A Doctor's Explanation

My mom basically thinks I've joined or am starting a cult.  She became a mega-church Christian, who is so dedicated to this pop trend, she watches Joel Osteen while she gets ready for church.  Between TV church, conservative talk radio, and doctor's appointments, her life is full.  Like so many aging Americans, doctor's appointments fill a great deal of her schedule.  I give these couple of sentences of background just so you know my source.

Recently, my mother explained to me that her doctor explained to her what the mark of the beast is . . . He claims to know what the mark of the beast is and has one, so my question was direct.  Do you still go see him?  She gave pause for a moment, then said, "Of course."  That's where Christian America stands if the mark of the beast is identified and owned by health care.  I tend to disagree with her doctor on what the mark is, but then I disagree with doctors regarding pharmakeia, also . . .

He and my mother were apparently discussing their joint views on current events, when the topic of the mark of the beast came up.  So as she was talking to me, she asked me if I knew what the mark was.  When she asks me a question, she's not looking for information, she's just testing me to see if I offer the same answer she already holds to.  I said, I didn't know.  I had some ideas, and thought it would probably be of some sort of technology, and I certainly did not plan to take the Veri-chip, but at this time, I really don't know what the mark of the beast will be.

That response served as her launch pad.  She informed me that her doctor held up his apple smart phone, or whatever they are called and stated, "This is the mark of the beast, it's held in your hand and up to your head.  There's even a bite out of the apple, like in the Garden of Eden."  Rather than offer a statement that would not be received, I asked a question.  "So do you agree with his statement?"  She said, "I think so, that internet is evil."  To that, I asked again, "If he openly admits to having the mark of the beast, why would you continue to see him?"  Her response was really odd considering the topic, and yet somehow, expected.  She said, "Man looks on the outward appearance, but G-d looks on the heart."

That may well be some of the scariest theology I've ever heard.  That may indeed cause many to justify taking the mark of the beast, when it really is presented . . . People truly believe pastors and doctors will not mislead them!

Addiction - Overdose - Exaggeration

100 million Americans in chronic pain, requiring synthetic heroin?  Really?

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/07/15/institute-medicine-zohydro-painkiller.aspx?e_cid=20140715Z1_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20140715Z1&et_cid=DM52780&et_rid=586410113

Unaffordable Health Care

Our Creator already offers affordable health care, but that's a subject for another article.  In watching all these various court cases, extensions and changes in the Affordable Health Care Act, I'm wondering about something.  Since the IRS is in charge of this mandatory insurance, and the federal subsidies are not going to be available in states that don't increase their medicaid rolls, the plot has taken a twist.

We already know without federal subsidies most of the people who signed up for this ACA can't afford the actual insurance premiums.  Most Americans that do not have insurance, don't have it, because they can't afford it.  Very few people really want to spend 4 to 8 hours waiting for an ER nurse to look down her nose at them while she takes their history, only to wait several more hours for an ER doctor to order tests.  I see this ACA going two ways very soon.

First, we'll have socialized medicine for the elderly and children . . . That will place the children completely in the hands of the government.  Second, I see the tax penalty remaining in place, only with many more payers because the subsidies become unavailable.  We've all played MONOPOLY.  Remember "POOR TAX?"

The upper income of the "working class" formerly known as the Middle Class, who have employer provided insurance will continue, at least for a time, business as usual, but the lower income working class whose employers do not provide coverage or enough hours to qualify, or the employee simply cannot meet their share of the cost of coverage, will be penalized.  Much of the "working class" of the country doesn't earn enough to pay income taxes, but the penalty comes off the top . . .

Increased minimum wage would only make the money worth less and raise the poverty level to a higher number.  The Affordable Care Act is not about the health insurance of Americans, it's about expanding power and generating revenue for the government.  When the IRS assesses and collects a penalty for one's inability to afford health insurance, that's called a Poor Tax!

The Mark?

I'm not saying the microchip is the mark of the beast but, I'm not saying it isn't.  This particular source is not one of my regular "go to" sites, but it raises a question we should all consider.  Anyone who would tell me we can't be sure that an RFID Chip the mark of the beast, I would agree, but I would also remind them we can't be sure it isn't, especially since health is a spiritual matter.  Scripture tells us repeatedly that our Creator is our Healer.  There are numerous examples of Messiah healing recorded throughout the accounts of the Gospel.   

This should at least raise the question as to whether we actually believe Scripture, when making a choice regarding our health care.  In the event the microchip is the mark of the beast, the choice may be made when one signs a consent form for "treatment."

I'm not sure, come judgment day, the answer, "But I had faith in my physician" will go over so big at the Great White Throne.

http://worldtruth.tv/study-finds-1-in-3-americans-have-been-implanted-with-rfid-chips-most-unaware-2/

See the Invasion and Control?

The System of Sorcery is Upping the Ante . . . The article linked below, contains much information you might find interesting and alarming.  As I read, I just kept thinking how obvious the sorcery is in what we call "health care."  It seems now, the folks who used to man the psychic hotlines can call making health predictions according to your spending habits.  The USA is already a bona fide member of WHO World Health Organization.  The two links below will definitely give you something to consider.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-26/hospitals-soon-see-donuts-to-cigarette-charges-for-health.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization

Is Repentance in Order?

The programming has run for several generations now.  Although I shouldn't be, I continue to be surprised at the number of people of faith, who do not seem to care that the word sorcery in the book of the Revelation is translated from the Greek word "pharmakeus."  The obvious root word for pharmacy.

This cartoon is all too accurate!  In reading the final destination, mentioned in the Revelation, of those partaking or administering, perhaps it's time to use stronger words of WARNING beyond the pages of possible side-effects with the use of pharmaceuticals, like the word:  REPENT!

Statistically Speaking

The following information is provided to hopefully bring some reason to the debate of faith vs. medicine.  Included are reported statistics with links provided to the independent sources and full articles.  In a twenty year span, 30 children were reported to have died at the hands of Christian Scientist practitioners.  In 17 years, 65 known cases in Faith Assembly were discovered.  It's reported that 78 children died in a little over 30 years in the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City, and an additional 12 children in Idaho in an affiliate congregation.  

Meanwhile, it is reported that at least 98,000 people die each year due to medical errors, with many estimates vastly exceeding that figure.  Here's just one example of deaths from appendicitis under medical care, in one year and the quote from this linked article  
Fit young people are still dying of appendicitis because doctors sometimes fail to recognise the symptoms, according to an authoritative report into hospital deaths.

Twelve people with appendicitis died between April 2000 and March 2001 according to the latest survey of the National Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Deaths (NCEPOD). "What is perhaps more alarming is that two of these were in previously fit young men and another was a child of three," says the report.

Deaths of Christian Science children between 1974 and 1994 from the following causes are in CHILD’s files: 5 of meningitis, 3 of pneumonia, 2 of appendicitis, 5 of diabetes, 2 of diphtheria, 1 of measles, 8 of cancer, 1 of septicemia, 1 of a kidney infection, 1 of a bowel obstruction, and 1 of heart disease.

Between 1973 and 1990, 65 Faith Assembly children are known to have died of treatable illnesses without medical care. In 1983 the Centers for Disease Control and the Indiana Board of Health conducted a study of Faith Assembly members, who shun all medical care including obstetrics. Pregnant women in Faith Assembly were 86 times more likely to die than other expectant mothers in Indiana. The mortality rate for Faith Assembly infants up to 28 days old was 270% higher. See Andrew Kaunitz, Craig Spence, et al., “Perinatal and maternal mortality in a religious group avoiding obstetrical care,” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 150 (Dec. 1, 1984):826-31.

The Oregonian reported that 78 children died between 1955 and 1998 in the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City, a church opposed to medical care. Twelve children died in an Idaho affiliate of the Followers of Christ. See Mark Larabee and Peter Sleeth, “Faith healing raises questions of the law’s duty-belief or life?,” The Oregonian (June 7, 1998):1.

Full Article

http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/justice/hs.xsl/8677.htm

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/09/20/224507654/how-many-die-from-medical-mistakes-in-u-s-hospitals