ANGELFIRE 12-05-08 I'm recalling that Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) formerly to be built down at Waco TX back in the late eighties. I was pastor here in WW then, and got excited about having such a facility nearby. But the billions it would cost caused Congress finally to cancel the huge project. To the public, no financial justification appeared to exist. Finding evidence of a quark/gluon composition of this material Universe didn't appear to offer any monetary benefit. So such a search was left to CERN over in Switzerland & France, where there was much excitement earlier this year. That will surely continue in IYA2009 observances. Yet we are now in the season when light and darkness are such prominent themes. And we prepare to celebrate the Event from which all time is measured. In Gen.1:2 we read of the creation that "the earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep, And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the deep." Now look at John 1:3&4 "All things were made through Him (Jesus) and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men." Here another kind of heavenly illumination is given, not just of the physical sort. It is an uncreated Light, not to be seen through telescopes or captured with cameras. It is divine meaning to be apprehended by souls seeking the purpose for their existence from the Creator, who is beyond all things temporal. Yet man has the freedom to turn away to seek other ends i.e. "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (or overcome) it." We read how John the baptizer preached of this Light; "He was in the world and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own (Jewish people) and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name (JESUS)." Finally verse 14 describes the the holy birth in that manger "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (humans)." It was the birthday for the God/Man, Creator become incarnate in His own handiwork, not just in that crib, but through 33 years of perfect and sinless manhood. Thus we can "see the Light" when we yield allegiance personally to that One named "Savior." And the Light will lead us through this corrupt and wicked world, like an old song that says: 1. "The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin; The light of the world is Jesus; Like sunshine at noonday His glory shone in, The Light of the world is Jesus. Come to the Light, 'tis shining for thee; sweetly the Light has dawned upon me, Once I was blind, but now I can see; The Light of the world is Jesus. 2. No darkness have we who in Jesus abide...We walk in the Light when we follow our Guide...3. Ye dwellers in darkness with sin blinded eyes...Go wash at His bidding and Light will arise...3. No need of the sunlight in heaven we're told...the Lamb is the Light in the city of gold...The Light of the world is Jesus." Written by Philip Bliss, who died in 1876, when it was before electric lighting and all the wonders such has added to this beautiful season. And now the world is moving into an awareness of electro-magnetic power uniting our solar system as well as this milkey way galaxy. What a dimension of awe and wonder. In fact, it's a force more basic than gravity extending throughout the whole Universe that man keeps exploring, and causing weather out there in other worlds, with their own lightning and storms/hurricanes. Yet the ETERAL LIGHT is far greater as it shines by faith into our hearts. Thus we can sense the highest realm of angels, and see heaven in the faces of little children around the manger Baby; and also sense His final coming again in glory and majesty as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! SoLong/Salom, JosephA@webtv.netunpublished in Democrat

ANGELFIRE 12-09-08 My youthful experience as an electrician causes me to marvel at all the beautiful artificial lighting we get to see at this sacred season, in which angels play such a prominent role. Like the filaments in our light bulbs, they let the Power shine out. The upcoming International Year of Astronomy will surely bring a more profound perception of the Universe to mankind (in IYA2009). Basic to it will be a conjunction of micro and macro physics, sub-atomic and astronomic. The Big Bang of TSM(The Standard Model) for explaining Creation's origin will be put to a test by our growing awareness of plasma cosmology. Plasma is "the fourth state of matter" that is now being understood to have existed prior to any gases, liquids or solids and which continues invisibly to fill all of outer space. Even the galaxies, stars and our sun are composed of condensatins of plasma; which is a the most elementary substance. Some consider it previous to matter, as sort of angel stuff. Yet it can conduct electro-magnetic force which is now known to be basic in all creation, even more so than gravity. And it forms filaments (or more dense streams for energy flow through the plasma) between all the massive bodies of outer space-- galaxies and their stars, stars and their planets. Thus some scientists are speaking of an Electric Universe (a book's title), instead of the one where gravity rules, which is so familiar since Newton. We know down here on Earth how much lightning can do in our weather and how powerful electro-magnetism is through our hurricanes. So now we are seeing it's extra-terrestrial vastness as astronomical meterology. Even the light GOD created on that first day #one must have been lightning, since Biblically the expanse of space or "firmament" isn't till day two, and the sun-moon-and stars till day four. Thus, continued man made lightning is what we now have as arc welding or inside our neon signs, fluorescent tubes; and even in our plasma TV screens. Thus our technology is introducing us to a holistic "view of everything." We've been stuck in the left side of our brains with scientific analogical thinking, but now may shift to the right brain in grasping the cosmological wonder of it all. Instead of that Theory of Everything that science has long sought, it's a leap which apprehends the whole connectedness, an existential leap. Like that of faith to the Living GOD. Maybe Feb.17, big change day for TV, when we shift to high definition, will be a sign of the fuller vision that has arrived in Christ for humanity. Then of course we'll all want a giant plasma screen. Yet we've already had such available to us spiritually. It was paid for too, on the Cross. It's called prayer. ComeLordJesus, Josepha@webtv.net

ANGELFIRE 12-14-08 "World Stocks Fall After Auto Aid Rejected" is a frightful headline this Friday morning. Add to that the news about a supercrook governor in ILL. No wonder that state's abbreviation sounds like sick. Then add all the millions of workers laid off and without jobs now and the discovery of 3 year old Caylee Anthoney's remains. Both news items feel even sicker yet, and the present hour can't get much uglier. Yet we are in this season of Eternal grandeur that celebrates a Nativity of magnificent beauty at Bethlehem, whcih means "house of bread." Joseph and Mary had so little on that journey, then couldn't even get a bedroom; only the stable for childbirth. Still, there was supply, and there amid poverty GOD's greatest miracle since Creation was performed. We see that HE Himself came down to become incarnate as that Babe, laid in a manger for want of a bed. Human artists have wrought their greatest depictions capturing that scene, with shepherds who arrived the same night. Some even add the Wise Men who actually got there later on their journed from afar. And we try to mark such glory each year with art from each heart. Wynnewood has it's Kerr Blvd. mall of lighted scenes and PV, now a city of the arts, is all ablaze. Niece and I went up to the Parade of Lights last week (saw it from the very start, then again at it's finalie). Now I see it will be shown on KJCS too. Also, Brent Grimmet's yard display at 401 N.Pine has become the marvel of Garvin County, with a third still more added to see this year. ANGELFIRE has previously mentioned the impact of electric lighting that began after Thomas A. Edison invented such. I recall how he searched for a "filament" until he finally found the right metal that would continue to burn bright inside a bulb which kept it vacuum sealed. Now that filament also describes the "power lines" astronomers have discovered between galaxies, stars and planets of this Universe: filaments. They even light up like our neon signs as colossal currents of energy flow through them. Looking toward the next Christmas in 2009, we'll have been seeing this whole Universe via IYA2009 a'twinkle (angels coming and going?). Thus a short song: "Everybody ought'a know. Everybody ought'a know. Everybody ought'a know, Who Jesus is (repeat). He's the Lily of the Valley (PV?). He's the Bright and Morning Star. He's the FAIREST OF TEN THOUSAND. Everybody ought to know." Yes, the beauty of heaven is seen in that fairest, sinless and holy Life. We worship in His Name, as the Psalm says "Oh worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."   In Christ Jesus is all goodness, truth and beauty (ethics, science and aesthetics). Let's live each day in preparation for His soon return. SoLong/Shalom, Josepha@webtv.net

LORD'sDAY 12-13-08 As a new week begins, I thank the LORD for coming into His creation as that Baby born so long ago in Bethlehem. Since the town's name means "house of bread." it was clearly the Bread of Life come down and offered to humanity. Doesn't it show from the fact that the whole world has moved to dating time from that Event. Of course C.E. has replaced B.C. so that other religions need not admit the holy Birthday. But we believers know it's the pivot point for all mankind, when the Creator became a creature, out of that divine love, agape. It was the meaning of creation from the outset of everything as we read in John, "In the beginning was the Word." I've felt that GOD chose the Greek language to finally convey His full revelation because it had that word that was lacking from Hebrew at the start, agape. Thus the Word is agape become flesh to dwell among us, full of grace and truth. The Nativity is divine agape, which we celebrate. 1 Cor.13 tells us more about it, then concludes with "faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love (agape): faith from anticipation f His coming in the past, hope that in the future He will also return and LOVE in this present time. That says all that the lanuage of man can express (though angels have words to say yet more). And His birth at Bethlehem suggesting divine bread show how it was a Sacrifice spiritully eaten each time the Church takes Communion. Shalom, JosephA@webtv.net

ANGELFIRE 12-16-08 Art is the original stuff that it's maker creates. Thus the "work" has the imprint of it's creator upon it. That's how I see this little rhyme about individual destiny:   "Isn't it strange that princes and kings, plus clowns that caper in sawdust rings, or common folks like your and me are builders of eternity. To each is given a bag of tools, a shapeless mass and a set of rules, And each must build 'ere life has flown, a stumbling block or a stepping stone." So we're all into artistic work here upon earth. I think that even partakes of the divine image in which our Creator made us like Himself. Yet we lost that original image and can only regain it through the Perfect One who was born into this world of human sin and corruption. His birthday makes possible our rebirth up into the coming new creation which the Father in heaven has begun. Thus, ANGELFIRE'S appreciation of the arts here in PV is so that we can let the Master teach us heaven's art of living out His agape. We see PV signs of that re-creation. Did you know that our own artist has moved Stark Art into a gallery on S.Chickasaw. Kevin told me he's keeping the location on W.Charles for storage, but would be joined by four fellow professionals at 211 S.Chickasaw, where each will have their separate studios. We know that new site as his late father's former office location. It's exactly a block south of PV's Action Figure/Toy Museum, 111 S.Chickasaw. Kevin is also curator there, with Josh Kraft as it's director. The` museum is unique as the only such a one anywhere. Sorta makes me think of that Inn & stable at Bethelhem where GOD allowed His very own son to be born of Mary, the human mother. So very unique that hearts must comprehend it since minds just fail to grasp that much: "The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." Jn.1:14 NIV As we think of angels, weŽll be considering more about IYA2009 and plasma cosmology in Creation, by the Divine ARTIST who will eventually return to give the finishing touch. SoLong/Shalom, JosephA@webtv.net

ANGELFIRE 12-19-08 Sunday is the first official day of winter. But we know it's here already don't we. Yet I'm asking why the Church chose this season to celebrate the Savior's birthday, which will be Thursday 2008. The Bible doesn't give a date, so ANGELFIRE sees it as GOD coming down at the coldest time (shortest day) of the year bringing the warmth of His divine love (agape) to humanity. It was a gift from heaven, a perfect baby Jesus Christ. Of course there was already the pagan holiday that Christians under Constantine's empire of the New Rome (Constantinople) appropriated. Thus it was "Christianized" away from being a festival of the unconquered sun to celebration of GOD's only begotten Son come down. N.T. details of that time splitting Event are preserved in the Gospels of Mt. & Lk. (wise men following the star and shepherds visited by angels). Yet how did Matthew and Luke learn of something kept out of the public knowledge? The New Testament never refers to Jesus of Bethlehem, but always of Nazareth. I think Lk.2:19 shows us: "But Mary kept all these things secretly, pondering them in her heart."   Immediately she and Joseph had to go on the run from that wicked king Herod, until they returned from the safety of Egypt after Herod's death. But not to live in Judea. Rather on up to Nazareth in Galilee, Joseph's home. So that's where Jesus grew up, known as the Carpenter of Nazareth, which was a small place of no consequence. Yet the secret identity of Jesus was His birth in Bethlehem, king David's home town near Jerusalem; and also in the most Jewish province, known as Judea. Then clearly, in the Bible's final chapter (Rev.22:16) He confirms His ancestory: "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and THE OFFSPRING OF DAVID, and the bright Morning Star." Yet in our Lord's earthly ministry, He could make no claims of royalty because the civil and religious authorities would have deprived Him of even those three years He had. But it must have been Mary who gave Matthew and Luke the data on which we base the Christmas story. She had other children later, perhaps by another husband, as Joseph drops out of the story soon after their return to Galilee. There is where Jesus grew up. As "angel" can be spoken metaphorically, I say she was truly one for us all in reporting the Nativity on that holy night. Makes me want to sing of such, "The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of the dear Savior's birth." You see His name comes from Joshua in the O.T. which means "Yahweh Saves." Thus we understand that it was originally Yoshua, since Hebrew has no letter J; so maybe originally as Yahshua, since our Lord said "I and the Father are one." Yahweh and Yahshua. That would allow their names to sound so alike. And as sure as He came first unknown to the world in that Bethlehem manger, He'll soon return to be KING of Kings and LORD of Lords." Our Bible ends with His words "Yes, I am coming soon." and then "Amen, Come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God"s people." JosephA@webtv.net

ANGELFIRE 12-23-08 This morning I see that CLINTON WANTS WIDER ROLE FOR STATE DEPARTMENT. That's because she will be Secy.of Sate under Obama and will seek to become the first female president after her tenure in his administration. Yet there's a lingering stigma upon the name Clinton from that oral sex affair her husband had during his second term in office. Monica Lewinski was the name, as I recall. Of course he's "erased" all that with his global fund raising for charitable causes. And he's been very successful it would seem. Yet he never showed the deep regret of stepping down, but still looks forward to yet another eight years (back there being with Hillary as her "first man"). That way his prominence on the world stage could be even amplified. But ANGELFIRE has the notion that he's a main cause in the rise of that radical Islamism which hates America. So the name Clinton is equated with the lowering (or absence) of mores in this land. And the oral sex lobby grows ever louder in public affairs, now politely called "Gay Rights." Of course, Playboy magazine had taken us down the sick road of pornography, which brings international shame for US. Though now Playboy's become an International publication. Just this month the Mexican Playboy issue came out with a lewd cover depiction of the Virgin Mary showing her bare breast. I accidentally caught a glimpse of it on TV, and saw it as anything but sacred (designated "Joseph first meeting Mary"). Well the Catholics made such a protest that Playboy issued an apology. But that served only to gain the magazine more publicity. So it was good that US media paid so little attention to the whole matter. Still, the fire of puritanical Islamic hatred toward US is fed by that sort of episode. We need more than ever the purifying life fire of the Babe in that manger to save our land from carnality and corruption, baseness as a business and sacrilege of things sacred. Instead we see evermore compromise. For instance the back down from his firm stand by mega-church pastor Rick Warren, famous author of "The Purpose Driven Life," just because he's invited to offer the invocational prayer at Obama's inaugeration next month. Warren's adjusted to the incoming view of morality it would appear. But the Bible still tells us that the great city of Sodom fell for allowing abominations to the LORD, which is what that very name means in current vocabulary. Calling all America: Let us seek pure hearts on this birthday of Jesus (one of our national holidays), that He may reign within each and over all of US. Noel & Shalom, JosephA&webtv.net

ANGELFIRE 12-26-08 A couple of ominous headlines yesterday and today say ISRAEL READY TO TAKE GAZA and PAKISTAN SENDS TROOPS TOWARD INDIA. The former action could explode the Middle East into a hot war and the latter trigger one that's also nuclear. Either would engulf the global community from it's European west to the vast westernized Orient (I don't say east, because it's west of US). So WW III does appear yet on our agenda. What a realization here at the start of the Twelve Days of Christmas, celebrating the birth of our Prince of Peace (shalom). I looked forward in Mt.2:2 just now to Epiphany, arrival of the Wise Men and how they came to Jerusalem seeking "The one who has been born King of the Jews." We call them Magi because they were experts in astrology or magic. I've long interpreted Mt's words that the different way they returned (to Iran?) meant freed from such delusions. But that star was more than mere magic. Here at the dawn of InternationalYear of Astronomy 2009, I'm seeing it as the holistic perception of this Universe that telescopes around the globe will be seeking. First I'll mention Feb.17, a date when all American tv will become digital instead of analogical. That's to be more specific and give fuller detail in what we'll see on our screens. It echoes the shift in our minds that began over a century ago when the scientific world started to measure in quanta, most basic units of time and space. That gave a new accuracy to man's analysis. In fact analogy gave place to factual data. Thus reductionism was basic to current reality. Quantum theory has become our actuality in microphysics, the basis for explaining all that's in the Universe. Remember that "Higgs boson" that the LargeHadronCollider of CERN was seeking? It was the 17th and very final particle to complete a Big Bang theory. Sixteen have been verified by observation i.e. bosons, gluons, baryons, mesons, pions, electrons, hadrons, fermions, protons, neutrons etc. But the one that professor Higgs called a "God particle" hasn't yet been verified. So CERN will resume the search for this most unique item, because it gives mass to all the seventeen (mass=existence in the physical realm). Thus Feb.17 would be a symbolic date for to CERN resume the search, just to keep our tv perception in sync with their findings in physics (though not likely). ANGELFIRE has already mentioned a new "plasma cosmology" that could disrupt the TSM (big bang/ The Standard Model) though that doesn't seem likely. I recall from my college studies of the Renaissance in Europe, when natural science was first starting in Italy and France. It riciculed (from the underground) Medieval scholars for only seeking to learn "how many angels could dance on the head of a pin." Now the pendulum's swinging back as today's secular wise men peer into a pre-matter phase of Creation, back when gluons and bosons were separate, thus free with no laws of nature yet binding on them. In that wild whirl of elementary celebration, maybe they were all free angels praising the LORD God from Whom they drew their being. That would have been well before the fall, and all was Shamayim, (highest heaven). Of course I'm speaking now from the Wise Men's "magical?" approach. It's fitting together for the King's soon return as America has been Israel's friend since it's birth into nationhood during 60 years. It's now the earthly reception center for His appearing to the whole world. IYA2009 could be the year. Agape, Joy and Shalom, JospehA

ANGELFIRE 12-30-O8 As a look again at PV's great Christmas parade, KJCS will replay Jack's video beginning Tues.Jan.6 at 7pm. I got to see the parade twice (at start and again as it finished) and I told Jack Pace it was worth re-showing on tv. So he promised he'd run it. The 12 days of Christmas will have ended, but Epiphany just begun (Wise Men following the Star) as we tune it in once more.

"Long weeks of action" Over Gaza Assault is the world news that we all now have to face. When Hamas, a terrorist faction, won the Palestinian vote last year, the stage was set for yet another war with Israel. So our notion that democracy is always the right path seems to be flawed. Gaza's voters brought this on themselves, and our whole world community as ANGELFIRE views it. Those extended efforts of Secy. of State Rice for a Palestine/Israel two state solution have been squandered and Hillary Clinton as the next one will have to start over from scratch. 2008 has marked five dozen years for the Israeli nation. And we've seen the same futility again and again to achieve peace (shalom). Bible believes know that only the return of our Prince of Peace is the true answer. At the Nativity season we see His first appearance, that Babe in the manger. As Jesus grew into manhood, we've beheld the Perfect Model for humanity. And since His Crucifixion/Resurrection and Assention, we look for His final return in glory and majesty with angelic hosts and spirits of the righteous dead. Thus this new year 2009 might be the consummation of our Messianic hope: for Christians who already know Him and Jews who will get to "see Him as He is," KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. With astronomy as an International theme, IYA2009 will be brim full of promise. Of course, we'll have our economic woes aplenty, yet beholding the vastness of this plasma Universe will shrink them in comparison. And the awareness of those filaments that interconnect GOD's Creation could yield us cosmic comfort as we deal with shortages here on planet Earth. I failed to mention the smallest unit of particle physics when I referred to the 16 already found and #17 still being sought (Higgs boson). But quarks are the most basic of all. And that name comes from the German word for kurds which form in sour milk. Quarks have never been seen separately, but only joined together with gluons forming larger 'particles.' But quarks are not even particles themselves. Yet they were identified back in '63 by two different micro-physicists. One called them aces, but the other said quarks, a better designation. I remember in '43 when I studied physics at PV High. Miss Erwin taught us that atoms were smallest. Then I took electronic training in the Navy and learned that electrons were even smaller. Now we know there are 17 as small, and quarks yet smaller than all. So with that full information, we'll study outer space this year to behold the structure of all Creation. It wakes us up to the marvels of Almighty GOD showing in His handiwork. The precision displays how exact is His goodness that we can share i.e. David says "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness." Ps.17:15 SoLong/Shalom, JosephA2webtv.net INDEX143 BACK TO 142