Monday, June 26, 2023

SPACE, WERNER VON BRAUN, & JULY 4

Published Monday, June 26, 2023

A note from

OCPAC FOUNDATION PRESIDENT

BOB LINN

HERO WHO FOLLOWED

THE PATH OF 1776

At the State Department of Education’s (SDE) board meeting this past Thursday, Ryan Walters announced steps to expose Oklahoma’s next generation to the founding principles upon which the world’s bastion of freedom was built. Itemized were prayer, the Ten Commandments, and Western Civilization.


Not many years ago, the list of founding principles the SDE will be implementing would have raised complaints from only an inconspicuous few. Those were days when the voices of the U.S. Communist Party and the American Atheists were an uncommon bit of fringe on American’s cultural landscape.


Today, the fringe has cast a shadow over the family, the church, academia, entertainment, government, journalism, and commerce.

Nevertheless, Oklahoma’s voters have confirmed their desire to reject mandatory state education and to establish a free system of educational choice which respects parental authority over the training of our children.


In choosing Ryan Walters, the voter also advocated for eliminating the shocking presence of pornography that had infiltrated our classrooms and the minds of our youth. 


OKLAHOMA AND RYAN WALTERS ARE

FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF 1776


Next week, we will pause to celebrate the vote of the Continental Congress to approve the Declaration of Independence. It was a vote with a death penalty attached. The British would have hung many of those American founders had the ensuing war been lost.


If nothing else, Oklahoma’s voters have provided hope that the risk our founders assumed on July 4, 1776, might continue to bear fruit. Today, our State Board of Education is doing their part.

Walters and the Board of Education, along with tens of thousands of fellow Oklahomans, taking to heart the words of Ronald Reagan’s January 5, 1967 inaugural address as Governor of California when he said:

Perhaps you and I have lived too long with this miracle to properly be appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and it's never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.


WERNHER VON BRAUN &

OUR NATIONAL FREEDOM


As we look to next week’s Independence Day remembrance, I have enjoyed remembering the life of a German immigrant whose bold leadership helped assure that the path of political freedom forged by our forefathers would be extended.


Just prior to the end of the war in Germany, a top-secret U.S. Intelligence program assisted the defection of a large group of German scientists from the Nazi Party.

Germany’s leading rocket scientist, Wernher von Braun, led this massive defection.

The covert affair, dubbed Operation Paperclip, brought the scientific brain power of 1,600 German scientists to work for the cause of freedom and the Joint Intelligence Objectives Agency (JIOA).

The goal was to bolster American interests during the cold war by developing America’s arsenal of rockets and other weapons. A central focus of JIOA was to ensure this science did was not leaked to the Soviets.


In September of 1944, von Braun had voiced his objection to Hitler’s use of the Von Braun rocket project to bomb civilian targets in Paris and London. For that protest, the Gestapo sent him to prison. He was released soon afterward, as the German scientific community could not function without him.

The next year, in 1945, American troops penetrated central Germany and, through Operation Paperclip, enabled Von Braun, and his entire team of scientists, to escape to freedom in America.


These men became America’s space program.

Their families came with

them, making it a massive

evacuation of 5,000 people.


Von Braun explained his surrender to the United States with this statement:


I myself, and everybody you see here, have decided to go West ... We knew that we had created a new means of warfare ... We felt that only by surrendering such a weapon to people who are guided by the Bible could such an assurance to the world be best secured.


Wernher von Braun made this statement as a nominal Lutheran. However, while in El Paso, Texas, at a small country church, he encountered the God of whom Martin Luther spoke, in a far more profound way and devoted his life to Christ.

As a result, this man who oversaw, in Germany, the world’s first operational guided ballistic missile, who became director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, who was the chief architect of Saturn V, who laid the foundation for cell phones, satellite radio, the Internet, GPS, and Doppler radar, who in 1960, supervised the development of the Saturn liquid-fuel rocket, and who was at the center of the entire Project Apollo enterprise, which was the peak of the American space program … this man, became, like those who forged the scientific revolution before him, an ardent Christian and an impassioned proponent of sustaining the Biblical foundations of American society. 

Von Braun believed that Biblical origins should be taught objectively in government schools. For him, the claim that science and religion should be separate is invalid. For von Braun:


Science, in its drive to understand the creation, and religion in its drive to understand the Creator, have many common objectives.


Von Braun stressed that more than ever America’s survival depends on the adherence to basic ethical principles provided by Christianity.

When asked about his views on religion and science, von Braun answered:


The Ten Commandments are entirely adequate—without amendments—to cope with all the problems the technological revolution not only has brought up, but will bring up in the future … “The Bible is the most effective bulwark ever built against the erosive effects of time. It is the revelation of God’s nature and love.

Prayer, too, was critically important to von Braun. Asked when his need to pray was particularly strong, he stated that he prayed a lot before and during the crucial Apollo flights.20:


Science and religion are like two windows in a house through which we look at the reality of the Creator and the laws manifested in His creation.


As long as we see two different images through these two windows…we must keep trying to obtain a more complete and better integrated total picture of the ultimate reality by properly tying together our scientific and religious concepts.

Clearly, Wernher von Braun would have been among the first to join Oklahoma’s Christian patriots who gather each month at the monthly board meetings to affirm the work of Ryan Walters and the State Board of Education.


Like the Americans of past generations, he would affirm the need of Oklahoma children to understand the role in American history of prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the development of Western Civilization.


Wernher von Braun's endorsement of the Ten Commandments and prayer as fundamental elements in society are an endorsement of the recommendations of the Oklahoma Advisory Committee on Founding Principles listed below. These were endorsed by Ryan Walters at the State Board of Education meeting this past Thursday. Many of you were there to witness the event.


Each of these played a vital role in forming society’s paths to God and the political freedom the nations of the world so admire in America.


The leftists who have infiltrated America's many institutions would have us think that they represent civilizational muscle. It is not the case, and the American Christian must begin to understand the responsibility and the influence of the church in cultural development.


My thanks to both the Institute of Creation Research (ICR)

and Bill Federer for leading me to this information

on Wernher von Braun two years ago.


Find ICR on von Braun here.

_____________________

For more from Bill Federer:

Read today's American Minute here.

Subscribe to American Minute here.

CONTENTS


LAST WEEK STATE BOARD of EDUCATION

June 22, 2023


LAST WEEK AT OCPAC FOUNDATION

June 21, 2023

Fr. Stephen Hamilton

Chad Christiansen


TWO WEEKS AGO

June 14, 2023

U.S. Senator James Lankford


THREE WEEKS AGO

June 07, 2023

Ryan Walters

RYAN WALTERS ANNOUNCES

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE

THE OKLAHOMA ADVISORY

COMMITTEE ON FOUNDING PRINCIPLES


The United States of America is a harbor of hope for all, a nation blessed with liberty, justice, and opportunity for all people. Adherence to the principles of our nation’s founding civic documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, secures these blessings for future generations. Our nation’s founding principles are built on dependence on Nature’s God and His Laws (see the Declaration of Independence). As stated on America’s currency:


IN GOD WE TRUST


The Oklahoma Advisory Committee on Founding Principles encourages the Oklahoma State Department of Education to keep its public instruction grounded in what it means to be a citizen of Oklahoma and the United States of America.


Our Founding Fathers believed morality and virtue are required for this nation’s citizenry to be capable of self-rule and the promotion of the common good. We agree.


The formation of morality and virtue in students is integral to the work of public education. Maintaining this nation’s founding principles is a gift to students in aiding their intellectual growth and development of civic identity.


A few years ago, an outdoor marquee at an Oklahoma City public school proclaimed:


Do what is right, not what is easy.


We agree.


The Oklahoma Advisory Committee on Founding Principles recommends that the Oklahoma Department of Education:


1.  Enforces the existing state statute, Oklahoma Statutes Title 70, Section 11-101.2, whereby each school in each Oklahoma school district shall begin every school day with a minute of silence. This shall be a full minute and not only the commonly referred to “moment.” Prior to each day’s minute of silence, each school in each district must announce over the school’s public address system the following purpose for the minute of silence:


We now pause for a minute of silence in which students and teachers may use this minute to reflect, meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity.


This pattern may be followed for significant school functions throughout the academic schoolyear.


2.  Requires that each classroom of each school in Oklahoma school districts displays a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a prominent location.


3.  Requires a Western Civilization course for graduation as part of the curriculum in each school in each Oklahoma school district to strengthen the heritage which was integral to the nation’s founding and western culture, as well as to foster gratitude and informed citizenship.


Implementing these recommendations will help create a society of free, virtuous, and flourishing citizens.


Implementing these recommendations will help restore society to its origins as a free, virtuous, and flourishing citizenry.


SBE BOARD AGENDA HERE

NEA/OEA EXPOSED

Video of 2022 National Convention in Chicago

Last week's State Department of Education (SDE) meeting premiered a shocking video of the NEA/OEA agenda.


It was presented as a part of Ryan Walter's State Superintendent of Public Instruction report.


WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

JUNE 21, 2023


L.A. DODGERS and the

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Father Stephen Hamilton received a standing ovation after his exceptionally well-done presentation of the issues in Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers.


Watch Fr. Hamilton here

Watch the entire program here

IN THE GAP

Chad Christiansen

We need to partner with Chad in orchestrating a statewide network reaching children for Christ.


Watch the entire program here

June 14, 2023

U.S. SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD

Hear the presentation of James Lankford here


James in Senate addressing the border on C-SPAN here

OCPAC FOUNDATION

JUNE 7, 2023

RYAN WALTERS

Hear the presentation of Ryan Walters here


Video on the NEA/OEA and porn in

Oklahoma classrooms here

OCPAC FOUNDATION

FUND RAISING

Monday, June 19, 2023

7th Inning Stench: Catholic Priest & L.A. Dodgers at OCPAC Foundation

Published Monday, June 19, 2023

WE ARE MEETING

This Wednesday at NOON

Oklahoma History Center

CATHOLIC PRIEST

SPEAKS OUT AGAINST

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

This Wednesday

PRIEST CRIES "FOUL"

SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE

L.A. DODGERS

Fr. Stephen Hamilton is one of the most outspoken cultural critics in Oklahoma and when it comes to the posture of those who represent the American Pastime, he does not hold back his disdain.


That Major League Baseball (MLB) would promote sodomy to American children would have been thought an impossibility even ten years ago.


The thought that it would sponsor the most reprobate of society to conduct sexual displays on the cross of Christ would have been unthinkable.


Fr. Hamilton, in his measured way, will pronounce ecclesiastical fire and brimstone this Wednesday as he connects the dots between the L.A. Dodgers and the more recent nude displays on the White House lawn.

_________

also this Wednesday ...

Recovering our

Culture for Christ

Chad Christiansen has passed many impressive milestones as he is introducing Bible classes into the government schools in Oklahoma.


His biggest roadblock is finding pastors who have an interest in reaching our youth for Christ.


Hear his story as he follows Fr. Hamilton and weaves his story of hope on the horizon in our state.

Bring your family and friends this Wednesday to the Oklahoma History Center. However, do not forget to bring your pastor and offer to buy his lunch!


The future of a nation depends upon its shepherds to guard, protect, and guide the people of God that we may perform our roles well in both family and state.


Please bring your friends, family,

church leaders, and your pastors!


$5 ENTRY FEE

Tax-deductible donations accepted at door.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT THIS THURSDAY ...

STATE BOARD

OF EDUCATION

YOU ARE INVITED:


MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND

WITH A FRIEND

June 22, 2023

Thursday

9:00 am


State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, and the State Department of Education, invite you to attend their June 22nd public meeting.


Your comments and presence are sought as the foundation of the future of Oklahoma's children is being established. The SDE offices are on the northeast lawn of the Oklahoma State Capitol.


PLEASE MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND:


State Department of Education

Oliver Hodge Education Building

2500 N. Lincoln Blvd, OKC, OK


Thursday, June 22, 2023


8:00 a.m. Gather for fellowship and prayer.

8:30 a.m. Sign in for option to speak.

9:00 a.m. SDE meeting begins.

SEE YOU AT THE WEDNESDAY LUNCHEON

___________



WEDNESDAY LUNCH

Doors open 11:00 AM


$5 entry fee

Tax-deductible donations accepted at door.



Optional Lunch 11:00 AM

Meeting NOON to 1:15 PM



Optional Lunch: $10


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TABLE of CONTENTS


BOB LINN

Juneteenth



LAST WEEK'S MEETING

U.S. Senator James Lankford

Frederick Douglass Republicans


TWO WEEKS AGO

Ryan Walters

Angel Myers


YOU ARE INVITED ...

STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

THIS MONTH! Thursday, June 22 9:00 am ODE Meeting

BOB LINN

Juneteenth

Today is Juneteenth.


The sunrise on the morning of June 19, 1865 was the dawn of more than a calendar day. It was, for more than 250,000 blacks in Texas, a day when life became their own to live and its profound significance memorialized as Juneteenth. It is a celebration of America’s goodness and her Christian ideals.

In the 1860’s, America was at war with itself.


We were a people with conflicting ideas.  We were unsure as to whether the spiritual and theological foundations of our moral code trumped the more narcissistic foundations of what for many had become the convenient theory of the economic foundations supporting slavery’s normalcy.


For Lincoln, the political path was difficult

and was, in the end, soaked in blood.

For the American black, slavery began not in America, but in Africa.


Slavery was an African project.


Its demolition would be initiated by America’s whites who would work to set the black slaves free. It was the demolition of a social cancer which cost well over 600,000 lives.

Antonin Dvorak is the Czech composer who concluded his illustrious career in America. In February of 1895, he wrote an article in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine praising the American people for all their achievements.


His point is to beg for more funding for classical music, but he ends his article with a profound statement not about the money we spend, but the blood we are willing to shed on each other’s behalf:

When I see how much is done in every other field by public-spirited men in America--how schools, universities, libraries, museums, hospitals, and parks spring up out of the ground and are maintained by generous gifts--I can only marvel that so little has been done for music.


To bring about this result we must trust to the ever-youthful enthusiasm and patriotism of this country. When this is accomplished, and when music has been established as one of the reigning arts of the land, another wreath of fame and glory will be added to this country which earned its name, the "Land of Freedom," by unshackling her slaves at the price of her own blood.


Juneteenth commemorates the decency of the American people to put a stop to the indecent treatment of her fellow man.

There is a bank in Shawnee, Oklahoma which has the story backwards.


The bank’s Juneteenth sign displays the communist fist and African colors.


Both are symbols of oppression and slavery.


Africa is where the oppression of the black man began.


Christian America set the black man free.

Christian America, through the determined work of Lincoln’s Republican party, fought in the U.S. Congress to secure the civil rights of all men.


There was hope that, having eviscerated slavery, post-Civil War America was upgrading some of its moral underpinnings and no longer at war with ourselves.


Just before he was tragically killed last year by a drunk driver, Angelo Codevilla completed his last book, America’s Rise and Fall among Nations. Dr. Codevilla was a friend and a storied member of the U.S. intelligence community.

Prior to his death last year, Codevilla came to the conclusion we were, instead of moving forward, unravelling.


In the book, he speaks of the current fall of the American cultural landscape and refers to Americans as “a people diminished morally and intellectually, and at war with itself.”

This Wednesday, Father Hamilton’s message to the Los Angeles Dodgers will underline Codevilla’s point as he delineates the unbridgeable gap between the moral underpinnings of America’s left and right.


The world’s most eminent thought leaders have indicated the solution is a return to our Christian roots. Dostoevsky, Solzhenitsyn, T.S. Eliot, Victor Orbán, Marcello Pera, and even the renowned atheist, Jorgen Habermas, are in agreement on this point.


Codevilla notes as he closes his book that the American tradition “follows from George Washington’s simple observation that ‘the foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality.’ He did not need to elaborate.”

Last week, Shane Jett spoke of Flag Day at OCPAC and noted

the work which had been done to engender national pride

in our symbol of national achievement and greatness.


In it, he spoke of the slavery of our nation’s youth and

its blood-soaked commitment to unravel the chains of

oppression that all those on American shores would walk free.


Read his prose, The Birth of a Nation, here.

A few thousand of you read this newsletter each week. I would challenge you to connect with us through our meetings, or by email and get involved in bolstering the Christian cultural foundations of Oklahoma that we may cast a light on our nation, the last bastion of freedom in the world.

Christianity is the very foundation of human thought.

It is the foundation of free and prosperous societies.

We are in desperate need of returning

our nation and our state to Biblical foundations.


Thank you for your activism.

_________

This Wednesday's luncheon!


11:00 AM Doors open

11:00 AM Lunch Available

NOON to 1:15 PM Meeting


Oklahoma History Center

800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr., OKC, OK 73105


God bless!

LAST WEEK


SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD

James Lankford presented a chilling picture of the treasonous posture of Washington's border policy.


His address on the Senate floor here


His presentation to OCPAC FOUNDATION here


Entire presentation of OCPAC FOUNDATION meeting here

______________

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

REPUBLICANS

CECILIA JOHNSON


Her presentation to OCPAC FOUNDATION here


Entire presentation of OCPAC FOUNDATION meeting here

TWO WEEKS AGO


RYAN WALTERS

We lost track of the number of standing ovations Ryan Walters received. He was electrifying and his presentations are well worth watching!


His video on the NEA/OEA/OK Schools here


His presentation to OCPAC FOUNDATION here


Entire presentation of OCPAC FOUNDATION meeting here

________________

ANGEL MYERS

Angel Myers is a bold culture warrior and we were thrilled to have her.


Her presentation to OCPAC FOUNDATION here


Entire presentation of OCPAC FOUNDATION meeting here

YOU ARE INVITED:


MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND

WITH A FRIEND

June 22, 2023

Thursday

9:00 am

State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, and the State Department of Education, invite you to attend their June 22nd public meeting.


Your comments and presence are sought as the foundation of the future of Oklahoma's children is being established. The SDE offices are on the northeast lawn of the Oklahoma State Capitol.


PLEASE MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND:


State Department of Education

Oliver Hodge Education Building

2500 N. Lincoln Blvd, OKC, OK


Thursday, June 22, 2023


8:00 a.m. Gather for fellowship and prayer.

8:30 a.m. Sign in for option to speak.

9:00 a.m. SDE meeting begins.

OCPAC FOUNDATION is a 501 (c) (3).

Gifts are tax-deductible.


Bring your checkbook this Wednesday!

Make your tax-deductible donation

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