LORD's DAY 1-31-10 It's such a cold morning that many services are cancelled for church. But I'm thankful we have electricity, which is off for thousands in OK and even elsewherre. Also we're thinking of poor Haiti where things have been far worse. Seems to me that those natives have suffered too long and too much. Now that the United Nations is involved, perhaps more permanent remedies can be applied. Yet their culure appears to be totally macho, so that much aid now being sent has to be labeled "women only" for females and children to get it. It may be a signal to U.S. that women's liberation ideology has not uplifted our respect for females here , nor there either. Eve was God's special gift to Adam as a cure his loneliness, and any hurt brought to her tus would fall on him too. So the abuse of women in Haiti can be an alarm signal to all mankind. That's ANGELFIRE's thought for this last day of Jan. in 2010. Male humans may and should become manly in any culture, but I'm recalling how Afro-American studs several decades ago considered themselves only "baby makers." That was an echo of the chant we heard from Chicago as the late StokleyCarmichael lead race rallies way back in the fifties-- "Black power, Blake, power." It simply implied that their number would increase until it overwhelmed this nation and the whole world. I even recalled earlier in the fourties when I was stationed at Gulfport Naval Training Station how everything over in New Orleans was Creole (black Haitian language), thus not accountable for the morality expected of God fearing American citizens. Of course that was my foolish thiking, but more so the idea that manhood is just being here to make babies. So long for now, JosephA@webtv.net
ANGELFIRE 2-1-10 The Weekend insert had an article about TV's "Lost" series coming to an end. I've never seen it, but the insert cover looked like that Di Vinci painting of The Last Supper, which caused me to read about it; for a link I never found. Six years ago "Lost" began with a plane load of young adults crashing on a remote island. They were forsaken and alone but survived, and fans of the show claim to have learned much about life from the series, which fictionized a similar crash that made news back then. So thereafter, I thought about the money maker movie now called Avatar that's had so much attention through Christmas time. An avatar is defined as "Hindu Myth. the descent of a deity to the earth in an incarnate form or some manifest shape; the incarnation of a god." To ANGELFIRE that's poison against "the faith once delivered to the saints." It's parallel to Christ coming from the Father in heaven to mankind is obvious, as well as devious. If the time(and cash) paying to see such stuff were spent in reading Scripture instead, our nation would be far stronger and richer indeed. Our LIVING GOD is the ultimate source of wealth and prosperity. All the trillions we are sinking into global borrowing are just trivial in comparison to His divine bounty. But if In "God We truly Trust," then we will show it by our obedience to the Word. And that's a freeze word, "obedience." Nature put another freeze across the land lately, and our president's going to put one on the national spending. Our governor's announcing the same for Oklahoma in his address to the state. But only the gospel can freeze the devil and all his shrewd tricks, deceptions, or manipulations. And that sacred gospel word from heaven is that Jesus died to pay the debt of sin for all those who accept Him as their Lord and Savior. He bestows the Spirit as their guide to obey day by day and hour by hour. Come Lord Jesus
ANGELFIRE 2-06-10 It was a month ago that the liturgical season of Epiphany began on Jan.6. That name means "manifestation" and the star of the East is the symbol. There were many students of astrology in ancient times. One was the prophet, Balaam, son of Beor at Pethor. It was near the Euphrates river, Nu.22:5. Then in 24:17-19 he gives a full prediction of the far off day ahead: "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult...While Israel does valiantly. Out of Jacob One shall have dominion." Such an early prophecy of the Incarnation is finally confirmed by the risen and ascended Lord Jesus as the last "I AM" of Scripture in Rev.22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, "The Bright and Morning STAR." We know the Magi who followed that star had some heavenly enlightenment, just as Balaam long before them. Astrology, though finally cast out as mere superstition, was man's warped effort to comprehend the eternal One. And Balaam is disowned in the N.T., still IYA2009 gave us a far larger grasp of God's handiwork. But the full MANIFESTATION of agape was finally given so long ago at David's birthplace named Bethlehem, where a young Child descendant is mentioned "in the house with his mother Mary" Mt.2:11. The Magi were so changed by their encounter in that house that each went home a different way, just as Christ Jesus embodies the perfect WAY which still brings into a new world all those who come seeking to follow Him as their "bright and morning Star." SoLong and Shalom, JosephA@webtv.net
ANGELFIRE 2-09-10 A special relative gave me this book at Christmas that has helped me get-it-all-together, "The Case for the Real Jesus." It's author, Lee Strobel, was an atheist unbeliever who came to faith after being legal editor for The Chicago Daily Times, major paper of that great city. Though not a lawyer himself, his writing brings clear evidence that wipes away doubt and confusion. He's written a series, of which this is his latest. And it is based on his previous books, plus interviews with respected scholars who have established their authority in what's called "apologetics." Such is the earliest affirmative documents that historians can find outside of the authentic 27 books of the New Testament. It's not any "making of apology" but just the opposite, offering solid verification. Those who spoke out against heresies (of which there were many) were the apologists. Apologetics is a neglected field today,because the contemporary mood has been so indulgent of different views. "Everyone has the right to his own opinion" has been our mood. But with the growth of cults, Lee Strobel has shown us how needful that can be toward "the faith once delivered to the saints." He hits back hard at skeptics and unbelievers, since he has been one of them and can now expose their delusions. He has also been a pastor as well as giving Bible lectures across America, and now he and his wife live in CA. Since ANGELFIRE is also evangelical, it's offering to loan this book if you can't afford one. Strobel isn't an old fashioned fundamentalist, but he has the fervor and flare of that stance as he reaffirms the basics for orthodox Gospel belief. Some is heavy stuff and tough reading, but fully Evangelical or based on Scripture. SoLong & Shalom, C.L.J. JosephA@webtv.net
ANGELFIRE 2-12-10 Having this Lord's Day coincide with the celebration of love that Valentines signify can give Gospel impetus for preaching. Certainly the heart of our Father Almighty is manifest on the cross in pain so gory but with overwhelming glory. The Spirit gave me a song in the moment as I spoke to those inmates last Sunday night at LARC: "The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell. The guilty pair bowed down with care, God gave His son to win. Each erring child God reconciled and pardoned from their sin. 'O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong.' It shall forever more endure, the saint's and angel's song." Then I told them that Greek had providentially became the Bible's language, replacing O.T. Hebrew. It was the international text for all peoples and had not one but three words meaning love. First is eros, which isn't ever used in the N.T. (maybe because it's from the fallen carnal nature). We get the term erotic in English. But philia, which is family or brother/sister & parent child love is used often. Then extending higher and above both of the others is agape, which even defines our deity in the verse, GOD IS LOVE(AGAPE). That's how Scripture avoids confusion of worldly attraction or romance with the heavenly devotion from souls that are seeking God. He has provided it for us in the One out of his own being, sent to join in our humanity as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Lust is the power of Satan who is totally for self. Thus, others are only to be exploited or used in the devil's design. So the V for Valentine could also be for victory in Jesus over Satan. Arms stretching up toward heaven make a sign, like an embrace of the Lord that fills us with his liberating forgiveness and passionate concern of the others in the life we've been given. From the theme of spouse love on Sunday, we should also remember that the church is espoused to Christ Jesus for that great (agape)wedding at his return to take her as his pure, holy and Spirit filled marriage partner: "The Spirit and the Bride say come! CLJ Chorus words of this hymn that sounds like God's Valentine seem to fit here for closing: "Oh Jesus blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God. Hold us who wait before thee, near to the heart of God." What a time Sunday will be.
ANGELFIRE 2-16-10 As the band played "Hail to the Chief" on Monday, I knew it was a salute to our first Afro-American president. It was for President's Day and Obama is his name. Then I saw a TV headline about Haiti, an all black nation. It said REFUGEES GIVEN TARPS. WANT TENTS. Now that's become the global situation of black people as Angelfire sees it. They've been provided a tarp which can protect all who stay flat on the ground. But a tent to live in would be so much better. It struck me as the contrast between our city of New Orleans after the Katrina disaster five ears ago and now. They are still celebrating the Saints win of the Super Bowl at Miami. Five years ago it seemed the Federal T.A.R.P. was all that could be done for them. But since then so much aid has come from other sources that they have turned that tarp into a tent through all their rebuilding. So much kindness and help were shown since their day of ruin for that old city, that we could call New Orleans a resurrection metropolis now. And since their Mardi Gras are to continue, they should be turned into a blessing for American by linking to the Gospel (instead of that previous festival of sin and carnality). Such new meaning will then spill over over on Haiti, which already has so many ties to New Orleans (including the Creole language). Thus Haiti might also gain a tent from above to erect their tarp into a tent/house. Even more vastly, our American economy yet turn the one GW set up to prevent a terrible depression into the tent of prosperity for this whole world, for "with God all things are possible." Hallelujah! Come Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20
LORD's DAY 2-21-10 Tuesday was when Tiger Wood gave his press response, but I watched something else. It was an address by the Dalie Lama of Tibet who had come to visit Obama. The audience was D.C. officias and half an hour long. But ANGELFIRE felt it more important than Tiger's apology (which his wife didn't even attend). The Buddhist spiritual leader reviewed his participation in Tibet's quest for freedom and spoke rather bluntly about China's refusal to grant it. He was strong for democracy and told how India had shown it possible in Asia, despite China's ruling that it was of western political origin. The Dalie was soundy for America as Tibet's allie. He ended with something humorous that the audience enjoyed with a big laugh, but I failed to get it. Knowing the speaker as a Buddhist may have made the difference. Then I saw Tiger in a replay telling how his mother had reared him as such. So that gave the clue of why no repentance to the Lord was in his presentation. That's also why our society seems to have become filled with spouse cheating. All the New Age religion creeping in since Viet Nam has abolished awareness of the Living GOD to whom we must give an account of our conduct. Tiger even said that he was going to make atonement himself for such misconduct. Yet that's not possible. Only the Lamb of GOD could do that for us. While Tiger was very proper and on the level, he clearly has shown how the Gospel is our only answer rather than clinical help. We must rely on the Lord Jesus Christ now and always. A song comes to mind: Without Him I can do nothing. Without Him I'll surely fail. Without Him I would be drifting like a ship out at sea that doesn't have any sail. Jesus, Oh Jesus. Do you know Him today? Then don't sent Him away. Without Him how lost I would be.
ANGELFIRE 2-23-10 The Bible text I read this morning was Acts 8, which follows the execution of Stephen, first martyr of the church. In Acts 7, he proclaimed to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem just how wicked they had been to aid in slaying the Lord Jesus on that Roman cross. Thus Stephen was given their Jewish death penalty and the Sanhedrin members threw deadly stones. Yet he prayed for them even as he died, the way Jesus had prayer on the cross, "Father forgive them, for they now not what they do." The persecution of believers in Jerusalem then began as all but the Twelve Apostles fled to other cities. But one Jewish leader witnessed how Stephen died and was forever changed. His name was Saul and he came from the small town of Tarsus. Yet he would later take a Latin name, as Paul. And he subsequently claimed to be yet another Apostle (one to the Gentiles). As such, he authored about half of our New Testament; that makes Paul the name second only to Jesus in Holy Writ. And it's also on our town of PV. Since names in the Bible have meaning, we should know that his first one meant little/small. That's just the opposite of his Jewish moniker, Saul/great. The Lord Jesus gave new names to most of the Apostles, but His first call of Paul was to "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute m?" Then Paul realized how small indeed he was after encountering Christ Jesus the LORD. Thus his smallness(humility) made him aware of the real greatness found through an adoption into the new humanity of an ecclesia(assembly). "Lord, what would you have me to do?" was his response to that theophany. As surely as the divine Voice, that dazzling light had pierced into his deep consciousness. It was his road to Damascus experience described in Acts 9: Saul becoming Paul. In like manner little PV sees that light even yet in it's churches and prayer groups. There's one of our places to get a good cup of coffee, The Dairy Twist that belongs to Paul Ross, that I like to call Paul's Place. It's where God's greatness is found even in small things. SoLong and Shalom, JosephA@webtv.net
ANGELFIRE 2-26-10 It's been a long time since my friend Abdul from Pakistan has been here. But this morning he was back in the Cherokee Strip convenience store where I first got to know him. That began soon after 9/11 changed everything internationally. He was still a teen age driver for his older brother, who had come over to tour the the US for diplomatic reasons. They were from a prominent Pakistani family and his brother held a high political post in that mideast nation. Abdul's relative, Nazer, had bought the Cherokee Strip in WW, so he stayed to work there. It was my first chance to learn of Islam from a Muslim. So I enjoyed conversations with Abdul whenever I went in there. Our talk was nearly always about the MiddleEast and I told him how I had been to visit Israel a couple of times. "It gave me admiration for the Jews who rebuilt their Biblical nation" I told him. "So I hope you are not a Jew hater." His youthful answer was "I don't hate anyone." That made me want to talk about the Lord Jesus, but I was careful trying not to offend. We agreed on the word of greeting I'd learned in Israel, "Shalom." He said it was the same in Arabic, thought it sounded like "Salaam" when he said it. Still it was a bridge of friendship that has lasted to this day when was so glad to see him back on the job. He'd been employed in Philadelphia for a long time after spending even longer back home in the main city of Pakistan. His wife and children are there awaiting his eventual return. But he's a big help to Nazer at the store, and I may try saying "Shalom" again. He knows I anticipate the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ. SoLong for now, JosephA
LORD'sDAY 2-28-10 Though it's already Monday, I will write for yesterday about earthquakes. At Joy church last night no one mentioned the one down in Chili, though there had been great concern about Haiti'a a could of months ago. One of he blessings of that little congregation is praying for every need or hurt we know about. But clear down on the West coast of SA is just not close enough. Still, ANGELFIRE see it as an end time sign like no other. For all the destruction in Chili, it's not near as much as Haiti had. Things were built better and stronger and stood up more often. Yet the sign I see is the Tsuname warning issued of the entice Pacific basin. That was an awesome threat to nearly half the globe. Can't recall any so vast as that, even though it was a false alarm. Earthquakes were mentioned by most of the prophets of our OT. One in the 8th century BC had created the mind set for such a mighty judgment of God upon mankind. Thereafter so many of the prophetic visions incude a shaking of the foundations. Such was the sight that Isaiah beheld "In the year that king Uzziah died." He saw the LORD, described it with apocalyptic language. Then subsequent propets did the same. So earthquake at the bottom of the sea can spell Tsuname, and that's worse yet. Just a warning that He's coming soon. Come Lord Jesus. JosephA@webtv.net
ANGELFIRE 3-2-10 Our mouths are such a prominent feature on each of our faces, and so important too. Gritting your teeth is more an expression of attitude than pertaining to dentistry. So to some extent it even shows in our disposition. If we have the grit to get a job done, then it will be seen on our face; and would show even more if we opened our lips. Here in America it depicts an attitude toward getting things done; or even more of endurance against reversals and hardship. Sticking with it so that "Grin and bear it" is the phrase that alludes to our teeth, even when they are kept out of sight. Scripture describes pain/grief endurance with "gnashing of teeth" as in Ps.112:10, La 2:16, Mt.8:12 plus Mk and Lk. So the other dictum "keep your chin up" is also to keep your teeth where they can be shown. All this derives from awareness that we are a carnivorous species. We humans love to eat, and especially meat. Such a craving can be lethal to others whenever our talk follows such a pattern. Thus we are enjoined by the Gospel to be kind to one another. Even language can have fangs in it when temper flares. Yet our Lord Jesus taught that we would all have to give a final accounting of every idle word spoken. So teeth and tongue must be bridled for Christians. by God's love. And for civil beings in general, by courtesy. So don't be a back biter to others (words spoken about them out of hearing). There is a time to "let your teeth show" in standing for truth and the right. But don't get ugly even then. Fighting the good fight of faith is with words and deeds of kindness rather than harsh words of condemnation. So let's try to keep positive by "looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (Heb.12:2) His cross is the eternal PLUS SIGN. SoLong, JosephA@Webtv.net
ANGELFIRE 3-04-10 Chile has had a female president whose name escapes me, but I've read she's to step aside this month. Somehow that's a female link for ANGELFIRE with the name of their second greatest city, Concepcieon. We heard it's name in news from the earthquake last week. But it doesn't sound very Protestant does it. Chile is predominantely Catholic, as in the Province from which that city take's a name. God's "ony begotten Son" had to be also CONCIEVED IN THE WOMB of the Virgin Mary. So that leads to an ideas of an Immaculate Conception, of which we Protestants never speak. Our Apostle's creed says of Jesus, "conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary" but no more. All the language about His mother is added theology that we Protestants reject, especially the mother of God expression from Eastern Orthodoxy. We resist any deification that offers a divine Mother mate to the Father Almighty. Also, the begetting of Jesus was before creation in time and space, ao there were no humans yet to conceive the Son. Thus the name of that city is an innovation of theology, but not from Scripture. The name of this column from recent months could well have become Angelfury. Weather is very prominent in the Bible, so often with angelic control therein. Now that dimension is erased from our modern secular meteriology. In the same way Angelfire(my web host) is an antiquated term (despite Acts 7:16, about Moses and the burning bush). Just as there is bad satanic fire and good angelic fire, there is destruction and also rescue in the weather day by day (even hour by hour in our state). We even mention that in our state song, Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain...can sure smell sweet when the wind comes right behind the rain." A big part of IYA2009 for me was becoming aware of cosmic weather, especially in plasma which includes so much filamentation. It's a natural process that forms tubes between all the solid already formed, thus making the entire cosmos electromagneteically interconnected. Even the cosmic rays from Quasars in deep space are connections that carry data. That sure makes angels(messengers of God) seem plausible, and more likely necessary.We've only changed their names to over 200 elementary microparticles, each with it's unique qualities of charge, spin, color etc. I think of that 18th century German philosopher Gotfried Leibnitz whose theory of "monads" allowed for individual consciousness in each separate one. Then he said there had to be future possibilities of negative signals that created collisions and conflict. Thus, perfection was impossible but this was the Creator's best possible universe because moral evil had to be allowed. In western philosophy, Leibnitz was shoved aside by secular philosophers who simply refused to acknowledge good or bad as existing in reality. Thus Immanuel Kant in Germany and Daid Hume in England became the dominant thinkers. It led to Continental rationalism vs Anglo empiracism. In America, both were repaced by pragmatism. So the question about weather is not it's meaning, but how to deal with it. Though even in Tsunamis and Earthquakes we can find meaning if we behold with eyes of faith, as that philosopher Leibnitz did, by including fallen angels among all the monads. (Lasio is a contemporary likeminded thinker). Global calamities are surely signs of our Lord's soon return to fully establish His rule in a new heaven and earth. One song I loved in my youth goes like this,"The Kingdom is coming, O tell ye the story. God's banner exhaulted shall be. The earth will be full of His knowledge and glory as waters that cover the sea." Amen
ANGELFIRE 3-08-10 Another earthquake on Sunday /Monday was in east Turkey. At 57 so far, the death toll looks much smaller than in Chile or Haiti. Yet our planet Earth keeps reeling and rocking. Chile's quake also triggered a Tsunami in the Pacific. That name in Japanese means "harbor wave." But we know they can sweep clear across an ocean in waves growing ever higher. And we learned that Chilie's decreased the Earth's circumference (though ever so tiny a mesure). Such happens as our earthshell is cracked and one edge clips in over the other. That impacts all the water above by shoving it toward the slip to smaller way down deep. This shifts millions of tons of water in that direction. So even if the shift is only a few feet, it rocks the ocean from it's floor and a giant wave appears up the surface in water far above. None has happened in any sea east of Turkey, which would be nearest to their earthquake. Yet these signs we behold around the globe are of an endtime that Jesus foretold in Mark 13:8 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows." We might add in the man made quakes, like that terrorist bomb in Baghdad Sunday which killed so many Iraqis participating in their democratic election. Our Lord went on saying vs.19 "For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created.... again in vs.24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. and again vs.24 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power & glory." Here the Savior used His preferred self designation, which was son-or-man. In contrast to calamity that abounds, I quote joyfully from a song: What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see; the One who saved me by his grace; that I may look upon his face. Then he'll take me by the hand to lead me through the Promised Land, what a day GLORIOUS DAY that will be. It will be much like the time Peter, James & John had secretly beheld his glory on the mount of transfiguaration as told in Matthew 17. That divine light is called Shekinah, the same as Moses' face had shown like Yahweh's in Numbers 6:24-26: The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you. The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you shalom.