Pastor's
Periodic
Ponderings
Pr Josh
Dear Friends,
 
Do you know the capital of Iceland?  By memory, that is?  I do: it is Reykjavik.  How about the capital of Ethiopia?  It is Addis Ababa.  The capital of Nepal?  It is Kathmandu.  I kind of like to think that I'm a bit of a geography buff and I love studying maps to learn the names of countries, capital cities, rivers, seas, and more.  So when I saw Pr. Jeanne carrying around an Intelliglobe, which she was using for a preschool chapel chat, I immediately asked to see it.  An Intelliglobe looks like your average globe, except it comes with a smart-pen that you can use to touch different parts of the globe in order to learn things like a country's national anthem, or the population of the capital city, or the chief export product.  A wealth of information is available whenever you touch the pen to a category, and then to a spot on the globe.  It is rather humbling to interact with this globe because you quickly realize how little knowledge you actually have stored up in your noggin about our beautiful blue-green planet! 



Learning from this Intelliglobe drove me to Psalm 8 where I helped create a devotion for the Spartan's Men's group last Saturday - but then I adapted that same devotion for Staff meeting last Tuesday noon - then adapted it again for church council on Tuesday night.  I thought I was done with it, but now it is spilling over into this week's Pondering!

I loved revisiting Psalm 8 and I encourage you to look it up and read it aloud while standing outside this weekend, enjoying the strengthening spring sunshine as it warms the Minnesota landscape.  In some older translations, you'll discover that in verse 5, the Psalmist is praising God for creating humankind 'a little lower than the angels.'  But in more modern translations you'll see that it more surprisingly says humans have been created "a little lower than God."  Turns out that the earliest translators couldn't bear to think that the Hebrew language here was suggesting we were so very close to God like this.   But yes indeed, the Psalmist suggests we are right up there next to the Creator of the Universe!  So consider that elevation, and consider what an awesome responsibility comes with it!   If we are to be charged with responsibility over God's gift of Creation, then that is an awesome mantle of concern, care, and stewardship that we must wear.  Walk around this greening environment, and listen to the babble of brooks, the honk of geese and the whistle-song of birds.  It puts you in proper awe to be so very thankful for the beauty of the earth. May it ever drive us to be care-takers of all that God has made, and never be exploitative or careless with such beauty. 



One other thing I learned about that borrowed Intelliglobe.  Apparently, my very own daughter led a team of intrepid explorers from their Bagels and Bible Study class in the youth room over into my office - my inner sanctum - my holy of holies - this past Sunday!  They stormed in and stomped around while I was leading the 10:45 service and they played with the globe in there, getting their bagel-sticky fingers all over everything!  (In truth, my office seems to have accumulated so many Star Wars toys and other knick-knacks that it's like being in a church's nursery.)  These kids and the youth director played in my office and listened to the Canadian National Anthem and learned that the capital of Ecuador is Quito, the population of Seoul is 10 million, and the currency used in Malaysia is the Ringgit.  Did you know that?  Well, that is exactly my point.  There is absolutely so much we don't know! And yet we are created only a little lower than the Creator?!  That is amazing and awesome.
 
See you in church! --Pastor Josh


A Couple More Things:
 
CONCERT: Our own Andrea Zimmerman will be leading a concert this Sunday (April 17) at 4pm featuring her vocal students, many of whom come from our church, as well as some of her musician friends.  The concert in entitles "Shout for Joy" and all are welcome to attend.  A simple gift of a food item for the food shelf is the only admission ticket necessary.  

NEWBORN KITS:  The Sunday school   and Christos kids have been working hard donating items for Newborn Kits for Global Health Ministries in Mpls., but they could use a little help to reach their goal.  By Sunday, April 24, they are looking for the following items: 
- 47 regular bath towels (they can be gently used) 
- 34 bars of Ivory soap
            - 50 cloths diapers (they come in packs of 10 at Target)
- 40 newborn onesies (new)
- 22 receiving blankets (they can be gently used) 
- 22 wash cloths (they can be gently used)
Thank you for your help.  The kids will work together to assemble the kits before they're delivered to GHM. Questions, see Teri Burns.

FOR MORE INFORMATION  about current Family of Christ events & opportunities, view our Family News.