This Week's 66/40 Radio Broadcast

Articles and Commentary

• Knee Deep in Debt - (Read)
• Lessons from Job - (Read)
• Those Pesky, Community-Serving Boy Scouts - (Read)

Important News Headlines

Memory Verse of the Week

KNEE DEEP IN DEBT - (Print)

"The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."
- Proverbs 22:7

The traditional American Dream, especially for those of us who grew up in families that survived the depression of the 1930s, was to have a home "free and clear" of any mortgages. The security of a debt-free home was the goal of every family in the 20th-century United States, however that is changing. Being in debt has become a way of life for many Americans. Recent economic data shows that consumer debt, particularly credit card debt, is on the rise. The stigma once associated with debt is gone, and it has become the norm to borrow money even for every day items like gasoline and groceries

The United States has become a nation of debtors. In recent years the level of household debt in America has surpassed the level of household income, so for the first time in our collective history we owe more money than we make. Consumer debt in America has risen to a record high of more than 2.5 trillion dollars. Today the average US household has more than $9,000 in credit card debt and spends more than $1,300 a year in interest payments. Meanwhile, the national debt (the amount of money owed by the US government) has surpassed 9 trillion dollars – and is increasing at a rate of about $1.40 billion per day.

"Debt is so ingrained into our culture that most Americans can't even envision a car without a payment, a house without a mortgage, a student without a loan, and credit without a card. We've been sold debt with such repetition and with such fervor that most folks can't conceive of what it would be like to have no payments," says Dave Ramsey, a well-known talk radio host and Christian financial counselor. While many Americans have become accustomed to making monthly payments, the truth is that debt is contrary to God's plan for our lives. The scripture clearly says the borrower is slave to the lender - God would have us free of that kind of bondage. Getting out of debt is one of the four basic steps of what we call "the Vortex Strategy."

The Vortex Strategy

Money is one of the most important inventions of humankind. Without it, a complex, modern economy based on division of labor, and the consequent widespread exchange of goods and services, would be impossible. Unfortunately, many experts believe we are on the verge of a financial crisis. In recent years the value of the US dollar has dropped significantly, inflation has increased, consumer debt has reached an all-time high, and the US housing market has become dangerously unstable.

It is impossible to predict what exactly the coming months will bring, yet we need to be prepared both practically and spiritually. Anyone that presumes that the coming 12 to 24 months are going to be smooth sailing just hasn't done their homework. It is clear we are facing turbulent times ahead. So if the United States is indeed facing a financial crisis, what should we do about it? How can we prepare for times of economic uncertainty? What does the Bible say about our financial stewardship? Chuck tackles these tough questions in his new briefing titled The Vortex Strategy (click on the link to learn more).

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LESSONS FROM JOB - (Print)

The primary lesson of Job is what the book reveals about the nature of human evil. As we go through the many discourses of Job's "friends" we see them view wicked people in terms of murderers, thieves, rapists, fornicators, cruel tyrants, etc. "These" are the wicked, as Job's counselors see them. But as we begin to understand more clearly, the things they point out as wicked are really only the fruit of something deeper in human nature: they emerge from a deep-seated root of pride that expresses itself as independence and self-sufficiency: "I can run my own life; I've got what it takes; I don't need help from anybody." Jesus summarized it this way:

"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies (Matthew 15:19)."

All evil comes from the root of pride (Isaiah 14:12-16), which is evil in its purest form. What we also learn from this book is that pride is expressed not only in terms of murder, thievery, and robbery, but also - as we see in Job's three friends - as bigotry, pompousness, self-righteous legalism, critical judgmental attitudes, condemnation of others, harsh, sarcastic words and vengeful, vindictive actions against someone else.

Human evil is not confined to the criminals of the land; it is present in every heart, without exception (Jeremiah 17:9). Pride is the root of all sin and it can express itself in many different ways.

The Nature of Faith

Job thought he was exercising faith when he obeyed God and did what was right when it was clearly in his best interests to do so. Many people today think they are exercising great faith when they simply believe God is there; when they live their lives day by day with the recognition that God is watching and is present in their affairs. They do right because they know that if they do not they will get into trouble. This is, of course, a form of faith, but it is a weak faith. They live at a level of serving God only when it is in their best interests to do so.

This is the very accusation that Satan hurled at God when Job was discussed. "Job only serves you because you take care of him. Remove your hand of blessing and he'll curse you to your face (Cf. Job 1:9-11)."

Many are like that: the moment blessing ceases, or difficulty or trial comes along, they want to quit. (The lack of a persistent, enduring witness by visible leaders is one of the greatest discouragements among the Body.)

The kind of faith that makes the world sit up and take notice is revealed as we serve God when it is difficult to do so - when serving Him is the hardest thing we can do. This is what the Book of Job is all about. Remember Gethsemane. "Not my will, but thine be done."

This is what we see in Job. Though he trembles, though he falters, though he fails, the final thing he does is cling in helplessness to God. Job ultimately becomes an example of faith. Great faith is exercised when we feel we are being the least faithful! When we are so weak that we cannot do anything but cling. In that moment all heaven is looking and rejoicing at the greatness of our faith.

[Editor's Note: The book of Job is far too complex for a "once over lightly" treatment. To probe some of its deeper lessons, we encourage you to review the entire account. Click on the link below to begin your study.]

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THOSE PESKY, COMMUNITY-SERVING BOY SCOUTS - (Print)

“On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my Country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”

-The Boy Scout Oath

Those Boy Scouts are at it, as usual. After all the lawsuits they’ve inspired, and despite the many organizations that have ceased to fund them, the Boy Scouts of America keep at their dastardly efforts to help boys grow into men of strong character. What’s more, every week in our communities Boy Scouts are committing good deeds. Consider the plots they’ve carried out within the past few weeks.

Maryland

Boy Scout Troop 5 of Hagerstown, MD recently sponsored a blood drive at the local Red Cross. The young men personally encouraged supermarket patrons and passersby to come donate blood. Several of their own friends and family members also donated. Through the scouts’ efforts, the Hagerstown blood supply was provided with 27 fresh new pints.

Illinois

In Burbank, IL, 17-year-old Timothy Patula and other members of Troop 481 worked to fill a local food bank with nonperishables. Patula, working to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, decided he wanted to help the hungry as his community service project. With the help of other troop members, Patula canvassed neighborhoods and later collected nearly 3,400 food items. He says the experience of organizing the food drive has taught him how to be a better leader.

Just down the road in Wadsworth, IL, Troop 675 spent a late April weekend collecting bicycle donations. Eagle Scout candidate Chris Valent decided to do a bike drive as his community service project. By cooperating with Working Bikes Cooperative, the 200 bikes Valent’s Scout troop collected will be given to people in Angola who otherwise would have to walk.

“My project is really helpful and a good cause,” Valent said. “I feel very happy inside.”

Texas

A number of Boy Scouts in Houston recently went camping overnight in the woods and learned to shoot skeet. This would be pretty normal fare, except that these Scouts from Troop 878 are inner city kids from a rougher part of Houston. Many of them have no father at home. Rather than roaming the streets on a Saturday, these scouts are in the woods earning merit badges. The Boy Scout leaders are local fathers and volunteers who give their time to help these young men see a world bigger than the gangs of the inner city.

The Boy Scouts organization continues to reach out to the communities of America, helping boys grow into good men. Yet, since winning their landmark freedom of association case in 2000, the Scouts have constantly had to fight for support. They’ve been pushed out of buildings, denied financial backing, and have had to pay for privileges that were traditionally donated.

Connecticut

Most recently, the Boy Scouts have been under attack (albeit a passive-aggressive one) from the school superintendent of Greenwich, Connecticut. For the past 70 years, Boy Scout leaders have gone into the schools of Greenwich one time each year to give a 10-minute recruiting presentation. Superintendent Betty Sternberg put the kibosh on that this year. Sternberg argued that those ten minutes took away from precious instructional time and were not fair to the girls who stayed in the classroom.

Many members of the community disagree with Sternberg and think the tradition is just fine. Quite a few have encouraged the superintendent to allow the Scouts to continue recruiting at school next year. The Boy Scouts have found it harder to interest new members without access to the schools. This is one of dozens of different battles, small and large, that various troops have faced in recent years.

The Boy Scouts of America nears its 100th anniversary in 2010. For the past 98 years, the Boy Scouts have taught boys to be upstanding young men and good citizens. As we support the organization, we encourage another generation to learn principles that will help them, and help them to help others.

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$200 Oil Could Happen This Year - May 06, 2008
A Goldman Sachs analyst on Tuesday predicted that oil prices could reach $150 to $200 a barrel over the next 6 months to two years, but said that how far prices could climb still "remains a major uncertainty." Oil for June delivery hit a record of more than $120 a barrel Tuesday in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. MSNBC

Risk of Bird Flu Pandemic Growing - May 06, 2008
The risk of a human influenza pandemic remains real and is probably growing as the bird flu virus becomes entrenched in poultry in more countries, health officials warned on Tuesday. The H5N1 avian flu virus has infected flocks in much of Asia, Africa and parts of Europe. Experts fear it could mutate into a form that passes easily from person to person, sparking an influenza pandemic that could kill millions. Reuters

Israeli Jews Doubt Peace Prospects - May 06, 2008
According to a survey conducted by Tel Aviv University, 70 percent of Israeli Jews do not believe in the chances of reaching a deal with the Palestinians despite renewed peace talks. Israel and the Palestinians restarted peace talks at a US conference last November after a seven-year hiatus, but little tangible progress has been made since despite a joint commitment to try to ink a deal by the end of the year. AFP

US, EU Must Cut Back on Biofuels - May 06, 2008
The United Nations is advising the United States and Europe to cut back on production of biofuels because they are hurting food supply at a time of rising prices. Biofuels compete with food for farming land and help to push up food prices, worsening a global crisis that is affecting millions of poor. Reuters

Missionaries Struggle to Stay Afloat - May 06, 2008
The decline of the value of the dollar is hurting missionaries and relief workers around the globe. Many Christian workers overseas are struggling to meet expenses. Some have been forced to cut programs and aid. Charlotte Observer

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
James 4:10 KJV

"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

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