Today we start a new series at New Life titled "New!"  Pastor Brad designed the series and it provides us a great opportunity to focus on this vital reality:  God is a Creator, not a Modifier.  What does that mean?  It means God doesn't simply take what is a make it a little better.  He takes what doesn't exist and creates!  That was true when God created the universe, and when God created us.  That's the topic for this morning's message and for this week's blog posts.

(By the way, I'll be on vacation this coming week, and at least part of the time will be invested enjoying the amazing creation God designed and created both on a large scale--by actually spending some time out in the creation, and on a small scale--by enjoying my family, including Abby who will be coming home at the end of the week for the first time in a long time!  Due to the "miracle" of technology, I'll be posting daily this week, without taking time away from my vacation -- How?  By having already written the posts and having the post automatically throughout the week.  [But you already knew that.] )

So, how about a God who creates an entire universe in six days and tells us that we--that is human beings--are the crown of His creation!  If that doesn't make you feel great, I don't know what will.  God isn't just "a" God.  He's THE God, and He DID create us as the crown of His creation.  That's why the focus of this morning's message is going to be on the first man and woman and the institution God created for us to live within to be fruitful and multiply, to subdue the earth and have dominion over it, to rule over everything else in creation.  You've probably already guessed what that institution is, but I hope you'll join us at 8:45 or 10:15 to celebrate God's love, His presence and power, His being for us, and to be equipped to live as new people in the world this week!  See you there!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for creating the universe and all it contains!  Thank You for creating us in Your image and likeness!  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we may live out the calling You have given us to Your glory and honor.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.