In 1999 I paid close attention to the teachings of one particular minister: Robb Thompson, pastor of Family Harvest Church in Tinley Park, Illinois (formerly called Midwest Christian Center), and host of the TV show, Winning in Life. My interest in Thompson was due in part to the fact that I lived in the Chicagoland area at the time, my brother-in-law knew people who attended (what was then called) Midwest Christian Center, and he and I even had the opportunity to attend a pool party at Thompson's multi-million dollar home. [3] But my biggest interest in Robb was due to the repeated warnings he gave to his congregation about the horrors of Y2K (which I heard via his television program).

Robb Thompson preached a message of fear and dread, and - with all the melodrama of a Left Behind novel - alluded frequently to how Y2K could very well signify the "beginning of the end." Of course, nothing happened. January 1, 2000 came and went without incident. By January 2 the clearance racks of every bookstore were filled to capacity with the all the prophecy books fortelling the doom and gloom of Y2K, and how "the end is near." I saw several stores with books marked up to 80% off. They couldn't give those books away! The authors don't care; the poor souls who bought the books became their cash cow in 1999. Thus, while I'm certain many of them could care less, more than a few of these writers of false prophecy lost all credibility. I also know of a few folks with basements full of canned goods who vowed never to return to Midwest Christian Center.

Why are people so prone to such invincible irrationality? At risk of oversimplification, the problem lies in pastors who care more about money than ministry, media who care more about ratings than reality, and a majority of citizens who embrace feeling over fact.

Nevertheless, Robb still has his job, and is going strong three years later. Why? Because the same gullibility that led so many of Robb Thompson's followers to blow their savings to stock up on canned goods also led most of them to believe whatever excuse Mr. Thompson concocted to cover his behind. I'm sure there are those who attend Robb Thompson's church who are genuinely seeking God. I'm also sure there are several who are only after the "health and wealth." Robb uses both motivations to his advantage, which means, financially speaking, Robb Thompson is currently "winning in life." A man may gain the whole world, but at what cost?

The event undeniably more significant than Y2K was the terrorist attacks in 2001 (the year which marked the real beginning of the new millennium). Y2K and 9-11 were both huge news items for the media, and several members of the media exploited them for the sake of higher ratings. When Y2K was seen as a real threat to many, the media often catered to the fears of the public. In the days, weeks, and months following 9-11, the media relied on their familiar modus operandi: sensationalism. Does anyone deny the damage this type of programming can cause? The National Mental Health Association doesn't deny it, and, as the one-year anniversary of 9-11 approached, the Association cautioned that people should "cut back on TV time" to avoid adverse effects. [4] Many so-called journalists, like Robb Thompson and the afformentioned authors of false Y2K prophecy, care only about personal gain. Truth and propriety are abandoned when either becomes a hindrance.

http://www.a180.net/y2k_editorial.html