Thursday, November 1, 2012

would you buy a used ark from a guy named Noah?






From the "it's too good to be true file," comes a headline to me this morning, "Nissan to give discounts to Sandy victims." And although this sounds good, just add this to the numerous other discounts given whenever you walk through the doors of any car dealership. I love it when a huge sign says SALE!, aren't they in business to make sales, or is this a new idea to them? And there will be many new car sales because of the hurricane, but there will also be many new USED car sales after the storm. Creating a storm of its own, and inflicting more damage on those already hurting, and also the greedy. With thousands of new cars flooded or damaged on lots, where do they go? Are they crushed, or resold. What does the insurance company do with them, now that they are technically theirs?
They sell them at auction, to recoup some of their losses, which raises the question, how can they lose when they are supposed to pay claims? And making money selling the salvage? Simple, you pawn them off on the next unsuspecting victim, and it continues on and on. These cars will be sold with a salvage title, noting they are damaged, or in a storm, and have no warranty. The insurance companies even list the VIN numbers and will not insure these cars, and the manufacturer will not honor any warranties. No secret to anyone except the unsuspecting buyer. Such a deal...
Almost ten years ago when we had floods out here, many cars were flood damaged, and sold this way. The headlines even told of thousands of cars ruined at the port flood, it must have meant all but this one. I was with Mercedes Benz at the time and a few unlucky/greedy types would become victim to this. And when we ran the VIN, found no warranty available, and tried to explain, they got angry at us. We were trying to rip them off, while it was OK for them to try to rip us off. They would not admit to themselves or anyone else they had been taken, and when they tried to return the car, the store was gone-moved on. Buyer beware, but buyer didn't, ignoring all the signs, and warnings. Such a deal...
One that sticks out in my mind was a new S600, a $150,000 car that the customer claimed he paid $65,000 for, over eBay. He bragged on the deal he had made, so did the seller. He had the papers to show his ownership, which we never required, and had pat answers to all our questions-he had been coached by the seller. When he was advised he had been taken, he got out of control, threatened violence, lawsuits, and other such threats. He denied the car had been in a flood, even when we pulled back the carpet in the trunk to expose mud, and other flood debris. It would take $20,000 to fix, still a good deal, but not one with a salvage title. He left angry, with no recourse from the seller, and no warranty, and a $150,000 car that was unusable. He had to tow it out, which he blamed on us. Electronics and flood waters don't mix. I'm sure this car appeared on eBay again at a great deal for someone-just not the new buyer. Don't look a gift car in the trunk!
I have found that once we make up our mind, we are reticent to change it. Pig headed, stubborn, or as the Jews were called stiff necked. Let's just call it stupid, for it is, and stupid hurts, and no cure is found for it-at least not one that anyone will take. I get many forwards sent to me, and I generally delete them-most are just stupid, or argumentative, or are just lies. One I recently received sounded good, the author is well known and straight up, but as I read it, I couldn't believe the lies in it. Opinions based on denominations, and to enforce his actions, as opposed to being scripturally sound, and pointing us to God. He even quoted scripture-incompletely, and I was enraged. One because someone sent it to me, but mostly because they also thought this was correct theology, and wanted to pass it on. And just like the flooded car, this came to me tainted. A fact, then used to expose lies. If the first line is true, then it all is true proved wrong. It sounded good-hey, so what if their loss is my gain? And so it is reader beware! Look under the carpet!
Did you realize that a good part of the Bible, and all the New Testament warn about false teachers, false Christs, and the spirit of anti-Christ? Yet we make excuses for our actions, willing to debate with God on Judgment Day, as if He is stupid, and doesn't know what is going on. I even had a man quote me the other night about how God doesn't forgive-living in fear that he may die without repenting of his last sin. Truth is, when we ask for forgiveness, Jesus forgives us-past, present, and future. There is no record of it, He took it all! And according to the US of A Supreme court all "includes everything, and excludes nothing." ALL means ALL! Don't believe me, read it and ask God yourself! His warrantees are like His promises, yea and amen, and He cannot lie. Yet we trust someone we don't know over God we say we do? Is your conscience the judge of your actions? Are we excused or accused?
Good advice from Pastor Chuck, "don't trade what you know for something you don't." Stick with God, and watch the devil flee-along with his lies. Look to God, ask Him questions-some call it prayer. Seek Him in the little things, and soon you will trust Him in the big things. And if it sounds too good to be true, it can only mean one of two things-it's a lie, or it's all about Jesus. He can't and won't lie-you can depend on that, so let God be God, and all men be liars. Test me on what I write-quote Jesus and not me. And maybe, just maybe, you will let the truth set you free. Truth's name is Jesus. And truth will be known by what it produces. So will error and sin. FREE-now that's a deal we cannot afford to pass up!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com