The Exuberance of Internet Stocks, Homes and Obama's Cookies
The last paragraph of an article I read last November about Obama cookies someone put on the market around election time (the article I read is a dead link now) said:
"I think everybody just ... thought, 'Oh, great cookie, great president — the world is a happy place. Barack's going to fix all the problems and if I have a bite of this cookie it's going to make me feel good,'" Maxfield said.
As I read this story and in particular, the last paragraph, I couldn't help of a couple of other things:
• The internet boom when internet companies were WAY overvalued and every Tom, Dick and Harry was opening one and going public in hopes of making millions. And everyone was buying any stock related to a hi-tech, internet-based company. It didn't matter that none of these companies had shown a profit - and it turns out, most never would. They crashed and burned in mid 2000.
• The housing boom when everyone was buying way more house than they could afford. People working as grocery store clerks, delivery drivers, etc. were being given credit for some reason still unknown to me to buy $200,000 and 300,000 houses in the Dallas market when the most they could expect to afford in the way of a house in the past was a $50,000 house in an old, used up neighborhood in East or South Dallas - if they could even afford a house. Most rented. And now? They've lost their houses. The reality set in as the economy tanked and they lost their jobs and found themselves unable to sell their houses. And many of them took out interest only loans - so they were upside down - IN THEIR HOUSE! You expect that with a car, boat or something like that. But your house is always suppose to increase in value. Right? Apparently not.
And now, we have Obama's cookies making some feel like he is the latest "savior" that's going to make everything alright. If we would just all own wildly successful stocks, a giant house and elect a president that will solve all the problems that the aforementioned unreasonable expectations brought on, then we'll be happy.
Check out the video below for some of this irrationality:
Now come on people! When will we learn that all these things we run after hoping they will make us happy is futile thinking? No, really. When? Probably never this side of heaven.
The deal though is that there IS all that happiness to be found this side of heaven and more. There was this guy who said:
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Now just for grins, think of the thief as those things or people or ideas (i.e. security, safety, assurance, etc.) that hold out all that promise for your happiness. Those are the thieves.
Now think of Christ - the "guy" who said the above. He can really deliver on that promise He makes. The issue is, are you willing to trust Him? Are you willing to see that "things", ideas and even people are not nearly as important as we believe them to be?
Now Christ will certainly not give you everything you want. But He will give you more than you ever imagined possible in the way of happiness and fulfillment - even and especially in the bad times when you think everything is going to come crashing down around you. Those are the times when Christ comforts and encourages you the most. And He reminds you that He has always provided for you. Maybe not in the ways you would have liked, but He provides nonetheless. I have learned this lesson many times (which means, in my stress and anxiety over those bad times, I have forgotten those lessons as well).
Think about what would make you truly happy. Truly safe, sound and secure. Does it involve Christ? It should. He's waiting for you to ask for His help. All you have to do is say the word.
If you do choose the rich and satisfying life Christ offers, let me know. I will be glad to help you in any way in your new life.
"I think everybody just ... thought, 'Oh, great cookie, great president — the world is a happy place. Barack's going to fix all the problems and if I have a bite of this cookie it's going to make me feel good,'" Maxfield said.
As I read this story and in particular, the last paragraph, I couldn't help of a couple of other things:
• The internet boom when internet companies were WAY overvalued and every Tom, Dick and Harry was opening one and going public in hopes of making millions. And everyone was buying any stock related to a hi-tech, internet-based company. It didn't matter that none of these companies had shown a profit - and it turns out, most never would. They crashed and burned in mid 2000.
• The housing boom when everyone was buying way more house than they could afford. People working as grocery store clerks, delivery drivers, etc. were being given credit for some reason still unknown to me to buy $200,000 and 300,000 houses in the Dallas market when the most they could expect to afford in the way of a house in the past was a $50,000 house in an old, used up neighborhood in East or South Dallas - if they could even afford a house. Most rented. And now? They've lost their houses. The reality set in as the economy tanked and they lost their jobs and found themselves unable to sell their houses. And many of them took out interest only loans - so they were upside down - IN THEIR HOUSE! You expect that with a car, boat or something like that. But your house is always suppose to increase in value. Right? Apparently not.
And now, we have Obama's cookies making some feel like he is the latest "savior" that's going to make everything alright. If we would just all own wildly successful stocks, a giant house and elect a president that will solve all the problems that the aforementioned unreasonable expectations brought on, then we'll be happy.
Check out the video below for some of this irrationality:
Now come on people! When will we learn that all these things we run after hoping they will make us happy is futile thinking? No, really. When? Probably never this side of heaven.
The deal though is that there IS all that happiness to be found this side of heaven and more. There was this guy who said:
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Now just for grins, think of the thief as those things or people or ideas (i.e. security, safety, assurance, etc.) that hold out all that promise for your happiness. Those are the thieves.
Now think of Christ - the "guy" who said the above. He can really deliver on that promise He makes. The issue is, are you willing to trust Him? Are you willing to see that "things", ideas and even people are not nearly as important as we believe them to be?
Now Christ will certainly not give you everything you want. But He will give you more than you ever imagined possible in the way of happiness and fulfillment - even and especially in the bad times when you think everything is going to come crashing down around you. Those are the times when Christ comforts and encourages you the most. And He reminds you that He has always provided for you. Maybe not in the ways you would have liked, but He provides nonetheless. I have learned this lesson many times (which means, in my stress and anxiety over those bad times, I have forgotten those lessons as well).
Think about what would make you truly happy. Truly safe, sound and secure. Does it involve Christ? It should. He's waiting for you to ask for His help. All you have to do is say the word.
If you do choose the rich and satisfying life Christ offers, let me know. I will be glad to help you in any way in your new life.
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