RodneyOlsen.net Rotating Header Image

Global Financial Crisis

False Gods Fleece the Faithful

Feb 3rd, 2011
by Rodney Olsen.
Comments are off for this post

David Collett is a chartered accountant with more than 25 years experience in the field of forensic investigation. After closely following financial markets he made a series of presentations to finance and investment communities, forecasting the collapse of financial markets and the 2008 stock market crash.

While we hear that the boom times have returned, many of us are finding that we’re still facing an economic crisis which threatens our financial standing.

David’s book False Gods Fleece the Faithful answers our questions about the current financial situation in simple, plain language. He encourages home-owners, taxpayers, wage earners, and individual investors to become the driving force behind the economic growth of our families, our communities, and our world.

David joined me in the studio this morning as part of my daily radio program on 98.5 Sonshine FM. You can hear our discussion on his book and what we should do to avoid financial ruin by clicking the play button on the audio player below.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Enjoy this post? Please share it:

Release the brakes …

Oct 31st, 2009
by Rodney Olsen.
Comments are off for this post

… and let’s push this thing down the hill.

One thing history teaches us is that we don’t learn from history.

Australia wasn’t hit as hard by the global financial crisis as other countries but we’ve certainly been affected. Now that there are promising signs of recovery, it seems that we’re getting ready to go out and start the cycle all over again. We’re addicted to spending and trying to fill our lives with ‘stuff’ and so many feel that we’ve got the green light to heat up the credit cards again.

Recent positive economic signs from the US make me wonder whether the same is about to happen all over the world.

We made the mistake of being too careless with money, mostly other people’s money, and it seems we’re getting ready to do it all over again. Rather than learning the lessons and starting to live within an adjusted budget, we just want to spend, spend, spend.

News.com.au is reporting that confidence has returned and we haven’t learnt a thing. They say that research is showing that Australians are “over” the global financial crisis and are again ready to worry about the things that troubled them in the last boom.

Almost two out of three consumers (65 per cent) are prepared to spend the same amount or more this Christmas, the report found. But the reprieve for the economy, and the boost for the Federal Government, is tempered by the return of old concerns, The Weekend Australian reported.

“The three issues that came up in discussions were all about health, roads and transport, and education – the failure of state governments and the public system in general to provide decent services,” research director Rebecca Huntley said yesterday.

“These were the things that people were worried about leading up to the last federal election and, unlike petrol and food prices, expect federal governments to do something about, especially in a second term.”

In a separate report, they’re saying that our biggest bank is telling its staff to push more debt onto its customers through loans and credit cards.

So how about you? Has the financial downturn caused you to look at your spending habits? Are you more concerned about budgeting than you were, knowing that financial circumstances can change overnight?

I wonder if we’ll all just return to spending more on the latest and greatest ‘stuff’ for ourselves and forget that people in developing countries, through no fault of their own, were hit the hardest by the crisis and will be the last ones to ‘recover’.

Are you ready to release the brakes, push this thing down the hill, and hope that it doesn’t go wildly out of control and crash once again?

Enjoy this post? Please share it:

KEVIN37

Mar 11th, 2009
by Rodney Olsen.
5 comments

KEVIN37.jpgToday’s the day that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s second economic stimulous package starts getting rolled out to the Australian public.

Kogan Technologies has taken advantage of the stimulous package and created some magnificent marketing. They’ve launched the Kogan Technologies KEVIN37 HD LCD TV. It’s been carefully designed to coincide with the government handout and the TVs will be ready to be shipped to customers next month. The cost of these televisions is only $900, the exact amount that many Australians will be given by the government.

Celebrate the Australian Government’s stimulus package with the Kogan KEVIN37.

The Kogan KEVIN37 in conjunction with the government bonus is a great combination for Australian’s looking for an affordable home entertainment solution.

Bring your living room into the digital age with the Kogan KEVIN37. Featuring a High Definition 37″ LCD Panel, Built in High Definition Tuner and HDMI input, it’s sure to suit every need.

The Kogan KEVIN37 LCD HDTV will also ship with a free promotional t-shirt.

I don’t think we’ll be taking advantage of the offer but I reckon it’s a case of very clever marketing.

Are you getting money from Mr Rudd? Have you decided what you’ll do with your slice of the pie?

Enjoy this post? Please share it:

FAST for FOOD Explained

Oct 29th, 2008
by Rodney Olsen.
Comments are off for this post

Fast_for_Food.jpgYesterday in my post Every 7 Seconds … I introduced FAST for FOOD an initiative of Compassion which is happening throughout November.

If you missed yesterday’s post can I encourage you to read through and decide if you’ll be part of this life saving event?

I’m especially passionate about doing something to help after seeing the extreme poverty and desperation of many people facing a very uncertain future in Haiti earlier this year.

Today I want to outline a little bit more of what Fast for Food is trying to accomplish.

The steps are outlined on the website as follows.

PRAY
“Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24

Download the 30 day FAST for FOOD Prayer Calendar for the month of November. (I’ll be posting each day’s entry for the calendar here on my blog so you can simply follow along by reading my daily posts.)

FAST
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 1:4

Give up food for a day or more and feel the hunger pangs that millions experience for days on end.

GIVE
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice … Is it not to share your food with the hungry …” Isaiah 58:6-7

As you spend time in prayer and fasting, please bless those in desperate need by donating the money you would normally spend on food—or other activities that you choose to fast from—to Compassion’s Global Food Crisis Appeal.

SHARE
“…if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10

Encourage your friends, family, colleagues and church members to join us in FAST for FOOD and see God move.

If you’re prepared to take part and make a difference for those in desperate need please let me know in the comments section of this post.

Enjoy this post? Please share it:

Every 7 Seconds …

Oct 28th, 2008
by Rodney Olsen.
10 comments

Fast_for_Food.jpg … a child is dying from hunger related causes.

An almost equal tragedy is that we’ve become so desensitised to the suffering of others that we often let statistics like that float past us without a second thought.

Can I beg you not to just click past this post? Please take the time to read it through and let it touch your heart.

I’ve seen the desperation in the eyes of those who can’t afford to feed their families. My visit to Haiti in April this year with Compassion Australia was cut short due to rioting and looting brought about by the global food crisis. People in developing countries do not have enough food and even when food is available the cost is beyond the reach of the majority of the population.

The effects of the global food crisis have been further exacerbated by the global financial crisis.

Throughout November, Compassion staff and supporters are joining together in a practical and focused way to support families who are hungry and in desperate need of food because of the global food crisis. FAST for FOOD will help us focus on the need and provide practical ways to make a difference. Will you join us in making life more livable for those who are desperately in need?

I’ll be highlighting the need and sharing something from the FAST for FOOD Prayer Calendar every day through November. Will you commit to praying each day for those who need your help? The need is urgent.

Around the world, people are feeling the effects of the economic and food crises—none more so than the 300 million children who will go to bed tonight hungry. We know that when the well-off suffer, the poor die. The world needs light now more than ever.

As men and women of a steadfast and generous God, this is our opportunity to demonstrate our unshakeable trust in Him by reaching out and generously assisting those who are in desperate need. Although we are not immune to world events, we can rest assured that God is faithful, loves the poor and continues to call Compassion to challenge, partner and equip the church to release millions more children from poverty in Jesus’ name. In God’s economy there is always more than enough and He is always faithful when we pray, fast, give and share with generous and joyful hearts.

I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20 (CEV)

Are you prepared to commit yourself to the cause for the month of November? If you are please let me know in the comments section of this post. You can also help to spread the message by pointing others towards this post.

Together we can see change happening in our own lives and in the lives of those who are waiting to see God’s love displayed through his people.

Enjoy this post? Please share it:
← Earlier Posts