Letter from Hobby Lobby:

A Letter from Hobby Lobby Stores CEO
By David Green, the founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

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 health care 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.
The government cannot force you to follow laws that go against your fundamental religious belief. They have exempted thousands of companies but will not except Christian organizations including the Catholic church.

Since you will not see this covered in any of the liberal media, pass this on to all your contacts.
Sincerely,
David Green, CEO and Founder of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.


( persecution, 1776, religious freedom, dictator )

Tribulation Train - A Dream

This was a dream I had in 1986. 26 years ago. It was a short dream, but a very vivid dream of what I have always felt was a foretaste of the days to come. The last days.

I still remember, I can still see in my mind’s eye the train and the scenery from the dream, like a movie. It is that clear in my mind.

A Dream 1986

I was on a train with my youngest son, a little girl and my dad when he was really young, or at least a man who looked like my dad when he married my mother. (That is the best way that I can describe him, as I have never seen this man in my dream before)

My son was grown. The little girl had medium length, medium colored brown hair and brown eyes.

We were traveling at a very slow pace and it was clear to me (in the dream) that we were being transported somewhere; that we were under persecution.

I was looking out the window of the train and suddenly my oldest son came running up alongside of the train and said, “Hi Mom!”  I was so excited to see him. I said, “Oh Thank you Jesus! My son, you made it!” He answered, “Yes Mom, I am fine.” I asked him, “Where’s your brother, is he okay?” and he answered, “Yes Mom, he made it too. He’s just fine.”

I was so relieved.

Then he had to leave suddenly and quietly.

**********************     *********************  *********************

The thing is, when I had this dream I didn’t even know the man I am married to now. Anyone who knew my father will tell you my husband is the spitting image of the man I described in the dream as being on the train with me; the man on the train who I described as looking like my dad when he was really young who married my mother. Also, I had not yet had either of my daughters, both of which have brown hair and brown eyes.

I have spoken to many other in recent years who have had dreams about being on trains in the "last days".

This is just one of my Dreams.

So tell me - Have you HAD ANY INTERESTING dreams ABOUT this? I would love to hear.

Singing in the Caves

Singing in the Caves
A Dream

I was in an under ground prison. It was a cave with bars to keep us in. It was cold, dark and wet.  I was with many other people. There was great sadness and much sorrow. It was a prison for those who believed on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Although everyone that was in there had been put in prison for there boldness in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their spirits had begun to grow weary after being imprisoned in such harsh conditions for so long. Discouragement had begun to set in and people began to speak words of despair. I began to pray and the Spirit of the Lord came upon me. My prayers soon turned into "new songs" of hope. I began to prophesy  "in song" - words of encouragement from the throne of God the Father.  I began to share the Father’s heart through my songs.

This was one of the songs I sang...

The Friend You've Wanted and The Friend You Need    

    

I often wonder how I might be.

The friend you've wanted and the friend you need.

How I might share your worries and your fears.

How I might wipe away your tears.

Tell me.

Where do you go, when you're feeling oh so low?

Who do you turn to, when there's no place left to go?

When the ones who you love, seem so far away,

These are the times, I long to hear you say.

***

"Where are you?  Where are you, friend that I knew?

I need you.  I need you to help me make it through.

Where are you?  Where are you, friend that I love?

Come right now.  See me through.  Send your love from above."

***

You'll never know just what it means to me,

To walk and talk just you and me;

To share your joys and your miseries,

Have you forgotten, that I died for these?

So ~

Child, come to me when you're feeling oh so low.

Child, turn to me when there's no place left to go.

When the ones who you love, seem so far away,

Child, I'm right here, by your side, here to stay.

Go ahead. Call for me.

Child I'm right here.

Go ahead. And you'll see,

How happy you can be,

How happy we will be.

Copyright January 2001All rights reserved

     By: Amy Colleen (song)


If you would like to hear this song sung
leave me a comment below
and I will sing it and post it
Thanks!