You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet
By
December 15, 2008"And of the children of Issachar, who were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do;" (1 Chronicles 12:32) We will long remember 2008 as the year our nation passed through the gate. This was a word the Lord put on my heart over a year ago and it has come to pass. Presently we are standing in the new field. One that is both familiar and unrecognizable to us. We are gazing reluctantly into 2009 and we collectively know it will be a year like no other - so far. I will give you a hint about 2009. It has something to do with how wine is made and the Holy of Holies, but I will share more of that when we get a little closer. But first, let me recap the situation. Stocks have lost about 50% of their value, but even if they rose today back to their highest levels, it would still be a net loss because of the loss of purchasing power of the dollar. (In 2007 it took $1.20 to buy what you could have purchased for just $1.00 in 2000.) I'm sure you heard about the big banks failing, AIG, most states on the verge of running out of funds to pay unemployment insurance benefits, other states and cities on the verge of bankruptcy, entire malls going out of business, massive layoffs, yada, yada, yada. I can certainly lay out a far more comprehensive review, but suffice it to say, America has come through the gate in 2008 and the field ahead is at best unfamiliar to most of us. The subprime mess mostly behind us, we now face the Alt-A's and ARM's resetting. These were balloon loans or adjustable rate mortgages offered at teaser rates to lure folks in. Both of these mortgage types are beginning to reset now building in a crescendo effect through 2011 and about twice the financial weight of the subprime mess alone. We are at the beginning of the second wave having not yet fully measured the damage from the first wave. But here's the scary part, those mortgages are already defaulting at record rates despite their low interest rates. When they reset at higher rates, they expect a 50 - 70% default rate based on current default rates. Furthermore 8,000,000 Americans are expected to lose their homes in the next four years. We truly have come through the gate in 2008! Believe it or not, I have no interest in scaring anyone or causing fear. The sons of Issachar had understanding of the times and they knew what to do. If you want to make wise decisions going forward it helps a lot to rightly discern the times in which you live. Burying our heads in the sand or covering our ears will not help. Â I am more optimistic about 2009 than ever before because God is helping me understand the times and to know what to do. In the remaining blogs we have this year, I will do my best to share with you the glimpse He has given me in the hopes it may help you. I am as one peering through a crack in the fence or as Paul said, seeing through a glass darkly. I do not by any means have the full picture and gladly welcome your view from whatever crack in the fence you are peering through. To be continued...
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Comments (14) - Post a Comment
Michael, Love the \"seeing through glass darkly\" comment. It's so true. My version of that part of scripture is \"Now, I see through a shower door\". Can't really make it out but know something is there. I do know that in God's economy there is no lack, want, \"bad news\". Thanks for helping us stay \"wise as serpent\"! Keep up the good work and have a blessed Christmas.
Edward Hanline at 12:31pm EST - December 15, 2008
These are unsettling times, and I am so thankful to God that he has given us a business that will only thrive in this unsettled economy.
The thing is, recognizing an answer to prayer when it comes.
Sometimes, I believe, answers come in unlikely ways.
I offer an option that puts money in your pocket quickly.
It certainly has changed our business lives and the lives of many others - this is an option for anyone.
I just don't know how to post my contact information in a proper fashion in this blog.
sue at 1:18pm EST - December 15, 2008
If this is the case, what companies will take a direct hit besides the banks that own these mortgages.
Dryben at 2:29pm EST - December 15, 2008
Sue...
You can email me at mpink@sellingamongwolves.com. Starting in 2009 we will be keeping our eyes open for opportunities that work in the changing times. Please send me details.
Blessings, Michael
Michael Q. Pink at 3:39pm EST - December 15, 2008
Dryben;
Think of it as a food chain. First the banks, then the those who depend on banks to carry their businesses, followed by those who depend on those businesses and so on and so on. So for example, after the banks comes real estate and construction and furniture stores and appliances, etc. But there are many chains that proceed out of the banks. That can and should be taken in more than one way. Selah.
Michael Q. Pink at 3:41pm EST - December 15, 2008
Edward... Love your seeing through the shower door comment! Great imagery!
Michael Q. Pink at 3:41pm EST - December 15, 2008
Once again, Michael, our mutual friend, Gerald Chester has nailed it, like you have in terms of knowing only a part of the whole. http://strategieswork.com/publications/BusinessTips/12-08.htm Actually, an Australian novelist who was short listed for the Booker Prize this year for his novel entitled \"A Fraction of the Whole\"
As we know clearly from 1 Cor 12-13 is that we prophesy in part, know in part because the Lord's thoughts are way higher than ours. In order to gain a fuller picture of various events it is wise to read a variety of perspectives to glean the core truths from each to understand the whole.
Martin Allan at 7:09pm EST - December 15, 2008
Michael,
I think you are much more spirtually mature than to say you are \"looking through a glass darkly\". No, you are seeing spiritual things much more \"face to face\" than you may thinkyou are.
When St. Paul writes about seeing through a glass darkly, he follows it by saying, but then face to face. Likewise when he says, \"now we know in part\" he immediately follows that statement by saying, \"but then we shall know even as we also are known.\" The \"then\" means after we become spiritually mature through God' s process of renewing our minds and hearts.
In these verses Paul is contrasting physical maturing with spiritual maturing. \"When I was a child\" correlates physical immaturity with spiritual immaturity when we, as spiritually immature children, \"see though a glass darkly\" and only \"know in part\". The commnetaries of these verses by all so-called Bible scholars I have read think that \"face to face\" means after we die and see Jesus in heaven. But I know this is not the case. St. Paul speaks often about mind renewal and spiritual maturity which he calls \"perfection\" or \"Completeness\". And in every case, he talks about it as something we should expect to expereince in this temporal life in the here and now. When Jesus says blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God, he is talking about people who have become spiritually mature in this life on earth, who can see God and His kingdom operating on earth. These are the same people that Jesus refers to as being \"born again\" so they can see the kingdom of God. Spiritual maturing is not effected by anything we may believe, think or do, but rather it happens in accordace with God' s programming in our spiritual DNA just as our physical maturing happens in accordance with God' s programming in our physical DNA.
In the spiritual progamming of every human we are all predestined or preprogrammed to be conformed to the image and stature of Christ Jesus, who is the image of the living God in which we all are created.
(See Romans 8:29)
In His Majesty' s Secret Service,
David Thompson
David Thompson at 8:04pm EST - December 15, 2008
Thanks you for enlightment.I must confess i was one of those that was \"putting it aside\" the happenings.thanks to i will now plan well ahead keeping in mind that God is still in controll in the affairs of men.
lettie at 2:23am EST - December 16, 2008
I am sure you are right, Michael. More serious times are just ahead... But it's not as if we haven't been warned by the events of the past 15-18 months. This is almost certainly not the End Of The World. But like God's people in Jerusalem in AD70, in Matthew 24:16-20, the advice from God is: \"Be Alert and be ready to escape the devastation.\" The Rod is coming (Micah 6:9) and we - who have not followed Micah 6:8 - should know that at least some of it if for use. We will not escape the pain, but will emerge more aware of and obedient to God and His Word.
Michael Whitrow at 8:02am EST - December 16, 2008
I always enjoy these blog posts, and I appreciate Michael's insights a lot. We all are scanning for wise direction in these times. A lot of what you have said dovetails with a lot of what I have been hearing in my prayer closet. I would invite you and your friends and partners to interact with our blog and website also. www.waybreaker.com and http://waybreaker.blog.homepagenow.com/blog.shtml
I love the verse about the children of Issachar, and make it a prayer for all of us.
Wilton Ledkins at 10:22am EST - December 16, 2008
thank you for your words. and keep basing in the word of God and let me know the times. Here in Mexico, the economic is really bad but your blogs make me trust in the Lord every day.
God bless you.
mrs luz sierra at 10:30am EST - December 16, 2008
I so appreciate your honesty. We must face cold hard facts in order to make God honoring decisions. One overlooked fact is that our families have disintegrated to the point that we are raising a nation full of non-Christian children who have no regard for the ways of God OR we're not having children at all. I just finished watching a documentory called Demographic WINTER which used mathematics to point out that we are not going to have the consumers to sustain some industries that have flourished in the recent past, specifically housing. This challenge is not confined to the USA either. We MUST look at new ways to serve other than encouraging debt which is discouraged (to say the least) in scripture.
Gary Taylor at 7:29pm EST - December 16, 2008
All said and done God is in Control whether we like it r not. Also to many of Our Leaders and politians do not believe so. We know not when Christ will return but we must be prepared for it to happen. We have been thru tough times before and God has seen us thru and if the people turn to him he will do so today. We as a nation have turned our backs on God and we must return to Him. GOD BLESS
Harold Bair at 9:44pm EST - December 16, 2008