O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully
restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may
share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share
our humanity, you Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.
Because I know you care…
AFC:
Wildcard – Dolphins over Ravens, Colts over Chargers
Divisional – Colts over Titans, Steelers over Dolphins
Championship – Steelers over Colts
NFC:
Wildcard – Cardinals over Falcons, Vikings over Eagles
Divisional – Panthers over Vikings, Giants over Cardinals
Championship – Panthers over Giants
Super Bowl:
Panthers over Steelers
Here’s some stuff I came across this week…
1. Does the church promote abortion by its response to pregnancy?Have a great weekend!
Proskunew, means to kiss at the feet of someone. This word, translated worship, has implications of how we are to worship. To subscribe to this podcast please go to iTunes and subscribe to “The Koine Greek Word of the Day Podcast”.
God’s desire is to meet our needs. God cares for us and wants us to live fulfilling lives. Look what God did in Genesis 2. First God gave the man life; we take life for granted but it’s a big deal. Then God provided for all of the man’s physical needs; the Creator gave the man food to eat and water to drink and a place to live. God gave the man work to do so that his life would not be meaningless. God provided the man a companion so he would not be alone. In doing all of these things, God’s desire was to meet the needs of the man (and eventually the woman).
God also gave the man and the woman boundaries. The Creator told the man and the woman to enjoy, use, and care for all of creation, but they were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. All of the man and the woman’s needs were met; they were given food, shelter, responsibility, companionship, and boundaries. These are the same things parents make sure their children have so they can mature toward being adults.
I would argue that God also provides for us today. Today before I ate I thanked God for providing me food. God has provided me with a job so that I and my family have shelter. God has given me the responsibility of raising my children, caring for my spouse, and ministering to my community. God has provided me with the companionship of a wonderful wife and challenging friends. God has revealed boundaries across which I am not supposed to go; when I do cross these boundaries I am being destructive to myself and to others. God provides and I need to be continuously thankful for all that he has given me.
Biblos, meaning book, is the first word of the New Testament. While it only appears a few times in the Bible there is significance in its usage. To subscribe to this podcast please go to iTunes and subscribe to “The Koine Greek Word of the Day Podcast“.
I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain – and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.
I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.
I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,
But not to call me back or say goodbye;
And further still at an unearthly height,
One luminary clock against the sky
Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.
These days when I read Genesis 1 I can almost here music playing in the background. In my mind I see people sitting around a fire and listening intently to the story/song of God creating. The people want answers to the basic questions of life: Where did we come from? Why are we here? What is our relationship to nature? What is our relationship to God? Who is God? And the people were given the beautiful song of Genesis 1 to reveal God to them.
Where did we come from? God created us; in fact God created us as special and unique creatures who are inherently different from the other animals of creation. Why are we here? To care for and tend to God’s creation; we are responsible for the Kingdom of God. What is our relationship to nature? We are to live in and alongside nature while we carefully use nature to meet our needs. What is our relationship with God? We are created in the image of God as fellow workers; we are stewards over God’s kingdom on earth for a time. Who is God? The creator, the one to whom all of existence is in debt.
The next time you read Genesis 1, go off by yourself to a private place where you will not feel self-conscious and sing the chapter. Imagine you are singing to that group around the fire; you are trying to bring them a little closer to God by singing to them the answers to the questions they ask. Sing the most beautiful song, the song of God’s creation. It will be beautiful regardless of your singing abilities because it is a song of God.
