Starling Theology

[Guest]

For a while now, I have been contemplating a small statement in Steps To Christ, page 9:

Quote:

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“Nature and revelation alike testify of God's love. Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature. Think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain, that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the Creator's love. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures. In the beautiful words of the psalmist--

"The eyes of all wait upon Thee;

And Thou givest them their meat in due season.

Thou openest Thine hand,

And satisfiest the desire of every living thing."

Psalm 145:15, 16.” SC.009.001

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“Nature and revelation alike” is to me the keynote of my whole idea here. In light of this phrase; I have taken to the occasional study of birds, and their needs, and habits. It is amazing what we can learn in the Bible’s use of “birds” and in some of the current scientific information about them that is available to us today.

We have all likely seen situations where someone has been literally driven from the Church. Sometimes, it is a “powerful” leader, and sometimes, just a “lowly” “laymember.” And different reasons for different people.

Lately, my study has taken me into the realm of “Bird By Bird Gardening;” and I have been looking at some interesting information about Starlings, which I feel has some correspondence with current day situations in our Church.

In Classical Starling Theology, (invented by me), we see how that the lowly Starling is actually quite hard for many to love because they are big, a bit ugly to most, and they tend to be a bit noisy and messy; they sometimes steal food “enmasse” from other birds; and yet the Starling helps other birds immensely by literally hounding and driving away any Hawks that they see in “their” territory.

Whenever a given flock of Starlings sees a Red-Tailed, or any other Hawk, either perched or flying within their sight, the entire group of Starlings will instantly go into tight formation around the predator; just a twisting and a turning and diving in unison at the Hawk. This harassment is almost always very effective in driving the poor Hawks away in total confusion. When I was “a little younger;” I actually saw this happen once when my Grandfather took me duck-hunting.

I always thought these birds to be pretty cool because of this. I know that makes me a bit unique as most do not appreciate this bird. I even knew someone who would spend whole afternoons shooting down the poor Starlings as fast as he could with his pellet gun, or even the 22 rifle. He was such a good shot too – he almost never missed.

We can and should admire and promote and study the Starlings more, because they have adapted in some extremely clever ways to humans; and in trying to live with them. They make nests in the letters of store names at the local Mall, they make nests in street lights and traffic signals. They clean up barnyards, feedlots, and fast-food parking lots. They eat up many of our common lawn pests (insects) from our lawns, and then they go after the Hawks as I just mentioned.

But even at a “bird-lover’s” place like mine or yours, the Starling can wear out his welcome at the feeder, in the back yard, or in the Garden.

There are some ways when doing your Gardens, your yards, or your birdfeeders, to deal effectively with the Starling, while still attracting them in your direction.

I am asking for forum members to join me in this topic and help me develop Starling Theology a little more by helping to further develop this modern day “parable” I have just written. I have more ideas which I will be glad to share in future posts; but I am interested in hearing your thoughts on just who in the Church might be a) one of those people that hate Starlings, the hunter which spent such long times shooting them all down as fast as he could, c) the Starlings, d) the people who especially built their gardens, yards or feeders in such a way as to better accommodate the Starlings while still providing for the other bird species that you want to attract to your place. e ) What or who would the other species of birds be that you want to attract to your place (in the Church?) f) What would be the actual "garden" in the Church?

I believe there are very important lessons in Classical Starling Theology; and I will look forward to input from others on this [:"red"]“most precious message.” [/]

[Guest]

August 8

Morning, Aug. 8th, Spurgeon:

Quote:

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“They weave the spider’s web.”

- Isa_59:5

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See the spider’s web, and behold in it a most suggestive picture of the hypocrite’s religion. It is meant to catch his prey: the spider fattens himself on flies, and the Pharisee has his reward. Foolish persons are easily entrapped by the loud professions of pretenders, and even the more judicious cannot always escape. Philip baptized Simon Magus, whose guileful declaration of faith was so soon exploded by the stern rebuke of Peter. Custom, reputation, praise, advancement, and other flies, are the small game which hypocrites take in their nets.

A spider’s web is a marvel of skill: look at it and admire the cunning hunter’s wiles. Is not a deceiver’s religion equally wonderful? How does he make so barefaced a lie appear to be a truth? How can he make his tinsel answer so well the purpose of gold? A spider’s web comes all from the creature’s own bowels. The bee gathers her wax from flowers, the spider sucks no flowers, and yet she spins out her material to any length.

Even so hypocrites find their trust and hope within themselves; their anchor was forged on their own anvil, and their cable twisted by their own hands. They lay their own foundation, and hew out the pillars of their own house, disdaining to be debtors to the sovereign grace of God.

But a spider’s web is very frail. It is curiously wrought, but not enduringly manufactured. It is no match for the servant’s broom, or the traveller’s staff. The hypocrite needs no battery of Armstrongs to blow his hope to pieces, a mere puff of wind will do it. Hypocritical cobwebs will soon come down when the besom of destruction begins its purifying work.

Which reminds us of one more thought, viz., that such cobwebs are not to be endured in the Lord’s house: he will see to it that they and those who spin them shall be destroyed for ever. O my soul, be thou resting on something better than a spider’s web. Be the Lord Jesus thine eternal hiding-place.

[Guest]

OK. I will continue as the lone poster here. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

What verse/s would you use to describe the eagles in the Church?

[olger]

Starlings are oversized flies.

<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Beryl]

Well, I don't know about eagles, but I have found the hated crow to have some very nice traits after all.

My computer area is situated where I have also a full view outside a large floor-to-almost-ceiling glass area, into a garden area under two beautiful large orange trees. I have watched with interest a family of three crows -- mum, dad, and young son. They first began visiting the area as a family last year when "son" was only small. I have watched with interest their interactions with one another. Both parents have cared for the little one, including discipline! I am not so sure about their "sharing"! The dad loves the oranges that fall from the tree. One has to be quick to pick any good ones up -- before dad has poked a hole in one with his beak, and "sucks up" the juice, lifting his head - beak towards heaven - enjoying the juice! One day son decided he wanted a bit of whatever it was that dad had. He began to pester, pester, pester! Eventually dad tore off quite a lump of the orange PEEL, and threw it to where son was as if to say, "you are not getting my orange -- you can have the peel to keep you quiet." Son played around with the peel while dad continued to enjoy his orange drink! Another time when son was in a pestering mood, dad "ordered" him up to a small fork in the low branch of the tree. Son sat there complaining bitterly about something -- but he didn't move until dad began to move away, and son got out of the branch and dutifully followed dad. Son is now at least 12 months old, but they still stay together as a family. Mum -- the proud mother, dad, the disciplinarian, and son still with his parents, although showing signs of independence.

What has always been to me a hated bird because of the cruelty displayed in farming areas where they will pick out the eyes of sheep -- and other cruel things. But here I have been able to witness another side of their nature -- a loving, stable family.

I wonder how many "crows" in the church have another side which we rarely see because we "know" what that person is like, judged on the unlovely side of their characters. Perhaps we should try a little watching, unseen through another window!

Beryl

[Clio]

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 [KJV]

This verse is usually recited as a future promise to be fulfilled only in heaven. Read it closely. Does it mention future promise? No! It says that those who wait on the Lord. Not in the future, but now, will mount up with wings as eagles.

Andrew Murray was the son of Scots missionaries to South Africa in the early 1800's. He was ordained as a minister of the Dutch Reformed church in 1848. He paints a beautiful picture of how baby eagles are taught to fly.

"Do you know how the eagle's wings are obtained?" he wrote. "In only one way, by the eagle's birth. You are born of God. You have the eagle's wings. You may not have known it; you may not have used them; but God can and will teach you to use them."

"Do you know how the eagles are taught to use their wings? See yonder cliff rising a thousand feet out of the sea. See high up a ledge on the rock, where there is an eagle's nest with it's treasure of two young eaglets. See the mother bird come and stir up her nest, and with her beak push the timid birds over the precipice. See how she 'fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings' (Deuteronomy 32:11) and so, as they ride upon her wings, brings them to a place of safety. And so she does once and again, each time casting out over the precipice, and then again taking and carrying them.

Yes, the instinct of that eagle mother was God's gift, a single ray of lat love in which the Almighty trains His people to mount as on eagle's wings. He stirs up your nest. He disappoints your hopes, He brings down our confidence. He makes you fear and tremble, as all your strength fails, and feel utterly wearly and helpless.

And all the while He is spreading His strong wings for you to rest your weakness on.

All He asks is that you should sink down in your weariness and wait on Him; and allow Him to carry you as you ride upon the wings of His monipotence."

~Andrew Murray~

(an excerpt from my book, "A Mother's Heart ~ Meditations for Daughters")