Last night I was at the Town Hall for Hope meeting hosted by Cornerstone. There were about 75 people who came to listen to Dave Ramsey talk about the economic situation of our country. It was a live simulcast via the internet hosted by FoxNews, LifeChurch.tv and Dave Ramsey. Here are my notes from the night:

• 7:12 PM: Our ideas about money and life are being tested with today’s economy.
• 7:12 PM: As a Christian Dave encountered a spirit of fear when he listened to all the talk about the stock market crash, etc. Once he regained his thoughts and talked to his Father he had a calm spirit.
• 7:17 PM: “Government has to run deficit spending in a tough economy.” -John Maynard Keyne, Father of Keynesian Economics. This is what we are taught in textbooks today in universities. Most of today’s economists were taught this idea.
• 7:19 PM: Milton Friedman began challenging Keynesian economics.
• 7:20 PM: Those of us in business are called to serve our customers, not milk them like a cow. We need a value system that cares about it’s customers.
• 7:21 PM: Business is like tennis, those who serve well win. -Kenneth Blanchard
• 7:24 PM: We need to love people enough to allow them to fail. Failure is instructive, cleansing and with no chance of failure you have no reason to be your best. A little desperation is good for the soul.
• 7:30 PM: “Work like it all depends on us, pray like it all depends on God.” -Dave Ramsey
• 7:32 PM: “The diligent prosper.” -The Bible
• 7:37 PM: Fixed rate interest in 1982 was 17% and unemployment was 10%. 2009 is not as bad as 1982.
• 7:49 PM: 52% of single moms live below the poverty level.
• 7:53 PM: Local banks are safer than the big banks because they didn’t play in the sub primes.
• 7:58 PM: “Gold is the Snuggie of investments. If you buy gold, it will make you look stupid.” -Dave Ramsey
• 8:04 PM: Hobby Lobby sales went up 5% during the recession of the early 70’s. It was a business started in a garage at the beginning of the recession in 1972.
• 8:05 PM: Michael Dell started Dell computers in his dorm room at the end of the recession of the 80’s.
• 8:10 PM: You catch up from being behind financially by going slow and steady. Don’t fall for the get rich quick schemes. The tortoise always beat the hare.
• 8:12 PM: Unemployment has only gone up 3%. The economy may not be the reason you lost your job. How you approach your job hunting will make a difference.
• 8:13 PM: Adjust the attitude of your life and you can adjust the altitude.
• 8:17 PM: Three things to do if you are struggling with your hope… 1. Get up and take action! Get moving! Get those endorphins pumping! Don’t wait on congress to fix your problem. It’s not their job. Keep doing what you are supposed to be doing. Think. Get creative. Be proactive. 2. Don’t participate in loser talk. Don’t have the spirit of Eeyore on you. Be careful what you are taking in to your mind. Be a reader. Fill your brain with good stuff. 3. Learn to be a giver. When you take your eyes off yourself, you always have more hope.
• 8:30 PM: Hope doesn’t come from Washington it comes from God. Place your hope in God.

For a follow up to the night go to the Town Hall for Hope Web site.

A big thanks to Rob Meadows who encouraged us to host this event at Cornerstone Church. He not only was the encouragement he even did a great job running the audio and visual as a volunteer. Thanks Rob!

This is a repost from my personal blog.