I heard the other day that the state of Massachusetts has passed a law that everyone has to have health care. I understand the laws about everyone having car insurance. But health insurance? It's soooooooooo expensive if you're not making a bundle of money. Unless everyone in Mass. is rich? I know the politicians are.

Of course, the only fine for not having health insurance is to pay an extra $220 a year in state income tax. Unless...I wonder if they've somehow made it so that hospitals don't have to treat those who don't have insurance? Anyone know?

What do you think of this?

"A couple of months ago, Saul Anuzi, chair of the Michigan GOP, petitioned to have Ron Paul banned from future debates. The reason, to summarize, was because he was doing better in polls regarding debate performance than any of the “top three” candidates. “I think Congressman Ron Paul … doesn't represent any of the Republican Party base” and is “getting in the way of the real debate of how to move our party” forward."

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.newswithviews.com/Takala/rudy19.htm

Back to health and health care. I know a lot of people are against socialized health care. But isn't that what our poor have - Medicaid? And isn't that what our elderly have - Medicare? The programs are not perfect, but they do get care. And most of the elderly folks I know get every test imaginable when they're sick or hurting.

Members of Congress certainly don't have to worry about health care. They have their own special program just for them and their families.

Rich folks don't have to worry. They might complain about what's not covered by their insurance, but they can pay for whatever isn't covered.

It's the rest of us - those who have insurance but have to fight to get care and then pay for what's not covered and those who are uninsured but unable to get Medicaid - who suffer by not having socialized medical care.

A few weeks ago, a member of our church died. He was only 58 years old. He had heart problems and a hernia. He went to the hospital with chest pains and it was discerned that he wasn't having heart problems. Knowing that it wasn't his heart didn't stop the pains.

He probably should have been admitted so they could find out what his problem was. I tend to believe that would have happened in Canada or France or Great Britian.
Instead (I think it was the next day), the man called 9-1-1, then his family, and he died on the way to the hospital. Cause? Strangulated hernia.

Should that happen in a country who boasts having the "best" medical care? I don't think so. The "best" care would have been to figure out the cause of his pain, not sending him home. They probably prescribed pain medications.







 

I write, you read and comment and that's how we know we're communicating. Get it?

Sometimes when I visit other blogs, I'm amazed at the number of comments received. Of course, they're usually not writing about the same kinds of things. One blogger discovered that mentioning bad words got more views and more comments. Well, I'm not going to do that.

I did have to wonder if anyone read the entry I made a while ago with the pictures of the float our church entered in the July 4th parade. "July 4th parade pictures" 

Oh, I'm not doing that badly on the number of views. I know that. In fact, as I'm typing this, I can see that I have had 5,297 views. That's not so shabby, especially since I didn't start blogging until last September. What's really fun is that I have almost caught up to hubby's fibro blog. His has 5,321 views at the moment, and he started it in November, 2005. If you check out the list of 100 most viewed blogs, we're now #58 and #59. Our buddy Budroe is Blessed! is #41 this morning with 7,457 views.

Okay. On to more important things.

I got my Reader's Digest a day or so ago. My mom used to make sure my sisters and I all had that as one of our Christmas gifts. Last year, my sister Karen (who now watches over Mom and has her in an assisted living center near her house) continued the trend of sending a gift subscription to each of us.

Did you know that Reader's Digest has a joke contest? This month, they've asked that jokesters finish this joke: A carrot walks into a salad bar and says... If you're good at making up jokes, you should send your joke to comedy@rd.com - subject: August. Hey, if you win you'll get $100. Wish I could be funny...

Did you know that, "Moms whose preschoolers don't sleep well are in worse physical and mental health than other moms. Dads, on the other hand, are blissfully unaffected." So says RD. Well, duh. I hope someone didn't spend a bundle of money to figure that one out.

Love quotes? I know I do. How about this one...

"Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with. He cannot inflame the minds of his audience." ~ Henry David Thoreau

"The act of writing is an act of optimism. You would not take the trouble to do it if you felt that it didn't matter." ~ Edward Albee

"A word is not the same with one writer as with another. One tears it from his guts. The other pulls it out of his overcoat pocket." ~ Charles Peguy
 

Yesterday, I had the Travel Chanel on for some reason. I found a show that talks about regional foods.

My hometown - Pittsburgh, PA - was mentioned in the show and it really surprised me. Why, you ask? Well... It turns out that there's a special Pittsburgh sandwich that I don't think I've ever eaten. Or even heard about. Ever. The Devonshire.

The guy who first created it did so in the 1930's, so I should have at least heard of it. I didn't leave the 'Burgh until 1974 and my folks didn't move from there until 1984. My last visit was in about...1999. Weird.

What's especially strange is that the creator was Frank Blandi. There is a bunch written about the Blandis. The family's first venture in Pittsburgh was The Blandi's, a restaurant and nightclub in Fox Chapel. Frank Blandi also opened the Stratford Club in Oakland, where - by most accounts - Pittsburgh's Devonshire sandwich was born.

In the 1950s, James Blandi, Sr. owned the Fox Head Grill, Dormont, and was a partner with his uncle, Frank Blandi, in the Park Schenley, Oakland. He also operated the Lemont Restaurant in Mount Washington.

And my mother knew Karen Blandi. I'm not sure how she was related...I think the wife of either James Blandi Sr. or Jr. In fact, I think that my mother and dad attended Karen's wedding or wedding reception at The Lemont on the night before (or maybe the same night, I'm not real sure...) that my youngest sister was born.

Since I lived in Mt. Washington, and since my mother had some friendship with a Blandi, you would think that I would have at least have heard of this sandwich. Hmmm.

The original Devonshire was composed of crisp bacon and slices of turkey placed on a single piece of toast and then covered with a rich creamy cheese sauce and served bubbling hot from the oven. According to the TV show last night and the web sites that mention this sandwich, now there are variations with other meats and seafood.

Sounds yummy. And not very healthy.

In my internet travels I came across this list of other foods for which Pittsburgh is "famous." It includes Clark Bars, Heinz Ketchup, Iron City Beer, and Klondike Bars.http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/diningtraditions/

I also found this page by the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review called, "Souls who enriched our lives, our region." The names include: Jimmy Stewart, Willie Stargell, Gene Kelly and Perry Como. Lots of others too, of course. http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/specialreports/10year/s_105329.h...

Okay, class is over. Pop quiz coming soon.

By the way...

I discovered that last month there were a few days when I had twice as many viewers as usual. The only thing different about those entries was that I mentioned some famous folks. And a few of our other WDC bloggers.

So, I've covered the famous folks - above.

About the WDC bloggers...do keep clicking on some of my favorites seen at the left:

Budroe is Blessed!
TexansBeatTheMiamiDolphinsBy3
winter
flicka
Ta
Angela's Niece needs Praye
hoosiermomma2
Daizy~wetandcoldbrr


 

I guess when I fell last week, I totally forgot about posting sermon notes. So, here they are now.

Turn Your Problems Into a Plus
Sermon Series: Faith Works (Part 2)

Imagine getting this as a letter. Dear friend...

James 1:2-3 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

Right. Imagine getting that as a letter from a friend. Some friend, huh? Yes, some friend.

Like someone said (well, my pastor for one): If you don't have problems, check your pulse.

Problem Particulars:

Problems are part of life.

John 16:33 ESV
In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Problems are not predictable.

1 Peter 4:12 NLT

Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

Problems are plentiful.

Problems are purposeful.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NJB
None of the trials which have come upon you is more than a human being can stand. You can trust that God will not let you be put to the test beyond your strength, but with any trial will also provide a way out by enabling you to put up with it.

Three Positives of Problems:

Problems purify my faith.

Remember James 1:2-3 above? "...you know that the testing of your faith..."

Job 23:10 NCV
But God knows the way that I take, and when He has tested me, I will come out like gold.

Christians are like tea bags. You really don't know their flavor until you put them in hot water.

Problems produce patience.

Again, James 1:2-3 above. "...the testing...develops perseverance."

Learning to be a follower of Christ is like learning to ride a bike. At some point, we're left to struggle on our own. We might fall and even get hurt. But we get back up and start over, knowing that our teacher is there if and when we need help. Eventually, we get the hang of it. Then we can ride off with our teacher and have some glorious times together.

Problems perfect persona.

James 1:4 NIV
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Have you seen the movie Evan Almighty yet? In it, there are some great questions about how God teaches (and provides) patience and courage.

Prescription for Problems

Praise.

Check out James 1:2-3 again. "Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials..."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Note that it says we should thank God in our trials, not for them.

Pray.

James 1:5 NIV
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV
...pray continually...

Pray for wisdom. Do not waste any opportunity for growth.

For every problem a non-Christian has, a Christian will have the same problem. Why? So the world can see the difference in the way they react and respond.

You can use your problems for your growth and to His glory.

Peace.

James 1:6 NIV
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 MSG
The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!"

Relax and let God be God. He has your back.

Needed to survive:
Wisdom to understand.
Faith to endure.

James 1:12 NIV
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

The devil uses problems to defeat.

God uses problems to develop.





 

As I said, speaking in church was an experience, as usual. In the first service, I guess I sped through the sermon. The praise team was not prepared for that so our service ended up being only about 45 minutes. They got to go home early.

In the second service, I was a bit more at ease and didn't rush. And the praise team added some songs, so the service lasted an hour.

The pastor had already warned those of us who are working on the ARKAlmighty program (my sermon topic) that some would not embrace it as excitedly as we did. Sure enough, there were two folks in the early service who started scowling after the video clip explaining ARKAlmighty. At least I think that's when they started with the faces. Someone else suggested that some folks just aren't happy when the pastor isn't there, so maybe that's why they were scowling. Well, maybe.

Anyway...when I spoke at the second service I made everyone practice smiling at me first, 'cause it's really intimidating to have folks frown or scowl at you when you speak.

Each person who came up to me afterward (both services) was very kind.

In my message, I said that I am not a professional speaker. I admitted that I sometimes forget the things I learned at some public speaking classes I've had. I shared that I have had some Toastmaster folks come up to me after speaking and offer suggestions. The thing is, though, when you're supposed to speak for the Lord - if you let Him - He pretty much directs the whole thing.

Sure enough, though, after the second service one of our members came up and told me that she IS a professional speaker. She also said that she could forgive me for my speaking errors because she knew my heart was in the right place. I guess that's a good thing.

When I shut down the computer at about 6 p.m. last night, I crawled into bed under the covers, thinking I would watch the news with hubby. Well, that didn't work real well. I did fall asleep.

I sort of remember him asking me if Derek was working at about 8ish. I responded in the negative and went back to sleep. The next time I looked at the clock, it was 1:30 a.m. I thought about getting up, but didn't. I looked at the clock again at about 3:30 and then again about 6:40 and decided to get up. So, I've had plenty of sleep!

Perhaps I'll make another entry later. Perhaps not.


Oooooooooppppppppsssssssss. As I was reading hubby's blog "Our Fibromyalgia Blog Book"  I realized I forgot to mention that I also took a nap Sunday afternoon from about 1:30 to 3 p.m. Lots of sleep. But I could probably go to sleep again and sleep the rest of the day away.
 

I got up bright and early today so that I could pray and spend some time with God before getting ready for church. Today I had to preach 'cause my pastor was at his sailing regatta. As usual, that was quite an experience for me.

I'll share what I spoke about later on in the week. I think I forgot to share the sermon notes from last Sunday, so I'll be sure to do that too later in the week.

We're not having our women's small group tonight. And we're getting some pretty bad storms. Already there has been quite a bit of damage in our area. The news said that 1800 homes in our township are still without power, and it showed some of the damage done. None here on our street, thankfully. We have lots of trees here.

Anyway, I'm shutting down the computer and am going to nap for a while.
 

Ta reminded me that I didn't come back after the visit to the doctor to report about my fall.

Here's the scoop:

My doc said that what I did was basically the same as getting whiplash from a car accident. That's the reason my neck hurts. My collar bone isn't broken, but it is tender. She said that made sense considering that I had a form of whiplash.

My leg is infected, so I'm faithfully putting the triple antibiotic cream on it, leaving it uncovered (except when I have to go out in public) and taking oral antibiotics too for ten days.

My head appears to be okay. Well, from the fall anyway.

I realized that the reason my lower back wasn't affected is that I did not land on my butt. What I did was go from a standing position to being flat on my back and I hit my head twice, 'cause it bounced. It could have been much worse.

I'm preaching tomorrow at two services. Today, I made sure I was at the praise team's practice, so I know what music they're playing/singing. Besides, that gave them an opportunity to pray for me.

The preacher's daughter informed me that while I'm talking, our media guy will be showing a power point slide show on the big screen. Usually, when the pastor is there, that's where they show our sermon note pages with the fill-in-the-blanks. The pastor did up some sermon note sheets for my sermon, but we didn't make any blanks for folks to fill in...just gave the Bible verses I'm using. So...I have no idea what the pastor has cooked up to show on the screen while I'm talking. Kelly told me that her dad said I should just ignore the screen and speak.

You know that my curiosity is going to get the best of me. And I'm going to want to watch the slides, which might get me all confooooooosled.

So your job, if you choose to accept it, is to pray that 1) my leg isn't too swollen to stand on it (like it has been the last two mornings) and 2) that I'll ignore the screen behind me and just speak. Hubby is planning on taping me, so he can make sure when he does that he gets the slide show in the video and I can see it later.

My son might or might not come to church on Sunday. I pray that he does, but we'll see.

On another note... The other day, my hubby's pocket decided to call me - on the phone. What, you say?

Hubby's old cell phone was one on which you only had to press one button/number to dial "special" phone number, like the home phone. Bumping it the wrong way could mean that he was making calls he didn't mean to make.

That phone died not long ago, and hubby got a new phone - a flip phone. He and I both assumed that having a flip phone would mean that his phone would not misbehave anymore. Not so.

About the time hubby should have been arriving in our township (based upon when he left the office), the phone rang. I answered it and heard a radio playing, but no one responded to my hello.

I checked the cordless phone, where there's a caller ID, and sure enough it was hubby calling. Only he didn't know it. I listened to the radio for a few minutes, then hung up. I guess because he was driving with the windows down, he had the music turned up more than usual. I think if the music had been softer, he would have heard me shouting from his pocket. "Hello, hello!"

Funny thing is that about ten minutes later, I picked up the phone and discovered that we were still connected. I decided to listen. I heard him use the self-check service at Kroger. I heard him comment on the gas price at one station as he passed it. "$3.12."

When he got home, I handed him the phone and told him that his pocket called and wouldn't talk to me. The really funny thing is that the conversation we had on the porch about his cell phone and what he bought at Kroger's then got recorded on our voice mail. Figure that one out.
 

The only things in the middle of the road are yellow stripes and dead armadillos. ~ Jim Hightower

For so long, we didn't have any rain at all. Now we're getting some on a daily basis. Or so it seems.

I have a doctor's appointment today. It's with the doc who refused to fill out my functional capacity form. I know, I know. I said I wanted to change doctors, and I do. But 1) this appointment was already made. It's for complete physical, which I haven't had for 2 years. And 2) that fall I took...well, I just need a doc to check me out a bit. My leg is really painful now and so are my collar bone and neck - which I didn't know I had injured at the time. Perhaps I hadn't. But they hurt and these are new pains, so they need checked.

I'll check in after my appointment at 8:45 this morning. (Can't have any coffee until after that, or food, of course. My tummy is not pleased. )

Meanwhile, y'all go check this out. What a nice gesture, don't you think?

ID: 1287956 Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. by Not Available.

My headache (from hitting it yesterday) is gone. The boo-boo on my leg is rather ugly, and there's still a bump there, but I'll survive. I do wonder, though, if the pain in my collar bone and my neck have anything to do with the fall I took yesterday. I know when you have a car accident that the pains often show up the next day (or two). Is that also true for a fall? Hmmm.

Have you ever heard of Dr. Mercola? He's an osteopath who believes in natural healing vs. prescription medicines. I get a newsletter from him every day. I have to admit that much of his web site is there to promote his books and products. But he does find some great information to pass along.

Here's a black and white commercial showing a doctor promoting smoking. Dr. Mercola likens this to what docs today are doing by promoting prescription medications. http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Are-Doctors-Still-This-Stupid--23254.aspx...

His newsletter today also had an article called, Seven Ways Your Body Tells You You're Hungry. http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Seven-Ways-Your-Body-Tells-You-You-re-Hun...

Yesterday's video exposed a fast food chain whose strawberry milkshake contains no milk or strawberries, and the strawberry flavoring has 59 ingredients. http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Fast-Food-Milkshakes-Exposed-27226.aspx

Dr. Mercola gets lots of mail about this video about the Town of Allopath: http://www.mercola.com/townofallopath/index.htm

I was a bit curious myself about Dr. Mercola, even though I've been receiving his newsletter for some time. Sometimes when I'm curious, I'll check Wikipedia, even though I know it's not the most reliable source of information. I was surprised at the amount of information about the doc there. The Wikipedia page on him shows lots about the criticisms about him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Mercola

'Nuff about that.

My cousin and I were talking about how most folks get their daily information doses - from the TV. Most folks pick one station to watch and don't ever venture out to see what another channel or other type of media is saying about the same thing. When something is questionable in my mind, I check a bunch of different news sources, including the BBC. I'll check conservative and liberal media to see where they differ and where they agree on the topic. I'll check print and internet media sources. But all of that takes time, something of which most Americans claim to have very little.

I talked about that in the very first sermon I ever gave. It was called, "If it's God calling, tell Him I'm busy!" I used that title because I had seen a cartoon using those words. Maybe I'll share that first sermon I gave sometime, and you can see how much I've grown in the last 15 years.

Busy? My mom was busy. At one point, she had three kids (6, 2 and infant with cholic), her mother who had just had a stroke and broke her leg, her 18 year old brother-in-law (who was building a stock car in the back yard) and my dad to "manage."

She typed insurance policies at home to keep her skills up and earn a few extra bucks for the family. That was back when there were manual typewriters and carbon paper. Some of the policies required that she type an original and six copies.

Since my baby sister had cholic, Mom hired teen sisters as baby sitters/mother's helpers in the afternoon so she could fix dinner. Their own house was teeny, tiny (really - one bedroom for parents and three teens, one boy and two girls!), so our basement playroom became their hang-out place late at night...with their friends.

And my friends - and their siblings - all congregated at our house. We had a huge back yard, a 3 or 4 car garage, two huge porches, and two play rooms. Our bedroom closets connected with "secret" passages and playing hide-and-seek in the house was loads of fun.

Mom always had time to chat with the mail man (it was always a man back then), the bread man, the ice cream man, the milk man, the garbage man, etc. That meant that the gossips in the neighborhood never let her alone. But with three kids and her mother as her constant companions, Mom wasn't doing anything but being nice. And offering each one at least a glass of water, if not a cup of coffee.

Our washer was a wringer washer. Lots of clothes were hung out to dry. Folks seemed to prefer that over dryers back then. Clothes were "sprinkled" and rolled and put in a plastic bag into the refrigerator until they could be ironed. Mom and Grandma (when she could) and I ironed sheets, pillow cases, table cloths (which we used all the time), cloth napkins (ditto), handkerchiefs (for both genders) and Dad's t-shirts. Plus the things we would iron today - dresses, skirts, pants and shirts. At that age, I was just learning to iron. I stood on a stool and ironed pillow cases and hankies and napkins.

Mom sang in the church choir and was the craft organizer for VBS each year. She was the Vice President of the PTA for a number of years. She wrote plays for the PTA and for church, and helped direct them. She also volunteered as a room mother at school.

There were no micro wave ovens back then or even crock pots. Meals took time, especially since there were few quick foods. Most things were made from scratch, including cakes and pies, break and rolls.

As we grew older, her activities changed but never stopped. She was my brother's den mother. She drove me to choir practice and took my brother to softball practice, and later took both of my sisters to band practice.

When I was in church youth group, she organized the moms so that we would have a good cooked meal every Wednesday night.

She made costumes for Halloween and for plays.

She wrote poetry for every organization and for every kind of event. She made goofy presents for kids (of her friends) going away to college or the service. She made wacky awards for folks to celebrate the strangest (or the ordinary) happenings in their lives.

When I was in high school, she organized a neighborhood watch because drugs were being distributed in the park next to our house.

Our house was called "Switzerland." I guess most families have fusses going. Ours was no different. The fussing parties would visit our house, but NOT the houses of those with whom they fussed. So just about every birthday party, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner was held at our house.

We also called our house "Mack's Motel." Out of town relatives and friends always stayed at our house when they visited Pittsburgh.

Busy? My mom was a busy person. I have never had to be as busy as she was.

Thinking about how busy Mom was has made me tired, tired, tired. Y'all go back and click on a few of those links above while I take a nap. Okay?
 

There are reasons why everyone should make sure they always have money in a savings account and a credit card available for emergencies, especially if one owns a house. You never know when something might need fixed.

For months, there was a drip, drip, drip from the faucet in the basement laundry tub. Having a plumber come and fix that shouldn't have been a huge expense, except that the pipes are as old as the house. Once we have the money for a plumber, we really should get a bunch of things fixed.

Hubby did try to get a cap for the faucet. He was, wisely, afraid to try just forcing the drip to quit, since that might have broken the pipe. Last week he finally was able to get a cap and that drip (which had become more than just a drip over the months) has stopped.

About two weeks ago, I noticed that we were getting some water on the floor in the basement. It's coming from the air conditioning or something.

Today, I discovered that it's more than water on the floor. It's actually more slimy than water.

How did I find out? I FELL!

After I put hubby's clothes in the washer, I was at the bottom step ready to go up when I slipped on the slimy substance all over the floor. Down I went, with my legs under the stairs. My head hit the concrete floor.

Thankfully, my son was in the basement on his computer. He insisted that I sit a minute while he made sure my head wasn't bleeding. It wasn't. But I figured I'd have a bump on it later. One shin was bleeding and already getting a bump. The other was already bruised, but the skin wasn't broken.

So here I sit with an ice pack on my head and on one leg/shin.

We really should have had the leak fixed when it appeared. But...when there is no extra money... I guess when I'm feeling up to it, I better find a way to mop up that goo all over the floor. I had not realized how much was on the floor until I fell. It had just been a trickle before. Now it's more of a stream.

Keep praying about the judge's decision for the disability, okay? It surely will help our finances if I have some kind of regular income.
 

Some things just don't seem right, you know? But if you read them in print or see them on the news you have to wonder.

For instance, I have heard for years that folks in Europe don't attend church as much as folks in the U.S. But I have never done any real research on that.

This morning, in my News With Views email, one of the articles said of European churches: "The churches are for the most part state supported and sanctioned. They have been secularized and made obedient to the state. Strict adherence to Biblical principles invites state censure and may subject both disobedient pastors and lay people to fines and incarceration." Really? Is that true? Here's the link to the whole article. It speaks of George W. Bush's membership in the Order of the Skull and Bones and that Bush serves them and not the people of the U.S. My son just watched a documentary about that. http://www.newswithviews.com/Schwiesow/jim27.htm

This morning on Good Morning America, they said that Sprint/Nextel has fired over 1,000 customers for complaining too much. GMA read a copy of the letter sent out to the customers they fired. It seems that they complained and Sprint/Nextel thought it best to cancel their service. Really? I wonder how many calls to customer service is too many? Will they tell new customers in advance that if they call too many times they might be dumped? Will they give them a warning before dumping them? "Dear Customer: You are coming close to the lifetime number of calls to customer service that our company allows."

My sister has been dealing with AOL problems ever since my parents first went to live with her. She originally set up my mother's AOL account and knows her password, but Karen was honest when she contacted AOL to cancel mom's account. She provided copies of the court order giving her complete control of my mother - her money and her health issues. AOL customer service said they didn't "recognize" that form and insisted that my mother needed to fill out their form. Really? AOL doesn't recognize a legal document that gives my sister complete control over my mother's health and welfare? AOL continued taking payments from my mother's checking account until my sister canceled it. Then they started sending collection notices to my sister's house. They're still trying to get money from my sister. Amazing.

I was reminded of this because GMA also showed a segment where a fellow argued with a customer service agent from AOL who refused to just cancel his account, which was what he wanted. The taped call was part of GMA's segment on customer service today. (That fellow was fired, supposedly.)

I remember when the saying was, "The customer is always right." That's surely not the case anymore.

A few months ago, I heard part of a conversation at a store's customer service desk. A young woman was trying to return a few wedding gifts. The company - one of our large discount retailers - has a new policy that no items may ever be returned without a receipt. The customer service person explained that and also said that the buyer(s) should have asked for a gift receipt. The newlywed explained that the gifts were from her grandmother and a great-aunt and they probably didn't even know there was such a thing as a gift receipt. She thought the sales clerk should have offered gift receipts to them, since both most likely made conversation (as the elderly tend to do) about the up-coming wedding. The customer service rep insisted that it's not a cashier's job to offer a gift receipt; it's the customer's job to remember to do so.

As I walked away, I realized what a different world it has become. The customer is not only NOT ALWAYS RIGHT, but is deemed MOST OFTEN WRONG.
 

There are over 200 million Americans who are overweight, and collectively they are carrying around an extra 5 BILLION pounds of excess fat.
http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Finally-Science-Confirms-the-Secret-Key-t...


Just take a large, flat stone and draw a dotted line down the middle of it with paint. Then write, "to relieve stress, tear on dotted line."

******

Last night after 11:30 p.m., I was sitting on the porch enjoying the quiet. I realized that those crazy folks who had been setting off firecrackers since way before the 4th of July must have finally run out of gun powder. It was really quiet outside.

A few minutes later, a car came down the street, a bit faster than it should have, considering the residential neighborhood. The music was a little louder than it should have been for the time of night.

Someone was dropping off one of our neighbors - a teen boy. The girl who drove, used the driveway directly across the street from our house to drop him off and turn around. He got out of the car and the three teens laughed and and talked louder than they should have. None of that really bothered me, since I was already up and sitting outside.

The girl started backing up out of the driveway and I knew right away that she was going to hit our car - hubby's car, actually - parked on the street. She never turned the wheels of the car, just backed straight into the car. The kids were still laughing and talking and she was about to just drive away. I stood up on the porch and yelled, "Stop! You just hit my car." She did stop.

When I went into the house for a flashlight to access the damage, hubby woke up and came out too. There didn't appear to be any, but in the dark it was hard to tell.

I took the girl's license and insurance information down as she asked me, "Why are you writing that information?" She also commented, "Can we please hurry? I have a curfew."

Oh I surely wanted to give that girl a long lecture. About not being out too close to curfew just in case something happened. About watching what one was doing while driving, instead of laughing and teasing. About stopping when one hits another's car. (I really think she would have just gone on if I had not shouted from the porch.)

The girl also asked that I call her cell phone and not her home number in the morning when hubby checks the car in the daylight. I did that, but I also suggested that she needed to tell her parents all about what happened. There was no damage to the car, but they do need to know anyway.

My son thinks I should call her parents.



 

I was telling a newbie about how my mother and grandmother would not allow us to use the word hate, especially about people. Perhaps we could hate someone's actions, but we could never hate the person. I searched my portfolio for a poem I wrote about that, but couldn't find it. It is here: http://pittsburgh.about.com/library/authors/ucwilkerson2a.htm
 

Well, I forgot and you didn't remind me...that I didn't post sermon notes from last Sunday.

Our pastor started a new sermon series last week called Faith Works. I think it's going to be a 15 part series this time.

Maturity Matters

Hebrews 6:1 MSG
Grow up in Christ.

Maturity Myths:

It is not about:

show or appearance or activity level.

status (what you are or what you have done...there's no depth in that)

scholasticism (it's not what you know, it's what you do with it!)

Don't compare yourself to others, but to the ultimate measuring stick - God's Word and Jesus.

I know I'm a mature believer when...

I'm positive under pressure.

James 1:2-4 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:12 MSG
Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

Don't you just love those words above? Loyally in love with God?

I show favor not favoritism.

Don't be a snob.

James 2:1-16 NIV
My brothers, ...don't show favoritism.

Matthew 25:37-40 NCV
Then the good people will answer, "Lord when did we see you hungry and give you food, or thirsty and give you something to drink?...Then the King will answer, "I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me."

I can tame my tongue.

Don't insult.

When you go to the doctor's office, they have you stick out your tongue to check your physical self.

For a spiritual check-up, stick out your tongue. What are you saying that you shouldn't?

James 3:1-12 NCV
We all make many mistakes. If people never said anything wrong, they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves, too...Also a ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship, making it go wherever the pilot wants. It is the same with the tongue...

Some things should just not be said. Sometimes frankness is unkind.

Loose lips sink ships.

Ephesians 4:29 NCV
When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need -- words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.

Speak words that build up, not tear down. Tell the truth in love. Right timing, right place, right reason.

James 1:26 NIV
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

Yikes. Worthless? That hurts.

I am a person of compassion not conflict.

James 4:1 NIV
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

a) Selfish motivation (vs. 3) or pride.

b) Judging others (vs. 11-12). You really don't know what is going on in a person's
life. Only God know everything, and he can judge.

I am prayerfully persevering.

James 5:7-11 NIV
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming...You too, be patient and stand firm,... Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering... As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.

James 5:16 NIV
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Today was my hearing about whether or not I can be classified entirely able to work full time at something for which I already have skills or at some other meaningful job or if I can be termed disabled.

I'm exhausted, and I'm trying to stay upbeat and ready for hubby's daughter to spend the weekend.

Once I sort out everything that happened today - but before I forget entirely - I'll be back to fill you in.

The judge wasn't too happy that my medical records didn't arrive in a timely fashion and, I guess, was a bit more snippy than usual because of that. Perhaps he was punishing me and my attorney?

My shrink and psychologist did not provide their records yet.

So, the judge decided to allow 30 days to get those records. He said he would make his decision between 30 and 45 days after that.

So, y'all keep on praying, okay?

And remind me to tell you how the PhD in some kind of vocational stuff expertly read the descriptions and ability levels of jobs I had in the past from her computer program...and how that computer really did say that being a sales clerk is a sedentary position. Seriously. I guess whoever wrote the job descriptions never performed them.

There's more, of course. But I'm both physically (from walking from the parking garage to the meeting place) and emotionally (well, you know why there) worn out from the ordeal.

Right now I need to focus on fixing dinner for Tiff and hubby. I'm sure God will work this SS thing out. Still, if I could cry, I would. From frustration. For some relief at having part of this over. (Although we never told the judge how downright painful it is to have what feels like tears welled up inside with nowhere for them to go!!!) And tears to show God how happy I am knowing that He is really the one in control. We really cannot depend upon man.
 

When I was a kid, we never had fireworks on the 4th of July. We were content with sparklers. Fireworks were things that the professionals set off. Some years we were lucky enough to go somewhere where we could see them up close and personal. Other times, we sat on our hillside and watched the fireworks in a distance. Either way, we never thought about having something like that in our own yard. No sirrreee.

Things have surely changed. When I lived in Texas, lots of the crazy people there shot guns up in the air off their balconies. Yes, people got hurt. I guess they forgot that what goes up must come down. Duh.

In Ohio, it's illegal to shoot off anything that leaves the ground. Basically, that means you can legally have sparklers and poppers and snakes. But I guess that's too tame for most folks.

You can buy fireworks that go up in the air and make a big noise - in Indiana or Kentucky - both of which are pretty close, just across the river. If you're an Ohio resident, you have to sign a form that says you're not going to shoot them off in Ohio. (Where else would an Ohio resident shoot off fireworks???)

So.......??? Half of our neighbors had fireworks and competed with each other to see who could make the most noise and "aaawwwwwwwwwww-inspiring" purrrrrties. And the remaining smoke, of course.

They take their kids to get the fireworks and sign that form that says they're not going to actually set off the fireworks in Ohio. As far as I can figure, they're teaching their kids that it's okay to completely ignore some laws. And to lie.

Way back in 1994, I read a book by Josh McDowell called Right from Wrong. In it, McDowell said that kids - even Christian kids - think there are no absolute truths anymore. That was 13 years ago. I'm sure more kids think there is no absolute truth today. After all, even though the Bible says we shouldn't lie 1) their parents ask them to say they aren't home when they are if the boss calls 2) they cheat on their taxes and 3) they buy fireworks and lie about where they will set them off.

These things matter to kids.

My son was only about 8 years old when he and his Dad stumbled into the "wrong" part of the roadside fireworks stand. There was one side for regular folks, who could legally buy the tame stuff. And there was another part for businesses and professionals.

They didn't know there were two different places. They were just both excited to see that they could buy some pretty big "boomers." When they got to the check-out counter, the guy asked to see Derek's dad's business license. He didn't have a license having anything to do with fireworks, of course. He just pulled out a business card showing that he owned a company called Wilkerson Enterprises. The guy made him sign a form that said he was licensed to have the more professional type of fireworks. He signed it, of course. He didn't want to look bad in his son's eyes.

But he did. Derek knew his dad was telling a huge fib by signing that form. And that was the beginning of his thinking that, if his dad told lies that most likely other adults did as well. His dad shrunk about two inches in Derek's mind that day. And he slipped off the pedistal where he had perched for 8 years.

Now I don't think a kid should ever think his parents are perfect. But he should be able to rely on them doing the right thing, especially in front of the kid.

I was not with them when this happened, and really didn't know Derek's thoughts about it until a few years later...when he was a teen and caught in a lie himself.

What I do know is that the mister had no business with those fireworks. Our neighbors all thought it was pretty neat that he had such big "boomers." They all gathered in our backyard and watched...as Derek's dad proceeded to try to burn down our house. Really. One of the things landed on our roof and if the garden hose had not been right there and ready to go, it probably would have done some damage. Thankfully, no one got hurt.

On this morning's news, I only heard about two instances of mishaps - nationally - with fireworks.

In one instance, the thing didn't explode and the woman leaned down to see why not. Then it did. I think the news said she died.

In the other, there were two homes, two garages and five cars burned. No injuries were mentioned. Just property.

I guess it was one luckly 4th if that's all that happened. But I imagine we just didn't hear about all the burn victims that visited the local emergency rooms.

As Derek and I got into my car last night on our way to his work place, he said, "You know it worries me that so many people are so fascinated with fire and explosions."

Yeah. Me too.

It also concerns me that parents are teaching their kids to lie.

And it concerns me that most of those folks didn't even give much thought to the reason for the holiday. To many, it's just another day off work.

*********

Our church did win a prize yesterday - for being the most spirited group. I don't think anyone got a count of people from our church who participated, but I'm sure the crowd was as big or bigger than last year.

I rode in the truck that pulled the float. What an experience that was. The fellow who drove had volunteered to drive his truck as the second truck - to hold bottled water that our members passed out. But since his truck was an automatic and the other volunteer's truck was a stick shift, this guy got talked into pulling the float.

Good thing parades don't go very fast. This poor guy couldn't see what was happening at the sides of the truck - and we had folks walking, kids riding bikes and kids being pulled in wagons on both sides of the truck and float.

What amazed me was that parents let their kids run to the middle of the road - in front of parade floats - trying to pick up candy that someone had tossed out to them (and missed getting any where near them).

And what amazed us all was how rude people were. After a few years of this, our church is known as the float that gives out bottled water...and people yelled their requests to the folks passing it out.

Our goal this year was to have 2,000 bottles to give out and we exceeded that. I think we collected 2,336 bottles to give out. Luckily, the Kroger float was in front of us also giving out water. (I guess that's why they didn't respond to our request for a donation of bottled water.)

Even so, the people on the parade route - especially kids - were quite rude in their requests for water. Amazing.

I spent my parade time in the truck. Afterwards, I had to walk across the parking lot to where we could get a ride back to our car. Then we went to a member's house for a cook-out party.

Just before the rains started, I told hubby that I needed to leave. My body was wanting to shut down.

I napped the first time for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, was up for maybe 30 minutes, then napped again for about 3 hours.

That has to prove that I could work a full time job. Right?


 

Regarding the signing of the Declaration of Independence John Adams said, "[Independence Day] will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore."
From http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin379.htm

John Adams was right. People do celebrate. Here in our neighborhood, they started practicing shooting off fireworks about a week ago. I wonder, though, if they remember why they're celebrating? Perhaps not.

Our little community has a parade. I think this is only the fourth year they've had it. Last year was the first year that they gave prizes for floats and our church won for best float. Of course, when they showed pictures in the little local newspaper, they never mentioned that we won first place. They also credited a different church as the one that gave out bottled water to the crowd. But we didn't care.

Our church uses a boating theme for many things. (Our pastor sails. You know, the racing kind.) This year our float will be even better. Besides the big float, we'll have a bunch of kids' wagons decorated just like the big one. We also have about 2,000 bottles of water to give out to the crowd again this year.

Hubby is going to walk in the parade. He did last year too. I'm going to ride in one of the vehicles. I already know that I cannot walk the parade route. Perhaps I'll be able to give out bottles of water. That would be fun. But just being with everyone else will be enough.

Last year 50% of our church marched in the parade. We're hoping for at least that good a turn out again. The only larger group than ours last year was the high school band - and it was actually the two high schools combined.

This year our pastor says he doesn't mind if we win first place for the float. We're shooting for winning as the most enthusiastic group. I think we can do that.

Be safe how ever you celebrate this year. Here in Cincinnati, they've already arrested quite a few people for drinking and driving. Even those who don't drink - or who would never drink and drive - are in danger when others do so. So watch out for those other guys. And leave the big explosions to the professionals, okay?