Hello everybody, hope you are having a nice weekend!
I made a new kit and it will be available soon at Designer Scraps and at Magical-Scraps. It's called "Cherished" and I like how it turned out... Love the colors! There are 12 paper 700x700 and 60 elements! You will like it!
Also remember that my kits are all -30% at Designer Scraps until Monday. So grab them for this very affordable price before the Sale ends! :)
This is the preview:
I also have a new freebie for you. It's my "Live, laugh and love". This is the second kit I've made, all in Paint Shop Pro.... So, be good to me!
1. My kits are going -30% at Designer Scraps. The sale starts today and will end on Monday. So, until then, you can have my kits for just $2.10!
2. I have a new kit available for sale at Designer Scraps and at Magical-Scraps. It's called "Strange world". There are 12 paper and 66 elements! As always, not all are shown in the preview.
Hope you like it!
Preview:
I also have a new kit I'm workin' on... so, stay tuned for updates!
Throwback-style unseeded challenger who made a match of it with Venus Williams, whose WTA ranking is 234 places ahead of the No. 241 Tunisian. Any other player with even the slightest power game would have upset Williams, who played a typically sloppy and inconsistent game full of unforced errors and poor technique. But the petite (5-5, 121 pounds) Sfar, she of the one-handed backhand (a beauty), drop shots and slices, just didn't have any go-to weapons besides physical fitness and guile. Still, her 2-6, 4-6 loss to Venus was not as straightforward as the scoreline suggests. As the UK's Guardian reported: "Williams will encounter few more perplexing assignments. Sfar, with her penchant for serve-and-volley, elegant one-handed backhand and willingness to mix looped topspin ground strokes with chipped drives, is a throwback to a bygone era. Faced with the Tunisian's variety of shot and tactic, Williams rarely looked settled."
Sfar, on the other hand, looked lovely, wearing a form-fitting one-piece that left little to the imagination and paid tribute to her washboard abs and taut legs. You can have your supermodels, Hooters waitresses, and pin-up girls; to me, nothing is sexier than a fit female tennis player with long, lean legs and a one-handed backhand(schwing!).
Sfar's Pilates-worthy abs
Sfar, who has been ranked as high as 75th in the world (July 2001), achieved most of her success in B-circuit ITF tournaments, where's she's won 11 singles tournaments and 17 doubles titles. But at 30 and with a finese style that doesn't fit today's power game, don't look for Sfar to win any major WTA tournaments; watch her simply for enjoyment of "the beautiful game" itself. That in itself makes this graceful athlete a winner.
Janko Tipsarovic Age: 23 Country: Serbia Ranking: No. 33
There's a new Serb gunslinger in town and he's got game. While the world rightly raves about Novak Jokovic - and Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic on the women's side - Janko is the latest Serbian tennis star whose name ends in "vic" with a game ready to break into the Top 10. His trademarks, besides the noseguard over the bridge of his nose (what's that all about, anyway?) and the plentiful tattoos that peek out from under his shirt (forearm and back of neck), are his unbelievable power and baseline game. His forehand is a force to be reckoned with - this guy hits winners that leave no doubt about their intention - and his two-handed backhand is not far behind.
Tipsy started 2008 by reaching the third round of the Australian Open, where he more than held his own against World No. 1 Roger Federer, losing the deciding fifth set by 10-8 in a match that lasted 4 1/2 hours - no wonder they call the guy "Marathon Man"! He made it to the quarter finals at Zagreb, the third round of Monte Carlo (beating Paul-Henri Mathieu and Nicolas Lapentti before falling to David Ferrer), and barely lost a third-set tiebreaker to big-serving Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in Rome. He's also beaten James Blake this year. At the French Open, he lost in the first round, in four sets, to Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti, but is still alive through the third round in men's doubles with fellow Serb partner Victor Troicki.
Oh, and about those tattoos. According to Wikipedia, they reflect his love of classic literature (rather unusual for a pro athlete): his left arm features a quote from Fyodor Dostoyesky's The Idiot ("Beauty will save the world") written in Japanese characters (after deciding it didn't look as cool in Russian), while a tattoo on his right arm represents the first two letters of the names of his father, his mother, himself and his brother, also written in Japanese Katakana. The tattoo on his back is a quote from German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. Word has it that he reads Goethe and Nietzsche - for fun.
Tipsy is quite the entertaining character to watch. Besides the tats, he also has piercings (he has a labret and a barbell in the right brow) and at one time sported glasses, which is rarely seen on today's tour...
...and even sunglasses - which you never see in the pro game (I wonder why?).
Future's so bright he has to wear shades
The Guardian's Robert Kitson was so impressed that he wrote a poetic piece about Tipsarovic following a 2006 loss at Wimbleton to Andy Roddick. "Imagine a fly fisherman on the deck of a deep-sea trawler and you will get an idea of how Tipsarevic operates. In a world full of power-hitters he directs balls to improbable corners of the court with more subtlety and skill than the pile-driving Roddick will manage in his entire career."
These two are definitely ones to watch, one as a coming contender, the other simply for the beauty of her game.
Honorable Mentions: I was also very impressed by the play of Brazilian qualifier Tomaz Belluci in that first set (which he lost 5-7), First Round match against Nadal, Frenchman Julien Benneteau who gave it his all against Federer in the Fourth Round (4-6, 5-7, 5-7), and especially Latvian Ernests Gulbis - the 19-year-old phenom who became the first player in the history of his small Baltic homeland to enter the top 100. He's currently No. 80 in the world, but should move up after making it to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in three tight sets 5-7, 6-7 (3-7), 5-7.
Squeeze Argybargy released February 1980, A&M Records
My ex-wife took all the Squeeze vinyl except for the "Squabs On Forty Fab" single, so when I saw a used copy of Argybargy at Record & Tape Traders (how anachronistic that word tape sounds today!), I immediately scarfed it up. While my GF and countless rock critics wax eloquent on how great the Elvis Costello-produced East Side Story (1981) is, I think Argybargy is the essential Squeeze album, even nudging out the wonderfully lad-ish Cool For Cats (1979). Just take the first three tracks - "Pulling Mussels From a Shell," "Another Nail In My Heart" and "Separate Beds" - which represent two singles and one that should have been, offered up one after the other with no filler in between. ("Pulling Mussels From a Shell" reached #44 on the UK charts and #97 in the US, "Another Nail in My Heart" was #17.) It's the next best thing to listening to Squeeze's "Squabs On Forty Fab" hits medley. Throw in another killer single, "If I Didn't Love You," the ninth track on side two (mysteriously this masterpiece didn't chart), and that's a pretty impressive album. Plus, there isn't a dud in the remaining tracks. The fourth track "Misadventure" keeps the party going full swing after the opening single trio and "Think I'm a Go-Go" concludes side 1 in fine fiddle.
The flip side offers up some nice Jools Holland workouts on "Farfisa Beat" (another single, though it didn't chart) and the Holland-Difford-penned "Wrong Side of the Moon," interspersed with "Here Comes That Feeling," "Vicky Verky," "There At the Top" (another great should-have-been-a-single song) and the ever-clever standout "If I Didn't Love You," with its memorable lines I've never forgotten of "I'm playing your sterogram/Singles remind me of kisses/Albums remind me of plans" (take that iPod Generation!) Yup, when you add it all up, the album "filler" is just as killer as the hits (four singles!) on offer.
The next year would see Jools Holland jump ship to become a successful TV star, a position he maintains to this day, and Squeeze switch management from Miles Copeland to Elvis Costello's man Jake Riviera. And the "new Lennon and McCartney" accolades that came with the OK, but slightly over-hyped East Side Story.
My 1997 CD reissue of Argybargy adds two tracks, "Funny How It Goes" and "Go," while yet another reissue (what is it with record companies forcing fans to buy the same album over-and-over again? Oh yeah, capitalism!), the 2008 Deluxe Edition, adds a 20-track bonus live CD. I'll live with the original, as it was, as I remember it, back in the day.
Labelled With Love b/w Squabs On Forty Fab (non-LP track) released September 25, 1981, A&M Records #4 UK Charts
I've been reading my most recent cheap score from Daedalus Books & Music, Squeeze Song By Song (Chris Difford & Glenn Tilbrook with Jim Drury, $3.98), and came across this entry about their 14th single, "Labelled With Love" (from 1981's East Side Story LP) on page 98:
A joke by the band that backfired unwittingly helped the country ballad's success . 1981 had heralded the tacky series Stars On 45 - unspeakably awful medleys of songs by bands like The Beatles, Abba and Stevie Wonder - and Squeeze thought it would be funny to cobble together an assortment of their own hits on the B-side, which they crudely named 'Squabs On Forty Fab'. 'It was a brutal shoehorning of all our hits to that point into one tempo which absolutely murdered the songs,' says Glen. 'We did it for a laugh but it got almost equal airplay to "Labelled With Love". It was such an own goal because people didn't know we were joking'.
With all due respect to a band I love dearly, I think Tilbrook lost the plot. I guess it will be my guilty pleasure for all-time that I love this rare B-side hits medley spoof better than any one Squeeze LP or singles compilation like Singles 45's and Under, which is saying a lot because Squeeze to me were always a singles band whose parts were better than the sum of their full albums, even East Side Story, the record that got them labeled "the new Lennon & McCartney" (when McCartney later met Difford and asked him which one he was, Difford cleverly replied "Ringo"!). In fact,whenever I hear the individual hits represented on "Squabs On Forty Fab" playing on the radio or a CD, I always wait for the seques into the next song - they're forever imprinted into my ears that way, in that particular order, over a disco beat. As DJ Fluxblog says, "When you don't know which Squeeze song to play, you always have the option of putting on this fantastic medley containing many of their finest compositions."
For the record, the songs on this toe-tapping B-side novelty hit were as follows: "Take Me I'm Yours," "Cool For Cats," "Up The Junction," "Is That Love?,""Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)," "Separate Beds," "Another Nail In My Heart," "Slap & Tickle," "Goodbye Girl," and "Someone Else's Heart."
It's a shame that the greatest wham-bam, one-after-the-other representation of Squeeze's hits remains virtually unknown in the Digital Era, out-of-print except as an overpriced import CD, Excess Moderation - Chronicles. (You can also try tracking it down on used copies of the out-of-print import CD Big Squeeze: The Very Best of Squeeze.)
Well, last week in level 4 and 5 classes, we discussed the use of Present Perfect. I found this great resource in the Internet and wanted to share it with you so you can have a better understanding of what this grammar point means. So, let's get started:
FORM: This is its magic formula .... [has/have + past participle] Examples:
You have seen that movie many times. Have you seen that movie many times? You have not seen that movie many times. We can use present perfect to talk about unspecified Time Before Now.We use it to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important.
You CANNOTuse the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc.
We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc. Examples:
I have seen that movie twenty times. I think I have met him once before. There have been many earthquakes in California.
We use Present perfect to describe your experience You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.
Examples:
I have been to France. This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.
I have been to France three times. You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.
I have never been to France. This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.
I think I have seen that movie before. He has never traveled by train. Joan has studied two foreign languages. A: Have you ever met him? B: No, I have not met him.
We use Present perfect to describe change over time We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.
Examples:
You have grown since the last time I saw you. The government has become more interested in arts education. Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian studies program was established. My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.
We use Present perfect to describe accomplishments We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.
Examples:
Man has walked on the Moon. Our son has learned how to read. Doctors have cured many deadly diseases. Scientists have split the atom.
We use Present perfect to describe an uncompleted action you are expecting We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.
Examples:
James has not finished his homework yet. Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate. Bill has still not arrived. The rain hasn't stopped.
We use Present perfect to describe multiple actions at different times We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible.
Examples:
The army has attacked that city five times. I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester. We have had many major problems while working on this project. She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.
You can watch the following video By teacher David
According to Encyclopedia Britannica On line, today the world celebrates the creation of Amnesty International, which is an international organization headquartered in London that seeks to inform public opinion about violations of human rights, especially the abridgments of freedom of speech and of religion and the imprisonment and torture of political dissidents, and which actively seeks the release of political prisoners and the relief, when necessary, of their families. In 1977 Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.
The organization was founded in London on May 28, 1961, through the principal efforts of Peter Benenson, who had been a defense lawyer for political prisoners in Hungary, South Africa, and Spain and who sought to establish a collective agency for the advancement of human rights.
In the 2007 Nickelback song, If Everyone Cared, Benenson's story about the start of Amnesty International is told, along with other Freedom Fighters of the century.It was announced that 100% of all digital sales for the song will be donated to the charities of Amnesty International, and the International Children's Awareness Canada.[1] This ties into the theme of the song and video of caring about something to work towards the improvement of human civilization.
From underneath the trees, we watch the sky Confusing stars for satellites I never dreamed that you'd be mine But here we are, we're here tonight
Singing Amen, I, I'm alive Singing Amen, I, I'm alive
[Chorus:] If everyone cared and nobody cried If everyone loved and nobody lied If everyone shared and swallowed their pride Then we'd see the day when nobody died
And I'm singing
Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive Amen I, Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive
And in the air the fireflies Our only light in paradise We'll show the world they were wrong And teach them all to sing along
Singing Amen, I, I'm alive Singing Amen, I, I'm alive (I'm alive)
[Chorus x2]
And as we lie beneath the stars We realize how small we are If they could love like you and me Imagine what the world could be
If everyone cared and nobody cried If everyone loved and nobody lied If everyone shared and swallowed their pride Then we'd see the day when nobody died When nobody died...
[Chorus]
We'd see the day, we'd see the day When nobody died We'd see the day, we'd see the day When nobody died We'd see the day when nobody died
Song meaning
The song discusses a very strong relationship between two people, who are always honest, supporting, and caring of each other. The chorus then describes the need for love and how the world would be better off if everyone cared for each other.
This one of their video promoting human rights respect. It is about the power of the signature.
The sun is shining, warming us up after a cool night. What could be better, besides a hug! I have a couple of close choices for today.
I found these on the "money Scope portion of the a.m. news this morning.
FIRST: Ben and Jerry's has a new flavor! They serve up a homage to John Lennon and Yoko Ono with a new ice cream choice. IMAGINE WHIRLED PEACE. This delicious concoction is a base of caramel with sweet cream ice cream whirling with chocolate peace signs and toffee pieces.
SECOND: This one hopefully will help our gas tanks! The price of a barrel of oil dropped yesterday by $3. YES I SAID DROPPED! The reason sited was a drop in US consumption. Now let us hope that we see this effect us in a good way at the pumps!
Ok, Ok. I am busy making things. It is Just that I have nothing quite ready to show you YET! :)
The sun is shining, warming us up after a cool night. What could be better, besides a hug! I have a couple of close choices for today.
I found these on the "money Scope portion of the a.m. news this morning.
FIRST: Ben and Jerry's has a new flavor! They serve up a homage to John Lennon and Yoko Ono with a new ice cream choice. IMAGINE WHIRLED PEACE. This delicious concoction is a base of caramel with sweet cream ice cream whirling with chocolate peace signs and toffee pieces.
SECOND: This one hopefully will help our gas tanks! The price of a barrel of oil dropped yesterday by $3. YES I SAID DROPPED! The reason sited was a drop in US consumption. Now let us hope that we see this effect us in a good way at the pumps!
Ok, Ok. I am busy making things. It is Just that I have nothing quite ready to show you YET! :)
Lake Michigan was my sea, my ocean while I grew up. I love, still to this day this big sandy, dune surrounded wonder. The trips up the dunes and the great, I mean really great trips down the dunes, it was like flying! With the lake spread out in front of us, waiting for another dip.
This a.m. I turned on the radio and heard the end of a sermon, I guess you would say. The last point he finished up with brought back the Lake for me as well as many other thoughts. Here is his story, Paraphrasing:
This minister grew up with his family taking trips to Oceanside, California every year. The trip to the shore, a walk from their cottage. Timing was critical for not only did the tide bring in beautiful treasures, but also dangerous items such as broken shells and jelly fish...Ouch!!! So, now as a father he is bring his family to the shore. He has coached them in the perils of the freshly exposed shore. True to his own nature, he, a fast walker is forging ahead of everyone. As he becomes engrossed in his thoughts he hears the heavy breathing of someone catching up to him. He turns and sees his son trying his best to walk in his fathers footprints left on the sand. This, the young boy felt, would assure him of a safe path, for his father knows where to and where not to step.
I love this! What a beautiful picture of parenting this minister gives us. We, as parents do leave footprints behind us everyday. God day or bad day, they are there. How we respond to our good days as well as those bad days will give our precious children a guide.
I am working very hard on several projects, one of which is especially for YOU! Yes, I am getting organized for a very special celebration for the "Merci-notes" blog! This has a very special giveaway!!! :) More later. Hugs, Mary
Lake Michigan was my sea, my ocean while I grew up. I love, still to this day this big sandy, dune surrounded wonder. The trips up the dunes and the great, I mean really great trips down the dunes, it was like flying! With the lake spread out in front of us, waiting for another dip.
This a.m. I turned on the radio and heard the end of a sermon, I guess you would say. The last point he finished up with brought back the Lake for me as well as many other thoughts. Here is his story, Paraphrasing:
This minister grew up with his family taking trips to Oceanside, California every year. The trip to the shore, a walk from their cottage. Timing was critical for not only did the tide bring in beautiful treasures, but also dangerous items such as broken shells and jelly fish...Ouch!!! So, now as a father he is bring his family to the shore. He has coached them in the perils of the freshly exposed shore. True to his own nature, he, a fast walker is forging ahead of everyone. As he becomes engrossed in his thoughts he hears the heavy breathing of someone catching up to him. He turns and sees his son trying his best to walk in his fathers footprints left on the sand. This, the young boy felt, would assure him of a safe path, for his father knows where to and where not to step.
I love this! What a beautiful picture of parenting this minister gives us. We, as parents do leave footprints behind us everyday. God day or bad day, they are there. How we respond to our good days as well as those bad days will give our precious children a guide.
I am working very hard on several projects, one of which is especially for YOU! Yes, I am getting organized for a very special celebration for the "Merci-notes" blog! This has a very special giveaway!!! :) More later. Hugs, Mary
Hi there, I have a new kit ready for sale. It's called "Whole lotta Rosie" and it's for 3$. You will find it soon at Designer Scraps and at Magical-Scraps. Hope you like it!
Yesterday, I went down to the Sowebo Festival with Amy and my friend Mike Rios. These are some snapshot highlights from it.
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE - BE LIKE MIKE!
This is my friend Mike. Anyone who asks for his help gets it.
Mike prays, "Please Jesus, let me help somebody!"
Mike gets his help from Jesus, as shown on his wood block pendant he always carries around his neck, rope-a-dope style.
When a local commie poet asked Mike to buy his CD of inane gibberish, Mike obliged.
When a jeweler asked him to watch over her stand so she could buy some food, Mike obliged.
"Get your baubles, bangles, and bright shiny beads right here!"
And when a guy selling (used?) girly mags asked him to "Help a brother out - one dollar!", Mike more than obliged. "I believe these are called 'Gentlemen's Magazines' - NOT porn rags!"
Later Mike flirted with a young nubile who was drawn to his chick-magnet Jesus pendant.
Mike: "I am glad to see you. And yes, I am sporting Messianic wood!"
MUSIC
GUNWIFE GONE
3/5 of the multi-faceted guitarless band Gunwife Gone are chicks and they all bring something to the party - the keyboardist sings on top of tickling the ivories and the Charlotte Gainsbourg-lookalike sax player bangs the keys when she's not blowing her axe.
Tiffany tootin'
Rachel reciting, Tiffany tickling
Bassist Ryan and Keyboardist Lauren
Rachel counts it off from the top
Gunwife Gone - the view from the top of some guy's head
THE JENNIFERS
Jennifers Joe, John, Joe front and center
"Hey, don't forget about me!" pleads Skizz, the "quiet Jennifer"
Jennifer John jingle-jangles while Joe waxes basso profundo
"You, Sir Fan, are the Fifth Jennifer!"
This unidentified man was hoping to become the Jennifers' official Band Dancer, like the Happy Mondays' "Bez"
"Hey this guy on the pendant looks like me!" sez Skizzer. "Call the lawyers!"
After the set, Skizz tells Mike that the "Jesus" pendant is actually a Sacred Skizz Medallion from The Jennifers Icon Collection (TM) - collect 'em all at www.jennifers.com!
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
Beautiful people abound at the Sowebo Festival. This young woman, doing the hula hoop, was the most luminous. I thought she was Bianca Jagger for a second.
HIPSTERS & THEIR KIDS
Rebel and Rebel 2.0
I wonder if Junior got his Rod the Mod tartan pants at Gap Kids
ART
WORLD/FOLK ART
There is much native, folk, African, and South American art at SoWeBo.
Still, the influence of Hollywood is never far away, as this homage to Hellraiser's Pinhead (done in faux Ancient African Style) makes clear:
Notice Pinhead is making "The Circle," meaning he can hit you if you look at it!
And the influence of American adult movies is likewise never far away, as Amy points out after spotting this homage to legendary performing artist Long Dong Silver.
"Look sweetie," Amy gestures, "This is Long Dong's Money Maker (TM)!"
The hanging tongue led many observers to believe this was a Michael Jordan-commissioned work.
"Sch'long, Dong! We bid you adieu!"
WHOSE RESPONIBLE?
Shouldn't that be the New Grammar Galery? It just wouldn't be SoWeBo with at least one store-front typo! To paraphrase the old MASH'S HAMS commercials, the second L's for Literacy - we throw that away!
KIDDIE ART CAR
Children use chalk to decorate this art car, providing excellent practice for future careers as graffiti artists or vandals (wait, I think that's redundant!).
ILLEGAL SMILES
Despites rumors of illegal substance abuse over the years in the Hollins Street Market area, this was the only crack I saw there. Alas, it was not for sale. (Still, it made me crack a smile.)
Hi there, as announced yesterday, all my kits are now available for sale at Designer Scraps and they are all for $3. You can take advantage of the "Memorial Weekend Sale" and grab them for only $2.40!
I also have a new kit available. It's called Delicate. Hope you like it!
I'm so proud to announce that starting next week I will sell my kits at Designer Scraps! For me it's a great honour and I thank Farrah very much for accepting me in her store!! :)
Also, I have a new kit comin' out so.... stay tuned!
In the meanwhile, I have a freebie for you. It's my "Colourful" kit. It's a kit I had for sale. It's the 2nd kit I've made so it's quite basic but I hope you will like it!
My girlfriend - and everyone in her apartment complex - recently received this religious scam in her mailbox. It's a picture of Jesus (looking very Rastafarian) on a fold-out piece of paper ambitiously called an "Annointed Jesus Prayer Rug" that allegedly comes from Tulsa's Saint Matthews Churches" - an entity that exists in P.O. Box address only. (I love how the postage allows this for-profit scam organization coveted "Nonprofit Org." status while I have go buy extra penny stamps to meet the most recent postage hike so I can pay my bills!)
Apparently, "This Prayer Rug is Soaked with the Power of Prayer for you. Use it immediately, then please return it with your Prayer Needs Checked on our letter to you." It must be mailed to a second home that needs a blessing after you use it. Prayer works. Expect God's blessing."
Anyway, I stated to investigate it on The Internets (President's Bush's terminology), but I see Stupid Evil Bastard has already fully vetted the Immaculate Deception on his website. Neither Amy nor I could find the suspected salespitch ("Where's the hook?") when we read the attached letter, but reading SEB's dossier, we realized it was there, in the form of a plea for a "seed gift":
To see the sales pitch, click on the image of the Prayer Needs Checklist above and look at the line reading "Enclosed is my seed gift to God's work of $___."
The full checklist:
Pray for my family and me for
( ) My Soul ( ) A Closer Walk With Jesus ( ) My Health ( ) A Family Member's Health ( ) Confusion In My Home ( ) My Children ( ) To Stop A Bad Habit ( ) A Better Job ( ) A Home To Call My Own ( ) A New Car ( ) A Money Blessing ( ) I Want To Be Saved ( ) Pray for God to bless me with this amount of money: $________ ( ) Please, especially pray for this person: ( ) Enclosed is my seed gift to God's work of $________
Confusion in the home? Anyway, the letter goes on to ask:
"Would you like to have God’s blessings upon Your home, your family and your finances? Say, “Yes, Lord Jesus, I do need Your financial blessings upon me and my family’s finances!” Deuteronomy 28:6 Just put a mark (√) by your needs below, telling us that you want prayer. Also, check any other needs you are facing. Pray about sowing a seed gift to the Lord’s work. Give God your best seed and believe Him for His best blessing (St. Luke 6:38). Now, go and use this Church, Faith, Prayer Rug. The Lord is watching and waiting. You are about to enter the Holy Spirit of God right here in your home, through this faith exercise. Then, it is a must that you return it for another to use."
Suckers' seed gifts alledgedly go to Saint Mathew’s Churches, which are no relation to any churches of that name listed in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In fact, according to SEB, "The only person getting rich from this scam is the Rev. James Eugene Ewing who seems to have built up quite a racket with this and other similar scams to the tune of several hundred million dollars." Rev. Ewing has been called the father of the modern-day "seed-faith" scheme that fuels a multibillion-dollar Christian industry known as the "health-and-wealth gospel."
Continuing, SEB reports:
The approach reaped Ewing and his organization a gross income of more than $100 million since 1993, including $26 million in 1999, the last year Saint Matthew’s made its tax records public. And while much of the money is spent on postage and salaries, Ewing’s company receives nonprofit status and pays no federal taxes.
Though Ewing claims it is a church, Saint Matthew’s Churches, once called St. Matthew Publishing Inc., has no address other than a Tulsa post office box. It has two listed phone numbers in Tulsa and both are answered by a recorded religious message.
The organization is not related to other Tulsa-area churches named St. Matthew’s, though many of them have received calls asking to be removed from its mailing list.
Ole Anthony, founder of the Trinity Foundation, a nonprofit religious watchdog group, has tracked Ewing’s organization for years. The foundation was largely responsible for exposing televangelist Robert Tilton in 1991 after Anthony said he found prayer requests sent to Tilton in Tulsa trash Dumpsters.
Tilton and Ewing shared the same Tulsa attorney, J.C. Joyce, who incorporated "Saint Matthews Churches" at at his Tulsa law office. Ewing paid Joyce over $2.6 million for legal services over a three-year period, a mere drop in the ocean given his "Seed Principle" junk mail haul.
The hook of this principal seems to be Saint Matthews Churches' inclusion of faux religious artifacts such as "miracle" prayer rugs, cakes, coins, prayer cloths and fake currency.
And it's a successful scam. Blogger George Loper claims that the "seed faith" approach has reaped Ewing and his organization a gross income of more than $100 million since 1993, including $26 million in 1999, the last year Saint Matthew's made its tax records public. (In 2002, the national Better Business Bureau's charity watchdog group Wise Giving Alliance reported that Saint Matthew's Churches refused to provide information about its finances, programs or governance following inquiries to BBBs across the country from individuals who have received direct mail letters from this organization.)
The son of a Texas sharecropper, Rev. Ewing reportedly speaks in broken grammar and one of his early model letters contained 17 misspellings. But who's laughing now? He's clearly pulled the rug over the world's eyes!
