Last quarter of last year was almost a killer. It all but finished us off as a Army Navy Surplus; given the state of my health (Stomach Cancer and all) and the state of the Economy Nationwide and locally also.

Muncie and surrounding communities continue to lose jobs as the world wide economic woes continue to mount. Muncie being heavily invested in the automotive industry has felt the blunt of much of its continuing ills. We have just about lost 99% or our manufacturing base; and with it most of the well paying factory jobs in the area. Even the Information Age jobs are hurting because of the interdependence between all industries and their related exchanges interwoven into each business.

But we are into April 2009 and I can say with some confidence that it is looking like we will survive the coming months with hope for a better year ahead of us. After a really shaky start to this year we are seeing people get past the fright & stun stage of last November, December and January and seem to be able to some hope in different areas of their lives...though the Jobs scene is still pretty dicey. But I am seeing more people, more often because this year we "Launched" a full blown "Exposure Crusade" covering the Internet, phone books, Local TV and new client hand-outs given to clients when they visit to share with friends, family, and associates.

Thus far; I can point to over 80% of "New" traffic being attributed to internet searches on Yahoo.com, Google.com and others. This is important to know; as I can pinpoint my efforts to increase these and not spend time wasted on Less Productive areas.

All In All; I am feeling hopeful as my Chemo is progressing well and I am able to do a bit more then maybe expected back in December of last year. I have determined to try to get a Veteran Small Business loan to expand our building & Grounds next to our home. I am hoping that maybe I might build a 2500 Sq Ft Pole/Quonset Hut type building, to house the Sewing Shop together with the Army Surplus.

Keep in touch (tuned in) as this will happen quickly if approved.

The question should be asked from time to time whether our time and effort to post a blog or journal is worth the time and effort...Is anyone out there reading our postings?

Feedback is the only way to know...either a person leaves a comment, or a suggestion; and or we see a view by how many stat counter or something will we ever know if we are being productive or not.

Sometimes we get really lucky and a person or two will actually call us or email us and let us know they saw our ? ? ? and where and maybe even what prompted them to contact us or follow up and write or visit.

We need to keep on keeping on no matter what until we fully determine that the rate of return is not worth the effort and time consequences invested.  So Here I am today asking for feedback!

Please let me know what you like or don't like about this Information only site we have had now for some time and what you would like to see me develop differently.

I know I would appreciate it immensely.

Thank You,

Randall

With the rising cost of petroleum based ? ? almost anything, it seems evident we as a Nation and as a People within this Nation can no longer "Allow" ourselves the luxury of waiting our Government(s), Federal, State, County or City/Township to do something to help the Common Good; or cause a reduction in dependence on traditional power generating sources.

It should be clear to any casual observer, that we as a people group could have done some things differently back at the turn of the 19th century, and didn't for various reasons. Now we will pay to play catch up with, and do what we could and should have done almost a hundred years ago.

 

As long as the earth exists, we will receive sunshine in some form; as long as the earth we live on is covered by 3/4 water, it is only a matter of access, use, and recycling it to our needs, and of course as long as some wind blows anywhere in our area of the world we have to contend with whatever it brings our way . . . Or maybe use that wind to a productive and practical application.

 

Maybe we could consolidate may of the features of what God has given us to use "Freely" as in Matthew 10:5-28 we see our Lord, Christ Jesus put His Disciple's in Charge, and give them instructions as to how to give out freely what they had received; the Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom to apply what He had Taught them, about Himself, and to Fear No Man (Mankind), In Romans 8:18-39 we see text talking about future Glory and comparisons of the present with our expected future.

 

And of course we are told about the differences between the Spiritual and the Natural, and to not be over come by misunderstanding the suffering of our present conditions. So while in this Body of Flesh we do what we can to best apply ourselves to find a way to live in Christ Likeness as best we can as we submit to the lead of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives.

 

One thing has struck me of late and that is the Cost of Living; while no one is totally exempt, we can and I believe biblical that we should do what we can independent of what Government may want to help in to provide for ourselves from God's Freely Given Abundance to all. One such way is our own Energy Independence and how it affects our ability, to Grow, fuel, and energize the numerous devices we seemingly can't find a way to live without.

 

So this message today, is aimed at opening the knowledge and understanding of the reader, to what is going on in gaining our Energy independence in this country, and how as a Christ-In believers',  we can claim that gift of God in our own lives, our Families, and put it to work in our business' and industry.

 

The links included in today's message, will take you to articles, research papers, and help (hopefully) you to spark an interest in looking into how you can lower your personal cost of living by increasing your use of God's Abundance He has already made available in many different ways and all we have to do is harness, and convert it; not unlike the O.T. use of Oxen, Wells, and Sun Baked Brick to make homes and fire to smelt and even make alloys.

 

No Dam (river) Turbine can be implemented Today and Scaled to fit the present needs of any population: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btSTfzgtZm8&feature=related You, will need a Video Player to see the video, or simply read the research.

 

Back in High School we all (Maybe all) learned about different types of Energy; and this Video shows a new form of applied force in the kinetic sense: http://youtube.com/watch?v=r7DFDrFbWT4&feature=related But here a gain doable if you have access to water.

This next link; talks about combining water converted to hydrogen on demand and then mixed with your present fuel (gas or diesel) and the mixing cause better combustion, so complete, that you get a better more efficient engine power, cleaner engine, longer lasting engine, and almost NO Pollution released into the air we breath. And Potentially better gas/diesel mileage of the fuel used to power our vehicles.

http://www.runyourcarwithwater.com/?hop=opmind&gclid=clz8ythmnpicfqijxwod0s_oaa

Or: http://www.hydrogencarsnow.com/hydrogen-on-demand.htm

This is a pretty neat video of one who has already done his own conversion: http://www.hydrogen-boost.com/?OVRAW=Power%2030%20Homes%20%2BHydrogen&OVKEY=h...

Then there are folks who think Fuel Cells have their proper place and use and should be Portable: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070628183720.htm

Scale of the need to produce Hydrogen doesn't seem to be a factor any longer: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080219133226.htm

And of course there will always be those who prefer somewhat exotic manners of manufacturing, storing and using Hydrogen to ? ? http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/complete-car-hydrogen-conversion-kit-fro...

Or: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070827174310.htm

Weather it is a cottage in the green, or out in the western hills or mountains, folks are into many different alternative forms to get and keep themselves off the grid or maybe even sell some back to the grid: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/09/07/itm-power-is-back-with-more-home-hydr...

Yes, there is an Electric Grid, and most all use the grid right now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_energy_storage

This paper purports to have the problems, solutions and plans down to make the switch from Petroleum based to Hydrogen based economy work. http://www.hydrogen-boost.com/?OVRAW=Power%2030%20Homes%20%2BHydrogen&OVKEY=h...

And it nice to know we are not the Only Country converting, and using hydrogen in many different ways; look at the way this fella is dong it at his Home: http://www.metaefficient.com/news/fuel-cells-being-used-to-power-japanese-hom...

This site has some really nice links of their own to many different alternative energy research: http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/science-technology/diy-convert-your-car-to-use-h...

This Guy Joe seem to have his act together on this subject and more: http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Joe_Cell

And of Course the Air Folks don't want to be left holding the balloon so they are hot after the market also: http://freeenergynews.com/Directory/CompressedAir/index.html

Or this one: http://www.theaircar.com/acf/air-cars/energy-storage.html

This Writer from Michigan has some perspective on the whole business too: http://www.hydrogennews.org/hydrogen/crea.htm

Soon, I will be looking at Wind and Sun use more; and in the mean time, I hope those of you who need to do, will seriously consider one of those Hydrogen On Demand systems from a kit or maybe making your own from part purchased at the local hardware, and letting me know how you fare, in getting satisfactory results. God Produced some wonderful things for us to use and share; not the least of which is our Human Genius when properly focused on God's Blessings of all mankind.

And for the "Working" Ministers of the Gospel out there? You know who you are; here is opportunity of a very nice, needful nature, to make an income from, while doing well working with others, by doing conversions of existing vehicles, and helping those otherwise paying big bucks out to save some of their hard earned money too.

Anyone, in the Ministry of helps that has the tools and abilities, can help a brethren in need, to upgrade their vehicles, homes (Fellowship Hall, House / Home Church Meeting Places), and or save them some money in doing so. 

Maybe the home / vehicle owner could buy their parts, etc. and the Helps/ Elders helps in the installation?  Or some combination(s), of any sort or thing.  Blessing them with Love, Knowledge, Truth, Encouraging and building up and helping with real life needs.

 

In today’s highly charged political climate; we as Christi-in believers are hard pressed to remain non-respecters’ of persons given we live in a Republic of elected / appointed officials’.  One of the tragic problems that would seem to have always been around, and is recorded in our biblical record is that of individual representatives’ being less moral, ethical or steadfast in their stewardship of their charges.

 

One thing I have noticed of late is the magnification of some of the candidates’, the likes of which have never been seen in America.  We are for the first time offered to choices among a man of African American decent and a Woman who we have a fair amount of public history on.  Biblically speaking in the Old Testament especially we don’t see much good reordered about a nation that is led by a women or child; and yet we find ourselves today with similar issues to choose amongst.  The man is considered a neophyte, and the Women a domineering person who would take on the traditional role and persona of a man.  I don’t have a personal bias toward either, and yet I do have biblical reservations’.

 

There comes a point where we must guard ourselves, households and families against the cares, concerns and entanglements of this world; remembering we are seeking a different country, that we are simply pilgrims in this City, County, State and country.  Yet, we are still commanded to be good citizens and respond properly to those in authority.  To the end we may Glorify Our Heavenly Father, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  We are also called to be fruitful in a way seldom seen in the same way in the secular society around us.  We are called to “Manifest” the likeness (the Praying, Thinking, Speaking, and doing) of our Lord, Christ Jesus growing “in” us daily.

 

We know that the decisions of the flesh impact the Spirit Soul and Body as the temple of our Indwelling Holy Spirit.  We also know that, we can grieve the indwelling Spirit in our knowing to do right and not doing it.  Spiritual Maturity is a process of making good spiritual decisions and learning from success’ and failures’ to become better led by our indwelling Holy spirit to be able to be taught of the spirit, about spiritual matters. 

 

We are told that whatever we find to do with our hands; we are to do with all our might, fervently as unto the Lord.  I mention this here, because if we start with integrity of heart and continue with integrity of heart, looking steadfast upon the Lord of Glory and like Him, saying and doing “Not” our “Own” wills’ but the Father’s then we may very well be found acceptable.  I am not saying we will not be disappointed from time to time, but we must be willing to take the hits as they come and to become more then an over comer to join together to be what the body of Christ Jesus “Locally” in manifestation is to be. 

 

We are the people of God, who speak the truth in love to all persons, unto reconciliation, and stand fast on the commandments of God’s Revealed Eternal Truths.  As such, we must always be searching the scriptures daily to be abiding in the word and letting it abide in us richly.  When the half truths, innuendos and falsehoods make themselves known; we must be ready to confront in love and truth to be the voice of reason and as a ministering spirit (indwelling) be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit to See, Hear, Think, Speak,  and Do the Will of the Father.

 

Which of the candidates’ you believe is most closely matching our mutual values is your choice, choose wisely please.  May our Lord, teach, guide and keep you and yours.

 

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Chaplain, Randall Jacobsen Sr., is Chaplain with M.O.R.E. Ministries, American Legion Post 19, VFW Post 651, Rolling Thunder Inc, IN-5, and United Veterans of Delaware County.  And an active member in Citizens of Delaware County for Property Tax Repeal.  http://www.propertytaxrepeal.com/

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As a local entrepreneur, and one that has built our reputation on quality and customer service and have been around for some twenty years now; I think I am in a position to speak to what works and what doesn't.

One thing I have come to find out is we are unable to affect change on those things we are invariably linked to; and what we are linked to is often just as in need of serious cash flow as we are.  Even after having pared back to the bone all our "fixed" costs and enerted into "Survival Mode" to help us outlast the Local Recession; which appears more a full blown depression then a recession to me. 

I find I am unable to mitigate the costs any further, and am at the present time am bemused by the changes taking place by our surrounding support tecnologies, that being the Phone company and internet service we have put so much dependence upon as to be more "exposed", and susceptible to outside influences, either direct or indirect,  then I am pleased with. 

We are simply making the daily decisions we can, as resources make themselves available, and praying for relief for those we don't currently have the resources to apply.

What is about to happen next in our ability to communicate with our local population is all out of my hands for the most part.  We have for the first time in many months received a "disconnect notice" for our ISP/Business Phone provider and will very soon lose our ability to communicate to incoming calls.

So this blog today is my attempt to let you the prospective Client know we are still here, still operating, and hopefully will be able to correct the situation soon.  If you find you can't connect with us through our normal means; please call 765-747-1934 which is our Home Phone and is not up for disconnect.  I may not be able to respond to an email for a little while but will if necessary go to the public library and use their computers to retrieve my emails.

In the Mean time you can trust we are still available to you and still open Tues-Sat 10:30-5:30 and will still have the lights on for the time being, and could sure use your help to make headway on doing better then we have been able to this past two months.

The Holiday Season between the day before thanksgiving and shortly after new years is suppose to be the big time for most retailers.  Ours never materialized; and am now forced to make further cuts and live with whatever happens as a result of not being able to make further cuts or pay what is now due.  To that end we; we have been using No Credit terms to the extent we are still liquid in many ways but cash flow is so poor right now we don't have sufficent capacity to respond to every demand at present.

We ask you our clients and patrons to understand that God is Supplying all our "Needs" and your Prayers and Blessings are always needed, welcome and your patronage is always appreciated.

Thank You, and God Bless You, in the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ,

Randall L. Jacobsen Sr.