The Perversion Of 'Planking' And 'Owling'

You never can quite tell what bizarre activity will eventually become the latest fad or trend.

However, to those of us with ears to hear and eyes to see (Proverbs 20:12) sometimes you can look at what's currently popular in the world and see Satan's fingerprints all over it.

Take, for instance, the phenomenon known as 'Planking' and now the latest to supplant it called 'Owling' too. If you've never heard of either before today, then prepare yourself because this is all just further proof of a world gone mad.

Apparently, taking a picture of yourself laying prostrate in unusual places so that you can post it on various social networking sites is all the rage right now. So, is crouching in an owl-like position so that you can do the same thing.

Owling, It's The New Planking! New Crouching Craze Springs Up On The Internet

The bizarre internet craze of 'planking' is set to lose its cult online status to the increasingly popular trend of 'owling'.

Hundreds of young people in America, Australia and now, Britain, have taken up the new 'owling' craze.

It consists of nothing more taxing than crouching on one's haunches and staring into the middle distance, like an owl.

Participants then take photos of themselves and post them on Facebook or on other social networking sites.

Extra kudos is earned for those who do it in unusual situations.

The trend is a development of the popular craze of ‘planking’ in which people would take pictures of themselves lying face down in strange locations.

However, in recent months ‘planking’ has become increasingly mainstream - and thus less popular on the trend-conscious internet.

Let's just stop here for a moment a comment on what should be obvious to us.

Planking. Yes, it even has its own Wikipedia and Facebook pages too...

The lying down game (also known as planking, or face downs) is an activity, popular in various parts of the world, consisting of lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location. The hands must touch the sides of the body and having a photograph of the participant taken and posted on the Internet is an integral part of the game. Players compete to find the most unusual and original location in which to play. The location should also be as public as possible, and as many people as possible should be involved.

The lying down game is claimed to have been invented by Gary Clarkson and Christian Langdon in 1997, first becoming popular in North East England, then all of Britain by the summer of 2009 reaching the point by late 2010 where it was described by Andrew Sullivan as "sweeping Britain". However, comedian Tom Green claims to have invented "planking" as early as 1994. The game made news in September 2009, when seven doctors and nurses working at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, England were suspended for playing the lying down game while on duty. The game has been described by some as "pointless" and as "Parkour for those who can’t be arsed". Similarly, in the USA, a student group from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis held a flashmob-style mass game and posted clips of the event and passers'-by reactions on YouTube, referring to the event simply as "lazy parkour".

The lying down game spread to the rest of the world where it has also been known as "playing dead" (2003,South Korea), "à plat ventre" ("On one’s belly", France 2004), "extreme lying down", (2008, Australasia), "facedowns" (2010, USA and Ireland), and Planking (2011, Australia & New Zealand and worldwide). Many participants of planking since 2011 have photographed the activity on unusual locations such as atop poles, roofs and vehicles, while some "plankers" engage in the activity by planking only their upper body and feet while leaving the back suspended.

[Source]

In other words, I want us to prayerfully consider that even though the practice is claimed to have been around for nearly 15 years, only now, at this precise moment in time, has it become a truly worldwide popular phenomenon. I don't believe that's a coincidence, folks.

Here are just a few examples of this unusual activity, which seems to have sprung up out of nowhere (but we know better, don't we?)...

As a Christian, does Planking remind you of anything important? It should. After all, it involves laying prostrate, and laying prostrate is traditionally lying with the face downward in demonstration of great humility or abject submission. Where have we seen that before?

Genesis 19:1 (KJV) And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Genesis 50:18 (KJV) And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

Exodus 34:8 (KJV) And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

Numbers 24:4 (KJV) He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

Numbers 24:16 (KJV) He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

Deuteronomy 9:18 (KJV) And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Deuteronomy 9:25 (KJV) Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the LORD had said he would destroy you.

2 Samuel 15:5 (KJV) And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

2 Samuel 16:4 (KJV) Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

2 Samuel 19:18 (KJV) And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;

1 Kings 18:39 (KJV) And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

1 Chronicles 29:20 (KJV) And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.

Job 14:10 (KJV) But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

Psalm 38:6 (KJV) I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

Psalm 88:5 (KJV) Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

Isaiah 14:12 (KJV) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Isaiah 15:3 (KJV) In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.

Isaiah 29:4 (KJV) And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.

Isaiah 49:7 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

Isaiah 51:23 (KJV) But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

Jeremiah 46:15 (KJV) Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.

Daniel 2:46 (KJV) Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.

Daniel 3:10 (KJV) Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

Daniel 3:15 (KJV) Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

Daniel 8:17 (KJV) So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

Luke 5:12-16 (KJV) And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

If you know your Bible (even just casually), then you recognize that every single one of these instances where a rendering of 'laying prostrate' shows up in His Word comes from a portion of the text that teaches us something that's extremely applicable to where we are with what we have today at this very moment on God's prophetic timeline.

How incredible is this? Do you see what I'm getting at? I mean, here we are, all of us privileged to be alive in a dark and urgent time such as this, a time when we are called more than ever to be the salt and light of the earth, and a time when the cry in unison from the Body of Christ around the globe is "Repent! Judgment is coming!", and we see many lost souls engaging in the very same physical activity that was once solely reserved for those who understood the call to and need for a contrite heart, broken spirit, and humble repentance before a holy and righteous Lord. What are the odds of that?

So, it is my humble opinion that as the Holy Spirit moves true Christians everywhere to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of true repentance for sin to a dying, lost, unrepentant world more urgently than ever before, Satan's countermove is to do what he always does -- mimic, mock, and ridicule us by co-opting the very same activity that was once reserved for those seeking deep fellowship, forgiveness, holiness, mercy, restoration, salvation, and sanctification.

Again, just go back and prayerfully consider the above passages of Scripture that we highlighted. Aside from all the prophetic passages that show up, I think the two most popular examples of 'lying prostrate' are the ones involving Moses and the one involving the leper.

In the Gospel of Luke, we saw a man with leprosy who prostrates himself before Jesus and begs for healing. As astonishing as the leper's display is, Jesus' response is even more astonishing.

A study I found by a man named J.D. Meyers is helpful...

After calling some fishermen to follow Him, Jesus begins to show them what it means to be a fisher of men. The people that Jesus tried to catch were not the rich, the powerful, and the influential, but primarily the poor, the sick, and the neglected. Tax collectors, prostitutes, Gentiles, and thieves were drawn to Jesus. In Luke 5:12-16, Jesus reaches out to a person from one of the most rejected groups of all—a leper. This account is parallel in many ways to 4:31-37, and continues to show that Jesus is a prophet like Elisha, and maybe more than a prophet. The point, however, is to show the reader how the mission of Jesus was carried out. He did not focus on the rich and powerful. He had no desire to gather multitudes of followers. He wanted to do exactly what He said in 4:18-19, to heal, mend, restore, and set free.

If this man was full of leprosy, he probably had not had much human contact for many years (Wright 2004:57). But for some reason, this man had come into the city, which is quite shocking. The crowds would have parted before him like the Red Sea before Moses. Nobody wanted to be near a man with leprosy.

Why did he come into the city? Luke does not say. Maybe he came searching for Jesus. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” How did the leper recognize Jesus? Either he had seen Jesus before, or he had heard descriptions of Him. Or maybe, as the crowds gave way before the leper, Jesus did not move out of the way, but let the leprous man draw near. However it happened, the man prostrated himself before Jesus and begged for cleansing. This request was not conditional upon the ability of Jesus to heal, but rather upon His willingness. The leper knew Jesus could heal, if only He was willing (Bock 1994:474). This request is similar to 2 Kings 5;3 where Naaman is advised to seek a prophet if he would be cleansed of his leprosy.

5:13. Before Jesus answered the man, He put out His hand and touched him. Such an action would have shocked both the leper and the disciples (Malina 2003:246). People were supposed to stay well away from lepers, but Rabbis and Priests in particular would avoid lepers, for touching one would make them ceremonially unclean. One Rabbi would not eat an egg purchased from a street that had a leper. Another Rabbi boasted that he threw stones at lepers in order to keep them well away (Edersheim 1988:495). The actions of Jesus were far different. Though touching the leper made Jesus ceremonially unclean, such an action was necessary for Jesus to show tenderness, acceptance, and compassion to a man who had not received such love in a long time. Jesus shows what is necessary to be a fisher of men.

Beyond just touching him, Jesus said, “I am willing; be cleansed.” He rewarded the man’s request of faith, announced His willingness to cleanse the man, and immediately the leprosy left him. Being healed of the leprosy may have meant more than just the disease leaving the man’s body. It may have been that the man was fully healed, receiving back his fingers, toes, or any limbs that may have been lost. If the people following Jesus had been shocked when Jesus touched the man, they would be more shocked at seeing the man become instantaneously whole again.

But then there's Owling too. Ready for this? Owling was a common term for the smuggling of sheep (or wool) from England to another country, particularly France. The practice was illegal in England from 1367 until 1824. Participants were called 'Owlers' (their ships 'owling boats'). Are you kidding me? Sometimes the symbolism is so in-your-face that to cast it aside as 'no big deal' makes us guilty of being intellectually dishonest and willfully ignorant.

Friends, I'm sure I don't have to remind you of the following truths about us either...

Ezekiel 34:31 (KJV) And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.

Jeremiah 23:1 (KJV) Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

Psalm 78:52 (KJV) But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

Psalm 100:3 (KJV) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

John 10:15 (KJV) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:27 (KJV) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

The point? Christians are His sheep (and these are just a few selected passages that speak to this truth). Again, what are the odds of all of this?

I guess mimicking and mocking a genuine form of Christian prayer isn't enough for Satan though. In his pride (no surprise there) he goes even further by not only coming up with a new modern day practice that is synonymous with the concept of 'smuggling sheep', but also puts his signature on this sort of thing since the Owl is a symbol that unmistakably connects the Occult-New Age-Satanic side of life to this activity.

Remember, the "Owl of Moloch" has a DIRECT CONNECTION to Old Testament times recorded for us in the Holy Bible. Interestingly enough, it ties together with the news about the Babylonian language being resurrected that we highlighted in a couple of months ago. The connection between Owl-Ishtar-"Ashtar" was something too, wasn't it? See what I mean though?

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As Art/'Ultraguy' from New Wineskins once wrote, "Owls are resoundingly unclean creatures, harbingers of nothing good."

Now that we've established that fact about Owls based on what the Bible has to say (as well as from what history has taught us), here are some examples of Owling...

What in the world is going on here? Seriously.

I haven't seen a 'Rules' list for Owling just yet, but did come across this one for Planking so I'm sure that the same general rules would apply...

Peopleplanking.com, a site dedicated for sharing pictures, videos, and ideas on planking explains the Planking rules.

1. Most important rule is make sure you Plank safe.

2. You must always lay face down, ensuring your face remains expressionless for the duration of the Plank.

3. Your legs must remain straight, and together with toes pointed.

4. Your arms must be placed by your side, held straight and fingers pointed.

5. You must make it known that you are Planking. Saying 'I am Planking' usually get this across. Sternly announcing it will ensure a good result.

6. Once again your safety should always be considered. Properly thought through Planking procedures should always go to plan. Never put yourself at undue risk.

7. First Aid should never be far away. Ice, Bandaids, Cast Plaster, needle and thread, emotional support and a quick escape route need to be on hand.

My how 'Pharisee-ic' of them with so many rules and regulations for Planking properly. I suppose that adds another layer of irony to this whole discussion as Satan aggressively mocks and ridicules our shared faith in every conceivable way that he can (and is allowed to).

God help us. My gosh, can you imagine if people put just a fraction of the amount of energy they put into Planking and Owling into learning how to pray to and worship the very Creator of the Universe Himself? That's the sad part to all of this.

Satan and his anti-Christ spirit just continues to smile from ear-to-ear and laughs over such utter absurdity; absurdity that takes a holy rite and perverts it so cunningly. The subtle serpent indeed (Genesis 3:1).

Fortunately, we will have the last laugh although those who give no thought of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9) will not be laughing at the eternal fate that awaits them in Hell.

Look, no one's saying that people who engage in Planking or Owling are sinners destined to Hell. I don't know anyone personally who does such things so I can't speak to that one way or another let alone make a sweeping generality.

Besides, this piece today wasn't about categorizing a group of people with a broad brush like that. I merely wanted to offer up a commentary on the observations I had made recently in regards to these two popular activities.

At the end of the day, we are all born sinners whether we Plank or Owl or not. Unless we repent for our sins and genuinely seek the Lord's face for forgiveness, placing our full faith in Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made on our behalf, then our fate is sealed and we are destined for eternity in Hell.

Furthermore, the truth of the matter is that the lost and non-believing world are not saved by a specific prayer they utter (i.e. the so-called 'Sinner's Prayer'), or by a specific way they lay when praying (i.e. laying prostrate while praying).

No, God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and His truth is immutable...

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The fact that such symbolism found in pop culture is so obvious to some of us within the Body of Christ is evidence to me that Satan knows his time is perilously short. Why isn't it obvious to others, or those who are perishing?

1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

John 10:26 (KJV) But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Truth indeed.

Why are Planking and Owling gaining in popularity? In my view, it's because Satan loves to pervert Jesus Christ, His Gospel, and His body of believers in any way that he can. In this case, his focus is squarely upon prayer -- the greatest threat that we present to him and his demonic forces in this world.

Think about it. 'Lying prostrate' and 'crouching' -- two of the primary ways in which devoted followers of Jesus Christ are most likely to pray to Him -- are being singled out and popularized here to the point where if you now saw a Christian praying by laying face down, or with hands firmly clasped in a crouching position (in public no less), it might not have the same effect on you (if you were a non-believer) as it would have before Planking and Owling were popularized because now you might just assume that's what that particular Christian (a stranger to you) is really up to.

Or so Satan thinks! God's is still in complete and total control of His own plans for each individual so all this scheming by our common adversary to keep people from Christ is in vain because of what we known about the Lord already having predestined people from before the foundations of the world (Romans 8:29; Romans 8:30; Ephesians 1:5; Ephesians 1:11).

Why are Planking and Owling gaining in popularity? In my view, it's because of Satan's pride. Because of his pride he is blind to his eventual fate, which explains why his influences upon this planet are so bold and in-your-face these days almost as if he's thumbing his nose at the Lord and at us. So be it. He will have all the time in the world to Plank and Owl in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).

In the final analysis, I praise God that He led me to this story today because it gives me the opportunity to remind myself (and all of you) about some important truths that I suspect are going to become that much more priceless to us in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

It affords us the chance to recall something about spiritual warfare and prayer. I will defer to what another sister in Christ once wrote...

Isn't it amazing that God asks us in the midst of this great war to do the exact opposite of what instinct and military theory dictate? Instinct and military theory would have us remain vigilant and always be aware of our surroundings and circumstances. It would also ensure that we were in a position to have the optimum range of vision. God, however, says that we are not to put our beliefs in what we see but, rather, we are to trust in what He says; therefore, we are not to focus on what we see around us.

In the midst of battle, most combatants would never think of dropping their weapons and folding their hands together. They would not want to kneel onto the ground on their knees, much less lie prostrate face down because it would put them in a position that they could not move quickly offensively or defensively. They also would never want to bow their head to the ground so that they could not see what is happening around them. The posture of prayer - folded hands, bended knees or prostrate, and bowed head - is the weakest defensive and offensive posture that a person can assume if you look at it from military theory. It is in this exact position, however, that the Christian assumes the greatest spiritual posture, offensively and defensively.

As Christians we are in a constant spiritual battle whether we realize it or not. Many times just because we are not at the front lines of the battle, we fail to remember that there is a tremendous war going on. We forget that we have an enemy who seeks to kill, destroy and disable us. We also forget that we are part of the Army of God and, therefore, He is our Commander-In-Chief. We neglect to follow His protocol and procedures laid out in the Scriptures. We fail to get our daily marching orders. Yet the war does not stop and the battles do not end because of our lack of awareness. The war constantly rages around us.

The Christian has to follow God's Laws found in the Scriptures. The Bible is our military protocol handbook. It is also our policy and procedures guide. We must follow the Scriptures. They tell us that we must have faith in God. We must not look at the way things are now by using our natural eyes; we must look through our spiritual eyes with faith.

Does God really expect us to take our eyes off the battlefield? Yes, He does. He expects us to keep our eyes upon Him and not on our problems, circumstances or battles. The psalmist understood this concept and applied it to his own life.

The key during battle is not to worry about what the enemy is doing or how the battle is being waged. It is to keep our eyes upon God and trust Him. It is only through faith in God that we can keep our eyes upon Him during the battle. When we close our eyes in prayer, we acknowledge our faith in God regardless of our surroundings.

Are you willing to lie prone on the floor? Will you voluntarily put yourself into a position that allows the least range of motion and also impairs your vision during battle? If so, then you are certain to discover the Truth in Psalm 91...

Psalm 91 (KJV) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Next time you feel the battle closing in around you, remember that the position of prayer IS the most effective posture offensively and defensively.

I pray that this commentary and resulting Bible study that stemmed from one of the world's latest fads was edifying to you.

Always remember to fight fear with faith. Rely on Christ and wield your greatest weapon, which is prayer for protection and deliverance and strength and victory from Him and Him alone.

Keep looking up (unless of course you're lying face down or crouching in prayer)!

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Posted in: America In Prophecy,Apostasy,How Close Are We?,Media,New Age,Owling,Planking,Spiritual Deception,Symbolism,Synchro-Pop,Truth From The Fringe