06.01.08 MORE PROGRESS, LESS LIBERTY

LEADING TO 'THE MARK'
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"Your fingerprint's hardly personal data, because you leave it on glasses and silverware and articles all over the world." Michael Chertoff, head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. With that startling remark, Mr. Chertoff trivializes privacy concerns.
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That brings to mind another article from last year on basically the same subject. Mr. Chertoff spoke at the International Data Protection and Privacy commissioner's meeting last year in Montreal, Quebec. But the group found his remarks to be far from comforting. Mr. Chertoff called for greater surveillance by governments of their private citizens and the collection of ever increasing amounts of data in the name of security. According to the article, Mr. Chertoff's vision is of a broad surveillance society with massive databases of biometric data collected from hundreds of millions of people.
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For those of us who have had to endure the seemingly endless security lines at airports, and all the other things that make flying such a joy these days, you might enjoy an excellent article titled 'The View From Gate 14' by Peggy Noonan that neatly encapsulates the frustrations. Some people have suggested that part of the whole is process is getting people conditioned to being herded around in public settings.
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And along the same lines, here's one on 'Homeland Security Newspeak' in the online Wall Street Journal. According to the article, the U.S. DHS thinks it is a bad idea to use the word 'liberty' when describing our foreign policy goals. Get this quote from the article: "The struggle is for progress, over which no nation has a monopoly. The experts we consulted debated the word 'liberty', but rejected it because many around the world would discount the term as a buzzword for American hegemony. But all people want to support 'progress'..." This from the same minds that decided to change the Global War on Terror terminology to the Global Struggle for Security and Progress.
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To some, our government's efforts would be more believable if they showed the same concern about securing our borders with Mexico as they do in collecting biometric data from everyone else. When literally thousands of people can cross a border every day without being challenged, it makes the rest of it seem as if there might be another agenda at work. We are supposed to believe that our government cannot keep people from crossing that border; they cannot stop the flow of illegal drugs into this country; but they can keep the terrorists out, apparently mostly by collecting biometric data, building databases, and herding people through security lines at airports.
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Earlier this year, Heathrow Airport installed a new security system for passengers who visit the international lounge at the airport before boarding their flights, or passengers who arrive on an international flight and transfer to a domestic one. Those passengers now have to undergo iris scans and fingerprinting.
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All of the above is logical and explainable. And it is all leading toward the global system that will be part of the end-time Beast system. The Beast system will feature a world wide computer network that will require all participants to provide biometric identification in order to access the system. All financial transactions will be conducted in the network. I have covered this more extensively in my blog that focuses on end times events.
...In summary, most people seem to think that the mark of the beast referred to in Revelation will be a chip implanted under the skin. Although the technology exists to do that, and it might have limited application in the future, that is not going to be the 'mark'. Just think about it. The logistics of trying to implant every man, woman and child on the planet, not to mention all the thousands who are being born around the world every second, would be mind boggling even if it were possible - and it is not. How much easier and better to have a central system that requires anyone who wants to conduct any kind of financial transaction - and that would be pretty much everybody except in the poorest, most remote locations on the globe - to log on to the Beast system.
...The system has been moving into place step by step. Each step is logical and convenient. Electronic payment transfers, direct deposit, debit and credit cards are all logical improvements over previous methods of conducting financial transactions, and there is nothing evil about them - many people routinely use them, including me. But they also have the effect of conditioning people. Most people will never be aware that they are signing onto the Beast system when it comes. Many of the same people who are afraid of the number 666 and being 'forced' to take the chip, will happily sign up for the new system.
...People will have to accept the terms of an agreement to access the system. That is commonplace now. Every time one installs a new software program or update, that is standard operating procedure. But there will be something in that agreement that will keep true Christians from being able to sign up. The problem with that is that even most Christians seem to be blissfully unaware of the times in which they live. And the false teachings about the Rapture doctrine, which have become prevalent in this generation, lull many into a false sense of security.
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FINANCE
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There are anecdotal reports from different parts of the country about how the effects of higher oil and food prices are finally starting to show. It had to at some point. Many people have always lived paycheck to paycheck, even people who make really good money. When people who were scraping by in the good old days of $1.50 gas now are faced with $4.00 gas and double digit food price hikes and higher utility bills, something has to give.
...Remember how we used to hear about the 'consumer driven economy'? When was the last time you heard that term? It seems to have disappeared.
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Much of the final beast system is financially related. The Bible also says that the debtor is servant to the lender, and the rich rule over the poor. Americans have been encouraged to take on debt at record levels. We have gone in the space of a generation from being the world's largest debtor nation to being the largest creditor nation.
...When the end-time Beast system finally materializes, and that may be closer than you think, people who are over their heads in debt are going to be between a rock and a hard place, and that includes Christians. Christians who have been taught the escapist Rapture doctrine will not be prepared, spiritually or physically, for what will happen. It is one thing to believe that you may undergo persecution. It will be entirely another matter to be unable to conduct business, hold a job, or be able to buy groceries for your family. That may seem far fetched and extreme, but the last days are going to be extreme - and Christians will go through them along with everyone else.
...Getting out of debt is not only prudent in the face of what is coming, it is also a good investment if nothing happens. If your credit card has an interest rate of 18%, paying it off is effectively even more than an 18% return, since with all the taxes you pay, you have to earn well over a dollar to have a dollar to spend. For instance, if you are in the 15% tax bracket and live in a state with income tax, and a municipality with local taxes, and you pay into the Social Security system, you likely have to gross over $1.25 to have $1.00 to spend.
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Read your Bible for yourself. People seem increasingly unconcerned about their eternal destination. We live in an age where there are so many religions and people doing their own thing. "Whatever works for you," seems to be the common theme. Many roads leading to heaven, even according to our President. That's one of the problems the world has with Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. They are not inclusive religions. Each says they are right and everything else is wrong. That doesn't fit into our brave new world, and is a major reason that true adherents of each of these religions will be increasingly persecuted as we move forward.
...As a Christian, I believe that there is only one road to heaven, not many. The Bible says that there is one way, one mediator between man and God, and that is Jesus. When I hear people say they don't believe that, then they rattle off some bizarre belief system that makes them feel good, I am reminded about an anecdote about gravity. No one forces you to believe in gravity. You are free to reject the theory of gravity. But if you jump off a building, you will get a lesson in gravity.
...No one is forcing anyone to believe in Jesus as their Savior. People are free to believe whatever they want, however strange their beliefs may be. But there is only one way to get to heaven. Whatever decision you make regarding Jesus as Lord and Savior is going to determine where you spend eternity. That is hardly a trivial matter, but most people today seem to think that it is.

05.13.08 Misc

...Consumer debt rose at a rate of over $15 billion in March, according to the Fed. Economists overall had been expecting an increase of about $6 billion. Consumers are having to borrow more to maintain their lifestyles and pay the bills. Folks have been using credit cards increasingly as banks have tightened their lending standards. Many people were living paycheck to paycheck back in the good old days when gas was $2 a gallon.
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UN Alert: One-fourth Of World's Wheat At Risk From New Fungus. Worldtribune.com 05.13.08.
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One of the smartest guys in hell. The preaching of the cross is foolishness to the wise guys of this world, according to the Bible. This is just another example.
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And another televangelist apologizes for his beliefs "...out of a desire to advance a greater unity among Catholics and evangelicals in promoting the common good...". And what is that 'common good'? Apparently, trying to get the Republican candidate elected to the White House, a candidate who openly ridiculed people like Mr. Hagee the last time around on the election trail. But now Mr. McCain is the man and he needs to exploit the Christian base.
...The media have persistently tried to make Mr. Hagee into Mr. McCain's Rev. Wright. Mr. Hagee is trying to short circuit those efforts.