Scattershots

I was watching Jay Leno last night. He had Whoopi Goldberg on as a guest. They were poking fun at the lack of intelligence on the streets. Leno has a feature called Jaywalking where he asks easy questions and often gets dumb answers.

Leno says to Goldberg, "My favorite of all-time was: How was Mount Rushmore formed? The answer I got was erosion." Goldberg and Leno laugh at the stupidity of that answer.

Oh the irony. Our universities and society in general are filled with people who would scoff at the idea that erosion caused Mount Rushmore. But ask them who created this world and you might get answers equal to the erosion answer. What's crazier?

1. To look at Mount Rushmore and say that erosion formed this work of art?
2. To look at this world and not acknowledge an Intelligent Designer?

There is a good article out about values in the stock market by Jeremy Grantham. Grantham is a legendary investment figure who oversees GMO Global Asset Management. In 1998, GMO made predictions for asset returns over the next 7-10 years that ended up being as accurate as any forecasts I have seen. For example, GMO predicted negative returns for US stocks at a time when very few people were that bearish.

They recently released predictions for the next 7 years that were more optimistic. In his view, we are not heading down a black hole. Business will go on and brighter economic times are ahead. Here's the article.

What I am telling clients in regards to money...

1. Don't retire
2. Live like a pessimist
3. Invest like an optimist

Doomsday predictions are plentiful. And more are coming. Here's one that a friend/client showed me in the last few days. Wilkerson wrote a book many years ago called The Cross and the Switchblade which detailed his experience sharing the gospel to gangmembers in New York City. You always have to respect a man who has poured his life into serving the inner city with the good news of Christ. But...

There is a history with him of making apocalyptic predictions since the early 1970s that have never materialized.

It has me thinking though. What is prudent preparation for disaster/social unrest? Here is my list:

• 30 day supply of water
• 30 day supply of dry foods
• Weapons/ammo
• Shortwave radio
• Batteries/flashlights
• First aid kit
• 30 day supply of medications
• Copies of important documents

I don't think it is nutty to have these basic provisions. The odds of a long-term breakdown of our social order is minimal. The odds of a short-term disruption due to natural disaster (Katrina scenario), war/attack on a city or riots is also low. But the risks do go up in tougher economic times.

If I have to take my family on a camping adventure, we are toast. But if we had to hole up in our home for 30 days without access to electricity, water, transportation and groceries/supplies, we could make it work with a little preparation.

The fact that I am even writing this is probably all the indication that you need to know that we are close to an economic bottom :)

For God's Glory,

Ashley Hodge