Common Sense Commentary:
As a pastor for thirty six years, people would often say to me things like, "Pastor, I don't understand what's happening in the world or in our country. Why is there so much division and confusion among Christians ? Why are so many ministers bringing reproach on the cause of Christ ? Why do good candidates for political office, after elected, become just like the other crooks and liars in public office ?" My answer would be something like this:
IF I were the devil, I would not "go to and fro in the earth" (Job 1:7) looking cruel and wicked. I would be smart enough to transform my appearance "as a minister of righteousness". 2 Cor.11:13-15. Only then could I lead astray the innocent, the young and the immature Christian. For these would never believe or follow an obvious, wicked monster. I would LOOK good, act holy and speak convincingly to accomplish my evil purposes. Mt.7:15
IF I were the devil, I would use the well planned and plausible sounding lie to mislead nonspiritual and immature Christians and cause confusion, discord, bitterness, jealousy, and division in homes, churches and public office. Jn.8:44
IF I were the devil, I would play upon the pride of sensitive and self-righteous Christians and cause them to sow discord and doubt in the minds of gullible church members. There are always a few folks ready and willing to believe and repeat anything bad about someone else. Prov.16:18
IF I were the devil, I would turn husbands and wives against each other with suspicion, accusations, jealousy and impatience. I would tell them to demand their rights and stand their ground regardless of what the Bible says. Eph.5:22-25
IF I were the devil I would make "evil" look desirable and "good" look unsophisticated. I would make good seem evil and evil seem good. I would tell people to "do your own thing", "do what comes naturally", "sow your wild oats", and "let it all hang out", "Just be yourself", "if it feels good do it" .... and I would do it all in the name of "Your Rights" and "It's only natural". Isa.5:20
IF I were the devil, I would use all my powers to neutralize, disgrace, weaken, wound or kill the men of God who preach His Word, defend His churches, lead God's people and love Jesus ... and I would do it from within his own family or within the churches if I could. After all, ministers are only human like everyone else and subject to the same sins. Ps.105:15
IF I were the devil, having failed in my attack upon God, I would attack those created in His image. I would convince intellectuals that the human race is nothing more than a large herd of evolved animals. Thus, I would attack the sanctity of human life and give people a conscience-less excuse to eliminate unborn babies and old, sick people like useless animals. And if we are animals, we have a right to act like animals. Gen.1:27
IF I were the devil, I would make homosexuality look "gay" NOT "queer", "normal" NOT "abnormal". I would make lying the easy way out of difficulty and swear there is no absolute truth. I would make abortion a RIGHT of personal choice .... and so it is, since we are only evolved animals and there is no God to judge me or you. Rom.1:27
In other words, IF I were the devil, I would do exactly what the devil himself is in fact doing and what he has always done. He isn't stupid, he is simply wicked. A host of folks are following his agenda and think it is their own idea. Yes THAT is what is happening in the world. So, what would you do if YOU were the devil, look vicious, hateful, nasty and wicked ?
Pass it on. RB
Jan 21, 2011
Jan 20, 2011
Inflation: The Most Misunderstood Government TAX
Common Sense Commentary:
Inflation is not when prices on the shelf go up, but when the value of the dollars in your pocket go down and buy less.
The problem is not the "greedy" Store, which must compete, but the "out of control" Government which has no competition, printing too much new currency (Fiat money) out of thin air and giving it away.
Fiat Money is "paper currency" which has nothing behind it of value, gold or silver, guaranteeing it's worth.
Both gold and silver, which once guaranteed our U.S. currency, have been removed and all that's left is the government's "promise" and 2 cents worth of green paper. Fact: If they doubled every TAX PAYER'S TAXES, it would not even pay the interest on the Federal Debt. Good-bye American dream.
Why has the Federal Reserve Bank printed so much new Fiat cash ? To pay for all the "free stuff" and "free money" our politicians have given and promised to more than half of the American people, for doing nothing, and calling it "Entitlements"... but the TAX PAYERS will foot the bill, pay the price for generations to come.
What is the remedy ? It is too late to avoid the pain and loss of the dollar's demise, default of U.S. debt ... by repaying "good" dollars borrowed with new, worthless dollars. We are also losing the dollar's throne as THE ONE AND ONLY WORLD RESERVE CURRENCY which has prospered all U.S. citizens since 1944.
It is not too late to remove the politicians and Federal Reserve Bank System which are responsible for this National and now World-wide Catastrophe.
How ? Talk, give, pray & vote. Talk, give, pray & vote. Talk, give, pray & vote. That's what I'm doing now.
"And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth." Genesis 47:15
Pass it on. RB
Inflation is not when prices on the shelf go up, but when the value of the dollars in your pocket go down and buy less.
The problem is not the "greedy" Store, which must compete, but the "out of control" Government which has no competition, printing too much new currency (Fiat money) out of thin air and giving it away.
Fiat Money is "paper currency" which has nothing behind it of value, gold or silver, guaranteeing it's worth.
Both gold and silver, which once guaranteed our U.S. currency, have been removed and all that's left is the government's "promise" and 2 cents worth of green paper. Fact: If they doubled every TAX PAYER'S TAXES, it would not even pay the interest on the Federal Debt. Good-bye American dream.
Why has the Federal Reserve Bank printed so much new Fiat cash ? To pay for all the "free stuff" and "free money" our politicians have given and promised to more than half of the American people, for doing nothing, and calling it "Entitlements"... but the TAX PAYERS will foot the bill, pay the price for generations to come.
What is the remedy ? It is too late to avoid the pain and loss of the dollar's demise, default of U.S. debt ... by repaying "good" dollars borrowed with new, worthless dollars. We are also losing the dollar's throne as THE ONE AND ONLY WORLD RESERVE CURRENCY which has prospered all U.S. citizens since 1944.
It is not too late to remove the politicians and Federal Reserve Bank System which are responsible for this National and now World-wide Catastrophe.
How ? Talk, give, pray & vote. Talk, give, pray & vote. Talk, give, pray & vote. That's what I'm doing now.
"And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth." Genesis 47:15
Pass it on. RB
Jan 15, 2011
The Devil of Delusion, Diversion and Deceit
Common Sense Commentary: Jesus said, in John 8:44, that "The devil ... is a liar and the father of it."
Satan is the universal expert of the lie. More than that, he is "the father of it", it's originator and inspiration. He lied to God, to the Angels, to the Prophets, Apostles and to you and me. As the universal champion of the lie and liars, he is also the title holder for Delusion, Diversion and Deceit. He is the evil genius of mis-information, sabotage, and the wasted life. This blog has to do with an example of the Devil's devious dealings with Christians, in order to waste our time, substance and reputation, by misleading us into FALSE CAUSES . These FAKE CAUSES drain our energies and abilities away from THE TRUE CAUSE OF CHRIST.
The Example:
Over 40,000 letters were written to Washington, in the late 1970's through the early 1990's, objecting to something that never happened. A petition letter criss-crossed our nation for nearly twenty years which dealt with a non-existing problem. Each time it made the rounds, many Christians thought it was a whole new threat. Every few years I would call the FCC to be sure it was the same old letter so I wouldn't add my voice to the false alarm. It even graduated to the computer age and raced onto the world-wide web. It was still circling the globe after the accused instigator of the evil legislation, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, was murdered by an Atheist Staff Member of hers. I don't know if some misguided, well intentioned church goer or a devious enemy of Christ was the human author of this strange lie .... but "the devil was the father of it". The FCC, Congress, and those who knew it was false, had to wonder if all Christians were a bunch of charlatans and liars. Needless to say, it did the cause of Christ only harm. It not only hurt our Christian Testimony but absorbed an immense amount of wasted Christian energy and resources while Good Causes went down and dying for lack of support.
The infamous "false" letter, was believed by Christians because it was so like Ms.O'Hair. Here it is:
"Madalyn Murray O'Hair ... has been granted a federal Hearing in Washington, D.C., on the subject of religion and the airways by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). The petition (R.M. 2493) would ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of the Gospel on the airways of America. She took her petition with 27,000 signatures to back her stand. If her attempt is successful, all Sunday worship services being broadcast either by radio or television will stop. We need 1,000,000 (one million) signed letters, This should defeat Ms. O'Hair and show that there are still many Christians, ALIVE AND WELL AND CONCERNED in our country. This petition is number 2493."
The letter was followed with a petition addressed to the F.C.C. with lines for names, addresses, and date.
Over 40,000 letters, with envelope and stamp, were sent. At today's prices, that's about $20,000 plus untold time and energy wasted .... accomplished nothing .... except harm to the cause of Christ.
Now, here's the punch line. If Christians had put in just half that amount of effort in stopping Ms. O'Hair when she was getting prayer and Bible reading removed from public schools, we could have stopped her. Why didn't Christians devote as much time and energy into THAT cause ?
And, believe it or not, to this day, evil puts more pressure on Congress to pass bad legislation than Christians do for Congress to pass good legislation and against bad legislation. Strange indeed. I guess the answer to this mystery is, where the Devil pushes, shoves, screams and lies to motivate evil doers, God simply whispers and encourages Christians to His Cause.
I often wonder who originates so many totally false emails which are forwarded on the internet these days.
Some are so blatantly false, but seemingly from Christians, that it's hard to believe a true Christian would just make that stuff up. Sometimes, even old skeptical Rayburn thinks, "This has to be true" ... only to google it and discover there is no basis of fact in it. I don't use Snopes anymore, they have a Liberal agenda. Google it and you will find the truth ... usually. Whoever originates and sends those pro-Christian lies out, "the Devil is the father of it". Google it before sending it.
Pass it on. RB
Satan is the universal expert of the lie. More than that, he is "the father of it", it's originator and inspiration. He lied to God, to the Angels, to the Prophets, Apostles and to you and me. As the universal champion of the lie and liars, he is also the title holder for Delusion, Diversion and Deceit. He is the evil genius of mis-information, sabotage, and the wasted life. This blog has to do with an example of the Devil's devious dealings with Christians, in order to waste our time, substance and reputation, by misleading us into FALSE CAUSES . These FAKE CAUSES drain our energies and abilities away from THE TRUE CAUSE OF CHRIST.
The Example:
Over 40,000 letters were written to Washington, in the late 1970's through the early 1990's, objecting to something that never happened. A petition letter criss-crossed our nation for nearly twenty years which dealt with a non-existing problem. Each time it made the rounds, many Christians thought it was a whole new threat. Every few years I would call the FCC to be sure it was the same old letter so I wouldn't add my voice to the false alarm. It even graduated to the computer age and raced onto the world-wide web. It was still circling the globe after the accused instigator of the evil legislation, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, was murdered by an Atheist Staff Member of hers. I don't know if some misguided, well intentioned church goer or a devious enemy of Christ was the human author of this strange lie .... but "the devil was the father of it". The FCC, Congress, and those who knew it was false, had to wonder if all Christians were a bunch of charlatans and liars. Needless to say, it did the cause of Christ only harm. It not only hurt our Christian Testimony but absorbed an immense amount of wasted Christian energy and resources while Good Causes went down and dying for lack of support.
The infamous "false" letter, was believed by Christians because it was so like Ms.O'Hair. Here it is:
"Madalyn Murray O'Hair ... has been granted a federal Hearing in Washington, D.C., on the subject of religion and the airways by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). The petition (R.M. 2493) would ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of the Gospel on the airways of America. She took her petition with 27,000 signatures to back her stand. If her attempt is successful, all Sunday worship services being broadcast either by radio or television will stop. We need 1,000,000 (one million) signed letters, This should defeat Ms. O'Hair and show that there are still many Christians, ALIVE AND WELL AND CONCERNED in our country. This petition is number 2493."
The letter was followed with a petition addressed to the F.C.C. with lines for names, addresses, and date.
Over 40,000 letters, with envelope and stamp, were sent. At today's prices, that's about $20,000 plus untold time and energy wasted .... accomplished nothing .... except harm to the cause of Christ.
Now, here's the punch line. If Christians had put in just half that amount of effort in stopping Ms. O'Hair when she was getting prayer and Bible reading removed from public schools, we could have stopped her. Why didn't Christians devote as much time and energy into THAT cause ?
And, believe it or not, to this day, evil puts more pressure on Congress to pass bad legislation than Christians do for Congress to pass good legislation and against bad legislation. Strange indeed. I guess the answer to this mystery is, where the Devil pushes, shoves, screams and lies to motivate evil doers, God simply whispers and encourages Christians to His Cause.
I often wonder who originates so many totally false emails which are forwarded on the internet these days.
Some are so blatantly false, but seemingly from Christians, that it's hard to believe a true Christian would just make that stuff up. Sometimes, even old skeptical Rayburn thinks, "This has to be true" ... only to google it and discover there is no basis of fact in it. I don't use Snopes anymore, they have a Liberal agenda. Google it and you will find the truth ... usually. Whoever originates and sends those pro-Christian lies out, "the Devil is the father of it". Google it before sending it.
Pass it on. RB
Jan 12, 2011
Congress & Mr.President, Listen Up !
Common Sense Commentary: Short message to our Political Leaders and the Fed.
Fed Policy, with the encouragement of Congress and the Obama Administration, appears to be to RE INFLATE the burst "bubbles" you gentlemen created in the FIRST place.
When your intention is to blow up a balloon to pacify and impress the children, remember it's limitations.
A balloon is a fragile toy which bounces, floats and elicits screams of joy from children. It is not a dirigible ! It can contain a limited amount of Congressional and Presidential HOT AIR ! When our BLOWHARD Political leaders BLOWHARD, it BLOWS UP in the children's faces and the children aren't happy anymore. It's time you people GROW UP and stop all these BLOW UPS.
I am your humble SERVANT, Rayburn Blair, Taxpayer and Provider of toys for political tots.
Fed Policy, with the encouragement of Congress and the Obama Administration, appears to be to RE INFLATE the burst "bubbles" you gentlemen created in the FIRST place.
When your intention is to blow up a balloon to pacify and impress the children, remember it's limitations.
A balloon is a fragile toy which bounces, floats and elicits screams of joy from children. It is not a dirigible ! It can contain a limited amount of Congressional and Presidential HOT AIR ! When our BLOWHARD Political leaders BLOWHARD, it BLOWS UP in the children's faces and the children aren't happy anymore. It's time you people GROW UP and stop all these BLOW UPS.
I am your humble SERVANT, Rayburn Blair, Taxpayer and Provider of toys for political tots.
Jan 10, 2011
Normalcy Bias #1 " Is Dancing With The Music"
Common Sense Commentary: The Apostle Peter warned of "Normalcy Bias" in 2Pet.3:3-4, "....There shall come ... scoffers.. saying ... all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." King Solomon also warned his people of it ... "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for you know not what a day may bring forth".
Proverbs 27:1.
"Normalcy Bias" is one of several mental malfunctions of the brain in both animals and humans. It perverts the judgement and hinders understanding of everybody, at one time or another, and is common among the majority of people. It reveals itself, over a long period of time, in whose who have become locked into the opinion that certain extreme changes cannot possibly happen ...."Because they have never happened before". Blind in mind. It is not normal, not the norm, and so extremely different that it simply "won't happen", no matter what the evidence. Now, stop for a moment, and think about it.
The plain fact is that "Normalcy Bias" was in play and very widespread preceding every War, Flood, Revolution, Famine, Tsunami, Assassination and Empire failure which ever happened on earth. It is also an obvious fact, mostly mentally avoided, though it has never happened before, that your husband, wife, child or parent could die in a car crash, heart attack, fire, flood, lightening or a hundred other ways next week. Those things happen to others not my family.... Normalcy Bias.
It is my opinion that Normalcy Bias has probably never been so thoroughly prevalent, so embedded in the minds of an entire nation as it is in ours today. Most of us have never known calamities such as have been commonly experienced by many other nations. Can real catastrophe happen in America ? Let's wake up old Rip Van Normalcy Bias and ask his opinion. "Hey Norm, can Revolution or Anarchy or Poverty or Civil War come to America ?" "Don't you believe that negative nonsense Preacher, read your Bible, 'War no more'. 'Peace in the valley' an them other verses." Well, Norm, we did have a Civil War one time. It could happen again. "Ah phooie, this is the U.S. of A., the Civil War was a one time only Historical Event. It can't happen these days. It's happening in other nations, Norm. "Yeah, but that's them ... this is us. It's never happened here and won't. And them Tsunamis only happen away over there on foreign shores. Volcanic eruptions happen 99 % of the time on islands like Italy. And Famines happen in Africa or Asia but never have happened in good ole U.S.A.
Yeah, I know, the Great Depression happened back over a hundred years ago but that was caused by some Republican vacuum cleaner guy named Hoover and he's long gone." But that was a world-wide depression.
"Who says ? Anyway, so what ! Don't be so smart aleckie and negative. What about Hyper Inflation, Norm ?
Now your just throwin out big words. It cannot and will not happen here ! A hundred other nations didn't think it could happen to them either ...but it did ... and not so long ago.
Rule out all the natural disasters and just consider this one disaster caused by politicians and the Federal Reserve Bank ..... National Babkruptsy ...INFLATION... which is eroding the value of our money. Food and energy prices going up is NOT Inflation. That is the result of Inflation. Inflation is caused by the printing of too much currency by the Federal Reserve and eroding the buying power of our money.It is a government hidden tax used to supply politicians with money to give the voters more free stuff to gain votes. The only reason Hyper Inflation is not too obvious in our country yet is that the Gov. is increasing the speed and amount of new money and flooding it out across the nation and the world. Millions of roosting Chicken Littles are asleep with the roosters and hens, the fox is in there too with a menu, And ole Fido is on guard at Fort Knox making sure no gold gets in, and the Canaries in the coal mines are all dead ... So what to do ?
My challenge to America is, Wake up to the music of our very own Pied Piper Printing Presses playing our new national anthem, " Free Stuff, MY Free Stuff". Old Norm and young Pied are leading the national parade down that Yellow Brick Road to ... where it disappears ... Bridge Out ! When the flood of "free money music" STOPS ... Our Nation stops working, but to keep printing may delay, but compounds the depth
of calamity when it does come.
It's rather like "Musical Chairs". Everybody is dancing around a circle of empty chairs in rhythm with our other National Anthem, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" when suddenly the music stops and everybody lunges for a chair. But there are not nearly enough chairs, so most frolicking Americans are left standing... without a chair, a pot or a peso. That, my friends,is not normal nor expected of 99% of Americans. It is Normalcy Bias before the tragic fact.
A word to Mr. and Mrs. Norm Bias, save your money ... But Not in green paper promises.
Pass it on. RB
Proverbs 27:1.
"Normalcy Bias" is one of several mental malfunctions of the brain in both animals and humans. It perverts the judgement and hinders understanding of everybody, at one time or another, and is common among the majority of people. It reveals itself, over a long period of time, in whose who have become locked into the opinion that certain extreme changes cannot possibly happen ...."Because they have never happened before". Blind in mind. It is not normal, not the norm, and so extremely different that it simply "won't happen", no matter what the evidence. Now, stop for a moment, and think about it.
The plain fact is that "Normalcy Bias" was in play and very widespread preceding every War, Flood, Revolution, Famine, Tsunami, Assassination and Empire failure which ever happened on earth. It is also an obvious fact, mostly mentally avoided, though it has never happened before, that your husband, wife, child or parent could die in a car crash, heart attack, fire, flood, lightening or a hundred other ways next week. Those things happen to others not my family.... Normalcy Bias.
It is my opinion that Normalcy Bias has probably never been so thoroughly prevalent, so embedded in the minds of an entire nation as it is in ours today. Most of us have never known calamities such as have been commonly experienced by many other nations. Can real catastrophe happen in America ? Let's wake up old Rip Van Normalcy Bias and ask his opinion. "Hey Norm, can Revolution or Anarchy or Poverty or Civil War come to America ?" "Don't you believe that negative nonsense Preacher, read your Bible, 'War no more'. 'Peace in the valley' an them other verses." Well, Norm, we did have a Civil War one time. It could happen again. "Ah phooie, this is the U.S. of A., the Civil War was a one time only Historical Event. It can't happen these days. It's happening in other nations, Norm. "Yeah, but that's them ... this is us. It's never happened here and won't. And them Tsunamis only happen away over there on foreign shores. Volcanic eruptions happen 99 % of the time on islands like Italy. And Famines happen in Africa or Asia but never have happened in good ole U.S.A.
Yeah, I know, the Great Depression happened back over a hundred years ago but that was caused by some Republican vacuum cleaner guy named Hoover and he's long gone." But that was a world-wide depression.
"Who says ? Anyway, so what ! Don't be so smart aleckie and negative. What about Hyper Inflation, Norm ?
Now your just throwin out big words. It cannot and will not happen here ! A hundred other nations didn't think it could happen to them either ...but it did ... and not so long ago.
Rule out all the natural disasters and just consider this one disaster caused by politicians and the Federal Reserve Bank ..... National Babkruptsy ...INFLATION... which is eroding the value of our money. Food and energy prices going up is NOT Inflation. That is the result of Inflation. Inflation is caused by the printing of too much currency by the Federal Reserve and eroding the buying power of our money.It is a government hidden tax used to supply politicians with money to give the voters more free stuff to gain votes. The only reason Hyper Inflation is not too obvious in our country yet is that the Gov. is increasing the speed and amount of new money and flooding it out across the nation and the world. Millions of roosting Chicken Littles are asleep with the roosters and hens, the fox is in there too with a menu, And ole Fido is on guard at Fort Knox making sure no gold gets in, and the Canaries in the coal mines are all dead ... So what to do ?
My challenge to America is, Wake up to the music of our very own Pied Piper Printing Presses playing our new national anthem, " Free Stuff, MY Free Stuff". Old Norm and young Pied are leading the national parade down that Yellow Brick Road to ... where it disappears ... Bridge Out ! When the flood of "free money music" STOPS ... Our Nation stops working, but to keep printing may delay, but compounds the depth
of calamity when it does come.
It's rather like "Musical Chairs". Everybody is dancing around a circle of empty chairs in rhythm with our other National Anthem, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" when suddenly the music stops and everybody lunges for a chair. But there are not nearly enough chairs, so most frolicking Americans are left standing... without a chair, a pot or a peso. That, my friends,is not normal nor expected of 99% of Americans. It is Normalcy Bias before the tragic fact.
A word to Mr. and Mrs. Norm Bias, save your money ... But Not in green paper promises.
Pass it on. RB
Jan 9, 2011
Young Person, You Are Not Inferior But Equal !
Common Sense Commentary: My "adoptive volunteer" 15 year old great grandson wrote me that he loved his family, high school, ROTC, and building web-sites. I was so impressed, he inspired me to write this blog to young people.
"All men are created Equal"
That is not a quote from the Bible; God did not say it. The quote is found in the second sentence of our United States Constitution. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are CREATED equal, that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable rights, that among these are, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
What God's Word does say is, "You say, the way of the Lord is not equal? Hear now, is not my way equal? are not YOUR ways unequal?" God repeated this four times in Ezekiel. It is not God who is unequal in His acceptance and blessings to those who are equally obedient and faithful. Would He not also be equally accepting and bless those who are disobedient and unfaithful if they would turn and follow Jesus, as He wants? Jesus said, "Masters (employers), give unto your servants that which is JUST AND EQUAL ...." Col.4:1. That means, EQUAL WORK DESERVES EQUAL PAY.
So what did our Founding Fathers mean by "Equal" ?
"All men are CREATED equal" means, Equally Human but not Equal DNA. Equally Eternal but not Equal in Eternity. Equally Created in the "image and likeness of God" but not equal to God. Equally loved by God but not Equally loved by parents. Equally deserving of Freedom ... before the crime is committed not after.
An Equal Right, NOT to Happiness, but to the "PURSUIT" of Happiness. You have the right to Pursue it not a Right to BE Happy but to "PURSUE" it. That's great but if you will "Pursue" God's will and approval, "Happiness" will "PURSUE" YOU, catch you and jump all over you.
If your DNA limits you to one talent, cultivate, and educate THAT talent.
If you were not born to be beautiful, make the most of your face, hair and body; but major on a beautiful spirit, personality and reputation. That will make you TRULY beautiful.
If you were not a born athlete, you may have been born an intellect, musician, inventor, High Class Geek. Every single person has some inborn talent to do SOMETHING exceptionally well. Even the retarded teen who bags groceries at our supermarket makes everybody's day by his happy spirit and anxious helpfulness. Mrs. Blair just loves that boy. HE IS A SUCCESS !!!!! You too can learn to do something very well, make a living at it and be happy doing it.
If you were not born with the best of parents, be the best son or daughter in town. You don't have to act out what you THINK you are or someone said you were. You don't have to act nasty because you feel nasty or curse or get drunk or smoke pot because you THINK you are nothing. You are SOMEONE, Important, Loved of God, and YOU have a wonderful life ahead .... IF, IF, IF, you start acting like it and grow to believe it, and then you will BE what you practice. You WILL if you don't give in to the wrong friends or your negative opinion of yourself.
If you were not born with supportive relatives, GOOD ! God intends for you to be a SELF STARTER.
Young Person, you cannot choose your own family or relatives but you can and will choose your own friends.
But remember this, you will slowly become like the friends you choose. God will not hold you responsible for what parents or relatives you have; but He will hold YOU responsible for the friends you choose. Do not simply accept those who just happen to be close by or willing, as your best friends ...by default, but search out the kind of friends who have the good character traits you know is right and you will each take on the others good attributes.
Discover your inborn talents and spend your life cultivating and using those talents, or that talent, in the way God, who gave it to you, would approve of. BE the boy or girl God wants you to be and you will become the man or woman, father or mother HE wants you to be.
May God give you wisdom and patience to become the person God knows you can be ... and will help you get there.
Pass it on. RB
"All men are created Equal"
That is not a quote from the Bible; God did not say it. The quote is found in the second sentence of our United States Constitution. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are CREATED equal, that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable rights, that among these are, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
What God's Word does say is, "You say, the way of the Lord is not equal? Hear now, is not my way equal? are not YOUR ways unequal?" God repeated this four times in Ezekiel. It is not God who is unequal in His acceptance and blessings to those who are equally obedient and faithful. Would He not also be equally accepting and bless those who are disobedient and unfaithful if they would turn and follow Jesus, as He wants? Jesus said, "Masters (employers), give unto your servants that which is JUST AND EQUAL ...." Col.4:1. That means, EQUAL WORK DESERVES EQUAL PAY.
So what did our Founding Fathers mean by "Equal" ?
"All men are CREATED equal" means, Equally Human but not Equal DNA. Equally Eternal but not Equal in Eternity. Equally Created in the "image and likeness of God" but not equal to God. Equally loved by God but not Equally loved by parents. Equally deserving of Freedom ... before the crime is committed not after.
An Equal Right, NOT to Happiness, but to the "PURSUIT" of Happiness. You have the right to Pursue it not a Right to BE Happy but to "PURSUE" it. That's great but if you will "Pursue" God's will and approval, "Happiness" will "PURSUE" YOU, catch you and jump all over you.
If your DNA limits you to one talent, cultivate, and educate THAT talent.
If you were not born to be beautiful, make the most of your face, hair and body; but major on a beautiful spirit, personality and reputation. That will make you TRULY beautiful.
If you were not a born athlete, you may have been born an intellect, musician, inventor, High Class Geek. Every single person has some inborn talent to do SOMETHING exceptionally well. Even the retarded teen who bags groceries at our supermarket makes everybody's day by his happy spirit and anxious helpfulness. Mrs. Blair just loves that boy. HE IS A SUCCESS !!!!! You too can learn to do something very well, make a living at it and be happy doing it.
If you were not born with the best of parents, be the best son or daughter in town. You don't have to act out what you THINK you are or someone said you were. You don't have to act nasty because you feel nasty or curse or get drunk or smoke pot because you THINK you are nothing. You are SOMEONE, Important, Loved of God, and YOU have a wonderful life ahead .... IF, IF, IF, you start acting like it and grow to believe it, and then you will BE what you practice. You WILL if you don't give in to the wrong friends or your negative opinion of yourself.
If you were not born with supportive relatives, GOOD ! God intends for you to be a SELF STARTER.
Young Person, you cannot choose your own family or relatives but you can and will choose your own friends.
But remember this, you will slowly become like the friends you choose. God will not hold you responsible for what parents or relatives you have; but He will hold YOU responsible for the friends you choose. Do not simply accept those who just happen to be close by or willing, as your best friends ...by default, but search out the kind of friends who have the good character traits you know is right and you will each take on the others good attributes.
Discover your inborn talents and spend your life cultivating and using those talents, or that talent, in the way God, who gave it to you, would approve of. BE the boy or girl God wants you to be and you will become the man or woman, father or mother HE wants you to be.
May God give you wisdom and patience to become the person God knows you can be ... and will help you get there.
Pass it on. RB
Jan 8, 2011
Investment Question From A Dear Friend
Common Sense Commentary: The following is my answer to an old friend who asked my advice on an investment question. I do not give investment advice, but here is my answer to a very close friend:
The equity stock markets of the whole world, especially in the U.S., are in such a state that giving investment advice, even good advice, doesn't work anymore. When the market crashes, so many investors have bought on margin that they have to sell their best investments to keep from losing everything. That results in even the best investments falling with all the rest.
There is so much "rotten wood" theory in the foundations of our national institutions today that evil methods are acceptable and good methods are rejected. We see it on Wall Street, in the Federal Reserve System, in Congress, the White House, in Gov. Regulation agencies and even in Churches. The majority of National Leadership, in our nation today, fits the description in Isaiah 5:20, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" This type of perverted thinking and manner of operation has finally resulted in bringing the whole, corrupt, market system into dysfunction. It reminds me of two drunk, political Pilots .... flying an overloaded 747 ... through a hurricane over the Atlantic ... at midnight ... and they have neglected to fuel up in Miami. They can't fly it, their two political party leaders can't fly it and I can't fly it. I'm just a motion sick, unwilling, passenger who paid to take the trip and has a barf bag in my fingers.
The frightening thing is that our country still has two more "bubbles" ready to burst ...Bonds and currency.
When those two blow ... look our below ... so we have nowhere to go. Well, almost nowhere. My advice is to PRAY a lot, PLAN for hyper-inflation, PAY for no advice, and PUT your investment money in something that will never be worth zero. And, that doesn't mean cash money or money markets either. You see, the Fed is printing so much new currency that hyper inflation, like a Tsunami, rushes out just before it rushes back in to drown everybody in cash that won't buy a cheap wiener.
The bottom line is, our politicians, Wall Street, and the Federal Reserve System have all devolved into the obis by departing from proven, good, business practices, into financial fantasy land. Even worse than that, the American people have embraced this "credit, credit, credit card religion" which shuns, as heresy, old fashioned common sense, frugality, next egg savers, live within your means, and the U.S. Constitution. Their god is themselves. They pray to the mirror. Their bible is the Liberal Socialist Manifesto. Their salvation,
"I-me-my-mine Freestuff" which they pay for with "I-me-my-mine Freedom", is Heaven on earth and will last forever and ever and ever.
If your question is, "what would old Rayburn do" ... I am resting in Jesus and "Riding A Bull Called Precious". Reread my blog of that title dated August,17, 2010.
Pass it on. RB
The equity stock markets of the whole world, especially in the U.S., are in such a state that giving investment advice, even good advice, doesn't work anymore. When the market crashes, so many investors have bought on margin that they have to sell their best investments to keep from losing everything. That results in even the best investments falling with all the rest.
There is so much "rotten wood" theory in the foundations of our national institutions today that evil methods are acceptable and good methods are rejected. We see it on Wall Street, in the Federal Reserve System, in Congress, the White House, in Gov. Regulation agencies and even in Churches. The majority of National Leadership, in our nation today, fits the description in Isaiah 5:20, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" This type of perverted thinking and manner of operation has finally resulted in bringing the whole, corrupt, market system into dysfunction. It reminds me of two drunk, political Pilots .... flying an overloaded 747 ... through a hurricane over the Atlantic ... at midnight ... and they have neglected to fuel up in Miami. They can't fly it, their two political party leaders can't fly it and I can't fly it. I'm just a motion sick, unwilling, passenger who paid to take the trip and has a barf bag in my fingers.
The frightening thing is that our country still has two more "bubbles" ready to burst ...Bonds and currency.
When those two blow ... look our below ... so we have nowhere to go. Well, almost nowhere. My advice is to PRAY a lot, PLAN for hyper-inflation, PAY for no advice, and PUT your investment money in something that will never be worth zero. And, that doesn't mean cash money or money markets either. You see, the Fed is printing so much new currency that hyper inflation, like a Tsunami, rushes out just before it rushes back in to drown everybody in cash that won't buy a cheap wiener.
The bottom line is, our politicians, Wall Street, and the Federal Reserve System have all devolved into the obis by departing from proven, good, business practices, into financial fantasy land. Even worse than that, the American people have embraced this "credit, credit, credit card religion" which shuns, as heresy, old fashioned common sense, frugality, next egg savers, live within your means, and the U.S. Constitution. Their god is themselves. They pray to the mirror. Their bible is the Liberal Socialist Manifesto. Their salvation,
"I-me-my-mine Freestuff" which they pay for with "I-me-my-mine Freedom", is Heaven on earth and will last forever and ever and ever.
If your question is, "what would old Rayburn do" ... I am resting in Jesus and "Riding A Bull Called Precious". Reread my blog of that title dated August,17, 2010.
Pass it on. RB
Jan 7, 2011
"TRUST ME, You'll Be Glad You Did". B. Madoff
Common Sense Commentary: God gave us sight, hearing, smelling, muscle and a BRAIN for a reason !
A flock of Junior Highers were laughing and playing together at a party. One of the boys suddenly shouted for every one's attention and asked excitedly, "Everybody who wants to do it, raise your hand". "Do WHAT?" a cautious girl asked. "TRUST ME", the boy with the idea answered. This was the boy's method to create interest in doing something he doubted his friends would do if they knew what "IT" was. Children who blindly follow other children's ideas of "fun" may not result in too much damage at the moment, but it is a dangerous way of life to follow into teen-age and adulthood. There have been literally tens of thousands of teen-agers, who "trusted" another teen-aged driver to get them home safely, who's lives ended in disastrous car crashes. Likewise, there have been tens of thousands of adults who "trusted" some pseudo, financial "Professional" advisor who cost them their life's savings.
Far too many grownups still play that child's game of "Trust me", but with adult CONSEQUENCES. It is seldom wise to "trust" someone .... anyone .... whose only guarantee of his product, scheme, or proposition is, "TRUST ME". Anyone who wants you to do something or go to some mysterious "meeting", but won't tell you what it is but wants you to blindly "trust" him or her, is not only not to be trusted, but also insults your own intelligence and betrays your friendship. God gave each of us a brain for a reason !! Adults do not need anyone else making their decisions for them. If you want my friendship, teach me, inform me, give me facts, and even warn me, but I will decide the merit of your words, and I will give account to God for all of my decisions or those I should have made. Teach your children to think for themselves and make decisions by the time they leave for college or move out. They should be making most of their decisions the last year at home .... I said, "MOST' not all.
Of course, trust is vital to every one's happiness, peace of mind and success. Trust is, however, a treasure one cannot afford to share promiscuously with too many others. Whether they are fly-by-night con- artists, exaggerating sales people, greedy brokers, self serving friends or preachers who milk people like a dairy farmer. Make your own decisions and use your own brain because you will give account to God for it. Anyone who respects you as an equal will never ask you to blindly "trust me". Yes, I want my family and friends to "trust me", but only when and if I have proven myself worthy of their trust. And, if I AM worthy of their trust, I will not ever want them to blindly trust me, especially concerning things which involve them. Yes, there are exceptions such as husbands and wives trusting each other for family decisions, and children trusting their parents' decisions, and there are a few others, of course.
Many times in my years, a friend or acquaintance has tried to harness me up to their pyramid scheme or Ponzi scam. These two things are criminal twins. Of course, the person selling it didn't call it a pyramid scheme or Ponzi scam, but that is what it often was. All of you have faced ole Ponzi, who called himself your "friend" and wanted to make you rich. I won't mention any names of the schemes or the friendly sellers of them, but you know what I mean. Like when your friend or acquaintance, either ignorantly or greedily, approached you with this "wonderful, easy way to make a lot of extra money". Usually, they were harnessed up by their friend who was harnessed up by someone else and on and on. The idea always sounds good and started with one brilliant con-artist who was good at math, otherwise known as a "perverted crook", in the guise of a real genius entrepreneur. He winds up retiring at 35 as a multi-millionaire but those at the bottom of the pyramid lost an equal amount. Such pyramids are mostly constructed , like those in Egypt, of blockheads. But, the guy with his name on that pinnacle piece, way up there on the tippy top, called the "Capstone", well he ain't even there any more. He groomed his brightest convert for that "Capstone" job with a room full of telephones,
blackberries and mini-skirted secretaries. But Ole Original himself, who built this pyramid monstrosity, is back in his castle on the Nile drinkin fine wine and smoking pot with his harem. The message eventually screams itself to each blockhead investor .... "Easy riches steal it from someone else", "No such thing as a Free Lunch", "The WORKman is worthy of his hire", "Two plus two is FOUR", "Whatsoever a man soweth, THAT shall he also reap", "Economics 101"
Some of the worst politicians this country has ever known rode into Washington on the theme ... "Trust me".
"Everybody who wants to do it with me, raise your hands" he shouted. "What is IT ?" asked the voters .....
"IT is change" . "What is change ?" asked the voters. "Change is IT" answered the politician. But, exactly what is this "It Change". ...... "Trust me, I believe in transparency" said the Politician. The devil said the same thing to Eve and then whispered it in Ponzi's ear and Bernard Madoff's ear and then in your investment advisor's ear.... and he repeated it to you.
Pass it on. RB
A flock of Junior Highers were laughing and playing together at a party. One of the boys suddenly shouted for every one's attention and asked excitedly, "Everybody who wants to do it, raise your hand". "Do WHAT?" a cautious girl asked. "TRUST ME", the boy with the idea answered. This was the boy's method to create interest in doing something he doubted his friends would do if they knew what "IT" was. Children who blindly follow other children's ideas of "fun" may not result in too much damage at the moment, but it is a dangerous way of life to follow into teen-age and adulthood. There have been literally tens of thousands of teen-agers, who "trusted" another teen-aged driver to get them home safely, who's lives ended in disastrous car crashes. Likewise, there have been tens of thousands of adults who "trusted" some pseudo, financial "Professional" advisor who cost them their life's savings.
Far too many grownups still play that child's game of "Trust me", but with adult CONSEQUENCES. It is seldom wise to "trust" someone .... anyone .... whose only guarantee of his product, scheme, or proposition is, "TRUST ME". Anyone who wants you to do something or go to some mysterious "meeting", but won't tell you what it is but wants you to blindly "trust" him or her, is not only not to be trusted, but also insults your own intelligence and betrays your friendship. God gave each of us a brain for a reason !! Adults do not need anyone else making their decisions for them. If you want my friendship, teach me, inform me, give me facts, and even warn me, but I will decide the merit of your words, and I will give account to God for all of my decisions or those I should have made. Teach your children to think for themselves and make decisions by the time they leave for college or move out. They should be making most of their decisions the last year at home .... I said, "MOST' not all.
Of course, trust is vital to every one's happiness, peace of mind and success. Trust is, however, a treasure one cannot afford to share promiscuously with too many others. Whether they are fly-by-night con- artists, exaggerating sales people, greedy brokers, self serving friends or preachers who milk people like a dairy farmer. Make your own decisions and use your own brain because you will give account to God for it. Anyone who respects you as an equal will never ask you to blindly "trust me". Yes, I want my family and friends to "trust me", but only when and if I have proven myself worthy of their trust. And, if I AM worthy of their trust, I will not ever want them to blindly trust me, especially concerning things which involve them. Yes, there are exceptions such as husbands and wives trusting each other for family decisions, and children trusting their parents' decisions, and there are a few others, of course.
Many times in my years, a friend or acquaintance has tried to harness me up to their pyramid scheme or Ponzi scam. These two things are criminal twins. Of course, the person selling it didn't call it a pyramid scheme or Ponzi scam, but that is what it often was. All of you have faced ole Ponzi, who called himself your "friend" and wanted to make you rich. I won't mention any names of the schemes or the friendly sellers of them, but you know what I mean. Like when your friend or acquaintance, either ignorantly or greedily, approached you with this "wonderful, easy way to make a lot of extra money". Usually, they were harnessed up by their friend who was harnessed up by someone else and on and on. The idea always sounds good and started with one brilliant con-artist who was good at math, otherwise known as a "perverted crook", in the guise of a real genius entrepreneur. He winds up retiring at 35 as a multi-millionaire but those at the bottom of the pyramid lost an equal amount. Such pyramids are mostly constructed , like those in Egypt, of blockheads. But, the guy with his name on that pinnacle piece, way up there on the tippy top, called the "Capstone", well he ain't even there any more. He groomed his brightest convert for that "Capstone" job with a room full of telephones,
blackberries and mini-skirted secretaries. But Ole Original himself, who built this pyramid monstrosity, is back in his castle on the Nile drinkin fine wine and smoking pot with his harem. The message eventually screams itself to each blockhead investor .... "Easy riches steal it from someone else", "No such thing as a Free Lunch", "The WORKman is worthy of his hire", "Two plus two is FOUR", "Whatsoever a man soweth, THAT shall he also reap", "Economics 101"
Some of the worst politicians this country has ever known rode into Washington on the theme ... "Trust me".
"Everybody who wants to do it with me, raise your hands" he shouted. "What is IT ?" asked the voters .....
"IT is change" . "What is change ?" asked the voters. "Change is IT" answered the politician. But, exactly what is this "It Change". ...... "Trust me, I believe in transparency" said the Politician. The devil said the same thing to Eve and then whispered it in Ponzi's ear and Bernard Madoff's ear and then in your investment advisor's ear.... and he repeated it to you.
Pass it on. RB
Jan 5, 2011
Investing Wisely Is A Stewardship Responsible
Common Sense Commentary: If a GREAT investment opportunity "comes to you" on line, in the mail, or in person, delete it, dump it, or discharge the friend or relative who brought it, bought it, or thought it. Maybe one in a thousand investment offers, "which seek you out" , will turn out well. They never have for me in sixty years of investing. Sometimes they look so perfect, so reasonable, so destined to do well, that I still nearly respond to the few ... but catch myself and delete it or trash it. Time has proven the wisdom of rejecting the hundreds of investment recommendations which "came to me looking for investors". Of all the unbelievable, money making parades which have crossed my path, with drum roll and trumpets, all of that host of Philistines, except one or two, would have lost my money. I fell for a couple in my early years but those two inoculations immunized me to all "Get Rich Quick" schemes. As the experienced, wise investors have said, "If it sounds too good to be true .... 99% of the time, it is." These mass mail-outs with a series of BOLD HEADLINES, boasting miracles and wonders, also say in all that tiny print, at the end, that the sender is being paid, in stock or cash, by the same company, to highly recommend their stock to you. Trash it ! Don't let yourself be sucked in. The same goes for you young unmarrieds. Just because someone picks and pursues you with promises of marital bliss, means nothing, except they are most likely not God's choice for you. Make a list of priority traits, not perfection, which you know your mate should have and look for that type person and nobody else. YOU do the picking, but wait on the Lord to lead you in your choice of a life-mate. The cost of a mistake is too high.
I do read and get valuable information from a few financial newsletters which do not recommend specific stocks but do a lot of research. I also get a lot of great articles about trends, sectors and specific companies from their Message Boards, which MB members have read and passed on, but take no advice from the member himself. A good Mutual Fund (no load, no broker)can be a good place for a beginning investor to start but, again, don't let them search you out. You search them out. If you are going to use a broker, check out each stock he recommends before you buy it and ask a lot of questions. I had a broker once who churned my account constantly, and made a commission each time, until I wised up , closed the account, and started doing my own investing. Lost a lot that way too until maturity and experience kicked in. There is as much difference in Brokers as Mechanics, Doctors and Preachers. The main thing about investing your money is, DON'T LOSE IT and DON'T LET SOMEONE ELSE LOSE IT FOR YOU. Be slow, deliberate and careful.
Your computer has a million sources of information about every company on earth in practically every detail about each. Brokers are pushing the stocks, funds, bonds, annuities and ETF's which their firm has an interest in or connection to, or, are partial to for whatever reason. You will get the best advice from a very successful, investor friend who has proven over a long period of time that he consistently knows what he is doing and knows the markets and spends huge amounts of time in due diligence. If he lost a lot of money in the financial crash, he may have known a lot about one or two areas of investment but not enough about world markets and world events, and common sense, to give financial advice. The evidences of a Tech Bubble , a Housing Bubble, and a Credit Bubble, each ready to burst, in turn, and drag the Stock Market with it, was undeniably obvious. There is now a Bond Bubble and a Currency Bubble which I believe will do a similar job on the Markets and lead to Hyper Inflation, in my opinion. I say this because I believe it, but please don't seek my advice on investments, and take what I'm saying here with diligent skepticism, but READ, READ, READ. I am not a licensed investment adviser but a "Common Sense Commentary" guy who reads volumes of information on world events, national financial facts, world and national trends and how they relate to Bible Prophecy. I am a Bible Preacher not a financial adviser so do your own due diligence. READ ! You care more about your life, family, finances, and future than anyone else on earth. You are the Steward of all God has put into your hands and under your control, not your broker, brother, preacher, neighbor, boss or friend, but YOU. You are the one who will give account to God for the way you used and invested those things HE gave you .... for your good and HIS GLORY.
Every individual on earth is responsible to our Creator for what we do with our TIME, TALENT, TESTIMONY, TREASURE, and TRUTH as God knows it. Each of us must accept responsibility for ourselves from the moment we reach the age of personally knowing good from evil as Adam and Eve did; Not because Mom or Dad said it, or the Preacher said it, or the Teacher said it, but because God's Holy Spirit told your own heart it was good or evil. Preachers call it the age of accountability. Youngsters mature and develop at somewhat different rates. Some develop earlier than others. In the first of two churches I pastored over thirty six years, an old Deacon, Dad Brown, had a retarded son who had been in church all his life and had never shown any interest or knowledge of a need to accept Christ as his "personal" Saviour. He was forty years old and in every service. I had been his pastor for several years when all of a sudden in a Sunday morning service, Gene Brown realized he was lost, a sinner and needed Christ. I think he had just reached the age of accountability.Though forty years old, he had the mind of a child and had very slowly matured to maybe eight or ten, mentally, when he was saved. Praise God. Old Dad Brown was thrilled beyond measure because his son, Gene, had never shown any concern for his soul until that moment.
My point is this. You are God's Steward (manager) over all He has given you. To be recognized by Him, as "a good and faithful steward", when He returns, you must cultivate and invest those things as God leads you and His Word teaches, to the best advantage for an increased "return". Waste is a Stewardship sin. Negligent
investing is a Stewardship sin. Foolish spending is a Stewardship sin. We are simply His Managers of His property. We should treat what we have as God's property and business and be very care full with it.
Let me give you three keys I use in investing. First, study and learn all you can about world "trends". What is developing and what is fading? What is in short supply? What is going to be needed most in the future? What changes are developing ? What interruptions are possible. Search out world "trends". Second, study all you can learn about what the most likely "trend" will lead to or require in what "sector" of the markets. When you have found the best probable "sector" within the trend, search all the companies and sources which will supply and occupy that "sector" . Third, study all those companies and related sources and chose the two or three best of them as likely investments. Then, you learn all you can about those companies. Pray about every move. Pray before you invest but don't expect God to bypass your brain and your lack of time or effort to miraculously show you where to invest. He gave us brains to use as he did those three investors in Matt.25:14-28. One did extremely well, another did quite well, and the third did nothing. Their Master held them each responsible, not for how many "talents" he gave them, but for how well they used and invested it.
Pass it on. RB
I do read and get valuable information from a few financial newsletters which do not recommend specific stocks but do a lot of research. I also get a lot of great articles about trends, sectors and specific companies from their Message Boards, which MB members have read and passed on, but take no advice from the member himself. A good Mutual Fund (no load, no broker)can be a good place for a beginning investor to start but, again, don't let them search you out. You search them out. If you are going to use a broker, check out each stock he recommends before you buy it and ask a lot of questions. I had a broker once who churned my account constantly, and made a commission each time, until I wised up , closed the account, and started doing my own investing. Lost a lot that way too until maturity and experience kicked in. There is as much difference in Brokers as Mechanics, Doctors and Preachers. The main thing about investing your money is, DON'T LOSE IT and DON'T LET SOMEONE ELSE LOSE IT FOR YOU. Be slow, deliberate and careful.
Your computer has a million sources of information about every company on earth in practically every detail about each. Brokers are pushing the stocks, funds, bonds, annuities and ETF's which their firm has an interest in or connection to, or, are partial to for whatever reason. You will get the best advice from a very successful, investor friend who has proven over a long period of time that he consistently knows what he is doing and knows the markets and spends huge amounts of time in due diligence. If he lost a lot of money in the financial crash, he may have known a lot about one or two areas of investment but not enough about world markets and world events, and common sense, to give financial advice. The evidences of a Tech Bubble , a Housing Bubble, and a Credit Bubble, each ready to burst, in turn, and drag the Stock Market with it, was undeniably obvious. There is now a Bond Bubble and a Currency Bubble which I believe will do a similar job on the Markets and lead to Hyper Inflation, in my opinion. I say this because I believe it, but please don't seek my advice on investments, and take what I'm saying here with diligent skepticism, but READ, READ, READ. I am not a licensed investment adviser but a "Common Sense Commentary" guy who reads volumes of information on world events, national financial facts, world and national trends and how they relate to Bible Prophecy. I am a Bible Preacher not a financial adviser so do your own due diligence. READ ! You care more about your life, family, finances, and future than anyone else on earth. You are the Steward of all God has put into your hands and under your control, not your broker, brother, preacher, neighbor, boss or friend, but YOU. You are the one who will give account to God for the way you used and invested those things HE gave you .... for your good and HIS GLORY.
Every individual on earth is responsible to our Creator for what we do with our TIME, TALENT, TESTIMONY, TREASURE, and TRUTH as God knows it. Each of us must accept responsibility for ourselves from the moment we reach the age of personally knowing good from evil as Adam and Eve did; Not because Mom or Dad said it, or the Preacher said it, or the Teacher said it, but because God's Holy Spirit told your own heart it was good or evil. Preachers call it the age of accountability. Youngsters mature and develop at somewhat different rates. Some develop earlier than others. In the first of two churches I pastored over thirty six years, an old Deacon, Dad Brown, had a retarded son who had been in church all his life and had never shown any interest or knowledge of a need to accept Christ as his "personal" Saviour. He was forty years old and in every service. I had been his pastor for several years when all of a sudden in a Sunday morning service, Gene Brown realized he was lost, a sinner and needed Christ. I think he had just reached the age of accountability.Though forty years old, he had the mind of a child and had very slowly matured to maybe eight or ten, mentally, when he was saved. Praise God. Old Dad Brown was thrilled beyond measure because his son, Gene, had never shown any concern for his soul until that moment.
My point is this. You are God's Steward (manager) over all He has given you. To be recognized by Him, as "a good and faithful steward", when He returns, you must cultivate and invest those things as God leads you and His Word teaches, to the best advantage for an increased "return". Waste is a Stewardship sin. Negligent
investing is a Stewardship sin. Foolish spending is a Stewardship sin. We are simply His Managers of His property. We should treat what we have as God's property and business and be very care full with it.
Let me give you three keys I use in investing. First, study and learn all you can about world "trends". What is developing and what is fading? What is in short supply? What is going to be needed most in the future? What changes are developing ? What interruptions are possible. Search out world "trends". Second, study all you can learn about what the most likely "trend" will lead to or require in what "sector" of the markets. When you have found the best probable "sector" within the trend, search all the companies and sources which will supply and occupy that "sector" . Third, study all those companies and related sources and chose the two or three best of them as likely investments. Then, you learn all you can about those companies. Pray about every move. Pray before you invest but don't expect God to bypass your brain and your lack of time or effort to miraculously show you where to invest. He gave us brains to use as he did those three investors in Matt.25:14-28. One did extremely well, another did quite well, and the third did nothing. Their Master held them each responsible, not for how many "talents" he gave them, but for how well they used and invested it.
Pass it on. RB
Jan 3, 2011
Lurid Tail Surfaces In Swampville, Florida
Common Sense Commentary takes leave of it's senses, for a change of pace, to report a report of a lurid tail, which surfaced in Swampville Florida recently. It concerns a mysterious disappearance which was solved in just nine days. First reported in THE SWAMPVILLE SUN TIMES by Reporter, Fabricator Gator, these are her nine headlines of stories she wrote during the nine day mystery.
Sun.- "Swampville resident, Alli Gator, alias "Shoes", suspected in his wife, Ima Gator's mysterious disappearance."
Mon.- "Swampville, Big City Detective, Invest I. Gator, says victim's bloody shoe found in hubbie's mouth."
Tue.- "Seminole witness, Navi Gator, leads Detective to hidden remains and says 'Alli Gator ater'."
Wed.- "Chief of Detectives, Interr O. Gator says Accused points index toe at his mistress, Miss Insti Gator."
Thur.-"Defence Attorney, Irri Gator waters down his client's guilt by accusing his mistress, Miss (Lips) Gator."
Fri. - "Prosecuting Attorney, Cassti Gator, wins case against terminally hungry killer, Alli (Shoes) Gator."
Sat. - "Guilty verdict delivers Alli Gator to Prison Warden, Fumi Gator for sensitivity training plus 100 years."
Sun.- "Prison Physician, Doctor Gator Aid, discovers Alli Gator is actually Allie's wife, Ima Gator, wearing his shoes, bow tie and toothpick."
Mon.-"Ima admits posing as Alli, eating him and falsely accusing his missing mistress, Miss Insti Gator... whom she also enjoyed."
The story is true to the news we read in today's world. Only the names have been changed.
Yes, yes, I confess, I wrote it. Forgive me. RB
Sun.- "Swampville resident, Alli Gator, alias "Shoes", suspected in his wife, Ima Gator's mysterious disappearance."
Mon.- "Swampville, Big City Detective, Invest I. Gator, says victim's bloody shoe found in hubbie's mouth."
Tue.- "Seminole witness, Navi Gator, leads Detective to hidden remains and says 'Alli Gator ater'."
Wed.- "Chief of Detectives, Interr O. Gator says Accused points index toe at his mistress, Miss Insti Gator."
Thur.-"Defence Attorney, Irri Gator waters down his client's guilt by accusing his mistress, Miss (Lips) Gator."
Fri. - "Prosecuting Attorney, Cassti Gator, wins case against terminally hungry killer, Alli (Shoes) Gator."
Sat. - "Guilty verdict delivers Alli Gator to Prison Warden, Fumi Gator for sensitivity training plus 100 years."
Sun.- "Prison Physician, Doctor Gator Aid, discovers Alli Gator is actually Allie's wife, Ima Gator, wearing his shoes, bow tie and toothpick."
Mon.-"Ima admits posing as Alli, eating him and falsely accusing his missing mistress, Miss Insti Gator... whom she also enjoyed."
The story is true to the news we read in today's world. Only the names have been changed.
Yes, yes, I confess, I wrote it. Forgive me. RB
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
