(1) Investments/Markets

(2) Politics/Global Affairs

(3) Theology/Philanthropy

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The goal is to generate actionable ideas that encourage stewardship of opportunities/resources to positively impact the world. 

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“Alta Mensa” means “High Table” in Latin. 

January 2020

We know, however, this saying isn’t true; Christmas is about much more than a tree. But when someone forgets to set up the tree, or its needles fall off prematurely, we’re tempted to buy another one before the relatives arrive. Christmas trees are important and today, during the holidays, there’s one for sale on every corner. But this wasn’t always true.

It all started when a businessman, Mark Carr, saw an opportunity to serve his community.

Before 1851 the United States was a rural society. Most Americans could easily cut down and carry home their own trees. But, for those who lived in New York City, it was nearly impossible to access trees of any kind. Carr realized this and travelled by sled to the Catskill Mountains nearby and collected several bunches of evergreens. He hauled them back into the city and sold every single tree from a vacant lot. The Christmas tree market was born. Today in the U.S. nearly 40 million are bought and sold each year.

During this holiday season remember, sometimes it only takes one creative idea to launch a new industry. Always be looking for new opportunities. There are people to serve, problems to solve, and profits to make.

Money really can grow on trees. Even on evergreens.

Written by Justin Stephens. Edited by Andrei Duta. This article first appeared in Andrei’s Newsletter.

Friends of Peter (FOP) is a gathering of unique and beautiful individuals with eclectic skills and talents. FOP is many things. FOP is networking with a soul. FOP is a creative ideation forum. FOP is a dynamic group that thrives under the leadership of Peter.

Who is Peter? Two words: SERVANT LEADER. Peter is a servant leader with a golden heart. As such, I can now think of an additional definition of FOP: support group, service community, and network of servant leaders!

I will close by pointing to one of my favorite writers/thinkers: Robert Greenleaf. I believe he did a superb job in capturing the spirit of servant leadership… the spirit of Peter, the spirit of the individual friends of Peter, and, also, the spirit of the collective Friends of Peter:

WHAT IS SERVANT LEADERSHIP?

“Servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world.

While servant leadership is a timeless concept, the phrase “servant leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay that he first published in 1970. In that essay, Greenleaf said:
“The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.

“The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?“
A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,”servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”[/blockquote][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Sun (Swim/NSP day)
Swim (1200+ yards), SCR, NSP* (1-10-1 pull-ups, 2-20-2 push-ups, 3-30-3 abs, 4-40-4 squats), and Stretching (10+ min)

Mon (Swim/Bike day)
Swim (1200+ yards), Bike (60+ min), SCR**, and Stretching (10+ min)

Tue (Swim/Run/CT day)
Swim (1200+ yards), Run/Stair/Treadmill (30+ min), SCR, CT *** (push-ups & abs), and Stretching (10+ min)

Wed (Swim/CT day)
Swim (1200+ yards), SCR, CT (legs and abs), and Stretching (10+ min)

Thur (Swim/Run/CT day)
Swim (1200+ yards), Run/Stair/Treadmill (30+ min), SCR, CT (pull-ups & abs), and Stretching (10+ min)

Fri (Swim day)
Swim (1200+ yards), SCR, and Stretching (10+ min)

Sat (Swim/Bike day)
Swim (1200+ yards), Bike (60+ min), SCR, and Stretching (10+ min)

LEGEND:
*NSP=Navy Seals Pyramids (intense calisthenics routine based on Navy Seals pull-ups, push-ups, abs, squats routine)
**SCR=Speed Calisthenics Routine (25 diamond pushups, 12-20 pull-ups, 25 knives abs, 25 squats with 2X20 lbs weights, 25 curls with 2X20 lbs weights, and stretching routine)
***CT=Calisthenics Trainer (alternate push-ups, pull-ups, legs, and abs in intense, till failure routines)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

WELCOME
Good morning family and friends. We are here to mourn the loss of but also celebrate the life of Randy King who lived a life of faith and who died with confident hope and assurance of the new life with God in the everlasting Kingdom of perfect peace.

Your presence here today is a testimony to that.

Randy’s family and I wish to express our appreciation for your presence at this memorial service.

No doubt, many fond memories of Randy will come to mind as we reflect upon the life of this remarkable daughter of God who was known for her adventuresome spirit, zest for life, big heart, generous spirit, appreciation of small and big animals, and deep love for family and friends.

MEMORY INSCRIBING
We are all here because of our personal relationship directly with Randy or indirectly through her family and friends.

It is a normal thing for us now to reflect and treasure both personally and collectively the profound significance of the life of Randy King.

We are here to remember Randy and her significant life and in so doing to learn about ourselves and encourage each other to reach for higher spiritual levels of peace, joy, and righteousness.

God has given us souls and in our souls we store up memories. And also it is in our hearts that we inscribe the wealth of memories and experiences we’ve shared and share with our loved ones. It is this collection of rich memories and experiences that we may call upon to define who we ourselves are.

Family and friends, even when they have departed this earthly life, they continue to remain a part of us. Their present absence is felt. And in memory we visit them. Like Oleg, his parents, and I did yesterday in the den room. Oleg reminded me that the especially “empty” chair with pillows with horses was where Randy sat as she joined in our conversation.

People, we inscribe each other on each other’s hearts. We co-define each other as products of interactions, shared memories, and common experiences.

As we reflect on the life of Randy this morning, she is in our midst.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father we come before you with a spirit of gratitude. We thank you for Randy. A remarkable woman of noble character. We thank you for the rich memories and meaningful experiences we’ve shared with her. And we thank you for the direct or indirect positive impact she’s had on our lives. Bless now this time of mourning. This time of reflections This time of celebration. This time of crying. This time of rejoicing. In Jesus name. Amen.

INSPIRATION
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:1-4, 6, 7 NIV)

REFLECTIONS
I believe there is tremendous value in remembering a life. Especially the life of a vibrant woman who has, directly or indirectly, positively and lovingly touched all of us in this chapel and many others in circles outside this building, beyond the city and beyond the state. We are here to remember the life of Randy. And we will remember her not just today but also tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that… and the day after that…

Randalin “Randy” King was born in Shell Lake, Wisconsin to Rai and Lorraine Stouffer on May 15, 1941. She passed away on August 1, 2014 after a brutal 37-day battle in the ICU due to complications from bypass surgery. Her husband Don and daughter Teresa were at her side physically during the month and a week long battle. And all other family members and many friends were there as well in spirit through their thoughts and prayers.

The wise teacher in the book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time to mourn and there is a time to rejoice. Today is a time to do both.

On the one hand we mourn in sorrow the loss of a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend. And, on the other hand, we celebrate in joy the life of our beloved Randy.

Randy had a passionate heart. Randy had a compassionate spirit.

Randy loved God. She loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus. Faith was not just important but central to who she was. And it was that faith that informed her loving heart and vibrant spirit.

Randy had a passionate heart. Randy had a compassionate spirit.

Randy loved her family. She loved Don her husband, her true love, her travelmate, her adventure companion, her partner, and her friend. She loved her family.

She loved her tender-hearted son Robert. She loved her late son, the handsome, athletic, Don. And she loved her bright and beautiful and brilliant daughter Teresa.

She loved her beloved daughter-in-law Edith. She also loved her son-in-law Seth whom no matter how much steak and potatoes fed into him, she just could not change that slender, svelte physique.

Randy had a passionate heart. Randy had a compassionate spirit.

And she loved her grandchildren, oh yeah, she loved you so very much. She loved Cody, Prince among men. She loved Elizabeth, or Liz, Princess among maidens. And she loved Oleg, her bright & handsome sailor and golden-hearted martial artist.

Randy had a passionate heart. Randy had a compassionate spirit.

She loved her late parents, her late sister Karen, her sisters Shirley and Gwen, and her brothers Albert and Rai. She loved her nieces and nephews.

She loved people. She loved children. She loved babies. She loved animals. The small ones like Precious who barked around the dinner table last night. And the big ones like her quarter horses who provide substance for one of her great passions, horse breeding and horse racing. She especially loved Girl, the mare, the only one she kept until the end. She was the broodmare and lived to be at least 30. She died right before Randy went in for surgery. Randy had even made a comment about joining Girl in heaven. And I believe she did. Randy loved everyone. She loved nature. She just loved.

Randy had a passionate heart. Randy had a compassionate spirit.

Also, Randy loved to travel. She loved to fish. She loved good food. She loved laughter. She loved much. And she was much loved.

And… today… she is also much and sorely missed.

Randy had a passionate heart. Randy had a compassionate spirit.

And today she’s entered the place of shalom. The place of peace.

INSPIRATION
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)

TRANSITION
William Shakespeare – “good bye, good bye, parting is such sweet sorrow.” Hard to depart and say farewell. But sweet because someday we will see our loved ones again plus we see them now through shared memories.

Albert Einstein – for physicists, time or the distinction between past and present and future is a mere illusion, albeit a stubbornly persistent one.

YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES AND YOU MISS IT
“You close your eyes and you miss it.” Teresa, Randy’s daughter, commented last night as we were watching the slideshow, the mosaic of memories reflecting Randy’s rich life experiences. The slides were rolling in, rolling out, fading in, and fading out in a beautiful loop. There was a rhythm. But any distracted moment led to missing a slide that was noticed only a few minutes later in the subsequent runs. There is a life lesson in Teresa’s comment. Be mindful. Slow down. De-accelerate. Pay attention. Don’t miss the slideshow.

My friend Julianne recently reminded me: “life is too short to be small and hard-hearted.” Her husband James drew from the experiences of Viktor Frankle, the Jewish psychologist who survived the horrors of the Nazi holocaust. Dr. Frankle encouraged his logotherapy clients to imagine being on their deathbed and looking back on their lives. He asked them to draw meaning from all experiences including the painful ones. Where there was love, there was substance and meaning.

Time is life. Life is experiences and memories woven together against the backdrop of time. Time is not money. Time is irreplaceable and priceless. Savor it. Don’t rush. Don’t miss the slides. Don’t miss the experiences.

Meet people. Love people. Give the seven-second handshakes and hugs. Look into their eyes. Be generous like Randy’s life reminds us. And love with a deep love. Love family and friends the way Randy loved.

We want to be large, expansive, generous, and authentic in our love for all. We want to love from the heart. We want to live from the heart. A life full of love, laughter, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and generosity is a life without regrets. Remember Randy, her big heart, generosity, zest for life, and deep love for God, family, and friends.

As a parting thought, imagine a completely healed and 100% renewed Randy riding the mare Girl. With the wind in her hair, sowing laughter and love on sun-kissed, lushly green heavenly plains and rolling hills.

And as she dismounts the horse and meets our Heavenly Father, I believe Randy will echo the words of the apostle Paul and say:

INSPIRATION
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which YOU the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on THIS day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7, 8 NIV)

PARTING THOUGHT
Live well. Love much. And remember Randy. Today and tomorrow and the day after and the day after.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

In the early part of the clip, the viewers can see clearly that before the promising, upward leap, the hero tries unsuccessfully to create more slack in the rope that was to spare his life a few seconds later. Unfortunately, and painfully, the safety rope is too tight. The rope, literally and metaphorically, while saving Batman’s life, it also impedes our hero from reaching the ledge in the wall of the cave. This painful experience repeats several times.

However, Bruce Wayne finally manages to break free from the hellish prison. How? By breaking free from the mental and physical obstructions of the safety rope. He is counseled by an old, wise fellow prisoner to follow the example of the antagonist who decades earlier escaped the same pit as a humble child unaided and, especially, unhindered by mental and physical ropes.

What are the applications and life lessons to be extracted from this movie segment?

What safety ropes do we need to get rid of? What are the fake securities that impede our progress towards reaching LIGHT, embracing TRUTH, experiencing FREEDOM, and living LIFE to the fullest?

Is it a familiar and comfortable relationship that needs to end or at least be re-formulated on different terms? Is is a cogitative hang up that can only be eliminated through sincere repentance in the most classical sense of the word (repentance as change of mind)? Is it the secure “9 to 5” job that prevents entrepreneurial expressions? Is it a deeply ingrained habit or routine? Is it a man-made, religious tradition that provide a false sense of stability while fostering hellish pits of idolatry and false humility? What is your safety rope?

Whatever the answers, may I recommend? Leave it behind. Climb the wall out of the dark pit. Take the leap. Move forward. Without the rope. In FAITH.

Weekly Routine: Sunday Afternoon Workout

Part I: Navy Seals Pyramid

1 pull-up, 2 push-ups, 3 sit-ups
2 pull-ups, 4 push-ups, 6 sit-ups
3 pull-ups, 6 push-ups, 9 sit-ups
…
(n+1) pull-ups, (n+1)x2 push-ups, (n+1)x3 sit-ups

Peak at:
10 pull-ups, 20 push-ups, 30 sit-ups

Then, work backwards to last set:
1 pull-up, 2 push-ups, 3 sit-ups

Total: 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 sit-ups

Part II: Cardio

10-45 mins run, bike or swim

But still, it got me thinking about what it would be like to cross the desert on camel or donkey or, my goodness, on foot. An intense experience not for the faint of heart. Oh yeah, not for the feeble ones. It seems that all those who are called for great things in life (Abraham, Moses, the Israel nation and, also, Paul, Peter, Jesus Himself and even you and me as Jesus reminds us in John 14:12) had to spend time in – or cross through – the desert. Both literally and figuratively.

King David too spent time in Ein Gedi. He hid in the caves from Saul. I know now what David meant when he sang in Psalm 42:1 “as the dear pants for flowing streams of water, so my soul longs after You, oh God.”

I get it. I saw the Ibex drink from the mountain springs above the waterfall in the Ein Gedi wilderness. I felt David’s thirst for the Lord. I understand.

You know, even Jesus spent time in the desert. He launched His divine ministry with a 40-day fast somewhere in the wilderness east of Jerusalem. Around Jericho? Or in Ein Gedi. Somewhere in that area.

It gets hot during the day. And cold at night. It is rough. The wilderness is painful. Yet, the desert is also a cathartic place and process that draws us nearer to our heavenly Abba. It seems that experiencing the wasteland is God’s way of molding His chosen ones for greater things in life. I know a thing or two about arid wastelands, dark valleys, and the desolate desert. I know that it is not easy. But I also know that the tears shed during the wilderness bring healing. I moreover know that the desert precedes the place of “shalom,” the place of peace, abundance, completeness, wholeness, healing, and prosperity. I know it by faith from what King David was forced – and Lord Jesus chose – to endure. I also know it experientially from what I personally suffered during the crossing of my own wildland a few years ago. I now know beyond a shadow of doubt that there is a place of “shalom” for us both here on earth in this life and also beyond.

In Psalm 66:10-12, The Lord reminds us that He will see us through the wilderness. He will see us to the other side of the desert. He won’t see us OUT of it but He will see us THROUGH it. We have to go through the process. But, there is an end. There is a place of “shalom” for you. For me. For both of us. Crossing the wildland is necessary. It is an integral part of the healing, purifying, and humbling process. Though challenging, we are not alone during our journey through the arid and dry places.

A couple of days before the Ein Gedi desert experience, I visited a vibrant beach in Haifa. As I was walking and watching the sun set on the sea side of the Mediterranean, I had a divine revelation. I passed a little Jewish boy, about 15 months old, who was wading through the sea along the beach. His abba, his father, was protectively hovering over his young son. The dad was holding up his baby’s two hands for support. With most of the weight lifted up by the father, the butt-naked baby was awkwardly, but joyfully, laboring step by step through the water. As I passed them, the baby turned his head, gazed at me, and smiled. A smile of happiness and innocence reflecting a heart free of any and all worries.

The Lord spoke to me me through this Jewish baby’s pure heart. The baby’s smile and sparkling eyes said it all. “No worries. Abba got you. He covers you. He hovers over you. He protects and sustains you. No worries. No fear. You are not alone. Abba holds you. He sustains you. Your Heavenly Father walks with you.” The Haifa message punctuated what my heavenly Abba has been revealing to me throughout the last 12 months. I would say that I finally started to see my own Jordan River last summer. And I crossed into my Promise Land, the place of shalom, sometime at the beginning of this year. Maybe 1/1/2014. Around that time. A few days before. A few days after. This is my faith testimony! A story of God’s faithfulness during my wandering through the wildland.

Please take a moment to read this once you finish this blog entry. My Ein Gedi desert experience will make even more sense.

Praise God for the victory of truth! God turned and turns ashes into beauty! Thank The Lord for His shalom!

What a journey. Hallelujah! Praise The Lord! Amen!

Blessings and Love, Andrei

Photos

Above: HAIFA – vibrant Mediterranean Sea beach.

Left: EIN GEDI – waterfall from mountain spring in the desert.