This Is My Bank

So this is my bank.  I'm not really trying to sell you anything, unless you need it.  If you do, go see my banker at his new branch.  Shoot me an email (jamesguhn@gmail.com) and I'll give you directions.

 

U.S. Bank finally has a commercial running nationwide.  Watch for it during the U.S. Open August 1-2, or watch it here.

 

Other Stuff About U.S. Bancorp - checking out Here

Here' are some of the highlights:

First large bank to pay off TARP.  Read more here

#1 in privacy according to Ponemon Institute

Bank Director magazine ranks U.S. Bancorp as top performer

U.S. Bancorp is best in class in stress tests. Read more here

U.S. Bancorp is one of the safest banks in the world according to Global Finance

U.S. Bancorp tax-equity fund fuels "hundreds and hundreds" of new solar projects. Read more here

U.S. Bank among "most respected companies". Read more here

Best in Class: U.S. Bancorp an overlooked gem. Read more here

 

U.S. Bank

All of US serving you

Is There Injustice on God's Part?

Romans 9:14-18 asks the question, and I paraphrase, "if God chooses us before we exist, is God unfair (is there injustice on God part)? Of course the answer is, "By no means!" I've never really thought very hard about this point, except to think about how grateful I am to have been chosen, and to help my wife think about why it seems some of her family members are not saved or "chosen". But today I read the verses after the question and the phrase, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion," struck me differently. It's mercy and compassion he gives, not justice. If he gave us justice we would burn in Hell.

Quickly, and lastly for today (and I'm hopeful the shorter writing will help me stay faithful to my blogging and studying again) verse 17 talks about Pharaoh, that God raised him up, that God might show His power in Pharaoh, and that God's name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Pharaoh was used to bring God glory. His heart was hardened toward God, and so Pharaoh rejected God, but God was glorified in this, as His power was revealed when He lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Signs, plagues, and freedom came from God (not Moses), and these things revealed God's great love for His people and His great power over creation.

Praise God for His Mercy.

Saved by Savemart

Two weeks ago, I was bored on my mandatory lunch hour so I walked through Savemart, which is across the parking lot from my branch in Rocklin, CA.  I looked around the store for the beverage that has taken the top position on my beverage ranking list, Pepsi Natural.  No luck.  In fact, Pepsi Natural has disappeared completely.  There's none at any of the major grocery chains around, none at Costco anymore, and none at the gas stations and quickie marts in all of Placer County (at least the ones I've checked).

 

But back to Savemart.  A male employee at Savemart helped me look for the Pepsi Natural, telling me about a Pepsi display where he had last seen the bottled goodness.  But I was out of luck that day.  The gentleman told me he would ask the Pepsi Rep the next time he was in.  I was appreciative, but not hopeful.

 

Fast forward to today.  I was once again bored on my lunch, longing for a new type of beverage to fill the void left by the missing Pepsi Natural, and strolling the isles of the Savemart.  Again I was approached by an employee, this time a female, and asked if I needed some help.  I told her my story and of my desire (not "hope" anymore).  She asked if I had checked the regular soda isle, as she found me while checking the Pepsi product display.  We walked over together and looked.  She offered to check the stock room and I agreed, knowing the gentleman had checked there last time without the desired outcome.  I continued to look deeply into the shelves, willing a 4 pack to be stuck in the back of a shelf undiscovered.

 

AND THEN, as though I willed with all the will power a fat guy can muster, The female employee emerged from the stock room with a box.  A case?  No, it can't be.  Or can it.  OH MY GOODNESS!!!  24 dusty bottles of Pepsi Natural found in the some cold, dark corner of the stock room.  "How many would you like?"  "All of them," I replied.  "All of them."

 

24 beautiful bottles of bubbly goodness known as the natural ingredients of Pepsi Natural.  What a great day, Saved by Savemart.

 

On my way out of the store, the gentleman I originally talked with, saw me walking out of the store with the case.  He told me he had ordered the case for me.  Thank you Savemart.  Thank you employees of Savemart.  Thank you Pepsi Rep.

Not Because of Works but Because of His Call

No excuses, I'm just going to move on. I last left off in Romans chapter 9, talking about the fact that Paul would die for his "kinsman." Paul continues to clarify that, although God's promise was for the Jews, not all Jews are chosen. Down in verse 11 something caught my eye to write quickly today. "though the (Jacob & Esau) were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad - in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of His call..." God's calling has been for all time and is not based on our works.

I'm really struggling with my own spiritual life because I'm focusing so much on my sins and on the lack of service. While these things are serious concerns, my salvation is not from these things, only evidenced by them. And, while there is not a lot of good evidence in my life, and that is scary, dwelling solely on my sin does not help me move forward and live for the glory of God.

I keep writing about the importance of God's word. Read it. Study it. Apply it. Live it. It's been some time since I last read or wrote and this mornings reading just made me feel closer and more connected to God again. Nothing I've done can or has earned me salvation, as I am a wretched person full of sin. Thanks be to God for the gift of His son Jesus, for the payment made on my behalf. My sins are forgiven by the blood of Christ. I now have the freedom to live my life to the glory of God the Father and Creator, the Almighty King over all, the Ruler over Heaven and of Earth, the One who will defeat Satan and destroy him armies.

Praise God for His Power over Sin, over Death, and over The Evil One's grip.
Praise God for His Glory and Grace.

CHP Charger

I've seen this thing around for months but haven't had a chance to take a picture of it. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is using Dodge Chargers for some of their patrol units, and Ted found this opportunity in Auburn, CA to take a picture. He told me he wasn't the unlucky one, as you can see the officer talking to someone in a truck in the background. This car is a pretty sweet looking cop car.

Everything Should Have a Joystick

This is what I just drove around the streets of Davis. I was hoping
someone would try to take advantage of me so I could then jump up and
beat the liberal (Davis is full of them), but I didn't get the chance.

Chili's Has The Best Deals...Food

So check this out.

Yeah Sorry, One More Top Gear Clip

I think it's the production quality and the amazing driving skills that does it for me. This one is intense. Imagine you are simply the passenger. You have no control. Only Ken does.

More Top Gear Goodness

Here's a video with my favorite of all compact cars, the VW R32 (a golf with a V6 and all wheel drive). This is good stuff. Clarkson pits the BMW 130 up against the VW R32.

Top Gear - We Need This Here

When I saw we need Top Gear here in the USA, I'm not saying we need a remake. We need the original broadcast here. Jeremy Clarkson is so great. He is a genius. He's funny. And he knows how do drive a car. AND...he will put down a piece of junk...like the Prius. Anyway, this two part video series is from the show, and it is just an example of his story telling abilities. He shows off some sweet British Army vehicles and some of his sweet driving skills, all with humor and a great a great plot. Enjoy. Part 1 Part 2

World of Warcraft Game Fuel is...

GROSS!!! And I'm a lover of Mountain Dew. I'm the one who calls regular Mountain Dew the "Nectar of Life." It seems that more often than not, these new flavors of Mountain Dew are no good. Read my past posts about other flavors here and my post on the orininal Game Fuel, which is the orange one here. So the orange colored flavor is the same as the Halo 3 Game Fuel. It says it's, citrus cherry. But again, it's not good like Code Red or Live Wire, the cherry and orange flavors of Mountain Dew. The chemical glowing blue flavor is wild fruit, and surprisingly, it's easier to deal with. Anyway, that's enough. Drink regular Mountain Dew, Code Red, and Live Wire. Don't drink Game Fuel, DEWmocracy winner Voltage, or even Throwback.

Don't Support GM!

Don't support GM, congress, Obama, or anyone who thinks a guy who helped lead a company into bankruptcy and cost the citizens of the USA $90 billion so far, deserves the following severance: $8.2 million, plus $74,030 per year for life, along with health and life insurance plans That's what Rick Wagoner who, in March, was forced out of his position as the CEO of General Motors, will be receiving from GM...or us, the taxpayers. This is more money than I'll ever make in my entire life. And, it's some of the money we pay to this stupid government we have "representing" us. Although, I keep wanting to say support Ford, I'm a little nervous because they have contracts with the UAW. Still, it's a better option than GM who is just costing taxpayers more and more money. LET GM FAIL. Let bad decision makers fail. I look at the banking industry and see that a bank like U.S. Bank is one of the healthiest and most secure banks in the nation because they were conservative and made good, sound business decisions. Let the rest fail. That's what FDIC is about. That's what capitalism is about. Let the bad fall away and become no more. We can weed out the bad and keep the good. This is a great time to help the good businesses succeed and the bad one get out of the way.

Shop Pepsi

shop.pepsi.com

Check it out. There is some cool stuff.

Dave and Buster's Coming to The Fountains at Roseville

My wife and I were out with a friend enjoying some "Big Spoon" yogurt in The Fountains at Roseville.  She told us she heard an adult arcade is going in where there used to be a nice grassy area to enjoy your yogurt.  I thought it sounded a little familiar.  Then I looked on the Fountains website and found out the "adult arcade" is Dave and Buster's.  It is such a fun place to eat, play games, and enjoy yourself....as an adult.  They do sell alcoholic beverages, but it's more than that.  Good food, party rooms, member cards for the games, and a wide selection of other recreational activities, from movies to pool tables, are some of what Dave and Buster's offers.

 

I remembered back 7 or 8 years ago, my roommate and I talked about Roseville needing a Dave and Buster's.  We went as far as looking at how to franchise, calling D&B, and sending emails telling them to come to Roseville.  Well, they finally are and I, for one, am excited.

 

Beaker Sings Ode To Joy

I stumbled upon this video when my wife showed me a picture of a guy she knew in college and he reminded me of Beaker from the Muppet's. When I did a search for Beaker to show her the similarities between the Muppet and the college friend, I came across this video and had to post it. I wish I could post the picture of the friend but, she's nicer than I am.

Microsoft Sucks On So Many Levels

My wife and I wanted to watch a movie in bed tonight. I grabbed my 17" Dell laptop with Windows XP on it, and we crawled into bed to enjoy the movie. Microsoft has a program called Windows Media Player, only it doesn't play the media we had. DVDs are apparently not a media that Microsoft has designed its Windows Media Player to play. Here is the error I got (click on the picture to enlarge): Just for kicks, I clicked on the "Web Help" button and found several options I could download for a fee. It looks like $14.99 will get me a decoder, but how do I know this decoder will work for all DVDs I want to watch on my "Microsoft Windows XP with Windows Media Player" computer? I DON'T. This is just another reason to buy Apple. Microsoft sucks on so many levels. Don't worry people, I've heard of and love freeware like VLC. It works wonderfully. In fact, I recommend this free media player because it will work with allllllll sorts of media. Oh yeah, and it's free.

Today We Celebrate The Numbers 1 through 9

I wish I knew sooner I could have posted this at the AM striking of 123456789 but.... Thanks Brody.

Wretched Man That I Am

The more I review my life, the more concern I have regarding my place in eternity. I have no fruit in my life. I have no joy, no peace, none of the signs we all talk about as Christians. Do you? Do you really have complete and total peace and joy? Is there fruit? Do you see people's lives being changed because of what you do and how you live and the things you share with them about the truths of God?

Last night my wife and I had dinner with one of my favorite people. He is a really close friend, he was a groomsman in my wedding, and he is a "good person." The problem is, he's not saved. He doesn't believe in his need for a savior. He doesn't believe the Bible is the inspired Word of the Creator and Savior of this world. He is good in the eyes of the world, but he is not saved and therefore can not do anything good, as it is not being done for the glory of God. But why would he? He does have many friends that claim Christianity and a belief in God, but how often are these people living proof of that? I, for one, am a hindrance to the hope that he will see his need for a Savior.

I know that nothing I can do will save him. I know that despite my failures, God can reveal Himself to this friend. But what am I doing to facilitate a good work? "Nothing." That's the true answer. And it's beginning to make me sick. My own life is beginning to make me hate myself, my sin, and my lack of purpose. If my life does nothing to glorify God, my life in useless and wasted and void of value. God should be glorified in all that I do. I should strive to bring glory to his name at every moment I can. I've been saved from my wreched sin, and yet I live as though I am still an unsaved hopeless person.

I need Christ so much more than I realize. Salvation is an amazing gift of grace and mercy. God should (and I would deserve it) send me straight to Hell and eternal damnation. I continue to blow the opportunities he gives me to point to Him, to glorify Him, to praise and honor Him. I am wasting my life every minute and wasting precious, valuable time I could be devoted to Him. Why do I not crave time in the Word of GOD? Why do I not crave time in prayer, talking to the Almighty Creator? Why do I not scream out praise of the one who has saved me from this wretched sinful life I live?

Praise the Almighty God for the salvation that comes only through the blood of His Son, poured out on the cross for me, a wretched, sinful being with no value except that which he sees and has saved for His own purpose. Praise God for the undeserved mercy and grace, the unearned rescue He's given to me, pulling me out of the darkness of sin and into Him marvelous light.

Praise God for all Eternity for His Amazing Love, Grace, and Mercy on us.

Can The Camero Save GM?

Spotted in Rocklin. (nice Golf sitting next to it)