What is Prayer?

Simply stated, prayer is the connection between God and mankind.  The Father God does not intervene on heavenly or earthly affairs without the support of prayer.  

Meaning  -  Prayer or connection between God and man cycles between two phases.  Communion comes first and then communication, this process should cycle continuously without ceasing.

Communion (our consumption of God) is the development of our being to become increasingly in line with the nature of what God has called us to be.  Therefore communion is the consumption of God through various modes of contemplation including learning, ministry, prophecy, reading scripture, debate, discussion, thinking, etc.  Assuming one has access to the Holy Bible, the single limiting factor to communion is time.  The enemy does all he can to distract us from developing the practice of contemplation.  Re 1:11

Communication (Gods consumption of us) is Gods consumption of our sacrifices to Him.  There are several channels of communication with God: worship, intercession, fasting, ministry, giving, gratefulness, etc.  In any case all communication to God is presented through one gate which is faith.  The extent of our faith is limited to our communion with God.  The highest level of faith is found in Revelation 2 & 3 otherwise referred to as The Harp, aka The Seven Lamps or Spirits of God.  The cornerstone of our faith is purity and the capstone is understanding.

The joint effort of communion and communication strengthen each other causing an output of greater abilities and ultimately a greater relationship (connection) with God.  Furthermore communion builds belief (conviction) and communication is belief expressed; which is faith (persuasion).  Therefore our faith is limited by our belief, which is limited by our communion.  Jn 14:12; Mt 17:20

Reference - Re 5:8; Ge 1:1-2; Re 1:11; Mk 9:19; Mk 9:29; Ps 141:2;
THREE DIMENSIONS OF PRAYER by Chris Hodges AUG 7, 2005


Rev 5:8, Re 8:3-5
enclosure

The Complexity of the Bible

Although The Holy Bible is the most sacred creation of all things given to us on earth it is wrought with complexity.  Listed below are a few reasons why it can be complicated to navigate through scripture:

- their are over 40 versions of the Bible

- it's author is the Holy Spirit

- the entire Bible has nearly 775,000 words, making it ten times longer than an average book

- the average word count for books ranges 50 - 100K, 120K would be considered long

The promise land: Immortal Masters of Creation Rulers over Demons

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  John 14:9-14

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”  Mark 16:17-18

Interpretation of John 14:9-14 and Mark 16:17-18

We believe the promises Christ Jesus gave in John 14 and Mark 16 summarize the pinnacle of the Christian journey to faith.  King Jesus clearly declares the abilities of a person who calls upon His name is only limited by the individuals belief in Christ.  Throughout the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John King Jesus performs thousands of miracles.  The details of more than 35 of his works were recorded as examples of the type of ministry a disciple of Christ Jesus will have.


Listed below are some of the disorders a high functioning believer overcomes:

Physical Body
1) every disease and sickness
2) paralysis
3) pain
4) coma
5) bleeding
6) blindness
7) deaf and mutism
8) neurological and cognitive disorders
9) disabilities and crippling including the limp and lamb
10) terminal illness and etc

Earth and Demons
1) earth and weather control
2) verbal defense against demons
3) production and duplication of all types of resources and etc

In summary, a high functioning believer is given authority and power over the human body, demons, and all elements of nature including earth, fire, water, and wind.  This type of believer is elevated from being a end-user of life and a subject to the bondage of Satan to being a Master of Creation and Ruler over Demons.

Therefor the promise land of Christ Jesus our Messiah is to restore mankind back to our rightful place as masters of life.  These believers will be given a new name when they return to their promise land.  They shall be called

Immortal 
Masters of Creation  

Rulers over Demons

Paraphrase Super Scriptures:

Works~ 
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.  People brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.  When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.  This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.  The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.  And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.  



Promises ~ 
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Jesus replied.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.  When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.  Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.  If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”  So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.  Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. 

Commandment 
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  




Matt 4:23-25; Matt 8:16-17; Matt:14:13-14; Matt 15:29-30; Matt 16:19; Matt 19:13-15; Matt 21:21-22; Matt 22:37-4; Matt 9:36-38; Matt 14:13-14; Mk 6:56; Mk 16:17-18; Lk 9:1-6; Jn 14:9-14; Matt 10:1; Mark 16:20


SERIES: MIRACLES - Church of the Highlands
http://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/series/miracles

Caiaphas

The High Priest
was the chief religious official of Israelite religion and of classical Judaism from the rise of the Israelite nation until the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. The high priests belonged to the Jewish priestly families that trace their paternal line back to Aaron, the first high priest and elder brother of Moses. (wiki)

Scripture on Caiaphas
Mt 26:1-5; Mt 26:57-67; Lk 3:1-2; Jn 11; Jn 18; Ac 4;

John 11:49-52
“You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that

Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

Wells Fargo inspiration

Yesterday morning I attended the Birmingham Business Journal 2012 Economic Forecast event where I picked up a copy of a Forbes article featuring Wells Fargo and her President/CEO Mr. John G. Stumpf.  Several financial indicators including revenue and profitability make Wells a fine company to study the nature of success.  The inspiration of my writing this blog is the age old Vision and Value of Wells Fargo booklet that is written by their CEO in everyday language and distributed to each employee.

I believe this simple 40 page outline of their values, strategy, and future outlook helps all of their associates (to the extent of the ability) embody spirit of Wells Fargo.  The following points are the key attributes that have made an impression upon me:

- simple growth strategy broken into a three tiered plan.  First cross sell existing customers, second to gain customers from the competitors, and lastly through customer acquisition

- history and purpose a rich knowledge of their history extends a deep sense of their purpose.  The President himself leads his company to future success after being raised in the history of the company

- know thy self and they customer Wells Fargo knows how many products they have to offer each customer and conversely how many products their average customers is actually consuming.  From their they make goals to incrementally increase the average unit per consumer

- investment vs. expense Wells does not see their associates as liabilities but as assets that are truly the center of their success

- cross selling The bank invest its energy into the higher return engagement of selling more products to a single customer rather attempting to grow by adding more customers to few services.  The quality of their work with existing customers attracts new consumers over time

My favorite quote of the book is "A good strategy perfectly executed will beat a great strategy poorly executed every time"

Their are many other points listed in the Vision and Values manuscript, however the points discussed are the ones that have shaped my view of management at present.


written by:
Martin A. Briggs
- KMBriggs, LLC

Basic study of gold investments

Genesis 2:11-12 New International Version (NIV)
11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.)

From our understanding of Havilah the Lord instructed me to study gold and it lead me to a book named "The ABCs of Gold Investing: How to Protect and Build Wealth With Gold" by Mr. Michael J. Kosares copyright 2005.  These excerpts are the summary of my understanding from the book:

"What should I buy?"  The short answer is gold bullion coins like the U.S. Eagle, the Austrian Philharmonic, the South African Krugerrand, and the Canadian Maple Leaf in some combination with pre-1933 small-sized European gold coins and U.S. $20 gold pieces. "  

"They can be bought and sold almost anywhere in the world.  They are easily recognizable, of standard weight and purity, and can be readily priced based on their gold content." 

"WIth some exceptions, these coins generally trade among most retail firms at 5 to 8 percent over the gold price." 

"... using the COMEX in New York as a price basis.  COMEX is the leading exchange for gold futures and options in the United States"  

"Deal only with firms that have been in operation for a number of years.  Five years is good; ten years or more is even better." 

 "Check Credentials... Better Business Bureaus"   

"Most of the top gold dealers below to the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA).  Although ICTA does not rate gold firms or in any way regulate them, it is good for you as a consumer to know how long the firm has been a member."

"Make sure that your metal is sent either registered and insured by the U.S Postal Service, or fully insured by private carrier.  In both cases, you want to be sure it is being sent "signature required".   

"Traditionally Swiss money managers, renowned for their ability to handle money and who manage investments for some of the world's wealthiest people, traditionally recommend a diversification into gold of 10 to 20 percent for good reason."   

"Gold in the modern era, although  it is described , classified, and utilized in many different ways, is still first and foremost portfolio insurance and should be viewed as such." 

"I recommend a fold diversification of 10 - 30 percent of your total assets, not including your residence."  

"Diversify to hedge the ultimate disaster.  Diversify with gold." 

"...some excellent sites are devoted completely to gold, like USAGOLD.com (the author's Web site), Gold Eagle.com, and Kitco.com."  

"To plan your portfolio properly, consult with a professional in the gold business."  

"For an extra layer of protection against government intervention, you will want to include the historically significant pre-1933 United States $20 gold coins.  

"...in the United States, gold ownership is a privilege, not a right..."

"Investors whose primary interest is profit should also evaluate the potential in the higher-grade U.S gold coins, particular mint state 63, 64, and 65 $20 gold pieces, graded by the independent services."  

"You will need some combination of pre-1933 gold coins, gold bullion coins, and/or silver, platinum, and palladium bullion bars to achieve this objective."  

"When it comes to currency value, gold is the master of all and the slave of none."  

"Indeed, the fact that certain citizens have the wisdom to accumulate gold may someday be this country's saving grace.  If the dollar were to fail, the gold accumulated in the United States by American citizens would become the capital base required for this nation to recover..."  

"Investors looking to protect themselves against economic disasters should first build a foundation or gold bullion coins and/or pre-1933 European and U.S gold coins."  

"Historic pre-1933 gold coins... were minted by various European governments, as well as the United States, during the ninetheenth and early twentieth centuries for commercial circulation within those countries."  

"All U.S. $20 gold pieces were minted with a pure gold weight of 0.9675 ounces.  It is because of that standardized weight and purity that theses items traded readily back then and continue to trade readily even today."  

"In most nations of the world, including the United States, gold ownership is considered a privilege, not a right.  Historically, nation-states have moved against gold ownership whenever economic conditions are such that public flight from the currency or banking system become a tangible threat.  The most conspicuous and often-cited example of such a flight occurred in 1933 when the threat of bank failures in the United States caused millions of Americans to withdraw their funds in the form of gold coins.  The newly elected president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, reacted to the panic by issuing executive orders that closed the banks and confiscated the gold."  

"...history, even twentieth-century U.S. history, shows us that confiscation has all too often been the option taken by governments threatened with an economic breakdown."  

"...in 1933, when President Roosevelt issued a series of Executive Orders closing the banks, confiscating private gold, and instituting a long list of other economic controls.  All safety deposit boxes were sealed and could not be opened except in the presence of an IRS agent.  Penalty for noncompliance was 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, which is today's dollars would be closer to $200,000.  
 Another Execute Order issued eight months later exempted "gold coins having a recognized special value to collectors of rare and unusual coins, from the confiscation.  That classification as collectors' items reinforced in Treasure regulations issued in 1954 stating that all pre-1933 gold coins would be classified as collectors' items, and again in 1962 allowing the importation of all pre-1933 gold coins as collectors' items."  

"In 1954, the Treasury Department recognized... gold coins minted prior to 1933 would subsequently be presumed to be rare and of recognized special value to collectors, without the necessity of further specific determinations by the Treasury."  

"Few people are aware that, although gold was illegal in the United States, these items traded freely during the period the confiscation was implemented in 1933, and up until gold's re-legalization in 1975."  

"Today, there are some 49 countries that forbid ownership of gold by their citizens, but do allow holding gold coins for numismatic purposes."  

"Historic European gold coins offer great, largely untouched, and potentially lucrative opportunities in the field of gold investing today."  

"...the United States $20 gold pieces in low-grade uncirculated condition.  If gold is the immovable North Star of investments--the center around which the universe of financial assets rotates--then pre-1933 $20 gold pieces are the solid foundation upon which the modern gold portfolio is constructed.  Pre-1933 $20 gold pieces, which contain nearly an ounce of gold (0.9675 ounce) loosely track the gold price.  These, too, are considered collectors' items by the government in many of the laws and regulations concerning gold promulgated since the early 1930s.  The Liberty, minted from 1840 to 1907, and St. Gaudens, minted from 1907 to 1933, have become the most frequently traded because their prices are usually close to the bullion value, et they are viewed as collectors' items.  In the seminumismatic grades, their value is greatly influenced by the gold price.  The premium expands or contracts due to strengthening or diminishing demand."  

"Grade refers to the state of preservation, or quality, of a coin."  

"... nationally accepting grading services: Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) or the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)."

"It is a matter of common sense, given the limited supple and burgeoning demand... that the supply will run out some day".  

"Owing gold is important.  Owning the right king of gold is crucial"  

"Gold is a treasure, and he who possess it it does all he wishes to in this world, and succeeds in helping souls into paradise."  
- Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) 

"Gains or profits made upon liquidation of an investment must be reported to the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) in the year in which they occur."  


"Gold can be stored in a safety deposit box at your bank.  This is the option most gold investors exercise.  The downside of safety deposit boxes is that items are not insured against theft, fire, flood, or similar disasters."  

"The solution to this problem is to keep some at home and the bulk in the bank safety deposit box... I believe this one to be the safest and most practical for the majority of gold owners."  

"Since ancient times, gold has served humanity reliably as both a store of value and a medium of exchange."  

"The small gold bullion coins (1/2, 1/4, and 1/10 ounce) best serve these purposes.  Of that group, the 1/4-ounce coin is the most useful".   

"Having money to barter could be crucial during an economic breakdown.  It makes sense to have some gold and silver put away for this purpose.  This is not a complicated problem.  This advice should suffice in the event of a breakdown."  

"... I now believe that gold should no longer be viewed just as a portfolio hedge - although it hasn't lost any of the qualities that make it such--but also as a vehicle for portfolio gains."  

"I believe that insurance offers extraordinary investments potential based on the possible rapid depreciation of the dollar and its loss of status as the world's only and primary reserve unit."  

"Statistics show that 85 percent of all investors in futures and options lose money.  That percentage is probability higher with leveraged gold investments."  

"Instead, the best way to take advantage of gold's price behavior is through a long-term accumulation program of the physical metal itself."  


"With gold, the best advice, as I have proffered more than once in this book, is to buy and accumulate over the medium- to long-term.  Buy what you feel you need, and then sit back and watch the show".  

"The economic house of cards built with paper dollars has begun to wobble.  Its fall will once again teach the world why gold--not paper--has been the preferred store of value for thousands of years."  

"For those who understand those two economic eras, the idea of gold ownership in the present era becomes a completely rational decision based on the lessons of history.  From time to time, financial historians and gold market analysts talk about the ongoing ware against gold waged by the central banks of the world, particularly by the United States, as part and parcel of this era... gold is winning and the dollar is loosing."  

"Now, more than 70 percent of the gold is in the hands of private individuals worldwide."  

"The dollar, in the bigger picture, is slowly fading, and gold is once again in ascendancy... it does not bode well for the United States and the dollar.  This nation must get its financial house in order."   

"As a financial antidote, a diversification into gold by American investors makes a great deal of sense... it is a matter of common sense to prepare for the worst and hope for the best."  

enclosure  

- Martin A. Briggs
KMBriggs, LLC  

Thoughts from Christopher Columbus Book of Prophecies

A few weeks ago media outlets started to speak about the Mayan prophecies of the world ending today Dec 21, 2012 or at least a major shift that would have a major impact on society.  Christopher Columbus and his passion for Zion was mentioned, which caused me to research his life.  I started with wikipedia and discovered that he wrote (contributed) letters called The Book of Prophecies.  I was intrigued by the four elements summed up by Wikipedia:

1. Christianity must be spread throughout the world
2. The Garden of Eden must be found
3. A Last Crusade must take back the Holy Land from the Muslims - It was also believed that when Christ comes, he will come back in the place he lived and died; Jerusalem.
4. A Last World Emperor must be chosen

Since the attributes are much in line our beliefs (especially the first two) I felt compelled to purchase his writings The Book of Prophecies, Edited by Christopher Columbus (Repertorium Columbianium) Edit by Roberto Rusconi.  I was pleasantly surprised that Columbus major obsession, much like mine was the topic of Zion.  Listed below are excerpts from the book that I found of great interest and sum up the theme of his thoughts:

"This is the beginning of the book or collection of auctoritates, sayings, opinions, and prophecies concerning the need to recover the holy city and Mount Zion, and the discovery and conversion of the islands of the Indies and all peoples and nations, for the Ferdinand and Isabella, our Spanish rulers" - pg 59

"Sacred Scripture is interpreted in four ways.  First, as history, which is the narration of events; the world is derived from hystrion, meaning "to see" or "experience," for in previous times no one wrote the history of an event who hand not been present at it.  Second, as allegory, from leon, which means "something else," and gore, meaning "to say" or "speech"; through allegory, a text reveals a truth of doctrine.  Third, tropologically, from tropos, meaning "change," and logos, meaning "a group of words conveying some meaning'; a tropological interpretation of a given text reveals a moral truth.  Fourth, anagogically, from ana, which means "upwards," and goge, which means "leading"; an anagogical interpretation of text reveals something to be desired, for example, eternal felicity."

"A literal reading teaches the facts; allegory, what should be believed; a moral reading, what should be done; anagogy, what one should desire."

"A fourfold meaning of Scripture exists in the word, "Jerusalem." Historically, it signifies the earthy city to which pilgrims travel; allegorically, the Church Militant.  Tropologically, it signifies heavenly Jerusalem, the country or kingdom of heaven."  Page 61

"Because we are not learned, we place ourselves in your power: blessed is the man who you instruct, O Lord, and to whom you teach your law.  We ask, therefore, that you lead us to understand, through the same spirit that inspired them, the discussions, books, and prophecies about you and your holy place.  Amen"

"In Sacred Scripture one tense is often used in place of another; for example, the past tense instead of the future, etc.  "All that I have from my father, I have made known to you."  St. Augustine writes in a sermon on this text, which is ready by some of the feast of St. Thomas the apostle: "Our Lord Jesus Christ, who did things that were going to happen, says that he has already done what he is going to do.  Thus he says through the prophet: "They have pierced my hands and feet,' not 'they will pierce,' " speaking of past events foretelling the future.  Similarly, in the cited passage he says that he told his disciples all the things that his complete knowledge told him he was going to do.  Other examples can be found by anyone who wishes to look"

"In a certain usage of tense, things that are about to happen are related as if they had already taken place.  For example: "They have pierced my hands and feet and they have counted out all my bones," and "they have divided my garments among themselves," and other similar passages.  But why are events that have not yet happened described as if they have already taken place?  Because those things which are presently in our future have already take place in God's eternity" page 63

"The Calabrian abbot Joachim said that whoever was to rebuild the temple on Mount Zion would come from Spain" page 77

"He has made me king of Zion, his hold mountain, and I preach his holy commandment.  The Lord said to me: "You are my son; today I have begotten you.  Ask of me, and I will give you the people as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your possession." Etc page 79 - 122

"It should be taken into consideration, however, that in a second universal preaching of the gospel, all people will receive the faith of Christ.  This will occur at the end of time.  page 157

"And he will have dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth."  Commentary:  That is to say, over the whole earth, surrounded by sea...  "Their voices went out to the whole earth." etc.  "And from the river," namely of earthly paradise, "to the ends of the earth," that is, to the boundaries of world.  And these boundaries are the extended to the highest heaven, for this will be the extent of the power of Christ.  Because of this, Matthew said in his last chapter: "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me," and so forth, as given above" page 161

"With respect and good cause, I state, most magnificent rulers, that greater things are in store for you, for we read that Joachim, abbot of Calabria, predicted that someone from Spain would recover the wealth of Zion"  page 317 

Conclusion 

Christopher Columbus did not know he would open the gates to Europe to cease the America's.  He also never came remotely close to ceasing Jerusalem and the great Mount of Zion from the Moors.  However one thing is for sure, his pioneering efforts to discover the land of where Havilah would be discovered and shared has come to pass.  KMBriggs acknowledges that with the help of the Holy Spirit Columbus pioneered the clear path of the modern world in the Americas.  Columbus efforts are still paying dividends through so many people including the house of KMBriggs.  We dedicate your life and the works of so many people around you who made it possible to sail to the Americas to the discovery of Zion which is soon to be known and understood around the world.

Martin
KMBriggs