Agreed, Matthew. Please don't think I'm mocking you; I'm not. I agree that things like this can be quite frightening if we allow ourselves to get carried away. I am very susceptible to doing so, that is why I am making a concerted effort to stop.
I actually agree that Depression, War, Famine, Pestilence and many other nasties are going to hit us very hard, very soon. (My husband thinks I am mad to think so.) For a long time, I allowed my fear of that situation to nearly cripple me, trying to prepare myself.
I don't know if God will consider me and my family among his faithful; perhaps my confidence is misplaced. The times that are coming may be those that are spoken of in the Bible, where the living will envy the dead. In that case, maybe it were better to be among the dead. Either way, it's not my decision. I am leaving it up to God. I know that if He could lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He can save his faithful. (And his way of saving us could be by bringing us to him...)
So if I sound dispassionate, it's not because I don't care. I just am not going to worry about it, and I don't think you should either.
Just my 2 dollars...
God Bless,
Lisa