Quote of the Day: John D. Rockefeller

Quote of the Day:
 John D. Rockefeller

"Sam, we are prospering.  We have a future before us, a big future.  But I don't like Jim Clark and his habits.  He is an immoral man in more ways than one.  He gambles in oil.  I don't want this business to be associated with a gambler.  Suppose I take them up the next time the threaten a dissolution.  Suppose I succeed in buying them out.  Will you come in with me?"

When contemplating going into business with someone you should always take a look at their character and moral virtues.  If they're known to be late, untrustworthy, or prone to bad investments...it is unlikely to change once you start a venture with them. 

Quote of the Day

Quote from an unnamed saint:

"And I may return in faded armor
Full of patches bent and aged.
And my face the heat of battle,
To free the damned and free the slaves.
And I may know both pain and rejection,
The betrayal of my friends.
But the glory that awaits me,
Will make it worth it in the end-in the end."

Failure Can Breed Great Success!

     Failure is something most people experience at least once in their life, if not more.  The crucial factor in this type of experience is whether the person gives up, or continues to fight.  Some of the greatest businessmen of recent history have experienced very challenging times in their lives and were able to overcome.  One simple character trait separates these individuals from the person who gives up in life...Perseverance.

     Rockefeller grew up in anything but a stable family, and had a father that was everything his son strove not to be.  Instead of heading down the same path as his father, Rockefeller dedicated his life to Christ and living a disciplined and frugal lifestyle.  Was it easy?  Of course not!  At one point he was forced to take out a loan for $1000 from the very father he sought to be different from.  It was well placed moments of confidence, frugality, and humility that allowed him to rise above the situation he was born into.

     The apostle Paul is another great example of someone who overcame great odds to achieve his life's purpose.  Whether it be; beatings, shipwrecks, or imprisonment Paul never gave up or quit.  Instead, as with other great men in this life, he doubled down on his beliefs and pushed ahead.  In the end Paul was responsible for writing the majority of The New Testament, the greatest piece of work ever to be pinned.

     When we face a great challenge in life such as; financial, health, or a host of others, it is important that we go through that trial with an eye on the big picture.  Don't cower in fear of what may happen, but rather stand up and resolve to meet the challenge head on.  When we move forward in times of discouragement it shapes our character and moves us to greater levels of success!

Jeffrey Brandon Lee 

Socialism? Really?

     It really boggles my mind when you see all the scandals going on right now, and yet people are 'doubling down' on Obama and socialism. The truth is under this socialist government the top 1% have seen their income go up 300% and the poor have seen their paychecks decrease by nearly 30%. We are sitting on one of the biggest stock market bubbles in history that is about to pop (down to 7000-9000 in the next year), we are empowering another muslim brotherhood led opposition in Syria, unemployment and other numbers are being 'cooked' by the government, while the media stands idly by and lets the facade stay in place. The TRUTH is you can't have a government that takes from the rich and gives to the poor, because you can't legislate morality, and you definitely can't count on a mere man to enforce it. Socialism is the same Utopian idiocy that the left has been pushing for decades and look where it has got us...16 trillion in the hole, but food stamps at an all time high, real unemployment through the roof, stock market bubble, 1 million+ abortions a year, muslim fanatics in charge in formerly secular countries...bad news my friends!

Judging Those Who Face Adversity

     What do you do when adversity comes your way?  Do you stand up and face whatever mountain is in your path, or do you cover your head and beg for it to end?  Many times this simple decision can decide a substantial portion of your life and also your character.  Why we all will usually say 'I would stand tall and rely on God, never wavering', and we tend to judge those who don't when their challenge is at hand.  Easy words of condemnation can have devastating effects on those we deem as failing.

     When we read through the Bible we are told by Paul to gently restore the fallen brother or sister in Christ, but our human tendency is to think 'A little tough love is what they need'.  One question for you to think about...did you ever read of Jesus catching a person in sin and His reaction was to strike them verbally across the face and tell them they deserve the trial they are going through?  The answer is no.  The opposite is actually the case.  When He came across those who were judging (the Pharisees) Jesus would rebuke them and gently restore those who had been humbled.  

     We must remember that we ALL go through trials and tests in this life, and when you're a seasoned Christian you may handle it better than others, but don't let that lead to you thinking you are better than the one who struggles.  God is allowing the challenge to enter into their lives and is there to pick them up when they fall, and that is how we should be.  We need to encourage those who have fallen into sin, or who have a mountain of trials standing in front of them.  So next time you see that homeless person, or person in the back of the church, go up and give them a hug and encourage them to keep fighting the good fight and that God loves them very much!

By Jeffrey Brandon Lee