Author: Parameciumcaudatum

One of the most outstanding characteristics of normal people is that they love to work. They seem to have an unlimited energy supply, and they put it to productive use. I just cannot help gazing through my strategically located northern window to look with admiration and awe at my neighbor’s young worker. As she toils tirelessly throughout the day to complete all of her chores. Members of that household awaken at 3:30 A.M. diurnally, proceed outside into the open air, and make a large wooden fire. Over this hearth, they cook porridge and ripe banana fritters for their many patrons, who arrive from the surrounding vicinity early each day to enjoy this sumptuous breakfast. As the hours progress, the family matriarch loads herself up with a large supply of these morning treats and walks one mile to Biadan. A nearby community where she sells her merchandise to all those who desire to enjoy a hot breakfast as they commence the day. Her regular customers are nurses, teachers, traders, accountants, and carpenters. Professionals who, because of Ghana’s runaway inflation, might be able to afford to purchase a small cylinder of cooking gas occasionally. But certainly, they are prohibited from using it regularly due to its high price. From around 10 A.M. onwards, Ms. Eliza can also be seen scouring, washing, and scrubbing the gigantic pots, buckets, and pans as she endeavors to get them clean and ready for the following day.

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,
Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-11 (NKJV).

One afternoon, I mustered enough courage to tell her, “Ms. Eliza, I think you are a wonderful worker. Can you find a young lady like yourself to care for my apartment?” Her response was, “Yes, of course, my sister.” After about two weeks, she arrived at the back metal gate and iron grill, facilitating an entrance from the rear of the house to my 2 bedroom unit. With her was a fair-skinned, slender, and beautiful girl about 5’8′ in height. I was shocked when I saw her sibling. Although Ms. Eliza’s complexion was extremely dark, her sister was almost white. A fitting testimony to Ghana’s past. A former British colony in which the colonial masters freely cohabited with the natives to produce progeny with various complexions.

The Gold Coast was a British Crown colony on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa from 1821 until its independence in 1957 as Ghana. The term Gold Coast is also often used to describe all of the four separate jurisdictions that were under the administration of the Governor of the Gold Coast. These were the Gold Coast itself, Ashanti, the Northern Territories protectorate and the British Togoland trust territory. ^{The Ashanti people had controlled much of the territory of Ghana before the Europeans arrived and were often in conflict with them. In the 21st century they continue to constitute the largest ethnic community in Ghana. Four wars, the Anglo-Ashanti Wars, were fought between the Ashanti (Asante) and the British, who were sometimes allied with the Fante.} WIKIPEDIA: The Free Encyclopedia: Gold Coast (British Colony).

From all appearances, Ms. Eliza’s sister, Dora, was an excellent worker, and I was very impressed with her initially. Her work was thorough; she cleaned bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, porch, and hall. When I finally introduced her to the empty garage, she embraced the challenge of doing an excellent job to make it look immaculate. Nevertheless, there were things about Ms. Dora that perturbed me. First, she never came to work consistently. Second, she could never come at the time she would previously announce. She would work on Monday, disappear for the rest of the week, and come the following Wednesday. If she announced that she would come to work at 8:00 A.M., she wouldn’t arrive until 10:00 A.M. If she informed me beforehand that she would arrive at 9:00 A.M., she wouldn’t get to my apartment until noon. I wondered what this kind of behavior meant. Then, it gradually dawned upon me that this woman had no interest in working. All her cleaning efforts at my apartment were nothing more than a big pretense, an empty show, a valiant effort at make-believe. I happen to know from my clinical experience that not only are the mentally ill disorganized. They also have no interest in committing themselves to a long-term work program. What, however, was her objective? She was searching for a husband to take care of her. When she started working at my apartment, I asked her, “How much should I pay you daily?” Don’t pay me anything, Mr James,” she replied. “Just take care of my needs.”

I complied with her wishes at first, buying her toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, and food until I observed that I was spending far more than I was getting in return. Once I arrived at that moment of truth and acted accordingly, Ms. Dora disappeared and stopped coming to do any work at my apartment. The Spirit had warned me not to trust her because she wasn’t truthful. By September of this year, I was back in North America, and we ran into each other on WhatsApp. She demanded air time, but I sent her none. Gently reminding her that she had abandoned the job I gave her without any explanation. Although I hadn’t seen her for about five months, she claimed she never left her job. I tried to wrap my head around that little fib until I remembered that people suffering from psychosis experience a disorder of thought, speech, and conduct. Based on my own assessment of her, she seemed to be suffering from Disorganized Schizophrenia (F20.1). Since we were over 6000 miles apart and on two separate continents, I decided it would be harmless to push the envelope a little, and I said to her, “I couldn’t help noticing that you wouldn’t come to work on time?” Her response was unexpected, “Mr. James, I don’t love you,” She complained. “I have my person who takes good care of me, and I don’t love you.” “I don’t see why the way you feel would be a problem,” I replied.

“If a wise man contends with a foolish man, Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace…A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back.” Proverbs 29: 9,11. (NKJV).

(TO BE CONTINUED)

The New Testament reports that the Christian couple Ananias and Sapphira were the first documented 1st-century church members to attempt to perpetrate a scam in God’s household. But when they attempted their nefarious act, they were caught and had to pay with their lives. Nothing has changed. There are still people even today who have decided that it is to their benefit to prey upon their fellow members of their congregations.

Of all the ways scammers can steal your money, experts agree the most difficult frauds to combat are the ones that seek to turn your own faith against you. Law enforcement officials call them affinity frauds — targeting victims through a common bond, most often religion. While nationwide statistics are hard to come by because the scams are so widespread, it’s fair to say that affinity fraud losses run into the billions of dollars per year. “People want to trust,” Jenice Malecki, a New York securities lawyer who specializes in affinity fraud cases, said in an interview with CNBC’s “American Greed.” “Especially in affinity situations, where people feel more comfortable for one reason or another, be it a church or an ethnic community, they tend to not look as hard as they should at what’s in front of them.”

CNBC: AMERICAN GREED: Religious Based Financial Fraud Is Rampant.

My furniture maker was no exception. Criminals and scammers will try to take advantage of others under any circumstance. But when there is a raging economic crisis to give them social cover, their actions become even more brazen. The theft of money under a false premise is one thing. The trauma experienced when the victim realizes that he was targeted because of his location among the supposed followers of Christ. It is simply heart-rending. I could have had him arrested because that’s how fraudsters are handled in Ghana. Or I could have reported him to the elders of the church. I did none of the above. I simply spoke with him, prayed, listened to his excuses and rationalizations, and gave him time. But it was all to no avail. As we read in scripture:

 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.^” Luke 6:27-28 (NKJV).

My good intentions fell by the wayside. The pursuit of my high ideals took me to nowhere. After I had exhausted all of the scriptural injunctions enunciated by The Master Himself, I started to pray. “Lord,” I asserted, “I’ve done everything you told me to do; where do I go from here?” The following morning, the answer came while I was resting in bed. It was clear, audible, concise, and taken directly from scripture: “Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1 (NKJV). I heard The Spirit clearly. What exactly, however, did He mean by those words? Since it’s impossible to second-guess The Lord, I would just have to wait patiently to see. About six weeks passed, and one day, while walking, I saw a religious pamphlet on the road directly in front of me. One mind prompted me to kick it further down the road. Another thought, however, counseled me to pick it up instead. I obeyed the latter, picked up the piece of literature, placed it in my bag, and took it home. After I arrived home, I took the small pamphlet out of my bag. I opened it and proceeded to examine it, and to my great amazement, two crisp one hundred US bills were staring up at me. The Ghanaian equivalent was 2000.00 GHS, the same amount I had paid to my unscrupulous furniture maker. I could barely believe this experience.

So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper. 2 Chronicles 20:20. (NKJV).

Yvonne Nelson is among the most beautiful and accomplished Ghanaian actresses and celebrities I know. Yet she could not prevail upon Ghana’s current President, Nana Dwanka Akuffo Addo, to change the nation’s immediate but downward economic trajectory so that, in the end, she and others could continue to enjoy their past standard of living. Of course, he tried, as did the Minister of Finance, but ultimately, national and international events overtook them all and imposed impotence upon them.

The UK High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, has expressed concerns about significant levels of corruption in Ghana, emphasizing its impact on the nation’s progress. During a media interaction at the 75th birthday celebration of King Charles III at her residence, she lamented Ghana’s corruption perception index standing, highlighting the potential for faster advancement if funds were utilized effectively. “Corruption is one of the things holding Ghana back. It’s not only a problem in Ghana, but also a problem in many other countries,” she said. “If all the money that comes into Ghana were used for the purpose for which it was intended, Ghana would be making faster progress,” she added.

CNR: CITI NEWSROOM: Corruption Is Holding Ghana Back, UK High Commissioner, By Fred Duhoe, November 23, 2023.

Ghanaians, like Nigerians, are infamous for a variety of frauds and chicanery of every kind. Unfortunately, some people are unaware of an invisible moral order in this universe. No sin goes unpunished! We are all beneath the supervision and sovereignty of an omnipotent God: “But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” Exodus 21:23 (NKJV).

“Is this not laid up in store with Me, Sealed up among My treasures?
Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.” Deuteronomy 32: 34-35 (NKJV).

Like a helpless child, The Republic of Ghana was bent over, crouching beneath the punitive blows proceeding from the staff of an angry providential parent. The descending stripes continued unabated. Blow after blow fell upon the almost bared back of the country. There seemed to be nothing the nation could do to avoid these severe and punitive strokes. The prices of sardines, sugar, chicken, and all imported goods skyrocketed. The cost of yam, sweet potatoes, and onions didn’t lag far behind. Were the COVID-19 pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine really the precipitating factors for this dire economic crisis? How many people in Ghana will finally understand? If they repent and stop lying, stealing, robbing, scamming, and appropriating other people’s property to themselves, then things will finally change? How many Ghanaian young women will conclude that these things are happening because they won’t stop sleeping with three different men?

“And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.” Deuteronomy 26:27-28. (NKJV).

^“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:7-10. (NKJV).

One of the realities of living anywhere is that you will need furniture and appliances. The refrigerators and stoves can be purchased in one of the local stores. On the other hand, furniture can be purchased from retailers or locally made. The prices charged for different furniture items in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana seemed especially attractive to me. Accordingly, I had two beds, four side tables, and two wardrobes from a local furniture builder. Since I was quite impressed with his work and fees, I decided to have a desk, two chairs, and a dressing table. That might be used by any female relative visiting my home sometime soon. The beds made for me seemed quite archaic. They were actually wooden rectangular box frames consisting of five different pieces. Four pieces were fastened and held together by metal hooks in the corners. The fifth piece just sat unattached to anything else in the middle of the box. What a contrast to the beds I was accustomed to in the USA? Which only consisted of two pieces at the most. These Ghanaian beds were essentially large boxes, with a support structure in the middle resting on four legs standing on the floor. On top of this support structure made of rough wood, the mattress was deposited into the box bed. There were no springs built into the mattress. Which was essentially a large, very thick piece of hard sponge that enabled the user to rest comfortably while sleeping at night. Although those thick sponge mattresses were meticulously cut into large rectangular shapes and attractively wrapped and packaged in a beautiful cloth.

I soon discovered that such beds couldn’t traditionally be made daily. It was simply impossible to tuck the sheets or blankets beneath the mattress. Which was deeply embedded in the box and rested on its wooden support. The best that could be done was to push and lodge the sheets or blankets between the mattress and the planed and polished outer frame of the box. Just to promote an appearance of neatness and order. This arrangement had its setbacks because before retiring to bed at night or at any other time. The bedclothes had to be painstakingly removed from their previous location. To enable the occupant to get into bed beneath the blankets and sheets. So that the sleeper’s nocturnal experience would be relatively comfortable. There were other setbacks while attempting to sleep at night in Ghana. The presence of mosquitoes is always an unwelcome factor. They invariably announce their presence by loud buzzing around your ears. Before they inevitably land on some vulnerable part of your body. What I have found, however, is that having a mosquito coil burning outside your bedroom door a few feet from the entrance. Prevents their entrance into your private chamber, enabling you to breathe comfortably during the night. Another distraction, if your light is on, is watching helplessly as some small reptile slithers through the part of the wooden door jamb with a nail hole available to facilitate its exit.

Of course, other attention-grabbing diversions abound, such as watching a monitor lizard that has obviously lost its way by entering your bedroom. Make a hasty exit through some crevice in the window. Once it becomes aware that you have seen and are watching his antics. If such were the only challenges I encountered in Ghana, I would hardly have anything to write about. Life, however, is never that simple and uneventful. In 2021, Ghana went through a full-blown, drawn-out economic crisis. There were many contributing factors to this catastrophe. Because that is exactly what it was. Foreign exchange notes of every kind became scarce. Merchants had difficulty paying for the importation of goods that they needed to purchase. The Government of Ghana could barely service its foreign debt. Many economists pointed fingers at the political leaders, and accusations of every genre flew across the political spectrum as the blame game intensified. Problems identified included excessive government spending and inadequate import substitution of goods that can be locally produced. One of the most egregious negatives was the massive government bureaucracy, which always contributes to the flight of foreign exchange. The fact that COVID-19 had also upreared its ugly head in the Gold Coast was of no help to this country. The Government of Ghana blamed this pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war as the main causative factors precipitating Ghana’s economic crisis.

Ghana, a country once described as Africa’s shining star by the World Bank, had the world’s fastest-growing economy in 2019 after it doubled its economic growth. But today, it is no longer the economic poster boy of West Africa. Despite being a major cocoa and gold exporter, it is currently battling its worst financial crisis in decades with inflation hovering at a record 50.3 percent, the highest in 21 years. Ghana’s economic successes were in the limelight when the new government of President Nana Akufo-Addo took power in January 2017 and brought down inflation significantly. Under the previous government in 2016, it was 15.4 percent, and it fell to 7.9 percent by the end of 2019 and remained in single digits until the pandemic hit in March 2020. Ghana’s budget deficit, which was about 6.5 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product before Akufo-Addo’s government came to power, was brought down to less than 5 percent of GDP by the end of 2019.

ALJAZEERA: How Ghana, Africa’s Rising Star, Ended Up In Economic Turmoil.

Ghana’s inflationary spiral did not rush in with the suddenness of a tidal wave. Rather, it was creeping. The price of food and other imported items gradually rose each month. Even the price of transportation increased. The cost of riding from Berekum to Sofokyere on the traditional Okada rose from 1.50 GHS to 3.00 GHS by 2023. Apparently, the operators of these three-wheeled taxis don’t consider this increase adequate. Therefore, they frequently carry four passengers instead of the three they are mandated to do by law. Everyone in Ghana was placed under rapid gunfire as the economic pressures intensified. No one was immune to the financial hurricane, and the winds were ferocious. There were many choruses of bitter complaints from entertainers, medical and educational professionals, and celebrities.

Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson has once again tackled President Nana Dankwa Akufo Addo over the country’s current economic hardships. Lamenting the high cost of living in Ghana, the actress took to Twitter to bitterly complain about the price of a certain eye drop she uses daily to prevent her from going blind. Yvonne disclosed that she risks contracting Glaucoma without that particular eye drop, which now costs double its initial price. “Mr. President Nana Akufo Addo this eye drop (Xalacom) was 120 ghc, its now 273 ghc, and even 300 ghc in some pharmacies.

GHANA WEB: My Eye Drop Now Costs 300 ghc, Yvonne Nelson Wails. Asks Akufo Addo Eight Questions, 17 October 2022.

The additional furniture items I desired were paid for in June of 2021. If the furniture maker had attempted to make them as expeditiously as I had urged him to, he wouldn’t have encountered any problems. But as the saying goes, “Procrastination is the thief of time.” For whatever reason (and he proffered many). Some of them included having to complete urgent work out of town. Or being given managerial responsibilities at the carpenter’s shop where he worked. Unfortunately, none of his explanations was satisfactory. Especially since he was absent for several weeks from time to time. When I asked him for some reasonable explanation, his platitudes sounded like Anancy stories. If this furniture maker was a complete stranger, I would probably have dealt with him drastically. But he was a member of my church, a brother in Christ. The fact that I could never get him on the phone when I called to speak with him definitely didn’t help. He started talking to me seriously about the items of furniture for which I had paid him in full at the height of Ghana’s economic crisis. Attempting to claim that the price of everything had suddenly increased. I simply reminded him that he had been paid for the furniture long before Ghana had been catapulted into economic turmoil.

“Excuses attempt to conceal personal or professional insecurities, laziness, and/or lack of ability. They accomplish nothing but to distract, dilute, and deceive. It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Getting out of The O’Hare International Airport and into downtown Chicago was a job. Because I had been absent for four years. The machines selling tickets for The Blue Line were no longer the same. More money had to be deposited within them, and the procedures for obtaining the tickets from them were now different. Luckily for me, there were people nearby who, unlike myself, were familiar with the routine, and they were able to assist me. However, I had to purchase some junk food nearby just to get the right change to facilitate the process. All junk food sold in North America and Western Europe is attractively and hygienically packaged and distributed to the public. Not so in Ghana, where unpackaged junk food usually consists of fried fish, fried yam, Banku, and Fufu and is sold at the side of the road. Such food is commonly stored in a glass and wooden box, where it is exposed to dust and flying insects whenever the box is opened. All food is distributed to patrons with the naked hand. Unless you are sufficiently observant to call out the seller. Warning her not to touch the food you are paying for with her hands. In this case, she places her hand in a plastic bag, enabling her to sell you the food without soiling it with her fingers. It is a mighty struggle for Ghanaians living out in the country. Just to reach and adhere to basic acceptable hygiene standards when handling food.

I passed through the gate and boarded The Blue Line Train that took me into the City of Chicago. Disembarking as close as possible to The Millenium Park Station, I could walk over to that Transportation Hub and board a train to the South Bend International Airport. Upon my arrival there, I was reintroduced to the abundance of confectionery and other food items available in the USA. I didn’t purchase any, however, since I was suffering from a mild degree of dehydration and had no desire to further complicate my physical challenges. I waited for about 30 minutes for my friend to arrive and was very impressed with her posh green car. It didn’t take us long to get to Benton Harbor, and once within that City, she promptly transported me to Wall Mart, Where I bought two 1-liter cartons of goat milk. This was an almost unbelievable experience. An unattainable vital commodity in West Africa was now in my eager and almost desperate hands. I gave God thanks and praise. When we finally arrived at my new address on Napier Avenue, I was graciously treated to a meal of Vegetarian Pizza and steamed vegetables. Eventually, I got around the same day to drink one cup of goat milk. Just being able to taste that creamy, delicious commodity in my mouth and having the faith that it would actually solve my pressing health problems was psychologically and emotionally therapeutic.

This was a spiritual pilgrimage for me. It’s possible The Lord Almighty felt that I needed it. When the milk seemed to be permanently out of my grasp, I prayed to God to make it all happen. So that I would obtain healing in my legs. He never complained that I was bothering Him. Nor did the Spirit ever scold me for being too aggressive in my prayer pursuits. He repeatedly said, “You will escape a present difficulty.” In other words, God’s reassuring and abiding presence never left me. Over and over again, I experienced God’s wonderful love, mercy, and compassion.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagles. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us… As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103: 1-5, 11-14. (NKJV).

Initially, climbing the staircase in the house was a painful challenge, especially since the muscles in my legs were compromised. I continued to drink the cup of goat milk daily and was excited to observe that the swelling in both legs had begun to subside. The pain in my legs was also ameliorated. I started walking long distances again. I walked to the nearby shopping centers and also from The City of Benton Harbor to The City of Saint Joseph, crossing the Bridge over The Saint Joseph River, passing The Hospital, and going as far as the Walgreens Pharmacy. Then I joyfully retraced my steps because, by that time, the really cold weather had not arrived yet, and we were still in the month of September. All the swelling was gone within ten days, and my legs were back to normal. What a miracle, I thought! Furthermore, I noticed that all the pain I was previously experiencing in my lower back because of an injury that I suffered last year had also vanished. For some strange reason, getting the right shoes to wear had always been a problem. Primarily because my feet were not only flat but also soft. Merely stopping at any shoe store to purchase a pair of leather shoes for me was completely out of the question because of the peculiarities of my feet.

However, a number of years ago, I found some Dr. Scholl’s Shoes in Walmart, and I have been purchasing and wearing them ever since. I also wear sneakers, which has been my practice for many years. After J.C. Penny’s closed their store in Benton Harbor and my favorite, The Hush Puppy Shoes, were no longer easily available, I started wearing sneakers. The type I purchased had a generous heel, was exquisitely soft to my sensitive feet, and provided plenty of support for my arches. For the four years I was in Ghana, I longed for the day when I could return to Walmart and purchase a pair of Dr. Scholl’s Shoes for myself once more. I promptly searched for a pair as soon as I got into the store but was profoundly disappointed to discover that although there were shoes bearing Dr. Scholl’s name. The design had been drastically altered. I bought a pair anyway and hoped for a positive outcome. I was disappointed. Although I wore them a few times, I gave the pair to a friend when I returned to Ghana. Such is life, a labyrinth of challenges and difficulties. But if one sticks close to The Lord Almighty, He provides a solution to them all. 

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV).

My varied experiences during my endeavor to secure some goat milk were proving to be quite challenging. These were setbacks that I never contemplated. Discouragement or deciding to just give up was never an option. Instead, I exercised faith and trust in God and continued to plead with Him in prayer for the fulfillment of what He had promised. In fact, there is even a passage to this effect in Scripture,

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV).

In my case, the will of God was to continue doing just what I had been practicing, daily Bible study, frequent fervent prayer, claiming the fulfillment of God’s promise, and waiting for Him to fulfill it in His own time. During this period of apparent delay, I received the assurance that my prayers were being favorably considered. While lying in bed early one morning I heard, 

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4: 14-16 (NKJV).

Once again I discovered that The Holy Spirit communicates with us from time to time in scripture passages. In fact, He also employs a multiplicity of effective communication media. By this time I had been outside of the U.S.A. for over three years, because of The COVID-19 pandemic. People in my age group were particularly vulnerable and my medical history of having previously contracted Blastomycosis (resulting in the collapse of my two lungs), was certainly not an asset. Although I had fully recovered from this disease, I was not impressed to take any chances. Moreover, I was in the habit of routinely walking at least four miles daily. Nevertheless, I had been forced to suspend this part of my daily routine because not only were my legs swollen, but their muscles were also weak and painful.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency. The national emergency allowed the government to take sweeping steps to respond to the virus and support the country’s economic, health, and welfare systems. Some of the emergency measures have already been successfully wound-down, while others are still being phased out. The public health emergency — it underpins tough immigration restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border — is set to expire on May 11.

Biden Ends COVID National Emergency After Congress Acts By The Associated Press, April 11, 2023.

I felt pretty safe in Ghana. COVID-19 was here from 2020 onwards. But compared to what was transpiring in Europe, Asia, and North America the COVID-19 event in The Gold Coast was a non sequitor. As per usual I was out in The Brong Ahafo Region. Surrounded by an abundance of trees, and fresh air. Far from the cities of Kumasi, Accra, and Tamale. Where the Covid-19 pandemic was trying strenuously to make an appearance. Although it wasn’t having much success. Just a few people came down with COVID-19 in Berekum, but there were no fatalities. They all recovered. By the time the COVID-19 emergency was discontinued in America, I had almost been out of the USA for four years continuously. Accordingly, I felt that the time had come for me to renew old acquaintances. I booked a return flight to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, traveling on Ethiopian Airlines. I had never utilized that Carrier previously. All I could remember about them was that a planeeload of people plunged into the sea and drowned. There were absolutely no survivors. Naturally, I had some misgivings. Even though the Airline blamed the accident not on pilot error but on design flaws in the BOEING 737Max.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian investigators have concluded in a new analysis that the March 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight was caused by design flaws in the Boeing 737 Max plane and not by the performance of the airline or its pilots, adding to the scrutiny of the jet model that has been involved in two recent deadly crashes. An interim report released on Monday by the Ethiopian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau comes almost exactly a year after Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 went down shortly after departing Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people onboard. The crash occurred five months after a similar Max owned by Lion Air of Indonesia crashed minutes after takeoff, killing 189 people.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Ethiopian Report on 737 Max Crash Blames Boeing,

By Simon Marks and Abdi Latif Dahir, March 9, 2020.

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s biggest carrier, plans to fly the Boeing 737 Max again soon. At this year’s Dubai Air Show , the company announced that it has ordered 20 Boeing 737-8 Max planes—the same model that killed 157 people six minutes after taking off from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in March 2019.

QUARTZ: By Faustine Ngila.

Considering all the above factors and developments. This is an extremely intriguing story. I boarded my flight on Ethiopian Airlines ET920 at The Kotoka International Airport (Accra) at 11:30 A.M. March 4, 2023. The plane flew to The Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. Where we switched planes, took on fuel and supplies, and had our luggage checked. Thereafter we boarded Flight ET574 and flew to Dublin, Ireland. The trip was pleasant. Air turbulence was almost absent. The food was delicious and we were actually served four meals. All of which I hungrily consumed. Soon we were in the air again and on our way to The O’Hare International Airport, in Chicago. Upon reaching the American terrain I looked through the window and was reminded of the vast expanse of the American landscape. We soon landed without incident. Overall the flight was excellent, the staff was courteous, and all the air stewardesses were exquisitely beautiful. It was all an unforgettable experience. Going through the U.S. Customs turned out to be far less hectic than I had feared. However, while standing in the line I heard, “Take that Passport out of your mouth, then stand behind the red line and wait until I call you.” I promptly did as I was told. When I finally arrived at her kiosk, I handed her my US Passport and she said to me, “From where are you coming this time Mr. Donaldson?” My response was “Ghana, ma’am.” She stamped my document, gave me a ticket to pick up my luggage, and then said, “Welcome back to America.” I thanked her and then proceeded over to the revolving escalator to pick up my belongings.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

My trip to The Village of NSoatre was quite an eye-opener. Because it filled me in on some of the cultural practices, beliefs, and mores of Ghanaians. Most of the people residing in that village were farmers, traders, and shepherds. My new acquaintances took me to a few farms. Most of them were far removed from the center of the town and also from the main thoroughfare. The way to these farms was usually a narrow, rocky, dirt road. The sides of which were littered with all kinds of trees and shrubbery. The first farm belonged to one of the brothers and only had about four goats. They did their best to obtain some goat milk for me but although their efforts were valiant. I do believe that they only obtained about four tablespoons. A very small volume but they nevertheless heated it at my request so that I could drink it. I probably had some goat milk before, during my childhood years, while residing in Jamaica. So much time has transpired since such initial experiences, and I had no distinct memory of the flavor of goat milk. However, when I drank the four tablespoons at the farm the milk was delicious.

From there we went to the house of one of their friends. I spoke to him personally and even showed him the ugly swelling on both of my legs. He assured me that the following day he would definitely have at least one liter of goat milk for me. By this time it was around 1:00 P.M. and since we were all hungry I decided that it would be a good time to visit a nearby restaurant. The food was delicious and all six brothers were very happy to eat and drink at my expense. The following morning the first sibling that I had originally met in Berekum. Called to advise me that the shepherd to whom we spoke the previous day had changed his mind. He accused me of being an Indian and asserted that I wanted the goat milk to work witchcraft. Such a development would result in the death of the goat. An eventuality that he could not afford. Once again I discovered that the practice of Black Magic was an intricate part of Ghana’s social fabric. Since beliefs kill and also cure, I understood that nothing I could possibly say would change his mind.

The people of Ghana often seek higher powers or spiritual persons who will protect them from the witches who are regarded as life-threatening forces. The early missionaries who came to Ghana, in their zeal to “evangelize and civilize the indigenous people” spelled out that, belief in the spirit-forces such as the gods, fetishism, dwarfs, amulets and witchcraft are devilish and demon induced, thus enforcing their belief in the spiritual forces but failed to provide for the all-inclusive needs of the people to combat these life-threatening forces as they have believed over the years. As a result, this has been a struggle for Ghanaians and down through the centuries to date, the belief of the activities of witchcraft has hugely affected the Ghanaian society.

WITCHCRAFT IN GHANA: Beliefs, Practices, And Consequences By Qwasi Atta Agyapong 27 May 2021.

I have never lived in a country where the Gospel is more widely proclaimed than in Ghana. But Black Magic is entrenched here. Interestingly enough it’s also entrenched in North America and The United Kingdom. I have personally encountered witches in the U.S.A., England, and Jamaica. In fact, when we study scripture we come to the realization that Witchcraft and Necromancy were perennial and age-long problems even among God’s ancient people. This is a problem that will persist until the end of time.

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9 (NKJV)

Every problem, every violation of God’s sacred law, every senseless act of violence, every crime of passion, every act of hatred has its origin in the activities of the demonic powers who reside on planet Earth.

How can God’s people on earth ensure that they are protected from the effects of witchcraft and all demonic activities?

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV).

The brothers finally took me to a large farm, owned by a Ghanaian living abroad, but under the management and supervision of a relative. There were many cows, goats, sheep, ducks, and geese on this farm. We spent at least two hours there. As much as they tried, however, obtaining even a small quantity of goat milk proved to be an unattainable impossibility. The Okada driver who had taken us there demanded one hundred and fifty Cedis in compensation for his time and for taking us in his taxi to such a remote location. The brothers had no intention of accommodating his demand. We all got back into the three-wheeled automobile and ended up at the local market and taxi station. They ordered me to give the taxi operator one hundred cedis, and after I did so they bid him farewell. There was a taxi waiting there whose destination was The Berekum Station. I boarded it along with four other passengers and within twenty minutes I was back in Berekum. By about 3:00 P.M. I retired to my apartment in Sofokyere. Both of my legs were still swollen, and I was also experiencing generalized weakness in my calves with a great deal of discomfort.

(TO BE CONTINUED).

I went to the pharmacy specified to inquire about the medications prescribed by the physician. Only to discover that they were almost prohibitively expensive. However, I bought the first set, since there were four categories of them, and proceeded to take the drug soon after it was dispensed to me. After taking it for five days I was alarmed to observe that the swelling in my legs had worsened. I discontinued the dosage immediately but now it was obvious that the doctor had risen to the highest level of his incompetence, impotence, and downright inability. Where was I to turn? I didn’t have to ponder upon this question for any appreciative period of time. By virtue of my own previous experiences, I went down in prayer and supplicated God’s throne of grace for His merciful intervention. But why would I even think of pursuing such a course? In fact, it is a Judeo-Christian biblical injunction! We are counseled,

“If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalm 50:12-15 (NKJV).

Praying to God, especially about my problems, had been my practice over the years and it was second nature to me now. The time in my apartment was around 12:30 A.M. After concluding my prayer I left my living room (hall), where I routinely prayed, and returned to bed. I didn’t have to wait long for a response to my plea for divine intervention. Suddenly I heard a goat bleating. I looked into my unlit bathroom since the door was open, and the light was turned off. I saw two horns. The loud bleating continued. I got out of my bed, returned to the living room, and sat down on the couch from where I normally conduct my devotions. My attention was drawn toward the dining room and as I looked, there was a female goat. She was bleating loudly continuously and standing on her hind legs. Her two breasts were engorged with milk. Her nipples were turgid and milk was spewing out of them. I came to the realization that I was experiencing a vision. I understood it to mean that I had to obtain some goat milk as soon as possible and then drink it in order to be healed of my medical condition. I offered thanksgiving and praise to God for this revelation. As soon as the day broke I started calling around to see if some friends in Berekum could help me. Their response was that “The queen’s mother had banned all goats from Berekum and now there were none remaining in the town. Therefore obtaining goat milk was simply out of the question.”

No one should allow himself to be seduced into thinking that visions/dreams are strange and alien phenomena. They have been part of the waft and weft of human history since time immemorial. The patriarch Abraham was warned in a dream of The Hebrew’s subjection to bondage for four hundred years. The prophet Noah was warned in visions and dreams of the destruction of the antediluvian world. By virtue of a vision, Peter was counseled not to be judgemental when he met Cornelius. Such divine revelations will continue until the end of time. We are informed:

“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” Joel 2:28 (NKJV).

The very fact that I’m in possession of such a gift is a fulfillment of this prophecy. Although this gift of the presence of God’s Spirit. Is not generally found among impious, immoral, antinomian rejecters of God’s sacred law and grace. The very fact that I have it is an outworking of God’s wonderful love and compassion. An astounding reality for which I will forever be profoundly grateful. I have a friend in Sunyani and I contacted her by phone to present my request. She assured me in the most positive terms possible that she would ensure that I got at least one liter of goat milk. She also gave me a time period within which her promise would be realized. When the appointment came everything was a letdown. Her promise was unfulfilled. Not because she was negligent or had failed to try. It was just that difficult to obtain goat milk in Ghana. I ran into a gentleman from the village of NSoatre. A place where there are several goat shepherds. After I succeeded in communicating my desire to him he assured me that we could go to the said village together to easily obtain some goat milk. The very next day we boarded a taxi at The Berekum Station which regularly traverses that journey. When we arrived at our destination we disembarked and boarded another Okada (local three-wheeled taxi) that dropped us off at the local chief’s mansion.

His four brothers had accompanied us and we all patiently waited for the arrival of the chief. Because according to all of them, he had something that was extremely important to communicate with me. They provided me with a comfortable chair and were considerate enough to show me around the property. The sights that I saw included various imposing thrones that had been used by the chief’s many predecessors and also pics of his forebears hanging on the walls. The chief of NSoatre was a very tall gaunt man in appearance, but also courteous and charming. By the time he finally got there, I was surprised that he had absolutely nothing to say about goat milk. What he was interested in was selling me some gold. However, he wanted me to bring the right instrument so that whatever I bought could be tested on the spot to establish its authenticity. I observed that my new acquaintances periodically pulled weed (marijuana), out of their small leather pouches and smoked it. For the life of me, I just couldn’t fathom what possible benefit any of them derived from this destructive exercise. I communicated to them that although I had lived and worked in Jamaica, and had run into many young men who regularly used weed just as they were doing. At no time did I have the slightest inkling to even experiment with their lifestyle?

Their response surprised me. “Brother James, you are a man of God. His anointing is upon your life. You don’t need this,” they asserted. Furthermore, the word of God states:  

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV).

(TO BE CONTINUED)

After unsuccessfully attempting to diagnose and medicate myself against Malaria for a period of two months, and seeing no signs of recovery or improvement in my own physical constitution. I decided while on a trip to The City of Sunyani, to stop within the shopping center located immediately on the right side of The Eusbett Hotel. To purchase a can of Cashew nuts. After disembarking from the taxi and paying the driver, I proceeded to walk toward the store but noticed that not only was I very weak I was also experiencing pain in my legs. In fact, if the blowing breeze was any stronger it might have easily toppled me. Suddenly, I was alarmed. “When did I deteriorate to this condition?” I asked myself. Thereafter, I decided to visit The Holy Family Hospital as soon as possible. The following morning I was there to ask one of the attending physicians to immediately administer to me a shot of the anti-malaria injection. Because I had concluded that all the medications I had been previously imbibing just weren’t potent enough. He simply replied, “If you have Malaria we will be happy to oblige you, but before any decision can be made you will first have to proceed to the lab to get a blood test. To determine the exact nature of your medical condition.”

Unfortunately, this is the approach that some people take to life and toward many of their problems. It is the hit-or-miss gambler’s approach. They don’t take time out for the scientific approach. But like some of the church fathers of the Middle Ages form opinions that are just pulled out of their hats or from the seat of their pants. I had permitted myself to fall into the same trap. The physician’s advice pulled me back into the world of reality and out of the maze of magical thinking. This is an age-old problem. People have the tendency to succumb to the wiles of their own imaginations. Forgetting that The Word of The Lord Almighty is the only reality there is. As The Master Himself asserted,  “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:35 (NKJV). Accordingly, we should all watch what we believe. Unless our belief structure is centered in God’s unnering Word.

I duly registered, paid the required amounts requested, and proceeded to the lab specified to obtain my blood test. After the technician examined my blood sample she asked, “Mr. James are you sure you have Malaria, sir?” I answered in the affirmative. However, she replied that there were many infections in Ghana that present similar symptoms to Malaria. Nevertheless, only a blood test can establish an accurate diagnostic condition. She said nothing more and refused to communicate any additional information. By the time I arrived at the physician’s office, she announced to me that I did not have Malaria but was suffering from a Viral Infection. It was at that point that I became acutely aware of the hazards of self-diagnosis and medication, without appropriate medical training. She prescribed a five-day dosage of antibiotics which I commenced taking shortly after my arrival at home. Upon the transpiration of that time period, I noticed that my medical condition was greatly improved. “What was my problem, I surmised? Am I some kind of a control freak? I had almost killed myself.” The following week I was back at the hospital and coincidentally ran into the physician who originally attended to me. I informed her that although I was much better now, my physical condition was not perfect, and requested some more antibiotics. She very courteously informed me that she was not on duty and that I should see one of the attending physicians available for that day.

As required I went through the established routine of Registration. Which involved either the presentation of your Health Insurance Card or the payment of an established fee. Afterward, my Blood Pressure was taken and my body temperature was monitored. Upon the completion of this procedure, I joined the very long line and waited patiently. When I finally arrived at the physician’s office I discovered that he was flanked by two other health professionals. He asked me to describe the nature of my problem and I simply stated that I had been there the previous week, was diagnosed as suffering from a Viral Infection, and medicated accordingly for one week. Although I was greatly improved. I asserted that my condition was not perfect and requested some more antibiotics. I was quite taken aback by the doctor’s response. To my surprise, he stated that the quantity of antibiotics prescribed and dispensed to me was standard protocol, and could not be exceeded unless I presented with some other medical condition. Furthermore, he observed that typhoid Fever is usually one of the underlying diagnoses of a Viral Infection. He suggested that I should go promptly to a private lab located on the Campus of The Holy Family Hospital and have my blood tested for that disease.

Although I was almost in shock. Since I believed initially that this was some kind of a mercenary attempt to make more money out of me. I suppressed my naturally paranoid disposition and did as I was told by submitting to the required blood test. Two hours later I was informed that I was in fact suffering from Typhoid Fever. Such is life, “Things are rarely what they seem to be.” Over the years I have painfully learned the importance of humility and obedience, some people prefer to term this cooperation. Both tendencies, however, are invaluable traits. As The Master Himself instructed:

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” Matthew 18:1-5 (NKJV).

That same evening I saw another duly qualified medical practitioner at the same hospital. He prescribed the required antibiotics after seeing the result of the blood test. I thanked him, went over to the pharmacy on campus, picked up the medication dispensed, and went home. I proceeded to take the white pills expecting to beat the Typhoid Fever within a few days but after four days both of my legs became swollen. With an especially monstrous swelling on my left calf. I continued to take the pills prescribed but the swellings were only exacerbated and reached all the way down to both of my feet. After six days I returned to the hospital to present myself to the second physician who had advised me about the Typhoid Fever. Since he was the one on duty. After examining my legs and calves carefully he sent me over to a nearby office to have my legs and thighs photographed, or so it seemed. Apparently, the test was negative but when I returned to his office the physician advised me that he suspected a blood clot. He continued, “Although you don’t have it as yet, all the signs and symptoms are in place to facilitate its development. Therefore, I will prescribe some medication for you to obtain at another pharmacy and take to prevent any occurrence of this problem.”

(TO BE CONTINUED).

Back in the 70s and 80s millions of Americans moved to the Sunshine State of Florida each year. Many of my friends and acquaintances who lived in Michigan sold their homes and bid farewell to the cold winters of Lake Michigan and moved to the warmer and more inviting Florida climate. A trend which has changed in recent years. For a number of reasons. That Southern State is now the victim/target of frequent destructive monster storms. Whose costs are now climbing into billions of dollars with the occurrence of each catastrophic event? Residents who live in coastal areas are now looking around to sell their Florida homes. Not only because of rising water levels from the now aggressively encroaching sea, one of the consequences of global warming. But also because many large insurance companies are pulling out of Florida. They simply cannot continue to afford the costly payouts involved in doing business in that State. This development has caused the skyrocketing of annual home insurance premiums to astronomically unaffordable levels.

Florida however, is not the only State under the gun. Similar phenomena are developing in certain regions of California, New York, Miami et cetera. In fact, this is an international problem:

According to new research published by scientific magazine Nature Communications, 200 million people in the world will live below the sea level line by 2100. An additional 160 million will be affected by higher annual flooding due to rising ocean levels. These numbers are much higher than those published in previous studies, which used different coastal elevation models and assumed that only 250 million people in total would be affected by these adverse events. Out of the 200 million directly affected by rising sea levels, researchers estimate that 70 percent will live in just eight countries in Asia. Most people affected would live in China: 43 million or around 20 percent. At 32 million and 27 million affected people, Bangladesh and India would also be hit hard, as would be Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Japan. In Europe, the Netherlands would theoretically be the most affected. Here, more than 4 million people are expected to live below sea level in 2100. Yet, the country has one of the most effective flood control networks in the world (not taken into account by the study’s modelling), which is expected to keep citizens safe. Other countries in Europe where rising sea levels could be a problem are the UK (1.5 million people at risk), Germany (1 million people), Turkey, France and Italy (500,000 people each). STATISTA: Rising Sea Levels Will Threaten 200 Million People By 2100, By Katharina Buchloz, February 11, 2020.

There is no simple, singular measure that fits all, solutions. To the increasingly threatening problem of calamitous flooding and water encroachment. The various methodologies being adopted by different countries and/or communities, to mitigate this thorny issue. Depends on their geographical location, sophistication, and disposable wealth. Which may include the construction of dykes, the inauguration of floodplains, the incorporation of bamboo barriers, and even the placing of oyster shells near the shore to reconstruct coral reefs decimated by over-harvesting.

Scientists call oyster estuarine “ecosystem engineers”—organisms that create, modify, maintain, and otherwise alter habitat for themselves or other organisms. Oysters serve this function in coastal systems because they build large reefs that provide ecologically valuable habitat (Jones et al. 1997). Worldwide, oyster populations have declined by an estimated 90% from what they were a century ago due to over-harvesting, loss of quality habitat area, and disease (Beck et al. 2011). Florida oysters have also declined. For example, Naples Bay has experienced an 80% loss of oyster reefs since 1950, while oyster reef habitat has decreased by 99% in southeast Florida (zu Ermgassen et al. 2012: Schmid et al. 2006) and by 66% in the Big Bend region of northwest Florida (Seavey et al. 2011). UF ISAS EXTENSION: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA: Oyster Habitat Restoration And Shoreline Protection By Charles Wallace, Edward Camp, and Ashley Smyth.

The rise of the electric car industry is a modern phenomenon championed by Tesla and many Chinese industrial automobile giants. Some North American companies such as Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis appear to be anxious to get on board, not being willing to sit by and lose out on something that is definitely a future wave. But as time has repeatedly demonstrated there are stops and starts with any impending change or innovation. The challenges being faced by all EV automobile manufacturers include safety issues with Lithium-Ion batteries which are prone to fires, range anxiety among potential consumers, and available charging infrastructure for any owner of an electrical vehicle whenever he might need immediate access to one. There is also the cost of repair and insurance services. Which at present is extremely expensive for EVs. But I anticipate that all these problems will be ameliorated over time. As the saying goes: “Rome wasn’t built in one day.” The great advantage that the full maturing of this industry presents will be its overwhelmingly negative impact on the consumption of fossil fuels. Predictably, the use of gasoline, lubricating oils, and all fossil fuel products used in automobiles will be drastically curtailed.

The development and utilization of Artificial Intelligence will drastically change the operation of modern society.

“Artificial intelligence will definitely cause our workforce to evolve. The alarmist headlines emphasize the loss of jobs to machines, but the real challenge is for humans to find their passion with new responsibilities that require their uniquely human abilities. According to PwC, 7 million existing jobs will be replaced by AI in the UK from 2017-2037, but 7.2 million jobs could be created. This uncertainty and the changes to how some will make a living could be challenging. The transformative impact of artificial intelligence on our society will have far-reaching economic, legal, political, and regulatory implications that we need to discuss and prepare for. Determining who is at fault if an autonomous vehicle hurts a pedestrian or how to manage a global autonomous arms race are just a couple of examples of the challenges to be faced. Will machines become super-intelligent and will humans eventually lose control? While there is debate about how likely this scenario will be we do know that there are always unforeseen consequences when new technology is introduced. Those unintended outcomes of artificial intelligence will likely challenge us all.” BERNARD MARR & COMPANY: What Is The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence (AI) On Society?

The Health Care industry, factories, and manufacturing plants will all be impacted. The immigration of farm workers into Florida and other American states could be eventually drastically curtailed because robots might be employed to replace them. Repetitive cleaning jobs will also be on the line since a machine could be made to assume this responsibility. Especially since it won’t have to be rewarded with wages and/or benefits. A large number of pencil pushers in a wide range of government jobs will eventually be unemployed. Exactly how rapidly such changes will be made depends on the pace of innovation. Which seems to be hurtling towards all of us with unadulterated velocity. Let us not forget though that all such upheavals and transformations are beneath the sovereign control of The Lord Almighty. In the past, He was able to predict with unerring accuracy exactly what epochal events would occur at specific times in the distant future. Because His Word counsels:

“Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors. Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” Isaiah 46:8-11 (NKJV).

My point is this. We don’t have to become worried or panic over future developments. Since everything is under the control of The Sovereign Lord. He watches over those who love, obey, serve, and worship Him with tender care. Ensuring that no harm will come to them. Accordingly, I urge all of my readers to:

“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.” Job 22:21 (NKJV).

The changes to which I’m presently referring don’t seem to be willing to wait in abeyance, for us humans to do things at our own pleasure. Instead, they are beating down the entrance as it were, and threatening to enter the door ferociously. Destructive fires are conflagrating all over the world. Drought and famine are threatening human existence on a universal scale. Sudden floods that destroy property and lives are now almost a daily occurrence. With the phenomenon of rising sea levels new and sudden environmental challenges are currently emerging. What exactly is the path forward? How do contemporary 21st-century earthlings cope with the rapid changes that presently threaten to overwhelm or obliterate us?

The widescale utilization of alternative energy resources such as solar, wind, geothermal energy, nuclear energy, oxygen, and hydrogen all seem to be promising emerging technologies. There are many challenges associated with adopting these new energy modalities. However such challenges are being gradually overcome by new inventions and rapid technological improvements. But are we cutting ourselves off from the umbilical cord of carbonization fast enough? New crude oil resources are being discovered and rapidly developed not only in African countries but also in the Caribbean. Strangely, despite the obvious perils of global warming associated with the continued exploitation of fossil fuels, and the many commitments made at the Paris Accords by first-world countries. Some governments, especially in the USA and the United Kingdom suddenly seem to have lost their sense of direction. The Biden Administration is currently in the process of leasing several hundred acres of land to oil companies. To facilitate the continued development and exploitation of dangerously polluting fossil fuels.

“The Biden administration will resume federal oil and gas leasing in June with a large reduction in acres available for drilling and a historic royalty rate increase. On April 18, 2022, the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) issued notices of oil and gas lease sales for approximately 144,000 acres of federal land in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. BLM scheduled the June 2022 onshore lease sales nearly a year after the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana enjoined the Biden administration’s self-described “pause” of the federal oil and gas leasing program—an action taken pursuant to Executive Order 14008: “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” BROWNSTEIN CLIENT ALERT, APRIL 20, 2022

“The British government approved the development of a huge oil and gas field in the North Sea Wednesday, sealing its commitment to keep producing fossil fuels for decades to come. The Rosebank field, situated northwest of Shetland in Scotland and majority-owned by Norwegian state-owned energy company Equinor, is the largest undeveloped oil and gas field in the North Sea, with the potential to produce 500 million barrels of oil. Its development has sparked fierce criticism for the impacts it will have on the climate crisis and the UK’s ability to meet its pledge to reduce its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050.” By Laura Paddison CNN, Wednesday, September 27, 2023.

This is exactly the kind of lip service, followed by wobbly conduct among political leaders, that endangers all of us. Modern research has clearly established the specific benefits to be gained by the world if the continued utilization of fossil fuels is drastically reduced and gradually eliminated.

Burning fossil fuels is a huge health hazard. The air pollution alone causes 1 in 5 deaths annually. A rapid transition to green energy sources would prevent a lot of disability and early death, researchers say. In the year 2050 alone, the transition’s impact amounts to 181 million future years of healthy human life, a new report found. The world’s energy choices between now and 2050 will determine so much about the future. Climate change, natural ecosystems, and economic development are all on the line. Add to that list 181 million years of healthy human life — annually. That’s how many years can be saved from death or disability by quickly ramping up renewable energy and dialing back fossil fuels, according to a new assessment published on Friday, from the nonprofit World Wildlife Fund and the Boston Consulting Group.

Morgan McFall-Johnsen, Maiya Focht: YAHOO BUSINESS INSIDER. Wed, November 8, 2023

With all of the foot-dragging maneuvers being engaged in by the gigantic fossil fuel industry and its supporters. Some might be tempted to doubt the ultimate arrival of the desperately needed alternative energy revolution. Nevertheless, the world has seen this movie many times before. At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution horse and buggy owners felt similarly threatened by the arrival of the first fledgling automobile. When the steam engine was invented there were widespread strikes and demonstrations by entrenched forces of labor and manpower. With the arrival of the printing press, the sellers of various forms of parchment, ink, and pens. Were incensed at the clear threat to their livelihoods. The annals of history eloquently testify, however, that all of these timely changes were not only unstoppable but irreversible. In fact, the head of the International Energy Agency makes a bold prediction:

“Fatih Birol, head of the IEA, said the world was fast approaching a “pivotal moment in energy history” as demand for the fossil fuels that have underpinned the modern economy since the advent of the industrial revolution nears an inflection point. “After rapid growth in gas consumption in the last 10 years, we think the golden age of gas is coming to an end,” Birol said in an interview. “Together with the decline in coal and oil that we were already expecting, we now see a peak around 2030 for all fossil fuels,” Birol said government energy policies were rapidly evolving in part to counter the fallout from Russia’s decision to weaponize its gas supplies to Europe in retaliation for western support for Ukraine. The IEA head described the policy shift as a change that would resonate for “decades to come”. FINANCIAL TIMES: IEA Forecasts Fossil Fuel Demand Will Peak This Decade By David Sheppard, October 27, 2022.

What all of this means is that governments and entrepreneurs who have hoisted their petards on the large-scale and indefinite continuation of the fossil fuel industry will have a big disappointment in store. Once that inflection point is reached the demand and consequently equilibrium prices of all fossil fuel products will collapse.

(TO BE CONTINUED)