RECOLLECTIONS OF MY LATE SISTER JANE ODEN at angelfire.com/or/hazlitt/index100.html
LORD'sDAYextra 5-25-08 Here's my reaction in a poem to that Vatican astronomer named Gabriel; though who dare disagree with an "angel?"
The Vatican skywatcher speaks of others way out there; calling all of them our brothers; no matter when or where!
We earthlings now can wonder of places they could all be in galaxies so separate that none will ever see.
Or if the "angel" blundered saying they're like you and me? Was GOD their true Creator or did Satan have a hand? For nowhere are they mentioned in His book of what He'd planned.
They might be imitations of this world's real McCoys, or robots just pretending; only making little noise.
SETI has long been listening, a decade now or two; but hasn't heard the signals to prove they're really true.
I think 'twas overstated. The pope can do that well; his astronomer's elated but, if wrong could bring more hell. (end of verse)
Previously space aliens have seemed more like demonic powers than kindred creatures. So I guess it's whether you see them unfallen or as lost as humanity is. So long, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 5-27-08 The headline says 80,000 EVACUATED BECAUSE OF FLOOD RISK IN CHINA. How can any nation suffer such colossal disaster? It demonstrates the brutality of nature, or spirits even more severe. But seeing the Dalai Lama on C-SPAN a few days ago caused me to wonder about his attitude, a person never wrathful nor angry; though the government of China has had him expelled from his own Tibet for many years now. I listened to see if he had any sympathy for China now but failed to hear any word on the subject. He was in D.C. reporting on other matters. Though Buddhism is a forgiving faith, we know. So it would be even Christlike from him to be raising funds for their relief. Wouldn't that be amazing to see? The Lord Jesus told us as His followers to "forgive thy enemies and do good to those who persecute you." He will handle the injustice and provide our vindication/revenge/retaliation when He returns in glory and majesty. Until then, we are to "overcome evil with good." Of course that can't apply to law enforcement or the military, because they are here to keep law and order untill the last Day. Memorial Day has reminded us how many of them have paid the ultimate price to secure the "freedom and justice for all" that's in our Pledge of Allegiance. There's no other way to explain America but as a miracle of creation and history. Let's remember that now looking toward the November election. I saw an editor named Wilson on C-SPAN talking about his book "Understanding America" that's given a global perspective on us from opinion polls taken internationally. Seems that as we've grow more critical of ourselves, other nations like India and Russia are feeling higher regard for us. And China surely must have had some respect to make their gigantic loans which have kept us afloat. Surely we must be getting our humility from Above. So let's keep reaffirming our motto, "In GOD we trust" (by searching His holy Word/Bible each day). SoLong/Shalom, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 5-30-08 Rev.Jeremiah Wright was the pastor that Obama had to repudiate several months ago in order to stay ahead of Hillary. Now there's another clergyman, the renegade priest who said things in Wright's pulpit that may give Obama more trouble. Though the priest's white and now sorry for saying it, he accused Hillary and those with her of expressing white superiority. That sort of talk echoes long ago days when Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were coming on Chicago's national scene. But Barack Obama's gotten far beyond all that. And did you know that we have a street in WW named after a Black physician, the late Dr. Clark who was an MD. Clark Street runs north and south on the west side of this town. Also, I saw an OETA show about our nation's Capitol at the center of D.C. and how it was built almost completely by Blacks (over half of them still slaves). Prophetically, it was to become a temple of Truth. Construction began in the 1820s, but wasn't finished for years. The dome is made of iron (also black in color) and it had to be remolded; thus it didn't get completed until 1855, six years before the Civil War started, when our South almost tore the Union apart. Great symbolism there, as I see it. And now we could have our next president from the race that's truly earned it's place. We'd probably gain more favor from the Black and Brown nations around the globe. Yet ANGELFIRE doesn't consider Obama's swift pull out from Iraq as the right way to go. I read from Jeremiah 24 (and on) this morning, about divine wrath foretold upon part of Israel and all other nations who were ignoring the LORD. That original "Jeremiah" was an unwelcome firebrand all those centuries before Christ. Hard and tough positions are still unpopular in this world, which will become increasingly military, if 9/11 was "the crease in history" that it's been named. Because of the surge, there's been more order in Iraq lately, and maybe more time given on the Israeli/Palestinian smoking fuse, even though Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is being asked to step aside because of corrupton charges. Thus, "Come Lord Jesus" we continue to pray. JosephA
LORD'sDAYextra 6-1-08 Both the morning singing at WW Nursing home and evening worship up at LARC were blessed greatly. We had more seniors around the piano than for a long time and the biggest crowd of inmates in Chapel this year. A new music group formed around Billy Mills was the magnet. He only started play guitar a year ago but not has a drummer and horns forming the band, which was really explosive sounding. The guys just ate it up. Glen Simonsen covered Hebrews for our lesson, which was profound. I enjoyed the coffee they'd given to me. Then Dallas Wade prayed a closing prayer. When I gave an invitation, I saw one inmate coming up the side, and I was so glad. But he stopped half way forward, at the coffee pot, to refill his cup instead. How the Lord does surprise us with His mysterious ways. Afterward, an inmate got me a second cupfull from the bottom of the pot, which was good and hot. I thanked him but drank only a little. I like mine hot, but not quite so strong. Earlier, Tim an inmate leader, told us of Jacob and how his wrestling with an angel after all the Hebrew people had gone, brought him that new name, "Israel." It was so very spiritual and full of insight, just as Tim has also become. Had hoped to talk more with Tim, but didn't because of speaking to all the others. The guards are not as kindly as in former days, but seem tough and hard boiled. The inmates have to move quickly between buildings because everything's locked down. Nothing's casual any more. And I hear the warden has such a personality and may get assigned to Macalester next. That's the toughest prison in OK. Seems that a whole institution can echo the attitude of it's head person. Shalom/SoLong, JA
ANGELFIRE 6-03-08 We certainly hope that our state legislature wasn't under control of selfish interested when it adopted a "stand still" budget to keep from going into debt next year. With the falling dollar and rise of prices (especially gas) that meant living costs increasing. Teachers and state employees left with no raises will mean they are getting cut, instead of the cost of living adjustments as usual. And those billions in bonds to repair roads and bridges in OK will be debt just the same; though we've accepted it's urgency and hope that the jobs such work will create is a bigger stimulus to our economy than from the Federal package most folks got back on their tax returns in May. But I doubt that it will be fair and square. There's too many snouts at the trough.
My Bible opened to Zechariah this morning: "In that day a fountain shall be opened...Behold the day of the Lord is coming...I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem...Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations... And..His feet stand on the Mt.of Olives which faces Jerusalem on the East" (chaps.13&14). Here the Messiah returns to fulfill history for all those who were washed by faith in the Blood that was shed to save us on the Cross (cleansing fountain). It will be a new Jerusalem just as in Rev.21:5 when He says "Behold I make all things new." Satan's legions of selfishness and greed will be finally demolished as the world was which began so beautiful from the Creator's hand, and will be finally transformed into a new heaven and earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. As I recall, it was there upon that Mt.of Olives when Jesus beheld the City with tears, and said "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem (city of Shalom), How oft would I have gathered you in my arms as a mother her children. But ye would not allow Me. Thus your own ruin comes." We know that old place as Capitol of the State of Israel for Jews (though Tel Avive for others). And the constant battles that break out in that area will only end with the Savior's coming. So while we remember our troops in Iraq, let's pray as Ps.122:6 says "for the peace of Jerusalem" (living up to it's name) even when such seems so improbable. Jesus is the One who said "With GOD all things are possible." He also said "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of GOD." So keep the faith brothers & sisters, JosephA PS Shalom & salem are the same word, so it could also be called "Jeru-shalom," place where folks say hello or goodbye with that same expression.
ANGELFIRE 6-06-08 The Democrat's headline Thursday was a healthy sign for Garvin county, "Hugs and Handshakes All Around," above the report that all four county officers won new 4 year terms unopposed. That indicates a satisfaction among voters here, especially with our good Sheriff Roady for whom it's a second election unchallenged. It gave me pause about my column headed "Too Many Snouts at the Trough," where I'd looked at the nearly half a billion in bonds our state will issue for roads and bridges plus other items. I'd put that comment at the end, not guessing it would become ANGELFIRE's headline. I sure don't have any such feeling here at our county seat. You know that pigs were considered unclean creatures in most of the Bible, thus not fit for GOD's people to eat. Now their stigma's been removed by that vision Peter had to "Kill and eat..what GOD has cleansed, you must not call unclean." Acts 11:9. So pork's ok, unless it means money grabs. Too bad that politicians still disgrace the pigs we now raise. They can't help being hoggish since it's their nature. But humans should seek the higher level of existence, which Christ came to bring to us both now in this life and forever in the world to come.
Two weeks ago my younger sister Jane Oden was flown from the Altus General hospital to Baptist Integres in OKC where they've been treating her for lung failure (pulmonary fibrosis). Seems it resulted from chemo treatments following a breast removal. But yesterday they had to put her on a ventilator. Her husband, Tal Oden, has stayed there with her and their children and grandkids have also been up there, while the rest of us have prayed. I urge you of my readers to join with us. Her condition had improved slightly until this serious backset. She's four years younger than me, so PLEASE LORD LET HER GET WELL. Will you join us Hazlitts and Odens in our plea for her recovery? She graduated HERE from PV High in '48 and attended Oklahom's State College for Women at Chickasha. Then she was married to Tal whom she met at OU and has lived in Altus all the years since. At Baptist Integres she's listed as Rebecca Jane Oden; her name's from a great grandmother Hightower of here at PV, who died in 1903. I've recalled Jane Oden's birth back on page 100: angelfire.com/or/hazlitt/index100.html
LORD's DAYextra 6-08-08 Historic days have just gone by: Fri. as 40th year since Bobby Kennedy was assassinated and Sat.the 48th anniversary of D-Day, that greatest land invansion in history. We recall so much of our past by marking these momentous events. Now we are looking ahead to another Father's Day, June 15. It could well be linked to the event beginning time, the Creation of heaven and earth by Elohim. That's the most ancient name for the Holy Eternal One and it's a plural word in Hebrew. The plural was used to express majesty, but also prefiguring the Triume GOD. I use capitals to stand for GREAT FATHER, OUR SAVIOR & DIVINE GUIDE all three as One Being in separate manifestations. By the second chapter in the Bible, Yahweh is added to Elohim, so that it's the LORD God who created Eden along with Adam and Eve. But the Apostle's Creed like the Lord's Prayer, gives us the name "Father" as the maker of heaven and earth. So He is the "I Am" that spoke to Moses from that burning bush, but only becomes such to believers through His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus. There was a doctrine very popular back in the sixties called "Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man." That sounded good and helped oppose racism, but was not the spiritual message of Gospel preaching. Brothers & sisters in the flesh are only children of Adam and Eve, but in Christ they are a vital new spiritual family. So when Jesus began the Lord's Prayer, He gave us Yahweh's name as FATHER for Himself and all followers. Thus we can pray together with Jesus the words of that prayer which is a permanent example for followers, just as He is for our daily living. The Hebrew word for father is "source." And since "I am" becomes "Thou art" in prayer, He is our Source as any father is the source of his children via their mother. So we are born from the Source through the Spirit from above. The Congress as deemed Father's Day important enough to be acknowledged on our national calendar. I conducted a family momorial service last week for the late Rose Grimm, who died at age 92. She had been gone from PV the past 30 years, but still there were two or three dozen present. Since I was to invite recollections, which were numerous, the time seemed short and I made me message brief, even skipping the Song of Solomon which I'd planned. It was to mention the beautiful Shulamite woman who sang "I am the rose of Sharon" to Solomon, the Beloved. As a musical dialogue, it finally made sense to me. But since time squeezed it out, it came to me to use up at LARC. And the inmates really listened. They have no beautiful women there and this spiked special interest. Of course it focused on the beauty of holiness, as the woman represents Christ's church; just as the Beloved is Christ Himself. Maybe the prison congregation, which was very large, was supposed to hear that instead of the Memorial service as I'd first thought. Shalom,JA
ANGELFIRE 6-10-08 IS THE ECONOMY AMERICA'S TEMPLE? "Not by might, noR by power, but by My spirit saith the LORD OF HOSTS" (Zach.4:6) was a prophecy uttered in reference to the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem under Zerubbabel. Zachariah even spoke of a mountain of obstacles that would be removed. Haggai had also pressed the Jews to accomplish that task, which they did with a heavenly zeal. So when Jesus spoke of faith that moves mountains, He was recalling Israel's past experience, which was repeated yet again for them by Herod the Great. That non-Jewish king who wanted them to accept him as their king, did the job in a colossal manner. He had the worldly might and means to do it even greater than Solomon had done. Yet it never gained their devotion as the original Temple did. Jesus even foretold it's destruction, just as Solomon's had been. That came some years after His ascension back into heaven (70ad). It shows how the Living GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob brings judgement to pass here in history as a guarantee of it more fully in the Judgement Day. His return in glory and majesty will be deliverance for those who truly trust in Christ Jesus, but wrath and destruction for a lost humanity. It's why we should be more urgent about the Kingdom of GOD. In His sermon on the mount, the Savior enjoined us to make it life's primary concern: "But seek ye first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these (other needs) will be added unto you." (Mt.6:33). As a youth I heard much at church of "building the Kingdom" which we were told to do. Yet I came to realize Christ as the One builder, doing it through our lives yielded to him. He had named Simon as "a pebble" (Peter/Cephas) in that project and then declared that upon our faith in Him (as the Chief Cornerstone) He himself would erect His church, the true Temple on earth (Apostles being foundation stones). So it's like that song says: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit saith the LORD of hosts. (repeat). This mountain shall be removed, this mountain shall be re-move-ed. This mountain shall be removed, by My spirit saith the LORD." So that last prayer in Scripture, "Come Lord Jesus," can mean come into our hearts even now in preparing the spiritual Temple that He will enter on the Day He returns openly in glory and majesty for every eye to behold. CLJ, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 6-13-08 SPOUSE CHEATING IS THE WORST THREAT OF ALL. Can you remember when Father's Day was hardly noticed on the calendar in comparison to the day for Mothers? In fact it was a sort of pity party for dads a month after the main event in May. Now it's become of nearly equal emphasis; especially since Congress gave Father's Day an official designation. Surely it was a mix of politics and sales promotion that gave it such status, along with concern all over the land for family values. You have to have a long memory to actually recall when men were heads of the household. But now this Day in June is to recapture some of that glory from bye gone days; though deeper distress arises from the widespread failure of marriage, which had been the basis of families. Statistics show it's on decline as couples just live together now with no sense of shame, which is unspoken word. The Bible's been replaced in American homes by media and online resources; and fathers banished by DHS supervision (plus support). Even true marriage is in competition now with "civil unions." Just look at California of Mass. to see what may come to the other 48 states. Yet we still have the Father of our country pictured on dollar bills. And the GOD we trust in our motto is yet the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. So we need this Day of emphasis on fatherhood more than ever. And through His son Jesus, He still becomes our HEAVENLY FATHER. I've read over and over a hand-out at Joy Church on "The Model Prayer" of Mt.5,6&7, or Lord's Prayer. It begins with the Savior's use of "Father" for the hallowed Name of His own Parent. Now that same word in Hebrew can also mean "Source." So when we are re-born from above by the Holy Spirit, we are more than His marred handiwork (as in this fallen creation). We're becoming GOD's kin folks with the right to His care that was bought for us on the Cross. Since the divine Name YAHWEH is "I am," the Lord Jesus enlarges it into "I am,,,here for you, My children." Thus His final prayer on the Cross was "FATHER, into Thy hands..." (Lk.23:46) ps The best thing a man can do for his kids is to love their Mother. So no cheating, ever! SoLong/Shalom, JosephA
LORD's DAYextra 6-15-08 At the Memorial service I recently conducted in Stuffelbean chapel, there was mention of Rose Grimm's interest in flying saucers. So I admitted that I too had once been such an enthusiast, but made no further comment. The year I was born there was an expedition to a remote place in Siberia which found such an explosion had taken place that it must have been from beyond Earth. Now it's been decided, after much inquiry, that a UFO exploded there in a nuclear blast in '08. That' just a century ago, and 19 years before the site was brought to public attention. So I feel that date in '27 offers me a connection too. I'll jokingly claim it for this Father's Day, and call it my "Siberian Link" that goes back decades before the atom bomb on Japan in '45. No joking then, about nuclear power. But today we envy nations that use it instead of oil. Maybe we'll finally do the same, if we don't get into a war with Iran to stop them. Even now, widespread weather disasters have been in the news from all over planet Earth, but did you know the worst one ever that happened a century ago on June 30th. It was in such a remote region back in 1908 that no rescue teams arrived. In fact it took 19 years for an expedition to go down into Siberia to investigate the 800 square miles of deep forrest that had been flattened by a huge meteorite from outer space. It was long afterward that the testimony of various witnesses were gathered under the name Tunguska event. That was a river in that forgotten region of Russia where the thousands of giant trees became levelled when the meteorite arrived. It became a colossal fireball from heaven. Google has many articles about it on-line, but I liked the pictures an artist had painted from data he found that had been saved from spectators a hundred years ago. That name Tunguska to Google and you'll see all that's on record. One theory is that it was a UFO that released a super nuclear bomb. Another is that a comet had collided with the metior before striking Earth. But since it's arrival was only five days ahead our own national Firecracker Day, it seems the mother of all explosions; like a whole gaggle of H bombs all at once. As So some now think that even a nuclear blast had already happened even before WW I off in remote Siberia. It's called "the Tunguska Affair" when gunpowder was the worst nations had. Perhaps it was a sign of the worse to come, as ending WW II for Japan. Now there's danger of rogue nations building nukes i.e. Iran. Maybe we'll come to call June 30 "Danger Day." Shalom, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 6-18-08 A matrix in the Gospel is of small personal things being linked with events of worldwide magnitude. Thus in Mk.12 while in the Temple, Jesus took note of a widow's donation of only two mites, which He claimed as largest of all other amounts, since it was all she had. Soon after, He also told the Apostles that they would hear of public affairs: wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom; earthquakes, famines and troubles (like 9/11, our current Midwest floods, cyclones/hurricanes in N.O. or Burma as daily news). "These are the beginning of birthpangs" He said. "The gospel must first be preached to all the nations...For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation...the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it's light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken." That frightful discourse in Mk.13 tells us to stay awake and be watchful in order to behold the Son of Man come in the clouds with power and great glory. Staying watchful (for signs of the times) has long been a failure of the churches, just as the three Apostles went to sleep on that night of our Lord's capture and arrest. We get wrapped up in our own earthly interests instead of looing to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith. And money still runs this world as well as most of it's heavenly institutions/Temples. We make lucre the measure of greatness or importance. In LORD'sDAY extra (online), I've offered June 30 for a "Danger Day" that we might well observe. It's the largest explosion ever, that's discovered to have happened a century ago on that day; possibly a clue to what flying saucers were all about later in the 20th century, though mostly kept personal and secret (like the widow's tiny offering). If you read it, maybe you'll call June 30th "Sodom and Gomorrah Day" rehearsal for repeat of Gen.19 (matching the 19 years it took for the world to first learn how great an explosion had happened way out in far off Siberia in 1927, so very long ago. Shalom, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 6-20-08 Another Father's Day has come and gone, and Obama made a bold statement in the pulpit of one Black congregation. He told the men that responsibility goes with begetting offspring. I had not been aware that his own male parent from Kenya had not stuck with them, he and his white mother in Kansas. That leaves a child feeling that mama is their only source, which the Bible equates with daddy instead. The Hebrew words for father mean "source of strength" and mother "cooperation, or harmony." "Begotten" is origin of being while "conceived" leads to delivery into this world. And personal names are also very significant in Scripture. Even GOD has one, which was too sacred to be spoken by ordinary folks: YAHWEH. Yet our families are like that, in that we children don't call our parents John or Mary (my parent's first names); though maybe so after we have grown up. Even our Lord Jesus refrained from using His Father's first name. Yet it was amplified into Heavenly Father, Christ's designation of that personal relationship for followers thereafter. YAHWEH had been called the father of Israel in the Old Testament, but Father of the whole church (new Israel of GOD) is the final revelation in Christ. Thus reborn by the Spirit, we've become the family of GOD and can sing together "We're so glad to be part of the family of GOD. We've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by the Blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod. We're so glad to be part of the family of GOD." And our "rebirth" is actually an adoption. We humans were first made as the Creator's handiwork, then we became His children by faith in His only begotten Son our Savior. As I see it, the vast increase of godlessness in America has resulted from that false notion so popular several decades ago of the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God. It was an unBiblical teaching with no power to change hearts. So it's legacy has been atheism and secularism since it was only a bankrupt ideology. Had it been true, there would have been no need for the Gospel's transformation. Just passing new laws would fix things. Now we've seen how basic regeneration is to getting the Father's will done in earth as it is in heaven. The Evangelical movement brought forth mega-churches by the hundreds. And a new birth depicts the Father's adoption of us through our faith in Christ Jesus, His only begotten Son. Finally, I'm making another appeal for prayer that my sister Jane can regain consciousness at Integres Hospital in OKC where this is now her third week in an artificial coma helping her survive pullmonary fibrosis. Please join us as we in the family keep asking for a miracle. JosephA