God’s shovel is bigger than mine!

RJ Letourneua was the one who boldly stated the words” God’s shovel is bigger than mine”. Before I tell you what he meant by that let me tell you a little about RJ Letoureua. This is taken with permission from www.intouch.org. When the Allied powers marked the 50th anniversary of D-Day this summer, much of the world watched re-marked film footage of the June 6, 1944, invasion of Europe.

Accompanying the largest invasion force ever assembled onto the beaches of Normandy was an equally impressive display of machines and equipment, much of it built by the energetic, American businessman R.G. LeTourneau.

A big man with a big heart for God, LeTourneau had always done things in a big way. His company designed and built some of the world’s most massive machinery—earth movers, transporters, missile launchers, bridge builders and portable offshore drilling rigs. If a task needed to be done faster, smarter, and bigger, LeTourneau could usually be found on the job. “Remember that there are no big jobs,” he said, describing his flair for colossal endeavors, “only small machines and small thinking.”

His capacity to think and act on a grand scale made LeTourneau an internationally recognized industrialist. Yet he always attributed his success to the Lord. He typically began his talks to students and businessmen by saying: “I’m just a mechanic that God has blessed, and it seems He wants me to go around telling how He will bless you too.”

LeTourneau’s success came at the price of many early failures and setbacks. It was these humbling years that formed the backdrop to his salvation and “partnership with God” in business.

LeTourneau dropped out of school at age fourteen and went to work shoveling sand and dirt at an iron works factory in Portland, Oregon. Even at this early age, his mind was busy thinking of how to do the job more efficiently. By sixteen, he had grown into a large, muscular young man. And though these two years of labor with street-savvy men had educated him in the ways of the world, they had hardened his heart to the things of God. What he didn’t know was that his devoutly Christian parents had been praying for his salvation daily.

The week before Christmas in 1904, the city of Portland had a crusade, and LeTourneau decided to attend. “What terrified me was that after a week of concentrated singing, and listening to sermons, I didn’t feel even a tremor of response.” That concern led to a humble plea for God’s help. “No bolts of lightning hit me. No great flash of awareness. I just prayed to the Lord to save me, and then I was aware of another presence.”

The following years were turbulent. LeTourneau moved to California where he worked almost forty odd jobs. At twenty-eight, he married a girl twelve years younger. They lost their first child in infancy, and he broke his neck in a stock car crash. Due to an inept partner in a Stockton, California, repair shop, he was $5,000 in debt by age thirty-one. Disengaging himself from the garage, he promised to repay his indebtedness to a trusting banker. When the banker asked how he would repay, he simply held up his two hands. Impressed by his determination and honesty, the banker agreed to extend the loan, so LeTourneau bought a tractor and scraper and went into the earth-moving business.

Stubborn, willful, and self-reliant by nature, LeTourneau refused to give up. His struggle to make his faith in Christ relevant to his life and work led him to attend a revival at his church. It was there he prayed: “Lord, if You’ll forgive and help me, I’ll do anything You want me to do from this day on.”

Feeling renewed, LeTourneau wondered how God would use him. He visited the preacher early the next morning, and the pastor told him: “You know, Brother LeTourneau, God needs businessmen as well as preachers and missionaries.” That was all LeTourneau needed to hear.

In the book, More Than Conquerors, a collection of biographical sketches of Christian men and women in history, it is noted of LeTourneau: “In our high-tech age today, machines – really big machines that push and pull, lift and move, scrape and dig—are not too popular anymore. However, without the kinds of machines that R. G. LeTourneau dreamed of . . . the technological age we are now in might never have happened at all.” Yet as significant as his contribution to industry was, his commitment to “do whatever God wanted him to do” left a legacy of trusting faith, godly generosity, and compassion.

For many years, he lived on ten percent of his income and gave away ninety percent to Christian work, especially missionary efforts in Africa and South America. Even when his business was in financial jeopardy, he continued giving his sacrificial pledges to Christ’s work. “The question” he said, “is not how much of my money I give to God, but rather how much of God’s money I keep for myself.”

Throughout his life, LeTourneau emphasized God’s ability to help the common man with everyday problems. He founded a university in Texas that bears his name and formed a foundation that funds many Christian ministries. Before his death in 1969 at age seventy-nine, LeTourneau said: “Everything considered, I’ve had my share of ups and downs, but thus far my life has been a miracle of God’s grace all the way through.”

IN TOUCH® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 IN TOUCH MINISTRIES®, ITM, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA, used with permission. All rights reserved. This content and more resources can be found on www.intouch.org.

What did RG LeTourneau mean when he said ” God’s shovel is bigger than mine”.

During an interview LeTourneau was asked why he gave away up to 90% of his income. Keep in mind tithe is only 10%. He believed that we are all stewards of goods money. In other words we are money managers for God. God’s will is not for us to horde the money he gives us but to use it to God’s good. If we are good money managers and we tithe, and help others, than God will give us more money to manage.

LeTourneau figuratively illustrated his generosity as a man with a shovel. All LeTourneau did was shovel money to charities, churches and organizations that needed help. He always had plenty to give because God’s was shoveling money to him with an even bigger shovel.

In conclusion: If we embrace the believe that all we have is not ours, but God’s, and become stewards (money managers) for God’s wealth, than we will be blessed with more to give and and more for us to help take care of our family.

Regards

Get what you want by helping others get what they want

This past Saturday I happened to be channel surfing and caught an interview with Zig Ziglar. For those who don’t know who Zig Ziglar is he is the pre-eminent author on such topics as developing a positive self image, goal-setting, and sales. Ziglar’s motto is: “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” Implementing this precise principle, businesses and organizations throughout the world have grown more profitable by improving their number-one resource—their people.

Known almost as much for his colorful voice and folksy southern expressions as for his specific advice, he has inspired many to improve their lives.

He is an Evangelical Christian as well as an avid football fan.

Zig Ziglar is an all-American success story. Affected early in life by his father’s death, young Zig learned great compassion for people plus commitment to a hard-work and balanced-life ethic, at the knee of his highly principled mother.

Ziglar’s motto is: “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” Implementing this precise principle, businesses and organizations throughout the world have grown more profitable by improving their number-one resource—their people.

A talented author and speaker, Zig Ziglar has an appeal that transcends barriers of age, culture, and occupation. Since 1970, he has traveled over five million miles across the world delivering powerful life improvement messages, cultivating the energy of change. Mr. Ziglar has shared the platform with such distinguished Americans as Presidents Ford, Reagan, and Bush, Generals Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Paul Harvey, and Dr. Robert Schuller, as well as numerous U.S. congressmen and governors. A well-known authority on the science of human potential, Zig Ziglar has been recognized three times in the Congressional Record of the United States for his work with youth in the drug war, and for his dedication to America and the free enterprise system.

Speaking the language of active business leaders, he’s been featured in such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Dallas Morning News, and Fortune magazine, to name a few. Mr. Ziglar has also appeared on many television programs.

Ziglar did not inherit his professional status, nor was it an accident. After struggling early in his sales career, this Yazoo City, Mississippi, native paid the price of time, discipline, and energy to become a sales champion. He placed second in one national firm of over 7,000 and first in another company with a 3,000-plus sales staff.

In 1970, he launched his full-time speaking career and built a multi-million dollar corporation on the same philosophy he expounds to his audiences–hard work, common sense, fairness, integrity, commitment, and an infectious sense of humor.

Since 1970, an extensive array of Ziglar audio, video, books, and training manuals have been utilized by small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, U.S. Government agencies, churches, school districts, prisons, and non-profit associations, affecting lives in a profound way. In addition, Mr. Ziglar has written 24 celebrated books on personal growth, leadership, sales, faith, family, and success, including See You at the Top ; Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World ; Top Performance ; Courtship After Marriage ; Secrets of Closing the Sale ; and Over the Top . Nine titles have been on the best-seller lists and his books and tapes have been translated into over 32 languages and dialects. Something to Smile About was released in 1997 and Success for Dummies was released in 1998. His latest book, Conversations With My Dog, was released in 2005.

Source: www.wikipedia.com

4 Reasons I Want to Be a Millionaire

These last two days have been extremely difficult for us. Our 3 year old boy has had a terrible respiratory infection. We have been to the emergency room twice in the last 24 hours and my wife and I have had about 2 hours worth of sleep. As of Monday evening our boy is getting better and we are quite relieved. As I reflect on the last 24 hours I can tell you that my level of motivation to become a millionaire has increased ten-fold. Let me tell you why.
One of the things that we had to do today was to decide who was going to take time from work to care of our son. As most of you know I am an independent contractor. I get paid by the hour so if I don’t work, I don’t get paid. My wife is also an independent contractor, but, she has the advantage of working out of the house. We decided it would have to be both of us as our son was needing a lot of care.

So what does all of this have to do with becoming a millionaire. If you are in a position where income is something you don’t have to worry about then staying at home with a loved one does not become a worrisome or difficult decision. That in itself for me is the number one reason to bust my butt to become wealthy. If that isn’t enough reason for you here are 4 more.

2) Freedom of Time: This is the ability to have the freedom to take time for whatever need.

3) Freedom of Choice: The freedom to choose what you want to do. Travel, work, relax, etc.

4) Freedom to Give: The freedom to share your wealth by giving to charities, your family, and those in need.

Regards

The Biggest Obstacle to Wealth

One of, if not, the biggest obstacle we face in our journey to wealth is a pre-programmed mindset that says “We Do Not Deserve to Be Rich”. This mindset has been ingrained in most of us from early childhood. People who are wealthy sometimes are viewed as greedy, lucky, spoiled. In some cases that is true, but for those who are not, the attainment of wealth can create guilt.

The guilt created results in the mis-management of the wealth. Overspending, binging, unwise investments, loaning it, losing it, and even extreme personality change. It’s as though the guilt makes us not want the wealth.  It makes us feel we don’t deserve it. Well, I’m here to tell you You Do Have a Right to Be Rich.

People often quote the Bible as saying “Money is the root of all evil”. Well, the Bible doesn’t say that. The Bible says ” The love of money is the root of all evil”. Money is not evil. Money has no personality, no character, and it has no morals. However, when it is put into the hands of an individual it takes on the personality, character, and morals of that individual.

If you are a good person and you end up wealthy than you will become a wealthy, good person. If you are a total ass, and you end up with a huge amount of money then chances are you will become a wealthy ass.

Money is neither good or bad. It’s how you acquire it and use it that determines whether it benefits or becomes hurtful. 

Our Declaration of Independence gives us unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. If the pursuit of wealth makes you and those around you happy then you have the right to be rich.

To overcome this mindset do the following:

1. Recognize money is neither good or bad and only you can decide what it becomes.

2. You have the right to be rich and all it takes is developing the right relationship with money. Do NOT feel guilt, be proud of your wealth and the good things you can and will do with it.

3. Understand that most wealthy people at one point were broke. They learned how to acquire and most importantly handle the money they got. You too can learn the same things. It’s not some magic formula, or some exclusive club you need to be a member of. The lesson are out there you just need to learn them and apply them.

Regards.