There is plenty to be nervous about

I would not say that I am afraid, for I am not; but I will readily admit that the incredible things happening with the weather and economy make me very nervous.  There is a huge difference between being afraid and being nervous.  One is counterproductive and the other is the natural reaction to uneasy situations.

Just four years ago I would have been working 20 hours per day finding relief supplies for tornado victims in the St. Louis area and flooding victims in southern Missouri.  I know my days of trying to “save the world” after every disaster ended some time ago, but I am still deeply impacted as I see images of destruction and hear reports of catastrophic flooding soon to cause untold problems in many areas.  Throw into the mix some of the worst wildfires Texas has ever seen and you have a truly troubling situation building.

I study weather and I have seen from multiple sources that the upcoming month of May will be MUCH COOLER than normal throughout much of the USA except along the Gulf coast.  The last two times this happened were 2005 and 2008 which were years that produced hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Wilma; and 2008 which produced hurricanes Gustov and Ike.  Many experts are already warning of the imminent possibility of multiple strikes by huge hurricanes along the United States coastline this summer.

For a very long time I used to study and try to understand economic concerns.  What is currently happening is so distressing that I no longer have the desire to try and figure out what is happening and about to happen.  Contrary to what media outlets are saying, there is a period of hyper-inflation just around the next bend.  We are already seeing it in the constantly rising prices for gasoline and food.

It is estimated that nearly 15% of all Americans have had to raid their retirement accounts to find resources for emergencies.  I know this is true for I am one of those 15% and am not proud of it.  But, when all other sources of income are removed, and expenses pile up; there is no place left to go but to the IRA or 401k that was supposed to provide income for 25 years or more after retirement.

Recent studies have indicated that the housing market for super expensive properties is rebounding and doing fine.  Those with plenty of money are spending it on lavish homes that cost well over a million dollars.  Those homes in foreclosure are also being purchased by people with money and then rented out to desperate people who have lost their homes.

Meanwhile those homes in the $100,000 to $600,000 range just sit there.  No one qualifies for a loan and no one has the money to pay the huge down payment to move up or down.  Most of us live in these kinds of homes and are stuck in them for many years to come.

I cannot do nothing about the weather or the economy so all I can do is pray for wisdom for those deeply impacted by both.  May God grant us all great patience and understanding so as to make the right decisions and have the means to help our neighbor, brother, parent or child in need.

The short memory of the American population

Talk about short memories; I think most Americans have totally forgotten how despite ample warning signs, we were constantly being told “all is well” with the economy all the way until the bottom fell out last October. Here are a few examples. One year ago today, this was the leading headline:

FEDS SAY NO RECESSION; ECONOMY GROWS 0.6%

The Fed had just finished their meeting and announced that despite two straight quarters of growth well under 1%, there was no recession, and probably would not be one. Here is an example:

“Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, earlier this month, acknowledged for the first time that a recession this year was possible.”

Is the all wise chairman of the Fed Mr. Bernanke really so dense and uneducated that at this time a year ago he was still not sure a recession was coming? Is this really the kind of “leader” we want overseeing the entire financial realm in this country? Anyone who would believe that the recession caught the Fed off guard needs to go back to sleep and wake up again in twenty years.

Just one year ago everyone was appalled that the unemployment rate was so high. How high was it? Here is a line from a story written one year ago today:

“During the first three months of this year, job losses neared the staggering quarter-million mark. The unemployment rate has climbed to 5.1 percent and is expected to move higher in the coming months.”

Hmmm, I wonder if it did go higher. The US unemployment rate rose to a new 25-year high of 8.5 percent in March 2009. From 5.1% to 8.5% in one year; yes, I would say that it did go a little higher.

One year ago we were just starting to see the effects of the run up of oil and gasoline prices. All eyes were on inflation as the price of gasoline, milk, wheat and corn were skyrocketing. One year ago the price for crude oil was around $118. This was considered at the time to be so high it could never be sustained. Guess what, by July 4^th, the price was up to $145 and it could not be sustained at that level.

Right now, on April 30^th, 2009 oil is trading at $51 per barrel after dropping as low as $36.51 in January. If the economy is bad now, which it is, imagine what it would be like if oil was still at close $150 per barrel and gas prices were near $5 per gallon instead of under $2?

The point of all this is that somebody knew something long ago but they were not taking about it. I refuse to believe all the wild and crazy things which have taken place the past year in the economy just “happened” and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men never saw it coming.

For what it is worth, I bet very few people knew this fact. Last year the Dow closed at 8,258.13 on April 30^th. As of this moment on April 30^th, 2009, the Dow is at 8,288.79. Incredibly, despite massive lay offs and the demolition of thousands of businesses and constant bail outs of the big banks—the Dow is at the same point it was a year ago. What this means I do not know other than the clear truth that somebody somewhere knows a heck of a lot more about what has gone on, is going on and is to go on than they are letting us know about.

For what purpose are we here on this earth?

I have not posted on this site for quite awhile due to physical problems which had to be addressed. Now, after spending ten days in a hospital waiting for my blood to thin enough to allow the three new stents placed in my heart to not clog up; I am finally ready to again post on this site.

I have had ample time to consider many things over the past few weeks, not the least of which is attempting to answer the greatest question anyone can ask, which is “why are we here?” If a survey were taken of 1,000 people asking them why they are on this earth, I am sure there would be little agreement on an answer. In other words, the true answer to this question lies in the individual views of the one answering the question.

For many people, the main reason they have to “carry on” is either financial or family oriented. Many times these two things are so intertwined that they become one and the same. Millions upon millions of people wake up every morning to go to work to earn a paycheck to pay the mortgage and provide food for their family. This goes on for 50 years or so and then they retire to go play with their grandchildren.

Is our purpose in this life really only to make money to in turn spend it on spouses, children or ourselves? Is this really the grand design and reason for our being? Does every child born into this world have nothing else to look forward to in this life than 12 years of school (or 16 or more), 50 years of work and a few years of golf before the wheels fall off physically? Is the greatest reward to be earned in this life really only a nice house and a big family?

For the vast majority of this world’s population, there is really nothing else to explain life than the daily ordeal of doing what is needed to survive. Those of us living in the superficial prosperity of the West fail to understand that billions of people wake up each day not knowing for sure where the means will come from to live another day. Truly the biggest motivation for most people to live is the will to survive. That is why in many countries and cultures those who are weak are quickly forgotten and left to die.

The great scheme currently being promoted is one of “spreading the wealth around”. Through socialism and communism, the idea is to take from the rich and give to the poor thus creating a level playing field for everyone. Of course this sounds fantastic to those at the bottom of the socio-economic pile but for those at the top, it is the worst of all scenarios.

Whether it is right to force those who have succeeded in making a lot of money to share it with those who have not is open to debate. If those with the means would simply give to those who don’t, then there would be no problem. But, those with the means many times hoard what they have and not do not share but continue to get more and more. Yet, is the answer really to tax or otherwise force those who have an abundance to subsidize those who have little?

The only fair and equitable way of collecting money to run a government of other organization is to impose the same flat rate on everyone the way sales tax does today. If everyone paid the same rate, then no one could claim they are being singled out to give more than anyone else. If everyone had to pay 8% of their income in taxes, then the playing ground would be level for all.

What difference does it make to tell the wealthy to pay 35% of their income and then allow shelters and other ways for them to hide their assets so they end up paying less than many at the 15% rate? Why not simply tell everyone they must pay a set percentage of their income and provide no shelters or credits or other silly ways to provide escape routes for those who can afford good accountants or attorneys to find them.

No one likes paying sales tax, but as long as everyone has to pay it, then one can complain that much. Those who make little buy little and pay little in tax. Those who make much, buy much and pay much in sales tax. Certainly the sales tax on a 5 million dollar yacht is just as much of a burden to the one with the means as the sales tax on a 50 dollar item is to those without.

There must obviously be something greater to account for life than just making a living. That purpose is of course, in my mind, to love God and share His love with others. Herein lies the great reason for drawing breath. All else is vanity and shortsighted to say the least.

Oink, Oink–The upcoming Pork invasion in the economic stimulus package

If there were such a thing a “truth detector”, the readings would be setting off all sorts of alarms based on the insanity flowing from our nation’s capital. Things being said and promoted are so far off the chart of logic that I wonder if there are really any people who believe them. We truly live in a time when most ideas and decisions are literally upside down from the way they should be, and far removed from what the majority of people really want.

I would tend to agree with some who have stated that the rash of executive decisions announced the past week are nothing more than “pay back” to special interest groups whose help was needed to get the current crop of politicians elected. The same thing happened in reverse eight years ago which reversed what happened back sixteen years ago. Each new administration seems to feel it has the right to abruptly change those policies it doesn’t agree with and that can be done via Executive Order, as quickly as possible.

Where this policy is to be expected, some of the other moves by the new administration should be raising eyebrows and sending warning signals to those seeking rational and objective leadership. Of course many think it is a good thing that one by one the agenda of the “right” is dismantled and replaced with a radical agenda that is predominantly “leftward leaning”. I really don’t see why this should surprise anyone and I don’t know how different things would have been if the November election results would have been reversed.

The point is that in many different categories, things will be radically different than they were before as Congress starts the process of pushing through key elements of the new administration’s plans for “change”. Whether desired or not, these elements are on the way and will start showing up soon in areas affecting all of us. Whether we like these changes or not makes little difference for once laws are written, they are laws and must be obeyed.

Once the economic stimulus package is ever finished and the endless changes and amendments are added, there are few who really think it will end up under a trillion dollars. The unfortunate reality is that once that bill reaches the President’s desk to be signed, it will have more pork in it than most slaughterhouses. Cozy little earmarks and little spending measures will be buried in the bill in such fine print no one will catch them until after the bill passes.

It is an absolute given in Washington politics that the most powerful members of Congress make sure they somehow bring home the most pork each session. If they don’t, they don’t stay long in Washington. States with long serving Senators and Representatives manage to squeeze money out of even basic bills for their state or district. Then, when re-election time comes, they make sure they remind everyone how much “good” they did the preceding term.

I sometimes pity some of the small states or those who have only brand new Senators or Representatives. It is a foregone conclusion these places will get very little pork the first few years. I guess this is why there are so many extremely elderly Senators. The states keep re-electing them due to how much money they send back home instead of their positions on major issues.

Since no one seems to care how much money is spent to stimulate the American economy, look for more and more additions to the spending bill when it reaches the Senate. For the life of me, I don’t understand why they don’t just make it a ten trillion dollar bill and give each Senator a few hundred billion to “play with” for their states. Of course they could just send us all a million dollars and we could in turn tell Washington we don’t need a Congress anymore for we have enough money to run things ourselves.

44th President–Greatest ever or worse than any–Let God and time be the judge

For the multitudes trying to transform President Obama into the reincarnation of John F. Kennedy; the only words I feel appropriate are the famous words spoken in 1988 during the Vice Presidential debate. At the time, Sen. Lloyd Bentsen had this to say to Sen. Dan Quayle and his comparing himself to Jack Kennedy. “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy: I knew Jack Kennedy; Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.” President Obama is not John Kennedy, even if he succeeds in pushing the Governor of New York to appoint JFK’s daughter to the United States Senate.

For the multitudes trying to transform President Obama into the reincarnation of the Rev. Martin Luther King; the only words I feel appropriate cannot be written in a public blog post. This comparison is even more revolting than that to JFK. What Martin Luther King did was so unique and phenomenal due to the times in which he lived, to compare what Mr. Obama has done to what Martin Luther King did is to diminish the historical significance of Rev. King’s accomplishments.

For the multitudes trying to transform President Obama into the reincarnation of Abraham Lincoln; the only word I feel appropriate is “huh?” Other than being from Illinois, I fail to see why there should be any comparison between these two men. Any attempts to do so are in my mind comical.

For the multitudes trying to transform President Obama into the reincarnation of Franklin Roosevelt; the only words I feel appropriate are that this is the one comparison that is worth considering. The similarities dealing with the economy are eerily similar as is the general condition of the nation. With a solid majority backing his decisions in Congress, the similarities become even more matched. But, even with a somewhat similar financial mess on his hands, the challenges awaiting our 44^th President are similar in outward appearance only to those faced by FDR 76 years ago.

Why not let President Obama be his own man instead of squeezing him into the mold of those who lived and served years or even centuries ago? Why must everyone feel the need to always compare one person with another? Is it not possible that a person can end up being uniquely different than anyone who preceded him?

I wish only the best for our new President. Why shouldn’t I? If negatives happen, they will end up directly impacting me and my family. If positives happen, not only will my life be better, but President Obama will make his own history as someone capable of pooling the collective resources of great people and dealing with the worst financial crisis since the depression FDR had to deal with.

I refuse to participate in the constant negative, sarcastic and unprofitable rhetoric being propounded by conservative talk show hosts. They relentless attack every move Obama makes like there is an election coming up next month. Hey folks, the election was two months ago and you lost. Get over it. Don’t do what the Democrats did after Al Gore’s humiliating defeat in 2000. They never let go of the bitterness and anger.

Unless someone in authority comes up with a better plan than the ridiculous excuse for a stimulus package being rammed through Congress at this time; this country is going to fall, no matter who is leading it. The very idea of throwing trillions of dollars at the economic problems facing this country is shortsighted and historically not a good example.

Any honest historian knows that it was World War II that brought the world out of The Great Depression and not the money FDR and Congress threw at the problems. Once this country HAD to start making everything from tanks to ships to airplanes and bullets, the economy was jumpstarted faster than through all the stimulus packages attempted for the preceding eight years.

President Jimmy Carter deliberately drew down the United States military by starving it of funds during the horrible economic times in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Once Ronald Reagan took office, he immediately sought to cut taxes and up the amount of money spent on the nation’s defense in a huge way. Those two moves, more than any other, prompted the economy to throw off its lethargy and within a year or two embark on nearly two decades of amazing growth.

Most experts are comparing the current recession to that of 1980-82. That inflation driven recession was not overcome by throwing money at banks and other insane moves. It was overcome by giving American citizens and businesses such a huge tax break, they gladly spent which got the economy moving again. At the same time, huge contracts were given to major defense contractors who in turn hired unemployed workers in droves.

The biggest question which will determine whether President Obama will be viewed as a success or failure is whether he and his friends in Congress turn the United States into either a socialist state or worse—a fascist one by having the government take over everything; or whether he stands up to his friends and fights to rejuvenate American businesses and families through tax cuts and policies designed to promote growth not just a safety net.

I most certainly pray not only the “experts” but the United States and the world for that matter wait until well after the first glorious 100 days before erecting statues, naming highways and otherwise christening President Obama the greatest President ever in this country. Perhaps he may end up being such, but it would take history many generations to make that call accurately. One cannot be judged by the immediate results one produces.

Whether President Obama leads us to the Promised Land or to ruin; as Christian our role is to pray, pay honest taxes and follow the laws of the land. I will do those things with a pure heart and nothing more. I will allow the judgment of the new administration to be made by the Great Judge God and the time needed to see if short-term fixes indeed produce long-term positive results. By these long term results we will indeed be able to know what commenced today with the swearing in of our 44^th President.

Misplaced and dilusional optimism running rampant in D.C. this week

In most respects, I want to crawl into a hole and come out in next week. I look forward to what is happening this week in Washington about as much as sleeping naked on my frozen pond. There is nothing happening this week that I believe is anything other than the reflection of a nation who about to reach the end of its glory. All the talk of “hope” and “change”, which will fuel exorbitant optimism that all the woes that drug this country down this past year are over, will never happen.

No one man, no matter how handsome, skilled in giving speeches and popular is able to turn the United States of America around. Many think FDR did, but his policies (if they really did any good) took years to take effect and the changes took even longer. Just because everyone is down in the dumps doesn’t make it right for them to suddenly lose all sense of rational thought and get stuck on stupid.

Surveys allegedly show that well over 70% of Americans think that somehow their new President is going to wave a magic wand and solve all the problems of the country AND all their personal ones too. What this means is that well over 70% of Americans have lost their collective minds. There are no magic wands and no President is able to talk or spend America or Americans out of their problems. Why and how so many people believe this is troubling and frightening.

Back in 2001, after the horrible tragedy of 9/11 surveys showed 90% of Americans believed their President would lead them to victory over the forces of evil which caused the disaster. Within a very small amount of time the percentage of those who believed that dropped to 60% and by the time the man leaves office Tuesday, barely 30% believe he did any good in eight years. The point is that Americans are notoriously fickle in their optimism and loyalty to their leader.

In 1991 at this time, President Bush the elder had just launched “Operation Desert Storm”. Almost the entire country was solidly behind the effort, helped along by songs like Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American” and others. To most Americans at the time, the whole thing was equal to watching the Olympics. Their “team” was beating the daylights out of the Iraq team. At the time, Americans thought George Bush Sr. was the greatest President who ever lived in the White House. By November of 1992 they had voted him out of office in a humiliating defeat.

I wish President Obama all the best. I pray for him because my Bible says to. I pray he makes the right decisions and leads this country the best he can. But, he is still just a man. He is not a god and does not possess some type of supernatural ability to instantly solve all the nation’s problems or mine. Perhaps he will enter office with a 70% or greater approval rating. Perhaps the economy will turn around with all the spending and by next year he will have a 90% approval rating. If it happens, it happens.

All I know, is that realistically speaking, the odds do not favor a sudden and abrupt change in anything other than the National Debt. Things fall apart far quicker than it takes to rebuild them. Anything short of a National debt forgiveness program is bound to take months, if not years to produce the desired results. Problems which took years to develop cannot be solved overnight, no matter how much “hope” the people have.

My problems lie with the mentality of the American population and their misguided belief that their self pronounced “savior” can lead them to the promised land of financial prosperity and wealth without having to work or save for it. This entitlement and welfare state way of thinking is doing nothing but setting Americans up for an even greater disaster than the one which has taken place the past few months.

Wisdom, patience, hard work and prayer will pull this country out of the cesspool of depravity it has sunk into. Realistically speaking, I don’t think there is any more chance of these things being operated by the incoming President and Congress than the outgoing. All I see for this country is years of falling deeper and deeper in debt and only deferring to the next generation the horrible end game catastrophe such debt is bound to produce. For now, America, enjoy your misplaced and delusional “optimism” for that is all it is.

Dealing with the the terror and fear of failure

Fear has a way of gripping, seizing and otherwise stopping people in their tracks. Fear of failure has to be the greatest of all fears next to the biggest one—fear of death. When the fear of losing all one has worked for to obtain confronts a person, the instinctive reaction is first panic and then irrational actions. Both of these reactions generate negative results which compound the problem.

Fear is like a disease which creeps into the mind and slowly but surely takes over thought patterns and influences the decision making process. Fear is irrational and thus the decisions made out of fear are irrational. Fear is counterproductive and thus when allowed to influence our thinking it generates results which only serve to foster more fear.

The purpose of a terrorist attack is to generate fear and panic more than anything else. The immediate destruction is important, but the long term fear is the main objective. Terror is not a nice word, and to terrorize is one of the ugliest words in the English language. Nothing harms people more than to live in a state of terror for in that state there is no freedom but only bondage.

Fear and terror are the cruelest of all slave masters and they rule with an iron fist. When a person, community or nation is ruled by a tyrant utilizing fear tactics, the resulting submission is obtained at the cost of individual initiative and personal liberty. Living under the cloak of fear produces nothing but bondage and a timid lifestyle void of any risks and joy.

The greatest realm of fear currently is of course finances. With the ongoing, and seemingly never ending onslaught of negative news regarding everything from the Stock Market to house foreclosures to job losses, etc there has settled over the world a growing fear that things will never be as they were during the years of prosperity fueled by unbridled greed. As the reality of horrible mistakes made years ago catches up with the current situation, things just keep getting worse due to the enormous deceit and evil practiced by so many for so long.

Times are tough and getting tougher by the day for millions of people. The numbers of us who have to deal with the gnawing fear that within a few months there will not be enough money to even pay the mortgage, let alone all the other bills, is growing daily. Those who have lost 50% or more of their net worth and have gone from equity positions to being “upside down” in their homes are the ones most at risk of yielding to fear.

Somehow there is a way out of the wilderness and that way can be found if fear is kept at bay and sound practices of financial stewardship are practiced. As is evidenced by the current flood of negative earnings reports by major corporations, Americans have been cutting back on purchases which is the only sound and logical thing to do in times such as these. But, in so doing this, the ripples spread throughout the whole economy as one sector after another suffers a downturn in business. It is, indeed, a vicious cycle.

Whether all the bailouts and stimulus packages which have come and are coming will really do much to stimulate the economy, promote job growth and halt the foreclosure crisis is open for debate and won’t be known for months or years. What is a known reality is that if fear is allowed to take hold and dictate decision making whether in Washington or everyone’s kitchen table; the results will be opposite to what everyone desires and the problems will compound.

In these troubling times, it behooves the wise person to first be patient and secondly be prudent. Now is not the time for outlandish and risky moves. If ever there was a time to dig in and hang on, it is now. Budget your resources as best you can with the mortgage being most important followed by utilities and other living expenses. The vultures circling who lured us into getting their credit cards will just have to live off the scraps for awhile. The tactics being employed by the major banks by cutting credit lines and raising interest rates for even good customers is deplorable and I pray it backfires on them.

Normally I would never advocate paying the minimum per month on a credit card bill, but if it comes down to paying more or losing your house; it is a no brainer. In due time all this will work out one way or the other and we all will either be living in tents somewhere or the ship will right itself and the good times will come again. Until then, the main thing is to stay calm and not panic. Refuse to act out of fear and of course trust in the Lord for guidance, provision and wisdom. That is all any of us can do.

One last Thanksgiving before the great fascist/socialistic take over of America–Enjoy it

Here are some things which are unmistakable and undeniable that are the result of not only the election held three weeks ago, but many events which led up to it:

1. At the rate the United States Treasury together with the Federal Reserve Board is spending/loaning money; they very well may have succeeded in putting this country somewhere around 7 ½ trillion dollars in debt in 2008. There is no basis for this money, it was invented out of thin air and simply transferred into the National debt.

2. All the above mentioned debt will have associated interest which must be paid even if the principle is not. It is unfathomable how much just the interest payments will be on total debt, especially considering there appears to be no slowing of the money gravy train come January.

3. Any of us who through various situations got caught up in a minor version of what the government is doing debt-wise are viewed as bad and evil people for allowing ourselves to get into a few thousand dollars of debt, but the government can go trillions of dollars in debt bailing out banks and that is allowable.

4. Every day it seems we hear of another huge company or industry being “bailed out” by the government. Look closely at the definition of fascism; any movement, ideology, or attitude that favors dictatorial government, centralized control of private enterprise, repression of all opposition, and extreme nationalism. If what is happening in this country is not fascism, nothing ever will be.

5. Under the cloak of a multitude of new programs to supposedly get America back on its feet again economically; the new Congress will speed through both Houses incredible bills to be signed by the new President the day he takes office which will look good to many suffering Americans but will place millions of people directly under the control of the government. Once Americans start going to the government to pay off their debts under the new program announced today, the end must be getting near.

All of these things plus a truckload of other issues all point to the same unmistakable conclusion which is that the powers that be, whoever they really are, think they can pretty usurp most of the freedoms we have counted dear in this country for well over 200 years in a matter of a few months. It truly is almost surreal to witness events such as the heads of the “Big 3” auto makers get beaten down to a pulp and speak of car pooling to the next round of humiliation as they try to pry 25 billion dollars out of the same government which throws trillions around like candy.

Once the “Big 3” are reduced to the “Big 1” under governmental control, the emphasis will switch to the airline business and then to energy production and finally health care. As one by one, various industries and services are forced to consolidate and be “bailed out” by the government in exchange for direct oversight by the government; the fascist/socialistic society envisioned by secret societies for centuries will be on the doorstep.

What is a believer’s response to this ugly situation to be? What exactly are we supposed to do? Are we to become political activists and march on Washington demanding the government “behave”? Are we to write a billion letters to our deaf Congressmen and women demanding they fulfill their vow to protect the Constitution of this country? Are we to take to the streets with our guns and bombs and violently stop the Orwellian takeover of this country?

I do not believe we are to do any of the above. As bad as things are, and are going to get in this country, they are still far better than conditions in most of the world. As ugly as things are going to get financially and liberty wise in this country, they will still be better than the lot faced daily by billions of downtrodden people in the world every day.

No, our place is not to challenge the government and waste our time fighting the inevitable. The United States of America has spoken through the election results three weeks ago that they want change. The people of the United States deliberately voted to put into place the most liberal Congress in history along with a liberal President. What is in place in Washington represents the will of the people and that must be respected if we are not to descend into anarchy or a dictatorship.

Part of living in a republic or a democracy is that the will of the people expressed in elections must be honored. Conservative talk show hosts can bark and complain all day long about things, but that doesn’t change the inevitability of what is coming. The fact that mucho of the United States remains deeply “RED” does not change the fact that there was a “BLUE” tidal wave which swept over the country three weeks ago, especially in the Senate and House races.

Americans are worried, stressed out and tired of having to be self-sufficient. They want the government to take over providing for their needs, providing vital services, taking care of their health, telling them when and what they can drive, telling them what they can and can’t eat, telling them what they can and can’t say in public and who they can and cannot worship as God. It appears that the vast majority of the people of this country simply want to exchange their personal liberties and the risks that go with them, for governmental control of everything and the supposed security which goes with it.

Allowing the government to run everything and provide for your needs and wants is the ultimate form of idolatry. If indeed what appears to be coming in this country actually does; then this land will be found guilty of utter rejection of God and the same fate awaits it as has befallen every other nation who turns their back on the one true God and willingly turns to idols.

The roar of gross idolatry grows louder every day in this country and will only keep getting louder in the days to come. Enjoy your liberty and freedoms while you can America, for the day is coming VERY SOON when such liberties will only be cherished memories compared to the controlled society we will all be forced to live in.  All any of us can do now is pray for those in authority that whatever they decide to do, it will not interfere with our ability to lead quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and honesty.

A cold December wind is coming both literally and economically

There is a cold wind howling getting ready to sweep across this nation. Unsuspecting multitudes will suddenly find themselves without shelter and directly in the vortex of the approaching storm. Few will believe it is for real, and fewer still will have a clue what to do. Confusion breeds despair and despair breeds disillusionment.

The next six weeks leading up to Christmas will make or break countless retailers across this country. Depending on how bad the upcoming shopping season ends up being, there will either be many companies filing for bankruptcy come January, or there will be MANY companies filing for bankruptcy. Either way, what is coming will have a huge bearing on the ability of this nation to continue to buy and sell for months.

My most trusted weather sources tell me with full assurance and confidence that the majority of the next six weeks are going to be very cold, if not bitterly cold over the entire eastern part of the country. This presents two major challenges. First is the obvious problems that will ensue if snow and ice are added into the cold weather. This keeps people from driving to stores to do their shopping. December’s with brutally bad weather have had devastating effects of retailer’s bottom lines in good years. It could financially ruin countless retailers this year.

The second problem deals with heating bills. The colder the start to the winter, the more people will be forced to plan for sky high energy bills come January and February. If money has to be allocated to pay for heating bills, that is money normally spent on presents for uncle Bill and aunt Jane for Christmas. Putting these two situations together there lies the potential for a major cut back in spending the next six weeks.

While the ever deepening economic crisis still doesn’t have a direct impact on everyone yet, the longer it drags on and the deeper it gets; in due time everyone will feel its pinch. As the situation gets worse, horrible decisions will have to be made by families and by businesses as they determine where to cut expenses in order to starve off bankruptcy. Employers cut jobs and families cut all unnecessary things in order to have enough to pay the bills.

In our little town there is an outlet mall which was built about ten years ago. There are about 50 spaces for stores in the complex. Every year the stores renew their lease in January for the next year. Thus, if a store is closing, it does so in January. Three years ago, there were perhaps 5 empty storefronts in the whole mall. Two years ago, there were about 6 stores which closed in January. Last year, the rates of closing accelerated and there easily was 15 stores which ceased operation in January, including one of the anchors.

This past year, the mall has operated at less than 50% capacity. Rumor has it that another 10 stores will close in January of 2009. If this happens, there will only be about 15 stores trying to stay in business. This exact thing has happened in many smaller outlet malls around the country the past few years. Once the bus leaves the station, it is very hard to catch a ride.

There is a huge combination outlet/regular mall in the northern suburbs of St. Louis which was only opened about 5 years ago and was fully occupied just two years ago. The last time I went there a few months ago, there are entire wings which have no occupying stores. I would guess the occupancy rate at the current time to be no more than 50% for the entire complex.

Retail stores and restaurants are hard businesses to prosper in. They are the first ones to feel every economic downturn and they are the ones hurting the most right now. As people continue to cut back everywhere they can, they have to say goodbye the weekly night at the restaurant and the constant trips to buy things at the stores. Times are getting tough and only going to get tougher.

Just a little word of warning here; now is the time to prepare for what is coming in January through March. Those three months could be very difficult ones to endure as the economy bottoms out and the various new stimulus plans take awhile to get in place and moving. As counterproductive as it sounds; this is not the season to make your friendly neighborhood retailers too happy. Make sure you save something to get yourself through the upcoming difficult winter months before the thaw next spring.

When the caretakers become the ones needing cared for; the collapse of most small charities

When I first started meeting people and looking for supplies to haul to Katrina victims, even though it was 9 months after the disaster, there was still plenty of compassion in the hearts of people who just wanted to “love their neighbor as themselves”. The outpouring of donations of food, furniture, clothing and money was astounding, even to me.

As the summer of 2006 wore on, so did the uniqueness of what I was trying to do. The early offers of help and assistance were replaced with excuses and a building resentment toward those who were still suffering. Somehow their plight was now their fault since it had gone on for so long. By November of 2006, all of 24 months after Katrina; the pipelines of aid were pretty well exhausted and people everywhere were tired of hearing about Katrina, period.

In the two years since, the level of compassion expressed by Americans toward their neighbors who are suffering as dropped dramatically. Calls for volunteers and donations after various disasters were still acceptable a year and half ago, but have dropped in direct proportion to the problems in the economy. The level of spontaneous free will giving now has now reached the point where there is basically nothing in any pipeline for anyone.

This situation has caused me great pain and suffering for I know how one group after another has had to curtail its activities and eliminate programs altogether. When people who used to donate faithfully are contacted, they are told there is nothing left to give. When faithful supply lines are called, those lines are no longer available. What has happened is that most small groups have increased their government dependence and in so doing have lost their autonomy.

As we approach the Holidays, I am alarmed by the downturn in programs which normally provide turkeys to those who normally would have NO Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. I am saddened to hear of the lack of donations for toy drives which are the lifeblood of small independent charities Holiday work.

Those I used to contact have no means to help in any capacity. What money they give, they donate to their church or the United Way or in red kettles in front of Wal Mart. Gone are the days when people had excess money they gladly gave at this time of year. Fundraising drives of all sorts and kinds are running far short of the amounts needed to keep programs afloat another year. There is a true crisis among charities of all sorts and kinds. Except one, that is.

I noticed that the new President’s people are setting up a “non-profit” 501 c4 to handle donations to assist in the transition of Presidents. I frankly do not understand how a group which already collected over 700 million dollars to run its campaign out of the pockets of donors, now has it hand out wanting another couple hundred million to move from Chicago to Washington.

The Federal Government can, has and will bail out banks, insurance companies and automobile manufacturers to the tune of 2 trillion dollars but can’t find a couple hundred million to move the new President and his staff to Washington? Of all the stupid things, this one takes the cake. While hundreds of worthwhile charities cannot find donors because all available money has gone to the Presidential campaign; those same people will gladly cough up hundreds of millions for transition.

Many of these same people will curtail giving during the Holidays due to needing to save their money for the gala at the time of the Inauguration. While these people blame America for not giving more to help the suffering, all their personal money goes to political campaigns, transitions and Inaugurations.

Normally at this time of year I would mellow and talk about the nice aspects of the upcoming Holidays. Not this year, and probably not ever again. As much as I hate to admit it, there is really nothing I can do anymore except pray for the few remaining independent groups trying to “hang on” in their commitment to helping others. All I can do is act as a middleman in trying to match needs with resources.

See, in my zeal to give away everything I owned to help others, I managed to succeed in doing just that. I now am only a couple of months away from joining those I tried to help for so long. The debt incurred in trying to launch a failed charity has finally caught up with me. Since the sum and total of all donations this year to my little group amounted to $100, I cannot do much except do as I have done in giving every penny I didn’t need that instant to others. Even today I gave a guy wondering around begging for money the last $20 I had.

I will never stop giving even if I have nothing to give. I will never stop trying to help even if I can find no one willing to lift a finger. I will continue to do all I can do even if no one in this country sees fit to ask where or how they can help. I pray God has a few others out there who are so committed and whose lives are not their own.

I do thank all who have added comments to the blog which has turned into a resource place for Ike victims. What was done with Ike this year is the greatest tragedy since the civil war. I promise to write more on that in the coming days.

For anyone who reads this, I am in desperate need of selling a 1994 Dodge conversion/camper van which has a little over 100,000 miles on it. I used this van traveling all over the United States in my attempts to find resources for those helping the suffering. I lived in this van and put thousands of dollars into its upkeep and maintenance. Selling that van now would buy me a couple of months more in this house.

Thank you for listening and praying for thousands who are silently hurting and deeply suffering due to the inability of people to give. I ask your prayers and supplication for my friends at Tri Coastal Community Outreach in Grand Bay, Alabama. I ask your prayers for my friends at the Giving Tree Outreach Program in Tucson, Arizona. I ask your prayers for my friends at the Cornerstone Children’s Ranch in Quemado, Texas.

I ask for your prayers for myself and my wife. Times are getting really tough for us just as they are for many of you. Our God is good and our God is great. Into His gracious hands I commit all of us trying to help and serve and all those who are in such desperate need. Thank You.