Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010

By Steven J. Smith

The Health Care Reform Bill that was signed into law by President Barack Obama, some would argue, is the greatest piece of legislation in the United States since President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare into law in 1965. Opponents of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care would argue that it restricts individual freedom, it is to costly and as Rush Limbaugh states the Act will, "lead to the destruction of America."

Some 45 years ago President Johnson and the progressive Democrats faced opposition to the historic passage of Medicare, as President Obama does today. Medicare according President Johnson has been, "the most revolutionary and most beneficial measure for older Americans since we passed Social Security back in 1935." Johnson added, that older Americans "will no longer have to suffer from misery and neglect because they cannot afford the cost of modern treatment." He went on to say, "I predict 30 years from today this bill will be a welcomed and permanent part of our nations heritage that no representative would ever dare to repeal."

Johnson was spot on in his analysis. President Obama has made a similar claim to the historical and practical impact that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will make upon the lives of Americans of all ages. Here are some of the benefits of the new Health Care Law.

1. 95% of Americans will have health insurance.

2. Companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

3. Companies will no longer be allowed to drop people from coverage when they get sick.

4. Small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance be able to now from a variety of competing plans.

5. The federal budget deficit will be cut by $138 billion over the next 10 years and $1.2 trillion over next 20.

6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the law closes the "donut hole" gap.

7. Create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.

8. Young adults will be able to remain on their families insurance plans until age 26.

The same fear mongering and name calling that characterized the Medicare Act is happening now with the Health Care Act. Many opponents of the Health Care Reform are obstructionist who are opposed to anything President Obama does. Their attempts to block health care reform was done simply for political purposes. One Republican senator declared, "If we're able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo. It will break him." Senator Sherrod Brown from Ohio recognized these scare tactics and stated, "I go back to 40 years ago when the Medicare Bill was passed. People like Bob Dole, Strom Thurmond, Donald Rumsfeld, Gerald Ford, as members of Congress all opposed it."

I wonder what side of the argument Jesus would support? Helping the sick, children, the poor and seniors is the essence of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I know the answer to WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) in regard to his support for Health Care Reform. He would be a big supporter.

We've Got The Power! You Better Tell Somebody!

Written by Steven J. Smith

A facebook friend from Ohio asked me why I was so excited on Sunday about God's Divine Power and to share that message with others who may read this blog. Well Sister Turner thank you for that encouragement and you are right everybody needs to know that "We've Got The Power!" The Bible tells us, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3). God is so wonderful and amazing that he has given us "His divine Power." Just think about that for a minute....... Minutes up! If that does not excite you somebody needs to check your pulse. He did not give us just any kind of power, but the word of God says "divine power!"


The omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (ever present) and omniscient (all knowing) creator has given us the power we need for everything in life. I like the phrase "everything we need for life" because that means that nothing in life is outside of the realm of God's power. Not your finances, not your romances, not your children or your health. "We've Got The Power" to get it done in all aspects of our lives. You Better Tell Somebody! The divine power is real, practical and available right now. The word of God did not say he was giving it to us in the afterlife, but in this life that we are living right now here on earth.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:19-20, "I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Jesus not only let's us know it will be done for us but that it will be done for us with him on the scene. Hallelujah! Sister Turner I feel like shouting and praising him right now! You want to talk about a support system? It gets no better than having divine power in your spiritual fuel tank. We are talking about super unleaded, maximum octane, grade A power that will take you where you need to go.

This is the message that the Apostle Paul was conveying in 2 Timothy 1:17 when he states, "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." This should inspire you today to know that we serve a God that is not just heavenly focused and doing no earthly good. Quite to the contrary he has given us the power we need to prosper down here on earth. You have been gifted by God so "stir up the gifts." Remember "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)