Here's the view of a local, born and reared mostly in PV and looking Biblically at things. Now there's big news about that library of sixty-four Al-Qeada video tapes found buried in in the sand of Afghanistan by a CNN reporter. They're a record of OLB's past efforts. It surely causes some of us to wonder if he's still alive and has a 9/11 anniversary attack of some sort in the works. Those tapes show dogs being chemically killed and look like the terrorism used in that Tokeyo subway attack might be tried on us this time Remember how the OKC bombing came just two years after the Branch Davidian fire disaster in Waco. The OKC bomber wanted to avenge David Koresh, who had become his hero. And he certainly hated the U.S. government, even though he had been trained in his lethal skills as an American soldier. I never mention his name because it should be permanently forgotten. But OKC and NYC were bonded together by 9/11, which is less than just a month away now. I wish that our strong Oklahoma belief in the Bible could be fully shared with the major city on earth, up there where "Ground Zero" stands empty now of all 9/11's rubble and ruin. Instead of a memorial place as in OKC, it will probably be mostly returned to economic and commercial use. And that will be it's self expression for the City of capitalism. Thus it will signify the Resurrection in a secular manner, as I see it. As long as the world stands we must continue to provide incomes. Making money is no sin. It's when we give it our first love that money becomes Mammon, an evil idol. Jesus called it "Mammon of unrighteousness." Certainly that often happens, but the people of GOD generally see their prosperity as coming from Him, and use wealth in His service. That's why America has been the most generous nation on earth. And now the stock market seems to be gaining again. Hallelujah! NYC was first called New Amsterdam. And the Dutch has a Calvanistic view of commnerce that saw the elect as those who prospered, GOD's chosen. Wealth was proof of divine favor. Such a notion has been discredited by now. But we here in the heartland, must keep America aware of our King, Jesus Christ. This nation has more than a president Bush, Godly man that he is. It has a King who rules through citizens that have yielded their hearts to Him, which makes voting a major prayer concern. And it's still OK in Oklahoma to make such claims, I say. Those terrorist enemies hate us, just as He was hated and crucified. But GOD raised Jesus from death and will preserve us also if we are obedient.
My thanks to Jot Gunter, who is obviously a reader of my column, for his chaper count correcting one I gave on July 10. I took something heard as accurate, though the author closed by saying "If you don't believe this, then count them yourself." Guess I should have done that because Gunter sayd "My bible shows 928 chapters in the O.T. and 259 in N.T. for a total of 1187 chapters, 31,102 verses with the middle verse bleing Psalms 103-verse l. If I'm wrong, I stand corrected." I'll bet you're right Mr. Gunter. So instead of Ps.118:8 being the central text, as I'd been led to believe, it's "Bless the LORD Oh my soul, and all that's within me bless His holy Name." Can't recall who gave me that count of 2377 chapters, but it does seem excessive.