Journal: Inspirational Message for 2010

 According to historians, 2009 presented a hardship that hasn’t been seen since the great depression. I grieved while reflecting over the tremendous loss that hard-working Americans endured. Many homes, careers, relationships, lifesavings, and marriages were decimated, leaving many families feeling hopeless. Today’s message is compassionately crafted so that you may find a glimpse of hope in order to begin rebuilding your life in 2010. In the midst of such calamity I remain optimistic and zealous about the New Year and the blessings that it will bring. I pray that your faith and beliefs are as strong as mine.

     The root of Americas’ economic burden is based on greed, material lust, and immorality.  The result leads to spiritual death.  Such condition affects every aspect of human life.  I realize more and more the value of my wonderful parents and the principles that they instilled in me.  Those principles appear to have been custom designed for the times we are living in today.  Without those valuable lessons I would have been rendered helpless in today’s dreadful world.  In my book, Why Did It Happen To Me, I share many trying moments that could have easily compromised my integrity and offer examples of my parents’ teachings.  Hopefully they can offer hope and guidance to you as they have for me.

     In 2009 we all experienced some form of loss.  The scripture says that the love of this world is enmity with God.  We must understand that his true interest for our well being is not rooted in our vain pursuits.  Salvation never included our wealth or lack thereof.  But in today’s world, wealth has become the standard in which a person is measured.   It is sad to say, but it is the poor of this nation who lack true justice at the hands of the rich. 

     In ancient history merchants that were traveling in and out of Jerusalem to sell goods and services were challenged by a tiny opening at the base of the wall.  This tiny passage posed little problems for the merchants but it was extremely difficult for their camels.  It required each beast to literally crawl through to the other side.  Jesus referred to this junction as the eye of the needle and quoted that it would be easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.   The question is why?   The lust for material possession has been placed above the principles of life. 

     Humility is a very difficult practice for most rulers because there is no one for them to bow to.  Power gives the rich a false sense of arrogance and pride instead of using their gifts to serve and uplift, it is used to dictate and rule.  With power comes a tremendous responsibility, but the impediments of greed, lust and arrogance have a blinding effect that desensitizes the rich from the needs of the poor.  It is more important for them to finance unjust wars than to consider the innocent lives that will be lost and the lives that may be affected.  It is easier for bankers to sell sub-prime loans to families who don’t qualify, in order to make billions at the expense of the economy’s sinking and families going homeless.   It’s this mindset that prevents the rich from entering into the Kingdom of Heaven.  What does it profit a man to gain the world but loose his soul?   (continued)