The Weedpatch Gazette - samheath's Blog

The Weedpatch Gazette - samheath's Blog - Tehachapi News http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath en-us Science Should Allow for an Ibis-stick http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26508 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26508 For any number of reasons I keep thinking about Bill Cosby and God saying to Noah when he argues about building the Ark “How long can you tread water.” Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes in divers places, tsunami’s, volcanoes, cyclones, tornadoes, floods, fires, diseases and famine; it isn’t looking good folks. Bad things seem to be going on at an apocalyptic pace, and just think; it may become increasingly worse while here in my native state we are being “assured” the Big One is going to hit us at any time. It certainly doesn’t help matters that politicians have mortgaged America for the next two generations. But perhaps politicians know something the “unwashed” don’t know that makes them think they can spend like there is no tomorrow? Maybe they aren’t counting on “tomorrow” ever coming? Did Klaatu appear privately to only a privileged few? Was the Mayan Doomsday Calendar confirmed to only a privileged few? Are those in charge of the American “store” the real insiders deciding to spend lavishly knowing the world is running out of time or are mad dreams of world conquest more than what even Hitler or James Bond villains imagined? Where are Nostradamus and Edgar Cayce when we need them? Instead of the Philosopher’s Stone what if the Large Hadron Collider should produce Stephen King’s “Langoliers?” Well, maybe the real insiders go a lot further back in time than anyone has thought possible. I got to wondering about this some years ago when I began to become curious what the real facts might have been resulting in the early chapters of Genesis together with studying many of the myths and legends of antiquity and questioning some of the theories given concerning things like Atlantis, the Giza pyramids, etc. For example the cave paintings in France are so advanced in style as to be downright spooky! That Early Modern Humans, a phrase preferred by many paleontologists, could have had such skill so many thousands of years before being seen again in relatively recent history is beyond simply amazing. It is to me nothing less than spooky though it’s kind of a tossup between amazed awe and spooky. K. Krist Hirst: In Africa, early modern humans appeared at least as long ago as 160,000 years BP at sites such as Bouri in Ethiopia, and perhaps as long ago as 195,000 years ago, if the dating of Omo Kibish, also in Ethiopia, is correct. The earliest sites outside of Africa with early modern humans are at Skhul and Qazfah caves in what is now Israel about 100,000 years ago. There's a large gap in the record for Asia and Europe, between 100,000 and 40,000 years ago, a period in which the Middle East seems to have been occupied by Neanderthals; but around 50,000 years ago, the EMH appear again and flow back into Europe… Where Did EMH Come From? This is problematic, because there's very little data for these periods of time. In addition, the relationship between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens is hotly debated in some circles. Behaviorally, in Africa and the Middle East, the Neanderthals and EMH were pretty much the same; they were physically quite different and different scholars debate on our exact relationship with them. The more we learn about early modern humans, the less we feel confident about the early classification systems we developed more than 130 years ago. The term Cro-Magnon doesn't refer to a particular taxonomy or even a particular group located in a particular place. The word is not precise enough, and so most paleontologists prefer to use Anatomically Modern or Early Modern Humans…<o:p></o:p> Perhaps science will provide an answer to questions surrounding EMH, but so far there is no clear-cut answer. Nor is there any decisive answer to how civilization should suddenly appear as though the gods had performed a miracle in Sumer after so many thousands of years without such a thing. Mandrake had his Ibis-stick that really fascinated me as a kid, and maybe there is a factual basis for the story of Amentep; at least I like to think so. As a kid I could imagine all kinds of wonderful things I would do if I only had that Ibis-stick. But I do think there are many mysteries surrounding ancient Egypt, and the facts behind the myths may very well be more astounding than the myths themselves. We may expect too much of science and technology. I believe we have to leave room in our minds for the supernatural and mysteries and should never forsake the wonder of childhood that so easily accommodates such things. Years ago I read a SciFi story about children being used in a war. The enemy could read minds and hoped to get an advantage by reading the mind of one of the children that had been mortally wounded and was dying, but could not make any sense of the images in the child’s mind. At the same time we hear of children being used by conscienceless monsters to wage war I think it is unfortunate so many good people of conscience seem to lose this ability to make sense of the images of childhood. But I don’t think you can be a very good scientist unless you leave room in your mind for an Ibis-stick. What Prospect for a Better Future http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26429 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26429 When you have lived long enough to experience the windup Victrola and icebox you were raised with become “collectibles” or used for “décor” you have lived through a lot of changes here in America. The changes in just my own lifetime have been so dramatic as to cause me to be in awe of them at times. But while language and clearly defined and secure borders are the glue that holds any nation together its traditions are of nearly as great importance as Tevye made clear in “Fiddler on the Roof.” And while some traditions may give place to better ways I have cause to wonder what of American traditions may have been forsaken for things that have worked to the detriment of our nation. There is a need for both “new wine” as well as not removing “the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.” However, to distinguish these requires leadership with the wisdom to know the difference and prioritize accordingly. But without such leadership a nation will fail. This is why I do not believe America will be a factor in the End Times, but is that nation described as “Babylon” in Revelation. We have a failure of leadership in America, and none on the horizon possessed with the kind of wisdom that would deliver us from the path of destruction we are now on. But we are in this position as a nation because for a very long time now we have been without leadership that had the wisdom to guide us; on the contrary we have been ruled by politicians, not those with vision and character to chart another course. Much like the Prodigal Son our inheritance has been wasted on things that have not benefited the good of America, but rather things that have been destructive of the moral base of our country, things allowing the importance of family for example to be eroded with nothing of any lasting value as a substitute. If there is no moral “anchor” for a government or society it is impossible to rightly distinguish between the new wine and the ancient landmark, what should give way to better and what must be retained, a balancing act that cries out for the very best of wisdom and leadership. But who among us really believes the path of wisdom is where our government leadership is taking us? And I for one see nothing better for us no matter who becomes our next president. The tiny nation of Israel has been a success in balancing secular and religious views, balancing new wine and the ancient landmark and has managed to be an example of how the right leadership can best serve the needs of its people. But it has been nothing short of miraculous Israel became a nation once more, and has managed to not only survive but prosper in the face of so many enemies determined to destroy it. And there should be no mistaking Iran’s mad mullah actually intending to “wipe Israel off the map!” And it is here where I am more than willing to credit the Biblical view of Israel in the scheme of history. That this tiny nation should be so prominent on the world stage would be considered ridiculous had anyone said such a thing in time past, but here we are in the present and so it has come to be. Because I recall the windup Victrola and icebox as “luxuries” of America past, and then these giving way to improvements and becoming a standard of living in so many homes with promises of a better future I am too old now to worry about what may become of me. So I look about and consider the events taking place here in America and globally with a certain amount of detached interest, more as a spectator than any longer a participant. It isn’t that I have become detached from suffering humankind; far from it. But I have accepted there is little I can do to change the course of events. I will continue to be involved with politics and will continue casting my vote hoping for the best, not because I believe my vote will change anything but because it is both my privilege and duty to do so as an American, just as I believe it to be the privilege and duty of every American. But there is something quite melancholy about living long enough to look back so far and still having the mental faculty to vividly recall so many things of the past, especially the things that gave us so much cause for hope of the future. There was a time when people were not so confused about new wine and ancient landmarks, and having lived it I miss that time in America past. It was far from perfect back then, but what prospect is there now for a better future. The friction of greed, corruption and incompetence threatens the machinery of government at all levels and it seems only a matter of a short time when it will be quite beyond being able to function at all but will self-destruct. And should that happen, where is there a friend in the world to offer help and would be both trustworthy and capable to help putting America back together. But it is now this generation’s turn to try and do better than my generation did.   LHC: Philosopher’s Stone! http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26359 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26359 Now here is a nifty idea I read this morning in Center for Individual Freedom: “Buy guns with your tax rebate checks.” And I need not add because you’re going to need them! But while things are getting downright scary and going to hell in a basket here in America leading me to believe our nation is not going to be a major player in the “End Times” the EU is going full speed ahead on the Large Hadron Collider. When I read “Foucault’s Pendulum” years ago it struck me Umberto Eco was really on to something, and one of the reasons I liked the novel was the book publishing angle since I had been so involved with writing books and learning about the business. In some ways Eco’s use of this in his novel was like that of Michener’s later work “The Novel” though not to confuse vanity presses with others. But unlike Casaubon, perhaps Eco himself, I know what I’m getting into and before reading the novel I had a background in studies not only of the Illuminati, Astrology, Kabbalah and various mystic religions but also knew that at the end of WWII America and Russia did not get all the best scientists; many of these remained in Europe. It isn’t known when the original idea of a philosopher’s stone first suggested itself, but certainly the idea of finding a means of retaining youthful health, of extending life and even hopes of immortality has been around for a very long time, and together with alchemists attempting to discover a means for turning base metals into gold we had the beginnings of modern science, which like the original concepts surrounding the philosopher’s stone is dedicated in large part to health and wealth. You won’t find it in a search of the literature but from the beginning when CERN came into being it caught my attention because I have always been a great fan not only of science, but of science fiction from the time in the late 30s when I began to follow the exploits of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon in the funny papers. But there was also something about the organization that to me intimated the occult at work as well. Then when it became obvious the LHC was intended to be much more than advertised it finally came to me: The EU is trying to find “The Philosopher’s Stone!” Imagine discoveries that will extend life, make the EU energy independent, provide a means to neutralize nuclear weapons and make them obsolete by the threat of even more powerful weapons, being able to make diamonds and other precious gems inexpensively by the pound-weight rather than carats and turn base metals into platinum, gold, and silver. How about communications without need of any phones, or making teleportation possible? If you finally have the Philosopher’s Stone at your disposal the possibilities are seemingly without limit! The world has never been rid of Astrology and has many well educated adherents today, and Europe has never been rid of witchcraft and conjurors, of the things that motivated Hitler in matters of Astrology and the occult. Are there occult meanings to the symbols on our dollar bill? Did Aliens grab Steve Fossett and is NASA involved in a massive cover-up about UFOs? Hey, I know what I’ve seen myself of the “Unexplained.” This together with knowing our government lies to us is enough to cast suspicion on any “official” findings coming out of government agencies. In “Contact” there was the need to interpret the various symbols transmitted to earth from Vega. Carl Sagan among others had many ideas about alien contact, what forms it might take. But could there have been more to the idea of the first TV reception by extraterrestrials being that of the Swastika and Hitler than simply a plot device? One might ask in the same manner why the History Channel seems so preoccupied with Hitler and his Germany. If we accept the latest theory from scientists the population was reduced to some 2,000 humans about 70,000 years ago, on the brink of total extinction. What saved our species in unknown, but given so many things of ancient times such as civilization suddenly bursting on the scene of history is unknown this is wide open to speculation including supernatural intervention as well as extraterrestrial. The ancients could not possibly have accomplished so many things beyond their ability without “extra-intelligence” of some kind. I utterly reject the idea the constellations were mapped and metallurgy such as the use of iron discovered without the aid of this extra-intelligence whether of the gods or extraterrestrials. The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, Nazca Lines and so much more make no sense apart from this extra-intelligence whatever its source. There has to be a basis for the myths and legends from antiquity, and though the meaning of many stories and artifacts are now lost to us they had a meaning and purpose at some time in the past. I do accept many of the prophecies of the Bible being true, and many writers of SciFi like Isaac Asimov derived story lines from the Scriptures. Read Asimov’s Guide to the Bible for example. I accept God has provided extra-intelligence at times to various people like Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Newton, Einstein and many others throughout human history. I believe some souls are greater than others, capable of more just like seeds produce differently. But even as in nature wild some die, some grow to be weeds and some grow to produce fruit. And even as some weeds are more “evil” than others, so with good seed that produces better and more abundantly than others. And the pattern here on earth may very well be that of the heavens where both angels and demons are found and the story in the book of Job and other parts of the Bible describes— just as there is a hierarchy in the heavens so it is here on earth where the struggle between good and evil is playing out, a battle described as eventuating in the scenes described in the book of Revelation with the promise of a future destiny for the children of God far beyond imagination. Among several certainties is the fact something cannot possibly come out of nothing. The Big Bang, if true, had to begin with something. I credit that something being God; supreme intelligence at work; and from God the extra-intelligence that has enabled our species to survive and accomplish so much has a supernatural origin. While my thought the LHC may be the hope of the Philosopher’s Stone thereby justifying the enormous amount of time, labor and financial investment in the project, this may prove only whimsical. What is not whimsical is the fears of those who believe it may prove to be a Pandora’s Box of very dire unintended consequences. On the other hand, what if it should prove to be the philosopher’s stone; there remains the old story of a battle between the children of light and those of darkness. I believe the Devil takes care of his own here on earth, but I also believe “payback,” a time of reckoning is coming as well. Though perhaps only whimsy on my part maybe the LHC will hasten the day? If not, there is still the matter of a new American President to consider.   Believe as You Will http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26205 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26205 While here in the Kern River Valley we are enjoying mild weather and abundant sunshine it’s difficult to appreciate the severe weather impacting so many elsewhere. Things change in a moment when catastrophes like Katrina or a tsunami strike, a cyclone hits Myanmar and fires, floods, and tornadoes wipe out thousands of homes here in America. Of course, the disasters due to the forces of nature are things over which we have no control, but it seems we have no control over the disastrous decisions of world leaders including our own that are harming and depleting our planet at an alarmingly accelerating rate. One might reasonably suppose something could at least be done about this, but it seems reason is not the overriding factor. Rather, greed and corruption seem to be guiding human destiny. In “My Fair Lady” Colonel Pickering asks Professor Higgins concerning his phonetic vocation “Is there a living in that?” In my opinion, this seems a neat summation of human affairs. Whether by fair means or foul whatever one’s beliefs all must make a living. That this has in many instances been the cause of so much human suffering seems to be the lot of humankind since it has not been our destiny to be ruled by those with the best interests of our species in mind, but rather by those that for the most part are dedicated to their own lust for power and wealth. Utopian dreams have always degenerated into the common dust of human nature that seems to place the most unscrupulous and ruthless in positions of authority. And there must be a reason for this. So, I wonder about the course of science that depends on greed and corruption to support it. There is virtually nothing in science that is not eventually made to serve the ends of greed and corruption, and altruism continues to be a victim to the noblest achievements of science corrupted to the evil ends of those seeking power and profits. Even now as we await someone pulling the trigger on the Large Hadron Collider for example the worst fears of those attempting to prevent this may be realized, and were it not for the enormous investment in the LHC I would be more inclined to believe its purpose was purely scientific dedicated to learning and the advancement of our species. But given human nature and the history of our species that kind of investment in the LHC belies any such hope. It does seem the greatest scientific achievements are not sufficient to blunt the forces of greed and corruption that invariably trump the Utopian wish such things like splitting the atom would serve only the best ends of humankind. Invariably the worst among us seems to rise to positions of power and influence, making the decisions that place the best achievements of science in the hands of scoundrels for the sake of power and profits. As a matter of philosophical speculation, I would say if evolution were the determining factor only the most barbaric and ruthless is destined to survive. But at any given moment our species may be cut short by any one of a number of possible cataclysmic events. As it is, the teeming billions on earth will not long be able to feed themselves and circumstances of both changing weather patterns together with the greed and corruption of those in power may result in wars of growing magnitude not discounting the possibility of nuclear weapons being used. Given present world conditions, it is difficult to see any reasonable solution to the circumstances already making determinations beyond civilized solutions. When you are warm and fed, when all material needs are met it is easy to wax philosophical about world events, to discuss things like Evolution vs. Intelligent Design, Election vs. Free Will, whether there is a God or not. But when cataclysmic events overtake, the only thing certain is that you will die. In the brief time I have left to speculate about things I won’t waste it on unproductive argument. It isn’t my place to persuade anyone of my point of view. The thousands of books that have been written have not changed minds unwilling to change, and there is no point in taking up endless debate on issues where the parties have already made up their minds. If there is a God, who can withstand him; and if not death is the end. In the meantime, which is my time I’ll continue my speculations about the many things that interest me. For instance, who really believes our next president will be able to solve the problems America is facing. And who believes such solutions can be reached that does not require the cooperation of other nations when we are faced with the realities of global conditions directly impacting America. But even now the suffering of unnumbered millions worldwide is subject to the greed and corruption of their leaders, and we become calloused to the pictures on TV screens of such misery knowing our efforts to help must pass through the hands of those given over to greed and corruption. The reality irrespective of either scientific achievement or philosophical speculation is the fact our planet is in the hands of ruthless scoundrels having only the veneer of being civilized. In the face of coming calamity from which science cannot deliver us because of the decisions impacting us and our planet being in the hands scoundrels rather than those dedicated to human welfare, like many others I find what comfort and hope I can in my beliefs. And so long as these do no harm to others I’m content to end my days believing the things I do, to continue to study and learn things even if they contradict the things I presently believe. If atheists and agnostics find a like comfort in their beliefs that is all well and good so far as I am concerned. There remain the myths and legends from the greatest antiquity, the mysteries abounding right here on our own planet for which there are no answers. Science still cannot explain or define life or its origin, and for many of us it is a full time occupation being absorbed by these many mysteries, some of which remain in the realm of the supernatural despite all the science directed to finding answers for such things. And if I choose to believe many of the things contained in the Bible are true, that is my concern not that of others. However, for those that have faith in science or world leaders to save us or our planet I think this is faith misplaced; but it is not my place to convince anyone of my point of view, I do not attempt to force my beliefs on anyone and in my opinion we are all free to believe as we will.   Origin of Life as I Believe http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26082 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26082 The age of our universe is given as approximately 14 billion years, but this is said to be in its “infancy” given the estimates of lasting trillions of years into the future. By this measure, our universe is scarcely out of the “womb” and far from being even a toddler as yet. Our earth is estimated to be about 4 billion years old, so it is a very “young” planet in the scheme of the universe; and if the Big Bang started as a “seed” intelligent life here on our planet may be the latest thing to sprout on the astronomical chart. Perhaps this is why Jesus compared faith as small as a mustard seed sufficient to move mountains. Given the immensity of the universe young as it is, it does seem beyond reason that our solar system and intelligent life could possibly be unique in the universe. However, there are scientists who believe the human form the most suitable for an inhabitable planet and intelligent life capable of what our species has accomplished, but probability dampens the hope that ET may be found elsewhere and ours may indeed be a miraculously “privileged planet” and ours a miraculously “privileged species.” Space.com. April. 10, 2008: … In a recent paper published in the journal Astrobiology, Professor Andrew Watson of the University of East Anglia describes an improved mathematical model for the <a href="http://www.space.com/searchforlife/seti_bigbrains_020926.html">evolution of intelligent life</a> as the result of a small number of discrete steps… Watson estimates the overall probability that intelligent life will evolve as the product of the probabilities of each of the necessary steps. In his model, the probability of each evolutionary step occurring in any given epoch is 10 percent or less, so the total probability that intelligent life will emerge is quite low (less than 0.01 percent over 4 billion years). Even if intelligent life eventually emerges, the model suggests its persistence will be relatively short by comparison to the lifespan of the planet on which it developed…<o:p></o:p> While the universities have a stranglehold on Darwin and refuse to let go their doctrine allowing any dissent from faith within the ranks, the Creation Research Society and the scientists in the organization are to be commended for the excellent work they are doing in helping us understand how unlikely our species began and evolved by unaided mechanistic forces of nature. I would be more impressed by those touting their faith in Darwin if they had a clue to what life and death really are, but science does not supply an answer to this question. As it is I find Professor Watson’s estimate of 0.01 percent to be very generous concerning life given all the mitigating factors against such a thing occurring anywhere in the universe, and the rancor of those unable to supply an answer to what life and death are or the origin of life only shows their bigoted prejudice against those of us who believe in Intelligent Design.<o:p></o:p> There are guesses apart from God being the Creator as to how life may have originated and how our planet seems to have become so life-friendly, but there is no science that actually explains it. However, the intimidation tactics used by the naysayers of ID are little different than the propaganda used to stifle dissent and advance other causes without genuine merit. And some of these people are indistinguishable from other fanatics in their pursuit of persecuting those that don’t kowtow to their propaganda and go along with the party line. In too many cases the opposition of ID remind of children throwing a tantrum much in the manner of calling those who believe the government has been involved in conspiracies of evil “nut cases.” Paying attention to such children because of their tantrums is counterproductive.<o:p></o:p> I’m far more interested given the infancy of our universe and it being so inimical to intelligent life why such life as we know it should have occurred at all in such an otherwise hostile environment? For those of us who believe there is a design and purpose to life it is an intriguing question. That the question too often falls into religious wrangling is only to be expected given human nature. But while any explanation of God is beyond our imagination, the subject cries out for speculation even among the greatest of philosophers. That we humans are even capable of such speculation is in my opinion evidence of our supernatural origin.<o:p></o:p> It is interesting that while Ben Stein and Glenn Beck find common ground on the subject of ID they did not seem willing to cross the line concerning the subject of evil in the world pertaining to Satan. But it is this line where even the staunchest supporters of ID become somewhat fearful to associate Creation with the Devil. And it is the subject of Satan that separates me from some believers in ID. While I am a believer in ID I also believe the Bible to be our best source of information concerning the working of God in human affairs, including the Devil being a part of it all, which is why I credit the account of the Temptation where Jesus does not dispute Satan’s claim to the kingdoms of the world. And I might add politicians and the universities.<o:p></o:p> Even given the infancy of our universe we humans are an infinitesimal part of the timeline, even of our planet; and Professor Watson is among many surmising our planet may not long support intelligent life. But I believe there was an act of God involved with the whole of this as described in the opening chapters of Genesis. If we human beings are really as special as the Bible would have us believe, then it is impossible to imagine given the comparative brief span of time involved with the Creation and the even briefer span of we humans on earth what might be in the mind of the Creator for our future: I Corinthians 2:9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.<o:p></o:p>   The Progress of Doctrine http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26017 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/26017 Whether one accepts the opening verses of the book of Hebrews or not, it is obvious the escalating sex and violence on TV, in Hollywood films and in “games” desensitizes those that become immersed in such things leading to increasing violence and objectifying women. But while violence and treating women as objects has always been a fact throughout the history of humankind, so much so the Bible has it God determined to destroy the Adam he had created it cannot be denied harsh economic conditions promotes violence and I wonder just how the media in America may change in the face of increasing violence? The pattern of glorifying sexual perversion and violence through the media does not offer much hope of a kinder and gentler media, any more than hope for kinder and gentler politicians. Well, we know much of TV is not suitable for civilized people but what about The History Channel? I have cause to wonder if the producers have some kind of agenda. Take the presentation A History of God for example. Books have been written about the “progress of doctrine” in theology, and there is much to credit the concept. The Bible is filled with examples of God dealing with people in many different ways, and there is no “one way fits all” to be found. On the contrary, the Bible as a collection of the writings of men is often contradictory in its own “history of God.” Still, notwithstanding its weaknesses it remains the best source of information about God dealing with people we have at hand. As to a progress of doctrine this follows the example of children having to learn along life’s path, and in God’s dealing with people it can easily be seen that humankind has been on a path of learning, that at different points in our history God has had to fit the lessons to the appropriate age group. And at one time in the past after thousands of years making no progress, civilization suddenly burst upon the screen of history. This is an event I attribute to the work of God, perhaps a decision made in a council of gods presuming there is a hierarchy of such beings as the opening chapters of Genesis lead me to believe.     It is very much to our maternal grandparents and great-grandmother’s credit that my brother Ronnie and I were taught right from wrong, that we never used profanity and had a strict, moral code. That this required a great deal of adjustment as we grew older you can well imagine. Nevertheless, the lessons of childhood had been learned and not forgotten which is the reason I still cringe at crude and vulgar language, and I see nothing funny in sex “jokes” demeaning women especially. There has never been a time in my life that I have felt I was out of the presence of God. This may be due to my grandparents and great-grandmother dedicating me to God at birth and giving me the prophet’s name and raised me “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,” teaching me from earliest childhood “the Holy Scriptures which are able to make one wise unto salvation” as Paul wrote of Timothy. But while God may have his “eye upon the sparrow,” parents (and grandparents) don’t always have their eyes upon their children. And some of the things my brother and I were learning from our church in Little Oklahoma would have been appalling to our grandparents. There was one kid in particular from whom I learned some things that definitely did not fit in a church. This kid and his mother were both shouting fundies, raging warm on the need to live good Christian lives. But this kid held my brother and I spellbound on such lively topics as sodomy and descriptive female anatomy. While utterly lacking any experiential frame of reference, we did not wish to appear unappreciative in the presence of such a learned and enlightened one, and one that was so obviously willing to tell anyone who would listen of his exploits into that forbidden world of “It!” Such was the tender delicacy of our minds compared to this august personage. However, Ronnie and I were well acquainted with hell-fire and damnation and did not want to intrude too far into that dark and enticing world no matter how good its practitioner made it sound.     But one night during the evening Sunday service it was Testimony Time and some in the congregation would stand and shout that they were glad they were saved and had the Holy Ghost! While this inspiring display of religious fervor was going on, this kid was putting his arm around me and trying to kiss me. Somehow this didn't strike me as the work of God, especially as his hand was feeling my leg. I moved away from him and suddenly he leaped up with an “I'm glad I'm saved and got the Holy Ghost and God's called me to be a preacher!” I was certainly surprised by this revelation under the circumstances, but the kid sat down amid shouted Hallelujah’s, Amen’s and the proud, beaming look of his mother. Then he said to me “Now it’s your turn; you gotta testify!”     A rather peculiar thing happened. Not only did I refuse to get up and testify, but it suddenly occurred to me that no one had ever asked me if I was “saved.” I guess my grandparents just took it for granted that no boy could be loved and preached to with such fervor as I had been and not be a sure-fire contender for salvation.     Later as a teenager a kindly old man was to ask me directly, for the first time, if I was saved. I will never forget, since grandad was present, saying I was just to satisfy him. I felt intense guilt for this deception. I still didn't know what saved meant. It wasn't that the Bible and Jesus weren't made prominent in our little church or that I lacked examples of real Christians. But the Gospel was so distorted by ignorance and, sometimes, terrible hypocrisy, that it was never really explained in its pure simplicity. It was not until I read the Bible for myself that I discovered this; and not only this, but also many things I discovered by reading the Bible for myself was that so much of what others had told me was Scriptural was nowhere contained in the Bible. Judy Garland once related a story about her father of this nature, and how disappointed she was to find the story her father had claimed to be Scriptural was not in the Bible. But this is a very good reason for everyone to read the Bible for themselves; don’t leave it to others to tell you what is Scriptural. In my opinion, the Apostle Paul has it right in I Corinthians chapter thirteen, his marvelous treatise on love in which he declares “And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” But Paul precedes this by calling attention to the progress of doctrine, that there was a time for childhood but maturity demands one put aside the things of childhood as a natural progression in life. In just this manner I believe God has treated with his children, expecting them to “grow up.” As to being saved I haven’t known a time in my life when I have ever felt lost from God. As a result, the doctrine of being “saved” has never had any relevance for me. I have often expressed anger at God, but that is part of being family. Repentance of sins comes with a tender conscience, and those with such a conscience will never, in my opinion, feel utterly alienated from God. If the spirit of God quickens a person making them spiritually alive we will know them by their works no matter whether they have “hit the sawdust trail” or not. Good people will do good no matter the religion or no religion, and I believe the progress of doctrine, instruction helps the children of God to not only learn from the past but along life’s path as well and also be able to discern between those who are lovers of the truth as opposed to those “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”   A President is not Majesty http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/25972 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/25972 It was a point well made by Richard Harris in the film “Unforgiven,” that while shooting an American President did not take all that much of exceptional fortitude the gun would tremble in the hand of a would-be assassin being overwhelmed when faced with the awesome royalty of a true monarch. A president is only a man but a king or queen; ah, as Harris noted that is quite something else. One of my favorite hymns is “How Great Thou Art,” and it comes readily to mind when viewing the stars reminding of the awe the Psalmist expressed when he considered the heavens. But unlike the awe one might have for some unapproachable earthly monarch, when I consider the heavens and the works of God there is a feeling of kinship with the Lord and Creator of the universe and one that affirms my belief “this world is not my home, I’m only passing through.” Of course it’s only natural at my age to start hearing the flutter of angels’ wings and start singing “Swing low sweet chariot” or “Take my hand precious Lord.” But so long as I still have my faculties I continue to be impressed by the majesty of Creation and take a great interest in this as well as the often lunatic antics of my fellow creatures here on earth. After all, the only thing any of us have in these mortal bodies is “now” and that too quickly becomes the past. It was only a few ticks of the clock ago that I was a child enjoying all the strength of youth and now suddenly as though by some trick of Legerdemain I’m old. How was it possible such a thing should have overtaken me so unawares? Alas, neither I nor any of my companion oldsters have come up with an answer to that question. All we know is time seems to pass all too quickly, and the present moment together with memories of the past is all we have, and as Jesus pointed out the evil of the day is sufficient so I’m not as inclined as I was as a youth to give my strength to an uncertain tomorrow. I fret enough just rolling out of bed in the mornings now to face another day. As Bette Davis so well said “Getting old is not for sissies.” As to the news of the day, Thoreau had a few well-chosen words on that topic: “Sham and delusions are esteemed for soundest truths, while reality is fabulous… petty fears and petty pleasures are but the shadow of the reality.” And just how “real” are the pretentions of those that seek the leadership of America, not to mention all the things so many people seem to believe important to their lives that will only pass away as though of no account and the people are often left wondering why they ever thought such things important. Henry recounts the story of an oriental messenger when asked about the news from his master told a philosopher “My master desires to diminish the number of his faults, but he cannot come to the end of them” and elicited the response from the philosopher “What a worthy messenger! What a worthy messenger!” While I feel a kinship as a child of God there is no denying the majesty of the Creator and have concluded I have no questions for God, but am of a mind as the old hymn “Farther along we'll know more about it, farther along we'll understand why; cheer up my brother live in the sunshine, we'll understand it all by and by.” As master of myself in this mortal body I can do no better than that messenger’s reply about his master, attempting to diminish the number of my faults but unable to come to the end of them. But as a child of God, it isn’t the faults that will condemn me because love, especially in a family, covers a multitude of sins. I believe Jesus was a man possessed of much insight about God, and his comments about a “heavenly father” belies any theology that teaches we are under the rule of some wrathful tyrant. There is supreme majesty about God as I believe, something no earthly ruler can begin to approach. But notwithstanding such majesty it is our relationship as children in the family of God that matters, and we are not required to kneel before some potentate consumed with a sense of their self-importance. Children are not required to do so of earthly parents, and I don’t believe God either wants or demands this of his children. However, this is my view of what family represents though it differs from some cultures and certainly differs from many religious views. And unlike the despots and tyrants of this evil world system there is a unique majesty to God that invites us to take part as family not servants.   Earthquakes in Divers Places http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/25947 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/25947 Maybe the end of the age isn’t upon us, though in my opinion it is, but given the antics of those performing on the American stage political and otherwise it’s a little difficult to categorize this age as anything but lunatic! And, to my reasonably sane mind I find myself asking how we are going to survive it? Adding to my sense of impending financial doom for America is the prospect of global famine together with the very real prospect of water rationing in SoCal together with severe weather across the country and all these “earthquakes, in divers places.”  In light of our being told by the experts to expect the Big One within 30 years the recent rash of earthquakes both here and elsewhere in the country is disconcerting to say the least. I have somehow managed to be at or near the epicenter of several major earthquakes here in California, and it is only to be expected those of us living here in the Kern River Valley are especially concerned about the recent local quakes, particularly since we know the Isabella Dam has been declared at high risk. I was living in Saugus at the time of that large quake in 1971, in Morgan Hill during the quake of 1984, and right next to the Loma Prieta quake of 1989. But the most memorable one for me was the Tehachapi quake in 1952. There are few things to equal feeling the earth violently hammering under you while watching it literally heaving up and down throwing gravel into the air, a hammering, physical violence deep from within the bowels of the earth making it impossible to stand accompanied by the sound of several freight trains bearing right down on top of you! There are few other experiences that so remind of how utterly helpless we humans are in the scheme of nature despite all the marvels of our science and technology. With roads cracked, boulder-strewn and impassable friends and I were stuck for three days in a campground in the Piutes where we had been prospecting all the while listening to huge boulders large as houses knocked loose by aftershocks tumbling down into the canyons with a booming sound like cannons all around during those three days. But it has only been due to the many quakes across the country recently that I have been thinking seriously about them in regard to Matthew 24:7,8: “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Though for many years I have believed America may be the “Babylon” of Revelation chapters 17 and 18, this recent flurry of earthquake activity has caused me to speculate the Big One may strike sooner rather than later. Much as I love Don Knotts and especially his role in “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken” I’ve never been given to an “excitable” imagination, but I read and study a lot about many different things. I try to stay current in science and physics, in biology, archeology, paleontology as well as current events around the world. And to my mind, the lunacy I see on the American stage and elsewhere do not bode well for our future as a species, notwithstanding Biblical prophecies calling attention to earthquakes among other doomsday activities pertaining to the end of the age. Even after I weigh all the various theological interpretations and Biblical criticism, I’m left with the uneasy feeling the end may be near, that too many passages of Scripture ring true concerning the end of the age. Just looking at the world scene, the lunatics and prevailing lunacy all about especially here in America is enough to give me cause to believe the Bible has it right. But I have no ax to grind with atheists or agnostics; I have been long out a pulpit and my own theological views are too heterodox now for me to hope of any church fellowship. I no longer believe in prayer for example, the asking God to help anyone or change anything, though I continue to talk to God, to loved ones and friends gone on before me. I believe however it happened this earth is in the power of Satan, as the book of Job in the Old Testament and the Temptation of Jesus seems to validate and the Devil calls the shots, making life a living hell on earth for those that try to do what is right. But neither do I find fault with those who pray, and bless the hearts of those who tell me they pray for me. Throughout the history of humankind Satan does seem to go about like a roaring lion; and I don’t doubt our own government is sold out to the Evil One. Right now the purported “suicide” of Deborah Jeane Palfrey is getting a lot of attention. “DC Madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who was found hanged in what authorities claim was a "suicide," not only asserted that she would never commit suicide, but also thought the alleged suicide of one of her former call girls was possibly murder.” Not since the end of WWII have I trusted those in our government, and things like JFK and RFK, the Warren and 9/11 Commissions have only earned my further distrust of our government. But unlike some I am not calling out to God to bring down fiery judgment upon the wicked of this evil world system. One of my favorite films is “Mulholland Falls.” Those of us familiar with that era of Los Angeles have no doubt about how “police business” was handled in those days. But it would be naïve in the extreme to doubt those right now in our federal government are not handling business in the same fashion, though I believe the LAPD as per the film handled things better in the “old days” when the bad guys simply “disappeared.” What most of us want is justice, and that seems to belong to another era rather than the one we now live in. So if I seem to take a particular interest in earthquakes in divers places and fit this into my theological view of things it is only because I very much want to see justice finally done and do not expect it to come by any human instrumentality.   Songs Rather Than Sermons http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/25798 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/25798 First of all I am not “The Heath” in today’s Huffington Post and literary people will know the origin of the name together with the family crest and not be confused. But apart from the English heath and references to Shakespeare, and I must say very far apart, listening to some people talk about my old hometown here in Kern County you might be led to believe they think it would have been a nice touch in “The Shadow” when Lamont Cranston asks “Am I in hell?” had the Tulku answered, “No; you’re in Bakersfield.” It is really sad to see Btown vying with L. A. to become like that cesspool of a third world city, but I have fond memories going back to the 30s and 40s of what Bakersfield used to be, which is why it is the focal point of my novel “Donnie and Jean,” and all the legitimate criticism of the town of that era justified as it is will not detract from the good things I recall and wrote about as it was back then. But I grant it was the good people I knew and equate with Bakersfield back then that casts an oft time azure tint to my memories, especially those of the churches like that of my maternal grandparents and great-grandmother. Grandad being a preacher most of my childhood associations were related to this social function and the various churches throughout Bakersfield. And perhaps this is the reason I can appreciate really fine pulpit oratory, having been raised to it. Michelle Malkin whom I highly regard mirrored my own reaction to Obama’s excruciatingly embarrassing attempt to disown Wright as a performance of someone having an “out-of-body experience.” And to think there have been those in the MSM calling Obama a “gifted orator.” He is as I correctly pointed out from the beginning at best sophomoric and hardly anything approaching a gifted orator. By now, anyone calling him a gifted orator ought to be looking for somewhere to hide. But can you imagine how well Obama might be faring if he had Jeremiah Wright’s genuine gift of oratory and showmanship? Alas, it isn’t often gifted pulpit orators like Wright make it as big time politicians. In many cases such as his there is a restraining influence they seem to confuse with the spirit of God, and in this confusion they remain in their pulpits rather than “soiling” themselves in politics. After all, despite the confusion few are so confused they do not recognize politicians as being among the least admired, at the most charitable, of the human species. But no matter one’s opinion of Wright there is no discounting his genuine gift of oration, though many of us can be excused for wishing it were put to better use. And too, there is this matter of conscience that in many cases proves to be a restraining influence even in people like Jeremiah Wright, something largely lacking in politicians. However, few of us would want to be judged by the conscience of another since in too many cases conscience seems often a victim of both common sense and vagaries of the human condition. Take Tony Blair for example: Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer. April 30, 2008: LONDON — A cathedral is an odd place for a coming-out party. But not, as it turns out, if you're a former prime minister of Britain and you're preparing to tell the world that God was one of your senior advisors during your 10 years in power. Speaking one recent evening under the lofty Byzantine vaults of Westminster Cathedral, Tony Blair ended his self-imposed silence on the subject, declaring that his faith has formed the essential backdrop to much of his political life…<o:p></o:p> Blair goes on to say that his “coming out” as a man of faith is a matter of conscience. However, given his performance while in office most of us would question how reliable his conscience has been in matters like the Iraq war, etc. For my part, I would not want to be subject to his judgment in matters of conscience. That he has a conscience I do not doubt, but I do not trust his conscience. When it comes to matters of faith the Apostle Paul points out in I Corinthians 10:29: “Why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?” Ah, dear brothers and sisters, Paul puts his finger on the problem with conscience. It can be a most unreliable source when dictating conduct whether that of the individual or that of others. Some of the most barbaric and savage crimes against humankind have been committed as a matter of “conscience,” many times a religious conscience. For this reason a legal system of laws is needed by all civilized nations so “crimes of conscience” are not excused, crimes such as those perpetrated by monsters attempting to excuse their crimes in the names of their peculiar deities and in the guise of “freedom of religion.” Over the decades of my life, my religious beliefs have followed a very circuitous route rather than anything approaching a “systematic theology.” But if there has been any one thing above others that has proven to be systematic it has been the gospel songs I learned as a child. Among my most precious possessions is the Latter Rain Revival hymnbook my grandparents used in our Little Oklahoma church in which is one old favorite of mine still sung in some churches today: “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” As I read those lines “What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms… safe and secure from all alarms” I’m transported to that time of childhood when these words were such a secure comfort to my soul. And even today what comfort there is to be found in the song Haven of Rest: “My soul in sad exile was out on life’s sea, So burdened with sin and distressed, Till I heard a sweet voice, saying, Make Me your choice; And I entered the Haven of Rest…” Most people know the mood altering power of music whether for good or ill. In my opinion, the old gospel songs I learned as a child are unsurpassed and did more to form the character of children than anything they have today. Those old gospel songs were not so much theological as they were lilting, uplifting and comforting. I find myself asking what would D. L. Moody have been without Ira Sanky and his “Kist o’ whistles,” or Billy Graham without George Beverly Shea? I think it is unfortunate so many church leaders seem to believe they “glorify” God in song in great cathedrals and seem to have forgotten the simplicity of the Gospel itself so well exemplified by the songs in the Latter Rain Revival hymnbook. When I think back to that time of the simple faith of the folks in Little Oklahoma and so many others in Bakersfield in those far off days it was the music that meant so much to us, and often more than the sermons expressed that simple faith. As I said I appreciate fine pulpit oratory. However, while I may have forgotten even the best of sermons I heard as a boy and even as an adult I still recall the songs. The message to me brothers and sisters is that while people are joined in song they are not being divided by sermons. At least it seems that is what I was learning in our little church from the songs we used to sing way back then.   Leavin’ off preachin’ ‘n’ goin’ t’ meddlin’ http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/25662 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/25662 As a preacher I would try to reassure folks I had read the last chapter in the Bible and everything turns out well in the end. But there is this caveat that things are going to go to hell in a basket before this happens. It is during this interim that I would sometimes leave off preachin’ and go to meddlin’. The Weedpatch Gazette is just an extension of such “meddlin’." Maybe America isn’t the “Babylon” of the End Times in Revelation chapters 17 and 18 as per my opinion, but it sure seems our leaders are intent on our nation being so and are bent on national suicide aided by the MSM, the universities, TV and Hollywood. Whether or not, it just seems the Devil is calling the shots for now rather than any of the “good guys.” But then again, where are the good guys? Well, I expect Satan to get his comeuppance as per Scripture however things are not going to get any easier till then. It seems one of those unrelenting truisms of life that small-minded persons given a little authority will generally abuse that authority. The worst of these too often become politicians, university professors, school administrators, and preachers. There is a very good reason Scripture declares not many mighty or noble, not many “successful” by the standards of this world are called in the service of the Lord, but the truly humble seem in short supply when it comes to some of the “servants of the Lord.” Seems to me the last thing God needs is more bad press by those like Jeremiah Wright, et al. wallowing in wealth while professing to represent the Almighty. At the height of his multi-million dollar empire and popularity when Jimmy Swaggart preached his sermon “Fields White Unto Harvest” years ago and claimed God had told him he was the only preacher the Lord could depend on to save the world I knew Jimmy was doomed! I was dumbfounded! Didn’t Jimmy realize he had just declared war on every other TV evangelist at that very moment by such a stark statement attacking their relationship with God! I wondered at the time what could have possessed Jimmy to make such an outrageous statement? But not only was it never repeated, I concluded this was one of those moments of hysteria where Jimmy had gotten carried away “in the spirit,” but it was only a short time after this Jimmy “fell from grace” and I knew this was no coincidence, that there would be people “gunning” for him as a result of his unbelievably outrageous and conceited presumptuousness hysterical or not. Not a few like Jimmy have been brought low through believing their own press, becoming puffed up over worldly success despite implicit warnings in the Scriptures about the deceitfulness of riches. Rex Humbard’s wife had doomed their “ministry” by the People Magazine interview in which she boasted of her collection of diamonds, declaring “God had nothing against her having diamonds.” The fall from grace of the Bakker’s because of an opulent lifestyle, his sexual escapades and their air-conditioned dog house and a little getaway “shack” in Palm Springs, etc. was widely publicized. God was going to kill Oral Roberts if people didn’t give millions to save him, and for the most part it seemed if one were to judge by their lifestyles the Lord was disposed to shower wealth on TV evangelists if you were to believe them to be the true prophets of God. You may wonder why I was watching Jimmy Swaggart those years ago when he made that startling pronouncement that in my opinion sealed his fate. Truth is I enjoyed Jimmy’s enthusiastic preaching as “theater,” and most of all I enjoyed the music. It is my opinion he should have left off preaching and stuck to his real gift of music, which is the reason I continue to listen to my LPs of his music I still have; and only goes to show you can appreciate music despite the character of the artist whether Mozart or Jimmy Swaggart. I freely admit I thoroughly enjoy the old-time gospel music characteristic of our small church in Little Oklahoma, I enjoy the foot-tapping, hand-clapping kind of music like When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, Come and Dine, Beulah Land, I liked grandad’s preaching punctuated with “Amen” and “Hallelujah” from those in the congregation, I enjoyed the fellowship of good people, the friends and neighbors of our community. One of the songs we used to sing was titled If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again. I wonder if that song is sung anywhere now? Somehow I seemed to have escaped those parts of college and university education and sophistication that are designed to remove the “rough bark” of humble origins from so many. But then I have met many of these “sophisticates” that seemed to spend a lot of their energy denying the things they believed would betray their not being of the “better classes.” Some of these folks struck me as being like the wealthy sister of Mammy Yokum who spent so much or her energy trying to distance herself from the denizens of Dogpatch. One thing about it though, as I watch and listen to politicians and many preachers on TV II Corinthians 11:13-15 comes readily to mind: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.<o:p></o:p> Well, no need t’ go meddlin’ further; I think y’ all get the message. Besides, while Satan may be successful in his deception of transforming himself into an angel of light to those he deceives who is going to mistake this present bunch parading across TV screens for ministers of righteousness?