Dear Bill,
Recently I watched a show called "How William Shatner Changed the World." And it seems that in this recent enterprise of yours-no pun intended, in achieving your new PhD in praise of yourself (Piled high and Deep), you claim that you and Star Trek were responsible for many of today's inventions. And since no one really cares, no one will dispute you, and the truth will get muddled, at least until some future generation reads it, and believes it. And in a sense you, or really your legend will live forever-in reruns. A legend in your own mind. But while watching TCM the other morning, I saw the first of 12 installments in Buck Rogers, filmed in 1939. Something you may have seen at the movies as a kid. And I was surprised at how many of the things you claimed to have originated were in this early film, at least 30 years before Star Trek-not sure what that is in Star dates.
When Buck and his zeppelin mate Buddy Wade crash their zeppelin at the North Pole-circa 1938, from a remote location Nirvano Gas is released into the ship to place them in suspended animation until they can be rescued. Seems without cell phones or GPS, it took a bit longer than expected, and they are discovered in the year 2440. Where a two man crew in a space ship, sees the zeppelin frozen in the ice, and explores it. Using what appear to be Phasers, they melt the ice and snow, and enter the cabin-retrieving Buck and Buddy, and taking them to their commander. Where they are whisked away in a transporter chamber-their atoms are treated with radiation and can be reconstructed anywhere the operator desires. Sound familiar? With apologies to Scotty, Bill you didn't invent either of these. To quote Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun. Is it possible that you have go where man has gone before?
We just got done celebrating Resurrection Day, Easter to those initiated. And of course the doubters, and story tellers are out in force. Claiming it never happened, and fabricating stories of how the tomb was empty because a man who had endured 39 lashes, then hung on a cross until dead, then had a spear stuck in his heart, wasn't really dead, but somehow when He revived, had the strength to move a 2 ton rock, by Himself, and escape-unseen by the Roman Guard set to make sure none of this happened. Now that's Science Fiction! And it must really take faith to believe that! But just to prove that He lives, He made Himself visible to many, including over 500 at one time! Who Paul records as seeing Him in one day-and who at the time of his writing his first letter to the Corinthians, would have been alive to dispute his writing if it was false. But they didn't-because it's true! He really was raised from the dead-Resurrected! And they did see Him-and knew who He was and what had happened!
Someday you fill face death too Bill, and I wonder, who is the Captain Kirk of your Enterprise? All your accomplishments, space travel, TJ Hooker episodes, and self aggrandizement shows will not get you to heaven. Beating Gorns, Klingons, and Romulans will not gain you entrance to heaven. You need to meet the same Jesus who revealed Himself over 2000 years ago. When you die, knowing Him will make the difference in beaming down to hell, or beaming up to heaven. We never know when our last day is, and the eternal transporter is standing by to beam you somewhere after death. No suspended animation like Buck and Buddy. No Science fiction writer to bring you back miraculously next week. Is there a heaven? To quote your Science Officer-"Indeed."
Don't let "He's dead, Jim" be the last words you hear on earth. Go boldly where many have gone before-based on a simple faith. All heroes will die-only those saved will go to heaven. Think about it Bill, even at warp speed you will never see it all! But first, you have to get there. Trust God, for Jesus is the only way.
love with compassion,
Mike PhD-(praying hard daily)
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