Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals

Creatio Ex Nihilo

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Creatio ex nihilo is a Latin phrase meaning “creation out of nothing.”  There are few ideas in the Christian world that are more controversial than this.  Yet, it is foundational in so many ways.

Think about it.  All good books, novel in their ideas, begin with a blank page or a blank screen.  Yet no one questions that the ideas must have arisen in an author’s mind before they appeared on the page. When they wrote it, they used language that had already been formed, paper that was present (while blank) or a keyboard and a computer someone else designed.  Every innovation known to man began as something in someone’s mind.  But the difference here is that all innovations, new approaches, inventions, and patents began with something–it was an arranging or rearranging of some raw material.

When God created, the idea–the design–was in His mind, but there were no raw materials utilized in what is creation.  We cannot pretend to know exactly how God did it, but inasmuch as it will never be duplicated or replicated as a science experiment, Christians are free to understand–by faith–that God created ex nihilo.

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In the Garden, Inspiration

Winter’s Grip is Letting Go

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I don’t really care what the forecasters might say.  Winter’s Grip is Letting Go.  The day length is increasing and the trees know it.  The birds know it, too.  It won’t be long before winter is replaced by the season of singing.

See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.  (Song of Solomon 2:11-12)

As I was celebrating the morning by watching another spectacular sunrise, I noticed something that only a horticulturist would notice.  Compared to sunrises a month ago, the lengthening days are encouraging the buds on the trees to begin swelling.  Within the next 2-3 weeks, the sap will begin running, maple syruping season will start, and the parade of early spring bloomers will appear.  Be encouraged.  Winter’s Grip is Letting Go.

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News and Chapel worship

Chapel Worship Guide 1.20.2013

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Service Order for 9:00 AM Sunday, January 20, 2013

Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Welcome–Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Worship in Song

Prayer– Bill Slater, http://billslaterministries.wordpress.com/

Scripture Reading (NIV):

Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling– even the LORD, who is my refuge– 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him

Sermon: “The Temptation of Jesus Christ”—by Bill Slater

Songs of Response:

Benediction – Bill Slater

 

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Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals

His Ways are Higher

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When God seems to make no sense and His ways seem to lead us in a direction we don’t want to go, it helps to know that His ways always align with His character; His plan never deviates from His revealed will; His directions are always perfect; and His thoughts and actions toward us are always loving.

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