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WisconsinChristianNews.com
Volume 25, Issue 8
What Would You Change In the New Year?
By Carey Kinsolving January 2025
struggled to get loose as if someone had bound her with rope and duct tape. Her ap- pearance changed immediately after she spoke words of forgiveness. “I would like to change my attitude toward chores and homework,” says Emma, 11. “I hope in the new year, my attitude will change.” I once met Pastor Chuck Swindoll, one of the best-known radio Bible teachers and au- thors of this generation. After giving him my business card, he reached into his pocket and gave me a card entitled “Attitudes.” Here’s how it reads: “Words can never adequately convey the in- credible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live, the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and
“I would like to change my bedtime on New Year’s Eve,” says Tyler, 11. “I usually go to bed at 10 p.m., but I would like to stay up all nig ht. I would have a great time because we would first party, second play video games and third eat a lot!” Tyler, if you ever get your way, you may wish you had gone to bed at 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Sabrine, 10, has a better idea: “At midnight everyone would yell ‘Happy New Year’ and then go to bed. In the morning, everyone would open a present, and have a slice of apple pie and hot cocoa.” The roads would be a lot safer with the apple pie and hot cocoa plan.
Year’s Eve, few things in life can set one back as quickly as a bad attitude toward parents. On the positive side, the Bible promises a long life to those who honor their parents (Deuteronomy 5:16). I once attended a seminar taught by Dr. Neil T. Anderson, professor and author of “Victory Over the Darkness.” Ander- son showed a video of a woman in a counseling session with a host of problems. Her words, face and body language con- veyed distress, anguish and suffering. When Anderson asked the woman about her mother, her stress level increased. He hit a nerve. After the woman admitted she needed to forgive her mother, Anderson asked her to say it out loud. Watching her try to speak was like going to the dentist to see a root canal. She
90 percent how we respond to it. “I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my success or fail- ures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. “Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.” KidsTalkAboutGod.org
“I would change my room and my hope in God to make it stronger, and my love for God to make it stronger,” says Jenna, 11. Jenna, I wonder whether changing your room is connected to your hope in and love for God. I’ve noticed that when my living area gets cluttered, it’s harder to focus my mind on God. On the other hand, if your house looks like a museum, and that’s all you ever think about, you may have organized God out of your life. “I would like to change my attitude toward my parents,” says Cassidy, 11. Aside from driving under the influence of alcohol on New
Medical Debt To Be Removed From Credit Reports
By Alex Carlisle, Populist Times January 2025
Broader Implications The removal of medical debt from credit reports aligns with broader policy initiatives aimed at improving financial equity and protecting consumers from predatory practices. It is esti- mated that the rule will benefit
finances. According to the CFPB, medical bills have histor- ically been a leading cause of poor credit scores, dispropor- tionately affecting low-income households.
eliminate reporting of paid med- ical collection debt and raise the threshold for reporting unpaid medical bills. Potential Criticisms and Chal- lenges While the rule has been broadly welcomed, some crit- ics argue that it could have unintended consequences. For instance, lenders may find it more challenging to assess the financial health of poten- tial borrowers without access to medical debt information. Additionally, there are con- cerns that the rule could en- courage less accountability in managing medical expenses. Moving Forward As the rule takes effect, fi- nancial experts recommend that consumers continue to monitor their credit reports for accuracy and seek assistance with outstanding medical bills through available programs and negotiations. This landmark change represents a critical step toward reducing the financial strain associated with health- care in the United States.
In a significant shift, the Con- sumer Financial Protection Bu- reau (CFPB) implemented a new federal rule that prohibits med- ical debt from appearing on con- sumer credit reports. Overview of the Rule The CFPB finalized the rule in early January, marking a landmark change in credit re- porting practices. Under this rule, credit reporting agencies are no longer permitted to in- clude medical bills on con- sumer credit reports. This move eliminates one of the primary sources of credit score damage for many Amer- icans who have struggled to pay for unexpected or exces- sive medical expenses. The Rationale Behind the Change Medical debt is often incurred under circumstances beyond an individual’s control, such as sudden illnesses, accidents, or emergency procedures. Unlike other types of debt, it does not always reflect a person’s ability or willingness to manage their
CFPB Director Rohit Chopra
stated, “Medical debt has been weaponized by debt collectors and credit reporting agencies, causing untold harm to individ- uals and families. This rule en- sures that medical debt no longer sabotages people’s finan- cial futures.”
tens of millions of Americans who currently have medical debt on their credit reports. This change also complements other recent actions, such as the announcement by major credit bureaus — Equifax, Ex- perian, and TransUnion — to
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