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World serves its own needs listen to your heart bleed.
Tell me with the rapture and reverent and the right.
Right you vitriolic, patriotic, slam, fight, bright light.
Feeling pretty psyched.
It’s the end of the world as we know it.
It’s the end of the world as we know it.
It’s the end of the world as we know it,
And I feel fine. (REM, 1998)

You ready for the end of the world?

Later this month we get another movie about global apocalypse.  This time it isn’t space aliens or global warming that causes killer freezing (huh?) or Godzilla.  It’s the doomsday fulfillment of the ancient Mayan calender.   Personally,  I use the one on Microsoft Office, so I’m fine.

Director Roland Emmerich gives us what promises to be a fun movie to watch.  It might even get some folks to think about eternal things.  Hmmm – I feel a sermon series coming near the end of 2011 on “How to Survive the End of the World.”

Here’s one interesting tidbit:  In the movie, some significant Christian statues and locations are conspicuously demolished, but NOT Mecca. Why not?  The director was scared of Muslim reprisal.  He didn’t want to become the latest Salmon Rushdie marked for death with a “fatwah.”  Think I’m exaggerating?  Click HERE.

Before you get all pissy with -  “Once again its fine to bash Christians but not Muslims,” here’s a thought: Thank God. Thank God that our faith is deeper than symbols and statues.  Thank God that we Christians are being viewed as tolerant and non-violent.  Thank God a major movie-maker is (unintentionally, I’m sure) providing an answer to: “What’s the difference?  What does it matter what the name of your God is?”  Aren’t ‘God’ and ‘Allah’ the same?”

The director knows the difference. Christians seek to win people with love and not coercion.   We value women, encourage individual decision-making, and don’t threaten infidels with the edge of a sword.   We’ve been getting bashed and mistreated for centuries, but Jesus has made good on His promise to build His church – no matter what.

Oh, and one more thing: We happen to have the only Book that accurately predicts the end of the world.  And it includes clear instructions for how to survive it.  If you aren’t clear on that, I’d LOVE to chat with you about it.