Now, for a bit of information
that I received, directly from the pilot, a few years later:
I met him while I was a member
of an informational committee sent around the state to meet with US Congressmen
to tell them what the North Deschutes River Management agreement contained.
A lot of work had been done, a
committee made up of over 20 agencies and private citizens, representing groups
such as river guides, fishing organizations, etc. met several times over several
years discussing the issues, gathering information and coming to a consensus of
how the River should be managed.
I was the representative from
Wasco County on the Committee. I was
asked to participate in the meetings with Congressmen and/or their staff. Others on that committee to give the
presentation were from the State, from the Bureau of Land Management and a
couple other people that I cannot recall.
We wanted to get the information
out quickly and in one day, so we rode in a BLM contracted jet – the pilot that
flew us that day was the one that flew Rajneesh, off of the ranch, in 1985.
He told me his firm received the
call and he was assigned. He arrived at
the ranch early that day.
The followers quickly removed
some seats and installed the Rajneesh’s personal chair – a throne like he used
while seated to lecture his followers in the ‘green house.’
He said that the Rajneesh was
high on something. It was known that he
partook of Nitrous oxide, laughing gas, on a regular basis in the privacy of the
compound. The pilot didn’t know what he
was on, but he didn’t think that was it, because it lasted for several
hours.
They flew out of the ranch and
headed South East. Almost immediately
the followers were asking him to fly to Bermuda (or the Bahamas I can’t recall
which), they wanted Rajneesh out of country.
He told them that he couldn’t do
it. First he didn’t have enough
fuel. Second an over water flight
required two pilots and he was the only one on board. Three, equipment mandated for flights over
large bodies of water, in case of a crashing into the water, was not part of the
equipment on the jet and would have to be secured before they could fly out of
the country.
Regardless he would have to land
in South Carolina to fuel because he had insufficient fuel to fly that far.
The jet was being tracked; I
have heard there were a couple of Air Force jets that accompanied him – without
the pilot’s knowledge. And, what is
probably more likely, I have heard the FAA tracked them as they flew cross
country. Either way, the agencies knew
where he was at all times.
Upon landing at Charleston the
pilot found himself staring down a rifle barrel aimed at him by a deputy. The local authorities knew of the weapons the
Rajneesh had access to and were not going to take any chances.
The authorities kept telling him
to get his hands up, he kept telling them he had to shut down the plane and
eventually they let him.
The authorities took Rajneesh
into custody and placed him in a cell.
At the time, the pilot said, he
wore his hair long and had a beard. The
company jacket he had on was red – one of the Rajneesh colors. The pilot went into the cell right along with
Rajneesh – they thought he was part of the commune.
He stated that Rajneesh was out
of it making unintelligible statements, he remained that way for several hours,
and he still was not completely lucid when the pilot was finally released after
a few hours later.
The pilot’s story checked
out. He flew back home.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14 So Saul died for his
transgression which he committed against the Lord,
even against the word of the Lord,
which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar
spirit, to enquire of it;
14 And enquired not of the
Lord: therefore he slew him,
and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
Saul failed God in so many ways,
he died in battle, but he died because he failed to keep God’s commandments to
him; and he went to a medium to have her call upon Samuel – even though he knew
it was wrong, and had actually killed a number of them for being a medium – then
he searched one out.
We know that in war no one is
safe. We know that two people can be
side by side and one will be killed and the other uninjured. There is usually no rhyme or reason for war
time deaths on the battle field – yet.
Saul was killed because of his
transgressions.
We also know that even the most
devoted and righteous believer in Christ can be killed for no other reason than
he was on the battlefield – yet.
Saul was killed because of his
transgressions. It had nothing to do
with being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
God’s judgment can fall on man
at any time. When nations’ leaders turn
against God and cause their people to also sin against God, the judgment might
come immediately – or over a space of time – but it does come.
We but have to look at Israel to
see the truth of that, not to mention the many empires that fell through the
ages.
2 Kings
15:9 And he did that which was evil in the
sight of the Lord, as
his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of
Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
We have many leaders in the
United States who have been leading the people against God, against His Word and
His commands.
America is going to pay for
placing those leaders in positions where they can accomplish the persecution of
Christians in America.
We alone of almost every nation,
have the ability as citizens to vote on who our leaders shall be, so we have a
great burden and responsibility for America’s persecution of Christians.
1 Chronicles
11:9 So David waxed greater and greater: for the
Lord of
hosts was with him.
David took the throne. God called him a man after His own
heart. David was not perfect, but when
he fell He asked for and received the forgiveness of God.
Israel became a strong nation
under David’s reign. Because God was
with Him; and God was with Him because David strived to live for Him.
We like to think that only in
America can a person be a common citizen and become president. But God has raised many up from the lowest
occupations to rule His people – when they submitted to God the status of their
social status was unimportant – only a willing heart.
We may not become great leaders,
but we can follow the example of David and live for God; allowing Him to work
within us and use us to help others.
It takes a person that is
willing to lean on God to stand in the breech between man and satan.
John 6:65-66
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that
no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my
Father.
66 From that time many of
his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
We think of the twelve
disciples, but Jesus had many followers who desired to serve Him. However, as they realized the cost they chose
to walk away.
Let us not be one of them.
Later, Art :-)
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