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Larry Matthews

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Seasons Come And Go An Unusual Comparison

02-26-12
Larry Matthews
As we approach the end of what has been a reasonably easy winter weather wise, I find myself thinking how much life and the weather have in common. Weather brings sunny days and stormy days as life brings good days and bad days. The one common denominator is that with patience the stormy weather will pass. Weather has the four seasons each year; spring ,summer, fall and winter. Life can be compared with childhood, adolescence, adult and old age. In both cases many days are unpredictable. We know we can’t control the weather and although we may exert great effort we come to realize there are many things in life beyond our control.

I recently read two books. I love to read and I usually have a number of books placed within easy reach around the house. These two books were Steve Jobs (of Apple fame) biography and Billy Graham (Of Christian fame) “The Journey”. As I was reading the two books at the same time I found myself comparing the two men’s lives and accomplishments.

I expected to be impressed with Mr Jobs and found I was somewhat surprised by him and his methods. I expected to read how Billy Graham had never doubted God, the way I have, and found he had. Although I was surprised by Steve I found him to be interesting and an obvious eccentric genius who changed the world. I also found him to be an example of how you do not have to treat people well to reap great rewards. Billy Graham is nearing the end of his life and Steve was facing the end of his life when his biography was written. Both have different perspectives on the here after. Steve thought there might be something. He hoped so any way. Billy Graham is convinced and tries to convince you to believe in Christ and thus Heaven. Billy makes a convincing case for how much God loves us. Steve makes a convincing case for following your dreams and doing what you want in life, not what some one else wants you to do
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Knowing he was going to die Steve quoted, “Almost everything-all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure-these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” He also quoted this, “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the trouble makers, the round pegs in the square holes….the ones who see things differently--they are not fond of the rules…you can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things….they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones that do...THINK DIFFERENT !!”
Some interesting comments about death and life:

Here is what Billy said about death: “Most of all I take comfort in the hope we can have eternal life in Heaven because of Christ’s death and resurrection for us. I’ve preached this message almost all my life, and it means more to me now than ever before.” (Taken from Time in august 2007 after his wife Ruth’s death.)
In News week August 2006 He quoted: “I have a certainty about eternity that is a wonderful thing, and I thank God for giving me that certainty. I do not fear death. I may fear a little bit about the process, but not death itself, because I think the moment that my spirit leaves this body, I will be in the presence of the Lord.”
Here is some of what Billy said about life. “The Christen life is not a constant high. I have found my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘Oh God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.” “Suffering is part of the human condition, and it comes to us all, the key is how we react to it, either turning away from God in anger and bitterness or growing closer to Him in trust and confidence.” (From his book “Just As I Am”)

The internet is full of quotes from both men. Two entirely different lives but probably two men who impacted more lives in the past 50 years than anyone else. So much accomplishments and such different philosophies.
I don’t know if they ever met or talked but I am going to impress upon you the importance of one common denominator, Death, that dreaded word. That dreaded end of life that we would ignore if we could. Both of these men understood the importance of death. You see if you accept you are going to die, life becomes more important. When you look at someone you love with the realization they are going to die they become more important to you. Death is part of life. Billy has the belief that life does not end with death. Steve wasn’t sure but both used death as a prime motivator. Billy, to lead as many people to Christ as he can before he dies and Steve, to lead as many people to apple as he could before he died.

So what is my point? I just happened to read these two books at the same time. I can relate to both these men. I am a Christen like Billy Graham (a speck beside a mountain) but a believer. I am a self made business person like Steve Job (Again a speck beside a mountain but an achiever.)
I have learned life is like the weather with good days and bad days and when we are going through a bad time (a storm) it will pass and the sun will shine again.

When we are young we think little of death and place little value on time. Maybe we are programmed that way. As young people we are advised by parents, teachers, employers, friends and others as to how we should live our lives. For Christians we have Sunday school and Church. I don’t remember anyone telling me I would someday die and that I only had so much time on this earth to accomplish what I wanted to do or what God wanted me to do. Maybe they did but the first time I felt that realization was when my mother passed away. I had lost a father, a step father and my youngest brother but it never dawned on me that my time was limited. I had always planned to build my mother her own little house and she passed away before I accomplished that.

You see it is Death that makes life worthwhile. Death is the goal post at the end of life. For Christians, death is the gateway to Heaven. Once you realize you are going to die, each day becomes more important. Once you realize your loved ones are going to die, your relationships become more important.
Death is not to be feared. Death is to be used as a catalyst to make the most of your life. I believe both Billy Graham and Steve Job utilized the knowledge and realization that their time here on earth is limited as a catalyst for tremendous and extraordinary accomplishment. Perhaps this realization is something we all could apply to our own lives. Just a thought.

Spring is coming and I’m looking for Robins!

Larry
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A Cappella

02-10-12
Larry Matthews

A Cappella

A Cappella is Italian for in the manner of the church or in the manner of the chapel. The music is specifically solo or group singing with out instruments.
The songs of course do not have to be church related but listening to an accomplished A Cappella singer can bring about an almost spiritual feeling akin to being closer to God or our creator as we perceive our creator to be.
As a Christian I find the music makes mhttp://e feel closer to God and that is a feeling I enjoy and strive for in my life. One A Cappella singer I enjoy immensely and have just discovered is Peter Hollens. I invite you to listen to his singing at www.youtube.com/peterhollens
Peter has been singing and recording a cappella since 1999. His music is available for download on iTunes. I am a fan and if you love listening to a wonderful capella singer check out Peter Hollens. Here is that link again.
http://www.youtube.com/peterhollens consider downloading some of Peter’s music from iTunes and help a fine young singer do what he does best. Sing like an Angel !!!!

All the best

Larry

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Why You Should Consolidate Your Debt and Maybe Buy a House Now

01-20-12
Larry Matthews

Why You Should Consolidate Your Debt and Maybe Buy a House Now.

If you have equity in your house. (Equity is the amount between how much you owe on a mortgage and what your home would sell for or market value.) eg $200,000 home $100,000 mortgage = $100,000 equity.
If you have any credit card debt you are paying a much higher interest rate than you would pay with a mortgage. The savings could be substantial.
Check this out
Bank of Montreal, Canada’s fourth-biggest bank, dropped the rate for a five-year fixed-rate mortgage by 50 basis points, or 0.5 percentage points, to 2.99 percent on Jan. 12, the lowest in its 195-year history. Toronto-Dominion and Royal Bank, Canada’s two-biggest lenders, followed suit the next day with the same rate on a fixed four-year loan. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, the fifth-biggest bank, matched the offers yesterday, as did Bank of Nova Scotia today.

The lowest in it’s 195 year history !!!! Lower interest rates than your parents or grand parents or probably even great grand parents ever had. No matter what the pundits say about not borrowing how can taking advantage of the cheapest mortgage money in 195 years be a mistake. Quite simply it is not a mistake but just good business. Here in Nova Scotia we have about 12 to 18 months before the ship building contract starts to impact on housing prices. Halifax is also on the verge of a building boom with many projects in the works and developers will want to lock in their mortgages at these low rates. If you plan to buy a house now is the time. Two years from now you could be sorry you waited. The Federal government may move to restrict mortgage money again making it harder to buy a home. Right now locally we have a buyers market but listing inventories are getting lower as buyers moved into the marketplace after the ship building announcement. I personally sold 5 homes to young people working out west over the past two months. Economic activity is as much about attitude and perception as it is reality. People now have the perception Nova Scotia is going to prosper. Attitudes are changing and the perception of prosperity will create the reality of prosperity. Now we just need our provincial government to step up to the plate for small business and our local bankers to loosen the purse strings. What good are low interest rates if they are not lending. Some confidence and a change in mind set are required for what is looking like a much better future for Nova Scotian’s in the coming years. If that is to materialize all the positive attitude in the world will not overcome poor political leadership and conservative bankers combined. Too much red tape and lack of working capital has and will continue to cripple small business owners. Now is the time to change all that. As always just my opinion and no offence to all the good lenders I know and admire. First time buyers and real estate investors take heed. Remember these sayings. If you snooze you loose and The early bird gets the worm. Call your bank or mortgage broker and then your realtor(R) and Get The Ball Rolling !!!! or just call me and I'll get it rolling for you.


Larry Matthews


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Art In Nova Scotia

01-09-12
Larry Matthews


Nova Scotia Art

Along with having a passion for the real estate business I have a passion for artistic expression in any forum. I personally love photography, painting and poetry. My daughter Natasha is a wonderful writer and her poetry at times is mesmerizing and can give you goose bumps. I take photographs during my travels and paint them in my basement studio when winter storms prevent me from running the roads selling real estate. I find it amazing how creative juices ebb and flow. Inspired artistic work is rare and it is very hard for an artist to reach that almost spiritual level where imagination and passion create a master piece.
When those rare moments happen it is hard to describe the satisfaction and feeling of oneness with the Divine that cumulates in an amazing feeling of inner peace.
You see for the artist it makes no matter if others recognize the work as a master piece. It is a master piece in the artist’s heart and a moment that resides there as they continually try to duplicate that feeling with every canvas, poem , writing, song or creation that the artist attempts. That amazing feeling of accomplishment and contentment that brings you so close to that feeling of peace and closeness to God the Divine artist and Creator that you have a sense of that seventh day of rest . You know we were made in His image. Made to create. Just as the greatest Creator of all made us and all around us. I am the curator of a site following the art scene in Nova Scotia. I invite you to check it out here


http://www.scoop.it/t/nova-scotia-art

Enjoy your passion

Larry

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Goal Setting How Important Is It

12-27-11
Larry Matthews

Last Year at this time I set a goal of 100 ends. Normaly my goal is 50 ends. It had been a difficult market in 2010 and I realized I had to work harder and smarter if our small firm was going to survive what was turning out to be one of the worst economies in my career. Government had tightned the lending rules and buyers were scarce. I work with one assistant my daughter Natasha. My sales people were struggling and cash flow was down. As with most small brokerages the buck stops with the owner. I am writing this article to emphasise the importance of goal setting.

Once you set a goal and committ it to writing you can sometimes amaze yourself. I certainly do not mean to brag as 7 days a week of 10 to 12 hour days is nothing to brag about. Smart people do not have to do that. The truth is self employed hell some times demands that.

I have a white board in my office where I track my progress and remind myself evry day of my goal. So how did I do. I was involved in 168 listings or sales and closed 90 ends. No I didn't reach my goal but I did 40 ends more than I normaly set my goal at. That increased production turned our cash flow around and it looks like I will be pounding in signs for a few more years. The lesson here. Don't limit yourself. Set your goals high and you too will amaze yourself. I know many markets are tough but we have all heard the saying "When the going gets tough the tough get going." If an old 60+ year old man can do it you can do it too. In closing all the best for 2012 and remember set your goals and set them HIGH !!!! Here is a photo of my white board. Note The positive quotes written along the top. HAPPY NEW YEAR Larry

Larrys White Board.

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