Bill Cheney joins the show today with Jason Hartman to talk about economics. Bill Cheney has been a chief economist for John Hancock for the past 27 years and shares a bit of his expertise on what he thinks about the GDP, CPI, and hedonic adjustments. You can find more information about what he does over at www.johnhancock.com/.

Key Takeaways:

2:15 – It's harder to calculate who's really unemployed as more and more people take on solo-gigs.

9:40 – People are getting better and are feeling less worried. Slowly but surely, there are less things people are concerned about.

13:50 – Is the stock market overvalued? It doesn't look that far out of line if corporate profits keep raising, but if they fall, then yes they would be.

15:45 – The economy is expanding. We have a healing economy, but not a healthy economy yet.

20:00 – Are people able to afford more stuff? The answer is yes, which is why inflation is being adjusted accordingly.

24:20 – The point of the CPI is to measure how much better our lives really are. 

Introduction

Jason Hartman welcomes author, John Horvat to today’s Solomon Success Show, where they discuss the state of our economy and the fundamental elements needed to fix it. They also talk about intrinsic human failures and their impact on the economy as well as what the Bible says about immigration issues.

Takeaways

03.10 – The economy can’t just be stimulated, regulated or legislated into order. Instead it requires the basic institutions of family, faith and community.

05.30 – We’re currently in a cruise-ship economy, but when the party stops, people are going to start looking for answers.

07.00 – Arguably, the principal reason for the current economic imbalance is due to our desire to have things immediately, coupled with our inability to see past the short-term gain.

13.00 – The Bible says that immigration can be healthy, but it takes time for a people to learn what the country is all about and in order for them to make decisions.

15.35 – With household debt at $13 trillion and government debt at $17 trillion, consumer debt is a huge problem.

17.20 – A conference in July spurred reports that our economy could now be as volatile as it was in the mortgage crisis of 2008.

19.15 – Head to www.ReturntoOrder.org to find out more, read a free chapter of the book and follow John Horvat’s blog.

20.00 – St Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologica and the Bible would be some classic but intrinsic resources for those interested in these issues.

Rabbi Aryeh Spero is President of Caucus for America and author of, "Push Back: Reclaiming Our American Judeo-Christian Ethos." He's also a columnist for The American Thinker.

Rabbi Spero discusses what the Bible teaches about capitalism. He was the first Rabbi to endorse Ronald Reagan because he believes Reagan's ideology ties into the business principles as stated in the Bible and Torah. Rabbi Spero thinks Judeo-Christian values make people better Americans and capitalists. 

Rabbi Spero then talks about whether the Jews are experiencing a second Holocaust in Ukraine. 

Rabbi Aryeh Spero is a theologian and a political and social commentator. He is author of Push Back: Reclaiming Our American Judeo-Christian Spirit. His articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, National Review, New York Sun, Human Events Weekly, Newsmax.com, N.Y. Daily News, American Thinker, TownHall, Policy Review, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Judaism, Tradition, Midstream, Jewish World Review, and the Jewish Press. For over ten years, Rabbi Spero was a columnist for Human Events, and he currently writes a blog for CNS News.  

Rabbi Spero has spoken in front of the National Press Club, the National Women's Republican Club, and CPac. He has testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee, and has addressed organizations including The Heritage Foundation and the Freedom Coalition. The first rabbi to publicly endorse Ronald Reagan, Rabbi Spero is an acclaimed public speaker, inspiring diverse audiences. He also has been invited to lecture by departments of economics at various colleges.  

Rabbi Spero has appeared on a number of Fox News programs, including The O’Reilly Factor, Fox and Friends, America's Newsroom, Megyn Kelly, Neil Cavuto, Stuart Varney, The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson, Bill Hemmer; MSNBC, C-SPAN, WOR-TV, NET, FOX Business News, Glenn Beck TV, Scott Rasmussen's What America Thinks, and elsewhere. He also has been interviewed on radio across the country, including NPR, Laura Ingraham, Michael Savage, Tom Marr, Steve Malzberg, Dick Morris, Wall Builders, Andrea Tantaros, and many others. He is a regular, featured commentator for American Morning News (TRN) on issues regarding Israel and the Middle East, the Jewish community, and religion and morality, and is called upon for commentary by The Blaze.  

Since 2002, audiences and talk show hosts and masters of ceremony have fondly referred to Rabbi Spero as "America's Rabbi," and Rabbi Spero hosted his own radio program, where his by-line was "America's Rabbi." He has been invited to inform policy-makers, candidates, and elected officials in the halls of Congress, and in the Executive, regarding the moral and religious dimensions of policies and legislation under consideration. 

Visit the Caucus for America at www.caucusforamerica.com.

Larry Julian is the author of the best-selling book, "God Is My CEO: Following God's Principles in a Bottom-Line World." He joins the podcast to discuss how to follow God's principles - to be ethical, moral, kind and generous in a bottom-line world. He explains how people can integrate faith into today's turbulent business environment. 

Larry S. Julian is a successful consultant and speaker who specializes in Biblically-based leadership development and strategic planning. Larry's mission is to help business people integrate their work and faith, transform their adversity into their destiny, and revolutionize their life into their legacy. He's the author of the nationally acclaimed and best-selling business book, "GOD IS MY CEO: Following God's Principles in a Bottom-Line World." His latest release, "GOD IS MY SUCCESS: Transforming Adversity into Your Destiny" helps people overcome the obstacles which keep them from being the success God intended.  

As founder of God is My CEO, Larry addresses the needs of large groups of business people through church retreats and other programs. His Executive Forum helps small groups of business leaders integrate their work and faith and become the success God intended them to be. Through one-on-one coaching and consulting, Larry helps leaders of all levels overcome difficult circumstances to become effective and successful.  

As President of The Julian Group, Larry uses his experience consulting with the corporate, government, and community sectors in successful speaking, facilitating, and coaching engagements. Over the past several years, he's facilitated hundreds of strategic planning retreats, teambuilding retreats and leadership development programs. Larry's unique talent is in bringing diverse constituents together in partnerships with a shared vision and a common purpose.  

In addition to many churches and non-profit organizations, his clients have included 3M, American Express Financial Services, AT&T, BP Amoco, General Mills, Honeywell, Mayo Clinic, PepsiCo, Qwest and hundreds of other large and small organizations. Larry is also a popular instructor at the University of St. Thomas Management Center. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Find out more about Larry Julian at www.larryjulian.com.

Rodney Stark is the Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University and author of, "HOW THE WEST WON: The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity." He's the award-winning author of "The Victory of Reason", "The Rise of Christianity", and "God’s Battalions."

In the interview, Stark discusses: 

- The lies teachers tell students about America

- Why the fall of the Roman Empire was a blessing and not a disaster

- Why the Crusades had nothing to do with grabbing loot or attacking the Muslim world unprovoked

- Why there was no “Scientific Revolution” in the seventeenth century

- When political correctness overwhelms historical evidence

Rodney Stark grew up in Jamestown, North Dakota, and began his career as a newspaper reporter. Following a tour of duty in the U.S. Army, he received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, where he held appointments as a research sociologist at the Survey Research Center and at the Center for the Study of Law and Society. He left Berkeley to become Professor of Sociology and of Comparative Religion at the University of Washington. In 2004 he joined the faculty of Baylor University. He has published 32 books and more than 160 scholarly articles on subjects as diverse as prejudice, crime, suicide, and city life in ancient Rome. However, the greater part of his work has been on religion. He is past president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and of the Association for the Sociology of Religion. He also has won a number of national and international awards for distinguished scholarship. Many of his books and articles have been translated and published in foreign languages, including Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, and Turkish.

Find out more about Rodney Stark at www.rodneystark.com.

Guy Hatcher is Managing Partner at The Company Coach and columnist for the Christian Post. He's the author of, "Your Future Reflection: How to Leave a Legacy Beyond Money."

Matthew 6:25 says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Using this excerpt, Hatcher explains how people can cope with financial anxiety. 

God’s word states, “Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.” –Ecclesiastes 7:12 NIV. Hatcher discusses how people can use this saying to better manage their investments with wisdom.

Proverbs 13:22 (NIV) says, “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.” Hatcher thinks it is so important for people to leave legacies. He talks about how people can better understand the power of “The Blessing,” and how they can receive and give it.

Find out more about Guy Hatcher at www.guyhatcher.com. 

Visit The Company Coach at www.thecompanycoach.com.

Known as "The Legacy Guy," Author, Speaker and Life Coach Guy Hatcher has spent his lifetime helping families plan their legacy. The man of over 10,000 Kitchen Table Conversations, Guy's unique conversation style makes him part financial advisor, part pastor and part counselor who helps individuals and families extend their legacy to impact the world for generations to follow. 

For over 25-years, his proven approach merges money management, tough love and an honest appraisal of core values that create what he calls "a-ha" moments. 

These moments allow for families to identify all-encompassing plans that not only address a family's heritage and values, but focuses on a person's God-given gifts, embraces purpose and passion and launches generations of impact.

Dave Anderson is the President of Learn To Lead and co-founder of the Matthew 25:35 Foundation. He's also the author of, "How to Run Your Business by THE BOOK: A Biblical Blueprint to Bless Your Business" and, "How to Lead by The Book: Proverbs, Parables, and Principles to Tackle Your Toughest Business Challenges." 

Anderson shares his strategies to run businesses according to "The Bible." He gives some common business challenges that are tackled by scripture.

He then explains what the Matthew 25:35 Foundation does.

Visit Learn To Lead at www.learntolead.com. 

Find out more about Matthew 25:35 at www.Matthew2535Foundation.org.

Dave Anderson is president of Dave Anderson's LearnToLead, an international sales and leadership training and consulting company. Prior to beginning LearnToLead, Dave enjoyed an extensive and successful career in the automotive retail industry.  

Dave has given over 1,000 workshops and speeches over the past decade on sales and leadership development and has spoken in fifteen countries.  

Dave is author of twelve books, including the TKO Business Series, Up Your Business, If You Don't Make Waves You'll Drown , How to Run Your Business by THE BOOK, and How to Lead by THE BOOK.  

He authors a monthly leadership column for two national magazines and his interviews and articles have appeared in hundreds of publications including: The Wall Street Journal, Investor's Business Daily and US News & World Report. He was a featured speaker at the NADA Convention for ten straight years and is a frequent panelist on MSNBC's Your Business show. Please visit www.LearnToLead.com to learn more about Dave as well as gain over 500 free training articles and videos on sales, management and leadership!  

Dave is also a martial arts enthusiast who holds a black belt in Tang Soo Do karate.  

Dave, along with his wife Rhonda, is the co-founder of the Matthew 25:35 Foundation, whose mission is to bring food, housing, clothing, healing, and ministry to under-resourced and imprisoned people worldwide. Please visit, www.facebook.com/M2535F for more information.

Rabbi Brad Hirschfield is the President of CLAL–The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. He's a blogger at the Washington Post's "On Faith" column and Co-founder and Executive Editor of TheWisdomDaily.com. He has been ranked three years in a row in Newsweek as one of America's "50 Most Influential Rabbis."

Rabbi Hirschfield talk about religion in politics and why it is so important for politicians to be religiously affiliated. He thinks so many politicians are faking religion. Rabbi Hirschfield thinks politicians' religious views affect their political decisions, as evidenced by Mayor Bill De Blasio rough start as Mayor of New York City. 

Rabbi Hirschfield finishes the conversation by discussing the difference between true religion and real religion.

Find out more about Rabbi Brad Hirschfield at www.bradhirschfield.com. 

Visit CLAL–The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership at www.clal.org.

Acclaimed commentator on the role of religion in America, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield is vice president of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, a leadership training institute, think tank, and resource center. Recognized as a leading advocate for religious pluralism, he was a speaker at the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music and Colloquium in Morocco and a panelist at the 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions in Barcelona. His involvement at the latter event was featured in the critically praised documentary, "Freaks Like Me," which explores our fear of the "other."  

Currently, Rabbi Hirschfield is filming an 18-part series, "Building Bridges: Abrahamic Perspectives on the World Today," which he conceived for Bridges Television (American Muslim TV Network) for fall 2006. He is also co-producing a film on religious fanaticism in America, "The Believers." A popular media analyst, Hirschfield has been on ABC-TV's "Nightline UpClose" (the only rabbi ever featured), PBS-TV's "Frontline" and "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly," CNN, MTV, Court TV, NPR, and is frequently quoted in the press. A popular speaker, he has appeared at the Aspen Institute, the Washington National Cathedral, the Islamic Society of North America, and many universities and religious institutes. Co-author of "Embracing Life & Facing Death: A Jewish Guide to Palliative Care" (CLAL, 2003), he is completing a book on the challenge of Holocaust memory in the 21st century. Learn More About Brad Hirschfield Visit the "Freaks Like Me" (DVD) 

Dr. Wayne Grudem is one of America's leading theologians and co-founder of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. He's also the General Editor of the ESV Study Bible and author of, "The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable Solution" and author of, "Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business."

The first half of the discussion focuses on the Bible teaching the moral goodness of business. The conversation then turns to international economics, including how the poor can escape poverty and if the Bible’s teachings support the idea that nations must produce their own prosperity. Dr. Grudem then provides his solutions to cure international poverty.

Find out more about Dr. Wayne Grudem at www.waynegrudem.com.

Wayne Grudem is Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona. He received a B.A. from Harvard University, an M.Div. and a D.D. from Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia, and a Ph.D. (in New Testament) from the University of Cambridge, England. He has published twenty books, including his newest book, The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable Solution, which was published in August, 2013. He was also the General Editor for the 2.1 million-word ESV Study Bible (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Book of the Year and World magazine book of the year, 2009). He is a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society, a co-founder and past president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and a member of the Translation Oversight Committee for the English Standard Version of the Bible.  He and his wife Margaret have been married since 1969 and have three adult sons.

On this episode, Jason Hartman is joined by Jack Canfield, America’s #1 Success Coach, to talk about Jack’s journey to success as founder and CEO of Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises, founder and chairman of The Canfield Training Group, and his latest project, Bestseller Blueprint Training Program.  As the beloved originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, Jack Canfield fostered the emergence of inspirational anthologies as a genre - and watched it grow to a billion dollar market. As the driving force behind the development and delivery of more than 123 million books sold through the Chicken Soup for the Soul® franchise (and over 500 million copies in print worldwide), Jack Canfield is uniquely qualified to talk about success. His proven formula for success reached global acclaim with his most recent National Bestseller, The Success Principles™: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. For his fascinating story, listen at: www.SpeakingofWealth.com.

Jack is a multiple New York Times bestselling author, including titles such as The Power of Focus, The Aladdin Factor, Dare to Win, You’ve Got to Read This Book! and The Key to Living the Law of Attraction. He is the Founder and Chairman of The Canfield Training Group in Santa Barbara, California, which trains entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders and motivated individuals how to accelerate the achievement of their personal and professional goals. Jack is also the founder of The Foundation for Self-Esteem in Westlake Village, California, which provides self-esteem resources and trainings to social workers, welfare recipients and human resource professionals. Jack wrote and produced the Goals Program, a video training program for California welfare recipients. To date, the program has been responsible for helping 450,000 people get off welfare.

Jack is a featured teacher in the movie “The Secret”, “The Opus”, “The Cure”, "The Tapping Solution”, and “Yes IS the Destination...No is How You Get There.” He has recently been filmed for inclusion in two more films entitled “Discover the Gift” and “Awakening.”

Jack has also been a featured guest on more than 1,000 radio and television programs in nearly every major market worldwide - many of them on a repeat basis. A sample of these shows include Oprah, Montel, Larry King Live, 20/20, Inside Edition, The Today Show, Fox and Friends, The CBS Evening News, The NBC Nightly News, Eye to Eye, CNN's Talk Back Live!, PBS, QVC and many others.