LORD's DAY extra 2-03-08 When I drove to the Sonic today and pulled out a five to pay, I asked the car hop if she'd ever noticed the "football" around Lincoln's Memorial shown on the back side as I handed it over. She said "No," so I pointed out the shaded shape around the national monument and told her I doubted that Presient Lincoln had ever played any football. Of course it was in the context of Super Bowl Sunday, though she may have failed to catch that connection. In fact our national motto is right on top of the ball where it would be laced up: "In God We Trust." That caused me to consider that the Bible believer Lincoln had starred in the Civil War, a game far more significant and terrily more fierce than any Super Bowl. In fact his quarterbacking cost him life it's self. So I take that as verification of my comparison; and he still ranks greatest in Presidents that this nation has ever had. Now Barack Obama seems to show aome physical resemblance, at least in my view, and also comes from IL. He's just in the opposite party and different in race. So I'll stick with John McCain as a favorite, at least up to now. I could overcome the feeling against Huckabee being from Arkansas, and get to feel glad if he was chosen. But that looks so very doubtful now. Tuesday will settle things, barring some miracle candidate. It will probably be McCain vs Clinton. And if she wins, husbands everywhere will have to knuckle under since she say's she will definitely be in charge. That will run contrary to Bible teaching which says that husbands are head of the household. But it will be another sign of this fallen time of corrupted humanity which only our Lord's return and salvage. So long for now, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 2-05-08 The reason this writer favors McCain here on Super Tuesday is for his Navy connection. That's what our family was in WW II (when the nickname for every sailor was "Mac"). And that was even before there were any McDonaldbergers. Thus the rally cry for him: "Mac is back." But it's too close to call so we'll see by the time this is in print and know who the candidates in November will be for the skipper of this Ship of State. War has taken a second place to the economy now that the Super Bowl is over. Glen, Dallas and I wondered how many of the inmates would attend evening worship at LARC while it was available on TV. And enough did come to fill the chapel, though a few of our regular guys chose to stick with the tube. We face that every year and some who never miss do watch the Super Bowl instead. What if there'd been a terrorist attack out at Phoenix like 9/11? Our whole nation would now be so shut down with fear that the presidential election might be post-phoned. General Tommy Franks (from here in WW) called 9/11 "a crease in history" in his book. That designation has stuck in my mind because it's military lingo. I see the 11 as creases in an officer's trousers, the way I saw them when I was a swabby. We had no choices to make back thenp; just orders to obey. So with hate in this world now much on the rise, a sort of antiChrist military rule will appear again before our Lord Jesus returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. The Holy Spirit clearly gave me a closing song for our LARC service, "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back." That's THE super decision for each of us in this nation, which tomorrow (Ash Wed.) signifies. Looking ahead toward His glorious Resurrection forty days later can make all else seem just "dust and ashes" in comparison. So take heed dear America, during this season of prayer and fasting. Shalom, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 2-08-08Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney left the nomination open to John McCain by his withdrawal Thursday. And it's looking like McCain will face Hillary Clinton in November. Wouldn't it be a match up if it became Clinton/Obama facing McCain/Huckabee (though here in PV we might prefer Dr.Ron Paul on the McCain ticket just for his last name and articulate contrasting answers; that would be "paradox politics" that would have Biblical precedent). McCain himself has taken positions in the past to mark himself as such, though he recited a list of his past conservative stands to CoPAC at their meeting in D.C. yesterday. And he's claiming the Ronald Reagan legacy of doing what's best for America as his first priority. I once heard an Evangelical spaaker on radio dismissing McCain's religion as being only "patriotism." Lately I've heard him say he and his wife attend a Baptist church there in the Capitol. Though he'll surely win the red state's in November, the GOP will face an uphill battle in the blue ones (probably against Hillary). ANGELFIRE doesn't recommend which candidates we should pray will win but rather for our nation, that it keep the faith while awaiting November's general election. Dr.James Dobson of radio's conservative "Focus on the Family" program has said that he just won't vote this time because of McCain's erratic record. Hopefully he can be won back before Nov. since that's such a worthy ministry he has on the air (KQCV 800am in OKC).
If you'd like to see an Arab slant on the New Testament, then punch up injil.org. It gives the believer's view but comes out of an Islamic background. The stand injil takes for the Bible is just as strong as Muslims have for their Qu'ran. Some few places ANGELFIRE might disagree with it's fundamentalism, but I see the website as designed primarily to reach global Islam with the Gospel of Christ Jesus from Minneapolis IN in the USA, So here's a hallelujah for it's firm stand. Come Lord Jesus!!!
SoLong & Shalom, JosephA
LORD'sDAY extra 2-11-08 National Congressman Tom Lantos died Sunday after surgery for an esophagus cancer. He had just turned 80 and was still serving after many years as a Democratic Rep.from CA. This "08 is already a political "year of the unusual:" first (Dems) Female and Black, plus (Repubs) Mormon business tycoon, Baptist preacher/(Gov). and (Sen) MD physician candidates to run for the presidency; with yet a possibility of Jewish billionaire (Myr) of NYC as an Independent. But Lantos was the first and only (H.S) Holocaust Survivor to serve in Congress. And he influenced the Neo-conservative thinking which sprang from a sympathy for the State of Israel back when Ronald Reagan was president. That became basic Republican policy, though Lanton was a Democrat standing like Jimmy Carter (who lost to Reagan) for human rights. Lantos was a native Hungarian born near Budapest. He was able to help his fellow Jews hiding underground when the Nazis seized control, because of his blue eyes and blond hair. At first the Germans failed to realize he was Jewish; but when finally captured, he escaped there with Rouel Wallenberg's (famous Gentile name to Jews) help, and got to San Francisco where he became a politics professor, then married into a prominent Jewish family. Now, Mrs.Lantos is his widow after all these 58 years, and his funeral will surely draw national attention. It will be noted that he pointed out human rights violations by even Israeli soldiers against Palestinians. Now that's being fully fair and square, I'd say. If we ever elected a Jewish president, I wonder if he would stand that firm in Arab/Israeli relations. Michael Bloomberg, may be considering that possibility. In this 80th year of mine, there's sense of having already seen the news before, even when it's listed "live." Can it be that one gets out front of the edge of time instead of right past it? Makes me wonder about my own consciousness. How could I already know things that I see happening? If that's real, I should be able to predict them more accurately shouldn't I. But I'm not a prophet, just one who beholds the divine Hand in events; or thinks he does. Pray for me my friends. I count you all as such or you wouldn't be reading this. The count I get of you keeps growing so that should add up to prayer power. Injil.org will tell you how the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca has a hidded clue about the "Lamb of GOD," whom we Christians know as Savior for all who just open the eyes of their hearts to His identity: the Lord Jesus Christ. I had never before heard of this "clue" anywhere, but told my friend Abdul and got his confirmation of it. Shalom/Salaam, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 2-13-08 I got to know Frisco back in WW II while stationed on Treasure Island out in the Bay. So news from out there still gets ANGELFIRE's attention. Their long time Congressman Tom Lantos died in DC Sunday after surgery for an esophagus cancer. He had just turned my age, 80; thus my previous column where I had that sort of "preconsciousness" I have mentioned (even as I wrote it).
Jeremiah 17:9 is a seasonal text about being led by our feelings. It says "The heart is deceiptful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it." Two realms of our human existence demonstrate this clearly, the weather and politics. Now it's looking as if Obama will beat Clinton for the nomination. I had FELT that even Black women would affirm their female identity first by backing Hillarie, but now the stats coming in are showing otherwise. So here's a third realm where the "heart" can lead astray: PREDICTING HOW THE LADIES ARE GOING TO DECIDE THINGS. Let's pray that it doesn't become Blacks vs Whites for the main issue in our Nov. election / Obama vs McCain. That could reawaken the Civil War, worst one ever in our nation's history (or maybe cause Bloomberg to run as an Independent. A Jew would also be unusual in '08 for the presidential race). COME LORD JESUS Shalom, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 2-15-08 One of my boyhood recollections is reounts of the St.Valentine's Day massacre in Chicago. It was how Al Capone's gang had mowed down all their opponents at some pre-arranged meeting place to divide up the city between them. Thus, those killings yesterday at Northern Illinois University by a lone gunman were similarly macabre, but with a suicide to boot. The day for lovers set the stage for Satan the hate monger to do his thing. There might have been repentance by some of those gangsters nearly a century ago, but on stage suicide disallows such a possibility. Thus, an eternity in hell is guaranteed for the murderer's soul while the destiny of his victims depends on their spiritual condition at the time. I'm making a plea for you readers to all yield allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Though there may be months, years or decades before His glorious return, it can happen this very day for each one of us despite all our plans to the contrary.
News of taking down our own spy satellite from space also seems a little bit suicidal. It's a Standard Model #3 that's been in orbit for over a year and loaded with hydrazine. Now it's to be shot down for fear that it's wicked chemical is frozen so hard it will be carried clear back down and endanger some spot here on Earth. So the world will see our anti-missile capability being displayed. I guess it's the political season that's making me wonder if that's not the true reason. Of course we'll wait until the Atlantis Shuttlecraft is back safe from taking Columbus up to the ISS. You saw that news last week I'm sure, when the long delayed European made lab for space science was hoisted aloft (after waiting over two decades). They had named it after that European sailor whose 1492 voyage linked man's world into a circle, much as space travel is now linking us out to regions clear beyond. In fact, Europe first called us Columbia on this continent; until we got the name America added. So their twenty billion dollar "Columbus" laboratory is well named. Even makes it seem cruel of us to deliberately sink our own space ship MS-3 doesn't it? What if it's crew had sunk the Santa Maria after their threats of mutiny? So long for now, JosephA
LORD'sDAY extra 2-17-08 For the past three days I've been seeing myself in the funnies, Kevin Stark's comic strip about Geezer and his sweetheart, Faye. In fact I've been conducting their wedding, which today was totally disrupted just before the closing kiss. Geezer's advisary, Red Skelaton, came bursting on the scene in a heavy vehicle that shattered he romantic moment and knocked down both bride and groom as it sent me off in` a spiral. I yelled out "Yikes" which isn't in the marriage ritual. And right now I just say Ugh. I was always fond of the late comedian, Red Skelton, who kept his humor uncorrupted. But this comic monster Skelaton is so repulsive that I'm eager to see Tuesday's strip in hope of getting rid of him. It recalls a wedding ceremony I once did as requested, up in an airplane. When we got to he closing kiss the pilot put the plane in a downward dive. "Just to add feeling" was his later explanation. Everything had gone so smooth, then that plunge did give us three aboard with him a thrill of excitement. Maybe Geezer's going to have the same outcome. I have recalled now some months ago when I told Kevin that Geezer ought to get married, he asked me if I'd do the wedding. I responded jokingly with "Be g-l-a-d to perform it." Had forgotten that promise until I saw myself depicted on Thursday. Folks have said they recognized me from the drawing, though Kevin had the HAZLITT spelled out too. Yet it had been in there a year ago with Geezer painting "Shalom" on our PV Historic Tower (that I've often written about). So long and Shalom, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 2-19-08 Sunday's fine insert of the PV Democrat was for President's Day, a cover painting of them all standing in front of the White House. Beginning with George Washington, the line stretched clear up to George W. Bush (on reprint inside American Profile). Also inside were unique statements about each. I found it quiet informative and tried but failed to identify them one by one. Of course Washington and Lincoln were easy to pick; as well as Jefferson(holding the Constitution), Grant (in uniform), Coolridge, FDR, Truman and Eisenhouer(not in uniform); then inside I knew more as Teddy R, Reagan, Carter and both Bushes. One thing alike for them all was their white male faces. But that is likely to be changed this year as we pick our 44th president I had thought being born in a log cabin was unique for Lincoln, but Jackson was too, and several later ones. Fourth president was James Madison as the shortest, at five/four and lightest (100 lb). Fifteenth was the only single president, James Buchanan. Lincoln was sixteenth and first one to wear a beard. But Van Buren, eighth, was first ever born in the U.S. and also was called "OK." Some folks think the word "okay" began with him, but we in the OK state know it came from the Choctaw's exclusive word for "that's it and nothing else," okeh. And maybe we'll eventually have an Indian president. That would really be OK. I can recall when Indians were the ones to trust. "Honest Injun" was an expression for truth. Looking back, I can see it was a foolish notion that they were just the innocent children of nature who hadn't yet learned white man's cunning and clever ways. Truth is they were even more sly, so look how their casinos are doing now. Maybe this stimulus package Congress has passed is what we've learned from them. In a way it's a colossal roll of the dice, to say the least. But something's got to give to keep our economy moving. And it could become an annual shot in the arm as long as China keeps loaning to us. Now we'll be the worl`d's grand casino, where other nations can blow their dough as the way to go. (If we can put up lurid neon lights and blinking signs like a casino or house of ill repute). That's it for now as we beg heaven, COME LORD JESUS. JosephA
ANGELFIRE 2-22-08 As I write, it's George Washington's birthday. He belonged to no political party and hoped that none would be formed. Then Thomas Jefferson fathered the Democrats and Abraham Lincoln helped launch the Republicans later on. Looks now like November will see McCain facing Obama. I felt so sure than women, who are the majority now, would put Clinton in the Whitehouse. It's sort of like the night before last when I went out about nine to see the eclipse. There was no moon to see, since I'd waited till it was already covered. Might we say that Barack has already eclipsed Hillary? And not just gender but race has turned him into Prince charming (tall, dark and handsome), while the NY Times is trying to mire McCain's reputation. The father of our country must turn over in his grave at such tactics. If the Times doesn't come forth with some authentic source of that slur story, their reputation will be hurt instead of his. But I do recall how he left his first wife for this Cindy with him now. Seems they lived together even before his divorce, since the first one was totally addicted to prescription pills. He had come home a hero from Viet Nam to an utterly dismal wife situation. So most of us ignored their personal affairs and wished him well. I just hope the NY Times isn't as successful as our navy was in shooting down that satellite the size of a school bus out over the Pacific. Thursday, it was blown to smithereens to get rid of the hydrazine being carried aboard. Now China's demanding a full disclosure of our operation. Can't we do anything right? In Serbia's capitol, Belgrade, there has been an attack on our embassy because we approved of the freedom Kosovo claims from Serbia, which has China and Russia backing it. How ideal if we could listen to the simple isolationist appeals that candidate Ron Paul makes to just pull out everywhere and come home. I lapsed into satire at the end of my last ANGELFIRE, which can express anger or disgust. Hope you readers were aware that's what I meant. And there's even so much wickednes right here in America to cope with, right in our own Garvin county as well. Heavenly help is from Heb.12:2, "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising it's shame; and has sat down at the right of GOD." From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead in the last and final Day. The Lord Jesus Christ is our guiding Star and King of the angels that dwell beyond all stars or galaxies, in shamayim. Hallelujah! Shalom, JA
LORD'sDAY extra 2-24-08 I've found the place my middle name originates in PV's cemetery, grave of my great grand father Chas.A.Allen. I can look from it up toward PV and see the h.t. that was built in 1903. In 1911 Charles came here from Altus, where his wife had died. So the h.t. was aleady 8 years in place. But I discovered the graves just north of his for Ruth and Ray Thompson. Then on the north of theirs, of their daughter Mary Ellen, whose funeral I conducted only a year ago on Mar.14. So I had stood right there unaware of other kindred, to conduct Mary Ellen's funeral. She'd been in the PV health Care Facility I'd been visiting for years. So I had seen her often. But it's all getting linked up in my awareness now, with the historic tower as a sort of home base. Since he died in '28, I was a year old and surely a familial sight to him. Now I learn that he was born in Memphis TN, Dec.2, 1848; and had joined Cabell's command of the Confederate army; then after the war, in Prairie Grove AR where he wed Mary Fields in '74. They had seven daughters and one son, then moved to Altus and added a foster son, Tom Black of Carnage OK. Charles was a devout Methodist, member of the Free Masons and zealous community worker here in PV, where "a large concourse of friends attended his funeral" at the church. So my middle name links me into that past just as Hightower does thru grandfather E.G. (PV's 7th mayor) and Hazlitt to my late father JMH, who was so civic minded through his column "Sounding Off" plus radio and TV programs. So long & Shalom, JA
ANGELFIRE 2-26-08 We get an extra day this week in the calendar for Leap Year. It's a one each four years added to the shortest 28 day month making it 29 instead, which will be Friday. When I was young it gave the gals a right to ask the guys for dates. Big deal back then. Don't hear of that any more since women have gained such full equality in our land. Guess it was just a quaint custom that went by the way. Instead, I'll suggest that it can mean "leap of faith" as we recall in this sacred season our Lord's words: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will loose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." Lk.9:23-24. Thus we escape the tyranny of self seeking by following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who leaped from time back into eternity by taking up the Cross having been rejected by this wicked world. His final cry from it was "Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit." Then His body was placed in a tomb until GOD Almighty raised Him victorious over the grave forever on a third day. We keep celebrating his death on Good Friday and resurrection as Easter morning, until the final return Day in glory and majesty which He promised. We even celebrate that blessed hope weekly by our worship on the Lord's Day, which starts each new week. Even though it's called Sunday, we know it means SONday. And it affirms the promise of Jesus to return for all those who are trusting in Him. An old song comes to my mind, "The way of the Cross leads home, the way of the Cross leads home. It is sweet to know as I onward go, the way of the Cross leads home." I've heard that way described as a Cruciform lifestyle, which means that our carnal nature must die in order that the Christ nature may rule in us. Thus we accept His invitation: "Whosoever would be My disciple, let him crucify the flesh, take up his cross and follow Me." There's another song asks "Must Jesus bear the Cross alone, and all the world go free? No there's a cross for everyone, and there's a cross for me." Friday makes up for being four times shy of 6 hours, which adds up to the exra day for catch up. Leap Day this Friday seems appropriate for leaping forward in faith as we follow the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a Friday when He offered Himself up for us all on the Cross, that we might have heavenly peace (shalom) with GOD right here in Garvin county, even during wartime abroad and the political season here at home. So leap up in your heart to the Savior who loves and cares for you. Shalom, JosephA
ANGELFIRE 2-29-08 In the haste to get my Democrats loaded last week, I took a little leap off the dock and have been limping ever since. Hadn't wrestled with an angel (like Jadob) but was thus warned not to try being like Geezer (who is a comic strip copy of Superman). Now today's an extra one added onto Feb. for this L-e-a-p Year, 2008. It was thus designated for our modern calendar to get the lunar months matched up with the solar year. Lunar calendars have 13 months per year, but scaling down to a dozen allows solar dates to remain fixed annually. The old Julian calendar was replaced by this Gregorian one some centuries ago. Now all four seasons come and go regularly instead of shifting. That took a lot of confusion out of public affairs (but then democracy came along and political seasons bring us more than ever before). It's becoming fairly certain by now that McCain will face Obama as expectations of a first female president continue to fade. So the contest between said males will continue to mount, even though McCain, even after the NYTimes slam, tried to set a gentleman's example by rejecting crude comments from that shock jock up in Cleveland about his opponent. Now the jock's gone clear over to side with Clinton, saying he was "thrown under the bus." That's a right wing attitude of "my way or the highway" and could even bring Hillary back into the race. Made me think of a baby tantrum, "I'll just take my dolls and go home." McCain wants to debate the issues instead of making his attack on personalities. That's what we call taking the high road in decision making. I think it's what prevented WW III through all those years of the Cold War. So now we're engaged in this global conflict with Terrorism which may well result in the end time Armageddon foretold in the Bible's final book, Rev.16:16. I know it's apocalyptic literature, the same as Daniel in the OT. Such symbolic books were written after the destruction of Jerusalem and Babylonian captivity and again as Christians were persecuted by the Romans to show light at the end of the tunnel. Their themes were "keep the faith," which is why the parousia is such an exclamation point on the Gospel and ending of the Bible. ANGELFIRE mentioned Rev.12 as a hint of Benazier Bhutto's stand for democracy last year . Then she became a martyr in Pakistan where Perves Musharrif got rejected by voters. But the red dragon in Rev.12 sends two beasts in Rev.13, which ends reporting that terrible "mark of the beast" which all must receive just to survive under it's tyranny; though Christians refuse and remain true to Christ. Here's ANGELFIRE's leap year view from down in Wynnewood: Our own Gen. Tommy Franks said in his biography, "American Soldier," that 9/11 was a "CREASE IN HISTORY" which describes our military situation since then. Along with wars, there's been a DE-crease in our economy and an IN-crease in debts. So that's both legs of the military trousers Uncle Sam has put on since 9/11, which has been apocalyptic indeed. And the state of Israel still remains center stage until our Lord Jesus (who came first as Messiah to the Jews) returns to be King of Kings and LORD of lords over mankind. Shalom, JosephA@webtv.net