Okay, I know it's a day late, but I thought it prudent to wait until the dreaded doomsday was fully over before I aired my views. So we survived again. Maybe not totally unexpected. Yes, folks. It means all the bills will still have to be paid. The Christmas madness will still prevail.
It sometimes makes me think we should put paid to this madness once and for all. We had a similar anticipation of dread with Y2K - wondering if the world might be thrown back to the dark ages at midnight Dec 31st 1999.
Nothing happened - or hardly did.
We didn't grind to a halt. On New Year's Day 2000 it was business as usual, pretty much. There were a few glitches, but nothing that might constitute anything like the disaster predicted. Looks like pretty much the same here. Nibiru didn't hit us. The poles didn't shift, although I'm sure there'll be some wacko who claims they did and we just didn't notice! And I'm sorry, that's what they are. Wacko. When you have primary school children scared out of their wits, because they have overheard conversations, or seen media reports about this stuff, then we have to take notice. There are of course, some who are seeing this as a business opportunity, manufacturing underground bunkers at $75000 a time. When there is a growing spirit of fear, those who have the means will certainly spend the money to save themselves. But the question is, just what kind of a world are they going to come out of their expensive holes into? In this case it sounded like potential Armageddon. So who really would want to live in a world like that?
It all boils down to fear and the futile desire to hang onto this life as long as we can - even if it means living in a nuclear wasteland. That's one thing I possibly agree with David Icke on: the procuration of fear. If there is some sinister New World Order rising up, they are certainly using mass fear as a tool to cause unrest and unease on a constant basis. This will not be the end of it for sure. We have survived this 'prophecy', but there will be others, promising world destruction. And they will ridicule religion as the opiate of the masses. Yet I think for many, holding to a Biblical view on this matter probably helped men and women see it with a more informed eye.
The truth is, we know less than we think, about or world, the universe, about ourselves. Theories abound concerning every mystery, putting forth answers that could very well be wrong - and probably are. If the Earth is just a pool ball in the middle of a table, halfway through a game, then we have cause to worry. For me I believe there is order in the universe, upheld by God Himself. The only danger we have right now, is from ourselves.
This Sunday . . . Starks, Lannisters and Baggins'
Saturday, 22 December 2012
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Deception is a light - and dark art . . .
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - and feel like it too. This, I find, is the time of year in which nostalgia crashes in on the cranial party with little shame. And if you are beyond a certain age, it reminds one of a period where things were so much better, a time where it took maybe a little less to raise a smile of joy. It seems that way, but what was it like really? Passing years, I suspect, do some steady work in numbing memorable reality into a 'feel good' haze. And I'm sure things can't have been as rosy as we all tend to remember.
I'm very sure they weren't, actually.
It occurs to me that our minds are fooled every day; that we wrestle with questions of deception more than we would care to admit. From the simple 'white' lie, to a life defining belief system, our capacity to deceive - and be deceived, is one that deserves consideration, as we are all subject to its subtleties from time to time. As a writer, the creation of convincing deception is my art, even though the receiver of the deceit is largely in on the act. It's when the person is ignorant of the fact, that deception takes on a more sinister and disquieting edge.
Deceptions that deal with cold fear are the worst for me. As I have stated in previous posts leading up to Christmas, there is increasing talk about the Mayan prediction of the world ending on 21st December 2012. Now, that's only a few days away - and all seems well right now, apart from it being perishing cold. If something is going to happen it's going to be a flick of a switch occurrence, as if God has his finger poised over the button - like Martin Sheen did as the lunatic president Stillson in 'The Dead Zone'. Remember it? "The missiles are flying . . . Hallelelujah . . . hallelujah." And yet, are we effectively deceived? All these people buying up goods and heading for bunkers on that date might be wasting their time. If nothing at all occurs they'll have wasted money - and risk some embarrassment into the bargain. If the kind of cataclysm predicted occurs, they'll have still wasted money. We're not talking about an atomic bomb going off here people, where it might be okay after. What I have read describes complete annihilation on a global scale. The bunkers ain't gonna help you.
I suppose it depends where your conspiracy theory loyalties lie - and which texts (if any) you might buy into. Jesus says in the Bible that 'no one will know the day or the hour when the end will come' - saying also to be ready for his return 'at all times'. That's a common sense move from a man who had it all worked out. You leave a place with others in charge, you don't tell them when your coming back. It's a no brainer. That's going to keep people on their toes like they were dancing on coals! And yet, it seems the passing of days, into months, and then years has rather numbed the urgency. To God, a day is as a thousand years. That's what it says - and more often than not, this old chestnut is used as a convincer for the days of Creation not being literal twenty-four hour periods of time. To me however, it gives a small clue as to why it appears things in His world move so very slowly. What is a crawl pace to us, might be a flash of time to some other being, especially someone who has eternity to play with.
Anyway, the more I read, the more crazy it seems. The theories abound, good and bad. We are told to expect aliens, a new dawn of enlightenment, mass destruction, death, and so on. Oh, it's all good.
I rather suspect we'll still be around on Saturday morning, and then, like Harold Camping someone will adjust the date, so we can sweat again for a few months.
Next post will be on Friday . . . doomsday.
I hope.
I'm very sure they weren't, actually.
It occurs to me that our minds are fooled every day; that we wrestle with questions of deception more than we would care to admit. From the simple 'white' lie, to a life defining belief system, our capacity to deceive - and be deceived, is one that deserves consideration, as we are all subject to its subtleties from time to time. As a writer, the creation of convincing deception is my art, even though the receiver of the deceit is largely in on the act. It's when the person is ignorant of the fact, that deception takes on a more sinister and disquieting edge.
Deceptions that deal with cold fear are the worst for me. As I have stated in previous posts leading up to Christmas, there is increasing talk about the Mayan prediction of the world ending on 21st December 2012. Now, that's only a few days away - and all seems well right now, apart from it being perishing cold. If something is going to happen it's going to be a flick of a switch occurrence, as if God has his finger poised over the button - like Martin Sheen did as the lunatic president Stillson in 'The Dead Zone'. Remember it? "The missiles are flying . . . Hallelelujah . . . hallelujah." And yet, are we effectively deceived? All these people buying up goods and heading for bunkers on that date might be wasting their time. If nothing at all occurs they'll have wasted money - and risk some embarrassment into the bargain. If the kind of cataclysm predicted occurs, they'll have still wasted money. We're not talking about an atomic bomb going off here people, where it might be okay after. What I have read describes complete annihilation on a global scale. The bunkers ain't gonna help you.
I suppose it depends where your conspiracy theory loyalties lie - and which texts (if any) you might buy into. Jesus says in the Bible that 'no one will know the day or the hour when the end will come' - saying also to be ready for his return 'at all times'. That's a common sense move from a man who had it all worked out. You leave a place with others in charge, you don't tell them when your coming back. It's a no brainer. That's going to keep people on their toes like they were dancing on coals! And yet, it seems the passing of days, into months, and then years has rather numbed the urgency. To God, a day is as a thousand years. That's what it says - and more often than not, this old chestnut is used as a convincer for the days of Creation not being literal twenty-four hour periods of time. To me however, it gives a small clue as to why it appears things in His world move so very slowly. What is a crawl pace to us, might be a flash of time to some other being, especially someone who has eternity to play with.
Anyway, the more I read, the more crazy it seems. The theories abound, good and bad. We are told to expect aliens, a new dawn of enlightenment, mass destruction, death, and so on. Oh, it's all good.
I rather suspect we'll still be around on Saturday morning, and then, like Harold Camping someone will adjust the date, so we can sweat again for a few months.
Next post will be on Friday . . . doomsday.
I hope.
Monday, 3 December 2012
November 21 - and counting . . .
I'll be honest about something from the start. I maybe won't look back on this year with any particular affection, and really have no desire to hang onto it - or see it miraculously drag on. Financially and spiritually, it's been a struggle. The whole year has been somewhat a strain to be sure. But that's my (yawn) story . . .
On the plus, I am going to finish my first novel, so for that reason, I suppose it's not all been bad. Don't misunderstand me here, there have not been any great tragedies in my life to contend with, and I am very grateful for that much. It's merely that a line of linear existence I enjoyed/endured, was broken after many years. Such a jump from an expected timeline can be a jarring - sometimes depressing experience - I suppose I have found it both.
If you recall, back in February, I posted a blog about Planet X, sometimes referred to as Nibiru, and the so called threat this heavenly 'body' might pose to Earth if the 2012 doomsday enthusiasts were to be believed. Well folks, it's only weeks to the fateful day now; the day some people believe the world will end. I have read a few articles and a couple of books on this subject in recent days. Some of these 'forecasts' were written as much as two or more years ago, with the perspective of 2012 being a fair distance away from the author's pen. All I can say right now is - if that planet is there, and it's supposed to be ten times the size of Earth, I think we might have seen the thing by now - and surely we would feel it. Remember the old George Pal classic, 'When Worlds Collide' made way back in the 50's? The planet Zyra, on collision course with Earth became visible weeks before the fateful day, but her effects, along with her moon Bellus, are felt way before that, with earthquakes and tsunamis devastating the planet as her gravity starts to drag our fair world into a death dance.
This isn't far from what all the doomsayers say we should expect, among other calamities. Well mateys, I hope they all have a Merry Christmas too.
This blog was primarily designed to talk about writing and movies, and that I will certainly do in future posts. These next weekly posts through Advent up to Christmas Day, by your indulgence, will major upon some spiritual aspects - opinions and information rather than preaching, because I suppose people have had a sour bellyful of that already. I just find it hard to accept as I move through every new day, the rising claim that we are a less spiritual people - and I think it's more than merely the frightened soul unable to embrace a proven reality that states we are nothing more than animals. I have no concrete evidence on my own table to suggest otherwise. We might well be intelligent apes for all I know! I personally however, would like to think we are not.
For a start, no orthodox church is going to convince many people of anything when they can't get their own house in order. Just recently, the Church of England has been thrown into turmoil by the refusal to accept women bishops. Not a story I have followed with any great interest, but I get more than the impression the decision was a shock to the clerical system, if the television scenes of weeping female clergy were anything to go by. A crisis? Only if you give a hoot about the Church of England, I suppose. And (forgive me) - from where I am, it seems most people don't give a hoot. And why would they? We live in a culture that claims God is dead - and it seems for the most part there's not a lot of shouting from Heaven to suggest otherwise. If we are expecting God to jump in and say 'here I am' (no pun intended) I think we may be disappointed. It seems he just doesn't work that way.
Not for now anyway.
As far as the 2012 thing is concerned, no one appears that phased by it. We are all pre-occupied with the onslaught of Christmas 'cheer' . . . a gradually increasing dash to get the gifts we need, to make sure 'the house is in order' so to speak. And I suppose I'm no exception to that rule. But every now and then, I wonder what would happen if the focus suddenly shifted - if there came a news flash that finally stated we were actually on the cusp of doomsday? And by the way, I'm not nuts on this. I think the scare-mongerers are definitely out in force yet again. But if the Bible has any authority at all, it usually begins with some good sense, stating 'no man knows the day or the hour when the end will come'. That to me, is a good plan. We just couldn't be trusted with such dire information.
Not unless you were Noah, I suppose.
Later this week: Depths of Deception . . .
On the plus, I am going to finish my first novel, so for that reason, I suppose it's not all been bad. Don't misunderstand me here, there have not been any great tragedies in my life to contend with, and I am very grateful for that much. It's merely that a line of linear existence I enjoyed/endured, was broken after many years. Such a jump from an expected timeline can be a jarring - sometimes depressing experience - I suppose I have found it both.
If you recall, back in February, I posted a blog about Planet X, sometimes referred to as Nibiru, and the so called threat this heavenly 'body' might pose to Earth if the 2012 doomsday enthusiasts were to be believed. Well folks, it's only weeks to the fateful day now; the day some people believe the world will end. I have read a few articles and a couple of books on this subject in recent days. Some of these 'forecasts' were written as much as two or more years ago, with the perspective of 2012 being a fair distance away from the author's pen. All I can say right now is - if that planet is there, and it's supposed to be ten times the size of Earth, I think we might have seen the thing by now - and surely we would feel it. Remember the old George Pal classic, 'When Worlds Collide' made way back in the 50's? The planet Zyra, on collision course with Earth became visible weeks before the fateful day, but her effects, along with her moon Bellus, are felt way before that, with earthquakes and tsunamis devastating the planet as her gravity starts to drag our fair world into a death dance.
This isn't far from what all the doomsayers say we should expect, among other calamities. Well mateys, I hope they all have a Merry Christmas too.
This blog was primarily designed to talk about writing and movies, and that I will certainly do in future posts. These next weekly posts through Advent up to Christmas Day, by your indulgence, will major upon some spiritual aspects - opinions and information rather than preaching, because I suppose people have had a sour bellyful of that already. I just find it hard to accept as I move through every new day, the rising claim that we are a less spiritual people - and I think it's more than merely the frightened soul unable to embrace a proven reality that states we are nothing more than animals. I have no concrete evidence on my own table to suggest otherwise. We might well be intelligent apes for all I know! I personally however, would like to think we are not.
For a start, no orthodox church is going to convince many people of anything when they can't get their own house in order. Just recently, the Church of England has been thrown into turmoil by the refusal to accept women bishops. Not a story I have followed with any great interest, but I get more than the impression the decision was a shock to the clerical system, if the television scenes of weeping female clergy were anything to go by. A crisis? Only if you give a hoot about the Church of England, I suppose. And (forgive me) - from where I am, it seems most people don't give a hoot. And why would they? We live in a culture that claims God is dead - and it seems for the most part there's not a lot of shouting from Heaven to suggest otherwise. If we are expecting God to jump in and say 'here I am' (no pun intended) I think we may be disappointed. It seems he just doesn't work that way.
Not for now anyway.
As far as the 2012 thing is concerned, no one appears that phased by it. We are all pre-occupied with the onslaught of Christmas 'cheer' . . . a gradually increasing dash to get the gifts we need, to make sure 'the house is in order' so to speak. And I suppose I'm no exception to that rule. But every now and then, I wonder what would happen if the focus suddenly shifted - if there came a news flash that finally stated we were actually on the cusp of doomsday? And by the way, I'm not nuts on this. I think the scare-mongerers are definitely out in force yet again. But if the Bible has any authority at all, it usually begins with some good sense, stating 'no man knows the day or the hour when the end will come'. That to me, is a good plan. We just couldn't be trusted with such dire information.
Not unless you were Noah, I suppose.
Later this week: Depths of Deception . . .
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