Friday, November 29, 2013

Thanksgiving

So, yesterday was Thanksgiving. A pretty common thing to do is to think about and maybe share with your friends and family things you are thankful for. Maybe its your relationship with them. Maybe it is your health, your material blessings, your country, etc. It is also becoming increasingly popular to go shopping the day after (today) and immerse yourself in consumerism. Companies scratch and claw for your business. What used to be just one day (Black FRIDAY) dedicated to bringing the retail books into the black has gradually creeped into Thanksgiving day itself. We had 24 hours dedicated to pausing and reflecting, as a nation, on the things we have to be thankful for. That has now shortened into 20 hours with many, many stores opening at 8pm. Are we so materialistic and so "stuff driven" that we can't wait 4 hours? I know the answer is, if you don't like it, don't go shopping at 8PM. I 100% agree with that sentiment. The problem is that consumerism is like crack in our society. We are so addicted to our stuff that if we think we can get 4 more hours of it, we ARE going to take it.

Anyway, this blog is not intended to rail on retailers for serving the drug to the vein of America. I am talking to individuals. Spend time with your families. Allow others to spend time with their families. Be thankful for the things we forget about and take for granted on a daily basis. We worship at the foot of consumerism all the time. Spend the 24 hours not doing that. Just give it a try next year.

On a different note but somewhat related. Some of you are probably formulating your New Year resolutions. Let me encourage you not to wait until January 1. There is nothing magical about that date. If you are going to quit smoking, go to the gym, be nicer to others, work harder, eat more salads, whatever, go ahead and start now. Why wait?

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

At least an acre in Smyrna?

Happy Tuesday!!

It's almost Thanksgiving- I know we are all ready for some delicious food and quality time with our families...hopefully the weather will cooperate!

Today, in honor of having so many out of town guests, I thought I would do a search on homes in Smyrna with at least 1 acre to stretch out!

126 Lee Hollow Ln
$535,000
9.8 acres
Full listing














606 Seawell Ct
$464,900
2.9 acres
Full listing












1604 Harrow Ct
$254,000
1.08 acres
Full listing













HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Quotes--Miracles

Do you believe in miracles? It is an interesting question to hear different people answer. Some will say "yes" because they want to believe that God is real and intervening in our lives. Some will say "yes" because they know that God is real and intervening in our lives. Some will say "no" because they believe God no longer intervenes in our lives and some will say no because they don't believe in God at all. Of course there are a million variations on these same themes.

If we are to have a discussion on this topic, I think we first need to define "miracle". Webster says a miracle is "an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs". Most would say a miracle is when something happens that "just shouldn't happen". The Bible has numerous examples. Many center around healing or raising the dead. Some center around providing sustenance. Still some others defy natural laws (walking on water) and prove God's dominion over the elements. I would say the vast majority of "modern miracles" center around health and healing. Doctors say someone won't make it and they make a full recovery, etc. Bottom line, a miracle is when something inexplicable happens that goes against reasoned, empirical, scientific knowledge and someone attributes it to divine intervention. 

It is curious that in order to be a miracle, a human has to attribute it to the divine. Or do they? Is it possible that miracles happen and we don't see them? I guess it depends on if and how God intervenes in our lives. If you don't believe in miracles as I've defined them, how do you explain the inexplicable?


“a discussion about the miraculous quickly devolves to an argument about whether or not one is willing to consider any possibility whatsoever of the supernatural” 
― Francis S. CollinsThe Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief

“I refer to them as miracles-although some may call them fortunate circumstances-because I believe there are no accidents or surprises with God.” 
― Don Piper with Cecil Murphey90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

What's Available in Westfork Subdivision- Smyrna

Happy Tuesday!

So, today I wanted to do a search on the great subdivision of Westfork in Smyrna! This neighborhood doesn't leave homes sitting for very long! These homes are one level and very well built. Take a look at what's currently available....

6007 Boxer Pl
$133,000
1,189 sq ft
Click here for full listing!














9016 Nevada Ave
$134,900
1,209 sq ft

Click here for full listing!













9019 Nevada Ave
$149,900
1,352 sq ft
Click here for full listing!














Check out Jonathan's neighborhood FB page!  Westfork Subdivision Page
Have a great day!

Taylore Massa
Realtor
Weichert Realtors, The Andrews Group

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Quotes--Rabbi Daniel Lapin

One quote that is working on me now to shape the way I do business is one that Dave Ramsey uses fairly often. I think it sums up a lot of how I want to do business (though I fall short sometimes). It also sums up the book "The Go-Giver" which I will write about soon. Tell me what you think about this

"God is inordinately pleased when we are obsessively, compulsively consumed with the needs of others." - Rabbi Daniel Lapin


I know this isn't exactly a business quote but it certainly can have implications in business if you want it to. Think about how this can apply to other people. If I am consumed with the needs of other people, i.e. my clients, won't my needs be met? Isn't that attitude infectious? If you are in "the corporate world" won't you be able to move up the ladder if you constantly work toward the well-being of your coworkers, clients, bosses? It sounds crazy but letting go of your own needs, focusing on the needs of others exclusively will bring success. It will also bring a measure of happiness that can't be generated any other way.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Quotes--Daniel Quinn

I am going to periodically share a quote and solicit your input on the quote. Some of the quotes will be widely known, some will not. Some will be funny and inspire thought, some may make you angry. Whatever the case may be, this will only be fun if you share your thoughts.

“Thinkers aren't limited by what they know, because they can always increase what they know. Rather they're limited by what puzzles them, because there's no way to become curious about something that doesn't puzzle you.” 
― Daniel QuinnMy Ishmael


One of my favorite authors. I've only read two of his books but those two books changed the way I look at almost everything. They challenged me in ways I did not want to be challenged but am very grateful that I was. I like this quote because it challenges the idea of thinkers being people that acquire knowledge. This quote says, and I agree, that anyone can be a thinker if they stay curious about things and seek knowledge in order to solve their own personal questions. In other words, its ok to NOT know something if your lack of knowledge prompts action to rectify the situation.