Book Reflection: The Richest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven K. Scott

My very good friend Andrew Munroe was kind enough to purchased a personal development book for me named The Richest Man Who Ever Lived, King Solomon's Secrets to Success, Wealth, and Happiness written by Mr. Steven K. Scott.  I informed Andrew that it most likely would be a long time before I would ever even begin the thought of reading the book as I already had so many other reading materials on hand.  I thought I would take a quick peek at the first chapter of the book just to get an idea of what the author had in mind and before I knew it I was hooked.  My curiously and thirst to understand how Mr. Scott had become a multi-millionaire many times over utilizing Solomon's advice was unstoppable. 

The following action words are the key to mega success according to Mr. Scott's interpretation of Solomon's writings: 

diligent action 

visionary  

holds hope 

effective communication 

effective counselors/partners   

joyful heart 

speaks truth 

and is kind

gracious personality  

peace maker 

embrace criticism

is at peace 

chooses discernment 

is content 

a heart of humility 

seeks wisdom

The following twenty-five statements are thoughts I would like to highlight in my memory and/or are habits I would like to incorporate on a daily basis:

Just as there are physical laws that govern the universe, there are laws of living that are just as sure and true.  It doesn't matter if you love them or hate them, they still exist, and they will govern your life.  page 3

I'd prefer to use the phrase "smart-working".  If I need to cut down a tree and try to cut it down with a hammer, that would be hard-working, but it certainly would not be diligent.   page 11

Diligence is a learnable skill that combines: creative persistence, a smart-working effort rightly planned and rightly performed in a timely, efficient, and effective manner to attain a result that is purse and of the highest quality of excellence. page 12

The diligent take all the time they need to plan and prepare, so that they can perform with excellence.  Those who aren't diligent fail to take the time they need to plan, prepare, or perform.  They tend to "shoot from the hip," and their haste ultimately results in failure.  Solom says, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage.   But everyone who is hasty [comes] surely to poverty' (Proverbs 21:5).

There are four root causes of laziness... self-centeredness, conceit (arrogance), ignorance, and irresponsibility.  (He often combines these last two into single category he calls foolishness.)  page 21

...we act without seeking the advice or counsel of others.  It's much easier to act first and seek advice later.  And since we think we know more than others anyway, we simply take the action that we want to take.  page 21

To educate ourselves take time and effort. page 22

Throughout history, no one has achieved any worthwhile goal, significant project, or impossible dream without effectively partnering and seeking outside counsel.  page 26

Whether at work or at home, most ideas are ignored or rejected not because they're bad ideas but because they're ineffectively or unpersuasively communicated.  According to a survey of business owners and corporate CEOs, ineffective communication is the number-one problem in business... page 42 

Manipulation uses any means possible, including deceit, to convince someome to do something that is not in their best interest.  Persuaion, on the other hand, allows you to present your point of view in a clear and compelling way to motivate someone to do what you believe to be in their best interest or for the common good.  page 62

...being truly happy produces wonderful health benefits.  page 95

"You can't stop a bird from landing on your head, but you can stop him from building a nest on it."  We cannot prevent envious thoughts from entering our hearts, but we can keep from taking root.   page 99

"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write the on the tablet of your heart." page 107

But dishonesty never starts in a corporate boardroom.  It starts in the hearts and minds of individual men and women.  By making honesty the cornerstone of your personality, you can avoid...consequences.  page 113

Solomon promises that those who are generous will never lack for anything-every true need will be provided-and that you will prosper, and your prosperity will always increase.   page 114

Winning becomes no longer a matter of getting "my way", or persuading someone to do what I want them to do; rather, it becomes a way of achieving what's best for all.  page 127

When people push you to hurry, a red flag should go up.  Put on the brakes; DON'T let anyone push you to make an important decision in haste.  Insist on taking the time to dig deep, seek counsel, and perform the level of diligence necessary to make a wise decision.  page 183

Diligence is like a giant floodlight: turn it on, and naivete's darkness disappears.  page 185

Greed is a deep longing for something that creates a willingness to do whatever it takes to acquire it...  A person can be greedy in just about any imaginable area: the pursuit of power or recognition, the pursuit of love, the pursuit of sexual fulfillment, the pursuit of leisure or a hobby.  page 194

...when desire becomes our focus, or causes us to set aside our priorities, values, or ethics, it has become greed.  page 198 

Do not wear yourself out to get riches; have the wisdom to show restraint.  page 203

The fastest way to eliminate greed from your life is to make a concentrated effort to give to others.  You don't have to wait until you're rich to become generous.  page 203

Whether he needs a solution in a time of trouble or wisdom to capitalize on an opportunity, he'll always have plenty of knowledge to draw upon.  Not so for the foolish.   page 227

According to Gary Smalley, the number-one desire of a man is to be admired.  And everyone - man, woman, boy, girl - wants to feel valued.   page 228  

enclosure

Book Reflection: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Kayla and I recently completed our first term of our first semester as Highlands College evening core students!  It has been a wonderful journey that no doubt has strengthened my spirit and helped to bring me much more in line with the culture of God's will for my life!

It looks like each term we will be assigned a book to read and this first round was The Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Rick Warren.  For me this book was like going to a chiropractor and helped adjust my life in more accordance with Gods word and to a great extent to the interpretation of popular pastor voice today.  

Listed below are the thoughts and principles that I would like to remember and keep at the forefront of my modus operandi: 

- God is not the starting point of my life, he is the source of it.  page 27 

- Character is both developed and revealed by test, and all of life is a test.  You are always being tested.  God constantly watches your response to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, and even the weather!  He watches the simplest actions such as when you open a door for others, when you pick up a piece of trash, or when you're polite toward a clerk or waitress.  page 56

- Throughout history, God has revealed his glory to people in different settings.  He revealed it first in the garden of Eden, then to Moses, then in the tabernacle and the temple, then through Jesus, and now through the church.  page 71 

- We bring glory to God by telling other about him. page 75

- Bringing pleasure to God is called "worship" page 82

- We worship for God's benefit.  When we worship, our goal is to bring pleasure to God, not to ourselves. page 85 

- ...we will never understand some commands until you obey them first.  Obedience unlocks understanding.  page 92  

- Every human activity, expect sin, can be done for God's pleasure if you do it with an attitude of praise page 95

- The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar, so you have to surrender your life fifty times a day.  page 108

- In the Bible, the friends of God were honest about their feelings, often complaining...God defended Job for being honest, and he rebuked Job's friends for being inauthentic.  page 121  

- Four of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship to God while the other six deal with our relationships with people.  But all ten are about relationships!  Page 160

- Real maturity shows up in relationships. page 172 

- He created the church to meet your five deepest needs: a purpose to live for, people to live with, principles to live by, a profession to live out, and power to live on.  page 174  

- Once a group becomes larger than about ten people, someone stops participating - usually the quietest person - and a few people will dominate the group.  page 178

- ...the Bible tells that God has given us the ministry of restoring relationships. page 196

- Christlike is all about transforming your character, not your personality.  page 221 

- Every problem is a character-building opportunity page 252

- Temptation simply provides the choice.  While temptation is Satan's primary weapon to destroy you, God wants to use it to develop you.  page 257 

- Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity.  page 258 

- We naturally move toward whatever we focus our attention on.  The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold on you.  page 270 

- While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow.  page 279

- Discipleship is the process of conforming to Christ.  page 280  

- Thousands of books have been written on leadership, but few on servanthood.  Everyone wants to lead; no one wants to be a servant.  Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, but your secondary service is wherever you're needed at the moment.  page 329 

- We serve to get others to like us, to be admired, or to achieve our own goals.  That is manipulation, not ministry.  The whole time we're really thinking about ourselves and how noble and wonderful we are.  page 340 

- Kingdom Builders and Wealth Builders.  Both are gifted at making a business grow, making deals or sales, and making a profit.  Wealth Builders continue to amass wealth for themselves no matter how much they make, but Kingdom Builders change the rules of the game.  They still try to make as much money as they can, but they do it in order to give it away.  They use the wealth to fund God's church and its mission in the world.  page 343 

- Everyone has weaknesses.  In fact, you have a bundle of flaws and imperfections: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.  You may also have uncontrollable circumstances that weaken you, such as financial or relational limitations.  The more important issue is what you do with these.   page 348 

- God is never limited by our limitations.  In fact, he enjoys putting his great power into our ordinary containers.  

- He made you to be a member of his family, a model of his character, a magnifier of his glory, a minister of his grace, and a messenger of his Good News to others.  Of these five purposes, the fifth can only be done on earth.  page 378   

- People are most receptive to God when they are under tension or transition. page 385

- Happiness is a choice.  You are as happy as you choose to be.  What other people think of you cannot rob your happiness unless you allow them to rob it.  

  It is a fact that life on our broken planet filled with broken people, there will always be those who will demean how you look, dislike what you do, disapprove of what you believe, dispute what you say, and disrespect who you are.  page 432 

enclosure  

The Laws and Structure of ULECx Market

ULECx Investment Corporation
d/b/a ULECx Market

Note: This article is an informal and nonbinding summary of what is written in the ULECx Investment Corporation Certificate of Formation and Bylaws. Our attempt in this communication is to help establish a brief understanding of the ownership structure of the ULECx Market.  Over time this document will change and evolve.    


Vision
The ULECx Investment Corporation (ULECx) is a multi member-owned for-profit entity organized to equip and partner with Birmingham, AL business leaders who have a deep and sincere love for King Jesus and his beloved bride The Church.


Core Values 
Birmingham Business Leaders United:
Love God
Love People
Purse Excellence
Choose Joy


Purpose
There are five Essential Ingredients for Success that are required for all businesses to obtain any level of achievement to include:
- people
- intelligence
- capital
- risk
- and resources

The ULECx is an infrastructure that makes it easier to reach these essential elements by reducing barriers that block access to these market assets.


Mission 
The ULECx is a market designed for the Essential Ingredients for Success to trade among consumers and suppliers in a safe and reliable manner.  The ULECx primary trading platform is found in various social media outlets, ulecx.com, and in-person gatherings at various locations. 


Net Income Distribution 
The financial goal of The ULECx is to accumulate significant net wealth for her shareholders.  Income distribution will not be considered until after $500,000 in receivables has been collected from businesses partners' royalties and gross profits from the sale of services. 

All net income only after $500K may be released evenly as a distribution to the Shareholders.  However, the primary objective of the ULECx is to derive significant wealth which at this point is more in line with companies like Berkshire Hathaway, Apple, Exxon Mobil, etc.  The ULECx greatest interest is reaching those heights and farther than it is in releasing income to her Shareholders.  Please note our financial objective is not a promise.  It more accurately is our intent and what we believe is our God-given prayer to strive for.


Taxes
The ULECx elects to be taxed as a Corporation entity.  

The ULECx  C-corporation and reap a lower tax burden at 26% (21% for federal and 5% for the state of Alabama).  


Membership Ownership Structure

Subscriber - any person who opts into our email campaign or any of our social media platforms is considered a Participant member

Market Partner - a Market Partner is a business leader that chooses to opt-in as a paying member to The ULECx Market.  Market Partners have rights to be published and to publish on ULECx.com and other platforms.  Market Partners annual fee is left to the discretion of the member.  The contribution fee should be an economic blessing on the Market Partners budget yet honorable to The ULECx Market

Class B Elder Share Holder (33%) - is a limited group of owners that grow only by vote of Class B shareholders.  There may be an unlimited number of shareholders with no more than twenty-four of them serving as Elders.  Elders may sit in those roles at any given time and are decided by a vote of Class A shareholders.  Together Elders serve as the Board of Elders to the King Shareholder.  Elders present ideas to the King Shareholder but three of them must sponsor the idea for it to be formally considered among all Class A Shareholders.   Class A Shareholders are required to vote in a Chairman to serve as the leader and coordinator of the group.  Elders are to serve a minimum of two-year terms.  Before the last month of the two-year term, the Elder may choose to remain as an Elder.  They may retain their position by vote of the Elders if more than 24 elders exist.  By default, all Class A Shareholders are considered Elders so long as 24 or fewer Elders are listed in Class A share.  The Chairman will serve a four-year term and can retain that position so long as s/he prefers to and wins a unanimous vote from the Elders.

Only by a vote of the 24 Elders can a Class A Shareholder be added in as a Class A Shareholder.  The King Shareholder will decide if a new member can enter into Class A in the event that the Elders vote Talley lands in a tie.  The role of Elder can not be transferred from one member to another without a vote by all Class A Shareholders.  

The King Shareholder at his complete discretion may add the first three Class A Shareholders.  Thereafter only by unanimous vote of the Elders may a member be added in a Class A shareholder.  

The Chief Elder is selected from among the 24 Elders by the King A Sharholder.  The Chief Elder primary responsibility is to serve as the facilitator of the Elders and formally represent the voice all B share holders.       

Class C Angel Shareholder  (34%) - has an unlimited number of seats and the Kingshareholder may add Class C certificates at will.   The ULECx views the sustainable increase in value of a Class C certificate as the basis of financial return on investment.  The ULECx has a goal to give the Class B shareholders a stronger return than the general market and are hoping to outperform the NASDAQ, NYSE, and other popular exchanges by double.  Our goal is to not increase the share outstanding greater than our ability to give a return at twice rate of general market exchanges.

Other noteworthy details regarding Class B & C shares holders:

Class B and Class C shareholders are allowed to sell their ownership interest at any point.  However The ULECx will collect a transaction fee to expedite the transfer of ownership.  The transaction fee is $1,000.   

At no point will The ULECx be required to buy the ownership portion of a shareholder.

Class B and Class C can share their share of the company.  A transaction fee of $1,000 will be collected by ULECx in the event that either a Class B or Class C member wanted to share their share with someone else. 


Class A - King Shareholder  (33%) - sovereignty to govern.  The king shareholder will choose his own successor and will lead in complete sovereignty.  He will not receive any form of net income (including wages) until after $500,000 has been received in net income by the ULECx portfolio.  Also for every dollar earned by the King Shareholder, $1 must be distributed evenly to Class B and Class C shareholders as well. 

Up to 10% of all gross revenue and investments into the ULECx Investment Corporation will be sent to our wholy owned ULEC Exchange, LLC to cover operating expenses and expressed interest in three out of four of the BAM quadropb bottom line.  To include Environmental, Social, and Spiritual returns.  

The King Shareholder is only allowed to share their portion of ownership with his or her spouse.

KM Briggs, LLC is currently the King Shareholder under the ownership of Martin and Kayla Briggs.  Either one of them is suitable to lead ULECx in the event that either one of them should pass.   The Chief Elder would automatically become The King Shareholder in the event that both Martin and Kayla would pass at that same time and had not yet identified a successor.  Lord willing Martin and Kayla will choose a successor well before our death to carry on the God-given purpose of The ULECx Market

Business Partner  - the goal of The ULECx is to own 20% of various business enterprises and to receive 5% of all net income from that business.  Net income is defined as any form of income distributed to the owners of the business and their immediate household family.  These distributions mean any distribution net income of any type including wages, salaries, profit distribution, etc.  Royalty is to be paid to The ULECx quarterly and are to produce all Year-end filings at the same time they are filed with the IRS. 


Note: this is not a legal document or proposal.  It is a guideline to help direct the operations and decisions of The ULECx Market Partners.  Over time this document will change and evolve.   

last updated by Martin A. Briggs on September 23, 2020    

 

Prayer for Revelation of God's Glory

Of all the souls who have passed from this life into eternity, Moses stands out uniquely in Scripture. He is the only human mentioned by name as sharing the highest honor imaginable — the position of the Bride in union with the Lamb within the New Jerusalem. According to the Apostle John, who was also granted a glimpse into the heavenly realm and is himself among those destined for that same glory, Moses is not only seated with God in the Kingdom but continues to carry divine authority. Even now, he partners with the Lamb to reveal and release the will of God, just as he once did when leading Israel out of Egypt.

In Revelation 15, we witness something extraordinary — Moses and the Lamb composing a song together. Of all the prayers and songs recorded in the Book of Revelation, this one stands apart: it does not come from the twenty-four elders but is a prayer accessible to all Israel — a song of victory, holiness, and awe before the throne.

When we declare this prayer, we are not asking for personal gain or petitioning for specific outcomes. Instead, we open the windows of heaven for the Father’s will and glory to flow freely through the earth. It is an act of pure surrender and alignment — granting God permission to move as He desires, to reign as He sees fit, and to display His majesty among the nations.

Revelation 15:1 - 4
I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
    Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
    King of the nations.
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
    and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Book Reflection: What on Earth am I Here For by Rick Waren

Kayla and I are first year evening Core students at Highlands College.  Over the next eight weeks we are reading What on Earth am I here For? by Rick Warren.   Of course the entire book has life fulfilling content so I am going to list the key points that have made significant impact on my life and are spiritual laws that I choose to retain as codes for my life:

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord...They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.  Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.  Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)  page 21 

...focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose page 24 

God is not just the starting point of your life; he is the source of it page 27 

You were created as a special object of God's love!  God made you so he could love you.  This is a truth to build your life on page page 33

People who don't know their purpose try to do too much - and that causes stress, fatigue, and conflict page 42 

Life is a test, life is a trust, life is a temporary assignment.  These ideas are the foundation of a purpose drive life. page 56

This is another misconception about worship.  It isn't for our benefit!  We worship for God's benefit.  When we worship, our goal is to bring pleasure to God, not ourselves.   If you ever have said, "I didn't get anything our of worship today, " you worshiped for the wrong reason.  Worship isn't for you.  It's for God.   page 85 

I will continue to update this post through spring 2018 when the course is completed   

The Law of Manna

 Manna is a combination of five elements: people, intelligence, risk, resources, and capital.  The following are the laws of manna: 

- manna is given in exchange for prayer (A.S.K) and worship
- manna is produced and provided by God from heaven
- manna is brought to us in close proximity 
- manna is received as a finished product.  Seed nor animial farming is required
- we have to labor for the manna 
- manna is stored in a hidden place and is released in daily dosages according
to the need and purpose of the person recieving it
- God provides instruction and purpose on what to do with manna
- manna is God's presence.  Manna feeds glory (Exo 16:10), favor, rest and test our ability to remain loyal to his instruction (Exo 16:4)
- manna helps to restore and maintain a healthy culture among the people (Exo 16:9)
- conversely not having enough manna leads to silent bitterness
- God controls the life within the manna.  He has the ability to destroy or increase it's life at will
- manna expires either at the point at which it is eaten or at a designated time
- we are demendent upon manna and must receive it on a daily basis or we will perish
- God requires credit for providing the manna
- Quail are sent in the evening and they cover the camp.  In the morning dew remains over the camp.  The dew fades away it leaves the bread that appears like thin flake frost on the desert floor 
- manna comes with an orientation to instruct the user how who delivered the goods and how to best use the goods also an explanation of what happens if not consumed properly 
- their is always more value to the manna than what is advertised.  In other words everyone knows manna as bread but in fact a hidden value is the meat that was provided from the quail
- manna is not kept in scarce supply.  With God's help it is made readily available and abundant 
- God will multiply the ability of manna when we choose to stay in his presence and enjoy his rest
- even the quail take rest
- the rule of taking no more than three pounds each day was more than generous and everyone had no problem with compliance
- people receive manna when they reach a place spiritually when they reach a place of acknowledging that they are dependent upon God
- in other words manna is used as a tool to bring people closer to Christ Jesus.  People are more likely to accept Christ when they are feeding from his manna over what he is saying
- make the front door about Christ his manna not his word.   God's presence is laced in the manna and the fruit of the digestion is his word.  According the last supper Christ Jesus body is the bread and the cup is his word
- our discernment and God's grace all sufficient when we choose to operate within the law of his instruction Exodus 16:18
- manna has an optimal time of usage, timing is crucial Exodus 16:21
- mystery is an essential aspect of the manna experience.  For example how did the quail arrive to the camp as they are not made for migration.  Much of God's nature or his presence is not meant or is available for explanation or understanding.  Hence the name Manna, what is it?
- manna is understood but not clearly explainable
- we are to expect the unexpected from God's manna.  We define manna in today's market as people, capital, risk, intelligence, and resources
- manna is created to equalize the market.  Each person shall have their daily allotment according to their individual need
- God's presence is eternal however his manna is not.  In time all manna expires therefore do not hold onto it with a tight fist
- Manna expresses life through various stages starting out as dew, hardens, then softens on it's way to melt if the temperature is high enough.  Or will spoil with maggots if left past a day.  Also it will melt away if left untouched too long in the field.  Manna has a optimal time for usage. 
- On average with God's grace each person is given 40 years to plow and toil starting around age 20 and ending around 60 (Exo 16:35)
- Be grateful for the manna God gives you and be careful not to lust for more than what he has provided from his own will.  For He might give you an abundance of riches that turns out to absent of his presence.  This is what it means when Jesus states in Rev 3:18 'I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich...' Numbers 11

Exodus 16; numbers 11

6 Reasons to Keep Quail | Perfect Homestead Birds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kajwyWlD34

Additional Manna Scriptures
https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Manna

The Life the Legacy of Mr. Walter Colvin

On Saturday October 21, 2017 my relationship with my best friend Mr. Walt took a big turn when without so many words he let me know that he truly felt like he was dying.  Between that point to his death on Friday December 8th we went from confirmation that he had stage four cancer, to a family meeting in which he and his wife Barbara Colvin informed us that he had maybe six months to live, to him barely having life in body after Thanksgiving.

Mr. Walt's last week and half of life to this past weekend was undoubtedly the most grief I have ever experienced.  I had the privilege of getting to know Mr. Walt very well due to our connection of my wonderful marriage of his youngest daughter Kayla of now 18 years.  All together I had a great relationship with Mr. Walt for over 20 years.  Mr. Walt was very passionate about giving advice as he long for 'young' people to succeed.  The purpose of this journal entry is to list the lessons I have learned from Mr. Walt based both in his guidance as the closest father I have ever had and his life in general.  These are principals that I will lean on and attribute then to his life:

- always save money

- get into a career that is steady and provides opportunity for advancement

- use your career to build wealth, i.e real estate being an example

- address the people sown in your life that are easy for you to neglect.  Go out of your way to love them and take the lead in helping them be accepted by the group

- use your God given leverage to help others arise to and above the status you have achieved

- get your house in order long before the doctor says to get your house in order

- people love a friendly smile and a friendly person

- love displays when one cares and ask about the uncommon interest of the other

- process grief don't stuff it or hold on to it.  Face grief head on then let it out but be sure to let it go

- being present counts, it counts for a lot

- home is special.  Make it special no matter what season you are in 

-  truly the greatest gift is to be loved and to give love

- partner with reputable construction vendors and write contracts with them that protect your interest of quality of work and staying on schedule 

These are the lessons I recall from my father thus far.  I will continue to up date this list as I can recall them. 

enclosure