Tag Jesus

FDA Could Green Light Genetically Modified Humans

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Animation of the structure of a section of DNA...

According to the Associated Press, the FDA this week will be considering whether to approve a fertilization technique that could combine the DNA from three people.

The notion is to try to end genetic diseases by splicing out “bad” genes and replacing them with good ones. via FDA Could Green Light Genetically Modified Humans.

They say that art imitates life but perhaps the reverse is true in this case. Scientists are looking at ways to splice together DNA from three individuals to produce a genetically superior offspring. I guess their attempts at cloning individuals had not worked out so well.

In the FOX sci-fi thriller “Almost Human” set in the year 2048 technology has evolved to a place where a person can replace lost body parts with fully functioning biotic limbs (think the bionic man of yesteryear.) Additionally science has attempted to produced the perfect human through genetic engineering.

In the latest episode “Beholder” a creepy, bandaged home invader has killed folks…but nobody puts the fact that they have a serial killer on their hands until he kills a “chrome,” one of the Almost Human world’s genetically perfect citizens.

“Chromes” by design don’t die of natural causes (this guy’s weapon of choice is designed to make it look like they died of natural causes), and suddenly, the case is linked to the mysterious and sudden deaths of seven other citizens. The only apparent connection? They’re all attractive.

These genetically modified chromes form a cliché and are very secretive and dismissive of any normal human infiltration. I guess you could say they are rather snobbish. But when one of them gets killed we get a behind-the-scenes look at these laboratory enhanced humans. They consider themselves to be privileged. Even science can not make decent human beings out of the self-important.

The killer was part of a test group who was being treated with an advanced form of plastic
surgery which used nanobots to do the surgery from inside and not externally. The experiment went terribly wrong and our killer finds himself with a very distorted view of himself. (His face was horribly disfigured.) The reason he goes on a killing spree is because he is harvesting facial features from his victims to reconstruct his face before he presents himself to his online girl friend who just happens to be blind.

Apart from the irony this little trip down fantasy lane may actually shed a light on the human condition. All these scientific attempts to manipulate nature, and to find a way to genetically modify life, is science’s attempt to play god and ultimately to cheat death. In the end it always turns out the same. The attempt to produce the perfect human always ends in failure. What the world needs is not more technology or biology. What the world needs is not man-made fixes to personal shortcomings. The world needs a cure for the inward disfigurements of life caused by sin. The world needs to be transformed. This life-changing transformation can not be manufactured in a laboratory, or produced by nanobots, it must be accepted as a free gift from God through Jesus Christ.

Oh yes someone had to die so that your remake could be completed, but that someone gave his life willing for you so that you could live.

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard him asked, “Who, then, can be saved?” Jesus said, “The things that are impossible for people to do are possible for God to do.” Luke 18:25-27 (GW)

In other words you can not buy yourself a ticket to heaven. So you see art does imitate life.

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Hiding Out Under Bushels of Fear

Allen Frederick 3 Comments

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

In his article in Decision Magazine, a publication of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Franklin Graham writes:

Like the church in Thyatira that tolerated immorality in its midst, the evangelical church today has grown all too accepting of sin. The church is ducking the vital moral issues of our age. Rather than influencing our culture by being Gospel salt and light, the church has itself become influenced by the permissive culture in which we live.

The holy, blood-bought church of the Lord Jesus Christ is far more accommodating of sin than ever before. In many churches across America, homosexuals, adulterers and sexually active youth can sit in the church pew and rarely be confronted by the convicting Word of God.

Men and women who habitually and consistently practice sin should experience the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. There are far too many churches that tolerate members who deliberately pursue a sinful lifestyle in an open and unrepentant manner. Unfortunately, when that occurs—and it does all too often—the purity and holiness of the Bride of Christ is sullied, and the witness of the church in a corrupt culture is compromised.

I do not believe this is simply a culture war, or a battle between conservative and liberal elements of our society. It is much more than a drift away from the moral underpinnings that helped found and guide our nation for centuries.

This is a full-scale assault against Christianity and the followers of Christ. When prayer is banned from the public square, when our President fails to defend biblically defined marriage, and he openly and zealously advocates for gay rights; when legislators rush to overrule existing laws to promote gay marriage; when schools and courts consistently suppress religious freedoms; we know we are locked in a war against the Christian faith, not culture.

We are certain that we are of God,

but all the world is in the power of the Evil One.

1 John 5:19 (BBE)

 

Atheism-separation-of-church-and-state

Atheism-separation-of-church-and-state (Photo credit: AlphaBetaUnlimited)

The worldly systems of politics, courts, entertainment and education have almost entirely been stripped of the influence of Christian precepts and principles.

 

For too long Christian leaders have discouraged believers from entering into the arena of ideas. They have taught that we are to be separate from the world to such an extent that we see very little Christian influence in societal institutions. Too many Christians have remained inactive in political issues as well as societal issues, they choose instead to congregate with like-minded individuals, and do not take the call of Jesus to heart to go into all the world to teach them and  disciple them, turning their darkness into light. What we see is a separated group which fears an engagement in societal matters, they are more like a bless me club, but fail miserably on the command to fight against evil and make disciples of all nations and as such bring a blessing to all nations, and people, and tongues.

Where is the evangelistic zeal of the Apostles who dared to defy lawmakers and stood in the public arena proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and with that proclamation denounced the ways of the Pharisees and Publicans.  They had a Holy, righteous fire burning within their bosoms to confront evil with a heartfelt desire to see the whole world saved from the bondage of sin.

This is a critical hour for the church. The world is seeking for answers. The oppressed everywhere are crying out for help and deliverance. We cannot duck our responsibilities as Christ’s representatives to a lost and dying world. We must take a bold stand for the truth in every arena of our lives, deal ruthlessly with sin in our own heart and be men and women of uncompromising holiness. We need to be the ‘salt and light’ of the world and not hide under a bushel of fear somewhere waiting until Jesus returns.

Now is the time to “be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

Martin Niemöller was a German church leader who stood with Dietrich Bonhoeffer against Hitler’s control of the church before and during WWII. That resistance, which landed Niemöller in the Dachau concentration camp and resulted in Bonhoeffer’s execution two weeks before the end of the war, contrasted with others in the church who cowered before the evil of the Third Reich. Many credit Niemöller with these words:

“First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”

Secularists, humanists, atheists and all the other enemies of truth are very bold and brazen about declaring what they believe. They roar around like lions seeking whomever they can devour with their lies and deceptions. We, who have the power of God working within and through us, should be just as bold if not more so. The opposition spares no expense, and wastes no time in making sure their messages are heard. But when the world is seeking a Word from the Lord, we hear the silence of the lambs. Nary a peep is heard, hardly a word is said, let alone proclaimed with power and confidence.

The word tells us that greater is He who is in us that he that is in the world. If God be for us who   can be against us? In the words of Martin Luther the great reformer of old who penned the majestic hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” we read these words:

And though this world,

with devils filled,

should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear,

for God hath willed

His truth to triumph through us.

The Prince of Darkness grim,

we tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure,

for lo, his doom is sure;

One little word shall fell him.

We have been entrusted with the truth of God’s word, we are empowered by the Spirit of the Living God, and we are equipped with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and yet we cower in fear because of the persecution that is sure to come because of Christ. We are to boldly go into all the world, and that includes the world’s institutions, to preach and teach and make them disciples of Christ. We are to take the truth of God’s world and challenge the wisdom of this age, and proclaim the release of the captives and sight to the blind.

Christ challenged His first disciples to go change the world, and they did. We are expected to do the same thing. Are we?

 

Image.gifThis is a view from the nest. What say you?

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

Image.jpg

 

This has been A View from the Nest. The statements, comments, or opinions expressed are solely that of the author and do not represent the views or opinions of the host of this site or any affiliates thereof. Any questions or comments should be directed to myself and not to the host or hosts of this site.

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The Super Bowl: The battle that decides it all

Allen Frederick 2 Comments

Super Bowl MetroCards

Super Bowl MetroCards (Photo credit: MTAPhotos)

Today most of America, and perhaps much of the world will be focused on a great playing field in which two opposing teams battle it out to see who is the best. This annual event is perhaps the biggest sporting event in history and draws 10’s of millions of viewers. Large sums of money are spent each year on super bowl advertising to capture the attention of the viewing audience, with the hopes of raking in huge profits off the popularity of the game.

As all eyes are focused on MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey where the Seattle Seahawks will battle the Denver Broncos for the chance to be crowned Super Bowl Champions, I would like us to look further east to another battle field where the champion of the world is to be crowned.

Who are the contestants of this great battle? A common reply would be “Russia, Syria, or Iran against Israel.” As the Middle East simmers toward a boiling point, and as U.S., British, and Israeli intelligence watch closely Iran’s quest for a nuclear bomb which might even be used against America. Millions of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even secularists are pondering, “Is the Battle of Armageddon at hand?”

The word “Armageddon” only occurs in Revelation 16:16,

“Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”

This speaks of the kings who are loyal to the Antichrist gathering together for a final assault on Israel. At Armageddon “the cup filled with the wine of the fury of [God’s] wrath” (Revelation 16:19) will be delivered, and the Antichrist and his followers will be overthrown and defeated.

Interestingly, no place on earth actually bears the name Armageddon, and the above passage is the only mention of it in scripture and hence it is assumed that this is what scripture refers to but is it? The Greek is most commonly thought to be a transliteration of the Hebrew har megiddo, literally, “mountain of Megiddo.”

The Mount of Megiddo is in the plain of Esdraelon or Jezreel, a valley fourteen by twenty miles in size located to the southwest of Nazareth. Here, it is thought by many, that the great last battle of Armageddon will be fought at the end of time.

There will be a multitude of people engaged in the battle of Armageddon, as all the nations gather together to fight against Christ.

The scene: History’s last “Super Bowl. Final contestants: The Powers of Evil vs. the Power of God. Nature of conflict: Military. Epicenter: A small valley northwest of Jerusalem where all the armies of the world will converge for the battle of the ages.

In Old Testament days, Cyrus came from “the east” to conquer Babylon (Isaiah 44:26-28; 46:11). The word, “east,” means “sun rising,” and the name, “Cyrus,” means, “sun.” Cyrus came not to attack the Jews, but as their Deliverer, and again, Cyrus was a type of Jesus Christ, the “Sun of righteousness” Malachi 4:2.

In Revelation, God’s angels come from the east (7:2), and Jesus Himself said,

“As the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” Matthew 24:27.

Therefore just as Cyrus came from the east to deliver literal Israel from the clutches of literal Babylon, even so will King Jesus descend from the eastern skies with “the armies which were in heaven” (19:14) to conquer spiritual Babylon and to deliver “the Israel of God” (spiritual Israel) at the battle of Armageddon!

The so-called “battle of Armageddon” represents the apex, the climax, the last battle in Revelation.

Throughout Revelation we’ve seen Middle East terms like the “seven golden candlesticks,” (1:20), “Jezebel” (2:20), “Mount Zion,” (14:1), “Jerusalem,” (3:12), “the temple” (11:19), “Sodom and Egypt” (11:8), “Euphrates” (16:12) and “Babylon” (17:5) used in a Christ centered, heavenly, spiritual sense.

When it comes to the “battle of Armageddon,” which is a term depicting the grand finale in the book of Revelation, does it make sense for God’s last book to suddenly shift gears away from its thematic focus by pinpointing a literal, local, high-tech, Middle East-based conflagration involving Russians, Chinese, Syrians, and literal Jews?

We don’t have to guess. The answer is in the context surrounding Revelation 16:16.

  • The battle of Armageddon involves “the kings of the earth and of the whole world” (16:14), which could not possibly fit inside the valley of Megiddo.
  • Revelation’s focus is “the temple of heaven” (16:17), not a supposedly soon to be rebuilt Jewish temple on earth.
  • The effects of the battle of Armageddon are global, far beyond the Middle East (16:18-20).
  • The primary system identified as being destroyed at the battle of Armageddon is spiritual “Babylon” (16:19), not Russia, China or Syria.

In essence, the “battle of Armageddon” the last “Super Bowl” depicts the last battle between King Jesus and His heavenly armies ( Rev 19:11-19) against the worldwide forces of Satan referred to in the Apocalypse as “Mystery Babylon.”

At Jesus’ Second Coming, the devil loses, and his global kingdom comes crashing down. Jesus doesn’t need to nuke His foes, but only to use His “sharp two-edged sword” (Rev 1:16; 19:15) which represents His Word of truth (Ephesians 6:17).

When Christ descends from the east, He will deliver “Israel” from the clutches of “Babylon.” But which Israel will He deliver? According to the thematic genius of the entire book of Revelation, it must be “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) centered in Jesus Christ whose home and dwelling place is the “New Jerusalem” Revelation 21:10.

In conclusion, the Middle East remains a powder keg and the U.S. struggle against Muslim radicals continues, and there’s no end in sight. In the midst of such a hot-bed of contention, millions of politically active Christians believe God Himself is not only behind modern Israel, but that He will finally annihilate the enemies of the Jewish State at the battle of Armageddon.

In this great “Super Bowl” of all time, the battle to end all battles, the fight is not a battle between Nation states but a battle between righteousness and truth, and the forces of unrighteousness and untruth. You see this great “Super Bowl” will encompass the entirety of humanity in a final showdown of good and evil, truth triumphing over the lies and the deceptions of the evil one.

God will  ultimately judge between right and wrong. His arm will be outstretched to fight against all the enemies of God, who hate his laws, and wage war against his commandments. He will show no favoritism! No denominational ties or affiliations will be able to save you from the wrath of God to be poured out upon all flesh which has partaken of the Harlot’s deceptions. Just like Eve of old, who offered the poisoned fruit to her husband for him to eat, so too has the ‘mother church’ offered the poisoned pill of deception to her children down through the ages. Only those who have refused to partake of this great deception will be spared from the wrath that is to come.

Those who have an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the church!

Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;  Rev 18:4 (NIV)

Image.gifThis is a view from the nest. What say you?

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

Image.jpg

This has been A View from the Nest. The statements, comments, or opinions expressed are solely that of the author and do not represent the views or opinions of the host of this site or any affiliates thereof. Any questions or comments should be directed to myself and not to the host or hosts of this site.

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The Silencing of the Lambs

Allen Frederick 5 Comments

My son, if sinners entice you, don’t be persuaded. If they say—“Come with us! Let’s set an ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

Proverbs 1:10-11 (HCSB)

God‘s anger is revealed from heaven against every ungodly and immoral thing people do as they try to suppress the truth by their immoral living. What can be known about God is clear to them because he has made it clear to them. From the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly observed in what he made. As a result, people have no excuse. They knew God but did not praise and thank him for being God. Instead, their thoughts were pointless, and their misguided minds were plunged into darkness. While claiming to be wise, they became fools. They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for statues that looked like mortal humans, birds, animals, and snakes. For this reason God allowed their lusts to control them. As a result, they dishonor their bodies by sexual perversion with each other. These people have exchanged God’s truth for a lie. So they have become ungodly and serve what is created rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen! For this reason God allowed their shameful passions to control them. Their women have exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. Likewise, their men have given up natural sexual relations with women and burn with lust for each other. Men commit indecent acts with men, so they experience among themselves the punishment they deserve for their perversion. And because they thought it was worthless to acknowledge God, God allowed their own immoral minds to control them. So they do these indecent things. Their lives are filled with all kinds of sexual sins, wickedness, and greed. They are mean. They are filled with envy, murder, quarreling, deceit, and viciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, haughty, arrogant, and boastful. They think up new ways to be cruel. They don’t obey their parents, don’t have any sense, don’t keep promises, and don’t show love to their own families or mercy to others. Although they know God’s judgment that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do these things but also approve of others who do them. Romans 1:18-32 (GW)

The crowd shouted loudly to crucify the man Jesus who claimed that He and His Father were one. He dared to declare himself God. To a devote Jewish elder this was deemed blasphemous. How could a mere human claim to be equal with God let alone be God? They could not tolerate anyone who would claim to take the place of God in the world, this was a place they held for themselves. For the ruling elders set themselves up as final authority on all things God and all things right and wrong.  Theirs was the last word, the  ultimate ruling, the final voice all were to obey and bow down to. Now their authority was called into question, their viewpoints being challenged by this carpenter’s son. They could not allow a simple man like this challenge their positions of  authority and dethrone them from their lofty positions of power and influence. If this man was allowed to gain a following their powerful positions would be greatly weakened by an ever-increasing pool of opposition.  Therefore it was important to quiet this rebel rouser before he could influence a larger percentage of the population.

The voices of mainstream thought and ideology was never to be questioned. Theirs was the loudest voices and they wielded the greatest influence in society and those who held these positions liked it that way. Any attempt to challenge these all-knowing, purveyors of all that is  true and right were dealt with forcibly and decisively. There was to be no doubt in anyone’s mind who was in charge and who made the rules.

This was the reason Jesus had to die. It wasn’t because he committed any crime deserving of death but it was because he dared to speak truth to power. He dared to challenge their school of thought and challenge their leaders and rulers.  He dared called them out on  their duplicity and falsehoods. He dared say that their way was not the right way and that there was another way. And what authority did he cite as his source? He did not quote some secular scholar nor credit an accredited academy or attend any institution of higher learning. He did not run in the approved  circles, nor did he hold any approved credentials from any recognized authority, He only cited his authority from God.

How could an unlearned carpenter’s son know what is right and wrong? How could a non-seminarian understand the scriptures or dare challenge anyone who has spent their entire life studying from the greatest theologians of the day? Only those approved were permitted to espouse biblical scholarship a simple average person could not be permitted to teach in their synagogues.  His voice and position needed to be dealt with intense opposition. His voice needed to be silenced.

Why would these leaders fear an uneducated, non-credentialed, simple carpenter going about talking to people about the bible? They feared him because what he was saying they knew was true, and the truth was what they have worked so hard to hide from the people. They knew their positions were wrong but they were not going to ever admit it to anyone, nor allow anyone to challenge them.

Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Kill this messenger and the followers will disperse, and then things can go back to the way they are supposed to be. The people will return to following our ways and not questioning our authority nor challenging our rulings. Unfortunately for the ruling class the death of Jesus did not stop the movement for it continues til today. What they failed to realize was what Jesus was saying was 100% true and truth can not be killed.  Truth will remain regardless of all attempts to dismiss it.

And the battle continues to this day. Liars still attempt to kill the truth and deniers still try to silence believers. Take Phil Robertson as the latest example of a public verbal crucifixion. His is just another in a long list of such attacks which seem to be happening more often than in times past.  What was his crime? Attempting to put a bit of God-consciousness back in mainstream America, and for that he was viciously attacked.

This is the way public opinion works in this country today. If it goes against the all-powerful tides of a current societal view, you will assuredly be drowned out under the voices of scorn and rebuke. Tolerance of unpopular views has become intolerable. What we are left with is a fear of character, a hesitancy to stand behind that which has helped define the person you are. Speaking out for differing views and challenging the things as they are is a dying practice in this society. There is an overwhelming sense of complacency and slumbering that has descended upon hearts and minds, infecting the pool of personal thought and stagnating true social and political progress.

The take away from all of this is no matter how much things  change, much remains the same. Those who want to suppress the truth to live their wicked lives will stop at nothing to silence those who speak the truth especially if they cite God as their source.

Yes, and all whose purpose is to be living in the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, will be cruelly attacked. Evil and false men will become worse and worse, using deceit and themselves overcome by deceit. 2 Timothy 3:12-13 (BBE)

Let us be thankful that at least up to this point deniers are only resorting to verbal assassinations and have not yet risen to real crucifixion.  In other  countries believers are not as fortunate.

What can we expect in the future? Much of the same I’m afraid and probably worse since the only remedy for what ails us is Jesus and many have already crucified Him again and again, and will continue to do so to anyone who happens to call on His name, and is bold enough to speak in His name in the public square.

Let’s face it folks, there are many in America who do not want Jesus or want anything to do with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But be strong and of good courage for greater is He who is in us then he who is in the world.

Image.gifThis is a view from the nest. What say you?

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)

This has been A View from the Nest. The statements, comments, or opinions expressed are solely that of the author and do not represent the views or opinions of the host of this site or any affiliates thereof. Any questions or comments should be directed to myself and not to the host or hosts of this site.

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Following the Stars

Allen Frederick 3 Comments

Those who are wise will shine like the bright expanse ?of the heavens?, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3

Following the Star

The Wise Men followed a star to the place where Jesus was. For they saw his sign and came to worship Him. They brought with them gifts fit for a king. We consider these star-gazers as wise men because they sought out Jesus Christ. Daniel tell us that the truly wise will be like that star which leads others to Christ.

Many people try to be stars in the world of entertainment, only to find their stardom temporary. With the advent of the Internet and social media almost anyone can become an overnight sensation. YouTube has launched many an unknown into super stardom when a video goes viral.

Reality TV is another avenue that turns ordinary citizens into media stars. Their exposure on these programs (some exposing more than others) cause them instant fame and recognition. These stars however soon become dim and fade from view.

Contrast these temporary examples stardom with the stardom spoken of by Daniel.

God tells us how we can be eternal “stars”-by being wise and leading many to God’s righteousness.

A wise man not only seeks Christ but leads others to him as well. We are called to be LIGHTS in a dark world. We are to be the stars that others can use to navigate their way through life. We should be the light that shines on the place where Jesus can be found.

Are you a star in God’s Kingdom or are you seeking temporary stardom in an earthly kingdom? Will you be the star that leads wise men, women and children to Christ or should we look for another?

If we share our Lord with others, we can be true stars-radiantly beautiful in God’s sight!

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