Supporter of Hobby Lobby Lobby

I got this email today that got me going.  If you hang around long enough, my comments are at the end.  Enjoy!

Column: Christian companies can't bow to sinful mandate

By David Green

When my family and I started our company 40 years ago, we were working out of a garage on a $600 bank loan, assembling miniature picture frames. Our first retail store wasn't much bigger than most people's living rooms, but we had faith that we would succeed if we lived and worked according to God's word. From there, Hobby Lobby has become one of the nation's largest arts and crafts retailers, with more than 500 locations in 41 states. Our children grew up into fine business leaders, and today we run Hobby Lobby together, as a family.

We're Christians, and we run our business on Christian principles. I've always said that the first two goals of our business are (1) to run our business in harmony with God's laws, and (2) to focus on people more than money. And that's what we've tried to do. We close early so our employees can see their families at night. We keep our stores closed on Sundays, one of the week's biggest shopping days, so that our workers and their families can enjoy a day of rest. We believe that it is by God's grace that Hobby Lobby has endured, and he has blessed us and our employees. We've not only added jobs in a weak economy, we've raised wages for the past four years in a row. Our full-time employees start at 80% above minimum wage.

But now, our government threatens to change all of that. A new government healthcare mandate says that our family business must provide what I believe are abortion-causing drugs as part of our health insurance. Being Christians, we don't pay for drugs that might cause abortions. Which means that we don't cover emergency contraception, the morning-after pill or the week-after pill. We believe doing so might end a life after the moment of conception, something that is contrary to our most important beliefs. It goes against the Biblical principles on which we have run this company since day one. If we refuse to comply, we could face $1.3 million per day in government fines.

Our government threatens to fine job creators in a bad economy. Our government threatens to fine a company that's raised wages four years running. Our government threatens to fine a family for running its business according to its beliefs. It's not right.

I know people will say we ought to follow the rules; that it's the same for everybody. But that's not true. The government has exempted thousands of companies from this mandate, for reasons of convenience or cost. But it won't exempt them for reasons of religious belief. So, Hobby Lobby — and my family — are forced to make a choice. With great reluctance, we filed a lawsuit today, represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, asking a federal court to stop this mandate before it hurts our business. We don't like to go running into court, but we no longer have a choice. We believe people are more important than the bottom line and that honoring God is more important than turning a profit.

My family has lived the American dream. We want to continue growing our company and providing great jobs for thousands of employees, but the government is going to make that much more difficult. The government is forcing us to choose between following our faith and following the law. I say that's a choice no American — and no American business — should have to make.

David Green is the CEO and founder of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

Thanks for the email Arnold.

This morning Snopes had nothing on Hobby Lobby but this afternoon up this pops!  Good timing, Arnold.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/hobby-lobby-sues-over-morning-after-pill-coverage-requirement-in-health-reform-law/2012/09/12/a0a0d964-fcfa-11e1-98c6-ec0a0a93f8eb_story.html  I am horrible about keeping up to date on the news.  About the time I think I’m a bad citizen, I go to the news to see what all the buzz is about and guess what?  It’s all buzz!  Mostly about some super star and what they are doing or what they are thinking, or wearing, or not wearing.  Our diplomats are being murdered but stay tuned… the President of the United States of America is on Jay Leno or Letterman or Oprah.  Oh my gosh…the world has gone all over strange.  There is no news!  All you hear is the “opinion” of whoever’s face or faces are on the TV screen.  I want facts…I want truth…nothing more, nothing less.  And the buzz…that’s the sound from the spin these faces are putting on everything. Give me a break! I have to be my own investigative reporter.  So today I went on a search for the info in this email (on the internet…can I trust them?) and found all to be true.  In March there was a Senate vote to provide religious freedom for companies, hospitals, institutions from mandatory health insurance requirements to cover abortion drugs (morning-after pills, month-after pills) which, I’m sad to report did not pass.  I’m proud to say the two Texas senators voted YES to exempt companies whose stated mission supports God’s laws as well as religious sponsored hospitals, colleges and other such institutions from being required to provide the insurance coverage for these types of drugs or anything else their religious beliefs do not support.  Most of the senators from the Bible Belt voted YES to the exemption, but not all.  Check out the voting records for your senators so you can make your own decision about who is representing your beliefs.  At the very beginning of all the buzz over the health care bill, I had a conversation with my gynecologist about my concerns.  Even though she practices at a Methodist hospital she believes the day is coming when she will be required to perform abortions-on-demand because of this legislation.   Since that time the hospital has changed its name, dropping the name of any religious affiliation, but, I’m told, they are still affiliated.  Are they preparing for a change?   My doctor has invested in a smaller, private hospital with a group of doctors.  Do you suppose those with enough money, or where insurance is a non-issue, will be welcomed to private hospitals where doctors don’t have to practice socialized medicine?  No government or insurance company telling a doctor what they can and cannot do?    Women’s issues are a real hot topic in this election. The rhetoric from the pro-abortion movement about when life begins appears to be gone.  Guess the sonograms provided by the pregnancy centers (from donations by Christians not tax dollars) have answered that question.  The smallest child will look at this miracle of science, the sonogram, point and say, “baby!”  Pro-abortionist say, “time to change tactics, but what?  Those pesky pro-lifers believe the word ‘abortion’ spells ‘murder,’ not ‘birth control.’  Let’s change the word.”   Take a show of hands from the ladies and see how many will vote in favor of contraception…my guess…the majority. [Side note:  don’t take that vote at the DNC.  Votes there are predetermined based on…the polls?] Now, take a show of hands for how many will vote in favor of abortion…again, my guess…a much, much smaller number.  Remember:  abortion equals murder.  I know…let’s just drop that negative word “abortion” for the word everyone can get behind:  contraception!  Everyone knows that means birth control and all women want birth control.     They need to call it what it is…not contraception but abortion, right Mr. Green? I also found a comment by President Obama stating that decisions regarding contraception should be between a woman and her doctor, not a woman and her employer.  I agree with that.  Can we also have that same decision being made without the insurance dictates or government intervention?  I already know the answer to that…NO!     Wonder what President Obama’s comment would be on a decision to commit premeditated murder…pro or con?  As a lawyer, an officer of the court…definitely con?  As the CEO of the largest business in America…the U.S. government?   Wow…by his words, his platform…most definitely pro…really?  So the decision isn't about contraception but abortion...not birth control but abortion. President Obama always states he stands on his “core beliefs.”  Have you ever heard him say what those are exactly?  Rats, I’m back to my original problem…no investigative reporters around when you need one…and in four years I haven’t found enough information to know, for sure.  Support David Green?  You bet!  Support President Obama?  Not on your life!  Support Mitt Romney?  Where’s a good investigative reporter?  Hope I don’t run out of time trying to find someone I can support.  At this point I may be making a “write-in” vote on my ballot.  Wonder if David Green wants the job?    P.S.  To all my loves who know the pain of abortion...I am so sorry the enemy of our soul can make his way into our lives with his lies and deceit.  This world seems to help him tailor-make our own special hell.  His smooth talk of release from hurt, worry and shame is anything but.  Praise Jesus and the light of his truth that he is the way to release from all hurt, all worry, all shame.  By His death and resurrection we are saved from a life of hell to a life made new and clean, full of hope and a future.  He has always loved us even before we loved Him.  His word tells us He loved us even while we were sinners. May we always know...heart, mind and soul, just how much Jesus loves each and every one of us.  I love this from another email... Only God can turn a MESS into a message, a TEST into a testimony, a TRIAL into a triumph,           a VICTIM into a victory.