I have shame.
I apologize to my tens of faithful readers for being so inconstant in writing up my moderately-valuable insights.
I'll try to do better...I promise!
Now, to business:
This is ELECTION DAY, and I am SO glad it's almost over!
No more nasty political ads, no more caricatures of people's character, no more accusations of lying and misuse of statistics, no more people going off on each other about which candidate they support (yeah, I've done some of that...more shame).
Yet as serious as I've found myself, some people are even serious-er. I've read some pretty surprising things about the election. One site I visited (I don't remember which) predicted riots in the country if Obama is re-elected, and riots in the city if Romney is elected! What followed this amazing prediction was survival advice for people to prepare for the coming riots.
Really? Are things THAT bad?
After all, we're not Syria...yet!
Still, whoever gets elected, it seems more and more people are sensing that: First, Americas best days are over, and second--we are nearing "The End of the World as We Know It."
No kidding--that's actually the title of a book I have been reading. The author is James Wesley Rawles and he is the founder of survivalblog.com. His book describes how you can prepare for, yes, "the end of the world as we know it" (TEOTWAWKI).
(Do you have that rock song running through your mind yet)?
Here is what Mr. Rawles writes: "The scenario I described is just one of dozens that could cause The End of The World as We Know It (TEOTWAWKI) in the near future.
"But for what other reasons should you prepare? Here are just a few terrifying possibilities (in no particular order):
- Hyperinflationary depression
- Deflationary depression
- Terrorist nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare
- A third World War
- An oil embargo on the First World Nations
- Martial Law
- Invasion
- Climate Change
- Major volcanic and/or earthquake events
- Major asteroid or comet strike"
Mr. Rawles says (and he's convincing) that the networks we use to provide heat, electricity, sanitation, phone service and water are actually quite fragile and will easily break down in such a crisis (Superstorm Sandy, for instance).
Mr. Rawles does not go with the "head for the woods with a backpack on your back and a good rifle in your hands" [my words] sort of survival. He says that wild game would be decimated within weeks and that action has no provision for sickness, injury, the need for shelter--or humans with rifles and itchy fingers running into each other all over the woods (way past scary).
Instead, Mr. Rawles calls for planning, preparing and equipping a "retreat" sort of refuge with two or three other families. Actually, Mr. Rawles is a Christian and recommends stocking a huge amount of extra food and supplies for giving to friends, relatives and church families who come to you for help (bravo, James)!
There's only one problem. Following the extensive directions in Mr. Rawles well-written book would require thousands and thousands of dollars--money most of us don't have. And you would need the kind of mechanical know-how only factory maintenance men possess. And the time spent preparing such a place would be equal a part-time job at the least.
And you would still have to, in the end, shoot desperate people who wanted to take it from you.
Lots of people.
However you take Mr. Rawles words, many other people are also predicting some sort of TEOTWAWKI.
Including Jesus Christ.
Jesus said this as recorded in Luke 21: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
But Jesus also said this: "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
The redemption Jesus is talking about is the rapture! That's the term (it means "joyous ecstasy") Christians use to describe the coming of the risen Jesus to receive his people to himself in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Hmmm, that's not exactly bad news, is it?
If you're ready.
Jesus said (still in Luke 21), "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation [wasting your life on pleasure] drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap [finding you not ready]. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
So, whatever happens in the coming years (we hear you, Mr. Rawles) we know that worldwide TEOTWAWKI will be missed by Jesus' followers. And since God dresses the lilies of the field and feeds all the sparrows (Matthew 6) he can and will take care of us in the meantime.
And that should make all God's kids feel better.
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