Prayer A to Z

My business has always been primarily to homeowners. From when I started the business (in 1981) to the present (2020), I’m sure I have acquired over 1000 satisfied customers from over 30 localities in the Minneapolis area. I had a vision of really spreading out: I went out as far west as Minnetonka (you will have to look on a map), as far south as Burnsville, as far east as Oakdale, and as far North as Andover. But now, especially since I am retired, I see the wisdom in staying as close to home as possible. It saves on gas and it doesn’t take as long to get to work.

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned over the years is to do whatever I can to please a…

In previous blog posts, I talked about the start of my painting business: my advertising, my biding on jobs, and buying ladders and a truck. Today I will talk about hiring help (employees). When I started out, in 1981, I just hired one guy—a friend. I suppose I could have done the work myself, since I didn’t have a great deal of it; but I went on faith that more work would come in and I wanted to be ready when it did.

As it turned out, each year brought in a little more work; and so, more employees were needed. According to my records, my best year was in 1987. And so, as I remember, I had the most employees then, about 6 or 7. Those were the days. It was fun having that many workers, but also hard keeping track of everything.

I’ve always done my own payroll…

During the first few years of my painting business, from 1981 to 1985, I lived in two different places. The first was in an apartment in south Minneapolis. The thing I remember about that place was that I got some of the cost of my rent taken off for doing some badly needed painting in a few apartments. I remember that I never felt pressured to finish a job—since I had an understanding with the landlord that I could only work a couple hours a week, because I was already working my painting business. I don’t know why I got such a kick out of it and felt so empowered to just walk away from a job half-way finished and to tell the people, “I’ll be back next Wednesday to finish up.” I would never do that today. But, part of me wishes that I could be more carefree as…

Today I ate at Perkins. It was good to finally sit down at a restaurant again. Also, I made an appointment to finally get my hair cut after four months. It was really getting long. Sometimes we take those little things for granted. Thank God for all the little conveniences that He gives us to enjoy.

There are certainly many indications today that we are living in the last days, and that we are inching closer and closer to the coming of Jesus Christ to rescue the godly ones from this evil world. One of these indications (or signs) is the increase of lawlessness spoken of in Matthew 24:12. In this context Jesus is speaking of that period of time called “the Tribulation,” in which many false prophets will arise and mislead many (v. 11); and because of lawlessness (sinfulness), people will grow to hate and betray one another (vv. 10-12).

And during that time of tribulation there will arise one called the “lawless one,” who is known as the antichrist. At first, during the first part of the Tribulation, he will be restrained by God from doing his great evil; but at the midpoint of the Tribulation those restraints will be removed, and being empowered…

After I resigned from Seminary, and put my ministry goals on hold, I determined to look to the future. I immediately thought of starting a painting business, because I had been doing that already and it seem like a logical step. My brother Jim happened to be thinking along the same lines, so we decided to do it together. But after the first few jobs, it was apparent that we weren’t thinking the same way. I wanted to have a legitimate business (which included paying taxes) and he did not. So, we went our separate ways.

One of the first things I did was to go and talk to a man (I think it was in the Minneapolis Federal building) about how to start a business. It didn’t take long. He asked me what kind of a business I wanted and he set me up. The name of my company…

I am privileged to have so many nature trails very close to where I live. This place is my most recent discovery. Paved trails, as well as unpaved trails, follow very close to the creek and provide the nature gazer, like me. with beautiful scenery. I love it.

Just a little way down the path, the greenery thickens.

I just began my walk and I started to see these beautiful little light purple flowers.

The creek. I love the flow of the creek. It always reminds me of how the Holy Spirit flows in us and through us, providing us with His living water.

Some places like this have no movement. But still it has its own beauty.

It’s always like me to wander off the main path. I’m always looking for new things to see.

I was fully intending to get a Masters degree at Western, and therefore to remain there for as long as it took. However, something happened that caused me to change my mind. I was sitting in the library at a large table reading, or studying,  or just preparing for my next class, when this Asian woman (she looked to be older than me) who happened to be sitting across from me, asked me in very quiet voice (as it was in the library) if I could possibly help her carry some things into her apartment that were too heavy for her.

Well, being a gentleman, and seeing an opportunity to help someone in need, I gladly said I would. She gave me the address and I was there at the time she wanted me to come. Her things really weren’t that heavy, and when I stepped into her apartment, for…

In a minute I will tell you what facts O’Reilly has discovered about the organization Black Lives Matter. But, at the start I just want to say that I believe in the words, “black lives matter.” That is, I believe that all black lives do matter—because blacks are people created in the image of God. Also, I believe that many people who support the organization Black Lives Matter, support it because they believe, as I do, that black people are people, and they do matter. But I suspect that many don’t know what the organization stands for and wants.

Bill O’Reilly, in his Morning Edition said, “[Black Lives Matter] is perhaps the most radical organization in the United States of America.” Then he gave these facts about what the organization wants.

WHAT BLACK LIVES MATTER WANTS

* No public funding for police. That means all police forces to…

The following was taken from, The O’Reilly Update Morning Edition, June 2, 2020. The three point are directly from O’Reilly, followed by my comments.

PROTESTS ARE DRIVEN BY THREE GROUPS

1. Sincere protesters. They are those that believe that America does not police the police and that allows constant law enforcement violence toward African-Americans. That violence is reflective of “systemic bios.” (This is what they believe)
2. Criminals who want to steal. They use social media to pick out targets for destruction [and theft].
3. Hard core anarchists. This group also uses social media to zero in on soft targets. This is the antifa movement, that is actively trying to destroy the fabric of America. They are ultra-dangerous people who burn and kill with no conscience.

My Comments

In the first group, according to O’Reilly, notice that protesters are protesting police and police violence against African-Americans. And it seems to be pretty much…