budgets

We are working on a budget, Wen and I. I am happy to be budgeting but Wen seems to be against it though she says she's not. She has made about 20 excuses. it is frustrating to me and makes me ill. I have not heard any positives about it from her. She just now said it was depressing. Depressing is making $4500 + a month and having no money left over and still owing utilities, etc. I would pull my hair out but....

We are also working on a church budget. I feel bad because I don't have a personal budget but am making a church budget. I know how to budget and that I need to but oh well. We will definitely set up a church budget. It's not my money to play with.

We had a good service this morning as well as a good service last Wednesday. Things are going well in the ministry. Everyone seems to be very excited about it. I am proud of my sheep.

Keeping my mouth shut is not me. LOL! In the past week or two I have had to do just that. My only comments have been "cool". I just smile and bear it. I am too close to home where I am working to cause any rifts. The foreman I am working for is racist however. I think it's going to cost him. The engineer over the project called him on it Saturday.

Check out my pastoral blog; it has been updated.

less than 10

Did I mention that my latest job assignment is less than 10 minutes from home? AWESOME! I don't think I have ever worked this close to home. We are remodelling at Middle Tennesee Medical Center here in Murfreesboro. What used to be an office space is becoming a same day surgery unit. FUN! We start at 6:30 am and get off work at 3pm. I didn't leave the house till nearly 6:15 today and still got there on time. I am home within 10 minutes as well. There is vitually no traffic. It's so nice to be this close to home and off work by 3. Those long days at Comcast are a thing of the past. My boss says he plans to keep me in this area. Our job here will last a few months too.

The sunburn still hursts a bit. Wendy got it bad. Very bad!

CREDIT! Can't live with it and can't live without it. I suggest you check your report. There are three credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. All three may be the same or quite different. Keep up with yours for accuracy purposes. Just because you get loans you apply for or financing on vehicles doesn't mean your report is accurate. Maybe it's off a bit and you could have gotten a lesser interset rate.
We applied, applied, and applied for vehicle financing and were turned down like 25 times or more. That's not a joke! I could not figure out why. I was making awesome money and had no bills besides rent and utilities. It just did not add up. I finally had a dealer tell me about some negative stuff that was on my report. We disputed it with Experian and they corrected it. We are in the process of doing then same with Equifax and TransUnion. Hopefully this mess will be straightened out very soon.

Our church, Sanctuary, got its charter with the state of Tennessee. Maybe I already mentioned that. Well I want to give the TN secretary of state's office a big thumbs up for being all over it. I mailed the paperwork on a Monday and received it back and approved on that Friday. I figured it would be weeks. We are going to the bank tomorrow, I think, to open the new and permanent account. We have decided upon a local hometown bank. I think that's best. Big banks such as Suntrust, who we have now, don't need our business and would be less likely to help us out.

I have always been interested in politics. I was going to be a political scientist as well as an attorney but I changed my mind. I had big dreams but love took hold and I am glad it did. I still keep up with politics and am very much interested in them. I am an avid tak radio listener and FOX News watcher. I love the History Channel but not C-SPAN. I might even run for public office one day.
I think the 2 party syatem is broken and I think the democrats and republicans basically have the same agenda but just argue to throw us off track. I am a conservative and a state's rights advocate. I consider myself a citizen of Tennessee and not of the USA. I see the USA as a union of soveriegn states and an accumulated defense force to protect the soveriegnty of each state. Don't get me wrong, I don't always vote. There have been times when I believe in my heart the Lord told me to abstain from voting for whatever reason. I have voted Democrat, Republican. Independant, etc. In fact in 2 presidential elections that I have participated in I voted for a third party candidate. I do not figure that I wasted my vote either.

Anyhow, I think we need a serious third party. I have looked at the 3rd Party as well as the Southern Party. I totally agree with the Southern Party from what I read. I am just afraid that I will be labeled a racist if I were to show support for them. The 3rd Party seems to be stuck trying to figure out who they are. Any comments?

sunburnt

My new employer had a company picnic at a NAshville waterpark and we took advantage of the free passes. The kids have been wanting to go but it's expensive. We spent 5 hours there Saturday, had lunch, visited for a bit with coworkers, and got sunburnt. OuCH! We had a good time even though the place was slamm packed and they were short on inner tubes. The kids loved it. It worked out well because Friday was Silas' 4th birthday.

We went to Pizza Hut at his request Friday night. We went and rode gocarts as well. We still have 4 tickets so we can go again this week. After wards we had ice cream at Dairy Queen at his request and then we went to Walmart where he bought a bike. It is just his size and is Tigger themed. Tigger from Winne (how do you spell that?) the Pooh that is. He has been riding it in the house the past few days. He got some more money and will be getting other stuff as well I'm sure.

tell me why

Those that know me know that at one time I was a very religious person. Those that know me well know that I no longer am but am a spiritual person now desiring the goodness of God and walking by faith and not a list of rules or doctrine. I believe in righteousness but that of the Lord's. I believe in holiness as the Lord does the work in me. I was a minister in an organization at one time which I still have strong ties to and where my family worships as well as many friends. In other words I have a bit of a stake in that organization because I care. If it effects my friends and family then it effects me.

Over the past 3 years I have seen abuse after abuse in that organization. It is an organization which has a rich history surrounded by controversy, pomp & parade, as well as great moves of God. I loved my time there and learned alot. God did alot for me as a member and minister in that group. I met alot of people and shared in alot of great experiences with my peers. I was cut off by the group almost 3 years ago now. I was abused and kicked aside. The love that was preached was not practiced. It took a long time to get over the betrayal. I was devastated. I never wish such on anyone. It was a must for me spiritually however and I thank the Lord for it today. Really I do!

Now I see corruption coming to a head in that organization. My family weeps. My friends hurt. I try to offer advice. I try to coach them. I offer insight and discernment. I provide info to them to help them make decisions and stay informed. I am well versed in this organization's polity and belief and can easily tell them how this should be done or that according to their own beliefs.

God sent His Son to be the Saviour of mankind. He has salvation, healing, deliverance, hope, safety, and many other blessings for every man, woman, and child. He has brought peace, joy, help, counsel, love, and friendship into millions of lives throughout time and has still more for everyone. People need the Lord. People need to be able to find God and have their needs met. God calls people to be His ministers in order to point mankind to His salvation. Why are so many claiming to be ministers and they are not? Why scam a soul that needs the Lord?

When people go to church they ought to find God. They ought to find hope. If they are lsot they need to leave saved. If they are sick they should either leave healed or full of hope. They should never leave sad and hopeless. The Word of Truth should be given to them and not the word of man. They should not be abused. They should not be hurt further. THey should not be robbed. The ministers of Israel were guilty of abusing God's people thousands of years ago. God pronounced judgement on them and slayed them. Why are others getting away with this; or are they?

An elderly saint once said I use to go to church and feel worse when I left than when I went. SADNESS! Why? What's the point? People go out of their way to find God. People have other things to do yet they are looking for help. Many find or I should say try to find help in the world. They have their vices. They find short term deliverance. If they could go to church, meet real men and women of God, hear the Word of God in context, and experience God's presence then they would recieve what they need. It will not be superficial. It will not be a shallow experience. It will not be emotional but it will be a God thing.

So, tell me why. Why does your community still have need of salvation? Why do the ones you love still suffer with sin and sickness? Why is depression running amuck in your circle of friends? Why are the altars at your church growing ever more secluded? Tell me why?

sore

Man am I sore. I started by new "new" job and am loving it. We worked 10 hour days becuase they were off Monday and Tuesday for the holiday. They wanted to make up their time. It's great! I know all the guys because I worked with them before. We are getting along great and talking about old times and work related stories. I laughed so hard yesterday I cried. I'll tell the story in a bit. I am not accustomed to "working" 8-10 hours straight. I mean at Comcast I was at work for 10-14 hours straight but some of that was at a desk, alot was at the wheel, and some was just standing around or whatever on the phone and such. Now I am moving and installing all day. So far I have run conduit & pulled wire for emergency and egress (exit) lighting as well as install or mount the lights. I have pulled wire for parking lot lights, made up an electrical panel (high voltage 277/480 volts) ouch (nother funny story) and we have worked on some swimming pool area lights.

Yesterday while I had my hands in that high voltage equipment Wendy sent me a text message. Doing so caused my phone to vibrate just as I landed a nuetral wire on it's terminal. Talk about stopping your heart. My coworker thought it was funny. I have been working with Clay. I know him from way back. We use to work together for Elec-Tech which we still regard as the finest company to work for. We will have to see about CGI. On Sept. 11, 2001 I was doing a job for a company called Combs Industrial. They did asphalt construction. Clay started the job and I finished it. Well the 9/11/01 date was just to give you a time frame. We were there that summer. One very hot day Clay had to go see the monster, #2 in layman's terms. He headed out to the port-a-john. I know, gross! Well red wasps had built a nest in the toliet paper roll and when he went for the tp he got nailed on the hiney. LOL!!! He came out of the john with his overalls around his ankles. Oh I cried!

I found out yesterday that our boss, Steve, is going to secure our retirement for us. In the union we all had a retirement plan where $1.25 per hour worked went into a trust fund. That grew yearly with interest of course. Well when I left the union I wanted to roll that money into a different account that I could closely monitor and make sure I was getting the biggest bang for my buck. Their interest payments were very low. I guess it was an extremely conservative fund. They invest in real estate property and only allow union labor on the projects. Well i was told I could not touch the money or roll it over until I was of retirement age or became disabled. Hog wash! A law was passed and signed into effect during the Clinton administration that says when you leave a job you can take your retirement benefits with you to the next. The union is communist. Well Steve wanted to start a 401k for his employees. He was told he needed $250,000 to get into a good fund. He figured that if he could get his and our trust money for us then that would be way more than the quarter mill needed. He met with lawyers and such and they said sure thing just roll it over. Everything is supposed to be set for this fall. Awesome! Finally the union's grubby little paws will nto be messing with my money. This is a great benefit. I will finally get to decide how my retirement is invested.

Silas! He is my middle son and will be 4 next Friday. His Grami got him a Wiggles hat this week and it only comes off at sleep time. He's silly! He looks different with the hat. He goes around posing and showing his bicep muscles too ever since Doug flexed for the kids. My new company is having a get together at Nashville Shores this weekend and Silas won't know any better but to think it's for his birthday which will add to his birthday.

We are getting out and about today to look at property for a church building. Wen found several in this area online for reasonable money. We are going to size them up today and see if any are right for Sanctuary.

Happy Birthday Emily!

Q u i t; that's how I spelled relief

Although I know that I needed out of the Comcast job at CTIS I have been disturbed somewhat with my employment at "The Electrician". The job offered great pay and benefits and was appealing to the prideful side of the flesh with titles and positions such as "field superintendant". Other than all that great stuff I have not been settled in my spirit over the position and that is what matters. In my very short time at the company I have discovered that the boss is not very honest, he pressures customers into making bad decisions, he is not an electrician himself (thus not knowing codes and such), his prices are through the roof, and he expects his employees to be dishonest as well which is something I cannot swallow. Well I have been troubled in my spirit but the thought of quitting made me shiver. I need a job and a good paying one at that.

This morning on the way in I was eat up with conviction over the job. God had convinced me that this job was not right for me. I went to work troubled but when I pulled into the office I made up my mind. The only way to get relief from the burden was to quit. I called a buddy and arranged a ride home, cleaned off the truck, and gathered my personal items. I told the boss I needed to speak with him and I shared my personal concerns. I told him straight up I had to quit because my spirit was troubled. he got mad, puffed up, called me a few things, but the burden is gone and I feel that the Lord is pleased.

Here it is just 6 hours later and already I have filed paperwork with another comapany and I start tomorrow. This new company is called CGI electric and they are located south of here in Cool Springs. Many of their employees are people that I know and formerly worked with at 2 different companies. We all get along great and always worked well together. For now I will be working on a new YMCA in Bellevue. A new project is getting ready to begin in Smyrna here very soon and the owner, Steve, wants me to run that job. At that time a raise and a truck will be discussed. As for now I am making the same hourly wage as I was and I have holiday and vacation time as well. For now the only difference is the company vehicle, well the only difference that matters and was reliable. I feel so relieved and so good about this job.

I smell lunch so I guess I'll go scope out the kitchen. Here I come Wendy!

on the menu

I had the spaghetti. I'm a sucker for spaghetti. I'll eat all kinds except when someone passes of alfredo as spaghetti. I need red sauce and meat. I love this place in town called Demo's. They have the best food at the best prices. You can get spaghetti as your side and they have like 10 different kids. I always get the Greek Style though. It has chicken chunks, peppers, and onions. YummY! I prefer that spaghetti actually be used in my spaghetti otherwise it is actually rotini or linguini though I do like the latter on occasion. Today we had rotini. It's easier to eat especially for the kids.

whoa

Man it has been awhile hasn't it? Sorry guys. Maybe there are still some lurkers out there to read this. Seems like it has been a very long week. I got frustrated with my job earlier last week, got over it, and am frustrated again. Already I have caught the boss in a few tales, ok lies, and it is really bothering me. I understand that he obviously is not a man of God but come on! His prices are ridiculous, he is not an electrician but he "knows what it takes to get the job done", go figure, and he has an attitude from way back.

Wednesday night I had a guest minister scheduled to preach. he called and said he could not give me 100% and was going to have to cancel. I told him I understood and appreciated him and that I would be praying. I had to. I had sheep in need of hearing God's Word. That night our spanish brother showed back up with a friend. his name was Margarito not to be confused with Margarita. God gave me a stern, straightforward message. The Israelites flattered God with their mouth according to the Word. Those days are over for us. God anointed, the Spirit convinced, and the sheep went to prayer. God moved into our presence during our prayer ime in a mighty way. We had church as they say! I don't put much stock in "the shout" but there was some shouting going on. Some were exercised by the Spirit phyiscally as well. Some wept, some sobbed, and our new Spanish friend could not keep his legs and feet still I am told. I hope the Lord spoke to him. he did not speak English. I know the Spirit can speak to his heart though.

Thursday and friday the enemy tried to slip in and destroy what God had done. He stirred some stuff up but we persevered. We went to the Word and prayer and overcome. Wednesday night's message told us to resist the devil and he would flee. He always does and God is so faithful.

Sunday we had more visitors. Paul and Emily were back and brought friends. emily's best friend Kate was their with her fiance Scott. Kate is a christian singer with an album and she does some touring. They are looking for a church home. They are just 21 and will be married in October. They really enjoyed themselves and I think the lord spoke directly to them. By God's grace and with His inspiration I made some comments during the message Sunday that struck a nerve with them. Kate hit Scott on the leg when I made the comments. She later discussed it with me. They are tired of going to church and feeling worse when they leave than when they got there. hahahaha They said they would be back and she is bringing her parents. Awesome!

We had a cookout after church. We grilled stuffed hamburgers, had baked beans, chips, pie, and watermelon along with french fries. We all got to know one another fairly well and it was so strange that we discovered that our paths have crossed many times thoughout our lives. Small world I guess. Everyone seems really excited. Kate has a tour date this next weekend so she will not be in service with us sunday but she said she would definitely be back. I think jodi may be looking to relinquish song leader duties to her. Not so fast Jodi!

The message was on unity and being one as God and Jesus are one. In John 17 we found the majority of our message as well as in Philipians 2. Jesus made a statement in His prayer to the Father that we be made one and that His joy be fulfilled in us. his joy was to lay down His life for His friend's sake. You can read more about that on my pastoral blog, As He breathes on me.

I got a sad call today. a former coworker from CTIS/Comcast passed away in his sleep saturday night of a heart attack. His name was Allen and he worked the warehouse. he had children about my age. I am expecting a call about the arrangements this afternoon. So sad!

I guess I can go see my chitlins clog this afternoon. They have had several lessons but I have not got to see them in action as of yet. This should be interesting.

I need to call the bank about our van. The credit agencies were falsely reporting on us, we discovered it, disputed it, and they corrected. Maybe now we can get our van finally.

As for now I am starving. Should I eat left over spaghetti or left over burgers and beans? The beans sound good. Pie does as well. By the way have you ever eaten a baked bean sandwich? How about a beaked bean pie? How about fresh cherries? Well I'll pass on the first 2 but I ate nearly 2 lbs. of cherries this weekend. yummy!


By the way, you should have seen Wendy fal out in the yard the other night. Too funny! I wished I had a picture but even if I did I could not share it. hahahahaha

Well time to eat and work on our church charter. I'll let you know what I ate I guess.