Handyman for God's People Ministry - InspectionNews

Mike Dicken · #1 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 07:09 AM

Praise the Lord! Hello. I am retired; now working for the Lord. I served in a senior Engineering role aboard a nuclear submarine, as the Nuclear Operations and Facility Manager at 8 different DOE nuclear weapons support facilities across the USA, and as the Test Director of a 4-nation international nuclear waste disposal project in Russia. I maintain an active Airframe and Powerplant license from the Federal Aviation Administration authorizing me to inspect and repair aircraft, aircraft engines, and accessories. My ministry is directed at serving Christians and Christian families in need of repair or installation services, especially those who cannot afford to hire a contractor. I have over 40 years experience managing and performing complex operations and testing, plus troubleshooting and repairing in the areas of electrical, plumbing, construction, carpentry, and mechanical. An ordained deacon since 1996, my call from God in September 2006 to serve other Christians is grounded in God’s Word and strives to bring glory and honor to the Lord, Jesus Christ. I graduated from Purdue University and married Melanie (Barnhart) in 1969. We have three sons and two grandchildren. I also serve as Chaplain of the Montgomery County, Virginia Gideon Camp and teach Sunday school at Main Street Baptist Church in Christiansburg, VA. I can be reached by cell phone at 540-392-9268 or by e-mail at tmdicken@hotmail.com.

Billy Stephens · #2 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 08:05 AM

Mike,

Welcome Aboard.

Nice looking grandson.

daniel nantell · #3 (**permalink**) 12-29-2007, 09:09 PM

You are doing a great job helping the needed , our country needs more people like you. Looks like your a great Papa also. Keep passing out those bibles as Im a gideon also. I just retired like yourself, joined the Gideons and got my Home Inspector license. Have not done much with the license as the real estate market in the midwest is terrible. I was just in your neck of the woods, we rode the train from richmond va. to new york last week , have a blessed new year.

Aaron Miller · #4 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 06:34 AM

Some of us that prefer to remain post theological might take offense to your breaking the forum rules by being a billboard for your backwater religious beliefs.

Not many of us, but some.

Welcome anyway, preacher.

Aaron

John Arnold · #5 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 06:59 AM

Mike - Welcome to the board.

I am curious why, as an obvious promoter of your religion, you would seem to limit your good works to Christians and Christian families. Wouldn't it make more sense, from an evangelical standpoint, to seek out non-Christians and help them?

By the way, I used to live in Floyd County and drive through Christiansburg frequently on my way to Virginia Tech.

Jerry McCarthy · #6 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 10:22 AM

I'm with Aaron on this one and this is not a forum to preach one’s belief in a higher power.

Jim Luttrall · #7 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Some of us that prefer to remain post theological might take offense to your breaking the forum rules

Aaron and Jerry M., I must have missed that rule. Could you post the one you refer to?

Have you filed your objection to Brian via email per the rules?

I would think that Mike might have a case for your offensive description

Quote:

backwater religious beliefs.

Quote:

You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this Message Board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise violative of any law.

I for one do not take offense to someone simply describing his business model and a little personal bio.
I do take offense at people who sit on the side and take pot shots at anyone who dares to mention their faith during a simple introduction.
The guy does not seem to be intending to impose his beliefs on anyone here nor belittle anyone else for their belief or lack thereof.
We are well aware of the position of Aaron and others secular humanistic leaning positions due to various postings here, those are his positions and I have not heard one peep from anyone denigrating him for his position even though it is a position not espouse by a good number of patrons of this board.
Give it a rest Aaron.

John Arnold · #8 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Luttrall

take pot shots at anyone who dares to mention their faith

Sorry, he did a little more than mention his faith. It was a major part of his post and so becomes fair game for those of us who don't want to hear it.

Jon Randolph · #9 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Arnold

Sorry, he did a little more than mention his faith. It was a major part of his post and so becomes fair game for those of us who don't want to hear it.

Actually, if you copy his entire post and paste it to Microsoft Word, you can easily find out how much of his post mentions anything about religion.

Here are the exact numbers regarding his post/introduction:

Total # of sentences - 12
Total # of sentences mentioning anything about religion - 5

Total # of words - 222
Total # of words in all sentences mentioning anything religious - 94
Total # of words mentioning a specific deity/religion/religious orginization or activity- 16

Total # of characters - 1422
Total # of characters in all sentences mentioning anything religious - 554

How does this make the majority of his post faith based?????

If you don't want to read it or hear about it, you don't have to read it. Compared to other posts/pictures on here, this shouldn't offend anyone.

Welcome to the board Mike and Daniel

Jon Randolph · #10 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 12:49 PM

Sorry,

I forgot about the totally offensive picture of the cross and flags in his driveway. I guess that those could be found offensive to non-americans as well as members of other religions or atheists. We must be careful to remain politically correct.

Jerry Peck · #11 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry McCarthy

I'm with Aaron on this one and this is not a forum to preach one’s belief in a higher power.

I agree with Jerry Mc. and Aaron.

There are religious boards for those who want to be religious.

There are political boards for those who want to be political.

There are home inspector boards for those who want to be home inspectorish .. you know, like this one.

If you want to keep posting religious stuff here, be prepared to be bombard with non-religious counter-posts. I have been holding back and gritting my teeth that these would stop, and they had ... with 'had' being past tense.

Jerry Peck · #12 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Randolph

How does this make the majority of his post faith based?????

Like this: (underlining is mine)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Dicken

Praise the Lord! Hello. I am retired; now working for the Lord. I served in a senior Engineering role aboard a nuclear submarine, as the Nuclear Operations and Facility Manager at 8 different DOE nuclear weapons support facilities across the USA, and as the Test Director of a 4-nation international nuclear waste disposal project in Russia. I maintain an active Airframe and Powerplant license from the Federal Aviation Administration authorizing me to inspect and repair aircraft, aircraft engines, and accessories. My ministry is directed at serving Christians and Christian families in need of repair or installation services, especially those who cannot afford to hire a contractor. I have over 40 years experience managing and performing complex operations and testing, plus troubleshooting and repairing in the areas of electrical, plumbing, construction, carpentry, and mechanical. An ordained deacon since 1996, my call from God in September 2006 to serve other Christians is grounded in God’s Word and strives to bring glory and honor to the Lord, Jesus Christ. I graduated from Purdue University and married Melanie (Barnhart) in 1969. We have three sons and two grandchildren. I also serve as Chaplain of the Montgomery County, Virginia Gideon Camp and teach Sunday school at Main Street Baptist Church in Christiansburg, VA. I can be reached by cell phone at 540-392-9268 or by e-mail at tmdicken@hotmail.com.

It was enough to make me PUKE!

Mike and Daniel are welcome to this HOME INSPECTOR'S board, let's keep the religious crap out of it. Okay?

Jim Luttrall · #13 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 03:07 PM

What most critics of religion and faith in general fail to realize it that there is no absence of belief, just differences of belief, man does not operate in a vacuum devoid of personal belief. The espousal of "no mention of religion" is in fact promoting the religion of secular humanism, atheism, agnosticism or just plain old antagonism.

There can be acceptance for all religions or faiths or total intolerance for any. Which means one would have to be totally intolerant of any lack of belief system including the lack of acknowledgment of a higher power, which is where several on this thread seem to cast their lot.

While the mention of a persons stance as it relates to a home inspectors business model may make JP puke, the intolerant and condescending rhetoric makes me want to puke, an makes me reevaluate my opinions, not that anyone does or should care what I think.

We all have lives outside of home inspecting (I hope) and the mention of military background may be disgusting to those averse to war, and the mention of a wife and children may be disgusting to the homosexuals, and lets not forget the anti-nuclear groups.
The point is you can be offended by pretty much anything if you choose.
But in this current thread, I think the anti-religious zealots are the ones with the issue, not the original poster who was telling us about who he is and what he cares about.

Lighten up.

Michael Larson · #14 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

It was enough to make me PUKE!

Mike and Daniel are welcome to this HOME INSPECTOR'S board, let's keep the religious crap out of it. Okay?

Lighten up Jerry.

The guy is just sharing a little bio info to help everyone to get to know him better.

From you post and others one might suggest the next step is to find a noose or two boards and a hammer and nails. Geesh!

Rick Cantrell · #15 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 04:26 PM

Jim
That is the way I feel also.

Jerry M., Aaron, John, and Jerry P.

OK, this board is not for religious discussion.
So what, he posted once to introduce himself.
Even if he had made several post there is no need, or benefit to anyone to vilify him. Someone mentions they are a Christian (or Jew, Muslim, etc..) and they become "Fair game"? Really.

I respect each of you, I value your opinion, and I think all of you are intelligent, and most likely educated, so it surprises me at how disrespectful you can be, well except for Aaron. Sorry Aaron, but you have shown little respect for anyone.

Disagree, think his post in out of order, then say so, but leave out the sarcasm and show a little respect, OK.

I apologize if I have wasted your time, I hope I've not wasted mine.

Rick Cantrell · #16 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 05:11 PM

Jerry M.
I reread your post. You were not being sarcastic or disrespectful, maybe a little insensitive, but not sarcastic. I apologize.

Jerry P.
You said;
"There are religious boards for those who want to be religious.
There are political boards for those who want to be political.
There are home inspector boards for those who want to be home inspectorish .. you know, like this one.
If you want to keep posting religious stuff here, be prepared to be bombard with non-religious counter-posts...."

These were posted by you. So what do they have to do with home inspection? Or is it OK as long as there is no mention of God, in other words, as long as it's Godless?
saw this in Orlando today

death, taxes and ...

F4 crashing into concrete wall at 500 mph

Blonde Star

The secret to having a long and happy marriage

signs, signs, signs - signs say the dumbest things

Women as explained by engineers

Just for run - I'm going to go up in one of these tomorrow after work

Because that's what Mom's say

curing ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) the old way

Mid-life crisis

You know you're a redneck when you go to family reunions to meet girls

it's a bit long, but well worth the viewing - which you will not get until the end

optical illusion

Stella Awards

Billy Stephens · #17 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

There are political boards for those who want to be political.,,,,

Lest We Forget.

As I've seen many posts with no such backlash.

Jack Feldmann · #18 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 05:57 PM

I tried to figure out why Mike posted what he did. Since it was his 4th, I have to assume it wasn't to say "HI, I'm new here".

Jon pointed out - Word count 222 - religious wording 94 - that's over 40%. Sounds like a religious post to me.

While I consider myself a pretty religious guy, I try not to jamb my beliefs down peoples throats, or flaunt it. I think it makes people uncomfortable.

That said, he did put it in the Say Hello section, and if was going to be anywhere, I think that would be the place to put it. If it was done to just tell us something about himself - fine. If it was done to try to drum up business under the cloak of being a "good Christian", then shame on him.

It might be as simple as he was just pumped up about his service to the Lord, and wanted to share his feelings.

A while back I asked a question about putting a link to my church's web site on mine. The discussion made me re-think it, and decided not to. At the time, I thought it was just a good thing to do, since i am proud to be a member of my church, etc. However, as some pointed out, I might offend someone in the process.

Just my 2 cents
JF