Join Gregg and Grant tomorrow for an eye opening discussion with Roddey – a believing Israeli who now gives biblical teachings, tours and ministry. He grew up in the Carolinas like any other American. He left the house when he was 14. After a stint in the corporate world, he later came to help his Jewish Grandmother in Israel who was dying, and never returned to the United States, having made Aliyah to become an Israeli citizen together with his wife Sheila. He no longer holds US citizenship.
Here is a video Roddey took looking out his window in Jerusalem last week on April 14th. He was in the thick of Iranian missiles raining down over his apartment in Jerusalem…
Last week, Roddey was with a group near the Egyptian border guiding them to an ancient agricultural site in the Negev, contrasting the ancient methods of farming to the Moshav methods of agriculture today (similar to a Kibbutz, but more co-operative business community and not as socialistic).
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
– Isaiah 35:1-2
Moshav Nahalal in the Jezreel Valley
Roddey discusses a tour near the Egyptian border of ancient agriculture
We made this video together inside the old city of Jerusalem walls just past the Jaffa gate at Christ Church in late 2022, where he explains the importance of Mt. Zion using a diorama of ancient Jerusalem:
Roddey riding the light rail in Jerusalem
For more on our Heartbeat Israel monthly Zooms, including past recorded episodes, click there.
Join us as we discuss with Jonathon Serenil the Unite SA network project – a place where Christians across their city can be connected with other Christians for commerce, needs, services, products, goods, jobs and labor in God’s Economy using website and app technology.
It will be vital in the days ahead to NETWORK the remnant people of God together in our cities in all things, especially in economy, finance, barter, jobs, business, exchange, banking and investment. As well as (of course) prayer and John unity across ministries and churches and the people of God. Preaching a practical gospel of the Kingdom to serve and help one another and unbelievers. God loves business – the business of people helping other people.
You may remember Jonathon from our 2020 discussions surrounding Mission City and Apostolic Ministry Centers as it relates to San Antonio and the Storehouse and cities of refuge….
Related Scriptures
Matthew 20:26-27
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve
– Federal Reserve System aka “The Fed” – Was commissioned by Congress in 1913. The Fed acts as the US “Central Bank”, but does its operations via 12 regional Fed Reserve banks. Run by the “Board of Governors”, who’s members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
– Federal Reserve Banks – 12 private regional banks (not part of the US government) that is owned by its member banks. All US Treasury (part of the US Government) activity that relates to printing and coining money, does so as “Federal Reserve Notes” (a debt instrument). Regulates US Commercial banks, but also secondarily regulates all other banks, thrifts, or credit unions, whether state or federally chartered. Any depository institution is ultimately regulated by “The Fed”.
– FDIC – Federal Depository Insurance Corporation (US Government Corporation) established as part of Glass-Stegal act of 1933
– NCUA – National Credit Union Association – regulates Federal Credit Unions (US Government entity)
– NCUIF – National Credit Union Insurance Fund – like the FDIC for credit unions
– Credit Union – “affinity” banks that are either State or Federally regulated and are member owned (cooperatives)
– State Chartered Bank
– Thrift / Savings and Loan – mortgage banks regulated through the OCC
– OCC – Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (part of UST that regulates banks)
– Non-Banks – Finance companies that loan money usually funded through the capital markets (Wall Street) and are not regulated as banks because they do not take deposits which are insured
– Insured deposits – all deposits of traditional banks are insured through one agency or another
– Loan underwriting standards – all loans of traditional banks must be written according to the underwriting standards of the banks regulator, ultimately the Fed
***Key takeaway – any “bank” in the US that takes deposits, and separately makes loans based on its own decisions is ultimately regulated under The Federal Reserve System, whether directly or indirectly.
The Federal Reserve Building in D.C.
Current risks to the US Banking System
– The inherent 10-1 leverage built into our fractional reserve banking system means that if the value of the bank’s loan portfolio goes down by roughly 10%, the bank becomes insolvent.
– Commercial lending exposure to commercial real estate. CRE has steeply declined in value since offices became less occupied during and post COVID-19 with the work-at-home and work-remote trend. While some returning to the office has lessened vacancy rates, there has been an unforeseen step-wise change in demand, which has not snapped back, which now has put loans made to various office buildings at risk of default post any further governmental COVID relief/stimulus monies. Read article here: Mezzanine Lending – Commercial Real Estate in Trouble and here: US Commercial Real Estate Weakness
John Paul Jackson’s Coming Perfect Storm prophecy JPJ Prophetic Headlines – “Too Big to Fail Fails” – B of A Nationalized; “Funds will Dry Up” – US Govt / Fed
Here is an AI generated summary of our website that I thought was actually pretty good:
Storehouse: A Christian Community Economic Network
The Storehouse vision aims to create local Christian communities that facilitate economic relationships based on biblical principles.
It involves forming a “Storehouse Community” where members exchange goods and services, support each other, and invest in local businesses, reducing reliance on traditional banks and financial markets.
The community promotes “in-sourcing” by encouraging local production and exchange, and establishes a “savings club” to lend to those in need and support Kingdom initiatives.
Coming out of Babylon and divorcing Baal are seen as forms of repentance, freeing individuals from cultural distractions and temptations that hinder Kingdom principles.
The Storehouse Community acts as a “bank” for its members, providing non-recourse, no-interest loans to help people in financial need and promote economic productivity.
Roundtable Discussion – Bank of Japan ends negative rates and Francis Scott Key bridge collapses
Bank of Japan
We have our eye on this latest BOJ rate hike which happened last week and ended the last central bank to scrap negative yields (institutions get paid interest to borrow). Why? Because it portends a setup like we had in 2007, whereby the BOJ raises rates prematurely again. Because the Yen carry trade is still “on” in the hedge fund macro world.
Container ship name: Dali (named after Salvador Dali, the Spanish surrealism artist)
The ship belongs to Singapore-based Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, which is owned by a Hong Kong group, and was carrying containers on behalf of Danish shipping giant Maersk. Synergy Marine, the Singapore company that operates the Dali.
Francis Scott Key – Author of our national anthem – The Star Spangled Banner
Prophetic Take
Bridge collapse
The Civil War was fought in the state of Maryland. The FSK bridge actually bridges the North to the South in so far as slavery was concerned (South Maryland held the most slaves and was the most sympathetic toward the Confederacy).
South Maryland Slavery
The container ship represents commerce and consumerism and economy. Is it a sign of that our outsized consumerism and 24/7 greed for increased commerce lead to collapsing the fragile unity we have today among races, religions and political ideology in the USA?
The fragility of things…apparently dirty fuel was what caused the engines of the container ship to fail, and thus the propulsion and electricity to also fail. The margins for error both in the ship size, and in the bridge construction ended up in complete collapse of the bridge. It reminds me of the World Trade towers collapsing in NYC – how the total collapse was surprising. In the same way, you can see through video how the entire span of the bridge failed when the ship struct just one stanchion of the bridge. Fragile. Likewise, is our peace and unity between parties and factions very fragile and can be brought down by the smallest of calamities? And if we had a big fissure, how bad could it get?
Is this bridge collapsing a sign of coming civil war?
Rick Joyner had a dream about a coming second civil war in the US. You can read it here: https://a.co/d/aAqW6iH. One of the things mentioned on page 36 is this:
In 1987, I was shown in a prophetic experience that we had been turning to the left as a nation for a long time. I was also shown a coming sharp turn to the left. I was not shown whether this was good or bad, just that it would happen. I was then shown a reaction to this and a turn back to the right. I saw that we would never again make a sharp turn to the left, but there was a danger we would go too far to the right.
Rick Joyner, Second American Revolutionary War, page 36
In fact, Fort Carroll – a hexagonal fort build between 1848-1852 was built by none other than Robert E. Lee, then a Colonel in the US Army.
Dali
Ship named after Salvador Dali the surrealism artist – are we in a period of surrealism when it comes to economic strength? Market highs? Optimism is low, but yet everything is at peak valuations – real estate, bitcoin, gold, stocks, etc.
Dali is a hunting goddess in Georgian mythology. Are we in the age of the gods (Johnathan Cahn’s book – Return of the gods) – which is to say the worship of false gods? Are we in the age of the hunter to bring God’s people back to Him through times of difficulty (and God’s people back to Israel according to Jeremiah 16:16)?
Jeremiah Johnson’s Prophetic Take:
The body of Christ is called to be “bridge builders” according to John 17:
I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
John 17:23
And a house divided cannot stand…
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand
Join us as Grant and Gregg dive into a really important conversation about what people believe about the end-times, and how Satan has used some of these theologies and thought strictures to sow-in subtle aspects of “replacement theology”.
Has the Christian Church become spiritual Israel?
And further, that such “weed seeds” take us away from our calling and purpose to see the Kingdom advanced for Jew and Gentile together.
Some Key Scriptural Considerations
Romans 9-11: One new man Zechariah 4 and Revelation 11: The Two Olive Trees Ephesians 2: The Commonwealth of Israel Ezekiel 37: The awakening of & ruach into the Jewish people Romans 11: The stirring unto jealousy is relational
“A typical definition of replacement theology can be paraphrased as such: ‘Israel has been replaced by the Christian Church, so the promises and prominent position once held by God’s chosen people are now held exclusively by the Church.’” also see www.replacementtheology.org
Well, it includes a number of things that we can capture with typical phrases uttered:
“The Church is Spiritual Israel” “The Church is Spiritual Jerusalem” “The Promised Land is not geographic, it’s spiritual” “The Jewish people have their own covenant” “Circumcision is no longer valid (Acts 15)” “We are not under the Law (Romans 6)” “We are now the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16)” “The Kingdom of God is going to be taken from Israel and given to another nation (Matt 21:43)” “… and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham.” (Matt 3:9)
Key phrases heard from various Christian leaders
“The Church will be raptured, and then God will deal with the Jews.” “Israel will be saved, but after the rapture” “The Church could be raptured at any time.” “Every scripture has been fulfilled that needs to be fulfilled before the Church is raptured.” “The gentile Church will complete the task of Matt 24:14 in that the gospel will be preached to the ends of the earth, then the end will come, and the Jews will become jealous as the Church is raptured.”
There are many different takes on the end-times. The study of the end-times is called eschatology, which stems from the Greek word eskhatos which means “last”. Some popular eschatology are as follows:
Pre-tribulation Rapture Premillennialism (sometimes referred to as Dispensationalism) – many Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations believe in this idea, which is to say, the end-times will be difficult, but the “Saints” or the “Church” will be raptured up to heaven with Jesus before tribulation begins in earnest. After the church has left, people can still repent, including Jewish people, but it’s their last chance.
Historical Premillennialism – the doctrine of the early church, which essentially is a more literal interpretation of Revelation and the OT prophets. The “catching up” spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4 is somewhat simultaneous/synonymous with Jesus’ second coming. A simplified way of thinking is that the Church goes up to meet Jesus/Yeshua as He returns to the earth with the other saints riding white horses (Rev 19).
Partial Preterism – the world is getting better, and the Church will continue to rise up in authority until Revelation 11:15 – “the kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of Christ”. Much of the tribulation described in the bible was fulfilled in 70 A.D. with the destruction of the Temple.
Amillennialism – there is no literal 1000 year period. For the past 2000+ years we have been in the “Millennium”, this continues until Christ returns, which could happen well into the future.
How too short or long timing of the Second Coming can lead to Replacement Theology
Related phrases, sayings or ideas leading to replacement theology issues:
“We only have __ years left!” (fill in the blank with single or double digit numbers) “The Church’s main job is to get all the Jews back to Israel. Then the end will come.” “People have been saying Jesus is coming back for thousands of years.” “The lands of Palestine have been controlled by many people and different religions for thousands of years.”
Potential Negative Effects
– romantic / fantasized view of Israel – depersonalized perspective toward Jewish people – God will deal with the Jews later, so I just need to stay pure and rapture ready – preaching the gospel to the nations refers to the gentile nations
Food for thought
– How can we stand with Israel and support the Messianic branches, even at the cost of death, if we have already been raptured? – who will share the gospel and disciple those who remain on the earth? – who are the righteous martyrs during the tribulation?
We are all Jews Theology
Also related – the opposite issue to replacement theology can also be espoused by some gentiles – which instead of replacement theology we have the “we are all Jews” and “we will all live in Israel” ideas:
“Which tribe are you in?” (Revelation 7) “Do I need to move to Israel?”
“Set fire to their synagogues or schools” – Luther
“Luther is particularly tragic in this sense since he had rejected anti-Semitism in earlier writings, but Luther always believed Jews should be converted and he gradually lost patience when they did not embrace Christianity.” – Dr. Kurt Hendel
“[The Nazis] very clearly used Luther’s writings that had all this anti-Semitism in them to support their cause.” – Bonhoeffer
The richest 1% of people amassed almost two-thirds of new wealth created in the last two years – Oxfam
And how about “Big Brother”?
Is AI in the Bible? Will AI be part of a global anti-Christ beast government?
Our own Guerney Hunt joins us, who is a technologist for IBM. IBM works on some of the most advanced computing and software on the planet, so it will be great to get his perspective on AI. You may recall his contributions on our Bitcoin discussion and on the Mully movie discussion from a few years back.
Scriptures referenced on the call:
Mark of the Beast
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name
Revelation 13:16-17
Worship Adonai
The Lord upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.
Psalm 145:14-21
Meeting Face-to-Face Important
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching
Hebrews 10:24-25
Ear Test Words
Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food?
Roundtable Discussion – How do we Alleviate Poverty?
We explore together how Jesus addresses poverty in the context of His Kingdom. This is why we pursue the Storehouse Vision, which is the gospel being preached, and the Kingdom of God coming to the earth as it is in heaven. https://newbreed.co/storehouse/
For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good
Mark 14:7
No one among them was poor
Acts 4:34
But there will be no poor among you
Deut 15:4
Contradiction of scripture? Or a conditional promise? How do we get there from here?
Some discussion Questions
If we just had enough money, would that solve the problem? If we just redistributed the world’s money, would that solve the problem? Is poverty a state of mind? Is poverty inherited? Is poverty a curse?
Does my poverty get alleviated based on your generosity? or God’s help?
Understanding “The Way”
Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime
– Author Unknown
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
– Jesus Matt 7:9-11
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, gazed into heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the bread and the two fish and distributed them to his disciples to serve the people—and the food was multiplied in front of their eyes!
Mark 6:41
Scriptures Referenced in Call
Philippians 4
The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself
Proverbs 11:25
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others
Philippians 2:3-4
Great resources on the subject of how to address poverty from a biblical standpoint:
Romans 911 and New Breed of Business Parallel Study – Part 13
It’s a Process – Taking Steps
Join us tomorrow for the final part of the Romans 911 joint study with the New Breed of Business (Joint Study Syllabus here – scroll to the bottom to see prior study episodes).
Here is the associated reading and prep for the meeting…
Romans 911
Prep
Read p185-200 Romans 911 Study Guide Watch final video #8 Romans911.org
Discussion Topics
Israel must be saved Israel must return (Aliyah) Will we stand with Israel?
Example of Mike from Lubbock, TX of trusting God with no money to fix inverter and batteries for RV Example of Clare from Rukungiri, Uganda trust the Lord for her House of Prayer rent Example of Grant Berry of coming out of financial worry Communicating the Message / Preaching the Gospel
We will continue our joint sessions together: Grant and Reconnecting Ministries together with Gregg and the New Breed of Business in monthly Zoom roundtable discussions we are calling “Heartbeat Israel”. Our next session will be March/April. Here are some of the prior episodes of Heartbeat Israel…
Did you know that Sodom’s greatest sin wasn’t necessarily homosexuality?
The sins of Sodom according to Ezekiel 16 were:
Haughtiness
Pride
Accumulating material wealth
Not helping the poor
Idleness – taking one’s ease
All five of which are really an expanded definition of Greed.
Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had arrogance, were overfed, unconcerned, and had an abundance of idleness; neither did help the poor and needy. And they were haughty and did detestable things before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit
Ezekiel 16:49-50
My friend Allan Parker, who argues human rights cases before the US Supreme Court, teaches the following wherever he goes:
According to the bible, four sins bring national destruction:
Forsaking God;
Shedding Innocent Blood;
Sexual Immorality; and
Greed
Culture’s Definition of Greed
We often have a certain notion of what greed means. We usually narrow it down to those dastardly characters in movies or fiction that represent a handful or small minority of people. Certainly we are not like them! And certainly our whole society isn’t like that!
Mr. Potter
Mr. Monopoly
Gordon Gekko
Yet, what are the parallels to today’s society and culture compared with Sodom and Gommorrah?
In the last days… men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power… always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth
2 Timothy 3:1-8
Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah
1 Jude 11
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality
Revelation 3:12-14
Greed has a close affiliation and is part of another spirit – Mammon. And another sister spirit is Fear. A third is envy. When these forces get wrapped around the unholy desire for money, we need to watch out. Whenever we have an unnatural desire for money for anything – survival, food, luxury, pleasure – literally anything. When we listen to animated voices whispering – you need to get after some more income, those bills are coming due!
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money
Matthew 6:24
The opposite spirit to greed is contentment with what God provides.
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world
1 Timothy 6:6–7
Mentioned on the podcast…
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God
This week we will hear from Rosie Dennerlein, founder and CEO of Shakan Global Mission, a mission to help people rise above poverty and be transformed through Christ based in Uganda. Rosie has been a successful entrepreneur in the consumer products area, manufacturing and distributing Oils of Shakan for 8 years. She has amazing plans to combine healthcare, wellness, healing, entrepreneurship, and business creation in the outskirts of Jinja, Uganda to see God’s Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
Recently, other New Breed of Business missionaries visited Jinja Uganda: Joel Frazier and Chareese Westbury, who know Rosie and have worked together in the same area of Uganda spreading God’s love, including economic impact. See Uganda Storehouses for more on that. They will join us as part of the discussion.
Bio
Through Isaiah 61, the Lord called Rosie Dennerlein to go to Uganda in 2015 to promote healing from the inside out…“Proclaim good news to the poor and bring freedom to the captives.” In the Fall of 2019, Rosie, a certified aromatherapist, trained over 100 women to make a mosquito repellant to help prevent malaria. In addition, many healing miracles were witnessed through prayer to Jesus. In February 2022, Shakan Global Mission Inc, a non-profit organization in the USA was birthed to support God’s work. Shakan Global is working jointly with Shakan Mission Uganda, LTD, a NGO in Uganda, registered in September 2022.
VISION: For communities in Uganda to rise above poverty and be transformed through Christ for a global impact.
MISSION: To provide resources to empower impoverished families to become sustainable, thriving communities through economic development, agriculture, education, and integrated health using Christian values.
Shakan Global Mission Center (Under Construction)
Purpose of the Mission Center
· to host global and local guests for short term service to help carry out the mission/vision
· to provide bible studies, prayer meetings, and a hub for divine connections to strategize kingdom of God initiatives (John 17 unity).
SIDE VIEW
FRONT VIEW
PRAYER GARDEN
LAND BEING CLEARED FOR AGRICULTURAL TRAINING
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Child Sponsorship and Community Empowerment Program just launched.
Truth Centered Transformation Discipleship Training Program for pastors to empower communities to rise above poverty
Roundtable Discussion – What is the Storehouse Network?
[By way of background, you can read what the Storehouse is all about clicking there.]
This week, as part 9 of our “How to” build a Storehouse, we will delve into: what is the Storehouse Network? How does it work? Is it operational? Up and running?
We will discuss how storehouses interact with each other relationally, such as the one in New England (NECAP.net) and the one in Florida (Manatee County Storehouse) recently worked with a home church Storehouse in Deerfield, MA, and how God was working in wonderful ways.
For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. As it is written…
2 Corinthians 8:13-15
…he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack
Exodus 16:18
Characteristics of the Storehouse Network
Decentralized
Relational
Resilient
Autonomous
Global
Resources set aside and made ready
Part of the John 17 Unity movement
Holy Spirit led and empowered
Other Case Studies
10 Days of Prayer Film Project – Florida Storehouse and Global Storehouse $10k loan and $5k gift
Seeding the Jinja Uganda Storehouse from the Global Storehouse
Terminology
Storehouse Community – those individuals (believers) who are part of the local Storehouse and who also are also part of the Church unity move in that region
Storehouse Deacons and Elders – those volunteers leading, managing, administering, accounting and overseeing the Storehouse
Storehouse Fund – common pool of capital to support and finance the whole community typically housed in a non-profit. Accepts gifts, but can also receive general investments.
Individual Account – each person in the community has their own Storehouse account individually (like a savings account)
Individual Investment – can lend money to people and into projects as they see fit as a side-by-side investment (as these loans/investments are repaid they are credited to the individual’s accounts based on their share of ownership)
Individual Gifts – can give to people and into projects as they see fit
Storehouse Network – the global network of interconnected Storehouses
Bridge Loan – financing another Storehouse’s short-term needs
Storehouses Network embrace the “fishes and loves” way of God’s provision
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister
Roundtable Discussion – 2024 and Geopolitical Risks
Join us Wednesdaya – we gather 8-10am ET on Zoom. Email us at info@newbreed.co to sign up for the Zoom dial in.
Recently a Christian friend of mine in the NYC area who works advising people in the financial markets, highlighted some increasing risks around the world in the new year, beyond what is happening in Israel.
Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”
Psalm 2
So far in 2024, here are a few developments worth noting:
Japanese Earthquake
On 1/1/24, an earthquake rocked a small city in Japan called Suzu with a 7.6 quake. Japan issued its first tsunami warning since the “big one” hit on 3/11/11. Reuter’s article here.
The very next day on 1/2/24, a JAL airplane unusually crashed into a Coast Guard plane bringing relief supplies to Suzu. Reuter’s article here
Why did this catch my attention? One, because of this prophetic idea of first Japan, then USA/ROW. Again, see Watch Japan and Watch BOJ for details on this. And two, because the city is called Suzu, which is also where Suzuki comes from (the former warplane manufacturer and now motorcycle/car manufacturer – I happen to own a 1982 Suzuki GS1100EZ). Suzu means “bell”, and Suzuki means “bell tree”. I.e., a warning, a wake up, an alarm. That phrase “be there with bells on” comes to mind, which is like 2024 is being announced “with bells”.
So, for me God is saying “Be on alert in 2024”. (note Chris Reed and Rick Joyner entitled their 2024 new years conference “Prepare for War in 2024“).
Now back to Israel, and Hezbollah has escalated the fighting there, partly in retaliation to the assassination by drone of Hama’s #2 leader who was in Lebanon at the time. Israel describes the war as a “7 front war”. Seven means “completion” in the Bible (7 days of creation), and it is fair to say that Israel believes it is currently completely at war. We also need to keep in mind, so goes Israel, so goes the Church. Several Christian leaders have made this point, including Jonathan Cahn’s 2024 New Years message here.
China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea
These four nations represent an axis of power (remember the old “axis of evil” President George HW Bush?) They have positioned themselves against the “West” and its ways (Ukraine invasion, Taiwan threat of reunification, Iran’s commitment to exterminate USA (big Satan) and Israel (little Satan), North Korea intercontinental ballistic nukes) Finland warns of this 4-fold Threat
BRICS, now a 10 nation and growing economic alliance, composed currently of China, Russia, South Africa, India and Brazil. But set to add in 2024: Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ethiopia and Egypt. BRICS is setting itself up as an economic, and potentially monetary alliance to counter the USA, Western Europe, Japan, Canada and Australia/NZ’s historical dollar denominated financial markets and economic power.
We evaluate dependency and causality in the supply-chain. The systematic examination of the root causes of supply chain disruption. And the blind spots of the financial markets regarding the fragility of same.
Revelation 18
We view all of this in the context of Revelation 18 – the global economy being judged and the rise of Anti-Christ political forces in the end-times equation.
Today we interview Stephen Burke, The Lord Will Provide ministries who will share his perspective on what is going on with the war in Israel, how it relates to a God given strategic vision he saw (that changed his life), and how this relates to what God is doing on the earth in preparation for His return. Topics will include: Aliyah, cities of refuge, preparing the Bride, coming storms and judgment, coming persecution of Jews and believers and how the Church is positioned to help. You won’t want to miss…
Stephen Burke worked for 18 years in advertising and public relations before God called him out of his profession in 2004 to begin a ministry He named, The LORD Will Provide. The work began in Guatemala and involved church planting and missions. However, in 2008, God unexpectedly gave Stephen a 2-hour open vision of unprecedented future difficulty that is coming to America and the world. In this vision God also showed Stephen that He is raising up places of refuge to hide, protect and move His chosen people. So, since 2009, the Lord has been connecting Stephen with these places of refuge around the world. His role has been to encourage them and to let them know they’re not alone. God has a global plan for His people in the midst of trouble and even now is preparing for these days.
1. Two hands grasping a batton, but the batton was disintegrating. Stephen knew this represented people gasping on to / trusting in our US banking and financial markets / systems, but they were not as solid as they appeared, and were turning into dust.
2. Next saw a beautiful tapestry woven together. Masterfully done. Represented the USA.
3. A flash of light came from far away in the east (across the Atlantic ocean). Stephen now believes this represents the unprovoked Hamas attack killing 1200 Jews in Israel. It was a significant event in the vision. And as such Stephen believes it begins the time of the “Hunter” spoken of in Jeremiah 16:16, for the end-times scenerio, where Jewish people make Aliyah to Israel more urgently.
4. A dark net was unseen but woven into the fabric of the US. Then, suddenly a T-Rex made out of the hidden dark webbing, stood up and was hinged on the east coast and began to devour anything that rose up against it. T-Rex means “tyrannical ruler”, which Stephen believes represents the anti-Christ spirit.
5. The interstates shut down. Electricity shuts down. Many things we depend on no longer function. There was a platform from which Stephen could see these things happening.
6. There was a underground bunker down from the platform where many beleivers gathered. There was food and other essentials stored there. Many were freaked out and were initially a burden to the remnant group who had prepared for such a situation. After a while, they too became productive and could help assist people get to where they needed to go in times of difficulty and troubles.
Just this past week, a couple of BOJ governors started making public comments leading the international financial community to believe the BOJ would soon start raising rates (short term Japanese interest is -0.10% – yes they will pay people to borrow money in order to stimulate economic growth).
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Thursday Dec 7th he told Prime Minister Fumio Kishida the central bank will scrutinise the strength of domestic demand and next year’s wage outlook in guiding monetary policy.
The remarks came in the wake of those by Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino on Wednesday Dec 6th elaborating on the potential impact an exit from ultra-loose monetary policy could have on the economy.
The BOJ next meets for a rate review on Dec. 18-19, followed by another meeting on Jan. 22-23 when it conducts a quarterly review of its growth and inflation forecasts.
Yen up 6% in month – 2% in a day
Background Reading / Listening
This is another reminder to “Watch Japan” (click for last discussion write up, illustrations and podcast on this topic).
Japan is the country where the “sun rises first”. There is a prophetic understanding of first goes Japan – then goes the USA / ROW (rest of world). See the last write up for more on this by way of background. Bob Jones prophecy and Rick Joyner Alert.
Economic Financial Troubles Coming
In 2008/9 during the financial crisis, I felt the Lord was sharing a few things:
This is not the end of troubles, but the beginning of troubles
Ezekiel 29-32 is a 7-fold judgment of Egypt, Pharaoh, and Pharoah’s pride. They thought they were like God. Just like the tower of Babble in Gen 11. Just like the pride of Nebuchadnezzar. America has a similar pride today, especially in the strength of its financial markets, its currency, its economic power. I felt God speaking through this scripture that so too would America’s economic power be greatly humbled. The scripture speaks of 40 years. Japan has been going through economic trouble for now 34-37 years depending on how you measure it.
Watchmen on the Wall
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil
1 Thessalonians 5:20-22
Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets
Dec 20th 8-10am – Stephen Burke, The Lord Will Provide ministries will share his perspective on what is going on in Israel, how it relates to a strategic vision he saw, and how this relates to what God is doing on the earth in preparation for His return. You won’t want to miss…
Dec 20th 10am-12pm – Manatee Storehouse Community group. You can join in with this FL community to learn more about the Storehouse from 10am-12pm Dec 20th Wed and hear what is happening in central FL. Gary Crawford, one of our leaders and the Manatee County FL team. This is a Storehouse learning opportunity. Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88569625162
Part 2 to “Stock Market Questions“, prompted last week by Maja Corlett (is it gambling?; is it sinful? should we sell our stocks?) Maja’s key follow-up question THIS WEEK is focused on how the Storehouse works. If someone takes money out of the stock market, where can they invest it? And if you want to invest it into a Storehouse, how do you do it?
Specifically: Say that someone sells $10,000 of stock and wants to invest it in a Storehouse. Is it still considered that person’s money and could it be taken out – like for example if that person wanted to bless their whole family and take them to Israel? It’s not like a need but they would need that money in order to do it… Is that looked down upon (in the community) because it was “given” to the storehouse or is it still theirs?
So, our discussion tomorrow will be around how does the Storehouse work? This will also serve as “Part 8” of a “How To” series regarding how to start a Storehouse (see below for other “How to” steps).
We will get into the various types of accounts and investments connected with a Storehouse, generally speaking. We will also speak of how specifical storehouses work, such as the one in New England (NECAP.net) and the one in Florida (Manatee County Storehouse)
Terminology:
Storehouse Community – those individuals (believers) who are part of the local Storehouse and who also are part of the Church unity move in that region
Storehouse Deacons and Elders – those volunteers leading, managing, administering, accounting and overseeing the Storehouse
Storehouse Fund – common pool of capital to support and finance the whole community typically housed in a non-profit. Accepts gifts, but can also receive general investments.
Individual Account – each person in the community has their own Storehouse account individually (like a savings account)
Individual Investment – can lend money to people and into projects as they see fit as a side-by-side investment (as these loans/investments are repaid they are credited to the individual’s accounts based on their share of ownership)
Individual Gifts – can give to people and into projects as they see fit
Storehouses embrace the “fishes and loves” way of God’s provision
Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice
Prov 16:8
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Recently at a New England Storehouse meeting (N.E.C.A.P.), Maja Corlett asked the simple question: Is investing in the stock market gambling? Is it sinful?
It prompted a good conversation. Tomorrow Maja will join us and we will broaden and continue that conversation. Some of our leadership will share their perspective (Gary Crawford, Gregg Healey, others).
We are a learning community led by the Holy Spirit. All questions and perspectives are valid. We will endeavor to share and teach on the New Breed of Business biblical understanding of the stock market as part.
Questions
Investing in the stock market gambling?
Investing in the stock market sinful?
Investing in the stock market wise?
Should I use a financial planner?
If I have a 401k or IRA, what can I invest in other than the markets?
What are the alternatives to investing in the Stock Market?
If we come out of the stock market, should we stop paying taxes?
BYO (Bring Your Own Questions)
Stock Market Fundamentals
When you buy stock, you legally become a partner in that company
When you buy index funds, ETFs, mutual funds you are legally partnering with many companies simultaneously, but it is somewhat obscured by the fact it is one level down in an investment structure
Financial markets are driven up and down by many forces (fundamentals, technical, future growth prospects), but those forces include fear and greed
Companies are either privately owned, or “publicly traded”. If they are publicly traded, they are part of the “stock market”
Investors in the stock markets include: individuals through apps (eg, Robinhood), individuals through stock brokers and financial planners (eg, Morgan Stanley), pension funds, endowments, insurance companies, banks, governments
Premise that the stock market will always go up, sometimes referred to as a buy and hold strategy
Whitewashing moral ethical shortcuts in name of “shareholder’s interests”
Codifying Milton Freedman’s phrase “the business of business is business”
Removal of God and religion from “business” in publicly traded companies
Corporate adoption of secular values and causes fill void – BDS, ESG, Pride, Choice
Biblical Considerations
Free-will / freedom – Gal 5:13
Be careful with who you form partnerships – 2 Cor 6:14-18
Come out of Babylon – Rev 18:4
Do not profit from the poor – Prov 22:16; Ezek 22:29
Rest from labors every seven years – Deut 25:4
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy – Exodus 20:8
Do not charge interest to fellow believers and the poor – Deut 23:19
Commonly Accepted Business Practices
Customer Service departments trained to extract revenue, given little authority to help people
Cell Phone Companies – cut off service; won’t extend credit to the poor; people in financial difficulty
Cable Companies – hidden fees, practices designed to enslave poor and elderly people with large monthly bills
Hospital billing practices
Bank loan interest and fee practices for the poor
Credit card companies practices of capturing people in fees and interest
Pharmaceutical company predatory pricing
Technology companies data ownership legal practices maintaining rights to terminate services / social networks
Stock Market Lingo
Bulls and Bears
Animal Spirits
Fear and Greed
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Stock tip
Insider trading
Non-public information
Mutual Funds
ETFs
Long and short
Day Trading
Hedge Funds
Factors to Consider
Have Wall Street and the Stock Market become part of Babylon?
What if the US financial markets are being judged through several more waves of trouble / crashes?
The debt load is growing and is unsustainable
Babylon enslaves people in its economic system
The US pioneered financial markets (capitalism) have becoming more corrupted, yet more widespread, representing 70% plus of the US and Western economies
Revelation 18 is an economic description of this coming judgment and destruction
Revelation 13 points to a day of not being able to buy and sell in the nations of the world unless you pledge yourself to be a member of the system (worship, bow to the statue of Neb/ Antichrist)
Concentration of power
Concentration of wealth
all roads in success in usa funded through VC, PE, individual investors lead to IPO stock market or sale to publicly traded company
Prophetic encounters regarding Investing
“Before I invest in something, I invest in someone”
“Giving + Blessing = Enterprising”
“This is the beginning, not the end” (regarding the 2008 financial crisis)
“I care more about how you make your money, than what you do with it”
Alternative to Stock Market
What are the alternatives to investing in the publicly trading of stocks and financial markets (credit based financial systems)? Read more about the “Storehouse Vision” here.
Roundtable Discussion – Financial Faith 101 with Jonathan Friz
We discuss in 2 parts the Proverbial wisdom surrounding work, wealth, productivity, frugality, generosity, and righteousness (we are calling this “101”). Much of which is focused on having good character. Not taking shortcuts. Working diligently. Helping the poor and the disadvantaged. Also how wisdom is superior to material wealth. And heavenly riches are superior to early wealth.
Then in part 2, we will see how Jesus builds on these truths, taking them further in the department of trusting God with all by Faith, even if it is to our seeming detriment (to make a way for ourselves, to defend ourselves or bring justice). This also includes operating in miracles and wonders in the area of provision. (We are calling this “201” or “301”).
Quick Example:
Foundational 101 Proverbial Wisdom: “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4)
Supernatural 201 Faith in God: “Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given unto you as well” (Matthew 6:33)
We discuss wealth. The difference between material wealth and spiritual riches. How material wealth is desirable and can be a good thing. If it is brought by the hand of the Lord and by diligent work, that is a wholesome thing. However, if it comes from worldly, even evil character traits (selfish ambition, profit at the expense of others, idolization, unhealthy material desire, etc.) it can be a corrosive and corrupting thing. Think of Zacchaeus before and after.
The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and he adds no sorrow to it
Contentment – link to NBB Devotional: Secret of God’s Economy (download)
LaRed Workbook – deeper dive educational material based on many scriptures in Proverbs regarding business practices. 40 studies. (courtesy of Gary Crawford)
On today’s discussion we look at the rise of Anti-Semitism globally, and why it is important for the Church to always support the Jewish people and stand by Israel.
How the Hamas attack against Israel is part of a broader strategy to turn people and popular opinion against Israel and against the Jewish people. To use the Palestinian people as not only human shields, but an anti-Semitic foil through the UN and the mainstream media. Ultimately, the terrorist groups of Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthi, and Iran have publicly declared their strategic intent of the elimination of Israel and the extermination of the Jewish people.
We not only need be aware of this, but we can not grow complacent in our support for Israel and the Jewish people. We love both the Palestinian people and the Jewish people and pray that “all would come to the saving knowledge of Christ”. But, we cannot just throw up our hands and say oh well is a 50% / 50% war that’s been going on forever, so let’s just stay out of it. No.
I will bless those who bless you and I will curse him who curse you. And in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed
God’s promises to Abraham – Genesis 12:3
A really good read is Bibi, the auto biography of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It really reveals the terrorist tactics used against Israel and the Jewish people, starting with the death of his own brother Yoni in Uganda on the hijacked El Al aircraft in the 70s.
I would not have you be ignorant of this mystery…Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come… in this way all Israel will be saved
Romans 11:25-26
Mike Bickle teaching on the error of Replacement Theology being baked into most seminaries and seminarians. That Calvin and Luther both embraced this subtle form of replacement theology – that Israel should be treated as a spiritual matter only, no longer a political, physical matter of the Jewish people and the promised land of Israel.
The Fishers and the Hunters
Behold, I will send for many fishermen,” says the Lord, “and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks
We hear from Dan Coakley, friend and fellow ex-Wall Streeter. Dan and I met here in Westport, CT in 2008 at the Firehouse (our old offices) and he has an amazing testimony you won’t want to miss.
Dan’s Story
My personal journey and being pursued by the Lord starts after I was on Wall Street in the late 1990s and 2000s. And the sort of lifestyle that entails and all the darkness it brought me into.
(Dan started his Wall Street career at Lehman Brothers in investment banking, then moved into private real estate investment, but prior to that he was a speechwriter in Congress for an elected official after graduating Dartmouth as their #1 tennis player.)
God never gave up on me. He used Gregg and the New Breed of Business Bible study as a lifeline and way back to Him – which kept me connected, even if by a thread, with St. Paul Westport. St. Paul ultimately, years later, played a huge role in both myself and my daughter being saved by Jesus. I really feel God’s main purpose in keeping Gregg and I close and St. Paul in the picture was so I would be able to later bring my daughter to Church as a highschooler, at a time when we both needed Jesus desperately. And through that, and in the years that followed, I was brought so much closer to the Lord in my own relationship with Him (including through a St. Paul mission trip I went on with my daughter this past summer).
I truly have seen miracles happen and many of my prayers answered – including in the recent hiring of a Christian ex-colleague where I work. God’s fingerprints were all over that. It’s still a real challenge for me to fully rely on the Lord. I was always programmed growing up with the value of self-will, self-power and hard work, etc. I really need to have Church and friends and small groups and things like that so I don’t stray too far off the path and become overwhelmed.
(Today, Dan still works in real estate, but he is now focused on affordable housing and trying to make a difference in what he does at work to help people.)
