When Carl Sagan was alive, SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence) got a lot of media attention. I have not heard much about it since his death until this past week and Time's report on Paul Allen's gift of 25 million to install a set of 42 dish antennas in Hat Creek. California..
Allen is the co-founder of Mircrosoft, owner of the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Seattle Seahawks so he has the cash to give to the University of California to fund their latest attempt to listen for voices from outer space.
Now I'm all for learning all that we can about outer space and fascinated by radio signals that might give us more insight into the incredible universe. But I have always questioned why scientists will spend millions trying to discover intelligent life that might be out there when they won't listen to a communication from Heaven that is available right at your local Barnes and Nobles.
If there is some great superior Intelligence, you would expect him or her to have the smarts to communicate with us long before the invention of the computer chip or improved radio telescopes.
This is exactly what the Apostle Paul claims in Romans 10:6. We don't have to ascend to the highest heaven. God has already sent His Son from the highest heaven to reveal Himself on planet earth. Check out my discussion on Romans 10:1-15 in our Truth Encounter message this week.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Global Cerebral Atrophy against God's Will
God's will isn't being done in the life of one of our precious new little babies in Midlothian Bible Church, the church where my wife and I serve!
Mary just returned from Children's Hospital in Dallas where a neurologist and a paediatrician informed one of our young families, Jason and Lauren Kunz and their daughter Malory, that little Grant has global cerebral atrophy. The physicians can't agree on the prognosis, but neither doctor gave us good news, and this is why Jesus taught us to pray "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!"
Yes, history is being written according to the divine Author's hand. He has a sovereign decreed will, but a lot of things are included in the present story that make Him angry, frustrated, and hurt. A lot of things, like a baby's illness, happen against His heart, against the way that things are done in heaven.
Our Lord is angry that the curse of sin has been able to touch Grant's little body and He invites us to pray that we might see a glimpse of His coming Kingdom where there will be no more brain malfunction, eye problems, or hearts that don't beat the right rhythm.
We need to pray for healing, for the miracle of seeing in the present God's life giving Heavenly will. During this time of trouble for the Kunz family, our MBC family needs to complete their family circle by giving them our prayers, compassion, and love. You can join us in praying for them.
This Sunday morning at MBC we will be taking a look at what the Divine Potter is up to in the lives of the Jewish people and in our lives. You can join us on Monday morning as Mary makes the teaching of Romans 9:19-32 availabe to you on the Internet. Here's a preview.
Have you ever seen a skilled potter shaping a vase? Now animate that picture. Imagine that the clay suddenly jumps off the spinning wheel and declares to the potter, "You don't exist!" Or "You're an idiot. I'd rather do it my way!"
Sound ridiculous? Its what a lot of us do when we resist our Creator's skilful hands. Romans 9 declares that with all of our strutting and fist raising, we are after all just clay in the Potter's hands. The question is--Will we respond to His merciful touch or have to be trashed because of hardened resistance.
Do you have some friends that haven't heard God's Word in a while or possibly never? Invite them to come and sit with you this Sunday as you gather with your local church family, and then take them out to eat. You can also invite your friends who won't darken the door of church to check out what we are learning from the Book of Romans at www.truthencounter.com .
Maybe the Potter will use you as He places His hands on someone else's life.
Mary just returned from Children's Hospital in Dallas where a neurologist and a paediatrician informed one of our young families, Jason and Lauren Kunz and their daughter Malory, that little Grant has global cerebral atrophy. The physicians can't agree on the prognosis, but neither doctor gave us good news, and this is why Jesus taught us to pray "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!"
Yes, history is being written according to the divine Author's hand. He has a sovereign decreed will, but a lot of things are included in the present story that make Him angry, frustrated, and hurt. A lot of things, like a baby's illness, happen against His heart, against the way that things are done in heaven.
Our Lord is angry that the curse of sin has been able to touch Grant's little body and He invites us to pray that we might see a glimpse of His coming Kingdom where there will be no more brain malfunction, eye problems, or hearts that don't beat the right rhythm.
We need to pray for healing, for the miracle of seeing in the present God's life giving Heavenly will. During this time of trouble for the Kunz family, our MBC family needs to complete their family circle by giving them our prayers, compassion, and love. You can join us in praying for them.
This Sunday morning at MBC we will be taking a look at what the Divine Potter is up to in the lives of the Jewish people and in our lives. You can join us on Monday morning as Mary makes the teaching of Romans 9:19-32 availabe to you on the Internet. Here's a preview.
Have you ever seen a skilled potter shaping a vase? Now animate that picture. Imagine that the clay suddenly jumps off the spinning wheel and declares to the potter, "You don't exist!" Or "You're an idiot. I'd rather do it my way!"
Sound ridiculous? Its what a lot of us do when we resist our Creator's skilful hands. Romans 9 declares that with all of our strutting and fist raising, we are after all just clay in the Potter's hands. The question is--Will we respond to His merciful touch or have to be trashed because of hardened resistance.
Do you have some friends that haven't heard God's Word in a while or possibly never? Invite them to come and sit with you this Sunday as you gather with your local church family, and then take them out to eat. You can also invite your friends who won't darken the door of church to check out what we are learning from the Book of Romans at www.truthencounter.com .
Maybe the Potter will use you as He places His hands on someone else's life.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
A Covenant Promise
This Friday my wife and I jumped in our Tundra like good Texans and headed close to the Oklahoma border for Pilot Point, nestled on the shores of Lake Ray Roberts. We scoped things out early in the afternoon so that we would know where to go for the evening wedding rehearsal.
The rehearsal dinner was in Denton and then we headed for the fairy tale setting.
My wife is a skilled administrator. So she took the lead in instructing two families who were just beginning to get to know each other and friends of the groom and friends of the bride on the intricacies of escorting grandparents, parents, and then finally pulling off an orderly procession to set the stage for the bride and her dad.
The next evening at 7:00 with the sun setting over the lake the bride and groom stood together under the cupola and repeated before God "I do promise and covenant before God and these witnesses to be your loving and faithful husband (wife) in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."
I know that more than fifty percent of American marriages end in divorce, but as I challenged this brand new husband and wife to remember that these promises could only be kept by relying completely upon the forgiveness of the Savior who died for them and who can fuel their promise keeping with His resurrection power, I thanked the Lord again for the incredible privilege of being a pastor and having Him use me to challenge another couple to build their home on amazing grace. Please rememember to pray for Aaron and Melanie and the young couples you have the responsibility to support because you witnessed their sacred vows.
The rehearsal dinner was in Denton and then we headed for the fairy tale setting.
My wife is a skilled administrator. So she took the lead in instructing two families who were just beginning to get to know each other and friends of the groom and friends of the bride on the intricacies of escorting grandparents, parents, and then finally pulling off an orderly procession to set the stage for the bride and her dad.
The next evening at 7:00 with the sun setting over the lake the bride and groom stood together under the cupola and repeated before God "I do promise and covenant before God and these witnesses to be your loving and faithful husband (wife) in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."
I know that more than fifty percent of American marriages end in divorce, but as I challenged this brand new husband and wife to remember that these promises could only be kept by relying completely upon the forgiveness of the Savior who died for them and who can fuel their promise keeping with His resurrection power, I thanked the Lord again for the incredible privilege of being a pastor and having Him use me to challenge another couple to build their home on amazing grace. Please rememember to pray for Aaron and Melanie and the young couples you have the responsibility to support because you witnessed their sacred vows.
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