Imagine what shape our economy could be in if everyone thought like this family. We might not be facing a housing crisis or massive unemployment, among other things.
Just 5 years ago, the Hildebrants of New Richmond, Wisconsin, were carrying more than $100,000 in credit card and personal debt. In those 5 years they have paid off everything by sheer determination along with hard work and a little frugality. These days the only debt they carry is a mortgage (it wasn't among the $106, 000 in debt that they've paid off).
Five years ago, Russell and Kelly Hildebrant had credit cards totalling about $89,000 and owed $17,000 to a family member. They were keeping current on all their payments, but their interest rates were climbing and they began to really struggle with the monthly payments.
The Hildebrant's mounting debt was not really the product of a lavish lifestyle. They just weren't as careful as they could have been. Russell worked as a chemist and Kelly stayed at home to homeschool the children. Family vacations were usually just visits to extended family and they rented a small townhome.
What contibuted to the slow decline were small things, such as always purchasing new clothes for the kids and name brand groceries over store brands. They also had some medical expenses related to Russell's diabetes and several miscarraiges that Kelly had experienced.
They knew that they had to do something but bankruptcy, the suggestion of several friends and family members, wasn't an option for Russell and Kelly. They contacted the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) and came up with a 5 year plan to pay off their debt. To make the intense payment schedule work, they began purchasing generic grocery brands and clothing from thrift stores. They also stopped exchanging birthday and Christmas presents with family and friends and made due with one car for a long time. They still couldn't quite make the $2,000 per month payment so Russell took a second job cleaning a local grocery store at nights.
The schedule was grueling for the whole family, but it began to get better the closer they got to the end. Everything was eventually paid off and the family was able to purchase a home and Russell quit the second job. They have learned some valuable lessons and formed some good habits, such as bargain shopping. They remain debt free other than the mortgage.
Before I started reading this article, I was just expecting another story about a family living above and beyond their means because they just had to have this car or that house. I was certainly surprised when I read a little bit farther. This isn't a family who spent lavishly. I realized that a significant part of the debt were medical bills and they weren't living in a house that was too expensive for them. This family was even continuing to set aside ten percent of their income to go to their church as a tithe.
I read a little farther and discovered that it was really a slow decline and the mistakes that they did make, such as purchasing name brand groceries and brand new clothes, are mistakes any of us could make. I guess the little things really do catch up with you eventually.
I was very impressed that they decided to take the debts on and pay everything instead of declaring bankruptcy. That would have been the easy way out. I'm also impressed at the lengths they went to in order to pay $106, 000 in just five years. According to the article, when Russell took the second job his schedule went something like this: Wake up, go to job #1, work a full day, go home and catch a few hours of sleep, wake up and head to job #2, work from midnight to 4:30 a.m., head home, sleep a couple hours then head back to job #1 and start all over again. Talk about stressful! I don't know if I could handle it.
I also think it's amazing that this family was able to stick together during this process. Many couples end up divorced over money troubles that are really trivial. So, it really does make me wonder...what kind of shape would our country be in if more people had this kind of determination and willingness to take responsibility for their finances?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
10 Marriage Truths
This is an opinion piece from Fox News and I just really like what this guy has to say about marriage. It's refreshing to hear the ideas of someone who doesn't seem totally jaded by this world and its lackluster view on marriage.
Reverend Bill Shuler is the pastor of Capital Life Church in Arlington, VA. He's compiled a list of 10 things that are absolutes where marriage is concerned, even though we've forgotten many of them, it seems. Reverend Shuler put this list together among rising divorce rates and ongoing attempts to redifine what marriage is in our country. Here's the actual list if you don't get a chance to read his piece:
I love this article. Thes things are so true. A couple that really stick out to me are 1, 2 and 10.
Marriage is a covenant, not a contract. I think we tend to forget this one for sure. Marriage is intended to be for life. We shouldn't enter into a covenant without absolute certainty that we do not intend to break it at a later date. Now, I do realize that every situation is different and there are definitely some very valid reasons for divorce, but those people aren't the ones I'm talking about. I;m really onlytalking about those of us who never really had forever in mind at the altar.
One must not redefine the original intent without consulting the author. This really says it all. God is the author of everthing, marriage included. Who are we to rewrite perfection?
The definition of marriage was not originally based in social opinion or manmade laws and should not now be reduced to either. This seems to me to go hand in hand with God being the author of marriage. God didn't consult us when he created the world and everything in it, nor should he have had to. What right do we have to redefine the will of God with our often petty and trivial manmade laws?
Sorry, I'm ranting a little I guess. I don't mean to offend anyone, but this is what I believe and I was pretty excited to find this little article. It's reassuring to remember that I'm not just old-fashioned in the way I think or in the values I hold. I'm just part of a dwindling number I suppose.
Reverend Bill Shuler is the pastor of Capital Life Church in Arlington, VA. He's compiled a list of 10 things that are absolutes where marriage is concerned, even though we've forgotten many of them, it seems. Reverend Shuler put this list together among rising divorce rates and ongoing attempts to redifine what marriage is in our country. Here's the actual list if you don't get a chance to read his piece:
- Marriage is a covenant not simply a contract.
- One must not redefine original intent without the permission of the author.
- All indicators point toward the emotional, social and economic benefits of marriage.
- The virtues of commitment and faithfulness must be reclaimed in America.
- The state of the union is no stronger than the union of our marriages.
- The marriage penalty tax is contrary to the values we claim to embrace.
- There is no greater weapon against child poverty and crime than healthy marriages.
- Strengthen marriage and you strengthen the family.
- Strengthen families and you strengthen a nation.
- The definition of marriage was not originally based in social opinion or manmade laws and should not now be reduced to either.
I love this article. Thes things are so true. A couple that really stick out to me are 1, 2 and 10.
Marriage is a covenant, not a contract. I think we tend to forget this one for sure. Marriage is intended to be for life. We shouldn't enter into a covenant without absolute certainty that we do not intend to break it at a later date. Now, I do realize that every situation is different and there are definitely some very valid reasons for divorce, but those people aren't the ones I'm talking about. I;m really onlytalking about those of us who never really had forever in mind at the altar.
One must not redefine the original intent without consulting the author. This really says it all. God is the author of everthing, marriage included. Who are we to rewrite perfection?
The definition of marriage was not originally based in social opinion or manmade laws and should not now be reduced to either. This seems to me to go hand in hand with God being the author of marriage. God didn't consult us when he created the world and everything in it, nor should he have had to. What right do we have to redefine the will of God with our often petty and trivial manmade laws?
Sorry, I'm ranting a little I guess. I don't mean to offend anyone, but this is what I believe and I was pretty excited to find this little article. It's reassuring to remember that I'm not just old-fashioned in the way I think or in the values I hold. I'm just part of a dwindling number I suppose.
What to do with my easy bake oven now?
How many of you have held a yard sale? Helped your parents set up for one? Tried to keep them from selling your massive collection of Barbies and/or Hot Wheels? We all have. But now it might cost you a lot more than you bargained for. According to an article at FoxNews.com, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CMSC, has come up with some pretty rigid regulations on what we can and can't resell.
These rules were set up in the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act after a series of toy recalls that made big news. The rules originally applied only to new products, but now the CPSC is enforcing these rules when it comes to used toys.
This is directly from the article and explains the reason for these new rules:
"Those who resell recalled children's products are not only breaking the law, they are putting children's lives at risk,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Resale stores should make safety their business and check for recalled products and hazards to children."
So what this means for resale stores, flea-markets and individuals selling used goods is many tedious hours consulting the CPSC's often-updated website and handbook for what they can and can't sell.
The consequences if your yard sale is targeted and you get caught selling an Easy Bake Oven that was recalled 15 years ago? Up to $100,000 in fines for one infraction and up to $15 million for a series of related incidents. Seriously.
The CPSC says that they are enfocing these regulations for the protection of children who might come into possesion of a second-hand toy that was recalled at one time.
While I do see the point of view of the CPSC in this matter, I definitely don't agree with it. I encourage them to monitor the sales and recalls of new toys but I don't think that they have any place policing yard sales and flea markets for toys that were recalled years ago.
When you purchase something secondhand, you purchase with the knowledge that it is just that- used. I think it's up to the parents in these situations to decide whether a used toy is still safe for their child. I would hope than any parent with common sense is going to ensure that a toy is safe before giving it to their child.
I think it's unfair to slap these fines on individuals and small resale shops when many of them don't even know these regulations exist. It's ridiculous to me that they are expected to track every product recall and search through the sometimes cluttered and unorganized inventory of a flea market to find these things. Especially a business that might only be run by 2 or 3 people. They'd need another full time person just to search for recalled products.
After reading this article, I will say that I fully understand the position of the CPSC and I realize why they're doing this, but I think they should stick to regulating products being sold new. Leave the yard sales to the parents.
These rules were set up in the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act after a series of toy recalls that made big news. The rules originally applied only to new products, but now the CPSC is enforcing these rules when it comes to used toys.
This is directly from the article and explains the reason for these new rules:
"Those who resell recalled children's products are not only breaking the law, they are putting children's lives at risk,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Resale stores should make safety their business and check for recalled products and hazards to children."
So what this means for resale stores, flea-markets and individuals selling used goods is many tedious hours consulting the CPSC's often-updated website and handbook for what they can and can't sell.
The consequences if your yard sale is targeted and you get caught selling an Easy Bake Oven that was recalled 15 years ago? Up to $100,000 in fines for one infraction and up to $15 million for a series of related incidents. Seriously.
The CPSC says that they are enfocing these regulations for the protection of children who might come into possesion of a second-hand toy that was recalled at one time.
While I do see the point of view of the CPSC in this matter, I definitely don't agree with it. I encourage them to monitor the sales and recalls of new toys but I don't think that they have any place policing yard sales and flea markets for toys that were recalled years ago.
When you purchase something secondhand, you purchase with the knowledge that it is just that- used. I think it's up to the parents in these situations to decide whether a used toy is still safe for their child. I would hope than any parent with common sense is going to ensure that a toy is safe before giving it to their child.
I think it's unfair to slap these fines on individuals and small resale shops when many of them don't even know these regulations exist. It's ridiculous to me that they are expected to track every product recall and search through the sometimes cluttered and unorganized inventory of a flea market to find these things. Especially a business that might only be run by 2 or 3 people. They'd need another full time person just to search for recalled products.
After reading this article, I will say that I fully understand the position of the CPSC and I realize why they're doing this, but I think they should stick to regulating products being sold new. Leave the yard sales to the parents.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Immigration Limbo
Sgt. Michael Ferschke of the U.S. Marines was killed in Iraq last year, leaving behind a widow and infant son, both Japanese citizens. Michael's widow, Hotaru wants to raise their son in the Tennessee home of Michael's parents, but U.S. immigration laws are standing in the way. The United States is denying Hotaru and her son permanent residency rights, citing a 1950s legal standard that was put in place with the intention of preventing marraige fraud. The U.S. government won't recognize the marriage, but the military does.
Michael and Hotaru had been together in Japan for over a year and she was pregnant when Michael was deplyed to Iraq. After his deployment, they were married in what is called a proxy wedding. Japan does not require an actual wedding ceremony. Instead, couples sign sworn affidavits stating that they are legally free to marry and they register at a Japanese municipal government office. They don't have to both be present and together for the marriage.
The United States Military recognizes proxy marriages to make things easier for couples who are separated by war. They also pay health and survivor benefits to the spouse in a proxy marriage. Michael and Hotaru's proxy marraige took place in July while they were on separate continents. Michael was killed one month later.
Now the U.S. government is denying Hotaru residency rights based on a 57-year old immigration law that states the marraige must be consummated to be recognized. The couple were not able to meet in person again after the proxy wedding before Michael was killed.
The law preventing Hotaru from becoming an American citezen was put into place to prevent fraudulent marraiges between people who never intended to actually live together and only married to guarantee citizenship for one of them.
My intial reaction to this story is sympathy for Michael's widow and baby. It's hardy her fault that the marraige wasn't consummated after the wedding. That's just a hazard of Michael's chosen career. I don't really understand why it's totally fine for the military to pay out benefits to her as his surviving widow, but the government won't even recognize her as his wife.
The more I read about why the laws are in place, the more I understood that they do serve a purpose. I realized that without them, there would be fraudulent marriages galore.
I can see that there must be some kind of regulation enforced to prevent anyone and everyone from finding an easy way to obtain citizenship. I'm a firm believer that people should earn their citizenship to ANY country, not just the United States, so these laws make sense to an extent.
After considering that these laws might be beneficial in many circumstances, I thought about people like Hotaru who are denied entry to the country because of what really just amounts to bad timing. I think that whoever is in charge of enforcing these rules should also look at individual cases that might warrant a closer investigation. It's unfair to apply one big blanket rule to every case without looking at situations like Hotaru and Michael a little more closely.
I hope that someone does reconsider in Hotaru's situation and allow her to live in her husband's country. It would be a shame that the child, who will never meet his father, would also never get to meet his grandparents.
Michael and Hotaru had been together in Japan for over a year and she was pregnant when Michael was deplyed to Iraq. After his deployment, they were married in what is called a proxy wedding. Japan does not require an actual wedding ceremony. Instead, couples sign sworn affidavits stating that they are legally free to marry and they register at a Japanese municipal government office. They don't have to both be present and together for the marriage.
The United States Military recognizes proxy marriages to make things easier for couples who are separated by war. They also pay health and survivor benefits to the spouse in a proxy marriage. Michael and Hotaru's proxy marraige took place in July while they were on separate continents. Michael was killed one month later.
Now the U.S. government is denying Hotaru residency rights based on a 57-year old immigration law that states the marraige must be consummated to be recognized. The couple were not able to meet in person again after the proxy wedding before Michael was killed.
The law preventing Hotaru from becoming an American citezen was put into place to prevent fraudulent marraiges between people who never intended to actually live together and only married to guarantee citizenship for one of them.
My intial reaction to this story is sympathy for Michael's widow and baby. It's hardy her fault that the marraige wasn't consummated after the wedding. That's just a hazard of Michael's chosen career. I don't really understand why it's totally fine for the military to pay out benefits to her as his surviving widow, but the government won't even recognize her as his wife.
The more I read about why the laws are in place, the more I understood that they do serve a purpose. I realized that without them, there would be fraudulent marriages galore.
I can see that there must be some kind of regulation enforced to prevent anyone and everyone from finding an easy way to obtain citizenship. I'm a firm believer that people should earn their citizenship to ANY country, not just the United States, so these laws make sense to an extent.
After considering that these laws might be beneficial in many circumstances, I thought about people like Hotaru who are denied entry to the country because of what really just amounts to bad timing. I think that whoever is in charge of enforcing these rules should also look at individual cases that might warrant a closer investigation. It's unfair to apply one big blanket rule to every case without looking at situations like Hotaru and Michael a little more closely.
I hope that someone does reconsider in Hotaru's situation and allow her to live in her husband's country. It would be a shame that the child, who will never meet his father, would also never get to meet his grandparents.
Friday, September 11, 2009
I've always wondered what exactly ACORN really does...
This has got to be one of the more ridiculous stories I've heard in quite a while. Really absurd.
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, better known as ACORN, is as it's website states, "the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, working together for social justice and stronger communities."
This article makes me wonder what some of the members have in mind when they think of social justice and strong community.
ACORN officials in Baltimore were secretly filmed giving advice to a couple posing as a prostitute and her pimp about how to lie to the IRS and set up a bogus business front for what would really be a brothel full of child prostitutes.
The video was made by 25-year old independant film maker James O'Keefe and a girl identified as "Kenya." They posed as a couple wanting to get a loan to help them secure a facility where they could continue to run a prostitution business.
They were also encouraged to lie to the IRS on tax forms and given advice on how to claim underage girls from South America as dependants to recieve government benefits. The ACORN staffer admits that the activities being discussed are illegal, specifically bringing in 13 underage girls from El Salvador, but encourages the couple to claim them as dependants anyway.
I can't possibly describe everything well enough for you to really get the gist of what was going on so here's an excerpt from the conversation between the ACORN member and the 'pimp.'
Here they are talking about the problem with claiming the girls when they are working illegaly.
"What if they are going to be making money because they are performing tricks too?" the pimp says.
"If they making money and they are underage, then you shouldn't be letting anybody know anyway," the ACORN staffer says, and laughs. "It's illegal. So I am not hearing this, I am not hearing this. You talk too much. Don't give up no information you're not asked."
The "pimp" then asks ACORN staffers to "promise" not to discriminate against his sex worker because of "who she is and what she does," according to the audiotape.
"If we don't have the information, then how are we going to discriminate?" the ACORN staffer replies. "You see what I am saying?"
If the girls are under age 16, the ACORN staffer says on the tape, then they are not legally allowed to work in the state, regardless of what they do.
"So it's like they don't even exist?" "Kenya" asks.
"Exactly," the ACORN staffer replies. "It's like they don't even exist."
You really should read the entire article. It's unbelievable.
There's a second article too, you can read it here. It's even better.
What really caught my attention in the first place was just the title of the article, "ACORN Fires More Officials For Helping 'Pimp','Prostitute' In Washington Office." It sounded like it might be a good read.
After reading the first sentence, which states that ACORN members tried to help this couple set up a brothel for underage girls, I was shocked! I find it very disturbing that this kind of thing is going on. How many more people are there that have really committed these crimes, and gotten away scot-free?
The more I read of the dialogue between ACORN and the 'pimp' the more outraged I was. How can someone be so callous when speaking of selling young girls into what amounts to slavery? That aspect bothered me more than anything, more than cheating the IRS or lying about 'Kenya's' job.
I'm a sponsor for the youth group at my church and our high school age girls have gotten really involved with something called Rapha House here in Joplin. Some of you may have heard of it, but if not you should definitely check out this website. Rapha house is an organization with 4 facilities in Asia and a home office in Joplin. They work to rescue girls are victims of the sex trafficking industry.
Working with the girls in the youth group, I've learned so much about the sex trafficking epidemic. It breaks my heart to hear the stories some of these girls tell.
So when I read this article, the part about those girls is what stood out to me. While the couple knew that this was a lie and there were no girls from El Salvador, the ACORN employee did not. I think it's absolutely outrageous that the only thing I've heard so far is that a couple a people got fired! Whoopee, they lost their jobs. They should lose more than that for what they were preparing to take part in.
I will say that I also feel for ACORN. I know that there is probably an honest person or two working for the organization and that someone still holds to the values that ACORN was founded on and this just makes them look bad with the rest of the bunch.
I hope that this inspires whoever has the power to take a closer look at what's going on at ACORN and maybe they can weed out any more members who would take part in something so heinous.
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, better known as ACORN, is as it's website states, "the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, working together for social justice and stronger communities."
This article makes me wonder what some of the members have in mind when they think of social justice and strong community.
ACORN officials in Baltimore were secretly filmed giving advice to a couple posing as a prostitute and her pimp about how to lie to the IRS and set up a bogus business front for what would really be a brothel full of child prostitutes.
The video was made by 25-year old independant film maker James O'Keefe and a girl identified as "Kenya." They posed as a couple wanting to get a loan to help them secure a facility where they could continue to run a prostitution business.
They were also encouraged to lie to the IRS on tax forms and given advice on how to claim underage girls from South America as dependants to recieve government benefits. The ACORN staffer admits that the activities being discussed are illegal, specifically bringing in 13 underage girls from El Salvador, but encourages the couple to claim them as dependants anyway.
I can't possibly describe everything well enough for you to really get the gist of what was going on so here's an excerpt from the conversation between the ACORN member and the 'pimp.'
Here they are talking about the problem with claiming the girls when they are working illegaly.
"What if they are going to be making money because they are performing tricks too?" the pimp says.
"If they making money and they are underage, then you shouldn't be letting anybody know anyway," the ACORN staffer says, and laughs. "It's illegal. So I am not hearing this, I am not hearing this. You talk too much. Don't give up no information you're not asked."
The "pimp" then asks ACORN staffers to "promise" not to discriminate against his sex worker because of "who she is and what she does," according to the audiotape.
"If we don't have the information, then how are we going to discriminate?" the ACORN staffer replies. "You see what I am saying?"
If the girls are under age 16, the ACORN staffer says on the tape, then they are not legally allowed to work in the state, regardless of what they do.
"So it's like they don't even exist?" "Kenya" asks.
"Exactly," the ACORN staffer replies. "It's like they don't even exist."
You really should read the entire article. It's unbelievable.
There's a second article too, you can read it here. It's even better.
What really caught my attention in the first place was just the title of the article, "ACORN Fires More Officials For Helping 'Pimp','Prostitute' In Washington Office." It sounded like it might be a good read.
After reading the first sentence, which states that ACORN members tried to help this couple set up a brothel for underage girls, I was shocked! I find it very disturbing that this kind of thing is going on. How many more people are there that have really committed these crimes, and gotten away scot-free?
The more I read of the dialogue between ACORN and the 'pimp' the more outraged I was. How can someone be so callous when speaking of selling young girls into what amounts to slavery? That aspect bothered me more than anything, more than cheating the IRS or lying about 'Kenya's' job.
I'm a sponsor for the youth group at my church and our high school age girls have gotten really involved with something called Rapha House here in Joplin. Some of you may have heard of it, but if not you should definitely check out this website. Rapha house is an organization with 4 facilities in Asia and a home office in Joplin. They work to rescue girls are victims of the sex trafficking industry.
Working with the girls in the youth group, I've learned so much about the sex trafficking epidemic. It breaks my heart to hear the stories some of these girls tell.
So when I read this article, the part about those girls is what stood out to me. While the couple knew that this was a lie and there were no girls from El Salvador, the ACORN employee did not. I think it's absolutely outrageous that the only thing I've heard so far is that a couple a people got fired! Whoopee, they lost their jobs. They should lose more than that for what they were preparing to take part in.
I will say that I also feel for ACORN. I know that there is probably an honest person or two working for the organization and that someone still holds to the values that ACORN was founded on and this just makes them look bad with the rest of the bunch.
I hope that this inspires whoever has the power to take a closer look at what's going on at ACORN and maybe they can weed out any more members who would take part in something so heinous.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Jesus Christ Is Lord, Not A Swear Word
I actually heard about this story on the radio driving to work one day last week and I loved it so much, I found the article online to use for one of my posts this week.
If you happen to be driving along interstate 40 in Amarillo, Texas, you'll definitely see plenty of truck stops and travel centers. There is one, though, that will probably catch your attention a little more readily than the others. That's because the name of this one isn't Love's or Flying J or Pilot.
This one is called the Jesus Christ is Lord Not a Swear Word Travel Center. Owner Sam Kholi wants to provide a clean, safe atmosphere for travelers that also puts his Christian faith at the foreground. There are Bible verses on the support columns at gas pumps, t-shirts with the travel center logo and Sam even bought his own fleet of semi trucks with the travel center name and Bible verses painted in red letters. Sam doesn't sell any cigarettes, alcohol, lottery tickets or racy movies in the non-smoking facility.
The travel center seems to be a pretty big hit with Christians traveling along I-40. Michael Burton of Inverness, Florida, says he admires Sam's boldness.
"I am a person who, when I know a Christian is offering what I need with competitive prices, I'll go to the Christian business," Burton said. "I am prejudiced for God's people."
When I first head this story on the radio, the word that best describes my immediate reaction is tickled. I think it's great that there are still Christians out there who aren't apologetic about their beliefs. I think too many of us are afraid of steppingon someone's toes if we talk about our faith too much. And heaven forbid we do anything that's not considered "politically correct" (whatever that even is anymore).
I think it's great what Sam has done. What better ministry than a truck stop? He's going to encounter every kind of person you can think of with this business and every single one is a chance for him to share Jesus.
As Jeff Criswell, manager of the store, says, "If they've never opened a Bible, they'll be able to see it here."
The more I read about Sam Kholi, the more I like this guy. I wish that I could be that bold. Heck, my fears cause me to shy away from talking about my faith with co-workers and here is someone who is doing the equivalent of shouting from the rooftops. No, he has surpassed that. With the fleet of trucks, he's able to spread this message all over the country, to MILLIONS of people! At the truck stop, he has countless opportunites every day to share and teach.
I think it's wonderful that he has been blessed enough to provide a service like this. While he does provide for the basic needs of travellers and truck drivers, he is also providing so much more than any other roadside convenience store can offer.
Sometimes all it takes is just to pique someone's curiosity. While a traveler might not talk to anyone while at the Jesus Christ is Lord Not a Swear Word Travel Center, maybe one of those verses on the gas pump might stick with them. It'll stay in the back of their mind until God sends the right person at the right time to them and they do start asking those important questions.
I think what Sam has done is pretty fantastic. I hope he is able to open more of these travel centers eventually.
I drive I-44 all the time. Maybe I'll see one of his trucks on my way to work one day. I'll certainly honk and wave with a smile on my face.
If you happen to be driving along interstate 40 in Amarillo, Texas, you'll definitely see plenty of truck stops and travel centers. There is one, though, that will probably catch your attention a little more readily than the others. That's because the name of this one isn't Love's or Flying J or Pilot.
This one is called the Jesus Christ is Lord Not a Swear Word Travel Center. Owner Sam Kholi wants to provide a clean, safe atmosphere for travelers that also puts his Christian faith at the foreground. There are Bible verses on the support columns at gas pumps, t-shirts with the travel center logo and Sam even bought his own fleet of semi trucks with the travel center name and Bible verses painted in red letters. Sam doesn't sell any cigarettes, alcohol, lottery tickets or racy movies in the non-smoking facility.
The travel center seems to be a pretty big hit with Christians traveling along I-40. Michael Burton of Inverness, Florida, says he admires Sam's boldness.
"I am a person who, when I know a Christian is offering what I need with competitive prices, I'll go to the Christian business," Burton said. "I am prejudiced for God's people."
When I first head this story on the radio, the word that best describes my immediate reaction is tickled. I think it's great that there are still Christians out there who aren't apologetic about their beliefs. I think too many of us are afraid of steppingon someone's toes if we talk about our faith too much. And heaven forbid we do anything that's not considered "politically correct" (whatever that even is anymore).
I think it's great what Sam has done. What better ministry than a truck stop? He's going to encounter every kind of person you can think of with this business and every single one is a chance for him to share Jesus.
As Jeff Criswell, manager of the store, says, "If they've never opened a Bible, they'll be able to see it here."
The more I read about Sam Kholi, the more I like this guy. I wish that I could be that bold. Heck, my fears cause me to shy away from talking about my faith with co-workers and here is someone who is doing the equivalent of shouting from the rooftops. No, he has surpassed that. With the fleet of trucks, he's able to spread this message all over the country, to MILLIONS of people! At the truck stop, he has countless opportunites every day to share and teach.
I think it's wonderful that he has been blessed enough to provide a service like this. While he does provide for the basic needs of travellers and truck drivers, he is also providing so much more than any other roadside convenience store can offer.
Sometimes all it takes is just to pique someone's curiosity. While a traveler might not talk to anyone while at the Jesus Christ is Lord Not a Swear Word Travel Center, maybe one of those verses on the gas pump might stick with them. It'll stay in the back of their mind until God sends the right person at the right time to them and they do start asking those important questions.
I think what Sam has done is pretty fantastic. I hope he is able to open more of these travel centers eventually.
I drive I-44 all the time. Maybe I'll see one of his trucks on my way to work one day. I'll certainly honk and wave with a smile on my face.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Can you say "Please sue us"?
I just found this story from Fox News about a man in Tampa, Florida, who was not allowed to cash a check at Bank of America. The reason was failure to provide a thumbprint. The thing is, this man was born without arms, and has never has a thumb to print.
He presented a check to cash, which was from his wife on a account that she has there, to a teller at a Bank of America in Tampa. The teller refused, acknowledging that Steve Valdez physically could not provide the required thumbprint and asked a supervisor what to do. The supervisor also refused to cash the check, citing company policy. The supervisor told Valdez if he wanted the cash, either his wife needed to come to the bank or he could open an account with the check. All this even after Valdez had provided two different photo IDs. According to Valdez, the bank remained firm when reminded of the Americans with Disabilites Act and the potential problems that could result from their refusal.
Well, Valdez never was allowed to cash the check, although he did recieve a phone call days later from a regional manager with an apology.
My first thought when I read the headline was, "Seriously, how can they do that to an armless man? Are they asking for a lawsuit?"
Then I read the entire article and my thoughts are pretty much the same after reading.
I work in a bank and I can't imagine, in a million years, not cashing this check. He provided more than sufficient photo ID and it's blatantly obvious that he is unable to provide the print as ID. Really, why would they need it anyway. He was born armless. What do they hope to find in their database to compare to?
I will say that we don't require fingerprints at the bank where I work but this would not have happened even if we did. I actually asked a friend of mine who does work in a bank where they use fingerprinting for identification and she asked her supervisor if they would have turned him away. Her answer? Absolutely not. The TWO different forms of photo ID were plenty, given the circumstances.
I really hope that Bank of America has enough of that bailout money left to pay for the lawsuits that this kind of customer service is going to bring about.
He presented a check to cash, which was from his wife on a account that she has there, to a teller at a Bank of America in Tampa. The teller refused, acknowledging that Steve Valdez physically could not provide the required thumbprint and asked a supervisor what to do. The supervisor also refused to cash the check, citing company policy. The supervisor told Valdez if he wanted the cash, either his wife needed to come to the bank or he could open an account with the check. All this even after Valdez had provided two different photo IDs. According to Valdez, the bank remained firm when reminded of the Americans with Disabilites Act and the potential problems that could result from their refusal.
Well, Valdez never was allowed to cash the check, although he did recieve a phone call days later from a regional manager with an apology.
My first thought when I read the headline was, "Seriously, how can they do that to an armless man? Are they asking for a lawsuit?"
Then I read the entire article and my thoughts are pretty much the same after reading.
I work in a bank and I can't imagine, in a million years, not cashing this check. He provided more than sufficient photo ID and it's blatantly obvious that he is unable to provide the print as ID. Really, why would they need it anyway. He was born armless. What do they hope to find in their database to compare to?
I will say that we don't require fingerprints at the bank where I work but this would not have happened even if we did. I actually asked a friend of mine who does work in a bank where they use fingerprinting for identification and she asked her supervisor if they would have turned him away. Her answer? Absolutely not. The TWO different forms of photo ID were plenty, given the circumstances.
I really hope that Bank of America has enough of that bailout money left to pay for the lawsuits that this kind of customer service is going to bring about.
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