Page 8 of 256

🧭 Watchman Report: “Moving the Ancient Boundary Lines”

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

God’s view of the news behind the headlines



🔥 Opening Charge

“Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set.” — Proverbs 22:28

This isn’t just about property lines—it’s a divine warning against tampering with God-ordained order. In today’s climate, we’re witnessing a literal and metaphorical redrawing of boundaries: voting districts, theological definitions, even moral absolutes. The question is—who benefits when lines are blurred?

🗳️ The Political Parallel: Gerrymandering and Power Games

📜 A Brief History of Gerrymandering

Coined in 1812 when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry approved a district shaped like a salamander—thus, “Gerry-mander.”

It’s the art of redrawing electoral maps to favor one party, often resulting in bizarre, contorted districts.

Both parties have used it: Republicans in Texas, Democrats in Illinois and New York. The goal? Lock in power, dilute opposition.

🧠 Modern Tactics

Advanced algorithms now allow surgical precision—splitting communities, packing or cracking voter blocs.

Texas’s current effort, backed by Trump, aims to gain five more GOP seats by slicing up Democratic strongholds like Austin.

Democrats have responded with walkouts and threats to redraw their own maps in blue states.

🧩 Racial Gerrymandering: Illegal in Principle, Practiced in Reality

While racial gerrymandering is explicitly prohibited under the Voting Rights Act, both parties have exploited racial demographics. They use these demographics to secure political advantage. The tactic? Carve up districts based on racial voting patterns, especially in predominantly Black communities known to lean Democratic.

🧠 Strategic Targeting

In states like Illinois and New York, Democrat-led legislatures have drawn maps that concentrate Black voters into specific districts to guarantee safe seats.

This “packing” strategy ensures electoral dominance while diluting minority influence in surrounding areas.

⚖️ Legal Challenge: New York’s Congressional Map Overturned

In 2022, a New York appellate court ruled that Democrats had unconstitutionally gerrymandered their congressional map to discourage competition and favor their party.

The court cited expert analysis showing the map gave Democrats a strong majority in 22 of 26 districts, despite only representing 22% of registered voters statewide.

“There is no sheriff in town saying this is not helping everyone.” — Kareem Crayton, Brennan Center for Justice

🧮 Census Manipulation and Foreign Influence

🧨 Counting Noncitizens: A Distortion of Representation

The U.S. Census counts all residents, including noncitizens and undocumented immigrants.

This inflates population numbers in states with large foreign-born populations, disproportionately benefiting Democrat-leaning states in congressional apportionment.

Some estimates suggest Democrats gained up to 24 seats due to this inclusion, though the exact number is debated.

🧭 Biblical Reflection

In ancient Israel, lots were cast to divide tribal territories (Joshua 18:10)—a form of voting under divine oversight.

But God’s system was not equal in size, nor did it include foreigners in the inheritance. It was based on covenant, lineage, and divine purpose.

Today’s census-driven redistricting includes noncitizens, giving them outsized influence in shaping laws they may not be subject to.

📜 Scriptural Context: God’s Boundaries and Tribal Territories

🧱 Why Was the Warning Given?

Proverbs 22:28 warns against moving ancient boundary stones—symbols of inheritance, justice, and divine order.

🧭 Who Was It Given To?

The Israelites, as a safeguard against exploitation and chaos. It echoes commands in Deuteronomy and reflects God’s concern for fairness and legacy.

🧬 God: The Original Boundary-Setter

In Joshua, God divided the land among the twelve tribes by casting lots.

Each tribe received territory based on family lineage and divine promise.

These boundaries were sacred—not political tools, but covenantal markers.

“To your descendants I have given this land…” — Genesis 15:18

🧱 Traditions, Customs, and Cohesion

Ancient boundaries also represent traditions, customs, and familiar cohesion. When these are forcibly adjusted—whether through political manipulation or cultural redefinition—chaos, not peace, is the result.

Biblical customs preserved societal harmony and spiritual identity.

Modern disruptions—from redefining family to erasing national borders—undermine the very fabric of community.

📖 Spiritual Implications: Redefining God’s Boundaries

🧱 What Are God’s Ancient Boundaries?

Truth: God’s Word is not up for revision.

Identity: Male and female, created in His image.

Worship: Reverence replaced by entertainment.

🌀 The Danger of Redrawing Divine Lines

Like political gerrymandering, spiritual boundary-shifting is strategic—done to consolidate influence or avoid conviction.

When we redraw what God has drawn, we dilute His Word and fracture His people.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…” — Isaiah 5:20

🧩 Twisting Scripture: A Theology of Convenience

🧱 The Tactics

Packing: Overloading doctrines with cultural baggage.

Cracking: Fragmenting truth to avoid accountability.

Rebranding: Redefining biblical terms to suit human sensibilities.

This is theological gerrymandering—reshaping spiritual districts to ensure comfort, not conviction.

🐍 Eden: The First Redistricting

God drew a clear line:

“You must not eat from the tree… for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” — Genesis 2:17

Satan redrew it:

“You will not certainly die… your eyes will be opened.” — Genesis 3:4–5

Eve believed a truth-wrapped lie. Her eyes were opened—but death entered. The boundary was moved, and the consequences were eternal.

🏜️ Wilderness: Scripture as Bait

In Matthew 4, Satan quoted Psalm 91 to Jesus:

“He will command His angels concerning you…” — Matthew 4:6

But he omitted the qualifier:

“…to guard you in all your ways” — meaning obedience.

Satan tried to redraw the boundary between trust and testing. Jesus held the line:

“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” — Matthew 4:7

🧠 Modern Parallels: Media and Ministry

Just as political redistricting can distort representation, spiritual redistricting distorts revelation.

Faith without repentance — Luke 24:47

Grace without transformation — Titus 2:11–12

Love without truth — Ephesians 4:15

Unity without holiness — Hebrews 12:14

Peace when there is no peace — Jeremiah 6:14

“Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.” — Proverbs 22:28

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…” — Isaiah 5:20

“Satan masquerades as an angel of light.” — 2 Corinthians 11:14

🧪 Why Redistricted Truth Is So Dangerous

It feels familiar—but it’s spiritually fatal.

It creates safe zones that God never sanctioned.

It redefines obedience as optional and holiness as outdated.

It inoculates against conviction—making people feel “safe” without being saved.

🛡️ Guarding the Ancient Boundaries

Return to the whole counsel of God — Acts 20:27

Refuse to redraw what God has already defined.

Teach others to recognize the difference between God’s map and man’s edits.

Stay rooted in truth, not trends.

Discern the difference between revelation and repackaged rebellion.

🔚 Final Word: Watchmen Must Warn

Redistricting voting districts may shift influence.

Redistricting God’s boundaries shifts eternal destiny.

The Church must rise with discernment, clarity, and courage—refusing to let the enemy redraw what God has already decreed. The boundaries are ancient, sacred, and non-negotiable.

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” — Psalm 11:3

Discover RESTS That Take Your Worship to the Next Level!

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Take your worship experience to new heights by incorporating the use of powerful RESTs! Let’s explore the most effective ways to incorporate RESTs into your worship routine. These insights will help you connect with God on a deeper level. Create a more intimate atmosphere. Draw closer to the Holy Spirit. Discover the secrets to elevating your worship. Take it to the next level. Whether you’re a worship leader, musician, or simply a passionate worshiper, this post is for you! Get ready to transform your worship and experience the presence of God like never before.

Learning to play the rests



Have you ever felt like your worship experience is just going through the motions? Like you’re singing the right songs, but your heart isn’t really in it? I think we’ve all been there at some point. The good news is that there are ways to break free from that rut. You can take your worship to the next level. That’s where RESTS come in. These are moments of pause. They allow for reflection and create a connection with God that can transform your worship experience.

We face a significant challenge as worship leaders and congregants. It is about creating engaging experiences. These experiences should truly connect us with God. I’ve personally faced this struggle. It’s easy to focus on the production side and lose the heart of worship. Sometimes it feels like we’re just trying to get through the service without any major hiccups. But that’s not what worship is about. It’s about creating a space where we can encounter God in a real way.

So, what holds us back from having those kinds of experiences? For one, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. We keep doing things the way we’ve always done them. We are afraid to try new things or take risks. Or maybe we’re just not sure where to start. Whatever the reason, I believe that incorporating RESTS into our worship can help us break free from those limitations.

Another challenge we face is finding ways to keep our worship fresh and exciting. As musicians, we love to play our instruments. We express ourselves through our instruments. But anyone who has ever played in a band or orchestra knows there are times you are not playing. You experience measures of rests. While you are not actively playing, you are still contributing to the total performance and overall experience. Your silence allows the other voices to be heard more clearly. There might be a nice quiet violin movement. Or an oboe lament could be played. The soaring sound of a piccolo might be featured. An acoustic guitar might be included in a worship band. The effective and deliberate use of rests add, not subtract from a musical experience. So why don’t we pause more in our time of worship? Why are there no rests in our services? Why must there always be some sound and no time for silence?

1 Kings 19:11-12 NIV
[11] The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. [12] After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Elijah had hid himself in a cave for fear of retaliation from Jezebel. While hiding in the cave the Lord came to him and asked him why he was there. Elijah offered some lame excuse. He started to pity himself. He thought he alone was responsible for the people to obey God’s Word. The Lord instructed him to go out and stand on the mountain top. He was to be in the presence of the Lord, for He was soon to pass by.

Elijah did as he was instructed. First, there was a strong wind. A rock and roll show was taking place. The whole mountain was shaking but the Lord wasn’t in the bluster. Then came an earthquake but the Lord wasn’t in that either. After that a raging fire but the Lord wasn’t in that either. After all the bluster a gentle whisper. Worship sets can be exuberant with thundering drums and raging guitars. Oftentimes, God is not in it. The preacher preaches a rousing fire and brimstone message but heaven remains silent. Perhaps we need to rethink our need to be seen and heard. Instead, we should stand in silence. We should wait to hear a gentle whisper.


I’d like to share a powerful testimony with you. I know a church that was struggling to connect with God in their worship. They felt like they were just going through the motions, and their services were feeling stale. So, they decided to try something new. They started incorporating more RESTS into their worship – moments of silence, reflection, and connection with God. And you know what? It completely transformed their services. People were encountering God in a real way, and their worship experience was taken to a whole new level.

That testimony is a great reminder of the impact that RESTS can have on our worship. By incorporating different moments of rests in our worship time, we can create a more dynamic atmosphere. This approach makes worship more engaging. So, I encourage you to consider how you can apply this principle in your own life and times of worship.

Thanks for joining me on this journey of discovery! If you’ve been inspired by this message, I’d love to hear about your own experiences with RESTS in the comments. Don’t forget to check out my other posts for more worship insights – I think you’ll find them really helpful.

This has been a View From the Nest.

Do not forget to comment, like and share so others can receive a blessing. Selah

THE TRUMPET SOUNDS: Lament from the Cave

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

THE TRUMPET SOUNDS

A Watchman’s Lament from the Cave
By Allen Frederick

📜 INTRO: The Hour Is Late, But the Mantle Still Falls

There’s a sound in the Spirit that won’t be ignored.
It’s not the sound of applause or algorithm—it’s the sound of the trumpet.
A call to awaken. A summons to confront. A warning to return.

We are living in a time when the moral foundations of America are eroding. This erosion is not just through legislation or culture wars. It also happens through the silence of the church. The pulpits have grown soft. The prophets have grown tired. And many of us—myself included—have found caves more comfortable than confrontation.

But the Lord is not done.
The mantle of Elijah is still falling.
And the question still stands:
Where are the Elijahs?

🔥 ACT I: The Confrontation on Mount Carmel

Elijah’s story doesn’t start in the cave—it begins in confrontation.
He stood alone before a nation that had bowed to Baal. He faced a king who called him a “troubler of Israel.” He also confronted 450 false prophets who had the crowd and the platform.

“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21)

The people said nothing.
So Elijah called down fire—not for spectacle, but for separation.
To expose what was false.
To restore what was holy.

📢 ACT I-B: The Prophets of Baal Are Still Preaching

America is flooded with pontificators—self-appointed arbiters of truth.
They spout off about justice, fairness, identity, and inclusion.
But their goal is not righteousness—it’s influence.
They want followers, not disciples.
They want applause, not repentance.

They lie.
They twist.
They seduce.

And the church has grown quiet while they grow louder.

The spirit of Jezebel is alive and well—not just in politics, but in pulpits.
She dominates. She manipulates. She emasculates.
Ahab was weak, but Jezebel was strategic.
Together, they formed a counterfeit kingdom—one that silenced the prophets and exalted false worship.

“There was none like Ahab, who sold himself to do wickedness… whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.” (1 Kings 21:25)

We see it now in churches that worship the woman and not the Man, Christ Jesus.
Whole denominations have been built around the Jezebel spirit—celebrating control, rejecting authority, and redefining truth.

Our society has been made effeminate—not to honor women, but to render men powerless.
The trans and LGBT movement is not just about identity—it’s about erasing masculinity, distorting creation, and dismantling apostolic order.

And the church is not immune.
We have lost our zeal.
We have lost our message.
We have lost our backbone.

🕳️ ACT II: The Cave of Despair—and the Mountain of Encounter

After the fire came the threat.
Jezebel vowed to kill him, and Elijah ran.
Not because he lacked faith, but because he was exhausted.
Disillusioned. Alone.

He found a cave and lodged there.
And the word of the Lord came—not in rebuke, but in tenderness.

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9)

Elijah poured out his heart:
“I’ve been zealous. I’ve stood alone. And now they seek my life.”
But God didn’t just listen—He summoned.

“Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord.” (1 Kings 19:11)

And then came the drama:
A wind so strong it shattered rocks.
An earthquake that shook the foundations.
A fire that raged with fury.

But the Lord was not in any of it.

Not in the noise.
Not in the bluster.
Not in the spectacle.

“And after the fire came a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:12)

That’s where God was.
In the whisper.
In the hush.
In the holy.

And here’s the mystery:
While all the noise was happening,
God was not hiding—He was seeking.
Not entertaining the crowd—He was calling Elijah forth.

The whisper was not a retreat from power.
It was the unveiling of it.

The whisper was more powerful than the whirlwind.
More precise than the quake.
More purifying than the fire.

Because the whisper doesn’t just shake the earth—it pierces the soul.
It doesn’t just impress—it commissions.

God wasn’t showing off.
He was drawing near.
He was calling Elijah out of the cave and into the next assignment.

And He’s doing the same today.

🧥 ACT III: The Mantle and the Marching Orders

God didn’t just comfort Elijah—He recommissioned him.
He told him to anoint kings.
To raise up Elisha.
To pass the mantle.

The cave was not his final destination.
It was the place of recalibration.

📣 THE TRUMPET SOUNDS AGAIN

We are living in a similar hour.
The confrontation is needed.
The cave is crowded.
And the mantle is falling.

The church in America must decide:
Will we halt between two opinions?
Will we preach what is popular or what is true?
Will we remain hidden or rise up as gatekeepers of righteousness?

The trumpet is sounding—not just for the return of Christ, but for the return of conviction.

🙏 FINAL PRAYER: A Cry from the Cave

Lord, we hear the trumpet.
We feel the weight of silence.
We confess our comfort, our compromise, our cowardice.

Call us out of the cave.
Remind us of the remnant.
Reignite the fire.

Let the mantle fall again—not on the famous, but on the faithful.
Not on the polished, but on the prepared.

Raise up the Elijahs in every city, every pulpit, every hidden place.
Let them confront with compassion.
Let them speak with clarity.
Let them walk in obedience.

Expose the prophets of Baal.
Silence the voice of Jezebel.
Restore apostolic authority.
Reclaim the Apostle’s mandate.
And let the church rise—not in pride, but in purity.

Let the fire fall—not for performance, but for purification.
We will not bow to Baal.
We will not kiss the idols of culture.
We will follow You.

In Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Do you hear the trumpet sounding? Will you rise to the challenge? Will you share this word with someone who needs to hear it? Will you be an ELIJAH for your church or city? Be sure to like and share and until next time! May the Lord God before you!

From Psalms, to Hymns, to Spiritual Songs: Rediscovering the Full Voice of Worship

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

🎶 From Psalms to Hymns to Spiritual Songs: Rediscovering the Full Voice of Worship

There’s a rhythm in the Spirit that many of us miss—not because we’re tone-deaf, but because we’ve grown accustomed to singing in only one key. Paul’s words in Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19 aren’t just poetic—they’re prophetic. He’s inviting the Church into a threefold harmony: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

But what does that sound like in real life?

📖 The Psalmist’s Cry: Worship That Anchors

David didn’t write songs to impress anyone. He wrote them to survive. In caves, on battlefields, in royal courts and lonely nights, his psalms were raw, reverent, and real. When he sang, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” (Psalm 42:5), he wasn’t performing—he was pleading.

Psalms are the worship of the anchored heart. They remind us that God is not afraid of our questions, our laments, or our longings. They teach us to worship with Scripture as our vocabulary and honesty as our posture.

In today’s worship culture, we need to recover this. Not just quoting psalms—but singing them. Letting the Word shape our sound.

🕊️ The Hymn-Writers’ Declaration: Worship That Teaches

Fast forward to Paul and Silas in prison. Shackled, bruised, and unjustly accused, what did they do? “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God…” (Acts 16:25). Not psalms. Hymns.

Why hymns? Because hymns declare what we believe when everything else is shaking. They’re theological anchors in emotional storms. Whether penned by Luther, Watts, or Fanny Crosby, hymns carry the weight of doctrine wrapped in melody.

Hymns are the worship of the instructed heart. They teach us to sing truth—not just feel it. And in a world drowning in opinions, we need songs that remind us who God is, not just how we feel.

🔥 The Spirit’s Whisper: Worship That Responds

Then there’s the upper room. No hymnals. No setlists. Just wind, fire, and spontaneous utterance. The early Church didn’t just sing about God—they sang with Him. Spiritual songs are the overflow of divine encounter. They’re the worship of the responsive heart.

Think of Mary, pregnant with promise, breaking into spontaneous praise: “My soul magnifies the Lord…” (Luke 1:46). Or the Church in Corinth, where Paul encouraged Spirit-led singing alongside prophecy and teaching (1 Corinthians 14:15).

Spiritual songs are risky. They’re unscripted. But they’re also intimate. And if we silence them, we may miss the now-word of God.

🎯 So What’s the Point?

This isn’t a progression from old to new. It’s not a regression from structured to spontaneous. It’s a divine triad—a full-bodied worship expression. Psalms root us. Hymns instruct us. Spiritual songs release us.

When we lean too heavily on one, we lose the richness of the whole:

Psalms without spiritual songs become liturgical but lifeless.

Hymns without psalms become doctrinal but disconnected.

Spiritual songs without hymns become emotional but unanchored.

💬 A Personal Reflection

I remember a season when all I could sing were psalms. Life was heavy, and I needed the Word to carry me. Then came a time when hymns became my declaration—truth over turmoil. And now, I find myself drawn to spiritual songs—those moments when the Spirit sings through me what I didn’t even know I needed to say.

Worship isn’t just music. It’s movement. And God invites us to sing in every season, with every sound.

🙌 Let’s Sing the Full Song

Let the Word dwell richly. Let the truth ring loudly. Let the Spirit flow freely.

Whether you’re in a cave like David, a prison like Paul, or an upper room like the early Church—there’s a song for you.

Sing the psalm. Declare the hymn. Release the spiritual song.

This has been a View From the Nest. Please Like share and subscribe. Thank you.

Modern Towers of Babble: Broadcasting Confusion in the Name of Clarity

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

🌀 Modern Towers of Babble: Broadcasting Confusion in the Name of Clarity

We are living in an age of amplified voices and diminished discernment. Platforms promise clarity, but deliver confusion. Ministries chase relevance while forfeiting reverence. Like the builders of Babel, we construct towers of talk — lofty, impressive, and tragically misaligned. In our quest to be heard, we’ve forgotten how to listen. Modern Towers of Babble isn’t just a critique of culture. It’s a call to return to Spirit-led silence and sacred speech. It’s also about the clarity that only comes from communion, not commentary.

“Remember this, my dear brothers and sisters: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and should not get angry easily.” — James 1:19 (GW)

I don’t know about you. I’m growing weary of all the talk. It’s the endless chatter that fills our screens, our feeds, and our minds. The 24-hour news cycle has become a relentless echo chamber. Multiple cable channels now exist solely to broadcast commentary, speculation, and opinion around the clock. Each one features its own cadre of talking heads, dissecting the day’s hot topic with surgical precision and emotional fervor.

You’d think with all this talking, something good might come of it. But let’s be honest: most of it is negative, divisive, and draining. If you consume too much of this “news speak,” it doesn’t inform—it infects. It doesn’t enlighten—it exhausts.

“When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.” — Proverbs 10:19 (HCSB)

Scripture doesn’t mince words here. Proverbs warns us that when speech multiplies, error is inevitable. As believers, we’re called to steward our words—not just to speak truth, but to speak it in love. Our speech should build up, not break down. It should heal, not harm.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.” — Philippians 4:8 (GW)

This isn’t just a call to positive thinking—it’s a call to spiritual discipline. In a world saturated with noise, we must be intentional about what we dwell on and what we declare. Not every opinion deserves a platform. Not every headline deserves our attention. And not every voice deserves our agreement.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed from your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” — Ephesians 4:29 (KJV)

What is corrupt communication? It is not just profanity. It also includes lies, misleading statements, biased commentary, slander, false accusations, and half-truths. Additionally, it involves twisting scripture or reality to suit a narrative.

There’s an old saying: “Let your words be sweet, for you never know how many you may have to eat.” Or even better: “If you don’t have anything good to say, say nothing at all.”

So here’s my challenge: Let’s be slow to speak, quick to listen, and even quicker to discern. Let’s resist the echo chamber and return to the still, small voice of truth. Because in a world addicted to noise, silence—when Spirit-led—can be revolutionary.

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

This has been a View From the Nest be sure to comment, like and share.