Thursday, May 29, 2025

Look to the rock - Calico Rock that is.

Our hometown of Calico Rock has been in the news a lot this week. And not in a positive way. Prison breaks make national headline news. Ugh!

It got me thinking about things, so I asked ChatGPT this question:

“I am from a town named Calico Rock, Arkansas. I like a good metaphor so I like songs like, ‘I go to the Rock’ by Dottie Rambo and I like the verse from Isaiah 51:1. Will you write me a short sermon using this passage and any other "rock" biblical references or songs.”

Here is its answer and a couple of my edits:

Absolutely. Here's a short sermon (approx. 7–8 minutes) titled "Look to the Rock" — grounded in Isaiah 51:1, with rich biblical metaphors and references to hymns like “I Go to the Rock,” and touching on your hometown of Calico Rock, Arkansas as a personal anchor.

"Look to the Rock"

Text: Isaiah 51:1
"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug."

Introduction: Calico Rock and the Power of a Name

Growing up in Calico Rock, Arkansas, you learn to appreciate the weight and beauty of stone. Our town is named for the colorful bluffs that rise above the White River—a place that feels solid, enduring, familiar. Maybe that’s why verses like Isaiah 51:1 speak so deeply to me. Because I know what it means to “look to the rock.”

Isaiah’s words were first spoken to a weary people—exiles who wondered if God still remembered them. And his answer was clear: Yes, I remember you. And you need to remember Me. Look to the Rock.

1. Look Back to the Rock – God’s Faithfulness in the Past

Isaiah says, “Look to the rock from which you were hewn.” And then in verse 2, he says who that rock is: “Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you.”

Abraham was just one man. Sarah was barren. They had no child and no land. And yet God said, “I will make your offspring like the stars of the sky.” And He did.

So when you feel small, forgotten, or without hope, Isaiah says: Remember where you came from. Not just your hometown—but the spiritual quarry you were carved from. You were formed by a God who keeps promises, even when the odds say otherwise.

Like that old song says:

🎵 "Where do I go when there's no one else to turn to?
I go to the Rock, I know He’s able, I go to the Rock."
— Dottie Rambo

2. Stand Firm on the Rock – God’s Security in the Present

Throughout Scripture, God is called our Rock—a symbol of strength, stability, and refuge.

Deuteronomy 32:4 – “The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice.”
Psalm 18:2 – “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.”
Matthew 7:24 – “The wise man built his house on the rock.”

When everything else feels shaky—when health fails, finances fall, relationships fracture—we can still stand on something unshakable. That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “Build your house on the rock.”

And if you’ve ever stood on the bluff at Calico Rock and watched the water of the White River flow by ~~rise and fall below you~~, you know what it feels like to stand on something that doesn’t move.

3. Come to the Living Rock – God’s Invitation for the Future

Peter says in 1 Peter 2:4–6:

“As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious… you yourselves like living stones are being built up.”

Jesus is the Living Rock—the cornerstone the builders rejected. But now, He invites us to be part of something eternal: a spiritual house, built stone by stone, soul by soul.

And He still invites us:

🎵 “On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.”

Conclusion: When You Need Hope, Go to the Rock

So today, if you're:

Tired from trying to live rightly,
Wounded by things you can’t control,
Or just wondering if you still have a purpose...

Look to the Rock.

Not just to where you came from—but to the One who never changes, who holds you firm when the world shakes, who makes living stones out of sinners and saints alike.

Because whether you're standing on the bluffs of Calico Rock or walking through life’s valleys, there’s a Rock higher than you. And His name is Jesus.

🎵 “I go to the Rock of my salvation,
I go to the Stone that the builders rejected.
I run to the Mountain and the Mountain stands by me.”

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Restoring Fiscal Responsibility: A Call for Deficit Reform and Campaign Finance Overhaul

By Steven R Perryman, CPA

Executive Summary

The United States faces a dire fiscal imbalance, with annual deficits approaching $2 trillion and national debt exceeding $34 trillion. This trajectory is unsustainable and threatens the nation's economic security, global standing, and future generations’ prosperity. Yet meaningful reform remains elusive—not due to a lack of solutions, but a lack of political will. At the root of this failure is a system of campaign financing that prioritizes short-term special interests over long-term national interest. The path forward requires a bold commitment to both fiscal discipline and campaign finance reform.

The Scope of the Crisis

In 2025, the U.S. federal government is projected to spend approximately $6.5 trillion while collecting only about $4.7 trillion in revenue. This gap—nearly $2 trillion—is not an anomaly but part of a structural pattern exacerbated by:

Unchecked entitlement spending growth
Rising interest payments, now rivaling defense in size
An outdated and loophole-ridden tax code
A political culture of delay and denial

Meanwhile, the national debt-to-GDP ratio exceeds 120%, placing the U.S. in uncharted fiscal territory outside of wartime.

The Root of Inaction: Money in Politics

Despite warnings from economists, rating agencies, and bipartisan commissions, Congress has failed to act. Why?

Campaign finance dysfunction is a central reason:

Powerful interest groups fund re-election campaigns and oppose reforms that may affect their tax advantages or subsidies.
Super PACs and dark money organizations flood elections with unaccountable influence.
Politicians prioritize short-term electoral survival over long-term national interest.

Without reforming how campaigns are funded, it is politically irrational for most lawmakers to support the tough decisions needed to close the deficit.

The Solution: A Dual Commitment

1. A 10-Year Deficit Reduction Plan

Congress should commit to a comprehensive fiscal realignment that includes:

Spending caps tied to economic growth
Entitlement reform that protects the vulnerable while ensuring sustainability
Tax reform to broaden the base and reduce evasion
A glide path to primary balance (excluding interest payments) within 10 years

This process must be transparent, scored by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and tracked publicly.

2. Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform

True fiscal reform begins with political reform:

End dark money in politics through full disclosure laws
Enact public financing models (e.g., small donor matching)
Ban lobbying by ex-lawmakers for a cooling-off period
Reinstate limits on campaign contributions and political coordination with outside groups

Without these safeguards, the public interest will remain subordinate to donor agendas.

A National Imperative

The fiscal crisis is not a future problem—it’s a current emergency masked by low voter understanding and high market confidence. But confidence is fragile. A tipping point could come through:

A failed Treasury auction
A credit downgrade
A spike in interest rates due to inflation or de-dollarization

Waiting until then is irresponsible governance. Congress’s plan to close the gap should be the most watched-for event in American politics—not celebrity scandals or partisan theatrics.

A Call to Action

As a nation, we must demand from our leaders:

Fiscal honesty
Policy courage
Structural integrity

We can no longer afford the illusion that we can "grow our way out" of deficits without discipline. Nor can we tolerate a system where the price of elected office is moral compromise.

The time has come to align fiscal policy with democratic integrity. Campaign finance reform isn’t just an ethics issue—it’s a budgetary one.

Let’s build a future where Congress answers to voters—not funders—and where the federal budget reflects responsibility, not recklessness.

Sunday, May 4, 2025

The Danger of Flying Blind: Why the Income Statement alone isn't enough.

By Steven R Perryman, CPA

Most trucking business owners check their profit and loss statement every month. And many stop there.

But the income statement — as familiar and useful as it is — only tells part of the story.

Let’s say you had a strong month:

Revenue: $80,000
Expenses: $65,000
Net income: $15,000

You feel good… until you open your bank account and see $3,500. Then the fuel bill hits for $7,000.

Where did the money go?

👉 The income statement won’t tell you:

That $12,000 is tied up in unpaid invoices
That $9,000 went to loan principal payments
That $5,000 was spent on a trailer deposit

The truth? Profit isn't cash. And the income statement doesn’t account for everything that matters.

What You’re Missing

To understand your company’s financial health, you need to look at the complete financial statement package:

The balance sheet — shows what you own, owe, and what you’re worth. It is who you are at any point in time.
The income statement — shows operational performance. It is how good your are over a period of time.
The cash flow statement — tracks actual cash movement. It shows you the sources and uses of cash produced by the engine that is your business.

Together, these paint a much more accurate picture. You can spot patterns, make smarter decisions, and prevent surprises.

Before You Begin: Cash vs. Accrual Accounting

One critical issue many business owners overlook is how their books are kept.

Most start with cash accounting — recognizing income and expenses when money changes hands. But that doesn’t account for receivables, payables, or depreciation. And it can give a false sense of profitability.

Accrual accounting recognizes income when earned and expenses when incurred — providing a more complete and reliable view.

In the next installment of this series, we’ll explore why that shift matters — and how it might be the most important upgrade your business can make.

Need Help Getting Your Arms Around the Financials?

If your internal team is stretched thin, or you want to bring clarity and consistency to your monthly close, our fractional accounting services can quietly support your staff and produce timely, accurate financials you can trust.

Next up: Accrual vs. Cash — Why the Method Matters

➡️ Subscribe to get the next article in your inbox, or reach out directly if you want help making sense of your financials.

Friday, May 2, 2025

Psalm 86 - the George King version

A Prayer from the Heart – Inspired by Psalm 86

Lord,
I’m down on my knees talkin’ to You,
’Cause I sure do need You to listen.
I ain’t got much to offer,
But I belong to You, and I trust You with all I got.

Take care of me, Lord—
I try to walk straight, I try to do right.
Be merciful, ‘cause I’m cryin’ out to You all day long.
Lift my spirit, Lord,
I’m leanin’ hard on You.

You’re good, Lord.
Full of kindness and quick to forgive.
Anyone who hollers Your name gets Your love.
So I’m callin’ You now, Lord—
Please hear me out.
When trouble comes knockin’,
You’re the One I run to.

Ain’t nobody like You, Lord.
Ain’t nobody do what You can do.
One day, all the folks from all over
Gonna stand before You and worship.
They’ll see You for who You are—
Big and mighty and holy.

Teach me, Lord, to walk in Your ways.
I wanna live right and true.
Tie my heart to Yours so it don’t wander.
I’ll praise You, Lord, with all I got.
I’ll thank You forever,
’Cause You’ve been mighty good to me—
You pulled me outta some dark places.

Lord, there’s folks out to get me,
Mean ones who don’t care a lick about You.
But You, Lord, You’re full of mercy,
Kind and patient,
Faithful and loving through and through.

So I’m askin’,
Turn Your eyes toward me,
Give me strength,
Lift me up like only You can.
Give me a sign of Your goodness,
So my enemies will know You’re standin’ with me
And they’ll see I ain’t alone.

Thank You, Lord.
You always come through.
Amen.

Translated with the help of ChatGPT

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