In the Old Testament God used visions to reveal His plan, to further His plan, and to put His people in places of influence. Abraham in a vision covenanted with God becoming the father of many nations. Joseph in dreams saved the Egyptians and the Israelites from famine. Daniel influenced foreign rulers through the interpretation of dreams. God used enemy armies to win battles.

In the New Testament God used visions and dreams to identify Jesus and to establish his church. John the Baptist was born to Zecharias and Elizabeth in their old age, foretold in a dream. Joseph had a vision telling him Mary's pregnancy was from God. Nearly the entire book of Revelation is a vision given to Paul.

Warnings: We are warned about idolatry and immorality , selfish ambition, greed and unbelief. If we use the freedom we are given this way we will not inherit God's Kingdom.

Promises: when we acknowledge the name of God he is with us. His protection will keep us from harm. His wisdom will guide us and his grace will restore us and bring us joy. All eternity is ours when we believe.

We are all scientists and we are all theologians. We live in a world that we can observe and experience. Both science and faith concerns itself with what is real. To paraphrase the late Dr. Dallas Willard, No knowledge can be had apart from the knowledge of God. One of the great tragedy’s that results from the sin of idolatry is that we frame a kind of reality that is no longer based on what’s real. Then, we convince ourselves that our narrative, the foundation we base our lives on, is the real one. We are often only to be left disappointed when we run face first into that very wall of reality we thought we were already living in. The church as well as the academy has much to repent for when it comes to our realizing that much of the current dilemma of pitting science against faith or embracing an anti-intellectual posture towards science for the sake of the Gospel has been a creation of our own making. We create enemies where none need to be made. We rip apart the heavens and earth and treat them like two mutually exclusive ends of the spectrum instead of seeing them as designed to function and flourish together.

Again, if we are going to to root all of our knowledge in the knowledge of God, we take heed from the biblical lesson of Babel: Making names for ourselves will always lead to ruin. Whether that name for ourselves is within the church (the most disastrous kind) or in the laboratory or the observation deck, our motivations speak to our eternal longings. These longings can only find their fullest expressions in the ultimate reality: Life in the Kingdom-here our glad invitation this morning: God has expressed the reality of this life specifically in the person of Jesus. There is no conflict between science and faith. Our invitation is to come, reason with the one who placed eternity in our hearts and search out matters that his world invites us too. For the scientist and the theologian, which again, we all are, part of our ministry of reconciliation is to show that any knowledge, including scientific knowledge, has, as its necessity, a need for the

knowledge of God

It is for our good, but ultimately for his glory. There is no conflict between science and faith because both are a part the world that God has created.

Texts from Paul's letters have been used to silence women in many churches. These need to be read in context with Paul's letters and with his life. One can see in Romans 16 6that he honored many women in ministry. He even calls Junia "an apostle" in Romans 16:7.

Please see the more detailed discussion found in James Wakefield, “Women in Ministry: Rereading the Basic Texts” for a detailed discussion of ideas presented here.

God is the creator of everything! He owns everything and does not require our sacrifices. He requires from us humble hearts and contrite spirits as we journey from life to glory. Our journey begins with confession and trust in the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. As we live in relationship with our Lord and Savior he prepares us as his beloved children to share in his suffering as well as his glory. The Holy Spirit empowers us to grow in relationship with him and others as he applies the benefits of Christ's redeeming work to the hearts of believers.

God is making everything new! he is the beginning and the end. Our earthly tents are frail and fleeting, vulnerable and wasting away. In God's house they are permanent, solid, and built by God! In heaven there is no death, mourning or crying. The thirsty will drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Our Father has prepared a place for us in heaven with him!

Jesus explained all things in Scripture concerning himself (Luke 24:25-27). The Bible is not a textbook for science or political theory or any side issue. It speaks about Jesus and provides what we need to grow as disciples.

Paul makes this clear in II Timothy 3:14-17.

Most of our problems interpreting Scripture come from twisting the words of the Bible to make them say what we want them to say! (II Peter 3:14-16).

What are God’s plans for me? Does he even have plans for me? How can I know them? What if what I’m doing now doesn’t seem to fit what I want to do or what I feel God has led me to? These are honest questions, but the place to begin is to see what God’s intention is for his image bearers is and from there, we can begin to discern and understand God’s plan for us as a community. Remember, our Christian identity is shaped by learning and knowing who God is. The more we experience and know God, the more fully human we become.

Humankind is the pinnacle of God’s creation. Men and women are called to be a faithful presence within the world by exercising care over all that God has made. The purpose of humankind is to become the extension of God’s ‘hands’ in the world. This Psalm shows us that the purpose of plan of life is to worship God is ALL that we do. The Westminster Shorter Catechism says it this way: What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Jesus announces that the long awaited arrival of God’s Kingdom is now at hand. Jesus is the focal point of what God’s plan for all of life truly is. It is Jesus’ invitation of eternal life that gives us the answer to the question: What is God’s plan? Paul frames the Christians new point-of-reference: We live in the reality of the new creation; as a result, we now are called to look at everyone from this point-of-view. God’s plan for us is that we live as agents of reconciliation. You cannot reconcile those who you ‘see,’ and you cannot love those who you do not see.

In Luke 2 we see not peace but division. Christ makes who he is very clear when he says, "I've come to bring fire on the earth..." We learn from Christ that Kingdom is a political term and the way to live as kingdom people brings not only new life and freedom but disruption and confrontation as a radical new social and political system is born.

In Colossians God warns us that although we are smart enough to read the weather and predict coming storms we cannot read the present times and the spiritual poverty we are experiencing. When Jesus says, "Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right" , it is a warning. The signs of the times demanded an immediate decision for the Jewish nation. The times we live in also demand an immediate decision for all Christians to turn from the negative rhetoric and the belief we are in control to prayerfully considering how we can "Be the Church."

Romans 13 is the classic political script for Christians, it draws us to peace and order by submitting to the governing authorities and to be good citizens. God is a God of order and uses governments to keep order. We are to live responsibly before our governing authorities and before God. In order to "BeThe Church" we refuse to return evil for evil by living in peace and sharing goods, and doing deeds of charity as opportunity arise.

This sermon considered commands to act violently in Deuteronomy, and called us to seek peace with all people now that Jesus has spoken about loving our enemies.

This sermon addresses common questions about how believers hear God speaking through Scripture and life. P James used a couple of personal stories to illustrate both failing and succeeding in obeying God.