http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yXqpalAuQM
The Tower of the Flockwas used for birthing ewes, and the surround fields were where these shepherds grazed their flocks. These shepherds customarily kept their flocks outdoors twenty-four hours a day every day of the year, they brought the ewes in to deliver their lambs where they could be carefully cared for. It was to this place that Joseph took Mary. It was in this special place at "Migdal Edar" that Christ was born! How do we know? Micah tells us so!Micah 4:8;5:2 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
In Micah 4:8 we read about the "watchtower of the flock", or in Hebrew, "Migdal Edar." According to the "Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah", by Alfred Edersheim, a Jewish believer in the late 1800's, Migal Edar was the location where the Messiah was to be revealed. This watchtower stood as a place of protection for the city from approaching enemies, but it was also utilized by shepherds to watch over the specific flocks from which sacrificial Passover lambs were taken.The shepherds who were tending these particular flocks were no ordinary shepherds. They were specifically trained by the Rabbis for a holy task. They had to insure that, as much as possible, every lamb was free of any blemish or injury, in order to be used for the Passover sacrifice.The shepherds had strong hints of Messiah's advent in the very town where they lived, so that when the angelic host appeared announcing his arrival, they responded immediately and went to worship Him.What difference does it make that peace has come to earth ?Why don’t we have peace between us?Mark 9:49-5049 For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.50"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."Jesus declaredthat all His followers will be seasoned with fire,that every sacrifice is seasoned with salt,that the salt must retain its flavor,that it will bring peace among us.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Ten Tips for Thriving in This Economic Winter
Many of you have read and commented on our recent conversation about how it's a season to sow, how there's so much fear in our world right now and how it's related to some of the universal laws that modern society has forgotten. How to thrive in this economic winter and how to apply the knowledge you learned during our conversation... So here you go!
Clearly define what inspires you.There's a big difference between taking action out of inspiration versus desperation. Use this season as an opportunity to hibernate into the recesses of your own mind and define what you choose to create in your next spring.
Control your focus.Energy flows where attention goes. Are you focusing on lack or opportunity?
Feed your mind.What's your constant mental diet? Do you spend hours in front of the scare news or are you reading good books, attending more positive seminars, watching uplifting DVDs and listening to powerful CDs?
Strengthen your body.Your physical health and vitality have a tremendous impact on your performance as well as your mental and emotional fitness. Exercise releases stress as well as strengthen your body and mind.
Inventory your friends.Doom and gloom attracts more doom and gloom. Jettison those "energy vampires" around you and surround yourself with opportunity seekers.
Quiet your mind.Take time to meditate daily and to slow down if only for a few minutes. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation will relieve hours of stress and increase creativity and resourcefulness.
Rid your life of escapist activities. Overindulgence in TV, sleep and alcohol only accelerate the problems you're attempting to avoid.
Make a daily gratitude list.Focusing on all the good, gifts and God in your life puts you in the right line of thought, feeling and their subsequent actions, which will attract and create more good, gifts and God.
Change your attitude.Realize that everything that's happened in your life thus far is here to serve you, teach you and help you grow. Find the lessons in your past results, forgive yourself for anything you could have done better and apply the lesson to move forward and create a better future.
Get resourceful.For the next three days, go to a place where you can have uninterrupted time... Come up with 20 new ideas to grow your income, create new results and improve your life. You cannot leave your spot until you have twenty. And no editing! All ideas are good ideas. Do this for three successive days with 20 new ideas each day.Now take your list of 60 unique ideas and pick the three to five most powerful and leveraged ones to put into action. Pick these three to five based on: ease of implementation, rate of return and speed of return.
And so during this winter season, remember: It's not about resources... there are plenty of them. It's about resourcefulness. Get resourceful and get busy.
To your continued wealth and happiness,
James Arthur RayPresident/CEOJames Ray International
Clearly define what inspires you.There's a big difference between taking action out of inspiration versus desperation. Use this season as an opportunity to hibernate into the recesses of your own mind and define what you choose to create in your next spring.
Control your focus.Energy flows where attention goes. Are you focusing on lack or opportunity?
Feed your mind.What's your constant mental diet? Do you spend hours in front of the scare news or are you reading good books, attending more positive seminars, watching uplifting DVDs and listening to powerful CDs?
Strengthen your body.Your physical health and vitality have a tremendous impact on your performance as well as your mental and emotional fitness. Exercise releases stress as well as strengthen your body and mind.
Inventory your friends.Doom and gloom attracts more doom and gloom. Jettison those "energy vampires" around you and surround yourself with opportunity seekers.
Quiet your mind.Take time to meditate daily and to slow down if only for a few minutes. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation will relieve hours of stress and increase creativity and resourcefulness.
Rid your life of escapist activities. Overindulgence in TV, sleep and alcohol only accelerate the problems you're attempting to avoid.
Make a daily gratitude list.Focusing on all the good, gifts and God in your life puts you in the right line of thought, feeling and their subsequent actions, which will attract and create more good, gifts and God.
Change your attitude.Realize that everything that's happened in your life thus far is here to serve you, teach you and help you grow. Find the lessons in your past results, forgive yourself for anything you could have done better and apply the lesson to move forward and create a better future.
Get resourceful.For the next three days, go to a place where you can have uninterrupted time... Come up with 20 new ideas to grow your income, create new results and improve your life. You cannot leave your spot until you have twenty. And no editing! All ideas are good ideas. Do this for three successive days with 20 new ideas each day.Now take your list of 60 unique ideas and pick the three to five most powerful and leveraged ones to put into action. Pick these three to five based on: ease of implementation, rate of return and speed of return.
And so during this winter season, remember: It's not about resources... there are plenty of them. It's about resourcefulness. Get resourceful and get busy.
To your continued wealth and happiness,
James Arthur RayPresident/CEOJames Ray International
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Joshua Neuman: What Happened to Kwanzaa? 8:58pm
Source: www.huffingtonpost.c...
What Happened to Kwanzaa? - The Huffington Post
is this a lost cause?
Source: www.huffingtonpost.c...
What Happened to Kwanzaa? - The Huffington Post
is this a lost cause?
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Characteristics of 21st century instruments of peace
• they are impressed with divine accuracy: “just as the angel said”
• the accuracy of the messenger
• Gives credibility to the message
Characteristics of 21st century instruments of peace
• 2. they investigate with a spirit of urgency, “ hurried off” “ to see”.. pursue peace
• “become an action-oriented person”
• Get Onto the Fast Track
Get A Reputation for Speed
the faster you move, the more energy you have. The faster you move, the more you get done and the more effective you feel. The faster you move, the more experience you get and the more you learn. The faster you move, the more competent and capable you become at your work.
Characteristics of 21st century instruments of peace
• 3. they illustrate compliancy [the state or act of conforming with or agreeing to do something]
• “Let’s go”, no shepherd left behind
Characteristics of 21st century instruments of peace
• 4. they instigate evangelistic advocacy “spread the word”
• “the word on the street is Peace is on earth
5. they ignite worship intensely .. they glorified & praised God
• they are impressed with divine accuracy: “just as the angel said”
• the accuracy of the messenger
• Gives credibility to the message
Characteristics of 21st century instruments of peace
• 2. they investigate with a spirit of urgency, “ hurried off” “ to see”.. pursue peace
• “become an action-oriented person”
• Get Onto the Fast Track
Get A Reputation for Speed
the faster you move, the more energy you have. The faster you move, the more you get done and the more effective you feel. The faster you move, the more experience you get and the more you learn. The faster you move, the more competent and capable you become at your work.
Characteristics of 21st century instruments of peace
• 3. they illustrate compliancy [the state or act of conforming with or agreeing to do something]
• “Let’s go”, no shepherd left behind
Characteristics of 21st century instruments of peace
• 4. they instigate evangelistic advocacy “spread the word”
• “the word on the street is Peace is on earth
5. they ignite worship intensely .. they glorified & praised God
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Peace on earth?
Pax Rommina
Pax America
Pax Americana, Africa
Pax Biblica
Pax Madea
in Luke 2
angels & agents affirmed & announced the gospel of peace.
did what they have in mind resemble the popular paradigmns of today
Pax Romana (Latin for "Roman peace") was the long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force experienced by the Roman Empire in the first and second centuries AD
Despite the term, the period was not without armed conflict, as Emperors frequently had to quell rebellions. Additionally, both border skirmishes and Roman wars of conquest happened during this period.
Nonetheless, as the interior of the Empire remained largely untouched by warfare, the Pax Romana was an era of relative tranquility in which Rome endured neither major civil wars,
such as the perpetual bloodshed of the third century AD, nor serious invasions, or killings, such as those of the Second Punic War three centuries prior.
during this time, Roman commerce thrived, unhampered by piracy or marauding enemy troops.
The implementation of what could be called the Bush doctrine's Pax Americana, Africa was outlined in a September 28, 2003, article by Mark Mazzetti in US News & World Report:
'What is underway means far more than simply moving troops and tanks around the globe like a real-world game of Risk. What the military is grappling with is how to put into practice the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive military action.
'We also have to say we dissuade military competition and we prevent wars from happening--and then posture ourselves around the world to do that.'
"Without another nation expected to challenge U.S. military supremacy in the near future, strategic planners now concern themselves with threats along what they call the 'arc of instability,' a swath of territory running from the Caribbean Basin through most of Africa, the Middle East, and Central and Southeast Asia.
The plan is to defend forward--"moving troops and equipment into these areas in order to respond more rapidly to global crises--and to pre-empt attacks by an elusive foe that can move easily through ungoverned deserts and teeming cities"
and to move quickly, with a "new focus" "placed on serious forward bases, ports, and airstrips closer to potential flash points
New bases also mean new listening posts in parts of the world where the United States has had difficulty gathering intelligence." At Camp Lemonier in Djibouti,
"civilian and military intelligence analysts sift through information gathered by satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, and human sources to map out the terrorist threat in the Horn of Africa."
"Sitting in his office at Camp Lemonier, the unit's commander often sounds more like the president of the World Bank than a Marine Corps general. 'You have the stewardship to do more than just kick butt,' General Robeson says. 'That's not the long-term solution. The long-term solution is nation building.'"
Given the prominence of the concept of Pax Romana, historians have coined variants of the term to describe systems of relative peace that have been established, attempted or argued to have existed, usually under the dominion of one power or of an idea.
These include Pax Americana, Pax Assyriaca, Pax Britannica, Pax Europeana, Pax Germanica, Pax Hispanica, Pax Minoica, Pax Mongolica, Pax Ottomana, Pax Sinica, and Pax Syriana.
Pax Rommina
Pax America
Pax Americana, Africa
Pax Biblica
Pax Madea
in Luke 2
angels & agents affirmed & announced the gospel of peace.
did what they have in mind resemble the popular paradigmns of today
Pax Romana (Latin for "Roman peace") was the long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force experienced by the Roman Empire in the first and second centuries AD
Despite the term, the period was not without armed conflict, as Emperors frequently had to quell rebellions. Additionally, both border skirmishes and Roman wars of conquest happened during this period.
Nonetheless, as the interior of the Empire remained largely untouched by warfare, the Pax Romana was an era of relative tranquility in which Rome endured neither major civil wars,
such as the perpetual bloodshed of the third century AD, nor serious invasions, or killings, such as those of the Second Punic War three centuries prior.
during this time, Roman commerce thrived, unhampered by piracy or marauding enemy troops.
The implementation of what could be called the Bush doctrine's Pax Americana, Africa was outlined in a September 28, 2003, article by Mark Mazzetti in US News & World Report:
'What is underway means far more than simply moving troops and tanks around the globe like a real-world game of Risk. What the military is grappling with is how to put into practice the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive military action.
'We also have to say we dissuade military competition and we prevent wars from happening--and then posture ourselves around the world to do that.'
"Without another nation expected to challenge U.S. military supremacy in the near future, strategic planners now concern themselves with threats along what they call the 'arc of instability,' a swath of territory running from the Caribbean Basin through most of Africa, the Middle East, and Central and Southeast Asia.
The plan is to defend forward--"moving troops and equipment into these areas in order to respond more rapidly to global crises--and to pre-empt attacks by an elusive foe that can move easily through ungoverned deserts and teeming cities"
and to move quickly, with a "new focus" "placed on serious forward bases, ports, and airstrips closer to potential flash points
New bases also mean new listening posts in parts of the world where the United States has had difficulty gathering intelligence." At Camp Lemonier in Djibouti,
"civilian and military intelligence analysts sift through information gathered by satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, and human sources to map out the terrorist threat in the Horn of Africa."
"Sitting in his office at Camp Lemonier, the unit's commander often sounds more like the president of the World Bank than a Marine Corps general. 'You have the stewardship to do more than just kick butt,' General Robeson says. 'That's not the long-term solution. The long-term solution is nation building.'"
Given the prominence of the concept of Pax Romana, historians have coined variants of the term to describe systems of relative peace that have been established, attempted or argued to have existed, usually under the dominion of one power or of an idea.
These include Pax Americana, Pax Assyriaca, Pax Britannica, Pax Europeana, Pax Germanica, Pax Hispanica, Pax Minoica, Pax Mongolica, Pax Ottomana, Pax Sinica, and Pax Syriana.
all's fair in love & war?
Cheney & torture. "Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday that he was directly involved in approving severe interrogation methods used by the CIA, and that the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, should remain open indefinitely."
Monday, December 15, 2008
are there Just wars?
The Myth of Redemptive Violence: The Day the Earth Stood Stillby Logan Laituri 12-15-2008 http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=4679
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
will we ever
this is the change we can appreciate
Dr. Manis
When Are WE Going to Get Over It?
For much of the last forty years, ever since America "fixed" its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, "When are African Americans finally going to get over it?
Now I want to ask: "When are we White Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color?
Recent reports that "Election Spurs Hundreds' of Race Threats, Crimes" should frighten and infuriate every one of us.
Having grown up in "Bombingham," Alabama in the 1960s, I remember overhearing an avalanche of comments about what many white classmates and their parents wanted to do to John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Eventually, as you may recall, in all three cases, someone decided to do more than "talk the talk."
Since our recent presidential election, to our eternal shame we are once again hearing the same reprehensible talk I remember from my boyhood.
We white people have controlled political life in the disunited colonies and United States for some 400 years on this continent. Conservative whites have been in power 28 of the last 40 years. Even during the eight Clinton years, conservatives in Congress blocked most of his agenda and pulled him to the right. Yet never in that period did I read any headlines suggesting that anyone was calling for the assassinations of presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, or either of the Bushes. Criticize them, yes. Call for their impeachment, perhaps.
But there were no bounties on their heads. And even when someone did try to kill Ronald Reagan, the perpetrator was a non-political mental case who wanted merely to impress Jody Foster.
But elect a liberal who happens to be Black and we're back in the sixties again. At this point in our history, we should be proud that we've proven what conservatives are always saying -- that in America anything is possible, EVEN electing a black man as president. But instead we now hear that schoolchildren from Maine to California are talking about wanting to "assassinate Obama."
Fighting the urge to throw up, I can only ask, "How long?" How long before we white people realize we can't make our nation, much less the whole world, look like us? How long until we white people can -once and for all- get over this hell-conceived preoccupation with skin color? How long until we white people get over the demonic conviction that white skin makes us superior? How long before we white people get over our bitter resentments about being demoted to the status of equality with non-whites?
How long before we get over our expectations that we should be at the head of the line merely because of our white skin? How long until we white people end our silence and call out our peers when they share the latest racist jokes in the privacy of our white-only conversations?
I believe in free speech, but how long until we white people start making racist loudmouths as socially uncomfortable as we do flag burners? How long until we white people will stop insisting that blacks exercise personal responsibility, build strong families, educate themselves enough to edit the Harvard Law Review, and work hard enough to become President of the United States, only to threaten to assassinate them when they do?
How long before we start "living out the true meaning" of our creeds, both civil and religious, that all men and women are created equal and that "red and yellow, black and white" all are precious in God's sight?
Until this past November 4, I didn't believe this country would ever elect an African American to the presidency. I still don't believe I'll live long enough to see us white people get over our racism problem. But here's my three-point plan:
First, everyday that Barack Obama lives in the White House that Black Slaves Built I'm going to pray that God (and the Secret Service) will protect him and his family from us white people.
Second, I'm going to report to the FBI any white person I overhear saying, in seriousness or in jest, anything of a threatening nature about President Obama.
Third, I'm going to pray to live long enough to see America surprise the world once again, when white people can "in spirit and in truth" sing of our damnable color prejudice, "We HAVE overcome."
Andrew Manis is author of Macon Black and White and serves on the steering committee of Macon's Center for Racial understanding.
It takes a Village to protect our President!!!
Dr. Manis
When Are WE Going to Get Over It?
For much of the last forty years, ever since America "fixed" its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, "When are African Americans finally going to get over it?
Now I want to ask: "When are we White Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color?
Recent reports that "Election Spurs Hundreds' of Race Threats, Crimes" should frighten and infuriate every one of us.
Having grown up in "Bombingham," Alabama in the 1960s, I remember overhearing an avalanche of comments about what many white classmates and their parents wanted to do to John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Eventually, as you may recall, in all three cases, someone decided to do more than "talk the talk."
Since our recent presidential election, to our eternal shame we are once again hearing the same reprehensible talk I remember from my boyhood.
We white people have controlled political life in the disunited colonies and United States for some 400 years on this continent. Conservative whites have been in power 28 of the last 40 years. Even during the eight Clinton years, conservatives in Congress blocked most of his agenda and pulled him to the right. Yet never in that period did I read any headlines suggesting that anyone was calling for the assassinations of presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, or either of the Bushes. Criticize them, yes. Call for their impeachment, perhaps.
But there were no bounties on their heads. And even when someone did try to kill Ronald Reagan, the perpetrator was a non-political mental case who wanted merely to impress Jody Foster.
But elect a liberal who happens to be Black and we're back in the sixties again. At this point in our history, we should be proud that we've proven what conservatives are always saying -- that in America anything is possible, EVEN electing a black man as president. But instead we now hear that schoolchildren from Maine to California are talking about wanting to "assassinate Obama."
Fighting the urge to throw up, I can only ask, "How long?" How long before we white people realize we can't make our nation, much less the whole world, look like us? How long until we white people can -once and for all- get over this hell-conceived preoccupation with skin color? How long until we white people get over the demonic conviction that white skin makes us superior? How long before we white people get over our bitter resentments about being demoted to the status of equality with non-whites?
How long before we get over our expectations that we should be at the head of the line merely because of our white skin? How long until we white people end our silence and call out our peers when they share the latest racist jokes in the privacy of our white-only conversations?
I believe in free speech, but how long until we white people start making racist loudmouths as socially uncomfortable as we do flag burners? How long until we white people will stop insisting that blacks exercise personal responsibility, build strong families, educate themselves enough to edit the Harvard Law Review, and work hard enough to become President of the United States, only to threaten to assassinate them when they do?
How long before we start "living out the true meaning" of our creeds, both civil and religious, that all men and women are created equal and that "red and yellow, black and white" all are precious in God's sight?
Until this past November 4, I didn't believe this country would ever elect an African American to the presidency. I still don't believe I'll live long enough to see us white people get over our racism problem. But here's my three-point plan:
First, everyday that Barack Obama lives in the White House that Black Slaves Built I'm going to pray that God (and the Secret Service) will protect him and his family from us white people.
Second, I'm going to report to the FBI any white person I overhear saying, in seriousness or in jest, anything of a threatening nature about President Obama.
Third, I'm going to pray to live long enough to see America surprise the world once again, when white people can "in spirit and in truth" sing of our damnable color prejudice, "We HAVE overcome."
Andrew Manis is author of Macon Black and White and serves on the steering committee of Macon's Center for Racial understanding.
It takes a Village to protect our President!!!
Day of service
4 days of inaugural events feature day of service
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081210/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_inauguration
we must follow this example & maybe attempt to surpass it on the grass roots level. Every church must pour out of our salt shakers & turn the porch lights on in the Hood
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081210/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_inauguration
we must follow this example & maybe attempt to surpass it on the grass roots level. Every church must pour out of our salt shakers & turn the porch lights on in the Hood
Monday, December 8, 2008
Trumped by God?
According to Trump
God’s has the whole financial world in his hands !
Trump was sued last week by a German bank for failing to make a loan payment. In recent court filings, Trump cited the “Act of God” clause in his contract as sufficient reason for missing the payment and needing an extension. The court will now have to decide if God has sufficient fault in the recent market problems to warrant the blame
What is God doing? Is he simply allowing descions to play out to there foregone conclusions . Some saints say what is going on is the work of the evil one, do you think both have a hand in what’s going? With their being human responsibility involved a 3rd hand? Well to make it complete a wicked human hand & the church must have a hand in this stuff? Or is it all in God’s hand?
God’s has the whole financial world in his hands !
Trump was sued last week by a German bank for failing to make a loan payment. In recent court filings, Trump cited the “Act of God” clause in his contract as sufficient reason for missing the payment and needing an extension. The court will now have to decide if God has sufficient fault in the recent market problems to warrant the blame
What is God doing? Is he simply allowing descions to play out to there foregone conclusions . Some saints say what is going on is the work of the evil one, do you think both have a hand in what’s going? With their being human responsibility involved a 3rd hand? Well to make it complete a wicked human hand & the church must have a hand in this stuff? Or is it all in God’s hand?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Simple or strategic
Is this a simple solution to a complex problem, Americans give more than any country in the world. Will God not honor our past giving to the poor during our present time of need?
To whom are Americans indebted: Almighty dollar or God almighty?
Kendall Wingrove
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812020306
Instead of legislating, taxing and spending our way out of this mess, it's time to realize that the solution has been around for 2,000 years.
While we drown in debt and beg for bailouts, Jesus offers a peace that can calm the storms of life. In John 14:6 in the Bible, he said: "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Earlier in the book of John, it chronicles how Jesus went to Jerusalem and found men around the temple selling cattle, sheep and doves and others sitting around exchanging money. He drove them from the sacred area, scattering the coins of the money changers and overturning their tables.
According to Jesus, a person's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. The real value is found in a person's soul. The day of reckoning has arrived, and all must ask: Does the almighty dollar merit worship, or is it in God that we trust?
A new occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue might make a difference. But let's have the audacity to hope that Americans are able to change. Yes we can.
To whom are Americans indebted: Almighty dollar or God almighty?
Kendall Wingrove
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812020306
Instead of legislating, taxing and spending our way out of this mess, it's time to realize that the solution has been around for 2,000 years.
While we drown in debt and beg for bailouts, Jesus offers a peace that can calm the storms of life. In John 14:6 in the Bible, he said: "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Earlier in the book of John, it chronicles how Jesus went to Jerusalem and found men around the temple selling cattle, sheep and doves and others sitting around exchanging money. He drove them from the sacred area, scattering the coins of the money changers and overturning their tables.
According to Jesus, a person's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. The real value is found in a person's soul. The day of reckoning has arrived, and all must ask: Does the almighty dollar merit worship, or is it in God that we trust?
A new occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue might make a difference. But let's have the audacity to hope that Americans are able to change. Yes we can.
crisis crunch church's?
Churches Stand to Lose Several Billion Dollars in Lost DonationsDue to Economic Downturn
Millions of Americans have already suffered serious financiallosses in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage crisis and othereconomic challenges. A new survey from The Barna Group describeshow Americans are dealing with the hardship and the impact thedeclining economy will have on churches and non-profitorganizations. The survey revealed how churches are attempting tohelp people cope with the situation, and also reports on thelevel of optimism people have about an economic recovery. To readthis new study, click hereChurch Donations: http://m1e.net/c?31365529-F38Jx/YWNR19w%403796676-dbMLdI73wOJUA
PC
I have been in the business of financial advising and planning for +30 years now. At the core of my work, I see the complete financial picture of families that work with me. The good, the bad and the ugly. Today is the roughest I have seen since the 70’s.
1. Remember this is a survey. It asked people their “opinion” but it did not seek facts to verify.
2. In the survey 68% state they have experienced a financial setback. The majority of the financial setbacks have been a “net worth” setback. Not income. Most stock market indexes are down 45% in past 12 months. In fact in the past 10 years there is a negative return in most indexes. Typical giving is from earned income, not net worth. But because of the dominate chatter of bad bad bad, a person with no discernable change in income could grab onto this and find themselves not giving because things are “bad” out there. And from a distance, everyone agrees. Up close and personal, most people do not have an income problem of any greater level today than they did 5-10 years ago. BTW, “most” is used here as more than 51% of the people.
3. If your 401-k is down 50% but your income remains relatively untouched you have no ‘cover” for backing off with giving. I can say with confidence that most families have a spending problem and not an income problem. The savings rate per capita have bordered on negative for the past 5-6 years.
4. Cutting back is good because we did the opposite for the past 25 years. Painful? yes. Needed? yes. That goes for churches and para-churches as well. Interesting how “cutting back” actually accentuates the problems in the economy in the short run, BTW. One of the biggest problems at the macro level right now is the lack of spending! Seriously. But on the micro level with individual families, cut backs are way past due. At most levels of income.
5. The biggest challenge for ministry leaders continues to be this: people need to know what they really need to know. Not just what they want to hear. ....KG
· 70’s elaborate?
1970-no internet, no email, no CNBC, CNN, FOX broadcasting 24/7 about bad bad bad. Things were what they were but the general psyche was not as vulnerable as it is today to mass communication. Ignorance was bliss. Viet Nam ended ugly. President resigned in disgrace. OPEC shut off the oil. Iranian hostage. Home mortgage 12%! Not good.
That funk lasted a decade. Guess what exploded? The entrepreneurial spirit. People were forced to either fold or invent their job. To compete or quit. And a leader stood up and said things that inspired hope instead of exploiting defeat. He spoke to the soul of the nation at a time we were ready to listen. That is why I have come to the conclusion that Obama could become a great leader or just a good (or worse) leader. ..KG
Millions of Americans have already suffered serious financiallosses in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage crisis and othereconomic challenges. A new survey from The Barna Group describeshow Americans are dealing with the hardship and the impact thedeclining economy will have on churches and non-profitorganizations. The survey revealed how churches are attempting tohelp people cope with the situation, and also reports on thelevel of optimism people have about an economic recovery. To readthis new study, click hereChurch Donations: http://m1e.net/c?31365529-F38Jx/YWNR19w%403796676-dbMLdI73wOJUA
PC
I have been in the business of financial advising and planning for +30 years now. At the core of my work, I see the complete financial picture of families that work with me. The good, the bad and the ugly. Today is the roughest I have seen since the 70’s.
1. Remember this is a survey. It asked people their “opinion” but it did not seek facts to verify.
2. In the survey 68% state they have experienced a financial setback. The majority of the financial setbacks have been a “net worth” setback. Not income. Most stock market indexes are down 45% in past 12 months. In fact in the past 10 years there is a negative return in most indexes. Typical giving is from earned income, not net worth. But because of the dominate chatter of bad bad bad, a person with no discernable change in income could grab onto this and find themselves not giving because things are “bad” out there. And from a distance, everyone agrees. Up close and personal, most people do not have an income problem of any greater level today than they did 5-10 years ago. BTW, “most” is used here as more than 51% of the people.
3. If your 401-k is down 50% but your income remains relatively untouched you have no ‘cover” for backing off with giving. I can say with confidence that most families have a spending problem and not an income problem. The savings rate per capita have bordered on negative for the past 5-6 years.
4. Cutting back is good because we did the opposite for the past 25 years. Painful? yes. Needed? yes. That goes for churches and para-churches as well. Interesting how “cutting back” actually accentuates the problems in the economy in the short run, BTW. One of the biggest problems at the macro level right now is the lack of spending! Seriously. But on the micro level with individual families, cut backs are way past due. At most levels of income.
5. The biggest challenge for ministry leaders continues to be this: people need to know what they really need to know. Not just what they want to hear. ....KG
· 70’s elaborate?
1970-no internet, no email, no CNBC, CNN, FOX broadcasting 24/7 about bad bad bad. Things were what they were but the general psyche was not as vulnerable as it is today to mass communication. Ignorance was bliss. Viet Nam ended ugly. President resigned in disgrace. OPEC shut off the oil. Iranian hostage. Home mortgage 12%! Not good.
That funk lasted a decade. Guess what exploded? The entrepreneurial spirit. People were forced to either fold or invent their job. To compete or quit. And a leader stood up and said things that inspired hope instead of exploiting defeat. He spoke to the soul of the nation at a time we were ready to listen. That is why I have come to the conclusion that Obama could become a great leader or just a good (or worse) leader. ..KG
Monday, December 1, 2008
prayer for sis church in India
The school we built is in Nelamangala, a large town about 25 miles outside of Bangalore on the road to Mumbai. The school and church are safe so far, but there have been some attacks on Christians around the area. There are some new Hindu government leaders in Nelamangala, and they are not quite as friendly to the school as the previous leaders. The new ones are trying to obtain bribes from the school in order to get their permits renewed. A former government leader is the chair of the school's board of directors, and he is using his influence to protest the practices of some of the government leaders there. Thanks for the prayers. I will keep you posted of any urgent news.
Pastor James Martin
Pastor James Martin
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