Thursday, January 26, 2006
How Great Is God?
As I examine Genesis one and the creation story, I find a clear chronology.
God created the light and separated it from darkness. This was good. First day. God created the atmosphere and set the heavens. This was good. Second day. God caused the dry land to appear and created the plants. This was good. Third day. God created the sun, moon, and stars to shine the light He had created. This was good. Fourth day. God created the sea creatures and the birds. This was good. Fifth day. God created the land animals and man. This was good. Sixth day. God rested. This was good. Seventh day.
What can we learn from this history? Much. First, I am absolutely impressed with God's power. Under natural circumstances, nothing in recorded history has ever been created from nothing. But this is God. He transcends history and the created world. He alone has the power to do this. Second, we see the fact that this is viewed as history. It is not just a mish mash of stuff that might have happened a long time ago. This is clearly defined chronology that really happened. Third, we see that God called everything that He made good. In fact, in the end, He said very good. This was a reflection of God's character. Fourth, we see some important commands from God to His creation. He commanded the atmosphere and the lights to stay put. He also commanded the plants to produce fruit after their kind. He also told the fish, birds, beasts, and men to reproduce after their respective kind. God was decreeing consistency to His creation. I like to call it order. In other words, life in the good world was not only good, it made sense, and that was the best part about it. Fifth, we see that God rested. It is clear that He did not rest due to fatigue, but due to satisfaction. When I complete a project, I often rest because I am tired. I also should reword that. Since I cannot remember completing a project to perfection, I am really resting until the time I have to continue. This was a different rest. Throughout the Bible, each time God rests, it is because He views his task as done. This is a tribute both to God's power (never tiring) and to His perfection. He does it exactly and correctly--perfectly.
"How Great Thou Art" is a great song to sing in contemplation of God through the creation story. It should invigorate the heart with awe at God's wisdom, power, perfection, and attention to detail that is clearly evident.
God created the light and separated it from darkness. This was good. First day. God created the atmosphere and set the heavens. This was good. Second day. God caused the dry land to appear and created the plants. This was good. Third day. God created the sun, moon, and stars to shine the light He had created. This was good. Fourth day. God created the sea creatures and the birds. This was good. Fifth day. God created the land animals and man. This was good. Sixth day. God rested. This was good. Seventh day.
What can we learn from this history? Much. First, I am absolutely impressed with God's power. Under natural circumstances, nothing in recorded history has ever been created from nothing. But this is God. He transcends history and the created world. He alone has the power to do this. Second, we see the fact that this is viewed as history. It is not just a mish mash of stuff that might have happened a long time ago. This is clearly defined chronology that really happened. Third, we see that God called everything that He made good. In fact, in the end, He said very good. This was a reflection of God's character. Fourth, we see some important commands from God to His creation. He commanded the atmosphere and the lights to stay put. He also commanded the plants to produce fruit after their kind. He also told the fish, birds, beasts, and men to reproduce after their respective kind. God was decreeing consistency to His creation. I like to call it order. In other words, life in the good world was not only good, it made sense, and that was the best part about it. Fifth, we see that God rested. It is clear that He did not rest due to fatigue, but due to satisfaction. When I complete a project, I often rest because I am tired. I also should reword that. Since I cannot remember completing a project to perfection, I am really resting until the time I have to continue. This was a different rest. Throughout the Bible, each time God rests, it is because He views his task as done. This is a tribute both to God's power (never tiring) and to His perfection. He does it exactly and correctly--perfectly.
"How Great Thou Art" is a great song to sing in contemplation of God through the creation story. It should invigorate the heart with awe at God's wisdom, power, perfection, and attention to detail that is clearly evident.
Monday, January 23, 2006
One Liners
The presidential elections are over.
McCain's campaign finance idea is a nightmare, if it is anything like the system here in Portugal.
The man who won is called "center right," whatever that means.
The left of the government is a hodgepodge of communists, socialists, unionists, and other activists.
I guess that this guy is better than all that.
I am in good health.
The weather here has been stunningly beautiful.
One of the nearby villages had a huge festival to honor their patron saint.
They clearly are worshipping and venerating saints rather than the Holy One.
One of the leaders in the church spoke Sunday night (he was not the pastor).
He is on fire about the need for the Portuguese Christians to become active in their faith.
He has been denied access to public hospitals, government buildings, and some other places.
He was trying to council and evangelize, but only Roman Catholics were admitted.
He is a testimony to the fact that there is a need here more than he can fill.
I am going to Africa, but it is obvious that Portugal is another country in need of missionary work.
McCain's campaign finance idea is a nightmare, if it is anything like the system here in Portugal.
The man who won is called "center right," whatever that means.
The left of the government is a hodgepodge of communists, socialists, unionists, and other activists.
I guess that this guy is better than all that.
I am in good health.
The weather here has been stunningly beautiful.
One of the nearby villages had a huge festival to honor their patron saint.
They clearly are worshipping and venerating saints rather than the Holy One.
One of the leaders in the church spoke Sunday night (he was not the pastor).
He is on fire about the need for the Portuguese Christians to become active in their faith.
He has been denied access to public hospitals, government buildings, and some other places.
He was trying to council and evangelize, but only Roman Catholics were admitted.
He is a testimony to the fact that there is a need here more than he can fill.
I am going to Africa, but it is obvious that Portugal is another country in need of missionary work.
