Friday, April 30, 2010

Arizona Common Sense-Colorado Craziness

Right off the bat, two facts.

First, Arizonians have the right to pass laws to address their issues and protect their state.

Second, the "objectionable" Arizona law stems from the Federal government's failure to address the issue of immigration.

So, the Arizonians did it themselves. Oh and by the way, 70 percent of Arizonians approve of the new law!

All of the complainers who live in San Francisco, Denver et al don't have their lives and property being overrun by drug smugglers, drug gangs and illegal immigrants.

Sounds like common sense to me.

But, here in Denver, the crazies rule. Denver Public Schools announced on Thursday a prohibition on work related travel to Arizona.

I am already giggling. Here's the full story.

Really. First, DPS is broke and teachers/administrators should not be conferencing in Arizona. Do it here on the internet. Second, since when does a public school district get involved in law making? Third, spend your time and effort educating the children in your schools.

Finally, must I remind the well-intentioned yet misguided DPS officials that being an illegal immigrant is against the law?

Sounds like craziness to me.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Colorado Education and Keno? Give Me a Break...

Surprise, but Colorado's Higher Education is lacking money again to the tune of nearly $300 million. Currently, the state provides $104 million each year to higher education. And, our state legislature has an answer. You guessed it-more taxes and more gambling!

Under a new proposal weaving its way through our state legislature, voters may be asked this fall to approve a referendum which will expand the current limited gambling operations in Colorado to bars and restaurants. The target game- Keno, a gambling game which betters select numbers and hope that the computer matches them. Early estimates predict an annual net of between $20 to $100 million if the games prove popular.

Our state's higher education institutions are in a corner. The Federal stimulus money will run out in a year. That leaves painful decisions for school administrators and state lawmakers-cut costs, raise tuition's and reduce the amount of student aid.

While thinking outside of the box for creative funding sources for higher education is admirable, expanding gambling beyond what it is now is obtuse.

Your thoughts?

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Denver Post and Tim Gill's "Husband?"

Words matter.

Today's edition of the Denver Post business section was either a major feaux pas or an intentional piece of journalistic editorializing.

We believe it was the latter.

Today's story involves the purchase of the historic Phipps mansion by Colorado homosexual activist Tim Gill and his partner Scott Miller. But this is not the real story.

Throughout the article, the Post reporter editorializes and describes Gill's partner as his husband. One year ago, Gill and Miller were wed in Massachusetts under that state's gay marriage law (a law that was never voted on by the electorate).

Unfortunately for the "Miller's" or the "Gill's" or whatever they call themselves, they are not married here. In 2006, Coloradans overwhelmingly voted for a state constitutional amendment that defined marriage between a man and a woman by a margin of 57-43 percent. Simultaneously in 2006, voters rejected another referendum that would have created a de facto gay marriage law in Colorado.

Words matter and the Post got its words wrong today.

See the article here.

Beware of Unusual Circumstances

We are going spiritual today. This is the day that the Lord has made and with it comes a unique assignment or two for each of us.

What is your's?

Attached is a great article from one of my favorite writers, Os Hillman.

You can get it here or see it below.

"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit?" (1 Cor 12:7-9).

Whenever something unusual happens in daily life, these are often signs that God is up to something. We must have a heightened sense of awareness of what God may want to do in these situations. My mentor once shared how he was upgraded on an airline unexpectedly. A woman sat down next to him who was very troubled. He began to quietly pray for the woman and God gave him supernatural insights that her problem related to the fact that she had not forgiven her mother in a family-related issue. He decided to politely share his insight. The woman was shocked. My mentor began to minister to her on the airplane and ultimately led her to Christ.

God is raising the spiritual bar for Christians who want to impact the world for Christ today. He wants to break through into people's lives supernaturally by giving them insights into the needs of people in order to bring them to Christ.

Jesus often spoke supernaturally into the lives of others based on the circumstance of the moment. He often spoke of their current condition in life and invited them to make a change.

As you go about your day, there are situations that we can find ourselves in that are open doors for bringing Christ into the circumstance. In fact, He is the one orchestrating the circumstance!

Next time an unusual situation develops, be aware that God may be creating such a circumstance to bring His glory into the situation.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Guns and Colorado Starbucks

Local Colorado Starbucks are now in the cross-hairs of the local anti-gun rights activists led by Tom Mauser, father of Columbine victim Daniel Mauser.

The issue: Starbucks allows customers to carry permitted concealed weapons in their stores, which is the current law in Colorado.

These activists want to force Starbucks to change this policy.

Their argument goes like this. Starbucks does not permit weapons in their corporate offices but they do allow them in their stores, depending on local laws. They also believe that banning weapons in private stores is a good idea.

Our question to the activists: how would you have Starbucks enforce such a rule even if they were to change their policies? Their would be a cost and it would get tacked onto the cost of my favorite latte....

By the way, last time I checked, there was not a lot of gun violence at Starbucks in Colorado. There have been very few crimes connected with permitted owners of concealed weapons.

Our anti-gun friends are barking up the wrong tree again.

Besides, if a criminal was to consider a crime at a Starbucks, a gun-free zone won't make a difference.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

"Clean" Needle Exchange a Bad Idea

Last week, the Colorado State Senate seriously engaged a bill that would offer clean needles to drug addicts.

If you missed the story in the Denver Post, read it here.

This is a bad idea. Here's why.

The real issue is being avoided here: curtailing illegal drug use. I understand the public health sentiment, as put forth by the advocates of this bill.However, offering drug addicts needles will increase drug use.

For five years, I directed the downtown Denver Rescue Mission. Drug use was a common daily occurrence there. Most of the alleys in that area were filled with needles. But what these addicts needed was not a clean syringe to continue their destructive lifestyle, but counseling and support to kick their drug habits.

Most Coloradans support drug rehabilitation. Most will not support their tax dollars subsidizing illegal drug use.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Lacking Wisdom

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him...

Our nation is lacking wisdom. Our President lacks wisdom. Our Congress is just as foolish. A lack of wisdom also affects our Colorado state legislature.

Why? Because we are not asking God how to do things. Our created world runs on natural laws. God's wisdom installed it.

James goes on to state that but when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

Godly wisdom is a partnership with God. It is based on seeking God for it and then believing He will provide it.

It is a rare commodity today in America.

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

The Cost of Obama Health Care

The cost facts of Obama care is beginning to seep out.

My goal here is not to be partisan but fiducially responsible. Good feelings aside, our nation cannot afford to cover another "30 million' (dubious number) uninsured Americans.

We don't have the shekels. Our kids and their kids will curse us one day for the debt burden we are placing on their shoulders.

My good friend Brad Hawkins from Integrity Financial here in Denver has assembled this fact sheet on the cost and impact of Obama care.

You can get the full report here at http://www.rmfc.org/

Here are some highlights:

-The cost of insurance will skyrocket. Some premiums in the individual market would triple under these new burdens.

-This legislation imposes a new 3.8 percent tax on investment income.

- A series of of new taxes and fees to pay for expanded health care coverage will push up costs for employers resulting in fewer new jobs and lesser benefits.

-Businesses will have to surrender 8 percent of their payroll to the government if they do not offer insurance or pay at least 72.5 percent for their workers' premium. There is no such mandate like this in place right now for American businesses.


These facts are outrageous.

Our Federal government is out of control. Irregardless of your political perspective, the bottom line is that we cannot afford this new entitlement!

Your thoughts?