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October 16, 2002
Let's take a breakAs announced in our previous column, we are starting a live chat program. If you are interested, please click on the chat-icon in the opening page and read how it works. This is sort of experimental, so we will then decide in which ways it will evolve. Since the Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord's Prayer are not allowed in most public schools anymore because the word "God" is mentioned.... a kid in Arizona wrote the attached NEW School prayer. Now I sit me down in school If Scripture now the class recites, Our hair can be purple, orange or green, For praying in a public hall We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen, We can get our condoms and birth controls, It's scary here I must confess, We would like to dedicate the next article to all credit card owners, (which probably means everybody). We have the privilege and the honor to present a Special Credit Card, whose benefits are unlike any other and which is available to one and all, no matter how bad your "credit" history is. Please, take a minute to reflect on it.
Subject: The Master's Card This is a different "card." I think you will like this one. There are some things money can't buy, for everything else there's Master card. I'm sure you've all received their applications in the mail. However, I'm here to advertise a different card. You see, my life is a product for others to see. I'm a card carrying representative for The Master's Card. That's right, The MASTER'S CARD. Let me tell you about it. There are no finance charges, no payments due. My bill has already been covered; it's a prepaid deal. I couldn't afford the price, so Jesus_Christ stepped in and paid it for me. My Name is written on the card for all to see. It is accessible twenty-four hours a day from anywhere in the world. The MASTER'S CARD has so many benefits it's hard to list them all. Let me share some of them with you... you might want to apply for a personal card yourself. Just for starters there is UNLIMITED GRACE. That's right, there is no preset limit to the amount of grace you receive from The MASTER'S CARD. Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places? Then, look no farther than The MASTER'S CARD. It offers the greatest rate on love that has ever been offered. The MASTER'S CARD gives you access to many "members only" benefits. Want real joy despite the difficulties of life? Apply for The MASTER'S CARD. Want a lasting peace? Apply for The MASTER'S CARD. Looking for something you can always rely on in a jam? The MASTER'S CARD is perfect for you. Another great thing about The MASTER'S CARD is that it never expires and will never be canceled. Once you're a member, you're a member for life... --eternal life, that is. Membership has its privileges, you know. So why not apply today? It's only a prayer away..... And finally, a corrected version of a quote found elsewhere on this site, which an alert visitor sent in. This is something of a classic. The author is Roy Lessin. (Copyright DaySpring Cards. All Rights Reserved): God Sent Us A Savior
August 27, 2002
As in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah ...part 2Regarding the second part of the "As in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah ..." article, well, I have been so nauseated in reviewing the news items and material sent by our visitors to the point that I have decided to scrap it. Things are surely worse than I thought and reporting on such material is not adequate to this web site. Moreover, just listening to a newscast brings home the truth, at least to those who have ears to hear it and eyes to see it. Unfortunately, most of the world is on coma and sliding further into it. I sense extreme confusion and instability all around, with people taking refuge on the far out and the weird, since those appointed to give guidance in difficult times are in a crises of their own making: witness the scandalous debacle of the priesthood within the Catholic Church, not to speak of the same sordid affairs in the evangelical community. As I stated in the beginning of the year's article, Enron was just the first in a series of economic shenanigans, and recent events have proved me right, also in regards to other countries than Argentina, slipping into financial disaster. The weather, at least in Europe has spoiled the vacations of most. There is no summer as disastrous as this last one on record. The threat of terrorism has people and nations on edge. Is Osama alive? Is he dead? Is America going to attack Irak? and so forth. And what about the recent spate of children kidnappings and murders? A nation that turns against its own children has reached a sad point in decadence. A few week ago, Evangelist David Wilkerson, to my opinion and not only, a true man of God, was in Milan, Italy and since I live nearby, I went to hear him. He spoke simply and powerfully about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ while pointing to the signs that precede His Return, one of them being specifically the aggressive homosexual stance on society. As in the days of Sodom, militant homosexuality is a sure sign of coming divine Judgment. It seems that today one has to excuse him/herself for not being homosexual. In conclusion, I am including a small list compiled by Bill Koenig of "Koenig's International News" which aptly captures the confusion and instability I have been talking about. While it is directed at America, it can be easily adapted to most other countries.
May 2, 2002
As in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah ...Every once in a while, we get a letter that criticizes us for being too pessimistic and prophets of doom, as if we take pleasure in the general sufferings all around. Some people think we must have very funereal personalities, given our study subject. I want to make it perfectly clear (who said that?) that we are to the contrary very joyful, upbeat and very positive persons, regardless of the subject we deal with, since we know for sure that indeed things will change for the better, even though to reach that point will be extremely painful for most. It's like this: either humanity continues on its inhumanity or we change chapter for good. Mind you, men have tried to change chapter ever since day one, writing and rewriting the rules of life as they see fit. It's just a matter of fact that all their efforts have been in vain. In the year of our Lord 2002, while we acknowledge that a material advancement has indeed been achieved, we must at the same time acknowledge that man has not been able to give purpose and sense to his life to the point that even those material advancements, have turned against him. Since we are Christians, we believe thoroughly what the Bible says about the final outcome of all things, and indeed, the Bible has plenty to say about it. But are we now living in the final moments of prophecy, that is, are we close to the return of Jesus Christ and all the its preceding events? Many say that they have heard about the return of Christ for 50, 60 years or even more. Even at the time of the Apostles, people were making light of Christ's promised return: knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts The Bible gives us some signs to watch out for, and prophecy is indeed a watching out for events. The number one event in the prophetic countdown of the last days is the establishment of Israel as a sovereign nation, since the Roman army defeated Israel and scattered away its inhabitants about two thousand years ago. That Israel would return to its land was prophesied and that Israel once again would draw the ire of the entire world against itself was also prophesied. Israel has been referred as God's time piece and indeed, most prophecy is tied exclusively with its existence. Many other signs are given, having to do with natural phenomena such as earthquakes, famines, plagues, and others having to do with politics and interpersonal relationships. All of these we are witnessing today and in addition there is the general debauchery that is taking over the whole world. Yes, I REALLY think we are in the final moments and that Jesus Christ's return is imminent and very close. Is there a hope to turn the tide of events away from our times? I don't think so, and I will explain why. We have gone too far out the balancing line, we have crossed the point of no-return. I understand very well that I am sticking my head way out in saying this, but it burns in my spirit and I know it burns in the spirit of all true Christians. Apart from the natural phenomena listed above, the most immediate sign we, as persons and citizens are faced with, is the degeneration and moral decay of our societies. This is something that no scientist must confirm and that impacts our immediate day-to-day living. I have banished television from my home a few years ago, so I am stupefied by what I see when I happen to be visiting someone and catch glimpses of the idiot box. If an alien would have to pass judgment on our societies by what he observes on our tv screens, the very first conclusion would undoubtedly be that we are a sex crazed people. Someone has said that sex and power are the two strongest motivators of mankind, but I think that sex outstrips power by far. There was a time, not so long ago, when some things were not even mentioned by the average person. Today we get the filthiest trash splashed in our face, in the comfort of our living rooms and as a matter of course. Take for example the MTV music channel, and its clones, which keep our youngsters glued to the screen for hours: it is a sordid sequence of violent, gruesome, weird morbid and filthy music videos without any redeeming social value to be spoken of. To the contrary, these videos are probably the main culprit in the collapse of morality and sense of responsibility in today's youth. Of course, I am talking at large since obviously not all youngsters subscribe to it, but there is a critical mass that does, with all the obvious consequences. Now, is there anybody who seriously thinks for even one split second that MTV will suddenly develop social responsibility and stop its corruption of our youth? They are not even thinking about stopping, and to the contrary, their offer will worsen since to stay on top of the ratings race they must be pioneers of new filth. MTV is only one example of what is being peddled to the masses. People have become sort of drugged by all the filth, and are accepting it as unavoidable. Even people who normally would be scandalized and protest have grown apathetic, feeling impotent and resigned by the continuous onslaught of filth. Our societies are becoming as Sodom and Gomorrah were.
Southern Baptist Convention drops Howard Johnson in wake of planned `hotel sex bash' to be continued
March 11 / 2002
STRANGE SIGHTS
 About 5 years ago, when this web site started to take shape, I wrote an article about body modification which was then starting to emerge from the underground to the mainstream of society. There were some pictures posted, which depicted the state of the art of this practice, at that time. My initial article and interest into this subculture, was due to the fact that while people were getting implants under their skins as a beauty statement or whatever, I was thinking that an opening was being made to the introduction of the Mark of the Beast. It seemed that there was a concerted push toward popularizing the concept of implantation, a theme previously introduced by sci-fi with the "cyborg", the man-machine creation to which society was ultimately destined. Well, spending $6,000,000 per head was a bit too much for eternally cash strapped governments, so that idea never really moved, at least for the masses. Piercing and "beauty" implants were the only practical alternative to popularize the practice. Well, I have been proved right. Here we are, a few years later, and while our grandpas and grandmas are not rushing to their local piercing salon, everybody else seems to be queuing. Why, even "christians" are doing it, as a statement of their "faith", of course. So having a little cross hanging from a nipple, ear or wherever is supposed to communicate that "Jesus loves you." I am not kidding. Last year, there was a big media campaign sponsored by an "evangelical church" in Kassel, Germany which featured an advertisement, displayed in cinemas before the movie and which placed the cross in prominence as a tattoo upon an arm, as a design on a shaved head, or as a jewel hanging on a male nipple. The "church deacon" Mr. Ernst Wittekindt, explained that the "cross belongs to the church" and it does not belong to any particular subculture. Germany is also famous for its "Christ-o-teques", (discos that play rigorously ONLY Christian dance music, to which "Christian youngsters" can safely trance), but that is another story which I will let rest for the moment. In these interceding years since my first article, lots of developments have been taking place on the BM (body modification) front. A recent survey I made, left me speechless (actually breathless). My, we have come a long way! This being a family site, I will spare you the worst details. A new breed of "artists" is arising: they are called by various names, according to their "specialization" , but a general "Body Artist" will do for our purpose. These courageous people are leaving no leaf (skin, really) unturned in the supreme search for the ultimate body esthetics, stretching the imagination, the skin and the wallet of their clients to boldly go where no one has gone before. Really, up to a few years ago, nobody thought that implanting various objects below their skin, or piercing their body in a thousand ways, or hot iron branding and scarring their body, or cutting body parts off was any fun. Today it is hip and cool. And the simple implant of just five years ago is no longer enough: the big rage now is to "transform" oneself physically as the creature of one's dreams.
Society is literally being "reshaped" by these avant-gardists. In truth, these processes show the relentless decay of our Western culture. This is the pure and simple degeneration of a society that has gained "freedoms" but has lost its soul and direction in the process.
What can possess a nice young lady (see above) to transform herself into a Cat-Woman? Or a man into a "lion", or "lizard" ecc? I have seen photos that are so shocking that they could not be real, BUT they are! And this brings us to my original supposition about all this piercing activity. A few weeks ago, a whole family courageously announced that they were volunteering to be implanted with the much discussed VeryChip
Wired Magazine - Feb 6, 2002 Yes, she is right, of course. The only problem is to define "safer place for whom?" The Bible says that one day is coming when all people on earth will be identified through the infamous "Mark of the Beast." What seemed like science fiction until a few years ago, has finally arrived. While the current chip may not be powerful or technological enough to carry out its destiny, improvements are coming, as it has been announced, to make the chip truly effective and lifechanging. I know that for a fact.
February 5 / 2002
STARTING THE NEW YEAR WITH A BANG The breaking of world records usually calls for champagne corks to pop but not in these cases. Let's start with Argentina, a country which as recently as 50 years ago was considered the wealthiest country in the world, and has recently found itself unable to pay back its IMF loans and on the verge of civil war. Apart from the usual greedy politicians and downright bad management of its economy, still it is incomprehensible how a developed country like Argentina, so rich in natural resources can go bankrupt. Even third world Indonesia, which a couple of years ago was going through the same situation has been able to pull all the stops and move ahead. So, what gives? Then we have Enron, the 7th largest American company, the energy giant (with revealed feet of clay), whose downfall has meant to thousands of people the loss of jobs, their stock investments and their pension funds. The story is getting nastier by the day, as revelations and investigations are revealing an appalling vision of capitalism gone mad, and to be sure, its reverberations are being felt to the very top levels of civic and political life in the USA. Here, also, we find it incomprehensible how can something of this magnitude be let to happen. I mean, we are talking about a company with a business of billions and billions $$$, not a mickey mouse outfit. And the very same questions could be asked about the K-Mart chapter 11 filing, although I am willing to concede some September 11 consequences to this company. Sure, people have not been willing to shop-till-they-drop after that fateful date. But still, such a colossal collapse is stunning. Other large retailers are apparently on the verge of bankruptcy, and we have not seen the end of it. What does all this has to do with Christianity?, someone may ask. Quite a bit indeed, as we shall examine.
When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and its rider had a balance in his hand; In symbolic terms, famine and shortage of money are represented by the third horseman of Revelation. Now, without getting too technical, we can look back at economic events of the last few years and recognize some trends: I don't have to remind anybody of the big mergings and acquisitions performed by world companies and corporations in recent year. Big is better is proving itself not to be the case. The dog-eat-dog mentality which has pervaded capitalism in recent times has taken a life of its own. Now a company buys another not because of useful syncretism but because of control, real or imagined. Globalisation is another name for homogenization, of habits and cultures. And everybody and his dog have become "investors". I read a funny story on an economic journal. A stockbroker realized that the whole system was out of kilter when shoeshine men, waiters and cabdrivers were asking him for stocks tips. It's the misplaced Las Vegas approach to the stock market that is wrong, and as Enron does, so the cabdriver does. And unfortunately, as Enron goes, so does the cabdriver. In closing, the point I am making is this: these colossal financial failures, and the ones to come, are pointing to a worldwide resetting of the rules. I don't know how much of this is being manoeuvred. Surely, the money men, those who control the monetary mass have their plans, and this calls for a future article. It has been estimated that about 500 persons reside in this category. Mostly they manage other people's money, but they have enormous power to redistribute wealth, backed by the nations banking systems. Like I said, they surely have their vision of the future, but they cannot control all things and eventually, when events slip out of their hands, we get big messes. Maybe that is the case with the examples above, or maybe not. One thing is certain: in the immediate future there will be more Enrons, more Argentinas and more K-Marts.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal,
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If we are to go by the events hereby pictured, we can safely say that the new year is shaping up to be a whammer and like the just archived 2001, it seems like it will leave a bad remembrance of itself in the general consciousness. Here a few events which have greeted the new year: Argentina, the biggest country default in history, Enron, the biggest company bankruptcy in history and K-Mart, the biggest retail store failure in history.