Let me preface the following by a warning...this blog post may offend some. BUT, if you don't live in the city of Memphis (or a large city) then you probably can't relate. So, let's get into it...
I AM TIRED OF BUMS...there is a huge panhandling (begging for money) issue in Memphis. I hate it, because I love giving to people in need. However, I hate being taken advantage of. Honestly, I don't carry cash in Memphis for this reason. When I'm asked for money, I can honestly say I don't have cash.
Today, I was leaving a quick stop in a Walgreens. Then I'm approached by an older, African-American looking grandma. "Miss, Miss...Lord help for asking this. I have a prescription for $9.00 that I don't have the money for...Lord, I really hate to say this and am embarrassed...but mam, do you have any change I can have?" My response, "Is the prescription inside?" The answer, "No, I was gonna see about getting it transferred." My reply, "Well I don't carry cash...but if it would have been here I would just go pay it for you." So, I dug up a little change to be nice...literally around 30 cents worth and told her it was all I had in my wallet (which was the truth). As I turn to get in my car I hear the same woman shout the following, "Hey, do you have a light?" As you can imagine, my temper starts to boil a little...as I drive off, sure enough...this poor woman who told me she was on food stamps and couldn't afford her medicine...was SMOKING a cigarette. ENOUGH SAID.
One of my most memorable begger experience came Christmas Eve...no joke. My family had just left Christmas Eve service and were getting gas at a gas station. This nice looking man said he was in need of gas (not typical...nicely dressed, decent vehicle, pretty well spoken) I gave him a few dollars, he thanked me and walked off toward the building as if he was going to pay. However, when he walked inside he literally turned around and walked back out. He had also given a wink to whomever was still in the car, after I had given him money. He didn't gas, and we watched him drive off...
SO, REAL HONEST PEOPLE IN NEED OF MONEY IN MEMPHIS...NO MORE GIVING CASH TO PEOPLE WHO ASK. IF YOU WANT MY MONEY...GET IT FROM THE HOMELESS SHELTER THAT I HAVE VOLUNTEERED AT FOR OVER 6 YEARS! There is only one way to get people to stop taking advantage of others in this situation...quit giving them easy money and get them to support them-self with a JOB. Work for your money like the rest of us!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
PEACE...of God
There is nothing like having God's peace...even when things can be or seem unstable. One thing I've learned is this...nothing catches God by surprise. Trusting in him can often times be the hardest, because we are used to making it happen. This applies to so many different situations in life. Along with trusting God, comes patience. This is what I often have the most difficult time with...
I have faith in God and what he is doing...but it is hard for me to wait on Him to actually do it.
This is where history comes in. Every good thing that has happened in my life has required patience of some sorts. You have the fuddy-dudd guys from my past...only for me to let God bring me to Memphis, and a few years into my Memphis stay meet a guy that would become a loving husband and great father of my kids.
Where did all of this come from you might be wondering...a few things. However, today in church I truly felt God's peace. One thing was about the hope of adoption one day...that's been laid on our hearts for sure, but I don't think God's timing is now. Once again...patience and letting God work things out in His time. On that note, let's be honest...if God works it out then you know his ways are "straight" and perfect. I don't want to screw up the great plans he has for me and my family! Let this encourage you too...God's peace often comes when we are trusting Him!
I have faith in God and what he is doing...but it is hard for me to wait on Him to actually do it.
This is where history comes in. Every good thing that has happened in my life has required patience of some sorts. You have the fuddy-dudd guys from my past...only for me to let God bring me to Memphis, and a few years into my Memphis stay meet a guy that would become a loving husband and great father of my kids.
Where did all of this come from you might be wondering...a few things. However, today in church I truly felt God's peace. One thing was about the hope of adoption one day...that's been laid on our hearts for sure, but I don't think God's timing is now. Once again...patience and letting God work things out in His time. On that note, let's be honest...if God works it out then you know his ways are "straight" and perfect. I don't want to screw up the great plans he has for me and my family! Let this encourage you too...God's peace often comes when we are trusting Him!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Vistaprint
Here's a little FYI information...one of my kids is turning 3 soon. 2 out of 3 birthdays, I have ordered invitations from www.vistaprint.com
The main reason I tell you this...if you can find something you like, you can adjust the colors and things like that. Not only that, but they are uber inexpensive...which is good this day in age. This website does other things too, but I've had really good experience with them and for the price, wanted to pass it along!
The main reason I tell you this...if you can find something you like, you can adjust the colors and things like that. Not only that, but they are uber inexpensive...which is good this day in age. This website does other things too, but I've had really good experience with them and for the price, wanted to pass it along!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
premarital sex & BYU basketball
So have you heard this story...the BYU Men's basketball player that got dismissed for having premarital sex with his girlfriend? Here's the basics...
Check out the story HERE
Most people can't relate to the school's lengthy honor code — which doesn't allow for the consumption of coffee or alcohol, forbids swearing and also prohibits premarital sex.
Check out the story HERE
Most people can't relate to the school's lengthy honor code — which doesn't allow for the consumption of coffee or alcohol, forbids swearing and also prohibits premarital sex.
"If you want to do those things, then you can go to any other university in the country and do them," said BYU legend Danny Ainge, who led the Cougars to the Elite Eight in 1981 while earning National Player of the Year honors.
The above section in green is a quote from the related and highlighted article on this issue. There are codes when going to BYU, a Mormon university, and this basketball player broke them. On a moral level, I think this is a great story. This team has been a top contender this year and is a great team...and this decision goes deeper than basketball, because it jeopardizes their chances at a National Title in some ways. So, I respect this issue so much and honestly...we need more conservative values expressed. My only issue is this...Mormons are willing to take a stand, but Christians should be willing to do the same. Christians have the hope of Christ and a reason to celebrate...Mormons do not have the same potential. However, back to the reason I wrote all of this...what do you think? To harsh? Ridiculous? Right decision? Good call?
Regulations & Healthcare...FDA
To my blog friends...sorry I've been MIA. I can't really figure out how to start this, so I'm just gonna jump right in. The health-care industry is being regulated and changed out the wazoo. Let me explain...first, the cost of medicine gets a bad reputation here in the US. Here's what most people don't realize...a huge part of that cost is due to the FDA (Food & Drug Administration-an arm of our government) and their regulations and requirements to bring new drugs to market.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_37/b3799028.htm
So many people out there want to blame doctors, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies...but no one outside of the health-care industry seems to think or know about the FDA and how much our government requires to bring a medicine to market. So let's put it this way, the safety profile and efficacy profile that the FDA requires and the public has come to rely on...comes at a cost. Even with that, we've all seen the advertisements on television by lawyers attempting to sue companies and doctors over certain medications. Obviously this is one reason the FDA has to do their job.
www.fda.gov
The above is only one part of this equation...here's another way to think how too much regulation hurts health-care. Just this week the FDA announced that they would be removing all unapproved cough and cold products from the market. This day was evident, but no one knew when the FDA would make this ruling...although there are some legit reasons for the FDA to take this action...there are also some negative implications for doing so. One, when you are a family member gets sick in the form of a cough and/or cold...your doctor won't have many options to treat your symptoms, atleast that are prescription only. That is going to stink from the patient's perspective. Another huge implication to this move by the FDA, it is going to increase unemployment. No doubt, there are several companies who have sold these products that will not be able to survive this. Not only those companies who market these products, but think further down the line than that. What about the companies that manufacture these products, and the other companies that are involved in bringing these products to market. There are a lot of pieces to this health-care puzzle.
The government has also requested the medical offices move away from old fashioned patient charts and files...and move to electronic records. Yeah, maybe there are parts of that that sound good...but what that also means is...cost of health-care goes up.
So, think about all of those aspects next time you go to visit your doctor. There is a reason that the majority of health care professionals are not in favor of the government interfering with health-care (Obamacare). Health-care is one thing that I know a little bit about...
think of the other aspects of our country that the government has its hand in...
energy (we all use energy in the form of electricity, oil, gas, etc...luckily I have a friend who is an expert in this area and am able to see how the government regulating and interfering in this area is a bad thing too)...truthfully, I don't even have to continue.
Case in point...smaller government with less interference in our everyday lives is a better solution!
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_37/b3799028.htm
So many people out there want to blame doctors, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies...but no one outside of the health-care industry seems to think or know about the FDA and how much our government requires to bring a medicine to market. So let's put it this way, the safety profile and efficacy profile that the FDA requires and the public has come to rely on...comes at a cost. Even with that, we've all seen the advertisements on television by lawyers attempting to sue companies and doctors over certain medications. Obviously this is one reason the FDA has to do their job.
www.fda.gov
The above is only one part of this equation...here's another way to think how too much regulation hurts health-care. Just this week the FDA announced that they would be removing all unapproved cough and cold products from the market. This day was evident, but no one knew when the FDA would make this ruling...although there are some legit reasons for the FDA to take this action...there are also some negative implications for doing so. One, when you are a family member gets sick in the form of a cough and/or cold...your doctor won't have many options to treat your symptoms, atleast that are prescription only. That is going to stink from the patient's perspective. Another huge implication to this move by the FDA, it is going to increase unemployment. No doubt, there are several companies who have sold these products that will not be able to survive this. Not only those companies who market these products, but think further down the line than that. What about the companies that manufacture these products, and the other companies that are involved in bringing these products to market. There are a lot of pieces to this health-care puzzle.
The government has also requested the medical offices move away from old fashioned patient charts and files...and move to electronic records. Yeah, maybe there are parts of that that sound good...but what that also means is...cost of health-care goes up.
So, think about all of those aspects next time you go to visit your doctor. There is a reason that the majority of health care professionals are not in favor of the government interfering with health-care (Obamacare). Health-care is one thing that I know a little bit about...
think of the other aspects of our country that the government has its hand in...
energy (we all use energy in the form of electricity, oil, gas, etc...luckily I have a friend who is an expert in this area and am able to see how the government regulating and interfering in this area is a bad thing too)...truthfully, I don't even have to continue.
Case in point...smaller government with less interference in our everyday lives is a better solution!
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