Just a few humorous recent interactions with customers.
People often pay for their purchases with coins. Lots of coins. As I am able I will roll the coins to facilitate counting the drawer at the end of my shift and whenever I have a roll of quarters I will often ask people, “Would you like $10 in quarters?” Every once in a while someone really does want $10 in quarters, but these two people didn’t!
One woman responded, “Lord no! God no! Please, Lord, No!”
A little later a man replied, “I swear I don’t!”
I guess they really didn’t want the quarters!!
The next night a woman came in wearing a Waffle House uniform. Waffle House is right across the street and I often see their workers on break. Anyway, she bought a beer. I commented, “If this is what you get to do on break, I really need to go to work at Waffle House.” She immediately cried out, literally cried out, “Oh God no! Please don’t ever get a job at Waffle House!!”
With a recommendation like that, I think I will abstain from applying at the Waffle House!
This morning a woman came in and asked for a box of Newports. I had never seen her before and she looked young so I asked for her ID. She said, “It’s in the car, I’ll bring it back in.” I didn’t move and she said, “You need it now?” “Yes, ma’am.” She said, “It’s too cold for that. Just give me $12 in gas.”
Makes you wonder about that ‘ID in the car’ doesn’t it?
Customers. You gotta love ‘em.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Call on the name of the Lord
A couple of years ago I became friends with a Winthrop student from Saudi Arabia. He was a devout Muslim and we spent hours discussing Islam and Christianity. For his part, I was never quite sure if he was trying to convert me, truly seeking the Lord, or just enjoying the friendship and conversation. Whichever it was, when he wasn’t saying the Bible was unreliable, he would repeatedly insist that the Bible taught that the earliest faith was Islam. Islam means submission, and it was his assertion that the Bible taught the essence of religion was submission to God.
Is this the essence of Bible religion? No. Oh, there is submission in the Bible, Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee (Psalm 66:3). As you can see, this is about enemies and power. Close to the truth, yet wide of the mark.
This is really neat – the essence of biblical religion, both Old and New Testament, can be summed up in seven words: call upon the name of the Lord. I recently looked at every occurrence of this phrase, and it’s kin, call on the Lord. My findings take up five pages! When you add the phrase, cried unto the Lord, you have eight pages of verses! This is the heart of the biblical faith in God.
The very first occurrence of this phrase is in Genesis 4:26
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
Amen! What does this actually look like? Psalm 116:4
Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
So, it’s really simple. To call upon the name of the Lord means to ask Him to help you, deliver you, save you.
Why is this so important? Why would this act be so vital? How can this capture genuine faith? To call upon the name of the Lord means you admit you cannot deliver yourself, save yourself. You are at the end of your rope and you need help. It means you are convinced that God can and will help you, and you are asking Him to do just that.
In other words, to call on the name of the Lord involves repentance and faith. But it speaks of repentance and faith in a most intimate way. It’s not clinical. It’s not theoretical. It’s not intellectual. This is personal. And when you add "the name of the Lord” you have the full picture, for “the name of the Lord” stands for all that He is and has revealed of Himself to us. That’s why the Bible lays such emphasis on the names of God. It’s good to know the names of God, for then you can call upon Him and ask Him to be for you what he has revealed Himself to be. And the name Jesus captures all that. In the New Testament we read, Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. That is, on the name of Jesus. Thus Christians are described as, all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. And again, that means that you see in Jesus all that God is and all that He has promised to do and be for you, and you are asking Him to be and do just that for you. Amen!
A couple of weeks ago I had a problem with the kitchen drain. It would back up and drain very slowly. I looked at it and figured out what I thought was wrong. But I concluded, “Even if my diagnosis is right, I don’t know how to fix this.” So I called a plumber. I said, “I have this problem (I was as specific as I could be). Can you come fix this for me?” We say, “I called a plumber.” In Bible language it is, “I called upon the name of the plumber.” And I called a plumber because his name says this is something he can do.
The message of the Bible is not, “I am God. I am all powerful. Submit to me or die.” It is rather:
and
Amen!
Is this the essence of Bible religion? No. Oh, there is submission in the Bible, Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee (Psalm 66:3). As you can see, this is about enemies and power. Close to the truth, yet wide of the mark.
This is really neat – the essence of biblical religion, both Old and New Testament, can be summed up in seven words: call upon the name of the Lord. I recently looked at every occurrence of this phrase, and it’s kin, call on the Lord. My findings take up five pages! When you add the phrase, cried unto the Lord, you have eight pages of verses! This is the heart of the biblical faith in God.
The very first occurrence of this phrase is in Genesis 4:26
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
Amen! What does this actually look like? Psalm 116:4
Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
So, it’s really simple. To call upon the name of the Lord means to ask Him to help you, deliver you, save you.
Why is this so important? Why would this act be so vital? How can this capture genuine faith? To call upon the name of the Lord means you admit you cannot deliver yourself, save yourself. You are at the end of your rope and you need help. It means you are convinced that God can and will help you, and you are asking Him to do just that.
In other words, to call on the name of the Lord involves repentance and faith. But it speaks of repentance and faith in a most intimate way. It’s not clinical. It’s not theoretical. It’s not intellectual. This is personal. And when you add "the name of the Lord” you have the full picture, for “the name of the Lord” stands for all that He is and has revealed of Himself to us. That’s why the Bible lays such emphasis on the names of God. It’s good to know the names of God, for then you can call upon Him and ask Him to be for you what he has revealed Himself to be. And the name Jesus captures all that. In the New Testament we read, Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. That is, on the name of Jesus. Thus Christians are described as, all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. And again, that means that you see in Jesus all that God is and all that He has promised to do and be for you, and you are asking Him to be and do just that for you. Amen!
A couple of weeks ago I had a problem with the kitchen drain. It would back up and drain very slowly. I looked at it and figured out what I thought was wrong. But I concluded, “Even if my diagnosis is right, I don’t know how to fix this.” So I called a plumber. I said, “I have this problem (I was as specific as I could be). Can you come fix this for me?” We say, “I called a plumber.” In Bible language it is, “I called upon the name of the plumber.” And I called a plumber because his name says this is something he can do.
The message of the Bible is not, “I am God. I am all powerful. Submit to me or die.” It is rather:
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
and
call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Amen!
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised:
so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Observations from behind the counter
Do you have your ID?
Tobacco and alcohol are classified as “Age Restricted Substances” and require an ID for purchase. This puts me in the position of asking the question, “Do you have your ID?” several times a night. This is so emphasized by the company that just this morning I had a refresher course on checking IDs!
Here are a couple of recent ID encounters.
Two women came into the store the other night. Both of them were black (the relevance of this will become apparent). They came to the counter and one of them was buying a beer. She also asked for a box of Newports. Her friend immediately corrected her, “Soft pack.” They had a brief discussion and decided on the soft pack. At this point, I don’t know who the cigarettes are for, so as I came back to the register I said, “I’ll need both your IDs.”
Woman # 1 had hers but it quickly became obvious that woman #2 did not. She immediately became hostile and argumentative, informing me that she didn’t need her ID, that she wasn’t buying anything from this store, that these cigarettes weren’t even for her. And all this was profanity laced. I tried to explain that it had the appearance they were buying this together and therefore I needed everyone’s ID. She said to her friend, “We can go buy this at another store.” Which was fine with me, as I was growing tired of the tirade and I removed the beer from the counter and said, “Yes, you can.” On her way out she said to her friend, loud enough so I would be sure to hear, “We don’t need any more of this racist-ass crap.”
Ha! I don’t care what color you are. I know, you know, and I know you know, you need an ID to buy this stuff! When I told Mary about this I said, “I’ve been cussed out by men, women, white people, and black people. I’m an equal opportunity ‘cuss out clerk’!
Whenever I train a new clerk, one of the first things I tell them is, “This is your drawer. You ID any one you want to ID. Don’t let them tell you, ‘I know Jeff blah blah…’ You want an ID? You ask for ID.”
Last week I had a new girl for two nights. A man came in. I knew him. I’ve sold age restricted substances to him. But she didn’t know him so she asked for his ID. Turned out he didn’t have it on him. He began to plead that he knew me and I knew him etc and then to plead with me. I told him, “Man, this is her drawer, it’s her call. She has to act like I’m not here.” She refused the sale.
He was angry and told me, “You and I are about to have a falling out, now.” He eventually left.
He came in last night and told me, “I’m mad at you and you know why.”
So I kinda got on him, “Listen, that girl has to get used to checking for IDs. What's gonna happen when I’m not standing behind her and some one comes in and says, “I know Jeff. He sells me….” She doesn’t know. She’s gotta learn to be tough and check everyone’s ID.”
To his credit he replied, “Touché.”
And this morning I learned I’m going to have even more angry people – I was informed that I cannot sell age restricted substances to third parties. That is, and this happens all the time, they come in and say, “He/She says they want [this kind of] cigarettes…” Since I don’t know the third party and their age, No Sale. I tell you now, I’m looking at some angry people…
Tobacco and alcohol are classified as “Age Restricted Substances” and require an ID for purchase. This puts me in the position of asking the question, “Do you have your ID?” several times a night. This is so emphasized by the company that just this morning I had a refresher course on checking IDs!
Here are a couple of recent ID encounters.
Two women came into the store the other night. Both of them were black (the relevance of this will become apparent). They came to the counter and one of them was buying a beer. She also asked for a box of Newports. Her friend immediately corrected her, “Soft pack.” They had a brief discussion and decided on the soft pack. At this point, I don’t know who the cigarettes are for, so as I came back to the register I said, “I’ll need both your IDs.”
Woman # 1 had hers but it quickly became obvious that woman #2 did not. She immediately became hostile and argumentative, informing me that she didn’t need her ID, that she wasn’t buying anything from this store, that these cigarettes weren’t even for her. And all this was profanity laced. I tried to explain that it had the appearance they were buying this together and therefore I needed everyone’s ID. She said to her friend, “We can go buy this at another store.” Which was fine with me, as I was growing tired of the tirade and I removed the beer from the counter and said, “Yes, you can.” On her way out she said to her friend, loud enough so I would be sure to hear, “We don’t need any more of this racist-ass crap.”
Ha! I don’t care what color you are. I know, you know, and I know you know, you need an ID to buy this stuff! When I told Mary about this I said, “I’ve been cussed out by men, women, white people, and black people. I’m an equal opportunity ‘cuss out clerk’!
Whenever I train a new clerk, one of the first things I tell them is, “This is your drawer. You ID any one you want to ID. Don’t let them tell you, ‘I know Jeff blah blah…’ You want an ID? You ask for ID.”
Last week I had a new girl for two nights. A man came in. I knew him. I’ve sold age restricted substances to him. But she didn’t know him so she asked for his ID. Turned out he didn’t have it on him. He began to plead that he knew me and I knew him etc and then to plead with me. I told him, “Man, this is her drawer, it’s her call. She has to act like I’m not here.” She refused the sale.
He was angry and told me, “You and I are about to have a falling out, now.” He eventually left.
He came in last night and told me, “I’m mad at you and you know why.”
So I kinda got on him, “Listen, that girl has to get used to checking for IDs. What's gonna happen when I’m not standing behind her and some one comes in and says, “I know Jeff. He sells me….” She doesn’t know. She’s gotta learn to be tough and check everyone’s ID.”
To his credit he replied, “Touché.”
And this morning I learned I’m going to have even more angry people – I was informed that I cannot sell age restricted substances to third parties. That is, and this happens all the time, they come in and say, “He/She says they want [this kind of] cigarettes…” Since I don’t know the third party and their age, No Sale. I tell you now, I’m looking at some angry people…
Monday, January 20, 2014
Observations from behind the counter
Working with the public is so much fun
Last week I spent two nights training a new girl. All night long people would come to the counter where Brittany was running the register, look at me and say, “So, you training a new one, huh?” Both nights. Finally, I said to her, “This is weird. It’s like you’re not even here.” On her second morning a regular came in and while he was paying her for his coffee, he said to the manager, “I see you got another new girl.” Brittany and I just looked at each other and rolled our eyes.
Brittany was on the register and the store phone rang and I answered it. The man asked, “What time do you close?”
I answered, “We don’t ever close.”
He seemed stunned. “You…Never...Close?”
I said, “No, sir.” But he was so stunned he didn’t say or do anything more. After a moment or two I concluded the call, “OK. Have a nice night.”
A little while later a rather odd fellow came in and bought some beer. When he left I told Brittany, “I think that was our caller.” She said, “He was a little odd.”
Last night a young man came to the register with a 44 oz drink. I can’t remember how we got to talking about it but he felt the need to explain why he was getting such a large lemonade drink. “When I was drinking sodas I would drink a 2 liter a day. Then I started to worry about kidney stones. I heard that the acid in lemonade dissolved kidney stones. So now I drink lemonade.”
“You do know that our ‘lemonade’ is mostly high fructose corn syrup?”
Without even blinking he replied, “Well, it seems to be working.”
In the middle of the night a fella came in and announced, “I’ve got a lot of orders, here.”
“OK. What’s first?”
“I want $10 on number 3”
I took the money and set the pump. “Next.”
“I want 2 Newports in a box and one Camel Menthol Silver.”
I got them. “Anything else?”
“That’s it.”
“Oh, I was all ready for more!”
He said, “I didn’t know how hard you'd been working tonight.”
Hahaha! I love people with a sense of humor
Last week I spent two nights training a new girl. All night long people would come to the counter where Brittany was running the register, look at me and say, “So, you training a new one, huh?” Both nights. Finally, I said to her, “This is weird. It’s like you’re not even here.” On her second morning a regular came in and while he was paying her for his coffee, he said to the manager, “I see you got another new girl.” Brittany and I just looked at each other and rolled our eyes.
Brittany was on the register and the store phone rang and I answered it. The man asked, “What time do you close?”
I answered, “We don’t ever close.”
He seemed stunned. “You…Never...Close?”
I said, “No, sir.” But he was so stunned he didn’t say or do anything more. After a moment or two I concluded the call, “OK. Have a nice night.”
A little while later a rather odd fellow came in and bought some beer. When he left I told Brittany, “I think that was our caller.” She said, “He was a little odd.”
Last night a young man came to the register with a 44 oz drink. I can’t remember how we got to talking about it but he felt the need to explain why he was getting such a large lemonade drink. “When I was drinking sodas I would drink a 2 liter a day. Then I started to worry about kidney stones. I heard that the acid in lemonade dissolved kidney stones. So now I drink lemonade.”
“You do know that our ‘lemonade’ is mostly high fructose corn syrup?”
Without even blinking he replied, “Well, it seems to be working.”
In the middle of the night a fella came in and announced, “I’ve got a lot of orders, here.”
“OK. What’s first?”
“I want $10 on number 3”
I took the money and set the pump. “Next.”
“I want 2 Newports in a box and one Camel Menthol Silver.”
I got them. “Anything else?”
“That’s it.”
“Oh, I was all ready for more!”
He said, “I didn’t know how hard you'd been working tonight.”
Hahaha! I love people with a sense of humor
Friday, January 17, 2014
It takes three sides to make a triangle
What are these three sides? Knowledge and Faith. Works. Experience.
Knowledge and Faith
The Christian Faith is propositional. But who do you say that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. You cannot be a Christian without knowing this, and believing it. The Faith is concerned with Truth, and we must be taught these truths and have them carefully explained. Knowing these truths is vital, for as God declares, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. And linked to this knowing is faith. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. And of course, the just shall live by faith. Therefore, we need to be taught the Scriptures and the Faith; we need to be encouraged to believe these things and to believe God; we need to be strengthened in faith.
Works
This is an ugly word in many evangelical circles, yet it is a vital component of the Christian life. Paul, the great teacher of salvation by grace wrote, For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. And, that oft-quoted passage on grace, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast goes on to say, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. And, This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. And, Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. And listen to Jesus our Savior himself, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.” This is why James can say, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The Christian life is not just a matter of knowing and believing the right things. We must be concerned about and encouraged to be obedient and full of good works. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Any teaching or movement that does not emphasize this is not teaching the Gospel. Of course, it’s not about me trying to win God’s acceptance by what I do and it’s not a matter of me gritting my teeth and trying my best, in my own power, to obey. Which leads us to the third component…
Experience
If works is an ugly word among evangelicals, experience is a dirty word. What a shame! By this very fear and avoidance of experience, evangelicals run the risk of reducing the Christian life to sterile head knowledge and a mere philosophy of life. Yes, there are experiences in the Christian life, and praise God for them! And we should teach the saints about them and exhort them to press on into them. What kind of experiences?
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is…
And is not every answered prayer an experience? What about the peace that passes all understanding? And, joy unspeakable and full of glory? And most of all, the presence of God? I tell you, the gospel is full of experience!
Oh I know, there are those who get carried away by experiences. And others who stress doing so much they seemingly lose sight of grace. But you know what, there are many who place all the stress on knowledge and faith, reducing the Christian life to merely knowing the right answers. Is that not just as unbalanced?
The Gospel teaches us that God wants us to know and believe some things, do some things, and experience some things. Jesus is alive. Faith in Jesus Christ changes the way I live and what I do and will produce many wonderful experiences! Amen.
Now, I have to ask myself, How's my triangle?
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Observations from behind the counter – Monday night
Monday night is usually slow. This happens so often that I can now say, Monday is supposed to be slow. Somebody forgot last night. For a while, it felt like a Thursday night, maybe even a Friday night. This is how it began. From the start.
A woman came in and asked for Newport 100s in a box. Her friend asked, “You buy them in a box now?”
“Yeah. People say the box tastes different than the soft pack. But to me they’re the same. But you wanna know why I get the box? I keep ‘em in this pocket [pointing to her back pants pocket] and my butt is so big that the soft pack gets crushed.”
[I, uh, had no idea what to say to that]
Shortly after this a man comes in and brings a large bottle of Icehouse beer to the counter. I scan it, $2.13.
He says, “I’ve got a bunch of change, you want to help me out?”
I said, “Help you with what?”
“I was just kidding. But I want to pay with change.”
By this time I could tell that he had already had at least one other bottle of beer. He then proceeds to start dropping coins on the counter. I counted out $1.96.
He looked at me and asked, “How much is that?”
“1.96”
“How much more do I need?”
“Seventeen cents.”
“Can I borrow seventeen cents?”
“No.”
“Let me go to the car.” When he came back he had a debit card and told me, “I’m gonna put the seventeen cents on the debit card because you have been so difficult.”
[People who drink and people who smoke are always begging money. This is, of course, a generalization. But true.]
Next person came to the counter jabbering, I mean, talking on the cell phone. Barely even acknowledged me. Happens all the time. The new rule of civility, Talking on the cell phone trumps all other forms of communication.
After a little while, a woman came in with a scratch off lottery ticket. Said she had come in a few nights ago (different clerk) who told her it was too late to cash it in. The machine shuts off on its’ own at midnight. But then she told me that when she had gone to a different store to cash it in, they said it had already been cashed in. By us! Yikes! This is the second time this has happened to this particular clerk, too!! I told her she would have to come in and talk to the manager. Strange night and I’ve only been here 30-40 minutes!
Then another lady came in and asked for “Those $7 a pack Basic Light 100s.” I scanned it and it was only $5.96. I said, “Oh look, not as much as you thought.”
She said, “Last time I bought them from this store they charged me $6.50”
I have no idea how that could’ve happened. I think she bought them somewhere else that other time. But I don’t know, it is a weird night.
Oh, sometime this week the company changed the music. That’s a good thing. It would probably be classified as “Oldies” but what a combination. Beach music, early rock ’n roll, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Donavan. I like this stuff.
Why do people I do not know and have never seen before, feel like they can and should call me by my first name? I know it is on my name tag, but they go out of their way to use my name. When I grew up, you called a man ‘Mister’ until he told you different. Nowadays, you can actually offend someone by calling them Mister.
People who buy cigarettes and cigarillos assume you know what they want. “Give me a pack of cigarettes.” We have twenty different brands. “I’ll take a pack of Marlboros.” There must be fifteen different kinds of them. “I want a cigarillo.” They are always surprised you don’t know right away the specific one they want – and there is a specific one they want. Just an observation.
Monday night. Tuesday and Wednesday I get to train someone. Yeah…
A woman came in and asked for Newport 100s in a box. Her friend asked, “You buy them in a box now?”
“Yeah. People say the box tastes different than the soft pack. But to me they’re the same. But you wanna know why I get the box? I keep ‘em in this pocket [pointing to her back pants pocket] and my butt is so big that the soft pack gets crushed.”
[I, uh, had no idea what to say to that]
Shortly after this a man comes in and brings a large bottle of Icehouse beer to the counter. I scan it, $2.13.
He says, “I’ve got a bunch of change, you want to help me out?”
I said, “Help you with what?”
“I was just kidding. But I want to pay with change.”
By this time I could tell that he had already had at least one other bottle of beer. He then proceeds to start dropping coins on the counter. I counted out $1.96.
He looked at me and asked, “How much is that?”
“1.96”
“How much more do I need?”
“Seventeen cents.”
“Can I borrow seventeen cents?”
“No.”
“Let me go to the car.” When he came back he had a debit card and told me, “I’m gonna put the seventeen cents on the debit card because you have been so difficult.”
[People who drink and people who smoke are always begging money. This is, of course, a generalization. But true.]
Next person came to the counter jabbering, I mean, talking on the cell phone. Barely even acknowledged me. Happens all the time. The new rule of civility, Talking on the cell phone trumps all other forms of communication.
After a little while, a woman came in with a scratch off lottery ticket. Said she had come in a few nights ago (different clerk) who told her it was too late to cash it in. The machine shuts off on its’ own at midnight. But then she told me that when she had gone to a different store to cash it in, they said it had already been cashed in. By us! Yikes! This is the second time this has happened to this particular clerk, too!! I told her she would have to come in and talk to the manager. Strange night and I’ve only been here 30-40 minutes!
Then another lady came in and asked for “Those $7 a pack Basic Light 100s.” I scanned it and it was only $5.96. I said, “Oh look, not as much as you thought.”
She said, “Last time I bought them from this store they charged me $6.50”
I have no idea how that could’ve happened. I think she bought them somewhere else that other time. But I don’t know, it is a weird night.
Oh, sometime this week the company changed the music. That’s a good thing. It would probably be classified as “Oldies” but what a combination. Beach music, early rock ’n roll, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Donavan. I like this stuff.
Why do people I do not know and have never seen before, feel like they can and should call me by my first name? I know it is on my name tag, but they go out of their way to use my name. When I grew up, you called a man ‘Mister’ until he told you different. Nowadays, you can actually offend someone by calling them Mister.
People who buy cigarettes and cigarillos assume you know what they want. “Give me a pack of cigarettes.” We have twenty different brands. “I’ll take a pack of Marlboros.” There must be fifteen different kinds of them. “I want a cigarillo.” They are always surprised you don’t know right away the specific one they want – and there is a specific one they want. Just an observation.
Monday night. Tuesday and Wednesday I get to train someone. Yeah…
Monday, January 13, 2014
A Psalm that is my own prayer request
Yesterday, in Sunday School, I came across Psalm 143. I've read the Psalms several times and so I'm sure I've read this one before. But yesterday it seemed like the first time i had ever seen it. My first thought was, "A Psalm that is my own prayer request!" I am posting the Psalm, no comments. The only thing I have done is arrange it in it's rhyming order and remove all words in italics. Have mercy O Lord and hear my prayer.
Hear my prayer, O LORD,
give ear to my supplications:
in thy faithfulness answer me,
in thy righteousness.
And enter not into judgment with thy servant:
for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
he has smitten my life down to the ground;
he has made me to dwell in darkness,
as those that have been long dead.
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me;
my heart within me is desolate.
I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all thy works;
I muse on the work of thy hands.
I stretch forth my hands unto thee:
my soul to thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit fails:
hide not thy face from me,
lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;
for in thee do I trust:
cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;
for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies:
I flee unto thee to hide me.
Teach me to do thy will;
for thou my God:
thy spirit good;
lead me into the land of uprightness.
Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake:
for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
And of thy mercy cut off my enemies,
and destroy all them that afflict my soul:
for I thy servant.
Monday, January 6, 2014
What did you think about on the way to church?
Profound may be one word to describe the thoughts I had on the way to church yesterday.
In Sunday School the Pastor directed a question at me, but before I could respond, he moved on to someone else. The question? “Jeff, you may have the longest drive to church, What did you think about on the way to church?”
Well, here are the thoughts I can remember thinking during that drive.
Mary was late coming home from work and I was planning on taking the jeep. But she arrived shortly before I left and said, “Take my car.” I asked, “Why? Is it raining?” She said, “It’s wet, take my car.” So I did. I got out on the road and it was raining and I thought, She was right.
Most of the 20 minute drive was consumed with thinking about the windshield wipers.
Full or intermittent?
Intermittent 1, 2 or 3?
Full.
Do I need to do the back window?
Intermittent.
And so on for the entire trip.
Saturday night I pulled out and set up my (tiny) stereo (it had been packed away for the new furniture and family) and my mp3 player. I brought the player and enjoyed my music for the first time in several weeks. Rooftops (Desperation) began and I thought, That’s a good introduction. Then I began to sang with them, “I was lost / I was afraid until You found me / And You took me by the hand...”
Somewhere along the way I thought, I’ve gotta remember to ask Brenda about the Salvation Army… I forgot!
Much of the time I spent watching the clock and calculating whether I will arrive in time and thinking, I didn’t leave in time.
When I reached the by-pass in York, there was a car ahead of me who also turned. I determined that I was driving faster than he was so I pulled into the left lane (it is a 4 lane road, 2 lanes each way) in order to pass him. But, before I could pass him he hit a puddle and sent a sheet of water onto my windshield. I had a brief moment of panic – I couldn’t see a thing! – before the wipers cleared it. I then thought, I wonder how many people have that brief moment of panic?
My attention returned to the music. Man, that’s a good song! Wonder what it is? I don’t remember this one. When I turned onto Lincoln Rd I thought, I know this! It’s Blues, that’s why I like it so much. Hmmm, is this Muddy Waters or Bo Diddley? Maybe it will stay on until I reach the church parking lot. It didn’t.
I turned into the parking lot and noticed there weren’t very many cars. I wonder where everyone is? Must be the rain.
There’s Steve. And Roy and Lorine are standing by the back door. And then I joined them.
Those were the thoughts I thunk as I drove to church.
Upon reflection, maybe profound isn't the right word!
In Sunday School the Pastor directed a question at me, but before I could respond, he moved on to someone else. The question? “Jeff, you may have the longest drive to church, What did you think about on the way to church?”
Well, here are the thoughts I can remember thinking during that drive.
Mary was late coming home from work and I was planning on taking the jeep. But she arrived shortly before I left and said, “Take my car.” I asked, “Why? Is it raining?” She said, “It’s wet, take my car.” So I did. I got out on the road and it was raining and I thought, She was right.
Most of the 20 minute drive was consumed with thinking about the windshield wipers.
Full or intermittent?
Intermittent 1, 2 or 3?
Full.
Do I need to do the back window?
Intermittent.
And so on for the entire trip.
Saturday night I pulled out and set up my (tiny) stereo (it had been packed away for the new furniture and family) and my mp3 player. I brought the player and enjoyed my music for the first time in several weeks. Rooftops (Desperation) began and I thought, That’s a good introduction. Then I began to sang with them, “I was lost / I was afraid until You found me / And You took me by the hand...”
Somewhere along the way I thought, I’ve gotta remember to ask Brenda about the Salvation Army… I forgot!
Much of the time I spent watching the clock and calculating whether I will arrive in time and thinking, I didn’t leave in time.
When I reached the by-pass in York, there was a car ahead of me who also turned. I determined that I was driving faster than he was so I pulled into the left lane (it is a 4 lane road, 2 lanes each way) in order to pass him. But, before I could pass him he hit a puddle and sent a sheet of water onto my windshield. I had a brief moment of panic – I couldn’t see a thing! – before the wipers cleared it. I then thought, I wonder how many people have that brief moment of panic?
My attention returned to the music. Man, that’s a good song! Wonder what it is? I don’t remember this one. When I turned onto Lincoln Rd I thought, I know this! It’s Blues, that’s why I like it so much. Hmmm, is this Muddy Waters or Bo Diddley? Maybe it will stay on until I reach the church parking lot. It didn’t.
I turned into the parking lot and noticed there weren’t very many cars. I wonder where everyone is? Must be the rain.
There’s Steve. And Roy and Lorine are standing by the back door. And then I joined them.
Those were the thoughts I thunk as I drove to church.
Upon reflection, maybe profound isn't the right word!
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