Showing posts with label May. Show all posts
Showing posts with label May. Show all posts

30 May 2018

Book Review: One Moment Can Change Your Life!: Extraordinary Stories about Ordinary People by Ulrich Kellerer

One Moment Can Change Your Life!: Extraordinary Stories about Ordinary People by Ulrich Kellerer

The title, One Moment Can Change Your Life!: Extraordinary Stories about Ordinary People by Ulrich Kellerer is very promising. The question is, does it deliver on that promise?

Having read literally thousands of books, and judging them on their actual content, we would have to say the writer does fulfill the promise offered to his readers by the title.

However, we can only rate this book four stars. The book is very well-written and the stories are interesting, for the most part. However, in most books we read like this the story provides a hook. We read this type of story and expect a miracle. That miracle does come in at least one of the stories, but the story missed giving us a hook even on that one.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this One Moment Can Change Your Life. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
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Book Review: God Inside the Fire: Revised & Expanded Edition by Greg Stelley

God Inside the Fire: Revised & Expanded Edition by Greg Stelley

We read and reviewed the original version of God Inside the Fire and we were blown away. Usually when there is a revised edition, it really does not improve the story that much. However, God Inside the Fire: Revised & Expanded Edition by Greg Stelley takes a truly awesome story and kicks it up several notches.

The miracles in the first edition were great. Stelley hit it out of the park with this revised edition as he added some dialogue that really makes the true life characters come to life for the reader. He also adds some back story to help us get the true impact of what was going on in the story.

We feel that this book is very well-written and deserves all five stars. It is a factual account of a real life event told as close to the facts as can be told.

Our Kindle ereader tells us it takes about six hours to read the book. This being the case, you might want to potty first, put on a cup of coffee, and grab a comfy place to sit because you won’t want to put down God Inside the Fire.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
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29 May 2018

Book Review: Triple Bottom-Line Compliance: How To Deliver Protection, Productivity, and Impact by Beth Haddock

Triple Bottom-Line Compliance: How To Deliver Protection, Productivity, and Impact by Beth Haddock

If you are a compliance officer, you owe it to yourself to read Triple Bottom-Line Compliance: How To Deliver Protection, Productivity, and Impact by Beth Haddock.

This short book is full of helpful advice on how to get buy-in from the powers that be at your company and your fellow employees.

No one wants to face a government audit, but there is a fine line which must be walked by the compliance officer to keep everyone satisfied.

Small companies will benefit from the helpful advice offered in Triple Bottom-Line Compliance.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.  

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
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27 May 2018

Book Review: Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change by Hannah Alper

Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change by Hannah Alper






Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change by Hannah Alper is a book meant to let young people know that they can make a difference in this world. Age does not define you nor does it restrict one’s ability to make a difference in someone’s life. Kindness always makes a difference!

This book, written by a young teenager, is full of the stories of young people out there doing what they can to make this world a better place overall and to bring a smile to someone’s heart. The young people all face different challenges - there are people out there that think kids can’t do anything of importance - but they tough their way through the challenges before them to bring about the changes they are seeking.

In the Bible, John 15:12, we are commanded by Jesus to love one another: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” The young people represented in Momentus are doing their part to “love one another” and making the world a better place. They are making a difference.

If you need inspiration, can’t think of what you can do to make a difference to even just one person, pick up a copy of Momentus. You will find plenty of ideas. Sometimes all it takes is a smile to make someone’s day. No matter your age, you can do this!

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.  

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
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26 May 2018

Please Help Her to Keep Moving Forward

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Imagine, you’re 20 years old, your hopes and dreams before you, no reason to think you can’t achieve them. You study, you work hard, you maintain a 4.0 and are on the Dean’s list every semester. It seems everything you touch turns to gold.

Fast forward 2 years. All year, you’ve had to struggle. Financial aid was inadequate to cover everything. You move off campus to what you think will be better, less expensive living arrangements. But, roommates are wasteful and run up the utility bills making it difficult to afford other things, like food. You get a job, even though your school hours are already overloaded. You sell blood/plasma just to be able to buy groceries. It seems like everything is falling apart, but you still have the 4.0 GPA.

Then, the bottom falls out of your world. You wake up and there is an intruder in your room. You’re scared, but out of sorts because you just woke up. You can’t fight him off. He’s a full grown, 40-something year old man. He overpowers you. The next 16 hours of your life have him drugging and repeatedly beating and raping you. To add insult to injury, he steals your debit card. The police only charge him with kidnapping and credit/debit card theft.

Our youngest daughter does not have to imagine this scenario. She lived it. On 26 December 2017, she was brutally attacked in her room, while her friends were away on Christmas vacation.

She tried to continue on with her job and university courses, but fell into a state of depression and a life ruled by fear and nightmares. She couldn’t sleep, couldn’t function, couldn’t keep up with school work any longer. She left school and came home for her dad and I to try to help her recover from this traumatic experience.

Our daughter is receiving the help that we and professionals can provide for her. While she is healing physically, emotionally there is still much work to do. She wants to put this part of her life behind her and try to move forward. Returning to this university is out of the question.

Our daughter is heavily into the theater. Our town offers community theatre opportunities as does the local junior college, which she attended before leaving for the university. The junior college offers a cosmetology program that she thinks will ultimately help to further her career opportunities in costuming and stage makeup.

There is one glitch - a very big one, that we cannot overcome on our own.

Although the local school has tentatively accepted her, they cannot let her enroll without a copy of her official transcript from the university she was attending when she was attacked. This university has a hold on her transcript because when she withdrew, it left a balance of approximately $5,600. This balance was the stipend provided for living expenses during the semester. The majority of it went to pay the rent at the apartment complex where she was raped. The complex would not let her out of the lease. She has had to continue paying the rent there, although she has not lived there since late February. This stipend was not enough to cover the entirety of the lease agreement. There is money still owed for the months of June and July.

Our daughter did not ask to be attacked and have to leave school. Sometimes life brings other things our way and we have to adjust our plans. No matter what, we have to keep moving forward.

Please help our daughter to keep on the road to recovery. By helping her to pay off the deficit with the university so that they will release her transcript to the local college, and paying out the lease to the apartment complex that did not provide proper security to its tenants, she will be able to put that school, that city, and - maybe someday - that awful attack behind her.

Here are the needs:

$5600 to the university

$1400 to the apartment complex

$ 500 GoFundMe fees

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$7500 Total

Thank you for your help in our daughter’s recovery. May our Heavenly Father bless you all for your compassion and assistance. Please click the image below to go to the GoFundMe page.

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Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
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Book Review: The Bank On Yourself Revolution: Fire Your Banker, Bypass Wall Street, and Take Control of Your Own Financial Future by Pamela Yellen

The Bank On Yourself Revolution: Fire Your Banker, Bypass Wall Street, and Take Control of Your Own Financial Future by Pamela Yellen

Anyone who has read our How To Manage Your Monkey blog knows when we review a book on finance, we try to be as fair and balanced with our review as possible.

By now our readers also know that when we find something wrong with a concept, we tell you. We have looked all the way through The Bank On Yourself Revolution: Fire Your Banker, Bypass Wall Street, and Take Control of Your Own Financial Future by Pamela Yellen and we have to tell you we did find one flaw. On page 95 when the author is discussing the alternatives to using The Bank On Yourself method, she says we could face a future where we say, “And would you like fries with that?” The flaw is, the training tells you to say, “You want fries with that” with the tone of a question. It is actually hypnotism at its best. And, it works.

Well, now that you have read that major flaw (said tongue in cheek) we will tell you that this plan just might work.

Like just about every other book on personal finance we have read, Yellen starts out by telling her readers the flaw in most other means of financing a retirement. That part of the book seems to go a little slow. Don’t give up. The book gets much better and the plan really seems to be a good one.

Albert J. Zdenek Jr, author of Master Your Cash Flow: The Key To Grow And Retain Wealth gives us some very sound advice that one should remember when reading any financial plan and that is, “Do the Math.”

It is too late for us to do the math. I was forced to retire 22 years ago. If I had The Bank On Yourself Revolution and not been too hard-headed to heed the advice given, we would not be having to try to make ends meet by eating beans and rice or ramen soup quite so often. Had we known about this plan and followed it the times spent in the nursing home (because that is the only way Medicare would pay for my IV fluids) could have been spent in my own home with visits from home health. With The Bank On Yourself Revolution, my wife and I could have made the choice.

We give The Bank On Yourself Revolution all five stars. It is very well-written and a well thought out plan for maximizing your wealth. We think anyone who plans to retire in this century needs to read this book. You will be glad you did.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.  


Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
Please subscribe to David's YouTube Channel. Thanks!

25 May 2018

Friendly Fill-Ins

This is a fun meme co-hosted by 15 and Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs. Be sure to visit and join in the fun!

New Friday_Fill-In_Badge
Here are the fill-ins:

1. It is _____________________.

2. The best part of last week was ___________________.

3. Every summer, I ___________.

4. Once upon a time, _________.


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Here are my responses:

It is nearly midnight as I type this. I am sleepy, but don’t want to go to sleep. The days are so busy that, if I want to do anything on my want-to list, I just have to get used to doing it while fighting sleep. Sleep usually wins, though.

The best part of last week was that it ended. It contained the death of my Aunt Judy as well as the one year anniversary of “Ma”, also named Judy. She was the mother of my best friend in high school. She was a great Ma to me. I could talk to her about anything. She didn’t judge. She let us all live our own lives and was there to listen whenever we needed to talk. She was great. I sure do miss her.

Every summer, I melt. This is Gulf Coast Texas and it gets HOT. It gets hot long before it is officially summer.

Once upon a time, I had a cute little frog named Vivaldi. But, she grew up and followed the call of her Prince Ludwig, and they lived happily ever after out in the wilderness of our backyard.

Our daughter Maggie has a new blog for her furbaby Martha. You can find it at: Martha’s Daily Mews

Our Marine needs your help. Please see New York or Bust.

Have a blessed weekend, y’all!





Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
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22 May 2018

Book Review: My Pet Peeve by Renée Rodgers Barstack

My Pet Peeve by Renée Rodgers Barstack

Many of our readers on our How To Manage Your Monkey blog love children’s books about cats. This is one they should add to their collection.

My Pet Peeve by Renée Rodgers Barstack is a sweet, short story about a little girl who really wants a kitty. How she goes about getting one is priceless.

This book is very colorfully illustrated and should capture the imagination of most young children. We give it all five stars.

If you have a young reader or soon to be reader, you really should add My Pet Peeve by Renée Rodgers Barstack to your bookshelf. Oh, plan to read it again and again to those little ones who love animals.


We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.  

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
Please subscribe to David's YouTube Channel. Thanks!

Book Review: Conquer Change and Win: An Easy-to-Read, Fun Book about the Serious Subject of Change by Ralph Masengill, Jr.

Conquer Change and Win: An Easy-to-Read, Fun Book about the Serious Subject of Change by Ralph Masengill, Jr.

In any business, change is going to happen. Conquer Change and Win: An Easy-to-Read, Fun Book about the Serious Subject of Change by Ralph Masengill, Jr. addresses how best to change in business.

This book is chock full of jokes, stories, and quotes that help to illustrate the points being made by the author. Masengill has an excellent way of writing and telling us how to handle change in our business.

We give Conquer Change and Win all five stars. If you are in management or leadership, you owe it to yourself and your company to read this book. We think it should be required reading in any management training program.



We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.  

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
Please subscribe to David's YouTube Channel. Thanks!

19 May 2018

Book Review: Buffett Beyond Value: Why Warren Buffett Looks to Growth and Management When Investing by Prem C. Jain

Buffett Beyond Value: Why Warren Buffett Looks to Growth and Management When Investing by Prem C. Jain

By now anyone who has read our reviews knows we read a great deal about Warren Buffett's investing style.

Buffett Beyond Value: Why Warren Buffett Looks to Growth and Management When Investing by Prem C. Jain helps would-be investors to learn a little more about how the Oracle of Omaha approaches investing.

Jain writes in an easy-to-understand style with many analogies to back up what he is trying to teach his readers.

We would love to read a book on investing written by Buffett. Unfortunately, he has yet to write one. The next best thing is to read books written by people who have studied his ways and have tried to imitate his investments.

We would love to know how Buffett makes money if he buys stocks to hold forever, but doesn’t look for stocks that pay a dividend.

The more we read about Buffett, the more we want to know. Buffett Beyond Value helps answer some of our many questions. We give it all five stars.

We borrowed a copy of this book from the Wharton County, Texas Library. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
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18 May 2018

Friendly Fill-Ins


This is a fun meme co-hosted by 15 and Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs. Be sure to visit and join in the fun!

Friday_Fill-In_Badge

Here are the fill-ins:
  1. Happiness is __________________________.
  1. Ten years ago, I ______________________.
  1. __________________ is the best medicine.
  1. Most people don’t know that I _________.
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Here are my responses:

Happiness is time that doesn’t have me going in 50 different directions at the same time, not able to catch a breath. Happiness is time spent watching the birds, squirrels, and frogs. Happiness is being able to sleep through the night without 400 calls from my bladder. Happiness is Jesus, family, and home.

Ten years ago, I ...was almost 43. I was living with tumors, but didn’t know it yet. I (we) still had 3 children living at home. I believe that I was driving a green Ford Windstar. I was getting used to yet another new normal.

They say “laughter is the best medicine”. Sometimes it is; sometimes it is not appropriate for the situation.

Most people don’t know that I descended from a line of potters. My Gunter ancestors were potters in Edgefield County, South Carolina. They were versed in the alkaline glazing technique and carried that technique with them to the northeastern parts of Georgia, where they trained other potters in the technique.

I want to learn their craft and have been researching all that I can about it. Maybe THIS is what I am meant to do, wake up this generations-old craft of our ancestors. I can’t wait to see where this goes!

Our daughter Maggie has a new blog for her furbaby Martha. You can find it at: Martha’s Daily Mews

Our Marine needs your help. Please see New York or Bust.


Have a blessed weekend, y’all!



Image source: Pixabay







Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
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17 May 2018

Book Review: Healing: Faith and Medicine: A Medical Professional’s Memoir of Healing and Dealing with Illness by Mark Davis

Healing: Faith and Medicine: A Medical Professional’s Memoir of Healing and Dealing with Illness by Mark Davis

Never before in our recollection have we read a book on faith that actually made cold chills run up and down our spines. Healing: Faith and Medicine: A Medical Professional’s Memoir of Healing and Dealing with Illness by Mark Davis actually gave us goosebumps.

Davis talks about how possibly the reason we don’t see as many miracles in the United States of America today as we see in third world countries is because here we have more resources to rely on. Perhaps he is right. However, here, families like us who are well below the poverty level, realize that miracles happen every day.

This book is incredibly well-written and difficult to put down. We give it all five stars. We know you will too.

If your faith needs a jump start, you owe it to yourself to read Healing: Faith and Medicine: A Medical Professional’s Memoir of Healing and Dealing with Illness by Mark Davis.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.  

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
Please subscribe to David's YouTube Channel. Thanks!

Guest Post: How Christianity Can Help You Overcome Addiction

The following is a guest post from Sharon Torres.

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How Christianity Can Help You Overcome Addiction

There’s no doubt addiction has a stronghold on many lives in America these days. From the youth to middle-aged to senior citizens, plenty of people are struggling with addictions to alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, and more. It’s quite disheartening to say the least, but still, there’s always hope when you begin looking in the right direction.

Willpower isn’t normally enough to break the grip of addiction in one’s life. Most people cannot “will” themselves out of addiction, as there are real changes that occur in the brain chemistry of an addict. The drug(s) alter the way the neurochemicals act in the brain, and this can easily change the way you think.

For example, let’s say you’re addicted to alcohol. You may want to quit drinking, but your brain is telling a different story. You know alcohol is causing you problems, but your brain has been hijacked. It’s been rewired in a way that makes it think it NEEDS alcohol to survive, making it challenging for you to up and quit using willpower.

How Christianity Can Help You Beat Addiction


While there are various paths to recovery from addiction, Christianity is certainly a path that has freed many people from their drug of choice. By Christianity, I mean the path of following the ways of Jesus Christ, leaning on Him (and thus, God) for freedom from addiction.

Here are 4 keys to getting free from any addiction following the path of Christianity:

Admit That You’re In Over Your Head

The first step of the 12 Step groups talks about admitting one is powerless over their drug of choice. This admission is necessary. Admit to yourself and God that you’re not able to quit your drug of choice on your own. Admit that you need God’s help and consider telling those closest to you, such as your spouse or best friend.

Let go and Let God

Once you’ve admitted your addiction to God, asking for help, let go and let God begin working. It’s not always easy to give up your power or control, but God needs you to do this, so He can begin orchestrating the changes you desire in your life. If you’re struggling to let go, ask God to help you. Make prayer a daily habit, talking to God from your heart. There’s no right or wrong way to approach God, so just take the time to communicate with Him as often as you can. He wants a relationship with you.

Reach Out To Others For Help

Community is important, as the connections you can make with others can help you begin to heal and keep you from going back to your addiction. Some people find support groups helpful in their recovery efforts, such as the 12 Step groups Alcoholics Anonymous. There are 12 Step groups available for many addictions, including drugs, porn, sex, gambling, and more. Many people find support through attending a local church too. If you’re not attending a church, perhaps you can visit several churches in your area to see what resonates with you. Some churches have a support group called Celebrate Recovery, which helps people manage or overcome various addictions. Be sure to check if there is a group in your community.

Seek Christian Drug Rehab Centers

If you desire to attend a drug rehab center, check around for a Christian rehab. There you’ll be able to undergo drug treatment that is built upon a Christian foundation. You’ll also meet others who may have the same type of religious beliefs you have, and quite possibly make a friend or two.

Christianity and Addiction


If addiction has gotten a stronghold in your life, reach out for help today. Go to God in prayer, but also consider reaching out for face-to-face help via a treatment center, counselor, pastor, or support group. You don’t have to face overcoming addiction alone and there are certainly recovery paths that will help you get free.

God cares for you and is more than willing to direct you to your unique recovery path from any addiction. God’s plan for you is good. Allow Him to breathe new life into you as you begin walking your road to recovery.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Sharon is a freelance writer who relishes a life of recovery.
https://sharontorreswriter.blogspot.com/

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Image sources: Pixabay - Addiction, Freedom





Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
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Guest Post: Questions to ask before you commit your money

Questions to ask before you commit your money
 
“I’ve spent 25 years investigating over 450 financial products and vehicles,” Pamela says. “I can tell you that, though these products were sparkly and seductive on paper, 99.9% of them didn’t stand up to scrutiny.” To protect your family’s financial future, you need to get answers to at least a few basic questions before you (and your money) jump in:
  1. What is this product’s true track record over the long run? “Get performance figures verified by a third party, not claims in sales literature from sales literature.”
  2. What guarantees does this product or vehicle offer? “If the answer is ‘None,’ run for the hills – unless you’re a thrill-seeker who’s prepared to lose his or her shirt.”
  3. What fees are involved? “Even seemingly nominal fees can eat up much of your account value. According to the Department of Labor, fees of only 1% will devour 28% of your nest egg over 35 years, assuming a 7% annual return. But most people are paying more than 1% in fees in their 401(k)s, IRAs, and so on. The key is not to underestimate the long-term impact of fees, and to make sure you are aware of all fees you’re being charged.”
  4. Who is recommending this to you? “Does your advisor have some vested interest in getting you involved in certain financial products? (And if so, did she disclose it up front?) Even if you’re dealing with someone who is financially savvy, do they really know your particular needs and situation well enough to be advising you?”
“To protect yourself and your family, I urge you to do your own due diligence before jumping on the bandwagon of any financial vehicle or product,” Pamela says. She also recommends asking these overarching questions when considering any financial product or advice:
  • Will this advice or vehicle give me peace of mind and let me sleep at night?
  • Will it help me get where I want to go without taking unnecessary risk?
  • Will it allow me to be in charge of my money?
Pamela shares a time-tested saving strategy that allows people to answer yes to those three all-important questions. This method, known as Bank On Yourself, provides guaranteed growth, pays taxes in advance, and gives people access to their savings without restrictions or penalties whenever they need it. Most importantly, it allows people to know exactly how much money they will have upon retirement and every step of the way. About the Author: Pamela Yellen is founder of Bank On Yourself, a financial investigator and the author of two New York Times best-selling books, including her latest, The Bank On Yourself Revolution: Fire Your Banker, Bypass Wall Street, and Take Control of Your Own Financial Future. Pamela investigated more than 450 financial strategies seeking an alternative to the risk and volatility of stocks and other investments, which led her to a time-tested, predictable method of growing wealth now used by more than 500,000 Americans. For more information, visit www.BankOnYourself.com.






Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
Please subscribe to David's YouTube Channel. Thanks!

Prayers, Please


We just found out that my Aunt Judy, Mama's youngest sister, passed away last night from pneumonia.  Please pray for my mama and her remaining siblings, but most of all, Aunt Judy's five sons and their families, as well as her former and current husbands.

Thank you.  Have a blessed day.





Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

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 Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

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13 May 2018

Happy Mother's Day!

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Happy Mother's Day

to all of you beautiful ladies out there!



I chose an elephant to honor my fore-mothers (and fathers) from my Oliphant line. Elephants are beautiful. They are also very strong, just like mothers have to be.



Image source: Pixabay




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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
Please subscribe to David's YouTube Channel. Thanks!

11 May 2018

Instagram Today

Good-bye, Vivaldi. Photo Taken 11 May 2018. Sometimes in life, we’re called to do the hard thing. We love, but we have to let go. Nature called Vivaldi, and I had to let her go.
She wasn’t imprisoned in our home, but sheltered and loved. She was ready to go, so I had to let her.
Bye-bye,my little buddy. May the great outdoors give you the happiness you have given me since the day we met. Moogie loves you always.
#treefrog #naturecalls #goinghome #froggylove #frogs #urbanwildlife

Book Review: Gulag 401(k): Tales of a Modern Prisoner by Richard A. Marin

Gulag 401(k): Tales of a Modern Prisoner by Richard A. Marin

The category listed on the back of Gulag 401(k): Tales of a Modern Prisoner by Richard A. Marin is fiction. I am not at all sure that is correct.

The back of the book states “In this book, the author recalls his career and explores how to afford retirement…” I am not sure all of that is entirely accurate either.

Readers really aren’t given any significant investing for retirement information. However, readers are treated to an inside look at the life of the author. This look does not appear to be fiction. Who could make this stuff up?

We live in a completely different world from the author. Marin does not see a $35 parking ticket as a significant expense, whereas we will drive out of our way to keep from having to pay a $1 toll on the toll road in Houston. For us, $35 is 3% of our monthly income.

We really would love to read more of Marin’s writing, especially a little more detailed look inside Bear Stearns and Bankers Trust.

We give Gulag 401(k): Tales of a Modern Prisoner all five stars. It is an extremely well-written story that takes us through the author’s very interesting career. We follow Marin from his first day at work on his first job at Bankers Trust to his time as a teacher at a university, all the way through to his planned retirement.

One can learn a lot about the financial world. Marin does a better job at describing the financial meltdown at Bear Stearns than many of the books we have read that were written to specifically address that particular era in American history.

We would love to read a book that was a compilation of this author’s in-the-trenches stories of big business and big finance.

Yes, the back of this book is a little misleading. However, readers will not be disappointed. Readers will be entertained and they just might learn a little bit about preparing for retirement through the eyes of someone who has blazed a trail ahead of us. You should order your copy of Gulag 401(k): Tales of a Modern Prisoner by Richard A. Marin today. Maybe give one to a friend.


We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

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Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
Please subscribe to David's YouTube Channel. Thanks!

Instagram Today

My Morning Visitor. Photo Taken 11 May 2018. This lizard is so cute and was *very* patient with me. I have named it Spot. #urbanwildlife #nature #lizard #gulfcoastlife #Texas

Have a blessed day!

Friendly Fill-Ins

This is a fun meme co-hosted by 15 and Meowing and McGuffy's Reader. Be sure to visit and join in the fun!

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Here are the fill-ins:

1. I spend ______________ hours per day online.

2. When I go online, I use my ________________.

3. Mother’s Day ______________________________.

4. I wish ____________________________________.

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Here are my responses:

I spend very few hours online anymore. By the time I have the opportunity to get in here to the computer, I have forgotten what it was I needed to do anyway. I am woefully behind on posting book reviews and visiting blogs. Unfortunately, I don’t see that changing any time soon.

When I go online I use either my PC or my smartphone. I use the Firefox browser on my computer and whatever it is that comes predone in the phone on the iPhone.

Mother’s Day is a mixed bag of emotions for me, as it is for many.

I wish that all of the bad people of the world would stop being bad and quit bringing sadness to others.

Our daughter Maggie has a new blog for her furbaby Martha. You can find it at: Martha’s Daily Mews

 

Have a blessed weekend, y’all!



Image Source: Pixabay




Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

I respond to all comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!
 
Please subscribe to David's YouTube Channel. Thanks!