And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. ~ Exodus 3:14

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. ~ Isaiah 29:14

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you. ~ Habakkuk 1:5

Click this link to enlarge.. True colors of solar corona by Miloslav Druckmüller

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said .. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? ~ God to Job in 38:1-11

On December 24, 1968, in what was the most watched television broadcast at the time, the crew of Apollo 8 read in turn from the Book of Genesis as they orbited the moon. Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, and Frank Borman recited the passage of Genesis 1:1-10, using the King James Version.

Not surprisingly, Madalyn Murray O’Hair, founder of American Atheists, responded by suing the United States government, alleging violations of the First Amendment. The Supreme Court dismissed the suit due to lack of jurisdiction.

“And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.”

Despite Madalyn Murray O’Hair and her foolishness, seven months later on the July 20, 1969 Apollo 11 mission, Buzz Aldrin received communion on the lunar surface shortly after landing.

In the almost 50 years since those landmark events (‘Moonmark’, perhaps?!) there have been huge strides made in our discoveries outside of our home planet, and none more-so perhaps, than what has been revealed since the Hubble Space Telescope was placed into orbit in April of 1990. The first big breakthrough was 20 years ago in 1996, when the Hubble was pointed towards a dark part of the sky that seemed utterly empty; a patch devoid of any planets, stars, or galaxies. Ten days later, however, what they discovered was mind-blowing…

Some random thoughts …

A recent study revealed that children intuit the existence of God, and are not taught it, they are drawn to him naturally. It’s the creature in us – knowing that there’s a Creator, that this Creator has a plan and awareness of us – of each of us. The immortality of the soul and the transient nature of our lives on this side, in this domain, in this dominion, is what makes all of the troubles we experience – that WE create – worthwhile, and not pointless.

It is impossible that we are orphans in an infinite universe so perfectly attuned to our needs. As Jackson Browne and the band would express it: “It’s like a song I can hear playin’ right in my ear, and I can’t sing it – but I can’t help listening” (lyrics in ‘For a Dancer’). Since our poets and songwriters are our unacknowledged legislators, we need to support our non-local wordsmiths and advocate for cosmic law-and-order. As in: Man is intelligence, and intelligence is the transcending of forms and the realization of the invisible Essence; to say ‘human intelligence’ is to say absoluteness and transcendence. – F. Schuon

These many past years since salvation overcame me in 1996, I’ve called it ‘being struck by Grace’, aka ‘The Arrival.’ It comes when you least expect it and, even though you cling to it desperately, it goes. But through those moments, hours, or even days following The Arrival, we are allowed a glimpse of that which we cannot name. Other than knowing surely that it is Love – a very special touch of God and his eternal love. The touch that begins in the nape of your neck, and like a mini electric generator, travels all the way down and through your body to the tips of your fingers and toes. THAT kind of touch from Heaven.

In the beginning, God created …

The moon, the sun, the planets, stars, galaxies, the heavenlies. I love it that God takes delight in showing them all to us like a carousel full of slides from the latest vacation. Which reminds me of Paul in II Corinthians 12:2, describing himself in such a transcendent experience: I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven .. How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful  for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

Keeping himself humble so that he may witness the glory of Heaven yet again!

And so in closing, the creatures who dwell between the tiles of Heaven’s floor gaze upward into the Impossible Heights, forever wanting to know whatever more is there ‘beyond the pale?’ God and his always-inspiring evocations are gifts we cannot afford to lose. After all, what exactly is it that our universe, or multiverse, is expanding into, and what is its source? Where is its destination? And why is it happening? And obviously to the question, ‘Why?’ there comes forth yet a more provocative response – ‘why not?’

Why not indeed.

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge .. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb .. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. ~ Psalm 19: 1-2, and on.

********************

H/T Gerard Vanderleun and American Digest / and personal archives

********************

Face of Jesus by Richard Hook

Soli Deo Gloria!