God told Adam and Eve that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would die. Satan countered with a very simple lie. Satan said, “If you eat from this tree, you shall NOT die” (3:4). Just one word changed, but that one word made all the difference.
No sooner did God put Adam in the Garden of Eden and it was determined that Adam could not live alone. “It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him a helper,” God said. God realized that life can be very lonely without someone to share it with.
This text presents a beautiful, idyllic image of marriage. But we have lots of people in the congregation who do not have beautiful, idyllic marriages.
In Latin, the phrase is Imago Dei, “In the Image of God.” Imago Dei: we are created in the image of God––in his own blessed image, he fashioned us. We look like God.
This is Trinity Sunday. This is the time when we proclaim loudly and clearly, that we believe in One God in three persons, not three god’s pretending to be One.
There should be no conflict between science and religion. Science can tell us the HOW but not the WHY of creation. Our faith assures us that behind the “how” is a loving God who creates the world and all that is in it out of love.
Out of nothingness, God created everything. Out of our nothingness—out of our most terrible experiences, God can create something good in our lives.
One night a shower of meteors fell from the sky. My friend was frightened, but I said, "Let us not mind the meteors, but let us keep our eyes on the stars." (Abraham Lincoln)
In the beginning, God created…what a majestic statement that makes of God’s love and care, God’s control and power. Not everyone agrees with our faith in God’s creation. Do you remember Carl Sagan, the astronomer?
Does the name, Jochebed mean anything to you? Jochebed was the mother of Moses. Hers is the story of a mother’s faith –and her willingness to resort to extreme measures to protect her child. But, more than that, it’s a story of trusting God.