Well, I am about to break the one steadfast rule I’ve had on this blog since the beginning. I don’t ask for money. I fund this ministry/website out of my own pocket and try to avoid arguments that I am selling out or support tithing because tithes support me. But I am in a quandary. Not one that affects the site – yet – but one that affects me personally.
As my loyal readers know, I was in the middle of a messy divorce a little while back that cost me the rental property my ex and I operated because she refused to pay the mortgage or give me the rental income to do so. Now the final property-related nail is coming as a result of her bankruptcy and foolishness. I am about to be foreclosed on by my bank for the house that I am currently living in. Now, I did my best to pay the mortgage, but unfortunately, circumstances got the better of me. Over the last 2 years, I’ve lost a number of my sources of income as the economy kept sliding and government and tourism-related industries kept cutting back.
Despite being willing to do just about anything and humbling myself, applying for literally hundreds of jobs, I am still jobless, my income is steadily decreasing and I am barely making ends meet. Unfortunately, the mortgage was one of those things that just didn’t get taken care of in a timely basis and now the bank has called their note due.
When I was first served, I went through my affirmative defenses – one of which being that my ex-wife signed a quit claim deed, divesting herself of this house. To date, the bank has still not recognized it and her name appears prominently on the foreclosure papers, myself, who continued to pay the mortgage long after she stopped, is relegated to a secondary defendant. My biggest defense was that the bank had refused to accept and properly credit some of my payments, holding the money, as a bank employee explained to me, “in limbo.” The banks lawyers have responded to that claim and offered me two options, after adjusting for the money that was never credited ($500+, not counting the interest and fees that they didn’t credit me for).
My two options are this: pay approx. $212,000 to pay off the loan, or approx. $40,000 to cover the missed payments, interest, lawyer’s fees, etc. etc.) And I have until 5pm on April 1st to deliver that payment to their offices in Fort Lauderdale. Considering that I have just enough to cover my electric bill this month and am eating courtesy of Food Stamps, that is far outside my reach.
Praying for a miracle, it came to me that I might ask if people would be willing to help me out. $40K is not really that much, in the big picture and even small donations would help whittle this down. I am not sure if this insight came from the Lord or not. I was praying when it occurred to me, but my only experiences with hearing God were both forgiveness-oriented, so I can’t really tell. Usually, I get insights from the Holy Spirit where I suddenly understand or realize some deeper truth or concept and I don’t want to misrepresent my Lord.
I have committed that any money I receive from this will be paid back to the donor/patron, unless they specifically state for me not to, in which case, I will pay to help out others needs on their behalf.
Also, I would prefer to do something rather than just take donations. As I said, every little bit helps and I do have some skills that I can apply that are of value.
I sell books, CD’s, DVD’s and toys on Amazon – my site is Books From A Rose and I have between 2400 and 2500 items currently up for sale. If you’re looking for something, please take a moment and see if I have it. If I don’t, I would also recommend some friends of mine that helped me get started in this enterprise, Pursel Books. They sell a quite a number of items on Amazon and eBay and may very well have what you need.
I am a writer. I spent almost 20 years in the local TV business, writing news, commercials and promotional spots. You can see some of my TV work at www.YouTube.com/user/lonerangerone. I also have written some plays over the years and am currently working on a couple of screenplays. I have done reviews for Title Trakk, and I was the Senior Editor for Television for Infuze Magazine, before we were closed down, working with novelist Robin Parrish and music producer & novelist Matt Bronlewee. I used to write songs back in the day – one was even performed as part of my church’s worship service.
I shoot, produce and edit video. Okay, I am an okay video shooter… Great if I have a tripod. I am a great editor, though. Having learned from some of the best and learned how things were done, “back in the day…” I can find a way to make just about any video look the way you envision. I have shot VHS and BETA, DV, HD-DV, and 8mm. I have edited on everything from AVID Media Composer (my favorite) to Media 100, Pinnacle VideoCube, Apple Final Cut, Speed Razor, Boris FX, New Tek Video Toaster, Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere. When I worked for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, I also did Forensic Video Processing and was a member of Law Enforcement Video Association (LEVA).
I design, build and maintain websites. While I am still exploring much of this field and I cannot do killer Flash opens and whatnot, I am pretty decent and very affordable. I use Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Fireworks. My work is available at www.StarlightstudioProductions.com, www.FASN.net, www.MartyWisher.com, www.UFTAFlorida.com, www.FamilyofGod.us, and this site, www.FinancialFreedomThroughFaith.org. I am familiar with WordPress themes, editing them and promoting them.
I am a pretty good actor and I am a partner with the production company Starlight Productions, we do celebrity impersonations, character work and Murder Mysteries. We just finished our first feature length film, “Light.” I am also the sitting President of United Film & Television Artists (UFTA) a non-profit that helps filmmakers and actors with support and promoting our area as a film location.
My other company, 13/30 Productions, does media and business promotion. We provide newsletters, websites, press releases, social media marketing, etc., all to help small businesses get the word out about their product or service to their potential customers. I try to apply all of my skills as a designer, writer, promoter and video producer to help my clients get their message out at an affordable price. If you need a little more Internet-based solution, my girlfriend runs Small Business Development Group, specializing in Affordable Internet Marketing Solutions and Search Engine Optimization.
I am a pretty good speaker. I used to teach when I worked in Financial Services and I gave a few lectures/presentations on Financial Freedom for Christians. I have written and given a few sermons that I thought were pretty good. They are posted on this site: What Would Luther Say?, The Waiting is the Easy Part, and eternal sunshine for the Transformed mind.
I have not given up on my vision for a financial non-profit company that would help people in the same need I am in. That will come to pass one day. That was from God and it is often those he humbles that have the strongest commitments.
If there’s any way I can help you or work I can do for you, please let me know. I am a hard worker and willing to do what it takes. I serve God and when I can man, and I do my very best.
I will update everyone when I return from Fort Lauderdale on April 1st.
If you feel led to make me an interest free loan or invest in one of my talents, you can contact me at lonerangerone@gmail.com. If you feel like helping out the old fashioned way, my mailing address appears below also. If you do not feel led, that’s really okay, I just ask that you pray for me, regardless. Thank you in advance, and may God bless you richly.
Paul A. Rose, Jr.
Mailing Address: Paul A. Rose, Jr. PO Box 151443 Cape Coral, FL 33915 |
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