I'm Depressed

Intellectual/Self Improvement

Review of The Great Depression: A Diary

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  While reading it, I was amazed at the similarities between the 30's and our present dilemma.  Here is a quick synopsis of the book and what the author thought:


1. The government has no idea what stimulates the economy.

2. Americans in bad times, always believe better days are around the corner

3.  Government intervention may have hurt the recovery both in the Depression and the Great Recession.

4. It's best to stay out of debt, have an emergency fund, have some capital saved up.  Having capital saved will allow an investor the opportunity to invest when prices are discounted.  Prices for stocks, real estate etc. are usually driven past the point of natural supply and demand during boom and bust cycles.  Buffet said it correctly, "Be fearful when everyone is greedy, and greedy when everyone is fearful."

5.  During calamities, natural and otherwise, Americans are generous and helpful to their fellow countryman.

6. Beware of the "intellectuals" who give advice to those in power over us.  Roosevelt had his brain trust that was made up of university economists. President Obama has his as well.  These are the same people that came up with the stimulus package and the universal health care plan. Give me a guy that has run a successful hot dog stand and that has met a payroll any day.  Alright, not all intellectuals are bad.  I do like Art Laffer and Jude Wanniski and have read a couple of their books and felt like they understand how the real world works. 

The old cliche is correct, "Those who don't pay attention to history are bound to repeat it."  The author took this saying under advisement and read all he could about past recessions and depressions.  We and our elected officials should do the same.

The Hardest Part

Financial

A quick update on our next personal finance goal - payoff all debts except the home mortgage.  Tom Petty sang, "The waiting is the hardest part."  Boy, that is true.  We are about a month away from being debt free.  As we get closer it seems the world has conspired against us to ensure that we don't complete this goal.  Car repairs, taxes, and dental bills have sprung up as we approach the finish line.  It is discouraging, but I remember that this is how it has been for four years.  Another thirty days won't be a big deal.  It is life as usual.  However, when life happens after we are debt free, it won't hurt as much.  I can see the finish line.

To be a Guest

Spiritual/The Faith

We ascend the stairs in a single line. My wife and child before me and fellow hypocrites, liers, thieves, adulters, slanders, and gossipers behind.  We come as guests to a feast with nothing to offer our Host except our thankfulness. We bring no house warming gift,  no pie or cake for dessert, and certainly not the obligatory bottle of wine.  No, we bring ourselves - a people tattered and beaten up by our sins and the sins committed against us from the previous week as well as our lifetime. 

This is how we start our week.  It's only for a brief moment, but it is one of my favorite times of my week.  During this time, Heaven comes to Earth and the infinite collides with the finite. At this dinner we are guests at a Heavenly feast where those in the faith that have ascended to the Father join us as well.  If you haven't guessed, I'm talking about Holy Communion where we receive the Body and Blood of our Lord for the forgiveness of sins. 

During Holy Communion I'm always reminded of the Transfiguration.  I know you are probably asking yourself, "What?  How is that possible?  They are two different things."  Yes they are, but in some ways they are not.  In both, as I previously mentioned, it is God Who comes down to us.  It is truly good to be in His presence as you will see.

Matthew 17:1-8 (English Standard Version)
The Transfiguration 
¹And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ²And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and clothes became white as light. ³And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." ⁵He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. ⁷But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." ⁸And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

In the account of the Transfiguration,  Peter wanted to stay on the mountain a little longer. He wanted to stay in this place not because the place was magical or that it was filled with sentiment.  He wanted to stay because he was in the presence of Jesus, God the Father, and the forefathers of the faith.  In this moment he was at peace with the God of the universe and with his neighbors as well. 

This is how I feel when I'm at the Lord's Table. I know, it's a little pious to say this. However, like Peter on the mount, I'm at peace and I want to stay just a little bit longer.  Here I am a guest of the "Maker of all things visible and indivisible" - why do I concern Him?  Like Peter, I'm a guest with the forefathers of the faith and those martyrs as well.

Then the moment ends just as fast as it began and we must descend back down the mountain to the valley.  Although we must leave, we don't leave Him on the mountain.  We take Him with us into our next week and into the remainder of our lives.  Come to think of it, a day will come when we will never have to leave the Feast.  Then we can truly say, "Lord, it is good that we are here."  Sola Deo Gloria+

"Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Thy glorious name ."

The Fine Line

Long Term Goals

In the movie Flash of Genius, a movie based on a true story, Robert Kearns invents an intermittent windshield wiper.  After presenting it to Ford, they went on to steal his idea.  Mr. Kearns decided to sue Ford and represented himself. While on the witness stand he explained how he came up with the idea.  He said at the moment he conceived the idea he had what inventors call a "flash of genius." 

Recently, I came up with an idea that fits into one of my long term goals - create a new idea or product that would benefit people.  I'm not sure if I had a "flash of genius" when I thought it up.  After many years of trying to figure out unique solutions to problems, I have concluded that there is a fine line between brilliant idea and pure crap. 

Since that day it has been a fun ride.  When I came home and told my wife about it, for once she gave me an approving nod; poor girl has had to listen to a great deal of crap ideas since we were married. After telling her about the idea we searched on the Internet to see if there is anything like the idea.  So far nothing.

After our search turned up nothing I decided to contact an attorney that I know at a local firm.  He's an intellectual properties attorney and has seen it all.  From my discussion with him he thought there might be some merit to this idea.  He thought it would a good idea to have me talk to one of his contacts that has experience in the field where my idea will be used. 

My attorney's contact reached out to me and didn't laugh me off the phone, which was a relief.  I told her the idea and she seemed to think there is potentially an idea in our midst.  Now we are researching it to see if it can be done.  Let me re-phrase that. We are researching it to see how it WILL be accomplished. 

I'm not sure if this idea will go anywhere.  I'm not sure if I'm wasting my time.  What I do know is that it has already been fun just trying to move that line.

Gil Previck (Robert Kearn's friend):" I mean, come on Bob, it's just a windshield wiper. Robert Kearns: to you maybe. To that bartender up there. But to me it's the Mona Lisa."

Managing the Store

Financial

You have heard it said, "Money is the root of all evil."  However, properly stated it is, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."  1 Timothy 6:10

The corrected version is certainly true. In my line of work I have seen many relationships strained by the pursuit of wealth and money.  I've seen both men and women work unbelievable hours to the detriment of their families.  I've seen many people stressed out because they were neck deep in debt and had no cash flow to make their payments.  I've seen people making $500,000+ a year and barely had anything to show for it.  I have seen executives being paid handsome "golden parachutes" all the while destroying their company.  All these items listed in my litany give building wealth a bad name.  However, you have to consider this, it's not the wealth that is bad, but the character that is brought out of the possessor once acquired.

We have all heard stories about how success and wealth have corrupted people.  However, I did countless searches for the benefits of wealth, but couldn't find any other than, "It's good to be rich."  Basically, when it comes to building wealth there are plenty of "how to's" but very few "why I shoulds." Before we can consider this undertaking we have to have a proper understanding of what it means to build wealth and if it is alright to do so.

First, the Bible does not condemn having or building wealth - Abraham was blessed in order to be a blessing to others. 

Proverbs 3:9-10 (English Standard Version) 9Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;10then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Deuteronomy 8:16-18 (English Standard Version)
16who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. 17Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' 18You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Second, it should be understood that having and acquiring wealth is not a zero-sum game. Stated another way, having wealth does not mean that in order for me to win, someone else must loose.  Also, it does not mean that there is one "big piece of pie" for all of us to share.  In fact,  doing business expands the pie.  In Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin, the rabbi states boldly, "Step one in the process of increasing your income is to begin wrapping yourself around these two related notions:  (1) you are in business, and (2) the occupation of business is moral, noble, and worthy." I agree with Rabbi Lapin.  When we conduct business - assuming that it is legal - it benefits others and it benefits us and our families.
With that said, here is a list that I have compiled that explains some of the benefits:

1. Allows you to be more generous.
2. Haven't seen a poor person give someone a job.
3. You will have capital to start a business if you want.
4. By staying away from debt, you avoid being enslaved. 
5. Retire on your terms.  Meaning, you won't have to rely on the government to support you.  Have you ever been through a Medicaid spend down?  I did this with one of my parents.  It was degrading.
6. You can leave an inheritance your children, loved ones, or charity. 
7. Having wealth and an emergency fund will keep you from making desperate decisions when hard times come. 
8. Builds confidence.  If you are over your head in debt, you will look desperate and will carry yourself differently while conducting business.  Clients are attracted to people who are confident and enthusiastic.  A little success builds on its' self.
9. You will have capital to invest during downturns in the economy when everything is cheap and usually below its' intrinsic value.
10. You can help others to become wealthy.

I dont' take the warnings of 1 Timothy lightly. The warnings are as important to do as they were in the first century.   Building wealth has benefits but it should not be at the expense of our relationships with others and our souls.  In the final analysis, it is my hope and prayer that any wealth I possess, doesn't possess me.  You see, I am only a manager.

"If your Riches are yours, why don't you take them with you to t'other world?" Benjamin Franklin