Written In iStone random personal blog - rants - thoughts - prayers - dreams - questions - whatever inspires or moves me at the moment

OK, I suck at keeping a blog on a consistent basis. Let's just get that out of the way  right up front. I say it a lot, but, as long as that's the case, I'll say it. Now on to today's entry...

A very dear, beloved friend of mine passed away on Friday, April 09, 2010, less than a week ago. My wife and I have been good friends with he and his wife for quite some time. We are walking through this initial phase of grief, funeral arrangements, paperwork, etc., with his widow. She is now the only person living in her home, grief stricken and unsure of how to handle all that needs to be done in such a short time. My amazing wife has stepped in to stand beside her, to help her through all that she needs to get done. She is actually spending the week with her in her home. I sit at home with our two teens, homeschooling them, creating a memorial service "program card" for the funeral on my Mac, and grieving here. This coming Saturday, just 8 days after our friends passing, friends and family will say their last goodbyes at the memorial service. From then on, we all continue in the grief process, each of us in our individual way. We will be there for one another, and life will go on. For our departed friend, life goes on as well. Notice that that phrase says, "departed". That is because he isn't dead. He simply moved on. He is now with JESUS in Heaven. Had he passed away in his youth, perhaps that wouldn't be the case. God gives us all ample opportunity to accept JESUS and follow Him. It is up to us to make the right choice. Our Father in Heaven loves us so much that He created each of us with a free will to accept Him, or to reject Him. It is our choice.

Life is a journey, a quest, a pilgrimage. Life here on earth is just a starting point for every human. We begin here, and live here for whatever time we have, in preparation for the next phase of our lives elsewhere, whether it be eternity in Heaven with our Creator (Yaweh, Yeshua, Holy Spirit), or an eternal life of eternal separation from Him and of unending, unimaginable torment in the lake of fire. Our Creator doesn't send anyone to either place. The choice is ours, and ours alone. That being said, if you don't know what your future holds were your human life to end today, it is a very good time to repent (change your mind and ways) and turn to JESUS, accept Him into your life, and follow Him. He will be the Best Friend that you will ever have, a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. His love is boundless and powerful. He already paid the ultimate price so that you don't have to spend eternity without Him. It's just up to you. It's that simple. There is no perfect "sinner's prayer" to pray. Simply let JESUS know that you are sorry for leaving Him out of your life, sorry for your sins, and that you want Him to live in you through His Holy Spirit. Let Him know that you want to follow Him, and that you'll need His help to do just that. He'll take care of the rest. Your Father in Heaven is faithful. He will never let you down.

I'll try to make this short, yet detailed enough to make sense.

My wife and I have been customers with the local public utility district (electric company), Cowlitz PUD, for over ten years, all at the same address where we live now. In the past there have even been several times when we paid extra over what our bill is into a program that helps low-income customers with their bills.

I am on a meager, limited disability income, and have been since 2002. My wife has not been able to work since August 2007 due to injuries suffered in a car accident. For the past 8 months or so, we have struggled to get our bills paid on time. While behind, we have always been able to get the bills paid, and have not had the service disconnected. Last week, however, Cowlitz PUD sent us a letter informing us that we need to pay them a $375 deposit within 5 days of the date of the letter, or they would disconnect our service. Our bill is one payment short of being paid in full. Thanks to a gift from a friend, the bill will be paid in full, and the balance will be zero first thing tomorrow morning (Tue. April 6, 2010). The "deposit" demand will still be in effect, however, and the plan to disconnect us tomorrow will still be in effect as well.

My wife discussed the situation with someone at Cowlitz PUD this afternoon, and they are STILL demanding the deposit. To me that is extortion. We have not been disconnected, and currently have service. How long-time customers, customers who have even helped others by paying extra at times, can be treated this unfairly is beyond me. I have contacted the Washington State Attorney General's office for help, but it may be up to a month before we get any response from them due to their workload. I contacted the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, and they informed me that they have absolutely no jurisdiction over our local public utility district. From what I have learned so far, Cowlitz PUD is free to do what they want to do, and may extort money from faithful customers whenever they wish to do so, because, apparently, there is no oversight agency that keeps an eye on them? What the heck?

If anyone reading this blog has any helpful suggestions/ideas, any information on who we can contact to help us deal with this situation, or can help in any way, please contact me by email. My email address is iStone.me@gmail.com We desperately need some help immediately, because Cowlitz PUD has scheduled us for disconnect tomorrow. This is SO ridiculous, but it's really happening.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.
God bless you all.