The Root and the Rock

It takes all kinds to make a world. It started with the Root and the Rock. The Root said to the the Rock: Look! I can make a Tree! The Rock, gazing up skyward, had a look at the tree, and he said: Well that’s nice; “I suppose you’re gettin’ up in the world. . . but, uh. . . what the heck is that?”

The Root said, “that. . . what? The Rock said, “that big lump hangin’ off of your trunk.” The Root said, “oh, that. that’s just a spot where some alien immigrant tried to break into my territory.” The Rock said, “alien?” The Root said, “it’s just some, uh, visitor who stopped by to make a home in my little crack.” Rhe Rock said, “oh, and that’s. . . okay with you, that he just decides to hang out in your territory? I mean, it’s like, kinda weird, don’t you think?” The Root said, “nah, man. whatever floats your tote; live and let live.” The Rock said, “Oh . . . but don’t you need to, like, develop something to improve the world, make it a better place?” Don’t let some immigrants come in and screw it up for you.” The Root said, “like what? what do you have in mind?” The Rock said,” well, uh, like. . . like these homo sapiens came along and dug up some of my stuff, and they processed it and made it into a steel and glass creation. have a look at this; pretty impressive huh!”

The Root said, “uh, yeah; that’s nice. but what’s all that colory stuff in the foreground? It looks a little bit like what some of my kinfolk like to do.” The Rock said. “uh, I don’t know; its just stuff that some human merchant put together, just like because, those humans don’t have anything better to do than make stuff up.” The Root said, “uh. . . but, I mean, I think it’s pretty nice what they did. i mean, it’ colorful and all.” The Rock said, “yeah, well, whatever floats your boat. I never have figured those homo sapiens out.” The Root said, “I haven’t either, I mean they do some nice stuff every now and then.” The Rock said, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. But you better watch out for them. They’ll have this whole world set up in contrived stuff if you don’t watch out.” The Root said, “Yeah, some of those humans don’t have anything better than to do than sit around on a friday afternoon and make up stupid stories about us.” The Rock said, “Yeah, we’ll have to keep an eye on ’em. They’ll have this whole world turned around before you can say licketty split. The Root said, “ Yeah, I heard some of them were piddlin’ around with the E=mc squared thing. I hope they can’t make that go full blast.” The Rock said, “If they do, we’ll have to shut ’em down before all hell brakes loose; I got some cousins who could fall pretty hard on ‘em.” The Root said, “ Oh, not to worry; they’ll just make mushrooms out of molehills.” The Rock said, “I’ll have to keep an eye on them; if they get too far along with that fission f****up stuff I’ll just have to gather up some of my klan and fall down on them.” The Root said, “ Oh, shucks, Yeah,keep an eye on it. If that happens, I’ll have to start all over again. The Rock said, “ Ugh, yeah, we’ll try to make it hard on ’em so they don’t f**** up. The Root said, “Keep me posted. I’m gonna take a nap. Let me know if anything happens.” The Rock said, “Not a problem. If anything serious happens, I’ll let ya know about it.” The Root said, “ Thanks. I know I can depend on you.” And they both lived happily ever after, or at least we hope so. Glass Chimera

Europe in 2025

NATO must accept Zelensky's invitation. Putin is the aggressor, and he must be stopped. Since the Ukrainians were unable to stop putin's war of aggression, the task must be transferred - dare i say it - to NATO! Somebody needs to stop the Russian madman.  That would force putin into the odd situation of having assured Ukraine's NATO membership, even though that was his worst fear - his worst nightmare. Such is the confused clusterfuc of an authoritarian ruskie who propels himself into aggression and evil. The irony is that putin is on record as having hated nazis - and accusing freedom-seeking Ukrainians of being"nazis". Actually, putin is cornering himself into his own worst nightmare - Ukraine in NATO! Somebody needs to stop the Russian dictator before he starts another world war!

Smoke

The Other Side of the Coin

Who truly understands what is happening in a fallen, complicated world? I certainly do not, although sometimes I pretend to. I just watched a YouTube program that featured a speech by Jeffrey Sachs. I must say, in my lifetime I cannot remember any speech that I ever heard that compares to his assessment of the war in Ukraine.

I will preface this re-evaluation of my own viewpoint by pasting herein, my live chat comments: "Seems like Jeffrey is exposing a 21st-century rerun of Vietnam, with Ukraine being Vietnam. As for Israel and Netanyahu. . . a much more complicated clusterfud." "The other big question is: Can Jeffrey's condemnation of Netanyahu be interpreted as realpolitik, or antisemitism? or both?" "Did Clinton and Bush - driven by the post-coldwar Pentagon worldview - take on a Johnson//Nixon bellicose attitude that dragged us into a NATO war-cry, over-reacting unnecessarily?" Just now, I am having a deep reassessment of what has recently been my understanding of the war in Ukraine. . . why it happened, how it happened, because of my hearing of Jeffrey Sachs' testimony about the history of the Putin/Ukraine conflagration, on YouTube this evening. My opinions were, earlier, perhaps, slanted in an anti-Russian direction because of my youth. . .growing up during the cold war, when Nikita Krushjev banged his shoe on a podium and announced to the world, referring to us, the US. . . that "We will bury you!" Well, times have changed! No doubt about that. But the real question is. . . how have they actually changed? Who am I to think I understand what is happening there? Now I'm wondering, were Krushchev and Putin cast from the same Soviet mold? Maybe, maybe not. Or did Russia become a different nation when Putin manhandled the post-Soviet state into being his new creation of Russia? After listening to Jeffrey Sachs, I am not so sure. I am perplexed.  Five years ago, we visited Hungary and the Czech Republic. At that time, I returned from that trip with what was perhaps a melodramatic assessment: "We visited a NATO air base, which was formerly a Soviet air base. Now I call that progress!" While that statement may have been true, it was calculated in my own mind for dramatic effect. Bottom line: Jeffrey says that Putin/Russia will not invade Europe. I have actually been wondering about this. I think Jeffrey Sachs' bottom line seems to be that we need to give Putin the benefit of the doubt.  One thing for sure. He knows far more about Europe and Ukraine and Russia than I do. And, as it turns out, Jeffrey is speaking strongly, and maybe convincingly, on behalf of giving Putin and the Russians the benefit of the doubt . . . until they prove otherwise.  You can listen to Jeffrey's speech to the Europeans here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewvrbvEckxQ King of Soul

The Ascent

The ancient Hebrew Prophet Moses wrote an account of a traveler, Abraham, who moved from a land called Haran; he established a new home in a land called Canaan. Later, Abraham had a grandson named Jacob. At a certain point in Jacob's life, he was traveling. One night he stopped to sleep, using a stone as his pillow. I guess he didn't have a backpack with him.  Jacob had a dream that night. He had a vision of heavenly beings, angels, climbing a ladder into the heavens. 

 In the dream, according to our Bible that has been handed down from age to age, the Lord spoke to him with a message that the land wherein he was dreaming would be given to his descendants. Later, the Jewish people, Jacob's descendants, would ultimately be spread out, in all directions, throughout the earth. Thus Jacob's prophetic dream was later fulfilled in history as the Jewish people established their kingdom there, and then were later spread throughout the earth as human history redistributed them.  Later . . . much later, Jesus Christ, one in divinity with Father, YWHW, was born into those descendants. He was born in that region, in a town called Bethlehem. Jesus was raised in northern Israel, in Nazareth, where he grew up. Jesus traveled to Jerusalem to fulfill his Messianic ministry. Along with his Messianic (you gotta believe) role of prophetic teaching and preaching, Jesus was destined to be unjustly crucified, so that he could be resurrected three days later. His role as conqueror of death was thus demonstrated for all the world to know and believe in eternal life through Him. Since that time, his good news gospel of eternal life has been spread by his believers throughout all lands of this planet. Today, February 23, 2025, I snapped this pic of a few of his Christian believers, including me and my wife and many friends, gathering together to worship Him, to sing praises to Him:

 and to hear the words of His gospel spoken by our pastor, Scott Andrews, at the Bible Alliance Church. The gospel we heard from Scott, a half-hour after this photo was taken, was his exegesis about Jesus, and the miracle that occurred when Jesus' disciples fed five thousand people with five bread loves and a few fishes.  A good time was had by all, as we sang praises to the One who conquered death and sin for us. United together in worship and Gospel, we believe the news of His victory over death and sin, and we celebrate it with songs of praise to Him and our appreciation of His gospel good news of eternal life. And if you believe that, I've got some Heavenly real estate I'll tell you about.  King of Soul

Appeasement 1938 Deja Vu?

In 1938, Adolph Hitler was using the presence of Germans in the Sudetan region to make war on Czechoslovakia. In September of1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met with Adolph Hitler in Munich and made a peace deal with him.

In spite of that treaty, Hitler's German wehrmacht forcefully occupied Sudetanland in Czecholsovakia, in October of 1938. The world remembers what tragedies happened in Europe in the years that followed, until 1945.   In 2014, Vladimir Putin used the presence of Russians in the Donbas region to attack Ukraine. In the years since that attack, Putin has persisted in his war against the people of Ukraine. Now In 2025, Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth and JD Vance approve Vladimir Putin's war and occupation against Ukraine. Is the Trump triumvirate of appeasement enablers ignoring the belligerence of Putin and his legions. . . a replay of Chamberlain's 1938 deal with the devil? For my mind misgives some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, shall bitterly begin with this policy's enablers. Smoke

Endings

When I was a young man, a student at LSU during the early 1970's, I traveled from Louisiana to California, hitchhiking with a friend. On our return trip, we were somewhere near the New Mexico/Texas state line, when a man whose age was about the age that I am now gave us a ride all the way to Dallas, about 350 miles. I don't remember anything about that gentleman, except that he was very friendly, and he enjoyed talking to a couple of young people. In fact he did, I think, most of the talking. What I do remember is that, as we were approaching Dallas, he began explaining everything there was to know about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which had happened on November 22, 1963. His explanation of the tragic murder culminated as we arrived at Dealey Plaza, where the assassination had taken place. That was an historical ending that stands firmly in the memory of my baby boomer g-generation - the assassination . . . but also my visit to Dallas.

Earlier in 1963, President Kennedy had visited Berlin and invited the citizens of the world to come to Berlin: "Let them come to Berlin!". . . to see the difference between our American way of doing things and the Soviets' way of doing things, because the Russians had built a wall to keep us freedom freaks out of their communist side of the city, or maybe it was the other way around. 

Years later, one of my grown children had visited Berlin and brought back this souvenir: Even more years later, after our daughter had married a US Air Force pilot who was stationed at the NATO air base near Papa, Hungary, we were visiting there. We took a side trip to Vienna. While there, we visited the Schonbrunn Palace, which had been the home base of the Hapsburg dynasty. We visited the historic room where the last Hapsburg "Emperor", Carl, had, at the conclusion of World War I, signed away the monarchy on November 11, 1918, officially ending the Hapsburg empire and any claims.I snapped this picture of what I call the "end room" of an empire that had reigned in central Europe since 1804.

This morning, as I was viewing a few YouTube documentaries, I got the notion to write these comments about "Endings." . . . because, you know, at some point, we will all have one of our own. And here's one more pic that just occurred to me: This is my grandfather Carey, whose ending came in 1950. It's a multiple of mug shots from his World War I service. He died in 1950, and so my mother named me after him. That was his ending; my beginning came soon thereafter.

And one day I will have my ending; but it will also be an eternal beginning, thanks to the Hebrew prophet who died on a cross and then lived to tell about it. His testimony was delivered all the way to me, and it is a testimony that has no end. If you have any questions about his identity, maybe you'll ask them in the comments.  King of Soul

Doc and Merle Watson

I’ll never forget the first time I heard Doc Watson’s voice, on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will the Circle Be Unbroken. 1973, I think it was. In the midst of that unique studio recording session, Doc’s down-home mountaineer baritone voice had been caught on the recording session, as he was gearing up the ensemble for the “take” session of Tennessee Stud: . . .

“ 1, 2, 3, Do we wanna try a break? . . . now yer fiddle break comes right after I get back from whoopin’ her brother and her paw, and sing a chorus, yeah. . . now, that is about as pretty a bass line as I’ve heard played in a long time. I compliment that boy back there”. . . (chuckles)’

Then, as the banjo player is rehearsing a lick in preparation for the recording take, Doc offers his assessment of the banjoist’s effort: “That’s a horse’s foot in the gravel; that ain’t a train.” He chuckles again. Doc’s just messin’ around with his musical buddies; he’s not being critical. Theyr’e just havin’ a good time pluckin’, strummin’, and flat-pickin’ (that’s Doc’s trademark) their good ole down home American tunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlxp8OJd6fg After the flat-pickin’ intro, Doc’s absolutely unique Blue Ridge mountaineer tenor voice began singing the tale: “Long about 1825, I left Tennessee very much alive; I never would’a made it through the Arkansas mud if I hadn’t been a-ridin’ on the Tennessee stud.” As for my first hearing of it. . .While studying at LSU in the 1970’s, I had a couple of friends, Bob and Bruce, who had come to University from Slidell, Louisiana. They had grown up a little closer to the grass roots than I, me bein’ a city boy. Long about ’73, when I was close to graduating, I happened to be at their apartment while they were listening to the (now)classic folk/bluegrass record album of that period, Will the Circle Be Unbroken,

which had recently been released by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, accompanied by an impressive ensemble of musicians of that era, including, most notably, Doc Watson and his son Merle. Long story short, and as Providence would have it, I now live about nine miles from the home that Doc had lived in, Deep Gap, North Carolina, with his wife Rosa Lee and son Merle. I’ve lived in Boone for about 45 years now. About twenty years ago, I happened to be singing some of my own songs at the state/county fair, when Doc’s wife Rosa Lee sat, with her daughter, listening to my tunes. They sat through my whole set and complimented my presentation at the end. I felt extremely honored that Doc’s wife had taken the time to listen to my songs. Our main downtown street in Boone, North Carolina, features a metal sculpture of Doc, ostensibly playing his guitar — as he often did, right there, on that spot, when he was alive on this earth. Doc’s blindness was absolutely no handicap for that incredibly gifted guitar-picker from the nearby holler that we call Deep Gap.

I look forward to meeting Doc in heaven, where we’ll never say goodbye! . . . because the circle of this life will be eternally broken when we reach our eternal home with Jesus (and I’m tellin’ the truth, y’all) where we’ll never again say goodbye! http://www.careyrowland.com

Words to Live By

The princes inside are like wolves tearing their prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in orer to get dishonest gain. Their prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying; "This is what the Lord say when the Lord has not spoken. The people of the land practiced oppression and committed, and they have wronged the poor and the needy and they have oppressed the sojourners without Justice. (From Jeremiah 22)

Jesus told the people, as recorded in Matthew 25: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle people, the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are those who are merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are. those who are pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Elmo v the DeepState

Citizen US: It is not good to take the taxpayers' bread and throw it to the DOGEs. Elmo: Fuhgedaboudit. We are tired of feeding the USAID, the Labor Department, and especially the Education Department. This Deepstate detritus has got to go. Citizen US: Who authorized these DOGEs anyway? I don't see anything in the Constitution about unelected DOGEs firing civil servants.What kinda dogs are those anyway, that you've sicked on our .gov? Tramp: They're Muskees. And besides, the people have bred them. They were trained in the pack during the Jan6 dry run. Ain't that right, MAGAs? MAGA: You so right, boss. We don't need no education; we don't need no thought control. We don't need no deepstate telling us what to do and what to not do. Just like we didn't need no gavel-swingin' VP messin' up our Jan6 plan.

Citizen US: But did you hear what brutha O'donell said? MAGA: Uh, no. What was that? Citizen US: He said that what Elmo was doing, sickin' his DOGEs on the deepstate, was like the suit and tie version of Jan6. MAGA: Oh yeah? well that Jan6 maneuvre was just a practice run anyway. We're gettin' over it. We're set up now for the main event. Ain't that right, Elmo? Elmo: You becha, This next phase will make Jan6 look like a walk in the park, MAGA! And we're gettin' ready to clean house too. We're gonna round up all the aliens and send 'em back where they came from. Citizen 1: But what about Emma? MAGA: Emma? Citizen 1: Emma Lazarus. You know: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free. Send these, the tempest-toss'd, to me. l'll lift my lamp beside the gold door!" MAGA: Emma was a democrat; you know that, don'tcha? And a frickin' New Yawk liberal. Citizen 1: Word on the street is that you're setting up concentration camps at Guantanamo or somewhere. Tramp: Youbetcha. We need to get 'em out of the way., so we can make America white again. . . I mean, great again. Citizen 1: And what about this Gaza thing? You're gonna clean the place out? I hear you're going for the ethnic cleansing deal? Tramp: We'll figure that out, uh, maybe we'll do a Guantanamo deal somewhere with the Saudis. Maybe we'll get those Gaza gangs busy pumpin' oil for the Saudis, cuz we gotta keep the black gold comin', y'know. The USofA cranks up every mornin' on the black gold, y'know. Yeah. But whateva, We'll be cleaning house. We'll send them Paletinias back where they came from. We'll pack 'em in somewhere on the west bank. Then we'll get that Gaza strip fixed up, real nice, maybe like the Jersey shore; it'll be like the Riviera! Maybe we'll do some nice hotels there, maybe even a casino or two. Glass half-Full

"Antichrist"

In our world today, we can identify several strong leaders of nations: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, Narendra Modi, Donald Trump. Among this list we find one or two who are probably too "strong." Vladimir Putin certainly thinks of himself as being strong, even to the point of making war on Ukraine because he wants to compel the Ukrainians to hook up with mother russia, as it had been in the old days before Ukraine broke free. Donald Trump cetainly thinks of himself as being strong, even to the point of sending a mob of rebels to attack our Capitol on January 6, 2021, and then pardoning them as if they had taken a stroll in the park behind the white house. But I digress.  Also in our world today, we find millions of Christians. I am one of them. In our Christian Bible we find historical texts, prophetic texts, poetry, historical testimonies and letters. In our prophetic texts we can identify several ancient prophets: Among them we find Moses, Samuel, Ezra, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and many others. In our New Testament, we Christians find more prophets. The chief among them is Jesus Christ, who was not only prophet, but much more than a prohet - the Messiah, the greatest prophet all and Saviour of all men and women who are willing to believe in Him. In our New Testament we find newer prophets. Every one of them spoke and wrote for the purpose of revealing our Messiah, Jesus, to all men and women everywhere. Most Christians consider Isaiah to have been the greatest (the most revelatory) prophet of the Old Testament. We also believe that, among our New Testament prophets, John was the greatest, in the sense that he wrote the most revealing account of the life, death, resurrection and final, post-resurrection Revelation of Jesus Christ. In world history, we find multitudes of references to Jesus, including much speculation about who was he, what was he up to and the significance oh his life and legacy. Among those disciples and prophets who later wrote about Jesus, the most influential - you might say the "greatest" - was Jesus' close companion, the apostle John. John wrote the book of Revelation, the last book of our Bible. John also wrote one of the gospels about the life and work of Jesus when he was incarnated as a man walking on the earth, like us. Among his letters, the apostle John made mention of a historical phenomenon that was developing while he was still alive; it is the presence in this world of something called "antichrist". Here are the several mentions from the Apostle John in his letters: a). . . "just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared. . ." b) "This is the antichrist, the one (anyone) who denies the Father and the Son." c). . . every spirit that does not confess Jesus (as the Son of God). . .this is the spirit of antichrist." d) "For many deceivers have gone out into the world; those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh - this is the deceiver and the antichrist." So when properly understood, we Christians recognize an antichrist spirit in this world, which is spiritual. "Antichrist" is not any unique person. I am writing this point of clarification now in order to correct the false nation that "the antichrist" is any particular world leader or demagogue.

Some of my Christian brethren have lately attempted to label certain world leaders as "the" antichrist. These mistaken critics are, it seems to me confusing the antichrist identity with three individual (perhaps human) characters mentioned in the book of Revelation. To clarify, we find that in Revelation 13:1, " Then I saw a beast - a dragon - coming out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. . ." Also, we find in Revelation 13:11: "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. . ." It may be that these prophetic images, while representing empires, nations, or other human institution, are, in fact, lead by men who embody the antichrist spirit. But that does mean that either one is "the" antichrist. Antichrist could be among us right now, and we wouldn't even know it, unless we compare the actions of powerful leaders to corrupt human institutions that once stood for decency, liberty and/or human virtue. But there is no one person who is the antichrist. In fact, there are probably many who fit that category.  Glass half-Full

It's a Square World

When He returns Death will have no dominion. Even so, life has its its ups and downs its down and outs. Meanwhile, Let the yeahs be yeahs and the nays be nays At least until the man rides in on an unsealed white horse to set the fates burning to start the gyres turning to complete the saints' yearning "I've got a three-penny opera I'll sell ya." said the joker to the thief "but there must be some way outa here" mourned the poet in his grief. A bleeker scenario than this I can't imagine what it'd be "Positively, but it's on fourth street" where you'll find relief. "It's in a cafe called the Commons" where we'll shirk belief. Yeah, there must be some way out here where you'll find relief said the trumper to the thief. Jez take me to the village gate where I can pass beyond this hate. Yonder He comes on donkey he arrives. Someday he'll arrive. Say what? Just say when; then we can begin. I can't say when; it's blowin' in the wind. But the wind is up, sky is blue its beautiful and so are you Dear Prudence. Won't you come out to play! I think I'll just stay where I'm at. But quothe the raven "Nevermore." Aw, he's a bird brain, don'cha know? Fuhgedabowdit. cuz when you wish upon a star. . . But I can't stay here; it's a hard, hard, hard rain's gonna fall. I know. I know. Just chill out dude. Wait at the village gate until Love turns away from all this hate. It just seems like the bitter end to me said the Villager at the gate. Don't worrry aboud it, boobie! I got some woodstock land I'll sell ya. . . lemme tell ya. When push comes to shove we'll all surrender our crowns on this blood-stained ground. Cuz He's got plans of his own to set up his throne. You mean the donnie? No no heavens no But we gotta get past this crummy hotel room in Lincoln Square

Our breath comes out white clouds and mingles and hangs on the stair at Ford's Theatre, up the stairs. Stairway to heaven? No, no! just surrender your crown on this grassy knoll ground. He's got plans of His own to change this world's tone when He returns. after the hard rain falls when the trumpet calls. He'll blow it in on the wind. A Pentecost amend A latter rain that's hard, gonna fall, y'all! before the final curtain call Cuz he got plans of his own to change this world's tone when He returns. Oh, but what about Ai? said the joker to the thief Don't fret about it. He's got plans of His own to set up his throne when He returns. Just surrender your crown on this blood-stained ground. And the truth shall make you free. Death will have no dominion. Just believe! I know I know, it's a slow train, slow as a homo erectus brain. But it's coming! coming round the bend, and for His people He will send at the end, which is actually the begin! King of Soul