Religious Life Has Changed
ABCnews had an article discussing the financial troubles churches are having. I found this quote quite interesting:
"In 2010, I think we're going to see 10 or 15 percent of congregations saying they're in serious financial trouble," says David Roozen, a lead researcher for the Faith Communities Today multi-faith survey, which measures congregational health annually. "With around 320,000 or 350,000 congregations, that's a hell of a lot of them."
They said because of people relocating to new areas. This has been building over the past decade as more and more people have left the churches in America. Why? I think the main reason people are leaving churches is that there really is no reason to attend. The mainline denominations have moved to the left wing and the evangelical churches are politics and prosperity gospel.
The average minister has become a motivational teacher instead of gospel teacher. I think people have one of two choices: the Anabaptist route and become a law unto themselves or join a confessional church.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Seeking Super Teacher
I've been a Christian since I was about 16 years old. I was raised Baptist, when I was in my twenties I joined the Charismatics which transformed into the Prosperity Gospel. I belonged to one group for about 17 years watching the teacher move into more of a cultic nature. The leader of the group isolated himself from every other Christian ministry. He drove out those people who were a threat to his position, at least in his own mind. But I digress into other things.
I thought today about how over the years I have gone from one teacher to the next or one movement to the next. I moved from being a Baptist into the Charismatic movement, a very shallow movement by the way. From this I moved into the Prosperity Gospel, another very shallow movement. The one question that always ate a my craw was why Christians in America while those in Sudan were being martyred and sold into slavery? During this transition I became involve in the Christian Reconstructionist movement. I enjoyed reading the books of the leader of this movement but then I made the mistake of joining an online discussion group. I have never seen such hate toward people as I saw in those offspring. I abandoned the movement.
I did find one source of encouragement which was Calvinism and some wonderful writers of this system of belief. Back to the Prosperity Gospel, which I like to call the Napoleon Hill Gospel. No offense to Napoleon Hill but what he taught and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are two different things. I like how Steven Brown talks about it... I have decided that I am not going to get any better but I know that God loves me anyway.
I did begin moving into the Anabaptist tradition. Those people who have left organized religion because of how shallow it has become. The funny thing is that many evangelicals have moved into the liturgical traditions of Catholicism or Orthodoxy or Lutheranism/Anglicanism. Those churches that find Christ in the liturgy are those the endure tribulations. What I discovered about the so you don't want to go to church anymore crowd is that all they have done is formed a new religious system that fits themselves.
Today I found my copy of the Westminster Confession of Faith and have decided to begin anew in the great Reformation traditions of old. I don't know where still will lead but I trust Christ. My ramblings have nothing to do with the titles I choose.
I've been a Christian since I was about 16 years old. I was raised Baptist, when I was in my twenties I joined the Charismatics which transformed into the Prosperity Gospel. I belonged to one group for about 17 years watching the teacher move into more of a cultic nature. The leader of the group isolated himself from every other Christian ministry. He drove out those people who were a threat to his position, at least in his own mind. But I digress into other things.
I thought today about how over the years I have gone from one teacher to the next or one movement to the next. I moved from being a Baptist into the Charismatic movement, a very shallow movement by the way. From this I moved into the Prosperity Gospel, another very shallow movement. The one question that always ate a my craw was why Christians in America while those in Sudan were being martyred and sold into slavery? During this transition I became involve in the Christian Reconstructionist movement. I enjoyed reading the books of the leader of this movement but then I made the mistake of joining an online discussion group. I have never seen such hate toward people as I saw in those offspring. I abandoned the movement.
I did find one source of encouragement which was Calvinism and some wonderful writers of this system of belief. Back to the Prosperity Gospel, which I like to call the Napoleon Hill Gospel. No offense to Napoleon Hill but what he taught and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are two different things. I like how Steven Brown talks about it... I have decided that I am not going to get any better but I know that God loves me anyway.
I did begin moving into the Anabaptist tradition. Those people who have left organized religion because of how shallow it has become. The funny thing is that many evangelicals have moved into the liturgical traditions of Catholicism or Orthodoxy or Lutheranism/Anglicanism. Those churches that find Christ in the liturgy are those the endure tribulations. What I discovered about the so you don't want to go to church anymore crowd is that all they have done is formed a new religious system that fits themselves.
Today I found my copy of the Westminster Confession of Faith and have decided to begin anew in the great Reformation traditions of old. I don't know where still will lead but I trust Christ. My ramblings have nothing to do with the titles I choose.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Peter Hitchens Quote
This was written about England but it applies to the United States as well.
We are a second-rate power, rapidly slipping into third-rate status. We have a weak currency and shrunken armed forces, deployed as auxiliaries in wars that are not in our interest, and we are largely governed from abroad.
Our Parliament is a bought and paid-for puppet chamber. Our culture and customs have been debauched and our younger generations corrupted, as subject populations are, with drink, drugs and promiscuity.
We are compelled, like an occupied people, to use foreign measures to buy butter or meat, and our history is largely forgotten or deliberately distorted in the schools to suit anti-British dogma. Those schools are unable to educate most of our children up to the levels of our main rivals, so ensuring that we provide no challenge to them. Our country has been Balkanised into provinces and regions.
Our language is invaded by foreign words and expressions. Our food and most of our consumer goods are imported, along with our TV programmes and films.
The remaining veterans of the supposedly glorious struggle, far from being gratefully honoured, often live in pinched poverty, scared of feral youths, or die neglected in squalid hospitals in a country many of them no longer recognise as their own.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1209890/PETER-HITCHENS-If-hadnt-fought-World-War-2-British-Empire.html#ixzz0Pg65yBTn
This was written about England but it applies to the United States as well.
We are a second-rate power, rapidly slipping into third-rate status. We have a weak currency and shrunken armed forces, deployed as auxiliaries in wars that are not in our interest, and we are largely governed from abroad.
Our Parliament is a bought and paid-for puppet chamber. Our culture and customs have been debauched and our younger generations corrupted, as subject populations are, with drink, drugs and promiscuity.
We are compelled, like an occupied people, to use foreign measures to buy butter or meat, and our history is largely forgotten or deliberately distorted in the schools to suit anti-British dogma. Those schools are unable to educate most of our children up to the levels of our main rivals, so ensuring that we provide no challenge to them. Our country has been Balkanised into provinces and regions.
Our language is invaded by foreign words and expressions. Our food and most of our consumer goods are imported, along with our TV programmes and films.
The remaining veterans of the supposedly glorious struggle, far from being gratefully honoured, often live in pinched poverty, scared of feral youths, or die neglected in squalid hospitals in a country many of them no longer recognise as their own.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1209890/PETER-HITCHENS-If-hadnt-fought-World-War-2-British-Empire.html#ixzz0Pg65yBTn
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Steve Brown
I discovered Steve Brown only recently. Steve is a bible teacher how has two radio programs. The first is Steve Brown etc, a weekly talk show with the best talk about freedom I have heard. If you want to see if a person understands Grace email them # Free Sins from the website. Not many people get it. The second show is a daily 15 minute radio show called Key Life. I recommend both shows just be careful you don't fall into the trap that I have done my whole Christian walk of making Steve any thing more than a human being.
I have been reading Steve's wonderful book "A Scandalous Freedom" and have a few observations. Free is free. Freedom from the bondage of human teachers. All my life I looked for the "Teacher" that would have all the answers and was continually disappointed. Only God is your Teacher. Allow him to love you deeply. As Steve talks about, understand that even if you don't get any better God still loves you deeply.
The second thing is how I had created God in the image of what I have heard over the years instead of real God. I have started to ask Father to reveal himself and His love to me. I want to know the real God not the god of my creation.
I discovered Steve Brown only recently. Steve is a bible teacher how has two radio programs. The first is Steve Brown etc, a weekly talk show with the best talk about freedom I have heard. If you want to see if a person understands Grace email them # Free Sins from the website. Not many people get it. The second show is a daily 15 minute radio show called Key Life. I recommend both shows just be careful you don't fall into the trap that I have done my whole Christian walk of making Steve any thing more than a human being.
I have been reading Steve's wonderful book "A Scandalous Freedom" and have a few observations. Free is free. Freedom from the bondage of human teachers. All my life I looked for the "Teacher" that would have all the answers and was continually disappointed. Only God is your Teacher. Allow him to love you deeply. As Steve talks about, understand that even if you don't get any better God still loves you deeply.
The second thing is how I had created God in the image of what I have heard over the years instead of real God. I have started to ask Father to reveal himself and His love to me. I want to know the real God not the god of my creation.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Graduating and a New Path
Today I complete my final class and have obtained my Bachelor of Science in Accounting. This has been a goal for many years and I smile thinking about it. I also started reading Dr. Al Sears book, The Doctor's Heart Cure. I have decided that I have that living my life in obesity is no longer an option for myself. I had to think about what course I was going to take to achieve health and I decided on Dr. Sears because I believe his system works. In many ways similar to Robert Atkins fame with a few tweaks.
Why a Heart Cure? Heart disease runs in the family and I wanted to make sure I had a system designed for my heart. Also, I think Sears' workout routine is the correct type. I will report on my progress as I continue this journey and new adventure in my life.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Relationship or Principles?
How do we relate to Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit? Do we relate based upon relationship or do we relate based upon principle? Christ said that He is in us and He is in the Father thus through Christ we are in the Father. So the desire of God is to bring us into the relationship that exists within the Holy Trinity. So the answer is we are in a relationship not based upon principles but upon the desire of the Father to show you His deep intimate love.
Now while living upon the earth God has established principles upon which to live. The Law of Sowing and Reaping is one such principle. The Law of Confession is another. Thus to move forward in the world we confess the written word of God, Christ being the Word of God. So the starting principle for believers is discovering Who I Am in Christ and What I Possess in Christ. The important key is to discover this within the relationship that exists within the Holy Trinity.
How do we relate to Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit? Do we relate based upon relationship or do we relate based upon principle? Christ said that He is in us and He is in the Father thus through Christ we are in the Father. So the desire of God is to bring us into the relationship that exists within the Holy Trinity. So the answer is we are in a relationship not based upon principles but upon the desire of the Father to show you His deep intimate love.
Now while living upon the earth God has established principles upon which to live. The Law of Sowing and Reaping is one such principle. The Law of Confession is another. Thus to move forward in the world we confess the written word of God, Christ being the Word of God. So the starting principle for believers is discovering Who I Am in Christ and What I Possess in Christ. The important key is to discover this within the relationship that exists within the Holy Trinity.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
College Level Success Course
I was thinking about how I should develop a college level course on Success or maybe a degree in Success. Any suggestions would be helpful. The introductory class would be called, Success: An Introduction. The textbook would be The Success Principles by Jack Canfield.
Other classes would consist of:
Personal Finance – Basic finance
Wealth – The Millionaire Next Door
Leadership - John Maxwell
And the list could go on and on.
I think the basic principles for success could be laid down with people. The problem I have is no multiple answer or true and false tests. I find the best way to learn is choose a topic in the book and write a three page paper on the topic. Think about it you studied a book like The Success Principles and wrote a paper on each chapter what you could learn. The paper would need to be centered on how do I apply this principle to my life or what idea have I learned that can be applied to my life. Another basic textbook could be The Art of Achievement by Tom Morris. By combining philosophy with success Morris has produced a winner of a book.
I was thinking about how I should develop a college level course on Success or maybe a degree in Success. Any suggestions would be helpful. The introductory class would be called, Success: An Introduction. The textbook would be The Success Principles by Jack Canfield.
Other classes would consist of:
Personal Finance – Basic finance
Wealth – The Millionaire Next Door
Leadership - John Maxwell
And the list could go on and on.
I think the basic principles for success could be laid down with people. The problem I have is no multiple answer or true and false tests. I find the best way to learn is choose a topic in the book and write a three page paper on the topic. Think about it you studied a book like The Success Principles and wrote a paper on each chapter what you could learn. The paper would need to be centered on how do I apply this principle to my life or what idea have I learned that can be applied to my life. Another basic textbook could be The Art of Achievement by Tom Morris. By combining philosophy with success Morris has produced a winner of a book.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Quoted by Pat Buchanan
"The United States is declining as a nation and a world power with mostly sighs and shrugs to mark this seismic event," writes Les Gelb, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, in CFR's Foreign Affairs magazine. "Astonishingly, some people do not appear to realize that the situation is all that serious."
"The United States is declining as a nation and a world power with mostly sighs and shrugs to mark this seismic event," writes Les Gelb, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, in CFR's Foreign Affairs magazine. "Astonishingly, some people do not appear to realize that the situation is all that serious."
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Keynesian ‘Economist’ Interviews Ron Paul
You can tell the regime is worried when an establishment organ like the Keynesian ‘Economist’ magazine deigns to notice Ron’s fight against the Fed. Why are they doing that? Because he is actually changing the climate of opinion, with the assistance of the Fed’s boom and bust, on the central bank. Never, since 1913, have regular Americans been interested in the Fed. We are supposed to be bored by it. Yet the Fed is the biggest rip-off operation in the history of mankind, and the enabler of world wars, the garrison state, and the massive welfare state. How great to have the best-known back-bencher in American history alerting people, young people, especially, to the evils of central banking, fiat money, and inflation, and to the importance of Austrian economics. Lew Rockwell
You can tell the regime is worried when an establishment organ like the Keynesian ‘Economist’ magazine deigns to notice Ron’s fight against the Fed. Why are they doing that? Because he is actually changing the climate of opinion, with the assistance of the Fed’s boom and bust, on the central bank. Never, since 1913, have regular Americans been interested in the Fed. We are supposed to be bored by it. Yet the Fed is the biggest rip-off operation in the history of mankind, and the enabler of world wars, the garrison state, and the massive welfare state. How great to have the best-known back-bencher in American history alerting people, young people, especially, to the evils of central banking, fiat money, and inflation, and to the importance of Austrian economics. Lew Rockwell
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
CONFLICTING WORLDVIEWS
by Neil Anderson
Colossians 1:13
For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son
The Western world today sees reality in two tiers. The upper tier is the transcendent world where God and angels--as well as ghosts and ghouls--reside, a world which is understood through religion and mysticism. The lower tier is the empirical world, which is understood through science and the physical senses. In two-tier mentality, the spiritual world has no practical bearing on the natural world; we have excluded it from our understanding of reality. Most attempts at integrating theology and psychology include only God and humanity (fallen and redeemed) and exclude the activity of Satan and demons.
In stark contrast to the secularism of the West, two-thirds of the inhabitants of the world hold an Eastern worldview. They live and operate believing that spiritual forces are an everyday reality. These people appease their gods with peace offerings and perform religious rituals to ward off evil spirits. To the common people in Third World nations, religious practice or superstition has more practical relevance in daily life than science.
It is easy for those of us raised in the West to dismiss the Eastern worldview as inferior on the basis of the "success" of the Western world. But both are worldly systems and neither reflects biblical reality. The West tries to ignore the reality of the spiritual world and the East tries to appease it or naively enter into it. The Bible clearly depicts the reality of the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. God's Word tells us we can have victory over the former by being transferred into the latter.
Many Christians either exclude the supernatural from their worldview altogether or consign it to the transcendental tier where it will have no effect on their lives. By doing so they not only exclude God's power from their theology and practice, but they also explain all human failure--even that which is induced by demonic influence--as the result of psychological or natural causes.
Prayer:
Lord, I accept the worldview presented in Your Word. Help me deal victoriously with the reality of demonic forces in my world.
by Neil Anderson
Colossians 1:13
For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son
The Western world today sees reality in two tiers. The upper tier is the transcendent world where God and angels--as well as ghosts and ghouls--reside, a world which is understood through religion and mysticism. The lower tier is the empirical world, which is understood through science and the physical senses. In two-tier mentality, the spiritual world has no practical bearing on the natural world; we have excluded it from our understanding of reality. Most attempts at integrating theology and psychology include only God and humanity (fallen and redeemed) and exclude the activity of Satan and demons.
In stark contrast to the secularism of the West, two-thirds of the inhabitants of the world hold an Eastern worldview. They live and operate believing that spiritual forces are an everyday reality. These people appease their gods with peace offerings and perform religious rituals to ward off evil spirits. To the common people in Third World nations, religious practice or superstition has more practical relevance in daily life than science.
It is easy for those of us raised in the West to dismiss the Eastern worldview as inferior on the basis of the "success" of the Western world. But both are worldly systems and neither reflects biblical reality. The West tries to ignore the reality of the spiritual world and the East tries to appease it or naively enter into it. The Bible clearly depicts the reality of the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. God's Word tells us we can have victory over the former by being transferred into the latter.
Many Christians either exclude the supernatural from their worldview altogether or consign it to the transcendental tier where it will have no effect on their lives. By doing so they not only exclude God's power from their theology and practice, but they also explain all human failure--even that which is induced by demonic influence--as the result of psychological or natural causes.
Prayer:
Lord, I accept the worldview presented in Your Word. Help me deal victoriously with the reality of demonic forces in my world.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Addiction and Wealth Building
Do not confuse high income with high net worth. Many are high income/high consumption when it comes to money thus you have people earning six figures who have very little net worth but many toys in which to indulge. Also I do not include home equity in this equation when discussing wealth. As we have seen over the last nine years people used their home equity to buy more toys and other things not needed. People who are millionaires are frugal they don't go for the latest fad investment but stay with the tried and true.
Thinking about this has helped me discover how much the Prosperity Gospel has it wrong. The gospel preached by these people lacks any discipline except to tithe the the minister preaching the prosperity message. It is based upon high income/high consumption living not the importance to thrift and sound investment. If a person could learn to earn a high income while living a frugal life think of the possibilities. Ok back to addiction. How does an addiction create a poverty consciousness within ourselves that prevent us from achieving not only our financial goals but all goals. Is it the shame an addict lives with that creates the underachievement? What happens to an individual that wastes their life addicted to that thing or things that needs to be hidden or denied? Is the reason the Christian church is imploding in America because of the 50% addiction rate to pornography by ministers and laymen and over 20% of laywomen.
Do not confuse high income with high net worth. Many are high income/high consumption when it comes to money thus you have people earning six figures who have very little net worth but many toys in which to indulge. Also I do not include home equity in this equation when discussing wealth. As we have seen over the last nine years people used their home equity to buy more toys and other things not needed. People who are millionaires are frugal they don't go for the latest fad investment but stay with the tried and true.
Thinking about this has helped me discover how much the Prosperity Gospel has it wrong. The gospel preached by these people lacks any discipline except to tithe the the minister preaching the prosperity message. It is based upon high income/high consumption living not the importance to thrift and sound investment. If a person could learn to earn a high income while living a frugal life think of the possibilities. Ok back to addiction. How does an addiction create a poverty consciousness within ourselves that prevent us from achieving not only our financial goals but all goals. Is it the shame an addict lives with that creates the underachievement? What happens to an individual that wastes their life addicted to that thing or things that needs to be hidden or denied? Is the reason the Christian church is imploding in America because of the 50% addiction rate to pornography by ministers and laymen and over 20% of laywomen.
Wealth Building Books Part 2
If You Want to be Rich than do What Rich People Do
Sounds reasonable but why does everyone seem to complicate this. I suppose if I want to be a millionaire then I should study millionaires such as The Millionaire Next Door. I keep thinking that God will just drop money in my lap but He never does. High income/high consumption does not equal high net worth. I think that was eye opening for me because I have attempted to be frugal but have never succeeded. There has always been something to spend my money on and that is the difference as to why I am not a millionaire. The Millionaire Next Door is an academic study written by researchers. What other books would fall within the category of wealth building books?
On are I have forgotten about with millionaires is that they all have BUDGETS. Yes, the word us middle class people refuse to mention. Now I have known high income/high consumption people who had budgets but never became wealthy and it income wasn't high enough then the credit card came out. That seemed to work when home mortgages were being used to finance lifestyles.
When thinking over the wealth building goals I have it really does start with two things. The first is dealing with any addictions and the second is taking the time to create and live by a budget. I heard Dave Ramsey say when you create a budget it will not work the first month or the second but slowly it will take shape allowing the person to fly.
If You Want to be Rich than do What Rich People Do
Sounds reasonable but why does everyone seem to complicate this. I suppose if I want to be a millionaire then I should study millionaires such as The Millionaire Next Door. I keep thinking that God will just drop money in my lap but He never does. High income/high consumption does not equal high net worth. I think that was eye opening for me because I have attempted to be frugal but have never succeeded. There has always been something to spend my money on and that is the difference as to why I am not a millionaire. The Millionaire Next Door is an academic study written by researchers. What other books would fall within the category of wealth building books?
On are I have forgotten about with millionaires is that they all have BUDGETS. Yes, the word us middle class people refuse to mention. Now I have known high income/high consumption people who had budgets but never became wealthy and it income wasn't high enough then the credit card came out. That seemed to work when home mortgages were being used to finance lifestyles.
When thinking over the wealth building goals I have it really does start with two things. The first is dealing with any addictions and the second is taking the time to create and live by a budget. I heard Dave Ramsey say when you create a budget it will not work the first month or the second but slowly it will take shape allowing the person to fly.
Thomas Jefferson Quotes
When we get piled upon one another in large cities,
As in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those
who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.
A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the
world.
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the
government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of
taking care of them.
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results
from too much government.
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and
bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against
tyranny in government.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the
blood of patriots and tyrants.
To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of
ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Thomas
Jefferson said in 1802:
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our
liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever
allow private banks to control the issue of their currency,
first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and
corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the
people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on
the continent their fathers
conquered..'
When we get piled upon one another in large cities,
As in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those
who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.
A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the
world.
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the
government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of
taking care of them.
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results
from too much government.
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and
bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against
tyranny in government.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the
blood of patriots and tyrants.
To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of
ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Thomas
Jefferson said in 1802:
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our
liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever
allow private banks to control the issue of their currency,
first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and
corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the
people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on
the continent their fathers
conquered..'
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Wealth Building Books Part 1
Recently I reread an article by Michael Masterson about Wealth Building books. I am not going to re-list his categories but I thought I would highlight the ones I thought were interesting to me. One thing I have discovered is that if you have any type of addiction these books will not work. As it is hard to build wealth while feeding the addiction with money. One category his lists is Academic studies, such as The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley. I am presently reading this book and have discovered several things.
The first is the need to be frugal with your money. Just because a person has a high income does not mean they are wealthy as many high income people are also high consumption oriented. If fact many millionaires are people who follows the rule, "Pay Yourself First." What people forget is rule number two, "Don't Lose Money." Thus people blindly placed their money into 401k's because the stock market was heading higher. I guess rule number three would be, "If You Don't Understand it, Don't Invest."
Have I followed these rules? Nope and that is why I am not a millionaire. As an aside if you have the chance go to www.earlytorise.com and subscribe. The wealth of information that comes out has no seconds. As Ben Franklin said, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man Healthy, Wealthy and Wise." The should be the motto of all would be millionaries. I guess the next book to read wil be Ben Franklin's book "The Way to Wealth."
Recently I reread an article by Michael Masterson about Wealth Building books. I am not going to re-list his categories but I thought I would highlight the ones I thought were interesting to me. One thing I have discovered is that if you have any type of addiction these books will not work. As it is hard to build wealth while feeding the addiction with money. One category his lists is Academic studies, such as The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley. I am presently reading this book and have discovered several things.
The first is the need to be frugal with your money. Just because a person has a high income does not mean they are wealthy as many high income people are also high consumption oriented. If fact many millionaires are people who follows the rule, "Pay Yourself First." What people forget is rule number two, "Don't Lose Money." Thus people blindly placed their money into 401k's because the stock market was heading higher. I guess rule number three would be, "If You Don't Understand it, Don't Invest."
Have I followed these rules? Nope and that is why I am not a millionaire. As an aside if you have the chance go to www.earlytorise.com and subscribe. The wealth of information that comes out has no seconds. As Ben Franklin said, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man Healthy, Wealthy and Wise." The should be the motto of all would be millionaries. I guess the next book to read wil be Ben Franklin's book "The Way to Wealth."
Weight Loss Help
I found this about William Banting:
http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/banting.html
Doug Kaufman's Phase One Diet
http://knowthecause.dnnspeed.com/Resources/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/184/What-is-the-Phase-One-diet.aspx
Funny video about Tattoos:
Finally, several weeks ago I had the chacne to hear Jimmy Moore talk about his upcoming book, 21 Life Lessons. You might want to check out Jimmy's website:
http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/
I found this about William Banting:
http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/banting.html
Doug Kaufman's Phase One Diet
http://knowthecause.dnnspeed.com/Resources/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/184/What-is-the-Phase-One-diet.aspx
Funny video about Tattoos:
Finally, several weeks ago I had the chacne to hear Jimmy Moore talk about his upcoming book, 21 Life Lessons. You might want to check out Jimmy's website:
http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Why I left Church and am Happier for it
I was listening to a radio show talk about a Lutheran minister caught in adultery. Is this the reason why people stop going to church or is there a simpler explanation? My reasons are quite straight forward. I made the mistake of becoming a golfer with the minister who lead the group to which I belonged. If you are unfamiliar with ministers you discover that they have two traits that others don't possess. The first is they are God's reps on this earth so you better not question them, no matter what. The second is ministers enter the ministry, though mine was more by default, because they really are screwed up in the head. I think my minister had serious mental issues. Having watched the clowns on TV I think the trait is common.
I personally had no choice but to get out. About two years before I "left" the group I was golfing with said minister when I made the mistake of questioning something he was going to teach. All I said was "I'm just not convinced." High crime and treason committed. And I admit it too. The said minister proceeded to give me the silent treatment for the remainder of the round. Two weeks later in the group he announced his teaching had been confirmed by the Holy Spirit after some doubts. He was looking right at me when he said it. That was when I knew it was time to leave but I didn't, why because of fear. I had been trained by said minister that he had the anointing, so I stayed.
All it caused me was increasing boredom with his teaching. I discovered that only in his own mind was he a good teacher. Have you ever listen to the same teaching said different ways for 17 years. I did.
Then one joyous day Christ set me free.
I was listening to a radio show talk about a Lutheran minister caught in adultery. Is this the reason why people stop going to church or is there a simpler explanation? My reasons are quite straight forward. I made the mistake of becoming a golfer with the minister who lead the group to which I belonged. If you are unfamiliar with ministers you discover that they have two traits that others don't possess. The first is they are God's reps on this earth so you better not question them, no matter what. The second is ministers enter the ministry, though mine was more by default, because they really are screwed up in the head. I think my minister had serious mental issues. Having watched the clowns on TV I think the trait is common.
I personally had no choice but to get out. About two years before I "left" the group I was golfing with said minister when I made the mistake of questioning something he was going to teach. All I said was "I'm just not convinced." High crime and treason committed. And I admit it too. The said minister proceeded to give me the silent treatment for the remainder of the round. Two weeks later in the group he announced his teaching had been confirmed by the Holy Spirit after some doubts. He was looking right at me when he said it. That was when I knew it was time to leave but I didn't, why because of fear. I had been trained by said minister that he had the anointing, so I stayed.
All it caused me was increasing boredom with his teaching. I discovered that only in his own mind was he a good teacher. Have you ever listen to the same teaching said different ways for 17 years. I did.
Then one joyous day Christ set me free.
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