God of All Creation
This summer I hope you will take time to enjoy the wonderful creation that God has given to us. In our Sunday School class, we have been watching the "Case For A Creator." In that class we were reminded again and again of the incredible complexity of the universe. From the little machines in some simple cells to the orchestrated expanse of the galaxy. All round us we see God's handiwork and the wonder of his power.
Genesis 1:1-5 begins the story of creation. In it we see the words "And God saw that it was good."
In the beginning God reated the heavens and the earth.
The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface.
Then God said, "let there be light," and there was light.
And God saw that it was good. The he separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light "day" and the darkness "night."
Together these made up one day.
As you wander through the world, have fun as a family or an individual playing the "I see God" game. Wherever you are or whatever you are doing, (except maybe driving in heavy traffic), take a look around and take notice of God's handiwork and then make a list and share it with each other. It's a good way to slow yourself down in a fast pace world and see God at work in both profound and in simple ways.
Is the Church All It's Quacked Up to Be
Fascinated by the conduct of flying geese, Dr. Robert McNeish wrote, "Lessons From Geese" for a sermon in his church in 1972. Demonstrating the power of a good idea, his essay spread and has become a classic statement of the importance of teamwork.
FACT: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
LESSON: People who share a comon direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
FACT: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies to the point position.
LESSON: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.
FACT: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
LESSON: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
FACT When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
LESSON: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
I hope you enjoyed that reminder from nature.
Now I want to give you an assignment.
As you take time this summer to enjoy your world, I would like you to share with us the lessons you have learned from God's creation. Please reflect and write those reflections down and turn them into the office. We will edit them to a page or two in August for the September newletter. You can write a deep analogy or a simple observation. You can be young and have help from your parents or you can be a great grandparent. All are invited to stop and look and then record what you have learned.
Have fun seeing God's handiwork.