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ANGELFIRE 1-01-07 Joseph the husband of Mary had a lot to live up to because of his O.T. name. Here's a blog by Toby Taylor in Jan.2005 that's had only one response all year. Now I'm so glad to discover it and more light on that Genesis story which is so much like our Savior's: "Joseph was wronged. Despised by his brothers,he was sold into slavery. Compounding the pain was the fact his father suffered the loss of his child. In Egypt, Joseph overcame the odds and found a good position as a trusted servant in a good house. Even here when he could have thought life is improving, he is wrongfully accused and sent to prison. Now even less than a slave, a prisoner. In prison God still uses him to interpret dreams. When he successfully interperts the cupbearers dream he asks to be remembered when he is restored to his position. Then what happens? Anyone? He sits two more years. Joseph hit rock bottom and wallowed there two years. Why? What was God doing? To find the answer, we must look at Joseph before and after prison. After prison he was generous and kind to those who wronged him. He showed them love. He even showed his brothers how to face their father. He gave them the exact words to say to their father. Wow! What a relief to the brothers. After the initial shock of seeing Joseph alive, the brothers had two concerns. One, what will Joseph do to us. Joseph answered that quickly as he hugged, cried and then ate with them. Two, what are we going to tell our father? Genesis 45:9 "Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, "God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay." No accusation. No "wait til I tell Dad!". The brothers wouldn't know what to say. Joseph gave them the words. Before prison Joseph was at the least naive and at the worst arrogant, as he wore his father's coat and told of grandiose dreams. It's subtle and by our standards minor, but in prison Joseph had not yet forgiven those who wronged him. Genesis 40:14-15 Joseph tells the cupbearer, "Only keep me in mind...for I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon." Joseph still carried the wound. He still had the pain of bitterness. Maybe it took two more years for God to win his heart over and for Joseph to totally forgive those who wronged him. Why do I say this? If Joseph had spent those two years in bitterness and self pity he could not have responded the way he did when faced with his brothers. He didn't spend those two years plotting revenge. He didn't spend those two years feeling sorry for himself. He spent those two years slowly breaking down his own will and putting himself into God's hands. Only a man at peace with God could say to his brothers,'do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you...'" (So I'd add that he had truly found Shalom).
During fifteen years of doing prison ministry, I've seen numerous inmates changed into loving souls. It's especially hard when they've been falsely imprisoned. But this Biblical example tops everything. Maybe in 2006 you were just "doing time," so your 2007 needs to bring release. Prison can sometimes be on the inside of us, with satan as the warden. But Christ, like the governor, can grant full pardon to those re-newen by divine grace. So long/Shalom
ANGELFIRE 1-3-07 The "accidental president" seems to be a label given to our late Gerald Ford, who had never sought the high office. Speaker of the House was the spot for which he had aimed but never reached. So he only got to serve out the Nixon term, then lost to Jimmy Carter when he had to run on his own. Still, he's being remembered for calming troubled waters in our domestic affairs. You might say he sacrificed his own career for the welfare of his nation following that horrific Watergate mess. After his funeral on Wednesday. president GW may tell us that he's calling for a "surge" in troops being sent to Iraq. Since Saddam is finally hung, I hope that the going won't be that tough. It seems to me that the Iraqis have to do it from here on, but GW is the coach. So if he sends in such a call, we must cheer from our stadium seats for troops over there to run the play. If you review all the wars and military actions we've undertaken from Korea till now, it shows more often than not that we've wimped out short of victory, success or just standing firm. I've noted also that 25% of us expect Christ to return this year. So here's a song I'll sing on Thurs.6:30 for 2007: "Christ will be here. Let's be ready. Soon He'll appear. So hold steady." Tune in to my Song With Spoken Word and I'll also show you a cup "awarded" to me. I've already shown it to so many friends in PV and WW with the word I like for greeting them printed on it.
Here in WW we begin our state's Centennial with visible improvements: an attractive new roof on the Robberson clinic across Kerr Blvd. from the post office, new rooms added on behind the State National Bank, new corner sign for "Snak-Shak" across from David's Grocery and a new bridge on E.Cherokee St. just past our Middle School. The town keeps looking nicer each year. Also, to the east of our Pinkhouse, Niece is remodelling the place that was former home of Robert Parker, WW's late high school principal. In PV there's an attractive street front for Wooster Funeral Home and a new McDonald's location out by I-35 that opened last week. Also the former City Hall's transformation into offices for the PVArtsConcil goes on. And folks are getting used to City Hall now being the town's very center. A new coat of white on PV's historic tower is also planned during this Sesquicentennial (150 year celebration) and Main Street director Tanya Landers told me the tower may get the winning logo of that contest depicted on it as well. I'll tell you the word I hope it brings to mind on Thurs.6:30, so tune us in on channel 2. So long/Shalom
ANGELFIRE 1-7-07 I protested that Congressman last time who is taking his oath of office on the Qu'ran instead of Bible. It didn't actually happen with the whole group of course, but only later in his own photo-op. So maybe that doesn't break as much with our past that began with the first GW, father of his country, who set the example. Next then, John Adams just had a stack of law papers. And eventually Theodore Roosevelt got nothing at all to lay his hand upon. Things were urgent for hims as v.p. after the assassination of pres. McKinley, and no Bible was readily available as he was sworn in president. One radio talk show host I've heard in my car is Dennis Prager, who has really made a strong protest about the Qu'ran. His column's online at Townhall.com if you care to see why. Even though he is Jewish, he wants only the Bible used, since it's the source of values in our Constitution. Already, some American Muslim leaders have taken issue with him. But Jews gave us the O.T. while the Qu'ran makes many changes in what it takes from both Testaments into their Qu'ran, then some call it their "bible." Of course Jews don't take the N.T., and some prefer just to use the Old for the oath taking. The GOD we worship has given us 66 books of Holy Scripture to reveal Himself. So the motto "In God we Trust," must actually mean GOD of the Bible, and none other. In fact the book of Revelation ends with the placing of a curse on anyone who adds to takes away.
Did you now that every fifty years was a jubilee in ancient Israel. It was seven times seven years plus one more. And it pre-figured the coming of Christ, seen in the forgiveness of wrongs to each other. Even debts were cancelled and slaves set free, so Jubilee came to mean a time rejoicing (jubilation). That's what the return of Lord Jesus Christ will be. Maybe we can call PV's sesquicentennial a JUBILEE CENTENNIAL too. So long/Shalom
ANGELFIRE 1-10-07 At our LARC chapel service Sunday night I was presented a sequel to that shalom cup from Jim Richardson some days ago. This was a rectangle of heavy cloth with the large spelling of "shalom" in Hebrew letters that an inmate worship leader had prepared. Tune in Tues.630 and I'll show it, as I raise the cup again that was shown before. I've been using shalom as an ending for ANGELFIRE and I even say it some in greeting or departing. Some folks think it's just a Jewish word.
In the land of Israel, where Hebrew, a dead language for centuries, is now alive again, shalom is their ancient word for peace. And it can be used for either hello or goodbye, meeting or leaving. To me, such use sets the basis for harmonious human relations. Since most of the Bible was originally in Hebrew, it's there many times (all O.T. of course). And though Jesus is speaking peace in the N.T., only a Greek word is used; though His actual Aramaic (dialect of Hebrew) was also "shalom." Thus He first greeted the gathered Apostles after His resurrection with "peace be unto you." In Gn.14:28 & Heb 5:6 we read that Melchizadec was the "priest of Salem" who Abraham met to be blest (and "shalom" derives). Read Isa. 51 to get more. It's also the basis of Solomon's name that contrasts with his father David's bloody hands, So there's far more than just an end of conflict. It means deliverance and positive influence too: bountiful blessing, prosperity, abundance, the fulfillment that Christ came to give or to bring with His return.
OK is known as "the Bible belt," so why shouldn't we speak that Scriptural term to each other here? Our "howdy" already comes from a shortened inquiry about the well being of others, "How do you do?" And "Gu'bye" is from a blessing upon them, "God be with ye." Can't we let this Centennial be a transition year to shalom. I sense that there's already much sympathy for Israel in our state. And the global war on terrorism keeps attention focused over there upon holy land events unfolding in the news (with a nuke attack on Iran that might be on Israel's agenda). Certainly it's a time to pray!! Even the Arabic greeting "salaam" sounds almost the same, and there are many peace seeking Arab Christians and also Muslims.
If this should become the year of our Lord's return, He just might say "shalaam be unto you" this time, because His birthday reminded us that He was born the THE PRINCE OF PEACE and to shed His blood to give us PEACE with GOD. He said "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of GOD." So long/Shalom
ANGELFIRE 1-13-07 The late Bobby Kennedy, younger brother of JFK, said "Most people see things as they are and tell why; I see things that never were, and ask why not." One trait of those Kennedy years when MLKjr rose to such prominence was a combination of high mindedness and personal moral laxity. Cheating on your spouse became an acceptable warp in marriage. For those committed to such a lofty social dream, it was a trivial deviation. The five finger "sindex" of evangelical piety--smoking (even pot), drinking (and other drugs), cussing (and porn), gambling (Las Vegas style) and womanizing (spouse cheating)--were scorned as mere "petty morals." Thus intellectuals paid little attention to such limitations, which has led in this later age widespread sodomy and to even a presidential impeachement for such behavior in the oval office. Along with that came a terrorist bombing in the OKC heartland at the end of that millennium and then 9/11 at the outset of this one; followed by unending wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now Iran could be next, or N.Korea. Yet we showed only brief periods of national repentance with temporary return to GOD. Still affluent, our entertainment industry has grown ever more flagrant and immoral, as prostitution abounds. In a larger sense, so many booming industries (i.e.illegal drugs) are forms of the last named, because they exploit human weakness for money just the way whores do for pay. Lucre is a false god of this world. There are plenty of others, I know; but monetary matters always take precedence. Yet our Lord Jesus Christ said to lay not up treasure on earth...but in heaven...! Now that's the highest priority of all. So let's be aware that He may return in this 100th year of Oklahoma. For those spiritually prepared, here's a joyful prayer outcry: "Come Lord Jesus." (Rev.22:20) There is evermore sophisticated technology that provokes me to pray it often. My son at Tulsa in computer operations tells me everything is digital now. But I'm still back in the analogical stage where things are getting obsolete. Now Apple's coming out with an Internet connected cell phone plus videos. Whew! Just can't keep up in this ever increasing acceleration. In fact the new keyboard Niece gave me is almost too much--a thousand different settings to learn. Never-the-less, so long/shalom
ANGELFIRE 1-16-07 In the last ANGELFIRE, I tried to show how ideology can become a substitute for real faith in the Living GOD. Some have called the 20th century as an age of ideologies. Of course the main clash was between capitalism and communism, but there were varieties in each camp. And some churches eagerly swallowed such forms of thought. The global ecumenical movement showed a leftist leaning just as the so called Christian Right tilted the other direction. Yet true worship is inward and from the heart more than the head. Still ideology can generate strong passion for our carnal nature.
This last is what has now happened in the Islamic world, as I see it. There are Muslims and there Islamists. Muslims stress the worship of Allah while Islamism is a religion turned into a hate filled ideology. Instead of placing the focus on God, it worships the religion of Islam. So even an atheist could belong to the cause. Piety means "the love of GOD." And since that leads to peace (shalom), how could terrorists possibly be in His service. Of course, I'm taking a Christ centered view, though not talking "Christianity." So I use "Christian" only as the name for a Spirit born child of the Most High. It's used in the Bible three or four times, and always designating individuals; no "Christian" this or that. It's a new name for reborn beings rather than an adjective, which dilutes the meaning into superficiality and reference to Christianity. "Christ" is the great reality and "ion" a tiny replica. As I've come to think that way, I see through much that's artificial pretense. The Lord Jesus said in that sermon on the mount, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Hence, He is our righteousness and has told us to remember Him in the feeding of our bodies. The food and drink can depict Him as the nourishment also of our souls by faith. If we live in daily communion with others and our Lord, we gain power to be peacemakers and to help rather than hurt others around us.
So long/Shalom (Gen.15:15 word's first use as "peace" when GOD speaks to Abram; then dozens of times thereafter)
ANGELFIRE 1-19-07 OK's centennial year has caused me to recall our state song from my childhood" "Oklahoma, Oklahoma fairest daughter of the west. OK, OK you're the land I love the best..." It didn't have much appeal, but we used to sing it at Lee School when led by our principal Ms.Perry as we sat on steps in the hall to upstairs rooms. I began first grade in '33, and loved to play in those giant tubes that ran down to ground level as fire escapes. Out on the playground we could smell the delicious aromas of Bob's Pig Shop. But the state song just couldn't compare. So in later years when a couple of Jews in NYC wrote a musical about us, we adopted our delightful OKLAHOMA from it, probably the best known of all fifty states. I feel like the Rodgers that composed it with Hammerstein was our own cowboy philosopher, though he was Indian rather than Jewish. Well in '35 we moved to IL for seven years, where I learned that state's song, "By the Rivers Gently Flowing." Our Washitaw is the river I've come to love and get to see twice each day. So I sang IL's first verse yesterday. After all, Illinois is an ancient tribe lost to history: "By the river gently flowing, (Washitaw, Washitaw). O're a verdant prairie growing, Washitaw, Washitaw comes an echo on the breeze ringing through the leafy trees. And it's mellow tones are these, Washitaw, Washitaw. And it's mellow tones are these, Washitaw." (tune of "Baby Mine" which is very emotional & still chokes me up singing it). Other verses are about the Civil War before our state existed i.e. "When the shot and shell were falling Illinois, Illinois; and you heard your country calling, IL, IL; there were none more brave than you; there were none more truly blue, there were none more brave than you IL." Remember that's where Abraham Lincoln became president and sadly it began a war of blue against gray, bloodiest in American history. Isn't it strange that so few black Americans are named Lincoln? MLKjr has been compared to a second one, since he too was assassinated. But his name was after a famous German who led the Protestant Reformation centuries ago. Yet numerous black Americans are named Jackson, who was an Indian fighter and gave no help to blacks that I know about. History takes some odd turns doesn't it.
Here before Superbowl Sunday on Feb.4 I want to repeat my notion of the Bible in four quarters and a half time: (1)Five books of Moses (2)Books of History Joshua thru Esther (half-time)Five Books of Poetry (3)Books of Prophets-four major and 12 minor (4)New Testament-Gospels & Epistles. From America's favorite sport, we have a formula for Holy Scripture. Then try naming star players in each quarter. Then see Queen Ester come on the field just at half-time while the Psalms are like band music being played. Finally, Peter and Paul stand as best players of the N.T. quarter; Christ is coach for the whole game and GOD the all seeing referee up above). I think we are now in overtime as we await the parousia rescue from this global warfare. Seems that GW is trying to kick a field goal since a punt can't get us any more score. Come Lord Jesus. So long/Shalom
ANGELFIRE 1-24-07 How I did enjoy "92 years of service" about PV's Kiwanis Club. Last fall I got a first hand look of their agenda when I was also to speak. But time just ran out for me, so their lady president Angela Williams apologized. Yet I've remained impressed with so much I head that day. As a Rotarian, I'd been proud of it's civic service. But Kiwanis beat all in PV. Internationally their clubs promote church attendance too, which I recall from Stillwell way NE of Tulsa, when I belonged up there in the early sixties. We sponsored the annual Strawberry Festival, which took lots of community loyalty. So here's cheers for the club with that Indian name, though I've forgotten what it means. Headquarters I've seen right north of Indianapolis, so that's appropriate for an Indian title.
The Daily Democrat's had so much PV history already as we look toward our susquicentennial, most of it is new to me. I had not know about Smokey Row along the west side of the tracks. But I do recall having very little childhood awareness that there was any of our town over on the east side. It was Sam Paul, we read, who wanted that left as farm land. Well he got the businesses located on the west, but town folk built plenty of homes on the east also. As a teen I can remember when a couple of streets running east and west south of McClure were called "Tough" and "Double Tough." But my dad took a hand in getting rid of those labels when he was Chamber director. He felt that they hindered business. Those nine deaths mentioed on Smokey Row and that "man for breakfast each morning" during some twenty years thereafter sounds strange to me. I'd never compared PV to Dodge City. Have just felt we were a peaceful and civilized place. In fact I plan to sing "Peace In The Valley" on Thurs.6:30 sometime. May adapt it to fit "Shalom in the Valley," since I always seek to promote that word for greeting or parting (especially in OK, the friendly state).
School Supt. Bobby Russell recalled the nine days without power in 2000. And I too feel it was worse than the present bad weather. That heavy ice was just too much, as it began a new millennium so badly. It was mostly down here in southern OK, as I recall. Bad weather tends to remind me of our sins. And I wondered if our Red River was named from so much Indian blood shed before statehood. I think of a verse in "Home on the Range," one of my favorites songs: Oh the red man was pressed to this part of the west. It's likely no more he'll return. To the banks of Red River he's gone now forever, where his flickering camp fires burn." Surely you know the chorus. I think that was Will Rodger's very favorite. Then there's inncence in OKLAHOMA, the musical, with our state song that's know everywhere. I think it's why the OKC bombing over a decade ago got so much national and world wide sympathy. They saw us as "the heartland" more because of a pure image than for our geographic location. So all those deaths touched their hearts. Little did we know then it was the devil's rehearsal for 9/11, that "crease in history," as Tommy Franks of WW called it in his book "An American Soldier." The crease showed in those two skyscrapers of NYC that would disappear in such a terrible way on the eleventh day of Sept. 2001. They had stood like a pair of military trousers and everything's gone military since, even this latest surge of more troops to Iraq. Our president has taken a lonely road for his last two years in office. Thus, I feel that we should listen dutifully to his state of the union address tonight, keeping in mind our very highest duty to GOD. So long/Shalom
ANGELFIRE 1-27-07 It's obvious that some on the world stage just like more attention. Donald Trump seems of that sort to me now that he's sueing Palm Beach for 25 million. It's over his violation in that Neverland he's built down there with a flag pole over twice the 42 foot city limit. Obviously it's to make him look patriotic and his many lawyers will force that FL city to back down. We all like to see the stars and stripes as high aloft as possible. Yet letting him "trump" every player's card with his $$$$$ doesn't show honor to the flag. He may have trumped Rosie O'Donald (fine with me), but he shouldn't Palm Beach, as I see it; even though he doesn't drink, smoke, cuss or gamble himself (though runs his casino empire). He's violently insulting i.e. calling Rosie "pig face." Yet benevolent too, offering to build the U.N. a new building at a fraction of their estimated cost.I just hope his NYC lawers loose this time. Maybe his feet will touch back on the ground from so high atop his Trump Tower world. Come down and join us, Don. As for Rosie, she owes us all an apology for squeeling "impeachment" (like peachy with her) on that View show with Barbara Walters, a long time news person to everyone.
Guess I wrote the above to get off the agony of Iraq and the "surge" that our president has ordered. With Senator John Warner now opposing it, I'm wondering too, though GW certainly isn't "double minded." That's what makes a man "unstable in all his ways." (James 1:7&8) But I fear that text fits our nation. Even more,it's sequal, (4:7-9) When our military losses reached the civilian level of 9/11, nearly 3000, I felt that we had paid the cost double and could get out. But now 2200 more are being sent with hope that the Iraq's elected government will fully perform it's part. Let's all pray for that Iraqi leader to take control bravely and firmly; and that Iranian agents are cleared out too. In the meantime, it looks like Lebanon's back on the front burner with riots at their Arab University. Makes me feel it stands for a-ngry r-iots a-gainst b-rotherhood. We can see in Rev.12 how the devil hates Israel, but CHRIST WILL APPEAR at last. Hallelujah!Tune us in Thurs.6:30 for "Song With Spoken Word." So long/Shalom
ANGELFIRE 1-31-07 Now Hillary has joined the pack running for '08 nomination, and she'll have plenty of female support as she seeks to become the first ever woman president. Gals became the majority in our national population several decades ago and they continue to gain in their lead. But ending an interview Monday with a crowd of ladies, Senator Clinton said that there were "plenty of evil and dangerous men in the world for our next president to face." Then added, "I've had one in my past so I'm already prepared." Of course they knew she meant her husband (as she'd spoken in a jovial manner) and it drew laughter. Me too. But a couple of months ago when the wife of a very prominent pastor joked about her husband's downfall, I saw that laughter as divine grace. Yet he did loose his pulpit and is gone for rehab treatment in utter disgrace, while the Clinton impeachment never led to his dismissal. So the president had stayed on, but then the preacher got fired. Yet Bill Clinton's Lewinski affair surely was our nation's shameful distraction for months and months, leaving us so vulnerable and unprepared on 9/11. We'd been engrossed in oval office sodomy (sexual perversion named after the ancient city so filled with it and performed by either gender). Sodom's never been found for sure because Scripture reports that divine wrath fell upon and completely consumed it with fire. Thus Heb.12:29 echoes a N.T. warning about wickedness: "For our God is a consuming fire." And that's never funny. It's good to laugh off burdens that Satan tries to lay upon us, but never to join him in making fun of any sort of sin. James 4:4 tells us that "friendship with the world is enmity with GOD. Whoever tries to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of GOD."
Wasn't that some cartoon Sunday of GW watching TV about the "surge" so intently that he didn't see Laura behind him going out their White House front door with her things. She's depicted from the rear as an elephant (Republican party, of course). But a tabloid must have taken it literally, as I later saw a Globe headline: "Bush Leaves Laura." They got it backwards as well as missing the point. That's tabloid journalism for you. I try to get past the grocery counter without even seeing those covers, but this one caught my attention somehow. <> Speaking of staying married, Niece and I were blest to hear Clay Shannon preach Sunday night about the endtime wedding when Christ comes for His bride. He said that Jewish custom was for the groom to remain at home until his father said it was time to go to her and take her as his wife, perhaps even after a long engagement. Brother Shannon sited the parable of those ten wise and foolish bridesmaids, five of which had brought extra oil for their lamps and five that did not; the latter had just gone to buy some more as the cry went out "Behold the bridegroom cometh!;" then her home door was shut after the Groom's entry to marry her (there with all the assembled guests). Those first five maidens were present, but the others got no answer at the closed door when they came back. Clay showed how marriage is the pattern often used in N.T. references to our Lord's return. Thus Jesus awaits the final order from His Father, as He stays there beside Him to make intercession for humans who pray in His name. So long/Shalom