JJ Heller and her husband Dave led worship this morning at Crossroads. It was great. She has a voice and writing style that certainly pierces the heart. Her sound reminds me of Colbie Caillat. Check out her new album available for free download until November 1:
Thanks to Toph for a great link to reading on the Bailout.
While it is quite in depth I found these articles especially interesting on Mr. Bailout (Alan Greenspan), Avoiding Another Depression, Austrian Theory on Depressions, and these on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The fact that these articles date back at least to 2002 lends some credibility to their assertions about the fact we would come to the current crisis, be tempted by Federal involvement and the nationalization of finance, as well as real ideas for not making things worse (i.e. no bailout).
No matter where you stand, some serious thought about our current financial crisis is in order. This is a good place to start. Anybody else have other resources?
Consider contacting your Congressperson and Senators regarding a responsible, accountable, and long term decision to the financial crisis. Here is a link with a suggested letter by Sojourners (but you can edit it, the main thing is it will automatically email your representatives for you).
It's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases. - Bono (source)
The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers it can bribe the public with the public's money. - Alexis de Tocqueville
S. The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for people to bear the yoke while they are young. - Lamentations 3:25-27 (TNIV)
O. In the midst of suffering it is good to still hope. Hope comes in quiet, non-complaining, silence before the Lord.
A. My impatience is brought out in these verses. I want salvation and revival now! I am reduced to constant talk and complaining when hardship comes (maybe even when its not around). Let me retreat to silence when hardship comes. Here the Lord can stir my hope.
P. Today is a busy day Jesus . . . be still and silent of mouth and mind so that others may speak and you may be filled with my hope.
S. Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at every street corner. - Lamentations 2:19 (TNIV)
(The Church) has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away. - Lamentations 1:8 (TNIV)
O. The state of our children reflect our sin before God. As we have been unfaithful, so our children faint from spiritual hunger.
A. A call to repentance, prayer, and restoration.
P. Thank you Lord for your forgiveness. Help me rise and declare your glory!
Give praise to the Lord! Sing his praises, sing of him. Tell of all his wondrous acts. Lord you are making a remnant. You are calling people to humility and prayer. Your are healing the land. Lord bring Mark into your kingdom! Let him be the peacemaker!
S. . . . This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. - Revelation 13:10 (TNIV)
For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. - Psalm 48:14 (TNIV)
O. God is worthy, beautiful, joyful, great, strong, faithful, loving, righteous, and good. This is our God. The world is confused, hurt, indulgent, and broken. This is our world. Between this tension are a people called to ptient endurance and faithfulness.
A. I hear Jesus saying, Wait on me, do not rush. My answer will be revealed in time. Be faithful in your dealings and prayer, let me be the one to guide, let me protect my people and my name. I am willing to risk with many. I am willing to risk with you.
P. Guide us O Lord! Jesus, create in my a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit (of grace) within me! Doubt.
S. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him . . . They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. - Revelation 12:9-11 (TNIV)
O. Satan and his angels are actively trying to lead God's people away from God. It's all Satan's got left. We will triumph over Satan's power through Jesus and an incarnate life. By Jesus' power in us, we are like him.
A. Today I teach, pick up trash, I walk the halls . . . what will it be like to be Jesus on these moments.
P. Lord thank you for your faithfulness. As I was willing to walk in the things you are passionate about you show up in power! The Enemy has no chance. Help me care about the things you care about so I will be more like you.
S. Say to them, "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots. 10 It has been planted, but will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it—wither away in the plot where it grew?" - Ezekiel 17:9-10 (TNIV)
O. Israel, as a people group, was meant to have God as their King. They were not satisfied. Then came their own king. God was not satisfied. Then came their exile to Babylon and submission to a new king (the first eagle in the previous verses). They were not satisfied. So they sought ought the king of Egypt (the second eagle). In all these settings there were times of growth because of God's grace. Yet the people always looked for a man to help them.
A. By God's grace we can grow in many settings that are MUCH less than God's ideal. We must be careful not to become compliant when we see a little growth assuming we are in God's sweet spot for us. Our wayward hearts will quickly misguide us, and will prevent us from thriving as God wants.
P. Jesus, who was my second king? South Hills.
Who is my third king? Crossroads.
And I still haven't found what I am looking for. You have always been looking for me.
Vision. Hope. Security. Belonging. Purpose.
All of these you have looked for in the "church," but these things lie in the Creator... not the creation, "founder," or the "barbarian"... they are found in me... so follow me.
