Warren Buffett, Reforming Congress
Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:
"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election.
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months and 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971—before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven took one year or less to become the law of the land, all because of public pressure.
Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of 20 people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
1. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no
pay when they're out of office.
2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social
Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the
Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into
the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the
American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all
Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.
Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses its current health-care system and
participates in the same health-care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the
American people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void
effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract.
Congress made these contracts for itself. Serving in
Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers
envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their
term(s), then go home and back to work.
If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message. Don't you think it's time?
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Hard Work Equals 10,000 Hours
HARD WORK = 10,000 HOURS
October 30, 2011 9:00 & 10:45 a.m. Ecclesiates 3:1-8
San Luis Rey Valley United Methodist Church
Today I have selected as my sermon title,
“Hard Work = 10,000 Hours.”
I need your help!
(Select three people; tools: shovel, crescent wrench, bucket
Shovel—dig a hole; crescent wrench to remove plug to crank
of car; bucket to pick blue berries
Music: “Chain Gang” Sung by Sam Cooke
Let me first say: “Hard work doesn’t hurt anyone.”
…And they say: “There is no free lunch.”
When I was a young boy growing up in Hawaii, we were all poor.
I came from a family of three boys and three
girls. To make ends meet, my dad also raised a lot of vegetables.
My older brothers and I helped my dad load manure from
horse stables. My dad was a true gardner—we always
had fresh vegetables on the table: cabbage, lettuce,
carrots, beets, and the best string beans. I learned the
value of hard work and sacrifice.
When I was in high school, for two summer, I worked in the pineapple fields.
One summer I worked on the island of Molokai. The field was full
of ripe pineapples. One evening we harvested 52 truckloads of
pineapples. I learned that money does not grow on trees.
When I was in college in Iowa, that first summer, I worked for the Toledo
Construction Company. It was a really good paying job.
We were tearing down old fiber glass furnaces. We worked with
air hammers,
steel bars, and sledge hammers.
My parents were right: Get your college education!
Hard work is just a part of how life is.
It all started in the Garden of Eden.
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were thrown out
of Paradise.
God cursed the ground and told them, your days will be
days of toil and sweat.
That’s how it all started. Any question?
The book of Ecclesiastes that was just read says: 2
There is a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to pluck up what
is planted.
There is a saying:
My grandfather had a farm,
my father had a garden,
I have a can opener.
There song that says, “Oh, the times they are changing.”
That is true.
Today, our economic situation is bad.
Unemployment is 9.1%
In the October 10, 2011 Time Magazine, it gives a breakdown
on how we each budget of funds.
In 1950 -- 22% of our budget went for food;
2010 it’s 7%
In 1950 --13% of our budget went for housing,
2010 it’s 18%
In 1950 --3% of the budget went for health care;
2010 its 16%.
Several years ago, at the Get Motivated Seminar I heard
Suzy Orman, the financial whiz. She had one suggestion:
“Get your credit card balance down!”
The point of my sermon today is, we have a lot of work to do.
Jesus told us a parable where one man
was give five talents and he invested it and he made five times more.
The second man had three talents, invested it and got three more
The third man had one talent, was afraid so he buried it
and it was taken away. (Matt. 25:14-30)
Malcolm Gladwell in his book, Outliers, says that to succeed
in anything, we have to put in the time.
It will take hours of work.
Take Bill Gates. He was a math whiz. He was drop out from
Harvard. So how did he become so successful? When
he was in junior high, his parents sent him to private
school in Seattle called Lakeside. At Lakeside his mother 3
and some parents raised funds to open a computer
center. When gates was in high school, the University of
Washington opened an all night computer center. Gates
says, “I skipped athletics. I went up there at night.” He
got really good at computer programming. Then he and some
friends got hired by TRW, a technology company. Then he
started his own company. Any hear of Microsoft? That’s Bill Gates.
Bill Gates became good at computers, because he put in
10,000 hours. Malcolm Gladwell calls this:
“the 10,000 Hour Rule.”
And then, there are the Beattles:
John Lennon, Paul McCarthy, George Harrison, and Ringo Star.
They came to America in 1964. In 1960 they were just a struggling
high school band in Liverpool.
They didn’t develop their repertoire of music until they were
invited to a club in Hamburg, Germany. Most bands will be
for two to three hours and they will play the same music. But
when the Beattles went to Hamburg, they had to perform for
eight hours every night, seven days a week. They had to come
up with new music. For example, on their first trip they had to
play 106 nights. They got good when they got to 10,000 hours.
Listen! (#26 “Let It Be” The Beattles)
Wisdom: Yes, in this age, we need wisdom.
Proverbs 13:11-12 “Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle
but those who gather little by little, will increase.”
….little by little
Jesus came to teach us to develop our spiritual nature.
God gave to us three gifts:
the mind
the body and the soul.
Wisdom: yes, in this time, we need wisdom.
John 6:27-34 “Do not work for food that perishes,
but for food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of man will give you.”
Then Jesus said: “I am the bread of life.” “Seek first the kingdom of God.”
Wisdom: Attitude is Everything. 4
Jerry was the manager of a restaurant and he always
told his workers—always look for the positive side.
Jerry says, “every morning I wake up and say to myself, ‘Jerry,
you have two choices today: you can choose to be in a good
mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.”
Jerry says that each time something bad happens, I can choose
to be the victim or I can choose to learn from it.
One day, Jerry did something he should never had done.
He left the back door to the restaurant open. Three robbers
came in and had him at gun point. When he was opening
the safe, he was so nervous, the robbers panicked and
he got shot.
He was taken to emergency. He thought he was okay until he
saw the faces of the doctors and nurses and he got
scared. A big burly nurse began shouting at him with
questions: “Are you allergic to anything.” He said, “Yes.”
The doctors and nurses stopped everything. He said,
“Yes, bullets.” Everyone started laughing. Then he said,
“Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead!” After 18 hours
Jerry survived.
In these dire times of the economy: Attitude is Everything.
The disciples lived with Jesus for some three years.
They saw him feed the 5,000 with five loaves
and two fish.
They were with him in Bethany when Jesus raised Lazarus
from the dead. Lazarus was dead for four days.
When Jesus was crucified, they all fled. They still
had doubts about Jesus.
When Jesus was resurrected and appeared to them, they finally believed.
They believed that Jesus is the Messiah! They were with him 10,000 hours.
Amen!
(Mozart Medley, #8, Andre Rieu in Concert)
Video Station: …..Start playing softly ….
Mozart began composing music at the age of six. But psychologist
says, his early works were not outstanding. His early pieces
were probably written by his father. His first master piece was not
composed until he was 21. A music critic says, Mozart developed
late. His greatness started after he put in 10,000 hours.
October 30, 2011 9:00 & 10:45 a.m. Ecclesiates 3:1-8
San Luis Rey Valley United Methodist Church
Today I have selected as my sermon title,
“Hard Work = 10,000 Hours.”
I need your help!
(Select three people; tools: shovel, crescent wrench, bucket
Shovel—dig a hole; crescent wrench to remove plug to crank
of car; bucket to pick blue berries
Music: “Chain Gang” Sung by Sam Cooke
Let me first say: “Hard work doesn’t hurt anyone.”
…And they say: “There is no free lunch.”
When I was a young boy growing up in Hawaii, we were all poor.
I came from a family of three boys and three
girls. To make ends meet, my dad also raised a lot of vegetables.
My older brothers and I helped my dad load manure from
horse stables. My dad was a true gardner—we always
had fresh vegetables on the table: cabbage, lettuce,
carrots, beets, and the best string beans. I learned the
value of hard work and sacrifice.
When I was in high school, for two summer, I worked in the pineapple fields.
One summer I worked on the island of Molokai. The field was full
of ripe pineapples. One evening we harvested 52 truckloads of
pineapples. I learned that money does not grow on trees.
When I was in college in Iowa, that first summer, I worked for the Toledo
Construction Company. It was a really good paying job.
We were tearing down old fiber glass furnaces. We worked with
air hammers,
steel bars, and sledge hammers.
My parents were right: Get your college education!
Hard work is just a part of how life is.
It all started in the Garden of Eden.
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were thrown out
of Paradise.
God cursed the ground and told them, your days will be
days of toil and sweat.
That’s how it all started. Any question?
The book of Ecclesiastes that was just read says: 2
There is a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to pluck up what
is planted.
There is a saying:
My grandfather had a farm,
my father had a garden,
I have a can opener.
There song that says, “Oh, the times they are changing.”
That is true.
Today, our economic situation is bad.
Unemployment is 9.1%
In the October 10, 2011 Time Magazine, it gives a breakdown
on how we each budget of funds.
In 1950 -- 22% of our budget went for food;
2010 it’s 7%
In 1950 --13% of our budget went for housing,
2010 it’s 18%
In 1950 --3% of the budget went for health care;
2010 its 16%.
Several years ago, at the Get Motivated Seminar I heard
Suzy Orman, the financial whiz. She had one suggestion:
“Get your credit card balance down!”
The point of my sermon today is, we have a lot of work to do.
Jesus told us a parable where one man
was give five talents and he invested it and he made five times more.
The second man had three talents, invested it and got three more
The third man had one talent, was afraid so he buried it
and it was taken away. (Matt. 25:14-30)
Malcolm Gladwell in his book, Outliers, says that to succeed
in anything, we have to put in the time.
It will take hours of work.
Take Bill Gates. He was a math whiz. He was drop out from
Harvard. So how did he become so successful? When
he was in junior high, his parents sent him to private
school in Seattle called Lakeside. At Lakeside his mother 3
and some parents raised funds to open a computer
center. When gates was in high school, the University of
Washington opened an all night computer center. Gates
says, “I skipped athletics. I went up there at night.” He
got really good at computer programming. Then he and some
friends got hired by TRW, a technology company. Then he
started his own company. Any hear of Microsoft? That’s Bill Gates.
Bill Gates became good at computers, because he put in
10,000 hours. Malcolm Gladwell calls this:
“the 10,000 Hour Rule.”
And then, there are the Beattles:
John Lennon, Paul McCarthy, George Harrison, and Ringo Star.
They came to America in 1964. In 1960 they were just a struggling
high school band in Liverpool.
They didn’t develop their repertoire of music until they were
invited to a club in Hamburg, Germany. Most bands will be
for two to three hours and they will play the same music. But
when the Beattles went to Hamburg, they had to perform for
eight hours every night, seven days a week. They had to come
up with new music. For example, on their first trip they had to
play 106 nights. They got good when they got to 10,000 hours.
Listen! (#26 “Let It Be” The Beattles)
Wisdom: Yes, in this age, we need wisdom.
Proverbs 13:11-12 “Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle
but those who gather little by little, will increase.”
….little by little
Jesus came to teach us to develop our spiritual nature.
God gave to us three gifts:
the mind
the body and the soul.
Wisdom: yes, in this time, we need wisdom.
John 6:27-34 “Do not work for food that perishes,
but for food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of man will give you.”
Then Jesus said: “I am the bread of life.” “Seek first the kingdom of God.”
Wisdom: Attitude is Everything. 4
Jerry was the manager of a restaurant and he always
told his workers—always look for the positive side.
Jerry says, “every morning I wake up and say to myself, ‘Jerry,
you have two choices today: you can choose to be in a good
mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.”
Jerry says that each time something bad happens, I can choose
to be the victim or I can choose to learn from it.
One day, Jerry did something he should never had done.
He left the back door to the restaurant open. Three robbers
came in and had him at gun point. When he was opening
the safe, he was so nervous, the robbers panicked and
he got shot.
He was taken to emergency. He thought he was okay until he
saw the faces of the doctors and nurses and he got
scared. A big burly nurse began shouting at him with
questions: “Are you allergic to anything.” He said, “Yes.”
The doctors and nurses stopped everything. He said,
“Yes, bullets.” Everyone started laughing. Then he said,
“Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead!” After 18 hours
Jerry survived.
In these dire times of the economy: Attitude is Everything.
The disciples lived with Jesus for some three years.
They saw him feed the 5,000 with five loaves
and two fish.
They were with him in Bethany when Jesus raised Lazarus
from the dead. Lazarus was dead for four days.
When Jesus was crucified, they all fled. They still
had doubts about Jesus.
When Jesus was resurrected and appeared to them, they finally believed.
They believed that Jesus is the Messiah! They were with him 10,000 hours.
Amen!
(Mozart Medley, #8, Andre Rieu in Concert)
Video Station: …..Start playing softly ….
Mozart began composing music at the age of six. But psychologist
says, his early works were not outstanding. His early pieces
were probably written by his father. His first master piece was not
composed until he was 21. A music critic says, Mozart developed
late. His greatness started after he put in 10,000 hours.
I Was Hit By A Semi
HIT BY A SEMI
by Dennis Ginoza November 3, 2011
As they say, “There is always a first time for everything.”
It was about 5:20 p.m., November 2. On highway 15, traffic was moving northward from Escondido toward Fallbrook and Temecula. All the vehicles came to a crawl. Although we could not see, it appeared that there was an accident up ahead.
With the traffic so bad, I decided I would make an earlier exit at Old 395 rather than the 76 exit to get home to Fallbrook. I was in the far right lane. We were moving slowly, maybe about 2 or 3 miles per hour.
All of a sudden: BOOM! A semi truck rear ended my 2007 Camry. I couldn’t believe it. It was a jolt, but the impact was not cause for injury. Luckily we weren’t moving at rapid speed.
I pulled off to the shoulder. So did the semi. I got out. The driver got out. I said to him, “You weren’t paying attention, were you?” I added, “You were on your cell phone, weren’t you?” “Yes,” he nodded.
I proceeded to call 911 for a report. Then I couldn’t get through.
I must say, however, the driver was cooperative. He showed me his driver’s license and documents. I got the information I needed. He was from Norman, Oklahoma.
Then I got on my soap box. I said to him, “You should never use the cell phone driving again. First of all, it is against the law in California.” Then I went on, “Just think, you could’ve killed someone and you would be put in jail.” I asked, “You have a family, don’t you?” “Yes,” nodded. Then, I said, “You would lose your job!” “Don’t ever use the cell phone while driving!” He listened and I could see remorse on his face.
Then we proceeded on our way. The traffic was so bad, it took me about an hour and a half to get home. This is usually a 35 minute trip. I learned from my neighbor that the accident up ahead was a jack knifed military truck.
One of the first questions I was asked by the insurance company, “Are you okay?” Then, “You were wearing your seat belt, weren’t you?” I was and I always do.
Ironically, for the past three months, my wife and I have traveled over 12,000 miles by van to such cities as Denver, Omaha, Chicago, Cincinnati, Lexington, St. Louis, Helena, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, without incident. They say, most accidents occur close to home.
Some thoughts.
*Always leave some space between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you while
driving on the freeway. (I was hit, but did not hit the vehicle ahead of me.)
*Do not use the cell phone while driving. Many accidents today are caused by cell phone use.
*Always wear the seat belt. Under every circumstance.
*You can be a careful driver, but then, you don’t have control over someone else’s driving.
Nevertheless, be as careful as you can.
*When examining the damage on a vehicle, do it several times. Under stress, there are things
you will not see. The next day, I found further damage I didn’t see at first.
*Do not take a chance by not having insurance coverage. Just one time can break you.
*When tired or sleepy, don’t take a chance, get off the road and rest, have a cup of coffee,
or simply, take a walk. Best yet, have someone else take over driving.
“Life is too precious to take a chance.”
by Dennis Ginoza November 3, 2011
As they say, “There is always a first time for everything.”
It was about 5:20 p.m., November 2. On highway 15, traffic was moving northward from Escondido toward Fallbrook and Temecula. All the vehicles came to a crawl. Although we could not see, it appeared that there was an accident up ahead.
With the traffic so bad, I decided I would make an earlier exit at Old 395 rather than the 76 exit to get home to Fallbrook. I was in the far right lane. We were moving slowly, maybe about 2 or 3 miles per hour.
All of a sudden: BOOM! A semi truck rear ended my 2007 Camry. I couldn’t believe it. It was a jolt, but the impact was not cause for injury. Luckily we weren’t moving at rapid speed.
I pulled off to the shoulder. So did the semi. I got out. The driver got out. I said to him, “You weren’t paying attention, were you?” I added, “You were on your cell phone, weren’t you?” “Yes,” he nodded.
I proceeded to call 911 for a report. Then I couldn’t get through.
I must say, however, the driver was cooperative. He showed me his driver’s license and documents. I got the information I needed. He was from Norman, Oklahoma.
Then I got on my soap box. I said to him, “You should never use the cell phone driving again. First of all, it is against the law in California.” Then I went on, “Just think, you could’ve killed someone and you would be put in jail.” I asked, “You have a family, don’t you?” “Yes,” nodded. Then, I said, “You would lose your job!” “Don’t ever use the cell phone while driving!” He listened and I could see remorse on his face.
Then we proceeded on our way. The traffic was so bad, it took me about an hour and a half to get home. This is usually a 35 minute trip. I learned from my neighbor that the accident up ahead was a jack knifed military truck.
One of the first questions I was asked by the insurance company, “Are you okay?” Then, “You were wearing your seat belt, weren’t you?” I was and I always do.
Ironically, for the past three months, my wife and I have traveled over 12,000 miles by van to such cities as Denver, Omaha, Chicago, Cincinnati, Lexington, St. Louis, Helena, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, without incident. They say, most accidents occur close to home.
Some thoughts.
*Always leave some space between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you while
driving on the freeway. (I was hit, but did not hit the vehicle ahead of me.)
*Do not use the cell phone while driving. Many accidents today are caused by cell phone use.
*Always wear the seat belt. Under every circumstance.
*You can be a careful driver, but then, you don’t have control over someone else’s driving.
Nevertheless, be as careful as you can.
*When examining the damage on a vehicle, do it several times. Under stress, there are things
you will not see. The next day, I found further damage I didn’t see at first.
*Do not take a chance by not having insurance coverage. Just one time can break you.
*When tired or sleepy, don’t take a chance, get off the road and rest, have a cup of coffee,
or simply, take a walk. Best yet, have someone else take over driving.
“Life is too precious to take a chance.”
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Getting Down to Basics: Virtues
SERMON: “Getting Down to Basics” 1
Psalm 23, Romans 8:28-30
October 16, 2011 (Monserate Mobile Home Park, Chapel) 2:00 p.m.
Rev. Dr. Dennis Ginoza
Is there any here who went to school at a one
room school house? Anyone? …And where was that?
A few weeks ago my wife Sylvia and I were visiting with a
friend in Vacaville, in northern California.
Our friend Elaine said, “Dennis, I have something from you.
It’s an old bell from your elementary school (on island of Maui).
Ring! Time for school. Recess. Lunch time. School’s over.
Those were the good old days.
We were taught the three R’s – Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic.”
In that era we were taught three values.
Respect for our teachers.
Respect for property.
Respect for our elders.
What happened to all those values?
Everyday we recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
I remember the day when we added, “One nation under God.”
Today I have entitled my sermon:
“GETTING DOWN TO BASICS.”
For over 3,000 years the 23rd Psalm has reminded us that
we are sustained by God. God is the good shepherd.
God looks after us day and night.
In time of death we have nothing to fear.
When Jesus came he said,
“I am the good shepherd.”
“I am the door of the sheep.”
Remember some time ago, on television, the high school kids
would say, “Hey, what’s happening?”
In 2009 three million homes were foreclosed.
The unemployment today nationwide is 9.1%
and it’s not getting any better.
Unemployment with teenagers is at 24.6% 2
Hey, what’s happening?
John Kenneth Galbraith, an economist wrote:
“The salary of the chief executive of the large
corporations is not a market reward of achievement.
It is frequently in the nature of a warm personal
gesture by the individual to himself.”
Today we have a problem. The economy is faltering.
In a word: GREED.
It’s time to get back to basics.
We need to go back to the virtues that hold
society together, if you will, and our civilization.
Greek philosophers held up four cardinal virtues:
1. Prudence
2. Justice
3. Restraint
4. Courage
The apostle Paul, who met Jesus on the road to Damascus,
who filled his heart with the spirit of Christ,
came to these three theological virtues:
Faith, Hope, and Love ….but the greatest of these is love.
Mahatma Ghandi, the spiritual leader of India said,
“We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”
His family said, Ghandi said this many times.
In her Diary, Anne Frank wrote:
“In spite of everything I still believe that people
are really good at heart.”
Several years ago, I heard Elizabeth Kubler Ross, in Brawley,
California. Before 400 people—doctors, nurses, teachers,
pastors, social workers, she gave us insights about
death and dying. Really, it was about life.
“One thing,” she said, “that you don’t want to
take away from a person dying is—HOPE.
Each person always has hope there might be a cure.
For over 30 years no, as a pastor, I have concluded that there 3
are three tasks that I had.
One—to receive new spirits in the world. We
celebrate their coming, and we baptize them.
Two—we to help people grow, to learn, and to live.
Three—prepare people to get ready for the next life.
You see, life is eternal.
I was talking to a man the other day. A few
years ago, his wife died of cancer, and he lives
alone. He said to me, “You know, I’m ready to
go anytime. I’ve had a good life.” I understood.
Death is not end;
it’s just another door.
We live in a tough world.
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans says,
“All things work together for good, for those
for those who love God.”
But the question is: Who can we trust? The banks?
the politician? Benjamin Franklin says:
“God works wonders now and then;
Behold! a lawyer, an honest man.”
Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1733
Jesus said: Look at the birds of the air, they don’t store
in barns yet the Heavenly Father feeds them.
Look at the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin.
How much more God will care for you.
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all
these things will be given to you. Matthew 6:25ff
We need a paradigm shift from self to others.
Dale Carnegie, the guru of human relationships, wrote a book
called, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”
He says, there is a law of human contact. If we obey
that law, we will never be in trouble.
The law: “Always make the other person feel important”
If we take interest in other people, we will use every power
to make life better for them. There will be no place
for greed or selfishness.
Carnegie says, philosophers for centuries have been 4
speculating about human relationships.
Zoroaster in Persia, Confucius and Lao Tse in China.
Guatama Buddha in India, Hinduism in India---
they all taught the same principle.
Jesus summed it up in these words:
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Dale Carnegie says, one of his students decided to put the law
to a test: Always make the other person feel important.
A business man from Massachusetts went to Long Island
to visit his wife’s aunt.
The man: “This house was built in 1890, wasn’t it? “Yes,” she
said, “that’s precisely the year it was built.” He says,
“It reminds me of the house I was born in; it was beautiful,
well built, roomy.” “You know, they don’t build houses
like that anymore.”
“You’re right,” says the aged aunt “The young folks nowadays
don’t care for beautiful homes. All they want is an small
apartment, an electric ice box, and they go gadding about
in their automobiles.” Then she showed him the rest
of the house, treasures they collected from the travels—
paisley shawls, English tea set, French beds and chairs,
Italian paintings, silk draperies that once hung in a French chateau.
Then she took him into the garage. Propped up blocks was a car, a Packard.
(It was almost new).
“My husband bought that car just before he died,” she says.
“I have never ridden since his death.” Then she says,
“You appreciate nice things; I’m going to give you that car.”
“What about your relatives? I’m not even a relative.”
“Relatives, yes I have relatives who are just waiting till I die so they
can get the car. But they aren’t getting it.”
Jesus teaches us, we don’t live for ourselves,
we live for others.
What will it profit you, if you gain the whole world, but
lose your soul?
We need to get back to basics. (Ring the Bell)
Psalm 23, Romans 8:28-30
October 16, 2011 (Monserate Mobile Home Park, Chapel) 2:00 p.m.
Rev. Dr. Dennis Ginoza
Is there any here who went to school at a one
room school house? Anyone? …And where was that?
A few weeks ago my wife Sylvia and I were visiting with a
friend in Vacaville, in northern California.
Our friend Elaine said, “Dennis, I have something from you.
It’s an old bell from your elementary school (on island of Maui).
Ring! Time for school. Recess. Lunch time. School’s over.
Those were the good old days.
We were taught the three R’s – Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic.”
In that era we were taught three values.
Respect for our teachers.
Respect for property.
Respect for our elders.
What happened to all those values?
Everyday we recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
I remember the day when we added, “One nation under God.”
Today I have entitled my sermon:
“GETTING DOWN TO BASICS.”
For over 3,000 years the 23rd Psalm has reminded us that
we are sustained by God. God is the good shepherd.
God looks after us day and night.
In time of death we have nothing to fear.
When Jesus came he said,
“I am the good shepherd.”
“I am the door of the sheep.”
Remember some time ago, on television, the high school kids
would say, “Hey, what’s happening?”
In 2009 three million homes were foreclosed.
The unemployment today nationwide is 9.1%
and it’s not getting any better.
Unemployment with teenagers is at 24.6% 2
Hey, what’s happening?
John Kenneth Galbraith, an economist wrote:
“The salary of the chief executive of the large
corporations is not a market reward of achievement.
It is frequently in the nature of a warm personal
gesture by the individual to himself.”
Today we have a problem. The economy is faltering.
In a word: GREED.
It’s time to get back to basics.
We need to go back to the virtues that hold
society together, if you will, and our civilization.
Greek philosophers held up four cardinal virtues:
1. Prudence
2. Justice
3. Restraint
4. Courage
The apostle Paul, who met Jesus on the road to Damascus,
who filled his heart with the spirit of Christ,
came to these three theological virtues:
Faith, Hope, and Love ….but the greatest of these is love.
Mahatma Ghandi, the spiritual leader of India said,
“We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”
His family said, Ghandi said this many times.
In her Diary, Anne Frank wrote:
“In spite of everything I still believe that people
are really good at heart.”
Several years ago, I heard Elizabeth Kubler Ross, in Brawley,
California. Before 400 people—doctors, nurses, teachers,
pastors, social workers, she gave us insights about
death and dying. Really, it was about life.
“One thing,” she said, “that you don’t want to
take away from a person dying is—HOPE.
Each person always has hope there might be a cure.
For over 30 years no, as a pastor, I have concluded that there 3
are three tasks that I had.
One—to receive new spirits in the world. We
celebrate their coming, and we baptize them.
Two—we to help people grow, to learn, and to live.
Three—prepare people to get ready for the next life.
You see, life is eternal.
I was talking to a man the other day. A few
years ago, his wife died of cancer, and he lives
alone. He said to me, “You know, I’m ready to
go anytime. I’ve had a good life.” I understood.
Death is not end;
it’s just another door.
We live in a tough world.
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans says,
“All things work together for good, for those
for those who love God.”
But the question is: Who can we trust? The banks?
the politician? Benjamin Franklin says:
“God works wonders now and then;
Behold! a lawyer, an honest man.”
Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1733
Jesus said: Look at the birds of the air, they don’t store
in barns yet the Heavenly Father feeds them.
Look at the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin.
How much more God will care for you.
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all
these things will be given to you. Matthew 6:25ff
We need a paradigm shift from self to others.
Dale Carnegie, the guru of human relationships, wrote a book
called, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”
He says, there is a law of human contact. If we obey
that law, we will never be in trouble.
The law: “Always make the other person feel important”
If we take interest in other people, we will use every power
to make life better for them. There will be no place
for greed or selfishness.
Carnegie says, philosophers for centuries have been 4
speculating about human relationships.
Zoroaster in Persia, Confucius and Lao Tse in China.
Guatama Buddha in India, Hinduism in India---
they all taught the same principle.
Jesus summed it up in these words:
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Dale Carnegie says, one of his students decided to put the law
to a test: Always make the other person feel important.
A business man from Massachusetts went to Long Island
to visit his wife’s aunt.
The man: “This house was built in 1890, wasn’t it? “Yes,” she
said, “that’s precisely the year it was built.” He says,
“It reminds me of the house I was born in; it was beautiful,
well built, roomy.” “You know, they don’t build houses
like that anymore.”
“You’re right,” says the aged aunt “The young folks nowadays
don’t care for beautiful homes. All they want is an small
apartment, an electric ice box, and they go gadding about
in their automobiles.” Then she showed him the rest
of the house, treasures they collected from the travels—
paisley shawls, English tea set, French beds and chairs,
Italian paintings, silk draperies that once hung in a French chateau.
Then she took him into the garage. Propped up blocks was a car, a Packard.
(It was almost new).
“My husband bought that car just before he died,” she says.
“I have never ridden since his death.” Then she says,
“You appreciate nice things; I’m going to give you that car.”
“What about your relatives? I’m not even a relative.”
“Relatives, yes I have relatives who are just waiting till I die so they
can get the car. But they aren’t getting it.”
Jesus teaches us, we don’t live for ourselves,
we live for others.
What will it profit you, if you gain the whole world, but
lose your soul?
We need to get back to basics. (Ring the Bell)
9/11 Thoughts -- Fruits of the Spirit
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT ON SEPTEMBER 11 1
Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Galatians 5:22-23 (Lighting Candle for 9/11 Remembrance)
September 18, 2011 Chapel Service
They say, “There’s nothing like being a grandparent.”
Well, ….. We are now grandparents. Yeah!
On August 11 at 10:38 a.m. our first grandson, Kenan Jacob
was born in Yakima, Washinton to our son Jeremy and his wife Melanie,
8 pounds, 6.4 ounces, and 21 inches. Jeremy who is a medical
doctor received his son into this world. What a privilege!
Kenan is a biblical name, he is the son of Enosh, the son of
Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve. (Genesis 5:9)
Kenan is the forefather of Noah and he lived for 910 years.
How many of you have actually seen a bear?
For over 30 years we’ve been looking—at Sequoia, Yosemite,
Yellowstone, and we never saw one.
On August 10 in Glacier National Park we finally saw our first
bear. The next day a bear ran right in front of our van
and I almost hit it; I had to hit the brakes. …And the
car behind me hit his brakes. I say Wow! In four days
we saw a total of 12 bears. August 2011 was a good month.
Good Morning! Bon Jour! Buenos Dias! And Aloha!
The psalmist says, “This is the day that the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Psalm 118:24
Some people say that evil is the absence of good.
Sometimes we say, “Oh, the devil made me do it.”
Have you ever taken a rock to break a window,
just for the fun of it? As children we do things,
bad things, out of our innocence.
Genesis teaches us that evil is personified in Satan.
Evil manifests itself when we separate ourselves
from God. So today, let us always remember,
God is our strength and God is our refuge.
The psalmist writes:
Those who love me, I will deliver.
I will protect those who know my name,
When they call me, I will answer them,
I will be with them in trouble,
2
I will rescue them and honor them,
With long life I will satisfy them and show
them my salvation.
This morning I want us to remember those who we lost
on 9/11. We lost 2,819 people
fire fighters 343
NYPD 23
Port Authority police officers 37
3,051 children lost a parent
those who lost a spouse or a partner 1,609
Let us be in a moment of SILENCE.
The apostle Paul says in Romans 5:5: “But we also boast in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance
produces character, and characters produces hope, and hope
does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured
into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
The prophet Isaiah teaches us that our true worship is God, not
things we make, not ideas we claim, and nothing in human form.
In time of trouble, God will make our bones strong. Then he
leaves us this promise:
Isaiah 58:12
Your ancient ruins shall be
rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of
many generations;
you shall be called the repairer
of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live
in.
On September 11, 2011 the firm of Cantor Fitzgerald lost 658 of its 960
employees. This is a remarkable story of heart.
Their offices were located on the 101th to the 105th stories
of the World Trade Center, just above the impact of the
hijacked plane.
Because of such a great loss, Cantor Fitzgerald was not expected to
survive. But the CEO, Howard Lutnick, decided to keep his
3
company going. Lutnick thought surely his employees in
Los Angeles would leave his broken firm. His heart was
pounding when the Los Angeles delegation knocked on his
apartment door. They said, “We’re never leaving.”
Within a week, Cantor Fitzgerald was back on line. Now Lutnick had
a great purpose—to help the families of 9/11. He decided to
give 25% of his profits back to those families for five years
and health insurance for 10 years. By 2006 His company
had given out $180 million to the families. Before 9/11
his company traded primarily bonds. Today this company
had grown into a full-service investment bank. Before 9/11
Cantor Fitzgerald had a total of 2,100 employees, today it
has 4,500.
The reason CEO Howard Lutnick was not in his office at the World
Trade Center that morning was, his son was beginning kindergarten.
He and his wife decided to be there with their son Kyle on his
first day of school.
How Cantor Fitzgerald was going to recover, Lutnick wasn’t sure.
But he believed.
They had lost most of their files and hard drives.
And walla! Cisco Systems sent a dozen 18 wheelers full of
routers, cables and other hardware to Cantor’s office in New Jersey.
Microsoft Corporation sent in 50 employees to help Cantor break
into the password protected computer accounts of all the workers
who were gone. Lutnick says, “Our motivation was to help the
victim’s families.”
When we find ourselves in dust and ashes, our first thoughts are,
How can this be? Why is this happening to me?
All of us, I am sure, at one time or another felt that we came to
the end of the road. Or we find ourselves in a pit. I know I have.
When I was reading Paul Tillich in seminary, he explained we can
find ourselves in a time of emptiness and hopelessness.
But something deep inside of us won’t give up. It drives us.
He calls it, the courage to be.
Jesus knew this courage to be -- total trust in God. On the cross, he said,
“Father, into they hands I commend my spirit.” (Lk. 22:46)
Moses found the same and he led the people out of Egypt.
Deut. 30:9 “I call heaven and earth as 4
witnesses against you, that I have set before you life
and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life,
that both your descendants may live.” I say: Choose life.
On 9/11 the airspace over the United States was shut down.
Thirty eight planes with 6,595 people landed in
in Gander, New Foundland. Schools, churches,
grocery stores, fire stations pharmacies, clubs etc. opened their
hearts for those they called, “the plane people.”
One family invited a couple to their home to use their shower, and said,
“Stay here as long as you want to rest,” and then, they left.
At the country club, they opened the door people who wanted
to golf. They ran out of golf clubs so people brought in more.
At the emergency center, ong tables were set up with land phones
so people could call home.
The Canadian military sent in 5,000 cots.
Pharmacists from town helped fill new prescriptions for those in need, even
calling other countries to verify the correct name.
There was always th smell of fresh, hot coffee to say, “Welcome!”
Diane Kirschke, a Texan, met Nick Marson, an Englishman and they fell in love.
They got married in New Foundland, on the first anniversary of 9/11.
A woman named Louie said, “I live in Hawaii where aloha is pretty present, but I felt
so much aloha here, so welcoming, so trusting.”
Shirley Brooks-Jones was so touched, when place was leaving, she announced
on the intercom, she wanted to start a scholarship fund in Lewisporte. That
scholarship fund raised some $1.5 million.
Jesus came to teach us,
the most important thing for us is to love,
to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind;
and to love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt.22:37)
He said, “Walk the second mile.”
And he says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”
(Matthew 11:29)
In Gander, on 9/11, the spirit of Christ was there, in the
hearts of the people.
Paul says, the fruits of the Spirit are: Love, Joy, Peace
Patience; Kindness, Generosity
Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.
(Galatians 5:22-23)
Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Galatians 5:22-23 (Lighting Candle for 9/11 Remembrance)
September 18, 2011 Chapel Service
They say, “There’s nothing like being a grandparent.”
Well, ….. We are now grandparents. Yeah!
On August 11 at 10:38 a.m. our first grandson, Kenan Jacob
was born in Yakima, Washinton to our son Jeremy and his wife Melanie,
8 pounds, 6.4 ounces, and 21 inches. Jeremy who is a medical
doctor received his son into this world. What a privilege!
Kenan is a biblical name, he is the son of Enosh, the son of
Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve. (Genesis 5:9)
Kenan is the forefather of Noah and he lived for 910 years.
How many of you have actually seen a bear?
For over 30 years we’ve been looking—at Sequoia, Yosemite,
Yellowstone, and we never saw one.
On August 10 in Glacier National Park we finally saw our first
bear. The next day a bear ran right in front of our van
and I almost hit it; I had to hit the brakes. …And the
car behind me hit his brakes. I say Wow! In four days
we saw a total of 12 bears. August 2011 was a good month.
Good Morning! Bon Jour! Buenos Dias! And Aloha!
The psalmist says, “This is the day that the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Psalm 118:24
Some people say that evil is the absence of good.
Sometimes we say, “Oh, the devil made me do it.”
Have you ever taken a rock to break a window,
just for the fun of it? As children we do things,
bad things, out of our innocence.
Genesis teaches us that evil is personified in Satan.
Evil manifests itself when we separate ourselves
from God. So today, let us always remember,
God is our strength and God is our refuge.
The psalmist writes:
Those who love me, I will deliver.
I will protect those who know my name,
When they call me, I will answer them,
I will be with them in trouble,
2
I will rescue them and honor them,
With long life I will satisfy them and show
them my salvation.
This morning I want us to remember those who we lost
on 9/11. We lost 2,819 people
fire fighters 343
NYPD 23
Port Authority police officers 37
3,051 children lost a parent
those who lost a spouse or a partner 1,609
Let us be in a moment of SILENCE.
The apostle Paul says in Romans 5:5: “But we also boast in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance
produces character, and characters produces hope, and hope
does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured
into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
The prophet Isaiah teaches us that our true worship is God, not
things we make, not ideas we claim, and nothing in human form.
In time of trouble, God will make our bones strong. Then he
leaves us this promise:
Isaiah 58:12
Your ancient ruins shall be
rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of
many generations;
you shall be called the repairer
of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live
in.
On September 11, 2011 the firm of Cantor Fitzgerald lost 658 of its 960
employees. This is a remarkable story of heart.
Their offices were located on the 101th to the 105th stories
of the World Trade Center, just above the impact of the
hijacked plane.
Because of such a great loss, Cantor Fitzgerald was not expected to
survive. But the CEO, Howard Lutnick, decided to keep his
3
company going. Lutnick thought surely his employees in
Los Angeles would leave his broken firm. His heart was
pounding when the Los Angeles delegation knocked on his
apartment door. They said, “We’re never leaving.”
Within a week, Cantor Fitzgerald was back on line. Now Lutnick had
a great purpose—to help the families of 9/11. He decided to
give 25% of his profits back to those families for five years
and health insurance for 10 years. By 2006 His company
had given out $180 million to the families. Before 9/11
his company traded primarily bonds. Today this company
had grown into a full-service investment bank. Before 9/11
Cantor Fitzgerald had a total of 2,100 employees, today it
has 4,500.
The reason CEO Howard Lutnick was not in his office at the World
Trade Center that morning was, his son was beginning kindergarten.
He and his wife decided to be there with their son Kyle on his
first day of school.
How Cantor Fitzgerald was going to recover, Lutnick wasn’t sure.
But he believed.
They had lost most of their files and hard drives.
And walla! Cisco Systems sent a dozen 18 wheelers full of
routers, cables and other hardware to Cantor’s office in New Jersey.
Microsoft Corporation sent in 50 employees to help Cantor break
into the password protected computer accounts of all the workers
who were gone. Lutnick says, “Our motivation was to help the
victim’s families.”
When we find ourselves in dust and ashes, our first thoughts are,
How can this be? Why is this happening to me?
All of us, I am sure, at one time or another felt that we came to
the end of the road. Or we find ourselves in a pit. I know I have.
When I was reading Paul Tillich in seminary, he explained we can
find ourselves in a time of emptiness and hopelessness.
But something deep inside of us won’t give up. It drives us.
He calls it, the courage to be.
Jesus knew this courage to be -- total trust in God. On the cross, he said,
“Father, into they hands I commend my spirit.” (Lk. 22:46)
Moses found the same and he led the people out of Egypt.
Deut. 30:9 “I call heaven and earth as 4
witnesses against you, that I have set before you life
and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life,
that both your descendants may live.” I say: Choose life.
On 9/11 the airspace over the United States was shut down.
Thirty eight planes with 6,595 people landed in
in Gander, New Foundland. Schools, churches,
grocery stores, fire stations pharmacies, clubs etc. opened their
hearts for those they called, “the plane people.”
One family invited a couple to their home to use their shower, and said,
“Stay here as long as you want to rest,” and then, they left.
At the country club, they opened the door people who wanted
to golf. They ran out of golf clubs so people brought in more.
At the emergency center, ong tables were set up with land phones
so people could call home.
The Canadian military sent in 5,000 cots.
Pharmacists from town helped fill new prescriptions for those in need, even
calling other countries to verify the correct name.
There was always th smell of fresh, hot coffee to say, “Welcome!”
Diane Kirschke, a Texan, met Nick Marson, an Englishman and they fell in love.
They got married in New Foundland, on the first anniversary of 9/11.
A woman named Louie said, “I live in Hawaii where aloha is pretty present, but I felt
so much aloha here, so welcoming, so trusting.”
Shirley Brooks-Jones was so touched, when place was leaving, she announced
on the intercom, she wanted to start a scholarship fund in Lewisporte. That
scholarship fund raised some $1.5 million.
Jesus came to teach us,
the most important thing for us is to love,
to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind;
and to love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt.22:37)
He said, “Walk the second mile.”
And he says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”
(Matthew 11:29)
In Gander, on 9/11, the spirit of Christ was there, in the
hearts of the people.
Paul says, the fruits of the Spirit are: Love, Joy, Peace
Patience; Kindness, Generosity
Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.
(Galatians 5:22-23)
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