Instructions

Please post your thoughtful comments.This blog starts with the black hole of of the 7 deadly personal sins (Greed, Pride, Envy, Laziness, Lust, Gluttony, Anger) and The 48 Laws of Power; written by Robert Green and Joost Elffers and published by Viking Press.

The Gospel offset alternative to the above can be limited for clarity to John 3:16; Romans 12-14, Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 5:10-18; Philippians 2:1-17 and 1John 3:10
to 1John 4:10. These passages are adequate to lead us to the True Power of Giving.

The postings include the above for your review.

The Gospel’s Solution

I wish to introduce This Short Message Form Project.

Writing in short message form is designed to allow everyone to contribute.

To demonstrate with real life stories how the good news gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to everything. We will attempt to document for world view there is nothing more powerful. the document will compare/match the gospel time and again against the principles of worldly power. This introduction seeks documentation help from Christians using real life stories. Everything in our world is addressed by this good news.

The contentions to be discussed are limited to the above parragraphs. The 7 deadly sins are one post and then each of the 48 laws are another post. The Gospel and it's comparison to the law is one post. You can see we spread out the 48 laws so they can be attacked by the gospel; the 7 deadly sins is just practice in the process of doing so.

John 3:16 is also quoted here as the summary guide; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

Real life stories we bring by personal experience in this “game on earth” will time and again show the real long term power is unconditional love and giving.Everything in our world is addressed by this good news.

The Gidieon’s bible claims John 3:16 is the most common single posting of a bible verse in the world. Would it not be wonderfully simple to say that verse is the action summary of the Gospel.

When applied to all the sins, we have ever seen in our life, it provides the solution to peace on earth; playing the game on earth; before our salvation from earth.

I would like to think this will be an interesting document. Built to last. As interesting as the 48 Laws of Power.
*The plan (outline) is set
*This effort will build a mental and spiritual mountain compared to the holes on earth left by the stated 48 laws of power.
*Throw human thoughts into the hole to be organized into a mountain by the Christian Church on earth.
*Actual experiences of the positives in our life that come from giving unconditionally because we are unconditionally saved; will focus our actions.
*We will see in this effort nothing more powerful and simple than our belief in justification and sanctification in Jesus Christ which gives us the power.


Obviously I am looking for help with the real life stories. Much ground needs to be covered! Not so obvious is we are looking to give the rewards to a very focused outcome; an impossible expectation to have for our cities without true unconditional giving; requiring face-to-face intervention in our cities. A miracle when completed block by block, School by school and Church by Church. We want the rewards of this effort to support secular delivery of Early Reading Skills to 100% of age 3-6 children before they start kindergarten. this puts them one step closer to equal opportunity to learn.

Bible describing the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Please post your thoughtful comments based on the content thrown into the hole. See title and introduction.


John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.


Philippians chapter 2: 1-17

2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,
15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
16 as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.


Romans chapters 12-14

12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.
7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.
2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.
8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.
11 It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'"
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.
16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Ephesians chapter 6:10-19

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

Galatians chapter 5:13-26
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.
14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

1 John 3:10

10This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. Love one another
11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

1 John 4 Test the Spirits
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[b] of truth and the spirit of falsehood. God's Love and Ours 7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[c] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[d] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.




New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Summary of Seven Deadly Personal Sins

Please post your thoughtful comments based on the content thrown into the hole. See title and introduction.

Envy Function: nounInflected Form(s): plural envies1 : painful or resentful awareness of an advantage or possession enjoyed by another and the desire to possess the same thing2 : an object of envy
Function: verbInflected Form(s): en·vied; en·vy·ing: to feel envy toward or on account of

Anger Function: noun: a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of opposition toward someone or somethingsynonyms ANGER, RAGE, FURY, WRATH mean an intense emotional state caused by displeasure. ANGER is a broad term that applies to various levels of emotion that may or may not be shown . RAGE suggests loss of self-control from great anger . FURY suggests destructive rage that comes close to madness . WRATH suggests a desire to gain revenge or to punish .
Function: verbInflected Form(s): an·gered; an·ger·ing /-g(&-)ri[ng]/: to make angry

Greed Function: noun: selfish desire for food, money, or possessions over and above one's needs

Pride Function: noun1 : too high an opinion of one's own ability or worth : a feeling of being better than others2 : a reasonable and justifiable sense of one's own worth : SELF-RESPECT3 : a sense of pleasure that comes from some act or possession4 : something of which one is proud 5 : a group of lions
Function: verbInflected Form(s): prid·ed; prid·ing: to think highly of (oneself)

Laziness Function: adjectiveInflected Form(s): la·zi·er; -est1 : not willing to act or work : INDOLENT2 : moving slowly : SLUGGISH - la·zi·ly /-z&-lE/ adverb - la·zi·ness /-zE-n&s/ noun

Lust Function: noun1 : sexual desire especially if strong or uncontrolled2 : a strong longing : CRAVING
Function: verb: to have a strong desire : CRAVE; especially : to have a strong sexual desire

Gluttony Function: nounInflected Form(s): plural -ton·ies: the act or habit of eating or drinking too much

Summary of the published 48 Laws of Power

These Laws are summarized by a university who posted the summary at;
http://www2.tech.purdue.edu/cg/Courses/cgt411/covey/48_laws_of_power.htm
(Google 48 Laws of Power)
The 48 Laws of Power
by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

Law 1

Never Outshine the Master

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

Law 2

Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies

Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.

Law 3

Conceal your Intentions

Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.

Law 4

Always Say Less than Necessary

When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

Law 5

So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life

Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

Law 6

Court Attention at all Cost

Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.

Law 7

Get others to do the Work for you, but Always Take the Credit

Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. Never do yourself what others can do for you.

Law 8

Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary

When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack. You hold the cards.

Law 9

Win through your Actions, Never through Argument

Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.

Law 10

Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky

You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.

Law 11

Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.

Law 12

Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim

One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose.

Law 13

When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest,

Never to their Mercy or Gratitude

If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.

Law 14

Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy

Knowing about your rival is critical. Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead. Better still: Play the spy yourself. In polite social encounters, learn to probe. Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions. There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying.

Law 15

Crush your Enemy Totally

All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.) If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation: The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit.

Law 16

Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor

Too much circulation makes the price go down: The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear. If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired. You must learn when to leave. Create value through scarcity.

Law 17

Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability

Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions. Your predictability gives them a sense of control. Turn the tables: Be deliberately unpredictable. Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves. Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize.

Law 18

Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous

The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere – everyone has to protect themselves. A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from – it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target. Better to circulate among people find allies, mingle. You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd.

Law 19

Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person

There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way. Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. They are wolves in lambs’ clothing. Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then – never offend or deceive the wrong person.

Law 20

Do Not Commit to Anyone

It is the fool who always rushes to take sides. Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself. By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others – playing people against one another, making them pursue you.

Law 21

Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber than your Mark

No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons. The trick, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.

Law 22

Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power

When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane. Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first. By turning the other check you infuriate and unsettle him. Make surrender a tool of power.

Law 23

Concentrate Your Forces

Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point. You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity every time. When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come.

Law 24

Play the Perfect Courtier

The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity. He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the mot oblique and graceful manner. Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.

Law 25

Re-Create Yourself

Do not accept the roles that society foists on you. Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience. Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define if for you. Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.

Law 26

Keep Your Hands Clean

You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency: Your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to disguise your involvement.

Law 27

Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following

People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.

Law 28

Enter Action with Boldness

If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous: Better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.

Law 29

Plan All the Way to the End

The ending is everything. Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others. By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop. Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead.

Law 30

Make your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease. All the toil and practice that go into them, and also all the clever tricks, must be concealed. When you act, act effortlessly, as if you could do much more. Avoid the temptation of revealing how hard you work – it only raises questions. Teach no one your tricks or they will be used against you.

Law 31

Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards you Deal

The best deceptions are the ones that seem to give the other person a choice: Your victims feel they are in control, but are actually your puppets. Give people options that come out in your favor whichever one they choose. Force them to make choices between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your purpose. Put them on the horns of a dilemma: They are gored wherever they turn.

Law 32

Play to People’s Fantasies

The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant. Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes for disenchantment. Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert: Everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses.

Law 33

Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew

Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall. That weakness is usual y an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure. Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage.

Law 34

Be Royal in your Own Fashion: Act like a King to be treated like one

The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated; In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you. For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown.

Law 35

Master the Art of Timing

Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time. Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually. Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.

Law 36

Disdain Things you cannot have: Ignoring them is the best Revenge

By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility. The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it. It is sometimes best to leave things alone. If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it. The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem.

Law 37

Create Compelling Spectacles

Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them. Stage spectacles for those around you, then full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence. Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing.

Law 38

Think as you like but Behave like others

If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.

Law 39

Stir up Waters to Catch Fish

Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective. But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage. Put your enemies off-balance: Find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings.

Law 40

Despise the Free Lunch

What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation. What has worth is worth paying for. By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit. It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence. Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sign and a magnet for power.

Law 41

Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes

What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making: Establish your own name and identity by changing course. Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.

Law 42

Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep will Scatter

Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoned of goodwill. If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence. Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable. Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them. Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter.

Law 43

Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others

Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you. You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction. A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn. And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses. Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear. Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you.

Law 44

Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect

The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception: When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy. The Mirror Effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact. By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson. Few can resist the power of Mirror Effect.

Law 45

Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform too much at Once

Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.

Law 46

Never appear too Perfect

Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. Envy creates silent enemies. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.

Law 47

Do not go Past the Mark you Aimed for; In Victory, Learn when to Stop

The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril. In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat. Do not allow success to go to your head. There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning. Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop.

Law 48

Assume Formlessness

By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order. Everything changes.



The book was written by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers, It is a hard book to read for a Christian. It requires a Christian's response.

The response must meet the book at the worldly level not heavenly level. That means individual impact on the elements, the community, the business, the faith-base, all the levels of government, and all the levels of the world. We, as Christians in the name of Jesus, mean that the Christian ethic is even more powerful than these 48 laws on this earth. As a Christian we live on this earth with a earthly purpose, besides the eternal purpose, our goal is to document our reference for power and to tell the stories of the power in action on this earth.

So I am trying to say that the Good News Gospel and the way it is presented in the New Testament, on this earth, is more powerful on earth than these 48 laws as they are presented. For my simplicity, I have limited the gospel to just 5 references to refute these 48 laws as being most powerful on earth.

Define power in the resonse. What we can do in our response is talk about short term gain or a long term gain; talk about power to do something small or something big; talk about human kind retaining the gains into the future as an indicator of whether the power lasted on earth; talk about the individual being credited after life for the change they powered. We are going to talk about individual power not group power; the power to do good verse the power to do bad or evil. The "48 Laws" did a poor job of talking about good verses evil power, and even whether the power made a change that was sustained into the future.

We can not rewrite the 48 laws, but they can be replaced with the distinction of power that created good and stayed with us after the life of the individual behind it.

Tom Wolfgram

Law 1 Never Outshine the Master

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

Law 1 above is not about unconditional love and giving. The posted law is not about positively giving what one has to give, with honesty and loyalty and an expectation (trust) that God will make your efforts right for Him and you going into the future.

Fear and insecurity are conditions we have because we are human in a world full of sin. God tells us to fear Him and work out our place on earth with Him. Think about it. Our fear of anything else is just a side show if we profess a believe in God. If you don't believe God you get to pick many other gods to fear, and placing your priority and then your actions on the most fearful is what this world is all about.

Misplaced Fear!

The point is the fruit of the Spirit does not allow your envy of those above you. Work out your goals and efforts for this world in concert with what God intends for you. Put him first and what you can do for him first and you will not envy anthing in this world. And, your gifts will shine in this world and the next. Should one fear you and be insecure about you know that they are a side show to your purpose in life and the reason they fear you is because they do not fear God more. Treating your neighbor as yourself puts your neighbor behind the God purpose you have in life, just like it puts you behind the God purpose you have in life.

From Phillipians:
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
From Romans
2. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
And,

Enough said. In spite of what or who is above you, you can build lasting growth on this earth with positive efforts more perminently than with negative and conning efforts. On top of that, you are building with your positives into the life after. Negatives and conning generally does not survive ones death. Even in this life when you are ousted because you did too much good, you will not have trouble finding a bigger opportunity because of the positives of what you have built. In these cases it is a worldly good to be ousted when there is no more good you can do. So what is to fear?

As mentioned above, earthly power plays off fear.

Please use the comments to tell the stories or refute the post. Thanks.

Law 2 Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies

Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.

by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

A Christian will count on his friends being weaker than himself and his God given mission. He generally has no heavenly reason to judge his friend. There is little time for that when one is on a mission to show Christ to the world. One way to show christ to the world is by putting the interests of our fiends and enemies right up there with our own and praying for God’s insight and path to something positive in this life that continues into the future.

The whole context of building something positive into the future with God in the lead is a purpose for life that is not at risk of a friend’s envy. One does not generate inward or outward enemies in this world by treating your neighbor as you would treat yourself. Even if you generate enemies (I suppose Mother Teresa had enemies in the corners) when one puts on the Armour of God only long term positive growth will come from the battle so in some respects expect it and arm yourself with God’s word for protection of your mission.

Romans chapters 12-14
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.

Ephesians chapter 6:10-19
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Please use the comments to tell the stories or refute the post. Thanks.

by Tom Wolfgram

Law 3 Conceal your Intentions

Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.

By Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

This rule of power does not build into the future, only the small work this way. You fear them and they fear you. Get a better purpose for your life. There is no perminent substance to your effort when you get to an end started via fear.

Fear has no ending because what goes around comes around and this activity just encourages others to do this to you... Why must you hide your intention? Better that you come to every situation in life with the fruits of the spirit. Those fruits build roots in goodness that will last. The entire real law of power that builds something for the future can be summed up as "Love your neighbor as yourself." This lays the foundation for the next act of giving or investing. Which is built on by another and another. Deceit lays no foundation and plays itself out on the surface. The fruits of the Spirit are the foundation of good on this earth and the next. “They are according to St. Paul --- “ love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Philippians chapter 2: 1-17
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

Romans chapters 12-14
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Ephesians chapter 6:10-19
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Galatians chapter 5:13-26
14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.



Please post your thoughtful comments based on the content thrown into the hole. See heading.

by Tom Wolfgram

Law 4 -- Always Say Less than Necessary

When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers


When you are building something the lasting power is in what you bring to the lasting content that must be amassed. This rule suggests you can build long term with vague open ended mirrors and shadows. You can not build positive lasting progress into the future without giving or selling something of value to those who occupy the future. Over this span the power is in the contribution revealed.

The shear powers in electronic communication make defensive spinning and documenting an art form. The positive thought being honestly presented and repeatedly stated is a most powerful building block, if it is strong enough to stand against the detractors it will by definition survive. I think there is ten times (work could be done to prove this) more resistence to positive thoughts and stories then negative ones. This is because positive’s build something and it is hard to build something. Positives require content and human attention that must be added to and attended to and adding and attending are active work. Negatives just move something that already exists around, disputes, destroys, shadows, spins, trashes, buries, intimadates with half truths and outright lies, etc.. It is active work without the positive new or added content.

A micro test of this truth for you! What will I positively do today, who’s help do I need, what negatives will resist this delivery of content, do I have the power to resist. Fill in the blanks! Where the negative resistence is the slightest in everyone’s life is at the point where one gives something forward without a condition. Who can mount the negative against that at the location and level of the gift. GIVE IT FORWARD. PAY IT FORWARD. LOVE IT FORWARD. PURPOSE FOR LIFE. This is where real power is created that drives real progress. Good attaches to good in many ways. Often we do not see our good because we do not live looking in the rear view mirror. My references to this go right to Jesus Christ and the positive messages of the gospel.

Who wishes to debate the most asked question in the world is what is in store for me after I die. Time accumates the positives and wipes the negatives away even though in our time it looks like the negatives are winning. What this says for the unconditional gift is timeless, priceless and impossible to predict past its twice blessing.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Galatians chapter 5:13-26
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Please use the comments to tell the stories or refute the post. Thanks.

Law 5 So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life

Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

By Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

When fear is used on this earth it is very powerful. Fearing how others view you is in the sphere of the second level of power on earth, if you have God in the first level. God, if you let him get to the whole you, uses fear on this earth to point us to his good news. He demands that we fear him and give because of our love, fear and respect for Him and what he has done for us.

Our belief in Him conquors our fear of earthly results if we are true to his direction. We trust that what we do is best and fits his long term purpose. Our work, whether understood or not, will build for His kingdom. When we die we go onto something better than our life on earth, so what is there to fear? This by itself puts the above rule 5 on earth in second place.

In first place your setting with God and your reputation to do good work carries each and every day. Intimidation does not exist, you are not vulnerable, you do not care who attacks, and you have no reason to destroy others when you pass out the fruits of the Spirit with everything you do.

Your Good deeds become your reputation in the public and most importantly they heap “coals of fire on the heads” of those working on a power base that is less than the one created by putting God and Jesus first and giving the fruits of the spirit on earth unconditionally. Here is where the real long term power comes from:

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Philippians chapter 2: 1-17
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
Romans chapters 12-14
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Ephesians chapter 6:10-19
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Galatians chapter 5:13-26
14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Please post your thoughtful comments based on the content thrown into the hole. See heading.

by Tom Wolfgram

Law 6 - Court Attention at all Cost

Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.

The appearance is judged (powered) in the USA by 10 seconds of exposure or the repeated 10 seconds of exposure over as long a time as economically justified. This counts for a thin message, very thin, very simple, designed for a special situation that fades in the face of constant change. All worldly messages are gone tommorrow without repetition, true belief and something more.

For some appearance (any most significant worldly event) to be most powerful it must touch many hearts and drive real feelings to real positive action on this earth for over 2,000 years. There are no messages on earth more powerful than John 3:16. It is the most published in the most languages for the longest time by far. This message drove our forefathers to create the USA. But the message survived 1600 years and now another 400 years all over the world before that. How can we even think something is more powerful.

What on earth has powered anything more consistently, more gently and more unconditionally than this gift. Lets put comparative messages on the table and compare them as powerful drivers of progress into our future for our children’s sake, if not our own.

We enjoy whether we believe or not the gift of the fruits of the Spirit (simple message driven by such a significant unconditional sacrifice);
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Democracy is a gift we give ourselves, BUT IT NEEDS LAWS TO POWER US FORWARD. IT HAS NOT EXISTED FOR 2000 YEARS. IT IS NOT PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

I am trying to think of more on the positive building side of the table and draw a blank that would compare to the above.

I can list out the other feelings we have carried with us from all time (2000 years) but they are negatives and do not build anything into the future. So as I list them I consider them already chewed up by the fruits of the Spirit.

Fear, Envy, Anger, Greed, Pride, Laziness, Lust, and Gluttony are powerful feelings but not powerful enough to stop the march of positive development driven by the most unconditional and longests standing gift on earth.

This rule when it comes to the unseen is very very very weak and off point of true power. It is actually contradicting other rules stated. And, Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. How about, instead, work at your purpose and get something done!

This rule should be thrown out!

By Tom Wolfgram.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans chapters 12-14
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Galatians chapter 5:13-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Please post your thoughtful comments based on this.

by Tom Wolfgram

Rule 7 Get others to do the Work for you, but Always Take the Credit

Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. Never do yourself what others can do for you.

By Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

Choosing your work
Use this reference when you choose your work. It is powerful to stay open to God’s purpose for you. How do you take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God and apply it to every situation you have on earth. It is a choice you make to apply the fruits of the of the Spirit-- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Many of these words (swords) generates the willingness to give unconditionally in the work process and gives you the power (THIS RULE 7 IS ABOUT TAKING THE POWER, For the energy required, IT IS WEAKER THAN GIVING THE POWER). Just try it at work. Do more than asked UNCONDITIONALLY and over time see the power it gives you. The contraries to the fruits of power at work are the 7-8 deadly sins.

Sharing the tasks and Sharing the results
The ultimate power of a gift unconditionally given just ruins the concept of getting others to do the work for you, but always taking the credit. The gift will build into the future, the stealing of credit just leads to a defensive future. Today, stories and reports are like onion leafs. The next level of story is always ready to be revealed. Your own cause delivered within the fruits of the spirit, and lined up with God’s Purpose for you, makes it whatever he wants it to be, which is stronger and will stay longer.

Being effective in getting it done
I need to mention Covey with the word effective. His seven rules put others first so the development being build does not need to be defended at every turn. How to Win friends and Influence People By Carneige, does the same thing. Approaching people with positive spirit will move them in your direction. Smiles open doors.

Being remembered for doing it
Unless you are building with the positives you will not be remembered. That is not very important anyway when you are working for the Father’s purpose. You want him to be forwarded with your actions. Your good reputation will last as long as your unconditional gift lasts, and that is unconditional.

Delegating, because you can
Idle time and earthly power does give rise to the opposites of the fruits of the Spirit. Fear, greed, pride, envy, laziness, lust, gluttony, and anger are natural tendencies and are natural drivers of our daily efforts. They rule unless positive energy from a faith in a good future puts the fruits of the spirit in action. Delegation can be very powerful.

Your own cause, not God's, impressing others, striving and spinning to be remembered or retained is second level power that has elements of fear, envy greed, anger, laziness, …etc. at it source. But the negative power being sourced by the 7 deadly sins are not more powerful over the long term than the unconditional gift powered from actions designed to deliver the fruit of the Spirit.

By Tom Wolfgram

Philippians chapter 2: 1-17
2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

Romans chapters 12-14
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Ephesians chapter 6:10-19
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Galatians chapter 5:13-26
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Please post your thoughtful comments based on the content. See heading.