Melva Gifford

I hope the following object lesson can be of help to youth ministries, family devotionals, family counselors and family home evenings. Today’s topic is on tipping the balance. Many of us don’t realize how one decision or event in our lives can influence the rest of our lives or how we as an individual can contribute to the success of an organization or community. I’ve always been a fan of the movie. It’s a wonderful life. I like the story of how one man was such a big influence on the entire town. I also enjoy the chapter in the book the seven miracles that saved America that talked about president Ronald Reagan contributions to the world and to the nation. I’ve always been a fan of him as well i.e.: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”. But now for the object lesson

Items for the object lesson: a thick book, a ruler, a roll of quarters, and a dime.

Get a big book and place it open faced with the pages are facing down on the table so that looks like a teepee with the binding of the book, ask as a mountain top. Now place a roll of quarters across the face of a ruler. Balance the ruler and quarters on top of the binding of the book, so that is balanced. Balance it in such a way that if you would add a dime to either side, it would weigh heavier and thus the ruler and the quarters slide off the tip of the book.

With the ruler in place give a lesson about how one’s person’s life can make influence upon others, and then illustrate how placing one dime on the ruler can influence the entire setup of the ruler of the quarters. You can give specific examples of famous people you respect to have made a big contribution to the world. Some specific examples might be Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., and for me, President Ronald Reagan. Choose people who you admire. Give specific examples of how they had contributed to the world, business, sports or in other people’s lives.

Just as one person can add weight to a circumstance that can influence other’s lives, so individual decisions can add weight and direction to where we want to go. The object lesson could take a different direction. The ruler and quarters can indicate how a certain decision in our lives can influence the direction of our life. Do we pursue idea A and we go down that path or decision B where we go down an entirely different path. For examples someone may justify a bad decision with the phrase, ‘I’m only hurting myself’ or “What I doesn’t affect anyone else.”

This could also be symbolized by how actions can be a negative influence on others. People that drink, for example, may say “This is my life. I don’t bother anybody.’ But if the person who is drinking could get in a car accident and accidentally kill someone. If someone takes drugs or is dishonest such actions don’t only affect them. Maybe give some personal examples of how one discoing in your early life then led you to another decision and another until a certain goal was achieved.

If you have other ideas of what to say for this topic, please feel free to share it. Thank you

Here are my notes of the speech from Grover Norquist when he spoke at the rally of the Republican Utah conference. I tried to be as accurate as I could and hope I haven’t misrepresented the speaker in any way.

–          Reagan Republicans wish the government to leave them alone.

–          Those who support the Second Amendment want to be left alone.

–          Our job is to say no to taxes and mean it.

–          The left is made up of competing parasites. They are united against us because they share money gained through government, such as the stimulus package. Take away their money source and they are no longer united.

–          Our job is to be a good example.

–          When we expand liberty the ‘takers’ can’t takeover.

In addition here are a couple of comments by Beau Davidson:

–          Don’t let others define us.

–          We must define ourselves.

–          We are only as good as our wisdom and integrity. We pass on

Bad:    Properities

Good: properties

When you wish to impress a bunch of potential investors to help you buy properties, you want to give them a PROPER impression when you give your presentation. You might appear wearing a suit and TIE or a dress. Proper attire aids you in invest in PROPER + TIES. Investments are often a joint venture so there is never an I in proper-ties.

Can you think of a better way to remember this word? Please feel free to share it in the comment section of this blog. Thanks

During a finance seminar last July I took notes on the topic of how to get money to finance a business opportunity. Some I agree with some I do not. I don’t like the idea of going into further debt with credit cards. But take a look at the list and see if any of it is of use.

–          1.checking account

–          2. Savings account, i.e. 5K

–          3. Heloc: home equity line of credit.

–          4. 401(k).

–          5. IRA for self

–          401(k)s normally offer 3 to 5 years average return

–          What rate of return would you like to receive, to real estate?

–          One way to transfer 401(k) is to APS Utah.com (American pension services) can act as a custodian of your finances.

–          We take a load from retirement accounts.

–          Restrictions of 401(k) investments: can’t invest in shares of s Corporation

–          can’t invest in collectibles

–          can’t invest in life insurance

–          6. HAS: health savings account.

You need a high deductible insurance added each month.

Tax-free: can be self-directed.

Can be transferred to the kids

–          7. Visa #1 credit limit

Discover credit limit

You borrow 20 K pay $300 month fee times for and you get $1200 a year increase.

–          8. Signature loan: need to have a credit score of 780+

creditcarma.com

Credit cards.com gives a list of credit cards that will offer 0% interest for the first six months.

–          9. Life insurance

–          10. Title loan on a boat, a car to get cash.

–          11. Combination loan is combining signature loan and title loan, together.

–          12.other investments: stock, bonds, metals mutual funds

–          13. Love money: from family to support you in your new financial goals. Move: paying it forward.

If you have ideas to add to the list, feel free to share them in the comment section of this blog.

Whenever I hear the phrase, a sharp tongue, I think of someone that can use their words in an accusatory or belittling manner. But a sharp tongue can also be used to encourage someone. One can use their intelligence and means of expression to enlighten someone or to inspire someone else to greatness.  I hope the following object lessons can be of use to youth ministries, family devotionals, counselors, and home evening groups.

Objects for lesson: one apple, a sharp knife, and a cutting board.

Cut the apple in half and place both sides face down on the cutting board for one half of the apple, slice it is nice even rows suitable for serving to other members of the class or family. For the other half poke the apple with the tip of the knife to wound and damage the flesh, making the apple undesirable for consumption.

A tongue can be used for good or bad. Just as we can determine how a knife can be used, so we can determine how our mouth or tongues can be used. The sharpness of our words can be used to belittle someone, cut them down and promote hate. My encouragement is that we used our verbal skills to promote, educate and enlighten. I’d knowledge that many times these lessons. I share first two purposes. One is for me think of a new way to use an object teach a lesson and two these topics can be used to remind me of ways of how I can improve myself. Sometimes we may think of a topic that we see as one of the weaknesses and thinking of a lesson on it can have our mind linger upon the thought to then improve upon it.

If you have things at this concept, please feel free to share in the comment section of this blog.

Here are my notes of the speech from Gary Herbert when he spoke at the rally of the Republican Utah conference. I tried to be as accurate as I could and hope I haven’t misrepresented the speaker in any way.

–          Are you ready to take back America?

–          It starts here.

–          We have popular phrase that can be applied to government. You can lead, follow or get out the way.

–          Utah is successful because we adhere to the principles of our founding fathers.

–          The Constitution gives the limited powers to the government.

–          The government should be limited in our lives.

–          There is no competition for government.

Bad: permenates or perminates

Good: permeates

Okay, this is a very silly way to how to remember the spelling of this word. But this mnemonic may help me remember it properly. Think of all the different meals you’ve cooked, ranging from vegetables to meat. I have to admit that one of the most pleasant aromas for me is cooked meat., I love how the aroma of a turkey, chicken or roast can perMEATe the entire house. Therefore, I think of the word meet perMEATe.

If you can think of a better way to remember this word, please feel free to share it in the comment section of this blog.

These are some notes I took while attending a a finance seminar last summer

–          20% of a 401(k) can be used for private business.

–          Lease option: down payment, 10 K is refundable 3 to 5 year refinancing.

–          Book: the millionaire next-door.

–          Website: http://www.asamanthinketh.net/ .

–          Set up a plan of progress.

–          Goal: 30 to 60% in six months.

–          Plot out One year plan to three-year plan.

–          Private money through your 401(k).