Went to WalMart today to get a can of paint and the clerk was trying to match a color for me. Minding my own business, out of the clear blue sky, he says "So, are you prepared for Y2K?" I wanted to see what he was going so say so I led him on. "What do you mean Y2K?" "You know, you've heard about it, TEOTWAWKI." "No, I haven't heard about it, tell me about it." He looks at me like I'm from outer space. "Well, a lot of religous people believe that someone will be coming back to redeem us." "Someone?" "Yeh, someone, but I can't say his name here because, you know, I can't talk about that here." "Oh, you mean Jesus?" "Yes!" "Well what does that have to do with the year 2000?" "Well, the government is going to plant an embedded chip into our hand or forehead, and as long as you have that chip, you can eat, work, buy and sell." "No kidding?" "Yep, that's what's going to happen." "Er, well are you going to get the chip put in?" "Nope, not me, I'm ready to head for the hills, I've got food and water stashed, and as soon as I see the sign, I'm outta here." "Er, well ah, what's the sign, how would you know?" "Well, it's going to happen around the first of April, that's what our pastor is telling us all, and you better get yourself ready or your going to be one of those to receive the mark of the beast." "Well, if Jesus is going to come back in April, why would you run to the hills, he can rapture you up right where your standing." His face got bright red! I could tell the wheels in his head were spinning. "Well, all I know is what the pastor is telling us to do." Hmmmmmmmm, another sheeple is going to bite the dust, and all I went in to WalMart for was a can of paint.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), February 15, 1999

Answers

And most people would throw you and I in the same catagory as this idiot.

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), February 15, 1999.

Some of these "pastors" are going to have some serious explaining to do to St Peter.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), February 16, 1999.

Okay folks, ONE MORE TIME: "Mark of the beast" is NOT a chip in the hand or noggin'. It's not your SS number and it's not cable TV!!!!

The Beast is a global governmental system formed under diress and desperation, the final rise of the Holy Roman Empire (7 horns in Daniel/7 crowns on the 7 ressurected heads of Revelation's red dragon). The mark is (in biblical symbolism) Right Hand/actions - Forehead/way of thinking. So class, you must subscribe to this system of government in deed and ideology - -kay? Not imbedded chips!! We've got enough embedded chip problems! Do we really need WALKING ones???

I'm getting tired of the "chip in the head 666 mark of the beast" MIS- interpretation of scripture! (like computer bar coded databases are going to function well enough after 1/1/00 to catalog the entire global population!) Sheesh!

Like the classic Stooges short of "Hoi Polloi" Get it right! Get it right!!!

-- INVAR (gundark@aol.com), February 16, 1999.

Invar: I found the guy rather amusing myself. Here I was standing there listening to someone who didn't know what the hell he was talking about. He had no clue about what Y2K was all about, he was only repeating what some pastor told him and he understood it as being a fact. He was so excited about his new found knowledge, that he had to share it with me. But he was disappointed that he didn't have a convert. I guess that poor guy feels the same way as many of you who have tried to convince people that Y2K is going to be a 10. He surely thinks that I'm one of those DGIs.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), February 16, 1999.

Scary thing is that a lot of people don't question their pastor/priests. Brainwashing works by stunting whatever reasoning ability a person had at birth.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 16, 1999.

Although to be fair to religious people here, this perticular clerk probably was born with a shade but no light bulb.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 16, 1999.

Sheeple is right! The unexamined life isn't worth living. Question everything. To be uninformed is to be at risk.

-- gilda jessie (jess@listbot.com), February 16, 1999.

Like scripture says folks: "Prove ALL things. Hold fast to that which is good." 1Thes. 5:21

I don't intend to go nutty on a religion rant, but -- I wish folks would prove things more, instead of relying on SOMEONE ELSE's interpretations. Whether Y2K, history or the news! But in the case of the bible, Scripture interprets itself.

But just for fun, in the same book (for those willing to), read 1 Thes. 5:3-4 and see if that principle might apply to Y2K scenarios being discussed here on this forum.

Describes the times we live in right now pretty well doesn't it?....

-- INVAR (gundark@aol.com), February 16, 1999.

Gee Bardou, the more you tell us about life in your corner of the worls, the more I understand why you want to keep a low profile! LOL

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), February 16, 1999.

You INVAR in perticular strike me as being brainswashed by your bible, can you ever discuss anything about Y2K without pointing verses from it? I mean...even Pastor Chris can...

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 16, 1999.

Y2K Jesus' Return

Mark 13:35

Therefore, be on alert - for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, at cockcrowing, or in the morning -- lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. A what I say to you all, Be on alert!

Luke 12:40

You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.

Luke 17:22

The days shall come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.

To speculate on the date of Jesus' coming again is human folly.

Live every day as if today is going to be the day and you will be prepared.

Glen Austin

-- Glen Austin (gdaustin@aol.com), February 16, 1999.

Mark 13:37 Correction

And what I say I say to all, Be on alert!

Somehow my brain got ahead of my fingers.

-- Glen Austin (gdaustin@aol.com), February 16, 1999.

"All I wanted was a can of paint and I got this......."--bardou

And now you got this thread ;-)

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 16, 1999.

Hi Chris,

I think perhaps the point that INVAR and Glen are trying to make is that whether or not we actually mention Scripture in a given post, it is the underlying foundation, and the intervening filter in everything we experience. For most of us that is a conscious choice which we renew daily - no brainwashing here at all.

In other words what you are seeing is the reason that Christians will never be just like everybody else - because we will never perceive or experience things in the same manner as non-Christians.

dunno if that helps or not... Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), February 16, 1999.

I already understood that fact Arlin. What I'd like to see though, is more effort from christians to attempt to communicate with the pagans in our language, on a neutral ground, as on this forum.

I view religion as a form of brainwashing, deep seated, started as soon as a baby takes his first steps. Same as with any governments. I have no problem with that concept per se, it's when someone comes along, either talking politics or religion and shoves things at me, given as "facts". I make a concious choice of coming here to discuss Y2K and its politics, but I don't need religion in the bargain.

Didn't mean to re-open this sore, it's been rehashed enough, and I understand you have your rights too. Just thought I clear up my opinion. I'll drop it now.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 16, 1999.

..To all concerned! I have enough paint! IF THERE WERE NO GOD!...There would be no rightous or evil,right or wrong,good or bad. There would only your openion vrs Mine! Guess what!...Without the ethecs and values of a higher intelligence your openion wouldn't be worth anymore to me than it is to the present world government's now.

-- Greg Buckley (bucklnd@todays-.com), February 16, 1999.

WHAT IN THE NANE OF GOD ARE YOU TALKING ABOut? EVERYone of you FOOLS think that theya re right and all OF THE others are wrong!!!why do you do that???? do YOU NOT SEE THE stress this puts on me?/?? Oh LETME TELL YOU, HOW sick do YOU SOUND??? I ALONE AM RIGHT AND KNOW THE WILL OF GOD, AND ALL else will DIE??? DO YOu here yourself saying such NONSENSE??? I Know god and HE TALKS JUST TO ME ALONE????I AM The chosen ONE who ALONE understands??? IDIOTS!!!!!!!GOD doesnmt just TALK TO YOU1!!! HE TALks to me TOOO!!!AND HE SAYS That I AM RIGHT, and you are ALL wrong! Period!!!

-- Dieter (questions@toask.com), February 16, 1999.

That was fun bardou, thanks for sharing. Amazable, huh?

Chris, LOL ... "born with a shade but no light bulb."

Dieter, Got Light?

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 16, 1999.

Speaking as a Christian, I have to say this: I'm just a teeny bit tired of being judged by aforesaid "pagans" :>) based solely on the behavior of certain INDIVIDUALS.

Every person is different--every Christian is different. Some are very strange and have not had an original thought in years--and some are logical, intelligent people. (I believe this applies to people in this forum, as well. :>) ) I base my faith on historical fact and intellectual study--as well as on empirical evidence--and I am far from being "brainwashed". That is a very negative label and I certainly wouldn't attach it to *anyone* with a sincere faith.

I don't believe that Y2k is synonymous with the return of Jesus, and I personally don't know ONE Christian who does. The world is changing around us in frightening ways, but the "hype" this pastor is preaching is silly and has no basis in Biblical theology. I ought to know--I'm a theologian.

As to this poor "sheeple"--my heart goes out to him and to his family and friends--because "sheeple" are PEOPLE like you and me and OUR families. I'm sad to think he may suffer terribly because of misinformation and ignorance.

-- Scarlett (ohara@tara.net), February 16, 1999.

Not all pastors are theologians, most of them just shear the sheep, cha ching, cha ching $$$$$$.

-- nowool (nowool@nowool.com), February 17, 1999.

I think you all are coming down too hard on the pastor. Who knows? The pastor may have just preached an excellent sermon on y2k preparedness. Then the clerk may have talked to someone else after church and got mixed up. Obviously the clerk was not too "bright," but it's not necessarily the pastor's fault.

-- xyzzz (xyzzz@xyz.xyz), February 17, 1999.