Community members and their pets gathered outside East Lansing's University United Methodist Church Sunday afternoon for a Blessing of the Animals ceremony.

This is the first time the church has held such a ceremony, which included prayer, song and a moment of remembrance for pets that have died, said Pastor John Ross Thompson.

About 40 people attended, bringing with them around 25 animals - mostly dogs, some cats and a few more exotic animals from the Potter Park Zoo.

"They're part of our family," Thompson said of the animals. "They are God's creation, and we pray for all of God's creatures."

As part of the ceremony, animals received individual blessings, and their owners received small St. Francis of Assisi medallions.

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- What do you think of this?

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The Great Commission is to spread the gospel for everyone to hear. What about the people that don't hear? Scripture tells us that they are without excuse.

because what may be known of God is manifest in them for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:19-20

God's attributes are so clear through creation that there is no defense in rejecting it. Paul even gives an example of Gentiles.

for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thought accusing or else excusing them. Romans 2:14-15

I have heard the argument that God will save those who have not heard. However, if this were the case why would we spread the gospel. Wouldn't it be better to keep it a secret?

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat. Psalm 19:1-6

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I am sure everyone is familiar with the monkey trials of the 1920s. The battle between teaching the Genesis account of creation and evolution. One of the key questions was about Cain's wife. The question was trying to trap to elude to incest. The question was along the lines of where Cain's wife came from if Adam and Eve were the only humans on the earth? My question to you is what would be your answer if you were on the witness stand?

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Job 9:9 "He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades And the chambers of the south"

Job 38:31 "Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion?"

God reveals so much to us in creation and He reaffirms it in the Bible. Yet man feels special when we confirm it with our limited knowledge?

Job 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding."

(Note: For the non-astronomers Orion is on the left and Pleiades is on the right)

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"O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen- Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!"

David says so much in this psalm. What do you take from it? I see the praise of God in His sovereignty and His creation. I see David feeling insignificant or small within the creation, but realizing man was made in God's image and likeness. God gave man a huge responsibility in regards to having dominion over the earth. And most importantly, David has an overtone of Jesus Christ as Savior.

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