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• 4/20/2008 5:01 PM L J wrote:
  Hi, David!
  
  Hey - this was good stuff!
  I really learned a lot about the theories of the origins of the earth... geologic formations and how scientists (and the Natural Museum) are trying to influence academic opinion regarding how long we've really been here!
  
  Ooh - and I also enjoyed your podcast on "the National Health Insurance scam."
  Boy, have I been lied to! Initially, I thought it would be a good thing to have national heath care coverage for everyone - especially those of us who simply can't afford individual health insurance.
  
  But you're right... I paid closer attention to Hilary and Barak during one of their debates (snore) - and I realized that they are really saying "insurance" - NOT "care."
  BIG difference! Gee whiz... I'm sure most of America who agrees with the national health insurance idea have no clue what that really means!
  
  A couple of years ago, realizing that I was getting older every day, I decided to bite the bullet and get individual health insurance (with one of the world's biggest rip-off companies - Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield). The first year, I paid $254/month for basic health care... yes, BASIC. The next year, it jumped to $297/month. The third year - $330.50/month. And this year, it will increase again, simply because I'm a year older. And I'm a pretty healthy person! Good grief!
  
  Listening to your podcast, it made me realize - if I could actually save that much each month (and obviously I can, if I'm able to pay the insurance each month, right?) - then I'd be able to have the money I needed IF and when a health care issue should arise. Prior to getting insurance, I remember a few years ago, I had suddenly developed severe pain in my lower back/hip. I mean intense, constant pain. Over a period of 2 months, the pain spread down my left leg until eventually I could not feel my toes. I had no clue what was going on, but without health insurance, I couldn't afford a visit to the doctor, with subsequent tests and MRIs, etc. All I could do was pray, and ask others to pray for and with me. Well, after 3 months of constant pain day and night with no relief, one day the pain suddenly went away, just as suddenly as it had begun!
  
  You can imagine my absolute delight as I danced, jumped, twirled around, and did all the things I was unable to do in those previous months of pain. I danced and praised God for what seemed like an hour, then I praised Him some more! Ha ha! I was so glad that the pain was gone! And I was certain that it was only the hand of God that took the pain away!
  
  Well... after much prodding by people who knew my lack-of-insurance plight, I was convinced to get health insurance. After all, they reminded me, I was getting older every minute, and pretty soon the cost of monthly premiums would be beyond my reach. I started getting little notices in the mail, too... "Hey, you need insurance! You're not getting any younger! You need coverage," etc.
  Part I
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• 4/20/2008 5:02 PM L J wrote:
  So, I filled out the application and was enrolled in Anthem BC/BS. A month later, I decided to go to a doctor (since I hadn't been in years), and what does his quack tell me? I have borderline high blood pressure! I didn't believe him, of course, so I went out and purchased my own BP monitor. I began checking my BP every day, and of course the readings were perfectly normal - some average readings were: 116/65, 120/72, 117/60, never higher than 130/75. That's NOT high blood pressure. That's normal! I tried to explain to the doctor that I have "white coat syndrome," especially since I hadn't been to the doctor in so many years. That first visit, in my mind, I was expecting him to tell me I was dying of something, so of course my BP was elevated when I went to his office. And every time I went, it would just spike like that!
  
  Well... he didn't believe me, in spite of my documented proof to the contrary (I even brought my BP monitor with me and took my BP in his exam room, and sure enough, it was elevated - higher than it had ever been in the comfort of my own home!) The doc still didn't see the correlation between the sudden spike in my BP and the fact that he's standing over me ready to poke and prod with weird-looking instruments.
  Well, of course, he wanted to prescribe drugs. And I could go on and on about this quack and the huge scam that is health care in America. Suffice it to say, I haven't been back to that doctor again.
  
  Anyway, I think you are right. The church should have something in place to care for those who have physical needs. I know that there are so many people who feel that if the church started to do that, people would come out of the woodwork with all sorts of problems; then there would be the issue of monitoring and "policing" the situation to be sure that no one would take advantage of the church's benevolent heart. But again, I agree with you - "the least of these will decrease in number if the church would take care of them." Amen, brother!
  
  Oh! Speaking of Christian health care, have you ever heard of "Medi-Share"? It's a Christian alternative to insurance. Apparently people pay a certain amount into the program, and then when the medical need arises, the money is there. I received several e-mail solicitations about this program over the past year.
  
  If you haven't seen it, I can forward the info to you. I'd love to know what people think about this program. It sound like a wonderful idea, but I'm not sure how it actually works. If you know of anyone who has used it, let me know.
  
  Wow... I didn't mean to ramble on like this, but it happens every time I listen to one of your podcasts - I start getting all these ideas, and I get carried away! Ha ha! (That's a good thing - you make us THINK!)
  Keep challenging us - I love it!
  
  And I hope you don't mind, but I'm borrowing a quote from you as my "lesson to live by" -
  "Our freedom comes in proportion to our faith."
  AMEN!
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