Discouragement

   I just finished reading Ezra and Nehemiah and currently reading Zachariah.  In case you didn't know, these are books of the Bible describing events just after Israel returned to the Promised land after 70 years of captivity.  In Ezra they returned to the land, in Nehemiah they rebuilt the wall and heard the Bible read for the first time and it Zachariah they are admonished because they have fallen back into the lifestyle that God punished them for in the first place.
  I have learned that God wanted to prevent the mixing of Jews with other peoples, not because other people were inferior but because other people would bring in different beliefs and corrupt the Jews.  In the New Testament we are told "Don't be unequally yoked together."
   Even so, we still see many Christians married to non-Christians.  Christians are supposed to keep ourselves separate from the world.  Even though we have to live in the world, we are not to adapt worldly values.  Just like the Jews in the Old Testament books I've been reading, it seems living a separated life is a difficult thing to do.  It seems Christians want enough religion to make themselves feel good about themselves but not enough to stand out from the crowd.  As long as they don't practice illegal activities, then they feel they are being "good " Christians.
  One I know had pictures of him and his family celebrating "National Beer Week."  The Bible tells us that what ever we put into our bodies is what is going to come out.  It is not talking about food but about our values.  The Bible also teaches us that we are to be witnesses for Christ and although all things are lawful not all things are needful.  If what we do offends our weaker brothers then we should refrain from that activity.
  Christianity isn't about being good.  It's about serving Christ.  We aren't good sevants when our lives reflect more of the world's values then the values of God.    

Medicare and Nursing homes

  It is a mistaken belief that Medicare pays for nursing home care for the long time.  It may cover some of the costs if one is sent to a nursing home for a short stay, to convalesce for   a week or two but once one is placed in a nursing home for long term care the patient is responsible for his/her own care.  If the cost is more than the patient can afford (probably around $8,000.00 plus cost of medicine) then the patient can apply for Medicaid.
  When my Mom was placed in a facility, she was allowed to keep $2000 plus her $70.00 a month widows benefit from the VA, plus prepaid funereal expenses.  She retained ownership of her home as long as it was her intension of moving back into it.  I believe that the amounts have been changed but it has been a couple of years ago so one would have to check with their county agent to be sure of the current law.
   To be sure you understand, the $2,000.00 is the total amount she is allowed to retain at the time she is approved which must be accomplished in a 60 day period of time.  It is not two thousand a month nor can the money be replenished once it is spent.   The $70.00 a month is only for the spouse of a veteran and can only be used for the patients personal expenses.  One cannot pay bills with that money.
  If the patient lives a short period of time, then the family heirs can keep the house if they satisfy the nursing home bill.  For example, if the patient lives 3 months and Medicaid has paid those three months bills, then the $24,000.00 will have to be paid out of the proceeds  of the sale of the house or out of the funds of the heirs.  If the heirs can't or don't want to keep the house, they can sell the house, repay the $24,000.00 and divide the rest.
  If, like in my Mom's case, she lived for 18 months while collecting Medicaid totaling 144,000.00 and owned a house worth much less, the house was sold and all the proceeds turned over to Medicaid and the debt was satisfied.  
   The good news is that if the patient has lots of assets then one can use the assets to repair and improve the home. or one can use the assets to prepaid the nursing home. Any unused prepayment will be returned to the estate.
  The problems I encountered in taking care of Mom was home owners insurance and property taxes, all of which had to be paid out of the $2,000.00.  We kept the water and power on at the house which were small but recurring expenses.
  While it is true that the patient gets a Social Security check, all the patient receives of that check is just enough to pay the premiums on a health insurance.
   For the reasons I have stated it is best to be rich enough to pay the costs out of pocket or poor enough to have no or little assets.  For most people, it is a fact that they will encounter s situation like Mom did.  The only was she could have insured being able to keep her house was to have sold it or given it away at least three years before applying for Medicaid.   If she had transferred any assets, including money and/or property within the three year period of time, then the recipient will most likely have to give the assets back to the estate.
  It seems unfair to most people but the state is actually loaning the patient the money for a nursing facility.  The reason why the patient can only keep a small amount of money is that it is much easier to turn over assets to the long-care nursing facility or fix up the home than it is to try and recover assets illegally spent by the relative or friend care giver.  
   If the patient turns over her/his home to heirs, they run the risk of being forced out of their home.
Unfortunately that happens much more often than one would believe it would.
 

Problem Cat

  I have two cats.  One is a Maine Coon who is a runt but the sweetest cat I've ever taken care of.  The other is a short-haired domestic tortoise shell who is strange my anyone's standard.  Besides the quirkiness of the breed, this cat was raised with a ferret which I think may have made this cat even stranger.
  She has been in my household for about eight years now.  Up until recently her quirkiness has provided us with plenty of laughs.    (She sneaks up on everything, drinks water my dipping her paws in the water then licking her paw, and will not let anyone pick her up)  Recently she has developed a bad habit I'm at a loss over how to fix.
  She will pee in the liter box then get out and take a dump on a rug and then fold the rug over to cover her poop.  I have three litter boxes and they are cleaned twice a day at least and they are filled with the same litter that I have always used.
  Can anyone tell me why and what to do to correct this behavior?

Daylilly Club

The Daylily Club of Greensboro will have another meeting October 6, 2019 at 2965 Battleground Ave. from 2 to 4.  I never really thought much about Daylilies until I saw a display at the triad Regional Airport and was awed at the variety and beauty of these plants.
  There will be a meeting in February min which I will be presenting a slide series on my yard with Iris as the focal point.  Come join us for either or both of these meetings.

Spectacular September Conclusion

  Academy Street Baptist Church concluded it's Spectacular September  last night and I must said it was Spectacular.  Last year it was very good and this year it was even better.  I'm sorry you missed it but there are many good things to come.  Join us any service any time.  Academy Street Baptist Church in Randleman, NC wants you to come visit us and hopefully make us your church home.

Book of Jasher

The book of Jasher is quoted several times in the Bible.  I know it is referenced in II Samuel.  I looked it up and it is basically a copy of Genesis.  Most of it lines up perfectly with Genesis with a few noteworthy exceptions.  It begins with the creation of Adam and Eve, moves quickly through the flood and soon retells the story of Abram.  More detail is given about Nimrod and Abrams father.  It tells of Abram being throw into a furnace by Nimrod and spending three days there.
 There is more detail about the problems between Cain and Able, Esau and Jacob and the priest/king of Jerusalem that Abraham gave a tithe to has a different name.  But the basic stories all remain the same and honestly, most people would never know they are reading Jasher instead of Genesis.  It's a shame but it's also true that many Christians  never read the Bible and if they were told the stories as recorded in Jasher versus the stories from Genesis, they would have no idea.  

Back in the Saddle

  I had gotten into the stock market via my 401k in the waning days of George Bush and was making a little money until the big stock market crash.  Even though I watched my saving diminish daily I actually increased the percentage of my paycheck that I purchased stocks with.  I saw my investment fall from $21,000.00 to just over $12,000.00.  After Obama took office the stock market started to recovery and when it was all said and done, I had $51,000.00.
  Truth be told, only about $6,000.00 of that was actually my money.  About $15,000.00 was company match and the remainder was market increase.  When I retired I spent some of the money to pay all  my debts and some to update my home.  Of course there was the mandatory withdrawals and some extra spending money to enjoy life with.  I didn't invest any in the stock market since I retired and now all that is left of my 401k is a few bonds.  Old people don't get stocks through their retirement account.
  Well, I decided to invest back in the stock market in stocks, not bonds.  My profit in the bond market is zero which means I am losing money at the rate of inflation.  I invested 10,000.00  or actually $2500.00 in each of 4 diverse accounts.  So far I have made $427,00 in 9 days.  I was hoping for $700.00 for the year  which I will still be happy with.  At the current rate I will make double my original investment.
  oddest thing is this is supposed to be a bad time of invest.  And it may very well turn out to be that way.

AGT Judges

  Heidi Klum and Mel B were much better judges then the pair that replaced them even if their lifestyle choices were suspect.