Tag Archives: Creation

The Blessing of Diversity

diversityLiving in the Spirit
October 14, 2015

Scripture Reading: Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c

O Lord, how manifold are your works!
   In wisdom you have made them all;
   the earth is full of your creatures. –Psalm 104:24

I think we sometimes forget that God created the earth to be manifold—diverse. It is interesting that some take offense at scientific explanations of creation. I, on the other hand, think it is one of the greatest compliments we pay God to invest our energies in trying to figure out exactly how God made all this happen. A surgeon once told me that he was rather agnostic about God until he started studying the human body and realized what a marvelous invention it was.

It also makes sense to me that if God created a diversity of people, God had reasons for doing so and we need to respect those reasons as we respect the differences in people. I worshipped yesterday evening with one of the most diverse group that could be gathered. Most were homeless, although one in sharing her blessing for the week with the group told of finally finding someone who would rent to her using her housing voucher. She took her seat and in a few moments returned to speak again in this part of the service set aside for sharing blessings. She wanted to thank her case manager for sticking with her through it all and believing in her. She choked up while expressing her thanksgiving it meant so much to her.

Today let us praise the Lord for the wonderful work of God’s hands and reflect that praise in how we love one another.

Prayer: O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed: 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!* Amen.

*First verse and refrain of How Great Thou Art by Stuart K. Hine. See at http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/h/o/w/how_great_Thou_art.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Made in the Image of God

RainbowEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
February 17, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Genesis 9:8-17

God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’ God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.’ — Genesis 9:12-17

When you see a rainbow, do you recall God’s promise to Noah, to all of us actually? God committed to remembering that promise each time a rainbow appears in the sky. We should do that also. Rainbows are beautiful, representing the full spectrum of color.

I read the young adult book, the Giver, recently. It describes a colorless world devised to avoid change, conflict, and struggle. It prescribes a sanitized life with no meaning and no love. Like Hitler, it carefully extracts from the world anyone who is different or drifts from the sanctioned ways. There is, however, one person, the Giver, who is responsible for maintaining the memory of life before this chosen way. The story is about the current Giver passing that history to his replacement and raises the question: is there salvation for such a world as this?

People were created in the image of God and God is an innovator, a pioneer, a thinker who struggles with tough challenges and searches for solutions that can further God’s creation through God’s love and the love God instilled in each of us. God sent God’s son to show us the way of love. We are called to follow Christ’s example as innovators, pioneers, and thinkers, not run away and hide.

Prayer: Embolden us Lord, to act like you created us in your image by loving like you do. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

God’s Power

Jesus'baptismEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 7, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Psalm 29

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
   ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
   worship the Lord in holy splendor. 

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
   the God of glory thunders,
   the Lord, over mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
   the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. — Psalm 29:1-4

 As we prepare for the observation of the baptism of Jesus this Sunday, we are reminded in our scripture today that the power of the voice of the Lord was recognized from the beginning of time when God spoke creation.  God’s voice was also heard identifying Jesus as God’s Son, the Beloved, at his baptism.

My dog, Hefner, had a broad vocabulary and responded to actual words not just the tone of my voice. He lived with me all 13 years of his life except for the six weeks with his mother. I was thus accustomed to communicating with my dog verbally. A few months after Hef’s death Micah came to live with me and I had to relearn my communication skills. I don’t think he ever understood a word I said. One day I discovered by accident that he was very visual and immediately responded to hand signals. He and I developed our own little sign language that served us well for many years. What I did learn in this process was that Micah did respond to the tone of my voice. While playing in the yard, he ran out the gate toward a very busy street. He had no experience with traffic. Whatever my panic-laden voice said to him he stopped in his track and looked back at me with a new found respect. Stood there until I was able to pick him up and return him to the enclosed yard and the freedom of his fenced area.

The first verse of our scripture today says we are to ascribe—acknowledge as the cause, author or source—the power of God that can create worlds. If we grasp that reality, the introduction of God’s son as God with us becomes even more profound.

Prayer: Lord we acknowledge your power and your glory. We thank you for your gift of Jesus to show us the way, the truth, and the life. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.