Stock Casting

Too Busy

2011-02-24T09:49:00.003-05:00

Once I was driving on the highway and I saw a bumper sticker that read, "Jesus is Coming: Look Busy." I thought this was hilarious, but it also got me thinking that we are actually sometimes too busy. We are busy with work, church, family, school, sports, entertainment, our days are filled with so much stimulation I wonder if Christ appeared in the room, would we realize he was there.

This reminds me of the story of Martha and Mary. Martha asked Jesus to to reprimand Mary because she was just sitting at the master's feet while Martha was doing all the work. I have found that whenever I pray I seem to find work or entertainment to do instead of just sit and prayer at the master's feet. Just now I was praying before writing this entry and I got up because I realized I hadn't put away all the fruit from my peapod delivery. I started to cut away the bag that contained a beautiful ripe pineapple, I took a whiff of this lovely fruit and thought I need to cut up this pineapple right now. Then it dawned on me, I had left the presence of the Lord to work and when the work was over it lead me not back into the presence of the Lord instead the work lead me to seek pleasure. I was Martha.

The Martha syndrome is the enemy's way to keep us from talking to God and hearing from Him. And if the enemy can keep us from hearing God, he can cloud our vision and without vision the people perish. That is why it is so important to keep the Sabbath holy. We need to dedicate quiet time every day but specially on Sundays to hearing from God and talking to him. There is nothing more powerful that spending some time in the presence of the Lord. When we read the passage on Mary and Martha most of us cannot identify with Martha. Jesus was right there in the room with them, of course we would be like Mary. But we are all Martha's because Christ left us the Holy Spirit and He is right there with you right now as you read this, knocking on the door of your heart wanting to sit down with you and spend sometime. There is no job, no deadline, no deliverable, no exam, no meeting that can't wait until after you have had time to sit at the master feet.

300 Culture Shifters

2011-02-23T13:33:00.003-05:00

When God asked Gideon to fight a battle he told Gideon that his army was too large and he decreased the size of his army by allowing anyone that was fearful to go home. He further dwindled down their size by watching how they drank water from the river. The majority of those that went to the river layed down on their bellies and lapped the water like a dog, 300 of them instead cupped the water with their hands and brought it to their mouth. I have heard many messages on why these 300 mighty men were chosen and all of them are correct. The first reason is that God wanted the glory so he had to dwindle their numbers to show that even at impossible odds with God we can be victorious. An alternative reason has been proposed as to why these 300 men were chosen was because in kneeling to drink the water they were more prepared for battle than their counterparts that laid down on the ground and drank it like dogs.

In addition to these reasons, I would also like to suggest a third alternative. God chose these men because they were culture shifters. Since 10,000 of the men drank water by laying on the ground and lapping it like a dog this suggests to me that maybe that was the culturally acceptable way warriors drank water from a stream. Instead these 300 men weren't conforming to the normal practices of their culture, they were culture shifters.

If God is going to use us we need to not conform to our culture but transform our culture. We need to look at new ways of conducting commerce, new ways of spreading the gospel, new ways of ministering to people. Are we still comforting to the way the world operates or are we being directed by the Holy Spirit to act in a new way, to fight battles in our workplace and in our homes in a new way. If indeed we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, then why are we trying to operate according to the rules of our culture instead of using spiritual tools and approaches that are "outside of the box."

Lets become one of this generation's 300 mighty leaders and transform the world around us by becoming culture shifters.

Don't Give Up, Keep Growing!

2011-01-01T15:21:00.001-05:00

Our society wants to label every action as either success or failure, but God has a third label, "growth." If I were to tell you to hold my baby daughter who is only a few months old and then I call out to her and say, "walk to daddy" most of you would expect that little girl to fall a number of times on her way. Then if I asked you if her walking a success or a failure, you wouldn't really be able to label it as either. She didn't complete the task of walking across the room because she fell several times, but she didn't fail either, she tried, because she is still growing. She will continue to try and she will fall several times as she tries but one day she will try and not fall.

In our earthly walk are continuously in the process of trying to walk out the vision God has called us to. Often we will falter and make mistakes, but God wants us to pick ourselves up and try again. We learn from our mistakes and we are growing both spiritually, physically and emotionally.

In 2010, I fell a lot in my walk, I made a lot of mistakes, I made investments that didn't work out, I took risks in the stock market that didn't pay off and I made a number of poor choices. The enemy would love for me to label these events as "failures" so I would get stuck on the missteps and not try again.

However, in 2011, I plan to not dwell on the mistakes of my past but instead I plan to pick myself up and look forward, knowing that I'm am growing, that I am learning and I will never give up!

So I gave a gift to myself this New Year's Day, the book, "Never Give Up! relentless Determination to Overcome Life's Challenges" by Joyce Meyers. I have yet to read it, but here is a small excerpt:

"Some of the most successful people in history failed and, instead of being discouraged, refused to give up. For example, consider the following:

Henry Ford, who invested the automobile, went broke five times before he succeeded in business.
The great dancer and movie star Fred Astaire took a screen test at MGM studios in 1933. A studio memo reported he was slightly bald, could not act, and could dance a little.
The family of Louisa May Alcott, the great author who wrote the popular book 'Little Women', thought she shold abandon the idea of being a writer and become a seamstress instead.
A newspaper fired Walt Disney for lack of ideas, and he went bankrupt several times before building Disneyland.
Enrico Caruso's parents believed a voice teacher who said he hand no future in music - he simply could not sing at all. He did not believe the teacher and became one of the most famous opera singers in the world.
Theodore Roosevelt suffered the deaths of both his mother and his wife on the same day in 1884 before he became a war hero and a very effective president of the United States.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was often asked to not return to churches after preaching in them once. When he preached on the streets, townspeople kicked him out. When he preached in a meadow, people turned a bull loose on him. But later, because he refused to give up, he preached in a pasture and ten thousand people came to hear him.

Waiting for God

2010-12-03T10:13:00.001-05:00

Ever wait on a long line at an amusement park? It requires an incredible amount of patience. The line seems to wind and turn and just when you think you are at the entrance to the ride, the line continues inside. The only reason we wait on line because we are expectant that eventually we will get on the ride promised.

Waiting on God to deliver on his promises can be a lot like waiting on line at an amusement park. Sometimes the road God has put us on takes twists and turns and we are not really sure what to expect around the next corner. Abraham, Moses or Joseph would have never thought that the promise of God would have taken as long as it did. Abraham waited nearly 25 years before his wife Sarah gave birth to Isaac, Moses and the Israelites spent 40 years in the desert before coming the promise land.

There are promises that I know God gave me that currently seem so far off they are like a dream. I have no capacity on my own to make them happen, all I can do is trust and believe God is going to deliver. When I am waiting on God and I don't know how long I have to wait my strategy is to bloom where I"m planted. Contentment is where you are. While waiting for God to deliver on his promise for that job, that wife, that dream business you need to live in the moment of where you are now and be content and know that God's promises are true and you need to exercise spiritual patience.

In our earthly eyes we look to the future and think the day that I reach this goal, then I will be happy. The problem with this thinking is that once you have gotten to where you were going the bar is reset and there is a new goal line, and we say again to ourselves if only I get to this new goal then I will be content. But God wants us to bloom where we are planted. The soil we are on is fertile ground. While Paul was in prison he was still preaching the gospel. While I am out of work, I'm going to continue to do my best to impact the kingdom. This requires me to be content in all circumstances and bloom where I'm planted.

The Power of a Whisper: Samuels' Ear

2010-09-13T22:36:00.002-05:00

My mother lost custody of three of her children before she met my father. Because of her age, my mother never expected to have any more children. So when my mother would called me her "little Samuel" I thought it was because I was an answer to prayer. I was a child she so wanted but didn't expect. I was God's consolation prize for to make up for the children she had lost in an ugly legal battle. This put an incredible burden on me as a child and teen to never let her down, but that is for another blog entry.

I now know that the reason my mom called me her "little Samuel" was not because I was an answer to prayer but because like Hannah my mom had dedicated me to the Lord and like Samuel as a young child I heard from the Lord. At a very early age I learned not only hear the voice of God but more importantly to respond. As I grew as into an adult, God's voice has seemed more distance, harder to discern. I remember recently telling my wife as we were trying to make tough decisions regarding our careers and our finance, that I felt I had all together lost the ability to hear God's voice. I no longer knew what it sounded like.

We arrived in Florida on Saturday to temporarily live with my in-laws since we rented our home in Westchester as my wife and I both seek career direction. I was pretty tired from our trip but I felt like I should go online and see if I could find a church we could attend the following morning. This didn't make sense, we hadn't yet unpacked our bags, besides, it wouldn't be as good as my church C3M in New York, yet despite these excuses I went online and found a church called the Bridge in Bradenton. The next day we got up early and made the long trek the chuch, where the pastor starting a lecture series based on a book he was reading, "The Power of a Whisper" by Bill Hybels. The message he gave was a simple , not anyway near the intellectual somersaults I was use to, but it was exactly the message I needed to hear. I realized, God hadn't stopped speaking to me, I forgot how to hear His voice and I would have to get back on a mission to having Samuel's ear to hear God's voice and obey it. In that simple but elegant message I realized God had been in fact whispering to me all along, and it started with the whisper to go online and find a church even though it would have been reasonable for me to take a Sunday off after 22 hours behind the wheel.

In the book, "The Power of a Whisper" Bill Hybels says, "Do you think anyone is orchestrating those ideas that float through your mind? I mean, do you think your thoughts are just random, or is it possible that God is trying to communicate to you in some way?" As I read this book, I find myself on a mission to have Samuel's ear and hear God's voice by slowing down, blocking out all the extra noise and distractions of this world and listen to His whispers.

Preserving Your Spirit

2010-09-10T21:43:00.001-05:00

I'm writing this from a bathroom in the Hampton Inn in Fayetteville, North Carolina on my way to Bradenton, Florida. I have just rented out my home in Bronxville, New York and I'm on my way to moving in with my in-laws. I sit here and think this doesn't make sense, this is not the vision God gave me for our future. I remember something I recently told my connect group, God typically reveals to us the end of the vision without given us the path, because if we actually saw the path our vision would take us we might not want to go. God is cheeky that way. If Joseph had known that he would have to be sold by his brothers and become a slave and put into prison in order for his vision to come true of his brother's bowing down to him, he may have asked God to give the vision to one of his other brothers.

As I uncomfortably sit in a sterile Hampton Inn bathroom so as to not disturb my wife, two year old son and one month old daughter asleep in adjoining room, I contemplate moving onto the army green and yellow diamond carpeting, in a hope that it will be more comfortable. It is then that I see Joyce Myers book "The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word" and I find inside the following verse: "You have granted me life and favor, and Your providence has preserved my Spirit." Job 10:12. I recognize that these gifts Life, Favor andProvidence keep in in good cheer and preserve my spirit. Without the gift of life, I wouldn't be able to appreciate the vastness of His unfailing love and mercy, without His Favor I wouldn't be able to recognize His divine intervention even in the middle of trouble times and without his providence I would not have the faith to know that he will complete that what He has promised and that "All things work together for good for those to trust God and are called according to His purposes (Roman 8:28)."

So if your like me and the vision God gave you seems sidetracked, trust that like Joseph you are precisely in the place God wants you to be. His providence that will ultimately preserve the vision and the destiny He has in store for you. So preserve a cheerful spirit despite your circumstances.

Prayer at the Stock Exchange

2010-06-02T06:16:00.001-05:00

Two day’s ago I joined a friend of mine Anthony DiMaio of Bold Ministries for a meeting at the NYSE. We met on the corner of Wall Street and Broad Street in front of the exchange, we pasted through the first checkpoint and then a second with a metal detector and once we were inside we took the elevator up to a room where six men and one woman joined us to talk and to pray.

In the meeting I felt the presence of God as thick as if I was stepping into a pool of water. I have become accustomed to feeling the presence of God when I’m with Anthony (Tony as he is known at the exchange) but I felt it particularly strong this morning. This morning I was reminded of the two other times I written on my blog. Both were times when people at Wall Street were praying and this ushered in a move of God

I was reminded of September 1857 when Lamphier gathered with six other businessmen gathered on Fulton Street, just a few blocks from Wall Street to pray. Seventeen days later the Great Panic of 1857 occurred. Subsequently, God started a move through Lamphier’s group where 10,000 men would gather regularly to pray, this move of God began the “Third Great Awakening.” I realized this event was approximately 150 years to the date of when Lehman’s failure occurred in 2010. Here we were in the NYSE gathered together to pray.

I was also reminded of 1907 when J.P. Morgan was in Atlanta in a church conference praying when he heard of the credit markets ceasing in New York. He immediately grabbed the first train to New York and gathered his banking friends to provide credit to the banks saving many from financial ruin. If J.P. Morgan had not been praying he might have also let the panic of 1907 grasp hold of his heart and not had the wisdom and guidance to hear the voice of the Lord and know what to do during this crisis.

And here I find myself in 2010, post one of the greatest economic catastrophes that occurred since the Great Depression in the New York Stock Exchange with eight other believers gathering to prayer. I realized in this room we have two more than Lamphier had when he helped usher in the Third Great Awakening. I believe we are on the verge of the Fourth Great Awakening. God is trying to get our attention and that is why the financial world is rocking. Whether is be the housing market, or the problem the Euro is experiencing because of the PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Spain), Korea, the Gulf spill or some other yet unknown crisis, the Bible says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.” Land is representative of our property and our place of wealth, now is the time to pray for forgiveness so that our land, our country and place of prosperity will be healed.

Warren Buffet's 10 maxims to live by

2009-11-19T12:01:00.002-05:00

Hard work: leads to profit, talk just leads to poverty
Laziness: a sleeping lobster is carried away by the current
Earnings: never depend upon a single source of income
Spending: if you buy things you don’t need you will soon sell things you do need
Savings: don’t save what is left after spending, spend what is left after savings
Borrowing: the borrower becomes the lender’s slave
Accounting, no use carrying an umbrella if your shoes have a leak
Auditing: beware of little expenses a small leak can sink a large ship
Risk Taking: never test the depth of a river with both feet
Investment: don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Overcoming the Challenges and finding Joy in the Workplace

2009-09-28T09:50:00.000-05:00

As a business expands new challenges can take us out of our comfort zone. We are going to discuss how to gain the confidence needed to overcome new challenges and build the practical and spiritual skills that will help you complete new tasks all the while maintaining a joy and peace regarding your current circumstance.

Please join us Thursday October 1st at the Lauren Parson Pratt conference center 281 Park Ave South (@22nd Ave) at 7pm

Value of Relationships

2009-09-02T12:25:00.004-05:00

As current and future business leaders, the marketplace is our area of vocation and mission field. Despite the availability of and our modern reliance on technology, marketplaces are and will remain vibrant with human interaction. Building lasting relationships in the workplace is of value to our professions and to the Kingdom. Let's meet to consider, discuss and pray about how we can become people who are consistently well-liked, connected and serving others as we work.

Join us Thursday September 10th at the Lauren Parson Pratt Conference center 281 Park Ave South (@ 22nd Ave) Time: 7-9pm

Pathfinders Event: "Shifting Gears"

2009-07-20T21:02:00.001-05:00

Thursday,July 23rd:

Business like cycling requires that you shift gears in order to get ahead. In the modern workplace you have to constantly adapt to ever changing circumstances. It is God’s desire that we continue to grow and succeed in our place of business and this often will require that we shift gears spiritually. I believe that we are in a season where God wants to shift you into high gear so that you can spiritually accelerate and take your business and life into a new gear. Join us this Thursday at Pathfinders were we will help you transition/shift smoothly into the new gear in your career so you can strive ahead of the pack.

Location: Laura Parson's Pratt 281 Park Ave South (@ 22nd Ave)

Time: 7-9pm

Warren Buffett on:

2009-04-01T15:24:00.001-05:00

Best investment ever made: My marriage license. Who you marry will have more impact on your life than any other external event in your lifetime. It is hugely important who you marry – marry someone who will bring out the best in you.

On success: IQ does not equal success. Good grades does not equal success. Character, discipline and focus will equal success. You need to detach yourself from the heard and the views of other people.

On mistakes: If you can’t stand mistakes, you shouldn’t be in the game. Don’t berate yourself over mistakes, just get on with the game.

On debt: If you are smart enough, you don’t need debt. If you are dumb, then debt will always get you into trouble.

On Investing: Don’t need an IQ to invest, but do need the right temperament. If it is cheap, I will buy; if not, I will pass. Develop your circle of competence, and know how big that perimeter is. Invest with a strong ‘margin of safety.’ If a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush, how sure are you that there is in-fact 2 in the bush. How far away is it, and how will you get there? Is there a bush close by that has 3 birds in it?

On career: Why paint something you don’t like; paint a life that you want. Build something that you want to build. Major on character, discipline and focus.

On motivating: Bringing out the potential in people is the most rewarding thing you can do.

On politicians: He asks them “what are you for that your constituents are really against?” – this will reveal what they really believe.

On democracy: The problem with democracy is that elected officials will not rule for the future, but only for the present day.

On hiring staff: Hire someone who is not in it for the money, fame or reward and hire someone who is prepared to go into the fox hole with you and stay there in the tough times. Work with people you want to work with and be the kind of person that you would want to hang around with.

On strategy: Strategy really means ‘dumb.’ So ‘Strategic planning’ means ‘dumb planning’ and ‘strategic acquisition’ means ‘dumb deal’. We have no strategic planning at Berkshire Hathaway, we just look for great investments and aim to preserve our capital.

High Performance

2009-03-26T14:56:00.001-05:00

Dana Torres attributes her Olympic gold medal winning skill to having her body and muscles professionally stretched 5 times daily. And while, in part, hers is a God-given talent, she maximizes her "raw material" with techniques that lead to high performance. Are you operating in your professional life in such a way that you are achieving high performance? Let's gather to consider and share what areas of our work and thinking need activating and / or realigning so we too are maximizing our natural, God-given talents and excelling as high performers.

Join us Thursday April 2nd at the Location Laura Parson Pratt Conference Center
281 Park Ave South (@22nd St.) please plan to join us after the meeting for a Pathfinders Social at Barbounia.

GET TO KNOW THE VOICE OF GOD

2009-03-23T07:38:00.003-05:00

I usually don't like to quote or post material form other sources, however I made an exception this morning because I read a very inspiring:

"God wants us to know that no matter how difficult things may get for us, he will sustain all who trust in him—by the power of his still, small voice, speaking to our inner man daily.

This is confirmed by the prophet Isaiah: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). You have to understand, Isaiah delivered this word to Israel in the very worst of times. The nation was under judgment, in absolute ruin, with everything breaking down. And so Isaiah told Israel’s leaders, “Turn to the Lord now! He wants to give you a word of direction—to speak to you, saying, ‘Go this way, go that way, here’s the way…’” But they wouldn’t listen. They decided they would turn to Egypt to deliver them! They thought they could rely on the Egyptians’ chariots, horses and supplies to see them through.

Yet, God did not send all of his judgment on Israel at that point. Rather, he decided to wait patiently until the bottom fell out of every plan. He said, “While they’re running around scheming how to survive, I’ll wait. I want to show them my mercy, in spite of their wickedness!” (v. 18). Sure enough, everything failed, and things only got worse for the nation. Finally, when all their schemes had fallen through, God told the people, “Now, let me take over! Open your ears, and I will speak to you. I know the way out, and I will direct you. I want to guide your every move, to the right and to the left, to deliver you. I’ll lead you by my voice—speaking to you, telling you what to do, down to the last detail!”

What matters—what’s vitally important—is that you get to know the voice of God. He is still speaking. He made it clear, “My sheep know my voice.” There are many voices in the world today—loud, demanding voices. But there is that still, small voice of the Lord that can be known and heard by all who trust what Jesus said." -David Wilkerson

Be Strong and Courageous

2009-03-17T09:10:00.001-05:00

Assistant Pastor Anthony Ceccutti of Christian City Church Manhattan spoke a wonderful message on Sunday on Joshua chapter 1, where God tells Joshua to be "Strong and Courageous." In difficult times we often have a choice between fight or flight. Often when God allows an obstacle to obstruct us it is for us to attack and conquer.

Often we stand in front of an obstacle in defeat asking why God has allowed such a trial to enter our path. Instead we need to ask God what is the lesson we are to learn from this obstacle and how are we to overcome it? Are we to rely on our own abilities and ingenuity or are we to trust that God is going to provide a way of escape?

Obstacles will come and go but the lessons learned will last a lifetime.

Ten Tenets of Investing

2009-03-02T13:40:00.002-05:00

I thought this was a brilliant piece by James Montier of SocGen and wanted to share it with you with some added comments of my own.

Ten Tenets of My Investment Creed

1. Value, value, value Value approach minimizes the risk of overpaying for the hope of growth. (I would add to this don't buy things just because they are 'cheap' because they could just get cheaper)

2. Be contrarian Sir John Templeton observed, "It is impossible to produce superior performances unless you do something different from the majority"

3. Be patient wait for the fat pitch, value managers' have the curse of being too early

4. Be unconstrainedWhile pigeon-holing and labelling are fashinonable, Iam far from convinced that they aid investment. Surely I should be free to exploit value opportunities wherever they may occur.

5. Don't forecast Forecasting is like relying on your seriously flawed ability to soothsay.

6. Cycles matter Howard Marks says, "we can't predict but we can prepare" (I would add, be aware of the cycle you are in and the one you are about to enter).

7. History matters The four most dangerous words in investing are "This time is different"

8. Be skeptical Learning to question what you are told and developing critical thinking skills are vital to long term success and survival

9. Be top-down and bottom-up Both viewpoints matter, either has a monopoly on insight.

10. Treat your clients as you would treat yourself the ultimate test of an investment is would I be willing to invest with my own money? (Do unto other's as you would have done unto you).

Do you Soar or Slide?

2009-02-27T15:32:00.002-05:00

"Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint" - Isaiah 40:31

Eagles use storms to actually lift them above the storms. If you are flying above the storm you are unaffected by the turbulence. This is a complete contrast to a snake whose entire body is earthbound. The snake is not only effected by the storm above but the ground below scraping his belly. If you listen to the spirit of God and abide in Christ Jesus you can soar like an Eagle, while those who live out of the flesh are earthbound.

When it comes to your business do you Soar like an Eagle or Slide like a snake?

Pathfinders + Social

2009-02-26T11:12:00.000-05:00

March, 5th 7 pm

Contact info@cccmanhattan.org to RSVP
Location Laura Parson Pratt Conference Center
281 Park Ave South (@22nd St.)

Unleashing Your Future: During challenging economic times businesses refocus on core competencies by cutting departments that are not key to their long term business objectives. God can use life's economic storms to strip us of our unnecessary baggage and have us refocus on Him. Join us as we lay out a plan for you to release your baggage and unleash God's plan for your future and your business.

AND, please plan to join us after the meeting for a Pathfinders Social at Barbounia. See you there

Stepping on your Problems

2009-02-23T11:11:00.002-05:00

On Sunday, Senior Pastor Stephen Hickson of Christian City Church Manhattan had an amazing message on "Vision" and I had to share part of it that was particularly inspiring.

"When Jesus was walking on the water, he was walking on their problems, the water/storm and he commanded Peter to walk on his problems as well."

I love the image of Jesus encouraging us to walk on our problems. What is greater the problem or God and the direction He has for your life? If He has placed you in a boat and He is steering the vessel He will get you to the other side. Wouldn't you rather be where God is and where he wants to take you even if it means passing through turmoil?

Get out there and walk on your problems!

Gold will Rust

2009-02-18T10:51:00.003-05:00

As the market turns south, investors turn to Gold as a safe haven. Yesterday, gold rose 2.7% to $967 a troy ounce. It made me look to see what the Bible has to say about gold and God led me to James chapter 5.

"Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment. For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The wages you held back cry out against you. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you."

Since gold is not iron ore it can't actually "rust" so I can only come up with one of two possible meanings behind this passage it is literal or figurative. As far as the literal interpretation I have read that it is possible that a nuclear fall out could cause gold to rust however, I haven't been able to verify this and I don't think we would survive it to see gold rust so I think we may need to look at this passage as figuratively. Silver and Gold has always been synonymous with money and or wealth. It is clear that the passage is warning not to count on the wealth that you have stored away.

As investors we need to not put our trust in our wealth but put our trust in the Lord. As employers we need to make sure we are taking care of our employees because the verse says, "Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. " We need to expand and not contract. If you don't take care of your employees during this time, why should God take care of you?

Consumption vs Production

2009-02-09T14:03:00.001-05:00

We have become a society of consumers rather than producers. Our spiritual and physical growth requires that we actually produce more than we consume. If your body consumes more food than it expends in work you get fat, likewise the more we become consumers of the things the world has to sell us the less spiritually fit we become.

As consumers it is important to keep account of where we are spending our money. In our household we call them buckets. We have buckets that can't be changed like the mortgage bucket, or the groceries bucket, but then we have buckets on things like the vacation bucket or the going out for dinner bucket. At the end of the month we can look at our buckets and see where our money has gone. Where your money goes is where your priorities in life are.

My wife and I made a promise to ourselves that with the exception of our mortgage none of our buckets would be bigger than our tithing bucket. What you consume determines where your heart is.

Train Spotting: How a Church is like a Train.

2008-12-16T12:18:00.002-05:00

Typically I take the 7:24 train into Grand Central station, but recently I have had two occasions to come in at either an earlier train (6:30 am) or a later train(8:15 am). Taking the earlier train I noticed many people on that train slept and appeared tired and seemed to walk slowly while leaving the train. This compared to the train I usually take where most of the people are reading the paper or working on their laptops, and it seems like a sprint to the exit with people checking their blackberries as they walk. In the later train, I noticed people walked extra slow, I assumed that this was not due to lack of sleep but because they didn't want to go to work, they were just dragging themselves to their jobs. Something as simple as picking the right train in the morning can dictate your success in the work place.

Which train you ride means a lot as far as the experience of getting to work and your success in the workplace. Trains are a lot like churches, they will all get you to your destination but you can have very different experiences depending upon the train you are on. My church has enough elements to challenge and support me, encourage and comfort me. Like my train, my church feels "just right."

Buy Gold Coins (or have fish produce them)

2008-12-10T12:09:00.001-05:00

Investors typically look to gold coins as a safe investment in turbulent times. I personally know of several investment professionals that at the height of the market turbulence this year bought gold coins in the event their bank failed or the dollar became worthless. If highly intelligent professional investors are tucking gold coins under their mattress or more likely putting in the safe they bought at home depot, what is the novice investor or Joe the plumber to do? I believe they need to put our trust in God.

As believers we need to look toward God not gold in turbulent times. In Matthew 17, Jesus tells Peter to go fishing and in the mouth of the fish will be a gold coin in order to pay their taxes. This implies that either this fish started producing gold coins, someone lost the coin and the fish swallowed it up, either way God provided.

Fierce Determination

2008-12-05T15:18:00.001-05:00

Determination is the act of deciding definitely and firmly. Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Without a battle there can be no real victory. The Bible says, in Phil 4:13 "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me" It also says in Rom 8:37 "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." This means our battle has purpose.

The Bible has many examples of fierce determination. Jacob working 14 years for his wife Rachel. Moses pleaded with Pharaoh 10 different times to let the Israelites go. Elisha follow Elijah for years in pursuit of the mantle. Hosea pursuit of Gomer as a wife. Christ fasting for forty days. Paul spread the Gospel during early days of church suffering imprisonment and torture.

A determined person sets themselves up to win by choosing words and actions that build and give life (control thoughts). A fiercely determined person partners with God. They seek revelation by going up the mountain to get a better view.

The Great Stock Market Crash Myth

2008-11-30T18:02:00.003-05:00

According to John Kenneth Galbraith in The Great Crash 1929, 'the suicide wave the followed the stock market crash is also a part of the legend of 1929. In fact, there was none.' Instead what we find is that for several years prior to 1929 'the suicide rate had gradually been rising.' This is of particular interest because it suggests that people loosing all their wealth was not the cause of suicides, in fact suicides had been on the rise while the stock market was doing incredibly well.

How can we explain this increase while the market was doing well? While I have only anecdotal evidence I would suggest that society had become dissatisfied and this was the cause for the increase in suicides prior to the great crash. The years prior to the great crash there was a massive increase in speculators in the stock market as it became the modern day gold rush. The stock market was a road to quick wealth based on a house of cards. As investors gained wealth there was was also an immediate dissatisfied with the wealth they acquired. As the old saying goes, "wealth doesn't bring happiness." Likewise those that did not play the stock market or lost money doing so also became dissatisfied because they saw those around them gaining wealth and they felt left out.

The increase in suicides prior to the stock market crash suggests that people were not content. Paul says in Philippians 4:11 'I have learned to be content in all circumstances.' It is important for us in this modern day stock market and economic downturn to remember to be content in all circumstances. How can we be content in all circumstances? We need to know that God is still in control and that He will work it out if we continue to put our trust in Him.

Make me a Macedonian

2008-11-24T13:33:00.002-05:00

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 the apostle Paul describes the Macedonians as having the gift of generosity. It seems as if more often than not we wish to be the beneficiary instead of the deliverer of generosity. I don't think I have ever heard someone open a prayer by saying, "God, make me more generous" We can blame society as the reason for our selfish nature, but the reality is that it is we are born with it. We can see this lack of generosity or selfish behavior early on in children in the playground with their refusal to share their toys.

The Macedonians were commended by Paul because of their generosity. In fact he called it a gift, one that others need to follow their example. What I find even more compelling is that the Macedonians we generous despite their poverty. It is easy to be generous when you are Bill Gates or Warren Buffet, but God expects us to be generous when we have nothing. We find an example of in the Old Testament when the prophet asks the widow woman to use he last bit of flour and oil to make him something to eat. This was all she had, she tells the prophet that she was going to use it to prepare a last meal and die. Her ability to muster up generosity in a time of famine was what later on gave her access to the miracle healing of her son.

In these difficult times there is nothing more powerful that we can do to during difficult times that giving. This past weekend I saw an incredible amount of giving at the Here's Life Inner City "Boxes of Love" packing party. It is an annual event where hundreds of people from all over NYC line up in the cold just for the opportunity to come together to pack Thanksgiving dinners to 4000 of NYC most neediest families.

Give to our church, give to our community and those in need. If you are looking for places other than just the church to give to here is a list of my three favorite non profits in alphabetical order:

www.betel.org/us
www.charityis.org
www.hlic.org

Market King

2008-11-21T08:29:00.000-05:00

"The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it wherever he pleases" Prov 21:1

In our modern marketplace our Kings maybe our bosses or the companies we work, but God needs to rule over our lives. When we let him reign we are submitting to the destiny he has in store for us, irregardless if the circumstances appear dire. We have faith and trust in his word that he can change those circumstances.

God is a jealous king, he wants us to have no other kings above him. If you have made your employer, business or the market king over your life, it is time to remember that he is sovereign and he reigns over all. It is time to submit to his will and stop putting your trust in your business and start putting your trust in God.

Peace in (Market) Turmoil

2008-11-20T10:22:00.001-05:00

"Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest"

This verse in speaks specifically to those of us that work and work in the marketplace. The last time the market was in this much turmoil I was but a child, so I can't say that I know what it was like to experience previous recessions, but I do know the result, we came out the other side and stronger.

I know that God's promises are true. In Matt 11:28 he gives us a promise of rest (peace) for such a time as this. It may seem hard to find peace in the midst of all this volatility, it may seem like trying to drink a cup of tea on a roller coaster ride; impossible. But God's promises are true. His peace surpasses all understanding.

This market feels like a roller coaster market ride and during this time we have to pray for God's peace. Jesus gives us the ultimate example of peace, he was so peaceful he actually fell asleep in the boat while his disciples thought they were going to drown. Sometimes we feel like Christ is asleep, he is silent, we feel he is not with us in the midst of the storm, but He is there. If you are not praying in this market turmoil it is not too late to start, cry out to God and he will hear your plea. He will give you peace and in that peace will come wisdom and clarity as to what to do during this market. He will direct our sails and set us do north to were it is he wants to take us.

Praying for alimighty $$-NY Post Article

2008-10-10T09:52:00.003-05:00

The mighty are falling on their knees in prayer at Trinity Church on Wall Street. The number of worshipers at the midday service has jumped from about 50 to 110 on some days, said lay minister Carlos Mateo. "We're seeing more people come in to pray and to think," the Rev. Mark Bozzuti-Jones wrote in the church newsletter. A hedge-fund executive who identified himself only as Charlie said, "I've been to Trinity four times in the last month and I hadn't been here in over a year." Worshiper James Fazio, 43 who works at a downtown insurance company said, "I pray that God will be watching me, my family and everyone else, and the bad people will have to pay for what they've don." -Kerry Willis, Rebecca Rosenberg and Tim Perone of the NY Post

1907 Market Panic: J.P. Morgan leaves Church to save the Market

2008-09-22T08:20:00.000-05:00

Back in 1907, there was a similar panic to the one we are facing today. It was a time that involved a failed attempt to corner the market on a stock of a copper company that lead to a run on the banks. Like this past week's injection by the Treasury department of billions of dollars, bank in 1907 the Treasury injected millions of dollars into the system. While this injection of capital helped, it was actually J. Pierpont Morgan (aka J.P. Morgan) the banking magnet that actually saved the day. J.P. Morgan was attending a church conference in Virginia when the panic hit Walls Street. After the conference that evening he took a train back from to New York City, where immediately got others to join together to form a pool of capital that was then used to pay the depositors at the banks. Once the depositors realized that they were able to get their money, the panic eased.

Today I heard a sermon by Pastor Stephen Hickson of C3 Manhattan (www.c3manhattan.org) entitled, "For such a time as this" that was on how Christians are to rise up during desperate times like 9.11 to be leaders that guide people to Christ This sermon made me wonder if history would have been the same if J.P. Morgan was not at a Christian and attending a church conference when the panic broke out. Would he have had the spiritual fortitude, peace and confidence to stabilize the market, or would he too have been acting out of panic?

We as believers during this current market turmoil must use our spiritual fortitude to lead others toward stability, peace and Faith.

Stock Market Crashes; 10,000 gather to pray

2008-09-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

At noon on September 23, 1857, a businessman Jeremy Lamphier, started a prayer meeting in lower Manhattan on Fulton street only a couple of blocks from Wall Street. He invited many people but only six showed up, however this did not discourage Lamphier as he already knew the history of prayer and its ability to bring revival.

What does a prayer meeting have to do with Stockcasting and business on Wall Street? In times of crisis we need to pray. Seventeen days after Lamphier started his prayer meeting on October 10th, 1857 the stock market crashed. The crash is now described as the "great panic of 1857".

Within six months Lamphier's little prayer meeting had grown to nearly 10,000 people a day. This revival in prayer spread to other American cities as well. In Chicago 2,000 gathered daily for prayer. Other cities like St. Louis, Cleavland, Louisville experienced similar revivals. By February 1858 the media caught wind of the revival and several articles were written including ones in the New York Herald and the New York Tribune. It was this small prayer meeting of six men led by Jeremy Lamphier lead to what is now known as "The Third Great Awakening". This revival spread quickly to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Europe, South Africa, India, Australia, and the Pacific islands.

Red Kite Metals

2008-03-25T08:14:00.002-05:00

In June 2007, Michael Farmer, co- founder of hedge fund Red Kite Metals, hosted a lunch for fellow members of the London Metal Exchange. The topic wasn't the latest movements in the metals markets. Instead, he invited a theologian to speak on Christianity and gave a testimonial himself.
Farmer, 63, a ``born-again'' Christian, has been mixing business and religion for years. It's done nothing to diminish his success. A metals trader since the age of 19, Farmer helped turn London-based MG Plc into the world's biggest copper trader during the 10 years he ran it. In 2000, Enron Corp. bought the company for half a billion dollars.
In 2005, Farmer founded RK Capital Management LLC, whose main fund is Red Kite Metals, and he quickly made Red Kite the world's biggest industrial-metals hedge fund. Red Kite Metals returned 188 percent in 2006, gaining from what Farmer calls the greatest bull market in commodities in modern times. - Partial reprint from Bloomberg article by Chanyaporn Chanjaroen

"Dartwielding monkey" - Insightful FT article

2007-10-02T07:43:00.000-05:00

How not to be a dartwielding monkey - EQUITY RESEARCH - Research is wasted if managers don't know what they are looking for, writes Mark Sellers.
By MARK SELLERS
13 August 2007
Financial Times

Should you spend countless hours researching a stock before buying it, or just a few hours? The common wisdom is that the more time you spend on research, the better your investment results will be. But is this correct?

Not according to studies on the subject. At least two I have seen came to the conclusion that anything more than a cursory review of a company's prospects is a waste of time.

One study showed that sell-side stock analysts, who spend 50-80 hours a week on research and presumably have loads of information at their fingertips, are no better than a monkey with a dart at predicting a company's five-year earnings growth rate. In fact, they are worse than a monkey with a dart because they tend to project the recent past into the distant future, rather than assuming growth will revert to the mean. If the analysts' projections had been simply random, the results might have been closer to reality.

Furthermore, large mutual funds tend to hug the return of their benchmark more closely than smaller funds do, in spite of the fact that larger funds have more resources and presumably are able to do more research. They can pay an army of analysts to research every nook and cranny of a company's business and come up with proprietary earnings estimates and valuation models. Yet more research does not equate to better returns, at least among mutual funds (and I suspect the same is true of hedge funds).

It would, therefore, be easy to conclude that research is a waste of time. But I have a different take on this issue. In my view, the problem is not with research per se. The problem is with the type of research people do. They miss the forest for the trees.

The typical fund manager is bombarded with dozens of news items about his stocks and makes many seemingly important buy and sell decisions every day. The noise doesn't get filtered out. Everything seems important to some managers.

The thought process is something like this: What will the Federal Reserve do at its next meeting? Will company X beat earnings estimates next quarter or miss them? Which direction will oil go from here, up or down, and how might that affect consumer spending? Is the economy headed into a recession? What will company X's stock price do over the next three months? Will the analysts reduce earnings estimates after I buy the stock, resulting in short-term losses? Are analyst estimates too low, so that there is a short-term profit opportunity? Which will perform better over the next year, foreign stocks or domestic stocks?

These are the thoughts of a typical fund manager on a typical day. Thoughts are scattered across a range of subjects, with questions that can't possibly be answered with any accuracy (like those above) gaining most attention. If you waste much of your time worrying about questions that can't be answered, you are spending less time on the few things you can answer.

Contrast this with the investment process of Warren Buffett and his partner, Charlie Munger. Their record is astounding, yet they have no analysts on staff to crank out spreadsheets or discounted cash flow valuations. How can two people out-research a staff of 100 highly trained financial analysts using the latest and greatest computer technology?

The answer is that Mr Buffett and Mr Munger are able to filter out the noise better than just about anyone else. Based on the shareholder letters Mr Buffett has written, it appears he does not get distracted by unanswerable questions and daily noise, at least to the same degree as everyone else. He and Mr Munger avoid researching companies they can't easily understand. They ignore questions that can't be answered, such as which direction the economy is headed this year. They don't waste time.

Instead, they focus on just a few things: the integrity and talent of a company's management team, the size of its economic moat and whether its valuation seems reasonable in light of the cash flows it is throwing off today. They don't try to predict the future except in a very general way. They stay within their circle of competence and ignore all else. They don't get distracted by shiny objects - or Bloomberg terminals.

Calm in the Storm

2007-08-17T15:39:00.000-05:00

The Market has been an roller coaster ride. I believe the anxiety traders are feeling must resemble how the disciples felt in the boat in the middle of the storm. Yet during the storm Jesus was sleeping because he was at perfect peace. The disciples couldn't understand why he was sleeping, because they were being tossed around. As a Christian in the market I believe we have to pray and remember that God gives us peace that surpasses all understanding. The peace he gives us is not as the world give it. The peace of the world requires a good environment, but the peace that God gives us is irregardless of the environment. I have found that when the market is going crazy and my co-workers are screaming, it is best to leave the room for just a minute or two and find a quite place like a conference room to pray. In that time I find that God arrives and restores to us the peace, which gives us the calm in the storm to make the right trade decisions.

Finding God in Market Turmoil

2007-08-12T21:14:00.000-05:00

August is typically the time of the year is when Hedge Fund managers go to their homes in the Hamptons for a little rest and relaxation, but this August has been anything but peaceful. The meltdown of the sub-prime mortgage market has caused multi-billion dollar companies like American Home Mortgage (AHM) to go bankrupt, Bear Sterns(BSC) to shut down some of its hedge funds and Goldman Sachs(GS) one of the most prestigious brokerage houses to suffer huge losses to their stock price. Yet in the midst of all this Market in turmoil how is it that we can have a peace that the Bible describes, "surpasses all understanding".

I was playing tennis with a successful executive friend of mine who ran a multi-billion dollar corporation and after the match he started telling me about a certain time in his life during which he found himself in a crisis. I expected him to tell me how God gave him comfort during this time but instead he described how challenging the time was and how he had a hard time understanding "Why" he was being put through this circumstance and "Where" God was hiding during this time?

It got me thinking that while there are many times in the Bible that God chooses to manifest himself in a Big way, but there are other examples where He remains silent. It occurred to me that almost all the great figures in the Bible experience periods in their life when God was "silent" and His presence felt far off. The Psalmist best describes this time in our Christan walk when he says, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death you are with me." I believe the psalmist wrote this because he is actually reminding himself that God is still there, even though he doesn't feel His presence. Incredibly even Christ for a moment in time felt separation from God's presence when He was on the cross and said, "my God, my God why have you forsaken me?"

God obviously loves his only son Christ, but at that moment even Jesus felt forsaken when probably needed God the most. If God allowed even Jesus to feel forsaken at the time when he needed Him the most it is likely that we too may feel alone in our greatest challenges. Why does He sometimes seems to disappear? The poem "Footprints" is very beautiful and speaks to the artist in me, but when I'm in trouble the more practical business person side of me emerges and I want to know where God is?

I believe that during our darkest moments when a trial is unbearable the reason God seems to intentionally hide is so we will do three things 1) recall our previous victories, 2) seek his presence even more fervently and 3) rely on His promise that "he will never leave us nor forsake us" and that He will never "give us any burden to difficult for us to carry."

So when everything is falling apart and the Market is crashing, my only hope is to follow Christ's example and cry out to God. It gives me comfort to know that on the cross He too felt forsaken and even though I don't understand "why", or don't feel Him there, He is in fact walking with me in the valley of the shadow of death.

I have come to accept that the "Why" is not necessarily for me to comprehend. The outcome is simply an increased faith and fortitude for the next battle.

Fellowship of the Unashamed -Commitment Statement

2007-06-18T15:26:00.001-05:00

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed". The die has been cast, the decision has been made, I have stepped over the line. I won't look back let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure. I'm finish and done with lone living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame vision, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotion, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right first, tops recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on his presence, love with patience, live by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I can not be bought, compromised, detoured, loured away, turned back, diluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, and ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up and paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till he stops me and when Jesus comes for his own, He will have no problem recognizing me, my banner is clear, I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.

Tossed Out of the Boat

2007-04-10T13:39:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you are out of the boat because you feel like God has called you to something great and feel the faith to walk on water, but other times you are just tossed out of the boat and don't know what has hit you.

The latter is what happened to me recently. I was working for a Hedge fund where my manager and I were not seeing eye to eye and we parted ways. This is an amazing challenge for me, I had only started the job four months ago and my wife and I are only days away from closing on a house and it scares me to think about how we are going to cover the mortgage on only one salary, but I know that even when I'm tossed out of the boat, it is in God's plan.

I recently heard a sermon that really spoke to me, it was by a minister that was trying to explain why even things we think are mistakes or errors might actually be God. The minister explained that the reason he was a minister today was because a door was left open. He explained, that he was inspireed to enter into the full time ministry because of a lecturer he hear in his college. However, the lecturer almost never spoke at this college because he was having visa problems. A classmate of the minister talked to the dean of the college because he believed that he could help the guest lecturer with his visa issues, the classmate happened to be the son of then sitting President Gerald Ford.

The son of President Ford contacted the right people and was able to help the guest lecturer get his visa. Well how did President Ford come into office, it was because Nixon left that White House because of Watergate and why was Watergate revealed? Because one of the buglers left a door ajar and the night watchman on duty noticed it. So leaving a door ajar was the reason this Minister entered into the full time ministry. So if you are enjoying this blog right now you can thank Watergate.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Even things I perceive as mistakes are in God's control and a part of his greater plan and that gives me peace.

Investing on Faith

2006-05-30T15:03:00.000-05:00

This is an interesting article on Faith based funds. Faith based funds have outperformed key benchmarks in recent years. The Presbyterian Foundation which runs the New Covenant Growth fund gives holders the option to either reinvest thier dividends or to send their dividends or capital gains to chairty instead.

www.thestreet.com/_htmlbtb/funds/mutualfundmonday/10288261.html

Due Dillegence: Caring for Your Nets

2006-04-11T10:09:00.000-05:00

The primary principle of Stock Casting involves seeking God in pray in evey aspect of our lives but in particular in our daily dealings with the stock market. While prayer is the primary principle of stock casting, prayer does not spare us from our other responsiblity; caring for our nets.

When Christ told the fishermen to cast their nets to the other side of the boat, their nets were ready to be used. Are your nets ready for when you hear the voice of God directing you? What kind of research and due dillegence have you done? What use would have Christ's fishing guidance have been for the disciples if they had left their nets on the shore? They would have been ill equipred to listen to the voice of God. Are you prepared? Are you ready to hear the voice of God and to use the talents he has given you?

Jesus speaks of preparadness in the parable of the ten virgins, five which had brought extra oil for their lambs and five who did not and were not ready for when the bridge groom arived. How prepared are you?

In the parable of the talents, God gives each and every one of us certain talents and he expects us to use those talents and multiple them. These talents are like the nets or fishing equipment we have to be prepared to use them, we have to be prepared to cast our nets. Fishermen spend a great deal of their time preparing and cleaning their nets so that there are no dead fish or holes in the nets. It is our responsiblity as Christians to be responsible. Go to our workplace prepared for the coming day. There is no slacking. Due dillegence and time spent learning and growing is our responsibility.

God has given us our nets and expects us to maintain them an use them properly. Nets have a function, the function of a net is to catch fish. If you are in the stock market it is likely that God gave you that talent to analysing and picking stocks. While prayer is the foundation of stock casting we can't forget it is still our responsiblity to constantly fine tune the talents that God has given us and continue to develop them.

Pathfinder Meeting

2006-04-10T15:56:00.000-05:00

I know many of you are getting very excited about our upcoming Pathfinders session on Tuesday, April 25th -- Grazia and I certainly are!!!!!

This is a reminder that we will be meeting up again in 2 weeks to discuss your results from the strengths finder test, how they support or compliment your current work or the work you are looking to do and how they align more broadly to your personal life and your spiritual talents / serving within the church.

If you have not started reading the book, DO NOT PANIC or worse, elect not to attend. We advised you take the test from the book Now Discover Your Strengths because we found it personally invaluable and we still encourage you to take the test, read through what your top strengths mean and then perhaps a chapter or two on the theory / methodology. But the most important task is taking the test. So please don't feel the pressure to read the book in its entirety.

Please RSVP with graziasorice@gmail.com between now and Friday, April 21, if you plan to attend so we can nail down the location. If there are fewer people, we may move venues to our apartment on the upper west side. Your cooperation in this is appreciated.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Best,
Grazia & Gian-Carlo

The Power and the Glory

2006-03-09T15:25:00.000-05:00

I want to be successful, if I wasn't I would be in another profession. Sometimes as Christians we feel think there is something wrong with glory or power. This is because we mistake glory and power for greed and pride. However, the Bible is filled with successful individuals, yet their success is always typically tied to their relationship with God. Joseph was second in command in Egypt, Daniel was third in command in Babylon, what is interesting about both Joseph and Daniel is that they both were in prison and from there God delivered them and brought them to the place of honor. Their glory and power were not because of their own doing but because of God in their life.

Success is independent of your employer. Daniel severed under more than one king and under each kingdom God raised him up. Likewise your success is independent of who you work for. Your success and your glory ultimately comes from above. Psalm 84:11 says, "The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." If God is giving you the glory, there is nothing wrong with it, as long as we don't fall into pride.

Embrace the power God has given you because like Daniel or Joseph it was probably for a purpose remember power also comes from above, Deuteronomy 8:18 says "Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God' for it is he that giveth thee the power to get wealth." In Ecclesiastes 5:18-19, "As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor, this is the gift of God."

When You Are Down, You Are Not Out!

2006-03-07T14:24:00.000-05:00

The Market is invariably a series of ups and downs no matter how good you are as a portfolio manager, trader or analyst, you are going to have some downs. The biggest challenge is to not take yourself out of the game because just because you are down does not mean you are out. Same is true in your walk through life. The bible guarantees that there are going to be valleys, yet in these times God is with you. Being down can be an opportunity for God to step in and for you to rely on Him and not on your own ability. We all have our own talents and skills, which God has given us, however there are times when our abilities are not enough and it is during these times that God has the opportunity to operate.

When you are down and you don't know what to do and you are second guessing your every move, that is the time to take a step back and ask God to help you in the situation. God is a gentleman, he is not going to do the trading for you, but if you ask him he will lead you. In Proverbs 3:5-7(Peterson version) says, "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go, he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all."

In John 10, the Bible talks about the sheep knowing God's voice because they are "familiar" with his voice. It is important for us to familiarize ourselves with God's voice, so that when we are down and in need we are able to distinguish it from other voices. There are predominately three kinds of voices that we hear, our own voice, God's voice and the enemy's voice. The enemy's voice is typically the easiest to discern because it is usually going to suggest to us to do something that is a short cut that is ultimately corrupt and for selfish greed driven results. I would like to suggest that it is more of a challenge to distinguish between our own voice and that of God's. Many times God's voice doesn't make sense and is not necessarily rational. It is like Christ telling the fishermen to cast there nets on the other side of the boat. There is no rational reason for there to be any more fish on the right side of a boat than on a left side of a boat. Many times our own voice tells us what we want to hear. Our voice tells us what we think is going to be best for ourselves, however God knows better.

In order to familiarize ourselves with God's voice so that we listen to it when we are down, we have to practice being in constant communication with him. Try seeking Him in the little things in life and as you learn to listen to His guidance you will learn to hear him in the big things. Why do baseball players who have been playing for years still go to batting practice before a game? You would think that they have been swinging at balls for all there life and could probably skip batting practice, but they go to batting practice so that at the time of the game, when the distraction of the roar of the crowd and the pressure of the game is at its pinnacle, they don't take themselves out of the game, they go to the familiar. Our prayer life needs to be like batting practice. Praying is something we should be doing as often and as frequent as possible so that when the market is going against you and the pressure is on, you automatically go to your place of prayer and know how to hear God's voice.

Now, Discover Your Strengths

2006-02-21T12:32:00.000-05:00

In the parable of the talents, God give one person ten talents another person five talents and the third person one talent. While God's distribution of talents were not equal, His expectation was the same for all three; doubling their assets or 100% return. The key to the 100% annual return on assets is found in using your talents. Focus on what God has given you and not what you lack. Our society actually teaches us to focus on our weaknesses and trying to improve on them. This is the opposite of what God teaches us about our talents. He has given each one of us certain talents and he wants us to use them.

In the book "Now, Discover Your Strengths" Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton describe two major flawed assumptions.
1. Each person can be competent in almost anything.
2. Each person's greatest room for growth is in his or her areas of greatest weakness.

The truth is:
1. Each person's talents are enduring and unique
2. Each person's greatest room for growth is in the areas of his or her greatest strength.

To understand our strengths we must understand that one's strengths are made up of three things:
1. Talents are your naturally recurring patterns of throught, feeling or behavior.
2. Knowledge consists of the facts and lessons learned.
3. Skills are the steps of an activity.

The largest problem we all face is not knowing the strengths that God has given them and that causes them to spend 90% of their time in the market working on what they don't know, instead of what they are good at. If this is you go out and buy the book "Now, Discover Your Strengths" because in it there is a test that they give you that allows you to discover your strengths. Once you have discovered your strengths, focus on applying them over and over again to different problems confront in your analysis or trading.

The Number: A Completely Different Way to Think About the Rest of your Life

2006-01-30T12:33:00.000-05:00

In Barnes and Noble yesterday I encountered the book "The Number: A Completely Different Way to Think About the Rest of Your Life" by Lee Eisenberg. The Number is the amount in people's minds that they can retire on. I hear guys on wall street say it all the time, $30 million and I can walk away. When I think of "the number" I think of it not as a goal but as a wall, not a wall that needs to be scaled, but a wall that needs to be torn down.

The "number" is a goal not a vision. It has an endpoint that give us comfort but also limits us. Unlike a goal, a vision is boundless. A number or goal is also usually selfish. It is about what I need, what I want, how I can live the rest of my life comfortably without a care in the world.

The Bible teaches us the opposite of carefree living, it teaches us that "those that cared for the least of those cared for me." The number limits our vision and is selfish in motivation. How much charity does our "number" have included in it? Whatever amount of charity it is probably not enough. I'm reminded of the ending scene in the Steven Spielberg movie "Schindler's List" where the main character Oskar Shindler realizes in the end even the little things he kept like his ring and his car were acts of selfishness when he could have saved more Jewish lives from the holocaust.

Bill and Linda Gates and Bono are examples of people who have visions not a "number". Neither of these individuals need to work another day in their lives. They have has many homes, yachts and islands to keep many generations happy, yet they press on. Why? Because if they once had a "number" they have long since surpassed it and discovered that there is more to life. I imagine attaining the "number" is like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz realizing that there is no Wizard but an old man behind a curtain. Is that all there is? What is next?

Instead of creating a "number" or a goal, I like to think of my life work as mile posts that show me from where I've come and remind me that I'm still on the road but that there is a lot more road out there for me to travel.

Note: This blog entry is in no way a recommendation to buy or not buy "The Number by Lee Eisenberg. The sole intent and purpose is to think about how goals hinder our spiritual vision.

Stubborn: Don't Fight the Tape! Or Argue with God!

2006-01-23T12:50:00.000-05:00

I knew a portfolio manager who would always forget the principle, "Don't fight the tape." The problem was he was very smart and would let his intelligence would get in the way of him making money. The principle of don't fight the tape is simple: do not trade against the market trends, if stock prices are rising don't sell.

The portfolio manager was one of the smartest men I ever knew however, he was frequently to early with his ideas. While he was often correct, his timing caused him to endure a lot of pain as he waited for the market to catch on. He often found himself having to cut back on his positions and eventually would not make as much of a return as he could have had he been more patient an not so stubborn.

In "Stock Casting" we do our work and come up with a thesis just like this portfolio manager however, we listen to the voice of God and allow him to dictate the timing (See 1.10.05: The First Principle of Stock Casting: Listen). I have found that as I pray and seek the voice of God, the more he speaks to me in every aspect of my day.

Just the other day I was about to park my car in a parking space and I felt God tell me not to park it there. Just like my portfolio friend that was trying to fight the tape, I started to argue with God. My reason said this was a great spot, it was good until the end of the week and it was right in front of a well-lit Deli so I wouldn't have to worry about it being broken into. Later that afternoon, I walked by my car and the mirror on the side on the sidewalk side had been broken off. It was a very windy day and some siding from the deli blew off and struck my car. My stubbornness in the face of God telling me not to park there cost me $700 to replace the mirror.

God knows what is going to happen in the stock market and he knows what is best for us in every area of our lives so why not pray and listen to His voice? I found out that arguing with God is like fighting the tape; you're going to have to endure a lot of pain going against His will.

Fast forward to this Sunday, I slip out of the church service to go to the bathroom and while I'm washing my hands I feel God tell me to grab a bunch of napkins from the bathroom because someone is going to need it in the congregation. I think that is the silliest thing, why would God tell me to do that. But I figure if I'm practicing "Stock Casting" principles in my work place I better start practicing them in every aspect of my life, so I grabbed about 20 paper towels and stuff them in my pocket. As I'm returning to the sanctuary a woman runs out with a panicked look on her face, "Can you get my paper towels from the bathroom, I just spilled my coffee all over the floor of the sanctuary." I was in shock, I reached into my pocket and handed her the paper towels, as she ran back inside I realized she was actually seated in my row and her coffee was starting to spread toward my bag laying on the floor. If God is interested in telling me about my bag that is about to get drenched with coffee, and my car that is about to be damaged, I believe he is also interested in guilding me in my investment decisions.

The first principle in Stock Casting: LISTEN

2006-01-10T22:39:00.000-05:00

What do you get when you put a analyst a trader and a portfolio manger in the same room? The first Stock Casting meeting. At our the meeting I introduced the first principle of Stock Casting, listening to God's voice.

The trader, being a good trader cut the chase and asked the practical question. "How do we do that?" Being an analyst, I pulled out my excel spread sheet and began to describe the equation for hearing God's voice (I'm joking).

If you feel the same way don't feel bad, because you are not alone. We all have difficulty discerning the voice of God. The first couple of times Samuel heard the voice of the Lord he had the same problem, he didn't know who was speaking. At first Samuel thought the voice calling to him in the night was that of Eli his master.

In Stock Casting we basically struggle with discerning between three voices; our own voice, God's voice and that of the enemy. The easiest voice to discern is that of the enemy, his suggestions while often enticing are usually very short sighted and involved cutting corners and they usually feed our pride because they are driven by greed.

The real challenge is discerning between God's voice and our own. This is a learning process. It starts by turning the voice in your head into a prayer. What do I mean by this? We all have these thoughts that come into our head. Sometimes those thoughts are our own and sometimes they are God speaking to us. Whenever I have a thought that I think is a good idea I immediately turn that thought into a prayer. God is this you? It may sound simple but the results may surprise you.

This Stock Will Change Your Life

2006-01-05T18:35:00.000-05:00

"This stock will change your life" This was the title of a recent article in a financial website that caught my eye. Unfortunately the article was a bit of a disappointment, however it made me think about the greater question. Is it true? Can a stock change your life forever? You have to read this entire entry to get the answer.

Isn't why were are all in this business? To find that one stock that will pay for our grandchildrens' education? If you missed getting into Google (GOOG) at the ipo, waiting for the next stock that can change your life can be like the Samuel Beckett play "Waiting for Godot" It happens once in a lifetime and usually we are not prepared for when it does occur.

I recently was introduced to Scott Harrison a photojournalist who had a life changing experience with a stock. The stock that changed his life was Google's arch rival Yahoo (YHOO). While still in college, Scott decided to make a very risky move and took all the money is father had saved for his college tuition and he opened brokers account. With that money he shorted Yahoo (YHOO). Unfortunately for Scott his timing couldn't have been worst, shortly after making his bet, Yahoo started its ascent to $300 a share. The impact this stock had on his life was not the one he had hoped for. Scott lost it all.

In retrospect Scott would likely agree that his actions were similar to putting his money on black at the roulette wheel in Vegas. So why do I share with you Scott reckless behavior? What impressed me about Scott's story was how he rebounded. A blow like this would impact most people beyond recovery, but not Scott. In order to make the money back without his father finding out, he started working nights promoting clubs in NYC. Soon thereafter Scott became one of the most celebrated promoters in New York. Scott was able to recover all the money he had lost and then some. Scott entry into the NY club scene was not the best for his spirit but he has now walked away from that world to fulfill his promise to God to dedicated a year of his life working as a volunteer photojournalist on a hospital ship called, the Mercy Ship.

So did a stock change his life? Yes but it is not quite the fairy tale story he was hoping for. Instead his story is that of one where his character was challenged and in the end he was an overcomer. If his stock investment had a different outcome would his character held up to the challenge? Everyone is looking for a quick fix something that will make us rich overnight, but very few are ready to deal with the consequences of investing in a life changing stock.

As analyst on Wall street I always get people asking me for stock advice. I like to ask people what they would do if they actually invested in that life changing stock what would they do with the return. Many of the answers are very similar to what people say they would do with the money if they hit the lottery. If you invested in that life changing stock would your character remain in tact? Would you do the right thing? If you are looking at stock casting or investing like a lottery ticket you have got it all wrong. It is this attitude that will cause a person to sacrifice their character for a quick return, maybe even cut corners that are unethical at best and maybe even illegal.

Stock Casting is about seeking God first in everything including our investments. Maybe one day you will invest in a stock that will change your life, but until that day, the more important question is what will you do when that day comes. Will you let your character shine or will you crumble to temtation and greed?

New Year's Eve:Past performance is no indication of future return

2005-12-31T08:51:00.000-05:00

Past performance is a poor indication of future return. This statement is particularly true in biotechnology stocks. Neopharm (posting 12.27.05) is a good example of a stock that had recently underperformed for a couple of months but then surprised most by opening up 52% in a day. If there is no correlation between past performance and future return, why are we so drawn to looking at charts and looking at past performance? I believe it is because it is in our nature as human beings to relfect, because we don't know what the future holds we look toward the past. Additionally, we are aware of the law of physics that states that an object in motion stays in motion and it takes a catalyst with an incredible amount of energy to change an object's direction. It is this notion that causes the incorrect assumption that a stock's past performance may give us an indication as to the future return. Anyone who has been on the wrong side of a trade when a stock gap's up or down will tell you the past is the past and nothing more.

On New Year's Eve we reflect on the previous year like a stock chart. We look at our past performance and seek to make improvements for the future. We make promises to ourselves that we will improve upon the past. We make New Year's resolutions to join a gym, to work out more, to start a new diet; but somewhere deep down inside we know that in fact we are lying to ourselves and our resolution will likely go on unresolved. We fear that the past momentum is too great to overcome. We know that without an external catalyst we won't loose the weight and developed the six pack we envy.

The catalyst necessary for change can come from multiple directions. A stock's catalyst can be internal or external. Internally a company can make changes that will lead to improved productivity which will improve margins leading toward improved profitability and ultimately this will be reflected in the stock price. The other kind of catalyst are external. We recently saw example of an external catalyst when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans devastating that region. Post-Katrina many companies were forced to take charges for losses due to closing and shipping delays. Tenet Healthcare (ticker: THC) is an example of a stock that is arguable one that was hit the hardest with six of their hospitals closing some of which would never reopen.

On New Year's Eve it is good to reflect on the past and look to what internal catalyst we can muster up that will drive positive change in our life. However, internal changes take a great deal of energy and are most likely to disappoint. This New Year's Eve while we reflect on the past and look toward the challenges that lay ahead lets humble ourselves and realize that maybe we don't have the ability to drive the change in our world. Instead of making false promises, that only dissapoint; let the past be the past and nothing more. Don't let your past determine your future return, instead pray that God will act as a supernatural catalyst to drive change in your world.

Jerimiah 33:3 "Call upon me and I will answer you"

Neopharm (NEOL) up 52% on the day

2005-12-27T12:45:00.000-05:00

When I turned on my computer this morning it was like getting a belated Christmas present. Neopharm (NEOL) a stock I convinced my portfolio manager to buy was up 47% by the end of the day it was up 52%. In the press release, Neopharm said that the review committee was allowing their phase III cancer drug trial would proceed as planned. The significance of this news was that the stock had recently been pressued by rumors around Wall Street that the trial was under powered. In addition it was rumored that two of their significant investors had given up on the stock and sold their shares which caused the short interest to sky rocket. To add more flames to the fire, the company was pretty short on cash and while the burn rate was not high they would likely have to raise more money before the end of 2006.

You might be wondering why with all these negative forces at play, did I advise my portfolio manager to buy it? I took a stock casting approach. When I first started looking at Neopharm I prayed and I believed that God was directing me toward investing in them. In addition, I particularly liked that this drug was actually having a tangible impact on the extension of these patients’ lives. The drug was for a small population of patients and not very important for the overall U.S. healthcare system. However, the drug would have a significant impact both on this company and, on the lives of these patients.

I conducted my traditional financial due diligence but soon after we bought the stock, bears started giving me all these negative reports. My faith started to waiver. It is hard to have confidence that God is directing you when all you hear and read are negative reports. During this time, I decided to pray and focus on what the word of God says. I read the chapter in the Bible where Moses sent spies into Canaan (Numbers 13) to explore the land and the spies came back with a negative report that the land was full of giants instead of the positive report of the financial bounty the land contained. This reminded me that God wants us to be optimists not necessarily realists in every situation. A realist is a person that looks at the circumstances as they are today and offers very little room in their decision making for faith.

My portfolio manager is a big believer in averaging down, so as Neopharm's share price dropped we bought more stock. The more he bought the more I sweated. The more I sweated the more I prayed. I never used to believe in averaging down, but in retrospect I realize that averaging down is actually a faith move. By averaging down you are in fact saying that despite the circumstance I still believe. That is the essence of faith.

Please do not mistake me, my faith was not blind faith. As I prayed, I also did my work rigorously and conducted more due diligence, seeking insight from doctors who use the competing drug on the market, talking to the company, speaking to other analysts, etc. This additional due diligence gave my portfolio manager the added confidence he needed.

Just a week ago I was telling a good friend of mine who is a talented sell side biotech analyst at a major global investment bank that he should consider looking at the stock and pick up coverage. He basically told me I was crazy. I left him a very nice voicemail on his cell phone this morning reminding him of our conversation. I have a feeling I won't hear from him for awhile.

Disclaimer: This blog is not intended to indicate a recommendation to buy or sell any stock or other investment vehicle, but its sole intent and purpose is to demostrate how prayer and faith can work in your professional/investment life .

Stock Casting 101: The Stock Market and Faith

2005-12-25T12:43:00.000-05:00

Finance and Faith, Religion and Money. Simple words but put in the same sentence these words can cause even the most devote to cringe. Instantly images of televangelists asking little old ladies to put $10 in an envelopes come to mind. So when I sat to write a blog on the stock market and faith, I thought it best to start with an explanation.

STOCK CASTING 1O1: The Stock Market and Faith

The idea of Stock Casting came to me one day when I was reading John 21:6. The passage describes fishermen, friends of Jesus, who had been fishing all day with no results. Their failure that day was not due to their laziness or inaptitude. If you recall these fishermen were not weekend warriors trying to catch a fish on a lazy Saturday, they fished daily for their livelihood.

Jesus, a carpenter by trade, who knew little if anything about fishing tells them to cast their net unto the other side of the boat. It doesn't take a scientist to realize that Jesus advice makes no practical sense. It was the same water under the port or the starboard side of the boat. Casting their nets onto the other side didn't logically seem as if it would produce a different result. However these fishermen proved obedient and because of their obedience they caught more fish than they could bring in their boat.

What does this simple story have to do with the Stock Market and the daily challenge many of us working on Wall Street face as we look among thousands of investment opportunities for the ones that will yield the greatest return? As I read this passage, and although I was an analyst at a hedge fund on Wall Street, I identified with these fishermen. I was out there using all the tools I had and the knowledge I had acquired. But I was relying completely on my own mental acumen to pick stocks. I had a Ph.D from Yale working at one of the hedge funds with a reputation for outstanding results; yet God was not a part of the equation. It dawned on me that if God was willing to help these fishermen cast their nets and catch fish, God would want to help me as well in my daily work of selecting and finding the right stocks.

And what did he want in return? My trust in Him.

Trusting anything or anyone in the Stock Market is a challenge let alone a God that you can't see. Even those with an active prayer life have difficulty knowing the difference between His voice and the voice in their head. Many of the concepts I plan to talk about is how to hear God's voice in our decision making but in particular in stock picks as analysts, traders or portfolio managers. And more broadly how to actively include God in your work life.

If you are asking yourself why would God want to guide me with something like stock picks? My response to you is why would God want to help those fishermen with their fishing? The answer is simple. Because he wants us to relinquish control of our world and trust in Him. When you arrive at a place where you can't do it on your own, that is when you need faith and God can act and show to you that He is real and very interested in your welfare.

I recently started to practice "stock casting" and I believe that I am on to something. In giving up control of the reigns to God I was able to let Him direct which stocks I should buy or sell and the timing as well. This is not a get rich quick scheme. This is not like asking God what are the numbers in the lottery going to be. It is asking God very simply to be a part of my work -- show me where to focus my time and to wait for answers. It is about showing God that I can't do this on my own and I need His help.

The first time I applied "stock casting" was on the first night of my first day on a new job as a senior health care analyst at a small hedge fund. I knew I had to work hard and prove myself and I remember coming home to do some more work and really not knowing where to start. Rather than picking up the first analyst report or 10K I had printed up I decided to pray first. It was actually not a long prayer but a short one where I basically told God I didn't know what I was doing, I didn't know where to start, please help. After praying, I felt instead of reading what I had brought home to read, I decided to go to the CMS website, a site that is dedicated to Medicare and Medicaid. The first thing I noticed at the top of the page was a press release that had just been issued moments prior. As I read the press release, I instantly knew this was big news, big enough news that I decided to write up a quick email summarizing my findings and sending it immediately to my portfolio managers advising them of my recommendations. The next day, all the Medicare stocks were the big winners of the day.

By asking God for his help before staring my work that night, He directed me toward the place where my effort would be best spent. This is the foundation of "Stock Casting" asking God what to do, where to cast your net. I am just getting started on this journey myself and look forward to sharing my views, insights and results and hearing your feedback.