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Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
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CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
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So.....did your insurance premium go up?
- American Politics
- 124 Replies
it begs the question why are private corporations so much better at managing the cost of healthcare than the government?From a survey of employers:
"Annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage reached $26,993 this year, 6% higher than in 2024. On average, workers contributed $6,850 toward the cost of family coverage. The average deductible among covered workers in a plan with a general annual deductible was $1,886 for single coverage."
2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey | KFF
This annual survey of employers provides a detailed look at trends in employer-sponsored health coverage, including premiums, worker contributions, cost-sharing provisions, offer rates, and more. This year's report also looks at how employers are approaching coverage of GLP-1 drugs for weight...www.kff.org
My employer provided insurance plan for 2026 reflects the 6% rise noted above.
For those who don't have insurance through their employer, they face a diferent scenario:
"For 2026, across 312 insurers participating in the ACA Marketplaces from the 50 states and the District of Columbia, this analysis shows a median proposed premium increase of 18%, which is about 11 percentage points higher than last year. This is the largest rate change insurers have requested since 2018, the last time that policy uncertainty contributed to sharp premium increases. On average, ACA Marketplace insurers are raising premiums by about 20% in 2026. Based on a more detailed analysis of available documents from insurers in 19 states and the District of Columbia, like in prior years, growth in health care prices stood out as a key factor driving costs in 2026. Insurers cite increasing cost and utilization of high-priced drugs as well as general market factors, such as increasing labor costs and inflation, as contributing to premium increases.
In addition to rising healthcare costs, the majority of insurers are also taking into account the potential expiration of enhanced premium tax credits in their premium rate increases for the next year. The expiration of enhanced tax credits will lead to out-of-pocket premiums for ACA marketplace enrollees increasing by an average of more than 75%, with insurers expecting healthier enrollees to drop coverage. That, in turn, increases underlying premiums. Other federal policy changes, like the implementation of tariffs and the ACA Marketplace Integrity and Affordability rule were also discussed, though to a lesser extent."
How much and why ACA Marketplace premiums are going up in 2026 - Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
Health insurers submit rate filings annually to state regulators detailing expectations and rate changes for Affordable Care Act (ACA)-regulated health plans for the coming year. A relatively small, but growing, share of the population is enrolled in these plans (compared to the number in...www.healthsystemtracker.org
To summarize, your wife and I are fortunate to work for employers who provide health insurance at an affordable rate. Tomorrow, either one of us could be laid off and be forced into the marketplace....a marketplace that is no longer subsidized by the government. And, if either one of us have pre-existing conditions, obtaining insurance by not be feasable.
A company with a couple hundred people in their employ can offer better plans at lower costs than the government with millions?
Healthcare That Fits: 16 Alternatives to Traditional Health Insurance HealthShare Guide |
Learn about 16 alternatives to traditional health insurance that provide flexible, affordable healthcare through options like HealthShares and DPC.
healthshareguide.org
That's what we did - $50.00 a month per person through our primary care and it covered standard visits, shots, x-rays etc.. We also took out a devastating illness insurance (69.50 a month) that covers major health issues. That make our current health coverage $169.00 a month.
My wife needed an MRI a few years back - cost of deductible with insurance $2,100.00 - cash price - $700.00.
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Texas AG sues makers of Tylenol over hiding alleged links to autism
- By Yarddog
Well, this will force the AG to give any actually evidence to support the claim.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the makers of Tylenol, Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, claiming that they deceptively marketed the over-the-counter medication to pregnant women despite alleged links to autism and other disorders.
“Big Pharma betrayed America by profiting off of pain and pushing pills regardless of the risks," Paxton said in a statement on Tuesday. "These corporations lied for decades, knowingly endangering millions to line their pockets.
Texas AG sues makers of Tylenol, claiming they hid alleged links to autism
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the makers of Tylenol, claiming that they deceptively marketed the medication to pregnant women despite alleged links to autism.abcnews.go.com
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Lets have an open discussion on Heaven.
- General Theology
- 30 Replies
This is what the Bible says about heaven:
A. NAME
The city is called by the name New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2).
B. SIZE
The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs (Revelation 21:16). The city is perfectly square. Its perimeter is 12,000 furlongsequivalent to 1,500 miles. It is 375 miles long on each side!
C. WALLS
The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. The wall was made of jasper (Revelation 21:17, 18 NIV). A wall standing at 144 cubitsthat’s 216 feet high!surrounds the city. The wall is made of solid jasper, with a radiance and beauty beyond description. Think of it: nearly 20 stories high and solid jasper!
D. GATES
It had a great, high wall with twelve gates. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl (Revelation 21:12, 13, 21 NIV).
E. FOUNDATIONS
The wall of the city had twelve foundations decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst (Revelation 21:14, 19, 20 NIV). The city has 12 full, complete foundationseach one made of precious stone. Every color of the rainbow is represented, so at a distance the city will appear to be resting upon a rainbow.
F. STREETS
The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass (Revelation 21:21).
G. APPEARANCE
The Holy City prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide (Revelation 21:2, 11, 16 NIV). The city, with all of its precious stones, gold, and shimmering beauty, will be lighted with the glory of God. Its breathtaking majesty and purity is compared to a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Tree of Life
In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2).
Take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever (Genesis 3:22).
Heaven will descend to the earth (after the millennium and all sin and sinners destroyed forever)
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2).
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).
The righteous will be recompensed on the earth (Proverbs 11:31).
Promises to those who receive eternal life:
A. The Lord, in person, will live with them (Revelation 21:3).
B. They will never become bored. There will be pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).
C. There will be no more death, pain, tears, sorrow, sickness, hospitals, operations, tragedy, disappointment, trouble, hunger, or thirst (Revelation 21:4; Isaiah 33:24; Isaiah 65:23; Revelation 7:16).
D. They will not get tired (Isaiah 40:31).
E. Every person will be physically whole in every way. The deaf will hear, the blind will see, and the paralyzed will run (Isaiah 35:5, 6; Philippians 3:21).
F. Jealousy, fear, hatred, falsehood, envy, impurity, cynicism, filth, worry, and all evil will not exist in God’s kingdom (Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15). People will no longer be burdened with the worries and cares that distract and damage them. There will be no more anxiety. Time will become eternity, and the pressures and deadlines of earth today will be gone forever.
How it will differ from our earth now
A. Vast oceans as we know them today will be gone (Revelation 21:1). Today, oceans cover about 70 percent of the earth’s surface. This will not be the case in God’s new kingdom. The whole world will be one huge garden of unsurpassed beauty, interspersed with lakes, rivers, and mountains (Revelation 22:1; Acts 3:20, 21).
B. Deserts will be replaced with gardens (Isaiah 35:1, 2).
C. Every animal will be tame. No creaturewolves, lions, bears, etc.will prey upon others, and little children will lead them (Isaiah 11:6–9; Isaiah 65:25).
D. There will be no more curse (Revelation 22:3). The curse of sin, as detailed in Genesis 3:17–19, will be no more.
E. There will be no more violence of any kind (Isaiah 60:18). This includes no more crime, storms, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, injury, etc.
F. Nothing defiling will be found (Revelation 21:27). There will be no drunkenness, taverns, alcoholic beverages, brothels, pornography, or any other impurity of any kind in the new kingdom.
How people will spend their time in heaven
A. Sing and play heavenly music (Isaiah 35:10; 51:11; Psalm 87:7; Revelation 14:2, 3).
B. Worship before Jesus every Sabbath (Isaiah 66:22, 23).
C. Enjoy never-fading flowers and trees (Ezekiel 47:12; Isaiah 35:1, 2).
D. Visit with loved ones, ancestors, Bible characters, etc. (Matthew 8:11; Revelation 7:9–17).
E. Study the animals of paradise (Isaiah 11:6–9; 65:25).
F. Travel and explore without ever becoming weary (Isaiah 40:31).
G. Listen to God sing (Zephaniah 3:17).
H. Experience their deepest desires (Psalm 37:3, 4; Isaiah 65:24).
I. And the greatest joy of allenjoy the privilege of being like Jesus, traveling with Him, and seeing Him face to face! (Revelation 14:4; 22:4; 21:3; 1 John 3:2).
A Colossal City in Space
Heaven is a real place, and it is the ultimate hope for believers.www.amazingfacts.org
Those verses are mostly speaking of the World to Come, not Heaven, also known as Abraham’s Bosom, where, contra the beliefs of some denominations, the souls of those who repose in Christ are alive in Christ.
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Trump third term
- By Landon Caeli
- News & Current Events (Articles Required)
- 210 Replies
If we have to choose between Mamdani style communism, and a Trump style monarchy for this United States, and this becomes the new left/ right division going forward... We would need to decide on the lesser of two evils.Assuming Trump is just a person and not a king. And I don't mean that as a joke. Some Christians compare him to King Cyrus, King David and King Jehu. Even Mike Johnson thinks he's Moses. Absurd!
The fact that Trump has downplayed the " Vice President " route to the Presidency remember this, he also said the new ballroom woud not touch the current Whitehouse. ONE BIG LIE.
Let us reason.
Please.
...Which would you prefer? Communism or Monarchy.
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