Conviction

The Conviction of Holy Spirit works in time and space.  Conviction works in and through the our actions until its maturity fiercely exposes fault – then broken humility or aggressive arrogance determines the outcome. Few illustrations can correctly exemplify what I’ve experienced recently.  I feel as if the corrective measure has taken months of action to mature and be felt – though here now.  I could compare these actions to a blossoming fruit tree that shows beautiful hints of the fruit to come with the flower it produces. The trained eye knows the flower will produce a bountiful crop, while the untrained eye only sees the beauty.  Months pass before the fruit is realized –  the natural process seems so passe no one really expects differently.  This natural progression from flower to fruit is where the comparison falls apart as the fruit can be pleasant to the farmer – unless the fruit is noxious. Beauty is replaced and results expose.

Recently I’ve noticed the noxious fruit too late. My arrogance hid the flower. Now that the flower has blossomed – I can only harvest the fruit, humbly accepting my actions as a plant I nurtured.

James Spoke fluently about our blind spot. Laid out accurately:

the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

Lord, help me harvest with humility.

I struggled with posting this – exposing my broken places. It has been a while since Humility hit me this hard.

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Short Poem (maybe HiKu)

Stories are great

Stories don’t last

Tell the truth

Lies eventually burn your ass

Please Share:

Not going to all levels.

I just witnessed an exercise in ones ability to perceive reality and execute from that observation. Near me there is a set of double doors leading into a balcony. One person jus realized she was trapped and the door had locked behind her as she tried to re-enter. She pulled and pulled. Stepped back and began to dial for help as people walked by on the mezzanine on the other side of the glass doors. A helper saw the plight and approached to help the trapped victim. He pushed the door with the same result.

In her keen sense of observation she missed that she was pulling on a situation where she should have been pushing. Her savior merely mirrored her actions without questioning. Luckily this rescue attempt was completed and no harm was done to man, woman, material or beast.

Moral of the story: results are based on following the instructional sticker on the door.

Official Outcome: Humility.

Battle of the Fool

This conference in Anaheim has been interesting for sure. The threats in the traditional business is astounding. Pressure from all sides into the middle – the pressure depends on what business you are in and what you call the middle. We saw the travel agent industry go away. Who is next?

I think here is when we need to fall back on quite from King Solomon.

“The Great God who formed everything gives the fool his hire and the transgressors his wages.”

If that is possible, and in worst case I’m a fool, I should still be able to eat. I feel a little smarter than the fool – maybe misguided in my feelings but I should be ok.

Seeds

Our actions are seeds.

Not a new concept.

The seeds of failure are usually sown during times of success ~ Gary Keller

Self sabotage. Not something we would intuitively think.

I can see how success can inflate our perception of being bullet proof. Soon enough we’ve drifted from the fundamentals into fancy. Confidently straying from what groomed our successes, we correlate income as the metric proving we overcame. Success despite the mixed crop sown.

While this was stated in a business book the concept applies to our personal lives as well. I’ve witnessed it in my life, observed it in others.

Vigilance. Steady and unfiltered.

Thoughts on Fear

I had a unique experience that is not so unique. Fear. This time I was able to observe fear pushing the emotions of one to react and reach out for help. The situation was difficult. If I had been in the same place – the thoughts and actions would have been similar. During the dark days I remember absurdity in uncontrolled fear. Stress. High blood pressure. Sleepless nights. Ugly days I am glad are behind. I had to lear in those days:

• What is the worst that could happen?
• What is the best that could happen?
• What is likely to happen?

Questions can reign in absurd thinking. – if you pause to ask them.

Momento from Yesterday

What I did well:

• Nailed a presentation and the referral request.
• Taught the FHA loan class in style and detail
• Asked great questions at a breakfast meeting – great questions Mold meetings

What intrigued me:

• Gratitude phone calls – the response to genuine gratitude was amazing

What made a difference:

• Unselfish use of time to help others be successful in their quest
• Thorough and uninhibited info so others can make good decisions

Application:

• Lead with gratitude
• Guide with questions
• Share openly

Short Thought at Breakfast

Martin Luther King Jr. Has been on my mind since the Dodge commercial at the Super Bowl. While many found the commercial revolting, I found it inspiring. I’ve heard time and time again “I have a dream” and seldom hear any more. The segment shared during the commercial inspired me and challenged me – brilliant. While I am not in the market for a truck, it provoked me in a good way. His message came directly out of the words of Jesus the Christ as recorded in Matthew 20:

Whoever among you wants to be great MUST become the servant of you all…

This same concept plays into a book I read. The book is counter what is so visible in society today. The Captain Class by Sam Walker emphasizes how that principle applies to the greatest teams in history. Humility + sacrifice + service = freak teams with freak success records. The Good to Great of the sports industry. Picking up towels and wiping feet moves you into greatness.

What a concept. Application: serve early and often.

Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM)

The spring real estate market is heating up! Cabin Fever is driving people out in droves to visit listings and write offers. In conversations I’ve recently had, there is a lot of curiosity about Energy Efficient Mortgages.  The FHA has written a whole chapter on Energy Efficient Guidelines, here is a snippet taken from their guides:

The cost of any improvement to the property that will increase the property’s energy efficiency, and that is determined to be cost effective, is eligible for financing into the mortgage. The cost that may be added to the mortgage amount is up to the greater of

the worst question to ask about your mortgage

One of the WORST questions I get asked periodically is:

How much are your closing costs?

My answer: $895.00, that’s better than CapCenter!

The question is the pride of Misinformed buyer, and my answer is not what they expect. Let me explain.   Movement Mortgage only charges 1 fee and it is related to Underwriting & Processing for a total of $895. Of the remaining costs 73% are directly related to whom the buyer selects during the process, all of which are 3^rd party fees that are updated as the borrower selects whom they want to use.  The balance of the costs are taxes.  We all know closing costs are a painful part of the transaction, but understanding the costs and who controls them makes you the expert.

Q: What’s fuzzy and lives in a hole?

A: Belly Button Lint.

Enjoy the snow!  If you’re in Virginia, this is probably the last you’ll see this year.