We are back with Arni Klein live from the Galilee. Grant and Gregg facilitate a follow-on discussion and Q&A for those on the Zoom call.
Grant and Arni have been friends for over 35 years and met at One Accord Fellowship in NYC, the first Church Grant was connected to. Later on, they managed the Jewish ministry at Times Square Church together with other leaders.
The life of Arni and Yonit Klein has been marked by radical shifts and quantum leaps. They met in 1969 in Manhattan and married two months later. As yet without the knowledge of Yeshua but bonded as seekers, within four years they were separated on the verge of divorce. In the spring of 1973, they separately came to faith and were reunited. For 19 years they served in various capacities in New York City until they immigrated to Israel in 1992. They have two children, Jonathan and Stephanie, and four grandchildren. Arni is Jewish from Austrian, Polish, and Russian descent; Yonit’s ancestors were from England, Italy, and Wales. Though raised in a Jewish home, only fifteen years after meeting Yeshua did Arni come to understand the place of Israel in God’s global end-time plan.
Gregg was given this pamphlet Nov 2022 when visiting Arni in Israel
For various seasons between 1992 and 2000, they served as congregational elders, directed a congregational music ministry, and produced a music and drama street outreach. Arni has recorded an album of original Hebrew songs for seekers (“One Way Ticket”), and their journey to faith “Nothing to Lose” is published in Hebrew and German and can be found on this website in English. From 1999 to 2012 they stewarded centers in Tel Aviv and the Judean Hills to provide a place for brethren from Israel and the nations to pray and minister to the Lord. From 1998 to 2003 they worked with First Nations peoples from various countries to help them understand their calling and unique role in God’s plans for Israel. Since 2003 they have worked extensively in Germany with a focus on building a bridge between the youth in both nations. They have been part of the community of believers in the Tel Aviv area for 13 years and Jerusalem for 8 years.
They currently reside in a village near Tiberias, and are part of the Morningstar Congregation. As individuals and as a ministry, they desire to partner with other brethren whenever possible and are committed to walking in transparency and accountability. For more information you can go to “The History of Emmaus Way.”
Ever heard of “don’t fight the Fed”? Well, we could now say, “don’t fight Trump.” The reasons for the market going higher post election are loosely founded on profit growth optimism of a Trump administration. But the short-term trading reality has more to do with the momentum behind “meme-stock” Trumpian Robinhood investors and the Wall Street Bets – Reddit crowd. Which institutional investors might say: don’t sell/short for fundamental reasons, because the FoMo (Fear of Missing out) crowd-speculation and “going to the moon” hype-train is going to run you over.
The “Trump Bump”
Ok, so as fundamental reality started to set-in we saw a market pull back in January. Only to rebound again leading up to the Inauguration.
Why are valuations difficult at these levels? It’s because the average PE (Price – forward Earnings) ratio of the market is at the top of historical range (roughly 22x for S&P 500). As well as expected earnings growth is quite high year over year for this year and next (roughly 15% expected growth for the entire S&P 500 in 2025 and 14% in 2026).
Animal Spirits
John Maynard Keynes’ “Animal Spirits” (The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money 1936) are again being quoted with more frequency in the press, because there is no other way of explaining many company’s valuations other than naked greed. Underscoring a new period of “irrational exuberance” to quote former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan.
Also worth understanding is the “value” of Stocks vs. Bonds. Meaning investing in treasury bonds (according to the chart above) has an identical yield to stocks at these valuations – yet worth noting that treasuries by definition are considered the “risk-free” rate of return. Interpreted: stocks are so expensive right now, there is no additional yield for the additional risk you are taking (future interest payments from the US government are more likely than forecasted future earnings of any given company). As you can see from this chart, the last time this “up-side down” situation happened was when the tech bubble burst in the early 2000s.
2. Bonds Pointing to Higher Inflation
Bond sell-off and a yield curve steepening have led to higher mortgage rates and lower expectations of the Fed cutting rates. While the most recent CPI reading came in at expectations, it is still historically high (3.2% core) and we are running into a new reality of high (3%+) inflation which has stubbornly resisted Fed rate hikes (think famously of Paul Volker’s rate hikes to 20% killing inflation in the early 80s). The Fed has continued to state 2% as its inflation goal, but we haven’t seen that since pre-pandemic and no one is offering up any new solutions for how to get it down. Instead it has been we need to wait-and-see.
As Pres Trump wants to stoke economic growth, watch for renewed calls and saber rattling for Jerome Powell to lower rates. This could backfire into higher inflation, even hyperinflation.
Elon Musk wants to buy TikTok, but congress scheduled shutting it down given the China spying threat. But, Pres Trump just issued an executive order suspending enforcement of the ban for 75 days. Is it even possible to override already-passed legislation?
4. Crypto on a Tear
Did you know that President Trump created his own crypto currency? Yep. Much like Truth Social taking advantage of his reelection, President Trump, his business empire and his family have harnessed the Trump induced Crypto frenzy by issuing their own “meme-coin.” Smart business move or conflict of interest?
What a meme-coin you ask? Well, like a “meme-stock”, it is designed for the masses of followers of Trump to “invest” in Trump and Trump’s variant of crypto currency, which essentially has a gold-rush mentality of getting in early. It’s going to the moon because Trump is making crypto great! “$Trump” is the name (lol). Not joking. $Melania is the other.
This is a bit like “DogeCoin” if you are familiar with it.
5. The Bank of Japan Factor
Is this another warning sign of the BOJ potentially raising rates prematurely? Is it global inflation that is neutralizing deflation in Japan? Or is it true economic recovery? We haven’t seen rates this high in Japan since the previous financial crisis 2008.
Also fueling the drive to raise rates is that the Yen is weakening once more to intervention levels. Read relevant Bloomberg article here.
We discuss.
So, what’s the Net Net?
We are in uncharted territory in terms of debt levels, tariff levels, equities valuation levels and crypto speculation.
If you believe that President Trump will carry the US economy and financial markets to new and unprecedented heights (a “golden age”), you buy and/or hold stocks and crypto.
If you believe markets are priced for perfection or are over-hyped, and we are in at best a period of reprieve or at worst might be headed for troubled waters, you “take some money off the table” or sell.
If you believe more in God’s economy than Babylon’s economy, and you are more interested in helping people than profiting from them – and if you want to advance the Kingdom of God on the earth, consider the Storehouse Vision as an alternative Biblical way of investing to the financial markets and traditional investing.
And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?
Luke 16:9-12
We are in the works of launching a monthly Storehouse Briefing and Q&A, hosted by the Storehouse leadership team, so Stay Tuned for that.
The Storehouse Vision is liken to the parable of the Minas, Luke 19…
The Parable of the Minas
Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
“And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
“Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
“And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”
Interview with Jordon Baker about the Mansfield, OH Community
As part of our ongoing Storehouse “How To” training and equipping series, we hang out with Jordon Baker (who serves as part of 10 Days of Prayer) about growing up in Mansfield, OH, getting radically saved by Jesus, delivered from Bi-Polar disorder, being part of the prayer movement, making disciples and serving his community together with his cousin Josh who is a police officer.
Jordon and I met through Jonathan Friz and 10 Days of Prayer. Back in May we had the Americas 10 Days of Prayer Summit in Grove City, PA – not too far from the Ohio border. The Summit was hosted by Brad McKoy who runs the HUB – a New Breed of Business style of House of Prayer fusion with business incubation, mentoring, and community (click here for that interview).
So when I was wandering the streets of Grove City, praying as I walked, my eyes were drawn to a restaurant called “Jordan’s” and I felt the Holy Spirit whisper, “go find out what Jordon is cooking”. So we struck up a conversation on what was happening in Mansfield, OH together with cousin Josh (also a Jesus follower and young Mansfield police officer) who has been part of what is going on as well.
We talked about hosting BBQs on the streets of Mansfield and inviting people to eat and be served (i think without cost). We talked about a soccer field for the youth where they could play on an abandoned field the city allowed them to use and restore. I also know Jordan was part of a grassroots effort to unify the church through worship and prayer nights with 52 churches in Mansfield. That’s a lot of churches!
We’ll get into more of what Christian Community looks like there and go over some of the potential synergies with the Storehouse Vision as part.
We want you: The New Breed – to bring questions, comments and testimonies as well!
Bio
Jordon serves as part of an emerging network of simple churches and disciple-makers across Ohio. With a vision to see disciples making disciples in their everyday environments—where they live, work, and play—they are passionate about fostering communities that live out the gospel “from house to house” (Acts 2:46). Their heart is for everyone in Mansfield and beyond to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus, following Him as Lord and Savior.
In addition to this work, Jordon helps lead citywide prayer initiatives focused on uniting the local body of Christ and equipping others with disciple-making movement principles. He also serves on the global leadership team for 10 Days of Prayer, a movement committed to consecrated prayer and catalyzing spiritual awakening worldwide.
Here is some more background on Jordon if you want to take a deeper dive…
Join us on the New Breed of Business as we have a post-election political and economic discussion : “What Now?”. With special consideration to how this relates to implementing the Storehouse Vision, Network, and Communities.
We will discuss the President Trump – Jehu prophetic parallel as part.
Jehu tore down the alters of Baal, killed Jezebel, killed the Baal priests, and was made King over Israel.
“However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, that is, from the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan.”
2 Kings 10:29
“I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel
Hosea 1:4
Golden Calf Issues
Cannot trust in money and in God. Have to choose. Hate the one, love the other. Matt 6:25
An economy built on debt and greed will not stand
Turn from selfish-ambition, pride, self-centered, self-sufficiency, materialism, sexual immorality and profiting from same, seeking our pleasure over God’s pleasure / obedience to Him, etc.
Must remember the tired, hungry and poor, widow, orphan, fatherless in our business practices. Don’t exploit them. Don’t profit from their position.
Must rest from our labors, rest the land, free the slave, return the lands
Forgive debts, don’t charge interest to one-another, return the pledge / collateral
Not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God. Trust in God not in man, not in self.
Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The Lord will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.
Roundtable – Dishonest Weights and Scales Embedded in the Modern-day Economy
So, my Dad called me and said he was reading through the Proverbs and the verses about how God hates dishonest weights and scales kept coming up. He thought – hey this is what Gregg is talking about! (in terms of Babylon’s economy and the New Breed of Business)
Dad
So here are those scriptures:
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight
Proverbs 11:1
Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making
Proverbs 16:11
Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike – an abomination to the Lord
Proverbs 20:10
The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him
Proverbs 20:23
Examples Today:
– Products (especially food products) that shave a little bit of weight and the price goes up or stays the same. Remember that Pint of Haagen Daz ice cream? Well, it’s now 14oz. It used to be $5. Now it’s $9. Hope you don’t notice! Hope you don’t mind!
Product
Old size
New size
Difference
Tropicana orange juice
64 oz.
59 oz.
-7.8%
Ivory dish detergent
30 oz.
24 oz.
-20%
Kraft American cheese
24 slices
22 slices
-8.3%
Kirkland Signature (Costco) paper towels
96.2 sq. ft.
85 sq. ft.
-11.6%
Haagen-Dazs ice cream
16 oz.
14 oz.
-12.5%
Scott toilet tissue
115.2 sq. ft.
104.8 sq. ft.
-9%
Lanacane first aid spray
113 grams
99 grams
-12.4%
Chicken of the Sea salmon
3 oz.
2.6 oz.
13.3%
Classico pesto
10 oz.
8.1 oz.
-19%
Hebrew National franks
12 oz.
11 oz.
-8.3%
Examples of Hidden Fees and Made-up Fees
12b1 sales fees baked into mutual fund products
undisclosed and significant sales commissions in insurance products – sometimes upto 100% of the early years premiums being paid in sales commissions
“network fees” in cell phone and cable bills
“taxes and service fees” that appear as taxes but actually are just fees
4-5% AMEX and 2-3% VISA / MasterCard fees taken out of every sale. Rewards programs make consumers feel happy about the practice getting a little kick-back for themselves.
More Dirty Tricks
used car dealers hawking cars with major issues without disclosures
ambulance-chasing personal injury lawyers reaping 40%, even 50% of settlements or jury awards
improved odds of legal victories that can be purchased with high price legal teams vs. the commoner
hospital bills – $50,000 emergency room visits
$1100 bill and medicare or insurance co only pays $100
made up pricing for medical bills
hotel room rack rates that are multiple times more than market price
4.7% CD automatically renews at 0% if you don’t remember to roll it over
Credit card 0% teaser rates exploding to 30% if you miss a payment by a day, or under pay by $0.01
$5 bag of chips on Wallmart.com with $29.99 shipping fee in small type
Citadel and Robinhood – deal allowing legal front running of retail trades
Flash Boys book – Exchanges renting server spots to the highest bidder inside the exchange data center, knowing full well that trades will be front run using quant algorithms given speed advantage.
Inside information traded upon on Wall Street
Propane companies locking tanks up and hauling them away full if rental fees aren’t paid
Electric generation supply co’s that reset your lower rate to double or triple the electric company rate if you forget to switch
Do we accept these societal behaviors as normal?
Are we conditioned to act this way too?
Clipping and Shaving Coins
Our friend Doug Tjaden speaks of the practice of shaving and clipping coins in his book “I’ve Come to Give”
Money and Life Documentary
Chandrakaut’s Testimony
Quaker Reform
“[T]he Roman Empire… expanded quickly… Tax rates became oppressive, and trade began to slow. Tax revenues… began to fall… Therefore, during the reign of Emperor Nero (54-68 A.D.), the government mints engaged in a new and more deceptive practice. They added copper and bronze to the gold and silver before pouring the alloy into molds to make coins. This is known as “debasing” the coins. Because the practice didn’t leave marks, most people were unaware of the practice.”
In the old days, say at the general store, it became a dishonest practice of many shop owners in America where there wouldn’t be any prices on any products. And store owners would charge different people different prices if they thought they could get away with exploiting people. Even poor people.
The Quakers had a reform, where they wanted all their congregants who were shop owners to insure that they would price all products so people would receive transparent and fair pricing (which God loves).
Today we continue our “How to Storehouse” series. We will unpack all of what is biblical about God’s economy and how that is reflected in the Storehouse Vision.
Hint: it’s not just storing up a bunch of stuff for the apocalypse !
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure
Isaiah 33:6
So, we often find people misunderstand what “A Storehouse of God” is all about. It’s not simply storing up supplies and money to guarantee our futures. It’s really a reformation of our hearts in how we deal with money, provision, work and our own needs. And it’s also how we form community and serve one another to facilitate supply for the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Storehouse Vision Unpacked
1. Repented Lifestyle
The Storehouse Vision is first and foremost an “unlearning” of the ways of this world (unplug from the Matrix) and transform our minds in the knowledge of Christ (plug into the Kingdom of God). Romans 12:2“Right from the time you were born… what your parents taught you… without money you cannot survive.”
“That had become a very strong chain of bondage in your mind… It took Me four years to break that.”
“And from that day, to this day our table has never been empty – I don’t know how, from where God provided.”
“Will He not clothe you? You of little faith? Do not worry… your heavenly Father knows [your needs]… Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all of [your needs] will be met.” – Matthew 6:30-33
God can provide with or without money.
“If you start thinking to yourselves, ‘I did all this. And all by myself. I’m rich. It’s all mine!’—well, think again. Remember that GOD, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today.” – Deuteronomy 8:17-18
2. Economy of Giving and Receiving
It is better to give than receive
Acts 20:35
Give and it shall be given unto you
Luke 6:38
Freely you have been given, freely you should give
Matthew 10:8
When you give to the poor you are lending to God
Proverbs 19:17
When we help others instead of focusing on satisfying our own needs, God supplies.
3. Community Banking
Alternative to FDIC fractional reserve banking. Loans as investments. Local currencies. Individual stores and community stores under one roof.
4. Distribution Network
“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.” 2 Corinthians 8:12-14
5. Resources Made Ready
This is the “storing up” part of the Storehouse. But remember, we can also get just in time shipments by God’s hand. Even supernaturally or by way of a miracle.
We don’t have to be under Adam’s “curse of the land, everything by the sweat of our brow.” We can tap into heavenly provision…
Our earthly storehouses can be filled, and our needs can be met out of heavenly storehouses
and supernatural provision
God has already made ready. We have to recover this ancient inheritance as the Church for the days ahead.
Silver and gold have I none. In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk!
Acts 3:6
I will open the windows of heaven
Malachi 3:10
Examples
Fishes and Loves
Water from the rock
Manna from heaven
Example of Church Unity – 140 churches gathered together in Charlotte last week
