Letter to a fellow network marketing friend…

Why I am writing is that this new venture is making me 1% a day, while advertising my websites to over 500 people a week.  Granted it is only a 5 to 15 second page view, but who knows, once in a while someone may save my site or stay on it and I will get a conversion that way.  The real beauty is that it supports my main businesses and pays me cash just to have money invested.

In other words if you would decide to enroll, you would have you website in the rotation to be viewed by the thousands of members randomly.  You would fulfill your obligation (earn the right to advertise) by viewing/surfing sites for between 10 and twenty minutes a day.  It is interesting when you start.  I started with 20 bucks in, and I watched the 20 cents, then up to 22 cents each day and so on.  For my original investment of 20 dollars, in about 3 weeks I now have 26.00.

What is interesting is that people that choose to purchase ad packages in the thousands can make hundreds a day.  Then you compound the earnings by sharing this with others.  Now, again, if YTB is working, the money may not be the motivator, but as you add downline in one business that trust you, you can sometimes make them a part of your trusted loyal ‘tribe’ and share other ideas with them.

Some may take offense or call you a scammer for putting together huge email mailouts (I don’t mind)  but if you are doing business with these people and perhaps just sharing another opportunity that is working for you….it’s more accepted.

If the money is not necessary and I think we know scriptures that warn us about greed, then perhaps you can share this with others that DO need the income from home.  I have found that there are many who will not recruit no matter what, for traditional MLMs.  It is not in their nature.  This, however, will allow them to make some cash and build trust in the company before they send someone to a site.  Besides where else can you legitimately enroll for 20 dollars in something that works well, quickly and is this easy to share?

Now if I did not know you well already, but felt I had enough of a relationship or let’s say permission, to ‘pitch’ you, I’d say this.

(Friend),

I know we know each other and I have previously shared about my travel business.  It is still going well, but a good friend of mine has shared this new venture with me and I have added it as yet another stream of income.  It is so easy.  They pay us to advertise our website, just for spending a couple of minutes every day looking at ads. 

I suggest starting for 20 dollars, (like we did) and just having fun with it.  As you start to earn 1% or more EVERY DAY, perhaps you will increase your investment (advertising package) and even share it with others.

Go to www.asdcashgenerator.com/?ref=53127 and take a look.  If when you sign up you need my number, use 53127 as your sponsor.  You will set up/go to your site, and the menu will stay start surfing.  You get 2 company ads first, which you watch as the counter counts down the seconds, then you click on the corresponding color tab to move on.  When you get to around 25, you have fulfilled your daily surf requirements.  You can stop, but I always go on ’til they make me stop (73 credits).

These credits are the amount of views that you now can use for your site.  Set up your website(s) and just keep periodically transferring the credits so that that site keeps getting viewed.  No site? no worries, use mine    :)  In other words, if doing it just to make some money from home, put any site (with permission of course).  You COULD use your ASD site I guess.  I would NOT suggest they join YTB at that point (495.00?) but perhaps some other site that is free or low-cost.

People can put their blogs, as I will in the future, or perhaps their employers site (again, with permission.)  I mean this is a bonanza for Realtors-put a listing site, or businesses…..Keep in mind that the surfers are from all over the country, though.                 Call me if you have more questions   Suzie Lou (not her real name)………..but my real ASD site and #

As you fulfill your ad-watching/surfing obligation, you CAN put on headphones/turn down the speaker volume, do little tasks around the house, cuz no one will know if you focused on the offers.  I have only really clicked on a few, but have used the names on a few sites to write down for future prospecting.  Again, I do that carefully.  I actually think it is valuable to see the many different ‘ideas’ and some very interesting sites along the way.

Alright, to conclude.  go to www.asdcashgenerator.com/?ref=53127 which will put me as your sponsor (53127) and ‘take off’.'   Rick 

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Letter in response to the ‘Obama is the Antichrist’ email letter

This letter is racist and wrong.  Most of Obama’s education came from the prestigious private school called Punahou here in Honolulu.  The emphasis on the color of his mothers’ skin and father’s skin is a sick attempt to inflame racial hatred.

Obama is from the USA and has worshipped for 20 years at a Church of Christ.

When you say he’ll come from the East, do you mean Hawaii, or Chicago, or Kansas?  Which one of those is the East you are referring to?

Oh wait, he spent 2 years in a Catholic school.  He must secretly be a Catholic, right?  One could twist it that way, as well.

I am a Christian and what I see here is hogwash.  My NIV Bible does not say anything that can be interpreted in THIS way.

By the way, we are NOT at war with the Muslim Nation.  If we ever get to THAT we will lose.  The terrorists are a small group of radical Muslims amidst a very large number that are not.

I feel sorry for those that are easily misled, like sheep that simply and mindlessly forward this without questioning.  Those that are of more noble character, like the Bereans examine the Scriptures daily and make sure what they are told is true.

I will pray for those that are so easily misled.  It is sad that some are so paranoid.

I am a Christian who is for Barack even though I do not believe in everything he stands for.  He is NOT the one who has anger management issues and wants to drag out this terrible war and who stands for 4 or 8 more years of the same old same old.  He DOES stand for hope for millions of Americans who feel that their voices have not been heard.

I pray that you all will have the discernment to see through this hate-inspiring rhetoric.  I am not necessarily asking people to supoport Obama, just to have the decency to disregard this poorly disguised racial hatred.

Rick Emmerich 

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Honolulu International Christian Church Revival!

It seemed so….authentic, as we met for the first time with our new evangelist and the mission team.  We were at the home of Joe and Mary Santos, who had the courage to start their own house church 21 months ago, fed up with the doctrinal changes and the attitudes of their previous church.  My wife (Dr. Malia Emmerich) and I had watched from a distance as we were forced to endure some very ‘non-christian’ behavior from that very same church, that we still attended.  Not that this post is about me, but after a long period of thought, prayer and seeking of advice we were also ready to make the break later that winter. Last night, we were one with the new arrivals from the CAICC (City of Angels Intl. Christian Church)… CAICC.org and our new evangelist, Kyle Bartholomew.  Joe had fielded a recent call attempting to slander Kyle, but Kyle’s life and his passion to work for God are an open book.  And we expect the persecution.  When others see a sold-out committed movement that actively preaches the Word and expects others to live by the Bible, they feel threatened. Our World Missions leader, Kip McKean preached a fiery and fact-filled message that dipped into little known Old Testament (OT) details.  During his history of the movement, tears were shed, and many Amens were heard.  His wife Elena’s soft voice would frequently say "Preach it Babe." As Kip highlighted, they have been persecuted mightily, but continue to do God’s work, which has shown phenomenal growth in the last 3 years.  One year ago a similar but larger missions team went to LA, with 42 members.  Through much sacrifice and then, of course lots of hard work, 101 baptisms and many resorations and move-ins have taken place in the LA area.   Again, see CAICC.org. Sadly for many were the details of how the old ICOC churches changed doctrine when things got tough and controversial, and how much those chuches (no longer united) have fallen in conviction and membership.  Many of us had been a part of those fellowships and we love so many friends that have been left behind. I have documented some of these details almost ad nauseum in other forums, but may chose to get into the previous church changes at a later date, if it’s deemed relevent.  Also, please view "Hope For The Islands" on this same site. The kick-off of this new version of the Honolulu International Christian Church was a loud, boisterous affair, with great song-leading and sharing late into the night. For those that desire a strict and thorough adherence to Biblical teachings, with the zeal and desire to seek and save the lost, join us in Honolulu at the Mauna Kea Chapel at 1330 Mauna Kea across from Zippys.  That’s Mauna Kea and Vineyard, at 10AM on Sunday morning. Can’t make it to the island, then go to http://CAICC.org to find a congregation near you.  Also, http://honicc.org and http://honicc.com for those of you who want to follow our growing fellowship.    Rick Emmerich

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Hope For The Islands!

Hope For The Islands!

Guest Editorial: Kyle Bartholomew

Kyle and Joan Bartholomew with their son Brett

Kyle and Joan Bartholomew with their son Brett

(On Sunday June 1, 2008, the Honolulu Mission Team will be sent out! On that historic day, it will be my honor to appoint Kyle as an Evangelist in the Kingdom of God. Kyle was born in Hilo, Hawaii on October 2, 1981 to Jay and Cindy Bartholomew. He has an older sister Robin and two younger brothers. Throughout his life, Kyle’s passion has been basketball. Following in his father’s steps, Kyle played at the University of Hawaii – Hilo. He was a three year starter, two time All-Conference selection and captain of the team in both his junior and senior years! It was in college that Kyle was baptized by Chris Teves on July 29, 2001. Before he graduated in 2003, he baptized his brothers, Evan and Levi. On August 14, 2004, he marrried an awesome disciple, Joan Udtohan. God blessed them with Brett on March 15, 2006. Later that year, Kyle became the full-time minister for the Hilo International Church of Christ. When the Bartholomews left to train in Los Angeles in 2007, Evan and his wife Kelly began to lead the Hilo Church. This past year in Los Angeles, Kyle has been abundantly fruitful at Cal State Fullerton. With their “Hawaiian warmth” both Kyle and Joan have endeared themselves to the entire Orange County Region as their leaders. Though Kyle has remained a Cleveland Cavalier fan resisting the Lakers’ resurgence, he has become a very close friend and dear son in the faith! I am so looking forward to being “partners in the gospel” with Kyle in the Islands and throughout the Pacific Rim.) KM

“My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.” Isaiah 51:5

The Hawaiian Islands

In this prophecy of Isaiah, we learn that it is and has always been God’s heart to bring His righteousness, hope and salvation to the nations! God’s heart for the nations is reflected in many other passages such as Acts 1:8 – the command to take the gospel to the “ends of the earth”; Acts 2:39 – the promise that the gospel message would reach “all who are far off” (Gentiles); and perhaps most familiar, Matthew 28:19 – God’s command “to baptize… the nations”! Since I was born and raised in Hawaii, the most exciting aspect of Isaiah’s prophecy is that God’s arm will extend out even to “the Islands”!

Kyle and Joan on their wedding day!

Kyle and Joan on their wedding day!

When I was baptized as a disciple on July 29, 2001 through the efforts of the Hilo International Church of Christ (ICOC), I was blown away by the commitment, passion and love that I saw in each and every disciple. What inspired me most was the dream that each disciple shared to evangelize the Islands, the Pacific Rim and ultimately the world in their generation. In 2001, there were about 60 disciples in Hilo, 75 in Maui and around 1,000 in Oahu – every disciple believed this dream was possible, and so did I. 

Sadly, in November 2002 after the ICOC leadership’s decision to return to a more mainline Church of Christ theology, as well as the advent of the “Kriete letter” in early 2003, so many beloved aspects of “my church” began to change. Gone was a fellowship where every member was a practicing disciple of Jesus. Gone was the deep love for one another through discipling relationships. And gone was the dream to evangelize the Islands and the world.

By 2006, membership was declining at an alarming rate! Oahu dropped from 1,000 disciples to 200; Hilo went from almost 60 disciples to 38; and Maui was reduced from 75 disciples to 25. Oahu went from six full-time couples to two, and both Hilo and Maui went from a full-time couple leading each congregation to untrained volunteers, as vision and then contribution plummeted. Baptisms became extremely rare, restorations were almost non-existent and there had not been a single church planted from the Islands for over six long years. It was obvious to me that something needed to change!

Kyle and Joan on their wedding day!

Kyle and his brothers Levi and Evan!

In late 2006, I was asked by the “leadership group” of the Hilo ICOC to be the minister. They were indeed desperate as the Hilo Church had not had a baptism for over a year! Since I was untrained, I was convinced we needed additional help. Therefore, in considering which church to ask for help, I decided to attend the Portland World Missions Jubilee. I was so in awe of God so obviously working through the Portland Church, as the fastest growing church in the ICOC at that time, that I asked Kip and Elena to disciple Joan and me. Thankfully, they agreed.

One month later, the McKeans came to help us rebuild the Hilo Church’s foundation to be composed of only disciples (1 Corinthians 3:10-11). After an eventful weekend of Kip and Elena’s preaching, God left us with a “Gideon-like” twelve disciples, whose dream was to once again evangelize the world in our generation! The other 26 members, many of whom were lukewarm, started a new congregation with the help of evangelists from both the LA ICOC and the Oahu Church of Christ. Not having a baptism for over a year in Hilo, yet starting with twelve sold-out disciples, God blessed us with 20 baptisms that next year! Sadly, yet to the point, the congregation that was started in opposition to Kip’s and my vision of world evangelism through God’s plan of discipling, still has not seen a baptism to this day.

Kyle and Joan on their wedding day!

Kyle making two points for UH-Hilo!

Visiting that fateful weekend, during the calling out of the remnant, were Chris Teves and Joe and Mary Santos from Honolulu. Likewise, discouraged by witnessing only five baptisms a year on Oahu, they made the decision that weekend to start a new congregation of only sold-out disciples in Honolulu. Heart-breaking for me, after just one week, Chris Teves under overwhelming pressure from close relationships, decided to give the Oahu Church of Christ another try. Therefore, starting with only Joe and Mary, God has grown the group in Honolulu to 16 disciples!

Most impressive is that four former full-time ministers are now solid members of the remnant group: Joe and Mary Santos, Jody Tyrell (restored in January) and Chris Teves (who recently decided to rejoin us after a failed attempt to reform the existing Oahu Church of Christ).  Dr. Malia (Millard) Emmerich, who was on the original Oahu COC planting back in 1989 is a part of the Honolulu Intl. Christian Church as well.  Truly God is faithful to His promise to gather His remnant, when we repent and begin to seek Him with all our heart (Nehemiah 1:8-9).
After a long talk with Joe and Kip in the summer of 2007, Joan and I decided to move to Los Angeles to receive the training needed to lead the Honolulu Church, which will become the pillar church for the evangelization of the Islands and the Pacific Rim. We borrowed $20,000 from a home equity loan to train full-time. We have been fortunate over the last several months to lead both the Cal State Fullerton Campus Ministry and then recently, the Orange County Region. We will be forever grateful for Kip and Elena, the Comisfords, the Hardings, the Kirchners, the Underhills, the Hernandezs, Vic and Aurora Gonzalez, and many other brothers and sisters who have helped us learn how to be more effective disciples and church builders.

Kyle and Joan on their wedding day!

Jody and U’i Tyrell with their three daughters,
Makana, Sera and Gabby!

On Sunday June 1, the Honolulu Mission Team will be sent off by the Holy Spirit from the City of Angels Church to join the remnant group in Honolulu! The Honolulu Mission Team includes four incredible young men in Albert Wagers, Lorenzo Prueitt, Josh Aguirre, David Rysdet and three awesome young women in Joy Axelson of Maui, Naveh Pilate of Honolulu, and “CL” Salamanca, and of course, Joan and me. The Inaugural Service of the Honolulu International Christian Church will be held the following Sunday June 8, 2008 at 10 am at Maunakea Chapel, 1330 Maunakea Street! It is at the corner of Maunakea and Vineyard across from Zippy’s.  We would like to invite all of you who still believe in the dream to evangelize the Islands of Hawaii to join us!

This is not a matter of salvation if you are a faithful disciple, but joining us will allow us all “to win as many as possible” (1 Corinthians 9:19) through multiplying disciples as a movement of God. Our prayer is that through our efforts God will be glorified by His righteousness, hope and salvation returning to the lost Islands of Hawaii! If you are interested in joining in our efforts please give me a call @ 808-217-3904 or Joan @ 808-271-5577. Aloha!

Kyle and Joan on their wedding day!
Kyle Bartholomew
www.honoluluicc.org
kyle@honoluluicc.org

Rick Emmerich’s note.  One can certainly contact me as well for info, and questions about the church.  808 371-6501.  Obviously we’d like to invite you to the service this Sunday the 1st too.

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First Meeting of the San Diego ICC! City of Angels Intl. Christ. Church PT 1

Here we are in a small, but beautiful office space for the Innaugural meeting of the San Diego International Christian Church.  It is cramped, hot and we wouldn’t have it any other way.  The room is full with the spillover into the hallway.  We have outgrown the space in the first week!

 I am so blessed to be here to hear God’s Word preached.  Waiting in  the wings is Kyle Bartholomew, who will soon be heading up to share the first message.  This is the San Diego house church and some of the remnant from San Diego are participating.  Visitors from Tijuana, Hawaii, (me), Calgary, Canada, and of course, LA have raised the enthusiasm to one that can be felt by all.

Kyle is the soon to be lead evangelist in Hawaii.  He started with Rev. 1:9  John speaking…sending the scroll to the seven churches.  Kyle relates the actual history of John from the Isle of Patmos.  After the evil emperor Domitian tried to kill John, he finally gave up and John wrote Revelations.  Continuing from verse 12.  His face like the sun…..

Continuing from verse 17….

There are about 50 of us, psyched for the message that our fired up brother is sharing.  For an ‘unschooled ordinary man’ Kyle has perfected his ‘relatablity’ with the averae person.

Pt. 1  Suffering Paves the Way:  Rev 2:1  and following              You have forsaken your first love (something no one wants to hear about ‘their’ church,   from the mouth of Jesus).  At first commended for their work and faith, they were now enduring hardships.  The story that Kyle related was amusing, and convicting.  Suffering and hardships await us on our walk with Christ.

1 Peter 4:12  Dear friends, do not be surprised,     rejoice…….   rest on you.  We are following a crucified messiah.  Many of us lose faith when the recession hits and it takes a shot at our pocketbook.  Kyle had gotten bitter at God, and Joan told hm to pray,      and then pray again.  Life is not an easy stroll down the garden path as a disciple.

Do we understnd God’s plan of suffering?  We are wiser when we come out of sin.

Deut. 8:2                               Israelites (God’s People)   Remember….

Kyle knows now that he has not trusted God totally financially recently.  God tests us to find out what is in our heart.  When He sees it we see it too.  Do we obey his commandments?  Suffering paves the way.

Rev 2:4       (false prophets)  the church chased them off, which they were commended for.     Jesus looked at that church with blazing eyes……”Yet if hold this against you….first”

They feel in love with something (else) that replaced God.  What is it?  Pornography, Pleasure, Careers.  Whatever, it takes us away from our God.  Kyle sinned and fell out of his first love. 

“Remember the heighth from which you have fallen.”  Kyle had one sin, but did not repent and cure his heart.  He then got into internet gambling.  When asked to do a study in the midst of all that, he was totally convicted.  He and his brother had to face the fact that they needed to give their lives back to God.  Funny how the Discipleship Study can convict the one leading it.  (And the one taking notes.)(And the one blogging.)

How are our spiritual decisions working for us?

“Repent and do the things you used to do.”  Kyle reminds us of a person with a severe injury relearning his motor skills, as he redid the things he had done at first from QTs to sharing faith to tithing.

“I thought you were committed to Jesus.”  That hurt.

No more excuses, back to where he had started,  What about us?

We can make the same decision.

Acts 3:19.  Repentence (is a good thing)  Our sins are wiped out and times of refreshing come.  God says he erases them!  He forgives, forgets and we are free.  Repentence renews us day by day.

Pt 3 __________________”If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand…..A church in a state of unrepentance will have its lampstand removed.  Verse 7…..

“Lukewarm”  Kyle’s 28 of 40 followers left from the Hilo Church. It is on the person…..

A man can overcome or he IS overcome.

2 Peter 2:20  “If they have escaped……..than to have known it and..dog returns to its vomit……..

Make a decision and turn and run from sin, or we’ll get entangled in it again.

Genesis  Adam and Eve:  Two trees.  Their days were numbered when they ate from the wrong tree.

We will die.  That day we will be judged, and it will lead to our final destination.

Rdev 22:1  “The angel showed me……down the middle………healing of the nations.  No longer will there be…and they will reign for ever and ever.”  What an image.  Now we can approach God.  Once that privalege was taken from us.  WE can again, but we have to overcome.

If we have to have trials and give up what we do on Earth, and      Many have not chosen the path of righteosness, but have taken the wider road to hell.  Many will trade their 80 years of live for an eternity with God.

Earth is like the shower cold water, short time, as the hot water comes through like the joy of Heaven.  Choose God or Satan, Heaven or Hell.  See you next week, San Diego.

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Thank God I had a heart attack Pt. 3/What has changed.

Now, what has changed, and why am I grateful?

I was grateful that I came out of the procedure without too much damage, heck I was breathing.
I’m grateful that so many of my bros and sisters in Christ saw fit to visit me. My mom, and two of my sisters made the drive up from Chicago (to Milwaukee).

I took another look at my life, and eliminated most if not all of the stress. Eventually people stepped up big time to help reassemble my poor condo.

Less than one year after the visit to the hospital I married the most wonderful perfect woman for me. And she is a Holistic Chiropractor. I live in Hawaii. God has been very very good to me.

The changes I made right after I got back home from the hospital included adding fruits and vegetables and cutting out the red meat for the most part.

Then Dr. Malia and I met in person. The moment I saw her at LAX, I said “She’s the one for me!” She said to herself “He’s OK.”

She gave much more advice about nutrition and gave me adjustments. She also introduced me to NET,(Neural Emotional Technique.) I felt more love and encouragement the more we got to know each other. We are a great match.

I work at home (do you call this work?) so most of the frustrations from a job are gone.

The beauty, the skies, the beaches the air so wonderful, the trade winds, the temperature here in Hawaii obviously blows away the gray, too cold or too hot, rush hour traffic life in Milwaukee. I know there are good things there too, of course.

I want to share my life, my knowledge of health, my wife’s knowledge and advice. I want to help those I can. I know the Bible a little and find that that is a major help in my life. I am willing to share that too. (I don’t think God let me live to just kick back and watch ESPN.)

Sharing YOUR story will be refreshing and will help others. You definitely CAN become a part of a published book, Thank God I had a heart attack. (If that is your passion.)

We will get some audios, some videos and some pictures of other survivors. The top pic is me and my lovely bride, Dr. Malia walking down the aisle. I guess you will see others.

I have lost 20 pounds with the help of some herbal tea, and I can share that with all of you. The Holy Tea can be found on my blog.

I use a health formula, a liquid nutritional, called Zrii and that has really impacted my health.
Go to http://www.rickemmerich.myzrii.com for details.

I’m starting Yoga and can’t wait to get back into a workout routine. It’s been a while.

We have some new technology that will really impact people and their sleep and energy.  Go to http://www.squidoo.com/wishforlove

Please write your heart attack survivor story and share pics at http://www.squidoo.com/ThankGodIhadaheartattack.

Malia and I believe that God kept me around for a reason, and my relationship with Him is so important.  If that is a need or desire of yours as well, we’d love to share more how He has impacted our lives.

Those more interested in Chiropractic and Dr. Malia (not TOO interested guys) can go to  http://honoluluchiropracor.net to find out more

I love you all, my wife Dr.Malia and I are very grateful for our lives… hope you all are as well.

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Big Island (Hawaii) Pt.1/Hypnotized by lesbians

My wife and I were planning our trip to the Big Island and we went over the options.  We could just be lazy, and really enjoy the many pools, and places to discover on the grounds of our resort.

We could go over and take a look at an active volcano,    ah  no thanks, I’ll pass.

We could go on a snorkel cruise and even maybe see some whales at the very tail end of the season.

I could take enough work to keep me busy the whole time and just ‘put in my time with my wife.’

How about a flight in a little airplane over the active volcano……I don’t really think so.

I heard about a place called Dragonfly Ranch.  Now that’s a name.  The head dragonfly lady is not going be there, but her assistant will be.  His name is Phoenix.  Of course it is!  I wonder if he is the dragongfly herder,   or trainer.

What about the lesbians?  (I am NOT a really big fan of lesbians, but then again, I don’t give them much thought.)  I guess they own a little place that makes some pretty awesome natural smoothies.  I hear that they tag-team hypnotize you, and convince you that their awesome drink can actually cure everything from migraines to male-pattern baldness.  I don’t have either, but they don’t really scare me, now that I think about the whole idea.

I want to see my buddy, but it’s a long way from our resort…..Really I intend  to relax and unwind, and study my Bible with my wife, a little spiritual retreat.  And I am going to do exactly that,        after that smoothie.

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God has REALLY blessed me! Part One

There’s no getting around it.  Not that I would want to get around it, but God came into my life at a time when my life, as it was, was kinda iffy.  As Leon Russell once said “one side’s ice and one is fire” in Tightrope.  That song-how cool was THAT song when it came out?  Glad I was alive for that, cuz the newer version is kinda watered down. 

But anyway, I was about to fall off the tightrope of life.

God MAY have caught me,     or not.  I was living my life in self-destruct mode.  Drinking, staying up all night, then going to work in the factory.  And more.  Go ahead and read between the lines.

This was not the first OR last time I was in danger, but it was a turning point.  I was headed down the slippery slope.  Psalms 107: 10 says “Some sat in darknness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains”  Those chains of bondage involved drinking and other pursuits, and a pretty low self-esteem.

That was my time up to about 16 years ago.  I looked good, most of the time, but I really had some bad moments.  I always thought after the fact that if someone had had a video cam and followed me around that college town I lived in, we might have hastened the process of making wholesale changes.

I will never forget walking down the middle of a street in Whitewater, WI and actually crying out to God.  I was at the end of my rope, and He heard me.  It was soon after that I got some help from a minister in town, and I chased down an old friend that opened up the Good Book to/with me.

Within a week, I had gotten a job an hour away, that put me smack dab (that’s right, I’m bringing “smack dab” back too)  smack dab in a work environment where I was surrounded by Disciples of Christ.  They loved up on me, and I was invited to their church.  Even better,  I went.

It’s been a “Long Strange Trip” to make another 60s/70s/80s/90s reference, and I am so blessed each and every day.  It’s a new day.  I’m getting tired of crediting the rockers for their phrases/song titles, so I will let that one slide.

Anyhoo, I studied the Bible, heard the word, believed it, repented, became a Disciple, proclaimed Jesus as Lord and got baptized.  There was much rejoicing in heaven.

I didn’t write this to preach.  I have someone that really brings it, and I think he’ll do a blog-in Jesus for me.  That WILL be preaching. 

God gave me hope, and has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams since then.  (That’s at least a couple more blogs.) 

I wanted to get it out on the table, though.  I enjoy being a little on the edge as a writer, but my life is not the Hunter S. Thompson version.  Although as I stated, I was going in that direction at one time.

And, as we all know, if you don’t like what I am writing at one time or other, don’t read it.  Move on down the buffet to the next item….or not.  Skip the poi though, it’s over-rated.

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I do what I love and I love what I do

I do what I love and I love what I do.              by Dr. John Demartini

I wanted to share some of my favorite sayings, or affirmations,  so…

If I had a choice of being rewarded on 100% of my efforts or 1% of what 100 others do-I will take the 1%, that’s the power of network marketing.     someone, para-phrased

I am worthy, for I am part of the divine perfection.   Dr John Demartini

Whatever I think about and thank about, I bring about.   John again.

We all die.  The goal is not to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.  unknown

If God be with us, who can be against us?    Bible, paraphrase

Garbage in, Garbage out.     someone

Take out the trash.     Nick Nolte’s character, The Way Of The Peaceful Warrior

Take out the garbage!  Dr. Malia Emmerich

There is suffering in life, and there are defeats.  No one can avoid them.  But it’s better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you’re fighting for.      Paulo Coelho

I want, I allow, therefore IT IS.      The Law of Attraction

If you are not the lead dog, the view is always the same.       someone

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has genius power and magic in it.                    some famous dude

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for man.   God’s Word, from the Apostle Paul

No matter what I’ve done or not done, I’m worthy of love.    Dr. John Demartini

Speak what you want, NOT what you don’t want.  Bill Britt

Time flies like the wind, fruit flies like bananas.     some silly boy    Good Nite,   rick

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Sooooo Grateful/Thankful

I am so grateful and thankful for:

You, whomever you are reading my blog.  (You can say you read here even before I became famous)

Mom, who is such an angel, and has almost always had tons of faith and so many encouraging things to say

God, who has had the ultimate patience with me, and drew me to him slowly

Kevin Pascal, who shared the Gospel with me

My computer, wow, I am learning and learning

Our little church

My first kitty Bubba, that grew very big and died about 4 years ago,

My second cat Cleeko, still lovin’ up on my wife and I

My network marketing company, Zrii, the Original Amalaki

Craig Joseph, my mentor

Tracy Biller, Ultimate Success CDs, and his teaching and coaching

Blog i360 and their tireless support

Linda Miller and her patience and persistence

Amway, I think you started something there

My heart attack, for waking me up, and leading me to my wife

The many travels I have been blessed to take

Hawaii, Beach, Tradewinds

Those that told me I would not amount to much, or thought it

The room-mate that I had that went crazy and threatened me

Oprah

The music of my youth, and more recently

Tony Vraniak and his generosity of time and money

The Boys who made it all happen in MKE when I got outta town to move to Hawaii:  Ron Norwood, Paul Stearns, James Hamann, Tim Halmar, Tim Brudnicki, Raj, Harvey, Damon Brog, Vel, Lori, of course Nancy Benetton and Shorwest Realty. 

The Oahu COC for the way they welcomed me and threw a mean Groom Honoring (I still have the video)

The Wongs for the marriage counselling

The rotten jobs I have had since I moved here (I work at home now)

Hopelessness, victim mentality, stress, bad diet…….stay away

The mailman

HBN II Network, y’all know who you are

Room mate that thought he was Jesus and thought he would be elected president in ‘04 

Walter, Chenisse, and Jeremy, and back in the day, Jim Trinastic, my puter people!

Sports live and on TV

Dr. John Demartini, Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar, Dr. David Simon, Dr. Tom Yarema, Dr. Frank Cummins, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Pepper (I miss ya)

Peter Millard and your support.  The partial bottle of Zrii, the original amalaki, that you gave us was a very nice touch

Bill Farley and his management team

Dr. Malia Emmerich 

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