Less than 100 days to go before the new millennium, so it is supposed, comes to pass. Jesus has not come, again, in September, during the High Holy days. Hundreds of millions of earth's residents are not the least bit concerned about technological disasters and social breakdown, and no one can predict with certainty that they should be.

The time will be here in a snap, then we will all know what God knows now. We will all live with the results of our decisions and have to face, together, the consequences of billions of individual actions that have been foreknown by the Lord.

Whether or not we enter into the new millennium with minor glitches, or major global meltdowns of systems and societies, we shall be reaping what we have sown. If there were no mercy, we would surely face the worst. Even if "the worst" does come, it will still be tampered with mercy and with grace. Suffering is redemptive, if we allow it to be. Suffering is sometimes not seemingly redemptive either, and that is when it is harder to endure.

We are rolling along with the stock markets booming, gold rising, pr spin whizzing, y2kmites digging in for last preps, and nervousness bubbling beneath the happy veneer. The facts tumble and jumble before us as though facts. Most of them are filtered through interpretive and theoretical/theological grids before they are presented to us as facts. Incidents, such as children dying from spilled oil due to computer glitches, along with hundreds of other incidents, portend dire possibilities come Jan 1, 00. Ooops, make that 2000.

Now is potato season. Now is the time to stock up. The Pilgrims nearly almost died, but for stocks and supplies and seeds and Squanto. We do not know what God is doing, showing, leadingmuch of what we do is based on educated guesses, and ethical principals applied before the not-hoped-for but fear disaster strikes. Madison Ave makes commercials that laugh; the Methodist Church sponsors ads that smooth over the threat with reminders of what should already be second nature for Christians; Hollywood has been silenced; the bankers say there is no reason to fear, yet some of the programmers who know what is happening, or could happen, in the banks, say buy gold now. Silver too.

Meanwhile the poor are poor. Some should not be and some should be. Poverty has come upon them like a bandit. The oppressed are oppressed and the devils in the world are gnashing their teeth in glee in hopes that famine, flood, war and plague will deluge the planet in the first year that commemorates the birth of the Victor.

We do not know if the IRS, the Post Office, the DOD, the oil drills of the 3rd world, the chemical plants in our backyards, the State agencies that provide "benefits" are compliant, nor what the outcome will be if they are not. Total collapse? Week-long sufferings? Recessions? Civil war or global techno-terrorism. None of these things may suffer serious breakdown and none of the threats may materialize. Praise God Almighty if they don't. All of the above systems may suffer catastrophic breakdowns, and plunge our ordered lives into chaos. Something in between may occur. The majority say the later, but there is no reasonable nor verifiable reason to say "it will be medium:" that is simply a psychological wish projected onto the future by most, and a psychological fear of others to continually point out what they consider to be alarming news in the face of all the official y2k good news. We simply do not know, and that is not something we are comfortable with in a society that has accumulated more knowledge than all previous civilizations.

There is a virus speeding form New York south..there are wars and rumors of war and warnings of terrorist attacks with biological and chemical, or even nuclear weapons.

There are flowers blooming (in warmer climates); leaves turning beautiful colors; weddings being planned; funerals being attended; divorces shattering lives and new hopes being found. That happens regardless of Y2k.

There are disagreements about y2k, Jesus Christ, Truth, taxes, death, and everything else under the sun, including the sun. There are solar flares predicted that could blast power grids and other equipment that we rely on and there is the beautiful light of the moon each month, in cycles that show forth the faithfulness of the Creator. And there are atheists and materialists who take issue with that fact, much to their demise.

There are less than 100 days until the most-talked about and spent-for event takes place all around our globe. We can only do what we feel is best in our own hearts and minds, according to the values and beliefs that emanate from those hearts and minds. We have very little time to plan whatever it is we think we should plan. We are not just 6 billion "I's" nor are "We" one world. We mostly live in communities of one kind or another (in fact, multiple communities) and whatever we do may save our lives, waste our savings or, of course, something in between. We do not know. Whether we are foolish or wise will be found out soon. Better safe than sorry (unless we think we can be safe, from God's wrath, in y2k or at death, and not have to be sorry for the sins we have committed.)

This "sermon" is not approved by the ABA nor the Holy Spirit. Consult your local white pages for your own conclusions, paying special attention to the red letters

PS: this was not meant to generate long letters of theological debate. It was just a reflection of one member of this community. There are other forums for theological/philosophical debates/discussions. Let's try to stick with practical, helpful and y2k-prep focused news and information. The Time Bomb is, after all, about to stop ticking.

-- Walter Skold (wsvnsk2@juno.com), September 29, 1999

Answers

Walter,

I liked what you wrote ..alot. But I have something you might think about. It "hit me between the eyes" this morning when I read what Paul said "while in prison": "Now I want you to know, brethen, that my circumstances have turned out for the GREATER PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL."

I "keep relearning" My Father will take care of me (and my preps)

It seems I'm so myopic that all I can see is my little world and how it will affect "me".. and not my Fathers.

This Y2K will probably be the CATALYST for our government to TAKE CONTROL but also it will "force us out of our comfort zones" where we hopefully can help others. Lets do what we can and leave the rest to Him.

-- david (djwolf@lanset.com), September 29, 1999.

Beautiful...

-- (brbatty@aol.com), September 29, 1999.