The Democratic Debate was a raucous conversation. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton confronted Senator Barack Obama on health care, Nafta, Iraq and his political tactics on Tuesday night in one of her most pugnacious debate performances of the campaign, as she fought for fresh momentum before four potentially decisive nominating contests next Tuesday. Health Care is an interesting issue for Christians. We all believe in caring for people's health, but we have concerns about costs and control. We'll be discussing this issue in the near future on the show. NY Times 

The economy continues to be a problem for 'families', now we can add the 'gas prices' to the column of concern. Spring and Summer travel is approaching, and the prices usually climb to meet the nation's demand in usage and production costs, are you taking a vacation this year? Gasoline prices, which for months lagged behind the big run-up in the price of oil, are suddenly rising quickly, with some experts saying they could approach $4 a gallon by spring. Diesel is hitting new records daily, and oil settled at a record high of $100.88 a barrel on Tuesday. NY Times 

What can we learn about Starbucks' 'day off for re-education'? At Starbucks stores across the country on Tuesday night, it was time for the corporate version of re-education camp. Howard D. Schultz, the company’s recently reappointed chief executive, has spoken of regaining the “soul of the past” and improving the experience of Starbucks customers. Tuesday night’s sessions were the latest indication of his focus on that task. Indeed, the sessions took place at a time when Starbucks is pining for better days. Is there a lesson here for the church? For your lives as neighbors? NY Times 

Under the category of "quality of life" as it relates to abortion...this is another reason why I'm pro-life and pro-Creator. Becky Weatherall and her partner Kriss Kramer where told by their doctors that their son would be born deaf and blind and would probably survive only for a couple of hours. Little Brandon Kramer was diagnosed in utero with rhomboencephalosynapsis - a condition in which the brain fuses together rather than being in two halves - as well as hydrocephalus - water on the brain. Tests conducted twice a month indicated the condition was worsening and Becky was advised to abort her pregnancy up to just weeks before the birth. Life Style Issues 

Christian Comedy is 'really' growing, people are hungry for humor (laughter) that comes from a clean filter. Make me laugh, not get red-faced. Here is a great article from the NY Times today, and many of you will be attending the KFAX Speaker Series with Chonda Pierce this Thursday in Fremont. She stands on a stage next to a piano and grasps a microphone and, like a magician introducing her next trick, explains that she will condense into 2 minutes and 55 seconds “what a mom would say in a 24-hour period.” Then she looks down, clasps her hands, looks up and, as the familiar horns of the “William Tell Overture” sound, declares: “Strap on your seatbelt. Here we go.” Then she starts to sing, with a slight Southern accent, at breakneck speed: Get up now...Get up now...Get up out of bed...Wash your face...Brush your teeth...Comb your sleepy head. . .

Remarks at Capitol by Bible teacher are causing a great stir. God is disgusted with California legislators – at least some of them, according to an evangelical chaplain who ruffled feathers this week in the same Capitol where he leads Bible studies for lawmakers. Ralph Drollinger, who played basketball at UCLA in the 1970s and now heads Capitol Ministries, criticized lawmakers who participate in a separate fellowship group that embraces people of all faiths without insisting that they accept Jesus Christ as Messiah. Sacramento Bee 

Jesus said that we should 'pay our taxes', render to the government what is the government's portion. Why are we supporting citizens who are dodging state taxes as Christians? Yes, it is within the law, but does it fit with what Jesus told us to do and be? Here is the complete story from today's Sacramento Bee newspaper. How should Christians deal with this state law and the 'loophole' that everyone agrees is a bit shady? If we have faith as Christians, shouldn't we pay all of our taxes that we are responsible for, or should we call this loophole an issue of stewardship and controlling government spending, reach? Sacramento Bee 

California could become the first state in the nation to require paid sick leave for all workers under a bill introduced last week by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco. "Nobody wins when workers show up to work sick," Ma said. "The lack of paid sick days is a public health concern. It harms children and families and decreases productivity at work." Ma, who is running for the position of Assembly Speaker, plans to showcase the bill at a San Francisco press conference today. Its political prospects are iffy, and even Ma concedes the bill will be difficult to pass. San Jose Mercy News 

Americans' confidence is withering amid a toxic combination of surging food and energy costs and falling home values. That troublesome mix also may make it more difficult for policymakers to rescue the ailing economy. The government on Tuesday said its main measure of inflation at the wholesale level jumped 1% in January, lifting the 12-month increase to 7.4%, the highest rate in 26 years. The ascent last month was fed by a 1.5% rise in energy prices and a 1.7% leap in food costs. LA Times 

It sounds too good to be true: A garbage-to-energy plant that produces clean fuel, reduces global warming gases and leaves nary a toxic trace. Yet "plasma gasification" is a real, albeit emerging, technology being considered by Sacramento as an alternative to its daily trans-Sierra hauling of waste to a Nevada landfill. The City Council on Tuesday approved the project in concept on an 8-0 vote and authorized non binding negotiations for up to 90 days exclusively with U.S. Science & Technology of Sacramento and its affiliated companies.