Words of Truth

Here’s an update for those of you who are keeping tabs.

I am still not getting any overtime at work, and our budget calls for me to work one overtime shift a week. Instead of telling people “I don’t have enough money to pay our bills,” I’m starting to talk like a politician and saying, “Our household has an operating deficit.” I signed up for night shift OT this weekend, but they called me off for tonight (said they don’t need me).

Deer hunting season starts tomorrow in Missouri. I won’t be there. I have gone every year for the past 15 years or so, except for 2007 when my wife had her radiation therapy for her brain tumor. This year I’m hunting in Indiana with a muzzleloader that my best friend got me for my birthday/Christmas/Thanksgiving/New Years/Etc present. It’s way cheaper, and I don’t have to drive so far, but I don’t get to see my family and friends in Missouri and Iowa, so bummer.

Weight loss has stalled. It’s hard when you eat like you’re supposed to all day, then you come home from work and your son has worked hard making a toll house pie. You have to try a piece, right? And the jogging is on hold for a few reasons.

I’m kind of enjoying and dreading grading my son’s science homework, because I like science, but he’s in 9th grade, and he’s learning about thermodynamics, velocity, acceleration, displacement, etc. Aack!

The Maranatha Baptist Bible College orchestra played at our church last night. We housed two of the band members (students) for the night. Kim told them that it wasn’t that long ago that we were staying in people’s homes while on tour with our college choir. I said, “Dear, it was 17 years ago!” Wow. Time’s fun when you’re having flies.

The house is still for sale. We haven’t had a showing since October 15th. God’s timing is perfect, and we are waiting for Him to bring the perfect people to buy our house.

My sister-in-law is getting married next month to a man she met in Sierra Leone. I’m excited to finally have a brother-in-law on that side of the family. Which reminds me of my favorite “in-law” joke: What’s the difference between in laws and outlaws? Outlaws are wanted! (ha ha ha!)

We are still here. We may not be financially solvent, but our Father is, and He is in charge.

Here’s the food that the government, schools, and the USDA says is bad for you:

And here’s the food that they say is good for you:

I have people telling me all the time that I shouldn’t be eating foods that are bad for me. It turns out, however, that I prefer to eat food that’s good for me AND is not bleached, mixed with acid and other toxic substances, dyed to make it look edible, and pushed on me by the government. Butter, lard, and whole milk, yum!

I called Sprint tonight because I was curious how long I have to wait to leave Sprint without incurring a $100 early termination fee. “Please don’t leave, Mr. Picray!” the Sprint rep said. “Why do you want to leave?”

I went over the troubles I had with the Palm Pre, their lack of support and basic customer service, and my resolution to take my business elsewhere. I then pointed out that I am interested in the iPhone and I saw Sprint has it now. I qualified for a new phone (at new customer pricing) in April, but here in October (four months to the end of my contract), I don’t qualify. Why? Because Sprint said so, that’s why.

She said, “Don’t go! Let me talk to my supervisor and see if there’s anything we can do.” I was then on hold for three minutes or so, at which point a different woman began talking to me. Rewind the last two paragraphs and replay, because that’s what happened.

After my second stint on hold (and a mental resolution that I was going to hang up if they asked me to tell my story for the third time), “Jay” picked up and asked me why I wanted the call escalated. I told him I didn’t want the call escalated, I wanted to know what my options are, and right now it seems my options are:

1. Pay $100 early termination now and go to Verizon.
2. Wait several months and then go to Verizon.

I asked him if Sprint had any other options for me. Jay was very helpful and gave me the not-hard-to-refuse offer of iPhones at new customer pricing in mid-December instead of February. When I declined, he said that Sprint might have a better deal for me next month, but he couldn’t say one way or the other. I told him that I can’t do business with companies on the basis that they might have a better offer next month. I reminded him that Sprint does not have a stellar record when it comes to promising me things, and actually carrying them out.

And so I weigh my alternatives: do business with Verizon, a company who has never done me wrong, but where I would have to wait until February to switch, or re-sign with Sprint 45 days earlier (mid-Dec) for the same phones on a worse network with worse customer service. I think I’ll wait the extra month and a half. Who knows, maybe by then I’ll have the money to buy the things.

When God makes a promise, He always keeps that promise. God has promised to provide for my needs. God has promised to never leave me. Has God promised to give me a life free of problems? No. I believe that God has a plan for my life. I don’t know the details of that plan.

My pastor spoke this morning from Acts 3. It’s the story of the man who couldn’t walk that was healed by God through Peter and John. What struck me about the passage was the fact that Acts 3:2 refers to this crippled person as a “man.” According to Jewish tradition, this means that he was at least 13 years old. It also says that he was crippled from birth. This means that he was crippled throughout the entire earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.

Did Jesus know that this man was crippled? Of course He did. Did he care about this man’s suffering? Of course He did. so why didn’t He heal the man? He was waiting for the exact right time.

I have pointed out before that Abraham had to wait 25 years for God to solve his problem. His great-grandson Joseph was 17 years old when his brothers sold him into slavery. He was a slave/prisoner for thirteen years before God solved his problem.

I am getting weary of my financial problems. I was informed this week that my overtime is being cut. I need that overtime to pay my bills. We are behind on so many accounts that I’m not even sure how much it would take to bring us current. We have enough money for the house payment, utilities, gasoline, and food. But what do we do about the other people to whom we owe money? I feel strongly that filing for bankruptcy is wrong. I made a commitment to pay these people, and I must fulfill that commitment, no matter how long it takes.

So I am doing everything I can to solve the problem, And it’s not enough. So I think from now on, when people ask me “how are you?” instead of saying “fine” (which is a lie), I’m going to say that I’m waiting. I’m waiting for God to fix my problem.

I think I know how the disciples felt when they were in the boat with the sleeping Jesus, and the storm came. When you are in the middle of the storm, it’s hard to remember the sunshine. When you are about to drown, it’s easy to forget that God is in the boat with you.