Posted by Beverly on
May 21, 2008
Baby Boomers Unprepared for Disability
Most baby boomers say they are financially unprepared for a potential disability, according to a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Baby boomers would have difficulty paying bills and many would have to tap into their retirement savings if a disability occurred.
“Baby boomers have too much debt and not enough savings to weather even a short-term disability,” said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of AHIP.
The survey assessed how financially prepared baby boomers are if the primary wage earner in their household became disabled and was unable to work for an extended period of time. Most baby boomers (55 percent) say they are not at all or somewhat unprepared. Only 15 percent say they are very or extremely prepared if a disability occurred.
Baby boomers were also asked how long they could go without their primary wage earner’s income before they had difficulty paying all their bills. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) would have difficulty within the first year, half (49 percent) would have difficulty in the first six months, and a third (33 percent) would have difficulty paying all their bills in just the first three months. Most baby boomers said they would have difficulty making their mortgage payments, car payments, credit card payments, and/or supporting dependents within the first year.
Almost a third (32 percent) of baby boomers say they would have to tap into their retirement savings if the primary wage earner in their household became disabled. Seventeen percent admit they do not have a retirement savings to draw upon.
Most baby boomers also admit having a significant amount of non-mortgage debt, including credit cards debt and auto or education loans. More than half of boomers (52 percent) have more than five thousand dollars in non-mortgage debt. A quarter (25 percent) of boomers have more than twenty thousand dollars in debt and nine percent have debt of more than fifty thousand dollars.
“Most baby boomers will face serious financial hardship if a disability occurs,” said Humphrey Taylor, Chairman of the Harris Poll.
Posted by on
May 17, 2008
Christian Women Who Love Sex
I am a conservative Christian wife and mother and I love sex. Every Sunday morning, I attend church. Every school morning, I take my son to school. Every weekday afternoon, I kiss my husband when he gets home from work. Every evening, I cook supper for my family, and almost every night, I close my bedroom door to partake in my favorite cardio activity: sex.
While I proclaim boldly that I love sex, many of my Christian female friends do not. In fact, when I bring up my sexual appetite and prowess, my friends react like children and giggle or stare at me in dismay. My Christian friends aren’t the only ones who act surprised when I vocalize my love of sex.
Somehow it has become an oxymoron to be a Christian woman and sexual. Often times the church encourages silence on issues regarding sex. Don Joy, professor of human development and family studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and author of several books about intimacy and marriage, says that the silence of the church insinuates shame and that often there is no accounting for the power of shame. Yet also surrounded by images of sex in pop culture, Christian women often develop conflicting views on what is appropriate.
However, God wants us to celebrate sex. The Bible includes an entire book on the expression of love. In Song of Songs, King Solomon describes acts of sexual love, often using erotic lyrics like “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth … Take me away with you — let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers.” In Songs the female, as well as the male, vocalizes her sexual desire and experiences.
Patsy Rae Dawson, author of “Marriage: A Taste of Heaven, Vol. II: God’s People Make the Best Lovers,” states that surveys conducted by both secular and Christian groups show that God’s people make the best lovers. Dawson also says, and listen closely, “A truly uninhibited person enjoys his spouse to the fullest with the blessings of a clear conscience.”
Not only should Christian women embrace their sexuality, but they should also realize almost any sexual act within the confines of marriage is acceptable and healthy. True sexual liberation for the Christian woman comes with the ability to welcome uninhibited love with her husband. Furthermore, Christian women should enjoy a hot, slammin’ sex life.
Written by: Leslie Niswonger for The University Daily Kansan newspaper
