November 11, 2012, "Will the Universe End?"

Psalm 8; Mark 13.5-36

Will the universe end?

Why even ask?

When some Christians ask … 

Smugness …

Bitterness …

Self-centered …

Some Christians want a small universe.

6 - 10 thousand yrs … 

Scientists are fools.

Evolution is a lie.

Pit Bible against Science.

Why?

Want to feel big! Important.

Control.

They and their world are the center ...

Psalm 8 … big universe.

Illustration:

Distance from the earth to the sun (93 million miles, or about 8 light minutes) is compressed to the thickness of a typical sheet of paper. On this scale, the nearest star (4.3 light years) is at a distance of 71 feet. 

Diameter of the Milky Way (100,000 light years) a stack 310 miles high.

Distance to the Andromeda galaxy (at 2 million light years one of the most distant objects visible to the naked eye) would require a stack of paper more than 6000 miles high! 

On this scale, the "edge" of the Universe, defined as the most distance known quasars some 10 billion light years hence, is not reached until the stack of paper is 31 million miles high.

Psalmist - thrilled with this!

Better question: How will it end?

The Resurrection of the dead …

New heaven, new earth ...

Best question: How do we live?

Jesus: don’t be deceived … don’t panic … be alert … be smart … be wise … be awake!

If I should die before I wake …

Wake me up before I die …

The point of the resurrection… this life is of great value … and this life will be raised from the dead. Death doesn’t win.

Life’s activities: painting, preaching, singing, sewing, praying, teaching, building hospitals, digging wells, campaigning for justice, writing poems, caring for the needy, loving our neighbor - will last into God's future. 

It’s kingdom building.

(inspired by Tom Wright, Surprised by Joy)

Live LORD’s Prayer.

Psalm 119 - to learn and live the instruction of God - laws, ordinances, statutes, God’s promises.

Love God and neighbor …

Micah 6.8 - Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly …

Amos 5.24 - Let justice roll down like waters, righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Do unto others …

Promises: I am with you always … I will never leave you or forsake you … I shall come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, you may be.

This life: God with us.

After death: with God.

Heidelberg Cat: 

Question 1.

What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer.

That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a)

am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

This world is our home …

Task: make it so for all God’s creatures.

That’s why we despise war.

Hate injustice.

Shun bigotry.

Reject ignorance and fear.

Strive for peace.

Build justice.

Welcome one another.

Seek knowledge … the light of the world … love - truth - the truth that sets us free, the truth of God’s mighty love for all the world - world without end!

About the end, don’t fret … you’ll make it just fine, because God really loves you … loves your family, your friends - the whole wide world.

As God determines:

The universe began well.

The universe will end well.

In the meantime, let us live well - for the glory of God!

Amen and Amen!

November 4, 2012, "Does God Have a Plan?"

Daniel 2.36-45; Ephesians 1.1-10

Does God Have a Plan?

November 4, 2012 - 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

New Series for November: End Times - suggested by Elder Dan Tilford

Does God have a plan?

Yes …

Ephesians 1.1-10

With the sound of a trumpet.

In the twinkling of an eye.

The Resurrection of the Dead!

The Book of Life opened.

A new heaven and a new earth.

Is there a timeline?

None that we can know.

Acts 1.7

Matthew 24.36

The End is not our business.

Yet many have tried to out-guess God.

Dispensationalists - timelines and charts.

A few verses:

Daniel.

Ezekiel.

Revelation.

Harold Camping - latest example - after repeated failures to predict the coming of Christ, Mr. Camping has now disavowed any further efforts.

Others persist: two Christian groups have set-up webcams in Jerusalem, 24/7, so we can watch the return of Jesus when he comes to the Mt of Olives.

Rumors of The End:

Jerusalem sacked and burned 586 BC.

Temple destroyed by Rome, AD 70

Rome sacked and burned by the Goths, 410

Year 1000

14^th Century: 

Bubonic Plague

Terrible wars

Papacy divided - Rome, Avignon

Earthquake and war: Chicken Little runs around, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling.”

Why?

People look for the victory of good over evil … right over wrong.

People overwhelmed: Churchill quote:

In 1922, Churchill wrote: "What a disappointment the twentieth century has been. How terrible and melancholy is the long series of disastrous events, which have darkened its first twenty years. We have seen in every country a dissolution, a weakening of bonds, a challenge to those principles, a decay of faith, an abridgement of hope, on which the structure and ultimate existence of civilized society depends."

Islam has its own version.

So does Hinduism.

All religions have beginnings and endings … nothing wrong with that!

But folks who look for a timeline fool themselves, waste their time, disobey God! 

Glad to be a Presbyterian: The End belongs to God.

A sovereign, loving God.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The God and Father of Jesus.

The Alpha and the Omega.

The beginning and the end.

Who holds the whole world in his hands.

Jesus says: Go back to Jerusalem to receive power.

Don’t waste time waiting for me to come again.

Wait for the Spirit in Jerusalem.

Ten days.

And then, don’t look upward … look outward - look out for the world … look out for one another … look out for ways to improve life … bring justice, help the downfallen, end war, bring peace.

I am with anyway … always … the Holy Spirit I send to you - my Spirit, my love.

Where two or three are gathered in my name ...

Don’t fret about tomorrow.

What to wear or eat.

Or even death.

Or the End of the World.

Big things belong to God.

God takes care of them just fine.

God doesn’t need us poking around in the things that belong exclusively to God.

Our task: clear and concise.

Love one another.

Make disciples.

While we’re at at it:

Be of good cheer.

Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God.

Live every day, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Does God have a plan? … 

Indeed!

It unfolds as it should.

We know all we need to live well for Christ … the rest belongs to God!

To God be the glory.

Amen and Amen!