So while we’re on the subject of the world (not) ending today, I’m announcing my plan to hold a “The World Didn’t End Yesterday” party on December 22, 2012.  This party will be dedicated to all of the worshippers of the Mayan Codex out there.  You see, according to several latter day “prophets”, the Mayans predicted the end of the world (which will occur on December 21, 2012).  This, of course is based upon the fact that the Mayan calendar accurately records dates from the beginning of their civilization to December 21, 2012.  Then, it abruptly stops.  Thus, “obviously” the apocalypse will come on December 21, 2012.  Of course the Bible (which is rejected a priori) records that Jesus (whom they say, also a priori, can’t possibly God Incarnate, who of course, they’ve determined, again a priori, doesn’t exist) said no one, not even himself, pre-asscension, knows the day or hour of the Judgment.  But I suppose that we shouldn’t let details bother us.

Just to be clear, this present world will end, this will happen when Jesus Christ bodily returns in glory and Judgment.  This will happen at a time when no one expects, and it will be after the Tribulation.  There will be no secret Rapture of Christians.  Those Christians who are alive at that time will go through the turmoil of the Tribulation, but will not face the final Judgment.  Got that?  Anyone who sets a date for these events is lying, period.

Posted in: Uncategorized | Comments(2)

OK, so now it’s June 13.  I’m not surprised that some self-proclaimed “prophet” predicted a nuclear war for yesterday (see below), these nut-jobs pop up all the time.  What amazes me is that this crackpot had followers.  Why are people so stupid?  Look, no one can predict the end of the world.  Beyond that, this same guy predicted that the world would end on September 12, 2006.  Here’s the really amazing thing, TBN is full of people whose “prophecies” are no better than this guy, yet millions of people hang on their every word.  Wake up people!

Posted in: Uncategorized | Comments(2)

So, I just saw this on Fox News’ website, apparently there’s going to be a nuclear war tomorrow.  The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades!

Posted in: Uncategorized | Comments(0)

I haven’t posted anything in a while, so I thought I should.  It’s raining, my wife has me watching American Idol, and my dog is a spaz.  I had a great weekend, though.  I drove to Ohio to see an old friend of mine get married.  It was really great catching up with some great guys I haven’t seen in almost 10 years.  I should probably explain that.  You see, it all started way back in the last century (OK, it was only 10 years ago); Wow! I can’t believe it’s been 10 years.  Anyhow, in 1998, I was one of 43 interns on the Orlando Summer Project.  Since that time, we’ve had a listserv, and met up formally and informally a few times.  I can safely say that OSP 98 was a defining time in my life, and really helped to shape the person I am today.  Best of all, I had the privilege of getting to know 42 awesome brothers and sisters in Christ.

 In other news, I’m on Facebook now, as are a number of my fellow OSPers (if any of you are reading this, you guys rock, e-mail me).  I like Facebook, as I explore it more, I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts.

Posted in: Uncategorized | Comments(0)

Oh frabjouous day!  They finally got the heat fixed, I actually felt cool air in my office today.  Right now, I’m working on a sermon for tomorrow’s Chapel.  So far, it hasn’t started snowing, I’m praying that we can at least have school until Noon tomorrow (Chapel is at 11:00 a.m.).  I’ll probably post the text of my sermon sometime tomorrow.

Posted in: Uncategorized | Comments(0)

Hi folks, sorry the site was down for a couple of days.  I got busy and missed the renewal reminder, but all is well, and mcphitty.com is here to stay. (Thank you to my wife for letting me keep it). 

You know, I’ve really got to slow down.  Right now, I’m calculating grades for my night class that just finished, preparing a sermon for chapel next week, preparing for a talk tomorrow, and planning a trip to Ohio to attend an old friend’s wedding.  On top of that, either there’s something wrong with the heat in my office, or I’ve just been demoted to a lower circle in Hades.

Posted in: Uncategorized | Comments(1)

Well, I have to admit, I haven’t been doing a very good job of updating this blog.  Quite frankly, I’m usually too busy to even think about it.  When I stop moving, I just want to sleep.  Anyhow, that’s enough diversion, time to get back to the grind, my sixth class today starts in just over an hour (and runs for the next four plus).  I’m really tired.

Posted in: Uncategorized | Comments(3)

Well, it’s 2008, I don’t have a lot to say, but my New Year’s Resolution is to update my blog more often.  Here’s hoping 2008 brings blessings to everyone who reads this (both of you ).

Posted in: Uncategorized | Comments(0)

I ran across a story on CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/12/19/tuchman.i.35.to.heaven.cnn?iref=videosearch) the other day.  There is a church pastor in Dallas, TX who claims that she has had a “new revelation” from God that Interstate 35 was prophesied in the book of Isaiah, “And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it.  It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.” (Isaiah 35:8, ESV)  This woman has now started a movement in all six states through which I-35 passes.  People have started standing along side the highway praying forGod to “fulfill his prophesy of this highway”.  What is it that causes Christians to flock to such insanity?  Brothers and sisters, may I suggest that sometimes the world’s scorn and scoffing is deserved?  It is not holiness to bring shame on the name of Christ by running after ridiculous doctrines.  Folks, Isaiah 35 is a prophecy of the restoration of Israel, not a prophecy of the 21st Century American Interstate highway system.  Now, one could see in this verse more than just the literal fulfillment of Israel’s restoration that happened under Ezra and Nehemiah.  One could see in this a picture of God’s ultimate redemption of his people in Christ (the Way of Holiness then being a metaphor for the gospel).  This fits in with the context.  Anyone claiming to have “new revelation” ought to immediately raise red flags!  Unfortunately, this kind of nonsense and blasphemously irresponsible handling of the Word of God has become all too common in too many churches today.  It sickens me, I am even more disturbed that people are actually taking this seriously.  I think that the reporter who filed this story (Gary Tuchman) makes a very insightful observation at the end of the piece, Isaiah 40:3 also mentions a highway (it is the prophecy that was fulfilled by John the Baptist), so how come no one is gathering alongside I-40 to pray for it?  Can I suggest that the answer is that for once the Evangelical community was smart enough to look at the context of the passage, and to realize that according to the Gospels, it was fulfilled by John’s ministry?  Can I also suggest that maybe we ought to apply the same sort of logic to Isaiah 35?  If you want to stand by the side of the road and pray for revival, that’s great, more power to you, but do it because it is a general biblical principle that we ought to pray for the spiritual welfare of our nation, not because you’ve decided based on nothing that God foretold an American Interstate in the Old Testament.  America is not in the Bible, America is not Israel.  Americans are not God’s chosen people, and nowhere in Scripture does God promise to restore America.  I can’t believe that we have reached such a level of non-intellectualism that such a statement is even necessary.  There is more I could say, but that’s enough for now, I’m sure I’ve offended enough people for one post.  To those who are offended, I apologize, but really, stop looking for new revelations of truth, and learn to properly interpret the once-for-all revelation God has already given us in its entirety (of course I mean the Bible).

Posted in: Theological Musings | Comments(2)

I just finished reading the novel Postsingular by Rudy Rucker.  Incredible!  It is a mindbending cyber-headtrip.  I’m still processing it, but I have to say, it was a great read.  The writing is sensual, visceral, and worldly, and while the worldview of the novel is significantly different from my own, I truly enjoyed the experience of reading it, and find much in it that is worth further consideration.  I’ll probably write more as it comes to me.  Oh, by the way, it’s available here (http://www.rudyrucker.com/postsingular/#postsingulardownload) under the Creative Comons License.

Posted in: Geekdom | Comments(0)