It's all over...even the crying

And so it ends...


Despite this overwhelming desire to waste my morning surfing, I've managed to resist reading the outtakes by other fans of the television show loved by so many...including me. I know there will be brilliant analysis over on Sussing Out Lost, and Lulaville is bound to share a post or two, but I wanted to share my untainted thoughts before taking in what everyone else has to say (okay, I have discussed it some with Mrs. Tony C and Heavy D, but we've got years of material here people).

First, I have to say I'm working hard to keep my Christian perspective somewhat in check and completely understanding that not everyone believes as I do. The show worked hard at being politically correct which ultimately is counter-productive because it ends up offending just about everyone rooted in a faith. The New Age nuance that drapes over the show has been both ambiguous and somewhat trite over the six seasons, but then again...that's part of the New Age philosophy by definition for some. I'll move on and promise to refrain from any Oprah Winfrey references...

I'm a big fan of any show/movie I choose to watch that holds me in suspense. Lost most certainly accomplished this for over 120 shows. Sitting on the couch with Mrs. Tony C at the conclusion of the pilot episode, I looked at her and said 'How in the world are they doing a series based on this?' I will answer my own question today...quite well, thank you.

There's no need to attempt a series recap, let's keep this post focused on the finale, which I believe was the best episode of the series. Let's be bold too and work backwards with the show's final scene of the Oceanic 815 plane wreckage littered across the beach. It took the very last scene to convince me...they are all dead and have been since the very first scene of the series.

I didn't want to buy into the theories the island was purgatory or some form of purgatory, but I have a hard time going any other direction now. The island was a place for our favorite flawed characters to right the ship before sailing into the light. Did they have a choice in the matter? I believe the presence of dichotomy - black and white, dark and light, good and evil, selfishness and selflessness -suggest they very much did have a choice, but Jack's profound monologue at the very series get-go, 'we either live together or die together,' suggest their fates were somehow intermingled. Jack's father, Christian, helps cement that fact when he stated last night 'nobody does it alone.'

I don't believe the creators were trying to sell us on the concept of purgatory in the traditional sense in Catholicism, but they very much established in the world of Lost, the soul is eternal and not bound by the limitation often boxed in a secular view of life experiences. What happened on the island was specific to some on Oceanic 815 but only another part of the infinite journey we all travel.

Do I still have questions? You bet, but I had no expectation that the writers would answer all the questions the show has generated through its run in the finale. I think it would have been a huge mistake to try...and a little condescending. Last night's show was exciting, emotional, somewhat confusing, funny and all the things we've come to expect as fans. I will miss Lost much like I miss Seinfeld and a number of my other favorite shows that have ended.

That's my initial take from the finale less than 24 hours later. I'll watch it again...and probably again. Not because I buy into the pseudo-theology the show created. I just find it to be great entertainment driven by relatable, imperfect characters.

See you on the other side...

I wonder where I stored my old surfboard...

Watch out! Here it comes...Y2K plus almost 13!

The New Agers give me so much great material that I almost feel like an honorary member. Thanks...but no thanks.

The latest from the Brothers Zen (don't bother googling, I made that up) is yet another end of the world scenario. Imagine that. This one matches up with the end of a Mayan Long Count calendar cycle of 5,125 years called a b'ak'tun. The funny things is...the classic Mayans don't even believe that the end of the current b'ak'tun will bring the end of the world. It will just start another cycle of 5,125 years. As a matter of fact, most Mayans don't even refer to the b'ak'tun anymore and use a shorter, more ADHD-friendly 52 year calender cycle. Heck...the concept of apocalypse can't even be found in Mayan culture... no where. But now let's not let any of that stop pandemonium...

There are number of current New Age theories about exactly what will happen on December 21, 2012 (a winter solstice), with the most popular being presented by John Major Jenkins (click here...I'm not wasting my blog space on the trash). He was featured on a History Channel program Decoding the Past: Mayan Doomsday Prophecy which coincidentally came under fire from a number of respected institutes of higher learning for several historically inaccurate points presented in the show. Hmmmmm...

Random...but funny.

As the date has grown ever closer, more and more of the New Age theory has conveniently, however, drifted from a physical doomsday scenario to more a global, spiritual awakening event. It's really hard to get a lot of people on board for another Heaven's Gate scenario. Those never end well and some people just can't pull off that whole jogging suit look...

Hollywood, never one to overlook opportunity ($$$) when presented, has jumped on board with all four limbs and the release of a new movie and marketing campaign. '2012' is the latest end-of-the-world genre where the world doesn't actually come to an end...it just ends up with more water and a number of beautiful, anatomically-pleasing people carry on mankind. The director of the movie, Roland Emmerich, has plenty of experience with the end-of-the-world-but-not-really genre having sat in the same director's chair for 'Independence Day' (We will not go quietly into the night!) and 'The Day After Tomorrow', which by the way has been used to complete the following MAT graduate school admissions test analogy-

________:meteorology::Frankenstein:heart surgery (: means is to, :: means as).

So between the New Agers and Hollywood, I should wake up on December 22, 2012 with either a new found understanding of my place in the universe or the newly relocated Atlantic Ocean in my backyard. Either way I'm screaming...Winner Winner chicken dinner!

My bet though is if I live to see December 22, 2012...I'll wake up still owing a mortgage and still without a clue on how calculus works...

Remember Jerry...it's not a lie if you believe it's true.

Well my guest post fell through today based on technical difficulties (read here: Tony not following instructions correctly), so I'll throw my two cents out on a subject that is in the news and breaking my heart.

Scientology has fallen on hard times.

(cricket noises)

I shutter.

Officially know as the Church of Scientology by people who don't understand the true definition and origin of the word church (from the Greek kyriakon which means thing belonging to the Lord), Scientology is...and I'll be nice...a made up belief system by science fiction writer, L. Ron Hubbard, started in 1953 as a continuation of the concepts found in his book Dianetics.

That's right. 1950's...Hubbard...science fiction...Dianetics. For those of you thinking the self-proclaimed, self-help book was a product of the 80's, think again. Hubbard died in 1986 and his book was repackaged and released by the now legally chartered Church of Scientology.

Same crap with new and improved wrappings...and an erupting volcano on the cover. uhhhhhhh

Now France is trying to rid their country of the cult. I normally wouldn't have a good thing to say about France...but bravo. The ironic part is the U. S. State Department is being critical of France for suppressing religious freedoms. The same State Department that branded Tea Party participants in the U.S. as possible domestic terrorist...

You read between those lines.

A French court ruled the sect (Scientology doesn't have legal status as an established religion in France) was guilty of organized fraud based on separate claims brought forward by two women. The sect was ordered to pay fines close to $1M and the organizations leader in that country was sentenced to two years in prison.

Vive la France! (God forgive me)

The cult...excuse me...sect has also seen an exodus of high profile members, a move which normally draws relentless, retribution from the Scientologist. Most recently, Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis defected. Rumors have Travolta leaving after Scientology spokesperson Tommie Davis stormed off a sound set during an interview taping of Nightline when he was asked if he believed in Xenu, the intergalactic warlord reportedly at the center of Scientology's theology. ABC aired the footage to the dismay of the group.

No...I'm not making this stuff up...they are. Click on the links.

The fact that the Church of Scientology is legitimized enough to actually be taken serious by anyone is beyond my understanding. Yet, the cult continues to recruit and promote for a fantastically outrageous system of beliefs that goes beyond the supernatural into the realm of extraterrestrial...fronting the likes of Cruise, Travolta and Alley to give validity to the organization.

The United States and Australia are the only two countries that recognize Scientology as a religion. France has gone on record in Parliament labeling it as a dangerous cult. Please tell me what kind of world we live in when France actually makes more sense than the United States?

There are some things much scarier than Halloween...

But, I don't want to go to Nineveh...

I'm always amazed at the ways God communicates with us.

This past weekend, I found myself in a discussion with someone about the New Age philosophy compared to Christianity. The point being made by this person was the New Age movement is a natural evolution of Christianity. The example he kept going back to pulled from the biblical verse that God will give you what you ask for in Jesus' name (John16:23-24), and that since God is omnipresent, He represents the universe. The connection was then made that asking the universe in the right frame of mind and the universe granting your request is no different from what the Bible already says. It's just an updated version for a modern time and not written for a more primitive culture 2000 years ago.

Okay...right...

Unfortunately, I wasn't on my best game. My counter was found in the obvious fact that his modern version was nothing akin to what the Bible actually says because it leaves out the very pertinent point that the request is going to God through Jesus...that Christ is our way to the Father. The subsequent tangent discussion went to the relationship between man, the Son and the Father. I was left with the feeling my effort was seriously short on substance and filed it away for deeper research later.

I'm currently studying what Paul and James say about religion which is really good stuff when you get into it. But, that's another post at another time.

While I was driving to church Sunday evening, I flipped on my radio and picked up a speaker discussing the very subject of asking God and receiving what you request. Unfortunately, I only got to listen to about 10 minutes in the middle of the sermon before arriving...late as usual. I thought about the discussion off and on through Monday, but I didn't spend any time on the matter in prayer or reading.

Tuesday morning came with the typical morning routines. As I got into my wife's car to take our toddler to her at pre-school, the radio was tuned to a local contemporary Christian station...as usual in her car. Within a few short moments, the announcer stated that the days Power Verse was John 16:23-24, and he read the verses:

And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Now, I'm by no means a Rhodes scholar...but come on...I obviously needed to explore the subject matter more thoroughly.

I worry that sometimes I come across in my postings as a super pious Christian who has all his priorities exactly in line with God's will for my life. Folks, that's not the case. I struggle daily with my devotions, my prayer time and other issues that should take lead in my life. There are days I'm all over it...there are days my focus drifts elsewhere. It too easy to come across in a Pharisee-like manner, and I truly don't intend to do that...just on a side-note.

So God...I hear You. Loud and clear. I was presented an opportunity for better field position, and I shanked the punt. I will focus where You want me to focus and not on my interest.

I've read and studied on what Jesus was saying in these versus, but I'm also very curious to your take on what He meant. Many of you don't comment and that's okay. If you're more comfortable sending me your thoughts via email...I'd be just as appreciative.

tonyctoday@yahoo.com

Help me out blogosphere. I need your input on the matter...

BTW: The toddler has been watching The Veggie Tales version of Jonah over and over this week...I'm just saying...little slow to pick up at times...just ask Mrs. Tony C Today...

Coexist can be a dangerous word for Christians.

I'm sure you've all seen one of these bumper stickers. On the surface, the message proposed is both positive and benign. The promotion of respect and tolerance was exercised by Jesus, as recorded in the Book of John (4:7-27), when He spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well. During this period of time, Jews held deep disdain for Samaritans, and a Jewish man speaking to a non-Jewish woman was an unheard occurrence.

As Christians, should we be less quick to ridicule or denounce religious views outside our own? A fair enough question. Paul states in his letters to Christians in Corinth, Greece to give none offense, neither Jew, Gentile, or the church of God. His reason is two fold: 1. Being offensive doesn't bring glory to God, and 2. it inhibits the ability to convey the message of salvation....our Great Commission as followers of Christ.

I personally fail in this area on a regular basis, and asking for tolerance (as well as humility) is in my daily prayers. The catalyst for this post is an article I read yesterday on CNN.com titled Episcopal minister defrocked after becoming a Muslim.

How does this happen? I repeated to myself over and over while reading about an ordained minister who actually thought she could be a Christian and a Muslim at the same time. While she embraces the beauty of Islam, she clings to her faith in Christ. How does this happen? How can people become so confused? Just look around brother. People are confusing the word tolerance with the word acceptance on a regular basis these days.

Yes, Jesus initiated conversation despite traditions with the Samaritan woman at the well, but He did so in order to deliver His message that He was the Living Water. Paul instructs Christians not to be offensive to other's beliefs, so we might deliver the message of Christ to a more receptive audience. The Word clearly states that the only way to the Father is through His Son.

During my 'dark years' of searching for Truth, I studied a number of theologies in detail. I understand that Jesus is mentioned by name in the Ko'ran more times than Mohammad; however, I also understand that Muslims do not recognize Christ as God. He was a prophet of great importance, but not God. That doesn't work for a true follower of Christ. Hinduism and Buddhism both acknowledge the importance of Jesus within the context of their beliefs, but not as the Son of God. The Savior of all men.

Here comes my swing at New Age...everyone can't be right. According to most New Age philosophy (and Oprah), there are many paths to God. Live a good life by helping others, don't worry about religious beliefs not your own, and we will all meet in Heaven someday. But that's not what the Bible says, and the Bible is the foundation of my faith as a Christian.

So, there is a huge difference between coexist with tolerance and coexist with acceptance. If you are a Muslim and I accept your belief in the Ko'ran, I am accepting the teachings of the Ko'ran and will no longer make effort to convey the message of the Bible. By doing so, I am denying the Muslim a chance to know the true path to God through Christ...and thus, I have failed my Savior.

I'll close with a short video from Lee Strobel who does an excellent job conveying the conflict of acceptance but the love in tolerance between Christians and Muslims, the worlds two largest faiths:

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkle 1970

The New Energy Bible
1st Edition cost $20











I really didn't want to start the Love Month with a scathing rant about New Agers and their straight from Fantasyland psychobabble message that 'it's a small world, after all' only if you want it that way because YOU control the universe...but what the heck....here we go.

In the event someone, somewhere reading this post thinks- 'this crap is just too wacky to actually be real,' I've created a link that goes straight to The New Energy Bible web page. Read for yourself and discover people are paying $20 plus shipping and handling for a bible/book that contains 238 pages on which the first and only the first page contains the words 'You Are God Also.' The remaining 237 pages are blank...that's right...blank pages.

Why? One may ask...what's the point? You, my friend, by asking this question are very astute, in tuned... or is it aligned...maybe aware...enlightened...that's it...enlightened! You are an enlightened being ready for the mothership. The pages are blank 'because no man, woman, or church can ever tell you how to live.'




New Age in a nutshell...complete with the nuts.

Here's a much better offer. Send me your address via email, and I'll send you a real Book of Wisdom absolutely free...no strings attached. It's the Book that will change your life here and now...and also make an eternal difference.



One disclaimer...the Book has already been written, canonized and followed for thousands of years by billions of people...so there aren't any blank pages for you to amend in your own thoughts and rules...sorry.

The Mothership hears you...

I'm a little behind my normal posting schedule this week. It's not because I don't have anything to comment about...fact is...I have too much on my mind to muse.

My last post (well, before the Bee Gee's video) resulted in a myriad of emails from people who apparently don't want to post a response on this blog but still want to make sure I know their sentiment. I'm okay with that...or I wouldn't post an email link. I usually get a couple of emails from impious readers after a posting that specifically denotes my befuddled understanding of atheistic ideology (wait...is that an oxymoron?). I'm okay with that also. I enjoy the more private exchange of ideas and beliefs.

But, little did I know the energy surrounding the New Age movement...wow! I received 16 emails from 13 different readers (none regular followers of my blog), and I can't help but wonder how that happens. Is there a New Ager hotline? Phone tree? Signalling light? I just don't get it. I encouraged each one to participate in an open dialogue and promised to moderate justly. The common response, if I received one at all, was Tony C Today is predicated on a religious, conservative viewpoint, and thus my blog attracts like readers...the old 'birds of a feather' retort.

So Child of Aquarius, how did you find my blog? I've yet to get an answer!

Actually, how the holistic dialed in to my blog isn't really important. What chafes me is the patronizing manner in which most of the emails write off the conservative Christian view as 'ignorant', 'close-minded', and 'prehistoric.'

(Let me take just a moment to study the WWJD Post-it on my desk. This may take a few moments because..well...it is 4 whole letters.)

I read ugly comments a lot in emails from atheist bloggers who feel inadequate and picked on by us 'Jesus freaks.' However, the vile disposition of the New Agers is a whole different ball of wax. Okay, to be fair, I'll state it this way...the one's I've heard from or know personally. Vile New Agers...another oxymoron? Isn't the New Age philosophy found in crap...excuse me...books like The Secret about harmony and kumbaya? Give positive, get positive? You do your thing I'll do mine...the Universe will sort us out?

Somebody needs to clue in a few folks.

As to the ignorant, close-minded Christian comments...have you guys really looked at what you believe and follow or are you just making it up as you go along? L. Ron Hubbard was at least consistently fruity in Scientology and had rules for his make-believe religion. Scientologist are at least told what to think, and when and where they can think it. There is structure...not just philosophical muck that can take on an infinite number of meanings and shapes at the choosing of the person wielding them...I mean, come on people. Even when you play Candyland, there are rules that govern and guide the game.

Christianity takes discipline, discernment and patience. Yeah, God's testing me on that last one.

I've gotta run...I just got an email from a TCruze@yohoodoyou.com...and he seems angry.

False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil. .

I'm going to be very personal today...please bear with me.

The picture above is a copy of an actual calendar page (I'll risk Rhonda Bryne suing me for copyright violations). The page was removed and saved from an actual desktop calendar marketed by the publishers of the best-selling book 'The Secret.'

I work with the lady who saved this page and keeps it on her computer. Yes, I removed it and copied it...please forgive me. The lady I speak of has bought wholeheartedly into Bryne's book and the accompanying belief system based on the supposed force called the Law of Attraction. She is one of the sweetest people you could ever meet...a wife, mother and grandmother.

She's also dying from cancer...and has been for months. She continues to cling to the hope she reads each day from what you see above. The belief is deep rooted too. I've tried talking to her from a medical and spiritual perspective. As a cancer survivor myself, I've tried to connect with her. Her family talks to her about being more aggressive in treating her condition or else she die. From what I heard today, medical treatment may no longer be a viable option.

For those of you not familiar with 'The Secret,' let me catch you up.

'You shall be like God.' The original scam. The oldest known to man. The one that cast Adam and Eve right out of Eden and daily walks with our Creator. Satan started it at the beginning of mankind, and he continues today with a new twist on the same old con. Byrne's book has been on the New York Times bestseller list for 104 weeks to date, and a DVD version is also available.

Byrne is selling a seductive message that anything you want is possible... and easy to get. Just wish for it. But, this isn't just about keeping an optimistic attitude to improve your life Tony Robbins style...it goes far beyond that. Byrne says the Law of Attraction guarantees that if you think positive thoughts about what you want, you will get it. 'The Universe' will bend over backwards to hand you whatever you wish for...money, a better job, good health, anything.

But that's not the worst part. Among all the positive rhetoric are some very repulsive concepts. While you are rearranging the universe to suit your own wishes, Byrne claims you must avoid people who might inspire negative thoughts. So you should never look at overweight people or let sick people tell you about their illness.

Furthermore, it nastily suggests that victims of catastrophe are the authors of their misfortunes. Stop for just a second and think about the implications of just that claim (i.e. Holocaust, World Trade Center, Great Depression, etc.)...atrocious.

I'm not making this up. It's all in there and more. I've watched the DVD and read the book.

Unfortunately, people are really buying this stuff ... and it is dangerous. The book contains examples of people who supposedly cured themselves of cancer without treatment, and people who bought expensive things because they just knew the money was coming in eventually. Oprah's on board. Bryne's been on most of the major news magazines without serious challenge to her claims.

Byrne is spewing a moronic choral of greed and selfishness, and she is making a fortune. But, I'll give you this for free... Byrne's garbage is simply a repetition of the oldest lie known to man — 'You shall be like God.'

Again, forgive me for being blunt and foreboding. I'm hurt today...and I'm really mad...angry at the ignorant, naive, and gullible.

My title is a quote from Plato... but I wanted to use one from 'The Godfather.'