When John Glenn became the first American astronaut to orbit the earth aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft in 1962 he told ground control by radio shortly after liftoff, “The capsule is turning around now.” Then, after a short pause, he gasped, “Oh! That view from outer space is tremendous.”
Glenn, who was a devout Christian well before this historic flight, prayed every day of his mission and thanked God for giving him the privilege of viewing His creation from such a vantage point.
Imagine, being up there in space, looking down at earth—just a tiny ball in the vastness of infinity. Or imagine being down on that tiny ball of earth and viewing the heavens as thousands did on April 8 this year when a total solar eclipse moved across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Viewers describing what they saw that day used words like “awesome,” “unforgettable,” “wonderful,” “magical” and yes—“tremendous!”
This past Sunday at LECC we speculated on what it must have been like to view the Creator of both the heavens and earth in real life and in person. That privilege happened to many on the night the Word, who was Jesus, “became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” (John 1: 14) What was it like for Mary to look down at her newborn baby, wondering how this child would change eternity for all of humanity?
What was it like for Joseph, wondering how he could live up to being the earthly father to the son of God? Or the shepherds, or the three wise men viewing the miraculous child prophesied by angels and Old Testament prophets?
“Tremendous” can’t possibly be an adjective strong enough to describe the joy and awe that accompanied Jesus’s birth and events of His entire life. Imagine hearing His teachings and witnesing His miracles! Even His death, while heartbreaking at first, was followed by the incredible awe of His resurrection!
Contemplating what His earthly sojourn accomplished for humanity is enough to leave many Christians speechless. Thankfully, every week in worship, the lyrics of many songs capture the proper spirit of gratitude.
At LECC this past Sunday, we celebrated His birth with music provided by The Texans, fulltime singing missionaries who spread the Gospel throughout the world with their Texans International Ministry. We followed the command of Colossians 3:16 to “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
The Texans blessed us with all of the above, and how do you think they sounded to our congregation? Awesome, exhilarating, happy, joyful, loving. And oh yes! Tremendous!
Next Sunday, we will have our children’s play program and morning candlelight service. We’d enjoy having you visit and sing with us at 415987 Highway 9, Eufaula, where we have small group Bible study at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., and Wednesday night all-age acitivities at 6:30 p.m. We love to “come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.” (Psalm 95:1-2). So will you!
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little, Minister
