Eric Casagrande      /          Genelyn Novabos

 

 

The Stock Market Crash – Insider Secret

 

There were many stories being bandied about, purporting to provide some kind of answer as to what might have caused the Dow Jones to plummet nearly one thousand points within the space of 20 minutes, last Thursday afternoon. Of all the ideas presented in the media, the one garnering the most attention was known as the “Fat Finger” theory. In fact, this idea is totally preposterous!

Friends, allow me to share with you some important insider information as to the truth of what really transpired on that ominous day.

There is a well-known trading mechanism in the financial industry, often referred to by insiders as the Chicken Slide. Now I fully realize that most of my readers may not be technically or mathematically inclined, so I will do my best to explain the mechanics of it in layman’s terms.

Here is a basic synopsis of what happened. Please understand that, for very obvious reasons, both the name of the firm as well as the individual who was purportedly involved, shall remain anonymous. Fair enough?

At any rate, it was quickly developing into a rather busy trading day, and the volume was really picking up on the big board (New York). One of the office brokers at this firm had decided to hold back on going to lunch with the rest of his colleagues, and stayed behind to execute some orders for one of his high profile clients.

By approximately 2:15 P.M., the broker surmised that it might take longer to execute his large sell order for the client, so he decided to run out for a bite to eat. But fearing an unexpected move while he was away from the computer, the fellow decided to play it safe. Instead of losing valuable time at the usual restaurant, he grabbed a bucket from the Colonel, and quickly scooted back to the office to eat it at his desk.

This is where it gets technical, so please bear with me.

After quickly scoffing a couple of drumsticks and a few chicken wings, the broker noticed the market picking up steam again, from out of nowhere. It was time to punch in the sell order for his V.I.P. client. But fate seemed to step in, when the broker realized that, during his rush back to the office, he had forgotten to grab some of the moisture-towelettes, in order to clean the greasy residue from his fingers.

Using one of his pinky fingers, he attempted to slide open a desk drawer, to see if he might have some from a previous lunch, but there weren’t any to be located. Then … as luck would have it … in addition to the pressure from having to execute the large sell order in a timely fashion, the broker suddenly felt his stomach beginning to gurgle. Instinctively knowing that he had very little time to waste (either way), he realized that he faced a risky but necessary move.

Methodically sliding his right thumb over the greasy keyboard, he slowly began entering the required data one key at a time. Arriving at the final stroke, his stomach erupted with a more forceful note, startling him, and causing his greasy thumb to bypass the “M” key (millions), sliding 180 degrees to the left – across the “N” key – and inadvertantly pressing the “B” key (billions), sending a cold chill down his spine.

WHOOOOOOSH! Just like that – the market was in the toilet.

Thank you, Colonel !

Now the moral of this fictional story is this: Sometimes life can deliver a curve ball, just when you least expect it. But one thing is certain in a world that is falling apart — and that is how much God loves everyone, as shown in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3: 16-17). The Bible clearly tells us that God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3: 9).

Note what it says in 2 Corinthians 5: 18-19, where the apostle Paul - by inspiration of the Holy Spirit – gives to us the revelation of God’s love, and our calling:

 

“And all things are of God, who has reconciled us

to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us

the ministry of reconciliation.

 

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world

unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto

them, and has committed unto us the word

of reconciliation.“

 

My friend, three things are perfectly clear from this – namely that:

 

1. God loved the world so very much.

2. God reconciled the world to Himself, through Jesus Christ.

3. God has given us the word of reconciliation to share with the world.

 

The world. Now that seems to be all-encompassing, and leaves no one standing on the outside. It includes all peoples, of all languages, from all nations – without discrimination. 

Further proof is found in Revelation 7: 9-10, where it says:

 

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude

which no man could number of all nations,

and kindreds, and people, and tongues,

stood before the throne, and before the

Lamb, clothed with white robes, and

palms in their hands;

 

And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation

to our God, who sits upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb.“

 

My friends, this will include many people who came from the Arab- Muslim world; people from the India-Hindu world; people from the China-Buddhist world; as well as those who came from every religion known to mankind. It means that somebody must have shared the good news about Jesus with these people groups, because it is only through the Lord Jesus Christ that we receive the free gift of eternal life.

Now some “Christians” might have trouble with the concept that God would reach out to people from the Muslim world (let alone from other religions as well). After all, someone might say: The God of the Qu’uran is not the same as the God of the Bible, right Eric?

Yes, technically that would be quite true. But it would also be just as true that many people claiming to be Christian, also don’t worship the God of the Bible. It isn’t anymore evil to be a follower of Islam, than it would be to proclaim to be a Christian – yet not believe in the virgin birth. But that is the case in many churches who profess a faith in Jesus Christ. Without the virgin birth, Jesus Christ is born in sin like all of us - and thus would not qualify to be the Messiah, since one sinner cannot die for another sinner! The Lamb must be spotless!

Now for a second example: Is a follower of the Islamic religion any worse off than someone who claims to be a Christian, but who does not believe Jesus Christ shed His blood and died for all the world’s sin (John 1: 16)? Yet this belief is held by many people claiming a born-again experience today! Then again, I won’t even touch upon those who call themselves a Christian, yet do not believe that Jesus even rose from the dead!

But Eric, isn’t Islam an evil religion?

My friend, ALL forms of religion are inherently evil, because they are built on the idea of pleasing God through self-performance. The addition of our own self-effort to the finished work of Jesus Christ at the cross, is idolatry at its best. Anything less than a full dependence on the shed blood, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, will only lead to doom.

There is a way to reach out to those within the many different religions of the world, be they Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh - or whatever. But it isn’t through holding prayer protests, and it isn’t through finger wagging, and it certainly isn’t by name calling.

As noted previously, we are explicitly told in God’s Word that we are to share a word of reconciliation, and it can only come about by giving witness to the utterly fantastic news of how much God loves all mankind, as shown in the person of Jesus Christ!

No discrimination.

Try it some time – you might find yourself amazed at the results!