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Photo: Sign of the end times

By Howard B. Owens

Batavia resident Frank VanApeldoorn was positioned on Ellicott Street this afternoon with his religious sign. VanApeldoorn said today wasn't the first time he's stood in front of the former Dellapenna building with his sign. He's also travelled around the region, and even around the country, with his sign. VanApeldoorn, a member of Calvary Baptist Church on Galloway Road, said he likes the Dellapenna's location because it's visible, but still out of people's way and, "It's where God put me."

Gabor Deutsch

I think it is a sign from God that he was put far enough away from the Latina's Building. I don't think the sea gulls mind a little religion either.

Aug 4, 2010, 6:42pm Permalink
Gary Spencer

does it seem to anybody else that there have been less gulls there lately? I know they started doing some work on the situation, but for some reason they seem to have flown the coop, so to speak.

Aug 4, 2010, 7:03pm Permalink
Bea McManis

I like this sign better:
"Dear Lord, Please put love in my heart and tape over my mouth."
I guess in the case of this site, it should also ask for guidance to keep hands off the keyboard.

Aug 4, 2010, 8:16pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Gary, the hatchlings have all taken wing (or died trying), so the parents have not much reason to hang out at Latina's.

Unless appropriate action is taken, they'll be back next spring.

Also, on another note, I happen to believe that one should be respectful of another person's religious views, regardless.

Aug 4, 2010, 8:16pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Michael, the end of the world is a factual reality. It will definitely end one day, swallowed by the sun when it becomes a red giant star in its own death throes approximately 5 billion years from now. As the sun's energy burns off, its mass decreases and it will expand drastically and consume the inner planets out to the earth. The outer planets will probably have long since spun off into space as wandering nomads because the lost mass of the sun will no longer be able to hold them in orbit.

I predict that the end of the earth, sun and our own solar system will happen before something named Jesus appears. Of course, we won't be around to see if the prediction comes true or not but I'm comfortable with that.

44 failed & 1 ambiguous end-of-the-world
predictions that were to occur between 30 & 1920 CE
http://www.religioustolerance.org/end_wrl2.htm

Aug 4, 2010, 8:20pm Permalink
Jason Brunner

I too think that Jesus has met God. And I would like to just throw out there that people who claim to love God and then act like crazy nut cases grind my gears. Let me assure you that there are people, non crazies, that love God. I love God, but would never call myself a non crazy! :)

Aug 4, 2010, 8:18pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Sara, based on my brief interaction with Frank, I would not call him a nut case. Zealous? Yes. Does that level of zealotry put him outside the lines of how many Christians behave in the U.S.? Perhaps. But there are a lot worse ways to be a zealous Christian than hold a sign on Ellicott Street.

I don't see it much different from becoming a preacher and standing on a podium. Somebody with a gift for public speaking might not find that intimidating, but many do. This man wants to obey what he believes by holding a sign. He just might not be talented in the area of expressing his faith in speech or song. Holding a sign on Ellicott seems pretty harmless to me.

Also, the doctrine he is expressing is one that's shared by many Christians. There is a whole industry of book authors writing about "end times."

And I like the picture :)

Aug 4, 2010, 8:27pm Permalink
Colin Dentino

Howard wrote, "Also, on another note, I happen to believe that one should be respectful of another person's religious views, regardless."

Respect goes both ways. Michael and Sara think he's a nutter and he thinks the world is going to end... I respect that.

Aug 5, 2010, 8:28am Permalink
Joy Bernardini

A sign. Hmmm...I guess he could be doing something a lot more crazy out there besides holding a sign up for people to read.

I may not agree with his beliefs but...I will certainly respect him as a person. So long as he is not out there stealing, killing, selling drugs, etc...He can hold that sign as long as he wants out there.

Aug 4, 2010, 9:21pm Permalink
Joy Bernardini

Wow! That was pretty nuts!

Regarding that video up above...
To the devil I say "Get behind me Satan!"

And to the man that started beating on the devil, I think he lost his "self-control" one of the fruitages of God's spirit.

Aug 4, 2010, 9:29pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Colin, I respectfully think he's a nutter. He needs a productive hobby like peeling potatoes or volunteering his sign holding time to a nursing home. He could actually be doing something productive instead of simply "passing the time."

I can't bring myself to have much respect for any religion. They all teach exclusion and bigotry. The tenets within each faith require one to blindly follow.

I recently had a discussion with a friend who started using homeopathic treatments for some ailments that could possibly be life threatening. Dr Dean Edell was once a leading proponent of homeopathy until he realized it simply doesn't do what it's supposed to do. I made a comment that homeopathy is a lot like religion. People want to believe something so badly that they forgo all common sense and logic in an attempt to legitimize that very thing.

When people start to say they hear voices, can talk to the dead or communicate with the other side, other people tend to think they've crumbled all the crackers in the box. On the other hand if people claim they can speak to God, Jesus, Allah, see angels or some other supreme being, we think that's perfectly "normal."

When I see a person claiming that they beilieve in an entity that clearly doesn't exist in any realm other than the mind, it tends to make me think they're a lil' "nutterz."

Lastly, I'd say it's a safe bet that people of faith are quite intolerant of people such as I who think that all religions are hocus pocus, moonshine and brainwashing.

Aug 4, 2010, 10:00pm Permalink
Janice Stenman

Doug, I agree with you. If he had been standing there with a sign saying God doesn't exist, would his picture still be in here?

I don't know any religious person who doesn't think that only people who belive the same as them are going to heaven and everyone else is going to hell.

I do respect that people have religious beliefs. I just don't like them waiving it in my face, or coming to my door, or working into every conversation.

Having said all that, this is Howards baby and he can put whatever he likes in here. If we don't like a particular article, we can skip it!

Aug 5, 2010, 1:20am Permalink
Jeanine Messinger

Janice, there are a lot of really great people of varying faiths who won't wave it in your face. I hope that you can meet some...

Secondly, the sign means: Jesus is coming. Prepare to meet God. For most Christians, Jesus is God and God is Jesus, and then there's the Holy Spirit, but that's getting off track... I'm thinking the posterboard was just a bit too small to fit the whole message in, but that happens!

I also don't think that Mr. VanApeldoorn is "nutterz." He is practicing both his freedom of speech and his freedom of religion. He carries a message which he feels everyone should see.

I dare anyone who criticizes this man to make your own poster of a view that you sincerely believe in (but one that may not be so popular). Stand on the street, hold your sign, take some jeers (and possibly some offensive gestures) and let everyone know how it goes. I'm thinking that at the end of the day, you'll be exhausted and angry.

Mr. VanApeldoorn goes home, taking all of the criticism with him, and hopefully feels that his day of work has been one of purpose.

Thanks to all of the courageous people out there who are willing to take a stand.

Aug 5, 2010, 7:12am Permalink
Wayne Speed

Jesus is coming again, just as He said.
God will judge the world.

This good man is simply trying to reach people for Jesus Christ before that time arrives. Why ridicule him for the non-offensive act of simply holding a sign that states his belief?

Aug 5, 2010, 7:12am Permalink
John Roach

He's not bothering anybody, he is not standing in the street or getting in any one's way, he's stopping people asking for money, he's just minding his own business. So should we.

Aug 5, 2010, 7:21am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Janice wrote, "If he had been standing there with a sign saying God doesn't exist, would his picture still be in here?"

And

"Having said all that, this is Howards baby and he can put whatever he likes in here. If we don't like a particular article, we can skip it! "

Why do you think I wouldn't publish a picture of an atheist holding a similar sign? That's ridiculous. You should know by now, I publish what I find interesting. If an atheist were standing there holding a similar sign and I came across it and I found it interesting and got a good picture, of course I would publish it. I'm offended, really, that anybody would think otherwise.

Aug 5, 2010, 7:45am Permalink
Richard Gahagan

Jesus lives, I saw him at a party last night playin quarters with santa, the easter bunny, humpty dumpty, elvis, jim morrison and john lennon.

Aug 5, 2010, 8:02am Permalink
Colin Dentino

[Doug wrote, "I can't bring myself to have much respect for any religion. They all teach exclusion and bigotry. The tenets within each faith require one to blindly follow."]

You are hearing the 'loud ones'... Everyone hears the 'loud ones'. Ever since September 11th we have been hearing from the loud Muslims, but is that most of the Muslims? No. We hear from the loud Christians all the time.

The 'loud ones' do like to be heard and do not like to be wrong. So when they shout, they usually shout about exclusion, bigotry, and other things that would have gotten you a time-out in Kindergarten.

I would say, most religions are not actually broken and the 'loud ones' are probably a minority... they are just louder than everyone else.

Aug 5, 2010, 8:28am Permalink
Janice Stenman

Howard, I certainly didn't mean to offend you! I asked the question......you answered! You DO run the Batavian and I think you SHOULD print anything you wish. Also, I still believe that people can just skip over articles they don't want to read.

I still assert that I don't want anyone to try to rub my nose in their particular beliefs...this includes non religious issues too.

Not sure why you singled me out after all the truly nasty comments here, but I can handle it.

Aug 5, 2010, 4:38pm Permalink
Bob Price

Yeah-Jesus has also appeared on a few episodes of Family Guy......... that's Frank's right to show his belief-don't like it? Well,tough-move to another country! I'm just waiting a "will work for food" sign somewhere in Batavia one of these days.

Aug 5, 2010, 5:05pm Permalink
Mary E DelPlato

Speaking of God and gulls lol...yes how did the like suddenly decrease in numbers...I called the d and c and no response so I ve called my animal rights of upstate new york club i belong too. this isnt just gonna disappear as the seagulls did. If it was done with out death fine. But...is it coincidence that Ive seen lots of dead birds layin in the parkin lot but only for a short period. There is a baby gull hangin out there now just meandering around and last nite it was close to yet another dead one. I know most of u dont care but this was sad to me. Gods been comin back a long time I think hes allready here just like Jesus was once in flesh before I think hes here now...or heck...shes here....lol and shes pissed offfff lmao!!!!!!!!!

Aug 7, 2010, 3:38pm Permalink

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