Lelia,

I have a friend who is not a doom monger, but is very confident we have 
less than a few short years before things really hit the fan. Tops four 
years. I don't know, he use to tell me these things and I blew it off as 
alarmist, trigger happy for the end, but looking around, and seeing how 
things happen, I'm not  so doubtful that God isn't in his words as he says 
and that they are not my friend's alone. Of course no one knows the day of 
Christ's return, not even Christ himself but the Father knows. Nonetheless 
yes you are spot on, it is very good idea to be debt free. If I had my way 
I'd be off on a nice piece of land living in a simple log cabin off grid 
and self-sufficient and owing nobody nothing and then doing what I'm 
suppose to do. Instead I live in a small town near a major metropolis in a 
house that I'd never ever thought years ago I'd pay that much for, and 
working to pay bills which is to maintain a lifestyle we American's come to 
view as normal. I am still pondering and I've not given up on a much 
simpler life, not necessarily easier, that is likely not the case, but 
simpler and more peaceful.

Brad



At 11:19 AM 6/29/2007, you wrote:
>Brad, first of all, I want you to know that I have confirmation of the 
>Word you received from God, I say that because, about two years ago I told 
>Todd We need to get out of debt and stay out of debt, why he asked, I said 
>I don't know I feel it in my spirit in my soul, its something we have to 
>do. Secondly, its interesting you bring up martyrdom, I've been thinking 
>of J Foxes the book of Martyrs today all day.
>
>Its so easy to think and say, ah this or that won't happen not in my life 
>time, oh no no I know it will happen the bible says it and I believe it, 
>but not in My lifetime I'm beginning to think differently.
>
>
>Lelia
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Brad D" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 9:36 AM
>Subject: Re: Where America Is Going
>
>
>>My great grandmother came to this country from Germany back in 1917, 
>>worked as a maid cleaning houses, and vowed that if she lived in this 
>>country she would   respect and live by the standards of this country. 
>>She taught herself English as she went along knowing it was only right to 
>>do such. When she was living day to day, she did not expect others to 
>>learn German for her to communicate, she would only talk in German to her 
>>relatives within their own homes. I agree the mentality of those days 
>>are, for the most part,  becoming rare. It would help however, that the 
>>USA actually have a national language. Did you even know that we do not 
>>have a national language? You'd assume it is English, but we do not have 
>>one. You can't enforce what you don't have. I often say "freedom is 
>>valued to the degree morality, or the value system  which holds it up", 
>>or some such similar saying. The point being we can only enjoy freedoms 
>>if  we have a value system that upholds it, and of course wisdom as well. 
>>However, this is not a situation in and of itself alone. There is a 
>>bigger picture that comes into play, especially regarding the US which 
>>plays such a role in the world, self-imposed or invited, for this 
>>consideration it really doesn't matter. The point being that for whatever 
>>reason we are a major player in the global workings, we are, and that 
>>makes us a target economically as well as spiritually. I  like to refer 
>>to the global economics as this. First of all we know without a doubt, 
>>that we are moving towards a one world government. That is as obvious as 
>>the nose on our face, not to mention biblical references,  when you look 
>>at how countries have expanded the trade borders  over the years. 
>>Technology has really went a long way to help that in a short time, which 
>>also must be noted as we get on in years of the last days, the seals 
>>released as shown in revelation can happen even in a shorter time than we 
>>might expect, we are told to be as watchman and it will come like a thief 
>>in the night. . But anyway, imagine each geopolitical entity on the globe 
>>as a glass tower or giant test tube. Each one tall, clear and empty. Now, 
>>each tube is filled with water to the level of their economic strength of 
>>its citizens, such as wages, debt to income ratio and etc. I'm sure you 
>>would have no trouble envisioning the USA being quite full of water up 
>>nearer the top than many countries, than say Mexico, some African states 
>>and even countries such as Australia where their dollar is worth only 
>>maybe 85 cents of ours. So each one  of the geo-political entities filled 
>>to their respective  water level representing the economics. The USA 
>>pretty full, Mexico maybe a quarter full, Australia maybe  three quarters 
>>full, UK as well pretty full,  Central American  countries pretty low 
>>too. Now, as we create trade agreements with each of the varying 
>>political entities it is very much likened to  connecting a hose to the 
>>bottom of each tube and opening up the valves. What happens? The law of 
>>physics applies. The trade, or hose, allows a common water level to be 
>>established to each tube, equalizing or making even the level of all who 
>>are connected. We, the US with wages of $25 an hour in manufacturing are 
>>now connected to similar manufacturing of that of $5 per hour and because 
>>we can no longer be competitive in the international economics at that 
>>wage, our wages, or water level,  must go down to  the level of those 
>>lesser to keep people buying. Perhaps the level of the other countries 
>>will rise slightly, but that is dependent upon the volume of lower paying 
>>jobs against those of higher paying jobs. If you have 10 jobs at $10 per 
>>hour and two jobs at $20 per hour, the average when balanced out isn't 
>>going to be $15 per hour, it will be much less maybe $11 or $12 per 
>>hour.    We get companies that realize this, and either move operations 
>>overseas, or sell out to new owners, and the guy who was making $25 per 
>>hour  can keep his job under the new owners for $10 per hour, of course 
>>he refuses and looks for work elsewhere  in hopes to maintain his or her 
>>lifestyle. It is inevitable that if we are establishing trade with other 
>>countries of lower wages, we in this country will be lowered in wages. 
>>The American worker does not want low wages, therefore does not apply to 
>>those jobs, and therefore we have immigrant labor which  the current 
>>administration, well let's face it, our president is pushing for. He 
>>blatantly said that the jobs the American workers do into want will be 
>>filled by immigrant workers. And of course they can easily control the 
>>attractiveness of the jobs to the American worker and thus control the 
>>amount of immigrant workers, and ultimately the economics of this 
>>country, making us more like other countries as Russia where there is 
>>upper class and lower class and no middle class. The American worker can 
>>not be paid what he or she wants or maybe even needs right now and so 
>>there is a scurry of employment options. Statistics will tell you that X 
>>amount of jobs were created this month or last month, but do they tell 
>>you how many were lost? Or, how many folks had jobs of $25 per hour but 
>>lost them then got a new job at $10 because that is all he can find. Or, 
>>such as is the case here in the Twin Cities area, the commute back and 
>>forth from outlining areas is no longer worth the gasoline cost and 
>>rising taxes, that they will either move  closer to the job, or in many 
>>cases especially now with housing markets fallen, quit the job, do not 
>>move but keep the home they have due to unlikelihood of selling at a 
>>decent price, and   take a lesser paid job, but have less traffic time in 
>>their life. So in essence we still have a lesser paid job for that 
>>person. So there is a much larger picture of our economics than just 
>>within our borders, it is a world wide situation. But, you say, "the 
>>trade agreements are called Fair Trade Agreements". The trades yes were 
>>meant to be evened off, made fair but we sit with millions and millions 
>>of trade deficit with China and growing everyday which congress is 
>>scratching their head how to fix. And as of last year already, China owns 
>>45% of our debt. Does that give you any clue as to where we are headed? 
>>Last year we had a national debt of just shy of 9 trillion dollars, when 
>>I was just out of high school, which I'm sure yawl would agree it really 
>>wasn't all that long ago right? :) Well. OK. It was 26 years ago, but the 
>>national debt was 3 trillion dollars. I remember that because it was also 
>>the value of revenue, properties and etc. of the Disney Company and I 
>>remembered thinking if we took that money and did without Disney, we'd 
>>have no national debt wow!! Anyway, six trillion dollars later we are 
>>past any point of digging out especially with  the war costing what it 
>>does. Last year I calculated it out according to our own governments 
>>figures and it boiled down to like $1100 per every second we are occupied 
>>there, unfathomable figures. When I was in Texas, probably six years ago 
>>now, I got a specific word from God saying to get out of debt. Anyone 
>>holding credit card debt will be in trouble soon, and to get debt free. I 
>>am not yet, I don't have any real credit card debt or unsecured 
>>miscellaneous to speak of, probably did one major purchase of a car that 
>>countered that but I'm a whole ton better towards that end than I was and 
>>I now am reviewing our finances to push for that goal, I haven't 
>>forgotten God, I haven't forgotten. However, the economics are only a 
>>part of what is happening. The spiritual end globally is also active. I 
>>was listening to a radio station in Israel the other day through freedom 
>>Box, and they had a gentleman on there explaining that if America and 
>>Europe media would let the citizens actually know what is going on over 
>>there, they would be shocked. Not just Christians but of course Jewish 
>>folks in the Gaza Strip are being tortured.. An M16 round, one round of 
>>it will  make a couple three inch hole in you and Islamic fundamentalists 
>>are blasting 40 rounds into their victims, hand cuffing  arms behind 
>>people and pushing them off buildings, tragic things happening. Gaza just 
>>announced that the Christian population there will, without exception , 
>>follow the cultural rules such as women with uncovered heads, no 
>>evangelizing and etc. or they will be killed. Any woman, American or not, 
>>if head is uncovered will be killed. However, in this country, when three 
>>or four suspicious Islamic men were understood by another passenger 
>>strictly by happenstance of her understanding Fata language, gets very 
>>nervous of what they are talking about, writes a note to the captain, has 
>>it sent discretely to the cabin, and the men are removed for questioning, 
>>the men become appalled at the mistreatment because of their praying in 
>>public and want recompense. What is wrong with that picture? It is 
>>clearly one sided economically and spiritually. This is really only a 
>>mild waft of what will come in the latter days. The bible says folks will 
>>wish they could commit suicide but won't and there will be martyr 
>>believers, well we have that happening in other countries but it seems so 
>>far away as we look on life here in our country. It is times as we are in 
>>and will go through in the future that it is  a thankful thing to have 
>>the strength and guidance of God to give us insight and peace and not 
>>be  fearful.
>>
>>Nonetheless because of the encroachment and preparation of a world 
>>government, we will most certainly be more affected in this country. 
>>Those with the most, have the most to lose.  Also keep in mind we are yet 
>>the teenager in the world compared to century upon century old countries. 
>>The descendants of Jacob and Ishmil  were poised against each other long 
>>ago, have been fighting since, and I frankly do not understand how we, a 
>>bit of an arrogant teenager, can feel we can jump in the middle of what 
>>God spoke, put our hand up to both sides and say stop, without expecting 
>>to get by unscathed. Perhaps some of you more biblical scholars have a 
>>different perspective on it and I am wrong on the last part? But that is 
>>how I see it at this point.
>>
>>Brad
>>
>>
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