According to the 10-day forecast for our area, it looks as if we're going to break the 42-day in a row over 100* record made back in 1980.
We've (that's a relative term encompassing all of Texas at the moment) have been suffering drought-like conditions for several years now and lakes, rivers and reservoirs are getting lower and lower.
The reservoir at San Angelo State Park is so low that all the life within it has died and the resulting decay and bacteria has caused the water to turn blood red in color. A preacher in Indiana has hypothesized the beginning of the End Times. Read this article and this one for more details. Of course most people are going to dismiss the notion, but I really don't think it's so far fetched. Just because there's a scientific reason to explain it, doesn't mean it's not related.
I personally DO believe the world is now on the path to Armegeddon. Do I think it's going to happen any time soon? Depending on your definition of soon, as in the next two or five or ten years, I think ten years is possible. If you're not of a mind to believe in God and in the Bible then, of course, all this is a bunch of hooey.
The Bible can be quite the dry read, but Joel Rosenberg has penned a series of five books (all fiction, this link goes to the first book on amazon.com) chronicling an End Times scenario and steeped in thorough research of End Times prophecy. Even if you don't buy into God, the Bible, and End Times prophecy, the books are all immensely good reads if you enjoy political thrillers.
A bit of a turn from my original intended topic, but we'll get back to our regularly scheduled posts on remodeling and other shallow stuff. :)
Keep cool/stay hydrated.
Showing posts with label End Times. Show all posts
Showing posts with label End Times. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Just finished reading...
Dead Heat by Joel Rosenberg. It's the last in a five book series based on End Times Prophesy. Another edge-of-your-seat read. Started it late yesterday afternoon, and finished it this morning around ten. And no, I didn't stay up all night. I was in bed by ten and didn't pick the book back up until almost seven. (And yes, I should have been in church this Sunday am, but wasn't...no excuse.)
What strikes me whenever I read a book that is not a romance... but wait--a small detour, if you don't mind...
Romances take a lot of bashing. Mostly because of the bodice-ripper covers that were all the rage back in the seventies, and which seem to be, if you've recently perused the romance section at your local Barnes & Noble or Borders, making a comeback.
Also from those who believe that a romance novel is A) full of sex {and called porn by some}, B) worthless drivel that has no place on the book store shelves and is so easy to write that anyone could crank one out, or C) Romance novels are read by women whose lives lack romance.
Just FYI, in 2007, romance was the biggest fiction category, selling more than $1.375 BILLION in sales from approximately 8,090 releases. In 2004, romances comprised 55% of all paperback books sold and 39% of all fiction sold. Also, more romance novels are read by professional women who are happily married.
As an avid reader, and aspiring romance writer, it is my personal humble opinion that romance novels are by far the genre held to the highest standard--despite its detractors--and held there by its authors and would be authors. I've been a member of Romance Writers of America and my local chapter of RWA for six years now, and in that time I've learned a tremendous amount about writing in general, and about writing romance specifically (it stands to reason, being part of romance writing organization and all...).
So back to my original point: no matter how exciting a non-romance fiction book (as the above mentioned book certainly was), no matter what genre it is, the thing I'm always struck by more than anything else is the lack of point-of-view purity, or author intrusion. What do I mean by this? Most of my romance writer friends will probably know...
So I'm reading this morning, and we're in a bad guy's point of view, and I read that the bad guy is doing something or watching something and his eyes are glittering in excitement about whatever it is. If we're in his point of view, his perspective, he can't see or realize that his own eyes are glittering. This is a visual that only another person could see...
Example two: we're in the good guy's point of view and he gets a phone call. It's not good; according to the caller, catastrophic things are going to happen that no one can stop. The caller says more bad things are supposed to happen but they can be stopped. Then we get a sentence like: He (the good guy, 'cause we're supposed to be in his POV) just didn't know how bad things were going to get. This is almost like hindsight, which there is no way the point of view character could know. This is author intrusion--and a big no-no in romance writing.
So for my fellow romance authors (or readers), what other things do you find in non-romances that are frowned upon in romances?
What strikes me whenever I read a book that is not a romance... but wait--a small detour, if you don't mind...
Romances take a lot of bashing. Mostly because of the bodice-ripper covers that were all the rage back in the seventies, and which seem to be, if you've recently perused the romance section at your local Barnes & Noble or Borders, making a comeback.
Also from those who believe that a romance novel is A) full of sex {and called porn by some}, B) worthless drivel that has no place on the book store shelves and is so easy to write that anyone could crank one out, or C) Romance novels are read by women whose lives lack romance.
Just FYI, in 2007, romance was the biggest fiction category, selling more than $1.375 BILLION in sales from approximately 8,090 releases. In 2004, romances comprised 55% of all paperback books sold and 39% of all fiction sold. Also, more romance novels are read by professional women who are happily married.
As an avid reader, and aspiring romance writer, it is my personal humble opinion that romance novels are by far the genre held to the highest standard--despite its detractors--and held there by its authors and would be authors. I've been a member of Romance Writers of America and my local chapter of RWA for six years now, and in that time I've learned a tremendous amount about writing in general, and about writing romance specifically (it stands to reason, being part of romance writing organization and all...).
So back to my original point: no matter how exciting a non-romance fiction book (as the above mentioned book certainly was), no matter what genre it is, the thing I'm always struck by more than anything else is the lack of point-of-view purity, or author intrusion. What do I mean by this? Most of my romance writer friends will probably know...
So I'm reading this morning, and we're in a bad guy's point of view, and I read that the bad guy is doing something or watching something and his eyes are glittering in excitement about whatever it is. If we're in his point of view, his perspective, he can't see or realize that his own eyes are glittering. This is a visual that only another person could see...
Example two: we're in the good guy's point of view and he gets a phone call. It's not good; according to the caller, catastrophic things are going to happen that no one can stop. The caller says more bad things are supposed to happen but they can be stopped. Then we get a sentence like: He (the good guy, 'cause we're supposed to be in his POV) just didn't know how bad things were going to get. This is almost like hindsight, which there is no way the point of view character could know. This is author intrusion--and a big no-no in romance writing.
So for my fellow romance authors (or readers), what other things do you find in non-romances that are frowned upon in romances?
Monday, September 1, 2008
More musings... Gloomy ones mostly.
Hurricane Gustav is barreling its way toward my state. Hanna is not far behind. I don't fear for personal safety, as I'm far to the north of affected areas. But I do ponder the spiritual ramifications. Gustav and Hanna are storms seven and eight, respectively, in the Atlantic hurricane season this year. It seems that we get more tropical storms/hurricanes and they are getting stronger. What does this mean? If you're an End Time believer as I am, it just means that the End Times are moving closer. I'm all for that.
National elections are also on the horizon. As disappointed in Bush as I am, I don't think I'll be voting Democrat this year. I've read that Obama was the most liberal senator in D.C. & now a quick Google search tells me Biden is the third most liberal senator. So together they are the most liberal presidential ticket ever. And based on a bipartisan poll, 60% of Americans consider themselves conservative. Huh? What? Couldn't convince me. But that's what people consider themselves, maybe not what their behaviors truly indicate.
It's always been my understanding, rightly or wrongly, that Democrats are for big government: more social services programs, more control, etc.... In my personal humble opinion, there should be less government. This is the world's richest nation. There's no reason on Earth, society at large, not big government should be taking care of its own. This would stabilize and boost the economy, while hopefully lowering the government's debt, and keeping our taxes low. Okay, the unemployment rate is creeping back up, HOWEVER, there are always going to be these variations, and there is always going to be unemployment because there are people who just don't want to work, so to always blame the current president seems a little unfair.
So a friend of mine posted, in its entirety, Barack Obama's acceptance speech, which I did not hear in the first place, or read in the second place. She has changed her spots after a lifetime of voting Republican. It just seems to me that all candidates blow a lot of hot air about what they're for or against, and you can never really know what's going to happen. After all, the president is still subject to checks and balances by the other branches of the government. If they could just play it a little more honestly. Tell us what's close to their hearts, not what people want to hear. Tell us what they can truly attempt to achieve, not what people want to hear. Because I don't know if I can count on one hand how many presidential promises have been kept.
All that being said, whether Obama or McCain ends up in the White House, I know that God is on His throne. I place my trust in Him that He will provide all that I need in good times and bad.
Who really believes in Global Warming? I don't. Not that I don't think we should take care of our planet, but this hysteria over carbon footprints and credits is rediculous. Why are the American people as a whole being chastized and beaten up day by day when we have some of the cleanest air of any industrialized/technologically advanced nations in the world. Let's see we just spent two weeks in China, where they have some of the worl'd worst air. And did we even think to say anything to them??? Not only that, but numbers show that the Little Medievel Period was far warmer than our temps today, and we all survived. That and it was follwed by another Ice Age. Hmm??? What about the fact the Southern Hemisphere has actually been experiencing a cooling trend. One of the glaciers in the Australia/New Zealand area has actually been getting larger. So how can it be GLOBAL warming???
You know, most of the rest of the world looks down on the U.S., but let me ask you, to which country does most of the rest of the world want to come??? Many believe that America should stay out of the affairs of other countries? But how can we? Do we choose only the good things, but not the tough? We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. Let's see, if we don't go to the Middle East and despose a one of the world's most evil men in the worl'd history, should we go to one of the poorest nations after a horrendous tidal wave? Whether the other major world powers like it or not, mainly the evil ones, if we weren't the world's policeman, we might be living under communist rule. Don't doubt it for a minute.
Back to Obama for just one second--despite his background, I don't think he truly understands how evil and dangerous the forces of Islam are. He wants to go play nice and talk. Those true followers of Allah and the Koran are out to destroy the infeidels -- anyone and everyone who does not believe in Allah. It's not about politics and economics for these people. Their releigion is about getting back to thier 7th century culture. I think McCain has a better grasp on the evil in the world. If all else were equal, I'd vote for McCain.
Well, I've run out of steam and lost my train of thought. I'll be back later with some eye candy, my newest crush Jonas Armstrong.
National elections are also on the horizon. As disappointed in Bush as I am, I don't think I'll be voting Democrat this year. I've read that Obama was the most liberal senator in D.C. & now a quick Google search tells me Biden is the third most liberal senator. So together they are the most liberal presidential ticket ever. And based on a bipartisan poll, 60% of Americans consider themselves conservative. Huh? What? Couldn't convince me. But that's what people consider themselves, maybe not what their behaviors truly indicate.
It's always been my understanding, rightly or wrongly, that Democrats are for big government: more social services programs, more control, etc.... In my personal humble opinion, there should be less government. This is the world's richest nation. There's no reason on Earth, society at large, not big government should be taking care of its own. This would stabilize and boost the economy, while hopefully lowering the government's debt, and keeping our taxes low. Okay, the unemployment rate is creeping back up, HOWEVER, there are always going to be these variations, and there is always going to be unemployment because there are people who just don't want to work, so to always blame the current president seems a little unfair.
So a friend of mine posted, in its entirety, Barack Obama's acceptance speech, which I did not hear in the first place, or read in the second place. She has changed her spots after a lifetime of voting Republican. It just seems to me that all candidates blow a lot of hot air about what they're for or against, and you can never really know what's going to happen. After all, the president is still subject to checks and balances by the other branches of the government. If they could just play it a little more honestly. Tell us what's close to their hearts, not what people want to hear. Tell us what they can truly attempt to achieve, not what people want to hear. Because I don't know if I can count on one hand how many presidential promises have been kept.
All that being said, whether Obama or McCain ends up in the White House, I know that God is on His throne. I place my trust in Him that He will provide all that I need in good times and bad.
Who really believes in Global Warming? I don't. Not that I don't think we should take care of our planet, but this hysteria over carbon footprints and credits is rediculous. Why are the American people as a whole being chastized and beaten up day by day when we have some of the cleanest air of any industrialized/technologically advanced nations in the world. Let's see we just spent two weeks in China, where they have some of the worl'd worst air. And did we even think to say anything to them??? Not only that, but numbers show that the Little Medievel Period was far warmer than our temps today, and we all survived. That and it was follwed by another Ice Age. Hmm??? What about the fact the Southern Hemisphere has actually been experiencing a cooling trend. One of the glaciers in the Australia/New Zealand area has actually been getting larger. So how can it be GLOBAL warming???
You know, most of the rest of the world looks down on the U.S., but let me ask you, to which country does most of the rest of the world want to come??? Many believe that America should stay out of the affairs of other countries? But how can we? Do we choose only the good things, but not the tough? We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. Let's see, if we don't go to the Middle East and despose a one of the world's most evil men in the worl'd history, should we go to one of the poorest nations after a horrendous tidal wave? Whether the other major world powers like it or not, mainly the evil ones, if we weren't the world's policeman, we might be living under communist rule. Don't doubt it for a minute.
Back to Obama for just one second--despite his background, I don't think he truly understands how evil and dangerous the forces of Islam are. He wants to go play nice and talk. Those true followers of Allah and the Koran are out to destroy the infeidels -- anyone and everyone who does not believe in Allah. It's not about politics and economics for these people. Their releigion is about getting back to thier 7th century culture. I think McCain has a better grasp on the evil in the world. If all else were equal, I'd vote for McCain.
Well, I've run out of steam and lost my train of thought. I'll be back later with some eye candy, my newest crush Jonas Armstrong.
Friday, June 20, 2008
The storm clouds are gathering...
The title above is, among other things, a quote from the 90s TV show "Sports Night" - a brilliant, downright laugh-out-loud funny thirty minute comedy. It was the first TV show we bought on DVD and we have gotten our money's worth out of it. The whole family loves it and watches it, sometimes together, sometimes individually. It's not a sports show, it's a show about the people who do a sports show. And we quote it extensively among ourselves, eliciting yet more laughter.
The title was, as of Wednesday night, a portent. Here in North Texas, the storm clouds gathered overnight and, at about 6am Thursday, the storm began. Lots of wonderful rain - we don't want any burn bans come 4th of July - rumbly rolling thunder, and some brilliant, if minor, flashes of lightening. I lay in bed listening to the pattering, plopping, and splattering of the rain against the trees, bushes, and roofs, enjoying one of nature's symphonies, thanking God for his infinite wisdom in creating such a wonderful system.
The title is also, and most importantly, a warning. About a month ago, I posted about the End Times, specifically, the signs of the times. Things are happening just as the Bible, the inerrant Word of God, says. Not everything has happened yet, but the pieces are falling into place.
Last week, my Wednesday night Bible study class started the topic of the End Times, and this past Wednesday night Pastor Barry preached a riveting sermon on the Day of the Lord (listen here). The Day of Lord will happen after Jesus has gathered up believers, both those who have already died, and those who are still alive at the time. That means everyone else has chosen not to believe and/or accept that Jesus is who He says He is - our risen Savior.
There's still time, though. How much time is unknown. But we *are* living in the End Times. And we still have an opprtunity to find hope in Jesus. If you choose Jesus, you can watch the gathering storm clouds, but have no fear of the coming storm.
I know this isn't a favorite topic to some of my regular readers (the three of you), but it is my duty. If you knew a hurricane was coming, wouldn't you do your darndest to warn people and get them to evacuate?
The title was, as of Wednesday night, a portent. Here in North Texas, the storm clouds gathered overnight and, at about 6am Thursday, the storm began. Lots of wonderful rain - we don't want any burn bans come 4th of July - rumbly rolling thunder, and some brilliant, if minor, flashes of lightening. I lay in bed listening to the pattering, plopping, and splattering of the rain against the trees, bushes, and roofs, enjoying one of nature's symphonies, thanking God for his infinite wisdom in creating such a wonderful system.
The title is also, and most importantly, a warning. About a month ago, I posted about the End Times, specifically, the signs of the times. Things are happening just as the Bible, the inerrant Word of God, says. Not everything has happened yet, but the pieces are falling into place.
Last week, my Wednesday night Bible study class started the topic of the End Times, and this past Wednesday night Pastor Barry preached a riveting sermon on the Day of the Lord (listen here). The Day of Lord will happen after Jesus has gathered up believers, both those who have already died, and those who are still alive at the time. That means everyone else has chosen not to believe and/or accept that Jesus is who He says He is - our risen Savior.
There's still time, though. How much time is unknown. But we *are* living in the End Times. And we still have an opprtunity to find hope in Jesus. If you choose Jesus, you can watch the gathering storm clouds, but have no fear of the coming storm.
I know this isn't a favorite topic to some of my regular readers (the three of you), but it is my duty. If you knew a hurricane was coming, wouldn't you do your darndest to warn people and get them to evacuate?
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