Y2K Fact or Fiction How does this make me feel?

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39 "

28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30: Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36: As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39: Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

If you are willing to listen, there are those who will tell you this is the end of the world as we know it. There are also those who will tell you "be happy, don’t worry"

I do not have any more knowledge on the subject of Y2K than any one else, but I’d like to offer a few practical comments. Until the earth rotates across the International dateline December 31, 1999, and January 1, 2000 arrives across the ocean no one will know what will actually happen. It may be just another day. Until more is actually known, in my mind, the pressing issue is more about irrational fear and rational action.

My concern is that a lot of folks are being stampeded into being wasteful and creating a great deal of un-necessary emotional and mental stress. I support the idea of having food on hand, but I think many are not thinking through what they are going to do.

To come up with the good solutions, we have to ask good questions. For example, if we are asking, "How can I be sure to have enough...?" remember "give us this day our daily bread". Maybe a better question is, " How can I be sure my neighbors and I will have enough...? remember "love your neighbor as yourself." "How can I help if there really is a problem...?" remember "He leads me beside still calm waters, He restores my soul, He makes me to lie down in green pastures." "How can we be prepared for practically any calamity?" remember "those that wait upon the Lord renew their strength. They shall run and not grow tired, they shall walk and not faint, they shall mount up with wings as eagles."

I think being prepared for the unknown is a good idea--anytime. Consider, for example, bad weather, job loss, or economic hard times. A good approach to Y2K or any other such problem is the following list of actions:

Having things you cannot use is no help in a time of crisis. What is a reasonable amount? remember "give us this day, our daily bread." remember, "the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, yet..." Okay, what really is reasonable, enough to sleep well at night I guess. If you lie awake wondering if you have enough, you probably are unprepared period.

Preparation includes mental preparation as well. Are you mentally prepared for any calamity. What do you know? Where is your trust? What can you do with what nature provides?

Seek real community with others of a like-mind by practicing thrift and barter within your church community. Find ways to assist others through traumatic situations by serving as an outreach coordinator for those who experience losses through fire, flood or other disasters. It is amazing what you learn from helping others through rough spots in their lives. Also, it is amazing what you can do with very little help or support. Working in agreement with others will exponentially expand your effort. Praying and studying in agreement will increase the effectiveness of your prayer and individual studies.

None of us is smarter than a group of us. Remember, "Where two or three are gathered in my name..."

Pray for wisdom and guidance. It’s out there, just for you. Relax and know that God is a very present help in times of trouble.

Y2K is as much a spiritual dilemma as a material one.

Marilynn Newman

(c) October 1998

PO Box 737

Gainesboro, TN 38562