It used to be fashionable at cocktail parties, if you wanted to get a chuckle, to quip “to be a good Episcopalian only a slight belief in God is required.”

Others liked to characterize the Episcopal Church as “the country club at prayer” and even assert that we are “not really a Christian church.”

All kidding aside, those of us who are active and devout members of the Episcopal Church know just how untrue those popular perceptions are yet, as an organization and as individuals, we have frankly done little to counter these misconceptions.

For the past quarter century or so it seems that the only time our church get any press is when the word “sex” can be coupled in the headline with the word “church”: “women priests” then “women bishops” and now a woman presiding bishop, along with talk of blessing “same sex marriages,” priests and even a bishop in a “same sex relationships.” (The word “gender” would be more correct, but let’s face it, “sex” sells papers, “gender” doesn’t.)

Except for the 2.4 million active Episcopalians who know better, the rest of the population is left to believe that the Episcopal Church is like a “singles bar” except that it is open on Sunday mornings!

The media coverage of our General Convention this past July was, of course, no exception. If you happened to miss the screeching headline, “Episcopal Church unanimously passes orthodox statement of belief in Jesus Christ,” it was because it never appeared, but none the less the convention did pass such a statement!

The Rt. Rev. Pierre Welte Whalon D.D., the bishop of the Convocation of American Episcopal Churches in Europe (who I had the privilege of meeting at a theological conference in Germany three years ago), noted this in a reflection on the wrap up of General Convention. I’d like to share his words with you all:

“Finally, a very significant theological statement on interreligious dialogue passed the bishops unanimously, and by a large majority in the House of Deputies (with 888 voting deputies, unanimity is extremely rare). For those who wonder about the orthodoxy of our church, here are some excerpts:

“We affirm the foundational Gospel proclamation that 'Jesus is Lord' (I Corinthians 12:3 NRSV here and hereafter), and therefore Jesus’ Summary of God's Law: 'Love the Lord your God with all your hearts, with all your souls, and with all your minds, and to love your neighbor as yourself' (Mark 12:29-31; BCP, Catechism, page 851).

For this reason we reach out in love and genuine openness to know and to understand those of other religion traditions.” (Introduction)

And these paragraphs from Section V are worth quoting in full:

“24. The Christian scriptures proclaim that Jesus is 'the Word made flesh' (John 1:14) and as such he is 'the Way and the Truth and the Life' (John 14:6). As stated in our creeds (Apostles', and Nicene) and liturgy, Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God. Since God has chosen to share our life, we affirm that God is intensely concerned about every human life.

Among Christians, Episcopalians have a particular appreciation of this teaching, in that we believe that the coming of God in Christ has already begun to transform all of creation.

“25. The human response to God's incarnate love was 'to crucify the Lord of Glory' (1 Corinthians 2:8). The cross is the Christian symbol and act of self-emptying, humility, redemptive suffering, sacrificial self-giving and unvanquished love. We believe that we have been reconciled to God through the cross.

“26. In the resurrection we believe 'Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and giving life to those in the tomb' (BCP, p. 483). By our baptism into Christ's death and resurrection we enjoy new life as members of the Body of Christ, called therefore to become ourselves ambassadors of reconciliation (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20).

“27. Professing salvation in Christ is not a matter of competing with other religious traditions with the imperative of converting one another. Each tradition brings its own understanding of the goal of human life to the interreligious conversation. Christians bring their particular profession of confidence in God's intentions as they are seen in and through the incarnation, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Please note, gentle reader, that this is now the official teaching of the Episcopal Church, since it has the approval of the General Convention. The purpose of these passages is to reiterate in basic language who we are as Christians, since clarity of identity is as important in interreligious dialogue as clarity of intent. Precisely because we are followers of Jesus, we must engage people of other religious traditions in conversation, not to proselytize but rather to build common ground in the world in which we live.”

Thank you, Bishop Whalon!

I hope we can get this message out to the folks around us not just to correct the misconceptions about our church, but to make known the unique manifestation of God’s love in Christ that the Episcopal Church is to the church catholic and to whole world.

As we celebrate Christ’s Epiphany on Jan. 6, remember that in 2010 YOU are the epiphany of God’s love in our world.

Fr. Leo M. Joseph O.S.F., is parish priest of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lakeport.

As a naturopath and health researcher for the last 18 years I’ve seen a lot of “latest and greatest” in “miracle” nutrients and herbs come down the endless flowing river of research into the health and wellness field.

Many are of little value or too expensive for the average consumer and yet, I must say, once in a while I find an herb, nutrient or device that is truly remarkable.

For the next three or four articles I will focus on these findings. One is an electronic device and the others are herbs or nutrients that are so powerful they are becoming a foundation of my practice.

Several years ago I started hearing about something called the Rife Frequency Generator as a miraculous tool for defeating cancer, and a host of other diseases.

As a naturopath with my ear constantly open to encouraging developments in the battle for your health, I took notice, but I never seriously investigated the claim until early in 2009. At that point my good friend Scott lent me his unit for my practice.

I spent hours researching its creator (Royal Raymond Rife, 1888-1971) and finally took a trip up to Arcata to a clinic I was familiar with to talk to a woman who has a thriving practice just using her many Rife Generators and ionic foot bathes. Her clients kept coming back for treatments because they got great results.

She gave me a wonderful DVD on Rife’s life and his extraordinary achievements. His is a long and truly remarkable life fraught with great achievement, drama and intrigue. It’s chronicled in the book “The Cancer Cure That Worked” by Barry Lyons. It would be easy to paint even a summery of Rife’s great scientific works but I encourage you to go online and pick up a copy of the book.

In any case the generator is programmed to deliver micro current technology to destroy virtually all known pathogenic bacteria, virus and fungi. This is so because all life forms have a micro electric signature that maintains their life force.

Rife spent years with his remarkable microscope (the first dark field or live cell microscope) discovering and cataloging the bio current of these bacteria and other micro-organisms. Having done that he began delivering micro current energy to destroy these organisms without harming the host, first with smaller mammals and finally in 1934, 16 stage four terminal cancer patients.

It was a 70-day trial sponsored by the University of Southern California and overseen by Milbank Johnson, M.D., head of the Southern California Medical Society. By the end of the trial (as chronicled in the above-mentioned biography) 14 of the 16 terminal patients were cancer free while the remaining two took another 60 days to be cured. They received no other treatments or dietary modifications.

Cancer was cured in 1934. The remainder of Rife’s story is one of jealousy and suppression.

Rife developed the Rife Ray Tube Corporation to educate and sell his generator but the head of the American Medical Association wanted controlling interest in the corporation. Rife would not allow this. Eventually the AMA director had Rife’s lab destroyed and his frequency generator denounced and suppressed.

Over the remainder of Rife’s life he further perfected and developed the generator with other scientists. He passed away in 1971 but left a remarkable legacy for humanity.

Steven West, ND is a Kelseyville- based naturopath and nutritionist. He graduated form the Institute for Natural Health Studies and has been in practice in California for 18 years. Listen to his radio show, “Holistically Speaking,” on KPFZ 88.1 FM every Monday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for more life-saving information on health and wellness. The show repeats at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Frequently, no matter what area one lives, we turn on the television or pick up the newspaper to hear or read about another driving under the influence tragedy. These tragedies are not accidents, but rather they are the result of an individual’s irresponsible decision to drink and drive. In a matter of a few seconds, that irresponsible decision can change the lives of many forever.

Every day innocent people get hurt by the carelessness of DUI drivers. The sad fact is that it’s only a matter of time until the next alcohol-fueled tragedy happens on a road, because too many people won’t admit they had too much to drink, or arrogantly believe they can drive anyway. Across the nation, 125 people are killed every day due to intoxicated drivers.

How many times have these negligent drivers been driving under the influence and have not been caught? How many times have these drivers' careless acts of driving under the influence been diminished, freeing the negligent driver to do this again?

Drunken driving is inexcusable and against the law. Negligent DUI drivers who are responsible for the death or injury of an innocent person must be made to face the consequences of their selfish act.

Most DUI drivers are incapable of feeling true remorse, as they convince themselves to believe it was an accident. If they convince themselves it was an accident, then their guilt is minimized. Some may utter the words “I’m sorry,” but those words are merely an instant, built-in mechanism that is used when they are caught. The DUI driver is not the one left behind to pick up the pieces to a families life. Their lives go on, as they will never feel the suffering that is felt by their victims.

Imagine if you can, what your life would be like if suddenly your loved one was killed or maimed for life because of the selfishness of a DUI driver. Would the casual words you hear from the DUI driver – “I’m sorry” – make your devastation go away? There could never be enough “I’m sorries” to take away the pain and emptiness that is in the hearts of a family and friends who lost their loved one due to a DUI driver.

A DUI tragedy can strike anyone at anytime without warning. No matter what one’s age is, please stop and think of what the consequences of drinking and driving can do.

If you are an adult and are partaking in social festivities that offer alcohol, you can still enjoy yourself while still being responsible. Remind yourself before you participate, that you need to be responsible for your actions. Don’t think you can risk driving home without being caught after consuming those few “extra drinks.”

Will your negligence be worth the risk of a lifetime of pain and guilt that you could infringe on yourself and an innocent family whose life will be forever victimized by injury or death of their loved one? A designated driver will help keep everyone safe as well as just saying “no” to those extra drinks.

This holiday season, please give the gift of life to everyone by making responsible choices. Please do your part to keep our roads safe.

Judy Thein is one of the founders of Team DUI and the 2010 mayor for the city of Clearlake. Her daughter was the victim of a fatal DUI crash.

Recently the Lake County Board of Supervisors sent a letter to the following distribution list: President Barack Obama, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Sen. Pat Wiggins, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Congressman Mike Thompson, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Assemblyman Wes Chesbro.

This excellent letter describes an ongoing situation where our government continues to provide sufficient funding for environmental support at Lake Tahoe while ignoring California’s other significant natural lake, Clear Lake, which has similar but more critical support needs that are woefully underfunded.

The details are best understood by reading the letter (the original was sent on county of Lake, Board of Supervisors letterhead on Oct. 27 to all on the above distribution list):

RE: Request to revise proposed legislation authorizing $390 million for environmental restoration at Lake Tahoe to include an appropriation for similar efforts at Clear Lake

Dear (per distribution list),

On behalf of the Lake County Board of Supervisors, I am writing to request that the soon-to-be proposed legislation to re-authorize the Tahoe Restoration Act also include an appropriation for the protection and management of Clear Lake.

Recent reports indicate that a federal bill may soon be introduced by U.S. Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.), John Ensign (R-Nev.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), and Dianne Feinstein (D- Calif.) to re-authorize the Tahoe Restoration Act, originally launched in 1997 by President Bill Clinton, with an additional $390 million in taxpayer funds exclusively focused on environmental issues at Lake Tahoe. Since its introduction, the Act has provided more than $1.4 billion in federal tax revenue for environmental restoration and other projects to protect Lake Tahoe.

Our Board is supportive of the preservation efforts of Lake Tahoe, however, we also must stress the importance of the Lake County charter from the State of California to preserve and protect the largest natural freshwater lake within California's borders: Clear Lake. Clear Lake has garnered the interest of scientists worldwide, including limnologists who consider it likely the oldest lake in North America, and it is squarely at the center of Lake County's economy.

Clear Lake is of equal environmental significance to Lake Tahoe, and in fact, Clear Lake plays a more significant role in the state's water distribution system since it feeds into the waterways of the California Delta.

Clear Lake faces similar but arguably more critical environmental challenges than Lake Tahoe including severe watershed issues relating to algae, invasive weed species including Hydrilla, protection of its indigenous fish species, and a significant threat of exposure to invasive Quagga/Zebra mussels due to its popularity for tournament bass fishing and recreational boating.

While each of these challenges is being addressed by the County of Lake and, to some degree, by the State of California, all are severely under-funded with management plans that are only partially implemented.

It is our understanding that this proposed legislation may include funding to control invasive species such as mussels to further protect Lake Tahoe, and it is important to note that Clear Lake is perhaps at potentially greater risk of mussel infestation. This is evidenced in a report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, which assessed the vulnerability of California water bodies to colonization by Quagga/Zebra mussels based on several environmental factors (calcium, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity) and rated each water body in terms of management priority (1-High, 2-Medium, 3-Low, 4-Not Vulnerable to Colonization). Clear Lake was ranked as a Level 2 — Medium Priority while Lake Tahoe was ranked as a Level 4 — Not Vulnerable. (Potential Distribution of Zebra Mussels and Quagga Mussels in California Phase I Report, Andrew N. Cohen, August 2007)

We strongly feel that in order to serve the public fairly, Congress must not fund projects solely for Lake Tahoe while allowing under-funding of more severely needed programs at California's other significant natural lake. Thus, we hereby urgently, and unanimously, request the following:

• That the proposed legislation for Lake Tahoe be redefined as funding for "The Protection of California's Two Largest Freshwater Lakes"; and

• That this funding be allocated and appropriated fairly toward programs and projects that address similar goals for both lakes (e.g., watershed protection efforts, programs for fire prevention in the surrounding watershed, invasive species prevention, etc.).

It is with this in mind that we respectfully request your support to include an appropriation in the bill to protect and restore Clear Lake and its watershed, thereby helping to preserve the State's two largest and most significant natural lakes — Lake Tahoe and Clear Lake.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely, (original signed by all five Supervisors)

While none of us doubt that the Lake Tahoe region has significantly more economic clout than Clear Lake (Lake County) has, this funding is aimed at environmental protection and the data supports the more urgent need for funding of similar protection for Clear Lake.

While Lake County officials understand that their request to modify the current bill (another $390 million for Tahoe) to send a small part of this funding to Lake County is a long shot, they know the logic for doing so is sound. They urgently need community help to focus our busy politicians on this priority. Letters from those that reside in or visit Lake County to all or some of the elected officials listed (or to your officials if you live elsewhere) can greatly increase the chances of modifying the bill to rightly apportion some of the funding to Clear Lake.

Communicating with elected officials is not difficult but is a nuisance task that is often not accomplished. This time you have to do it and extend the request to all of your relatives and friends that visit our county and love our lake.

While this is about the lake, don’t believe for a second that it is not just as critical to the economy of our county. Showing that programs are funded and effective to manage aquatic plants including algae and to keep invasive species out of our lake improves the success of our local businesses while promoting tourism.

Also, such actions motivate business investment into our county (e.g. Konocti Harbor purchase) which is needed to lower our very high unemployment numbers and again motivate tourism.

To help you assist the lake and the economy, please go to my Web site ( www.konoctibay.com) where you will find down loadable files for the actual Board of Supervisors letter, a proposed draft letter for you to attach to the Board of Supervisors letter and send to your elected officials, and addresses for those on the BOS distribution list.

A few hours spent sending such letters, and getting your family and friends to do the same, could turn this long shot into the most significant environmental funding effort to date for Clear Lake. Thanks in advance for all of your assistance.

Ed Calkins lives in Kelseyville.

Tuesday, Dec. 1, began like most of my days; 5:30 a.m., wake up, get ready, wake my three children, make breakfast and then hand off the remaining morning duties to my husband and walk to work before 7 a.m. The one difference in this day was my planned appointment to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting in support of Upper Lake’s town clock. Unbeknownst to me the appointment wasn’t going to go according to plan.

Quite honestly, I fully anticipated the community, including myself, would stand before the lectern and express support in favor of the board’s approval of the use of some remaining redevelopment funds for the purchase of a town clock, after which the board would then approve it. Instead, a debate of aesthetics verse infrastructure, one town apposed to another – it was the sort discussion I had not anticipated.

If you’re interested in a bit of history, the first Upper Lake town clock was installed in 1914 by the Upper Lake Women’s Protective Club, a club still in existence today. In the 1970s the rising repair costs due to routine vandalism forced the club to remove and sell the clock. If you were in the county in the 1970s you’ll remember what Upper Lake had become and I pray will never be again.

It’s important to point out that redevelopment funds are designated for very specific uses and, like stamped sidewalks and decorative lighting, a clock will further enhance the image of Upper Lake.

Two of the four board members present that day believe strongly that a clock is purely aesthetic. I beg to differ. Think about your most fond travel or vacation memories. What do you remember? (Take a moment to really think about this.) How do you describe this place to friends? So is it that your destination had the smoothest road ways or most efficient sewer system? Not likely.

We should all be so thankful for local people like Jim Fetzer who cared enough about aesthetics to create Ceago Vinegarden; or Lynne and Bernie Butcher for every single aesthetic detail they invested in the Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon. No matter how hard one might try, we are all judged by our appearance and so will our town.

The placement of a town clock is like the cherry atop a sundae. Whether you like cherries or not everyone has to agree that a picture of a sundae without the cherry just doesn’t seem right.

It would be a shame if the Upper Lake redevelopment project fell short of being completed. Due to the board's decision this week, it is now up to our community to raise 25 percent of the cost of a new clock. This is our chance to show just how much we care about the look and feel of our town. We need to raise $3,000 to $4,000.

Ninety-five years after the installation of the first clock the Women’s Protective Club voted this week to spearhead the effort to erect a new landmark clock and raise the necessary funds specified by the Board of Supevisors.

If you or someone you know can donate, please make a check payable to Women’s Protective Club – Town Clock. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Mail contributions to PO Box 508, Upper Lake, 95485 or donate directly to the Women’s Protective Club account at the Upper Lake Branch of Westamerica Bank.

Shalean Smith is a resident and business owner in Upper Lake.

Lucerne Elementary School teachers have written this letter to express concerns regarding unifying Lake County school districts. We believe that before any changes should be considered, all focus should be upon improving the education of the students in our county.

Our questions are as follows:

l) How will these changes affect our small school?

Student programs: As a small, cohesive district, we are able to quickly tailor our efforts to our own students’ needs. In a large district, decisions would be made by an administration that doesn’t necessarily know our students’ unique needs. We also risk further loss to the personalized learning environment when teachers and students get moved around within a much larger district.

Test scores: We have worked very hard to have the resources and collaboration needed to address student test score improvement issues. We have stayed out of “Program Improvement” by knowing our students and using our resources to meet their needs. If we unify, how will our test scores be impacted by movement of students and loss of revenue?

2) How will students be affected by changes in accessibility of administration?

Presently we have daily access to our administration and all questions, concerns and issues are taken care of immediately. Our accessible administration knows all of our students by name and each student’s strengths and needs. Administration attends student and teacher meetings, visit our classes frequently, and are involved in our intervention programs – on site. With unification, would we lose the strength gained by our administrator knowing our student population so well? Administration also knows each teacher’s strengths and needs and is able to offer resources accordingly.

Lucerne and Upper Lake already have a principal/superintendent position in which they “wear many hats.” If we were to unify, a superintendent position would need to be created, adding another cost. In the students’ best interests, we would still need to have on-site administrators.

3) How will allocation of resources be decided?

Teachers from larger county districts have complained to us that we have more professional development opportunities and more access to current technology. We appreciate having current technology available as well as the opportunities we have for professional growth. We know that having appropriate resources and teacher training is crucial to providing students with the best possible education.

4) What about financial responsibilities?

Our district has made appropriate sacrifices to make our district financially responsible. We do not want to merge with other districts and put our school at financial risk.

Although Lucerne teachers would probably be given a pay raise if unification happens, we wonder how this will financially impact a new unified district.

 

Our board has already given up their monthly stipends and district-paid health benefits, as it impacts our district’s general fund.

We already participate in contract sharing and cooperative purchases with the county and other districts. For instance, our buses are serviced through Upper Lake, and we share some support personnel with them.

It is our hope that this list serves to clarify both our feelings and concerns regarding what is at risk surrounding unification. We appreciate working with the students in Lake county and will always be willing to collaborate with other schools for the needs of students. Our students are unique and we work hard to provide the best programs possible for their education.

Tammy Saldana, Melissa Seymour, Kathy Hughes, Christa Mott, Catherine Davenport, Laura Ewing, Stella Winckler, Megan Grant, Merilee Krieg, Venus Kuintzle, Ron Hale, Jen Wangberg and Doreen Walstad are teachers at Lucerne Elementary School.