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Willie,
This is concerning the new Walhalla fire chief. I’ve been a volunteer in Walhalla for many, many years and I may not agree with everything the chief is doing at this time, but he has come through with everything he said he would do. He’s been more informative than any of the past chiefs. Even though I’m a volunteer, these volunteers need to grow up. They need to understand change and quit whining like kids just like the county volunteers.
Willie says:
I reckon the new chief will appreciate your support and compliment.
Willie,
I was reading where some thieves stole some stuff on Fairplay Street. We also had some stuff stolen out of our yard. Someone stole my grandson’s 4-wheeler on Pickett Post Road in Walhalla. They tried to steal the gas out of our law mower. Please tell these thieves to get a job and quit stealing other people’s stuff.
Willie says:
I wish I had that kind of power (well, maybe not). If thieves won’t obey the laws of our country (patriotism) or the commandment “Thou shalt not steal” — they are not likely to accept Willie’s advice to be upstanding citizens. I do know they’ll face justice: now or later.
Willie,
I was noticing in the paper where they are going up on animal adoption fees at the shelter. They couldn’t get rid of them at the other price and they were euthanizing them, they are sure to be euthanizing them now.
Willie says:
You are right. There are bound to be fewer people who will be able to afford to offer a good, loving home by adopting a dog ($70) or cat ($40). But the love a pet gives can’t really have a price put on it. When the new animal shelter is built and operating, Willie hopes one of its top goals will be to reduce the kill rate.
Willie,
Seneca should get with the times and follow Clemson’s lead and start instigating a no smoking policy especially in all the restaurants. There’s really no need for people who enjoy a good meal to sit and breath in secondary smoke from others.
Willie says:
City residents with opinions on either side of this issue should let their city council members know how they feel.
Willie,
One problem at a local fast food restaurant is the food is cold and the service stinks. Can we not get a good sandwich anywhere in Oconee County?
Willie says:
Willie knows lots of places in Oconee County that serve great sandwiches, hot when they’re supposed to be and service with a smile. If enough people don’t go to the one with the problem you mention maybe they’ll get the message and fix it.
Willie,
I urge all readers to view this video on how we can make our voices heard to Congress on making our country independent of imported petroleum. The video may be found at: http://youtube.com/watch. Although the video is by Newt Gingrich, it is non-partisan and provides some great information. There is an associated Web site: www.americansolutions.com to sign a petition to Congress. This petition is for real and is being presented to Congress.
Willie says:
I’ll pass your recommendation on to my readers.
Willie,
I was just at the castle of fast foods, the new McDonalds in town and it is a wonderful building and they hired a lot of new people. It is nice to see, however I have a weakness for quarter pounders with cheese, which I haven’t had in a while. I went in during the off hours and it came out real quick hence the words fast food, but my food was cold and I know they don’t clean during the slow time. I don’t want to see this building get into the condition it was in before they closed it last time.
Willie says:
I know that they are trying to please everyone but are probably working out a few kinks with all those newfangled gizmos they have there. I’m sure if you would have asked the Manager they would have been happy to give you another “hot” quarter pounder with cheese.
Willie,
If we’re really serious about saving fuel, there’s something the Oconee School Board could do with cooperation of the high school parents. The school board could ban high school students from driving their cars to school. I know we’re already paying to transport students to school and according to a brochure from the school board, busses travel 6000 miles each day and we’re already paying for that, so let’s start saving gas and diesel this fall.
Willie says:
The responsibility to conserve fuel in private cars paying for their own gasoline belongs to the owners of the private cars. Some high school students need to go directly from school to jobs or volunteer work and can’t ride the bus.
Willie,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mayor Larry Abernathy and the council for their stance on the smoking issue. As for me and my family, they will see more of me in the restaurant in the town of Clemson and I wish the people of Seneca and Walhalla and around would take heed and do the same as Clemson. Again, thanks Larry.
Willie says:
Willie’ll pass along your thanks to Mayor Abernathy.
Willie,
A serious problem that people don’t think about until it’s too late has inspired a new company offering nationwide coverage, but based here in Seneca. Both my business partner and myself are retired emergency medical workers and we have personally encountered many situations that could have been prevented. When EMS deals with an unresponsive patient or accident victim, it is often difficult to alert family members of their predicament. Not being able to talk to a family member and discover medical history and other pertinent information can determine the ultimate outcome and even result in death. It is so important to have an emergency plan in place for your family! My primary motive in writing to you is to help increase awareness that bad things happen when you least expect them and being prepared can greatly impact the outcome!
Willie says:
Bad things do happen without warning. Everybody needs something on them to give EMS their emergency contact info. If you carry one of them new-fangled cell phones like I do, put the name and number of your next of kin in the CONTACT LIST. Their name should be ICE. That stands for In Case of Emergency. Any EMS sees ICE in your cell, that’s who gets called. If you don’t have a cell, be sure you’ve got a card in your wallet with who to call.
Thanks for reminding Willie’s readers about something so basic that we often overlook.
Willie,
I thought I would try to clarify what is now happening with youth tee ball. Yes, there is a tee, but at least at Clemson, halfway through the season many of the coaches have decided to break the rules and pitch to kids instead. Usually this means that the kids get three swings at it and then they bring the tee in. I do not like it at all, but Clemson Rec won’t do anything about it. Some kids are four or five years old and can’t hit a pitched ball and by the time they get to hit off the tee, they seem sad. Something should be done to restore tee ball.
Willie says:
Sounds like if nothing’s being done about lots of coaches breaking a “rule” then the rules have been “unofficially” changed.
Willie,
I am in a sticky situation. I have recently survived a 6-year abusive marriage and worked for the state on a temporary grant. Now, I’m out of a job. I have an excellent letter of recommendation, but I am not bilingual. This is posing a major problem for me. I am however, in the process of trying to learn to speak Spanish. This is not helping me for the moment. When we travel to Mexico, they do not bend over backwards to speak English. It’s an unfair situation. I have no job because I cannot speak Spanish. Any suggestions?
Willie says:
If one of the qualifications for the line of work you are looking into is a second language, there’s not much you can do until you have learned enough to satisfy the person doing the hiring. Keep cracking’ the books! You can do it. Meanwhile, find the best job you can for now with your qualifications.
Willie,
I’ve been here about all my life and went to many nice churches around and every time I see a person who needed help, the church has always helped out. Along comes a megachurch spending millions of dollars to build a new building and all and when one man needed some help, all they wanted was his financial background and tells him to get a job get rid of his car. They would not even help this man.
Willie says:
If it happened as you say then that wasn’t a very “Christian” thing to do. I recommend you talk to the ones in charge and remind them that “helping someone” comes in many different ways.
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July 17, 2008
8:10 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Unfortunately those so-called megachurches do not have one very important piece of the Christian puzzle. A Pastor. They do not have a pastor that will visit in the home or conduct a funeral or wedding. These "preachers" come in on sunday and preach a couple times and then go home. The "modern" christian church has become nothing more than another job, instead of the responsibility that it is meant to be. Take heart though, they do have loads of coffee and doughnuts every Sunday. Long live the traditional Christian church.
July 17, 2008
8:55 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Regarding the new animal shelter; if people were more responsible, there would not be a need for killing so many animals. All you have to do is have your pets spayed and take more care to ensure they do not stray. Spaying is not expensive! All you have to do is pass up a few purchases of munchies at the grocery store and use that money to take your pet to a vet!
July 17, 2008
9:03 a.m.Report inappropriate content
With regard to the person having difficulty finding a job due to a second language; this is a classic example of what this country is coming to. There should be no need to speak anything but English in the United States. I admire people who are fluent in more than one language, I speak pretty passable Spanish myself, but English is not only the native language of this country but the international language of business. English is also used as the universal language for international air traffic control.
You should not have to speak another language for most jobs, although I'm sure it would be useful in some instances.
July 17, 2008
10:58 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Thanks, Eddo. Section 1-1-696 of our state statutes also declares English the official language of our state. If the person above is required to travel to Mexico, or is engaged in international trade as a job requirement, then I can see a need for requiring Spanish proficiency. If, however, an employer simply requires employees to be fluent in Spanish to pander and cater to local Spanish-speaking customers, I'd like to know the name of that business so I can put it on my boycott list. One of our large home improvement stores speaks to me in Spanish on the phone, and on in-store signs. I don't shop there. A car dealer in Greenville speaks to me in Spanish on television, and I'd travel on horseback rather than buy a car from that dealer. If any local business requires the person above to speak Spanish to communicate with local patrons, unless the business is international or is required by law to be bi-lingual, I'd like to see that business boycotted out of business, or sued for discriminating against job applicants who speak only English in an English-speaking country.
July 17, 2008
11:40 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Muchos negocios no requieren la fluidez en el español, pero los candidatos que pueden decir más de una lengua más probablemente pueden ser alquilados. Ano.
July 17, 2008
11:59 a.m.Report inappropriate content
That church may have truly helped that person by not just giving him money. Perhaps he just needed a kick in the tail to take some responsibility for his own situation.
However, none of us really know the whole the story.
July 17, 2008
12:04 p.m.Report inappropriate content
JohnBirch just demonstrated for us why we need ONE common language in this country. I realize some countries are officially multi-lingual, but ours is not. As Eddo mentioned, and JohnBirch demonstrated, this is where we're heading. I also do not shop in stores, eat in restaurants, etc. that, as thlhjh said, "pander and cater" to people who may have lived here one, two or three generations and have been too unconcerned about learning the language to bother learning it. I won't be crying into my crying towel in sympathy for anyone who can't communicate in English after being here long enough to learn it. What's coming? Signs in stores similar to what JohnBirch wrote? Signs on the doors, "We also speak English"? Price tags in dollars and pesos? I also agree that lawsuits should be filed against businesses that discriminate against employees who only speak English in the United States.
July 17, 2008
12:23 p.m.Report inappropriate content
We can't forget however that English is one of the hardest languages to learn AND it comes from several OTHER languages. American English is not that unique.
July 17, 2008
1:59 p.m.Report inappropriate content
To our Non-Smoking bandwagon jumpers!!! Please respond with some common sense and facts!! (show some Intelligence)
This is not about smoking its about ones rights being diminshed.
If a person feels that smoking should be banned due to health concerns, great, at least take time to look at it from all perspectives and understand, next time it could be your rights to go. I think based on the rights of a citizen; a restaurant or business owner should have the right to make their establishment smoking or non-smoking depending on the owner’s discretion, not law. When In this country was it acceptable to allow a person’s rights to become so easily dictated by a certain group or another’s narrow minded opinion? What it comes down to, is you feel your rights are more valuable than theirs.
July 17, 2008
2:28 p.m.Report inappropriate content
To the person(s) complaining about the megachurch not helping someone. As a local pastor's wife I know how many people come up and ask for help when all they really want is something for nothing. The bible says if a man doesn't work he doesn't eat. We don't know the whole story, or how many times this person went to ask for help before. Just maybe this church has a point. As for some of the other comments made, I would like to invite some of you to please follow you own pastor or possibly some the employess of this mega church around and let's just see how much work they do in a given week. I promise they do not have a 40hr work week like most of us. They have a 60 hour or more work week and are on call 24/7. Most people have no idea how hard a pastor works. One more note, as a pastor's wife I have also found the ones who usually make the most noise and stir up the most trouble about any church are the ones who don't even attend that church or any other church for that matter, so until they do and take part in church business they should not point fingers. I do not attend the megachurch, but they must be doing something right or they would not have the attendance they have now would they?
July 17, 2008
2:35 p.m.Report inappropriate content
In regards to the new fees at the animal shelter. If you cannot afford $75 for a dog or $65 for a cat then you cannot afford the upkeep of an animal. This fee includes yearly shots and a spay/neuter. Willie in order to reduce the kill rate(not like a new shelter is going to solve this problem) people must spay and neuter their pets. End or story and until this is done nothing is going to change.
July 17, 2008
2:38 p.m.Report inappropriate content
raddis is correct. I am a reformed smoker who no longer enjoys the smell of a cigarette. There for a while it was touch and go though, but I digress. It should be the decision of the establishment to ban smoking or not. But the flipside of that token is that the establishment should take into consideration the well-being of the nonsmokers and the childeren. By that I mean they should seperate the two areas with more than a five foot tall wall. Completely seperate the two to a point that the smoke does not intrude upon the nons, and a lot of this stuff would stop.
July 17, 2008
6:21 p.m.Report inappropriate content
To JohnBirch:
I'm glad that your store does not require the use of English.
July 17, 2008
7:53 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Sorry, aetaylor: Since when does a church's large number in attendance mean they are doing something "right"? In today's world, where folks are increasingly drifting farther and farther from traditional Christian beliefs, I would argue that, in many cases, although not all, there are churches with mega-congregations simply because the churches do NOT teach what is "right". We live in a world where many churches and pastors do not stand for Godly/Christian principles and speak softly and tenderly to those with itching ears, waiting to hear what tickles their fancy. And no...that is not to say that the particular "megachurch" in question is that way...it is, however, something to think about. Straight and narrow is the way to Salvation and the Bible teaches that there are "few" who travel that path. Sad indeed.
July 17, 2008
8:16 p.m.Report inappropriate content
My how a few years or generations have changed the way most of us think. When I was in high school you were looked upon as an above average student if you could master a second language. Now days less people know how to even write or speak the correct version of the English language and God forbid if we hear someone speaking something different than we use in order to communicate with other human beings. Anyone working in a global workplace such as mine is at a real advantage if you can master as many languages as possible in order to do business around the world.
July 17, 2008
9:15 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Garmin7979...I agree with every sentence. True, maybe not all megachurches have Pastors that are tip-toeing through the congregation but the traditional gospel has been watered down somewhat so that no one gets up set and disturbed. Somethingstinks made mention of the coffee & donuts...exactly what we're talking about. Nothing wrong with coffee & donuts... but in the proper place. The scriptures tell us in 1 Cor. 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home. You know, I just believe what the Bible says. I've been told in some of the churches the people come right into the sanctuary with their coffee & donuts. Maybe they don't understand the term "sanctuary". Maybe they've NOT GETTING taught what's right and wrong....as garnin7979 so plainly put it. In todays society some of the Pastors and leaders feel they have to put a new twist in their churches operation. Garnin7979 said "sad indeed". I'll also echo that, sad,sad,sad.
July 17, 2008
9:49 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Amen Eddo and caw273! If people think $70 is too much then don't get a pet b/c you're probably not going to spend the money to give it the correct care. Just tether it to a 6 ft. chain, throw it a bone a few times a week & hope the old bucket gets enough rain water to quinch a thirst.
I'm glad they're going up on their fees. Look at other shelter's fees! Hopefully it'll keep people who don't care from getting a pet. And caw273 is right; if you can't afford the adoption fee then you can't afford the pet for the rest of its life. Also might I mention, that fee includes spaying/neutering so people need to quit complaining! Call local vets; ask how much their services cost then you'll think 70/40 bucks is cheap!
July 18, 2008
7:23 a.m.Report inappropriate content
As usual, ignorance rules. The mega-church you speak of actually has a Pastor of Compassion whose function is to visit the hospital and each Pastor conducts funerals and weddings when asked. And as far as all of you Biblical scholars out there, if you read your Bible, you will discover that the Pastor's sole responsibility to to study and preach God's word, not stroke people's egos. And yes we do allow coffee and donuts in our auditorium (we do not have a sanctuary)we also allow people of all colors and nationalities! We welcome people with body piercing, tatoos and beards. We want our church to be filled with drug users, alcholics,homosexuals and bikers. We want the kind of people most churches in our area shun and talk about behind thier backs. We want the same people Jesus hung out with and if it takes a free cup of coffee and a donut to get them in the door, critiize all you want.I don't know what Bible your church uses, but ours uses the one and true word of God and our Pastors preach from it.
I challenge all of our critics to come to a service and then you will know what you are talking about, instead of acting like some of the people Jesus had the most severe words for, the Pharisees. I do not question the salvation of anyone who makes a commentment or baptitized in your church so why do you question those who do so in ours? That is between them and God. Whether you like what God is doing or not, the fact remains that people's lifes are being changed for the better and He is adding to His numbers, not only on Sundays but daily, through this mega-church.
July 18, 2008
8:01 a.m.Report inappropriate content
CrazyK...nowhere in my comments above did I mention the name of a church. Nowhere. My comments were generic so how do you know it is the "megachurch you speak of"? It it wonderful that your church has a Pastor of Compassion. However, I do hope that your Pastor teaches from the Bible and is not just a "philosopher". Coffee and doughnuts are fine...in their proper place, but should probably be left outside of the "auditorium" or sanctuary...whatever you choose to call it. I was in a large local church recently and they served doughnuts. People were actually getting up and down in their seats during the service to GO GET REFILLS! Come on! Have a little respect for those around you trying to focus on the sermon or lesson and just sit tight until the service is over. As the person said above...EAT AT HOME! It's not moneychangers, I know, but churches today are increasing becoming more and more in line with the very ones Jesus turned out of the temple for making a mockery of the place of worship. Nowhere in my comments did I "question anyone's salvation" either, from your church or anyone else's. It sounds to me like you may possibly have some reservations about things going on in your church and took offense to similar issues being brought out generically. However, as you said, "Ignorance Rules". I hope it is not the ruler of your life.
July 18, 2008
8:25 a.m.Report inappropriate content
The thing that really bothers me about some of these "churches" is the enticing. My son, who is 13 years old, was invited by a "friend" to go to church with him. I thought ok, this is good, so I let him go. It turned out the "friend" was a bad influence and so was the church. The "friend" was using the church as an excuse to see and "mess around" with older girls(he was 15). To top it off, when my son came in after a church service, he could not even tell me the scripture, they used in the service. He would say "oh, they didn't read the Bible today."
This was Sunday morning services. When else is a better time to use scriptures? This happened more than once. They were always inviting the kids to come to church for a "good time", never to worship, or pray. Anytime I went to this mega-church to pick my son up, kids were always in the parking lot (all ages) unsupervised. One Friday night, they had "Movie Night". The kids could come see a movie,buy pizza and drinks. My son called me to come pick him up early. I got there at 11pm, two 6 yr. olds were running around in the parking alot by themselves.
This church is using "fun stuff" to get kids to come to their church, but when are they teaching them about worship? My son could not tell me the first thing about any of the sermons.
I was not forcing my son to go to my church at this time. But after this, and finding out the "friend" was going to be a father, I cut him off from the church and the "friend.
Now, he goes to my church.
July 18, 2008
11:07 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Reebop...I have a child your age too who visited a local megachurch in Oconee. Same thing happened there too. Too many churches are wanting to become social clubs for the community and the pastors intertwine "just" enough teachings from the Bible to be able to call it "church". I've been invited there myself and it's always someone saying, "Oh, come visit us! We have wonderful energetic music and singing and we even have doughnuts! We're different!"
Sorry, but "different" isn't necessarily "better". The reason so many smaller churches are losing people to this church is that the smaller churches choose not to cater to the whims of those who don't really want to go "meet" for the right purposes. This is not a game, people. Lives and souls are at stake and "feel good" teachings aren't going to convict sinners or help Christians stay true.
July 20, 2008
12:24 a.m.Report inappropriate content
It is very safe to assume that the majority of those bashing "mega-churches" have never sat through a service nor have a clue what they are all about. Having attended a traditional "old school" church my entire life and having moved my membership to a local mega church a few years back, I can honestly say that all this negativity is unwarranted.
Granted, the mega churches have their faults, and the traditional "family and fellowship" feeling that many of us are used to is not as easy to come by, but the positives outweigh the negatives. The word of God is being preached at these churches and being presented in a real and functional way that is helping people live their lives in a closer walk with God. While it is easy to find fault in these mega churches, I challenge you haters to look inward and ask yourself what is it that these churches have that you can learn from. Why is essentially every traditonal church in the county shrinking while the mega church is growing?
Perhaps the non threatening non stuffy atmosphere, modern music, true praise and worship, well planned and articulate sermons, functional messages, and real life application of God's word is the answer.
Lost people are coming to know the lord in record numbers and you guys are complaing about coffee and donuts and quoting obscure scripture out of context to support it. With members as "christlike" as you it is no wonder why our tradiontal churches are failing.
Again...all churches, mega or traditional, have their strenghts and weaknesses. If megachurches aren't for you, then so be it. But to stand in judgement like this....Wow. Time to grow up.
July 21, 2008
8:04 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Shedslayer...To assume is most always very misleading and can sometimes cause alot of problems.
I was raised Southern Baptist and attended a Wesleyan College. My sister and I sung in several different denominational churches growing up,black and white. I have attended several mega-churches in NC and SC. I am not lumping them all into one. Out of them all, I found only one that I enjoyed worshipping in. The pastor actually did not mind preaching the Bible and stepping on toes. He didn't worry about the doughnuts and coffee. He knew we were there for SOUL food, we could buy our own groceries. (If not, he would help us do that.) Yes, the church stayed full. We had Clemson football players. We had Bob Jones University students that drove up to hear this pastor's sermons. I would still go there had he not had to retire due to health reasons.
I am not here to judge, for He is the only true judge. I am put here to lead and guide my children as I see fit. Granted we all make mistakes, and the Good Lord knows I've made my share. God helped me survive my trials and errors in order to help my children through theirs. That is what I am trying to do. That should be all that any of us are after. There are alot of kids out there who do not have anyone leading them. Quite a few have parents who don't care and don't want to either. Stop arguing over whose church is better and go get a child in church.
July 21, 2008
11:49 a.m.Report inappropriate content
crazyk. Not knowing what church you attend, I cannot say it is the same as the one I know. If it so happens to be the same then maybe your multitude of Pastors shoukld get the word out about their abilities and services. I have some friends who were recently married. They are members of a local megachurch. These two had to search for someone to conduct their ceremony because they were told by the church that their "Pastor" would not do it. I am a notary and they even resorted to asking me to do it. Though I am capable and it is legal for me to do it, I declined. I told them that is the place of a Pastor. In the end they procurred another notary to help them out. My only other observation is that you say that your church does not have a sanctuary, but has an auditorium. In my experience you go to an auditorium to take in a performance(theater, concert, etc.). You go to the church sanctaury to take in God's Word and worship.