"Hail to Jesus our King" in high heaven they sing; all those spirits restored in GOD's image and likeness.
Christ will bring them again to a world free from sin; when this earth long corrupted with unrighteous living
is recreated, restored through His love, and at last handed up to the Father above.
Beyond time GOD's family in eternity, Father's home for souls reborn
in the Spirit t'will be.
ANGELFIRE 3-8-05
What an interesting editorial it was that Jeff wrote last Wednesday about "The Star Spangled Banner." I had been aware that it came from an old British drinking song about that ancient Greek poet and the pleasure of wine but was so pleased to learn that the melody had been composed by a clergyman. It just had to be inspiration from somewhere more noble, and it certainly became so when Francis Scott Key penned the lines we all know here in this land. Yet even he was under stress as he wrote those words, because the Brits were holding him hostage aboard their ship while they bombarded our American Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. They couldn't have guessed what a vision was being recorded by the young lawyer. He was the "key" to an all time patriotic expression for US. Congress later adopted it (some seventy some years ago) as the anthem for which we gladly stand up.
When Jim Rose hoisted that huge flag at the WW's I-35 exit #66 several months ago, I was moved to write words of a heavenly patriotism that I keep polishing toward perfection each time I pass his Texaco station on the route, though I've sung it several places already as "An Evangelical Theme." And I'd be pleased to come sing it anywhere invited but feel it's basically suited for the cemetery. My last writing of it is posted on this website.
Hey, the Air Show at PV airport will end on 9/11, day that launched the war on terrorism. That's relevant since our nation's air terminals seem to have been the focus of most national security efforts. And aviation played a major role in the disaster, just as it did at Pearl Harbor in '41. It' a powerful factor in history. Also, the "eleven" is another sign of the Lord's soon return (11th hour of history). I remember that our old water tower was erected the year that aviation first began, 1903. We were used to having two great oceans, but it opened up a new one in the atmosphere far more vast that Atlantic or Pacific. And then outer space made circling this planet seem small in comparison. Though I sure hand it to Steve Fossett for doing that by balloon and then a pre-fuled airplane flight as Wiley Post had done it years ago. So our old tower links PV history to all these amazing accomplishments via the Wright brothers. Frontline on OETA last week showed how the French were set to be first in aviation at the start the 20th century. Even though we beat them, they went forward with aircraft clear up into WW I, when fighter planes developed. Their national aviator finally flew across the English channel, though it was our Chas.Lindberg who first flew the Atlantic (landing at Paris. How that must have gauled them in 1927). I can recall when we were told in school that French would soon become the international language. But it was our aviation that caused American/English to become that reality of today. It's probably why they resent us so much, though GW went over there and got them back on board to stop Syria's terrorist behavior. Just hope they'll quit sulking and help us wage this global Armageddon which has replaced the Cold War. Now Lebanon's split over support for Hezbollah. Just saw a huge demonstration in Beiruit, as the focus remains against Israel, a nation resurrected from the dust of history in 1948 by the strong arm of the LORD God.
Feb. was Black History Month and I learned so much on TV about AfroAmerica. Now we'll see the Irish singing and dancing for St.Patrick's day. I'll have more on that subject later, which has been such a blessing to US. But I hope we'll get a letup on pope news. Seems to dominate the cable media lately. And I try not to mention celebrity scandals, which are so common place now because of that addage which warns that "What gets your attention, gets you." Yet I always read our local writers and was so pleased that Adrianne Grimmett has begun a series. That photo of City Hall back when it was a new fire station really fit with her story about it's being built just two years after statehood. Did you notice the horse drawn water wagon coming out of the fire station? It's hard to imagine no trucks or fire hoses back in those days to fight fires. Still it's been a beautiful PV structure for almost a century and soon it will be the arts center here. I can't think of a better use for it until the Lord returns. I see all the arts as other languages with which to give Him praise. Hallelujah (which is a Hebrew word).
ANGELFIRE 3-11-05
I see where Paula's Place that used to be, just south of Rush Creek's bridge on Chickasaw, is where a donut shop will soon open. Won't that be another nice addition. And over the hill going on south you'll see the new storage facilities across from PV General Hospital. Certainly attractively built. Sad that the Bible & Glory Books Store has been closed but something is set to go in there I hear. New things just keep cropping up it seems. As I get out on #77 heading up from WW each day, I feel on the way to heaven. You'll get to heaven on seventy seven. And when I see the four sevens just before crossing over Rush Creek, it's like a mark of arrival. As you know, seven's the Bible number for completion. And heaven's the place where we'll finally be completed. That's why it's more out there in tomorrow than up there in the sky. Then as I cross the bridge, I can see my tall old friend over on the left of PV's skyline. Even the huge standpipe I've already passed on the hill has a bright spot in my vivid imagination. But I won't mention it now.
Just before St.Paddy's I want to name some of our American leaders from that land to which that great Catholic missionary took the Gospel. First is Kilroy from WW II. He had been everywhere and left a drawing of his bald head with one hair above the edge of some fence while his long nose hung over it; below that were the words "Kilroy Was Here." I learned that an Irish naval inspector of ships built on the east coast had signed that name with "was here" to approve jobs he'd checked out (and workers added the drawing of him as a snoop). Then his story ended happily when Rosy the Riveter came east from her CA shipyard and they fell in love, got married and lived happily ever after. A decade later the real life Kennedy family with sons (Joseph Jr. killed in WW II), Jack, Bobby and Ted, dominated the Camelot era through the sixties. And in the eighties it was Ronald Reagan the movie star as an Irish president. Then Pat Buchannan ran on the Reform ticket. Though he lost, he's still a prominent conservative. Bill O'Reilley on Fox News is even more prominent, without running for anything; just as Shawn Hannity. Maybe Kilroy peeping over that fence (before TV) was prologue to Irish faces peeping out of TV screens everywhere. So while I'm being frivolous, I'll mention how the Irish like their whiskey (though bought from the Scotch), the Russians their Vodka, the French and Italians their wine, the Germans their beer, and the English their tea along with the Americans their coffee. You can see who the LORD of history allows to rule this planet: not the hard drinkers, but the soft. 'Nuff said bout that. But gambling is coming into Oklahoma like the wind that comes sweepin' down the plane. And it don't smell sweet, just like stinkin' feet. For it's goin' to bring a bitter rain. Just wait till crime costs start rising. That education "benefit" will seem trivial. It's not allowed in prisons (neither is money) because of the conflict factor. And it doesn't create anything but artificial excitement. You could call it monetary masturbation. If cash is the sperm of productivity, it's just spattered in the wrong place wagering, betting and playing games of chance. Of course there are real risks necessary to be taken. But these at casinos and lotteries are just man made. In the Bible they are like divination, which is unGodly.
I watched Dan Rather's own report on his career Wed. night that began in TX and I recalled in '81 when he replaced Walter Chronkite, "America's most trusted newsman." Rodger Mudd back then was also in line, but no mention was made of him; just all the major events Dan had covered ever since. He had a sort of leer in his eyes (or maybe it was the lighting) that put me on guard. Even Chronkite said "He should have been dumped a long time ago" (because he'd been forced out by Dan) but now Dan's going willingly it seems though pundits say CBS is in a mess. Yet he didn't slam anyone else and even apologized for the erroneous report about GW he had given. Then his very last word to listeners was best of all, "Courage." Sounded even better to me than Chronkite's "That's the way it is." Maybe he'll be on PBS along with Chronkite the way George Bush and Bill Clinton have become buddies lately. Opposites may not attract, but need each other. Even in an atom it's the protons that keep electros in orbit to be part of the basic unit of matter (unless string theory unravels all we've been taught. My dad published a book of poems, "Tangled Twine" that may have been profoundly prophetic. I saw "The Elegant Universe" on OETA and loved it, but what a shakeup of the physics we've known!) Shalom
ANGELFIRE 3-15-05
I'm looking at a news cartoon that surely shows how most of us are feeling with gas going above two dollars now. It's John Q Public holding both hands up. Another big hand is behind him holding a pump nozzle up to his back, while a voice off stage says "stick 'em up!" The heading above it says "Daring Daylight Robbery." On the pump hose is listed "gas prices" but the arm of that big hand belongs to some out of sight culprit. That's left for us to figure out I suppose. Hybrid cars keep looking a lot better, don't they. They could nearly double your mileage, I'm guessing. Or a flying umbrella like Peter Pan's. Well, I didn't mean to mention that subject...
As proof that nothing's really for free, I've finally had to start paying for my web site, after a decade of increasing ads that had slowed it down. Got to spending so much time getting it down loaded that even my patience ran out. So now it will come up promptly, plus you can go all the way back on "previous columns" at page endings. Or go straight back there by adding /index86,html to my URL. That's just one particular page with good historic stuff about the old cemetery and Smith Paul's kindness to Indians. But any other index number clear down to 5 could be used, or up to 98 (which is this month's). I've also acquired a blogging site which I may describe later. That's short for "web-log."
As if violence in Iraq weren't enough, we've been "iraqed" or wracked by the same trama here i.e.BTK's long past episode with finally his capture in Wichita, murder of Chicago judge's husband and mother amid white supremacy suspicions, fatal shootings & suicide in Wis. church by a fear deranged/loner member and also the brief but sordid Gary Nichols saga in Atlanta's rape trial with Amanda Smith as the 911 hero ending it. (I see why "heroine" isn't used any more in media. Doesn't sound right for her at all). Blood certainly gets our attention, even in "The Passion of the Christ" which has been softened slightly for the current re-run. It had seemed excessive to me, so I'm glad. Still, original sin suggests to my mind that there's something of the shark in unregenerate humanity. Don't know if they smell blood or just taste it in the water, but they do swarm toward it we've seen. Thus, gossip is so alluring when someone's reputation is bleeding; Michael Jackson's right now. Oops. Often we need to harpoon our tongues and rather use them more to PTL. I've heard an expression that "small minds talk about people, average minds about events and great minds about ideas." Now I don't quite agree, because some of us think about words a lot even without talking them to anyone. Well, yes Someone.
PV's new interest in the arts caused me to reflect on "heart." Just five letters, It is "he" plus "art" as you can see. Maybe that's a hint that arts should all point toward Him, the Lord Jesus, Who came from the Heart of our Creator. He is "exhibit A" of the new and true humanity recreated back into the divine image and likeness first given. His reign is never imposed by earthly weapons, though that has been done in Christianity during ages past. But the Bible never even speaks of any such religion. "Christian" is a N.T. name for individual believers: Christ-ions or little copies of the great One. Gathered together they make up churches/assemblies. All combined, they constitute the heavenly Father's family, which stretches even beyond earth into a communion of saints (believers). And when Christ returns they'll all gain new glorified bodies like Jesus has since He was raised from the dead. His ascension and return are as much a part of the Gospel as His resurrection that we celebrate each Lord's Day and annually on East-er. I spell it thus to suggest His appearing in the eastern sky someday soon. He's been with the Father speaking for us and will come whenever the LORD directs. Come Lord Jesus!
ANGELFIRE 3-19-05
St.Patrick's Day reminded us that nations with Catholic roots once prayed in the name of their patron saint. With Patrick as the one for Ireland, there was also St.Andrew for Scotland, St.George for England, St.Benefice for Germany and probably St.Peter for Italy, along with France and Spain. And St.Mary for all others. But with the 16th century Reformation, those once serious notions were largely abandoned except in playful imagination. So let me suggest St.Murphy for his law that seems to fit things now: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Actually it was no saint but an Air Force Capt. in 1949 who coined that phrase. Capt. Murphy saw a what a mess an incompetent electrician had made of a wiring job at Edwards Airbase. He voiced his gripe that "If there's anyway to do it wrong, he'll find it." That Irishman's complaint was generalized into Murphy's Law that we've all heard by now. So you might say he's a post-modern "saint."
I read this morning of Achan (troubler) in Joshua 7:26, and though of Brian Nichols in Atlanta. Moses got him to confess how he had taken loot from the city of Ai despite the ban in holy war; and then ordered him stoned to ward off the wrath of Yahweh upon Israel. Sometimes it takes severity to make a nation realize what a holy and righteousness GOD the Bible reveals. Yes, we should show compassion allowing confession and repentance, as Moses did for Achan. Yet the law had to be enforced and was. I haven't seen that "Purpose Driven Life" book yet. But certainly the divine purpose demands a penalty in this world for wrongs done, unless we want to forgo imposing it, thus all bear the consequence together as a society. Achan's name was his destiny. Moses called him "troubler of Israel" and the Twelve Tribes didn't need any more trouble. Then in Joshua 8 they are allowed to take everything left in Ai, close by Jericho (where the walls had fallen down after they obeyed divine direction). So Achan's sin had defiled the whole city of Ai, making it unfit as a sacrificial offering the way Jericho had been. Conquest and plunder were not the purposes driving Israel. Warfare was worship at that juncture of history. Now with New Testament disclosure, it's a spiritual war. (2 Cor.10:3-6)
I can recall the Paseo area of OKC (several blocks of Spanish architecture north of downtown) clear back in the forties when I had a job at Big Four Ice Plant on S.Walker. Just out of hi school, I lived in the former YMCA. The Paseo seemed so different to me, but I never realized until now that it was for artists. Now it's nice to have them at the Toy and Action Museum.
Palm Sunday recalls how the Lord Jesus came so humbly to His capitol city Jerusalem riding on a donkey. But this time His final coming is depicted Scriptue on a white horse: "And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire,and on His head were many crowns...And the armies in heaven...followed Him on white horses...And He has on His robe...a new name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." (Rev.19:11ff) As the youth join in that Unity March on Good Friday, they might be considering such glory to come while they walk from the depot across to First Christian. Priase God for such a wonderful demonstration.
UNPUBLISHED COLUMN also at angelfire.myblogsite.com Subject: How arts Recall Dr.Marlatt to me____ He was one of my professors in seminary in the early fifties at Perkins School of Theology. Earl Marlatt must have been Irish since he was so emotional. In fact he was my favorite at the time even though most of the other theologues (students) considered him too weepy. He often got choked up in class during his lectures. He was a small, bald headed fellow wearing spectacles and seemed somewhat effeminate (which back then was not good. The seminary was all male). But he wrote poetry and even some of the famous hymns of that day. One most popular was "Are Ye Able." It was published in our Methodist Hymnal and others too, I feel sure. But Dr.Marlatt would choke up with hurt feelings when he told us how the editor changed a word in the chorus without his approval: ..."a beacon to God, to love and loyalty." He had written it "faith and loyalty" even though the editor's alliteration was more pleasing to sing, despite the the author's intent. "Uncle Earl" as he liked to be called, said it lost meaning, though I never understood just what or how. Another thing he told us was of his sweetheart in days sof youth who had jilted him and how he could never ever love another, thus became a life long bachelor. But he'd talk of decorative things in his home that made him sound quite artistic. Yet out of class some of the guys would tend to put him down. I never did because to me he was a tender hearted man. One time he wrote me a note on an assignment I'd submitted: "Hazlitt, you can write. So do it." I was pleased with his private commendation and thought that he might have felt I was descended from the famous English essayist, William Hazlitt. Though our family had no genealogy to prove it, we liked to think it was possible. In later years when I was in London and went to the library, I had to sign in to see a book. When I wrote "Hazlitt" there was an expression of interest as if were someone special as the librarian asked if there was any cnnection. But what I would later read from "Spirit of the Age" (by Wm Hazlitt) showed him an admirer of Napoleon and turned me off. Some years after leaving seminay. I did correspond with Dr.Marlatt, who had retired in Indiana, where from two colleagues that he had died. Then in '68 I went to Dallas for the Uniting Conference that formed our UMC. Took Commuion with a thousand others. What an experience! Then ran into Uncle Earl. I almost said "You're supposed to be dead" as I was so stunned. It really taught me the Communion of Saints. And he's one I to see yet again along with Christ Jesus coming in glory. As I've seen how the Holy Spirit can supernaturally turn eros into agape, I see how Dr. Earl Marlatt, much like the true priests of Catholic belief, can live celebate to give their passion to GOD. Dr.Marlatt's art was an expression of agape (divine love) rather than erotic (sexual love). No need to consider other orientation when it's direction is Godward.
ANGELFIRE 3-25-09
I just heard about that big lottery mistake in NYC where a newspaper printed one wrong winning number as 13 instead of 12. A gillion participants in the "scratch and match" lottery thought they had won big money, but now have learned of the error. Many had already spent the cash they were expecting before they got it. Since the matter is linked to "education" in our state, that should teach us what more is in store. Large law suits are beginning up there, as if there were not enough of that stuff already. I foresee lawyers getting the illicit gains of our own state lottery, rather than teachers, though one of PV's most distinguished attorneys is on the newly created commission, Mr.William Paul, Bill, your family founded our city and now that we're going in, I sure hope that you can keep us out of any similar situation.
Smith Paul's grave is in the old cemetery along with his infant son's, which was the first marked grave in that burial ground which the Indians had been using. You can read the story on /index86.html of my web page. Just add it to my URL. Mr.Paul's compassion for the Indians cost him dearly when he allowed their victims of small pox burial there. His nine month old child died of it thereafter in 1868. So I see that place as created at great personal cost, and am glad there are flowers on it's gate. After all, Paul is one of the great names in the Bible. You'll also see a little on my website page about the Old Tower so vividly depicted in Adrienne Grimmett's fine article Sunday. And on the main page there's an extra article not published, such as I write now and then. It's about my artistic seminary professor whom I saw again after he was supposed to have passed away. That was in '68, but he finally died in '76, Dr.Earl Marlatt. More on Marlatt at angelfire.myblogsite.com
The inmates Sun. night showed some excitement as Glen and I talked to them about Palm Sunday. It seemed unfamiliar to them since our worship there at LARC is non-liturgical. But I got them to join in a chorus: "Sing hosanna, sing hosanna, sing hosanna to the King of kings." and suggested that we all have two palms to wave (though none went up but mine). Then the Bible lesson was from Romans 5 on justification by faith. They count every Lord's Day as a celebration of His resurrection, so Easter just spells it out in capitals as RESURRECTION DAY. We can learn from them, I feel. And they like to hear of His coming again, because that's the final jubilee when all slaves are released, all debts cancelled and all prisoners set free. To that Hawaiian tune Aloha Hoi, we 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."
We began spring with a second year of war in Iraq and loss of over 1500 of our military by now, not to mention the hundreds of billions spent so far. Yet we are gripped by the fight to keep one woman in FL named Terri still alive. Isn't that an awesome paradox? To mere reason it seems absurd. And truly life is a canard without Christ. But by faith we are seeing a demonstration of just how precious each person is to Him. That's why I feel the president flew from TX to the capitol to sign that bill Congress passed to rescue her. It's how we also feel toward every little nation on earth. Just because we are so big and powerful we can't ignore them. And that's why we had to rescue Iraq from Saddam Hussein.
I began spring on our new riding mower to cut the lawn here at the Pinkhouse. It sure beats those push mowers we had in the past. Got it done in half the time, so drive by and see my handiwork here on S. Clayton in WW. Our front door faces west instead of south, though our address is on Juanita instead of Clayton. Just another paradox we're stuck with. I'm from the school of dialectical theology, which sees them from the very outset when GOD created heaven and earth. If you think about paradox, I must warn you that it doesn't mean "a couple of MDs" as the joke goes. But I guess that could be so if they were somehow opposites.
The death of bishop Milhouse on Mar.12 up in Indiana has caused me to reflect on the leader he replaced. We had Milhouse for a dozen years but Angie had ruled for twice that long. In fact, bishop Smith ordained me up at St. Lukes in OKC in the early fifties. After he retired, the UMC passed a law to limit epicopal tenure. In our conversation coming home Sun.Nite from prison services at LARC, I spilled a lot of feeling about the autocracy in those years to Glen Simonsen. Yet I felt a little guilty afterward, because Angie did get things done (even if it was as a dictator). He had three Conferences to oversee--OK east and Ok west plus the New Mexico one--and he ran them with a strong arm/ heavy hand. I was afraid of him and so was everyone else. But he also baptised our first child (named Angela) and he must have felt it was after his name. In later years when we were at Muskogee, he called to commend an article I'd had published in the national Methodist magazine, "Together," as I recall. I thought it was a joke and almost insulted him on the phone with some smart alec reply, until he introduced himself. But we talked a little then and again at length when I was at Shattuck and wanted to join the General Board of Evangelism in Nashville to do revivals across the nation. The offer had me so excited, but he said it wouldn't last and I'd be back at the bottom of appointment seniority here in Oklahoma. So I passed it up because my mentor, Dr.Don Schooler, also advised me that I owed it to my family not to go into something where I'd be away so much. But bishop Smith really ran things for those six quadrennia of his episcopacy. One of the jokes among us was that when he and the dozen or so cabinet members entered for Annual Conference sessions, it looked like Al Capone and his gang coming down the aisles and taking charge in front of all the delegates. That was very unkind, but real none-the-less. More on bishop W.Angie Smith at
ANGELFIRE 3-26-05
I'm writing Thursday afternoon and wondering if Terri will make it to Easter morning. Remember how Jesus' life was considered to be so worthless that no one came to His rescue. Like our Supreme Court, the judge (Pilate) washed his hands of responsibility and let the mob just take over with their "get rid of him" attitude. Just so the feeding tube was withdrawn a week before Good Friday and unless governor Jeb Bush can get custody she will soon starve to death. The whole world is watching and I heard on some radio talk shows today how much attention is being giving to this abroad. In other lands they are saying it's how we treat our incapacitated and helpless citizens. Now won't that confirm what terrorist enemies have been claiming about us and our culture? Instead of the right of her "husband" (guardian?), we ought to protect our own international reputation by intervention. I think that GW's early return last week to sign that action of Congress was something in which we can take pride. But allowing those judges to scuttle the rescue effort will greatly damage our standing with mankind I feel, not to mention wrath of the Almighty coming upon us. I know that so many are praying and feel deeply concerned. So let's ask GOD for the tube to be replaced and for Terri to get proper therapy (which she's never had); and also that power will be taken back from our courts because Congress makes the laws which they must obey while determining if they are Constitutional. They seem to throw out what they don't want to obey i.e. the special bill about saving Terri Schiavo. Her family name is one we all admired in that movie "Schindler's List." Being on his work list recured so many Jews who were otherwise doomed under Hitler. Now we ask for some rescue of the Schindler family, O Lord.
As I was reading in the Contemporary Bible about Christ's arrest in that Garden of Gethsemane, I noticed how it mentioned Roman soldiers along with the Jewish officials led by Judas. Now I had formerly understood that it was just the Temple guard carrying weapons, since Romans are not mentioned in other versions. But this could show how much broader the conspiracy was to get Jesus. The cry of that crowd that frightened Pilate, "He claims to be a king. But we have no other king than Caesar. Therefore let Him be crucified" had been rehearsed. Some of Pilate's own military guard must have helped in setting Pilate up, forcing him to comply with the angry crowd's call for execution. The Praetorian Guard especially hated Jews and thus were extremely cruel to the One being called "King of the Jews." Yet Judas thought he could play both against each other for his goal of forcing Jesus to use divine power against Rome; plus making a little for himself too. It all looks similar to politics even now, where we wonder what's real and what is just staged for public appearance. If someone would kidnap Terri to give her help, I'd believe that was real for sure. How about it governor Bush? Might ruin your career here on earth, but you'd have treasure in heaven for showing such concern while beaucrats just twiddle their thumbs.
ANGELFIRE 3-30-05
All indications this Tuesday morning are that Terri's struggle to live will have ended by the time this is in print. Today is her 12th day without nourishment or hydration. That in itself shows far more survival power than humanly possible. It surely is an enacted parable to show us that the Living GOD is pro-life. If she's held on for another day, then it will demonstrate even more fully the power of our Lord's resurrection from that tomb. The single drop of Communion on her tongue signifying the body and blood of Christ links all of us who believe together in a bond that Satan can never destroy. He is the prince of darkness who has been determined to snuff out Terri's existence, thus showing his dominion. But she has demonstrated Gospel invincibility in facing the reality of it's opposite: Pr.8:36 "All who hate ME (life/wisdom), love death." Truly this world is a culture of death that has withdrawn LIFE's feeding tube from our souls. Pop culture's "escape" is largely into death. Look at teen suicide. Yet we all come into this temporary life on a feeding tube called the umbilical cord (cut to set us free rather than abort birth). Terri is only 41, only half of a full span of years. So withdrawing that tube was another kind of abortion, as I see it. Yet I still hope it's restored by tomorrow, that we all may be pulling for her recovery instead of seeing her life simply discarded in a poker game of existence.
I remember the depression when we saved everything. "Use it up, wear it out, make it fit, or do without" was the rule of behavior then. Then after WW II came the age of affluence and a "throw away society" brought radical change.
It was a new life style but certainly an improvement. You can still see homes or places where folks never made the transition. Clutter is a conspicuous evidence of a pack rat mentality. Now the throw away society is what keeps neighborhoods clear and waste disposal trucks busy, as new products are always being marketed. But when it comes to each other, the throw away mentality certainly has it's faults. We must not see other persons as disposable items but rather eternal souls. Persons are precious. They have bodies but they are more as minds/psyches. While we may not have any ties to them, yet we are all part of the fabric of human existence. We all own a body and have a spirit, we are souls that included both. That's why the New Testament mentions "body, soul and spirit" centering in psyche. A living soul is all three in one, just as Almighty GOD is one. While the O.T. sees man as flesh and blood (Hebrew view), the New has man as mind (Greek view). I sense my being as a mind which has a body, not as the body. While my mind depends on my brain, it is far more. Thus I feed it with healthy thoughts rather than "mind altering drugs." But I need my body and brain to belong to the human race. It's sort of like my car that extends my locations and this internet that lets my mind reach out to search the whole creation. Thus bodies are important as the seat of self existence. That's why we look toward the final resurrection when Jesus returns and we transcent all the limitation of these carnal bodies in those new celestial, incorruptable, glorified ones of 1 Cor.15. Hallelujah