Check out this article. Many people believe that Thanksgiving and the landing of the Pilgrims was a happy time in American history. However, reading from this article and checking some of the links, you get a real sense of what the early Pilgrims went through...and a plug for free markets.
The Great Thanksgiving Hoax
Grace & Peace.
PLW
Nov 30, 2009
Nov 23, 2009
Quote
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it.” Upton Sinclair
Nov 21, 2009
Nov 20, 2009
Mortgage Issues
I find this stuff interesting so that is why I blog about it, but I know I am a geek sometimes. The above chart was taken from a Wall Street Journal article linked above.
The number of mortgage applications (shown above) has dropped to a 12-year low despite ALL of the stimulus packages available and the new home credits. At first blush this appears counter-intuitive but upon further scrutiny it makes total sense.
People who can refinance have already refinanced. With mortgage rates below 5% on a 30-year mortgage, those that have withstood the equity assault on their homes have been able to save some money by reducing their payments.
Others have negotiated with banks for relief but for the most part, the refinance boom has run its course for now until property values rise.
The other factor that is affecting refinances is the lack of control over appraisals and the scrutiny of underwriting by the banks. Most banks today are SO risk averse, they want nothing but 'A' paper with LOTS down. This presents a big problem for most consumers who have purchased their houses with little down in the last 10 years.
I don't see much relief in sight for the next year or two until employment and manufacturing picks up again.
Grace & Peace
PLW
Nov 18, 2009
Setting Itself Up for Failure
Here is an op ed piece on the Health Care Reform Bill being introduced by the Senate, written by the Dean of Harvard Medical School.
They need to stop this legislation and reconsider the costs...
PLW
They need to stop this legislation and reconsider the costs...
PLW
Nov 12, 2009
Huh?
Headline in the WSJ today:
White House Aims to Cut Deficit With TARP Cash
What am I missing? As I read this article (linked above), I have another question that comes immediately to mind: Are we borrowing money to pay down the deficit that the original borrowed money caused?
This would be like borrowing your friend $20. A week later, he comes back to you requesting a loan for $20 so that he can pay you back. This is ludicrous.
I have an alternative solution: STOP SPENDING! Work out inefficiencies, eliminate fraud and give tax-breaks to small businesses. Hire a bunch of engineers and operations managers to examine every governmental program enacted around the country, determine a better solution (not necessarily change the program just the way it is operationally run), and implement the changes.
This would eliminate 40% of the workforce, save the taxpayers trillions of dollars over the next 5 years and save programs like Social Security and Medicaid, despite what people might think about them. Top -down butt kicking. I'm fired up.
Grace & Peace
PLW
White House Aims to Cut Deficit With TARP Cash
What am I missing? As I read this article (linked above), I have another question that comes immediately to mind: Are we borrowing money to pay down the deficit that the original borrowed money caused?
This would be like borrowing your friend $20. A week later, he comes back to you requesting a loan for $20 so that he can pay you back. This is ludicrous.
I have an alternative solution: STOP SPENDING! Work out inefficiencies, eliminate fraud and give tax-breaks to small businesses. Hire a bunch of engineers and operations managers to examine every governmental program enacted around the country, determine a better solution (not necessarily change the program just the way it is operationally run), and implement the changes.
This would eliminate 40% of the workforce, save the taxpayers trillions of dollars over the next 5 years and save programs like Social Security and Medicaid, despite what people might think about them. Top -down butt kicking. I'm fired up.
Grace & Peace
PLW
Nov 9, 2009
Same Sex Marriage
Reading the Star & Sickle today, I came across a supporting commentary submitted to the Star Tribune that actually DEFENDS the Biblical marriage model...
Grace & Peace
PLW
Grace & Peace
PLW
Nov 6, 2009
Government Debt
Not funny, but still amazing the pace at which our government spends with no eye toward payment...
Grace & Peace
PLW
Grace & Peace
PLW
Nov 3, 2009
Profession vs. Action
First off, I love podcasting and Ipods. It's probably one of the greatest inventions brought to the market during my lifetime (other than the Wii of course).
Listening to a podcast from one of my favorite pastors, Mike Erre at my brother's church in California (www.rockharbor.org), Mike is teaching on a concept that has bothered me for a LONG time.
When people SAY that they are a Christian, the way that they live should be a reflection of their faith and belief. As an example, if you say that you are a basketball player, people probably could witness to the fact that you play basketball (faith=action).
As Mike points out in his discussion, Christians should always be ready to give an answer about the hope that we have (1 Peter 3). In order for people to ask, however, your life should be characterized by your faith in a manner in which people see something different about you versus the rest of the world.
If not, does Jesus really make a difference to you? If you profess Jesus as your savior, it should also reflect in your actions.
If we profess with our mouths that Jesus is the Lord, but our actions show NO resemblance of this belief, then do we have genuine Biblical faith? Or simply some surfacy, shallow profession to punch our ticket to heaven but do nothing to change the way we live?
My favorite statement that he makes is this: Biblical faith knows no distinction between believing and acting!
Grace & Peace
PLW
HT to Mike Erre
HT to Rock Harbor (Mike Erre):
Listening to a podcast from one of my favorite pastors, Mike Erre at my brother's church in California (www.rockharbor.org), Mike is teaching on a concept that has bothered me for a LONG time.
When people SAY that they are a Christian, the way that they live should be a reflection of their faith and belief. As an example, if you say that you are a basketball player, people probably could witness to the fact that you play basketball (faith=action).
As Mike points out in his discussion, Christians should always be ready to give an answer about the hope that we have (1 Peter 3). In order for people to ask, however, your life should be characterized by your faith in a manner in which people see something different about you versus the rest of the world.
If not, does Jesus really make a difference to you? If you profess Jesus as your savior, it should also reflect in your actions.
If we profess with our mouths that Jesus is the Lord, but our actions show NO resemblance of this belief, then do we have genuine Biblical faith? Or simply some surfacy, shallow profession to punch our ticket to heaven but do nothing to change the way we live?
My favorite statement that he makes is this: Biblical faith knows no distinction between believing and acting!
Grace & Peace
PLW
HT to Mike Erre
HT to Rock Harbor (Mike Erre):
Just a Drink...
There are SO many observations that the writers of the new testiment witnessed during the time of Christ. How could they chose them to write? I would think each moment with Him (not unlike being with someone you deeply admire) held enormous weight and value and lingering thoughts and recollections.
Consider John recording the conversation Christ had with the woman at a well in John 4. In the dialogue, we see that Christ is at the well that Joseph gave to his son, Jacob (Jacob's Well ironically). But on the onset, it doesn't appear to be that significant.
Christ simply asks the woman for a drink. No big whoop. But throughout this discussion, Christ reveals His purpose, his gift to everyone who will simply accept it, and the faith of the early Christians.
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
It goes on to say that a great number believed because of the testimony of the woman at the well, whom Christ told her 'everything that she had done'. But finally, John observes the following and writes:
'They (Samaritans) said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
Unfortunately, we don't necessarily have the luxury of seeing Christ today and asking him questions man0-y-mano (except through prayer etc.). But sometimes, we HAVE to take things as they are through faith, and that is no easy process, even for the Samaritans 2000 years ago...
Grace & Peace
PLW
Consider John recording the conversation Christ had with the woman at a well in John 4. In the dialogue, we see that Christ is at the well that Joseph gave to his son, Jacob (Jacob's Well ironically). But on the onset, it doesn't appear to be that significant.
Christ simply asks the woman for a drink. No big whoop. But throughout this discussion, Christ reveals His purpose, his gift to everyone who will simply accept it, and the faith of the early Christians.
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
It goes on to say that a great number believed because of the testimony of the woman at the well, whom Christ told her 'everything that she had done'. But finally, John observes the following and writes:
'They (Samaritans) said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
Unfortunately, we don't necessarily have the luxury of seeing Christ today and asking him questions man0-y-mano (except through prayer etc.). But sometimes, we HAVE to take things as they are through faith, and that is no easy process, even for the Samaritans 2000 years ago...
Grace & Peace
PLW
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