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With Malice Toward None

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

 

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


 

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres32.html

Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, Mar. 4, 1865 16th president of US (1809 – 1865)

 


mal·icePronunciation: \’ma-lis\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin malitia, from malus bad Date: 14th century

1 : desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another

2 : intent to commit an unlawful act or cause harm without legal justification or excuse.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malice


What a different time we are currently living in. The current resident of the White Househas a tendency to turn people groups against one another. He has a propensity to promote envy and strife amongst fellow countrymen. In Lincoln’s time our country was facing a far worse problem than the one we are currently facing. The nation was torn apart by a vicious civil war. Brother was fighting brother and neighbor was at war with neighbor, both thinking they were in the right. Lincolnhad a vision of a unified nation, one nation under God. He was striving to keep the unity of the nation together. After the war had ended, and many were wounded in the battle, a time of healing needed to take place.

Lincolncalled upon the goodness of our nation to bind up the nation’ wounds, to look out for each other, to forgive past errors and move forward. Today we have this constant refrain of how WICKED and BAD AMERICA IS. We have the President of these UNITED STATESendeavoring to divide this great country by stirring up class envy (the haves against the have nots) racial divisiveness, and political party bickering. This US VERSUS THEM mentality is not going to make this country stronger but only bring about it’s ruination.


For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. James 3:16 (AMP)

 

 


Americahas it’s faults, many of which have been brought about by greedy men, and corrupt legislators. It has invaded all walks of life and can be found in all sectors of our society. We as a nation need to repent of our evil deeds and work toward a more perfect union. It takes all of us willing to overlook the faults and failures of a few and strive to uphold the basic moral foundation upon which this great nation was established. If we toss aside all that our founders envisioned when fashioning this new nation, then we toss aside all that it means to be America.

 


We are not like the rest of the world. We are not a clone of former states and civilizations. Over 200 years ago our forefathers birthed upon these shores a great new nation conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. We have all been endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are the right to LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS. We are not a nation that should seek to punish those who succeed, but remember it was upon this foundation of individual freedom that many have fought and died.


But if you criticize and attack each other, be careful that you don’t destroy each other. Gal 5:15 (GW)

The Constitution in Peril
Image by Renegade98 via Flickr

It would appear that once again we are engaged in a great war to see whether this nation so conceived, can long endure. Our Constitutionand the rights it protects is being assailed by those who do not value the principles set forth therein. This was a Constitution which set forth to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. The founding document of this great nation does not need to be interpreted, rewritten, amended, or reworded, it needs to be defended. It establishes the safeguards to our individual rights and freedoms. If the Constitution is shredded and destroyed, so too shall our rights as individuals vanish, and this nation will cease to be.

 


Our Constitution and its defense of individual rights, is being assailed from the White House to the court house. We see rioting in the streets as individuals are being vilified for their pursuit of happiness. Envy and malice was on full display when an angry mob of malcontents swarmed the homes of some of our fellow citizenry. The trespass against these citizens is a trespass against us all. We, as a nation, can not turn a blind eye as some in our society are vilified for achieving the American dream, and demonized for living the life that the Constitution guarantees for us all. If we continue this course of action of criticizing and attacking each other, then we as nation will be destroyed.


It is time we put aside our petty grievances and embrace once again the greatness of America and what she stands for. Liberty and justice for all. It is time we embrace LIFE and uphold LIBERTY and mete out JUSTICE with an eye toward heaven, knowing that we all are being judged by a higher and greater authority. The very authority recognized by our founders, which endowed us all with these INALIENABLE rights. Rights that need to be honored not abhorred. Rights which need to be protected not discarded. Rights for which our forefathersfought and died. We have been endowed with these rights from on high, but if we fail to acknowledge this endowment, then we do not deserve to retain it.


Let us therefore humble ourselves and pray that this freedom we so long enjoyed remains, and this nation and it’s government, thus established, will long endure. We do not need to remake America but we do need to REMAKE our citizenry. We do not need to RE-ESTABLISH another nation, we just need to REMEMBER ours, for the greatness she once stood for, and the freedoms she represents.


May this nation established by rule of the people, by the people, and for the people ever endure. And endure she will if in God we truly place our trust. May God continue to bless America.


“[It is a] great truth that industry, commerce and security are the surest roads to the happiness and prosperity of [a] people.” —Thomas Jefferson to Francisco Chiappe, 1789. Papers 15:405 http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff0100.htm


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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Reference Points

Allen Frederick 5 Comments

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor
Insight from the Journey across the Sky
By Allen Scott
looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2Open Link in New Window
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Orchestra’s use them, choirs and choruses use them, professional and amateur musicians use them, sailors, travelers, navigators and builders use them. What are they? Reference points.

For the orchestra A 440 is the reference tone the entire orchestra tunes to, the benchmark for any fine musical performance. To a chorus it is a pitch pipe and to the musician an electronic tuner. Sailors looked toward the heavens and by using a sextant, sailed by starlight. Hikers utilize the compass. Builders would use a level and a plumb line. All are acting as reference points.

Without these reference points orchestras and choirs would be out of tune. Professional musicians would sound like beginners. Travelers would get hopelessly lost, and buildings would have crooked walls.

Slaves, hoping for freedom from a life of slavery in the south, were taught, from a young age, how to follow the North Star, to the place where that freedom lay. To think, in the vastness of space, God placed a steady reference point for all eternity. It is not surprising then that the wise men followed a star to the place where Jesus was born.

Our lives need reference points as well in order to navigate safely through this journey called life. Without a guiding light, a plumb line, or some other measuring device we really would not know how straight or crooked our journey was.

Without a point of reference we would be like a sailor lost at sea, or an orchestra out of tune. Without some sort of compass we would never know in which direction we were actually heading. Today GPS units, utilizing satellite coordinates, guide us safely throughout the country. These electronic marvels communicate constantly with orbiting satellites and recalculate our route as we travel the highway.

To the Christian what is our reference point? Is it a compass, sextant, plumb line, tuning fork, pitch pipe, a star? No it’s a cross outside Jerusalem. Without the death of Jesus on that cross, our sins would not be atoned for, and had Jesus not risen, we would be hopeless. The Bible, God’s word, becomes our road map and the Holy Spirit our GPS (God’s Positioning Spirit).

The church calendar acts as a point of reference as well helping to keep us centered on the reason for our hope, Jesus. Each season helps us to refocus on the life of Christ. We are currently entering into the season of Lent, the time of year were we focus on the death and resurrection of our Lord. It’s life from death, hope from despair, light in the darkness, and joy unspeakable and full of glory. From Ash Wednesday, through Good Friday, into Resurrection Sunday we journey again to the cross, the grave, and finally to resurrection.

The cross is the reference point to remind us of the great price God paid for our sins, and the love God has for us. For the lost, the cross stands as a beacon of hope, a compass pointing heavenward, a steady reference point for all eternity. Without the cross, I would be lost. Thank God for the cross, our reference point, and Jesus our 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
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THE MANY NAMES OF CHRIST

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

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"If then you were raised with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on things above,
not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)

To the ARTIST, He is the One Altogether Lovely.

To the ARCHITECT, He is the Chief Corner Stone.

To the BAKER, He is the Living Bread.

To the BANKER, He is the Hidden Treasure.

To the BIOLOGIST, He is the Life.

To the BUILDER, He is the Sure Foundation.

To the CARPENTER, He is the Door.

To the DOCTOR, He is the Great Physician.

To the EDUCATOR, He is the Great Teacher.

To the ENGINEER, He is the New and Living Way.

To the FLORIST, He is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley.

To the GEOLOGIST, He is the Rock of Ages.

To the HORTICULTURIST He is the True Vine.

To the JUDGE, He is the Righteous Judge, Judge of All Men.

To the JEWELER, He is the Pearl of Great Price.

To the LAWYER, He is the Counselor, the Lawgiver, the Advocate.

To the NEWSPAPER, He is the Good Tidings of Great Joy.

To the OCULIST, He is the Light of the Eyes.

To the PHILANTHROPIST, He is the Unspeakable Gift.

To the PHILOSOPHER, He is the Wisdom of God.

To the PREACHER, He is the Word of God.

To the SCULPTOR, He is the Living Stone.

To the SERVANT, He is the Good Master.

To the STATESMAN, He is the Desire of All Nations.

To the STUDENT, He is the Incarnate Truth.

To the THEOLOGIAN, He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

To the TOILER, He is the Giver of Rest.

To the SINNER, He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World.

To the CHRISTIAN, He is the Son of the Living God, the Savior, the Redeemer
and the Lord.

— Author Unknown

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Godly Persistance Produces Plenty

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

Keep Pushing Tender Sprout

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out if they’ve got a second. Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.

William James

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV)

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Moderates: Unable to Stand for Anything

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

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

“`I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. Rev 3:15-16 (RSV)

And Eli’jah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Ba’al, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21 (RSV)

Hot and Cold
Image by Alex Barth via Flickr

A lukewarm individual is always torn between two opinions and unable to come to a conclusive decision on anything. They have to wait until the consensus comes in. Poll takers form their decisions and opinions for them based upon the popular opinions and beliefs of the day. They are ever changing, never able to come to a solid conviction. They do not stand for anything and are easily led astray. A lukewarm individual will usually follow after the path of least resistance which eventually leads to their downfall and destruction.

For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]. James 1:6-8 (AMP)

When confronted to take a stand for what they believe the lukewarm quickly acquiesce and change their minds and positions so as not to appear inflexible. In doing so they loose themselves in the process, no longer an individual with individual thought, they become assimilated to the crowd. Like the name suggests lukewarm water is a mixture of hot and cold and once mixed you can no longer differentiate between the two sources.

 

Jesus does not want us to be lukewarm individuals for his desire for us is to follow in paths of His righteousness. We are not merely mindless sheep just going in whatever direction we are pushed. That was our state before we had an encounter with Jesus the Great Shepherd.

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. James 4:8 (RSV)

He now dwells with us and has given to us His Spirit wherewith we are able to stand against great opposition. When we take a stand for the Lord He takes a stand for us. We can not afford to be lukewarm in our walk with the Lord. He prefers we were either on fire for Him or totally cold toward Him, the Lord takes no delight in those who can not seem to make up their minds one way or the other.

And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Josh 24:15 (RSV)

Hot or cold it’s your choice! Take a stand! Choose a side! Make a decision!

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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