Hi kids,
Something recent I thought was interesting
Two years ago, ostensibly to combat raging inflation, the Federal Reserve (not a government agency) began raising interest rates for the US Dollar. At the fastest rate in history, if I'm not mistaken. Rates went from near 0% to ~5% very quickly. Higher interest rates makes the US attractive to foreign investors, which result in a stronger currency, which then weakens other currencies. This is a type of war that goes on between countries all the time, where they try to fight for currency strength or dominance. Sometimes, it's the reverse though, where they try to weaken their currencies for better trade opportunities. But the trouble is that the US Dollar is the reserve currency of the world. It's almost like air for many types of global trade - they must be settled in dollars. For example, if Japan buys oil from Saudi Arabia, they must pay for it in US Dollars. Which means they have to exchange (sell) Yen for Dollars (buy). And that makes oil more expensive for them when their currency is weak relative to the dollar. Which then depresses their economy.
But, the US government is currently sitting on $36 Trillion in debt, $10 Trillion of which needs to be refinanced this year. That just means the bonds they sold years ago are due to be paid back this year. But the US Treasury doesn't have the money to pay them off, so they have to borrow new money (sell new bonds to retire old bonds). The Fed will be pressured to keep lowering rates so the US Treasury can refinance at a lower cost. And they started lowering rates last year, but it hasn't brought down real interest rates yet. This fact should be weakening the Dollar, but it hasn't.
Also, normally when interest rates are high and the dollar strong, the price of gold falls (in dollar terms). But it hasn't. Gold hit new record highs last year. Bitcoin hasn't been around that long, but it also hit new highs last year.
These are curious things to me - with the dollar so strong and other countries are feeling the squeeze, yet gold and bitcoin are being priced as if the dollar is weak - I don't know what it means, but I think it's worth paying attention.
What I know for sure
When was the last time someone asked, "Are you ready?"
How did you respond?
I have a standard response now that goes like this: "I was born ready. I was made for this!"
I always respond this way because it reminds me that no matter what's coming, I will be okay. I can relax, give it my best, and enjoy the experience. It might not go as planned or as I hoped. It might be even better. Regardless, I know I'm safe and secure in Jesus, so I can live life head on.
What do you think about that perspective? Want to talk about it? I'm ready.
Turn it up to 11
A song I like to listen to loud is "These days" by Jeremy Camp. This song hits!
“…I believe that you and I
are in the right place
at the right time
…maybe we were made for these days!”
It kind of fits with my "I was born ready…" credo, too.
If you aren’t familiar with Jeremy Camp he’s a prolific song writer, he even had a movie biography made about him that I think we all went to see (I don’t recall what it was called and I’m too lazy to look it up).
Anyway, I’m a sucker for a good guitar riff, and this song has a cool, but subtle riff that you can best pick out starting about 2:30 into the song.
Jeremy Camp - These Days (Music Video) (youtube.com)
Love,
Dad