Vol. 1 No. 29 |  October 19 , 2006  

    

This week

“The Bible teaches that Christians are totally different from anyone else.” -  
Peter Jeffery, Evangelicals Then and Now (Buy Now)

Dear Wisdom Seeker,

Each week in Wisdom’s Edge, we discuss how to make wise decisions and apply the Bible to your life. Our goal is to help you in any way we possibly can. So if you have any questions you’d like us to answer in our weekly e-zine, please feel free to write us at feedback@wisdomsedge.com. We’ll try to answer all of the questions, but it might take some time. So make sure you stay tuned. And please tell your friends about us. We’d like to help them too.

– Steve Kroening

 

 


 

Finance

The Most Common Way to Become a Millionaire

Did you know there are nearly 2.5 million people in this country who are millionaires? And these aren’t real estate millionaires. With all the easy lending we’ve seen in recent years, it’s easy to own over a million dollars in real estate without really being wealthy.

No, the millionaires on the Merrill Lynch list are the real deal. They have liquid assets (stocks, bonds, and mutual funds) totaling over $1 million. That means nearly 1% of the population has over $1 million in cash or cash equivalents.

While a million dollars doesn’t go as far as it used to, it’s still the benchmark of real success in the U.S. How did these millionaires do it? Some of them inherited it. Others are bigwigs in major corporations who climbed the ladder through the ranks. A large number of them started their own businesses and developed them into successful ventures.

But guess how the vast majority of these millionaires made their money? They saved it! And most of them started saving early in life. Some of them never made a hefty salary. They were just very frugal.

Legend has it that John Wesley, the great Methodist preacher, never made a lot of money, but was worth over a million dollars when he died. How did he do it? He lived very frugally. And any money he didn’t give away, he saved.

You can also watch your savings grow larger than you ever imagined. All you have to do is begin today saving at least 10% of your income, invest those savings in conservative investments, and maximize your retirement investing. Controlling your spending and staying out of debt are vital, as well.

While making a million dollars is an arbitrary number that really doesn’t mean anything, it is a good financial goal. Don’t let your drive to be a millionaire consume you, though, as there are a lot of things that are much more important. And make sure you’re giving as much as you can along the way.

– Steve Kroening
     
 

 

Health

The Spice That Helps Prevent Parkinson’s Disease

A few weeks ago, I showed you how curcumin can help you overcome a family link to cancer. Now there’s evidence that this same spice can prevent Parkinson’s disease.

Curcumin is the yellow pigment in curry, the popular Indian food. It’s an amazing antioxidant that also helps your body fight off inflammation and it helps keep your cells healthy.

A new study from Italy shows that curcumin’s healing abilities can increase the power of the barrier that protects your brain (we call this the blood-brain barrier – it keeps out toxins that might hurt your brain). Once the curcumin reaches your brain, it helps build brain cells called astrocytes. These cells are part of the blood-brain barrier. Keeping them strong helps protect your brain from dangerous toxins.

A common cause of Parkinson’s is pesticide poisoning. The blood-brain barrier for most people will protect you from these toxins. But some people with weak astrocytes become more vulnerable. By building the astrocytes, the curcumin helps keep the pesticides away from your brain, preventing Parkinson’s.

The best way to get curcumin is to eat curry. But if you don’t like curry, you can also buy it in supplement form at your local health food store. Take between 500 mg one to three times daily.

– Rhett Bergeron, MD

     
 
   

Marriage and Relationships

Is Your Spouse an Easy Target for an Affair? Even If You Say “No,” Read This…

Do you ever take your spouse for granted? Do you ever say, “My spouse would never cheat on me?” If so, be careful. Here’s why…

Many affairs come completely out of the blue. They happen to those who least expect it. And many of them happen to people you would least expect. I once heard one woman who had an affair say, “I wasn’t looking to have an affair. And I never dreamed I would fall into one. It just happened.”

Well, it didn’t just happen. It’s possible she never thought about it. But the affair happened because she didn’t have her guard up. Any time you say, “I’ll never have an affair” or “I’m sure my spouse would never have an affair,” it’s a clear sign that you’ve become apathetic toward sin – and don’t fully understand its power.

1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” If you let your guard down, you become a prime target for sin to creep in. The devil loves it when you become apathetic and take things for granted.

But even worse than apathy is the self-righteousness these thoughts produce. They are a sign that we think we (or our spouse or someone else) is above sin and unable to fall into sin.

Remember, God’s strength is best exhibited in our weakness. So when we acknowledge our weakness and how easy it would be for us to fall into sin, we are far more likely to remain dependent on God and His watchful protection.

Admitting our weakness also shows that we are “sober-minded.” We understand the reality of our situation and our powerlessness in the face of temptation. It’s in this weakness that God’s power is made evident.

As a spouse, you have to stay on guard for your loved one. While you can’t prevent someone else from giving into temptation, you can show your spouse consistent devotion through words and deeds that serve them and build them up. In that kind of environment, any temptation to infidelity is far less prone to take root, much less grow into maturity.

– Steve Kroening

     
 

 

Parenting and Education

Brats Are Made, Not Born

I was talking to a friend the other day who was telling me about a 40-year old man who threw a temper-tantrum every time he didn’t get his way. While the man was generally a nice guy, his tantrums made everyone around him walk on eggshells. They didn’t know what would set him off or how to avoid it.

This man was a brat – even though his personality was usually nice and easy going. His actions made everyone around him uncomfortable. And his nice-guy persona couldn’t overcome the consequences of his tantrums.

I don’t know the man my friend was telling me about, but his actions reminded me of my kids – when they were three years old. Actually, it probably reminds all of us about young children. These are the actions of a child. Some would call these actions childish. But Scripture calls them the actions of a fool.

To touch a hot pan without knowing the consequences is a childish action. To touch that same pan while knowing the consequences is a foolish action.

When a grown man or woman throws a tantrum, or acts out in any number of other foolish ways, there’s a desired goal in mind. Not only are the consequences known – they are desired. And if you’ve spent any time around kids, you know this is learned at a very young age.

The first time a child throws a tantrum, it causes a reaction in his or her parents. If the child gets a desirable response, you can be sure more tantrums are to follow. If, however, the response is negative, it reduces the likelihood of more tantrums.

Once a child sees favorable responses on an ongoing basis, a habit is formed. At that point, even one or two negative responses won’t stop the child from throwing more tantrums.

It’s almost like the economic law of supply and demand: The more you supply your child’s favored response, the more your child will demand it.

The only way to stop the demand is to cut off the supply of encouraging responses and deliver only undesirable (or negative) responses. If all you do is cut off the supply of encouraging responses, it will likely increase demand. And the price you pay will definitely be much higher.

Any foolish behavior from your child can’t be encouraged. And it can’t be ignored. This article is titled, “Brats Are Made, Not Born.” But they also develop when parents simply ignore the behavior. This usually happens when a parent is tired, busy, or lazy. Whatever you do, take the time to address foolish behavior. If you don’t, you’ll have much worse than a brat on your hands. You’ll have a fool. And the only thing worse than a young fool is allowing a young fool to become an old fool.

– Steve Kroening

     
 

 

Success

Do You Find Integrity Lacking in Those Around You? This Could Be Why…

The word integrity is thrown around a lot in business. But what does the word really mean? It is, essentially, what we wish other people would give to us. In our dealings in all levels of life, we crave integrity from other people.

They, of course, crave integrity from us. So the question is, do we give what we expect from others? I think we can all find situations where we fall short on this score.

The question is, then, what must we do to establish integrity in our own lives? Now integrity and honesty are connected. You can’t have one without the other. But integrity is more than just honesty. Integrity entails following through with what you’ve promised to do. And it also has to do with how we treat others.

For instance, we all know what it’s like to have someone who has just served us say “have a great day.” But as they are saying it, they are already turning to the next customer, or away from us. In other words, the comment they give us is a formality, and seldom carries deep conviction that the person really does want us to have a great day.

Someone with integrity doesn’t say “have a great day,” while doing something else at the time he’s saying it. Instead, he looks the person in the eye, and with great sincerity and care says, “have a great day.” You can tell from his emphasis and body language that he means every word of it.

One thing employers fail to realize is that if they don’t exhibit integrity in their lives, they’re teaching their employees to lack integrity. This is true for parents, pastors, and government officials, as well.

So, if you don’t receive the integrity you expect from others, look in the mirror and see if you can tell the person you have before you “to have a great day.” Then go out and have a great day and see what impact you can have in a world that craves a little love and integrity in the affairs of life.

– Ian Hodge

(Ian Hodge is author of Ian Hodge’s Read, Write & Play Music, a self-teaching program in music based on the classical concept of education. For details, go to www.readwriteplay.com. Now shipping.)

     
 

 
 

Wisdom From History

The Character Traits That Took Down Slavery

Cambridge was made world famous by its reputation for nurturing brilliant minds into great scholars. The narrow cobbled stone streets, the colorful open air market, and the ornate chapel spires dominating the skies all evoke an intense feeling of history. Having recently moved here, I’m still in awe of its grandeur and enchanting beauty. It is in this setting that I have become acquainted with the story of William Wilberforce. Studying his life has challenged my faith. It has also taught me some principles that will affect my life, my marriage, and my family forever.

William was converted to Christianity after finishing university. He was a small man with some health issues, but clearly a gifted orator. His friend Thomas Clarkson enlisted his help in fighting against slavery. They became a team. Clarkson would do meticulous documentation of 20,000 interviews he conducted among sailors. Most of whom were eyewitnesses of the atrocities of the middle passage. William would present these findings before an indifferent parliament. His passion for this cause would not loose any fervor over 46 years.

What can I learn from these men? First of all, faithfulness. In 1 Corinthians 4:2 it states that the only thing required of a servant is to be faithful, which means to be reliable and trustworthy. These men continued their fight even though it was not politically correct.

Further, I can learn diligence. They were earnest in their pursuit to abolish slavery. Their tenacity in light of our current national apathy is striking. They understood that the Word of God is to be applied and lived out in our every day lives. Lastly, these were men who lived by conviction rather than convenience. They sought the welfare of others, believing that all men were created in the image of God. It cost them time away from family, money, and health, yet they persevered. Instead of feeling powerless, like I often do, they were empowered by the rightness of their cause.

In studying these lives, my thinking has become clearer and my convictions stronger. My calling is not only to raise a godly family, but to prick the conscience of our society, which has become self-centered. It is only as I live in such a way that my life can have an effect for God on my family and society.

It would not be until 1833 that slavery would be outlawed in England. The news was carried to William as lay on his deathbed. Three days later, he died having accomplished his life's work

Matthew 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again?”

– Gladys Villnow

PS. For more information on William Wilberforce, see Freedom Fighter: The Story of William Wilberforce the British Parliamentarian Who Fought to Free Slaves by Betty Steele Everett.

     
     
 

 

Word for the Wise

Life's Success Formula (Part 2)

"Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word." Psalm 119:67

Keep – Did you know that you can do exactly that same thing that God does when it comes to making life a success? Just last week we looked at Psalm 145:20. The Hebrew word shamar described God's careful observation, watchful guarding and protection over His children. God keeps us. Now we discover that we get to do exactly the same thing with God's commandments. We get to watch over them, guard them, and protect them by being fully compliant. God keeps us and we keep His word. This is the true circle of life. Simple. Direct. Easy.

Did I say easy? Yes, easy. Why? Because God keeps us. In this world we are taught to believe that keeping God's commandments is difficult. We are taught that it takes tremendous will power, strenuous spiritual effort and staggering commitment. And, of course, we are taught that we will constantly fail, be saddled with guilt and have to crawl back into fellowship. We believe this because we start with the paradigm that spiritual progress is analogous to natural, physical progress. Pain equals gain. Get with the program. Make a commitment. Follow through.

Then we encounter words from Jesus, "My yoke is easy, my burden light". We are convinced that the road is impossibly difficult so we ignore the obvious. Jesus doesn't lie. There is nothing difficult about obeying God. In fact, you were designed to obey Him. He made you with the proper spiritually shaped spaces so that you would fit right into His purposes. Loving God is the intended natural thing to do.

By now all your alarm bells are sounding. What about sinful nature? What about the fallen world? What about the spiritual warfare? Ahh, we didn't say it would be effortless. It will take lots of effort but the effort will be spent getting yourself out of the way of God working through you. The reason it is easy once you are out of the way is that God is the active agent and sends His Spirit to make sure it gets done.

Is it difficult to love your spouse or your children? Not when the relationship is fantastic. Then loving them is the easiest thing in the world. The success formula (part 2) is obvious: love God, make the relationship great, and get out of the way. The rest is easy.

– Skip Moen

(Ed. Note: Skip Moen, PhD, is the president of At God’s Table and the author of Words to Lead By.)
     
 

 
 

   

Resources

Freedom Fighter: The Story of William Wilberforce the British Parliamentarian Who Fought to Free Slaves by Betty Steele Everett (BUY NOW)

Evangelicals Then and Now, Peter Jeffery, Evangelical Press (Buy Now)

   

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