RECOLLECTIONS about my late sister, JANE(Hazlitt)ODEN with page address below in bold print: her name's taken from our great grandmother Hightower from Altus, who was born in 1827 and later moved to PV as a widow to live here until she died in '03. I've recalled Jane Oden's birth in '31 on page 100, plus more of my own fond memories of her wonderful life:
angelfire.com/or/hazlitt/index100.html
ANGELFIRE 8-1-08 It seems to me that CNN has been overplaying the subject of Black people and their rising status here in America. For some years I've seen it as the most balanced channel. But it's gone off the level lately. Yes, we know that Obama may be our next president and that he looks like a rock star with such popularity these days. In fact that audience the Germans gave him at their Brandenburg Gate of Berlin numering 250 thousand is past any the Fuehur ever had. Maybe it was penance, when we recall how proud the "Arians" once were of their white skins as the master race. But it seemed to have turned Barack into thinking he was already the chosen one, going to each land to meet their heads of state. I've previously admired the guy and found him appealing, but felt that "trip" was just over the top. Now there's a book out by some Dr.Jerome Corsi, called "The Obama Nation." You can hear the hint of "abomination" in it's title. And from what he told on the Shawn Hannity show, it reveals ugly things in Obama's past that have been ignored by most of the media. Doubt that I'll ever have a copy (nor want any), but I do recall Corsi saying his book shows how much Black liberation theology was in that megachurch of Chicago where Rev.Jeremiah Wright preached and the Obamas had attended for two decades. We've nearly forgotten now how way back in the sixties & seventies a religious slant was given to each new ideology of liberation. Along with feminism came liberation theology, Remember Stokely Carmichale, advocate of pan-Africansm who took an African name, then moved there as a Muslim. Yet liberation theology was first formulated in South America. expressing rebellion against the Catholic church. It spread to Chicago appealing to the Black Muslim movement, a form of Islam unique here in America which Malcom X had made famous; and also known for sponsoreing that Million Man March on Washington DC some years ago. Now it has membership chapters in all our prisons. So those are realities to be faced when considering a rock star type president. For sure, no ideology can replace theology, however intellectually appealing it seems. And that liberation stuff was more ideological that God centered. Politically left leans toward socialism and right toward capitalism. ANGELFIRE tries to be perceptive from just a little right of center. (a good prayer perspectve) Both of our English lingual alternatives are "right or wrong side" and "right or left side." So that implies that "right" is always on/the or in/the right. Correct? ( Just answer "right." Ha) SoLong/Shalom, JosephAllen
ANGELFIRE 8-05-08 It's hard to believe that Geezer's gone from the comics in our PV Democrat. I'd begun to read that strip instead of Alley Oop which I'd looked at for years. And Geezer going at the same time Jeff Shultz did hit's us hard down here at PV's paper. But globally there's news from China this morning of another natural disaster. They've hardly had time to get over the massive earthquakes that took so many lives. Still the Olympics here will go ahead and start Friday, I feel sure. Having seen Ted Coppell's recent documentary entitled "The Capitalist State of China," I feel some grudging respect for them; becoming more like US economically, yet still so opposite. Now, hosting these International games is surely a very American sort of thing. Yet treating Tibet with disrespect/repression goes in the reverse direction. I saw where the Dahli Lama met with his ring of leading monks to seek heavenly enlightenment for Tibet. Since no clear intuition came to him, the Dahli said they'd just go slow with their resistance. But the thousands of young monks are rebelling in anger. So Buddhism's "pope" may loose control of what secular domain he has in Tibet. Those are just ANGELFIRE comparisons, to contrast with how totally secular Communism has made China. Now GW's already in Asia and going to Friday's Beiging opening ceremony. Wouldn't it be amazing to hear him offer a prayer over there. He could just repeat the Bible's final one from Rev.22:20; "Even so, come Lord Jesus." Friday's calendar date is based on all eights, which is the number of our Lord's Day. Every Sunday (SONday) looks forward to the parousia, a re-creation of heaven and earth in THE EIGHTH DAY. The Big Eight nations are united economically now (maybe against China?). The nation of Israel is restored, as the prophets had promised for the eight centuries before Christ first came; but now Iran just might set off a nuclear WWIII one of these days. So "maranatha's" each believer's watchword (it's the prayer ending of 1 Cor.). SoLong/Shalom, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 8-08-08 Let's be thankful for the shower Thursday that broke a little of the heat. I'm recalling how a school or two in our state will delay their starting to avoid the air condition costs. But there must be too many complications since I've heard of no others. LORD, let us have some more of Your cool rain instead, please Father. As I write on this Friday morning, China's president Hu Jintao has already hosted a banquet for 80 heads of state even before the opening ceremonies tonight in Beijing. It appears that protests about Chinese cruelties of forced abortions and human rights, and such are set aside as even the outspoken PM of France, Yuri Zarkozi, has dismissed his objections in order to go. He'll be an eighth key national leader there, along with our president GW. So "eight" must be the magic number taken from today's 8-8-08. Of course it will be on TV tonight and who can resist watching such a colossal global show? Here's my description of our viewing it: Gulping Greatly from the Grand Goblet of Globalism. And that's eight words, too! But seriously, we're going to get "brain washed." That's an expression that first came from China, back when Chairman Mau tse Tung became their ruthless dictator. He even produced a book telling his Communist followers exactly what to think and how to act. It was enforced by squads of de-humanized robots serving as Mau's thugs. And that book was their "Bible." Of course it was longer than half a century ago, and China's since become expert in business and commerce, so that we can hardly see any Communism left there now. Ted Koppel even called them Capitalists in his recent documentary. Still, I'm inclined not to trust our media coverage any more than we ever did Communist China. TV has become the greatest deception in this perishing world, usually full of pretense and unGodliness. So let's watch warily and keep our hearts fixed on the ONE coming back from heaven any day now. That will be a global Event to dwarf even Beijing's most elaborate earthly display. Here's a divine athletic test from above: "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified." (2 Cor.13:5) Only trusting in His saving Blood can qualify us-- hour by hour, day by day and week by week. So trust Him now as your Savior and Lord. Amen SoLong/Shalom, JosephAllen
ANGELFIRE 8-12-08 It's hard to remember how cruel the Cultural Revolution was back when the Communist Republic of China was formed by Chairman Mao. Though he died in '67, he remains their great hero enshrined in so many monuments of that huge land. The current president, Hu Jintao, has put aside the harshness of those terrible times, though that Tinnamen Square massacre as recent as '89 remains yet in our collective memory as we witness the worlds 39th Olympic Games at Beijing. Everything's designed to lure lucre in that direction, as the host appears already to have won three times as many gold medals as US. But it's not just the medals, but the stuff of which they are made that counts with them. From behind our nation's riches. and Japan's, their's will soon become the biggest economy on Earth. Seems already that most things for sale by American retailers are marked "made in China." And to meet our Federal budget, we've borrowed all we can from them. What's going to be the final outcome? ANGELFIRE can't believe they'll ever have another Olympics there. We've long ago left behind the "gold standard,' and now our "black gold" has become equally scarce. So the only way we could afford it would for China to finance everything, even our travel costs of getting there. But now Russia's back to their old dictatorship ways, having invaded Georgia. That little country was so glad to get out of the USSR back in '9l USSR collapse, and it looks like they are ready to die before being taken back. Though Pooten's no longer president of Russia, he's still has the final say as PM. Now let's pray for that little Georgia's effort to stand up to him. Since we've got a Georgia too, it certainly evokes our national sympathy. Yet all these changes, for better or worse, are only temporary because our KING IS COMING. "The market place is empty, no more traffic in the street. All the village scenes are idle, no more time to harvest wheat. Busy housewives cease their labor. In the court rooms no debate. Work on earth is all suspended as the King comes through the gate! Oh the King is coming, the King is coming. I just heard the trumpet sounding and now His face I'll see. The King is coming, the King is coming. Praise GOD he's coming for me"....and for all of you who continue to trust in His promise of finally returning. And may LORD bless our schools with students returning all over the land. Let His Word be heard somehow in those secular settings, even if spoken only through deeds done for others as much (or even more) for their selves. Shalom, JosephAllen
ANGELFIRE 8-15-08 It's been well over a month since PV lost one of it's long time leaders, H.Walter Stark. I went to the Stuffelbean Chapel of Remembrance July 8 for the service led by Rev.Robin Spurling. All seats were full as his pastor from back in the fifties, Rev.Clifford Farrester, shared about their long and deep friendship. I was moved by his deep passion and also by a grand daughter's singing "In the Garden" and "His Eye Is On the Sparrow," Walter's favorite songs. But in days that followed I was astonished to see Walter appearing in the Geezer comic strip as a little guy who had become 500 feet tall from drinking a cup of the wrong stuff. But Geezer learned that getting him soaked in just water would shrink him again. When I asked Kevin about it, he said those strips were reruns of several years ago; that he just had to use them again for lack of time to prepare new strips since he'd decided to drop it. So I thought (of said) that it did made a grand finale for for his Dad. But I also though of our Historic Tower that continues to stand tall. Somehow the rust on it doesn't bother me any now. Walter was the same age as me, and a rusty look just can't be avoided. So H.T. stands for all those civic minded leaders PV has enjoyed, including my own father who died in '69. And it goes clear back to '03, when PV was hardly on the map and needed something to show it even was here. That was the date the Wright brothers flew the first airplane at Kitty Hawk on the Atlantic coast. Perhaps you've never heard that their goal was to eventually fly out here and get a look at PV's new water tower. No, because I just made it up. But I do remember flying over it in a little Cessna all by myself, to complete flying lessons (while enrolled at OU). That was in '46, as I'd flown first to Hobart, then over to PV and finally back up to Norman. I zoomed above and saw it down about 500 feet below. That was my easy and safe way of viewing, instead of climbing up it as some bolder youths had done. I still notice it after crossing Rush Creek when coming up #77. In fact I mentioned it in preaching from Ps.144 just Sunday: David says of the LORD, "My HIGH TOWER and my deliverer"(verse2). The initials H.T. can stand for that or for Historic Tower. I like Hightower even better, since it's a family name that means so very much to me. Shalom, JosephAllen
ANGELFIRE 8-19-08 ANGELFIRE received an Internet note about new efforts to remove the national motto, "In God We Trust," from our U.S. money. It's been on there for as long as I can recall though it often sounded dubious to me; but it does seem like a Scripture quote. If anyone can send me chapter and verse, it would be an assurance and would settle my skeptical attitude about positive thinking. The fact that our dollar has shrunk in value is so clear when we fill up at the gas pump. Long ago we shifted from real gold to "black gold" upon which to base our economy. Our dollars are now only "worth their weight in oil" globally speaking. So we are pushing hard for alternative sources of energy. Electricity seems to be the most likely one. Does that have anything to do with our national motto? Electric cars would certainly improve our care for the Earth and it's environment, in accord with the Creator's injunction to take dominion over it. Yet the Bible also says "The Earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those that dwell therein." We are stewards but He' still the owner. So a part of our trusting in GOD is certainly getting switched over to a cleaner power source for transportation as well as for our homes. We must do everything we can about our situation, then leave the rest to the LORD. That also applies in preserving the lives of our loved ones. When the doctor can see no physical hope, we may certainly appeal to The Great Physician who truly does hear prayer. Yet if no miracle then comes to pass, we must accept the doctor's word and release them into Divine Hands beyond this life. Holding out for a miracle healing can become making demands on GOD, rather than trusting Him. True faith teaches us to let go and let GOD (a huge leap of trust). I recall a little song about such a leap: "Let go and let God have His wonderful way, let go and let God have His way. Your trials will vanish, your night turn to day. Let go and let God have have His way." That's trusting utterly as we keep praying with all believers, Come Lord Jesus Rev.2:20. SoLong/Shalom, JosephAllen
ANGELFIRE 8-22-08 At the LARC services on Sunday nights I like to try a new song once in a while. So I picked one out of the Baptist hymnal provide for us there because I knew the tune and thought many others would also. After we'd finished, even Larry, an inmate who plays keyboard for services said that he'd had to sight read it, since the tune was strange to him. It was for "Eternal Father Strong to Save," the official Navy hymn. I thought most folks knew it just out of patriotism. Yet none of the inmates did. So being navy myself, I taught it to them. And I guess us sailors do well at keeping out of prison.
"US, Iraq Close to Deal on Pullout" is the headline I see on MS-NBC this morning. It surely lends support to McCain's bid for becoming president, since he backed the surge that appears even more to have accomplished it's purpose. The Democratic Convention which begins Monday in Denver can't be as anti-war as previously expected. So the candidate Obama's to name tomorrow (Sat.) will need to be less dovish. Whoever he's had in mind may have to be switched for another at this very hour when politics continues to be like the weather, full of surprises. It could still be Hillary, since she did vote with GW for the initial attack back in '03. And the female vote will yet be a major factor in Nov. By the time you read this, Obama may have veered for a different veep, than was planned for him to name. NBC has kept constant vigil on the Olympics, but I've not heard if they will be that focused on the Convention in Denver. If so, then I'd expect Fox to be gungho at St.Paul later getting all on the Republican one. On MS-NBC you hear that Obama has a slight lead, then on Fox that McCain has gained the edge. So I just go to CNN for unbiased reports. It was the original cable network, of Ted Turner's making. I can recall first hearing of his plan as early as in the fifties. And I just scoffed at the idea: "Who would ever want that many channels to watch? Three is plenty." I belonged to the Radio, Film and TV Commission of our denomination back then. And Turner's idea seemed too extravagant or expensive to take seriously. Later, I proved equally wrong about Eisenhour's great Interstate highways. It just seemed too big a project, even for America. But now with age, I've learned to be more open about man-made- marvels. I did feel sure we'd make it to the moon and I still expect to see humans on Mars. Yet the most magnificient marvel I plan to behold is much beyond man's making: It's the return of our Lord Jesus, bringing all the holy angels and spirits of the righteous dead with Him from the highest heaven, Shamayim. We who are alive will be changed in that moment, in the twinkling of an eye, into glorified/immortal beings. And the bodies of those who sleep in Him will be raised from graves into that same glorified existence. Then Christ will reign for a millennium, perfecting everything to be handed over to the Eternal FATHER, while Satan is bound in the bottomless pit below. As those saved are offered up to GOD, the devil and all his angels will be cast into a lake that burns forever and ever. ANGELFIRE is seeking to get all sinners to repent and turn to the Savior, while there is still time. ComeLordJesus, JosephAllen
ANGELFIRE 8-26-08 We all know that DNC doesn't have anything to do with DNA, as the D.N.C. in Denver refers to politics instead of biology. Yet there may be a metaphor here to frame our perspective. Teddy and all the other Kennedys certainly as genes of the Democratic chromosome begun on Monday. His address was designed to soften that slam against the Clintons back when he first threw his considerable influence behind Obama up in NYC. Now the majority want that forgotten so that Hillary's large following will blend in with the true blue bloods. I've read some of those cognitive studies about using metaphors for gaining mind control, though I don't buy into it's premise that our thoughts are purely physical results from our brain activity. There's a professor George Luvoff out at Berkley CA teaching the use of "framing" to control political thinking. He leans to the left, of course, having published "Never Touch an Elephant" (as about metaphor power). Now his latest book is "The Political Mind" and we're seeing it's fruition in the Convention at Denver; though I still tend to associate framed with getting falsely blamed for a crime. Or like being "set up." In that sense, Teddy was framed to make such a speech because he already had so much sympathy following his serious brain surgery. Thus it would absorb any ranker over Hillary's defeat by Obama. So let's see how cozy it gets at the Pepsi Center there in Denver. Probably the Democrats DNA will prevail the way China's big show in Beijing's Olympics was so pleasant there at their huge BirdNest stadium (though it's architectural appearance made me think of Katrina's wrath). The various nations showed the world how much common heredity is shared by all mankind through the love of sports, even in a place where love of GOD could not be openly expressed. I have a feeling that the J in BeiJing may yet stand for JESUS, Who will soon be returning! And EU in science is something more than a metaphor of cosmology now. It means "Electric Universe," which is an exciting and profound reinterpretation of GOD's handiwork. Plasma cosmology is based on a 4th state of matter, beyond the three so familiar; solids-liquids-and gases. Plasma fills all of space, so it's not vacant as we once thought. In fact it constitutes 99% of the physical Universe as galaxies, nebula and stars. Even our Sun is plasma, and linked to other stars by filaments of superhot plasma. It's a word borrowed from blood. We first used it back in WWII for the life giving fluid offered by donors to save the lives of our fighting forces. But now plasma doesn't mean a fluid, nor gas either. You might call this 4th stage of matter "when electrons go wild." So it might be the stuff of a whole new Heaven and Earth (Shimayim & Eretz). Angelfire will mention EU (Electrical Universe) in later columns, and my own life journey's connection to electricity/electronics. SoLong/Shalom, JosephAllen
ANGELFIRE 8-29-08 The Democrats have wound up their Denver Convention and I just saw that the Republicans might post phone theirs in St.Paul. Maybe McCain just can't decide on a running mate as we've not heard one named yet by this Friday morning. But hurricane Gustav seems the more likely reason. Republicans sure don't to ignore it, especially is N.O. is hit again on this third anniversary of Katrina. Still, there's also talk of a female v.p., which might pull over some disappointed Dem women. So that could be a delay factor, which could even swing the election. Right now Obama seems to be standing too tall to stop. Even McCain called his congratulations after the fine acceptance speech. Talk about being a good Sport or Scout, that's the image McCain has; even though he was never a soldier (as some reporters seem to assume). Obama has drawn greatly from the Lincoln legacy and even had Ike Eisenhour's grand daughter speaking for him. But being from IL, he has a fair right to such acclaim. With the polls running about equal support, it seems a golden hour for democracy. Then if a third choice is needed, just remember Georgia's Bob Barr on the Libertarian ticket with a fiscally sound platform for conservatives. Doesn't look like the RNC could possibly get as big a crown as DNC had last night there filling Invesco field at the Mile High Stadium. Wow, some 80 thousand! Yet politics is much like the weather--just Unpredictable. And now astronomy sees weather of sorts clear out into far space. Plasma Cosmology and the Electric Universe are it's basis. There are huge electromagnetic storms in galaxies. Read about such on the web and then learn of a Cosmic Web across the firmament GOD created that's far too vast for our mortal minds to grasp. And then still know through our Lord Jesus Christ the FATHER who is Creator of it all; you can talk to Him personally. It's done spiritually by prayer. Plasma, most primitive state of matter, describes to me the Shamayim of GOD's own abode with all His holy angels there on high. Then Creation was completed with Earth below: our familiar Universe of solids, liquids and gasses (land, sea and air). Read Genesis 1 spiritually/metaphorically/analogically. Satan, the corrupted Angel, got there to bring in mortality; but Christ is coming again to finish making all things new, Hallelujah! SoLong/Shalom