Wednesday, September 22, 2010

22 September 2010: Credit Cards

Credit cards have their place, especially in building credit to buy a home, the only thing I believe that you should borrow money for (barring medical emergencies). The important things when you have a credit card are:
1) Pay the full amount each month, not the minimum payment.
2) Keep a checkbook register for each credit card. When you reach your maximum amount (what you know you can pay back, stop using it until you pay it off. I recommend using it for gas, etc. to build credit, but never pay the minimum payment. You can even pay it each week or two weeks by internet depending how you are paid. That way you can keep from over doing it.
3) Know and follow your limit.
4) If you lose your job, cut up your credit card and avoid the temptation. Credit card debt can really mess you up.It is too tempting to use that card if you have no job saying, "I'll pay it all off when I have my new job." I have experience here, as I am still waiting for that new job 12 months after being laid off.

Remember, unless it is a house or emergency medical, if you have to borrow, you probably do not need it. If you can keep driving that old car till it reaches 300,000 miles, that gives you time to save up for a new(er) car.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

21 September 2010

Got an automatic dryer, for best results when using it on the automatic rather than times setting, do not overload, and make sure everything is the same material. i.e. nothing but blue jeans, or just t shirts, or just dress shirts. Doing so will allow the drier to work more efficiently. If you are alone and need to wash and dry various things together, use the timed setting as opposed to automatic.

Time for the winter garden if you live far enough south. We have planted tomatoes and squash. In October we will be planting cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and related veggies. We won't plant them all at once, so they won't get ripe at once. Broccoli can be planted even in some of the colder climes. Milt freeze don't seem to hurt it. Don't have a yard, you can still plant tomatoes, peppers, egg plants etc in pots. Just make sure you water them and give them sun.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

9 September 2010: Rosh Hoshaanah

Following the Jewish Calendar, today is Rosh Hoshana, the Jewish New Year. Last night we had a festive meal, and dipped our bread and apples in honey signifying that we would like God to give us a sweet year. The shofar will be blown today. The shofar is a ram's horn trumpet with a distinctive sound. Trumpets were used to announce the coming of the king. Our King of course is Yahweh Shabbaoth, the Lord the Lord of Hosts.

Following the lessons and collect is a short poem on my reflections celebrating Rosh Hoshanah in a Messianic Synagogue some years back.

Readings:
Numbers 29:1-6
Jer. 31:1-19
Genesis 1:1-31

Collect:
Father as on this day we commemorate the creation of human kind, help us to repent in truth from our many sins, and to learn to truly walk and talk with you as did Adam and Hava. Let the shofar truly call us to be with you, and may you grant us a sweet year to come. This we ask through Yeshua haMoshiach who lives and reins with you and Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting. (white)


What Does the Shofar Say


Listen to the sound of the Shofar, this Rosh Hashanah day,
What is it, what does the Shofar say?
Awake, sleepers arise!
Don’t be like sheep, so sound asleep,
Letting the wolf in the door, to destroy, corrupt and more.
He’s in the music, promoting drugs,
He’s on TV promoting sex and rebellion,
He’s in the school teaching one to be a hellion.
Parents, do you love your children,
Then teach them, teach them.
At their rising, at their sitting,
Going out, coming in, at their eating,
Jesus Christ is Lord, He died for you, and many more,
And expects to be your Lord.

Listen to the sound of the Shofar, this Rosh Hashanah day,
What is it, what does the Shofar say?
Awake, sleepers arise!
Don’t be like sheep, so sound asleep,
False shepherds abound misleading the sheep,
Saying science, psychology is King.
If it feels good do it, if it hurts no-one, ‘tis not a sin, or so they sing.
Jesus is not Lord, he’s just one way, of which there are many more.
Stand up O sheep, flee from such shepherds, For at that last day, they shall flee, or
Be astounded, upon finding resurrection is true,
But alas they are blue,
For never having known Jesus, they have condemned themselves,
And those who followed them to a future so bleak,
That to think upon makes me weak

Listen to the sound of the Shofar, this Rosh Hashanah day,
What is it, what does the Shofar say?
Ti ra! Ti ra! Arise, charge, ‘tis time to fight the good fight,
‘tis time to show the adversary our might.
Put on the Gospel Armour, refrain from retreating,
It is time to gain souls, it is time to gain kings,
It is time to show the world our Lord and King.
We have been asleep, allowing Satan his will
And we have had to pay the bill.
The time is over, Satin take cover,
For the church is called to be on the move.
Blow the shofar, blow the trumpet, Good Christians, ATTACK!
You are the mighty hosts of the Lord, armed with his Spirit and Word,
The battle is yours, the war is the Lord’s.