"Wild Speculation"
As all the saber rattling continues over Iran one can only "speculate" the outcome of yet another round of political brinkmanship in the volatile middle east. The other day there were a multitude of reports that our beloved leaders have put on the "table" the "option" of taking out Iran's nuclear facilities. And one of the options being the possible use of nuclear equipped bunker busters. In other words there would be the "possibility" of nuking Iran.
It would be our generation to see the release of the nuclear genie from the bottle. The taboo that has existed ever since Nagasaki and Hiroshima would vanish into thin air with such an under taking and our world would be forever changed. Nuclear weapons would then be an option on the table for everyone in the "nuclear club" and not as an absolute last resort. Preemptive tactical nuclear strikes. Who would ever have imagined such a thing.
But, yesterday we hear that all this talk about an eminent bombing campaign against Iran is just "wild speculation". So one wonders, what should you believe? How should you plan?
Already we've been gearing for another stock up on certain provision's. Not out of paranoia mind you but, rather it seems to be a practical common sense thing to do.
Over the past couple weeks we hear of dire predictions coming from Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that if the U.S. tries to stop Iran from enriching uranium that there would be serious consequences. Some speculate that it could be in the form of messing with the oil markets.
Hmm, we are pretty dependent on oil. And just a few of us rely completely on the use of gasoline. So that ol' common sense starts kicking in and you think maybe we'd better start looking over our supplies and see if we are running low on anything?
So, we went to Aldi this afternoon and did a little stock up in area's we are weak in. And we'll do a little every week until we feel that we have a good enough cushion should gas prices take a big jump. We live just under 20 miles from Rhinelander where all the major convenience stores are and if fuel goes way up it would be no small thing to drive that far just because we're out of a few things.
With our business we are maybe a little more conscious about gas prices because it plays a major role in whether we make a profit or not. So the cost of driving is on our minds a lot.
Today gas is up to $2.799 for low grade unleaded, so a trip to town in our Jeep which gets about 20 miles to the gallon costs us right around $7. That's 20 miles there and 20 miles back home. And it's easy to put on an extra 10 miles running around Rhinelander. So you can put on a minimum of 50 miles just to pick up a few things at the store.
When we first came here we used to go to town very sparingly but, we have become just like everyone else and we jet off to Rhinelander every couple days for any little thing. Our business takes us through there nearly everyday but, besides that, we go an awful lot any how. We have some good friends there also, so visiting them makes for another good excuse to have to run down.
We need to be prepared to not have that convenience should gas cease to be affordable.
These are uncertain times. So I do my own speculations based on the limited information that I have at my disposal. You hear this and you hear that and who knows what to believe. Just a lot of "wild speculations". That’s all it is really. But, even so I try my best to plan my life around what I know or what I think I know. And when things are uncertain I opt for being prudent and conservative.
I remember well the days after 911 when our president got on TV and told everyone to "spend, spend your money, keep the economy going". To me it seems wise to save during "speculative" times, not spend. At least not to spend frivolously. If you need to spend in order to gear up then that's an investment.
Yet, with all the uncertainty in times like these, we can be sure of one thing. That God is in control. Nothing takes Him by surprise. Not even us with all our speculating.
I always like the picture I get in my mind when I read the passage in the bible about when Jesus and the disciples were in the boat and a storm brewed up. The disciples were getting alarmed that they were going to perish, all the while Jesus was sleeping. To me that is a great picture of how the Lord was at perfect peace with the Father. Even during the storms of life He was able to rest. That’s how I want to be. That no matter what comes our way, good or bad, that I can trust our Father in heaven enough to still be able to rest.
Keep looking up. Our redemption is nearer today than it was yesterday.
Until Next Time
It would be our generation to see the release of the nuclear genie from the bottle. The taboo that has existed ever since Nagasaki and Hiroshima would vanish into thin air with such an under taking and our world would be forever changed. Nuclear weapons would then be an option on the table for everyone in the "nuclear club" and not as an absolute last resort. Preemptive tactical nuclear strikes. Who would ever have imagined such a thing.
But, yesterday we hear that all this talk about an eminent bombing campaign against Iran is just "wild speculation". So one wonders, what should you believe? How should you plan?
Already we've been gearing for another stock up on certain provision's. Not out of paranoia mind you but, rather it seems to be a practical common sense thing to do.
Over the past couple weeks we hear of dire predictions coming from Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that if the U.S. tries to stop Iran from enriching uranium that there would be serious consequences. Some speculate that it could be in the form of messing with the oil markets.
Hmm, we are pretty dependent on oil. And just a few of us rely completely on the use of gasoline. So that ol' common sense starts kicking in and you think maybe we'd better start looking over our supplies and see if we are running low on anything?
So, we went to Aldi this afternoon and did a little stock up in area's we are weak in. And we'll do a little every week until we feel that we have a good enough cushion should gas prices take a big jump. We live just under 20 miles from Rhinelander where all the major convenience stores are and if fuel goes way up it would be no small thing to drive that far just because we're out of a few things.
With our business we are maybe a little more conscious about gas prices because it plays a major role in whether we make a profit or not. So the cost of driving is on our minds a lot.
Today gas is up to $2.799 for low grade unleaded, so a trip to town in our Jeep which gets about 20 miles to the gallon costs us right around $7. That's 20 miles there and 20 miles back home. And it's easy to put on an extra 10 miles running around Rhinelander. So you can put on a minimum of 50 miles just to pick up a few things at the store.
When we first came here we used to go to town very sparingly but, we have become just like everyone else and we jet off to Rhinelander every couple days for any little thing. Our business takes us through there nearly everyday but, besides that, we go an awful lot any how. We have some good friends there also, so visiting them makes for another good excuse to have to run down.
We need to be prepared to not have that convenience should gas cease to be affordable.
These are uncertain times. So I do my own speculations based on the limited information that I have at my disposal. You hear this and you hear that and who knows what to believe. Just a lot of "wild speculations". That’s all it is really. But, even so I try my best to plan my life around what I know or what I think I know. And when things are uncertain I opt for being prudent and conservative.
I remember well the days after 911 when our president got on TV and told everyone to "spend, spend your money, keep the economy going". To me it seems wise to save during "speculative" times, not spend. At least not to spend frivolously. If you need to spend in order to gear up then that's an investment.
Yet, with all the uncertainty in times like these, we can be sure of one thing. That God is in control. Nothing takes Him by surprise. Not even us with all our speculating.
I always like the picture I get in my mind when I read the passage in the bible about when Jesus and the disciples were in the boat and a storm brewed up. The disciples were getting alarmed that they were going to perish, all the while Jesus was sleeping. To me that is a great picture of how the Lord was at perfect peace with the Father. Even during the storms of life He was able to rest. That’s how I want to be. That no matter what comes our way, good or bad, that I can trust our Father in heaven enough to still be able to rest.
Keep looking up. Our redemption is nearer today than it was yesterday.
Until Next Time
posted by RL at 11:41 PM
3 Comments:
You know, I could never sit back and figure things are going to keep on going without a hitch. You listen to some of these "expert" economists and they figure it's going to be boom times forever. All I see is everything going just as the Good Book says it's going to. And fast!
Tom
Hey Tom,
Thanks for dropping by the blog. Glad your back. Actually I already told you that a few minutes ago when I dropped by your blog to say hello.
I've heard it said that eventually the bubble's going to burst. Common sense says it can't keep going indefinitely.
Sure seems like it's going that way doesn't it. That is, like the "Good Book" says.
Russ
Good Morning--Happy Easter!
He is risen!!! What joy and peace to know that no matter what clouds are building and how close hyperextended bubbles are to bursting, that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son for our redemption!
It's getting pretty scary out there when a 'nuclear first strike' on Iran is an option to be seriously considered.
What I find surprising is to hear retired military generals saying this is 'crazy' and calling for military commanders to 'defend the constitution' against enemies foreign and domestic.
I feel something like
'electricity' in the air. There is a tension building in a hundred different areas yet so few will even talk about it.
Praise God for directing us to leave the 'self-centered' culture and relearn how to care for ourselves and others!
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