YOU NEED TO READ THIS

Alright people, here is a document that you need to read. If you are someone who considers learning to be life-long, then this e-book is a must. I got it via Seth Godin's blog, one of the leading marketing minds out there, and have been amazed at how true the contents are. It's essentially a compilation of blurbs from people who have "made it", and I am amazed at the how succinctly the ideas are conveyed. It's not a bunch of text, but each page is a blurb. Take a look... it's FREE!

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/files/what-matters-now-1.pdf

O Rolo, Rolo, wherefore art thou???

A funny chat with Michelle today went like this:

Michelle: hehe sorry,I'm on a roll over here

me: Whatever happened to the candy "Rolos"?

Michelle: They're still around... Are you craving them?

me: Nope.. I just haven't noticed them. They're like a high class milk-dud.

Wikipedia talks about our beloved Rolo

Labor Board

Does this get your hearts pumping? The anticipation of what I might write? Good seeing you both this morning. I hope all is well for you, and that you're finding the satisfaction in life we're all searching for.

"The Tyranny of Normal"

An excerpt of my thoughts on an essay by Leslie Fielder. I find this to be true for all too many people, including myself before I discovered how much God loves me.

"The “tyranny of normal” rules the garden of our minds, watering the seeds of discontent and isolation we feel in relation to our fellow man. In the deep recesses of our mind, known only to us or perhaps residing in our subconscious, exists a brutal voice that tells us that we are not “good enough”. This voice speaks loudly and clearly, telling us that we aren’t worthy of acceptance, and if anybody really got to know us, would find out how truly ugly we are. The easiest way to escape the detection and discovery of this “ugly” self, is to blend in and to cast off anything which might cause anyone to take a closer look. It is out of our fear of discovery, of the rejection we dread, that we go under the knife to fix our big nose, to enhance our breast size, suck away our stomach fat, whiten our teeth, iron out our wrinkles, etc. The outer façade that we desperately keep squeaky clean belies a sinister and rotted undercarriage; one that tells the story of how we are not deserving of love or acceptance. Nothing can be lonelier than to be on an island, marooned by the knowledge of who we really are, yet wanting desperately to connect with those around us."

God's Economy

Hi all,
I've uploaded the talk I gave at Glendora Alliance Church on 9/13/2009. The talk was based on/around Philippians 3:4-11. Thanks for listening and I hope you're blessed by it.

Mean, Greedy, EVIL Conservatives!!!

In reading the comments on my last post, I issued a challenge for someone to answer a question I posed. I continually hear that being a conservative, I am somehow morally inferior to my liberal equivalents, who simply want outcomes to be "fair" for everyone. For the record, I believe in a small government, traditional or "conservative" social values, and believe each person has an individual responsibility to make or break their own life. These ideals put me solidly in the "conservative" category.

I am regularly surprised to hear that my lack of support for expanded government intervention (read "mandated intrusion") into the private lives and decisions of indvuals somehow equates to: greed, hate, racism, homophobia, elitism, etc. While I know these labels are not actually true for me (those labels simply don't "stick"), I wondered if those who espouse similar conservative principles were, in fact, guilty of such ugly accusations. Please note that I am not referring to "Republicans" or Democrats", but rather, a set of ideals which we each use to shape our world-view. I was surprised to see research which yielded some very surprising results, considering all the accusatory slander directed at conservatives by liberals. Take a look for yourself (all info below taken from the book Makers and Takers, by Peter Schweizer):

* Seventy-one percent of conservatives say you have an obligation to care for a seriously injured spouse or parent versus less than half (46 percent) of liberals.

* Conservatives have a better work ethic and are much less likely to call in sick than their liberal counterparts.

* Liberals are 2½ times more likely to be resentful of others’ success and 50 percent more likely to be jealous of other people’s good luck.

* Liberals are 2 times more likely to say it is okay to cheat the government out of welfare money you don’t deserve.

* Conservatives are more likely than liberals to hug their children and “significantly more likely” to display positive nurturing emotions.

* Liberals are less trusting of family members and much less likely to stay in touch with their parents.

* Do you get satisfaction from putting someone else’s happiness ahead of your own? Fifty-five percent of conservatives said yes versus only 20 percent of liberals.

* Rush Limbaugh, Ronald Reagan, Bill O’Reilly and Dick Cheney have given large sums of money to people in need, while Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Michael Moore, and Al Gore have not.

* Those who are “very liberal” are 3 times more likely than conservatives to throw things when they get angry.

* Liberals are more self-centered than conservatives.
* Conservatives are more generous and charitable than liberals.
* Liberals are more envious and less hardworking than conservatives.
* Conservatives value truth more than liberals, and are less prone to cheating and lying.
* Liberals are more angry than conservatives.
* Conservatives are actually more knowledgeable than liberals.
* Liberals are more dissatisfied and unhappy than conservatives.

"Schweizer argues that the failure lies in modern liberal ideas, which foster a self-centered, “if it feels good do it” attitude that leads liberals to outsource their responsibilities to the government and focus instead on themselves and their own desires."

I find it especially interesting that for all the talk about helping the poor, showing compassion, spreading the wealth, etc., liberals generally wish to do so at no/little cost to themselves. I think it's "cute" when someone acts so passionate about a cause, and yet wants to put MY money where THERE mouth is. You can check out the book at Amazon.com

EDIT (9/19/09 4:53a): In looking over the post, I'm not intending to "bash" anyone, but simply to point out the irony in the information being presented. I recognize it's a pretty big brush to paint with, but interesting nonetheless. Some of the statements sound like over-generalizations, but are obviously explored further in the book.

Healthcare for Clunkers

I know I'm coming off like one of those dirty "right wing-extremists" again. The truth is that I am looking at the very real implications that these bills being proposed and passed are going to have on my career and family's personal livelihood. There are certainly many ways the proposed healthcare bill will negatively affect small businesses throughout America. In my corner of the business world, it would essentially screw over every nursing agency (and other service based companies) because it will require everyone with a payroll over $400k per year to either fully insure EACH person on their payroll and their families (whether full OR part time). That sounds like a lot, but many small businesses have 5-10 employees that can easily combine to reach this total payroll amount. If they don't, then the business is forced to pay an 8% tax for all payroll. As you know, my business don't sell goods, such as hard-drives or coffee-pots; we sell nursing hours. This means that we are essentially having to pay 8% more for each dollar we normally pay out, which comprises a vast majority of our sales. Businesses which have a payroll of between $251k and $400k must pay a 6% tax. I see 4 potential options should this poorly thought out healthcare bill pass (for my business specifically).

1) We will have to raise our rates, which is a challenge, since we're often awarded rates by hospitals and have little influence here. Plus, if under government control, will hospitals even be allowed to pay us a higher rate if they desire?
2) Lower our nurse's pay, which will make far fewer nurses consider working for us - essentially drying up our pool of "product"
3) Lower expenses in the office, such as: fire office staff get reid of phone lines, move to a smaller office space, etc.
4) Close business altogether.

Will this "free" healthcare actually be free for the people we let go, or the nurses who's pay we must cut, or for the businesses who we stop purchasing from, or for my own family? It seems rather hasty and poorly thought out to so blindly plan to commit an entire nation's future earnings.

I believe that God will provide and I will continue to work toward improving my lot. I WILL NOT sit quietly by the wayside, while someone in Washington hands over my countless hours of hard work, sacrifice, and responsible personal conduct in exchange for a bunch of votes toward their re-election. People across America feel the same way I do, and they're getting just as mad. The tragedy, in my opinion, would be if your freedom was wrenched away and you didn't see it coming.

"Ma, what that sign say?"

This sign caught my eye on the way to Gavin's wedding rehearsal in Burbank. It's obviously a push by the public library to encourage reading among the illiterate.

I suppose it's not funny to make fun of something like this sign, but isn't this the equivalent of sending someone a DVD of how to operate their DVD player? Perhaps a TV infomercial or the message blaring from loudspeakers would better serve those they are trying to reach... :)

Your comments are welcome!

I realized as I perused my account settings that you had to be a blogspot member in order to post. I changed it so that anyone with the inclination to comment can do so now. Just click on the "comments" link underneath each posting.

Thanks to those who have already posted; I'm grateful for your thoughts and/or feedback!

Turning the other cheek

We were at Starbucks between church services and Elvin Miranda walked in the door, when Sean Wills tossed a cumpled paper bag at Elvin's forehead. The exchange was funny:

(Sean throws the trash that hits Elvin in the face)

Elvin - "Sean, if I wasn't a Christian, I'd kick your butt for throwing that at me!"

me - "Yeah, but if Sean wasn't a Christian, he would have thrown a brick..."

(Gotta love it...)

Getting Rescued

(Helping during a Kids event at the Union Rescue Mission)

(The view from the roof of the Union Rescue Mission; also the same roof where we spent the night)

Here at the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles, I am faced with a bunch of different feelings, when there is enough of a pause to experience them. We're serving, starting with breakfast at 5:45, straight to a celebrity studded charity event for the kids, and in a couple hours, to help serve dinner.

The Union Rescue Mission is in the heart of skid row, serving the homeless and indigent located here. The idea is to fill their stomachs and give them shelter, while sharing the hope of Jesus Christ, and the eternal life He brings those who decide to follow Him.

I am torn, expecting a bunch of things; God to work through the service, God working in me, trying to find a way to relate to these very different people. But are they different? How am I different in my struggles and disappointments and inability to live the full life God intended for me? How am I different...because of Zip code? Because of income or skin color? I realize that we're all in the same boat, and anything I do to serve, springs not from my superiority, but from a common broken place that yearns for God's strength to replace my weakness. I have been really disappointed in how I have chosen to interact with those around me; If I wish to resemble Christ, how can I miss the mark so easily? I'm not saying that I've been unkind to anyone or unfriendly, but how can the dichotomy of the crummy parts in conjunction with the good actually culminate in anything worthwhile? How can a mind that gets it right in one moment and totally wrong the next be anything but CRAZY?

The truth is that trying to build my life from an erector set of cogs and braces of my own efforts is destined to tip over and collapse under the strain of its inherent mediocrity at the most inopportune times. The truth is that being obedient to God through Christ and FOLLOWING His example is the only way my life will count for anything past the brief whisp of smoke my time on Earth really is. An appropriate answer to my question lies in the bulk of Phillipians 2. Lord, take me and make me one with you; show me the way to a life that bears eternal fruit, instead of the bitter fruit my efforts bring.

4am and I'm up?

(Jack Bauer, busy working to protect American lives!... through competent healthcare; one nurse at a time)

Well, we had a key part of our office staff decide that she wanted to make an industry change, and Friday was her last day. Awesome woman who knew what she was doing, but didn't want the daily stress of putting a puzzle together with people's livelihood. Each day is kinda like an episode of "24", where we have a count-down to some big event, there are unfortunate monetary casualties along the way, and in the end, you hope the good outweighed the bad. The only thing is, this takes place twice a day, seven days a week. With her leaving, there is now a void in the office which myself and another great gal, Jasmin, are going to have to step up. This is a pivotal time in our business, and it'll be interesting to see where God leads us.

This brings me to why I'm up and blogging at 5am. We have to call our clients between 3:50 and 5:00am to schedule our staff for the morning shift, and with Julia gone, I've taken the 3-4 days per week she originally had. This means being available by phone on the days that I have it, juggling normal life around the calls, waking up early, all against a time crunch, as well as trying to edge out the competition. It's not as bad as it sounds, in fact, I'm a lot like "24's"Jack Bauer when I think about it...though to make that stretch, I have to think pretty hard.

So I'm the bad guy?

(my "power tie"... showing my mean-spirited, fat-cat capitalism)

I had to let someone go because of apparent sabatoge... and I'm the bad guy?

Waiting

Well, after two failed deals and getting our hopes up, as well as more rapidly declining home prices, Michelle and I are waiting to purchase a home. Home prices had leveled out a bit, but have once again started to nose-dive.

It has been interesting to go through the emotions of a home purchase, without it actually materializing. I would liken the experience to a dress-rehearsal, where we get to see what flaws may be there, as well as having the enormity of the decision and responsibility firmly impressed on us. The notion of consistently making a sizable house-payment every month, rain or shine, was an awesome reality-check. I'm personally grateful for the experience, which has helped to refine and reign-in my expectations, as well as curtail the amount of risk I'm willing to accept for our family.

Every week that passes enables us to save aggressively toward a down-payment, and yields a greater value with dropped home prices. It's an exciting, if sobering ride, down the road to purchasing our first home!

"Reagan redux" - No Comparison

Below is an email I wrote a correspondent at MSNBC.com in response to this article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29388258/

Hello Mr. Fineman,

I just finished reading your current article: “Reagan redux”. While the article is full of enthusiasm for President Obama's sweeping changes and hopeful rhetoric, I take issue with the content, especially with the comparison to President Reagan. As your article points out, Reagan expanded the federal government with increased defense spending and cut taxes, which lifted us out of the deep recession we were in, because of historically tested economic methods … not simply a mysterious booster shot of “optimism”. Unlike Reagan’s plans to reduce the overall scope of the Federal government while expanding our military force, President Obama has decided to support unprecedented, massive expansions in entitlement programs, along with agencies and policies which rob aspiring Americans from the precious autonomy which drives our most productive citizens and businesses. It is highly unlikely that these gigantic “entitlement” programs will ever be shrunk, once the general public has gotten a taste of the numbing elixir which dulls the desire to work, given the paltry reward for the sacrifice or risk.

Your subheading declares that “Like the Gipper, Obama offers hope”. I don’t see how the comparison can be made. Reagan based his hope on the time-tested model of free-enterprise capitalism. It was his belief and understanding that a strong America emerges when those daring enough to produce, risk and succeed are allowed to keep more means (lower taxes) with which to do so. Obama has built his hope on a time-tested model as well… one which history has shown leads to lower productivity, higher unemployment, and less reward for those willing to TRY. The funny thing with “hope” is that it doesn’t really count for much unless the correct actions are taken. I can “hope” that my loved one’s cancer will disappear by their simply wearing all purple clothes, or other such nonsense, but unless this actually yields the desired result, my “hope” produced nothing more than a warm feeling. We are all being told that historically proven methods for economic growth do-not-apply in this case, and that a government with a horrific track-record for governance now magically has the answer...one which has been historically proven to stunt economies.

I agree that both Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama are dynamic figures who clearly move the country to action. I pray that President Obama’s departure from the proven ideals embraced by Reagan will not lead us down the road to American mediocrity, resulting in a country Karl Marx could only dream of. I like hope…just not false hope.


Regards,


-Cameron Akrami

Glendora, CA

Tower of Terror

My life is full of minute decisions, which have a cumulative effect on the overall outcome of my life. It isn't the hamburger that I eat that makes me fat, or the assignment that I miss which causes me to fail a class. It is the culmination of dozens of burgers and scores of missed assignments which renders someone a fatso with a 1.0 GPA. It's about deciding in the small things that you want to make a difference, and replicating that small wise decision many times which brings the results you desire. And then, there are those "biggies" in life. Marriage, committing our lives to God, buying a home... decisions which don't average out over time for a result. Decisions which have a swift and immediate implication, which place demands on your life; demands which insist on being foremost in your priorities.

Michelle and I are embarking on an adventure, the beginning of which resembles standing in line for a roller coaster and watching the car pull into the gate. The anticipation, and ultimately, the commitment you make to the topsy-turvey road ahead of you. The commitment which says, once you're seated and the coaster gets moving, you're in it till the ride is over. Sure, you can jump out prematurely and be dashed against the tracks (as some of my friends horrifyingly witnessed at Knotts Berry Farm 14 years ago). The rational person inside me asks why I would embark on such a stomach turning endeavor, with no guarantees of a smooth ride or personal gain.

Buying our first home brings with it, the sense of the unexpected, the financial committment, the looking into each other's eyes and declaring "here we go!". Just the thought of owning and being responsible for our own home is breathtaking, sending bursts of adrenaline coursing through our veins, imploring us to choose between "fight or flight". The next few days will tell us whether our offer for purchase has been accepted, and we look forward to choosing to fight for victory in making this work. To have a piece of the "American Dream"; a place to call our own. To not just sit on the roller coaster as a passive, terrified rider, but to thrust our hands in the air as if to say "bring it"!

We are placing an offer on a home that we both like, and are waiting to hear back with an answer.

From the back of the house looking up


Me, contemplating living in a house with a purple room.

A New Day...

Today I was reminded of the Christmas party at the Rogstad's marriage group one year ago. We had a "white elephant" gift exchange, which surprisingly had pretty quality gifts (gift cards, movie passes, etc.). Then come Jon and Laura Krimmel with their "gift". The show up with a microwave sized box, wrapped with white paper, adorned with ???question marks and the word "Mystery" written in several places. We quickly found that despite the obviously good gifts on the table, the Mystery Box became the most sought after. Everytime someone could switch their gift, they DID, always for the Mystery Box. I don't know what the fascination was. Perhaps it was the hope of fantastic contents within... perhaps the desire to see something different than the choices we saw on the table. We were so obsessed with the possibilities, with the mystery, with the spoils, that a serious hysteria had overtaken our civilized group. I was thrilled when I was able to "steal" the Mystery box from Felice, and relished watching the clock run out.. making the box MINE! I tore open the wrapping paper as everyone gathered around, expectant of the bounty inside. What I found was an assortment of 99cent store toys, ranging from a plastic mini bow and arrow, to a gel-tiger that grows when submerged in water. The contents were certainly entertaining, but paled in comparison to what I expected the gift to be. As I looked at the nice gifts others had in their hand and compared them to my box of novelties, I realized that I had gotten overly excited about an idea, ignoring any flicker of reason. When all was said and done, that was simply a game, at BEST yielding $10 gift cards to the luckiest players.

I can't help but think that today, America opened its own "Mystery Box", having been so excited to have won it. The country is going to receive the payout on their decision, and see exactly what Change and Hope produce in the real world. The problem here, of course, is that we're not dealing with a game, but creating the country and legacy we leave to our children and grandchildren. It's disconcerting that the vast majority of people I've spoken to who were most excited about Obama's candidacy can not articulate even a couple POSITIONS Obama holds, citing the need for "Change" and "Hope". If history is any predictor of the future, our nation is in for a very difficult time. My fervent prayer is that all the hope and promise we bought into doesn't follow the contents of my own mystery box... onto the rubbish heap of history.

One in a Trillion... and then some

With all the pain and discontent in our country and world today, I can't help but feel I live in a bubble... insulated from it all. Each morning before I wake, I am oblivious to the cares of the world, yet my foggy eyes are able to make out the form of an angel hovering near my bed. The angel leans over and gently kisses my lips and wishes me a great day, with Gods' blessing. With that, the apparition disappears! I awake to the sound of my alarm, wondering what spirit has visited me to change the course of my day with a simple act of warmth.

I go about my day, each day, enduring the inherent frenetic pace and struggles. I pull into my parking space and notice the light is on in my apartment, I detect movement! I quickly ascend the stairs and burst through the door to see, not an evildoer, but my beautiful angel, dazzling in real life in a way the morning fog will never show, as though all of God's glory was shining through her at that very moment! The very sight of her makes my heart grow warm, the tension of the day flees my body. I am HOME.

I cannot express the wonder I feel when I think for just a moment about my rare fortune. My Michelle embodies so many qualities which run counter to the "popular" edition being peddled, and yet, it's those very traits which draw my heart to hers. With the culture celebrating housewives in desperation and girls gossiping, my bride stands worlds apart from those facades.

I am blown away at the extent my wife goes to make our house a home; to make me feel loved, cherished, respected, honored, admired. So many times, she does this in spite of my behavior or attitude, slaying me with her gentleness. There is no such thing as a perfect wife... all people fall short. BUT, there is such as a thing as a rare wife. A wife so rare that she makes a diamond look as rare as beach sand. A wife so unattainable, she makes a Picasso look like a flyer stuck under your windshield wiper. A woman so out of this world that she gives THIS MAN pause.

I have found the bride of my youth, and am the luckiest man in the world to have the honor of calling you my wife. Michelle, I love you.