Who, me?

Men go abroad to wonder at the height of mountains,

at the huge waves of the sea,

at the long courses of the rivers,

at the vast compass of the ocean,

at the circular motion of the stars;

and they pass by themselves 

without wondering.

                    Saint Augustine

You created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you

because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

                              David, Psalm 139:13-14

There were three piles:

 1) throw-a-way,

 2) Good Will,

 3) keep (someone will want this)

As I was sorting through my mother's things after her death, 

I found many books.

This particular one belonged in the #3 pile 

.....(someone will want this: ME).

Copywrighted in 1980--this was its 12th printing.

Dr. Paul Brand explores the human body, God's creation, and reveals how cells, bones, skin, muscles, and nerves authentically express spiritual reality. 

The body of Christ

like our own bodies

is composed of individual, unlike cells 

that are knit together

to form one Body.

A few quotes from the book will help us understand and appreciate our images, give glory, and humble us.

*He invested His great, creative self in this world, and, specifically, in the design of our bodies.

*...there is a mysterious, organic relationship that exists among the people of God.

*In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul compares the church of Christ to the human body.

*Red blood cells, muscle cells, cartilage cells, fat cells, bone cells, etc. ... we are all a collection of people as diverse as the cells in our body.

*I find God in the faces of my fellow worshipers

by sharing with people

who are shockingly different from me.

*We carry within us not just the image of, or the philosophy of..but the actual substance of God.

Do you not realize that Christ is in you?

          --Paul

I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

I am the vine, and you are the branches.

          --Jesus

                                                                 2 Corinthians 13:5, Galations 2;20, John 14:20, Johne 15:5

As Dr. Brand points out, there are incredible benefits of this identity--

but also sobering responsibilities--

          


*When we act in the world,

        we quite literally subject God

       to that activity.

                           

*There are conflicting strains of human helplessness and divine power with us. ...
What matters is our willingness to respond by reaching out
 and connecting with other human beings.

                     

In him you too are being built

together to become a dwelling in which

God lives by his Spirit.

             Ephesians 2:22

The

Who, me?

Yes, you! 

You should know that your body is a temple 

for the Holy Spirit who is in you.

 You have received the Holy Spirit from God.

 So you do not belong to yourselves.

   1 Corinthians 6:15

The Creator has made us each one of a kind.

There is nobody else exactly like us,

and there never will be.

Each of us is his special creation

and is alive for a distinctive purpose.

     Luci Swindull  

 Therefore, we will give PRAISE.