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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Writing (01/11/07)
As twilight slipped from lavender hues into the navy darkness of night, the aged grandfather led a sprightly group of youngsters to the side of a grassy slope. With the moon's face revealing only a thin silhouette of its illumination, the pinpoints of starlight took over the night sky.

"Here, now, children. This will give us an excellent view of the stars. Find a comfortable spot, lie down, look up, and I will tell you another story that the Master of the Universe has written for us on high with His own finger in the stars."

He settled himself, and the children snuggled close to his side. They didn't want to miss a word, because they would carry his stories ahead, someday, to their own grandchildren and beyond.

"Do you see that figure in the sky, right there?" The children watched their grandfather trace the outline with a long bony finger at the end of his raised arm.

"That is the Virgin that reminds us what our Lord promised when he sent our first mother, Eve, out of the garden. He said that one day the seed of the woman would be born and He would crush the foe. We've talked about the enemy before, do you recall? The deceiver, the one who stole Paradise from God's creation, is pictured there." He pointed to another constellation for the children's attention.

"Tell us, again, Grandfather Seth, about the story in that picture over yonder, just above the horizon."

"Good idea, Methuselah. God has given me a lot more to tell you, about the relationship between the Water Bearer, and the Fishes....and, yes, even the Scorpion and the Lion and the Big and Little Sheepfolds."

And so, this ancient sage, considered to be the first astronomer, explained the message of redemption, written in the heavens, that continues to unfold on the pages of history to this day.

But, this message was more than his imagination. The original writer, the author, was the Creator of the universe. When He called the stars by name and assigned them each to it's special place, He was writing a message for us in picture language. Over the aeons His prophets would receive understanding from God's Spirit and proclaim that message to those who had ears to hear.

Following the circular pathway across the heavens, not unlike opening a scroll of remembrance, the prophets explained God's provision for His creation. The penalty has been paid. The power of sin is destroyed. The ultimate deliverance from the very presence of sin is revealed. It is the good news, the Gospel, written by God from the foundation of the world across the expanse of the sky. He intended for all humanity to look up and see, to read and to understand, the original manuscript.

Thus, it is no wonder that the first recorded human language, labeled hieroglyphics, is "picture writing." God's creatures took lessons from the Master, using pictographs as He did, to convey a message. We write our stories, today, whether we realize it or not, because of the Source of all writing.

A message received can differ from the message sent, however. Static, individual perceptions, many factors can distort the original intent. Thus, it is not surprising to read mythologies, whether Greek, Roman, Norse, or Aboriginal, that have a ring of commonality to them. These ethnic sagas also have a ring of truth to them, based as they were on the original story.

Even though the message be distorted or misunderstood, God has not left Himself without witness. He calls all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Jesus, the One who is the Word, the first and last letters of the alphabet, no less, became flesh and dwelt among us.

He came to "correct the record" as God's specific revelation written, quite literally, in human flesh. The story in the stars comes full circle. The Seed of the Virgin has prevailed as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

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http://tccsa.tc/articles/psalm_19.html
http://tccsa.tc/articles/constellations.html
http://tccsa.tc/articles/strohmer.html
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This article has been read 1948 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sara Harricharan
01/19/07
This was very informative and interesting to read. I like the title too.
Marilyn Schnepp 
01/20/07
From this reader's viewpoint, the opening paragraph was beautiful; but from a writer's viewpoint, six adjectives in the first sentence seemed overdone. (Remember! Just one person's opinion) Loved the title, and being a skeptic...I've never read that Seth was the original astronomer in the Scriptures. But a very informational and educational read. Excellent job, and well written.
Laurie Glass 
01/21/07
What a neat take on the topic. I never would have thought of it myself. Well written and it makes you think.
Marilee Alvey
01/22/07
What a whirlwind of ideas, presented in such a calm way, through the fingers of an old man. Man is without excuse. I've heard this, but you give a different reason for it. So, if man can't read, he can look in the stars! I once heard that the people who see "flying saucers" are so often discounted because they are usually the elderly or young children. Why? Because they are the only ones who take the time to look up in the sky. After that, I vowed to look up more. Now you've given me a bigger reason. You're a VERY talented writer!
Leigh MacKelvey
01/23/07
Oh how lovely! I was delighted with the adjectives and descriptions which held me spellbound. This was truly original and creative .. and written with definite talent.
william price
01/23/07
What a beautifully told story. So edifying, encouraging and a pleasure to read. Nothing better than grandpas finding creative and interesting ways to teach and minister to the grandkids. And what is so cool, is that nothing really dates this story. It could have been as far back as the first grandfather to the newest holding "school" on the same hill, sharing the same thing, because God's story for us never changes. Excellent job, Edy. Loved this. God bless.
Joanney Uthe 
01/24/07
Very unique take on the topic. Held my interest throughout. Great job.
Steve Uppendahl
01/25/07
Wow, Edy. One of the best openings I've seen in awhile. Very vivid and clear. Excellent.

Your word choice and description throughout was outstanding. Powerful stuff.

I wanted to read more of Seth and his stories to the children. Gotta love that word count.

Keep weaving, Edy. You're awesome.
Suzanne R
01/30/07
Fascinating, Edy. My dad is majorly 'into' the concept of the gospel being told in the stars, and I grew up thinking it was common knowledge, then later learned that, in fact, it was us who were just a touch 'odd'. But the gospel HAS been written in the stars. The virgin, the serpent being trod on by her, the archer ... I'm a bit hazy on the details but it is way too coincidental to be coincidence. I'm sure you've read the book 'Gospel in the Stars', right?

You present the information in a format that draws the reader in - the children (I've never thought of Methuselah as a child!), the grandfather etc. WELL DONE.