Just because...

I thought I'd do a little interview in light of the fact that it's halloween and all.

Now, without further ado, may I introduce our beloved Herman Munster.


Herman: Thank you, so much. Ho, hohohohohoho!



Thought: So, tell me Herman. What do you think of Halloween these days? It's gotta be a BIG night for you and your family, right?

Herman: Well, to tell you the truth, Steve - I never really give it much thought. Ho,hohohoho! I mean, I love all the kids, and handing out candy and stuff - but quite frankly, I could do without it.

T: What do you mean?



Herman: Well, it's just all the costumes and mischeif and stuff. Don't get me wrong, I love a good party and all - but some of these costumes are a bit over the top if you ask me. Pret-ty scary! I mean, as a parent it's just something I can't condone. They ought to be ashamed of themselves for traumatizing all those little kids, and giving them nightmares.

T: Well, it seems a little ridiculous that you should be upset about the scary costumes that little kids are wearing these days - aren't the costumes you and your family wear a little over the top too?

Herman: What costumes?

T: Uh, well - there was that one episode where you wore a cowboy get-up - ewwwww.... scary...

Herman: Oh, I remember that one...... Ho, hohohohohohoho! Too funny!!!!!



T: Well,that's all the time we have today. Thank you Mr. Munster - and to everyone out there - have a safe and happy Halloween!

Bistro Economics...

This is adapted from an e-mail that is floating around - it is not 100% accurate - but close enough to illustrate the point!

Suppose that every day, ten ladies go out for lunch. The bill for all ten comes to $100.
If they decided to pay their bill in the same manner that we in the U.S. pay our taxes, it would look something like this:

• The first four ladies, (the poorest) would owe nothing.
• The fifth would pay $1.
• The sixth would pay $3.
• The seventh would pay $7.
• The eighth would pay $12.
• The ninth would pay $18.
• The tenth woman, (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do.The ten ladies ate their lunch every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner of the restaurant threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily meal by $20.' Your lunch tab for all 10 of you will now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four ladies were unaffected. They would still eat for free. But what about the other six - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get their 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth lady and the sixth, would each end up being paid to have lunch! So, the owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each person’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay. And so:

• The fifth lady, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
• The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
• The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
• The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
• The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
• The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to eat for free.

But once outside the restaurant, they began to compare their savings.'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth lady. She pointed to the tenth woman,' but she got $10! "Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that she got ten times more than I got' 'That's true!!' shouted the seventh lady. 'Why should she get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!''Wait a minute,' yelled the first four women in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!' The nine ladies surrounded the tenth and beat her up!

The next day the tenth woman didn't show up for lunch as usual, so the nine sat down and had their meal without her. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start having their lunch overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

I always kinda knew...

So - it now comes as no surprise as to why I have low blood pressure. I should have known all along: Read all about it here.

Chilly fall evening fun...

Soo, I went fishing with my friend Mike K. this evening. I caught 1 small bluegill - he hauled in about 5 other bluegill and a couple of good sized crappie. Here's a pic of the largest crappie (about 10 in +) and a nice bluegill for your enjoyment.

Weighing in on the economy...

John McCain and his Veep candidate Sarah Palin are being hammered a bit for insinuating in not so many words that Senator Obama's proposed economic policy sounds a lot like socialism.

O.K. - so by way of background, in one of my previous lives, I was a licensed stockbroker. I worked for a financial planning firm while at Fuller working on my (as yet unfinished) Masters. I was the one guy in a million that you could trust NOT to sell your mother what she didn't need. My company however thought that I should be the kind of guy who would be willing to sell your mother whatever I could talk her into buying..... and then some. We parted company and I have tried to stay out of "sales" since then. I did however learn a thing or three about markets and the economy - so I thought I'd weigh in a bit given the current state of affairs we find ourselves in - market-wise.


Without going into too much detail - there is plenty of blame to go around as far as the current banking crisis goes - on both sides of the aisle and dating back to the implementation of the CRA rules against Red-lining during the Carter administration. That's all I've got to say about that.


As I wrote a couple of weeks ago: What I fail to understand is how raising taxes on corporations and raising capital gains taxes on investments will do anything to fix this crisis. Lemme 'splain -no, lemme' sum-up.

Most economists and many investors (in my experience) are free-market types, unless they have a particular political agenda they want to prop up.

Case in point - here. In this case - saying that Warren Buffet's tax "rate" is less than his secretary's is a true statement - but Mr. Buffet is being taxed on capital gains vs. earned income. Why is this inherently unfair? One does not need to be rich in order to pay capital gains tax - they simply need to sell something at a profit. This was intentionally misleading in my opinion and, speaking coloquially, the whole argument was simply meant to stir up the burgoo in the ol' class-warfare cauldron.

As I pointed out in the previous post - since most of us ARE investors to one degree or another, these tax hikes will affect us all. If you don't believe me, check this out. Basically, 51 MILLION households own at least some mutual funds. More than half of mutual fund assets are in stock funds. Which leads me to these two basic points about Mr. Obama's plan to increase taxes on corporations and to raise the capital gains tax rates in order to "spread the wealth" around a bit.

Here goes:

• Raising Capital gains tax could affect those of us among 51,000,000 households who own mutual fund shares outside of a retirement plan or otherwise tax-sheltered plan. Both stock and bond funds distribute realized capital gains to shareholders. Notwithstanding, many of us *poor folk* occasionally buy and sell stock when we aren't out scrounging in trash bins for aluminum cans so we can afford gas for our cars. :) One does not need to be "RICH" to be an investor - just ask 51 Million of us if we consider ourselves "Rich" folks.
• Secondly. Raising taxes on corporations affects everyone! Where do jobs come from? Who hires most people. This tax hike will also affect the overall stock market for one simple reason: More taxes paid, means less profit - which translates to lower earnings per share. Stocks prices trade on multiples of EPS (Earnings Per Share) - plain and simple - as compared with other similar companies within their respective industries. Hence - if you raise taxes - you lower earnings - you lower share prices - shareholders (51,000,000 households in the US alone who own mutual funds) get hit. It doesn't just affect WALL STREET, it affects Main Street too!

By way of example:
When I use the statement - "Hey hon, I'm off to work now." Where am I going? Who signs my paycheck? Chances are - that *place* where I go 5 days a week to get my monthly paycheck has the abbreviation *Inc.* somewhere in the title. And, if they happen to be a somewhat successful *Inc.* (let's hope so...), then Mr. Obama wants them to pay more than they currently are! Let 's just mention here that we have the SECOND HIGHEST corporate tax rate in the world! (This just might explain why some companies have migrated overseas...)

Well, that's all I've got to say about that today.....

Weighing in...sort of...

O.K. - so this is going to be a theologically light* post, but I just can't help putting in my two cents. If the networks are to be believed, the fate of the entire free world is in the hands of a few, luke-warm, undecided voters in a few swing states. That just boggles my mind.

Here's a couple of questions for those who are still on the fence:

1. What more do you need to know before you make up your wishy-washy little mind about this election? Honestly. It's not rocket science. One is a Chicago liberal - across the board - and the other is a fiscally conservative (and boring) moderate who just happened to be the last one standing in an extremely boring Republican primary. There are a few nuances with regards to specifics - but that's that basics folx.

2. Have you paying attention? There are two candidates - Pick one!

3. Are you enjoying the attention? Lots of folks are pandering to you right now, trying to figure out exactly what it will take to tip you over to their side. (Must be nice...) Do you believe all the campaign promises? How 'bout a chicken in every pot!?!

Now for weighing-in on the situation. All joking aside, I don't necessarily buy into the notion that there are that many undecided or still persuadable voters out there. The problem as I see it, is the candidates being overly concerned with trying to woo them by saying what the undecided voters might want to hear. If they still don't know by now - they should stay home and do no harm! That's just my opinion. On the other hand - everyone who is a legal, living, breathing citizen of legal age has the right to cast their vote - ONCE - and be counted - ONCE - so long as they register in their local precint. That being said, I just can't believe there are people who haven't yet made their mind up about this one. Decide already!

Bottom line...it just makes me nervous...

Because I can...

O.K. - so I am very glad to be in touch (sort of in touch that is...) with my friend David Mosley again. He suggested I check this version of this song out - I liked it - here it is:)





(Sorry, this isn't a *video* - but it sure is a swell picture, don'tcha think?)

Autopilot...

So, I've been doing a lot of thinking and praying lately about my personal lack of fervor at times (read - lately).

For me, having grown up in church, going to a christian college, seminary, etc...... it is just too easy to "fake" it when I want to. I know all the right answers to give. I can even sound impressive if I choose. (Impressed yet?)

Don't get me wrong - I love the Lord. I am a follower of Jesus, I am very passionate about worship - about people diving in and enjoying a relationship with Him. But, I have to admit - sometimes (lately) it just feels dry. For me it has been too easy to just go through the motions. I am coming out of a short period like that right now. (Have you guessed) I feel like I have been on Auto-pilot so to speak rather than growing in the Lord. Worse yet, I have given place to a lot of cynicism and a very critical attitude that just stinks. I can really be a jerk sometimes.

But deep down, I so desparately want to be led by the spirit, to obey his every command. I want to passionately dig into His word, to fervently worship at His feet. I have let this apathy take over for far too long!

Sorry to dump on you... just had to put it out there!

Everyone needs a good laugh once in awhile...

This is one of our favorite "clean" comedians - Daren Streblow. Enjoy. If you liked him check out Team Polycarp for another guy we like - Taylor Mason.

Holiness revisited...

O.K. - after my garbled thoughts from Yesterday I believe I have at least a better illustration to obviate the point.

My main thought from yesterday was this - Holiness = separateness or set-apartness UNTO something.

In clarification, here are some more thoughts. Being Set Apart / Sanctified / Made Holy - doesn't necessarily mean being Set Apart for the sake of ISOLATION. Someone or Something is Set Apart in order to be useful. Usually that usefulness has to do with something SPECIAL. Here is just one example.

In Exodos 30:34ff the Lord commanded Moses to have special incense made specifically for use in the Tabernacle. The Israelites were prohibited from making anything like it or burning it for their own enjoyment - it was to be used solely in worship to the Lord. In this way - the incense formula was Set Apart. It was special, it was to be used ONLY for this purpose and not for common or everyday use.

This concept doesn't often jive with our preaching with regards to Holiness. Lemme 'splain for just a moment.

(***Big Disclaimer*** These thoughts pertain to me - in the context of when, where and how I grew up and the churches I have been a part of, lest we forget - this is my blog! Nevertheless, I have observed this line of preaching ALL over the place!)

Holiness is usually preached in the context of staying away from "bad" things. We are also discouraged from associating with "bad" people for fear of being either tainted by them, or being seen as tacitly approving of what these "bad" people do. Our personal righteousness is usually tied in with this point - which is only half-right in my opinion. There is very rarely a distinction made between personal righteousness and the true deeper meaning of Holiness - being set-apart. By focusing on behavior I believe that our preaching is often just the same old "Guilty by association" logic that we Christians are so good at***.

(***Pardon my grammar. This is just the sort of poor grammar that, up with, we shall no longer put. I shall try to do better in future posts.) Now where was I?

Back in the day, Steve Taylor had a song by the same title "Guilty By Association" - which was a satire of our isolated Christian sub-culture. It went something like this:

• So you need a new car? Let your fingers take a walk, through the business guide for the "born-again" flock. You'll be keeping all your money in the "kingdom" now. And, you'll only drink milk from a "Christian" cow!" (Watch it from the link above - it's a great song!)

Now, I agree we should live lives worthy of our professed testimony. I do not advocate a license to sin. There are definitely things that Christians shouldn't partake in. There are things that are unhealthy to watch at the theater (and at home), language that just shouldn't be used, and other things we just shouldn't condone.

However, I believe we run into danger when we equate a believer's behavior with their right-standing with God. Righteous behavior does not LEAD to Holiness. Holiness is God ordained, outside of the believer. It is His decree, God calling us to be who He called us to be. Righteous living then, is the RESULT of our right-standing with God. Holiness is something God does - he set's us apart - UNTO righteous living, not because of our own righteousness. God does not keep a "balance sheet" of all our good and bad deeds and reward us accordingly. All have sinned! There is none righteous - not one! We cannot do it apart from what Jesus has done for us.

Putting it another way, saying that my own righteous behavior LEADS to Holiness is quite like saying that I drink lots of Root Beer BECAUSE I belch a lot. It really IS and should be seen the other way around. Righteous behavior is the RESULT of what God did in setting us apart unto himself - our behavior should fall in line. Because my eyes have been made Holy (set apart unto God) - I will look upon no unclean thing. Because my hands have been made Holy (set apart) I will not use them to steal. Because my tongue has been made Holy I will not curse, lie or slander my brother. That is the distinction.

By focusing on behavior we fool ourselves into believing that we can be good enough to please God. That is not Holiness - it's legalism.

(See Galations if you don't believe me!)

The music in my head...

Soo, here's a little something to check out. I have always liked this song for some sick reason. I mean, c'mon - Kermit is the MAN! (frog) So, I thought I'd take some time to learn this tune - jazz it up a little, have some fun.... But NOW I can't get the song out of my head. So, if you are brave - or just sick and twisted like me - hit play, sit back and enjoy the music if you dare.

But, BEWARE! The melody is haunting and it will stay with you for a long, long time. (Bwa ha ha ha ha!)




BTW - I was really having fun learning this song until I ran across a youtube video of THIS GUY doing the same song. I got a little discouraged.

(Honestly, I could probably keep up on guitar - but vocally compared to him I sound more like the frog...)


So, I gave up - for now. But I still just can't get it outta my head!!!!!!