History 101: The Beginning of 21st Century

Probably the biggest New Years Eve celebration everyone in the world wanted to get in on was 1999.


In the Seinfeld episode The Millenium, Kramer and Newman find out they've both planned a New Years Eve party for 1999 (which isnt for 2 more years). They both try to convince their friends to attend one and not the other's. This competition only causes more friction between friends, so Kramer suggests Newman cancel his, to which he remarks:




"But I had this party planned since 1978! I booked a room at that revolving restaurant that's up high overlooking Time Square. And I even booked Christopher Cross!"


Since Newman's whole theme of his party and invitations say"Celebrate the New Millenium with Newmanium", and carries with him the persona of always messing things up, Jerry asks,
"Did you book it for the Millenium New Year?
"Yes, Newman answers.

Jerry gets in the last laugh, "Well the Millenium doesn't begin until 2001, which would make your party one year late and thus, quite lame."



We entered the year 2000 with the Y2k scare, which turned out to be just that, only a scare.


We also entered the 21st century with Hollywood losing it's creativity in the television market so they bombarded us with reality shows, which still exist today. We became obsessed with being paid a million dollars if we could: survive on an island(Survivor), answer a bunch of questions but are given 3 lifelines(Who Wants to be a Millionaire), or eating grotesque food and doing dangerous stunts(Fear Factor).



But the one reality all of us living in the United States had to face was that of our safety, due to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,2001. Subsequently the months ahead brought with it not only new challenges but a spirited patriotism that I had never witnessed before in my lifetime. Everywhere you looked you saw the American flag: sailing from car windows and antennas, bumper stickers, hanging in house windows, store windows, and house porches. You even had a wide variety of t-shirts with the emblem. All a symbol of our pride. Even the NFL entered the scene with a flag on players jerseys and helmets and made a new logo for the upcoming Super Bowl (which was months away) reflecting this American pride.



And coincidently (or maybe not), the New England Patriots, who have had their red white and blue logos since their existence, would go on to win that Super Bowl, their first Super Bowl win ever.



Sept. 11 also made us aware of our own vulnerability and brought many of us to our knees realizing the importance of having and needing God. What is interesting is this new century we were embarking on had already begun a new wave of worship music. We had Darlene Zchek encouraging us to Shout to the Lord, and then we had the husky voice of Mac Powell and Third Day giving us a new way to sing Alleluia.

Though the worship style may have changed and is doing it's purpose in attracting and reaching a new generation of believers, one can't help but wonder what else can be in store for the 21st century and for Christians and new believers all over the world. As Billy Graham once said,

"I've read the last page of the Bible. It's going to turn out allright."