Tag Daylight Saving Time

The Sounds of Autumn

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

image A View from the Nest
Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor
Insight from the Journey across the Sky

51 I’m telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed. 52 It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever. 53 This body that decays must be changed into a body that cannot decay. This mortal body must be changed into a body that will live forever. 54 When this body that decays is changed into a body that cannot decay, and this mortal body is changed into a body that will live forever, then the teaching of Scripture will come true: "Death is turned into victory! 1 Cor 15:51-54 (GW)

Canada-Goose-Szmurlo.
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The familiar sound of honking geese caught me off guard this evening as I sat outside enjoying the end of summer. This is the last weekend before the official fall season begins. The school buses are already running around town picking up their daily charges and depositing them at their respective institutions of learning. The sounds of autumn are certainly in the air. Although the weather is turning a bit cooler in the evening it has been nice the last couple of weeks for those last minute trips to the seashore or vacations to the mountains. I have yet to get into the mindset that accompanies autumn, I am still in summertime mode. Thus the familiar honking of the southbound geese caught me unaware.

Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking into the future. No matter how hard we try to hang onto those last lazy hazy days of summer, they eventually come to an end. The incessant honking of Canadian geese is a sure sign that summer is past and winter is just around the corner. I enjoyed my summer time and really did not want it to end. To me there is something magical in a warm summer night. But alas those days are now past and the long dark nights of winter are fast approaching. Try as I might I can not extend the length of days, past the times and seasons set by God, I can only endure the long cold winter nights and anticipate once again the sound of honking geese as they return from the warm southern climate to once again grace our northern skies.

To some, the autumn honking of the geese is a welcome sign that the hot days of summer are past to me, however, I much prefer the spring time return of those same honking geese to remind me that the cold dark nights of winter are over.

Much like the sounds of the honking geese indicate the changing of the seasons, so shall the time of the End, be punctuated with the sound of the trumpet blast, indicating that death has now given way to victory, and life has sprung up from the grave. That is probably why I prefer the spring time migratory honks of the geese flying overhead to the autumnal southward trek. The latter reminds me all too well of the fleeting of time towards the darkness of night, while the former brings hope of a brighter tomorrow.

Sound forth the trumpet therefore, so that once and for all time the deadness of wintertime can be swallowed up in the springtime of new life. Until then I shall prepare for the cold long winter while anticipating the soon coming springtime renewal.

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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Redeeming Time: Tick tock goes the eternal clock

Allen Frederick 6 Comments

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

At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord obeyed the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel. Josh 10:12-14 (ESV)

Take care then how you are living, not as unwise, but as wise; Making good use of the time, because the days are evil. Eph 5:15-16 (BBE)

The Big Ben, London, view from across the Thames.
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“There is an old tale of a village that bought a fancy tower clock. Some time after it was installed, a visitor to the town discovered that all the people were sleeping during the day and working at night. When he questioned them about this, they answered, “We have the most unique town in America. After we got our new clock, we began to notice that the sun kept rising earlier and earlier every morning. Finally the daytime hours were dark and the night hours were light. We are petitioning the President for special recognition as the only town in America with such a situation.”

As it turned out, of course, the new clock had been running slower and slower, all because sparrows were roosting inside it. The people allowed themselves to be controlled by this manmade device. The tyranny of the clock robs us of our enjoyment of life and sometimes makes us tyrants over others. Daily hassles become the norm “Hurry or we’ll be late! You’ve only got five minutes!” Is this the abundant life Christ offers?” Ruth Ann Ridley, “Learning to Live in the Limits,” Discipleship Journal (Jan/Feb 1983)

ImageTomorrow  night we turn our clocks ahead to accommodate Daylight saving time. I really do not fully understand why we mess with the clocks. I mean does the sun follow our foolish attempts at regulating time? Are our attempts to elongate our lives

Spring Forward The Annual madness of daylight saving time
The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time

changed by manipulating a clock? I mean- for real. Does our changing of the clocks have any affect on life at all? I know this for sure, when the clocks spring ahead one hour I sure could use the hour I lost sleeping. In the fall it is not so bad because turning them back an hour affords me an additional hour to sleep. I am well aware of the fact that there are more important things in life than sleeping, but it still does not change my point. I see no real benefit, nor detriment, to just leave the clocks alone and go with the flow. In fact some reporter somewhere, says the time we waste setting all our clocks back and forth has an adverse effect on the economy. I do not know about all that, but I sure do know it has an adverse effect on my body when it does not get enough rest. Can we not get along just fine by leaving the clocks alone? But what do I know, I do not get paid big bucks to make major life decisions so I will just turn my clock back and forth and deal with it.

Daylight saving time may not be a big deal but time is marching on. No attempts on our part can stop the clock totally. One could argue that Daylight saving time is a biblical mandate considering God made the sun stand still for one whole day after Joshua prayed. Now that my friends is real daylight savings time. At that time in Israeli history the Amorites gathered to

Changing to Daylight Saving Time and Other Absurdities in Life. A Collection of McHumor Cartoons
Changing to Daylight Saving Time and Other Absurdities in Life. A Collection of McHumor Cartoons

battle Gibeon which had made a peace treaty with Joshua. Coming to their rescue, Joshua prayed that the daylight would not falter until they were able to defeat the enemy. God honored that prayer. Our feeble attempts to replicate that miracle, results in, well, nothing really changing. We may feel better because we adjusted our clocks but in the end, time still marches on.

I do not know about you but my internal clock gets all mixed up during the spring ahead- fall back cycle. I no sooner get all set with the time shift in the fall then I have to readjust my eternal clock to the new time shift in the spring. Back and forth I go, resetting the old internal clock. Getting regulated to know just when it is time to arise from sleep and get about the day’s business. This constant setting and resetting seems to be more bother than it is worth. I fail to see any real benefit to all this time shifting.

“No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows. Matt 24:36 (GW)

“Therefore, be alert, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will return. Matt 24:42 (GW)

As bothersome as it may be to readjust my internal clock, there is a more important clock ticking. God’s eternal clock measures how much time

Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time
The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time

remains until the end. At the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, when asked when the end time would come, Jesus answered and said that no one knows that day or hour. He went on to say that you must be ready at all times because you do not know when it will be. God is surely keeping track of all things going on upon the earth. He is watching as the eternal clock is approaching the midnight hour. He and He alone is able to reset the clock to advance the time or delay His coming, but in no way do we have any control over the only clock that matters. Some of us may fall asleep before that time comes. Some of us reading this article may still be alive when He returns but all of us need to be ready, for we do not know when that time will be.

So, last night I reset my clock to give me an additional hour of sunlight this evening. If I am still around come fall I shall advance the clock an hour forward to regain the hour I lost. Perhaps I should pray like Joshua prayed, that time would just stand still until everyone had a chance to get saved. I think that may be something worth fighting for. Don’t you think? Resetting that clock may be of more importance than saving an hour of daylight.

Tick tock goes the eternal clock, Will you be ready when the alarm sounds?

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)

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