In April 2013 an article in the USA Today Money section reported that Apple's stock has been struggling. According to the article, "The Apple stock crash is reaching a historic order of magnitude, shaking the faith of investors who piled on in large part on Jobs' showmanship." Shares are down 44 percent and the crash has obliterated $291.2 billion in shareholder wealth.

What has precipitated Apple's stock crash? The causes may be complex, but the article focused on one primary factor—the death of co-founder Steve Jobs on October 5, 2011. Apple isn't the only company that has struggled in the absence of a successful CEO. Research has shown "the fact that a sick or dying CEO is generally a big problem right away for stocks." The article noted that when a CEO leaves a company the "short-term shock" turns into "long-term disappointment."

In contrast, the last time Apple was in serious trouble Jobs was there to move the company forward with fresh energy and vision. But without Jobs, as one prominent stock analyst contends, Apple is "becoming just another stock" and that "the phenomenon [of Apple] is unwinding."

Possible Preaching Angles: Pentecost; Ascension of Jesus; Holy Spirit—It's such a different story for Christians: when Jesus ascended to heaven he promised that he was not leaving us. Instead, through the gift of the Holy Spirit he would empower us to turn short-term shock into long-term spiritual vitality.