From the back of a coffee cup

This morning as I sit and ingest my drug of choice I happen to read the saing on the back of the Statbucks cup. It reads as follows;
“The world burst at the seams with people ready to tell you you’re not good enough. On occasion some may be correct. But don’t do their work for them. Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal. Don’t take it personal when they say ‘no’ they may not be smart enough to say yes.”
Keith Olbermann

Just a thought for the day;
Mervi

Just a thought.

Good morning, I sit here this morning in a little out of the way coffee shop. I am just slowly enjoying a cup of my drug of choice and just doing some idle thinking. Looking to the East there is a beautiful view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Sitting here and with quietness watching the sun reveal the beautiful snow not lonely on the pikes, but more like a great white shawl wrapper around the greater portions of these majestic mountains. The great quit strength I see and almost feel in these great mountains as they speak to me of the great power of our God as He formed and established this world. There two points that have always been a wonderment to this old man. One He thought enough of me to let something like these stately mountains which just stand there for me to see and enjoy. Second when He created man He gave to man the ability to somehow perceive beauty and enjoy it.

Thanks for stoppiong by today;
Mervi

Californina ?

-- California’s state expenditures grew from $104 billion in 2003 to $145 billion in 2008.

-- California has the worst credit rating in the nation.

-- California has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the nation, 9.3 percent -- higher even than the car manufacturing state of Michigan.

-- California has the second highest home foreclosure rate.

-- California’s tax-paying middle class is leaving the state. California’s net loss last year in state-to-state migration exceeded every other state's. New York, another left-run state, was second.

-- Since 2000, California’s job growth rate -- which in the late 1970s was many times higher than the national average -- has lagged behind the national average by almost 20 percent.

-- California has lost 25 percent of its industrial work force since 2001.

My source for the above is; http://dennisprager.townhall.com/columnists/DennisPrager/2009/02/24/from_california_to_the_boy_scouts,_it_destroys_more_than_it_builds
Just a troubled thought this morning:
Mervi

I was reading Karen's blog this morning! When this thought all came together, so I guess you maight blam it on her ;-}

Hypocrite
“Hypocrisy” occurs only once in the Old Testament as the translation of ḥōneph (Isa_32:6, the Revised Version (British and American) “profaneness”); ḥānēph, from which it is derived, means properly “to cover,” “to hide,” or “becloud,” hence, to pollute, to be polluted or defiled, to make profane, to seduce; as a substantive it is translated “(ISBE Dictionary)

To cover, hide like a plastic mask. To hide so that you can becloud the issue or the situation in which you are involved.

“Hypocrisy,” “hypocrite” are frequent in the New Testament, chiefly in Christ's discourses in the Gospels. The word hupokrisis (primarily, “an answer,” “response”) meant generally, in classical Greek, stageplaying, acting, the histrionic art; hence, it came to mean acting a part in life, etc. an actor under an assumed character (stage player), that is, (figuratively) a dissembler (“hypocrite”): - (ISBE Dictionary)hypocrite

Haven't we watched someone who is on a stage acting out a role or part of life? This part of life is not what they really are or want to happen. They have become a masked stage player!

(www.merriam-webster.com)
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English ypocrite, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokritēs actor, hypocrite, from hypokrinesthai
Date:
13th century
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

That someone who takes the time, invest the effort, works with some great diligence to present a “false appearance.” Not just in the arena of religion! In their day to day existence you can watch these people fight as they remove one mask in an abrupt hurry to replace it with a second and then a third on they go.
We have all seen this person in any area of life, religious, secular, the job, volunteer and even the political arena!
I have often sat an pondered? Have these ACTORS ever forgot or misplaced a mask and find themselves in the right place with the wrong mask ready to put it on, step on stage to perform and then come to that realization?

Just my thoughts as I pass this way today;
Mervi

Job or Minisrty ?

If you are doing something because no one else will

it’s a job.
If you are doing it to serve the Lord

it’s a ministry.
If you are doing it just well enough to get by

it’s a job.

If you are doing it to the best of your ability

it’s a ministry.
If you quit because no one thanked or praised you

it’s a job.
If you stayed even no one seemed to notice

it’s a ministry.
If you do it because someone else said it needed to be done

it’s a job.
If you are doing it because you are convinced it needs to be done

it’s a ministry.

From, The Lord said, or was that me, by T.F. Tenney.

Putin warns US to eschew socialism!

I heard about this article this morning and only now had the time to research it. Can you believe it, the Russians are telling US the U. S. of A. that it won’t work.

“Russian Prime Minister Vladamir Putin has said the US should take a lesson from the pages of Russian history and not exercise “excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state’s omnipotence”.
“In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state’s role absolute,” Putin said during a speech at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated.”

Yes, Mr. Putin is telling US that Socialism has not worked and will not work. Then you have to stop and think, we are the U S of A and we can do it better. Really! NO, we do not want to end up having to try and rebuild after such a collapse. Come on leaders, the Russians admit it didn’t work. Look at China; it too is moving toward a capitalist form of economy. But we are going in the other direction.

Enough!
Here is my source for the quotation. To all the best of luck mixed with prayer!

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/02/putin_warns_us_to_eschew_socia.html

Just my thoughts as I pass this way;
Mervi

Something I have read.

Something to think about.

“It is not enough to be industrious; so are the ants. What are you industrious about?” (James Thurber)

“Some can’t distinguish between being busy and being productive. They are human windmills, flailing at work, but actually accomplishing little.” (Caroline Donnelly, Money Magazine)

Just my thoughts today;
Mervi

The storm?

Last Friday evening my wife, my mother-in-law and myself took some time and went shopping. What for nothing just a little time away from home. We stopped to get a bite to eat then as we came out of the restaurant we saw this large ominous dark cloud coming from the South East. My mother-in-law commented, “We had better beat that cloud home,” so off we went headed for home. We got her home as the cloud became more and more precarious out of the South East. But no rain or wind. My wife and I went on home empted the car and settled down for the evening. As I was reading several times I looked outside, there was that dark prevailing cloud and it was just getting darker and darker every time I looked outside. Still there was no rain or wind just a dark quite evening. As we retired that night my wife and both expected to find the morning wet and foreboding. When we arouse the next morning everything was dry and sunlight. No storm, no rain and no wind.
I have ofter considered, how often do we / I upon seeing that dark foreboding cloud enter an area of my life. I watch it with all caution and with full expectation of an appalling storm, with rain and wind and destruction. Only to awake in the morning to find everything just as it was! No rain, no wind and no destruction.

Just a thought as I pass this way;
Mervi

A thought for Valintains day.

I took a class in Interpersonal Communications. I will remember one comment made by the instructor which I have tried to ably to my life. “The next time you kiss your significant other, where are you? Are you present in that one moment? Are you in the car driving to where ever? Are you getting something at the store? Are you where ever except in the current moment?” Yes! I have been guilty of letting my mind wonder, hay you! Come back where you belong. I owe it to my true love to be right here current and present in this very moment.

Just a thought as I pass this way;
Mervi

Octuplets (? ?)

Suleman, whose six older children range in age from 2 to 7, said three of them receive disability payments. She told NBC one is autistic, another has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD, and a third experienced a mild speech delay with "tiny characteristics of autism." She refused to say how much they get in payments.
In California, a low-income family can receive Social Security payments of up to $793 a month for each disabled child. Three children would amount to $2,379.
The Suleman octuplets' medical costs have not been disclosed, but in 2006, the average cost for a premature baby's hospital stay in California was $164,273, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Eight times that equals $1.3 million.

Ya! 1.3 million a year. ? ? ?
My source for this article is http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090212/ap_on_re_us/octuplets.

Just a question as I pass this way;
Mervi

A tax time thought!

Barrowed for the Chicago Times:
Mervi

Eight years, my what a differance!

Headlines On This Date 4 Years Ago:
"Republicans spending $42 million on inauguration while troops Die in unarmored Humvees"
"Bush extravagance exceeds any reason during tough economic times"
"Fat cats get their $42 million inauguration party, Ordinary Americans get the shaft."

Headlines Today:
"Historic Obama Inauguration will cost only $170 million"
"Obama Spends $170 million on inauguration; America Needs A Big Party"
"Everyman Obama shows America how to celebrate"
"Citibank executives contribute $8 million to Obama Inauguration"

This came to me in an e-mail this morning. So I will post it today:
Mervi

One trillion what ? ?

Something to ponder as I pass this way today.

I was thinking how big or how much would be equal to one trillion. Will here is my idea one trillion divided by 60 seconds, divided by 60 minutes, divided by 24 hours, divided by 365 days, divided by 70 years or one generation.

1,000,000,000,000 One Trillion
60 Seconds
16,666,666,667 Total seconds
60 Minutes
277777777.8 Total minutes
60 Minutes in one Hour
4629629.63 Total Hours
24 Hours in one day
192901.2346 Total days
365 Days in one year
528.4965331 Total Years
70 One Generation
7.549950472

The stimulus package of $1,000,000,000,000 is equal to 7.6 generations, I did round it off. That is a lot of time, children, families, years and dollars.

Oh well just my though this morning:

Mervi

Bipartisan ? ?

I borrowed this from the Chicago times. I felt like it had an excellent point.

Mervi

Revival !

"Let's have a revival, from the pulpit to the pew.

Let's have a revival,

it starts with me

and you reaches out to a lost

and hungry world and brings them in.

This is our joy, it's our survival

Let's pray for a Holy ghost arrival, let's have a revival"

I read this part of a song this morning on another blog.

YES!!

Let us, the Church of the First born, have revival.
The sign in front makes no difference!

The difference is the experience in the pew!

The difference is that message which comes across the pulpit?

The life and meaning of those that are affected by that message!

Come on LETS have REVIVAL!

Let that blood bought, water washed, Holy Ghost filled people have revival!

He see' you and me.

From the Gospel of Mark Chapter 6 Verses 45 to 48a.

And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them:


Take just a few moments and think about the disciples who were, “constrained,” to get into the boat that afternoon. No Lord if you don’t go we are not going. Please Peter just get in the boat, I will see you later. OK, Lord, I will go. But I don’t like it! As they rowed away Jesus climbed the mountain. That evening Jesus looked out to see a storm upon the water. Then He looked deeper into that storm and there the disciples were toiling against the storm.

In the storm of life let us not forget that from the hill called Mt. Calvary He saw me. He saw me toiling in the storm of this day. He saw the sweet, the strain, the frustration and the sadness of being yet another storm.

The end is that He did come to Peter not in some other boat. Oh No! He can waling on the water. Not the way that Peter had expected.

Just a thought as I pass this way;
Mervi

Dandelion

Dandelion
Are you like me? You walk outside on a nice sunny day just to see that bright yellow flower in your yard? Quick get the weed sprayer, find the spade, someone get down in the position of prayer and get that thing out of the yard!
Why? Do you know or have you watched as those little yellow blooms, they will turn into white little wind catchers and off they go! My yard, your yard the neighbor’s yard, Help, we have got to stop them from spreading!
Now step back just a moment and try to follow my odd line of thought. Is mine and your faith or desire to spread the Gospel of Jesus any where this plentiful? How quickly can or dose it become a flower bright and joyous and pleasant. How long before it turns and takes wing to fly to the neighbors’ door, the one down the block in the midst of a storm, how about the mother in need of just a kind word. OH dandelion, let my love for Jesus become more and more like you. Till it becomes like a tree!

Just a thought:

Mother of 14 ??

I was just listening to a talk show here in the Central Valley and these points came to knowledge this afternoon.
1. This mother has hired a spokesperson?
2. She has asked Oprah for $2,000,000.oo to come to her show?
3. She is devoiced?
4. The CLAIM is that she has never has any physical relations, even with her ex-husband?
5. No one still knows the sperm donor?
6. She did receive a labor injury settlement?

This has become too much for me. Are we watching a real need for assistance or a side show?

You are the judge;
Mervi

Please, Just a little humor!

A noted psychiatrist was a guest speaker at an academic function where
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi happened to appear. Ms. Pelosi took the
opportunity to schmooze the good doctor a bit and asked him a question with which
he was most at ease.

'Would you mind telling me, Doctor,' she asked, 'how you detect a mental
deficiency in somebody who appears completely normal?'

'Nothing is easier,' he replied. 'You ask a simple question which anyone
should answer with no trouble. If the person hesitates, that puts you on the
track.'

'What sort of question?' asked Pelosi.

Well, you might ask, 'Captain Cook made three trips around the world and
died during one of them. Which one?''

Pelosi thought a moment, and then said with a nervous laugh, 'You wouldn't
happen to have another example would you? I must confess I don't know much
about history.'

A friend sent this to me in an e-mail.

Just a effort at humor this afternoon;

Mervi