Middle America's Worldview

Wow, what a day!

I must say, today was fun. We had our son's party at the place, and it was a blast. We were the first there and had a chance to look around. It wasn't so much as a large place, but they organized the space well. They had only 5 tv's consisting of 3 x-box's and 2 PS2's attached to it. They had Halo2! I had to try it out. It was great graphics and easy controls. Too cool. In addition I played pool with a couple of friends and my brother. I haven't played in a looonng time, so it was nice. The place wasn't too big for the little ones to get lost nor too small to be crowded.

The kids seem to have a blast as well. In addition to the games, they had remote control vehicles, a blow up slide (which was a hit) and a 900 lb riding mechanical bull. Some of the kids got on to ride and for pictures. One mom and my brother and I. Yes, I had to try it. I think I held my own. I was surprised the inside of my legs were the most tired from it. I guess from squeezing the sides.

After the party we went over to my dad's and checked out his new truck. We cruised on home and was greeted by our friends. No naps for us. They stayed till nearly 7 p.m.

We then showered the kids, played pokemon card game (dueled), ate snacks and prepared for bed. My honey is already asleep, exhausted. I just layed the kids down and figured I better write this while I can.

We have 4 days of school left and leaving for Arizona Friday. Our plan is to hit Amarillo, Texas Friday evening. Then head straigth to Arizona Saturday. It's about 6.5 hours to Amarillo and another 14 to Arizona. Yeah, long A@@ trip.

We will actually begin packing tomorrow. Sounds crazy, but if you seen our schedule for this coming week, you would understand it will go faster than this week. This week flew faster than a 407 on crack.

This week simply flew. I mean really really flew. I looked up Friday afternoon at the clock to see it was 4:30 p.m. thinking, crap what happened to the day? That was pretty much everyday for me.

Thursday night, my wife went to the PTA wrapup party. They went to Logans to eat. I was also going to go but had to attend the School Board meeting. I found it interesting, albeit I was nearly late. I had to try to find, scan and send a file to Kinkos for the PTA yearbook. This all 15 minutes prior of the School Board meeting.
I did make it right before the roll call. The meeting was interesting and I felt more comfortable in asking questions, ect. When I came back to the house, our babysitter (neighbors girl) was playing hard with the kids. I asked if she could remain for a few more minutes and I ran the file to Kinkos because it was simply too big to email. I met the girls (wife and PTA group) at Kinkos then left them to it.

I relieved the babysitter, put the kids down for the night and finally went to bed myself, flipping through the channels. Kel made it in awhile later.

Thursday night was also my first night of a decent sleep. On-call didn't kill me that night.

Friday, as I said flew, during the day. The kids had a day off. We went to get haircuts around lunch, took care of car insurance and grabbed a Sonic for the them. Kelli had to work her butt off. A friend of hers asked for assistance on her job. So she had to clean, scrape, ect on a newly constructed house. I was surprised she isn't as sore this Saturday morning as I expected. ( I had to biofreeze her back and shoulders for her, ((grin))

This Saturday morning we are going to 'Smarty Partys' for our son's birthday. It has a 900 pound riding bull, X-box, PS2, 50 games to choose from, pool table, remote trucks on a terrain, ect. for 2 hours. I hadn't seen it yet, but looking forward to checking it out. It's pretty new in town and I know of one mom coming without her kids just to try out the bull. LOL

With the prospect of Euphenasia in USA and our continual eradication of our youth, one wonders how much life is worth anymore? I guess it depends on who you ask.

Evidently in Palestine, it's worth about 100 NIS (around 23 U.S. bucks) for as many as you can get.


Two More Boy Bombers Nabbed in West Bank - Margot Dudkevitch

Two Palestinians, aged 14 and 15, who were paid $23 apiece to detonate a bagful of bombs near soldiers at the Jalameh crossing north of Jenin, were arrested on Wednesday. Major Yariv, a commander of the unit deployed at the crossing, said the two had been instructed to approach the soldiers and ask for a drink of water and then detonate the bombs near them. It is the 11th time since the beginning of April that terrorists have recruited teens to either smuggle weapons through the checkpoints or blow up near soldiers, security officials said. (Jerusalem Post)

It's nearly 11:30 at night and I still continue to wait. We have a facility moving their system over to another server. I already have my stuff down, been done for 4 hours, however, I have to wait for the other side. We were hoping like crazy they would be done and ready by 10 p.m. but alas it isn't so.

I received 2 calls last night during on-call. One around midnight and the other around 4 a.m. I stayed up after the 4 a.m. call. So here we are approaching midnight again and I have to wait. Because God knows if I lay down the call will come. Such is the life.

Since I am on-call this week, it seems my life revolves around work. Just can't get away from it. Fortunately it's only for one week.

My wife is stressing to the max. She puts everything on her shoulders. I mean everything. She plans what is needed, required, and to do before, during and after our road trip to Arizona coming up. She gives me a simple request and I seem to always miss the ball. I had said I would make an errand today. Well, today was the craps, since I was on support and 2 meetings to be in. Hence I didnt make it around lunch. I was on the phone all the way up to taking our son to therapy and totally wasnt thinking of the simple errand. Of course this was pointed out to me nearly 7 p.m. this evening. Crap. I could had made the errand if I left at that point, but that wasn't the point. The point was I failed to do it and it just another marker on the board. (In my mind anyway)

I will take the kids to school tomorrow morning. They are out Friday this week. The lucky brats only have 4 days of school this week and 4 days next. I plan to watch them Friday and all three of us to get a haircut. I wonder if a catastrophe will occur to ensure that simple request will not happen. Hmm. Guess we will see.

Now 11:35 p.m. and the vendor hasn't replied to my email. She must be doing something on her end. Perhaps she will give the thumbs up soon. Too late to start a movie. I already ate the remaining salad and munched on potato chips. There isn't crap on tv and I already read up on my blog roll. Crap, I hate having to wait.

I have to admit, I was pretty impressed with the OKC conferences regarding the new School Board members workshop. The only 2 complaints I had were; they did not hand out pamplets per class, rather what you wrote down in notes is what you left with and there is no index of Oklahoma school board members. I was really think there should be a contact list to allow new members to gain insight what each district is doing in regards to policies, issues, ect. This would help facilitate and promote the state in whole. Yes, I did actually put this in writing on our feedback form.

Other than being in the class most of the whole day, I enjoyed the time with Kel. It was nice to be able to walk around the mall or store, withiout little ones asking to go home. Yes, we missed them, but the break in that regard was cherished. Kel and I didn't make it out to a movie Saturday night, but we did spend some quality time by eating dinner. Since I continued to have sinus issues and she was tired anyway, it was benadryl and melatonin time at night. It was rough sleeping Friday night, but I crashed hard Saturday night.

We acquired a new PS2 game, 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' to bring back for the kids, myself included. The kids and I have beat Shrek2 and we are working on TMNT now. The game allows four players at once, hence the three of us get to play and work together on it. Cool deal. Kel just asked not to be dragged in. heh heh

I finished watching season 3 of 24 last night. I had to put it away for a time due to our crazy schedule, but I was able to finish it up last night. Talk about a very good storyline and intense show. I can't wait till season 4 will be on dvd as well. Maybe it will be a Christmas present. (hint hint)

I seen the other day 'The greatest American Hero' first season was out on dvd. Did anyone else watch this show? I loved it as a kid and will be watching Ebay for it.

Work has been crazy already this week. Not bad crazy, thank God, but busy crazy.

Better get back to work, currently changing IP's for a new Rad server for a specific hospital. I have a school board meeting Thursday night. I will present a lot of questions. Yes, they will see me as a pain in the butt, because I don't want to be a bench warmer.

Made it to Oklahoma City, tonight. The past 2 days I basically been scanning the PTA yearbook. Finally finished it today as well and sent the 20 bloody CDR's to Kinkos for them to create our yearbook. 170 PDF files scanned and done! whew.

Looking forward to this weekend. My wife and I actually have 2 nights alone in a hotel room. I will be in the School Board class all day, but we will have the evenings. Unfortanately I am still not over my allergy crap. My voice is returning but my sinuses are still acting up.

I will be sore tomorrow, for sure. Friends of Kelli had created a fundraiser held tonight in our assistance. Jack's Skateland offered their place for 2 hours and all was able to skate. Yes, I pulled on the rollerskates (not blades) and went around and around. I had my son on one arm and a friends son on the other. I think I held them up half of the whole evening. My arms are telling me I did. I enjoyed it though and received a good workout.

We came home and put the kids in showers, teeth brushed, into bed. I think it was about 14 minutes and my girl was out like a light. Our son is still struggling to hang on. LOL

I didn't have any conference calls today, so that was good. I continued to scan the PTA yearbook pages. I am up to page 75 of 180. Yeah, moving right along.

In times like these, it's appreciated very much for friends like these.

Glad Monday and Tuesday is over. Work continued to be busy with conference calls, ect. Seems the tone has changed to "push" the vendors along. Seems they are not moving fast enough.

The girls came over last night trying to finish up the PTA yearbook. I say girls but all of them have kids the same grade/class as mine. I had Kel's parents digital camera out (they let us borrow it) and was snapping pictures. Not often I have a lot of good looking women over. (grin)

I also lost my voice as of yesterday evening. I been fighting a alergy cold, much like everyone else and it finally caught up with me. I guess it was good it lasted till after work, but sucked last night, since I couldnt hardly raise my voice over a loud whisper. Fortunately my main form of communication is email and IM's at work.

I don't really feel 'bad', just can't talk. I hope it gets better by the weekend, due to me being in Oklahoma City for the School Board 2-day classes.

I just finished watching the Contender as I put up the clothes and backed up my laptop files. It was good. I missed it Sunday and was able to catch-up on it, tonight. Cool.

Today was a Monday for sure at work. I had 3 conference calls that lasted all morning.

The weekend was good. I was able to clean the vehicles over the weekend, mowed the yard, ect. I was also able to play with the kids and enjoy some quality time with the family.

I happened to catch a piece of 'Desperate Housewives' last night. I must admit, I never seen this before and only seen a part of it. However, the part I seen kind of erked me. Evidently an actor playing a son thinks he may be or is gay. The mother is freaking due to thinking he will go to hell. She had the priest come over for supper. The actor playing the priest came in bible carrying and all. Evidently there are no pocket bibles in Hollywood. What irked me was the priest relentlessly came in and started to talk about the kid’s sexual interest. No couth or sensitivity at all. Of course the kid stated he knows himself and he is cool about it. The priest stops the discussion to the moms chagrin. She kept asking 'Is that it?' to the priest. Correctly the priest replied the kid didn’t want to discuss it anymore nor could the priest change his mind. The dad played the role of support 'whatever the kid wants we need to support him'.

That is my rant. Here is my reason for the rant. Because I don't believe in griping about something without a reason or resolution, here are my thoughts on it. The idea of someone going to hell for being gay is incorrect. Correctly the reason we go to hell is due to not accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. Yes, most believe heaven is attained by good acts and deeds. But that is why Christianity is different than any other religion. Rather than by your own deeds or actions, heaven is only attainable by the blood of Jesus. He died for our sins so we had a choice to be with God (in heaven) or not and end up in hell. I like Ray Comforts take on it.

Look at the 10 commandments. Have you broken the 10 commandments? Have you ever stolen something at any point in your life, regardless of the worth? Have you ever lied about anything? Sure we all have, myself included. That is only 2 of the 10 commandments.

So we have all sinned and come short. Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

The only payment for sin is death. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;

This means we all have sinned. Not just gay, murderers, sexual predators, ect.

The bible makes it clear the law shows us we have sinned. It's like a light showing the dust on a table. The light didn’t make the dust but shows it. The law doesn’t make sin, but shows it to us.

So what can we do to attain heaven and not death?

The bible makes it very clear what the answer is.
Jesus said to him,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." -- John 14:6

Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice of death for our life eternal with God. Rom 6:23 ....but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you haven't accepted Christ as your saviour, allowing Him to be Lord of your life, I would urge you to do so now. What He offers is a free gift of eternal life and you only need to ask him for it.

It is a simple message passed down the ages. Unfortunately in the show, this message was not said or told. That is what irked me. If it was a true priest, he would have given the message and corrected the mother.

Its been awhile before I could get a chance to blog. Just been really busy, between Church, School Board, Family, Work, ect.

We recieved good news today. The initial doc bill has been changed to no more than 4500 this is very good, considering the first quote around 8200. This is a far easier goal to set. This also includes the meds and supplements while we will be there. Praise God!

Also Kel's friends, we have learned, are working diligently on ways to acquire money. Through fundraisers ect. This is a blessing beyond words. I had a good feeling Sunday morning on the way to church and now it seems to be blossoming. I am relieved beyond words.

I will be going to Oklahoma City the weekend of April 22nd. I will be leaving that Friday and attend 2-day conferences regarding Oklahaoma law and policies regarding School Board. I look forward to this and hope to gain some valuable info. Although a newbie, I hope to energize the School Board out of its apathic state. Kel will be going with me, without the kids! Unreal. She can relax all day while I am in the conferences and we can enjoy the evenings together. Fortunately her parents will keep them for us.

Work has just been that, work. Let's not go there.

The kids used their money to buy Shrek2 for the PS2. We had rented it and all 3 of us can play it at the same time. I was able to play with them tonight and we made it past the next chapter! woo hoo.

I had posted a possibility for the next pope and the possibility of him being the false prophet. I received two other interesting emails. One is a link indicating he has a nearly 50 already supporting him. He requires 77 to be the next pope. The other makes reference of the last pope will have a females name. Intereting enough, this same pope, Ratzinger, has Jean-Marie, within his name. Interesting.

Yesterday was a busy day. Work was stressfull in the sense of an ever continueing project coming to a head. Let's just say Corporate was pushing and the facility pushed back, I was stuck in the middle (again).

I took both kids to our son's speech therapy. As they were in the back playing I ran to the bank and post office. Grabbed them, ran to the video store, renting Shrek2. We then proceeded to Burger King, treating the kids with a kids meal. Proceeding to a nearby movie place, I acquired some passes for the PTA fundraiser gifts. From there a hop over to Putt Putt Golf for additional passes. I was trying to acquire all the necessary fundraiser prizes while I was in Fort Smith. Most of these guys don't open till after 3 p.m. This makes it difficult to do on a lunch. I don't see how Kel runs like this all the time.

In the evening the kids and I stayed home while Kel ran to a friends house working on the PTA school book. I knew she was stressed out so made some no-bake cookies with the kids. We straightend up the house (cant tell it now) and played the Shrek2 game. We can all 3 play at the same time, together.

I called Kel a couple times checking on her and found out on her way home, she had a melt down. It is difficult, because it's one of those situations, where you just simply have no control over. I can't help recognize we made it this far, no turning back now. With the stress of the job, family and pressure from others (too many to laundry list here), it is no wonder she held out this long. Hang in there Kel, I am stil waiting on the word go from the Lord. It will come.

On another note, I also picked up the agenda for the school board as me and the kids headed to Fort Smith yesterday afternoon. I was shown the bids for the new roof at school. I received a call from one of the other board members last night as well. I think i had more answers than she thought I would. This is not boasting, but I could tell she was a bit surprised I was actually in the loop already. As she ended the call, I re-asked her to call me anytime. She said ok and hung up. Too me, this is not much difference than work. Communication is key and it looks like it will hold true here as well. But then again, what do I know? I just started and havent been sworned in yet.

I am pleased to announce I have won the School Board election. I actually won pretty big in small town standards. There was a large turnout as expected due to the City Council having 2 wards being voted on the same day. I appreciate everyones vote for me on this and hope to do my best. It is a 5 year term. I also learned another board member will resign in the next meeting. Monday night will be my first School Board meeting, not as an observer. They will swear me in first thing, and then proceed. I will be required to go to Oklahoma City in the end of April for 2 days of conferences. I actually get to go with another School Board member. The School's secretary had called 2 weeks ago asking for my availble days, in case I win. I chose the same days as the other School Board member, thinking it will be more beneficial we partipate together. I should learn a better understanding of the rules and process in class as well as what really goes on outside of class by my peer.

Now that this ulcer is over with, gladly so, another one raises it's head. In 4 weeks we are scheduled to drive back to Arizona for a duration of 5 weeks there. This is for our son's medical need. The 5 weeks will consist of the full program that will alleviate our son's issue. When we went a couple of months ago it had a major difference in enhancing his progress. However, as of today, he is not progressing.

The issue was found to be a residual of metals in his body, speculated to be from his 2 year immunization shots (he is now 5). This resulted in a long arduous account of issues. Issues being seizures, inability to speak correctly, ect.

I truly believe we were lead there for the answer. At this point, I wish we stayed the full duration while we were there the last time, but I also know we really couldn't due to school, work, ect. Rather than going back and forth, it has been decided to go the full 5 weeks. The cost will be 8200 dollars in Doctor fees. Our insurance will not cover any of it, due to it not being viewed as mainstream medicine. It is Holistic. Regardless if these procedures show improvement, it simply doesn't matter. Sounds crazy, but if you have kids, you understand a parent will do simply anything to enhance his/her health. I am concerned how we will manage to find this prior of leaving. On the other hand, it must come from somewhere. Why else would we had been lead there in the first place? I don't think God sets us up for failure.

So I am asking those Christians who happen to read my blog or stumbled across this article, to please pray for me and mine. Thanks.

I haven't had the time to blog these past two days. We been pushing for my vote today (yes, it's finally here) as well as PTA meeting occured Monday night, ect.
I received this in the email from a friend and found it totally fascinating. I have always been a reader and student of Bible Prophecy. I had heard long ago the antichrist would rise in the reign of the next pope. Reading this below only puts fire in my belly to get a move on. Take a look.
=========================================================================
A Jewish Pope?
By Jack Kinsella
www.olivetreeviews.org

Jean-Marie Lustiger: Second Jewish Pope?

Pope Peter II?

Perspective on the News

Sunday, April 03, 2005

France was stunned when Pope John Paul II named Jewish-born Jean-Marie Lustiger as archbishop of Paris. "You are the fruit of the Holy Father's prayer," the pontiff's secretary told him.

Could it be that the cardinal-electors will now stun the world by choosing Lustiger as next pope, the first Jew to occupy St. Peter's See since Peter himself?

Lustiger, both whose parents died in Auschwitz, has always insisted that, though he had converted to Christianity at age 14, he was and remained a Jew: "I was born a Jew and so I am. For me, the vocation of Israel is to bring light to the goyim. That's my hope, and I believe Christianity is the means for achieving it."

There is a remarkable conversion dialectic in Lustiger's life. He had himself baptized because he was so impressed with the Catholic faith of his foster parents, who brought him up after his real parents had been deported from Paris in 1940. In return, Lustiger has made it his mission to convert -- or, rather, re-evangelize -- France and by extension Europe in an unorthodox way.

While a parish priest, Lustiger wrote a memorandum to archbishop of Paris, Cardinal François Marty. In it he proposed a revolutionary strategy for bringing Christianity back to France, once called the First Daughter of the Church. He insisted the church must abandon any pretense of power and convert culture instead.

As George Weigel, the pope's biographer, commented on this plan: "This meant taking the gospel straight to the molders and shapers of French high culture, the thoroughly secularized French intelligentsia. The hardest cases should be put first and France should be reconverted from the head down."

According to Weigel, Lustiger believes this memorandum must have found its way to the Vatican and contributed to his promotions to bishop of Orleans in 1979, archbishop of Paris in 1981 and cardinal in 1983.

If so, Lustiger's strategy is bearing fruit. No sooner did he ascend to the Paris See than he targeted intellectuals, preaching to them every Sunday evening at his cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris. This year -- more than two decades after he inaugurated this sermon series -- the influential Figaro newspaper ran an eight-part series about Christian intellectuals finally resurfacing in France after a very long internal exile: it simply wasn't considered chic to be a man or woman of faith.

In France, the rest of the country has always followed the intellectuals' path. It is now fashionable again, even for leftwing thinkers such as Regis Debré, Ché Guevara's companion, to speak of the need of religious instruction at school, though the government blocked the mention of God and Christianity in the draft of the new European constitution.

The French church, once an institution of immense power, has become a mission church, and her sisters in other part of the Continent are following her example. Indeed, that mission takes place chiefly in the once almost hopelessly secularized urban centers, where there are now first signs of a tender spiritual renewal.

That, too, was Lustiger's brainchild. Since Europe's conversion has top priority for the Catholic Church, the election of this formidable preacher and thinker is still a possibility, even though, at 77, he is no longer of an ideal age -- and though popular superstition holds the last pope will be of Jewish descent and call himself Peter II.


Related Links/Source Story: United Press International






The Next Pope--
By Jack Kinsella

www.olivetreeviews.org



The Next Pope?

On March 14, Pope John Paul II will surpass Pope Leon XIII as the Pope with third longest papacy in history after St. Peter and Pius IX, according to a Vatican press release.

Having been elected on October 16, 1978, on March 14, Pope John Paul will have led the Catholic Church for exactly 9,281 days, 25 years, six months and two days.

The current Pope is 83 years old, suffers from Parkinson's Disease and has knee and hip ailments that make it hard for him to either stand or walk. He is so frail that there was talk at the Vatican about his resignation. It is unlikely, however.

Popes are elected for life, but given John Paul's condition, the Vatican is already buzzing about who will succeed him. Indeed, TIME Magazine ran a recent story asking the question, "Who Will Be the Next Pope?' before supplying some of the answers.

TIME listed some of the leading contenders, and one name in particular caught my eye. The Archbishop of Paris, Jean-Marie Lustiger.

Assessment:

Here is TIME's snapshot of Archbishop Lustiger:

"Archbishop of Paris, Lustiger was born of a Polish Jewish family in France. After his parents were deported during the Nazi occupation, he lived with a Christian family in Orléans and converted to Catholicism at the age of 13. He has been criticized by Israeli rabbis and may be a long shot if the cardinals decide his nomination would anger the Jewish community."

I know that I have Catholic readers, and I am myself a former Catholic. I am not a Catholic-basher, although I disagree strongly with Catholic dogma.

That said, the Bible pictures a global religious system in the last days that John describes as having 'two horns like a Lamb but who speaks as a dragon.' (Revelation 13:11)

There are lots of theories about the identification of that global religion, but the most widely accepted is that it will be the post-Rapture Catholic Church.

This makes Catholics go ballistic, but they shouldn't. I believe that saved Catholics will be Raptured with the rest of the believing Church.

Revelation's global religious system will be made up of religionists practicing a counterfeit Christianity. John said it has the appearance of a lamb (Christ, the Lamb of God) but that its doctrine is that of the Dragon (Satan).

There are NO Christians mentioned after Revelation 4:1 -- only Tribulation Saints, (all of whom are martyred).

That isn't the believing Christian Church of the Church Age. Even the antichrist couldn't track down and martyr a half-billion people in only seven years.

Any church in the Tribulation Period, according to Scripture, will be an apostate church devoid of Christians.

It is no coincidence that the description of that religious system described in Revelation 17 fits the Vatican like a glove. It is pictured as a woman dressed in purple and scarlet, (colors of the Vatican) decked with gold, precious stones and pearls (the Vatican's wealth is immeasurable) and drunken with the blood of martyrs.

Thousands of Christians were burned at the stake or otherwise martyred during the Papal Inquisitions. That is an historical fact.

Finally, Revelation 17:9 completes the identification, saying, "here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth."

Is there any other global religious system headquartered on seven hills, apart from the Vatican, which is seated in the Eternal City on the Seven Hills of Rome?

According to John, there are two beasts who share power during the Tribulation Period. The first beast is the political beast, the one who rises up out of the 'sea' - symbolic of the 'sea' of nations. Israel is always symbolized by 'the land' -- a picture of Israel as a spiritual island surrounded by a sea of Gentile powers.

"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." (Revelation 13:1) This is the first beast -- the political beast -- the one we personify as the antichrist.

John pictures a second beast in verse 11; "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth. . . " The word 'earth' is translated from the Greek word 'ghay' which means, 'ground' or 'land' in the sense of a region. From this one can almost certainly assume the false prophet will be a Jew.

This is where it gets complicated.

John's identification of the antichrist's religious system only fits one existing religious system, headquartered in Rome. But it says the false prophet will be a Jew.

Now, we return to the Archbishop of Paris -- and from here, let me caution you that this is partly speculative.

Lustiger is an ethnic, converted Jew. If he were to become Pope, he would be the first converted Jew ever elevated to the papacy. It has never happened before.

If Lustiger is elevated to the papacy, it is unlikely that another Jew will succeed him as Pope, making Lustiger the odds-on favorite for the office of false prophet, Scripturally speaking.

Even if he isn't elected immediately following John Paul II, remember that John Paul II came to the papacy after John Paul I died 77 days into his reign.

Here's where it gets really interesting. Cardinal Lustiger is 72 years old. The Tribulation Period is of seven years' duration.

I don't usually get this speculative, but this is dynamite. I am not date-setting, but Lustiger's age is a pretty narrow time frame. And Jesus DID say that we would know 'when it was near, even at the doors'.

The Scriptures indicate the false prophet will head an apostate counterfeit, global 'Christian' religion, but that he himself will be a Jew.

The papacy has existed since Pope Clement in the 4th century. From then until now, there has never been a Jewish candidate for the office.

Until this point, in this generation, when one of the leading contenders to replace an aging Pope is Jean Lustiger, a converted Jew.

What are the odds?

I have always heard and been told "It's not what but who you know that will get you places". You hear it, but you never truly understand it, till you experience it. I am experiencing it now.

I am running for School Board in my town. This is my 3rd attempt and hopefully my successfull one. In the past two, I came up some well known, experience opponents. I ranked pretty darn close behind them. This is quite a feat considering I was not born in this town. Those in the city cannot appreciate small town mentality. Basically everyone knows everyone else. If you cannot quote your geneaology from at least 3 generations back, then your pretty much a new kid in town. Change is hard to folks in these parts. When someone else comes in and makes those changes, it's hard for the others to acquire a taste for it. Whether that change is for the better or worse.

I been knocking on a lot of doors this week and last. It is amazing how many actual houses are built on one street. Take Morris Street for an example. I parked my vehicle on one end and hit 3 houses at the corner before making my way down one side, to follow up on the other. By the time I made it at the end (speaking to some people that happen to be home, listening to others gripe about what was going on in town ((nothing to do with the school))) I could only think I have the walk back up it again. Toward the end, and close to the car, I was looking forward to the bottle of water waiting for me. I counted my flyers and see I had passed nearly 70 out to that street alone. I hit every house offered. Some had dogs and fences in the front as opposed to their back yard.

In my car I stopped at the Police Department to give them a couple of flyers as well. Another feeling that I should. As I passed it to the guy in front, a lady came in from the back and asked what it was. I passed it to her readily enough as well. She took a look at it and said she "needed to talk to this guy". I replied what do you want to talk about? She got this goofy looking grin on her face and asked if I was the same. "Yes, what can I answer for you?" "Nothing, everyone asking do you know (my name), I keep saying I haven't never met the man nor know him". Thinking this is my chance to give some meaningfull answers to her great questions, I asked her does she want to know about me. "Nothing, just wondered who you was". Hmm, ok. "I appreciate if you get out and vote for me, it's next Tuesday". She only replied with that goofy grin, like she was looking at a rock singer.

As I jumped in my van, another police officer had came out asking if I was the same. "Yes". It was my opponent. I never seen nor met the man before. I was told by others, he wouldn't even campaign. Only wanted the position for name recognition. He was younger than I pictured him in my mind. So this was the one everyone knows, as opposed to no-one knowing me. We spoke friendly enough and shook hands wishing each other luck. Now I know who I am up against.

There are 5 members making up the school board. I know of 3 pushing for me, 2 of the 3 hard. The other two, I doubt they are. I heard, by more than one person, they are yes people. Those that do whatever floats the admins boat. I now the administration of our school do not want me to be on the board. Most likely due to the fact, the don't know me. So they don't know what I will do.

As the time dwindles down for the vote, I have been speaking to one of the board members helping me out. He continues telling me, he is speaking to people about me, but most say, "I don't know him". It is interesting a lot of them simply ask him, who should I vote for? I received some specific people to call. The names were given to me by some that would like me to be in. I called them, most would answer, "I spoke to (board member) and they spoke highly of you. I will be voting for you". It wasn't any answers to their questions, nor some new found knowledge or insight I could bring to the community. It was a nod from another person.

Yes, it's not what but who you know. I hope this time around, I know enough people to get me on the board.