Tag Christianity

Death Awaits us All

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

Even of those who trust in and lean on their wealth and
boast of the abundance of their riches? None of them can by any means redeem
[either himself or] his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—
For the ransom of a life is too costly, and [the price one can pay] can never suffice—
So that he should live on forever and never see the pit (the grave) and corruption.
For he sees that even wise men die; the [self-confident] fool and
the stupid alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
Psalms 49:6-10 (AMP)

but whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:15 (NKJV)

In what have you placed your trust?

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Ad Campaigns

Allen Frederick 2 Comments

tj200906020130-1.jpgRandom Ramblings from the Resident Raptor.
Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt 5:16 (NKJV)
Coca-Cola/Pepsi???
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“The real thing.” “It brings good things to life.” “When you care enough to send the very best.” “The choice of a new generation.” “Built tough.” “Don’t leave home without it.” “It’s everywhere you want to be.” “Just do it.” “Be All that You Can Be.” “The savings place.” “Membership has it’s privileges.”

How many of these ad slogans have you heard? Can you name the products associated with these ad campaigns? What image comes to mind when you hear these slogans? And does the product advertised live up to its ad campaign? Would you recommend these products to someone else?

How did you do with naming the products? Did you get them all? If not here is the answers to the slogans in order. Coke, GE, Hallmark, Pepsi, Ford, Master Card, VISA, NIKE, the Army and finally your local church. Oh you thought your savings place was Walmart and American Express‘ membership has privileges? Okay I admit “The Savings Place” is a trademark of Walmart, and American Express did coin the phrase “Membership  has it’s privileges but in a way all these terms could be applied to the brand “Christian.”

Walmart has become known as the savings place. In fact I can pretty much guarantee that more people will enter into a local Walmart each week then will enter a local church building. We, as a culture, spend more time, effort, and resources in the pursuit of happiness and material things, then we do in the pursuit of spiritual enrichment and fulfillment. I am sure more people can identify the products being advertised above with little or no problem but when confronted with listing the 10 commandments, or reciting the beatitudes they will stumble. Perhaps one of the reasons for this lack of interest in the real SAVINGS PLACE, is the tarnished name brand. Continue reading “Ad Campaigns” →

Failure Proof

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

1 Peter 12425.jpg (550x366 pixels)

People fail, businesses fail, companies fail, economies fail, governments fail, nations fail but one thing guaranteed to never fail is God’s word. Invest in it, trust in it, put stock in it, believe in it, hope in it. You will not be disappointed. In the end hope in God will give you a heavenly feeling, and raise you up to even greater heights.

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On Vacation

Allen Frederick 2 Comments

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Insight from the Journey across the Sky


There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. Heb 4:9 (NKJV)


Beach chairs Curacao
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Closed for vacation, not here, gone, will be back in two weeks. Oh yes vacation time is upon us once again. A time to get away and recharge our batteries, to rest and relax in the  great outdoors. A time to do what we want without the time pressures of an everyday work schedule. Whether it’s to the mountains, down to the shore, or to visit with family or friends in another part of the country, or even traveling abroad. Time away is a time many look forward to all year long.

Looking forward to getting away. Having a place to escape to, somewhere to go. All these terms describe that long awaited for vacation time. As much as I love a vacation, there is one thing I always find wanting in the end. The very fact that the vacation has to end and I must return to the normal everyday work world. I guess that is why some people look forward to retirement, the much sought after permanent vacation, where you have really nothing pressing to do and you have all day to do it. In fact take as much time as you like because there is always tomorrow.

I am not sure if I would like a permanent vacation or not. I really do enjoy working and being productive. Being forced to retire, or worse yet, forced into early retirement through a lay off or plant closure is even worse. It is good to know though that no matter where you go away to, you always have a place to come home to.

Some people even have one or two vacation homes. A winter home and a summer home. One place they go for the cold winter months and another they live in during the warmer months of the year. In our church we have many of these “snowbirds” who travel south for the winter only to come back in the spring.

1 For we are conscious that if this our tent of flesh is taken down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in heaven. 2 Cor 5:1 (BBE)


13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Heb 11:13-16 (NKJV)


All of us who call on the name of the Lord have a home away from home as well. We have a mansion prepared especially for us. This vacation home resides where streets are paved with gold and in the midst of the city lies a crystal sea. The city has huge gates made of pearl and walls are like jasper. One could call it the emerald city.

Dorothy and her  gang wanted to go to the emerald city to find a way to get back home after being lifted from Kansas in a whirlwind. We on the other hand desire to get to the emerald city by a whirlwind and stay there. Those who enter into that city will not desire to return to their temporary homes for they will finally be at HOME.

There is nothing like home, Dorothy cried, There is no place like home the Christian echoes. We will finally be home when we walk through those gates of pearl and get to visit with all the Saints of old. Now that is a vacation home I am longing for. And when the time comes to finally put to rest all the work and labor here on earth, when that final trumpet calls the end of the work day for me. Look for the sign in my window saying, he’s not here for he has gone on a permanent vacation.

The Lord will come from heaven with a command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet {call} of God. First, the dead who believed in Christ will come back to life. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive will be taken in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In this way we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thess 4:16-17 (GW)

Bon voyage!

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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Pop Goes the Gospel- June 2009 Edition

Allen Frederick 6 Comments

'Pop Goes the Gospel'

'Pop Goes the Gospel'

Welcome to the June 2009 edition of “Pop Goes the Gospel.” I am a day late getting this up on the net because I was away this weekend. It was nice to be away and not having to think about my “TO DO” list but like all vacations they come to an end and the “TO DO” list has become a “DID NOT DO” list. So the first on my “DID NOT DO” list was to post the latest edition of “Pop Goes the Gospel” so here it is. Enjoy!

Feature Post

This month’s feature blog post was submitted by Robert Minto. Robert has submitted in the past and as usual has great things to say. His article is well written and contains plenty to makes us pause and reflect.

Robert Minto presents Identity & “The Good Shepherd” posted at The Veil Away, Robert relates the Film “The Good Shepherd” with our identity in Christ. What does our identity say about us? Does keeping our identity a secret bring with it consequences? I choice this post to feature this month because it was well written and addressed an important question. Who are you, really? Nice job Robert and congratulations on being chosen this month’s feature blogger.

In Media

Justin Allison presents Influence of the local church posted at Old Testament Ecology.Justin asked and answered the question: “What impact does the Gospel have in people’s lives in comparison to the impact media, the government, the workforce, or life in general have?” His conclusion: “To sum up, the local church which I am a part of has much more influence in my life than taxes, government, or media.” Read the rest of the story to find out how he arrived at this conclusion.

In Church Life

Fiona Veitch Smith presents The Cyber Church posted at Fiona Veitch Smith, Fiona makes a compelling case for “cyber-church meeting places. Her rationale would seem to flow that with the ever increasing use of the Internet for everyday activities shouldn’t church attendances be considered along with shopping and information gathering? Is the cyber community disconnected from real life? Read this post and decide for yourself. Comments are always welcomed. Let the poster know you were there.

andriel presents The Basis for Salvation: Man is Sinful posted at ReturningKing.com, Andriel a regular contributor to this blog carnival is never shy about tackling hot button issues and once again he tackles a biggie; sin. Read his post on this touchy subject and see for yourself.

In Culture

Aaron M. G. Zimmerman presents Mockingbird: U2: Seekers to Saints to Sinners to Saved (by Grace)–Part 1 posted at Mockingbird, saying, “This is the first of a four part series on U2’s interaction with evangelical Christianity. It tracks them from their early fervent piety, to their struggle to reconcile their faith with the demands of legalistic Christians, to their prodigal years, and finall to their recent re-discovery of grace as the beating heart of the Gospel. It comes from the Mockingbird blog, a site whose constant purpose is to find connections between pop culture and the Gospel of God’s one-way love for sinners. The blog does this with humor, a bit of irony, and a ton of grace.”

Keith Tusing presents How to Partner with Parents and Protect Kids in Our Culture posted at CM Buzz.Keith offers a basic how-to for a churche’s ministry to children. He cites the need for a church’s cultural input into a child’s life. He suggests the need for more “voices speaking truth and wisdom” in a child’s life considering they are immersed in a sea of cultural corruption daily.

Kiesha presents Don’t Let Your Fears Talk You Out of Success posted at Highly Favored.Kiesha shares some personal stories of missed opportunities in an attempt to encourage everyone to not let opportunities pass you by because you are too afraid to act upon them. Take a chance and let God make up for your inabilities with His ability. This is a good read.

In Education

Shannon Christman presents The Christian College Porn Star: How Should Christian Schools Handle Students’ Sin? posted at The Minority Thinker, Shannon asks a tough question, and I believe she did not mean for it to be rhetorical so she welcomes other’s input on the subject. What should a Christian do when he/she sees a brother/sister in Christ overcome in a sin? The bible says Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted. Gal 6:1 (GW)  What say you? Take some time to answer Shannon’s question. Spark some dialog.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Pop Goes the Gospel using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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