Hello, Bridge family. I found it interesting that after sharing with the kids last week that God is real, this week's message focused on God being the Creator. I also thought it was notable that our curriculum selected the book of Job to emphasize that point. That is, until I reread God’s response to Job’s demand that God explain why this is happening to him.


If you're unfamiliar with the story, here is a quick summary: Job had everything—money, power, family, and health—and he was devoted to God. Satan, believing that Job’s devotion was only because of his good fortune, challenged God, essentially saying, ‘You take all that away from Job, and he will abandon his faith.’ God allows Satan to test Job’s faith by taking it all away, which he does; Job is left with nothing, not even his health. Even his wife thinks Job would be better off dead. Let me encourage you to check it out!


Anyway, Job feels he has been wronged and wants answers. So God comes to Job and responds in a whirlwind (Job 38-41). Read these chapters; they are humbling as God replies with a series of questions that put things in perspective. Job is left speechless (vv. 40:3-5), and if you have ever thought you deserved answers from God, like me, you would be too.


You see, the questions God asks Job all focus on the created order of the universe. For example, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you know so much" (v. 38:4 NLT). For nearly the rest of the book, God reveals to Job the majesty and power of His hand in no uncertain terms. God makes it clear to Job and to the reader that "my (his) ways are higher than your (our) ways and my (his) thoughts higher than your (our) thoughts" (Isa 55:9).


Here's the best part: With our families, we can observe God’s creation. I was fortunate as a kid; my grandparents owned a farm in Ohio, where there were no lights to obscure the nighttime sky. I vividly remember being amazed at the countless stars filling the sky, including the Milky Way, on moonless nights. Trust me, if you ever get the chance, you will be in awe of God’s handiwork, and your kids will be too.


My point is to go out and explore creation with your kids. Try hiking, visit the zoo, or do anything you can to see what God has made. When you do, be sure to seize the moment and say, "Look what God has done."


They (we) know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them (us) (Rom 1:19)


Remember, as long as your child is at home, you have a wonderful opportunity to share the Bible. Together, explore its stories, talk about how they relate to daily life, and encourage deeper family conversations. This makes faith an exciting and meaningful journey. God bless, and I look forward to seeing your family on Sunday.


Pastor Bob

Bible Point: God is real


Hello, Bridge family. This week, we discussed a topic many of us have probably wondered about at some point: whether God is real. I believe asking questions is healthy and that we shouldn’t accept everything blindly. The problem arises when we, entrusted with providing answers, find those answers lacking. I understand no one has all the answers, and it’s okay to seek help from others. But when the question of God's existence comes up—especially when it catches you off guard, like when it hits you unexpectedly from the back seat of the car, and only you can answer—it’s helpful to think about it beforehand. It’s a great question: How do I know God is real? Here are a couple of thoughts:


Begin by analyzing this week’s story, which depicts a personal encounter between two beings on that mountain (Exodus 3): God, appearing as a burning bush, and Moses. While the reason for God choosing a burning bush isn't explained, it’s clear that, as God, He can take any form He desires. The specific appearance isn’t critical. Read it; Moses questions and debates with God, who responds. Moses clearly recognizes that he is engaging with a real, living person. This account affirms that. This isn’t just a single event; throughout the Old Testament, there are numerous personal encounters with God, often in different forms, but all similar to our story in Exodus this week.


How do you know those Old Testament stories are real? To answer that, we need to understand Jesus Christ. First and foremost, know that he is the God incarnate. In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God... So the Word became human and made his home among us (John 1:1, 14 NLT). Jesus is a real person, fully man and fully God, verifiable through witness accounts both in the Bible and outside it. We see in the gospels that Jesus leans into the Old Testament accounts, which for me provide all the validity to hold them as true. By studying Jesus with your family, you will see God as a real person. So let me encourage you to do that at home.


Of course, these points are just a starting place for understanding that God is real, and you might have other ideas as well, such as the perfection of the universe, the complexity of the human body, or personal experiences that cannot be explained without a living God. But let me again encourage you to start with Jesus.


Remember, as long as your child is at home, you have a great chance to share the Bible. Together, explore its stories, discussing how they apply to daily life, and fostering deeper family conversations. This makes faith an exciting and meaningful journey. God bless, and I look forward to seeing your family on Sunday.


Pastor Bob

Hello, Bridge family. I hope you're well. I don’t think about Heaven as much as I should. How about you? I've taken Pastor Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven off my shelf a few times, but I haven’t finished it. It's not the definitive book, but what I’ve read offers interesting perspectives. This ties into our message this week, which examines what the Bible says about Heaven.


Perhaps you’re a Heaven enthusiast. As I mentioned earlier, I’m not. I look forward to going there, but I haven’t studied it in detail, so I’m unsure how many questions I could answer about Heaven. That makes me wonder whether our discussion might raise questions in our kids’ minds. If you’re like me, you might need some help, so I researched a little and, with input from Pastor Alcorn, I’d like to share a few thoughts that could be helpful, just in case you’re asked.


In Heaven, we will have physical bodies; we are not ghosts or angels. The disciples see a living, eating Jesus after the resurrection (Luke 24:39, 42-43). John says we will resemble Jesus when He returns (1 John 3:2). The best part is, upon His return, we will have better human bodies to work, eat, play, and worship on a new earth.


In Heaven, we will know people. Going to Heaven isn’t like going to a new school. If you think about it, the disciples recognized Jesus, and, like them, we may recognize family, friends, or even unfamiliar people. Since Peter, John, and James recognized Moses and Elijah at the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:5), I doubt there will be a need for name tags in Heaven.


Heaven won’t be boring. It’s not just harp-playing on clouds. We will feast with Jesus on the new earth. Isaiah 25:6 says the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast. When I hear 'feast,' I think of a party. We will laugh, rejoice with Jesus, and worship Him. How much better could it get? The Bible also teaches that we will serve Jesus (Rev 22:3). Since the curse is lifted, we won’t toil at our jobs. Our service will be an exciting, surprising adventure. God desires the best for us, so how could our work ever be dull?


Lastly, will there be pets in Heaven? I don’t know, but I lean toward the possibility that there might be pets in Heaven. Revelation depicts Jesus riding a white horse (Rev 19:11), so I leave that door open in my mind that there might be animals in Heaven. Could you imagine having a pet lion?


I think after this message, I am going to start digging into Heaven a little more. I believe life would be a whole lot better if I cast my eyes on the Kingdom of Heaven more often. Hopefully, you and your family will too.


Remember, as long as your child is at home, you have a great chance to share the Bible. Together, explore its stories, discussing how they apply to daily life, and fostering deeper family conversations. This makes faith an exciting and meaningful journey. God bless, and I look forward to seeing your family on Sunday.


Pastor Bob