Original Post Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens - and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground - the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:4-7
Man was sculpted by God's own hand. But a sculpture is not alive. A sculpture can be beautiful and captivating, but it cannot talk, reason or love. God wanted a companion not a decoration for his courtyard.
Every single one of us was formed by God's hand (Jer. 1:5). Not one of us takes our first breath or last except by God's will.
Two of my brothers were stillborn. My mother still grieves for them, yet knows that somehow God's wisdom prevailed. He did not breathe into their nostrils the breath of life. He did not entrust them with the opportunity to live and grow and make their mark in the world. When I think of my brothers, I am convicted that I've not done more with this gift, this privilege we call life.
Life is a series of stolen moments. If we don't cherish them while they're here, they are gone forever. And, at the moment when God chooses, our breath stops and the book of life closes. Nothing therein can be added or changed. One chance, one privilege, one life.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
ACCOMPLISHMENT & BEAUTY
Original Post Date: Friday, July 11, 2008
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 1:31-2:3Accomplishment is one of the abilities and emotions that we inherited when we were created in God's image. The Creator, like an artist, takes a step back from the completed masterpiece we call Earth and breathes a sigh of satisfaction. "This is good - very good."
Like a toymaker testing a new wind up toy he has just finished, God takes a day to stop His work and enjoy the scenery. The birds are soaring above the trees, riding the thermals. The caterpillar is inching along a tree branch, dreaming of the day it will take its own flight as a butterfly. Adam sits on the soft grass and gazes into the eyes of the most beautiful creature he has yet seen in the most glorious paradise that ever existed.
Peace and beauty abound.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
EVERY LIVING THING EATS PLANTS
Original Post Date: July 3, 2008
Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food." And it was so. Genesis 1:29-30
Isn't it strange to think that humans were created to be vegetarians and all the animals were created to be herbivores? Scripture tells us that it wasn't until after the Flood that humans and some animals began to eat meat. Until then, animals were not afraid of humans and, I suspect, weren't afraid of each other.
The issue of fear with animals has been a heartbreaking topic for me. I am a huge animal lover. I want to pet them, hold them and share in the goodness God put inside of them. This fear that God put in them after the Flood keeps me from being able to do that.
I come from a family of hunters. I would imaging that my dad and brother are very grateful that they didn't live in the pre-Flood era. What sport would there have been for men before there was hunting and fishing? Perhaps they had games to keep them busy - football anyone?
Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food." And it was so. Genesis 1:29-30
Isn't it strange to think that humans were created to be vegetarians and all the animals were created to be herbivores? Scripture tells us that it wasn't until after the Flood that humans and some animals began to eat meat. Until then, animals were not afraid of humans and, I suspect, weren't afraid of each other.
The issue of fear with animals has been a heartbreaking topic for me. I am a huge animal lover. I want to pet them, hold them and share in the goodness God put inside of them. This fear that God put in them after the Flood keeps me from being able to do that.
I come from a family of hunters. I would imaging that my dad and brother are very grateful that they didn't live in the pre-Flood era. What sport would there have been for men before there was hunting and fishing? Perhaps they had games to keep them busy - football anyone?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
A Word About Diversity
Original Post Date: June 24, 2008
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Throughout the Creation account, Scripture tells us how God created various kinds of creatures. He not only created two birds, but many kinds of birds. Not just two fish, but many kinds of fish. But when He created mankind, He only made two - male and female.
The Bible does not indicate that the various ethnicities were created at the beginning. Only one race was created - the human race. So, how did the various races form?
We see here in Genesis 1 that God instructed the first man and woman to multiply and fill the earth. We know from Genesis 11 that the people did not do this, but rather clustered in one place. Because of their disobedience, God confused their languages and scattered them. Was this the beginning of cultures? If so, does this make cultural and racial differences a result of sin or of natural selection? The Bible doesn't say.
What I think we can gather from Scripture is that God views all people, regardless of race, as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. We are equal in our status, in our sin and in our opportunity for salvation.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Throughout the Creation account, Scripture tells us how God created various kinds of creatures. He not only created two birds, but many kinds of birds. Not just two fish, but many kinds of fish. But when He created mankind, He only made two - male and female.
The Bible does not indicate that the various ethnicities were created at the beginning. Only one race was created - the human race. So, how did the various races form?
We see here in Genesis 1 that God instructed the first man and woman to multiply and fill the earth. We know from Genesis 11 that the people did not do this, but rather clustered in one place. Because of their disobedience, God confused their languages and scattered them. Was this the beginning of cultures? If so, does this make cultural and racial differences a result of sin or of natural selection? The Bible doesn't say.
What I think we can gather from Scripture is that God views all people, regardless of race, as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. We are equal in our status, in our sin and in our opportunity for salvation.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
A WORD ABOUT DOMINION
Original Post Date: Friday, June 20, 2008
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:26-28
From the moment God created us, we were in control of the earth. We were created to rule. It had to be so. Because God rules, the people created in His likeness had to be given a realm to rule too. And what, specifically, is our domain as God describes it? Fish, birds and land animals.
As I sit here, my pet dove is pruning her feathers and my dog is begging for the crumbs from my breakfast. I am their master. They know it and I know it. It was ordained from the beginning. As their master, it is my responsibility to make sure they’re taken care of.
God wants mankind to do that for all the animals, not just our pets. Sometimes we do well, like when we set apart nature reserves or make a species endangered. Other times we don’t do so well, like when our urban sprawl encroaches animal habitats.
How well we rule will be a testimony to God of our faithfulness to the responsibility He gave us. May each of us do our best to care and influence those in power to care more about the world of our dominion.
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:26-28
From the moment God created us, we were in control of the earth. We were created to rule. It had to be so. Because God rules, the people created in His likeness had to be given a realm to rule too. And what, specifically, is our domain as God describes it? Fish, birds and land animals.
As I sit here, my pet dove is pruning her feathers and my dog is begging for the crumbs from my breakfast. I am their master. They know it and I know it. It was ordained from the beginning. As their master, it is my responsibility to make sure they’re taken care of.
God wants mankind to do that for all the animals, not just our pets. Sometimes we do well, like when we set apart nature reserves or make a species endangered. Other times we don’t do so well, like when our urban sprawl encroaches animal habitats.
How well we rule will be a testimony to God of our faithfulness to the responsibility He gave us. May each of us do our best to care and influence those in power to care more about the world of our dominion.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
To my writing group friends:
You'll be happy to hear that I actually posted on Yahoo! the review of Barcelona restaurant that I wrote at group on Monday night. Here's the link...
Yahoo! Local - Barcelona Restaurant & Bar
http://local.yahoo.com/info-15439369-barcelona-restaurant-bar-columbus
I received another e-mail encouraging me to consider turning STICK TOGETHER LIKE GLUE into a book rather than a blog series. I'm getting excited about trying to write a chapter or two and see how it goes.
Thanks for all your encouragement and for letting God work in and through your writing to bless people's lives.
You'll be happy to hear that I actually posted on Yahoo! the review of Barcelona restaurant that I wrote at group on Monday night. Here's the link...
Yahoo! Local - Barcelona Restaurant & Bar
http://local.yahoo.com/info-15439369-barcelona-restaurant-bar-columbus
I received another e-mail encouraging me to consider turning STICK TOGETHER LIKE GLUE into a book rather than a blog series. I'm getting excited about trying to write a chapter or two and see how it goes.
Thanks for all your encouragement and for letting God work in and through your writing to bless people's lives.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
LAND ANIMALS
Original Post Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:24-25
Listen to how God categorizes this day’s creation: livestock, creatures that move along the ground and wild animals. From the very beginning, some animals were destined to be domestic. Farming and grazing were ordained before the Fall of Man.
This brings up a good question, however. We know from the biblical account of Creation and the Flood that mankind did not eat meat until after the Flood (Gen. 1:30, 9:3). If this is the case, why would God have ordained the keeping of livestock when He created animals? I believe it was for the benefit of animal byproducts. Wool, milk and horns could be utilized in various ways. Then, when an animal died, their hide could be used for clothing and their bones to fashion tools. Besides, the animal feces could be used as fertilizer to aid in growing the plants that humans did eat at the time.
The old saying, “Waste not, want not,” probably played a major role in human survival during this time. It’s too bad that we’ve lost that cultural value here in America.
And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:24-25
Listen to how God categorizes this day’s creation: livestock, creatures that move along the ground and wild animals. From the very beginning, some animals were destined to be domestic. Farming and grazing were ordained before the Fall of Man.
This brings up a good question, however. We know from the biblical account of Creation and the Flood that mankind did not eat meat until after the Flood (Gen. 1:30, 9:3). If this is the case, why would God have ordained the keeping of livestock when He created animals? I believe it was for the benefit of animal byproducts. Wool, milk and horns could be utilized in various ways. Then, when an animal died, their hide could be used for clothing and their bones to fashion tools. Besides, the animal feces could be used as fertilizer to aid in growing the plants that humans did eat at the time.
The old saying, “Waste not, want not,” probably played a major role in human survival during this time. It’s too bad that we’ve lost that cultural value here in America.
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