28:19 - Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
28:27 - Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Can I have it? I need it! Did you hear me?
This is my 4 year old - "G". He will tell you that he and I are "best friends" and I am honored to be considered so. This past weekend, "G" about drove me crazy. Every few minutes he would ask a question like, "Can I have chewing gum?" I would answer but before I could get the gum out of my pocket, I had been asked about a dozen more times. That was just one of many similar questions. Doesn't he know at age 4 that patience is a virtue?
Being a father is extremely rewarding; however there is a danger involved. The negative character traits I see in my kids are always a reflection of me. Thank the Lord they have many more positive character traits than negative. Here is the lesson that I think God was trying to get across to me through "G." "I hear you and I will answer you in My time."
I find myself often asking God over and over for the same things. Truly, I know He heard me the first time. Doesn't it show a lack of faith when I constantly ask Him for the same thing? Do I get on His nerves? God is awesome and amazing and full of patience for me. It is hard for me to remember that a day in my life is probably like a thousand years to Him. When I ask and don't receive my request immediately, I sometimes feel like He has forgotten about me. He hasn't. He just didn't feel like the time was appropriate for answering my request yet. Like the old TV show was called - "Father Knows Best."
Thank You God for knowing the best timing and for hearing my requests. Thank You too for teaching me a lesson through one of my "best friends" - "G."
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Proverbs 24 on Success
24:30-34 - I passed by the field of the lazy man, and the vineyard of the man lacking sense. There it was overgrown with thistles; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. I looked and thought about it; I saw and learned this lesson: "I'll just lie here a bit, rest a little longer, just fold my hands for a little more sleep" - and poverty comes marching in on you, scarcity hits you like an invading soldier.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Difference Maker in Salespeople
One of the things that I enjoy is training others in sales. Each Tuesday I teach a sales success class to Realtors and I also spend time weekly training mortgage loan originators.
The current economy has created really two classes of salespeople. There are a few salespeople that I see thriving and having their best year ever and then I see a few that are considering leaving the business altogether. What is the difference between the two? It is not years of experience in their chosen industry. It mainly boils down to two areas - attitude and a committment to hard work. The salespeople that have blocked out of their minds what the media is feeding them on the local economy and have made a committment to do whatever it takes to hit their goals are doing remarkeably well.
If you are in sales, I encourage you to block out any potential negative factors that can drain you of being successful and focus on doing the items you know you have to do to make the money you want to make. It all starts with your attitude. Hang out with people that will pull you up and not drag you down.
I am convinced that having talent in sales is great; yet having a positive attitude and great work ethic will take your talent and multiply it.
The current economy has created really two classes of salespeople. There are a few salespeople that I see thriving and having their best year ever and then I see a few that are considering leaving the business altogether. What is the difference between the two? It is not years of experience in their chosen industry. It mainly boils down to two areas - attitude and a committment to hard work. The salespeople that have blocked out of their minds what the media is feeding them on the local economy and have made a committment to do whatever it takes to hit their goals are doing remarkeably well.
If you are in sales, I encourage you to block out any potential negative factors that can drain you of being successful and focus on doing the items you know you have to do to make the money you want to make. It all starts with your attitude. Hang out with people that will pull you up and not drag you down.
I am convinced that having talent in sales is great; yet having a positive attitude and great work ethic will take your talent and multiply it.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Passover 2008
Today is a day that is most often overlooked by Christians - Passover. It was on this day that the Egyptians let the Israelites go after serving over 400 years in slavery. Also on this day, Yeshua went to the Cross for you and me.
This year our family had our first Passover Seder meal in our home. As the custom goes, you read the story of the Israelites exodus from Egypt. As we were making our way through the story, I realized how life can be much like that of the Israelites. We can be in bondage to a particular issue that keeps pulling us down, God makes a way for us to obtain freedom and then the test comes - standing at the shoreline of the Red Sea and seeing the army of Pharoah coming after us. The test in our life is called knowing what the right thing to do is and accepting it with faith, that by making the right decision, God will bring you out on the other side unharmed. Many times we see our "red sea" and become paralyzed in making a decision or it looks too scary and our faith waivers. What happens? Pharoah's army comes and re-captures us and takes us back to bondage. At least in bondage we know what to expect... right? God wishes us to have faith and cross the "red sea" in our journey to the Promise Land. The Bible does say that He wishes us to be prosperous and wishes good things for us. It is usually our lack of faith that keeps us in slavery to something else other than to Him. Being a slave to God, really is an experience of freedom.
This year our family had our first Passover Seder meal in our home. As the custom goes, you read the story of the Israelites exodus from Egypt. As we were making our way through the story, I realized how life can be much like that of the Israelites. We can be in bondage to a particular issue that keeps pulling us down, God makes a way for us to obtain freedom and then the test comes - standing at the shoreline of the Red Sea and seeing the army of Pharoah coming after us. The test in our life is called knowing what the right thing to do is and accepting it with faith, that by making the right decision, God will bring you out on the other side unharmed. Many times we see our "red sea" and become paralyzed in making a decision or it looks too scary and our faith waivers. What happens? Pharoah's army comes and re-captures us and takes us back to bondage. At least in bondage we know what to expect... right? God wishes us to have faith and cross the "red sea" in our journey to the Promise Land. The Bible does say that He wishes us to be prosperous and wishes good things for us. It is usually our lack of faith that keeps us in slavery to something else other than to Him. Being a slave to God, really is an experience of freedom.
$180,000 Mortgage For Under $699/Month - True or False
A prospective borrower I am working with recently saw an ad popup when she opens her home page on the internet. It reads - Fed cuts rate to 2.25% on March 18. $180,000 Mortgage for under $699 per month. Can this be true!?
Headlines are always what sells - whether the headline is to get you to read a story or buy a product. That headline certainly grabs your attention if you are thinking of needing a mortgage in the near future. Here's the truth behind the headline...
Fed cuts rate to 2.25% - This is true. The Fed charges banks a set interest rate and the bank lowered the rate to 2.25% on March 18th. That rate however is not the same rate the bank is going to charge you to lend you money. Many people have heard of a rate called the Prime Rate. Most equity lines are tied to the Prime Rate. When the Fed adjusts the bank rate, the prime rate also adjusts accordingly and is 3% above the bank rate. For example, the current prime rate is 5.25%. The Fed meets about every 6 weeks and this rate could change at any of those meetings and in recent days, it has changed a little more often. This rate does not directly determine what long term mortgage (first mortgages) rates are going to be.
$180,000 Mortgage For Under $699 per Month - This may be true, IF you are comfortable getting an Adjustable Rate Mortgage that probably will change MONTHLY and you are okay with making a payment that is not even equal to an interest only payment. What does all of that mean? Your rate can adjust every month and if you are making a payment that is less than interest only, your balance is even going up every month. This type of mortgage is what has caused major mortgage crisis in our country... allowing people to buy a home that they really shouldn't buy.
The old cliche', If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, is a perfect definition for this type of mortgage advertisement.
Headlines are always what sells - whether the headline is to get you to read a story or buy a product. That headline certainly grabs your attention if you are thinking of needing a mortgage in the near future. Here's the truth behind the headline...
Fed cuts rate to 2.25% - This is true. The Fed charges banks a set interest rate and the bank lowered the rate to 2.25% on March 18th. That rate however is not the same rate the bank is going to charge you to lend you money. Many people have heard of a rate called the Prime Rate. Most equity lines are tied to the Prime Rate. When the Fed adjusts the bank rate, the prime rate also adjusts accordingly and is 3% above the bank rate. For example, the current prime rate is 5.25%. The Fed meets about every 6 weeks and this rate could change at any of those meetings and in recent days, it has changed a little more often. This rate does not directly determine what long term mortgage (first mortgages) rates are going to be.
$180,000 Mortgage For Under $699 per Month - This may be true, IF you are comfortable getting an Adjustable Rate Mortgage that probably will change MONTHLY and you are okay with making a payment that is not even equal to an interest only payment. What does all of that mean? Your rate can adjust every month and if you are making a payment that is less than interest only, your balance is even going up every month. This type of mortgage is what has caused major mortgage crisis in our country... allowing people to buy a home that they really shouldn't buy.
The old cliche', If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, is a perfect definition for this type of mortgage advertisement.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Nasty D Word
Discipline - I was talking to one of my close friends this morning who mentioned that he believed self-improvement is simply a myth. I asked him to explain... He went on to say that it is not so much about trying to improve one's self as it is the need to discipline one's self. Hmmm...
I really think he is brilliant in this statement. That is what it all boils down to - self-discipline. If you practice discipline, self-improvement happens naturally. Without discipline, life does not change. It just remains stagnant. Like water that is stagnant, it will begin to stink after a while.
We all need discipline in the areas of: spirituality, family life, finances, business, health... just to mention a few. I propose to pick one each month and work hard on deepening the discipline in that area.
I really think he is brilliant in this statement. That is what it all boils down to - self-discipline. If you practice discipline, self-improvement happens naturally. Without discipline, life does not change. It just remains stagnant. Like water that is stagnant, it will begin to stink after a while.
We all need discipline in the areas of: spirituality, family life, finances, business, health... just to mention a few. I propose to pick one each month and work hard on deepening the discipline in that area.
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