18 Dec, 2007
Geminid meteors were hard to see this year
Many observers reported being disappointed by last week's peak of the annual Geminid meteor shower. Some said clouds spoiled the view. Others reported a scarcity of Geminids and wondered whether the shower is in decline.
These medium-speed meteors appear to emanate from near the bright star Castor, in the constellation of Gemini the Twins — hence the name "Geminid."
The track of each one does not necessarily begin near Castor, nor even in the constellation Gemini, but it always turns out that the path of a Geminid extended backward passes through a tiny region of sky about 0.2 degree in diameter (an effect of perspective). In apparent size, that's less than half the width of the moon. As such, this is a rather sharply defined radiant as most meteor showers go, suggesting the stream is "young" — perhaps only several thousand years old.
picture & story courtesy msnbc.msn.com & marylandweather.com, 12/17/07
Turn on your Christmas lights!
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)
What does Jesus teach us about being His "light" in today's God's Story scripture?
I can't say it any better than the study notes in Tyndale's Life Application Study Bible notes:
If we live for Christ, we will glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. We hide our light by (1) being quiet when we should speak, (2) going along with the crowd, (3) denying the light, (4) letting sin dim our light, (5) not explaining our light to others, or (6) ignoring the needs of others. Be a beacon of truth - don't shut your light off from the rest of the world.
Did you notice in today's story that the meteor stream putting on the holiday light show is "young" — perhaps only several thousand years old.
It doesn't matter how young or old you are in earthly years or spiritual years. Jesus calls each of us to put on His "light show".
No doubt most scientists would want us to believe that these meteors evolved from some monkey-shaped rocks or something...but we know that ultimately this burning light comes from the the one Who created the rocks - Jesus!
In today's story, observers said that clouds spoiled the view of the "light show". Others reported a scarcity of Geminids and wondered whether the shower is in decline.
Without Christ's power, our "lights" will be clouded and scarce.
With Christ's power, we can be His light in this dark world.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Praise your Heavenly Father for shining the light of Christ into your life. Confess any way in which you have been hiding the light of Christ in your life. Ask His Spirit to make you willing to humble yourself so that your life will draw only on the power of the Son in you.
- Review the LAB study notes and be honest about one way you tend to hide Christ's light. Pray about this every day until you see this part of your life light up!
- Using a Bible study guide, look up ten verses that use light as an analogy for living the Christian life.
- For one week, write down at least one daily opportunity Jesus gave you to be a light to someone. At the end of the week, evaluate what you have learned.
- For the next two weeks, let the lights of the Christmas holidays be a reminder to let your light shine for others to see.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Make it your Christmas goal to shine Christ's light toward one person who is in spiritual darkness...this might be a friend at school, at work, or a family member.
- Ask your friends and family if they heard about the meteor light show last weekend? Use it as a conversation starter to find out what they believe to be the ultimate source of the meteors? Trust Jesus to show you if this is the time to talk about how He has brought you from darkness into His light.
- Write a note of appreciation to another follower of Jesus who has been "letting a little bit of light into the world".
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