Don't Forget Our Indian Christian Brothers And Sisters

If you're like me, my focus has been  set on the political scene.  I was speaking with a friend in Ireland who says they're following our election with great interest.  All eyes seem to be on the two political candidates and the race for the USA office of president.  It's easy to forget that we have Christian brothers and sisters who are caught in life and death situations.  I came across an article written on Oct 17th that described the continued Christian persecutions in India.  A Catholic priest was drug out into the street to be lit on fire.  God caused confusion in attackers and they didn't complete the job.  A nun was repeatedly attacked by a group of four men.  Homes and churches have been destroyed.  The local authorities have given the choice of denouncing their faith and being given the means to start again, or to continue being persecuted to the point of potential loss of life.   Quite frankly, I sometimes feel quite guilty of the easy life I lead and the way I take for granted my ability to freely worship Jesus in public.  And yet:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
   "For your sake we face death all day long;
      we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."   No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.   For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:35-39

The Big Drop

The picture at right is not a picture of the Continental Shelf, but is in fact the performance of the Dow Jones Average over the past 12 months.

Financial panic seems to be spreading across the globe. As I speak with friends and colleagues, true fear  can be heard in the voices, unclear as to what they should do and calling for  someone to be held accountable.  For those who are depending on their investments, 401k  plans and other accumulated wealth,  this has been a heavy bow. 

The scriptures teach about finances. 

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."  But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:17-18

In Deuteronomy, we are reminded that it is the Lord who enables and blesses us with our abilities to make a living.   We read in 1 Timothy:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment  1 Timothy 6:17

Timothy calls out the fact we should not put our hope in wealth which is uncertain, as evidenced in the continued fall of the DOW.  We have a greater hope than wealth, politicians, or knowledge.  Peter points to our faith in Christ as the best place for our perfect hope.

Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:17-19

Many friends, family members and colleagues  have lost their job, homes or both in this economic downturn.  Our hearts and prayers are with them as they struggle with this trial.