Archive for February, 2009


Reference Points

Filed under: Eagle Views, Insights on Scripture by Allen Scott — 5 Comments
February 24, 2009

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor
Insight from the Journey across the Sky
By Allen Scott
looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2Open Link in New Window
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Orchestra’s use them, choirs and choruses use them, professional and amateur musicians use them, sailors, travelers, navigators and builders use them. What are they? Reference points.

For the orchestra A 440 is the reference tone the entire orchestra tunes to, the benchmark for any fine musical performance. To a chorus it is a pitch pipe and to the musician an electronic tuner. Sailors looked toward the heavens and by using a sextant, sailed by starlight. Hikers utilize the compass. Builders would use a level and a plumb line. All are acting as reference points.

Without these reference points orchestras and choirs would be out of tune. Professional musicians would sound like beginners. Travelers would get hopelessly lost, and buildings would have crooked walls.

Slaves, hoping for freedom from a life of slavery in the south, were taught, from a young age, how to follow the North Star, to the place where that freedom lay. To think, in the vastness of space, God placed a steady reference point for all eternity. It is not surprising then that the wise men followed a star to the place where Jesus was born.

Our lives need reference points as well in order to navigate safely through this journey called life. Without a guiding light, a plumb line, or some other measuring device we really would not know how straight or crooked our journey was.

Without a point of reference we would be like a sailor lost at sea, or an orchestra out of tune. Without some sort of compass we would never know in which direction we were actually heading. Today GPS units, utilizing satellite coordinates, guide us safely throughout the country. These electronic marvels communicate constantly with orbiting satellites and recalculate our route as we travel the highway.

To the Christian what is our reference point? Is it a compass, sextant, plumb line, tuning fork, pitch pipe, a star? No it’s a cross outside Jerusalem. Without the death of Jesus on that cross, our sins would not be atoned for, and had Jesus not risen, we would be hopeless. The Bible, God’s word, becomes our road map and the Holy Spirit our GPS (God’s Positioning Spirit).

The church calendar acts as a point of reference as well helping to keep us centered on the reason for our hope, Jesus. Each season helps us to refocus on the life of Christ. We are currently entering into the season of Lent, the time of year were we focus on the death and resurrection of our Lord. It’s life from death, hope from despair, light in the darkness, and joy unspeakable and full of glory. From Ash Wednesday, through Good Friday, into Resurrection Sunday we journey again to the cross, the grave, and finally to resurrection.

The cross is the reference point to remind us of the great price God paid for our sins, and the love God has for us. For the lost, the cross stands as a beacon of hope, a compass pointing heavenward, a steady reference point for all eternity. Without the cross, I would be lost. Thank God for the cross, our reference point, and Jesus our guide.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)
Along for the journey
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Hero Worship: AKA Obama Mania

Filed under: Current Events, Eagle Views, Insights on Scripture by Allen Scott — 4 Comments
February 22, 2009

A View from the Nest

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor
Insight from the Journey across the Sky
By Allen Scott

President Barack Obama’s popularity overwhelms that of Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, and Mother Teresa, according to a new poll that shows Obama as the person Americans named as their hero.

American adults (age 18 and over) spontaneously named President Obama as the person they admire enough to call their hero in a Harris Poll that did not provide a list for respondents to choose from.

The Harris Poll, released on Thursday, was conducted on 2,634 U.S. adults between Jan. 12 to 19, 2009 – just ahead of President Obama’s inauguration

“The fact that President Obama is mentioned more often than Jesus Christ, should not be misinterpreted,” The Harris Poll clarified in its report. “No list was used and nobody was asked to choose between them.

Following Barack Obama, the next most popular, personal heroes are Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Abraham Lincoln, John McCain, John F. Kennedy, Chesley Sullenberger, and Mother Teresa, respectively, to round out the top 10 people Americans say they admire and would call their hero.

In the top 20 list, God held the No. 11 spot while evangelist Billy Graham tied with former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the 13th slot.

Respondents gave multiple reasons for their choice of heroes, including: doing what’s right regardless of personal consequences (89 percent); not giving up until the goal is accomplished (83 percent); doing more than what other people expect of them (82 percent); overcoming adversity (81 percent); and staying level-headed in a crisis (81 percent).

Only 14 percent of Americans said they admire either their mother or father enough to call them their hero. In contrast, nearly half (49 percent) said a public figure is someone they admire and consider a personal hero

By Michelle A. Vu

Christian Post Reporter

And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. Mark 9:7-8

Peter, James, and John had their own chance for hero worship. One day Jesus led them up a high mountain to a place where they would be set apart by themselves. While there on the mountaintop, Jesus was met by Elijah and Moses who talked with Jesus a while. Jesus was transfigured before their very eyes. They watched Jesus’ garments become whiter than even Clorox bleach could whiten. Peter being ever impetuous, wanted to build huts for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. While contemplating the idea of building these huts, a cloud overshadowed them and a voice cried from heaven saying; “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.” When the cloud had lifted only Jesus remained.

One Solitary Life

Herein lies the basis for a Christian’s belief in God. Although taught by the prophets and lawgivers of old, it wasn’t until the arrival of Jesus on the scene, that all those ancient prophecies and stories took on fuller meaning. The only thing that sets our faith apart from the religions of the world is one solitary life, the life of Jesus Christ.

All religions have their laws and lawgivers. All religions have their prophets and holy men, but only Christianity has Jesus Christ. Some religions allude to Jesus as just another prophet. Thus this mountaintop experience set Jesus apart from both the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah) when the voice was heard from heaven saying “this is my beloved Son listen to Him”.

Peter, like many of us, wanted to honor all three men equally by building huts for them all. He wanted to show his appreciation and respect for these three men of God. He saw Jesus in the company of Moses and Elijah and viewed them equally. As a Jewish male, raised on the law and prophets, he grew to appreciate the history of Israel and to respect the great men of faith like Moses, Abraham, Aaron, and Elijah. Although Jesus continually called himself the “Son of God”, until this time, I am not sure the three men actually understood the importance of Jesus’ life and ministry. He was just considered a great man, or a prophet. Although Peter had alluded to Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” in Matthew 16:16, I still do not think the fullness of that revelation had registered with him.

Even though transfigured before their very eyes and shining with the glory of heaven, it wasn’t until after Jesus’ resurrection that Peter, James and John fully understood the whole purpose of Christ’s coming. They had heard the stories of Moses’ face shining with the Glory of God when he descended from Mount Sinai, in Exodus 34, therefore the fact that Jesus also shone with the brightness of God’s glory was not really anything new. And then having Moses and Elijah there with Jesus, made it seem like a reunion. Peter, James and John, may have thought of themselves as special in some way, to have been invited to this gathering of by-gone saints.

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Donkey Dung

Filed under: Eagle Views by Allen Scott — Leave a comment
February 21, 2009
They say a picture with worth a thousand words. This one is priceless!
clipped from townhall.com
Political Cartoon by Michael Ramirez
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Clear Skies on a Cloudy Day

Filed under: Eagle Views, Insights on Scripture by Allen Scott — Leave a comment
February 17, 2009


clip_image002A View from the Nest


Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor


Insight from the Journey across the Sky


The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23


God made the {constellations} Pleiades and Orion. He turns deep darkness into dawn. He turns day into night. He calls for water from the sea to pour it over the face of the earth. His name is the Lord. Amos 5:8


He made {the constellations} Ursa Major, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the clusters of stars in the south. Job 9:9








The Big Dipper


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It was a beautiful evening for a walk. The sky was crystal clear. There was a winter nip in the air that brushed my cheeks as I walked bare-faced in the cold night air. With very few lights to distract from the evening sky, I could clearly see the astronomical constellations on display over my head. I paused for a few moments awestruck by the vastness of the evening sky. I searched the sky for the familiar images of the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor which respectively contain the familiar Big and Little Dipper star clusters.


Although not as big as it’s nearby cousin, the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper contains Polaris, the North Star, the brightest in the formation. Residing roughly over the North Pole, Polaris became a reliable navigational tool for slaves, fleeing the south for freedom in Canada. Although uneducated, from the time they were very little, slave children learned how to navigate north by the stars. The Big Dipper, being a circumpolar constellation, remains above the horizon and visible all night long as it rotates around Polaris. In fact it is possible to tell the approximate time of night by observing the position of the Big Dipper. Therefore, Polaris served as a good navigational tool and it could be used to tell time as well.


Not being an astronomer, this about covers my knowledge of the constellations. I too, like the young slave children, grew up familiar with the Big and Little Dippers. The Dippers became constant companions in this journey called life, and I could always depend on their presence in the evening sky.


Things change, times change, our situations change, we grow older, but it is comforting to know that some things never change. Those two constellations stand as a constant reminder to me of the steadfastness of God’s creation. No matter how cloudy a day seems, no matter how confusing a situation may appear, no matter how lost I may find myself, Polaris will still be north, and the Big and Little Dippers will still be flying in the night sky whether visible or not.


Granted there are times when the evening sky will not be clear like it was this evening, but those stars are still there. I may not be able to see them, yet I know, from experience, their presence is a constant in the evening sky. Although I may not be able to see God either, I still know, as well from experience, His constant abiding presence.


1The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.


2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.


3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.


4 Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Psalms 19:1-4


Navigators


know the importance of the stars in guiding ships through darkened seas. Slaves yearning for freedom relied upon the evening sky to point them North. Philosophers and poets, historians and sages, have written about the stars. Folklore and mythology have told stories using the stars. The stars themselves can be used as guides to yet other stars. For me, they just remind me of the constant companionship of Christ and His Holy Spirit. For me the constant of the North Star points me to the center of my life, Jesus Christ. They remind me that no matter how many times the earth may spin on it’s axis, no matter how grey and stormy the skies, these guides remain unchanged and undaunted by the events on earth.


Job knew it, Amos knew it, and I know it, the creator of the heavens is in complete control and His love for me is as steadfast as Polaris. God’s love for me is as unmoving and unchanging as the starry sky. His love for me never ceases. Even if the stars fall from the sky, and time is no more, God will still remain faithful, His love will never fade away.


Take time some evening to look up towards the heavens and when you see Polaris shining brightly in the evening sky, thank God for His faithfulness. Let the stars be your guide.


But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)


Along for the journey


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Loony Tune Award Winner: Oakland Pastor Arrested for holding sign

				

					

						Filed under: From the Cuckoos Nest, Loon Alerts by Allen Scott — 						Leave a comment					

					
February 16, 2009

				

			


			

				
 Yes sirree bob, our society is in a tailspin. To think Oakland, CA feels that sign holding is a crime punishable by jail time and yet overlooks the crime of violence committed against underage girls in the name of REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. A minor does not have to inform a parent when undergoing a life threatening procedure, and Oakland finds nothing immoral or criminal about that. Neither does the city find the wholesale slaughter of innocent life a criminal act, what they find offensive is a Pastor holding a sign offering an alternative solution to a life ending decision.


Hmm I wonder if Oakland would arrest this same Pastor for holding up a sign offering hope to a potential suicide jumper? 


Oakland has sanctioned murder for hire and look the other way. A lonely black Pastor cares enough to want to help and he is arrested. This one certainly earns the Loony Tune award.  

















clipped from townhall.com











A travesty of justice has occurred in Oakland, California. But realities surrounding this local issue point to how the economic crisis in our nation is symptomatic of and flows from a deeper fundamental moral crisis.
















A black pastor awaits sentencing, which could amount to two years in prison and $4,000 in fines, for standing outside an inner city abortion clinic holding a sign saying “Jesus Loves You & Your Baby, Let Us Help You,” and offering pro-life literature.

















Walter Hoye, founder and chairman of the Issues4Life Foundation, was found guilty of “unlawful approach” under the “Access to Reproductive Health Care Facilities Ordinance” enacted in Oakland in 2008.

















Under the ordinance, it is prohibited, within 100 feet of the entrance to a “reproductive health facility,” to approach within eight feet of a client “for the purpose of counseling, harassing, or interfering” with that person.













Pastor Hoye’s conviction is strange in that no “victim” testified against him 














							


			

				

				

					
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