Andy Rooneys Telemarketing Advice

Andy Rooney's Tips for Handling TelemarketersThree Little Words That Work !!

(1)The three little words are: "Hold On, Please..."Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt. Then when you eventually hear the phone company's "beep-beep-beep" tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task.These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.

(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end? This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone.This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a "real" sales person to call back and get someone at home. What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible This confuses the machine that dialed the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer !!!

(3) Junk Mail Help: When you get "ads" enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these "ads" with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away.When you get those "pre-approved" letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope. Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 37 cents postage "IF" and when they receive them back.It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50 cents before the last increase and it is according to the weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes. One of Andy Rooney's (60 minutes) ideas. Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them.You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them 37 cents.The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they're paying for it...Twice! Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea !

If enough people follow these tips, it will work ---- I have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore. THIS JUST MIGHT BE ONE E-MAIL THAT YOU WILL WANT TO FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS

Alpha Kickoff First Night Report

I am so encouraged! I feel like a million bucks! I am so grateful to God for leading such a wonderful group of people to us. I am thankful for the servant hearts of our team. I could rant and rave here for hours....so I think I will

We numbered 12 people in all. Hey where have you heard that number before! All indications are that they will all return. Each person has come to the table with business to do. I shouldnt use such anticeptic terms but I think you know what I mean. Ok, Let me rephrase this. Each person has come with a purpose in mind. Each person has an expectation that I just know will be fulfilled. In the fulness of our time together, God will see to it that each person has their need met.

Did I say I was pumped yet? Did I say I was overjoyed?

What I find even cooler is the feeling like this is the tip of the iceberg. One man said he was very very encouraged to come because we held this course in the tavern rather than the church. While he himself attends church, he invited a whole host of his friends that do not attend. He came in support of his friends, none of whom actually came tonight. So while he may feel discouraged, I see nothing but promise and hope. Mark my words. If we continue to share Gods word in these "neutral" grounds, we will have an impact. If this mans friends dont come this time, maybe next time, maybe the time after that. In the meantime, I see a man with great passion that may very well become an addition to our team.

So here is what we have in store as we move forward. We will reach people, who will reach people, whoo will reach people. Its Gods mathematics. Specifically our Alpha team will grow and evolve. We will see an emergence of great new leaders and helpers. We will see a multiplication of Gods Word and Love that will transform the lives of a great many people. We will see new small groups emerge and a building passion for God. We will see people coming to God for the first time. We will see people coming back to God. We will see people coming to the call of servanthood. We will see dry bones now carrying the breath of life back to their congregations. We will see people either push their current fellowships into a greater passion for God, or we will see them leaving those places insearch of others like themselves. People who are longer willing to be luke warm, selfish or complacent about sharing their faith. Boldness and faithfulness will transect with Gods enourmous love and there will be revival. The barriers that we have put up will fall. The dividing lines will weaken as we take Gods word out of our hiding places. Many people will see the resulting joy. Many people will have friends who become much different. With joy and peace and love these poeple will be like lamps to the many downtrodden, who simply wait for rescue. They will see and they will come and God will wipe away their tears. These things will happen and much more.

So there you have it. Its midnight and I'm going to bed. I hope I can sleep cause I am way too pumped!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you God. You have told us time and again how you would give us life in great abundance. Father as we commit ourselves and our time to Your service, would You continue to bless us with Your presence and guidance. Father I lift each and every person up to you. I ask Lord that You will meet them at their point of need. Father forgive me for sounding christianese or for saying cute little catch phrases. Its just that truly Lord Lord, these words reflect the desires of our hearts. So Lord as we try our best to Love You with all our hearts, and as we try to do our very best for your names sake, I ask for your continued compassion, mercy,forgiveness and grace. I know You promised and delivered this in Jesus wonderful name. Help me Oh Lord to live my life based on this realization that you are no longer angry with us. I am free to love You now because I have seen the lengths you have gone and how much you love even me. With gratefulness of heart I will retire to bed. I will fall asleep tonight knowing that you are here, and I will wake tomoorow and face a new day with you by my side. I thank you and I praise you Lord that this is even possible.
In Jesus saving name I pray
amen

Alpha Begins in Acton at Leathertown Tavern

Its Tuesday night at 9:30pm. I have been doing some preps for the Alpha course that begins This Wednesday...Tommorrow! I just got off the phone with Tanya and we cant get over the response we have had. I dropped into Leathertown last night and had a nice talk with Tom regarding the food and preparations and stuff. He is also quite excited, but he doesnt really show it. He is going to serve an amazing meal! I had a laugh because I said to my friend Ron...Tom is such a great cook. I have enjoyed everything I have ever had. He said "Don, youve only ever ordered souvlaki and Greek Salad." Oh ya, thats funny everytime I go there I order the same thing. Well Ron is one to talk...He orders bacon and eggs every time he goes there. Oh except once. He saw how much I loved the souvlaki, he ordered it the next time he went. I told him to prepare for 25 people. At first we thought that would be an over estimation, but I'm beginning to think otherwise. Well, I'm going to pray and then go to bed.

Dear God
Thankyou for your Word and your very presence with us. Thank you Lord, that despite my flaws, my inadequacies and my stupidity, that You still love me and allow me to be your friend. Lord I pray now for those poeple who are coming to Leathertown on Wednesday to learn more about You. Lord I pray that You will be there with us. Lord I pray that You may join us as we eat together, as we watch videos about You, and as we discuss You. Lord tommorrow at Alpha we will explore about Jesus. Lord I pray that you would really make yourself known to us. Lord I pray for the Alpha host team. Lord I pray that we will be delightful hosts, and that our love for you will shine through our smiles and our warmness and welcoming spirits. Lord I pray that each and every person will be blessed by You, and Lord would You pave the way for every one to return the following week. Lord we have talked about how our only expectation is that You would be glorified. Lord though we want to reach people for Your name sake, we realize that it just wont work without You. so lord, would You take the place of honor at the head of our fellowship table tomorrow. Lord since it is our custom not to openly pray for the first few weeks, I want to just do that now. Thank you Lord for the bounties of this earth, your provissions for us, and in particular this good food.
amen

Stop What You're Doing and Do a Backup!

That is advice that I'm willing to give, even though I'm not willing to follow. I Crashed my Computer a week and a half ago and lost everything. While trying to fix my computer, I crashed my other computer and made a mess of it. So there I was, 2 broken computers. Well I ended up formatting and reloading. What a pain that is! I wish I made some backups! Now my advice to you is...............STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND TAKE A BACKUP!

So I'm a turn coat...what can I say

I laughed my face off when I saw this pick. I used to be a habs fan.....until I met my wife. So what can I say, I'm a turncoat and proud of it. Now that I'm a Leafs fan, I can laugh at pictures like this. Now I'm gonna get it. All the habs fans will be leaving me comments about "how many Stanley Cup Rings" the fact that they are a "Dynasty" yada yada................

It Could be Worse

Complaining about winter? It could always be worse! We could be living in Newfoundland! Heres a COOL pic of the snowfall in 2001. The weatherman says its going up to 8 C soon. We might just lose our snow.
So if your a snow fan, you might want to dwell on this photo for a while. Imagine the snow fort you could build in snow like that!

Sick Sense of Humor

This pic makes me laugh everytime I look at it. I must have a pretty sick sense of humor. Haha It reminds me of the time my mom took her grandkids on a roller coaster. I think it was Canada Wonderland. There is a camera that takes everyones picture, and you can buy them as a momento. So mom bought the picture. Emma's face looked like the kid on the gerber bottle. She looked so panicked and frightened, that mom was almost embarrassed to show my brother and sister inlaw. So how was your day at Wonderland....hahaha I think I have my moms sense of humor!

Thinkin About You

I wrote this song years ago when remembering the first time I realized that Jesus was real. There was a framed painting of the Smiling face of Jesus in a coffee shop en route to my workplace. I remember looking at the eyes in the painting and they seemed to sink deep into my heart. I began to frequent this particular coffee shop just so that I could look at those eyes again. These eyes were not enough to keep me from some of the places I have been. However, every where I've been, these eyes have been there with me. Comes a time though when a line is drawn in the sand. When one has to decide what side of the line one lives. One needs to decide where their eyes will look.

Thinkin Bout You
by Don Wright

I been thinking bout you
Thinkin bout the time that we had
When I looked into your eyes I new
Something that I”ll never forget

chorus
But now I’m hangin round this crazy old town
Thinkin bout you and the Love I found
But now I got to get back
Got to get back to you
Foolin around this dirty old town
Playin the bars and closing them down
And still I got to get back
Got to get back to you
Been foolin around but I ain’t dead yet
Singing my songs……….Oh let me Never forget

There always comes a time when you gotta
Step back and take a look at what youv’e done
You kinda gotta ask yourself
Have I lost or have I won

chorus

The Cage of the Dove

The Cage of the Dove

While hands, they are grasping

For a well tempered tool,

Hearts, they lie waiting

For a Lifes renewal

So let us reach for a son that shines

Love lies waiting in this space and time

To set us free

Let me be a tool to build a fortress of your love

And let me be a tool to smash the cage of the dove

And set us Free

by

don wright

Names of Jesus

Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8)
Holy and Anointed One (Ps. 2:2)
Everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6)
Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)

I AM is the Father
I AM is the Son (John 8:58)
I AM the Holy Spirit
Holy and Righteous One (Acts 3:14)

Author of Life (Acts 3:15)
Holy Lamb of God (John 1:29)
King of Kings (Rev. 19:16)
Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16)

You are Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)
The Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)
The Root of David (Rev. 5:5)
Root of Jesse (Isa. 11:10)

Son of David (Matt. 15:22)
Son of Man (Matt. 8:20)
The Good Shepherd (John 10:14)
Son of God (Mark 1:1)

Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6)
Word of God (Rev. 19:13)
Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5)
Emmanuel (Isa. 7:14)

My Precious Child

My Precious Child
by Emily Robinson and Don Wright

I love you child
I’ll stay with you, I’ll walk with you
Please love me child
And stay with me, And walk with me

My precious child, I want you to know me
My precious child I want you to see me
My precious child, please come to me and share with me.

I’ll hold you now
Forever more, however small
The world is mine
Built by design, I made it all

My precious child, I want you to know me
My precious child I want you to see me
My precious child, please come to me and share with me.

These gifts I give
I give to you, I give to all
Reach out your hand, accept my love
Before you fall

My precious world, I want you to know me
My precious world, I want you to see me
My precious world, please come to me and share with me.

What a great Night Tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had a baptism service tonight. What a great night! I had the priviledge to play guitar in the worship band this evening. It is a thrill to play with such gifted musicians. I think the music went well. The evening certainly did. Oh except the baptism tank didnt get filled and heated in time ......again. It made for a very cold dunking. I imagine Jakes legs were purple.

There was a packed house. If you have never been to a believer baptism service, I would highly suggest you do so. In fact, listen carefully to the announcements and if Jake says anything about a baptism service, incline your ears immediately! Trust me, you wont regret it.

Tonight 4 people made commitments and gave testimonies. Its funny because I say making commitments as if these things are burdons. Oh contrare, every time I see and hear these testimonies, I hear of freedom. Freedom from guilt, freedom from worry. freedom from lonliness, freedom from addiction, freedom from ourselves.

Tell me then, how can making commitments to live by God's rules, ultimately lead to freedom? Its a paradox to the earthly mind. Well...its just the way the great engineer designed it. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can begin to enjoy what little time we have on this planet.

My Dream Guitar...Almost

I always wanted a Martin D-28. My friends had Martin D35's, and while many say this is a better instrument, I always like the D28. So I dreamed of some day owning one. I had it in my mind that I would buy one in the year 2000. I fugured if Jesus didnt come back then, then I would be here for the long haul. If that was the case, I was gonna need the guitar of my dreams. Well 2000 came and went and reality sunk in. Jesus didnt come, and, I couldnt afford my dream. Due to a winfall in 2002, and the kind working of terms, I was finally able to purchase my dream guitar. So off I went to my favourite little guitar shop Village Music in Erin. He carries a nice selection of Martin guitars.

So I played the Martin D28, the guitar off my dreams, but I fell in love with another. This single cutaway with a pickup will surely be shunned by the purists. Its certainly not the traditional guitar of my dreams. Its just that we fell in love. I went back to the shop repeatedy. Jim would let me pick out the instruments and go to the back room to be alone with them. Time and again, this guitar won me over. So I fell in love, and purchased the instrument of my new dreams.

We've been together ever since. In fact we will be playing together in a worship band for a beleiver baptism service tonight. It just doesnt get any better than that. So heres to old dreams made new!

My Oldest Surviving Guitar

This is my Fender 12 string. It is my oldest surviving instrument. I bought in new about 26 years ago. It is under construction right now, because I am putting a pickup in it.

I used to play heavy metal/Rock with electric guitars and 100 watt amps and peddles and effects and stuff. One day I walked into a music shop, and out of curiousity, I picked up this guitar and gave it a strum. It was in perfect tune. Note to all music shop owners. Keep your instruments perfectly in tune. I strummed the deluxe G chord and and when I heard the response, I was blown away. One strum...I put it down and left the store.

I sold my guitar/amp and accessories to a kid at school for the amount on the price tag of the 12 string. Thats what love is like. I gladly gave away everything until that point and began a relationship that lasts even today. The only thing is, I'm kinda like Solomon. One beauty simply was not enough. It wasnt good enough to be happy with just one beautiful instrument. No over the course of time, I have fallen in love with, and taken for my self, many more faire beautiful axes.

I love my guitars. They make me feel real. Each one is individual and has its own personality. Each one is special in its own way. Each one has a story and a memory. Each one gets better every passing day.

Is it like this at the Back?

So you mentioned that your guitar didnt have the cutaway. So is it like this one here. When you get a chance, read the label inside the guitar at the center sound hole, and read the name on the head close to tuning pegs/machine head. There will often be a serial number on the label. That can help you determine its age and place of manufacture. None of this really matters if you love your guitar, but if you love your guitar, you usually want to know this stuff. Its kinda like getting to know a friend.

Grandmother Grandson

I love this picture. Its my Mom and my son.

He's heading to Scotland to play rugby in March, so if you are a scottish mother reading this, ya better hide yur sons. The Erin boys are comin to get them. They trample the living and hurdle the dead, and smile at pain.

And...they all listen to their Grandma's

Wild, Wild, Southwest Orton

We had this picture taken in a shopping mall. I think it was around 2001 or so. They had a booth setup with all the props and clothing. So I said Hey lets take this picture and give it as a Christmas present. We all thought it would be cool except Dylan. He was really angry about the whole affair. We decided to look serious, while the ladies were charming. Now that brings back memories!

Fathers of Confederation

This was the thrill of a lifetime. I know, call me strange, but this experience will be etched on my mind forever. My buddy Ron and I took a trip to Ottawa to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. That was an experience of its own. We also went to the Parliament buildings. I had never been there. It was truly spectacular! We took the tour through the buildings. I mentioned to the tour guide that I was disappointed in not seeing the "Fathers of Confederation" painting. I had only seen pictures in history and geography text books. This picture was vivid in my mind and somehow, I expected to see it. Well the tour guide said " As a matter of fact, its in one of the council chambers. It is off limits to tourists, but I think I might be able to sneek you in" Well, thats all we needed to hear. Excitedly, we snuck through some corridors, and turned into some council chambers. There it was! In all its beauty. It was better than I rememebered it. It was far more vivid and colourful. It was fun. She let me stand on a table so I could get a closeup picture. We were like kids in a candy store. Funny how small things can be so much fun. I know, your thinking, its just a painting. Well this is no ordinary painting. This painting reminds me of the founding of our great nation. A nation that is like no other in the world.....I can almost hear a choir singing Oh Canada...I see Mounties and Beavers and Canadian Geese and Hockey Playing Canadian Chicks...oops...did I say that out loud.

Great Grandfather, Grandfather, Father and Son

I found this photo as I was nostalgically looking through my collection. This is 4 generations of Wrights. This picture was taken in the hospital when my son was born. Both Dad and Grandpa died a couple of years later.
Wow this brings back memories.

Is it Like any of These?

I just learned that a friend is learning how to play guitar.
This friend bought the guitar for $10.00 at a junk shop,
and by description, it might be one of these.
Amazing treasures can still be found...even today.

I will sit back and wait for a comment to see......

Is it like any of these?????????????????