Saturday, February 27, 2010

Dear Dad

It's been too long since we talked face to face, almost 19 years. I know you're not keeping time but I'm still stuck in it. I am really missing you right now. Things are absolutely crazy here right now. So much family stuff but Twice this morning I have been reminded by older believers (Dee's Mom and your sister...yea we talk all the time, she is a blast for an old gal, still laughing about everything)...any way there was a 8.8 earthquake this AM in Chile (Top 5 in last 110 years) they reminded me that earthquakes are one of the signs of the times for the return of Jesus. That reminded me of one of your favorite parting tag line I must have heard you say a thousand times when you left someone: Here, There or in the Air! It is true: Luke 21:11 "There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven". Jesus does tell us we cannot know the time or date but we should be able to note the season with clarity. To be honest, when grandpa died in 82, grandma in 84 mom in 85 and when you left in 91 I was devastated that you all didn't make it to the rapture. We were so sure. Now I just don't know. It's 2010 already and I never expected to get this far! At 60 I have seen this scenario before so it does not move me much except for the fact that I really miss you all right now. What is really crazy is this. What I never have seen before is the immediate spread of information between individuals via twitter and facebook. (Ask some newbie what that is. Elsie probably knows. Ray is big into it, it would take to long to explain) As I write this I am listening to CNN live on my computer headphones. I can switch to the live stream video any time. I also have an open bible, several documents and sermon notes open that I can switch between or split the screen and see them all at once on my screen. I am watching the Olympics from Canada live on my 42" HD flat screen TV too. (I know that sounds big but it is actually small for a flat screen) My cell phone sits at my side waiting for anyone to call, tweet, email, text or blackberry me with a message, picture or video that they took munites ago. It also has over 100 hours of pod casts (think your entire music collection on something smaller than your fingernail!, a GPS for anywhere in the world that knows where I am and will tell me how to get to anywhere I want to go or even suggest the closest gas station, restruant and tell me what is playing at the closest theater. I can also take master card for my business on my phone, pay bills, transfer money from savings to checking and about 80k other things all on my phone! (your sister loves her cell because she can call anyone long distance for FREE) I am waiting for the tsunami to hit Hawaii in about an hour and getting updates constantly. I will see it as it happens from cameras, phones and web cams already in position. CNN is broadcasting the addresses of private web sites that are focused on different bays in the danger zones. I am listening right now to 3 Chilean Olympic athletes in Canada telling of their plans to bet back to Canada...and I have not left my chair! AMAZING! Right now a lady in Hawaii on the beach is talking to CNN telling of the impending wave. Everyone everywhere is watching everything all the time! What is new is the private social sights are SUPPLYING CNN! There is so much more but what makes all this technology interesting to me in light of prophecy is all the speculations and explanations we have heard about the possibility of this prophecy:

REV 11:1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

REV 11:7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

50 years ago as a kid the explanation of this event was a tape feed from the new thing called TV. 40 years ago it was a faster Feed via CNN...remember the nightly reports on the Viet Nam war? Then it was live satellite via TV. 5 years ago it was the web. Now every corner of the earth can watch it from their CELL PHONE real time. Speculation of how it will happen is over. WE NOW EXPECT TO SEE EVERYTHING AS IT HAPPENS AND NEARLY EVERYONE CARRIES THE CAPABILITY TO BROADCAST TO THE WORLD RIGHT ON THEIR CELL PHONE VIA THE WEB! It is happening right now in Chile with no power available to homes but the cells are still working. I have no Idea how to explain twitter and tweets, but it works. Who saw that coming 2,000 years ago when John penned these words!

So ok, I guess I am starting to get a little excited again. Just can't help it. See you soon? I guess Here is out of the question now, but we still have There and in the AIR! Your sister insists it will be in the air! OK with me.

Love, Don

REV 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.




4 comments:

Ray and Janell said...

now i am motivated to write a letter to my dad. thanks for the inspiration.

Aimee said...

I can't even tell you how cool it was to read that dad. I'm tearing up!

Doni Brinkman said...

Tears just thinking of you writing a letter to Grandpa. I miss him so much.

jolleyzoo said...

This is precious.