Good News, Bad News

El Jefe and his law firm are suddenly wildly busy as the nation's debt markets are springing back to life. They are just overwhelmed with debt deals and other market offerings for their corporate clients. This signals (hopefully!) the beginning of recovery for our economy just as the slowing of the debt markets last summer signaled the coming bust.

GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE!

The bad news is that El Jefe is wildly busy, overworked and stressed just as he needs to take off tomorrow and Friday for personal business--i.e. our move.

I'll try to keep my focus on the good news while he blackberries and phones during all the confusion....

The Economy--An Unwelcome Guest

A recent article in the Outlook reports that the "staggering economy" is an unwelcome guest at the meetings of the PCUSA's General Assembly Council. The reporter notes that it is also an unwelcome guest at every level of denominational life.

That's certainly true for my church, which has had to take some cost-cutting measures in light of anticipated reduced income. I'm sure it is the case for most congregations in every denomination across the country.

The fear-filled atmosphere that surrounds us on all sides doesn't help, either. It's hard to set fear aside and replace it with confidence and calmness. At yesterday's stewardship committee meeting we were reminded "God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline". (2 Tim. 1:7 NIV). That's a good reminder, but hard to internalize.

On the positive side of the situation, leaders are focusing on continuing funding for core ministries of the church and cutting back on the "nice-to-do's". That is something no one is inclined to do when economic times are good.

Is the economy an unwelcome guest in your congregation?