FDA Could Green Light Genetically Modified Humans

February 25, 2014Allen Frederick Leave a comment

According to the Associated Press, the FDA this week will be considering whether to approve a fertilization technique that could combine the DNA from three people.

The notion is to try to end genetic diseases by splicing out “bad” genes and replacing them with good ones. via FDA Could Green Light Genetically Modified Humans.

They say that art imitates life but perhaps the reverse is true in this case. Scientists are looking at ways to splice together DNA from three individuals to produce a genetically superior offspring. I guess their attempts at cloning individuals had not worked out so well.

In the FOX sci-fi thriller “Almost Human” set in the year 2048 technology has evolved to a place where a person can replace lost body parts with fully functioning biotic limbs (think the bionic man of yesteryear.) Additionally science has attempted to produced the perfect human through genetic engineering.

In the latest episode “Beholder” a creepy, bandaged home invader has killed folks…but nobody puts the fact that they have a serial killer on their hands until he kills a “chrome,” one of the Almost Human world’s genetically perfect citizens.

“Chromes” by design don’t die of natural causes (this guy’s weapon of choice is designed to make it look like they died of natural causes), and suddenly, the case is linked to the mysterious and sudden deaths of seven other citizens. The only apparent connection? They’re all attractive.

These genetically modified chromes form a cliché and are very secretive and dismissive of any normal human infiltration. I guess you could say they are rather snobbish. But when one of them gets killed we get a behind-the-scenes look at these laboratory enhanced humans. They consider themselves to be privileged. Even science can not make decent human beings out of the self-important.

The killer was part of a test group who was being treated with an advanced form of plastic
surgery which used nanobots to do the surgery from inside and not externally. The experiment went terribly wrong and our killer finds himself with a very distorted view of himself. (His face was horribly disfigured.) The reason he goes on a killing spree is because he is harvesting facial features from his victims to reconstruct his face before he presents himself to his online girl friend who just happens to be blind.

Apart from the irony this little trip down fantasy lane may actually shed a light on the human condition. All these scientific attempts to manipulate nature, and to find a way to genetically modify life, is science’s attempt to play god and ultimately to cheat death. In the end it always turns out the same. The attempt to produce the perfect human always ends in failure. What the world needs is not more technology or biology. What the world needs is not man-made fixes to personal shortcomings. The world needs a cure for the inward disfigurements of life caused by sin. The world needs to be transformed. This life-changing transformation can not be manufactured in a laboratory, or produced by nanobots, it must be accepted as a free gift from God through Jesus Christ.

Oh yes someone had to die so that your remake could be completed, but that someone gave his life willing for you so that you could live.

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard him asked, “Who, then, can be saved?” Jesus said, “The things that are impossible for people to do are possible for God to do.” Luke 18:25-27 (GW)

In other words you can not buy yourself a ticket to heaven. So you see art does imitate life.

The Super Bowl: The battle that decides it all

February 2, 2014February 2, 2014Allen Frederick 2 Comments

Super Bowl MetroCards (Photo credit: MTAPhotos)

Today most of America, and perhaps much of the world will be focused on a great playing field in which two opposing teams battle it out to see who is the best. This annual event is perhaps the biggest sporting event in history and draws 10’s of millions of viewers. Large sums of money are spent each year on super bowl advertising to capture the attention of the viewing audience, with the hopes of raking in huge profits off the popularity of the game.

As all eyes are focused on MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey where the Seattle Seahawks will battle the Denver Broncos for the chance to be crowned Super Bowl Champions, I would like us to look further east to another battle field where the champion of the world is to be crowned.

Who are the contestants of this great battle? A common reply would be “Russia, Syria, or Iran against Israel.” As the Middle East simmers toward a boiling point, and as U.S., British, and Israeli intelligence watch closely Iran’s quest for a nuclear bomb which might even be used against America. Millions of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even secularists are pondering, “Is the Battle of Armageddon at hand?”

The word “Armageddon” only occurs in Revelation 16:16,

“Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”

This speaks of the kings who are loyal to the Antichrist gathering together for a final assault on Israel. At Armageddon “the cup filled with the wine of the fury of [God’s] wrath” (Revelation 16:19) will be delivered, and the Antichrist and his followers will be overthrown and defeated.

Interestingly, no place on earth actually bears the name Armageddon, and the above passage is the only mention of it in scripture and hence it is assumed that this is what scripture refers to but is it? The Greek is most commonly thought to be a transliteration of the Hebrew har megiddo, literally, “mountain of Megiddo.”

The Mount of Megiddo is in the plain of Esdraelon or Jezreel, a valley fourteen by twenty miles in size located to the southwest of Nazareth. Here, it is thought by many, that the great last battle of Armageddon will be fought at the end of time.

There will be a multitude of people engaged in the battle of Armageddon, as all the nations gather together to fight against Christ.

The scene: History’s last “Super Bowl. Final contestants: The Powers of Evil vs. the Power of God. Nature of conflict: Military. Epicenter: A small valley northwest of Jerusalem where all the armies of the world will converge for the battle of the ages.

In Old Testament days, Cyrus came from “the east” to conquer Babylon (Isaiah 44:26-28; 46:11). The word, “east,” means “sun rising,” and the name, “Cyrus,” means, “sun.” Cyrus came not to attack the Jews, but as their Deliverer, and again, Cyrus was a type of Jesus Christ, the “Sun of righteousness” Malachi 4:2.

In Revelation, God’s angels come from the east (7:2), and Jesus Himself said,

“As the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” Matthew 24:27.

Therefore just as Cyrus came from the east to deliver literal Israel from the clutches of literal Babylon, even so will King Jesus descend from the eastern skies with “the armies which were in heaven” (19:14) to conquer spiritual Babylon and to deliver “the Israel of God” (spiritual Israel) at the battle of Armageddon!

The so-called “battle of Armageddon” represents the apex, the climax, the last battle in Revelation.

Throughout Revelation we’ve seen Middle East terms like the “seven golden candlesticks,” (1:20), “Jezebel” (2:20), “Mount Zion,” (14:1), “Jerusalem,” (3:12), “the temple” (11:19), “Sodom and Egypt” (11:8), “Euphrates” (16:12) and “Babylon” (17:5) used in a Christ centered, heavenly, spiritual sense.

When it comes to the “battle of Armageddon,” which is a term depicting the grand finale in the book of Revelation, does it make sense for God’s last book to suddenly shift gears away from its thematic focus by pinpointing a literal, local, high-tech, Middle East-based conflagration involving Russians, Chinese, Syrians, and literal Jews?

We don’t have to guess. The answer is in the context surrounding Revelation 16:16.

The battle of Armageddon involves “the kings of the earth and of the whole world” (16:14), which could not possibly fit inside the valley of Megiddo.
Revelation’s focus is “the temple of heaven” (16:17), not a supposedly soon to be rebuilt Jewish temple on earth.
The effects of the battle of Armageddon are global, far beyond the Middle East (16:18-20).
The primary system identified as being destroyed at the battle of Armageddon is spiritual “Babylon” (16:19), not Russia, China or Syria.

In essence, the “battle of Armageddon” the last “Super Bowl” depicts the last battle between King Jesus and His heavenly armies ( Rev 19:11-19) against the worldwide forces of Satan referred to in the Apocalypse as “Mystery Babylon.”

At Jesus’ Second Coming, the devil loses, and his global kingdom comes crashing down. Jesus doesn’t need to nuke His foes, but only to use His “sharp two-edged sword” (Rev 1:16; 19:15) which represents His Word of truth (Ephesians 6:17).

When Christ descends from the east, He will deliver “Israel” from the clutches of “Babylon.” But which Israel will He deliver? According to the thematic genius of the entire book of Revelation, it must be “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) centered in Jesus Christ whose home and dwelling place is the “New Jerusalem” Revelation 21:10.

In conclusion, the Middle East remains a powder keg and the U.S. struggle against Muslim radicals continues, and there’s no end in sight. In the midst of such a hot-bed of contention, millions of politically active Christians believe God Himself is not only behind modern Israel, but that He will finally annihilate the enemies of the Jewish State at the battle of Armageddon.

In this great “Super Bowl” of all time, the battle to end all battles, the fight is not a battle between Nation states but a battle between righteousness and truth, and the forces of unrighteousness and untruth. You see this great “Super Bowl” will encompass the entirety of humanity in a final showdown of good and evil, truth triumphing over the lies and the deceptions of the evil one.

God will ultimately judge between right and wrong. His arm will be outstretched to fight against all the enemies of God, who hate his laws, and wage war against his commandments. He will show no favoritism! No denominational ties or affiliations will be able to save you from the wrath of God to be poured out upon all flesh which has partaken of the Harlot’s deceptions. Just like Eve of old, who offered the poisoned fruit to her husband for him to eat, so too has the ‘mother church’ offered the poisoned pill of deception to her children down through the ages. Only those who have refused to partake of this great deception will be spared from the wrath that is to come.

Those who have an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the church!

Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; Rev 18:4 (NIV)

This is a view from the nest. What say you?

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

This has been A View from the Nest. The statements, comments, or opinions expressed are solely that of the author and do not represent the views or opinions of the host of this site or any affiliates thereof. Any questions or comments should be directed to myself and not to the host or hosts of this site.

Battles of Ignorance in the Night (eagleviews.org)
The Silencing of the Lambs (eagleviews.org)
Run the Right Race – Ignore the Hecklers (eagleviews.org)
Stealing from our own children (eagleviews.org)

Youth Take the Presbyterian Church to Church over Climate Change Awareness

January 16, 2014Allen Frederick 4 Comments

In the beginning God created heaven and earth.

And God saw everything that he had made and that it was very good. Genesis 1:1&31

“This is how I see the church really being like Jesus,” the release quoted Kirk. “Not just talking, but making hard choices to live like Jesus—caring for the poor and all in God’s creation without a voice; not taking more than our share; and preserving the earth for future generations.”

via Youth Convince Presbytery to Divest from Fossil Fuel Companies – Around Town – Minnetonka, MN Patch.

The reason the youths gave was to “raise awareness of climate change” in their view they believe “This is how I see the church really being like Jesus.” “Not just talking, but making hard choices to live like Jesus—caring for the poor and all in God’s creation without a voice; not taking more than our share; and preserving the earth for future generations.”

Now I think it is wonderful that our young people are taking an interest in church matters but I do find this a little unsettling. Many who know me and have read my posts on Facebook and this blog know I am not a believer in man-made climate change nor do I ascribe to the notion that CO2 is a pollutant; it is after all plant food. It has been proven that data used to promote the whole concept of Global warming was phony. Therefore the whole thing is a big hoax with designs on parting you from your money and livelihoods.

Of course my perspective comes from a biblical viewpoint one were God made the heavens and the earth and created the plant life and animal life before he created human life. In fact the plants were created before animals.

Could it be that God knew that all life required plant life to exist? And since plants are necessary to our well-being an abundance of plant food would be a good thing right? Since plants absorb CO2 and expel oxygen one could make the case that more CO2 helps plants to grow which in the end makes our lives better because of the abundance of oxygen in the air. It is more plausible to believe the plants were created first to absorb the CO2 from the atmosphere to prepare the earth for human habitation. So more plants would be great. Face it there is no plant life on any other planet and there is no life.

Here’s an idea for you, since we know plants love CO2 and can not get enough of it, and we know forests are loved by environmentalists and human habitations are despised, why not tear down all the cities around the world and replace them with parks with lots of flowers and trees? Imagine the huge carbon footprint cities leave behind with all those people milling around exhaling all that CO2 right into the atmosphere. How much lovelier a park would be with tall trees in place of those huge, ugly, tall buildings, not to mention the uptick in CO2 absorption rates.

Talking about creation and God’s provisions for life on this third rock from the sun, despising the Lord’s gifts and blessings is a big slap in the face to God don’t you think? I would like to remind you that oil, and “natural” gas are “NATURAL” and, were put here by God himself. He apparently thought they would be beneficial to life on earth since after he created everything he said it was all good! That means the earth and everything in it was good and created to sustain life on this planet. How is it then that something which God called good is now bad and is somehow harming the very creation which produced it in the first place? It is “natural” after all meaning it came from nature.

The students are concerned about the image and the statement being made by the church’s choices in investments. They felt that the church needed to walk the walk and not simply talk the talk. With that I agree! In large part the church is not living the life that God expects the church to lead. There is far too much creature in the church and not enough Creator. Now if the students were to speak out against that I would be standing arm and arm with them in their pursuit of holiness.

In the student’s statement they were concerned about “preserving the earth for future generations.” As far as leaving behind a better world for our children, I think the best way to do that would be to Preach the Gospel of His Kingdom and not some phony doctrine contrived by thieving, lying, power-hungry tyrants. Seeking to save the lost is what God expects the church to be doing. So I ask you, is divestiture in oil futures really that big a deal when the majority of the earth is going to hell in a hand basket?

We strain so hard at gnats and swallow huge camels in the process. Perhaps we ought to be focusing more on sin and not synthetics.

And that is the way I see it. What say you?

This is a view from the nest.

Along for the journey

Are Climate Anomolies a Result of Mankind?

January 14, 2014January 14, 2014Allen Frederick 3 Comments

Northern hemisphere glaciation during the last ice ages. The accumulation of 3 to 4 km thick ice sheets caused a sea level lowering of about 120 m. Also, the Alps and the Himalayas were covered by glaciers. Winter sea ice coverage was much more limited in the south. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Genesis 8:22 (GW)
²²As long as the earth exists, planting and harvesting, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never stop.”

The meteorological term “polar vortex” entered the common parlance across the nation last week as temperatures plunged deeply below zero on Tuesday in a large part of the nation and all the lower 48 states experienced readings below freezing, creating inconvenience for many and hardship for others. Authorities blamed the cold for at least 21 deaths, several of them from traffic accidents. Meteorologists say a polar vortex — or, more specifically, a distorted polar vortex — is the reason for the Arctic blast.

According to CNN International senior meteorologist Brandon Miller, a polar vortex “is circulation of strong, upper-level winds that normally surround the northern pole in a counterclockwise direction — a polar low-pressure system.

These winds tend to keep the bitter cold air locked in the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere.” But, says Miller, “on occasion, this vortex can become distorted and dip farther south than you would normally find it, allowing cold air to spill southward … in any part of the Northern Hemisphere.”

The National Weather Service characterized last week’s cold outbreak as “historic and life-threatening.”

In the entirety of earth’s existence has there ever been times when it was colder than last week? That answer is a resounding yes. (Ice Age and the great thaw)

Therefore since it has been colder in the past, and I might add warmer as well, such temperature extremes are not unusual or historic unless of course our history only extends to our birth and not before. I am afraid that for many experience trumps real historic data, and since they have no memory of a time when it was so cold they form a conclusion that it has to be historic.

In our time however we are being told that these “drastic weather conditions” are a result of human activity. And if human activity is causing this to happen then we need to do something to stop it from happening.

Job 38:34-35 (GW)
³⁴Can you call to the clouds and have a flood of water cover you?
³⁵Can you send lightning flashes so that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?

Now that is a good question isn’t it? if civilization has so much control over the climate and weather extremes then we should be able to harness the clouds and cause it to rain anytime we needed it to, or control lightning strikes, or even steer tornados away from populated areas to limit human casualties.

Our President was so bold to declare that his election was the moment “ when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal”. Not only has Obama presided over the receding ocean rise he has also overseen the receding employment rate and the receding income levels. Yes indeed his administration has seen a decline in many areas since he took office.

There are many factors that go into what affects our climate and I would suggest that human activity is very low on the real cause and effect list. Nature itself seems to play a bigger role in climate changes. Take for instance solar activity, or lack thereof. Water vapor and the ocean’s currents.

Since God made the heavens and the earth capable of sustaining human life, it makes perfect sense then that He and only He can change the climate and make it unfit for human life. Since we are the created and not the creator our powers are limited. And that is the way I see it. What say you?

This is a view from the nest.

Along for the journey

Stealing from our own children

January 12, 2014Allen Frederick 1 Comment

…Children shouldn’t
have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their
children. 2 Corinthians 12:14 (GW)

A Youth Misery Index that measures young Americans’ woes has skyrocketed under President Barack Obama and hit an all-time high.

The index, released Wednesday, was calculated by adding youth unemployment and average college loan debt figures with each person’s share of the national debt. While it has steadily grown over the decades, under Obama the figure has shot up dramatically, from 83.5 in 2009 to 98.6 in 2013.

The index has increased by 18.1 percent since Obama took office, the highest increase under any president, making Obama the worst president for youth economic opportunity, according to the nonprofit that released the figure.

“Young people are suffering under this economy,” said Ashley Pratte, program officer for Young America’s Foundation, which developed the index and calculates it annually using federal statistics. “They’re still living in their parent’s basements, unable to find full-time jobs that pay them what they need in order to pay back their debt.”

Youth unemployment in 2013 was 16.3 percent, and student loan debt came in at a record-breaking average of $29,400 last year, the foundation points out; what’s more, each person’s share of the roughly $17 trillion dollar national debt stands at its highest level ever: $52,948.

via Under Obama, Youth Misery Index Hits All-Time High.

Talk about stealing from your kids futures. This is immoral.