FROM THE TOP
LELAND ACKER
Calm down. Just take a moment, a deep breath, close your eyes, relax, open your eyes, and calm down. The recent downward spiral of the stock market has people worldwide fearing a recession. Recent interest rate cuts had no immediate impact, thus inciting more fear into the financial community.

Initial Wall Street downfalls rarely result in the working class (i.e., those who do not receive the bulk of their income from investments) seeing immediate financial impact. Recent recessions have had little more effect than eroding the disposable income for most people.

Basically, you'll have a hard time affording gasoline, food and entertainment. However, with almost $3 per gallon gas prices and rising grocery costs, we've been here for a few months.

Our eating habits will take us out of the casual dining establishments, and into the fast food establishments. If things worsen, we go back to eating Chef Boyardee at home.

While these times may be hard and even frustrating, we need to remember how blessed we really are.

First, almost all who read these words live in a house with a floor (some concrete, some pier-and-beam.) While some of these floors may not be in the best shape, all are better than the flooring you will find in most developing countries.

If you have $40 in cash, you are richer than most in the third world.

In Europe, a meal at McDonald's costs them what a meal at a nice restaurant costs us. Plus, our cars are roomier than theirs.

So what am I trying to say? "Take no thought, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or, 'What shall we drink?' or, 'Wherewithal shall we be clothed?' For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." (Matthew 6:31-32).

God is not in the business of abandoning His people. That's why it's to your advantage to be one of His people. (Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.")

These are uncertain, frightening times. Don't you need a Constant to hold on to? Throughout the ages there has been that Constant. He can provide for your needs. He can give you peace in uncertain times. He can give you the strength to face your fears. You can do all things through Him, Who strengthens you.

Do you know Him? If you do, you don't have to live in fear of tomorrow. If you fear tomorrow, maybe you should get to know Him. chreporter@mediactr.com