Homeowners Insurance Horses State Of Florida

Megachurch to spread "prosperity gospel" in Lakewood Ranch

The dome sits atop Faith Life Church, where on Sunday mornings dozens of volunteers are needed to direct traffic and drive shuttles to smoothly usher thousands of people through its front doors.

Early arrivals win seats close to the stage, in view of three cameras broadcasting the service on TV and the Internet. For some, seats with fur blankets and Bibles await in the sanctuary.

People stand and reach to the sky as a band and a choir warm up the crowd.

A few minutes later, the man they all came to see — the leader of Faith Life Church, Brother Keith Moore — strides to center stage and the singing swells.

After some formalities, Moore uses his powerful yet soothing voice in an hourlong sermon that drills down to two basic topics: God and money.

"It takes money and it takes stuff and strength to do good works," he tells the Branson crowd in a folksy, conversational tone. "Ain't it perverted that so many Christians are broke and sick and they think it's God's will to keep them broke and sick?"

There is no bashfulness about the church's opinion on wealth. In another sermon, Moore led the crowd in chanting, "Rich, rich, rich."

Sometime early next year, Moore's prosperity gospel will arrive in Southwest Florida, when Faith Life opens a 2,500-seat satellite church in Lakewood Ranch. In less than a decade in Branson, Moore has parlayed a charismatic preaching style and controversial religious teachings to grow Faith Life from nothing to thousands of parishioners.

Moore wins devotion with an upbeat message rooting for worshippers to live long, affluent lives. He celebrates wealth — and he celebrates giving. Faith Life members point to charitable missions, such as sending a plane full of medical supplies to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and buying a cruise ship for missionaries to spread religion to South Pacific islands.

But the money also goes toward less traditional church expenses. Moore drives an $80,000 Cadillac Escalade, and he travels often in the church's two private jets. Records show those jets have visited the Sarasota area at least 19 times in the past year, and now have their own hangar in Venice.

Texans continue to get 'scrooged' at the State and Local levels...

It will continue to get much worse economically and socially for Texas taxpayers and citizens all across the state.

The cause of massive cost of living increases is due to political games, inept leadership and poor communication among elected and appointed officials, from Governor Rick Perry on down the line.  Perry has no business running for President since the past 11 years of his reign has cause the Texas economy to spiral down the toilet.

No matter what "King" Perry, his appointed officials and Texas Legislators tell us, health care premiums have risen dramatically and will continue to escalate.  The number of uninsured Texans also has risen dramatically in direct correlation to the increases in premiums.

Furthermore, the Texas Legislature recently and quietly approved the bill that permits health care providers to increase their premiums

That's right!  You heard it.  Before the bill passed premiums could only be increased every 6 months.  Now it will be after only 60 days and for any reason --- or absolutely no reason at all!

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) under the law must follow what the Legislature approves re: insurance reform; however, TDI does have the right  to question and appeal any law.  However, so far TDI has not contested the new health care provider law.

 

Directly due to ongoing increase in daily living expenses, poor budget planning and political games local governments are trying [successfully] to push the burden onto resident taxpayers.

In addition, Governor Rick Perry and Texas Legislators have no problem continuing to overburden Texas homeowners by diverting the State's constitutional responsibility onto local governments to provide Texas children with a quality Public Education.  Local city and county governments in turn overburden Texas home and property owners.

Of mice and men

The tragic story of the friendship between two migrant workers, George and mentally retarded Lenny, and their dream of owning a farm

Three cups of tea, one man's mission to promote peace -- one school at a time

Traces how the author, having been rescued and resuscitated by Himalayan villagers after a failed attempt to climb K2, worked to build schools that would ...

The elements of style

Offers advice on improving writing skills and promoting a style marked by simplicity, orderliness, and sincerity.

Team of Rivals, The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

An analysis of Abraham Lincoln's political talents identifies the character strengths and abilities that enabled his successful election above three ...

Half Broke Horses

The author offers a novel based on the life of her grandmother, Lily Casey Smith, who learned to break horses in childhood, journeyed 500 miles on a pony as a ...