The stock market is at a record high for this year. But job losses are still increasing and businesses are still struggling. Homes are still being foreclosed and some banks have not made a turn around. According to President Obama, health care reform is needed to get the economy back on track but it will cost $1 trillion.
How can the economy get better with added debt? The banks were in debt so the government loaned them money increasing their debt. There is not enough money to pay for health reform so they will decrease payment for health care through Medicare and Medicaid. Does that increase those citizens quality of care?
Maybe I'm just not smart enough to figure it all out but I have never understood how you make debt go away by increasing your debt. Congress always talks about balanced budgets and deficits and no new taxes and less spending but more programs. It just doesn't make sense!
Showing posts with label enonomy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label enonomy. Show all posts
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
God's Judgment
As I read in Jeremiah, I hear God say over and over how He will punish those who are supposed to be His but deliberately keep sinning and turning away from Him.
I remember when Katrina hit the coast at New Orleans and some preachers were saying it was the judgment of God. Other preachers, including some at the church I attended then, said it was not. I remember one saying that nature is under the same curse as people and the earth is groaning for the day that it will be made right again - peaceful with no earthquakes or hurricanes or "natural" disasters. That is found in Romans so it is true when God says it. But it is also true that Jesus stood up in the middle of a storm and told the wind and the waves to be still. I believe God is very much in control of nature even when nature is out of control!!
Personally, I believe God allows all sorts of disasters - natural or otherwise - to come into our lives, into our country to try to steer us back to him. After a 9/11 or a Katrina or other great tragedy, the churches are filled up with people seeking answers or relief from their fears or hope for their future.
The tough economy we are dealing with now is the result of poor choices by many people. The housing collapse, the banking and financial scandals, the automotive problems are not God's doing but are the result of sin in the the lives of a lot of people. People who let greed and the god of money or success drive them to hurt others in their rush to get rich.
Would God let our country collapse? He let Israel be taken into captivity. He let them suffer through droughts and famine. He let them be defeated in battle. Are our sins any less grievous to a righteous and holy God? I know we are NOT the same as Israel - God's chosen nation - but God has blessed this country tremendously over 200+ years. I wonder sometimes how long it will last.
I remember when Katrina hit the coast at New Orleans and some preachers were saying it was the judgment of God. Other preachers, including some at the church I attended then, said it was not. I remember one saying that nature is under the same curse as people and the earth is groaning for the day that it will be made right again - peaceful with no earthquakes or hurricanes or "natural" disasters. That is found in Romans so it is true when God says it. But it is also true that Jesus stood up in the middle of a storm and told the wind and the waves to be still. I believe God is very much in control of nature even when nature is out of control!!
Personally, I believe God allows all sorts of disasters - natural or otherwise - to come into our lives, into our country to try to steer us back to him. After a 9/11 or a Katrina or other great tragedy, the churches are filled up with people seeking answers or relief from their fears or hope for their future.
The tough economy we are dealing with now is the result of poor choices by many people. The housing collapse, the banking and financial scandals, the automotive problems are not God's doing but are the result of sin in the the lives of a lot of people. People who let greed and the god of money or success drive them to hurt others in their rush to get rich.
Would God let our country collapse? He let Israel be taken into captivity. He let them suffer through droughts and famine. He let them be defeated in battle. Are our sins any less grievous to a righteous and holy God? I know we are NOT the same as Israel - God's chosen nation - but God has blessed this country tremendously over 200+ years. I wonder sometimes how long it will last.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Debt
We are coming up on the first 100 days of President Obama's presidency. Somehow over the years this has become a defining moment of the presidency. Obama has certainly gotten his legislation pushed through so I guess he has accomplished a lot.
But what does that mean for us as a country? I don't think Obama is an FDR who did very similar things - shoring up banks and creating jobs - to help bring an end to the Great Depression. FDR also got a war that put lots of people to work building airplanes and bombs.
I find it very unsettling that the legislation that has been passed will increase our national debt by $6.5 trillion...not take it TO 6.5 trillion but ADD that much to what we already have. That's $65 billion A DAY for his first 100 days. China now hold a VERY large portion of our debt. What happens if China decides to ask for payment and we can't pay? What concessions would we have to make to this country that has been our nemesis for so many years - a country that has virtually no personal freedom and certainly no freedom of speech or religion?
I am not a doom and gloom person because my God is always in control but I am more aware of my need to pray for the President and this country.
But what does that mean for us as a country? I don't think Obama is an FDR who did very similar things - shoring up banks and creating jobs - to help bring an end to the Great Depression. FDR also got a war that put lots of people to work building airplanes and bombs.
I find it very unsettling that the legislation that has been passed will increase our national debt by $6.5 trillion...not take it TO 6.5 trillion but ADD that much to what we already have. That's $65 billion A DAY for his first 100 days. China now hold a VERY large portion of our debt. What happens if China decides to ask for payment and we can't pay? What concessions would we have to make to this country that has been our nemesis for so many years - a country that has virtually no personal freedom and certainly no freedom of speech or religion?
I am not a doom and gloom person because my God is always in control but I am more aware of my need to pray for the President and this country.
Monday, March 23, 2009
2 Chronicles 20-28
Verses that I marked:
Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord, from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 20:3-4
We do not know what to do but our eyes are on You. 20:12b God gives wisdom to know what to do if I will keep my eyes on Him and not my circumstance.
Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not your but God's. 20:15b Thank You, Lord, for fighting my battles for me!
Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established, believe his prophets, and you will succeed. 20:20b
[Jehoshaphat] appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise Him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, "Give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever." And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir so that they were routed. 20:21b-22a Who sends the choir into battle to walk BEFORE the soldiers? Maybe we should!
And [Jehoram] did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever. 21:6b-7 God is the only one who never breaks a promise!
...at the end of two years...[Jehoram] died in great agony. The people made no fire in his honor, like the fires made for his fathers. And he departed with no one's regret. 21:19b, 20b That to me is one of the saddest things I've read...he died with no one's regret.
But it was ordained by God...22:7a
Yet [God] sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention. 24:19 How often do I not pay attention when God is speaking to me?
And [Amaziah] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart. 25:2 When do I do the right things but not with my whole heart. God alone looks at the heart. Lord, help me to love you, to follow you, to serve you with my whole heart.
For God has power to help or cast down. 25:8b
The Lord is able to give you much more than this. 25:9b Amaziah was concerned about losing money he had spent for an army when God said send them home. Amaziah obeyed, was victorious in battle and took much spoil. WAY more than the 100 talents of silver he was concerned about losing.
[Uzziah] set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. 26:5
God helped him...26:7a
But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God. 26:16a Do I ever grow proud and fail to give God the recognition for his faithfulness and provision in my life?
For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made Judah act sinfully and had been very unfaithful to the Lord. 28:19 How important the role of the leaders of our country to lead the people in the ways of God. Here the whole country was humbled because they followed the ways of a leader who "did not do right in the eyes of the Lord." How necessary it is that I pray for our president!
Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord, from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 20:3-4
We do not know what to do but our eyes are on You. 20:12b God gives wisdom to know what to do if I will keep my eyes on Him and not my circumstance.
Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not your but God's. 20:15b Thank You, Lord, for fighting my battles for me!
Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established, believe his prophets, and you will succeed. 20:20b
[Jehoshaphat] appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise Him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, "Give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever." And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir so that they were routed. 20:21b-22a Who sends the choir into battle to walk BEFORE the soldiers? Maybe we should!
And [Jehoram] did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever. 21:6b-7 God is the only one who never breaks a promise!
...at the end of two years...[Jehoram] died in great agony. The people made no fire in his honor, like the fires made for his fathers. And he departed with no one's regret. 21:19b, 20b That to me is one of the saddest things I've read...he died with no one's regret.
But it was ordained by God...22:7a
Yet [God] sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention. 24:19 How often do I not pay attention when God is speaking to me?
And [Amaziah] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart. 25:2 When do I do the right things but not with my whole heart. God alone looks at the heart. Lord, help me to love you, to follow you, to serve you with my whole heart.
For God has power to help or cast down. 25:8b
The Lord is able to give you much more than this. 25:9b Amaziah was concerned about losing money he had spent for an army when God said send them home. Amaziah obeyed, was victorious in battle and took much spoil. WAY more than the 100 talents of silver he was concerned about losing.
[Uzziah] set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. 26:5
God helped him...26:7a
But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God. 26:16a Do I ever grow proud and fail to give God the recognition for his faithfulness and provision in my life?
For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made Judah act sinfully and had been very unfaithful to the Lord. 28:19 How important the role of the leaders of our country to lead the people in the ways of God. Here the whole country was humbled because they followed the ways of a leader who "did not do right in the eyes of the Lord." How necessary it is that I pray for our president!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The Ecomony
We've just started a new series at NewSpring called Where's My Bailout? Perry is teaching us what God says about money. And He says more about money than faith or heaven or hell. Tells me that God believes money - or rather my attitude about it - is REALLY important.
Thursday morning of last week my boss came in and closed the door, said he wanted to talk. My thought was Uh, Oh! But he wasn't there to chew me out or tell me I was fired or anything, even though things have been tough financially for us. What he did tell me was that he feels like his knuckles are white from holding on so tight during the last 6 months.
One thing I said to him was what Perry said tonight...God is in control. My boss knows it but he doesn't believe it; not deep down in his heart. He has started believing the doom and gloom from the talking heads who tell us the end is near. Well, maybe life as we know it is changing, but my God owns the cattle on a thousand hills...more than enough to feed and clothe his children.
Concern over the economy? Sure. I've taken steps to cut expenses and increase savings, smart stuff. Worry over the economy? No, I have God's promise that if I put him first in my finances - as well as other areas of my life - He will provide all that I need.
Thursday morning of last week my boss came in and closed the door, said he wanted to talk. My thought was Uh, Oh! But he wasn't there to chew me out or tell me I was fired or anything, even though things have been tough financially for us. What he did tell me was that he feels like his knuckles are white from holding on so tight during the last 6 months.
One thing I said to him was what Perry said tonight...God is in control. My boss knows it but he doesn't believe it; not deep down in his heart. He has started believing the doom and gloom from the talking heads who tell us the end is near. Well, maybe life as we know it is changing, but my God owns the cattle on a thousand hills...more than enough to feed and clothe his children.
Concern over the economy? Sure. I've taken steps to cut expenses and increase savings, smart stuff. Worry over the economy? No, I have God's promise that if I put him first in my finances - as well as other areas of my life - He will provide all that I need.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
God of Everything
As I read through the Old Testament, I see a side of God that I don't hear preached. God put a lying spirit in the mouth of prophets; the servant of Elisha was struck with leprosy; battles lost because God fought against (or didn't go with) his people are just a few examples of God doing "bad" things.
Of course there is plenty of "good" also. People healed of diseases, the dead raised to life, miraculous provision of food during famine, battles won. These are the things I have heard preached over the years. Everyone wants the God is love without the God is justice or wrath. We don't like to think of God causing - or even not stopping - disaster that comes to us personally or corporately.
Hezekiah had prayed for victory over Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Part of God's response through the prophet Isaiah was "Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass," (2 Kings 19:25) God also said, "I know your sitting down and your going out and coming in," (2 Kings 19:27). The message was actually to Sennacherib because he claimed to have done everything in his own strength and mocked the Holy One of Israel.
Can I wrap my mind around my God is SOVEREIGN? He controls or allows everything. He alone is ALL powerful, ALL knowing. Is my God really God in my mind? Is He God of/in EVERYTHING? The story of Job is a great example of God allowing disaster - death of children, loss of wealth, loss of health. But in the end Job had a better relationship with God...and God restored all Job had lost.
Right now in America we are seeing great loss of wealth. Often the wealth was accumulated by greed and lies and inventive accounting. We have claimed to make it on our own. We have pushed God aside and worshiped the idols of money and stuff. Could this downturn in the economy be God saying "I gave you everything and now you deny I exist, so let's see how good you can do without Me?" Just asking!
Of course there is plenty of "good" also. People healed of diseases, the dead raised to life, miraculous provision of food during famine, battles won. These are the things I have heard preached over the years. Everyone wants the God is love without the God is justice or wrath. We don't like to think of God causing - or even not stopping - disaster that comes to us personally or corporately.
Hezekiah had prayed for victory over Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Part of God's response through the prophet Isaiah was "Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass," (2 Kings 19:25) God also said, "I know your sitting down and your going out and coming in," (2 Kings 19:27). The message was actually to Sennacherib because he claimed to have done everything in his own strength and mocked the Holy One of Israel.
Can I wrap my mind around my God is SOVEREIGN? He controls or allows everything. He alone is ALL powerful, ALL knowing. Is my God really God in my mind? Is He God of/in EVERYTHING? The story of Job is a great example of God allowing disaster - death of children, loss of wealth, loss of health. But in the end Job had a better relationship with God...and God restored all Job had lost.
Right now in America we are seeing great loss of wealth. Often the wealth was accumulated by greed and lies and inventive accounting. We have claimed to make it on our own. We have pushed God aside and worshiped the idols of money and stuff. Could this downturn in the economy be God saying "I gave you everything and now you deny I exist, so let's see how good you can do without Me?" Just asking!
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