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™ Vol. 13 Issue 29
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August 20-26, 2008 www.aframnews.com
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Edifying the Lunch Bunch See page 2
Temple Priests have major problems MARIO SALAS
African-American News&Issues
The modern day “Temple Priests,” as the mega-pastors have come to be known, are constantly finding themselves in the middle of trouble. A coupld of years ago, Victoria Osteen, the wife of mega-pastor Joel Osteen, was fined Victoria Osteen $5,000 (later reduced to $3000) by the FAA although last week, was found “not guility” in civil court, for apparently taking on an air of arrogance against airline workers who were ordered around as if they were her play things. According to press reports, Victoria was busted and charged with interfering with a crew member. There is no denying the fine over the incident which started in the first class section of a Continental Airlines flight over a tiny spot on her seat slightly bigger than the size of a quarter. The Osteens paid the fine in order to put the incident behind them. Paying the fine was no an admission of guilt. Being of such opulent wealth it
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seems that Osteen got beside herself and thought she was so important that she could push her way into the cockpit to complain about a small spot. It seems that the humbleness of Christ was far away from her mind. With Lakewood church having a sizable number of AfricanAmericans, it was even cruder for Victoria to indicate that she did not want to deal with the Black flight attendants. According to the AP, she wanted to deal only with the White flight attendant. What is the problem here? One mega-Temple Priest after another is falling apart. It stands to reason when you drift away from the true teachings of Christ, you begin to think of yourself as some “messiah.” Mrs. Osteen should have been arrested and charged with a felony for trying to bum rushes the cabin door of the pilot. This is what would have happened to anyone else. Many pastors are more concerned with wealth and power, big houses, planes, helicopters, VIP status, and the like, while claiming they are “blessed” because they have all of these material possessions. They are allowed to turn churches into businesses. What a shame and a sham! I am certain that Jesus would have thrown these material minded pastors and their arrogant wives out of the temple if he were alive today. Big money, big cars, big shoes, big robes, big everything is the order of the day in many of these churches. But what can you expect from the rich and famous? I don’t question the palace priests’ belief in God, but I do question their motives when they live these extravagant lifestyles. What happened to living the simple life? What happened to teaching by example? Someone who lives the life of a king can hardly tell any else how to live, especially when such arrogance is shown. Last year, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Ohio), who is the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee started an investigation into the finances of several well-known TV pastors who earn millions of dollars—yet pay no taxes. The inquiry is part of Grassley’s long-standing interest in makingsure tax-exempt organizations are accountable to donors. “I’m following up on complaints from the public and news coverage regardSee PRIESTS page 6
Inasmuch as African-American News&Issues has long been a reliable resource (on Internet search engines as well as the Houston Public Library), the celebration of Eva Lee MullinsHodges’s long, blessed and highly favored life on August 30, 2008 at Augustana Lutheran Church, 2001 Wheeler Avenue will be duly noted in the annals of history for future generations. Pastor Paul Schairer officiated an order of service that included: Ira B. Scott Sr., Raymond Booker, Carl W. Scott Sr., and Ellis May, III, who said farewell to Eva, who was born September 9, 1918 in Quitman, Mississippi to Louie and Cora Lee Dixon Mullins. Sadly, she lost her parents at a young age. But thanks to her loving grandparents, Ran and Mary Montgomery Mullins, Eva and her brother James were reared in Starkville, Mississippi (Settled after the Choctaw inhabitants of Oktibbeha County surrendered their claims to land in the area in the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830). However, Eva, who accepted
The Games Begin
Poli-tricks’ confuse Olympics’ message
President George Bush and Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin became enstranged bedfellows at Beijing Olympics, after Russia invaded Georgia. BUD JOHNSON
African-American News&Issues
The United States boycotted the 1960 Summer Olympics to protest the 1979 Soviet war in Afghanistan. Consequently, President George W. Bush was in somewhat of a political Catch-22 when he was pressed to boycott the Beijing Olympics. Not so much because Bush is largely responsible for the current war that’s ongoing in 2008 Afghanistan, as it is that it would be hypocritical to chastise political China for violation of human rights, while at a time corporate America is selling the nation’s economic soul to corporate China. Dare I also mention the further irony of the fact that greed driven “poli-tricks” have made the USA and Russian “strange bedfellows?” Then again, Russia’s wanton attack on the sovereign nation of Georgia exacerbates an already tenuous relationship between the two self-destructing nations. Meanwhile, African-American News&
Eva Lee Mullins-Hodges
September 9, 1918-August 18, 2007
Christ at a young age was always mindful of her birth city, that also has a rich history. Quitman, located between Archusa Creek on the east and the Chickasaway River on the west, was officially recognized by the Mississippi Legislature on February 13, 1839. Nevertheless, she moved to Rockford, Illinois during her teenage years, where she was raised and completed her education under the tutelage of her Uncle Ira Richard Matthews and Aunt Annie Mont-
Issues (Black America’s strongest editorial voice that speaks with an uncompromised Black perspective), would be remiss not to explain how “poli-tricks” confuse the Olympics’ message. Thus, we defer to USA Today’s synopsis: “After tonight’s opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics dazzles the world, the Games will morph for many viewers into a titanic battle between the United States and China for the prize of prizes: Which country will capture the most medals? Not that the Olympic Games are supposed to be about national pride over individual and team achievement. But the reality is that they often are. “At times — most recently when the U.S. and Soviet Union were locked in fierce competition to prove the superiority of capitalism or communism — the Olympics take on an added symbolism. So it is today. For all that the Olympics are billed as China’s comingout party into the world, they are also about whether China’s emerggomery Matthews. After blossoming into a beautiful, young woman, Eva met and married the late Richard T. Hodges in Rockford on December 22, 1953. Later, she moved to Chicago to attend Nursing School, where she received her LVN degree. She worked as a private duty nurse in Chicago for over 40 years. While living in Chicago, she was very active at Christ The Mediator Lutheran Church. She was a member for over 50 years and worked on numerous committees and community outreach missions. Eva was a loving and devoted wife and caregiver for her husband until his death in 1988. After 50 years in Chicago, she moved to Houston to reside with her beloved, goddaughter niece, Dawana Matthews Lewis-Scott and her husband, Carl Scott and son Theron Lewis. The Scotts give special thanks to caregiver Aminata Bright, whose patience and love made Eva’s final days joyous. Eva, was preceded in death by her family members and spe-
ing system, a blend of capitalism and political repression, will prove such a powerful model that it will seriously challenge U.S. and Western-style democracy. These Games are a perfect metaphor for China’s emerging competitiveness in areas beyond athletics. For centuries, it was focused on keeping the world out. Not anymore. Beijing is aggressively engaged in the world, in ways that hold lessons for Americans who’ve grown doubtful about their nation’s ability to solve problems and achieve great goals.” Illegal immigration woes aside, according to David Walker, who audits the federal government’s books as the U.S. comptroller general, China is winning gold for Team Communism. “I really do not believe the American people have a real idea as to where we are and where we’re headed, and what the potential implications are for the country if we don’t start making some tough decisions soon,” Walker said during an AP interview. See OLYMPICS’ page 3
cial friends, who she loved dearly. God called Eva home on August 18, 2008 to join them. Those who will cherish her memories are: Carl Scott, Theron Lewis, Barbara Mullins, James Mullins, Curtis Mullins, Harold Mullins, Karmen Mullins, Marcus Mullins, Estelle May, Ellis May, III, Adia May, Adamma May, Asha May, Pamela Stallings, Karen Wicker, Ira Matthews, III, Pam Matthews, Kristal Matthews, Kelli Matthews, Yvette Powell, Sandy Davis, Deborah Booker Hodges, Raymond Hodges, Viola Matthews, Cheryl Matthews, Kai Johnson, Deborah Booker and Ray Hodges. She also leaves in God’s care her special friends: Marion Henderson, Kionne Wyndewicke, Claudia Hunter, Elzada Primus, Cheryl Johnson, Bernice Boyd, Regina Hodges, Charmaine Homey, Betty Shannon, Ira and Evelyn Scott, Cassandra Booker-Narcisse, Pat Hartwell, Donna Burroughs, Kathy Dorsey, Beverly Hardy, Ms. Lilly, Cheryl Fleming, Arie Lavergne, and a host of other friends and relatives. TX-1