The end is nigh

It's in the news all the time and my lectures keep telling me that we are all going to die!! If it's not global warming it's Bird flu or another disease or a lack of water or lack of food or insects or a meteor or the old favourite of nuclear war. Looking at the evidence it's all rather damning: the end is nigh; life as we know it is coming to an end....

The other day I was talking to my mate about a program which was looking at a Religions response (or the lack of it) to global warming. Although I didn't see it he mentioned his surprise, and that of the program makers, that "Religion" hasn't jumped on the Global Warming bandwagon saying " Look the earth is coming to an end, repent and be saved". I agreed with him, it seems strange that the more outspoken people, both Christians and those from other religions, haven't mentioned anything about it; seems to go against the stereotype.

Its a subject which I haven't really thought about before: are all these problems pointing towards Jesus second coming? After thinking about it I have to conclude that, since God controls the weather and is all powerful, then, this must be part of his plan. Therefore, yes, if the world is going to change as dramatically as scientists suggest then all these environmental problems could very much tie into Jesus' return! We do though need to remember that through history people have been claiming Jesus is coming "soon" yet God says that we won't know until it happens! Thankfully it's not something which I worry about :) Anyone got any views?


On a different note, I think the fact people haven't mentioned global warming as a sign of the end is a clear indication that Christianity is now so scared to mention what we believe (that those who don't follow have Jesus as there saviour will live eternity without him, hell). Whereas in past centuries an answer was found from the bible and published for the whole world to see! In the 21st century it's politically incorrect to say such things and it seems religion is too worried to mention "Maybe this is God" let alone "Jesus is coming", it breaks my heart and while of course I don't mean people should go about scare mongering about Global Warming and start breaking the law this is just one example of a general trend not to stand up for things.

When the Life of Brian came out 30-40 years ago there was a massive fuss kicked up. That was over a film (which personally I have no problem with) yet now when it comes to much more important issues; like religious freedoms, gay rights and blasphemy (lyrics in songs, for examples) we seem scared even to use our right of free speech to oppose such things!

I've just started reading Acts (a book from the bible) and the difference between the Church then and now is amazing. While of course there any many fearless men and woman in the Christian Church today people like Stephen, John and Peter (just for starters) really show many of us up. I'm just as bad as anyone else and I think that it's because I'm too worried about what other people think. This feeling, though, isn't something which I alone suffer from; do we worry that that if we annoy people God's message won't get through? or is that just an excuse not to talk about our faith? If we take a look at almost all biblical character then we would see how it should be done: Do what God says and not to worry if what you do annoys people because we are here to please God, not others (That doesn't mean going out of our way to annoy others because we are called to love others as ourselves yet).

Christianity needs people to start standing up and proclaiming God "in the temple" like the early church or else we will fall!



On a lighter note I hope you'll enjoy this clip from Mock The Week (episode 2 series 4). A couple of the things this blog is about are loosely related to some of their jokes. BE WARNED this show is on after the watershed; there is a little bit of none politically correct jokes and language:

Mock The Week is fast becoming one of my favourite shows on TV. Please follow this let alone link to see the rest of the episode

Age


Last Sunday was a great day for me, the day that I became a man!! I shaved on Saturday morning and by Sunday some stubble had grown in, not loads but still enough to shave off again (which was completed with glee).

Yes, I know you are laughing but strange as it might seem most of us 18-19 year old guys still ain't shaving everyday..... It's quite a turn up for the books because when you were 10 did you not think that people at uni where adults, I did anyway. Yet most at 19 are still physically growing, have hormones flowing and many are just as lost as they were at 10.

Even around my peer group the misconceptions of what different ages bring are plain to see. The number of 15 year olds that wish they where 18 because they crave to be an adult: go drinking, earn good money and be treated with respect. Yet most 18 year olds find themselves sometimes wishing to be 21 because they feel that then they will get the respect that comes with being an adult. On the other hand there are those 21 year olds who wish they were back at 15 because life was so much simpler then. I guess it's the human problem of claiming that "the grass is greener on the other side". The same thing applies for people who are older with the statement "I wish I was X years old", if I had a 1p for every time someone said that.....

I'm coming more to the opinion that we should be happy what age we are. Why? Because you are only going to be 48 years and 21days old once in your life (the age isn't aimed at anyone by the way). You are only going to experience that age once so why wish it away? Every age has is perks and flaws; so being grown up is not just freedom as younger people are led to believe. Similarly, people only seem to remember the good things in the past and therefore forget that being younger isn't all good either.

A wise man once said, "you are only as old as you feel" and it's completely true! My Grannie is 80 odds yet she goes around everywhere on her bike, is constantly gardening and still runs her churches youth group. It's so sad to see grandparents in there 50s deciding that they are old and limiting what they will do. If you convince yourself that "your old" then you will be!

So I urge you, what ever age you are not to wish today away because you want to be some other age! Enjoy where you are now because your only going to have that day once!