When I make an appointment, I make it as early as possible. Very few want to be walking into an office at 7:50 for an 8 o'clock appointment. I like it because 1, I usually have other things to do later and 2, I hate to wait in the office. So it was that I was struggling through the parking lot of my apartment building, a parking lot filled with ice, frozen slush and fresh snow on Monday at about 7:15 in the morning. Arriving at the car, I had to brush the snow off and then work on the half inch of ice that covered the whole thing. Finally, I got into the car and got it started, backed out and headed on my way. Being a holiday (President's Day) the snowplows were delayed and the roads were covered in the same mess that filled my parking lot. I turned on the radio to hear traffic updates and while I waited, I listened to an expert who was telling the local host that this bad weather was the result of climate change and that eventually the earth would not be a place on which humans could live.

Now, I have seen a lot of life. I grew up in the area in which I now live. Northeast Ohio. I have done ministry right here for thirty two of the last forty years. So, giving my growing up years and those thirty two years, I have lived in Northeast Ohio for fifty years. During that time, I have seen fifty winters. Bitter cold, heavy snows, Lake Erie freezing over from the US to Canada. Year after year after year. Springtime is beautiful, summers are hot and humid and Fall is breathtaking. Every year, year after year. And yet, people talk of climate change. Maybe Northeast Ohio is immune to climate change. Tornados roar through Tornado Alley every year. Evidence of climate change, except that it has happened for as long as people have lived there. Hurricanes ravage the Gulf states and the Eastern Seaboard. Evidence of climate change, except this has always happened. Drought plagues various regions. Evidence of climate change, except droughts have always happened. In conversation with a young man once, he pointed out that there were many more named storms now than ever before. Evidence of climate change, except years ago we only named hurricanes. Now, tropical storms, winter storms and summer storms are named. Interesting.

There is one other evidence of climate change that tops the list, though. Glaciers are melting and sliding into the sea and are going to raise sea levels and destroy humanity. Climate change will kill us all! However, just this past week a scientific paper was published that says glacier movement is not a result of glacier melting. Instead, it is the weight of the glacier forcing the ice at actual ground level to break up and melt and thus allowing the glacier to slide downhill. The melting process begins as the glacier nears the sea, JUST LIKE IT ALWAYS HAS HAPPENED. The paper's proof is indisputable, being accepted by all the scientific councils. The upshot of the paper, which is the result of years of study, is that the predictions of sea level rise are way over blown. It is a natural event and is happening at a very slow rate. The sad thing is the people pushing the sea level rising narrative have known all along that it was fake. When the Obamas left the White House, one of their home purchases was on Martha's Vineyard, right on the Atlantic Ocean and just seventy two feet above sea level. Why would you spend 6.8 million dollars on a property you really believed was going to be unlivable in a few years? 

The whole purpose of the climate change narrative is to promote fear. Fear makes people easier to control and exploit. Why do people fall for such tactics? Because people love to be scared.

For instance, over the years I have been asked many times to teach the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ (that is the actual name of the book, not Revelations. One Revelation given by Christ. Just a pet peeve of mine.) So, I have taught the book. Strangely, most people quit while I am taking weeks to work through the messages to the churches. They want to get to the exciting stuff of the punishments even though most of them will not even be there to see it, because it is scary! The whole story of Moses is pretty ho-hum to people until one gets to the plagues, because the plagues are scary! We climb on roller coasters and we bungee jump because it is scary. We read mysteries and stories of wars. We like to be scared. So, we allow ourselves to be told nonsense. One older gentleman told me once that when he read the Old Testament, it was all about war. Much more of redemption in the Old Testament than of war, but it depends on your selection of topics.

There is a Psalm that is requested at many, if not most, funerals. I have read it literally hundreds of times because it was requested, but it has to do with life rather than death. Another example of hearing what we want to hear.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteous for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

You have probably heard that more at funerals (and in the good old King James version) than anywhere else. But read it for life rather than death and be comforted knowing the Lord is our Shepherd. We need not fear.

On a personal note: I have written on a regular basis for forty years now. Church newsletters, blogs, magazines, newspapers and those little funeral memorial folders you get at funerals. (Didn't know I had the soul of a poet, did you?) I have often said that I would rather write than preach, which is totally true. I have never considered myself a good preacher. However, my pastoral activity is increasing, which I guess was to be expected, living in a seniors' apartment complex. My time is more and more limited. So, I am closing out this blog. Next week's will be the last From the Pastor's Desk. Some of you have been so very kind over the years! But my readership is way down and I have to look at priorities. This is a very hard decision, but next week ends it. Thanks so much!