Real love is NOT “soap opera love” —passionate and intense but selfish and temporary. It is NOT an “until somebody ‘better’ comes along” kind of “love.” Real love is God’s kind of love—“Agape” love. The kind of love that is a forever love—protecting, trusting, and hopeful. It remains forever, even when life is difficult.
Movies have had a powerful influence on the abortion debate … In the past year, a positive trend has appeared in movie theaters. There appears to be an acknowledgement of the sanctity of pre-born life coming across in films with broad public appeal.
I know the constant pressure and, oftentimes, frustration of wanting to be part of a winning team. I’m a Minnesota Vikings fan! I can hope, but nothing guarantees that by choosing the Vikings I’ll be supporting a winning team. However, when you choose life, you are on a winning team. It’s guaranteed, because life wins! Jesus Christ defeated death and He gives us the victory! The Easter season is a great time to be reminded of that. It’s important to be reminded of that. We experience frustration when death appears the victor.
Place two newborn babies side by side on a table. Call together medical specialists, scientific professionals, social engineers, and leading theologians. Have technicians measure the size of the babies, examine their bodies, observe their behavior, draw blood, and perform reaction tests of all sorts. Then let the experts tell us which baby is the product of rape. They can’t!
The Book of Job is about life and death, about the cosmic battle between the Creator of all life and the ruler of this world who wants to destroy life. The fate of man, embodied in Job, is at stake, for the battle is being waged over Job’s life. His love for God is being tested. Satan is the one who attacks Job, and the real issue is whether Job is willing to let go and completely trust in the mercy of God. Will Job finally place himself in the hand of God? Job’s suffering shows him that he is nothing, and that God will restore this prodigal servant to full communion with God—to real life—for Job’s suffering proves that no one can restore that communion with God except God Himself, who must return to His fallen creation in human flesh to die so that He might make all things new.
Hands communicate. They tell us so much about a person. A hand reaching down to help someone up says, “I’m on your side. I’m here to help.” A hand caressing another hand or a cheek tells someone, “I love you. I want to be close to you.” A hand beckoning someone to come near or waving “Hi,” lets you know, “You’re welcome here, come on in.” If you see someone’s hands moving rapidly while talking, you know the person is excited about something.
When calamity strikes, it’s hard to see clearly and keep one’s bearings …
There is a contrast between those who carry their god in their hands and God, who has all things in His hand. So, what will it be for you, god in hand or in God’s hand? The answer seems easy enough, but before you piously reject as out of hand the idea of having god in hand, you might want to check out those with god in hand in our text. They are kind of appealing!
A worship service based on the Life Sunday theme “In the Hands of God.”
“When does human life begin?” That question comes up in connection with cloning and embryonic stem cells and genetic testing and the “morning after” pill. Physicians, scientists, politicians, philosophers, and theologians offer a variety of complex and differing answers. Does anyone really know when life begins?