I am at the point in my life when I don’t want to hear anyone else tell me that thus-and-such is a great investment methodology.  If that someone isn’t willing to tell me about the great methodology and then explicitly describe how they have fared following that course for at least a decade, I’m just not interested!

·        I KNOW Warren Buffet is great.  I don’t need anyone to tell me that he is great and that Benjamin Graham and he have a lock on value-based investment strategy.  Give me your exact returns for the past decade (at least) so I can see how you’ve measured up using these great insights.

·        I also know that Peter Lynch was great.  My first investing experience was investing in Magellan when he was at the helm.  I have read his books and have heard him talked about for years.  What I what to see is this:  You are touting Lynch, show me your specific returns for the past decade so I can see how you have personally used this wonderful data.

·        Burton Malkiel and Charles Ellis champion index investing for everyone, including themselves.  They give this caveat:  “…one of us has a major commitment to the stock of a single company—an unusual company called Berkshire Hathaway.  He has owned it for 35 years and has no intention to sell” (The Elements of Investing, p. 49).

o   Say no more!  Index, index, index, and do whatever else you want to do with a percentage of your investing monies.  I appreciate people who tell you what they do and why, and aren't ashamed to tell how they've fared.  You index, you make market (less a bit, of course).

·        I appreciate Jim Cramer for his entertainment value (much in the same way that I like Rush Limbaugh, et.al.).  (Though if I want real entertainment I can always look at the latest wisdom of Paul Krugman). Can you find where he provides his annual investment returns for you to compare to the market (or anything else)?  Of course not!  He is in the entertainment business.  As long as he doesn’t claim particular investing wisdom I am fine with Mr. Cramer doing what he does best—entertaining people who are donating to the wealth funds of various brokers.

o   I did a quick search for his personal record and couldn’t find one.  Anecdotal evidence doesn’t convince me one way or the other.

·        Look, I know what return I made last year and know how it compared to a stock market benchmark.  It’s not that hard with software.  The proof is in the pudding.  Put up the data or shut up!!!

We prayed for Saeed Abedini to be released from prison in Iran.  His crime is believing in Jesus as the salvation for the world.
We also prayed for Meriam Ibrahim who has been sentenced to death in Sudan for the crime of believing that Jesus redeemed her through His sacrifice on the cross.

We were thankful for the following truth:
     Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk        not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
     Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin        and death.

We were also thankful for those those died for our freedoms and for those who fought and continue to fight for them.
We are thankful for what Jesus did for us:
       Rom 8:33  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 
       Rom 8:34  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was              raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 

This song (or the chorus of this song) has been on my heart for several days:

       Living, He loved me, dying, He save me
       Buried, He carried my sins far away
       Rising, He justified freely forever
       One day He's coming, oh, glorious day.

Nice day for reflection.  Finally got a bit of rain, which cooled us off significantly.

When at home I can look out my window and see my neighbor's trellis.  Five or six or seven years ago my brother gave them a couple of clematises.  Billy decided to plant them on the side of the house facing my window, so it's always a pleasure to look out and see them blooming in the Spring.

Seeing them also brings back a good bit of earthly pain.  Our neighbor, Billy, passed away a few months ago, prior to his 70th birthday due to complications from early-onset Alzheimer's.  Simply a great neighbor and a man you would love to emulate.  Always giving to others without any expectation of return.  Went on many a mission trip to Mexico, mostly to help build stuff.  He was the kind of guy who could measure your room for crown molding, go out and cut it, and it would fit.  That's the opposite of me:  Measure three times, cut it long, and then trim it 'till it fits.

Also, about three years ago, my brother had a bleeding blood vessel in his brain stem.  He passed away about a week later.  He wasn't even 60.

So, I'm sitting here at my computer, looking out the window, and feeling pretty melancholy.  A bit teary-eyed.  I miss both Billy and my brother, but, just like that clematis blooms every Spring, I believe that Billy and my brother have "bloomed" into a better life with the Lord. Pretty hokey analogy, I know!

I guess I shouldn't sit here and play songs on my computer that reminds me of those who have gone on beforehand.

We're All in This Together

Ok, I'm fifty-eight years old.  Doesn't seem that old to me.  Guess it does to some younger folk.

I had this happen while waiting in line at Walmart for some medicine:

"Mike, who's sick at your house?" asked Melody.  "Nobody's sick at our house, I'm just picking up some medicine," I replied.  Melody then said, "Guess that happens when you're getting old!"

Thank goodness I believe that Jesus is going to give me a new body some day.  That body will be much better than this one.  I look forward to that day, but don't think I'm due right now, unless the Lord calls me home.  It's on his time table, not mine.  One thing I do know is this:  God loves me and gave His Son for me.
Amen!

One lesson that I have learned over the past several years is that the Lord loves us.  Really loves us.  Probably make some theologian angry, but I perceive that as His primary characteristic.  God loves the world and he loves me.  There's knowing and then there's knowing, isn't there?  Hard times come, hard times go, hard times return, the constant: God loves us and sent His Son to die for us...amazing grace!

Inexplicably lost my brother to a bleeding brain stem (inoperable) about 2 1/2 years ago.  Came home to find out that our middle son was arrested for "selling" drugs in a drug-free zone.  He passed away on our couch the next year one week before Christmas (at age 21) due to "an overdose of pain medication."  Colin was in and out of rehab prior to his death and asked for my forgiveness (and the Lord's)on our last trip home from a rehab center.  If the fellow from 1 Corinthians 5 repented, then I believe that my son did so as well.

When I look at Jesus in the Bible, I see Someone who demonstrated His love for everyone He came in contact with, even with His enemies.  He agonized over Jerusalem.  He forgave the thief on the cross, while He was going through extreme agony and was soon to be separated from the Father for the first time in eternity.  Many of those who cried "crucify Him" were reborn on Pentecost when  Peter preached His forgiveness.  Yes, His wrath must be satisfied; but, He did His part because He loves us.

Going to compare Nicodemus to the "woman at the well" this morning.  The best and the brightest in Israel, one of the ruling Sanhedrin to the lowest of the low, a Samaritan and woman to boot.  Jesus loved them both.  At the time, Nicodemus didn't get the blatantly plain message that Jesus was teaching him, but the woman did.  "...Jesus loves them all...Every color...They are precious in His site...Jesus loves..."

The "woman at the well" went forth, not knowing she needed a theology degree to tell the gospel (tongue firmly implanted in cheek).  You probably know a bit more of the Good News than she does.  What are you doing to tell the love of Jesus?

It's a new day

Php 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

Satan is extremely clever. He would prefer that we be disunified, no matter the means. Since our battle is not against flesh and blood, we need to be careful to lift up our ministry with prayer. Prayer is where the battle will be won. It may look like the battle is enjoined on the field, but it takes place in the heavenly places.

Prayer for the Body of Christ

9:42am

We are a small fellowship--a bit over 20 people (some Sundays) including children. If you think about it, that is plenty of people to consistently pray over! I know, I know...there are systematic ways to "pray" for people in larger bodies; however, you probably are often praying for strangers and faces, rather than people you know and/or care for.

If you are a leader in a Body then it's your responsibility to pray and watch over those in the flock. (The head of the flock, is Jesus, not you or anyone else.) I have a hard enough time consistently praying over 20 people that I know and care about (not including specific children in our AWANA ministry) much alone praying for strangers. I do pray for a few people that I have "met" over the Internet and for friends who are elsewhere.

My specific help is a prayer document that I can access on my computer when I do my quiet time. I have everyone listed with their specific requests so that I can come back and put in answers/partial answers to those prayers. Having a list also enables me to generally pray for them and (hopefully) listen to what the Holy Spirit wants me to pray for them.

I firmly believe that God answers prayer. I also firmly believe that He is sovereign in His decisions how and when to answer prayers. I also believe that He has a better grasp on things than do I.

Prayer, it's what's for breakfast!