BishopM

I'd rather make more than less. If making more means I have to pay more, that's cool too. I'm not going to refuse a raise because I want to avoid entering the 35% marginal tax bracket.

It's a sad day when a state government panders to illegals not to mention it's a giant slap in the face to all the people who have went through the visa process legally.

That analogy says more than you realize.

Amby, don't forget that every island needs a Bishop

Never a need to apologize older brother SOG,
I would agree with you and LuckyTxn that today's biggest barrier to religion/spirituality is apathy...without a doubt a lot of people today simply can't see a need/application for either in their life.
To this, I can only say that I can empathize. For quite a while I thought that the teachings of Christ were far too antiquated to be applicable to my life. I had no doubt that there was a God, but I just didn't see how I could connect to Him through Christ or any of the other teachers/prophets of antiquity.
So, I did like a lot of people and looked for something more recent...and found the B'hai. The prophets of the B'hai faith were walking the earth only 100 years ago...so I thought I would follow them. In fact, I did quite a bit of research and found it to be a beautiful religion. In the end though, I had to reject it for Catholicism, which seemed to offer something a bit more concrete in its doctrine. I guess I'm funny that way, I had to reject Buddhism for the same reason: there just didn't seem to be any 'bottom' to it...
However, what I learned out of that walk with the prophets of the B'hai faith was that certain truths are immutable and timeless. Once I learned this and experienced it (outside of studies, but through personal experience) I was able to then realize that the words of Christ, though spoken over 2000 years ago, are equally as relevant today as they were in his own lifetime.
That is a hard lesson to 'teach' though, it has to be experienced, hence, apathy is difficult to overcome...if not impossible.
On a sidenote, and to tie out to Brother SOG's hijacking statement, my personal belief is that religion/spirituality is a "Lot of Work!". You get out of it what you put into it...and....(here is the punch line...hold on...hold on...)...you know how much some people are adverse to work! I just aint' gonna happen!
Its easier to be apathetic than to work, no matter what the discipline
VJSheesh...that is a lot of posting for me for one day...man, I even have a heart now! WTH did that happen?
Blessings,
BishopM

Never a need to apologize older brother SOG,
I would agree with you and LuckyTxn that today's biggest barrier to religion/spirituality is apathy...without a doubt a lot of people today simply can't see a need/application for either in their life.
To this, I can only say that I can empathize. For quite a while I thought that the teachings of Christ were far too antiquated to be applicable to my life. I had no doubt that there was a God, but I just didn't see how I could connect to Him through Christ or any of the other teachers/prophets of antiquity.
So, I did like a lot of people and looked for something more recent...and found the B'hai. The prophets of the B'hai faith were walking the earth only 100 years ago...so I thought I would follow them. In fact, I did quite a bit of research and found it to be a beautiful religion. In the end though, I had to reject it for Catholicism, which seemed to offer something a bit more concrete in its doctrine. I guess I'm funny that way, I had to reject Buddhism for the same reason: there just didn't seem to be any 'bottom' to it...
However, what I learned out of that walk with the prophets of the B'hai faith was that certain truths are immutable and timeless. Once I learned this and experienced it (outside of studies, but through personal experience) I was able to then realize that the words of Christ, though spoken over 2000 years ago, are equally as relevant today as they were in his own lifetime.
That is a hard lesson to 'teach' though, it has to be experienced, hence, apathy is difficult to overcome...if not impossible.
On a sidenote, and to tie out to Brother SOG's hijacking statement, my personal belief is that religion/spirituality is a "Lot of Work!". You get out of it what you put into it...and....(here is the punch line...hold on...hold on...)...you know how much some people are adverse to work! I just aint' gonna happen!
Its easier to be apathetic than to work, no matter what the discipline
VJSheesh...that is a lot of posting for me for one day...man, I even have a heart now! WTH did that happen?
Blessings,
BishopM

I wouldn't mind my own property taxes going up if I knew that it was directed toward a higher caliber teacher. I would vote yes to that proposition. I value education quite a bit...

I wouldn't mind my own property taxes going up if I knew that it was directed toward a higher caliber teacher. I would vote yes to that proposition. I value education quite a bit...

The simplest solution to all of this would be to outlaw the death penalty nationwide. Its a left over of a less civilized time. Anyone who screams for someone's blood is not civilized in my book.

Just remember to also not care next time an American is stoned to death or shot in the neck in foreign lands for an infraction over there.

After going through the process (2x! First for wife, then for daughter), I can honestly say that I thought it was a good process. Its slow, but hey...the process works. I'm glad that I was provided with the avenue to bring my wife and daughter to the USA, and they're both citizens now.
So what if it took a while...at the start of the process the USCIS made it very clear that it would be a slow process, and they were true to their word...but did keep to their projected timeframe
Blessings to you OP as you progress through the rest of your journey. It will be over before you know it...though that might be impossible for you to believe at the moment. Hang in there!

After going through the process (2x! First for wife, then for daughter), I can honestly say that I thought it was a good process. Its slow, but hey...the process works. I'm glad that I was provided with the avenue to bring my wife and daughter to the USA, and they're both citizens now.
So what if it took a while...at the start of the process the USCIS made it very clear that it would be a slow process, and they were true to their word...but did keep to their projected timeframe
Blessings to you OP as you progress through the rest of your journey. It will be over before you know it...though that might be impossible for you to believe at the moment. Hang in there!

I was 38 and she was 36 when we met in prison person.

In one of the other threads someone said the rapture did not occur because the USCIS put it in AP

In one of the other threads someone said the rapture did not occur because the USCIS put it in AP

In one of the other threads someone said the rapture did not occur because the USCIS put it in AP

In one of the other threads someone said the rapture did not occur because the USCIS put it in AP

Hey Commiesunity!
Hope all is well with the gang. Nothing new to really relay here...just working...still in Boston...
Been busy at the house, doing lots of outdoor yard work on the weekends....kinda fun.
Booked tickets for AAm/May to go back Thailand in a few weeks, and stay a few weeks. I'm not going...too cheap to spend another few thousand on a ticket, would rather use that money around the pad...
Blessings to the thread!
Your Bishop

That was hellalong...

Blessed Morning Commiesunity!
Yesterday morning AAm passed her naturalization interview and is now a USA Citizen!
AAm and I went to Pittsburg on Tuesday evening. Because I'm a platinum member with Marriott we got a free upgrade to the 'honeymoon suite' which was pretty groovy. It had a nice hottub in the room which AAm enjoyed and it helped her relax...cuz she hadz a nervouz fer realz
We went to her interview at 9:30am...by 9:45 she was done, and passed I didn't get to go in with her, but here is the scoop.
First, she had to answer the basic questions: Are you a terrorist? / Have you been arrested? / Are you a commie ...etc....
Next, for the English comprehension part of the test, she was handed two pieces of paper and asked to read and then write the two sentences from the papers:
1) The people of the United States are free.
2) George Washington was the first president of the United States
Then she had to answer 10 questions (out of 100) from the civics test:
1) The idea of self government is in the first three words of the constitution. What are these words? (We the people..)
2) What is an amendment? (A change to the constitution)
3) What stops one branch of the government from becoming too powerful? (checks and balances)
4) We elect a US Senator for how many years? (6)
5) The House of Representatives has how many voting members? (435)
6) In what month do we vote for president? (November)
7) Who is the Chief Justice of the Unites States now? (John Roberts)
8) How many justices are on the Supreme Court? (9)
9) Who is the Father of our country? (George Washington)
10)Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s. (War of 1812)
AAm had been studying the 100 questions continuously from the time she took her biometrics...so she nailed all 10 questions!
She was then given a piece of paper stating that she had passed! They had a swearing in ceremony later that same afternoon! So, she is done!
And...as a bonus and because AAm has passed her naturalization and is now a citizen, May is automatically eligible to become a citizen as well! I didn't even know that was possible! I thought that May would have to live in the USA for 5 years, and then she would be eligible to file for citizenship. However, after AAm's interview, the interviewing officer told us that we can fill out a N-600 form and May will be granted automatic citizenship, because she is a minor and because AAm is now a citizen. We just have to wait for the USCIS to mail AAm her 'official letter' stating that she is a citizen, and then get her USA passport, and then fill out/send in the N-600 and May will become a citizen. I'm not sure if May will have to do another biometrics or not, but the interviewing officer did say she won't have to do an interview, she will be automatically approved!
I think it was July of 2006 when I sent in the first document for AAm's K1. So, 56 months of immigration is complete!
So...we had a great day! Thank you to everyone in this thread! We have benefitted from your prayers!
Blessings - BishopMark

VJsheesh...you are a NOOB! :rofl:
Brother, good luck on your N-400. Yesterday AAm passed her citizenship interview. She's now an American Citizen!
I have to agree with what Kathryn said, it did seem like the naturalization process was the easiest step...and the fastest. We sent in AAm's app the first week of Janauary...so it only took 100 days or so...
Blessings! M

i'd rather vote for hillary.

Good Morning Commiesunity,
Cassie...its humid here too...hope you feel better sweetheart. Supposedly, its going to be in the 80s today, record high is 82 ...then back around 55-60 tomorrow...so will be a weird day.
Not much going on around here....just for AAm's interview on Weds morning. We've booked a hotel and will leave tomorrow afternoon When she went to her biometrics, the gave her a CD will the 100 interview questions. And, I've printed out the 100 Qs from the USCIS website which is very good. So, she's been studying for the past month or so. Anyways, when we were driving to the Cherry Blossom festival this past weekend she had that 100 Qs CD playing and she was answering the questions perfectly! I was VERY impressed with how well she's done with her studying
Blessings to the thread!
MK

Makes sense. There is something very disturbing and weird about middle aged dudes going to foreign countries and marrying women (or should i say girls?) two decades their junior or more.

I've been on LinkedIn for about 4-5 years or so and find it to be quite valuable, especially for my field. I think I have about 175 contacts or so, which is probably about the going rate... I would say that I know about 160 or so of them personally and have worked with these folks over the course of my career. The other 25 or so are recruiters that keep doors open for me...even if I'm not looking...they tap me every once in a while and say that they've found an opportunity that I might be interested in...and like AJ said, that is a good way to keep your finger on the pulse of the job market.
I don't see the value of adding a bunch of people I don't know though...but, I guess that's just my preference.
I would say that I do get a lot of traffic coming across my LinkedIn profile. And, it did pay off for me as well...cuz I got my current job through LinkedIn Not through one of my connections, but through a recruiter who liked what he saw on my profile. And, the recruiter did say that he liked the resumes/profiles of the people I had as connections because it shows a direct link to my specific field and the extent to which I've worked with people of the same professional interest. That made sense to me.
So, to that extent, I'd spend some time building a nice profile first, and then adding people.
One thing about LinkedIn ettiquette: it is a site for professionals, meaning that it ain't 'FaceBook'. One of my old colleagues obviously can't tell the difference between LinkedIn and Facebook, because he keeps posting junk like 'Well...I'm tired now, going to bed/etc' on his profile. That kinda junk doesn't really belong on LinkedIn. So,once you build your LinkedIn profile (which is basically just your resume, plus some personal recommendations/etc) then it basically remains static, unless you have career updates/change projects/etc...
Good Luck and blessings to you with your job search Sister Joyce! I'm sure you'll land something grroooovvyy soon!
BishopM