Michael, I can truly say I am much inspired by many of your words, and I hope you will in no way be upset over what I may write in response to what you have written. I read a lot of what Charles Stanley writes and you can read what he writes at www.intouch.org - what I am sending you is his devotional for today. PLEASE READ TO THE END FOR I HAVE WRITTEN SOMETHING AT THE END FOR YOU.
01 March

Our loving Father forgives us for our sins, and He desires that we likewise demonstrate forgiveness to others.

1 Peter 5:5-7 5(A)You younger men, likewise, (B)be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with (C)humility toward one another, for (D)GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

6Therefore (E)humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

7casting all your (F)anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Jesus' life exemplified humility. He did not assert His rights while on earth, but instead left behind His rightful glory and authority. Cloaking himself with humanness, Jesus chose to obey His Father as a servant. (Philippians 2:5-7)

Our Savior's example was and still is counter-cultural. This world does not value an attitude or lifestyle of humility; rather, our culture applauds high achievement, outward beauty, elevated positions, or exceptional skills. But God assures us that if we choose meekness?living in submission to Jesus as Master of our lives?He will reward us in both this life and the life to come. (Matthew 5:5 NIV)

Peter clearly outlines our options in his first letter to the church. If we choose God's way of humility, we are promised that spiritual blessings will follow. But if we pridefully forsake His path, He will oppose us because we are in essence working against Him in our arrogant self-sufficiency. However, when we humble ourselves by yielding to His authority and desiring to obey Him, He will be our source of confidence and strength.

God's promise with regard to humility has another important aspect. Since we sometimes buy into the significance society places on instant gratification, we want recognition now. But God honors us according to His own timing and His own perfect ways.

The decision is yours to make: Will you humble yourself and live for God's glory rather than your own, or will you plot your own course and invite His opposition?

MICHAEL, FIRST OF ALL I DO NOT SEND THIS TO YOU TO SLAP YOU IN THE FACE, RATHER, I SEND IT TO YOU BECAUSE I NEED THIS MORE THAN ANYONE. GOD LOVES YOU, THE GOD WHO SENT HIS SON JESUS TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR YOURS AND MY SIN. AND I KNOW SOMEDAY WHETHER IN PERSON OR SOMEHOW YOU AND I WILL MEET AND THEN YOU MAY HAVE MET JESUS. GOD BLESS, JIM C.

In respone to Jim-- Why do you feel compelled to equate "spiritual" with "religion"? What I believe Michael means is an "inner self" (i.e. your own "spirit") that guides you to pursue entrepenuership as your own "calling".

In response to your comments about having to live by "His" authority and what you believe is guidance from "Him"-- shouldn't "He" be happy if all people live by a set of guiding moral principles that we in our own "spirits" believe in? Why do we "Have" to "Worship" God, lest we die in hell and suffer? And what do you mean "invite His opposition"-- Is that a threat? from your "loving Father" God?

My advice-- live by your own moral principles and live a good guided and principled life BECAUSE YOUR SPIRIT TELLS YOU TO... not because you Have to Because you Worship God, or because you're scared of eternal damnation-- If you live a good moral principled life, why should you be scared come judgement day?

Bless our ability to make our own judgements,
-JC

Hi! We learned about this in Bible class today. The "Moral Principles" you talked about come from the Bible, inspired by God. How would you have your own moral principles if God hadn't been somewhere in the picture? And yes, God is our Loving Father, he wouldn't threaten us, but he warns us because he loves us so much. It's His promise to us that he will send us to Hell if we don't accept him, but it's also his promise that he'll send us to Heaven if we accept him as Our God and Savior. -John 3:16 "For God so loved the World that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (eternal life in Heaven) But yes, we will go to hell if we do not accept Him-(Jesus) as our loving Savior. I also do not understand how you can have your own "calling" from just some spirit inside of you. I reccomend you read "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. It tells about how he was an atheist and researched about Christianity and then found God because he COULD NOT prove the Bible wrong. I hope you read this and considered what I said, I only want what's best for you, because I'm sure you don't want to spend eternity in hell. Another author to research and read is Josh McDowell.
Best,
Jim's Daughter

The free Bible lessons have been entertaining. Unfortunately, I feel that everyone thinks that the word spiritual has to deal only with religion and the Bible. When looking up the word in the dictionary you will find that it can also relate to a persons soul distinguished from the physical nature of a person. The soul can be used to describe the interests, attitude and the outlook of an individual. The word spiritual has many definitions. I feel that the author is expressing the need to be involved in a business that centers on what is most important to his life. An enterprise that brings satisfaction to himself and gives meaning to his life while catering to the needs of others.

In response to John W.:
The following 2 excerpts are directly from Michael Simmons' writings in his journal. Whether you believe it or not anything we strive for with God is better than anything else could ever be. I do not mean for what I or my daughter said to come across as holier than thou type writings, they are words coming from Truth and that Truth is Jesus Christ, God Incarnate. Michael quotes the Declaration of Independence and leaves Creator capitalized like it should be but I hope he will see to it to capitalize God in his future references to the God, the one and only God who created you, me, and everything that is good. In Christ, Jim Cooke

If it our god-given right to life and liberty, then it is our god-given duty to, at the least, use these rights, and at the most, use our abilities to the pursuit of a massive, meaningful vision that transcends oneself. Extreme Entrepreneurship is for those who wish to passionately pursue the latter.

"We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."