CONFLICT AGAIN IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH Part 1: A Continued Strategy for Genocide

INTRODUCTION:
The intended strategy of the Islamist terrorists over the many centuries has been to totally eliminate the Armenian/Christian presence in the land area between Yerevan, Armenia and the Caspian Sea. Christianity had advanced too far to the East! The enclaves of Christians were to be totally eliminated at any costs – especially the Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan.

Usually, the bloody attempts at total genocide have been totally ignored by the West and the mainstream media. The most recent attempt at all-out genocide took place nearly twenty years ago when the historic Islamist quest was then complicated and exacerbated by the Russian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani plan to run a massive pipeline from the Caspian Sea all the way to the Black Sea. That pipeline was designed to transport oil reserves for eventual refinement and resale.

It was determined that negotiations would go more smoothly if the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh simply did not exist. Therefore, the Russian Fourth Army, the Turkish Military, and the Azerbaijani troops encircled Nagorno-Karabakh and began a systematic offensive to eliminate the unwanted population.

In June 1992, then President of Azerbaijan, Abulfaz Elchibey, announced that if there were still Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh by October of 1992, the people of Azerbaijan could “hang him in the central square of Baku,” the capital city of Azerbaijan.

In my personal opinion, had it not been for the personal and energetic intervention of Baroness Carolyn Cox, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, in London, the plan for genocide would have successfully taken place and the rest of the world would have never even been alerted.

Through a common network of acquaintances, Baroness Cox contacted Project C.U.R.E. and asked if we would join her in the attempt to donate and deliver desperately needed medical goods to Yerevan, Armenia, and then on into the cities and villages of Nagorno-Karabakh. I agreed, and that began a rewarding and historic mission starting in August, 1998.

Nagorno-Karabakh Pt 1 (2).jpg

DETAILS OF THE SAGA:
In the following weeks, I would like to share with you, through these weekly blogs, the details of that adventure. It will give great background and understanding as to what is now happening, again, in the tortured and abused land of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Don’t miss an episode!



YOUR PERSONAL INHERITANCE Part 9 - The Trust Account Transfer Exercise

The Assignment

TAT ab.jpg

In the previous weeks we have discussed the concept of our TRUST ACCOUNT and its relationship to our Personal Inheritance. We have been given our inheritance for a reason. God, the Owner of everything deposits into our Trust Account not only sufficiency for meeting our own needs, but possessions which are expressly for the benefit of others. Without His generous deposits, we would be hopelessly destitute.

As you will recall, our Trust Account is comprised of our “Portfolio of Possessions” and includes our: Financial Possessions, Personal Possessions, Relational Possessions, Spiritual Possessions, and Special Possessions.

As Trustworthy Administrators, God is counting on us as an integral part of His plan for meeting the needs of others around us. If we fail in our Trustee responsibility, the whole plan suffers. But as we faithfully respond and others faithfully respond, then God’s plan has a chance to function efficiently. How is your sensitivity level to God’s will as it relates to the needs of those around you?

Stop now, and ask God, the generous giver of all gifts, to help you match up the inventory in your Trust Account with the needs of those around you. What do you have that God would like for you to share with someone else? What could you transfer from your Trust Account into his or her Trust Account? Perhaps it would be as simple as sending a Text Message, a phone call, or an e-mail to someone to give him or her some timely words of encouragement. Perhaps you need to send someone a card of warm appreciation. Maybe it is something more tangible.

                                        **Here Is Your Assignment**

               1st Week . . . . . . . . .at least 2 Trust Account Transfers
               2nd Week. . . . . . . . .at least 3 Trust Account Transfers
               3rd Week. . . . . . . . . at least 5 Trust Account Transfers
               4th Week. . . . . . . . . at least 1 Trust Account Transfer per day

You may even want to bake some cinnamon rolls or a batch of cookies for your recipient. When you make your delivery, you simply place the filled-out “Trust Account Transfer” slip on the plate of goodies, give it to them, smile, and tell them you just wanted to do it for them. If they can’t figure our what has gotten into you and inquire about the Transfer Slip, you may wish to take the opportunity to explain to them what you have been learning about sharing. If they insist on trying to reciprocate, ask them to simply pass on a good deed to someone else that week.

If you can’t bake goodies, you may want to try something else, e.g., pick up someone’s car and have it washed, buy a plant for someone’s office, or a lovely candle for their kitchen, or simply offer to take care of a couple’s kids without charge, so they can have a night, (or weekend) out. Or, you could send a creative “care package” to someone at college or in the military.

Remember, don’t concern yourself with the possibility of any compensating balance. That’s not your problem. Your concern is with joyfully making the transfers into the Trust Accounts of others.

Start making Trust Account Transfers a way of life – and then, hang on for the excitement and good memories! 


YOUR PERSONAL INHERITANCE Part 8 - Ten Principles Regarding Your Inheritance Principle 10

Review:
*    Principle 1: The sum total of your “portfolio” is the current inventory of Your Trust  Account, and is there as a Result of a Direct Gift or a Gift Exchange.
*    Principle 2: The inventory in your Trust Account is to be administered by You, the Trustee, for the benefit of others.
*   Principle 3: As you, the Trustee, Transfer inventory out of your Trust Account into the Trust Accounts of others, God makes Compensating Deposits into your Trust Account . . . thus allowing you to Give even more into the Trust Accounts of others.
*  Principle 4: God determines the AMOUNT, KIND and TIMING of the Compensating Deposits, the Trustee is only responsible for the current inventory in the Account.
*   Principle 5: God has guaranteed to Take care of all your personal needs as Trustee as long as you are faithfully administrating your Trust Account.
*  Principle 6: A Neglected Opportunity for a Trust Account Transfer (TAT) Negates the necessity of a Compensating Deposit.
*    Principle 7: As a Faithful Trustee, your Trust Account is guaranteed never to be declared “Bankrupt.”
*    Principle 8: Deposited into your Trust Account is exactly what Someone around you Needs.
*    Principle 9: If you try to Selfishly Hoard that which has been deposited into Your Trust Account, it will become “Miser’s Manna” and will turn into rot.
*    Principle 10: As a Result of a Trust Account Transfer (TAT), Three things Happen: (A) Needs are Met, (B) God is Praised, and (C) Others will Pray for You.
 
Let’s drill in a little deeper into Principle #10, regarding the Three things that Happen as a Result of a Trust Account Transfer (TAT):

      For God, who gives seed to the farmer to plant, and later on, good crops to harvest and  eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give  away more and more fruit from your harvest.

      Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much, and when we take your  gifts to those who need them, they will break out into thanksgiving and praise to God  for your help.

So, two good things happen as a result of your gifts – those in need are helped, and they overflow with thanks to God. Those you help will be glad not only because of your generous gifts to themselves and to others, but they will praise God for this proof that your deeds are as good as your doctrine. And they will pray for you with deep fervor and feeling because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you. (2 Corinth. 9:10-14 TLB)

  1. Needs Are Met: As you begin, out of your portfolio inventory, to share with others around you, their needs are met. Then, as they begin to share, it all comes back around . . . and your needs are met:     

Diagram TAT 3 b.jpg

               2. God is Praised: Each time there is a Trust Account Transfer, there is an opportunity for true worship to take place. Praise will go to God when you fully recognize him for who he is . . .  The True Source . . . The Giver of Every Good and Perfect Gift . . . The Sole Proprietor and Grantor of Everything! Dependency will be placed on God for the meeting of future needs. Thanks will be rendered to God for his astonishing faithfulness in supplying every need:   

What I want from you is your true thanks; I want your promises fulfilled. I want you to trust me id your times of trouble, so I can rescue you, and you can give me glory. (Psalm 50:15 TLB)

Diagram TAT # 1 b.jpg

` C ) They will Pray for You: Not only will needs be met and God be Praised, but others will pray for you when they recognize that you are fitting into God’s plan and economy:

And they will pray for you with deep fervor and feeling because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you. (2 Corinth. 9:14 TLB)

Diagram TAT # 2 b.jpg

YOUR PERSONAL INHERITANCE Part 7 - Ten Principles Regarding Your Inheritance Principles 7, 8, & 9

Principle 7: As a Faithful Trustee, Your Trust Account Is Guaranteed Never to Be Declared “Bankrupt.”

The good news is that you will always have something in your Trust Account that you can share with someone around you:

             But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19 KJV)

            The Lord will give you abundance of good things in the land, just as he promised:  many children, many cattle, and abundant crops. He will open to you his wonderful treasury of rain in the heavens, to give you fine crops every season. He will bless  everything you do; and you shall lend to many nations . . . (Deuteronomy 28:11-13 TLB)

           Those who love and follow me are indeed wealthy. I fill their treasuries. (Prov. 8:21TLB)

           Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple;  if you do, I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so  great you won’t have room enough to take it in! “Try it! Let me prove it to you! Your  crops will be large, for I will guard them from insects and plagues. Your grapes  won’t shrivel away before they ripen,” says the Lord of Hosts. “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land sparkling with happiness. These are the promises of the Lord of Hosts.” (Malachi 3:10-12 TLB)

Principle 8: Deposited into Your Trust Account Is Exactly What Someone Around You Needs.

         Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon  be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us  all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be  rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share  with others whatever God has given them. (I Timothy 6:17-18 TLB)

 . . .   but you should divide with them. Right now, you have plenty and can help them; then at  some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way each will have as  much as he needs. (2 Corinth. 8:14 TLB)

How is your sensitivity level to God’s will as it relates to the needs of those around you?

Principle 9: If You Try to Selfishly Hoard That Which Has Been Deposited into Your Trust Account, It Will Become “Miser’s Manna” and Will Turn into Rot!

        For unless you are honest in small matters, you won’t be in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest in greater responsibilities. And if you are  untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?  (Luke 16:10-11 TLB)

Do you remember the interesting episode that occurred during the exodus of Moses and the children of Israel? God had promised that He would provide for His people. When they needed direction, He sent a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide them. When they were thirsty, God had Moses strike a rock with that humble rod, and water poured out. When people became hungry, God produced a phenomenal product called “manna” which looked a lot like early morning frost and tasted like honey bread. God instructed them that they did not need to be apprehensive about the sufficiency of the Source or greedy in their gathering. God assured them that there would always be enough to meet their needs.

However, taking God at His word doesn’t always seem to be the natural course for mankind. Sure enough, their fears found them fetching and hoarding more than they needed. And when they went back to their hoarded treasure, they found not “manna” but only mildew and maggots!

                           WHAT A SURPRISE -- WHAT AN AWESOME TRUTH!

       Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love gift. Take time to  meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If  you hoard a thing for yourself it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when  it was hoarded. God will never let you hold a spiritual thing for yourself, it has to be given back to Him that He may make it a blessing to others. (Oswald Chambers)

Next Week: Principle #10


YOUR PERSONAL INHERITANCE Part 6 - Ten Principles Regarding Your Inheritance Principles 4, 5, & 6

Principle 4: God Determines the AMOUNT, KIND and TIMING of the Compensating Deposits . . . the Trustee is Only Responsible for the Current Inventory in the Account.

If you are really eager to give, then it isn’t important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven’t. (2 Cor. 8:12 TLB)

Many people become disillusioned and even bitter because they try to dictate to God the AMOUNT, KIND and TIMING of the compensating deposits. Relax into the awareness that God has everything under control. God is so creative, and He knows exactly what He needs you to have in your TRUST ACCOUNT. What is it that you are going to do with what you have?

Recall what God’s response was to Moses when he was in need of a great miracle in escaping Egypt and Pharaoh – “What is that in your hand, Moses?” Concentrate on how you are going to manage what it is that you have and not what you haven’t.

 

Principle 5: God Has Guaranteed to Take Care of All Your Personal Needs as Trustee As Long as You Are Faithfully Administrating Your Trust Account.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us . . . (Ephes. 3:20 KJV)

Day by day the Lord observes the good deeds done by godly men, and gives them eternal rewards. He cares for them when times are hard; even in famine, they will have enough . . .I have been young and now I am old. And in all my years I have never seen the children of the godly go hungry. Instead, the godly are able to be generous with their gifts and loans to others, and their children are a blessing. (Psa. 37:18-19, 25-26 TLB)

 

Principle 6: A Neglected Opportunity for a Trust Account Transfer (TAT) Negates the Necessity of a Compensating Deposit.

It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself. (Prov. 11:24-25 TLB)

Next Week: Principles 7,8, & 9.  Watch for them!


 

YOUR PERSONAL INHERITANCE Part 5 - Ten Principles Regarding Your Inheritance Principles 1, 2, & 3

Principle 1: The sum total of your “portfolio” (listed back in Part 3 of this study), is the current inventory of Your Trust Account and is there as a Result of a Direct Gift or a Gift Exchange:

            Everything we have has come from you, and we only give you what is yours already!     (I Chron. 29: 14 TLB)
 
Principle 2: The inventory in your Trust Account is to be Administrated by You, the Trustee, for the Benefit of Others:

            Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should  give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God  has given them. (I Tim. 6:18 TLB)  

            For God, who gives seed to the farmer to plant, and later on, good crops to harvest  and eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow SO THAT you  can give away more and more fruit from your harvest. (2 Corinth. 9:10 TLB)
 
Principle 3: As You, the Trustee, Transfer inventory out of your Trust Account into the Trust Accounts of Others, God Makes Compensating Deposits into your Trust Account . . . thus Allowing you to Give Even More into the Trust Accounts of Others:

            Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.   (I Corinth. 4:2 NIV) 

           For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have  abundance. (Matt. 25:29 TLB)

      Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and  running over, will be poured into your lap. (Luke 6:38 NIV)

There is no need for God to make a compensating deposit into your Trust Account until you have made a Trust Account Transfer (TAT) into the account of another.
 
NEXT WEEK: Principles 4, 5, & 6   Don’t miss them!


YOUR PERSONAL INVENTORY Part 4 - "The Trust Account"

No doubt as you went through the previous exercise of listing your Personal Inventory, you had some mixed feelings. Probably you were a little surprised that you have in your inventory as much as you do. You may have even had a little fun reliving some of the particular experiences connected with the collection of unique items.

Things may have gotten a little serious when you were dealing with your spiritual inventory, or with your limited amount of days you may have left in your time allotment. But it is a good thing to be aware of all those precious items you have accumulated in your inventory portfolio. It is a good thing to recall on a regular basis that everything you have in your content basket is there as a direct gift to you or is a by-product of a “gift exchange.”

It was an amazing day when it vividly dawned on me that it is possible that all that I possess has been given to me . . . and I am simply a Trustee. . . it was all deposited in my “Trust Account” to be distributed out to others in order to benefit the kingdom of God!

When that insight dawned on me, I went to Black’s Law dictionary to find out for myself. I looked under “Trust” .
          Trust: A right of property, real or personal, held by one party for the benefit of another. A confidence reposed in one person, who is termed the trustee, for the benefit of another. Any arrangement whereby property is transferred with intention that it be administered by the trustee for another’s benefit.

Oh, my goodness! . . .What a concept – Is it really possible that all those things listed in my “Inventory Portfolio” were placed there by God, either directly or through a “gift exchange” not for my enjoyment alone, but also for the benefit of others?

I then went to God’s Word and found:
          You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion . . .  (2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV)  

I took special note of the “so that” which revealed the true motivation for accumulation: 


                        God

                                                                  Sole Proprietor   
                                                    Owner and Grantor of Everything 

                                                    Deposits Certain Things Into My
                                                               TRUST ACCOUNT
                                           Financial Inventory     Relational Inventory
                                          Personal Inventory      Spiritual Inventory
                                                             Special Inventory
 
What I have inherited up to the present is what I have in my current inventory portfolio.
 
So, . . . back to Black’s Law Dictionary:    

Trust: (continued) A fiduciary relation with respect to property, subjecting person by whom the property is held to equitable duties to deal with the property for the benefit of another person which arises as the result of a manifestation of an intention to create it. An obligation on a person arising out of confidence reposed in him to apply property faithfully and according to such confidence; as being in the nature of deposition by which proprietor transfers to another property of subject entrusted, not that it should remain with him, but that it should be applied to certain uses for the behoof of third party.

I didn’t know that I could have a spiritual experience just reading a Law Dictionary! But I was beginning to clearly understand that this is not an option but a mandate. It talked of obligation . . . and confidence. Just think of it! God has enough confidence in us to trust us with everything we possess: 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them: Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:27-28 KJV)

The apostle Paul posed a penetrating question to his friends in Corinth:
            What do you have that God hasn’t given to you? (I Cor. 4:7 TLB) 

Obviously, the answer is . . . NOTHING! Everything I have in my inventory portfolio, ultimately came as a bestowment from God. But that bestowment brings with it an obligation. A “fiduciary relationship” is created: 

So, . . . back to Black’s Law Dictionary:
            Fiduciary Capacity: . . . when the business which he transacts, or the money or  property which he handles, is not his own for his own benefit, but for  the benefit of  another person, as to whom he stands in a relation implying and necessitating great  confidence and trust on the one part and a high degree of good faith on the other part.  

We have been given our inheritance for a reason. God, the Owner of everything, deposits into our Trust Account not only sufficiency for meeting our own needs, but inventory portfolios which are expressly for the benefit of others. Without his generous deposits, we would be hopelessly destitute.

Consider for a moment the confidence that God expressed in you, when he deposited your inheritance into your Trust Account believing that you would respond to that arrangement as a “Trustworthy Administrator.” He is counting on you as an integral part of his plan for meeting the needs of others around you. If you fail in your TRUSTEE responsibility, the whole plan suffers. But as you faithfully respond and others faithfully respond, then God’s plan has a chance to function efficiently:

Diagram+TAT.jpg

                                    

YOUR PERSONAL INVENTORY Part 3 - "Your Personal Inventory Portfolio"

In Part 1 and Part 2 of “Your Personal Inheritance,” we established the concepts behind the phrases “estate,” “inheritance,” “agency agreement,” and “power of attorney.” 

Those phrases are interestingly and intricately entwined with the idea of inventories or portfolios. If you are going to talk about estates and inheritances, you will really need to ultimately discover and list the items included in the basket of contents.

In Part 3, we are going to help you review and list the items that are presently included in your very own inventory portfolio. Take your time. This may be your first experience at summarizing your basket of assets. I think you will be glad you took the time and effort.

                                                      MY PERSONAL INVENTORY

Financial Items: (use the equity approach: list the replacement value minus any debt)

  • Amount on hand, in banks, savings, accts. due me

  • Stocks, Bonds, profit sharing, pension plans, Life Ins.

  • Equity in home and other real estate

  • Autos, Household goods, Personal property, e.g., recreational equip, jewelry, antiques

  •  Other:

  • Now, subtract any debts you have, e.g., Credit cards, educ. Loans, judgements, child support


Personal Assets:

  • Physical Assets: Things I like about me and things others like about me; or things I  need to change or accept.

  • Intellectual Assets: areas of strength, or weakness, accomplishments in formal education

  • Emotional Assets: characteristics identifiable by you or others

  • Volitional Assets: This has to do with your ability to choose – your decision-making characteristics.

  • Temporal Assets: How many days have you been alive? Using the biblical estimation of “three score and ten years”, what’s left? What is your personal guess?

 
Relational Assets:

  • Family Assets: (1) Those you feel very close to; (2) Those you do not feel close to; (3) Those you do not feel close to, but wish you did.

  • Friend Assets: Older than you? Younger than you? Income difference? Same beliefs? When together last?

  • Influence Assets: (Your ability to affect others) Estimate the number of those in the circle of your influence. What one word describes your influence on them? Is that the word you would choose?

 
Spiritual Assets:

  • What Spiritual assets do you feel are included in your personal inventory? – kindness, at peace, generosity, self-control, patience, consistency, accept criticism, forgiving, content, etc., etc.

  • What Spiritual assets do you wish you had in your inventory?

 
Special Assets:              

  • What are the Special Talents and Abilities that a discerning God has given to you? (No doubt that you have refined them and put a lot of practice and discipline into their development.)

  • Which ones do you feel are your strongest talents and abilities? Which ones represent your own personal likes and dislikes?

           HOW WOULD YOU SUMMARIZE YOUR PERSONAL INVENTORY?


YOUR PERSONAL INHERITANCE: Part 2 - "The Agency Agreement"

In the previous blog, we discussed the subjects of your estate, and also your inheritance. Now, let’s discover what we can about your agency agreement.  

An Agent is a person authorized by another to act for him, one entrusted with another’s business who undertakes to manage the affair and to render to him an account thereof.

            I appointed you to go and produce lovely fruit always, so that no matter what you ask or from the Father, using my name, he will give it to you. (John 15:16 TLB) 

The term “using my name” is simply the carrying out of the Agency relationship. It is a “power of attorney” to do as His (Jesus’) agent, what He would do, what He would say, what He would request, if He were here personally.

The definition of a “Power of Attorney” is: a written document given by one person or party to another, authorizing the latter to act for the former in specified matters.

         And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Colossians 3:17 NIV)

        And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. (John 14:13 NIV)

        Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete. (John 16:24 NIV)

An Agency relationship has been established between Christ and his chosen believers. We are to carry out Christ’s Will here on earth just as if He were here; himself – in person.

But let the Agent be put on notice: Make certain that whatever it is that you are asking for, is what Jesus Christ would have asked for. If you endeavor to acquire and accumulate things for your own selfish manipulation or consumption alone, you will be breaching your fiduciary responsibility. If you use your “power of attorney” to ask for things that Christ would not have asked for, the situation could result in your being charged with forgery.

         You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:14 NIV) 

Wow! The whole idea of the “Agency Agreement” in relationship with God, Himself, is enough to stretch your mind and challenge your heart! It also makes me think about the tremendous responsibility that goes along with my Personal Inheritance!


YOUR PERSONAL INHERITANCE Part 1 "The Gift Exchange"

We have recently discussed such topics as: “What’s That in Your Hand?”, “Investing,” and “Generational Wealth.” Your kind responses have encouraged me to press on a little bit more with the subject of wealth and inheritance.

Black’s Law Dictionary describes estate as: “. . . a word of the greatest extension, and comprehends every species of property, real and personal.” It describes inheritance as: “. . . an estate in things . . . descending to the heir.” In other words, your inheritance is everything you have received from someone else. 

If someone approached you and asked, “How did you get everything you have today?” You would probably reply rather quickly, “I worked for it, Dummy – how’d you get yours?”

You are to be commended for your honesty! But perhaps, the question could be answered with a little more depth. More accurately, it could be stated: “You TRADED for all your acquired possessions.”

When you get up in the morning and start your work day for that favorite employer of yours, you simply trade your skills and time for something known as a paycheck which you give to some kind of a banking institution that allows you to parcel out amounts, that you then trade, to other individuals or enterprises for things you want and need. You may alter this routine at times, but basically, the principle is fundamental.

But as you trace the steps backward, you still come again to the ultimate question . . . “Where did you get the basic commodities that you used as trading material for everything else you wanted and needed?”  Short answer – THEY WERE GIVEN TO YOU.

You did not purchase your time allotment which you now hold as a possession . . . It was given to you.

You did not negotiate for your basic physical characteristics . . .You inherited them.

You did not bargain on the open market for your basic intellectual capacities . . . You received them as a gift.

You did not ardently go to battle and finally win the power to choose . . . That power was given to you.

Even the environment in which you move and perform your trading activities came to you as . . . part of your inheritance.

It is of extreme importance for you to recognize that everything you now possess was received directly as a gift or was the by-product of a GIFT EXCHANGE.


One of the often-overlooked phrases used in Christ’s parable of the “Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30), reveals the true origin of all possessions: “To one HE GAVE five talents: To one HE GAVE two: To one HE GAVE one. The simple but all-encompassing phrase, “HE GAVE,” can be traced to the beginning of time . . . the complex concept, “HE GAVE,” reaches beyond the limitation of our imagination.

Ultimately, there is only one source of all possessions, one “sole proprietor” of all that exists, whether ordinary or yet to be discovered. That one sole proprietor is Jehovah God – “Yahweh” – the One who describes himself as: “I am that I am” – equally: past, present, and future:

                                     The Giver of every Good and Perfect Gift