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WOW, what a day!

Several large money centers collapsed or almost. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 4.4%. The lowest point since everyone sold their stocks on 9/11/01 & 9/12/01. Things & institutions that we relied on are disappearing.

I was in a conversation last night with someone who felt like this was the end. She wasn't reassured when I said - "Oh yea sooner to be with Jesus!"

So what is it? Is it the signs of the end? Well it could be. And I don't want to rule it out. I'm preparing... Asking forgiveness of those I've hurt, Confessing sin to God, speaking the Gospel to those who need to hear it, getting "Oil for my lamps", as it were!

But it could also be a huge "buying opportunity" - just kidding, kindof!

It could also be the radical reaction of many greedy people making too many stupid decisions. Also taking unjust advantages of those who really should not have been leveraging their lives & life savings for what seems like a little equity.

Golly Day! You & I both know that if you loan money to someone who does not have the long term capability to repay it - then you consider that a "gift". When you offer tons of people money for property (collateral) then you are putting your equity at risk! You might end up with a lot of property - which you won't be able to distribute. And no cash...

When we (not me, of course) as money-lenders take advantage of those who are trying to make it work, by charging huge interest rates, when they have limited resources to repay then our greed dominates our compassion and we end up with a lot of bad loans (gifts, as an example).

When we have re-acquired overvalued property that the main population does not want to purchase. Then we've hurt 2 people - the former possessors of the property who are over their heads in debt and those who now have the overvalued property they can't sell.

Greed dictates our lifestyle.

Wouldn't it be nice to revert to the old testament model of The Year of Jubilee? Every 49 years all debt is forgiven and all property goes back to the original owners. This really decreases the overall drive for greed & possession.

But what do we do now that we do not live in the year of Jubilee?

Pray for wisdom.
Look for opportunities to help people see Jesus.
Don't be stupid about money.
Pay off as much debt as you can.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength!

I'm not an economist, or the son of a prophet, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn last night!

A Christian's Prayer

Blessed God,
Ten thousand snares are mine without and within, defend thou me;
When sloth and indolence seize me, give me views of heaven;
When sinners entice me, give me disrelish of their ways;
When sensual pleasures tempt me, purify and refine me;
When I desire worldly possessions, help me to be rich toward thee;
When the vanities of the world ensnare me, let me not plunge into new guilt and ruin;
May I remember the dignity of my spiritual release,
never be too busy to attend to my soul,
never be so engrossed with time that I neglect the things of eternity;
thus may I not only live but grow towards towards thee.
Form my mind to right notions of religion, that I may not judge of grace by wrong conceptions, nor measure my spiritual advances by the efforts of my natural being.
May I seek after an increase of divine love to thee,
after unreserved resignation to thy will,
after extreme benevolence to my fellow creatures,
after patience and fortitude of soul,
after a heavenly disposition,
after a concern that I may please thee in public and private.
Draw on my soul the linements of Christ, in every trace and feature of which thou wilt take delight, for I am -
thy workmanship, created in Christ Jesus,
thy letter written with the Holy Spirit's pen,
thy tilled soil ready for the sowing, then harvest.

From The Valley of Vision, p.109