With Russia threatening America and the Israelis getting ready to attack Iran things are bound to get interesting in a hurry. A privileged planet, a Goldilocks planet, a unique world in a unique solar system of the universe with intelligent life capable of believing there is a God and responding. Of course it’s a minority view in respect to our earth and intelligent life, but it’s one corresponding to the somber pronouncement by Jesus that very few are going to be saved; and here in America one only has to view and listen to the Devil’s control of the media, especially TV to believe our nation is going fast to hell.

Devoted to programming filled with violence and perversion, mind-numbing drumbeat noise TV may well be thought run by the Evil One, and even many so-called “news” channels push idiotically grinning people obviously in need of a brain slavering over celebrities while the world is going to hell you can’t help but wonder who gave them their jobs and believed they could be taken seriously?

But much of religious TV broadcasting is of Satan in my opinion. To watch the shamelessly embarrassing antics of some of these charlatans is to wonder why God would put up with such fools trying to make God look foolish? Years ago I formed the opinion too many churches were trying to compete with Hollywood, and the result has been an absolute travesty of anything approaching what the churches used to be. However, while “the church in the wildwood” can’t make it to the big time there remains “no place so dear to my childhood.”

Teachers can’t win competing with Hollywood and TV, and neither can the churches. The schools are there to teach children, not entertain them. And the same can be said of the churches in respect to their congregations. Like Benjamin Franklin I believe the churches should serve as a moral basis of instruction for people, places where people can gather together to fulfill the need of congregating for the good of society, but never in competition with the theater.

While the Gabriel Tablet is getting some attention those of us with theological backgrounds find no surprises when it comes to either Messianic or resurrection stories. And while my own personal belief is the Bible is true in many instances, that God did in fact speak to some people and the voice of the Lord is heard in those many passages that have the ring of truth to me, I don’t credit the story of the divinity of Jesus above that of all the children of God having that very same divine parentage. I do credit Jesus passed on things he had learned of God, that like some others of the Bible he had a particularly teachable spirit. But I am not about to blame Jesus for the many abuses of religion in his name or for megachurches and TV evangelists.

Sinclair Lewis had fun with those like D. L. Moody and Billy Sunday much as some others did with radio preachers who would tell folks “Put your hand on your radio and be healed,” but it was Aimee Semple McPherson, though denied by many, who in my opinion truly fascinated him; so he made Sister Sharon Falconer a fascinating woman. And I always appreciated Lewis’ dedication of Elmer Gantry “to H. L. Mencken, with profound admiration.”

Through the many twists and turns of my life I’ve had cause for doubting many things of religion no less than Lewis, but there are some things in the Bible and Nature that proclaim God is, things not bound to any organized religion but common to many people such as myself with no religious affiliation.

But if things continue to become increasingly interesting, things like Israel attacking Iran I won’t be surprised to learn a whole lot of people are going to get religion in a hurry. I just hope it won’t be the religion of politicians and TV hucksters.

Ours may be a privileged planet; intelligent life may yet prove unique to earth. And if so, it might serve well to take heed to the words of Jesus that only a few are going to be saved. Whatever the purpose of God in Creation, it seems it is one that requires only those very special few that live their lives in accordance with the universal gospel that clearly teaches us to honor God in our lives and do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

Things have really heated up here in Kern County with soaring temps and the fires still burning. Maybe as Rhett suggested to Scarlett there isn’t any hell, but it takes people to make for a living hell on earth. I happen to think such people are the servants of Satan, and if not there is a pretty good chance in my opinion things will turn out that way regardless.