Since it's opening in 1874 the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, England has been the place where many extraordinary discoveries in physics have taken place. Its history of innovation is great. Cavendish professors have completely changed our understanding of the physical world. They discovered the first electron. The same was true of the neutron. The lab laid the foundations for the discovery of quantum mechanics in the 1920s. It also was instrumental in laying the groundwork that led to the determination of the double-helix structure of the DNA molecule by Francis Crick and James Watson in the 1950's.

Of course those are just some of the highlights of the discoveries of that great lab. What's interesting is that at the entrance to the old Cavendish lab the words of Psalm 111 stand above the great oak door—"The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." The words are carved in Latin. The verse was put there at the instigation of the first Cavendish Professor, James Clark Maxwell. That's not surprising because 140 years ago the Bible and Christianity were held in high esteem in Britain. But what is surprising is that they are also over the entrance to the new lab that was opened in 1973. Andrew Briggs, a PhD student at the time, was so impressed with the words above the old lab that he suggested that the words be put above the new entrance, only that this time they be inscribed in English. Cavendish Professor A. B. Pippard put the proposal to the Policy Committee. He was sure they would veto the suggestion but to his surprise, they approved it.

Possible Preaching Angles: Despite the skepticism in our society, there are some scientists who still recognize that God created all things and that by studying these things we are thinking God's thoughts after him.