The terrorist alert has been lowered from orange to yellow again, so that's some relief for us all, even here in Garvin county. I've heard FBi agents say that it's based on the level of "chatter" our espionage experts can hear as they listen in on global terrorist talk. And just think, that's what we used to hear from the monkeys when we visited the zoo. No one could have guessed that it would someday be elevated to such a level of international significance. Did you see the sheriff's Cues. evening show a week ago when that FBI agent was his guest? Since we'd gone up to orange a few days earlier, Jack Pack asked the agent how much threat it meant for Garvin county. "To be honest, it would be way down on the list" he replied. Now that's one where we'd be glad to be at the bottom for sure. Yet even here in the heartland, there was a lot of anxiety about that chemical test the army was going to conduct up at Goldsby. So it's been post phoned, though really needed to determine how chemical terrorism could be spotted nationwide.
Marty Lichtmann, owner of Covercraft here in P.V., spoke at Rotary last Friday about the trip to Bolivia he'd just completed. It was part of a Rotary project bringing dental aid to the poor down there. Marty said the airline connections in South America were pretty punk instead of prompt. He even wondered if it was a ruse to push gringos into spending more of their money at the terminals. He was in several cities, including :Lima, where he mentioned seeing the tallest cross on that continent. Our Brazilian exchange student said "You must have been in Brazil." He'd told us previously of the on in Rio that's so huge. I thought of that famous "Christ of the Andes" that forms a cross high in the mountains there between Argentina and Chili, which was erected to signify an end of conflict between those neighbors in 1904. And it made me wonder if there's a tall cross anywhere up here in America. Seems we build skyscrapers as our marvels in the USA. Marty also showed us slides he made there in Bolivia including one of himself reciting their national pledge, as I recall. It was all very interesting as well as informative.
Barry Porterfield has kept us abreast of the trial of the Maysville man who was charged with those crimes against that woman from Purcell, I think As I followed Barry's reports, I felt sure he'd be convicted. Yet the verdict was "not guilty" on all three counts. So she must have been a vindictive person, as he claimed. Though just out of prison, she caused him to spend a lot more time in jail. And now the case involving pornographic photos of a female minor just infuriates my mind. A stepfather already convicted in federal court is now a witness against his cousin on trial here as both are facing the music, which isn't a bit pretty. But this is one instance of a gigantic sort of degridation and depravity being spread everywhere by the Internet: pornography. It's just more spam to cope with every time you discard unwanted e-mail, but it's more repulsive than all the schemes, scams and swindles combined. Hopefully there will soon be a way to press "return" and send a bolt of lightning or an electronic explosion to the sender of each one being deleted.
Pakistani police have landed the largest al-Qaeda fish yet and handed him over to us because he masterminded 9/11. Now maybe ObL will be the next big catch. But let's not go for all that torture talk we keep hearing about to interrogate them. In the whole Bible there's only one such reference, Hebrews 11:35. And it refers to the suffering by heroes of the faith, "others were tortured, not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection." That shows torture as a tool of satan, not of a nation whose motto is "In GOD we trust." Truth serum, yes; But torture, no.
How quickly Feb. went by! As I dated a check for the 28th, I said to clerk that all twelve months were at first the same, so Feb. is the original month. She said "I never heard that," so I told her that it takes the moon 28 days to circle the earth and that "month" comes from "moonth." That finished the conversation, but most folks know that extra days were added to the rest in order to make the twelve of them fill out 365 days for a full year. As we are learning, the world of Islam still goes by the lunar year, which makes the date of their holidays different each year. Maybe the star and crescent, their emblem, has some connection. Niece and I watched a program Sunday on "Discovery" that was about the struggle in ancient Egypt by the pharaoh Ikhnaton, whose son, Tutankhamen, is now thought to have been murdered by the priests of Amon. A couple of present detectives have used modern forensics to prove the crime three and a half millenia ago. Tut's father had died when he was only nine and he became pharaoh for eight years, then died suddenly. The x-rays of his mummy skull show bone chips that might have been from a blow to the back of his head; reason? His father had established a new deity, named Aton, in place of the god of Thebes, named Amon, which allowed for many other gods. Ikhnaton took his name from Aton, who was literally the sun. And Tut's new religion was radical monotheism. But he claimed himself to be the son of the Sun. So when he died, Amon's priests plotted to kill his boy, king Tut. Well I had heard all that as a teen because my dad was into Egyptology. But evidence of the murder of that seventeen year old pharaoh was new to me. Tutankhamen had moved the capitol back to Thebes from the new city his father built for Aton. But they still assassinated him it seems, even though his name includes the old god instead of Ikhnaton's new one and only. The young pharaohs tomb was found again in 1922. Don't suppose there's anyone still around to prosecute for the crime. I have a notion that the Masons know all about this. And that could be the source of dad's information, since he had once belonged. Moses surely knew it too, for he was reared as an Egyptian and would have learned their history. Some say that he may have heard memories of Aton, the god who had caused the death of a young pharaoh. But instead of the sun as god, Moses learned at the burning bush on Mt.Sinai that YAHWEH was the one and only Living God. Others claim Moses was a henotheist who believed each nation had it's deity, but that Israel's was highest of all. And that sounds like the very first commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."
Rotary speaker last week was Dr.Alvin Turner of East Central University. He told us about the dnew Bachelor of General Studies degree being offered at ECU. It should increase the percent of population in this area as college grads, and he said that has real economic benefits. Martha Jo McElroy presented him as her program speaker. Bill Menefee has this week's and wife Jeanie will have the one for March 14. Maybe it will be Irish, right before St.Patrick's Day.
Mayor Richard Kennedy's planned Youth Advisory Committee will certainly be a long range benefit to PV. It's to be made up of juniors and seniors completing a class for Tomorrow's Leaders that has met at the bank and will continue at Superintendent Russell's office. I talked to Chris Pool, chamber of commerce secretary, and he thought it would consist of about half a dozen juniors and seniors. City manager James Frizzell was quoted in this paper as comparing it to the existing golf course or lake committees, but I think it will be far more valuable as a source for future vision. Right on Mayor Kennedy. Our mayor in WW is facing a challenger April 1, when police chief Troy Bishop and street commissioner Esaw Coates will also face their's. That ia healthy for a community in my opinion. J.T.Blackwood, Ken Moore and Manuel Seale are the respective challengers Something new in the mayor's race is a $28,000 salary instead of just honorary service.
Niece's new house she's building in Tanglewood is looking more beautiful each day. It has several cathedral ceilings inside which add great appeal. From the upstairs back bedroom window you can see the Interstate. We're going to have an openhouse soon and would like for everyone to come see the home.
I felt honored to conduct the funeral last Saturday for another neighbor who has died recently, Robert Parker. He's been in the PV Convalescent Center for a number of months, where he sometimes joined our one oclock Friday singing. I'm pleased that a Parker Memorial Fund has been started at WW's Landmark Bank. It's for the Schools Athletic Department. When I viewed the open casket, I asked Sue DeArman about that cigar in his pocket. She said "Well that was just Mr. Parker." I told her that Niece and I could always tell when he was out in his yard from the cigar smell. We miss him.
If you've driven around WW at night lately, you've seen "Old Glory" aglow in the dark as you go up Kerr Blvd. and the war on terror becomes more real. Some of the houses have "God Bless American" signs up too. All these are a call to prayer for me. I even went to the PV ministerial alliance Wed. morning for my first time in over a decade. Rev.Charles Dean has invited me over and over, but guess what? He was absent. Still, I felt welcome and got to meet some of the brothers I'd only seen on channel 2. I said to Bryan Black of Cornerstone Church "I know you from TV" and he replied "And your picture's in the paper that I read." So we shook hands, as I did with Joel Ferren, the president. I told them how glad I was for the Friday's devotional each week written by Alliance members. If canned stuff is used to fill the page, I seldom read it, but it it's by a local pastor I surely do. But I added that a long one reduced to small print tends to loose me. Angielee Wright from the Red Cross spoke about being prepared for disasters in Garvin County. She listed scenarios: smaller scale i.e. big apartment complex fire; intermediate i.e. tornado; bigger scale i.e.flood (could be massive); and massive i.e. Tinker Air Force Base evacuated. I asked if that last one pertained to the war on terror and she concurred. I quoted what Monte Lee said back in '95 after the OKC bombing, "We've seen how a single terrorist can take out an entire building, but with suitcase nukes it will be a whole city next." Angielee went on to speak of shelter locations and training that involved three sessions (1)Intro. to Disaster (2)Mass care and (3)Shelter Operation. The hospital provides a meeting place plus free breakfasts to Alliance members the first Wednesday of each month.
I saw a picture last month in this paper of Jerry Couch, June Fryer and Kevin Stark at the "Sweet on Main Street" recognition ceremony held in the local Santa Fe depot. I've talked with Mr.Couch on the phone and learned that he's the gentleman who will be managing our soon to open Bedre Chocolate outlet located across from the Distribution Center. Kevin Stark was shown as secretary of the Main Street Board and Mrs.Fryer as it's outgoing manager. One coming, great! But the other leaving? We'll miss her picture in the paper. Just hope it's to a better deal for her. And about a month ago our administrator at WW's Grace Living Center left his position. Thursday I met Keith Long from the Grace corporate office in OKC on my route which takes me there. He said he was just filling until the new one's hired. One other newcomer that I hope to meet is the new interim pastor at PV First Presbyterian. I'm told he's on the faculty of our Oklahoma City University, though Presbyterian. The Rev.Janet Roark took a clergy position in OKC some weeks past I hear. Being back at PV's ministerial alliance last week sort of caught me up on church in my home town. I tried to call Mayor Kennedy about the youth advisory committee he's setting up for the City Council. Just thought some of the designations of former days might interest our youth i.e. Valley of Promise or The Golden Trend. Or theme of the upcoming district Rotary Conference: "Thunder In The Valley." If Wynnewood's THE CITY OF HOSPITALITY and Purcell is the THE HEART OF OKLAHOMA, what image does PV seek to project? Brick streets, football or what? Maybe one of the valleys of Scripture.
Jim and Hallie Crews have moved into their new home at 214 S. West Street. Since they're Rotary friends, I went by to get a peek inside. With 3100 square feet on the first floor, it's spacious; especially the kitchen. I asked Hallie "Are you going to feed an army?" She said "It can come close when all the kids are here." I asked if they'd given the place a name and she said "Paintbrush Meadows." So I noted the brick embedded in the front porch saying "Chandler." She said that it was from the town where she and Jim met and got married, Chandler OK. I had noted before that it's clearly the southwest corner of PV because West St. meets South Ave. right there. So I thought what a nice thing it would be for the city to put fresh paving around that corner and down West St. to Royal Oaks Road. But I'm not a PV resident, so who'll listen to me?
That front page view in Sunday's Democrat of that place back of the city water plant ablaze brought me feeling of 9/11 again. But then there's the new Senior.Center building started up there too. And that Assisted Living Center down by the hospital is yet more evidence of PV's growth. Win some, loose some, but just so it's win more than loose. In this week's WW Gazette there's a picture of Johnny Mann's county boys finishing Tuesday cleaning up the old Parkview School site east of WW city park. Nearly all the unsightly places on west #29 are now gone so that coming into town looks so much nicer. The old Wagonwheel dance hall's been cleared away for over a year, since it burned several years ago. But we have a major downtown building empty since "Bits and Peaces" closed several months ago. It was fixed up to look good but now it''s just standing empty. A new building is replacing an old one torn down back beside the liquor store, but I don't know what it will be. Guess I should ask since I go by there everyday on my route.
By the time this appears, the 48 hours president Bush gave Saddam will have elapsed and that "moment of truth" on St.Patrick's Day become history. It's D-Day (WW II term) that we now await as the "time of our own choosing," to begin the invasion. Unless God hears our prayers for a miracle, we'll hear again those more recent words from 9/ll, "Let's roll." Only this time it's to get far more than several terrorists who've been in control of an airliner. This time it's the whole rotten regime that rules a nation of 25 million populace with similar terror tactics. But God forbid that the bold venture be as costly as that one was Monday evening, because of wind and rain, I had to go up to the new house Niece is building in Tanglewood to attend to a detail. I listened on my radio to the ultimatum our president was giving and thought of the safety in that home someone will seek there. It signified to me how right this is for us to protect every residence, even as the alert is back up to orange. So that's why nearly 300,000 of our troops are now deployed (or perhaps already in action). "Operation Atlas" is what NYC is doing as a response to the increased alert. Their new mayor Michael Bloomburg seems as competent as Rudy was during 9/11. Lord may none ever go through such a time again! Yet we're shown in the Revelation of Jesus Christ that many such catastrophes will take place before His glorious coming. So the secret of happiness in these days of threat is our blessed hope of His soon appearing. As a song I love says it this way: "Each year that rolls, I'm nearer to His side. I know the Lord will always be my guide. I breathe His name each time I see a tree. On one He bought my soul a Calvary."
It's only been in recent years that the d in D-Day has become clear. I presumed it meant "dooms day" or "disaster" or "dreadful." But Designated Day meant it was part of a plan, just as the final day of the Bible. And that's what's ahead for the whole world with war in the Middle East. The news of Christ's final return is Gospel (glad tidings) to all who trust in Him. It's like the joy of Christmas in the middle of a freezing winter. Here's some words I've sung to the tune of "She'll Be Commin' around the Mountain:" He'll be coming in clouds of glory when He comes (repeat four times).
The dead in Christ shall rise first when He comes (repeat four times)
All our bodies will be changed then when He comes (repeat four times)
There will be a wedding supper when He comes (repeat four times)
What a glorious reunion when He comes (repeat four times)
Then the Bride and He shall marry when He comes (repeat four times)
There'll be endless celebration when He comes (repeat four times)
Remember spring begins tomorrow!
ANGELFIRE
Besides our exchange student from Brazil who just turned 17 and is always present, we had two RYLA campers for the Rotary program last Friday, Morgan Menefee and her friend, Bryson. They were mom's program for Jeanie Menefee, and they told us of the Rotary sponsored camp recently at Ada. Harry Millard has next week's program, and Ronnie Patton after that. Our district conference at the Bosa Center is April 24 to 27th. I had thought it's theme was "Thunder in the Valley," but I see that's for a bull riding event here on April 25 instead. Guess I was considering what a big excitement the district conference would be. We have the district governor in our PV club,,Tim Smith.
UM bishop Bruce Blake entitled his article this week: WHERE THE BIBLE IS, THERE IS HOPE. It told of the new mayor of San Juan, Puerta Rico, who began her leadership on that slogan, even though she faces so much poverty down there. It made me think of the food bank restarted by Faith Temple over in east side PV by Rev.Sellers. That sort of ministry takes a lot of patience, but illustrates how Jesus feed the hungry multitude. Surely some Scripture goes with the groceries as food for souls too. We sometimes forget bodies when ministering to souls and even tend to separate church and state that way. I see the separation of church and state as fostering such a schism i.e. the gambling lottery. Church may oppose it as ideal, but in the real world of funding programs where the state has to operate, it's ok. Now we certainly don't want a theocracy where state and church are one and the same. But Scripture calls both to a higher accountability; just as sins done by the body are not separate from the soul. In fact, we are souls who have bodies to connect with the world and spirits to connect with God. So we can't split things apart as church and state, as I see it. That's why I see current events as the spiritual realm as much a worship services.
Is Saddam dead or alive? President Bush said previously that ObL of al-Qaeda was "wanted, dead of alive." And now that Texas policy applies to the Iraqi leader too. Yet his is certainly a new kind of war, seeking a minimum loss of life on both sides; and trying to avoid destruction of infrastructure. There's far less comparison to D-Day of '44 that I'd mentioned earlier. Our forces went into Germany like a mighty tide of revenge for all the suffering one nation had caused. I was just sixteen then, and instead of blaming it on Hitler and his Nazis, felt the whole German nation deserved to be punished. My, how much better we understand things now. We even feel sympathy for the Iraqis and hope they surrender. We are ready to show compassion if they do, and even have plans to restore their country. So warfare is not as wicked as it used to be. Or did any of you have the secret thought of a nuke on Baghdad? Thank God no one ever expressed it, at least not publicly. Yet God knows our thoughts which are still not pure. So we trust in His divine grace and mercy, with prayers for our son and daughters in the military. But we also weep over the first casualty, a marine lost in the seizure of those oil wells being set ablaze.. Also four Americans died along with eight Brits in that helicopter crash in Kuwait. Though not by enemy action, it's still a great loss to us and our best ally. Thank the Lord for our strong president. Pray for him every day to lead us aright.
A number of things turned ugly in the war last Sunday after beginning with so much hope for an early Iraqi surrender., First one of our own soldiers, who was a black turned Muslim, threw grenades into three tents of his comrades while they slept. Talk about "shock and awe!" along with betrayal and treachery. Then other reverses came with the increasxing resistance despite our official "Shock and Awe" campaign which was supposed to bring a speedy collapse of opposition. Back here Sunday evening at Joy Baptist, Pastor Paul Countess asked the congregation to form several small groups to pray for president Bush and his advisors, then for the military commanders under him and our armed forces, and finally for the Iraqis and their liberation. In those three sessions it was a very meaningful Sunday evening service. Surely congregations all over America were doing likewise. We can always pray alone, but together we feel added power. GOD the Holy Spirit is our mighty resource Who brings holiness to our own land even as our armed forces take freedom afar. So if this war gets us to fall on our faces before the Lord Jesus, it will be a greater victory than only a military one, as I see it. Right here in WW is where General Tommy Franks was born some 56 years ago. Then the family moved to Stratford where he started school. Their story will all be in this week's WW Gazette. Which reminds me of the election here April 1 and in towns all over Garvin county (except PV).. We have a race for mayor, street commissioner and police chief here in WW. I think having challengers for office is politically healthy. Just look at how long Saddam has kept in control of Iraq; since '79 I believe. He's posed as a president, but become a cruel dictator using brutality to impose his rule. And he's taught his Republican Guart to be as mean as he is.
Now we're being told this really could be a long war, rhoufh rhe 75 billion asked of Congress will only pay for a month. And it's certainly been up close on TV. Surely the plan to "embed" reporters with military units was to allow the whole world to witness our conduct. We face an enemy willing to resort to dirty tactics while we try to observe Geneva Convention standards. That puts us at so great a disadvantage, but what shows in our military conduct will surely make up for the loss, in my opinion. If we must fight them, we don't want to stoop to their same level of behavior.
I watched prime minister Tony Blair adr4ressing the British Parliament and felt great admiration for him, despite his pal days with Bill Clinton. To me he now appears like another Winston Churchill and the British public are starting to give him more backing.. We didn't call them BRits back then, but I still remember those Churchill speeches rallying England to stand firm: "Let us so conduct ourselves that if the British Empire should last for a thousand years, men will ever say 'This was their finest hour'!" Or of a German possible invasion, "We will fight them on the beaches, we will fight them in our trenches, we will fight them from our houses and we will never, never, never surrender." And that cigar was always his badge. I'd rate him orater of the 20th century if I was a historian. Now it's Bush and Blair who lead us as a team, as it was FDR and Churchill so long ago.
It's Monday evening as I write, and things around Baghdad appear terminal for Saddam and company. Hopefully it will be over by the time this gets in print. But that optimism at the very start two weeks ago was way too soon. We'd hoped the regime would capitulate. I just heard that MS-NBC fired their famous Baghdad reporter, Peter Arnet, for saying in an interview with an Arab that the coalition's battle was faulty. I don't blame them since he was getting too chummy with Iraqis as that's where he made his name internationally famous12 there years ago. Though he apologized to American listeners, he had to go with a London tabloid to stay employed. MS-NBC had canned Alan Keyes and Phil Donahue previously, while loosing Geraldo Rivera to Fox and Connie Chung to CNN. Must be a tough agency for reporters. I really liked Keyes, the black conservative and I still listen to their other black, Lester Holt/ Connie's ok as an oriental, but Geraldo's sill Bill Clinton's pal, Now he's in Iraq not even officially "embedded" with the military Fox News said. But he stays where the action is in spite of critics wanted him gone. I have to admire his nerve, since being a Jew surely makes him a target to those radical Muslims. Maybe it's a sign of divine favor for Israel that our news is bound to tilt some their way because half of all the main newscasters are Jewish, as you can tell from their names. And the other half seem to be conservative Catholics, But I can't sense Shepherd Smith as either. I don't know of any Islamic reporters either, though we may be listening to one or more. I surmise that the three network (ABC, NBC & CBS) anchor men are Protestants. Of course some may be secularists. That's a religionless orientation. And with so much fanaticism, it doesn't bother me as much as in the past. Secular's more like agnosticism than atheism, a "just don't know" attitude. Unless it's "don't know and don't care" which is disgusting. Like what difference does it make? "Non-theistic" is another term for describing such reporters. It was on the way to becoming our nation's unfaith until 9/11. Sometime I'll write of a long conversation I had back in '66 with a fellow passenger aboard a BOAC flight as we crossed the Atlantic back from London. He'd been to Israel and refused to let me call it the Holy Land. In fact, he would hardly admit he was a Jew, because he refused to be considered religious. And he was so against our war in Viet Nam.That conversation made a lasting impression on me. I felt he was full of anguish instead of atheistic arrogance. He asked how the Holocaust could happen if Israel's God had actually existed. Maybe we Americans have wondered the same about 9/11. Though we don't claim to be the chosen people, our motto is "In God we trust." I look at Job whose faith was put to the test by things God allowed satan to do to him. Tempting (or testing) is seen early in the Bible as coming from above. But as Scripture says in the book of James, "let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man." Yes, satan got into the Garden of Eden, but isn't called by name in the Bible until 1 Chronicles 21. His reality became known during the Babylonian captivity. and then it became clear satan had been disguised as that serpent in Eden.
We've seen a lot of both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the news. Both are mentioned in Genesis and the latter in Revelation. Bosra's about the site of ancient Er of Chaldea. It was Abraham's first home, before he left for the land of Canaan. Since he crossed the Euphrates some think Hebrew means "from beyond the river." And now we hear that frightful Babylonian name from today's battlefield, Nebuchadnezzar. That general came from his wicked city to conquer Jerusalem in 598bc' then returned to destroy it in 587 and took the Jews back for the 70 years of captivity. Chaldean history is earlier than ancient Egypt's in the Bible. Then bondage under Pharoah and later still in Babylon. Present day Iraq is back at the starting place. So we must pray for our troops there (along with the innocent Iraqis). How foolish it now appears for those protesters planning to go as "human shields." They'd be shielding those who already force women and children out front to use for their own protection; even sending bus loads of them into danger to gain propaganda for Arab world TV. It just shows how cheap life is where the Gospel of Christ has never been believed. bi-weekly column posted month at a time
Our Rotary speaker last week was long time representative for district 42, Bill Mitchell. Harry Millard, who had the program, introduced him as a personal friend. Rep.Mitchell (could Rep. mean Republican?) said he'd been honored to hold that office for 18 years, as I recall. He belongs to several house committees, but now is chmn. of Appropriations & Budget, a large and important body. They face a myriad of cuts in funding for state agencies because of the shortfall resulting from economic slowdown. Education got that 25 million dollar supplement out of the rainy day fund for teacher's pay That's the biggest department, with human services coming in next, then corrections. when asked about the state lottery, he said he didn't support it for moral reasons, but thought it should go to a vote of the people. I told him afterward that he was a brave man to accept such a chairmanship. He replied "Well you know there's a very fine line between bravery and stupidity" I wouldn't want all those headaches myself, would you? Though someone has to deal with it. So "brave" is the right word. .
Nothing compare's to those devilish tricks by Saddam's supporters on our soldiers in Iraq, but I feel what happened here in PV when Charley Vann lost the tag office was dirty too. I went to buy mine here in WWy, so I asked if any PV folks were coming here yet to get their's. Then I told how I'd taken last week's Democrat to show it's headline to workers in that office , "A rotten shame." was the phrase I voiced. Remember chairman Maotse Tung who was China's ruthless dictator back in the fifties? He said " politics is war without bloodshed and war is politics with bloodshed." Maybe it was in that "Sayings of Chairman Mao" that Chinese youth memorized. I hated Communism too much to have read it, but heard that one saying which becomes true if politics is your religion.
My route takes me into WW's Grace Living Center where I've met the new administrator, Ms.Kim Lance. Understand she came here from Sulphur. I told her how I'd been leading a Sunday morning "Jesus sing" there, and it seemed ok with her. I've come to love the folks there and up at PV Health Care ceter, where I lead another sing each Friday right after Rotary.
Need to know what's going on in PV? I just ask in the newsroom. Learned that all those yellow ribbons at the courthouse were inspired when commissioner Kenneth Holden was called up to OKC for duty. Channel 9 had carried news of courthouse employees buying them to honor those called to duty all over Garvin county. There's been a frontlawn display as you go into Southdown for over a year.. It's also lit up at night with "Support our soldiers" and worth the drive to see. We've read this week where Lt.Fred "Benny" Pokorney formerly of WW was a first casualty ambushed by that group dressed as civilians that carried a white flag. Gazette editor Larry Russel wrote a very moving front page account to go with the magnificent photo of him in marine uniform. She'd been his teacher in Middle School and her story is heartbreaking.
Dr,Jim Lindsey retiring? Hardly seems possible. At 69 he's still so young. But I did at 62. And life has been just great.. I keep wishing governor Brad Henry had retired, as his proposed lottery seems to be heading through both the Senate and House, then on to a general election in which it's likely to pass. If so, then we are moving on a downward slide of morals in gambling clear across the land; and right when we need to be seriously seeking the LORD. Calling it the "education lottery" could be valid if it taught the folly of gambling. But that's self contradictory leaving students ethically confused. We see money going to other states and figure we just as well get it first. That's being worldly wise, but to me it's believing the devil's a better Provider than the Lord God while time's running out so fast here on earth. This war may be the final one of all the ages that ends with a battle of Armageddon. Come Lord Jesus
Sure looks like Baghdad will be "in the bag" by the time you read this, unless we have to take it street by street, God forbid. What a time to have Rotary's District Conference in PV! So much violence and war internationally as we come to "Soe the Seeds of Love," April 25-27. A 6pm Chuckwagon Dinner will be followed by a bull riding Bullnanza at 7 in the Round Up Club Arena. Registration and all plenary sessions will be at the Bosa Center. Tim Smith is our own district governor who gets around to everywhere. But I hope he"s not out there on one of those bulls for "Thunder in the Valley" (sounds like Baghdad). He's another Geraldo Rivera it seems, kicked out of Iraq by the Pentagon we're told. But surely Karon Smith will keep him off of any for the family's sake. We were so proud to to see another Rotarian, Susanne Blake, named "Citizen of the Year" at the Chamber of Commerce banquet Tuesday night. My late father received that honor back in the fifties and all the Hazlitts were so pleased. It was a night to remember. So congratulations to you and John, Susanne.
Palm Sunday's only a week away now, when holy week begins; 7pm services in Bethlehem Baptist on Wed., 1st UMC on Thurs. ,1st Xn on Sat. and will climax with the communitywide SONrise Service in 1s Baptist. At their first Wed. hospital breakfast, the PV Alliance completed an order of service with two volunteers took part: LaWanda Vaughn-prelude, Host pastor Joe Elam-welcome, pres.Joel Ferrin-Invocation, Vicki Rennie-musical offering, Bob Kanary-message, Jim Crockett-benediction and Charla Forrester-postlude. I've felt a spirit of goodwill at the meetings that all of PV should enjoy. How about becoming the "valley of joy" as well as of "promise." Seeing the old watertower has always made my heart leap up since those days I'd come down #77 (no I-35 then) from IL aboard a Grayhoun to see grandmother Hightower. If the tank was made wider with handles on each side, it could look like a cup of joy or Communion chalice. Now wouldn't that be a fine symbol for PV showing clear out to motorists on I-35! Ps.23 says "my cup overflows" (with joy). Come Lord Jesus
A page came out of the little Testament I carry in my car and I read it, words from our national anthem: "Blest with victory and peace, may this heaven rescued land praise the Power that hath made and preserved it a nation. Then when conquer we must, and our cause it is just, let this be out motto "In God is our Trust," that the star spangled banner in triumph may wave ore the land of the free and the home of the brave." It was surely for now.
Now it seems again that Saddam has been killed. But he seems to be like a cat with nine lives. And unless his body is found, there's still room for doubt. It sure looked like he should have been gone three weeks ago in that initial raid. The kind of evil he employed is so hard to stamp out because it used so much secrecy, deception and treachery. Now the original issue of WMDs will continue internationally if we don't get rid of the ambiguity about those finds near Carbola. Some say "agricultural pesticides" while others see "possible deployment when weaponized." Finding them right at the site of ancient Babylon gives me a feeling of Biblical identity. That city's name is synonymous with wickedness in holy writ. And even "Karbala" sounds like carbolic acid, a deadly substance indeed. So much of Saddam's seat of power was based underground, which is also a low down perspective of him. What a deliverance of the Iraqis his demise can signal if something positive takes his place. Of course, the Cross is an ultimate and final plus sign that can't be imposed but freely accepted in love. How vividly that is being depicted by the Bush/Blair meeting in Belfast right here before Good Friday. Remember the now famous settlement on that holy day several years ago of the centuries of conflict between Irish Catholics and British Protestants? If that can be an example of peace on earth, then the influence of Christ will certainly be shown in history. That's certainly not surprising since it's measured from His birth even in lands where He isn't even acknowledged as Lord.
I read of Saddam's political Baath party and learned it was formed during WW II. It's goal was one huge Arab united nation to replace the 22 separate ones. Iraq would be the central place, evoking an image of ancient Babylonian power. We've heard Saddam compared to a Hitler or Stalin, but Nebuchadnezzar was his real identity figure. One of his Republican Guard divisions even had that name. But I just heard that his army of 800 tanks has been reduced now to 19. Now Iraqi exiles are coming home to play a role in running the country, along with survivors. We hope to turn it over to them and step back. Maybe the UN will finally shoulder the task now that we've paved the way by sacrifice of 90 of our sons and daughters thus far. Yet much as we want to bow out, there's other places where WMDs are a menace, N. Korea coming first to mind. We'll need to back our president and keep praying for him as well as our troops, in my opinion.. Israel and Palestine will back on the front burner, which is where the Book says everything finally winds up. The word is "maranatha" or "come now Lord." This year it will be felt more than ever in Holy Week observances.
I sang some words that came to me matching a tune Sunday night I felt the inmates would recognize: "King of kings, Lord of lords. Jesus is His name. Born on earth, Son of God, age to age the same. Then He died for our sins; to rise up from the dead on a third day. Thus He will come again and bring a Kingdom with His own to stay. King of kings, Lord of lords, Jesus is His name." When I finished, an inmate who recognized the tune spelled out "M-I-C---K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E." So I added that it was a familiar Dizney tune whichI had just
"baptized" to sing in worship. They seemed to like it.
Here in Holy Week it's hard to believe that such unholy things have been happening even in America. Now it appears that the body of that 27 year old expectant mother Lacy Peterson may have been found near Modesto CA in Frisco Bay, where her husband Scott claims he'd gone fishing on Christmas Eve, day of her disappearance. From Xmas to Easter, we take a jump as around the globe, what an awful transition in the Iraqi war news! From shooting to looting, winning to sinning, from liberation to degradation. So now our troops are having to protect the citizens of that land from their own criminal element after heroically freeing them from their ruthless dictator. The amazing speed of his overthrow was a marvel to behold that GOD was with us, though even their effort to pull down Saddam's statue in Baghdad required yet more help from our forces. As long as we can feel compassion for them, we'll be glad to give aid. But seeing booty thieves, plunderers and looters creates the opposite feeling. When order is restored, I hope it will be shown that such behavior was just like Saddam and that none who did it will gain any leadership in the rebuilt nation. And I would expect that missionaries for Christ to be allowed there freely. A democracy just can't exist under Islamic theocracy.
From Afghanistan to Iraq and where next? I asked David Mallow in WW as we discussed the war if he thought N. Korea's would be next and he said Syria instead. Since the former's not being as stubborn now, it's clear that Syria's a step closer to Israel.. Scripture's eschatology is that world events will focus in the Mideast right up to our Lord's return in power and majesty. Pastor Paul Countess read Sunday night from 2 Timothy 4:1-8 beginning "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead AT HIS APPEARING"...and concludes "there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness...on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His APPEARING." As much as His resurrection is central to the Gospel, so is the "blessed hope" of His coming again. In the places I served as pastor, I would seek to have SONrise sevices at the cemetery where graves are usually facing east. In 1Thes.4:16,7 read "And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (of a renewed heaven and earth). And thus we shall always be with the Lord." The Bible mentions three heavens: the atmosphere of clouds, outer space of stars and galaxies, and the highest abode of GOD beyond the firmament or rim of this universe. (Those seven heavens are where the Koran says Muhammad ascended). So Jesus returns from the third or highest heaven to gather His own, both the living and resurrected.. Their meeting isn't out beyond this material universe, but here in earth's upper atmosphere. He creates that New Jerusalem described in Rev.21 which we so often hear about at funerals: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city , New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Later she's called His wife as verses 9-11 continue: "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife....and (one of the seven angels) showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God." I've been prone to read all of this as figurative language about a realm beyond the mind of us mortals, ever expanding the meaning of our Lord's glorious resurrection. Thus, it becomes more precious to me as the years keep coming and going. He came to die as the Lamb of God and will return as the Good Shepherd for His lambs.
We saw this week where general Jay Garner had a first meeting in Iraq with leaders from various groups to consider the structure of their new government. He said it was his own birthday, but that seeing the rebirth of a nation in the very "cradle of civilization" was far more significant to him. And hopes are high that a true democracy in the bosom of Arabdom can alter the collision course of Middle East affairs. Of course everything pertains to attitudes toward Israel. And with the new prime minister for the PLA, there are reasons to hope. Yet just as this column said previously, that Christians should be allowed to send missionaries into the new Iraq, they should also be allowed in Israel; especially the "Jews for Jesus" who are preparing all peoples for His soon return return.
Looking back, my first published item was an article about the meaning of Easter in "Valley Hi Times" which was carried by this paper during WW II. That would even precede my father's column since he was off in he South Pacific as a SeaBee. His "Sounding Off" came during the fifties. So I've searched the morgue this week. Mine wasn't in '43, so it had to be '44 and that year thru'48 are missing. But I did find dad's stuff that began in '49 in each daily issue. He often included "A Tale Told by a Hitchhiker." Can you imagine back then how common it was to pick them up? I guess I had just wanted to prove that I wrote before he did. (Have even claimed he followed me into the ministry). But my article changed my own life because our pastor, Winfred McBride (years later my district superintendent), saw it and called me to his office after school. I wondered "What have I done," but when I entered his study the paper was there on his desk. He picked it up and said "Joe, this is what I wanted to ask you about. Have you ever considered going into the ministry?" I was shocked and embarrassed and think my reply was "Not me. No way Hosea" as I backed off toward the door to get away. But I never could shake off that encounter and in my last year at OU finally decided on seminary at SMU. I'm as much a Mustang as an OU Sooner and have even written sacred words for "Varsity," SMU's school song: "Oh we see the Cross of Christ lifted high in the sky, as it towers ore the hills of history. And our hearts are filled with joy when we sing in His name! Blessed Savior we'll be true forever." Just brings tears to my eyes as I heard again that haunting tune in my mind while writing those words the Spirit gave me. It was down there that I had a black room mate who was the most spiritual influence on me. He caused me to fully yield my life to ministry. So I changed the song from "Alma mater we'll be true" to the way it goes above. That's what keeps me going to prison and nursing home ministries during these twelve years of retirement. And Dr.Jesus keeps me feeling healthier each year. Abraham was 80 when he set out for the Promised Land. And Moses was 120 when he finally got the Israelites back home from bondage in Egypt.
Did you see that front page story in the Sunday Oklahoman week before last about Dr. Jim Lindsey's retirement. We learned of it from the WW Gazette where Larry Russell has a writeup. Then Jim Richardson had another in this paper. And a former Democrat editor, Bob Doucette, wrote the Oklahoman's. I've had a tie-in because the doctor who assisted my mother in delivering me was a Lindsey. I'd thought it was Jim's dad, but when I learned that he began his practice in PV as late at 1930, I knew it had to be Jim's grandpa. Thus I'm in on the Lindsey legacy, so to speak. My aunt Margaret Hightower told me after uncle John died and she mover to Chickasha, of how Dr.Jim came over there to visit and spend several hours just showing his appreciation for her years at the PV hospital. She was so grateful. Her body now lies buried beside John's in Mt.Olivet cemetery and she has a place in the Lindsey legend too. I only wish I could have touched as many souls in my career for heaven's healing as our great doctor, his father and grandfather.
On my route last week I saw police cars all around Mell Rennie III's place. Now a Gazette headline: "Body of Harold Strubberg found at meth lab crime scene." And the Democrat's also reported this ugly news right here in Holy Week. Ugh! Still WW Baptists are holding a SONrise service at the eastern edge of town, site of their new sanctuary being built there. What a glorious way to mark it's beginning, from the hideous to the heavenly. Jerry Wells has been pastor here for as long as I can recall. And I've also been throwing him the Daily Democrat for twelve years now.
4-22-03
We've seen most of the traces of Saddam removed from Iraq, his numerous palaces defaced, and statues toppled. That's a pretty good start toward building a new nation. But it's made me think or that tomb in the center of Moscow where the mumified body of Linen still lies in view (and his statue too, I believe). With the Cold War won so long ago, why should that still be allowed? Perhaps it's part of why Russia didn't support the liberation of Iraq. That corpse is still sending out atheistic signals. We can't even find Saddam's body, but that one's been there going on a century now. Ugh! It could be precious to France as well, since that's where Lenin had been until his return to Russia on a train that took him back to Moscow in 1917, I believe.
Few can still remember that Russian revolutionary, Lenin (the name he gave himself). He was born in 1870 on April 22 (but observed Sat. of last week), so the international environmental movement in 1970 chose to honor that date as "Earth Day." He was the advocate of Marxian materialism, the view that this physical realm is all that exists and man's destiny is only earth to earth.. A statue of him still stands in the Kremlin of Moscow, though the Communist empire he launched early in the 20th century has been collapsed for over a decade now. It seems strange to me that such a leader should have been so honored after 100 years. Earth day began April 22, 1970 and has now grown to a global conservation observance. I thought it was fine back then, but doubts have grown. Yet, is it just by coincidence that this thirty-third observance following our war against terrorist Hussein in Iraq, should fall three days early on Holy Saturday (marking when when Jesus at age 33 was once dead in that tomb at Jerusalem)? I see a sign of connection: materialism with terrorism and Jesus with overcoming it. Just as He came down into this world and took an Adamic nature (marred and vulnerable to sin) and lived here as an earth creature, He would also arise in the new divine nature (glorified immortal body) that His final return will afford to all those reborn from above by the Spirit. We continue to look for His appearing (both we now alive and all those others asleep in Jesus. Chapter 15 of 1 Cor. describesl this incarnation/atonement. Thus the Easter message is about a regenerate race of new beings to inhabit eternity with their Savior. They will finally appear as in Rev.21 where "the first heaven and first earth had passed away." The preservation of this original earth is indeed a valid concern, because the Creator tells us in the first chapter of the Bible to "have dominion (stewardship)" over it, But our ultimate vision must be focused on the "new heaven and earth coming down from GOD out of heaven." That's where the Lord Jesus told us to lay up real treasure that could never be taken away. How vividly this has been seen last week with the lives of two young PV family men being cut off so suddenly, both in their early twenties. We pray that the hurting families find strength to go on in the comfort of Christ has given in His vicotry over death. "O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory...but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory trhough our Lord Jesus Christ.?" 1 Cor.15:55-58. www.angelfire.com/or/hazlitt
ANGELFIRE I hadn't seen any publicity about it being locally televised, but Sunday morning the PV Ministerial Alliance sunrise service was on channel two with all the participants I'd listed in this column previously. What a blessing to watch, especially Brother Bob Kanary's message on the Resurrection. Jack Pack provides us a real community service with the local channel he operates, LFTN. You can also see his own Bible study Monday evenings, the sheriff Tuesday and Ron Jarman Thursday. And First Baptist has their worship on each Sunday morning. I must finish this and get up to the Bosa Center this morning to register those attending our district Rotary convention starting today (Friday). Tonight's the "Bullnanza" up at PV's Area with that exciting theme, "Thunder In The Valley." This will climax Tony Leddy's year as club president and then he'll hand the gavel over to Doc Holiday. Our newest member is PV's new postmaster, Barbara Mullins. She's been a member at Sulphur and will simply transfer here to a club that keeps growing. As I watch the news in Iraq, I really do like that General Jay Garner who is in charge of rebuilding that country. Judging by his attitude, I'll bet he's a Rotarian. Some reported asked him if it wasn't a daunting task and he answered philosophically "I feel that we are put here on earth to try to help someone." It brought to my mind a song I'd learned as a chile: If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody they are traveling wrong; then my living will not be in vain. No my living will not be in vain. If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living will not be in vain. I can still recall how it was sung at the funeral for Martin Luther King jr. there in Atlanta GA. TV was still in black and white in '68, but I could feel the whole nation weep as it was sung. Jesus showed us in His earthly career that man's purpose is simply to "help someone." God bless our general in Iraq and those who join to rebuild where satan has wrought such terror and ruin.
Did you take note of those Elmore City councilmen who changed their minds about having a legal fight over their illegal meeting. They all issued pleas instead. It made me think of state senator Gene Stipe from McAlestar, long famous as a leal heavy weight. But he ended his career by bowing out quietly when the feds got some stuff on him. There's a line in the well known poem by T.S.Elliot that says it nicely, "That's the way the world ends, that's the way the world ends, that's the way the world ends not with a bank but a whimper." Sort of makes me think of the late great Saddam Hussein's henchmen who are being rounded up daily, Aziz most recently. Law and order still have a way of prevailing in spite of all the devious ways of mankind. He's said he would die before going to the American's Gitmo prison. But looks now like that's where he's going next.