As some of you may or may not know, my employment at my company has ended.

No need for worry, at least not for now. The company I work for has been purchased by another company / On this past Wednesday, at midnight, I was informed the company I work for was formally and completely out of business. However. the company that bought us let us know^- there were one of three "personal" outcomes. 1 was going to be dismissed with a severance package, or I was going to be kept for a short time and finish a project. and *then* dismissed with a severance, or they were going to welcome me with open arms and I would begin new employment.

Having never been "bought" before, it was a unique experience for me and one I found quite interesting. How would my day to day activity change? What about health care. holidays, vacations, and the like? Would have I have to go into the office every day instead of the perk of working from home several days a week, which l am used to? If I work for the new company do I lose my severance? Most importantly, yes because I am quite vain, would I have to start wearing pants or even <gasp> dress clothes? You can see how this might be of interest to me.

I have other options, after all. I could just quit, flush the severance, and move on. Lots of people did that, but since my severance equals about 8 months of salary I wasn't so keen on going that route. So I decided to take the job, which was eventually offered to me, and see what road this takes me down. I can quit later if that's my choice.

Having set up this background, now you have some hope in understanding the simple point I want to make for you to think about. That is, time limits. You see my new company isn't messing around. They made me an offer on Friday. I have to send that offer back by this upcoming Friday, the 5th, or they will consider my lack of response a resignation. No severance, no job, nothing. All my options run out. And they have very specific rules about that response.

I must send it with all the paper work all at once. I must use a paper clip, not a staple. Yes they were that specific. There must be no stray marks on the pages, only a signature in the appropriate place. No additional pages, or anything missing, or even split up, it must all arrive together in the same envelope. No additional comments, nothing, or it will be thrown out. It must be sent via overnight service - US Mail will be refused, even returning it in person, and if they don't have it in their hands come Friday its all over.

I could question all this. I could "test" their rules by using a staple. I could fly out and try to hand it to them face to face. I could add things, or send them piecemeal. How dare they tell me how it has to be, I think their rules are silly. I don't understand or agree on their importance, I am going to question their authority.

Duh. This is how many approach God. He offers salvation to everyone, yet people are stupid about it. They don't like the rules, they don't understand or agree to their importance, and take a "how dare he!" stance towards God. Towards God! And there is only so much time to respond. I don't care if the offer is only good a day, a week, or a lifetime, it is LIMITED.

I don't want anything to go wrong. On Monday morning, the first chance possible, I am returning my packet. The overnight service is even paid for by my new company and they have collection centers set up at our existing campus. I want what they are offering and wish my calling to be an election sure. Know what I mean?

Randy