Daily Grit by Wes Thorp

Survey says Americans don't buy their own cars because they suck quality-wise

The state of Michigan is not the most fun place to be in right now, despite really warm winter weather. The automobile industry is gasping for its life and people's lives are being affected in a major way.

Why can't the Big Three auto companies make it work with the car buying public? Simple, according to the Detroit News in a series of stories starting today.

Most of the American car buyers perceive our domestic vehicles to be inferior in quality.

A preview of the next two parts in the series tells how the car makers are trying to find out what the nation's drivers want to buy. Good idea. It's about time.

Technorati Tags: auto industry, daimler chrysler, economy, ford, general motors

Do you believe that God has you right where he wants you?

Usually, the first day of the New Year in mid-Michigan is a big snow-blower day.  Instead, the weather is so warm here that you could almost go out to the driving range and hit a bucket.

Last night, we celebrated by seeing the movie Rocky Balboa, having supper at Bob Evans, taking our aging beagle, Snoopy, for a walk and then by popping open a blue bottle from Leelanau Wine Cellars.

As I step into the New Year, I am grabbed by a quote from a book that my son, Justin, gave me.  The book, In A Pit With a Lion On A Snowy Day, was written by Mark Batterson, the pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C.  Justin has been a regular attender since moving to the area.

This quote from the book seems filled with substance that I need to make mine during the coming twelve months.  Do you agree with his statement that:

God is in the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time.  A sense of destiny is our birthright as followers of Christ.

God is awfully good at getting us where He wants us to go.  But here's the catch:  The right place often seems like the wrong place, and the right time often seems like the wrong time.

Technorati Tags: 60th birthday, baby boomer, Mark Batterson, michigan, New Year's Resolution, retirees