SDG&E announced yesterday that they are raising their rates due to lower income last year. Seems all the mail, e-mail, and TV ads to conserve energy are working, and they are selling less electricity. So now that you have conserved, you will have to pay more. Your bill will go up, your usage down, and we should have seen it coming.
We also have only X amount of water coming into So Cal. Whether it goes to one million, or ten million homes, the amount is finite. So again we are told to conserve, only to be rewarded with larger bills. When you don't have more to sell, you raise the price on the commodity, and quantity you do have. And again, we should have seen it coming.
I am told it still costs $3-4 to take each barrel of oil out of the ground. Yet prices are rising again, and they are projected into the $5 range. And the auto makers are glad, they can sell you more cars advertised to get higher mpg, and sales should go up. Advertise them cheap, but by the time you get all the options you have on your larger car, it will cost more. Add in the payment if your old car is paid off, and again, we should have seen it coming.
It's like the woman who told me her gas bills went down when she bought a smaller SUV. It cost her less to fill up. When I mentioned her new tank was about 2/3 the size of her old one, she looked confused. She only understood price per tank, and didn't realize she bought gas more often. But to her value system, it cost less. And sadly there is no defense against people like her. And I wish I hadn't seen her coming.
And it is no better when grocery shopping. Since Costco and Wal-Mart have shown you can get the same items for much less, the chains have installed Club Pricing. And you must join their club to get the discounts. And I love on the bottom it always says how much you saved, by joining the club. What it really says is how much they are overcharging the poor schmuck who doesn't belong to their club. And I found a way to save even more-I don't shop there. I saw that one coming!
Church to most people is a weekly, social event, that they feel forced or compelled to attend. It has little or nothing to do with God to them, so they seek the most comfortable church to attend they can. Usually liberal, where they don't feel threatened from the pulpit to deal with sin in their life, don't want to get to know Jesus, and grumble when they open their wallets to give. But they've met the criteria of a nagging wife, or a guilty conscience, or whatever, and they are there. And sadly, they think this is what Christianity is all about. Going to a church building, not realizing the people are the church. And being more concerned about what the outside looks like than what is said inside. They have little concern for their next meal, only wondering what it will be, and how soon they can get out to get it. And little concern for the poor. Yes, a friend or two may be unemployed, but that is a recession. When they become out of work, then it is a depression. And then reach out to credit cards, then social programs, instead of the church. Pride keeps them out, and the whole family suffers, as lifestyles change, but their relationship with God won't. They have been sold a bill of goods about God, and when the prosperity movement tells them they are great because they are rich-a lie, then they feel the opposite when poor. This is when as Christians, we need to come aside these misled people, and love them through the situation. No sermons on their lifestyle, or riches that have gone away-show them love. Care, with compassion, and stand with them. And if they won't go to church-go to them! Visit them, send food, and by showing love, will say more than a 100 sermons on missions, prosperity, or other religious mantras the church has embraced. When they see how much you care, they will care more about what you say. Love covers a multitude of sins, and blessed is the man who turns one from their sin. Don't be like the world, be like Jesus, and show love.
And you know what, it will bless you too. And bring you closer to God. For you see, the world gives out their abundance, where as true believers give out of their heart, and will even sacrifice for others. You will never find the righteous begging food, or their children going hungry. Just one simple act, can change the hard heart. And as a Christian, the world should see us coming-in love.
If your faith wavers today, be assured that the tribulation or trials you are in, were warned about by Jesus. So that should confirm your faith. A work to confirm His words. But so are the blessings, and if you know Jesus, they are here today-you should have seen them coming. And He is coming for His church soon-don't be among the ones who are left behind and say "I should have seen His coming!" No shortage of water at his well, gas at his station, or power at his outlet. And-he hopes to see you coming-to Him-soon!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogpsot.com
