Devotional

The Only Name

I encourage you to read all of Acts chapter 4, in addition to this devotion, and notice the many references to the word ‘name’. The religious leaders were perplexed at the healing of the crippled man and asked: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Isn’t it odd that they recognized that just mentioning a ‘name’ could be the source of healing?

Peter boldly declared “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” 

This reminds me of the song that goes: “there is power in the name of Jesus, there is power in the name of Jesus, to break every chain, to break every chain….”

The name of Jesus is both sacred and powerful. 

God reminded me of Jesus’ sacred name recently as I have several apparel and a bumper sticker declaring ‘only Jesus’. Trust me, it’s kept me in check a few times when driving and extra grace was required, reminding me that if I wear His name, and call myself a Christian (Christ-like), I better live like it. 

Acts 4 is also a lesson to us that Jesus' name is the source of all power that we need to live, boldly for Him. In fact, later on we read the believers’ praying:

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬-‭30‬)‬‬

Holy Spirit came upon the believers in Acts 2, and in Acts 4 we are taught how to live with the Spirit, by declaring Jesus' name wherever we go.

Financial Update

Going Up? The Opportunity Around Elevator Maintenance

In a recent interview, Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s CEO, claimed: “A lot of six-figure jobs in plumbing and construction will soon be unlocked because someone needs to build new AI centers.” 

While the topic today doesn't necessarily revolve around plumbing, it does follow a theme we’ve been purposefully following over the past few articles here at Solomon’s Circle, which is the rise of blue collar trades.

Every day, millions of people rely on elevators to reach their offices, apartments, hospitals, hotels, airports, and shopping centers. While elevators may seem like ordinary conveniences, they have quietly become one of the most essential, and overlooked, pieces of our modern infrastructure.

Every elevator requires regular inspections, preventive maintenance, repairs, and eventually modernization as its components age. Unlike many industries that depend on constant new sales, elevator companies often generate recurring revenue for decades through long-term service contracts that keep existing systems operating safely and efficiently.

Several long-term trends are supporting this demand. Cities continue to grow vertically as available land becomes more limited, leading to the construction of taller residential and commercial buildings. At the same time, hospitals, retirement communities, airports, universities, and mixed-use developments all rely on elevators to move people safely and efficiently throughout their facilities.

America's aging infrastructure is another important factor. Many commercial buildings were constructed decades ago, and while the buildings themselves remain functional, the elevators often require modernization to improve reliability, energy efficiency, and safety. Rather than replacing an entire building, property owners frequently choose to upgrade elevator motors, control systems, doors, and safety equipment, creating a steady stream of work for maintenance providers.

Technology is also transforming the industry. Today's elevators use intelligent dispatch systems, predictive maintenance software, remote monitoring, and energy-efficient motors that help reduce operating costs while improving passenger experience. Building owners are increasingly investing in these upgrades as they seek greater efficiency and lower long-term maintenance expenses.

Global leaders such as Otis Worldwide (OTIS), KONE, Schindler Holding, and TK Elevator generate a significant portion of their revenue from servicing and modernizing existing elevator fleets rather than relying solely on new installations. Companies involved in building automation, including Honeywell (HON) and Johnson Controls (JCI), also benefit as smart building technologies become increasingly integrated with vertical transportation systems.

Investors seeking broader exposure may consider industrial-focused ETFs such as the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) or infrastructure funds like the Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF (PAVE), which include companies benefiting from long-term investment in commercial buildings, engineering, and infrastructure.

As cities continue to grow, buildings continue to age, and infrastructure continues to modernize, the companies keeping America moving, “one floor at a time” may continue to enjoy decades of steady demand.

Tech Update

Cyberattacks on Public Utilities

In the last week there were a flurry of cyber attacks on water utilities across several states including over 30 utilities in Minnesota. It is speculated the attacks originated from Iran but this is still under investigation. 

The attackers targeted internet-connected operational technology (OT) devices, including programmable logic controllers (PLCs). I heard one mayor discussing how the attack shut down water pumps at his city’s utility that controls the water supply. Fortunately, the impact of the attacks across the nation was relatively minor. Most utility operators were able to get systems back up without major service disruption or health risk to their customers.

The vulnerability of our public utilities to terrorist cyber attacks is something that has been warned about for years. When you consider that approximately 85-90% of the U.S. population receives their water from a public or community water utility, the magnitude of such potential disruption comes into focus. 

Unfortunately, this is not the first nor will it be the last such attack. U.S. utilities reported 1,162 cyber incidents in 2024, a nearly 70% increase from 2023. Bad actors are also becoming more sophisticated and tapping into AI to aid their evil cyberattack schemes. 

Preparedness is key. Last year, we discussed the topic of preparing for power outages in our article on Backup Power Solutions. 

For your water supply, it would be wise to keep bottled water on hand but make sure it’s in approved PBA free containers.  Another great alternative is having a gravity fed portable water filtration system to purify both regular and contaminated water. I personally like the Purewell system. We have one set up in our home for everyday use and it can be easily transported if needed. 

Health Nuggets

The Reason Dementia is Skyrocketing & The Dangers of Sugar

Dr. Robert Lustig, one of the world’s leading experts on sugar, addiction, and metabolism, exposes the hidden dangers of the food we eat every day, and how ROS (reactive oxygen species) contributes to dementia. The two most famous ones available today and used in a lot of diet drinks are "aspartame" and “sucralose,” both of which have huge amounts of ROS generation. Listen to “The REAL Reason Dementia Is Skyrocketing” podcast to learn more.

In another related podcast, titled: “If You Eat THESE "Healthy" Foods, You NEED To See,” Dr. David Unwin talks about the dangers of too much sugar and hidden sources of it in common food products. 

A few great visuals on this topic are presented by the Public Health Collaboration in the Sugar Infographics series.

Note: Health Nuggets are opinions and not medical advice.

Trivia Corner

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