Birchwood Community Church

But as the song goes, "Give me the money - that's what I want!"  And these days when money is scarce we are all having to review what we spend and what we can afford.  As this picture shows, everyone is affected - the caption is "Will one be wanting fries with that?"

We can smile, but if we are wise, we will obviously be wanting to look to base our lives on things that won't decrease in value when stock markets are in free fall.  Peter's statement in 1 Peter 1 verses 18 and 19 points us to something of outstanding value when he writes "It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from that dead-end empty way of life you grew up in...but with the precious blood of Christ." (NIV & Message). 

The credit crunch and recession makes this truth stand out.  What Jesus has done for us is real and will last no matter what the future brings.  It's also a wake up call to us to remind us who believe that we have some really good news to share.  It wasn't free to God - it cost Him everything - but it is free to those who ask for it.

PS. Don't forget your market research - go for a coffee!

With thanks to my brother Paul, whose idea this was.