I'm watching Mr. Netanyahu's interview on CNN.
If you go back a hundred blogs or so, you'll see I mentioned that maybe Israel is in fact sitting on oil. Mr. Netanyahu, just stated that "We found oil" in them there hills...
All the Middle East countries have oil, yet, for some reason Israel didn't have any???
Earthquakes, rumors of wars, food shortages, famines, crumbling economies, weird weather, evil is good and good is evil? Countries wanting to obliterate Israel off the face of the earth... Hmmm. Maybe there is some truth to Biblical prophesy?
Now that nuclear disasters are causing peeps to rethink energy policy, some countries may ramp up efforts behind the scenes to get more oil... Iran has enough nuclear material for three nukes...
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Adversity and Blessing
Although adversity may never seem to be a blessing, God in His grace can bring blessing out of our adversity. The key is releasing the hurt and pain to the Lord so He can bring the needed healing to our lives.
As I've mentioned in past blogs, when I meet someone who is going through a business failure or a financial loss, there's an instant bond between us of shared experience.
God can take our adversity—a heart attack, cancer, an automobile accident, violent crime, bankruptcy, a marriage crisis, the loss of a loved one—and transform that pain into encouragement for the people around us. We come out of those experiences stronger and better able to comfort others.
As I've mentioned in past blogs, when I meet someone who is going through a business failure or a financial loss, there's an instant bond between us of shared experience.
God can take our adversity—a heart attack, cancer, an automobile accident, violent crime, bankruptcy, a marriage crisis, the loss of a loved one—and transform that pain into encouragement for the people around us. We come out of those experiences stronger and better able to comfort others.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Distressed For Your Comfort?
I have to say I had a pretty tough week last week; surgery, radiation, nassea, headaches, body aches etc. The job I got three months ago isn't too happy either, so extra stress of the idea of looking for work again...
Then I read this verse from 2Cor 1:6
"If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer."
An excerpt from TGIF
"God must love you a lot! He doesn't allow someone to go through the kinds of adversity you have experienced unless He has a special calling on your life." Those were the words said to me by two different mentors at two different times within a three-year period. Later I would learn another related truth from a respected man of God - a man who lives in another country, a man whom God uses throughout the globe. "The depth and width of your faith experiences are directly proportional to your calling."
So what's next?
Then I read this verse from 2Cor 1:6
"If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer."
An excerpt from TGIF
"God must love you a lot! He doesn't allow someone to go through the kinds of adversity you have experienced unless He has a special calling on your life." Those were the words said to me by two different mentors at two different times within a three-year period. Later I would learn another related truth from a respected man of God - a man who lives in another country, a man whom God uses throughout the globe. "The depth and width of your faith experiences are directly proportional to your calling."
So what's next?
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Imploding Actors for $100 Please
A famous actor most recently known for his odd numbered comedy?
Who is Charlie Sheen.
I subscribe to several blogs and groups; I read one yesterday by one of my Pastors from the church I attended in GA.. titled "What if Charlie Sheen were in your small group?" Good read, check it out.
http://smallgroupscoach.com/2011/03/what-if-charlie-sheen-were-in-your-small-group/
Who is Charlie Sheen.
I subscribe to several blogs and groups; I read one yesterday by one of my Pastors from the church I attended in GA.. titled "What if Charlie Sheen were in your small group?" Good read, check it out.
http://smallgroupscoach.com/2011/03/what-if-charlie-sheen-were-in-your-small-group/
Sunday, February 27, 2011
$5 budgeting
Five Dollars
Doesn't seem like much but consider for a moment the 8th wonder of the world-compounding.
Save just $5 a day, or $150 a month, for 30 years — earn 10 percent on it — and you'll end up with a nest egg of more than $340,000. Would that make a difference in your life? (By the way, if you're wondering how the heck you can make 10% on your savings, you can't — at least without risk.)
The tricky part is saving that $5 without sacrificing your quality of life. As of today $5 buys a #1 meal at McD's, 1 pack of cigs, 1 happy hour drink inc tip, 1 appetizer or tapas. Oh, here's one; 1 Venti Caramel foo-foo drink..Ouch. But if you chose to sacrifice just a little, $5 makes a world of difference to kids and families in a third world country, if you chose to help them.
One of many ways of doing that is to pay for name brands only when name brands make a difference. Sound obvious? Take a quick stroll around any grocery store and you'll see that it must not be at all obvious, because the shelves are stuffed with products that cost extra — sometimes a whole lot extra — in exchange for nothing more than a name.
So if you're struggling with finances, want a little retirement, or want to leave a legacy for others, consider Abe.
Doesn't seem like much but consider for a moment the 8th wonder of the world-compounding.
Save just $5 a day, or $150 a month, for 30 years — earn 10 percent on it — and you'll end up with a nest egg of more than $340,000. Would that make a difference in your life? (By the way, if you're wondering how the heck you can make 10% on your savings, you can't — at least without risk.)
The tricky part is saving that $5 without sacrificing your quality of life. As of today $5 buys a #1 meal at McD's, 1 pack of cigs, 1 happy hour drink inc tip, 1 appetizer or tapas. Oh, here's one; 1 Venti Caramel foo-foo drink..Ouch. But if you chose to sacrifice just a little, $5 makes a world of difference to kids and families in a third world country, if you chose to help them.
One of many ways of doing that is to pay for name brands only when name brands make a difference. Sound obvious? Take a quick stroll around any grocery store and you'll see that it must not be at all obvious, because the shelves are stuffed with products that cost extra — sometimes a whole lot extra — in exchange for nothing more than a name.
So if you're struggling with finances, want a little retirement, or want to leave a legacy for others, consider Abe.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Modeling Leadership
Ken Blanchard, the author of the One Minute Manager, once shared a story about what can happen when individuals in a company model servant leadership, no matter where they are on the totem pole.
A business consultant was training more than 3000 employees of a mid-western grocery chain to approach their jobs with a goal of creating a memory for their customers. She stated that "this is what will distinguish your store from all others."
Johnny was a 19-year old bag boy that had down-syndrome. His first response to the consultant's suggestion was "I'm just a 'bag boy.'" Nevertheless, he went home and shared what the consultant said with his mother. They began to ponder the consultant's words about how he could create a memory for his customers. Johnny had a habit of collecting inspirational thoughts that he would often read. He decided he would begin printing these sayings and place one in each of the bags of his customers. When customers came through the line he would place the sayings in their bag and say, "I've included some of my favorite sayings in your bag in hopes it will encourage you today. Thanks for shopping with us."
After just a few weeks, an amazing thing began to happen. One day the store manager noticed that all the customers were lined up at only one cashier station when there were other stations open. He began to panic, thinking the other stations were broken. After further investigation he found this was not the case. Actually, customers wanted to come through Johnny's line in order to get his saying of the day.
One woman came up to the manager and said, "I used to come to the store only once a week, but now I come everyday!" Johnny's example spread to other departments in the store. The florist began giving a flower to each florist customer. The meat department put Snoopy stickers on each meat order with a special greeting. This one act by a bag boy changed the entire climate of the store.*
A business consultant was training more than 3000 employees of a mid-western grocery chain to approach their jobs with a goal of creating a memory for their customers. She stated that "this is what will distinguish your store from all others."
Johnny was a 19-year old bag boy that had down-syndrome. His first response to the consultant's suggestion was "I'm just a 'bag boy.'" Nevertheless, he went home and shared what the consultant said with his mother. They began to ponder the consultant's words about how he could create a memory for his customers. Johnny had a habit of collecting inspirational thoughts that he would often read. He decided he would begin printing these sayings and place one in each of the bags of his customers. When customers came through the line he would place the sayings in their bag and say, "I've included some of my favorite sayings in your bag in hopes it will encourage you today. Thanks for shopping with us."
After just a few weeks, an amazing thing began to happen. One day the store manager noticed that all the customers were lined up at only one cashier station when there were other stations open. He began to panic, thinking the other stations were broken. After further investigation he found this was not the case. Actually, customers wanted to come through Johnny's line in order to get his saying of the day.
One woman came up to the manager and said, "I used to come to the store only once a week, but now I come everyday!" Johnny's example spread to other departments in the store. The florist began giving a flower to each florist customer. The meat department put Snoopy stickers on each meat order with a special greeting. This one act by a bag boy changed the entire climate of the store.*
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Gives and Takes Away
You may say to yourself " My power and the stregnth of my hands have produced this wealth for me" Deut 8:17
There is danger Will Robinson, well, for any of us who may have achieved some level of success through hard work or working smarter; then believing we achieved it through our own efforts. But the reality is that He is a gracious and merciful God, who has given it and can take it away.
There is danger Will Robinson, well, for any of us who may have achieved some level of success through hard work or working smarter; then believing we achieved it through our own efforts. But the reality is that He is a gracious and merciful God, who has given it and can take it away.
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