A View from the Nest

Don’t you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win. Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent. _{1 Cor 9:24-25 (GW)}

The glory of the athlete is a winning trophy and

the glory of the Christian is an old rugged cross.

Once again Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has brought home  a championship. The Pittsburgh Penguins now possess the Stanley Cup after defeating the Detroit Redwings

in the best of seven championship hockey finals. With the Steelers‘ Super bowl win this past season, and the Penguins win this season, Western Pennsylvania is now home to two championship trophies. Now if we  could only get the Pirates on the winning side.

The Penguins came home to the sound of an appreciative crowd lining the streets of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaniawith the thrill of the victory fresh on their minds  while Detroit went home in defeat. Both teams fought valiantly but only one could come out the victor. This year it was the Penguins who came out on top. Relish the victory while you can boys because next year you have to repeat or give the cup to someone else. Each year’s victory is only a fleeting moment in time.

We Christians on the other hand have a CROWN of LIFE for life if we overcome our adversaries. There is a war going on. There is a race to be won. There is a battle to be waged. There is a contest for the ultimate prize. We must therefore guard ourselves and train ourselves to be able to overcome the obstacles on our path towards the goal.

A hockey player, or any sports athlete knows they must train and be in top condition in order to compete at their finest. They can not allow destructive behaviors and detractions interfere with their training and conditioning. Most serious athletes eat, drink and sleep their sport. They study all the greats and learn all the basic requirements to winning. They do not look for shortcuts but work hard to achieve peak conditioning.

Today, with the introduction of strength enhancing drugs, some athletes are tempted to cheat on their training regimes. In sport, where performance matters, some lesser athletes may be tempted to choose cheating over hard work and talent.

We however must hold to a much higher training regimen than even the most devoted athlete. Our training is a matter of life and death. It is not just a fleeting crown we are seeking but a lasting one. Therefore we must run the race honestly and wholeheartedly. We must be sure to abide by the rules of engagement and strive to run the race with integrity so that when we finally reach our destination we can hear the words come on in _{(Mat 25:34)} and not depart from me._{(Mat 25:41)}

I fear sometimes that we take our responsibility to live the life Christ modeled for us too lightly. I feel that many have left off of their training regimens and replaced it with a quick easy workout. While reading the “Daily Bread” and praying over our meals are all good practices it must not take the place of sincere, rigorous training. We must exercise ourselves toward godliness and not look for a short cut. We must pick up the weight of our cross and carry it faithfully and daily. We need to exercise our spiritual bodies, perhaps more so than our physical bodies, because the stakes are much higher if we fail.

For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come. _{1 Tim 4:8 (AMP)}

The Stanley Cup, although impressive, will one day end up in a landfill. It’s shiny surface will tarnish and fade. The applause of the roaring crowds will die away. The adoration of the frenzied fans will disappear, and all that will remain are the memories of that winning season. Come next season you start off a losing team and have to do it all over again. You received your reward when you won the cup. Now you have to earn it all over again.

I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith. The prize that shows I have God’s approval is now waiting for me. The Lord, who is a fair judge, will give me that prize on that day. He will give it not only to me but also to everyone who is eagerly waiting for him to come again. _{2 Tim 4:7-8 (GW)}

How much greater is it to receive a reward that will never fade, can not be tarnished, will never grow dim, and it’s beauty will continue for all eternity? How much greater is a crown that can never be forfeited nor be taken away? Therefore do not cut corners on your training but instead fight the good fight of faith. You can then be sure, when all is said and done, that you will have waiting for you the crown of righteousness which is given to anyone who eagerly awaits the Lord’s coming again.

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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In light of the recent death of Michael Jackson I thought it was appropriate to repost an early article on the problems associated with the RICH and the FAMOUS who surround themselves with people who are not truly seeking their best interests but actually are enabling their own demise. Initial reports seem to be circulating about Michael’s misuse of prescription drugs. There is growing controversy over the cardiac doctor who was present at the time of Michael’s cardiac arrest. The events that led up to the death of Michael could possibly have been prevented had Michael chosen a road of righteousness rather than stardom. There is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is death. Take a lesson and learn from the misfortunes of others and perhaps we can side step the events that led to their untimely deaths.

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm“?—Proverbs 13:20

The allure of the world’s riches have caused many to fall by the wayside. The deceitfulness of riches ability to heal us of all ills has bankrupted many a soul on this journey called life. Each week we are reminded of the failings of mankind when another person finds themselves shipwrecked on the rocks of disgrace and shame.

Paris Hilton, although used to being in the spotlight for her celebrity status as an heir to the great Hilton empire, recently found out her celebrity status could not keep her from a prison cell. In fact the media frenzy that surrounds her just might have added to her misfortunes. For a person who is so used to the richness of privilege to find herself in a less than advantageous position had to be very humiliating for her. What brought Paris to this place in her life? Could something had been done to prevent this from happening?

A resounding yes would be the reply of any thinking person. Had someone stepped in to persuade her to stop her partying ways and take her life a bit more seriously perhaps she could have avoided her prison sentence.

Newspapers are filled with stories of the haves who end up face down in life’s cesspool. In just our recent past we can name many celebrities who have fallen from the heights of respect to the depths of shame. Lindsey, Brittney, Anna Nicole, O.J., Michael Jackson, “The Huff” must we go on?

Many through their hardships found a better way.

Some still live in disgrace to this day.

Christiandom is not void of those who had fallen from great heights into public shame and disgrace. Who can forget PTL and James and Tammy Faye? Or Jimmy Swaggart’s moral failure? All of us need to take heed and listen to what proverbs has to say about this subject. To use a modern day proverb one could say if you lie down with the dogs you are likely to get up with fleas.

Read the rest of this entry »

Even of those who trust in and lean on their wealth and
boast of the abundance of their riches? None of them can by any means redeem
[either himself or] his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—
For the ransom of a life is too costly, and [the price one can pay] can never suffice—
So that he should live on forever and never see the pit (the grave) and corruption.
For he sees that even wise men die; the [self-confident] fool and
the stupid alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
Psalms 49:6-10 (AMP)

but whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:15 (NKJV)

In what have you placed your trust?

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A View from the Nest

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Insight from the Journey across the Sky

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

Television stations across the U.S. began broadcasting Friday June 12 exclusively in digital, and millions of unprepared Americans scrambled for a signal.

Despite a year-long effort by the government, broadcasters and cable operators to warn people of the digital-TV switch, about 2.8 million households remained completely unprepared, according to Nielsen Co. Older Americans were more prepared than the national average, Nielsen found, but younger people and African-American and Hispanic households continued to lag behind.

Most Americans weren’t affected by the digital switch because they subscribe to cable or satellite TV services, which weren’t affected. An estimated 20 million U.S. households relied exclusively on free, over-the-air TV a year ago and had to either buy a new digital TV or get converter boxes for older TVs.

Procrastinators flooded call centers with requests for the government coupons. Nearly 31 million coupons had already been redeemed, but requests for coupons continued to pour in. On Thursday, the day before the change-over date, the government received 319,990 requests.

The switch was originally scheduled for February but was postponed to June 12 after Congress and the Obama administration worried millions of Americans weren’t ready.  For those who were not ready their televisions went black. They could no longer receive a signal, there was no longer any communication between their television set and the broadcast towers. They had run out of time.

When it comes to television not meeting a deadline is not the end of the world but there is a coming change-over that is exactly that… the end of the world! Will you be ready? Will you be prepared? Will you heed the warnings? Or will you, like so many analog television users, be left behind?

Take some time to contemplate that question because this is not the first time warnings were sounded and people refused to heed them. Even when it meant a possible loss of life. I recall Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath of that disaster. Although warned well in advance of landfall, many New Orleans residents did not prepare to evacuate the city and suffered enormous hardships once the storm reached land. Perhaps they too thought the storm would be delayed, or someone from the government would come along and carry them to safety. That did not happen and they had to weather the storm on their own. Some even refused rescue when rescue finally arrived.

Human nature being what it is, we all have a tendency to put off until tomorrow what should be done today. I am guilty of waiting until the last minute to get certain things done. I surely can find other things to do when it comes time to do the things I dislike doing. Of course some of my procrastination is planned and purposeful, like waiting till the last minute to pay taxes. J Anyway there are some warnings that should never be ignored, and the one warning that is a matter of life and death is the soon coming return of our Lord and Savior Jesus.

His first trip to this “third rock from the sun” was to bring the message of salvation to everyone who would heed his call, His next trip is not going to be so pleasant. He is not coming to die again on a cross but to bring judgment to those who have yet to react to the salvation message sent over 2000 years ago. Just like in the days of Noah, when all the wickedness the people were engaged in finally reached the point where God said enough was enough, He sent judgment from heaven to deal with the problem.

For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:38-42

It just seemed like another day, things had remained much like they had for many years and even though Noah was building a huge boat, and warning of a soon coming flood, most people apparently did not take Noah seriously. They thought he was out of his mind. They paid no attention until it started to rain, and than I am not sure they gave it much thought until the water started to rise and not stop. Read the rest of this entry »