Why $

I heard tonight that the greed of the financial company CEOs and the rich wall street types led to the riskier and riskier loans until everything finally collapsed…now we need to rescue these rich, fat cats from their own designs.

Well, I own stock, as do many people, and I want higher returns in order to prepare for retirement and grow my family’s wealth. I count my investments in tens of thousands…not millions, but I contributed to the “greed” of wishing for higher returns. Stock holders, retirees and families and IRA holders, want higher returns which means higher risk.

Stock holders have demanded higher returns, and CEOs who didn’t pursue those returns were threatened with the loss of their jobs. Bank A is getting 15% returns and Bank B 8%. Which stock will you buy? That’s what it comes down to…not the vague rich and powerful and greedy.

It’s about us.

The Front

This is the front that moved through today. A great storm came behind it.

Received a letter yesterday from a relative.

It was an apology for something that happened over 25 years ago. It wasn’t any kind of abusive situation, just about the way I was treated during a particular event.

My reaction was twofold.

First, the letter brought back long forgotten memories of what happened, and I was angry and sad.

Second, the letter comes at a time when my respect for some relatives is at a real low point. I’m suspicious of the true intent, and yet my inclination is to take it at face value.

The letter expresses the hope of going on from this point with a new and improved relationship.

Forgiveness doesn’t necessarily include a new and improved relationship.

Update

I haven’t had much time to reflect and be introspective these days, and I think that can be a good thing. Too much navel gazing can lead to depression and guilt. Troy Foster complained about me not updating enough…so here goes:

Digestive Track Issues:
You’ll find that I wrote about colon and digestive track issues starting back in February. These never really got resolved except that as I’ve lost weight the discomfort has decreased. I’m eating somewhat what I want now, but I still need to be very careful. The doctors were completely unhelpful, and I have little or no regard for the Three Rivers Health System anymore. If I have significant recurrence, I’m going to go to Kalamazoo.

Church Issues:
Our pastor had to go back to Canada because of immigration issues, and I don’t know if he’ll be back or not. We’ve heard all kinds of things from different attorneys, but in the mean time he’s on leave until Aug. 31. We have in interim pastor who is fulfilling the Sunday duties at this time. I need to step up and schedule more family visits.

Work Issues:
We’re on track this year to do two to three times as much business as ever before. The hard parts are managing growth and finances (inventory and cash flow) as well as adding personnel who reflect our commitment to service. I have certain goals for the company, and we’ll see if they can be achieved. No one dominates this market area as some have in the past, and I want to be the next. I know that sounds majestic, but as long as we simply take care of people and have “friends” rather than customers I think we can do well.

Jennifer:
Jen is off of school teaching for the summer, and she is taking 4 classes at Western Michigan University. She’s taking her last two now. This fall she’ll have a seminar and capstone and be done with her Education Administration degree. She’s currently working very part time at Piasano’s Bar and Grill down the street from our apartment. It’s about a block away and lets her meet a lot of local people.

Hope this gets everyone up to speed.

Mihills System

I sold this towable center pivot to Norm Mihills. It ran well this year so far, and hopefully he'll get a good crop of wheat off this field.

Flower in Scidmore Park Again

I really like this picture of a flower... The lens I used has a focal point of something like 10 inches.

Red Flower in Scidmore Park

Took this a couple of weeks back with my Nikon D80.

It amazes me how much time and energy some people have.

I don’t have the time to worry about you and make sure that you don’t get something that I don’t think you deserve. I don’t have time to hold you accountable to my standards and lay awake at night plotting retribution for your shortcomings.

I don’t have time to listen to your ideas on how someone else needs to have retribution exacted for their shortcomings, and I don’t have time to go around exacting the retribution of everyone you disagree with.

I don’t have time to get upset about the details and bully people into submission to my ideas. I don’t have time to recall every project or idea from the last ten years that never really got off the ground, and I don’t have the time to work how who is to blame.

I don’t have time chase you down and ask you about every minute detail of every minute decision and make sure that you get your input. I don’t have time to worry about whether or not you give me the respect and attention that I think is due me.

I don’t have the time to go around to all the people you’ve gossiped and lied to and set the record straight.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12

flower behind our home

Methodist Church in Three Rivers.

Statue in Bowman Park. This was placed in honor of those who served in the Civil War.

Wall in front of church on Main Street in Three Rivers, Michigan.

First Presbyterian Church in Three Rivers, Michigan.

Christian, who are you?

I attended the funeral for the father of a friend this week, and it raised questions for me. What sets me apart from others as a Christian?

The bottom line answer is that Christ claims me as His very own. I am not my own, but I belong to Him.

It’s not that as a Christian I don’t sin. It’s not that I don’t do bad things or that I don’t swear, smoke, drink alcohol, or associate with certain people. I may do all of these things, and I can personally say that I do or have done each of these. It isn’t that I’ve sinned or that I continue to sin. It is that Christ has revealed Himself to me as the savior of the world and the savior of my very self.

I am a Christian, bought with a price, owned by God himself. I am a child adopted into the lineage of Abraham. I’m not adopted as a Jew, but as a chosen one of God. I don’t every fret or worry about this status.

What I struggle with is that fact that I sin. I sin daily, and I sin extravagantly. I struggle because deep inside me I don’t want to, but there is still a part that craves that rebellion. That rebellion doesn’t make me a “non-son” it humbles me and shows me that I’m nothing without God.

In eternity, we will be surprised by the scoundrels who are in heaven. We will also be surprised by the nice people who end up in perdition. I know I’m a scoundrel who needs a risen savior.

It’s not that I’m a hypocrite because I’m not perfect. Rather it’s that I need Christ because I’m not perfect. That sets Christians apart.

Picture: the Episcopal Church in Three Rivers, MI.

Jim's eye. With the new lens. I have to use my aux flash. See how the lens shadows the regular camera flash. Hmm.

The lovely Dana with my new lens

I didn't focus well. It was my third picture taken with the lens.

Got a new lens yesterday. I took a few pictures. I'll post a couple, but still need to practice.

SIGMA
15-30mm F3.5-4.5 EX DG ASPHERICAL

Jack Daniels

We went to the Jack Daniels Distillary in Lynchburg, TN on Wednesday, April 9. Took this pic of the distillary. Very cool tour. Everyone should try.

Olympic Park

So, we're in Olympic Park and Jen's like "pretend you're putting a bomb in the trash can." Ok...I'll just stand by the trash can... No bomb.

That girl was really upset that Jen was in the "C", but I was trying to take Jen's picture first.