Category Insights on Scripture

Deep thoughts from the well spring of life

Clear Skies on a Cloudy Day

Allen Frederick Leave a comment 



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


Image via Wikipedia








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


clip_image003




Related articles by Zemanta





A Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations–and How You Can Find Them in the Sky


The Stars


Isaac Asimov’s Library of the Universe and Planetarium Platinum


Bushnell Voyager Sky Tour 70mm Reflector Telescope


Prophecies Encoded in the Heavens


Constellation Myths


Journeys to the Edge of Creation Set


Whispers of Angels – A Story of the Underground Railroad


Follow The Drinking Gourd: A Story of the Underground Railroad


Race to Freedom: The Story of the Underground Railroad



	

	


			
				
				


			

					
Capitalism: A Bull Market Concept
						

			Allen Frederick						Leave a comment
								

			


		

		



1Co 9 (GW) Moses’ Teachings say, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing grain.” God’s concern isn’t for oxen. 10 Isn’t he speaking entirely for our benefit? This was written for our benefit so that the person who plows or threshes should expect to receive a share of the crop. 1 Corinthians 9:9-10







This is the main force behind capitalism and the free market system of the United States. A man works expecting to get a return on that work. Companies produce products they hope to sell for a profit. Companies, nor individuals would long endure lengthy periods of non-reward. If a company continues to loose revenue in the course of doing business it would cease doing business. If an individual would be forced to continually work for less or nothing at all, it would not take long before that individual gives up and quits working.





Our economy works the same way. It will cease to operate if all profit is removed from the system through heavy taxation or over regulation. If the cost of doing business exceeds the reward of the same, then business will cease, production will dry up and there will be nothing more to tax or regulate. Therefore allow a workman to make a decent wage, allow companies to operate at a profit, do not MUZZLE the ox that is actually producing. After all if you stop production there will be nothing to take and give to anyone. If however you allow producers to produce there will be enough to not only feed the ox that is doing the work but others as well. Keep the ox happy and you live long and prosper. Bull markets are more favorable then bear markets wouldn’t you think?





Think about it next time you pull the lever for more government taxation, oversight, regulation and intervention.





Pay a man what he is worth and stop muzzling the ox that stamps out the grain. Heavy taxation only stifles the workman because he looses hope in a harvest and gives up. Redistribution of wealth robs a man of his willingness to produce. Taking his hard earned fields in order to give it to someone who has not labored is demoralizing. Heavy taxation upon what a man produces will only cause him to find ways to avoid the heavy taxation or completely give up the process altogether.





Government bailouts are not only non-constitutional I feel they are not even biblical. What say you?


Related articles by Zemanta




	

	


			
				
				


			

					
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


      





Related articles by Zemanta




	

	


			
				
				


			

					
GROUNDHOG DAY
						

			admin						Leave a comment
								

			


		

		

       




 


 



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. 




  Continue reading “GROUNDHOG DAY” →

	

	


			
				
				


			

					
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




     


Reblog this post [with Zemanta]