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Nature; the Language of God! Leave a comment
Debunking the Myth: Christmas’ Pagan Origins 1 comment
The popular concept that Christmas is based on the birth of the most significant human to have ever lived is actually an ‘anti-Christian belief… how can this be so?
There’s no better explanation than that the principal religions of Christendom have themselves been party to the misinformation guiding their flocks into this amazing dilution. Why this was undertaken could be summed up in one word; politics.
Whether we agree or disagree about the reasons, shortly after the last of the faithful followers of Christ died, there was a major secular movement to incorporate pagan religion into the actual teaching of Christ, and it has been highly successful.
Indeed, the majority of Church-goers today are taught the outrageous untruth that Christmas is based on the birth of Christ. How sad that is!
Please note: the following information is only for truth seekers!
A Historical Timeline of Christmas celebration;
1513 BCE – 60 CE (1600 years of recorded Bible History)
Period of inspired Biblical writings and prophecies, many concerning Jesus Christ. No mention of his date of birth; nor its being celebrated by his 12 apostles.
No mention of Christmas. No mention of any holy person celebrating a birthday – only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod). (Gen. 40:20; Matt. 14:6; Mark 6:21-28; John 18:36)
2269-2030 B.C.E.
History of Sun worship. Began in ancient Babylonia by worshiping the sun god Shamash & Nimrod – parallels exist between Babylonian New Years & Christmas celebrations. (historian Pimlott in ‘The Englishman’s Christmas‘).
500 BCE
Celtic Druids used mistletoe winter solstice celebrations due to it being viewed as magical, mysterious, and sacred.
150 BCE
Romans began celebrating Saturnalia (where many Christmas traditions find
their origin)
45 BCE
Julius Caesar introduced the Julian Calendar making December 25 (not today’s 21 or 22) the date of the winter solstice (shortest day of the year).
33 CE
Jesus was Killed. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy that “wicked men & impostors” would slip into the congregation and mislead many. (2 Timothy 3:1
Josephus popular 1st Century Jewish Historian reported that Jews did not celebrate birthdays, 1st century Christians (former Jews) continued the tradition of NOT celebrating them.
The foretold apostasy began after the death of the apostles (Acts 20:29, 30)
A period where Mithraism (syncratic Hellenistic mystery religion) was practiced in the Roman Empire. Mithras was a Roman soldiers god whose legendary birth (as some stories go) resembles the birth of Christ (being born of a virgin in the presence of shepherds). Devotees of Mithra (says the Catholic Encyclopedia) celebrated the birthday of the invincible sun (dies natalis Solis Invicti) on December 25. L.M. Wright, author of “Christianity, Astrology, And Myth” 2002; suggests that the early Christian Church was influenced by much of the myth and symbolism of Mithraism. The cult of Sol Invictius was the Roman Empire’s leading official cult of the fourth century – (Wikipedia)
4th Century
Christmas began being celebrated as Christ’s Birthday. Early Catholic Church Fathers banned the use of Mistletoe in Christmas celebrations due to their pagan origin. Origen & Tertullian Catholic ecclesiastical writers of the 2nd & 3rd centuries spoke against Birthday celebrations. Tertullian made no mention of Christmas in his thorough lists of celebrations.
218 – 222
Roman Emperor Elagabalus introduced the holiday of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, “birthday of the unconquered sun” was to be celebrated on Dec. 25 (where many Christmas traditions find their origin), and promoted it empire-wide when it reached its height in popularity.
Pope Gregory I wrote to Mellitus, his missionary in England, telling him “not to stop such ancient pagan festivities, but to adapt them to the rites of the Church, only changing the reason of them from a heathen to a Christian impulse.” Thus reports Arthur Weigall, who once was inspector general of antiquities for the Egyptian government.
313
All religions, even Christianity were legalized in Roman
territory.
325
In the 1st counsel of Nicaea, Roman Emperor Constantine standardized Christian beliefs. According to the Catholic Church, Catholics began adopting pagan customs into Christianity. By the end of the century, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
336 CE
1st historical record of December 25 as the assigned date of Jesus Birth
All Religions (including formerly persecuted Christianity) in Roman territory were legalized. It took nearly the entire 4th century for the Roman empire to transition State Religion from pagan cults to Christianity. The Merging of cultic tradition with Christianity greatly assisted in this transition.
567
The Council of Tours “proclaimed the 12 days from Christmas to Epiphany as
a sacred and festive season.”—The Catholic Encyclopedia for School and
Home.
10th Century
Christmas, along with Christianity, spread to Russia, where it became fused with the winter celebration of the ancient Slavs, honoring the spirits of the ancestors. (The Great Soviet Encyclopedia)
16th Century
Christmas traditions spread to branches of Protestants during the
Protestant Reformation.
1644
In England, Parliament discouraged Christmas feasting due to its heathen origin
1652
Parliament banned Christmas by law
1659 – 1681
In North America, Massachusetts Bay Colony banned Christmas n which violators were subject to fine.
1772
The Baptist Church of Newport [Rhode Island] observed Christmas for the
first time. This was about 130 years after the founding of the first Baptist church in New England.
1836
Alabama became 1st U.S. state to legalize Christmas
1843
Commercialism revived Christmas, Charles Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol” and Christmas Cards originated in London.
1907
Oklahoma became the last U.S. state to legalize Christmas.
1927
Jehovah’s Witnesses abandoned Christmas celebrations after learning of its pagan origins.
Summary:
An overwhelming majority of sources agree that Christmas was almost entirely influenced by pre-Christian pagan celebrations.
There was no mention of Christmas nor any celebration of Christ’s birthday for hundreds of years after Jesus & his apostles died. The book Sacred Origins of Profound Things states: “For two centuries after Christ’s birth, no one knew, and few people cared, exactly when he was born.” Thus birthday celebrations, even of gods and leaders, were condemned as far as the late third century even by Roman Catholic leaders.
Creation Imagined Leave a comment
Einstein once said: “imagination is the highest form of research”. His words seem to fit many scientists and educators today. Many human traits are laudable, however true imagination is rare!In fact despite years of worldly education and training, most present day scientists and teachers are implicitly missing genuine imagination, imagination such as Einstein himself demonstrated.
Case in point: advanced beings of high intelligence in the universe have often been imagined, yet the concept of a ‘Creator’ of all things is commonly dismissed! I’m suggesting the reason is because of a self-imposed limit on ‘genuine’ imagination, a blind spot when it comes to imagining an all-powerful God, a Creator of all things!
Yes a general human inability to embrace the concept of a living being with such vast unlimited power and intelligence, Creator of the entire universe and all life in it, as so clearly set out in inspired scriptures!
When astronauts walked on the moon, they were struck not only with the beauty of earth, but the very profound feeling they were witnessing the work of a timeless, all-powerful Creator.But if it is within our ability to grasp, or imagine such a Father of all life, how hard is it to visualize that he would ever allow imperfect humans to destroy this jewel of his creation!? No indeed, genuine imagination, and logical well-founded faith based on the ‘book of nature’ alone, provides real hope for relief from our rapidly declining world system of things; economic, political, and religious.In fact such relief is actually ‘inevitable’, why? Because a Creator of all life cares for his works of creation, as indeed we humans care for our very best works. Our Creator will not see either the earth or mankind completely destroyed; ‘that’ my friends is truly… unimaginable!!
Evolution vs Creation 1 comment
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Copyright; Gavin Hurlimann (slightly edited) Note: this article supplements my own ‘Evolution Critique’ posting. |
The disciplines of science have already proven that the Christian God of the Bible exists because the solid, rigid, fixed & unbreakable laws of physics.
To avoid fish hooks, confusion & for the ease of the reader; let’s be VERY EXACT with our terms & definitions.
The Laws of Thermodynamics are concerned with heat, mechanical energy, and the conversion between the two. All physical, biological, & chemical processes known to man are subject to these laws. Science often speaks of four (4) laws of thermodynamics, but only two (2) have any meaningful connection to Christianity.
They are the first (1st) & second (2nd) laws of thermodynamics.
It’s important to note that these “Laws” are not a hypothesis. They are fixed, rigid, consistent & unbreakable by anything/anyone in the natural world.
1) The first (1st) law of thermodynamics – also known as the conservation of energy – states; “Nothing is presently coming into existence or going out of existence: matter & energy may be converted into one another, but there’s no net increase in the combined total of what exists”.
In other words, even if matter is converted to energy and vice versa, there will never be an “increase or decrease” in the total amount.
Therefore, if the matter and energy are neither created nor destroyed, then where did all the matter and energy in the universe come from?
Either;
a) the universe somehow came into existence without God, even though science has proved that it is impossible for something to arise out of nothing,
b) everything always existed in the universe, an idea that science has also proved impossible, or
c) God created it. This “is” most reasonable, plausible & rational explanation in light of this scientific Law & the following Laws & evidence.
1st Conclusion:
Science openly acknowledges that according to the first (1st) Law of Thermodynamics, there is no scientific explanation for the origins of the universe & life – apart from an Act of God.
2) The second (2nd) law of thermodynamics states that the entropy (breakdown or disorder) of a closed system cannot decrease, it only gets worse;
Every system, left to its own devices, always tends to move from order to diso, it’s energy tends to be transformed into lower levels of availability (for work), ultimately becoming totally random & unavailable for work”.
Scientist & author Isaac Asimov explains; “The universe is constantly getting more disorderly. . . . .all we have to do is “nothing” & everything deteriorates, collapses, breaks down, wears out, by itself – and that is what the second law of thermodynamics is all about.”
Two simple examples of entropy;
1) The exterior paint on an un-maintained house with eventually peel & fall off.
2) All human beings break down & die. The current death rate from old age is 100%.
In other words, left to itself & over time, everything tends toward disorder, randomness, and disorganization – unless there is intervention by an intelligent utility.
Naturalistic evolution “demands” that every physical system, from the atomic level on up, is the result of a spontaneous and increasingly complex and well-ordered process of assembly. Darwin suggested that living organisms, for instance, came about via a long string of infinitely complex, yet “random” evolutionary processes.
If planet Earth was an entirely closed system, such progression would be in complete violation of the second (2nd) law of thermodynamics. It’s important to note, however, that our planet is “NOT a closed system” in terms of thermodynamics, mostly because planet Earth is receiving energy from the sun.
However, the hypothesis of evolution runs contrary to the second (2nd) law of thermodynamics is on a general, large-scale view.
Entropy observed.
The trend, according to these unbreakable scientific laws, is that entropy (breakdown or disorder) is increasing, and thus natural processes must also be breaking down – not building up or “evolving” into something more complicated as postulated by the hypothesis of evolution..
Simple observation empirically confirms the truth of the second (2nd) law of thermodynamics. Paint on a house chips and peels. Dust builds up. The house itself falls into disrepair if preventative steps are not taken. Living things die & rot & finally decompose. We can observe the results of the second (2nd) law of thermodynamics every day.
The hypothesis of evolution however, requires much more than just a simple change in entropy (breakdown or disorder). For evolution to be valid, the theory requiresmore than water freezing or the formation of salt crystals or dust collecting into a solar system. To evolve from non-life, matter on Earth would have to constantly, consistently, and directly move “AGAINST” the force of entropy (breakdown or disorder). However, this is “scientifically impossible”.
DNA is “NOT” a result of naturalistic evolution as the science of DNA has proven.
Evolutionists claim that life evolved in very small, simple mutational steps over billions of years in an open system like Earth.
But mutations “ARE” entropy (breakdown or disorder) and mutations occurring in a constant, beneficial manner “ARE” a violation of the unbreakable, scientific, second (2nd) Law of Thermodynamics.
2nd Conclusion:
The first (1st) & second (2nd) scientific laws of thermodynamics are fixed, rigid, consistent & unbreakable. Nothing in our natural world – including the hypothesis of evolution – can violate them.Except according to science, an Act of God.
3) Since 2013 NASA & SETI astrobiologists have acknowledged that all DNA originates from an intelligence outside of the observation of our current utilities.
So in light of this, a belief in the God of Creation is “not unwarranted” – or at least, not dismissed without rational consideration.
To illustrate further, all plant, animal & human DNA requires three (3) critical components;
a) information
b) communication
c) language.
Genuine science views DNA as a marker of intelligence NOT evidence of biochemical evolutionary processes. In simple terms; DNA cannot be “made” by biological evolution.
So, the science of DNA “rules out” all plant, animal & human life observed yesterday & today as the current end game of the hypothesis of evolution.
Why is this not common knowledge?
Andrew Kibler provides an responsible explanation in his post of Dec 4 2018;
“Science can take a good 5 to 10 years before it even begins to become mainstream. That’s on a good note though. People’s beliefs, worldviews and careers are on the line with some scientific discoveries, so it could take even longer. When it was discovered that light had “travel time” it wasn’t instantaneouslyaaccepted. It took 50 years to become mainstream after some hard battles”.
So, using the Laws of Logic;
d) DNA exists in all plant, animal & human life.
e) DNA is not the product of naturalistic evolution.
f) DNA is a marker of intelligence.
g) Logically, DNA is the product of something outside of the utilities of science.
h) The certaincy of scientific law leaves us mere humans with a couple of alternatives. In Western civilization the intellegence that creates intricate individual DNA is commonly referred to as the God of the Bible
i) Or aliens, if God is too hard a pill to swallow.
J) Panspermia & Directed Panspermia – a possible scientific alternative to God “or” evolution, involving aliens has zero evidence & the hypothesis remains on the fringes of credibility.
k) Finally, modern physics has demonstrated that consciousness mind does exist independent of matter. Mind & matter can & do interact.
l)This is a game-changer for the scientism, atheistic obsessed, as there is now no scientific basis for denying God’s existence.
3rd & Final Conclusion:
According to the scientific first (1st) & second (2nd) Laws of Thermodynamics it is impossible for the hypothesis of evolution to occur.
According to the science of DNA, it is impossible for DNA to be created by an evolutionary naturalistic process.
Which leaves: Evidence + Belief + Faith = God.
And because God exists, it follows that He created everything, including us.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
A group of scientists are close to recognizing that there “might” be a God. They are astrobiologists.
S.E.T.I. stands for “Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence” and comprises several groups of scientists that were combining their expertise to try to discover if there is intelligent life anywhere out in the universe. [1]
In order to decide how they would recognize intelligent life, they had to determine some basic criteria that they could apply to observed phenomena that would characterize only intelligent origins. For example, if they saw certain patterns like Morse Code in a radio transmission, infra-red radiation, or gamma ray bursts, they would be certain that it had originated only at an intelligent source.
Since the early 1980s they have never detected any intelligent life anywhere else in the universe.
Recently however a couple of these scientists, Vladimir I. Cherbak and Maxim A. Makukovb, had the bright idea to apply the criteria they had created for SETI to the results of the DNA studies that have emerged. The conclusion was exactly one word, “Wow!”. [2]
They found that DNA shows patterns that could only have been created by intelligence. The odds of an error were less than 1 in 10 (exp) 13. (1 in 10 trillion). Their conclusion is that DNA is not random, but is the definite result of an “intelligence”.
The astrobiologists published their conclusions in a peer-reviewed journal in their field named Icarus. [3]. Peer-reviewed means that other experts in the same field have poured over their work and conclusions and have given it their consensus.
Click on the link below in [3] if you want to see some of the article and the charts of DNA that show the clear proof of intelligent design.
It’s likely you haven’t heard about this if you aren’t in the field. But it must be causing head scratching through a lot of research institutes and concern among evolutionists. It takes courage for these scientists to come forth and go against the entrenched dogma of evolutionists and the backlash that will surely come. But the truth will win out because it can’t be suppressed indefinitely.
[1] S.E.T.I. Wikipedia. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence – Wikipedia
“The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) is the collective name for a number of activities people undertake to search for intelligent extraterrestrial life. SETI projects use scientific methods in this search. For example, electromagnetic radiation is monitored for signs of transmissions from civilizations on other worlds. Some of the most well known projects are run by Harvard University, the University of California, Berkeley and the SETI Institute.”
[2] The “Wow! signal” of the terrestrial genetic code. Vladimir I. shCherbak, Maxim A. Makukovb
Excerpt from the Abstract: “Here we show that the terrestrial code displays a thorough precision-type orderliness matching the criteria to be considered an informational signal. Simple arrangements of the code reveal an ensemble of arithmetical and ideographical patterns of the same symbolic language. Accurate and systematic, these underlying patterns appear as a product of precision logic and nontrivial computing rather than of stochastic processes (the null hypothesis that they are due to chance coupled with presumable evolutionary pathways is rejected with P-value < 10 (exp) –13). The patterns display readily recognizable hallmarks of artificiality, among which are the symbol of zero, the privileged decimal syntax and semantical symmetries. Besides, extraction of the signal involves logically straightforward but abstract operations, making the patterns essentially irreducible to natural origin.”
[3] Icarus Issue available online March 6, 2013. Wikipedia: Icarus (journal) – Wikipedia
“Icarus is a premier scientific journal dedicated to the field of planetary science. It is published under the auspices of the American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS). The journal contains articles discussing the results of new research on astronomy, geology, meteorology, physics, chemistry, biology, and other scientific aspects of the Solar System or extrasolar systems.
Source: Vladimir I. shCherbak & Maxim A. Makukovb: Icarus Journal May 2013.
Resources: The Wedge of Truth: Splitting the Foundations of Naturalism: Philip Johnson. Publisher, Intervarsity Press. Downers Grove, Illinois USA.
Ultimate Proof: Resolving the Origins Debate by Dr Jason Lisle. Publisher: New Leaf Publishing Group, Inc.
Heisenberg Uncertainty (indeterminacy) Principle: Dr Mario Beauregard, Dr Henry Stapp, Dr Richard Conn Henry, J.P. Moreland.
Psychology and Religion by Carl G Jung. Publisher: Yale University Press.
New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. Intervarsity Press. Leicester England.
Vladimir I. shCherback and Maxim A. Makukorb, Icarus Journal May 2013.
Is God a Delusion: Dr John Lennox 14 March 2015. YouTube.
The Mind and the Brain: Dr Jeffery M. Schwartz. Publisher Haper Collins.
Images: Google.
Copyright: Gavin Hurlimann 2019
Human Sacrifices! 1 comment
I’ve written about many subjects on this blog but there is none that equals the significance of this one considering the uncounted millions of human lives lost in the 20th and now the 21st Century!
Very often we hear the expression ‘they made the supreme sacrifice’, usually meaning humans have sacrificed their life for some political objective as determined by government’s led by emperor, dictator, monarch, president, prime minister, etc., etc, elected or not.
I suggest this scenario is little changed throughout thousands of years of human history, i.e. the projection of a nations power, or defense, via the sacrifice of their human population! *
Therefore the question that I believe may fairly be asked then is this; Are such human sacrifices not in reality ‘religious perversion’?!
For example; historian’s well discern that in the Mayan culture human sacrifices were often made to ensure the success of crops or other untold various interests. Interestingly, in our day, those ancient human sacrifices, be they men, women, or children, are often regarded as atrocities, perverted abuses of the populace by their rulers, supported by their religious representatives, in other words the ruling elements of their society!
“politics and nationalism…exalted the state as divine…or identified it with the march of God in history.” For some, the “worship of the state as the personification of the spirit of the nation was essential for realization of the national destiny.” (Ideas in Conflict, Edward Burns) *
My question is; what has changed today? Modern day governments may regard themselves as well informed and progressive, but doesn’t the sacrifice of human lives for one national purpose or another simply reflect all those ancient sacrifices made in the Mayan culture, or in hundreds of other cultures throughout thousands of years of human history?
When young men and women are encouraged, even trained, to make the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ of their lives for some national, or dare I say ‘cultural’ cause, what difference is there to all those ancient societies? Societies that interestingly no longer exist in spite of those sacrifices.
How can it be said that ‘modern’ man is any more advanced in his thinking than historically significant societies like the Mayan’s and countless others?
The reality is that mankind is in darkness spiritually speaking. No amount of technological advances can overcome this fact. No matter how it may be couched in glowing terms, human sacrifice is still a common practice after thousands of years. In other words there has been no progress spiritually for the nations of mankind, in fact the scale of human lives lost in national conflicts is ever increasing, aided and abetted by religious elements as always. “Kill one man and you’re a murderer, kill a million and you’re a conqueror.” (Jean Rostand quote)
Why can’t it be understood that ‘God wants mercy and not sacrifice’? (Matt. 9:13) Make no mistake about it; sacrificing human lives for any national purpose is in no way the ‘will of God’! They have not and will not receive his blessing for doing so. On the contrary, they are condemned by him for doing so.
As the BeeGee’s song of decades ago said it… ‘the answer my friends is blowing on the wind’, the ‘scriptural wind’ imho.
* “Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.”
(Albert Einstein)
Exoplanets discovered! Leave a comment
Isn’t it exciting to hear there may be earth-like planets, namely those that orbit suns similar to our own, perhaps even in abundance ‘out there’ in the universe?! Yes, but let’s take a step back and analyze ‘why’ its exciting for a moment.
Could it be that our human emotions are based on hope? What I mean is this; based on human history, (I refer to written history and not speculative pre-history), there have been many technological accomplishments, however, sociologically not so much, or to put it simply, human relations have, for the most part, been an abysmal failure.
Arguably, history has recorded that modern man is pretty much a failure in human relations. For instance when has there ever been an extended period in at least 2000 years that hasn’t included wars, genocides, oppression, atrocities, ad infinitum!
In my humble opinion failures throughout history have engendered a present day ‘faint hope’ that somewhere, somehow, mankind will find relief, or to put it another way, ‘salvation’, from his earthly experience. (I would also submit this is the very basis of the ‘theory’ of evolution.) In other words an attempt to absolve humanity from our blood stained past, and even more so, its present!
Its no secret that the dramatic increase in world population has brought about the prospect of mass-extinction, despite enormous potential for increase… why? In a nutshell; the answer is clearly human mismanagement, be it environmentally, politically, or economically!
But I digress; returning to the aforementioned planetary discoveries; what is it that really excites us about them? Isn’t it all about finding relief from our human failures? The vain hope that if there is life on other planets it may somehow point the way to discover or make human life somehow successful, an existence that has eluded us on earth?
For example, remember the classic Sci-Fi movie “The Day The Earth Stood Still”? An alien galactic envoy arrives to warn that robots were authorized to arbitrarily enforce galactic peace. They were said to be programmed to obliterate any planet who threatened a galactic peace protocol by the misuse of atomic power! (A very human approach no doubt!)
In conclusion, I submit that mankind as a whole is missing the ‘woods for the trees’. What I mean by that is the greatest human to ever live provided us with the way out of our failed human condition, the way to achieve what many are now seeking in the stars.
He told us what to seek, how and where to find it, and the result would be nothing less than everlasting life on a paradise earth! Therefore shouldn’t that be our primary focus? Because whether we seek it or not, earth is scheduled for exactly that ideal future by its eternal Creator! Indeed, have faith: it really will happen, with, or without, our personal benefit, and right here on planet earth!
For more information on this subject please visit my post: From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained!
Teenage Swimming Adventure! 2 comments
Stories on the news often stimulate memories, particularly for seniors. Tonight there was a mention of the ‘False Creek’ waterway between West end Vancouver and West side Vancouver. By water it’s about 1.2 kilometers according to A.I.
My friend and I were regular Crystal Pool* swimmers in the 1950’s, not more than 13 years old at the time. After swimming in the Crystal Pool we were still filled with youthful vigor.
For no particular reason one of us, probably me, got the so-called ‘bright idea’ to boldly swim across to Kitsilano Beach (i.e. related Vanier park). It was barely in sight after sunset, directly across from the old Crystal Pool, an area known as Sunset Beach.
Since we had donned our street clothes after our swim at the pool, we had to determine how to do this challenging feat. Again we had a bright idea, namely, we would undress (possibly with swim suits on) and place our clothes on some scavenged beach wood in order to keep it dry as we pushed it ahead of us right across the harbor! Of course it also served as extra buoyancy as we hung onto it.
Indeed we did exactly that, keeping our clothes above water as we swam. I have no idea how clean the water was in those days, all I know is it was quite cool compared to the Crystal pool salt water, but not really cold either as this was in summer. Currents, and/or tides, didn’t cause us any problems, perhaps just out of good fortune. In fact as I recall we laughed about our bold endeavor as we kept in contact swimming across False Creek adjacent English Bay.
Now when we got across to a rocky beach area, it dawned on us it was going to be an unfamiliar and perhaps distant walk to the bus line needed to return to our homes in Southeast Vancouver!
Since we were flushed with success and feeling somewhat over-confident it seemed only natural we could just swim back to Sunset beach and that’s exactly what we did!
This episode in my young life has remained secret from that day to this as far as I can recall. And please note; I do not recommend it for youths, or anyone today, especially considering the great possibility of a far more polluted False Creek today than in the ’50’s and ’60’s, though I have no specific information.
* Vancouver Crystal Pool history..
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Parksville air folly! Leave a comment
Not sure when I had noticed the (approximately) 1500′ unused roadway at Parksville beach park, right in the heart of the town of Parksville. It extended at right angle from an seemingly unused area of beach straight in toward town ending in to a wide ditch, no doubt purposely created to prevent driving from street or park to beach.
In any case it appeared to me to be as perfect a short field aircraft runway as a private pilot like me could ask for!
After visiting with aviator friends at the Parksville/Qualicum airport who had departed for a short trip to the sunshine coast in their Cessna 172 I was planning to rendezvous with them there.
But for some reason which I don’t recall now I had taken on board the father of one of those other pilot’s who’s home jut happened to be quite near the Parkville beach park. So as we quickly flew over Parksville, I rather impulsively decided to land on that unused roadway right in the park!
I turned towards the beach and landed on that roadway with no difficulty at all in my Mooney M20A holding the nose up and raising flaps in order to reduce landing speed and distance. I was always delighted to land on short runways anywhere, but this was clearly not an ‘approved’ landing site by any means! Happily my mature elderly passenger was not traumatized by the sudden turn of events, and after an amicable goodbye, he was able to simply walk home from there, perhaps slightly shaking his head – as did his novice pilot son when he heard about that unusual landing!
This took place in the 70’s, and his son who is still with us will confirm this really took place on the testimony of his dad. For no particular reason other than the airplanes nearly silent gliding approach no one appeared to witness it either, even though there were quite a few people on the beach and in the park at the time, but safely away from my impromptu ‘landing strip’.. Of course my expeditious takeoff (before any public notoriety) was a lot more noisy than the landing, but then again there was no obvious beach activity. And a slight on-shore breeze probably mitigated the noise somewhat.
Of course it wasn’t a wise decision to virtually land in downtown Parksville in the 1980’s, but it was done safely and without incident. To this day I believe that isolated roadway could have served as a downtown Parksville airstrip for enlightened civic authorities. In any case it was just one more flying experience for me…. hey I said in my bio I wouldn’t exclude my ‘bads’, so consider this one of them!
Get in touch with the Creator! 1 comment
Is it possible for our puny human brain to actually be in touch with the Creator of all things? Arguably its a question philosophers and thoughtful people have struggled with since the beginning of written history.
For instance speaking of human history, year after year archeological discoveries confirm entire ancient civilizations now being uncovered in South America were ‘primarily’ based on worship of an all powerful god in one form or another.
In truth its simply no exaggeration to say there is an innate desire in all humanity to communicate with a supreme Creator! And with limited knowledge, many societies have conferred this desire on objects of wood or stone, in the vain hope they would be heard and benefit therefrom. Is so-called ‘modern man’ really so different? Or is technology filling that very same role today? Its a fair question considering how much focus of attention is given to it in all its material forms, from smart phones to orbiting satellites.
Of course it is obvious to thinking people a far, far, superior entity exits some refer to as the ‘first cause’ of all life on earth. Ever more true science clearly points to a Creator of life on earth in all its genetic forms. Generations of observant mankind see abundant visible evidence of this.* However this is also backed up by inspired prophetic scriptures with positive reinforcement of that evidence, in spades!
Can it truly be said there is solid evidence to base hope and belief on other than lifeless wood or stone, effigies, technology and icon’s, or even paintings, etc, but rather on an invisible all-wise and loving spiritual God?
Albert Einstein epithet; “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” [Science, Philosophy and Religion]
In fact scientific confirmation is being added every day, consider this….and keep in mind this was written thousands of years before DNA confirmed this… “Your eyes even saw me as an embryo; All its parts were written in your book Regarding the days when they were formed, Before any of them existed.” (Psalm 139:16 NWT Bible) Hebrew scripture written by King David;
Another example; “He (God) stretches out the northern sky over empty space, Suspending the earth upon nothing” (Job26:7 NWT Bible) Again, recorded scripture written thousands of years before space travel confirmed this fact, during a time when most of mankind believed the earth stood on on the back of a turtle or an elephant or had some other ignorant idea!
These are just a couple of examples of the accuracy and authenticity of inspired scriptures, i.e. Holy Scripture. As if simple observation of all life and beginning to be understood ecological systems on planet earth were not enough in and of themselves!
What is more, he has promised to restore this sadly damaged planet to its optimal condition, including all mankind….
“….he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also he says: “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” (Revelation21:3-5)
“He is the Maker of the earth by his power, The One who established the productive land by his wisdom And who stretched out the heavens by his understanding.” (Jeremiah51:15)
True; humility is needed in order to acknowledge plain observable truth that we are the product of an invisible, spiritual, benevolent all-mighty-Creator, well represented by his son. Please visit JW.org for much more news and information plus a free study of the Bible, you’ll never regret it!
Please visit my posting: “From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained!?
B.C. Ferries incident! Leave a comment
Given all the interest in B.C. Ferries reminds me of a close call! I was a Quartermaster (steerman if you will) on a ferry leaving Horseshoe Bay for Nanaimo Harbour. The reason was a temp job while the Queen of Prince Rupert was being repaired (for details see my blog: The Grounding!)
It was a latter sailing after sunset, in fact it was quite dark, I don’t remember the time of year. Being a 20 something crewman on the helm at the time I was keen to obey directions from the Captain. We departed Horseshoe Bay backing out from the loading platform as per normal and began our rotation to transition to a forward course without incident, then began a port turn (left hand) to straight out our course, but this is where things went sideways!
A First Officer has the loading responsibility on any ship, and as we began our turn he was busy explaining car deck loading concerns with the Captain. Meanwhile I had been given the port turn instructions as mentioned. As the ship steadily turned to port therefore, I was left with a view of coastal rocks dead ahead! The Captain and first officer were completely distracted and not aware of our serious position. Finally with no time to lose, I spoke up to make the Captain aware of the potential danger!
He was startled at the continually turning ship toward shore, and immediately ordered “HARD STARBOARD” which I was glad to comply with! Indeed his distraction by the first officer had nearly resulted in ‘another’ ferry grounding, with me being a witness to both!
Thank goodness I could not be regarded as a ‘Jonas’ this time!