Do you love your cashier?

My visit to the grocery store this morning was a usual enlightenment. The produce man was sitting on the floor dividing up the apples from the oranges. The cake baker was counting her cakes. The number of shoppers like myself were only a few including the woman who graced our presence by wearing her pajamas.

What struck me though was the one and only cashier up front. She looked tired. Unhappy.  She never smiled and her “how are you” was one of “I don’t really care how you are.”

I felt compassion for her as she looked down the aisle at the long line that had grown. Why didn’t they bring another cashier to help her or a bag boy?

Cashiers have a tough job. Theirs is one most of us never want.  It is a thankless position. A part time job for extra money or the full time cashier trying to make a living.

Cashiers:

Stand on their feet for hours at a time.

Are subjected to abuse of all kinds.

Are expected to know everything from what row the coffee is on to “why isn’t it still on sale?”

Are exposed to raw meat, filthy money and dirty  hands.

Are exposed to unruly, screaming children at the hands of parents who do not discipline them.

Are open targets for thieves, drunks and a few nice people.

Endure long lines of aggravated, impatient customers due to cuts in personnel.

The following are a few everyday occurrences in the life of a cashier…..as I have witnessed….

Customer: “Is this ice cream on sale?”
Cashier: “I’m not sure. You can check the weekly specials.”
Customer: “What? You oughta know that?
Cashier: “Ma’am, it will also show on the door of the frozen food section where you found it.”
Customer: “Just ring it up and it better be on sale.”
Cashier rings up ice cream. “No ma’am it is not on sale this week, that was last week. Do you still want it?”
Customer: “Yes, but only at the sale price.”
Cashier: “I’m sorry but it is not for sale.”
Customer: “Fine. I don’t want it then. And you shouldn’t be working here if you can’t do any better than that.”

or this one…..

Customer: “How much is this 6 pack of beer?”
Cashier: “I’m not sure ma’am.”
Customer: “Oh, it don’t matter anyhow. I got food stamps. While you’re at it get me a carton of cigarettes too.”
The cashier watches as the customer gets in their brand new BMW.

Cashiers are people, not sitting ducks for us to throw rocks at. or steal from. or verbally abuse.

Cashiers usually work because they need to.  I can’t imagine anyone subjecting themselves to such scrutiny for the heck of it.

Cashiers paychecks are usually based on minimum wage. They aren’t paid to know everything.

Cashiers have feelings just like we do. Give them a break.

The next time you are in the presence of a cashier, be kind. Be nice.

Smile.  Give them a tip. Ask how they are doing. Treat them like you want to be treated. Show them respect.

Show appreciation for the job they do everyday. Show concern for their well being in the midst of chaotic and hateful people.

Take up for them. Show them understanding of the daily grind they are subjected to as they try to make a living.

Who knows. Maybe they will think Jesus paid them a visit, not just another customer.

Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”

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Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

Caesar, we don’t own a tractor.

Tax (Photo credit: 401K)

It’s that time again. February is the month.  The time frame is set in stone. At least it is winter and going outdoors is not an option. So I may as well do it. Only I don’t want to. I dread it every year. A “thorn” in my side.

Losing in rummy over and over is better than having to itemize my taxes to send to the accountant. I spent hours Saturday working on this inevitable mess of paperwork spread out all over the kitchen table and I am still not finished.

Doctor receipts. Drug receipts. Charitable statements. Property taxes paid. W-2 forms. Investment statements. Interest statements. Tuition paid. Dental receipts. Statements for who knows what and a 30 page Organizer from the Accountant to fill out full of questions unheard of.

Itemizing our deductions have paid off to some extent except when viewing  the W-2 form to see how much Caesar has already taken out. I realize it is Biblical to pay taxes; I have issues as to whether he is using our hard-earned tax dollars for the latest “gladiator contests” or “beast hunts.”

Mark 12:17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God‘s.” And they were amazed at him.

I have to wonder what really belongs to Caesar. My religious liberty. My kitchen floor. Our goldfish. My soul.

Image via Wikipedia

My feeble brain tries to wrap itself around the questions asked. Now I do realize Caesar has many occupiers who fund the public welfare that many of these questions would apply.

For instance: Did you use gasoline or special fuels for business or farm purposes? We do not own a tractor.

Did you engage in any put or call transactions? I thought they put you in jail for that.

Did you receive  unreported tip income of $20 or more for any month in 2011? No, I am not a waitress. I am the maid and no one tips me.

Did you purchase a new technology vehicle, including a qualified plug-in-electric drive motor vehicle in 2011? Why would I do that? I have the best car in the world. It is called, “paid off.”

This one really caught my eye. Under Itemized deductions in the Miscellaneous categories ; evidently you can deduct your gambling losses. What?

Page 20 of the Organizer asks these questions?

Do you plan for your marital status to change in 2012? ugh…if I thought it was going to change I certainly wouldn’t tell you!

Do you plan to change the number of dependents? ugh…only if God chooses us to follow Abraham and Sara’s footsteps. (please God no!)

Do you plan to have a substantial change in your income? Now how would I know that? Oh, I get it. The IRS wants their piece of my pie before it is cooked!

Who comes up with this stuff? Is this for real?

And who started this Estimated Tax assessment? The other name for this is, “Prepay.” Caesar wants  his before you get it. What? How is that fair?
I wonder if Caesar would refund my refund before they take out any of our taxes? duh…

The Bible says in Romans 13:6 “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full-time to governing.”

In other words we are to pay our taxes. Caesar is supposed to get what is rightfully his? What is rightfully his? OH! I know what the problem is!

Caesar needs a new Bible. After all his is centuries old. Wine and coffee stains. Pages torn out. Wrinkled and smudged.

Maybe his dog ate the pages out about taxation. He has to know the tax laws and codes need some tweaking.

Well, we can get him a Bible. I’ll  text Gideon. I am sure he can get one to Caesar.

Anyone have his number?

David Barton – The Bible and Taxes

http://thefaithbook.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/mr-president-i-still-believe/

http://thewayeverlasting.com/2012/02/17/quote-standard/

Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

The Element of Surprise

Today, sitting in my chair having my devotions the house shook. One rather small blast and then one that was so loud the whole house literally shook.  My cat flew off the couch. We both headed to the front door. Outside we were joined by many other neighbors whose houses also shook.

Living 2 miles from one of the largest AF and now Army bases in the country we are use to noise. The jets fly over regularly; sometimes so close you wonder if they will land in the backyard. This was not a jet. They were not flying anywhere today. I have gotten so use to the take off of usually six jets one after the other that I know which flight pattern they are on.

This sounded like a bomb going off. And…..later on fb a friend acknowledged it was. Old bombs the military was disposing of.

I feel so blessed to live around these people who live everyday for our country. That is before the government cut the defense. Now many are without health insurance, and other benefits. Many simply received pink slips with no gratitude attached.

The following are  a few reasons with Scripture to back them up that God wants us to have a strong military.

1. God fights for us. God fought Satan before he created mankind. We are still in that war. Exodus 15:3, “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.”

2. God helps others fight. Deuteronomy 3:22, “Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.”

3. The biggest mistake any country can ever make is to fight against Israel. Psalms 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”

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4. Ronald Reagan said we should have a very strong military. Jesus said in Luke 11:21, “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:” Jesus says a strong military ensures peace.

5. Disarm the enemy. Luke 11:22, “But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.”

6. Some enemies are to be reckoned with due to they are ruthlessly evil. Numbers 31:7, “And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.”

7.  Use peaceful means as the first weapon. Proverbs 24:6, “For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.”

8. Once the enemy is defeated, do not oppress them. Ecclesiastes 7:7, “Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.”    As we did with the Japanese, we have done so in Iraq and Afganistan where our military have helped rebuild their land.    

9. The military should be organized and well established with a Commander in Chief. Deuteronomy 1:15, “So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.”

If this is what the Bible teaches, then why is our military being cut? How are we to defend ourselves without these great people of sacrifice? How are we to defend other defenseless nations from the ravages of their own leaders?

God is a God of peace (11 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.” ) But when peace fails, God does not expect his people to sit back and do nothing to defend themselves.  And if we are to defend ourselves, we have to have a strong military. A strong Biblical based military.

My first protector is God. He has protected me from many evil attacks throughout my life. And then some I don’t even know about. 

However as I listen to the Air Force jets flying over my house as I write this now, I feel even safer.

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Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

Sludge, Red Tape and Black Gold

Didn’t  think I would ever see it again. It was gone for sure. Lost in a sea of sludge and red tape. Here it is a few days before Christmas and it was like it came early.

Nope it was not Santa. No it was not my phone I have been waiting for ever for. No, it was not a new laptop I would like to have.

It was gas at $2.98 a gallon. It reminded me of when Jed Clampett discovered oil on his property:

Come 'n listen to my story 'bout a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed
And then one day, he was shootin' at some food
And up through the ground come a bubblin' crude
Oil, that is, black gold, Texas tea

Well, the first thing you know, old Jed's a millionaire
Kin folk said, Jed, move away from there
Said, Californy is the place you oughta be
So they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly
Hills, that is, swimmin' pools, movie stars

Well, now it's time to say goodbye to Jed and all his kin
They would like to thank you folks for kindly droppin' in
You're all invited back again to this locality
To have a heapin' helpin' of their hospitality
Hillbilly, that is, set a spell, take your shoes off

Y'all come back now, hear?

On my trip to see my family there it was. I saw it for $2.98, $2.99, 3.03 and 3.05 in one town. I filled my car up at $2.98 cents a gallon. I felt like Jed Clampett; I had found my black gold.

I called my dad and told him how good it made me feel. For the first time in two years it was below $3.00 a gallon and I wanted to cry. Pumping the so-called cheap gas into my little PT Cruiser I could feel myself wanting to weep for joy.

It is a sad state when I applaud gas prices below $3.00 a gallon. The thoughts crossed my ethereal mind of how I was not lining the pockets of the big oil companies or the speculators. The over whelming excitement within my soul that maybe, just maybe their Bahama Cruise might be canceled due to lower gas prices was worth the trip.

This is certainly an unexpected treat right before Christmas. Considering the last 2 years the price of gas has hovered between $3.50 and almost $4.o0 a gallon where I live, it was a nice present. Not sure who this gift is from but I will surely accept it.

It almost seems absurd to be elated for gas prices to be under $3.00. I can remember when they were well below $1.00. We never thought about buying gas. Now, I play a game of checking the gas station marquis to find out how much I am donating to the Arab world and their extravagant lifestyles.

It is a blessing for those around me and you who are reading this that I am a Christian. The Soap Box of this Gasoline War runs long in my house.  The good news is I know that being a Child of God, no matter what the price of gas is or anything else for that matter, God will take care of me.

Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in Jesus Christ.”  In other words God is not concerned with the economy on earth. His riches come from Heaven and are infinite.

Anyway, I will take the few extra dollars I saved and put it to good use. I’ll use it to send Jed Clampett to the White House so he can become the new “Oil Czar.”

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McAdenville,NC: Christmas Town USA

The following is an ad I saw on yahoo the other day. It tells about the 10 best places in the country to visit for the best Christmas light show. McAdenville, NC is right beside my hometown. I was so pleased to read it was number 7 on the list. Growing up it was an annual tradition to ride through this very small town with so many beautiful Christmas decorations and lights. It is a town that comes together each year to put on a show you don’t want to miss.

This small magical place near Charlotte, NC has become a major hub for bringing in the Christmas season. If you have the opportunity to visit, please go but go early! Cars are lined up along the interstate waiting for their ride through “Christmas Town USA.”

.McAdenville, NC

McAdenville, NC

For nearly six decades, the little North Carolina town of McAdenville (with a population shy of 700) lures some 600,000 visitors to witness its transformation into what’s been dubbed “Christmas Town USA.” A high-spirited partnership between town residents and a local manufacturing company allows the hamlet to trim more than 375 fir trees (they outnumber the households!) with nearly a half-million red, green, and white holiday lights. The trees range in size from 6-footers adorned with 500 lights to 90-foot-high behemoths bedecked in some 5,000 radiant bulbs. Recorded Christmas carols broadcast from a local church add to the high-powered Christmas feel. This year’s event runs through December 26, kicking off with the official lighting ceremony at the town’s Legacy Park on December 1 (free; www.mcadenville-christmastown.com).

Tack on a visit to the “Holiday Lights at the Garden” at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in nearby Belmont (just 5 miles away), where plants and trees are bedazzled with some half-million lights and are joined by a Christmas tree created by orchids, carriage rides, and more (November 25–December 31, closed Christmas; $12 adults, $6 children ages 4 to 12; www.dsbg.org).