backyards

Sunday March 1st, Genesis 9: 8 Again, God said to Noah and his sons: 9 I am going to make a solemn promise to you and to everyone who will live after you. 10 This includes the birds and the animals that came out of the boat. 11 I promise every living creature that the earth and those living on it will never again be destroyed by a flood. Those who would profess the theology of the “Left Behind” series would see this as one of God’s trick statements, sort of a “I won’t use water next time, I’ll use fire ha ha ha!!!” statement. They are wrong, and a bit sadistic. God made a promise to all of life on the planet earth that God will love them and keep them in a loving relationship. And the unspoken part of that is the God will keep on our case until we “get it” and start to respond to God, creation, and one another in a similar, loving, caring manner. In other words, there will be love, grace and Jesus. What do we make of this? God is concerned about and loves all of creation. Global warming is a concern, The Sudan is a concern, the Middle East is a concern, Warfare is a concern and you and I are a concern. Our job is to get our concern in line with God’s concerns and care for all the world, not just our own back yard. If we think and pray globally and act locally, our backyard, as well as our neighbors backyard will both benefit.