Did the world end on May 21?

1 Thessalonians
So, apparently the world was supposed to end on May 21.  That didn't happen...  My question is, why do people think they can accurately predict when the world will end?  It says right here in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 "for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."  We don't expect thieves to come in the night, and when they do, they're a surprise (unless you live in a very crime-ridden city).  That doesn't mean we can't be prepared for the eventuality.  When they do come, we won't be caught off guard.  But we won't know for certain when they'll come.
It's the same way with Christ's return.  We know he's coming back, that much is certain.  But when he'll come, we don't know, as was clearly evidenced by his non-return on May 21.  Not knowing when he'll come should not be worrisome, however.  If we're living in faith, knowing that our salvation comes through Christ alone, it won't matter when he comes back because regardless, we'll be ready.  And that's a relief!

A life of integrity

Key verses
Romans 7:21-25 - So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

 Matthew
 I'd like to continue from yesterday's theme of Jesus's return.  Matthew 24:42 says that we do not know the day or the hour that Jesus will return.  Do we live in disregard of his message, then, and simply carry on as we please, hoping to get at least some notice of when we should clean up our act?  By no means!  Living a life of integrity is the better way, like the "faithful and wise servant" mentioned in verse 45.  First, we won't be caught off guard when the end does coming (whether through the second coming or through our own physical death), and secondly, having consistently followed God for the rest of our lives, we will be far better prepared for heaven than we would be otherwise.  Certainly, heaven will be something beyond our imagination, but by seeking after God here, somehow I think we'll be in a better position to continue being with him there.

Signs of the end of the age... do they matter?

Key verses

Psalm 57:9-11 - I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.  For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Matthew
Matthew 24:15-35 is one of those passages that gets people thinking about the end of the world and Jesus's return.  At one point, this type of prophetic message really interested me as well, and I was curious to know what would usher in the "end times".   I have since learned and come to understand that what is really important is my relationship with God.  It shouldn't matter when the world will end, because regardless of when that is, I'll be striving to get to know God better.  We won't ever get to the point where we'll know God completely, not in this world, but if we're wholeheartedly on the journey of getting to know him and apply his character to our lives, what else is there?