Abraham Lincoln-Sound Advise For These Times

The following was published in the Oklahoma Bankers Association Newsletter

Think about these Statements from Abraham Lincoln:

• You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
• You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
• You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
• You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
• You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
• You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.
• You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

Light

Ever feel like you don't fit in?

Maybe you don't.

We are to be the light in the darkness.

We are called to" be in the world" but "not of the world".

It is not fun to feel like you don't fit in but if you don't fit in maybe it is because you are accomplishing God's will for your life!

Ross

God Amazes Me x 2!

I do not deserve the favor I am experiencing this week.  I hope it never stops!  Two days in a row, within minutes, God has spoken to me through my wife, friends and emails.

Today, Raynell was telling me that she felt strongly that I needed to be working with a new friend I have developed overseas. She felt that I should seriously get down to making the plans and getting after the work.  She sensed God's leading and thought I needed to really think and pray about it.

What Raynell DID NOT KNOW was that several days ago my overseas friend had suggested those very things.  I had replied to his email and told him I wanted too move forward but that it would take a lot of money and I did not have it. I asked him if he had any ideas.

ONLY 30 MINUTES LATER after Raynell told me these things I opened my email and I had a new email from my friend overseas telling me basically the same things Raynell had communicated.  He was encouraging me to move forward, pray, put a plan together and let God provide what we need.

God Just Amazes Me x 2!

Ross

God Amazes Me!

Today, I was driving to Ada and on the way down I was praying about a couple of issues.  I was asking God to show me, to reveal to me why some things were happening like they were in my life. I was totally confused. I was asking God to help me understand.  I was asking God to make it clear to me why these things were happening and how to deal with it.

When I arrived in Ada, I had a few minutes before the meetings started so I began reading and responding to my emails.  My wife sent me a great email and God used her to explain to me what was going on in my life.

HE ANSWERED MY PRAYERS THROUGH HER EMAIL.  However, Raynell did NOT know about my prayer or what I was feeling.  We had NOT discussed it. Yet, there was the answer to my prayer in her email. Her email was time stamped just minutes before I read it. So in less than 2 hours God had totally cleared up my confusion through an email from my wife. 
Like I said, God Amazes Me!  Praise Be to Lord.

Ross

Pray If You Want To!

Pray if you want to!

 

CBS and Katie Couric et al, must be in a panic and rushing to reassure the White House that this is not network policy.  

Folks, this is the year that  we RE-TAKE AMERICA & CANADA

Keep this going around the  globe. Read it and forward every time you receive it.. We  can't give up on this issue. 

Andy Rooney and Prayer

Andy Rooney says: 

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.  I don't agree with Darwin ,  but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution.  

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big  deal?  It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts.  They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.  

But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue. 

Yes, and this is the United States of America and Canada, countries founded on Christian principles.  According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1.  

So what would  you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna? 

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish  prayer. 

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer. 

If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha. 

And I wouldn't be  offended.   It wouldn't bother me one bit.

When in Rome  ..... 

But what about the atheists? Is another argument.

What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized.  We're not going to pass the collection plate.  Just humor us for 30 seconds.  If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs.  Go to the bathroom.  Visit the concession stand.  Call your lawyer! 

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call.  One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do.  I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations. 

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights.  Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep.  Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing.  Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. 

God, help us.  And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue  me. 

The silent majority has been silent too long.  It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want.  It is time that the majority rules!   It's time we tell them, "You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him.  That is your right, and we will honor your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away.  We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!" 

God bless us one and all...Especially those who denounce Him, God bless America and Canada , despite all our faults  We are still the greatest nations of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God. 

Let's make 2010 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions.  And our military forces come home from all the wars. 

Keep looking  up.

---

Friends Help Friends

Today it seems that many of my adult friends are dealing with serious issues surrounding their adult children and/or their adult parents.  These are not easy issues but weigh on the heart tremendously.

It seems the adult children are stressed over becoming adults and living with the realities of adult life.  The responsibilities that just part of life.  At the same time adult parents are having health and aging issues.  They want to be free and able to fend for themselves but many simply cannot.

What is left in the middle is the ADULT care givers.  They are feeling tremendous stress.  Many feel like they have somehow let their adult children down and feel guilty because of the problems their adult kids are having with life.  Then on the other side some feel guilty because they can not remove the pain from the lives of their aging parents.  Many senior adults are suffering with memory problems, mobility problems, loneliness, and financial difficulties.  It is not fun growing old.

It may never have been more important than to remember to "Love your neighbor as you love yourself", to "share one anther's burdens".  A good ear to listen, a strong shoulder to lean on, an encouraging word, a prayer for strength can mean everything to the person that is laboring with these issues.  Remember, "a kind word is good medicine for the soul".

Remember, Friends Help Friends.

Ross

New York City

As you know, I was in NYC this past week attending the annual strategic planning meeting for The Bankers Bank. It was a great meeting.  Tons of work.  But Saturday afternoon I got to see the sights.

Things that stood out:

  Central Park, if OKC's version of Central Park that is being build with the latest MAPS proceeds we are going to have one fantastic park!  We took a late night guided bicycle tour that was great.
  Time Square, the most incredible  display of lighted billboards I have ever seen in my life.  By law 18% of any building built in the area must be covered with electronic signage.  WoW!
  Empire State Building, wonderful design and details.
  Ground Zero, the destruction is like nothing I had imagined, but it is all being rebuilt as a statement to the world that nothing or nobody can defeat the USA.
  Subways, wonderfully efficient.
  Trinity Church, in the middle of Wall Street, serves as a reminder that we are a blessed nation.
  NYC Federal Reserve Bank gold vault, like no vault I have ever seen.
  Gold Bar, I held one gold bar in my hands, 28 pounds, valued at $446,000!
  Statue of George Washington on Wall Street in memory of where he took the oath of office as the first president of the USA.  I will never forget it.
  New York Stock Exchange, big, bold, stately and 100% all American.
  Taxis, everywhere!
  Statue of Liberty, breathtaking night and day!

It took me 57 years to make my first visit, what a mistake.  I would encourage you to go to NYC.  Yes the rooms cost too much, the food is too high as well, but you are missing one great city if you don't go.

Ross