The City Gate

Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day He rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen

Overcomers

John Ogden Sr., with Christian Motorcycle Association, wrote the following on October 25, 2010:

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5, NKJV).

Our greatest opportunity lies in the faith of God. When God’s faith is present in us, we become world changers, for we operate from a plane of true confidence in God. Though our world is filled with worry, fear, and anxiety, we need to remember that only the love and the faith of God that flows from Heaven to us can enable us to be overcomers.

Many people move through life with a casual relationship with our Lord and Savior. To be overcomers requires a faith that is beyond that of the natural man – a faith that only comes from God. The greatest weakness in life is unbelief. We may go through all of the motions of “Christianity," but our lives remain unchanged. Unbelief is the enemy of faith and will cause complacency to settle in. To be an overcomer, we must have enough faith to allow God to continually mold, shape and stretch us. We must have faith to stand when He says stand, even though we may not understand or like where we are.

We have access to unlimited power as children of God. We cannot access this power from a natural mindset. We must truly put God first in all that we do, not just on Sunday mornings, but every day. Our cry must be for more of God; for as we truly seek Him and His ways, He will reveal Himself and equip us for the work that He has laid before us. We are truly more than overcomers by the blood of Christ. This is not of ourselves, but through His divine plan. 

Have you truly given Him the reigns to your life, so that in all things you can be more than an overcomer?

Psalm 37:25

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalm 37:25, KJV)

The Tax Poem

Author of this poem and the thoughts that follow is unknown:

At first I thought this was funny...then I realized the awful
truth of it. Be sure to read all the way to the end!

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me to my doom..."

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring & Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the
most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest
middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the hell happened? Can you spell "politicians?"

And I still have to "press 1" for English!?

I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times!!!!!

Paradox of our time

Writer of this essay is unknown. The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete... Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Fear of the mentally ill

There is a stigma that makes people afraid of people who suffer with mental illness. In very few cases is it founded. And NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) wants to break that stigma.

Halloween seems to be a perfect time to create attractions where the setting for haunted houses might be "insane asylums." Most horror films or books star mental patients who go on frightening, deranged rampages. A haunted house in Indianola, Iowa, is called The Asylum. There is also an attraction called The Asylum in Charlotte, North Carolina. There's The Pennhurst Asylum outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Asylum of Terror in Clinton, New Jersey.

Well, maybe it's time to stop thinking of mental illness in this way. In a "Stigma Buster Alert," written by NAMI, they say, "Violent stereotypes are inaccurate and offensive and the U.S. Surgeon General has determined that stigmas imposed on people with mental illness in our popular culture often discourages people from getting help when they need it."

How do we stop it? Start by contacting sponsors or operators of the attractions to ask that offensive parts be removed or simply renamed. Ask that newspapers or other media not run ads based on those themes. Start by becoming educated yourself about mental illness.

If we think about it, we probably all know someone who deals with this problem. And none of those people should be seen as equal to ghosts, goblins, ghouls and evil spirits.

Contact NAMI at stigma@nami.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Grace Sivadge
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Greater Des Moines Board Member
NAMI Family to Family Teacher
Home phone: 515-961-6671
Cell Phone:  515-205-9765
E-mail:  rsivadge1@juno.com
NAMI GDM mission statement:
"Empowering individuals, families, and community by providing hope and education about brain disorders."

Please share with other groups,  organizations, friends, and family.   Please encourage as many people as possible to come to the Assembly on Sunday.   We need to pack the church!

AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy) is a group of 28 (mostly faith based) institutions working for social justice.  NAMI Greater Des Moines is a member of AMOS.

We invite you to the “Fall Issues Assembly” this Sunday, October 24, 2010 from 3 to 4:30 PM.  It will be held at First United Methodist Church, 1001 Pleasant, Des Moines – www.dmfirstchurch.org.  It is the church located just east of Methodist Hospital.  Ample parking and an easily accessible entrance are on the north side of the church.

We will gather legislators, decision makers, and gubernatorial candidates where our strategies will gain voice.  An hour and half or two of your time on Sunday afternoon on Oct. 24th may do more for social justice than a half day in January lobbying at the State Capitol.   You will be working to change lives.

Broad goals for Mental Health focus:

1.  Reduction of stigma through the recognition of mental illness and substance abuse as public health issues.

2.  Increased access to community services (workforce, services, beds, medications, support services)

Exploring Specific approaches to these goals:

1.  Integration of primary care, mental health care, substance abuse care, and disability care under the umbrella of the Dept. of Public Health so we are the treating the “whole person.”

2.  Adequate flexibility in funding options for adequate community services to eliminate waiting lists and create the capacity to help persons in need including returning veterans.

3.  An action plan to develop and retain more mental health professionals in Iowa

Building a Better Workforce Development System (Project Quest™),

Enhancing Juvenile Justice in Iowa, and Immigration will also be addressed that day.

When you see someone who has been treated unjustly you can give something to him or her to correct the result of injustice or you can correct the cause of the injustice.  Both kinds of help are needed.  AMOS works to correct the causes of injustice.

Join us at our Fall Issues Assembly and help us build a community where all can succeed!

www.amosiowa.org       www.QUESTsa.org

Please share this information with others.

Teresa Bomhoff
2010 Iowa Mental Health Planning Council Chairperson
2010 NAMI Greater Des Moines President
Home phone:  515-274-6876
Work phone:  515-284-4447
NAMI GDM phone:  515-277-0672
E-mail:  tbomhoff@mchsi.com
Join the "Brainiacs" team www.nami.org/namiwalks10/DES/Brainiacs
E-mail:  namigdm@gmail.com
Website:  www.nami.org/sites/NAMIGreaterDesMoines
NAMI GDM mission statement:
"Empowering individuals, families, and community by providing hope and education about brain disorders."

Champions....

I was sent a letter of encouragement from a church in (I think) Kansas. The ending statement said, "Champions are rarely unscarred." Doesn't that just thrill your heart!!? I couldn't wait to share that on our blogsite.

Christians many times expect life to be smooth sailing. But the sun shines on the just and unjust. As long as we live on this blue ball that's spinning around the sun, before Jesus returns, we must realize that we're not living in Heaven. If all was rosy, we wouldn't desire Heaven and eternity with Jesus as much.

Champions....

I was just sent a letter of encouragement from a church in (I think) Kansas. The ending statement said, "Champions are rarely unscarred." Doesn't that just thrill your heart!!? I couldn't wait to share that on our blogsite.

Christians many times expect life to be smooth sailing. But the sun shines on the just and unjust. As long as we live on this blue ball that's spinning around the sun, before Jesus returns, we must realize that we're not living in Heaven. If all was rosy, we wouldn't desire Heaven and eternity with Jesus as much.

2 Timothy 1:12

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (2 Timothy 1:12, NKJV)