Opinion

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

Easter is past, but those of the Christian faith continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. In reality, Easter is never over, thanks be to God. However, much preaching and teaching in the early Church emphasized Christ crucified.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus had predicted the cross, though many didn't understand. "'The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away...and then they will fast'" (Mark 2:20). He was more specific while at Caesarea Philippi - "He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again" (Mark 8:31 through 9:13). At the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah stood talking with Jesus about the "departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem" (Luke 9:31). Jesus clarified the purpose of His life and death in Mark 10:45. "'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.'"

GUEST COLUMN, Dr. Paul Berggreen, American Independent Medical Practice Association

Medicare has slashed physician reimbursement again. Unless Congress takes swift and meaningful action, we could see the unraveling of independent medical practices across the country.

This isn't theoretical. It's already happening. If this trend continues, many communities will lose access to convenient, cost-efficient care.

Doctors in independent practice have now endured five straight years of Medicare payment cuts. The expenses required to keep a practice running are climbing -- they're projected to rise 3.5% this year alone.

GUEST COLUMN, J. Basil Dannebohm

“A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.” –  Pope Francis

As a record number of pilgrims representing all walks of life filled the streets of Rome to mourn the death of “The People’s Pope,” history will indicate the fiercest critics of the Francis Pontificate were American Catholics. This should come as no surprise. Since the 1970’s, the American Catholic Church has been little more than a lobbying arm of the Republican Party, having dived deep into secular politics while drifting away from the authentic gospel.

Francis was the antithesis of American Catholicism.

GUEST COLUMN, Kristen Osenga, Inventors Defense Alliance

Big Business lobbyists are winning an obscure — but hugely consequential — battle over the future of the judicial system. If these lobbyists get their way, small businesses will be the biggest losers.

The lobbyists are quietly waging their battle in state legislatures and our nation’s capital. Recently, Georgia became the latest of several states to pass legislation that makes it harder for small businesses to sue larger companies that steal their technology. Congress is considering a similar change at the national level through the deceptively named Litigation Transparency Act.