How do you treat a long time customer?

I have been thinking about changing our television provider. Currently we use Dish Network and it has been a good experience. We have been good customers since January 2002.

My story begins with me desiring to lower our monthly bills. I could cut programming, cut TV outright or shop for other providers. I thought about it all.

Directv would save us just under $450 over the next 2 years, and they would upgrade me to HD. If I was paying for Dish Network with HD it would save me $696 over the next 2 years. Before I jump ship to another provider or cut our programming down, I thought it would be best to allow Dish Network to make an offer to keep my business.

Seems sad that loyalty is not valued by pricing. If you don't belong to the "club" then you are not valued financially. What do you think they will do?

The real problem behind our economy

I subscribe to Money magazine and in the most recent issue is an article that I want to recommend.

What I like is that the article is how simple Raghuram Rajan lays out his thoughts regarding Income Inequality. As a blogger who desires to gather lessons from life and communicate them, here is a great example.

We often treat the "symptoms" rather than the "disease". Perhaps it's time that we Americans evaluate what is important, how we want to get there and take a long term view of our future success and/or failure. One this is very clear, it's time to make some decisions, no matter how difficult they may be!

Who you are vs. What you do

Listening on Kilmeade and Friends this morning I heard part of an interview. The man being interviewed was asked about body scanners, pat-down searches and screening. His statement was very profound, basically he said, "America searches for what people carry, other countries search for WHO PEOPLE ARE".

Yes, it's called profiling, but if we don't pay attention to the tendencies of people then we will always be "reacting" after an incident. I find it odd to object to this type of planning, forethought or profiling if you will. It does not mean that someone is guilty, it just raises flags to say, "we should inquire more".

I remember flying one-way from Fresno to Phoenix years ago. I was given extract scrutiny. Was that offensive? NO. I hope that we are smart enough to have markers that help determine, not if someone is carrying something, but do they desire to harm the USA or American people.

Is it offensive to acknowledge that 30% of those who have been sexually abused will  abuse other people? I hope it's not offensive, but as a camp director, I have to know these tendencies as we hire staff to work with kids. Knowing this information helps ask appropriate questions.

The greatest issue is "Who are these people?". If I know WHO YOU ARE, I can better determine what you are capable of doing. Fail to understand this and you will be cleaning up devasted lives and much more!

Verbal traditions

I have a friend who is a flight instructor (Tye). He has recently returned to a former job teaching young people to fly. Currently he is going through the re-certification process with a concept called "Check Ride". Basically a pilot with greater certification watches you operate the aircraft and "Checks" that you can do it correctly.

This reminds of the the verbal tradition of stories. I was discussing with Jordan his birth as we drove by the Hospital where he was born. I was telling him about how special he was and how we felt that day. I want to make sure my kids, my wife and friends know the stories and can retell them for the future.

This is the way that Jesus set up the Gospel to spread and the way that we can more intimately share life with those around us. Consider a "check ride" for you stories of family and life. You will not be disappointed.

Teaching a wise man

I was recently reading in the book of Proverbs. In fact it was Proverbs 9 and it spoke about instructing people. Check this out...
 ⁷ Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
   whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
⁸ Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
   rebuke the wise and they will love you.
⁹ Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
   teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

I hope that I am "wise" and can be taught in ways that add to my learning. I hope that I am not a "mocker" and blow off what is communicated to me. I have wondered about the issues of life that I go through and I am trying to grab what I can from each of them.

I pray that you can learn to embrace the lessons as a wise person does...add to your learning.

What's next for the American people?

Election day has come and gone! In some ways, it's a relief because of all the ads, commercials and phone calls end!

Republican politicians were voted into the House, Senate and State governments in record numbers. It must feel like the gains the Democrats made just a few years ago when they took control of the House and Senate, plus the Presidency. However, these individuals CANNOT HELP US. We, as Americans, must help ourselves.

If you are Liberal or Conservative in your political thinking, BEHAVE LIKE A CONSERVATIVE. Save your money, pay down debts, live as inexpensively as possible. Be responsible for yourself and your family. Work hard!

These actions will help stabilize our communities, regardless of what politicians do. If they do not act in your best interest, vote them out, but we must do our part. Join me!!!