Updates

Here are just a couple of thought updates that I've had lately.

1) 

Business Week Magazine recently did a story on America's Unhappiest Cities. Cleveland ranked number 5 out of all the metro cities in the USA. Below are the statistics that I pulled from the story. I think it is time that we pray this spirit of depression and bondage out of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland. The birth of Christ and the gospel story of the death, burial, and resurrection is "good tidings of great JOY".
Cleveland, Ohio
Overall rank: 5
Depression rank: 17
Suicide rank: 27
Crime (property and violent) rank: 11
Divorce rate rank: 2
Cloudy days: 202
Unemployment rate (December 2008): 8.8%

2)

I just wanted to drop a note of encouragement to those that may be suffering from the current state of the economy. As the children of God, we need to refuse to participate in the recession. This doesn't mean that our finances won't be affected and that we won't lose our jobs. What this means is that we are going to claim the promises given to us in scripture. When our investments fail financially, our investment into our relationship with God will bring huge returns. He does his best work when we have run out of our own human ideas and answers.
Psalm 37:25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. (NIV)
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.