Monthly Archives: April 2020

IMPROVING INVESTMENTS: HOW TO (Part 5)

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My investment counselor friend and I sat down to eat our lunch at a window table in the food court inside the mall. We’d beat the lunch rush by twenty minutes. Good planning.

Our chair leg’s squeaked on the food court tiles as we pulled them closer to the table preparing to dig into our meals. My lunch companion looked at me and grinned. His face bright and warm as he said, “Guess what?”

He sounded playful. Curious, I played along. “What?” I grinned back at him.

“You’ll be glad to hear it’s time to jump out of the nest and test your wings.”

“Say what?” I placed my napkin on my left thigh and glanced at him. “Jump? Nest? How so?”

“Well, to put another way,” he said, “I think you’re ready to go it alone and improve your investments and realize those three things you’ve wanted to accomplish.” He picked up the mustard bottle, tipped it, and squeezed a dime-sized yellow glob onto one end of his hot, salted pretzel.

I could sense my face flush before I commented. “Wow! Yes, I feel like I’m ready.”

“Great! Before I push you out of the nest answer this question, do you want to get well?”

I hesitated, not entirely certain I understood exactly what he was asking. But I said, “Of course, I want to be well instead of sick. If I can help that happen, I will.”

“Very good, that’s nice to hear. What you just said is crucial because it says I plan to do what I do to do. I’m taking responsibility. I’m not going to give in to anything that will make me sick. I’m done with that.”

I listened and agreed. “O.K., yeah that’s what I’m saying.”

“All right, you’re poised on the edge of the nest and you’re ready to do your free-fall and fly. Can you see yourself? This is a huge moment because many at this risk place are scared and decide to go back into the safety of the nest. When this happens they are refusing to discover what living well, not sick, means.”

I imagined myself preparing to jump from my comfortable, familiar nest, and zoom like a bird.

He said, “Another way to view this is to realize a lot of people have no idea what healthy feels like because they’ve always been sick.” He squeezed more mustard on his pretzel, took a bite, chewed, and swallowed.

I delayed before I said, “Um, I think I follow that.” Yet I really wondered if I truly knew what it felt like to be healthy … well. I scrambled to find a memory of when I was completely fit. Was I ever?

He continued his explanation, “You know, Jesus has no intention of playing games with your life. Why? Because Jesus wants you to experience his best.” He paused.

Dumbfounded, I didn’t say anything. He said, “Jesus cares so much for you that he won’t. tease you with a sorry, worthless theory that isn’t in your best interest.”

I felt I had to say something, I said, “Good to know.”

He put down his pretzel and said, “Yes, and you need to recognize Jesus accepts you where you are. And from there, Jesus begins to transform you into the better, toward the best. Jesus’ intention is to have you experience life in all its fullness.”

I wanted to take what he said seriously. “That would be nice.”

“Oh, much more than nice. Do you still want to be well?”

“I do.”

“Well then, expect good things as you jump out of the nest and practice flying. Don’t panic because Jesus can be trusted to aid you in improving each of your investments.”

I’d finished eating lunch. I felt a flutter in my stomach. “I believe what you are saying is true.”

“Terrific! It is the truth. The next question is, as I said earlier, will you cooperate with Jesus or will you continue to experience being robbed, killed, and destroyed ‒ being sick?”

I blushed, a bit sad. “Why are you asking me this again?”

He ate his last bite of pretzel. “My intention is to reinforce your commitment.”

“Oh, okay.”

“I’m convinced you see the benefits of getting well. Jesus is here to improve all of your investments.” He added, “This will begin happening immediately.”

“Immediately, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Who wouldn’t want this?”

“You might be surprised.”

“These lunch meetings on improving personal investments have been quite interesting,” I said.

He said, “Good enough. Then go ahead and jump! Practice flying.

“Thanks.”

“Be well.”

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Comment:

There could be additional steps to improving your investments. For instance, we could get very specific about how and why your relationships improve your investments, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Truly, this issue of relationships starts with your relationship with God. Once this relationship with God is fixed, and functioning, it flows into your relationships with others.

The Christian experience is meant to be perpetually fresh and growing. It’s a gratifying experience too few enjoy. It most certainly offers superior perks to the burdens often felt in our transient confused world.

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IMPROVING INVESTMENTS: HOW TO (Part 4)

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We sat across from each other on the park picnic table talking and eating our lunch. A light breeze tickled my nose. I noticed a few fluffy clouds moving slowly overhead. I felt comfortable because of the warm spring sun.

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He said, “Most people want things explained quickly. They don’t like to spend too much time learning something new. They say, or at least think, ‘give me the 1, 2, 3 and I’ll take it from there.’ If it seems to be getting too long and involved they’ll quit working at whatever even if it’s good for them. Are you following me?”

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Impressed I said, “Wow! That’s a pretty accurate insight of me.”

“Well, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, too.”

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“It’s encouraging that you can admit it.” I popped a potato chip in my mouth, chewed and unscrewed the top off my water bottle.

He poked his fork in his salad, then looked up at me. “Okay, what we’ve been talking about is how to improve personal investments. The parts I’ve mentioned so far are the assets, if you will, which you’ve been searching for, trying to discover.”

“O.K.” I opened the wrapper of my club sandwich and took a bite.

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“I’m laying out all the pieces of improving investments for you. When I’m finished, I hope you’ll see how these individual parts ensure improvement in all your investments.”

I nodded.

“Today, specifically, I’d like to mention what’s possible, why it’s possible, and the reason many miss turning their possibilities into realities. I think of this as FAQ.” He speared a forkful of his salad and put it in his mouth.

“Alright.”

He chewed and swallowed and said, “My goal is to move you along so you can smile about the investment improvements taking place for you.”

“Sounds great!”

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“Just to let you know, I’m still practicing everything I’m telling you. My big hope is to help you see that Jesus is the foundation of any sound investment strategy. Do you see that?

“Yes, I’m beginning to.” I pulled another potato chip from my small bag.

“Depending on what your experience has been I realize Jesus as a foundation may raise several why Jesus questions. I’m hoping to answer those questions as we begin wrapping this up.”

“O.K., sure.” I kept eating as I listened.

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“Obviously I’m approaching improving personal investments from a different slant than what you normally hear.”

“Yes, you are.”

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“But what I’m offering you is much more complete than a simplified get rich quick scheme or a technique that merely compounds your material wealth. Money, as you’ve learned, isn’t the entire substance of prosperous investing.”

“I’m starting to understand what you mean.”

“Good, because this is bigger than that. As an investment consultant, I’m interested in improving all the pieces that fit together to provide a sound investment package.”

“There’s more?” I finished eating my sandwich. I had a few chips left.

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“Yes, there’s more. Including those things that influence and affect your whole life ‒such as your relationships.”

“Relationships, huh?” I tipped my water to my lips and sipped.

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“That’s right, a tremendous part of improving personal investments concerns your relationships, which I mentioned when I talked about Jesus being your foundation.”

“Uh-huh, I remember.”

“Good. Here’s the next piece: cooperating with what works.”

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“Can you explain?”

“I can. Positive cooperation opens the door to what’s possible. Negative cooperation with what doesn’t work is the reason many do not reach what’s possible. Let’s look at what’s possible, all right?”

“Um huh.”

“At the risk of sounding redundant, I must clear up how possible is achieved. Possible is the result of cooperating with what works and refusing to cooperate with what doesn’t work.”

“Sounds simple. I think I understand.”

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He’d swallowed some more of his salad, watched me, and then said. “Some imagine that Jesus isn’t relevant to each aspect of their life.”

I didn’t follow. “What do you mean?”

“Well, for example, I’m thinking of those who may attend church on Sunday. To some of them, they feel it’s fine to have a little religion in their life but they don’t see how a church, or a relationship with Jesus, figures into how they live apart from the church.”

“Ugh, I’ve been there.” I stuck the last of my potato chips into my mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

“Me too. Let’s zero in on cooperation that works, alright?”

“Sure, fine, let’s.”

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“In our present culture, many false ideas are being floated that are nonsense …”

“Nonsense?”

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“For instance, the notion that there ought to be separation of church and state.”

“Huh?”

“For sure. Consider that it’s suggested that God and our job don’t mix. My question would be, how do you separate God from everything (or anything) in your life?”

“Keep going.”

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“Maybe you’ve heard this idea expressed. Maybe a professor implies God is immaterial in your life. Actually, they’re teaching hogwash. They propose God and fun don’t mix. Or God doesn’t have anything to do with a successful marriage. Or God and raising kids doesn’t matter. We’re purposefully taught to leave God out of life. They conclude God is for the weak-minded and banished to Sunday church. Have you heard some of these views professed?”

“You sound like you’re preaching but sure I have heard these views expressed.”

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“Yet honestly you cannot exclude God from your life and succeed in your relationships.”

“Hmm.” I sat my water bottle on the picnic table.

“Jesus, in all matters, is what works best for you. Jesus completes our life─makes us whole. Doesn’t it make sense to cooperate with what works best?”

“Uh, yeah, that does make sense.”

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“I understand it may seem I’m preaching but this is critical, cooperation with what works best is our best choice. Of course, a person can accept what works best or reject it.”

“Well, I accept this. What do you say cooperation look like?”

“Simply, I say cooperation looks like winning instead of losing. Focus on Jesus because focusing on Jesus is winning.”

“So you’re proposing that if I intend to win cooperating with Jesus is essential. Otherwise, I’m squandering my investments.”

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“Yes, we all have a choice.”

“I’d say that’s true.”

“It is because everything else is sand, instead of a firm foundation of rock.”

I reflected on what he’d been saying.

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“Thanks for sticking with me. This has been a long session but would you be interested in meeting again and hearing about investment benefits?”

“I would.”

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(to be continued)

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IMPROVING INVESTMENTS: HOW TO (Part 3)

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I like the idea of investing in personal improvement.

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Yet I’d say it’s both intriguing and intimidating. I mean it’s fun to learn new things. I enjoy that aspect but, being honest, the applying of new ideas has at times interfered with my hoped-for results because while I’m intrigued I’m also somewhat intimidated. Why? Because, if this makes sense, I don’t want to be taken advantage of. I don’t want to be made anyone’s fool.

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All the same, in our investment consulting meetings, I’ve readily agreed I wish to learn how to improve my investments. So far I understand improved investing begins with me. It’s necessary to ask and answer questions truthfully. Of course, to do this I must quit kidding myself and get serious about applying what works while retreating from what doesn’t work. Consequently, the big question for me is can I do it? Naturally, I am confident I can do it, so more accurately, will I do it?

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Obviously, it’s for my own good, isn’t it? When I think it through it’s about making worthwhile choices, instead of unworthy choices.

Do I want to improve my personal investments? I’ve already said that I do. And, I do.

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“All right,” my investment consultant asked, “are you ready to add what’s next? Are you ready to start building a better investment?”

I could feel my heart pumping. “I’m pretty sure I am. What comes next?”

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“Okay before I tell you let’s do a quick review … you were here, now you’re here.” He held his right hand, palm up, down low, and he held his left hand, palm down, about eighteen inches higher. “Progress has been made. Before you go further remember you listed three things you want to accomplish. I asked you why these haven’t been accomplished? You have some reasons and excuses. Maybe these reasons and excuses are valid and maybe they aren’t. Still, you committed that you’re willing to take responsibility for you, halt what doesn’t work, and begin doing what will work.”

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A bit embarrassed I agreed, “Uh-huh.”

“So, we’re here.” He raised his hand palm down. The objective is to improve your investments. Is this correct?”

“Yes it is, it’s what we’ve discussed.”

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“O.K., in order to build worth and value the next thing is to choose a foundation.”

I scrambled to catch up. “A foundation? Such as?”

“A quality foundation such as rock, instead of sand.”

I tried to discern what he said. “Meaning?”

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“If your choice is sand it implies you’re choosing something that may not hold up during stress.”

“Stress?”

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“Stress normally is the negative situations and circumstances of life. For instance, the car won’t start in the morning and the company is depending on you to lead an important breakfast meeting with a top client. Or, your son tells you he must have a pair of expensive athletic shoes in order to be competitive. Thus, stress. Make sense?”

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“I get it. Sand isn’t the preferred foundation material.”

“Exactly … rock is much better.”

“Because it handles stress better?”

“For sure.”

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I wondered, “So what defines sand? What defines rock?”

“Fair question. In building your foundation sand is a choice or rock is a choice. Sand is something that could work at times, but in the end, it could fail. So the question is, why would you use sand for your foundation?”

“Uh-huh, sure. I’m following you.”

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“Rock is superior to sand. Rock has proven to be reliable. It succeeds where sand fails.”

I didn’t understand completely but I nonetheless I said, “O.K.”

“O.K. Your life is your evidence. Your life tests and proves the value and worth of building your foundation using rock. So, your choice is sand or rock.”

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“Rock seems like the better choice.”

“Correct, but know this, rock isn’t an inexpensive investment.”

That felt like a detour. “How so?”

“Rock foundation building requires greater investment than sand. Sand is less investment than rock. But you’ve already expressed you want to invest in what works and avoid what doesn’t work.”

“That’s right,” I confirmed.

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“If you will, the rock foundation and the sand foundation our relationships.”

“Relationships?”

“Let me explain. I’m talking about an under-structure which provides a sure foundation for improving all your future investments. Still with me?”

“Um, I think so.”

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Like he was reading my mind he said, “But you’re not certain because you think I might be setting you up to be tricked?”

“Uh, yes, I think that’s a possibility.”

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“I assure you, you will always have a choice to choose whether to go forward with this investment or choose not to. It’s up to you. No one is going to force you, trick you, con you, or manipulate you into doing anything you don’t decide to do. You can always decide to walk away.”

“All right.” I felt better after his explanation.

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“So, currently you have building material. Are you happy with it? Is it working for you? The test is are you moving in the direction of achieving what you hope to achieve? The foundation which is going to work best for you is rock as I said. If you’re ready, if you are able to hear me, here is the foundation for improving investments.

“O.K. Tell me.”

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“A relationship with Jesus is the rock foundation.”

“Oh …”

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“Alright at this point let me ask, are you still interested in improving your investments?”

“I am.”

“Would you like to know why I say what I’ve said about this being your best choice for improving your investments?”

“Sure I would.”

(To be continued)

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