In a shocking and absurd comment made from stage, former Presidential candidate, John Kerry said these exact words about our troops in Iraq as he spoke to students at Pasadena City College, “You study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. And if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."
These were his words. Not taken out of context and there can be no other way to read or hear them. He clearly inferred that dumb people are serving in Iraq and to void being one, simply be smart.
I thought we had gotten rid of this tired-head making liberal, after the 2004 elections but apparently he is back with his ignorant rants and ravings about our country, our military and our current President. Remember, this quote comes from a man that has been in the military himself. It comes from a man who has married into the Heinz family, and who has hardly ever worked like the rest of us for a living. This comes from a man who voted for the war in Iraq yet later said it was a mistake and has faulted the President for going to war. This comes from the man who voted against providing our troops with armor saying, “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.”
In summary, this insane remark comes from a man who can’t even relate to the real world American. He is gutless, fake, has no clue what he even talks about.
Thank God he did not win the election in 2004. I am not sure which would have been worse – the “inventor of the Internet”, Al Gore in 2000 as our President or “Mr. Ketchup”, John Kerry.
But, John Kerry takes the cake in my mind. Here are some of his recent stupid comments.
“We're all God's children, Bob. And I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was, she's being who she was born as.” Smart people don’t use other people’s children for political gain.
“We have to get back to the place we were, where terrorists are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance.” Bombs killing people is just a nuisance?
“This President has made, I regret to say, a colossal error of judgment and judgment is what we look for in the president of the President of the United States of America.” His own judgment made him vote for the war too.
“President Clinton was often known as the first black president. I wouldn't be upset if I could earn the right to be the second.” I can’t even comment on this dumb quote.
“I'm fascinated by rap and by hip-hop. I think there's a lot of poetry in it. There's a lot of anger, a lot of social energy in it. And I think you'd better listen to it pretty carefully, 'cause it's important”. Give me a break.
To insinuate that our military is dumb and the people that serve in it are there as a result of being uneducated is about the most insane quote I have heard someone in his position ever say. Our military is made up of some of the most intelligent people in the world and most of them could run circles around this spoon-fed rich man.
Our country is protected every day by men and women who are smart, determined, educated, and more importantly, human in thought, emotion and feelings. A smart man would see this and understand comments like this should not be thought, much less ever said. A smart man would apologize for having a slip of the mind like he did.
Mr. Kerry needs to go back to school so he can learn how, when and what to speak. I guess he never learned the simple rule, “if you have nothing good to say, then say nothing at all".
Because if he did we certainly would never hear a word from him.
“Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.” Proverbs 10:14
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
9/11 - Who Will Ever Forget
Who will ever forget September 11, 2001.
Who will ever forget just where they were the moment they heard two planes had been flown into the World Trade Center towers that sunny morning in New Work City?
Who will ever forget hearing Peter Jennings and the many other news anchors stumble as they tried to put words to what they were witnessing?
Who will every forget seeing the people waving flags for help from the huge, smoky gash in the top of the towers?
Who will ever forget seeing people throw themselves out of the building as the pain of the heat behind them out weighed the fear of such a horrific death in front of them?
Who will ever forget later hearing the sounds captured on video of those bodies hitting the ground with huge thuds documented on various cameras?
Who will ever forget seeing the pale, fear stricken faces covered in soot running through the streets of New York City moments after the buildings collapsed?
Who will ever forget the fear the country was in at the moment or the shocked, angry look on the face of President Bush as he was told by an aide?
Who will ever forget seeing the many different home videos of the planes being flown into the buildings?
Who will ever forget the crumbling collapse of the two largest buildings in the world?
Who will ever forget seeing the hundreds of NYPD, FDNY and Port Authority Agents running into the building prepared to save lives with most of them giving their own?
Who will ever forget hearing rumors that another plane was headed to the White House, hearing another had hit the Pentagon and hearing another had just gone down in a field in Pennsylvania?
Who will ever forget later hearing the heroic stories of those on Flight 93 and those who helped rescue those at the Pentagon?
Who will ever forget all airplanes being grounded for the first time in American history?
Who will ever forget watching the news for hours every night, for weeks as rescuers searched the rubble for survivors or bodies?
Who will ever forget knowing the over 3000 had their lives taken that day?
Who will ever forget knowing terrorist, Bin Laden, and his evil, weak, coward group was behind these attacks on America?
Who will ever forget the patriotic resolve America had those few weeks following this tragic event?
Who will ever forget the sadness and anger we all felt? The thinking the “end” might be near?
Who will ever forget hearing the horrible, sad 911 phones calls released to us just weeks ago from people in the towers who moments later died?
Who will ever forget all of this?
Many Americans will. That’s who. According to Neilson ratings, 21 million Americans chose to watch the "Manning Bowl" Sunday night between the NFL's New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts rather than the other 9/11 options being shown on ABC or CBS.
Just like that, just five years later, the country has returned to what it new before that terrible day - patriotic divide, anti-war protests, corporate sandals, a general “who needs God” mentality, immoral activities, Hollywood drama, and sports fanaticism.
America is a great land. It’s a country that offers various pleasures and exciting adventures to help us deal with things like 9/11. Sports are great. Movies are fun. Politics are the American way.
But more importantly, being an American offers each of us with the freedom to seek God in times such as this. A chance to seek the One who can set us free from ourselves and the evil acts of people like those who made this such a terrible day five years ago.
Five years ago, people were seeking Him like never before. Churches were packed, prayers were said and people were begging for help. We were all seemingly frozen in time and space. The panic and fear people were experiencing was driving them to God. His arms open wide waiting to embrace them. He has been waiting along time. God gave us our freedom in Christ 2000 years ago and for some it wasn’t until this terrible day that many began seeking Him like never before.
But freedom has a price. And now that many have moved on and would rather forget this day happened, it seems many have also forgotten just how big the price paid was on 9/11/2001. And, they have forgotten God right along with it.
Have you?
"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." Deuteronomy 4:8-10
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Who will ever forget just where they were the moment they heard two planes had been flown into the World Trade Center towers that sunny morning in New Work City?
Who will ever forget hearing Peter Jennings and the many other news anchors stumble as they tried to put words to what they were witnessing?
Who will every forget seeing the people waving flags for help from the huge, smoky gash in the top of the towers?
Who will ever forget seeing people throw themselves out of the building as the pain of the heat behind them out weighed the fear of such a horrific death in front of them?
Who will ever forget later hearing the sounds captured on video of those bodies hitting the ground with huge thuds documented on various cameras?
Who will ever forget seeing the pale, fear stricken faces covered in soot running through the streets of New York City moments after the buildings collapsed?
Who will ever forget the fear the country was in at the moment or the shocked, angry look on the face of President Bush as he was told by an aide?
Who will ever forget seeing the many different home videos of the planes being flown into the buildings?
Who will ever forget the crumbling collapse of the two largest buildings in the world?
Who will ever forget seeing the hundreds of NYPD, FDNY and Port Authority Agents running into the building prepared to save lives with most of them giving their own?
Who will ever forget hearing rumors that another plane was headed to the White House, hearing another had hit the Pentagon and hearing another had just gone down in a field in Pennsylvania?
Who will ever forget later hearing the heroic stories of those on Flight 93 and those who helped rescue those at the Pentagon?
Who will ever forget all airplanes being grounded for the first time in American history?
Who will ever forget watching the news for hours every night, for weeks as rescuers searched the rubble for survivors or bodies?
Who will ever forget knowing the over 3000 had their lives taken that day?
Who will ever forget knowing terrorist, Bin Laden, and his evil, weak, coward group was behind these attacks on America?
Who will ever forget the patriotic resolve America had those few weeks following this tragic event?
Who will ever forget the sadness and anger we all felt? The thinking the “end” might be near?
Who will ever forget hearing the horrible, sad 911 phones calls released to us just weeks ago from people in the towers who moments later died?
Who will ever forget all of this?
Many Americans will. That’s who. According to Neilson ratings, 21 million Americans chose to watch the "Manning Bowl" Sunday night between the NFL's New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts rather than the other 9/11 options being shown on ABC or CBS.
Just like that, just five years later, the country has returned to what it new before that terrible day - patriotic divide, anti-war protests, corporate sandals, a general “who needs God” mentality, immoral activities, Hollywood drama, and sports fanaticism.
America is a great land. It’s a country that offers various pleasures and exciting adventures to help us deal with things like 9/11. Sports are great. Movies are fun. Politics are the American way.
But more importantly, being an American offers each of us with the freedom to seek God in times such as this. A chance to seek the One who can set us free from ourselves and the evil acts of people like those who made this such a terrible day five years ago.
Five years ago, people were seeking Him like never before. Churches were packed, prayers were said and people were begging for help. We were all seemingly frozen in time and space. The panic and fear people were experiencing was driving them to God. His arms open wide waiting to embrace them. He has been waiting along time. God gave us our freedom in Christ 2000 years ago and for some it wasn’t until this terrible day that many began seeking Him like never before.
But freedom has a price. And now that many have moved on and would rather forget this day happened, it seems many have also forgotten just how big the price paid was on 9/11/2001. And, they have forgotten God right along with it.
Have you?
"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." Deuteronomy 4:8-10
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Monday, July 17, 2006
Want to be a Millionaire?
How would you like to have earned an average salary of over $200,000 a year since 1999? Doing so would place you among the top 2% of earned incomes in America. Not many accomplish this amazing task.
How about controlling the funds and revenues of an organization that brings in millions a year by simply asking for it? Millionaires aren’t as rare as they used to be, but how many do you know? I bet together we could only think of a few.
To do either, you would think you’d have to own a business, be a surgeon, an executive, or a banker, practice law, claimed an inheritance or have made some real lucky investments, right?
Yet, according to recent trends in the U.S., there is one unlikely way to do so with relative ease. You don’t even have to have any formal training or special education either. A nice big, recognizable name helps, but that’s not even necessary. You just have to have some charisma, passion, a neat story or something to say, an ability to communicate effectively and then a small group of followers. And, by doing all of this, that income level 98% of Americans can only dream about can be yours, and making millions can be right around the corner!
Your dreams just might come true if you will simply start your own evangelistic ministry!
Only in modern day American Christianity can we marvel at the mighty works of these new “Business Preachers”. This trend isn’t necessarily new, but the increasing numbers of these men and women since the late 80’s is staggering. With outlets like TBN, Christian radio, name-it-claim-it, feel-good mega-churches, the Internet, and other technologies, any person with a supposed calling from God can grab a mike, set up a 501C3 non-profit corporation and literally go to town, raking in thousands of dollars in the process. Trendsetters Robert Tilton, Paul Crouch, and Oral Roberts paved the way for modern day preaching millionaires such as Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Myer, Creflo Dollar, Joel Olsteen, and T.D. Jakes to name a few.
The website http://www.inplainsite.org/ says it best, “"Christianity began as a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When it went to Athens, it became a philosophy. When it went to Rome, it became an organization. When it went to Europe, it became a culture. When it came to America, it became a business.”
These people have created a complex scheme of revenue generation, legal tax evasion, hidden records, and big time fame. Done for the sake of ministry, many of these men and women have found a secret path to worldly wealth! It’s an incredible system too. Simply do some ministry, ask for money to run the ministry and suddenly you’re making six figures! And how do they keep the funds coming in? By doing more ministry! The more they do, the more they earn. It could not be more self-serving. As a business owner myself, it’s the simplest example of “investment equals return”.
In a recent local report in the Dallas Morning News, a popular DFW minister earns a reported $300,000 in personal income, all derived from his self-named ministry that generates over $2 million a year in contributions! All of this in less than 5 years after retiring as a former Houston Oilers NFL great! He does a lot of great work for the Kingdom and I know people that know him personally. Yet, was his real reasoning behind starting his own ministry to minister, or was it to maintain a lifestyle he no longer could keep since his playing days were over? I could be real motivated myself to do some amazing things for God too if I knew I could earn more than 98% of the rest of those out there.
But let me give you some more jaw dropping examples as some of these people are doing things that most of us just cannot comprehend.
Lakewood Church in Houston, controlled by Mr. Olsteen, recently gave the city of Houston $12,000,000 to take over the former home of the NBA Houston Rockets, The Summit. Yet, on most Sundays the word “Jesus” is not even spoken from his mouth or mentioned on stage. All the while his own book, Your Life Now, sold over 2.5 million in just a few months time, topping the New York best sellers list. People like to feel good and the sales of his book plus the 30,000 members of his church are proof in the pudding. Turn on the TV. He’s everywhere and you’ll find yourself being sucked in like many have. He’s good. Real good. But there’s a big difference between being real good and being real God.
Another amazing event took place recently when Mr. Copeland asked his followers to donate millions of dollars because he felt called to own a $16,900,000 Cessna Citation X jet to transport him and his team around the world in class. I know personally someone that wrote him a check for $1,000,000 to help him do so. Few in the world can even dream about owning one of these and doing so puts one in the social class with the likes of Mark Cuban, Kenny Trout or Michael Dell. Mr. Copeland took ownership of it in March of 2006.
Recent reports by NBC Dateline and others speculate that Mr. Hinn, one of the most popular of today’s tele-evangelists, has revenues that exceed $100,000,000 a year! And he’s not even shy about it anymore. He’s been seen staying at the most expensive hotels in the world and driving around in his $500,000 Bentley. I even know the person who is personally responsible for detailing his many collections of cars in the Dallas area and he spends hundreds a month in keeping them shinny. I would hope so, what a terrible witness it would be to have some dirt on the wheels…
Common signs and ideas thread their way through many of these people too. Some include:
* naming the ministry after themselves
* having higher paid salaries than most common CEO’s
* paying numerous family members high dollar salaries
* ownership of numerous and million dollar homes
* extravagant vacations and lifestyles
* high-society social status, accepted and embraced by the world
* numerous $100,000 cars
* direct control over the finances of the ministry
* little or no outside accountability
* high paid attorneys who hide, protect and craft the legal structures of their organizations
* unwillingness to be open and honest about finances of ministry
* many are uneducated, untrained, self-proclaimed teachers, preachers, healers or all of the above
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for pastors making good money and being taken care of. In my mind few should earn more than our teachers, police officers and the pastors of every day congregations. I attend a 4,000 member church and I can bet my pastor earns $200,000 a year. But the differences between him and these others are very apparent.
First of all, the church is not controlled directly by him and nor are the funds of the ministry. The ministry isn’t named after him and was established well before he assumed the role of pastor. He doesn’t dictate his salary, the elders of the church do. He is accountable to the members of the church and the elders in all aspects of leading the ministry. He can be removed or replaced at any time. Church finances are discussed and even shared with the congregation as needed. He doesn’t preach name-it-claim-it, but preaches “pay your debts and get debt free”. He’s written three books, yet donates all of the funds from the sales of those books back to our church bookstore. His lifestyle is real….having and doing what the rest of us that work hard do. But, what’s the overall biggest difference? He has the job of being pastor of our church, not owning and running it like was his own business. It’s God’s ministry and for now he is simply in charge of leading it.
According to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (www.ecfa.org) over 1,200 ministries now choose to open their books and allow the world to know just what they do with the money that flows into their organizations. Reverend Billy Graham, someone that has led more people to Christ since the Apostle Paul, reports his income at just $200,000 a year with few increases in over 30 years of ministry despite having the most powerful Christian organization in the modern world.
With Mr. Graham it’s always been about Jesus and nothing more. Ministrywatch.com states, “In the past half-century Billy Graham has preached the biblical Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ to over 210 million people in 185 countries and territories. As a result, millions upon millions have received Christ and become His disciples.” If you want to see everything about his finances just check out http://www.ministrywatch.com/ and it’s all right there for the world and God himself to read.
Sadly, many in this new generation of “ministers of faith” are simply self-serving and their number is growing by leaps and bounds. They’ve realized you don’t have to just “work for food” if you work for Jesus. I must have overlooked it somewhere in Speculations 1:1, because I guess “work for wealth” would really be more appropriate.
Think I’m just crazy? Let’s ask SIX tough questions:
1. If Jesus ministered physically in the world today, would He drive a $100,000 automobile?
2. Would he fly across the country in his own multi-million dollar, one-of-a-kind, rare Cessna jet?
3. Would he take some of the most expensive vacations known to man and stay at the most exotic hotels in the world?
4. If he had a legal “non-profit corporation” to channel the funds of his ministry through, would he hide his numbers and run from accountability?
5. Would he take money from those that gave, thinking it would be used to reach the needy, in order to sustain a certain lifestyle he deemed he was rightfully owed?
6. Would he really own a home worth multi-millions? Maybe even two or three?
If you think so, then the “Jesus” you serve is a wolf in sheep’s clothing my friend and he needs to be shaved. The Jesus I know and love is hated by men and despised by the world. Real ministries are mocked, beaten down and abused by the media for their stance on truth.
Yet, only in America, can starting a self-named ministry…make you a millionaire.
“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." II Thessalonians 3:6-10
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
How about controlling the funds and revenues of an organization that brings in millions a year by simply asking for it? Millionaires aren’t as rare as they used to be, but how many do you know? I bet together we could only think of a few.
To do either, you would think you’d have to own a business, be a surgeon, an executive, or a banker, practice law, claimed an inheritance or have made some real lucky investments, right?
Yet, according to recent trends in the U.S., there is one unlikely way to do so with relative ease. You don’t even have to have any formal training or special education either. A nice big, recognizable name helps, but that’s not even necessary. You just have to have some charisma, passion, a neat story or something to say, an ability to communicate effectively and then a small group of followers. And, by doing all of this, that income level 98% of Americans can only dream about can be yours, and making millions can be right around the corner!
Your dreams just might come true if you will simply start your own evangelistic ministry!
Only in modern day American Christianity can we marvel at the mighty works of these new “Business Preachers”. This trend isn’t necessarily new, but the increasing numbers of these men and women since the late 80’s is staggering. With outlets like TBN, Christian radio, name-it-claim-it, feel-good mega-churches, the Internet, and other technologies, any person with a supposed calling from God can grab a mike, set up a 501C3 non-profit corporation and literally go to town, raking in thousands of dollars in the process. Trendsetters Robert Tilton, Paul Crouch, and Oral Roberts paved the way for modern day preaching millionaires such as Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Myer, Creflo Dollar, Joel Olsteen, and T.D. Jakes to name a few.
The website http://www.inplainsite.org/ says it best, “"Christianity began as a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When it went to Athens, it became a philosophy. When it went to Rome, it became an organization. When it went to Europe, it became a culture. When it came to America, it became a business.”
These people have created a complex scheme of revenue generation, legal tax evasion, hidden records, and big time fame. Done for the sake of ministry, many of these men and women have found a secret path to worldly wealth! It’s an incredible system too. Simply do some ministry, ask for money to run the ministry and suddenly you’re making six figures! And how do they keep the funds coming in? By doing more ministry! The more they do, the more they earn. It could not be more self-serving. As a business owner myself, it’s the simplest example of “investment equals return”.
In a recent local report in the Dallas Morning News, a popular DFW minister earns a reported $300,000 in personal income, all derived from his self-named ministry that generates over $2 million a year in contributions! All of this in less than 5 years after retiring as a former Houston Oilers NFL great! He does a lot of great work for the Kingdom and I know people that know him personally. Yet, was his real reasoning behind starting his own ministry to minister, or was it to maintain a lifestyle he no longer could keep since his playing days were over? I could be real motivated myself to do some amazing things for God too if I knew I could earn more than 98% of the rest of those out there.
But let me give you some more jaw dropping examples as some of these people are doing things that most of us just cannot comprehend.
Lakewood Church in Houston, controlled by Mr. Olsteen, recently gave the city of Houston $12,000,000 to take over the former home of the NBA Houston Rockets, The Summit. Yet, on most Sundays the word “Jesus” is not even spoken from his mouth or mentioned on stage. All the while his own book, Your Life Now, sold over 2.5 million in just a few months time, topping the New York best sellers list. People like to feel good and the sales of his book plus the 30,000 members of his church are proof in the pudding. Turn on the TV. He’s everywhere and you’ll find yourself being sucked in like many have. He’s good. Real good. But there’s a big difference between being real good and being real God.
Another amazing event took place recently when Mr. Copeland asked his followers to donate millions of dollars because he felt called to own a $16,900,000 Cessna Citation X jet to transport him and his team around the world in class. I know personally someone that wrote him a check for $1,000,000 to help him do so. Few in the world can even dream about owning one of these and doing so puts one in the social class with the likes of Mark Cuban, Kenny Trout or Michael Dell. Mr. Copeland took ownership of it in March of 2006.
Recent reports by NBC Dateline and others speculate that Mr. Hinn, one of the most popular of today’s tele-evangelists, has revenues that exceed $100,000,000 a year! And he’s not even shy about it anymore. He’s been seen staying at the most expensive hotels in the world and driving around in his $500,000 Bentley. I even know the person who is personally responsible for detailing his many collections of cars in the Dallas area and he spends hundreds a month in keeping them shinny. I would hope so, what a terrible witness it would be to have some dirt on the wheels…
Common signs and ideas thread their way through many of these people too. Some include:
* naming the ministry after themselves
* having higher paid salaries than most common CEO’s
* paying numerous family members high dollar salaries
* ownership of numerous and million dollar homes
* extravagant vacations and lifestyles
* high-society social status, accepted and embraced by the world
* numerous $100,000 cars
* direct control over the finances of the ministry
* little or no outside accountability
* high paid attorneys who hide, protect and craft the legal structures of their organizations
* unwillingness to be open and honest about finances of ministry
* many are uneducated, untrained, self-proclaimed teachers, preachers, healers or all of the above
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for pastors making good money and being taken care of. In my mind few should earn more than our teachers, police officers and the pastors of every day congregations. I attend a 4,000 member church and I can bet my pastor earns $200,000 a year. But the differences between him and these others are very apparent.
First of all, the church is not controlled directly by him and nor are the funds of the ministry. The ministry isn’t named after him and was established well before he assumed the role of pastor. He doesn’t dictate his salary, the elders of the church do. He is accountable to the members of the church and the elders in all aspects of leading the ministry. He can be removed or replaced at any time. Church finances are discussed and even shared with the congregation as needed. He doesn’t preach name-it-claim-it, but preaches “pay your debts and get debt free”. He’s written three books, yet donates all of the funds from the sales of those books back to our church bookstore. His lifestyle is real….having and doing what the rest of us that work hard do. But, what’s the overall biggest difference? He has the job of being pastor of our church, not owning and running it like was his own business. It’s God’s ministry and for now he is simply in charge of leading it.
According to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (www.ecfa.org) over 1,200 ministries now choose to open their books and allow the world to know just what they do with the money that flows into their organizations. Reverend Billy Graham, someone that has led more people to Christ since the Apostle Paul, reports his income at just $200,000 a year with few increases in over 30 years of ministry despite having the most powerful Christian organization in the modern world.
With Mr. Graham it’s always been about Jesus and nothing more. Ministrywatch.com states, “In the past half-century Billy Graham has preached the biblical Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ to over 210 million people in 185 countries and territories. As a result, millions upon millions have received Christ and become His disciples.” If you want to see everything about his finances just check out http://www.ministrywatch.com/ and it’s all right there for the world and God himself to read.
Sadly, many in this new generation of “ministers of faith” are simply self-serving and their number is growing by leaps and bounds. They’ve realized you don’t have to just “work for food” if you work for Jesus. I must have overlooked it somewhere in Speculations 1:1, because I guess “work for wealth” would really be more appropriate.
Think I’m just crazy? Let’s ask SIX tough questions:
1. If Jesus ministered physically in the world today, would He drive a $100,000 automobile?
2. Would he fly across the country in his own multi-million dollar, one-of-a-kind, rare Cessna jet?
3. Would he take some of the most expensive vacations known to man and stay at the most exotic hotels in the world?
4. If he had a legal “non-profit corporation” to channel the funds of his ministry through, would he hide his numbers and run from accountability?
5. Would he take money from those that gave, thinking it would be used to reach the needy, in order to sustain a certain lifestyle he deemed he was rightfully owed?
6. Would he really own a home worth multi-millions? Maybe even two or three?
If you think so, then the “Jesus” you serve is a wolf in sheep’s clothing my friend and he needs to be shaved. The Jesus I know and love is hated by men and despised by the world. Real ministries are mocked, beaten down and abused by the media for their stance on truth.
Yet, only in America, can starting a self-named ministry…make you a millionaire.
“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." II Thessalonians 3:6-10
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Oh, What A Crime!
There are a few rules of life people just seem to forget. For example, hasn't everyone with a mother to be thankful for learned, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"? Or, what about, "Remember, there are always, two sides to everything you read or hear"?
One of them we all need a reminder of is just as important in life - "be careful to remember that whatever you do to someone else just might come back on you ten fold". Don't regret doing unto others what you would NOT want done unto you.
So is the case, in my opinion, of a certain trial taking place recently in Irving, Texas. For years now, certain high-profile "tele-evangelists" have used God's name to scam millions of people out of millions of dollars employing fake healings, promoting false doctrines and avoiding accountability by not only the IRS but even Christian based ministry accountability groups. These men have gotten away with this for decades.
But evidently none of them are afraid to help put a man behind bars for doing basically the same thing; this time stealing from those very same scam artists themselves. Apparently, Gregory Setser's import empire came crashing down two years ago when after getting various investments from people, including many rich tele-evangelists, he used the funds to support a lifestyle of luxury, boating, cars, excessive vacations and much more. How could someone take advantage of such poor, naive ministers! Shame, shame....
Now, this man surely needs to be punished for his actions of deception, but isn't it ironic that many of these men testifying against him hide behind their own non-profit, ministries to prey upon the needy, hurting and sick? Surely, not all of these ministers are criminals, but most of them do walk a fine line between the world and the role of a minister. One could only assume that birds of a feather flock together....another simply rule in life. These men say and do almost exactly the same things.
Don't like what I am saying? Don't believe me? Get real with your heart and ask yourself these questions:
- Would Jesus have millions of dollars tied up in homes around the world?
- Would He stay away from the media and scrutiny and hide behind bodyguards and attorneys?
- Did Jesus speak false prophecies and make untrue claims?
- Did Jesus tell us to draw men unto ourselves or until Him?
- Would He travel weekly and stay at the most expensive hotels in the area?
- Would He fire employees and outcast workers in His ministry who questioned things?
- Would Jesus drive $200,000 cars and own various boats, homes, buildings and airplanes?
- Would Jesus hold "healing conferences" and charge people money or ask for large donations before offering to heal you?
- Would He even have such conferences, or would He simply visit the local Children's Hospital and give dying kids healing touches and hugs?
- Would He "heal" people and tell them later "it didn't take because you lost faith"?
- Would Jesus sue someone for talking bad about Him or His ministry as Mr. Hinn did to NBC just recently?
Would He really do these things? If you think He would, you need to start reading a different Bible. Yours has some holes in it.
Benny Hinn even said in 1989, "The Spirit tells me - Fidel Castro will die - in the 90's. Oooh my! Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed. But there will come a change in his physical health, and he will not stay in power, and Cuba will be visited of God."
Didn't happen. It's 2006 and Castro is still in power and doing well. Yet daily Mr. Hinn begs and steals money from people so he can live a life most of us will never taste, claiming he is a true prophet with a special connection to God's power.
If someone wants those things in life, then being in the ministry isn't the way to do it, no more than it was for Mr. Setser to steal from these ministers. Be creative and think of a business or a career that can change the world or help people like the rest of us. I guess using God-given abilities and personalities to make money is just easier. To me it's the easy way out....using personality, people skills and charisma to manipulate and take advantage of people in great need. It takes much more to actually work for an income like most of us do....
Benny Hinn himself reportedly has revenues of over $100 million a year! Most of that coming from contributions of needy people around the world. Just think about that a second. One Hundred Million Dollars! Do a little research and you will find out fast just how he spends it and it isn't on reaching the lost, building hospitals for the sick, building homes for people who need shelter, or giving back to those in need.
When was the last time you saw him step out of his $200,000 car and help the poor and hurting such as those in New Orleans? Has he taken the time to help build walls, clean streets or tear out moldy wood as even our own President has done? No, instead he spends his money and time on himself or his elaborate and overly excessive ministry plans. Why not spend some of it doing powerful things such as what ABC does with the TV reality show Home Edition! Can you imagine the impact it would have on America had this idea been supported and started by some Christian organization?! Mr. Hinn's $100,000,000 a year income would easily allow for it too....
Other ministers like him do the same. It's a neat little operation hidden away under the realm of religious organizations. Money and material possessions have become their god. We thought the Mafia was bad, but when traveling evangelists discovered this neat little money scheme, it took hold and has been blazing a trail of deceit and fraud for decades.
One thing is certain - some of these men need to be reminded of this little rule of life....Do unto others as you would have do unto you and remember that whatever you do to someone else has a good chance of coming right back to you.
It's a tough lesson to learn. Problem is in this case, the party going to jail isn't going to include the men that need it the most.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves...In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping." Matthew 7:15 and 2 Peter 2:3
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
One of them we all need a reminder of is just as important in life - "be careful to remember that whatever you do to someone else just might come back on you ten fold". Don't regret doing unto others what you would NOT want done unto you.
So is the case, in my opinion, of a certain trial taking place recently in Irving, Texas. For years now, certain high-profile "tele-evangelists" have used God's name to scam millions of people out of millions of dollars employing fake healings, promoting false doctrines and avoiding accountability by not only the IRS but even Christian based ministry accountability groups. These men have gotten away with this for decades.
But evidently none of them are afraid to help put a man behind bars for doing basically the same thing; this time stealing from those very same scam artists themselves. Apparently, Gregory Setser's import empire came crashing down two years ago when after getting various investments from people, including many rich tele-evangelists, he used the funds to support a lifestyle of luxury, boating, cars, excessive vacations and much more. How could someone take advantage of such poor, naive ministers! Shame, shame....
Now, this man surely needs to be punished for his actions of deception, but isn't it ironic that many of these men testifying against him hide behind their own non-profit, ministries to prey upon the needy, hurting and sick? Surely, not all of these ministers are criminals, but most of them do walk a fine line between the world and the role of a minister. One could only assume that birds of a feather flock together....another simply rule in life. These men say and do almost exactly the same things.
Don't like what I am saying? Don't believe me? Get real with your heart and ask yourself these questions:
- Would Jesus have millions of dollars tied up in homes around the world?
- Would He stay away from the media and scrutiny and hide behind bodyguards and attorneys?
- Did Jesus speak false prophecies and make untrue claims?
- Did Jesus tell us to draw men unto ourselves or until Him?
- Would He travel weekly and stay at the most expensive hotels in the area?
- Would He fire employees and outcast workers in His ministry who questioned things?
- Would Jesus drive $200,000 cars and own various boats, homes, buildings and airplanes?
- Would Jesus hold "healing conferences" and charge people money or ask for large donations before offering to heal you?
- Would He even have such conferences, or would He simply visit the local Children's Hospital and give dying kids healing touches and hugs?
- Would He "heal" people and tell them later "it didn't take because you lost faith"?
- Would Jesus sue someone for talking bad about Him or His ministry as Mr. Hinn did to NBC just recently?
Would He really do these things? If you think He would, you need to start reading a different Bible. Yours has some holes in it.
Benny Hinn even said in 1989, "The Spirit tells me - Fidel Castro will die - in the 90's. Oooh my! Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed. But there will come a change in his physical health, and he will not stay in power, and Cuba will be visited of God."
Didn't happen. It's 2006 and Castro is still in power and doing well. Yet daily Mr. Hinn begs and steals money from people so he can live a life most of us will never taste, claiming he is a true prophet with a special connection to God's power.
If someone wants those things in life, then being in the ministry isn't the way to do it, no more than it was for Mr. Setser to steal from these ministers. Be creative and think of a business or a career that can change the world or help people like the rest of us. I guess using God-given abilities and personalities to make money is just easier. To me it's the easy way out....using personality, people skills and charisma to manipulate and take advantage of people in great need. It takes much more to actually work for an income like most of us do....
Benny Hinn himself reportedly has revenues of over $100 million a year! Most of that coming from contributions of needy people around the world. Just think about that a second. One Hundred Million Dollars! Do a little research and you will find out fast just how he spends it and it isn't on reaching the lost, building hospitals for the sick, building homes for people who need shelter, or giving back to those in need.
When was the last time you saw him step out of his $200,000 car and help the poor and hurting such as those in New Orleans? Has he taken the time to help build walls, clean streets or tear out moldy wood as even our own President has done? No, instead he spends his money and time on himself or his elaborate and overly excessive ministry plans. Why not spend some of it doing powerful things such as what ABC does with the TV reality show Home Edition! Can you imagine the impact it would have on America had this idea been supported and started by some Christian organization?! Mr. Hinn's $100,000,000 a year income would easily allow for it too....
Other ministers like him do the same. It's a neat little operation hidden away under the realm of religious organizations. Money and material possessions have become their god. We thought the Mafia was bad, but when traveling evangelists discovered this neat little money scheme, it took hold and has been blazing a trail of deceit and fraud for decades.
One thing is certain - some of these men need to be reminded of this little rule of life....Do unto others as you would have do unto you and remember that whatever you do to someone else has a good chance of coming right back to you.
It's a tough lesson to learn. Problem is in this case, the party going to jail isn't going to include the men that need it the most.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves...In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping." Matthew 7:15 and 2 Peter 2:3
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
The NEW Corporate America
My, oh my….how Corporate America has changed. No longer is the "American dream" based on the thoughts of climbing the corporate ladder and dedicating a lifetime of service to one employer. Today's Corporate America doesn't want your lifetime commitment. Those days are long gone.
Today was a sad day for my father. After giving nearly 30 years of loyal service to Abbott Laboratories, based in Chicago, my dad was suddenly "retired out" this morning as he walked into work. He was given a pink slip and a box. No warning and no time to prepare. Just a done deal. To make things even more pleasant, Abbott also decided to make sure he was escorted out of the location and was not even given the opportunity to say bye to people he had worked around for decades. Evidently this new "policy" adopted by this failing company was to "avoid employee retaliation situations". Are you kidding me?
Dad wasn't alone this morning. Many of his other co-workers also got their pink slips and were escorted out like criminals in the same way. They congregated in the parking lot, in shock, had their last lunch together as they did for years every Wednesday, and then made their way home. Something my dad had done for nearly 30 years was suddenly taken away.
I can remember the days of being told to "find a good company…dedicate yourself to them and they will take notice. Then, you can climb that ladder of success." Both my great grandfather and my grandfather were some of the last few to ride that wave as they finished out working for Procter & Gamble and made for themselves a nice retirement, working until the age of 65. My dad got close, but Abbott decided to cut him short.
As the CEO of Equal Access Health, and as an entrepreneur, I cannot fathom how the people in command at today's corporations can make such insensitive decisions. Leading a $7 million dollar a year company has taught me a lot about making cuts, meeting budgets and working for profit. But all of those things can be achieved without running over others in the process and demoralizing those that have helped you accomplish what you have done. Cuts are sometimes a necessary evil, but there are correct ways to do such. What my dad experienced today was the epitome of the wrong turn today's corporations are taking. And, they won't succeed.
Ultimately, we cannot rest our hopes on man, our own company, an employer or even our own abilities. I choose to work for myself because I know it is what God has called me to do. But my risks are the same as any employee out there. I could lose my business as quick as anyone can be handed a pink slip and dump their stuff into a box.
The only company we all need to put our stock and trust in is the God Corporation, Inc. Only God Himself can be trusted. Despite our abilities and even though we fail time and time again, we can rest in knowing He will provide and lead us. We never have worry about getting a pink slip from Him.
He knows how to treat people.
Today's Corporate America does not.
"Masters (employers) grant to your slaves (employees) justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master (boss) in heaven." Colossians 4:1
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Today was a sad day for my father. After giving nearly 30 years of loyal service to Abbott Laboratories, based in Chicago, my dad was suddenly "retired out" this morning as he walked into work. He was given a pink slip and a box. No warning and no time to prepare. Just a done deal. To make things even more pleasant, Abbott also decided to make sure he was escorted out of the location and was not even given the opportunity to say bye to people he had worked around for decades. Evidently this new "policy" adopted by this failing company was to "avoid employee retaliation situations". Are you kidding me?
Dad wasn't alone this morning. Many of his other co-workers also got their pink slips and were escorted out like criminals in the same way. They congregated in the parking lot, in shock, had their last lunch together as they did for years every Wednesday, and then made their way home. Something my dad had done for nearly 30 years was suddenly taken away.
I can remember the days of being told to "find a good company…dedicate yourself to them and they will take notice. Then, you can climb that ladder of success." Both my great grandfather and my grandfather were some of the last few to ride that wave as they finished out working for Procter & Gamble and made for themselves a nice retirement, working until the age of 65. My dad got close, but Abbott decided to cut him short.
As the CEO of Equal Access Health, and as an entrepreneur, I cannot fathom how the people in command at today's corporations can make such insensitive decisions. Leading a $7 million dollar a year company has taught me a lot about making cuts, meeting budgets and working for profit. But all of those things can be achieved without running over others in the process and demoralizing those that have helped you accomplish what you have done. Cuts are sometimes a necessary evil, but there are correct ways to do such. What my dad experienced today was the epitome of the wrong turn today's corporations are taking. And, they won't succeed.
Ultimately, we cannot rest our hopes on man, our own company, an employer or even our own abilities. I choose to work for myself because I know it is what God has called me to do. But my risks are the same as any employee out there. I could lose my business as quick as anyone can be handed a pink slip and dump their stuff into a box.
The only company we all need to put our stock and trust in is the God Corporation, Inc. Only God Himself can be trusted. Despite our abilities and even though we fail time and time again, we can rest in knowing He will provide and lead us. We never have worry about getting a pink slip from Him.
He knows how to treat people.
Today's Corporate America does not.
"Masters (employers) grant to your slaves (employees) justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master (boss) in heaven." Colossians 4:1
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Brokeback...Whatever
Hollywood never fails us.
Just when things appear to be shifting back to some sense of moral normalcy, Hollywood is there to remind us of just how crazy our world is.
Providing a platform designed to promote liberal viewpoints and lifestyles, the Golden Globe Awards were held this week, giving us an unwanted, unwarranted look into the world of supposed pop culture. Winning “Best Motion Picture” was the movie Brokeback Mountian, in which two western cowboys find love in each others arms and eyes and live a gay cowboy lifestyle. It's a movie based on sin and raunchy sexual interactions. It serves no purpose and isn't worth being told. Yet, Hollywood has used it to push their sickness down our throats.
Let me vomit…thanks.
Does Hollywood really think the majority of Americans care? Do they really think we cannot see through their poorly hidden agenda of homosexual promotion?
Let’s look at the most simple of all facts……the grand total of dollars to date the movie has earned….$32,074,517 cha-ching! (http://www.boxofficemojo.com) Man, this one is raking it in! Guess I am missing something. Divide the total earned to date by an average of $8 per ticket and a whopping 4,000,000 have seen this movie. Compare to King Kong, which has to date done $204,527,090 in which 25,000,000 have seen! My guess is the 4,000,000 that have gone to see Brokeback are likely every gay person living in the U.S. today.
But my frustration here is not even the gayness of the movie. It’s the audacity Hollywood has of forcing their agendas down our throats,. They want the rest of us to approve and accept them so bad, they’re willing to take an award show and us it to promote their many raunchy ways of living.
But Brokeback wasn't the only liberal winner of the night. Ironically, Geena David won "Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama" for her role as the President of the United States in Commander in Chief. Can they be more obvious? How much is Hillary paying for this weekly show? Can you imagine a show depicting a praying, Godly President? Can you imagine the outrage? All you have do is look how the Hollywood crowd treats our current President.
To top off the tri-fecta of awards, Mary-Louise Parker won "Best Performance by an Actress In a Television Series – Musical or Drama or Comedy " for her role in the TV show Weeds. This creative show is about an urban mother who sells...yes, pot. Now that my friends is television genius.....not. A show about a mother dealing drugs. Nice.
Award shows used to be about rewarding those who the majority felt deserved the awards. Awards were given based on skill and overall popularity of the show, movie or actor(s). These days, these worthless awards events have become the feeding ground of liberal promotion and pandering. It's a joke.
Only one award in life matters anyway. It's laden with jewels and in the shape of a majestic grown. The great thing about this particular award, is that each of us can earn one, by simply accepting the truth of Christ in our lives. Then we can add to it by how we live our lives here. It doesn't get easier than that.
I don't know about you, but I'm thankful the only platform I need to win my undeserved award, is the platform of the Cross. For that, I'd like to thank, not all the small people who helped make it happen, by the One man who gave it all that I might wear a crown.
Now that's a story worth telling.
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
© 2006, J. Brady"
I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Just when things appear to be shifting back to some sense of moral normalcy, Hollywood is there to remind us of just how crazy our world is.
Providing a platform designed to promote liberal viewpoints and lifestyles, the Golden Globe Awards were held this week, giving us an unwanted, unwarranted look into the world of supposed pop culture. Winning “Best Motion Picture” was the movie Brokeback Mountian, in which two western cowboys find love in each others arms and eyes and live a gay cowboy lifestyle. It's a movie based on sin and raunchy sexual interactions. It serves no purpose and isn't worth being told. Yet, Hollywood has used it to push their sickness down our throats.
Let me vomit…thanks.
Does Hollywood really think the majority of Americans care? Do they really think we cannot see through their poorly hidden agenda of homosexual promotion?
Let’s look at the most simple of all facts……the grand total of dollars to date the movie has earned….$32,074,517 cha-ching! (http://www.boxofficemojo.com) Man, this one is raking it in! Guess I am missing something. Divide the total earned to date by an average of $8 per ticket and a whopping 4,000,000 have seen this movie. Compare to King Kong, which has to date done $204,527,090 in which 25,000,000 have seen! My guess is the 4,000,000 that have gone to see Brokeback are likely every gay person living in the U.S. today.
But my frustration here is not even the gayness of the movie. It’s the audacity Hollywood has of forcing their agendas down our throats,. They want the rest of us to approve and accept them so bad, they’re willing to take an award show and us it to promote their many raunchy ways of living.
But Brokeback wasn't the only liberal winner of the night. Ironically, Geena David won "Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama" for her role as the President of the United States in Commander in Chief. Can they be more obvious? How much is Hillary paying for this weekly show? Can you imagine a show depicting a praying, Godly President? Can you imagine the outrage? All you have do is look how the Hollywood crowd treats our current President.
To top off the tri-fecta of awards, Mary-Louise Parker won "Best Performance by an Actress In a Television Series – Musical or Drama or Comedy " for her role in the TV show Weeds. This creative show is about an urban mother who sells...yes, pot. Now that my friends is television genius.....not. A show about a mother dealing drugs. Nice.
Award shows used to be about rewarding those who the majority felt deserved the awards. Awards were given based on skill and overall popularity of the show, movie or actor(s). These days, these worthless awards events have become the feeding ground of liberal promotion and pandering. It's a joke.
Only one award in life matters anyway. It's laden with jewels and in the shape of a majestic grown. The great thing about this particular award, is that each of us can earn one, by simply accepting the truth of Christ in our lives. Then we can add to it by how we live our lives here. It doesn't get easier than that.
I don't know about you, but I'm thankful the only platform I need to win my undeserved award, is the platform of the Cross. For that, I'd like to thank, not all the small people who helped make it happen, by the One man who gave it all that I might wear a crown.
Now that's a story worth telling.
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
© 2006, J. Brady"
I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Don't Be God's Slug
(2006) Hard to believe we are already done with 5 years of the new Millennium, but it’s true. We are. Of course, with New Years Day come more New Years resolutions. Question is, in the words of Barry Manilow, will it be “just another New Years Eve, a night like all the rest…”?
I really believe we accomplish nothing if we don’t have road maps in life. If you have a map that leads to nowhere, you’re bound to get there. Nowhere. Goals are just that; points of reference on the road we travel. They keep us from going nowhere.
As you start out the New Year celebrating with family and friends, wouldn’t it be wise to sit down and plan out where you’re headed for the next 365 days? Should we not ask God for His blessings on our hopes, plans and dreams for next year? Do you really believe God wants to give you a life for the few years that you are here filled with joy and abundant overflowing?
Ultimately, I guess it depends on just who you are. There are three types of New Years people. Billy Buster, the over planner, who plans everything and considers God for little. Billy Brown, the no planner, who plans nothing and just takes life as it goes. And, Billy Barber, the balanced planner, who has found a way to plan, prepare and yet wait on God for His blessing. Which are you?
I know some who say, “Ah, why bother, life is a journey…let it take you where it may.”
Yet, others say, “I know exactly where I am going this next year and exactly what life is going to be like.” Really? Must be nice.
Neither of those approaches are true and both will lead to confusion. We need to remember God is in control and God will lead our lives as He sees fit. Our job is to make sure we are on His road map and follow it to a tee. Planning life without planning on taking God with you is crazy, but not planning ahead and living without goals is foolish too. Problem is I believe more of us are "Billy Busters" than any another. We live without a plan and blame God when things fall apart.
I see it all the time. People that work for me, people at church, friends I've known for years and family members. Just going through life without a purpose or plan. From one Christmas season to the next, always just talking about how fast it all goes. They get into debt without realizing it, they gain 20 more pounds without seeing it, they end up with no career objectives wondering what to do next, they have little to give and little time to serve, they find themselves getting old and talking about "those days" all day long, and many seem unhappy and unfulfilled. Sad truth is most of the people I am talking about are Christians.
Ever shopped at JC Penny? Here’s what James Cash Penny had to say about it, “Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I'll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I'll give you a stock clerk.” By the way, he was a faithful follower of Christ too.
God even calls a man a “sluggard” who prepares and plans for nothing in Proverbs 6. (Sorry, I’m not real interested in being a slug bug for God). Furthermore, if we are made in His image, yet we claim there is no reason to plan and think ahead, are we not also saying then that God Himself just “takes things as they go” and doesn’t plan? He is no slug.
God wants us to think ahead and plan around what He has revealed to us as His plan for our lives. If we already know the direction He has us headed, planning correctly for the journey and hoping for great results is only common sense. Why would we expect failure if we are trusting in Him? Might want to read the Book of Proverbs one more time and ask yourself, "Is God lying or do I just need to believe?"
Here are some suggestions for your New Year:
1. Plan to spend more time with God each day…add another 5 minutes to your study or prayer time.
2. Set it as a goal to serve and give more this year than last.
3. Make it a plan to be more financially prudent; paying off debts and saving for the unknown.
4. Work harder to keep your body in the best shape possible – it is God’s temple on earth.
5. Give it your best effort to let God’s spirit help you control your weaknesses – anger, the tongue, eating habits, lust, gossip, etc.
6. Push to succeed and accomplish more than you ever though possible – God made you to glorify Him in all you do.
Finally, be specific in your plans and goals. Generic goals produce generic results. Touch on every area of life – family, spiritual, physical, mental, financial, social, recreational and professional. Write them down, think about them regularly, and ask God to help you work on making this New Year better than the many before.
After all, if we are really on a journey with God through life, what does it say about us if we aren’t moving?
Let me ask that again. Not sure if you got it.
If we are really on a journey with God through life, what does it say about us if we aren’t moving?
Know you know why God calls them slugs.
Happy New Year!
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:13, 14
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
I really believe we accomplish nothing if we don’t have road maps in life. If you have a map that leads to nowhere, you’re bound to get there. Nowhere. Goals are just that; points of reference on the road we travel. They keep us from going nowhere.
As you start out the New Year celebrating with family and friends, wouldn’t it be wise to sit down and plan out where you’re headed for the next 365 days? Should we not ask God for His blessings on our hopes, plans and dreams for next year? Do you really believe God wants to give you a life for the few years that you are here filled with joy and abundant overflowing?
Ultimately, I guess it depends on just who you are. There are three types of New Years people. Billy Buster, the over planner, who plans everything and considers God for little. Billy Brown, the no planner, who plans nothing and just takes life as it goes. And, Billy Barber, the balanced planner, who has found a way to plan, prepare and yet wait on God for His blessing. Which are you?
I know some who say, “Ah, why bother, life is a journey…let it take you where it may.”
Yet, others say, “I know exactly where I am going this next year and exactly what life is going to be like.” Really? Must be nice.
Neither of those approaches are true and both will lead to confusion. We need to remember God is in control and God will lead our lives as He sees fit. Our job is to make sure we are on His road map and follow it to a tee. Planning life without planning on taking God with you is crazy, but not planning ahead and living without goals is foolish too. Problem is I believe more of us are "Billy Busters" than any another. We live without a plan and blame God when things fall apart.
I see it all the time. People that work for me, people at church, friends I've known for years and family members. Just going through life without a purpose or plan. From one Christmas season to the next, always just talking about how fast it all goes. They get into debt without realizing it, they gain 20 more pounds without seeing it, they end up with no career objectives wondering what to do next, they have little to give and little time to serve, they find themselves getting old and talking about "those days" all day long, and many seem unhappy and unfulfilled. Sad truth is most of the people I am talking about are Christians.
Ever shopped at JC Penny? Here’s what James Cash Penny had to say about it, “Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I'll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I'll give you a stock clerk.” By the way, he was a faithful follower of Christ too.
God even calls a man a “sluggard” who prepares and plans for nothing in Proverbs 6. (Sorry, I’m not real interested in being a slug bug for God). Furthermore, if we are made in His image, yet we claim there is no reason to plan and think ahead, are we not also saying then that God Himself just “takes things as they go” and doesn’t plan? He is no slug.
God wants us to think ahead and plan around what He has revealed to us as His plan for our lives. If we already know the direction He has us headed, planning correctly for the journey and hoping for great results is only common sense. Why would we expect failure if we are trusting in Him? Might want to read the Book of Proverbs one more time and ask yourself, "Is God lying or do I just need to believe?"
Here are some suggestions for your New Year:
1. Plan to spend more time with God each day…add another 5 minutes to your study or prayer time.
2. Set it as a goal to serve and give more this year than last.
3. Make it a plan to be more financially prudent; paying off debts and saving for the unknown.
4. Work harder to keep your body in the best shape possible – it is God’s temple on earth.
5. Give it your best effort to let God’s spirit help you control your weaknesses – anger, the tongue, eating habits, lust, gossip, etc.
6. Push to succeed and accomplish more than you ever though possible – God made you to glorify Him in all you do.
Finally, be specific in your plans and goals. Generic goals produce generic results. Touch on every area of life – family, spiritual, physical, mental, financial, social, recreational and professional. Write them down, think about them regularly, and ask God to help you work on making this New Year better than the many before.
After all, if we are really on a journey with God through life, what does it say about us if we aren’t moving?
Let me ask that again. Not sure if you got it.
If we are really on a journey with God through life, what does it say about us if we aren’t moving?
Know you know why God calls them slugs.
Happy New Year!
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:13, 14
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
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