As I have been preparing my discussion outline for this Sunday (Nov. 2nd), I have been struck by some very strange and conflicting data. As I explored the depth of the pain and worry that people are facing in light of the current financial crisis I was very surprised. Overall there is a real sense that our entire world is in a global recession and hard times have only just begun.
Banks are broke. Homes are getting foreclosed on and companies are cutting staff left and right.
Yet, surveys show that people feel that they are living better than they have in a long time.
I'm confused.
Collapse of financial securities everywhere and yet families feel that they are doing better than a year ago or more!
Is this possible?
As Jesus followers yes, it is possible because our hope and worth does not come from the stuff of this earth.
Yet, it's not just Christians that feel better off... over half of the population, across the board feels better off.
I'm wondering if we have all begun to see and believe that trusting man and our man-made kingdoms will always fail us.
Maybe more and more of us are seeing the cup is half full and we're able to enjoy what we have, rather than what we don't have.
Or maybe, the skeptic in me says, we're all not buying into the gloom and doom story that we hear and read about each day.
Maybe... we're smarter than what the media and others thing we are.
What the case is... I'm confused. Do we celebrate this sense of "feeling better off" or do teach and prepare people how to deal with the stress, fear, and worries of a strange, strange world?
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2 comments:
It is definetly an "appreciate what you've got" kind of attitude because of all the news, I think. I remember my grandma telling me stories of the great depression...how people, for the most part...became closer to each other because of the hard financial situation in most cases. I am feeling that right now in Journey....ready to help with what I can...but also needing help getting on track myself at times.
As a Jesus-follower I KNOW I am better off. The economic crisis (and any crisis, for that matter) shows me just how fortunate I am. How do people cope who don't have the hope of Jesus?
These are the times that we should SHINE the Light for the world to see. Unfortunately, I am not sure that we do.
The point is to not minimize anyones situation, but rather to show them that they do not have to dispair. Your message this morning is one that we need to LIVE and SHARE.
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