1. "Sadly, I have even had a dear friend sever our relationship since I wouldn’t adhere to gold and silver being the only “true forms” of money." Brads friend is wrong, gold and silver are not the only "true forms" of money. By definition money is: something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment. That means anything can be used as money as long as one party is willing to give it up and another party is willing to take it for payment.
   
2. Brad defines money this way: "What is money?  'Money' is a claim on debt (the promise of future labor)." I agree with that, but I don't believe, based upon the definition above, that is the only definition of money. I don't see all money as a claim on debt (the promise of future labor). Example: By whatever means (labor, return on investment, gift) I have accrued say an ounce of gold. The ounce of gold I have acquired came after I labored for it...as all money and wealth should! Now I want to buy a horse for my daughter. The owner of the horse (who acquired the horse in one of the same ways I acquired my ounce of gold) says he will gladly sell me the horse for an ounce of gold. The ounce of gold becomes the "medium of exchange, the measure of value and the means of payment" for the horse. My ounce of gold came after I labored for it and was used to buy a horse from an owner who acquired it after he labored and paid for it. Thereby my gold is money. It is not a claim on debt/future labor, it is a claim on past labor, return of investment or gift. So I see gold as money and as a commodity. And anything that has value to at least one party and another party is willing to give it to them in exchange for something they perceive as valuable can be money and a commodity.
   

The experts, so-called, who did not see this coming continue to tell us that it will end soon. I think it will go on until such time as gold-holding investors believe that they can once again trust the policies of their own central banks. When they once again are convinced, as they were in 1980, that the Federal Reserve is not going to expand the money supply, no matter what the rate of unemployment is, no matter what the international value of the dollar is, no matter what, gold's price will peak. When gold bugs are convinced this is true, and when Indian fathers are convinced that gold prices are too high, and they might as well wait for a lower price of gold to build up the dowries of their daughters, then the bubble is getting close to popping. So far, I do not see this.

There was a bubble in January 1980. The price of gold rose from one day above $800. In today's money, that would be close to $2300. This is why I do not regard the present price of gold as a bubble. If it is a bubble, it is not the only bubble. There is also the commodities bubble, an oil bubble, and a farm land bubble. It is not just a gold bubble.

Brad, in his article, is making the point that gold and silver, in his view, are risky investments right now. This could be true if you are solely acquiring gold for the purpose of achieving a gain. I personally don't believe you should acquire gold and silver as an investment, but more as a way to create and maintain wealth. REMEMBER, biblical wealth is made up of God created "things." Things like land (that is productive and gives you a return), loot (gold, silver, etc.) and livestock (that is productive and gives you a return). These are things that God blessed Abraham and Solomon with and both were declared to be wealthy. I suggest you do the same. That means get out of phony "investments" like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities and houses/land that are mortgaged.

Second, the article "Fraud Behind Your Mortgage Loan." In this article, Brad rightly points out the corruption and deception when it comes the banks and your mortgage. I have said it many times on here, that when you go into debt with a secular lender, you are in fact binding yourself to something that is unrighteous, wicked, corrupt and what God calls abominable. This is not what God wants His people to do. They are to be separate, not partnering with Baal.

In regards to more mortgage fraud check out this article: Banker Confirms Mortgage Fraud...A Must Read

Brad states towards the end of his article:

"It has been, and still is my opinion that buying any form of housing right now is a very poor purchase.  If the fraudulent practices of the mortgage industry become well known then home prices could easily drop another 30% or even 50%."

I concur with Brad about this. I continue to hear about court cases where homeowners are being relieved of their mortgages and are given a clear title to their home. Fortunately or unfortunately, this is not well known and the banks, the courts and the government will try to keep it that way.

My advice when it comes to buying has not changed. If you are going to buy then do the following:

1. Pay cash...no debt.
2. If you can't pay cash and can't wait, then do an Equity Share arrangement with a homeowner that owns their home free and clear.
   
3. Pay 25% or more under current market value.
4. Buy a home that needs minor repair, renovation and updating.
5. Buy a home that has space for you to grow your own food and possibly have some chickens, goats, and cows.