Simon game. buttons wont flash... help!

Question

This is a simple "Simon" memory game, produced in GUI...........
The main(); invokes the FIRE(); which generates random numbers , which in turns invokes one of four COLOR methods, red(), green(), yellow(), blue(); .... These methods flash one of the four buttons and are assigned their own values. when they are invoked, they pass that value to Pattern();
Pattern (); fills an array with the random values passed from the color methods, As well as compares users entry against the array and IF user entry is accurate then increase difficulty++
(Pattern method has poor logic in it. I would like tips on this.)
PROBLEM: it executes nearly perfect the first time the code cycles. After that the buttons no longer flash when the FIRE(); invokes COLOR(); methods.
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP.
import java.io.File;
   import java.io.IOException;
   import javax.sound.sampled.AudioFormat;
   import javax.sound.sampled.AudioInputStream;
   import javax.sound.sampled.AudioSystem;
   import javax.sound.sampled.DataLine;
   import javax.sound.sampled.LineUnavailableException;
   import javax.sound.sampled.SourceDataLine;
   import java.awt.*;
   import java.awt.event.*;
   import javax.swing.*;
   import java.util.*;
    public class Simon extends JFrame implements MouseListener,ActionListener
      //static int pat=1;
      private static final int     EXTERNAL_BUFFER_SIZE = 128000;
      static JButton but1 = new JButton("Green");
      static JButton but2 = new JButton("Blue");
      static JButton but3 = new JButton("Orange");
      static JButton but4 = new JButton("Red");
      static JPanel pane1 = new JPanel();
      static JPanel pane2 = new JPanel();
      static JPanel pane3 = new JPanel();
      static JPanel pane4 = new JPanel();
      static JPanel pane5 = new JPanel();
      static JButton but5 = new JButton("Start");
      //static JLabel lab1 = new JLabel("Simon Says");
      Container con = getContentPane();
      static File soundFile = new File("hiho.wav");
      static File utopia = new File("utopia.wav");
      static File cowbell = new File("cowbell.wav");
      static File slap = new File("sound16.wav");
      static int G1=1,B2=2,Y3=3,R4=4;
      static int[] array = new int[256]; // maximum value
      static int difficulty = 3; //initial value
      static int count;
      static int x=0;
      static boolean click=false;
       public Simon()
         super("Simon Says");
         con.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
         con.add(pane5,BorderLayout.CENTER);
         con.add(pane4,BorderLayout.NORTH);
         con.add(pane3,BorderLayout.SOUTH);
         con.add(pane2,BorderLayout.EAST);
         con.add(pane1,BorderLayout.WEST);
         pane1.add(but1);
         pane2.add(but2);
         pane3.add(but3);
         pane4.add(but4);
         pane5.add(but5);
         but1.addMouseListener(this);
         but2.addMouseListener(this);
         but3.addMouseListener(this);
         but4.addMouseListener(this);
         but1.addActionListener(this);
         but2.addActionListener(this);
         but3.addActionListener(this);
         but4.addActionListener(this);
         but5.addActionListener(this);
       public static void main(String[]args)
         JFrame af = new Simon();
         af.setSize(275,135);
         Dimension screenSize = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();
         af.setLocation( (screenSize.width - af.getWidth())/2,
            (screenSize.height - af.getHeight())/2 );
         af.setVisible(true);
         af.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
         af.setResizable(false);
         but1.setContentAreaFilled(false);
         but1.setOpaque(true);//enabling button to changed with mouse events.
         but2.setContentAreaFilled(false);
         but2.setOpaque(true);
         but3.setContentAreaFilled(false);
         but3.setOpaque(true);
         but4.setContentAreaFilled(false);
         but4.setOpaque(true);
         but1.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
         but1.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         but2.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
         but2.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         but3.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
         but3.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         but4.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
         but4.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
            // everytime the pattern fires a button it invokes a method which
            // recieves an int ... fills an array with digits. and before the int
            // is assigned a subscript a variable is incremented so the array continues
            // to cycle. 
            //store the last pattern in an array then, and do a check if they match generate new pattern.
         FIRE();
       public static void FIRE()
         for(x=0;x<difficulty;++x)
            double rnd = Math.random()*10;
            if (rnd<2.5)
               play(soundFile);   
               green();
            else if (rnd>=2.5&&rnd<=5.0)
               play(utopia);
               blue();
            else if (rnd>5.0&&rnd<=7.5)
               play(cowbell);
               yellow();
            else //if (rnd>7.5);
               play(slap);
               red();
         if(x==difficulty)
            count=0;
       public static void green()///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
         but1.setBackground(Color.GREEN);
         but1.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         try
            Thread.sleep(200);
             catch(InterruptedException e){}
         but1.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
         but1.setForeground(Color.WHITE);   
         try
            Thread.sleep(200);
             catch(InterruptedException e){}
         Pattern(G1);
       public static void blue()////////////////////////////////////////////////////
         but2.setBackground(Color.BLUE);
         but2.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         try
            Thread.sleep(200);
             catch(InterruptedException e){}
         but2.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
         but2.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         try
            Thread.sleep(200);
             catch(InterruptedException e){}
         Pattern(B2); 
       public static void yellow()///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
         but3.setBackground(Color.ORANGE);
         but3.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         try
            Thread.sleep(200);
             catch(InterruptedException e){}
         but3.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
         but3.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         try
            Thread.sleep(200);
             catch(InterruptedException e){}
         Pattern(Y3); 
       public static void red()//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
         but4.setBackground(Color.RED);
         but4.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         try
            Thread.sleep(200);
             catch(InterruptedException e){}
         but4.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
         but4.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         try
            Thread.sleep(200);
             catch(InterruptedException e){}
         Pattern(R4);
       public void mousePressed(MouseEvent e)////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
         //System.out.println(" Count Equals before Fire()"+count);
         Object source = e.getSource();
         if (source==but1)
            click = true;
            but1.setBackground(Color.GREEN);
            but1.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
            play(soundFile);
            Pattern(G1);
         if(source==but2)
            click = true;
            but2.setBackground(Color.BLUE);
            but2.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
            play(utopia);
            Pattern(B2);
         if (source==but3)
            click = true;
            but3.setBackground(Color.orange);
            but3.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
            play(cowbell);
            Pattern(Y3);
         if (source==but4)
            click = true;
            but4.setBackground(Color.RED);
            but4.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
            play(slap);
            Pattern(R4);
       public void mouseReleased(MouseEvent e)/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
         Object source = e.getSource();
         if(source==but1)
            but1.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
            but1.setForeground(Color.WHITE); 
         else if (source==but2)
            but2.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
            but2.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         else if (source==but3)
            but3.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
            but3.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
         else if (source==but4)
            but4.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
            but4.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
       public static void Pattern(int A)/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
         if (x<difficulty)
            array[count]=A;
            System.out.println("Randomly generated array position "+count+"'s value is, "+A);
            ++count;
         if (x==difficulty)
            System.out.println(".....User entry at array position "+count+"'s value is, "+A);       
            if (array[count]==A&&count==difficulty-1) //if user entry is correct and the array has reached
               NEXT();
                                                                 //array.length then invoke NEXT();    
            if (A!=array[count]/*&&count<difficulty*/&&count!=0)//poor logic: at anytime if array[count] is not equal to user entry, LOSE();        
               LOSE();
            if (click==true)       
               count++; 
         click =false;                
       public static void LOSE()
         System.out.println("YOU LOSE");
         System.exit(0);
       public static  void NEXT()
     //     String[] s = null;
         System.out.println("NEXT LEVEL");
         ++difficulty;
         count=0;
         x=0;
           // Simon.main((s = new String[] {"N"}));
         FIRE();
       public static void play(File soundFile)////////////////////////////////// AUDIO PLAYER
         AudioInputStream     audioInputStream = null;
         try
            audioInputStream = AudioSystem.getAudioInputStream(soundFile);
             catch (Exception e)
               e.printStackTrace();
               System.exit(1);
         AudioFormat     audioFormat = audioInputStream.getFormat();
         SourceDataLine     line = null;
         DataLine.Info     info = new DataLine.Info(SourceDataLine.class,audioFormat);
         try
            line = (SourceDataLine) AudioSystem.getLine(info);
            line.open(audioFormat);
             catch (LineUnavailableException e)
               e.printStackTrace();
               System.exit(1);
             catch (Exception e)
               e.printStackTrace();
               System.exit(1);
         line.start();
         int     nBytesRead = 0;
         byte[]     abData = new byte[EXTERNAL_BUFFER_SIZE];
         while (nBytesRead != -1)
            try
               nBytesRead = audioInputStream.read(abData, 0, abData.length);
                catch (IOException e)
                  e.printStackTrace();
            if (nBytesRead >= 0)
               int     nBytesWritten = line.write(abData, 0, nBytesRead);
      //       line.drain();
      //          line.close();
         //System.exit(0);
       private void printUsageAndExit()
         out("SimpleAudioPlayer: usage:");
         out("\tjava SimpleAudioPlayer <soundfile>");
         System.exit(1);
       private void out(String strMessage)
         System.out.println(strMessage);
       public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)//OVERRIDDEN INTERFACE METHODS
       public void mouseClicked(MouseEvent e)
       public void mouseEntered(MouseEvent e)
       public void mouseExited(MouseEvent e)
   }

Answer 1

In the future, Swing related questions should be posted in the Swing forum.
You don't use the Thread.sleep(...) method in the GUI Event Thread, it prevents the GUI from responding to events and repainting itself.
Use a Swing Timer to schedule the frequency of whatever you are doing.