A co-worker, knowing of my concern about Y2K, gave me a book titled, "When Y2K Dies," by Arno Froese, the Executive Director of Midnight Call Ministries (1999, The Olive Press, Columbia, SC, 204 pgs.)

Apparently, Mr. Froese is into Biblical prophesy, and this book is his attempt to argue that Y2K will *not* be the event which triggers the End Times.

I have no idea whether he knows his stuff re: Scripture, but check out his technical *expertise* in these exerpts from Chapter One, a Q&A format:

Q: How dangerous do you think the Y2K virus is?

A: ...If your computer is of age, say 10-20 years old, just reset the time as instructed in the operating manual and your computer should be functional...

Q: What about water and gas supply? Will it be effective?

A: ...neither water, gas or electricity is totally relying upon computer programs. Here too, a manual override is provided. Furthermore, it is important to understand that the computers assisting the operation of these plants dont care what year it is, they are programmed for the seasons of the year and the hours of the day....

Q: Will banks shut down because the computer thinks its 1900?

A: ...from all indications, virtually the entire [banking] industry is ready. If your credit card expires in the year 2000 or beyond, then it proves that the bank is ready....

Q: If Y2K interrupts air traffic, will a large part of our economy come to a standstill?

A: The responsible organization for air traffic is the Federal Aviation Administration. They are way ahead in this field. For example, today, you can buy a ticket to fly from Los Angeles to New York on January 1, 2000 or virtually any date thereafter. This simply means the computer is programmed and Y2K is already dead.

-- rick blaine (y2kazoo@hotmail.com), June 29, 1999

Answers

Best "duh-2000" nominee for the month.

-- regular (zzz@z.z), June 29, 1999.

Based on consumer confidence and our so called strong economy, I must say, unfortunately that most people agree with this logic.

But fortunately we still have time to prepare at this late date. But it will get ugly very soon.

-- Arthur Washington (ARTWASH@webtv.net), June 29, 1999.

I'd laugh except that this maroon is actually giving advice to people.

Anyone as clueless as this, should have no problem becoming one of the first victims of y2k.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), June 29, 1999.

HEY GUYS!! I'VE GOT GREAT NEWS!

My calender goes all the to the end of the year 2000! Everything is going to be fine!

Whew... whatta relief.

-- (adults say@the darndest. things), June 29, 1999.

Yeah......it is pretty stupid......not quite as stupid though as all of his books that try to 'prove' that these are the 'End Times' though.....

Furthermore, I've found it's a complete waste of time trying to persuade these End Times preachers of anything.........everything they look at is tainted by the prejudices of their teachings

Arno Froese is mild though, compared to some of his ilk.......I remember another one, Texe Marre, who at a convention I attended a few years ago in Myrtle Beach, called Mother Theresa a WITCH.....he said "She may be a good witch but she's still a witch" to the obvious approval of most of the conference attendees.

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), June 29, 1999.

I'm sure that Arno would love to hear from everybody!

1-800-845-2420 Email: info@midnightcall.com

-- Voice (your@opinion.now), June 29, 1999.

If it were possible to vote for "Delete" outside of the forum, Mr. Froese would get mine.

Hmmmmmm.....maybe a "Delete with drop tanks"........

-- Mike (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), June 29, 1999.

Hey your right!!

I jest checked my lizense, and it don't xpier tull 2001.

Boy oh boy, now I. am. jest reley torked off.

Al ya dumers hev made me loke like a fule.

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), June 29, 1999.

Is this really any more a no-brainer than believing in the Rapture? Just remember what sort of people we're talking about.

Q: Who buys "National Enquirer" every week? Who watches soap operas & Oprah? Who believes that the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon?

A: The same idiots who take Arno Froese seriously.

(BTW, I sympathize. I had co-workers like that once. Thank God I'm now among people with a bit of education.)

-- it's scarey (I@tell.you), June 29, 1999.

Yup- I'm sending in some subscriptions to magazines that go all the way to Sept. 2000! More proof all is well!! The magazine must be compliant.....whew!

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.net), June 29, 1999.

Scarey,

I love kickin' back with "Weekly World News", and a beer. Ya gotta admit, it's comedy content is better than most sitcom's (not to mention, that page 5 grrl 8^O).

-- CygnusXI (luppotreb@aol.com), June 29, 1999.

From: Duh-2000 For: The bell bottom and tie-dye crowd

Larry King, writing for USA Today: "I asked Ross Perot, who knows his way around computers, if he is concerned about Y2K. He said simply, "There are two sure cures. One, tell all the computers it's 1972. 1972 exactly apes 2000. Every day of every month is the same and will follow suit for 28 years, so that gives you that much time to correct the problem." Solution No. 2: Shut off all the computers, go manual for a while and reprogram. "We can live manual," the former presidential candidate said. He did not get rich being stupid, folks." And since "72" is always greater than "99" all those date comparison routines you were worried about will be fine too. Also a side note to Larry: nor did he get rich giving away free advice. Quoted on USA Today Perot's Y2K cure: A '72 flashback May 16, 1999. Submitted first by Christine Greenwald.

Uh...Shuddup Ross.

-- Mike (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), June 29, 1999.

Bertrand Russell, in Education and the Social Order:

"So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence, and in this respect ministers of religion follow gospel authority more closely than in some others."

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), June 29, 1999.

It's scary@Itellyou,

Unfortunately, many churches are blindly following this mantra. The modern church is soft, corrupt, and gutless. It is in love with building programs, social gospel, 401K's, and touchy feely crap more than the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As for the Rapture, when it happens all those annoying and pesky Christians you despise will no longer be here to hold open their Bibles and remind you of how wickedly sinful man is. You'll get to see the man of sin for yourself. Hell on earth will take on a whole new meaning. By the way, don't take any marks in your right hand or forehead, or you are literally burnt toast.

-- trafficjam (judgementday@ahead.soon), June 29, 1999.

Hehehe. This bozo uses prety much exactly the same techniques of argument as some of the doomers -- misleading statements, half truths, misinterpretations, oversimplifications, etc. When we completely disagree with his conclusions, his boneheaded errors are glaringly obvious, and we can all chuckle. But when someone makes the same bald errors in *our* favor, we all nod sagely and say "Right ON!"

Maybe we should view this as an insight into human nature. All the evidence there is won't change the viewpoint or conclusions of either Froese or Blaine. And I'm fairly certain that real-life experience over the next year or two won't either. Both Froese and Blaine will continue to see exactly what they choose to see. Human nature.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), June 29, 1999.

You know, Ross Perot has a great idea except... As I'm sure he's aware, most computers will not accept a date older than the design of the computer and/or its operating system. For most computers that's some time in the early eighties.

Next suggestion?

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), June 29, 1999.

My new check register has a 2001 calendar, so my checks will be good 01/01/2000+!!

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), June 29, 1999.

rick:

I have been receiving several offers to subscribe to The Midnight Call magazine, and there was emphasis on Y2K, but I didn't respond. Years ago I used to subscribe to The Midnight Call when Wim Malgo was in charge. He expired, and Arno Froese took command of the ministry.

I'll never forget how adamant Wim Malgo was regarding his belief in the Rapture happening before the Great Tribulation. He implied that to NOT believe the pre-trib doctrine was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

I believe Christians will not be snatched out JIT before the Great Tribulation. They will suffer through the coming woes with everyone else. This is not a popular viewpoint. Now that Wim Malgo is not here, he perceives events differently.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), June 30, 1999.