R.H. Clark's Blog, page 17

I’m sure I need not tell you that this presidential election has descended to the lowest level of hatred and vitriol of any in history. Not only are the candidates trading insults about the other’s character, their respective supporters are trading barbs usually reserved for the most vulgar of arguments and violent acts are perpetrated upon those of an apposite belief. Most of the reported violence is carried out by those on the left upon those on the right. We even have undercover video showing how a Democrat action group hired people to disrupt and cause violence at Republican rallies.

Hillary Clinton has a long history of shady dealings and actual thievery while Donald Trump opens mouth and inserts foot when speaking in public and private. How did American politic fall so low?

Quality of character is arguable on both sides, so let’s take a look at a comparison of the campaign platforms and positions on social issues. The photo above is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of State and gives a simple yes or no answer concerning the list of issues. On the left, how appropriate, the answers depict social opinions normally labeled as secular and support the increase of government control in everyday life.

One the right, again quite appropriate, implies that certain religious beliefs should shape secular issues and that government invasion of our personal lives should be limited. The issues no longer allow for gray areas, they now demand a view of black or white, yes or no. We have arrived at this impasse because federal governing has invaded the territory of religious belief. Argue if you will, but it is factual truth in spite of how mass media tries to rewrite current events and history.

Society’s battle cry used to be Get out of the bedroom, now we must co-opt it for a new goal Government get out of my church and religious belief! Christian denominations can unite and fight the good yet peaceful war against government agencies ruling our Christian practices and life styles and we may win for a while. Sadly, for the world, the Hillary Clinton’s of this world will seemingly win leading many astray. They will never agree with that statement, especially the sadly part, but it’s true. They are firmly entrenched in the opinion that man can create a society of perfect equality, with a few at the top being more equal, using the principles the espouse.

A follower and believer in Jesus Christ knows better than to hope that man can create a heaven on earth. We know that Jesus is the answer and solution for all of man’s foibles and sins for only His intervention will perfect creation. Jesus is coming back but first all of His church will be taken out of the world by the Rapture, leaving non-believers to face the biblical Tribulation and finally the Apocalypse. Therefore, I submit for your consideration that if Hillary Clinton is elected and declares upon all Christian principles then it is God’s will and an intrinsic part of His plan (read Jesus’ response to Pilot about officials appointment by God). Remember that God told Jeremiah, “I know the plane I have for you. A plan not to harm you. A plan to prosper you.”

We have but one choice and that is to cling to Jesus and to our Bibles and stand on biblical principles. Vote for the candidate who most closely advocates those principles and let God take care of the rest. Better in His hands than in our hands.

Amazon posts:

4.0 out of 5 starsThe author certainly offered an appropriate story “for such a time as this”.

By Robyn Elam on August 25, 2016

For a first-time author, Ron Clark offered the reader a very good story. I really appreciated this fiction story written from a Christian perspective. The reader can tell this author was a pharmacist, one that had to be detailed in his job, was able to offer the reader detailed descriptions of the Texas landscape, for instance, and going into battle against the enemy. Nice job.

5.0 out of 5 starsI highly recommend this book

By Carrie Fry on September 9, 2016

I highly recommend this book. It will get your interest from the first page and continue right on to the last!!! It is a beautiful story of God’s love, care and redemption. It is intriguing and full of suspense!!! Even though the characters are fictional, the story is based on timeless Biblical facts!!!

4.0 out of 5 starsA Very Pleasant and Compelling Read!

By D. Pecor on October 17, 2016

I was quite impressed with this book. The Biblical background, the characters, the setting, the intrigue, the solid foundation for this adventure fiction – all laid the groundwork for a jolly good read! Some of the ‘current events’ of the book are strikingly similar to what’s going on in our world today and, frankly, a bit disturbing. A well thought out plot, engaging and carrying the reader along with its development.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is, first, because I don’t have the ability to make it 4.5 and, secondly, because there are several very confusing typos. A little more editing should do the trick!

On the whole, however, I was pleasantly entertained throughout, and can only further comment – there WILL be a sequel, won’t there?

Psalms109:1-20 NKJV

Plea for Judgment of False Accusers

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1Do not keep silent,

O God of my praise!

2For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful

Have opened against me;

They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

3They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,

And fought against me without a cause.

4In return for my love they are my accusers,

But I give myself to prayer.

5Thus they have rewarded me evil for good,

And hatred for my love.

6Set a wicked man over him,

And let an accuser stand at his right hand.

7When he is judged, let him be found guilty,

And let his prayer become sin.

8Let his days be few,

And let another take his office.

9Let his children be fatherless,

And his wife a widow.

10Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg;

Let them seek their bread also from their desolate places.

11Let the creditor seize all that he has,

And let strangers plunder his labor.

12Let there be none to extend mercy to him,

Nor let there be any to favor his fatherless children.

13Let his posterity be cut off,

And in the generation following let their name be blotted out.

14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,

And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15Let them be continually before the Lord,

That He may cut off the memory of them from the earth;

16Because he did not remember to show mercy,

But persecuted the poor and needy man,

That he might even slay the broken in heart.

17As he loved cursing, so let it come to him;

As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.

18As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,

So let it enter his body like water,

And like oil into his bones.

19Let it be to him like the garment which covers him,

And for a belt with which he girds himself continually.

20Let this be the Lord’s reward to my accusers,

And to those who speak evil against my person.

This was our scripture study for Sunday, and I’m reminded that a soldier was reprimanded for leaving this open on his desk. It was immediately assumed he meant it about Barak Obama. Perhaps he did, or perhaps not.

I fear that it is at least somewhat true in regards to the candidates we see today. Donald Trump is not perfect and he does represent the dissatisfaction and anger of voters who have suffered under the current administration and have every right to fear a Hillary Clinton presidency. The liberal platform she represents is absolutely contrary everything and Christian is taught in scripture and the accusations she and her cohorts are making against any and all opposition are atrocious. I cannot in good conscience vote for her and I cannot cast a wasted vote.

I will be criticized for these opinions but their only statements are dismissing the facts or denying them. Some say they don’t care. So, I’ll stand on scripture concerning the platforms and vote according. I encourage each of you to put away your anger and think about character, platform and what we’re taught in the Bible.

Remember, you get what you vote for in a republic and God’s plan will prevail for the end times, the next step being the Rapture.

My first two book signings for The Prophet’s Secret were held at Gruene Coffee Haus and Crosswalk Coffee House in New Braunfels and I was blessed with the attendance of our cousins, Carrie Jo and David Fry from Watauga and Cindy Nelson Blue from New Braunfels. Our special thanks to them for their encouragement and support. I would also like to thank Kelly at Gruene Coffee Haus and Ashalena at Crosswalk Coffee for their kind assistance at those venues.

I was surprised by the lack of traffic in Gruene during the Music and Wine Fest, but considering Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Longhorn-Sooner game was that weekend, perhaps it’s understandable.

I enjoyed visiting with all of the folks that stopped to inquire about The Prophet’s Secret and there were numerous questions about prophecy and the Temple artifacts. People always seem to be interested in the location of these objects, perhaps because of the influence of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the movie. I hope the prophecy references in The Prophet’s Secret will induce readers to investigate for themselves  and see how each one has been fulfilled except for the Rapture which will usher in new prophecies to be completed.

My next book signings will be:

NOV

19

Weihnachtsmarkt Book Signing and Sale

Sat 10 AM · by The Prophet’s Secret

New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center

New Braunfels

NOV

12

Author’s Fair: The Prophet’s Secret

Sat 1 PM · Hosted by The Prophet’s Secret

New Braunfels Public Library

New Braunfels

DEC

3

The Prophet’s Secret Book Signing

Sat 1 PM · by The Prophet’s Secret

New Braunfels Coffee

New Braunfels

An excellent source of Bible prophecy studies is Prophecy Today by Jimmy DeYoung which is available via the internet. It’s well worth your time. Once again, thanks to everyone and God Bless.

Eight long years ago, a older lady was picking up her prescription from me at a Portland pharmacy and she was so excited the Barak Obama had been elected president. For her it had nothing to do with race, it was all about the ‘Hope and Change’ he promised and that was all she could tell me about him. She asked if I was as excited as she felt. Sadly, I had to tell her no because I had listened to all of his promises and campaign speeches and had gleaned far more than she had. For example, he was pro-choice, disdained people who held on their Bibles and guns, and he gave some indication that he would favor same sex marriage.

I told her it was a sad day for America because, to me, it marked the day that the U.S. officially voted to turn it’s back on God. After the passing of eight years I feel even more convinced that I was right.

Our economy goes up and down but never really recovers. We are nearly twenty trillion in debt, China is claiming spoil islands as airbases, ISIS and other terrorists are not only spreading death and destruction across the Middle East, and Syria and Turkey are just waiting to explode. Add to that the UN is trying to dramatically influence our election and tell this country how to run it’s internal business and I would call that an accelerating decline of our nation.

I know that a lot of people, perhaps over 50% of the populace, disagree with me and would vote for a third term for Barak Obama or voted for Hillary Clinton just to perpetuate his imperial reign but I will stand my ground and point out how the Liberal/Democrat platform and philosophy runs counter to God’s opinion expressed in absolute terms in the Bible. I know some very, very good people who side with liberals on several social issues and would profess their belief in Jesus Christ with their dying breaths, but scripture tells us that they are wrong in their social beliefs. It’s not my position to call them un-saved, that’s God’s perfume. It’s my place to pray for them, that their opinions will come in line with scripture and God’s will.

Before you start asking, Who is this sanctimonious fool? , let me paraphrase the apostle Paul and say that we are all sinners, of whom I am the worst. I believe that with every fiber of my being. That, however, does mean that I am wrong.

My fervent prayer every night is the the citizens of this great nation will wake up and turn from it’s secular beliefs and lifestyles so they may return to God Almighty. Our consequences will be the same as that which befell the Jews for turning away from God, a nation rotting away at it’s very core.

Is Donald Trump a better option for president? I believe he is, not based on a wonderful history or perfection, but because I have witnessed the corrosion of the Obama administration and Hillary’s felonious conduct (for over 24 years). I know beyond any doubt that she will want to be more empirical than Barak Obama and this entire nation will pay for it it she is elected.

A little over a month ago I sent a Message on FaceBook to the David A.R. White page asking about submitting a manuscript for consideration as a movie. At the time it seemed to be a mere whim and wasn’t sure that any response would be forthcoming. However, just a few days later I received a return message giving me a email address for story submission. Of course I sent an inquiry with a description of The Prophet’s Secret, again, not sure they would communicate with me and during the ensuing month I heard nothing.

I sent two update emails and after the second I received an official request form that I completed and returned, followed a release contract for consideration to be accompanied by a copy of the manuscript. Now I wait for 6 to 8 weeks.

Whether or not the manuscript is accepted is not the measure of success for me in this case. I was encouraged to follow my dream, to step out in faith and ignore my trepidations about rejection. Writing, publishing and now trying to bring The Prophet’s Secret alive on the movie screen has been fun and exciting as well as a true lesson in having confidence to share the glory of God with total strangers.

Success or failure, I will always cherish the experience and be so very grateful to a loving God for guiding me through the process.

I may be on of the few that did not watch the Presidential Debate presented by NBC. I was quite sure that there would be many claims of prejudice and unfair treatment of one or the other participan…

Source: Debate Results

Now that The Prophet’s Secret has been released and available to the public, the next step is promotion to create interest by potential readers. The writing process was an enjoyable experience, using a great deal of personal experiences (admittedly not combat) and stories which have been shared with me. There were times that I discovered the true meaning of  writer’s block and just had to wait it out and write through it with a lot rewrites.

The absolute worst part was the re-reading and editing and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my wife, Kitty, for reading the manuscript at least four times and editing along with me. I don’t know about her, but I don’t know if I could have read it one more time. Ugh!

I am very grateful for two very nice reviews posted on Amazon.com which I have shared on FaceBook. Thanks to Carrie Fry and Robyn Elam, you really boosted my confidence. Still, waiting for my first book signing on October 7, I have that nagging worry that there will be few readers that will be exposed to the wonderful prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.

In closing, let me say, some of the manuscript seemed to be written by some one other than me. I first noticed this phenomenon when I prepared lessons and sermons to present in the San Angelo County Jail. I have since discovered that this is not so unusual because when your desire is to glorify God, the Holy Spirit will inspire you beyond your normal capacities. Thank you Lord.

I look forward to hearing from those who read The Prophet’s Secret for their reactions and opinions. I hope it creates an interest in Bible prophecies and God’s promises.

Both Jesus and the apostle Paul spoke of the Rapture, the sudden taking of all the saints, people who accepted Jesus as their savior. The first to be taken would be those who had “fallen asleep”, the dead, followed by the saints still alive. The Bible describes it happening in the blink of an eye. Bodies and people will just disappear.

1Th 4:15 “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

This is the event that will begin the seven year Tribulation, the first three and one-half years will be the establishing of one world order followed by three and one-half years of the most horrible disasters, natural and man made, that have ever befallen the earth. During this time there will be a salvation of the Jews greater than any in history, accepting Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

As Tim LeHaye phrased it, there will be the Second Coming part A and part B. Don’t get them confused. The book series written by Pastor LeHaye called “The Left Behind” depicts this event quite well.

I graduated from the University College of Pharmacy in Austin, TX with a BS in Pharmacy  (don’t make fun of the title) in September of 1972 and received my pharmacy license the same month. I was grateful to practice this honored profession for 42 years before retiring in 2012. As you would expect the acts pertaining to the job have changed considerably during that time.

Our pharmacist during my youth was J.D. Brice at South Park Pharmacy and I can say it was his influence and character that inspired to first consider becoming a pharmacist. He was always kind and informative and if I injured myself and I was near his pharmacy, I could count on him to patch me up with iodine and band-aides. I’m 68 and I remember him still.

Upon licensing, I trained in his pharmacy and then went to work at Woodlawn Parr’s Pharmacy. At that time we used old standard typewriters and single stick-on labels that we stuck in a clamp around the roller. No electric typewriter, mind you, just a standard manual model. Paper filing, written prescriptions brought to us by the patient, deciphering doctor’s messy handwriting, and answering old fashion rotary dial telephones. One physician spoke so fast, we had to have a recorder hooked up to record his messages so we could listen to them later. We used old number stamps to apply Rx numbers on the paper prescriptions and on the typed label. Computers were only a dream and would not be practical for another 10 years. Medicaid for prescriptions was adopted by the states in 1970, but prescription insurance and those detestable insurance cards appeared about the time of the computers.

Today, a pharmacy graduated earns a Pharm. D. and is by law a doctor of pharmacy. The only time a pharmacist uses a manual typewriter is if there is a power failure and most prescriptions are faxed from the physician’s office to the pharmacy. There is even an E-Script which sends the prescription directly to the pharmacy computer. With all of this, prescriptions are still reduced to paper for hard copy filing and record keeping. Yes, there are still some specific drug categories that still require a written prescription in the doctor’s handwriting and have their signature.

All those years ago, a new drug was introduced on the market perhaps a dozen times a year and there only a few generics, some of which proved to be dangerous and were withdrawn from the market or were impounded by the proper authorities. Now, there can be that many new drugs in one week and generic drug are very dependable and available from in-numberable manufacturers.

This makes it sounds as if the profession of pharmacy has come a long way and solved most of its problems. Students are now Pharm. D’s, computers that maintain patient records and warn of drug interactions are in every pharmacy.  To be accepted into a school of pharmacy the applicant must have a four year degree before even being considered and continuing education is required by every state board to be relicensed. However, that four year degree isn’t required to be in the biological ore chemistry fields and computers can only warn pharmacists about drug interactions if the patient records are complete and they don’t pharmacy hop or doctor hop. It happens all the time.

Okay, I won’t bore you anymore. Here’s my conclusion. The practice of pharmacy is still as much art as science and a good pharmacist must develop excellent people skills. Listening can sometimes be as healing as medicine and empathy can go a long way. I see too many of the younger pharmacists standing back and only verifying prescriptions before they are place in a bag for pickup, never greeting or smiling at people waiting for their prescriptions. All the technology in the world does not a pharmacy make. It’s the pharmacy technicians, led by the pharmacist on duty, showing people they care about quality care and service that constitutes the practice of pharmacy.

Pictured above are some the best I ever worked with in my 42 years as a pharmacist: Johnny Moore (District Mgr. for K-Mart and new president of the Virginia Pharmacist Assc.), Ajit Damadaron, R.Ph., Ph.D., Rosa Whiting, CPhT, and Kimberly Clark, CPhT (my daughter), Dylan Yarbrough, CPhT and Linda Jackson, CPhT (they may be hamming for the camera but their service is exemplary). There are others but I don’t have photos.