Newsletters - Business
Tips on Pumping Gas
Someone wrote some wise words:
“I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we are paying up to $3.75 to $4.10 per gallon. My line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon:
Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose, CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline.. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.
Tips:
First, Fill Up in the Mornings, earlier the better: Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.
A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.
Second, Pump on Low Trigger Mode: When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low mode, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.
Third, Fill at Half a Tank: One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL. The reason for this is the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.
Lastly, No Gas Filling when Gasoline Truck is Pumping: Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up; most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.”
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Success Story: Hurricane Katrina
My interview with Pastor Helen Elder with Strong Faith Bible Church and Women of the Word Ministries
by: Katherine Nixon.com
I asked Helen Elder of Strong Faith Bible Church to share her story of just how the Lord provided for her and her family, blood, church and community family, from the days of Hurricane Katrina to where they are today.
We were traveling to retrieve a rental car after her husband had been spared serious injury, but the rear end of their vehicle had not after a young woman texting and speeding as she was driving did not see all of the traffic stopped for a construction roadblock.
Kathy: “So take me back. It was days before Hurricane Katrina. What was it like in your world?” I know that you had a flourishing church and school.
Pastor Helen: Kathy, you have to understand. We were truly blessed of God. It was August (2005). The school year was about to begin. This particular year was an extremely exciting time. Not only were we preparing for the return of our students, we also had many new additions to offer them. We had just hired several new teachers, a new basketball coach, and new cooks. We had established the Thursday evening after-school program, purchased new gym equipment, and were laying new turf on the school playground. We opened our doors for the first time in August 2002 with only eight students. By August 2005, Strong Faith Christian Academy had grown to just over 100 students ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Kathy: “Where were you when you really understood that Hurricane Katrina was headed your way?”
Pastor Helen: My husband and I were in Home Depot purchasing artificial turf for our new playground, when we suddenly noticed that many others were buying plywood to board up windows and doors. We’d been so busy getting ready for the school year, we had not taken the time to watch the news or read the paper.
Kathy: So what did you do?
Pastor Helen: After making sure the congregation, students, and staff were safe, my family and I packed a few things, made hotel reservations (the only hotel that could accommodate us was in Tyler, Texas), and got ready to spend a few vacation days in a hotel where we would wait out the storm. In the past, we always used hurricane evacuation time as family time, staying together and enjoying each other’s company.
Kathy: When did you find out that you could not go back to your home, church, and school?
Pastor Helen: We left New Orleans on Friday morning, and that Sunday, after breakfast I was in that Tyler hotel room packing to go back home, when my daughter, Shannon came in with tears streaming down her face and said, “Mom, have you heard the news? They are not going to let us go back home until after Labor Day.”
Immediately we began to pray. And at this time, the Lord spoke to me and said, “Start calling people you know. “ Remember the telephone lines were down and cell phone coverage was spotty at best. Using a battery operated connection in our automobile, my husband was able to reach a friend, which lived in Mississippi, but had recently joined our ministry just three (3) weeks prior to Hurricane Katrina. This man had also evacuated his home prior to the hurricane and was staying with his mother in Houston, Texas. After learning that we were stranded, he welcomed us into his mother’s home.
Having not laid eyes on us before and acting only on the word of their son, God blessed us with this wonderful family that took us all in and treated us like family. Although their home was small, they did not let anything stop them until they had each of us settled into their home, or in the home of nearby relatives. Our grandchildren stayed with his mother, while my husband, daughter, son-in law, and I went to his sister’s home. And all we showed up with were weekend suitcases and very little else. We are still friends with them today.
Kathy: What then?
Pastor Helen: Home sick for our congregation and God’s presence, I asked the people we were staying with to please take us to church. Then one week prior to going back to New Orleans after we were told that we could go back home for one day only, (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.), we were invited to attend a local church, which is how we ended up at the Met (Metropolitan Baptist Church). The outpouring of love was amazing.
Kathy: How was this love shown?
Pastor Helen: Hugs, smiles, and lots of money. The people in that congregation didn’t let us want for anything. As different families began walking up to us, they greeted us with a warm smile, gave us a big hug, and placed hundreds of dollars in our hands as they wished us well on our return trip to New Orleans. I remember one man, in particular, gave us his very expensive digital camera and said, “You’re going to need this to take good pictures of the damage.”
Kathy: What did you see when you went back to your home, school, and church?
Pastor Helen: Total devastation. We did not have the flooding like the others. It was the wind and the rain that destroyed everything. I stood at the front of the school and could see all the way to the back. Our church was just gone. The pews were still there, but that was about it. Our home after sitting for weeks in standing water had mildew throughout.
Kathy: Then what?
Pastor Helen: As we were returning from our trip home, we received a phone call from one of the members of The Met Church. She asked us to meet her at a nearby apartment complex. Upon arrival, we were taken to an apartment on the 2nd floor that had been completely furnished. The living room and bedrooms had been attractively decorated. The matching décor was even in the adjoining bathroom. The kitchen counters were loaded with every appliance imaginable and there was absolutely no room for any more food in the kitchen cabinets and/or the refrigerator. In an instant, we went from homeless, hopeless, and depressed to elated, loved, and wonderfully blessed.
It was unbelievable. They were even apologizing that the apartment did not have a washer and dryer. Days later, there was a knock at the door and someone was bringing by a large jar of quarters that had been collected by the kindergarten class at the Lamb School at the Met who had heard that we were without a washer and dryer. They donated their quarters so that we could wash our clothes at the nearby laundry mat.
If that was not enough, soon there was a knock at the door again, and some men were bringing us a washer and dryer because they had heard that we needed one.
Kathy: How has this experience affected your walk with God?
Pastor Helen: If there was ever any doubt in my mind about God’s presence, you could say that this experience erased all such doubt, and tremendously strengthened my faith and my walk with a true and living God.
Kathy: What are you doing now?
Pastor Helen: We’re trusting God to take us to the next level as we step out by faith into the ministry today. With all families now settled into their new environment, we are focusing our attention on rebuilding what was lost, and also on moving into many new areas in which God is directing our path such as:
We have begun our worship services on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. and a Wednesday evening bible study at 7:00 p.m. at a local Christian school that has been kind and generous. Cypress Christian Community School is located on the corner of Jones and Cypress N. Houston Rd. We’ve even started a weekly prayer ministry which meets every Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in the homes of our church members, but will soon be extended to homes throughout the surrounding communities.
In addition, we have Men of Vision Men’s Ministry that meets monthly with inspiring testimonies and dynamic messages and Chosen Youth Ministry, where our youth are being encouraged to use what they’ve learned to carry them into a successful adult life, a life that is pleasing to God. Also, we have an upcoming Larry Elder Ministries’ Annual Minister’s Conference and plans are under way to build a new sanctuary.
However, I consider teaching God’s Word and displaying a Godly lifestyle our primary focus.
Kathy: Don’t you have an upcoming event this Saturday?
Pastor Helen: Yes, we are presently planning our 2nd Annual Women’s Empowerment Conference which will be held on Saturday July 31, 2010, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Crown Plaza West Hotel, located at 14703 Park Row near I-10 and Highway 6. If you know anyone that needs a breakthrough in their lives, tell them WOW 2010 Empowerment Conference is the place to be! We are asking all ladies to come out and join us for this powerful time in the Lord.
Kathy: What do you hope that the women will take away from this conference on Saturday?
Pastor Helen: I hope that each person will leave the conference excited, encouraged, and empowered by a clearer understanding of the VALUE of God’s Word, and How to appropriate His Word into their lives on a daily basis.
Kathy: So where can women go to register?
Pastor Helen: They can go to www.strongfaithbiblechurch.com. Or call us at 1-800-419-5818.
Kathy: You’ve done these conferences before, what will the women experience?
Pastor Helen: Everyone can expect to experience heartfelt prayer, anointed worship, practical teaching and great fellowship. You will leave feeling like your time was well spent, but you’ll also feel like you don’t want to wait another year for the next WOW Empowerment Conference.
Kathy: Is there anything else that you’d like to say before we end our interview?
Pastor Helen: Yes there is. I could not close the interview without giving God thanks for our wonderful Pastoral Team. Though devastated by Hurricane Katrina themselves, these dedicated families continued to stand with us through all the rough times that followed. Committed to God and growing in His love daily, they unselfishly give of their time and talents to help further the work of this ministry. I just want to thank God for a team like no other. We could not have come this far with their love and support.
I Think I C.A.N.
To Plant a Seed is To Believe I think I C.A.N. It is springtime, the doves are cooing, and I am back walking again on the Fulkey Gulley Hike and Bike trail observing all the beautiful, colorful wildflowers. Enjoy these wonderful spring moments. Think Color for your diet as well.
I Think I C.A.N. - That is: add Color, Alkaline, and Nuts to My Diet
CAN = Color, Alkaline, and Nuts
As many of you know, I hit menopause two years ago (I do not understand how that happens at the age of 32!!) and have been struggling with my weight. Eating habits that I have had for years were no longer working for me. Exercise was not bringing my weight down.
At my new church, a bible study was beginning called, "Devoted Bodies." It is a six week class that showed much research and many bible references. Some things were palatable, some not.
For me, it was not about taking away things. It talks about adding color, alkaline, and nuts (C.A.N.) to our meals. It was about adding the right things to our daily routine.
Bottom Line:
1. DRINK MORE WATER. We are made of water. Just add a glass a day until you reach the level of half of your weight in ounces. So, at 128 lbs, you would drink 64 ozs.
2. EAT MORE FRUITS, VEGETABLES, Beans and Grains. A minimum of 7-13 servings of fruits and vegetables daily is recommended. Again, add an additional fruit or vegetable until you are at 7-13 servings. The more & different (C)olors, the better.
3. EAT FIBER-RICH FOODS to maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels, bowel function, and weight. Think pulp, beans, whole grains, and nuts. The more (A)lkaline, the better.
4. SELECT HEALTHY PROTEINS. Each meal should include some lean protein. Portion size should be the size of your fist.
5. EAT HEALTHY FATS which are one that are not cooked. Raw nuts, seeds (like flax), avocado. (N)uts, in moderation, the better.
6. MOVE YOUR BODY. Thirty (30) minutes a day and good walking shoes: the world is yours. Add a little resistance (weights) and you have your own gym.
7. EAT MORE, LESS OFTEN (ELMO Diet). Eat 200 to 300 calories, 5 or 6 times a day or 400 to 500 calories 3 times a day. For calories, take your ideal weight with a zero added (135lbs = 1350 calories)
Things that really hit home:
A. MILK. No other animal drinks milk after its weaned or the milk of another species. Cow's milk helps calves weigh 1,000 pounds in less than four years.
B. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN EAT. Closer to raw the better.
C. THROW AWAY THE SCALE.