Even now 10 years later each time I see the American Flag, be it as a sticker on the side of a police vehicle, waiving at the Ford dealership or even on someones shirt – I remember the many bodies I had the privileged to help carry to peace. For years I had worked in EMS and Fire – I have had to deal with many fatalities from innocent children to gang members who were in their own version of war – but 9/11 and the months following to this day still haunt my soul.

While driving in to the city our ambulance was rocked by people holding signs – and stopping us to hand us water, hugs – prayers and sharing tears – I had a rookie on board who was driving. He thought it was best to use the siren to get the people out of the way so we could get through the city to our staging area. I calmly reached over and turned the siren off – as I looked at the peoples faces I realized something – We, coming in from Southern New Jersey, were literally the only sign of hope in a city in despair -masked in acres of rubble where roads, cars and a concrete haze hid the scorched and scared faces that were looking at us empty – left without meaning.  The siren only added to the shock – and our presence was supposed to be calming.

If you have ever been to New York – you will learn that even at the latest hour of the day – there are cars and buses – taxis and limo’s driving people all over the city – it was an eerie  feeling as we drew closer to ground zero – We saw a sea of people all walking, some so drained mentally and emotionally you could see they were using every last ounce of their strength to drag themselves just to the next step. – and suddenly it was all quite. Hardly a sound. When we arrived just one block down from the collapse of the first tower – on Vesey street the realization of the devastation set in.

Pallets and Pallets of water and other items were just sitting in the street. We were assigned to go through the many surrounding buildings to search for survivors – sadly we did not find many. I can remember a secondary collapse in which I had to dive under a fire truck for safety – all the while thinking if the building is coming down there is no way this truck is going to save me. The first rule any EMS, Firefighter or Police officer learns is Scene Safety – look out for potential hazards. The truth is – the members of the FDNY, NYPD and the Port Authority Police knew they were running in to the most dangerous situation. As bodies were descending at the speed of gravity they were climbing as quickly as possible. Scene safety was not paramount upon arrival for these Hero’s but rather getting in – and saving as many lives as possible – even knowing that your theirs was not in jeopardy but already over.

A few days later I was exhausted and walking back from the Cafeteria – a fancy name for what really was a boat which until the terrorist attack was used to shuttle tourists around the water ways so they could “tour the city” and I found a priest ripping off his clothes screaming at God asking Him Why and Where. Where are you now God… he demanded to know. I walked over to help what obviously any EMT trained would could identify as a man who was mentally breaking down and in need of help.

I asked him his name – and he answered – I asked him why he doubted God’s presence and he pulled me by my collar over to a blue suv and read to me the note out loud -

“Dear NYPD – I am a nurse – Please don’t tow my car – AND if you find this please tell my husband and my children that I love them and if I do not make it let them know I am fulfilling John 15:13″

He demanded to know from me how God could let this happen. I sat with him for what seemed like hours – but was really only just a few minutes and felt the warm glow of the sun coming up over the horizon – as I looked up I saw a cross in the distance – this cross had tons of workers underneath it digging and working, struggling to find any one who could have possibly survived. I answered the priest and said – until now I never really could answer your question – or even that question for myself long before what happened yesterday but I do know one thing – Even as I walk through this Valley of Death the Lord is near me – He comforts Me and in the end I will lie down in Green Pastures.   I pointed to the Cross – and he asked me if I would pray for him as he had “lost the words to speak to God”, I began with the Lord’s prayer – which he recited with me.

I never was able to find that priest again – even after searching – but I will never forget what he told me ” Glenn, I have a renewed faith and even in this tragedy I know that it is a promise SURELY goodness and mercy – the Love of our Father will follow us all the days of our lives – let me go and share the good news.”

With that I returned to the gator crew I was assigned to picking through the rubble.

For those who are struggling – I want to simply remind you also of that promise God has made us – He will Never Leave us or Forsake us – even when we are walking through the valley of the shadow of Death – His Rod and His staff are there to comfort us.

While driving back home I stopped at a small Baptist church in Hoboken NJ on the other side of the tunnel – ran to find a bible and opened it to John 15:13

From the over 350 EMS, Fire and Police officers – as well as the countless other volunteers including building security and the other nameless who helped, from the folks who downed the plane in Shanksville PA, and from that nurse who most assuredly was killed we as a nation learned a lesson that most have already forgotten – except perhaps those who are still serving daily putting their lives in front of harms way day by day: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Benny Hinn,  Bill Tenny-Brittian, George Bush,  Billy Graham,  Adam Hamilton, Rob Bell,  Rudy Rasmus,  Pat Robertson,  Kirk Cameron,  Glen Beck,  Joel Olsteen,

Is being an EVANGELICAL something that American’s understand anymore?

When we go to Scripture, as we should in all things, we read: 1 Corinthians 6:1-8,

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.  (King James Version)

It would appear that we are not, according to this scripture, to sue a fellow brother or sister  in Christ in a civil court of law but rather have the matter be arbitrated by a wise elder in the church.

So what happens when this just does not work ?   Could there not be some instances where this is either impossible or just impractical based upon how society is today vs. how it was in Biblical times?   OR what if the fellow brother or sister refuses to submit to arbitration based in the church?   According to Matthew 18:17  a lawsuit in the secular law courts may be permitted but only as a last resort – but first ask yourself – should you be forgiving the matter – even as Christ has said 70 times 7 times ?

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.   18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.    21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.  (King James Version)

Is Ground Zero the place for America to begin compromising our Core Essential Constitutional rights?

Is Ground Zero a place for us to begin parsing religious  freedom?

The Mosque is planned after all on Private Property and has met all the legal hurdles to being built.

Michael R. Bloomberg stated “I believe that this is an important test of the separation of church and state as we may see in our lifetime — as important a test — and it is critically important that we get it right,”

I could not agree more with Mayor Bloomberg:    the American determination to stick to our beloved tenets of freedom, and our impulse to cooperate with all that share them is what is at stake – as is the ability for anyone – Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Mormon, __fill in the blank_, and dare I add Muslim to the list – to have religious freedom in this great land we call America.

Many would argue and say ” Glenn Come on – if the KKK wanted to build there we would have the same issue…”  and while I agree – I would also answer that and state that the KKK is not a religious organization by most accounts – and its message of hatred for many sects is the sole reason they exist.

I have heard arguments with people stating – but Glenn there is a Mosque just a few blocks away – why do they need another?  I would answer that with this question?  How many “christian” churches are there around Ground Zero.  Heck here in Washington Court House Ohio – there are over 50.   That’s right roughly 50+ churches in a county with only 29K people… I am willing to bet there is a Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Unitarian, Mormon, Disciples of Christ, Church of Christ, Brethren and perhaps even a Catholic church within blocks of each other… but they are all Christian right   ask each and many would not accept the other as being Christian…

I think it is a very unwise move for this Mosque to be built – I believe it will become a huge target and worse – build an Anti-Muslim mentality when these are the people that Christ called us to Love (Love thy Enemy…)  We must however place our feelings aside for the sake of our own religious freedom.

Please note – I do not view Islamic Followers as our enemies – however the point is still important enough to be made for all those who do.   If you call yourself a Christian – If you are a follower of Christ than simply put we are to love our neighbor – and love our enemy…

I value all human life and promote forgiveness, understanding, reconciliation, and non-violent resolution of conflict where-ever possible.   This is not something I believe for which our nation should sacrifice it’s Constitutional Fiber.

What concerns me is the answer to this question:

Has there been a religious medical institution that simply walks away from the debtors and forgives them their debts?

• Catholic Hospitals?
• Methodist Hospitals?
• Presbyterian Hospitals?
• _________state the denomination here ____ hospitals?

Sadly – the Church has simply forgotten its job – which is to be the hands and Feet of the Living God.

I personally believe this so called health care bill is the death of Freedom.   Many churches believe that the compromise of these freedoms is the answer to fixing health care…

Galatians 5:   Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faith(fullness), Meekness, Self Control…

1Tim 6:11:  Faithfulness, Meekness, Righteousness, Godliness, Endurance

II Tim 2:22 – Love, Peace, Faith(fullness) and Righteousness

These are what – if followed, the Church should exude… and If we did Health Care would not be an issue because the church would be to busy being the hands and Feet of the Living, Breathing, All Powerful God – Creator of the Heavens and the Earth – Who is and Who was and Who will always be…

Who came into the world not to condemn it – but to save it – and to allow those in it to live a life more abundantly.

When the church forgot its role – Satan is only to happy to step in as a wolf in sheeps clothing…

Truth is – Doctrine should Guide Life as well as the protection of Life.

This compromise is far from acceptable.   If the Sanctity of Life had been stood up for – and real meaningful reform had been done – We could say Well done our Good and Faithful servant to those whom we have elected…

Right now – many are turning away saying I never knew you…

Bottom line really for me is this.

No system that is based on the foundation other than Christian Morals and principles will provide what is best for all involved.

We simply traded lifes of those who are “living longer” for those who have not had the chance.

Insurance companies that provide abortion who participate in this new tax exchange are not – and cannot be decreed to prevent payment for abortion via executive order… It is simply not legal in the American Republic.

Since legislation itself is what is “passed”,  an executive order simply put – CANNOT overturn legislation – Only legislation can.  Furthermore – an executive order is simply worthless – because it can be rescinded at any time – or once the President is out of office – simply be overwritten.

EXECUTIVE ORDER

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ENSURING ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ABORTION RESTRICTIONS IN THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (approved March ¬¬__, 2010), I hereby order as follows:

Section 1. Policy.

Following the recent passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“the Act”), it is necessary to establish an adequate enforcement mechanism to ensure that Federal funds are not used for abortion services (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered), consistent with a longstanding Federal statutory restriction that is commonly known as the Hyde Amendment. The purpose of this Executive Order is to establish a comprehensive, government-wide set of policies and procedures to achieve this goal and to make certain that all relevant actors—Federal officials, state officials (including insurance regulators) and health care providers—are aware of their responsibilities, new and old.

The Act maintains current Hyde Amendment restrictions governing abortion policy and extends those restrictions to the newly-created health insurance exchanges. Under the Act, longstanding Federal laws to protect conscience (such as the Church Amendment, 42 U.S.C. §300a-7, and the Weldon Amendment, Pub. L. No. 111-8, §508(d)(1) (2009)) remain intact and new protections prohibit discrimination against health care facilities and health care providers because of an unwillingness to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.

Numerous executive agencies have a role in ensuring that these restrictions are enforced, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Section 2. Strict Compliance with Prohibitions on Abortion Funding in Health Insurance Exchanges. The Act specifically prohibits the use of tax credits and cost-sharing reduction payments to pay for abortion services (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered) in the health insurance exchanges that will be operational in 2014. The Act also imposes strict payment and accounting requirements to ensure that Federal funds are not used for abortion services in exchange plans (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered) and requires state health insurance commissioners to ensure that exchange plan funds are segregated by insurance companies in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, OMB funds management circulars, and accounting guidance provided by the Government Accountability Office.

I hereby direct the Director of OMB and the Secretary of HHS to develop, within 180 days of the date of this Executive Order, a model set of segregation guidelines for state health insurance commissioners to use when determining whether exchange plans are complying with the Act’s segregation requirements, established in Section 1303 of the Act, for enrollees receiving Federal financial assistance. The guidelines shall also offer technical information that states should follow to conduct independent regular audits of insurance companies that participate in the health insurance exchanges. In developing these model guidelines, the Director of OMB and the Secretary of HHS shall consult with executive agencies and offices that have relevant expertise in accounting principles, including, but not limited to, the Department of the Treasury, and with the Government Accountability Office. Upon completion of those model guidelines, the Secretary of HHS should promptly initiate a rulemaking to issue regulations, which will have the force of law, to interpret the Act’s segregation requirements, and shall provide guidance to state health insurance commissioners on how to comply with the model guidelines.

Section 3. Community Health Center Program.

The Act establishes a new Community Health Center (CHC) Fund within HHS, which provides additional Federal funds for the community health center program. Existing law prohibits these centers from using federal funds to provide abortion services (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered), as a result of both the Hyde Amendment and longstanding regulations containing the Hyde language. Under the Act, the Hyde language shall apply to the authorization and appropriations of funds for Community Health Centers under section 10503 and all other relevant provisions. I hereby direct the Secretary of HHS to ensure that program administrators and recipients of Federal funds are aware of and comply with the limitations on abortion services imposed on CHCs by existing law. Such actions should include, but are not limited to, updating Grant Policy Statements that accompany CHC grants and issuing new interpretive rules.

Section 4. General Provisions.

(a) Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) authority granted by law or presidential directive to an agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This Executive Order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This Executive Order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity against the United States, its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees or agents, or any other person.