Posted: 21 September 2009
I don't even know how to start as tears fill my eyes. At rare times in life you meet someone who is not only a humanitarian, but a very special person in so many ways, a young healthy, dynamic person you never think of dying, at least no time soon. Don Harkins was an indeed rare individual. I've worked with him and his wife, Ingri, for years. He published the Idaho Observer but he told me he was more of an activist than a newspaper owner. He was also the publisher of the Artificially Sweetened Times,
the 24 page booklets we distribute to warn the world on aspartame. Some years ago I gave him a booklet that was given out by Return to Eden in Atlanta to help warn against aspartame called Killer Kola. When Don heard about the thousands and thousands that read it, got off aspartame and got well he asked for a copy, and from that he put together the AST, and kept it current. He said "well keep it published until you get aspartame off the market ". It remains to this day in memory of David Oliver Rietz who died of aspartame and founded the largest anti-aspartame site, http://www.dorway.com
He was an incredible writer and with a sense of humor you just couldn't match. We wrote several articles together. I use to kid with him I was born without the brevity gene as I sent him some 4500-word article. He would laugh and with the patience of Job and the talent of a genius he would quickly put all the information I had written on a page or two. Sometimes I might need a title and he would come up with a gem in seconds. It was Don Harkins who gave us the title for our Aspartame Awareness Weekend flyer, last year - "Waiter, please remove this neurotoxin from our table"! He loved words.
Don wanted to help everyone and he wanted everyone to know the truth about what was going on in this country. He wanted people to become activists and make a difference. He didn't care how damning facts were; he wouldn't budge from saying it like it is. He didn't need diplomacy, he just needed fact, complete truth. He was courageous and never thought of his safety. We loved his paper, but most of all we loved Don and we love Ingri. Ingri, as you know is VacLib and warns the world on the deadly vaccines.
I left a message on Don's recorder last night because I heard he had been in the hospital. I didn't know it was as serious as it was. In fact, I happened to mention to my husband I didn't have a snail address and couldn't send flowers. My Don said, "He would appreciate more a good book". At Costco I was reading the books and thinking to myself, he probably knows more than what is in these books. I kept thinking about him last night and how I missed hearing from him, and called. I only got a recorder but it was still a pleasure to hear his voice on it. I wish I had called earlier and had one last conversation with him. A couple of years ago he came through Atlanta and we had the pleasure of having him overnight. It was wonderful enjoying his conversation and presence here. He was so charming and you just felt energized talking to him. We really missed him when he left.
He will be missed in the hearts of thousands because he was the type of man you could never forget, and felt blessed to know. You just don't meet a lot of people who are just "all good and caring", and would always stop to help anyone who had a problem. He made a difference in this world. If you spoke with him on the phone he always made you feel good, made you smile, made you laugh, and glad you had the opportunity to be in touch. I'm going to miss all those calls but we're fortunate that we've had the opportunity of meeting him in person a couple of times.
I was shocked when I read below he had AML. I immediately tried to find out something and was shocked that he was only diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. Acute myeloid leukemia is so serious. In fact, as a young woman I worked closely with a hematologist on these cases. So I know how bad a diagnosis that is. I did a lot of research on this with CDC.
Consider the miracle of Lazarus' resurrection in the Bible which served well as part of Jesus' ministry, both to illustrate the power of the Son of God and to increase faith in him and the resurrection. When Jesus told Lazarus who had been dead for four days to come out, he could have said to an entire burial ground, "ya'll come out". Armageddon is obviously not far away and it will put an end to the evil in this world. Then the last will be resurrected first. We know we'll see Don Harkins again one day, free of disease, living in a world free of evil. I know how many loved Don and I hope the resurrection scriptures below my signature will help to ease the heart of those mourning and know that this is just temporary, and we'll see him again as a young man free of disease.
I tried to find an address for flowers but was told Ingri prefers contributions in his name. She has a $100,000 hospital bill to pay. ( P. O. Box 457, Spirit Lake, Idaho 83869 ). Don loved words, so write Ingri about your remembrance.
I ask that you give a moment of silence for Don and bow your head in prayer to Jehovah God. Ask for his blessings for Don's family in their grief and mourning.
In sympathy, love and memory of Don Harkins.
Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum.
Founder, Mission Possible World Health International
9270 River Club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
770-242-2599
E-Mail: BettyM19@mindspring.com
http://www.wpwhi.com
http://www.wnho.net
http://www.dorway.com
Aspartame Toxicity Center: http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame
The Resurrection, Jehovah's Merciful Gift
ON THE SEPTEMBER 19TH 2009 DEATH OF COURAGEOUS DON HARKINS, PUBLISHER OF THE IDAHO OBSERVER
UNLESS INDICATED ALL QUOTATIONS ARE FROM KING JAMES VERSION of 1611AD KJV
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised your faith is in vain. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable...For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. ... O death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory?...But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15: 16-19, 25-57
So the Apostle Paul describes Jehovah's glorious promise of victory over humanity's implacable enemy. This is our greatest treasure, so let us examine more deeply what God's Word reveals.
They which are fallen asleep makes clear death is sleep, and resurrection would come at some future time. Of the 9 resurrection accounts in Scripture the most extensive is at John chapter 11: Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha lived in Bethany, about 2 miles from Jerusalem behind the Mount of Olives. They were prosperous, close friends with our Lord. When Lazarus fell ill the sisters sent for Jesus, expecting him to come to heal his friend. But Jesus "tarried", and Lazarus died. Our Lord said:
...Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord if he sleep,...he shall do well. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead
John 11:11-14
Now they go to Bethany: Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming went and met him:
...but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it the. Jesus saith unto her, THY BROTHER SHALL RISE AGAIN Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
John 11: 20-24
Martha knew resurrection was in the future. Jesus and her Jewish training taught her that. As Jesus said: Lazarus was asleep! This is constantly repeated in Holy Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know not anything
9:10 There is no work nor wisdom nor knowledge nor device in the grave
Psalm 6:5 In death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks
115:17 ASV The dead praise not Jehovah, neither any that go down into silence
What about the soul? Here we need a short lesson in Bible translation: The word nephesh occurs about 750 times in the Hebrew text of the OT [Old Testament] In the KJV nephesh is translated 428 times as soul and unfortunately 32 different other ways. The catastrophic New International Version renders nephesh 153 ways! Strong's concordance explains a nephesh is a breathing creature. The word derives from naphash: a breather. The first 4 appearances are in Genesis 1 where God creates animals. The KJV renders nephesh as living creature here. The New World Translation is the only consistent English translation, rendering nephesh as soul all 750 times!
Never in Scripture is nephesh or the NT Greek equivalent psyche described as immortal, deathless, indestructible, undying or eternal. No immortal soul does the Bible teach! Nephesh is clearly the living creature or person, as at Ezekiel 18: 4 & 20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die! 100 times scripture speaks of souls dying, as at Joshua 11:11: They smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them We ARE souls, we do not HAVE souls, and souls die. That's why we need the resurrection!
The Greek anastasis "resurrection" means a standing or rising up. Standing up to live again! WHERE? For most of mankind it will be here on the beautiful planet Earth made New again.
I know he will rise, in the resurrection at the last day.
Now came some of the most powerful, beautiful words Christ ever spoke: I am the resurrection and the life He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. They went they to the tomb and Jesus commanded Take ye away the stone he cried with a loud voice: LAZARUS, COME FORTH. And he that was dead came forth Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go This is a model of how Christ shall bless mankind after satan's works are eradicated at Armageddon:
For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be: Yea thou shalt diligently consider his place and he shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell therein forever...He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the Earth. He breaketh the bow and cutteth the spears in sunder. He burneth the chariots in the fire. Be still and know that I am God. I shall be exalted among the nations; I shall be exalted in the Earth.
Psalm 37:10-11, 29 46: 9-10
He hath swallowed up death for ever; the Lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the reproach of his people will he take away from off all the earth: for Jehovah
hath spoken it
Isaiah 25:6-9
Thy dead shall live, my dead body shall arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust, for thy dew is as the dew of mallows, and the earth shall cast forth the dead.
Isaiah 26:19
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then
shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out and streams in the desert...And the ransomed of Jehovah shall come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be Upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 25:8, 35:5
Version 1901 Original American standard
But go thou thy way for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days
Daniel 12:13
O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave and keep me secret until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
Job 14:13-14
Blessed are the meek, since they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5
There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous
Acts 24:15
The promised resurrection of the unrighteous provides for the "anastasia" of billions of imperfect humans who weren't wicked, simply unrighteous because they were untaught. As he died Jesus prayed: Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. These can have no heavenly hope as they did not know and follow Christ, but they will be restored to life in the New Earth, taught righteousness during the millennium, and judged on their future works during that time. Isaiah 26:9 proclaims: When thy judgments are in the Earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
So our merciful Heavenly Father makes provision for salvation for ALL who will obey his Son, now or after resurrection into the New Earth. But what about the wicked? They sleep forever: They shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, saith my Lord. Jeremiah 51:39 & 57. These don't fry when they die, they simply stop breathing, forever. They are dead, they shall not live, they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them and made all remembrance of them to perish Isaiah 26:14; Obadiah 16; 1 Thessalonians 1:9
Jehovah God wanted a human race, and He's going to have one, perfect, joyful, sinless. After Jesus' redemptive work is done he hands all things over to his Father, in effect saying: Here, Father, is the race of holy men and women you wanted! It will be as if Adam had never sinned! An eternal springtime of youth, life and freedom for faithful holy humankind whom Jehovah bought with the blood of his own son. Hallelujah!
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me: Write: for these words are true and faithful.. Amen! Come Lord Jesus!
Revelation 21: 4-5
Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:55:24 -0700
From: Idaho Observer, observer@coldreams.com
To: Ingri Cassel, vaclib@coldreams.com
Subject: Don Harkins 1963 - 2009
Don Harkins passed away September 19th, 2009 at 4:44 A.M. He was with me, his beloved wife, almost constantly throughout the night along with our dear friend Sadie. Don was sensing that his life was fading and simply didn't have the strength necessary to recover. We prayed together throughout the night and made him as comfortable as possible, praying for guidance and strength. He was extremely touched by the outpouring of love and prayers for his recovery both locally and throughout the country. Don chose not to go to the hospital a third time since he was upset by the doctors' aggressive "therapy" for his AML. He had a near death experience in the hospital in which he met his Creator and chose to come back to have this time with me in our space of love. Don was a source of inspiration for hundreds, always living his life according to his
conscience as he disseminated truthful information to all who crossed his path. He will
be missed by all of us who relished his wisdom, passion, humor and determined, energetic spirit.
are planning a celebration of Don's life for next Saturday. We are currently seeking a venue that will hold 300 people. If you want to be notified of the time and place for the celebration of Don's life, please email back with the subject - In Memory of Don Harkins"
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your love, prayers, and support,
Ingri Cassel-Harkins