Category: Science

To Bee or Not to Be

R. Mangold

ToBeeThey may be an irritant at your local cider mill or picnic, but they’re a very busy creature. A small percentage of us are dangerously allergic to their sting, and when they swarm, they can be a vicious bunch, but the reason honeybees are so busy, is because they’re responsible for the essential pollination of some of our most vital food sources including fruits and vegetables. But, not just food is in danger, plants and flowers are as well.

Recently published reports from the EPA, Science Direct and ABC.net indicate that while there may be improvements in certain aspects of the bee population, we are still not out of the woods, or in our case, plants, yet. This news is staggering as it points to the potential endangerment of our food sources, and those who are responsible for ensuring the longevity of those food sources.

One such reason for the endangerment of bees is a phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD. This can be explained as a bee colony that has an inability to continue to grow or thrive. The EPA website characterizes CCD as the following:

  • Sudden loss of a colony’s worker bee population with very few dead bees found near the colony.
  • The queen and brood (young) remained, and the colonies had relatively abundant honey and pollen reserves.

And, here’s what really stung as the report continued, “But hives cannot sustain themselves without worker bees and would eventually die. This combination of events resulting in the loss of a bee colony has been called Colony Collapse Disorder.”

Could it be that we are seeing a similar disorder in our modern churches? An inability to sustain themselves without worker bees? These colonies had relatively abundant honey and pollen reserves, yet the colony lacked workers.

Your local Christian Colony, a.k.a. your local church and even our global mission to “Go ye into all the world” could potentially be suffering from not “Colony Collapse Disorder” but “Church Collapse Disorder” because of the lack of laborers, or worker bees. There’s an abundance of God’s anointing, blessings, and power. The Hive, that is the church, is not lacking in love, prayer, and vision, but where she IS lacking is in workers to carry out that vision and mission.

There are a variety of theories “buzzing” around as to why these colonies are in decline as follows:

  • Environmental (adverse culture)
  • Increased use of pesticides (destruction of Christian values and principles).
  • Diminishing habitats (churches being planted, people answering the call, and a post-modern world opposed to godliness)
  • Humanity encroaching on their areas where bees breed (an inability to reproduce)

May we as a church, or colony, never neglect to pray as Christ commanded, “for laborers” i.e. workers to be sent forth into the harvest to pollinate this world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ effectively ending the “sting of Death!” May we be “busy” about our Father’s Business, and, may external influences never encroach on the Church’s ability to grow, thrive, and keep the colony and mission moving forward till Jesus comes!

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute.  One Minute Inspirational Sermonettes, Devotionals, and Sermon Ideas for Busy Christians, Pastors, Teachers, and Bible Students!  Visit our ABOUT PAGE  for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you.  ~ RD Mangold

When Sound Travels Faster than Light

R. Mangold

soundvslight.png

Science will tell you light travels faster than sound. Sound travels at a mere 332 meters per second (depending on various factors) or 1,176 feet per second. I say, “mere” because light travels at an astounding 300,000 KILOMETERS per second, or 186,000 miles per second. Einstein’s theory posed that nothing was faster than the speed of light.

While light does indeed travel faster than sound, when it comes to God, the SOUND of His Word preceded the very existence of LIGHT. God spoke, and then the light came forth! Hebrews tells us, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

So God’s Word will always outpace, or precede the light. When being tempted by the devil Jesus reminded his foe that, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” 

Trust the Voice of the Shepherd – The Light is on the way!

Matter will not take shape. Answers will not come. And, Light will not shine unless the mouth of God has ordained it as such – The sound of God’s voice always precedes, takes precedence, or priority over things that appear.

As it was in the Beginning, so it shall be in our day-to-day walk with God. He said, “Let there be light,” and the light broke forth. Sound preceded light!

That’s why even during the dark times, we must walk by faith not by sight and trust the sound of the Shepherd’s voice…the light is on its way.

If God gave you a word or a promise, you can rest assured, the light is on its way!

John 1:1-4, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.