Dick,
Well, we managed to sail right past each other, two ships in the night. I am not looking for a collision or confrontation, but merely a dialog.
True, I am attempting to remove the mask of journalist, simple or otherwise. In this postmodern world, journalism is the profession that is in greatest jeopardy, and rightly so in my estimation. There is no such thing as a quantum journalist. No one is just an observer, any more.
Welcome then to the club of participation. I wish only to point out that you are lacking that essential postmodern credential of a home page. If you had one, I might have a better idea of where you are coming from and to where you might wish to go. Then there could be a dialog, of sorts. I proceed, nonetheless.
Along with the mask of journalism comes the mask of cynicism. I know what are your fears and some of your doubts, but I don't know your hopes. I take it that you are a fairly orthodox, though non-evangelical Christian. You believe that the world and the heavens are full of potential anti-Christs. The world is a dangerous place and getting more so on a daily basis. You are a mostly spiritual survivalist, with a touch of the Paul Revere syndrome, 3 lights in your tower if they come from the sky.
The primary distinguishing belief that you share with so many humans, regardless of any other beliefs, is that you are a 'post-tribber.' There has to be a silver lining somewhere, but only far beyond this earthly storm. Yes, we are not ready to be saved, and it is difficult to imagine the tribulation that might prepare us for salvation.
What almost every Christian fails to want to understand is that all we are saved, regardless of whether we want it or even know it. It is only a question of the timing for the final realization. All of our humanly efforts to create a purifying holocaust for our fellow humans have been preordained to fail. Some people are bound to be disappointed with that news.
My ultimate 'direct action' is to be the Messiah, or Second Coming. My first approach to being this is intellectual, but what comes after the intellect is then less determinate. Usually I am quick to admit that my 'divine' appointment could only come after the 'fact,' whatever that unknown fact might be. This is the non-wallflower approach to election. God would like to dance with humanity, but it does take two to tango. Abduction is usually frowned upon at the Senior Prom. Someone of us has to break the ice and be bold about it. When I speak of participation, this is the ultimate. Anything less than this is tainted with pusillanimity.
My suggestion is that you and I throw dice for the salvation of the human race. Which would you be most afraid of? Winning or losing? This 'crap game' is simply a dialog concerning the fate of humanity. This is not intended to be an offer that you can easily refuse. You have been asking for it, in my estimation. This is also your little contribution to keeping me off the grass at 1600 PA.
Dan
rev. 5/19/97