E=MC2

Monday, February 5, 2018

“Faith In The Shadows: The Other Side Of The Fence”

After 7 years of writing my seminal project, “Faith In The Shadows: The Other Side of the Fence” will soon be ready for publication. Currently this work is going through its final edit – check with a few friends who have contributed suggestions along the way. There is a long way to go but I am pleased to be at this point in the project where I am happy with its development over the past 6 years and look forward to the completion of the project.

Faith In The shadows is presented in two (2) parts, Part I, the Paper itself and Part II, References and Resources. The division became necessary as Part II grew into its own work which will be of value to those looking into the topics of disability, faith, spirituality, inclusion in sacramental and worship aspects in our faith communities.

The following is a brief overview of the thesis and discussion in the paper.

Faith in the Shadows: The Other Side of the Fence

Fences separate, divide and sometimes hide one side from the other. Disability can, at times, be a fence. We have to admit this first in order to overcome its barriers and move our churches forward to full inclusion in spiritual worship and life for its members. I don’t mean only wheel chair ramps, hearing loops and special diets, but spiritual inclusion within the sacramental worship and body of Christ on earth.

In the essay, ‘Faith in the Shadows: The Other Side of the Fence’, we examine inclusion from both sides of the fence, our world and theirs. We begin with a historical survey of how churches and faith communities have dealt with the issue of inclusion and conclude that the record is not that great.

Establishing a need to raise awareness of the barriers that disabilities can present to spiritual inclusion within our churches we look at disability itself and its effect on the sociological and spiritual experiences of the disabled. Next, we examine faith and discover that its primary characteristic is ‘spirit’ – spiritual in nature not intellectual-cognitive as we accept within the general church community.

Identifying ‘faith’ in this new paradigm we come to realise that spiritual inclusion of the disabled within our faith communities is not only necessary but essential for the social and spiritual growth of the church body. We also look at means of and limitations to spiritual inclusion within our fellowships taking a step of faith towards removing the ‘fence’ that divides and initiate a healing of the body of Christ on earth.

Discovering, in this process, that God is transcendent we find disability no barrier to His grace and realize that Faith in Christ (God) is equally present, active, salvic and experiential in the life of the neuro-typical and disabled alike.

With Faith, now no longer the property of the intellect but God’s Spirit in the life of the disabled person, we step back into our world with real life examples of inclusion that have added to and enhanced the spiritual faith experiences of the person and the church fellowship to which they belong.

The challenge we face in accepting that faith is primarily a spiritual attribute is to positively act upon this realization through full inclusion, in spirit, word and deed within the sacramental and social fellowship of our churches and faith communities.

The background of this paper is the real-life experience of a country pastor working through issues of faith, inclusion and church membership in the life of a profoundly disabled young woman who, after several years, was brought into full communicant ‘spiritual’ fellowship with her local church.

The concluding statement of the paper says;

“Faith in God has, is and always will be a matter of spirituality and any other definition of faith is flawed, on both sides of the fence, for it dismisses God who is Spirit as the prime cause and facilitator of faith in those who believe (whatever ‘world’ they live in) and marginalizes the disabled we may perceive, from our side of the fence, to be incapable of facilitating a faith statement.”

______________________________

You can contact me through this Blog Page or my Email address for discussion and interest in this work.

Kind regards,

Rev. Keith Harris, DipEE, ADipTh, BTh.

No comments:

A different look at the Letter to the Hebrews

While the Letter to the Hebrews contains some amazing statements regarding the humanity, divinity, life and ministry of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, it also contains much practical advice for its readers then and now.

It is the purpose and aim of a series of sermons on Hebrews to focus on the exhortations in the letter in their relation to Christ and the Christian and the world in which we live.

A key theme that develops from this approach is the transition from our relationship with God in and through Christ to our relationship with one another in and through Christ.

A Defining Moment Part II

Faith: A Defining Moment-Part II

Introduction:

You may be wondering why we have a different Bible reading and Sermon Title this morning to that listed in the bulletin last week. Well, the answer is simply in the light of last weeks sermon I believe that we need to continue to investigate the topic of Faith, Faith in life and action, and address a concern that may arise from last weeks address.

Last week we looked at five people in the Bible, Joseph, Rahab, Ruth, David and Mary who had a defining moment in their life where by Faith they took a step into the unknown, confronting their fears purely dependent on the grace and love of God.

Each one of them responded differently, as their circumstances warranted, and Paul lists all of them as heroes of the Faith in Hebrews Chapter 11.

However when we read about them in Chapter 11 we can fall prey to the idea that they are much greater in Faith then we are. We may even lift them up above the earthly plain of life to a ‘hero’ status – and worship their elevated ‘position’ in the Bible making their ‘faith’ example so far out of reach that we could never achieve such ‘acts’ of faith in our life.

I mean when was the last time you, like David, faced a giant in a valley, or like Joseph stood before Pharaoh with your life on the line, or like Rahab protected the enemy of your people, or like Ruth volunteered to go into hostile territory, or like Mary met with angels at a tomb?

Yes, these were remarkable events and out heroes of Faith certainly deserve to be listed in Chapter 11 by Paul but are their actions so far above our life here that we too could never become heroes of the Faith.

I am sure if you and I could speak with them today they would be amazed that we should consider their acts of Faith so far above our potential response to the challenges we face today in daily life here in Australia.

So, this morning together we are going to look at Faith, defining Faith as Joseph, Rahab, Ruth, David and Mary demonstrated it in life and see how Faith defines life.

Along the way, we will learn about a life in faith and in faith learn about life.
Defining Faith in Life: One Small Step:

Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

We might ask then after reading this verse what is Faith?

Is it in the Bible, is it under the pulpit, or is it just a philosophical idea that floats above our heads near the ceiling or is it a concept we learn about in church or college?

Wikipedia Dictionary has this definition of Faith:

“Faith is the confident belief or trust in the truth or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.”[1]

There is some truth in this statements but our Bible verse from Hebrews 11 takes Faith to a deeper level, describing Faith as taking for fact things we cannot see, being certain of God’s reality and presence with us.

One Small Step:

No one had been to the moon before July 1969, except of course Astrix and the dog, Kermit and Miss Piggy, Goofy and the Cow if we believe our TV programs, but when Neil Armstrong took that first step he was the first man to step onto the moon.

The time: July 20, 1969 20:17:40 UTC [coordinate universal time – Greenwich UK]

The Place: The Moon, the Sea of Tranquility

The scene: The base of the Apollo 11 Luna Landing Module [LMT]

109:22:48 McCandless: Okay. Neil, we can see you (on the TV) coming down the ladder now. (Pause)

109:23:35 Aldrin: Okay.

109:23:38 Armstrong: I'm at the foot of the ladder. The LM footpads are only depressed in the surface about 1 or 2 inches, although the surface appears to be very, very fine grained, as you get close to it. It's almost like a powder. (The) ground mass is very fine. (Pause)

109:24:13 Armstrong: I'm going to step off the LM now.

[The audio clip provided by John Stoll for the preceding section regrettably ends with "for (a) man" and the next clip begins with "one giant leap". Ken Glover has merged the two clips. Listeners will hear a slight change in the audio across this artificial gap.]

109:24:48 Armstrong: That's one small step for (a) man; one giant leap for mankind. (Long Pause)

There is much discussion about these words and the debate will go on for along time. However, the significance for us is that it was for Neil Armstrong, at that time, it was one small step in Faith personally, at that defining moment in his life; for mankind though it was a giant leap.[i]

No one knew what the Moon would be like until they got there.

Yes, NASA had a lot of scientific data, had done much research, had landed probes and examined samples of rock and dust, but unless someone actually went there, there would still be an element of mystery about the Moon. There would always be that lingering sense of curiosity that would only be quenched by observing its object reality.

Faith likewise is a reality we only know when we have an object reality to which we can relate it, know it and believe it in our hearts.

Wikipedia goes on to say specifically about the Christian Faith,

“Faith in Christianity is based in and on the work and teaching of Jesus Christ. [23] In this way Christianity declares not to be distinguished by its faith, but by the object of its faith. Faith is an act of trust or reliance.”[2]
The Christian Faith has an object in mind. In the case of our heroes of Faith, it is God and for Mary that Faith became an objective reality in the person of Jesus Christ in whom she found God.

· Joseph: by Faith acknowledges God and saves Israel

Joseph could not ‘see’ how Pharaoh would react to his answers, but he acknowledges God understanding each step in his life that led to this situation where he demonstrated his Faith in God.

· Rahab: by Faith ‘fears’ God as Lord and is included in Israel

From the rumour of God’s miraculous intervention on the behalf of Israel Rahab believes out of fear of the Lord and takes that small step of Faith making a confession of Faith to the spies in her house.

· Ruth: by Faith declares her loyalty to God and goes into Israel

In Moab you could ‘see’ the gods, Chemosh, Baalpeor, and the other gods of the Moabites as statues and ornaments, but here on the boarder of Israel by faith Ruth declares her loyalty to Naomi and God, and takes that small step forward into Israel.

· David: by Faith trusts in God alone and becomes a King of Israel

David rose from obscurity in the hills to the courts of a King but now alone in a cave abandoned by friends and family he trusts in God alone who has delivered him from lions, 1Samuel 17:34, and by Faith takes that small step forward knowing that God will deliver him from Saul.

· Mary: seeks Jesus in the garden and by Faith finds THE King of Israel

Having previously been released by Jesus from the trauma of demonic possession Mary one small step at a time seeks him in the garden, and meets Him where by Faith she discovers the reality of her Lord.

Here we see what is faith. Faith is that inner knowledge of God in the heart of the believer that gives them the ability to take that one small step at a defining moment in their life.

However, Faith needs to be active, not lying dormant in our soul like some sort of ‘salt’ that preserves life. Faith needs to demonstrate that fundamental belief in God to the world
Faith Defining Life: One Small Decision

James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

We might ask, after reading this verse, the question then of what Faith is.

Is it just a matter of works, is it some ecclesiastical ministry we need to perform or is it a feeling we get when we hear a good sermon or listen to a hymn or song being sung?

One Small Decision:

It may come as a surprise to us that there was no defining moment[3] in Neil Armstrong's decision to become an astronaut; it was in essence a case of just one small decision following on after another,

· 1930 – Born Auglaize County, Ohio [he had no say in this]
· 1946 – Graduates Blume High School, Wapakoneta, Ohio
· 1947 – Enters Purdue University under the Holloway Program
· 1949 – Naval Service, Korea, Fighter Pilot
· 1955 – Purdue University, completes Degree in Engineering
· 1956 – Becomes Naval Test Pilot
· 1957 – Selected for the Man in Space Program
· 1962 – Application for the Apollo Program
· 1965 – Offered Command Pilot position Gemini 8 Program
· 1966 – Accepts Command position Gemini 11 Program
· 1967 – Selected as Backup Commander Apollo 8
· 1968 – Commander Apollo 11 Program
· 1969 – July 20, UTC, Neil Armstrong walks on the Moon[4]
·
In a recent interview with NASA Neil Armstrong recalled his initial concerns about the Apollo 11 mission. He had believed there was only a 50 percent chance of landing on the moon.

“I was elated, ecstatic and extremely surprised that we were successful”, he said. [5]

Walking on the Moon was, for Neil Armstrong, the result of just one small decision in life following on after another.
Yes, there were opportunities presented to him that we might never encounter, but for you and I being a hero of Faith today is just the same. It is a case of one small decision following on after another as we live for Christ daily.

Look at Joseph, Rahab, Ruth, David and Mary. Each one made one small decision which led them on to another and then another towards that defining moment in their life.

· Joseph: by Faith acknowledges God and saves Israel

Joseph may not have had much choice in being sold into slavery but his decisions in life led to that situation and in God’s grace, through the gift he had, eventually he stood before Pharaoh.

· Rahab: by Faith ‘fears’ God as Lord and is included in Israel

How the spies finished up at Rahab’s house, we are not told but she did decide to let them stay, and that decision led on to another to protect them and tell them how to return to Israel, which eventually saves her and her family.

· Ruth: by Faith declares her loyalty to God and goes into Israel

Marriages were probably arranged in Ruth’s day so she may not have had much choice in marrying Elimelech’s son, but she knew Naomi and decided to follow her to the boarder which led on to her deciding to follow Naomi into Israel.

· David: by Faith trusts in God alone and becomes a King of Israel

David’s life in the hills was rather peaceful, except for the lion of course, but his decision to take some cheese to his brother led on to him facing Goliath in the valley, defeating him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, and on to become King.

· Mary: by Faith seeks Jesus in the garden and finds THE King of Israel

How Mary became besieged by demons we are not told but after Jesus had cured her she took that first step to follow him which led on to her being at the tomb that day where she meets Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.

None of our heroes could see the future as they made their decisions one small step at a time that led them to that defining moment but they all knew by Faith that God is the LORD that he loved them and cared for them.

Each one exercised that Faith, their Faith in God, and this empowered them to make that decision, one small step at a time, to follow God and deal with that defining moment in their life.

Their Faith is commended by Paul and was demonstrated at that defining moment in their life, but it was the result of one small step – one small decision at a time in Faith.

Conclusion:

Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Could we be commended for our Faith in Christ today? If we look at our Heroes of Faith, do we get a little down in the dumps comparing our ‘acts of faith’ with theirs?

· we do not have any giants in the Canungra Valley to confront,
· nor are there hordes of Victorians at the boarder set to invade Queensland,
· we don’t have to abandon our relatives, friends and our homes in Nerang and go into the foreign land of New South Wales,
· nor are we hiding out in the Genolan Caves from an irate father in law who wants to chop off our heads,
· nor are we wandering around in a cemetery searching for a body no one can find,
· so how do we know that we have a hero’s faith, how do we know that we are heroes of Faith?

We might believe that I could never be that brave, faithful or courageous for Jesus.

Well,
· hands up those who believe in Jesus Christ, that’s a declaration of Faith
· you are here aren’t you, that’s an acknowledgment of God in your life
· do you worship God and accept his authority, that’s ‘fearing’ God
· are you constantly thinking of God each day, that’s being loyal to God
· do you believe that God is your best friend, that’s trusting to God
· do you desire to be closer to Jesus each day, that’s seeking God

So What is Faith?

Paul says Faith is believing, looking beyond what we can understand, trusting in God’s grace and love to sustain us and bring us through whatever moment we might be experiencing.

Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Faith is the objective reality of God’s presence within our hearts that causes us to love Jesus Christ and serve him one small step one small decision at a time.

How Do We Know What Faith is!

James says, Faith needs to be doing, deciding to follow Jesus and to act in that defining moment when we should stand up for Jesus Christ.

James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Faith is the outworking of that Love for Jesus Christ in our hearts as we take one small step and make one small decision in Christ each day.

If you do not know what Faith is, believe in Jesus Christ today, and Faith will become as real to you as Jesus was to Mary at the tomb.

If you believe in Jesus Christ you are a hero of Faith, you may not be listed in Hebrews Chapter 11, but Paul lists you as a hero of Faith.

Colossians 1:2 To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

Put simply Faith is believing in Jesus Christ and following Him one small step one small decision at a time.

Paul says so, believe it, – live it!

Prayer

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith; Cited Wednesday, January 06, 2010
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith#Christianity; Cited Wednesday, January 06, 2010

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong; Astronaut Career, Cited Saturday, January 09, 2010
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong; Adapted from text, Cited Wednesday, January 06, 2010
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong; Cited Wednesday, January 06, 2010
[i] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong; Adapted from text, Cited Wednesday, January 06, 2010

At the bottom of the ladder, Armstrong said "I'm going to step off the LEM now" (referring to the Apollo Lunar Module). He then turned and set his left boot on the surface at 2:56 UTC July 21, 1969.[37] Then spoke the famous words "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." Armstrong had decided on this statement following a train of thought that he had had after launch and during the hours after landing.[39] Speaking the line, he accidentally dropped the "a", from his remark, rendering the phrase a contradiction (as man in such use is synonymous with mankind).[38] Armstrong later said he "would hope that history would grant me leeway for dropping the syllable and understand that it was certainly intended, even if it was not said – although it might actually have been." It has since been claimed that acoustic analysis of the recording reveals the presence of the missing "a".[38][40] A digital audio analysis conducted by Peter Shann Ford, an Australia-based computer programmer, claims that Armstrong did, in fact, say "a man", but the "a" was inaudible due to the limitations of communications technology of the time.[38][41][42][43] Ford and James R. Hansen, Armstrong's authorized biographer, presented these findings to Armstrong and NASA representatives, who conducted their own analysis.[44] The article by Ford, however, is published on Ford's own web site rather than in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, and linguists David Beaver and Mark Liberman at Language Log were skeptical of Ford's claims.[45][46][47][48][49][50] Armstrong has expressed his preference that written quotations include the "a" in parentheses.[51]

A Defining Moment Part I

Faith: A Defining Moment-Part I

Introduction: A Defining Moment

A new year awaits us while the old year, 2009, is now gone.

As we reflect on the year past we are reminded of the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes;

Eccl. 3:1-8 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

We may have experienced some of these ‘times’ in the year past. They are all a part of life and it is the experience of living through these occasions that strengthens our relationship with Jesus Christ and deepens our faith in God.

Each one brings with it it’s own joy or sorrow, as the case may be, but in all and through all we learn anew the Mercies of our God, the comfort He is to His people, and the love He has for us both in times of plenty and times of need.

So, as we leave behind the old year our thoughts naturally turn to the year ahead.

“What will this New Year bring you might ask?”

Do all of our plans in 2009 come to an end on December 31st?

Are we uncertain of what lies ahead?

Will this New Year be different to the year past?

It is not unusual to ask questions like this at this time of year, questions are healthy, and it is good for us to work through them.
Throughout history, people have done the same year after year, and asked questions like this when they are faced with a defining moment in their personal, family, community or national life.

In 2006, the BBC produced a series on significant events in the last century calling it ‘Defining moments of the 20th Century.’

Bob Woodward, The famous Watergate journalist, writes for NBC on such a moment,

‘One moment I remember vividly seared into my head perhaps forever is the morning after the five burglars were arrested in the Democratic headquarters, and I was called in to work on this story.. The judge asked the lead burglar to speak up .. and then McCord said, in a way that I could hear from the first row: "CIA" - Central Intelligence Agency - … It was just one of those times when you kind of say: "That is really a story.’

This was, for Bob Woodward, a defining moment in his life and career as a journalist, from this point on nothing would be the same.

You too may recall a defining moment in your life as you look back at the year past, but what about the year to come, how will you face a defining moment in your life in 2010?

It may help us all today to investigate, from the Bible, some examples of ‘defining moments’ in the lives of God’s people. We can look at the situations they faced and see if we can glean some guidance from them on how to deal with the year ahead and any defining moments it might bring into our life.

Firstly, we are going to look at a few defining moments in the Old Testament and then one in life of Jesus followers.

We will look at the responses of Joseph, Ruth, Rahab and David, then Peter, John and Mary on the eve of the resurrection to glean insight for defining moments in the New Year ahead. Why, because for Mary at least the old was passing away and the new was arriving.

I. Some Defining Moments in the O.T.

Joseph: Gen 50:19-20 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Born into a wealthy family in Palestine Joseph lived a life of snobbish ease until his brothers, tired of his antics, sold him into slavery.

Things went well for a while but in true Hollywood style he was brought low and became a jailbird in downtown Egypt. At the point of death, he is redeemed and brought before Pharaoh, to answer a difficult question.

Standing before Pharaoh Joseph acknowledges God [Gen 41:16] at this defining moment in his life. God blesses Joseph for this and soon he is elevated to a prime position in Egypt, rising to become 2-IC to Pharaoh.

The ‘principle’ here is that, whatever happens to us, in whatever situation we face, ‘acknowledge’ God and his goodness.

Hard news, maybe, but have a look at what happened to Rahab.

Rahab: Joshua 2:11 When we heard of it, [said Rahab] our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

Rahab’s background is unknown but her occupation was not, she was a prostitute. When Israel approached and the spies entered Jericho she shielded them, and helped keep them safe. She ‘feared’ God and asked for His protection.

It was a defining moment in her life. Thus, we learn that Rahab was saved, she and all her family. Rahab becomes a great-grandmother to King David and ultimately of Jesus Christ himself.

The ‘principle’ here is that the ‘fear’ of the Lord led Rahab to the understanding that, in the face of the onslaught that was to come, is was by faith alone that she and her family could survive this defining moment in Jericho.

But, that’s obvious you might say, well let us look at Ruth.
Ruth: Ruth 1:16-19 But Ruth replied, [to Naomi] "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." - - 19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.”

Ruth was born a Moabitess and although an outcast by Jewish law marries a Jewish man of the tribe of Judah. Soon she becomes a widow and is faced with a crisis at the Israel - Moab boarder.

To return to Moab, for Ruth, would mean support from her family, to go forward into Israel could mean a life of poverty and possible slavery. It was a defining moment for her.

Declaring her faith in God Ruth decides to go with Naomi into Israel. Her decision to follow Naomi led to her becoming the wife of Boaz and a great-grandmother to King David and ultimately on to Jesus Christ himself.

Ruth’s declaration of ‘loyalty’ to Naomi, her faith in and desire to seek God stood in stark contrast to her sister in-law.

The ‘principle’ here is that when we are faced with defining moments that involve us steeping outside the boundaries of our culture and church life loyalty is a key issue for those who seek God’s blessings.

But, we all know that God would not have abandoned Ruth, and besides she was not alone, and she would have Naomi with her all the way.

Well what about David, hiding in a cave in Palestine, all alone!

David: 1Samuel 18:9-11 So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 10 The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, 11 and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.

David was born into the family of Elimelech, of the tribe of Judah. The son of Jesse, David started life humbly as a shepherd boy and was largely ignored by his family.

After defeating Goliath, and several thousand Philistines, David eventually finds himself being perused relentlessly by Saul, a jealous and decaying monarch. Abandoned by friends and family we find David alone in a cave without a friend to be found where he pens Psalm 57.

Psalm 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

But, this is not the end of David’s troubles; later his own son Absalom seeks his life. David flees Jerusalem and seeks refuge in a foreign land.

Psalm 142:4 Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. 5 I cry to you, O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."

Alone David’s appeals to the God he has come to know and trust. It was a crisis moment in David’s life.

The ‘principle’ here is that David cries out to God alone ‘trusting’ him as Lord, seeking refuge, deliverance and hope in Him, and importantly is answered.

Today we often use the word ‘crisis’ to describe a defining moment, a point in time where decisions made have a long term effect on our life and the life of others around us. Our example from the New Testament is just that, a crisis that was a defining moment in the life of the church, and the followers of Jesus Christ.

II. A Crisis in Jerusalem: A Defining moment

John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."

What is the story to date?

A baby is born in a small village near Jerusalem and his parents soon became refugees in Egypt. They return to a town in Galilee called Nazareth where, as a young man, Jesus lives until at age ‘30yrs’. It is around this time that Jesus leaves his work in the carpenter’s shop and becomes a roving teacher.

Over time, he gathers a large popular following and selects twelve men as his disciples. After a spectacular entry into Jerusalem, he is tried as a heretic, and although pronounced innocent is put to death on a cross.

Jesus’ disciples, at this moment in time, are in a state of confusion. The movement Jesus had begun is in danger of collapse and the Disciples, and followers, set about returning to their old life and occupations.

What happens next is a defining moment for Mary and the Disciples.

As is their custom, in the cool of the morning air a few woman approach the burial site to perform the ritual embalming of the body of Jesus Christ.

John 20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

As Mary approaches the tomb, she discovers that the stone has been rolled away. This she did not expect. A bit like steeping out of your riverboat one morning to find that the river has disappeared over night.

Mary quickly returns to Jerusalem and tells the Disciples what she has seen.

John 20:2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

Eager to check Mary’s’ story Peter and John rush to the tomb, with John arriving first but not going in. Peter, arriving out of breath, goes into the tomb and sees the folded clothes and linen wrappings. John, finally gaining the courage, enters the tomb. He sees this also and then they both believe Mary’s report about the missing body.

What happens next is even more amazing!

Peter and John return to Jerusalem pondering over what they had just seen. What did it all mean? Has someone come during the night and stolen the body of Jesus Christ? What do we do now?

Meanwhile Mary arrives back at the tomb and approaches the opening.

Looking inside she sees two angels seated where Jesus’ body had been. One of the angels speaks to Mary saying, ‘He is not here’.

Mat 28:5-7 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

Undaunted by this revelation Mary continues her search for Jesus; surely, someone must know what happened during the night.

Soon she meets a man in the garden who she assumes to be the gardener, or caretaker, but to her delight and joy discovers that he is actually Jesus Christ, her risen Lord and Saviour.

John 20:14-16 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 “Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

Of course Mary did not have the Gospel of John to read so she could know ahead of time what was about to happen.

It was Mary’s desire to find Jesus that drove her to continue to her ‘search’ for Him, against all likelihood. For Mary this defining moment meant overcoming the fears and uncertainties in her life and for this she is rewarded, finding Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour.

We could summaries the different reactions of Mary and the Disciples to the scene that they discovered at the tomb as follows,

Peter = a full stop, it's all over, he went away pondering [Luke]

John = a question mark, although he saw and believed Mary’s report, what does it all mean [John]

Mary = a comma, there has to be more to this, she stayed, she searched, she asked, she waited and discovered [John]

The ‘principle’ here is that whatever is happening around us we need to continue to seek God in faith.

Our response in a defining moment or crisis in our life may vary from these, as the situations vary themselves, but if we are seeking God, in and through a defining moment in out life then we will eventually come to the correct answer as did Mary and eventually the Disciples.

Challenge:

It is obvious to us this morning that the examples we have looked at are not an exhaustive list of every defining moment in the Bible, but it does make the point clear.

Each one of these people had a defining moment in their life where they could have said,

· well “this is a full stop” for me, there is nothing more to add or
· “how can God’s promises be true”, I certainly don’t see him in this

However, each one said, ‘by faith’, [Hebrews Chapter 11] “this is a just comma’. That is, although I do not fully understand what this means or why this is happening to me, yet because I know that God is God and that he loves me I will move forward in Faith.

Paul sees Faith as a key element for those who seek God and desire his guidance in a defining moment in their life.

Hebrews 11:6 Now it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.

There is an element of mystery about faith as Paul defines it in Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Faith, in a defining moment, is looking beyond what we can understand, while trusting in the grace and love of God who will sustain us and bring us through whatever moment we might be experiencing.

Well you might say, this all sounds good and nice but is it helpful in knowing this.

How can we know that Faith works?

Look at Joseph, Rahab, Ruth, David and Mary. Each one demonstrated that seeking God in Faith [Hebrews 11] and added a new a new chapter to their life.

· Joseph: by Faith acknowledges God and saves Israel
· Rahab: by Faith ‘fears’ God as Lord and is included in Israel
· Ruth: by Faith declares her loyalty to God and goes into Israel
· David: by Faith trusts in God alone and becomes a King of Israel
· Mary: by Faith seeks Jesus in the garden and finds THE King of Israel

At the core of the message of the Bible is this resounding theme in every situation first ‘seek’ God by Faith and all else will follow, as a ‘comma’ adds a new phrase to a sentence.

Jesus assures us, personally, of this in each and every moment of our life.

Matthew 28:20 - And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

As you and I stand on the brink of 2010, today can be either a full stop, or a question mark or a comma.

What is it for you?

Let us all look forward to this New Year ahead by Faith, our question marks and full stops will turn into commas as we discover God’s plan for us daily.

Let us rejoice in God’s love and care for us in the year past, and be assured of His ongoing love and care for each of us in the year that lies ahead.

Let Us Pray

Lifting the Lid

“God in a shoe Box: Lifting the Lid”

The concept of this series of short talks grew from ideas that passed through my mind late at night while reflecting on daily and local news reports. I had for some time been concerned that Christianity, as modeled today in the affluent Western Church living in its ‘comfort zone lifestyle’, may be unduly influenced by science and the discoveries of the technologically driven world in which it lives.

This is of course over simplistic in its raw state but it did make me think, was there a spin off from our expanding scientific and technological achievements that might be limiting the way we view God and how we live before him in the world he created for us.

Daily we see news reports of discoveries that expand our knowledge of the universe-time-space reality in which we live. There is a saying that goes like this;

“He-she could not see the forest for the trees, or her –she could not see the word for the trees.”

The point of the simile is that the observer is so focused on one small part of the picture before them that they cannot see the overall forest that was presented before them.

As great as science is today, and necessary for many areas of daily life, is it possible that by concentrating on one aspect or that latest discovery are we inadvertently limiting the scope of our view of God, particularly in the case of the non-religious or atheistic persons who have little or no aspect of God consciousness as a reference through which they can evaluate these scientific discoveries.

For many science and technology define life, health, self-worth and their reality. The recent suicides, as tragic as these are, of local and overseas ‘stars’ who seem to have achieved so much must surely have us asking the question; “if achievement defines success them why is success itself not enough to meet the inner needs of mankind.”

I would like to examine six laws of science and explore the effects that these might have on our and the world’s view of God, his person, nature, character and purposes in the world in which we live.

However there are some things we need to note on the way:

This is not an anti-science bash buy a frustrated science student

All knowledge [science included] is a gift from God to man

Along the way we use should read truth out of the Bible and not into it
All of the Laws we will discuss were brought to us by God believing Christ worshiping Christians[1]

1. E=mC2 – “And God said, “Let there be light.’ => New Reality

2. Perpetual Motion: Ei => [Ew] <= Eo => Eternity

3. Conservation of Matter => New Heaven & New Earth

4. Warp Speed: => New Mission

5. Conservation of Energy: Ei + Eii = Et => New Faith

6. 2nd Law Thermodynamics: =>New Shoes

The above topics are fluid and as we look at each one we will discover inter-related points at which each affect the other.

The question we need to ask ourselves is ‘is science the idol of the modern world today?’ If so do we worship it rather than the Triune God who establishes the reality in which we live and move and have our being?

Does the use of - acceptance of science in our life affect our relationship with God? That is, is our view of God and his work in this world limited by our understanding and interpretation of the laws of science?

We have already looked at E=mC2 and derived from it a perspective of Jesus Christ that might not otherwise have been readily seen.

Tonight, briefly, I hope to look at the concept of ‘Perpetual Motion’ and its place in the world view of the secular person and Christian alike.
[1] This is very important as personal research has shown that the ‘worldview’ of these scientists was quite different to that of the majority of mainstream ‘secular’ university based science research today.

Perpetual Motion

“God in a shoe Box: Perpetual Motion”

Discerning God:

Today science launched itself into the 21st century at the CERN laboratories Large Hadron Collider accellerator in an attempt to define the beginnings of the universe, life and our existence.

The ‘Independent Scientist’ asked Andy McSmith at CERN:

What does it all mean – in 35 words

Today is the most exciting day of my life at Cern so far, but I expect more excitement when the LHC starts discovering things. Maybe the Higgs boson (i.e the God particle)? Maybe supersymmetry? Maybe black holes? Who knows? [1]

What will this experiment do for Mr and Mrs Ordinary?
Ever since recorded history people have between wanting to understand the universe around them. This is a basic human urge, and it's useful. Nobody thought Einstein's Theory of Relativity had a use when it was first expounded, but you can't operate a satnav without it. I don't know what the LHC is going to find – how can you know? – but it's going to be useful.

What is the Christian to make of this, should we be interested in the CERN experiment and if so how do we relate to it in our faith?

Is it a valid thing to talk about science in worship – church service? If we were to do so might we not be in danger of becoming ‘liberal’ in the sense of a church culture where sermons are driven by articles and reports in our local and national news papers?

The people at CERN see their work as relevant to gaining knowledge and the ‘human urge’ for understanding the universe around them, and thus, by implication, their place in the world and society.

However the Bible tells us in many places that the things of God, his activity in Creation and purposes mankind are his domain, Isaiah 55:8-9. Yet in Ecclesiastics 8:16 to 17 Solomon writes about man’s endeavors to discover the things of God and the limitations God has set to that knowledge.
What are we to make of this? Is there any reason why science should peruse gaining knowledge of our world, universe and existence?

The answer is yes!

God delights in his people seeking after him and the knowledge of their being and place in the world and universe.

John Kepler writes that Psalm 8, 19 and 50 set him on a course of discovery ‘thinking God’s thoughts after him.’[2]

Wayne Grudem writes: ‘God’s providence provides the basis for science: God has made and continues to sustain the universe that acts in predictable ways.—the doctrine of the providence of God also provides the basis for technology’ Gal 1:16, Heb 1:2 – 3.[3]

Millard J, Erickson writes: ‘In earlier periods most people believed in God. His activity was thought to be the explanation for the existence of the world and of what goes on within it, and he was the solver of problems which humans faced. Today, however, people put their trust in the visible, the here and now, and in explanations which do not assume any transcendent or supernatural entities.

This different outlook came about through several channels. One was the growth of scientific explanations. Whereas previously it seemed necessary to believe in some supernatural being or force that had brought this complex universe into existence, alternate explanations now are available.”[4]

Therefore it is appropriate that we look at science today, and how it might affect our view of God, Faith and the world in which we live.

Think about the following statement.

‘Science should define our understanding of God not God define our understanding of science.”

To the Christian it is obviously wrong, but to many in the world today it reads correct, or at least is the tangible philosophy upon which they base their worldview.
How do we, as Christians, assimilate the knowledge that science brings to us? What are we to do with the CERN EXPERIMENT?

To help answer this question the series “God in a Shoe Box’ was born which seeks to look at science and the Christian faith to see how we as Christians and The Church of Jesus Christ on earth can relate to our science and technology driven world.

We could ask the question, do we have a truncated view of God as a result of the information and knowledge that is constantly presented to us in our technology and science driven western society?

However before we do so I need to bring a note of caution

Many of the Laws [scientific] that we will look at in this series have come to us through the work of Christian (or God worshiping) scientists such as Galileo, Di Vinci, Newton, Pascal, Einstein, etc. They were on a mission of discovery and saw science as a way of revealing the glory of God, of opening their minds to the wonder and awe of God who created the universe and reality in which they lived.

The issue for them was the discovery of God’s hand in creation and their scientific view of our world did not limit their view of God.

However that may not be the situation we face today, in the 21st century church, public and society?

Some weeks ago we looked at ‘Light’ and had some discussion on the equation E=mC2. This led us to realize that not only is our spiritual life dependant upon God, namely Jesus Christ, but that the world in which we live was also sustained in its relative physical relativity by the same God, in the person of Jesus Christ, Isaiah 44:24, 45:12, 1Cor 8:6, Eph 3:9.

Colossians 1:16-17 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Today I would like to deal with the second topic; Perpetual motion, an issue that has far reaching affects in the life of the church and our culture.

Perpetual Motion: God in Action

1. Definition:

Perpetual motion: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The "water screw" perpetual motion machine from a 1660 woodcut.

“The term perpetual motion, taken literally, refers to movement that goes on forever. However, the term more generally refers to any closed system that produces more energy than it consumes. Such a device or system would be in violation of the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy can never be created or destroyed, and is therefore impossible. The most conventional type of perpetual motion machine is a mechanical system which (supposedly) sustains motion while inevitably losing energy to friction and air resistance. No such device to this date has been created.”

2. Discussion: Arguments against Perpetual Motion

The Laws of Thermodynamics

In our definition above the concept of a perpetual motion machine is one that does work without loosing energy and if possible creates more energy than it uses.

As quoted above “No such device to this date has been created.”

A bit like putting 56 liters of fuel in your car, driving to Brisbane and when you arrive refueling the car only to find that the tank was still full, and in a worst case even overflowing.

The article goes on to say that: ‘Perpetual motion violates; either the 1st Law of Thermo-dynamics (TD), or the second Law of TD, or both.’[5]
1. The first Law of TD – ‘conservation of energy’[6]

What this means is that in any ‘engine’ or motor designed to do work some of the energy put in is converted to work and some into losses in the engine. However the total energy put in is equal to the work plus the loss in the ‘engine’.

A bit like making a cake, all the ingredients are mixed together in the bowl but some might be lost outside the bowl, however none of the mixture is actually lost in total although all the mix does not get made into a cake.

2. The second Law of TD – ‘heat flows spontaneously from hotter to colder places.’[7]

What this means is that in any ‘engine’ or motor designed to do work there will always be heat and or friction loss, and this loss can never be recovered. This is often termed entropy.

A bit like putting fuel into you car engine, some is converted into ‘heat’ work driving the pistons up and down; some is converted into ‘heat’ friction in the cylinders and some is ‘un-burnt’ and goes out the exhaust pipe and does not produce work.

Taking these laws into account a Perpetual motion machine designed under these principles conform to the following equations:
Perpetual Motion (PM) Equation 1:

Energy in (Ei) – Energy work (Ew) = Energy out (Ew)

1. Ei – Ew = Eo

2. Ew + Eo = Ei

3. Eo – Ew = Ei

4. Eo = Ei

For PM to work equations 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 have to be correct.

As noted in the Wikipedia article ‘perpetual motion machines, which seek to conform to the Laws of thermodynamics, are of three types.

Perpetual Motion machines

Type 1: - produces energy from nothing[8]

A bit like starting your car engine and driving to Brisbane without any fuel in the tank or in the motor itself, or a bit like mixing a cake and having the electricity meter run in reverse. [9]

Type 2: - spontaneously converts thermal energy into mechanical work[10]

A bit like driving you car to Brisbane without an engine installed. The car just propels itself down the road without any energy loss, or a bit like the cake mixing itself and then requiring no heat to cook it.[11]

Type 3: - releases energy spontaneously at absolute zero[12]

A bit like having a car that you drive regularly to Brisbane, without the motor, and never needs new tyres.[13]

As the Wikipedia article goes on to say; ‘any attempt to extract work from these systems [engines] would lead to a loss of energy’ and thus void their claim to be Perpetual Motion machines[14]

Therefore, says science, perpetual motion is not a reality in our world, at least as far as science can determine yet?

However, quoting a portion of the Wikipedia article on Perpetual motion has an eerie sense about it;
Scientists and engineers accept the possibility that the current understanding of the laws of physics may be incomplete or incorrect; a perpetual motion device may not be impossible,[citation needed] but overwhelming evidence would be required to justify rewriting the laws of physics: extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
So let us take a look at perpetual motion from another perspective and see if such a perpetual motion ‘machine’ exists and if so what laws it would operate under.

3. Discussion: Arguments for a Perpetual Motion Machine

How can we reconcile these laws and formulas, which seem so daunting and conclusive, with the concept that perpetual motion is a reality in the world in which we live?

Well, firstly, we have to go back to where all this began, before man existed and this universe was a physical reality.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

The astounding statement this verse it makes in relation to our topic is often overlooked by the church, the Christian and the scientist alike because of its brevity and simplicity.

Yet hidden in its phrases is the key that unlocks a new perspective on our world, defines the reality of perpetual motion and meets all the requirements of the Laws of Thermodynamics and perpetual motion together, without conflict.

Let us look at this verse first in the form of a set of equations and then in the Biblical statement it confirms:

Perpetual Motion (PM) Equation 2:

Energy in (Et) – Energy work (Ec) – Energy out (Et)

1. Etα – Ec = EtΩ

2. Ec + EtΩ = Etα

3. EtΩ - Ec = Etα

4. Etα = EtΩ

Etα = energy triune God pre creation in eternity
Ec = energy released in creation and sustained until eternity
EtΩ = energy triune God post creation in eternity

For perpetual motion to work the above equations need to be correct and it is in Genesis 1:1 – 2:3 that we find the proof of this reality.

· Before Creation God was whole, complete and full in his nature and person as God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Etα.

· During Creation, Ec, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit were involved in the ‘work’ performed in bringing this physical, and spiritual, reality into existence in which we now live.

· Post Creation God is still was whole, complete and full in his nature and person as God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, EtΩ.

Therefore:

1. Work has been performed without loss of ‘energy’ to the one performing that work.

This satisfies the second law of Thermodynamics:
In a simple manner, the second law states that "energy systems have a tendency to increase their entropy" rather than decrease it.[15]

2. Energy has been created spontaneously out of nothing.

This satisfies the first Law of Thermodynamics:
More simply, the First Law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; rather, the amount of energy lost in a steady state process cannot be greater than the amount of energy gained.[16]

3. Work has been done without loss of energy into a surrounding reality.

This satisfies the third Law of Thermodynamics:
In simple terms, the Third Law states that the entropy [loss of energy] of most pure substances approaches zero as the absolute temperature approaches zero. This law provides an absolute reference point for the determination of entropy. The entropy determined relative to this point is the absolute entropy.[17]

What this means is that losses in any system of work will continue until it reaches absolute zero where no work can be done.

4. The resultant amount of energy in the universe neither diminishes that in God nor is lost in the process of creation.

This satisfies the scientific requirement for a perpetual motion machine. This is, one where work has been done without loss of energy or potential to do work in the element performing that work.

Thus we can make the following statement, scientifically;

“The perpetual creative and sustaining activity of God, which underpins everything we see and are, neither diminished his attributes or causes loss in his person.”

The following verses and many more illustrate the reality that God is perpetual motion in action. He is a law unto himself, and his ways are above science yet they do not confound science but determine the reality in which science exists and searches for ‘answers’ to our universe and existence. Psalm 90:2,

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Colossians 1:15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

What these verses teach us is that God is the same before, during and after the ‘work’ of Creation. This is reflected in Paul’s words in Colossians where he describes the creative activity of Christ, now Christ Jesus, yet still in his nature that same divine God, who now sustains this reality in which we live.

Heb 1:1-2 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Wayne Grudem puts it like this: ‘God has made and continues to sustain the universe that acts in predictable ways. If a scientific experiment gives a certain result today, then we can have confidence that (if all the factors are the same) if will give the same result tomorrow and a hundred years from tomorrow. – God, in preserving all things he has made, also causes them maintain the properties with which he created them. He causes grass to continue to act like grass. He causes the paper on which this sentence is written to continue to act like paper – until it is acted upon by some other part of creation and thereby its properties are changed.’[18]

That is we often take this world for granted as if it has a ‘life’ of its own sustained outside the realm and activity of God. Each morning we wake up we expect the Sun to be where it should be, doing what it should do, the house to still be there and the furniture to be usable without any activity on the part of the Divine God.

This, of course, we see in the work and ongoing activity of Jesus Christ who sits at the right hand side of the Father in Heaven.

Hebrews 1:3 “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high”

It goes without saying that this ‘sustaining’ activity of Jesus Christ constitutes the physical world, universe, and nature we see around us.

Every element in the universe is sustained by Him. He is the ‘God particle’ that the scientists at CERN seek to find with their experiments.

Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

The comprehensive nature of this statement complements that of Genesis 1 verse 1.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Not only this; but the perpetual activity of God in his creation extends beyond the physical – natural world that we see around us.

Job 10:12 You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit.

Acts 17:28 for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "' For we are indeed his offspring.'
4. Conclusions: Perpetual Reality

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

So if any of this is true, if God is perpetual motion in action, what is its relevance to you and me, the church and our society?

Take a non-Christian – non-believer general Aussie good guy.

· Perpetual motion does not exist
· Therefore nothing lasts forever – even Holden utes wear out
· If nothing lasts forever then neither does eternity
· If eternity does not last forever then neither does God
· If God does not last forever then he does not exist
· If God does not exist then why worry about sin
[If we don’t have to worry about sin then live life to the full - get as much as you can while you can from life while it lasts]
· If sin is no longer a problem then Jesus died for nothing
· If Jesus died for nothing then Christianity is a lie
· If Christianity is a lie then eternity does not exist
· If eternity does not exist then neither does perpetual motion

You may want to think about this for a little while but how much of this flow of thought is in the minds of people today.

We all know about the saying ‘the wood for the trees’ or the forest for the tress’ but is it possible that our love affair with science has dulled the edge of our relationship with God.

Put bluntly, if the science is right and perpetual motion does not exist then GOD DOES NOT EXIST!!!!!!!!

What are the consequences of such thought upon our culture, society, religion, faith and church?

If 1% of the above scenario is possible then we might have discovered one point as to why the ‘X’ generation cannot relate to God.

Is it possible that our young generation today being taught in school and university that Perpetual Motion does not exist, without knowing it assimilate that ‘knowledge’ in their mind and conclude that God does not exist.

However we know God does exist so is science wrong?
Does Perpetual motion exist in a form that we can understand and relate to in everyday life?

Think about your ‘soul’.

· It is given to a person at conception: Gen 1:27, 2:7, Psalm 139:13, Jer 38:16, Heb 12:9, Zech 12:1
· It lives forever: Rev 6:9; Acts 17:28
· It is sustained by God in the body until death: Psalm 66:9, Numb 16:2,2, Acts 17:28
· It is sustained by God in heaven awaiting the resurrection body. Luke 16:19 – 31, Eccl 12:7, Rom 8:23, Phil 3:21

Think about your ‘resurrection’ body.

· We are not a divine like Jesus Christ but our new body will be like his body.

1Co 15:48-49 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Think about eternity. [19]

· What will sustain this body in eternity where time is endless, i.e., it had better not wear our.

In I Corinthians Chapter 15 Paul discusses this issue at length.

1Co 15:53-55 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

“God, the Triune God, will sustain our souls and new bodies in eternity; there they will be perpetual motion in action.”

Rev 21:1-5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. -- 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Here John defines for us the principle of perpetual motion in eternity. Currently God exists in this eternal reality; therefore ‘perpetual motion’ is a reality.

It is the reality:

· Upon which our personal souls exist

· Upon which our bodies will be sustained in eternity

· Upon which we will base our life in eternity

Perpetual Motion is at the core of the very nature and character of the everlasting God

Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

I believe so much has been fritted away from the joy and peace of Christians by the inroads that science has made into our thought and relationship with God. It is as if God cannot do anything that ‘science’ discovers – reveals or says that he cannot do.

We need to regain lost ground and come to a point where we see anew the great – awesome – God as he is, supreme – above all things – gracious – loving – powerful – merciful; interacting with and interested in our individual lives in the scheme of things in this vast untapped universe in which we live.

This is out God; let us respond with awe – wonder – love and thanks with joy in our hearts for His undying – perpetual love for each of us today.

Pray
[1] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/cern-experiment-machine-switched-on-no-big-bang-it-works-925568.html: Cited Thursday, September 11, 2008
[2] S. B. Ferguson ed., New Dictionary of Theology, (Leicester: IVP, 1998) p627
[3] W. Grudem, Systematic Theology(Leicester: IVP, 1994) p317
[4] M. J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker, 12985) p899
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion: Cited Sunday, August 31, 2008
The first law of thermodynamics is essentially a statement of conservation of energy. The second law can be phrased in several different ways, the most intuitive of which is that heat flows spontaneously from hotter to colder places; the most well known statement is that entropy tends to increase, or at the least stay the same; another statement is that no heat engine (an engine which produces work while moving heat between two places) can be more efficient than a Carnot heat engine. As a special case of this, any machine operating in a closed cycle cannot only transform thermal energy to work in a region of constant temperature.

[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_law_of_thermodynamics: Cited Monday, September 15, 2008
In thermodynamics, the first law of thermodynamics is an expression of the more universal physical law of the conservation of energy. Succinctly, the first law of thermodynamics states: “The increase in the internal energy of a system is equal to the amount of energy added by heating the system, minus the amount lost as a result of the work done by the system on its surroundings.

[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_law_of_thermodynamics: Cited Monday, September 15, 2008
That is, it is impossible to extract energy by heat from a high-temperature energy source and then convert all of the energy into work. At least some of the energy must be passed on to heat a low-temperature energy sink. Thus, a heat engine with 100% efficiency is thermodynamically impossible.

[8] http://www.answers.com/topic/perpetual-motion: Cited Thursday, September 11, 2008
Perpetual motion of the first kind refers to a mechanism whose efficiency exceeds 100%. Clearly such a mechanism violates the now firmly established principle of conservation of energy, in particular that statement of the principle of conservation of energy embodied in the first law of thermodynamics. (Indeed, the first law of thermodynamics is sometimes stated as “A perpetuum mobile of the first kind cannot exist.”). See also Conservation of energy.

[9] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion: Cited Monday, September 15, 2008
A perpetual motion machine of the first kind produces energy from nothing, giving the user unlimited 'free' energy. It thus violates the law of conservation of energy.

[10] http://www.answers.com/topic/perpetual-motion: Cited Thursday, September 11, 2008
Perpetual motion of the second kind refers to a device that extracts heat from a source and then converts this heat completely into other forms of energy, a process which satisfies the principle of conservation of energy. A dramatic scheme of this type would be an ocean liner, which extracts heat from the nearly limitless oceanic source and then uses this heat for propulsion. This type of perpetual motion is, however, precluded by the second law of thermodynamics which is sometimes stated as “A perpetuum mobile of the second kind cannot exist.”

[11] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion: Cited Monday, September 15, 2008
This conversion of heat into useful work, without any side effect, is impossible by the second law of thermodynamics.

[12] http://www.answers.com/topic/perpetual-motion: Cited Thursday, September 11, 2008
The third type of perpetual motion is, in contrast to the two types described above wherein useful output was the goal, merely a device which can continue moving forever. It could result in actual systems if all mechanisms by which energy is dissipated could be eliminated. Since experience indicates that dissipative effects in mechanical systems can be reduced, by lubrication in the case of friction, for example, but not eliminated, mechanical perpetual motion of the third kind can be approximated but never achieved. An example of a genuine case of this kind occurs in a superconductor. If a direct current is caused to flow in a superconducting ring, this current will continue to flow undiminished in time without application of any external force. See also Superconductivity.

[13] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion: Cited Monday, September 15, 2008
A more obscure category is a perpetual motion machine of the third kind, usually (but not always)[2] defined as one that completely eliminates friction and other dissipative forces, to maintain motion forever.

[14] http://www.answers.com/topic/perpetual-motion: Cited Thursday, September 11, 2008

[15] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_thermodynamics#Second_law: Cited Monday, September 15, 2008
[16] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_thermodynamics#First_law: Cited Monday, September 15, 2008
[17] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_law_of_thermodynamics” Cited Monday, September 15, 2008
Although it is impossible to make such a machine,[3][4] as dissipation can never be 100% eliminated in a mechanical system, it is nevertheless possible to get very close to this ideal (for example, flywheels that can spin for hours). Moreover, in certain quantum-mechanical systems (such as superfluidity and superconductivity), dissipation-free "motion" is possible. In any case, even if such a machine could be built, it would not serve as an endless source of energy, since any energy-extracting mechanism would also serve as a dissipative force.

[18] W. Grudem, Systematic Theology(Leicester: IVP, 1994) p317
[19] T. C. Hammond ‘In Understanding be Men’ (Leicester: IVP, 1992) p75, n4: Immortality in the fullest sense belongs only to God (1Tim6:16, Gen 3:22). Immortality for man is derives from God and true immortality for man is secured only through Christ in the resurrection of the body and it’s uniting with the soul of the believer. (1Cor 15:35 – 55, 2Tim 1:10, but see also Matt 22:31, 33:25; John 3:36, 5:28, 29; and Heb 2:5 – 9)

Conflict or Concord

God in a Shoe Box: Matters- Matters

Firstly, this is not a triad against science but an endeavor to discover if it is possible that the worldview of people today is formed, or informed at least in part, by what they see, hear and observe in the world of science.

For the Christian and the non-believer alike we look at the question;

“Has the advance of ‘science' and its integration into our ‘world’ affected the way in which we view and relate to God.”

The purpose of this talk is to determine if ‘science’ presents a world view which can become a barrier to the message of the Gospel.

The aim of this talk is to see how we can address issues from the world of science in our presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Tonight we will look at this topic through one of the laws of the 'conservation of energy' which states that; ''Matter cannot be created or destroyed. "

The classic view on conservation of matter is this: all matter is composed of atoms of the various elements, and the total number of atoms in the universe remains constant. That is, you can rearrange the existing atoms in any way you like, but you cannot cause additional atoms to materialize nor can you cause existing atoms to disappear. [1]

So how does this law impact on our-life and thoughts today?

· In the universe

· In our world

· In the new world to come

Well let’s look into this and see what matters about matter.
I. In The Universe

''Matter cannot be created or destroyed. "

There are three general classis views of the ‘origin’ of matter and the creation of our universe.

a. Matter has always existed and was established via the ‘big bang’, forming our world and universe as we know it today.

b. Matter has always existed and God ‘molded’ it to form our universe in Genesis following.

c. God created ‘matter’ ex-nihilo [out of nothing] to form our world and universe in which we live.

Does ‘sciences’ use of the law of the conversation of matter and energy explain our existence, ‘compete’ with God for our origin, or impede God in whatever he desires to do in this world and the one to come?

Let us work through our options above and see what we discover.

A: Matter is Supreme: Our first option, the big bang theory, requires matter to be pre-existent and in fact to have always existed. Therefore matter is eternal in nature - supreme and superior to any form of life that may have developed from its existence.

Although there is much debate on its parameters the ‘big bang’ theory is the prime alternative presented by the scientific community as the solution for the origin of ‘matter’ from which formed this world in which we live.

Let us look at the current theory [ever developing] of the ‘big bang’ as it gives the following explanation of the creation of matter;
Matter creation is the process inverse to particle annihilation. It is the conversion of massless particles into one or more massive particles.
This process is the time reversal of annihilation. Since all known massless particles are bosons and the most familiar massive particles are fermions, usually what is considered is the process which converts two bosons (e.g. photons) into two fermions (e.g., an electron-positron pair).
As shown above, to produce ordinary baryonic matter out of a photon gas, this gas must not only have a very high photon density, but also be very hot – the energy (temperature) of photons must obviously exceed the rest mass energy of the given matter particle pair.
The threshold temperature for production of electrons is about 1010 kelvins, 1013 K for protons and neutrons, etc.
In the early universe (see Big Bang) photons and fermions (massive particles of matter) freely interconverted.
As photon gas expanded and cooled, some fermions were left over (in extremely small amount ~10-10) because low energy photons could no longer break them apart - and that is the matter we see today in the universe around us.
10 to the power 13 = 10,000,000,000,000 – 273 Degrees Celsius
= 10 Trillion Degrees Celsius [-273]

10 to the power -10 = -10,000,000,000 %
= -10 Billion % of the original ‘bosons’ of the ‘big bang’[2]

NASA explains the creation of matter in this manner;

Where did the particles in the “primal stew” come from? If we had an answer to this question, we would have insight into the beginning of the universe. They may have been produced from energy during the second, very brief epoch or during the Mysterious Epoch immediately preceding it (see p. 6 of “Thought Experiments: Tracing Origins) when the universe was very compact and temperatures were very high. This is in agreement with a premise of the standard cosmological model that the early universe was in a state of high density and high energy.

If this is the case, then matter is frozen energy. The universe, which began in a high-energy state, has been cooling off ever since. Hot energy congealed into cold matter. So we are studying quarks in this activity because they appear to be the first form of matter in the universe and they are still present today. Not only are they fundamental particles of matter, but they also played a vital role in the formation of atoms and molecules that form the vast structures of today’s universe.[3]
NASA also explains the relationship between matter and mass [our weigh] as follows;

The conservation of mass is a fundamental concept of physics along with the conservation of energy and the conservation of momentum. Within some problem domain, the amount of mass remains constant--mass is neither created nor destroyed. This seems quite obvious, as long as we are not talking about black holes or very exotic physics problems. The mass of any object can be determined by multiplying the volume of the object by the density of the object. When we move a solid object, as shown at the top of the slide, the object retains its shape, density, and volume. The mass of the object, therefore, remains a constant between state "a" and state "b." [4]

Simply stated, from our NASA site, the Law of the Conservation of Energy and Matter interact as follows;

“The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can change its form. The total quantity of matter and energy available in the universe is a fixed amount and never any more or less.” [5]

Listen to the following statement linked to the NASA web site;
“In other words, what Einstein discovered is that the universe's total matter plus energy is constant -- you can convert between matter to energy and energy to matter, much as one can convert U.S. dollars to Deutschmarks and back again, provided the proper conversion rates are used.[6]”

What this says to modern man is that the Law of the conservation of matter and energy are linked like the sides of a scale, always held in balance.

This ‘option’ makes matter and energy immutable – omnipotent – indestructible, and thus eternal in nature, always having existed and always existing. Sound familiar?

Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

So where does the Christian fit into this debate?

Well we can say that all this happened long ago when man did not exist, or that the world formed out of drifting clouds of dust (the resulting floating fermions) so these conditions could have actually happened.

Or you and I might not hold to this view of the origins of our world, but do we accept the NASA model of the normative [normal] state of our world set by the laws that have always existed; defining time, matter, space, energy and nature.

Gen 1:1-2 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

In the Christian worldview there are two views of Creation:

· That God created the ‘world’, establishing physical laws that now exclusively determine events in this world,

· That God created the world, establishing normative laws but at times can superintend over the laws of creation

B. God is a Tradesman: With the second view pint many appeal to the ‘potter and the clay’ texts in Isaiah[7] and elsewhere, proposing that God initiated the ‘big bang’ from ‘materials’ already in existence, and then decided to form the world as we read in Genesis.

That is God used existing material and from this created the universe and world in which we live forming it by his power. This by implication states that God, although powerful, is not supreme in nature relying on already existing ‘matter’ from which he forms the universe.

D. A. Carson in the Gagging of God writes;

“God set the whole thing up and established the principles of operation, but since then he has been rather removed from the scene, while he lets nature take its course. Science is possible, but here is little need to appeal to God, except in the initial act of Creation.”[8]
C. God is Supreme: The third option accepts that God created matter, time and space [as well as energy E=MC2] ex-nihilo[9] [from nothing] in Genesis 1:1 – 2, as the explanation for the existence of the universe and life.

Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

· First we need to know that no amount of debate, argument and counter point will cause anyone to believe that God created this world and universe ‘ex-nihilo’ [out of nothing].[10] It is primarily a matter of Faith.

· This verse in Hebrews links us with other verses, John 1:3 and Romans 1:20, which tell us that the ‘invisible’ God is seen through that which He has created.

This view then holds God as supreme, as the creator of matter [and energy] and thus the one who brings our world into reality.

Pick or tick a Box [A] – [B] – [C]

So which one is right, Matter is Supreme, the ‘Tradesman’ view of God or the Supreme God who superintends over and interacts with his creatures and creation?

The first point (a) establishes matter as a pre-existent reality in whatever form you take that to be.[11] Essentially then God is not needed for the origin of time, space and our reality.

The second point (b) accepts creation ‘ex-quispiam’ [out of something], and that since the creation of the world the amount of energy or mass has remained constant. The ‘miraculous’ acts of God are natural occurrences in nature.

The third point (c) accepts creation ‘ex-nihilo’ [out of nothing], and that God sustains a stable creation but at times superintends over that creation, and its laws, yet without destroying those laws by which this world functions.

For the Christian, by faith, the third option ‘c’ is correct, Col 1:16 – 17.

Martin Foord writes in the Briefing Magazine, discussing the ‘confinement of God’ by modern-post modern western society that;

“The starting point for grasping God’s transcendence (of all things) is God’s act of Creation. Why begin with God creating everything? Because it tells us that God is the only one not created.” [12]

Creation then is the first miracle of God, performed in Genesis 1:1 – 2. It pervades the whole of the Bible not only as the foundation for life, but also the foundation for the Gospel established in Christ to be consummated in the creation of the New Heavens and earth.

“Therefore; it is God who is eternal – infinite – immutable – omnipotent – and it is ‘matter’ that is finite, a created reality which is limited or defined by space and time.”

So far in this discussion we have spoken of Creation, a once off act at the beginning of time – but how do the laws of conservation of matter apply to man and his enviroment today.

Therefore we ask the question, is God limited by the Law of the Conservation of Matter in this world today, and does it matter whether he is or not?

Is there an impact that science has made in our worldview that limits our concept and understanding of God and the power He has to interact with this world and our life.

Martin Foord picks up on this theme;

“The scientific revolution resulted in a new way of picturing the universe – as a great machine that functioned like Clockwork according to laws.”[13]

II. In Our World

''Matter cannot be created or destroyed. "

It is one thing to say that God ‘miraculously’ created matter in Genesis 1:1 – 2; but today, or in human history post Genesis, does God operate in our world today in conformity to the established the nominative laws of this world.

There are many events in the Bible that challenge the law of the conservation of matter (and energy) demonstrating that God can, and has, created matter and energy within the confines of the human dimension and history.

Millard J. Erickson writes in Christian Theology;

“One of the important issues regarding miracles involves their relationship to natural laws or the observed laws of nature. --- The first concept is that miracles are manifestations of little known or virtually unknown laws of nature. --- A second concept is that miracles break the laws of nature. --- A third concept is that when miracles occur natural forces are encountered by supernatural forces. -- In this view the laws of nature are not suspended. They continue to operate but supernatural forces are introduced that negating the effect of the natural law.”[14]

One such event that examples this third option is the ‘miracle’[15] of Jesus Christ and the man with the withered arm in Matthew 12:10 - 13.

“It is one thing to say that Jesus Christ is special, a divine human being, and thus not subject to the normative laws of thus world but not so with the man with the withered arm.”

Mat 12:10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"--so that they might accuse him. - - - 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.

Although we claim this event as a 'miracle', performed by Christ, it is different to other miracles for two reasons;

· It implies the creation of matter [mass and energy], and that

· It takes place within the confines of the body of a natural man subject to natural [normative] laws of this world.

If the ‘big bang’ theory holds then I could imagine, looking at our information above’[16] that there would have be no one [or thing] left standing after the creation of the matter [mass] and energy [neuron-electrical impulses] needed to restore the man’s withered arm.

The natural - pessimist explanation of this miracle is that the man’s arm was fully formed, but due to some physiologically impediment he could not realise this and thus was disabled in the full use of that arm/hand.

So, does it matter that Jesus created matter?

Martin Foord writes in the Briefing Magazine on the conflict that arose in the late 18th century between science and the miraculous;

“Hence, [after quantum physics] people began to conclude that God was no longer needed to sustain the physical world. He was still needed to explain the origins of the world, but scientific laws explained how the world was governed. God had begun to shrink in people’s minds.”[17]

It is obvious that in the healing of the man with the withered arm Jesus Christ created ‘matter’ [and energy] – ‘ex-nihlo’ – out of nothing. Yet at the same time He held the natural laws of this world in balance – in place so that the man, Jesus and the crowd still existed in this dimension, time and space.

Some might also suggest that this was just the manipulation of or rearranging of existing muscle and tissue, that there was no actual ‘creation’ of new matter and energy.

Recalling our statements from before:

“The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can change its form. The total quantity of matter and energy available in the universe is a fixed amount and never any more or less.” [18]

However this is not the only instance of the creation of ‘matter and energy’ that we read about in the Bible post the Genesis creation account.

While reading through 1 Kings I came across another miracle of God, through Elijah, that simply states that God created food for Elijah and the widow to eat.

There was neither harvest to get fresh oil from nor any crops in the field where the flour could come from, 1Kings 17:1.[19]

1Ki 17:9-17 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you." --- 14 For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah

It is clear here that no one else except God provided this ‘food’ during the server drought; nor was it a dream or symbolical, it was real food for Elijah, the widow and her son were strengthened by eating it.

This miracle, as well as that of the feeding of the 5000 and 4000 clearly conflict with the law of the conservation of matter above. In each case, and many others in the Bible, God creates ‘matter’ and energy in order to demonstrate his sovereignty over creation and provide for the needs of his people.

So, we might ask, if God created matter in Genesis 1:1 - 2 and He transcends ‘nature’ miraculously creating matter and energy as he desires does this law apply to man or even exist in the next world?

III. In The New World to come

''Matter cannot be created or destroyed. "

If we hold to the Law of the Conservation of Matter then in the new heavens and earth will have to have the same mass and energy as present.

But the new heavens and earth have some distinctive differences to the world in which we now live.

Isaiah 65:17-18 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.

The new Heavens and Earth are said to be formed by God from fire:

2Pe 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. --- waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

Various interpretations of this phrase are held from a reforming of the existing material [perhaps a concession to the Law of the Conservation of energy and matter] to the direct act of God in a new recreation.

It would appear that the new heavens and earth may have different features;

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

The imagery used here might indicate a dissolving as in the reforming of metal in a furnace, but the phrase ‘pass away’ is indicative, that is, a statement of fact in time or place.

This all seems very fundamentalist, even harsh to a politically correct view in our world today, but as I researched this I came across the following verse and I have no alternative but to say that matter [and energy] can be created and destroyed.

Col 1:16 For all things were created in Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible; whether thrones, or lordships, or rulers, or authorities, all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

We may hold differing views of this issue of the New Heavens and New Earth but there is one last challenge to the Law of the Conservation of Matter [and energy] essential for each of us to know now and realise in eternity, that is, the resurrection body.

Louis Berkholf, in his systematic theology, states of the resurrection body:

“It is a physical or bodily resurrection.”[20]

John 20:27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at My hands. Put your hand into the wound in My side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

M. J. Erickson’s in his systematic Theology writes that the resurrection body is real, that is dimensional, but different with some continuity with the old.

“There is a utilization of the old, but a transformation in the process. -- This new body has some connection or point of identity with the old body, but is differently constituted.”[21]

Ultimately it is the power of God at work through Jesus Christ that brings to us a new body and life in eternity.

Philippians 3:21 He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer everything, everywhere.

Millard Erickson picks up on this theme with the following;

“We conclude that there will be a bodily reality of some type in the resurrection. It will have some connection with and derive from our original body, and yet it will not merely be a resuscitation of our original body. Rather there will be a transformation – reforming of the basic matter – or metamorphosis. – It does appear, however, that it will retain and at the same time glorify the human form.”[22]

“Therefore, as a Christian, I am glad that God can create and destroy matter [and energy] in creating a new resurrection body for me, while destroying the vestiges of the perishable body in which I now live that I can then live in eternally in a new body created by him for me eternally.”

· It is the power of God at work in this world in Jesus Christ.

· It is the putting off of the old body and the beginning of the new.

· It is God’s creative power at work in a new heavens and earth.

· It is our hope in eternity now, and in that which is to come.

Conclusion: Matter Matters

Job 38:1-4 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”

Many see the book of Job as a lesson in God’s justice, human suffering, perseverance, humility and submission, which it might be. But it appears to me that from the summary God gives in chapters 38 to 42 it is a lesson in the supremacy and glory of God as Creator and sustainer of life and this world - universe.

While we acknowledge our inability to create matter, the CERN experiment included, we must acknowledge Gods ability to do so in this world in which we live without destroying the normative laws which he established at creation.

“Therefore ‘matter matters, to you and me. It is the stuff we are made of in this realm within which God works today to bring to you and me so many blessings. It is also necessary for our life in eternity”

Thus the Law of the Conservation of Matter [energy] is both true and false.

· It is true in that you and I cannot create or destroy matter. We may transform it or rearrange its component parts but we cannot create it or destroy it.

· It is false in that God can create or destroy matter [energy]. It is essential that God did this in Genesis, and continues to be able to do so for our present and future existence - life depends upon it.

However, if we see this Law as establishing absolutes for our existence today it is a direct challenge to the supremacy, sovereignty and power of God.

As Martin Foord writes in his article in the Briefing Magazine, God has been marginalized by the ascendance of the sciences in our post – modern, post – Christian world, reducing the impact and reality of God in the consciences of people.

“Alasdair Macintyre brilliantly argues in his book “The Significance of Atheism”, that when a culture is modernized, it looses the notion of God’s transcendence (or bigness).

“It is in fact not God who is in the shoe box but modern man. Enclosed in a cocooned world where God is evermore marginalized and science and self reigns supreme, man can no longer see God or acknowledge Him for the Supreme God of creation, power, love, grace and mercy that He is.”

This is a real challenge to us today. The mindset, worldview and opinions of the people we meet and talk with are daily bombarded with the choice of either science or God as an explanation for the existence of our world.

But, as Martian Foord writes in his article in The Briefing,

The fact that we are created says something about our dependence on the one who created us. Therefore the only right response (then) of the creature to the transcendent creator must be worship.”
As I close this talk I would like to take you back to an old hymn and its lyrics that speak of the glory and wonder of God, our Creator, Redeemer and Saviour; ‘How Great Thou Art’.[23] Take the time to go to the WEB site below [it is safe] and read the words as the tune plays and rejoice in God your creator who sustains your life and existence now and in eternity beyond. God Bless.

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Prayer
[1] Steve Czarnecki, Lockheeed Martin: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1998-08/897017973.Ot.r.html; Cited Thursday, January 01, 2009
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_of_mass: Cited Friday, January 02, 2009
[3] http://genesismission.jpl.nasa.gov/educate/scimodule/Cosmogony/CosmogonyPDF/FundamentalsTG.pdf
[4] http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/mass.html: Cited Friday, January 02, 2009
[5]http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/Chemistry/Generalchemistry/Energy/LawofConservation/LawofConservation.htm: Cited Friday, January 02, 2009
[6] ibid
[7] Isaiah 29:16, 41:25, 45:9, 64:8; Jeremiah 18:4,6; 19:1; Romans 9:21
[8] D. A. Carson, The Gagging of God (Apollos: Leicester, 1996) p210
[9] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_nihilo: Cited Wednesday, January 07, 2009
[10] It we look even deeper into this ‘mystery;’ even the term ‘ex-nihilo’ has problems. It is in fact inadequate to describe the pre-creation scene [itself an oxymoron]. The opposite of nothing is something so to define nothing you have to compare it with something, in stating creation ex-nihilo we are then comparing the pre-creation situation with something we know. Tying to touch the mind of God is a very hazardous thing for us as mortals to try to do; Isaiah 55:8. Praise God that he revealed himself fully in out Lord Jesus Christ whom we can identify with by faith and relate to as our Saviour.
[11] Note the comments from NASA: They may have been produced from energy during the second, very brief epoch or during the Mysterious Epoch immediately preceding it
[12] Martin Foord, The Briefing Issue 363: God, sin and Christ (Matthias Media: Kingsford, 20089) p16
[13] Martin Foord, ibid pp14 - 16
[14] M. J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Baker: Grand Rapids, 1985) p406 – 9
[15] In my delivery of this sermon at West Toowoomba I said that ‘I hated the word miracle’. This is not true. In fact what I ‘hate’, with a jealousy for the Glory of God, is the way we use this word in churches today to ‘marginalize’ a transcendent act of the Almighty God into our world so that our daily equilibrium might not be disturbed by the reality of a God who is actually bigger than we are.
[16] The creation of mater requires, via the Big Ban Theory, a temperature of 10 Trillion Degrees Celsius [-273
[17] Martin Foord, The Briefing Issue 363: God, sin and Christ (Matthias Media: Kingsford, 20089) pp14 - 16
[18]http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/Chemistry/Generalchemistry/Energy/LawofConservation/LawofConservation.htm: Cited Friday, January 02, 2009
[19]
[20] L. Berkholf: Systematic Theology (Banner of Truth: Edinburgh, 1981) p722f.
[21] M. J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Baker: Grand Rapids, 1985) p1198
[22] ibid, p1199f

[23] http://synergy_2.tripod.com/lyrics/howgrt.html

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