Go And Tell

Hero Worship: AKA Obama Mania

Allen Scott — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 02:33:58 +0000

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Insight from the Journey across the Sky

By Allen Scott

President Barack Obama’s popularity overwhelms that of Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, and Mother Teresa, according to a new poll that shows Obama as the person Americans named as their hero.

American adults (age 18 and over) spontaneously named President Obama as the person they admire enough to call their hero in a Harris Poll that did not provide a list for respondents to choose from.

The Harris Poll, released on Thursday, was conducted on 2,634 U.S. adults between Jan. 12 to 19, 2009 – just ahead of President Obama’s inauguration

“The fact that President Obama is mentioned more often than Jesus Christ, should not be misinterpreted,” The Harris Poll clarified in its report. “No list was used and nobody was asked to choose between them.

Following Barack Obama, the next most popular, personal heroes are Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Abraham Lincoln, John McCain, John F. Kennedy, Chesley Sullenberger, and Mother Teresa, respectively, to round out the top 10 people Americans say they admire and would call their hero.

In the top 20 list, God held the No. 11 spot while evangelist Billy Graham tied with former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the 13th slot.

Respondents gave multiple reasons for their choice of heroes, including: doing what’s right regardless of personal consequences (89 percent); not giving up until the goal is accomplished (83 percent); doing more than what other people expect of them (82 percent); overcoming adversity (81 percent); and staying level-headed in a crisis (81 percent).

Only 14 percent of Americans said they admire either their mother or father enough to call them their hero. In contrast, nearly half (49 percent) said a public figure is someone they admire and consider a personal hero

By Michelle A. Vu

Christian Post Reporter

And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. Mark 9:7-8

Peter, James, and John had their own chance for hero worship. One day Jesus led them up a high mountain to a place where they would be set apart by themselves. While there on the mountaintop, Jesus was met by Elijah and Moses who talked with Jesus a while. Jesus was transfigured before their very eyes. They watched Jesus’ garments become whiter than even Clorox bleach could whiten. Peter being ever impetuous, wanted to build huts for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. While contemplating the idea of building these huts, a cloud overshadowed them and a voice cried from heaven saying; “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.” When the cloud had lifted only Jesus remained.

One Solitary Life

Herein lies the basis for a Christian’s belief in God. Although taught by the prophets and lawgivers of old, it wasn’t until the arrival of Jesus on the scene, that all those ancient prophecies and stories took on fuller meaning. The only thing that sets our faith apart from the religions of the world is one solitary life, the life of Jesus Christ.

All religions have their laws and lawgivers. All religions have their prophets and holy men, but only Christianity has Jesus Christ. Some religions allude to Jesus as just another prophet. Thus this mountaintop experience set Jesus apart from both the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah) when the voice was heard from heaven saying “this is my beloved Son listen to Him”.

Peter, like many of us, wanted to honor all three men equally by building huts for them all. He wanted to show his appreciation and respect for these three men of God. He saw Jesus in the company of Moses and Elijah and viewed them equally. As a Jewish male, raised on the law and prophets, he grew to appreciate the history of Israel and to respect the great men of faith like Moses, Abraham, Aaron, and Elijah. Although Jesus continually called himself the “Son of God”, until this time, I am not sure the three men actually understood the importance of Jesus’ life and ministry. He was just considered a great man, or a prophet. Although Peter had alluded to Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” in Matthew 16:16, I still do not think the fullness of that revelation had registered with him.

Even though transfigured before their very eyes and shining with the glory of heaven, it wasn’t until after Jesus’ resurrection that Peter, James and John fully understood the whole purpose of Christ’s coming. They had heard the stories of Moses’ face shining with the Glory of God when he descended from Mount Sinai, in Exodus 34, therefore the fact that Jesus also shone with the brightness of God’s glory was not really anything new. And then having Moses and Elijah there with Jesus, made it seem like a reunion. Peter, James and John, may have thought of themselves as special in some way, to have been invited to this gathering of by-gone saints.

Who is the greatest?

Later in Mark 9:34 we see the disciples arguing as to who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom of God. After the mountaintop experience, it may be reasonable to conclude that the disciples were excited about seeing Moses and Elijah and could not help but talk about it even though Jesus told them not to. It would be the same if any of us were to be standing in the presence of someone we admired and idolized. Even better, if there were three people we have grown up holding great admiration for. Pick someone you adore from pop-culture and imagine being invited to a private meeting with that person, how would you react? An example of hero worship is outlined in the recent Harris poll quoted at the beginning of this article.

On this mountain top journey, God addressed this tendency in us to elevate men to such a high degree. It was for this cause that God cried out through the cloud to listen to Jesus. As long as we go through life with our eyes and ears on someone we elevate higher than Jesus, (the word of God made flesh) the more problems we will have with our walk of faith. Salvation is not a work of our flesh, it can not be legislated by law, nor given by man or government, it must grow out of a heart of love for Jesus and the sacrifice he made on our behalf.

Mere men and Governments

The prophets could not impart this faith, for they could only address the people to warn them when they drifted away from the law. The prophets of old foretold of a time when the sin problem would be dealt with, but until then they could only admonished the people to remain in the ways that Moses had set out before them. Therefore the people grew up with a respect and admiration for the law, at least when they were actually living according to it’s mandates. All the kings of Israel could not impart this faith either. Even though King David is still admired by some in Israel even to this day, he, like our current President, is just a man.

3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:3-5 (NKJV)

What the law and prophets, kings and Presidents, could not do, Jesus accomplished, by dying on the cross and raising again on the third day. Therefore he takes first place over all other political, religious, and spiritual leaders as well as the prophets of old. He is to be the CENTER of our worship and life. He is to be THE ONE we listen to. Jesus is the only one who has ever risen from the dead after dying for our sins. That surely makes him the HERO of our faith.

Apart from Christ, Christianity would be no different than the other world religions which all claim their own prophets and lawgivers. We on the other hand have CHRIST, the beloved Son of God. It is because of Jesus we are set apart from others. Not because we are special or more worthy, but because Jesus makes us special, because of his love for us.

^{Ps 8 (GW)} It is better to depend on the Lord than to trust mortals.⁹ It is better to depend on the Lord than to trust influential people. _{Psalms 118:8-}

Moses did not die for me, Elijah did not die for me, Mohammad wants others to die for him, Buddha is dead, Krishna is also deceased, Obama, although President of the United States, is just a man. Jesus, however, not only died for me, he also arose from the grave and lives in me through His spirit.

Certainly, we live, move, and exist because of him. As some of your poets have said, ‘We are God’s children.’ _{Acts 17:28}

You haven’t received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which we call out, “Abba! Father!” _{Romans 8:15}

Do not let your life become clouded, by elevating yourself or others to a position greater than that of Jesus Christ. If you set your affections on Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God, then you too will be counted among the faithful, and receive the crown of life, which is awarded to all those who call upon the name of the Lord. Listen to Him. Make Jesus your hero. Elevate Jesus to first place, after all you were first on his list when he chose to die for your sins. Can the same be said of Obama or anyone else for that matter?

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

-Obama More Popular Than Jesus? (answersforthefaith.com)
The True American Heroes Are???? (ithinkheblogs.com)
King Me! (eagleviews.org)

Clear Skies on a Cloudy Day

Allen Scott — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:54:00 +0000

A View from the Nest

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Insight from the Journey across the Sky

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

God made the {constellations} Pleiades and Orion. He turns deep darkness into dawn. He turns day into night. He calls for water from the sea to pour it over the face of the earth. His name is the Lord. Amos 5:8

He made {the constellations} Ursa Major, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the clusters of stars in the south. Job 9:9

: Image via Wikipedia

It was a beautiful evening for a walk. The sky was crystal clear. There was a winter nip in the air that brushed my cheeks as I walked bare-faced in the cold night air. With very few lights to distract from the evening sky, I could clearly see the astronomical constellations on display over my head. I paused for a few moments awestruck by the vastness of the evening sky. I searched the sky for the familiar images of the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor which respectively contain the familiar Big and Little Dipper star clusters.

Although not as big as it’s nearby cousin, the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper contains Polaris, the North Star, the brightest in the formation. Residing roughly over the North Pole, Polaris became a reliable navigational tool for slaves, fleeing the south for freedom in Canada. Although uneducated, from the time they were very little, slave children learned how to navigate north by the stars. The Big Dipper, being a circumpolar constellation, remains above the horizon and visible all night long as it rotates around Polaris. In fact it is possible to tell the approximate time of night by observing the position of the Big Dipper. Therefore, Polaris served as a good navigational tool and it could be used to tell time as well.

Not being an astronomer, this about covers my knowledge of the constellations. I too, like the young slave children, grew up familiar with the Big and Little Dippers. The Dippers became constant companions in this journey called life, and I could always depend on their presence in the evening sky.

Things change, times change, our situations change, we grow older, but it is comforting to know that some things never change. Those two constellations stand as a constant reminder to me of the steadfastness of God’s creation. No matter how cloudy a day seems, no matter how confusing a situation may appear, no matter how lost I may find myself, Polaris will still be north, and the Big and Little Dippers will still be flying in the night sky whether visible or not.

Granted there are times when the evening sky will not be clear like it was this evening, but those stars are still there. I may not be able to see them, yet I know, from experience, their presence is a constant in the evening sky. Although I may not be able to see God either, I still know, as well from experience, His constant abiding presence.

¹The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.

4 Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Psalms 19:1-4

Navigators

know the importance of the stars in guiding ships through darkened seas. Slaves yearning for freedom relied upon the evening sky to point them North. Philosophers and poets, historians and sages, have written about the stars. Folklore and mythology have told stories using the stars. The stars themselves can be used as guides to yet other stars. For me, they just remind me of the constant companionship of Christ and His Holy Spirit. For me the constant of the North Star points me to the center of my life, Jesus Christ. They remind me that no matter how many times the earth may spin on it’s axis, no matter how grey and stormy the skies, these guides remain unchanged and undaunted by the events on earth.

Job knew it, Amos knew it, and I know it, the creator of the heavens is in complete control and His love for me is as steadfast as Polaris. God’s love for me is as unmoving and unchanging as the starry sky. His love for me never ceases. Even if the stars fall from the sky, and time is no more, God will still remain faithful, His love will never fade away.

Take time some evening to look up towards the heavens and when you see Polaris shining brightly in the evening sky, thank God for His faithfulness. Let the stars be your 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

A Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations–and How You Can Find Them in the Sky

The Stars

Isaac Asimov’s Library of the Universe and Planetarium Platinum

Bushnell Voyager Sky Tour 70mm Reflector Telescope

Prophecies Encoded in the Heavens

Constellation Myths

Journeys to the Edge of Creation Set

Whispers of Angels – A Story of the Underground Railroad

Follow The Drinking Gourd: A Story of the Underground Railroad

Race to Freedom: The Story of the Underground Railroad

Capitalism: A Bull Market Concept

Allen Scott — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:13:00 +0000

^{1Co 9 (GW)} Moses’ Teachings say, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing grain.” God’s concern isn’t for oxen. ¹⁰ Isn’t he speaking entirely for our benefit? This was written for our benefit so that the person who plows or threshes should expect to receive a share of the crop. _{1 Corinthians 9:9-10}

This is the main force behind capitalism and the free market system of the United States. A man works expecting to get a return on that work. Companies produce products they hope to sell for a profit. Companies, nor individuals would long endure lengthy periods of non-reward. If a company continues to loose revenue in the course of doing business it would cease doing business. If an individual would be forced to continually work for less or nothing at all, it would not take long before that individual gives up and quits working.

Our economy works the same way. It will cease to operate if all profit is removed from the system through heavy taxation or over regulation. If the cost of doing business exceeds the reward of the same, then business will cease, production will dry up and there will be nothing more to tax or regulate. Therefore allow a workman to make a decent wage, allow companies to operate at a profit, do not MUZZLE the ox that is actually producing. After all if you stop production there will be nothing to take and give to anyone. If however you allow producers to produce there will be enough to not only feed the ox that is doing the work but others as well. Keep the ox happy and you live long and prosper. Bull markets are more favorable then bear markets wouldn’t you think?

Think about it next time you pull the lever for more government taxation, oversight, regulation and intervention.

Pay a man what he is worth and stop muzzling the ox that stamps out the grain. Heavy taxation only stifles the workman because he looses hope in a harvest and gives up. Redistribution of wealth robs a man of his willingness to produce. Taking his hard earned fields in order to give it to someone who has not labored is demoralizing. Heavy taxation upon what a man produces will only cause him to find ways to avoid the heavy taxation or completely give up the process altogether.

Government bailouts are not only non-constitutional I feel they are not even biblical. What say you?

Bush: Financial crisis ‘not a failure of the free market’ (telegraph.co.uk)
Back to the needs of Capitalism (dbzer0.com)

Master Craftsmanship

Allen Scott — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:22:06 +0000

A View from the Nest

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Insight from the Journey across the Sky

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. _{Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)}

A US Airways jet departing from La Guardia Airport on January 15 became a flight in distress just moments after takeoff when it struck a flock of geese causing both engines to fail. After the bird strike, the pilot of stricken Flight 1549, initially thought to attempt landing the disabled plane at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, but quickly realized he did not have sufficient height or momentum to make it. Instead, he decided to put the airliner down in the Hudson River.

After what witnesses describe as a “perfect” emergency landing on the water, the jet remained afloat as ferryboats and other watercraft in the vicinity converged on the plane, eventually pulling all 150 passengers and the five crew members to safety. While there were some minor injuries to those on board, some suffering from hypothermia, no one was seriously hurt.

“The raw piloting is commendable, but what’s truly extraordinary is the rapid and professional way the crew went about making these decisions. You’ve only got seconds in order to sort these things out — it’s not like you have time to go through denial,” said William Voss, the president of the Flight Safety Foundation and a former Federal Aviation Administration official. The total flight lasted less than 4 minutes from take off to splash landing.

The next day, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg honored not only the flight crew, but also the many rescuers on the water and in the city who responded to the emergency. “This is a story of heroes, something straight out of a movie script,” Bloomberg said. “But if it had been a movie, people probably wouldn’t have believed it. It was too good to be true.”

The emergency landing, with professional pilot Chester B. “Sully” Sullenberger III at the controls, has been dubbed the “miracle on the Hudson” by news sources. Fifty seven year old pilot Sullenberger spent his professional life becoming an expert in safety. He is a glider pilot, a military pilot, and an airline pilot and has been hailed a hero. It looks like there could hardly have been a better person at the controls.

In the actions of the pilot we see what is possible when a person is trained and disciplined in advance to face the unexpected hour. Lives were saved because a person was prepared.

When King Solomon was having Israel’s first temple built, he employed a craftsman named Hiram to create (or oversee the creation of) many of the beautiful objects and structures in the temple. He was gifted by God with skill, intelligence, and knowledge in working with bronze. Hiram’s ability to create such wonderful objects was only possible because of God-given talent and intelligence, coupled with the knowledge and skill Hiram had gained by practicing his craft. Solomon entrusted this very important work of building the temple into the capable hands of Hiram, who had proven himself to be an expert in his field.

¹³ King Solomon brought Hiram from Tyre. ¹⁴ He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. He was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill to do any kind of work in bronze. So he came to King Solomon and did all his [bronze] work. _{1 Kings 7:13-14 (AMP)}

The talent and intelligence of the pilot of Flight 1549 was also God-given, while his skill and knowledge of what to do in an emergency were the result of practice and training. Because of his expert training and experience 155 souls were saved.

Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29 (AMP)

Pilot Chester B. Sullenberger III has been flying planes for US AIR since 1980 but on January 15th he became a national legend. Not because of all the flights he had successfully completed but because of the one that crashed landed on the Hudson. It was only after all those years of training were put to the test the we now remember Chester as a hero.

⁹ For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building. ¹⁰ According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation, and now another [man] is building upon it. But let each [man] be careful how he builds upon it, ¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). ¹² But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done. _{1 Corinthians 3:9-13 (AMP)}

We are called to labor together with God building up His kingdom here on earth. Are we doing the best we can for the MASTER? Are we striving to hone our skills to master craftsman level? Are we studying and striving to be the best we can be? Are we laboring towards excellence for God? Are we bringing the best we have to the Lord? Are we going to crash and burn on the rocky shoreline or soar to the heights on eagle wings? When trials come are we going to be able to land safely? When tested will others see the calm assurance of a life spent in preparation before God?

We have been gifted with many talents and abilities but it is up to us whether we hone those talents into expert skill.

Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker who isn’t ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly._{2 Timothy 2:15 (GW)}

All those on board Flight 1549 have to be thankful that Chester Sullenburger III had taken time to learn his craft well. I pray that we too will be remembered for the labor we have done for the Kingdom of God. I pray that if and when we are tested we too will be heralded as heroes of the faith. Only when tested will our true worth be determined. Only when tried will our true abilities be revealed. I pray that the Lord will say of me one day well done thou good and faithful servant enter into the joy of the Lord.

“The key to life is to become skillful enough

to be able to do rewarding things.” — Jim Rohn

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

Pilot describes ‘shocking’ thuds of geese (msnbc.msn.com)
‘We May End Up In The Hudson’ (news.sky.com)
A Guide to the Hudson Plane Crash (americanaffairs.suite101.com)
U.S. hero pilot and crew recall plane’s final moments for CBS’s 60 Minutes (cbc.ca)
Hero Pilot Searched Plane Before Leaving (abcnews.go.com)
Audio recording reveals calm of US Airways pilot (ctv.ca)
Hero pilot: ‘We’re gonna be in the Hudson’ (cnn.com)

Moderates: Unable to Stand for Anything

Allen Scott — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:13:02 +0000

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)

: 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 pathÂ 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 againstÂ 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

Tell A Vision

Allen Scott — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:50:00 +0000

Then the Lord answered me, “Write the vision. Make it clear on tablets so that anyone can read it quickly. Hab 2:2 (GW)

Most homes have at least one of these boxes setting in their living rooms as well as bedrooms, kitchens, dens, bathrooms and basements. First they were black and white with only 3 or 4 stations of programming signing off at midnight. Later there was color, and UHF bandwidth added more channels. Then came late night TV and eventually 24 hour a day formats. Today we have HDTV with over 16 million colors and hundreds of programming choices.

Television has impacted the American home like no other appliance. Where once we would listen to a radio story teller engage our imaginations with stories like ‘The Shadow’, ‘The Avenger’, ‘Blondie’, ‘Captain Midnight’, ‘Father Knows Best’, ‘Flash Gordon’, ‘Gunsmoke’, and ‘Hopalong Cassidy’, with the advent of motion pictures many of these radio classics came alive at the cinema. Today the cinema has come to the home.

With the advent of television, story telling was taken to a whole new dimension, no longer must you engage your imagination to envision the story because the story teller has already taken the time to paint the picture for you. Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Michelangelo and others were admired for their visual representations on canvas. Now Oscar and Emmy awards are given to those who paint visual pictures, and tell visual stories on an electronic canvas.

We can no longer dismiss the impact that these moving pictures have had on our society. “As Seen on TV ” has turned into a brand-name marketing concept. Toys and merchandise populate store shelves during a major motion picture release. Licensed merchandise, resembling movie story characters, are all the rage at fast food establishments across the country. All this merchandising proves the powerful effect the moving picture has had upon the culture.

With all these stories being told to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it is no wonder our culture is being desensitized towards the things of God. For the most part, these moving picture producers are telling a story far different than the age old gospel story. They display a worldview devoid of Jesus and tell the story of a world where there is not one God but many gods and goddesses.

Telling the age old story of salvation was given to the church, the gospel of the Kingdom of God was given as the means by which the works of darkness were to be dispelled. We have been given a commission to take this gospel into all the world, preaching, teaching, and making disciples. We, as a church, are charged to tell the story, in all ways, to all people, for all time.

This commission is ours to keep or loose. We are to tell a vision of the kingdom of God to everyone, everywhere. every chance we get. Our primary programming should be God’s tell a vision at all times. We should be seeking out ways in which we can tell this age old story.

Parents you have been given the responsibility of telling God’s vision to your children and your children’s children for all generations. This is the method that God has chosen to proclaim the gospel of His Kingdom until the end of the age. How are we doing with our programming choices? Are our homes infested with television but devoid of us telling a vision? Have we become programmed by what is being viewed in our homes rather than overcoming this televised worldview by telling our children a new vision of the world to come?

Father’s tell your vision. Paint your pictures. Tell your stories. Let your children know what it means to live a Christian life. What has God done for you? Tell it to your offspring. Testify to all that God has done. Paint a picture of Godliness in an ungodly world. Tell a vision of how great God is! Tell a vision of what God has done and can do for anyone who believes.

As we start this new year let us all glimpse a greater vision of God and the greatness of His appearing. Let us not soon forget the significance of the virgin birth and the reason for the season.

Let us all tell a vision to everyone we meet. Make it a point to program Christ into our daily routines and daily life. Make it a goal to tell the gospel story and broadcast it to everyone, everywhere, every chance we get in Jesus name.

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

Boxing up Christmas

Allen Scott — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:07:09 +0000

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”

A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

__________________________________________________________________________________

The celebrations have ended, the decorations have all come down, the gifts have all been exchanged, and the memories have all been made. Now it is time to box up Christmas for another year as business returns to normal. Check-out lanes at the local merchants are getting thinner, the return lanes are closing down, and Christmas music has been replaced with pre-Christmas Muzak programming.

The debate over Christmas displays have ended, and all things return to normal. Yet the fact that a child had been born of a virgin in Bethlehem should never be lost even though the nativity sets have been packaged away for yet another year.

What really is the meaning of Christmas? Why is there such a celebration? Would it matter a whit if Christmas was boxed away forever?

It would seem arguments against Christmas, which usually sprang from the secular left, have sprung up from the religious right as well. Prominent pastors warned of Santa replacing Jesus as the focus of the holiday and a fringe Baptist church in Kansas wanted a sign placed in the Washington State Capital warning “Santa Claus will take you to Hell.” How far we have come from the days of “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” to today where even prominent church leaders are calling for the demise of Christmas.

In, what many call the best loved Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, George Bailey, played by James Stewart, becomes disillusioned with despair, from a downturn in his business and wishes he were dead. Guardian Angel Clarence, played by Henry Travers, intervenes and shows George what his little town would have been like had he never been born.

Can you imagine a world in which light never shines, darkness is never vanquished and Jesus was never born? Can you picture a place where evil reigns unchecked and mankind is left to his own devises in dealing with a depraved soul? Can you imagine a world where God never intervened in human affairs but rather just sat back and let us kill and destroy each other?

Let me take you back to a Christmas past when the whole world lie sleeping and the earth was covered with the darkness of unbelief. Into this world came a light that still shines today. Born of a virgin, in the tiny little village of Bethlehem, laid in a manger, attended by sheep and shepherds, this tiny baby was born who would change the world forever.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. _{Matt 1:21-23 (KJV)}

The angels were the first to celebrate this arrival to Earth when they proclaimed with a loud voice, ”Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased”. Thus we can sing along with the angels, Joy to the world the Lord has come, let Earth receive her King! That sounds like a celebration to me!

What say you? Should we just box Christmas up forever and never again sing ‘Joy to the World’? Or should we constantly remind ourselves and our children that indeed there is a Christ in Christmas?

Yes America there is a Jesus Christ! A birth which we can celebrate because of the good news the angels brought. Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King, peace on Earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Hallelujah!

I think I will unbox Christmas and allow the season to extend a few more months to remind myself of this great joy!

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)}

No El: A Christmas Message

Allen Scott — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:34:37 +0000

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

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” _{Luke 2:8-14 (ESV)}

Hear ye! Hear ye! Have you heard the good news? Today in the city of David a Savior was born who is Christ the Lord!

Birth announcements do not usually cause visits from heaven nor bring an angel choir and a brand new star. Wise men from the east traveled many miles to pay homage to this new born King. Relatives might make a trip across the country to see a new born but to bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. I would think not.

The angels sang Joy to the world! They proclaimed good news to all men! He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace! What a birth announcement! What a proclamation!

My birth announcement amounted to a small space in the local newspaper. No fanfare or celestial beings in attendance to announce my arrival and certainly no bright new star shining overhead. No one came from afar to witness my birth nor were any kings or governors quaking at the thought of a new king being born. Other than a three day blizzard my arrival onto this planet was less than spectacular.

For most people, their entrance into the world is usually without much fanfare or production. I performed a Google search to see if I could find any famous person’s birth announcements and found none. I guess the lack of those is due primarily to the fact that the birth of most infants is not considered extraordinary. To be famous one has to accomplish something in this life to be worthy of such acclaim. Merely being born would not require a royal announcement of heavenly proportions.

On this night angels were dispatched to Mary, Joseph and lowly shepherds, to proclaim the birthday of a King. The angels foretold of the greatness of this child. All of heaven was dispatched to make this special delivery. This was no ordinary birthday. This was no ordinary child. This was not just another birth.

Most parents struggle for days, weeks and months even to try to come up with a name for their precious newborn, but this child’s name had already been picked before He was even conceived. The angel of God told Mary and Joseph His name shall be called Jesus, for He shall save His children from sin. This was to fulfill what the prophets foretold.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. _{Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV)}

God had many names in scripture. Some of them were El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty), El Elyon (the most High God), El Olam (the Everlasting God), and Elohim simply God. Never before had God been known as Emmanuel. Until this time God was far removed from the affairs of man, making occasional visits through angelic visitations and speaking through the prophets of old. But on this day the good news was God was coming to earth to dwell with man.

The God of all creation was made flesh and dwelt with man. He came unto His own but His own received Him not.

There were no preparations for this Kingly arrival. No dignitaries were gathered at His mother’s bedside to honor His birth. There wasn’t even a bed made ready for the King of Kings to be born. Instead the God of all creation came to earth and was laid in a feeding trough for cattle.

Israel had been overrun by the Roman government whose life style and manner of living was contrary to all the teachings of the law and prophets. They were living in a world without any concept of who God was or any desire to know Him. Theirs had become a secular society of humanistic teachings and beliefs. The Hebrew tongue had been replaced with Greek as the official language. Homage had to be paid to the government and heavy taxation was placed upon God’s people. Central temple worship had been replaced by synagogues. For the most part the singular focus of ‘God worship’ had been misdirected into many factions and divisions. The singular worship of one true God was being supplanted by the worship of many gods of the Greeks and Romans. There was no El no Supreme ruler. There was no absolute law and order. Theirs was a godless society. Much like ours I am afraid.

However in the tiny village of Bethlehem there was quite a celebration going on. God made sure that He announced His Son’s arrival in grand fashion. Angels were assembled to hark the herald. They sang praises to this new born king. Joy to the world the Lord has come! They were pronouncing an end to hostility between God and man. They were proclaiming that God had come to earth to reconcile man. Immanuel, God with us, is the true hope of glory. God in man! In Man U are El.

The aim and goal of God is to reconcile man to Himself. He desires above all else to have fellowship with man. Times of trials and testing are sure to come to winnow away all that interferes with our ability to fully praise and worship God. God had to step out of heaven and come to earth in order that earth could be taken back to God. He had to make the journey so that we too could find rest for our souls.

Truly a world with No El is a world lost and forlorn but a world with El is fully alive and most joyous. Joy to the world the El has come! Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room. Let no one say there is No El in the land. For surely the Lord has come. O come let us adore Him!

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)}

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Allen Scott — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:18:04 +0000

I have been blessed by receiving Worthy Devotions in my inbox each day for over a year now and I wish to share just one of the many insightful messages I have received from this Jewish writer. A Jewish perspective can add valuable insight to a study of the bible, and so it is with this topic of Jesus being born in Bethlehem. Once again we can see the intricate design of God throughout the biblical narrative. If you are not already receiving Worthy Devotions in your inbox each day I would recommend that you sign up for an email subscription today. You will be blessed for having done so.

Micah 4:8;5:2 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

There are many who are not aware of the very deep significance of Bethlehem,Yeshua’s (Jesus’) birthplace. Everyone knows that Bethlehem was a place where shepherds grazed their sheep, and where the Messiah was to be born, but do not realize that it was a town designated as the birthing place for lambs which were used for the Passover sacrifice. The Scriptures give significant details about this little town lying slightly south of Jerusalem.

In Micah 4:8 we read about the “watchtower of the flock”, or in Hebrew, “Migdal Edar.” According to the “Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah“, by Alfred Edersheim, a Jewish believer in the late 1800′s, Migal Edar was the location where the Messiah was to be revealed. This watchtower stood as a place of protection for the city from approaching enemies, but it was also utilized by shepherds to watch over the specific flocks from which sacrificial Passover lambs were taken.

The shepherds who were tending these particular flocks were no ordinary shepherds. They were specifically trained by the Rabbis for a holy task. They had to insure that, as much as possible, every lamb was free of any blemish or injury, in order to be used for the Passover sacrifice. Since they were instructed by the Rabbis, they almost certainly knew of those passages in the Targums (Aramaic translations) and the Mishna associating the birth of the Messiah with “Migdal Edar”. For example, Migdal Edar is translated in one of the Targums as “The Anointed One of the Flock of Israel.” It is also written in the Mishna that “He spread his tent beyond Migdal Edar, the place where King Messiah will reveal Himself at the end of days.”

Those shepherds had strong hints of Messiah’s advent in the very town where they lived, so that when the angelic host appeared announcing his arrival, they responded immediately and went to worship Him. We too have increasing signs of His soon Second Coming. Are we also prepared to respond? Our readiness to act in faith and worship will show how well we understand the signs of our own times. With so much work to be done, let us stay awake and be inspired by the expectation of his soon arrival – for, just like those shepherds of Bethlehem, we truly were born for such a time as this!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Currently in the Negev Desert, Israel

O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Batteries Not Included

Allen Scott — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:01:46 +0000

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”

A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

Random ramblings from the resident raptor.

God, the God of Israel, is awe-inspiring in his holy place. He gives strength and power to his people. Thanks be to God! _{Psalms 68:35 (GW)}

I do not know what I would do without batteries. I mean I need batteries! My watches, my various remote control devices, the alarm clock, the cell phone, the computer keyboard and mouse, the laptop, each of these devices require batteries to operate.

The only thing more prevalent in my house than batteries, are all the various power adaptors for my electronic devices. There is the TV, the satellite dish, the video recorder with the network adapter, and the amplifier for the surround sound. All these require a six socket wall adapter to plug them all in. Then there is the computer and all the plugs for all the peripheral attachments, the monitor, the speakers, the DVD drive, and the external hard drive.

I have about a dozen power adapters for Satellite radio and razors and rechargers for the cell phone. Even the home phone line needs to be plugged in. There is the network adapter and the wireless adapter for the cable modem and the list just goes on and on and on. How I wish for a wireless home. No more plugs to plug in.

I love the rechargeable batteries but I hate all their wall adapters. God forbid if you ever happen to misplace one, it really is no use trying one of the many others you have lying around because no two are alike. When it comes to power chargers one size certainly does not fit all.

Therefore you can imagine how delighted I was to find this hand-cranked flashlight a few months back. No batteries required and you do not have to plug it in to recharge it! All you have to do is turn the crank and you have light! I thought to myself, “This sounds like a good idea but will it actually work?”

I bought it and brought it home, cranked the handle about five full turns and lo and behold there was light! It is now more than three months later and that crank flashlight is still producing light. Four or five turns was enough to charge whatever it is it charges, to still be working over three months later. I do not know how this works! All I know is it does.

How I wish everything now worked on a crank. Crank the TV and it would play for a month before I had to crank it again. Crank up the radio and the computer. No more batteries to buy and I could unplug all those ugly wall warts from the wall. Imagine the savings on my electric bill!

Can you imagine cranking up the refrigerator and having it remain cold for weeks on end? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could turn a crank on our automobiles and travel on the power of that hidden energy for a week? I do not know how that flashlight works but I am so amazed by it.

It may not be the brightest light in the house but it is the only one that I never have to worry about having batteries for. No batteries included and in this case none were needed.

I’m asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of his glory. I pray that he would give you inner strength and power through his Spirit. _{Eph 3:16 (GW)}

Our lives work much the same way. We need regular power lifts as well. There are many ways people attempt to get a power lift. There are many different outlets you can plug into in attempts to recharge your inner being. Â There are those who plug into yoga and meditation, many who find relief in sports or other physical exercise. There are those who get involved in social projects and charities, all attempts to energize that hidden man inside. They want to tap into a power source beyond themselves so that they feel fulfilled.

Some simply change batteries by changing jobs, or where they live, or perhaps change whom they are married too. Some substitute artificial stimulants in attempts to give themselves a sense of well being.

But he himself (Elijah) went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. _{1 Kings 19:4-8 (NKJV)}

The true source of our power must not be based on internal or natural forces, for those are sure to fail. Where do you go to get a renewed power source when your hope has been drained, when your joy is gone, when you do not have the strength to face another day? Is there a wall outlet you can plug into to get an inner power charge? Where do you buy batteries for the wounded soul, or a heart that is downtrodden?

But you will have power, when the Holy Spirit has come on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judaea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. _{Acts 1:8 (BBE)}

There is a limitless source of power available to all those who call upon the name of the Lord. He promises to give us the power of His Spirit in which we can draw our strength. He promises to be with us even until the end of the earth. He is the power source that never runs out. All we need do is turn to him, turn the crank of prayer, be still and listen for his voice. It is the sound of His voice that energizes us to soar on wings like eagles and run and never run out of gas. Truly waiting on the Lord has its advantages and one of them is an endless power source.

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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