Support the 'Prioritize Spending Act of 2013' (H.R. 149)

Both H.R. 149, introduced earlier this month in the House of Representative by Representative Daniel Webster of Florida, and a similar bill introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Pat Toomey, are a good first step in the upcoming and newest "DEBT CEILING CRISIS" battle. This idea of prioritizing key government expenditures will force the current regime in Washington to deal once and for all with its long-term, grievious, uncontrolled addiction to spending beyond its means.

Every effort should be made in both the House and Senate to pass this bill. In the likely event that the debt ceiling is not approved at the last minute again, this bill clearly outlines what items should be paid with the funds that come in each month.

Here is a letter I recently wrote to my representative in support of this legislation:

Re: H.R. 149: To specify the priority of the obligations of the United States Government if the debt ceiling is reached.

Dear Representative:

I strongly support Rep. Daniel Webster's bill, H.R. 149, because I do not to see America in the position of having to accept more debt, increasing the Debt Ceiling, without any reductions or curbing of the current spending. I would rather see the government shut down after these priorities are taken care of each month:

(1) Payments of interest owed to creditors

(2) Social Security Payments to Seniors

(3) Payments to Active Military Personnel

Further priorities of remaining funds should be a joint effort of Congress and the President...

We must start to live within our means. The President and Congress REFUSE to address the problem of OVERSPENDING, so something drastic must be done - like saying NO to increasing the debt ceiling without SUBSTANTIAL, CONCURRENT reductions in 2013 SPENDING not the PROMISE of spending reductions on Tuesday, the first week in January in 2023, the next decade!

In addition we must move away from base line budgeting and implement a real across-the-board spending reduction plan such as the Mack Penny Plan, where spending is reduced by 1% each year until the budget is balanced.

We demand that Congress submit and approve a budget before any debt ceiling is even considered!

Further Thoughts on God's Pie

I like this video. People are really living in their own world. If Christians would go on mission trips and help more in soup kitchens they might get some perspective.

But I would have to say that there is something definitely missing in the video. They should have a guy dressed up like Uncle Sam and give him about one-fourth of the pie, another guy dressed up in a suit with the words State of (and the name of a state) in front of him and also another guy with the name of a city, each getting about one-eighth of the pie. About half of our "pie" goes to pay taxes. Then you could have some guy dressed in a military uniform playing with toy tanks and planes crashing them together. The Uncle Sam guy should then give that guy about 60% of his piece. Then he would give most of the rest of his piece to the credit card guy (the interest we owe on the National Debt).

I hope that gives you a little better perspective on God's Pie.

Presidential Priorities

Cartoons by Adam Stiles as found at www.GetLiberty.org

The Ultimate Gift (2007)

There are thousands upon thousands of movies being produced and distributed, yet there is a dearth of worthwhile, quality works. Here is an exceptional film. I happened to be browsing my local video store while my laundry was going trough its wash cycle. The DVD cover caught my eye. I was intrigued by the title. PG rated, the movie could not be too bad. There was some recognition of the title, but I wasn’t completely sure what it was about. I do not usually rent movies when they first come out in DVD. However, I made an exception and rented it for a day.

James Garner plays the part of a billionaire grandfather (who's name is Red) who dies and leaves a will and video files with instructions to his grandson giving him an opportunity to receive the ultimate gift. Red's grandson is a wayward, spoiled and decadent individual. This young man at first is very reluctant and wary of what the grandfather is up to. The young man was estranged from his grandfather, who the grandson credits for the death of his father. Red wants to set things right with his grandson, even though it would have to be after Red dies.

“…The (twelve) trials (challenges) are spelled out in the book (on which the movie is based) as twelve gifts, while in the movie, you don't get a full understanding that there twelve until just before the credits are rolled. The book is a great story, the movie's storyline is even better.” --- a IMDB.com reviewer

An Amazon.com review calls the movie a “journey of self-discovery.” As the movie unfolds Jason, the grandson, is given a series of challenges each leading to a particular lesson the grandfather wishes the grandson learn. The challenges or gifts include:

· work
· money
· friends
· learning
· problems
· family
· laughter
· dreams
· giving
· gratitude
· a (24 hour) day
· love

Interwoven throughout the adventures of discovering of each of these gifts is another story. It is the story of a terminal girl and her mother, who the grandson Jason encounters early on in one of his adventures.

Without giving away more of the movie then I should, the ultimate gift is not Jesus Christ. Really, Jesus is God’s ultimate gift to man. It is through Jesus, and only through Him, that we can have true purpose, meaning and life. You could say that this movie is a John the Baptist experience. John the Baptist was the precursor or forerunner of Jesus, who Himself exclusively offers a true-life-transforming and life-saving experience to man.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone who enjoys an inspiring and uplifting film to either rent or purchase this movie. It is a family movie. It was produced by Fox Faith Films.

RATING

gregjaye gives this movie a ***** out of a possible *****

Music Making

"Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him.” --- Hudson Taylor

Hudson Taylor, 1832-1905, British Protestant Christian missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission.