REMINDER: Check out this week's "Truth That Transforms" broadcast (Cen. FL - Sun., 5 pm, ch. 55.1; Mon., 7 pm, ch. 52.2, and at www.truthinaction.org).This week’s program is Part 1 of a special program entitled “One Nation Under God” that looks at the Christian roots of America. Incredible program; Don’t miss it!
URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:
TOMORROW, JULY 9th through August 7th is the Islamic annual holy month of Ramadan. I challenge you to JOIN ME and go to the site listed here and sign up to get a free daily prayer guide to assist you in praying for those lost to God's kingdom who are in the grip of Islam. http://www.opendoorsusa.org/landing-pages/ramadan/ramadan.html?utm_source=owt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=devotional
July 6 - Egypt Facing Civil War? "Some Fear Civil War As Violence Spreads In Egypt," http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=1605 -- PRAY for the nation of Egypt, as it faces a crucial moment, that the recent events would result in its becoming a true democracy and NOT an Islamic state. PRAY esp. that the peoples' freedoms, in particular the religious freedom of its minorities (specifically its oppressed Christians) would be protected.PRAY also: 1) For peace and stability in Egypt after the government overthrow, 2) That the U.S. will effectively reach out to the new government, and 3) For safety for Americans living in Egypt
July 4 - Texas To Vote On Major Pro-Life Bill THIS Week - PRAY that the Texas House will finally vote to approve a bill (which the Governor is ready to sign) that will, among other things, make illegal abortions before the 20th week (when babies are discovered to first feel pain) and which will regulate abortion clinics just as any other medical facilities are. PRAY that the passage of this law will spur other such laws throughout the country and eventually be made into a federal law.
American Pastor Saeed Held Prisoner in Iran - June 5th Update - "Saeed's Wife Uses UN Speech to 'Plant Gospel'," by George Thomas, CBN News Sr. Reporter, June 05, 2013, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/June/Saeeds-Wife-Uses-UN-Speech-to-Plant-Gospel/?cpid=EU_CBNNEWSPM_2013_156"Prayers from Prison: American Pastor Held in Iran Releases Letter," May 22, 2013; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=1458"...Abedini has been held at the brutal prison for 238 days, enduring long stints in solitary confinement, and, according to his supporters, beatings and torture at the hands of his jailers and fellow inmates. For months, he has been suffering from serious injuries, including internal bleeding from beatings with no proper medical attention, according to his family and attorneys."(Sources: Fox News, Assemblies of God website) Please PRAY:1) For the imprisoned Pastor Abedini, and for those Iranians who tend to his needs in prison to treat him more humanely. 2) For his family in Boise, Idaho. and their efforts to involve the U.S. State Department in securing Pastor Abedini’s release. And 3) For the impact of his witness upon believers and non-believers, in America and across the world. And if you have not yet, join the over 600,000 worldwide who have signed the petition asking for his release at www.SaveSaeed.org
UPDATE: June 21 - "Pastor Saeed in Good Spirits as Threats Increase," CBNNews.com; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/June/Pastor-Saeed-in-Good-Spirits-as-Threats-Increase/The family of imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini visited him in Iran's Evin Prison this week. They say he was in good spirits...According to the American Center for Law and Justice, the 33-year-old pastor told his family his health appears to have improved. The ACLJ also said that since Iran's presidential election last week, Abedini reported Iranian prison guards have threatened to move him to a more remote prison. Such a move would make it nearly impossible for his family to visit him.
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Doctors Perform Thousands of Unnecessary Surgeries," - June 24, 2013; http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php? http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=23310&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DPDArticle_ID=23310&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DPD
TOMORROW, JULY 9th through August 7th is the Islamic annual holy month of Ramadan. I challenge you to JOIN ME and go to the site listed here and sign up to get a free daily prayer guide to assist you in praying for those lost to God's kingdom who are in the grip of Islam. http://www.opendoorsusa.org/landing-pages/ramadan/ramadan.html?utm_source=owt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=devotional
July 6 - Egypt Facing Civil War? "Some Fear Civil War As Violence Spreads In Egypt," http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=1605 -- PRAY for the nation of Egypt, as it faces a crucial moment, that the recent events would result in its becoming a true democracy and NOT an Islamic state. PRAY esp. that the peoples' freedoms, in particular the religious freedom of its minorities (specifically its oppressed Christians) would be protected.PRAY also: 1) For peace and stability in Egypt after the government overthrow, 2) That the U.S. will effectively reach out to the new government, and 3) For safety for Americans living in Egypt
July 4 - Texas To Vote On Major Pro-Life Bill THIS Week - PRAY that the Texas House will finally vote to approve a bill (which the Governor is ready to sign) that will, among other things, make illegal abortions before the 20th week (when babies are discovered to first feel pain) and which will regulate abortion clinics just as any other medical facilities are. PRAY that the passage of this law will spur other such laws throughout the country and eventually be made into a federal law.
American Pastor Saeed Held Prisoner in Iran - June 5th Update - "Saeed's Wife Uses UN Speech to 'Plant Gospel'," by George Thomas, CBN News Sr. Reporter, June 05, 2013, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/June/Saeeds-Wife-Uses-UN-Speech-to-Plant-Gospel/?cpid=EU_CBNNEWSPM_2013_156"Prayers from Prison: American Pastor Held in Iran Releases Letter," May 22, 2013; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=1458"...Abedini has been held at the brutal prison for 238 days, enduring long stints in solitary confinement, and, according to his supporters, beatings and torture at the hands of his jailers and fellow inmates. For months, he has been suffering from serious injuries, including internal bleeding from beatings with no proper medical attention, according to his family and attorneys."(Sources: Fox News, Assemblies of God website) Please PRAY:1) For the imprisoned Pastor Abedini, and for those Iranians who tend to his needs in prison to treat him more humanely. 2) For his family in Boise, Idaho. and their efforts to involve the U.S. State Department in securing Pastor Abedini’s release. And 3) For the impact of his witness upon believers and non-believers, in America and across the world. And if you have not yet, join the over 600,000 worldwide who have signed the petition asking for his release at www.SaveSaeed.org
UPDATE: June 21 - "Pastor Saeed in Good Spirits as Threats Increase," CBNNews.com; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/June/Pastor-Saeed-in-Good-Spirits-as-Threats-Increase/The family of imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini visited him in Iran's Evin Prison this week. They say he was in good spirits...According to the American Center for Law and Justice, the 33-year-old pastor told his family his health appears to have improved. The ACLJ also said that since Iran's presidential election last week, Abedini reported Iranian prison guards have threatened to move him to a more remote prison. Such a move would make it nearly impossible for his family to visit him.
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Doctors Perform Thousands of Unnecessary Surgeries," - June 24, 2013; http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php? http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=23310&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DPDArticle_ID=23310&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DPDTens of thousands of times each year, patients are wheeled into the nation's operating rooms for surgery that isn't necessary. Some fall victim to predators that enrich themselves by bilking insurers for operations that are not medically justified. Even more turn to doctors who simply lack the competence or training to recognize when a surgical procedure can be avoided, either because the medical facts don't warrant it or because there are non-surgical treatments that would better serve the patient, says USA Today.
The scope and toll of the problem are enormous, yet it remains largely hidden. Public attention has been limited to a few sensational cases.
- In fact, unnecessary surgeries might account for 10 percent to 20 percent of all operations in some specialties, including a wide range of cardiac procedures as well as many spinal surgeries.
- Knee replacements, hysterectomies and cesarean sections are among the other surgical procedures performed more often than needed.
Since 2005, more than 1,000 doctors have made payments to settle or close malpractice claims in surgical cases that involved allegations of unnecessary or inappropriate procedures. About half the doctors' payments involved allegations of serious permanent injury or death, and many of the cases involved multiple plaintiffs, suggesting many hundreds, if not thousands, of victims.
The costs of unnecessary surgeries touch consumers and taxpayers in ways most never imagine. Medicare, Medicaid and their private insurance counterparts spend billions of dollars on operations that shouldn't be done, draining health care dollars that could go to far better use.
- About 10 percent of all spinal fusions paid for by Medicare in 2011 were not necessary, either because there was no medical basis for them or because doctors did not follow standards of care by exploring non-surgical treatments.
- A 2011 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reviewed records for 112,000 patients who had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a pacemaker-like device that corrects heartbeat irregularities. In 22.5 percent of the cases, researchers found no medical evidence to support installing the devices.
The fee-for-service nature of U.S. health care essentially rewards those that put more patients under the knife. The 2010 health care law, still being implemented, promises changes in the payment system that may pressure health care providers to cut unnecessary surgeries, but the key is to redefine the doctor-patient relationship.
[bold italicized and underlined emphasis mine]
Source: Peter Eisler and Barbara Hansen, "Doctors Perform Thousands of Unnecessary Surgeries," USA Today, June 20, 2013.
The scope and toll of the problem are enormous, yet it remains largely hidden. Public attention has been limited to a few sensational cases.
- In fact, unnecessary surgeries might account for 10 percent to 20 percent of all operations in some specialties, including a wide range of cardiac procedures as well as many spinal surgeries.
- Knee replacements, hysterectomies and cesarean sections are among the other surgical procedures performed more often than needed.
Since 2005, more than 1,000 doctors have made payments to settle or close malpractice claims in surgical cases that involved allegations of unnecessary or inappropriate procedures. About half the doctors' payments involved allegations of serious permanent injury or death, and many of the cases involved multiple plaintiffs, suggesting many hundreds, if not thousands, of victims.
The costs of unnecessary surgeries touch consumers and taxpayers in ways most never imagine. Medicare, Medicaid and their private insurance counterparts spend billions of dollars on operations that shouldn't be done, draining health care dollars that could go to far better use.
- About 10 percent of all spinal fusions paid for by Medicare in 2011 were not necessary, either because there was no medical basis for them or because doctors did not follow standards of care by exploring non-surgical treatments.
- A 2011 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reviewed records for 112,000 patients who had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a pacemaker-like device that corrects heartbeat irregularities. In 22.5 percent of the cases, researchers found no medical evidence to support installing the devices.
The fee-for-service nature of U.S. health care essentially rewards those that put more patients under the knife. The 2010 health care law, still being implemented, promises changes in the payment system that may pressure health care providers to cut unnecessary surgeries, but the key is to redefine the doctor-patient relationship.
[bold italicized and underlined emphasis mine]
"High Speed Railways Are Not Realistic in the United States ,"- June 5, 2013; http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=23245&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DPD
Evidence suggests that high-speed rail's limited success in Europe and Asia is not transferrable to the United States, says Baruch Feignbaum, a transportation policy analyst at the Reason Foundation.The majority of high-speed rail lines require large government subsidies from both general taxpayers and drivers.
- Even with generous subsidies, traveling by high-speed rail is still more expensive than flying for 12 of the 23 most popular high-speed rail routes in the world.
- The evidence suggests that high-speed rail can only be competitive on routes that are between 200 miles and 500 miles in length.
High-speed rail is also very expensive to build.
- Most new routes cost at least $10 million per mile to construct. And while operating costs vary, the cheapest European rail line costs more than $50,000 per seat to operate annually.
- This means that a U.S. high-speed rail line would need ridership of between 6 million and 9 million people per year to break even.
Advocates cite other advantages in support of high-speed rail, but most of these fall apart under close examination:
- Environment: High-speed rail creates more pollution than it prevents because building a high-speed rail line is very energy-intensive.
- Economic Development: High-speed rail does not create much new development; it merely redirects development from one area to another.
- Mobility: High-speed rail is also unlikely to improve mobility since most of its potential passengers already travel by air.
Finally, there are several factors that suggest high-speed rail's limited success in Europe and Asia may not be transferrable to the United States:
- Most countries have built high-speed rail to relieve overcrowding on their existing lines. The United States lacks this overcrowding, which suggests consumer demand for high-speed rail may not be there. Furthermore, freight rail dominates track usage.
- The United States has far higher rates of car ownership than most other countries. Gas taxes are lower, road tolls are less common, and many cities, especially in the South and West, have grown up around the automobile. This also serves to limit demand for high-speed rail travel.
- Railways are subject to outdated labor laws that were enacted when railroads did not face competition. Operating a passenger railroad in the existing U.S. regulatory environment is not a profitable proposition.
[Underliine and italics emhasis mine]
Source: Baruch Feignbaum, "High-Speed Rail in Europe and Asia: Lessons for the United States," Reason Foundation, May 30, 2013.
- Even with generous subsidies, traveling by high-speed rail is still more expensive than flying for 12 of the 23 most popular high-speed rail routes in the world.
- The evidence suggests that high-speed rail can only be competitive on routes that are between 200 miles and 500 miles in length.
- Most new routes cost at least $10 million per mile to construct. And while operating costs vary, the cheapest European rail line costs more than $50,000 per seat to operate annually.
- This means that a U.S. high-speed rail line would need ridership of between 6 million and 9 million people per year to break even.
- Environment: High-speed rail creates more pollution than it prevents because building a high-speed rail line is very energy-intensive.
- Economic Development: High-speed rail does not create much new development; it merely redirects development from one area to another.
- Mobility: High-speed rail is also unlikely to improve mobility since most of its potential passengers already travel by air.
- Most countries have built high-speed rail to relieve overcrowding on their existing lines. The United States lacks this overcrowding, which suggests consumer demand for high-speed rail may not be there. Furthermore, freight rail dominates track usage.
- The United States has far higher rates of car ownership than most other countries. Gas taxes are lower, road tolls are less common, and many cities, especially in the South and West, have grown up around the automobile. This also serves to limit demand for high-speed rail travel.
- Railways are subject to outdated labor laws that were enacted when railroads did not face competition. Operating a passenger railroad in the existing U.S. regulatory environment is not a profitable proposition.
Source: Baruch Feignbaum, "High-Speed Rail in Europe and Asia: Lessons for the United States," Reason Foundation, May 30, 2013.
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