That was awkward ...

So says the new American billboard advertisement, following the no-show of Judgment Day last weekend.

Harold Camping is undaunted however, saying that his predictions have been right, except that his interpretation was more literal when it should have been spiritual.

"Judgment Day on May 21 did come", said Camping. However, he clarified that the Judgment Day arrived in a spiritual sense rather than manifesting physically.

"On May 21, this last weekend... is where the spiritual aspect of it really comes through. God again brought judgment on the world. We didn’t see any difference but God brought Judgment Day to bear upon the whole world."

Personally, I would go with the new billboard ... but hope that no-one spends $10m on the follow-up advertising campaign (like Harold Camping did before the 'big day').  I think that there are much more deserving causes in the developing world for that kind of money.

Doomsday and Dylan - something for the weekend..

With 2 world-changing events scheduled for the week ahead, I thought it would be good to have something lighter for the weekend.

The first is the end of the world as predicted by Harold Camping - US Christian radio guru.  This is the second attempt at predicting judgment day for the 89 year old, but undeterred by the embarrassing lack of action back in 1994, he is going for broke this weekend, predicting a world-wide earthquake, followed by the rapture as all true Christians fly up into the sky to meet the Lord.

The second event is Bob Dylan's 70th Birthday - who would have ever thought that he would make it this far?  Mind you, if Harold Camping is right, he won't - because his birthday isn't til Tuesday.

But if we all make it to Tuesday intact, this is the song I will celebrate his birthday with.  It's from the infamous 'Slow Train Coming' album back in 1979, when he sang and wrote about his new-found Christian faith in the same uncompromising way in which he wrote protest songs.

It's the last song on the album, and is suitably titled, 'When he Returns' (click to listen on Grooveshark)

The last verse says it all...

Of every earthly plan that be known to man, He is unconcerned
He’s got plans of His own to set up His throne
When He returns

Amen Bob - and Happy Birthday!

(Full lyrics are available here)

(Video's are hard to come by for this 1979 song so but if you don't mind the blurred image, give this one a go...)