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Winter spectacle
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Cold enough finally to put on Spider’s coat.
When God performs a “miracle,” He is choosing to deviate from His regularity in a particular instance. It’s still all of God either way.
What’s the “so what?” factor in all this? (God’s truth is always relevant.) It is that God is always a God who is near me and not far away. What a sad man the Deist must be, to think that God is like a child who wound up a toy and then walked away bored. See the intimacy of our God’s involvement in our affairs:
“He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. He hurls down His crystals of ice like crumbs” (Psalm 147:15-17)
Okay, then, bring on the winter spectacle, my King! (238)
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One more diversion
As a radical agnostic, I don’t know how the world began. However, the metaphor of God the parent and humans as the children is not convincing to me.
Not everything Christians write is meant to convince the non believer. Sometimes Christians write for each other. Here in East Tennessee we were warned all summer that because of the drought, (-17″)the leaves would not be pretty this fall. Maybe it is because we didn’t expect it,but this fall has been one of the most beautiful I can remember. I choose to see it as a gift from my Father. I’ve also learned I’m a much better person when I choose to be grateful.
Here, here Deb!
My dear RN, you are always trying to convince us that you are unconvincable, but many, many times bloggers on here are simply expressing their own perspective. Don’t take it so personally.
Back on topic, Andree sees that the watch works well and assumes a master watch-maker. I appreciate that joy. The clear, crisp rising of the sun on a chilly morning is God’s common grace to me. So I’m off to the sunrise and a morninf run.
I tend to fall into the middle ground between a Deist who sees a completely mechanistic universe, with no room for God to act once he has set it in motion, and what I think most people here believe - a God who orchestrates every jot and tittle of existence.
The metaphor that works best for me is God as parent and humans, or rather, creation, as a grown child. As a parent, my ultimate goal is for the freedom and independence of my child, in the hope and belief that she will make wise choices, grounded in the way she’s been raised.
Of course, I’ll reserve the right to intervene sometimes, but once I “set her in motion” into the world, she’ll have freedom and responsibility. She’ll be complex, and may act in ways that surprise me, disappoint me, or please me. Hopefully, she will be creative, bringing new things, new ideas, maybe even new children, into existence in this world.
I think the parent-grown child metaphor extends to God in many ways. We do see His influence, but rarely in a direct and unexplainable way. True miracles, almost by definition, are rare.
Mostly, the universe and humans seem free to be creative - we see new stars being born, new planets forming, on some of them (well, at least one that we know of) life arose, and eventually humans. Yes, all of it is grounded in God, but I think the extension from the idea of “omnipotence” - capable of all power - to omni-controlling just doesn’t wash. It doesn’t seem, to my mind anyway, to mesh with a loving Creator who give us free will.
Disclaimer:
These really aren’t my own ideas. They’re based on the little bit of reading I’ve done on the ideas of Polkinghorne, a physicist turned Anglican priest, on bridging the gap between an orthodox Christianity, and what we’ve learned through science. Although, as an additional disclaimer, I’ve yet to get and read his books.
Not sure if I am on the slippery slope to Deism and eventual Radical Agnosticism here…
Living here in New England one is aware of what Andree is talking about. At 5:30 this morning , though dark one could catch the frost on the pumpkin. The leaves, falling a bit late this year, are mostly down. Thanksgiving is past with Advent coming this Sunday, a most precious time of waiting for the birth of our Lord. How consoling for one seventy-one to be living in this world that God hath made.
It is uplifting and encouraging to read others’ grateful responses. It helps me focus on my gratitude, as well, and I always feel better when I do! Thanks!
Thank you, Andrée, for a beautiful meditation on the sovereignty of God.
Random Name: Deb and Adios are right. This piece was not meant as an apologetic. But it is nonetheless true that the existence of a rational Creator provides the grounds for us to expect and understand the observed order of Creation.
#3 Adios
“…bloggers are just expressing their perspective…”
As am I.
“Don’t take it so personally.”
The universe exists. Don’t take it so personally.
I didn’t think it possible but some people it seem are difficult to convince yet easy to fool
#4 Christianleftist
[Note: is that allowed?]
“…slippery slope to Deism and eventual Radical Agnosticism here…”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prion
Some conditions strike quickly, such as Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus.
Some conditions develop very slowly over decades, such as mad cow disease, and mad agnostic disease, caused by minute bits of protein called prions.
Unfortunately, the prions coming through the pixels on his computer screen may be infecting Christianleftist.
CL: Cover your monitor immediately and stop looking at it.
From the rising of the sun to the setting of the same the name of the Lord is to be praise…Psalms
Ditto, Janie and Dayle; I have always liked this one: Rejoice in the LORD always! And again, I say, Rejoice! And, in EVERYTHING give thanks.
God’s Truth is a beauty that - like a star shining in the darkest night sky - catches the eye of all kinds of creatures below (even lonely agnostics).
Shine forth, sisters and brothers! Shine as a city on a hill! Shine as a lamp out from under the bushel! Shine forth boldly for our LORD and He will shine still more brightly through you.