Revelation on Revelation

Not to sound like a “date setter,” but I really think we should be watching for continued fulfillment of the book of Revelation in the near future. Why? Well, it all started late last year…. Slashdot.org carried a story about human bio-chips. One poster aptly summed up what this sounded like.

Moving that out of sight out of mind mode, I didn't think about it much more - until last month. It was then that a report surfaced about a pontential nationalization of drivers licenses in the U.S., eventually moving toward a card that could do much more. Combine that with the previous biochip link, and you can clearly see what I am suggesting.

Now, a friend of mine on CS-FSLUG sent in a message suggesting that the third temple of Israel may be being built very soon (he didn't have more information for now). Someone else on the list noted that he had heard that Israel may be stockpiling the needed granite to build the temple as well.

The final piece of my prophecy puzzle come in a blog post today by a Pastor, who coincidentally works at the hosting company I am with. He notes a very interesting parallel between Israel's condition and Bible prophecy. While this isn't something that necessarily only fits now, it does round out things quite well.

In summary, while this could be a lot of rumblings from a storm that ends up going somewhere else, I can't help but think something larger is happening right now. With the increasing push toward globalism, and the means to facilitate it - including technology and the UN, as well as an increasing disregard for the Bible, don't be surprised for something to happen. Soon.

Happy Easter!

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia! Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
    —Charles Wesley, Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Happy Easter! Christ is RISEN!

Good Friday

To the darkest day in A.D. 33
Came the mercy and compassion of eternity
Sent there by a Father with love beyond His tears
Blameless One, the only Son
to bear the guilt of all these years
And as I watch Him struggle up that hill
Without a thought of turning back
I cannot help but wonder What did He die for?
When He died for you and me
Made the sacrifice
So that we could all be free
I believe we will answer each to heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside and ask the question
What did he die for?
When he died for me
      -Twila Paris, What Did He Die For?

Ah, what a great night. Good Friday services are always uplifting in a solemn way, with the promise of Easter just a day away. Pastor Friz did a touching solo of “Where you There?” during the drama only added to the effect of an evening service (I love evening worship services!).

Speaking of drama, that kept things interesting the last two nights. For the second year in a row I was a projectionist for the Maundy Thursday/Good Friday services. This time it was a bit more interesting with two ten foot screens - one operated by me, one by our A/V extrodinaire at church (not knowing if he would want to be mentioned online, I won't say his name here). All this was happening while our four Pastors (including Pastor Emeritus Pollmann) and several congregants participated in the drama The Cry of the Whole Congregation. Great stuff.

Anyway. Enough boring details probably no one outside of St. Paul's cares about.

It's also worth noting - on a technical note, that is - that the K Desktop Environment (KDE) 3 should be out probably April 2nd. I think they'd have it out on Monday, if not for the potential for becoming the aim of jokes beings that Monday is April Fools Day.

Projects and Photos

It has been a little while since I last posted, so I thought I should say something. I forgot to mention in my posting from the sixth that I passed the one year mark of using Linux on the desktop! I had been using Linux prior to that, but March 6th of 2001 was when I finally couldn't take it any longer, and moved over to Linux for day-to-day stuff like e-mail, web browsing, and programming.

Also noteworthy, I uploaded some photos from the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, although I think it is worth waiting to post a link until I get my APS photos returned (that should be tomorrow). Anyway, if anyone even actually wants to see the photos, they should appear tomorrow.

Oh, my friend Dennis Powell (a.k.a. dep) has started a nice new Linux site called LinuxandMain.com - it looks really great. I'd recommend you go over there and take a look after you finish reading my journal entry.

Well, I really should get some work done. I'm suppose to get some web design done today, but I'd really rather work on one of the other projects I have going at the moment. Oh well…

Feeling Uplifted

I'm diving in I'm going deep in over my head I want to be caught in the rush lost in the flow in over my head I want to go
the river's deep the river's wide the river's water is alive
so sink or swim I'm diving in
   — Steven Curtis Chapman, Dive

What a refreshing day it has been. Dive seems like an appropriate song for a day like today. As I noted before I am tired, but at the same time I feel more energetic then usual. The Prayer Breakfast was a refreshing change of pace, and the whole day was finished off with a great Lenten sermon by Pastor Walter. Being the witty guy he is, Pastor Walter found a very good way to interweave his looking into time shares with the way the merchants where taking advantage of the gentiles in the gentile's court of the Temple in Jerusalem (Mark 11:15). I guess all the merchants got jobs as time share sales people after being thrown out of the temple. Wanna buy some swamp land?

Ah, what a day. I think this was exactly the kind of dive I needed.

Mayor's Prayer Breakfast.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now can see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

   —Amazing Grace

I'm tired. That's probably not the way you'd expect a “Very happy” mood post to start, but hey - I want to keep things interesting. Anyway, I went down to the 26th Annual St. Louis Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. I had to get going at 5:00 am, early for me, which explains why I'm a bit tired, but it was certainly worth it. Approximately 4,000 people gathered at the event to hear from Mayor Francis Slay, County Executive George “Buzz” Westfall, Zip Rzeppa (former sports anchor at a local TV station and president of Goodwill Enterprises), and the main star of the day - Kurt Warner, quarterback of the St. Louis Rams.

As most people who know American football (and even some like me that don't) know, Kurt is an outspoken Christian with a perfect “fairy tale” rise to the top spot on the Rams. Warner provided a great speech comparing the steps that brought him to faith in Christ to the steps that brought him to be a three time Most Valuable Player in the NFL. In both cases he ended up doing something other than he had wanted - and benefited greatly because of that.

Before I keep blabing on, I'll just say again it was really great. This Mayor's Prayer Breakfast is the largest, and longest consecutive sell-out event of its kind in the USA. Very impressive. I will post photos once I get the digital ones uploaded, and the APS ones developed.