"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 6-2-05
I just heard Larry King interview that pastor who wrote "The Purpose Driven Life" asking him why it "won" that escaped inmate in Atlanta who shot three people to death while getting away. My guess is that the attractive young lady who read it to him while she was his captive did more than the book to cause his "change of heart." That's in quotes because he is pleading not guilty now. But the author did claim how we humans hunger for meaning, and I'll sure agree with that. "Everyone needs to feel significant" he said. Surely it's part of the fifteen minutes of fame mania which has TV helped to create. Boredom seems torture as severe as a burning hell in today's world. That's why entertainers become our greatest celebrities (highest paid too). And I consider professional sports all the same, since they produce excitement and amusement (along with wagers on the games for even more simulation). Yet none of it offers a final purpose for living. I read Eccleastes in the Contemporary English Version where Solomon tells how he's experienced all the magnificent pleasures humanly possible and is left feeling that "nothing makes sense." I consider it the most dismal Scripture of all the Bible,though he does admit that 'wisdom is better than folly." And we know he was wisest of all before Christ. Then he concludes "There is no end to books, and too much study will wear you out," closing with "Respect and obey GOD! This is what life is all about. GOD will judge everything we do, even what is done in secret, whether good or bad." Solomon's other two works, Proverbs and Song of Songs, don't offer any more as far as I can tell. Yet that's some better than what he started out saying, "nothing makes sense," which would rule out even a divine purpose and the teleological argument for GOD's existence.
Communion began our Annual Conference at St.Luke's in OKC Monday afternoon by recalling those deceased since a year ago. The sacramental bread dipped in grape juice not only links living believes in Christ, but includes even those departed ones as their names are read out loud. It takes a long time for so many to go up and be served the elements. I like to watch for those I know from all over OK as they return to their places. Our new AfroAmerican bishop conducted the ceremony with great dignity and preached a powerful message later on. His name if Robert Hayes and he's from Housten TX.
One of our soldiers on tv in Baghdad said Monday as more troops had died that "Everyday's Memorial Day over here." They pause to remember their fallen and then press on against the insurrectionists. How I wish we could have brought them home with the capture of Saddam Hussein over a year ago. But we are engrossed in other concerns, sometimes just to forget the war I fear. Star Wars is pure fantasy for entertainment and distraction. But look how big it's final "Revenge of the Sith" has been. Maybe escapism can be a little justified but it becomes as futile as all those pleasures were for king Solomon. America has become a pleasure palace while trying to stamp out terrorism. We should be down on our knees more than up on our rolly coasters. I feel the same was about American Idol, even though the national winner is from our own state. "Idol" is a hideous term in Holy Scripture which means "false god" or "object of worship created by man." Just look at the second commandment of the decalogue in Lev.20 or Deut.5. COME LORD JESUS
ANGELFIRE 6-4-05
Jeff Shultz was right on top of that big news revelation about "deep throat." Since I'm not a professional journalist, it didn't bother me as much. That W.Mark Felt guy evidently just grew weary of keeping his identity secret, especially if money could be made by coming out of the closet. Felt saw how Bob Woodward and Leonard Bernstein were going to make big bucks telling about it after he died (at 91 that could be soon). So his daughter persuaded him to get the jump on them with his own report. Yet they've now announced a book they must have already had in the works. I'm sure Jeff hates for it all being so commercial. (I feel the same way about "bought off" religious leaders) And now Watergate's coming back on tv after three decades for Nixon haunt us from his grave. Back in the seventies I was paying more attention to the Jesus People who were stirring up church folks with their unconventional kind of discipleship. They captured my imagination with their disdain for monetary concerns. When they came to Tulsa, I was one of the few pastors who spoke on their behalf. So at our district meeting it was suggested that I'd become a "Jesus Freak." The label didn't offend me but it sure didn't help my clergy career (if I ever had one). I see that as my personal Watergate, though I didn't get immersed until being pastor at Marlow in '80, when I was at First Baptist to dip several Methodist teens who sought such baptism. I thought "Lord do I have a right to do this since I was only sprinkled as a baby?" Like being slain in the Spirit, I fell back in the baptistry under the water, then was raised up. The youth and their families didn't know what to make of it and there wasn't time to explain. I just went ahead dripping wet to immerse the six youth. I've always claimed my infant baptism at P.V. but count that one as supplementary for the sake of ministering.
Looks like Michael Jackson's going to some time. My prayers have been for the jury in that trial. They don't hear all the stuff the public gets, so hopefully they can be fair minded. But pedofiles don't fine sympathy anywhere, except from those tainted with pedophilia. I read a blog written by one who claimed it was a true form of love between a man and boy. "Boy lovers are not homosexuals" he claimed. As I read his page I recalled things I'd heard way back at OU about the relationship between knights and their boys in the Middle Ages. It was something noble since each knight had a lady he revered and served, but a boy he kept. That spoiled my image of the medieval age that we'd sung about in church: "Follow the gleam of the light that shall bring the dawn." It was a hymn glorifing that quest for the Holy Grail. OU harshly debunked it for me. Another thing about "Peter Pan: the Boy Who Would't Grow Up" that I read on a couple of different blogs was how it's author in 19th century England seemed to have a fascination with young boys that was suspect back then. Going to be tough for Jackson, but at least it may help for him to have become white, sincean all white CA jury is deciding his case.
The run away bride has finally made her apology and faces heavy fines and strict supervision. Jennifer Wilbanks had a conscience, in my opinion. After living together with John Mason, she couldn't go through that big church wedding. He's rightly stuck by her and it should just be private in my opinion. Weddings depict the coming of our Lord for His church. Thus they should be sacred. If she wares a gown, it should mean that she's "washed her robe and made it white in the blood of the Lamb" I say.
PART OF COLUMN NOT SUBMITTED (unseemly?)
Last week I sang "The Evangelical Theme" at Mt. Olivet because it's words seem fitted for a cemetery. They've been on my website for several months and will be for another, because the tune of "Star Spangled Banner" certainly fits July 4 better than any other date. But I thought the audience of some 7000 for whom it was sung on Memorial Day, as I stood beside my parent's grave, was suitable. David Coffee gave me the count of how many are buried there. The words first came to me last Memorial Day, being revised again and again ever since. Of course, the LORD and His many angels surely heard (as I know they have the numerous rehearsals in my car): "Hail to Jesus our King" in high heaven they sing..." The rest you can punch up if you're interested. As David and I totaled up the grave numbers he estimated for Bethlehem and PV's Old Cemetery, we got another 7000. So the whole combined of deceased is twice the size of Pauls Valley. That's a sobering contemplation of how many have lived here before us who are here now. Besides "rest in peace" I want to add "until Christ appears to raise all His for a glorious ever after."
ANGELFIRE 6-8-05
PV National Bank's 100th celebration is Friday evening. And it's been my bank for over half that many years now. Still, I can't ever recall any bank getting heisted here in PV. Yet as one is celebrating longevity, another has been robbed in Pauls Valley? That's big city stuff to me! The Democrat's headline was startling last week. But with three banks (and a virtual one), one of them having an imposing new building and another finishing a century, it was our smallest which suffered the low blow. Seems that the bigger a town becomes, the bolder it's crimes. And "bank robbery" recalls from my childhood "great depression" days when such were common: Pretty Boy Floyd. John Dillinger or Bonnie and Clyde were the outlaw celebrities then. I think most were finally gunned down by our U.S. heroes of that era, the G-men. We lived for seven years in Southern IL when I was a boy and we'd hear about gangsters up north. Al Capone had ruled Chicago just a decade before then and we saw it as a very mean place. One of the kids in my bunch of pals ("Scottie") had come down from there. When he talked, it sounded so very tough to me. Then in later years I was stationed on Navy Pier, jutting out into lake Michigan from right near the downtown loop. Everyone in that windy city was kind to us, so I got a whole new feeling for the place. Even attended "the tallest church in the world" each Sunday, Chicago Temple. It was a skyscraper right in the heart of the loop, where patriotism was high and I never even heard mention of Capone. Was also there several times in later years, and sure felt anger when that '75 Democrat Convention broke up under attack by all those rioting protestors. Remember how they chanted "hell no, we won't go" (to Viet Nam) in that time of such violence. Now I see Chicago's WGN channel, and think back to that year when WW II ended. I still went on training in electronics at Gulfport MS and then Treasure Island CA before coming home in '46 to start OU. The navy wanted us to stay in for atomic testing at Bikini Island, but I'm glad it didn't. So many suffered radiation problems from that. But lots of memories were provoked by a bank robbery here! And I'd already been banking at PV National from high school days. Congrats to them on their 100th, just a couple of years after the old tower was erected. Now it's my favorite toy of conversation. So "Toy Tower's" another title I've suggested for it.
American author Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote that poem to his own soul that I quoted. It's about a growing a sea shell, "Chambered Nautilus" and wasn't by John Keats as I'd said. Holmes was from Massachusetts rather than England. Maybe the poem caused our nuclear submarines to be named "nautilus" too (though not for building but for threat of destruction). And now it's likely that N.Korea already has at least one nuke, with Iran coming next in that dismal proliferation. Finally, the global terrorists can go nuclear. All that recent fury about the Quran's desecration at Gitmo has just added fuel toward a final conflagration as described in 2 Peter. So let's not lay up treasures here, but only in GOD's tomorrow bank, as we await His "Kingdom coming in a supernaturally renewed heaven and earth where "thieves don't break in to steal."
ANGELFIRE 6-9-05
Whitebead UMC is celebrating their church anniversary which I plan to attend Sunday morning. My father, the late J.M.Hazlitt, was their minister for a time and so I plan to take along the book of poems he wrote to read one there. He died in '69 but some here in PV still remember when his column "Sounding Off" was in the PV Democrat. Then he was secretary of the our Chamber of Commerce. I've never known anyone with a fuller vocabulary. Just seeing his poetry amazes me at such a gift of expression. Since I once aspired to be an artist, the drawings in his book are my contribution. So I guess you could call it a "father-son project." He was hospitalized in New Caledonia after being injured during a Japanese attack down on Rendova in the New Georgia islands and always walked with a limp from that enemy machine gun round he took in the left hip. All 19 comrades in his platoon perished as the plane's bomb hit some five tons of dynamite they'd (Seabees) just unloaded for construction. He along was spared and wrote "New Caledonia Dawn" in the navy hospital there. One line goes "God dips His mighty brushes in the colors of the dawn" or another "There, through a rift in the dawning was a glimpse of the face of God." He was just so thankful to be still alive and his very first poem in "Tangled Twine: of war, love, victory, thoughts & things" dedicates the book to his "Dear Comrades."
I could write the things you said And recount the works you wrought; There are words to picture the places Where you camped and built and fought;
Photographs can tell the stories Of the bases you fortified; Statistics can give the numbers And the names of you who died;
But nothing which could be written In poems or measured strains Could capture the valiant hearts of you, Dear friends, of far campaigns.
Other dramatic quotes: "The chain of days which dangle from the star of aspiration." "Nor stay the plotted course of grim events, but teach me, God, the way a man should die." "On jungle trail where stout hearts fail and the most of gain is loss." "The Carpenter stood at the mouth of the cave where the putrified body of Lazarus lay." "The tapestry is plotted in a massive master plan." My dad never drew any pictures that I know of, but he was an artist indeed with words. I think he'd be glad we are becoming a "Valley of the Arts." We need some joy to offset the mounting doom and gloom as terrorism keeps increasing. One of dad's poems is "Light From Pearl Harbor" that looks back on WW II: "That glow on the distant horizon, Shining bright through the cleansing years, Is not from the pyres of war's fierce fires---It's the glint from a billion tears." Now we look back on 9/11.
ANGELFIRE 6-14-05
Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson, guys that contrast in the extreme, have both come through great trauma the past few days: Tyson loosing because he couldn't answer the bell and Jackson winning because the verdict was "not guilty." Each have been dramatic public figures, yet each has wound up deep in debt. I saw Tyson's at $50 million, which seems overwhelming enough, but had heard Jackson's was $270 million. The former claimed he's finished boxing so guess he'll declare bankruptcy before October (when stricter law apply). Somehow I think the latter will resume singing and pay it all back. That's because we heard him say when charges were filed that he would be cleared of them all, and it happened. So now he's twice as well known everywhere on earth, though he'd already been a global super star doing his "moon walk," so maybe next he'll fly like Peter Pan to sing and dance on Mars as an inter-planetary celebrity. There's no porn to read, nor Jesus juice to drink, nor little boys to sleep with up there. Surely he'll be safe from a third time, because I doubt he could get off yet again.. Congress is making an apology to Afro-Americans for not ever passing anti-lynching laws. I'm sure it's to off-set paying "reparations for slavery" that came before them a year or so back. Then remember how pope John Paul II made an apology to the Jews for the Catholics doins so little to stop the Holocaust? But Germans did have to pay Israel a few years back just the same. So there may be more to come for Afro Americans. In fact, that 40 billion the Brits have promoted and we support for aid in Africa (from the affluent eight) is surely conscience money or "compassionate conservatism." Anyone pity our great, great grandchildren with debt in the trillions?
Sunday during White Bead's UMC anniversary we learned where that community got it's name. Their church historian, Kimper Kimberlin, explained that the Caddo leader who went there over century ago as George Washington, was also known as "Chief Whitebead." He led the settlers in forming a community which took his name. District Supt. Robert Rose opened the celebration with congratulations and then had to race off to Davis for preaching there. But pastor Dennis Yates introduced Rev.David Shahan and Rev.John Welch to tell of the time they'd served there; and then me to represent my dad, whose time was in '62. The late Alvin Powell had written about Dad's year and I was privileged (and honord) to read his glowing tribute paid to John Hazlitt. A lovely reception followed in the fellowship hall, with a chance to visit so many folks who had come; including PV's former editor, Susie Williams and her kids, 7 year old son and 11 year old daughter.
I always read the local pastor's part on our Friday church page. Dr.Bob Kanary is the author this month and has mentioned some faith deceptions that he will be exposing. I know him as a scholarly pastor and am sure he'll help us to be firm in Scriptural belief. So I urge all of you to join with me in reading his Bible based articles each Friday. He's a man of GOD who prays with those who seek his counsel, then is often on the go. Don't think (from his name) that he stays in any clergy "birdcage." His theme song should be "I'll Fly Away." He's tops, I say. He may even be a pilot. And "Bob" is also such a positive first name. It's the same spelled forward or backward, and like an inner tube pushed under water, will quickly "bob" up again.
Remember the "Left Behind" series that was so widely read a few years ago? I never read any of them, but Tim Lehay was using fiction in warning us to be ready for the Lord's return. I say just read the news instead of novels. That missing girl in Aruba got "left behind" by her classmates on returning to Birmingham. What a shame for kids to be taken to such permissive places of drinking and gambling. Holland is known for it's lax sexual morality and Aruba is Dutch. So that tiny island typifies the whole world which Christ is going to judge at His coming. The verdict won't be as gentle as Jackson's. It's time to repent and get right with GOD now because that will be too late when the Son appears in all His glory and majesty as a righteous judge of the whole world. Lord help us to urgently make ready for Judgement Day.
ANGELFIRE 6-19-05
I saw two interviews Thurs. nite that were in contrast, like I'd reported about Mike Tyson and Michael Jackson. Paradox seems all around. The first was of Billy Graham on Larry King Live and the second was of Dr.Laura Schlessinger on Scarborw Country. Graham has been a hero to me for years. But Dr.Laura seems far more now like Graham was in days past. Age either withers or mellows the fight out of us and it surely has changed Dr. Graham. He's to conduct one final campaign (not "crusade" any more) this month in NYC's "Flushing Meadows." I'm sure the Lord will bless it because he still lifts up Jesus as the Savior. Yet the "either-or" of crisis theology seems to be missing. Instead of political correctness, he's engulfed in a form of religious correctness with it's "both-and" tone. Instead of John the Baptist, now he sounds more like John the beloved Apostle as author of those first, second and third letters in the later NT. That may have been after many years as care giver for the Lord's mother Mary in their home at Ephesus (according to one report).
But Joe Scarbrow's guest, Dr.Laura, was as unyielding as ever in her bold views about the "corruption of American culture." And she refused to condone that trip to Aruba as ok for all those high school graduates just because "everything was legal there." It's the lax attitude of parents who think that because kids are going to do wrong things anyhow, it had just as well be made safe for them i.e. "now don't have illicit sex, but here are the condoms to use if you do." Such a double message just opens a door for wrong to seem normal to them. Though as a Jew, she doesn't preach Christ, I thank GOD for Dr.Laura. Jack Bennett gave me a novel to read about 19th century American evangelicalism, "Clear, Fair and Terrible." Seems the main evangelists then tried to project an image of Elijah back on earth before the end of that century. Leap over one, and Dr.Laura's a female Elijah today, I say!
I haven't heard who it was that drove through PV at 3 or 4am last week and got up to 115 mph down Chickasaw; then hit 125 mph on Liberty Road heading S. toward #29. Police learned it was in a borrowed car in the wee hours of morning (and with lights off too). As one who drives down Liberty Road every day, I just can't imagine getting up such speed even in broad daylight. That guy must have heard that Zoom City was to play in Wacker Park and thought that it meant our town as he outran even the police getting home east of WW. Hard to imagine such folly, isn't it. But a fire here in WW that completely demolished the nice home of James and Pat Sealy out SW of town last week doesn't have to be imagined. That photo front page in "The WW Gazette" shows just ashes left as a "most likely" result of the bolt of lightning that struck it around six pm. What a blow to fine folks raising their two grandsons. The loss can be seen in fact and explained how. But "why O Lord" is the final question in our prayers for them.
ANGELFIRE 6-21-05
KJCS (channel 2) showed David, Ken and Jack on "Being a Christian in Today's World" at 7pm Monday. Consideration was given to Luke 9, where Jesus gave the Twelve authorization to proclaim the Kingdom and to heal the sick. Then it was noted that in the very next chapter where He sent out the seventy (or 72), there was no mention of healing power. That left it as an Apostolic gift, seems to me. However, Jack Pack mentioned the many health problems today's apostle, Billy Graham, is suffering; even though he's heading to NYC (June 24-27) for his last preaching mission. All three (David, Ken & Jack) agreed that being a strong Christian was no guarantee of escape from illness, especially with age. And it was noted that more people were healed in the NT who did not know Christ than those who were already His faithful followers (though I think maybe only outsider healings were reported). That weekly show is sure worth seeing, I say.
Ellen Pando was a care giver for my late mother, Blanch Hazlitt, some years ago. Now Ellen has also gone to be with the Lord. Surely He will reward her for her kindness here on earth. Pastor Jimmy Dehart will hold her funeral today (Wed.) afternoon at Wooster's.
One of the things in the Scofield Bible that I read when I was a seminary student (though it was not approved scholarship) was about an angelic fall in heaven (Genesis 1:2) that resulted in the earth being "without form and void; and (with) darkness on the face of the deep" It put the rebellion of Revelation just after creation, when Lucifer took over a third of the heavenly host that were cast out of highest heaven into the earth. So the darkness of earth's deep became Satan's domain, like a black hole collapsing into chaos. Next, GOD began to speak the physical universe into existence, beginning with light (Genesis 2). Darkness already there was called "night" just as light now created was "day." Then the first d-a-y began with night until dawn, mid-morning, high-noon, afternoon and then evening. So the first "day" already meant twice as much as just daylight time. Then Peter tells us in the NT that "a day with the LORD is a thousand years," or howevere long. That way all nature fits into scientific observation. Then "firmament" is another name for outer space. We're finding it so vast with the Hubble Space telescopt that our minds can't even imagine the distances. Astronomers talk and think in mathematical formulas (with the aid of computers). Yet how much greater still is GOD, and the shamayim(highest heaven) where He and all the holy angels abide! Philosophy has dismissed such reality as "metaphysics" (outside the physical) and therefore imagination. But we know it's where Christ has gone and from whence He will soon return.
Here on planet earth, president Bush still wants Bolton to be our UN representative. So he may have to appoint him after the Senate goes on recess if they won't confirm him. More corruption is being exposed in that world body where we need a strong delegate. Yet many senators think Bolton's too strong (like a bad odor). And now there's another father-son situation in the UN that stinks the same as Kofie Anon and his slick dealing sibling. Down in Aruba we hear that the Holloway family has secured a private search group out of TX to help find Natalee. Sure seems the local police have failed. Their different legal system is frustrating to us. And if the FBI couldn't move in to solve that case, how will this Texas outfit? Just barge into Aruba "like cowboys" I suppose. The world seems to use that as a put down (alluding to our president), though cowboys were once America's main heroes; not just in rodeos, but public affairs and life in general. Even Jesus, our Lord of life, once road a donkey into Jerusalem. And getting nailed to that cross was a lot like being strapped onto the wild bucking bronco called "death." Yet our Lord downed it and then arose to prove that He was Victor forever. Here's a song for rodeos: Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah. Praise ye the LORD!!
ANGELFIRE 6-25-05
The name Muhammad Ali is back, but not the famous "I'm the greatest" pugelist who changed it from Cassius Clay to become a black Muslim. Rather it's an Indonesian carpenter who lost his family last year in that tsunami. But now he's rejoicing at seeing his daughter alive after six months. And there's also that eleven year old boy who was lost in Utah. After four days alone on the trail, he's with family again. Utah was where Elizabeth Smart also returned after months of captivity. And that makes me think of the Granite warden's wife found with that escaped inmate after being gone several years. Just makes my day to remember all these happy endings. Yet the situation in Aruba doesn't appear to be going that direction. With more and more suspects jailed, it portends a sad ending. I'm just hopeful that TX group can recover Natalee's body, which must be out in the ocean by now. They've had 70% success in searching. Dutch law sure differs from our English traditions. I had always heard that "on the continent, it's guilty until proven innocent" instead of our reverse policy. Maybe that's why Aruba has been so slow to file any charges.
Did you see where the Russian's launched a space ship to be powered by solar energy. Sunlight, instead of wind, was to push those sails through outer space. But it never did get underway. More dream than reality I suppose. Yet what a dream for our cars, now that gasoline is so high! At least in places where our skies stay clear. We just have to break our addiction to petroleum somehow. China's using nearly as much as we do, and has become our rival in getting their share of the global supply. I just heard of China's bid to buy one of our major oil companies out of CA. While we've gone so deep in the financial hole, they've stashed their cash (that we've paid them) to do such things. Even made big loans to us, as I understand it. Where have you gone Ross Perote? "The nation lifts it's longing eyes for you."
I watched Billy Graham's son, Franklin, as he talked with Bill O'Reilly on Fox News. Franklin affirms the Lordship of Jesus Christ as basic to his world view. And he stressed the parousia (reappearing in glory) of the Savior. When asked about a "holy war" with Islam, he replied that Americans don't see it that way, but a part of Islam surely does. And that's why so many Muslims are willing to die trying to destroy us. They see it as a ticket to heaven and know they'll be honored as martyrs by fellow believers. He sees terrorism now everywhere instead of just in the middle east and mentioned Armageddon as the final battle of a global war against GOD's people here on earth. I don't think he was linking the war to that place, which I've visited on both of my trips to Israel: Har Mageddo (mountain up north overlooking the battlefield that lies eastward).
ANGELFIRE 6-30-05
That BTK (bind,torture,kill) monster guy, Dennis Rader of Wichita, , was shown on TV Monday describing his ten murders to the judge. Though he'd been a cub scout leader and prominent in his church there, he showed no feeling as he told in detail how he had killed so many adults and children. It sounded more like a computer talking more than a real human being. Afterward a psychologist came on to designate him as extremly psychopathic. It had looked to me like a body that could talk without any soul. The shrink explained that he's just a gruesome deviation which sometimes can evolve, most often in males. I see BTK's secret cunning deception as derived from outside this physical realm; surely a sign of original sin getting it's satisfaction in such a diabolic manner. That sort of wickedness has been in powerful leaders of the past: sadistic and cruel i.e. Alexander the Great who got more of a masochistic rush from killing armies than from having sex. As we celebrate another Independence Day, we're grateful that the authors of our Constitution were aware of such evil. So they based it on "checks and balances" because they recalled the tyranny that George III had imposed on the colonies. On July 4, 1775, they declared INDEPENDENCE. Then when a better George from Mt.Vernon Virginia took the oath of office in 1789 at NYC, he laid his right hand on the Bible (shown in a picture I have) and put his left one over his heart. Now we're eager to see Iraq finish their constitution being written this year, then hold another election in December. Hopefully they will keep it clear of religion, as our leaders did. ( Not even use the Qur'an at inaugeration). Our Declaration of Independence mentioned God, but not our Constitution. It begins with a preamble and seven Articles, each including numbered sections. Article I details the legislative branch of federal government, Article II the executive branch, and Article III the judicial. Then the other four Aricles define governmental operations such as requiring ratifcation by at least nine colonies to become law. Following that is our "bill of rights" (the first ten amendments); and then other amendments made later clear up to the most recent (22nd as I recall). Just punch up
Another thing I've learned on the Internet is how the American Revolution was financed. Chaim Solomon was a patriotic Jew in Rhode Island who raised the funds for Washington's army from relatives abroad. In gratitude, the father of our country had a "Mogan David" (six pointed star of Israel) placed in our Great Seal. Just look at a dollar bill on the opposite side to Washington's picture. On my first trip to the state of Israel in '77, I made friends with an Israeli student at Hebrew University, Yoni Rosenthal. The second time I went in '80, we met to spend a whole day talking. Then we corresponded for several years, but have been out of touch for many more. He married and had a family the last I heard. But he came over to do a tour of the US as a concert pianist. I wish I'd made it to one of the cities, but they all seemed so distant back then. That day we talked in Israel, I was amazed at his awareness of public affairs. He'd dropped the nick name by then and went as Jonathan, so I wondered if he might end up in public office some day. When I was at their wailing wall, the prayer I wrote to leave there was for "an opportunity to speak to an Israeli about Jesus being their Lord." He was my opportunity, but I never did know if he accepted the Savor. "Jews for Jesus" hadn't been formed back then. So maybe he's believed the Gospel and become a completed Jew. They were the first ones Jesus sought as "He came to His own but His own received Him not." Thus, He directed Paul to reach out to the rest of humanity, us (Gentiles). Later, Paul was sent to the Gentile capitol (Rome) under arrest, because he was a Roman himself who had appealed to Caesar (every citizen's right) seeking to avoid conviction by the Jerusalem Sanhedrin. He had obeyed the Lord Jesus faithfully after his conversion on the road to Demascus. Still a Jew, he at last foresaw his coming death when he wrote to young Timothy, son of a Gentile. (2 Tim.4:6-8).
Remember all the Apostles were Jewish as were the first followers of the Way. And they've given so much to America that I'd like to include the following quote: "If you don't appreciate them Don't ever visit the Statue of Liberty...the words on the base, 'Give me your tired, your poor...' were written by a Jew named Emma Lazarus. Whatever you do, don't ever allow anyone in your family to take the polio vaccine...it was developed by a Jew named Jonas Salk. Don't watch baseball; one of baseball's greatest pitchers, Sandy Koufax was a Jew. Sorry, you can count basketball out, too. One of the greatest coaches of all time, Arnold "Red" Auerbach, was the head coach of the legendary Boston Celtics where he won a record consecutive World Championships. By the way, one of the greatest sportscasters of all time, Howard Cosell, was a Jew too.
I hope you don't like magicians.; The greatest one of all time, Harry Houdini, was a Jew.
Don't ever watch TV.; The entertainment pioneer who helped make TV the institution it is today was Milton "Mr. Television" Berle, who was a Jew.
Don't ever insist that your daughters receive the same pay as men do...the women's rights movement was led by a Jew named Gloria Steinem. Don't ever watch a Miss America Pagent.; Bess Myerson, a Jew, won that coveted title in 1945.
Don't ever look at fine art; you might accidentally see the work of the (Jewish), world-famous artist, Marc Chagall. Check the windows in the UN building. Don't read a textbook about physics...the 20th century figure who most shaped our understanding of the universe was a Jew named Albert Einstein. Don't ever belong to any union associated with the AFL-CIO...the person who co-founded and was the first President of the American Federation of Labor was a Jew named Samuel Gompers. Don't ever seek professional assistance from a psychologist or psychiatrist..the man who founded that branch of knowledge was a Jew named Sigmund Freud.
Don't ever see movies like ET, the Indiana Jones series, or Jurassic Park. The man who directed those movies was a Jew named Steven Spielberg.
Don't ever insist that you a have a right to privacy from government intrusion...the man who first advanced that theory at the Supreme Court was a Jew named Louis Brandeis.
Don't even attend any musical written by Rogers and Hammerstein. Hammerstein was a Jew.; In fact, better not go to Broadway at all: You might accidentally see a play by Neil Simon, Arthur Miller, or David Mamet.. all Jews.
Don't ever read the psalms from the Bible...many were written by a Jewish King named David.
Don't sing "God Bless America"...it was written by a man named Irving Berlin; By the way, George Gershwin, Isaac Stern, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Rubenstein, Yitzchak Perlman, Yasha Heifetz, Sir George Solti, Fritz Reiner, Yehudi Menuin, Andre Previn, Benny Goodman, Herb Alpert, Stan Getz, Daniel Barenboim, Bert Bacharach, Barbra Streisand, The Marx Brothers, and the Three Stooges were all Jews, too. You should be aware that Louis Armstrong and Sammy Davis Jr. were NOT born Jews... but the they did decide to convert to Judaism.
I hope you hate to laugh:; Adam Sandler, Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, Jerry Lewis, Rodney Dangerfield, Jackie Mason, Carl Reiner, Jerry Stiller, George Burns, Freddie Prinze, Alan King, Jon Lovitz, Howie Mandel, Richard Lewis, Jack Benny and Don Rickles are all Jewish." And there'd be this much more if I listed all those currently in TV news coverage.
ANGELFIRE 7-2-05
It was such a privilege I had Thursday morning of speaking to a large group of youth and children about our prison ministry at LARC. Brother Shannon had invited mission speakers for each morning, so I told them how I'd been going to that Lexington prison for the past 14 years telling inmates that Jesus loves them. Then I played on the harp I always carry and sang that story from Ge.4 about Cain, who murdered his brother Able. So I told them it showed why so many men are in prison for terrible crimes. Yet the LORD's love can change their hearts when they repent to seek Him, even if they are locked up the rest of their lives. Guess I just "harp" on heaven because I know this earth's so temporary. Yet a nice home in which to live can be a foretaste. Niece has been remodelling homes to sell here in WW the past few years (five now, with this Pinkhouse included) and built one new two story home in PV. So now we're starting our first remodel job there. She can really make a place more attractive, even one
looking nice already.
Meanwhile, it's been two years since our space shuttle Columbia's disaster in the final hours of flight. So NASA's going to launch Discovery on July 13 for a 14 day voyage. Remember the one back in '87 that exploded just after launch, when all seven astronauts perished. That was long before the ISS had been built out there. Now it's even starting to age. My own view of space adventure has also faltered with age. The pride I once felt in human achievement (especially American) has yielded to the divine judgement on homo sapiens, "Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return." Thou our species becomes finally extinct, there will be a new race of re-born beings in Christ Jesus to claim it's inheritance with the Creator in His home beyond this material universe. The name of that place is shamayim (the highest heaven where GOD and the holy angels eternally dwell). Secular science can't detect shamayim but Christ will bring it as a new heaven and earth at His glorious return. Another sign I see of his appearing is that Spain has now joined Holland and Belgium (plus Canada very soon) in accepting "gay marriage." Jesus told that His coming would be as in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah...so at the coming of the Son of Man." Thus, this war on terror to spread democracy can't be Christ's answer, as we see what even democracies are doing. A "free election" even put that Iranian hard liner in office.
Fires in CA, UT and AZ have been raging. And now we have a burn ban in Garvin county. But thank heaven for Tuesday's showers. Rain was sent when we needed it, so let's praise the LORD. Hallelujah!