I read a message below that prompted me to ask if anyone else is feeling the crunch and sensing the impending doom and steady decline of our country's economy? I for one began to feel it back in December, when there were no presents under my tree. I felt it when I had to chose between cable television or internet. I feel it now even more, I see it now much greater.

Gasoline prices are on the rise as we all know, which means that all of our goods and services are going to go up, up, up. Greater inflation! We don't need it. My family is feeling the trouble as our one source of income is not increasing with the rise of everything else. This ultimately means that we are being paid less. It hurts when you only have an income of $2000 a month, you pay $768 for health insurance, with no dental or eye coverage, plus a $500 deductible that must be met! Electricity costs over a hundred dollars a month, then gasoline is costing us an arm and a leg. I drive 3 hours one way to college, hoping to earn a better living one day. However, I'm beginning to think there won't be any better living to earn if things continue to decline.

I'm frightened that we are headed for another depression. Recession, sadly we're already treading that water. The stock market was down 200 points this week. For the first time in 25 years the U.S. dollar was lower than Jerusalem's currency, the Shekel. The first time in 25 YEARS! Barrels of oil cost over $100 (via Bloomberg.com). I fear that Americans in general are not ready for these hard times. We have seen so many years of growth and plenty, the days of standing in line in hopes of getting a bag of sugar or flour haven't been seen since the 1930's. What are we going to do when the stock market crashes? Another Black Tuesday is on the verge. There is too much debt and not enough of anyone's money to pay it back. Thus the failing housing market. Heard of many layoff's lately, that's another sign of a depression. I invested quite a bit of money last year, hoping above hopes that it would grow and be there for my retirement and we all know that we can't count on social security to be there. My investment officer said that a recession was not impending, however...he lied.

I'm scared folks, really scared. Not just for me, but for the hardworking families I know and love. Let's pray and pray hard. I hope the best for each of you, now and always.

If you will go to the book of Revelations in your Bible,i believe you will see the we're getting so close to the end that a recession want matter,th Lord is coming back to claim his own. When you read of the beast with 7 heads,think of the missles and war heads we as well as other countries have.I really don't think the Bible is talking about beasts as we know them,but all of the war material thats out there,i think thats what we'll be facing and it want be good unless you're right with God and ready to go.Believe me im not spouting the Bible to anyone,you can read it for yourself.