Melva Gifford

At church today I heard some great object lessons related to sin. I wanted to share them in today’s blog. My compliments to Mikie. The part of the Old Testament we’re studying in Sunday School today is King David’s falling for temptation and trying to kill the husband of the woman he slept with. I hope today’s lesson can be of use to youth ministries, family devotionals and family home evenings.

One of the big sins discussed in church is pornography and how it can be so addicting. There are a lot of consequences from the addiction but one of the most important things discussed is how it influenced the relationships between  couples.

Object lessons: a rubber band and scissors:

Wrap the fingers with one loop of a long rubber band. Sin can be compared to sin. One strand of since may not restrain one much. You can still flex and move the fingers. But put a second and third wrap of rubber band around the fingers then they become more confined. Wraps more and more can bind the hand to inaction just as an addiction can often influence our behavior and decisions when fully implemented.

Scissors can be compared to reading the scriptures or prayer. One snip and it can star to cut away sin (with proper implementation and dedication) then another snip and another and eventually it can help free us from sin with God’s help.

Discuss the possible consequences of various addictions on one life, family and spiritual relationships. There may also by physical and financial consequences. Maybe also discuss how commands may be ‘considered’ restrictive but without the confinement of addiction and the trappings of crime etc, living God’s commandment may help us be freer.

If you have something to add to this topic, please present it in the comment section of this blog. Thanks

Macquarie is the company looking to create a Public Private Partnership with UTOPIA–that would would require a utility fee of $18 to $20 every month added to our current utility bill, whether we use it or not.
Among many concerns with this deal are the following:
• The utility fee to be assessed to all businesses and residences in the City that have fiber available in the street – whether they desire to be hooked up to the service or not and whether they have existing internet service or not that is less expensive and a better connection.
• This fee does not cover any portion of the debt, nor can Macquarie tell the Cities how much of the revenue from the partnership will eventually cover existing debt.
• The fee is not usage based as water and electricity are, rendering it inequitable – homes pay one price, multi-unit dwellings pay a different price as do businesses, yet they all receive the same “free” connection speeds of 3 mbps per month.
• The Cities (read citizens via increasing taxes) will be both required to make up for any uncollected fees by either paying for the shortfall ( or residences or businesses that sit empty for example) and for non-payment of fees. A penalty mechanism will be required such as turning off the water to the business/residence until the “debt” is satisfied.
• This fee pays off the availability payment – the availability payment pays off the capital costs – the capital costs are defined as debt and equity raised by Macquarie to fund the construction of the project. WHO is paying for this deal? WE ARE! This makes us liable for more debt as the fee is a contract requirement for the life of the contract – 30 years. Any shortfalls must be made up by the City by payment from City funds or legal enforcement via shutting off water until payment is made.
Macquarie has a history of failed Public Private Partnerships, as well as PPP’s which have increased costs to consumers such as higher than promised toll rates on a toll road in CA.
UTOPIA fiber is currently laid in front of 10,000 addresses in Orem. Of those, only 3,000 are currently hooked up. Within the entire UTOPIA network, 28,000 addresses have availability but are not hooked up. With a better business model, the opening up of the network and some incentives to the internet service providers (ISPs) connections could be made to the existing UTOPIA network. If 1/3 of those were to hook up, we could double the revenue to UTOPIA, which money could be used to pay off network Cities debt!
The existing problem is not an infrastructure problem, rather one of a poor business model and a lack of marketing strategy and implementation. This is something that can and should be fixed without penalizing citizens via a 30 year contracted utility fee.
Mayor Brunst is against this deal and has been working to find solutions. He has pushed for the City to be allowed to explore other options (Macquarie required a non-disclosure agreement so they could not pursue other options – the Mayor changed this!
There are other options being explored that will not require a mandatory utility fee – and will allow citizens the right to continue to be participants in the marketplace for an optional service. Please express your concerns. PLEASE EMAIL ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH YOUR CONCERNS AND TELL THEM NO!

Bad: mannors

Good: manners

Men and women showing their best behavior both want to display good manners. He and she for male and female and I might remember that mannErs has an E.

Have a better suggestion? Please feel free to submit it in the comment section of this blog.

Last fall I attend a financial seminar. Here are some of my notes. I hope they can be of use.

–          Start where you’re comfortable.

–          Maybe invest in the type of buildings that interest you, such as may be the type a charity that you like or cause.

–          Mai: is a commercial appraisal to determine the worth of property. Use a range between 60 to 100 pages at cost about $2000.

–          Commercial is usually held in the long-term and people usually sell it when they want to retire.

–          The money you pay for property comes from the income of the property.

–          Balloon: at the end of the time you have to pay, you need to pay a lump sum.

–          Consignment: you have the second party to sell something, and pay owner a set price and the rest of income to the second owner (I have no idea what this is saying)

–          Addendum: let you change previous agreements.

–          To learn about how real estate is faring in the state you would look up such things as the California trust deed investment.

–          fhfa.gov: is a quarterly report that gives a state of the real estate market for different areas around the country. This is where you can find information about housing index.

Do you have advice to add to the list, please share in the comment section of this blog?

I have been interested in body language for many years. I know it can be a very useful tool for self-expression and analyzing someone’s attitude or behavior. I’ve learned a few things in recent years and thought I’d share how body language can contribute or cut away from the success of a lesson. I hope the following lesson can be of help to youth ministries, family devotionals and family home evenings.

As we prepare our lesson we need to also keep in mind how we express our ideas through our body language. I would like to give some specific examples:

–          If we want to teach about love, bring your arms/hands toward yourself as you speak about it.

–          To share the principle of being open and honest, you might extend your arms out to illustate yourself as open and receptive to another’s opinion. We would want to avoid folding our arms as that depicts we be closed against an outside opinion.

–          One of my personal challenges is remembering to smile when I do a speech or I’m doing storytelling. A smile depicts that you are happy to be there with your audience/class/family/Mistry It also depicts that your are excited and convicted to the message you are sharing. Your body language tells how much you believe what you are saying.

–          Another example is that if you say you care for someone but at the same time you use your arms/hands in a pushing away motion, then your body contradicts with your words.

–          Finally, consider tone of voice, and maintaining eye contact with your audience. Some presenters will actually maintain eye contact with specific people to rivet them to the message.

These are just a few body language related issues to keep in mind when teaching lessons/classes to others

If you have some to add to the list, please feel free to add them in the comment section of this blog. Thanks.

I’ve been getting a lot of flyers for the upcoming local elections. Here is a list and some web sites:

Primary election June 24, early voting ends on the 20th.

Bill Lee, County Commissioner; www.votebilllee.com

Ben Stanlyey, Utah county attorney; www.voteben.com
Jeff Bushman, Utah County Attorney; www.countyattorneyBuhman.com

Cary McConnell, County Treasurer; www.cryMcConnell.com
Kim Jackon, Utah County Treasurer,; www.treasurerJackson.com

Dana Layon; state house; www.danalayton.com
Brad Daw, Utah state legislature; www.bradddaw.com

I also got a flyer on stopping Utopia: www.uNOpia.org

If I’ve missed name and websites, please fee free to add them in the comment section of this blog. Do you like one over another? Why? Thanks.

Bad: Lettice or Lettace

Good: lettuce

I misspell this word in multiple ways. I guess I like the variety just like I like a variety of lettuce in my salad. One way I ‘may’ remember this word is that lettuce in a salad is usually put in a bowl and there is a U in lettUce the looks like a bowl.

Last fall I attend a financial seminar. Here are some of my notes. I hope they can be of use.

–          Lease: right of enjoyment of some object.

–          Option: is a contract to purchase a piece of real estate with specific terms within a certain period of time. The owner has the right to exercise the option, but does not have to.

–          Lease option: is controlling a piece of real estate and also means rent to own. If you set up an ad for rent to own opportunity and 10 people respond that have all those 10 people meet together at the same time, and it can create a feeding frenzy and you can find out of the group who has the resources to buy the property. You also keep track of the nine others who were interested because this is the buyers list for other possibilities.

–          Is a type of option agreement. Is agreement to purchase property in the future. In the meantime, you’re renting, leasing the property. A certain portion of the payment goes as a credit toward the payment.

–          Option does a good deal because tenants take care of the property. You can build expenses of the purchase into the lease agreement. 50% of the people do not exercise the option so the money paid down is yours.. You will offer the person who wants to lease a fair market value of the rent plus $1-$200 extra a month. Tenant check.com is a website where you can check people’s credit scores

–          Check out your credit score.

–          Government is planning to take people’s retirement and group it into one account so they can take advantage of all the money. They will then promise 3% income. If you don’t agree, which is your choice and you won’t have access to. So security or Medicare.

–          Google generate retirement accounts. To learn more about this.

–          Book: the creature from Jack Kyle Island, talks about retirement or investment information.

Have advice to add to the list? Please feel free to do so in the comment section of this blog.