Big bucks... no whammies

$700,000,000,000.00
It is just such a huge number. At current count that puts the bill at about $2,300.00 per American (cencus.gov puts our current population at 305,259,245).

It is kind of interesting that this $700 billion number keeps coming up. Last week 401k retirement accounts lost $700 billion in one day. We are are also being told that we are sending $700 billion overseas for energy annually. There was a time when a billion was a big number. Now you have to have at least a billion to get on the Forbes 400 list... and I was so looking forward to making that list - bummer.

???

Doesn't seem like a good idea.

Escrow Closed!

Praise the Lord, we have been given the keys to our first home! I can now say - from experience- that escrow is not fun, but God is good!

Consumer Mistrust

A couple of weeks ago we saw the government bail out of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, which from what I can tell effectively nationalized those lending institutions. Today we have seen an $85 billion bail out loan for AIG, one of the largest mortgage insurers in America. This loan essentially gives the US government a 79.9% stake in the company and the option or right to remove and replace AIG's senior management.

$85 billion. It seems like a lot, but for the fact that $700 billion in shareholder wealth evaporated from the market yesterday.

There was a time that we as a people would recognize such events for what they are. Our nation is being shaken. One day it is cataclysmic natural disaster, the next it is economic woe. I do not believe that God's hand causes these things, but certainly the removal of His hand of protection and blessing allows them.

Yep, the mere mention of such a view is not only politically incorrect, in our day it is considered "crazy talk." Call me crazy, I think we need to wake up! I challenge you to read the prophetic books of the Old Testament and not see the correlation to our day.

One of my new favorite sites!

hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com

Countdown Question

This evening Keith Olbermann, the host of MSNBC's Countdown asked, "Is America ready for a Vice President that attends a church that speaks in tongues, believes in the rapture and prays to God to help build pipelines."

It appears that in Mr. Olbermann's mind trusting God for provision, believing that He will one day return and in the reality of spiritual gifts is "a little over the top for this nation and this century." I'm certainly not surprised that a very liberally minded atheistic talk-show host views evangelicals in this way. In fact I wouldn't even be surprised if statistics showed that many Americans share his views. It's just odd - as a Christian - to be classified an extremist at this "advanced stage of our civilization."

"Having faith is seen a nice thing to know about a person running for office... but if you believe that God is directing troop movements in Fallujah, I think Americans by and large will react with the, "What the _______" reaction"

- Rachel Maddow, MSNBC

One last thought. Did Olbermann or would Olbermann spend the same amount of time questioning another candidate's religious affiliations with say... Reverend Wright?

"A Cause Greater Than Yourself"

Like many Americans I have listened to a good number of political speeches over the last two weeks. Nearly 40 million of us listened to Senator Obama speak at the Democratic Convention last week... and almost the same amount listened to Governor Palin last night at the Republican Convention. All the speeches have been well crafted. Some have had a better delivery than others.

I listened to John McCain's acceptance speech tonight and I have to say that I thought it was pretty good. Perhaps he's just a very good panderer and I've been pandered, but the last 2:30 minutes were - for me - inspiring.

...nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.

John McCain

Did you catch it? He even said, "Enter the ministry." Good advice ;)

Super Great...

Even if some don't like Sarah Palin, they had to like this moment.

Priase the Lord!!!

We put in an offer 2 weeks ago on a bank owned house in East Escondido. I just got a call from my wife... our offer has been accepted! God is Good! We're supposed to go begin the escrow process later today; thanks for all of your prayers, please continue to do so.



The yard needs a bit of work and a few things on the inside (flooring and paint), but all in all it looks to be a good house in a good location.

Subtle Undertones

In studying and preparing messages I regularly read many different news sources. The internet certainly makes this a whole lot easier. Recently, as I have been reading I've noticed an interesting shift among 'mainstream' news agencies. I don't know how long this has been happening, but the shift is very clear and it bothers me.

I'm quite sure that the debate in America over abortion is going to continue for many years to come, and for as long as I can remember it was a debate famed between "Pro-life" and "Pro-Choice". However, now the debate is being presented as "Pro-choice" vs. "Anti-abortion".


msnbc.com September 3, 2008
I am very much "Pro-life". I never really liked the other side being called "Pro-choice" because it seems to infer that since I am pro-life I'm against choice... which I'm not. Choice is important, but abortion should not be a discussion of choice or no choice. But it's no longer being phrased as pro-choice/pro-life, now you are either PRO on one side or ANTI on the other. Essentially to be pro-life is now subtly presented as negative.