The time goes by so fast, I hardly see the day's list of things to get done until it is too late! I better get this done before I get carried away with other things.
I watched my "new" used DVD/documentary called "FOOD CHAINS" today, and I think I have seen at least parts of it before. I must have watched it on Netflix at some time. I am glad I have it for my collection. The migrant issue is something I care about.
I grew up in the Los Angeles area and saw some of the things that were affected by it, but I was a child so my impressions were of the hard work of these people... mostly in construction in urban areas. I knew of the farm workers movement, but it was just another news issue to me then. I don't really remember watching a lot of news as a youth...it just wasn't something us kids did.
My heart is concerned with suffering people and poverty. It doesn't take a lot of information to see that the migrant workers are oppressed and abused, and that hasn't changed in my adult life. I do wonder what has happened since the DVD and the people it shared with the world were made.
My own desire to build staff housing for Working Together led to my suggestion that the current immigration conversations should include the option for employers to commit to providing decent year-round housing for the people who do their "grunt work" in the fields, and in the factories, etc. - which would make the status of those workers legal. If they are facing abuse at their workplaces, they can at least find someone to help them without fear of deportation and jail and dangers for their families. It won't solve all the corruption and greed in communities built around one industry, but it will offer some legal recourse for those being abused.
It has always been my opinion that the wage ladder begins at the bottom and then goes upward... in this issue, the farmworkers should all be paid a fair wage for a fair day's work... in the US labor laws, travel time and waiting time for a job that you are hired to do is considered work time. In the DVD it was stated that migrant families had to leave at 5am and didn't get back until 8 or 10 pm, I can't recall... but they only got paid for the hours they worked in the fields and were paid by each pail of tomatoes they picked and delivered to the truck.
I cringed at that information, especially where mothers were concerned.
It seems the "company housing" offered for seasonal workers was so high in rent charges they had to have 15 workers in each one. Is that right? I don't think so. I doubt anyone would want their family put into this kind of situation.
If I had money.... I think I would do what I could do to change the system with a new work of my own... Monsanto issues with seeds and the destruction of farmers is another agricultural battlefield, with the pesticide issues for workers involved in both controversies. To make new farms without these terrible practices would be a great way to do battle... To create smaller farms, to create migrant worker co-ops, to create private lending options for the small farm needs, to do whatever is necessary to make this problem right is my idea of a fight.
I wonder if that is why I haven't been able to gather any money to do all this... hmmmmm, could be, I don't know.
I have been thinking about these problems in America for some time... this film just reminded me of the differences in viewpoint of corporations and the "little people," especially when it comes to those profit figures. When I see a huge multi-national company is making billions in "profits" and the ones fighting to get some of that money, I have to wonder what the real details are. Does that "profit" include the expenses of the year, or the needs of the next year... the wages, overhead, equipment, stock, growth, etc...and any company with shareholders has to pay a dividend to them... how much is really profit, and how much is really business funds.
If these profits are used to pay ridiculous wages to anyone in the company, then there is a problem. If these profits are distributed fairly, to each level of operations, and each job, and each location, how much they make is not a matter for discussion. Companies are created to make money.
I hope the situation changes, but I doubt it will. Human nature has to find someone else to degrade in order to feel better about themselves. If these are people who claim to love GOD, their decisions will be judged by GOD. If you read the Bible carefully, you will see that GOD LOVES the poor, the fatherless, and the stranger... and cattle (who knows why!)… and He has promised to judge those who hurt and abuse these people He loves. In watching this film again, I have been wondering how GOD will judge these corporations who do not stand with what GOD says is right to do. I wonder how He will judge America for it's ungodly choices, too.
So, now I move on to the next thing to do... and all the serious issues that matter to me will go into my history... just waiting to be resurrected again, hoping that some day I might be able to do something to help change the world in this arena and others. One person, what can I do? I don't know, I just keep looking for it.
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
May GOD help us to see ourselves as He sees us.
May we choose to care.
May our lives mean more than money.
May America stand for better things than it does now.
May I be allowed to be part of the solutions I see to some of these issues.
Amen.
28 June, 2018
27 June, 2018
Wednesday, 27 June 2018
I decided I better get this done early, my body is already heading into the go-to-bed-early stage... :-) Life is so much fun.
I got the book I ordered :: Banker to the Poor, by Muhammad Yunus, who is stated to be the founder of the Grameen Bank, which I think the book is about. I decided to buy it because I saw a video of a young woman who discovered it as a teen and it inspired her future in the same direction... financing people who would never be approved for help by a regular bank.
My copy is Copyrighted in 1999 and 2003... the notes say it was originally published in 1997 by another person, JC Lattes... I could make a joke here, but it probably would not go over here. :-)
Money options and poverty have been a quest of mine since I went into the welfare system and couldn't find any way out that worked for me. I discovered classes for something in the business cycle... in the Los Angeles area so many years ago. I have talked about this before... it is my example of what exists... or, what did exist. Crowdfunding has changed a lot, but there still are problems for those who don't have the ability to access crowdfunding.
In that experience I decided that there had to be real money at the end of the class. What levels, I am not sure. I think anything would have helped back then. The classes were about formulating a plan for your business. Then you had to go find funding from somewhere with your plan as part of the process. Poor people, the kind of poor people who don't have anything, would never have that option, to be approved anywhere.
I should say that the video I watched said the company they operate puts people through a process before they can be approved for any money, including creating minimum partnerships in the lending group... three people was the minimum. I'm not sure right now all the details of their loan process, but it wasn't easy... like ask and receive. There was a process and they had to be approved. The examples they showed were mostly women, which is the group most in need of financial help everywhere, but they also grew their businesses over time and didn't need the special financing anymore.
I guess it is dangerous to succeed in some countries because the good loan people were damaging the loan shark's business... the lenders were actually threatened by them. I think that would be a hard reality to deal with. I discovered that loan sharks require 10-40% interest PER day or month, I don't remember. I think it was day, but I'm not sure. No wonder people are running from loan sharks.
I guess my desire through Working Together was to create some kind of options for surviving, too... but at an individual level... for families, for communities, for churches, for anyone. I decided membership was the only way to apply this equally, and then decided larger loans can be handled with a program that would be for members, either Christian or Public members.
Poverty is a long-term problem that doesn't go away in one government budget cycle.
Well, the author (Yunus) wrote other books since, and it says he won the Nobel Peace Prize, so it must be doing good work still. One of these days I will check on it, but I have other things to do right now. I hope to browse the book over the weekend.
*
I have been trying to remember all the things I did today, in case there was something more to share, and I couldn't get past the normal everyday life things. I did watch a webinar replay that took over an hour, on creating courses to sell or provide for free viewing online. It was a beginning look at the process. The site is called TEACHABLE (.com) and it offers a structure to learn the process. I took notes, but I wish I knew how to do screenshots... that would have helped a lot. :-)
Once you see these webinars, you notice how other people are approaching you, and seeing they must have watched this too... or be one of their customers! haha I guess that is how it will be...
I liked some of their "lists" of how to go about this outreach, but I didn't agree with everything. Some of the pricing is affordable for the future, but I'm not sure how I want to proceed in the video and teaching and course opportunities... I have to decide between YouTube or another site that does video access... and other places I already know about. Each option offers different benefits, and you have to find the ones you can afford and handle. I hope to make a decision when I am clearer on how I want to proceed with Working Together or my personal goals.
*
I guess, right now, I am still trying to find my "start-up funding" for Working Together, trying to find added income for my retirement needs (less than $400 doesn't go far), and have to get my legal issues for my senior years figured out. That takes all my time...and prayers... and energy.
I know GOD has a plan for all this, I just wish I had a better idea what it was. :-)
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
May GOD bless the good people and help them to see the needs all around them.
May GOD help me to do more of the things He has put in my heart to do.
May GOD reach out into this world and comfort those who are suffering.
May GOD find a way to make His Presence known to those who are searching for answers that only He can provide.
Help us to be the ONE BODY that will provide for all of us. Amen.
I got the book I ordered :: Banker to the Poor, by Muhammad Yunus, who is stated to be the founder of the Grameen Bank, which I think the book is about. I decided to buy it because I saw a video of a young woman who discovered it as a teen and it inspired her future in the same direction... financing people who would never be approved for help by a regular bank.
My copy is Copyrighted in 1999 and 2003... the notes say it was originally published in 1997 by another person, JC Lattes... I could make a joke here, but it probably would not go over here. :-)
Money options and poverty have been a quest of mine since I went into the welfare system and couldn't find any way out that worked for me. I discovered classes for something in the business cycle... in the Los Angeles area so many years ago. I have talked about this before... it is my example of what exists... or, what did exist. Crowdfunding has changed a lot, but there still are problems for those who don't have the ability to access crowdfunding.
In that experience I decided that there had to be real money at the end of the class. What levels, I am not sure. I think anything would have helped back then. The classes were about formulating a plan for your business. Then you had to go find funding from somewhere with your plan as part of the process. Poor people, the kind of poor people who don't have anything, would never have that option, to be approved anywhere.
I should say that the video I watched said the company they operate puts people through a process before they can be approved for any money, including creating minimum partnerships in the lending group... three people was the minimum. I'm not sure right now all the details of their loan process, but it wasn't easy... like ask and receive. There was a process and they had to be approved. The examples they showed were mostly women, which is the group most in need of financial help everywhere, but they also grew their businesses over time and didn't need the special financing anymore.
I guess it is dangerous to succeed in some countries because the good loan people were damaging the loan shark's business... the lenders were actually threatened by them. I think that would be a hard reality to deal with. I discovered that loan sharks require 10-40% interest PER day or month, I don't remember. I think it was day, but I'm not sure. No wonder people are running from loan sharks.
I guess my desire through Working Together was to create some kind of options for surviving, too... but at an individual level... for families, for communities, for churches, for anyone. I decided membership was the only way to apply this equally, and then decided larger loans can be handled with a program that would be for members, either Christian or Public members.
Poverty is a long-term problem that doesn't go away in one government budget cycle.
Well, the author (Yunus) wrote other books since, and it says he won the Nobel Peace Prize, so it must be doing good work still. One of these days I will check on it, but I have other things to do right now. I hope to browse the book over the weekend.
*
I have been trying to remember all the things I did today, in case there was something more to share, and I couldn't get past the normal everyday life things. I did watch a webinar replay that took over an hour, on creating courses to sell or provide for free viewing online. It was a beginning look at the process. The site is called TEACHABLE (.com) and it offers a structure to learn the process. I took notes, but I wish I knew how to do screenshots... that would have helped a lot. :-)
Once you see these webinars, you notice how other people are approaching you, and seeing they must have watched this too... or be one of their customers! haha I guess that is how it will be...
I liked some of their "lists" of how to go about this outreach, but I didn't agree with everything. Some of the pricing is affordable for the future, but I'm not sure how I want to proceed in the video and teaching and course opportunities... I have to decide between YouTube or another site that does video access... and other places I already know about. Each option offers different benefits, and you have to find the ones you can afford and handle. I hope to make a decision when I am clearer on how I want to proceed with Working Together or my personal goals.
*
I guess, right now, I am still trying to find my "start-up funding" for Working Together, trying to find added income for my retirement needs (less than $400 doesn't go far), and have to get my legal issues for my senior years figured out. That takes all my time...and prayers... and energy.
I know GOD has a plan for all this, I just wish I had a better idea what it was. :-)
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
May GOD bless the good people and help them to see the needs all around them.
May GOD help me to do more of the things He has put in my heart to do.
May GOD reach out into this world and comfort those who are suffering.
May GOD find a way to make His Presence known to those who are searching for answers that only He can provide.
Help us to be the ONE BODY that will provide for all of us. Amen.
for Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Here I am, again... I kept putting off the post and then I was too long at the computer and couldn't sit anymore... so this is the post I wanted to write yesterday... we keep learning our limits as time goes by. :-)
Let's see, I was doing a lot of online research when I planned to do my post... so I discovered that QUIKRETE (quick-crete) has more than one kind of concrete... amazing. I had my son pick me up a bag, which I thought there was only one kind, and then I went online to find out how much cement it would make. The writing on the 60-pound bag is small!! I thought it would be easier to look online, but couldn't find anything I needed to answer my question. I did see a bunch of videos on how to use the concrete types for different applications... so now I have a better idea which bag I will choose next. I might try out for their "one-bag-wonder" competition... once I get a better idea about how this stuff works. :-)
I finally went looking for some photo requirements for my ETSY shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/work2gather) and explored the newest info at the Seller's Handbook... I have a bunch of pages to read today! I updated my shop announcement, created a new coupon for July, when I hope to have some items listed, and looked at all my account details... who can keep track of all those things!! So I keep trying to figure out a print system so I can put them in a file for future reference. Digital is nice, but it isn't going to help me if everything online disappears. I figure keeping print and digital will help cover different problems. I just have to get it all organized and be able to stay in one place... a lifetime problem.
My packages arrived yesterday... first my little mini-SIZZIX machine... which I tried out to see how it works. It is going to help me accomplish many of my creative goals, but not all. I need to buy a larger version for the bigger projects. I have to do a bunch of experimenting to find the items I want to keep doing for sales income.
I also received my JOEY FEEK music CD so I listened to that a couple times. I think I want to get one of her HYMNS collections for listening over and over. I tend to just put the music on and have it on "repeat" for the entire CD. I would rather have this CD accessible for the song I most wanted, and have a fully Christian music selection available for my background music. :-) It was already something I was thinking of getting, but couldn't afford yet, so it's already on my list of things I want.
The other package I received was the documentary FOOD CHAINS, which I haven't viewed yet. I hope to do that today or tomorrow.
I was exploring the company that created DIRTY ENERGY to see how much some of the previewed videos were and what they were about, but it's a hard company to share. It promotes some issues that Christians cannot agree with, so I am still trying to decide how to handle issues like this. If I get to the point of wanting some of their other videos, which are on issues that matter to me, I will figure it out... for me... for what matters in my life.
I am working on my budget for July... so wiped out already, but there is always hope to make some sales online! haha This is the challenge. How to get all the processes of selling online into a manageable group. I really look forward to winning the "lottery" and hiring some help! :-)
Did I tell you I have been drinking green tea for some time now... I ran out of ground coffee, then I ran out of my special instant coffee, so green tea became the beverage for me! Now I am almost out of green tea. I do have a last-resort back-up... so I hope it doesn't come to that. :-) I just remembered, I may have enough ground coffee in the bottom of my container to make a few cups, in a dire emergency. Only three more days until the end of JUNE, and the start of the JULY budget. Will I make it!?! Only GOD knows.... haha
Well... I am sure I am forgetting something, so I will try to make a note of it if I remember during today and add it to the post for Wednesday.
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
Every day I grow more concerned about the future of America, of Christians, of poor people all over the world. I wish I could do more... I wish I didn't have to think about the terrible things that sin brings into our lives... I wish I had all the answers. Right now, in my situation, all I can do is pray... and I hope that GOD hears my prayers and sends the help we all need.
May GOD be kind to those who love Him.
May we, His people, be wise in our choices in the midst of increasing needs.
May the enemies of GOD be kept from succeeding.
May our hearts grow in goodness.
May we find our way to a better future.
May we all be able to stand in faith when the time comes to choose.
May our churches gather together for strength and to create a way to protect each other in every community. May GOD save the best of our resources for the Body of Christ.
Amen.
Let's see, I was doing a lot of online research when I planned to do my post... so I discovered that QUIKRETE (quick-crete) has more than one kind of concrete... amazing. I had my son pick me up a bag, which I thought there was only one kind, and then I went online to find out how much cement it would make. The writing on the 60-pound bag is small!! I thought it would be easier to look online, but couldn't find anything I needed to answer my question. I did see a bunch of videos on how to use the concrete types for different applications... so now I have a better idea which bag I will choose next. I might try out for their "one-bag-wonder" competition... once I get a better idea about how this stuff works. :-)
I finally went looking for some photo requirements for my ETSY shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/work2gather) and explored the newest info at the Seller's Handbook... I have a bunch of pages to read today! I updated my shop announcement, created a new coupon for July, when I hope to have some items listed, and looked at all my account details... who can keep track of all those things!! So I keep trying to figure out a print system so I can put them in a file for future reference. Digital is nice, but it isn't going to help me if everything online disappears. I figure keeping print and digital will help cover different problems. I just have to get it all organized and be able to stay in one place... a lifetime problem.
My packages arrived yesterday... first my little mini-SIZZIX machine... which I tried out to see how it works. It is going to help me accomplish many of my creative goals, but not all. I need to buy a larger version for the bigger projects. I have to do a bunch of experimenting to find the items I want to keep doing for sales income.
I also received my JOEY FEEK music CD so I listened to that a couple times. I think I want to get one of her HYMNS collections for listening over and over. I tend to just put the music on and have it on "repeat" for the entire CD. I would rather have this CD accessible for the song I most wanted, and have a fully Christian music selection available for my background music. :-) It was already something I was thinking of getting, but couldn't afford yet, so it's already on my list of things I want.
The other package I received was the documentary FOOD CHAINS, which I haven't viewed yet. I hope to do that today or tomorrow.
I was exploring the company that created DIRTY ENERGY to see how much some of the previewed videos were and what they were about, but it's a hard company to share. It promotes some issues that Christians cannot agree with, so I am still trying to decide how to handle issues like this. If I get to the point of wanting some of their other videos, which are on issues that matter to me, I will figure it out... for me... for what matters in my life.
I am working on my budget for July... so wiped out already, but there is always hope to make some sales online! haha This is the challenge. How to get all the processes of selling online into a manageable group. I really look forward to winning the "lottery" and hiring some help! :-)
Did I tell you I have been drinking green tea for some time now... I ran out of ground coffee, then I ran out of my special instant coffee, so green tea became the beverage for me! Now I am almost out of green tea. I do have a last-resort back-up... so I hope it doesn't come to that. :-) I just remembered, I may have enough ground coffee in the bottom of my container to make a few cups, in a dire emergency. Only three more days until the end of JUNE, and the start of the JULY budget. Will I make it!?! Only GOD knows.... haha
Well... I am sure I am forgetting something, so I will try to make a note of it if I remember during today and add it to the post for Wednesday.
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
Every day I grow more concerned about the future of America, of Christians, of poor people all over the world. I wish I could do more... I wish I didn't have to think about the terrible things that sin brings into our lives... I wish I had all the answers. Right now, in my situation, all I can do is pray... and I hope that GOD hears my prayers and sends the help we all need.
May GOD be kind to those who love Him.
May we, His people, be wise in our choices in the midst of increasing needs.
May the enemies of GOD be kept from succeeding.
May our hearts grow in goodness.
May we find our way to a better future.
May we all be able to stand in faith when the time comes to choose.
May our churches gather together for strength and to create a way to protect each other in every community. May GOD save the best of our resources for the Body of Christ.
Amen.
25 June, 2018
Monday, 25 June 2018
I just finished watching one of my new DVDs... it arrived today. "Dirty Energy" - about the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. It is always hard to discover how little your government really cares about you... and how the big corporations, like BP, seem to control the country.
I don't know how much of that is true, the part about corporations controlling all of America, but it is a big wake-up moment when you discover that ordinary people have little meaning in our country or the world. It was so hard to see the effects of the oil spill and hear the promises they made (again) and then discover it is just another repeat of previous examples. There were segments with at least one person who was impacted by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska so many years ago. I think she said it was 24 years later and Alaska hadn't yet recovered from their disaster. The documentary was trying to show the things they had in common for the environment, the people, and the finances... and the government.
My interests are in the effects on our food supplies and water sources. Seeing the photos, hearing the effects, discovering the details about the aftermath... it is frightening to me. The oceans bring all that pollution to every other part of the globe, eventually.
In the documentary, they reported on deformities and tumors in the shrimp over two years after the disaster, and I remember hearing that the seafood had "recovered" by then, but the biologist pointed out that when you go to the market to buy shrimp, you would not see the deformed parts or the tumors or the things you would never eat if you did know.
This is our government's concern for us... the priority is the economy, the taxes that business brings to the government, the money to get elected, the desire to keep your job, the apathy for what is right or wrong, and the fact that the people who are being destroyed can't afford to go to Washington (DC) or their own state governments to fight for twenty years just to lose.
It is a difficult moment to realize that your life depends on a system that is overwhelmed with more problems than it can handle, so yours is meaningless.
How will we make America the great country it use to be? We are not the same country. The definition of "great" is probably something we need to talk about first.
The news was filled with tariff issues today... I was able to see a lot of channels of news today. The media reports more about topics that are against tariffs, and that included the announcement that Harley Davidson was going to blame tariffs for their decisions to move some of their business to the European areas where they sell many of their products. The media doesn't focus on the economic decline of America caused by what I believe is called "trade imbalances."
In my quest for Working Together's future, I realized that transportation and shipping might not be available in the future for Christians. To me, the only reasonable solution was to make each member region self-sufficient. That led me to see the wisdom of having business operations in other regions that serve just that region. I think it would be wise for Harley Davidson to build a new factory in Europe, and sell it's products to those places that are within that continent. The US factory can sell to US customers. Other people can decide if they want to ship from the US or from the European factory.
My reason for wanting to go in this direction is also because of the differences in currency values. I figure pricing in other regions will be based on the costs to produce the products that are created and sold there. It can make things better for everyone.
I think locals in other places need to benefit from the businesses that exist in their location... just like we want to benefit from their existence.
I often wonder how we can find what is right instead of what is only good for the business... like the BP and Exxon recoveries.
This has been a big day for serious thinking... I will be continuing this conversation in future blogs, I am sure.
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
May GOD find us doing more of what is right than what is best for us.
May we see that the damage we do to the world is the same as killing out kids and grandkids.
May we all look for better solutions, help each other in times of trouble, and be thankful for our life.
May GOD be the focus of our decisions.
Amen.
I don't know how much of that is true, the part about corporations controlling all of America, but it is a big wake-up moment when you discover that ordinary people have little meaning in our country or the world. It was so hard to see the effects of the oil spill and hear the promises they made (again) and then discover it is just another repeat of previous examples. There were segments with at least one person who was impacted by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska so many years ago. I think she said it was 24 years later and Alaska hadn't yet recovered from their disaster. The documentary was trying to show the things they had in common for the environment, the people, and the finances... and the government.
My interests are in the effects on our food supplies and water sources. Seeing the photos, hearing the effects, discovering the details about the aftermath... it is frightening to me. The oceans bring all that pollution to every other part of the globe, eventually.
In the documentary, they reported on deformities and tumors in the shrimp over two years after the disaster, and I remember hearing that the seafood had "recovered" by then, but the biologist pointed out that when you go to the market to buy shrimp, you would not see the deformed parts or the tumors or the things you would never eat if you did know.
This is our government's concern for us... the priority is the economy, the taxes that business brings to the government, the money to get elected, the desire to keep your job, the apathy for what is right or wrong, and the fact that the people who are being destroyed can't afford to go to Washington (DC) or their own state governments to fight for twenty years just to lose.
It is a difficult moment to realize that your life depends on a system that is overwhelmed with more problems than it can handle, so yours is meaningless.
How will we make America the great country it use to be? We are not the same country. The definition of "great" is probably something we need to talk about first.
The news was filled with tariff issues today... I was able to see a lot of channels of news today. The media reports more about topics that are against tariffs, and that included the announcement that Harley Davidson was going to blame tariffs for their decisions to move some of their business to the European areas where they sell many of their products. The media doesn't focus on the economic decline of America caused by what I believe is called "trade imbalances."
In my quest for Working Together's future, I realized that transportation and shipping might not be available in the future for Christians. To me, the only reasonable solution was to make each member region self-sufficient. That led me to see the wisdom of having business operations in other regions that serve just that region. I think it would be wise for Harley Davidson to build a new factory in Europe, and sell it's products to those places that are within that continent. The US factory can sell to US customers. Other people can decide if they want to ship from the US or from the European factory.
My reason for wanting to go in this direction is also because of the differences in currency values. I figure pricing in other regions will be based on the costs to produce the products that are created and sold there. It can make things better for everyone.
I think locals in other places need to benefit from the businesses that exist in their location... just like we want to benefit from their existence.
I often wonder how we can find what is right instead of what is only good for the business... like the BP and Exxon recoveries.
This has been a big day for serious thinking... I will be continuing this conversation in future blogs, I am sure.
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
May GOD find us doing more of what is right than what is best for us.
May we see that the damage we do to the world is the same as killing out kids and grandkids.
May we all look for better solutions, help each other in times of trouble, and be thankful for our life.
May GOD be the focus of our decisions.
Amen.
22 June, 2018
It's LATE on Thursday, 21 June 2018
I am starting this post at about 11:40pm -- having gone to bed earlier, and been roused about 10:45pm. I wrote some of my monthly letters and decided I better get to this, too.
I have two relatives that do photography. I came across a free guide from 2017 through teachable.com about 17 ways to make money online and thought they might like to see the page about selling your photos for $5 each. I have no idea if they already know about it, but I made a copy of that page and sent it to them.
I still need to check out the site myself. I am assuming they offer photos for people to use with online creations... maybe products... probably for advertising... whatever stock photos are used for. I don't know if they let the photographers follow their photos after selling them to this site, but it could be a great way to see what sells, and later I thought that attribution with the photos might be a link back to them. I have to find out what they really do... I hope it isn't just buy the photos and your connection to it is GONE! :-)
Teachable is an online course-making site. I eventually want to get into those kinds of things, after I get my products figured out, so I was checking on it. I think I was listening to a business video with a link, or it came through an email. I am learning all these connecting options as I look for info for myself. I see the missing parts more easily... and will remember them when I get to my own creations.
They offer a lot of free materials about the process of creating a course for online selling... and that is nice. I just downloaded most of it and have to sort through it.
With all my other research, it is a lot of online reading. I prefer print copies, but I can't afford all that ink. It's a challenge for me to go through this process of learning what is available online. I do what I can, and then (often) have to wait for more money, etc.
Kindle publishing has been in my plans for so many years... it is what I planned to do at Amazon... books, PDFs, Kindles... I am really beginning to see the process may be achievable now. I hope so. I am still working on what to publish first -- for myself -- but it is coming along. I have several publishing goals, but not sure what to do on Amazon and what to do elsewhere. My perspective is about getting all my lifetime plans out for the world to think about... before I die. :-( When I started this journey I thought I would be farther along than this... I seriously should have been a billionaire by now and have my WT regions established. So, we have to find out what GOD had in mind....
I am working on a booklet for one of my son's writings. He is in prison and I realized that we could do this as a way to help him create income for the future... and now. Inmates are currently limited in how much money they can access, but I hope to advocate for a better system... higher wages, income options online (I call it an eBay for inmates.), making payments for their restitution, taking care of their families, learning budgeting for when they get out, saving money for when they are released, donating to their own favorite causes, gifts, and taking care of their own needs... hygiene, food, clothes, etc.
Well... midnight just passed... welcome to Friday, 22 June 2018....
I have been trying to do more yardwork again... trying not to overdo it and get sick again.... I had to "rest" several times yesterday and today, but I am getting it done a little at a time... when it isn't TOO hot. :-) I am seeing the year after year improvement goals that ownership allows... wanting my own little piece of land to build on the future for myself... Maybe I can sell enough to buy that land finally. If GOD allows me to live, and hire help, "it could happen." :-)
I think I need to eat something and get back to bed... I will probably be talking at you tomorrow, but I'm not sure, so...
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
May GOD be kind to those who love Him and trust Him to provide for their needs... Amen.
I have two relatives that do photography. I came across a free guide from 2017 through teachable.com about 17 ways to make money online and thought they might like to see the page about selling your photos for $5 each. I have no idea if they already know about it, but I made a copy of that page and sent it to them.
I still need to check out the site myself. I am assuming they offer photos for people to use with online creations... maybe products... probably for advertising... whatever stock photos are used for. I don't know if they let the photographers follow their photos after selling them to this site, but it could be a great way to see what sells, and later I thought that attribution with the photos might be a link back to them. I have to find out what they really do... I hope it isn't just buy the photos and your connection to it is GONE! :-)
Teachable is an online course-making site. I eventually want to get into those kinds of things, after I get my products figured out, so I was checking on it. I think I was listening to a business video with a link, or it came through an email. I am learning all these connecting options as I look for info for myself. I see the missing parts more easily... and will remember them when I get to my own creations.
They offer a lot of free materials about the process of creating a course for online selling... and that is nice. I just downloaded most of it and have to sort through it.
With all my other research, it is a lot of online reading. I prefer print copies, but I can't afford all that ink. It's a challenge for me to go through this process of learning what is available online. I do what I can, and then (often) have to wait for more money, etc.
Kindle publishing has been in my plans for so many years... it is what I planned to do at Amazon... books, PDFs, Kindles... I am really beginning to see the process may be achievable now. I hope so. I am still working on what to publish first -- for myself -- but it is coming along. I have several publishing goals, but not sure what to do on Amazon and what to do elsewhere. My perspective is about getting all my lifetime plans out for the world to think about... before I die. :-( When I started this journey I thought I would be farther along than this... I seriously should have been a billionaire by now and have my WT regions established. So, we have to find out what GOD had in mind....
I am working on a booklet for one of my son's writings. He is in prison and I realized that we could do this as a way to help him create income for the future... and now. Inmates are currently limited in how much money they can access, but I hope to advocate for a better system... higher wages, income options online (I call it an eBay for inmates.), making payments for their restitution, taking care of their families, learning budgeting for when they get out, saving money for when they are released, donating to their own favorite causes, gifts, and taking care of their own needs... hygiene, food, clothes, etc.
Well... midnight just passed... welcome to Friday, 22 June 2018....
I have been trying to do more yardwork again... trying not to overdo it and get sick again.... I had to "rest" several times yesterday and today, but I am getting it done a little at a time... when it isn't TOO hot. :-) I am seeing the year after year improvement goals that ownership allows... wanting my own little piece of land to build on the future for myself... Maybe I can sell enough to buy that land finally. If GOD allows me to live, and hire help, "it could happen." :-)
I think I need to eat something and get back to bed... I will probably be talking at you tomorrow, but I'm not sure, so...
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
May GOD be kind to those who love Him and trust Him to provide for their needs... Amen.
20 June, 2018
Wednesday, 20 June 2018
I am almost finished reorganizing my goal workbook/s... moving things around for better use, and getting things done, I hope.
Mailed my three letters this morning, have three more waiting to be written.
Tried to do some yardwork, but had to stop because of the heat... however, finished one pile, started another, and trimmed up one tree. Something. Now I can feel accomplished, right?
I have been thinking most of the day... about writing books, and what to write about... it is sometimes easy for me to go on and on and on, but how to make the details work for one book, that is what I am contemplating. Just seeing a possible reality to my goal to write... that is amazing to me.
I miss my Publisher program... I am trying to figure out how I can make a document that will work with the upload formats I am learning about.
I think I am going to have to search out my OLD camera for making photos, after all my struggles... this is a pit. I bought some tablets to take better photos and get them uploaded for selling. Now, I have this used computer and it seems the best option to use for making listings, so the photo problems have returned.
eBay has a free amount of listings I can do per month... well, June, at least, I think. I am trying to get my listings up for it. To edit photos for this process, I think I need a better computer.
It is a very ongoing problem. If I had the funds to go out and solve my issues, it would be such a big issue... I am looking for alternative to fit my current situation, which also seems to change too often. Life is a series of problems that need to be fixed... I hope I have found a path that is at least workable.
By Monday I hope to have this worked out... keep watching my shops, you will find out before next week's posts.
I discovered an amazing fundraiser attached to Facebook a bit ago... they are raising money for getting immigrant kids back with their parents... when I got to the fundraising page, it said they had collected over 13.5 MILLION dollars of a 15M goal. That is great. I posted about it, but also added that I hope there is an oversight process for the funds... on how it will be spent. It seems like a lot of money, but it goes so fast when legal issues are involved... lawyers, fees, travel, housing, etc. I'm not sure what else, but money goes fast in great needs, so I hope it is carefully dispersed.
Here is the link to the page ::
https://www.facebook.com/donate/490507544717085/
I think the news story about the 8-month old child taken away from its mother was the last straw... any group or government needs to make it the absolute last option to separate kids from their parents. In the immigrant crisis, the issues of non-parents and abuse and criminal intents make the problem harder to administrate, but those situations must be few. I hope the kids will be made safe and we can find better answers.
I made a comment on a post, yesterday I think, about the need for non-money-costing solutions for the government. I think the bigger complaint is the welfare burden attributed to immigrants at some level. If we can take away that cost burden, it may create a way to find better solutions.
I have always believed that similar people groups already in the US would be willing to support their people. I have seen that the Mexican people do. I don't know about everyone else. Sponsorships can be created, with a large file of biological identifiers taken in the process of registration (DNA, retinal scans, fingerprints, voice records, video records, etc.), there could also be a yearly renewal.
Another great option for everyone in agriculture and food processing and related manufacturing industries that exploit immigrants, would be to require employers to request the workers they need and be required to provide housing (year-round) for them and their families as part of the program. This links the jobs, housing, security, oversight, visitor status, government records (DNA, etc.), and other safeguards for the immigrants and the US government. Employers need to be responsible for these families, and immigrants need to be legally here to prevent employer abuses.
My motivation for all these ideas is the reality of a global environment. It won't be long before people will travel between countries like we travel between states. We are heading into a National ID process, which will change a lot of fraud and crime and duplications of things... so it is better to think ahead than to wait for problems to happen. Right?
I have been so agitated by the tax issues we argue about all the time I have been thinking I need to write my first booklet on taxes... how to change the system and make it fair for everyone. I wonder if I can keep that conversation below 100 pages... I'm not sure.
I have to get going... the life I live is calling me away. :-)
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
Pray for wisdom, strength, character, honesty, compassion, mercy, and generosity for all of us. Amen.
Mailed my three letters this morning, have three more waiting to be written.
Tried to do some yardwork, but had to stop because of the heat... however, finished one pile, started another, and trimmed up one tree. Something. Now I can feel accomplished, right?
I have been thinking most of the day... about writing books, and what to write about... it is sometimes easy for me to go on and on and on, but how to make the details work for one book, that is what I am contemplating. Just seeing a possible reality to my goal to write... that is amazing to me.
I miss my Publisher program... I am trying to figure out how I can make a document that will work with the upload formats I am learning about.
I think I am going to have to search out my OLD camera for making photos, after all my struggles... this is a pit. I bought some tablets to take better photos and get them uploaded for selling. Now, I have this used computer and it seems the best option to use for making listings, so the photo problems have returned.
eBay has a free amount of listings I can do per month... well, June, at least, I think. I am trying to get my listings up for it. To edit photos for this process, I think I need a better computer.
It is a very ongoing problem. If I had the funds to go out and solve my issues, it would be such a big issue... I am looking for alternative to fit my current situation, which also seems to change too often. Life is a series of problems that need to be fixed... I hope I have found a path that is at least workable.
By Monday I hope to have this worked out... keep watching my shops, you will find out before next week's posts.
I discovered an amazing fundraiser attached to Facebook a bit ago... they are raising money for getting immigrant kids back with their parents... when I got to the fundraising page, it said they had collected over 13.5 MILLION dollars of a 15M goal. That is great. I posted about it, but also added that I hope there is an oversight process for the funds... on how it will be spent. It seems like a lot of money, but it goes so fast when legal issues are involved... lawyers, fees, travel, housing, etc. I'm not sure what else, but money goes fast in great needs, so I hope it is carefully dispersed.
Here is the link to the page ::
https://www.facebook.com/donate/490507544717085/
I think the news story about the 8-month old child taken away from its mother was the last straw... any group or government needs to make it the absolute last option to separate kids from their parents. In the immigrant crisis, the issues of non-parents and abuse and criminal intents make the problem harder to administrate, but those situations must be few. I hope the kids will be made safe and we can find better answers.
I made a comment on a post, yesterday I think, about the need for non-money-costing solutions for the government. I think the bigger complaint is the welfare burden attributed to immigrants at some level. If we can take away that cost burden, it may create a way to find better solutions.
I have always believed that similar people groups already in the US would be willing to support their people. I have seen that the Mexican people do. I don't know about everyone else. Sponsorships can be created, with a large file of biological identifiers taken in the process of registration (DNA, retinal scans, fingerprints, voice records, video records, etc.), there could also be a yearly renewal.
Another great option for everyone in agriculture and food processing and related manufacturing industries that exploit immigrants, would be to require employers to request the workers they need and be required to provide housing (year-round) for them and their families as part of the program. This links the jobs, housing, security, oversight, visitor status, government records (DNA, etc.), and other safeguards for the immigrants and the US government. Employers need to be responsible for these families, and immigrants need to be legally here to prevent employer abuses.
My motivation for all these ideas is the reality of a global environment. It won't be long before people will travel between countries like we travel between states. We are heading into a National ID process, which will change a lot of fraud and crime and duplications of things... so it is better to think ahead than to wait for problems to happen. Right?
I have been so agitated by the tax issues we argue about all the time I have been thinking I need to write my first booklet on taxes... how to change the system and make it fair for everyone. I wonder if I can keep that conversation below 100 pages... I'm not sure.
I have to get going... the life I live is calling me away. :-)
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
Pray for wisdom, strength, character, honesty, compassion, mercy, and generosity for all of us. Amen.
19 June, 2018
Tuesday, 19 June 2018
Portland, Oregon has the country’s highest number of people who don’t identify with any faith
That's what it said in my email from BGEA (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)… even the churches are affected by the gay issues here... Prayer... we do that a lot here... hoping it will change the environment... but it is a hard place to be... a Christian.
I guess I have wondered what it is like for the Jews here, too... but I have no idea.
Knowing and proving are two different things... that's the reality of life these days. What some call "activism" others call a crime.
Enough of that... it's a sad topic.
I have been trying to figure out how to write and publish a Kindle book. I went exploring at Amazon yesterday to find out more current info on the formatting process, then wound up buying an eBook about the topic... It was my FIRST purchase of an eBook, so I decided to stay in the 99-cent range. Today I went back and purchased another 99-cent Kindle book. Both were about publishing online. The second purchase had a link to some kind of video course, so I will be checking on that tonight. It is helping me discover some of the internet options I don't know about yet. This new book has a chapter on formatting, so I need to read that to get an idea. Both books are (c) 2017. I was surprised that some of the links in the first book are already inoperable. I don't know about this second book.
Book One :: Penniless Publishing : How to Publish a Book Without Spending a Cent
By :: Ed Lewis
Book Two :: The Easy 9-Step System to Your First Book in 30 Days
By :: Nuno Almeida (from Portugal!!!)
I decided to look through this second Kindle book before going for a new book especially about Kindle publishing that is more expensive. I am trying to understand how these this work.
Buying is easy! Writing a good book is my challenge... something meaningful. Not sure what to focus on first, but I'm trying to decide as I go through these copies.
*
I was able to get three of my monthly letters done today... maybe I can get some more done before the mailman gets here tomorrow.
My expected purchase from eBay didn't show up today... not sure why. I am excited to see what they look like (dies for cutting things with a machine of some kind)… I want to get one of those Sizzix machines... I'm trying to decide which one, and if I can get a used one, and how much money I will need. I also ordered some embossing folders to experiment with. :-)
Christmas is coming fast... I hope to get this all worked out by September!
*
I ordered a DVD about establishing a small farm or backyard garden... from a long time ago. I am hoping it has some useful information in it. I have never seen one like this before. I am anxious to get it, along with another DVD that is about whether animals are a food source or more like a pet.
I also ordered one about the Deepwater Horizon disaster... wondering what it says. I finally watched the movie, maybe the end of last year. I am not sure what this DVD has on it, so it will be interesting to find out.
In the quest to build my food documentary collection, I ordered one called FOOD CHAINS. The garden/farm one is part of that quest, too... and maybe the Animal one. My goal for this year is one a month... I am behind in that quest, so I ordered these three about food.
Another goal I decided to achieve was getting a copy of Joey Feek singing "That's Important to Me" on a CD or DVD. I finally found out which release it was on, so I bought a less expensive copy on eBay. I hope it is a good copy.
*
You might think my June budget was in shreds... and you would be right. :-( But, I am already working on the recovery process.
*
Well... that is my world right now... trying to get things done, figure out solutions to my personal challenges, organizing my goals, praying for lightning bolts from heaven for some issues, and looking to GOD for my needs.
I wondered again today if the battle is really about the power of GOD to intervene... I suppose that is always the issue for human beings, but not always the issue for GOD. His Plans are not our visions. It is the submission to authority challenge... who do we believe is in charge... can we accept it when they don't want to do the things we want them to do... I suppose this is a daily battle.
I have to fight my way through this all the time...
It is not an easy battle.
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
May we all find our path to the future without destroying the lives of others. Amen.
That's what it said in my email from BGEA (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)… even the churches are affected by the gay issues here... Prayer... we do that a lot here... hoping it will change the environment... but it is a hard place to be... a Christian.
I guess I have wondered what it is like for the Jews here, too... but I have no idea.
Knowing and proving are two different things... that's the reality of life these days. What some call "activism" others call a crime.
Enough of that... it's a sad topic.
I have been trying to figure out how to write and publish a Kindle book. I went exploring at Amazon yesterday to find out more current info on the formatting process, then wound up buying an eBook about the topic... It was my FIRST purchase of an eBook, so I decided to stay in the 99-cent range. Today I went back and purchased another 99-cent Kindle book. Both were about publishing online. The second purchase had a link to some kind of video course, so I will be checking on that tonight. It is helping me discover some of the internet options I don't know about yet. This new book has a chapter on formatting, so I need to read that to get an idea. Both books are (c) 2017. I was surprised that some of the links in the first book are already inoperable. I don't know about this second book.
Book One :: Penniless Publishing : How to Publish a Book Without Spending a Cent
By :: Ed Lewis
Book Two :: The Easy 9-Step System to Your First Book in 30 Days
By :: Nuno Almeida (from Portugal!!!)
I decided to look through this second Kindle book before going for a new book especially about Kindle publishing that is more expensive. I am trying to understand how these this work.
Buying is easy! Writing a good book is my challenge... something meaningful. Not sure what to focus on first, but I'm trying to decide as I go through these copies.
*
I was able to get three of my monthly letters done today... maybe I can get some more done before the mailman gets here tomorrow.
My expected purchase from eBay didn't show up today... not sure why. I am excited to see what they look like (dies for cutting things with a machine of some kind)… I want to get one of those Sizzix machines... I'm trying to decide which one, and if I can get a used one, and how much money I will need. I also ordered some embossing folders to experiment with. :-)
Christmas is coming fast... I hope to get this all worked out by September!
*
I ordered a DVD about establishing a small farm or backyard garden... from a long time ago. I am hoping it has some useful information in it. I have never seen one like this before. I am anxious to get it, along with another DVD that is about whether animals are a food source or more like a pet.
I also ordered one about the Deepwater Horizon disaster... wondering what it says. I finally watched the movie, maybe the end of last year. I am not sure what this DVD has on it, so it will be interesting to find out.
In the quest to build my food documentary collection, I ordered one called FOOD CHAINS. The garden/farm one is part of that quest, too... and maybe the Animal one. My goal for this year is one a month... I am behind in that quest, so I ordered these three about food.
Another goal I decided to achieve was getting a copy of Joey Feek singing "That's Important to Me" on a CD or DVD. I finally found out which release it was on, so I bought a less expensive copy on eBay. I hope it is a good copy.
*
You might think my June budget was in shreds... and you would be right. :-( But, I am already working on the recovery process.
*
Well... that is my world right now... trying to get things done, figure out solutions to my personal challenges, organizing my goals, praying for lightning bolts from heaven for some issues, and looking to GOD for my needs.
I wondered again today if the battle is really about the power of GOD to intervene... I suppose that is always the issue for human beings, but not always the issue for GOD. His Plans are not our visions. It is the submission to authority challenge... who do we believe is in charge... can we accept it when they don't want to do the things we want them to do... I suppose this is a daily battle.
I have to fight my way through this all the time...
It is not an easy battle.
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
May we all find our path to the future without destroying the lives of others. Amen.
18 June, 2018
Monday, 18 June 2018
My goodness... what a long weekend... I get busy with reading and research and one thing leads to another... I was going to post several times, but always got distracted by something else.
This morning... a long emotional ride on the gay political express... there seem to be stories all over the internet news, at least the ones I see, There are lots of programing issues with content control... it can work a lot of different ways. If you are against something, it seems you can be automatically "sensitized" with tons of content about the thing you dislike, especially if it relates to homosexuality and the causes related to it.
I browsed through a story about public people with kids claiming their status in the gay community. I found it sad. I know there are forces beyond my ability to deal with that work to push my sons into the gay lifestyle, including prison, but I continue to pray that GOD will win this battle. Because my children make bad choices doesn't make them not my children. I have to find a new normal when they are addicts, when they go to prison, and when the world of those who hate GOD (and my faith) leads them into things that are not godly.
What is a hate crime? Based on my personal experience, I would say it is when someone goes out of their way to cause damage to another person's life and family because they disagree with their views. They are purposely causing harm... whether it is a gay person against a person of faith, or a Christian against someone they disagree with... which could be more than just the gay issue.
I understand that domestic violence lives in the gay community as well.
I guess we all have seen that adopting when you are gay is not a guarantee you will be a good parent... murder / suicide happens to many families... is it a gay issue or a personal issue?
I know addictions happen in the gay community as well. Addictions cause problems beyond our ability to deal with... including sexual prostitution, deviance, rape, and more. Are these consequences because they are part of the gay community or because they are a Christian or because they are human beings with problems?
It's an impossible space right now.
Children are influenced by those around them, by the people who mean the most to them, by manipulators, by those who want to hurt them and not be found out, by media, by books, by conversations, by all the things that make up their lives. The normal of a Christian home is a different normal from a gay family's home. When we have conversations about what is normal and what is a crime (abuse), those conversations are different. Homes with addiction issues have characteristics that appear to be normal, but are not. If often takes a long time to recover from our childhoods, no matter what the individual problems were that we faced.
What is "normal?"
It is a hard word to define because there is a wide range of activities and perspectives that are normal for the human being... and that is not even taking into account the religious and cultural details of what would be called normal in different groups of people.
I found that the Bible held more answers about what is healthy for human beings, and that seemed like a great "normal" to me... healthy, good, balanced, reasonable, mutually beneficial... if you can find others who also see the wisdom of GOD and are growing in those directions.
I didn't become a perfect person when I became a committed Christian... my life began to grow into a better space. I discovered right and wrong, and tried to become more of what was right. I believe this growth process continues until we die.
We can look at our natural body and see that it was created to be united as male and female. We can see that procreation requires a male and a female. We can see that the differences are important in creating and protecting the natural family unit. Men have certain traits, women have certain traits, and when they perform their duties in the family, the family is helped to survive... to create new generations of families. This makes the world continue.
We find out from GOD that monogamous relationships are best... one man and one woman for one lifetime. This protects us as individuals and as families. We can see that our other adaptations away from this have caused great harm to society and history and generations. Because we choose to do things differently does not make the original plan wrong... GOD gave us free will, and we suffer the consequences of our choices. All the broken lives create what we have as a world right now... and that isn't even part of the other effects of humanity... greed, lust, power, sex, violence, addictions, etc.
So, what is a hate crime? If a gay person does something to hurt my life, isn't it still a hate crime?
Let me know what you think... are Christians the only ones doing hateful things?
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
May the GOD I love find a way to provide for the protection of His people.
May the world become a better place to live.
May the forces of hate and evil be made public so we can deal with them.
May the love of GOD be seen in the media.
May we find a way to protect the future and the rights of each person.
May our lives become better than we think they can be.
May Truth become our goal.
Amen.
This morning... a long emotional ride on the gay political express... there seem to be stories all over the internet news, at least the ones I see, There are lots of programing issues with content control... it can work a lot of different ways. If you are against something, it seems you can be automatically "sensitized" with tons of content about the thing you dislike, especially if it relates to homosexuality and the causes related to it.
I browsed through a story about public people with kids claiming their status in the gay community. I found it sad. I know there are forces beyond my ability to deal with that work to push my sons into the gay lifestyle, including prison, but I continue to pray that GOD will win this battle. Because my children make bad choices doesn't make them not my children. I have to find a new normal when they are addicts, when they go to prison, and when the world of those who hate GOD (and my faith) leads them into things that are not godly.
What is a hate crime? Based on my personal experience, I would say it is when someone goes out of their way to cause damage to another person's life and family because they disagree with their views. They are purposely causing harm... whether it is a gay person against a person of faith, or a Christian against someone they disagree with... which could be more than just the gay issue.
I understand that domestic violence lives in the gay community as well.
I guess we all have seen that adopting when you are gay is not a guarantee you will be a good parent... murder / suicide happens to many families... is it a gay issue or a personal issue?
I know addictions happen in the gay community as well. Addictions cause problems beyond our ability to deal with... including sexual prostitution, deviance, rape, and more. Are these consequences because they are part of the gay community or because they are a Christian or because they are human beings with problems?
It's an impossible space right now.
Children are influenced by those around them, by the people who mean the most to them, by manipulators, by those who want to hurt them and not be found out, by media, by books, by conversations, by all the things that make up their lives. The normal of a Christian home is a different normal from a gay family's home. When we have conversations about what is normal and what is a crime (abuse), those conversations are different. Homes with addiction issues have characteristics that appear to be normal, but are not. If often takes a long time to recover from our childhoods, no matter what the individual problems were that we faced.
What is "normal?"
It is a hard word to define because there is a wide range of activities and perspectives that are normal for the human being... and that is not even taking into account the religious and cultural details of what would be called normal in different groups of people.
I found that the Bible held more answers about what is healthy for human beings, and that seemed like a great "normal" to me... healthy, good, balanced, reasonable, mutually beneficial... if you can find others who also see the wisdom of GOD and are growing in those directions.
I didn't become a perfect person when I became a committed Christian... my life began to grow into a better space. I discovered right and wrong, and tried to become more of what was right. I believe this growth process continues until we die.
We can look at our natural body and see that it was created to be united as male and female. We can see that procreation requires a male and a female. We can see that the differences are important in creating and protecting the natural family unit. Men have certain traits, women have certain traits, and when they perform their duties in the family, the family is helped to survive... to create new generations of families. This makes the world continue.
We find out from GOD that monogamous relationships are best... one man and one woman for one lifetime. This protects us as individuals and as families. We can see that our other adaptations away from this have caused great harm to society and history and generations. Because we choose to do things differently does not make the original plan wrong... GOD gave us free will, and we suffer the consequences of our choices. All the broken lives create what we have as a world right now... and that isn't even part of the other effects of humanity... greed, lust, power, sex, violence, addictions, etc.
So, what is a hate crime? If a gay person does something to hurt my life, isn't it still a hate crime?
Let me know what you think... are Christians the only ones doing hateful things?
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
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May the GOD I love find a way to provide for the protection of His people.
May the world become a better place to live.
May the forces of hate and evil be made public so we can deal with them.
May the love of GOD be seen in the media.
May we find a way to protect the future and the rights of each person.
May our lives become better than we think they can be.
May Truth become our goal.
Amen.
15 June, 2018
Friday, 15 JUNE 2018
I am finally here!
What to share on my journal blogs is quite a challenge... In the world of repeat messages, I am seeing the strain of "dead air time" and having to create a constant stream of "sermons" -- the two things I have been thinking about with my writing challenges and goals... the media, and the church.
I am also thinking about what to write for selling... books, articles, mini-books, zines, and whatever else I discover has some sales potentials.
I was doing something online and ended up at an eBay (this link goes to my shop) page with an old wringer-style washing machine... where I then discovered there are still hundreds of them in existence. I was amazed. I may actually be able to find and buy one someday! I still remember helping my grandmother in the basement of her farm... doing laundry there was a lot different than doing laundry now... I was in love with the rolling thing that squished the excess water out of the clothes. :-) Been wanting one of those machines since then.
If I remember right, she had to fill the tub with hot water, add the laundry soap, put each article of laundry into the tub (that was agitating -- with no lid!), decide how long it needed to become "clean" and ready for the next step... I think the roller squeezer thing (the wringer) then took out the soapy water so you could put the soapy laundry into a tub of "rinse water." Eventually, you got the laundry to the clothes line to dry. In the snowy winters, the line was across the basement...several different lines hung from somewhere. I don't know where... I didn't care about those things as a child... I just remember the rows of drying clothes.
I remember everything had to be ironed after it was dry. In our family history, that meant hand sprinkling water on the item, rolling it up, then putting it into a plastic bag until it got ironed. I think the clothes got put in the freezer if it took too long to get to it. I think ironing was one of the "chores" for older kids... probably the girl kids... who can remember all that now...but that was how things were done back then... somewhere in the 1950's and 1960's. :-)
All I want is the washing machine.... or the wringer system if I can't have the whole machine... I discovered one over a pail once... but couldn't afford it. My life wasn't stable enough for owning it then... it would have been lost to the hazards of poverty anyway.
I hope I can find my own space soon, something that will last for the rest of my life, something of my own, secured, safe, my " final resting place " in this life, so I won't have to lose all those things I tried to build my life with... again. I need space for my crafting, and computing duties, and shipping, and life... permanent space... not something I continue to fear will be lost because of my finances... and now my age and health.
All these memories keep rising up again... and I am still not where I want to be. I don't have much time left, I guess GOD will have to do something soon if I am going to find the answer to all my prayers.
I briefly discovered something called a "vision board" when I was looking at things online. I tried to find out more about it, but didn't see much. I looked for examples... didn't find any good photos. :-) I will try to check out Pinterest (this link goes to my Pinterest page to start) for some photos over the weekend, if I remember. What I did see seemed to be like affirmations on social media posts... more of a positive thinking board. Maybe like my "inspiration wall" concept... making a collage of things that matter to you... that inspire you... that represent your goals.
In reading some of the "affirmations" and their details, I was reminded of my goal process with Brian Tracy... the 30-day exercise where you write out 10 goals in the view of already being achieved. That means saying "I am driving X car, in blue, with leather seats, cruise control, etc., and loving it!" instead of saying "I want a car." I don't know if that is the best example, but you can check out Brian Tracy's goal stuff online... at briantracy.com and YouTube, (this link goes to my YouTube channel with some of his videos on it) and maybe other places. It was quite an interesting view of goal statements when I first discovered it. I still have my CD's by him from a long time ago, and I listen to them every now and then. I love the title of one :: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life -- it still inspires me.
The other day I was checking on Kindle books again and almost bought one... a short inspirational book by someone I think is historical, but don't really know... I wasn't familiar with the name. I discovered that "short reads" at Kindle/Amazon are under 100 pages... that became my goal for my first book effort. I had been thinking in those terms already, but finding the "number" on the Kindle info validated my own thoughts on the topic. I discovered audible book options, too... and their option to self-publish in print mode. (I didn't check on the costs yet... again...)
Now... what to write about... I don't know if I am already on the other side of my desert trial and have enough inspiration to encourage others yet.
So much to think about.
Well... I think I will get going for today... still have a lot to do. The Sabbath begins at sundown... and I am still working on how to honor it in my life. :-) Change takes time... a long time.
Until the next time I meet you here, GOD willing,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
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May GOD watch over all of the good people, especially those who love Him and are on their way to salvation, children, old people, those in deep need, and me. :-)
14 June, 2018
Thursday, 14 June 2018
Well... I missed yesterday because I wasn't in a good space to write anything...
Today... wellllllll…. I'm beat. Just got back from getting groceries and household things, put them away, did a little bookkeeping, and I'm going to bed.
I will try to write in the morning. :-)
Until then,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
Check this out ::
work2gather.us/EugeneTinyHouses4Homeless.html :-)
I think I posted an art thing I did in 2008 at my Crafting page on FB...
facebook.com/Art.Crafts.Recycling
I spent a lot of the day updating my Etsy shop ::
etsy.com/shop/work2gather
My "lists" are getting long...…………….. :-)
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May the good Lord of all the universe/s be kind to those of us who deserve His wrath.
May we all sleep well tonight.
May I not eat too much tomorrow. :-)
Amen.
Today... wellllllll…. I'm beat. Just got back from getting groceries and household things, put them away, did a little bookkeeping, and I'm going to bed.
I will try to write in the morning. :-)
Until then,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
Check this out ::
work2gather.us/EugeneTinyHouses4Homeless.html :-)
I think I posted an art thing I did in 2008 at my Crafting page on FB...
facebook.com/Art.Crafts.Recycling
I spent a lot of the day updating my Etsy shop ::
etsy.com/shop/work2gather
My "lists" are getting long...…………….. :-)
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May the good Lord of all the universe/s be kind to those of us who deserve His wrath.
May we all sleep well tonight.
May I not eat too much tomorrow. :-)
Amen.
12 June, 2018
Tuesday, 12 June 2018
I made it through another day! :-)
It was hot for most of the midday, but I wandered out to the huge blackberry bush... overgrowing the fence area it is in. Last summer I really cut it back, and this year it really grew back! I am beginning to figure out blackberry vines though. I think the flowers need to be waist high... maybe a nice little fence to keep them from the ground. It was a mess last summer... the berries get heavy as they get ripe so the branch they are on falls slowly to the lowest regions it can... on the ground for a lot. It is a waste of good food, and I bet there are lots of seeds just waiting to grow in that area.
That was most of my yardwork for the day... about killed me. I had to take a nap. Earlier I moved a few branches and other debris, and that didn't help. I needed to rest after that, too. I am thinking about an hour of yard work some time during the days... spread out, maybe. Or only attempting it two days a week... I'll have to see what happens.
Monday I received my Senior Farm Checks. I got six "checks" worth $4 each from USDA to use at Farmer's Markets through the end of November (this year)… previously they expired at the end of October. Many Farmer's Markets are staying open year-round now... and the end of November would include Thanksgiving meals. I always debate whether to save them, spend a little at a time, or just get the whole thing spent on one visit. Now that it is harder to get to a Farmer's Market, for me, I will probably spend all my saved Market money at once.
I have only received them since living with my son and his wife. I think three summers. I would have to do too much searching for an exact amount. When I arrived, I only had food stamps, then my Social Security Retirement payments started. I don't know who else qualifies, by income, but mine is pretty low, so this is a great benefit for me. I love Farmer's Markets, and organic produce, but it is very expensive for my budget. This helps me to be able to buy food there. I look for the best bargains. :-)
I am sure the future will get better... I hope so. There are problems I can't overcome yet, but I do my best. I have just kept trying my whole life. I don't know what GOD is doing when my efforts don't seem to be blessed, but I know that He is the One that governs my life so I trust the details to Him. In heaven, later on, I suppose I will find out.
I know I have talked about this before, but we never really know the hidden details of our lives, how they affect the ongoing process of GOD's Plan. When you read the Bible, there are always difficult passages that don't fit the "Happy Christian" mantra we often see in our churches today. People who were important to the times they lived in sometimes suffered greatly, but still were doing GOD's Will for that time.
I know my purpose is important... I just don't know how GOD will bring it into this world.
I realized today that I need to start getting ready for the Christmas selling season, and for the December MEMBERSHIP Drive for Working Together. I still need to figure out monthly payments and how to structure the benefits for that payment option. I see more lists in my future... but I am getting better with my daily notebook strategy. There is HOPE in my efforts! :-)
I shared some posts at Twitter today on our ideas of basic survival needs. One of the things I shared is a note I made from some source... I can't remember where I found it and forgot to write it down. This impacted me in my contemplating of our world and survival... the general idea is that ::
Without air you will only last 3 minutes.
Without water you will only last 3 days.
Without food you will only last 30 days.
These statements are generally true, even though I know there have been some people revived from cold water drownings after more than 3 minutes... etc. I think there are variables for the water and the food statements related to the individual person. The idea is clear... there are limits to our humanity, and some things are a necessity.
In one post I asked what "BASIC survival needs" are... and listed a bunch for starting the thought process... in another post I mentioned the effects of pollution and pesticides on our survival resources, asking what we will do when there is nothing left.
The motivation for creating Working Together was understanding the loss of basic life needs... through poverty, through homelessness, through the effort to survive. I guess I wondered what other people think BASIC needs are. You are welcome to respond to this query as well... here, or at Twitter. Depending on the amount of profit we can create through various programs, the sale of products, and other sources, the level of supplies for BASIC need resources will vary. As a member focus, I hope that will grow into all that we will need for any area of the world and any difficulty.
Well... time to get going. I started on my June letters and now have everything I need to send them, so I am busy working to get that list checked off. Five down, only 21+ more to go! :-)
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
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May the GOD of all find your heart and bless your life with something that matters to you.
May our country find peace, strength, wisdom, and mercy in the eyes of GOD.
May we discover there is more that this life, commit our days to GOD, and make the world better.
May life have meaning for each person.
May our joy be in the goodness we share with others.
May we discover the blessings of Truth, and stand for what is right for all of us.
In the holy and blessed Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
It was hot for most of the midday, but I wandered out to the huge blackberry bush... overgrowing the fence area it is in. Last summer I really cut it back, and this year it really grew back! I am beginning to figure out blackberry vines though. I think the flowers need to be waist high... maybe a nice little fence to keep them from the ground. It was a mess last summer... the berries get heavy as they get ripe so the branch they are on falls slowly to the lowest regions it can... on the ground for a lot. It is a waste of good food, and I bet there are lots of seeds just waiting to grow in that area.
That was most of my yardwork for the day... about killed me. I had to take a nap. Earlier I moved a few branches and other debris, and that didn't help. I needed to rest after that, too. I am thinking about an hour of yard work some time during the days... spread out, maybe. Or only attempting it two days a week... I'll have to see what happens.
Monday I received my Senior Farm Checks. I got six "checks" worth $4 each from USDA to use at Farmer's Markets through the end of November (this year)… previously they expired at the end of October. Many Farmer's Markets are staying open year-round now... and the end of November would include Thanksgiving meals. I always debate whether to save them, spend a little at a time, or just get the whole thing spent on one visit. Now that it is harder to get to a Farmer's Market, for me, I will probably spend all my saved Market money at once.
I have only received them since living with my son and his wife. I think three summers. I would have to do too much searching for an exact amount. When I arrived, I only had food stamps, then my Social Security Retirement payments started. I don't know who else qualifies, by income, but mine is pretty low, so this is a great benefit for me. I love Farmer's Markets, and organic produce, but it is very expensive for my budget. This helps me to be able to buy food there. I look for the best bargains. :-)
I am sure the future will get better... I hope so. There are problems I can't overcome yet, but I do my best. I have just kept trying my whole life. I don't know what GOD is doing when my efforts don't seem to be blessed, but I know that He is the One that governs my life so I trust the details to Him. In heaven, later on, I suppose I will find out.
I know I have talked about this before, but we never really know the hidden details of our lives, how they affect the ongoing process of GOD's Plan. When you read the Bible, there are always difficult passages that don't fit the "Happy Christian" mantra we often see in our churches today. People who were important to the times they lived in sometimes suffered greatly, but still were doing GOD's Will for that time.
I know my purpose is important... I just don't know how GOD will bring it into this world.
I realized today that I need to start getting ready for the Christmas selling season, and for the December MEMBERSHIP Drive for Working Together. I still need to figure out monthly payments and how to structure the benefits for that payment option. I see more lists in my future... but I am getting better with my daily notebook strategy. There is HOPE in my efforts! :-)
I shared some posts at Twitter today on our ideas of basic survival needs. One of the things I shared is a note I made from some source... I can't remember where I found it and forgot to write it down. This impacted me in my contemplating of our world and survival... the general idea is that ::
Without air you will only last 3 minutes.
Without water you will only last 3 days.
Without food you will only last 30 days.
These statements are generally true, even though I know there have been some people revived from cold water drownings after more than 3 minutes... etc. I think there are variables for the water and the food statements related to the individual person. The idea is clear... there are limits to our humanity, and some things are a necessity.
In one post I asked what "BASIC survival needs" are... and listed a bunch for starting the thought process... in another post I mentioned the effects of pollution and pesticides on our survival resources, asking what we will do when there is nothing left.
The motivation for creating Working Together was understanding the loss of basic life needs... through poverty, through homelessness, through the effort to survive. I guess I wondered what other people think BASIC needs are. You are welcome to respond to this query as well... here, or at Twitter. Depending on the amount of profit we can create through various programs, the sale of products, and other sources, the level of supplies for BASIC need resources will vary. As a member focus, I hope that will grow into all that we will need for any area of the world and any difficulty.
Well... time to get going. I started on my June letters and now have everything I need to send them, so I am busy working to get that list checked off. Five down, only 21+ more to go! :-)
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
*
*
*
May the GOD of all find your heart and bless your life with something that matters to you.
May our country find peace, strength, wisdom, and mercy in the eyes of GOD.
May we discover there is more that this life, commit our days to GOD, and make the world better.
May life have meaning for each person.
May our joy be in the goodness we share with others.
May we discover the blessings of Truth, and stand for what is right for all of us.
In the holy and blessed Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
11 June, 2018
Monday, 11 June 2018
I keep getting distracted... I need to work on that... :-)
All day Sunday I was "moved" to write a post... but I never did... in the morning I thought of lots of stuff to write, but in the busy-ness of the day, I couldn't remember my inspirations...
Today... I am almost forgetting to post, getting sidetracked by social media, fatigue, and politics!
When I feel the evils of the world attacking my life, I remind myself that I am only one of GOD's people, and that my place in the workings of prophecy are small... GOD will achieve His goals, He will bring about His plans according to His timetable. I just do what I can on my way. Some days are harder than others, but I do my best. There is so much sorrow and pain in other lives, more than mine, so I try to keep my perspectives in godly focus.
I have long said, often, that there are some things we can control and some things we can't. We have to focus on what we are able to do. It isn't easy, but it is what we have to do.
How was your day? Your weekend?
I spent Saturday watching some movies, including a version of Jungle Book... so glad to see it after such a long intermission... it was animated, and funny, and I kept trying to guess the voices. Some I didn't know. When I watched the credits, I discovered one name and then found it at another movie for my next viewing choice... Daddy's Little Girls. I still don't really know who he is (in movie standards), but I did like the movie I watched.
I have always been fascinated with the presentations of poverty and wealth in movies... I think Sabrina was one... the chauffer's (spelling?) daughter and the wealthy son. I have always loved the original OVERBOARD movie, with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, even though some parts are not something I need to see. This movie, Daddy's Little Girls, had me crying because of the poverty and court issues it brings up. Of course, I have to wonder, again, if that is really how wealthy people act.
What else did I see... I can't recall right now.
I am not in a good mood for writing... so I better take the safe path and let this post end here... I can really get going if I am irritated, and tired. This is the human condition.
So, until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
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I saw on Twitter that Trump is meeting with the leader of North Korea... may we all pray that there is a good discussion between them and that the problems we all face together will begin to be solved.
May our country be protected.
May our rights be protected.
May our freedoms be protected.
May our lives be protected.
Amen.
All day Sunday I was "moved" to write a post... but I never did... in the morning I thought of lots of stuff to write, but in the busy-ness of the day, I couldn't remember my inspirations...
Today... I am almost forgetting to post, getting sidetracked by social media, fatigue, and politics!
When I feel the evils of the world attacking my life, I remind myself that I am only one of GOD's people, and that my place in the workings of prophecy are small... GOD will achieve His goals, He will bring about His plans according to His timetable. I just do what I can on my way. Some days are harder than others, but I do my best. There is so much sorrow and pain in other lives, more than mine, so I try to keep my perspectives in godly focus.
I have long said, often, that there are some things we can control and some things we can't. We have to focus on what we are able to do. It isn't easy, but it is what we have to do.
How was your day? Your weekend?
I spent Saturday watching some movies, including a version of Jungle Book... so glad to see it after such a long intermission... it was animated, and funny, and I kept trying to guess the voices. Some I didn't know. When I watched the credits, I discovered one name and then found it at another movie for my next viewing choice... Daddy's Little Girls. I still don't really know who he is (in movie standards), but I did like the movie I watched.
I have always been fascinated with the presentations of poverty and wealth in movies... I think Sabrina was one... the chauffer's (spelling?) daughter and the wealthy son. I have always loved the original OVERBOARD movie, with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, even though some parts are not something I need to see. This movie, Daddy's Little Girls, had me crying because of the poverty and court issues it brings up. Of course, I have to wonder, again, if that is really how wealthy people act.
What else did I see... I can't recall right now.
I am not in a good mood for writing... so I better take the safe path and let this post end here... I can really get going if I am irritated, and tired. This is the human condition.
So, until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
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I saw on Twitter that Trump is meeting with the leader of North Korea... may we all pray that there is a good discussion between them and that the problems we all face together will begin to be solved.
May our country be protected.
May our rights be protected.
May our freedoms be protected.
May our lives be protected.
Amen.
08 June, 2018
Friday, 8 June 2018
I guess I didn't make it back to enter another (official) post yesterday... I have had a bad week and just went to bed a lot... all day... trying to make my body feel better.
Today, when I turned the computer on, and saw the news briefs on the main page, and noticed that there was another suicide in the world of celebrity, it made me pause and try to find out why. It seems he had been sending out signals for years... and wasn't able to find peace within his world. I can't begin to understand the world of being a media magnet (victim), so I guess there isn't a lot for me to comment on about that part of his life. I just think we all have to make a choice about what matters... where our priorities lie... what our dreams are that we want to find and discover if they will truly make us happy and fulfilled.
I think famous people get into a space where it is all they know, their value (self-worth) seems to be tied to the latest media report. I have the impression that it is tied to their level of income... so, it becomes the primary force in their lives.
Christians have to make a choice about these issues when their dreams are about music or theatre or movies or other media-driven industries... being the one at the top of the (manure) pile or being happy doing what they love, in a smaller community.
I was so saddened by a photo of Carrie Underwood this week. Her dress was a statement for the music competition to have the most baring outfit to try to get the most attention... It meant she was leaving her faith for the wealth of her industry... and the lack of morals it represents.
It is similar to the "couch resume" that Harvey (?) Weinstein is now trying to defend for his bad behavior. There were two people involved in those encounters that actually were consensual, but those that were forced, or coerced, would be considered rape I think. This kind of situation has been around for a long, long time... probably with the first man that became wealthy or held the future of a woman in his power. Women marry to avoid a lot of things, and sex is sometimes the payment they make. I don't want to get into the child rape issues here, but they are related to this entire conversation about power and force and criminal actions.
Suicide... let's get back to a "better" topic... something that can be changed if we learn to love ourselves and make the necessary changes in our priorities.
I don't know what Anthony Bourdain or Kate Spade were thinking about when they decided suicide was the only solution to their problems, but it isn't. The deeper problem is that we talk ourselves into that "solution." We fantasize a lot of different things as we ponder our individual problems... sometime we think everyone else will suffer by our decision, usually everyone's life goes on trying to solve their own problems... the ones who really loved us and needed us are the ones that suffer by our absence... I would guess that would be their daughters.
Maybe we need some kind of website just for people who think about ending their lives... I don't know how it would be set up... I'm sure they already have hot-line sites. What would keep someone from going through with an emotional choice in the heat of their pain... I doubt I would turn on the computer and say, "Help me!" It is really a difficult problem for all people in pain, and probably worse for those who are hounded by media cameras.
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So, this is Friday... I have food... I have clean clothes... I have a Sabbath to conquer... I have long lists of things to do, some have been waiting for my recovery from yardwork this week... and I have letters to write and mail with the stamps I just bought. I have meaning for my weekend. :-) haha I don't even know if I will be able to do more than rest a lot. This is becoming my senior citizen life. Not what I had planned for my life!
We have a new HOBBY LOBBY (.com) in the area, so I have to get over there soon... and it is by the Chick-fil-a I have been trying to eat at since I discovered it existed (years ago...)… I have the funds to spend for a meal there now. I have never been to a Hobby Lobby store. I am wondering what kind of items they provide... well, I don't think I have been in one for the hours I want to spend exploring it. I may have done a quick look at one in my old living area. I was looking online this week to see their prices for things I want to check out. I don't think I want to do shipping charges, so I will wait to get to the actual store. I can buy several more items for the price of shipping... my goal!
I came across a saying once, and I know I have shared it before... but I am thinking of making a graphic to post occasionally with these words...
Something to DO
Something to LOVE
Something to HOPE FOR
These are the keys to happiness (according to this author... which is unknown to me). I thought about it for a long time after I read it, and I decided it is a great solution for a lot of people... including inmates. Something to Love could also be complete strangers in need that you involve yourself with... the suggestion to care about others I mentioned in my Kate Spade post. Caring for others gives you something to do also. And it might also increase your Hope level enough to keep you going. These are not my original impressions of what it could translate to in a real life, but when we have nothing, we need to start somewhere, and grow it into a new life that brings us inner joy and satisfaction.
I translated it into internet sales for inmates... and minimum wages for the work they do... and education when they aren't working for wages... and learning the budgeting skills they need to succeed on the outside.
For myself... it's my retirement plan... crafting and selling online until I can't do anything anymore.
I guess I better go...
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
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May we all find better ways to solve our problems than suicide.
Amen.
Today, when I turned the computer on, and saw the news briefs on the main page, and noticed that there was another suicide in the world of celebrity, it made me pause and try to find out why. It seems he had been sending out signals for years... and wasn't able to find peace within his world. I can't begin to understand the world of being a media magnet (victim), so I guess there isn't a lot for me to comment on about that part of his life. I just think we all have to make a choice about what matters... where our priorities lie... what our dreams are that we want to find and discover if they will truly make us happy and fulfilled.
I think famous people get into a space where it is all they know, their value (self-worth) seems to be tied to the latest media report. I have the impression that it is tied to their level of income... so, it becomes the primary force in their lives.
Christians have to make a choice about these issues when their dreams are about music or theatre or movies or other media-driven industries... being the one at the top of the (manure) pile or being happy doing what they love, in a smaller community.
I was so saddened by a photo of Carrie Underwood this week. Her dress was a statement for the music competition to have the most baring outfit to try to get the most attention... It meant she was leaving her faith for the wealth of her industry... and the lack of morals it represents.
It is similar to the "couch resume" that Harvey (?) Weinstein is now trying to defend for his bad behavior. There were two people involved in those encounters that actually were consensual, but those that were forced, or coerced, would be considered rape I think. This kind of situation has been around for a long, long time... probably with the first man that became wealthy or held the future of a woman in his power. Women marry to avoid a lot of things, and sex is sometimes the payment they make. I don't want to get into the child rape issues here, but they are related to this entire conversation about power and force and criminal actions.
Suicide... let's get back to a "better" topic... something that can be changed if we learn to love ourselves and make the necessary changes in our priorities.
I don't know what Anthony Bourdain or Kate Spade were thinking about when they decided suicide was the only solution to their problems, but it isn't. The deeper problem is that we talk ourselves into that "solution." We fantasize a lot of different things as we ponder our individual problems... sometime we think everyone else will suffer by our decision, usually everyone's life goes on trying to solve their own problems... the ones who really loved us and needed us are the ones that suffer by our absence... I would guess that would be their daughters.
Maybe we need some kind of website just for people who think about ending their lives... I don't know how it would be set up... I'm sure they already have hot-line sites. What would keep someone from going through with an emotional choice in the heat of their pain... I doubt I would turn on the computer and say, "Help me!" It is really a difficult problem for all people in pain, and probably worse for those who are hounded by media cameras.
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So, this is Friday... I have food... I have clean clothes... I have a Sabbath to conquer... I have long lists of things to do, some have been waiting for my recovery from yardwork this week... and I have letters to write and mail with the stamps I just bought. I have meaning for my weekend. :-) haha I don't even know if I will be able to do more than rest a lot. This is becoming my senior citizen life. Not what I had planned for my life!
We have a new HOBBY LOBBY (.com) in the area, so I have to get over there soon... and it is by the Chick-fil-a I have been trying to eat at since I discovered it existed (years ago...)… I have the funds to spend for a meal there now. I have never been to a Hobby Lobby store. I am wondering what kind of items they provide... well, I don't think I have been in one for the hours I want to spend exploring it. I may have done a quick look at one in my old living area. I was looking online this week to see their prices for things I want to check out. I don't think I want to do shipping charges, so I will wait to get to the actual store. I can buy several more items for the price of shipping... my goal!
I came across a saying once, and I know I have shared it before... but I am thinking of making a graphic to post occasionally with these words...
Something to DO
Something to LOVE
Something to HOPE FOR
These are the keys to happiness (according to this author... which is unknown to me). I thought about it for a long time after I read it, and I decided it is a great solution for a lot of people... including inmates. Something to Love could also be complete strangers in need that you involve yourself with... the suggestion to care about others I mentioned in my Kate Spade post. Caring for others gives you something to do also. And it might also increase your Hope level enough to keep you going. These are not my original impressions of what it could translate to in a real life, but when we have nothing, we need to start somewhere, and grow it into a new life that brings us inner joy and satisfaction.
I translated it into internet sales for inmates... and minimum wages for the work they do... and education when they aren't working for wages... and learning the budgeting skills they need to succeed on the outside.
For myself... it's my retirement plan... crafting and selling online until I can't do anything anymore.
I guess I better go...
Until next time,
In Christ,
Deborah Martin
work2gather.us
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May we all find better ways to solve our problems than suicide.
Amen.
07 June, 2018
Kids in Foster Care
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