Why Do People Go Bad Are They Just Born That Way?

Why do people go bad, are they just born that way? I know we all are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. The question is why do some people always seem to make bad choices? Are they possessed by the devil? People were possessed in bible times, some with three are more demons. I am not saying that this is the case because I do not know that much about the subject of being possessed. Sometimes it does make you wonder when we watch the news and see what is going on in this world of ours.

Then on Thursday night of this week it hit close to home.

My son’s mom has not seen or talked to him since he turned 6 years old. That is right she pitched a fit on his 6^th birthday and hopped a Greyhound back to Georgia. We have had the same phone number since she deserted him in 2002. We got wind of where she was at and he wanted to call. He dialed the number and got an answering machine. The tears formed in his eyes as he left the following message. “Mom it is me XXXXX your son that you have not seen since I was 6, If you could please call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx 0r xxx-xxx-xxxx, or xxx-xxx-xxxx collect and Dad or my Step-Mom will accept the charges, hope you call, good buy”. By this time I was mad and hurting for him all over again. Why would she act like she had no child and that she has not done anything wrong. We have been calling and leaving messages for months with no call back. Let me give you the facts.

After we were married I found out she had 2 other kids by another marriage. I knew she had been married but she had never mentioned the kids. They were living in foster care. She ask me after we had our son if we could get the other 2 back from the state. We went and talked to the state and filled out all the paper work. The state told her that as long as we were married that they could live with us, that after the evaluations it was determined that she was not stable but I offset her evaluation so the kids would be fine. This made me a little suspicious so I started doing some digging. Shocked by what I found, she was a Felon convicted of  Armed Robbery. I talked to her about it and she said that she was young and everyone made mistakes. I gave her credit and we moved on but it got worse. The below is just some of the issues we had to deal with.

• The Nursery called me one day and said our son had not been picked and I needed to come get him as they were closed. She had forgotten to get him due to being high and drunk
• I came home one day and ask where the kids were, she replied I could not take it anymore so I called the State and gave them back, all we have now is our son.
• We went shopping one day I ask her where are the pants that you took in the dressing room to try on, she said they are under my pants I am going to steal them, I ask why we got plenty of money. She replied just because I can. I told her to either by them or put them back.
• She stole checks and signed my name to them.
• She could not pass a drug test to save her life so working was out of the question.
• I paid for drug Rehab; she left it early only after 7 days, and beat up his Grandmother.

One day I ask her why do you keep making the same mistakes over and over? Her reply, my Grand Father died when I was young he was the only person who cared, I was sexually abused as a child, my dad and mom use drugs. Then it turned into being my fault because I did not trust her, and she had really done nothing wrong and did not see why I had to take our son away and divorce her. With out me she had nowhere to go and did not know what to do. Never once did she say she had a problem but the blame was always put somewhere else.

Listed Below are some of the reasons that people do not care what they do and have no remorse and no concept of the consequences of their actions. While I worked for the prison system a learned about these issues by talking to the doctors that evaluated the inmates.

• Bipolar
• Low Self Esteem
• Drug Abuse
• Mental Disorder
• Learning Disability

All of the above will have to be diagnosed by a doctor. Every Doctor I have talked to said the same thing “you can not help a person change they have to do it, want it, and most of the time they have to hit rock bottom before they seek help”. The trouble is they can not hit rock bottom if we keep catching them.

Then I saw the light, it was not up to me to change her it was up to her change herself. I also learned that I was not responsible for her down fall. I never held a gun to her head and made her do anything; she made the decisions not me. Then I remembered the definition of INSANITY, doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results. I had fallen in to the that category, no matter what I did, she was not going to change, The most important thing was I had to take care of my son no one else was around to, no matter what she thought, he had to be taken care of. I picked my self up by the boot straps and put him first and moved on. I could not worry about what other people, the church, or my family thought about another divorce the 3^rd one to be exact. He had to be put first. It turned out the church was very supportive along with everyone else, I guess they knew that we are not perfect and life happens!

I guess the old saying is true a leopard will not change their spots, to this day she is no different, from what I have heard, they say she has give up the drugs but how much damage has been done to her mind and body. Her step-dad tossed her out of the house. She was staying with him and her Mom.

We shall go on a search and see if we can not round her up, all he wants is an explanation, I bet the one she gives him will blame someone or something else.

Moral of Story: Let no one become between you and your responsibility to the ones that love and count on you.

Is God Still In The Church Or Has He Left The Building

Before we get started let me make a few statements.

 Statement 1: I am a believer in Jesus Christ and try to follow his teachings to the best of my abilities. I accepted Jesus as my personal savior at the age of 16. Since that time I have been close and as far away as possible with my walk with Christ. Statement 2: Churches were design as a place of worship, this I understand I also understand that they are ran by people who are sinners just like me and or not perfect, and yes this includes all the leaders in the church. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:22-24 (in Context) Romans 3 (Whole Chapter)Statement 3: I respect the church and what it stands for, along with the people who teach, preach, and sing. They are using their God given talents to spread his word. This is not about any one Religion, Church, or Organization. It is how organized religion are not following the Word of God and the results of this behavior. Statement 4: Some of you will read this and think I am bragging about all that I have done and it is all about finding wrong in the church. That is not the case; God has helped people through me, with out his blessings I would not even be able to roll out of bed each morning. I have most likely done more than most, not proud of it. Sometimes I think it would be easier to tell all the commandments I have not broken due to that list being shorter. I am trying to show how the people in the church has become self centered and way to much like a business. I am also trying to explain why so many people are turned off by religion and going to church.

 I have written this blog out of anger and pure disbelief of the actions of Churches and so called Organizations.  

 The below listed reasons are why I find it hard to regularly attend a church. These are true statements that I personally have been involved in are witnessed first hand. None of this is hear say.

 Story 1: I know this lady that had been battling Cancer of the Brain; she was a phlebotomist at a local hospital. I had opened a Car Repair Shop and was repairing cars for friends of Kathy and me. She wanted to know one day what I charged for a brake job, I replied 49.95 per axle pads included. She replied “Hmmm let me save up some money and I will get you to do it”. I ask “How bad are they scrubbing” she replied “All the time” I knew that she took her son to school every morning as he went to the same one Tyler did. I told her that I would put them on for her and she could just pay me a little bit at a time. I told her that it was just not safe to be driving around with bad brakes, she hugged me and said ‘Thanks, I owe you one, things are just a little tight right now due to the medical bills and my husband has lost his job” This was the first of many cars repairs I did on her car, she really should have bought a Chrysler product but that is a whole different blog. Please remember what I about to write, it ties back in later in this story. Like I said I made many repairs to her car and to this day she stills owes me a large sum of money, However if she would call me today and say I need my car fixed I would not hesitate to fix it, that is what Jesus Followers do, they help those in need. Matthew 5:42
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Matthew 5:41-43 (in Context) Matthew 5 (Whole Chapter) The money she owes me is no big deal, God gave me a talent of being able to fix most anything, and if one of his children is in need of my talent I give it whether they can pay or not.  This is the way I figure it is suppose to be. She was a regular member of a big well known church here in Nashville. I really should mention their name but I want; she was always praising God for her healing and was Cancer free the last time I talked to her. I saw her one day with tears in her eyes. She look as if the world was about to come to an end. “Are you ok” I ask? The first thing I thought was her cancer was back and she needed more chemotherapy. She just looked up at me with them big brown eyes and replied “They are going to turn my lights off in the morning if I do not pay the bill. I talked to the church and they told me I had not met my tithe requirement for this year so they could not help”. This is a huge church with a famous pastor from Texas.  Has the church become so much like a bank that you can only get money out you have put in. The bible when talking about tithing did not mention this part. As a matter of fact Jesus told us to sale what ever we owned to help those out in need.  Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Matthew 19:20-22 (in Context) Matthew 19 (Whole Chapter) The only things churches sell these days are video tapes, raffle tickets, and such to cover there expenses for these productions they put on that they call a worship service. She was 3 months behind and the Electric Company had let the bill go as long as possible. Well there was only one thing to do in this spot, as Kathy’s Aunt Justine would say “Just Cut Them Check” so that is what I did, wrote a check to NES for the light bill and that was that. Now, I did not mine doing this as once again this is what Jesus Followers do. However what is the church for if the members can not count on them in times of need? They could have offered to take up a Love Offering, were they afraid she might get more than she needed, maybe they were afraid if they did a Love Offering that it would cut down on how much was given to the church that day, better yet the pastor should have said it is against church policy due to your tithe requirement to give to you, but I will pay your light bill for you. However she just got a flat NO! If I were a member of this church I would be in trouble, you see I tithe in cash 90% of the time, that way they do not know who gave it. They can not send me a statement for taxes or track how much I have put in the plate. Why should I file taxes on my tithes, it is Gods money to begin with, I should not expect a tax break for giving him back his money. Matthew 6:4
that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Matthew 6:3-5 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter) 2 Corinthians 9:7
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 9 (Whole Chapter)

 Story 2: My family and I attended a church in Hendersonville. We all enjoyed it, they were some things that we did not care for but like stated above we realize that nobody is perfect and you can not please all the people all the time. The Bible is very important and our road map as to how we should live; as long as the basic principles of the Bible are followed I am fine. Tyler had classes he went to and was learning a lot and really enjoying him self. I was helping out with youth ministry on field trips and outings. Kathy, Mom, and I had made some friends and every thing was going just fine.  Then it happened, we walked in one Sunday an there on the right was a store selling goods. Do not get me wrong nothing wrong with a church store; you just should not put it in the Sanctuary with the Altar. We could not understand why they put there, and then we figured it out. The Sanctuary had the most traffic and this is where they wanted,it it so they could increase sales. No respect for Gods House just wanted the money. Reminded me of a story I read in the Bible, it was one time Jesus showed his anger and cleared house you may say. Mark 11:15
[Jesus Cleanses the Temple] So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
Mark 11:14-16 (in Context) Mark 11 (Whole Chapter) Needless to say we no longer go there.

 But wait there is more, and before we get into story 3 some other things that have turned me off from religion and church people. On a way to church one Sunday morning a car passed us and started coming over in our lane, I blew the horn to let him know that he was about to take the front fender off the car, he continued over any way, with a little hard braking we managed to avoid the apparent collision.  On he back of the car was a bumper sticker that was of religious nature. Once he got in front of us and made it through the light, he politely hang us bird in front of his rear view mirror. Tyler stated that he should really go to church with us and learn how to act, Kathy agreed and we keep on trucking to church. We pulled up in the parking lot and guess who was parking, that is right the dude who cut us off and hung the bird. He never said a word, offered no apology, as a matter of fact could not even look us in the eyes. The moral of this little story, if you are going to drive like hell take the religious bumper sticker off your car and watch who you  give the finger to it just maybe one of your church members.  Don’t leave your religion at the church door. Then in another incident in Georgia I had to step between a deacon and the pastor to keep them from getting into a fist fight.  I will not bore you with anymore lets get to Story 3.

 Story 3: As I write this one there are tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. The tears come from a broken heart and pure anger. This story is about someone that I would kill for or die for if it came right down to it. He is not perfect but know one is that is walking on this earth, we are just forgiven. He is what I call James Bond Cool and I am more like a hot headed Rambo type. To see us together you would never think we were from the same blood. He has dedicated his heart to the God for more years than I can remember. He is my mentor, hero, and best friend. When I got a question about the Bible he is the one I call for the answers. He was the Director of Education at a church, a job which he truly loved and was well respected in his position by his peers. Well as of today he does not have his job anymore due to people who have religion and are members of a church body. He had to resign. He was accused of stealing from the collection plate, while 2 other people were standing right beside him. They accused a retired Police Officer of stealing. While an Officer he was suspended one Ash Wednesday because he refused to wash the Ashes of his forehead; still had them their when he was interviewed by the local news media. The same man who gave 4 years of his life in the United States Army to protect this country and the freedoms that we have. Including the Right: Freedom of Religion, ironic don’t you think! The one thing he fought to protect, and had poured his heart and soul into had turned on him. This man would give the shirt off his back, has no need to steal, God provides for him and his family and always has. Now there was an investigation, the evidence was all hear say. However the mans character had took a hit, no proof I remind you. The character that he had worked so hard to build and live by was destroyed by a couple of people in the church.  I was headed down to voice my opinion and most likely get my butt in trouble, all he said was “Relax, God will take care of it, yea I am upset he replied, but God has had me hear before and something always works out”, Like I said James Bond Cool. We got religious leaders who molest kids, buy prostitutes, do drugs, and embezzle money and they bounce back and/or repent, he can not repent he did nothing wrong. The Church has lost a devoted Director of Education; the flock has become tainted, all for what? I will bet it had something to do with jealousy, one of the devils tools. Was this handled correctly? Were bible principles followed? Well I talk to him today and he brought it to my attention that in the book of Matthew, it states how a dispute such as this should have been handled. He never got to give his side at all or even know who had done the accusing. Matthew 18:15
[ Dealing with a Sinning Brother ] “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Matthew 18:14-16 (in Context) Matthew 18 (Whole Chapter) His last post read something like this “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” This was my melancholy thought yesterday as I looked back one last time at my office that I vacated. I am sure his soul feels empty about right now. I may still have to go a pay these people a visit.

I believe that if we can be more like Jesus these incidents listed above would not have occurred. People do not seem to be concerned about anyone but themselves and do not think or care about the consequences of their actions. Some religions so that you must go to church, Be a member of a church, or heaven is out of your reach. Some people do not want to be involved with a group of people that will turn on one of their own. That will let one of their own sit in the dark because she has not donated enough to the church, or loving money so much that a store is set up in the Sanctuary. A group of people that will come to blows in Gods house and they are the leaders of the church. Can you follow Jesus what out being a Church Member? Can you do Gods work while not being involved in organized religion? I will continue to do my best and try to follow Jesus as best as I can, but as for as joining a church I just do not know.

Our Failing Education System Who is at Fault

The Education in this country is in bad shape. Other countries score better on test and seem to have a higher value for education. Why is this? I want to know so I did my own little survey on a local level.   I have dealt with school systems in 2 different states, Tennessee and Georgia, in different cities with in each of those states. The question is why is inner city schools have a higher drop out rate, failure rate, and just do not seem to be teaching the kids enough math to give change at the local McDonalds, enough English so they can fill out an application so that it makes sense or even better yet read the application to fill it out. 

Here are some prime examples of what I am talking about. This survey was conducted by Kathy Douglas, Tyler Clay, Joan Clay, and my self over 6 months, 3 summer months and 3 while school was in months. 1 visit a week for a total of 25 visits.

 Scenario 1: High School Students at the Wendy’s on Gallatin Road in East Nashville VS  the High School Students at the Wendy’s on Main Street in Hendersonville, TN. The order Double with no Chesses, 6 Chesses Sticks, A single with Chesses, and a Chicken Club. Gallatin Road got the order wrong 90% of the time, the food was also cold, and the drink order was wrong 65% of the time. The employs were not friendly, they were not rude, but did act like they were doing you a favor. Main Street got the order right 98% of the time, and served it with a smile and a thank you, the food was all ways hot and the drink order was correct 100% of the time.  I know what you are thinking this has nothing to do with education just poor work ethic. I beg to differ, and here is why; for some reason a hamburger has chesses on it so if you order one with out chesses they print out a grill ticket, the cooks at Gallatin Road could not read the ticket. The 6 Chesses sticks were wrong 75% of the time, the count was off by, 1 we either got 7 or 5 this is math folks, simple counting. That my friend has to do with education, these kids in Nashville are not getting the basics.

 Scenario 2: Cashiers at the HG Hills on Gallatin Road in East Nashville VS The Cashiers at HG Hills Main Street, Hendersonville. The purchase Bunny Bread, 6 pack of HG Hill brand coke, 1 pound of ground beef, and 1 pound of coffee. The total with tax was $15.82 cents. The cashier was given a $20.00, once she entered the $20.00 as Amount Tendered we came up with .02 to give her, the results:

Nashville cashier got the change wrong 65% of the time, Hendersonville got the change right 100% of the time. The Nashville Cashiers could not calculate in their heads what difference the .02 cents made. This may be why a National Test put Tennessee schools near the bottom when it comes to Math Proficieny.

 I am have more cases like the time while in Newnan a mother bought her soon in to apply for a job. He had on short pants, sandals, and a base ball hat. I ask if he had transportation and his mother said yes I just bought him today to help he fill out the application, he can not read to well.

 The Numbers for the State of Tennessee

• 28,000 Dropped out of High School in 2008
• Approximately 1.2 Million adults over 18 have no High School Diploma
• 67% of Hope Scholarship recipients fall to keep it for 4 years
• 4^th Graders ranked 44^th in Math
• 8^th Graders ranked 37^th in Math
• 8^th Graders have a Non-Proficient rate of 77% in Math and 75% in Reading
• In spending the average in Tennessee is $8,022 Per Pupil, The National Per Pupil Rate is $9,963, with the Southeast Region at $8,969
• Teacher Salary average 33^rd, with Starting pay ranked at 22^nd
• Students per teacher average is 15.5

Now the break down between the 2 counties Davidson vs. Sumner

• Sumner County Per Pupil Rate $6313, with a 2% High School drop out rate in 2005
• Davidson County Per Pupil Rate 8,188, with a 6% High School drop out rate in 2005

 Bill Frist has addressed this issue just this week.

What do the numbers tell us? More money for education; education is about the only thing I would agree on for higher taxes. However that does not seem to be an issue in Sumner County as they are spending less than Davidson County with a lower drop out rate. Maybe it is the teachers they need more money after all we are ranked 33^rd in teacher salary. I agree the teachers need more money, but so does everyone else. I have several Facebook friends who are teachers, 1 daughter that is a teacher, 2 daughters in school to become teachers, a sister-n-law that is a teacher and an x mother-n-law that is a teacher.  Teachers are like Fireman and Police Officers It takes a special breed of person to be in one of these professions. Teachers have more passion for what they do than most people have about there job. Sure some are not that good but in every group you have some bad apples. Well if it is not the teachers it must be the kids, the kids in inner city schools just can not learn as well as those in other schools. There is no scientific study that will back that up, sure some kids have a learning disability, but guess what you have special teachers for them, I know one and she has the biggest heart and loves to help. Who is at blame here, we got to blame someone? The PARENTS are to blame that is right you and I.  In order for a teacher to teach she must have the undivided attention of the class, if you have students who have no respect for authority it becomes difficult. The biggest distraction to a student is other students. Where did the children learn such disrespect? A child imitates there parent/parents; no if ands or buts. Single parents get off the kick that coming from a broken home is an excuse, it is not. My parents were divorced, and now I am I single parent, sure it is hard but there is now reason why you can not teach your child manners, self respect, self control, and discipline. You should want more for your child than you had. 

Here are some thoughts on how to get parents more involved in the lives and education of there children.

• If your child skips school with so many unexcused absents, the parent is fined so much per day after the limit of days has been meet.
• If your child (Under the age of 18) is picked up for skipping school the parent will be fined for everyday, can not pay the fine and/or jail time
• Your child breaks the law, The parent does the time with the child.
• Your child is disruptive in class the parent pays a fine and/or jail time

With all theses fines the school system could generate more money. But I think if we impose these new laws it would not take long for things to change.

 The Religious Side

I also am a firm believer that we should have never taken God out of schools, If you do not like to pray do not pray, if you want to pray to false god go ahead, But let those who believe in the True God pray at the beginning of the day, maybe once the other kids see this and see that theses kids have something they do not God will intervene. What is wrong with saying the Pledge of Allegiance, if you take God out you have one nation under. I have heard some people say that this is anti-god, because you are pledging your allegiance to someone other that God. That is bull crap.  What does the bible say about the bringing up of children? Let us pull from the Book of Proverbs these teachings about the subject.

New King James Version

•  He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
  Proverbs 13:23-25
• Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
  Proverbs 22:5-7
• Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
  Proverbs 22:14-16
• Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
  Proverbs 23:12-14
• You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.
  Proverbs 23:13-15
• The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
  Proverbs 29:14-16

 Let us take responsibility for our children; after all they are the future of this world.

All I really Want is to go 2 miles up the road and order a double with no cheesse and it be correct!

Referances:

Bible Verses from http://www.biblegateway.com/

Teachers Salaries and rankings from http://teacherportal.com/

Sumner and Davidson Stats from:

 http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/tennessee/district/sumner-county-school-district/

http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/tennessee/district/nashville-davidson-county-school-district/

All other Stats from:

http://www.timesfreepress.com/home/

http://www.wkrn.com/

The Dollar General Fight Who Lost

On a Tuesday afternoon my son and I had to run by the Dollar General store to pick up supplies for the homeless. Every Tuesday we go to the Tent City in Nashville, TN to lend a hand with the homeless population. We headed to the closest Dollar General store to our house (the one off Porter Rd). Upon arrival Tyler and I noticed the parking lot was full of want to be thugs! You know the kind, running around like monkeys hollering and screaming with there pants sagging down. Tyler and I got out and went in to do our shopping. He headed back to get the toilet paper as I went for the chips. We got in line and about this time one of the guys from the crowd came in screaming that there was going to be a fight in the parking lot. This Dollar General Store has a security officer on duty. He was dressed in security attire right down to the pair of mirrored sunglasses, if you do not want people to see your eyes due to fear or some other reason, and your post is inside you use smoked lens not mirrored. You need to be able to see and mirrored are just way to dark for inside. I can not make a comment on his job performance because I am also in security and I know that each post has different post orders. These orders may include that the officer must stay in the store, he must be at the register area at all times, do not socialize with customers, etc. The Officer is unarmed, I question that call but he does not make that decision, Dollar General does, and they most likely do not want to pay for armed security because we are not cheap. However if you are there to protect the property and life of your customers you should be armed, the guy coming in to take the money will have a gun and that puts you at a disadvantage. You do not bring a knife (mace, knight stick, etc) to a gun fight! Now I can comment on the following events because this is just common sense and courtesy. The guy went running up to the guard holding his pants up with one hand and waving his other arm and jabbering about the fight that was about to take place outside in the parking lot. The Security Officer never said a word, even if he is not allowed to socialize this was someone reporting an incident, he should have informed the guy that he would call the police to handle the parking lot ( if he was not allowed to leave the store) or at least said thank you for the info. When the officer did not answer this caused another problem, the guy reporting this is now mad because he can not understand why he is not getting some kind of reply are help from the security officer. This compounds the problem as the guy shouts out in anger “you aren’t doing your job dude someone could get killed”. I ask the cash register operator if they had this much excitement all the time his reply was “all the time, least I know no one will be putting a gun in my face if it stays outside” The funny thing about this cat was he had a plastic pistol in his pocket with the handle showing, not a smart move, pretending to be armed will also get you shot. Tyler and I made our way through the excited crowd and out the front door in to the chaos in the parking lot. A huge crowd had gathered and was watching the war of words between two females. One female was on foot (Female 1) and at the top of the parking lot; the other was in a white SUV (Female 2). Female 2 is screaming out the window of the SUV at Female 1 “I will kick your sorry black crack who** a**” I guess that was all Female 1 was going to take and took off on foot and dived through the window of the SUV. The fight should have been over at that time, all Female 2 in the SUV had to do was drive off and Female 1 would have hit the ground.  Well this is not what happened, Female 1 got out of the window and Female 2 tried to get out, bad move the person that gets out the vehicle is always the one that loses. The door as it is kicked will tend to make you a little dizzy as it hits you in the head. As Female 2 hit the ground and rolled down in the ditch Female 1 was all over her. I heard the sirens of Nashville’s finest coming so I figured Tyler and I needed to go ahead and leave so we would not get trapped in the parking lot. I tried to keep Tyler close and focused, it did not work as he had never seen any thing like this. I got him in the car and said son welcome to the big city. His reply was “I will take country living any day of the week”.  Tyler suggested we run over them to break them up but I told him that was not a good idea that the police would take care of it, next he wanted me to get out and break up the fight, then I had to explain that was not a good idea either since my weapon was at home and they were at least 20 people gathered around that wanted to see at fight. We weaved out of the parking lot by the SUV and I noticed on the bumper was a bumper sticker that read “I voted for Obama and Proud of it”. Once we got down to the exit I looked over and the two were still going at it. Female 1 was on the back of Female 2 and had her head pulled back by the pony tail and just whaling away, I thought, so these are the people that got President Obama elected, want to  be thugs, who have no manners or self respect for themselves are anyone else. No value for another person’s property, no judgment of what is right or wrong. These types of people need some help and with out behavior adjustments they  have no social value. I say the government needs to stop with the hand outs and train these people. Give a man a fish he eats for a day; teach him to fish he eats for life.

Moral of the Story: It is Safer to Feed the Homeless in Nashville than to Shop at the Potter Rd Dollar General Store and the Customer Lost.

Child Support Bankrupting The Middle Class Man

I know this post is going to tick off a certain gender, but some of these laws have to change. Before we get started let it be known that I believe in paying child support, you are responsible for your kids and there welfare. This is not about paying or trying to get out of paying child support. This is how Court Ordered Child Support is bankrupting some men and women, making them live below the poverty level (they can not get Government Assistance because Child Support can not be deducted from your income), and in some cases forcing them to live in Homeless Shelters or make shift Tent Cities.

The Discussion will address the following Issues:

1.      The Laws that need to be Changed

2.     How the states Payment Systems are not fair to the payee or payer. (Georgia and Tennessee)

3.     How the relationship between parent and child is harmed

4.     How the courts really do not care about the children just the payee

5.     Double Standards

The Numbers and Facts: As of the date this was written I owe $100,000.00 in back child support. I have been ordered by the court to pay $300.00 a month on 1 case and $667.00 a month on the other case.  That is $967.00 a month which is $11604.00 a year. The cases were recently transferred to TN from GA, 2007 Case 1 and 2008 Case 2. This has been a standing order since the last divorce in 1992. With the exception of Case 1, it was $200.00 a month but they told me in court that $200.00 a month was just barley paying the interest; yes you read it right interest. So I up the total to $300.00. I have 6 children, 3 boys 3 girls. First marriage had 4 kids (2 scraping boys, 2 wonderful daughters), second marriage 1 child a beautiful daughter, and 3rd marriage another handsome boy. The last child lives with me, this is important to remember, because he is 13 as of right now and I have had sole custody since he was 5 years old. His mother pays no child support because she can not hold a job and the courts do not seem to care that I do not receive any support. To them he does not even exist. The courts say she is to unable to work so do the best I can. That seems like a Double Standard to me. Do I pitch a fit demand that she be arrested, make her work even if she is unstable and can not. No I just take care of my child!

The Story: I guess the straw that broke the camels back was what happened this week. I know what it takes for me to live and support my son who lives with me. So when the economy slowed down my overtime was cut back. I took a second job on the weekends to make ends meet. Well I got my check on Friday and the State of TN had deducted 50% for Child Support. The Court Ordered amount of $967.00 is deducted in full from my main job. The computer system picked me up as having a job and saw that I owed Child Support. The lady who signed the document never checked to see if I was still working the other job or if I had missed any payments which I have not. She just figured since the computer picked me up they had the right to deduct the full amount or 50%. This is just lazy and unacceptable. I am trying to put food on the table and they can not figure out that the full amount of the court order is being paid. I left her several messages but you got it she has not returned my call.

The Arrears: I know what you are thinking how is he still out on the street owing a $100,000.00 in back Child Support, and how did he get that far behind. Well I will tell you. The Figures below will show $867.00 as the extra $100.00 was not added till 2008.

1.    My dad died and it took a 1 year and 6 Months to get his estate squared away, the house had to be re-molded, then my step mom died 2 months after that and her estate had to be handled, Hence why it took almost 2 years. Case #2 was very understanding and we had discussed that this was more important, plus I got to spend a lot of time with our daughter, I keep my daughter in gas and spending money while I was there to try and help Case #2 out. Daughter #1 from Case #1 needed money for college books so I put her and her husband to work and paid them a little over $2,500.00 for about $1,000.00 worth of work but education is important. It paid off because she is now a teacher. Daughter #2 from case #1 needed deposit money for an apartment where she was attending college so I also paid for that. Now please remember my dad had no insurance and this was coming out of our pockets. You will understand later why this was mentioned. 18 months X  $967.00 = $17,406.00

2.     Since 1993 let us say just for kicks that there is 24 months that I missed for various reasons ranging from being laid off to looking for a new job, and working jobs that did not pay enough I do not think this is right and is a little high but we will say that it is correct. 24 months X $867.00 = $20,808.00

3.     While working for the State Of Tennessee I did not make enough to pay the full court ordered amount. At this time this was the only job that I could find that was stable and I did not have to worry about getting laid off. See my last three jobs in Georgia had fizzled out and I was laid off, I relocated to Tennessee and took a job as a Correctional Officer. They took 50% of my gross but that still put me $90.00 a month short. I stayed with the state for 5 years. 60 X $90.00 = 5,400.00

4.     While working at the State of Tennessee I had my 2^nd of 3 heart attacks. This was a big one; it required that I have a Quad bypass. I had learned my lesson from 1993 and had disability insurance but it only paid half my salary, and Child Support took half of that. I was out of work for a total of 4 months. So that put me $180.00 short for those 4 months. Since these months are already figured in above we just need to add the other $90.00. 4 X $90.00 = $360.00.

5.      In 1993 I had my first of 3 heart attacks, compounded with the diagnosis of Graves Disease with TTP (Temporary Thyroid Paralyses) which means with in 5 minutes time I could go from being fine to not being able to move at all. Wound up missing 3 years of work. Now in 1993 I was 33 years old, did not think I needed disability insurance it was a easy way to cut corners. 36 X $867.00 = $31,212.00. That will give us a Grand Total of $75,186.00 the rest is interest.

The Laws that need to be Changed

·         Suspension of Drivers License: This is the first step they use if you are not paying. If you happen to be with out a job and looking you need your license. Do not tell me they wait till you are way behind. I know better. When I moved from GA. And started to work for the State of TN. I called and told them and gave them the address of where to send the court orders. Well the state of TN holds back 1 month so you are there 2 months before your first pay check. The State of GA. suspended my DL for non payment of child support, I was demoted from a CO till the State of GA, got there payment from the state of TN then I had to pay a reinstatement fee of $165.00.

·         Jail Time: Oh this really works, how can you get out and make a living if you are in jail, how can you see your kids. If you have court ordered visitation they are in contempt because they are not allowing you to visit. If they are going to put you in jail they should be made by law that while in jail your child support is waved and no arrears can accumulate. They put you there. After my Heart Attack in 1994 they locked me up while I was still under doctors orders! They only released me after my dad came up with some cash (not as much as they wanted) and my doctor told them that if anything happened to me that it was on them.

·         Payments: (a) If a doctor has determined that you can not work due to an illness or condition you should not have to pay your payments and no arrears will occur. The law should allow you 1 year to try and get your disability, If you are not approved the child support office can then add your miss payments to the arrears. Look at this way, if the couple was still married and living in the same house they would still be minus that income. (b) If you can prove that the only job you can find will not pay the full court ordered amount and they are taking 50% of the net the child support payment should be adjusted to that amount so no arrears can cumulate. This includes 50% of your unemployment check. Make it so that you have to show an attempt to find a better paying job.

·         Interest: I have no Idea where this even came from. They have just started this in the last couple of years. Come on the money is not going into a savings account so no interest was lost. If you get into the arrears you will never get out. My rate is the max that the state of GA will allow, the same rate as pawn shop. The highest interest rate we have on our credit cards is 4.9%

How the states Payment Systems are not fair to the payee or payer. (Georgia and Tennessee)

·         Case #1 is paid $300.00 a month case #2 is paid $667.00 a month from the state of TN. Now when it gets to GA. It is not paid in the same fashion. Case #2 seems to always get shorted. She is owed the most in arrears so I figure the state of GA wants that balance to stay high so they can charge more interest. Why do I care you ask, well the state of TN is deducting $667.00 from the balance and the state of GA is not so at the end when TN says it is paid and GA says it is not I wind back in court because the States can not get there numbers correct. Case #2 and I have contacted both agencies. TN sends the money to 2 separate accounts, GA tells her they will pay out the funds in any fashion they please. It does not matter what the court order says it is what they want to do. I tried giving them a call and they told me the same thing and suggested that I not press the issue if I did not want a higher interest rate.

How the relationship between parent and child is harmed

·         This one is really a no brainer. If a parent has to go to jail, work 2 or more jobs, this puts a strain on the relationship between parents which in turns affects the relationship with the kids. Take away their DL and they can not drive to visit. The sad part about this is that the system is suppose to protect the well being of the child, but it does not it has become a system that is only concerned with money. I missed seeing my kids grow up because of 2 jobs, and stress between me and their mothers. You can not get that time back. Something has to be done!    

How the courts really do not care about the children just the payee

·         While in court the last time I had all my paper work where I had given the kids money while in GA working on the house and getting the estates settled. I was told even though the total was well over $3,000.00 that they could not take it off the arrears. That only monies paid to the mothers could be counted as Child Support. Hey I give it to the girls to support them in college and stuff but it did not count. Oh well should have seen that coming.

I know they are some dead beat parents out there that no matter what you do they are not going to support their kids. However the majorities of us do and since we will show up for court and do what is ordered we get pushed around. We are the ones paying, do not try and break us to make an example and hey why not be a little nicer while in court a do not treat us like 3^rd class citizens, take other children in to consideration, they deserve a little also. I do not regret 1 penny I have gave to the raising of my children, but the system is broken and needs to be fixed.

Who I want in Political Office Chapter 1

Hello People, I do not have to tell you I have been ignoring my blog. There has just been so much going on I really have not had time. I know that is not an excuse. However,  I am back and fed up with the direction this country is going in. I have laid out my political agenda for  political officies for the state and federal levels. This includes but not limited to Governers, Representatives, Mayors, and the big one President Of these Great United States Of America. I know the next election is 4 years away, but we must remember there are elections going on all the time. We should pay attention to all of them.

 If you are running for any of these offices and want my vote the following out line will be what I will base my vote on, with my reasons for my position on that issue. To keep the blogs short and for easy and quick reading  I will blog in chapters and cover 2 issues per blog .  With out futher ado lets get to it.

1. A BORN AGAIN BELIEVER: The denomination (Catholic,  Baptist, Mormon) does not really matter, just a believer that Christ died on the cross for our sins. This will insure that the descisions he/she makes will be morally sound. Born again believers have a tendency to put God first, and not crack under pressure from lobbiest or other outside sources, or flip flop on the issues as they are lead by God. We can not know his/her heart and we should not judge or we will be judged. I will look at the issues and determine  if it is with Gods word or against  it. Another thing to look at is how do they live. A person’s character will tell a lot about them. What kind of family values do they have? However we must remember that we all are born in sin and fall short of the glory of God, no one is perfect and has sin, so if you are looking for a perfect candidate you can forget it. I believe everyone should vote thier conscience, what they believe in, an not vote because of race, political party, or gender!
2. IMMIGRATION: We all know that this country was started by immigrates. If you are not a 100% American Indian, your ansestors came from another country. The immigrants then known as pilgrims started this great country. However if you were born in this country you are an American.  You are not English American, Afro American, Chinese American. We are Americans and we Stand together. Should we forget our heritage? No, honor and cherish your own heritage teach it to your kids, but do not let race divide the country, we are Americans. People in this country illegally take jobs from Americans, and taxes are increased just to take care of them. We spend money on medical, housing, and food (Yes some illegals get Food Stamps and Welfare). With that said there are real problems with immigration in this country. A) Tighter Security at our Borders: Everyone has a right to visit. If they seek employment in this country they must go through the proper channels. Goverment agencies at all levels must be able to verify citizenship, and work visa’s. If the person is here illegaly he\she must be deported. After being deported an accurate record of those deported must be maintained as to track these illegals. B) Stiffer Penalties: For those individuals caught a second time in the country without  proper visa’s will need to be incarcerated. Just alone in the state I live in 2 murders in the last 6 months have been commited by people who have been deported and returned. In order to do this we need to get a law passed  that allows us to treat the repeat Offenders as terroist. C) Other Laws To Pass/Change: Just because your child was born in the United States that does not make you or the child a citizen if you are not a citizen. Before becoming a citizen one the criteria’s must be that you speak English fluently. When the illegals came to the United States they knew what language we spoke. No Amnesty for anyone, everybody must follow the same rules. With these changes we slow down on drug and human trafficing, and create a ton of jobs

Next week will be chapter 2. In that Chapter I will cover Taxes and Welfare! Please feel free to commentt with questions or concerns. We all must be pro active in our goverment!

President Obama and the Middle Class

When President Obama was running to be the president one of his famous quotes went something like this We must take care of main street and take back wall street. The Middle Class has suffered enough and need all the breaks we can give them!  Just from what I can see it is the other way around. He is taking care of  Wall Street while The Middle Class is bailing them out. How did I come to this conclusion you ask?

1. He ( The President) Never ask anyone at AIG or any other financial institution to step down, He made the CEO of GM step down and the CEO of Chrysler is without a job. Why not punish the CEO’s of AIG, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and the rest. Instead they got bonuses, massages, and nights out on the town. The bonuses were approved by the Obama administration!
2. We were told by letting the financial giants fail and declaring bankruptcy would be catastrophic. They got the BAIL OUT! More Bail Out Dollars than GM and Chrysler requested  together.
3. From the financial sector the lay offs have been kept at a min. The President Saved Wall Street.
4. What did the Middle Class get, Tax Breaks of 13 dollars a week (does you no good if you are laid off), No insurance coverage (can not afford COBRA on unemployment), No Government assistance (they are worth too much with their homes they worked so hard for and kept the payments current). You remember the middle class bailed out banks because they made loans to under qualified borrowers, and to keep these people in their homes if they get behind on payments the goverment helps them out. By allowing GM and Chrysler to struggle the Hard Working Middle Class Got:

• GM Plants closing down for 6 to 9 weeks in July
• Chrysler Plants shut down till the bankruptcy is clear
• Steels mills running at 50% or less with lay offs and reduced work hours
• Tire manufactures laying off and shutting down plants
• Other manufactures that supply to the auto industry laying off and shutting down plants
• States losing needed tax revenues from the closing of plants and dealer ships.

The only thing America manufactured was automobiles, and he let them die along with the Hard Working Middle Class who’s tax dollars went to Bail Out every one else. America lets pull ourselves up by the boot straps, get up off our butts and take back our country before we have to bail out somebody else. Like the John Rich Song ” They are shutting Detroit Down”. This administration is going to tax the wealthy to death ( These people create jobs), Breaking the middle class into, He is taking all the money and pouring it to the poor. You know the ones who want hand outs, expect hand outs, and invite the government to take care of them. We the hard working middle class now own GM, and a ton of banks and have appointed the goverment to oversee our investments. People lets get real, they put us in the shape we are in now. The goverment does not need to be in the car or banking business. It is time to put a stop to the nonsense. Who will Step Up.

 

 

 

How We The Christians Can Fix The Economy

I was on my way to work a couple of weeks ago listening to the radio. I like a morning show called “Morning’s with Brant on WAYFM a Christian Rock Station.  He mentioned that he had read a survey that Christians were the worse tippers. That floored me. I decided to do some research to see if this was the case. I talked to my 2 daughters who are working their way through college, by waiting tables, so many web searches that I lost count and the overall census is: CHRISTIANS ARE THE WORST TIPPERS!  1 web site even laid down a Fat Tip Challenge! With that said let us look at the facts and how we as Christians can save the economy. Key point to remember: It is not your money, but by Gods grace he has allowed you to have a job and you are a steward of his money!

1. Tip, Jesus was a servant, we are servants, We do for others they do not do for us. Tip according to your service, nobody is saying drop a twenty for a cup of coffee and a sandwich. You should give at least 15% for bad service and go up from there. You may be keeping a single moms lights on! People who should be tipped waitress, waiter, hair dresser, massage therapist. People you may want to tip once a year hey what a bout Christmas Time. Garbage Pick Up, Paper Carrier, Mail Person. Yea these people get paid, but we are Christians we give. Your 10% you give at church will never reach the above people.
2. Tithe at your local church, this will help the church help family’s in need. If your church does not have a Community Outreach start one or find one that does. Too many churches are in the show for money and that is not the way it should be.
3. If your utility service has a plan to help pay bills for others donate to it. You could keep some single dads lights on!
4. Keep your eye out for jobs all types of  jobs. Post them at your church or community center. If you know some one who needs help help them if it is more than you can bear, take them to your church, If your church will not help find one that will.
5. If you know some one out of work find something they can do for you. Pay them a fair wage.
6. Spend: Remember its Gods Money you are just the steward. Do not go nuts but if you need a new car, house, TV, washer and dryer buy it. There are deals out there to be found. This puts money back in the Economy and stimulates growth.
7. If we as Christians do the above we put money in peoples pockets, create jobs, and stimulate the economy. That is being a good Steward of Gods Money

All ways let the people know you are just trying to do Gods work, and they should get into a local bible believing church.

God provides for the fowls in the air, the fish in the seas, so how much more will he do for us. Your testimony is not what you say but how you live. Make people want what you have: Peace, Joy, and Security from the World.

Way FM (Listen On Line): http://waym.wayfm.com/

FAT TIP CHALLANGE: http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=7721

The Stimulus Package and Bail Out My Take

Maybe it is because I am from the South and Southerns are precived to be a little slow; I do not understand this whole bail out stimulus package deal. Let me start from the beginning. When I was in school we were taught what a credit to debit ratio was, use this formula and you can basically tell what you can and can not afford. This basic principle works on everything from cars to homes. When you figure your income you do not figure overtime, and if you get overtime put it in the bank! Do not figure your budget with overtime! Why? The first thing companies will cut back on in slow times will be the overtime! Everyone down south knows that you need at least 1 year of household expenses in the bank. You can never tell when a recession will hit. With a years worth of household expenses in the bank you can make all your payments, and have time to sell if needed. With all this said let me get to the meat and potatoes.

• The Bank Bail Outs: They say they made to many bad loans and the housing foreclosures were losing them money. That is the banks fault not mine. They say the government was involved saying they would guarantee these loans, and everyone should be able to by a home! I know for a fact they were selling houses with no money down and on an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) With no money down as soon as you sign the paper work the house is worth less that you owe. You are Upside Down inn your house. Then the recession hits the house next door is foreclosed on now and your value hits bottom. Once again not my fault! I know this happened because I inherited a house in Ga. I had it appraised before the remolding, 120,00 value, We put 80,000 in the house, then the bottom fail out of the market, after remolding the value only increased 5,000. I turned a 3 bedroom 2 bath into a 5 bedroom with a bonus room and 3 baths. Hey guess what the bank was not at fault and we make our payments. Know what you can afford before you go out and get in over your head. I am not responsible for the bad judgement  banks made by making loans to high risk borrows, requiring no down payment, or people who buy what they cant afford. Maybe I should stop making my payments, that way I can be rewarded for not paying my debts, because with the government there is no reward in doing what is right!I DO NOT FEEL LIKE I NEED TO BAIL THE BANKS OUT, YOU GOT IN THE MESS GET YOUR SELF OUT!
• The Big 3: I have worked in the car industry before. Both selling cars and manufacturing. They had to see this coming, I did!  The government can give them all the money they want, but until we the consumers start buying the cars they are not going to make any money. Sure we all should all by American Made cars, but we want the most for our buck. The unions have drove the wages so high that the the price of the car is not in line with the quality of the car.  The labor per hour to build a American Car (GM, Ford, Chrysler) is almost twice as much as a foreign car built here in the US. They need to file for bankruptcy, Delta did it and they are still flying, restructure while under protection. Bankruptcy nulls all contracts, they renegotiate all contracts and bring the labor rates in line with every body else.
• My Bail Out: Mr Obama keep your 13 dollars a week, give it to some one that wants the government in there back pocket. Do not tax the people to death who have money and are capable of creating jobs!