Category Archives: current events

by Anthony Baker | December 19, 2012 · 10:57 am

The End Will Come – Eventually

The Prediction

I will not be the only one writing about December 21, the day the world is supposed to come to an end, but I have to do my job (if you call writing a blog that earns no income a job). Just this past Sunday a lady pulled me aside after church and questioned me about the Mayan calendar. She said, “I am not afraid to die, but I am afraid for my grandsons. What do you think will happen?”

Well, according to a lot of people who know how to read the writings of a people that could not predict the end of their own civilization, the world is going to come to a cataclysmic end on Friday, December 21. According to the Mayan wheel calendar 12/21/12 will be the end of time (because time ends when one runs out of space to chisel it into rock). Therefore, people around the modern world are running around all crazy planning to die in some horrible, earth-shattering way.

But just in case the world doesn’t end on December 21, 2012, you’re invited to some anniversary celebrations planned for December 22.

You’re Invited!

You’re probably scratching your aluminum foil-capped head and asking, “What will there be to celebrate on December 22?” Are you kidding me? Several parties are planned to celebrate some significant firsts. If the neighborhood is still here, why not join me?

Corvette Day – Did you know that on December 22, 1952, the first production-ready prototype of the 1953 Chevy Corvette was shipped to New York for the GM Motorama show on January 17? Yes, December 22 will be a day of celebration in honor of the famous fiberglass-bodied icon, and plenty of cotton (glass fiber) candy will be served.

Taylor Swift Day – On December 22, 2007, Taylor Swift’s “Our Song” went to #1. This unleashed a swift river of hits to flood the market, forcing everyone to admit that wearing a dress is cool (literally and figuratively). In celebration of this chart-topping day I will be wearing a sun dress, blond wig, and singing “Never, ever, ever getting back together!” to a picture of an ex-girlfriend.

“Dirty” Harry Day – Who would want the world to end before celebrating the beginning of one of the most influential crime-fighters in cinema history, Dirty Harry? On 12/22/71 San Francisco Police Department Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan showed us how to go after bad guys with “the most powerful handgun in the world.” In celebration of the release of this movie I will be waving a frozen hot dog bun in the face of my daughter the martial arts expert and saying, “Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya?”

Imminent End

It is highly unlikely that the world will end on December 22, but the world will most certainly come to an end for approximately 150,000 people. According to statistics, that is the number of people that die every day.

If the world doesn’t come to an end this week, or next, what guarantee do you and I have that we will be here to see next year? It is much more likely that you and I will die in a car accident than the world will end any time soon.

Whether it be sooner or later, death is imminent, and we don’t need a carved wheel to tell us that. The Psalmist said, “What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?” (Ps. 89:48)

The real question is not “when will the world end,” but “am I ready for MY world to end?”

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” – Hebrews 9:27-28 NIV

If the world does end, then somebody else get the lights – I’ve got a Heavenly party to attend.

4 Comments

Filed under current events, Future, the future, Uncategorized

Tagged as Chevrolet Corvette, December 21 2012, Dirty Harry, Friday, Harry Callahan, Maya calendar, New York, Taylor Swift

by Anthony Baker | November 20, 2012 · 6:00 am

Legalism and Responsibility in the Light of a Tragedy

Legalism Revisited

Legalism is more than a list of do’s and don’ts. It’s a way of thinking.

Legalism assumes that rules and regulations – laws – can make all the difference in the world, alleviating the fear of what happens when people are accountable for themselves. It is commonly assumed that with more laws in place people will get into less trouble. The problem is that even if a man had a rule and regulation for every area of life, he would still be responsible for his own actions.

Therefore, when someone acts responsibly in an atmosphere of loose regulation, he not only shows maturity and wisdom, but lives can be saved. Sadly, legalism and a lack of personal responsibility are at the heart of today’s story.

A Horrible Tragedy

On October 17 a tragedy took place. It was the kind of tragedy that should pull at the heart strings of every human being. An Egyptian school bus carrying approximately 60 children was hit by a train. Most of the children, ages 4-8, and two adults were killed instantly.

News reports seem to have place the blame on many people, ranging from the sleeping crossing guard to the head of the railway. News agencies from around the world keep mentioning how poor the safety records are in Egypt, each pointing out the need for more laws and greater reform.

But what saddens me is that not one news story that I have read held the bus driver responsible. In my opinion, that is where the real responsibility lay.

Speaking from Experience

As a professional school bus driver I can testify that America has plenty of laws in place regarding school bus safety, especially regarding railway crossings. But no amount of laws can make a driver stop at every railroad crossing, look in both directions at least twice, and open both doors and windows to listen for any sound of an approaching train. Even with all the laws that are in place, there are still accidents. It is always, always the responsibility of the driver to watch for danger.

Even if everyone in the country of Egypt had neglected their duties, the driver of the doomed school bus should have never crossed those tracks, whether there were working signals, or not. Flashing lights and crossing arms fail. The bus driver should have never crossed a track without being positive a train was not approaching.

It is possible that the driver saw the train and assumed that it was a safe distance away. It is possible that, when he saw no crossing arms down, he assumed the train was going slowly, if not stopped. The laws may have permitted the driver to cross the tracks if he thought the train was a safe distance away. The problem is that the speed of an approaching train is nearly impossible to determine. If he saw the train, he should have never crossed the tracks.

A Better Law

In my opinion, the buck stops with the driver. He (or she) was the one ultimately responsible for the safety of his priceless cargo. He made the decision to unwisely cross the track, despite any law that may or may not have been in place, and he paid the price.

Legalism sets up laws for us to follow. It does it’s best to guard us against every foreseeable circumstance. But no law can replace responsibility. No law can guide us better than a pure conscience. No written law, however well-intentioned, can replace the law of God written on the heart transformed by the Spirit (Ps. 40:8; Jer. 31:33; Rom. 8:3-5).

At least 47 children killed in Egypt school bus tragedy: officials (dawn.com)
Egypt: Train hits school bus; 47 children killed (usatoday.com)
Egypt minister quits after 49 die in bus tragedy (capitalfm.co.ke)
Train ploughs into school bus in Egypt, 50 killed – Reuters UK (uk.reuters.com)

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Filed under Christian Maturity, current events, legalism, Uncategorized

Tagged as Egypt, Law, Legalism, Level crossing, Manfalut, School bus

by Anthony Baker | November 12, 2012 · 11:23 pm

Oh No, Elmo!

Breaking Newsmo

Today it was announced that the man who gives Elmo life has been accused of having sexual relations with a 16-year-old boy. In light of these accusations Kevin Clash has taken a leave of absence to work on his defense (you can read the TMZ article here). Mr. Clash does not deny having sex with the boy; he just denies that the boy was underage when the relationship took place.

Considering what happened to the Pee-wee Herman character created and performed by Paul Reubens, what will be the future of Elmo? Sesame Street Workshop told TMZ that “Elmo is bigger than any one person and will continue to be an integral part of Sesame Street to engage, educate and inspire children around the world.” Really?

Never Be the Samemo

Until this news story came out, it is probable that few people ever heard of Kevin Clash. Certainly most of the children of the world never associate a human being with what goes on inside of that red, polyester fur. Nevertheless, even if Elmo the puppet continues to work on Sesame Street without Clash, some things will never be the same.

The Voice. Who will replace the voice of Elmo should Kevin Clash don an orange jumpsuit? Will Elmo sound the same? They could bring in a replacement actor for a little while, I suppose; just long enough for Mr. Clash to get fitted for his monitoring device. If so, I have a few suggestions…

How about Jeff Dunham, creator of Achmed the Dead Terrorist? Could you imagine Elmo saying, “Today’s episode is brought to you by the letter ‘Q’….Quiet! …I KEEEL YOU!”

Or, James Earl Jones (Darth Vader) could do a guest appearance (voice only) in a scene where Elmo tells his gold fish, “Dorothy, I am your father.” One thing is for sure, hearing Jones’ laugh would not be as annoying as a Tickle Me Elmo doll that won’t turn off.

Joel Osteen would be the best choice. Dialated pupils…rosy complexion…happy voice. All that would be needed for a complete character makeover would be a perfect set of teeth (and a golden globe in ever episode of Elmo’s World).

The Toys. After this I will never be able to play with a Tickle Me Elmo, Scratch Me Elmo, or Dance in the Dark With Me Elmo doll ever again. Every time I here “Elmo loves you” I will feel compelled to wonder about his intentions.

On the other hand, maybe Sesame Street could turn this into a teaching opportunity? By next Christmas they could unveil a Track Me Elmo, complete with ankle bracelet and parole officer badge for the owner. With the free, downloadable smartphone app, every time the doll got too close to a daycare, school, or friend’s house the ankle bracelet would sent a message to the child’s phone. Cool idea, huh?

In Danger of Helmo

I certainly hope that Elmo’s skeleton is innocent of all charges. I also hope that the father and role model who fills the fuzzy embodiment of sweetness and childlike innocence will not cause any harm to his little fans. But if he is guilty, I would hate to be in his Elmo slippers.

Jesus said, “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble” (Luke 17:2 NASB). The end result of all this might not be too funny.

Seriously, pray for Kevin Clash. And pray for all involved in this sad story.

(Update, 11/15/12) Accuser retracts statement…

“He wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship,” the statement read. “He will have no further comment on the matter.”
Read more: (Click Here)