dollar free fall hurting missionaries in europe
i just received an email update from some missionaries in europe that our church supports. below is just an excerpt
US Dollar in freefall: You have probably heard on the news that the dollar is not doing well. In fact, the Euro yesterday blew past the psychologically important mark of $1.50/€1 euro. It had been holding steady at ~$1.46 for weeks. Today it hit a new high of $1.52. We have never before seen such a precipitous drop. The dollar has now bypassed 40% depreciation since 2000, and is on its way to 50%. The dollar value has bypassed 25 year lows against all major currencies, and it just continues to fall. This is worrying to Europeans and others who fear their export products are no longer affordable in the US. American tourists are expected to stay away in droves. Goldman Saks is predicting that the dollar could drop to $1.60/Euro by the end of March. The causes cited for this drop are the same—trade & budget deficits, high consumer debt, low US savings rates, low Fed Interest Rate, sub-prime mortgage crisis, and now the risk of recession. The good news is that this is a much needed correction that will help in the long term. As one London-based CNN analyst said yesterday, “America has been on a credit binge, and the bill just came due.” Most recognize that the dollar is grossly undervalued, and it will have to ‘bounce back’ eventually. But given the economic gloom of recent weeks, market psychology will probably continue to drive it down. I think in a year’s time the situation could be much better.
To illustrate the impact this has on us, when we moved into our 3-bedroom apartment in Toulouse 18 months ago we were paying $325/month less than we are today, due solely to dollar depreciation over those months. As we have said in previous newsletters, if the dollar goes to $1.60, we will need to consider moving to a smaller apartment. Unhappily, while the dollar has dropped, rents in Toulouse have not. Please pray for wisdom concerning this situation. We want to be good stewards with the support and resources the Lord has provided. He has brought us this far, and we believe he will continue to provide what we need to continue our ministry here.
Sure each have their own intentions!(but some want your money)!!
2 Peter 2
2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you lying teachers who shall bring in sects of perdition and deny the Lord who bought them: bringing upon themselves swift destruction. fuerunt vero et pseudoprophetae in populo sicut et in vobis erunt magistri mendaces qui introducent sectas perditionis et eum qui emit eos Dominum negant superducentes sibi celerem perditionem
2:2 And many shall follow their riotousness, through whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
et multi sequentur eorum luxurias per quos via veritatis blasphemabitur
2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not: and their perdition slumbereth not.
et in avaritia fictis verbis de vobis negotiabuntur quibus iudicium iam olim non cessat et perditio eorum non dormitat
If I could I would vote for Christ to be President, but...
Considering that the bible was assembled for the exact purpose of controlling Christians by Constantine for the same purpose of expanding the Roman Empire, I agree with your analysis of spreading of Democracy and Religious ideology fall in line together. It is my belief that Christ was against the established earthly government by both the Church and the State, (A true anarchist) for this matter he taught us (as individuals) to speak directly to God our Father, the source of all creation. So in all truth, I don't think God really cares about the value of the dollar or gold, since they are all created by Him; nor should we or any decent missionary for that matter. So if the value of the dollar is the point of this article, why bring missionary work into the question, anyone living abroad, makes it their choice and is suffering the same.
Missionary Nationalism
The same ideological force which has set these missionaries into Europe is the same which has sent our troops into the Middle-east. It is a purely American inclination which has been with us since the time of the Puritans. It is a missionary zeal whose end can either be the promulgation of "Christianity" or "Democracy". The desire to "Make the world safe for Democracy" is not radically different than to "Make the world safe for Christianity". Both are set upon the conversion of the "backward" and the "heathen". It is an indelible part of the American psyche, and I really don't think that what Bush is doing to convert all political forms into Jeffersonian Democracy can be stopped or is fundamentally "un-American" Our people are gripped in an crazed political religiosity, Bush is their leader, and they are set upon "doing good" (which is really not intended for the "good" of others but only the conversion of others into supportive images of ourselves). As a religious ideology, it exists to reassure us that we are failures because our world is "fallen" -- and that it can only be saved by being converted to the true religion (or political structure). In America, Church and State are twins, and share the same intention, which is to re-assure themselves that they have the "Truth" by converting, or convincing (by force if necessary)others to support their belief in the magical salvationary power of THEIR Christianity or THEIR Democracy.
Stirner.
i disagree
but that is not the point of the post, the point is about the fall of the dollar. Ron Paul encourages the spread of democracy or religion, just not through force. These missionaries whole goal is to introduce people to the Jesus of scripture. It is their right, it is my right to support them and send them. We don't use force, they don't even address politics, their focus (and mine) is not of this world but of the one to come. In the mean time however, i would like to live in a free and just society and that is why i oppose the use of force to spread freedom. for one, i believe this an oxymoronic statement "BE free or die" and that we as a nation do not have the right nor authority to tell other nation/states how to govern. We can however, visit with them by sending ambassadors and encouraging our values, just through dialog and not force.
am i making sense. if not, ignore me, but pay attention to the fall of the dollar, the point of this post.
http://micahdriscoll.blogspot.com
the point is the DOLLAR--this is opportunity knocking!!
Whether the missionaries should be there or not is irrelevant. The point is anybody living on a dollar income in a non-dollar economy knows the dollar is seriously tanking. Bernanke can spin it as much as he wants but the bottom line is you are big-time hosed if you get paid in dollars and spend euros or pounds or whatever.
Maybe if the church-supporters really think about this, like why is this happenning??? We all know Huck and McFly don't have the answers.
thank you
for your comment. i did not post this to dialog about the ethics of missionary pay or location but rather the point of the dollar falling as compared to other currencies.
You said it well, 'anybody living on a dollar income in a non-dollar economy knows the dollar is seriously tanking.'
http://micahdriscoll.blogspot.com
On that subject...
Our dollar today
We make history each day now, as far as how low the dollar has fallen.
If you click on the CHART link on that page, you'll notice that the dollar value is in what is called a sideslide. That is a nice way to say we dunno when it will stop going down.
~Live life to its fullest, with an open heart, open arms and most important... an open mind~
Get a job.
I understand that the person that wrote this article is not a missionary, but I would suggest you send a letter back to the missionaries and tell them to get a job. Paul was a tent maker, never had to be paid to teach. I don't think anyone has a problem with listening to a missionary, but I personally have a problem giving them money, why not get a job and teach about God on the side. I talk about God all the time, never needed to get paid for it.
Some Countries
In fact, probably most, don't allow foreign missionaries to take jobs that they want their own citizens to have.
BTW, Paul did accept offerings more then once, that we know about (and maybe more we don't know about).
Europe is no longer even Christian nominally
And, as long as government is not paying for it, let those church people with a heart for Europe give to share the Gospel there. As long as I am not forced to give, feel free to ask.
.Libera me, let the truth break, what my fears make--Leslie Phillips
But that man should play the tyrant over God, and find Him a better man than himself, is astonishing drama indeed!~~D. Sayers
There is no difference between an authoritarian government from the right or the left...F. A.Schaeffer
Hurting Missionaries???
Assume the position!
=======
RON PAUL 2012
Surely this is a joke. Why
Surely this is a joke.
Why are they in France anyway? This is and has been the problem all along. Too many self righteous christians out telling the world how to live.
Christians who denigrate Capitalism and then complain when the dollar falls?
Oh the inhumanity of it...
To all missionaries: "Just come home " and stop this nonsense, and thereby save the world for rational people.
Why did I have a feeling
Why did I have a feeling we'd find Mayberry on this thread. :)
You have a gift my friend. The discussion had to do with the impact of a falling dollar and seem to weasel in your anti-Christian views. Let's try to stay on point, shall we?
I agree, to an extent
self- righteous people of any stripe (Christian, Socialist, Communist, PETA types, and so on) would be better off staying at home and never talking to anyone. But a REAL Christian CANNOT be self-righteous, Jesus condemned in the strongest words hypocrisy and self-righteousness. I, as a Christian, desire to be authentic and honest about my faults and failings, I don't have it all together by any means, but then if I did, I wouldn't need a savior.
Libera me, let the truth break, what my fears make--Leslie Phillips
But that man should play the tyrant over God, and find Him a better man than himself, is astonishing drama indeed!~~D. Sayers
There is no difference between an authoritarian government from the right or the left...F. A.Schaeffer
Perhaps you are being called to come home?
Isn't Toulouse on the French mediteranian. I hate to say this but $325 dollars is a lot of money that could help some widowed woman or orphans here in the States. I've seen how a lot of missionaries live abroad, sometimes they even live better than they could in the States. If you are truely out to preach the word and help people, do like Paul (from the bible, not Ron) and work on the side to pay your way instead of taking money from church going people.
"nd work on the side to pay
"nd work on the side to pay your way instead of taking money from church going people."
If the church makes it clear concerning how the donations are distributed and the donation is of free will, I don't see how this could possibly be an issue.
Teach by example!
It would seem to me that the money would be better spent here at home where there are people who need help here too. Not that I don't want to help abroad, but I think spreading the word is much more credible when our own country isn't falling apart.
Bring them home as well.
Never understood why we had to send missionaries from our church to go abroad, don't they know how to read the bible in Europe, seems to me these missionaries would do much better teaching foreigners right here at home!
yeah, missionaries are a joke
Here we are spreading the word of the Lord to Europe when they were Christians long before we even existed. Is this a joke or what? Perhaps since we came to the new world, we created a few new brands of Christianity and that's what we're exporting back.
Or maybe it's just a free ride for a few young bucks preaching yada yada yada and taking a vacation on other people's dimes.
"missionaries are a
"missionaries are a joke"
Keep judging.
"Or maybe"
Or maybe we should start seeing people as individuals. I'm sure each has their own intentions.
Yea
I have somewhat of a problem with this as well. Not that we're not suppose to spread the good news, but the churches have allowwed the government to take over all the charity here in the states. They have fallen down and I don't do church any more bc they are in sin.........