Since “cap and trade” seems so popular with the Congress these days, I thought I’d offer this.

Please apply the notion of cap and trade to your spending habits! CAP spending at actual tax revenue as of today and TRADE one program for another to stay under the cap.

Gosh – that took way less than 1000 pages.

The synopsis seems to be that by focusing on the things you want and remaining positive, you are able to achieve anything. The book as been referred to a turbo charged version of Norman Vincent’s 1970′s classic The Power of Positive Thinking. An excerpt from the web site for The Secret:

Fragments of The Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation which will be life transforming for all who experience it.

Some of today’s greatest teachers will be presented in The Secret and will impart this special wisdom that has been known by so few. They include some of the world’s leaders in the fields of business, economics, medicine, psychology, history, theology and science. Each of these teachers is living proof of The Secret; each of them a walking marvel of achievement and success…

Included are; ‘Miracle Man’ Morris Goodman, who tells his awe inspiring story of how he recovered from paralysis by using The Secret. Dr. Denis Waitley, who used various aspects of The Secret in training Olympic athletes and Apollo astronauts to reach new heights of human endeavour. Best selling authors and philosophers including Bob Proctor, John Assaraf, James Ray and Joe Vitale, explain how they have created lives of phenomenal success utilising The Secret. Doctors in the fields of medicine and quantum physics explain the science behind The Secret.

The Secret reveals amazing real life stories and testimonials of regular people who have changed their lives in profound ways. By applying The Secret they present instances of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles and achieving what many would regard as impossible.

The Secret reveals how to apply this powerful knowledge to your life in every area from health to wealth, to success and relationships.

The Secret is everything you have dreamed of… and is beyond your wildest dreams.

Books like The Secret are interesting to me because they so clearly illustrate humankind’s innate need for something outside ourselves that will lead us to happiness and contentment. We all feel a calling at some point.

What’s equally interesting to me is the number of people who launch head first into complete adoption of the tenants of self help in their lives as the only enabler for happiness.

What I don’t understand is why people are so attracted to books like “The Secret” and won’t look at the Bible.

I believe in being positive, maintaining a positive outlook and in positive thought, but I also believe that Faith in Christ is the source of positive thought and happiness.

Where “The Secret”, according to the, website, has “been discovered, coveted, suppressed, hidden, lost and recovered”, the message of redemption and joy through Christ has been freely available, always given and never hidden.

Real happiness is not found by focusing on a blank check in an effort to “will” yourself into wealth. Real happiness is found in faith and wisdom. Proverbs Chapter 3 provides an excellent summary:

3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

God wants us to be happy. By fixing our eyes on Him, exploring His word and living His will, real happiness is achieved. The secret is, there is no secret. Salvation, happiness and joy are available to all who have a relationship with Christ.

In reading TW’s blog and following some of the links offered there I realize one thing. Christians don’t understand atheists as atheists don’t understand Christians. Based on my admittedly limited observation, we live in two completely different frames of reference each with it’s own currency.

The currency of atheism seems to be an unyielding call for clear evidence. Most blogs I read demanded evidence of God’s existence, but evidence is not the currency of Christianity. Faith is. For a Christian, evidence does not give way to faith. Faith gives way to evidence. I am a Christian, not because of a lifetime of analysis and supporting data, but because I was called and have faith.

I can very likely offer no evidence to TW that would not be countered and that’s fine. Faith is a very personal matter. I have faith and I know the evidence. I’ve seen it and I live it. I’m glad folks like TW troll the Christianity blogs and engage in discussion. I pray all of us find the grace and peace that faith in Jesus brings.

I am not a minister, scholar or expert in much of anything. I have not spent my life searching and comparing religions of the world. I am, as my user name indicates, just a regular guy. So why am I a Christian?

Christianity is simple and simple makes sense to me. Accept Jesus, surrender my life to his plan and I’m saved. This is not to say that I am not without struggle, disappointment or failure in this life. Rather, it is to say that salvation is mine if I place my faith and trust in Jesus. No complicated rules. No eternal revolving door of reincarnation in the hope of eventually getting life right to find salvation.

By placing my faith in Jesus and living my life according to his plan I am assured that I am doing the right thing. So how do I know what his plan is? I pray. I pray and ask him to make his plan clear to me. Which brings me to a point that became crystal clear to me when our youngest was old enough to start asking for things.

Because I pray for something does not mean I am going to receive what I’m asking for. As a parent would not give a child something that would hurt them, God isn’t going to give me something that isn’t good for me no matter how many times I ask for it.  I’ve never met a parent that has said yes to every request from thier children and I imagine God is no different.

God wants me to succeed in my salvation. The path to eternal life as a Christian is simple. Why would a loving God who loves his people make salvation complicated? Why would he make salvation available to only those of a certain social rank or birthright? The answer is a loving God would not. Through Jesus salvation is available to anyone at anytime.

Christianity is consistent and consistency is important when planning for eternity. The Bible is it. There are no supplemental documents, no appendix, no updated version to reflect a changing political landscape. Salvation is achieved today in the same way it was with Jesus walked the earth; by faith in him.

Being a Christian is the cornerstone of my life. It has changed my view on virtually every aspect of my life and I can’t imagine being without my faith.  I fall short; make no mistake, but I fall short knowing that Jesus does not and with him I am enough.

While Proverbs and Matthew are my favorite books, I’ve dug into Romans this time. Romans is a deep read and I find myself re-reading the same passages over and over in an attempt to fully understand what’s being said. Being an impatient person by nature, this is difficult at times, but I’ve found it very rewarding!

One of the great realizations for me is that we are truly equal. None of us measures up to the standard of God and hence, none of us can achieve righteousness on our own. The law of the Old Tesament establishes the need for redemption and make us conscious of sin, but redemption is found only through faith in Jesus.

Just as sin entered the world through one man, Adam, so redemption is available through Jesus.

I learn a lot from reading blogs and I think the business folks (our CEO not withstanding) need to pay attention.

1. The world is getting smaller – this morning’s experience is this afternoon’s blog content. If your client had a bad experience installing Solaris 10, everyone in the free world will know about it in the afternoon.

2. Our clients are an extension of our sales force – For every expression of a bad experience someone can step in and offer a contrary view or confirmation.

3. Read the blogs and look for opportunities to help – you may not win the business of the moment, but you can rest assured that the client will remember the assist.