very true. Survivors have always looked for the positive or the possibilities in their situations, rather than the problems. We would do well to look for the possibilities and the positives and remain flexible. It could be bad, it could be worse. Something will happen, but I will prepare the best I can and trust God for the rest.
Good things about the economic crisis:
Obama's approval rating has dropped enormously and the media is no longer 100% behind him. ()
(sorry, couldn't resist that one)
Improved health:
More exercise
Need to eat healthier foods (they are less expensive and more affordable and accessible in crisis)
Loss of extra weight!
Improved budgeting:
Increased debt awareness
Paid off debt
Re-analysis of what is necessary and what is fluff in life
Waste reduction:
Less waste, more saving
More recycling
Mental improvement:
Less distraction
More sleep (no lights at night to keep you up)
Less busy-ness
More time for prayer and more fulfilling work (hands on work that gives you personal results is VERY fulfilling)
We have a fiat economy. What that means is the actual value of the dollar bills you carry is based on the perceived value of the American economy as a whole.
Now when the American economy dominates the world, that dollar buys a whole lot of stuff. It does so because everyone wants it. where their economies are unstable ours is stable and thus the reason they want our dollars.
Now consider the value of anything is based on how many people want it, vs how many of the objects there are available.
If you are the only apple farmer in the world and you produce a very tasty fruit, the whole world wants your apples and you can simply "sell to the highest bidder". people with lots to offer you get apples while those with nothing eat pears.
Now if somehow, some folk learn how to grow apples and their apples taste as good as yours then there are now more people with apples to sell, there are more apples and now, there are more bidders that can win apples.
Your apples lost value because there are more apples out there....BUT
What if instead of more apples being out there, the pear farmers figure out that if they can get people to hate apples, then more people will want pears?
Let’s say for some reason that apples start making people really really sick. Now nobody wants your apples. You may have the only apples on the world but if nobody wants your apples they have no value.
The American economy is seeing both of these things happen. Other nations like China and Europe have stable and valuable currency. some people want theirs now to go with ours.... that makes ours less valuable because the market place now has options (more apples from other growers)
At the same time, our economy is NOT stable and our government policy is making it less stable. That means fewer people want our currency. The value of our dollars has dropped because fewer people want to take our dollars for their goods…..
That is called inflation. All the sudden now instead of a dollar to buy bread, it takes more dollars, not because bread is more valuable but because the dollar is less valuable.
Your question was how bad. Consider history. In Germany, before WW2 it got to the point that bread cost $50,000 marks… Then in desperation the people turned to a charismatic figure who told them he had a plan to get them out of the economic mess.
That man was Hitler. Desperate people will do anything to feed their kids. They will even elect a Hitler. And march off to war and commit unspeakable horror.
I don’t mean to be beyond the pale here, but the answer to “how bad can it get” can only be answered with “How bad has it gotten before”?
Sunday morning I preached a sermon about the contrast between Spiritual Christians and Carnal ones.
None of us are immune from the flesh and from seeing things with natural eyes. But we are not of this world and this world is not our home.
We have a duty to view all things at all times with "spiritual vision"
In the end, regardless of what comes, we are commanded to TRUST GOD. God is our answer. He says that fear is not of Him.
So all the talk all the consideration and preperation one can do, and should do, pales in comparison to the most important thing a child of God can do, and that is to trust God in all things.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy
I saw your post, Timmy. When I was reading this thread the Lord brought this song to my mind:
Think about His love
Think about His goodness
Think about His grace that brought us through
For as high as the heavens above
So great is the measure of our Father's love
So great is the measure of our Father's love
I saw your post, Timmy. When I was reading this thread the Lord brought this song to my mind:
Think about His love
Think about His goodness
Think about His grace that brought us through
For as high as the heavens above
So great is the measure of our Father's love
So great is the measure of our Father's love
Yep... I saw his post too. But he doesn't make any statement as to what he is trying to say so I'm not sure what to say back.
Actually it is very relevant. I was just wondering if you had any thoughts on its application to this discussion?
Welllllll, since you asked.....
I was just wondering if anyone here really believes that scripture and others like it. It seems that nobody believes that Jesus meant what He said, exactly as it is written. And I agree, actually. It would be foolish to take no thought for tomorrow. I believe in buying groceries, saving money for contingencies, retirement planning, etc.
Of course, I know you guys do believe what Jesus said. (You have to.) You just need to spin it somehow, and turn it into something non-literal. Make it a general principle of some kind, like "trust God for everything -- and that would include trusting Him to give you wisdom on how to take thought for tomorrow, to make sure the morrow takes care of itself". Or something.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
)
for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
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