#0001996

If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of me; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of me(Mat37). If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of me(v38). If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it(v39).”

​

#0001997

How we live at home is the acid test for any man or woman. It is far easier to live an excellent life among our friends, when we are putting our best foot forward and are conscious of public opinion, than it is to live for Christ in our home. Our own family circle knows whether Christ lives in and through us. If I am a true Christian, I will not give way at home to bad temper, impatience, faultfinding, sarcasm, unkindness, suspicion, selfishness, or laziness. Instead each day my life will display the fruit of the Spirit, which is ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control(Gal5:22,23).’ How different would your home be if you consistently practiced these Christ-like virtues?..- Billy Graham, Hope For Each Day….. John15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.”

​

#0001998

Our riches are our curse in our attempts to attain a trade balance. If we were less well-off, commercial realities would constrain our trade deficit. Because we are rich, however, we can continue to trade earning properties for consumable trinkets. We are much like a wealthy farm family that annually sells acreage so that it can sustain a lifestyle unwarranted by its current output. Until the plantation is gone, it’s all pleasure and no pain. In the end, however, the family will have traded the life of an owner for the life of a tenant farmer…-Warren Buffett Speaks…..Prv24:12 “If you say, ‘See, we did not know this,’ Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?

​

#0001999

“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device(Acts17:29).- God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them(Eph2:4,5,10).- He that overcometh shall inherit all things: and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son(Rev21:7).- If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with(Rom8:17).”

​

#0002000

Through trials, God shows us what is in us and clears out anything that gets in the way of complete trust in Him…-Tyndale, NLV Life Application bible…..Prv17:1-3 “Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife. A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers. The refining pot is for silver and furnace for gold, But the Lord tests hearts.”

​

#0002001

Look For Screaming Bargains: Authors who have written about Buffett’s investment style tell how he measures the stream of cash that the company generates today and into the future, then, using a reasonable interest rate, discounts the cash flow back to the present. Is it possible that Buffett just clicks the calculations off in his head? Maybe. There seems to be no paper trail: ‘Warren talks about these discounted cash flows . . . I’ve never seen him do one,’ Munger huffed. ‘It’s true,’ replied Buffett. ‘If [the value of a company] doesn’t just scream out at you, it’s too close.’…-Warren Buffett Speaks, by Janet Lowe…..Prv4:3,4 “When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, Then he taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live.”

​

#0002002

In all things keep something in reserve. This is a sure way of keeping up your importance. A person should employ all his capacity and power at once and on every occasion. Even in knowledge there should be a rearguard so that your resources are doubled. One must always have something to resort to when there is fear of a defeat. The reserve is of more importance than the attacking force, for it is distinguished by valor and reputation. Prudence always sets to work with assurance of safety. In this matter the piquant paradox holds true: the half is more than he whole…-Baltasar Gracian, The Art Of Worldly Wisdom……Prv4:5 “Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of My mouth.”

​

#0002003

When I think of all this, l fall to my knees and pray to the Father(Eph3:14), the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth(v15). I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit(v16). Then Christ w

​

#0002004

There is a big difference between calculated risk and wild-eyed hope: ‘Long ago, Sir Isaac Newton gave us three laws of motion, which were the work of genius. But Isaac’s talents didn’t extend to investing. He lost a bundle in the South Sea Bubble, explaining later; “I can calculate the movement of the stars, but not the madness of men.” If he had not been traumatized by the loss, Sir Isaac might well have gone on to discover the Fourth Law of Motion: For investors as a whole, returns decrease as motion increases’…-Warren Buffett Speaks, by Janet Lowe……Prv4:7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.”

​

#0002005

One half of the world laughs at the other, and fools are they all. Everything is good or everything is bad according to who you ask. What one pursues another persecutes. He is an insufferable ass who would regulate everything according to his ideas. Excellences do not depend on a single person’s pleasure. So many people, so many tastes, all different. There is no defect that is not affected by some. We need not lose heart if something does not please someone, for others will appreciate it; nor need their applause turn our head, for there will surely be others to condemn it. The real test of praise is the approval of renowned people and of experts in the field. You should aim to be independent of any one opinion, of any one fashion, of any one century…- Baltasar Gracian, Aphorism 101 …… Rom8:2 “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

​

#0002006

In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace. The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death. A road either to safety or ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected…-Sun Tzu, The Art Of War, by James Clavell……Prv4:13,14.-19,20 “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.- The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”

​

#0002007

“SORRY!” It’s not, ‘Please accept my apology,’ or ‘I want you to forgive my wrongdoing.’ Just plain “SORRY!” How often have I heard someone attempt to convey regrets with that one word? Bowing is little understood by foreigners, but how you do it can be the difference between insulting someone or expressing sincere regret. Reaching out in humility to find healing can save any relationship. The apostle Paul talked about a sorrow that leads to repentance and a sorrow that leads to death. One is false and the other is genuine, accompanied by humility and repentance. It is the heart of bowing to another acknowledging that you have wounded a person. Honestly, we have a lot to learn, not just about culture but also about genuine contrition and repentance. Genuine contrition goes far beyond the word, “SORRY!”…-Sala, Refuge and Strength……..2Cor7:10 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

​

#0002008

“Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose(Psa25:12). His soul will abide in prosperity, And his descendants will inherit the land(v13). The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant(v14). My eyes are continually toward the Lord, For He will pluck my feet out of the net(v15).”

​

#0002009

“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light(Mat6:22). But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness(v23)! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth(v24).- Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal(Mat6:19). But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal(v20); for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also(v21).”

​

#0002011

Considering the uncertainties of the future and the certainty of death, Solomon recommends enjoying life as God’s gift…- Tyndale, NLV Life Application Bible…….Ecc9:7-10 “So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.”

​

#0002012

To commit ourselves to the Lord means entrusting everything—our lives, families, work, possessions—to His control and guidance. To commit ourselves to the Lord means to trust in Him, believing that He can care for us better than we can ourselves. We should be willing to wait patiently for Him to work out what is best for us…-Tyndale, NLV Life Application Bible….Psa37:5-7 “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper, or fret about their wicked schemes.”

​

#0002013

By discovering the enemy’s dispositions and remaining invisible ourselves, we can keep our forces concentrated, while the enemy’s must be divided. ‘If the enemy’s dispositions are visible, we can make for him in one body; whereas, our own dispositions being kept secret, the enemy will be obligated to divide his forces in order to guard against attack from every quarter…- Sun Tzu, The Art Of War, by James Clavell…… Eph6:10, 11 “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

​

#0002014

Valuing a business is part art and part science. It doesn’t have to be rock bottom to buy it. It has to be selling for less than you think the value of the business is, and it has to be run by honest and able people. But if you can buy into a business for less than it’s worth today, and you’re confident of the management, and you buy into a group of businesses like that, you’re going to make money…- Warren Buffett Speaks, by Janet Lowe……Prv22:4 “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life.”

​

#0002015

Expect To Be Out Of Step: ‘Berkshire buys when the lemmings are heading the other way. Most people get interested in stocks when everyone else is. The time to get interested is when no one else is. You can’t buy what is popular and do well. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist. Investing is not a game where the guy with the 160 IQ beats the guy with a 130 IQ. Rationality is essential. Happily, there’s more than one way to get to financial heaven…- Warren Buffett Speaks, by Janet Lowe……Prv20:15 “There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.”

​

#0002016

Don’t worry about value investors snapping up all the bargains: ‘I have seen no trend toward value investing in the 35 years I’ve practiced it. There seems to be some perverse human characteristic that likes to make easy things difficult…- Warren Buffett Speaks, by Janet Lowe……Ecc4:4,5 “I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.”

​

#0002017

In war then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns. ‘War is not a thing to be trifled with.’ Thus it may be known that the leader of armies is the arbiter of the people’s fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril…-Sun Tzu, The Art Of War, by James Clavell……………….Ecc3:16,17 “Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. I said to myself, ‘God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man.’ For a time for every matter and for every deed is there.”

​

#0002018

Nothing can compare to God. His power and presence are awesome, and when He speaks, we must listen…-Tyndale NLV Life Application bible….. Job37:1-5 “My heart pounds as I think of this. It trembles within me. Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice as it rolls from His mouth. It rolls across the heavens, and His lightning flashes in every direction. Then comes the roaring of the thunder—the tremendous voice of His Majesty. He does not restrain it when He speaks. God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of His power.”

​

#0002019

“And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry’(Luke12:19). But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared(v20)?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God(v21).- Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away(James4:14). Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that(v15).- The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever(1John2:17).”

​

#0002020

‘Put out into the deep’ of the Father’s Will. We must endure until we fully comprehend its infinite detail and goodness and its far-reaching provision and care for us. ‘Put out into the deep of the Holy Spirit. We must never stop until He becomes to us a warm, shining, radiant, and fathomless sea, one in which we soak, basking and breathing and ultimately losing ourselves and our sorrows in the calmness and peace of His everlasting presence. We must keep on until the Spirit becomes a clear and glorious answer to our prayer; our most careful and tender guide; the most thoughtful anticipator of our needs; and the most skilled and supernatural sculptor of our circumstances…- Cowman-Reimann, Streams……Luke5:4 “Put out into deep water.”

​

#0002021

“Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth(John12:35). While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light(v36).- Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth(Prv27:1).- Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation(2Cor6:2).”

​

#0002022

Options traders are a favorite Buffett target: ‘It has always been a fantasy of mine that a boatload of 25brokers would be shipwrecked and struggle to an island from which there could be no rescue. Faced with developing an economy that would maximize their consumption and pleasure, would they, I wonder, assign 20 of their number to produce food, clothing, shelter, etc., while setting 5 to trading options endlessly on the future output of the 20? Wall Street is the only place that people ride to in a RollsRoyce to get advice from those who take the subway’…- Warren Buffett Speaks, by Janet Lowe…… Lam3:22 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.”