Angela Hunt had this video on her blog and I can't stop thinking about it. I've always liked astronomy and for a while in high school thought I might like to study it. All the math got in the way, though. Space--the universe--fascinates me.
This image goes far beyond fascination. It astounds me. It humbles me. It literally makes me tremble.
Here is a link for another video.
Ok, so here are my thoughts.
I believe that God created the earth just as related in Genesis. I believe in the Biblical time-line that says our earth is only around 6-7,000 years old. But maybe there were many other galaxies in existence before ours. There isn't anything in the Bible to refute the possibility that the universe as a whole hasn't existed for eons.
God has no beginning. He has always existed. Why would He only recently decide that He wanted beings with which to interact?
What if many billions of years ago He created a galaxy and populated it? Interacted with it? Was loved and worshiped there?
Then another galaxy with other beings and another and another throughout eternity?
Why not? People seem to think it's not Christian to think there might be other beings in the universe, but I'm not sure why. I don't see anything wrong with it. Sure, the Bible doesn't come out and say that it is true, but I also don't see anything in the Bible about viruses and they exist. Is God obligated to tell us about everything He has done or made?
The idea that there are populations beyond ours is satisfying to me. God deserves so much more than what He gets from Earthlings alone.
And here's something that occurred to me as I thought of this.
Jesus told His disciples that in His Father's house are many rooms. "I go to prepare a place for you."
He was using the word "you" in the plural sense. He was talking to his followers--us. But he said place. Not places. As if perhaps He is preparing one room for us--all of us. Then who is in the other rooms?
To me, to think that the universe is full of other people who love and worship God and who will be in his House with us is... I don't know. It makes me feel excited and joyful and pleased. And very, very small. Very, very humble.
So, take my thoughts with a grain of salt and let me know what you think. But be nice. If you must call me a wacko, be sweet about it.
And one parting thought. How can I ever, EVER again, think that in any way God is not big enough?
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
interesting blogs
My blog certainly hasn't been interesting lately. Sorry about that. I can't seem to think of anything to say that I haven't already said.
But I have found some blogs that are fun to look at.
This one is by a woman who buys used books. She posts pictures of the random things she finds in the books. It's called, simply enough, Forgotten Bookmarks.
This one is by the same woman and is where she puts all of the recipes she finds. It's called Handwritten Recipes.
This one makes me laugh out loud. It's all kinds of cakes gone wrong. Cake Wrecks.
If you've got a topic for me--something to stir my brain--let me know. I miss blogging!
But I have found some blogs that are fun to look at.
This one is by a woman who buys used books. She posts pictures of the random things she finds in the books. It's called, simply enough, Forgotten Bookmarks.
This one is by the same woman and is where she puts all of the recipes she finds. It's called Handwritten Recipes.
This one makes me laugh out loud. It's all kinds of cakes gone wrong. Cake Wrecks.
If you've got a topic for me--something to stir my brain--let me know. I miss blogging!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
easier said than done
My friend Anna mentioned on Facebook that something was easier said than done (I don't remember what). So our mutual friend Tom took the idea for a question of the day on his Facebook page.
I'm stealing the whole thing and using it for a blog post.
In recompense, I will tell you to read Tom's blog (Anna doesn't have one, so she gets nothin). In my sidebar is a link to Flavory Llama. His writing is sharp and he is very funny. My favorite is the post about the toupee.
Now, with that done...
Wouldn't it be nice if some things were as easy to do as to say? I suppose the only time this might happen is in the case of legalese. They have a complicated and confusing way of saying "sign the paper."
But in general it's easier to say than to do something.
If only cleaning my house were as easy as saying "I'm gonna clean my house".
If only letting go of something (the past, a grudge, a child) were as easy as saying "I'm letting it go".
If only faith were as easy as saying "I'm trusting God with that."
If only...
The Bible says to let our yes be yes and our no be no.
What if "I'll call you; we'll do lunch" meant that I would really call and set up a lunch date?
What if "I'll pray for you" meant that I actually prayed, regularly, for you.
Sometimes we say things just because it is so much easier than doing. We still get a little credit. It shows our good intentions, after all.
But what if we started doing the things we say we will? Either that or stop saying so much.
I'm stealing the whole thing and using it for a blog post.
In recompense, I will tell you to read Tom's blog (Anna doesn't have one, so she gets nothin). In my sidebar is a link to Flavory Llama. His writing is sharp and he is very funny. My favorite is the post about the toupee.
Now, with that done...
Wouldn't it be nice if some things were as easy to do as to say? I suppose the only time this might happen is in the case of legalese. They have a complicated and confusing way of saying "sign the paper."
But in general it's easier to say than to do something.
If only cleaning my house were as easy as saying "I'm gonna clean my house".
If only letting go of something (the past, a grudge, a child) were as easy as saying "I'm letting it go".
If only faith were as easy as saying "I'm trusting God with that."
If only...
The Bible says to let our yes be yes and our no be no.
What if "I'll call you; we'll do lunch" meant that I would really call and set up a lunch date?
What if "I'll pray for you" meant that I actually prayed, regularly, for you.
Sometimes we say things just because it is so much easier than doing. We still get a little credit. It shows our good intentions, after all.
But what if we started doing the things we say we will? Either that or stop saying so much.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Saturday Six
Another meme for today. This one came from here.
Q. What are your six favorite beverages and why do you like them so much?
1. A&W Rootbeer. Because it is delicious! And when I was a kid and we went to visit my grandparents in La Junta we would go to the A&W drive in. We would get the root beer in frosty mugs and it was better than any root beer in the world. Well, in my world.
2. Lemonade. Because it's tangy and sweet. Old-fashioned, yellow, and happy. It refreshes.
3. Dr. Pepper. Because I'm a Pepper. Although it has so much sugar and caffeine that I seldom drink it. It is a unique drink that cannot be duplicated. No matter what Mr. Pibb thinks.
4. Sweet tea. Because it's tea and it's sweet. It is old fashioned and makes me think of front porches. But again, I seldom have it.
5. Water. Water is the stuff of life. Can't live without it. Nothing quenches quite like it.
6. Black Cherry Koolaid. Takes me back to childhood. This was my favorite flavor. I haven't had any in years.
If I were to tell you the favorite beverages I actually drink, that would be water. Everything else has too much sugar. Now and then I drink unsweetened tea, though.
Q. What are your six favorite beverages and why do you like them so much?
1. A&W Rootbeer. Because it is delicious! And when I was a kid and we went to visit my grandparents in La Junta we would go to the A&W drive in. We would get the root beer in frosty mugs and it was better than any root beer in the world. Well, in my world.
2. Lemonade. Because it's tangy and sweet. Old-fashioned, yellow, and happy. It refreshes.
3. Dr. Pepper. Because I'm a Pepper. Although it has so much sugar and caffeine that I seldom drink it. It is a unique drink that cannot be duplicated. No matter what Mr. Pibb thinks.
4. Sweet tea. Because it's tea and it's sweet. It is old fashioned and makes me think of front porches. But again, I seldom have it.
5. Water. Water is the stuff of life. Can't live without it. Nothing quenches quite like it.
6. Black Cherry Koolaid. Takes me back to childhood. This was my favorite flavor. I haven't had any in years.
If I were to tell you the favorite beverages I actually drink, that would be water. Everything else has too much sugar. Now and then I drink unsweetened tea, though.
Friday, August 7, 2009
friday fill-ins
And...here we go!
1. _Watermelon____ is my favorite summertime __treat___.
2. My favorite John Hughes movies is _Ferris Bueller's Day Off___.
3. _Almost everything__ is something I love to touch.
4. The full moon _makes me smile____.
5. _I want food___ right now.
6. When daylight fades _is my favorite time of day___.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _resting____, tomorrow my plans include __family time___ and Sunday, I want to _sing___!
1. _Watermelon____ is my favorite summertime __treat___.
2. My favorite John Hughes movies is _Ferris Bueller's Day Off___.
3. _Almost everything__ is something I love to touch.
4. The full moon _makes me smile____.
5. _I want food___ right now.
6. When daylight fades _is my favorite time of day___.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _resting____, tomorrow my plans include __family time___ and Sunday, I want to _sing___!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
word count and contest
There have been short stories for a long time. Short stories are 1,000 to 7,500 words.
Then there came flash fiction. The word count for that is 100 to 1,000 words.
Also, there is micro fiction. Less than 100 words.
But here is a contest for hint fiction. Write a story that hints at a bigger story in 25 words or less.
Then there came flash fiction. The word count for that is 100 to 1,000 words.
Also, there is micro fiction. Less than 100 words.
But here is a contest for hint fiction. Write a story that hints at a bigger story in 25 words or less.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
desperation
Have you ever been desperate? I mean really? Have you ever suffered extreme need?
Once, I thought I was drowning and I was desperate for something to grab on to. Or for something to grab on to me! My mom did, finally. After about three hours, so it seemed.
In some countries they know desperation on a daily basis. Fights break out over a scrap of food. People huddle for shelter. Clean drinking water is beyond their reality.
I'm thinking about this because of one of my favorite songs, Michael W. Smith's Breathe.
This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me
This is my daily bread
This is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me
And I, I'm desperate for you
And I, I'm I'm lost without you
Then it repeats.
It seems simple at first, but then I see the complex beauty of it.
Breathe and air refer to breath which is the same word as Spirit. His Spirit is my life. Without Him, I am a walking dead person (Eph 2:1-2).
Bread refers to Christ. Without food I die.
And God the Father is over all. I am desperate for Him. If somehow He could be taken from me, I honestly don't know how I would survive. Some would call that a crutch. I would agree. He is my support, my very life.
I cannot make my heart beat even one time on my own. So literally, He gives me life.
But beyond that, I rely on Him to get through each day. I struggle with my own inadequacies and I think they are there to keep me mindful of my need for Him. Sometimes I feel desperate.
What about you?
Once, I thought I was drowning and I was desperate for something to grab on to. Or for something to grab on to me! My mom did, finally. After about three hours, so it seemed.
In some countries they know desperation on a daily basis. Fights break out over a scrap of food. People huddle for shelter. Clean drinking water is beyond their reality.
I'm thinking about this because of one of my favorite songs, Michael W. Smith's Breathe.
This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me
This is my daily bread
This is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me
And I, I'm desperate for you
And I, I'm I'm lost without you
Then it repeats.
It seems simple at first, but then I see the complex beauty of it.
Breathe and air refer to breath which is the same word as Spirit. His Spirit is my life. Without Him, I am a walking dead person (Eph 2:1-2).
Bread refers to Christ. Without food I die.
And God the Father is over all. I am desperate for Him. If somehow He could be taken from me, I honestly don't know how I would survive. Some would call that a crutch. I would agree. He is my support, my very life.
I cannot make my heart beat even one time on my own. So literally, He gives me life.
But beyond that, I rely on Him to get through each day. I struggle with my own inadequacies and I think they are there to keep me mindful of my need for Him. Sometimes I feel desperate.
What about you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)