No Bling Bling???

I used to love the NBA. Remember MJ! Ahh yes...But now, if I never see another game, I will be okay. Why has my attitude become so callous? Glad you asked...

I am so tired of hearing about the NBA players complain because they have to where suits to work. SO WHAT? People who work at McDonalds have to wear uniforms for a lot less money. I am sure they would like to wear their regular clothes too if they could. And if you have ever worked in a restaurant, you know how those uniforms start to smell even after a good washing. I remember I had a job at the Limited and in order to work there you had to wear their clothes. Now, the Limited was never a cheap store plus I was in college so spending money on that brand when I had perfectly good clothes seemed ridiculous. But I needed a job and they hired me. So I bought and wore their clothes to work. Now I know NBA players make more than the $4.25 I made at the Limited.

So if I had them in a room, I'd stand on a chair so I could be eye level and yell "Quit your whining, you big babies and go buy some suits! It is only when you are on the job anyway. You don't see McDonalds employees sporting those smelly uniforms at the mall."

Like I heard a radio DJ say, when you work for someone else, you gotta follow their rules. Now why don't these multi-millionaires spend less money on the bling and put it together to start their own league then they can run it how they want.

Now I read online some players say asking them to conceal their bling was racially motivated. NO...not responding to Katrina's inner city stranded is racial. A SC educator refering to black children as "yard apes" is racial. Saying that aborting all the black babies would lower the crime rate is racial. If these guys want to rally around a racially motivated cause I am sure there are plenty. As much as I like wearing my earrings, when I interned at Phillip Morris, I could not wear them...But I didn't call for the ACLU to plead my case.

Anyway, if the NBA players of today want to know what real bling is, tell them to ask MJ who has 6 NBA championship rings. That is really the bling they work for, right? Or is it not about the winning anymore just the money?

Wal-Mart or Target?

This past Saturday in my book club meeting, the ladies had a discussion of which department store was better - Wal-Mart or Target? Well, if you all know me, then you know I am not about to say Target is better - oh no. In fact, I am going to give you undisputable evidence why Wal-Mart is better than Target. So here goes the TOP TEN: (just like David Letterman)

10 - Target has a "bullseye" and a dog with a bullseye on his eye as a logo. As opposed to the Smiley face that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. A bullseye is not a good thing - okay people! Just ask that man in the silhouette at the shooting range! If I had a bow and arrow, that dog's eye would be toast!

9 - Wal-Mart has an endless supply of cash registers like "25" to Targets "5". No, they are not all open but they are there if ya need 'em! And they have self-checkout registers too! Ha!

8 - Wal-Mart has real GROCERIES. Target has some junk food and some high price toilet paper.


7 - Wal-Mart has hypnotic powers. When you go in for one item, unknowingly, you will come out with about 20 more things you suddenly "realize" you need.

6 - Wal-Mart has 2 bathrooms. If you can't catch the one in the front of the store, you can always hit the one in the layaway section. An abundant supply of bathrooms are very important to me...

5 - Wal-Mart has an automotive shop. You can get cheap tires, cheap oil changes- any car, any time. And you can pay for all the stuff you were hypnotized into buying while you waited, at the automotive cash register.

4 - Wal-Mart gives you those little umbrella baggies when it is raining...You know so the water won't run on the floor making it all slippery. Now if they give you something to put on your wet feet, they would really have a concept.

3 - Wal-Mart is a perfect place to practice "diversity" training. You can find just about any ethnicity you want in Wal-Mart. It is like the "melting pot" of department stores. All they need is the Statue of Liberty with the Smiley face of course!

2 - Wal-Mart has lower prices than Target on every item any day of the week! Hands down!

AND NUMBER ONE REASON WAL-MART IS BETTER THAN TARGET....drum roll puh -leeze...

1 - Wal-Mart has "Wal-Mart greeters"!!! A position in which I aspire to hold in my golden years. "Welcome to Wal-Mart! Need a buggy?"

*This blog is dedicated to the Target lovers in the Piedmont-Triad R.A.W. SISTAZ book club!

Serving 2 Masters

“I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help his people in need.”—Millard Fuller

Who is Millard Fuller? Good question...He is the founder of Habitat for Humanity. I was watching The Today Show and all last week they were building houses through HFH for the Hurricane victims. This morning, they presented a family with the keys to what will soon be their new home. I believe it is a wonderful organization and I have on a few occasions been able to help build one of these homes. YES! There is a family who has a window installed by yours truly and some nails holding up the roof. Scary thought, right?

Anyway, I have heard the story of Mr. Millard Fuller awhile back and I thought it would be interesting to share. Here's the link to the entire aritlce but I wanted to provide an excerpt:

http://www.habitat.org/how/millard.aspx

A Life Changed by God:
From humble beginnings in Alabama, Millard Fuller rose to become a young, self-made millionaire. A graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., and the University of Alabama Law School at Tuscaloosa, he and a college friend began a marketing firm while still in school. Fuller’s business expertise and entrepreneurial drive made him a millionaire at age 29. But as the business prospered, his health, integrity and marriage suffered.These crises prompted Fuller to re-evaluate his values and direction. His soul-searching led to reconciliation with his wife and to a renewal of his Christian commitment.

The Fullers then took a drastic step: They decided to sell all of their possessions, give the money to the poor and begin searching for a new focus for their lives. This search led them to Koinonia Farm, a Christian community located near Americus, Ga., where people were looking for practical ways to apply Christ’s teachings. The Seed Is Planted With Koinonia founder Clarence Jordan and a few others, the Fullers initiated several partnership enterprises, including a ministry in housing. They built modest houses on a no-profit, no-interest basis, thus making homes affordable to families with low incomes. Homeowner families were expected to invest their own labor into the building of their home and the houses of other families. This reduced the cost of the house, increased the pride of ownership and fostered the development of positive relationships. Money for building was placed into a revolving fund, enabling the building of even more homes.


The bible says the following about money.
Matthew 6:24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (NIV)

This verse pretty much explains why Mr. Fuller's, while becoming rich, life was taking a turn for the worse. I know what some of yall are thinking? If his marriage was on the rocks, why didn't he just leave? That is the easy way out and I think he realized what was most important in his life and it wasn't the money. Oh but I wonder how hard it was for them to sell all they had. Despite what has been said, being a true Christian is not for wimps! What did Jesus ask the rich man to do? But he couldn't do it.

Mark 10: 20 - 25 - 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Kudos, Mr. Fuller for being obediant! For the skeptics, I must say the benefits and rewards of his actions, speak for themselves. http://www.habitat.org/

Next time you forsake what you hold nearest and dearest, whether it be family, friends, or your morals, to earn an extra dime, remember Millard Fuller and this piece of scripture:

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (KJV)