We're Camping 'Til Jesus Comes!

Harold Camping predicted the end of the world. If you are any kind of disciple of Jesus you knew that he'd be wrong because Jesus said "no man knows the time or the season" of the Second Coming. I'm baffled by the reports of thousands selling out, forsaking family and preparing for a May 21st ending. Now what? What a shame. Let's take this a little deeper and speculate as to the reason this man swayed people so persuasively.

Camping was born in Colorado in 1921. He was trained as a civil engineer which provides him, I suppose, the numerology for his predictions. He self-publishes his materials and books. He has no deep academic or theology training to rely on. His basic claim to fame came through his hosting of a call-in talk radio show entitled Open Forum. Here he began his long, slow journey toward predicting the end of the world.

Camping began his calculations by reinterpreting the relationships of Old Testament characters, re-translated some phrases from Old Testament Hebrew and summoned up some speculation from his own mind. The entire philosophy is self-based as Camping promotes his own teachings and radio program as the true way. He maintains all other Christian churches have abandoned God's will and do not follow the Word.

Ducks quack and so does this guy. I find it absolutely amazing that some like Camping can be so pompous as to tell other humans what God wants them to do. God is big enough to tell you what He wants you to do. He doesn't need Camping to muddy up the works for you or me.

This type of hype is not new however.  In the 19th century, a preacher named William Miller tried two times to identify Christ's return. Miller said first the end would come in 1843 and, when he didn't get it right, he predicted it again for 1844. When nothing happened, his most ardent supporters maintained that the events had taken place, but only in heaven. These die hards were known as "Millerites."

In the 20th century, the Jehovah's Witnesses -- a group that denies Jesus' deity -- predicted major end-times events in 1914. When the date passed, they eventually claimed Christ had returned that year, but only spiritually. "That year, 1914, indeed marked the birth of God's heavenly Kingdom," their website states. Today they stridently visit from house to house passing out Watch Tower material and offer you confusing information about the class system they say exists in heaven.

Camping, too, tried this before. He predicted the end of the world in 1994. Later, when he missed the end of times, he said he made some mathematical errors. Ya think? So now he comes back and says May of 2011. Nope. So he comes right back out and takes the same line the Witness folk used...it was a spiritual deal. Some sort of spiritual judgement occurred and, if you listen to Camping, he'll get it right eventually.

Let me make a prediction: Camping is gonna die before Jesus comes back. I just feel it in my bones. You don't need to sell your home just yet or even send me a check. This is free prophecy for you. This one's on me. Harold Camping, the civil engineer, will die before the end comes. So turn your radio or TV to some other program and chill. If it walks like a quack, sounds like a quack and quacks like a quack then you can be sure that Harold Camping is a quack. I'm a Boy Scout leader. I'll be camping 'til Jesus comes. What about you?

Eye of Newt

I'm not so sure what to make of Newt Gingrich. He changes wives and religions like we change socks. Well...maybe not so often but...you get my point, right? I know that if you read my previous posts that you might think I'm anti-everyone but that is not true either. I just want someone to announce their intentions who holds high values and integrity. I suppose I'm waiting for the powerhouse player to emerge. So far...hasn't happened.

Gingrich shifted from Southern Baptist to Catholic for his third wife. I just don't buy that for a reason. Now please...I don't have anything against Southern Baptists or Catholics. I just don't want someone in the White House who does not know who he/she really is. I think Newt suffers from some sort of identity deficiency. He also pretends to understand the common person but keeps super-heavy charge account at Tiffany's. I can't even eat breakfast at Tiffany's.

Newt has had three wives. I guess Usama bin Laden had three wives in his compound. But again...if he can't figure out what woman he wants...I'm not sure I want him guessing while in the Oval Office. I sense that Newt gets distracted from his work by women working around him. Maybe that is why his latest wife seems to be by his side in so many photos and circumstances. She knows that he might get distracted by number four if she's not constantly by his side to keep him on task. In most of their appearances, he seems somewhat confident while she appears...well...like a deer in the headlights. Maybe she'll be his vice presidential pick. The entire situation seems a little too surreal for common folk I meet.

Most of his campaign staff recently bailed on Newt. Now he is left standing alone with just his wife at his side. Some of the folks that jumped ship had been with him for many years. Could be the Greek cruise didn't sit well with them. He probably should have been out raising money for his campaign run rather than running around the Greek Isles in his cruise ship. Let's see now...Greek cruise, all of the major campaign operatives quit and a big charge account at Tiffany's. OK. I feel better about the economy already!

Yes he's intelligent. I believe he is a deep thinker. He generates many ideas, but I'm not sure that the ideas being touted are all that relevant to where we are today. I've written much about Donald Trump because he seems to scattered in his approach. I'm doubting Newt because he seems to slide from one assertion to another in order to appease the crowd. Tea Party will not be pleased Newt. They're not all  in all, but Ron Paul is there to cut that deck before you get to play a hand. I wonder...is this an old man with new ideas or just an old man? Only time will tell. I will tell  you this...I'm not taking any serving of the stew featuring the Eye of Newt.

Spring on the River

Puffy clouds float across a deep blue sky

The river flows continuously; life goes by.

Trains thunder past the place where I stand,

Whistles, horns and shouts fill up the land.

People drive their cars in search of gas,
Knowing their supply cannot forever last.
Men, boats and barges slowly move the coal

Waves on the water raise up and roll.

Spring on the river; frogs serenade,

Dogs on the grill; pink lemonade.

Peace on the river, sweet smell of grass,

Talk of the future, memories from the past.

Some have the ocean; others live with snow.

He likes the city, She wants to go.

We live the river, whether high or low.

The people of the river always seem to know

How to live life daily; how to face the pain.

Crossing over bridges as states change their name.

"Hello from the river!" we shout from the bank.

God moves the river and it is God that we thank.

Geronimo!

We join with the voices of those who protest the use of the name Geronimo for the operational code name in the recent bin Laden affair. What kind of outcry would we have heard if the US military would have chosen Nixon, Malcolm X or how about Charlie Pride? No...I don't think so! The Government should give up the racist bias against the Native American peoples held by so many of the officials, agencies and legislation. With Barak Obama as president I hoped for more. Sadly the governmental prejudice created almost single handedly by Andrew Jackson continues even to this day. I wish we could proclaim this as a rare event but this has happened before...numerous times! In fact this appears to be the pattern for the US.  (http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/08/2158076/pentagon-lawyer-apologizes-for.html) Think about the whole scope of the name calling for a moment. We have an Apache helicopter; soldiers that go off the reservation and tomahawk war missiles. The hits just keep on coming.

The latest episode only exacerbates an already fractured relationship between the US Government and the Native American population. I'm sure that, even though I'm not a military genius, I could have come up with a much better code name than Geronimo. (http://www.indians.org/welker/geronimo.htm) We could have shouted Adolph! Adolph! Adolph! as we strode into the compound. No one would have minded if the soldiers would have shouted Demon, Wretch or Dipstick. These random names just came to me as I wrote this post. Come on! Let's give the Native American culture a break.

At best, the policies of Government toward Native Americans have been schizophrenic. From one leader to the next the treatment, regulations and requirements have fluctuated. For generations, eencroachment by throngs of whites into living territories, traditional hunting grounds and sacred areas have infuriated and decimated the Native American culture. All citizens should demand a new policy of reconciliation and healing. (http://www.victoriana.com/history/nativeamericans.html)

Today, Native Americans scattered throughout the United States continue to seek ways and means to continue their cultural journey. Having spent much time with numerous close friends from the Native American culture I promise you these people have courage, fortitude and personal strength. I call upon all legislators, military leaders and officials to end the discrimination. We must treat all peoples with respect, dignity and human kindness. Let's begin now to resist invading the lives of others. Geronimo!

Out on a Limb

I readily admit that I am certainly glad that Osama Bin Laden no longer poses a threat to anyone, anywhere in the world. I hold deep abiding loyalty to the ideals and constitution of the United States of America. I watched with the rest of the world as citizens of the United States danced in the streets when the news of Bin Laden's demise flooded the media channels throughout the country. But I'm going to step out on a limb to write that celebrating a deliberate killing of anyone appears beneath us as Americans. Please don't misunderstand me...I grieved with the rest of the world when the murderous hijackers targeted those towers ultimately causing their collapse to the ground killing thousands. I wept with the rest of our country as flight 93 plummeted to the field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. I gasped for breath witnessing the billowing smoke from the attack on our Pentagon in Washington D.C. And yet, killing an unarmed man for any reason causes me deep concern and literally makes me question the wisdom and morality of such an action.

I hear a hint of the same gnawing doubt in an editorial in our local newspaper. The editor of my hometown paper wrote, "Celebrating the loss of any life just feels wrong in many ways, but we must remember that Osama Bin Laden wasn’t a human being at all by the standards that most of us would apply. This was a man who didn’t lose sleep over ordering the deaths of thousands of innocent men, women and children. This was a man who reveled in murder, chaos and destruction. This was a man who had no morals and placed no value on human life whatsoever." (http://www.irontontribune.com/2011/05/03/u-s-delivers-on-promises-made-on-911/)

I reiterate that I am glad the special forces took Bin Laden out of the terrorism game...I just don't want us to justify what we have done by following Bin Laden's own philosophy of "an eye for an eye."
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuley-boteach/hate-osama-but-do-not-rej_b_856130.html) I'm a Scoutmaster for Boy Scouts of America. I want my boys to seek justice, but not vengeance. I felt very uncomfortable with gleeful celebration at an unarmed man being killed by the mafia style two taps to the head. Americans always rise above the rest and seek proper justice. Here are my questions:

• What about a trial? It appears to me (granted I did not accompany the Seal Team 6 into that compound) that we could have taken Osama to Guantanamo and held a military tribunal. His conviction would have been certain but at least we would have followed our fairness doctrines. (http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/05/03/toobin.bin.laden.trial/index.html?section=cnn_latest)
• What about the legality? According to many, Bin Laden was a legitimate military target since we are at war with terrorists (whatever that vague connotation really means). But generally unarmed culprits are apprehended not shot dead in their bed. Nomrally we don't whack even the worst of perpetrators if they have no weapon. (http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2011/0502/Was-it-legal-for-the-US-commandos-to-kill-Osama-bin-Laden)
• What about martyrdom? Did we play right into Osama Bin Laden's hand? Did we supply him with the very final act that he so desperately craved? He wanted to become a martyr to the Islamic world. Did he finally present himself in this virtually unguarded situation in order to full his desired destiny? (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucru/20110503/cm_ucru/osamabinladensultimatevictory)
• What about a deliberate kill? Do we set out to deliberately execute human beings? We're not targeting Momar Kadafi, but should we? Where do we draw the line? Who lives and who dies? Who rates a trial (i.e. Saddam Huessein) and who does not?  (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/05/03/osama-bin-laden-why-america-had-to-kill-bin-laden-rather-than-put-him-on-trial-115875-23103442/)
• What about right and might? We teach children that "it is never right to do wrong and never wrong to do what is right." What kind of precedent did we set here? How does this model the "kinder, gentler America?"  (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/courtland_milloy_what_does_bin_ladens_slaying_teach_kids/2011/05/02/AF16FNfF_story.html?wprss=rss_local)

I realize that there's nothing that I can do here. I understand that I am stepping out on a limb and probably sound like a anti-American to you. I'm not. I just don't think we should dance because the wicked one is dead. Rather let us solemnly ponder the state of the world where clerics teach children to strap on backpacks full of explosives to go out into the world to become human bombs. I'm sad about 9/11. I grieve over war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lybia. I just don't think we should laugh, joke and gloat about shooting an unarmed man. Bin Laden deserved judgement and punishment, no doubt. I just wish we could have brought him to a full justice rather than executing him just to put him out to sea. I worry over what will come next.