Peter Schiff Was Right 2006 – 2007

He spoke but no one listened. He debated but no one took him seriously. Why would this guy want to continue to go the path that is least walked. Why would be put his business ventures at stake? The answers seems to rest in that fact that he knew the truth about the upcoming crisis even if that meant being humiliated and unpopular. Who is this man? Funny how the previous lines could represent a number of people all throughout history. But my illustrating is referring to Peter Schiff. Who is Mr. Schiff? He is an “American stock broker, economist, author, financial news commentator, video blogger, the president of Euro Pacific Capital and a 2010 candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democratic Senator Chris Dodd” (wikipedia: Peter David Schiff). What makes him so interesting is that he was one of the few economists in the world to openly tell the world about a devastating economic crisis that was soon to come.

So why didn’t anyone want to listen to him? He wasn’t stating what people want to hear. Not only that but there are many groups (government, media, banking, etc) that have an invested interest in the general citizens continued trust the US financial system. Any great hysteria could topple over the financial system that we currently hold in this county. Scary? Without God–yes. But what is scarier is that there is a God quickly coming and we are arguing over if He even exists. The wicked nature of humanity is “dress[ing] the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace” Jeremiah 8:11.

Here is a video to watch so that you can get a picture of just what it means to stand up for the truth. Now please do likewise.

God Bless!

Matt

Fasting for the Second Week

This is the second week that I have followed God’s leading and have started a fast. Maybe you can relate; your life doesn’t seem to be moving forward, your motivation is weaning, your family needs prayer and you have lost the vision.

The my first week, a friend and I fasted for 7 days, eating only raw nuts, fruits, vegetable and water. In that same week, the power of God was obviously present. We both noticed a greater desire to grow closer to Him; many areas of our lives that are lacking; and we felt that something positive had come out. Not knowing it however, we both were praying to know God even closer and to get an even greater blessing in our lives so to share with those we meet. So we started the fast again for some really important challenges in our lives.

My battle seems to be that my mind, which is full of concerns and worries. I can’t move forward, and backwards isn’t an option. My feeble strength comes from the wrestle that Jacob had with God. Praying and holding on like Jacob (Gen 32:28), I strive to receive my blessing. And the Lord has kept his promise. Reading Daniel 10, I am comforted by the following passage:

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. 16 Then one who looked like a man [b] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”
18 Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. 19 “Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

Daniel was going through his own fast and he too was faced with spiritual challenges that tired him. Claiming this situation, I press forward.

Fear.

I was readying an article on CNN about fear a few minutes ago and I have really started to understand clearer why the Lord petitions us to not fear. Our minds are so powerful, that while our conscious is inactive, our subconscious is working overtime to grasp and shackle sanity. The article points out that our minds has a tendancy to ‘self-sabotage — and it can ruin your life’ just so that we wont have to worry about what ever we are worring about.

What a wake-up call! I have been dwelling on the idea of fear for awhile. For example,  I had just received back the movie that I had lent out, called ‘Facing the Giants’, and was talking to my friend about how powerful it had been for us! The main character in the movie facing huge obstacles in his marriage, career, and outlook of life. Reflecting, I realized that  I than the strong feelings of a movie, the Bible, testimonies, logic, and dreams; I want to have freedom in its purist form. I want the words of Jesus when he states that His ‘yoke is easy and my burden is light’ to become one with my mind.  No more shall I be enslaved to the things of this world!

I can’t let things in life become squished out because Satan has embedded a sense of fear in my thoughts and I have claimed them as truth. I can’t continue to sabotage friendships, remain reserved, act in mediocrity/indifference,  or lose the God who is standing so close and pleading so loud for me to let go and let Him! I have to strive for the promise that the Lord is my rock and fortress, an ever present help in trouble.

Is fear crippling your life? Highly likely, because we live on this planet.  Like me, many of you have realized your weakness–but what now? We need to look fear in the eyes, and let the Lord lead us to victory. What the author of the CNN article didn’t mention, is that we are saved trough Christ and Christ ALONE! Let us go towards great things in Jesus’ name, Amen!

-Matt

How to survive a hurricane.

24“Therefore, everyone who listens to these messages of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. 25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation was on the rock.

26“Everyone who keeps on hearing these messages of mine and never puts them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and battered that house, and it collapsed, and its collapse was total.” (Luke 6:47-49)

There are times when you might want to give up. Maybe a whole lot of things aren’t going your way; or maybe a loved one is being tried. Maybe, yet, you have lost the zeal for life and nothing seems to fill the void. Don’t give up! Just like the verse states, fasten to the right foundation stand firm to it.

In recent news, there have been many hurricanes hitting the Caribbean nations—primarily the poorer ones. Being just small islands, it saddens me to knowing that it would take a long time for these small governments to bounce back from such devastation.

In this entry you will see a link to some photos of the nation of Haiti. Said to be the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, this country has been hit 2 – 3 times by large storms and hurricanes. The result has been fatal for many and stifling for the rest. The photos show the results of the latest storm, Hurricane Gustav. CNN Story

The only way the nation as a whole will survive, all depends on their foundation. Only when the storm hits do we know if our foundation is strong enough.