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!