Thursday, August 25, 2005
Driving on rainbows and smiles
There has been a lot of talk about the high price of gasoline lately. There’s even been talk (and in Hawaii more than talk) about legislation to fix prices. I think this is just plain ludicrous. Also, I took MSN's little poll and was shocked to see that over 80% of those who took the poll think that there should be a federal gas cap. Don't those people remember the 70's when there were gasoline shortages and rationing? Don't those people remember the long lines and only filling up on odd or even numbered days?
There are alternatives.
I'm no treehugger. I've been a Republican for as long as I have been able to vote. However, as someone who embraces the free market, I will be exuberantly declare that alternatives are available. There are alternatives to gasoline that have fewer toxic effects or political ramifications. Alternatives such as E85 or propane. And who could forget our old friend "walking"?
I see these people on TV complaining about the price of gasoline and it is almost amusing. I wonder if the dealers hoodwinked them by telling them that their new car would run on rainbows and smiles.
My bottom line is, I get frustrated when I hear about people relying on the government to fix their "problems". It breaks my heart to see firsthand how much Americans have developed such an acute sense of entitlement. Personally, I'd rather walk to work than rely upon the government for anything.
There are alternatives.
I'm no treehugger. I've been a Republican for as long as I have been able to vote. However, as someone who embraces the free market, I will be exuberantly declare that alternatives are available. There are alternatives to gasoline that have fewer toxic effects or political ramifications. Alternatives such as E85 or propane. And who could forget our old friend "walking"?
I see these people on TV complaining about the price of gasoline and it is almost amusing. I wonder if the dealers hoodwinked them by telling them that their new car would run on rainbows and smiles.
My bottom line is, I get frustrated when I hear about people relying on the government to fix their "problems". It breaks my heart to see firsthand how much Americans have developed such an acute sense of entitlement. Personally, I'd rather walk to work than rely upon the government for anything.
Friday, August 19, 2005
More Bang for the Buck
Work can be such a trial sometimes. As busy as my wife is at work (she’s a dedicated worker), her boss Kevin told her that she hadn’t really seen busy. He said that busy was what they were at the Wal-Mart where he used to work. My wife, (let’s call her “Iris”), said to Kevin, “If I go to Wal-Mart and none of the employees give me the finger, I figure I got pretty good customer service.” How’s that for low expectations?
Iris and I decided we weren’t getting jerked around enough at work, so we decided to go to King’s Island. King’s Island is an amusement park in southern Ohio. It’s the only place in the world, I’ve been told, where you can see Spongebob in 3-D. If you thought he was annoying on TV, just imagine adding another dimension to his absorbency. What really freaked me out was when that painting of the pirate popped out of the screen at me. It was marvelous fun. They staged it in the old theater where they used to have the “Days of Thunder”. Basically you sit in a chair and it bounces around. It’s a little more elaborate than the two vibrating metal ponies in front of the supermarket.
Going to King’s Island on a weekday was pretty awesome, especially since it was raining in the morning when we arrived. Most of the better roller coasters had empty seats on them most of the time. The only time we really had to wait was when we went to the Scooby Doo’s Haunted Castle. That was, like, creepy man.
Once the day was over, we figured that we had ridden eighteen roller coasters for just $22.50 each. That’s only $1.25 per ride. Take that, you stupid Indiana State Fair!
Iris and I decided we weren’t getting jerked around enough at work, so we decided to go to King’s Island. King’s Island is an amusement park in southern Ohio. It’s the only place in the world, I’ve been told, where you can see Spongebob in 3-D. If you thought he was annoying on TV, just imagine adding another dimension to his absorbency. What really freaked me out was when that painting of the pirate popped out of the screen at me. It was marvelous fun. They staged it in the old theater where they used to have the “Days of Thunder”. Basically you sit in a chair and it bounces around. It’s a little more elaborate than the two vibrating metal ponies in front of the supermarket.
Going to King’s Island on a weekday was pretty awesome, especially since it was raining in the morning when we arrived. Most of the better roller coasters had empty seats on them most of the time. The only time we really had to wait was when we went to the Scooby Doo’s Haunted Castle. That was, like, creepy man.
Once the day was over, we figured that we had ridden eighteen roller coasters for just $22.50 each. That’s only $1.25 per ride. Take that, you stupid Indiana State Fair!
Saturday, August 13, 2005
I did not succumb to cannibalism
One of the greatest gifts God has given us is hope.
According to 1 Corinthians 13:13 ; “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Hope made the top three. I think that is important, because once you have love, and once you have faith, hope can sustain you.
Sometimes life comes at you pretty hard. I remember a story in the old testament about a famine so severe people were eating their children. 2Kings 6:28-29 (New International Version)
"28 Then he asked her, "What's the matter?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we'll eat my son.' 29 So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, 'Give up your son so we may eat him,' but she had hidden him.""
Makes my problems seem trivial. And yet they are problems none the less. Even minor problems can distract one from what is important; namely faith, hope, and love. It's easy to get irritated when one finds out that one's car is going to need $2000 in repairs. It's easy to get irritated when one's electric bill is 50% higher than one expected. And yet it is at a time such as this when one can give thanks to God. Because no matter what the trial, we know that God will never present us with a challenge that we cannot overcome. Each new challenge is an opportunity for God to show us how much he loves us.
So sometimes when it seems the whole world is conspiring to ruin your day, remember, Matthew 28:20"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
According to 1 Corinthians 13:13 ; “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Hope made the top three. I think that is important, because once you have love, and once you have faith, hope can sustain you.
Sometimes life comes at you pretty hard. I remember a story in the old testament about a famine so severe people were eating their children. 2Kings 6:28-29 (New International Version)
"28 Then he asked her, "What's the matter?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we'll eat my son.' 29 So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, 'Give up your son so we may eat him,' but she had hidden him.""
Makes my problems seem trivial. And yet they are problems none the less. Even minor problems can distract one from what is important; namely faith, hope, and love. It's easy to get irritated when one finds out that one's car is going to need $2000 in repairs. It's easy to get irritated when one's electric bill is 50% higher than one expected. And yet it is at a time such as this when one can give thanks to God. Because no matter what the trial, we know that God will never present us with a challenge that we cannot overcome. Each new challenge is an opportunity for God to show us how much he loves us.
So sometimes when it seems the whole world is conspiring to ruin your day, remember, Matthew 28:20"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Amazing woman
My wife was sad today.
She was disappointed that we didnt' eat together, but that isn't the reason she's sad.
Last night, she withdrew from school.
She had been doing so well, too. straight A's. She was working on her bachelors in Psychology and had to cut back to part time when I was accepted into nursing school. The trouble is, since I'm in my final year and can't work as much, she's afraid she'll need to get a second job and doesn't know if she can juggle it all.
I feel so humbled. She is an amazing woman and I am not worthy of her. I'm going to encourage her to at least take one class so she doesn't feel like she's abandoning her dream of a masters in occupational therapy. We'll get through it together.
She was disappointed that we didnt' eat together, but that isn't the reason she's sad.
Last night, she withdrew from school.
She had been doing so well, too. straight A's. She was working on her bachelors in Psychology and had to cut back to part time when I was accepted into nursing school. The trouble is, since I'm in my final year and can't work as much, she's afraid she'll need to get a second job and doesn't know if she can juggle it all.
I feel so humbled. She is an amazing woman and I am not worthy of her. I'm going to encourage her to at least take one class so she doesn't feel like she's abandoning her dream of a masters in occupational therapy. We'll get through it together.
