The China take over: Why we have to buy Chinese

I have been looking and searching for quite a few years now and have discovered that 95% of our everyday products come from other countries, and mostly from China.  Why is it that way?  Is it because they have better products?  Or maybe they have the corner on the technology?  Or maybe it is because the are CHEAPER.

I recently bought a pair of shoes.  They were not the lowest price but not the high end either.  I also bought some inserts.  After getting home, I thought to look at them more closely, Both products made in China.  I really did not have any choice.  The inserts were the only ones there.  The shoes were the only ones in my price range.  I have a Driod 2 cell phone that is also made in China.  If I looked, I could find a cell phone that is made here in the US, but all too often these days, if you want a good product that is cutting edge technology, you HAVE to buy outside of the US.  Even my car is foreign. 

I buy local and US produces when I can but it is like eating healthy, it costs more.  That is why we have to buy Chinese.  I must say that I have not looked at the number, largely because I cannot find them.  Even without them, I have been shopping.  And most of what I see in the stores now are made outside the US.  Even the high tech stuff.  I even see a lot of it in my job in the medical field.  We buy gloves used to protect us from body fluids of infectious patients and to prevent them from getting contamination.  The same place we get kids toys that has lead and other toxins in them!  One that really gets me is that the good ol' Boy Scouts of America buys their uniforms from China!  I am going to have to keep searching for those numbers because from where I stand it does not look good for us.  We are dependant upon other countries to sustain our way of life.  I am all for capitalism except when it takes away the jobs and livelihoods of our own people.  Bring our industries back to us.

Until then, I will need to rely on the Chinese products.  But I will look for more and more ways to buy local and American.

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Why I have to buy from China.

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The Masterpiece by Joe Edge

The brush is dipped into a puddle of deep green.  It is lifted to the canvas.
Thus becomes the start of something that transcends our ability to describe.
The brush is touched to the textured surface of the blank material.
It glides across the openness.  Another stroke back.  Again.  Again.
A few light upward flips of the brush.  Time for a new one.  Another color.
This time a mix of two colors and then to the canvas.  Long careful arcs.
The canvas is slowly and purposely touched and tapped.  It is scrapped.
It is looked at.  It is changing.  As the Painter paints, the canvas marvels at itself.
the paint feels wet and cool.  Sticky.  Yet wonderful.  There is a comfort in it.

The painter chooses each color, each brush in turn.  covering the bareness of the fabric.
Green and blue.  Red and purple.  Brown. Black.  Yellow.  He has a plan.
He has a purpose.  Even as he paints, the canvas is unaware.
The canvas cannot know what the Painter has in mind.
But as the whiteness fads away in a sea of colors, it is filled with joy.
It has a purpose.  It has a plan.  Even with the imperfections in it surface, the Painter still paints.
For His purpose is greater that the canvas itself. 

The last bit of white is gone.  The last drop of paint has been put on.
The Painter puts down His brushes.  He puts down His paints.
The once plain white rectangle is something different now.  The canvas feels the change.
As the Painter wanted it to happen, the extraordinary has happened.
He has taken the special beauty out of the canvas and made it for all to see.
On the canvas now is what is true.  It is what is beautiful.  It is you.

by Joe Edge

NOTE:  This is a poem dedicated to Karen Hodges.  You are truly God's Masterpiece.  Trust in that!  God bless you.

Word for 2011

I have been wondering what God has in store for me in the upcoming year... 

And the Aswer I have received is Mathew 28:18-20
¹⁸ Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,^[b] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”    New Living Translation

I got to thinking about this and it has occured to me that I have been given this Word before.  So what is specific about this Word for THIS year?  The image that comes to mind is this:

Over the years I have been through some stormy weather.  My hull has taken a beating and even lost some of the integrity.  God has taken me into the ship yards for a retrofit back in 2008.  Now I am ready for my maiden voyage as a newly refurbashed man serving God in a way that reflects His Kingdom and not a church or program.  2011 is the year God will begin to get me out to sea and let open the sails.  More than any other year in my life, I feel that I am more myself.  More of the man He made me to be. 

May He speak to you this year and grow you and guide you.  Mean while, anchors up and full speed ahead full rudder!

Unemployment and welfare.....

 There has been a heated debate over the issue of unemployment benifits and universal health care and welfare and tax breaks.  I cannot think of any better way of saying it but like John Wayne as G.W. McClintock in McClintock

 

Devlin Warren: Step down off that carriage, mister!

George Washington McLintock: [Swings and McLintock and gets thrown to the ground] Hold that hog leg! I've been punched many a time in my life but never for hirin' anyone.

Devlin Warren: I ...don't know what to say. Never begged before. Turned my stomach. I suppose I should have been grateful that you gave me the job.

George Washington McLintock: Gave? Boy, you've got it all wrong. I don't give jobs I hire men.

Drago: You intend to give this man a full day's work, don'tcha boy?

Devlin Warren: You mean you're still hirin' me? Well, yes, sir, I certainly deliver a fair day's work.

George Washington McLintock: And for that I'll pay you a fair day's wage. You won't give me anything and I won't give you anything. We both hold up our heads. Is that your plug?

Devlin Warren: Yes sir.

George Washington McLintock: Well, hop on him and we'll go get your gear.

I had a dream......

The room was full of all the most intelligent people in our country.  There was Sarah Paline, Rush, and Glenn.  McCain was talking to Huckabee.  Hillery and Michelle were sitting on a couch chatting and laughing.  They were all there.  Letterman.  Brokaw.  Oprah.  Barrak.  Bush.  Even Al Gore.  Looking around the room, you would wonder how all of these folks who normally disagree are all together in the same room.

A waiter made his way through the room with a tray full of various finger food items.  Then there was a bright flash.  The room was full of light!  It was so bright that all darkness was pushed out of the room.  Everyone's attention were instantly drawn to the source of the light.  It seemed to come from the Back corner near the hall.  Yet the light seemed to come from everywhere, and nowhere.  But everyone ended up looking into the corner of the now brilliant room.  There was something there.  Or someone, anyway.  

This dazzling figure looked around to all of the faces.  He looked into every pair of eyes.  Looking past the their own self images into their inner most selves.  Then he spoke....

"Folks, I come with a message from the Lord.  He has said that He knows your sin.  He knows your self righteousnesses."  He raised his head toward Heaven and prayed.  "My Lord in Heaven, I have come here to give your message.  Thank you for your faithfulness."

Then looking back at the crowd of leaders, He said, "I have put you where you are to give you a voice and responsibility to care.  Turn from your evil ways and do what is right.  The fate of the people of this country are in your hands.  Choose wisely.  Make just decisions.  Lead with my Truth.  I have placed you where you are and I can take it all away.  Do not continue in your selfishness!  For it will lead to your destruction.  Study Me.  Love Me more than yourself.  Serve others.  Give to those that are in need but do not burden the people.  Hear my words you fool hearty people.  Follow my ways and I will be with you till the end of your days."  

The room went dark.  The darkness and silence filled the room.  Soon murmers rose.  Wispers flowed through the crowd.  And soon the room was all abuzz and had returned to the old lighting and you could see the faces of perplexed people.

No one in the room would ever be able to explain what happened there that day.  Some tried to blame it on a odd joint hallucination.  Like a multi-person acid trip.  But the one thing none of them could deny, it happened.  And all of them were there.  Some of theleaders from that day heeded the message.  Some did not.  With in a year from that day, half the people in that room had been either voted out of office, fired or arrested for the wrong doings.  Their sins found out.  The others that kept their faith in the message, did right by the people of the country.  God would rise up others that would take the place of the fallen and lead our country to one the knew and feared Him.

Just as I was enjoying this new world, I woke up. I realized that it was all a dream.  But as I prayed, I began to become aware of God's message from that dream, His Kingdom comes through His people, not through Government.  If we want this country to change we need to do it from one person at a time.  Just as He has done in your life.  

Love Him with all your heart, mind, and spirit.

Joe