Consider this

           Over the last few weeks, the world got its first close-up look at Pluto.   The pictures were incredible, but what really amazed me was the planning that went into making this happen.             Planning for the “New Horizons” project began in August of 1989.   After several failed attempts to obtain funding, construction started in 2003.   In order for the spacecraft to make the 7.5 billion Km journey to Pluto, it had to be launched within a twenty-three day window in January 2006.   That timing was critical because it was the only time that Jupiter would be in the right place to allow its gravity to help slingshot the craft to the outer parts of the solar system.               When you are talking about space travel, nothing “just happens”.   Everything is the result of looking several years into the future.   The pictures that we saw were the result of twenty-six years of planning and anticipation.             Anticipation is a powerful factor in any large undertaki

            When you look out at the world, what do you see?             Some see nothing but trouble and pain.   They point to things like poverty, crime, problems with drugs and alcohol and marriage break-ups and say that the world is full of sadness and sorrow.   Watch the news for even a half hour and you will get the idea that the world is a dark place.             Others see nothing but good.   They appreciate generous people in their community.   They think about their friends and neighbours and smile.   They marvel at the beauty of sunrises and stars at night.   To them, the world is a bright and wonderful place.             You may be surprised that the Bible supports both of these world views.   On one hand it says things like, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the

            If we are ever going to understand our relationship with God, we need to understand the word “covenant”.             A covenant is not a contract.   A contract is a fair exchange of goods and services.   Your cellphone contract, for example, states that you will pay a certain amount for a defined amount of access to the cell phone network.   If you stop paying, the contract is broken and you lose your access.               A covenant, on the other hand, is focused on individual commitment.   Wedding vows are an example of a covenant.     When people say, “I will love you for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health until death do us part”, they are committing to holding up their end of the bargain regardless of what happens to the other person.   Covenants do not take into account what the other person is doing.   They are only focused on what you said you would do.             When Jesus says that God “Causes his sun to rise on the evi