Colossians 1:16
21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
16 For by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him.
Acts 17
Amplified Bible (AMP)
17 Now after [Paul and Silas] had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 And Paul entered, as he usually did, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned and argued with them from the Scriptures,
3 Explaining [them] and [quoting passages] setting forth and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This Jesus, Whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ (the Messiah).
4 And some of them [accordingly] were induced to believe and associated themselves with Paul and Silas, as did a great number of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
5 But the unbelieving Jews were aroused to jealousy, and, getting hold of some wicked men (ruffians and rascals) and loungers in the marketplace, they gathered together a mob, set the town in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring [Paul and Silas] out to the people.
9 And when they had taken security [bail] from Jason and the others, they let them go.
10 Now the brethren at once sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea; and when they arrived, they entered the synagogue of the Jews.
11 Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message [[a]concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] with inclination of mind andeagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
12 Many of them therefore became believers, together with not a few prominent Greeks, women as well as men.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the Word of God [[b]concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] was also preached by Paul at Beroea, they came there too, disturbing and inciting the masses.
14 At once the brethren sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained behind.
15 Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
16 Now while Paul was awaiting them at Athens, his spirit was grieved and roused to anger as he saw that the city was full of idols.
17 So he reasoned and argued in the synagogue with the Jews and those who worshiped there, and in the marketplace [where assemblies are held] day after day with any who chanced to be there.
18 And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him and began to engage in discussion.And some said, What is this babbler with his scrap-heap learning trying to say? Others said, He seems to be an announcer of foreign deities—because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
19 And they took hold of him and brought him to the [c]Areopagus [Mars Hill meeting place], saying, May we know what this novel (unheard of and unprecedented) teaching is which you are openly declaring?
20 For you set forth some startling things, foreign and strange to our ears; we wish to know therefore just what these things mean—
21 For the Athenians, all of them, and the foreign residents and visitors among them spent all their leisure time in nothing except telling or hearing something newer than the last—
22 So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus [Mars Hill meeting place], said: Men of Athens, I perceive in every way [on every hand and with every turn I make] that you are most religious or very reverent to demons.
23 For as I passed along and carefully observed your objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this inscription, To the unknown god. Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth to you.
24 The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines.
25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything, for it is He Himself Who gives life and breath and all things to all [people].(A)
26 And He made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to settleon the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes),
27 So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us.
28 For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring.
29 Since then we are God’s offspring, we ought not to suppose that Deity (the Godhead) is like gold or silver or stone, [of the nature of] a representation by human art and imagination, oranything constructed or invented.
30 Such [former] ages of ignorance God, it is true, ignored and allowed to pass unnoticed; but now He charges all people everywhere to repent ([d]to change their minds for the better and heartily to amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins),
31 Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man Whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising Him from the dead.(B)
32 Now when they had heard [that there had been] a resurrection from the dead, some scoffed; but others said, We will hear you again about this matter.
33 So Paul went out from among them.
Ephesians 6:12
King James Version (KJV)
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Don't do what you think is right without first seeking God in prayer. Obey God. It all works out in the end. These people who attempt to hold hostage our way of life under the thinly disguised notion that they are doing what is right for the country, are misusing their authority. They know why they do what they do. In politics there is sponsorship. (see the spiritual wickedness verse) Satan sponsors his legion but we will stand firm in the Righteousness of God, in His protection.
Please understand that there are some very, very, cold-hearted people rich and poor who care not for the next man and they are not their brother's/mother's/children's keeper. If you find one good man who sticks up for a people—a sleepy, fearful people at that—stand with that good man.
President Obama is that good (not perfect) man and he is not the only one but he is on-deck currently fighting a faction of sponsored individuals who are misguided in their notions. I understand clearly his picked fights and battles as they are reflective of his walk in this life. I commend him but God is with him so NO ONE WILL STAND AGAINST HIM. His battles are heartfelt and many people stand to benefit who would otherwise be lost.
The Affordable Care Act will help people who are between a rock and a hard place when it comes to health care. It will force the hand of those who have been skating out on their responsibilities of not having insurance. It will have those who boast about their wealth over those who have less, put their money where their mouth is: pay for more of it yourself. Why should your employer issue you welfare health care (really low premiums as if you were on Medicaid) as you boast about what you have, when, since you are so much more wealthier, you can pay for it yourself? If you can afford a $500 cell phone then money is not your problem in life—it just isn't and you won't suffer either way.
See, many of us average, everyday people only find value of self in our possessions and the ability to lord it over another's head. Some are wisely more discreet.
Although dental is not offered, if you lose your job it should not mean you lose your health benefits. Remember COBRA coverage? It was expensive. If you are tethered to an evil occupation and want to find another, you will find no barrier to your actions because of health benefits. This is what the ACA does, it frees the worker to find the best life possible.
The ACA taxes those who can afford luxury health care plans (they have plenty, they won't miss it and nothing in life is free and you cannot continue to get something for nothing) and many wealthier people who are also living about their means and punching above their weight class, do not relish the extra expense. Although they are wealthier than most, they do not compare themselves to lower economically placed individuals but those who are the next level up from them. Why? I dunno. I would rather be in my lane, on my level and look well than way up there looking like a ragged, leaky ship. But that is me.
My hope is that the premiums are not too expensive for the middle-aged worker who is already feeling the burden of aches and pains. I would hate to have to pick health insurance premiums over cable! (See, imperfect and selfish and immature thinking is not exclusive.)
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