Sad. That is my emotion after seeing this video. It is sad on so many levels. The laughter and comments of the clip’s commentators are as disturbing as the video. McDonalds now has a policy that anything goes. It is yet another cultural indicator that we are nearing a tribulation period that will occur before the return of our glorious Savior. How it will all play out is something that no one can say with certainty. No man knows the hour.
The recent event in Israel is another indicator. One death started World War I. The kindling beneath the current, unique, flammable situation is in place. Only the right spark is needed. Is the spark the flotilla event? I don’t know. If it isn’t, it certainly appears that the stage is set. All that remains: a spark and the opening of the curtains.
If you are not a Bible student, it is time to become one. If you haven’t trusted in Jesus, now is the time. If you do, you will be in the minority. A recent Barna poll seems accurate. Data collected indicates that 16% still believe the entire Bible as the guide post. Sixty-two percent pick and choose what they want. They decide which part of the Bible is correct. They decide which commandments are good and which ones aren’t. They trust in themselves, not the Word of God.
The poll was taken within the “Christian community” in America.
If you don’t think we are experiencing attitudes similar to ones in the days of Noah, watch this video:
Chris Reimers
Wings of the Wind 
I wonder why you opened this piece with a picture of a large bag of kindling. Are you wanting people to burn down McDonalds because you don’t like their add, in France? Eschatology can be really fascinating I was into it in the 80s and lots of stuff seemed to be falling into place. People would have scoffed we’re still here in 2010. I started having my doubts when i read the literature of the 70s, 60s, 50s, 40s, 30s, turn of the century, throughout periods in the 19th century, the 16th century, the turn of the millenium, the fall of Rome, the destruction of the temple. Every generation since Jesus has thought they were the last generation. The only thing i know about the return of Jesus is he won’t be coming how the religious establishment thinks he is. More like a thief in the night.
Dear Multi,
I don’t understand how you could come to the conclusion, by my article, that I in any way endorsed arson. You make this confusing conclusion and then proceed to the real issue. Your procession to the heart of the article makes your opening assumption even more baffling.
I’ll be the first to admit that no man understands all of the apocalyptic writings of scripture. Anyone who thinks they know it all lacks credibility.
I also agree with you that others have seen signs in their times and made incorrect conclusions. I remember the early 80s, too. I remember the amount of discussion on the subject then.
Did you miss these words in my short article?
“It is yet another cultural indicator that we are nearing a tribulation period that will occur before the return of our glorious Savior. How it will all play out is something that no one can say with certainty. No man knows the hour.”
Anytime one discusses this subject, it is important to keep these words in the mix and I did.
Or how about these words; did you miss them too?
“The kindling beneath the current, unique, flammable situation is in place. Only the right spark is needed.”
I don’t know how you can read this short article and not understand the reason for the bag of kindling.
The McDonalds ad is an indicator that we are in days like those that Noah experienced. The acceptance of ungodly lifestyles, in cultures that once were influenced against them by God’s Word, has become prevalent. My opinion is that we are very close to the beginning of the tribulation period and that the right spark onto the kindling will set it in motion. I think I make this clear in the piece.
After re-reading the piece, I don’t think it was my best effort. However, I don’t see how anyone can come to the conclusion that you did.
Interestingly, a few days after I wrote this article, I read others that made the same point. Since then, the religious Rabbis have made comments relating to apocalyptic events. Please see the article with pictures of Rabbis at the top that I put up yesterday (June 10).
I will always admit that just because someone views things like I do doesn’t make me (us) correct.
Your studies of the different eras, and the opinions held then, reflect egocentric thinking. There is no question that we are all guilty of this at times and we need to be mindful of the fact. At the same time, most agree that Israel had to be back in the land of the covenant before the seven year tribulation. Almost all agree on these two items: a return to the land, and a seven year tribulation. If a return to the covenant land was necessary, we know that Jesus couldn’t have come until recently.
You write:
“The only thing I know about the return of Jesus is he won’t be coming how the religious establishment thinks he is. More like a thief in the night.”
I agree with both of these assessments. I would admonish you to continue studying, however, if these are the only two conclusions that you have made.
God’s blessings,
Chris Reimers
thanks Chris, I apologize for misconstruing your bag of kindling, as you point out the symbolism is obvious and wordpress wants us all to be visual. I agree that narcissism has driven a lot of eschatology through the ages. There may even be some value in thinking that we are in the end of days. Makes us appreciate each day and live it like our last. But with the advent of our taking the means of the planet’s destruction out of the hands of the Almighty, eschatology can be very dangerous. In a nuclear world I am cautious of endorsing a belief system individuals can use to justify acts that push the world closer to Armageddon. Paul lays out pretty clearly the superiority of love to prophecy and i embrace the study of love and compassion and the sharing of those things to the least of us rather than pouring over a lot of really complex stuff to explain current events to reach a conclusion that Jesus said we could never have. It seems like splitting hairs to say no one can know the hour but lets spend a lot of time identifying the time frame. what are you gonna do anyways? In 20 years track me down and apologize for needlessly scaring people in a difficult time. If the tribulation hits before then you’ll be the first to hear from me that I was wrong. Keep on the search my brother for the Lord is indeed good.
Dear Multi,
As Ronald Reagan used to say, “There you go again.”
You have pulled the dagger out of me and now you are wielding the battle-axe. You are sorry that you thought I might be promoting arson, but now you are concerned that I am playing God.
Since playing God is the highest offense, you are nearing the highest slander.
If I thought I was “taking the means of the planet’s destruction out of the hands of the Almighty,” I would destroy the computer on which I’m typing this.
Have you seen a date anywhere on anything I have written? Have I placed the date September 1, 2011 somewhere? Am I copying those who are saying that the end is in 2012? If I have, please show me where I’ve done that and it will be erased.
I use the words, “seems,” “may,” “perhaps,””soon,” etc. when writing of “last days” possibilities. You have not given me one of those huge words in the accusation that I am acting as God.
I have forgiven you as you have asked on the arson charge and there is reconciliation. I have forgiven you for the second and much higher accusation. There is no excuse for this behavior, however.
I have admitted that I am surprised that certain prophetic events haven’t happened sooner. I’m surprised, but glad. I’m surprised because things are getting pretty rough. I’m glad He tarries because it creates opportunity. I’m not questioning God’s timetable. His ways are infinitely higher than my ways. One thing that I probably haven’t made as clear as I should is that I don’t know the details, the items where folks “split hairs” as you say.
If you choose to ignore a huge portion of the scriptures, that is your business. God has given you free will.
I am only being obedient to the words of Jesus. “Be on the alert,” He said in Matthew 25:13. It is interesting that he tells us that no one knows the hour in the same verse. “No man knows the hour” are the exact words that I write in the post on which you have commented.”
If Jesus didn’t want us to think about the second coming why did He go to the trouble to describe the “signs of the times” in Matthew 24? The theme continues in Matthew 25. If he didn’t want us to know there was a tribulation, why does he describe one in Matthew 24:21?
“Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.” (Matt. 24:42) Did you notice this is not the same verse as the one above? Why would Jesus say it twice in the same “sermon” if it wasn’t important?
I could go on and on with the Bible references.
You say that “eschatology can be very dangerous.” I would agree with that, particularly when people use the word of God to get something they want or to push their agenda.
Most things can be used for good or bad.
Have you chosen to discount the entire book of Revelation because you don’t understand it completely?
I choose to listen to it rather than you.
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy.” This is what Revelation 1:3 states.
I will continue to share my thoughts with people about this issue, because a large portion of scripture is devoted to it.
You say:
“In a nuclear world I am cautious of endorsing a belief system individuals can use to justify acts that push the world closer to Armageddon.”
My response to this is, “Huh?”
This statement makes me think that you don’t believe that the Bible is the Word of God. Most belief systems can be twisted to justify certain acts. Why are you picking on the things that the Bible teaches?
You then, strangely, use the words of Paul. My response is “Huh?” again.
Actually, you mention Paul’s name but you don’t quote any scripture. There is no scripture, of which I’m aware, that specifically shows “clearly the superiority of love to prophecy.” If there is, please respond and let me know which verse says that.
Yes, “the greatest of these is love,” (1Cor. 12:31) and we must learn to be a servant. How better to love and serve people than to point them to the scriptures by way of the future?
I am aware of this verse:
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27
It is interesting that in one of the best known verses where Jesus talks about the poor (Matt. 25:36), he has just spoken about the “days of Noah,” (24:36) which is one of the signs for which we look.
You say:
“and I embrace the study of love and compassion and the sharing of those things to the least of us rather than pouring over a lot of really complex stuff.”
First, there is no question that we are to help those who can’t help themselves.
Second, there is nothing complex about the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 and 25. If you choose to skip the easy to understand references to Christ’s second coming you’ll be missing quite a treat and quite an amount. You have the free will to do that if you wish, however.
Third, I will not question your love and compassion for people. My experience, however, is that folks who speak to others about helping the poor and widows do only that… talk. The majority of them do little.
You say,
“In 20 years track me down and apologize for needlessly scaring people in a difficult time.”
First, emails about my blog go out to approximately 140 people. Most of those folks know me or have met me. Only two have asked me, since I started putting my writing in cyberspace, to remove them from my email list. There is no question that some of them do not think the way I do on this subject. Since over 98% have not asked me to remove them from the list, those who don’t agree with me on this topic tolerate it because occasionally they see something they like. There is no question that I’ve had more posts on this subject lately. If I didn’t think current events warranted them, I wouldn’t bother.
Second, there is no effort to scare here. For the Christian, there is no fear of the future.
Third, there is a power switch that comes with every computer. It is easily turned off, or a simple click can take to another item for consideration.
Your final words show that you are much more tolerant than I. If I thought someone was playing God, it would be hard to call him “brother.”
And I must add this. If I am “taking the means of the planet’s destruction out of the hands of the Almighty,” there are many others doing the same. The large percentages of folks who follow the words of Jesus and are “on alert” are Christians.
Finally, if the tribulation starts within the next 50 or even 100 years, the kindling is dry in God’s timing. A day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day.
God’s blessings,
Chris Reimers
Hey Chris I’m sorry I meant no slander. I was no more tarring you with the brush of “taking the means of the planet’s destruction” any more on you than I am on myself. I was referring to man collectively for the development of nuclear weapons and the like not at you for studying the word and sharing your thoughts on it. I in no way meant you personally with what you were doing. I enjoyed reading your blog even if i don’t agree with it and I certainly respect your right to put it up. there’s a spot for comments, I make mine, that’s how it all works. Its a dialogue. Please delete my comments if they cause you distress, i meant no disrespect and certainly didn’t mean to imply you were playing god, though i think we all do collectively when we play with the power of life and death of it all, which should be reserved for god alone. “And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing.” I work full time doing integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment, many homeless, many ex-offenders, and many victims of abuse. No one likes a hypocrite but i hear you on the widows and orphans talk. Your 100 years comment seem disingenuous. do you believe these recent events actually herald the end or don’t you? If you do and your right kudos. If you don’t and your just saying this stuff what’s up with that? If you believe it and promote it and it doesn’t turn out to be true than i think its fair to ask you to admit you were wrong. If you really believe recent events portend the end of the world in the next 100 years please make that your headline. Let me end with a story. During gym class in the eighth grade there was a commotion outside and i went out and the sky was dark, like it was night, though it was afternoon. I was frightened and my first thought was the clouds were going to open to return of jesus. it was just a storm. i had a sunday school teacher who did the 80s version of what you’re doing. whats more frightening now is the intersection between christian eschatologists and right wing israeli movement who could push some self fulfilling prophecy by a terrorist act on the temple mount. and no chris i am not accusing you of being a terrorist or supporting terrorism. i’m sure you’re a fine fellow.
Dear John,
You quote a scripture from the Bible but do you believe in the Bible as God’s truth?
You write:
“Please delete my comments if they cause you distress, i meant no disrespect and certainly didn’t mean to imply you were playing god, though i think we all do collectively when we play with the power of life and death of it all, which should be reserved for god alone. ‘And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.’”
The tone of your posts has become friendlier, but you seem not to be a Christian. The posts cause me no distress. They are typical of discussions that take place in every corner today. I am used to it.
It should be obvious to you by now that the only power over life and death that I exercise is what I know from the Bible. If I influence anyone in any way, my intention is to build them up in the Lord. Jesus said, “I have come that they have life…abundantly.”
If anyone constructs what I write in any other way, they are mistaken. The only thing I wish to do is to point people to God’s word, not mine.
You have quoted a good scripture. Do you believe in the rest of the book? Do you believe that Jesus is your Savior? Do you believe that He is the only one who can save your soul?
You say,
“Your 100 years comment seem disingenuous. do you believe these recent events actually herald the end or don’t you? If you do and your right kudos. If you don’t and your just saying this stuff what’s up with that? If you believe it and promote it and it doesn’t turn out to be true than i think its fair to ask you to admit you were wrong. If you really believe recent events portend the end of the world in the next 100 years please make that your headline.”
I think you have a good question here. The article you read is about a McDonalds ad that is running in France. I think the ad is an indicator that we are in the last days. Thus, the title of the article, “AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH.” It took Noah many years to build the Ark. The people were disobedient during the building of the great ship. Noah didn’t know when it was going to rain, he just did his job.
I know it’s going to rain. I’m just doing my job. I would never compare myself to that great man of God, but there is one similarity. I don’t know when it is going to “rain” and I don’t know where I will land. The Bible says, however, to “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all of you ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.”
After your comment, I will probably go back and insert something about Noah in my post. The title has his name, and information about him in the article is lacking.
My comment wasn’t meant to be disingenuous. I probably should include the same information (the years that I mentioned to you) in the post also.
My comment to you was the truth as I understand it. I cannot put a time on His return. One hundred years are very short in God’s eyes. Our life span is vaporous (Ecclesiastes): very short.
Over the last decade, with the 9/11 event and all that came with it, I still didn’t think Jesus was coming in my lifetime….until very recently. The occultic influences that are becoming increasingly obvious and the apostasy in the churches have changed my mind.
This opinion, of course, is based on a normal life span. That would be another 20 years or so for me. I think I am seven or so years older than you. Didn’t your blog say that you were born in 1965?
I’ll admit that this opinion is not set in concrete. I still go back and forth on the matter. My opinion is firming, however.
The events that are taking place today in such rapid succession make me believe we are living in the days that Jesus talked about in Matthew 24. Godlessness and disobedience are rampant. “As it was in the days of Noah,” Jesus said. Thus, the headline.
There is no question that I may be wrong about it happening during my lifetime.
I am of the opinion that things are going to worsen. That sounds very negative, but I must let you know that I look on life positively. I just can’t hide my head in the sand on this matter, however. The world is morally and spiritually bankrupt. The McDonalds ad is just another indicator of this truth.
I hope I am wrong. I hope when I die that I am able to say that a repentance has taken place. I hope when I die, my children will live in a safe world. I will be so happy to admit that I was wrong if this turns out to be the case.
You say,
“During gym class in the eighth grade there was a commotion outside and i went out and the sky was dark, like it was night, though it was afternoon. I was frightened and my first thought was the clouds were going to open to return of jesus. it was just a storm. i had a sunday school teacher who did the 80s version of what you’re doing. whats more frightening now is the intersection between christian eschatologists and right wing israeli movement who could push some self fulfilling prophecy by a terrorist act on the temple mount. and no chris i am not accusing you of being a terrorist or supporting terrorism. i’m sure you’re a fine fellow.”
I understand your concern here. I have spent a great deal of time with eighth graders. I know what not to say to them.
No eighth grader, that I’m aware of, reads this blog. There is one high school student and one college student on the email list.
If I was teaching an 8th grade Sunday School lesson today, I would focus on the basics. Few of today’s children know the basics. This is another indicator of the shape in which we find our nation and our world. When children have asked me questions about the second coming of Jesus, I have answered them. The intent has always to encourage, not to frighten. I can be more frank about my opinions with adults. My answer to kids has been “No man knows the hour but we must be ready.” If I were asked today, I would read Matthew 24 and 25 with them.
As to your concern about terrorism, I think it is misguided. God’s timetable is set. I have no idea exactly how or when it will all play out, but I do believe that God knows. He knows when Jesus will return and He knows the details. The building of the third temple will happen in God’s timing.
As to me being a fine fellow, I don’t know about that. I am glad that you understand now, however, that I would never advocate arson and that I would certainly never think that I am God or desire to be a god. For heaven’s sake, that’s the trick that Satan used on Adam and Eve in the garden and look how things turned out.
God’s blessings,
Chris Reimers
Thanks for the thoughtful reply Chris I was suspecting we were off on the wrong foot and its rare to be able to back off from that and clarify where we are at. I enjoy dialoguing with people of all belief systems and trying to identify where we have common ground and where we have room for civil discussion and occasionally I kick around some point of contention. I think you’ve mistaken me for my brother john who was born in 65. i’m mike from 68. i believe in the possibility we are in the end times and i believe we can impact events. if noah’s peers weren’t so wicked there wouldn’t have been a flood. i pray the lord hold’s his hand so everyone can get in. i pray for peace in jerusalem (and elsewhere). i have a personal relationship with a loving god who made the universe. i honor the truth as best i see it and am a lifelong learner. i don’t like labels and don’t feel bound by them. good luck with the blog, its been nice chatting.
Mike,
I would have given you the last word except that I went back again and read my article. I see no reason to change it. I already have another post planned concerning the “days of Noah.” You may want to read that one also.
I did review another post, however, and made a few changes where I thought I was being too presumptuous.
Hi Mike.
It is June of 2023 and I just finished reading our discussion after making some corrections on the blog. I’m going back through everything to make corrections and fix broken links.
I know you will probably never see this but if anyone reads this conversation, I may seem a bit harsh at times here. I’m sorry about that. I particularly want to apologize for my response to your last comment. I saw that your blog is still up and was hoping that you would see this.
I was short in my last comment. I don’t think I was “listening” enough, particularly in that comment. You wrote:
“I have a personal relationship with a loving god who made the universe.”
A personal relationship is how Christians describe their experience and it is wonderful that you believe that God is loving and that He created the Universe. People who believe these things are getting harder to find in our day.
After reading this entire conversation, I think there were a few times that I assumed something that you may not have meant. Again, I’m sorry and I will try not to do that again.
So, I am treading very lightly when I quote you as saying:
“I don’t like labels and don’t feel bound by them.”
I don’t like labels either but I certainly don’t mind taking the name “Christian.”
A Christian is someone who believes that Jesus is their Savior and they trust in Him and the promises in His word. It is His Word alone that teaches the true Gospel message.
Again, I am treading lightly here because I may have been too harsh on you the first time around.
I asked if you believed that Jesus “is the only one who can save your soul?”
Maybe I should have assumed you were a Bible believer. You were certainly correct about Noah’s peers, a God who offers a personal relationship, and a loving creator.
I also appreciate how you ended with a very nice comment.
Like you, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
I also, like you, consider myself a lifelong learner who will never understand even close to everything. I will never understand the love of God but I understand it enough.
After the Noah’s peers comment you wrote:
“I pray the lord hold’s his hand so everyone can get in.”
I know you mentioned your brother but I don’t think you mean him here as you use the word everyone. I too wish everyone could get in to heaven, if that’s what you were referring to.
These verses are very straightforward:
1 Timothy 2:4-6
“…God our Savior, 4… wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”
Even though God would like for all men to be saved, it certainly isn’t going to happen as is mentioned many times in the Bible and many times by Jesus himself.
It is a mystery to me but it is what the Bible teaches and I believe it.
Even though I am a lifelong learner, I know there are some things that I will never understand unless someone can explain them to me clearly.
A Biblical mystery:
If God wants all to be saved, then why are some not going to be?
A simple Google search gives us this:
“Do Christians believe in free will or predestination?
“Some accept predestination, but most believe in free will. The whole idea of predestination is based on the belief that God is omnipotent and nothing can occur without His willing it. Some believe that God knows the future, but He does not predestine it.”
The best sermon I have ever heard on this mysterious subject was given by a great preacher named Charles H. Spurgeon, one of my all time favorite pastors. I like the sermon so much that it is noted at the top of my blog:
The Sermon is called “The Sum and Substance of all Theology” and can be found here if interested.
https://archive.spurgeon.org/sermons/sum&sub.php
So..God wants all to be saved and many won’t be. It is what the Bible teaches and I believe it.
Maybe God will clear this up for me someday.
Isaiah 55:8-9:
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
I trust God and His Word. There are certain things that I will not understand this side of heaven. Like you, Mike, I believe that I have a personal relationship with a loving God. He is a holy God.
I know I’ve gone on long enough. You will probably never see this but if you do, please say “Hi” and let me know how you are doing.
And give me some feedback on my comment if you have the time.
God’s blessings…
Hi Chris, nice to hear from you. The only part of this exchange I remembered was jumping on you wrongly with the kindling/arson conflation. I appreciate your kind note and thoughtful reflection on your tone, that’s rare and beautiful. I’ve changed a lot since this exchange and debate less on the internet and do more to help people in the real world. I manage a domestic violence and sexual assault service center now. I would note 12 years ago you were proposing the immanent end of times and we are still here muddling through. When we check in again in 12 years and we’re much the same it continues to make me wonder the value of eschatoligical thinking, beyond a memento mori thing, which the certainty of death does just fine. I’m envious of you editing your old blogs. I hope to do more posting and cleaning up my old stuff would be a dream. Thanks again for checking in and have a blessed day.
(Hi Mike. I have made this same comment in the next new thread. It was getting too narrow to read easily. You may want to go there to read this same comment with much less hassle. Thanks!)
Hi Mike. Twelve years since we had this “conversation?” Wow, it doesn’t seem like that long ago. I really appreciate you getting back to me and catching me up a bit. It sounds like you have a very interesting job. I’m sure that some days you feel like you have really helped someone in a bad situation. Then, there are other days that you probably find yourself saddened by the situations that you find yourself becoming acquainted with.
I can relate a bit. When we last “talked,” I was a client advocate at Changepoint Pregnancy Care and Parenting Center. I was there nearly five years from 2009 to 2013. Change Point is a non-profit Christian organization attempting to help young mothers who are pregnant and anticipating an upcoming birth among other things. I taught parenting and anger management classes there. We gave out free supplies (like diapers) to mothers or fathers who had young children. Both buildings I worked in were located in low income neighborhoods but we saw clients from all over the city and beyond.
Change point had a good relationship with the local courts which allowed us to teach a good portion of the anger management classes that the courts had required for a variety of reasons I met all kinds of people in all kinds of situations. We tried to help anyone who came through the door. Some benefitted from the services we offered and some just refused to learn. By the time I left there, Change Point had an ultra sound where pregnant women could see what was developing inside of themselves. It is a wonderful technology and some mothers who thought they might abort their child changed their mind after seeing the amazing pictures. When I was there free sonograms were offered one day a week. It was the only day we had a nurse available to help pregnant mothers.
I respect you for the work that you do. I enjoyed my time at Change Point even though we dealt with many sad situations. The parenting classes allowed us to use Bible verses to help put parenting into a Biblical perspective. The classes were generally simple but very good for the majority of our clientele.
I looked at the last post on your blog. The headline includes “Children’s Protection Services.” That is very interesting. I have been very critical of CPS services in the Nordic countries, England, and the U.S. to name a few. I became more interested in the subject when there were worldwide protests in 2016. Even though it was smaller than most, we had a protest in Hot Springs. The protest focused on one particular family in Norway that had all 5 of their children taken for no good reason whatsoever. The Worldwide protests put enough pressure on the Norwegian Child Welfare Services that all of the children were eventually returned. The family eventually moved out of Norway because they were concerned about more NCWS reprisals. Here is a video of the protest we had:
And this should give you a good idea of what happened as a mother in Norway asked me to cover the story of how her son was taken from her by the NCWS (Barnevernet):
The video is short but I do not expect you read anything close to the entire post I’ve shared with you. Unfortunately, things appear to be getting worse than better in the area of Child Welfare worldwide.
Thanks again for your reply. I didn’t expect it because it was a while ago but you did have an active blog and I thought you might see my comment. I’m glad you did.
I had never heard of the term momento mori. After looking it up, I found:
” ‘Memento mori’ can help you figure out which goals you want to focus on and what you want to do with your life in general. ‘Memento mori’ can prompt you to take action, and to avoid needlessly wasting the precious time that you have.”
If this is what you meant, I think it is a great attitude towards things like eschatology. Once a week, I listen to a former lawyer named John Haller who reads a great deal about current events and tries to look at how they MIGHT fit into the end days. He is quite knowledgeable, seems to be a voracious reader, and I think he has a generally good view of different views. I don’t agree with all he says (does anyone agree on everything with anyone?) and I respect that he might not agree with me. I’ve come to a place where I don’t think the second coming of Jesus will take place until after I’m gone. It could be after I’m long gone. And then again, it could be sooner. No one knows except for God and I’m happy to leave it right there. I don’t think I’ve done a post on it for some time. Maybe it’s time to put the pen to paper and share my thoughts. 🙂 Then again, it’s so much easier to post a video of John Haller and have online “discussions” about his content. Maybe I’ll do that one of these days.
Thank you for your kind words. It sounds like you are a very busy person but I almost always consider that a good thing.
God’s blessings…
Hi Mike. Twelve years since we had this “conversation?” Wow, it doesn’t seem like that long ago. I really appreciate you getting back to me and catching me up a bit. It sounds like you have a very interesting job. I’m sure that some days you feel like you have really helped someone in a bad situation. Then, there are other days that you probably find yourself saddened by the situations that you find yourself becoming acquainted with.
I can relate a bit. When we last “talked,” I was a client advocate at Changepoint Pregnancy Care and Parenting Center. I was there nearly five years from 2009 to 2013. Change Point is a non-profit Christian organization attempting to help young mothers who are pregnant and anticipating an upcoming birth among other things. I taught parenting and anger management classes there. We gave out free supplies (like diapers) to mothers or fathers who had young children. Both buildings I worked in were located in low income neighborhoods but we saw clients from all over the city and beyond.
Change point had a good relationship with the local courts which allowed us to teach a good portion of the anger management classes that the courts had required for a variety of reasons. I met all kinds of people in all kinds of situations. We tried to help anyone who came through the door. Some benefitted from the services we offered and some just refused to learn. By the time I left there, Change Point had an ultra sound machine where pregnant women could see what was developing inside of themselves. It is a wonderful technology and some mothers who thought they might abort their child changed their minds after seeing the amazing pictures. When I was there, free sonograms were offered one day a week. It was the only day we had a nurse available to help the mother and answer any questions she might have.
I respect you for the work that you do. I enjoyed my time at Change Point even though we dealt with many sad situations. The parenting classes allowed us to use Bible verses to help put parenting into a Biblical perspective. The classes were generally simple but very good for the majority of our clientele.
I looked at the last post on your blog. The headline includes “Children’s Protection Services.” That is very interesting. I have been very critical of CPS services in the Nordic countries, England, and the U.S. to name a few. I became more interested in the subject when there were worldwide protests in 2016. Even though it was smaller than most, we had a protest in Hot Springs. The protest focused on one particular family in Norway that had all 5 of their children taken for no good reason whatsoever. The Worldwide protests put enough pressure on the Norwegian Child Welfare Services that all of the children were eventually returned. The family eventually moved out of Norway because they were concerned about more NCWS reprisals. Here is a video of the protest we had:
And this should give you a good idea of what happened as a mother in Norway asked me to cover the story of how her son was taken from her by the NCWS (Barnevernet):
The video is short but I do not expect you read anything close to the entire post I’ve shared with you. Unfortunately, things appear to be getting worse than better in the area of Child Welfare worldwide.
Thanks again for your reply. I didn’t expect it because it was a while ago but you did have an active blog and I thought you might see my comment. I’m glad you did.
I had never heard of the term momento mori. After looking it up, I found:
” ‘Memento mori’ can help you figure out which goals you want to focus on and what you want to do with your life in general. ‘Memento mori’ can prompt you to take action, and to avoid needlessly wasting the precious time that you have.”
If this is what you meant, I think it is a great attitude towards things like eschatology. Once a week, I listen to a former lawyer named John Haller who reads a great deal about current events and tries to look at how they MIGHT fit into the end days. He is quite knowledgeable, seems to be a voracious reader, and I think he has a generally good view of different views. I don’t agree with all he says (does anyone agree on everything with anyone?) and I respect that he might not agree with me. I’ve come to a place where I don’t think the second coming of Jesus will take place until after I’m gone. It could be after I’m long gone. And then again, it could be sooner. No one knows except for God and I’m happy to leave it right there. I don’t think I’ve done a post on it for some time. Maybe it’s time to put the pen to paper and share my thoughts. 🙂 Then again, it’s so much easier to post a video of John Haller and have online “discussions” about his content. Maybe I’ll do that one of these days.
Thank you for your kind words. It sounds like you are a very busy person but I almost always consider that a good thing.
God’s blessings…
I worked in a family preservation program in the early 90’s and quickly learned even families with a lot of struggles and missing pieces were safer than then the foster care system. Your take on Memento Mori is exactly right. I’ve spelled it wrong in the past and it’s in my autocomplete wrong. I have been in helping professions a long time so I enjoy the successes but don’t get caught up in outcomes. If you do good processes outcomes take care of themselves. I spent close to 10 years as a substance abuse counselor and saw dozens of clients die. I learned a lot through that and it’s been a while since a bad outcome has gotten to me. Life can be a horror show and I’m aware of that and still choose to keep trying to nudge those around me to move towards having a life of greatness.
I have learned the same thing about the foster care system, Mike. There are cases, as you well know, where children need to be removed from the home, but my understanding is that most cases could be resolved with intervention. Sometimes the intervention could be simple and inexpensive. Most of my opinions line up well with the statements in a video called:
Rethinking foster care: Molly McGrath Tierney at TEDxBaltimore 2014
As you can see the video was made almost 10 years ago and the speaker has moved on to another job.
It is interesting that the speaker in the video has received unfavorable allegations that I have been unable to verify. See this link if you want more information:
https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2018/08/10/millions-misused-by-former-manager-at-baltimore-social-services-audit-alleges/
Whether the allegations are true or false, the speech is mostly well stated. Foster care can be a nightmare.
As far as intervention goes, some is good but some goes way too far. In fact, on this blog I have written posts and shared the opinions of others that the Norwegian Child Welfare Services is out of control. They have taken children for little to no reason at all.
The problem exists in America as well (It seems you are already aware of this) and in much of Europe including, Sweden, The U.K, Denmark among others.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with me.
I appreciate all you have done to help others. This blog is generally an effort to help others as well.
God’s blessings…