I find it interesting that one of the core issues at the heart of the credit crisis…ie relaxing the government regulations that would have determined if a person ‘qualified’ (had a reasonable chance of being able to pay it back) for a loan and instead giving loans to people who were really at high risk to default on the loans…is exactly what the government is doing to try to remedy the credit crisis. In other words, the government is, in essence, borrowing 700+ billion dollars that it can’t afford (wouldn’t qualify for) and is at high risk at never being able or willing to pay it back, and throwing it in the pot to try to restore confidence in the economy. Remember, our government was 9 trillion dollars in debt before the credit crisis. What kind of example is that? Does that build your confidence in our government? Sheesh.
Smoke and Mirrors...
Politics! Once again it appears that the politicians have fooled us. In an apparent effort to make an administration (or administrations) look successful, they (temporarily) stimulated the economy in a short-sighted and irresponsible manner. Surprised? I'm not. The two party system is wrought with this type of behavior. The politicians love to point to the stats. Look at unemployment...look at the housing market...look at this and that. But, so often, the numbers are deceptive because they are the result of, what amounts to, bad business decisions. Decisions that are based strictly on the here and now...without considering the future implications. Want to buy a house even if, in reality, you can't afford it? We'll still give you a loan even if there is a good chance you will default on it. One little hiccup along life's way and you will be over your head in debt.
The way I understand it, the government is at fault in all this, though business took advantage of the government's idiocy. Since the government mandated that companies give loans to people who basically couldn't afford them, these companies did exactly that. There were a lot of commissions on the sale of homes. Capitalism would say...who cares if the home buyer can't afford the home? What matters is that I get my commission. If the home buyer made a bad decision, that's their problem and not my fault. That's what capitalism breeds, greed, and shortsightedness. Who cares that the whole economy collapses later on...what matters is the money I can make right this minute.
imo, the USA needs a whole new government system, as the system we have now has it's origins in selfishness (me), and greed (me). A system that is based on 'me', is doomed to self destruction.
Certificate of deposit
CDs. I found out a bit of information recently that seemed worthy of mentioning. I had a CD that had matured and was in the grace period. I needed to move around some of that money, so I went into the bank to accomplish what I needed. When there, I asked what the new rates were and was given the appropriate information. What I learned in addition, though, (for the very first time) was that if you just allow the CD to roll over without contacting the bank, the interest rate you receive is much lower. In other words, if you trust the bank to treat you right, you are repaid with a lower rate. THANK YOU! If you call in and ask about rates without informing them that you have a CD already in their bank and get them to give you those rates...then (and only then) inform them that you have a CD coming due or in the grace period, you can request that the quoted rate be applied.
This information annoyed me, and caused me to lose all trust in banks. I have been guilty of allowing CDs to roll over on occasion. I now wonder how many $$$ I have lost because of these unethical business practices.
Msg
Monosodium glutamate. It took me 30 years to figure out that I was allergic to it. For 30 years I suffered from frequent headaches. Headaches that didn't respond well to over the counter pain killers, caffeine, or much else, and lasted 12 hours or so. One day I'd get a headache, the next maybe not. Some weeks I'd have a headache almost every day. I didn't know what to think. A few months ago I was praying about this and MSG popped into my head. I followed through on that and did some research and found that MSG was in some of the foods that I ate regularly. Campbell's soups for one. I had been eating Campbell's soups multiple times a week for those 30 years. I also discovered it was in a lot of chicken products...and I was (I thought) healthily choosing chicken sandwiches etc over beef almost every time I went to a restaurant.
Long story short....I stopped the Campbell's soups and anything else I noted that had MSG in it and NO MORE HEADACHES! How ridiculous is that? 30 years of headaches!
There is a lot of information about MSG online and I would recommend anyone and everyone do their own research on it, especially if you are also prone to headaches. Don't rely on the labeling of the products to reveal that they have MSG in them, though, as the industry has found ways of concealing it. Do your homework.
Aware of the devils schemes
1 Samuel 16:14-15 ¶ Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. Saul’s attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
I find this to be an interesting scripture and one that many have pondered but few have agreed upon. Personally, I’m considering the possibility that Saul’s experience is not entirely unique…that even you and I may occasionally experience something similar. First, I think the stage has to be set. Something, or someone, has to really cause you grief. The more personal, the more painful, the more frequent, the more likely that you could fall prey….that a seed of bitterness could find root. If you water that seed, if you allow it to grow, it can create an opportunity for the devil to take advantage of you. For that matter, the devil can remind you of the injustices, he can stir the pot. The next thing you know, indeed the Spirit of God has left you (after all, God is love), and an evil spirit is left to torment you.
I believe it is likely that the above scenario is not uncommon. What is the cure? Faithfulness. We have to take control. We have to submit to God…to resist evil…to forgive…to pray. We not only have to read what the Bible says, we have to understand it so that we can be aware of the devil’s schemes, and we have to do what it says (put on the full armour etc Ephesians 6:11).
Something I think we have to remember is that evil can spread. If one person is taken captive to do the devils’ will…what do you think the devil would have that person do? Break someone else down? The person that has been taken captive needs our prayers, not retaliation (Romans 12:20). Retaliation only feeds the fire.
Walking with God
If you posed the question to professing Christians…do you want to walk with God…and you told them what that meant first and foremost was obedience, I wonder how many would say they really wanted to walk with God?
Fellowship with God
To walk with God, you first have to walk to God.
If you desire an increase in faith, try increasing your faithfulness.
James 4:8...Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Name it, claim it.
How does that work? Scripture tells us that we have to believe it first (Mark 11:24). hmm. I don't know about you, but I can't seem to control the degree of my faith just because that's what I want to be able to do. I know I want to be all that God would have me to be, though. At least I think I do. Therein, a theory is born. It's a natural progression. First you follow God's commandments (because you love them and you love Him)...or at the very least...try your very best (and I mean very best) to follow God's commandments. Not short term, mind you. Long term....committed. Incrementally your faith is increased. At that point, though, what do you think you would be claiming? A new car? Prosperity? Somehow, I don't think so. Surely, you'd be claiming things a lot more righteous than that.
Miracles
Matthew 17:24-27 ¶ After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?" "From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."
I love that scripture. I giggle when I imagine the collectors going with Peter to the lake, Peter catching a fish (the first one, mind you), opening it's mouth and pulling out the coin! Can't you just picture the look on the collectors faces?
Jesus did some amazing things (miracles). Things that cannot be explained via the natural no matter how creative you attempt to get. Miracles like walking on water (John 6:19), controlling the weather (Matthew 8:26), turning water into wine (John 2:7), raising the dead (John 11:43, Mark 5:35), giving sight to the blind (John 9:6), casting out demons (Matthew 17:18), feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:15), etc, etc, etc.
Jesus is Lord.
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