Eighty Years Behind The Masts

The introduction was written 62 years ago. The Great Beyond is my age from 17 to 80. This book reveals what can be done. It answers the question, Who am I? The Miller genealogy is traced to Adam and Eve. The Miller Code of Ethics, Curriculum Vitae, and a Broad Mentality are defined. Famous people travel. I have circled the earth seven times, traveled to Japan 40 times, to Pearl Harbor 25 times, and I have driven thousands of miles in Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. Study the worlds cultures. Learn the motto God gave us, Faith, Hope, and Love. My life is working and learning. Read and learn without working. Plan your life NOW. Thirty years in advance I planned a sabbatical every ten years. I had three planned concurrent careers: Academic Neurosurgery, United States Naval Reserve, and Founder of a Neurosciences Center with an academic interchange with 25 countries. After seven days a week for 40 years in neurosurgery, I feared retirement. At age 70 I retired to the unknown. I elected a new life. In our 34-foot Sea Ray we traveled to all 36 yacht clubs in the Florida Council, from Destin, the Keys and to Jacksonville. There is much time on a boat. I memorized the Teachings on the Mount. We returned to Apollo Beach, Florida. I became busy and coined a new term, Retirement Career. (Career as go at top speed) I authored seven books, am on the voluntary faculty of the medical school, deacon and teacher at church, and continued Permissive Orders for the Navy. Recently I became the first 80-year-old drilling reservist. We have a pool man and yard man. (Our lot is covered in rocks and palm trees.) My responsibility is to keep the boat dock mosquito free by filling the Mosquito Magnet with propane, service the jet boat, and keep the garage in order. Read on and learn what one can do.

History is filled with wars. We dream the victories and defeats, great and small, and note how they have shaped our world. Wars and social movements have made our civilization as we know it. Man’s religion and past wars gives us an understanding of the present. In 1075, a militia loyal to the crown was used against the Norman rebellion. A militia in 1285, and later a Law of Trusts, reorganized the militia. In 1471, with the aid of the militia, towns in Sweden returned to reforms. The University of Uppsala was founded (1477) and printing was introduced. The civic humanist ideal of the militia was spread through Europe by the writings of Niccolò Machiavelli. The militiaman in times of crisis left his civilian duties and became a soldier. When the emergency was over, he returned to his civilian status. Militias continued in England, Italy, Germany, and the United States through the Middle Ages. The first US militia was in Boston. Militias soon followed in the Colonies. Militias were valuable in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, Mexican War, and both sides of the Civil War. There was further growth into the 1900’s and on into the Present. “Thou art also victory and law When empty terrors overawe.” (Wordsworth)

Two books have been combined, Scriptures that Have Inspired Me and Given Me Comfort and Some Criteria For the Development of Character. This book is written for family and friends hoping they will be further inspired as I am. I am inspired by the magnanimity (the highest descriptive word in the English language) of all Scriptures. The second part is related to the Development of Character. A written definition of a lady cannot be done. The complete definition of ones character cannot be done, but I have developed 67 subjects that will lead one to be of good character. The concept in the two parts of this book has made our lives as perfect as perfect can be!

The mental basis for this book began 72 years ago when I was age 17. I wrote and defined the “Great Beyond” as my future from age 17. I asked the question, “Who am I?” I traced through the years the Miller genealogy to Adam and Eve. I defined a Broad Mentality as having knowledge of: The Bible, (One is illiterate without a knowledge of the greatest book of all time.), God, Man, Salvation from death, The Church, The Lord’s Day, God’s Kingdom, The Last Things (end of the world.), Social Order, War, Religious Liberty, The Family, and Education. (Learn from study and experiences, and for professionals meet their qualifications (Doctors, lawyers, ministers, teachers, etc.) Famous people travel. I have circled the earth seven times, traveled to Japan 40 times, to Pearl Harbor 25 times. I have driven thousands of miles in Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. “Study the world’s culture.” Learn the motto God gave us, “Faith, Hope, and Love”. My life is working and learning. Young person plan your life “NOW!” Thirty years in advance I planned a sabbatical every 10 years. I had three planned concurrent careers: Academic Neurosurgery, United States Naval Reserve, and founder of a Neuroscience Center with an interchange with 25 countries. I have performed 10,000 operations. God promises that learning will prolong your days. God will deliver and preserve His people for His Heavenly Kingdom. This book is for our family and friends. Our (Cathy and I) “Retirement Career” is at Top Speed, but I feel it slowing down. I have no more subjects in my mind to write about. I have authored 17 books. I am on the voluntary faculty at the medical school. I had Navy orders for 62 years (1952-2014). I was the first 80-year-old still drilling in the Navy Reserve. We are active members of the First Baptist Church of Brandon, Florida. Cathy and I have help with chores in and around our house. To God be the Glory.

War is an armed conflict between states or nations. The causes of war may be ideological, political, racial, economic, or religious. War has been a feature of history. The use of fighting forces requires strategy and tactics. Efforts to end war have all failed, including the League of Nations and the United Nations. The laws of war are not recognized. There has been no success in leaving out the civilian population in any war. The biblical concept of war required that God declare the war. The LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war from generation to generation (Exod. 17:16). The book of the wars of the LORD (Num. 21:14). Our fight against radical Islam is a fight for LORDs battles (1 Sam. 18:7). Our holy war is against murder, terrorists, the rise of ISIS and forty-four known terrorist groups, and a vanishing freedom. It is nowfight or die!

What is Obedience? "If one is guilty of one sin they are guilty of all sin." (James 2:10) Obedience is absolute! Our studies and our experiences make our knowledge and with them we develop the facts of our lives. Our faith must be with works. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17) One cannot worship without gifts to God. We are all one in Christ. We have freedom of choice. Our lives must be changed. Part Two: The Time Machine There are 66 thirty-year generations since the time of Christ for your review. How do you and your generation compare? Read on and learn the history.

Jesus said, Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. An attempt is made to identify the Few. One learns there will be many more people who are not among the Few. The problem is complicated in that most Christians are not true Christians. They will not be among the Few. A large number of Christians use the church as a social phenomenon. They have been called the Christian Paganism. The last judgment is that of the Great White Throne Judgment and will reveal billions who had rejected Gods Grace, refused His Mercy, and spurned His Love. The unbelievers are raised at the end of the 1000 years of Christ reign on earth. (The believers are raised at the beginning of Christs reign on earth.) This is the unsaved of all ages. Billions upon billions will stand before God and be judged guilty. They are described as death and hell and are cast into the lake of fire, which is the Second Death. Billions and billions will die the Second Death. Read on to learn who are the Few.

We must discover the real world. All generations are struggling for truth! Truth is our heritage and gift to the next generation, so we must support education for all people. Some generations have essentially halted progress, and others are making progress only because of a few. In our world, we must proclaim religious and free speech. The concept of human liberty is more than 4,000 years old and is repeated by Christ Himself. We must dare to read, think, speak, and write the truth. Truth is not only violated by falsehood, but also by silence. Ignorance produces the work of monsters. Ignorance is not bliss; it is oblivion. Ignorance is sin, not innocence. Man is what he believes, coated by either truth or ignorance. Truth demands a basic standard of living for the masses to ensure security and freedom for their development. Man is master of his fate, but he must seek the truth. Truth is on the march, and nothing can stop it!