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The U.S. has been a big giver throughout it’s own history, from the aid given to the Panamanians, to the tons of goods shipped daily to many of the peoples of South East Asia, and also to the food shipped to many countries all over Africa. We’re just trying to help out is all. But, what happens when people complain about the help given to them?

In 2010 when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti almost 300,000 people had died and far many more made homeless from the ensuing chaos. Soon after, countries from around the world pledged billions of dollars of aid to Haiti in order to help them rebuild as fast as possible. The UN wiped out millions in Haitian debt, and even went as far as to allow Haitians because of the huge loss of homes as a result of the Earthquake.

However, news stations from around the world started to spread information undermining the way the United States was giving out aid in Haiti. They made it seem as though the United States was militarizing the region and was especially militaristic in their aid. As PJ Crowley, US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs,

stated, “News outlets falsely compared military activities at the airport to a little Green Zone,” comparing this to the United States controlled Green Zone in occupied Iraq.

As if the sticks and stones weren’t enough, Christian missionaries from Idaho that were attempting to deliver children from Haiti to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic were also hit with kidnapping charges from the local government. Haitian police stopped the ten missionaries on January 29, 2010, as they tried to take thirty-three Haitian children across the border to the Dominican Republic. They claimed to be trying to get the children to a safe place, since many of them had lost their parents from the earthquake. Was this the best idea? Probably not, but, should the Haitian government really treat this as huge an issue as it has? Thankfully, nine of the ten missionaries have been acquitted and one still stands trial, the leader of the group, who is likely to be acquitted.

As Luke 6: 34-36 says, “(34) And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ lend to ’sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. (35) But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (36) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Basically, we are called to love our enemies and continue to help them and give to them no matter what. The people in Haiti are truly feeling pain like none other, so is it really appropriate to bring politics into the realm of aid? We must continue our aid to Haiti and simply ignore what other people say, and other countries will follow in stride. We can only do this and spread the hope that we bring these people with the love of God.

• Each year, Americans throw out enough soda pop cans bottles to reach to the moon and back—twenty times.

• After Plácido Domingo performed the title role in Verdi’s Otello in Vienna on July 30, 1991, the audience clapped for one hour and 20 minutes (and 101 curtain calls), setting a new world record for the longest applause ever.

• Prior to the 12th Amendment of the Constitution in 1804, the presidential candidate who received the second highest number of electoral votes was named the vice-president. The amendment mandated that electors vote for the offices of president and vice-president separately.

• The first country to grant women the right to vote in the modern era was New Zealand in 1893.

• On average, someone in the U.S. is killed by a drunk driver every 40 minutes.

• An adult can starve to death within 8-12 weeks. In the final stages of starvation, adults can experience hallucinations, convulsions, severe muscle pain, and irregular heart rhythms. Organs weakened by starvation may actually burst if food is given too quickly.

• An American is more likely to recycle their trash than to vote.

“Sunday is the only day to worship!”

“It’s depressing to see Jesus hanging on a crucifix.”

“Foot washing is just plain gross.”

“Aren’t hymns for old people?”

In today’s world there are many Christian denominations, each with their own traditions about how to worship and live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, many times I’ve witnessed one Christian group making insensitive comments or downright ostracizing another regarding the way they practice their faith. Should this be happening?

Ecumenism is broadly defined as interrelation between the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Ecumenism within Christianity would be referring to interrelations between the many Christian denominations such as Orthodox, and various Protestant churches. It is in this realm of Christian ecumenism that I think believers need to work together and respect each other’s differences.

The vast majority of American Christians define themselves as Protestant, so it may not be as much of a culture shock to be around Adventists, Methodists, Evangelicals, or Baptists. However, do you feel a sense of unease when you realize that your close friend is Roman Catholic or some other brand of Christianity?

We all have to realize something; we are all united in our beliefs of a risen Savior, regardless of discrepancies in tradition. As long Christians exist we will have arguments in our ranks. And that’s unfortunate. As believers in Christ we are one body who need to work together for kingdom work. Besides, if there are differences that need to be addressed, I don’t think name-calling or disrespect promote positive discussion.

If we spend less time on majoring on the minors and more time delivering the message of Christ we would have a unified body. It would be a church less disjointed and working together to save a dying world; a body that bids the message of God, not the divisiveness of Satan.

The Creed

What do we all believe? In A.D. 381 a group of Christian theologians got together in Nicea within the Roman Empire to pen an article of faith that is core to every Christian denomination. Here it is:

THE NICENE CREED (381 A.D.)
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

* A person who belongs to the universal Christian church

An unpopular, costly, and supposedly failing war, with no end in site. Did you imagine the Vietnamese War? Nope. I’ve just described the opinions regarding the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States started this war with good intentions, attempting to seize the nuclear weapons held by Iraq, and capturing Osama Bin Laden, yet no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq and Osama Bin Laden is now hiding somewhere in Afghanistan. As American opinions of the war wane one has to wonder, will we repeat the mistakes of the past?

What is the War on Terror?

The War on Terror is simply described as the war on militant radicals around the world who are harming defenseless civilians. These radicals are fighting against many of the laws the United Nations prescribed to modern warfare. But according to Chuck Roots, pastor and Retired Military Chaplain, the term is something of a misnomer. “Terror is an emotion. Terrorism, on the other hand, is an action brought against a person or nation. Because of the events of 9/11, and the thirty years of other terrorist activities brought against the United States and our people/interests around the globe, it was determined that we needed to take the fight to the enemy. “

Why Don’t the Terrorists Like Us?

So what did we ever do to them? Roots explains there are three basic reasons why the Terrorists seek to destroy Americans and their interests.

1. First, there are people who have ideological, philosophical and theological differences with us as Americans. Because of the culture of Islam, everything in life is religious. There is no such thing as the “separation of church and state.” In their perverted thinking they have justified the killing of anyone who is not like them or doesn’t think and believe like them. Even if we as Americans all converted to Islam, they would believe they are in the right to kill us because we were infidels prior to our conversion. Thus, our acceptance of Islam could be called into question.
2. Second, because we are Americans, we have a far superior life as far as enjoying the blessings of this world. Our citizens are wealthier than anywhere else in the world. Muslims live in arid lands that are primarily desert, wind-swept, desolate places. Only with the discovery of oil in the Persian Gulf and its surrounding environs has this people managed to enjoy anything remotely close to the comforts and abundance we enjoy in the USA. This truly angers many Muslims who feel they should be the ones blessed by Allah instead of the infidel Americans.
3. Third, this is a war that will never cease until either Muslims are thoroughly defeated, or Jesus comes back first. Why do I say this? Because Muslims believe it is their mission in life, based upon the teachings of the Koran, to engage in conquering all nations for Islam. Every country is to be subjected to Allah, Sharia Law, and the final example of jihad.

Occupation vs. Liberation

The United States, unlike any other country, approaches war in a very different way. Rather than permanently occupy a nation that violates UN sanctions, the U.S. is a liberating force. “The United States is not an occupying force, except in the sense that we enter a nation to destroy their army, then we sit there until the folks of that nation can get themselves put back together,” explained Roots. “Once that has happened to our satisfaction, we leave. Take Japan and Germany at the end of WWII. Once these two military powers surrendered, we established a military jurisdiction until such time as the government of that nation could function in relative safety. Once that occurs, our boys come home.”

If the United States really is a liberating force, shouldn’t the citizens of that country reflect attitudes of gratitude? According to Roots, that is exactly what he’s experienced in the Middle East. “ I’ve had Iraqis tell me they were glad the Americans came when I was there. They hated Saddam, but they were powerless to remove him. He was a ruthless, murdering thug.”
“ Our military was uncovering mass graves of people killed by Saddam’s henchmen. What was their crime? Nothing. Saddam’s ego was so large that he killed just to show that he could do it. Where the First Marine Expeditionary Forces Headquarters was located was in Babylon. Saddam used to visit this ancient biblical city 45 miles south of Baghdad a few times a year. He would cruise around the neighborhoods and have his thugs take women and girls that he selected, bring them to his nearby palace and then have his way with them for the next few days. Then they would be beheaded, their bodies dumped in the nearby tributary of the Tigris River.

“Then in Afghanistan the Taliban had a torturous rule, wantonly beheading people because they could. Women, who showed even a tiny bit of skin, say on their wrist, could be dragged away from their husbands and children, and into the soccer stadium and publicly executed. Such insanity was commonplace. Until our military showed up, there was no one to put a stop to it. It is these same creeps who train to kill Americans in our streets.

“If you were an Iraqi or an Afghan wouldn’t you want to see us come in and stay until the bad guys were eliminated?” says Roots.

What’s A Christian to Do?

Still, opinions of the United States war on terror are generally are strong. Many believe we must draw out of these militaristic quagmires at once, while others call for staying the course until the country is stabilized and a safe pullout is possible. But what exactly should the Christian response to terrorism be?

Roots believes there are God ordained responsibilities we cannot ignore. “As Americans we are to protect our nation and its people. This is a biblical principle. God expects me to protect and care for my family. To be able to do that, my town and community must be protected. For my community to be protected, my state needs to be protected. For my state to be protected, my country needs to be protected.

“Now, while we’re engaged in this war, we need to follow the teachings of scripture by praying for our enemies and doing good to those who persecute us. One of my favorite pictures is of a young Marine doing a fireman’s carry with a wounded combatant – only this combatant was the enemy. The Marine carried him off the battlefield and into our field hospital where our military medical personnel treated his wounds! Do you think for a moment that this Marine would have received the same kindness if the situation was reversed?

“Our nation was founded upon Christian teaching and morals. Even non-Christians in our country act in ways that reflect those Christians values. I frequently prayed for Iraqi soldiers, terrorists, and Saddam Hussein while I was over there. If they were to allow the Lord Jesus into their hearts I would rejoice, and praise God. But the Christian still has an obligation to protect and defend our nation.”

“Two years ago I was a good man, livin and workin and supportin. I had a girl and we were gonna start our own family. But, the booze got to me. I just drank from time to time at first but then I had to get a drink any time I could and anywhere. She [his girlfriend] kicked me out and I have been here ever since. Now, I’ve done some things in my time, but what did I ever do to deserve this?”

-Elijah Thomas, Homeless Citizen of Turlock

Right now in the United States you will find at least 3.5 million people, or about one percent of the United States population, on the streets begging for help. As the rate of poverty quickens so too will this number. The current state of economy means that these people will continue to be on the streets for longer periods of time than ever before. But, what actually defines “homelessness?”

A homeless person is someone who has no housing and must sleep on the streets or at a homeless shelter. Contrary to popular belief, about 80% of homeless people you see will only be on the streets for about 3 weeks. They either find a job or family to take them in. While only 10% of homeless people are going to be where they are for an extended period of time, usually these people suffer from a mental disease or a substance addiction. 40% of these homeless have children residing with them on the streets.

Of those that are homeless, 20% have been homeless for more than five years; this amount of time encloses the largest population of homeless people. 62% of their total population suffers from alcohol addiction, 58% from drugs, and 57% from mental diseases.

The struggles of these poor denizens start early. The ones who suffer from a mental illness usually had a normal lifestyle and job, until they were afflicted and could not maintain paying bills, going to work, or maintain relationships with family members.

Others are drug addicts who cannot pay for their addiction while trying to live a normal life, with all the expenses that entitles. Surprisingly 5% of the total homeless population is simply unaccompanied children! Most of the youth on the streets are those who have grown up in the foster care system and, finding themselves without any support or direction, must turn to the streets and live a life of meager begging.

He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother

So, what are we going to do about it? Legions of people have amassed to build homes and sustain these downtrodden citizens. Like never before you see relief projects sprouting up, such as Habitat for Humanity, Shelter Plus Care, Housing First, and Assertive outreach.

The question arises, “Should we be helping these people? Could they not just get a job and assist themselves?” As states before, many homeless are substance abusers, the mentally ill, and, most of all, those suffering from a failing economy. The largest people groups of homeless are those of families with children. These families have tried to pay their bills and live as upstanding citizens, but their meager wages cannot handle to pay the soaring mortgage and rental rates in this country. In this financial climate some people who were not part of the homeless culture have found their homes foreclosed upon and in need of assistance. Their credit score is so low, that no one would sell or even rent to them with their history. Finding no where else to go, these people turn to the streets and community service centers, hoping things get better.

Many non-profit organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, are directed solely to this people group of unfortunate families. Regardless of a person’s political opinions regarding homelessness, homelessness is not going to go away. Poverty still plagues the United States. Which means churches as well as organizations have to band together to help these poor souls.

As Eric Shinseki, a Vietnam War veteran and Obama’s Secretary of Veteran Affairs, states, “President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among [many] within the next five years… Those who have served this nation should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope.”

A few of the TC Students weighed in on their opinion to the homeless situation.

Ashley Yonan: “Homeless people should have our support through community service, projects, and churches, everyone should help out.”

Zach Baskins: “We gotta think outside the bun to solve this problem!”

Mitchell Everett: “I think we should help homeless people, but I also think they should be able to help themselves by getting a job and other things.”

Gigi Cezar: “It is all our duty to help those in need. As Co-President of the Samaritan Club, I urge anyone wanting to serve to either contact me or Paige Ulrich for more information about our community service projects.”

A woman rushes her critically injured son to the hospital. She speeds past stop signs and rockets through red lights. Coming to a halt within the emergency parking lot, she lunges at her son and musters all her strength to pick him up and carry him inside. The doctor takes her son to the emergency room; the frazzled mother is exhausted, but relieved. However, the worst news has yet to come, the hospital’s nurse enters the room and informs the mother that her HMO will not cover her son’s treatment.

Step into the world that many people face on a daily basis. There are nearly 46 million people in the United States who do not have health insurance this day. Either their employer does not offer the insurance or they simply cannot afford it. With this many people in constant danger, what will the government plan to do?

Barack Obama’s cabinet plans to push legislation offering free healthcare to all United States citizens. This means Americans will no longer need to pay for health insurance that is often unused, and that those who actually require healthcare will get it. Seems like all positive things, right?

Well the opposition to this plan states that free healthcare could influence people who have minor afflictions to abuse the system by increasing the frequently of doctor visits, or attending the doctor without need, thus skyrocketing the price of this reform. Arguments also come from the overall massive price of instituting the plan and the right of people to have free healthcare.

Some will argue that healthcare is not an inherent human right; therefore the government is not responsible for providing something that is not needed. However, those who promote the bill believe that health is a fundamental part of being human, which makes healthcare a right.

So Where is it?

For some, like our own Congressman Cardoza of the Central Valley, the jury is still out regarding crucial details concerning the bill. “This is a very complicated issue and there currently is not a final bill for me to review or to take a position on,” he explained.

“There are several proposals working their way through Congress and subject to change as the legislative process unfolds. Eventually these proposals will be pulled together into one final bill. There are some good and bad parts in each of the proposals. But until I have seen the final bill, I cannot take a position on it” he added.

Congressman Cardoza, a staunch supporter of bills that support the people and the furthering of humanity as a whole, regardless of which side of the fence such proposals lie, is quick to recognize the need for healthcare exists.

“ I believe that health care reform is absolutely needed. Costs are spiraling out of control. As a result, we have too many people going without medical treatment. And we have too many people who are forced to choose between purchasing their prescription drugs or putting food on their table.”

Most people will agree that some type of healthcare reform is needed, but can a middle ground be found? Congressman Cardoza says he’s counting on it. “I think there are many things that members of Congress from both parties widely support. I do hope we are able to find a middle-ground for the overall health care reform effort in the coming weeks.”

Of course this still doesn’t address fiscal implications. How much money are we talking about here you say? Well Congressman Cardoza explains that, “The cost of the health care proposals being discussed is still in flux as the details are being worked out. However it has been projected at around $900 billion, yet The Congressional Budget Office promises a measure would actually reduce federal deficits by $81 billion over a decade. Keeping perspective, remember healthcare money it is just a drop in the bucket compared to the United State’s fourteen trillion dollar annual GDP.

How’s That Working for You?

It is widely known that several other countries have systems of free healthcare long in effect. Canadians are very much in support of their healthcare system. This system offers free treatments and appointments to all citizens of Canada, with all scenarios of sickness covered. The spending for this in Canada is about one hundred-sixty billion dollars in Canada, which translates to about 10% of the countries total GDP. However, there is some criticism with the Canadian healthcare system. Waiting time is quite problematic, with the average time before you see a doctor being one to three months. Dr. Brian Day, an outspoken Canadian physician, was once was quoted as saying “This is a country in which dogs can get a hip replacement in under a week and in which humans can wait two to three years.” Currently, the Canadian government is putting about five billion dollars into the system in an attempt to decrease wait times.

Concessions

Back at home, Congressman Cardoza wants to make sure his support of any healthcare plan actually benefits those he represents. “I wholeheartedly support the idea of reforming our health care system. Right now we pay more for health care than any other country in the world. Yet we are not healthier for it. It is clear that our system is broken and I would very much like to support reform. However, I cannot vote in support of a bill if it will not increase the number of physicians in the Central Valley. I also will not support a bill that will do nothing to control health care costs and make coverage more affordable for businesses or families, or if it won’t benefit my constituents.”