LOW TIDE

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Connie on February 12, 2009 at 1:49pm

I looked up your website and noticed the same posting there. You have made a great analogy with the low and high tide. In the case of our financial meltdown no one really knows how low this tide will go or how long it will take to get there, but you are right - the high tide will eventually come back. Like a pendulum swinging, it always comes back. Might not look the same when it does, but it'll always come back.

Possibly the reason it is so low right now, is because it has been building up artificially high for a long time, and the bubble has been ready to burst. You can only blow so much hot air into a balloon. But hang on for the ride, we're all in there together.

life is good
connie

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Permalink Reply by Ben Wardlaw on February 12, 2009 at 2:04pm

I agree with you 100 percent. You don't want to get me started on how our political leaders have sabotaged our great experiment in Liberty.

I am afraid we are headed toward a complete government controlled economy. Let's pray that I am wrong.

Many blessings,

Ben Wardlaw
Hilton Head Island, SC


Connie said:

I looked up your website and noticed the same posting there. You have made a great analogy with the low and high tide. In the case of our financial meltdown no one really knows how low this tide will go or how long it will take to get there, but you are right - the high tide will eventually come back. Like a pendulum swinging, it always comes back. Might not look the same when it does, but it'll always come back.

Possibly the reason it is so low right now, is because it has been building up artificially high for a long time, and the bubble has been ready to burst. You can only blow so much hot air into a balloon. But hang on for the ride, we're all in there together.

life is good
connie

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Permalink Reply by Dena Brehm on February 12, 2009 at 3:08pm

I've wondered for a while now ... I tend to not see this economic trouble as "God's wrath" in the traditional sense (punishment) ... but I see it as His mercy. I'm wondering if He's not allowing the natural consequences for our choices to come to a head, so that this artificial and damaging system will collapse in on itself.

The system is built on greed, on taking advvantage of others ... it requires indebtedness in order to contiue -- indebtedness is slavery... one man beholden to another.

It's not founded on justice -- each one loving neighbor. It's not built on the principles of this new covenant we're in.

Like communism, it's built on a flaw, a foundation of error ... and so it must be dismantled.

At the heart of it is His mercy -- we can learn a new way, of justice, of loving neighbor as self, of sharing resources, of generosity rather than greed.

And so, I wonder if this is, rather than His wrath, His severe mercy (which truly, in my thinking, is precisely what wrath really always is).

I pray for His perspective, His preparation,, His presence, and His peace... and then comes: the awareness of His provision.

Shalom, Dena

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Permalink Reply by Marion Clark Ingram on February 12, 2009 at 3:52pm

Thank You, Dena. I totally agree with your viewpoint.....what we see is God's mercy coming to fix our mess.
In the Father's Love,
Marion

Dena Brehm said:

I've wondered for a while now ... I tend to not see this economic trouble as "God's wrath" in the traditional sense (punishment) ... but I see it as His mercy. I'm wondering if He's not allowing the natural consequences for our choices to come to a head, so that this artificial and damaging system will collapse in on itself.

The system is built on greed, on taking advvantage of others ... it requires indebtedness in order to contiue -- indebtedness is slavery... one man beholden to another.

It's not founded on justice -- each one loving neighbor. It's not built on the principles of this new covenant we're in.

Like communism, it's built on a flaw, a foundation of error ... and so it must be dismantled.

At the heart of it is His mercy -- we can learn a new way, of justice, of loving neighbor as self, of sharing resources, of generosity rather than greed.

And so, I wonder if this is, rather than His wrath, His severe mercy (which truly, in my thinking, is precisely what wrath really always is).

I pray for His perspective, His preparation,, His presence, and His peace... and then comes: the awareness of His provision.

Shalom, Dena

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Permalink Reply by Ben Wardlaw on February 12, 2009 at 4:30pm

Hi Dena,

Thanks for your very insightful comments. I personally have no confidence that a collapse of our current system would lead to repentance by our people or our leaders. Instead, I think a collapse of our current system will lead to more control by our government and less freedom for the people of our nation. All this being said, I believe our opportunity for sharing the good news of God's kingdom and the spiritual reconciliation imparted by faith in the life and resurrection of Jesus is going to be greater than ever. Our next High Tide will not be economic prosperity for America. Our next High Tide will be the second coming of Jesus.

Many blessings,

Ben Wardlaw
Hilton Head Island, SC

Dena Brehm said:

I've wondered for a while now ... I tend to not see this economic trouble as "God's wrath" in the traditional sense (punishment) ... but I see it as His mercy. I'm wondering if He's not allowing the natural consequences for our choices to come to a head, so that this artificial and damaging system will collapse in on itself.

The system is built on greed, on taking advvantage of others ... it requires indebtedness in order to contiue -- indebtedness is slavery... one man beholden to another.

It's not founded on justice -- each one loving neighbor. It's not built on the principles of this new covenant we're in.

Like communism, it's built on a flaw, a foundation of error ... and so it must be dismantled.

At the heart of it is His mercy -- we can learn a new way, of justice, of loving neighbor as self, of sharing resources, of generosity rather than greed.

And so, I wonder if this is, rather than His wrath, His severe mercy (which truly, in my thinking, is precisely what wrath really always is).

I pray for His perspective, His preparation,, His presence, and His peace... and then comes: the awareness of His provision.

Shalom, Dena

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Permalink Reply by Dena Brehm on February 12, 2009 at 6:52pm

You sound pretty sure about that. ;)

Shalom, Dena

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Permalink Reply by Connie on February 13, 2009 at 6:01pm

Go for it Ben. A government controlled economy is socialism. Liberty will win in the end you know.

Ben Wardlaw said:

I agree with you 100 percent. You don't want to get me started on how our political leaders have sabotaged our great experiment in Liberty.
I am afraid we are headed toward a complete government controlled economy. Let's pray that I am wrong.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Wardlaw on February 15, 2009 at 11:10am

AMEN!

Ben
Jan said:

Hi everyone. I think we are talking about government, finances and consequences.

I would just add to the discussion that angels declared upon the birth of our Savior, "Peace on earth, good will toward men." I always think of this when I hear someone suggest an event is God's wrath upon the earth.

I also think of the way Jesus spoke to groups of people, and while he had harsh warnings, I can't remember him encouraging his followers into political action. I'm sure they continued in whatever rituals/activities they felt were important, while seeking the kingdom of God within.

Freely we have received, freely we give the bread of life, regardless of the political climate around us.
The god of this world may appear as an angel of light, but the True Light has shown us His way; we bear witness to that Light.

Government can be helpful; many things can be helpful, but only one Person can give us a different way of seeing each other.

jan

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Permalink Reply by Dena Brehm on February 15, 2009 at 1:38pm

Beautiful, Jan -- I join in the amen-chorus with Ben...!

What is our view of God, if we interpret every event as "God's wrath"...?

And what is wrath, if not the most severe form His mercy can manifest...?

What if God really IS good?

What if our perceptions need adjusting, to match up with His..?


(& yes, I often think of the declaration of the angels ... Luke 2:10 "And the messenger said to them, `Fear not, for lo, I bring you good news of great joy, that shall be to all the people -- I don't believe the angels were confused nor mistaken)

Just sharing my own thoughts ...

Shalom, Dena

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