Pull over 

     Any of us can pull over for any of several reasons, but a certain driver had a strange thought that he needed to stop. In heavy traffic (life's business) he looked for a safe exit (redirection), and a place to park (new beginning). 

     Engine off, he wondered why he did this. Then without sound he heard these words: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4 

     While he pondered this surprise, his mind heard: If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. Mark 3:24 

     Before he could digest that, he heard, Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. Luke 6:20-23  

     He isn't poor, and he isn't hated...or is he? And then, Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. John 3:14-15 

     This driver ponders what he heard. He finally gets back on the busy streets. Maybe we'll learn more about this next Sunday. 

Steppingstones to God

An aching heart is but a steppingstone

To greater joy than you've ever known.

For things that cause the heart to ache

Until you think that it must break

Become the strength by which we climb

To higher heights that are sublime

And feel the radiance of God's smiles

When we have soared above life's trials.

So when you're overwhelmed with fears

And all your hopes are drenched in tears,

Think not that life has been unfair

And given you too much to bear,

For God has chosen you because

With all your weaknesses and flaws,

He feels that you are worthy of

The greatness of His wonderous love.

          Helen Steiner Rice          

                          A collection of encouragement   

When Faith Requires Faith

     She is almost never sure that she should write what she writes. She gets on her knees and asks for guidance, skill, accuracy and such.

     Then she sits on her chair and - fear and trembling follow. "Therefore, my beloved...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" - (Philippians 2:12). 

    We take our steps with less than 100% certainty. What else can we do, not walk at all? It gets complicated. Do we keep the Sabbath "holy" so there is a distinction between one day and the other six?  

     "Of course," she says, "the Lord alone knows the secrets of the heart. 'Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness. Then each one's praise will come from God.'"

     She does the best she can by study of His Word and not allowing energies to be consumed in second guessing. Rather, pressing forward. 

     As far as she knows, she is obeying God. If she is wrong, He will let her know when He returns, she says. Daily challenges sometimes happen in 50-50 situations. She picks one way and doesn't look back. 

Andree Seu Peterson, WORLD magazine

   

Money

     This and that. "The typical household is spending nearly $1,000 this winter to keep the heat on. That's about $85 more than a year ago. Residential electricity prices have risen about 25% since 2019. Although in the Northeast and the West Coast, electric bills in some states are less than in the 2010s, after adjusting for inflation. 

WORLD magazine

     "Paychecks for hourly wage earners have risen 3% to 4% every year since 2019. More than a third of homeowners reduced or went without necessities to pay an energy bill at least once.  

     Discounts. "More wealthy Americans are shopping at discount stores, a sign that inflation is reaching more income levels. About 30% of people earning more than $170,000 a year said they now shop at Walmart, ALDI and Dollar General, especially for food and household items. That's up from 20% four years ago. Surprised? 

     Graduation Blues. "College grads may struggle to land a job this spring, as businesses cut expenses. One quarter of 183 employers polled anticipate hiring more graduates this year. About half those surveyed rated the job market 'fair or poor,' the most pessimistic view since the pandemic. 

     "Declining sales and business leads, an uncertain economy, and budget cuts are the primary reasons. Economists expect the unemployment rate to remain elevated for most of 2026. But researchers say employers who didn't hire college grads last year may be looking for them this spring."

 

By the Numbers

     $953 

     Estimated cost to purchase a new electric water heater when DOE environmental regulations take effect in 2029. With many Americans concerned about affordability, government policies provide a clue for why prices keep going up. 

     36% 

     The share of American households that have put off large purchases like cars or appliances, citing discomfort with their financial situation. 

     7 

     The number of times regulators have imposed tighter environmental requirements on washing machines, beginning in 1988 and most recently in 2024. Regs have increased costs while reducing cleaning capacity and creating reliability problems. 

     99%

     The share of LED light bulbs currently on the market that will not meet Biden-era regulations when they take effect in 2028. The DOE estimates that light bulb prices will increase from $2.98 to $5.68 per bulb.

Buy them now? Jimmy

The above by John Dawson 

Can they put the betting genie back in the bottle?

    conclusion

     The SAFE Bet Act would ban sportsbook marketing during live sporting events. Preserving the reputation of leagues has motivated some to push back on sports betting. Ohio Governor DeWine announced intention to crack down on wagering based on certain actions rather than the end result of the game. 

     This came after Cleveland pitcher Luis Ortiz threw first pitches well out- side the strike zone in two games, so bettors could wager on the pitches being balls. The FBI investigated Terry Rozier who allegedly told a friend that he would leave a game early, allowing (his friends) to wager more than $200,000 on his under stats. 

     A professor at Cedarville University believes it will be difficult to put the entire sports betting genie back in the bottle. Even Christians have mixed views about it. Over half of pastors believe sports betting is wrong, but only about 7% discouraged the practice from the pulpit last year. 

     "You'll have churches that are running March Madness pools," said the professor. He acknowledged that while many members don't play for money, it still legitimizes the practice. 

     "And that's just, I think, setting people up for failure." 

            Jimmy

 

Betting the House - #2

     Now, where were we? Oh, yes. Connecting sports and mobile wagering can easily become "enslaving," says an economics professor. Young men are susceptible to addiction. 

     Less than 5 percent of bettors make a consistent profit, meaning the sports books make most of their revenue on losers. A survey found that about 1 of every 4 betters said they couldn't pay a bill. About 15% took our loans to fund wagers.  

     Many needs people should be saving money for are being spent on gambling or gaming. Roughly 20 million Americans report "Problematic gambling behavior." And roughly a quarter of them think their habit is out of control. The majority of addicts likely don't report their symptoms. Not everybody is forthcoming about their problem, due to guilt and shame.

     Is anyone doing something? Two bills introduced last year could force the federal government to get involved. The Gambling Addiction Recovery Investment and Treatment (GRIT) Act would set aside 50% of federal gambling tax revenue to fund addiction treatment and research grants. The government took in about $150 million in taxes for money wagered on gambling in 2024. 

     We bet I can find enough information to extend this article one more day. Wanna bet? 

Jimmy