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Wednesday,
March
3,
2021
Snow Geese at Middle Creek
"The
Creator Of The Ends Of The Earth"
Message summary: Today let us
join Paul as we proclaim our praises to "the
Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen". Let
us affirm the ancient creed, “I believe in God the
Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.”
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"And
God said, 'Let the waters swarm with swarms of
living creatures, and let birds fly above the
earth across the expanse of the heavens.' So God
created the great sea creatures and every living
creature that moves, with which the waters
swarm, according to their kinds, and every
winged bird according to its kind. And God saw
that it was good. And God blessed them, saying,
'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in
the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.'
And there was evening and there was morning, the
fifth day" (Genesis 1:20-23). “Do you not know?
Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting
God, the Creator of the ends of the earth”
(Isaiah 40:28). "The Creator, who is blessed
forever. Amen” (Romans 1:25b).
Yesterday we watched an amazing spectacle of the snow geese at the Middle Creek wildlife area. This is one of the many places all across North America where snow geese stopover to rest and feed on their migration to Arctic areas. We saw lots of geese, probably about 50,000. But we'll probably go back next week when their numbers are expected to peak once the ice has thawed on the lake.
Yesterday we watched an amazing spectacle of the snow geese at the Middle Creek wildlife area. This is one of the many places all across North America where snow geese stopover to rest and feed on their migration to Arctic areas. We saw lots of geese, probably about 50,000. But we'll probably go back next week when their numbers are expected to peak once the ice has thawed on the lake.
One
observer describes the scene like this, "From far
away, it could be a patch of water lilies gone
wild, gobs of bobbing, floating whiteness atop a
glistening 400-acre lake. Then you get closer and
see the tiny specks of black on the edge of what
are surely wings, being untucked by what is most
definitely a pinkish bill. Then you hear the
raspy, discordant honking, louder than an army of
18-wheelers, commanding your eyes to an upward
blizzard of birds eclipsing the sky."
One
of the most remarkable features is when, as if on
cue, they all take off together and the volume
sounds much like that of a jet airplane.
This
is one of the many wonders of creation, evidence
of the mighty work of the Creator. Our first daily
Scripture portion in Genesis 1:20-23 describes the
creative work on the fifth day when God created
the birds.
A major emphasis on Paul’s teaching early in Romans is contrasting the created (creature) with the Creator. In 1:20 he refers to the creation of the world, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
Of course many modernists mock the notion of creation and a Creator. Science, they declare, fully explains the origins of the natural order. Big bang, evolution, billions of years of chance; they proudly assert that it can all be explained without the need for a Creator. Many, in their academic pride, see those of us who believe in the Biblical Creation account as mere simpletons. But "Professing to be wise they became fools" (Romans 1:22).
Sadly far too many, including some Christians, seek to accommodate the Bible to the fickle views of science. Many tell us we must disregard the first chapters in Genesis regarding Creation and the Flood. But the teaching of Creation and a Creator is not limited to the first several chapters in Genesis, rather it is heavily sprinkled all through the Bible. Denying the Creation account is not merely making the Genesis account a myth. You can’t stop there! Many, based on science, also assert life after death is impossible.
A major emphasis on Paul’s teaching early in Romans is contrasting the created (creature) with the Creator. In 1:20 he refers to the creation of the world, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
Of course many modernists mock the notion of creation and a Creator. Science, they declare, fully explains the origins of the natural order. Big bang, evolution, billions of years of chance; they proudly assert that it can all be explained without the need for a Creator. Many, in their academic pride, see those of us who believe in the Biblical Creation account as mere simpletons. But "Professing to be wise they became fools" (Romans 1:22).
Sadly far too many, including some Christians, seek to accommodate the Bible to the fickle views of science. Many tell us we must disregard the first chapters in Genesis regarding Creation and the Flood. But the teaching of Creation and a Creator is not limited to the first several chapters in Genesis, rather it is heavily sprinkled all through the Bible. Denying the Creation account is not merely making the Genesis account a myth. You can’t stop there! Many, based on science, also assert life after death is impossible.
Taking
an expository scalpel to God’s Word in seeking to
diminish the Creation account makes for a very
messy, and in our view, deadly operation. For
instance Jesus said, “But from the beginning
of creation, God made them male and female”
(Mark 10:6). In this text Jesus affirms that there
was “the beginning of creation” and
proceeds to quote from Genesis 1:27, “male and
female He created them”.
For
many years "the beginning of creation" has
been denied by those who claim to be wise. Now, in
the last several years, there's a denial of the
realty that "male and female He created them".
One concession always leads to more, as is
evidenced so often in the daily news, in political
and educational settings as well as the church
that concedes to the popular philosophies of the
day.
Today
let us join Paul as we proclaim our praises to "the
Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen". Let
us affirm the ancient creed, “I believe in God the
Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.”
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, we offer thanks to You that we
do know and we have heard that the Lord is the
everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the
earth. Yet there are those who have never heard this
message and there are still others who have
exchanged the truth of God for the lie, choosing to
worship and serve created things rather than the
Creator God which makes their thinking futile and
their foolish hearts darkened. In ourselves we are
nothing but as we walk in the light of Your inspired
Holy Word we live in truth and walk in
righteousness. So we give praise to You, the
Creator, who is forever blessed, and rejoice in Your
mighty, awesome and expansive creation. Amen.Further
study:
A
short sampling of Scripture texts throughout the
Bible that affirm creation and the Creator:
Furthermore the ancient church creeds and catechisms affirm a belief in Creation:
*
“Indeed, ask now concerning the former days which
were before you, since the day that God created
man on the earth, and inquire from one end of the
heavens to the other. Has anything been done like
this great thing, or has anything been heard like
it?” (Deuteronomy 4:32).
* “Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created” (Psalm 148:5)
* “It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it” (Isaiah 45:12).
* Jesus said, “But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6). Jesus recognized a that there was a “the beginning of creation”. And proceeds to quote from Genesis 1:27, “male and female He created them”.
* “To bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things” (Ephesians 3:9).
* “For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve” (1 Timothy 2:13).
* “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4).
* “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (Revelation 4:11).
* “Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created” (Psalm 148:5)
* “It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it” (Isaiah 45:12).
* Jesus said, “But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6). Jesus recognized a that there was a “the beginning of creation”. And proceeds to quote from Genesis 1:27, “male and female He created them”.
* “To bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things” (Ephesians 3:9).
* “For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve” (1 Timothy 2:13).
* “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4).
* “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (Revelation 4:11).
Furthermore the ancient church creeds and catechisms affirm a belief in Creation:
Apostle’s
Creed: “I believe in God the Father,
Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.”
Nicene Creed: “We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.”
Question nine of the Westminster Shorter Catechism What is the work of creation? “The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good."
Nicene Creed: “We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.”
Question nine of the Westminster Shorter Catechism What is the work of creation? “The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good."
We
just saw a powerful video in our Sunday School class
by Mark Farnham, a professor at Lancaster Bible
College and an elder in our church concerning
"Science and Scientism" Video (55 minutes but
worth the watch) This is not specifically in regard
to creation but presents a very interesting
perspective I don't recall ever hearing before.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Indescribable" Video Chris
Tomlin
"How Great Thou Art"
Video
Shane & Shane
So Many Snow Geese!! ~
Middle Creek Video The
Wandering Woodsman. This is a teacher who
makes many nature and historical videos in
our area.
Through the Lens: Snow
Goose Migration Video Cornell
Lab of Ornithology Outstanding
photography of the geese near the Finger
lakes
Of course we took photos and
video yesterday but if you are interested
let me point you to the abundance of
excellent photos and videos on the web.
There are many very serious photographers
with quality equipment that come for the
show!
Send
a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
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Weber".Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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