ANGELFIRE 2-13-09 That tornado down into Lone Grove made me recall when I was a student pastor there week ends and commuting to Perkins seminary in Dallas. It was just a small peaceful place back then, even though being in tornado alley where nature finally takes it's toll. But this morning I see that another suicide bomber over in an Iraqi city has killed 44 Sheites along with herself. They were conducting memorial services for the grandson of Muhammad named Hussein, who had been assassinated centuries ago. So it was religious rage rather than nature that ended those 35 lives at Candahaar; and the evidence is par for the course in Iraq. Though we have economic problems aplenty here, we can be grateful not to have such utter wickedness on hand. Instead we've had Lincoln's 200th birthday and now look to Valentine Day. Of course we all still recall that terrible 9/11, the attack that showed us how greatly Satan is still raging at the start of this third millennium. And our two wars continue abroad, Iraq and Afghanistan (reverse order now?) They've become so prolonged that soldier suicides are an increasing problem with our troops. And other nations are backing out with further support. Here at home this recession continues so that "stimulus" is the key word for our economy. Since my major at OU was in psychology, that recalls for me the "shock therapy" that was new back in the fifties. An electrical strong shot to stimulate their whole system was given to mentally ill patients. Then "stimulus therapy" became a proper name for it with chemicals, in the politically correct nomenclature of the sixties. Now a stimulus package sounds tame enough for the whole public to seek. Yet for ANGELFIRE it still sounds artificial; like depending on mind altering drugs. Yet we've learned how helpful they can be when properly used instead of obtained illegally (tho we had a huge war against them and finally gave up). Maybe the war against terrorist is going that way too. We are so much more shaken by loss of jobs here in America than anything else. It seems that every possible project may get funding in Obama's huge bill. Last night I heard Sen.Lindsey Graham say sarcastically "And there's a billion for NASA in it too. To send folks into space to find work I guess." Now in this year of IYA2009, that's a bitter hint of real possibility. The largest ever Mars trip is scheduled and if it could be made a manned flight, wow. NASA has that down the line, but urgency could provide recruits in abundance to go. It would be similar to Australia's being colonized a couple of centuries ago. Only the destitute or incorrigible of 19th century England would be sent to that far off and unknown place. Some even were criminals who given that option rather than being executed, willingly went there. But look at the nation of Australia on our world stage today! (despite all forest fires that terrorists may now have set). For Christians the future is a Jubilee with the return of our LJC. All prisoners will be released and all debts against His own will be cancelled in that glorious Kingdom of GOD. The word shalom expresses it as forgiveness, healing, abundance, fulfillment, prosperity, increase, satisfaction, goodness, beauty, truth, righteousness and everlasting agape (divine love). Isaiah is nearly central spacewise, as one of the Bible's 66 books. And it has that many chapers too. Then chap.33 in the middle of it is the promise of PEACE or Shalom from heaven. Read it and be blessed. SoLong/SHALOM, JosephA 
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A  N  G  E  L  F  I  R  E  the biweekly column
 
from our PINKHOUSEhere in WW Ok
 
by JosephAllenHazlitt
 
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 Pack 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 
ANGELFIRE 1-02-09 Here in WW the Blvd. decorations are half-way down but that tall angel is still up. He's also a scarecrow named Howdy, though for Christmas, becomes our bald headed being from heaven. Since angels are depicted with long hair, we've come to see them as female. But in the Bible they are masculine. So our "Baldie" clues you into that truth, even with a halo. And now it's time to take down the trees in each home. If it brings you a down feeling, remember that the Star (of faith) that was on top of your tree is still in your inner sky. In fact, it's the symbol of Epiphany, "shining forth" as the season for the Wise Men's journey to Bethlehem. And Epiphany could well apply to this whole year of IYA2009. "Eyes on the Skies" might well be it's motto. Before going to seminary, my chosen field of study was psychology. Thus, I became amazed at the new awareness we gained back in the seventies about our brains and perception. We have a left lobe with which we take in data bit by bit. It's our logic and reason side. Then the right lobe thinks holistically, or in leaps from one epiphany to another. Natural science, crafts and technology are dominant in the left, while arts, expression and worship prevail in the right. Thus the right side lobe responds to the left side by "getting it all together" in our consciousness. Though they are separate brains, they merge mainly into one whole self, a being that is an individual from other selves. Now that's what I hope this InternationYear of Astrnomy will do for citizens of Planet Earth. Though mankind's natural science is astronomy (first scientific study to replace superstitious astrology, under Johannas Kepler), the faith communities can take their data as those Wise Men who came from afar. And if our Lord Jesus has yet not returned, the faith in His promise will have grown even greater. Remember that 17th particle we've mentioned which CERN will be seeking. It's also the number of a day in Feb. when all American media goes digital (complete left brain perception). That will make for clear and more precise thinking; no longer conveyed by mere analogy, but hard factual data; while worshippers of the ONE WHO IS will have an Epiphany supreme or Parousia at long last. And Art will lead the way, as it speaks to our right brain. It's no coincidence that the arts are so basic to Eastern Orthodoxy. Along with going by the Book, our Bible, as we here in the west have largely down, they worship mainly from their Icons/artistic depictions. And church history shows them being an ancient root of the whole Church (The Cross is an icon also, one that we'e all kept). How very basic it is, coming from the Creator's own heart. What a year we're all heading into now! Let's look with faith for the finishing touch from the great Master's hand. He has held the brush to paint human history with all it's ugliness and also final beauty, the Kingdm of Heaven. COME LORD JESUS! JosephA@webtv.net 
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LORD'sDAY 1-04-09 Ode to PV's tower in 2009: <center>PV's20thCENT.HISTORIC TOWER</center>
It was nineteen-o-three when you first came to be as a main source of water around. then on through four years with some tears and fears, Pauls Valley became a state town. For you things looked great in a new Sooner state where all fortunes seemed sure to abound. You stood in the Valley right over an alley and none thought you'd ever come down. As Pauls Valley grew bigger it's need thus would trigger the call for a giant tank somewhere. So t'was built to abide on Pauls Valley's south side atop of that hill well known there. From the ground up it sprawled as a "stand pipe" it's called, built to supplement all you could hold. Then you started to ail; water pressure would fail, till the need for repair was an increasing care. Thus a plan to rebuild did unfold. So in sixty-nine a tower quite fine was built one mile west to give you some rest, for many had called you too old. Now in two thousand-nine you still stand and can shine! You're our tower downtown that's with rust turning brown, but you're yet a strong symbol to me. And through twothousand- nine you need not recline, but hold up for that past century; speak a sign yet of heaven. Say "Since nine/eleven, come to Christ and from Satan live free." And THAT's A TOWERING TRUTH. 
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ANGELFIRE 1-06-09 As I look at last Weekend's Edition, I'm interested in the picture and headline above it, WATER PLANT TAKES LONG ROAD. Our city manager and officials deserve praise for getting construction started on a new treatment plant, "the end of six years of hard work" as mayor Tim Gamble said. He's also claimed "I'm so proud of this plant because of it's adaptability to making changes...we wanted it not to be obsolete when it went on-line (year from now) or even in 40 years." This made me think of our first water tower built in 1903. It's still standing, but has been out of use since '69, when a newer one west of PV was built. Coming from most of the previous century, I still like to see it. Even wrote a poem for the Age-ingPoetryServicesContest that OK dhs is sponsoring: TO THE 20TH CENTURY TOWER OF PV. It's also on my website (check the column above if you're on-line). It went out of use the same year JMH, my late father, did. Such timing gives sort of an emotional tie for me. Thus it's rusty look stirs a survival instinct deep within, and also for my hometown PV. I guess that in it's long retirement from providing water, it can yet serve as a tower of the Living Water that Jesus talked about to that woman of Sycar whom He met at the well when He went through Samaria, (Jn.4:5ff) A song tells of it: Like the woman at the well, I was seeking for things that could not satisfy. And then I heard the Savior speaking, "Draw from my well that never shall run dry." Fill my cup Lord. I lift it up Lord. Come and quench this thirsting in my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole. / There are millions in this world who are seeking the pleasures earthly things afford. But none will match the wondrous treasures, we can find in Jesus Christ as Lord. Fill our cup Lord. We lift it up Lord. Come and quench the thirsting in each soul. Bread of Heaven, feed us till we want no more. Fill our cup, lift us up and make us whole. (you can sing that as a communion song at meals). 
The war in Gaza is not going to end soon in ANGELFIRE's opinion. It surely may draw in Hamas supporters from all over the Middle East. With two wars still on the US agenda, we don't want into this one, especially with our new young president. He'll have all he can handle with the failing economy here at home. Yet neither can we abandon Israel, our allie for the past sixty years. Whether we voted for Obama or not, President Barack will need our prayers when he's inaugerated the 44th president of this USA. What if all American Christians resolved for 2009 to spend an hour each day praying for our country. It could be the nation's "HOUR OF POWER" as millions of souls join in (at whatever is their own time schedule). We could become masters of the art of praying (beholding the beauty of holiness-ethics, and seeing the beatific vision-aesthetics). We would prepare for Christ's return by keeping our hearts yielded to Him who is the Alpha & Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the ending. Maranatha! JosephA@webtv.net 
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ANGELFIRE 1-09-09 That youngest mayor in America has run into a stone wall of older city councilmen over at Muskogee. His reform plan has been rejected so that tricky deals can go on as usual. It shows how the rotten world just clings to it's corrupt ways no matter what. An instance in the Bible is that youngest king ever in Judah named Uzziah. His father, king Amaziah, had "turned away from following the LORD" (2 Ch.25:27), so the people crowned his 16 year old son in his father's place. Uzziah reigned 52 years in Jerusalem, staying faithful to GOD. But when he died, the slander had spread until they called him a leper (2 Ch.26:23), which shows how a people can be also wicked. Isaiah the prophet affirmed the greatness of Uzziah as his vision in the Temple shows us. The kings death left a great void for Isaiah, which only the Divine One could fill: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. and the train of His robe filLed the temple." A song I loved years ago told it like this: I SAW THE LORD, I SAW THE LORD. HE WAS HIGH AND LIFTED UP AND HIS TRAIN FILLED THE TEMPLE (repeat). THE ANGELS CRIED HOLY, THE ANGELS CRIED HOLY, THE ANGELS CRIED HOLY IS THE LORD. It was in those days of the Jesus movement; so I added a verse: JESUS WILL REIGN (repeat), HE IS COMING BACK AGAIN & WILL RULE FROM HIS OWN TEMPLE (repeat 3 times), EVERY EYE SHALL BEHOLD HIM (repeat twice) EVERY EYE SHALL BEHOLD HIM AS THE LORD. 
Another item that is faltering on man's agenda is the Feb.17 date for all our nation's TV to change from analogue to digital. Obama feels that too many poor Americans will not have those $40 converter boxes that the government has promised to provide. So another quarter billion dollars may need to be added to the program to pay for them. ANGELFIRE has already named that 17th date as a sign in connection with this InternationayYearofAstronomy2009. The scientific quest to find a Higgs boson in sub-atomic physics might well add verification that our Universe is the work of a Creator. So seventeen is THE number of import to me. I recall it as the age I had to reach before joining the navy back in WW II. And it's been the age to get a driver's license also. That Higgs boson will complete the 17 basic particles of all matter that exists in this Univese. You should also recall it as the verse just after Jn.3:16 adding "For GOD did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." You can add the Ten Commandments to the Seven Days and get it that way also. Or the five books of Moses plus the Twelve Tribes of Israel. 
Here's thanks to KJCS for showing their video of our Parade of Lights last month. It ran right after Jack Pack's show with Sheriff Roady which is on each week.
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