Perspctives on the Financial Crisis + a hysterical video

Mint.com has a great visual on the financial crisis in America.


Plus, you have to check out this hysterically clever video of Hitler's financial crisis (just for illustration purposes, of course).



[HT: Tim Challies]

Piper: Bad Times are Good for Missions

Filed under: I Never Thought About It From That Perspective
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This was encouraging to me as we seek to raise funds for the New City Church Project-Calgary during these tough economic times when folks are nervous about the economy.

John Piper proposes the thesis that the worst of all times is the best of all times for missions.

Thinking & praying on Lamentations 3, he says his thesis needs to be tested:

1. During an economic downturn we are more dependent on God. That is the most fertile soil for creating missionaries.
2. During an economic downturn unreached people around the world do not expect you to come, but to look out for yourself. So they may more likely see your risk as love rather than exploitation.
3. During an economic downturn those who need Christ around the world may be less secure in earthly things and more ready to hear about eternal life.
4. During an economic downturn people at home may be wakened to the brevity of life and the fragility of material things, and so may become more generous not less. And when they give under these circumstances, it will make Christ look all the more like the all-satisfying Treasure that he is.

As we look at the amount of money we need to raise to do church planting in the most expensive city in which to live in Canada, it seems like a daunting task.

All the more glory for God when He provides during these times. Join us in praying to this end.

Who wants to be rich???

Recently, the Gather Little by Little Guy was prompted to think about wealth after reading a series of posts asking, "Who Wants to be a Millionnaire?" This are his reflections...

Sometime over the years, my definition of rich has changed. When I was younger, rich equated to nothing more than how much money I had. If thought that if I had a million dollars, I would be rich. Plain and simple right? Now though, the equation is far more complicated. I’ve matured enough to realize that being rich isn’t directly proportional to how much money you have in the bank. Being rich is how abundant you are. Being rich is instead about the value of the people and things around you.

Read more here.