The Italian Memorandum

“… behold, chariots of fire …”

(2 Kings 2:11)

“The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them …”

(Psalm 68:17)

Her name is Katie Elizabeth Kirkpatrick. She was crowned as Lapeer East High School 2000-01 Homecoming Queen. She was also co-valedictorian at Lapeer. One day, in 2002, she was informed that she had a brain tumor. It would return in the form of a lung cancer the very next year. On Saturday January 15, 2005, Katie appeared in a sparkling gown of crystals, and walked without the tank of oxygen down the aisle on her father’s arm before 500 wedding guests! Then, five days later, after marrying her high school sweetheart, 21 year old Katie Kirkpatrick Godwin went home to be with her Lord.

Most of Rochester College attended her funeral. The ceremony began with a photo collage and a strand from Sarah McLachlan’s, “I Will Remember You.” Her favorite worship songs were also included: “I Stand in Awe,” and “The Joy of the Lord.” Then, in an excerpt from Katie’s valedictorian address, the minister read: “It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble, how hopeless the outlook or how great the mistake, a sufficient realization of love will not redeem.” Tears fell that day, as the audience of some 1200 heard: “In the ears of my heart, I think I can hear the trumpets sounding for our girl, Katie.” [Thank you, Lord, for Katie: a faithful member of your church].
Yes, “The chariots of God are twice ten thousand…” (Ps. 68:17). God’s power
is depicted in terms of endless vehicles of His glory in history. Habakkuk 3:8
even speaks of a “…chariot of salvation” (see 3:13). To be involved in this
kind of drama for God, with God, and unto God, is only possible today. For, His
chariots are in motion, and He is among them.

-Robert M. Housby

“And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked.”

(Exodus 28:6)

The Old Testament priest wore a sacred vestment called an ephod. This ephod was very colorful (Exodus 28:6). The colors which God here specified, are colors well known to artists as the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue). The Bible tells us why these colors were used: “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2,40). Three reasons are suggested: sacredness, dignity, and the unmistakable importance of the priestly service of worship. Exodus 28:31 infers that the robe of the ephod was “all of blue,” perhaps suggesting it as the dominant color. We may also note that these colors are the colors of the fourth day of creation (Genesis 1:14- 17), namely, the blue heavens and the golden sun. The tabernacle, itself, was comprised of these same colors (Exodus 35-36), and, notably, so also was “the veil” (Exodus 36:35-38; see also Hebrews 6:19; 9:3; 10:20; 4:14).
Today, all believers who are “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3, 10, 11,12,13), through baptism (Acts 19:5), are also priests under the New Testament (Rev. 1:6). As such, they “worship by the Spirit of God” (Philippians 3:3; Jude 20), in the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). Their worship and service to God are, therefore, of the highest dignity, sacredness, and importance; no less than the sons of Aaron (1 Peter 2:9).
When Christians worship today, it is worship of great importance (John 4:23,24). It is worship offered in the blue ephod. Make God primary in your life today.

– Robert M. Housby

(Why Christians May Live in Joy)

“To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”

(Isaiah 61:3, NKJV, emphasis mine, RMH)

When the old Jerusalem gospel was preached on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the promises of the Old Testament were opened up for all men (Acts 2:39; 3:24).
Included in this theology of promise were the words of the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 61:3 (quoted above).
The statement of Isaiah 61:3 declares that there would be consolation for those who mourn. This consolation would come in the form of something given, as bestowed by God himself, through Jesus Christ (Isaiah 61:1; Lk. 4:16-21; 7:22).

1. Beauty for ashes – The downtrodden would be the recipients of this lovely expression of promise, “beauty for ashes.” This play on words reminds one of man’s lowly origin, from ordinary chemical composition, and his/her often mournful emotional state (Gen. 18:27; 2 Sam. 13:19; Job 2:8; Jer. 6:26). The replacement here is that of God’s dignity for man’s indignity. A head-turban may well be meant in the text.
2. The oil of joy for mourning – Olive oil had cosmetic and curative properties (Ps. 23:5; 104:15). Oil is used also as a symbol for the Holy Spirit (see Exodus 30:22-38; Ps. 18:28; etc.).
3. The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness – The New English Bible reads, “a garment of splendor for the heavy heart.”

When everything seems to be going wrong–Enter, Beauty for ashes; oil of joy;
garment of praise! Put on the promised turban today for your tomorrow.

-Robert M. Housby