ANGELFIRE COLUMNS for January
1-1-03
I called 2002 the year of balance because the numbers look like a weightlifter's barbell. Of course that had nothing to do with it's content of history. Yet I do see a fuller religious awareness as we've learned so much more about Islam, which will soon be the world's largest faith unless Christians become more evangelistic. Oh that the death of those three missionaries in Yemen yesterday could trigger such a revitalization in all branches of the Lord's church. And knowing about Judaism or Islam is the starting place as I see it. We hear now of Ramadan in the news each year in November. It's a month of fasting for devout Muslims, who celebrate things mentioned in their Koran (especially it's claim of Muhammad making a over night journey to Jerusalem and clear on up to the Allah in the seventh heaven).Then usually in December we've heard of Hanukkah (which celebrates with lighted eight candle menorahs all those nights a single one burned continuously in the Hebrew temple). Most recent is Kwansaa, begun in 1966 based in part on traditional African harvest festivals but particularly emphasizing the role of the family and community in African American culture with each day dedicated to a particular principle (unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith). Like the menorah, a candle is lighted each day on the candelabrum starting Dec.26th. So we keep gaining more balance in our understanding of others. But the religion of this new Realian movement based on cloning to achieve eternal life provokes my hostility. That 31 year old American named Bridgett somebody or other claims to have mothered a clone. If it's only an extension of herself, does it have a soul of it's own? The former sportscaster who is telling her extra-terrestrials have revealed to him the origin of human life is no priest or prophet. But she admits he's saying what she had already figured out. So that cloned child will be eventually cloned for on and on? Notoriety yes, but not immortality. If she shows us a child, let the DNA prove it's her exact duplicate, I say. Should she really have a clone, let's hope the babies hair doesn't look striped like her's, red and gray. Taking a look at Christmas for Christians, we often heave a sigh of relief when the big day is past. Yet traditionally there are twelve days in the season which only begins on Dec.25. When I first went into the ministry, few Methodists knew that. But we gradually began to follow liturgy in our worship with the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Eastertide and Kingdomtide. Each had a special color and the color of Advent is purple, which doesn't fit the Christmas red and green. Advent hymns were supposed to be about looking for Christ's coming instead of His birth. But popular demand was for carols and we sang them. So that liturgical season was swallowed up by Christmas. Thus I came to feel that the "Twelve Days of Christmas" actually began Dec.13th, liturgical calendar or not. Now we face a new year and there's one resolution I've stuck with for 2002, so here it is again for 2003: read something from the Bible every day. It doesn't have to be according to any schedule. Just open the Book and take a look. There's inspiration in every page, though continuity helps. But we get so absorbed in TV, newspapers or other distractions that we miss out on it far too much. Shortly after inauguration, when president Bush was asked how he began each day he said "I read some Scripture." That's the book on which he laid his hand to take office too. If a man as busy as our president can take the time, so can all of us Americans. The printing press was invented just a few years before the Protestant Reformation began in 1517 and churches throughout Germany and elsewhere established schools for teaching the citizens to read. It was so they could consult their own Bibles. Before that there were only hand written copies of Scripture which were read by priests at worship to illiterate worshippers. The reason we're mostly literate now was accomplished so that we could know the holy book. Paul commended young Timothy: "from a child thou hast known the Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." Sad to say, our public schools no longer give heed to such a standard. But each believer must do it for self and for family. My dad read the Bible to us and I did to my kids. And I hope they do also.
1-8-03
It's still so early in the year that my thoughts are on the subject of time itself. Here's one of the songs popular when I was a youth: It's still the same old story, the fight for love and glory. a case of do or die no matter what the future holds, as time goes by. Moon light and love song never out of date. Hearts full of passion, jealousy and hate. Woman meets man, and man must have his mate. Which no one can deny. And now when lovers woo they still say "I love you," on that you can rely. No matter what the future holds as time goes by. Then there was another not about love but very true: "Time waits for no man. It goes on passing by. It flows on forever like the clouds in the sky. Time waits for no man. It goes on in it's lea. It's just like a river flowing out to the sea." Of course the tune adds a lot of feeling to the words. But one of the things prisoners say at LARK that I just don't like is "We're doing time here." I know it's just an overused expression, but it sounds so unGodly to me, almost as bad as "killing time" that we say in our impatience. Benjamin Franklin posed the question, "Does't thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." Sounds like something from the Bible doesn't i And here we go into 2003 with 2002 so quickly gone. From here we can see how many things were "weighed in the balance and found wanting:" financially there was Enron, WorldCom, K Mart, US Airways & United Airlines plus a lot more smaller bankruptcies, politically Robert Toracella was expelled from Congress, James Trafficanto sent to prison and Trent Lott ousted as majority leader of the House., and economically the Dow hit the lowest since '98. But internationally we keep going up in military readiness. We just must keep praying for our president. He has the super hard choice to make about war with Iraq. Jan.27 will have to be the deadline as I see it. As a child I heard so often that war preparation is what brings on war. Then the world saw England and France forced into trying to stop Hitler when they were weak.. France was invaded and England barely survived from '39 until '41 when we joined the fight. We had a couple of years to prepare and still it took all the strength we could muster to win WW II. If England, France and the US had been powerful in '39, the Germans wouldn't have dared to invade Poleland as they did. So out of my own life time, I see our buildup as the best hope of getting rid of Saddam, something we should have done in the Persian Gulf War. He still might abdicate. I pray that he will by Jan.27, or that those UN inspectors will have something that justifies taking him out. Even if they don't I feel that Bush will have evidence from other sources on which we can proceed. I sure don't mean to be a hawk, but we've come way too far to back down now. LORD we look to Thee in this hour! We fall down not just on our knees, but on our faces before Thee!! Give us the guts oh GOD TO STAND FIRM!!! 1-15-03
I've been on a "weighed in the balance" kick as 2002 recedes from public awareness. The numbers just looked to me like a weight scale . So I'd listed persons and corporations "found wanting." But one that didn't fit either category is the Roman Catholic church. Way back in my boyhood years in IL where that church is stronger, I'd heard such things said about it as were hitting the news in 2002. Yet they were all forgotten when we came back here to OK. And my dad really liked the PV priest (who had such an Irish sounding name). Since Protestants berated Catholics about their holy statues being "idols" in those days, the Father asked dad with good nature one December in the fifties, "Isn't it time you Methodists put your idols up again for the Christmas scene." They both had a laugh about it. But now the huge institution has been weighted in the balance of public opinion. And all the law suits are proving very expensive for the RCC in America. Boston's Cardinal Law became the "fall guy" it now appears, as he stepped down. There was even talk about that diocese taking chapter eleven protection from bankruptcy. But damage sutes could be then shifted toward the Vatican some experts said. And John Paul II told the American bishops that the "zero tolerance" adopted here against clergy child abuse had overstepped Vatican church law. So there's going to be yet more being weighed in the balance. I recall the words of Romans 2 about the final judgement "In the day wheni GOD willl judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel." Sounds like the hour in which we now live doesn't it. I heard on TV a day or so ago about security cameras to be mounted inside of homes (as well as outside) so all conduct will be under scrutiny. Of course believers know that's already true to the eye of GOD. Even our thoughts and words are monitored from heaven just as much as our deeds But that same omniscience in human hands is troubling indeed because there can be as much wickedness from having the videos as from what they show.
Here we go nearly a year and a half into this war on terrorism, yet keeping a mood of mirth in our national newscasts. Have you noticed how showmanship has been incorporated into the media. I think back to the radio reports of WW II and how doomsday they all seemed. We would listen at the breakfast table until dad turned off the radio to read to us from the Bible. Then we'd all join in saying the blessing. If that's what all this "greatest generation" talk means, it seems almost puritanical to me in retrospect. Still, there was the one priority of winning the war. Everything else could wait. Our speaker at Rotary was a writer from Norman whose older brother died brutally early in that war. She's written a book "Going Full Circle-Again" about a current event in her life from that long ago war. "With 1500 fewer veterans left living every day, I wanted to record the deeds of that greatest generation in the greatest ever WAR to save the world." Don't check my quote for being exact but that was the drift that I got. Maybe combat with Iraq will cause a mood shift from our laughing at everything now to the grim determination of those bygone days. I thought Argus Hamilton found jokes in places too serious to be funny, but Sat. afternoon I heard KTOK radio 1000 with a guy and gal chuckeling about evrything. They were lawyers with their show, "Saturday Night Law" and were very well informed. But it was just too far out funny for me. I take Tony Leddy's advice in Rotary, "Enjoy life, one day at a time" though having fun isn't the full meaning. Nehemiah 8:10 says "For the joy of the LORD is your strenght." Amen to that. Sin is never funny and laughing at it is an insult to the Almighty. That's laughing your way to hell, which is the devil's joke on lost souls. Don't give him the last laugh, but "seek ye first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness." Mt.6:33
I saw a little of the inaugurating of our new governor Brad Henry on TV Monday and heart part of his positive thinking address in front of the capitol dome that Frank Keating has left as his mark on our state. Of course it's cost had to be paid since our state Constitution prohibits any debts being carried over each year. Yet governor Henry has an uphill financial battle because of the nation's economic recession. Part of his plan is a statewide lottery that's supposed to bring in state funds, though it wasn't mentioned Monday. I heard also that some legislator wants us to get a cut from all those Indian casinos for Oklahoma's fair share. It looks to me like they should have to pay extra if they're going to operate above the law that gambling here in OK is not ok..
1-18-03
My phone keeps ringing with annoying sales calls even though I signed that list along with nearly half a million other Oklahomans to have them banned. When Drew Edmondson told us at Rotary months and months ago that he had such a law set to begin with 2003, I was elated. But now I don't see how it can be enforced without a lot more annoyance recording the identity of callers. Looks right now that it's going to prove nearly a futile as the law prohibiting cock fighting. Getting a statute on the books is much easier than enforcing it without enough popular support to create a majority demand. And I suppose most of us who voted to ban the cruelty to roosters didn't even guess that 27 counties (thus far) would find legal tricks to block enforcement. And we didn't suspect that the gambling which fosters those cockfights would be seeking to be also condoned through a statewide lottery Though he made no mention of it at his inaugurating, our new governor Brad Henry is proposing that it be held by late summer, saying "I just believe we need to act as quickly as we can." And both the House Speaker Larry Adair and the new Senate Leader Cal Hobson have indicated their agreement. It's being called an "education lottery" and I ask just how it will educate? There's no gambling in a pure lottery such as Publisher's Clearing House conducts, because the chances are free. But when you pay your valuable bucks for chance tickets, it should be called the "gambling lottery." And that's how it will educate as it glorifies the Las Vegas life style. I just hope the state teacher's meeting set for Feb.12 isn't used to push for votes favoring it. The meeting is going to use a day of school time trying to get ten thousand educators to be at the capitol which will surely cause difficulties in local public schools (unless their boards capitulate and cancel classes for that Wednesday). But if it is used mostly to rally the vote for a "gambling lottery," I think things will backfire the way they did in Minnesota when that funeral for a Democratic congressman turned so very political. There are things where deciding by a drawing seem necessary i.e. the land lottery in our state. But artificially creating games of chance where exchange of value takes place is dangerous and appeals to the base nature in man, greed. Like pride, greed is one of the seven deadly sins. You only gain at another's expense. And always there's crime connected with the gambling industry. We use the word far too broadly. Life is taking necessary chances. That is faith. But artificial ones, though they are exciting, become the false worship of Lady Luck, as I see it. So I'm for the statewide sales tax to. Revolting as that is, the lottery is worse in my opinion.
Barry Porterfield's Tuesday story about a Garvin county citizen helping catch those vandals was an encouraging word. RP was the only "name" given to the man who witnessed the crime. May others follow his example, which is much the same as Arizona citizens now blocking illegal immigration from Mexico. I wish the media wouldn't call them vigilantes."
1-22-03
ANGELFIRE is written form a PV perspective from media input along with frequent Bible reading. So one of the reasons this writer feels that Iraq is much more urgent than N.Korea is the fact that it's part of the Middle East focal point of world history. Korea's been a sore in our our side for over half a century now, and it seems very strange to see China acting helpfully at long last. How well I recall when forces from Manchuria came across the Yalu River to enlarge that "Conflict" that we finally admitted to be a war instead of a UN "police action." Both of those nations have remained officially Communist, but even (Red) China can't tolerate a belligerent little neighbor being armed with nukes. Meanwhile, we don't dare allow them becoming available to all Israel's many haters, because that nation's our friend.. Just think what suicide terrorists could do with nuclear suitcase bombs. Any retaliation would be impossible without knowing where the terrorist bomber came from. And he/she couldn't be identified in atomic ashes after a far worse catastrophe than 9/11. My prayer is that we may avoid war by firmly backing our president while hoping for a prompt coup in Iraq. Perhaps Saudi Arabia's plan can bring it about if we hold steady. They've asked the U.N. to grant amnesty to all Iraqis but Saddam and those closest to him. LORD, let the oppressed Iraqi public rise up and give them some sane leadership instead of what's been Sodamn Insane.
The "Daily Oklahoman's" Saturday religion page was mostly about churches accepting offerings from the big money won by lottery gamblers.. What a marvel that the Salvation Army turned down $100,000 from a guy in Florida. His reaction was "Everyone has the right to be sanctimonious," which was a slur in my opinion. I've read in Gen.14 how Abram (later Abraham) went to war with only his servants as an army to liberate his nephew Lot. Then he brought back the booty stolen from other leaders including Bera and Birsha, kings of Sodom and Gomorrah., For such bravery he was blessed in a meal provided by that priest of GOD most high named Melchizadek, king of Salem (Jerusalem?) who also gave him tithes (on booty returned?). So the king of Sodom tried to give also, but Abram knew the abominations of his realm and refused a gift from it's leader, saying "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High...that I will take nothing....that is yours, lest you should say 'I have made Abram rich.'--" Thus not only sodomy but other unclean practices would make offerings refused in Hebrew worship of the Holy One for generations to follow. So the taint is on that money from lottery gambling in the same way. Like most sin, it becomes addictive. I remember back when the states first started seeking federal funds that some officials called it "tainted money." Soon thereafter they all changed to say "T'aint enough." And states rights began disappearing. Now Washington D.C. has a finger in completely everything. Thus, if your economy begins to depend on small time gambling, it will soon enlarge into a monster like Las Vegas. I call that the Vegas Delusion or VD, which is now spreading like an epidemic in America and is worse than the kind so common back in the WW II era. Gambling is a drain instead of a gain and the Baptists were right to say "Don't vote for the 'lootery'."
1-22-03
The 40th anniversary of MLK's "I have a dream" speech in Washington D.C. in front of the Lincoln Memorial is being marred by reparation demands by some radical blacks. Along with Rev.Al Sharpton is a Charles Brannon of NYC, who also claims to still be a Black Panther. That long defunct group has been recently reactivated I hear. Aaron Brown on CNN showed the historic address by Dr.King from Aug.25, 1963. Of course it was only black and white TV, and some of the terminology has long been changed by political correctness. But I wondered about those standing around him wearing white military caps. I had never questioned that attire, though now it made we wonder if they were Black Muslims like the Guardian Angels of NYC. King had always been a Christian in my understanding, though he made no mention of Jesus in that speech. And he wasn't truly an evangelical pietist, but very politically astute. He even mentioned the "soul force," Gandhi's term, at least once in the address. P I read of a family in Detroil the perished in their home on fire. Because they'd installed bars on all the windows to keep criminals out, they were also unable to escape. Since this happened about the time we created the hugh Homeland Decurity Dept. I just hope and pray it's not some sort of sign to America.