I have very few bills left anymore. My rent, the Internet are on autopay, and about six or seven various monthly charges are as well. The only cash outlays are groceries and cat paraphernalia. I have an outing coming up on my birthday at the end of the month with friends to one of our local hot springs that I'm saving for and that is about it.

I really don't have many needs anymore as I'm giving and donating more than I'm taking in. I was shopping last week and I already had what we were looking at. I felt a bit disappointed as I used to be such a dedicated shopper, could tell you where and how all the "deals" and sales were set and located. My only real necessities for next payday are a small hand vac and double sided tape. I'm leading such a boring, but so fulfilling life.....

Now if it would just stop raining.

Amy, oh I hope the nurse did turn up in the end,.... that was bad that she never phoned on the day you expected her to phone...

Jane S, I can just imagine you singing at your till at Wally World and getting your many customers joining in....

Phyllis, we have to stay one step ahead of these scammers, they really dont care who they target, and whether they ruin peoples lives, the are just scum....

Phyllis a few years ago we too decided on picking up coins, or notes if we were lucky, when we were out and about, mainly our old village...We even opened up a Post Office savings account, so at the end of each year we banked up the coins and paid it in...We still have some savings which we haven't touched, not enough to give us much interest, but a nice little added bonus to fall back on...Of course nowadays neither bother to look for or pick up coins....

Larry Hanna, Congratulations to both you and Pat on reaching 54 happy and loving years together.....

Wishing your Pat a happy Birthday....

Jackie, years ago when we used to go to Scotland and northern England I would look for ha'pennies on the ground.  I had heard somewhere that if you  saw a ha'penny and picked it up you would come back to that place.  Since we loved Scotland and the north part of England I would always be looking for them.  I found 3 of them and it must have worked because we made that trip 3 times.  I wish I could have gotten down to your beautiful part of the country but we never did except for a brief layover at Heathrow and we never got out of the airport.   

When I was a child in Sunday school, when we had had a birthday, we brought as many pennies as we were old and put them in a metal piggy bank.  I think this went on as long as I was in Sunday school, however, it may have been only the lower grades.  Anyway, in one of the million catalogs I used to receive was a piggy bank like we had at church and I bought it.  I don't think Ive ever put money in it, but it's a nice memory.

I pay my bills via the bank and take care of them as soon as I receive them, however, I designate a date several days prior to the due date.  So that is taken care of at the time.

It's been a nice day here t oday and we are close to 90 degrees.  I have the air on.

I had my hair cut this morning, then Tom and I went to the restaurant next door for breakfast and I brought half of it home.  This afternoon Tom, his brother Terry and wife, Terry's in-laws, Annie and I met for lunch and I brought half of mine home.  So I have meals for tomorrow in case Tom isn't available.

Mary Ann

Now both my daughters had Piggy Banks when little.  Every day their dad came home they would ask for the change in his pocket. Sort of stopped when they got a allowance.
I use to do Silver Dollars and also 2 dollar bills when they were going.  Think I have some around here someplace.
I started putting pennies into a big jar some 40 years ago. That jar sitting under the kitchen sink here just full and some at the bottom are going green with age. I had 5 Grandchildren and for years as they would come here I would tell them  Will you take those pennies and put them in these tubes and you can have them.  They thought I was out of my mine. Even tried on the eldest GGS. No way.  They always got to big a allowance I think. Always had money. I keep meaning to take them to the bank and weigh them.  Must be at least $50 in there by now. Wish they would stop giving them out in change. use to be they had a jar by registers you could drop them in. No more. Technology stopped that.
I also have lots of European money from trips.  Pounds from UK which I can always use but the French, German, Italian and Spanish no good. All use the Euro now.

As children, the three of us each had one big white pig shaped bank. We didn't have an allowance as my folks felt we were family and labor was a part of household life. But, as children, we thought of money making schemes such as mushroom or berry picking, lemonade or cookie sales, babysitting or housecleaning. Of course, there was the yearly dollar in a birthday card from both sets of grandparents.

We hired out to neighbors and friends as often as our parents would allow and raised a fair amount of spending cash. I started "real" employment at fourteen and have worked since then until retirement. Retirement came as a blessing even if a bit cash strapped. But I have a large ceramic milk bottle filled with change and a bank box filled with foreign coins and silver coins, my father gifted each of us.

They are tearing up the old carpet outside in the hallways and Farrah has kept a faithful eye on the door and an  ear fully cocked. She has come a long way from hiding under the bed at any sudden movement or sound.

angelface--I think as we get older our needs greatly reduce.  I like reading how you grew up and how you made $$.

Vanilla-Jackie--Good for you saving those coins all these years.

Phyllis--Wonderful story about you hearing about the ha' penny and going back three times.

Mary Ann--That was a nice tradition of taking pennies for as many years old as you were to Sunday school and then in later years buying a similar bank for yourself.  One thing nice about being a small eater and going out to eat--you can bring the leftovers home for another meal.

JeanneP--Maybe you should consider cashing in some of those coins you have.

HAL  we went to 90° today and I did not go out at all today. Still 82°. Tired of the sound of the AC running.

JOAN  yes she was busy today. For one thing it was laundry day but she still had me laughing. Jeanne Lee did post in the card shoppe/PSP yesterday. Said she might go home today.

Not very talkative today. I am sitting her yawning but better not go to bed this early, not even dark yet.

Joan and Jackie, the nurse did not show up here but we did get a phone call and we were to go to the nurse here in town. We will go again on Fri and I do hope that is the last we have to deal with them.
Enjoy your evening everyone.

HAPPY 54th Wedding Anniversary to your wife and you Larry :O)

What an accomplishment, keep it going, make it continue to happen.

Best Always,

Mycheal

I have had a busy and tiring day, so I dozed many times and read a third of a book. My eyes are weary.

My groceries arrived early..11:15, the girl at the desk called me to say delivery had arrived, and would I like to have the fellow bring my groceries up. First time that has happened..one more feeling of being taken care of.

Bis, yes we are charged for delivery. If you want it the same day, it costs 12 dollars and 50 cents. With a four hour window I pay half that amount.

My order from Blair also arrived so I did a load of laundry. And got even more tired out.

It now time to think about eating some supper. So, off I go.

Joanie, I just don't like anyone being able to tap my bank account.  Also if I have a dispute about the charges I have a little leverage. 

Larry, Pat, Congratulations on your anniversary.  Pat, Happy Birthday.  I hope you had a good one.

I guess we all have our own way of paying the bills.  I have to wait for my SS check to be deposited to do mine.  My utilities and insurance are all on auto pay but anything else, I do on line myself.  The only check I write regularly is to the church on Sunday for my pledge.  It's kind of like the old saying, "Don't judge someone until you walk in his shoes."  We'll always do things our own way.

I was really tired when I got home from work today and I didn't do much of anything for the rest of the day.  And now, I'm off to Dreamland.  Good night Everyfriend!  Sleep peacefully, wake refreshed.  God bless us, Every One!

Good night everyone. Gloria we don't stop at 90 we get in the upper diggets except for the rannie days. and this old man can't handle it anymore. in my teans and into the fifty's I stood at a forge or in leather sleeves and in a welding helmet,over 100º those days are a thing of the past. no forge and very little welding any more. I almost got too hot today fixing a front tractor tire.

Lloyd

Amy, that is terrible when you were told a nurse was coming to hubby, but not only did she not turn up, you both have to now, make a journey, and go to her....

I hope your day was wonderful and you enjoyed the celebration meal at the Chop House.  Best wishes for many more wonderful years. 

Bob ended up getting a root canal today, so is a bit sore tonight.  We were shocked how much it ended up costing..$1,000.00 AFTER what our insurance allowed.  Good grief and they do not think we need a cost of living adjustment? 

SANDY, how scary your day turned out to be, for you and your family.  I am sure happy everything turned out OK in the end. 

YIPPE, JACKIE. Your day sounded very nice...so glad you got your insurance and the blue placard. 

Delays, so I best call it a day and get this posted.

Pleasant dreams to all,

Jenny

Good Thursday morning, Everyfriend.  There's sticky buns  to accompany your coffee or tea. I wish everyone a good day!!





The Glass Perspective 2

A friend of mine was a philosophy major during his first semester in college. One day in a seminar class, they spent a great deal of time debating whether the glass was half full or half empty. After the class, my friend was feeling pretty good about himself and what he was learning at university, so when he went home, he tried to continue the discussion with his family.

With maximum drama, he took a 12 ounce glass from the cupboard and poured in
6 ounces of water. Then took it into the dining room and placed it in the middle of the table. He proudly asked his family, "Can anyone tell me whether this glass is half full or half empty." Without missing a beat, his grandmother replied, "Depends if you're drinking or pouring."




Discipleship Versus Evangelism
(By Andrew Wommack)


Most Christians believe that the primary purpose of salvation is to avoid hell. That may have been what you were taught, but it’s not what the Bible teaches. In fact, that kind of thinking serves to inoculate people from the truth of the Gospel concerning salvation.

If we simply ceased to exist at death and if there was no hell, I still believe that Jesus would have come to earth and died for us. Why? Because salvation is about having a relationship with God. God’s main reason for sending Jesus was to restore fellowship. It just so happens that as we restore our relationship with God through salvation, one of the perksâ€"one of the great benefitsâ€"is that we miss hell and gain heaven.

Nowhere in the Scripture did Jesus tell us to go and make converts. Let’s look at what is commonly referred to as the Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:18-20. It says this:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus told them to teach others to observe all the things that He had commanded. The Greek word for “teach” in this passage is literally the word that is translated “disciple.” The New International Version translated this as “Go and make disciples.” The emphasis here is that the Lord commanded us to make disciples, not converts. Somewhere along the way, the church has changed the emphasis of this message from making disciples to getting people born again, leaving discipleship for the “mature.”

Did you know that Jesus never preached on being “born again”? In the third chapter of John, He talked to Nicodemus about the spiritual birth compared to the natural birth, but He never taught or preached to the people about being “born again.” You may be asking yourself, “How can Andrew say that? That’s the centerpiece of every evangelistic effort.” You’re rightâ€"it isâ€"but I believe that the Bible teaches that the church has placed the emphasis in the wrong place. By making that the focus, the church is actually lowering the standards, leaving people with the misconception that all they need to do is just be born again and discipleship is optional. That is not what Jesus commanded.

Statistics say that 33 percent of all “born-again Christians” still support things like abortion and New Age thinking. That certainly does not reflect the attitude of a person who’s truly been born again. Billy Graham was quoted as saying that only 15 percent of all the people who professed to be Christian are truly born again...

I am not saying that being born again and living eternally with Jesus is not importantâ€"it’s essential! I’m saying that we have changed the message from the way Jesus taught it...

Jesus said that we are to make disciples, followers of Christ. When we ask people to accept Jesus as their Savior, we need to teach them that this is a total commitment of one’s life to the Lord. It means becoming a disciple of Jesus.

Jesus’ attitude toward evangelism is much different than that of most Christians. Jesus is more concerned with the quality of ministry than the quantity...

When we hear that someone has been born again, we are ready to put them to work, especially if they are public figures with recognizable names. It’s like we are trying to sell a product by associating it with someone famous. That totally violates what Paul said in 1 Timothy 3 concerning placing a novice in a position of authority. These are the kinds of shortcuts believers resort to when they limit the true definition of being born again to a simple confession of Jesus as Lord.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “I would have been a Christian if I hadn’t met one.” Before leading the revolution in India, he was exiled in Africa. There, he was seeking the Lord, reading the New Testament. He had become convinced that Christianity was the true religion and that Jesus was the Christ.

He decided to attend a Presbyterian church service for the purpose of confessing Jesus as his Lord. But, because of the color of his skin, they wouldn’t let him in. Those people who were so determined to evangelize did not have enough of the nature of God on the inside to look past his color. He then led 750 million people into a pagan religion.

On a trip to India some years ago, I learned there were 12,000 Methodists in the city of Ahmedabad, the result of a great revival in the 1890s. When I asked the head of the church in that city how many were truly born again, he responded by saying it was only two or three families. The rest were still worshiping other gods. All they had done was add Jesus to their list of gods to make sure they didn’t miss one. They were obviously not disciples. To those in India, Jesus was just another of the thousands of gods. That is not God’s idea of evangelism.

John 8:30-32 says, "As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

People often say that if you know the truth, the truth will set you free. That is not correct. More correctly, these verses say that when you continue in the Word, then you will know the truth, and the truth you know sets you free. In these verses, Jesus was speaking to those who already believed on Him. Jesus knew that only those who became disciples would truly become free. There is more to believing than just mouthing words.

What we ought to be preaching is that God calls us into discipleship, and it begins with making a commitment to the Lord. If we understood that and acted on it, we would have much greater success evangelizing the world.

Consider thisâ€"if you evangelized 1,000 people per year for fifteen years, you would end up with 15,000 new believers, assuming they were all genuine conversions. If you led 1 person to the Lord every six months and spent the next six months discipling that person so they could reproduce themselves, what do you think would happen? In one year, there would only be 2 disciples. However, after sixteen-and-a-half years, if each continued to reproduce themselves every six months, there would be no one left on earth to evangelize. Jesus’ method of discipleship would produce nearly 7 billion disciples in less than seventeen years. Discipleship evangelism works!

I really believe that the church has missed it in the area of evangelism, making converts and not disciples.

 


“It takes nothing to join the crowd.  It takes everything to stand alone”

~ Hans F Hansen

angelface--Graphics are not allowed in the Soda Shoppe.  I'll leave them this time, but in the future please use a link.  Thanks!!

Good Morning Joanie and Everyfriend!  The dogs have been getting me up at about 5:15 or so for some time now.  When we "Fall Back" they'll be right on schedule.   Or am I mixed up about that.  I never seem to get it straight.

We're going to have temps in the 90s by 10 a.m. today and it will last until around 8 or so before it starts back down.  I think a/c days have come to Lewisburg.  It's going to be a HOT moving day for the kids on the 14th.  I was hoping the nice weather would hang around until they got that done.

I'll be off to Wally World again today.  Thursday isn't usually a busy day because it comes between the Wednesday Farmers Market day and Friday which are both always busy.

I hope you all have a lovely day!  Make it a good one whatever you decide to do.

Good Morning everyone.
well it is raining easy now ,but the weatherperson is saying thunderstorms for here and we can here it rumbling coming closer so they may be correct. you all have a great day.

Lloyd

Jane i very much dislike the daylight savings time do not see what good it is,Arizonan do not use it and get along very well.

Lloyd

Good morning everyone.

Going to be another hot one here. Have some ironing that didn't get done yesterday to do so that will be one of the jobs to do.

Larry Happy Anniversary to you and Pat and a Happy birthday to Pat!!!

Jane have a wonderful day at work.

Lloyd, good morning.

Joan, thank you for the sticky buns ,one of my favorites!

Jackie, I was not impressed and I am glad this will be a short lived connection with them.

Enjoy your day everyone.

I'm home - safe and sound and exhausted.  I got home late yesterday afternoon.  But by the time I got home I was too tired to do anything but renew my relationship with the couch, which seemed very glad to have me home.    I'm still feeling tired so probably won't be around here much today, but I will be around.  And I'm so thankful for the prayers and good thoughts.  I'll have more info for you later on the results and current situation.  For now, thanks for caring.

good Thursday noon Joan and Everyfriends....

Weather started off a bit on the grey side, yet dry, at last we now have our sun out.....

Not too long ago I done a down-slope walk with R and Benji, a walk I now enjoy doing, even though my body and legs are weak when I get back...

I have already taken in my prescription diet Benji food, not bad since this is the first time using this online company and I only placed the order yesterday....

Now I am waiting in for Goldhill vegi box delivery, I am hoping to catch our driver today....Not sure what time he drlivers but he came between 12 noon and 3pm last week, we have yet to meet, introduce ourselves....

R is trying to locate electrician who says he often comes onto our site, we at last have bought two ceiling lights, so awaiting someone to install them.....I had previously ordered some very large ( I call the African drum ) shades....but after they had been put up, just a simple screw into job, I found them to be hideous, so they got taken down, not to Rs amusement, even if he doesn't like them, also....but of course too late to send them back, and R is not too happy spending wasted money...

Tomorrow bathroom side panel is to be fitted....

R still waiting on telephone reply from carpet man who will carpet our small office space....In hindsight we should have booked with him there and then, but he left us to ponder on what he wanted us to do...

Joan, that got me laughing...I guess grandpa is not a teetotaller?  ( the glass perspective ).....Think grandpa was hinting for a top-up....

Good morning, Janie.  I always get mixed up about DST and EST, too.  One thing I do know is that I dislike Standard time when it gets dark before supper.  Sure would be nice if it was a bit cooler on the day your kids move.  When I read that I recalled when we moved from NY to Arkansas.  On move-in day in AR it was 103°.  I'd never in my life experienced weather that hot.

Lloyd--Good morning.  You and I differ in our feelings about DST.

Good morning, Amy.  Hope you can stay cool if you MUST i--n. 

Jeanne Lee--Good morning.  I'm so glad to read that you are home.  Get lots of rest.  S & F will be here once you feel better.

Good morning/afternoon Vanilla-Jackie.  I think it's GREAT that you are able to continue your walks.   You are getting things checked off your "to do" list quite fast, and I am sure you're glad about that.

Bis that is OK I still love you and all you do for us All. sure would be a dull world if we all thought alike. if you are farming and brake down and need parts in mid after noon sure looses a lot of good time rest of day is wasted. would be nice if we all thought enough alike that we never argued and fought just loved. sure would be grate if we had no wars. there is enough food to feed the whole world if we just traded and loved.

Lloyd

In a hurry...

Glad to see JeanneLee is home and recuperating.

Lloyd...I agree.  Even saw a poster to that effect!

Jeanne Lee, Welcome home.  It is good to know you are home and I hope your health continues to improve.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone.  It looks like we will have another hot day up to 97 degrees this afternoon.  Yesterday afternoon we had a thunderstorm and got about a quarter inch of rain.  It was enough that I turned off my sprinkler system for this morning. 

This will be my usual Thursday activities or picking up my friend to take to coffee and then after taking him home will go on to the church for the Wisdom group.  I also intend to buy some flowers for Pat's birthday Saturday. 

We had a most delicious lunch and good time at the Chop House yesterday. Scott and I had the grilled shrimp and crab cake that came with pasta under the shrimp  We were happy to have Scott go with us. Pat had a ground sirloin with brocolli and mushrooms that had been fixed in a wine sauce.  She really liked the mushrooms. Scott gave us a weather station that measure's the indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity as well as barometric pressure and also forecasts what our weather will be.  It works with a wireless sensor outside and can run on batteries or has an AC Adapter for the inside unit.  As much as the gift was appreciated, it was a joy to see how much he enjoyed giving it to us.  He also gave us a beautiful anniversary card with a very touching personal note inside as well as a nice birthday card for his mother with another touching note inside. 

The builder brought in his heavy equipment and is in the process of digging the trenches for the main foundation.  So we will have activity that I can watch as the house is being built.  Our quiet little cul-de-sac won't be so quiet for a few months as the various workmen come and go.

Thanks to each and everyone of you who wished up a happy anniversary and Pat a happy birthday. 

Jackie, glad you finally got your blue badge. 

Hal, I also pay my bills as they arrive except those that I pay at the beginning of the month.  I do have a few bills that are auto pay but only those that have a set amount each month and that I am notified in advance of any adjustments to the amounts. 

Mary Ann, at the church where I grew up we had that little metal piggy bank but both children and adults put their money in at a penny per year.  It was a nice way to let folks know of birthdays and if I remember correctly we always sang Happy Birthday to the birthday people. 

Patricia, my sister and I never received an allowance either but the folks almost always could spare a nickel for ice cream or candy when we went to the store, which was usually about once a week.  I did get a small part time job when I was in college that I could do in the hours I would be waiting for my mother to get off work so we could go back to the farm.  When I got old enough to drive and date the folks would give me a few dollars and there was always gas in the car.