Leaderboard

My intent here is not to become involved in a political issue. Rather, I want to inform in a manner that will help you to understand some of what you are reading in the Press. US Federal retirement pay consists generally of two types: Military Retirement Pay: Today, three (I think.) types of military retirement exist. It is expected that in the future, Congress will make additional changes in this system. It is very complex for those who have retired from Active Duty and more so for people who retire from the Reserves and/or retire due to medical issues. I will not address this retirement system. Nothing that I will say in this post applies to this group of people. Federal Civillian Retirement Pay: Today, our Federal civilians have retired under two different systems. I will only address the system under which I retired and is the present system for all retirees. It is as follows. * The minimoon employment required to retire is five years. * One per-cent of income is placed in a retirement account. * The employee can have up to an additional five per-cent of income placed in that retirement account. The amount chosen by the employee is matched by the government. * At the time of retirement, that total retirement account must be invested by the employee in some type of account that will pay the future retirement income. How to invest that retirement account is up the employee.

Reasonable people will support a reasonable work requirement for people to receive Medicaid.

I personally know of an individual who drank heavily and smoked heavily all of his life - he developed Alzheimer's at 84 and died two years later in a memory care facility. I personally know of two people who were health nuts (an Attorney and a medical doctor). The doctor got early onset Alz and has already passed (he was 63) and the lawyer is vegetarian, did marathons and had a treadmill and stationary bike in his office which he used all the time - he just had to quit practicing law and give all his clients away to other Atty's. He is also very young. I don't think diet has very much to do with it based off what I've seen. I recently watched a TED talk about the best way to protect oneself from AZ - be a Catholic NUN. Just kidding but Nuns are specifically mentioned in the video.

An Adventist scholar looks at the Council of Nicea in the following article. You might be surprised as some of what he says. https://spectrummagazine.org/views/the-council-of-nicea-and-a-fresh-look-at-church-history/

Recently, a SDA scholar authored a book on the relationship between Adventists and Catholics. The reaction to that book and not always been favorable. The article linked below, explores the dynamic that exists in Adventism as to how we relate to others. https://spectrummagazine.org/views/adventist-aggression-contradiction-in-terms-of-unfortunate-reality/

Joe made the following statement: "I later learned the on 20% serve on the front lines, 80% are logistics." In modern war, the rear is more dangerous than the so-called "front lines." The reason is that command and control are located in the rear area. Those in front cannot fight when either they are not given direction from commanders int he rear, or they do not receive re-supply of weapons and personnel. Both are dangerous. but, the rear is often worse.

This is an old post, but I thought I would join in. To me, there is a big difference in being involved in a war and joining the service. I was never in the service. At the time when I was 18 there was a war on, and I was afraid of being injured, not killed. I knew a lot of guys brothers who we injured. I was not an Adventist till many years later. I later learned the on 20% serve on the front lines, 80% are logistics. The one regret I have is that I did not at least try to join the service. I think a few years of taking orders and obeying, would have been good for me. And the benefits are terrific. I know a guy from a family that could not afford to send him to college. He joined the service as a diesel mechanic. Served his time and got a great job after.

I think that there are probably aspects of thils situation that lie below the surface, and therefore are not being addressed. IOW, I will suggest that it is more complex that it appears to be on the surface. The MIchigan Conference has some unique aspects in its administration that are not typical for a Local Conference. I have not published some of what I know due to the fact that I am probably not fully informed and I do not believe any comments that I might make would be helpful.