This 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

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Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor.

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”

A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

Decent people will live in the land. People of integrity will remain in it. But wicked people will be cut off from the land and treacherous people will be torn from it. Prov 2:21-22 (GW)

Several centuries before Christ, Alexander the Great came out of Macedonia and Greece to conquer the Mediterranean world. On one of his campaigns, Alexander received a message that one of his soldiers had been continually, and seriously, misbehaving and thereby shedding a bad light on the character of all the Greek troops. And what made it even worse was that this soldier’s name was also Alexander. When the commander learned this, he sent word that he wanted to talk to the errant soldier in person. When the young man arrived at the tent of Alexander the Great, the commander asked him, “What is your name?” The reply came back, “Alexander, sir.” The commander looked him straight in the eye and said forcefully, “Soldier, either change your behavior or change your name.” This story has a lesson for each of us. When we call ourselves Americans, we are identifying with this nation and the principles upon which it was established. When we swear allegiance to the flag we stand with others to defend the Constitution of these United States of America. We are being . identified with the United States of America. Is your behavior compatible with that name and with the symbol that shows that you are an American?

Arizona is soon to enact what some say is an ill-conceived immigration enforcement act. This statute does not affect other states, nor is it enforceable across state lines. The law strictly forbids police officers to ask an individual for identification unless the officers encounter a suspect while in the course of enforcing another infraction of the state statutes. For an example; a person walking down the street of downtown Phoenix should not, and can not, be detained by police and questioned to produce identification unless that person has committed a crime. Seems to me the bill is reasonably restrictive.

Compare that to the law that requires identification when purchasing cough medicine at the local Target. Which seems to be more reasonable to you? To be asked to produce identification after being stopped for breaking a law or being asked to produce ID to buy over-the-counter cough medicine? If you answered the cough medicine then you must be a liberal democrat set on demonizing legitimate behavior in order to legitimize illegitimate behavior.

Another example would be the mandatory, random drug tests administered to commercial drivers. Isn’t this an invasion of one’s privacy also? Is there proof or suspicion that the person being tested is using an illegal substance? If there is no reasonable suspicion that they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol then why are they being required to submit to a random test? Shouldn’t people who show signs of the possibility of being under the influence have to take a random drug test? Why should someone who has never used drugs or alcohol have to be subjected to this form of interrogation? Why aren’t the picket sign carrying activists protesting this injustice? Or are only those who actually commit a crime entitled to political action?

Why must law-abiding citizens be treated like suspects when there is NO Reasonable suspicion that these citizens are doing anything illegal? Well that is the rationale being used to justify opposition to the Arizona immigration enforcement bill.

Constantly we hear the din of political activists demonizing the Arizona bill for profiling illegal aliens and yet everyday many law-abiding, natural-born, citizens are asked to produce their identification. If it is reasonable that I should have to show my photo ID to the cashier at Target to purchase over-the-counter cough medicine, then it is just as reasonable for a suspected immigrate to be asked to present ID to a police officer. I wonder what illegal aliens produce when they buy cough medicine at their local Target?

It would seem that those who oppose Arizona’s immigration enforcement policy want it both ways. They want to avoid producing any proof of ID to any local official and at the same time they want to be granted the rights of a legal citizen without having to prove they belong here. That to me sounds unreasonable, not the Arizona bill requiring someone show ID when asked by a law enforcement officer.

The cashier at Target is not a law enforcement officer but I had to present to her proof of my ID before I could buy cough medicine. Of course I could have refused to show her my ID but then I would not have been able to purchase the medicine. The illegals, however, would like to refuse to show ID and still buy the medicine, and cry discrimination if they were denied. Activists like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would stand shoulder to shoulder with them decrying America as a racist nation.

This is a capricious argument really. Why would decent law-abiding citizens want lying and devious people living in their neighborhoods? Make no mistake about it, if you entered this country illegally you are here illegally. There are many foreigners within our borders who have over stayed their visas as well. Once again the Government is not enforcing their own immigration laws thusly allowing for continued illegal activity within our borders. All anyone is asking reasonable people to do is act responsibly and enter our country properly and for the right reasons. If you are only coming here to steal from the rightful citizenry their jobs and property then perhaps a jail cell should be waiting for you not a red carpet, open door amnesty policy.

Because the federal government has been remiss in enforcing their own immigration laws they have forced states to either put up with illegal activity within their borders or figure out some way to deal with it. Because states are not permitted to legalize immigrants, nor are they, according to the federal government, permitted to deport those who have entered the country illegally, they have to put up with and absorb the costs of this illegal activity within their borders.

Finally enough decent people had enough and demanded that someone do something. So Arizona did and now many nefarious types are crying foul. There is a simple remedy to this problem. show your ID, if you do not have proper identification then I strongly suggest that you get some quick or start packing.

That is how it ought to be. Why should decent people be driven from their land because of the indecent and treacherous people who crash our borders every day? Even the bible supports Arizona’s position. Wisdom dictates the wicked and treacherous should be sent packing. And yet here we are arguing the merits of a local enforcement measure passed by Arizona to protect decent people.

If you are living here decently and with respect for other’s property and our laws then I would think you have absolutely nothing to fear. If however you happen to fall into the treacherous or wicked camp then yes indeed you should be fearing the Arizona law and you should be packing your bags to leave the same way you got here.

And that is just “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

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“Proclaim Liberty throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof”

This inscription can be found engraved upon the Liberty Bell housed in Independence Square, Philadelphia, Pa. This bell formerly known as the “Province Bell” rang out on July 8th 1776 as the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence took place. This inscription was taken from Leviticus 25:10 proclaiming the year of jubilee for Israel.

Later in the book of Isaiah we read these words:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV)

The liberty bell toiled good news that liberty was being proclaimed from Philadelphia, and Isaiah was prophesying of a time that was yet to come when liberty would again be proclaimed in Israel. That time came with the arrival of Christ. Luke chapter 4 verses 16-21 recounts the story of Jesus standing in the temple and reading from the 61st chapter of the book of Isaiah and then proclaiming on that day the scripture was fulfilled.

What better time to proclaim liberty throughout all the land then on independence day? The Declaration of Independence, signed in 1776 by men willing to give their lives for this great nation, established a national freedom to all citizens of these United States of America. Yet there is another declaration of liberty that was declared by Christ, signed with his blood, and enacted by his execution, that bought our spiritual freedom. Freedom comes with a heavy price. The signers of the “Declaration faced possible  charges of treason against the British crown. But sign they did. Christ signed our spiritual declaration of independence with his own blood.

It was for freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Gal 5:1 (RSV)

These words from Galatians ring as clear as the Liberty bell did in 1776 when liberty was proclaimed throughout the colonies. Today marked the 234th birthday of our nation and once again men need to stand up and proclaim liberty throughout the land. The tyrannical bonds of King George III needed to be severed in 1776, and today I am afraid we are seeing another tyrannical government arising to enslave the people of these great United States.

Let us first remember that our freedom comes from the Lord, and by remembering the heights from which we have fallen perhaps we can find our way back to the arms of a forgiving savior. Proclaim liberty to the captives. Proclaim a year of jubilee. Let us pray our debts to one another are forgiven as we forgive those who are indebted to us. This after all is what Christ came to do. He came to forgive our sin debt.

The Levitical law proclaimed all debts were to be forgiven once every 50 years in the year of jubilee. We are long overdue for a year of jubilee don’t you think? So let us once again with one accord proclaim liberty throughout the land.

“For where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” 2 Cor. 3:17

Along for the Journey

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Some people shouted one thing while others shouted something else. The crowd was confused. Most of the people didn’t even know why they had come together. Acts 19:32 (GW)

After our government claimed that we did not need or could not obtain larger ships to skim the Gulf oil spill, a giant-capacity skimming ship has arrived in U.S. waters. Yet our government has us wondering whether it will permit the ship to join the cleanup effort. The problem is not simply the Jones Act; it’s also that our Environmental Protection Agency may squelch the ability to use this giant ship. The S. S. A-Whale is not like the mere 4,000-barrel-a-day vessels we’ve been using. Its owners say this ship, a converted oil tanker, can gather 500,000 barrels a day. By comparison, say the owners, the entire fleet our government has authorized for has only gathered 600,000 barrels-TOTAL-in the 70 days since the Deepwater Horizon explosion. (NOTE: 500,000 barrels equals 21-million gallons.)

Adding insult to injury here is another report about the Dutch’s offer for help which came in 3 days after the spill occurred. Here we are 70 days and counting into this major oil spill and the situation goes from bad to worse. The crisis and the chaos surrounding the Gulf oil spill makes a nice smoke screen to hide true aims and intentions behind. Although I can not say with absolute certainty I do believe the age old adage would apply here: “Actions speak louder than words”and Obama’s inaction shouts loud and clear his intentions. Of course Obama’s words have been pretty clear about exactly what he wants America to think about this oil spill. He would like very much for the population to grow extremely impatient with and angry at BP for this mess and their apparent lack of expedience in cleaning it up. All this gives Obama cover to enact even more of his freedom stealing agenda items with the help of his cronies in congress.

The arrogance and the wilful negligence of this administration is painfully obvious to anyone who cares to stop long enough to objectively assess the situation. I really do not care if BP is to blame or not for the cause of the spill. I do know that not everything that can be done is being done to clean up the mess. There will be plenty of time to point fingers and assess blame after we have done all we can to stop the spill and clean up the mess. All technologies, and all who are willing to help with the cleanup, should be engaged. If the Jones Act has not been revoked then it needs to be pronto.

However all of this should have been decided on day one. All hands should already be on deck like Obama said they were. The fact that this mess and the consequent inaction of the government has only gotten worse and not better proves that too much money and power is going to the federal government and it is time for states to assert their independence and act accordingly.

Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida are the states affected the most by this disaster and they should be the ones coordinating the cleanup measures. If the federal government is to be involved at all it should be to make sure that the states are given all the resources they need and are free to act in their own best interests, which would be in the best interest of the country. This is a view from the nest, what say you?

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Little changes or major overhauls need time and effort. If you have stopped by this site the last couple days you may have noticed it looked different almost every time you stopped by. I am working on a site redesign and since I have to work on it ONLINE and live so the changes appear every time I save them. So please bear with me as I attempt to improve the site by bringing it up to date a bit.

If any of my readers would like to offer some design tips I would be more than happy to listen to you. This has been a real learning experience for me. Things have changed in the last couple years and I have not been keeping up with the new technology. Anyway watch out for wet paint and loose fixtures as I rearrange the furniture and repaint the walls.

Of course you can grab a paintbrush and give me a hand. The more hands make the work go faster.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. _{Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)}

Have you ever had a mess in your life that reminds you of the current BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico? You know…

1. It blew up when you didn’t expect it.

2. When it blew up, it really hurt and made a mess.

3. The mess didn’t stop when it blew up. The mess kept coming.

4. The thing that was causing the mess was deep. Too deep.

5. There was a tremendous amount of pressure dealing with it.

6. You had no idea how to fix it.

7. Everyone was giving you advice about what you should do.

8. You tried some of the advice and the mess still kept coming.

9. You really hurt some people with your mess.

10. It wasn’t the people’s fault whom you hurt. It was yours.

11. You tried to blame it on someone or something else.

12. It will take years to fix things.

13. Boy, do you wish you could do it over.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

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Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor.

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”

A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

Image via Wikipedia

Prov 1:20-33 (AMP) Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the markets; She cries at the head of the noisy intersections [in the chief gathering places]; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: How long, O simple ones [open to evil], will you love being simple? And the scoffers delight in scoffing and [self-confident] fools hate knowledge? If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [ Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it, And you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic— When your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord, Would accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices. For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil.

The evidence is everywhere. Truth is blaring from the loud speakers all around the world. Countries are failing, here at home states are finding it harder and harder to meet federal mandates and public sector pension obligations. On capital street one company take over after another and yet nothing changes. The national debt will exceed 13 billion dollars this year and only the sky is the limit into the future. Medicare and Medicaid along with Social Security are all in the red, let’s face it folks America’s entitlement programs are bankrupt and yet many refuse to change course or even acknowledge the direction America is heading is wrong.

Add to the mix Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are still running deficits as far as the eye can see. Nothing is working on capital hill. And to be honest not much is working in the private sector either. The unemployment rate seems to be the only thing going up in an otherwise downward spiral.

Personal nest eggs reduced or depleted with the recession of the stock market. Tax revenue is falling off rapidly because more and more people are not working. And yet many think all is well and the captain of the ship of state bellows full speed ahead on one socialist agenda item after another. Waiting in the wings are tax hikes along with the huge budget busting Obamacare plan still to be enacted.

Yes my friends the truth is out there, but can you handle the truth? Can you open your eyes and ears to listen to the sound of wisdom shouting aloud in the streets, and the marketplace? What must we do to stop this insane rebellion against the truth and sound fiscal policy? Our country is out of control. Fools are running the ship of state straight into an iceberg of ruin.

Ezek 12:2 (GW) “Son of man, you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, but they can’t see. They have ears, but they can’t hear because they are rebellious people.

The irony is that America is now adapting the European model just as the evidence of its failure is becoming clear even to the New York Times. As Charles Murray wrote in “The Happiness of The People”-“If we want to know where America is headed—its destination—we should look to Europe.” The Times has now given us a harrowing picture of that destination. For the left leaning New York Times to see the handwriting on the wall it must be blatantly obvious. The truth is screaming from everywhere, the question is are we willing to heed wisdom’s warning or destined to suffer the fate of fools?

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. _{Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)}

Along for the journey

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Give to him who comes with a request, and keep not your property from him who would for a time make use of it. Matt 5:42 (BBE)

Soles4Souls, an organization that commonly responds to natural disasters all around the world, is currently assisting residents in its hometown of Nashville and surrounding areas by donating 85,000 pairs of shoes to flood victims in Tennessee.

According to its website, Soles4Souls has a simple concept: they get shoes and give them away.

In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls® Inc., felt compelled to do something.

The site says: “Like many of us, he did not know what to do. He was at home one night, watching TV and he saw a picture of a single shoe washing up on the beach. That triggered a few calls to some other executives in the footwear industry and the subsequent donation of a quarter of a million shoes to victims in the devastated countries.”

A year later when Katrina hit, Wayne called the same group of friends, and they sent over a million pairs of shoes down to the gulf coast communities affected by the hurricane. In all honesty, he admits that he did not expect such an immediate and successful turnout. This left him wondering, why not start a non-profit and do this all the time? One year later, Soles4Souls was formally created.

It has been that simple: changing the world one pair at a time.

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you.  We distribute these shoes, free of charge, to people in need around the world. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 10 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently distributing one pair every 9 seconds). The shoes have been distributed in 125 countries, including Haiti, Kenya, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.

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

Heb 12:26-27 (GW) When God spoke to your ancestors, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the sky.” The words once more show clearly that God will change what he has made. These are the things that can be shaken. Then only the things that cannot be shaken will remain.

Are natural disasters signs of the “end of the age” spoken of in Scripture, or simply just natural occurrences? Would it be proper to associate the apparent increase in seismic activity, and volcanic eruptions with an ‘angry God’ punishing the earth? Or are these just the start of more to come? Is it possible to tell the ‘signs of the end’ from day-to-day occurrences? Is there a difference?

In the past several years we’ve seen many significant natural disasters in many places across the globe. For thousands of years there have been earthquakes, famines, and plagues which have brought havoc to mankind.

Are the events of these past few months breaking new ground (forgive the pun) in the global shaking that has increased over the past century? Is there really more seismic activity or are we just more aware of them because of the nature of the news cycle? Could it be the 24 hour a day news programs are adding to the perception that the world is crumbling at the seams?

There have been doomsday prophets for as long as time existed. Since the first century after Christ’s crucifixion there have been those who said the world was coming to an end even before we got to the 21st century. Yet the world still remains. Does this mean Christ’s return is never going to happen? Should we simply ignore these earthquakes or is there something we can learn from all this?

As we witness the groaning of creation, are they the literal birth-pangs of the “Day of the Lord” or just a wake-up call for Christians to be ready for the coming harvest?  As things grow increasingly more confused and more lives are affected by one natural disaster after another I can see a great need arising upon the Earth for something more dependable. As the very foundations are shaking beneath the feet of many, there remains a solid rock upon which we can place our hope and trust, that rock is Jesus Christ, the only sure foundation.

As fortunes fall and the earthquakes of life challenges continue with greater frequency the world is becoming ripe to solutions, something real. They have heard all the lies and have trusted in others only to see their foundations shaking and their lives crumbling. Are we ready to offer something other than ‘just words, just speeches?” Is there a place of refuge for those whose lives have been shaken? Is there a place of rest from the constant uproar of the world around us? Is there a safety net for those falling into despair and panic?

The answer to all the world’s needs is the same as it has always been. No matter how hard man tries to remove God from their lives He is still a force that needs to be reckoned with. Accounts need to be settled, debts need to be paid, a man’s choices need to be judged, evil dealt with. As our scripture reference explains, there is coming a shake-up from God, the purpose of which is to shake everything that can be shaken so that the only thing remaining is that which can not be shook. And that sure foundation is trusting in the Lord thy God.

As the great architect of all things, God is the only one capable of mapping out an exit strategy. Trust in the Lord and you will be able to withstand the shakin’ that’s goin’ on. So is it going to be the ‘Rock’ or do you prefer to roll? The choice is yours, I however say along with the Psalmist:

Psalms 62:6-8 (NKJV) He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

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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This is why I love the beach so much! It belongs to God!

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