The Beginning of the Real Downturn?

Today the news had two stories that reminded me of where our country is headed. Tomorrow Florida registration and renewal fees increase and when they say increase they mean almost double. license renewal fee goes from $20 to $48 and registrations vary by car size, but a 4-door sedan with previous registration fees that totaled approximately $45 will now cost approximately $70.

The second story was just as sad. The Pinellas county school district is spending more $300,000 from the EPA and local tax dollars on closed crank ventilation systems for 270 buses. It all sounds so wonderful until you realize that all these government make work schemes are bankrupting and enslaving us.

What happen to your spending on consumer goods when you begin to hear that every little recurring expense you have related to taxes and fees seems to go up sometimes as much as double with little warning? If you have any common sense you stop spending on everything else just to stay afloat. If we stop buying consumer goods it takes not time at all for the layoff to start escalating at an even faster rate than they already are.

Our current administration is has got it completely backwards and like most of the folks whose opinions I respect I believe it is intentional. I see them attempting to bring everyone under their power by removing any hope of the individual being able to provide for themselves through honest hard work in a free market system.

This is more evidence of the beginning of really lean times. Local, state and federal government agencies are all scrambling for money. The money that is running out rapidly has always been your money and the money they need to keep their ponderous bureaucracies going is your money. We are all about to experience an unprecedented grab for what little we have left, If you are not already up side down like so many of your neighbors, to fund this bloated system.

Do not forget that there are millions of your neighbors who are employed by the state or federal government across this nation complete with health benefits and pension funds. The federal government is already insolvent and is doing nothing less than printing money to maintain an allusion of solvency. We have and administration that wants to continue this trend by ramping up the spending and causing consumer prices and utility cost everywhere to skyrocket by enacting extreme new environmental restrictions. It is up to us whether this continues. We only get a couple more shots at voting them all out before they engineer a system in which they cannot be weeded out without extreme hardship.

First Priority Tampa Bay

This the start of another school year and with all the area’s students settling into the rhythms of an American education there is an opportunity that the Tampa Bay Area has never had. This year First priority is on the scene. Simply put First Priority is a student initiated and and lead club on school campuses designed to strengthen the faithful and enlighten the seeker with the Word of God. This organization brings city leaders, churches and schools together to the glory of God.


Scott Avriett is a representative for First Priority here in the Tampa Bay Area. He is a friend of mine and a humble guy. I believe that he has truly begun to live his faith. He is putting into action the word of God with his life and I have enjoyed being a witness to the fruits of this obedience. I am interested to see the positive influence this organization will have on our area schools.

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(Heb 10:16-26)

www.firstprioritytampabay.com

The Center for Health and Age Management.

Today I attended the grand opening of Michael P. Heim’s Center for Health and Age Management. It is located at 2102 South MacDill Avenue, Ste. D. Tampa, Florida 33629.

I had a very nice time chatting with friends and touring the freshly renovated facility. Much success to you Mike my friend and God’s continued blessings on your family.

 

For more info visit: www.tampahealthcenter.com

Reading and Writing

As I have said I do not read as much as I should. It is because I am lazy that I do not read. Reading the right author can be absolutely life changing. The written word, to put it dramatically is voluntary mind control. When you read another's writings you are of your own free will allowing their thoughts and ideas to influence your own programming. The truth is everything we know and see is a product of the word. In the beginning was the Word, God spoke everything into being with the Word. The silent dialogue that takes place behind your eyes in the unseen mind is understood and transmitted by words.

When I read I begin to have the desire to write. I rarely give into this desire because I do not wish to reveal more of myself through writing than is already known by my speaking. I also feel as though there is a certain degree of arrogance to think that anyone would even be interested in what I may write. The most poignant words and the most widely read are those of the shared human experience and therefore it can be a waste to write without revealing yourself.

Everything we see and hear is programming. Most of it is represented as such but we must be vigilant in guarding our heart. Even when we reject programming that is destructive to us if we have witnessed it we cannot entirely remove it from our memories and it can act like a virus if we do not keep God’s Word running in the background of our minds.

Right now I am pleased to have a healthy conviction that I am a child of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Everything In my life has meaning and purpose. Death is a passage into life and I can live a blameless and contented life. This is the gift of Faith from my Father and grows through the ministering of His Holy Spirit that rest on me. There are challenges which are with me daily. They mostly are in the form of my responsibilities as a child of God in regard to my brothers and sisters. This is where I always back down when writing my thoughts and I realize today will be no different.

McMud Walking

Mud walking was just great! Everyone had a spectacular time. More great memories to look back on throughout eternity!

B Smitty’s Gale Force Going Away Picnic!

Brian is very soon off to college and his absence will be felt by many people. This is his farewell picnic at Picnic Island park. It was very exciting!

It Started With A Sink Hole.

We had a hole slowly eating our gutter and street. We call the city and after they investigated learn it was a broken sewer pipe. After three very capable crews of city workers and only a 30min interruption of water supply they have it all buttoned up! Thanks to all the really helpful men on the city of Tampa Sewer Operations and the water dept. team!

Flushing toilets and hot showers are just such a nice way to live!

Joyful Reminders

Yesterday I was reminded God always gives just enough! He does not burden us with to much. If you are straining under a heavy burden it is of your own making. His burden is light. Lay your burden at the feet of Jesus.

I was reminded that it is people that are important and the things we waste our time to attain rob us of our time with people.

I was reminded that God alone has the power to turn the hearts of those we adore into genuine fellowship with us!

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
(Luk 6:38)

It is those things in our lives we deem small and insignificant that are the secret to the richest blessings.

Thank You Chicken

One of happy families who visited the chickens made this great cotton ball chicken as a thank you. It is spectacular in all it’s detail!

Thank you everyone for your visit!

“Sir Gibbie” by George Macdonald.

I am not an avid reader. I am not even a once in a while reader. I want to be but alas I am lazy.

I recently re-read a book I first read my senior year at Plant High School. I read many books that year under a little stairwell in the court yard during lunch. Sir Gibbie was for me the single most influential collection of words in my life outside of the Bible. I recommend it to everyone, but with a warning. You may not like it at all, but if you do you may like it very much.

Bald Billy

Before I used to shave my head to the skin I did not know some of the benefits of having no hair on your head. Just a few are:

• You feel much cooler when it is hot.
• You do not have to brush your hair (I never did anyway).
• You can turn your head faster, no wind resistance.
• You can move through the water like a dolphin.
• You can tell instantly who likes you just for your hair!
• It takes no time to dry your scalp after a shower.

You have got to try this everybody. I expect to see you all bald within the week! Remember to wear sunscreen after you have no hair or your scalp will burn really bad!