November 5, 2023

The Shepherd's Corner

The Bible is not a science book; it is a book about God, the creator of this vast universe, therein. The Bible tells us that God created this universe, but it does not tell us how exactly that He did it other than through His Word.  But the more science tells us about this universe the more awed we are by the greatness of God.  James Webb Space telescope, NASA’s latest telescope, launched in 2021, can now give us a view of the galaxies and stars forming in the darkness over 13.5 billion years ago.  God was already there, 13.5 billion years ago.

A friend in the Bible school shared an experience that had left an indelible mark in his soul.  It was the experience of listening to a message delivered by his seminary professor while he was studying there.  The entire message was about his experiences that he went through in life but what he said at the conclusion of each experience was what touched my friend deeply. He always ended it with, “And God was there.”  God was there; God is here; and God will be here.   

Psalm 8 is a Psalm of David; in it he wrote about the majesty of God.  Listen to the rendering of Verses 3 and 4 by Eugene Peterson in The Message, “I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry.  Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, why do you bother with us?  Why take a second look our way?”  In other translation, Verse 4 says, “What is man that You are mindful of him and the son of man that You visit him?”  Why does God bother with us?  Why does God take a second look our way?  Why is God mindful of us?  And why does God visit us?  And why was He there in that dark alley of life? 

The answer is simple: Because He loves us!  Like the good old song says, “He left the splendor of heaven.” Because God so loved us, He left the splendor of heaven to be with us.  If that isn’t love, what is?

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - January 24, 2016
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER We can die, animals can die, and plants can die. Stars can also die, and when it does, it usually explodes, sending various elements into the cosmos, creating a super bright light. Recently scientists just spotted a supernova—the huge explosion of a dying star—that has br...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - September 6, 2020
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Over 40 years Rick and Fran Love came to our church to familiarize themselves with Indonesian culture.  They were still in their late 20s and preparing for ministry in Indonesia.  Despite their relatively young ages they were clear with the purpose of their lives—...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - November 21, 2021
You might still remember Lyna, the restaurant server who suffered a brain hemorrhage that left her paralyzed. God called her home last year and yesterday her mother, whom I call Aunty Yen, went back to Indonesia for good. When I think of her, I am reminded that we really do not know about tomorrow. ...
Read More