Side Notes

I think things have been summed up pretty well with this book. I just wanted to add a couple of other thoughts I had while reading both the book and your posts...

First, I miss Cameron's input on this. I laughed when Jimmy told me the story of Cameron taking one look at the book, saying, "this is ridiculous", and then putting it down. But it would have been nice to hear the big guy's opinion on these topics.

Second, I think Ben did a good job summarizing Islam in general, and Frank's comments about tolerance were spot-on, but I believe it's also important to draw a distinction between the RADICAL Islam we see in the terrorist community today and the pure Islam which Ben described. Not understanding the difference is what leads to INtolerance and eventually gets Harold and Kumar thrown in Guantanamo Bay.

Last of all, I wasn't a huge fan of the book, either. But not because it was biased. As Ben pointed out, you had to buy the book in the "Religion" section of the store--it was SUPPOSED to be biased. The loose interpretation of scripture and the author's attitude turned me off in the end. But one thing I did gain from reading this book--the signs of the times ARE at hand. It has been suggested that the scriptures be used especially for personal revelation and understanding of God. This is absolutely 100% correct. But let's not forget that part of that personal revelation is understanding the prophecies of the Lord, and recognizing when the Savior will come again. I don't agree with Rosenberg's interpretation of the scriptures, but I am grateful for the reminder that the work of the Lord is happening right before my eyes...

D&C 84:119 - For I, the Lord, have put forth my hand to exert the powers of heaven; ye cannot see it now, yet a little while and ye shall see it, and know that I am, and that I will come and reign with my people.

PS - I hope I didn't upset anyone about my Grisham posts. It was just my opinion. One work of fiction I've been wanting to get to is "My Name is Asher Lev", by Chaim Potok. I also wouldn't mind reading Dave Eggers with everyone. I know Ben and Cameron are fans. I think "A Heartbreaking Work..." or "You Shall Know Our Velocity!" would be fun for the book club.

Tupac Lives!

For a second I thought Smurf's dreams were coming true! Then I saw that the story was more about "Diddy" being behind the shenanigans.

Oh well... maybe someday.

A Word on Tolerance...

I've decided I want to recommit myself to being a more tolerant individual. This book about made me gag in many ways. I think it was a cover for him to preach his beliefs (so be it. It's his book.). I've never quite read something that dripped of evangelizing as much as this book. It made me want to run out and be 'born again.' Not.

More importantly, the book did weave several tolerant stories throughout. Rosenberg told story after story of his personal relationship with Jews, Muslims and Christians alike. He seemed to have formed relationships with people from all over the world, even in areas not especially into the US and the West. I think I gained a better understanding of the freedom we enjoy here in America of being able to be different. It seemed the more countries opened up to religious freedom, the better the countries developed.

I liked the book. I think it was an important and substantial viewpoint into the minds of the people who make the decisions. Although I wish they wouldn't, a lot of world governments do make decisions based on staying one step head of scriptural prophecy. If anything, I think this book did a good job laying out the method of reasoning behind our government and those governments of the Middle East.

And I really, really like the Jews.

Next month's book

I read "The World Is Flat" last summer.  It is an extremely good book.  It will definitely make you think about the economic world we live in and will continue to live in for the long future.  I think it would be a good book for you guys.  A little long, but easy to read.  Since it was my spring break, I ended up reading another book.  It is "The Appeal" by John Grisham (author of The Firm, The Client...).  I wanted to be a lawyer growing up because of his books, but then I found out that I hate writing and to do so for a living would be hell.  I must admit that I do love almost all of his books (see The Painted House), but it was an interesting fiction book that tries to pass along an important message that most of us don't think about (I won't spoil the surprise).  I would like to offer this book up for May or June.  Let me know.

Finished!

I finished Epicenter.  All-in-all a good read.  I really enjoyed it once he stopped talking about his past books and started in on his future headlines.  Rosenberg recognizes that things might not, almost assuredly will not, come to pass exactly as he has stated, but I think he does a good job of using logic and available evidence to make a compelling case for his headlines.

One thing I found fascinating was in the last few pages of chapter 8 when he takes about the Ahmadinejad "brand of Shiite eschatology."  He quotes this European columnist commenting on Ahmad... seeing the Islamic Messiah, the twelfth Imam.  Ahma... claims that he is one of several men who have been chosen by this Imam for "a single task: provoking a 'clash of civilizations' in which the Muslim world...takes on the 'infidel' West...and defeats it."  So essentially, this type of Shiite belief is that they are not only supposed to wait for the return of the Twelfth Imam, but they must hasten it.

Now, work with me on this for just a second.  Let's believe that Ahma... is  not just lying but that he is really talking to somebody, who claims to be his twelfth Imam.  I know this sounds off the wall, but wouldn't it be interesting if he really was talking to "somebody" and that somebody was telling him to start wars and kill people for good.  To me, that would definitely be something that Satan or one of his angels would say.  Considering that Satan can take the form of a live person if he wanted, who is to say that Satan himself is not talking with Ahma... and essentially tricking him to believe that he is doing what is right by killing and starting wars.  This is exactly what Satan does.  He uses parts of truth to trick and bring to hell God's children.  Satan's plan in the pre-mortal existence was to force people to do what was right and thereby save all mankind.  This strangely reverberates through what Ahma wants when he says that they must kill and eliminate the "infidel West."  Ahma... and other Shiites who follow this belief is trying to force people (The West) to do what is right.  Very Satanic if I do say so myself.

Anyways, there is a lot more that I found interesting, but I just wanted to bounce that "what if" scenario of you guys.

Seriously

I need some feedback from everyone. I weighed in today at 250.2. It was early in the morning and I was totally naked, on an empty stomach, thinking thin thoughts. Do I need to lose weight? I know I look fat, but is it that bad? What should I weigh? Please let me know. Really.

Watermelon

Hey Guys,
Sorry I haven tbeen posting in a while. I have been out of the country for the last few weeks and now I am trying to get my house packed up and ready to move out. Deidra and I will be heading up to Washington on the 1st of April to look for a place to live and then to Utah for about a week. Whoever is in town, we should all plan out a time to get together.
Anyway, I hope you guys are enjoying the book after you get past the authors huge head. Its just nice to keep current on what the world state is. Unfortunatly, my work keeps my envolved more then I would sometimes like.