I have been agonizing over whether to leave or stay at One Way Baptist Church for almost a year now. I love the church and have worked hard to make the building and grounds presentable, to teach the best Sunday School class I could teach, and to make each and every person feel welcomed. Many churches have a part of their service where the congregants are supposed to mingle and greet one another but I was never in favor of that. Don't shake my hand and say "welcome, glad you came' only when instructed too. To me, that reeks of insincerity. if you are really glad I came then greet me with a smile and a hardy hello when I come in and stop by to see me at the end of the service to chat a minute afterwards. That is one of the things I brought to One Way Baptist and people are always saying they can really feel the love in that church. After the service has ended people often hang around and talk for the longest while, especially after the evening service, because they really care about each other. That is something that most churches don't have,
Another thing I introduced at One Way Baptist is the nine o'clock prayer. Everyone at the church is supposed to pray a nine o'clock each night and that has done wonders for the church. One Way grew from seven members left in a dying church to around thirty five and a new building in just a few years time. Prayer does indeed change things.
Working at the church and for the church has been almost like a full time job but one I absolutely loved doing. So why would I consider leaving an institution and a people that I dearly love and have worked so hard for, especially since I financed their new building. One would think I would really want to stay and make sure the church succeeded. Well, that part really doesn't matter and if you really want to know why ask me and I'll explain.
When I first started going to the church there were two ladies who loved the church but because of health issues were not able to attend. I purchased a video camera and faithfully made and delivered DVD's at my own expense for them. Then people were wanting me to videotape funerals and services they missed and to make extra copies for them to take home and share and the pastor wanted a copy for his records and then a woman wanted me to make a copy of this Sunday's signing for her and was upset when I said no. What I was did out of love was becoming an expectation and even a hindrance to the church.
When I first came I asked to mow the grass and when the weather turned too cold to mow I worked on clearing the lot that was littered with dead trees and overgrown with weeds and briars. I purchased a mower for the church and then later I purchased a riding mower that I used as well as a weed eater and a chain saw. Then one day a man asked the preacher to tell me to come mow his lawn because he didn't want to take the time. I mow the church lawn every Friday and have done so for four years. This past Friday someone got upset because I mowed the grass the day before the carnival "because someone may track grass into the church." What I once did out of love for my church became an expectation and the a hindrance .
The pastor lives in Thomasville and does not receive a salary although he is allotted a gas allowance of $150.00 a month. The church has never been able to establish and maintain a viable visitation program. We once did it on Wednesday night because we didn't have enough members to hold service but it seemed like a long time between Sundays. Then we changed it to every other Saturday but no one every came so then we changed it to the Saturday after men's prayer breakfast but that so fell by the wayside as some men had jobs to go to, some say they forgot, and others made other plans.
Then the church finally decided to make Thursday night visitation night but no one every showed up for that. As the original deacon, I made the decision when we added a second deacon that we would visit the membership on Tuesday night. Thursday would still be the church visitation or Saturday, whatever would be finally decided on. But then we started on the building so the other deacon busied himself with that and when that was over he conveniently forgot so I finally drafted my wife to go visiting with me.
At our monthly deacons meeting the pastor wanted to discuss a visitation program (I think he was feeling the pressure from me to get a viable program started). I mentioned that the deacon visitation night was Tuesdays at six but since the other deacon had not been available to go in several months I go every Tuesday with my wife. He informed me that deacons did not run the church, that hanging posters and other maintenance jobs around the church were more important than visitation, and I was forbidden to go visiting during the week.
I disagree with the pastor. The bible never said we were to build buildings or hang posters but the bible does tell us to go. It is the common held belief that the only reason Christians are left of earth after becoming a Christian is to seek out those who are lost. If my pastor is going to accuse me of up surging his authority and to remove me as a deacon if I didn't get in line and just do whatever he tells me to do then he has become a hindrance to the work of Christ.
Wednesday, August 06, 2014
Tuesday, August 05, 2014
You're doing that wrong and other nonsense
I have noticed an increase in articles telling me I'm doing something wrong. There was one that said . "you're tying your shoes wrong" Last week there was the "You're cutting your watermelon wrong" and today there was one about baking chocolate chip cookies.
I'm sorry if you have a different way of tying your shoes than I do. I tie them so the bow stays tied and my shoes stay on my feet. Is that okay with you? Mr. wise guy. I don't want watermelon popsicles. I like mine cut into neat little squares and placed in a plastic container so I can have a bowl full whenever I want. I want the rinds tossed out into the compost pile. I don't want to sit down to watch TV, enjoy a fruity snack, and then have to deal with a bunch of small squares of watermelon rind.
As far as chocolate chip cookies go, I buy some at the store and pop a couple in the microwave for a couple of seconds and have a perfectly warm delicious snack. Now exactly is your method better?
I'm sorry if you have a different way of tying your shoes than I do. I tie them so the bow stays tied and my shoes stay on my feet. Is that okay with you? Mr. wise guy. I don't want watermelon popsicles. I like mine cut into neat little squares and placed in a plastic container so I can have a bowl full whenever I want. I want the rinds tossed out into the compost pile. I don't want to sit down to watch TV, enjoy a fruity snack, and then have to deal with a bunch of small squares of watermelon rind.
As far as chocolate chip cookies go, I buy some at the store and pop a couple in the microwave for a couple of seconds and have a perfectly warm delicious snack. Now exactly is your method better?
Control freaks
Me and control freaks are like a bad marriage: and I seem to be eternally stuck in one. I prefer to work with people that encourage others to show some initiative but it seems like I am always paired with people who claim they want you to be innovative but when you are they get mad because you did something without getting their approval first. It just makes me want to just do nothing.
Saturday, August 02, 2014
What Robots Can't do
I just read an article that was an attempt at humor by describing what robots can't do and that got me to thinking about the subject in a more seriously. Robots can assembly your car, mow your grass, vacuum your floor, and perform precision movements including performing delicate operations on a person. For the most part robots are designed to do the jobs of labor intension work: in other words, take the place of people doing menial jobs.
A robot can vacuum but can't dust or at least not yet. I'm sure in time one will be designed that can. But I can't think of any job that is really important that a robot can perform on its own. That is not to say that maids or general labor jobs aren't important because they are. There is honor in all work. What I meant by my statement was robots can't make decisions. of course they can compare data and make a choice based on preprogramed criterion but a robot can't make an informed decision. There is one other thing that robots can't do. Robots can't feel. One cannot program emotions.
A robot can vacuum but can't dust or at least not yet. I'm sure in time one will be designed that can. But I can't think of any job that is really important that a robot can perform on its own. That is not to say that maids or general labor jobs aren't important because they are. There is honor in all work. What I meant by my statement was robots can't make decisions. of course they can compare data and make a choice based on preprogramed criterion but a robot can't make an informed decision. There is one other thing that robots can't do. Robots can't feel. One cannot program emotions.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Ray Rice earns big cheers from Baltimore Ravens fans at training camp
One young player beats his wife up and fans cheer him. Another staged a dog fight and was given prison time and many fans wanted to lynch the man. Makes prefer sense doesn't it.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Church activities of interest to the community
On August the tenth the Doss family will be singing at One Way Baptist Church in Randleman and we should be in our new building by then. I know many people think our building is a museum since it is so small so our new structure should help. the service will begin at 10:45 am and there won't be any preaching or Sunday School that day.
On August 2nd our youth will have a carnival. It begins at nine am. There will be a dunking booth, face painting, and we will be fixing hot dogs. I believe it will be 2 hotdogs, chips and a drink for $3.00. There will also be a bake sale for those with a sweet tooth.
On August 2nd our youth will have a carnival. It begins at nine am. There will be a dunking booth, face painting, and we will be fixing hot dogs. I believe it will be 2 hotdogs, chips and a drink for $3.00. There will also be a bake sale for those with a sweet tooth.
neighbor kills neighbor over dispute and has no regrets
A man was clearing some bushes from a strip of land between his house and his neighbors. His neighbor came over to talk/confront him about clearing the bushes and the first neighbor killed him. he was shot twice, once in the abdomen and once in the head. The shooter was convicted of first degree murder.
I've had good neighbors and I've had bad neighbor's. One neighbor gifted wrapped doggy poo and left the gifts scattered on my front lawn. I had another neighbor let his boxers roam the neighborhood and the dogs loved my yard. One was constantly jumping in my koi pond trying to catch my fish. I now have a new neighbor who appears to be running an illegal daycare and the traffic is horrendous. They have already gotten into a dispute with a neighbor adjacent to them about the property line.
I have neighbors I dislike their ways because they are noisy or nasty people (at least their yards are). I prefer natural fences like trees and bushes and grape vines because they are cheaper to put up and return many benefits to me while privacy fences and chain link fences only cost money. Of course fences are good for keeping pets in the yard and I've owned houses that had fences. sometimes they are necessary but I'd rather do the natural thing.
I've been able to solve most of my problems with my neighbors by having a friendly conversation with them, working hard to make my yard functional and beautiful, by being a good neighbor myself, finding solutions that are mutually beneficial to everyone concerned and getting the police involved only as a last resort or when it is the wisest course of action.
I've had good neighbors and I've had bad neighbor's. One neighbor gifted wrapped doggy poo and left the gifts scattered on my front lawn. I had another neighbor let his boxers roam the neighborhood and the dogs loved my yard. One was constantly jumping in my koi pond trying to catch my fish. I now have a new neighbor who appears to be running an illegal daycare and the traffic is horrendous. They have already gotten into a dispute with a neighbor adjacent to them about the property line.
I have neighbors I dislike their ways because they are noisy or nasty people (at least their yards are). I prefer natural fences like trees and bushes and grape vines because they are cheaper to put up and return many benefits to me while privacy fences and chain link fences only cost money. Of course fences are good for keeping pets in the yard and I've owned houses that had fences. sometimes they are necessary but I'd rather do the natural thing.
I've been able to solve most of my problems with my neighbors by having a friendly conversation with them, working hard to make my yard functional and beautiful, by being a good neighbor myself, finding solutions that are mutually beneficial to everyone concerned and getting the police involved only as a last resort or when it is the wisest course of action.
Brain Farts
I put on my eggs to cook this morning as I always do. I decided to only have the eggs and skip the oatmeal so I went to my room to get something and just forgot about the eggs until I smelled the odor of burnt eggs. I tried to get to them before the alarm went off, which I did, but the alarm went off anyway. if that wasn't bad enough, the security company called which woke my wife up. needless to say she wasn't happy.
It seems like I've been having trouble remembering things lately. I hope it's just a phase because I sure would hate getting stupid on a permanent bases.
It seems like I've been having trouble remembering things lately. I hope it's just a phase because I sure would hate getting stupid on a permanent bases.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Youth Carnival
Saturday August 2nd the youth of One Way Baptist will put on a carnival with face painting, dunking booth and food. Come and support our young people.
Doss
The Doss family is coming to One Way Baptist Church in Randleman, NC located at 604 Sunset Dr. (that street runs between Stout Street and Main Street which is 220 Business). If coming into Randleman from 220 Business turn onto Sunset in front of Sir Pizza. The singing starts at 10:45 am August 10th.
deck painting
The deck painting is almost done. The ramp and the deck were painted this morning as well as the deck of the old ramp to the original church. of course some spots of the flooring will have to be given a second coat but for the most part it looks good. The white will have to be given a third coat but it will be a week or more until we can get to it. some of the treated lumber bled through plus there is a spot or two where we missed the second coat. The more tired on gets and the hotter is get outside increases the mistakes one makes. But if for some reason we can't get to it before the bldg. is ready for use it is okay.
It would be great to have it ready for the Doss family on August 10th. We still have to paint the inside and get our chairs in. The first part of the inside painting will take place tomorrow. They will paint the ceiling and coat the walls with bonding primer and then come back another day to paint the walls.
I'm getting excited about it.
It would be great to have it ready for the Doss family on August 10th. We still have to paint the inside and get our chairs in. The first part of the inside painting will take place tomorrow. They will paint the ceiling and coat the walls with bonding primer and then come back another day to paint the walls.
I'm getting excited about it.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Painting
The preacher and I started painting on the deck and ramp today, doing the white part. We used two gallons of paint for the hand rails and pickets. The pickets are not only hard to paint but they take a lot of paint as well. It took us about 6 1/2 hours to paint that part of the deck. Tomorrow we will paint the deck floor and the ramp floor a light gray. we have two gallons for it but hopefully it won't take as much or nearly as long to paint. It is important that we do this part with one coat of paint so we won't have to wait until next week to do the second coat. Since we would have to walk on the painted part to add a second coat we have to make sure it is dry. Saturday we have painters coming to paint the inside of the modular and next week we will be building the platform inside of the bldg. plus accepting delivery of our new furniture.
Our new facility will have seating for 80 people but we can accommodate a 100 easily if need be. It will be finished soon.
Our new facility will have seating for 80 people but we can accommodate a 100 easily if need be. It will be finished soon.
Needy People Try My Patience
Sometimes it seems impossible to do the right thing because some people are so needy they can make a good persons life miserable. I am one of the hardest working and kindest people you will ever meet but some people make me want to "go off on them" and just quit trying to do for others. I call them "takers' because they always want what you have but never give back to others: not materially nor even with a kind word of sympathy or encouragement. All they want is for someone to do something for them.
The saddest part of the whole matter is they are some of the boldest people you will ever meet. They have an unrealistic sense of entitlement and if they don't get what they want they will attempt to destroy the person who withholds their reward. It really doesn't do any good to talk with them about their behavior because it will only change in the short term but eventually they will be back in full force; out to get what they can for nothing. They have a way of seeming to be so helpless and can make you feel lousy about yourself if you don't provide them what they want. The more you give to them the more they want to take from you.
I'm sorry to say but these people aren't loners but seem to run in packs and if one smells blood, so to speak, then they will spread the word and thy will join forces to ravage their prey. I've seen a pack of five consume 37 heaping plates of food at one sitting and then ask the host to bake and deliver a special dish to them because they didn't get any of it. Oh, and they will call on the phone four and five times a day, even late into the evening, to remind you to grant them their request.
What ever one does, do not mess up on granting them their request because they will notify others of your mistake. They don't just complain about your mistake nor do they request that you be made to correct the error but they want the person they complain to to then fix the error.
If what one wants from me was in my job description and part of my responsibilities and I was derelict in my duties, incompetent at my job, or rude in my performance then by all means a person would be totally within their rights to seek redress. But if I am doing John a favor on my own time at my own expense then no one has to right to expect that I should necessarily to the same thing for them. And if I do you a favor then least you should do is say "thank you' and certainly never complain to outsiders if it isn't 100% to your satisfaction. Just ask me to correct it or deal with it as it is.
No, I'll just take a deep breath and continue on nary a word to say but needy people do try my patience.
The saddest part of the whole matter is they are some of the boldest people you will ever meet. They have an unrealistic sense of entitlement and if they don't get what they want they will attempt to destroy the person who withholds their reward. It really doesn't do any good to talk with them about their behavior because it will only change in the short term but eventually they will be back in full force; out to get what they can for nothing. They have a way of seeming to be so helpless and can make you feel lousy about yourself if you don't provide them what they want. The more you give to them the more they want to take from you.
I'm sorry to say but these people aren't loners but seem to run in packs and if one smells blood, so to speak, then they will spread the word and thy will join forces to ravage their prey. I've seen a pack of five consume 37 heaping plates of food at one sitting and then ask the host to bake and deliver a special dish to them because they didn't get any of it. Oh, and they will call on the phone four and five times a day, even late into the evening, to remind you to grant them their request.
What ever one does, do not mess up on granting them their request because they will notify others of your mistake. They don't just complain about your mistake nor do they request that you be made to correct the error but they want the person they complain to to then fix the error.
If what one wants from me was in my job description and part of my responsibilities and I was derelict in my duties, incompetent at my job, or rude in my performance then by all means a person would be totally within their rights to seek redress. But if I am doing John a favor on my own time at my own expense then no one has to right to expect that I should necessarily to the same thing for them. And if I do you a favor then least you should do is say "thank you' and certainly never complain to outsiders if it isn't 100% to your satisfaction. Just ask me to correct it or deal with it as it is.
No, I'll just take a deep breath and continue on nary a word to say but needy people do try my patience.
Sunday, July 06, 2014
Another company with a customer no-service department
When I was a kid we played this game called "Ring around the Rosie" and it seems to be the favorite game of employees of Magic Jack. I started the fiasco off when I dropped service with Tie Warner Cable before installing Magic jack. Magic Jack said they could transfer my number since I had relinquished it so I contacted TWC and they agreed to port my number. All MJ had to do was request the port. I contacted MJ and they said I needed to click on a retry button and things would be taken care of. I did but was informed that NONE could not transfer the number as I had relinquished it. When I filled out a form to transfer my number MJ informed me they had already ported my number so I needed only to activate it. I filled out a form to activate my number and MJ said they could not locate my unit yet everything was working fine. I could make outgoing calls on my landline and cell phone. I just could not receive calls because the number hadn't been ported.
No matter which tech answered my call for help I was taken around the same circle so I have finally given up.
No matter which tech answered my call for help I was taken around the same circle so I have finally given up.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Would Hilary make a good President?
When Hilary first ran for nomination I would have rather seen her win than Obama and nothing has changed to alter that opinion. Something was mentioned on a national news program today that makes me doubt that she would be a worthy President. As you probably know Hilary was Secretary of State when the Benghazi incident occurred. Hilary discussed the situation with ex-president and husband Bill Clinton and he advised her not to resign for fear it would hurt Obamas chances of being reelected and the Democratic party might hold a grudge against her for that and lessen her chances of being elected in 2016.
Hilary has been quoted as saying that Obama is inexperience and way over his head and doesn't really know what he is doing. In other words she is claiming that Obama is incompetent. This is all before the 2008 election. From this incident and discussion and Hilary's decision, it is obvious that she had placed her desire to become President above the need of America to have a competent leader. In other words, she feels her desires are more important than the needs of the country. Do you really want a leader that feels they are more important than the country? I would hope not.
Hilary has been quoted as saying that Obama is inexperience and way over his head and doesn't really know what he is doing. In other words she is claiming that Obama is incompetent. This is all before the 2008 election. From this incident and discussion and Hilary's decision, it is obvious that she had placed her desire to become President above the need of America to have a competent leader. In other words, she feels her desires are more important than the needs of the country. Do you really want a leader that feels they are more important than the country? I would hope not.
Man Arrested After Son Skips Church [VIDEO]
There is no video and the man's arrest had nothing to do with church, religion, or God as the headline would lead one to think. A church van came by to pick the children up for church by the 8 year old slipped off. The man was charged with neglect after police were summoned to a local Family Dollar store to retrieve the boy.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Bad title, bad idea
Sometimes headlines don't really convey what an article is about. My article "I hate religion" might have given many the impression that I hate religion but far from it. I am a deacon at my church and also a ordained minister. What the article was about is the erroneous conclusion about the Reformation and the churches role is the slaughter that occurred. My apologies to anyone who thought it was about God bashing on my part.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Happy Anniversary
On the 14th I celebrated my Mom's 89th birthday and the next day I celebrated fathers day. Today was my 10th anniversary and I'm still on my honeymoon I believe. We went back to the place we first met and then to the movies to see The Jersey Boys. It was a pleasant day all around. We met in October 2003 just before her birthday and I haven't quit smiling since.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
I hate religion
I hate religion. Man has killed millions in the name of religion. I hate it when Christians cram religion down my throat. Jesus is a fairy tale. Religion is a crutch.
Those are some of the everyday and nice things people say about Christians and Christianity. Many people think Christ and God are make believe beings like the Easter bunny and Santa Claus. I would like to set the record straight on what happened during the reformation. The Catholic church was a religious organization but they had nothing to do with Christianity. John Wycliffe, the first man to translate the bible into English was persecuted by the church and was hated so much that 40 years after his death his body was unearthed and burned at the state and his ashes scattered in the Rhine. That is not of the Christ I serve.
No, the Catholic church was actually a criminal organization lead by evil men for the purpose of making money. Selling certificates absolving the processor of all sins for the remainder of his life is not what Christ taught. No true believer in Christ ever killed anyone in the name of religion. During the reformation millions of people were slaughtered by the Catholic Church in the name of religion by the authority of the Pope but no one single person died in the name of Christ.
One should study their history before making judgments on what really occurred and one should get to know Christ before deciding he isn't real.
Those are some of the everyday and nice things people say about Christians and Christianity. Many people think Christ and God are make believe beings like the Easter bunny and Santa Claus. I would like to set the record straight on what happened during the reformation. The Catholic church was a religious organization but they had nothing to do with Christianity. John Wycliffe, the first man to translate the bible into English was persecuted by the church and was hated so much that 40 years after his death his body was unearthed and burned at the state and his ashes scattered in the Rhine. That is not of the Christ I serve.
No, the Catholic church was actually a criminal organization lead by evil men for the purpose of making money. Selling certificates absolving the processor of all sins for the remainder of his life is not what Christ taught. No true believer in Christ ever killed anyone in the name of religion. During the reformation millions of people were slaughtered by the Catholic Church in the name of religion by the authority of the Pope but no one single person died in the name of Christ.
One should study their history before making judgments on what really occurred and one should get to know Christ before deciding he isn't real.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Plant sale at the Zoo
I went to the plant sale at the zoo this morning and got a little carried away. I purchased to red ice plants (I already have purple ice and yellow ice), 2 sedum plants, blue grass, a couple of cone flowers, a hibiscus bush, some hens and chicks, and a Red Velvet Elvis (its a red Iris). Some people purchased a lot more than I did but I'm running out of room in my little yard. Not satisfied, I ordered two more grape vines via the internet today. I have to confess I killed my only seedless grape vine this week so I'm having to replace it. I feel really bad about it.
My garden has started producing. I've already picked my peas and some lettuce and cucumbers and of course some hot pepper. I even gave some of them to my new neighbors. The German Johnson's have a couple of tomatoes ripe for the picking and I just grabbed my second squash off the vine today. I was checking over my garden and noticed I have six watermelons growing (Charleston Greys and I think a Crimson sweet or two). I purchased Charleston Grey seeds and a friend of mine gave me a package or two of seeds which I think were Crimson Sweet. The cantaloupe vines are running and have plenty of flowers but I didn't notice any set fruit as of today. I picked more blackberries today. I'm getting about a pint a day but next month more and more should be ripening on a daily bases.
My garden has started producing. I've already picked my peas and some lettuce and cucumbers and of course some hot pepper. I even gave some of them to my new neighbors. The German Johnson's have a couple of tomatoes ripe for the picking and I just grabbed my second squash off the vine today. I was checking over my garden and noticed I have six watermelons growing (Charleston Greys and I think a Crimson sweet or two). I purchased Charleston Grey seeds and a friend of mine gave me a package or two of seeds which I think were Crimson Sweet. The cantaloupe vines are running and have plenty of flowers but I didn't notice any set fruit as of today. I picked more blackberries today. I'm getting about a pint a day but next month more and more should be ripening on a daily bases.
Remember when bankinhg was personal
I just saw an ad for Piedmont bank in the latest copy of Our State Magazine and in the advertisement the question was asked "remember when banking was personal?" I didn't read the ad for I'm sure that Piedmont Bank wanted to convince me that I would enjoy some personal attention if I banked with them. I use a bank to cash a check once a month. Other than that I can do all my banking on line so I really don't need the personal touch. Besides the banks are staffed with young female tellers and if a older man like myself tries to talk to one they are left with the fear the teller will jump up screaming rape or something. Personal and friendly they aren't. It's a major accomplishment to get a smile or a friendly word. I'd rather stare at my computer screen than deal with people who act afraid to speak to a customer. EEEW!
I remember going to banks when all the tellers were men in dark suits and ties hiding in cages with bars between the customer and them. They weren't chatty people either but at least they knew your name. By the time I got old enough to bank for myself the bars and cages and male tellers were all gone but computers had not yet arrived on the scene. Those were the good ole days of personal banking. Clerks sat in the bank and made hand entries of every transaction. No, I never actually met one of those people but they knew me. They knew what time and what day I made my deposits and how I spent my money. if something was out of the ordinary they knew my habits well enough to determine if the matter was legitimate or if special attention was needed.
My payday was on Tuesday and I made it to the bank ever Tuesday at 3 pm to deposit my check. Several times in the course of banking with Huntsville bank I either goofed up or found myself hedging a little and getting caught. sometimes I wrote checks for a dollar or two more than I had in my account. Once it was an accounting error and once I took a chance the check wouldn't get to the bank until Wednesday but it was presented on Tuesday morning. I was never charged a fee. The bank always honored the check because they knew my deposit would be there at three o'clock on Tuesday afternoon and they also knew that over drafting my account was not my usual practice.
The third time I did this I had forgotten to enter a transaction for a few dollars and I had over drafted my account by something like 46 cents. The bank bounced the check and I had to pay a $5.00 fee to the bank and had to face the embarrassment of picking up a bad check and paying a bounced check fee as well. I asked my bank why they didn't honor the check and it was explained to me they had borrowed us of the big banks computer. The computer only knew numbers. It didn't know people. That was the day personal banking died. Brag all you want in ads but unless the bank can really know people by their banking habits it ain't personal.
Once I applied for a car loan and I was turned down because I had no credit history. it's true I had never borrowed money before. I had just been discharged from the military and was trying to get myself established. I rented an apartment, paid cash for new furniture, and found a job. All I needed now was a car. When the loan officer was explaining to me why he couldn't do business with me the bank President walked by. He glanced at me and smiled "Aren't you so and so's son?" I answered yes. "Give this young man anything he wants" the banker instructed. I know his family so there is no risk to the bank.
Bankers can't do that anymore.
I remember going to banks when all the tellers were men in dark suits and ties hiding in cages with bars between the customer and them. They weren't chatty people either but at least they knew your name. By the time I got old enough to bank for myself the bars and cages and male tellers were all gone but computers had not yet arrived on the scene. Those were the good ole days of personal banking. Clerks sat in the bank and made hand entries of every transaction. No, I never actually met one of those people but they knew me. They knew what time and what day I made my deposits and how I spent my money. if something was out of the ordinary they knew my habits well enough to determine if the matter was legitimate or if special attention was needed.
My payday was on Tuesday and I made it to the bank ever Tuesday at 3 pm to deposit my check. Several times in the course of banking with Huntsville bank I either goofed up or found myself hedging a little and getting caught. sometimes I wrote checks for a dollar or two more than I had in my account. Once it was an accounting error and once I took a chance the check wouldn't get to the bank until Wednesday but it was presented on Tuesday morning. I was never charged a fee. The bank always honored the check because they knew my deposit would be there at three o'clock on Tuesday afternoon and they also knew that over drafting my account was not my usual practice.
The third time I did this I had forgotten to enter a transaction for a few dollars and I had over drafted my account by something like 46 cents. The bank bounced the check and I had to pay a $5.00 fee to the bank and had to face the embarrassment of picking up a bad check and paying a bounced check fee as well. I asked my bank why they didn't honor the check and it was explained to me they had borrowed us of the big banks computer. The computer only knew numbers. It didn't know people. That was the day personal banking died. Brag all you want in ads but unless the bank can really know people by their banking habits it ain't personal.
Once I applied for a car loan and I was turned down because I had no credit history. it's true I had never borrowed money before. I had just been discharged from the military and was trying to get myself established. I rented an apartment, paid cash for new furniture, and found a job. All I needed now was a car. When the loan officer was explaining to me why he couldn't do business with me the bank President walked by. He glanced at me and smiled "Aren't you so and so's son?" I answered yes. "Give this young man anything he wants" the banker instructed. I know his family so there is no risk to the bank.
Bankers can't do that anymore.
Friday, June 20, 2014
Supporting others is not a detriment to ones finances
I read an advise column the other day on bad habits that lead to financial ruin and one of them was having a soft heart and contributing to charities. That must not be true as Americans have been and still are among the wealthiest people and also among the most generous.
Most of my life I have struggled financially and when I started going to church on a regular bases my wife didn't think we could contribute but we did anyway. I believe she finally became convinced that not only tithing but giving beyond what is required is a good thing. Currently our giving level is at 15% of our income. I am on Social Security and she draws a disability check from her traumatic brain injury. We paid all her medical bills in full, paid off our car, purchased another vehicle for cash, paid off all of our other bills, put on a new roof and built a porch cover over our front porch, and now are replacing our living room carpet with flooring and have more money in the bank than we did when my wife had her aneurysm. I have discovered that a person cannot out give God.
Most of my life I have struggled financially and when I started going to church on a regular bases my wife didn't think we could contribute but we did anyway. I believe she finally became convinced that not only tithing but giving beyond what is required is a good thing. Currently our giving level is at 15% of our income. I am on Social Security and she draws a disability check from her traumatic brain injury. We paid all her medical bills in full, paid off our car, purchased another vehicle for cash, paid off all of our other bills, put on a new roof and built a porch cover over our front porch, and now are replacing our living room carpet with flooring and have more money in the bank than we did when my wife had her aneurysm. I have discovered that a person cannot out give God.
Big Bang breakthrough team allows they may be wrong
Big Bang breakthrough team allows they may be wrong reads the headline of an article in todays edition of Yahoo homepage. Most people believe that existence was created via either the Big Bang or via creationism. The Big Bang breakthrough team thought they had identified the means by which the universe expanded trillion of times in a fraction of a second. They had identified some gravitational beams and had they been correct they would have proven that Albert Einstein was correct. It seems that a little bit of dust got in the way of them proving the Big Bang theory.
Actually the breakthrough team is very close to the truth. However it isn't Einstein 's theory that is correct, although it very well may be. I know the source of what caused the Big Bang and how the universe was able to expand trillions of times in a fraction of a second. Before I reveal the truth I want to call your attention to some well known facts.
We are talking about the creation of something, the very first thing. It is a scientific fact that something cannot be created from nothing so before there was a gravitational beam there had to be nothing. And even if there was a gravitational beam how was it able to expand ;nothing into the universe in a fraction of a second? According to science, the Big Bang theory is an impossibility.
It stands to reason that is there was a gravitational beam among all the nothingness before there was anything that there had to be something else in order to make nothing expand into all there is today.
There also seems to me that it is just as probable that God existed as it is probably that a gravitational beam existed. God has the capability of creating something from nothing and the ability to create everything in a fraction of a second. And not only has God that ability he is also able to make everything work together in a well ordered universe. A gravitational beam does not.
So if you want to believe it the randomness of creation by an impossible means be my guest. I would prefer you believe that existence was an intelligent design by a kind and loving God and that he sent his only begotten son to die upon a cruel cross thereby paying the penalty of sin and rising from the dead thereby offering you the free gift of life. I would also prefer you to accept that gift so that you may b e rejoined to the creator and live life as He had intended.
Actually the breakthrough team is very close to the truth. However it isn't Einstein 's theory that is correct, although it very well may be. I know the source of what caused the Big Bang and how the universe was able to expand trillions of times in a fraction of a second. Before I reveal the truth I want to call your attention to some well known facts.
We are talking about the creation of something, the very first thing. It is a scientific fact that something cannot be created from nothing so before there was a gravitational beam there had to be nothing. And even if there was a gravitational beam how was it able to expand ;nothing into the universe in a fraction of a second? According to science, the Big Bang theory is an impossibility.
It stands to reason that is there was a gravitational beam among all the nothingness before there was anything that there had to be something else in order to make nothing expand into all there is today.
There also seems to me that it is just as probable that God existed as it is probably that a gravitational beam existed. God has the capability of creating something from nothing and the ability to create everything in a fraction of a second. And not only has God that ability he is also able to make everything work together in a well ordered universe. A gravitational beam does not.
So if you want to believe it the randomness of creation by an impossible means be my guest. I would prefer you believe that existence was an intelligent design by a kind and loving God and that he sent his only begotten son to die upon a cruel cross thereby paying the penalty of sin and rising from the dead thereby offering you the free gift of life. I would also prefer you to accept that gift so that you may b e rejoined to the creator and live life as He had intended.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Need some advise or a sympathetic ear
Larry, Jeff's brother, was hired to build the front and back porch and the handicap ramp on a commercial building. When it came time for the building inspector to inspect the work neither Jess nor Larry were present but a third person who was mowing the lawn. The inspector failed the project and gave the third person a verbal list of things that needed to be corrected.
This person sought to go over the list with Jeff so Jeff could explain what needed to be done with his brother but Jeff became angry because he believed his brother did the work correctly and the county inspector was full of it. The third person explained to Jeff that he was only the messenger and that by default but to not avail.
It doesn't seem to matter to anyone that this third person, the man mowing the grass, is the actual owner of the building and is the only person who has the financial means to correct the problems with the deck. He has not been consulted about how to get the problem fixed.
So what is the proper way for this person to proceed. Just stay out of the situation or take charge?
This person sought to go over the list with Jeff so Jeff could explain what needed to be done with his brother but Jeff became angry because he believed his brother did the work correctly and the county inspector was full of it. The third person explained to Jeff that he was only the messenger and that by default but to not avail.
It doesn't seem to matter to anyone that this third person, the man mowing the grass, is the actual owner of the building and is the only person who has the financial means to correct the problems with the deck. He has not been consulted about how to get the problem fixed.
So what is the proper way for this person to proceed. Just stay out of the situation or take charge?
Monday, June 09, 2014
Trouble in Paradise
One always expects trouble when good things start happening around the church. Several years ago we were just a hand full but lately we have started growing and so much so that we needed more space. The fellowship our church belongs too has been growing too. When our church joined there were twelve of us and now there are over twenty churches. I suppose growing pains are inevitable so there will be a meeting this month to discuss the future direction of the fellowship.
One pastor who has led his church from meeting in an old house to a regular church building was accused of something unspeakable by a young girl. When asked to show proof of her claims she had to admit her claims were false. She had a crush on the young preacher and was upset he paid her no attention.
We knew that trouble would be brewing once we started an expansion program and it was, for sure. We had one lady, a long time member and a faithful one at that, left and then health problems started affecting our membership. A few years ago when we started our nine pm prayer program everyone in the church got sick and one member died. It seems that problems have started popping up all over the church. Car troubles, unexplained flat tires, mechanical failures, physical illnesses, financial problems, and now it seems the flesh has reared its ugly head.
Remember when you were young and you meet this person you liked and wanted to go out with them but wouldn't unless they got a date for your best friend or they wouldn't go out with you unless you gat a date for their best friend? Well, that is sort of the case in this situation. We met a family that is a perfect fit for the church but in order to get them we also had to take the wife's brother. You know those relationships never work out. Neither is this one.
One pastor who has led his church from meeting in an old house to a regular church building was accused of something unspeakable by a young girl. When asked to show proof of her claims she had to admit her claims were false. She had a crush on the young preacher and was upset he paid her no attention.
We knew that trouble would be brewing once we started an expansion program and it was, for sure. We had one lady, a long time member and a faithful one at that, left and then health problems started affecting our membership. A few years ago when we started our nine pm prayer program everyone in the church got sick and one member died. It seems that problems have started popping up all over the church. Car troubles, unexplained flat tires, mechanical failures, physical illnesses, financial problems, and now it seems the flesh has reared its ugly head.
Remember when you were young and you meet this person you liked and wanted to go out with them but wouldn't unless they got a date for your best friend or they wouldn't go out with you unless you gat a date for their best friend? Well, that is sort of the case in this situation. We met a family that is a perfect fit for the church but in order to get them we also had to take the wife's brother. You know those relationships never work out. Neither is this one.
Sunday, June 01, 2014
I can't believe they did that!!
In the news today was an announcement that Casey Anthony has adopted a baby. Casey Anthony is the young woman who made national news after she was arrested and charged with murdering her own baby girl. I know she was acquitted but that doesn't make her innocent. I just can't believe they did that/
Friday, May 16, 2014
Some people should not be allowed in public
I hired a contractor and he managed to alienate my wife and irritate me. I have never been a fan of the man but he seems to be trusted and liked by some people I respect so I put aside my feelings and gave the man a chance. After enduring his behavior for the better part of a week I felt justified in my feelings toward him. He told me and my wife that the job would only take three days but it took 5 and even with that I have to finish up the loose ends myself. He insisted that he told us it was a five day job, even after my pastor told him he heard him promise us it would only take three days.
The church I attend contracted this man to do some work at the church today. Notwithstanding the fact he was an hour and a half late to start the job, the people that he had scheduled to pour the concrete at 10 am was still a no show at 2:30 and had no idea when they would be able to show up. He chewed out one of his employees in front of everyone for what was a very minor offense that was as much his fault as the employees. To me that showed a real lack of class. But there was something that occurred a few minutes earlier that was the final nail in the coffin as far as having a warm relationship with this man.
Now keep in mind that I am a senior citizen even though people think I am much younger than I really am. In fact the older worker, the one with little hair and that, including his beard, were gray, made a comment to me "well when you get to be my age....". Well it turned out we were born in the same year. Be that as it may, I have never suffered from allergies before but it has been so bad I actually took a breathing test. Fortunately everything was normal and after taking some allergy medication I did much better. I also take medication that cautions that using it can cause breathing problems and another medication that tells me to avoid sunlight.
During the course of this day I picked up and carried off all the scrap lumber from a weeks worth of work from building two porches and a handicap ramp, stacked a pallet of wood about 30 feet away from where it was stored, weed eated a half acre of property (every inch of it), and mowed another half acre of land with a walk behind mower. I realized at the time this man made his comment to me I was engaged in some light work but it was nearing 2:00 or maybe a little after and I had walked over eleven miles (I wear a pedometer) and took over 25,000 steps. For some reason the man felt compelled to taunt me with the following comment; "Why are you breathing hard Dale?". He had a smirk on his face while uttering those words.
Maybe he thought he knew me well enough that he could be a smart mouth and get away with it but he doesn't. If he had spoken the words with the slighted hint of caring or concern then the comment would have been appreciated but he didn't.
I have had a few encounters with the man over the last few years and my impression of him is the person he cares most about is himself and the thing he cares about most is making money and the thing he wants most for others to know about him is that he is more important than you are. In my opinion the man needs a couple of courses in sensitivity training. Until then maybe he should stay indoors away from the public.
He didn't even say thank you for the tools I lent to him so he could do the job he was hired to do.
The church I attend contracted this man to do some work at the church today. Notwithstanding the fact he was an hour and a half late to start the job, the people that he had scheduled to pour the concrete at 10 am was still a no show at 2:30 and had no idea when they would be able to show up. He chewed out one of his employees in front of everyone for what was a very minor offense that was as much his fault as the employees. To me that showed a real lack of class. But there was something that occurred a few minutes earlier that was the final nail in the coffin as far as having a warm relationship with this man.
Now keep in mind that I am a senior citizen even though people think I am much younger than I really am. In fact the older worker, the one with little hair and that, including his beard, were gray, made a comment to me "well when you get to be my age....". Well it turned out we were born in the same year. Be that as it may, I have never suffered from allergies before but it has been so bad I actually took a breathing test. Fortunately everything was normal and after taking some allergy medication I did much better. I also take medication that cautions that using it can cause breathing problems and another medication that tells me to avoid sunlight.
During the course of this day I picked up and carried off all the scrap lumber from a weeks worth of work from building two porches and a handicap ramp, stacked a pallet of wood about 30 feet away from where it was stored, weed eated a half acre of property (every inch of it), and mowed another half acre of land with a walk behind mower. I realized at the time this man made his comment to me I was engaged in some light work but it was nearing 2:00 or maybe a little after and I had walked over eleven miles (I wear a pedometer) and took over 25,000 steps. For some reason the man felt compelled to taunt me with the following comment; "Why are you breathing hard Dale?". He had a smirk on his face while uttering those words.
Maybe he thought he knew me well enough that he could be a smart mouth and get away with it but he doesn't. If he had spoken the words with the slighted hint of caring or concern then the comment would have been appreciated but he didn't.
I have had a few encounters with the man over the last few years and my impression of him is the person he cares most about is himself and the thing he cares about most is making money and the thing he wants most for others to know about him is that he is more important than you are. In my opinion the man needs a couple of courses in sensitivity training. Until then maybe he should stay indoors away from the public.
He didn't even say thank you for the tools I lent to him so he could do the job he was hired to do.
Should USA raise the gas tax?
After the economy tanked legislation was passed that placed an extra tax on gasoline so workers could be given jobs rebuilding this nations infrastructure but now we have a problem. Due to the increase in gasoline prices and government regulations requiring more fuel efficient automobiles, Americans purchase way less gasoline than was purchased six years ago and this special gasoline tax no longer can pay for these infrastructure projections. The question is: do we raise the tax on gasoline 10 to 15 cents per gallon to be able to continue to fund these projects or do we scale them back?
If we scale the projects back then many workers will be out of jobs and then we will have to pay the workers unemployment and that of course takes money that was raised from some other tax source. If we raise the gasoline tax then we all will have to find ways to use less gasoline because few us can really afford the extra cost. It really doesn't make sense to give up the security and luxury of a big SUV in order to save money at the pump if the government is just going to place a higher tax on you because you purchased less gasoline.
None of us has the luxury of raising our wages just because we are faced with a higher payment on a particular bill. I doubt seriously your employer will grant you a nickel raise because your cable bill went up $8.00 a month. You will just have to buy the store brand of an item you use, eat out at Taco Bell instead of your favorite Mexican restaurant, skip an evening at the movies, or find an alternative way to view your favorite TV programs without cable
I am so tired of government, federal, state, and local, thinking the solution to every problem is to throw more money at it. The government forced manufacturers to make smaller fuel efficient cars and then forced companies to raise prices on gasoline and added taxes on fuel in order to force us to purchase those fuel efficient cars and now Obama wants to raise our gasoline taxes even more because he was successful in reducing gasoline usage. We were good citizens but we are getting punished anyway.
I really hate it for the fellow that has to get laid off but this is the decade of the baby boomer and they are about to be faced with the problem of living from a fixed income with little retirement money due to the economic crisis that led to this whole make work infrastructure projects scheme in the first place. It's like a cat chasing its tail. Even if the cat caught his tail there isn't anything it can do with the tail anyway. Our taxes went up in order to pay for the bail out of the auto industry and in order to repay the government loans dealerships were closed which cost people their jobs so in order for them to go back to work the government raised taxes on gasoline which people couldn't afford so they purchased the more fuel efficient cars which lowered the use of gasoline when negated the benefit of the gas tax so now workers are faced with losing their jobs which is where we started from to begin with. All the American people got out of this is less safe cars and a couple of tax hikes.
Don't you just love how government works for you?
If we scale the projects back then many workers will be out of jobs and then we will have to pay the workers unemployment and that of course takes money that was raised from some other tax source. If we raise the gasoline tax then we all will have to find ways to use less gasoline because few us can really afford the extra cost. It really doesn't make sense to give up the security and luxury of a big SUV in order to save money at the pump if the government is just going to place a higher tax on you because you purchased less gasoline.
None of us has the luxury of raising our wages just because we are faced with a higher payment on a particular bill. I doubt seriously your employer will grant you a nickel raise because your cable bill went up $8.00 a month. You will just have to buy the store brand of an item you use, eat out at Taco Bell instead of your favorite Mexican restaurant, skip an evening at the movies, or find an alternative way to view your favorite TV programs without cable
I am so tired of government, federal, state, and local, thinking the solution to every problem is to throw more money at it. The government forced manufacturers to make smaller fuel efficient cars and then forced companies to raise prices on gasoline and added taxes on fuel in order to force us to purchase those fuel efficient cars and now Obama wants to raise our gasoline taxes even more because he was successful in reducing gasoline usage. We were good citizens but we are getting punished anyway.
I really hate it for the fellow that has to get laid off but this is the decade of the baby boomer and they are about to be faced with the problem of living from a fixed income with little retirement money due to the economic crisis that led to this whole make work infrastructure projects scheme in the first place. It's like a cat chasing its tail. Even if the cat caught his tail there isn't anything it can do with the tail anyway. Our taxes went up in order to pay for the bail out of the auto industry and in order to repay the government loans dealerships were closed which cost people their jobs so in order for them to go back to work the government raised taxes on gasoline which people couldn't afford so they purchased the more fuel efficient cars which lowered the use of gasoline when negated the benefit of the gas tax so now workers are faced with losing their jobs which is where we started from to begin with. All the American people got out of this is less safe cars and a couple of tax hikes.
Don't you just love how government works for you?
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Aggressive Drivers
Driving doesn't have to be as dangerous as it is but some people just get too aggressive on the roadways. Aggressive drivers on the interstates are not the young people with fancy sports cars or souped up vehicles. Aggressive drivers tend to be better educated and wealthier than the average citizen and tend to drive luxury cars particularly Mercedes. BMW drivers are quite as bad but probably rank second as far as number of aggressive drivers. Just what is it about people who drive Mercedes that makes them believe they have the right to be in front.
Just for the fun of it I've driven eighty in a fifty five and still had a Mercedes tailgating me trying to get me to move out of his way. Actually that's not true but I'm sure if I did someone in a Mercedes would think he has to go faster
I just wonder if people think a sign that says "speed limit 70" is telling them 70 is the minimum speed they can drive? I encounter enough drivers who do not know they are supposed to keep their vehicles between the lines except to pass.
I really don't mind cars that are traveling faster than I am as long as they are driving reasonably. It's the ones going 15 miles an hour above the posted speed limit or the ones that want to ride my bumper trying to intimidate me into moving over that make me uncomfortable on the roadways.
The other two kinds of maneuvers that irritate me involve turning and entering a highway. The first is when I am approaching an intersection in which the roadway is marked for a left turn lane and the driver behind me tries to slip by me on the left after I turn my signals on. The other maneuver that bothers me is when I am leaving town and enter the entrance ramp to the interstate and the car behind me will always pass me as soon as we both get into lanes of traffic.
Drivers in Randleman, NC seem to be more prone to do this than anywhere else I have lived.
I'm sure we all have our pet peeves. But of all the things people do on our streets and highways non of the maneuvers involve any particular kind of car except the aggressive highway driver.
Of course not all Mercedes drivers are aggressive drivers and not all aggressive drivers drive Mercedes. But it does seem that drivers of Mercedes act like they are entitled to special privileges on the highways.
Truth or loyalty
In "The Great Controversy" E. G. White writes ( page 85) As men rejoice in the freedom which the truth brings them they are inclined to extol those whom God has employed to break the chains of error and superstition. Satan seeks to divert men's thoughts and affections from God, and to fix them upon human agencies; he leads them to honor the mere instrument and to ignore the Hand that directs all the events of providence. Too often religious leaders who are thus praised and reverenced lose sight of their dependence upon God and are led to trust in themselves. As a result they seek to control the minds and conscience of the people who are disposed to look to them for guidance instead of looking to the word of God.
One man worked tirelessly for his church whether it be manual labor or teaching or advising or serving others. To his pastor he was ever faithful but careful to serve the office and not the man. As the church grew and families were added there can a time when a man came with whom the pastor felt a close bond and the two became fast friends. A third man, a friend, relative, and neighbor of the pastors new best friend became party to the pastors friendship and as a result was given an office in the church. The third man has taken his office seriously but has chosen to serve the pastor as a person rather than the pastor as an office.
As a result the first and faithful servant has been excluded more and more from the affairs of the church. As a result of the focus on each other rather than the things of God a crack has been seen in the fabric that has held the church together and has caused it to grow. I'm not sure if the fabric can be repaired before it becomes so large that the cloth is no longer useable.
One man worked tirelessly for his church whether it be manual labor or teaching or advising or serving others. To his pastor he was ever faithful but careful to serve the office and not the man. As the church grew and families were added there can a time when a man came with whom the pastor felt a close bond and the two became fast friends. A third man, a friend, relative, and neighbor of the pastors new best friend became party to the pastors friendship and as a result was given an office in the church. The third man has taken his office seriously but has chosen to serve the pastor as a person rather than the pastor as an office.
As a result the first and faithful servant has been excluded more and more from the affairs of the church. As a result of the focus on each other rather than the things of God a crack has been seen in the fabric that has held the church together and has caused it to grow. I'm not sure if the fabric can be repaired before it becomes so large that the cloth is no longer useable.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Black koi
Of my offspring from two years ago I kept 6 koi, two solid orange and the other four were three colors, orange, black, and white. The tri-colored ones did not have the deep colors of the original parents and were mostly white but I was hoping that over time I could breed back some beautiful colors.
To my surprise one of the fish spawned and I had hundreds of babies, most of which lived over the winter. What was a bigger surprise is that most of the Koi are solid black, a few are blue and some are black with a bronze/orange belly.
To my surprise one of the fish spawned and I had hundreds of babies, most of which lived over the winter. What was a bigger surprise is that most of the Koi are solid black, a few are blue and some are black with a bronze/orange belly.
Friday, May 09, 2014
Even if you don't believe
I'm amazed at the number of people who get hostile when one mentions anything about Jesus or God. There was an article on the web yesterday about money and how the bible was wrong. One quote it the article was " money is the root of all evil" and to prove the scriptures wrong the author quoted good rich people do with their money.
I'm glad they do but that isn't the quote. The correct quote is "the love of money is the root of all evil" Actually, money isn't even the focus of this quote. What is at stake is where or what we place our highest priorities on. Some people want to become great athletes so they use drugs to improve their chances or train so much they don't have time for family or friends. Some people want to be rich so badly they have committed murder. How about the person who so desires another person that they commit infidelity or worse. Wanting to have money or to be athletic, or to be with the person you love is not wrong. What is wrong is being so fixated on something or someone at the expense of life itself.
The second quote used in the article says that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven" This quote has nothing to do with being rich as the author believes but everything to do with what we place or priorities on.
You may have noticed I did not mention Jesus or God or religion once in my answer but the person who responded to my comments said, and I quote "jesus, jesus, jesus, why can't you religions types just shut up about jesus" Small "j's" were his, not mine".
I admit there is a possibility that there is no Jesus or no God. Maybe the day I finally admitted I could not dislodge the huge limb stuck in a tree and said "God, this is your problem" and the limb fell out of the tree was just a coincidence. Maybe the day I admitted I would never be able to get rid of the huge stump and said "God, this is your problem" and a man with a big chainsaw just drove up looking for wood and cut the stump up for me.
Maybe hen the doctors told me my wife just suffered a brain aneurysm and air lifted her to a larger hospital. That hospital also said she had suffered an aneurysm. Thirty two churches were praying for her. Even though two hospitals and four medical tests proved she had suffered an aneurysm the doctors could not find it. When my wife was suffering from double vision due to damage to her fourth cranial nerve and was told she would always have double vision, maybe it was just fate that caused her eyes to suddenly go back into focus.
I live from social security and when my wife was hospitalized we lost her income plus incurred all the medical bills. She had no income for over a year. I said I would put my faith in God to take care of us just as He promised he would. We paid all the medical bills, met all our monthly obligations,
and even paid in full our car payment, all our credit card bills, and all other bills except for one without assistance from anyone and without touching my savings account.
Time after time I have had my needs met at the exact tine they had to be taken care of when it was impossible for me to do so. You may believe it is just coincidence and you may be correct. Let me ask those of you who do not believe in God or Christ something. If you are correct and this life is all there is how will you ever know? If I am wrong and there is no afterlife then we are even. neither of us will know. But if you are wrong and I am right, then I get to spend eternity in heaven with my savior. You will get to spend eternity knowing that I was right and you were wrong.
When I was a young man I had my doubts too. I studied all the major religions and philosophies. I had to decide if God was real or not and if He was, whose God was He? Then when I decided He did exist and the God of Christians was the only one that was alive I had to decide witch church to belong too. I studied the bible and attended services from the Catholic church, the Lutherans, the Methodists, The Southern Baptists, the American Baptist, the Free Will Baptists, the Church of England, the Episcopalians, and a few I can't remember. The churches I did not get to attend I studied their doctrines and I made my decision based on which church came closest to teaching and practicing what I believe the bible was teaching.
No I will not condemn you or criticize you for being a non believer. I will tell you that Jesus is real and that he loves you and he died on the cross as payment of the penalty for your transgressions and if you accept His free gift you too can have eternal life. What you do with that knowledge is up to you. No, I will not tell you how to live, even if you become a Christian. That is God's job to clean you up, not mine.
I do know that what many people, even those who claim to be Christian, believe the bible says and what it really teaches is vastly different. For sure, many people can quote a few scriptures and many have a basic understanding of what the general concept of Christianity but few really study their bibles and pray asking for understanding. Asking for and receiving a different translation is not the key to understanding the bible. Study and pray are.
A good example would be the robe Jesus wore at His trial. Matthew says the robe was scarlet, Luke said it was purple, and John said it was purple. Mark said only that it was gorgeous . You can translated that all you want and you still come up with purple, scarlet, and gorgeous. You can't go my so-called biblical scholars who try to convince you that the purple was so faded that some thought it looked red and make all kinds of color charts to prove their point. The robe was dyed with Tyrian purple and Tyrian purple only gets brighter when exposed to sunlight and weather. God didn't forget what color the robe was nor did the men writing down the scripture make a judgment call as to what they saw.
We do sometimes when one of us thinks something is blue and another person swears it is green. No, each man saw what God wanted him to see. If you are a Christian contact me and I will explain the answer. If you are a non-believer then the answer is not what you need to be focusing on at the moment. Once you fully understand God's plan of salvation and accept that then you can move on in growing in truth.
If you continue to reject God then I wish you a long life.
I'm glad they do but that isn't the quote. The correct quote is "the love of money is the root of all evil" Actually, money isn't even the focus of this quote. What is at stake is where or what we place our highest priorities on. Some people want to become great athletes so they use drugs to improve their chances or train so much they don't have time for family or friends. Some people want to be rich so badly they have committed murder. How about the person who so desires another person that they commit infidelity or worse. Wanting to have money or to be athletic, or to be with the person you love is not wrong. What is wrong is being so fixated on something or someone at the expense of life itself.
The second quote used in the article says that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven" This quote has nothing to do with being rich as the author believes but everything to do with what we place or priorities on.
You may have noticed I did not mention Jesus or God or religion once in my answer but the person who responded to my comments said, and I quote "jesus, jesus, jesus, why can't you religions types just shut up about jesus" Small "j's" were his, not mine".
I admit there is a possibility that there is no Jesus or no God. Maybe the day I finally admitted I could not dislodge the huge limb stuck in a tree and said "God, this is your problem" and the limb fell out of the tree was just a coincidence. Maybe the day I admitted I would never be able to get rid of the huge stump and said "God, this is your problem" and a man with a big chainsaw just drove up looking for wood and cut the stump up for me.
Maybe hen the doctors told me my wife just suffered a brain aneurysm and air lifted her to a larger hospital. That hospital also said she had suffered an aneurysm. Thirty two churches were praying for her. Even though two hospitals and four medical tests proved she had suffered an aneurysm the doctors could not find it. When my wife was suffering from double vision due to damage to her fourth cranial nerve and was told she would always have double vision, maybe it was just fate that caused her eyes to suddenly go back into focus.
I live from social security and when my wife was hospitalized we lost her income plus incurred all the medical bills. She had no income for over a year. I said I would put my faith in God to take care of us just as He promised he would. We paid all the medical bills, met all our monthly obligations,
and even paid in full our car payment, all our credit card bills, and all other bills except for one without assistance from anyone and without touching my savings account.
Time after time I have had my needs met at the exact tine they had to be taken care of when it was impossible for me to do so. You may believe it is just coincidence and you may be correct. Let me ask those of you who do not believe in God or Christ something. If you are correct and this life is all there is how will you ever know? If I am wrong and there is no afterlife then we are even. neither of us will know. But if you are wrong and I am right, then I get to spend eternity in heaven with my savior. You will get to spend eternity knowing that I was right and you were wrong.
When I was a young man I had my doubts too. I studied all the major religions and philosophies. I had to decide if God was real or not and if He was, whose God was He? Then when I decided He did exist and the God of Christians was the only one that was alive I had to decide witch church to belong too. I studied the bible and attended services from the Catholic church, the Lutherans, the Methodists, The Southern Baptists, the American Baptist, the Free Will Baptists, the Church of England, the Episcopalians, and a few I can't remember. The churches I did not get to attend I studied their doctrines and I made my decision based on which church came closest to teaching and practicing what I believe the bible was teaching.
No I will not condemn you or criticize you for being a non believer. I will tell you that Jesus is real and that he loves you and he died on the cross as payment of the penalty for your transgressions and if you accept His free gift you too can have eternal life. What you do with that knowledge is up to you. No, I will not tell you how to live, even if you become a Christian. That is God's job to clean you up, not mine.
I do know that what many people, even those who claim to be Christian, believe the bible says and what it really teaches is vastly different. For sure, many people can quote a few scriptures and many have a basic understanding of what the general concept of Christianity but few really study their bibles and pray asking for understanding. Asking for and receiving a different translation is not the key to understanding the bible. Study and pray are.
A good example would be the robe Jesus wore at His trial. Matthew says the robe was scarlet, Luke said it was purple, and John said it was purple. Mark said only that it was gorgeous . You can translated that all you want and you still come up with purple, scarlet, and gorgeous. You can't go my so-called biblical scholars who try to convince you that the purple was so faded that some thought it looked red and make all kinds of color charts to prove their point. The robe was dyed with Tyrian purple and Tyrian purple only gets brighter when exposed to sunlight and weather. God didn't forget what color the robe was nor did the men writing down the scripture make a judgment call as to what they saw.
We do sometimes when one of us thinks something is blue and another person swears it is green. No, each man saw what God wanted him to see. If you are a Christian contact me and I will explain the answer. If you are a non-believer then the answer is not what you need to be focusing on at the moment. Once you fully understand God's plan of salvation and accept that then you can move on in growing in truth.
If you continue to reject God then I wish you a long life.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Lawn Care Services
From time to time everyone needs help with their lawn care needs. Maybe your mower is in the shop for repairs or you have to be away from home for a week or two or maybe you prefer to have someone else take care of your lawn care needs on a weekly bases. Whatever your needs I know of two men who are in the business of mowing grass: Jeff Smith and Wendell Herring.
I am not endorsing these two men nor am I recommending them. They have just started their lawn care business and I have no idea if they are good at it or not. What I can tell you is I know the two fellows and they are of good character, not given to strong drink and they have been dependable people for as long as I have know them.
The contact number for them is 336 858 7127 or 336 267 7887.
I am not endorsing these two men nor am I recommending them. They have just started their lawn care business and I have no idea if they are good at it or not. What I can tell you is I know the two fellows and they are of good character, not given to strong drink and they have been dependable people for as long as I have know them.
The contact number for them is 336 858 7127 or 336 267 7887.
What Color was the Robe?
"What Color Was the Robe?" was the title of my message tonight. I don't get to preach often but I try to be ready. Honestly, I believe this message was a good one for any preacher. I know I learned a great deal through the preparation and I believe the congregation learned a lot tonight also.
I did record this message and I am going to make a few copies available to family and a couple of preachers. I normally don't mail out copies but I will make an exception. If you would like a copy e-mail me at dsprl2000@yahoo.com and leave me your address and I'll see you get a copy.
I did record this message and I am going to make a few copies available to family and a couple of preachers. I normally don't mail out copies but I will make an exception. If you would like a copy e-mail me at dsprl2000@yahoo.com and leave me your address and I'll see you get a copy.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
cranky old man
Cranky Old Man
What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!
author unknown
Thursday, April 24, 2014
New building going up or in
One Way Baptist purchased a used educational unit, a 28 x 50 mobile classroom, from Mod Space in Greensboro.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
After a little paint
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Duke Energy Does What is Right
I blogged recently about the dangerous situation left at the church after Duke Energy moved a pole and buried a cable. At first they refused to fix the problem but today they did the honorable thing and fixed the mess they had made. Whether the act of kindness was of their own free will or not I do not know but they did what was right and fixed the problem
Thanks Duke Energy
Thanks Duke Energy
Monday, April 21, 2014
porch completed: sort of
I was promised my porch would be finished today. Only a half day was needed or so I was told. The worker (as in one) showed up at eleven. A couple of hours later another worker showed up. I think my wife's phone call had something to do with that. Anyway it was a little after eight when the workers left.
As you can see a corner is incomplete and there is a small block of wood on the outside of the column. I have no idea what that is for. There is an identical unfinished block on the other side of the porch with the safe little piece of wood on the outside of the column.
You may have noticed the calking around the wood. I had the worker do that. He was going to leave a 1/4 inch gap around all three columns (the one in the middle was framed out and finished. There are several rough spots on the trim where the nails were beaten in. Instead of using a piece of wood or cardboard to lay over the nail heads before pounding the nails in to prevent the dents and dings they just hammered away.
Another flaw which I didn't take a picture of is a long piece of trim that was put up in sections instead of as whole piece. The trim on the right side of the porch was put up as a whole piece but the trim on the left was put up as two pieces. On the end there is an almost inch gap and there is a 1/2 inch gap in the middle between the two pieces.
Of course the gutters will not be replaced until Thursday.
I had a bad feeling when on day one the crew forgot to bring a ladder and had to borrow mine. They borrowed an extension cord without permission and today had to borrow another. Let's not mention the trampling of a newly planted rose bush or the laying od the trim and gutters in the middle of a flower bed.
I'm glad I had the porch done. Besides the functionality of it, the porch adds character to the house. I was hoping for a little more attention to detail but the thing that bothered me most was the "I don't care about you or your problems" attitude of the contractor especially since he is fully aware of my wife's medical problems. He should have been more patient and should have shown more caring
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Porch day 4--NOT
It's Saturday and even though the workers said they would be here, even in the rain and despite it being a weekend, the truth is they aren't-and won't be until Monday. The gutter people won't be here until Thursday. I like my porch and I'm sure I will have years of enjoyment from it and I will recoup some of the cost in lower energy bills, the hassle and disruption to our lives has stressed my wife out and irritated me. I'm ready for it to be over.
porch day 3
The trim around the front is gray and the siding on the house is yellow but I chose white to trim the porch in. I think it looks good. Even though today is Saturday and it is raining the workers are supposed to return and finish trimming the porch. 
Thursday, April 17, 2014
What kind of neighbor are you?
I was reading an article on renting versus owning (or buying) your place to live. Renting has some advantages like cheaper insurance (renters versus home owners), lower maintenance costs, and more freedom to move. And of course home owning has advantages too. A renter will always have to pay rent while a home owner just might one day pay the mortgage off. A place to live should not ever be viewed as a monetary investment because changes are more than likely you will lose money or break even at best. Home ownership is best viewed as an investment in your family and community. How that investment pays off depends on what kind of neighbor you are.
I live in what I call a cookie cutter neighborhood. All the houses are roughly the same. All about the same size, same color, and the same value. There are two big difference in each place: how the owners relate to their property and how they relate to their neighbors.
One family has a poorly maintained yard with debris scattered around the yard. They have junk cars in the back, a big hole in the front of the house, rarely mow the grass, and have a dog tied to a tree in the front yard. The property is an eyesore to say the least. Another neighbor has a self build out building. The walls are made of pressboard and covered in black tarpaper. The wind has long ago ripped the tarpaper to shreds and the pressboard has turned brown with age.
The man across the street has a neater yard but deals in sports cars, particularly old Mustangs with loud engines. Noises coming from his yard makes it seem as if one is living in the infield at a NASCAR event. Of and let us not forget the family with the big boxers that allows them to run the neighborhood without benefit of restraints.
It isn't just the noisy irresponsible neighbors that distract from the neighborhood. There are some quiet neighbors that live in a clean place. But they never fix up the place: no flowers or trees or friendly waves hello to anyone. They exist for whatever reason.
Then there are a few good neighbors. Once a man named Johnny lived next door. He planted flowers and mowed his grass and said hello and helped one with the chores of daily life. He was a good neighbor. Another man who lives across the street keeps his house well maintained and has professional landscapers plant his flower gardens and trim his trees. He has a nice yard. Another neighbors home looks almost as neat but he does the work himself. and he says hello now and then.
Then there is that special neighborhood resident that has the professionally installed outbuilding,
the new carport cover, the manicured lawn, the fish ponds and memorial gardens and the fruit trees and the litter free yard. This resident not only maintains his property but can be seen pickup up trash around the neighborhood and can be heard wishing others well.
Is this a nice neighborhood depends on which neighbor one chooses to be.
I live in what I call a cookie cutter neighborhood. All the houses are roughly the same. All about the same size, same color, and the same value. There are two big difference in each place: how the owners relate to their property and how they relate to their neighbors.
One family has a poorly maintained yard with debris scattered around the yard. They have junk cars in the back, a big hole in the front of the house, rarely mow the grass, and have a dog tied to a tree in the front yard. The property is an eyesore to say the least. Another neighbor has a self build out building. The walls are made of pressboard and covered in black tarpaper. The wind has long ago ripped the tarpaper to shreds and the pressboard has turned brown with age.
The man across the street has a neater yard but deals in sports cars, particularly old Mustangs with loud engines. Noises coming from his yard makes it seem as if one is living in the infield at a NASCAR event. Of and let us not forget the family with the big boxers that allows them to run the neighborhood without benefit of restraints.
It isn't just the noisy irresponsible neighbors that distract from the neighborhood. There are some quiet neighbors that live in a clean place. But they never fix up the place: no flowers or trees or friendly waves hello to anyone. They exist for whatever reason.
Then there are a few good neighbors. Once a man named Johnny lived next door. He planted flowers and mowed his grass and said hello and helped one with the chores of daily life. He was a good neighbor. Another man who lives across the street keeps his house well maintained and has professional landscapers plant his flower gardens and trim his trees. He has a nice yard. Another neighbors home looks almost as neat but he does the work himself. and he says hello now and then.
Then there is that special neighborhood resident that has the professionally installed outbuilding,
the new carport cover, the manicured lawn, the fish ponds and memorial gardens and the fruit trees and the litter free yard. This resident not only maintains his property but can be seen pickup up trash around the neighborhood and can be heard wishing others well.
Is this a nice neighborhood depends on which neighbor one chooses to be.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Duke Energy (with pictures)
One Way Baptist Church purchased a modular unit like those used as classrooms by the local school systems. n order for the church to use the building a utility pole needed to be moved. The easiest thing for the church would be for Duke energy to move the pole. The church could then bring the unit it and get it set up and then Duke Energy could then bury the electrical cable and remove the pole.
Of course Duke wasn't concerned about the church so they said no. The church then had to build a construction box and run power from the church to the box. Then Duke energy would come out, bury the cable and then remove the pole. Even though it would have only been fifteen feet father to run the cable around the parking lot, Duke energy said no. The best thing to do would be to pack the dirt down after the cable was buried but again Duke Energy said no. It would have been far better for the church if Duke Energy had used a trencher but of course they brought a backhoe. Instead of a ditch 8" wide there was one 20" wide.
Last week the church had a man, a private contractor, Tim Pope from Burlington remove two tree stumps. He was less invasive than Duke Energy was in removing a single pole.
Crew from Duke Energy Arrive 4 hours late
Lineman punched a hole in new pipe holding power line
Property before duke started. The picture shows how Tim Pope left his work area.
Sink hole created because Duke Energy refused to pack the soil. The parking lot is full of sink holes as well and is unsafe to use.
Mess left by Duke Energy. Loose piles of dirt is scattered across the work area as well as being full of sink holes
A tree stump protrudes from the ground in Duke energy's work area.
Of course Duke wasn't concerned about the church so they said no. The church then had to build a construction box and run power from the church to the box. Then Duke energy would come out, bury the cable and then remove the pole. Even though it would have only been fifteen feet father to run the cable around the parking lot, Duke energy said no. The best thing to do would be to pack the dirt down after the cable was buried but again Duke Energy said no. It would have been far better for the church if Duke Energy had used a trencher but of course they brought a backhoe. Instead of a ditch 8" wide there was one 20" wide.
Last week the church had a man, a private contractor, Tim Pope from Burlington remove two tree stumps. He was less invasive than Duke Energy was in removing a single pole.
Crew from Duke Energy Arrive 4 hours late Lineman punched a hole in new pipe holding power lineProperty before duke started. The picture shows how Tim Pope left his work area.Sink hole created because Duke Energy refused to pack the soil. The parking lot is full of sink holes as well and is unsafe to use.Mess left by Duke Energy. Loose piles of dirt is scattered across the work area as well as being full of sink holesA tree stump protrudes from the ground in Duke energy's work area.
Would you let a private contractor leave your property like this? Then why should Duke Energy get away with this?
Monday, April 14, 2014
Duke does another disaster
Well, Duke didn't actually show up to do they were contracted to do for the church. They hired an outside crew which obviously were not experienced in what they were to do. It took one workman over an hour to climb a telephone pole and then he couldn't do the job he went up to do so he had to call another truck in to do his job. On the way down he punched a hole in the pipe that was just installed to run the electrical line through.
The job was simple enough: disconnect the power line from the church and from the second pole and bury the line from the first pole to the meter box that will attach to the new building once constructed, the remove the second pole. The job did eventually get done but the yard was left in a mess. I will post pictures tomorrow. A man cam last week and dug up two tree stumps with a backhoe and didn't create near the mess that Duke crew did to remove one small pole. There is no excuse for such incompetence in my opinion. Duke should be ashamed of itself.
The job was simple enough: disconnect the power line from the church and from the second pole and bury the line from the first pole to the meter box that will attach to the new building once constructed, the remove the second pole. The job did eventually get done but the yard was left in a mess. I will post pictures tomorrow. A man cam last week and dug up two tree stumps with a backhoe and didn't create near the mess that Duke crew did to remove one small pole. There is no excuse for such incompetence in my opinion. Duke should be ashamed of itself.
If Duke Power shows up
Today is the day we have long waited for. I've been mowing the grass at One Way Baptist Church now for several years and I hated mowing around the two trees and the telephone pole. Don't get me wrong, I liked the trees. The nut tree was my only bit of shade and I so looked forward to picking the first fruit from the plum tree. Oh, it was well beyond mature enough to have fruit but it was neglected for too long. It took several years to shape it up and this would have been the year for it to produce again. Unfortunately it had to go to make room for our new building.
Today Duke Power or Duke energy, depending when one was born, is supposed to move our pole and run the wires underground. Once the pole is moved there will be room to put the new building.
For those of you who are concerned about the trees, please don't be. I know many trees have been cut to make room for growth but other trees will be planted to take the place of the ones cut. I had 4 trees on my property when I purchased my home and I had two of those cut. I've planted over forty trees to take their place.
Yes we are on an expansion program at One Way Baptist and I know some of you may want to avoid the church because you are afraid that you may be asked to dig a little deeper in your pockets to help. You may but we have decided that we want to involve the community in our growth because a community benefits from having a church around. We had a chicken dinner bot long ago and we had a yard and bake sale last weekend. Other projects are soon coming. I'm getting ready to ploy for our pumpkin garden and hopefully this year will be the best one ever.
We want to be involved in the community. We are growing both physically and spiritually. We now have a youth pastor and a youth program and when our new building is in place we will have some Sunday School rooms. If the Lord tarries one day One Way will not be a tiny church but a large dynamic one. We have the dynamic part down.
Today Duke Power or Duke energy, depending when one was born, is supposed to move our pole and run the wires underground. Once the pole is moved there will be room to put the new building.
For those of you who are concerned about the trees, please don't be. I know many trees have been cut to make room for growth but other trees will be planted to take the place of the ones cut. I had 4 trees on my property when I purchased my home and I had two of those cut. I've planted over forty trees to take their place.
Yes we are on an expansion program at One Way Baptist and I know some of you may want to avoid the church because you are afraid that you may be asked to dig a little deeper in your pockets to help. You may but we have decided that we want to involve the community in our growth because a community benefits from having a church around. We had a chicken dinner bot long ago and we had a yard and bake sale last weekend. Other projects are soon coming. I'm getting ready to ploy for our pumpkin garden and hopefully this year will be the best one ever.
We want to be involved in the community. We are growing both physically and spiritually. We now have a youth pastor and a youth program and when our new building is in place we will have some Sunday School rooms. If the Lord tarries one day One Way will not be a tiny church but a large dynamic one. We have the dynamic part down.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Garden now planted: time for a deep freeze
I seem to have no luck with gardens. A few years ago we had a freeze after I planted my garden even though I waited a week past the last date this area had ever recorded a freeze. One year we had no rain so last years I planted my tomatoes in their own space so it would be easier for me to water them: it rained so much my tomato plants drowned and all my seeds rotted.
Today is the eleventh of April, a week before Easter, the traditional time for me to plant my garden. So everyone, get your blankets back out. It's time for a deep freeze.
Now there are certain things like onions, beets, and lettuce that can be planted early and will easily withstand a slight frost. Unfortunately none of them have sprouted yet even though it is supposed to be 7 to 10 days and it has already been 14.
Other things are looking good. I have several apple trees with blooms on them and about six peach trees with blooms as well as both of my Cherry trees. My blueberries are growing and my grape vines are finally showing some buds. My crabapple and crept myrtles are showing any signs of life yet. I know it's too early for the myrtles. The crabapple and the dogwood were just recently planted and are just mere twigs and it may be too early. I have a baby peach coming up where the one eastern yellow was that died. I didn't plant that one so I wasn't expecting that.
Anyway, I hope this is going to be a good year for vegetable.
Today is the eleventh of April, a week before Easter, the traditional time for me to plant my garden. So everyone, get your blankets back out. It's time for a deep freeze.
Now there are certain things like onions, beets, and lettuce that can be planted early and will easily withstand a slight frost. Unfortunately none of them have sprouted yet even though it is supposed to be 7 to 10 days and it has already been 14.
Other things are looking good. I have several apple trees with blooms on them and about six peach trees with blooms as well as both of my Cherry trees. My blueberries are growing and my grape vines are finally showing some buds. My crabapple and crept myrtles are showing any signs of life yet. I know it's too early for the myrtles. The crabapple and the dogwood were just recently planted and are just mere twigs and it may be too early. I have a baby peach coming up where the one eastern yellow was that died. I didn't plant that one so I wasn't expecting that.
Anyway, I hope this is going to be a good year for vegetable.
God in NOT dead, the movie
My wife and I drove to the Brassfield Theater on Battleground in Greensboro to see the movie "God is Not Dead". The professor isn't really claiming God is dead. Actually, his claim is God never existed. The theory behind the big bang is that because there is gravity then something can be created from nothing. One scientific law is that something can never be created from nothing. Even if it could where did gravity come from?
No amount of logic or science or superstition can ever answer the question about the true beginning of creation. The big bang theory does not refute god but just reinforces the Genesis account of creation. It is my belief that most people who disbelieve the biblical account do so because they don't want God to be real because if He is then they really do have to give account of their life once they die. What I find hilarious is the number of people who reject God because he doesn't intervene in the tragic events of life yet they don't want to accept God in the normal routine of living.
Anyway. the topic of discussion in the movie "God is Not Dead". The audience was sparse and were older folks; I was one of the younger ones. Christianity should not be an Old Folks religion yet that what is seems it is today. The truth is, it has always seemed to be an old folks religion. Sometimes a person just takes a long time to recognize the truth. Anyhow, it was a really good movie, believe it or not.
No amount of logic or science or superstition can ever answer the question about the true beginning of creation. The big bang theory does not refute god but just reinforces the Genesis account of creation. It is my belief that most people who disbelieve the biblical account do so because they don't want God to be real because if He is then they really do have to give account of their life once they die. What I find hilarious is the number of people who reject God because he doesn't intervene in the tragic events of life yet they don't want to accept God in the normal routine of living.
Anyway. the topic of discussion in the movie "God is Not Dead". The audience was sparse and were older folks; I was one of the younger ones. Christianity should not be an Old Folks religion yet that what is seems it is today. The truth is, it has always seemed to be an old folks religion. Sometimes a person just takes a long time to recognize the truth. Anyhow, it was a really good movie, believe it or not.
Sunday, April 06, 2014
Security Force
I entered a drawing for a chance to win a new John Deer lawn tractor knowing that it was a promotion for an alarm company. Actually I wanted to install one when my wife and I purchased our home but she objected. I figured she would say no this time too but to my surprise she thought it was a good idea.
I believe what changed her mind was some of our neighbors. The family that once lived across the street were nice enough people, or at least the parents were but the boys were trouble. One was in and out of jail constantly, mostly on drug charges. They were buying from the people who lives on Stout street and when they boys were home it was a hot bed of drug activity. Of course they didn't like me because I would make them turn their loud car stereo's down.
The son of the people who lives in the first house entering the neighborhood was arrested on thief charges recently and we do have some neighbors that live like trailer trash. One has a big hole in the front of their house while another has debris piled up in his yard. Their place always looks like a natural disaster just occurred.
We have had some trouble with a few of the neighbors, mostly small stuff like people letting their big dogs run loose or teenagers trespassing in the yard. I don't want to turn this into a gripe column so just suffice it to say the neighborhood isn't as nice as I hoped it would be.
We had the basic security system installed with sensors for my shed and the special fire alarm system. I much prefer to have a security system than a gun. My Dad had a gun for protection but one night two thieves broke into his place while he and Mom slept. They found his gun and held it to his head while the thieves did their work. I just don't think I can be held hostage with a keypad. An alarm system is good 24 hours a day while a gun is only good if you are the one holding it and you are at home.
I'm not anti-gun by any means but it isn't the thing for me. For everyone's safety, mine included, I think it is far better to allow the police to handle situations where violence may be needed.
The point I want to make in this article isn't about my alarm system but about the young man who installed it. He is an ex-marine just recently married and a Christian. I'm not talking about the average run of the mill Christian who is a person who goes to church now and then but never really prays and who has a passive faith. No this young man incorporated his faith into his work and could quote his favorite scriptures. The best part of the whole evening is when he, my wife and I had prayer together before he departed.
That doesn't happen in today's world. Or so one is lead to believe.
I believe what changed her mind was some of our neighbors. The family that once lived across the street were nice enough people, or at least the parents were but the boys were trouble. One was in and out of jail constantly, mostly on drug charges. They were buying from the people who lives on Stout street and when they boys were home it was a hot bed of drug activity. Of course they didn't like me because I would make them turn their loud car stereo's down.
The son of the people who lives in the first house entering the neighborhood was arrested on thief charges recently and we do have some neighbors that live like trailer trash. One has a big hole in the front of their house while another has debris piled up in his yard. Their place always looks like a natural disaster just occurred.
We have had some trouble with a few of the neighbors, mostly small stuff like people letting their big dogs run loose or teenagers trespassing in the yard. I don't want to turn this into a gripe column so just suffice it to say the neighborhood isn't as nice as I hoped it would be.
We had the basic security system installed with sensors for my shed and the special fire alarm system. I much prefer to have a security system than a gun. My Dad had a gun for protection but one night two thieves broke into his place while he and Mom slept. They found his gun and held it to his head while the thieves did their work. I just don't think I can be held hostage with a keypad. An alarm system is good 24 hours a day while a gun is only good if you are the one holding it and you are at home.
I'm not anti-gun by any means but it isn't the thing for me. For everyone's safety, mine included, I think it is far better to allow the police to handle situations where violence may be needed.
The point I want to make in this article isn't about my alarm system but about the young man who installed it. He is an ex-marine just recently married and a Christian. I'm not talking about the average run of the mill Christian who is a person who goes to church now and then but never really prays and who has a passive faith. No this young man incorporated his faith into his work and could quote his favorite scriptures. The best part of the whole evening is when he, my wife and I had prayer together before he departed.
That doesn't happen in today's world. Or so one is lead to believe.
Tuesday, April 01, 2014
Why do some rank so low?
A report was just released that predicted a person's likelihood of success. An Asian was ranked highest, then white kids, Both groups were given scores of over 700. Ranked low on the scale were blacks and native Americans with scores barely over 400. Why the big difference and why are some ranked so low?
In the Asian group, it was only the Asians from Japan, China and the Philippines that were ranked really high while other Asian groups didn't fair so well. To me that rules out the ethnic influence. I never really believed that race had anything to do with ones abilities to learn but a great deal to do with if we learned. In other words, a kid doesn't fail because he is black but fails because he is raised in a black environment. Whoa, I know I made some upset by that comment and I certainly don't mean to do so.
I have black relatives and they are highly successful people. In fact my niece just graduated high school at 15. Being intelligent has nothing to do with skin color but the values held by the community one was raised in has a tremendous influence on how well you do in school. In certain Asian communities education is highly prized and the children in those communities do well in school. The biggest problem is sometime the parents push the kids too hard academically and the children suffer in other areas. But in certain other cultures education is looked down on and the children in those cultures do not fair as well.
It isn't a matter of giving underprivileged children more opportunities but changing the prevalent attitude about education in those communities. There seems to be a big emphasis on sports and music in the black community but the reality is being highly successful in those endeavors is akin to becoming rich by playing the lottery.
I can understand the low scores from the Mexicans. Again, the scores are not ties to race or ethnic background. People from Cuba do much better than citizens from Latin America. In these cases it isn't so much a bad attitude towards education as it is fear of being deported because they are in this country illegally. There is a distrust of others and the language barrier. These people are denying themselves opportunities.
I live in a mixed race neighborhood and how people live is different based on ethnic background. The black families seem to be the nicest people in the neighborhood but the black children seem to be the most likely to be arrested, The Mexican families have messy yards, are very unfriendly and are less likely to obey local laws like licensing and building codes and burning permits. We do have some Asians in the neighborhood but they tend to be more private.
The white families show the most diversity and the teenagers tend to be either extremely nice kids or total jerks showing a total lack of upbringing and discipline. It seems the more pride a family takes in their home the better behaved their children tend to be. I don't know how that relates to success but I would think it would all relate.
In the Asian group, it was only the Asians from Japan, China and the Philippines that were ranked really high while other Asian groups didn't fair so well. To me that rules out the ethnic influence. I never really believed that race had anything to do with ones abilities to learn but a great deal to do with if we learned. In other words, a kid doesn't fail because he is black but fails because he is raised in a black environment. Whoa, I know I made some upset by that comment and I certainly don't mean to do so.
I have black relatives and they are highly successful people. In fact my niece just graduated high school at 15. Being intelligent has nothing to do with skin color but the values held by the community one was raised in has a tremendous influence on how well you do in school. In certain Asian communities education is highly prized and the children in those communities do well in school. The biggest problem is sometime the parents push the kids too hard academically and the children suffer in other areas. But in certain other cultures education is looked down on and the children in those cultures do not fair as well.
It isn't a matter of giving underprivileged children more opportunities but changing the prevalent attitude about education in those communities. There seems to be a big emphasis on sports and music in the black community but the reality is being highly successful in those endeavors is akin to becoming rich by playing the lottery.
I can understand the low scores from the Mexicans. Again, the scores are not ties to race or ethnic background. People from Cuba do much better than citizens from Latin America. In these cases it isn't so much a bad attitude towards education as it is fear of being deported because they are in this country illegally. There is a distrust of others and the language barrier. These people are denying themselves opportunities.
I live in a mixed race neighborhood and how people live is different based on ethnic background. The black families seem to be the nicest people in the neighborhood but the black children seem to be the most likely to be arrested, The Mexican families have messy yards, are very unfriendly and are less likely to obey local laws like licensing and building codes and burning permits. We do have some Asians in the neighborhood but they tend to be more private.
The white families show the most diversity and the teenagers tend to be either extremely nice kids or total jerks showing a total lack of upbringing and discipline. It seems the more pride a family takes in their home the better behaved their children tend to be. I don't know how that relates to success but I would think it would all relate.
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