Just stop. Stop it. Stop. Stop. STOP! Does it drive any of you crazy when people say that the world is going to end on such and such a date? Don't you just want to scream "Stop it!" The only thing I know for certain is that it will not happen on whatever date it is that you pick. Whatever you do when talking about the end of the world as we know it don't pick a date. Stop. It's just ridiculous. People keep trying to do it and so far, as much as I'm aware, nobody has ever been right.

And concerning the "end times"...I've heard and read a few different places where people talked about Barack Obama in terms of ushering in more of the end times or something. I'm not sure why Obamas playing a part, but I'm fairly certain I've heard people say the same about GW. Regardless I'd like to introduce a word here (not in reference directly to Barack or GW) "Apocacentric".

-Apocacentric-
People often speak about the end times. It is normal I guess. I'm not going to go into my theology of the end times. And if I knew more about history I might be able to talk more about the end times in the context of Medieval, Greco-roman culture, or other periods in time. But my general understanding is that people often and continuously try to identify when the end times have begun and what the next stages are. Here's the goofiest part though, we all seem to view the end times in the context of our current culture or world view. The Jews/Christians thought that the end times were upon us, that Jesus would be coming back because of the destruction of the Jewish temple and of Jerusalem. They were looking to the sky waiting for Christs return, and why shouldn't they, everything they knew regarding God's nation was destroyed.
Similarly Americans view the end times within the context of America. People oddly point to Barack or GW as possible players in the end times chronicles as if the end times are obviously connected to America. (we are Gods chosen nation you know*) The corruption of Americas values, the decay of the church-going mentality, and the growing trouble in the world all cause people to identify the end times occurences as happening now.
Really? Do the end times really have to be connected to America? Are we that totally awesome? Really, do we really think things are so bad in the world now, in our lifetime, that it must be the end of all things? Apocacentric. I mean, things aren't great now in the world by any means. There is massive poverty, the AIDS crisis in Africa, human traficing, the acceptance of murdering children (abortion), wars, genosides, etc. There is bad stuff in the world...but is it the first time this has happened? Duh, no. What about when God's chosen people (Israel, not America) were sacrificing their children on alters? That's pretty flippin' bad. What about when the most advanced and dominating power in the world (Rome, not America) murdered and tortured people for sport (at least America finds a very twisted way to justify our torturing). That was pretty bad too right? Let's talk about todays times being terrible once McCain is sacrificing one of his seven kids at the Lincoln Memorial. And I'm sure you history buffs could tell more stories. So stop, all of you, trying to identify all the end times signs and all that crap. Does it matter? If you find out and realize that it's not the end times are you then going to take a back seat in showing Jesus to people? Yeah, sure, you lose a great motivator in brining people to Jesus: fear. But if you want to use fear as a motivator there are always other ways. The reality is that people need Jesus regardless of whether or not it's the coming end of the world. The reality is that we need to be eager, anticipitory, and ready for Christs' return not because we've identified when it is, but because you could get hit by a truck at any single moment and you'll be meeting him face to face in an instant.
So there you go. Apocacentric, where the end of times is all about me, my country, and my experiences in the world.

* I'm pretty sure I've got this one right when I say that God's chosen people are those who choose him and his alternative kingdom way. That is, the church. I hope and pray that America grows more and more into a group of people who are living out Jesus' kingdom here on earth, but regardless, America is not God's chosen nation. If my understanding of scripture is right God chooses to send rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Or, in other words, God chooses to take care of both the good and bad people/countries. So maybe America isn't blessed because we're so holy but because God is.