The Newest Addition 4/08

 

One Man's Opinion

One Man’s Opinion About Sears

Word of caution – Buyer Beware

Sears clothing is of poor quality just recycled K Mart castoffs

Sales Prices are bogus…30%, 40%, 50% and 70% off are from retail and do not represent prices that items were ever sold at. In other words some sales raise prices.

Sears Auto Centers are owned by individuals (franchised) who could care less about what Sears service use to be.

Do you know that there are only four (4) register systems in the whole store? And if a cashier needs a manager to approve a price discrepancy, refund or error it can take as long as twenty (20)
Minuets to find one…only one (1) is on duty anyway. Bring a lunch or snack.

Major appliances are so shoddy that they have had too open clearance centers so they can reach
A larger segment of unsuspecting new customers…Look at it this way, those products were damaged in transit, or on delivery, deemed not to standard by SEARS in the first place or rejected by the original buyer.

Same pricing policy on sales. Note… all Kenmore products have two (2) model #’s next week it will be advertised for lower and the Price Guarantee will not be honored.

Customer Service is a call center so when that sales associate tells you anything you may never seem him again. Protection Agreements are the main thing you will hear about…did you know that SEARS mandates employees to sell up to 9.3% of their total sales as Protection Agreements, Or they can and will be terminated? Employee’s that have been with them for decades!!!! And let’s not forget The Sears Card which needs to be appx. 15% of all customer sales. Upping SEARS’s profit, min. Int. rate 19.24% and up to 32%.

Service on tools, appliances etc. is a total farce…SEARS techs are those small local guy’s you stayed away from because you wanted someone you could count on. Prayer is more effective if something breaks.

And then Imagine working at SEARS for years making it the giant it once was, and seeing your career nitpicked and you driven out!!! And how about your vested retirement plan being swallowed up because SEARS is now SEARS HOLDING CO. What do you call a company that passes on a 100% increase in Healthcare cost to it’s mostly minimum wage workforce? After posting a 198 million dollar profit that year? And what about the work conditions for its employees? SEARS does not have air conditioning…never has, temperatures reach 3 figures inside. Fear and threats are the management techniques used there. One male manager was found to be having a sexual tryst with a male employee who was just over 18 years old. Sexual and racial harassment are the rule. Ask any employee there of the 100+ employees they have how long they have been there…most are a year or less. So how can they have your long term care in mind knowing the odds are against them even being there?


Shop SEARS if you want to…Your nightmare is waiting

If My Mind Stays On GOD...

Journaling - A Form of Meditative Worship
Journaling can be a form of worship. In solitude, we can explore the blessing of writing our hearts to God. We don't have to be professional writers, or even good writers - it's all about the passion for God in our hearts. Journals and letters are powerful tools for recording thoughts, prayers, fears and miracles in our lives. Writing our hearts to God is a fantastic compliment to our daily devotionals with Him.
Journaling - Seek God and Hear His Whispers
Journaling typically works best in a quiet place. Find a daily retreat and explore the power of meditative prayer and writing in your life. Learn to seek God's face during your alone times with Him. Through writing, learn to hear God's whispers in your life…

Reflect…

Who are you?

What is your background?

What experiences brought you to this time and place in your life?

Release…

What life changing mistakes have you made?

Are there any buried mistakes in your life that still hold you back?

Have you released your mistakes to God, so you can experience His true blessings for your life?

Surrender…

What event or series of events in your life brought you to your knees?

Where did you focus your thoughts and efforts during crisis?

When did you turn it all over to God?

Praise…

What victories have you experienced in your life?

What blessings has God brought your way?

Think about God's role in your life, and give Him thanks for all you have?

What Was Once New...Remains Same Old Stuff Again

It would be nice to say that mankind had made tremendous strides in improving the Human Condition...But we have not. We have decided to once again to shy away from the Solution and to live in the problem. Our leaders worldwide have shunned their duties and responsibilities and have let murder, hunger and apathy be the rule.

We The People have chosen to ignore our duties to sacrifice for the better good of all, in favor of personal comfort. Yet the price we pay becomes higher each day.

We all have seen the increase in lawlessness and the trampling of human rights as well as the stepping on the human spirit.,And once again we stand still and watch.

We have ignored the Solution to life.

I have seen the hopelesness in the eyes of the homeless, the weariness in the aged, the blank look in the young and still we do not call on the Solution.

Heed and take comfort in the fact that many thing's appear on the Horizon for GOD will let us take our path and block us not. For in His time He shall bring us back to him and we will surely see his way is The Solution and The Light.

Help Improve The World

Are You Doing Your Part?

Causes of Poverty


Half the world — nearly three billion people — live on less than two dollars a day.
The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the poorest 48 nations (i.e. a quarter of the world’s countries) is less than the wealth of the world’s three richest people combined.
Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.
1 billion children live in poverty (1 in 2 children in the world). 640 million live without adequate shelter, 400 million have no access to safe water, 270 million have no access to health services. 10.6 million died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (or roughly 29,000 children per day).

The Light Shines

So that for the lives that were lost and in the name of those that were killed,We allow this ????

Never Forget

One of the most terrifying thing's that I ever felt happened on Sept. 11th, 2001.
I will never forget the feelings I had as I watched the chaos that day. Being from New York it had tremendous impact on me and the rest of the country as well. This is my tribute to those that were the innocent victims.

We Did It

"How could God let something like this happen?"

Finally, The Truth on National TV Billy Graham's daughter was being interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?"
And Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said: "I believe that God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman that He is, I believe that He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand that He leave us alone?"
I know there's been a lot of emails going around in regards to 9/11/01, but this really makes you think. If you don't have time, at least skim through it, but the bottom line is something to think about....In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc.
Let's see, I think it started when Madeline Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body was found recently) complained she didn't want any prayer in our schools, and we said OK.
Then, someone said you better not read the Bible in school. the Bible that says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said, OK.
Then, Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide)And we said, an expert should know what he's talking about so we said OK.
Then, someone said teachers and principals better not discipline our children when they misbehave. And the school administrators said no faculty member in this school better touch a student when they misbehave because we don't want any bad publicity, and we surely don't want to be sued (There's big difference between disciplining and touching, beating smacking, humiliating, kicking, etc.) And we said, OK.
Then someone said, let's let our daughters have abortions if they want, and they won't even have to tell their parents. And we said,OK.
Then some wise school board member said, since boys will be boys and they're going to do it anyway, let's give our sons all the condoms they want, so they can have all the fun they desire, and we won't have to tell their parents they got them at school. And we said, OK.
Then some of our top elected officials said it doesn't matter what we do in private as long as we do our jobs. And agreeing with them, we said it doesn't matter to me what anyone, including the President, does in private as long as I have a job and the economy is good.
And then someone said let's print magazines with pictures of nude women and call it wholesome, down-to-earth appreciation for the beauty of the female body. And we said, OK.

And then someone else took that appreciation a step further and published pictures of nude children and then stepped further still by making them available on the internet. And we said OK, they're entitled to their free speech.
And then the entertainment industry said, let's make TV shows and movies that promote profanity, violence, and illicit sex. And let's record music that encourages rape, drugs, murder, suicide, and satanic themes. And we said it's just entertainment, it has no adverse effect, and nobody takes it seriously anyway, so go right ahead.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Dear God, Why didn't you save the little girl killed in her classroom? Sincerely, Concerned Student...
THE REPLY Dear Concerned Student, I am not allowed in schools. Sincerely, God.

* Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

* Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

* Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, think, say, or do anything the Bible says.

* Funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan who, by the way, also "believes" in God.
* Funny how we are quick to judge but not to be judged.

* Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

* Funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but the public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

* Funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on Sunday, but be an invisible Christian the rest of the week.

Are you laughing?


* Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them.

* Funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me.

Are you thinking?

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it....no one will know that you did. But, if you discard this thought process, then don't sit back and complain about what a bad shape the world is in!
**************************************************************************

Lest the reader bewail the notion that the above is exclusive with America, please open your eyes! This type of secular, degenerative, lustful, proud (1 John 2:15-17) thought process and legislation is making headway in every country in the world in greater degrees by the day as the Day of the Lord approaches.
"Please don't imitate the wicked, West", it has been said. Good, godly advice. But now, please don't imitate those countries in the East either, where individuals are imitating the blatantly shameful and utterly sinful behavior in the West! The wrath of God will be heavy upon those nations also, which insolently follow wickedness.
Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But the Good News is that God says:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Who Are You...Who Am I

It has become important for me to look at not only who I put into my life but what I put out to others...my goal is not make them happy (however this is sometime a byproduct of a realtionship)but for us to be able to share truth.



Toxic Friends- Toxic Friendships
When Friends Hurt and Friendships Harm
Joy Stevens

Recognizing a toxic friendship before it starts. Avoid friends that harm you and friendships that are potentially harmful when you can.
Entering into a friendship opens the door for hurt and harm; a harmful friend or a toxic friendship can be one of life's hardest relationship tribulations to forgive and forget. Toxic friends often come back to haunt you for a long time.
There are nine main types of toxic friends--those people whose friendship hurts you eventually. Knowing the categories of toxic friends helps you avoid them. Unfortunately, though, becoming friends is risky and there is never a guarantee you will not be hurt by a toxic friend.

The User as a Toxic Friend:
This person only has friends as long as he/she can use them for some purpose or goal of his/her own. This person could be the most harmful of toxic friends.

The Betrayer as a Toxic Friend:
Nothing hurts more than a friend who betrays you. The betrayer is truly a toxic friend.

The Control Freak as a Toxic Friend:
The control freak is a friend as long as she/he is in control. The control freak often seems to be helping you. Refuse that help or break that control and find out what toxic friendship really means.

The Judge as a Toxic Friend:
Ever judgmental, ever critical, this friend can erode your self-esteem. The judge is a fault finder. You can rarely do anything completely right with this toxic friend.

The Promise Breaker as a Toxic Friend:
This person rarely does what he says he will do. If you have a date, your toxic friend is often a no-show. A general lack of dependability makes this person a toxic friend.

The Gossip as a Toxic Friend:
The gossip will eventually betray your trust and become a toxic friend. Gossips are easy to spot so beware your friendships with them.


The Self-Centered Person as a Toxic Friend:
Self-centered people can't think of you as they are too busy thinking of themselves. They make toxic friends.
The Competitor as a Toxic Friend:
The competitor is always looking to be "one up." Although some competitiveness is normal in friendships, too much competition makes a toxic friend.

Again, no can always avoid a toxic friend. But often to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

The Leaner as a Toxic Friend:
The leaner is a very needy friend who clings and may be at your doorstep every day. He/she usually wants all of your time and jealousy often enters the picture in this friendship.

Limit setting is difficult because people mistake it for rejection. However, limits mean that you care enough not to get entangled in your friend, lover, sibling's problems; you care enough not to take care of him/her...

Limit setting is often stressful and painful. It will probably give you an intimidating sense of aloneness.

You are separating yourself from old familiar roles and behavior patterns. Any loss brings feelings of anxiety, stress, and even emptiness.

And limit setting inevitably brings guilt. Bear in mind, it doesn't mean you have deserted or quit loving your friend, lover, or sibling. It does mean you are expressing that love in a different and more helpful (to both of you) manner.

Setting limits is a challenging task at work; it often seems an insurmountable task when love is involved. However, like all people skills, setting limits is a process that gets easier with practice.

Thing's Just Go South Sometime

Just Recently I have to terminate a friendship and it has caused me a lot of stress and greif and introspection. I have to look at why I chose not to enforce my barriers in a more upfront way., And one of the thing's I have to look at is the lessons learned.


Friendships Do End - Losing Friends.
Friends Part and Even Best Maintained Friendships End:
Losing Friends
Jan Wilson

Friendships may not last. Friendships can lose importance and die gradually. Some friendships end abruptly with unresolved conflict. The worst enemy of friendships is change by one or both friends. There is usually pain with the loss of friendship.In fact, friendships end with pain and change.
Carole King's song, "You've Got A Friend" promises "Winter, spring, summer, or fall--all you've got to do is call--and I'll be there." Many people expect that their friends will always be there. They expect friendship to last forever.
Yet, friendships end and friends part company everyday. Unfortunately, even the best maintained friendships can end.

Many end because of a change in personality or lifestyle when friends just drift apart and fade away with time. There is a retreat from self-disclosure and seeking out each other's company. Avoidance begins. The friendship slowly loses importance and finally disappears.

Sue said, "The end of our friendship was a gradual thing. I moved from one side of the metroplex to the other. We had over an hour's drive to see each other. For a year or so, we met religiously. Then our friendship began to taper off."

John wrote, "I didn't even know the friendship was over until I caught myself thinking of Alan as a former friend. In the past tense rather than the present."

Pat explained, "We started seeing each other less and less. The friendship was just over."

Other friendships break up suddenly from a disagreement or move to another town.

Paul said, "When I moved to Seattle after college, our friendship abruptly died. We were both struggling with new jobs and didn't keep in touch. Now that friendship is so dead, I don't even call him when I go home."

Sandy wrote, "That was the last straw for our friendship. I never spoke to Lisa again. It's like we were never friends."

Bob Carver, Dallas psychotherapist, says, "A friendship or any other relationship fails because of three things:

Unexpressed expectations,
Undelivered communication,
And/or thwarted attention."
Yet the biggest threat to a friendship is change.





For example, moving from single life to coupled life has a great effect on friendship. Coupled persons often feel their single friends act interested in them only when a romantic prospect is not in sight. They may feel jealousy for or neglected by a single friend's new social life. The single friend may feel awkward and withdraw from a world of twosomes. Divorced and widowed people often have a feeling of being abandoned by old friends.

Lillian Rubin in her book Just Friends says, "Thus generally it's true that friends accept each other so long as they both remain essentially the same as they were when they met, or change in similar directions. If they change or grow in different or incompatible ways, the friendship most likely will be lost."

Regardless of why, when, or how friendships end, there is always some pain of loss to assimilate. When nothing can be done to mend the friendship, it is important to grieve and feel the pain fully. Then move on to enhance another friendship or build entirely new friendships.