BI-WEEKLY COLUMNS FROM THE PINKHOUSE (color of that angel fire which lights up heaven) 902 E. Juanita, Wynnewood, OK

As published in The Paul's Valley

Daily Democrat

ANGELFIRE 11-02-07 I got word from PV's Main Street that the seasonal displays are for Fall/Harvest Season (not spooks or witches) to stay up a while. So it's corrected on my web page as always when I find change is needed. Also I add frequent supplements, plus an unpublished Lord's DAY column. As a guest here in print, I feel self restrain is appropriate. But on my own page (shown below) I can talk plain. Our Pumpkin Fest here in WW on Tues. got complete photo coverage in the Gazette, including Rep. Wes Hilliard's photo on his go-cart in the Soap Box Derby. He won third place in adult contestants. And it was fun for everyone, especially kids. But Wed. night just before midnight, a 38 year old WW woman stood placid on the rail road (running past her residence) on out slightly north of town, and was run over by a train coming through WW from the south. I was told that the lady had previously walked where she was at risk from the highway traffic. Then I read of it on page 2 in Thursday's Daily Democrat. What a shock to WW. It recalls that adage, "Self preservation is the first law of survival." That's not Scripture, but it's certainly primary for behavior. God gives us life and we need to cherish it. Even Jesus loved His, as shown by that prayer in the Garden, "Father, if it be possible let this Cup pass from Me. Never-the-less, not my will, but Thine be done."   He wasn't opting neither out nor for suicide, but rather showing obedience. Thus, He would sacrifice His very self to serve the Father's purpose. He, who was without fault, took our wickedness upon Himself so that we might also become obedient children. In faith, our life purpose is made like His: doing the Father's will. And that combines our love of GOD with the golden rule in Lev.19:18: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." (Then in James 2:8 it's called "The Royal Law" as a Scriptural name). And much as we should love our own lives, Jesus said a willingness to lay them down for others expresses love most fully to them. He's even been called "The Man for Others" by some 20th century theologians. I'm also considering a different view based on God's whole Incarnation (including the Crucifixion/Resurrection), that puts in focus His total life of sinless perfection; all of it being equally important as His death on the Cross was. Will say more of that before we arrive at Christmas (Day of Incarnation). So Long, Joseph A

LORD's DAYextra I'm thanking the Lord this morning for His grace, as seen even in the extra hour we get from "falling back" on the clock. It typifies the goodness of GOD to his creatures here below and the amazing grace bestowed on mankind through the Son, Jesus Christ. Each morning is a new start in Him, but the morning of this First Day of the week is even more so. And the morning of the first Lord's Day in November yet even more. And it's the month in which I will finish eight decades on Earth; and still with better health than ever. I've promised in ANGELFIRE to write how I see the short life of our Lord as redemptive from cradle to grave. It seems significant to me that He never had any illness Himself, yet he healed others and finally took our sorrows upon Himself. I'm considering the earliest theory of Atonement. It from Irenaeus of Lyons, who called it "recapitulation." By that he meant Jesus had made reparation from sin for all the illnesses of man in this earthly sojourn by His sinless perfection. As I ponder that perspective, I see a theological basis for holy health. Pray for me to gain greater insight as Nov.28 comes to mark my day of birth here in PV. I recall that John Wesley said that Christians should die well (instead of from illness). And that's what he did when he reached ninety something. His last words: "And the best of all, GOD is with us." What a way to go! Reminds me that the first use of "shalom" in Scripture is about the death of Abraham: "And thou shall go to thy fathers in peace; thou shall be buried in a good old age" (Gen.15:15). So Long/Shalom

My brother John writes in Estes Park CO and did this on his home state: BALDERDASH FOR  11/9/07      Oh, what a Beautiful Morning!  Oh, what a Beautiful Day!                          WHAT EVERYONE WANTS AND NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT OKLAHOMA, The one hundred year old Sooner State --      It is altogether fitting that our Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies is going all out this month with seven performances of OKLAHOMA, an all time favorite stage musical, introduced and an immediate smash hit on Broadway in 1943. You'll hate yourself if you miss it, so invite friends and go.       With its all local cast, directed by the talented Bill McNamara, the Opening Night curtain goes up tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Hempel Hall at the YMCA.  Five evening performances and two 2 p. m. Sunday matinee are scheduled.       The timing is perfect!  This very month, the state of Oklahoma (the state of my birth, and that all three of my kids) is celebrating the Centennial of its Statehood.  (Also, our local Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, is celebrating its Centennial year.)      And so, the area formerly known as Indian Territory officially became know as OKLAHOMA, a Choctaw Indian word meaning red people, in 1907.  My Mother and her siblings were born there when it was still known as I. T.       In recognition of the State's 100th Anniversary, and to allay the suspicions of some -- Mr. Balderdash might share some little known information about that funny shaped hunk of land almost heavenly between Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.       Oklahoma has a pan handle that IS a panhandle.  Texas claims a panhandle, but can you find it on a map? Perhaps it's imaginary.      The setting of the musical is on a ranch near Claremore, Indian Territory, a short hop, but a long surrey ride in 1888, northeast of Tulsa.  Claremore has claims to fame as the home town of both Will Rogers and Patti Page.  It has a fine college (where my niece teaches), and two busy boulevards named for Rogers and Paige. MORE TANTALIZING FACTOIDS --      Besides having an interesting shape on the map -- its southern boundary with Texas being defined by the squiggly path of the Red River, and Lake Texhoma, a huge and beautiful man-made lake fed by the Red River. The state has a few noteworthy geographic quirks.      According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oklahoma is the only state in the union with 11 distinct eco levels. (We have five or six between Lyons and the top of Trail Ridge Rd.) That means that if you looked long enough, you could find almost any terrain and fauna somewhere in the state.       Most people know that the Sooner State is called sooner's because of those who jumped the gun to stake claims for land in the Land Rush of 1888.  But that's another story.      What many do not know is the surprising fact that Oklahoma has more fresh water in man made lakes than any other state of the fifty, a total of over a million surface acres.  The combined shore lines of these many lakes is said to be 2,000 miles more that the U. S. East Coast and West Coasts combined. (No, I'm not making this up.)      Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University, formerly Oklahoma A and M, are both world-class educational institutions, and rate well in athletic competitions of all kinds.  The state is also loaded with many smaller universities and colleges.      In addition to its two fine cities, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, the state is peppered with interesting towns and villages, many with hard to pronounce, much less spell, Indian names.  During and since WW II, many people have learned about Oklahoma the hard way, taking military training at huge Ft. Sill, Tinker Field, or one of several other bases.      Five of our space walking astronauts are products of the Sooner State, more than any other state; Owen Garriott, Tom Stafford, Shannon Lucid, William Pogue and the late Gordon Cooper.      Oklahoma is the third largest producer of natural gas, and ranks fourth in production of wheat, cattle and calves.  It ranks fifth in production of pecans, sixth in peanuts, and eighth in peaches. MORE STARTLING INSIDE INFORMATION --      Oklahoma City is the birthplace of the parking meter.  Shopping carts and the electric guitar originated elsewhere in the state.  Chester Gould of Pawnee, OK was the originator of Dick Tracy which he continued drawing until his death, and Clarence Ducky Nash of Watonga, OK was the first voice for Disney's creation, Donald Duck.        Many famous entertainers, musicians, athletes, writers, inventors, politicians, and educators claim Oklahoma as their birthplace and home state.  Among them are such names as Jim Thorp, Mickey Mantel, Bob Kerr, Paul Harvey, Dennis Weaver, James Garner, Kay Starr, Roger Miller, Garth Brooks, Reba McIntire, John Denver, Brad Pitt, Troy Aikman, Tom Maher, Al Persons, Dick Cunningham, Jack Endicott and Charles Phares. (No, your curmudgeonly Balderdasher doesn't qualify.)      Oklahoma is known for fiercely independent people -- and also for some of the friendliest people on earth -- caring, hardworking, patriotic, and God fearing people, with integrity and an unstoppable work ethic.  Sometimes considered part of the Bible belt, Oklahoma has many churches of all denominations.  The Southern Baptist Convention is by far the largest, claiming nearly a million of the State's total population of 3.6 million citizens.       Oklahomans have survived the horrors of the Dust Bowl in the early 1930s, many killer tornadoes each year, rattlesnakes, and the tragic 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City.  It endures hot, humid summers, and windy winters with occasional treacherous ice storms.                           But its climate promotes beautiful mornings, and unmatched balmy springtime's, flavorful Falls, just right for football --- and if you are alert, you might see a surrey with a fringe on the top. We are told the girl who can't say no has moved to California. STRAIGHT AHEAD!  MrBalderdash@aol.com          

ANGELFIRE 11-7-07 Musharraf has one last possible way out of dictatorship in Pakistan if he will keep the upcoming election there on the agenda.   Of course it may have been the very threat that brought him to declare military law, so post phoning it can be his way of staying in power. At any rate, the notion of sharing control with Benazir Bhutto now seems remote indeed. And all the billions we've provided for economic aid to Pakistan may have gone in reverse. That's too often the result of putting trust in money to accomplish what only Providence can provide. Surely it's the reason our national motto was added to the currency of America, "In God We Trust." The Bible preserves the name of a mountain where Abram was put to that awful test of offering up his "only beloved son, Isaac." Moriah means "Yahweh provides;" so when his child by Rebekka asked (about the offering to be made) "where is the lamb," Abram replied "Yahweh will provide, my son." Right then it was Isaac he had in mind, but THE ONE WHO IS did fulfill the name of Mt. Moriah by letting a male sheep (ram) be caught in the thicket on that little mountain. Then Yahweh gave a new name to this father (Abram) who had shown such faith, Abraham (father of many nations). Names are so important in the Bible, and even the name of Moriah was later taken to Jerusalem by the author of first & second Chronicles (Ezra?), renaming Mt. Zion as Moriah. So the Jews know better than any people how basic finance is to faith. If you truly mean to do something, you've got to "put your money where your mouth is." Thus Yahweh rewarded Abraham's life with much peaceful prosperity (wealth/money), and ended it with that word, "shalom", first used by Scripture to express a special Hebrew blessing as Gen.15:15. Look it up to read for yourself. Even though Mt. Calvary is the focus of faith for the New Israel of GOD, it also amplifies the Providence theme in John 3:16, where the male sheep offered up as Lamb of GOD, is the only begotten Son of the Living GOD. (I spell with capitals to signify Great father--Only son--Divine guide, an acronym for the triune Godhead).

Oprah Winfrey's back in the news with trouble. Her name's from the Bible (1 Ch.4:14) as son of Meonothia, a person. Other uses are for places. But Oprah means "hamlet" where Meonothia means "my dwelling." Both names seem to point to that academy place that Winfrey's built in S. Africa for outstanding girl students. Now she has to endure the scandal erupting from reported sexual abuse by the adult dorm keepers/parents down there. Oprah's fired them all and hired other couples, and has faced a press conference about it all. As America's richest woman, she felt obligated to aid her people in that continent of origin, so the academy was created there. She's usually in Chicago and it's a long way off. But she's a responsible celebrity in my opinion. In fact, she launched Barack Obama just a year ago on her TV show (which somehow I've never watched). And now she's getting as much attention as Hillary because of the academy problems. I can't tell just where she puts her faith allegiance, but she's certainly on our national scene while women all over the globe are coming forward. If the billionaire Jewish mayor of NYC jumps into the race for president, then America's richest female Oprah might still step ahead of Hillarie (maybe get Obama for v.p. since she launched him). My mind goes again to Rev.12 and the mysterious female figure which St. John saw in heaven coming under Satan's attack. That links also to Bhutto in Pakistan being nearly killed by terrorists/Satan, as I see it. Great signs of the times keep appearing, I say. Money talks loudest down here, but the weak are also being made strong and the meek becoming mighty in these final days. And our LAMB is to return at last as a LION! Hallelujah! So Long/Shalom, Joseph A ANGELFIRE 11-09-07 Words have always been an interest for me and I woke up from a dream about them from the prologue to John's Gospel: In the beginning was the Word; and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It goes on in Jn.1:14 to say "the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth." Now of all the words to catch our attention, this one from eternity should get the very fullest hearing by humans. We link words to the ear but divine words may be for the eye as well i.e. angels(messengers). And in this instance the Word is seen in that cattle stall of Bethlehem even before Mary's newborn was able to utter any words.   And He grew up in sinless perfection, even though mankind's been able to view His life as one of our kind. But listening to His teaching has been our privilege via the New Testament. And that's where words set down in a permanent record are sacred for all time. Written by scribes at first, they were finally placed in print after invention of the printing press. And now with radio, TV and Internet there are words galore flying at us and trying to get into our minds. But the primary Word is that first one with Elohim, JESUS. It wasn't spoken but was "In the beginning" with and as the Creator, Son of the Father; along with the Holy Spirit. "Elohim" is a plural so that it compares to your last name. Elohim's first name is Yahweh and the Son's is Yoshua, or "Yahweh saves." So just as Yahweh means "He is," the Son's is an extension into "He is savior/salvation."   So God the Father told Mary what name to give their baby, since He'd used it from all eternity for the only begotten One. Here's a chorus to sing: Jesus is His name, Yes Jesus is His name. Jesus is His name, our Savior. Angels prostrate fall: "Crown Him Lord of all." Yes, JESUS IS HIS NAME.

Just as words can be important, names are even more so in the Bible. We are too careless with both in my opinion. And then we give people new ones called "nic-names," which are usually more accirate. On the media I've noticed each year that talking gets faster. If the host of a show sees time running out, he/she reminds the guest of "only a few seconds" to prompt some fast talk. I can recall when such jabber was considered rude and maybe a little sly. It conveyed the feeling of distrust, like used car salesman used to do. In fact it was forbidden to early day Methodists by their Wesley's bias against "the use of many words in buying or selling." Becoming one of our general rules back in 18th century England, it cautioned against falsehoods in the guise of petty parlance, chit chat, blather-blather, etc." You were supposed to look men straight in the eye and say what you meant (plus mean what you've said).

So the Almighty hasn't been sly or cunning with us, but fully open and honest in the Incarnation of His very own self into our human existence. He became like us that we might become like Him. And that's what the great celebration at the end of next month is all about. I like to call it ChristBirth Day; or Incarnation Festival. We let so many words stay in use that no longer convey their original meaning. And new ones are being created daily by the media that keep us straining to stay current. I feel that many words are uttered just to show how up to date/mod the speaker is, which seems phoney to me. Let's try to be compassionately candid with others, taking Christ in our hearts daily so the Holy Spirit guides each of our words and actions. And just as He came in that manger to grew up to be our Role Model, He'll come also in clouds of glory to take all who have believed the Gospel as His own(Church) Bride. That's a marriage to replace all other ones and last forever. What a glorious word then is BRIDE who becomes espoused to Christ Jesus eternally. Solong/Shalom,JosephA

ANGELFIRE 11-13-07 Just recently Niece gave me a box of columns she thought my dad had written back in the fifties. That was because "Sounding Off" was their weekly title. But as I put them in order and started reading the first one, Jan.2 '58, I realized they were my own, for which I had borrowed his title from here in the PV Democxrat. It was my third year as pastor in Erick. So there are five months of talk about happenings in that very small town out west in Beckham County (right next to TX). In fact their weekly paper was named West Beckham County News as I recall. Since it was my third year there, the columns were full of local names and places I'd come to know and which now bring back many happy memories. It was even before I-40 had been built (I recall first hearing of such a vast project at Rotary Club, which met at my church there) and highway 66 was still "America's Main Street", as it ran from OKC right through little Erick and on to Amarillo. But the trip to PV seemed such a long way off that I didn't even come back here to my home town's 50th anniversary in '57; yet did tell in my "Sounding Off" of that year's Xmas Eve visit, when I was came home and went down to the PV Children's Hospital as a Santa to the kids living there. My dad JMH was PV's chamber of commerce secretary, and he got me the invitation. It was a profound experience for this young minister, as recorded in my own Sounding Off, first copy saved. Well there's just five months of them, not long for a column; because then I was appointed to Ridgecrest Methodist of Muskogee in mid '58. Also, my dad hadn't liked me using his title; though "sounding off" was a navy expression and we were both navy veterans of WW II. It made me think of my owm boot camp training out at San Diego back in '45, where we'd shout it out while marching on the grinder, "sound off, one two; take it off, three four; one two three four, SOUND OFF(double volumn).'" And I don't think there was ever a better column title (to get attention).

Just saw a headline on MS-NBC saying Bhutto Demands Musharraf Step Down. That's very bold for a woman in the Muslim world and we saw how it nearly got her killed a couple of weeks ago. But standing against dictatorship takes guts and that lady sure as 'em. Instead, he could keep his military chief position and yield the presidency to her when/if she wins the Jan.9 election. Then she'd be the only female head of state in Islam. Now that would be a huge break through for democracy, as I see it. But Islam seems too macho as it's loaded with masculine dominance that's especially among it's extremists. Pakistan is center stage again globally and the outcome there will have plenty of International impact. I even see that woman I've mentioned previously in Revelation 12 as depicting world history as ordained in heaven. Maybe she's the nation of Pakistan and her "male child" the people of that free nation. Her twelve starred crown could mean the twelve tribes of Ishmael that are mentioned as his by an Egyptian wife there in Genesis. Yet democracy doesn't equate the KINGDOM OF GOD which we've long prayed for in the Lord's Prayer, (also now along with our troops in Iraq). It will fully come with the return of Christ, which is surely close at hand. So keep the faith brothers and sisters. SoLong/Shalom, JosephA@webtv.net

ANGELFIRE 11-15-07 As I write this on Friday, I'm looking at the full schedule today, Nov.16, as we become 100 years old (or should I say "young"). Our state's really been on the map this year. I saw the big Centennial Parade a week or so ago in OKC twice on TV: live and re-run, with all those Sooners/Okies who have attained national recognition. Today's a big day at Guthrie, our first capitol city. (And most everyone's heard of our Woodie Guthrie, though he wasn't even from there). But here in PV a play named "Steel Magnolias" opened last night, so you'd think we were in MS instead. Well, maybe not, but I was stationed at Gulfport through the summer of '45 and can remember that the magnolia was their state flower. In fact they called themselves the Magnolia State back then. But their racism was ugly and hard as "steel" in those days. I'd grown up in IL and OK and could hardly grasp the attitude of racial superiority back then. I have one horrible recollection of a couple of Shore Patrols beating a black man with their batons just outside the base, as some of us were heading for New Orleans liberty. A crowd was gathering and I hollered "You'd better stop them before he's dead." Someone in the crown said "Let 'em kill the damned n......" Then my buddies drug me away to get on the N.O. train with them. So the beauty of "magnolia" is marred in my memory. Then our weekly liberty trips to N.O. kept adding to my distaste. That name didn't come from "magnificent" nor "magnify"; but it was taken from a French botanist of the 18th century, Pierre Magnol. And the French Quarter in N.O. was anything but magnificent in my young eyes. Yet magnolias are so beautiful that we wish they could be made of steel and last permanently. Such may be a theme of the drama, which I certainly plan to see. And what "steel" ones there are surely exist for all fifty states, instead of just MS. Godly folks down there were strong on Bible belief, just as one text from Ecc, says it: "The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our God abides forever." So that's where we can get heavenly steel. And it's my prayer for OK, "Make us hard as steel against Satan and his trickery, Oh LORD." The devil's most subtle approach is the denial of his own existence. That seems to be the attitude of the Democratic presidential debate from Las Vegas, "Sin City USA" (though I felt all the candidates were fine contestants). Vegas took that name away from N.O. and has cashed in on it super big. So one national party's now associated it's name with the glamorously wicked place. We fret and worry about what designations are used for individuals, but how about whole cities? And now even national political parties? Just proves so few take Satan seriously any more (nor sin), I say. In Scripture his turf is the wilderness or wastelands or garbage dumps. Yet he sneaks into places as beautiful as the Garden of Eden; or even into heaven, which the book of Job tells us at it's start. He's the ultimate secret terrorist against which we must fight, and our weapon is the sword of the Spirit/Bible. It's made of a "steel" that's hardest of all. And Oklahoma is (along with MS) here in the Bible Belt, where such steel is readily available. That's beautiful to my mind, as I've been trying to speak artistically. Your see, I claim art for Christ's Own Kingdom. He's coming again for the finishing touch to mount His throne in the new heaven & earth. Solong, JosephA

LORD'sDAYextra 11-18-07 I hope you read the report on our state by my brother in a previous ANGELFIRE this year. It was for our state's Centennial, and the best summary I'd seen anywhere. Now the day has past and the celebrations are memories to keep along with PV's SesquiCentennial the month before. The flow of events seems to get fuller the longer we live (as I'm speaking personally). And each First Day(Lord'sDay) is a new start in Christ. I'm so glad that His victory over death becomes our own when we live by faith in Him. Thus we anticipate His return in glory each Resurretion Day (which is both weekly as well as yearly). In fact, it can be daily if we let each one belong to Him. That's why Lord'sDay is the right name: "This is the Day that the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." His final coming in glory and majesty simply confirms the Victory He's already won on the Cross and in Resurrection. It's central to Gospel preaching and Communion observance "till the Lord comes." I was sad to learn of B.Harrison's death during the Friday Sing at Valley Christian Church. But his obit in the Democrat certainly showed the glory side of such an earthly departure. His wife Darlene had just played for his swan song which was entitled "He Did It For You." What a final message after seventy five years of life. That church right at the S.end of Walnut now has it's special place in PV's history, I say. Also it's address has been 2001 S.Walnut, year of 9/11 that divide's contemporary events. Gen.Tommy Franks of WW has called that year a "crease in history", which is an apt designation. The endtime global war with Israel at it's center has surely been upon us since. Solong, JosephA

11-21-07 It's already the season that Wynnewood turns into Hollywood with our eye catching decorations on Kerr Drive's wide mall. For a small town, it's a gigantic display. But one item missing has been that World's Tallest Scarecrow that would turn into an Angel right after Halloween. Perhaps you've heard that Detroit now has the highest crime rate in America, but Dubayy is the fastest growing city on Earth. I felt that our scarecrow change would put us in that league, making WW like a little Dallas; so Detroit, Dubayy and Dallas: our "3-D identity" is here to see (even rhymes doesn't it). Surely the Angel will yet appear. He has a name, but I can't recall what it is.

In case Dubayy means nothing to you, I learned about that Persian Gulf place way back in the seventies while I was a pastor in Tulsa. A big guy named Carl Davis was always on trips there with his oil business. One time he brought a Palestinian back home to work for him. As I'd stop by his Tulsa office now and then, I would talk with that guy,Yousef Bedri, and learned about Palestinian hatred of the Israelis. It would take so long to listen that I sometimes just walked out. But Carl was a leader in St.Marks, and I was his pastor. So I'd always get back t Yousef. Today, that place where he found the helper is building a new skyscraper every month. Dubayy's the business oil capitol with nearly a million people there in the Persian Gulf. But I feel sure it still holds plenty of anti-Israeli anger. And despite all it's money, I prefer WW over either Detroil or Dubayy, as my little Dallas (I spent 4 years in Big-D at Seminary/SMU).

Did you see that poem in Game Day last week about the Panther senior's last season. Nan Caldwell expressed in verse so well the sense of melancholy the last game for seniors brought. Poetry is an art, like drawing-painting-singing-acting, etc.; other languages that we can use to praise the LORD. And her poem ended as such. Here's cheers for the arts in PV, while I try recalling a poem I liked: "When earth's last picture is painted, and the tubes are twisted and dried, when the oldest color has faded and the youngest critic has died; we shall rest, and faith we shall need it. Lie down for an aeon or two, till the Master of all good workmen will set us to work anew. Then we'll paint on a ten league canvass with brushes of comet's hair. We will work for an age at a sitting and each in his golden chair, shall paint the thing as he sees it, and never grow tired out there. Where each in his own dominion and each in a separate star will paint with the joy of just painting, for God's heavenly things come so far. There none but the Master shall praise us, and Christ's Blood will have banished all blame.  Where serving our Master forever and painting for Him are the same. SoLong, JosephA

ANGELFIRE 11-23-07 Today is what's now called Black Friday, because black is so beautiful as a color in the economy. Being "in the black" is where we wish our budgets could stay. The opposite is in the red, and that spells trouble ahead when it gets down to cash or blood to get paid up. But this day it means money being spent in shopping as the season officially begins all over our land. And it's usually a record day on sales. That's a radical change from when I first heard such a title. I was only a child and heard it was a dreadful Tuesday that everyone remembered back in '29.. The stock market had collapsed and in NYC wealthy folks were jumping out of skyscrapers because their finances were gone. It would mark the start of that agony of the Great Depression, lasting clear until WW II. It got the economy booming again, but with guns and war. Depression's a term no leader has dared to use ever since, though "recession" has been spoken a number of times, and even now. Yet BLACK FRIDAY waves it away and ward's off such pessimism. We want all reputable merchants to thrive and do well in this nation, after just celebrating our Thanksgiving Day. LORD help us show our gratitude to Thee with faithfulness to truth in the Holy Bible you've given to mankind, As Thy Word, it's our Book of Books that we must read regularly and devoutly.

My reading this morning was from Jude, a short letter just before Revelation. It's third verse says "...earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints." In the next verse a long word describes an influence of false teachers creeping in; "lasciviousness." That's linked with "denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" as verses follow about moral decay, bodily corruption, rot and ruin & etc. Then mention is made of the fallen angels (that John Milton depicted in his famous epic, Paradise Lost). Certainly is a timely warning for what transpires across our land in these last days. We've just had Thanksgiving, but let's also add repentance and continual praying. Consider Thee-ology more important than theology (though Glen called me a theologian up at LARC's Sun. night servoce). I wanted as a boy to become a scientist, but later learned theology was "Queen of the sciences." Yet the secular world is oblivious to theology (seen like astrology, superstition, magic). So I put prayer at the pinnacle of human attainment, remembering what Tennison said, "There are more things wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." As I pray, sometimes I can see Jesus coming in the clouds of glory to fulfill His promise it would finally happen. Hallelujah & SoLong/Shalom, JosephA (11-29-07 Still see that squiggly line of fire in my vision that stems from my accident on a bike when nine years old. Got to have my tenth birthday just out of bed from concussion recovery. Still recall Voice I heard just before the bike got hit by that car, "Going to see God and all the holy angels." So that crescent shaped line I see from time to time is a sort of Angelfire to me).

LORD'sDAY extra 11-25-07 I always correct mistakes in ANGELFIRE that I've found, but seldom mention them; though one I made about a prayer quote which I thought was Merlin speaking to King Arthur, was actually from Alfred Tennyson's long poem, "In Memorium." So that been corrected and also admitted. Maybe my quotes should be all from Scripure and that was just a lesson for me. Right now I'm considering the US sponsored meeting in Annapolis Maryland of middle east countries considering Palestine. Our own nation's hope is to see a Palestinian state in the making. But as one who sees the state of Israel resulting from divine Providence, I have little hope for this outcome. The situation in Pakistan is so intense that we'll be too timid about risking any pressure on either side of that Arab/Israeli divide. Yet we are hearing of good results in Iraq, but still doubt that it's going to last very long; especially if we start withdrawing. So ANGELFIRE's view is that we're already into Armageddon and the consumation of mankind's history. Thus, our focus should be upon spiritual revival in this nation. That long word I previously used, lasciviousness (lust in every way), has become the cause of our characer downfall. Even the Blackwater scandal shows it in Iraq, where the new democracy imitates our example. We need a president who will call U.S. to the priority of making ready to face the LORD at His soon return. But I sure don't expect any candidate to make such a proposal, even though a Christly nation could be delivered from Satanic powers that engulf us now in this global kind of terrorism spawned by drug cartels that use radical religion to spread it. Acts 20:35 sets the true theme of this season of giving, "...remembering the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said it is more blessed to give than to receive." Isn't that life's greatest goal, putting others ahead of self? John 3:16 sites GOD's example, Who gave His only begotten Son for redemption in humanity. Solong/Shalom, JOSEPHA

ANGELFIRE 11-27-07 It could be the most significant meeting of GW's presidency if the goal of a two state solution for Israeli/Palestinian relations finally gets on track. Since he proposed it back in his first term, it's been stalled like everything else in the Middle East. As I mentioned previously, the first Palestinian I ever met way back in the seventies saw the abolition of Israel their reason for being. And though that seems to have moderated, I'm sure it still lingers in secret. I watched Monday evening as all the invited delegates gathered at Annapolis with our president as the special guest. He finished his remarks by lifting a toast to peace, as the huge assembly held up their glasses too. But I noticed GW's was not ruddy like the rest. Either it was water or just empty. And he said as he put it down, "I've got to work the tables." That meant giving a handshake to each one present as they sipped their drinks. Now we know Muslims don't use wine. So his "empty" or water filled glass may have been an outreach to the many of them attending. Or it could have been from his own allegiance to AA, where he found deliverance from drink back in his Texas days. Either way, it seemed so appropriate to me, as I consider alcohol the mother of all drugs abused.   

Once when I was pastor at Marlow I took my confirmation class of youngsters up to visit a synagogue in OKC. Their service concluded with a glass of wine for each who joined in the closing "toast." It caught me by surprise when the Rabbi welcomed us, me and some twenty kids who were with me. I declined by saying "We'll pass since our church teaches abstinence" to which he replied "That's fine, but we consider wine as one of the good gifts of our Creator." It made a lasting impression on me, as you can tell. I didn't know then about Muslims and their prohibition of alcohol. But I now know about global drug cartels which in secretly selling stuff far worse than alcohol, are drawing Islamic radicals (who would never touch wine or liquor) into their godless business. Such compromising shows how making big money comes to be the worst addiction of all. Thank GOD for AA and a non drinking/drugging president. If it was water in his glass, it was the basic drink of life on this planet.

I've sought to understand John 19:34, and have consulted my doctor about blood being so essential to the physical existence of us humans and animals. That's why the divine Blood is central to communion by Christians. Then he said "And water is just as essential to all life on Earth. Without it none could survive." Then I saw the "blood and water" the Gospel had mentioned as pointing to that river of the water of life described in Rev.22.   As Jesus told the woman at the well in Jn.4, "The water I give is like a flowing fountain springing up into eternal life." So the sacred Blood becomes also a water of Life to the Church, just as our physical blood supples life giving oxygen inside each of our living bodies. SoLong/Shalom, JospehA

ANGELFIRE 11-30-07 The day before yesterday was a milestone in my so that I'm sharing here a vision I had four years ago about "heaven & earth" Gn.1:1, both the realms of all existence, transcendent as well as immanent, super-natural plus natural, superverse and universe: Those first words of the Bible are "In the beginning GOD created the heaven and the earth." Niece and I were building a new house out near I-35 and I felt so glad we had the Pinkhouse in WW for a home. It made sense that builders not live right in the place that's being constructed.   I could see that GOD created this material universe after first making an abode for Himself and all the holy angels with Him. In Hebrew it's "shamayim," or highest heaven. I saw it as a superverse, not just in time and space, but more vast with eternity and infinity as dimensions. Thus it embodies also this entire physical universe. As sensory beings, we can't detect that realm with our scientific investigations. Yet GOD's almighty love reaches down to us in the WORD of Jn.1:1. That Child born in Bethlehem didn't originate just from an earthly source, but also from a shamayim Father above. He was the Word become flesh, conceived by the Spirit through His human mother; while yet the heavenly Father's only Son, begotten from all eternity. And that GIFT from above is what has set this "season of giving" into our hearts. It's such a glorious time!

Now a verse later, Gn.1:2 describes the darkened state that erupted amid some angels and befell that physical universe at it's very creation: "The earth was without form, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of GOD was moving over the face of the waters." The Creator already had to deal with chaos (potential evil) from the outset. So light was what He first spoke into being because "GOD is light and in Him is no darkness at all."   So He called the light, day; and the darkness, night. "Thus evening and morning were the first day." That's why the Hebrews measure days from sundown to sundown. That first act of creation is pointing to our "Light of the World" which finally shined in the perfect Man, Jesus. He even spoke of shamayim when he was preparing to go to His father's house. That was during the Last Supper (Jn.14): "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there ye may be also."

We have the Hubble space telescope getting closer to the rim of this universe and sending us data with it's pictures. Now there are three heavens mentioned in Scripture: atmospheric, stellar, and shamayim(beyond the stars). We've probed the first two, but have neglected/ignored the highest because it's not accessible to telescopes. That's why ANGELFIRE proposes Thee-ology to supplement theology/, or prayer as being as important as scientific studies. Via Christ Jesus we can have immediate access to the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And we must thank Him for the gift of His only begotten Son, who came to show us heavenly truth. In fact, it's more REAL than what this sin corrupted world calls "real." I hope my heavenly vision holds natural science in it's place, down here in this material universe that stretches from tiny quarks clear up to galactic clusters. SoLong & keep the faith that He'll come again. JospehA

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