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ANGELFIRE 5-03-06
If ever we needed to heed our national motto it is now, "In God We Trust." With an invasion we made afar that we can't seem to end plus a different sort of one here at home that there's no way to prevent, things just seem overwhelming. And I heard that the monetary cost of our war in Iraq, now nearly as long as WW II, has also become as expensive. Then the nuclear confrontation with Iran makes an even larger war appear right before us, not to mention China's military build up in Asia, where they've had nukes for decades. My WW III fears got a response from down in TX saying that suicide bombers were a greater danger now that nuclear missiles. He pointed out how illusive they were, making "old fashioned" warfare impossible. He meant nation vs. nation, not just armies on the battlefield. That's "ancient warfare" in this 21st century. In fact the words of Jesus about the last days are timely, "And a man's enemies shall be those of his own household, father against son and brother against brother." I opened the Bible to Ps.88 this morning to seek solace, but found the very opposite. What a pit of misery. But then Ps.89, sounded more like our nation's motto, "I will sing of the mercies of YAHWEH forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations." It's much longer than Ps.88 and ends with "Blessed be the LORD forevermore! Amen and Amen" which also ends the 3rd of five divisions (thus in the middle of Psalms) and so unique with that double Amen. Wasn't 89 the year of Oklahoma's land run, when we got the name "Sooners?" So read Ps.89 fellow Sooners. It's not a psalm of David, but a contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite. I know a musical version of it to offer on my channel 2 "Song & Spoken Word" half hour at 6:30 tomorrow (Thurs) evening. Hope you'll tune in then. I'm expecting to have a guest singer there as well. Shalom/Salaam
ANGELFIRE 5-6-06
A friend from my boyhood days in IL and now lives in WA sent me a list of jokes. I'll include his opening comment as the very best one, but also the last which is subtle, and that's the kind I like. So here's sharing them both: "Hope this is good for you folks. People send me this sort of thing and I hate suffering alone. Verne" (THE WATER PISTOL) WHEN MY THREE-YEAR-OLD SON OPENED THE BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER, HE DISCOVERED A WATER PISTOL.. HE SQUEALED WITH DELIGHT AND HEADED FOR THE NEAREST SINK. I WAS NOT SO PLEASED. I TURNED TO MOM AND SAID, "I'M SURPRISED AT YOU. DON'T YOU REMEMBER HOW WE USED TO DRIVE YOU CRAZY WITH WATER GUNS?" MOM SMILED AND THEN REPLIED..... "OH YES, I REMEMBER."
I'm remembering how GW's first term began by being friendly to that new Mexican president named Fox. I wondered then if that might be a sly guy, as his name implies. In '03 when we invaded Iraq with our "coalition of the willing, Mexico said "no." I wonder now if Fox was looking ahead even then to another sort of invasion right here on this continent. If so, then GW got "out foxed," it seems. Is that subtle enough? A chant for those Minute Men building that fence on the border down there might be "MEXICO SAID NO." Or can you recall that beautiful song that Gene Autry sang way back, "South of the border, down Mexico way." There were such romantic feelings in that song we used to enjoy.
Another subtlety I've investigated is why Philip Morris runs all those anti smoking ads on TV. It seems like a street hooker warning any john that stops his car to pick her up, "Now I've contracted an STD, so I'm not to blame if you get it." Seems that would be bad for her business. But the tobacco industry paid hundreds of billions to our federal DHS in '98 to off-set government costs that smoking had cost them in services. And also settled by agreeing to pay more for anti-smoking media ads. So Philip Morris is foewarning customers as the law makes them do it. Seems to me it would compare to letting sexual predators continue their practice as long as they wear T-shirts saying "Beware of me, I'm dangerous to women and children." Would that make sense? If they had billions of bucks and a legal staff to protect them in court, it sure would. "Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see" was a familiar axiom of my youth. But now it needs to be positive instead i.e. "looking unto Jesus."
ANGELFIRE 5-09-06
It looks like the jury in Mioussouia's trial was right to give him life in prison because now he's recanting his claim to have been the 20 hijacker. He made that up to become a martyr in being executed. But without that "glory," he's moved off stage and hoping his new plea can get another trial with a lesser sentence. I recall an Islamic web site right after 9/11 that described the significance of 19 in the Qu'ran (like 12 in the Bible). It's 118 chapters divide evenly into twelve by that number and there were other ties mentioned. So if there'd been twenty hijackers, that page was clearly baloney. I felt it was anyhow when I first saw it and had expected Moussiaouia to discredit such bosh by being number twenty. But he's discredited himself instead and will soon be forgotten, we hope.
Someone in baseball that's not forgotten is Babe Ruth. I'm not a fan but sure did enjoy those candy bars as I was growing up. In fact my arrival in PV was the year he made that record number of home runs (along with Lindberg flying across the Atlantic). Hank Aaron surpassed it in the seventies, and now Barry's about to break Babe's record. Yet if Barry used steroids to gain artificial strength, then I'd just as soon forget his greater number and let the Babe/Aaron record remain the official one. Sports should teach doing the right thing the right way as I see it. So I'm glad Pete Rose is shut out of the baseball hall of fame. His gambling disgraced America's favorite sport and blighted the rose on that bush.
GW has appointed a general to head the CIA replacing Porter Goss, who "resigned." It's been a civilian agency, to balance the Pentagon's military prowess in our nation's capitol; and I'd prefer it to stay civilian. Yet Bush learned during Katrina that getting help to New Orleans required the army, navy, air force and coast guard. So that's surely a factor in his military nomination. And another Michael seems like an end time sign to me. I recall when my own name was on every other guy, but not any more. The Mikes have come to the fore. Michael means "who is like GOD?" and is the only archangel named in Scripture. Lucifer was possibly another, but one who thought he really was equal to GOD, possibly because his name meant "shining one." Then it got changed to Satan (or Adversary). Thirdly there's Gabriel who might also be an archangel since he announced to Mary the child she was to bear and is also to sound a trumpet at that Child's grown up return to earth. You can forget Lucifer but not Michael or Gabriel. The latter's name means "strong man of GOD." But I seldom hear that name any more. In fact I can't think of any Gabes that I know. Can you?
I sure enjoyed seeing the new City Hall on Saturday. Mayor Tim Gamble showed me around and it just looked dandy. It's being located right at the heart of PV seems so appropriate to me, and all refurbished like new. Little foretaste of heaven already here on earth. Here's some other names acceptable to me for that place I've gathered: bliss, hereafter, great beyond, other side, farther shore, infinity, infinite ocean, eternity, world to come, sweet bye and bye, haven of rest, region beyond, plain of light, end of tunnel, Abraham's bosom, green pastures, place prepared, promised land, eschaton, last day, Kingdom of GOD, new age, millennium, Fathers house, beyond horizon, power world of the Spirit, paradise, land of milk and honey, the great somewhere, or eternal life with all GOD's family. You may know some more to add. Shalom
ANGELFIRE 5-13-06
Patty Jo's cafe in WW will be open again Monday for noon meals after being closed nearly three months following the crash of a car into it. It's been fully refurbished now.
And now the FBI has another name besides Osama ben Lauden at the top of it's ten most wanted. Right after ObL is a Warren Jeff from Utah, whose crimes are destructive of traditional family life through his cult. He secretly arranges the marriage of young girls to older men who already have one or more wives. That may not seem nearly as terrible as suicide bombings and assassinations that kill multitudes of innocent people. But it does "kill" a Biblical rule of society based on the marriage of one man to one woman (at least one at a time). And so this cult leader is truly a threat to our national stability. So the FBI must have considered Mother's Day a proper time for raising the issue; which also brings up the Constitutional Marriage Amendment that's been in the works. Besides just one each, it includes "man to woman" as well, hopefully becoming that "one flesh" mentioned in Genesis. Thus the basic beginning structure of families can be evident at the national level instead of the "single (or accidental) moms" which have become so common today., Motherhood belongs in marriage and the failure to keep it there is polluting our land. Islamic society allows for polygamy as we all know, but I doubt that it subsidizes unwed motherhood the way we and WIC have done. Maybe it's part of why they hate the West. And soon Iran's going to have nukes just like Pakistan, the other Islamic atomic state which is hosting ObL.
St.Paul quotes the middle commandment of the Ten (# 5) in his letter to Ephesis (6:2&3), "Honor your father and mother that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." In 5:32 he had described marriage as "a great mystery...concerning Christ and the church." That had reference to the final consummation in history when the Lamb takes the Bride in that everlasting marriage, and reproduction is no longer it's purpose. Eros will be completely transformed into agape. The Islamic notion of a heaven based on carnal satisfactions, to my mind, just doesn't compare with the New Jerusalem of Rev.21 that comes down from GOD out of shamayim (highest heaven), with unending joy of the Lord.
Years ago I went down to Dallas for lectures by a Dr.Phyllis Tribble, a prominent female theologian from Union Theological Seminary in NYC. She gave us a feminist slant on the Bible, and complained especially that women didn't get fair consideration in the book of Proverbs. I told her after one lecture that the Holy Spirit seemed to be feminine to me and she jokingly asked "You think I'm going to settle for just a third of the Trinity?" Feminism was all the rage in those days. But this week I've re-read Proverbs and found many references honoring mothers. I see now that Dr.Tribble meant there was a larger role for women than only motherhood. Yet we still honor it as basic in this world, because who else can serve that way? Men have tried but may become like women in doing the job. So let's stick to the Creator's original plan by honoring mothers, though we know that women can also be great people in so many other ways. Maybe one will be president soon.
I backed out on this and sent the next one in to the paper as an ANGELFIRE 5-17-06
As I wait for Bush to speak about the Immigration issue, I'm looking again at Saturday's big story in the Oklahoman: BLASTS STALL FUEL PLANT in Wynnewood. It was also our weekend front page. I was here at the Pinkhouse when the siren began to blow. I went to look out our front door and saw the very dark smoke billowing up in the southwest. When I drove down by our watertower, I saw the huge flame later pictured on that Friday 13th issue. Police seemed to be all over the place in just minutes. I feared there had been serious injuries and offered myself as a minister, but was told that none had been reported. Learning of the evacuation recommendation, I then contacted neighbors about leaving and two of them did. Since the Pinkhouse is considerably north of WW's refinery, I waited until Niece got home. By then we felt the danger of fumes was over, so we stayed and watched coverage on so many of the cable channels; even a network or two. Later that evening we drove out of town, encountering several barricades going and returning. I was amazed at all the extra personnel involved. One email to me quoted Mal.3:2 "He shall be like a refiner's fire." It was a play on words, but maybe things really did signify the Lord's final coming.
I've heard the president now and he did sound like an Ex.3:2 voice from "a burning Bush." It seemed to call for moderation in getting things all together, even though the commentators promptly chopped him to pieces again just as the media has been doing for months and months. It's time now for us average citizens to side with our underdog and then hold out for his follow through plans. Back when Reagan promised to tighten the border it sounded easy, since he could charm us all. Then illegal immigration kept on growing anyhow. If we truly seek help from on high getting through this turmoil, we'll heed Hebrews 13:2 about showing hospitality to strangers as much as possible. That's what I've heard in GW's speech, compassionate conservatism.
Don't you get weary of seeing alcohol related traffic fatalities. If it went into gas tanks instead of drivers, our mileage might be increased and highways even safer. Make it "liquor by the tank" and that will have my vote. "Crazy" you say? Well no more so than having alcohol easily available as a way to reduce excessive consumption of it. That sounds to me like the Philip Morris non smoking ads. A famous "street magician" named David Blaine that Niece and I have seen doing tricks is like the way these issues are warped with words. You know it can't be so, but there he is doing the incredible for strangers right on city sidewalks. Maybe TV reporters collaborate with him the way media have done on those paid ads.
ANGELFIRE 5-17-06 The name I've used for this column has kept a question in my mind about that text in the final chapters of the New Testament book of Hebrews, "For our GOD is a consuming fire." It can be so terribly destructive and certainly that's not like the heavenly Father of our Lord Jesus. Last Friday was our big fire in WW that caused so much commotion. Every TV station sent reporters and this paper plus the Daily Oklahoman put it on Saturday's front page. We were glad in WW when we learned that there were no serious injuries, much less fatalities. But another oil fire that day in Nigeria Africa was far more lethal. Two hundred perished in the flames around that broken pipe line where poor people were bringing plastic containers trying to capture some of the precious fuel that was leaking. They were just cremated on the spot, though some had tried to escape the spreading flames. More people died there than in the OKC bombing eleven years ago. Now I've pondered a text given to me from Malachi, last book in the Old Testament: "He shall be like a refiner's fire." That describes our fire here in WW quite literally doesn't it; and also fits the divine fire, as I see it now. In order to make us new again the holy GOD has to purge away all rot, corruption and unclearness, So His "consuming" in Heb.12:29 isn't just for destruction alone. It's for our purification into eternity. That's what the inward baptism of the Spirit means. All the dross and wickedness are consumed, in order to free and empower each believer (saved soul) to serve in Christ's everlasting Kingdom. It was the same fire in that bush where Yahweh spoke to Moses. The bush was not consumed, though the wicked Egyptians finally were. Hallelujah and shalom
ANGELFIRE 6-20-06 I just saw a web headline "IMMIGRANTS CONSIDER BUSH PLAN FOR ILLEGALS A RUSE." No need to punch up the story as we knew that would follow. They have shown their numerical strength in those nationwide demonstrations last month and this and now they are really on the march. I felt our president meant what he was saying in his 17 minute speech on Monday. And it seemed considerate to my ears. But many seem to be demanding amnesty instead, as a right. We may have to modify our pledge of allegiance that says "with liberty and justice for all" by adding the word "citizens" because extending it to those who sneak in is just too overwhelming. We citizens must try to be fair and live up to our motto "In God We Trust." I read Ezekiel 33:17 this morning, "Yet the children of your people say, The way of the LORD is not fair. But it is their way which is not fair! When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it." After that, the prophet becomes mute there in Babylon until a Jew arrives the next day from fallen Jerusalem. Ezekiel's mouth is opened to declare why their city and land are taken away and he lists the sins of Israel and their penalty: Yahweh says "For I will make the land most desolate, her arrogant strength shall cease, and the mountains ...shall be so desolate that no one will pass through. Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed." And how many do we commit here in the USA? We will also loose this land if we ignore the Lord GOD. Being bankrupt would end ownership of it.
ANGELFIRE 5-24-06 David is a main hero of the Bible and was also a singer (which appeals to me). We credit him with writing/composing most of the Psalms. In the 14th and 15th chapters of 1 Chronicles, we are told how that sacred Ark of the Covenant was brought to the place that Israel had captured for it's capitol, Jerusalem (city of shalom). Then David wanted to build a house there for Yahweh, but his prophet was told that it must be done by his son instead, though it pleased Yahweh. Soloman (shalom man) was to build it. But David had already established the center of worship in Jerusalem with Asaph as chief of it's singers (Levites, the priestly tribe). Asaph means "collector" which applies to his musical role. And he was appointed by king David, his fellow singer, though from another tribe. And he would also write/composed many of the Psalms (50 and 73ff). Some of them must have been written under his name by later authors, after divine judgement had come upon Israel. Ps.73 begins book III of Psalms (did you know there are V books), which compare in my mind to the cries of Job, undergoing severe testing by Satan. Yet the Psalms were the hymnal of Israel until faith is made complete by the New Testament. In 1Ch.16 we read how the Ark is placed in the tabernacle at Jerusalem which David had built; and then a Psalm he'd also written was given to Asaph. It's Ps.105 in the "hymnal." Then 1Ch.17 records David's plan to replace the tabernacle with a temple and the divine promise to David that his seed would "build Me a house and I will establish his throne forever." (17:12). David was a military man but his son a civilian more suitable to the LORD for consruction work. Yet Christians know that Solomon was only a type of the "greater King" who said to Peter "upon this rock, I will build my Church/Temple)" (referring to and probably pointing to Himself, because Peter's name means only "a pebble," but Jesus was referring to an whole strata of rock). So as we sing to Him and about Him, we are in that Temple still being constructed, one soul (stone) at a time. And we await the return any day now of the Prince of Shalom, who is greater than even wise Solomon. Our Prince is the son of Yahweh.
I love to sing Scripture verses and here's one for whch I'm seeking a tune: "you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5) How I'd wish I could sing that at the prison chapel or either of the nursing homes where I regularly go. Tell me if you know one. Shalom to you in Christ's spiritual household.
ANGELFIRE 5-29-03 We humans are the species that has an ability to remember the past, so we bury our dead in an effort to preserve and keep them. Graves are not disposal pits but plots made sacred to us preserving the bodies of our loved ones in memory. Thus, this time of remembrance is called Memorial Day on our national calendar. And cemeteries are filled with stone markers at each site or lot. Perhaps there are some of us who go there only to recall the past, but with neither expectation nor hope about any future. For them it's only the dead end of existence. But for Christians the grave yard is a place filled with promise because Christ said "if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I AM, there you may be also. And where I go you know. And the way you know...I am the Way, the Truth and the life." (Jn.14:3-6) That's why burials nearly all face east, the direction from which He will return in clouds of glory on the final day. It's that "BLESSED HOPE" of Titus 2:13 "and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us." Even the central memorial of faith for Christians, Holy Communion, is such a reminder: "For as oft as ye do eat this loaf and drink this cup, ye do show forth the Lord's death until He comes." Exodus 12:13 & 14 describe an everlasting memorial of death passing over Egypt that night when all the firstborn were slain, except where that blood of a lamb had been sprinkled. It was an OT type of the Pascal Lamb of GOD(Great father-Our savior-Divine guide) as in this chorus I love to sing: "When I see the blood, When I see the blood, When I see the blood I will pass, I will pass over you." Had planned to sing the whole song Thurs. but ran out of time. So I'll get it on the agenda this time. Jim Richardson sang "I Believe" a couple of weeks ago and I plan to get other guest soloists. Remembering that divine Sacrifice on the cross is our purpose for "Song With Spoken Word" each Thursday, 6:30 channel 2. I want it to be a memorial to the King who died in the war against sin, arose as mighty conquerer Who will soon return for His Bride. He's King of kings and Lord of lords.
ANGELFIRE 5-31-06 Memorial Day was observed on Monday, though this is the actual date today. I know that Congress changed our national observances so as to create "long weekends" that allow more travel. To me it's made them seem "watered down" in a culture that keeps moving away from hard reality to comfortable delusion. Holidays become hollow days. And British philosopher Jerry Bentham's life purpose as mere "utility" is becoming America's too. (Then add an "f" at the front of his word and you'll get the feeling it can leave). Yet I saw the national observance at Arlington cemetery on C-SPAN and was deeply moved, having once been there myself. The traditional wreath was laid at the Tomb on The Unknowns" (newer terminology) and Rumsfield came first, then president Bush, who spoke of "this place where valor sleeps" and said that the thousands of American heroes buried there "will never be forgotten by this nation;" also that "liberty is always the achievement of courage" and our soldiers in Iraq "are laying the foundation of peace for a generation of young Americans." Then another spokesperson directed all to remain standing for the playing of Taps. The notes always sound deep into my soul ever since I had a bugle as a boy and played it often for myself. But here are words which go beyond what I knew then as "Day is done...": JESUS CALLS. HEAR HIS CALL. CALLS TO YOU, CALLS TO ME, CALLS TO ALL, HEED HIS CRY, HEED HIS PLEA --- "FOLLOW ME."
May has come and gone with scares in both WW and PV. May 12 was our biggest one here, the Refinery on fire. Then May 18 in PV when the courthouse and Jr.Hi. school had to be evacuated because of a bomb threat. Delivering the paper got me into traffic problems both times. But not on May 20 when we had a second evacuation because of leaking acid at the Wynnewood Refinery. It seemed minor compared to the first time, though some fifty families had to leave their homes on the west side of town. Fortunately, Savage stadium was clear by evening, when our scheduled graduation took place. Then PV's was held a week later, in the morning as I recall. Graduation and Memorial Day connect in my mind, which tends to see funerals as an ultimate graduation for all souls, from this earth to the great beyond.
I haven't seen the DaVinci movie, nor do I plan to go. But here are words to a song I learned back in the fifties about his painting almost as famous, or more so than the one he did on The Last Supper: Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa men have named you. You're so like the lady with the mystic smile. Is it only 'cause you're lonely that they blame you for the Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile? Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa. Or is this the way you hide a broken heart? Many dreams have been left upon your doorstep. They just lie there. And they die there. Are you warm, are you real Mona Lisa, or just a cold and lonely lovely work of art? Mona Lisa. Mona Lisa.
That song was perplexing to me way back then because she just didn't seem beautiful in that painting, despite it's fame. Now I've heard a theory that he was actually trying to depict himself on canvass, since he always kept that work with him and continued painting it. So if that's true, it wasn't really a female. Though he was perhaps the greatest genius of all time who would paint that magnificent scene of The Last Supper as a scientist-philosopher-artist all three, yet he was tortured by an inner struggle to establish his own identity, which remains obscure to this day. Just my own opinion. as (like my dad column used to be) I'm "sounding off." And signing off too, for now. PS Maybe our holidays can be set back to their true calendar dates just to save gasoline. Ha