money they were taking. They didn't have a referendum to ask us if we wanted to lend the money to them ... and they didn't pay interest on the debt they assumed. And recently they've told us that the money won't support us for very much longer. (Isn't it funny that they NEVER say this about welfare payments?)

But is it our fault they misused our investments? And now, to add insult to injury, they're calling it a benefit, as if we never worked to earn every penny of it. This is stealing!

Just because they borrowed the money, doesn't mean that our investments were for charity!
Let's take a stand. We have earned our right to Social Security and Medicare. Demand that our legislators bring some sense into our government.

Find a way to keep Social Security and Medicare going for the sake of the 92% of our population who need it.

Then call it what it is:
Our Earned Retirement Income .

GOD & the BBQ Sandwich

GOD and the Double BBQ Sandwich

By John Horvat II

It is no secret that America has become polarized. This is a fact that is manifested in so many different ways. Traveling down the highway to Chicago, for example, I came upon two successive billboards that I thought were striking examples of our divided culture.

The first billboard caught me by surprise: it consisted of an electrocardiogram of a heart that suddenly stops beating. The caption read: When you die, you will meet God.

As we were passing through the snowy night, I was unable to catch more details of this billboard. I do not know who put it out or what I was expected to do. It really did not matter because for a brief moment I thought about what the Catholic Church calls the “Four Last Things” – Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. Think of these things, Scriptures says, and you will not be lost eternally. The simple phrase served to trigger in me a gentle yet fleeting reflection upon the meaning of life. I am sure I was not the only one to make this quick reflection.

The billboard is clearly polarizing since it is directed toward that strong vein inside the American public that is turned toward things religious, spiritual and eternal. It is a sector of the American public that lives amid the fast, superficial and materialistic aspects of our pop culture yet is not entirely comfortable with them. These Americans are drawn by God, family, honor and country. On the other hand, this billboard would not appeal to other Americans who would tend to disparage the message as backward and unenlightened.

The second billboard came immediately afterwards and struck me by how contrary it was to the former. It consisted of a massive BBQ sandwich with the caption: Happiness is a double BBQ sandwich.

There is nothing wrong with a double BBQ sandwich or even deriving pleasure from eating one. However, the message behind this billboard is clearly materialistic yet more subtly polarizing. There is no invitation to profound reflection. Rather there is the quick insinuation that happiness can be easily bought by obtaining the immediate object of our desires. In this case, gratification equals happiness. According to the same logic, life should be a long succession of gratifications.

This billboard represents a second, more commercial, vein found in America that I call in the book, Return to Order, the perception of the nation as a co-op. This perspective holds that individuals unite themselves together in society as a means to facilitate each one’s inebriating pursuit of happiness.

Under this view, an appreciation of America is tied to its ability to make everything fun and everyone happy. Like a co-op, those who hold this position expect returns on their social union in the form of constant and instant gratification. Happiness consists of participating in the excitement of a party economy that they hope will keep on going.

Of course, we cannot generalize and say that all Americans fit neatly into one category or the other. Sometimes the two can be found in differing proportions inside the same person. Other times, the same person might gravitate toward one or later the other. We might also observe collective swings of the national mood towards one or the other category.

As our crisis deepens, this fascinating interplay of perspectives, this dramatic clash of mentalities becomes the material for a great debate now taking place in America over our future. This discussion is found everywhere—even on highway billboards.

There are many categories that people have used to characterize the nation’s polarization. There is red and blue, conservative and liberal, or retro and metro. Perhaps it is the case to add yet another: God and the double BBQ sandwich.

Praise and Worship

Praise and Worship

Many Christians think of Praise and worship as the same thing but I believe they are totally different. I love to praise GOD, to sing and dance and proclaim His Glory, Mercy, and Majesty, to thank Him for His Love, His Light, His Life, His Grace and whatever comes to mind.

Praise is about giving GOD the glory and honor that He is due for what He has done for humanity and for me. With music, song and dance we proclaim to ourselves and the world what GOD has done and what He is doing.

I love to worship in GOD’s presence. Worship is the full yielding of my life, (spirit, soul and body) to GOD because He is GOD! Praise can be exhilarating and solemn but worship is surrendering whatever I am to GOD! Both can be done quietly or loudly, with solemnity or exuberance but there is a distinct difference between them and the effect they have.

It’s easy to go back and forth between them, the difference is when I stop singing about GOD (praise) and sing to GOD (worship). The words of the song change from about or about me, from what GOD did to who GOD is. Many Christians do this without thinking about it. Our heart speaks differently when we sing to GOD rather than about GOD.

“You shall fear the LORD your GOD; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name. He is your praise, and He is your GOD, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.” “But You are Holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.” “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our GOD, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.”

Deuteronomy 10:20-21; Psalm 22:3, 95:6-7a NKJV

The Deuteronomy 10:20-21 passage is about praising GOD for what He did for Israel; the Psalm 22:3 passage shows the importance of praise and Psalm 95 is about worshiping GOD for who He is.

Peter told JESUS when JESUS was restoring Peter before His ascension, “LORD, You know all things, You know that I Love You!” John 21:17; Oswald Chambers says of this passage, “If I Love JESUS CHRIST personally and passionately, I can serve humanity though men treat me as a door mat.” My Utmost For His Highest.

We can easily praise GOD for what He has done, especially when He has healed us or delivered us. The Children of Israel were able to praise GOD for what He did for them after taking them out of Egypt, yet they did not want to know Him personally and they continued to sin and complain. Intimacy with GOD is key to true worship, as JESUS told the Samaritan woman, “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. GOD is SPIRIT, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth.” John 4:22-24 NKJV

Study Psalms 144 through 150; 144 - 147 are about worship and 148 – 150 are about praising GOD.

Psalm 148:14 says “And He has exalted the horn (strength or dominion) of His people, the praise of all His saints – of the children of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the LORD! (Heb. Hallelujah)” NKJV “He has increased the power of His people, granted praise to all His faithful, to the descendents of Isra’el, a people close to Him. Halleluyah!” CJB

By reading, studying and proclaiming the Bible we proclaim what GOD did for humanity through Israel and the Church, of GOD’s Love and call for humanity in the earth and His Eternal Kingdom! By spending time with GOD in His Word and listening to His SPIRIT we will grow in our personal and intimate relationship with Him so that our life becomes a praise and worship to Him; study the epistles.

Mark 4:21-25

He Who Has Ears To Hear Let Him Hear!

“Also He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.’ Then He said to them, ‘Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.’” Mark 4:21-25 NKJV

There are two key thoughts in this passage:

First is that there is nothing hidden from GOD, He sees all, He hears all and He knows all! JESUS expounds on this in Matthew 10:16-33 where He tells us that we will be persecuted but we are not to fear what men can do to us, only what GOD will do in judgment. Three times He tells us not to fear what men can do to us, vss. 26, 28 & 31 and He reminds us that GOD knows everything about us and will save us. In vss. 26-27 He says, “Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” NKJV Study Psalm 40:6-10; Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46; John 4:34, 6:38.

Most Christians generally understand that there are no secrets from GOD, that everything people try to hide and cover up will be exposed and judged. He is also telling us that what we learn from Him in our personal time is to be revealed and proclaimed in this life by us. There are no secrets in the Kingdom, only timing. This is what JESUS was teaching in Mark, we are responsible for what we hear and if we proclaim it or hide it. We should never proclaim a lie and we must always proclaim the truth. Study Matthew 10:26-31, 11:1-15, 13:10-17; Mark 7:14-16; Luke 8:8, 12:1-3, 14:34-35; Acts 5:17-32; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22, 13:9.

The second is that if we hear what GOD is saying in His Word and by His SPIRIT and we keep it to ourselves we will receive no more, but if we proclaim GOD’s Love and Truth then we will receive even more understanding. He makes the statement, “Whoever has, to him more will be given and to him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” Study Matthew 13:10-17, 25:14-30; Luke 8:16-18, 19:11-27;

What does it mean to have ears to hear and eyes to see? In Mark 8:17-18 JESUS asks His disciples, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?” In this passage in Mark 8 JESUS is telling them to beware of the leaven (doctrine) of the Pharisees and Herod but the disciples are thinking about bread. He reminds them of GOD’s provision in feeding the 5000 men and the 4000 men then they understand what He is saying. We tend to look on the natural and do not always see the spiritual implications. Having eyes to see and ears to hear is seeing beyond the natural and understanding the spiritual implications (truth); study Mark 8:13-21; John 9:35-41.

GOD does care and provide for our natural needs but everything in the natural is a type or shadow of the reality of GOD’s Eternal Kingdom, which is both natural and spiritual. We see naturally and we think naturally but GOD wants us to see spiritually and think eternally; study Matthew 6:25-34.

Part of JESUS’ prayer in John 17 was that we are in the world but not part of the world, the teachings of the Apostles throughout the epistles follows this theme. We live and serve GOD in the world to present the spiritual truths of His Eternal Kingdom! Study John 17.

Spiritual Warfare Updated from 03/31/2018

Spiritual Warfare

Most Christians understand that we are in a spiritual war against the enemy of GOD. The devil rebelled against GOD and he hates us because we are made in GOD’s image. When the devil was a servant of GOD he was beautiful because he reflected the Glory of GOD. When through his rebellion he lost his position he no longer was beautiful because he no longer reflected GOD’s Glory. So he has been at war with humanity ever since our creation because we are made in GOD’s image and he is not.

For those who do not believe we are in a spiritual war with the devil – read the words of JESUS and the Apostles. To those who believe Jesus defeated the devil and all we have to do is claim the victory – read the words of JESUS and the Apostles. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear! He who has eyes to see, let him see!”

We know that we have the victory in JESUS and that we are told to work out our salvation with fear. (Galatians 2:19-21, 5:1; Philippians 2:12-18; 1 John 5:1-5) We know that we have spiritual armor for our warfare and there is lots of teaching on the warfare and our armor. My understanding of why many of us do not have the victory is that we do not properly use our armor therefore we have less than good results in our warfare.

What is our spiritual armor? In Ephesians 6:10-20 Paul describes our armor and why we have it. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of 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. Stand therefore having girded your waist with Truth, having put on the breastplate of Righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace; above all, taking the shield of Faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of GOD; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints – and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” NKJV

Study 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.

The Whole armor of GOD:

Belt (girdle) of Truth – Jesus is The Truth. How do we put on Jesus? In baptism we crucify our old man and rise a new man in Christ, in the power of His resurrection we are conformed to His death, in the fellowship of His suffering we learn to be true to the Father’s will. We must live in GOD’s truth for our belt to be effective. Study Luke 22:39-45; John 4:34; Galatians 2:20-21; Philippians 3:7-11.

Breastplate of Righteousness – We are the righteousness of GOD in Christ or the rightness, the justice of GOD in CHRIST. We must live rightly and justly this has to do with the Law, the 10 commandments and the commandments of JESUS (read the gospels). While we are set free from the obligation of the law by JESUS’ life, death and resurrection we are still required to keep them for our breastplate to be effective. Study Romans 5:18-19; 1 Corinthians 3:11-17; 2 Corinthians 5:9-11, 5:21.

Shoding our feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace – “How lovely are the feet of them that being good news?” We must know the good news of the Gospel and have the peace that passes all understanding to be ready to share the hope that is in us. Knowing the Gospel is the preparation so that our sharing will be effective and the Peace of GOD is the shoding so that we can go wherever He sends us. Study Isaiah 52:7, Romans 10:14-15; Ephesians 2:14-18; Philippians 4:6-7.

Shield of Faith – “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” “By faith…” JESUS said “if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed…” He also said “Have faith!” If we want to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one then we must just believe and do, that is what faith is, no fear, no doubt and our shield will be effective. One of the problems with faith is that it has become some mystical force that we are trying to call on or muster up. In many Bible translations faith is translated as trust in both the Old and New Testaments. Trust is easier for us to understand and practice; we trust GOD, JESUS and HOLY SPIRIT because of our experience and GOD’s Word. Trust becomes habit by experience and does not have to be conjured up to work, that is what faith is! Study Mark 9:23-24, 11:20-24; Luke 8:22-25, 17:6; Hebrews 11.

Helmet of Salvation – Salvation is the gift that GOD gives to all who believe in and confess JESUS, who repent of their sins and are filled with His Spirit. When we allow HOLY SPIRIT to renew our mind and we meditate on the Word of GOD our helmet will be effective in keeping our mind on CHRIST and His Kingdom so that we understand the will of GOD for us. Study Isaiah 26:3; Romans 12:1-2, 16; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Ephesians 4:17-24; Philippians 2:5-7.

Sword of the SPIRIT – “For the Word of GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” NKJV The Word of GOD read it, study it, live it and speak it! As Jesus demonstrated that is the only way to resist the devil effectively. Study Isaiah 34:5-6; Matthew 10:34-39; John 1:1-5; Hebrews 4:12-13; 1 John 1:1-4; Revelation 19:11-16.

Praying always in the SPIRIT – Paul said he was glad that he spoke in the SPIRIT (tongues) more than anybody in Corinth; and “Likewise the SPIRIT also helps in our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the SPIRIT Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” He also said to pray without ceasing. We must pray in the SPIRIT as much as we can for our praying to be effective. Study Matthew 6:5-13; James 5:13-18; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22.

So the armor is not something we say and act out each morning as we start our day (as I did for many years). Putting on the armor is not done by repeating the above scripture passage in Ephesians, it is the result of knowing, living and speaking the Word of GOD and doing the will of GOD. The warfare we are in is the devil trying to prevent GOD’s will from being done so that people will not be redeemed from eternal damnation into eternal life. So to fight the good fight we must know and do the will of GOD which is found in His Word the Bible.

Not that we never have to do warfare face to face with evil in the natural and spiritual realms. JESUS said that we would cast out demons and that some would only come out through prayer and fasting. But, this should not be our daily activity; that should be worship and praise, reading and studying, and doing what GOD has called us to do. Study Matthew 5:11-12, 10:16-31; Mark 9:14-29, 16:14-18.

We find the truth of GOD, the rightness and justice of GOD, the peace of GOD, the faith of GOD and the salvation of GOD in the Bible which is the sword of GOD.

The advantage is ours because when we are born again we are filled with the Spirit of GOD who leads us into all truth, reminds us of what Jesus said, instructs us in the will of GOD and gifts us so we can serve GOD resulting in natural and spiritual fruit.

GOD Loves You And That Can't Be Bad!

GOD Loves You And You Know That Can’t Be Bad!

The chorus of the Beatles song “She Loves You” has been running through my head lately, so I rewrote the last verse, chorus and bridge.

GOD loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
GOD loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
GOD loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

GOD says He loves you
And you know that can't be bad
Yes, He loves you
And you know you should be glad, ooh

GOD loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
GOD loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
With a love like that
You know you should be glad

You know it's up to you
I think it's only fair
Pride can hurt you, too
Apologize to GOD

Because He loves you
And you know that can't be bad
Yes, GOD loves you
And you know you should be glad, ooh

GOD loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
GOD loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
With a love like that
You know you should be glad
With a love like that
You know you should be glad
With a love like that
You know you should be glad
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:8

“Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” NKJV

What is true, or as Pilate asked, “What is truth?” JESUS said that if we “know the truth the truth will set us free.” So what does JESUS say the truth is? He told the disciples that His Father is the one True GOD and that He Himself is Truth, He said that Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 8:32, 14:6, 16:13, 17:3, 18:37-38). What else does the Bible tell us about truth? That GOD is True and everyman a liar, that His Words are Truth, that Truth is our shield, John tells us that GOD is True and when we are in Him who is True (Psalm 91:4, 119:142; Romans 3:4; 1 John 5:20; Revelation 21:5)

What is noble? Honest in the KJV, honorable things as in 2 Corinthians 8:21 or good things as in Romans 12:17. GOD’s works are honorable, wondrous, glorious and to be remembered and spoken of (Psalm 111:2-4, 145:4-7). We are not to be noble as a noun but to be noble as a verb, it is our heart and action not our position (Acts 17:11 – fair minded; 1 Corinthians 1:26 – well born)!

What is just? GOD is just (Acts 3:14-16; 1 John 1:9-10). Habakkuk tells us that “the just live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17), Deuteronomy 16:18-20 defines just as to not pervert justice or show partiality or take bribes (Proverbs 12:17, 17:23). Study Noah, the Bible says he was a just man in Genesis 6:9. So little is said about Joseph, Mary’s husband except that he was a just man, study his live (Matthew 1:19) Being just is a lifestyle of the heart we are justified to a lifestyle not a position (Mark 2:17; Luke 15:7) study Romans 3 and 4.

What is pure? We all automatically think something like; without blemish or any foreign substance, which is right. The Bible says that GOD’s commandments are pure enlightening the eyes; JESUS said that that our eyes are the lamb of our body, what we bring in through our eyes effects our heart from which comes good or evil (Psalm 12:6-7, 19:8; Matthew 6:22-23, 15:10-20; Luke 11:34-36, Hebrews 4:12-13) We do not like to think about the process of becoming pure as in Psalm 7:9; Proverbs 17:3; 1 Corinthians 3:11-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 1 Peter 1:3-9.

What is lovely? We think of lovely as pretty, beautiful, pleasant to look upon, my NKJV Bible cross references this with 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, I recommend the whole chapter on Love. Love is lovely, the heart attitude and behavior of Love is lovely and we are called to Love, (Exodus 20:1-7; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5-6; Matthew 5:43-48; John 13:34-35, 14:15-24, 15:9-14).

What is a good report? If you’re in school its 3.5 to 4.0, if you’re an employee is 3.5 to 4.0, if you’re in the military its 3.5 to 4.0, if you’re in the Kingdom of GOD its “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into your Master’s rest.”, its Revelation 12:11 and 20:11-15.

What is virtue? Peter says virtue is to be added to our faith and we should add knowledge to our virtue, 2 Peter 1:5. So what is virtue that it is added to faith and requires knowledge? Virtue is moral strength or excellence according to Bible Dictionary by Publications International, Ltd, 1999. Proverbs 31:10 teaches us that a virtuous wife is worth more than rubies; my NKJV cross reference teaches that it refers literally to a wife of valor in the sense of all forms of excellence; of course that definition can be applied to any person in any situation. That is what the Ten Commandments teach as the standard for every person to live by; study Exodus 20:1-17 Leviticus 19 and Deuteronomy 5:1-22.

What is praiseworthy? GOD the Father; JESUS, GOD the Son; and HOLY SPIRIT, the SPIRIT of GOD! Study Exodus 20:1-7; Deuteronomy 5:1-11, 6, 8; the Psalms; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Ephesians 1:3, 4:1-6; 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:11-16; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Revelation 1:4-8

Do a study of the key words of this passage true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue and praiseworthy. Get a Bible dictionary and a concordance and look up other scriptures, use your Bible’s cross-reference and if it does not have one make your own. Memorization of scripture is important but if you only know the words and not the message they will not help you in your time of need.