Long to Worship? (Satire from The Babylon Bee)

Worldviews

SPACE — This week, NASA unveiled photos of distant galaxy clusters now visible from the world’s most powerful telescope. After seeing the images, millions have reported an uncontrollable urge to praise whoever may have created such a majestic, expansive universe.

“We’re not religious or anything, but my wife and I both felt compelled to give glory to a higher power — as if there were a higher power than multiverses, monkeys, and primordial sludge!” Local man Dave Deaver scoffed while speaking to reporters, emphasizing his unshakable faith in the unguided evolution of a godless reality. He added that the images made it difficult to suppress his instinct to glorify some kind of creator, who he again clarified doesn’t exist.

Even NASA scientists who submitted to interviews reported feeling overwhelmed at the incredible view. “We were blown away, so we’ve been singing worship songs to the universe, giving thanks in our hearts always to The Science, and singing to one another with psalms, hymns, and material songs.” Dr. Lab Coats spoke about re-orienting the impulse to praise a creator. His research partner, Dr. Bundson Berner, elaborated that it was important to acknowledge such impulses, but to dismiss them as “an embarrassing evolutionary lag.”

At publishing time, additional documentation has claimed that “the heavens declare the glory of God,” but it has yet to be peer-reviewed.

 

The Theology of Calvin . . . and Hobbes (Creation)

The Bible teaches that we are made in the image and likeness of God. The Creator. So, of course, we want to create! But in all our creations, we need to be super vigilant that WE don’t receive the credit or think that WE should be praised and admired. HE gives us the ability to imitate Him in His creativeness. And the Triune God wanted to invite human beings into His circle of love which has always existed between Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

The Theology of Calvin . . . and Hobbes (Reshaping the Universe)

We are made in the image and likeness of God. But we are not the Creator. We can, indeed, be creative, but He is the One to be worshiped and served. Science, the demigod of our present culture, should point us to God, not away from Him. Man is not his own Creator — but can choose to worship creation instead of the Triune God.

 

What a Surprise! A Free Cruise in Europe! Part 4

Linda and I have been given a free river cruise on a 90-passenger ship in Europe! Our friends, Jeff and Gina, founded Teeming River Cruises two years ago and their cruises are about 1/3 of the cost of Viking cruises; their website is here. We had a great time with them two years ago on their inaugural voyage.

I will conduct a Sunday service for the passengers and crew on August 25th. Please pray for God to guide me as I prepare for that service. I’ll be going over the wonderful story in Luke 5. Let’s look at that text one more time:

I don’t really have a title for my message yet and am open to your ideas! But we have so far looked at verses 1-3 and suggested that Simon Peter was —

I. Doing a Religious Teacher a Favor (vv. 1-3)

Peter had to be a bit proud of his helping Jesus out of an acoustical dilemma. Peter’s boat provided Jesus some distance from those who wanted to hear Him, and maybe added to the ambiance of the meeting.

But Jesus, although He had concluded His lecture, isn’t done speaking. He gives Peter a command: “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (v. 4). Peter and his companions are now challenged with …

II. Recognizing Who Jesus REALLY  Is! (vv. 4-10)

Jesus is invading Peter’s area of expertise by telling him when and where to fish! Simon Peter’s response is: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything” (v. 5). Is there anything sadder than a fisherman who puts up his hands to describe his catch of fish and he has to make a big ZERO with his fingers? Zilch. Nada. Nothing. And now Jesus wants them to get their nets dirty again even though the fish aren’t biting.

Jesus has stepped out of His role as spiritual teacher and has entered Peter’s world of catching fish. And Jesus doesn’t say to him, “Let’s see if you can catch a few …” He says, “for a catch.” As if Jesus could guarantee success to these exhausted and frustrated fishermen!

Perhaps Peter doesn’t want to embarrass Jesus by refusing His request, and he agrees to do what Jesus told him to do. Don’t you just love Peter’s totally honest response: “But because you say so, I will let down the nets”? Against all reason, contrary to all sure evidence of a repeated failure, Peter obeys.

The Challenge: Where in your life is your “but because You say so”? What is Jesus asking you to do that can be done only by stepping out in faith and obedience? (to be continued)

 

Creating Your Own Car! (Time for a Great Commercial!)

Oh, if it were that simple to just think a new car into existence!  Without getting too spiritual, isn’t it true that man really wants to be his own CREATOR?  Part of our being made in the image of God is our ability to create, but this video defies all logic, doesn’t it?  It seems the parts of this new car just materialize out of thin air at the wishes of the young man sitting down.

That’s power, isn’t it?  While ingenuous, this commercial doesn’t inspire me to find the building he was on, plot myself down on that simple chair, and think a new car into existence around me!  It makes me grateful for man’s creativity — which he got from His Maker!

 

Great Quote from J. Vernon McGee: “You Don’t Have a Universe!”

“This is God’s universe, and God does things His way.You may have a better way, but you don’t have a universe!”