I am excited about entering into the world of blogging and discussing real issues! We have a great opportunity to demonstrate what it means to “reason together” in civil discussion. In the last week we have seen a Congress member, a tennis superstar and a music pop icon all be disrespectful—the Good News is that there is a different way. Let’s begin!
One year ago today a shockwave was sent across the globe with the bankruptcy and collapse of Lehman Brothers, a financial giant (or so it seemed) and the greatest financial crisis of our time began. Do you remember the New York Times headlines?
Lehman Files for Bankruptcy; Merrill Is Sold
The article stated that this event would “reshape the landscape of American finance” and it did. Many companies have gone out of business, and millions are unemployed. All you have to do is turn on the television, radio or pick up a newspaper and know that the life is very different for many people.
Let’s ask questions, let’s just talk:
• How did it affect you?
• How has the last year of your life been affected by Wall Street some 12 months later?
• Reshaping of the landscape---what an interesting term, what does your landscape look like now?
• Less cluttered, more cluttered, less hopeful, more hopeful?
We started reading the book of Acts together yesterday at worship….what a story of reshaping the landscape! The world would never be the same…..imagine the headlines on that day when the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples into the streets. What would the headline have read?
What can we learn from these seemingly unconnected events?
So let’s just talk……
What great questions to ponder! Although so many people have suffered in many ways due to economic distress, it seems everywhere I turn, God's blessing has come out of it. A loss of a job turns into a better opportunity or the start-up of a long dreamed home business. A foreclosure turns into the opportunity for a single mom to afford a small house rather than renting. Attitudes have moved away from the value of "stuff" toward the value of people and relationships. My own business has grown to the point that I've hired help and I'm expanding beyond the local area. Because small businesses now need more help gaining exposure of their products and services - - and they are better able to compete with the big guys. As a Christian business owner, this has given me ample opportunity to BE the church and help other business owners grow and prosper during these tough times. Often it takes a crisis to open our eyes and our minds ... which means there are a lot of hurting people with open hearts for Jesus, and chances for us to help and love our neighbors.
ReplyDeleteThe Apostle Paul knew hardship. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
ReplyDeleteThis verse has helped me after feeling torment rejection for 3 months when I lost my job due to the closing of my department in January after having worked there for 12 years. God has opened doors where He wants me to be. Those 12 years served a purpose supporting my family, but it was meaningless. Now I am in a place to grow in areas I haven't grown in and live with more purpose. Money is tight, but the possiblities of recovery are out there. God's ways are perfect. He is worthy to lean on and trust.