Fees. I have never been a fan of fees. Bank fees. CRV fees. Toll fees.
But, a church fee? Now, that's a new one!
Here's the background -
I am a co-captain of a team for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in our town. I love relay, I love what relay represents, relay is in my blood. And I think it is safe to say that the church team that I am co-captain of, agrees with me, because we have been named the top third fundraiser for the overall event two years running. God is good!
Last season, the committee team captain meetings and relay committee meetings were held at another church, and the meeting room was up a flight of pretty steep stairs. Every meeting I would notice the strain some people had of getting up and down those stairs, either due to age, or disability, or even because they have cancer.
Because of this I was prompted to suggest that the meetings be moved to my church, where we have no stairs.
The suggested was immediately accepted by the planning committee and I filled out a church facility use form asking final permission from the trustees to use the building for the 2012 season.
Four weeks later I get news from the trustees that the request had been approved.
Eight weeks later, which happened to be last night, I get the word that the trustees are looking for some sort of "donation" from the relay to cover costs of use of facility.
Now, before you go on thinking this is fair, let me remind you that this type of "donation" has never been seen before. No other group to my knowledge has been asked for such a thing. Especially not a non-profit.
When I heard of this, I was pissed.
I felt the water in my eyes begin to boil.
Is the church strapped for cash you may ask?
Well, considering that at the end of 2011, the church had a $30,000 surplus of funds, making a profit, which is not allowed in a non-profit church. So, to answer that questions. I. Think. Not.
So why the fee?
I really have no idea.
The Relay for Life is a church supported mission. It has been for years. And I think it is a great honor to host such a community event, not only to support the cause, but also to get people into the church walls that probably would not otherwise.
It is still up in the air how my fellow co-captain and myself will pay the $180 donation. I suggested we write a church check. Ha.
But, in the end, what I really think I am upset about, is knowing that the church is more than capable to pay the utility fees in the first place, so why charge a fee for other non-profit use?
Money is the root of all evil. And that is no exception in this situation either.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Movie Night
I recently watched To Save A Life with my youth groups.
It was directed by the same people who came out with Fire Proof, several months earlier.
To Save A Life is a movie about a high school student who commits suicide and then the movie plays out the aftermath of the student's death through the lives of the people who could have stopped it.
But, can you ever really stop a person from committing suicide?
In college many years ago, I remember writing a paper regarding the effects of a person who is at risk for such a thing, and I got marked down because I kept referring to this person as "committing suicide." The professor wrote in huge red ink that I should refer to this as simply "suicided" which was the correct term.
Whatever dude. Committing suicide rolls off the tongue better than suicided. "A person who has suicided" doesn't work...
Anyway, back to my original though....can you ever really stop a person from committing suicide?
The movie suggested that yes you can. If you only acknowledged the person's presence or became a better friend to him or her.
But is this really true?
I have never had someone commit suicide that I known personally, but I know people who have. And I would hate to believe that their friendships are not worth living for.
Depression is a clinical disease. Just like cancer. Just like diabetes. And we all know that relationships cannot cure people from cancer or diabetes. So are we naive to think that relationships can cure depression?
I am not too sure.
But, can relationships with people help seek out the signs of depression and determine the people who are considering suicide, enough so to intervene?
I would like to hope so.
It was directed by the same people who came out with Fire Proof, several months earlier.
To Save A Life is a movie about a high school student who commits suicide and then the movie plays out the aftermath of the student's death through the lives of the people who could have stopped it.
But, can you ever really stop a person from committing suicide?
In college many years ago, I remember writing a paper regarding the effects of a person who is at risk for such a thing, and I got marked down because I kept referring to this person as "committing suicide." The professor wrote in huge red ink that I should refer to this as simply "suicided" which was the correct term.
Whatever dude. Committing suicide rolls off the tongue better than suicided. "A person who has suicided" doesn't work...
Anyway, back to my original though....can you ever really stop a person from committing suicide?
The movie suggested that yes you can. If you only acknowledged the person's presence or became a better friend to him or her.
But is this really true?
I have never had someone commit suicide that I known personally, but I know people who have. And I would hate to believe that their friendships are not worth living for.
Depression is a clinical disease. Just like cancer. Just like diabetes. And we all know that relationships cannot cure people from cancer or diabetes. So are we naive to think that relationships can cure depression?
I am not too sure.
But, can relationships with people help seek out the signs of depression and determine the people who are considering suicide, enough so to intervene?
I would like to hope so.
MLK
The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was celebrated yesterday.
Did you do anything for it?
I didn't. I spent it being super lazy watching TV and napping between shows. Actually, I think I did do one load of laundry. (Yay me!)
Last Sunday at church my dad was the guest speaker. He has spoken several times at the pulpit, so this was no surprise to me.
But what was a surprise was that he decided to use Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches as a base for his sermon. (Really, a total shock if you know my dad - he almost never uses people outside of the Bible in his sermons.)
After the service I went and spoke with a lady, probably in her forties, about something else and we got on the subject of dad's sermon.
I don't think she really liked it. But, what struck me, was that she decided to say,
"Well, you know you are setting yourself up for failure when you open by saying you are channeling Martin Luther King Jr. through his own speeches."
She continued,
"At our last church, our pastor was African American, and he told us that he would never even do that - wouldn't even try to."
Ok - here it goes - two things -
ONE What does the color of your skin have anything to do with whom you chose to find inspiration from in your speech? Not even your old black pastor would channel MLK Jr? Really? Doesn't that statement just go against everything Martin was trying to speak out against?
And, TWO What is so wrong with following or using or being inspired from Martin Luther's speeches? Is Martin Luther that untouchable? No one can size up to his speeches - or no one can come close to summarizing them?
"You set yourself up for failure". What does that mean?
Martin Luther, as great, and as wonderful, as he was, was just a human. Just a human like you and me. He was so great because he allowed God to be that great. He himself would be nothing without allowing God's light to shine through him.
It amazes me how some continue to not see that to God be the glory, in all things, in all people. Period. God makes people shine. Not the other way around.
I think you set yourself up for success when you channel great Christians like Martin Luther into your sermons and speeches. And only imagine what would come about, when you channel Christ in them as well.
Did you do anything for it?
I didn't. I spent it being super lazy watching TV and napping between shows. Actually, I think I did do one load of laundry. (Yay me!)
Last Sunday at church my dad was the guest speaker. He has spoken several times at the pulpit, so this was no surprise to me.
But what was a surprise was that he decided to use Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches as a base for his sermon. (Really, a total shock if you know my dad - he almost never uses people outside of the Bible in his sermons.)
After the service I went and spoke with a lady, probably in her forties, about something else and we got on the subject of dad's sermon.
I don't think she really liked it. But, what struck me, was that she decided to say,
"Well, you know you are setting yourself up for failure when you open by saying you are channeling Martin Luther King Jr. through his own speeches."
She continued,
"At our last church, our pastor was African American, and he told us that he would never even do that - wouldn't even try to."
Ok - here it goes - two things -
ONE What does the color of your skin have anything to do with whom you chose to find inspiration from in your speech? Not even your old black pastor would channel MLK Jr? Really? Doesn't that statement just go against everything Martin was trying to speak out against?
And, TWO What is so wrong with following or using or being inspired from Martin Luther's speeches? Is Martin Luther that untouchable? No one can size up to his speeches - or no one can come close to summarizing them?
"You set yourself up for failure". What does that mean?
Martin Luther, as great, and as wonderful, as he was, was just a human. Just a human like you and me. He was so great because he allowed God to be that great. He himself would be nothing without allowing God's light to shine through him.
It amazes me how some continue to not see that to God be the glory, in all things, in all people. Period. God makes people shine. Not the other way around.
I think you set yourself up for success when you channel great Christians like Martin Luther into your sermons and speeches. And only imagine what would come about, when you channel Christ in them as well.
The Pilot Seat
Today in the Mothers of Preschool mothering seminar that I help to lead, our book discussion chapter was concerning self control. How you keep your self control. How you lose it. How you teach your children about it. And so on.
A lot of times people mistake self control for determination, inspiration, or even willingness.
But, to me, self control is just that. Control over my life, and how I go about governing that control, well, myself. Control can also be seen as power. Power is of course, the root of being. You don't have any gas in your car, there is no power. You don't have any self control in your body, there is no power.
I really don't agree with the term "self" control. As Christians, we are taught that we are to relinquish our power, our self control, over to God, for God to power and control. So, in a sense, do Christians have, self control at all?
God control is more like it.
When you proclaim that you have "self" control are you going against God? You are not putting God first? You are not acknowledging his power in your life after all. You are acknowledging your own. Which in fact, is not possible, without him.
Ever seen a bumper sticker that says, "God is my co-pilot"? Living on a Navy base with lots of fly boys (and girls) I see this bumper sticker a lot.
This term is a lot like proclaiming you have self control.
You see. A co-pilot shares equal control, equal power, right? Your husband could be your co-pilot. You could share equal power with him. But you can never, never, ever, share power with God. Not even just a little bit.
If you think that God is your co-pilot. You need to think again.
You can never have God as your co-pilot, or co-anything, because why? You cannot share power with God. You just can't do it.
And you know, you don't need to share power with God.
Believing in him gives you the ability to know that you are saved from having to be in control. God has stepped into your life to do that part for you. A what does he ask for in return? To follow him. Not help chart the course.
Just follow.
So instead of "God's my co-pilot" say "God is my pilot, and I am just along for the ride!"
A lot of times people mistake self control for determination, inspiration, or even willingness.
But, to me, self control is just that. Control over my life, and how I go about governing that control, well, myself. Control can also be seen as power. Power is of course, the root of being. You don't have any gas in your car, there is no power. You don't have any self control in your body, there is no power.
I really don't agree with the term "self" control. As Christians, we are taught that we are to relinquish our power, our self control, over to God, for God to power and control. So, in a sense, do Christians have, self control at all?
God control is more like it.
When you proclaim that you have "self" control are you going against God? You are not putting God first? You are not acknowledging his power in your life after all. You are acknowledging your own. Which in fact, is not possible, without him.
Ever seen a bumper sticker that says, "God is my co-pilot"? Living on a Navy base with lots of fly boys (and girls) I see this bumper sticker a lot.
This term is a lot like proclaiming you have self control.
You see. A co-pilot shares equal control, equal power, right? Your husband could be your co-pilot. You could share equal power with him. But you can never, never, ever, share power with God. Not even just a little bit.
If you think that God is your co-pilot. You need to think again.
You can never have God as your co-pilot, or co-anything, because why? You cannot share power with God. You just can't do it.
And you know, you don't need to share power with God.
Believing in him gives you the ability to know that you are saved from having to be in control. God has stepped into your life to do that part for you. A what does he ask for in return? To follow him. Not help chart the course.
Just follow.
So instead of "God's my co-pilot" say "God is my pilot, and I am just along for the ride!"
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Self Esteem To Self Steaming
Facebook is great. Facebook is good. I enjoy Facebook. Reading what all my friends and family are up to. Knowing when its people's birthdays. Looking at photos of babies. Good stuff.
One obviously bad thing about Facebook?
The ability for people to hide behind their computer screens and to lash out against the world around them because, "That's my right."
Really? That's your right to act a total fool on the web?
Thank goodness Facebook has a new feature where you can hide a friend's posts from your screen. The only way you can see his or her posts is if you actually, intentionally, go stalk the page.
Recently I have used such a feature for one of my friends.
And, not seeing all two billion of this friend's posts per day on my main dashboard for Facebook, I decided to intentionally go to that person's page and see what was up.
What was up?
Total chaos.
This friend was defending his/her beliefs with grinding teeth. You could tell that the letters on the screen were punched into the keyboard with heavy fists instead of light fingertips.
Just ridiculous.
In real life, you know, off Facebook and face-to-face, this person is quiet, no opinions, no emotions. So where is this ugly online hate of all things coming from? The heat of the computer battery or something?
This friend keeps putting in the posts that he/she has great self esteem. But I would like to think that it is more self steam where he/she has great self steam to let off.
People with great self esteem, know not to get all worked up over a computer screen.
People with great self steam - not so much.
One obviously bad thing about Facebook?
The ability for people to hide behind their computer screens and to lash out against the world around them because, "That's my right."
Really? That's your right to act a total fool on the web?
Thank goodness Facebook has a new feature where you can hide a friend's posts from your screen. The only way you can see his or her posts is if you actually, intentionally, go stalk the page.
Recently I have used such a feature for one of my friends.
And, not seeing all two billion of this friend's posts per day on my main dashboard for Facebook, I decided to intentionally go to that person's page and see what was up.
What was up?
Total chaos.
This friend was defending his/her beliefs with grinding teeth. You could tell that the letters on the screen were punched into the keyboard with heavy fists instead of light fingertips.
Just ridiculous.
In real life, you know, off Facebook and face-to-face, this person is quiet, no opinions, no emotions. So where is this ugly online hate of all things coming from? The heat of the computer battery or something?
This friend keeps putting in the posts that he/she has great self esteem. But I would like to think that it is more self steam where he/she has great self steam to let off.
People with great self esteem, know not to get all worked up over a computer screen.
People with great self steam - not so much.
A Little Too Early Maybe?
It's not even a month after Christmas has passed and I have already begun shopping for Christmas 2012...I do so confess.
I mean, yes, I have been known to have my Christmas shopping done and over with even before Halloween some years, but to my knowledge, I usually have never begun shopping in January.
It's sick, right?
But, I can't help myself. I used my Old Navy Visa card so much during the holiday season that I received lots of "free" spending cash that expires very soon. So, really, I am being a smart shopper and not using that "free" money on myself, but on other people.
Chu ching!
Last year, ok, a month ago, that sounds a littler closer, my husband and I spent almost $800 on Christmas presents on our families. I think that's a little ridiculous. Especially considering that we do not have our own children.
I decided to write out everyone who we buy presents for, and the list makes me laugh. On my husband's side of the family, we shop for four people. That's it. Four.
And on my side of the family, we shop for, wait for it, wait for it, thirteen people!
Of course, yet again, I am root of this problem, not my husband.
So that's seventeen people that we shop for, mostly from my side of the family, but a big family is a happy family after all, right?? We spent $800 on them total, so that's roughly $50 a person, average.
This year I am determined to have our Christmas spending under $500. I think that's a great place to start. But, I will not be a "cheap" giver and buy crappy stuff and/or less presents for people, but instead, be a smart giver this year and watch for sales and use my "free" money back promotions from places on gifts instead of myself. Because come on, do I really need another shirt? I don't wear all the shirts I already have.
So, I guess to answer my own question, no, it's not too early to start shopping for Christmas 2012. Because I refuse to overspend on gifts because I did not plan ahead.
I mean, yes, I have been known to have my Christmas shopping done and over with even before Halloween some years, but to my knowledge, I usually have never begun shopping in January.
It's sick, right?
But, I can't help myself. I used my Old Navy Visa card so much during the holiday season that I received lots of "free" spending cash that expires very soon. So, really, I am being a smart shopper and not using that "free" money on myself, but on other people.
Chu ching!
Last year, ok, a month ago, that sounds a littler closer, my husband and I spent almost $800 on Christmas presents on our families. I think that's a little ridiculous. Especially considering that we do not have our own children.
I decided to write out everyone who we buy presents for, and the list makes me laugh. On my husband's side of the family, we shop for four people. That's it. Four.
And on my side of the family, we shop for, wait for it, wait for it, thirteen people!
Of course, yet again, I am root of this problem, not my husband.
So that's seventeen people that we shop for, mostly from my side of the family, but a big family is a happy family after all, right?? We spent $800 on them total, so that's roughly $50 a person, average.
This year I am determined to have our Christmas spending under $500. I think that's a great place to start. But, I will not be a "cheap" giver and buy crappy stuff and/or less presents for people, but instead, be a smart giver this year and watch for sales and use my "free" money back promotions from places on gifts instead of myself. Because come on, do I really need another shirt? I don't wear all the shirts I already have.
So, I guess to answer my own question, no, it's not too early to start shopping for Christmas 2012. Because I refuse to overspend on gifts because I did not plan ahead.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Mormon Experiment?
The Mormon faith is interesting. Very interesting. John Smith, who I thought was the dude who loathed Pocahontas/but whatever, found these great gold plates hidden in the middle of no where's land, and decided to add a sequel to the greatest book of all, the Bible.
I have nothing against people who are Mormon. In fact, I practically grew up with a Mormon family when I was in elementary school. And, too, Mormons are Christians, yes, a separate branch of the great oak tree of Christianity, but still on the same tree - as they believe Jesus is God's son.
In fact, Mormons are probably more Christian than "born again" Christians are...
In my youth groups, my kids always tell me how they can always spot Mormons within the high school crowd. They are wearing modest clothing, and not drinking energy drinks, and aren't cussing or fonding their friends, and get to class on time. Shock and ahh! I just laugh and tell them that that behavior is really what THEY are suppose to be doing too!!!
I recently found the BYU channel on our DirectTV. Half of the time it shows programming promoting the Mormon faith, but the other half also includes us "regular" folk in the conversation.
Like for instance, The Food Nanny.
This is a delightful show where Liz Edmunds goes into people's homes and helps them figure out how to have successful dinners together as a family each night. In fact, she termed this, la vita vera - the good life!
She has this idea that families can make dinner simple to plan, prepare, and share by using her "nanny plan" which is a two week menu planner. Very clever idea I think. Get it for free at http://thefoodnanny.org/.
Anyway, through watching several of her shows, I got interested in how Mormons shop. Now, for some of you, you may think, well Amy, they shop like the rest of us. But, no, not really, because it is a part of the Mormon faith to shop differently, and to be prepared for emergencies, and in most cases, have a year's supply of food on hand at all times.
Yup - a whole freakin' year of food!
This not only is to be prepared for an extreme emergency situation, but also to be prepared for unplanned things like unemployment or sickness.
The idea is to have a year's worth of food, along with a three month supply of emergency food, plus the food that you would eat on a regular day.
That's a crap ton of food! (Well, only if processed, he he.)
The year's worth of food, to my understanding, is food that is mostly canned or in grain form, and can keep for a long time. But, instead of never touching it, like your 3-month emergency food supply, you eat it along with your regular food and restock as necessary. That way nothing gets expired, but you still have your year supply.
In fact, there are Mormon specific stores to help Mormons shop for their food supplies. Check this one out for fun, http://www.shelfreliance.com/. But, in my research of finding the cheapest emergency food out there to purchase, Mormon specific stores were on the higher end, so I encourage you to shop around.
Actually, if you want a really good deal on bulk food, you should start with ex-Mormons. I found this site of a couple who had left the church and its beliefs and was looking to unload - their load - http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon324.htm. There are lots of sites like this on web.
According to the Child Protective Services of California, a family is in the clear if they produce another food for all the children in the house to eat for three days (coincidence from last post's 72 hour kits??). If CPS comes into your home and finds less than three days worth of food for your children, you could be in lots of trouble. But, I think you would make CPS's day if when they came into your home in search of food and found a year and three months supply, PLUS your regular stocked pantry.
What a go getter!
But, as for me, I think I will keep to just stocking up on items when they are on really good sales, and forget about trying to maintain a pantry to feed for a year.
Don't even get me started on where I would put all that food...
I have nothing against people who are Mormon. In fact, I practically grew up with a Mormon family when I was in elementary school. And, too, Mormons are Christians, yes, a separate branch of the great oak tree of Christianity, but still on the same tree - as they believe Jesus is God's son.
In fact, Mormons are probably more Christian than "born again" Christians are...
In my youth groups, my kids always tell me how they can always spot Mormons within the high school crowd. They are wearing modest clothing, and not drinking energy drinks, and aren't cussing or fonding their friends, and get to class on time. Shock and ahh! I just laugh and tell them that that behavior is really what THEY are suppose to be doing too!!!
I recently found the BYU channel on our DirectTV. Half of the time it shows programming promoting the Mormon faith, but the other half also includes us "regular" folk in the conversation.
Like for instance, The Food Nanny.
This is a delightful show where Liz Edmunds goes into people's homes and helps them figure out how to have successful dinners together as a family each night. In fact, she termed this, la vita vera - the good life!
She has this idea that families can make dinner simple to plan, prepare, and share by using her "nanny plan" which is a two week menu planner. Very clever idea I think. Get it for free at http://thefoodnanny.org/.
Anyway, through watching several of her shows, I got interested in how Mormons shop. Now, for some of you, you may think, well Amy, they shop like the rest of us. But, no, not really, because it is a part of the Mormon faith to shop differently, and to be prepared for emergencies, and in most cases, have a year's supply of food on hand at all times.
Yup - a whole freakin' year of food!
This not only is to be prepared for an extreme emergency situation, but also to be prepared for unplanned things like unemployment or sickness.
The idea is to have a year's worth of food, along with a three month supply of emergency food, plus the food that you would eat on a regular day.
That's a crap ton of food! (Well, only if processed, he he.)
The year's worth of food, to my understanding, is food that is mostly canned or in grain form, and can keep for a long time. But, instead of never touching it, like your 3-month emergency food supply, you eat it along with your regular food and restock as necessary. That way nothing gets expired, but you still have your year supply.
In fact, there are Mormon specific stores to help Mormons shop for their food supplies. Check this one out for fun, http://www.shelfreliance.com/. But, in my research of finding the cheapest emergency food out there to purchase, Mormon specific stores were on the higher end, so I encourage you to shop around.
Actually, if you want a really good deal on bulk food, you should start with ex-Mormons. I found this site of a couple who had left the church and its beliefs and was looking to unload - their load - http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon324.htm. There are lots of sites like this on web.
According to the Child Protective Services of California, a family is in the clear if they produce another food for all the children in the house to eat for three days (coincidence from last post's 72 hour kits??). If CPS comes into your home and finds less than three days worth of food for your children, you could be in lots of trouble. But, I think you would make CPS's day if when they came into your home in search of food and found a year and three months supply, PLUS your regular stocked pantry.
What a go getter!
But, as for me, I think I will keep to just stocking up on items when they are on really good sales, and forget about trying to maintain a pantry to feed for a year.
Don't even get me started on where I would put all that food...
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