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As I write it is May 21, 2011, about 11:40a.m. This time I have a really good reason to start the post this way. If you are reading this post that means that you either stayed and the #rapture didn’t take you, or maybe the #rapture only happened in Oakland, California, where Harold Camping‘s Family Radio is based on.

Oh.. hold on. I’m sorry. I just read that apparently, it is only supposed to happen at 6p.m. (in every country). I have been trying to get into Family Radio’s website, but I guess they’ve had an early #rapture experience. Nonetheless, 6p.m. has come and gone in the Pacific nations, and nothing has occurred. What then can we conclude about all this havoc?

Well let us return to Matthew 24:36

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father

I think Jesus made it very clear that no one, not even Him, would know the day when He would return. If not even Jesus, who is God‘s son, knows the day, why then would Harold Camping, a self-proclaimed Bible-scholar, who hasn’t even been in a church for the past 23 years, would know the date?

I seriously cannot judge the man. Yesterday on Twitter I said this:

Apparently the world will end tomorrow. #whatdoyouthink ? I think he’s a crook using the name of GOD to become a millionaire.

Looking at it again, I see that I really shouldn’t have said so. I don’t know his reasons to make such a prediction. I don’t know if he really is a crook who used his mathematical and Biblical “skills” to fool people into buying into this lie. I don’t know if he actually believed what he was saying, and was certain that the end was near (although – just between us – he is 89, so maybe he really isn’t lying that much). All I know is that he was wrong. If Camping is such an expert of the Bible he would’ve known he was wrong.

I am not going to go into the details of the #Rapture, the real one, but here is a quick pick of what really will happen.

• The saved ones will be taken. Yes, that part of the Rapture if true. Those who did not believe will stay for a second chance.
• After that, there will be three and a half years of peace, followed by three and a half years of tribulation. This total seven years, which the Anti-Christ will rule the earth.
• Then there are a thousand more years when Jesus will rule the Earth.

This is roughly written. There are way more fascinating details to the whole process, so I found a timeline that can explain way more than I can.

Anyway, I am on the expectations for tomorrow. I want to see how Mr. Camping is going to explain himself in this matter. Meanwhile I am praying for…

Poof!

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As I write this it is 3:25p.m. (I started at 2:30p.m.). Have you realized I love to open posts with this line? I think it’s important to register the time on which the writing took place. I can also tell you I am currenly at work (someday I’ll write about this place). It is raining outside and at this time I have nothing to do (but to wait for the phone to ring with angry customers and their complaints). It’s in this setting that I decided to try out WordPress’ new feature: distraction-free writing.

Like I said in the title, I didn’t think that was possible, but after trying it out I can definetely say that it is one of the best new features that WordPress has ever introduced.

It’s like writing in a blank piece of paper, without any of the distractions on the side, like the spelling checkers, font stylers. Just plain blank screen where one can express one’s thoughts. I absolutely love it. If you do not have a WordPress blog yet, go ahead and get one, and start writing. Do it… just write.

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I have just joined Social Vibe, and I am now supporting Music for Relief. Please click on the cool widget on the sidebar or go to http://socialvibe/fabiolima to help on the cause.

Music for Relief is a program created by Linkin Park. They donate part of the money earned by their albums, while also creating new singles for specific relief campaigns. Their most recent project is relief for the victims of the Mississippi Flood.

Don’t forget to help… just click ==>

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Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Romans 12:19

As I write at this moment it is 11:04p.m. of May 1, 2011. An historic day for the United States; the man it most wanted to kill is finally dead. Osama Bin Laden is no more, and I can’t help but feel like this “great accomplishment” is nothing but vague words in the uproar of “Justice”, and that as quick as it came, the same way it will go.

Do not mistake me for making apologies for Bin Laden. On the contrary, as with the rest of the world I am a believer of freedom and justice and democracy, but not like the rest of the world I do believe in the utmost love that GOD has for all. I do mean ALL.

Jarell Wilson wrote in his short essay I am a Bad Patriot:

This event proves that we have so much more growing to do. In a way bin Laden has already won, he encited a nation to spend trillions of dollars, at the expense of its citizens, on weapons and a 700 mile long wall along its border with Mexico. The TSA’s new strict regulations. The giant Immigration debate. The burque ban.Without even being present at the attack he provoked a nation to sacrifice its children and its morality to prove that it won’t be pushed around. He got us to show that we could be just as hateful toward Muslims as we thought they were toward us.

As happy as I am for the security that Americans will go to sleep with, I can’t help but wonder how short-lived it will be. Yes, although dead, Osama has already won what he wanted. He broke a country and divided a world. Even with assuredness that “this is not a war against Islam,” we all know that reality is different than theory. This became a war against Islam. A war of prejudice.

What? Does that mean that I am defending Islam? No. I believe in GOD ALMIGHTY, and I know that JESUS CHRIST is my SAVIOUR, and that HE came so that all that believed him would have ETERNAL LIFE. Nevertheless, although the Islam wars against the Christian principle, we MUST NOT act likewise. 9/11 is much of a pain to me as to any other citizen of this world. However it is a shame that we justify so many years of war on the name of those who no longer can speak their minds.

IT IS A SHAME MY FELLOW CHRISTIANS THAT SO MUCH ENJOY THE DEATH OF ONE MORE LOST SOUL. The love of Christ once again didn’t reach one more. Remember that verse that say that God loved the world in such a way that He gave His only begotten son? Well guess what.. Osama, the Al-Qaeda and Muslims are all part of this world.

As I finish this it’s 11:21p.m. History is being written a this very moment. Unfortunately history is about to get darker and grimmer. As Jesus said himself, as he was being taken away:

Put your sword back in its place! Everyone who uses a sword will be killed by a sword.

Matthew 26:52

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Cover of The Shack

It is currently 12:14AM, and here I am writing in this blog. I have committed myself to write as much as I can, and while there is a story being produce in my mind, I have come to write about what is becoming one of my favorite books of all times. Few books cause the impact on me as The Shack has so done. I promise not to give the book away, but if there has ever been doubt about God‘s goodness in your heart, I advice you to read it.

As I write now, I am convicted that God had a specific purpose for my reading of this book. Although controversial in nature (the portrayal of the Trinity is one of the most interesting one’s I have ever seen), the book is also pure, simple, to the point and full of what the principles of God really are.

Forget church and forget institutions. What God wants is a relationship; a life where we completely depend on Him. William P. Young has astounded me with his works. I’d give everything to have such a beautiful experience with God.

Read it. It will give you new eyes for what Unconditional Love really means. Meanwhile here’s the opening line for the next short story

“the world itself was orange”

That’s it. All you get. I’m sure it makes no sense… but it will in time.

‘Till then, I bid you farewell. May God bless you immensely.

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I used to write in this blog when I was away from God. It was the period where God was nothing but a theory. Some of the stories that never made it here were a protest to something I tried to refuse. But God brought me back, and here I am, changed by HIM. Everyday God amazes me more and more.

Nevertheless, I am back to my old habits of writing. In this space I will share a bit of my mind… pretty much a bit of everything. Since the future belongs to God, I can’t say what this will become. In the meanwhile it is good to be back to writing… there is lot to write about.

Oh yes!

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It was a strange feeling. Weirder than the anticipation you get right before taking the picture for the yearbook, or having your first kiss – on a scale, they are about the same. She looked at the boy with peculiar hair and different clothes about five feet from her. He was entertained with some activity, which she could not distinguish for only his back was visible, and although she had never noticed before, that boy had a grace in his movements. His hands smoothly fell on the floor, where he would choose pieces of something.

He had a strange feeling too. Awkwardly looking back, from the corner of his eyes, he could see she was watched all of his moves. What reason did she have to do so? It certainly should be his bright green t-shirt, or maybe the orange pants. No, maybe it was his blue shoes that he had been wearing everyday for the last two years. He wasn’t allowed to have any more. Somewhere in that same room was a camera. And watching that camera was some man or woman recording it in video. This video would then be taken to a third person, who would analyze it, and make notations. If that boy got a new pair of shoes, all the experiments would be ruined, and six years of work would go down the drain. He had to complete the task alone.

The girl suddenly realized he had been watching her too. She freezed, thought on what to do, and dread came over to her mind. Should she stay or should she leave? What would he do? She started to slowly walk backwards, when they boy took the courage to talk.

“Hey, want to help me?” he asked, as he motioned for her to come forward.
“What are you doing?” she asked back.
“Doing a life size puzzle”
“Of what?” she was now closer.
He thought about the question for a second, and then answered. “The whole universe”.

All the hundreds of cameras, all pointed to the pulpit in the front of the room, went off at the same time in a blinding wave. The men behind the pulpit didn’t move, as he spoke.

“Thank you ladies and gentleman. I am very pleased that I will successfully succeed to the giving of satisfaction to so many tonight. I do emphasize that my self-esteem is self-sufficient and self-determined. I am a serviceable man for science and the setup of a new sharing movement. I shall be remembered for the shattering days of sheets and shelves, against sickness and side-effects. I am single-minded and sinister, but never went skydiving. Slave of society, but sophisticated. It’s safe to say that I sacrificed sex, for my sacred schedule, while sculpting a new skyline. Still I am a sedentary single, with shocking shoelaces, and who likes shop-windows.

“Silly and silent, I slay sleeping-pills, in my solitude. You spectator is speechlessly sorry for my sluggish spirituality and spooky soul. I succumb to the suffering of a surgery that supposedly will help with my syndrome. Call me sadist or shameless. I am saturated with the savage of the situation.

“Finally, to scale the scenario, I, full of sorrow, unfortunately say that I can no longer see.”

And he heard gasps. And he stepped down. And he no longer cared.

“Gooooooood Morning. It is exactly 7 o’clock and it’s a beautiful day. Remember I am always to your right, and the way is up,” announced the radio watch. “It was twenty years ago today-“. Edward Meadow groaned at its sound, and unwillingly woke up, dusting off his red, itchy eyes. He looked to his right, and the clock was not there.

“Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play -” the clock was in the upper left-hand corner of the room, which meant the ceiling was now in the floor. “They’ve been going in and out of style-” he blinked. Immediately the whole room switched around. “But they’re guaranteed to raise a smile. So may I introduce you-” He was now looking forward to what should be the floor. If he looked up he could see the right wall the window it bears.

“The act you’ve known for all these years-” He blinked again. The music on the radio suddenly got louder. He looked right, and the clock was now there. “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band…”

“Very well. Brain is now regulated, let us start the day,” said Edward to himself, as he walked through the door and down the hall. As all beings of this planet he was very intelligent and very unfortunate. His highly capacitated brain was very complex and intricate. A four-sided mirrored brain – the only one successfully produced nowadays. It had the same size of a common archaic brain. It was as light was a feather, and as transparent as glass. Its circuit was microscopic and therefore could only be seen by a microscope. It is installed as soon as you are born (and eventually taken out every 25 years for repair), and automatically starts taking and following orders from all the other limbs. It correctly executes all tasks, except for the ones sent by the eye.

The four-sided mirrored brain recognizes blinking as a command to switch the side being used to process information. As a result, the image presented through your vision is taken care by a different side every time you blink, and since they are all mirrored, the image that comes back to you can be distorted. It feels as if you have a mirror house in your own head.

Edward resumed his shower, making a mental note as not to blink. Not that blinking as against the law, it was just inappropriate. Therefore, as all humans, he also had a really tired looks, constantly lost concentration and his eyes were very red. In fact, except for newborns, which always slept, all other barely close their eyes, afraid that things might suddenly change.

Nothing really changed. It was only their brain switching to a different mirrored-side. The ceiling was still the ceiling and the clock had always been at his right. Up is still up, and down is still down. All sides except for left – for left no longer existed – were still in the same place.

He went to his kitchen, and turned the television set in the living room. The news was about another no-blinking record breaking. Although they still blinked from time to time, many preferred to go days, sometimes months trying not to. The most successful would set a new record. Not that it mattered; a new one was set every other week. Edward opened the fridge. The cold air rushed through his face and brought a sense of comfort. It then brought tears to his eyes. He rapidly looked for milk and closed it. He wasn’t really thirsty, and just drank half of a cup on impulse. It was time to go to work. Careful as not to blink he put his goggles on – it was a windy day – and started for the door. He looked to his right and saw the long hill that went up. Right was the side, up was the way. Edward was a teacher for blind people – or as he called them… the lucky ones. He started going uphill. People always went uphill. It was the only way of getting back on track on the case of an accidental blink. As the houses went by, Edward noted that the usual silence had been broken by the wheels of a car. He turned around, but the sun hurt his vision. By mistake he let go of his will and blinked. The world swirled around. The car was now close. He blinked again. The world swirled around a bit more.

He blinked.

The world swirled

Blink.

Swirl.

Blink.

And the order was back. And the car was too close. And something hit him in the head.

Blink.

And the world just went blind.

* * *

“Edward Meadow. Number 325978, please step forward.” As he did so, several men – all wearing bright white clothes – came to view. One of them had a white cup in one hand and a blue pill in the other.

“Take it,” he said. Edward did. He drank the water from the cup without complain. It wouldn’t do any good. He gave it back and watched as another man was being called. It was the first of many roll calls of the day.

For the last month or so – thought Edward, even though he had been there for as nearly as three months – roll calls, and pills had been his life. Sometimes he was taken to a room full of mirrors, where he was told to close his eyes and open them again, every 10 seconds. Every time that happened, his brain would fuse out, and go dark. He would wake up in the next day, with his name being called. He hated the place. All walls were either bright white or silver. The lights were never shut down, not even at night. Not that he knew what time it was. No one knew. There was little there to know.

And this is what he didn’t know. That place was the Experiments Section of the Brainia Enterprise – the government funded corporation which built the four-sided mirrored brains. Edward and the others were just human guinea pigs, testing, without knowledge, the corporation’s new experiments. They were not allowed to blink in any occasions, unless they were told to do so. They could not talk; they could not look at other people’s eyes.

Today was October 15, 2028. It was early in the morning, and things were about to change for Mr. Meadow. He was called up again. As Edward stood up, he was blind-folded from behind, and by reflexes his eyes immediately closed. He was taken down some way – which he will never get to walk again – and put in a room. He was told to lie back, and while doing so, he felt a sharp pain on his arms. In a matter of seconds his brain shut down, and he heard no more.

In a matter of seconds his brain restarted.

His blind fold was taken away. Edward still had his eyes closed, afraid of what was about to take place.

“Edward Meadow, open your eyes.”

He didn’t

“Edward Meadow, open your eyes.”

He did. And as he did, the air he had in his lungs left his body. He was looking to himself in a mirror. He looked even older than before. He blinked once, and to his surprise he could see perfectly. He blinked again, and the world was motionless. Tears of joys ran down his cheeks.

As you can guess Edward was the first one in a series of test for new brains. These brains were, of course, two sided, and not mirrored. They were not perfect though. Once in, it could not be replaced or repaired. It was also a lot smaller, which meant some features had to be let go of.

Edward jumped up and down the house of mirrors, happy that he could now blink.

Blink.

The world didn’t swirl.

Blink.

The world didn’t move

Blink.

The world was in place.

Blink.

The world was gone.

He fell to the floor, desperate. “What happened to me?”

“It seems that you have gone blind.”

“Why?”

“The new brain we put in your head. It is not equipped with vision.”

“What? A new brain?”

“Yes, a prototype. It is organic”

“Take it out.”

“I can’t. No one can. It is permanently fixated-”

But Edward never heard what was said. Blind, he ran from side to side, banging at all the mirror, which all break. He felt pain, but didn’t care. He felt cold, but didn’t care. He just ran as fast as he could, and on the darkness of his own world, he was hit.

* * *

“Gooooooooood Morning. It is 7 o’clock, and it’s a beautiful day. Remember I am always to your right and the way is up. In the town where I was born.-” Edward Meadow groaned to the music. He opened his eyes, but nothing changed. “Lived a man who sailed to sea-”

He trusted his hand to the right and pressed a button. The TV came to life. Coincidently at that same time, all four-sided mirrored brains, one by one, went blank. “And he told us of his life.” One by one all of those who had such brains (which consisted of everybody minus Edward) started to blink without stopping. “In the land of submarine-“

And the world was now between blinking silence and the blind Edward Meadow, the last of the lucky ones.

“Up, Up and Away”

The calendar marked August 5th. I woke to the dim light that came from outside. The sky was gray and the weather cold; such a beautiful winter day. I looked around and saw both my sisters, still asleep. Their mattresses were good three feet from me, but I could hear their deep breaths. They were the only sound in the place. That empty furniture-less, beige room.

I got up slowly as not to wake them up. Looking at the long hall that separated the living room and the bedrooms, I could see that my parent’s door was still closed. I walked towards the kitchen at the other side. There was still a mahogany table in the center (with some food on it), while the rest had been sold. Funny how I could not remember how big it looked, all empty. I stopped for a moment, my feet touching the cold, white-tiled floor. Someone had opened a door. It was my dad, who had come to wake the house. We had a place to go. A barbecue.

When I finally checked the clock, the small hand lay motionless at ten; the big one marked 47. By eleven we were all ready and set to go. My relatives and my parent’s long time friends were already there. We arrived in no time, and, as much as I tried to enjoy that day, there was always the sensation that it would also, be over in no time. Yet I refused to accept that it actually would. Time played with me; we had to go. “Good-bye” here, “Someday we’ll see each other again,” plus tears, and tears, and more tears. I couldn’t say goodbye to anyone. I didn’t. Instead, I asked to stay longer. They left to get ready, leaving me with the rest of my family. It was night; the sky had been dark for more than an hour already. Frightful. I looked at the wet, red eyes, my aunt had, then sitting down, I – for the first time in months – cried.

It took my aunt’s entire strength to convince me not to quit. I wept. I was scared. I looked around and some people were still emotional. My cousin sat beside me; he was like my brother. How could I leave this? How dared I, say goodbye to my life? This change we had ahead wasn’t necessary, it was a choice. “What a stupid choice,” I thought, while I cried for a good hour. Several of my parent’s friends – and mine – came and talked to me. It made me feel a bit better, but not fully. So many that cared about me. I missed someone; my aunt Sandra, who was sick. We never said farewell in person; it would only be weeks later that I would finally talk with her… over the phone.

I felt helpless at that moment, defeated. It soon was over, and I was taken home. My parents had everything ready when I got there, at about 9pm. In a blink, we were all off to bed. What a cold night. Never had I felt so miserable. Never.

* * *

It was now the 6th, the clock stopped at 2:30. My dad came once again to wake the house; I had not slept well. The cab would arrive soon, and would take us to the airport. 3:00. The cab arrived in a sudden. I had part of the luggage with me, while we walked downstairs. Once again time had played with me. All were comfortable in the car; my parents with my sisters in the back; I sat in the passenger seat. As the car slowly started to move, I looked at the building – which I called home – for the last time. Goodbye. The driver did not talk. The world held its breath, while my family slept a little. I couldn’t close my eyes. The night was still too cold.

* * *

At about 4:30 we had arrived at the International Airport of Guarulhos. It was now about three hours before the plane actually took off, but who can trust airports these days? My relatives promised to be there with us until it was time. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Tick. Tock. The clock now faster then ever. 7:00. Something had happened on the way, and they were late. My heart sank with the possibility that they would never come; and with the anguish, I waited more. It was not until 20 minutes before we had to go that they finally arrived. It cheered me a bit. Unfortunately 20 minutes wasn’t enough. More hugs, more goodbyes, but no tears. I was dried out, besides it was too late. We finally walked into the corridor. I looked back though, while my feet walked me forward.

The plane took off at about eight. I was lucky enough to sit by a window. Brazil, my country, my life, became smaller with every second. It stayed in place, while I flew to a new place. 11 hours later I would be over Miami.

Someone once told me that life is negative. Well, it isn’t if you are looking at it from up there. Just when I was sad the most, life threw at me such a beautiful view, welcoming me to a new phase. “Hello America,” I finally thought. “Nice to meet you, too.”