Deflation or Inflation? We mentioned we’re holding an event on Tuesday to prepare you for either. Let’s begin with Deflation. What is a deflationary depression? What does it feel like? How will it affect you? Unless you’re around 90, you and I have never suffered through really difficult times. But our country has seen a deflationary depression before. We call it…the Great Depression. You’re much more likely to be old enough to remember significant inflation. So let’s talk about just what could happen because the more you understand what’s ahead, the better you can prepare! [click to continue…]
We said in the Coming Storm presentation that a new season was upon us and we talked about the fact that Jesus told us to be aware of the signs of the times. We said that the changes that were coming were not just financial and economical, but that these signs would be of every kind.
Since then we’ve seen an incredibly devastating earthquake in Haiti. If you think that Haitians have been idolatrous and that God is cleaning this up, you are correct. The next question is, have we been idolatrous and is God going to do some cleaning up? We’ve seen severe rain on the west coast and the most snow our nation has ever seen, but this is just the beginning.
None of this is without purpose. God has not forgotten His plan! He will bring it to pass. It is a glorious plan and the best part is reserved for those who love Him!
After we’ve discussed all these things, we want to leave you with a few questions to ponder and seek the Lord about. [click to continue…]
When Jesus came, He entered a highly religious society. This was not a time like the one where people half thought about God’s Law and spent most of their time visiting temples to other gods. This was a society who knew their theology better than anyone. They knew God’s ways better than He did!
They had certain expectations about who the Messiah was, How He would come, and what sort of changes He would bring. They expected a great prince who would come and bring an end to Roman rule and a mighty empire such as Rome’s which Jerusalem herself ruled. They had studied the scriptures and had now doubt about what they foretold!
But they missed it. All their learning, all their knowledge, was useless and even debilitating when the realities of God’s Chosen One came. They were blessed by God, so what bad could happen to them, right?
Jesus brought a hard message which was more than their flesh could bear. They would have to give up their prestigious positions. They would have to give up material wealth. They would have to give up their ideas of who God was, who they were in God’s eyes, and what kind of life they could have in God’s order. It was simply too much to bear for most of them. [click to continue…]
Next Event: “How to be a Steady Investor in Turbulent Times”
Tuesday, March 16th at 7:30pm (one week from today!)
700 E. 11th St, Austin, TX 78701
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Most economists today see us entering a protracted deflationary depression similar to the Great Depression. Others (including many of the most spectacularly successful investors of all time) see a very serious inflation (and perhaps Hyper-Inflation) on the horizon. Most of the talking head economists on the TV however assume that we’re in just another recession that will move into one more recovery as we’ve always seen before (in our lifetimes).
So which is the truth? What facts are there that would lead you to believe one over the other? And why does it matter to you? [click to continue…]
1) Let’s say that you live in a hot real estate market and values have been driving up. You’re considering buying one of three properties.
The first is a single family home in a market that has been appreciating faster than any other in town. Your idea is to buy it and hold it for a year so that you can sell at a much higher price after it has appreciated even more.
The second is a single family home that needs a lot of work, but you calculate that you could repair and renovate and then be able to sell it at a reasonable price to a new home buyer for substantially more than what you have put into the home at that point.
The third is a single family home that you realize you could buy and then rezone into a duplex and rent out each side for a handsome profit each month. [click to continue…]
"Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." Haiti is just one of many of the promised shakings.
Next Event: “How to be a Steady Investor in Turbulent Times”
Tuesday, March 16th at 7:30pm (two weeks from today!)
700 E. 11th St, Austin, TX 78701
Sign up Here
(This post is slightly different, but very similar to the most recent newsletter which we felt a broader audience should see.)
My wife, Kara, asked me Sunday, “Why is God’s judgment coming against Christian countries? What about non-Christian countries, aren’t they much further from God?”
We had just been discussing the huge earthquake in Chile and the fact that we will see much more of this in the coming days. The answer is…
“For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)
God is bringing Order to His house. He has been all Grace and Mercy for a very long time, but a new season is here and He is fulfilling His purpose in Man which He has promised to do from the beginning. He wants a people who bear His Glory & Likeness and the Church has fallen far short of this.
As we’ve said in our last two symposiums, these things must & will happen. I said in The Coming Storm that this would not just be financial, but that we would see many signs. God is shaking the heavens and the earth. In the Gospel of the Kingdom Symposium we talked about Haiti and said there would be more to come. These things are happening as we’ve said they would before hand. I pray the Lord has your full attention![click to continue…]
If you follow the history of God’s people, it’s a story on repeat. Over and over, God blesses His people, they prosper, they turn away from Him, and He sends His prophets to call them to repent, they don’t, and then He sends calamity on them, then they see how much they need the God whom they had turned away from and they call out to Him with repentance and pure hearts. He blesses them. Repeat.
We’ll quickly tell the story of one of the most noteworthy of these occurrences.
God’s people of Judah had turned away from Him and were following after idols. He had warned them, but they refused to turn away from these idols. It was not that they didn’t love God and love the fact that they were His Chosen people. They were absolutely proud of this fact! They felt special amongst all peoples because who else could say they had a history of God providing for them in such marvelous ways.
Yet, they didn’t just love God. They also loved their idols. And why would it really matter to God anyways, if they loved both God and idols? [click to continue…]
It was no surprise the Dot.com phase was a bust. Investors didn't ask what value was being delivered.
Is it important that value be delivered to the marketplace when you’re considering investing in a company or enterprise? Do you understand what value is being delivered to the market and why that value is beneficial to others?
These are important questions that are too often ignored by investors. Too often we get mesmerized by an incredible story whether it be the frantic pace at which something has been growing or the amazing sophistication an idea seems to have, or something else which fills the mind with dollar signs.
A far more important consideration is whether or not you have a clear understanding of how a particular investment is delivering value. Markets can be delusional for periods of time, but will always come back (and then some) to normal valuations. If you’re looking to invest with a company that delivers tremendous value to the marketplace or if you’re looking to take on a project that you believe will turn a profit, or anything in between, understanding the value proposition is key. [click to continue…]
God's desire is to lead us all out of our slavery into His Promised Land
We believe that a new season is upon us. You might have been shown this by the Lord already, or you might not have a clue that there could be such a thing as a new season for His people, or you might be somewhere in between.
We want to quickly tell a few stories which God has so graciously given to help us understand the amazing life He calls us to and the requirements that go along with it. Hopefully, these will be helpful in illuminating the Kingdom life and the season which is upon us.
God sent His people Israel into slavery in Egypt. Here they were able to flourish from being a large family to being a mighty people numbering in the millions. God had promised that He would bring them to a Promised Land and this people told this story throughout the generations, waiting for this day to come. But even though they held this promise, over the years they had taken on the mind-set of slaves in a foreign land. (This story can be found in Exodus) [click to continue…]
In this economic update, we spend some time talking about a recent treasury auction that almost failed. There have been clear signs in recent months that the nations which we depend upon to finance our debt are no longer willing to do so. China & Japan have reduced their Treasury holdings, and a recent auction of Treasury Bonds almost failed, needing record direct purchases on top of the huge Federal Reserve stated purchases. So who was it that stepped in to make these secret direct purchases?
Deflation or Inflation? We mentioned we’re holding an event on Tuesday to prepare you for either. Let’s begin with Deflation. What is a deflationary depression? What does it feel like? How will it affect you? Unless you’re around 90, you and I have never suffered through really difficult times. But our country has seen a deflationary depression before. We call it…the Great Depression. You’re much more likely to be old enough to remember significant inflation. So let’s talk about just what could happen because the more you understand what’s ahead, the better you can prepare! [click to continue…]
Next Event: “How to be a Steady Investor in Turbulent Times” 
