ANGELFIRE 10-3-07 He came over from Iran last week and made a speech at Columbia University in NYC, then spoke again next day to the UN General Assembly, claiming both times to stand for justice and peace. But on the next day Ahmadinejab went to Venezuela to meet with their dictator Chavez (aligned with Castro's Cuba). That surely took away any delusion of reasonable Americans that Ahmadenijab was anything but an agent of the Islamist terrorism that even most Muslims have come to deplore. We need to understand that Islam-ism is a secular (political) counterfit of the huge religion known as Islam (or Mohammedanism in centuries past). And the "axis of evil" that our president named (of five such rogue nations) when this War on Terror began, holds sympathy for a Jihad to destroy western civilization. Osama bin Laden, it's main Sunni leader, seemed to have faded from sight, but returned again with another call just recently. Now others like Ahmadenijab, a Sheite, are stepping forward too. N.Korea may yet drop out of the five if it reunites with S Korea, leaving the rest all Middle Eastern countries that are hostile to Israel's existence. Doesn't that look like apocalyptic fulfillment?
Recalling that combined church service at Wacker Park's band shell has been a pleasure. I got there early enough to see Rev.Terry Motley with some yellow shirted Baptist men handing out hot dogs. So I got one, along with a big slice of cake and a paper cup of fruit punch. Then I took the platefull over with my folding chair across the street to sit in front of the band shell, where Tom Busbee and his wife were already seated. We finished eating as the program began, led by the new president of PV's ministerial alliance. Next up, musician John Morris, that I know at 1st UMC, led great Gospel songing, mostly of the "saving Blood" theme (truly Evangelical). They were all printed in a program/booklet handed out to us. The only name pinted in the booklet was "JESUS." I found that so very suitable. Churches were listed at the front, but He was the center of the schedule and of our worship. What a joy it was hearing Charles Dean, who had left us for Norman just three weeks before. He came back and gave an inspiring devotional talk, after saying he was born in PV and later returned to pastor here for 18 years. But he confessed that he'd never gotten directions straight in town. That drew sympathetic churckels and after his message,"Amazing Grace" was sung to complete the worship hour. I stayed for a youth band's performance of contemporary Gosepel sounds and really liked it; but then left while the music continued, encountering Bob Kanary of 1stUMC on the way to my car. I know he's active in the Alliance, so I got to express my apprecition as a guest. It was a finishing touch of heaven for PV's long awaited SESQUICENTENNIAL and I estimated about 200 were there. Then I found that our church secretary Debbie of 1stUMC had the same figure in mind when I asked her for a count. That would make one worshipper for each year, plus fifty more to spare. Hallelujah and Shalom. JosephA
The "N" was accidentally omitted as I typed the title of this column just now, so it read "AGELFIRE." Maybe that's because we are at the 50th anniversary tomorrow of the Space AGE, this whole new era of man's history. Space travel was just a fantasy before that day when we learned of Sputnik, a little artificial sattalite that the Russians had placed in orbit above the Earth. I remember how we marvelled that it didn't fall back the way every other sort of craft had done before. Instead, it stayed in the sky for weeks and weeks as each night we tried to catch a glimpse of it. Something being put in orbit by humans to stay aloft was an entirely new experience for us earthlings, despite the Cold War that had begun to separate east from west. And looking from this half century later, we see how it began the Space Race, which would turn into a contest of being first to land on the moon twelve years later.
Part of the appeal to me of PV's historic tower (h.t.) is that it's erection in 1903 was the year that aviation began, later making Earth's atmosphere a vast ocean connecting every spot on this Earth. We still feel pride that it began at Kitty Hawk, here on American soil. But the occupation of outer space was begun by the USSR, that wicked empire which was already our enemy back then. It's first "big win" is being celebrated all over Europe with fifty "Nanoniks," tiny and round like a children's balloons. They're being launched into space all over the Continent tomorrow. I think it's sponsored by the ESA (European Space Agency) to "give the devil his due." And perhaps to celebrate their own euro, which has now risen to "orbit" above our dollar. But over here in the States we'll be remembering that not only Sputnik, but the whole USSR finally fell: thus leaving the Russians free of tyranny (or so we thought in '89 when it happened). And it was toppled by economic collapse. Bankruptcy is another kind of gravity that pulls down even more, and may finally get us too if government starts over regulating. It's where freedom is so essential to prosperity.
Space seems to have been publicly forgotten, as we've faceed this global War on Terror. But NASA has made mention again of sending a manned mission to Mars. And we're not even in a race to do it this time; though terrorism might be a factor. Just imagine, a Goodwill International Mission to Mars takes off (with all the ceremonies passing by the ISS), and then some disguised suicide bomber on board blows himself up turning the whole spacecraft into smithereens. That's why our final hope must be set on the return of our LORD JESUS, Prince of Shalom. So our primary mission is winning souls into His Kingdom while there's still time left. SoLong, JospehA
ANGELFIRE 10-05-07 Over the weekend we who watch OETA got to re-live WW II. Only all the documentary was combined as "The War." That took this observer back to childhood days when it meant WW I instead. We had a teacher then who'd gone over to fight in Europe and talked about those battles. Yet "The `War" on TV was in my own lifetime. So I couldnīt tear away from the lengthy coverage that made the bits and pieces in my mind all fit together up to V-J Day (which came just months after V-E Day in '45). I enlisted in Jan. of that last year and was still in electronicīs training at Gulfport MS on V-J Day, and then Chicagoīs Navy Pier. They told us weīd be shipped out to the fleet if we washed out in schooling. No one wanted to go out there, so we studied harder than Iīve ever recalled anywhere. Our lab work was with radar, something still new and secret then. Besides our uniforms, we had to have badges to get into the Pierīs huge equipment areas. But I remember how that windy City treated us like royalty with free tickets to every place; then on Sundays, going to Chicago Temple, tallest church in the world. Later, after graduation the navy tried to enlist us into more testing of a-bombs out in the Pacific. It was to be on an island no one had heard of, the Bikini Atoll. But itīs name became famous years later for the scant swim suits that some girls began wearing. Of course that was long after the bomb's use on Hiroshema and Nagasaki. The documentary made clear how president Trumanīs decision to use the bomb saved us making the planned invasion of Japan, with thousands and thousands of lives that would be lost; perhaps as terrible for us as the bomb proved for them. Bataan was where we learned, early on, how they hated all who surrendered to them. Japan's military leader sent American captives on a death march for being "cowards," even though their general had said at the surrender that "we are not barbarians." So after we had used the a-bomb, they themselves had to face surrender, but would probably never have done so unless their emperor set the example. He did and that let them "save face" enough to prevent national suicide. It wasn't told in the documentary, but elsewhere I had learned that a diplomatic concession was made by a James Burnes which allowed them to keep their emperor instead of enforcing unconditional surrender such as V-E Day had required for Germany. So that enabled the Japanese nation to lay down their arms rather that all die fighting. I see it proves that there is merit in negotiation when possible. Just look at N & S Korea right now meeting together. Maybe they'll finally end the Korean War after all these years, and we could bring troops home from there at last.
If N Korea gives up it's nukes, then the Axis of Evil will be one less than the five first named, but with four left in the middle east vs Israel. Doesn't that indicate how we are headed toward Armageddon? The focus of their hatred on Israel unites them, yet we catch it also for being Israel's sponsor. I woke up last night from a bad dream and saw the room totally dark. Yet in the blackness was one bright point that seemed to grow larger as I kept staring. It signaled to me the Lord Jesus, who is coming again. That is our "blessed hope" in a world darkened by sinful wicked ways at every turn. Now there's an economic backhole of corruption being revealed in Iraq, and it's name is Blackwater. Who can protect us from this protection business? Remember the "protection money" that criminal mobs used to collect in our biggest cities. Christ will put a shield around His own. Heb. 12:2 says "Looking unto Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." So keep the faith,brothers and sisters. JosephA
LORD's Day extra 10-7-08 I've told before of my professor JoeMatthews. He died in '77 with these last words for the LORD: "We've taken some small steps." He seemed to be committed to the Ecumenical Movement that was getting wide attention then. But it's nearly forgotten now, seems to me. His Fifth City in Chicago was sponsored by the WorldCouncil and not nearly as leftish as the NationalCouncil was here in the states. When ideology is substituted for theology, there may be some temporary gain but long range power is lost as the Spirit departs. So the Evangelicals have sure replaced that EcumenicalMovement in public awareness. Yet Matthews was a much deeper thinker, though I can't recall any mention of the saving Blood. The longer I live, the more profound I see that truth to be. And many churches will observe World Communion today (Sunday). It's a carry over from World Council of Churches, I feel to have such a day. (beginning in Presbyterianism) Yet Commnion is anchored in the Blood atonement, as Paul wrote, "For as oft as ye eat of this bread and drink of this Blood, ye do show forth the Lord's death until He comes (1 Cor.11)." Even the Communion points to the Parousia, or final appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. So that shed Blood is the entrance way to a new world, after He takes the whole Church of reborn souls out of tribulation and suffering here to be His own Bride there.
I saw where that priest from Okarchie OK who was killed in '81 down in Guatamala is in line now to be named "saint" by the Catholic church. That recalled how he stood against the brutal dictatorship of those times with Catholic believers down there. When I went to Nicaragua in '85 on a fact finding mission with concerned clergy about things there, I heard his name acclaimed by the San Dinesta party that was ruling from Managua. It was the time of "liberation theology" calling a "church" of the people" instead of Roman Catholic allegiance. I think it was an effort to brainwash us by all we were shown and told. But I refused to sign a document (only one who balked) being sent back to President Reagan to protest his designating them Communists. We stayed in a Catholic seminary on the edge of Managua, but traveled all over the country too. San Dino had been a rebel gang leader who had gotten their country to break away from Spanish control a century before. So "San Dinos" were their currency bills (like our GeorgeWashington), with anti-Americanism animating all their politics. It was even the way their alphabet was taught to the children in San Dinesta public schools. But I spent one day (when I missed our tour bus) looking at Managua. What an utter mess their waste disposal system was. Reminded me of our small towns where trash and garbage were just hauled out and dumped on the roadside. Of course that's been changed here, thankfully. Daniel Ortega was president then, but replaced in a election. Then he was re-elected in Jan.'07. So guess Nicaragua's back into that anti-American ideology. Spent a day and night in Honduras, next door. Was amazed at how primitive a city Tagoosagalpi was back then. Even had ox drawn wagons on Main street. It was also where the Contras were based who sought to overthrown Managua's San Denistas. The Contras were millionairs, so they've surely modernized that capitol by now. I spoke out on an elevator taking us up in the hotel "How many Americans on here?" and a pretty lady said "I'm one." So I asked "What state are you from?" and she said "Guatamala." I really got a lesson from that about including all on both continents as Americans.
ANGELFIRE 10-8-07 I watched OETA's program on Christopher Columbus last night and remembered seeing it once before. He was the famous Italian seaman born in Genoa, then shipwrecked in Portugal, where he lived until going on to Spain. And there is where he secured backing from king and queen Ferdinand/Isabella, Spanish rulers who paid for the expedition of 1492 that we all know about. Everything was Catholic then,since the Reformation wasn't begun till 1517 in Germany. So the ships had Spanish names: Nina, Pinta & Santa Maria (his flagship). I grew up loving that poem "Behind him lay the gray Azores, behind the gates of Hercules. Before him not the ghost of shores but only shoreless seas..." then verses went on and on "They sailed and sailed until that night, oh darkest dark of all dark nights. And then a light, a LIGHT, a L I G H T. It grew. A spangled flag unfurled. It grew to be time's burst of dawn. He gained a world. He gave that world it's grandest lesson: on and on!" Liking poetry, I'd always understood that all as meaning Columbus himself. But it was a seaman, aboard the second ship Pinta, who made that first siting. He had stayed up watching all night to win a prize which Columbus offered, and yelled out the news to his and the other ship crews. Now I'm thinking of that point of light in some total darkness which grew into the final coming of Christ. I mentioned it a week ago, before being even yet mindful of Columbus Day coming up. Just think, that a lowly seaman (which I also was back in WW II) could be the witness to such a vast wonder then. Instead of sailing off into oblivion as many had feared they would, the three ships sailed into the Bahamas. A Cross now stands marking the isle long considered their landing site. Columbus called the native people that were there "Indians," still sure he'd made it to India; records show he never did set foot on N America nor even believed that there was a new continent here. Elsewhere, I've seen a letter he sent subsequent to the discovery telling the king and queen of Spain about gold. It's mentioned in almost every paragraph. So that must have been a large factor in getting them to back his voyage. Yet the gold rush I've heard most about was several centuries later. It got N Americans headed for CA with a call to "Go west, young man. Go west." Now it seems to have become the very opposite direction, with that Backwater scandal in Iraq (go Middle East...go East). I watched the hearing on C-SPAN of a House committee chaired by the democrat, Rep.Henry Waxman. Blackwater and other smaller protection agencies have really made a killing getting such huge pay for their work in Iraq. But being mainly after gold can sure corrupt everything. Scripture says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." Yet there's an O.T. text in Ecc., "Money solves everything." It's not evil in itself, but only becomes so when worshipped. For believers, a N.T. promise says "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Then remember that O.T. prayer by Jabez that was answered. I'd compare Columbus to Jabez as trusting GOD first, and thus our national motto didn't become "In Gold we trust." Such would have made us like Germany and Japan in WW II, as I see it. Just out to grab whatever we could take by force. Such is not truly American and certainly isn't ever Christlike. Jesus taught us to trust our heavenly Father for prosperity rather than swindling others. That's the devil's way, and some make it big like that, but only for a time. Because (let's sing) "He's coming soon, He's coming soon. With joy we'll welcome His returning. It may be morn. It may be night or noon. We know He's coming soon." Hallelujah, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 10-12-07 Even though PV's century and a half have been celebrated, OK's centennial is still a month away. So this historic year has yet more in store to be remembered. And we keep holidays and festivals, as well as build monuments trying to preserve the past. In a sense, they are outwardly like the memories recorded inwardly on our brain tissue. I only took one course in sociology and that was long after degrees from OU and Perkins Seminary. It was at OCU in '84 and was mainly predictions of the future by corporate consciousness seen in society. Our text was entitled "Mega-trends," as it looked ahead. Sure enough, things have followed the worldwide directions he foresaw (not from divine inspiration but statistical calculation). Now we are into an age of probability thinking, derived first from weather forecasting. So we hear much about chance and uncertainty. It applies also to the stock market, social behaviors, fashion and even international affairs of war or peace. But another view is expressed in a very new book called "The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable." I heard it's author interviewed as the New York stock broker tuned philosopher. He repeated that old dictum "expect the unexpected" several times and he took 9/11 as a point of reference. I felt akin to his view, though he made no reference to divine dimensions or the Bible. Still, a text from Proverbs says "In all your getting, get understanding" which means to trust in the LORD rather ourselves. He is our unfailing Source. That's why the promise of His Son to return is such a final part of the Gospel. It's the last thing our Lord Jesus says in Scripture, "Behold I come quickly." That can mean soon, suddenly, unexpectedly, or seeming highly unlikely. That author interviewed said that everyone knew for centuries no black swans could exist. Then some were found in Australia. So we must learn to expect the unexpected. Chaos theory is another field that make me curious, but it's mathematics is beyond my level. I'll stick with the Fields of Faith, as demonstrated at Thompson Field on Wed. night. Thanks to our reporter Mike Arie who took those color photos in Thursday's Democrat. He said that adult guy pictured on the backside, was the coach from up at Washington who spoke at the Christ centered training event. About 300 came from beyond Garvin county: Rush Springs, Sulphur and several other towns. It's a spin-off of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, from what Mike told me. Athletic fields becoming fields of souls to be won for Jesus, wow! Impact of the highly improbable; like a black swan, I'd call it. Glory! SoLong/Shalom, JosephA
P.S. "Megatrends" author Naisbitt was aided in his book by a Paricia Aburdene. Now she has written "The Rise of Conscious Capitalism in the 2010." I've read that it's about today's information industry that has followed those ten trends John Naisbitt mentioned in his book of '82. He said to watch for them in the nineties. Now she looks ahead into this new 21st century and sees spirituality appearing in economics. Now that's a black swan, I'd say. Solong/Shalom
ANGELFIRE 10-17-07 I've lived long enough to still associate red with Communism. So when I watched China's HU Jintao on C-SPAN 2, as he addressed the 17th Central National Congress as it met in Great Hall of the People of Beijing, I noticed the giant red curtain behind him and the huge red star in the dome above all the rows of delegates at hundreds of tables facing president Hu. He was telling how the party would "fight corruption with a culture of integrity and socialist reconstruction." Between the bursts of applause, he mentioned their "sacred mission of world peace" along with "great victories for Marxism." And a "moderate prosperity" was China's goal. So it sounded like rich would still be a dirty word, as translators conveyed what he was saying. But the appearance of his audience, both men and women, looked much like major American professional gatherings: mostly black suits and ties, with some colorful variations. The two giant screens above on each side of the speaker also compared to so many church services here. But all that red made me think of our red ink over here. We keep sinking into more debt, even to Chinap; and it's the color of red blooded America. Remember that expression, "blood money?" In Rev.12:3, John sees a fiery, RED DRAGON appear. Such seems to match our fiduciary situation, as we're told that by 2017 social security will start going broke. A baby boomer has just been enrolled and she's first of the 77 million. We haven't kept any "lock box" on it as was proposed by our former VP/current Nobel Peace Prize winner back when he ran for president, Al Gore. So now each year 600 million more of debt will be added to the system those baby boomers will be needing. What's paid in now goes right on through to recipients, leaving no reserve for future retirees. That red dragon (RD) depicts one hellish situation that we face. And China must be chuckling about it, even while making high interest loans to us. Eventually it seems to me, that they might just foreclose and take us over, since they also have nukes. Then we'd have to applaud speeches like that one HU made, along with all those robots that I saw in their places clapping for him. But China's angry noe at Bush for awarding that Congressional Medal to the Daliea Lama of Tibet. Bush gave him honor in spite of China's hatred of the "Buddist pope."
Our last ANGELFIRE told of that book, "The Black Swan: Impact of the Highly Improbable," by Nassim Taleb, a New York Stock Broker turned philosopher. He described how Europeans had long held that epression for an impossiblility. Then black ones were later found alive in Australia. How badly we Americans need to find some black in our budget bottom line in place of so much red. The hope that I hold is a soon coming of our LORD JESUS. In His Kingdom, black is beautiful both race-wise and economically. His own Blood is the measure of all value and He gave it down here for whoever hungers and thirsts after righteousness. Let's sing the last verse of that tune "Whisper A Prayer:" JESUS MAY COME IN THE MORNING, JESUS MAY COME AT NOON. JESUS MAY COME WITH THE EVENING. LET'S KEEP OUR HEARTS IN TUNE. SoLong/Shalom, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 10-19-07 I just watched Lou Dobbs talk with Ames Holbrook in LA, who is a federal officer upset with our national policy that allows immigrant felons to be set free in the US if their native country won't accept them back (as none do). It just blows my mind that the federal government is so lax. Right now OK has the most strict law of any state for deportation. It goes into effect Nov.1, implementing HB 1804; and is directed primarily at illegal Hispanics. Thursday's Democrat had a front page report on a public panel held in Norman about the "complicated issue." Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, authored the bill; which has been called "toughest of any state." It passed in both House & Senate by wide margins and was reluctantly signed by the governor. Brad Henry claimed that only the federal government could effectively address such an issue. A lady panelist said there must be a lot of anger in the populace to cause that very strong vote for HB 1804. I see it as a sort of reaction to those successive national "coming out" demonstrations all over the land. They hit as hard as the gay pride parades that we've had to endure in recent years and must have left bitter feelings from being just overwhelmed. Yet that's quite regrettable, and God forbid that we yield to hatred of those others (not felons) who have just come willing and wanting to work. Looks like they ought to be our heroes instead, since the American motto's long been work hard and make it on your own. Now some officials are perplexed about just how HB 1804 should be enforced. Thousands of Hispanics are reported to be leaving our state already, especially Tulsa. And if we try someway to help them, we may be breaking state law. Yet Christians must put care first.
Our 4th PumpkinFest in WW is to be Sat. Oct.27, starting at 10am. You should see all those pumpkins for sale in front of WW City Hall. Really a neat sight. Not at all neat was the sight Thursday in Pakistan of that suicide bombing in the parade to greet their former premier, Benazir Bhutto. She has been in self imposed exile the past eight years. She was being welcomed in Karachi by the multitudes when at least 124 of them died suddenly from that explosion. She and Musharrif had agreed on power sharing and thank God she wasn't hurt. In fact she will doubtless become a stronger world leader from that baptism of fire. I'll have more to say Biblically of it later in another on-line column about the Parousia.
SoLong, JosephA/or JA
LORD'sDAY extra(unpublished) I've ponderd that attack on Pakistan's Bhutto in Karachi as she was being welcomed home from self-imposed exile. Being the voice of moderation and civility, it should have been of no surprize. But fortunately it failed, though the death toll of so many poor Pakistanis is tragic. Now it seems up to Masharif if the power sharing is to take place. So many women have become national and world leaders of late, that it appears her destiny also, to me at least. And that will signal the female president for our own nation, like it or not. In the middle of the Bible's final book, is a vision of some woman giving birth to a male child up in heaven. It seems like the CHRIST child, but He was` born on earth at Bethlehem. So the woman must be a sign of Eve's recovery of status in the endtime; perhaps as Mary, the actual mother of Jesus. Yet it's not the Incarnation as such, for the child is snatched away from her and up to GOD for protection from Satan. So it may be showing the final place of Womanhood in overthrow of earth's Evil Tyranny under the devil. Just see how many nations now have female leaders. On every continent there's a few. And Pakistan seems to be a focal point. Remember how it was created out of India's partition back in '48, when there was East and West Pakistan? Then the East became Bangladesh and the West just Pakistan, for Moslems leaving Hindu India for an Islamic state. And now it's to have a president and prime minister, Musharif and Bhutto; even though it's where ObL has been hiding out. So much at stake for the world right there. There were charges of scandal against Bhutton and her husband for stealing money to use after they let Pakistan, but that's been disproven. So now she may become a world heroine for democracy. There have been so many attempts to kill Musharif, that she's a brave lady to come back to Pakistan at his invitaion. Even though she's Muslim, I'll still say a prayer for her.
ANGELFIRE !0-24-07 Our chapel lessons started with Abraham several weeks ago, and then went on to his son, Isaac. So we studied the career of Jacob as a sly and cunning person at LARC Sunday night. Glen Simonsen showed how he was changed by the LORD in a gradual way after that dream of a stairway up to heaven. He'd been given the name Jacob at birth, when he grabbed the heel of his twin brother Esau before they came out of their mother's womb. He sought to become first even then, so as to gain the blessing from being first born. So Glen read from Gen.27&8 the trickery he used, with his mother Rachel's aid, to get that blessing due Isaac, from their father. When he did, Esau was enraged and vowed to kill him; so he had to flee. And in a desolate place, with only a stone for a pillow, he had the heavenly dream. There were angels going up and down a ladder (stairway) before him and GOD spoke to him from the top of it. So he knew that he was a chosen one of the LORD. But it wasn't until years later that he got his new name, Israel. He'd been wrestling with an angel till night, and so that's what it means. So he fathered twelve sons, the Twelve Tribes of Israel. And eventually they became a nation under the leading of Moses, Joshua and finally David. Thus the name of "Jacob," supplanter (from wrestling with Esau before birth in Rebekah's womb) being replaced years later with "Israel," is a foreshadowing of how regeneration by the Holy Spirit takes place in the life of a believe. Such a one has been born again from above to begin changing carnality into spirituality (Maybe that's the climb of Jacob's stairway to the stars, with help from those angels coming and going up & down it). It was a great Bible lesson that stirred considerable response from the inmates. They could truly identify how their own lives had undergone such change in following Christ Jesus; change I think all Christians can see in themselves. Finally, I led "We Are Climbing Jacob's Stairway" as the invitation song. Also, I'd told of another foreshadowing which I can see of of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob's GOD more fully revealed in the New Testament: The first patriarch is God the FATHER, the second(who was offered on Mt.Moriah) is the SON and the third who multiplied so greatly is the HOLY SPIRIT(divine multiplier); three persons of the Godhead, which I suggested as being pre-figured there in Genesis: ONE GOD (in three manifestations, appearances, expressions, or persons). Hallelujah! SoLong/Shalom, JosephA@webtv.net
ANGELFIRE 10-26-07 Amid all the news of calamity across our land, drought in Georgia and fires in California, it's good to have a second birthday celebration tonight for PV's TOY AND ACTION FIGURE MUSEUM. It has been a pleasure to stop in now and then just to speak to the friendly folks on duty. It used to be just David Toth there as director. But now one of several regulars will be at the desk, including David's little daughter` Lauren. Though still a child, she is a proper greeter and always ready to take you to her Dadīs office in the back if you want to see him. Dean, who is a volunteer, is often there. His item of interest is the comic strip collection. And he knows about so many of them himself. One he showed me that ended while I was in my teens was "Smiling Jack." I could still recall reading that one that seemed so wholesome. But I told him Barney Google was my favorite from even my childhood days. He said it had been written by a series of artist/authors and continues even yet. And I know that Alley Oop is still going because Iīve met the Benders, who are the current authors. In fact, I have a banner they gave depicting Alley and his dinosaur, Denny (or Danny?). Of course that has to be the most ancient, going back to cave men as it does. But seeing so many groups getting off their bus to come into the Museum is also a glad sight. And I'm sure you've read that visitors from all over the world have signed in. In fact, it's the world's only Action Figure & Toy Museum. So it really has drawn attention these past two years, even to that bright colored dinosaur in the big front window there on S. Chickasaw. I miss the green one that stood across from First Baptist so many years, until Davis Sinclair closed last month. Yet we still have this one, sort of like our historic tower that's around even yet a couple of blacks away. It's my favorite toy, like Geezer's my favorite comic strip. So now that Geezer's Romance is the name, could there be any romance about that H.T. (historic tower) that was erected in 1903, four years before statehood. I see it while crossing Rush Creek bridge from where it still looks all white. So I get a "rush" just seeing it as history. But since Kevin Stark did me me the favor of having Geezer paint "shalom" on it last January, I'm for calling it a TT too (toy tower). From downtown, It looks like a hardened old veteran, maybe a gigantic toy soldier.
More is on my website about the significance of that attack in Karachi on Pakisan's former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, as she was returning from eight years of self imposed exile. She will be the first and only woman head of an Islamic state. My Muslim friend Nazir here in WW only said to me when I mentioned the attack on her "Yes, they hate women leaders there." But they were alwas treated as equals by our Savior, and will be as saved souls forever in heaven. Maybe that's why we thinks of angels a feminen, even when they are always masculine in Scripture. SoLong, JosephA
LORD'sDAy extra (Got the following from a fellow writer in Waurika. Using online only) I put my thought about Pakistan's returned Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in the LORD'sDay extra which I write for online only, with these columns. And since Tuesday was the leading US presidential candidate's birthday, I thought this bit of political spin was timely and perhaps true, though some readers (ladies likely) may be annoyed by it):
Judy, a professional genealogical researcher, discovered that Hillary Clinton's great-great uncle, Remus Rodham, a fellow lacking in character, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows.On the back of the picture is this inscription: "Remus Rodham; horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889." Judy emailed Hillary Clinton @NY. Gov for comments. Hillary's staff of professional image adjustors cropped Remus's picture, scanned it, enlarged the image, and edited it with image processing software so that all that's seen is a head shot. The accompanying biographical sketch is as follows: "Remus Rodham was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory . His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to service at a government facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed."
Sounds as distorted as that tearful apology Rep.Pete Stark just made to Congress for his gross "criminal" remarks previosly uttered there about president Bush sending our youth into Iraq. With OK's own 45th going now, we don't need anymore twisted reporting. Stark's been from CA since '73, the only one in Congress who says he doesn't believe in Gdd. So he was repenting to the public only I guess. Come Lord Jesus! SoLong/Shalon, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 10-30-07 As I drive past MT.Olivet cemetery each day now, there's a new sight to behold if you look quickly. It's the resurfaced lane that runs eastward with a dip and then slight incline. I said with appreciation to the attendant last week when I pulled in there "You could call this a quarter mile of boulevard now." His answer, "We just say it's the main street." By either name, it's impressive to behold, being so smooth and straight. Yet speeding past, as I've turned several times to glimpse through the open entrance, I recall the words of our Lord Jesus: "Straight is the gate and narrow the way" (that leads to life everlasting). It ends at the far side facing the direction of sunrise, which is greater than any boulevard or main street. How about the SONrise Lane?
In town we can see the Fall/Harvest theme that Main Street has placed on Paul Ave. I first paused to look at the one by the post office, bales of hay mounted by two scarecrows and a harvest maiden in between them. Then as I drove each direction there were other similar displays to create the Seasonal mood. And America's Halloween is a spoof of superstition, as I see it. That's good, so long as it doesn't hook anyone into taking it just at face value. In fact, it's the time of taking off our false faces (pretense) and becoming real to each other; like the parties we attended as children. We went disguised and made up, and then disclosed our genuine identity as the final fun. It's like the new kind of relationships Christ brings about when we gain His true love(agape) for other folks.
Our town name's also in the presidential race, on a Representative from TX, Ron Paul. He's already unique as being the only doctor in Congress, and he just might be a healer for our nation if chosen. I'll bet there's some connection in his ancestry with our Smith Paul, both families being down here in neighbor states. I can't say I've agreed with the positions he's taken in debates. But his family name is second only to that of Christ Jesus in holy Scripture (even though it means "small"). It was the Latin version of his Hebrew name, Saul. But in Latin it meant "great" instead, as Jews had felt of their first king. Maybe that's why St.Paul was slow to change, but after his Macedonian call he was humble enough to switch from being Saul of Tarsus to being Paul. Thus he got known as Apostle to the Gentiles. He'd always been a Roman Jew, so the Gentile version wasn't new to him; only the Roman view of that first king differed from the Jewish. And Macedonia was Gentile territory. Besides, he know the O.T. Saul wasn't so "great," after all. Then the Lord showed him it was time to accept the lesser name, Paul. That's because "the last shall become the first" in Christ's kingdom. I think now of our Sunday headline and how little PV makes a pledge of greatness: "WE WILL PRAY FOR YOU" (to our departing National Guard). Let's keep that promise. JosephA