Historic

But then again...isn't everything?

So, the first two months of the year were the worst start to the year for the market since 1933 and for small-caps since 1926. That is on top of the debacle that was last year. In case January and February weren't bad enough, the first week of March was the WORST week of the year. How many worsts are we going to get?

It's tough...no doubt about it. In fact, it doesn't really get any tougher than this. Usually when that is the case a big rally is right around the corner. You are supposed to buy when there is blood in the streets. Well, believe me...people are bleeding...and yet the rally is unable to materialize. At least so far.

The market is saying things are going to get worse than we think they will. Unemployment hit 8.1% this morning although the government stats understate the true numbers. Where are we going? 10%? 12%? 15%? At this rate, it's difficult to say that anything is impossible.

A co-worker told me the other day that he had heard that terrorists were involved in shorting the stocks of financial companies and helped accelerate this debacle. I have no idea if that is true or not. I know there was some evidence of overseas accounts shorting airline stocks ahead of 9/11, so who knows? If they did they are smarter than I gave them credit for. After all, knocking down a few buildings and killing a few thousand Americans only brought the country together and strengthened our collective resolve (at least for awhile). But take away our "stuff" and watch us turn on each other and tear each other apart...effectively doing their job for them.

I Understand

If you have a vice or an addiction that you rely on to get through your day...

...believe me.

I understand.

Get Ready to Cry

Gotta Look at the Details

I think I have found the clearest example of what Obama truly intends to accomplish...and it's not helping poor people despite his efforts to shape his public perception in such a manner. His plan to put new restrictions on the deductibility of charitable contributions says it all. If he really cared about those who are struggling and less fortunate he would never consider such a measure. In fact, he would go in the other direction. He should offer tax CREDITS for charitable donations if he was really serious about helping people. But that isn't what Obama really wants to do. He wants to grow the government and concentrate power in Washington DC, first and foremost. If needy people can no longer receive the level of private charitable help with which they have become accustomed then they will turn to the only remaining viable option.

Government.

And that's how you maintain and grow your voter base.

God's Purposes in This Recession

Good spiritual perspective from Piper:

1.) He intends for this recession to expose hidden sin and so bring us to repentance and cleansing.

2.) He intends to wake us up to the constant and desperate condition of the developing world where there is always and only recession of the worst kind.

3.) He intends to relocate the roots of our joy in his grace rather than in our goods, in his mercy rather than our money, in his worth rather than our wealth.

4.) He intends to advance his saving mission in the world—the spread of the gospel and the growth of his church—precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it. This is how he guards his glory.

5.) He intends for the church to care for its hurting members and to grow in the gift of love.