The End has Come

I have nothing more to say.

What's Missing from the London Riots?

Dead rioters.

Mark of The Beast

It is seldom the case that people are aware of the historical significance of the times in which they are living; the founding fathers apparently realized that they were living during a time that was truly history making, but this was exceptional. Most people believe that they live in “ordinary” times and, if there are difficulties, they will pass and things will get back to normal.

I believe that we are witnessing nothing less than the end of Western Civilization as we have known it. The economic and social turmoil in the US and Western Europe can be interpreted as nothing less. “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

The collapse is not, as most Christian pundits would have it, because of the rise of homosexuality, or abortion; these are symptoms of the collapse not the cause. The collapse is the result of nothing less than the abandonment, by Christians, of a distinctly Christian worldview. Christians have, by and large, pursued the same goals of personal peace and prosperity as the general culture. Christians have sought prosperity as a goal rather than recognizing it as a by-product of “seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”

Think I’m exaggerating? Then why do most “born-again Christians” continue to send their children to state controlled schools where they are indoctrinated with anti-Christ values? There is only one reason; because removing their children would disrupt their personal ease and require the abandonment of a lifestyle that requires “double incomes” to satisfy worldly lusts.

What can be done? Nothing, if the goal is to “save” America. We have no mandate to save America. Our only mandate is to glorify Jesus Christ and acknowledge his lordship over every area of life – not society’s life, but OUR life. The only safety for Christians is true holiness - the separation of heart, soul and, in some cases body, from worldly ambitions.

II Chronicles 7:14 is often cited at political rallies as the means of “saving America,” but this promise is clearly and exclusively directed to the people of God, Israel. Its demands are clear: “repent, turn from their evil ways, humble them-selves and pray.” That is the prescription for the saving of “my people.” Its scope is corporate, as well as individual.

There is no way to know what our culture will look like after a total collapse. I do not look forward to it.

p.s. If you think the title is misleading, consider whether you would have read a post titled "The End of Western Civilization."

More Space Waste

“Per-launch costs can be measured by dividing the total cost over the life of the program (including buildings, facilities, training, salaries, etc.) by the number of launches. With 134 missions, and the total cost of US$192 billion (in 2010 dollars), this gives approximately $1.5 billion per launch over the life of the program.^[“

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_program

In case anyone missed that, let me repeat; the Space Shuttle program cost “$1.5 BILLION per launch over the life of the program.”

That’s right! Every time we watched the Space Shuttle launch, we were watching $1.5 Billion of our hard-earned tax funds literally going up in flames. Sure, this seems like chicken-feed in the total scheme of federal spending, but that’s the problem. The federal government is spending OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY. Those who are supposed to be representing our interests view tax revenues as their personal piggy bank to fund their pet projects.

The fact is that neither our elected representatives nor we can comprehend these kinds of figures and so, we have blithely sat by and watched as our wealth has been squandered. Attempts to translate such into something more meaningful are seldom helpful. It should be enough to understand that such expenditures for programs which offer no tangible benefits to citizens who cannot participate in or understand what they are paying for are inappropriate.

I should also observe that virtually all government funded space exploration is based on an evolutionary hypothesis of the origin of the Universe and our place in it.

Another $100 Billion Down the Drain

Russians will dump Space Station in 2020

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/27/international-space-station-2020_n_911361.html

It’s time to end taxpayer funding for what is nothing more than an expensive hobby. Space travel, by its very nature, has been and will continue to be limited to those with a lot of money. Up ‘til now, the US taxpayer, who will never travel into space, have been footing the bill for a relatively few people to pursue their Buck Rogers fantasy.

People wonder how we got into this debt crisis. It was easy; $100 Billion here and $100 Billion there and pretty soon you're talking about real money.

Dems Embrace Future Debt

If we needed any proof that the Democrats have no intention of dealing with the federal debt, here it is.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/01/chuck-schumer-14th-amendment_n_888692.html

Not only do they plan to cooperate with the President in doing an end-run around Congress (they are always so concerned that the Constitution be followed), they are planning for more debt.

"Schumer said that the next time the debt ceiling needs to be raised, the 14th Amendment option would get a close look. "It's something worth looking at for the next time around, but I don't think it's had enough fermentation -- examination, to employ at this time.""

"Next time around?" That means more debt.

Can You Say "Post Hoc?"

Advocates of reduced government spending will commit a serious effort if they fall for the trap of arguing directly with this report.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/27/state-funding-cuts_n_885438.html

Instead, they should point out that the report's major premise commits an elementary logical fallacy, the post hoc, ergo proctor hoc fallacy. In English this means "after this, therefore because of this."

"After I broke my leg, I could not play the violin; therefore, I could not play the violin because I broke my leg."

Unfortunately, neither politicians nor the public care much about logic.