OK - let me run this by you...
Last week, my 4 year old refrigerator/freezer stopped keeping things cold and frozen on the top and bottom shelves - only worked in the middle. Since we had the extended warranty, we called for service and were told it would be one day as they needed to get parts. Once fixed, the service tech said that if it didn't work by the weekend (3 days after repair) we should call again because that would mean it was another problem but he thought he would try the easy fix first. It didn't, we did, and were put off for another day.
The service tech came in, looked at my fridge and said...I'll have to come back tomorrow because I don't have a part.
At this point, I was annoyed because how did he not have a part when he predicted what the new problem would be. The store where we bought it called later and advised via a recorded message, that they would be there between 4 and 6 pm the following day...and stay on the phone if you had any questions.
Of course I stayed on the phone because that was another complete day with no working fridge, food spoiling (I do not have a backup fridge) and time wasted. The customer service rep advised me that there was nothing they could do and I was a pitbull...I insisted that they could do something about the rotting food. I was then told that my warranty did not have spoilage coverage. I told them that had the job been done on either of the first two trips, it wouldn't have been an issue but I wanted an earlier appointment to get my fridge back on track! Words were exchanged, but because I was only upset and not vulgar or obscene, their c/s person was obliged to talk to me and not hang up. (poor guy) Sometime in the conversation he put me on hold and talked to his manager who advised him that if Wednesday afternoon/evening didn't work they had an opening Thursday morning.
So I asked the c/s person if his manager was an idiot, (or if he thought I was), that he thought Thursday morning was before Wednesday evening. Obviously the c/s guy led the manager to believe that it was an AM/PM issue and not a sooner/later one. So I refused their kind (?) offer to spoil my food for one more day and told them that if they couldn't help me I would have to live with it. BUT if they didn't fix my fridge I was planning on finding out if there was any legal or lemon law action I could take...and advised them that Sears also has appliances so there was no reason for me to go back to them (personally, we will probably do Lowes as they price match and we get 5% back on our charge card.) The customer service guy forgot to mute the phone and whispered to someone (possibly the manager I just called an idiot) and said "her name is Margaret." Guess someone was listening in because calls may be monitored, you know.
End of story...they showed up at my house this morning, Wednesday, and fixed my fridge. The tech was in the neighborhood and out of the goodness of his heart (or because they told him to do anything to prevent me from calling back) worked us into his schedule.
Still not going back to this store (named after my personal patriotic designation) but at least we had a happy ending. And I can always buy more milk...
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
WHY?...WHY NOT?!
Did you ever have one of those days where you cozy up to the couch and watch movies? Not just any movies, but sad movies – heart wrenching movies – movies with an ultimate truth that makes you cry in sadness and joy at the same time?
I recently sat down to watch “My Sister’s Keeper”. For those unfamiliar, it is the story of a family that has a daughter who gets cancer as an infant, and when no matched donor is available, they conceive and give birth to another daughter, who is used as a donor for her sister.
From infancy, the second daughter is poked, prodded and operated on till she reaches the ripe old age of 11 and decides to fight her parents and refuse to donate a kidney to her sister.
The truth of her reluctance is ultimately revealed. It seems that the poor, dying sister doesn’t want any more help and has asked her younger sister to stop giving and as hard as it is for the younger sister, to take her own life back.
Now I will admit I missed the beginning of the movie but when things got most intense, no one prayed, talked about God’s plan in this or anything remotely associated with faith and promise.
And I got to thinking…isn’t the reason we are all here? to help each other? Like the movie, we are sometimes turned down, but that doesn't mean God doesn't want us to keep trying. All we have to do is trust him and ask him for guidance in our giving. God doesn’t just interfere. We know the steps needed to help our friends, neighbors, and fellow humans. When we call on God, we get the spiritual and emotional support we so dearly need and the act of giving gets easier.
I know that we are not all able to give everything someone needs. I have been on the marrow registry for years and though many people need marrow, I have never been a match. I think that if called, I would say yes and then pray that whoever needed my marrow would have a miraculous recovery and get me off the hook. When I was approached at the blood center and told all I had to do is sign the paper, it was easy. But being called and responding? That is when it becomes difficult.
We all say, if called I would be glad to donate my time to the church…but when called how many of us have an excuse to say no? I am always ready to help, just don’t call me. Caller ID is really a bummer for volunteerism.
I had two inspirations to write this – the second was that movie. The first was my K-love scripture of the day…Isaiah, 65:24 I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
How do you think he answers prayer before people ask? Look in the mirror folks.
We work so hard to beseech God in prayer that we forget that many times the answer to the prayers of others is us. And that is why, the encouraging of service through time and talent is so dear to all of us.
In many ways, we help each other often and without question – we pray - we cook meals when someone is laid up or otherwise unable to do it – we give money to World Vision or other charities – we respond when people need to be uplifted, encouraged or just to share our faith. We are tools in God’s toolbox – we are hammers building faith, saws cutting people from their troubles, screwdrivers attaching God’s message to everyone.
We recently had a new pastor,Matt Erickson say “yes” to dedicating his time, life and family to my church – Eastbrook. He told us that when asked to join us, even though he was receptive to the idea, he prayed over the decision, He didn’t say, God, let me check my schedule, he said God, if it’s your will, let me change my schedule
There is a song my choir does “I Give Myself Away” - we sang this for Pastor Matt’s installation service – but isn’t it really for each of us? We stand in the congregation and give ourselves to God. We are the visual and musical example of His grace when we sing His message. In worship, we are not individual people who stand up and sing, we are God’s instrument. And when someone is moved or inspired by the message we deliver, it is because we sing not for ourselves, but in honor of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
When we sing from our hearts, we see our plans totally fulfilled because they are God’s plans for us. Once we accept that we are God’s chorus on earth, there is no stopping us. We can play beautiful music in our daily activities…with no piano, no guitar, no drum; just the joyful knowledge that we have blessed ourselves while blessing someone else.
I recently sat down to watch “My Sister’s Keeper”. For those unfamiliar, it is the story of a family that has a daughter who gets cancer as an infant, and when no matched donor is available, they conceive and give birth to another daughter, who is used as a donor for her sister.
From infancy, the second daughter is poked, prodded and operated on till she reaches the ripe old age of 11 and decides to fight her parents and refuse to donate a kidney to her sister.
The truth of her reluctance is ultimately revealed. It seems that the poor, dying sister doesn’t want any more help and has asked her younger sister to stop giving and as hard as it is for the younger sister, to take her own life back.
Now I will admit I missed the beginning of the movie but when things got most intense, no one prayed, talked about God’s plan in this or anything remotely associated with faith and promise.
And I got to thinking…isn’t the reason we are all here? to help each other? Like the movie, we are sometimes turned down, but that doesn't mean God doesn't want us to keep trying. All we have to do is trust him and ask him for guidance in our giving. God doesn’t just interfere. We know the steps needed to help our friends, neighbors, and fellow humans. When we call on God, we get the spiritual and emotional support we so dearly need and the act of giving gets easier.
I know that we are not all able to give everything someone needs. I have been on the marrow registry for years and though many people need marrow, I have never been a match. I think that if called, I would say yes and then pray that whoever needed my marrow would have a miraculous recovery and get me off the hook. When I was approached at the blood center and told all I had to do is sign the paper, it was easy. But being called and responding? That is when it becomes difficult.
We all say, if called I would be glad to donate my time to the church…but when called how many of us have an excuse to say no? I am always ready to help, just don’t call me. Caller ID is really a bummer for volunteerism.
I had two inspirations to write this – the second was that movie. The first was my K-love scripture of the day…Isaiah, 65:24 I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
How do you think he answers prayer before people ask? Look in the mirror folks.
We work so hard to beseech God in prayer that we forget that many times the answer to the prayers of others is us. And that is why, the encouraging of service through time and talent is so dear to all of us.
In many ways, we help each other often and without question – we pray - we cook meals when someone is laid up or otherwise unable to do it – we give money to World Vision or other charities – we respond when people need to be uplifted, encouraged or just to share our faith. We are tools in God’s toolbox – we are hammers building faith, saws cutting people from their troubles, screwdrivers attaching God’s message to everyone.
We recently had a new pastor,Matt Erickson say “yes” to dedicating his time, life and family to my church – Eastbrook. He told us that when asked to join us, even though he was receptive to the idea, he prayed over the decision, He didn’t say, God, let me check my schedule, he said God, if it’s your will, let me change my schedule
There is a song my choir does “I Give Myself Away” - we sang this for Pastor Matt’s installation service – but isn’t it really for each of us? We stand in the congregation and give ourselves to God. We are the visual and musical example of His grace when we sing His message. In worship, we are not individual people who stand up and sing, we are God’s instrument. And when someone is moved or inspired by the message we deliver, it is because we sing not for ourselves, but in honor of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
When we sing from our hearts, we see our plans totally fulfilled because they are God’s plans for us. Once we accept that we are God’s chorus on earth, there is no stopping us. We can play beautiful music in our daily activities…with no piano, no guitar, no drum; just the joyful knowledge that we have blessed ourselves while blessing someone else.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Isaiah 65:24
I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
Ain't that the truth?
Ain't that the truth?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
I'm afraid
I think that there are many ways to live in fear. I personally am only afraid of two things...anything bigger than me (large balloons, tanks) and anything smaller than me (spiders, toddlers.)
As a child, I was raised to fear God. Not the personal, touchable God that I know today, but the huge, vengeful God who sits over all of the heavens with a finger pointing at mankind shooting down lightning bolts and with eternal damnation spewing from His mouth.
When I decided to set religion behind me and proceed in God's path through the bible, I found out that He was not the God of my youth. Not judge, jury and executioner, He was a God of love and compassion. Rather than being so monstrous and threatening to get us to accomodate him, He was the size of a man and reassuring to all who strived in His service.
Today I am afraid that I will let Him down. I am afraid that I will not be the servant He designed me to be. My fears aren't of meeting God but not meeting Him.
I can live with that.
As a child, I was raised to fear God. Not the personal, touchable God that I know today, but the huge, vengeful God who sits over all of the heavens with a finger pointing at mankind shooting down lightning bolts and with eternal damnation spewing from His mouth.
When I decided to set religion behind me and proceed in God's path through the bible, I found out that He was not the God of my youth. Not judge, jury and executioner, He was a God of love and compassion. Rather than being so monstrous and threatening to get us to accomodate him, He was the size of a man and reassuring to all who strived in His service.
Today I am afraid that I will let Him down. I am afraid that I will not be the servant He designed me to be. My fears aren't of meeting God but not meeting Him.
I can live with that.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
First day of school
Recently, a friend was discussing her daughter preparing for the first day of kindergarten. The little one was so excited.
Do you remember those days? When you finally got to set out all those clothes your mom bought or made you over the summer and had the perfect outfit picked out - top, bottom, shoes, socks...the new backpack and lunchbox...the fresh pencils and folders. Remember picking the tallest dandelion on the walk to school to decorate your locker, or give to a friend or teacher?
As adults, we should still give ourselves those little moments of excitement and discovery. Why can't we approach each new day as one where we may make a new friend, learn a new subject, create new art, find new beauty?
We don't need to be young to see each day as a gift from God to embrace and relish.
I want to start my day looking forward to new adventures and exciting moments, not the humdrum of sameness and routine activity.
Adults of the world, let's make some changes! We need to see that each day is unique and created by God for us to enjoy. Eden wasn't the only garden we lost - we lose the glory of nature every day that we sit idly by and do not see it through new eyes.
Be like the children - Jesus even encouraged it. When you see the weeds on your lawn as wild flowers...and dandelions gone to seed as wish makers, you will be on the way.
Today is the day the LORD has made - let us rejoice, and be glad in it.
Do you remember those days? When you finally got to set out all those clothes your mom bought or made you over the summer and had the perfect outfit picked out - top, bottom, shoes, socks...the new backpack and lunchbox...the fresh pencils and folders. Remember picking the tallest dandelion on the walk to school to decorate your locker, or give to a friend or teacher?
As adults, we should still give ourselves those little moments of excitement and discovery. Why can't we approach each new day as one where we may make a new friend, learn a new subject, create new art, find new beauty?
We don't need to be young to see each day as a gift from God to embrace and relish.
I want to start my day looking forward to new adventures and exciting moments, not the humdrum of sameness and routine activity.
Adults of the world, let's make some changes! We need to see that each day is unique and created by God for us to enjoy. Eden wasn't the only garden we lost - we lose the glory of nature every day that we sit idly by and do not see it through new eyes.
Be like the children - Jesus even encouraged it. When you see the weeds on your lawn as wild flowers...and dandelions gone to seed as wish makers, you will be on the way.
Today is the day the LORD has made - let us rejoice, and be glad in it.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
daddy, why do you keep seeing God?
Years ago, in the midst of great illness, my father fell into a fever and told me of the two men who came and sat with him. Men in long white robes whom he assumed were angels. "They asked about you" he told me.
I laughed it off at the time, telling him that it was ok to have imaginary friends, but was bothered that they knew about me. In retrospect, it may have been a sign that things were going to change for me if I was open to it.
Last month, he was ill again, hallucinating about all sorts of things and when he came back he mentioned that he felt between two worlds - not quite in heaven but not at all on earth. During this period of a few hours he was horrible to Liz and I as we tried to console him and keep him from hurting himself.
Once he came back to us, he didn't remember what he had said to us, but repeated over and over that he wouldn't want to be God, because God is so lonely. Two distinct thoughts have developed.
I am unsure of what was tormenting him. I don't know why he felt the job of "god" was being offered. But with the abuse he was spitting out, it seems that something with totally evil intent was giving him an option to leave earth and be a deity. How typical for Satan to sneak into the brain of an elderly, sick man and and try to use him as a tool in his evil plan. How wondeful that my dad found the way back to earth and to us and was left with the wonder that being God would be lonely.
That leads to my second thought.
Is God lonely? If so, is it because I spend less time with Him than I should? Was it God who sent my father from delirium to sanity to let me know that I needed to get back on track? I am pelted with thoughts and questions and insecurities...but I know that if I pray, and pray, and pray, I may finally figure this out.
I laughed it off at the time, telling him that it was ok to have imaginary friends, but was bothered that they knew about me. In retrospect, it may have been a sign that things were going to change for me if I was open to it.
Last month, he was ill again, hallucinating about all sorts of things and when he came back he mentioned that he felt between two worlds - not quite in heaven but not at all on earth. During this period of a few hours he was horrible to Liz and I as we tried to console him and keep him from hurting himself.
Once he came back to us, he didn't remember what he had said to us, but repeated over and over that he wouldn't want to be God, because God is so lonely. Two distinct thoughts have developed.
I am unsure of what was tormenting him. I don't know why he felt the job of "god" was being offered. But with the abuse he was spitting out, it seems that something with totally evil intent was giving him an option to leave earth and be a deity. How typical for Satan to sneak into the brain of an elderly, sick man and and try to use him as a tool in his evil plan. How wondeful that my dad found the way back to earth and to us and was left with the wonder that being God would be lonely.
That leads to my second thought.
Is God lonely? If so, is it because I spend less time with Him than I should? Was it God who sent my father from delirium to sanity to let me know that I needed to get back on track? I am pelted with thoughts and questions and insecurities...but I know that if I pray, and pray, and pray, I may finally figure this out.
Friday, July 15, 2011
I like Will Rogers
Hiding within the list of funny quotes attributed toWill Rogers, was one I really liked.
Don't let yesterday use up too much of today.
I was impressed as here is someone refuted to be satirical, bumpkinesque and even simple, and he left us a message that we can all use.
I am one of those who will think on Monday of the mistakes and lost time of the weekend, and on Friday dwell on the mistakes I made on Thursday. How much time, I wonder, have I denied myself each day by not remembering that I cannot change what happened yesterday? Why don't I see that at best I can prevent it from happening today?
So here is my new mission - to make every day new and unique - to celebrate the day I am on and embrace the future instead of clouding my attitude with the past. I need to appreciate the here and now because I can change it, and adjust it, and reform it as it happens and when I am through, the yesterday I bring into today and tomorrow will be of joy and accomplishment. Yesterday will not use up today if I don't let it.
Don't let yesterday use up too much of today.
I was impressed as here is someone refuted to be satirical, bumpkinesque and even simple, and he left us a message that we can all use.
I am one of those who will think on Monday of the mistakes and lost time of the weekend, and on Friday dwell on the mistakes I made on Thursday. How much time, I wonder, have I denied myself each day by not remembering that I cannot change what happened yesterday? Why don't I see that at best I can prevent it from happening today?
So here is my new mission - to make every day new and unique - to celebrate the day I am on and embrace the future instead of clouding my attitude with the past. I need to appreciate the here and now because I can change it, and adjust it, and reform it as it happens and when I am through, the yesterday I bring into today and tomorrow will be of joy and accomplishment. Yesterday will not use up today if I don't let it.
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