News from the Heartland...of Christian Zionism

Hey ya'll
Now I know Oklahoma is not a fabulous far-off country, but, as it does hold the cherished title of the heart of Christian Zionism, I thought I would keep you abreast of recent developments. First, 2007 is the centennial for Oklahoma, so we are full of patriotic state songs full of Oklahoma pride. Don’t get me wrong, Oklahoma is home and I see many of its good qualities despite is lack of natural beauty, resources, or strategic location. Basically, most Oklahomans are campaigning for the greatness of the state and America despite themselves, due to the overwhelming saturation of cheesy songs and posters.
My church held the “Prophecy Conference” this past weekend. Complete with Tim Lahaye as the keynote speaker (I thought the Left Behind books were supposed to be a joke…) I heard a sermon this morning where he mourned the recent death of Jerry Falwell, and claimed that he is the most influential Christian (greater than Billy Graham he specifically noted) and that Christ himself will walk out of the gates of heaven to welcome Jerry Falwell into heaven. Now, I am not questioning his salvation, all I am saying is that those where some pretty strong words. Furthermore, he claimed Regan (who is the greatest president of the last century in case you were wondering) would not have been elected without Falwell, and the Holy Land would not be secure without Regan. The majority of his sermon was focused on the importance of prophecy (if it could be said there was a focus besides praising Falwell) and how the knowledge of Christ returning changed how we live. I am not saying it doesn’t, or that prophecy is valueless, but we all know the problems with the church’s obsession with preparing the way for the messiah.
Luckily, I think his style and over-politicization of the sermon (he even urged us to register and vote!) was a bit too much for the congregation, despite our dedication to the end times. I had most of my friends at the back of the church wanting to see if I would spew. I didn’t, I just laughed. But my brother made some unkind comment about Jerry Falwell and that really pissed my mom off to see that he too was going down a wayward path of non-bible-believing-damn-liberals! Haha…she didn’t talk all of lunch. My brother’s thoughts are totally his own from his school-no influence of mine!
One other side note. The major Christian book store in these parts is Mardel. I was in there the other say trying to help my mom find a devotion book for her junior girls (there is a sweet one on girl advice by ReliantK and one in the style of Napoleon Dynamite—I wish I had such skills to write such quality literature) . I turned the corner and there was a whole wall of books entitled “Apocalypto Code” and “Armageddon on the Rise” and so on. You get the jist. One of the subtitles listed as a major subject of the book “Why it is useless to negotiate with Islamic Fundamentalists.” They all dealt with the problem of Islam, its violence, and its association with the rapidly approaching end of the world. Of course Islamic Fundamentalists using violence are a problem, and I don’t know if these authors dealt fairly and seriously with different groups, but I am pessimistic due to the general attitude of the wall of books.
I was once in the same camp most of my fellow Oklahomans. I consider myself to have lucked out due to my education and various professors. But it is really hard for me to see any way to get through to my friends and community around me what Christ really is. Obsession with the Messiah is good as long as it leads to Christ-like life…and hate and fear that lies in their eyes seems impenetrable.

But besides all that, being home is actually far better than I could have ever anticipated, and some of my best friends from high school are at similar places in life and in thought and in Christianity as I am, so I have been totally blessed honestly, to have them around.
Can’t wait to see any and all of you on the fourth!
emilyevans