THE NIGHTMARE

 

Nightmares are scary things. They seem so real and frightening. You may even wake up screaming. But then you realize it was just a bad dream and relief washes over your brain and body. 

But some nightmares are actual events. It could be a life threatening health issue like cancer or heart disease or COVID19. Or it may be a serious illness or a condition such as Parkinson’s or macular degeneration. The loss of a family member seems like a nightmare too - a spouse or parent or sibling or the very worst, the loss of a child. 

You actually wish it were just a nightmare because to don’t want it to be real. You can’t believe it’s happening to you. The emotional shock seems too much to handle. You want to scream. You want it to go away. But you realize you can’t wake up from this bad dream. You are more afraid than from any nightmare.

 The only relief is the comfort that comes from God. When the fear and pain that awful events or news produces, the Bible gives us help and hope. Many times God tells us in His Word, “Don’t be afraid,” or “Fear not.” Jesus promised to give us His peace.

 And some nightmares are from external circumstances, such as devastating tornados or fires or earthquakes or hurricanes or blizzards. Others are from wars and rumors of wars. And a current nightmare is from the political agenda that cancelled the pipeline, and opened the southern border and is housing kids in prison-like conditions.

 Thankfully, God’s promise of peace and comfort apply to these as well. As it says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Amen 

COPYRIGHT 2021 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

CARBON NEUTRALITY

 It’s the PR goal of many companies to become “carbon neutral” or “climate neutral” in order to gain and retain environmentally conscious customers. In fact an organization with the name Climate Neutral has certified about 280 such companies, claiming, “The world needs to reach zero net carbon emissions by 2050.” Looking at their list of 150 companies, I didn’t recognize any.

Their three steps to neutrality are 1] Measure carbon emissions; 2] Purchase carbon credits to offset the emissions; 3] Reduce future emissions. The theory is that carbon credits will balance carbon emissions. But will they? How is this even possible? 

There are 16 companies listed on GOOGLE that offer to offset Carbon by selling “Carbon Offsets” and using the proceeds to do something to reduce carbon emissions.

The lead paragraph on the search says, “Carbon offsets are schemes or initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas or carbon dioxide emissions by compensating for or neutralizing the emissions made.” The word schemes is a good description of their business models. 

How is carbon balanced by these companies? There are several methods listed. The most common is to plant trees, an obvious choice since God created vegetation to release oxygen into the air after photosynthesis. Not a bad idea, but an acre of grass releases more oxygen than an acre of trees. The best of these involves the planting of fruit trees in poor countries to provide food. 

Other schemes, I mean methods, are methane emission reductions at landfills and family farms. Cow produced methane is captured both by gas bags placed on cows and by processing the manure and extracting the methane. It seems like carbon dioxide and methane are two big concerns for the carbon credit companies. 

Some projects include renewable energy such as wind turbines and solar panels. Others simply include workshops, seminars, and training programs, or water conservation, forest management, and waste heat capture. A few descriptions are rather vague, like “finding impressive projects around the world” that offset carbon usage. They use profits to find projects, but then what? 

In conclusion, a company or individual pays for carbon credits and these organizations take the money and work on projects to reduce carbon emissions. It’s a lofty effort for an inconclusive result to an unconfirmed problem of questionable science. But it has been very profitable for some in this market. 

God created the perfect atmospheric oxygen/carbon dioxide balance, and it’s still unknown how beneficial an increase in global temperatures can be.

 COPYRIGHT 2021 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

WHICH MILLIONAIRES DO YOU PREFER WATCHING

 There are a lot of choices. You can watch them on the national news networks and TV shows, in theaters, at sporting events or in the halls of Congress and the White House. There are so many of them and they’re all ready and willing to share their “expert” opinions on everything from money to the climate to health to politics – especially politics.

 Since they have so much money they’re certain that everyone will listen to them and take their advice. After all, money means success, and success comes from superior intelligence and a sharper instinct. Or a lot of them believe this to be so, which makes it hard to view their arrogance.

 Thankfully I’ve known several very intelligent people, and the smartest of them have been much more normal and down to earth than the celebrity types noted above. If they have a lot of money you wouldn’t know it. They don’t waste their wealth on opulent homes or cars.

 Admittedly, most celebrities didn’t start out being rich, but as the riches came to them they were changed. It’s human nature – it can’t be helped by many people. As the Bible says, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

 There is a way to avoid this trap, which is also found in Scripture, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” 

 If one is blessed with wealth, it is the sharing of financial blessings with those in need that provides an even greater blessing than the money itself provides.

 COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

GRETA'S GREEN WORLD (Author Unknown)

 

                 One crisp winter morning in Sweden, a cute little girl named Greta woke up to a perfect world, one where there were no petroleum products ruining the earth. She tossed aside her cotton sheet and wool blanket and stepped out onto a dirt floor covered with willow bark that had been pulverized with rocks.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“Pulverized willow bark,” replied her fairy godmother.

“What happened to the carpet?” she asked.

“The carpet was nylon, which is made from butadiene and hydrogen cyanide, both made from petroleum,” came the response.

Greta smiled, acknowledging that adjustments are necessary to save the planet, and moved to the sink to brush her teeth where instead of a toothbrush, she found a willow, mangled on one end to expose wood fiber bristles.

“Your old toothbrush?” noted her godmother, “Also nylon.”

“Where’s the water?” asked Greta.

“Down the road in the canal,” replied her godmother, ‘Just make sure you avoid water with cholera in it”

“Why’s there no running water?” Greta asked, becoming a little peevish.

“Well,” said her godmother, who happened to teach engineering at MIT, “Where do we begin?”

There followed a long monologue about how sink valves need elastomer seats and how copper pipes contain copper, which has to be mined and how it’s impossible to make all-electric earth-moving equipment with no gear lubrication or tires and how ore has to be smelted to a make metal, and that’s tough to do with only electricity as a source of heat, and even if you use only electricity, the wires need insulation, which is petroleum-based, and though most of Sweden’s energy is produced in an environmentally friendly way because of hydro and nuclear, if you do a mass and energy balance around the whole system, you still need lots of petroleum products like lubricants and nylon and rubber for tires and asphalt for filling potholes and wax and iPhone plastic and elastic to hold your underwear up while operating a copper smelting furnace and . . .

“What’s for breakfast?” interjected Greta, whose head was hurting.

"Fresh, range-fed chicken eggs,” replied her godmother. “Raw.”

“How so, raw?” inquired Greta.

“Well, . . .” And once again, Greta was told about the need for petroleum products like transformer oil and scores of petroleum products essential for producing metals for frying pans and in the end was educated about how you can’t have a petroleum-free world and then cook eggs. Unless you rip your front fence up and start a fire and carefully cook your egg in an orange peel like you do in Boy Scouts. Not that you can find oranges in Sweden anymore.

“But I want poached eggs like my Aunt Tilda makes,” lamented Greta.

“Tilda died this morning,” the godmother explained. “Bacterial pneumonia.”

“What?!” interjected Greta. “No one dies of bacterial pneumonia! We have penicillin.”  

“Not anymore,” explained godmother “The production of penicillin requires chemical extraction using isobutyl acetate, which, if you know your organic chemistry, is petroleum-based.

 Lots of people are dying, which is problematic because there’s not any easy way of disposing of the bodies since backhoes need hydraulic oil and crematoriums can’t really burn many bodies using as fuel Swedish fences and furniture, which are rapidly disappearing - being used on the black market for roasting eggs and staying warm.”

This represents only a fraction of Greta’s day, a day without microphones to exclaim into and a day without much food, and a day without carbon-fiber boats to sail in, but a day that will save the planet.

Tune in tomorrow when Greta needs a root canal and learns how Novocain is synthesized.

 

THE ULTIMATE PRIVILEGE

The word privilege implies that a group or individual has special advantages over all other groups and individuals. We’ve been hearing a lot about privilege lately, especially “white privilege.” But the fact that privilege exists among people indicates that there are differences in human attributes. 

There are many different privileges in the world both today and historically. One example is “strong privilege”- the strong usually have an advantage over the weak. Another is “female privilege” – there was a time when all ladies appreciated the door or chair holding of a gentleman and other acts of chivalry. Of course “male privilege” is also important – men always appreciate the attention of a loving wife and mother. 

I could go on, but the essence of “privilege” may be simply holding another person in esteem and treating them with respect and courtesy. 

But the ultimate privilege is CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGE. We have the privilege of knowing GOD – of having THE MIND OF CHRIST. 

Luke 24:45 (NKJV) And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 

Matthew 13:10-11 (NKJV) And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 

Matthew 11:25 (NKJV) At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV) For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

Acts 26:18 (NKJV) to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' 

2 Corinthians 3:15-16 (NKJV) But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 

Ephesians 1:17-18 (NKJV) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 

John 16:13 (NKJV) However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (NKJV) But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

1 Corinthians 2:9-16 (NKJV) But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

BLOOD TYPES - ONE RACE

 The human race is one race, with a few variations. What identifies us most is not the amount of pigmentation in our skin, but our blood type. 

Do you know your blood type? There are eight primary types, which are A, B, AB, and O, with either an RhD +/- factor. If someone needs a transfusion, it’s imperative to match the donor’s blood type with the patient’s. 

Why we have a particular blood type is due to our genetic makeup. Genetics was the science advanced by Gregory Mendel, a friar who served the Church in 19^th century Europe. Since his dominant / recessive gene discoveries, we have further found a much more detailed DNA structure that affects our inherited traits. 

But when the blood types have been documented around the world we find some interesting details. BLOODBOOK.COM has a record of the blood types of 85 population groups. Of these groups there are only ten that don’t have all blood types, and there are only three that have only one blood type. 

Those with only one blood type are remote tribes in South America and the Indian Ocean. They are the Bororo tribe in Brazil, Indians in Peru, and the Shompen in the Nicobar Islands. All have only type O blood. 

We all know the importance of blood – we can’t live without it. God designed our intricate cardiovascular system to provide blood to every organ and cell in our body. With the blood come oxygen and other gases; nutrition; healing; medication; and waste removal. It’s amazing! 

God created man separate from the animals and gave us unique blood, and through our blood He gave us life. Leviticus 17:11 says, “Life is in the blood.” If we lose too much we will die. But just as we can get a blood transfusion to keep us alive physically, God provides us with a spiritual transfusion through the shed blood of Christ on the cross. 

What we know about our physical blood will help us understand the need for our spiritual blood. Through God‘s Word we can become enlightened about this. I John 1:7 says, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Sin results in death; the blood of Christ results in eternal life.

EXPLETIVES

While watching THE FIVE on Fox News the other day, one segment focused on the healthy use of expletives and how they ease pain when blurted out. Regrettably, they used the example of a widely used one that is offensive, barbaric, rude, and crude. 

It’s not the specific word that’s spoken, it’s the force and volume that releases the pain-limiting emotions required to bring a degree of comfort. For example, I have a friend who says “Biscuits” when he makes a bad golf shot. Others say “Doggone it” “Drat” “Sugar” and others. 

One can say anything with the right emphasis to ease the hurt, whether physical or mental. You may try saying “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and by the time you’re finished yelling it out, you’ll have forgotten why you even needed to yell. 

The waxing or waning of civilization is reflected by the language its citizens use. It’s not snobby or pretentious or haughty to use polite words when alone or with others. But it is uncivilized to spout profanity in public, which is often done in the presence of ladies and children. The same is true in literature and other written media. 

Sadly many who speak or write for a living and many on social and public media seem to have no regard for civil language. The old “&%*@+” marks are now replaced by the first letter followed by dashes, which is no less offensive, barbaric, rude, and crude. I would simply omit the entire word when quoting another.

 God has gifted man with the wonderful ability to communicate with others either by writing or speaking. Our words can lift up or tear down; praise or insult; heal or harm; bring smiles or tears; teach good or bad; honor or dishonor God; display wisdom or ignorance. In short our words are either positive or negative. Let’s aim for positive!

COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

MY GOOD DEED IN THE BLIZZARD

I remember it like it was yesterday. Early January in 1980, in northern Indiana, I was on my way to a sales call at Upjohn in Kalamazoo. As I left Warsaw and headed north on Rt. 15, it began to snow. The snow fell in large flakes and was soon limiting visibly and began piling up on the road.

As I approached Goshen I noticed an older couple walking south, and I thought they must live nearby and were walking home. I entered the town but traffic was stopped and I could see a roadblock up ahead. Since the snow was worsening I figured it would be best to turn around and head home.

Now driving south I saw that same couple still hiking along covered with snow, and no houses nearby. I assumed they would appreciate a lift so I pulled over to ask. They gratefully got into my back seat and told me they were heading to Bremen to visit a friend. This surprised me because it was twenty miles away. And they were going to walk that far in the snow?

I had brought some snacks with me and offered them to these folks after asking if they were hungry. Again they were very appreciative of my kindness. As I turned west on Rt. 6 and drove a few miles the wife suddenly said, “Oh, I forgot our friend is on vacation and he won’t be home. Where can we stay? Maybe we can come home with you?”

Hmm. This didn’t sound good to me. With near blizzard conditions I wasn’t sure if I could make it back home. I suggested that their safety was important so it would be better if I took them someplace like the Salvation Army. “No,” she said, “We stayed there last night and the beds weren’t very comfortable.” What was I to do now?

I mentioned that perhaps a church could help them as I noticed a sign for a church down a side street. I drove along, barely able to see the front of my car by now, and lo and behold, a man was out in the blizzard trying out his new snow blower he got for Christmas. I asked him if the church was close and he said it was a few houses down at the end of the street, and that the parsonage was right next door.

So I pulled into the minister’s driveway and went to the door. His wife answered and I explained my predicament. She assured me that her husband would know how to help my charges and that in fact, he had to go to South Bend and he could take them to the Mission there. I got back and the car and shared this good news. But they weren’t happy. “We don’t know him, but we know you and we like you and we want to stay with you.”

I saw the pastor walking home so I told him my situation. He said that he had to deal with people like this before and the best thing to do was tell them if they didn’t get out of the car I’d take them to the police station and they could stay there. I issued the threat, and after a few minutes they very reluctantly climbed out of the car, and as she was leaving I heard the wife say to her husband, “We’re going back to the Mormons. They treat us better than this!”

Thank God I made it home safely, and I trust that the dear, sweet pastor was able to get them out of his car too.

COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

I MISS MY LUNCH BUDDIES -

-and I really miss the great food in the super restaurants at which we’ve eaten. I haven’t been to lunch in more than a month now, and even though I’ve lost over 9 pounds, I can hardly wait to get back out. My mouth is watering as I think about it. I’ve listed the guys in alphabetical order. [I have a lot of friends named Bob.] These places are from the last couple of years or so.

Al Trott: Casa D’Angelo

Bill Hulick: West Middlesex Diner; Annabelle’s;

Bob Birney: Menches; Farmer Boy; Lembos; Mi Casa; El Tren; Azteca; Ferraro’s; New Era; Firehouse Grill; Danny Boys; Market Street Grill; Landmark; Frontier; New Peking; Blaze Pizza;

Bob Schilling: Grayce Ann’s; Das Dutch Kitchen; Pizza Hut; Papa Joe’s and of course The Creamery.

Bob Stowers: Parkside;

Bob Thewes: El Tren; Firehouse Grill; Danny Boys;

Dan Hughes: Annabelle’s; Ben’s;

David Mabry: Mimi’s;

Don Crites: Wendy’s; Brimfield Family Restaurant; Beef O’Brady’s; La Terraza;

Don McCaughtry: Ben’s; Grinders; New China; Perkins; Brickhouse; BB Rooner’s; Elmton Pizza;

Doug Regrut: Wendy’s; Eat N Park;

Ed Robitz: John’s; Cracker Barrel; Hartville Kitchen; Samantha’s;

Foster White: Wendy’s; Swenson’s; Cracker Barrel; Farmer Boy; Menches; New Peking; Mama Guzzardi’s;

Gary Jones: Don Chavas; Great Wall; Yen Ching; Smokey Bones; Logan’s; Casa; 

Loye Elliott: Chili’s; Winking Lizard; Chick-Fil-A;

Mike Duriga: Wendy’s; Royal Star Diner;

Mike Wise: Menches Brothers; Farmer Boy; El Tren; Market Street Grill; New Peking; Blaze Pizza;

Men’s Bible Study: Don Pancho’s; Papa Gyro’s; Grinders: Pizza Hut;

Ron Mayfield: Mary Yoder’s; Mangia! Mangia! ; Tai-Pan;

Ted Nelson: El Tren; Firehouse Grill; Danny Boys; New Era; Market Street Grill; El Jalapenos; Tony’s; Ralphie’s;

There have been many other restaurants, but the above are my favorites. We are so blessed in this area to have so many excellent choices for lunch. And I’m blessed to have so many great lunch buddies.

I also have a few honorable mention restaurants in other areas. Let’s hope they can remain open after the COVID19 shutdown.

Anywhere                    PF Chang’s

Ashland OH                Jakes

Auburn Hill Mi           O’Brien’s Crabhouse

Bath Oh                       Gasoline Alley

Bellville OH                Der Dutchman

Cuyahoga Falls OH    The Boulevard

Elmore OH                 Village Inn

Erie PA                       Smuggler’s Wharf

Findlay OH                 Dietsch Ice Cream

Florence AL               Ricatoni’s

Goshen IN                  Dandino’s

Grand River OH         Brennen’s Fish House

Greensburg PA           Primanti Brothers

Greenville OH            Fairlawn Steak House

Hanoverton OH          Spread Eagle Tavern

Hebron KY                 Mr. Herbs

Imlay City MI             Lucky’s Steakhouse

Independence OH       Slyman’s Tavern

Kalamazoo MI            Rykses Restaurant

Lapeer MI                   Castaways

Lisbon OH                  Mark’s Landing

Madison OH                Dean’s Family Restaurant

Minerva OH                Hart Mansion; John's

Mt. Vernon OH           Barb’s Country Diner

Niagara Falls NY        Red Coach Inn

Niles OH                     Vernon's Cafe

North Jackson OH       Dino’s

Orville OH                  Jerry’s Cafe

Perry OH                     Perry Family Restaurant

Portland MI                 Duke’s Canoe Club

Port Clinton OH          Jolly Roger

Port Clinton OH          McCarthy’s Pub

Romeo MI                   Old Stone Bar & Grill

Roscoe OH                  Warehouse

Saline MI                     Mac’s Acadian Seafood

Solon OH                     Glenwillow Grille

St. Clair MI                  River Crab

Traverse City MI         Apache Trout Grill

Valparaiso IN               Round The Clock

Warsaw IN                   Oak & Alley

Warsaw IN                   Boathouse

Wixom MI                   Moe’s on Wixom

Youngstown OH          MVR

NOT ABOUT COVID19

It’s a challenge to write about something other than COVID19, but I’ll give it a try. As the Bible often says, “It came to pass.” So, it didn’t come to stay, it came to “pass” – as will this worldwide pestilence, God willing.

I also don’t want to write about the election or politics or the liberal news media. Biden and Trump will be offering enough press up to November. And FOX vs CNN will keep us informed about such things.

Climate change has been covered by me several times in the past. The fear-mongering claims of the extremists will continue, and my meager attempt to counter the false claims of man-made global warming won’t have much effect on their opinions.

And why would I want to write about our nation’s enemies? China, Iran, Russia, North Korea, and others are constantly thinking of ways to rule us. We pray that God will protect us from their evil schemes to further harm us.

The financial woes brought on by the shutdown are temporary, we hope. As the country gets back to work, incomes and profits and taxes will return. Government overspending will probably continue as well, but who want to read about that?

So instead I’ll return to a couple of areas of my limited knowledge: the Bible, along with the sciences of chemistry and biology, which I studied in college. While staying at home and reading, we should remember to read the Bible along with other books. There is no better source for hope and peace and comfort.

The most difficult college course I took at the University of Akron was Biochemistry. Chemistry is a study of the physical properties of chemicals. Biology is a study of life forms and systems. Biochemistry combines the two and is essential for pharmacology.

This brings me back to the COVID19 virus. Biochemists are working feverishly to come up with a treatment and vaccine, and their success will alleviate our fear of this virus and others. God created the chemistry and biology of life, and thankfully, He will help scientists use their expertise to save many lives.

COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON