While you’re still thinking about your responses to my Jeopardy answers to the contest I started last week, I’ll now take the pause button off of the CD player and fill you in on a unique superpower I actually have that even Superman or Spiderman doesn’t have. (As I said earlier, sadly it doesn’t involve leaping tall buildings in a single bound…besides, I’m a little too portly and too old for doing things like that…) But it DOES have something to do with matters of trust….and I don’t have to avoid kryptonite to use it, either. First, let’s refresh our memories on the primary Biblical basis of the overall recent course of the columns here over the past few months or so:

Numbers chapter 30 (New International Version) (Vows)

30 [a]Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: “This is what the Lord commands: 2 When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

For the last few months, we’ve tried to establish a Biblical foundation for the idea of vows, covenants, and commitments. Now it’s time to bring a practical illustration into the mix for even greater emphasis and understanding on the subject at hand. I’ll do just that by talking about something that most people rarely probably think about–-UNTIL they’re in desperate need of one and absolutely don’t know exactly how to find one near them.

It just so happens that one of the parts of my personal side business enterprises involves the fact that I’m actually myself a commissioned Texas notary public currently in practice here in Plainview. (Okay–here comes ANOTHER shameless self-plug….bear with me on this, campers…) I’ve found trying to do this notary thing even just to make extra money on the side challenging for at least two reasons–one, the fact of how hard it is to even let people know that you are one

in the first place whenever THEY’RE in need of one and are usually lost as snow gooses to even find one…and two, the fact that I can’t compete pricewise with other notaries who actually do their services for FREE!

When you’re dependent on needing to charge for your services, that’s a VERY hard to next-to-impossible price to compete against. And I somewhat understand your frustration over that–for even I have to go to the library at times myself to get some of my stuff notarized for that FREE price. It’s the equivalent of a classic marketing question unique to West Texas–do you want to compete pricewise along the lines of Wal-Mart…OR do you instead try to focus on quality customer service such as having sackers sack your groceries and take them out to the car for you like United and Amigos usually do? (For the record, my personal approach as a notary has to lean towards the latter…)

I personally find that most in the market probably don’t have a full understanding of what a notary is expected to do in the first place and could use some basic rudimental education on the subject (employers and businesses in particular). If our commitments, contracts, etc. are to stand up in a duly established court of law as well as stand up to appropriate Scriptural guidelines, wouldn’t it be wise to get someone that has a little training and expertise in these matters that can be of some help? 

Over the next few weeks, I will find a way through my notary pursuits to finally put a wrap on our recent emphasis on Numbers 30 and transition into other matters in future columns. Next time, I’ll address common FAQs about notaries and their practices. I’ll try not to bore you too much in doing so, ok?

Until next time (as He allows), see ya at the CROSSroads–

Coy RH

(Amongst Coy Holley’s current business enterprises are the notary public and clerical services offered by CoyRH/SEATC Clerical Services. Coy is currently a member of good standing with both the American Association of Notaries and also the National Notary Association–two national associations of notary publics

dedicated to providing notary public services to their customers according not only to strict adherence to state laws concerning notary publics, but also in accordance to the best practices and highest possible ethical standards in the industry. Those needing further information or wishing to set up a free initial consultation via email or phone on the notary public services available through CoyRH/SEATC Clerical can contact Coy via the current contact info available at his website at https://coyrhseatcbspm.wixsite.com/walking .)