(Empowerment Press, Feb. 2006)
By David Bradshaw
Idea Factory Press
Feb. 3, 2006
The recent flap over “A Million Tiny Pieces,” the best-selling self-help memoir, left egg on Oprah’s face. There was a little problem with accuracy. “Truthiness” has it’s consequences.
Moral #1: Journalistic accountability is on the rise. Welcome to the age of enforceable transparency, courtesy of Google (unless you live in China).
Moral #2: We must not confuse popular myths with real facts. Self-help books can be great, but they must to be built on a sound foundation of truth.
But ahh–what is truth? Two hundred years ago, your ancestors knew. They had a faith and worldview that was pretty simple and holistic. Today, however, even those of us who have faith are in a different situation. We still hold our faith tightly in our hands, yet it’s in a million pieces. We’ve soaked up vast blocks of knowledge, but some of it is destructive, modern-day mythology that has fragmented our understanding. Many of us despair of ever putting it all back together again.
James Rutz, author of the 2005 bestseller “MegaShift,” will be unveiling his newest book, "The Meaning of Life" Thursday, Feb. 9th on CBN's 700 Club.
Mr. Rutz has done the world a big favor by reassembling the bits and pieces of our knowledge and exploding some of the biggest myths surrounding our eternal purpose and destiny. He has done a clear and astonishing rethink of the world, the ever-expanding Kingdom of God, and our place in it.
His new book, The Meaning of Life (MOL), offers a shortcut to understanding all of history since Year One from a very fresh and optimistic perspective. He parts the veil on half a dozen mysteries that have befuddled even our deepest thinkers till today:
~ Why does the universe exist in the first place?
~ Is human history going anywhere specific?
~ What will go on in Heaven?
~ Is Hell as bad as we've been told?
~ What about those crazy verses in the Bible that seem to make no sense?
~ If God is good, why do we suffer so much?
~ Bottom line, what's the purpose of it all?
MOL is written with classic Rutz panache, using down-to-earth-people language, lots of factual evidence, and plenty of vivid examples drawn from his insightful observations and long experience.
MOL describes the world as “a giant LEGO set” in which God is actively involved in helping each piece to find its true purpose and meaning, but only as it gets connected to the whole.
Not surprisingly, this supernatural truth is now backed up by the natural sciences. Scientists tell us that every cell in our body carries in it two DNA codes: one to bring the cell to maturity and reproduction, and another to bring the cell into harmony and integration with the entire organism. Likewise, a part of our Creator's grand design was to place within each person an individual destiny, to reach maturity and reproduction, and a corporate destiny, to integrate with the whole body.
This process of expanding your purpose beyond the realm of “What's in it for me?” takes the better part of a lifetime for most of us -- and, sadly, never happens at all for some. However, Rutz can save you decades of wandering. He has condensed his wisdom into just 150 power-packed pages of highly entertaining reading.
Best of all you’ll laugh and cry as you understand who you really are. With Chapters like; Why Your Dog Died… Let’s Go to Hell… Heaven: No Halos, No Harps… and my favorite, 1700 Years is Long Enough… I’d be surprised if you don’t lose track of time as your mission on planet earth comes into clearer focus. I did.
As a big plus, the entire book is in line with the Holy Scriptures ... which is surprising because the last chapter presents an exciting, fresh alternative to the tradition-laden institution we fondly know as “the church.”
Rutz reports there are some “23 million born-again church dropouts in the U.S. today… within 10-15 years over half of the church will be elbowing each other for sofa space in home-based fellowships, instead of holding down a pew cushion.”
Isn’t it just like a loving Creator to transform frustrated church lemons into relaxing glasses of lemonade–at the very moment the world is about to become most thirsty!
The biggest contribution of MOL? It shows you the starting point and end goal of your life. Most people simply have never seen the vastness of their purpose and destiny. This book will widen your vision as no other has ever done. It has inspired me to seek God about launching a home-based fellowship this year here in Phoenix, Arizona. Warning: It may do the same for you.
On a personal note, our youngest daughter Braida Zoe will celebrate her 2nd birthday this week with family and friends. She is a pure joy to love and care for. Each day she grasps another tiny little piece of this marvelous world God has created. As parents, our prayer this year is to help her grow up to maturity -- and to find her unique place of service in this world... and in the next.
I highly recommend this book to discover a new set of answers about life that will bring together millions of tiny pieces. You may order The Meaning of Life from Open Church Ministries, 304 Grady Street, P.O. Box 399, Portal, GA 30450, (888) OPEN-123 or www.openchurch.com, for $12.00 + $3.00 S&H in the U.S. Release date: Feb. 9, 2006.
P.S. Read another review of The Meaning of Life by Dr. Lynn Reddick here.
Order “MegaShift“, Jim’s 2005 blockbuster here. Read 1996 Essay, The Big Picture
*"Truthiness refers to the quality by which someone purports to know something emotionally or instinctively, without regard to evidence or to what the person might conclude from intellectual examination.” -Wikipedia
2004: A Year of New Beginnings...and Answered Prayer!
Dec 29, 2004
Just when we think we have a handle on life,
our Father in Heaven disturbs OUR plan with
a NEW plan -- which is a part of His Eternal Plan.
This NEW Plan for our life may begin with
the joy of a new child's first breathe ... OR, it may
begin with the sorrow of a beloved's last breathe.
Through it all, His Plan for our life marches
on toward maturity IF we embrace it, learn to
make the needed changes in our plan and then
learn to celebrate His eternal Love... by sharing
it with those lives around us that we touch.
2004 was a just such a year for myself and
several of my family members. 2004 brought
my wife Micki and I a new baby (Braida Zoe) in February
and a new home in September -- not a part of OUR plan
one year ago, but definately part of God's PLAN!
It was just over a year ago that my dad
Keith went on to meet the Lord. [see: A TRIBUTE TO DAD] My mom Virginia
and he were married almost 50 years, a
lifetime to me.
Thankfully, I have grown closer to my mom,
and she has grown closer to her God in the
process of grieving. see: My Mother's Day Prayer] I sleep well now, knowing
that, by the grace of God, my mom is learning
to grow through her grief and is
surrounded by caring Christian support --
having recently relocated from So. Cal to
Idaho near my brother Kevin and wife Irene.
2004 also brought my 20-something year old daughter,
Beth and her husband Kurt back together after a 6-mo
separation ... yet another major answer to prayer.
Together with daughter (Rheya) they are now settling
into a new home in Sherman Oaks, CA
and pursuing thier love of each other and of music. [listen: "Whatever Happened To Us?"]
At work, 2004 was a very busy year! [see: 12 Top Stories of 2004] The 21st
century gold rush suddenly jumped to the next
phase, as the U.S. dollar's position of "the coin
of the realm" weakened further worldwide.
I was continually challenged to produce new, relevant
educational resources that would somehow underscore
God's economic principles -- in the face of a collapsing
humanist-driven financial world.
All in all, 2004 has been a year of new beginnings...
and of new endings. Just when America seemed
most divided politically, The Passion of Christ ignited
a fresh revelation of the true unity we find in our ancient
gospel -- as it softened hard hearts and opened closed spirits.
Yes, God has so blessed each of us with access to His
holy Spirit that empowers us to rejoice, even in sorrow,
and to greet each new day as His new beginning for us.
May 2005 bring us all more new beginnings ... and more
answered prayers!
David Bradshaw, Ideaman
P.S. Youngest daughter Braida Zoe (10-mo old) is now standing, clapping, waiving, stepping, even saying "mama" & "dada" to the correct parent!
DEBT FREE 2003!
"Owe no man anothing except to love him" -APOSTLE PAUL
Last January I presented our readers with a few humble
2002 resolutions in the spirit of the season.
1) REDUCE DEBT - Especially credit cards
2) INCREASE SAVINGS - Financial emergency preparedness
3) REDUCE STOCK EXPOSURE - Fully diversify assets
4) INCREASE TANGIBLE ASSETS - 5%-15% in Numismatics
5) FIND A BROKER YOU TRUST - Then tell your broker the truth
6) WRITE YOUR VISION DOWN - Goals, personal & business
7) INCREASE RESEARCH TIME - Read the fine print first
8) REDUCE FINANCIAL NOISE - Mute pop TV Wall St. Analysts
9) INCREASE INVESTOR IQ @ BuyCoin.com & DailyReckoning.com
10) PRIORITIZE RELATIONSHIPS - God, Family, work, friends
In 2003, we see no reason to change our list because most
of us have not finished with last year's list yet.
The same goes for the financial markets ... there is still
much unfinished business before the prudent investor can expect
a sustainable new "bull market" in U.S. stocks.
Gold, on the other hand, has become the most celebrated
investment of the year in 2002 ... why, even CNBC could find
no wrong with "5-10% gold allocation in 2003" (New Years Money
Marathon) ... my, how things have changed in the last year!
As for real estate ... WSJ says it may "soon return to earth."
For that reson (and others) my wife and I just sold our
2400 sq. ft. Phoenix home and voluntarily downsized to our
800 sq. ft. apartment (a triplex we've owned for 5 years).
The equity in our home has allowed us to ... pay off all
our debt ... begin a tangible savings/investment program ...
and be in a position to help our family ... just in case.
Yes, "Debt-free in 2003" became a reality for your editor
over this holiday season. And, when all the dust settles,
I'm sure that I'll enjoy a better quality of life ...
more time with family relationships, grandkids ... and,
in general, the true wealth of life.
What will 2003 bring? More uncertainty? A season of change is
upon us and it will require keen discernment and vigilance
to get ahead and stay ahead. Swiss America is 100% committed
to helping our readers to do just that and will be launching
a new Swiss America Web Site to prove it.
May God grant us the wisdom to reach our destiny in 2003 -
as individuals, families and nations.
"The future belongs to those who are prepared for it."
-Dennis Peacocke, Pres. SCS
Sincerely,
David Bradshaw - Ideaman
P.S. What are the major economic megatrends of 2003? Here:
Find Out Here
2002: The Year of Fresh Starts... Expect the Unexpected!
"God doesn't always do things soon, but He does things suddenly."
- Dudley Hall, The Future Church
"As usual, the liberals only have it half right. The REAL cause
behind the 911 attacks is that militant fundamentalist Islamic leaders,
like Osama bin Laden, fear that the spiritual bankruptcy they see
in America will wash up on their shores and corrupt them too! And
they make a good point."
- Michael Savage The Savage Nation
I'm dubbing 2002 as "the year of fresh starts." and Lord knows we can
all use it.
2001 was a year of shattered illusions for many... and growing convictions
for others. Symbolism in American culture still abounds, but it is slowly
giving way to more substantive issues - and I suspect that in 2002, the
best and the worst is yet to come.
2001 was also a very busy year for My Idea Factory... writing/recording
a daily market news feature, updating Swiss America web sites, publishing
a paperback on economics - then challenging the media to review it.
Then came the 911 nightmare, out of the blue ... or was it?
"How could this happen?" America asked, and Dennis Peacocke
of Strategic Christian Resources answered: "The events of this week have long been building in our nation
and have ancient spiritual roots that mere modern technology or democratic
theory cannot remove easily. When the spiritual hedge of a nation
is removed, its enemies manifest in the natural world the attacks
that heretofore were simply in the realm of the spirit." -The Bottom
Line, September 2001
Yes, THE WORLDVIEW WAR suddenly
leapfrogged from the spiritual/ideological realms into the social, economic
and governmental realms... and virtually no one was expecting it - at least
no one with a major media voice. But that is all about to change rather
"suddenly" I expect. More on the coming changes in a moment, but first
here is a short summary of last year's work:
-Jan. to May ... I produced a 3-minute daily radio feature for
Swiss America entitled True Wealth
which aired daily on KKLA. The purpose; to teach free market principles
and provide a contrarian perspective on economic and financial market news.
-In March ... I wrote and published a new Research Report: U.S. Proof Silver Type Coins (1936-1942)
These WWII Era coins have since growth in price by an average of 57% in 2001 - to become the top
performing U.S. rare coin for the year!
-May to July ... I co-wrote with Craig Smith, edited and published
Idea Factory's first paperback book on economics and coin investing;
Rediscovering Gold in the 21st Century.
Released on July 23, the book was picked up by Biblio Distribution, Amazon.com, Barnes
& Noble and Borders.com. Sales are still building, but the
book reviews are all
positive so far.
-August to December ... I juggled publishing, writing, promoting
duties for Swiss America. I contacted hundreds of media producers about
interviewing Swiss America CEO, Craig R. Smith and dozens have responded
so far. I also wrote a script for a 30-minute TV special on coin investing
entitled "U.S. Coins... For Such a Time As This"
featuring entertainer Pat Boone
-As 2002 begins, I'm working on a new Special Report:
U.S. Coins For the Next Generation
to celebrate Swiss America's 20 year anniversary in 2002. Incidentally,
Swiss America just completed their beautiful, new 15,000 sq. ft. corporate
headquarters in Phoenix, of which I occupy a humble corner.
Back to the "sudden" changes I expect in 2002... and beyond.
1. SPIRITUAL/CULTURAL CHANGES...
The church is coming home... according to Wolfgang Simson's
revolutionary book, HOUSES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD.
Read The Future Church
for a primer. Another excellent resource is the new quarterly magazine,
House2House Magazine.
In his upcoming book, THE NEW CHRISTIANITY, American church growth researcher and author
Jim Rutz describes
the astonishing increase in the growth rate of evangelical Christianity.
"In the mid-80's, evangelical Christianity experienced
a strong upward turn. Prior to 1985, the growth rate was
2% per year, slightly higher than the growth of the
world population; today it is around 7.5% per year.
If the current growth continues, the entire world
would be followers of Jesus Christ in 2041..." he says.
Year Christians (millions) % Growth rate
1970 272
1985 366 2 (1970-85)
1990 445 4 (1985-90)
1995 596 6 (1990-95)
2000 836 7 (1995-2000)
2001 899 7.5 (2000+)
In comparison, the growth rates of the most important religious groups:
% Growth rate
Catholics 1.2
World population 1.3
Buddhists 1.7
Hindus 2.3
All "Christians" 2.6
Moslems 2.7
All Protestants 2.9
Evangelicals 7.5
"Evangelical Christians include charismatic and Pentecostal Christians, as well as a growing number
of Christians outside traditional churches."
In addition, Christians appear more ready to grasp the
importance of having a biblical worldview... thanks in
part to the accelerating collapse of secular humanism
and the terrorist attack staged on 911 by leaders of the
radical, militant fundamental Islamic worldview.
Pat Buchanan's new book "The Death of the West" was the
topic of The Savage Nation on Wed. Jan. 2nd. Pat listed
many of the reasons why he believes that the U.S will
become a Third World nation by 2050. Savage said he was
a bit more optimistic than Pat, but agrees with his
premise because he's convinced America won't change.
Will Americans, steeped in the prevailing spirit of "negative
unity" find a way to turn this seemingly hopeless
situation around?
I think we will... IF... we can move beyond
disillusionment to discover the "positive unity"
that comes from having a unified vision.
Nehemiah faced a similar situation about 450 year before
Christ. He viewed the burned out city of Jerusalem with
eyes of faith. Seeing the broken down walls and said,
"let us rise up and build!" As the king's cupbearer,
Nehemiah then prayed for (and was given) the time,
authority, power and leadership to get the job done.
I submit that if God fearing Americans "have a mind to
work" (Neh. 4:6) as the Jews did in Jerusalem, we could
see a massive reversal of the collapse of the west that
Buchanan and others see on the horizon. Time will tell.
In 2000, Swiss America published an excellent resource to
help people of faith to understand the nature of this coming
worldview war entitled, The Big Picture, featuring almost
200 top leadership perspectives.
Read 1995 article The Big Picture
...by James Rutz and I;
You can listen to The Big Picture by requesting a copy of the CD from
me or online in at True-Wealth.com mp3 format
In 2002, My Idea Factory will publish The Big Picture
Study guide and Leader's guide online as my contribution
to helping create a new vision of "positive unity" ...
so that we can learn why we should expect the unexpected.
2. GOVERNMENTAL/ECONOMIC CHANGES COMING...
America is starting to understand that government begins within. The
role of civil government has grown beyond it's proper boundaries and I
expect the next sweeping movement will cut it down to size. Here is a clue;
Michael Savage, host of The Savage Nation is now the fastest growing radio
talk show in the country - and is dedicated to helping dismantle the present
liberal political/media establishment. He speaks with a prophetic voice
about our cultural crises, and in my view, is preparing the way for a true
reformation based on a solid biblical foundation.
Economic change in 2002 will also be sweeping. As the debt bubble
created during the last artificial boom continues to be corrected. No amount
of Fed manipulation or government spending stimulus will speed this natural
"pruning" process much. This may even be year that many Americans stop
living beyond their means - either by choice or by circumstance. The biblical
principle of earning all you can, saving all you can and giving all you
can - together with wise asset diversification - will be the saving grace
of many financially. Here is a short list of
2002 Investor Resolutions.
As for me an my house, 2002 will be a year of discernment about how
to invest our time, talents and resources to reach the goal of being prepared
for the unexpected, and helping others to do the same.
At Your Service,
David Bradshaw
MyIdeaFactory.net
