The Danziks and the Duncans (B & J) FED ’01 woke me this morning, and I like that. It starts my day with thinking about the positive content of the speakers. I noticed that only after the tape was over, I craved going back to bed – until then I was up and attentive.

Genesis 11-12 outlined the tower of Babel (to in the future be refered to as Babylon) and begins the story of Abram (to in the future be refered to as Abraham.)

Babel was an interesting story because God confounded their speach to prevent progress and destroy their efforts to be great in the eyes of themselves. That tells me two things: 1) don’t be egocentric, be God-centric in our visions and purpose for life; and 2) that words have emmense power. They can build great things with proper communication with one another. To lack communication will destroy any relationship establishment (marriage, friendship, co-worker, etc.

Matthew 5 was about Jesus’ sermon on the mount. He explained several things, but the ones that stuck out for me were the following:

• We are blessed according to our desires, and it seems to have an inverse element. The mourners will receive comfort, meek will get earth, hunger (spiritual) receives fulfillment, etc.

• Teachings about lust: “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” [note: that means yikes!] It continues, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” [note: ouch, and double yikes! How do I assure that I’ll be safe/capable to not be caught in such predicaments. Think of the long term investment of an entire body vs. the one eye!]

• “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you. Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you [even emotionally] on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go a mile, go wwith him two miles. Give to the one who asks you , and do not run away from those who wants to borrow from you.” [Note: the idea is to live life with love as though it were coming directly from god – care for the person, don’t take offense or look to have retribution; it’s better to have peace and joy, than to mar someone’s life because of a bad interaction.]

[ACK! I JUST LOST ALL OF THE ENTRIES FROM HERE ON! I GUESS I GET TO REBUILD THEM… WHEE!]

The Richest Man in Babylon had a chapter that seemed to reiterate elements from earlier in the story, but through a slightly different delivery. The chapter was about the Five Laws of Gold. They were as follows:

Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earnings to create an estate for his future and that of his family. [AKA: SAVE 10 PERCENT OF ALL EARNINGS!]

Gold laboreth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field. [AKA: CHANCE FAVORS THE PREPARED MIND. OPPORTUNITY MAY KNOCK, BUT ONLY THE PREPARED KNOW TO OPEN. WHEN YOU MAKE THE EFFORT TO HAVE MONEY AT YOUR DISPOSAL, OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES MORE READILY.]

Gold clingeth to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of men wise in its handling. [THE COMMENTS FROM THE BOOK READ, “GOLD, INDEED, CLINGETH TO THE CAUTIOUS OWNER, EVEN AS IT FLEES THE CARELESS OWNER. THE MAN WHO SEEKS THE ADVICE OF MEN WISE IN HANDLING GOLD SOON LEARNING NOT TO JEOPARDIZE HIS TREASURE, BUT TO PRESERVE IN SAFETY AND TO ENJOY IN CONTENTMENT ITS CONSISTENT INCREASE.”

Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keep. [TO SOMEONE WHO HAS GOLD, BUT ISN’T DISCIPLINED WITH IT, MANY THINGS SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA. ONLY SOLICITING INSIGHT FROM OTHERS WHO KNOW MORE THAN YOU CAN PREVENT YOU FROM LOSING YOUR FORTUNE.]

Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings or who followeth the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment. [NEW MONEY MAY ENTICE A MAN TO INVEST HASTILY IN UNWISE RISKS CAUSING LOSS OF PROFIT. BE SURE TO ASSESS THE RISK AND NOT MAKE AN IRRATIONAL, EMOTIONAL DECISION.]

Traveling Light was about the burden of arrogance that many people suffer. God would have it so that we remain humble, and as such, avoid the arrogance and pride that can be traps. God hates arrogance. God seeks to take the credit (not us), not because he needs it, but because we need the protection from the danger of it. “All of those who make themselves greate will be made humble, but all who make themselves humble will be made great” (Luke 18:14)

In order to cultivate humilty, work with these steps:

Assess yourself honestly Being humble means you know exactly what you have to offer, and no more.

Don’t take success too seriously Relax! You worry too much! Conuteract pride with reminders of the brevity of life and the frailty of wealth. Keep in mind your roots and where you’re from.

Celebrate the significance of others Every touchdown is a team effort – think of others first – it’s all about the name on the front of the Jersey, not the name on the back!

Don’t demand your own parking space Jesus said, “Go sit in a seat that is not important. When the host comes to you, he may say, ‘Friend, move up here to a more important place.’ Then all the other guests will respect you.” (Luke 14:10)

Never announce your success before it occurs “On one occasion a studetn stepped up to preach with great confidence but failed miserably. He came down, humbled and meek. Spurgeon told him, ‘If you had gone up as you came down, you would have come down as you went up.’ If humility precedes the event, then confidence may follow.”

Speak humbly Ben Franklin used empowering phrases such as, ‘I conceive,’ or, ‘I believe,’ or, ‘I apprehend’ that allowed for lightening his opinion in comparison with the damaging, defensive proud words such as, ‘always’, or ‘certainly’, or ‘undoubtedly’. NOTE: How can I better control my language to remain humble?

Live at the foot of the cross “The maker of the stars would rather die for you than live without you. So, if you need to brag, brag about that.”

The Purpose Driven Life chapter 5 gave me a perspective of life in God’s eyes. He views our existance for testing, trusting, and is temporary. The metaphor that we all have for life (party, merry go round, marathon, game, etc) colors our view of life more than we realize. To fulfill the purposes that God has made us for, we have to adjust our views and replace them with biblical metaphors of life.

In testing, we are tested in everything, all of the time. “Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. You are always being tested.” (p. 43) God can test in many ways (faith through problems, love with people, etc). “When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. Even the smallest incident has significance on your character development.” Some tests are huge, other are tiny, but they all have eternal implications. The Bible says, “God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.” I can do it! Keep going!

In trusting, God asks us to take stewardship over our lives, and to allow him the position of kingship. It’s his life, and he can take it anytime. It’s our duty to do our best to take good care of it while we’re here. As it so aptly states in the bible, “What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if ll you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?”

Money is both a test and a trusting scenario. God can use money to teach us to trust him, or he can use it to test us. How I manage my money determines how much God can trust me with spiritual blessings.

Verse to remember: Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones.” (Luke 16:10a NLT)