Operation PromisedLand

Good People,

Over the weekend I heard my good friend Rev. Lawrence Jones preach on the subject of ‘Attitude’ through the stories of Daniel and Esther in the hope of having us all stand up tall so as to walk and talk with ‘attitude.’ Daniel’s attitude was such that by the time he was being tossed into the lions’ den the King was the one who said that Daniel’s God would protect him….it was the King who tossed and turned all night and ran to the den in the morning to check on Daniel. Esther took up the responsibility of doing the Lord’s work with ‘attitude’ as well. As we today are called upon to walk and talk with ‘attitude.’ We will be the ‘peculiar’ people. We know that our Lord wants us to live in prosperity. This is His plan. He wants us to have the wealth as part of His plan. Therefore we are to take on the ‘attitude’ that His wealth is our wealth for His purpose and in this we are to gather up as much as possible for His plan. So whatever is out there that will bring you wealth search it out. Accept it as part of His plan. Gather in what you can for we will be asked to do something great with His wealth….and it will be done with us or with someone else.

Good People,

In a few moments I am going to lead you into a statement that may offend many or have people questioning my grasp of God. So be it, since what I will write is me. For sometime now a specific line in the Bible has been playing over and over in my mind. A well known verse. Psalm 23:2 “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.”

By breaking this down I will more easily be able to make my point. “He maketh me….” To me this means God has created me. It doesn’t mean that he forced me such as ‘He made me do something.’ My take on this is that He created me and he created all. Now taking this and adding it to the second half of that particular sentence, “…to lie down in green pastures.” He did not create me to have me lie down on hard rocks or some other similarly uncomfortable surface. No instead I was created to lie down in a ‘green’ pasture. I could also point out the words ‘lie down’ not ‘toil in.’ I am to lie down in something alive, fresh, filled with nourishment, beauty and comfort. Then “He leads me….” He doesn’t shove or drag me or sends me out without Him. He leads me to ‘still’ waters. He leads me not into turmoil but into tranquility. I also get the idea we too are to lead others in a like manner.  

With this picture of prosperity that is given to us as more then a gift but what is ours by right why do I still hear people go on and on that they were born to suffer and to be poor? From what I read we were created to have abundant harvests and days filled with peace. Therefore I suggested that, for those of us holding our heads in our hands and wailing that we are created to a life of hard times, that we all get up  the off the rocks and walk into the pastures that are there for us. In this I ask that we look for the opportunities that God is providing for us every day to increase our health, spirits, emotions and our wealth. So is something doesn’t make you wiser, healthier physically and emotionally, more spiritual or wealthier then maybe we should not lie down in it.  In this I wish you well. For those of you who already know this and live it I wish you success in teaching it to others.

Good People,

Not having been around for most of history much of my knowledge of history comes from what has been written. Which I am often reminded that the victors are the ones who write history. Therefore, though I would like to make the grand statement that throughout history man has always been faced with numerous business opportunities, I don’t feel comfortable making such a claim.  The truth of the matter is I can only attest to my short addition to history as so recorded by my life.

With the advent of TV I have been bombarded by one business opportunity after another. Not only the late night ‘info commercials’ but each and every commercial that comes through the tube. ‘Buy THIS and my life will change….for the better….I won’t be left behind….I will be cool….I will make it into the ‘in crowd’….I will be like the celebrity hawking a product….’ With this I have witnessed first hand the feeding frenzy that has occurred.

When I was younger I was taught to question every news media item reported. Question the source, question the sponsor, question the purpose, question the intent, question the lack of an opposing view, question the placement of the report within the program, question what was left out, question the integrity of the reporter and the network, question myself as to what I favor….and so forth. Seems that this is a bit too much work. Therefore I could easily fall into the trap of letting someone else shape my opinions and therefore my choices and actions. I can not speak for anyone other then myself. Though here is one of those opportunities to make a board general statement….such as… ‘Most people rely too heavily on reports as fact especially those reports that favor their narrow vision.’ Right now I am thinking that someone out there will be happy to pull that last statement out of context and claim I personally endorse it. Then each person they repeat their claim to will happily run off glowing with some bit of information that would twist my integrity to fit the purpose of the goal of the person who told them and now becomes their personal goal as well. Egad…No wonder I sometimes feel a bit of fear in saying anything.

During my short history here on Earth my words have been misquoted and or taken out of context and twisted all around numerous times. If this happens to me I accept that I can not be alone in this. Upon reading Ephesians 6:10-12 I am presented a powerful lesson. Yet even in this lesson I must then question what happens to the intent and purpose of so many powerful lessons that were meant to be digested in whole so as to gain the full benefit of the nutrition being provided in the scriptures.

It is my belief that I need to push away all of man’s embellishments upon the scriptures and settle on the fact that God is talking to me right now and in every moment of my life. It is my task to be connected and remain connected to God. When I accomplish this then I am nourished completely. Since I am still human this task is always a process in progress. Leaving me with big gaps when I am not connected. What I can do is rely on the Godly insights of those around me…and the Godly meaning of the intent of the scriptures. Yet even in this I must have some connection to God to sift through what is God and what is not God. Once again the problem of having a solid connection pops up. As a report to you, and not to be confused with teaching or preaching or wanting to sway you to my jump on my connection, I confess that what I do is scrape away all skin, and meat, and bone and get to the marrow of whatever it is that is being presented to me and deal with it looking for Love and seeing it with Love. From there I go no farther without the confirmation that Love…the zero point field Love….is at the core and at each and every phase of what is being presented to me.

Any good thought, idea, product etc. that is being presented to me that speaks of any prejudice of any kind I know there is no room for Love in such a program and therefore needs to be put aside.  

All sounds good to me and maybe to you also. Difference between words and action is the difference of ‘practice.’ Admittedly I need to practice more. In the last ten years I have had more business opportunities presented to me then all the years before. From what I have been told what has been brought to my attention is a fraction of what is brewing out there in the business world. Recently someone I know passionately set before me another business opportunity. Because of my trust in him, and through another business partner’s enthusiasm and coaxing I lent my support to the program. I had forgotten to follow my practice and in this also recognize I am ‘my brother’s keeper’ and in this I needed to remember the first step….to seek God’s guidance and to also check into this more carefully so as to support the success of my friend as well as myself as to the success being able to jump in or step away.

As I have said to my students many times, “When you wax a dirty floor you only get shinny dirt.” So before I can apply the wax to finish the job I first need to get on my hands and knees and scrub clean every inch of the floor first. With Love as the goal of my habits I am making a commitment, out loud, that I will ‘practice’ before I step out on the field. There are many excellent business opportunities available with businesses also committed to being a positive element of our community. In this I wish you well as you weed through all the prospects that you encounter every day.

Good People,

The following is an excerpt from an article by Robert Moment., ‘God’s Big Idea for Your Business.’ Robert Moment is the author of Invisible Profits: The Power of Exceptional Customer Service and It Only Takes a Moment to Score.  Here’s what Millionaire business mastermind, bestselling author , speaker and consultant Brian Tracy said about Robert’s book , It Only Takes a Moment to Score , “Your ability to quickly build trust and rapport with customers is the key to your success , and the SCORE (Sincerity, Commitment, Openness , Reliability, Execution) System shows you how to do it quickly”.

Robert Moment was one of the leading small business experts chosen to write a chapter in the bestselling book , Streetwise Small Business Book of List by author Gene Marks. Robert has been interviewed on Entrepreneur Magazine Radio a number of times and other radio shows . 

The Goal Isn’t As Important as How You Get There

The mistake made by many people who are starting a business is in thinking that the real purpose is to achieve an ultimate goal. They think they will achieve happiness when they make a certain amount of money, open so many stores or are able to buy an expensive house. They think the end result is the measure of their success. They are so wrong!

The true measure of success – especially in the eyes of God – is how you achieve the results! Did you enjoy yourself and use your gifts and talents wisely while you were working towards your goals? Did you achieve anything worthwhile for others during your climb to the top?

There are lots of self-help books on the market that suggest ways to discover your life’s purpose. Being successful and fulfilling your life’s purpose aren’t the same thing. You can be successful by this world’s standards and still miss the true purpose for which God created you.

If the starting point of your business ideas are self-centered questions like, “What type of business do I want to start? “”How can I become successful quickly?” and “What do I want to do with my life?” it may be time to start a dialogue with God and focus on where your gifts and talents could take you.

“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for my life.”

-Psalm 138:8

Ask Him, “Lord, how can I use my talents for You? “”What kind of business idea would use my gifts best?” and “What would I most love to do that would glorify you and bless others and give me personal satisfaction?”

Remember that personal satisfaction doesn’t mean monetary gain. To discover God’s purpose for your life you must turn to God’s word and discover what He has in store for you .God has given each and every one of us talents, skills and gifts. When we discover our destiny and do what we’re good at naturally, life becomes a pleasure we can share with others. Don’t take this precious gift for granted. We should all love what we are doing and wake up every day with enthusiasm and passion for what we do. That is the true measure of success.

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…let him use it in proportion to his faith.”

-Romans 12:6