Category Insights on Scripture

Master Craftsmanship

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

A View from the Nest

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor
Insight from the Journey across the Sky

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)


A US Airways jet departing from La Guardia Airport on January 15 became a flight in distress just moments after takeoff when it struck a flock of geese causing both engines to fail. After the bird strike, the pilot of stricken Flight 1549, initially thought to attempt landing the disabled plane at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, but quickly realized he did not have sufficient height or momentum to make it. Instead, he decided to put the airliner down in the Hudson River.
After what witnesses describe as a “perfect” emergency landing on the water, the jet remained afloat as ferryboats and other watercraft in the vicinity converged on the plane, eventually pulling all 150 passengers and the five crew members to safety. While there were some minor injuries to those on board, some suffering from hypothermia, no one was seriously hurt.
“The raw piloting is commendable, but what’s truly extraordinary is the rapid and professional way the crew went about making these decisions. You’ve only got seconds in order to sort these things out — it’s not like you have time to go through denial,” said William Voss, the president of the Flight Safety Foundation and a former Federal Aviation Administration official. The total flight lasted less than 4 minutes from take off to splash landing.
The next day, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg honored not only the flight crew, but also the many rescuers on the water and in the city who responded to the emergency. “This is a story of heroes, something straight out of a movie script,” Bloomberg said. “But if it had been a movie, people probably wouldn’t have believed it. It was too good to be true.”
The emergency landing, with professional pilot Chester B. “Sully” Sullenberger III at the controls, has been dubbed the “miracle on the Hudson” by news sources. Fifty seven year old pilot Sullenberger spent his professional life becoming an expert in safety. He is a glider pilot, a military pilot, and an airline pilot and has been hailed a hero. It looks like there could hardly have been a better person at the controls.
In the actions of the pilot we see what is possible when a person is trained and disciplined in advance to face the unexpected hour. Lives were saved because a person was prepared.

When King Solomon was having Israel’s first temple built, he employed a craftsman named Hiram to create (or oversee the creation of) many of the beautiful objects and structures in the temple. He was gifted by God with skill, intelligence, and knowledge in working with bronze. Hiram’s ability to create such wonderful objects was only possible because of God-given talent and intelligence, coupled with the knowledge and skill Hiram had gained by practicing his craft. Solomon entrusted this very important work of building the temple into the capable hands of Hiram, who had proven himself to be an expert in his field.
13 King Solomon brought Hiram from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. He was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill to do any kind of work in bronze. So he came to King Solomon and did all his [bronze] work. 1 Kings 7:13-14 (AMP)
The talent and intelligence of the pilot of Flight 1549 was also God-given, while his skill and knowledge of what to do in an emergency were the result of practice and training. Because of his expert training and experience 155 souls were saved.
Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29 (AMP)

Pilot Chester B. Sullenberger III has been flying planes for US AIR since 1980 but on January 15th he became a national legend. Not because of all the flights he had successfully completed but because of the one that crashed landed on the Hudson. It was only after all those years of training were put to the test the we now remember Chester as a hero.
9 For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building. 10 According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation, and now another [man] is building upon it. But let each [man] be careful how he builds upon it, 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 12 But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done. 1 Corinthians 3:9-13 (AMP)

We are called to labor together with God building up His kingdom here on earth. Are we doing the best we can for the MASTER? Are we striving to hone our skills to master craftsman level? Are we studying and striving to be the best we can be? Are we laboring towards excellence for God? Are we bringing the best we have to the Lord? Are we going to crash and burn on the rocky shoreline or soar to the heights on eagle wings? When trials come are we going to be able to land safely? When tested will others see the calm assurance of a life spent in preparation before God?
We have been gifted with many talents and abilities but it is up to us whether we hone those talents into expert skill.
Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker who isn’t ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly.2 Timothy 2:15 (GW)
All those on board Flight 1549 have to be thankful that Chester Sullenburger III had taken time to learn his craft well. I pray that we too will be remembered for the labor we have done for the Kingdom of God. I pray that if and when we are tested we too will be heralded as heroes of the faith. Only when tested will our true worth be determined. Only when tried will our true abilities be revealed. I pray that the Lord will say of me one day well done thou good and faithful servant enter into the joy of the Lord.

“The key to life is to become skillful enough
to be able to do rewarding things.” — Jim Rohn

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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GROUNDHOG DAY

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Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor
Insight from the Journey across the Sky


2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (GW)
Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn’t hold people’s faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others.


In the Harold Ramis film “Groundhog Day”, TV weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is forced to cover the “Groundhog Day” ceremonies in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for the fifth year in a row. It is an assignment he truly despises, but this year something truly bizarre happens: When he awakens the next morning, eager to leave, he discovers it’s “Groundhog Day” all over again.

When the same thing happens the next morning, he thinks he’s going insane and wreaks havoc throughout the town. More mornings pass, all of them “Groundhog Day”, and with each, Phil grows angrier. Desperate to escape, Phil attempts suicide, but yet another “Groundhog Day” dawns.

As Phil starts realizing that his exploits are not making time march on any quicker, he begins to change his behavior.  By observing life around him, Phil becomes aware of the needs of others and along the way learns more about himself than he ever thought possible.

Although a lighthearted film, “Groundhog Day” offers the viewer opportunities to look deeper into the meaning of life. Punxsutawney Phil, not the groundhog, has become trapped in a prison of his own making. After four trips to this tiny, western Pennsylvania town, Phil has had enough. He feels that his talents could be better utilized in a larger more prestigious station or network. Instead he is stuck in a tiny station, in a tiny market, covering a tiny animal, coming out of a tiny hole in the ground. By diminishing himself through the belittlement of others and his surroundings, Phil gets to relive his worst nightmare-“Groundhog Day”.  Phil Connor’s life became what he disliked the most.

Imagine having to live the worst day of your life over and over and over again. What if no matter what you did you could not change the outcome of that day. How would you handle it?

Romans 7:24 (BBE)

How unhappy am I! who will make me free from the body of this death?


To those who deal with emotional scars and the ravishes of sin, perhaps you can see yourself in Phil Conners. Although trapped in a time warp, Phil was making progress.

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Give me, Give me, and then give me Some More

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

 
 
Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor
Insight from the Journey across the Sky
Children shouldn’t have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their children. 2 Cor 12:14 (GW)

The more I listen to political news pundits promote Obama’s "stimulus package" I have to pause and reflect on the wisdom of scripture. The more debt we amass for our children and their children, the less responsible we are as good stewards of what God has entrusted us with. It was the misuse of credit and deficit spending that has gotten us into this mess in the first place. Taking out loan obligations that are beyond our abilities to pay is irresponsible, and I might add sinful. God does not take too kindly to greed and avarice.

This is what happens to everyone who is greedy for unjust gain. Greed takes away his life. Proverbs 1:19 (GW)

Do not wear yourself out getting rich. Be smart enough to stop. >Proverbs 23:4 (GW)

10 Whoever loves money will never be satisfied with money. Whoever loves wealth will never be satisfied with more income. Even this is pointless. 11 As the number of goods increase, so do the number of people who consume them. What do owners gain {from all their goods} except {the opportunity} to look at them? 12 The sleep of working people is sweet, whether they eat a little or a lot. But the full stomachs that rich people have will not allow them to sleep. >Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 (GW)

6 …How horrible it will be for the one who makes himself rich with what is not his own and makes himself wealthy on loans. How long will this go on?’ 7 Won’t your creditors suddenly rise up and those who are going to shake you wake up? Then you will become their prize. >Habakkuk 2:6-7 (GW)


We ignored common sense and good judgment when we heard about instant credit and ‘no payments, no interest’ loan schemes.   The purpose of these scams was to sell us goods we could not otherwise afford. So when the time came for the price to be paid, there was not enough money so we found ourselves in default. The fault is we have borrowed against our futures and our children’s futures and thusly done wickedly in God’s sight.

In our rush to ‘profit’ we disregarded solid biblical counsel and have reaped what we have sown. The promise of ‘get it now pay later’ has been too appealing for too long. Too many have drunk from the fountain of ‘easy terms, easy credit’. ‘Take what you want’ and not just what you need has been instilled in far too many of our citizenry, including those of the Christian faith.

It is to those who profess Christ that I address these comments. I fully expect those who do not accept Jesus as Lord, to do as their own selfish motives would dictate, but as Christians we are held to a far higher standard. This includes Christian businessmen and political leaders.

We do not need bailouts or handouts. We need repentance. We need to address our greed and lust for more and seriously repent of our sin before God. Parents, it is not the responsibility of your children or your children’s children to provide for your greed. It is selfish of us to think that we can continue to borrow against our future generations and bankrupt them while we continually pad our nests with more and more needless things.

If we were looking out for our children and actually laying up treasures for them then perhaps we would not be in the mess we now find ourselves. We are not providing for our children if we expect them to pay for our retirement programs because of our failure to plan ahead. We  are not providing for our children when we demand special low-cost medical care while saddling them with the increased costs of providing it. We are not caring or loving our children when we force them to pay over-inflated prices for homes, goods and services because we want to make huge profits. We are profiting off the backs of our children. Shame on us! We do not deserve a bail out. We deserve judgment from God. Repent so God can bless us once again. Let us get back to Godly wisdom when it comes to handling our finances. May the Lord have mercy on us all!

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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Inauguration Day

Allen Frederick 3 Comments

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org
Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor.



In*au`gu*ra"tion\, n. [L. inauguratio a beginning: cf. F. inauguration.]

  1. The act of inuagurating, or inducting into office with solemnity; investiture by appropriate ceremonies.

2. The formal beginning or initiation of any movement, course of action, etc.; as, the inauguration of a new system, a new condition, etc.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Near Sheep Gate in Jerusalem was a pool called Bethesda in Hebrew. It had five porches. Under these porches a large number of sick people—people who were blind, lame, or paralyzed—used to lie. One man, who had been sick for 38 years, was lying there. Jesus saw the man lying there and knew that he had been sick for a long time. So Jesus asked the man, “Would you like to get well?” The sick man answered Jesus, “Sir, I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I’m trying to get there, someone else steps into the pool ahead of me.” Jesus told the man, “Get up, pick up your cot, and walk.” The man immediately became well, picked up his cot, and walked. John 5:2-9 (GW)

The Pool of Bethesda was located on the eastern side of the city near the Fortress of Antonia. The name Bethesda means "house of mercy."
 
The water source was a nearby spring. Recent archaeological discoveries have confirmed the Biblical account, that there were five porches and the fifth one divided the rectangular pool into two separate compartments. Josephus wrote about the Pool of the Sheep-market.

There is a loud cry of discrimination and inequality being heralded throughout our land. There are those who may feel like this crippled man, that there is no one looking out for them, there is no one to give them a hand out, there is no one to help them attain their goals. So here they sit and wait and complain about being discriminated against.
 
Jesus cuts right to the heart of the matter when he asks. "Would you like to get well?" Do you really want your situation to change? Are you really ready for change? Are you willing to take responsibility for change?
 
The man answered that he had no one to help him. There was no one to enable him. There was no compassion being shown him. No one cared or showed mercy. There were others skipping in line and going before him. His answer should have been YES SIR! I want to be healed. Instead he made excuses. Jesus then commanded him to GET UP! PICK UP YOUR BED! and WALK!
 
There is the simple remedy to life’s ills. Get up, pick up, and start to walk!
 
I have listened to crowds of people cry YES WE CAN, YES WE CAN, YES WE CAN and then come running with their hands out. Now I am not the smartest person on this planet but I am having a hard time understanding how you can say YES WE CAN and then turn around in the next breath and cry NO WE CAN’T.
 
We are about to inaugurate a leader who made us cry YES WE CAN but then says NO YOU CAN’T. Our new leader seems to think that the government has the cure, while simultaneously ignoring the huge pool of opportunity sitting right before us. He promises that all can drink from the public pool of funds collected from those who have been healed by the pool’s waters of opportunity, yet he does not offer to lift anyone into the pool to actually be healed.

The crippled man sat by the pool for 38 years. He had seen a whole generation pass before him into the waters while he was continually passed up. For those who have long been imprisoned with this crippling mindset, I can understand their lack of internal strength, to do whatever it takes to obtain their goals and objectives. There are some in our society who have been put down and overlooked for so long that they have accepted their lot and gave up on their goals. They sit by the wayside of life, day in and day out watching others succeed, and lament their inability to achieve. They have lost the inner desire to achieve.

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Moderates: Unable to Stand for Anything

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org
Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

“`I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. Rev 3:15-16 (RSV)

And Eli’jah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Ba’al, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21 (RSV)

Hot and Cold
Image by Alex Barth via Flickr

A lukewarm individual is always torn between two opinions and unable to come to a conclusive decision on anything. They have to wait until the consensus comes in. Poll takers form their decisions and opinions for them based upon the popular opinions and beliefs of the day. They are ever changing, never able to come to a solid conviction. They do not stand for anything and are easily led astray. A lukewarm individual will usually follow after the path of least resistance which eventually leads to their downfall and destruction.

For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]. James 1:6-8 (AMP)

When confronted to take a stand for what they believe the lukewarm quickly acquiesce and change their minds and positions so as not to appear inflexible. In doing so they loose themselves in the process, no longer an individual with individual thought, they become assimilated to the crowd. Like the name suggests lukewarm water is a mixture of hot and cold and once mixed you can no longer differentiate between the two sources.

 

Jesus does not want us to be lukewarm individuals for his desire for us is to follow in paths of His righteousness. We are not merely mindless sheep just going in whatever direction we are pushed. That was our state before we had an encounter with Jesus the Great Shepherd.

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. James 4:8 (RSV)

He now dwells with us and has given to us His Spirit wherewith we are able to stand against great opposition. When we take a stand for the Lord He takes a stand for us. We can not afford to be lukewarm in our walk with the Lord. He prefers we were either on fire for Him or totally cold toward Him, the Lord takes no delight in those who can not seem to make up their minds one way or the other.

And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Josh 24:15 (RSV)

Hot or cold it’s your choice! Take a stand! Choose a side! Make a decision!

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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