I'm so tired of hearing everyone talk about what the politicians in Washington DC need to do or need to stop. The representatives we send to Washington DC cannot take care of themselves, that's why there's a lobby, and Washington has no sense of accountability or bottom line resolution. The part I don't understand, is why we all keep acting like we don't know that! As a member of the Other 1 Percent, I've learned the best way to make things happen is for John Q. Public or Jane Z. Doe to implement them and share the idea. Here's what I thought of this month . . .
I now get senior discounts! I don't get them everywhere yet, but now that I'm 55, I do get them some places and rather than refuse it, like I thought I would, I got a better idea. Senior discounts offend me, and not because I have grey hair. Senior discounts offend me, because for the most part, senior citizens are the most focused upon group in America. They get more medical attention, they have guaranteed income, and let's face it, they have all the free time they want. To be honest, I don't know too many seniors that are my senior that haven't done things the way they want since I've known them. My parents, who are now in their 70's, have been making their own choices for well over 55 years, now. We all do what we want, some long before the official age of majority. My concern is for the young people who are trying to raise a family and don't have the financial choices that were available a generation ago and certainly not the financial choices available two generations ago.
Anyway, rather than gripe about Washington and wonder why the senior generation can just throw money all around themselves without a second thought, I've realized there is something I can do. I've watched, as the younger generation complains about the cost and the debt they are inheriting most of them are pretty much into their instant gratification and not exactly building any inheritance for their kids, but there are a few . . . There are young couples who are determined to live simpler and raise their children to appreciate value rather than price.
Here is the plan. Every time I receive a senior discount, I take it and I stash it in a little container. I keep an approximate running total and when I run across someone I see actually working toward self-sufficiency or teaching their children something I believe in, I can just randomly hand them what I've stashed. When the opportunity arises and I am actually in the store near a young couple with children, in the check out line who aren't on WIC and EBT, I can give them my discount to apply toward their grocery bill.
So now that I am officially a senior citizen in some genres, I'd like to share the benefits of age and wisdom with the next generations. The benefits amount to about $20.00 a month probably, no more than I buy at the store, but the wisdom is very fundamental . . .
It may not seem like much, but it's one of those things that if most of the seniors considered the next generations, and most young couples abandoned their instant opulant lifestyle, it would make a big difference.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Holy Day . . . a Holiday?
I realize those of us celebrating Passover have just a slight issue as to when everyone should be doing it properly. Of course, the answer to that is a collective, "when I do it." That's not really my point, although I can see why Y'hshuwah said, "the day nor the hour knows no man . . ." Just the threads on Facebook indicate none of us know what day it is . . . again not my main point.
The White House hosted a Passover Seder Monday night, so "nationally" that would make today not a Holy Day, but one to be set apart and certainly tomorrow, the first day of Unleavened Bread, beginning at sundown, this evening. My thought here is two fold. One, since Washington said it was last night, I almost had second thoughts about my own observance, but persevered.
As I read the newsfeed, there is a lot going on in Washington DC today regarding the Supreme Court and marriage. There is some sort of Christian march against the issue before the Court, and they are trying to prove their point using Old Testament passages. I can't help but take note that this would not be happening on Christmas or the 4th of July, but it's happening on Passover. The topic is interesting too, because Passover references the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Do you suppose just for a moment or two, as we have removed the leaven from our lives and speak of being blood bought and celebrate life over death, if we'd just all collectively celebrate what we say we believe? Since the White House hosted a seder, what if Passover became a national holiday and Washington DC as well as Christians treated it like all the other holidays? . . . just askin . . .
The White House hosted a Passover Seder Monday night, so "nationally" that would make today not a Holy Day, but one to be set apart and certainly tomorrow, the first day of Unleavened Bread, beginning at sundown, this evening. My thought here is two fold. One, since Washington said it was last night, I almost had second thoughts about my own observance, but persevered.
As I read the newsfeed, there is a lot going on in Washington DC today regarding the Supreme Court and marriage. There is some sort of Christian march against the issue before the Court, and they are trying to prove their point using Old Testament passages. I can't help but take note that this would not be happening on Christmas or the 4th of July, but it's happening on Passover. The topic is interesting too, because Passover references the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Do you suppose just for a moment or two, as we have removed the leaven from our lives and speak of being blood bought and celebrate life over death, if we'd just all collectively celebrate what we say we believe? Since the White House hosted a seder, what if Passover became a national holiday and Washington DC as well as Christians treated it like all the other holidays? . . . just askin . . .
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
A Cleaning Schedule
We have an article about spiritual house cleaning, but I thought I'd share one for the practical side of it all . . . I have my usual house cleaning pattern, but for Passover, it's a whole different ball game. Chametz or leavening is "air borne" so that means house cleaning from top to bottom and best in that order . . . Since there are four kinds of people, I'm going to share the basic 4 different approaches I am aware of. Keep in mind, although I can be amazingly obsessive at times and a bit on the compulsive side on occasion, organizational cleaning is not my long suit, especially in the spring. But this is when YHWH says "clean house," and so I shall.
Plan A. Hire a professional kosher cleaning crew two days before Passover and stay in a hotel until the day of the 13th. Then take in only the proper groceries to prepare for the Passover seder, and the following day. Remember, at Passover, you can eat all night, but no leftovers by morning!
I'm guessing this plan only works for a very few.
Plan B. Find "the list" published by Reform Judaism or Messianic Judaism. They have a special perspective as to how much is really not chametz or leaven. This plan is looking popular this year.
Plan C. This is my plan, because I really can't just rearrange a couple of days for house cleaning only, so I do as I go. I start in the rooms that don't get used too much, and I begin at the new moon, then I close the doors as I go. The guest room is unlikely to be used before Passover, so the deep cleaning is underway. I wash windows while the curtains are washing, vacuum, dust and all that goes with a good cleaning so that includes closet,drawers, and shelves. I use disposable dusting cloths, so I can wash my regular one with rugs and mop heads and not have any dust on it when Passover arrives. I wash my mop heads before and after the deep scrubs so I'm sure to get new clean when I clean! At any rate, every day or every other day is a room or two. Enough curtains, etc. for a load of laundry and the deep clean. So far, the guest room and the guest bathroom will be finished tomorrow and I'll move on to my inventory room. I don't do extra Passover cleaning on Preparation Day, because I will run out of daylight, but Sunday will begin more cleaning and sprucing. You get the picture. Once the rooms are clean, the doors are closed and all I'll need to do is dust and mop lightly the 12th. I, of course, do the laundry room and kitchen last. For those with septic tanks, the last of the yeast is a great activator to keep the septic working properly.
Plan D. You people know who you are. You are always organized and you could have glass doors for your closets and use your junk drawers for centerpieces.
A reminder for all. The last three things for thorough cleaning. Make sure you empty the toaster, toss the sweeper bag away outside the house, and do one last walk through to empty waste paper baskets!
Plan A. Hire a professional kosher cleaning crew two days before Passover and stay in a hotel until the day of the 13th. Then take in only the proper groceries to prepare for the Passover seder, and the following day. Remember, at Passover, you can eat all night, but no leftovers by morning!
I'm guessing this plan only works for a very few.
Plan B. Find "the list" published by Reform Judaism or Messianic Judaism. They have a special perspective as to how much is really not chametz or leaven. This plan is looking popular this year.
Plan C. This is my plan, because I really can't just rearrange a couple of days for house cleaning only, so I do as I go. I start in the rooms that don't get used too much, and I begin at the new moon, then I close the doors as I go. The guest room is unlikely to be used before Passover, so the deep cleaning is underway. I wash windows while the curtains are washing, vacuum, dust and all that goes with a good cleaning so that includes closet,drawers, and shelves. I use disposable dusting cloths, so I can wash my regular one with rugs and mop heads and not have any dust on it when Passover arrives. I wash my mop heads before and after the deep scrubs so I'm sure to get new clean when I clean! At any rate, every day or every other day is a room or two. Enough curtains, etc. for a load of laundry and the deep clean. So far, the guest room and the guest bathroom will be finished tomorrow and I'll move on to my inventory room. I don't do extra Passover cleaning on Preparation Day, because I will run out of daylight, but Sunday will begin more cleaning and sprucing. You get the picture. Once the rooms are clean, the doors are closed and all I'll need to do is dust and mop lightly the 12th. I, of course, do the laundry room and kitchen last. For those with septic tanks, the last of the yeast is a great activator to keep the septic working properly.
Plan D. You people know who you are. You are always organized and you could have glass doors for your closets and use your junk drawers for centerpieces.
A reminder for all. The last three things for thorough cleaning. Make sure you empty the toaster, toss the sweeper bag away outside the house, and do one last walk through to empty waste paper baskets!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Be Ready
Preparation is not only about getting things together, but it also involves tying up loose ends and frequently means downsizing . . . Even those who may not align with the spiritual teaching in regard to the imminence of the end of days, still find themselves a bit guarded and unsure about the future. For years, people have tried to be prepared for emergencies, "rainy days," retirement, you name it, most folks feel some sort of accountability in preparation.
I have noticed though, as our society becomes addicted to instant gratification, many are saying they accept a bleak future, but if I were a betting woman, I'm guessing they are just planning on an instant solution, like someone sharing with them in; the event of social decline. So whether one is preparing for hard times or just lavishing everything on themselves before the hard times hit, nearly everyone is expecting a negative change in the standard of living. For many of us, "be ready," are the instructions of our Messiah in regard to His return and the events that will unfold leading up to that. I talk to several people who are no longer making retirement plans, but readiness plans. There are people who are planning survivalist measures and those who are making their way to a simpler sustainable lifestyle. Things are changing, and depending upon where we are placing our faith, determines the things we are doing to "be ready."
Although things haven't quite gone as I thought they would in seeking His plan, I continue to prepare to share with family, in Moshiach. I did a lot of the simplifying over the past decade toward positive, forward readying; but in that same time, I was also tying up loose ends and allowing YHWH to close doors. Then came the day I had to stand there when doors were slammed in my face, not to be opened again, by humanity. That's not to say G-d can't open those doors, but I know that I know, I can't and I'm not supposed to. This brings me to the body of the concept of "be ready."
There are so many teachers, prophets, and believers in general all sounding the warning that we are on the brink of global calamity, and I am in agreement. Peter mentioned it at Shavu'ot [Day of Pentecost], 2000 years ago, so we are undoubtedly 2000 years closer to that prophecy being fulfilled. Now, as to "be ready." That doesn't mean horde and stockpile, but rather be heading toward perpetual and sustainable supply. Since G-d's original plan involved a garden, and we've been redeemed . . . not to mention that was the first thing Noah did after offering a sacrifice. There are also two things I've taken note of in both those accounts. When Adam and Even were cast out of the garden, access back in, wasn't on their terms. When Noah loaded and boarded the ark, Scripture tells us YHWH closed the door.
Even unbelievers know about "the mark of the beast" and although there are differing opinions regarding the actual mark, we do know business as usual will cease at some point, so we can't leave things hanging, knowing they need to be done. When the time comes to work together, we can't bring things we know should have been behind us. I tell people not to get their young adult children tied up in student loans, that can leave them slaves to the system. A 30 year mortgage is not a secure investment at all . . . Stock piling money certainly isn't an investment, as we've all seen in the last few years. Besides, our money is only worth what our government can back and already we have no idea how long we will observe this "state of sequester" over a mere fraction of a percentage of our waste . . . Tying up loose ends is part of being ready.
For those of us in the family of Israel, we can't be dragging our loose ends into fellowships and ministries that have been separating themselves. We'd stumble those ministries. Some of us won't have the means to bring provision, but we sure don't need to bring burdens. We must take this time to finish up old business. We must take the responsibility to literally close doors that we say "G-d has closed." We must let go of things and relationships that G-d did not ordain for our lives. We have to let go for them, for us, and for G-d to use us . . . I'm one of those trail blazing kind of people. I don't mind bush whacking, I don't mind a tough row to hoe or an uphill struggle, but realizing doors have to close and I can't reopen them, isn't alwasy easy to accept. Leaving doors closed is as necessary to being ready as a willingness to walk through new doors.
Downsizing baggage is as necessary as having supplies. Allowing the door to be closed to the darkness of the past is as essential to being ready as a having oil for my lamp. I see doors closing quite similar to tying up loose ends. I see loose ends to be as shoe laces. If you don't tie them up, you'll trip over them and end up falling.
I have noticed though, as our society becomes addicted to instant gratification, many are saying they accept a bleak future, but if I were a betting woman, I'm guessing they are just planning on an instant solution, like someone sharing with them in; the event of social decline. So whether one is preparing for hard times or just lavishing everything on themselves before the hard times hit, nearly everyone is expecting a negative change in the standard of living. For many of us, "be ready," are the instructions of our Messiah in regard to His return and the events that will unfold leading up to that. I talk to several people who are no longer making retirement plans, but readiness plans. There are people who are planning survivalist measures and those who are making their way to a simpler sustainable lifestyle. Things are changing, and depending upon where we are placing our faith, determines the things we are doing to "be ready."
Although things haven't quite gone as I thought they would in seeking His plan, I continue to prepare to share with family, in Moshiach. I did a lot of the simplifying over the past decade toward positive, forward readying; but in that same time, I was also tying up loose ends and allowing YHWH to close doors. Then came the day I had to stand there when doors were slammed in my face, not to be opened again, by humanity. That's not to say G-d can't open those doors, but I know that I know, I can't and I'm not supposed to. This brings me to the body of the concept of "be ready."
There are so many teachers, prophets, and believers in general all sounding the warning that we are on the brink of global calamity, and I am in agreement. Peter mentioned it at Shavu'ot [Day of Pentecost], 2000 years ago, so we are undoubtedly 2000 years closer to that prophecy being fulfilled. Now, as to "be ready." That doesn't mean horde and stockpile, but rather be heading toward perpetual and sustainable supply. Since G-d's original plan involved a garden, and we've been redeemed . . . not to mention that was the first thing Noah did after offering a sacrifice. There are also two things I've taken note of in both those accounts. When Adam and Even were cast out of the garden, access back in, wasn't on their terms. When Noah loaded and boarded the ark, Scripture tells us YHWH closed the door.
Even unbelievers know about "the mark of the beast" and although there are differing opinions regarding the actual mark, we do know business as usual will cease at some point, so we can't leave things hanging, knowing they need to be done. When the time comes to work together, we can't bring things we know should have been behind us. I tell people not to get their young adult children tied up in student loans, that can leave them slaves to the system. A 30 year mortgage is not a secure investment at all . . . Stock piling money certainly isn't an investment, as we've all seen in the last few years. Besides, our money is only worth what our government can back and already we have no idea how long we will observe this "state of sequester" over a mere fraction of a percentage of our waste . . . Tying up loose ends is part of being ready.
For those of us in the family of Israel, we can't be dragging our loose ends into fellowships and ministries that have been separating themselves. We'd stumble those ministries. Some of us won't have the means to bring provision, but we sure don't need to bring burdens. We must take this time to finish up old business. We must take the responsibility to literally close doors that we say "G-d has closed." We must let go of things and relationships that G-d did not ordain for our lives. We have to let go for them, for us, and for G-d to use us . . . I'm one of those trail blazing kind of people. I don't mind bush whacking, I don't mind a tough row to hoe or an uphill struggle, but realizing doors have to close and I can't reopen them, isn't alwasy easy to accept. Leaving doors closed is as necessary to being ready as a willingness to walk through new doors.
Downsizing baggage is as necessary as having supplies. Allowing the door to be closed to the darkness of the past is as essential to being ready as a having oil for my lamp. I see doors closing quite similar to tying up loose ends. I see loose ends to be as shoe laces. If you don't tie them up, you'll trip over them and end up falling.
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