In my weekly Works & Wonders column, I combine a brief devotional with other interesting and uplifting bits and pieces I gleaned throughout the week. I hope you enjoy this week’s collection! It includes:
- Devotional: Proclamation, not Proof
- Fill This House
- Evangelising My Family Led to A Faith Crisis
- On Rainbow Wings
- Shall I Bare My Arms?
- Strange Sea Creatures
1.
Devotional: Proclamation, not Proof
Is it possible to prove that God exists? Is it possible to prove this so definitively that human beings must quiet their minds, bow their knees, and submit their hearts to him? Robert Horn says “God is not for proof but proclamation; not for argument but acceptance.” He reminds us that we can so easily lose our way and allow good motives to distract from our God-given purpose. God does not tell us to go into the world and convince others of his existence. He does not command us to engage in arguments and disputes about whether he does or does not exist. Rather, he commissions us to go and “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). Our God-given task is to proclaim the gospel of God and to call upon people to accept it—to believe the good news of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. As we do so, we trust that God himself will bring conviction of his existence and submission to his purpose.
2.
Fill This House
Stillcreek is a relative newcomer to Christian music, but I’m really enjoying their work. One of their major projects is writing their way through Psalm 119, but they are also writing other songs, like this new collaboration with Laura Story. “Fill This House” is a local church’s prayer to the Lord to grant love, joy, and peace.
3.
Evangelising My Family Led to A Faith Crisis
I have been reading Heidi Tai’s work for a long time now, and have often been moved by her desire to see her family come to faith. In this article on her Substack, she tells how the Lord has been answering her prayers. It’s a very moving piece of writing.
I find evangelism to family members extremely difficult. I would much rather preach to a room full of strangers, than to bring up matters of faith around the dinner table. Rejection stings harder when it comes from the people you know and love.
For sixteen years, I have prayed earnestly for a long list of unbelieving family members, including my beloved Gong Gong (grandfather) and Por Por (grandmother) who raised me. I have wrestled with seasons of hopelessness, as due to cultural and language barriers, I have struggled to find an appropriate way to talk openly about my faith.
What if I offend them?
How can I disrespect their culture and traditions?
If they were to reject God, how can I accept an eternity without my grandparents by my side?
Read Evangelising My Family Led to A Faith Crisis.
4.
On Rainbow Wings
I am a big fan of the John 10:10 Project, which brings attention to God by showcasing the beauty of his creation. And boy, did they ever outdo themselves with On Rainbow Wings, a short video about hummingbirds. They say it “is an unforgettable exploration of God’s artistry and creative power that occurs only when a hovering hummingbird and the sun are perfectly aligned. These flashing displays of prismatic colors are wonders of creation and celebrations of life on Earth. The ultra-slow motion footage in this short video may be unique in the history of wildlife photography.” Be sure to watch it!
5.
Shall I Bare My Arms?
Ben Palpant is a talented poet who gave me permission to share one of the poems from his collection Sojourner Songs. “Shall I Bare My Arms?” is a joy to read and ponder.
What can I offer
for the expiation
of a lifetime’s sin?Shall I bare my arms
and count the scars?
Or offer up my son
on an altar built,
stone by stone
with my own hands?
Or wear a shirt of camel hair?
Or pull out this heart
with my bare hands?No.
You said, “It is finished.”And I believe you.
So I’ve brought my mason jar
full of sea glass and a handful of coins
to pour out on your table
as thanks.
6.
Strange Sea Creatures
Vox reports on the recent discovery of all kinds of new sea creatures. In the article you’ll find all sorts of photos of weird and wonderful creatures like Dalhousiella yabukii and a new kind of ping-pong ball sponge (which, yes, is actually a real thing).
This week, the Ocean Census — a project that has set out to accelerate the discovery of sea life — announced that it has found 1,121 previously unknown ocean species since last April. That marks a massive jump in the number of newly discovered marine species in a single year, according to Oliver Steeds, director of the Ocean Census, a joint mission of the UK-based nonprofit Nekton and Japan’s largest philanthropic organization, the Nippon Foundation. Some of the other newly found creatures include fish, rays, sponges, and soft corals (you can see more of them below).
Though it may seem that Earth is already largely explored, the vast majority of animal species on Earth — perhaps as many as 90 percent of them — remain undescribed. “This is really a planetary blindspot,” said Steeds, who’s also the founder and chief executive of Nekton.
Read Photos reveal strange sea creatures that scientists have never seen before.
