On this New Year's Eve for 2009, let us all remember reflecting on the past can serve multiple purposes. First, we can look back on all the good things that we can be thankful for, especially family and friends. If we have our health, we certainly must be thankful for that. Without our health, everything becomes dire.
Second, if we have had challenges, we can be thankful that we survived them or at least we are continuing on. Hope is strictly reserved for those that persevere.
Third, we can forget about our mistakes and grievances. Fretting about personal failures of one form or another does no good. The only good from these are the lessons applied to our lives.
Fourth, we have the opportunity to change our lives for the better in the New Year. Starting over is such a good thing, especially if things have gone badly. We don't have to wait for New Year's Day to do this, we can do this every day. New Year's resolutions don't do anyone any good unless a new good habit is formed. Activities must be done everyday for 21 days to become a habit. 3 short weeks! Who will stick to it? Once the habit is formed, it becomes more difficult to break it. 3 short weeks to a better life - isn't that worth it?
Remember my IKC principle:
Information is not knowledge without action.
Knowledge creates choices.
Choices allow us to change our lives.
As always, the choice is yours!
"The time is coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them."
declares the LORD.
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,"
declares the LORD.
"For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more." Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NIV)
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire2@hushmail.com
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Are You Ready?
For what? This is the obvious question to this question (unless he replies "for some football!!!).
This depends on you. What are you ready to change in your life? Do you really want to lose weight but have tried nearly everything with no success? Are you tired of the crushing debt with no relief? Are you tired of being alone and want a partner? Maybe you want to reconnect with someone you love but have no idea how to?
The answer lies within you. Motivation to change must come from within, not from someone else. Sure, a friend might make suggestions. A professional might steer you through the maze of legalese. A minister might get you in touch with what is really driving you.
However, it still relies on you to initiate the change. Until then nothing will happen. You have to take the first step. Next, there will always be obstacles. Change is never easy. If it was, you would have already done it long again. You must have the persistence and the willpower to push through or go around those obstacles.
This is the main reason why people do not change. It is too much work to push through the obstacles. They get too used to the idea of the way things are, whether good or bad. It is called their "comfort zone" or "status quo". "Why fix what isn't broken" is a common response of the uninspired.
Here is another way to put it. "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow." Some are so very comfortable where they are at, they never want to grow.
Some may never start for fear of failing again. Let me address this statement in two parts. Fear is really False Expectations Appearing Real. False expectations are just limits the we place on ourselves. It's our own internal walls or boundaries that we do not want to cross.
The second part of that statement is dealing with failure. Failure is always part of success. I will repeat that. Failure is always part of success. We always learn more from our mistakes than we learn from our successes.
So what is really stopping you. The simple answer - you. Only you can stop you.
"Do or do not, there is no try" is the great quote from Yoda in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
The simple truth is that if you really want to change, if it's really important to you, you will find a way. There are many words to describe this - persistence, determination, sheer willpower, drive, ambition, etc. All of these ideas come from within you.
As always, the choice is yours.
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. Romans 2:7 (NIV)
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
This depends on you. What are you ready to change in your life? Do you really want to lose weight but have tried nearly everything with no success? Are you tired of the crushing debt with no relief? Are you tired of being alone and want a partner? Maybe you want to reconnect with someone you love but have no idea how to?
The answer lies within you. Motivation to change must come from within, not from someone else. Sure, a friend might make suggestions. A professional might steer you through the maze of legalese. A minister might get you in touch with what is really driving you.
However, it still relies on you to initiate the change. Until then nothing will happen. You have to take the first step. Next, there will always be obstacles. Change is never easy. If it was, you would have already done it long again. You must have the persistence and the willpower to push through or go around those obstacles.
This is the main reason why people do not change. It is too much work to push through the obstacles. They get too used to the idea of the way things are, whether good or bad. It is called their "comfort zone" or "status quo". "Why fix what isn't broken" is a common response of the uninspired.
Here is another way to put it. "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow." Some are so very comfortable where they are at, they never want to grow.
Some may never start for fear of failing again. Let me address this statement in two parts. Fear is really False Expectations Appearing Real. False expectations are just limits the we place on ourselves. It's our own internal walls or boundaries that we do not want to cross.
The second part of that statement is dealing with failure. Failure is always part of success. I will repeat that. Failure is always part of success. We always learn more from our mistakes than we learn from our successes.
So what is really stopping you. The simple answer - you. Only you can stop you.
"Do or do not, there is no try" is the great quote from Yoda in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
The simple truth is that if you really want to change, if it's really important to you, you will find a way. There are many words to describe this - persistence, determination, sheer willpower, drive, ambition, etc. All of these ideas come from within you.
As always, the choice is yours.
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. Romans 2:7 (NIV)
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Pay It Forward
What have we done to make the world a better place? Think on that a moment. Is humanity better off because of our existence? This is a big responsibility that few have lived up to. Before we start to complain about this or that, ask yourself what you have done to change things, not only for yourself but for others also.
This concept is truly an eye opening experience. It is one that not only could change your life, but change the whole world as well.
In the 2000 movie "Pay It Forward", Social Studies teacher Eugene Simonet played by Kevin Spacey, gives his class an extra credit assignment. He challenges his class to come up with an idea that could change the world, and put it into action.
Trevor McKinney, a bright but troubled 7th grader played by Haley Joel Osment, comes up with the idea that you have to do 3 acts of kindness to others. They are not allowed to repay this act of kindness to the person who did it for them, but to in turn do 3 acts of kindness to others. Thus, they pay the debt forward to the next 3 people challenging them to continue the movement. The rules of multiplication take over, exponentially soon affecting countless numbers.
The rules of the concept are simple. It must be something that they cannot do for themselves.
The characters in this movie have plenty of flaws and problems, just as this world does. From drunkenness, to child abuse, to molestation, to car accidents, to the homeless, to desertion, and on and on.
Trevor tries this concept himself and discovers it is difficult. His attempts do not seem to change anything at first. He helps a homeless man get back on his feet by giving him food and shelter, but angers his mother played by Helen Hunt. His matchmaking attempt with his mother and his teacher does not go very well. Even once he discovers his own boundaries that he cannot cross when he sees another kid from school getting beat up by bullies. He wants to help, but freezes and cannot.
Just like in life, things do not go our way at first and too often we think we failed. But we do not always realize the impact that those actions have on others and the subsequent actions they take. Parents can certainly relate to this, both positively and negatively.
Trevor later is interviewed by a journalist, played by Jay Mohr. The journalist was impacted by the "Pay it forward" movement. He was given a brand new Jaguar after a car accident, and was dumbfounded by the explanation the stranger gave that he is "paying it forward". He begins to investigate the trail of persons affected by the chain reaction of the movement back to its original source of Trevor.
As Trevor is being interviewed, he expresses hope for the concept, but voices concern that people may be too afraid to change their own lives to make the world a better place.
Well, I won't spoil the rest of the movie for those who haven't seen it. It is not one to miss.
This movie was based on a book by the same title written by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Catherine Ryan Hyde's book has also inspired a foundation by the same name.
However, the concept has been around for ages. The term "pay it forward" was popularized by Robert A. Heinlein in his book "Between Planets" in 1951.
"The banker reached into the folds of his gown, pulled out a single credit note. "But eat first — a full belly steadies the judgment. Do me the honor of accepting this as our welcome to the newcomer."
His pride said no; his stomach said YES! Don took it and said, "Uh, thanks! That's awfully kind of you. I'll pay it back, first chance."
"Instead, pay it forward to some other brother who needs it."
The Heinlein society still carries on the philosophy.
Another hero of mine, Theodore P. Kalogris, lived by a motto that was passed to him from his grandfather. "Be ashamed to die until you have scored a victory for mankind". The Kalogris foundation still carries on this philosophy. www.relivkalogrisfoundation.org/US/EN/home.html
Benjamin Franklin wrote about it in a letter to Benjamin Webb dated April 22, 1784.
"I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you [...] meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro' many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money."
Even before that, Jesus shares the parable of the Good Samaritan found below.
So, are we too afraid to embrace this concept? Can we not find 3 instances that we can positively affect the lives of others and instruct them to pay it forward to 3 others? You can only change lives one at a time, but it must start with changing your own to work.
Together, we can all make a difference. Choose to pay it forward.
Where there's life, there's hope.
As always, the choice is yours.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:25-37 NIV
If you have comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
This concept is truly an eye opening experience. It is one that not only could change your life, but change the whole world as well.
In the 2000 movie "Pay It Forward", Social Studies teacher Eugene Simonet played by Kevin Spacey, gives his class an extra credit assignment. He challenges his class to come up with an idea that could change the world, and put it into action.
Trevor McKinney, a bright but troubled 7th grader played by Haley Joel Osment, comes up with the idea that you have to do 3 acts of kindness to others. They are not allowed to repay this act of kindness to the person who did it for them, but to in turn do 3 acts of kindness to others. Thus, they pay the debt forward to the next 3 people challenging them to continue the movement. The rules of multiplication take over, exponentially soon affecting countless numbers.
The rules of the concept are simple. It must be something that they cannot do for themselves.
The characters in this movie have plenty of flaws and problems, just as this world does. From drunkenness, to child abuse, to molestation, to car accidents, to the homeless, to desertion, and on and on.
Trevor tries this concept himself and discovers it is difficult. His attempts do not seem to change anything at first. He helps a homeless man get back on his feet by giving him food and shelter, but angers his mother played by Helen Hunt. His matchmaking attempt with his mother and his teacher does not go very well. Even once he discovers his own boundaries that he cannot cross when he sees another kid from school getting beat up by bullies. He wants to help, but freezes and cannot.
Just like in life, things do not go our way at first and too often we think we failed. But we do not always realize the impact that those actions have on others and the subsequent actions they take. Parents can certainly relate to this, both positively and negatively.
Trevor later is interviewed by a journalist, played by Jay Mohr. The journalist was impacted by the "Pay it forward" movement. He was given a brand new Jaguar after a car accident, and was dumbfounded by the explanation the stranger gave that he is "paying it forward". He begins to investigate the trail of persons affected by the chain reaction of the movement back to its original source of Trevor.
As Trevor is being interviewed, he expresses hope for the concept, but voices concern that people may be too afraid to change their own lives to make the world a better place.
Well, I won't spoil the rest of the movie for those who haven't seen it. It is not one to miss.
This movie was based on a book by the same title written by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Catherine Ryan Hyde's book has also inspired a foundation by the same name.
However, the concept has been around for ages. The term "pay it forward" was popularized by Robert A. Heinlein in his book "Between Planets" in 1951.
"The banker reached into the folds of his gown, pulled out a single credit note. "But eat first — a full belly steadies the judgment. Do me the honor of accepting this as our welcome to the newcomer."
His pride said no; his stomach said YES! Don took it and said, "Uh, thanks! That's awfully kind of you. I'll pay it back, first chance."
"Instead, pay it forward to some other brother who needs it."
The Heinlein society still carries on the philosophy.
Another hero of mine, Theodore P. Kalogris, lived by a motto that was passed to him from his grandfather. "Be ashamed to die until you have scored a victory for mankind". The Kalogris foundation still carries on this philosophy. www.relivkalogrisfoundation.org/US/EN/home.html
Benjamin Franklin wrote about it in a letter to Benjamin Webb dated April 22, 1784.
"I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you [...] meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro' many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money."
Even before that, Jesus shares the parable of the Good Samaritan found below.
So, are we too afraid to embrace this concept? Can we not find 3 instances that we can positively affect the lives of others and instruct them to pay it forward to 3 others? You can only change lives one at a time, but it must start with changing your own to work.
Together, we can all make a difference. Choose to pay it forward.
Where there's life, there's hope.
As always, the choice is yours.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:25-37 NIV
If you have comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
Saturday, August 15, 2009
The Second Wave
The second wave of many bank failures is now here. Last year, 25 banks failed. 77 banks have already failed this year. On Friday another large bank, Colonial BancGroup, is now being gobbled up by one of its rivals BB&T. The troubled Colonial was closed earlier by state regulators and a federal judge froze its $25 billion in assets. BB&T is now purchasing $22 billion of Colonial's assets.
Colonial is the sixth largest bank in US history to fail, and by far the largest of 2009 failures. 4 more regional banks also failed on Friday, two in Arizona, one in LasVegas, and one in Pittsburgh.
What does this have to do with the economy or the public? Banks typically fail before violent economic upheavals. They are usually a strong warning of things to come. The FDIC was created to protect deposits in troubled banks. They have raised their protection to $250,000 per depositor. However, what happens if the FDIC runs out of money?
On July 18, 2008, I posted a blog titled "The FDIC" and went into detail about what it does. The FDIC has $49 billion in funds to protect troubled banks, but insures more than $3 trillion in deposits. Is that really enough? The fund took a $35.1 billion hit in 2008, and an additional $4.3 billion decline in the first quarter of this year, leaving it with assets of only $13 billion as of March 31. But most of last year's decline was due to $25 billion the agency set aside to cover future losses.
Last year, financial behemoths such Bear Stearns, Washington Mutual, and Indy Mac all failed. The trickle down effect are now hitting the medium and smaller banks. All of this leads to consolidation. The bigger banks are gobbling up the smaller banks. How much of the government's TARP funds are being used to buy up other assets, rather than loan it to consumers and businesses to get the economy moving again?
My last post on July 31, 2009 included an article from Dan Caplinger about the ultimate sucker's rally that was forming over the last 5 months. In it, he compared the current times to the Great Depression and what happened in early 1930 after the horrendous October market drops of 1929.
I also did a post on March 17, 2008 when Bear Stearns first failed. The next day I reported on how the Federal Reserve responded, and predicted that the stock market will fall in September 2009, six months before it happened! JP Morgan reported to stockholders in March of 1929 to get out of the stock market before the October crash. In early 1930, the market rallied as pointed out by Dan Caplinger. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
Many times I've pointed out in this blog that history repeats itself. Why? Because the manipulators that have used scenarios already have a model to predict behavior and consequences. The action created in early 1930s was to ultimately acquire more than two thirds of the farms of America and make the farmers tenants on their own lands.
In this century's Great Depression, the aim is different, but similar. Their aim this time will be to grab as much residential and commercial real estate as possible. Once a majority of homeowners are renters again, their level of control will be greater and they will have another piece of their plan is place. That is how it is in most of Europe.
If this sounds too far fetched, go back to the week of August 4, 2008 in this blog where I shared John Loeffler's article "The Sad Road to Socialism". Isn't Obama getting criticized for being a socialist?
These bank failings again only act as a warning. Bloomberg reported yesterday that more than 150 publicly traded U.S. lenders own nonperforming loans that equal 5 percent or more of their holdings, a level that former regulators say can wipe out a bank’s equity and threaten its survival.
The biggest banks with nonperforming loans of at least 5 percent include Wisconsin’s Marshall & Ilsley Corp. and Georgia’s Synovus Financial Corp., according to Bloomberg data. Among those exceeding 10 percent, the biggest in the 50 U.S. states was Michigan’s Flagstar Bancorp. Are these the next victims in the near future?
On August 8, 2008, I shared excerpts of John Loeffler's article "What Will Stop It?" Here are a couple reminders.
Americans have enjoyed so much freedom for so long, they have forgotten that freedom is a fluke in the history of the world; not the norm. Our freedoms were hard-won over hundreds of years of human tears. The current view that freedoms are somehow self-sustaining and "obvious" ignores a primary rule of the political universe, well established in human history: governments and those in them always gravitate toward power, money and control; power for themselves, confiscating money and property from their people, who then have to be controlled lest they protest too much.
The founding fathers thoroughly understood this, having experienced a lack of protections first hand. They understood that government is a necessary evil, not a paternalistic good. In assembling the Constitution, they knew that only a clear statement of citizens' rights would prevent power money and control from having their way.
Every one of our rights was established to protect individual citizens, the minority against the majority and to block abuse of power. "Shall not be infringed" was designed to prevent government encroachment; not as a guide for a "delicate balance" between "liberty" and "security." Delicate balances always collapse uni-directionally toward power, money and control and away from individual freedom!
In a free society, rights protect the individual from the government. In a dictatorship, rights protect the government from the people. If enough legal precedents for end-runs of all the protections contained in the Bill of Rights are allowed to continue unchecked, where will those precedents be taken by future leaders when all protections have been dismantled? What will stop the tyranny that will invariably follow? Nothing.
In essence, when a government goes from being a protector of private property to a plunderer of it, it places itself on a course of chaos, economic ruin and its own ultimate self-destruction.
Are we concerned enough to take action?
As always the choice is yours.
Here is a lesson from Biblical times of Nehemiah.
When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.
So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil."
"We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say."
Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!"
At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised. Nehemiah 5:6-13 (NIV)
If you have comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
Colonial is the sixth largest bank in US history to fail, and by far the largest of 2009 failures. 4 more regional banks also failed on Friday, two in Arizona, one in LasVegas, and one in Pittsburgh.
What does this have to do with the economy or the public? Banks typically fail before violent economic upheavals. They are usually a strong warning of things to come. The FDIC was created to protect deposits in troubled banks. They have raised their protection to $250,000 per depositor. However, what happens if the FDIC runs out of money?
On July 18, 2008, I posted a blog titled "The FDIC" and went into detail about what it does. The FDIC has $49 billion in funds to protect troubled banks, but insures more than $3 trillion in deposits. Is that really enough? The fund took a $35.1 billion hit in 2008, and an additional $4.3 billion decline in the first quarter of this year, leaving it with assets of only $13 billion as of March 31. But most of last year's decline was due to $25 billion the agency set aside to cover future losses.
Last year, financial behemoths such Bear Stearns, Washington Mutual, and Indy Mac all failed. The trickle down effect are now hitting the medium and smaller banks. All of this leads to consolidation. The bigger banks are gobbling up the smaller banks. How much of the government's TARP funds are being used to buy up other assets, rather than loan it to consumers and businesses to get the economy moving again?
My last post on July 31, 2009 included an article from Dan Caplinger about the ultimate sucker's rally that was forming over the last 5 months. In it, he compared the current times to the Great Depression and what happened in early 1930 after the horrendous October market drops of 1929.
I also did a post on March 17, 2008 when Bear Stearns first failed. The next day I reported on how the Federal Reserve responded, and predicted that the stock market will fall in September 2009, six months before it happened! JP Morgan reported to stockholders in March of 1929 to get out of the stock market before the October crash. In early 1930, the market rallied as pointed out by Dan Caplinger. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
Many times I've pointed out in this blog that history repeats itself. Why? Because the manipulators that have used scenarios already have a model to predict behavior and consequences. The action created in early 1930s was to ultimately acquire more than two thirds of the farms of America and make the farmers tenants on their own lands.
In this century's Great Depression, the aim is different, but similar. Their aim this time will be to grab as much residential and commercial real estate as possible. Once a majority of homeowners are renters again, their level of control will be greater and they will have another piece of their plan is place. That is how it is in most of Europe.
If this sounds too far fetched, go back to the week of August 4, 2008 in this blog where I shared John Loeffler's article "The Sad Road to Socialism". Isn't Obama getting criticized for being a socialist?
These bank failings again only act as a warning. Bloomberg reported yesterday that more than 150 publicly traded U.S. lenders own nonperforming loans that equal 5 percent or more of their holdings, a level that former regulators say can wipe out a bank’s equity and threaten its survival.
The biggest banks with nonperforming loans of at least 5 percent include Wisconsin’s Marshall & Ilsley Corp. and Georgia’s Synovus Financial Corp., according to Bloomberg data. Among those exceeding 10 percent, the biggest in the 50 U.S. states was Michigan’s Flagstar Bancorp. Are these the next victims in the near future?
On August 8, 2008, I shared excerpts of John Loeffler's article "What Will Stop It?" Here are a couple reminders.
Americans have enjoyed so much freedom for so long, they have forgotten that freedom is a fluke in the history of the world; not the norm. Our freedoms were hard-won over hundreds of years of human tears. The current view that freedoms are somehow self-sustaining and "obvious" ignores a primary rule of the political universe, well established in human history: governments and those in them always gravitate toward power, money and control; power for themselves, confiscating money and property from their people, who then have to be controlled lest they protest too much.
The founding fathers thoroughly understood this, having experienced a lack of protections first hand. They understood that government is a necessary evil, not a paternalistic good. In assembling the Constitution, they knew that only a clear statement of citizens' rights would prevent power money and control from having their way.
Every one of our rights was established to protect individual citizens, the minority against the majority and to block abuse of power. "Shall not be infringed" was designed to prevent government encroachment; not as a guide for a "delicate balance" between "liberty" and "security." Delicate balances always collapse uni-directionally toward power, money and control and away from individual freedom!
In a free society, rights protect the individual from the government. In a dictatorship, rights protect the government from the people. If enough legal precedents for end-runs of all the protections contained in the Bill of Rights are allowed to continue unchecked, where will those precedents be taken by future leaders when all protections have been dismantled? What will stop the tyranny that will invariably follow? Nothing.
In essence, when a government goes from being a protector of private property to a plunderer of it, it places itself on a course of chaos, economic ruin and its own ultimate self-destruction.
Are we concerned enough to take action?
As always the choice is yours.
Here is a lesson from Biblical times of Nehemiah.
When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.
So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil."
"We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say."
Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!"
At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised. Nehemiah 5:6-13 (NIV)
If you have comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
Friday, July 31, 2009
Sucker's Rally?
I found this today in one of my subscriptions and thought I would share. It is from Motley Fool.
July 27, 2009
After seeing the stock market lose more than half its value, the recent rally has brought welcome relief to battered investors. But as stocks continue to plow higher, the question on everyone's mind is whether they'll continue to rise -- or whether smart investors are starting to tiptoe toward the exits before a next wave down.
Of course, there are plenty of other models that would lead you to different conclusions. After the 1987 crash, for instance, stocks recovered quickly and kept on moving to new highs in relatively short order. During the 1970s, on the other hand, a substantial recovery for stocks hit a ceiling, and markets traded roughly sideways for much of the rest of the decade.
OK, but what should I do now?
History can't tell you whether stocks will rise or fall tomorrow, but it can give you some good long-term basic rules to follow.
Is This the Ultimate Sucker's Rally?
July 27, 2009
After seeing the stock market lose more than half its value, the recent rally has brought welcome relief to battered investors. But as stocks continue to plow higher, the question on everyone's mind is whether they'll continue to rise -- or whether smart investors are starting to tiptoe toward the exits before a next wave down.
Of course, how you answer that question depends on a lot on your view of not just the stock market but the overall economy as well. If you believe that the economy has bottomed and that things will only get better from here, then the gains we've seen so far could be just the beginning of the next bull market. On the other hand, many believe that plenty of bad news is yet to come -- and that the stage has been set for the biggest sucker's rally since 1930.
The Great Depression's post-crash rally
For some perspective, take a look at the situation right after the 1929 stock market crash:
- From early September 1929 to mid-November, the Dow lost almost 50% of its value.
- Then, though, the market rebounded over the next five months until mid-April 1930, as the Dow jumped over 50% and recovered more than half of its previous losses.
- Only then did the worst of the fall begin, as the Dow plunged an astounding 85% before bottoming in 1932.
Now compare that to the situation we've faced lately:
- From late 2007 to March 2009, the S&P lost about 58% of its value.
- Since the March lows, though, the market has rebounded, and the S&P has jumped 47% and recovered about a third of its losses.
Of course, there are plenty of other models that would lead you to different conclusions. After the 1987 crash, for instance, stocks recovered quickly and kept on moving to new highs in relatively short order. During the 1970s, on the other hand, a substantial recovery for stocks hit a ceiling, and markets traded roughly sideways for much of the rest of the decade.
OK, but what should I do now?
History can't tell you whether stocks will rise or fall tomorrow, but it can give you some good long-term basic rules to follow.
Perhaps the most important lesson is that even in the worst economic downturns, some companies survive and later thrive. While it's difficult to track back long-term returns over 80 years, look at how these Depression-era survivors have done in recent decades:
| Stock | Stock Data Available | Average Annual Return |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Motor (NYSE: F) | 30 years | 8.9% |
| General Electric (NYSE: GE) | 45 years | 9.4% |
| JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) | 25 years | 10.7% |
| Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) | 35 years | 11.8% |
| General Mills (NYSE: GIS) | 25 years | 15.2% |
| PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) | 30 years | 16.0% |
| Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) | 45 years | 9.4% |
Source: Yahoo! Finance.
It's easy to get caught up in markets rising and falling. Obviously, many stocks will track the overall market, and as we've seen over the past two years, it's tough for even the best companies to see good stock performance when the market is plummeting.
But remember: Market barometers like the Dow and S&P 500 are only averages. They're important for index fund investors, but if you've singled out individual stocks to invest in for the long haul, don't let the overall market's direction sway you too much. It’s far more important to focus on the particular business conditions that your companies face and whether they can meet their own unique challenges to keep producing profits for shareholders.
Don't get suckered
I don't know whether this is a sucker's rally or not. But the best way to get suckered is to let the current uncertainty lure you into abandoning your long-term investing plan. Although stocks will inevitably drop again at some point in the future, the best rewards come from promising companies that will survive no matter what happens.
Dan Caplinger
Sounds like good advice to me. Don't get suckered and change your long term approach. However, that is assuming you have a long time before you need your funds. If you approaching retirement, I would not want to be heavily into the stock market now.
As always, the choice is yours.
Wail, you who live in the market district;
all your merchants will be wiped out,
all who trade with silver will be ruined.
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps
and punish those who are complacent,
who are like wine left on its dregs,
who think, 'The LORD will do nothing,
either good or bad.'
Their wealth will be plundered,
their houses demolished.
They will build houses
but not live in them;
they will plant vineyards
but not drink the wine. Zephaniah 1:11-13 (NIV)
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Invisible Prisons
My last post talked about prisons of the mind. I did an earlier post on November 8, 2008 about invisible boundaries. Both have relevant lessons for all of us.
We learn from our experiences and our environments. However, far too often we learn of what doesn't work, what we shouldn't try, what we failed at, etc. Why don't we spend some energy on learning what works. And more importantly, why don't we spend more time sharing those valuable lessons with others.
Part of the problem with this is we are educated from early on to rely on outside influences such as the school system, the government, the company, the health care system, etc. When what we really should be relying on is our family, our friends, our neighbors, and our faith. Restrictions vs. enablement, entitlement vs. self-sufficiency, reactive vs. proactive. Well, you get the idea. These are lessons taught to us.
When life or the system continually beats us down, we start succumbing to these external forces rather than relying on our inner strength, our drive, our willpower, our belief systems. Once the behavior is witnessed and reinforced, it becomes a recurrent theme. This theme over time becomes an invisible boundary, a internal prison that we confine ourselves to.
So when did this happen to you first? Your childhood? From your parents? In school? When did you stop dreaming about what 'you want to do when you grow up'? Maybe it was during college or after getting your first real job. The reality of working for someone else who controls when you work, when you have vacation, what functions you perform, - all for a meager existence that we may call "a living". Is it really though? Or is it really a confinement that we may never escape from? Ultimately, a prison that the only parole we get is when we die. That is not a living! That is merely an existence, a controlled one with invisible prison bars around us.
America used to be called the land of the free. That is hard to imagine now - what freedom really is. It certainly resembles the land of the enslaved, entitled servants. We are getting more and more dependent on the government, the credit system, the medical and big pharma community, and other systems powered by big multinational conglomerate corporations.
When did we lose our independence? When we stopped using our imagination, our ingenuity, our collective knowledge base that can solve problems! We can get it back any time we want to.
As always, the choice is yours.
You have seen many things, but have paid no attention;
your ears are open, but you hear nothing.
We learn from our experiences and our environments. However, far too often we learn of what doesn't work, what we shouldn't try, what we failed at, etc. Why don't we spend some energy on learning what works. And more importantly, why don't we spend more time sharing those valuable lessons with others.
Part of the problem with this is we are educated from early on to rely on outside influences such as the school system, the government, the company, the health care system, etc. When what we really should be relying on is our family, our friends, our neighbors, and our faith. Restrictions vs. enablement, entitlement vs. self-sufficiency, reactive vs. proactive. Well, you get the idea. These are lessons taught to us.
When life or the system continually beats us down, we start succumbing to these external forces rather than relying on our inner strength, our drive, our willpower, our belief systems. Once the behavior is witnessed and reinforced, it becomes a recurrent theme. This theme over time becomes an invisible boundary, a internal prison that we confine ourselves to.
So when did this happen to you first? Your childhood? From your parents? In school? When did you stop dreaming about what 'you want to do when you grow up'? Maybe it was during college or after getting your first real job. The reality of working for someone else who controls when you work, when you have vacation, what functions you perform, - all for a meager existence that we may call "a living". Is it really though? Or is it really a confinement that we may never escape from? Ultimately, a prison that the only parole we get is when we die. That is not a living! That is merely an existence, a controlled one with invisible prison bars around us.
America used to be called the land of the free. That is hard to imagine now - what freedom really is. It certainly resembles the land of the enslaved, entitled servants. We are getting more and more dependent on the government, the credit system, the medical and big pharma community, and other systems powered by big multinational conglomerate corporations.
When did we lose our independence? When we stopped using our imagination, our ingenuity, our collective knowledge base that can solve problems! We can get it back any time we want to.
As always, the choice is yours.
You have seen many things, but have paid no attention;
your ears are open, but you hear nothing.
But this is a people plundered and looted,
all of them trapped in pits
or hidden away in prisons.
They have become plunder,
with no one to rescue them;
they have been made loot,
with no one to say, "Send them back."
Which of you will listen to this
or pay close attention in time to come? Isaiah 42:20,22-23 (NIV)
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Released from Prison
Today, I have released myself from prison. I'm not talking about the actual gray bars and cement walls, I'm referring to the prisons of the mind.
How many times do we confine ourselves to be overcome by obstacles? How many problems do we let control our lives? Why do we let others or situations dictate our life rather than making our life what it should be - our life?!!
The answers are simple. We do not search hard enough for solutions. We limit our thinking to what we know, what we believe, what we are capable of. What if we expanded that scope to what others who have already mastered that solution and solved that particular problem? Can we learn from others? Can we use other resources than our own meager intellect?
There are very few problems that are unsolvable. And depending on your faith, there are no problems that God cannot solve. Why don't we let Him? Who is to say that He may lead you to the person that has already solved that problem?
These mental bars prevent us from living our lives the way that we should live them. Release yourself!
As always, the choice is yours.
There will be more to come. Stay tuned ...
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
How many times do we confine ourselves to be overcome by obstacles? How many problems do we let control our lives? Why do we let others or situations dictate our life rather than making our life what it should be - our life?!!
The answers are simple. We do not search hard enough for solutions. We limit our thinking to what we know, what we believe, what we are capable of. What if we expanded that scope to what others who have already mastered that solution and solved that particular problem? Can we learn from others? Can we use other resources than our own meager intellect?
There are very few problems that are unsolvable. And depending on your faith, there are no problems that God cannot solve. Why don't we let Him? Who is to say that He may lead you to the person that has already solved that problem?
These mental bars prevent us from living our lives the way that we should live them. Release yourself!
As always, the choice is yours.
There will be more to come. Stay tuned ...
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Romans 8:27-31 (KJV)
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at the address below. Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
A New Global Currency
I ran across this article today and I thought I'd share it. Also, I thought a quick post to let my readers know I'm still kicking.
The following complete article is from Paul Proctor, a freelance writer and regular columnist for NewsWithViews.com - very interesting stuff.
The following complete article is from Paul Proctor, a freelance writer and regular columnist for NewsWithViews.com - very interesting stuff.
A NEW GLOBAL CURRENCY
By Paul Proctor
March 26, 2009
NewsWithViews.com
It was reported recently that two of the world’s superpowers, Russia and China, have called for a new global currency. I believe they’re doing this because they know that the U.S. is printing huge amounts of dollars right now to pay on its own massive debts – debts that other countries, like China, have been financing for years by purchasing U.S. Treasury Bonds. They understand something that most Americans do not – that the more paper money you print, the less it’s worth – and right now, we’re printing it as fast as we can.
We owe China alone over a trillion dollars. And, that’s just one of many countries that we owe money to – countries that have also been buying our bonds.
You see, when you buy a bond, you’re loaning money and charging interest to the issuer of that bond to be paid upon maturity. If you buy a U. S. Treasury bond, you’re loaning the U.S. government money for them to spend as they see fit.
When you think of bonds, think of bondage.
Well, for years now, other countries have been buying our bonds so we could in turn buy all of their made-overseas stuff. They were essentially loaning their biggest customer the money we needed to buy from them.
That put us in financial bondage to them.
But, now that we’re not buying nearly as much from anyone anymore, resulting in millions of workers being laid off overseas as foreign factories close down, those countries are not buying as many of our Treasury bonds anymore either. In other words, they’re not loaning us near as much money as they once did.
So now, to get America’s bills paid, The Federal Reserve is purchasing those U.S. Treasury bonds other countries used to buy – and to do that, a lot more dollars have to be printed to buy them – and I mean a lot more, because, as most everyone knows by now, our debts are quite extraordinary and growing fast.
Well, who controls the printing of money?
You guessed it – the same folks who are loaning it to us by purchasing our bonds – a very secret and very private institution called The Federal Reserve. I’ll bet you thought they belonged to Uncle Sam, didn’t you? Nope, Uncle Sam belongs to them because, as the bible teaches, “the borrower is servant to the lender” and the lender here is The Federal Reserve.
For those who have a hard time understanding how all this affects the average person, let me put it as simply as I know how: It means that the price of everything you and I buy is going to start going up and up as The Federal Reserve has more and more money printed over the coming months and years until even the basic necessities of life here become unaffordable – or until the U.S. government steps in and starts initiating price controls, which frankly, is just more socialism.
When prices go up, it’s called “inflation.” And, if prices go up really high and really fast, it’s called “hyperinflation.” I prefer to call it what it really is: the deflation of the dollar. In other words, the goods and services we purchase day-to-day are not really increasing in value as much as the dollars we use to buy them with are decreasing in value.
They’re decreasing in value because The Federal Reserve has entirely too many of them printed up to loan out. Again, the more there is of something, including money, the less it’s worth.
This sleight-of-hand system, used by The Federal Reserve for decades, makes consumers blame producers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers for rising prices, when they should be blaming those who print all of that paper money for Congress to waste (I mean spend) – money that is not given to the U.S. government by the Federal Reserve, you understand, but is in fact loaned.
And guess who makes the payments on those loans from The Federal Reserve and pays all of the interest on those piles of paper money created out of nothing?
That’s right – you and I do – in the form of new and higher taxes.
So, every time a new “stimulus” package is announced, recognize it for what it really is: another huge loan to the American taxpayer to benefit somebody else with payments and interest you and I and our children and grandchildren after us (as taxpayers) will be responsible for paying back to that little private bank called The Federal Reserve.
Would you say the name is a little deceiving?
Over time, the American taxpayer gradually goes broke, even with money in the bank, and becomes the slave of a financial system built upon debt that he or she has absolutely no control over and can never repay.
You see, the loan can never be repaid in full because only the principal is created and loaned out by The Fed. You and I, the taxpayer, have to somehow come up with the interest. The Fed doesn’t print interest – only the principal – which means the taxpayer has to keep borrowing principal to repay interest that was never created to begin with.
Breathtaking, is it?
Now, Russia and China are calling for a new global currency because they know what’s coming: The dollar’s collapse into absolute worthlessness. Good grief, it’s barely worth 4 cents now compared to what it was when The Federal Reserve Act was passed back in 1913. So, frankly, it doesn’t have that far to fall; but fall it will, because The Federal Reserve is now mass-producing dollars to loan the U.S. government to pay its bills – which will all have to be paid back with interest (that was never created) to the very same people who made the money out of nothing but ink and paper and then loaned it to us.
Brilliant, huh?
Now, it’s becoming painfully clear to other countries, who have been footing our bills via U.S. Treasury bonds, that some other currency needs to be created ASAP to replace the dollar they’ve been forced to use (as the world’s reserve currency) before it collapses completely and leaves everyone around the world scrambling.
How this will actually play out over the next few years is anyone’s guess. Some believe regional currencies will emerge, like the controversial “Amero” which would purportedly serve the needs of Mexico, Canada and the U.S. in preparation for a world currency later, while others suggest the accelerating global financial crisis will compel the issuance of a world currency straightaway.
In the meantime, here are some questions for you to consider as all this unfolds in the coming days:
1. What’s going to happen to the dollars you have in the bank?
2. Will those dollars be exchangeable for the new currency, whatever it is?
3. If they are exchangeable, will they be worth what the new currency is worth or a lot less?
This is the fiscal future we face, my friends – a future of financial uncertainty.
In spite of these disturbing events, let’s remember that ultimately, our fate is not in the hands of corrupt politicians and greedy bankers who are only men themselves, but rather in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ who Himself was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver and hung on a cross 2000 years ago to pay an enormous debt that you and I could not, so that we might enjoy the eternal treasures of a kingdom not of this world.
But, even if we lose it all here, by trusting Him as both Lord and Savior, we stand to gain so much more hereafter.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” – Matthew 6:19-20.
Related articles:
1. China calls for new reserve currency
2. At G20, Kremlin to pitch new currency
3. Geithner to open China proposal
4. China's U.S. Debt Quandary
5. Fed begins move that could sink dollar
© 2009 Paul Proctor - All Rights Reserve
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
Friday, February 6, 2009
Words of Encouragement
Sorry, it has been way too long since I last made a post.
Here is something I ran across today that is very appropriate, so I thought I would share it.
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
Here is something I ran across today that is very appropriate, so I thought I would share it.
The world economy is in a downturn, people are getting laid off in mass, governments are bailing out financial institutions, unscrupulous financial gurus bilk billions out of unsuspecting clients, countries are at war, and the list goes on. The media continues to bombard us daily with images and words about scarcity and suffering. If we pay attention to everything they report it only reinforces negativity and makes us withdraw from life robbing us of our personal power.
We have within us the power to create our own world, but in order to awaken this power we need to stop listening to what’s going on with the outside world, especially the media, and concentrate on what we can do with our given space in this world. One by one we can awaken others to do the same and create a world of blessing and abundance. It’s been said that one person can make a difference; so why can’t that person be YOU?
Here’s a quote from Mahatma Gandhi that sums it up best…
“you must be the change you wish to see in the world”
YOU can make a difference beginning today by simply changing the way you think!
Here’s another quote that is still a classic…”for things to change…you’ve got to change and for things to get better…you’ve got to get better.”
Don’t try to change anyone around you, just refocus on changing the only person you can change, and that’s YOU.
As I always point out, the choice is yours.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:4-7 (NIV)If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@hushmail.com
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