Success

I have had no formal training as an evangelist. If I were fortunate enough to address an audience of a hundred and 3 of them made decisions to accept Jesus as their savior, I would consider it a success. If it were 5, I would be ecstatic.

I guess most preachers would hope for something greater than that; maybe 10 or 12. I mean, when the plan of salvation is presented, it is usually rejected. I really don’t have the foggiest idea why. It is really a good thing to accept Jesus as your savior. Yet, many reject him. I suspect, mostly the things of this world are more important to them than their eternal souls.

Well, some have better success than others. Billy Graham certainly had his success. He had a mostly simple straightforward way to present the plan of salvation and certainly God did his part. Paul, the one who wrote much of the New Testament presented the gospel to his thousands, and in a way, he is still helping to persuade people to accept the Lord today through the printed word.

A person might ask, who could possibly be more successful than that? Yet there is one, percentage-wise, who has us all beat. Moreover, he had a very simple sermon. “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” Simple and straightforward as it was, it apparently had 100% effectiveness. Everyone who heard the words repented and worshiped God.

Wow! I wish I could have that kind of success. However, there were two more things that made the conversion different. First, Jonah did just about all he could to keep it all from happening. He hated the people of Nineveh and he did not want to see them saved. In other words, perhaps the most successful preacher in history wanted to be an outright failure. Secondly, when the people repented God relented and did not destroy the city. Now that angered Jonah and he pitched a fit. (my interpretation)

In essence, it appeared God used Jonah’s rebellion for success. After all, it was very likely that the people of that great city knew of Jonah and what all he went through to keep from going to the city. When they saw Jonah arrive, when they all saw the sad expression on Jonah’s face, the people likely decided that God did really did mean it and that if they didn’t repent something bad was going to happen.

Now, that was success. Oddly, it was his determination to fail that made it succeed. It does make me wonder. What would have happened if Jonah would have done as he was told immediately. Maybe his success would have been 80% or 70%. I don’t know. It’s a guess and likely not a good one. Maybe, had Jonah done as he was told, no one would have listened and the city would have been destroyed, which was the very thing Jonah wanted.

At any rate, the people of that great city backslid and went back to their previous ways. Then, God did as he said he would. The city was destroyed so badly that some doubted the story of Jonah. No one could find the city. Then, one day they did. They not only found proof of its existence but also of its destruction. I have no idea if Jonah lived to see it or not. At any rate, those people did have their second chance and they ignored it.

I just wonder, how much is God going take from the US before he destroys this great country? At this point, I’m not sure we are not that much better than Nineveh. How long will God allow us to ignore his messengers and destroy the US?

Just as He destroyed that great city, He can also destroy this great nation. He needs no one’s permission and He need not send any warnings. We have the examples of the Bible. If we ignore them, then we will likely ignore any other warnings.

Certainly, one of those things that He will not overlook is the killing of babies. Children are very special to Him. Calling it family planning does not make it look one iota better to Him

Ain’t Such a Bad Idea

More than once I’ve heard it said that Trump is running for president to stay out of prison. If he don’t belong there, sound’s like it t’ain’t such a bad idea. It sounds pretty sound to me. If it works he can start putting some of the dems where they belong. He just might start by firing the better part of the Justice Department leadership. Also he can fix our borders and keep the drugs and cartels out. He can start driving the price of oil down, as it should be, which will stop the war in Ukraine instantly. If Putin has no money, he can’t fight his war. It might even encourage the Ruskies to find another leader.

Yeah. If that is President Trump’s strategy, I can live with that. Maybe a few more will live with it too. Not so much dying. Clearly, the dems don’t mind a few hundred thousand dying. It does not seem to have bothered Old Joe any at all. Haven’t heard him say two words about it. Haven’t heard the dems say anything about it. All they care about is stopping Trump, no matter what it takes.

Dumb Advertising

Yesterday, I received an advertisement from Humana. Now just why should I start out like that. What is so significant? Just why is it dumb advertising?

Well, let me start by explaining just what I did with the ad. Once I saw it was from Humana, it went straight into the trash. It did not pass go. It did not collect $200. It went directly into the trash. In other words, what Humana paid on the ad and the mailing was a total waste. It did them no good. I suppose it did help Uncle Sam’s Postal Department a little, but it was a useless thing for Humana. In a sense, it was an insult.

On a day, not too many years ago, another dumb man did something really dumb. He came up with a medical system called The Affordable Care Act. There was nothing affordable about it. I could have almost paid for my new car with what I paid for it, over 30 thousand dollars. It took a big bite out of my IRA.

My wife was not yet 65 so I was obligated to pay for insurance for her, about a thousand a month, nearly twelve thousand a year for five years. I don’t need the dems doing me any more favors like that for me.

However, getting to the point. For one of those years, my payment went to Humana. That was pure profit for Humana. My wife never went to the doctor for the entire year. You would think Humana would have liked to keep us on for a few more years like that. They didn’t. At the end of the year, they dropped us and we had to go to another company, a more expensive one.

Now, it would seem, for some reason they want us back as customers. Now just what do you think the chances of that are, especially since she is now on Medicare.

If there is one thing dumber than Humana sending ads to us, it would be us thinking of doing business with Humana. Nope! Not going to happen. I’m not that dumb. They got their 12 grand from me. They’ll just have to settle for that. We don’t want their help. We don’t need their help. Just one thing worse than their help, Obama’s help.

One more little note, Obama Care would not have passed without the support of AARP. Don’t have any use for that liberal outfit either. Never will. The best thing they can do is to disappear. The only thing they are good at is taking bribes.

It seems, Everybody’s Jumping

I’m sure that most of you, as with me, heard the expression, “If everyone jumps off a cliff, would you do it too.” It is a simple admonition to keep us from following the mistakes of others. Perhaps it was used a little too much as it did somewhat lose its effectiveness on many. Nonetheless, there is something to it. Just because others do things, that doesn’t make it the smart thing to do. Sometimes, the rush by others can be downright dumb.

Not to make a jump to another subject, but I frequently go up and down I-55 between Southaven and Hernando. As I do, I see this big sign on the side of a building. It made me wonder, just who are they? Just what do they do? Finally, I looked them up on the web. Mostly, it wasn’t that surprising. However, I’m going to leave their name out and what they do in this post. I see no point in disparaging them here.

The thing is that just as I was about to leave their web site, I saw their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governmental) statement. It is one of those things that is not required by law, but it would seem everyone is doing it. Everyone seems to be jumping off that cliff, despite all the admonition of their parents.

The Budweiser corporation jumped off that cliff and it almost drove them into bankruptcy. The Disney Corporation decided to make the jump and their stockholders are still smarting. I noticed some outfits are trying to straddle the fence, that is, they are making it look as if they are jumping without actually jumping. When I went into Firestone the other day to have my HHR worked on, they had a small, almost unnoticeable little statement on one of their advertising boards. It made me wonder what they would say if I asked them about it.

Why the sudden change? What happened that companies risk losing significant income just so they can suffer the income loss as with everyone else? Moreover, even worse, purposely, intentionally they are giving up market share. People are still drinking beer, just someone else’s. People are still buying clothes, just not from Target.

People have buying habits. When they change people they do business with, it tends to be permanent. If those people who used to drink Bud, decide some other brand is better, they just might not return. In other words, this stupidity might have long-term damage.

Well, it used to be, that is to say in times past, it was the duty and the purpose of corporate boards to make money for the owners of the company, that is to say, the shareholders. It seems Old Joe did not like that concept. He could not change the law but he did make the suggestion that it would be a good idea that all companies have a different policy. He wants the corporate boards to make decisions made on the effect to environment, to social biases and governmental issues. The last, just so you know, means, how it effects the dems.

As I say, it is not required. It is not law. However he is pushing it just as far as he can with the power he has. And, as you can see, it is having its affect. For some reason, corporations seem to think it will help them to join the crowd and make the leap, knowing that it will be disastrous to their bottom line, and, of course their stockholders.

It does make me wonder, what the stockholders of Target are thinking right now, as they saw their stocks plummet. I think we know what the Budweiser stock holders are thinking… damage control. I have seen a few of the commercials since their leap into ESG and it looked an awful lot like they were trying to do some serious backing up, all the while, trying to make if look as if they aren’t retreating. They’ve trotted out their Clydesdales and given to the veterans. I wonder just what is next. Well. I know what would be best. A simple statement of admission to the mistake and an apology. However, if you’re waiting for that to happen, you can forget it. That alphabet soup group will not let that happen.

Controllers

I don’t exactly know why it is but there is always an element of society that likes to be in control. Throughout history, we have had our pharaohs, kings, tzars, emperors, casers and on and on. Invariably, they have two things in common. They say they have the good of the people in mind and they always have huge egos. In some cases, they proclaim themselves to be gods and frequently do all they can to live eternally. (Not with much success)

Well, actually, they have two more things in common. They love to have absolute control over the entirety of their realm, and they want their realm to include the entirety of world.

Hitler and Mussolini had dreams of world dominance. Naturally, had we lost the war, the three empires would eventually have to fight it out to determine if we all would speak German, Italian or Japanese. As controllers, they would have never been willing to share.

It seems as one controller goes down to defeat another stands ready willing and able to take over. Here lately, they’ve been coming at us in bunches. Even before Hitler, Stalin was ready to take his position in history. We finally deal with Hitler and Mao shows up on the world stage.

Then, there are the dozen, or so mini dictators who kept popping up. They showed up in Central and South America. They tried to seize control of Africa. Then, while we drive one dictator out of Cuba, we find out we just installed another. I’m sure the Cuban’s appreciated that. Of course, Castro said it was for the good of Cuban people. I think that was a lie and I suspect there are few Cubans that would agree.

Now, we have Putin, the man that snatched monarchy out of the immature democracy that preceeded him. At least the man is honest. He’s not doing it under the premise of creating a utopian society where all are equal. (You notice, always these utopias always have people who are more equal than others.)

All the folks like me just want to live out our lives in peace. The problem is that every time we turn around someone else comes along and starts a war with us, of course, promising peace and equality.

The Bible tells us that there will be a man who will be successful in taking total control of the world. He will promise peace and prosperity. For a while, there will be peace but not for long. The man will bring war, hunger and a horrible economy. The average family will not be able to purchase a loaf of bread. There will be disease and I would suspect riots. Not many will sit by under these conditions and do nothing.

For seven years the man will be the ultimate controller. At the end of the seven years God will put an end to it. He will put Satan and the man away for a thousand years. During that time, Christ will rule this world. The controllers popping up and taking control will cease. Jesus will see to it.

For sure, you do not want to be around to see those seven years. They will be the worst seven years on this planet.

There is a way to avoid it. Accept Jesus Christ as your savior. Before this all happens, Jesus will take those who are saved out of this world. We who are born into the Kingdom of God will be with Jesus through the whole thing. The suffering will only be for those who refuse to accept Jesus as their savior.

Maybe, possibly sounds like a good idea to accept Jesus as your savior, the earlier the better.

As for those controllers. They will get everything they have coming to them, including the devil. You certainly don’t want to be counted among them.

If Only There Were Fines

I don’t need to quote the first amendment to you. You might even know it better than I do. Basically, hopefully, it protects our freedom of speech and religion, among other things. It seems that the FBI and other officials of the federal government were doing all they could to decrease, even eliminate, those rights by telling the social media to stop people from being able to use the social media to say certain things.

It’s all out in the open now. Even Old Joe’s press secretary has implicitly admitted it in a press conference. Moreover, she said they would do it again if they felt they needed to. Now isn’t that nice. They don’t stop us from saying what we want. They just make sure others do. Same thing. No difference. That gag that was put on conservatives was by the government, by remote control. Moreover, they seem to be proud of themselves for doing it.

My question now is, how are things going to be set right. People have lost their jobs because of what they did. Doctors have lost their practices. Lawyers have been shunned. Some have even gone to jail. Let us not forget the two and three-olds that were tossed out of planes because they refused to wear masks. Certainly, we don’t want to overlook the schools that were shut down by a few power-hungry animals.

Now, let’s see. What do I think should happen now. The people who met with those social outfits should be tried. If found guilty, they should be required to pay fines.

I only wish it were possible. However, I don’t think it is. Odd as it is, even if found guilty, I don’t think that any fines can be levied. I don’t think they can be forced to spend one day in prison. I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer.

Perhaps I can get a lawyer and prove the Director of the FBI caused me harm by impeding my speech. However, no matter how successful I am with my suit, I don’t think I could collect a dime. Though the Constitution does say that the government cannot pass any laws against my freedom of speech, as far as I know, there are no statutes prescribing any penalties or fines for government officials limiting my speech, directly or indirectly.

So, unless I am wrong, and I really hope I am, those that have been wronged have but one recourse…shrug their shoulders and strive on. Perhaps one thing we need to do, if we can ever wrestle the government away from those power hungry dems, we need to put some teeth to the first amendment, and maybe a few of the others too. When a government official crosses the line, let’s make sure he pays, if not with his freedom, then at least with his wallet.

Why Object?

A federal judge made a decision against Old Joe and his cohorts. No more can they meet and agree as to what speech to allow or block.

Now, why should they object…that is unless they are using the social media for limiting our free speech.

Now, let’s see. Isn’t it against the first amendment to limit our speech even if it is indirect?

I think it is. I think a federal judge just agreed with me.

Now. Just how is it that we are to be compensated for all the past damage caused by Old Joe and his socialist comrads.

More importantly, how do we keep keep the socialists from finding another way around the first and most important amendment.

Is it Right or Is it Wrong?

In last few days the Supreme court has made some decisions. Old Joe has said he will need to find another way. The homosexuals have said they have been slighted. The dems are upset that there is no longer a quota system in the colleges. It would seem there is a whole lot of disagreeing going on. One says one thing. The other says the other.

So, the question is arising, were they right or were they wrong? I submit to you. it is very easy to tell. When the dems hate it, the Justices can suspect they got it right. When the NY times complains about the decision, it goes beyond suspicion. When the major news anchors complain as if someone has them by the little toe, then they will know, beyond any reasonable doubt that they have it right.

Differing Points of View

Down through the history of the Republican and the Democrat parties, there have always been differing points of view. However, they both had the good of the country in mind. I don’t like the way President Kennedy did things. I really don’t like the way he managed his personal life, but he fought the communists’ countries fiercely and he always had the good of the nation in mind.

Today things are different. Not only do the parties have differing points of view, but the dems do not have well being of the country in mind. They hate the Constitution and are using its precepts to destroy it. Indeed, it is their desire to destroy the country and meld it into a single world government.

Worse yet, they are willing to ignore any law to accomplish it. They have no problem destroying the home of the brave so that they can install their nation of puppets. And yes, they stand accusing others of lying, while all the time telling their own whoppers. If they are caught in their lies and deceptions, then it’s back to their old ways, deny, deny, deny.

They continually demand compromises from the Republicans. Does anyone remember a dem was willing to give an inch. Invariably, in the end, there is no compromise with them. In the end, they win, and we lose. For if we keep compromising, we relinquish everything including our precious freedom.

Then, there will not be any more differing points of view. They will not be permitted. They won’t be allowed, even in thought. If you say something out of line, it won’t be the government after you. It will be your neighbors. It will be those who live across the street or across town. In the end, it will even be your friends in church, until, of course, there are no more churches.

Seeking an Answer

If I may digress. This post reminds me of a song, “A Lover’s Question,” sung by Clyde McPhatter. I certainly am not a country/western music fan, but this one is pretty good. It’s got a good tune, some thoughtful words, and yes, even the backup group is good. It’s the kind of song that just might haunt you all day. You might even find yourself singing it without realizing it. More than that, you might find yourself identifying with it. If you can, you might look it up and play it, it is well worth your while, even if you don’t like country music.

I came to the above title from name of the song in a somewhat roundabout way. Originally, I started with “A Customer’s Question.” Didn’t feel that was apropos. I mean, we are speaking business, not love relationships. I was still somewhat tempted. It is kind of a catchy title. Nonetheless, I decided to use something not quite as good, but more accurate.

Now, getting down to the question and the reason for it. I would really like to know why big corporations like to (figuratively) shoot themselves in the foot. They make decisions they know are going to affect their bottom line and they do it without much true consideration. Consider Budweiser. Those that have read my post very long know that I don’t approve of alcohol at all. But this, this is really dumb. They have lost, what 7 billion dollars just to make a commercial that is friendly to homosexuals and unfriendly to their customers. And now, they can’t even issue an apology. The best they can do is march their Clydesdales out and hope for the best. I am sure that their stockholders have had a few things to say about that. They have likely said that they are desperately seeking an answer to why they did such a dumb thing. (Why did they do that?)

At one time, I had Xfinity cable and internet. I likely still would. However, one day, they started calling my home and suggesting we need a box for converting digital TV to analog. Don’t know if it was intentional, but they left both the wife and me with the impression that there would be no charge for it. We said no. We have but two TVs and they were both hooked up to cable. After the sixth call, one that I took, I agreed to let them send it. However, just to make sure there were no misunderstandings, I said that the first time they bill me for it, I’d pack it all up and take to the local store. They did, and I did.

They shot themselves in the foot. Why did they do that? It wasn’t so much the amount. I suspect that I could have returned the little box and had the cost removed. It’s the idea. They were dishonest. I told them what I’d do, and I did. My guess is that they didn’t care. At that time, they likely had enough customers, losing one or two wouldn’t hurt. I don’t know. Maybe they did have too many customers and they decided to prune a few.

I went to AT&T for cable and internet. Oddly they don’t love their customers either. I lost service so I called them up. Because I could not give them a 4-digit pin number, they refused to fix it. Fine. No problem I told them. I asked for an address to send the equipment and disconnected that day. Why did they do that? I guess they simply did not want to keep the over 2 hundred a month I was sending them. It must have been well decided on their end because I talked to two managers on the phone. Naturally, no face-to-face conversations here. No such thing these days.

It happens in local businesses too. I no longer go to McDonald’s, Wendy’s or Walmart. They have proved to me that they all have too many customers. So, Walmart has lost around two to three hundred a week. Sometimes more. They’ll never miss it. If they were to read this post, they’d not care. It would seem that they don’t like their customers. They just put up with them so as to make their billions off of us. I now go to Kroger. Maybe I spend a little more, but the service is far better and friendlier. Why did Walmart do that?

I could likely write thousands of words on this subject. I would suspect that there are many more who could. Those guys up in those board rooms just don’t seem to get it. They really do need customers. When they lose them they will lose their income. They just don’t seem to get it.

Being woke might impress one group of people. Going broke. Well. That could be a problem.