In Daddy's Hand

Yes, I am saved more than 15 years ago, by God’s grace. But He just doesn’t stop there; with His everlasting love, He constantly saves me, spiritually and physically. His grace is still abundantly flowing as He cares for me.

Last Friday, I had a day off from work so I got around to do couple fix-ups around the house. I am not, emphasize not, a handyman type. However when things around the house break down, either I have to pay someone to do it or step up to the plate. I’m not financially blessed, so I choose the later. Well, the door bell has been broken for a quite a while now. I bought a new bell and new ringer to replace the old ones, but that did not fix the problem. Maybe the issue is in the transformer or the wiring. So I traced the wiring that lead to the transformer sit to the side of the furnace.

Before getting started, I switched off the power to the furnace from the main power box, or so I thought. I flipped the light switch and the light was not on, so I then proceeded disassembling the electric switch and the wiring to the transformer. Apparently I was being stupid for not testing the line appropriately with the right tool, but then again I am no electrician and I should not have done what I did. At that time, I am pretty sure my hands were touching the hot wire as I disassembled the connection. Until I was connecting the last wire of the new transformer to the power switch, I felt a tingling jolt on the tip of my finger. “Hmm, that’s weird” I thought. As I placed the wire around the screw to tight it down, suddenly BAM! sparks of electricity flared up causing a small flashing fire lightly burned the plastic switch.  To my reflex, I jumped up from where I was sitting, and a little bit freaked out at that moment. I thought for sure I had turn off the power to the furnace, so I went out to the main controller box to double check. There I saw the switch I turned off, it was below the one that I intended. The right switch now shut off, laid in the middle position due to the wiring mishap earlier.

I made sure it stayed off, and finished the wiring in hurry, but couldn’t help to think how didn’t I got shocked earlier when I dissembled the wiring. For whatever the reason was, if it wasn’t God who saved and protected me, I would be … done in, toasted, BBQ style. Yes, I am saved! Thank you Lord!

Praise God for He is the keeper and systainer of my life. In His hands, that’s where I want to be, to remained. Are you in good hand?

(Image borrowed from http://kathwilliamson.blogspot.com/)

Business of local telephone compay is really hurting due to strong competition with mobile phone and the rise of Voice-over-internet phone (VOIP) via broadband internet connection. I can’t really say I feel for them because I ditched my local phone about 4 years ago. Honestly, I don’t see the advantage of having a home phone line vs. the cell phone anymore, while the cost of a home phone line with full features as the cell phone is almost as much, or some case even more expensive.  

You gotta love all features the VOIP phone service offeres. Features such as call forward, call blocking, caller ID, voicemail are pretty much stardard. They’re not add-on features for extra charge.  There’s no per-minute charge, long distance charge, or limitation of  when to make phone call for cheap rates.  They also have cheap international calling rate as well. The deal sealer is really the price. In average, VOIP phone service is about $14/month in contrast with at least $50/month charge to local phone company. With promotion such as pay full year for $199 and you get another year, that just sweetens the deal.

Anyway, I first jumped on the VOIP bandwagon with SunRocket few years back. I had no problem with it, though the company went under about two years after that. So I switched to AT&T Callvantage. It is more expensive, and less features than what SunRocket offered, though it still costs less than the plans with local phone company. After two years with AT&T Callvantage, they now send letter to advise switching to different company because they shut down their VOIP service.

I guess this is the disadvantage of the VOIP phone company. You just never know when they will go kaput on you. Why don’t I just have a cell phone instead? Well, the home alarm system still requires a landline. I don’t have DirectTV or Dish Network now, but in future when I decide to hook up, it will require a landline as well. 

I looked around for different options. I think Vonage is expensive. ViaTalk has great deal, but I also hear their customer service is bad, and their quality is not so good either. So I decided to go with Phone Power. People give thumb-up for their service, and it currently has good deal to offer  as well.  Phone Power also gives a free cloned 2nd line. Well, I placed the order, and it processed my order quickly. The hardware has already been shipped to my house few days later. Service is switched over supposingly today or tomorrow.

I still keep the same phone number by the way.