Take Heart

Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming – in fact, it is already here- when you will be scattered each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world. “John 16:31-33 (NLT)

This past week the Reading Eagle newspaper had various articles regarding the state of the economy and the citizens in the city, county, and country. I was shocked to learn that the city of Reading, Pennsylvania is ranked number 6 in the nation in cities of over 65,000 people and the percentage of those people living in poverty level. For Reading (in 2008), 34% of the population are living in poverty! They say that for this year they expect the percentage to be even greater because more people have lost their jobs in 2009.

When I visited the Lebanon Christian Ministries this past week to receive assistance, the counselors informed me that they are seeing more and more of the working class “poor” coming in for assistance every day! To continue with this post please click here