Week Thirty, 2019
MEGATRENDS
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:13-14).
It was thirty-eight years ago, but I still remember it like yesterday. I was newly elected to the House of Representatives and trying to figure out a lot of things, especially where the world and society were heading. I was invited to attend a weekend retreat and the main speaker was a man named John Naisbitt. He kept me with eyes and ears glued on him.
The book, now long out of print was on the New York Times best seller list for two years. I went looking and finally found the book through an “antique” book seller. I wanted to re-read it and see how accurate he was. While the print is a faded yellow, the principles are spot on.
He talked with some authority about the future and new directions that would transform our lives. Later he put it all in a book titled Megatrends. He talked about going from an industrial society to an information society and a world of high tech and high touch. He predicted that our national economy would transition to a world economy, and the list went on.
I read with interest and an eye on his then future and my today. All he said has come true, even though at the time he penned the book, few people could see the future like he did. He had warnings like “We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge and Strategic planning is worthless — unless there is first a strategic vision.”
There are many people today predicting the future and not all agree. Perhaps we will wait another fifty years and find out who was right. Through the centuries various peoples have sought out seers, fortune-tellers and mediums to predict what lies ahead. These self-proclaimed seers usually come to nothing. Their few accurate predictions are either outnumbered by their misses or are lucky guesses.
The Bible, however, is different. It contains hundreds of detailed prophecies; then it shows how many of those predictions were fulfilled centuries later. Much of the Bible is prophecy, much of which have been fulfilled, and its predictions are so sure that we could call Bible prophecy “history written in advance.”
Jesus not only fulfilled prophecy in His own life, He Himself predicted events that were to come to pass sometime in the future. One of the ministries of Jesus was that of a prophet. As has been true with prophecies fulfilled in His own life, His prophetic words have been literally and marvelously fulfilled.
Here’s my take on why. Jesus spoke of a change of the heart and a life hereafter. Neither of these are quickly visible, but to give credence he spoke of things people could see, like healing the sick.
If what the eyes can see occurs as predicted, then predictions we cannot see take credence. Jesus spoke of a heavenly eternal home for those who put their trust in Him and that’s a prediction you can put in the bank.
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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
To the surprise and relief of many Americans, the Washington Redskins will apparently drop their politically sensitive name in 2019. Dan Snyder, owner of the NFL Washington Redskins, announced that the organization is dropping “Washington” from the franchise name, which, beginning with the 2019 pre-season, will be simply known as, “The Redskins”. Snyder stated in his surprise announcement (he finds) the word “Washington” imparts a negative image of poor leadership, mismanagement, corruption, cheating, lying, and graft, and does not conjure a suitable image for young fans of football.
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When Paul’s ship was caught in the storm and his shipmates had no idea of their location or future, the Lord of the universe knew precisely who and where they were. His angel called Paul by name. He promised that God would sustain him and his fellow passengers. His visitation reminds us that when we do not know what the future holds, we know Who holds the future. —Jim Denison
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• 80% of Christians say they are experiencing declining relationships that are falling apart.
• 63% of Christians say prayer is important, but that also means that 37% (one third) say it is not.
• 14 million kids are living in poverty in America.
• 750 million people worldwide are living in a culture other that is where they were born. It is the greatest diaspora ever in history.
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
Children are like boats. They go in the right direction best when paddled from the rear.
Chinese Christians memorize Bible in prison: Gov’t ‘can’t take what’s hidden in your heart.
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work. – Aristotle
The best antidote to this cultural indoctrination is for people who love America to speak up. We have an obligation to our veterans and those who died for our freedom to do this. —Gary Bauer
From a local high school student: “Once I graduate, I’m going to know the Pythagorean theorem, but not the slightest idea of how to file my taxes.”
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” —Mary Oliver, excerpt from The Summer Day
Next Time Can be Better Than Last Time but not Because You Want to Be, But Because You’re Planning It to Be.
God did not make you because the world needs another human to add to the 7.7 billion already here. He made you because he has a purpose for you that no one else can fulfill.
Sight is a major factor in temptation. Be careful what you let your eyes see.