Blackhacker

About this time of year Christians of all persuasians are already rallying behind the battle cry "Keep Christ in Chistmas!!"

I don’t know what all the fuss is about.

As far as spiritual significance is concerned Christmas is a minor holiday. Yea I said it. Don’t get me wrong. I believe the whole Christmas story. Virgin with child… Augustus taxes world .. Star … No room in the inn, the whole nine. And while all of this is important the reasons they are important are not manifested for another 33 years after the events in Bethlehem.

Christmas is a REALLY big deal in the US. And though I am not very well traveled I get the sence it is a bigger deal here than ANY country in the world. There are probably a lot of reason for this but I will not get into a discussion about seclarism, and capitalism, consumptionism, and greed. Nor will I will not get into any contreversy as to why 12/25, or significance of decorating trees, or fat men in sleighs. All of that is not important. What is important is that Jesus Christ was born. And what is more important is that he died for the sins of the world. And what is important most of all is that He rose again from the dead. If it wasn’t for the last none of the other stuff would matter anyway.

A couple of weeks back I heard this on NPR. This guy has an interesting take on the keep "Christ in Christmas" theme. I am seriously considering adopting this mans attitude for the season. A few choice quotes:

1. I’ll trade a month of Christmases for one meaningful Easter.
2. Hypocracy is not saying one thing and doing another, but using God, and the things of God for some other end. Like say oh … making a buck.
3. He was not born to be the Patron Saint of fourth quarter earnings.

Lastly I am not a Grinch nor Scrooge. I do love Christmas and always will. And I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy and safe New Year.

And in the words of Tiny Tim "God bless us all everyone."

My wife found this at The Beeb

A US company has been given the green light to implant microchips in humans. It’s intended to provide medical information … but will it turn into a surveillance system?

The article talks about the applications for security, as well as use in emergency medical situations. It also talks about the privacy, concerns but I would like to talk look at this differently. Consider the following passage from the Book of Revalations in the Holy Bible.

Rev 13:16-18

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

The above passage is talking about a period in history that has yet to happen (a prophecy of thing to come), called the Great Tribulation Pay attention to the characteristics of the Mark of the Beast. "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark…" It will be illegal or just physically impossible to conduct any business transaction without "The Mark." In society with currency this is impossible. After all who is going to turn down cash? Even if it is against the law, as long as it is still legal tender? But … what if we where to do away with currency all together? What if you could walk into Wal-Mart with one of these chips implanted under your skin fill up a basket with stuff, and leave. the whole time you where tracked, similar RFID devices implanted in the products we buy would allow a computer to tract us through the store, monitor what we buy, and tally the price and deduct this amount from our bank accounts. No PINS, no check out, no cash, all seamless. And anyone who refused to get such device could not buy a thing. You might think, "Things will never get that bad. You must be smoking somethin’ "If so, just think how many of you had the option to actually receive an actual check at your job, not direct deposit. If you wanted to work you had to have a bank account. At my last job, if you had no account, they would set one up for you. I am not saying that direct deposit has anything to do with the Tribulation or the ends times but as an example how people can be compelled to do anything, if they need to live. This will include receiving the mark.

I am not try to scare anyone or preach to anyone but We (Christians) where instructed to watch and pray. I consider this post as the watch part of the mandate.