To all who may read;
I am Steve, Satan’s (Brian’s) brother. Most of you know of me, at least. I am a fulltime minister of the Gospel of Christ. I want to make it clear that I wholeheartedly agree with my brother’s assessment of the situation. I also want to make it clear that Skip is an exception to the rule. I am very close with many of clergy who love their God and family with all their heart, I happen to be one of them. Being a husband and father of a very beautiful 1 1/2 year old girl I always take my family into account when making an important decision like quitting or moving. I am sorry to say that Skip doesn’t always do that. Please know that I truly believe God will take care of my nephews, as he has taken care of me and my family. Needless to say I am not in ministry for the money, I get paid very little, but I truly love the people I sever and the God that saved me. Brian, keep fighting the good fight. Though I may not always agree with you I can say that you truly are a better man that skip. Please pray for my sister and 3 nephews, they need it. Again, not all ministers are bad but there are bad ministers!!!
I really don’t mean to hijack, but I love that.
Brian,
I’m sorry man. Here is something that is a definite posibility. Most states have health insurance available for women and children at no cost that is income based( if your family is X size, and you make less than Y dollars, you get it). Here in Maryland, it’s the Maryland Woman and Childrens Health Program,run by the state. In Pennsylvania it’s underwritten by Blue Cross. I’m sure WVa. has a similar program. It’s wonderful coverage ( I always put my client’s kids on it if they qualify-save them $ ) I’m not lisenced in WVa, but I could write a policy for the adults ( Assuming they’re not over 50 or so) that would cover them for less than $200 a month. If they just want catasrophic, a good bit less. All your sister has to do is inquire, then fill out an aplication. These policies usually cover 100% of the kids medical expenses, and all maternity costs for the mother. I urge you to have her look into this. Good Luck!
{{{{{{Satan and Mpython}}}}}}}}
Man, that is heart-wrentching.
Mpython, would this butt-head listen to you? You know, clergyman to clergyman? Does he belong to any kind of organization that you could speak to?
I think he deserves a sound thrashing. You guys are showing admirable restraint.
He hates my brother more than he hates us. It doesn’t help that Steve did all he could to show his displeasure in their union before they were married (he is also responsible for hooking them up in the first place - long story), but Steve is, of course, WRONG about how he interprets scripture and the like, so he does more harm in the name of God than us heathens.
So, no, he will not listen to Steve. But even worse is that Lorraine (my sister) will not listen top Steve, and they are twins who used to be as close as being twins would suggest.
I showed this thread to my dad, by the way. He’s not the posting type. He said I was being a bit unfair to Skip (my dad is magnomious to a fault sometimes), but he also said I did not misrepresent anything to his knowledge.
Yer pal,
Satan
*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Six months, three weeks, 14 hours, 12 minutes and 30 seconds.
8183 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,022.96.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 9 hours, 55 minutes.
THE YANKEES WIN! THAAAAAAH YANKEES WIN!
1996 · 1998 ··· WORLD CHAMPIONS ··· 1999 · 2000
26 Titles! The #1 Dynasty of all-time!
And most importantly… RULERS OF NYC!!*
Steve and Brian,
I do hope that your sisters situation and that of the children does improve. And if God is going to look after these children, it will be in the guise of the CPS. This is not the situation that a “Man of God” would allow 2 sick children (and the one who is, thankfully, well) to live in. It is pure ignorance that allows a situation like this to arise.
My thoughts are with you two and your sisters family.
Damn, this is a shitty situation!
I agree with Auntie Pam, et al to let the child protection services of your area know what’s going on.
Another suggestion; start mailing packages of food/can goods to your sister’s new home. Make sure the delivery address is printed out or written by someone she doesn’t know. If necessary, use a return address that’s a friend (who you’ve explained this to) and who your sister doesn’t know. Put some fake “helping hand” organization in the return address.
Better that these kids get some food and toiletries rather than rely on their father and his grandiose schemes. If Skip and your sister think it’s manna from heaven, so be it. Those kids will at least have some food. That’s the important thing.
Oy! Whatta mess! Satan, I’m sorry to hear about this.
I just finished reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, which deals with much the same thing–albeit in a very different way. A good read, and one I would highly recommend. (Except to you, Satan. Might hit a bit too close to home right now!)
Mpython, welcome to the board.
Oh Satan, what a horrible situation…
Please tell me that this wiener doesn’t believe that God all by himself will treat and/or cure the childrens’ CF. He does believe in doctors, right? Right?
CPS, all the way. Do it right now.
I too have a family member who is so holier-than-thou, I wouldn’t be surprised if God himself couldn’t talk to him. My cousin used to be a great guy, we grew up together, he was a surfer & swimmer & water polo player. His parents were strict and religious, but nothing too wild that I know of. At some point, Don decided that he knew everything, and if you were not in agreement with him, well, off to Hell you’d toddle. I have tried to take the high road with him and his wife for many years, but I have given up now.
Before last week, I hadn’t seen their oldest son in 2 years or more, and have yet to even see a PICTURE of their youngest (1 year old? Not sure). We invited my aunt & uncle to the one-year-old birthday bash for our son, but not my cousin & his wife. I’m tired of their bullshit & it’s a waste of a stamp (they even blow off family Christmas every year). My aunt said they were going to be babysitting their grandson (the oldest boy), and could they bring him to the party? Of course, bring him.
Well, this kid has grown up into quite a likeable young man. We had lots of fun, but it made me sad that I may only see him every couple of years, if at all.
Sorry for rambling, I know your frustration and wish I had some great advice but I don’t. I try to get rid of resentments by praying for the offending person for at least 2 weeks, and that they get everything in life that I want. Sounds silly, and it can be very hard, but it works, and if I don’t get rid of resentments, they can literally kill me (I will drink over it, and thus expire).
Love you, try to be ok.
You’re saying Child Protective Services should be contacted because Satan’s bro-in-law is neglecting the medical welfare of his kids by not taking advantage of Medicaid or other medical programs provided to low-income families; not because he left a job that had insurance. Right?
The former makes sense. The latter is silly.
I empathize with your situation, Brian. It’s frustrating when you feel like you’re powerless to do anything, too.
Satan, please, for your nephews, follow this link:
West Virginia Office of Social Services
I hope it can help you find help for your nephews.
Milo, as usual, makes a salient point:
I don’t know exactly how they are handing the health issues now. I hope Steve, who lives closer to them and is in more direct contact, can help me with this. And though Skip is does put the mental in fundamentalist, he does not to my knowledge eschew modern medicine a la Christian Scientists.
He could very well be supplanting his health care coverage for something that is available to poor families. In which case, I cannot do anything “legally.”
But the moral quandry that all of this causes is what is the most frustrating…
Yer pal,
Satan
*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Six months, three weeks, 16 hours, 44 minutes and 15 seconds.
8187 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,023.49.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 10 hours, 15 minutes.
THE YANKEES WIN! THAAAAAAH YANKEES WIN!
1996 · 1998 ··· WORLD CHAMPIONS ··· 1999 · 2000
26 Titles! The #1 Dynasty of all-time!
And most importantly… RULERS OF NYC!!*
Brian, I did not take you to the Pit when I found out about your car, a month after it happened, and I’d been driving within a mile of your place daily and could have provided you a ride. What do you think friends are for, anyways?
But this is serious: if there is anything whatsoever that I can do to help make sure those boys get taken care of, you are to get on the phone to me or Barb immediately, e-mail me, burn down the Raleighwood Grill to send smoke signals, or whatever it takes to get in touch. Immediately. No arguments.
Steve, you don’t know me yet, but that applies to you too.
I mean it.
**
Thank you, Poly. I really was okay with my co-workers who all helped me out in those bad times, and I was without wheels for only less than a week. You rock, and I know I can count on you if I need you, friend!
As for everything else, as I pointed out in my post directed to Milo, unless they go so far as to ignore their health, all my bitch is about is them having to rely on the state for healthcare, and the potential of that care not being as good or as quickly implemented as with their other care.
To be sure, I am keeping a watchful eye on the situation, as is Steven. Should this go from bad to worse, and it looks like we do have recourse, don’t think for a second I won’t pursue it.
Yer pal,
Satan
*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Six months, three weeks, 20 hours, 25 minutes and 34 seconds.
8194 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,024.25.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 10 hours, 50 minutes.
THE YANKEES WIN! THAAAAAAH YANKEES WIN!
1996 · 1998 ··· WORLD CHAMPIONS ··· 1999 · 2000
26 Titles! The #1 Dynasty of all-time!
And most importantly… RULERS OF NYC!!*
I feel for ya, Satan. My friend’s sister is in a similar boat except his religion is Rainbow Gathering stuff- they don’t believe in modern medicine so no vaccinations for their daughter (“just give her some echinacea and she’ll be fine”). They also let her run around unsupervised to “let her be free”- while they’re inside watching TV, Aurora is playing outside near my friend’s unfenced pool. If they won’t listen to reason, you have very few avenues of recourse.
Well, this guy certainly sounds like a Godly fool, but calling CPS is really extreme. I mean, they are only supposed to become involved when a child is being abused. The circumstances sound bad, but how certain are you that they are abused?? I would be pretty damn certain before calling CPS. Think. How would YOU feel if he did something like that to YOU?
Having said that, I think you ought to print out your OP and mail it to the guy, with your name signed on the bottom. It doesn’t sound like it could hurt relations between you. I’ve known guys like this before. I’ve even been the victim of a few. Not much gets through to them. I agree with you, he ISN’T a true Christian. But don’t expect telling him that to do much except make you feel better.
Lizard: Neglect is also abuse.
In my opinion, why can’t some of these extreme types accept that God may work through other people?
Lizard: I don’t care that this guy is a fundie. That is not my concern in the slightest. My concern, which I am sure was the same as others’, was that because this family no longer has health insurance, the two children with CF would not be getting medical attention. CF is nasty, nasty stuff, and needs constant care.
There are many Cystic Fibrosis charities which would gladly help out children without medical insurance. I don’t have any links at the moment, but I’m sure I could get you some if you need them, Satan. My little cousin has it, and all my relatives on my fathers side carry the gene (myself included).
As a side note, chances are you carry the gene too (since your sister does), so it would be wise for you and Drain to both be tested for it before you decide to have children. Both of you need to carry the gene for your children to actually get the disease. Just something to think about.
Rose
mea culpa, and apologies