Ash Wednesday

In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. During some Ash Wednesday services, the minister will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers.

Not all Christian churches observe Ash Wednesday or Lent. They are mostly observed by the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican denominations, and also by Roman Catholics. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Easter. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday and Ash Wednesday is not observed.

The Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.

2 Samuel 13:19 She was wearing a long-sleeved gown. (That's how virgin princesses used to dress from early adolescence on.) Tamar poured ashes on her head, then she ripped the long-sleeved gown, held her head in her hands, and walked away, sobbing as she went.

Esther 4:1 1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.

Job 2:8 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

Daniel 9:3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

Matt. 11:21 21"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Financial Peace

Financial Peace University kicked off at Granger Community Church GCC and packed the house! 244 to be exact!



Dave Ramsey's daveramsey.com process to financial freedom includes "Seven Baby Steps". The bulk of the premier lesson covers Baby Step 1 - The Emergency Fund. Savings, especially savings for the unexpected has to be a priority. Like it or not, unexpected events are going to happen. In a previous post last week I spoke about our dryer breaking down Left hangin'. Things happen and a $1000 emergency fund helps alleviate the stress that those things can cause. But establishing an emergency fund takes discipline. You will realize its value in the long run.

"Live like no one else, so you can live like no one else!" Dave Ramsey

Panera - says one thing, does another

I noticed this banner at Panera Saturday morning






















If details really matter, why then, after I was told that procedures had been changed in 27 Panera stores across the state of Indiana, did I see employees put coffee pots on the floor again not only on Saturday but Sunday morning as well!

Arrrrrrrgggggggggg!!!!!!!!

Panera - This just in!

I thought I'd closed the book on my issues with the coffee pots at Panera, but it seems as though there was one last thing to be said.'

While at Panera, doing my usual morning thing, having coffee, reading and engaging in conversations with my other Panera peeps, the manager wandered over to me. He inquired as to whether I'd seen any coffee pots put on the floor today. Up until that momemt, no one at Panera had said a word to me about my email to their customer service department about the coffee pots (see Customer Service) so I was taken aback. (The manager is a great guy. He always makes it a point to say hi and knows me by name.) Anyway I responded that I had actually not seen the coffee pots been put on the floor over the past few days. He said that my email had made an impact on the whole state of Indiana and 27 Panera stores now had a new procedure in place for replacing the empty coffee pots. I can't imagine what my face must have looked like. I was stunned to say the least.

I told him that I didn't mean to be a 'whiner' but it just wasn't right that something I or any other patron of that restaurant should have to witness, let alone pour a beverage from. He wasn't upset. He said it was a good thing and thanked me for it.

I didn't really think anything would ever become of my complaint based upon the original email response I'd received from Panera. Just goes to show that it does pay to voice your opinion and concerns.

Hmmmm...Bob the "activist", who'd a thunk!

Panera - The final chapter

This morning I wrote of the continuing saga at Panera and it's incident with the Department of Health. In my post Panera - The saga continues I vowed to find out what had transpired since the server had taken a vow of silence.

I wasn't even sure if I could find out anything, but a friend on Facebook saw my tweet from this morning and posted on my wall that the health department visit was indeed public information. They advised that I should be able to find information in the local newspaper or through the health department itself. I searched the local paper online but with no avail. I found nothing. So I got brave and phoned the health department.

I was relieved to find that it was only a permit issue and nothing to do with cleanliness or food issues. I didn't want to see Panera closed as I do enjoy there coffee and food as I noted in my first post about Panera Customer Service

I did still have concerns about my original objection of setting the coffee pots on the floor that I'd also spoke of in my original post Customer Service so I inquired about that while on the phone to the health department.

I stand corrected.

The inspector at the health department advised that there was no violation for putting the coffee pots on the floor because they are impervious. She did, however, agree with me, that it would likely appear disgusting to the customer.

So c'mon Panera...pick up those pots!

Panera - The saga continues

A week or so ago I posted some observations I'd made about Panera Bread in Mishawaka Customer Service

The concerns I expressed in my blog post were averted by the Panera customer service rep who said they weren't in violation of any Department of Health regulations in regards to the coffee pots. Well this may not have been a violation, but apparently something else was.....

I got news of some activity on Twitter yesterday that said that Panera was closed by the Department of Health late morning for some type of violation. I don't know what that violation was, but am not really surprised. I was told that Panera on Main Street in Mishawaka was closed and would reopen on Wednesday. As it turns out they did re-open on Tuesday, but under what conditions I have no idea.

I was anxious to get to Panera this morning for coffee and find out what actually happened. (I know many of you are wondering why I went back if they'd been closed by the Dept.of Health....) None of the usual group that is at Panera at 6am was aware of the previous days upheaval so I decided to ask a Panera employee.

I walked up to the counter to pay for my coffee and asked the server about what I'd heard the day before. The server looked down at the floor and replied "I cannot talk about that, I can't say anything....no comment"

So what does that mean...no comment? Shouldn't your patrons, especially the regulars, know what is going on with the store? Isn't it public knowledge? Well, its my goal today to find out if it is indeed public knowledge or not!

Huckabee on the Stimulous Bill

Huckabee & The Stimulous Bill

Have you seen her, tell me have you seen her?

My blond has gone red!












...have I mentioned red is my favorite color!

Left hangin'

We just booked and amazing Orlando vacation for this coming spring. The air faire was unbelievably cheap. The hotel where we've been staying for years had an awesome rate. After much searching I finally found a reasonable rental car. And my vacation spending account is fully funded. Ahhhhhh...life is good, but....

You just never know when Murphy will be lurking around the corner. Lori put the load of laundry she'd done in the dryer this morning. She checked it about 15 minutes later and it was still cold and wet. She tried another heat setting and started it again. Fifteen minutes later, still cold and wet. Apparently the dryer is not working. Genius aren't I!

We're starting a new Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Class on February 23, 2009 at Granger Community Church. In 13 weeks Dave teaches how to achieve financial freedom through planning and budgeting. Not only will you learn about your budget and how to plan and manage your finances, but there are valuable sessions on investing and college planning and retirement to name just a few. You'll learn how to control your money and not have it control you!

In the first lesson you learn how important it is to have an emergency fund for unexpected expenses. You know, the ones you pull the credit card out for and then end up paying for them forever...and paying more than the original expense. The first goal in the Financial Peace class is to establish a $1000 emergency fund. Later you'll learn how to increase the balance of this fund, but Rome wasn't built in a day and you've got to start somewhere!

As I mentioned earlier, you never know when Murphy is going drop by. He dropped by at my house this morning.....



...and the todays laundry has been "hung out to dry" but my emergency fund is in tact and the repairman is on the way!

You want to head Murphy "off at the pass"? Sign up for Financial Peace University Granger Community Church and "Live like no one else, so you can live like no one else!"

Customer service

Panera has good coffee. I'm particularly fond of their hazelnut brew. I like the fact that there are unlimited refills (cuz I can drink a lot of coffee). But I've not been real fond of the means in which they replace their empty pots. The staff often come out with two the big pots in tow, one in each arm, and put them on the floor before removing the empty pots. Kinda gross....no, very gross! There is a 'contact us' section on Panera's website so I thought I'd raise my concern.

I wrote

Time and time again when I see the empty coffee containers changed out the person who is doing it sets the full coffee container on the floor while they're lifting the empty one off the cabinet where they sit for public consumption. This seems like a huge health department violation to me. Why is this allowed to happen? Why aren't staff trained not do this? It seems incredibly insanitary.

It seemed to me like this may be something they'd want to know about and probably discontinue the practice of doing.

I was surprise to have a response from them the very next day. They wrote....

Dear Bob,

Thank you for contacting Panera Bread regarding the coffee containers. Because of the limited space at the coffee area, the containers may have to be placed on the floor while changing them out. It is not a health violation because the only part of the container touching the floor is the base. I have forwarded your comments to the bakery-café for review.

Thank you again, and we hope that you continue to enjoy Panera Bread.

Sincerely,

It was not the response I'd expected.

I've been tuned in recently to the need to give a complete and accurate response to requests that are made of me. Though I may have thought things through, I haven't done the best job in articulating the complete picture. I've become extremely sensitive to this deficiency in myself and am taking steps to overcome this shortfall in myself. You can be much more helpful when you go full circle and propose a resolution if it's needed.

I think this newly found sensitivity in my prompted my follow up to Panera's response

I replied.....

I'm quite surprised by your response and it's reflection on customers service and perception of the Panera restaurant on Main Street in Mishawaka Indiana.

Can you honestly tell that it doesn't give a less than sanitary appearance to the customer standing in line or seated in the restaurant when your workers come out and put the coffee pots on the floor. I wouldn't expect them to put my food tray on the floor before they served my bagel to me. The food isn't touching the floor so does that make that ok too. NOT!

Perhaps a cart could be used to bring the coffee pots to and from the designated coffee area or I understand the restaurant on Main is up for a remodel...maybe the coffee area should be redesigned.

I have to say that I didn't find your response to be very customer focused nor customer friendly. Your response was all about your worker. I believe the saying is the "customer is always right." I'm not saying I have all of the answers but I certainly wouldn't have responded the way that you did.

.....to be continued.