Category Tail Feathers

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Change is Coming

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens

I really enjoy the smell of burning leaves wafting through the air at the arrival of fall. Living in Western Pennsylvania I am blessed with a change of seasons 4 times a year. We experience the bleakness of winter with the countryside blanketed in white. This eventually gives way to the beauty of spring and a countryside bedazzled with brilliant colors. Summertime rolls in and backyards are alive with outdoor activity. Barbecues are ablaze. Swimming pools overflow with those attempting to escape hot and humid evenings. We return full circle back to fall and the brilliant colors of the changing leaves.

Nature teaches us that there is a season and a time for everything. Scripture amplifies this theme of nature. It declares that indeed there is a time for everything. There is also a season for every activity under heaven.

It is natural for nature to revolve in cycles. Earth’s orbit revolves in a cycle, which leads to our seasons. With just casual observation, we can see the cycles of life. There is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to plant and a time to reap what was planted. There is a time to gather and a time to scatter. There is a time to build up and a time to tear down. All this reflects the cycle of life. A modern-day idiom goes something like this, there’s nothing as constant as change. In fact, the only thing we can really count on is that things will change. Without change there’s no room for anything new. Fall serves a vital purpose. Old leaves fall to make way for new leaves that will appear in the spring. It is the order of life for the old to make way for the new.

Although things change some things remain constant, gravity for example and the laws of nature and of nature’s God. In order to support the changes of life, some things must remain constant and without change. If there were not gravity, then life as we know it would not exist. If the earth did not rotate on its axis, there would be no night and day. If the earth stopped revolving around the sun, the seasons would come to an end.

It is with that thought in mind that I address a rather disturbing trend in our society. Things that should not change are being altered quickly. At the same time, things that ought to change are being held as sacred. The latter being etched in stone, while that which was actually etched in stone is being done away with.

Earthly governments, principalities, and powers from the beginning until now are uniformly represented in the Scriptures as wild beasts. They are full of destructive savageness and offensive uncleanness. It is but folly and fanaticism for men to talk of Christian states and governments in this world. Christians and good men may be involved in their administration. Christian ideas may sometimes temper their enactments. However, earthly states and governments themselves are not Christian, and they cannot be. They are all the products of devastated nature’s wilds, and full of ungodliness. Fix it as we may, such is the result. The best-planned institutions and the wisest laws are ever disappointing their framers. The same can be said of the United States government.

It is not surprising then to find the Sovereign Law of the Land. Our Constitution is being ravaged. It is rewritten with hellacious fervor. God Himself delivered the very law on etched stone from Sinai’s thunder-shaken heights. However, this law could not restrain mankind from its sinful and destructive nature.

Many revolutions have been wrought. Men have labored, sacrificed, bled, and died to achieve freedom and just governance. They believed they would secure the precious boon for which the race has sighed and cried for ages. However, it was only a rearrangement of the chairs on the deck of the Titanic. It was an exercise in futility.

In our day, people wish for a grand ‘United Nations.’ They seek something shaped to populism and compacted by common laws and special interests. ‘Enlightened’ ideas are expected to rule so that all the world will become one. However, the result will be the embodiment of hell itself, full of blasphemy and lies. Good shall be called evil and that which is evil will be exalted as good.

Revolutions, creeds, and transformation, progressivism, and liberal ideologies seek to overturn old creeds and revise the Decalogue. They introduce vain philosophies of men. These attempts rule out a personal God and exalt self in His place. All man’s foolhardy ideas to reconstruct society may promise much and tug at the heart. However, they are destined to fail in the end. 

 
Indeed, all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand]. But wicked men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves. 2 Timothy 3:12-13 (AMP)

What should we do as Christians living in a fallen world? We are ruled by fallen men whose hearts and minds are being deceived. They are growing worse and worse. Should we simply throw our hands up in defeat? One could come to that conclusion when we review the events that took place in our country just last week. A couple of lone Senators stood-up to declare that the road we are traveling is ruinous. They insisted we need to go in an entirely new direction. They found themselves shouted down and demeaned for having the audacity to stand-up for what they believed to be right. These courageous men and women took a stand. They confronted the evil ideologies of those transforming our society. The few stood tall calling for a change. They wanted to change course. They wished to try something different. They were only told that what exists is ‘settled law.’ It is written in stone and not to be undone by them or anyone else. There was nothing they could do. So, we might as well surrender and sit down and shut up.

Most thinking people could easily argue that when a product proves defective, you repair, replace, or junk the product. Then you try something else. Only in government is it ever wrong to ask for a change. It is seen as wrong to argue for a better outcome. Daring to seek to right a wrong is also discouraged. Our Constitution allows ‘we the people’ to ‘Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances.’ However, in all actuality, we are forbidden to do so.

Things need to change in D.C. There is no doubt about it, but things also need to change in the heartland of America. We need to regain our ‘righteous’ footing and restore the sure foundations upon which we wish to build our society. We cannot continue to allow the wholesale slaughter of innocent children, and the destruction or should I say the reconstruction of the family unit to go unchallenged. This must not be acceptable by those who call themselves Christian. I am afraid that there are too many “Christian” in name only. They are siding with the destruction of our society. They enable those in power to continue their onslaught.

We do need to choose sides. We can stand with the Lord and his laws. Alternatively, we can support those who are actively erasing any mention of God from our society. In the end there will only be two camps. Those who are standing with the Lord when he returns and those who will be fighting against the Lord. Which side do you suppose comes out victorious?

The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of offense [persons by whom others are drawn into error or sin] and all who do iniquity and act wickedly and will cast them into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and wailing and grinding of teeth. Then will the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God) shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears [to hear] be listening and let him consider and perceive and understand by hearing. Matthew 13:41-43 (AMP)

Yes, indeed things will change. A law will be established. That which was sent down from heaven will once again become the chief cornerstone. It is the rock that the builders of our current societal structure have rejected. God’s law is the only one that is ‘settled’.


“All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.”  1 Peter 1:24-25 (NKJV)

This has been a View From the Nest. And that is the way I see it. What say you?

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Along for the Journey. Allen Frederick

Promoting the General Welfare

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Philippians 2:4 (HCSB)
4 Everyone should look out not ⌊only⌋ for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

The Preamble to our Constitution reads: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. The Constitution therefore was established with an express purpose of securing justice, domestic tranquility, defense, promote the well-being of its citizenry, and secure liberty now and into the future. How are we doing?

“Tocqueville began with a shocker: That the first political institution of American democracy is religion. His thesis went something like this: The premises of secular materialism do not sustain democracy, but undermine it, while the premises of Judaism and Christianity include and by inductive experience lead to democracy, uplift it, carry it over its inherent weaknesses, and sustain it.

[Because of its] own inherent tendencies, democracy tends to lower tastes and passions, to devolve into materialistic preoccupations, and to undercut its own principles by a morally indifferent relativism. Further, democracy left to itself tends to surrender liberty to the passion for security and equality, and thus to end in a new soft despotism, tied down with a thousand silken threads by a benign authority.”

The True Meaning of Worship: A Reflection on “Here I Am to Worship”

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Worship is more than a song, more than an act, more than a ritual—it is the heartbeat of a believer’s relationship with God. In today’s world, where distractions pull us in every direction, understanding true worship is vital.

Inspired by the song Here I Am to Worship, let’s explore worship as an offering, a response, and a sacred encounter with God. What does the Lord expect? How should we approach worship? And most importantly, how do we fix our hearts and minds on the One who deserves all praise?

The Heart of Worship

Worship begins in the heart. It is not confined to church walls or Sunday services; rather, it is a daily posture of surrender and adoration. In Romans 12:1, Paul urges us to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

True worship is not about performance or perfection—it is about offering ourselves, flaws and all, to God in reverence and love. It is about responding to His goodness, His mercy, and His presence in our lives.

What the Lord Expects

In John 4:23-24, Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman and declares, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” Worship is not empty words or rehearsed motions—it is an honest and heartfelt connection with God.

God desires sincerity, humility, and authenticity in worship. He does not demand grand gestures but seeks a heart that truly acknowledges Him. When we worship, our focus should be on who He is, rather than what we want.

Approaching Worship

How do we prepare our hearts for worship? Psalm 100:4 gives us a simple yet profound answer: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.”

Gratitude and awe pave the way for worship. When we approach God with thanksgiving, we shift our attention from ourselves to Him. Preparing for worship can involve quiet reflection, confessing sins, meditating on Scripture, or simply standing in awe of His greatness.

The Object of Our Worship: God Himself

Worship is not about us—it is about God. He is the Light of the World, the King of Kings, the Righteous Judge. Fixing our gaze on His attributes draws us deeper into worship:

  • His Majesty – “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty” (Psalm 93:1). He is sovereign and supreme.
  • His Glory – “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). All creation reflects His brilliance.
  • His Love – “God is love” (1 John 4:8). His love is boundless, redeeming, and relentless.
  • His Justice – “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just” (Deuteronomy 32:4). He is fair, righteous, and true.

When we worship, we declare who God is. We shift from focusing on our circumstances to magnifying Him.

Staying Focused in Worship

In an age of endless distractions, staying centered in worship can be challenging. Here are a few ways to keep our hearts fixed on God:

  • Engage with Scripture – Meditating on His Word deepens our understanding of Him.
  • Pray Before Worship – Ask God to quiet distractions and open your heart.
  • Reflect on His Attributes – Recall His faithfulness, power, and promises.
  • Sing with Meaning – Don’t just sing—worship with intentionality.

Conclusion

Worship is an invitation. An invitation to step into His presence, to bow before His holiness, and to lift high the name of Jesus. As Here I Am to Worship so beautifully expresses:

“Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You’re my God.
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me.”

These words encapsulate the essence of true worship—humbling ourselves before Him, acknowledging His majesty, and declaring His worth. Worship is a response—an offering of love, devotion, and praise.

So, here we stand, humbled before Him. Here we are to worship.

This has been a View From the Nest: And that is the way I see it. What say you?

THE LOST KEYS

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

We’ve all been there—stuck, convinced we know exactly where the answer lies. We keep searching, keep striving, keep pushing forward in the direction we believe to be right, only to come up empty.

But what happens when Jesus invites us to look again, take a new approach, and trust His guidance?

The Disciples’ Struggle: Lost Without Jesus

After His crucifixion, Jesus’ disciples felt lost. Though He had risen, they couldn’t see Him, and they assumed He was gone forever.

So, they went back to fishing—back to what they knew. But without Jesus, nothing worked.

All night they toiled, casting their nets, using their experience, their skills—but their nets remained empty.

Jesus Is Always Watching

What they didn’t realize was that Jesus had been watching them the entire time.

He could have stepped in sooner—before their exhaustion, before their discouragement, before they gave up. But He waited.

Then, just as dawn broke, He called out to them:

“Friends, have you caught anything?”

Of course, He knew the answer. But He wanted them to confront it. To pause. To acknowledge their failure, their emptiness, their lack of fruit.

How often do we need to hear that question in our own lives?

Did you catch anything?
Did you find what you were looking for?
Why do you keep chasing after things that do not satisfy?

Until we recognize our own emptiness, we won’t seek the fullness of Christ.

The disciples, worn down by failure, admitted:

“No.”

And only then—only after the confession of their need—Jesus gave them the solution.

“Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

And suddenly, abundance flooded their nets.

The Lost Keys: A Personal Revelation

I recently had my own empty nets moment.

I lost my car keys one Saturday afternoon and was absolutely certain they had fallen out of my pocket and between the couch cushions. I was determined that my assumption had to be right.

Yet no matter how hard I tried—nothing.

Finally, exhausted, I gave up and went to bed.

Then, at 3 a.m., I was awakened with the thought:

“Go look again.”

I returned to the couch, searching the same way, still convinced my assumption had to be right.

Then, a still, small voice whispered:

“Take another look.”

And suddenly, I realized—the keys couldn’t be in the couch because I had placed a full-length cushion over the seat thus sealing the cracks which would have prevented anything from falling between the cushions. Well at least something as big as a KEY FOB.

Then I heard another gentle nudge:

“Go to the kitchen.”

And there, in plain sight, sat my keys—right beneath the sink, waiting to be found. Taunting me without uttering a sound, as if to say, ‘Were you looking for me?’

Jesus Is the Key to Everything

This isn’t just about fishing or car keys. It’s about the reality of life itself.

The disciples tried to navigate life without Jesus, returning to old habits, chasing after success their own way. But their best efforts led to empty nets.

I tried to find my keys by relying on my own understanding. I wasted hours of searching, convinced I knew the answer. But the best I could do was come up empty.

That’s what life looks like without Jesus—we struggle, we strain, we exhaust ourselves, but we never truly succeed.

Because He alone holds the keys to life.

When we chase success without Him, we struggle and come up empty.

But Jesus holds the keys—to peace, fulfillment, joy, direction, and eternal life. Without Him, we will always be searching, always convinced we have the answer but never truly finding it.

But when we stop relying on ourselves and turn to Him—we find full nets. Found keys. Found purpose. Found life.

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Allen Frederick

I Surrender All: A Devotional for Easter

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

The words of the hymn I Surrender All resonate deeply with the journey of faith. Written in 1896 by Judson W. Van DeVenter, this hymn emerged from a pivotal moment in his life. Van DeVenter, an accomplished artist, found himself torn between pursuing a career in the arts or stepping into full-time ministry. After wrestling with God’s call, he finally surrendered, choosing to dedicate his life entirely to serving Christ. This heartfelt act of yielding birthed one of the most beloved hymns in Christian worship—a timeless reminder of what it means to fully trust and submit to God.

As we approach the heart of the Easter season, I Surrender All takes on an even deeper meaning. It reminds us of the ultimate act of surrender—Jesus Christ offering Himself on the cross for the redemption of humanity. The Son of God gave everything, holding nothing back, for the sake of love. His sacrifice invites us to examine our own lives and to ask: what might God be calling us to surrender in this season?

Surrender is not an easy concept. It challenges our desire for control, tests our faith, and often stretches us in uncomfortable ways. For some, surrender might mean letting go of fear or anxiety, trusting God to provide and guide. For others, it could involve reconciling broken relationships, relinquishing bitterness or pride, and choosing humility and love. Perhaps God is asking you to trust Him with your future, your career, or a dream you’ve been holding tightly to.

Easter is a time of reflection, renewal, and hope. Just as the empty tomb represents victory and new life, surrendering our hearts to God leads to transformation and peace. When we let go of our own plans and fully trust in Him, we find that His ways are higher, and His plans are greater than anything we could imagine.

Closing Prayer

Lord, as we reflect on the profound sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, may we open our hearts to fully surrender to You. Teach us to trust You with our fears, dreams, and burdens, knowing that in You, we find true peace and joy. Transform our hearts this Easter season and help us walk in the light of Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.