I found these articles interesting from Time magazine. When we think of the future, we wonder how we will be differrent. Many of our perspectives have changed over the last year as we stumbled down the hill of drastic economic downturn. It is the first real national financial crisis many of us have ever experienced. If you are around my age somewhere close to 50, you may have heard your parents talk about what they remembered of the Great Depression years following the Crash of ’29. My great Uncle John would sit on his front porch, whittle a small stick into a pencil and toss it in a box, and say, “There will come a day when a man won’t be able to afford his land because of all the taxes.” (Texas has no state income tax, so property taxes generally run a little higher here.)
I am beginning to believe what Uncle John said will be true. I wonder if people will divest of property and other commodities that used to be called assets, in light of the new taxation and punishment for those of us who “saved for the rainy day.” Do you wonder, as I, that recent events have markedly changed our priorities, our global perspective, and certainly our personal perspective on what is ahead for our children, for our families, for our lives?
No one is certain what the future holds. It is scary to think about (if you listen to the news) or fun (if you read that article series in Time I suggested) depending on your outlook. But for those who have Christ Jesus as Lord of their lives, the future is brighter tomorrow than it is today. Try not to worry. Keep looking up. It’s the direction from which your help will come. From a worldly view, the only constant is change. But for those who have an eternal focus, the only constant is the Lord Christ Jesus. Lord, help us keep (or turn) our focus on the eternal things of value, not the temporal pleasures or discomforts of this world.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
P.S. If you get the chance to read the Time articles from the link at the beginning of this post, tell me what you think particularly the “New Calvinism” article.
annette geffert 
Two thoughts…
It’s possible that we might see people, instead of divesting of assets, holding on to assets. I’m not an alarmist by nature, but we could seriously see some disruption in supply chains and hyper inflation which might lead people to hold on to any thing other than US dollars that will have value… even to the point of being able to barter.
The Calvinism article was interesting. I don’t know the author of that article, but it’s always interesting to me to read something about religion and Christianity by someone who seems to be completely looking at it from the outside… an unbeliever. The Calvinist vs. Free Will thoughts are two sides of the same coin. I wrestled with it quite a bit in my Romans study 2 years ago. Much of what the article’s author said is true and biblical about God’s holiness, righteousness and our depravity at heart. But the missing part seems to be His grace and mercy because of Christ’s gift of life. Something that an unbeliever just wouldn’t get.
Good article. Thanks for getting me to read it.
It’s interesting how events shape the people we become. I remember my grandfather being furious with my dad for borrowing money to buy a house. He lost so much during the depression that in his eyes, if you couldn’t pay for it, you didn’t buy it. (sounds like a philosophy we should be following.) I can’t help but wonder how these events will shape my life. Will I allow fear to be the prevailing part of me or will I reflect His glorious peace? Will people know that I walk with Him or will they see another person who professes to believe one thing and acts like another. hmmm….
My husband and I were discussing this very issue last night…Before we look up and realize we’ve become our own “Uncle John” we want to learn how to balance looking to the Lord for everything, keeping this world’s troubles in perspective and being wise as serpents…tall order, huh?
Another great read, Annette.
PS – I am about to read the Calvinist article…our old Wal Mart was turned into the Fort Bend County Annex Building. Many county offices were moved there a few years ago. Recycling the old shopping centers is a wonderful idea.
Amen!
He truly is the stability of our times. He is the One that is always constant, never changing, always consistent and always available. What a blessed people we are. Blessings on your week, sweet Annie.
I am so thankful that in a ever changing world we have an unchanging God who’s promises we can depend!!