Saving money is high on our priority list these days, but we don’t simply want to only save money. We still have the same wants and needs and there are just some things that can’t be replaced with items of a lower quality. Prescription drugs are one of those essentials parts of life.

Walgreens has long been a part of the community effort to provide quality prescription medicines at an affordable price. In order to continue the great level of service, they have introduced the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club.

Annual fees are $20 for individuals or $35 for families (coverage includes all members of your immediate family, including your spouse, dependents 22 and younger, and even your pets).  Once a member of the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club, you can expect to enjoy the following benefits:

• Savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications
• Discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies
• Bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services

Walgreens continues to be interested in serving the needs of the people in their local communities. To find out more about the Prescription Savings Club, consider following Walgreens on Twitter. You can also find more information and promotions by becoming friends with Walgreens on Facebook.

Eight days later, on January 18, 2012, a Catholic priest, named Father Claude Burns posted a video response titled, “Why I Love Religion.” In his video, Father Burns defends religion and appears to refute the arguments laid out in Jeffrey Bethke’s message.

Here are the two messages that appear to contradict one another:

Jeffrey Bethke – Why I Hate Religion

Fr. Claude (Dusty) Burns – Why I Love Religion

The arguments and debates I have already seen being waged online bring to mind a recent documentary that has helped me to change some of my own opinions on this discussion. The video documentary is titled “Lord, Save us From Your Followers,” and here is the trailer:

1. Satan’s goal is both to deceive and to divide
2. Words do have meanings, but different people do define some ambiguous words differently

The point here is to realize overall that this is the essence of spiritual warfare. As long as Satan can use the different ways people define the same words as a weapon to be used against each other, his work is pretty much done. Many of us tend to think that the father of lies (“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44) is hard at work, every minute of every day trying to find ways to cause division and disobedience. The fact is, while he is always busy, he doesn’t work at his task quite as hard as we may think. We, the human race, are so easily duped into being his pawns, that Satan really isn’t “in the trenches” minute-by-minute. He is a master at propaganda and we are too easily caught up in his plans.

So, how do we stop being the active player in this particular brand and instance of spiritual warfare? We should probably start by identifying the lie that is already fueling up the missiles of hatred. As I boil down the disagreements between the two camps that are lining up on the battlefield, the root of the conflict is the definition of the word “religion.”

There are four entries in the Mirriam-Webster dictionary for the term religion:

1. The state of a religious
1. : the service and worship of God or the supernatural
2. : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2. A personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3. Archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
4. A cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

Now, armed with this official definition, I believe we can untangle some of the misconceptions that are dividing the two messages. The first video message, in my understanding, speaks negatively about religion in regards to what is commonly referred to as “works-based-faith.” I believe that his intention was to address the fallacy that occurs in adherence to definition 2 of religion.

When people call themselves Christ followers, but trust only in their own actions to justify their faith, they are relying on this definition of religion for salvation. I truly believe, and agree with Jeffrey Bethke on this point. When any person believes that they are a believer in Christ simply because they go to Church, say particular prayers and minister to the poor and needy, they are justifying their religion on works, not upon faith.

The lyrics of his poem point this out when he talks about “behavior modification.” Jesus did spend much of his earthly ministry condemning and chastising the works-based religion of the Pharisees. This religious group undeniably created a man-made set of rules and to-do lists that had little to nothing to do with faith. The actions of these people became the basis for their beliefs and that by not doing them, somehow their faith would come into question.

This is the point upon which I believe that Father Claud and those who are lining up behind his message are missing the point. It is very clear that Catholicism teaches specific rituals and actions, rules if you will, that mark the spiritual life of the faithful.

I believe that what Father Claud is referring to is the 4th definition of religion. Yes, there are certain expectations that Jesus Christ has for those who call him their savior. But I don’t think that is what the first video is refuting as Father Claud’s video seems to imply. His “Why I Love Religion” addresses the claims against religion causing wars and inquisitions, but you see, just because those blots against historic Christianity originated with the Catholic Church, does not target that institution as the cause of them. Father Claud’s own words in his response indicate that very thing when he says that through religion, “broken men and women to participate in his mission.”

While there is plenty more that can be broken down and discussed about these two videos that appear on the surface as contradictory, the very essence that should erase the battle lines between them center upon this very point. Jesus is calling upon all of us who call him savior to a life of faith AND works.

James 2:14-26 (ESV)

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good2 is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, y“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”

So you see, both videos have some truth in them, but both of them also fall short of the full truth. While you can have works without faith, that leads to death, a saving faith includes works. In the end it is the personal motivation leading to one’s works that Jesus calls into question. Above all, Jesus Christ wants our hearts. Without it, anything else we do is for ourselves, not for him.

So, let us get back to the works of faith, stop being so easily offended (and thus becoming a tool for the Devil), and welcome one another as equals just as Paul asked of his brother in Christ, Philemon, in regards to Onesimus:

“So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.”

Jeffrey Bethke – Why I Hate Religion
What if I told you, Jesus came to abolish religion?
What if I told you getting you to vote republican, really wasn’t his mission?
Because republican doesn’t automatically mean Christian,
And just because you call some people blind, doesn’t automatically give you vision.
If religion is so great, why has it started so many wars?
Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor?
Tells single moms God doesn’t love them if they’ve ever been divorced
Yet God in the Old Testament actually calls the religious people whores
Religion preaches grace, but another thing they practice,
Tend to ridicule Gods people, they did it to John the Baptist,
Cant fix their problems, so they try to mask it,
Not realizing that’s just like sprayin’ perfume on a casket
Because the problem with religion is that it never gets to the core,
It’s just behavior modification, like a long list of chores.
Let’s dress up the outside, make things look nice and neat,
Its funny that’s what they do to mummies, while the corpse rots underneath,
Now I ain’t judging I’m just saying be careful of putting on a fake look,
Because there’s a problem if people only know that you’re a Christian by that little section on your facebook
In every other aspect of life you know that logic’s unworthy
Its like saying you play for the Lakers just because you bought a jersey
But see I played this game too; no one seemed to be on to me,
I was acting like church kid, while addicted to pornography.
I’d go to church on Sunday, but on Saturday getting faded,
Acting as if I was simply created to have sex and get wasted.
Spend my whole life putting on this facade of neatness,
But now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness.
If grace is water, then the church should be an ocean,
Cuz its not a museum for good people, it’s a hospital for the broken
I no longer have to hide my failures I don’t have to hide my sin,
Because my salvation doesn’t depend on me, it depends on him.
because when I was Gods enemy and certainly not a fan,
God looked down on me and said, “I want that man!”
Which is so different from religious people, and why Jesus called em fools
Don’t you see hes so much better than just following some rules?
Now let me clarify, I love the church, I love the bible, and I believe in sin
But my question, is if Jesus were here today, would your church let Him in?
Remember He was called a drunkard and a glutton by “religious men”
The Son of God not supported self-righteousness, not now, not then.

Now back to the topic, one thing I think is vital to mention,
How Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums,
One is the work of God one is a man made invention,
One is the cure and one is the infection.
Because Religion says do, Jesus says done.
Religion says slave, Jesus says son,
Religion puts you in shackles but Jesus sets you free.
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus lets you see.

This is what makes religion and Jesus two different clans,
Religion is man searching for God, but Christianity is God searching for man.
Which is why salvation is freely mine, forgiveness is my own,
Not based on my efforts, but Christ’s obedience alone.
Because he took the crown of thorns, and blood that dripped down his face
He took what we all deserved, that’s why we call it grace.
While being murdered he yelled “father forgive them, they know not what they do”,
Because when he was dangling on that cross, he was thinking of you
He paid for all your sin, and then buried it in the tomb,
Which is why I’m kneeling at the cross now saying come on there’s room
So know I hate religion, in fact I literally resent it,
Because when Jesus cried It is finished, I believe He meant it.

Fr. Claude (Dusty) Burns – Why I Love Religion
Aka Pontifex
1/14/12
What if I told you that Jesus loves religion
And that by his coming as man he brought his religion to fruition
See this had to be addressed, the use of illogical terms and definitions
You clearly have a heart for Jesus but its fueling atheistic opinions
See what makes his religion great is not errors of wars and inquisitions
It’s that broken men and women to participate in his mission
Clearly Jesus says I have not come to abolish
I came to fulfill the law and I came to fulfill the prophets (Matthew 5:17)
And lines about building big churches and tending to the poor
Sounds a bit like Judas when the perfume was being poured (John 12:5)
See His religion is the largest worldwide source of relief
For the poor, the hungry, the sick and repentant thief
Oceans of compassion, opening wide the doors
For single mothers, widows and orphans, married and divorced (James 1:27)
We all detest hypocrisy, and empty show is just the worst
But blaming religion for contradiction
Is like staring at death, and blaming the hearse.
See the teacher will teach when the students are ready to listen
But those that choose to sit in the pews and refuse the good news
Is not the fault of religion.
And If I have the Jersey and I’m playing for the Bulls
There’s going to be some boundaries, regulations and some rules.
You can’t have Christ without his Church; you can’t have the King without his Kingdom
Sins of the Body and internal treason will never ever make me leave him
And that Jesus said it is done, is absolutely true
But he also gave us a mission with many things to DO.
Jesus says if you love me, you will Do what I command. (JN 15:14)
Go and Baptize in the name of the Father, Son & Spirit in Every Land. (MT 28:19)
And on the night he was betrayed he took his men in the Upper Room
Take at eat this is my body take and drink my blood for you.
A New covenant you see, an act connected to the tree,
Do this time and time again in Memory of Me. (Mt 26:26-28)
And at last with crown of thorns beaten beyond comprehension
His eyes were looking for yours and mine; it was divine, no human invention.
So as for religion I love it, I have one because Jesus rose from the dead and won.
I believe When Jesus said IT IS FINISHED, His religion had just begun.

As someone who can never remember a time when I did not enjoy writing, this question stopped me in my mental tracks. I am not usually a person without an answer, even if it takes me some time to fully articulate one, but this was different.

As I read through the various answers given by other writers, I didn’t find myself in complete agreement with any of them. Perhaps the closest answer that agreed with me at that moment was, “I have things to say to enrich others.” Although that was close to my initial reaction, saying it to myself brought up within me, a spirit of arrogance.

It is true that every time I write, I feel a sense of wanting to imbue some higher meaning, to call attention to a nobler sense of purpose. However, as I continued searching my own thoughts I began to ask myself the question, “What is it that you, Patrick, have to give?” The nature of the question did expose many of the failings I have experienced over the years and although each failure is washed in the blood of Christ, as a man I often revisit those things.

I have learned over time to forgive myself for the things that God forgave long ago and will continue to forgive, but the question remained as a ringing in my ears, “What do you have to give?”

The answer to this question, which slowly revealed itself to me over the course of the afternoon, exposed perhaps the greatest reason behind the ebbing motivation I experience in my writing. I have long prayed a single scripture each time I sit down to write, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3 (ESV).

Before becoming a child of God, I would write all manner of stories, some good, some bad, but never really intended to share them with anyone. When I began to develop a desire to write for God, it was His message that I wanted to convey, not my own. Thus, when I begin to feel like I am sending out a message of my own making, I feel less motivated to write. In comparison, when I truly feel that the words my fingers compose come from outside of me, I am increasingly energized.

To take this thought further, which God did with me yesterday, when I have neglected reading His word or acting as His servant, the less I have of His to give. The end result is a dead and lifeless document, which in the end is what I would be without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As I concluded my mental and emotion wrestling match that resulted from a simple question, I realized that I write in order to give to others what God has given to me. If I am not sharing in His blessings, the whole act of writing feels like some laborious process that has no need to be shared.

This is not to say that God grants me more than He does to anyone else, but what He shares with me is not meant for me to keep to myself. The Greek word for this, as I discovered in my time of contemplation is, “didomi.” which simply means, “to give.”

This realization has opened a whole new world to me as I realized that I cannot give what I do not have. If my child wants an ice cream and I have neither ice cream nor money with which to purchase it, I cannot give it away. In the same way, if I am not receiving the things God wants to give me, I cannot give them away.

The old saying, “One must give in order to receive,” falls flat in the light of God’s unlimited grace. The truth of the matter is that, “one must receive in order to give.” This is the ultimate picture of relationship and the true nature of how God wants to interact with us. He shares with us not to make us greedy, God gives to us in order that we may share with others.

God, to this day, has not sent me material wealth, although we do much better than most of the world, but what God does share with me is a love for sharing words. Not my words as I am not really all that full of wisdom, but His Word which will never return void.

There is little doubt that the access to low cost prescription drugs continues to be a battle that faces much of our nation. The Walgreens Prescription Savings Club  has long been a convenient solution for millions of Americans. Few other places offer the level of service and accessible hours that can be found with Walgreens.

That is what makes the latest development between Walgreens and Express Script  a matter of great concern for many, many patients. The two parties were unable to resolve contract issues and as a result, Express Scripts no longer includes Walgreens in its pharmacy provider network.

While understanding all of the possible ramifications to these companies is serious, the ultimate victim in reduced access and service are the patients who have come to rely on them. As a result of this failed negotiation, customers are now forced to travel farther for access and to locations that do not offer the same quality service or great hours provided by Walgreens.

Because Walgreens values their customers, they are instituting a discount to their popular Walgreens Prescription Savings Club. They have reduced their annual fee to $5 per individual or $10 per family (which includes your spouse, dependents under 22, as well as your pets).

Savings Club members enjoy economical savings on prescriptions including more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications. Flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies are also included in the membership. When members buy Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services they will earn additional bonuses. All of this is possible for such a low fee because Walgreens values their customers and seeks to maintain a positive relationship with the communities they serve.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of joining the Walgreens and Express Script, you can find Walgreens on Facebook. If you would like to keep up to date with the latest deals and offers, you can also find Walgreens on Twitter.

Perhaps the most important role that goals serve is to provide a solid target for which to pursue. If we do not set specific writing goals, we will tend to allow almost any other outside influence to capitalize upon the time that we could spend writing. The key here is to have specific goals. Resolutions, which are all the rage this time of year, are typically rather vague and hard to measure. Goals on the other hand should be specific and clear.

Rather than saying, “I need to write more next year,” which is a typical writer resolution, a more specific goal could be to write 5,000 words per month or three blog posts, or perhaps one article for publishing each month. These goals are clear and specific. If a month goes by and there was no progress on a particular goal, that can be measured.

Whatever your goals are, and they will be different for each person, make sure to publish them in some clear and readable format, print them out and post them in your writing area. If you think it would help, try to enlist the help of a friend or fellow writing buddy to hold one another accountable to your goals.

We will revisit this topic next December and see how well you did in creating and sticking yo your writing goals for 2012! Until then, Happy New Year and Happy Writing!

We all have them, or perhaps we are them. You know, those messy coworkers whose desk hasn’t seen the light of day since their second day of work. Piles of obsolete paperwork and books, perhaps never read, are the adornments of their not-so-attractive style.

If you are currently the unfortunate neighbor with an unsightly view, you can enter for your chance to improve your neighborhood with the  Pimp My Cube Contest. All you need to do in order to enter is to upload a video that shows the dilapidated workspace and explain why you think it is horrible then describe what benefits would be derived by a visit from the Contest Factory. Once you’ve submitted your entry, invite your friends, family, and coworkers to vote for your video. The more people who visit your entry and vote, the more sweepstakes entries you will receive.

IThe winner of the Pimp My Cube Contest will receive the grand prize and the unsightly cubicle will receive a complete makeover, valued at approximately $1200! Entries will be judged Contest Factory judges based upon certain criteria that will include the number of votes for each individual entry as well as the worst video and most compelling story.

As the grand-prize winner, you could change your view to one of the following:

• New high end computer system
• New Desk, Chair and Decorations
• New Entertainment Package with high end stereo, espresso machine etc.

If you don’t win the grand-prize, don’t despair! You could also win the second place prize of a $200 gift card.

The contest period is from 12/5/11 at 12:00PM to 1/31/12 at 12:00PM

Want to learn more? Here’s a short video to explain more about the  Pimp My Cube Contest.

Having finally worked through the numerous files either hacked or completely destroyed by the mischievous villain I thought I was back in the clear. Then in November my web host appeared to have some catastrophic event that shut down a majority of their servers. Because I was a customer there since 2003 and try to remain a loyal customer, I finally had to make the difficult decision to make a switch to a new hosting company. I believe I have found in Surpass Hosting, the quality, security and dependability that had been lost at my former host.

As you browse through the site you will likely come across a few small glitches that are lingering about. Over time I will be working on patching up some of the old links and graphics so that every article you read on It’s the Write Time will be the same quality writing you have come to expect.

Now, just in time for Christmas, I would like to offer my readers something new and unique. We all have pictures of the great decorations which adorn our homes this time of year. But, have you ever thought what it would look like if you put a security camera in your home to catch a glimpse of Santa in the act? Well now you can!

We are only days away from one of the most anticipated days of the year. People of all ages celebrate Christmas in various ways, but typically all such traditions include the exchange of gifts. One of the hottest gift requests this year appears to be cellular phones. Such requests span the ages as it is just as likely for someone’s grandfather to request a new phone as it is for a grandchild.

If you are considering purchasing a new phone for someone special, or even for yourself, the options available can be quite confusing. Let me lessen that confusion and instead offer an opinion on one of the greatest new models available this holiday season.

Introducing the Android Doubleplay™, manufactured with pride by the great folks at LG. The Doubleplay includes all of the most popular features most people are looking for in a new phone. Features include:

• Dual customizable touch screens: a 3.5-inch main display and a 2.0-inch sub display. Both screens can operate individually or integrated together.
• Full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and Swype® for easy text input

With these features, LG DoublePlay™ users can multitask from the comfort of the palm of their hand. Updating Facebook pages is a breeze and while you’re doing that you can surf the Web, text your friends or even check your email, all at the same time!

Of course, as you would expect from the quality devices produced by LG, there is more. The LG DoublePlay™ also comes with a 5-megapixel camera, enhanced with a LED flash, and an 720p HD video recorder, thereby giving the user the ability to create high definition videos to share with friends and family.

Can you imagine another phone that allows you such connectivity to social networking? Speaking of versatility and connectivity, the LG DoublePlay™  features Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) and provides access to the popular Android Market™.

The question for you is, how many hours do you spend on different devices staying in contact with your social network? Could you just imagine how much time you would save being able to do all those things in a single, mobile device? What would you do with an LG DoublePlay™ and how could it change how you connect to the world?

*The LG DoublePlay™  is only available on the T Mobile network.

It has taken less than a week to get my domain transferred and achieve the ability to once again take on the process of rebuilding my website. My greatest hope is that the services at Surpass are much more stable than what had become a nightmare at  my previous host.