That text I quoted from the Liberty Bell, "Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof" (Lev.25:10) is Biblically about Israel's national Day of Atonement. It's observed to remind them that their land (eretz) actually belongs to GOD instead of human landlords. So eretz Israel conveys the thought of holy land, even though that ancient law of restoring it back to the 12 tribes every fifty years no longer prevails in modern Israel (the year following seven times seven or Jubilee Year). I just read those calculations in Daniel 8 & 9 of the final coming of Christ and it recalled the words of Jesus about our forgiving those who ask it of us, "Not only seven times, but I say unto ye seventy times seven." I used to hate that famous French infidel who when asked about divine mercy and grace answered, "God forgives. That's his business." He sounded to me as if saying the (non-existent) Almighty was only seeking customers. Can't recall the Frenchman's name (Voltair? the outspoken 19th century atheist) but now feel that even with scorn he actually spoke a deeper truth than he'd ever known. Hallelujah for grace & mercy as seen in our American Jubilee, the 4th of July. Let's keep praying for our soldier sons & daughters.
ANGELFIRE 7-15-07 (Lord's Day column) We've been off the Internet for several days and it's even caused me to delete a column previously posted. I thought that our PV fireworks would be delayed and had recommended the following Saturday, which would have been that 7-7-07 date. Turned out to be nice enough weather to go ahead on 7-4-07 as usual. Niece and I went to watch and were so inspired that I feld my idea of a string of sevens looked trivial in comparison. So one benefit that on-line publication has over being in the news paper is your right to go back and cancel something. Anyhow, that string of sevens date was gobbled up by gambling as it's big DAY, since seven is their "lucky" number. I was seeing it as sacred instead. Though I never mentioned Las Vegas at all, we've learned by now of the baby born there that day at seven minutes after seven. Then her black parents gave her an African name of seven letters. And there was yet another seven for something else, thus a total of seven sevens involved. She's called the luckiest person on earth. Now all that stuff stole the show from anything I'd written, so deleting my whole column was for the first time ever but seemed right. Later Niece and I got in on Elmore's display that was delayed until the following night, Sun.July 8. It was out across their lake and JUST MAGNIFICIENT. Had expected it to be smaller than PV's but it seemed equally colossal. And the Lord has kept me yet again to away from any "magical" meaning in numbers. As I recall, the greatest scientist ever was England's Isaac Newton. He gave us the theory of gravity which has become the basis of all modern physics. Yet I've read that in later years he went crazy claiming hidden meaning in certain numbers. It became a false religion for him so that he strayed from his glory as a scientific genius and died trying to create gold through arcane chemistry. Yet England's been rightly proud of his former fame and he's still royalty there as SIR Isaac Newton. (but numerology is occultism never-the-less). I was also prevented from writing about Friday the 13th that followed by our TV going out. Now I've come up with a new notion about it: though there were 13 at the Last Supper, Jesus and The Twelve, that was so holy that the devil has fits whenever it falls on Fridays (the very day Christ died to defeat evil by the shedding of His own blood). Hallelujah! That notion came to me as I finally got into our Courthouse after being delayed all morning by the third time bomb scare. I asked a couple of guys I saw from Ada if such has happened at their Courthouse and both said "Not that we've heard about." So why here in PV for three times since 9/11? Satan must have a special hatred for PV I say, because the crowd I always see at 4th of July celebrations is so decent and wholesome each year. I listen for language and watch manner of dress, plus looking for beverages carried or who is holding hands. And the sight has always been normal and pleasant, something the spiritual enemy just can't abide. Niece and I set our chairs to the north on Thompson Field and drank in the beauty of it (I noticed even the Big Dipper faintly seen from which displays seemed to get poured out in the night sky). So long/Shalom
ANGELFIRE 7-18-07 One of the headlines this Tues. morning says "Massacre Reported in Iraq." I didn't have time to punch up story, but that seems to typify the whole situation there as shown on MS-NBC or CNN. It's doesn't' look quite as hopeless on Fox News. I seldom see the old three networks any more but assume they all lean toward withdrawal. That surely will be the main issue in our presidential race that keeps making more and more of the news. Looks like John McCain's the only one still for a firm stand, but he's nearly out of money. Only some tidal wave of patriotism could put him in office now. Money talks so loud in politics that such seems impossible. And Democrats are raising way more of it than Republicans, if you can believe that. What an unheard of national situation. I have grandsons now enlisting in the military which gives me a feeling for getting out, though I though we should have done so when we captured Saddam Hussein. And yet I'm recalling the international disgrace of our defeat in Viet Nam and dread for that to happen again. It was the first war we ever lost. Of course Korea before that wasn't a win, but only a truce. Yet defeat again, ugh! Back then it took Ronald Reagan's policy of "overwhelming force" to restore our global military position and finally yield a victory at last in the Cold War. So maybe McCain's right about this Global Terrorism (or Jihad). As a minister of Christ, the Prince of Peace, it's really hard to for me to even think this way. But surrender is even worse to consider. So as things keep getting tougher, we must await our Lord's final return in glory and majesty to judge all nations on resurrection Day as He takes those of His own unto Himself forever. So long/Shalom(peace)
ANGELFIRE 7-21-07 That Centennial page on the ancient history of the Wichitas caught my attention with the drawing of Medicine Park's bluff. Years ago I'd pass it on trips and now it's given me a thought: If our river named "Washita" is the same name spelled a bit different, as some claim, then it's to WASH out the "witch" from that first version. Fear and superstition have hung over mankind far too long in human history and the Gospel is heaven's "river of pure water of life, clear as crystal,flowing from the throne of GOD" (Rev.22:1) concluding the whole Bible. Instead of superstition, it's the "Come Lord Jesus" ending for all 66 books of Scripture. Water's very essential for living things and this supernatural water is for conscious beings. Thus, John 19:34 records that after the Savior died for our sins, the Roman soldier pierced His side with a spear and then water/blood came forth. Water is for our daily cleansing as we do the laundry, bathe our bodies and wash these hands before each meal. Blood is our bodies inward supplier of oxygen (life) in our red arteries and disposal of waste vapor coming out to the lungs through our blue veins. So it's an inner cleansing system. That's why baptism and holy communion are both signs of purification, outer and inner. But the latter continues over and over and we feed upon His body by faith as we spiritually drink His blood (shocking to the literal minded). To unbelievers that appears to be just a superstition but Jesus explained it in John 6 to some doubters back then. I see such a comparison when crossing the Washita on my daily route.
Our study at LARC Sunday night was from Habakkuk, a minor prophet who gave such a major text "The just shall live by faith." Paul repeats it in Romans and Galations and then it's in Hebrews to introduce the great 11th chapter, a roll call of faith heroes that begins with the Creator Himself. So Habakkuk may be "minor" because it's only three chapters long, but what a great impact it's brevity carries. The name means "loving embrace" which is the way divine mercy and grace is seen coming even through calamity. He makes me recall that saying "When it get's dark enough, the stars come out." Justice will finally come for those who wait faithfully.
There was a full house in the chapel and the guys really got a blessing from Glen Simonsen's teaching. They even have a four man band that played to start the service. It was loud and lively music from keyboard, bass guitar, drums and horn. But I truly enjoyed all the heavenly sounds. At the end I sang some Scripture songs and played my electronic harp. Dallas Wade offered the closing prayer just before the bell rang for inmates to head back to their cells again.
Have you heard what an increase this year shows in police killed across the land? For some reason the stats have taken a big jump. It's another sign of endtime wickedness, I say. And increasing war for the Middle East plus in Iraq, and illegal immigration strain here in the US are other evidence of Armageddon begun. It will have an increasing focus on Israel. So let's keep looking to Jesus as "the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross and has sat down at the right hand of GOD" to return at the Father's own time.
A/G sign in PV: "Life has no reverse, back up, or redo keys." But let me add the delete text: "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin." So long & GOD's peace be with you
ANELFIRE 7-22-07 Lord's Day(unpublished) I see in USA Today "NASA studies shuttle seal problem" with sub-title "O-ring defect not like that in Challenger case." It's set to launch like the one in '86 was, with a school teacher aboard on Aug.7. Grade schools across the nation had arranged TV to watch along with president Reagan. Christa McAullif's replacement back then, was and is still Barbara Morgan even after 21 years. NASA says "As of right now, we find nothing that gives us concern." But there should have been back then. So I wrote a song about the tragedy that came just 73 seconds after launch:(tune:"Will the Circle Be Unbroken")
Tuesday morning they were going, no one knowing it was farewell. In their places, happy faces. Everything was looking swell.
In a moment, like Halley's comet, they were rise up on high; When at once all turned a fireball in the sky, Lord in the sky! L-o-r-d, L--o--r--d!!
Littered spaces where the sea rolls strewn for miles and miles around. Only traces of our heroes by the search team could be found. They had vanished into glory with the twinlng of an eye. Seven names all tell their story, written there upon the sky.
Many questions, special sessions, Congress demands the facts to know. Children weeping, kids not sleeping; grief is spread from shore to shore. Pretty teacher was the feature that made this flyght so much more. Fatal showng--faulty O-ring that resulted in such woe.
It's been a month since my Heritage Day sermon at PV lstUMC, when everyone was so warm and cordial to Niece and me. The luncheon afterward was a surprise and delight, as my son John from Tulsa and nephew Andy Oden from Edmond sat at our table with us. Learned later that Larry Boone arranged it. Then his wife Phyllis took a photo of us that came in our mail later. It's a treasure we'll always keep of us both standing in front of a stained glass window in the former sanctuary (now Fellowship Hall). Perla Goode, the associate pastor, also sat at our table on that June 24th Sunday. Here's the song I'd written about the old bell that disappeared around 1943. Berna Walton, church historian, recalls it but not the meltdown. Barksdale McRee, senior member, doesn't remember that either. Refrain at the end goes after each verse: (1)In my home town they used to ring the church bell each Lord's Day/ And folks could hear from far around "It's time to come and pray." Mounted atop the west side roof, a pull rope there hung down upon a stairway going up, we kids would play the clown. (2)A pull or two was all we'd do since ringing it was wrong. We'd only swing it to a ding, but never a ding-dong. (3)At last one day 'twas gone away. We asked the trustees why. They said it caused the roof to leak by swinging much too high. (4)Then out upon the lawn it stood where every passing teen tried swinging and loud ringing it to show their talen keen. (5)At last it disappeared away and those who wondered where, were told that all the trustees said "It's vanished in thin air." But finally a clear report! It had been melted down to make more bullets for the war. Such good news to the town. (6)Yet that was not the final word for there is more you see--in memory it's still around and rings inside of me me. REFRAIN (after verses) That bell on our church back home has rung in my heart each day as Jesus walked with me, lest my feet should stray. It say's Christ will come at last for all who are trusting Him. So we keep on holding fast when things get looking grim.
ANGELFIRE 7-25-07 After seeing the CNN sponsored debate Mon. evening from the Citadel in S.C. that posed questions from YouTube's participants, I was sure that Clinton and Obama will be the Democratic ticket. But it could be in reverse order. Both had center seating among the eight candidates with Hillarie fourth and Barack fifth from Gravel on the far right. He's the former senator of Alaska. And Kuscnich on the far left as #8, is senator from Ohio. It was very interesting from start to finish and each of the eight had their say. That freaky one on the far left claimed that he alone had voted against going into Iraq and also against funding it. At the other end, the guy from Alaska claimed all the rest were united with Republicans and that he was the only true Democrat. That was obviously not so because of such a variety of opinions; though he was the only one claiming that Americans had died in Viet Nam and now again also in Iraq. I think a question from YouTube was if whoever is elected president would be willing to work for the minimum hourly wage instead of their big presidential salary. No one took it seriously, of course. All were proud of having raised the minimum from five to seven something per hour, which became effective this month. I'm personally glad for American laborers, but feel going to add fuel to the fire of hiring cheaper illegal immigrants. Government cannot just create wealth by legal enactment. Such is like pulling a rabbit out of a magic hat--only done by creating an illusion (same as giant corporations evading taxes that leave greater national debt). So let's see the Republican debate next month. Some of their eleven have dropped out by now, but Fred Thomson will surely be running by then. It still think NYC mayor Bloomburg will also run, but as an Independent speding his own ample funds. Bill Gates might join him. Then we'd see if the presidency can be bought, though Mastercard says "There are some things in life that can't be with money.." and we know those words apply to our eternal salvation. Only the Savior's blood could pay our sin debt. And when we look with faith to the Cross, we know in our hearts that He sure did. Hallelujah! And now His return is at hand, so let's keep holding steady until He appears. The Greek word for a king visiting one his cities is "parousia." So that's the proper New Testament(written in Greek) word, rather than "second coming." It means the KING'S APPEARING, a teaching all through the 27 New Testament books--from Matthew to Revelation. Peter's witness is in those two under his name, near the N.T.'s end. Read them and see how Peter foresaw this day and age. Maybe he'd visited Rome, since he tells of so much corruption. But the letters imply that he's back in Jerusalem, being Apostle to the Circumcized(Jews). It was Paul who was an Apostle to the Uncircumcized) Gentiles, and he clearly died in Rome while waiting for the Parousia. The English finally did built St.Paul a cathedral, putting it up in London instead of there in Rome. Catholics built the one there to St.Peter (in the wrong city, I say). Should have been in Jerusalem, the holy place St. John sees "coming down from GOD out of heaven" in Rev.21. So long/Shalom
So long for now.
ANGELFIRE 7-28-07 Angelfire's had an extra column on line for several months which affords my candid expression. Yet it brings "angelic" restraint because it's written on each Lord's Day. I plan to talk about this Harry Potter craze on the next LORD'sDAY extra. But for now, I'm rejoicing that the university president Hank Brown, up in Colorado, finally fired that crazy professor named Ward. He's been a "ward of the state" for long enough. Think his last name's Churchill(too great for such a nut). Let him not try to draw pay for corrupting young minds elsewhere. We've already got too much insanity in American without subsidizing it, I say. His being a tenured professor is why it took two and a half years plus millions in legal fees, but Hank finally got it done and deserves commendation. So now maybe the NFL or Atlanta Falcons or someone in authority can drop that Michael Vick also. Better not count on the coach/team doing it, since he's their big star quarterback. But what he's been doing secretly with dogs is a national outrage. It links together with guns, gambling and drugs so hideously that we just can't allow continuation. We humans sort of grew up with canines as our animal ally, wolves that could `be domesticated despite the wild thatīs still in them. And they became man's best friend. So finding this illegal underground industry that breeds them to be more fierce than originally is yet another sign of this world's endtime wickedness. A report called "Bad News Kennels" tells how they are bred only for blood and gambling. Chicagoīs where it all got going to spread out over the land. Iīd always heard of Al Capone and his gangsters up there, but not of this huge industry taking us down to below the dogs. Humans have become worse than canines ever were when they began as wild fierce, mean wolves.
"Gravitational lensing" is something new for deep space telescopes. I learned on OETA that since most of the universe doesn't emit light as we'd previously assumed, we've learned to look at the dark stuff by observing how it pulls or bends light waves passing around it. That's finally enabling us to "see" so much dark matter out there. A comparative lesson for believers, I'd call "wearing Satan detector goggles" to gain wise-up awarenes, which we need these days a whole lot more than we need sun glasses. Now take a look at my website, where Angelfire's page views have been increasing. And come LORD JESUS
7-29-07 LORD'S DAY extra I promised to write on Harry Potter books because I'd seen that J.K.Rowling has also promised there will be no more. She's made it super big and now lives in Edenberg Scotland (as a single mom I think). The first movie was in '99, "Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone." Now there are six more that have fed the craze about this wizard boy's growing up. I've not read any but have finally taken a look because of the huge acclaim, along with comparisons to the famous British intellectual believer, C.S.Lewis and his "Chronicles of Narnia." I finally went to see "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" with Niece and the Burch kids, who are kin to us. It was delightful, but little that I could get hold of for faith (which I had expected). So I have similar feelings about those now claiming Harry Potter's loaded with "Christian teacing." You'd have to be a strong believer who could impose your own faith on the show, I think. Those I've asked about it were all women and none had any criticism. One, a teen, said she had enjoyed it greatly. I asked why and she said "Everything led to something else, so you were on the edge of your seat to see the next thing." A mom told me she'd taken her three kids to two of the movies and thought they were delightful. I guess the unease I've felt is about Harry being a sorcerer as Rowling draws heavily on medieval religious notions. Surely no one wants to restore that evil era of distorted belief. And sorery draws it's power from the enemy of Christ. Read Acts 8:9-14 about Simon Magnus who was rebuked for trying to buy spiritual power from the Apostles as soon as he'd been baptized . It's where we get the word "simony." Makes me wonder if all this string of movies might be of such an ilk. We know there's big money being made. That's fair cause for suspicion, in my opinion. And what if all that viewing time had been given to Bible reading to our kids? Instead of all those freaky madeup names, they'd be familial with heroes of Scripture i.e. Hebrews 11.
There were "100 best coaches" listen in Sunday's OKLAHOMAN a week before last. I recognized some but realized I had not been into sports enough to know very many. Yet the first one (with photo) was Bud Wilkinsen, who came to OU while I was still a student there. He set the Sooners on a winning streak that we thought would never end. It showed the whole world what a big deal football is in OK. In fact, I recall later in '66 when I went on a month long visit to England, that folks would bring football up as soon as they learned I was from the Sooner state (though rugby was their own sport). Then, I have teasured a conversation I later had with Bud Wilkenson when he came to speak at Rotary in the town where I served as pastor (was considering a run for governor as I recall). His speech traced the life cycle of most nations: a rise to fame & status, a change to soft and indulgent, then sinking into corruption and decay. It was a heavy load of listening all pointing to U.S. So I told him I'd been at OU when he came; then gone on to seminary in Dallas. So I shared the view I'd taken from SMU--that our western civilization doesn't keep repeating in cycles; instead such a vision of history was the oriental outlook. But we occidentals see things as moving on in a straight line ahead. So he replied "When you're in your car you can drive perfectly straight down the road, but those wheels beneath you stil keep turning in circles to get you there don't they!" He caught me by surprise with such an answer. So I shared a good laugh with him that I'll never forget. He'd lifted me out of a deeply dismal view. What a speaker he was (to put me in the pit) and winner as well (then lift me out). Great coaches must do that to their teams, with the main emhasis on lifting out at halftime. Sort of like an evangelist begins a revival by preaching to bring conviction of sins first, then he offers the Good News in Christ for the last laugh(GOD's joke on Satan, who thought he was rid of Jesus, but then the Savior arose victorious over death and hell).