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

Young Lady’s Soul

Wow, it is really early in the morning and God just woke me up from a dream. I very rarely dream, and just the same, it is rare to wake up remembering the dream in great detail and feeling impressed to blog about it. I hope that someone is blessed by the truth that I realize that that the Lord is trying to reiterate in my life.

Lo Min Wei's portrait "Meditation"

It went something like this:

I seemed to be part of a church inside of a mall, because it looked different than the standard churches that I usually go to. There are many people that I don’t know surrounding me. One day a young lady (who resembles someone I know) shows up interested in knowing more about the scriptures. We take her to different activities put on by the church. After participating in everything that the church has to offer she realizes that she would join the congregation.

A day seems to have passed by and we are all in the church again, but this time socializing. My mother is talking to a group about a woman at her job who is chronically depressed and doesn’t talk much, when all of a sudden the woman walks into the church and looks at the crowd rather timidly. After a second, the woman lifts her head with calm determination. She introduces herself and then claims that she has been looking for the young lady that had recently joined our church. Everyone is confused and starts asking if she has the right person. She emphasizes that she does and pulls out a notepad that shows a whole bunch of names, some crossed out and some not. Skipping over the people that have the same name as the young lady, she finds the girls name along with her last name on the notebook.

The next scene I find myself in an auditorium connected to a large fellowship hall where the majority of the church has congregated to hear what this lady has to say. The room is designed like a mini amphitheater where the seating rises from the bottom going up. Everyone is able to see the woman while she talks. As she is talking, she shows us an elaborate slide show presentation on a projector screen to the far right wall. Using the screen, she walks back and forth talking about God in an eloquent and convincing way, while focusing on the young lady who is listens intently. However, I quickly realize that what she is saying isn’t of the Word of God. But she is somehow such a good speaker that the church members and the young lady alike are all nodding their heads in agreement. All of a sudden, a guy gets up and walks to the fellowship meal line in the other room to prepare a plate.

The coworker is still talking. As she walks back and forth, a friend and I look at each other and bow our heads to pray. We realize that we can’t let our new friend be swept away. So as we pray, I notice that people all around me are starting to realize that the message isn’t true and start to become obviously uncomfortable. But no one stands up to the woman. My friend and I continue to pray until a church member up in the front stands up and confronts the woman using only Bible quotes from memory. The woman tries to refute everything said but can’t. As the church member speaks truth after truth, the woman has less and less to say until finally she gets agitated and storms out. With the obvious sign of victory, the young lady gives a sigh of relief and the church members give a loud victorious cheer! The guy that went to get food, comes back in without his glasses and looks around in confusion about what happens. He asks a dumb question that everyone laughs to then I woke up.

I am under the impression that everything that was witnessed was critical for the saving of the young lady.  And that the only way to counteract error is through prayer and dependence on what the great reformer Martin Luther said, “Sola scriptura (by scripture alone).”

I believe that is it important to note that our churches don’t always standup—as a body—for the truth, sometimes it is one person. Also, there are people–like the hungry man–who aren’t interested in the saving of souls or the search of Truth. They would rather indulge in trivial things. Also, like I mentioned in the beginning, maybe someone reading this is going through a similar scenario, or maybe some of you are be challenged in the faith that you have claimed to be true. Back it up with the Bible and prayer and God has promised in His word to lead you home.

Good day.

Jon and Kate Plus Reality Check

I am not a big TV watcher. Actually, that is funny to state, because when I was younger I was a television junkie. Plus, I have a Bachelors degree in Television (Media) Production. So there is alot of experience flowing through this article.

Jon & Kate plus8

One thing that really bothers me (among others) in today’s television is the genre of reality TV.  Not primarily because a lot of it isn’t real or is manipulated, nor is it because the topics are becoming more shallow and brain-dead as each season passes. Nope, it is the people who sign up to participate in such programing. Jon and Kate Gosselin are one perfect example.

By now you have some idea of the  TLC’s well publisized show ‘Jon & Kate + 8′? Pretty much it was a family of then people — two parents and eight kids– and their extraordinary life. The headline news, for that past half a year, is that the parents are going through a terrible divorce (because of the show) as the world watches.

Not too weird for America, right? But what rips me apart is that this didn’t have to happen. Just like Jerry Springer, you don’t have to be on the show. Nonetheless, their choices have created chaos in the lives of 8 innocent kids.

Going back to reality TV, what bothers me the most is that becuase of the ambition of reality participants to quench the want of the media public, they would go so far as to play with relationships, sleep around, relentlesly compete, or lose their family… What is usually the gain? Money, short term fame, a random tabloid? What is the loss? Too much to name.

Jon and Kate have lost each other, unstabilized their family, polarized a country, and soon will dissolve a show, for what?

Jeremiah  states that, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9 NIV). Good question Jeremiah, good question.

-Matt

Excuse Me, I am Lost!

Are you lost?

How does one capitalize on a a strong desire to achieve a certain goal? How does one go through reaching such a goal? How do you know if the goal is worth even chasing? Where am I going with this? I don’t know!

Are you confused? I hope not. I am just at a point where I need to make some major decisions. Thankfully not life threatening, rather life changing. I am looking for answers as to why I desire to work in humanitarian and ministry, how my current Masters degree will get me there, and how long it will take.

Is this God’s leading? I believe so, or I wouldn’t be going through all this. In the poem “My God” by Stephen D. Glass, he states that “God does not call the equipped. He equips the called.” I think that that nails it perfectly. Why? Well if we looked at Abraham, we would realize that Abraham was taken from the Ur of the Chaldeans (Acts 7:2-4) to Canaan. It is a similar situation. He to didn’t he know were he was going? But he pressed on. And through his faith, he is listed in Hebrews 11 as an example those later in earth’s history. So I too will press on, though I will continue to pray for a clearer picture.

And to each of you that are presently swimming in questions, take note that God honestly knows where He is taking you. That is the faith that we believe. So let’s stop and give him our concerns. *Smile* You know what? I feel better.

Good Night,

Matt

The Dream

I had a dream about a week ago that made such a great impression that I remembered it when I woke up that morning. I know that this isn’t a phenomenon being that dreaming is a common human action, but I don’t normally dream or at least remember them. This makes this dream so impressionable and vivid even a week later.

Before I tell you this dream, I want you open your understanding to how God works in someone’s life so that you will be prepared for your experience.

Ok, now the dream. I wouldn’t want you getting to impatient, now would I? My dream took place outside of some type of school building. It greatly resembled one that I use to live close to many years ago in Florida, USA. A three floor building enclosed structure to be exact.

For some reason (which didn’t seem important), a group of young people and myself were sitting on some bleachers outside of the building either listening to someone talk or enjoying the fellowship of each other. I remember seeing one of my relatives.

When it the event was over, everyone started leaving together in the general direction around the perimeter of the building. I was one of the last to leave, and as I was making my way towards the exit, my cell phone rang. Upon answering I realized that it was one of my friends who told me that they had left their phone at the bleachers and asked if I could go get it.

So I went back to the bleachers to retrieve the item, and was I shocked to see the whole bleachers filled with wallets, cell phones, and other personals. While getting my things, a young lady walked up and commented on how she wished she could care as much as I did.

Then I woke up.

Just like King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2, I wanted to understand exactly what the dreamed meant. It just felt like it was so important to know.

So I brought it up with my mother, who listened until I was done. She was talking to God as I spoke and she gave me the meaning after a few seconds:

‘Your job is to bring people back to their valuables to help them remember what is most important in life.’

In awe, I have worked to digest this explanation and understand what the Lord has in store for my life.

What is the most important thing in your life? What is the Lord leading you? Whatever it is, don’t forsake the dream!