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Thank you so much for pinging me to this thread, and thank you all for your encouragements. As you say, dearest sister in Christ, I am still on an "extended sabbatical" but am nonetheless drawn to reply on this subject.

Truly, I commend you, betty boop, to all my brothers and sisters in Christ as you have consistently shown me, over the years, that your highest priority is God Himself. In many debates on the forum, private correspondence and in our book writing collaborations, your priorities have never changed. No one has cause to question your motives, nor should you be offended if that ever happens.

Concerning the root of the present exchange, how much direct observation (e.g. science) can illuminate our understanding of Scripture - I am confident of several things.

First, that we Christians see the glory of God in His creation as He said we would:

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. - Psalms 19:1-3

Second, that while in the flesh, our perceptions are limited. But there will be a time that we will see things more clearly:

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. - I Corinthians 13:12

In our past conversations, we have also observed that man has a tendency to superimpose his own limited understanding onto God's revelations. We indeed have used the beautiful "Creation of Adam" fresco by Michelangelo as an example. There, he depicts God the Creator as an old grey-haired, bearded, man on a cloud. Though a beautiful artistic vision, it cannot be correct since it was rendered by a mortal:

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. - John 1:18

Or to put it another way, man is not the measure of God.

That does not mean that we cannot grow in understanding Who God IS, what He has done, what He wants and so on.

Truly, God the Father has revealed Himself to us in several ways: in the Person of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, in the Person of the indwelling Holy Spirit, in His own words - Scriptures, and in His creation, both physical and spiritual.

Indeed, we not only should look and see, we must. For if we love God - and as Christians, we do - then we hunger to learn more about Him, we hang on His words, cherish His fellowship, His presence, His leading.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. - John 8:12

But we should always remember that God did not make us with a cookie cutter, and therefore each of us may develop and grow differently, over different hurdles or at different rates.

After all, doubting Thomas was an apostle, too.

Indeed, the apostles were each quite different from one another - having different learning curves, some requiring the school of hard knocks while others bent seemingly effortlessly to Jesus' words.

This passage is quite telling:

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. - 2 Peter 3:15-16

Paul had the eyes of an Apostle and was a master of the Torah and writings. Those who listened and especially those who understood were surely helped.

Likewise here, xzins was blessed with the eyes of a theologian; betty boop, the eyes of a philosopher and TXnMA, the eyes of a scientist. Each of you magnify the revelations of God through the lens God Himself gave you.

(BTW, I realize God has blessed you with other "eyes" - I only pick one each as an example.) I commend all of you and thank you all for doing this.

And please never be discouraged from doing this, even if you do not get a reply - or if the reply is "huh?" - or even disdain. We are only responsible for the seeds He gave us, individually.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. - I Corinthians 3:7

May God bless you all and your loved ones and those seeds you plant or water.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. - Revelation 22:21

God's Name is I AM.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. -- Matthew 5:9

Thank you ever so much, dearest sister in Christ, for your beautiful, gracious essay-post -- so full of light and grace and love.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath for us. God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. -- 1 John 4:16

May God continue to bless you and all your dear ones; may His Holy Spirit ever abide with you, now and always.

In Christ's love and peace.

God's Name is I AM.

Where are you Alamo-Girl?