Our Twins turned 3 yesterday

Wow! I can hardly believe it has been 3 years since Emily and Evan were born. The pregnancy, resignation of Abunant Life, starting CitiChurch, Tricia on bedrest for 29 weeks of the pregnancy, was quite overwhelming. But when they were born, it was such wonderful joy in our life. Tricia and the twins had complications, Tricia went into conjestive heart failure, the twins were on heart monitors and breathing machines for weeks. But God saw us through every step. Tricia and the twins were completely healed.

The first few months were very stressful. Waking up in the middle of the night by the sound of the alarm going off on the breathing machine, only to check and find out it had come off. We had many nights like that. Now we rejoice as we watch these two little blessings from God bring so much joy into our lives. We thank God for them!

Happy Birthday Emily and Evan! We love you Soooooo Much!

Grayson turned 6 Yesterday

Well my son Grayson turned 6 yesterday (October 26). I can remember the day as if it really was "yesterday". Tricia and I are so proud of him. He is in Kindergarten and loves it. And yes he is the smartest kid in the class. :-) He picked out a brand new bike at Walmart for his birthday and he is getting ready to learn how to ride on two wheels. Happy Birthday Grayson! We love you and we know that God has great plans in store for you!

Living Someone Else's Life

I recently linked up to Tim Elmore's Leadership site called Growing Leaders. Tim is a former large church college pastor whose work with John Maxwell and Equip has catapulted him into the realm of young adult ministry and other leadership development venues.

Check out this article entitled "Living Someone Else's Life".

Study Finds Pentecostalism Is Fastest Growing Segment of Christianity

A recent 10-nation study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that about a quarter of the world’s 2 billion Christians are part of the Pentecostal-charismatic movement. Researchers said "renewalists," which the study used to classify both Pentecostal and similar charismatic groups, was the fastest growing segment of Christians across the globe. The 10 nations included in the study were Brazil, Chile, United States, Guatemala, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, India, Philippines and South Korea. In six of the 10 countries surveyed, renewalists made up a majority of the Protestant population. The study also noted that renewalists typically attend religious services more than once a week and are more likely to pray and read their Bibles daily when compared to non-renewalist Christians. Many have witnessed or experienced divine healing, received direct revelation from God and seen or experienced deliverance from demonic spirits. Researchers said they were surprised to find that in six of the nations surveyed, at least 40 percent of Pentecostals said they do not speak in tongues, leading some to question whether tongues is becoming less of a Pentecostal distinction.

Top 30 Recommended Reading for Financial Literacy

I will be teaching this sunday morning on Overcoming a Poverty Mindset. The plans that God has for us are in direct conflict with the condition of poverty.(Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) People can only be dominated by poverty where there is ignorance and a lack of understanding. Here are a list of my Top 30 Recommended Reading for Financial Literacy. Having knowledge is the beginning of overcoming poverty.

1. The Bible
2. Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki
3. Why We Want you to Be Rich – Donald Trump & Robert Kiyosaki
4. Basic Economics – Thomas Sowell
5. The Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey
6. The Laws of Prosperity – Kenneth Copeland
7. A Biblical Economics Manifesto – James P Gills, M.D./Ronald Nash, Ph.D
8. Think Like a Billionaire Become A Billionaire – Scot Anderson
9. Missed Fortune – Douglas Andrew
10. How to Manage One Million Dollars…or Less-Brian Mast
11. Automatic Millionaire – David Bach
12. Multiple Streams of Income – Robert Allen
13. Divine Strategies for Success – Rob Yanok
14. The Millionaire Next Door – Thomas J. Stanley
15. Seven Strategies to Wealth and Happiness – Jim Rohn
16. Credit After Bankruptcy – Stephen Snyder
17. Do You make these 38 Mistakes with your Credit – Stephen Snyder
18. Personal Finances for Dummies – Eric Tyson
19. Automatic Wealth – Michael Masterson
20. The Midas Touch – Kenneth Hagin
21. Become a Millionaire God’s Way –Dr. .C. Thomas Anderson
22. Financial Peace – Dave Ramsey
23. The Secrets of a Millionaire Mind- T. Harv Eker
24. Learn To Earn – Peter Lynch
25. Rule #1: The Simple Strategy for Successful Investing – Phil Towns
26. Secrets of the Richest Man who ever Lived – Mike Murdock
27. The Richest Man Whoever Lived – Steven K Scott
28. The 5 Lessons A Millionaire Taught Me about Life and Wealth – Richard Paul Evans
29. The Wall Street Journal Guide To Understanding Personal Finance – Kenneth Morris and Alan Siegel
30. The Wall Street Journal Guide To Understanding Money & Investing – Kenneth Morris and Alan Siegel

NewsPapers & Magazines

1. Wall Street Journal
2. Investors Business Daily (Leaders & Success Section)
3. Money Magazine
4. Forbes
5. Fortune
6. Kiplingers
7. Economist

Get Ready for a Change of Seasons

Get Ready for a Change of Seasons
This prophetic message was recently given at in Purcellville, Virginia.

"I believe for many in the Body of Christ they are entering into a new season in their lives where God is calling them to leave the old behind and step into the new. Things of the past that have hindered and impeded our forward motion must be left behind if we are to move upward in God's purpose and call. It truly is a time where God is stripping and removing everything that would hinder our race in Him. As we transition into the new we must understand what He is doing and what things He is requiring of us to leave behind. This transition will be different for each one of us depending on God's unique plan and destiny for our lives. We must have an ear to hear Him in this season.

God is breaking out of the box. We must be very careful in this next season not to pattern ourselves after models of the past, even good models. We must not carbon copy ourselves after patterns of ministry that worked in the last season. God is doing a new thing. To move into the new wineskin we must remain very pliable and sensitive to what God is doing and how He is moving. This will require a keen sensitivity to His voice and a boldness not to blend in and go with the flow. It will require a heart of total obedience and death to self.”

Matt Sorger, a prophetic revivalist, is the founder of Matt Sorger Ministries in Seldon, New York. He holds healing revival services and international miracle crusades across the world, and also hosts pastors and leaders conferences in many nations to help train and equip leaders in the body of Christ.

Why We Want You To Be Rich: This is a MUST buy & read book

Tricia and I was in Philadelphia this weekend speaking at a church and while we were out I was in Borders Bookstore and I picked up a copy of Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki's new book. I purchased it to read on the plane back to Nashville. I have never read a more intriguing book on WHY we must be rich. Usually most books on Financial success talk about an authors opinion of "how". But this book goes into the mind of these two successful, financial genius's and they talk about the WHY.

Here is an overview:

With this new book, the age-old saying of: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime," is explored as Trump and Kiyosaki teach you what they believe you need to know to be rich.

They each could have written a book on the subject, but they chose instead to write a book together because of their shared passion for education and their desire to bring emphasis to the importance of strong financial skills and understanding.

Money alone won't solve the problems we face. In referencing the need to "teach people to fish" and preparing them to create solutions to the challenges we face as a nation, versus simply giving people fish and keeping them dependant upon others for their sustenance – Donald and Robert focus on why and how people can take action in their lives and contribute to solutions as opposed to magnifying the problems.

Key Points Covered in this book
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Shared Concerns: The Shrinking Middle Class... and the opportunity to choose to be among the rich instead of the poor
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The Entitlement Mentality: This prevalent attitude is weakening and will have repercussions globally
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Defining Moments: How life is filled with lessons and how best to learn to see them and apply them to your financial well-being and your life
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Financial literacy is the road to mastery over your finances, your future and your life...
and it begins with education

Why is this book different?
Two men, one message... two men with different backgrounds, different experiences and different perspectives who are both passionate about education.

Both authors are successful financially, and both are bestselling authors who could easily have written separate books. They chose to join forces to offer two voices on a subject that they believe is at the heart of the future of our world

As leaders and teachers, the authors' collective knowledge and experience is a significant force when focused upon empowering others to take action and responsibility for their financial well-being – and choosing to be rich.

A portion of the profits from each book will be donated to charitable and educational organisations that support financial education.

Order Donald Trump & Robert Kiyosaki's new book Why We Want You to be Rich Today!

Quotables

"You must learn to say no when something is not right for you." - Leontyne Price (American Opera singer)

"If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it." - Jonathan Winters (American comedian & Actor)

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." Carl Bard

"The Time is always right to do what is right." Martin Luther King Jr.

A Tried and True Buckeye

OK, here are the facts. I have lived here in Tennessee for the past 2 1/2 years and I have remained a faithful Buckeye. The great thing is that I have not missed a Buckeye game yet. Every game, every saturday during football season I have been able to watch them play and win. My boys and I have our saturday ritual, we wear our Buckeye jerseys and hats, we have our chips, sandwiches , sweet tea, and we gather in our Media room and cheer them on to Victory. Then we go outside and rehearse the plays that they have made that day with the football.

I am sad because it has been 3 years since I have seen a live game at Ohio Stadium. Because if you have ever been to Columbus on game day, you know you have experienced life. Ok, I do know whatever team you are for you have the same feeling. :-) so this is my blog and I am going to grandstand for the greatest college football team in the nation.

Now there are those that know me, and know me well, that are saying what about your Notre Dame Fighting Irish???? Well, I believe everyone should have a number 1 team and a number 2 team. The Irish are my number 2 team. I will write about them later...

Go Bucks! May God favor you and your football wisdom and abilities and skills grant you yet another NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!