Final Countdown

We've made it through the first three quarters of 2012, and the world still turns. Will the final half of the final month of the final quarter see the end of the world?

I do not know. And yet... Does it matter?

We don't know what the future holds. We don't know when our final day will be. To fixate on a date gives us the illusion we still have some time.

Yet, the final moment could be this month, or this day, or this very hour... [Cue the spooky Halloween music.]

Humor aside, the truth is that at any given moment, it is the end. If not for the whole world, at least for an individual. That individual could be you.

The extent of my Latin is this:

Carpe Diem!

It means "Seize the Day". In other words, life life to the fullest as though they were your final moments - each day. Tell people you love them. Thank those who touch your heart. Treat everyone with kindness and never hold a grudge.

This could be your final moments.

Are you ready?

~ ESA

Images from the internet; sources are unknown.

Challenging Question

There is a question that should be asked. Whether the end-times will occur in 2012, this afternoon or some point in the distant future, many across several beliefs believe it will happen. Of which, many describe this period as turbulent, including large natural and man-made devastations.

Some fervently hope to escape from these fearful visions of doom and destruction. Many choose to become followers, clinging to the understanding that to follow means to avoid these worldly horrors - to become "raptured."

I find it amusing that there is a similar mindset in the Cthulhu mythos. It's said that the following is a conversation with a follower of this belief:

• "Why do you follow this faith?"
• "So I can be a chosen one."
• "And what do you believe?"
• "When Cthulhu rises, mankind will face horrors beyond knowing, there will be death, destruction, and a period of time when people will BEG to die."
• "And what about the chosen of Cthulhu?"
• "We will be the first to be eaten."
• "WHAT?"
• "Think about it carefully. If all that will follow is true, would you want to stick around for long and have to live through it?"

While it may disgust some of my readers that I parallel Christians with followers of some squid-headed deity, I hope it illustrated the point.

Many will convert just to get the ticket-out-of-hell-on-earth via Rapture.

What if you were asked to stay?

Yes, if you are a good follower with a loving heart committed to Christ, and you were asked to stay behind after the Rapture.

Those left behind would need some guidance.

If the world is going to go through such dark times, one can safely assume a complete disruption in our current technology. Forget about the internet, the phone may not even work - landline as well as cell.

It would be a dark world on many levels...

All that could help people "left behind"... are people, face-to-face and hand-in-hand, particularly those with a loving forgiving heart willing to face a future far more horrifying than Hollywood could conspire to create.

If you were presented the choice to Love God, Love Jesus / Yeshua with such a commitment that you were willing to literally face hell-on-earth for Him, would you?

Or would you flee for the next one selling the easy-way out?

This is a challenging question indeed.

~ ESA

2012 - The Final Frontier?

There is a great deal of speculation that the world will end next year, or that the apocalypse will happen. I can not say what the year holds; I truly do not know. I know 2011 was rough on many - vast numbers in areas of natural disasters, plus economic problems, changing governments, rise in international tensions, even very personal losses - ranging from home foreclosures to death of loved ones.

In my travels for the holiday, I do not think I have come across one person that didn't have some major loss (whether personal or part of a wide-spread disaster) this past year.

What will 2012 bring?

Many hope for the end; many believe they will be swept up in a rapture that will protect them from "hell on earth." Countless numbers wait with baited breath to see if Christ will return and the "evil ones" in our society will "get theirs." Sadly many hope for the end, for death's stillness seems more appealing to them right now than more of what they saw in 2011.

Tribulation is not "the end of the world;" it's a period of change. It can be as violent and traumatic as puberty. Yet, something more mature and a bit wiser rises from that. If we are in a period of "humanity's puberty" there are two things we need to keep in mind:

• We grow to become something better than we currently are. We have something to learn and need to change as part of it.
• We will continue; this is not the end..

While we enter into the new year, I have actually started to look forward with a positive outlook. I don't know if this will be when Christ returns. I don't know if I will see the Heavens and Earth dissipate and a new world begin. But I know we are taking some serious - and global - steps toward something new.

Change can be violent. Change can hurt. We may loose much - both in terms of personal possessions, ideals / goals, and thoughts / understandings. We may loose loved ones in this process too...

Yet, where we go really has a lot to do with our own mindset - each and everyone of us. This is not a "believe in Jesus and you will be saved" speech. This is practical analysis firmly grounded in both psychological and spiritual studies.

The more we are grateful for what we have, the more we value that which truly lasts - friends, family, connections to each other, love, and God. The more we value what lasts, the more positive our outlook becomes. The more positive an outlook we have, the more we can see our blessings and shake off our desires for material things and passing fame this world tries to sell us. The more we free ourselves from the fetters that bind us (a part of the Lord's prayer), the more we can establish further and stronger connections to the Divine and each other. The more we see good things in each other, instead of evil and enemies, the more we help each other become children of God. The more we help each other become children of God, only through mutual work, the more we become what God created us to be.

On the other hand, the more we focus on fear, the more we will fear each other. The more we fear each other, the further we become. The further we become, the less we understand each other. The less we understand each other; the more we see others as our enemy - lines are drawn. The more lines that are drawn, the more wars there will be. The more wars there are, the more people will suffer and die. The more people suffer and die, the more fear rises to our mind. And the viscous cycle repeats itself as the adversary laughs in delight at our misery.

Remember: Only together we achieve something far greater than the sum of our individual efforts; the adversary seeks to divide for that will block us from achieving God's will: being the Children of God.

In 2012, which will we focus on? Each and every mind DOES make a difference, despite the ego telling us we are too small; despite the world telling us we are not enough. We are enough - as long as we believe. God is with us. When we do God's Will; we will not fail, regardless of what we see with our eyes when the world resists the changes to come.

- ESA

Tale of Two Brides (Story)

Once upon a time, there was a bride who was loved by many. She knew her fiancé, who was away for a long time, would be returning soon. She was determined to be ready for his return, no matter what. She had her life in order; her eyes were always scanning the horizon for a first sight of him.

Her friends, tried to do the same, to be ready for the big wedding. But the wait was long, and they found themselves drawn away to other things that needed their attention.

The bride scoffed as one-by-one, they departed to raise their children, tend to their work, and help others in their community. "Let the others tend to the matters in this world," she said bitterly to herself, "I know who I am and where my place is. I will sit and wait."

Set in her determination, the bride never strayed from her chosen path; she kept herself ready and would not move an inch as she waited. This was her sole purpose: to wait for his return.

When the day came, the bride was overjoyed. She gathered her things, ready to be swept up into his arms and taken away from this wretched world. This was what she was waiting for all this time.

When her friends heard that the bride's fiancé returned, they tried to gather to her side, but she turned them away - each and every one. "You did not wait with me in my vigilance. You strayed from my side while I waited alone." She turned her back on them, "I will have nothing to do with you now."
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Once upon a time, there was a bride who was loved by many. She knew her fiancé, who was away for a long time, would be returning soon. She was determined to be ready for his return, no matter what. She had her life in order; her eyes were always scanning the horizon for a first sight of him.

Her friends, tried to do the same, to be ready for the big wedding. But the wait was long, and they found themselves drawn away to other things that needed their attention.


In her heart, the bride knew that things still needed to be done in this world while they waited. She wanted them at her side, ready for her fiancé's return. So she inquired of her friends what was drawing them away.


Those who would depart to raise their children, she replied, "Are they not part of my family too, as I love you like sisters and brothers? I will help with your families; this way we can take turns watching the horizon and all of us will be ready his return together."



To those who needed to tend to their work, she proposed, "Let us all work together. Is it not true that when we work together as one, we accomplish far more than the sum of our individual efforts? When we are separate, we are alone; this is not what we are called to be. While we work side-by-side, we can take turns watching the horizon. When my fiancé arrives, the work will be done and we will all be ready."



To those who wanted to help others in the community, she said, "Let us go out together to those in need. Is it right that some should share in joy while others suffer while we can yet do something about it? If we do this together, there will be more to share in the feast when my fiancé returns. What joy will be his when he sees all the people ready to celebrate. I will leave a note for my fiancé; he will know just where to find me."



While the young bride did her best to make sure all were ready and within calling distance when her fiancé returned, she saw that some still had wandered away, alone or in small groups, and were not ready on the day of her fiancé's return. When her fiancé arrived, he found her working among the people, helping them every way she could, her heart loving them as brothers and sisters. His joy was hers when he saw the vast numbers of people who were ready to celebrate the wedding feast.


But then he caught sight of those in the far distance and he asked his bride, "What shall we do with those who did not wait for this day?" Tears welled in her eyes and she pleaded, "I know they did not stay within calling distance, but they are still loved as sisters and brothers. I know we cannot wait, but should they see us depart and follow, please do not bar their way."


When the happy couple departed, they were followed by a joyous celebration of many who sang the song of Love United after a long period apart. Hearing the song rising on the wind, those in the distance looked up and saw them depart. They immediately regretted what they had done and followed them, calling... pleading... The bride heard their desperate calls and turned around to face them. With a smile and loving forgiveness welling in her heart, she held out her hands to welcome them.
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Which is the bride that holds Love in her heart?
Which is the bride whom the bridegroom calls from the start?
Which bride will you be when this world falls apart?

- ESA

Trials and Tribulations

Given the events still unraveling in Japan, and the even more recent string of devastating tornadoes in the US ~ let alone the many major events that have occurred since I posted this originally here almost two years ago, I felt it time to re-post it.

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Tribulation

I've debated about whether or not I should write what I have. But some days you just have to follow what's in your heart, roll the dice and face what comes from doing so.

Tribulation is a subject on many minds and in many articles, movies and books of late. I'll try to be brief as possible on the subject (brevity is not my forte, so please bear with me. :D).

WHAT
Tribulation is considered by many as the "end times" or "end of the world". While it may be "the end of the world as we know it" as one song goes, I believe Tribulation is essentially a period of change -- as brutal as puberty can be -- but not the end of the world. It’s the end of one period and the start of another. Any change is turbulent. But the next era will be something of Peace and Wonder.

HOW
Pick a subject from a long list: earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, strong/violent storms, tsunami's, cyclones, war, famine, pestilence / pandemic, meteor strike, volcanoes, cats and dogs living together... You can find any of these in places ranging from the Bible to Blockbuster Video, from the neighbors to the nightly news. So I need say no more here.

WHY
What I would like to point out is that it doesn't matter so much what happens, but how humanity responds to what happens. Human beings can grow / change once pushed to our limits. What if that push is on a much larger scale than an individual, family, company or community? What if we're pushed on a global scale? How BIG would that change be?

The other question is what would that change be? My belief is that if we looked to our own needs and developed a bunker mentality, this will only lead to isolation and a "get them before they get us" attitude that could spell the fall of humanity. :(

Or, we could reach out to each other – from next-door neighbors to others in communities around the world. It's been proven that the combined efforts of human beings bring greater results than the sum of individual efforts. What would happen if we expanded our efforts, joining hands with those around the world? What kind of change would that bring?

WHO
There's been much debate about Rapture as a means of escape from Tribulation. But from what I've researched, my conclusion is that if there is an escape clause somewhere, it's certainly NOT before the start of Tribulation. There are six of seven seals broken before the 144,000 are sealed in Revelation. So that means there are some events that will happen before that point. In one of the Gospels, Christ mentions that, even though it's going to be a time of grave horrors, "it will be shortened due to the elect." That makes me think the elect will still be around on this mudball at the time or why would it matter...?

For myself, suffice to say that I'd rather prepare my heart to go through Tribulation and meet Christ face-to-face on the other side with my head held high rather than saying "I believe" only because it will give me a ticket out of the horrors.

WHERE
I believe we shall see many horrors, but not necessarily all in one place at the same time, unless the sun blows up then all points above are null and void (save the paragraph above, of course).


Let's see, we have Who, What, Where and How... what's missing...? Of course, the first question everyone asks...

WHEN
I don't know. I don't WANT to know. I'm a person that will fixate on a date and needlessly waste the time I have. If I take it day-by-day, living like it's my last moments, does it really matter when?

Also, something else came to mind on the subject. Clocks and calendars are man's creation to mark time – not God's. All said and done, it's in God's hands, no matter what we do, say or predict. But God may not see time as humanity does.

I believe the true timing of "when" is similar to one of those little puzzle games where you have to line up the holes to get the ball to drop through. In other words, a series of people and events must line up just right for things to happen. If a person is not there or something does not quite happen in "just the right way" or in the proper sequence, the ball is still "trapped" and the major events are delayed. There have been hypotheses that the "end times" may have happened already. But I believe these were the times when things started to line up but then something changed – perhaps a change in policy or way people handled the situation before them.

But when all does fall into place and the BIG event happens, it will be a bumpy ride. But at the end is something and Someone wonderful. I think that's worth going through what may come our way.

WHAT CAN WE DO
The answer is also found in the good book: pray. Christ instructed people to pray that it does not happen in the winter (at a time when local food is short, shelter is desperately needed and transport is difficult). I don't hear many people preaching that one. Repent, yes. Believe, certainly. But pray that the end times don't come in winter? No. Why? It makes a LOT of sense to me. That's why it's in my prayers.

In addition, there's some common-sense stuff. The CDC and FEMA have many guidelines and has been trying to get people to read them. Prepare a grab-and-go bag. List your medications. Have the family become familiar with a fire-drill. Plan an evacuation route to high grounds. What would you do if you know a storm is coming - stock up on batteries and essentials. That's stock-up not stockpile – there's a difference; hording is not helping unless you plan to share with the neighborhood. And a room full of supplies isn't useful if you've been evacuated from your home. Again, common sense and reasonable preparations are recommended.

Lastly, get to know those around you. If a major disaster hits, phone lines and other contact with the outside world will be cut temporarily. Even cell phones are worthless if the tower is out of power or taken down – or the switchboard overwhelmed as seen on 9/11. Face-to-face contacts will be the front line to recovery immediately after the disaster. Start now and get to know people and things will run a lot smoother if you find a friendly, familiar face rather than a stranger working beside you.

In the years following Hurricane Katrina, more and more communities have developed Emergency Response Plans and have started training regular civilians with some First Response skills to many different adverse events that can occur in our local area, from blizzards to bombings. It will be a still needed more and more in the future, I believe.

Well, I've tried to keep it short. I don't know who or how many will read this. But I hope some of the advice above will be taken going forward. Thanks for reading.

Prepare and pray
Not prey
Today

- ESA

Public Praise - Hidden Gems

One of the things I've discovered about myself recently. If I do some good in this world, something whispers in my head that I should sing about it. There are several acts of kindness I may do throughout the day, some just small little things. Even as I write this, I'm tempted to start listing them. I even had it typed out and deleted them.

I get the impression that I should tweet about it on Twitter; that it will be a good example to others. I get the urge that I should make a video about each of the good works I do and show people how they too can help. I'm led to believe that I should blog about it, illuminating the path others could take and made this world a better place.

I will tell you why I really should NOT and - to the level best that I can achieve in my imperfect life - do not.

When one does a good work and then publically sings, displays, exhibits, demonstrates or otherwise publicizes the good work, they will get public recognition. People will join in singing their praises and mimic their works in the attempt to get a piece of that spotlight. Many will likewise do the same and get some of the star-sparkle glittering on their names as well.

But in my life, it's not the spotlight nor the star-sparkle I seek. Those are things that are not-only short lived, they are only external - of this outside world. The spotlight does not illuminate that which is within the person, just the outside face they show to the world. I seek a greater Light to illuminate my works.

When we do good works in this world, it builds something beautiful beyond words within us. But when we use such good works as a lure of the spotlight, it's like letting the air out of a tire - it deflates us. We are sparkling in the spotlight for a short time and left deflated for a much greater period of time...

Further, I will NOT buy into the belief that if one does not know my works, I will not be a good example to others. In fact, the opposite is true, one's acts shine with their own brilliance. If we seek the public spotlight, we exhibit the wrong desire and are a poor example.

Those that do things "hidden" or in small unrecognized ways, already know that their works shine. It's seen in the sparkle of the tearful eyes of one benefiting from the kindness, in the emotional tremor of a quietly spoken "thank you" or in the inner warmth one receives when they do some good and none but God knows it was by their hand.

These hidden gems are the ones that people see and realize - THIS IS A GOOD THING - without a word being spoken or a camera filming it. These shine on their own and its by their light that the true example is shown. This is a far more beautiful thing than can ever be found in this world. Hidden in the clasp of a loving hand in a lonely one, in the smile of a stranger's face, in the little act that makes someone's life a bit more easier to bear...

Where can you plant hidden gems?
Let their light shine!
Brightly.

-ESA

Tribulation

I've debated about whether or not I should write what I have. But some days you just have to follow what's in your heart, roll the dice and face what comes from doing so.

Tribulation is a subject on many minds and in many articles, movies and books of late. I'll try to be brief as possible on the subject (brevity is not my forte, so please bear with me. :D).

WHAT
Tribulation is considered by many as the "end times" or "end of the world". While it may be "the end of the world as we know it" as one song goes, the Tribulation is essentially a period of change -- as brutal as puberty can be -- but not the end of the world. It’s the end of one period and the start of another. Any change is turbulent. But the next era will be something of Peace and Wonder...

HOW
Pick a subject from a long list: earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, strong/violent storms, tsunami's, cyclones, war, famine, pestilence / pandemic, meteor strike, volcanoes, cats and dogs living together... You can find any of these in places ranging from the bible to Blockbuster video, from the neighbors to the nightly news. So I need say no more here.

WHY
What I would like to point out is that it doesn't matter so much what happens, but how humanity responds to what happens. Humanity will grow / change once pushed to our limits. What if that push is on a much larger scale than an individual, family, company or community? What if we're pushed on a global scale? How BIG would that change be?

The other question is what would that change be? My belief is that if we looked to our own needs and developed a bunker mentality, this will only lead to isolation and a "get them before they get us" attitude that could spell the fall of humanity. :(

Or, we could reach out to each other – from next-door neighbors to others in communities around the world. It's been proven that the combined efforts of human beings bring greater results than the sum of individual efforts. What would happen if we expanded our efforts, joining hands with those around the world? What kind of change would that bring?

WHO
There's been much debate about Rapture as a means of escape from Tribulation. But from what I've researched, my conclusion is that if there is an escape clause somewhere, it's certainly NOT at the before Tribulation. There are six of seven seals broken before the 144,000 are sealed in Revelation. So that means there are some events that will happen before that point. In one of the Gospels, Christ mentions that, even though it's going to be a time of grave horrors, "it will be shortened due to the elect." That makes me think the elect will still be around on this mudball at the time or why would it matter...

For myself, suffice to say that I'd rather prepare my heart to go through Tribulation and meet Christ face-to-face on the other side with my head held high rather than saying "I believe" because it will give me a ticket out of the horrors.

WHERE
I believe we shall see many horrors, but not necessarily all in one place (unless the sun blows up then all points above are null and void (save the paragraph above, of course)). Considering we saw a 7.1 earthquake off Honduras today instead of LA, and nuclear war seems nearer in the Korean peninsula than the Middle East, anything is possible.



Let's see, we have Who, What, Where and How... what's missing...? Of course, the first question everyone asks...

WHEN
I don't know. I don't WANT to know. I'm a person that will fixate on a date and needlessly waste the time I have. I'll take it day-by-day, living like it's my last moments instead. In doing so, does it really matter when?

Also, something else came to mind on the subject. Clocks and calendars are man's creation to mark time – not God's. All said and done, it's in God's hands, no matter what we do, say or predict. But God does not see time as humanity does.

I believe the true timing of "when" is similar to one of those little puzzle games where you have to line up the holes to get the ball to drop through. In other words, a series of people and events must line up just right for things to happen. If a person is not there or something does not quite happen in "just the right way" or in the proper sequence, the ball is still "trapped" and the major events are delayed. There have been hypotheses that the "end times" may have happened already. But I believe these were the times when things started to line up but then something changed – perhaps a change in policy or way people handled the situation before them.

But when the time does fall into place and the BIG event happens, it will be a bumpy ride. But at the end is something and Someone wonderful. I think that's worth going through what may come our way.

WHAT CAN WE DO
The answer is also found in the good book: pray. Christ instructed people to pray that it does not happen in the winter (at a time when local food is short, shelter is desperately needed and transport is difficult). I don't hear many people preaching that one. Repent, yes. Believe, certainly. But pray that the end times don't come in winter? No. Why? It makes a LOT of sense to me. That's why it's in my prayers.

In addition, there's some common-sense stuff. The CDC and FEMA have many guidelines and has been trying to get people to read them. Prepare a grab-and-go bag. List your medications. Have the family become familiar with a fire-drill. What would you do if you know a storm is coming - stock up on batteries and essentials. That's stock-up not stockpile – there's a difference; hording is not helping unless you plan to share with the neighborhood. And a room full of supplies isn't useful if you've been evacuated from your home. Again, common sense and reasonable preparations are recommended.

Lastly, get to know those around you. If a major disaster hits, phone lines and other contact with the outside world will be cut temporarily. Even cell phones are worthless if the tower is out of power or taken down – or the switchboard overwhelmed as seen on 9/11. Face-to-face contacts will be the front line to recovery immediately after the disaster. Start now and get to know people and things will run a lot smoother if you find a friendly, familiar face rather than a stranger working beside you.

Well, I've tried to keep it short. I don't know who or how many will read this. But I hope some of the advice above will be taken going forward. Thanks for reading.

Prepare and pray
Not prey
Today

- ESA