Brass Tacks

Brass tacks! That was an expression that one of my early school year teachers used to say. Third grade; one of the few grades I remember. My memories of early childhood got buried in the desire to escape…for various sundry reasons. Oh but I remember year three… the year I had to make a decision; do I write with my right hand or with my left. Another experience I encountered only because I was different from the others. So, I chose the left hand. And from that day forward I wrote with my left hand. To this day I write with my left hand, even though in all other instances I am basically right handed. But I refused to be put in the corral. I refused to be put upon. I chose to be different. Not my fault, I was born that way. (I am laughing now..if you could see the grin I would stop grinning, again, to be different, I suppose.)

But what does any of this have to do with brass tacks? Very simple. This bi-weekly blog is being devoted to ‘brass tacks’. The teacher would sit me down, tell me to sit up straight and inform me that “we” are going to get down to brass tacks! And we did! The only brass tacks that I really knew of at that time were the tacks that held the fabric to the worn out chairs we had in our house. So, her instructions to me were met with a silent grin but I paid attention and I learned from her.

The time has come for us, you and me, to get down to brass tacks. On the 3^rd of this month I learned a lot. The brass tacks were shining! Our congregation had its annual meeting. The once a year gathering to discuss where we have been and where we believe we are heading. An informative, albeit lengthy time spent gathering of the minds. The part that I felt the brass tacks sticking me was the discussion about fund raising. Yes, we are a blessed congregation and very grateful for all the support we receive. As most of you know by now, I have no working knowledge of the financial side of the operation as far as extensive detail goes. But, I do know that many people have expressed an interest in enlarging our space.

In fact, many of you, when we first uttered the thoughts a few years ago, jumped on the band wagon and started the basic foundation for laying a foundation. Apparently the interest waned. Please hear me out. I don’t normally mix people and money, but this expansion decision was made a while back and made with the best of the best minds to cross the threshold. Please do not misunderstand, I am not admonishing or condemning; I am simply getting down to brass tacks.

According to the data, as of 3FEB2013, via Goodsearch/Goodshop, KHM has netted $653.00 (six five three point zero zero dollars) since we started using it. We started in 2007 and that year netted fifty dollars. So, from the first fifty we now add up to six fifty three. There are 402 registered supporters of KHM according to Goodsearch. With the generosity of an unknown benefactor that dissolved the mortgage, our total annual average expenses, not counting the stuff that comes up that can’t be planned for, equates to $6720.00 That breaks down to $560.00 a month and based on a four week month, $140.00 each week. With Goodsearch, this takes 14,000 clicks of the mouse each week to cover this aggregate amount. With 402 people signed up, each person’s ‘fair share’ (forgive me for using that expression..it won’t happen again) would be 35 clicks. Using a five day week, that means seven clicks of the mouse each day. Now, the sticky part is this – someone saw fit to eradicate the mortgage which to me meant we have an open road to enlarge our space. How much is it to ask that all who use the internet avail themselves to ask the questions of Goodsearch, what they ask each day of a person? Curious about something? Go to Goodsearch and ask. Plan on shopping on line? Go to Goodshop and enjoy the shopping experience. Even if you do not plan to purchase on line, when you go looking to be sure of what you want, go via Goodsearch.

In actuality, there are not 402 subscribers. I, for one, am logged in under three different names. Depends on which computer I am on what name I am under. But, on each machine, my homepage is Goodsearch. I plan to speak with Yocheved about asking us in this newsletter to make Goodsearch the home page/search engine instead of the calendar. Both can be done, but to really simplify it, maybe just for a while make Goodsearch the homepage and the search engine for the opening transaction.

So, pull up Good Search and read the historical data of all the enterprises that make literally thousands of dollars a year and not one cent comes from their pockets. This is an advertising expense. The advertisers are very happy to pay it. The money is ours. Let’s go get it! Of course, we want to follow the rules as established by Good Search. They changed the rules about a year ago and thus it is harder to raise bundles, but it can be done. 

 

Before I retire each evening, or early morning as the case most often is, I research various topics of interest. I have no knowledge of established URL’s for what I am searching for and Good Search is very good at finding the data I want. It only takes a little repetition to develop a habit. This is a good habit to develop. I like to ask various questions concerning Scripture. There is no end to what can develop.

Thank you for hearing me out…. Now lets all Goodsearch the expression “brass tacks, getting down to …..” Lets make the new building a reality.

Before I cut and run, here’s my final say on this brass tacks thing… consider that we are in the process of live streaming our Torah portions. It will be a week or so but it is basically a done deal. We can do it with no cost, except each person logging in gets to watch a brief commercial that we have no control over, or we can pay…here comes another bill. Here is a better idea – real brass tacks item….as soon as four hundred people commit to donating one thousand dollars each, we can go to the drawing board. We only need the money in the bank when we get down to the brass tacks of building. Did you do the math? Four hundred people at one thousand dollars each pays for a very nice and roomy sanctuary. They don’t come cheap. So, let’s pull together and have no more barriers to attendance for Sukkot and Rivers. And watch the influx. A Messianic Conference Center; a way station for fellow travelers; a place of worship where we can all be under one roof!

Again, thank you for hearing me. YHVH bless you and keep you. YHVH make His face shine on you and show you His favor. YHVH lift up His face towards you and give you peace. Amein!

Love you all, 

Pinchas, 

a/k/a Frankly speaking all the time…