Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[Tampa Bay Online]

Divorce and out-of-wedlock childbearing cost U.S. taxpayers more than $112 billion a year, according to a study commissioned by four groups advocating more government action to bolster marriages.

Sponsors say the study is the first of its kind and hope it will prompt lawmakers to invest more money in programs aimed at strengthening marriages. Two experts not connected to the study said such programs are of dubious merit and suggested that other investments - notably job creation - would be more effective in aiding all types of needy families.

There have been previous attempts to calculate the cost of divorce in America. But the sponsors of the new study, being released Tuesday, said theirs is the first to gauge the broader cost of “family fragmentation” - both divorce and unwed childbearing.

The study was conducted by Georgia State University economist Ben Scafidi. His work was sponsored by four groups who consider themselves part of a nationwide “marriage movement” - the New York-based Institute for American Values, the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, Families Northwest of Redmond, Wash., and the Georgia Family Council, an ally of the conservative ministry Focus on the Family.

“The study documents for the first time that divorce and unwed childbearing - besides being bad for children - are costing taxpayers a ton of money,” said David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute for American Values.

“We keep hearing this from state legislators, ‘Explain to me why this is any of my business? Aren’t these private matters?’” Blankenhorn said. “Take a look at these numbers and tell us if you still have any doubt.”

Read about it here.

[From me]

Isn’t interesting to find if people just lived by the instructions in the Bible we wouldn’t have as much pain and suffering?   Obviously there are valid reasons for divorce.  But if people would commit their marriages to God and would only have sexual relations with those who they are married to it would actually save the government and yes, us billions of dollars!  Why should people pay for the sins others?

What do you think?

[USA Today]

Gov. Eliot Spitzer, the nationally known do-gooder who suffered a jaw-dropping fall from grace this week after being accused of frequenting a high-price call girl ring, announced his resignation Wednesday. In a short appearance before reporters, Spitzer said he had always demanded others take responsibility for their actions.

“I cannot and will not ask no less of myself,” he said. “For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor.”

“For the past few days I have begun to atone for my private failings with my wife Silda, my children and my entire family. The remorse I feel will always be with me,” Spitzer said. “I cannot allow for my private failings to disrupt the people’s work.”

Spitzer, 48, said he was “deeply sorry I did not live up to what was expected of me,” and apologized to “every New Yorker.”

Read about it here.

[From me]

I’m not here to dump on Mr. Spitzer.  This whole story is tragic.  Not because he had to resign as Governor but for his family.  He has a beautiful wife and 3 daughters.  How tough this must be on them.  It is bad enough he had an affair on his wife, but to spend $80,000 on prostitutes is unbelievable.  Think about the diseases his wife could get.  Think about how this will tear apart a family.  I wonder how Mrs. Spitzer is able to stand next to him during this tragedy?  I guess we never know until we are in a situation.  I will pray for their family.

What would you do?

[Christian Post]

Tens of thousands of parents could be subject to criminal sanctions after a California appeals court ruled parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children.

“Are you kidding me?” said Kevin McCullough, conservative radio talk show host, on Thursday.

The court ruled last week that minor children must attend a public school unless the child attends a private school or is taught by a teacher with a valid state teaching license. And religious convictions of families do not guarantee a right to homeschool their children.

Parents must have teaching credentials to educate their kids at home.

“This decision is a direct hit against every homeschooler in California,” said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, which represents the Sunland Christian School, which specializes in religious home schooling. “If the state Supreme Court does not reverse this . . . there will be nothing to prevent homeschool witch hunts from being implemented in every corner of the state of California,” as reported by The Los Angeles Times.

The institute estimates there are 166,000 California students who are homeschooled.

The ruling stems from a case involving Phillip and Mary Long, parents of eight children. One of the children reported “physical and emotional mistreatment by the children’s father.”

Read about it here.

[From me]

This is a load of bunk! Are there bad parents who homeschool? Yes. Are there parents who homeschool for the wrong reason? Yes. But for that reason you throw out the other 99% who want a better education for their children than they can get where they live? There are predators in schools. There is overcrowding. It isn’t safe in a lot of schools.

My wife home educates our two children. We don’t do it to shelter them. We don’t do it to hide anything. We do it because we believe it is our job to prepare our children for the future. We have considered Christian or Private schools but we don’t have the money. Homeschooling is not a bunch of ladies wearing long dresses and hair in a bun. My wife is a vibrant, beautiful, college educated, Godly woman who has a conviction that she has been called to homeschool our children. Our children get lots of socialization though homeschool co-ops. In fact in this part of Charlotte most of those that homeschool could afford private school but do it to “CUSTOMIZE” their child’s education. When we lived in Atlanta the opportunities were even greater.

Do we thing everyone should do it? NO! It is up to each family to decide. But what gives the government to tell parents how to raise their children? This is so wrong.

What do you think?

[WCCO]

A 57-year-old New Jersey woman has been declared dead twice in the past year by the Social Security Administration, despite the fact that she is very much alive.  Susan Lindsley, who is developmentally disabled and works about 10 hours a week, relies on Social Security income to get by.

Two months after the Summit, N.J., resident’s husband died, the SSA not only stopped her disability and her widow’s benefit payments, but also dipped into her bank account in July to reclaim $7,000.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I wish they thought I was dead.  It would save me thousands of dollars a year in self employment Social Security payments. They will decide someone is dead at the drop of a hat.  But if they need their money they sure will come after you.

What do you think?

[These are my thoughts and not those of Campus Crusade or my parents]

 Here are the facts about religion and chaplains in the military:

1. In the military, there are Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, Islamic  etc chaplains.
2. Each chaplain is free to share his faith beliefs all he wants within the military guidelines given him. They are not muzzled.
3. Each chaplain is responsible for providing for the spiritual needs of all the soldiers under him or her. Therefore they provide and announce:

• On Sundays, on many bases, there are different services available for Roman Catholic and Islamic and for any chaplain who chose to provide his.
• Buses pick up some to go off post to Synagogues, Mormon temples, Greek Orthodox etc.
• Even Wiccans can meet as a group as long as the meeting is open to anyone.
• No one is compelled to attend any meeting but can attend any if they choose.

4. Any chaplain can use volunteers to teach classes on Sunday morning as long as that volunteer teaches under his or her supervision.

• Chaplains can recruit their volunteers from the community.

5. All belief groups want to share their beliefs to the world. In the America, they are free to do this as long as they do it by the rules.

For some reason those who are not followers of Jesus have problems with Christian groups ministering to the military.  Here is what I want to know:

• I want to know if there are Pagan, Wiccan,  Buddhists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jewish and other groups who send missionaries to the military who raise their own financial support?
• Are their atheist groups who raise their own financial support to assist the military in their emotional and educational needs?
• Show me where the Military Ministry of Campus Crusade has violated the Constitution?   The Separation of Church and State was to protect the Church from the State not the other way around.
• What harm is being done to our military?
• Do those who have a beef really care about the military personnel or are they trying to make a political statement?

These are questions I want answered.  I’m tired of being called a “right-winged bigot” and a “fundamentalist” and every form of profanity in the book.  Personally I’m ready for the US to leave Iraq but I support or military and our leaders.  I’m a follower of Jesus who wants to fulfill the calling God has given me.  I follow the laws and I’m tolerant of other’s beliefs.  It’s time the “other” beliefs showed a little tolerance of Christ followers too.

What do you think?