Take Time for Living

Monday-moring quarterbacking Sunday’s morning church

It isn't my purpose to have a "religious" or "devotional" blog here, but I've mentioned before that I'm a Christian and that my faith is important to me. There's a whole story that I won't get into about exactly what that means and why it's important to me. Suffice it to say I've grown, I think, throughout the years, from a somewhat "narrow minded" fundamentalism to a more "mainline" Christian faith.

In light of that, I was extremely happy to see our pastor yesterday devote the sermon to this week's upcoming Earth Day. His remarks focused on calling attention to our task as Christians and as human beings in general to care for the earth and treat all of creation with a sense of joy and respect. Or, in the words of the Old Testament Psalmist in the Scripture text he read and preached from:

"Praise him [the Lord], all his angels; praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever; ..."

For many years, I watched Christian leaders preach AGAINST environmental, "earth-friendly" themes, saying the most important goal was to preach about salvation, preach to rescue people from eternal damnation in hell. All the while, people by the millions were turning away from such messages because they completely ignored -- or usually ignored -- the realities of living in THIS world, right now, with the air, water, and other resources we must manage.

Certainly it was refreshing to hear a pastor preach about things like "stewardship" and mean the wise management of our world and our world's resources, instead of meaning "give us more money"! Great to be part of that sort of church, I think.

Technorati Tags: Earth Day, Christian stewardship, managing earth's resources, take time for living

Out of the many ways to make money online, I’m still looking for a good one

I am expecting a call-back for a second job interview in the next couple of days. I already did well in the initial interview and got a follow-up call for more information. The job would be a very low-paying position as a proofreader in the corporate offices of a nationally known sporting goods company. (No, I don't know a lot about fishing, hunting, boating, etc. -- but I DO know proofreading.)

I mention that because, as life tends to do, my life is taking another little turn. Last fall I quit a long-time part-time job as a typist/transcriptionist for an insurance company. Got weary of transcribing and proofreading insurance denial letters. At the time, my wife, Shirley, and I decided I was going to press hard at full-time blogging and Internet affiliate marketing. I've been there and done that as best I can.

And now the paydays from my blogging and marketing efforts are coming farther apart with smaller $$$ -- meaning it's find at least a nearly-full-time or full-time JOB so we can keep paying the bills.

Anyway, this isn't meant as a complaint. It's not a plea for sympathy. It's not any sort of "rant," either. It's exactly what it is and what this blog is aimed to focus on: It's life.

Shirley and I have been married now coming up on 41 years next month. So "ups and downs" in the job market, in the economy, and in our family finances are nothing new, and certainly not all that frightening anymore.

We'll be fine. And I know you will be, too. Hang in there and enjoy every day of your life, the good, the bad, and the indifferent.

Technorati Tags: life, finances, jobs, careers, take time for living

McCain’s advantage — pander for votes while Obama, Clinton feud

I just saw evening network newscasts about John McCain's economic proposals. He released a somewhat detailed plan today -- much of which sounds wonderful, and which economists say simply won't add up when you look at the numbers.

Among other things, McCain is calling for a suspension of the federal gasoline tax between Memorial Day and Labor Day. He says this will save summer travelers a few bucks on a tank of gas and can be made up from "general funds."

I suspect that's the problem -- "general funds" sounds as realistic as saying we can get economic help from the "land of Oz." One is about as realistic as the other. "General funds" simply means undesignated tax revenues. You remember those revenues, don't you? Those are the revenues pouring into federal coffers following all of George Bush's years of "tax-cut-and-spend" economic policies.

Nevertheless, McCain has the luxury of pandering for votes with just about any scheme he wants to float out there. With Obama and Clinton fightin' and feudin' like the fabled Hatfields and McCoys, they're too busy hacking away at each other to cut McCain's bogus ideas down to size.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to live in a land where politicians grew up and became STATESMEN? But perhaps the term statesmen really doesn't mean anything anymore.

Technorati Tags: political news, McCain's economic plans, Democratic nominees feuding, take time for living