Leading Off (10/05/09)

1. Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches, A Dallas-based religious organization, is being sued by a gentleman who doesn’t like the way they pray. Mikey Weinstein would like Chaplaincy’s leaders to cease asking Jesus “to kill me and my family then wipe away our descendants for 10 generations.” Former U.S. Navy chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt says that Weinstein is silly — he doesn’t pray for Weinstein’s death. “I pray the psalm that his days are few,” he explains.

2. After watching the Marc Dreier piece on 60 Minutes last night, I was mad. He borrowed $400 million without anyone asking a single question. I ask for $1, and I have to explain questionable choices that date back to 5th grade. Anyway, this story is equally maddening. Ken Weaver didn’t really like his past — he spent some time in jail, didn’t graduate from college, spent some time toiling as a carpenter — so he changed it! He created a brand new past — two degrees! football star! international real estate developer! — and then started Freedom Power, an independent electric company. Apparently no one questioned any of it. Things did not end well.

3. What were you doing at age 24? Recent TCU graduate Adam Blake is running several real estate and investment companies that he started as a sophomore. One of those companies, Atlas Properties, was recently named one of Inc.’s 500 fastest-growing private companies. Oh, and this isn’t a trust fund story. His dad actually lost everything, including his job during the dot-com bust. “That’s what inspired me to become an entrepreneur and not go into corporate America,” Blake says.