The Federal Banking System Explained

From time to time, I get asked questions regarding how our economy works, what is inflation, and how is our deficit spending a good thing for our economy? 

One of our readers came across this brilliant explanation of our federal system of banking so I thought I would share it with you.  

Take a listen and let me know what you think, as I think you will be a bit shocked.

Grace & Peace - PLW

The Game of Chicken

October 14th 1962, an American U-2 spy plane photographed a Soviet ballistic missile being assembled in Cuba.  President Kennedy then sent a naval blockade to intercept the Russian fleet headed to Cuba.  Had Russia crossed that blockade line, the world would have been a different place. Alas, they did not and an agreement was reached.

In the Bible. Solomon was trying to decide which mother was the rightful one of a certain baby, both claiming that the child was theirs.  Solomon ordered that the child be cut in half so that each would have the same amount.  The real mother interjected and wouldn't let him do it, which revealed the true birth mother of the child to Solomon.

Last Sunday, I lost a friend due to a sudden and massive heart attack.  His life was marked with a love for baseball, a strong sense of right and wrong, and a unique ability to tell someone exactly what he thought of them but share a beer and laugh afterwards.   

God has used the death of my friend as a reminder to this verse: 'Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes' (James 4:14).  

John F Kennedy said it well:  'For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal'

The Bible teaches that we are all God's creation, designed in His image.  He wants an eternal relationship with each of us  but sin prevents us from the presence of a holy God. God sent Jesus to cover the cost of sin and restore God's eternal relationship with us. As your friend I implore you to examine the scriptures and don't play this game of chicken with your life. As surely as there is an eternity with God, there is also an eternity without Him.  

'Choose for yourself whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve The Lord (Josh. 24:15).

Grace & Peace

PLW

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Adversity

History (and not the refashioned, inaccurate fabrications of history displayed in our public schools) is replete with examples of underdogs, particularly sports athletes that have overcome obstacles to accomplish their goals and dreams. 

Popular examples of athletes like Michael Jordan overcoming early setbacks in high school to become perhaps the greatest basketball player ever.  Adrian Peterson tearing his ACL and then leading the NFL in rushing the next year. Even Peyton Manning, who was released as the old dog to be put down peacefully by the Colts, is today closing in on a record-breaking year with the Denver Broncos.  

This week,we received news that my youngest son didn't make the 'A' team for basketball, a position that he had solidified for the previous three years.  As you can imagine, this news was met with watery eyes, heartache, and a sense of loss...all from his mother and father.

My son, despite not being thrilled the 'day of', rebounded nicely and it was business as usual the next day.  With one exception.  When I talked to him in the car briefly that evening, he simply stated that he has things he needs to work on.  That was it. No, 'My world is crumbling' or 'I'll never amount to anything' language.  It was simply accepted as fact.

I'm extremely proud of him. 

God often used those less than desirable times in people's lives to bring others into a deeper restored relationship with Him.  Consider Jacob, Joseph, Jeremiah, Moses, David, Paul, John the Baptist, the apostle Paul and the list goes on today.  

Jalen embraced the adversity.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for him!!

Grace & Peace

PLW

The Awkward Years Project

Growing up in the small town of Hutchinson, Minnesota, my acne-laced teenage years were very awkward and uncomfortable. 

As a child, I grew up in Mankato but was soon relieved of that comfortable place and moved to a booming farm metropolis of about 11k in Hutch.  Having found some popularity and success in Mankato, however, this confidence was quickly lost as I entered those very formative teenage years.

Being the new kid sometimes has its benefits: clean slate, new friends, different surroundings, and guilt-laden shopping excursions given by my mother for moving us away from our lifelong chums.  

For people that have a less relational bias, this can be an easier transition.  But for those individuals that are highly relational, like myself, it can be less than favorable.  

Public acceptance in a foreign culture, I quickly found, was not easy.  I also observed a universal truth playing itself out: kids can be mean, and will be mean, and will often be mean until they mature, which for boys can sometimes be well into their 30's.

This brings me to October being National Bullying Prevention Month.  While the thought of attempting to legislate sound moral behavior in teenagers is laughable, I do applaud their efforts bringing into light a growing area of concern.

US teenagers account for about 4400 suicides per year (source), with a higher likelihood in teenage females vs. males.  While a recent Yale study (see link here) stopped short of reporting a direct link between bullying and suicide, the study did report that bullying victims were 2 to 9 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts. 

I really can't say that I had suicidal thoughts as a young teenager, but the encouraging words of my parents and friends helped a great deal during those more difficult days.

Ultimately, this brings me to something I ran across called 'The Awkward Years Project'.  These are individual stories that perhaps some of my readers can identify with.  I found them both encouraging and inspiring.

For my small part, I will continue to encourage kids (including my own) to seek the Lord on all occasions, follow their passions, ignore the naysayers and bullies, choose love instead of hate, and build up others versus tearing them down.  After all, life is short and God has made us exactly the way we are for His very precise purpose.

Grace & Peace

PLW