Support Target!

I am not a big fan of Target usually. I have nothing against them, and they have been an employer for some of my friends and relatives, but I haven't ever been just crazy wild over their prices or anything; they do have nice stuff and several of my children do like their merchandise. Oh, and their returns are the easiest I have ever experienced and the store is pretty inside...(maybe I like them more that I realized...)
ANYWAY, right now I feel I want to support them in their contribution to the conservative in MN. I feel rather frustrated about the whole thing, however. Just try turning the situation around--say, a big and popular chain decided to give to a liberal candidate, and say, some conservative organization said, no, you can't do that. You have to give equally to liberals and conservatives! Can you imagine the outcry--not against the store, mind you--but against the audacity that demanding equal contributions would cause! Why are we hearing none of that in this case? ( rhetorical question--we all know why, of course) I am outraged by the "fair speech" supporters who demand "equal" time and money, as long as it is their causes that are endangered, but call us bigots and phobics when we express our opinions. It all reminds me of 1984 and doublespeak and the propogandists of Germany in the 1930's and Stalin's Russia and Cuba (you get the picture)--being regulated not only in what we can say, but even in how we think....what is that famous saying about "I did nothing when they came for the underclass, the Jews...and then they came for us..." (I think one of my kids may have posted that earlier...) Well, before the blogs are regulated, thought I'd exercise my free speech rights and express my opinion.

Jobless claims rise unexpectedly to highest level in 9 months

Unexpectedly? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. These headlines always make me roll my eyes and laugh (not happily). Exactly whom is it "unexpected" for? Always amazes me that the very ones who consider themselves so elite and above us "commoners" really have no clue as to what is going on. As always, I am thankful we know who is really in control!

God Shows Me How Deceitful My Heart Is--Again!

Ok, so today God chose to teach me once again how very deceitful my heart is still--and how gullible I still am. I got a call a while ago from a man from PCH (popular sweepstakes) about a prize we had not claimed. Of course, being taught by my ever-wise husband to be very wary of such things (and having experienced a couple instances when I was stupid, hating to say no, and always wanting to hope people are for real...), I was instantly guarded and unbelieving. I gave no personal info, waiting for the inevitable question for my SS number or credit card or bank statement number. I could hardly understand him as he was foreign (man, sue, how dumb can you be?) but I kept listening. The questions never came. He said every time I shopped at Walmart or Food Lion or JC Penneys and paid my bills on time, our names were entered and then they drew names every month for winners. (It all sounds so ignorant NOW). I kept interrupting and saying, I know this is a scam, a joke, you just want my credit card number or something. "Oh, no, ma'am, you really are going to get this certified check today at 2:30 by UPS." He told me 2 U.S. Marshalls were coming, and the names of two of the managers of the company who were on their way to award this check. Anyway, here's the lesson. As he was talking, my mind wandered. What if this really were real? Oh, God, that would be so good. We could do so much good with some money (and it wasn't THAT much--they really know how to make it almost reasonable). Anyway, he finally said he had to check something and would call back in a half hour. I knew in my heart it was a scam, but there was this little tiny seed of hope...I called my husband immediately; I quickly made sure he knew I had not given any personal information or put us in danger (I hope--who knows what they can use?) He calmly says, yeah, there's the clue: they are paying 99% of the taxes; they will tell you you will have to pay the rest to get the check. Just like that, he cut to the chase. But even more telling of my heart condition, I said, Oh well, I knew it was too good to be true, but I guess I thought maybe finally God had blessed us..." Tim says, "We are already very blessed, Sue." (groan; truth hurts some times) What was I thinking? We were just talking about our blessings this morning. We have soooooooooo many. Two hours later my evil greedy heart is revealed as I actually feel the slightest bit disappointed that it was a scam. Sin is so insidious. ( I am not usually plagued by the greed bug (not usually one of my"pet" sins); I have plenty of others); I have the tendency to want to give all my money away at the mention of a need or needs. But here it is: disappointed in God for not giving me some extra money. Ugh. I hate that I was disappointed, when God is so good to us. Oh well. I am thankful to God that at least I did not give any of our money or info away; He protected us from me! And, though it is humbling, I am thankful He cares enough to show me my sins and has provided a loving and merciful Savior who has made all things right. Next time, maybe I can share the Gospel with this scam artist...and may he not succeed in his evil endeavors with any other unsuspecting victim! Oh, and by the way this very India-sounding man's name was John Davis. I told him that was very American sounding for someone with his accent. He would not tell me where he was from. (Oh, sue, it all sounds so easy now....) Watch out; the devil prowls around like a hungry lion waiting to devour....