Life with the Marko's - aaramark's Blog - The Bakersfield Voice

Obama Hype

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:15:30 PST

Now that the new President has been inaugurated he has already made significant strides backward in issues important to conservative people who have strong family values. Clearly he can do no wrong in the eyes of the media and many who follow the latest trends, but I wonder how long all of that hype will last for him? 100 days? 1 year? Until the first scandal, oh wait he's already had that hasn't he? Each president seems to get a free ride or honeymoon period until he wears out his welcome. How long will it take for Obama to wear out his welcome.

I like many am in awe that we elected a relatively young, African American leader, who is ambitious and intelligent. Beyond that I really don't know what my fellow Americans saw in him beyond his ability to inspire through flowery prose(a lot of politicians specialize in this...). I don't understand why we thought he could fix the economy when all he promised was more government programs. As a person who works for a system that is completely funded by the government (or almost completely anyway) I can honestly say that the government is the least likely way for us to get out of our current fiscal crisis. In my humble opinion we need less government programs to lead us out sooner than more in my humble opinion. Economists know that small business is where new job creation happens the most, and these same small businesses are the ones hurt the most by Obama's proposed "tax and spend" philosophies. It will be interesting to see what happens as he attempts to continue to be the darling of the media while facing truly hard challenges our country is facing. Will he have the resolve to deal with an out of control budget deficit added to by his predecessor? Will he have the gumption to consider paying down the national debt in hopes of increasing our credit rating in the world and strengthening our long term cash position? Admittedly I'm not an economic genius, I can hardly handle the measly budgets I'm responsible for without going over some months, however, the principals of sound financial management are seldom followed in the public arena of national governance. Do we have any reason to think he can honestly effect that? Not if you look at his current proposals for economic recovery we don't. More spending that won't be recovered for several years at least, and more than likely never.

But what concerns me even more is the disregard for Human Life he has already shown. In his first hours in office President Obama has already reversed an executive order that preventing US Funding for overseas organizations that perform abortions. I haven't done the research yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if he overturns the EO that kept federal dollars from being used to do stem cell research on fertilized eggs awaiting harvest, each of whom I and many other fellow Americans consider to be human lives awaiting implantation to a womb so he/she can be born. He will no doubt appoint judges that support Roe v. Wade, as he is on record as supporting abortion and said in a political forum hosted by Pastor Rick Warren that knowing when human life starts is "above my pay grade". Personally, I think that was a cop out for what he knows he believes, as his voting record and other public statements he's made make it clear he is "pro-choice".

I don't know what prompted me to post these thought other than it's on my mind here recently. While I respect what the new President has been able to accomplish, I don't agree with much of his positions. I wonder how long it will take for the rest of America to throw out the rose colored glasses we seem to be seeing him through and get back to issues that are important to our very soles.

President's Day

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:04:48 PST

Frankly none of the leading candidates for President inspire me to think our country will be better off by electing him(or her). It is interesting that I'd never made this connection before. On this day I'm thinking about our next President. It's hard for me to get excited, however, but it is interesting... President's Day falls in February which is also Black History Month.While we have yet to elect a black president so we can't really honor a past president who happen to be black. This year, could be the year when that happens. While I can't say I agree with much of his politics Barak Obama has made the most of his opportunity in this run for President. Either way the Democrats will make history by nominating a woman or African American as their candidate for President, if the Democrat wins it will make history.

Personally, I happen to like a different African American running for President who gets no national publicity whatsover, but is every bit as eloquent as Barak Obama and makes a lot more sense on a bunch of issues even though he will not be elected. I'm talking about Alan Keyes. Check out his website to see an interview done recently with him and to learn more about the man I think would make a very good President when we are ready to elect him. www.alankeyes.com.

What do you think, who is a leader who inspires you? Why?

Disneyland is still great fun for kids

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:38:38 PST

Wow anyone been to Disneyland recently? We took my daughter to celebrate her 2nd Birthday there recently and while a lot has changed now-it's really a big corporate atmosphere with downtown disney and all the other companies that have a presence on the Disney properties, but the rides and characters really had my daughter and the rest of us who went having a great time. This was the first time I have ever been with a child so I have to say it's a lot more fun when your kid is riding a ride with you and she's having a good time than if you're just doing it by yourself or even with a good friend. There's just something about a child having a good time that lifts your spirit. It's an awesome feeling that's hard to describe, but nevertheless very real.

What are your favorite Disneyland memories?

Halloween

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:47:42 PDT

Is there anything more strange than the Halloween holiday? I mean really how many times do we encourage our kids to dress up to scare people and send them out to beg strangers for candy? Isn't that odd? To me it's the strangest holiday ever. What do tou think?

Updates

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:14:27 PDT

I thought I would provide an update as to what's new in our home.

My daughter started pre-school this fall. At first, we thought she could handle five days a week, full days. We were wrong. We weaned it down to two 1/2 days per week. Thankfully my wife and I can adjust our work schedules so she spends two afternoons a week with my daughter and I spend one full weekday per week with her. That leaves two full days a week she is with the babysitter still. So far, this arrangement seems to be working for all of us.

I have continued to eat healthy since my last post. That is most of the time I eat heatlhy things. I have the occasional slip up, but have been able to get back on track. That has helped me lose about 20 pounds so far. I still have a long way to go...but it feels good to lost that extra weight. Next step, regular exercise. Now that my daughter a little older I think she can handle the day care at the gym if I need to drop her there for an hour while I work out.

My wife and I will be celebrating 10 years of marriage next month. We decided to give eachother ten gifts commemorating the occasion. It's fun to think of ten things that have personal significance to us to give her. We will be taking a week vacation next month and going on our first cruise-a four day jaunt to Ensada via San Diego and Catalina. We are looking forward to it. My daughter will stay with her grandma and grandpa so it will be just the two of us. Grandparents, gotta love 'em.

Reading

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:07:46 PDT

So I'm reading this book called 'The Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie O'Martian, anyone ever read it? I liked the other book of hers I read, "The Power of a Praying Husband" so much I've read it twice already. This one is also really worth reading so check it out.

I'm also making my way through "The New Dare to Discipline" by James Dobson. It has some really good suggstions in it that are very practical.

Anyone read any good stuff how to raise children?

One of our pastor's shared in a sermon he recently gave a funny joke, it went something like this.

There was a young pastor who wrote a book before he had kids on parenting, it was called, "10 definitive principals for raising good kids". After his first child revised the book to reflect his current understanding of rasing good children and titled it "8 suggestions to raising good children" and you can see where this is going, right? Anyway, I'm still trying to raise my first so constantly looking for answers to questions (some of which I know have no answers) about how to do it the right way.

Eating Healthy

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:52:13 PDT

Well yesterday my wife and I decided to start watching what we eat. We aren't joining weight watchers, but we are counting points. I've also started logging in what I eat on the website Lisa told me about called fit-day. So for right now I'm logging what I eat in my personal journal and online at the Fit Day website.

Tomorrow will be a challenge as I'm going out of town and will probably have to pick up lunch on the road. Hopefully we can find a subway and eat there! It would help if I got back to the gym.

I have to confess I've not been back since the blog entry I wrote---uh how long ago was that? Yea, well anyway. Still paying for it, might as well figure out when I can use it, right? But hey, this healthy stuff, you a guy can only handle so much of it at once, right? :-)

Persistance

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:02:12 PDT

Before I start getting serious here, does anyone know the difference between persistence and perseverance? Is there a real difference?

It seems I've been experiencing a "gut check" recently. You know when you are tested as to whether you really believe what you THINK you believe or not? It was interesting but I know I am supposed to persevere. It's amazing just when I begin to doubt about what I should be doing; an answer comes that makes sense. The answer to my question this time was I needed to remain faithful and persistant. Persistance, it is said, is the difference between someone being great and someone being average. It's not about intelligence because there are many undisciplined people who won't persevere long enough to see things through to the end. It's not about talent, because there are a lot of talented people who have never been great. Perseverance, to hold on the vision that's been given to you until you know it's time to walk away...that's the difference, I think between someone who is average and someone who is great. Even when all the people around you are telling you to give up or go in a different direction...sometimes that is simply a test of our convictions, isn't it?

That's what's been on my heart recently. What's been on yours?

Well, by for now.

The walls didn't fall down!

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 22:48:27 PDT

So I have a gym membership at a northwest gym. I've had it for years, but seldom use it. Last week, my wife says, Why don't you go work out? Instead of blowing her off as I'd done several times before when she offered this suggestions, I took her up on it. That was last week. I worked out three times last week and once this week and the walls of the gym didn't fall down, believe it or not! :0)

Hopefully, I'll be able to keep it up while eating better so I can lose some weight. I have needed to lose weight for almost my entire adult life....but more recently have put on more weight than ever. I attribute that to the stress of having a little one running around the house. I worry about her and instead of doing something healthy to address my worry I eat and eat, and oh yea eat.... Not good! So anyway I have begun working out and hopefully will begin eating well too. We'll see. Keep ya posted on progress.

Kid Wisdom

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:43:13 PDT

I have a new appreciation for some of these.

When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don't answer.

Never tell your mom her diet's not working.

Stay away from prunes.

Don't pull your dad's finger when he tells you to.

Never leave your three-year-old brother in the same room as your school assignment.

If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.

Felt-tip markers are not good to use as lipstick.

Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a baseball bat.

When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your mom when she's on the phone.

Received from Pastor Tim.

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Visiting Grandma and Grandpa

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:17:33 PDT

Since we had our daughter, it seems a requirement to visit Grandma and Grandpa at least once a month. If we don't somehow it seems we've committed a great crime against humanity! Just ask Grandma or Grandpa! Seriously, though we do like visiting the Grandparents frequently. Sarah likes hanging out with them as you can see by the picture and we like the change in climate, not to mention a baby sitter so we get some time alone! Last Thanksgiving we spent a whole day, just the two of us walking downtown and sightseeing...then we went to dinner. It was great. So anyway this is our latest adventure with our little girl. She really enjoyed the beach this time. She played with a shovel and bucket grandma bought her and she ran around and just really seemed to enjoy herself. We all got a kick out of wathcing her play around. It was a good time.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:12:46 PST

This is a question I think everyone who is thoughtful struggles with at some time in their life. Sometimes more than once. I have a friend who is about my age with three kids. She is a social worker like I am and an outspoken christian as I consider myself to be as well. Anyway about four years ago she learned she had breast cancer. After going through a round of chemo she was in remission for about a year, then at one of her checkups the doctors notices it was back again, only this time it had metastasized (if that's the right word) anyway it had spread and was spreading out of control. Her prognosis is not good, in fact unless she is miraculously healed, she will die. She is an excellent writer and conveys her thoughts to a group of us who have expressed a desire to support her in her struggle so she has shared more than once her desire to understand why God would do this; though she has a mature faith and understands the reason's aren't always for us to know, she is human and can't help but ask from time to time what purpose this will serve. I mean what about her husband and family? What will they do when she's gone? What good will they get from seeing her go through this? I know I am no one to question God, but there are times when I can't help but wonder, what in the world is He thinking?

Then I recall Job. Remember him? He is the one I think about when I start questioning God's intentions or motives. God sovereignty dealt with Job, though he was righteous by God's own statement, he allowed him to suffer-first he suffered the loss of family. Next he suffered the loss of his possessions, next he suffered the loss of his health, finally his wife. Then his "friends" came to him and basically accused him of sinning against God suggesting that is why all this bad stuff had come upon him when in reality that was not the purpose for the events that happened in His life. Rather, we are told in the Bible that the purpose was because God allowed it to happen. He is sovereign after all and can do what He wants and doesn't have to reveal His purpose to us. We get a glimpse of His purpose in the story of Job, but not the whole picture. God doesn't reveal to us why He allows these things to happen. He simply allows to see that He is allowing them to happen. He is in control. Always. Regardless of the circumstances He is in control. I take great comfort in that simple truth, though I confess I don't know why it comforts me to know this-it does.

So with my friend, I simply don't understand why God would allow this to happen. I don't believe it's because of something sinful she did-or because of something righteous she was supposed to do but didn't. I simply believe God is allowing it to happen to fulfill part of His perfect plan for her life and all who know her. Who knows how He will use this event to touch the lives of others. I know for certain He has already touched the lives of hundreds of people already through the writing of my friend. He has used her words to prick the hearts of people who otherwise would be hard towards the truth. This may sound harsh to some people, but if even one person were to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus through the sufferings of my friend, I suspect she would say it was all worth it. Because after all this present suffering is temporary, but life with our King is eternal.

Blessings to all who read this.

Being Real

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:29:55 PST

I really don't like pretending to be someone I'm not. There are times when it seems like people talk as though they are so knowledgeable, or really cool, etc.... most of the time when people are talking lie this it is to impress other people. I don't need to be impressed. I need people to be real. Why don't we just agree to just be who we are. Why do some people feel like they have to impress people to be someone? I just don't understand that. All I need is for people to be who they are, that's good enough to me; I'm impressed when someone is honest with me about who he(or she) is rather than trying to impress me by what or who they know. You know what I mean here, you have talked to people who felt like they had to impress you, it's in there tone of voice, it's in there body language, it's clear they are trying to impress you. I don't know why people feel this way. Let's just be real with eachother. I will do my best to be honest wth you in this blog. I hope to act this way wherever I am.

If you see me trying to be someone I'm not, please, please say something to me or remind me about what' I've written here today.

Finanical Stewardship Services

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:22:13 PST

Finanicial Stewardship Services. What is this? It's a business I've started to serve christian ministries and churches in raising funds through grantwriting particularly. I chose rather than just calling it after my name for two primary reasons. First so that I can expand by adding partners later, if I choose to do that. Secondly, I don't want to ahve the business associated with my name, personally, because I don't want to take all the credit for what is done, after all, if the work is done right, it will be the Lord who does it through me and not me, myself, or I. If that makes any sense?

Hopefully, as I learn more about stewardship I will be able to offer more services to churches and ministries, but for now I only feel comfortable offering grant writing services. These services could include bugdeting, raising funds through estate plannning, fundraisers, nono-related business income, etc... Most churches and ministries have never received a grant. Know why? They have never applied. This is too bad, from my perspective as there are many foundations and even a few businesses who will give funds to ministries and churches when the church/ministries objectives match the objectives of the foundation or church.

There are a lot of misconceptions about grants, though. Many people think a grant is like free money just waiting to be grabbed up by someone. That is seldom the case. In most cases a grant is given to accomplish a specific purpose agreed upon by the ministry or church receiving the grant and the foundation or business giving the grant. Another misconception about grants is that there is free money to help businesses start.... in my experience that is seldom if ever the case. Not only are there no start up monies available to businesses, but most foundations or businesses require the recipient agency to be a private non-profit organization. Usually this is a requirement to preserve the tax deduction a business or individual receives for donating the money.

So, what I'm trying to do is is support the vision of the ministries and churches by helping them find money to do the work God has called them to do. There are statistics that the church in America today does not give our resources to the church the way we should. One study I've seen reports as little as 8% of church learders tithe 10% of their gross income to the church they attend. This is startling as the leaders of the church ought to be the people who give the most to the church, right? What does this say about the "average" person attending the church. Barnum and others have released similar research recently documenting how the church is not giving the way we should. If all church members or people attending various churches gave the way we should, we could easily fund the various ministries and churches at levels they would need to do the various work they have been called to do. There would be no need for a service like I am offering if the church were obedient to the command to give. Unfortunately, we do not give the way we really should. This is the aim of a ministry like Crown Financial Ministries. I think my business compliments what Crown is doing.

How we handle the money we've been given is definately a tell tale sign of what we really believe. If we handle it the way God would have us He will be glorified. If we don't, there will be a day we wished we did. The scripture talks more about money than it does heaven or hell. There is a reason for that! I think God knew what would capture our hearts and spoke a lot about the things we spend a lot of time thinking about. Money is one of them, that's for sure. No matter how much we like to say, it doesn't matter to us, the fact is, it does matter. If we don't have it, we can't live the way we want to....Very few of us have the courage to live without it. I sometimes wonder what I would do when faced with that challenge, and yet it is precisely that challenge that made the rich young ruler so sad...because he had much wealth. If you live in America and have a house, car, and job, you are more wealthy than you realize. Jesus had none of these things when He was here. Yet God provided for Him just as He provides for you and I. What would your response be if Jesus asked you today to sell all you have and follow Him?

My point is you and I could probably give more to the Kingdom of God than we do right now, even if you do give to the church.

Valentine's Day

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:21:08 PST

So here we are very close to Valentine's Day. I have thought a lot about what to get my sweety for Valentine's Day, but still haven't picked up an item yet. She said she wanted a new printer for her pictures, but the printer we have now will print her pictures just fine so I wonder if I should tell her that or just get her the one she wants. What do you think?

Anyway, I'll do something else for her anyway. She'll be surprised when it arrives. I keep hoping she'll get a present. Somehow she never thinks she needs to.... hmm... something's wrong with that picture isn't it?

Life in general is good for us. I still need to schedule some tours of day care providers. I am convinced Sarah will be better off at a daycare than where we are taking her now. She will learn more and I will have a little more piece of mind, I think, when she is being taken care of at a christian day care. We still need to look at the options though because I'm sure not all day care's are run the same way even if they are "christian". So probably next Friday we will take some tours as pre-enrollment for pre-school begins in March for most schools. We would probably be better off putting her in day care at the same place she will go to pre-school so there is less of a change for her in the end. Hopefully, that can work out for us.

Missed Homeless Ministry this week. I pray it went well. Supposed to get together with the guys for our accountability meeting this month, but haven't scheduled it yet. We need to do that. I have also missed Friday morning men's studies as I've been taking Sarah to the sitter in the mornings and unable to attend. That should change next week though.

The church we go to has built a new building. We have volunteered to be greeters, but haven't been contacted for orientation yet. Hopefully, that will happen soon so we can get started with that. There were a few more ministries that were supposed to contact us too, so far none have. Guess they don't need the help?

I get the next two monday's off work as holidays. That means I get to spend the time with my daughter. Should be really nice, maybe we'll try to go to gymboree or something? Got any suggestions?

So life goes on at a seemingly increasingly hectic pace.

Gettysburgh Address

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:19:51 PST

Gettysburgh Address: This speech was made after one of the first vitories by the Union in the Civil War. Until this time the Union had not won a decisive victory and it looked as though the South would be taking Washington any day....so this is what a great leader said:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that "all men are created equal"

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow, this ground-- The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.

It is rather for us, the living, to stand here, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln November 19, 1863