Tag Good news

Hear Ye Hear Ye Read All About It!

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

 

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

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign that you are coming again, and when will the world come to an end?” Jesus answered them, “Be careful not to let anyone deceive you. Many will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many people. “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Don’t be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don’t mean that the end has come. Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All of these are only the beginning pains {of the end}. “Then they will hand you over to those who will torture and kill you. All nations will hate you because you are committed to me. Then many will lose faith. They will betray and hate each other. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. And because there will be more and more lawlessness, most people’s love will grow cold. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. “This Good News about the kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come. Matt 24:3-14 (GW)



In this week’s news headlines we read about earthquakes in Japan, floods in the Midwest and southern China, uncontrolled forest fires in California and the Southeast, a bus station bomb exploding in Nepal, and suicide bomber attacks soccer fans in Baghdad.

 

We read of religious cult leaders involved in polygamy and sexual misconduct with minors, as well as those who encourage their followers to harm themselves or others in the name of god.

Famines, and starvation abound throughout the world, many innocent people are being kidnapped, killed and tortured. Christians in many lands are persecuted for what they believe. And all this is only a weeks worth of news.

Jesus was asked by his disciples to tell them when the end would come, what signs would point to the end of the age. He went on to list basically what we see happening in today’s headlines. Despite all this bad news prevalent today, there is still the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Although there is a structured attempt to stamp out anything and everything that speaks about Christ, or resembles Christian, Jesus said that the ‘good news’ about his kingdom would continue to be spread throughout the world before the end comes, as a testimony to all nations.

Though nations be at war or in peace, whether they are experiencing famine, pestilence, war, or strife, even in the midst of all this turmoil the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is still being proclaimed.

Through earthquakes, windstorms, floods, and fire, the Gospel of the Kingdom of God marches on. Even while being tortured, persecuted, murdered, or imprisoned, dear saints of God stand firm in their retelling of the ‘good news’.

Right in the middle of all this bad news, there is still a thread of ‘good news’, the goodness of God stands in stark contrast to the evil news of the world. The gospel of Christ is today, and for all time, the greatest story ever told.

Have you heard the ‘good news’? Have you read about the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords? Have you ever been told the ‘good news’ of God’s love for you?

Do not let the headlines discourage you. All these things must happen and continue until the time when Jesus himself shall bring it all to an end.

Until then, have hope in God who continues to spread His word throughout the world as a testimony to the nations. This is the ‘GOOD NEWS’, — Jesus died for us so that we can live, even though we are surrounded by such death and destruction. Look up, take heart, for your redemption is drawing near.

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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Straight Talk

Allen Frederick 2 Comments

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

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. – Matt. 5:37

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Tim 4:3-4 (ESV)

In his book “Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business“, NeilAmusing Ourselves to Death Postman warns us of the danger of a world of information overload…

He reminds us of a chilling futuristic vision-‘Aldous Huxley‘s Brave New World‘, which describes a world thoroughly flooded with information. But that data is manipulated so that none of it has any significance.

It would appear that perhaps we have entered into that time talked about in Neil Postman‘s book. A time when sound reasoning and even common sense as been tossed out the door and replaced with myth, hyperbole and equivocation. Truth has been replaced with half-truths and fables. Despite any actual proven facts these fables are bantered about as truth and the truth is maligned as old-fashioned or too rigid.

In a society that seems to nuance all public speech into politically approved sound bites it is unusual to actually hear someone speak forthrightly. For someone to actually stand up and speak a word or two without spin or political posturing is a rarity indeed. Bloviatian abounds in our society, pontificating endlessly on this or that. Goobledegook is no longer confined to the political class for it has infiltrated the public arena as well. No longer do we hear the simple plain talk of a by-gone era. Simple speak has been replaced with well rehearsed homilies filled with platitudinous pomposity, or much ado about nothing actually.

Whoever can tell the best story in the most fanciful manner has taken the place of straight talk, honest discourse, and thoughtful communication. Instead of factual information being the driving force behind these discourses, they create stories based on falsehoods or biases. Pick a side and then argue your cause eloquently without regard to actual facts, just make sure it sounds good and tickles the ears of the listeners. Tell them their felt needs and trigger an emotional response. This is how we motivate and influence people in our intellectually challenged society. Institutes of higher learning have become propaganda camps for liberal philosophy and new age world views. Godlessness is espoused as the ideal and self-gratification is held up as the goal. The ends justify the means. Anything goes in your personal quest for self-fulfillment. Personal responsibility has been replaced with the phrase ‘it’s not my fault’. Continue reading “Straight Talk” →