Christmas

The Universe

The universe is pretty big. If scientific interpretation is right, it is about 80 quintillion miles across. It’s tough to understand that, but let’s try. To drive 80 miles at the speed limit it would take just over an hour. If we were to go at 1000 times the speed limit (60,000 mph) it would take 5 seconds – even the Shuttle could not do that. We would have to do this multiplication 4 more times to make the trip across the universe in a reasonable time. Even at the speed of light the trip is 140 billion years. No-one is going to do this.

But despite its size, everything in the universe works at a sub-atomic scale. An atom is about 0.1 nanometer in diameter. There are about 1,000,000 atoms across a single hair. We do not have the tools to directly image an atom – let alone the even smaller particles that make up atoms. The degree of complexity in such a big system, that is comprised of particles so small is stunning and well beyond our ability to grasp.

Babies

Newborn babies are good at doing two things, making poop and crying, and maybe to dissolve women and make them goo. Otherwise they are completely helpless and utterly dependent on others to feed, clean and nurture them; without which they would quickly die.

The President

When the President of the USA travels it is a big deal. The airport and highways are shut down. The buildings around where he is speaking are shuttered. Hundreds of security staff invade the place glaring behind their sunglasses and muttering into their sleeves. The local people are enormously inconvenienced and business comes to a grinding halt. I have been trapped in airports for hours waiting for Air Force One to come or go. How does a single person get away with making such an impact? Because of his importance; it is considered worth the inconvenience because of the value of his being there.

So What?

How do these three seemingly disparate discussions tie together? In the Christmas story of course.

How important is God? Pretty important. He spoke the universe into being. So the big place we will never see from end to end, He made from nothing. By speaking; and a brief four-word sentence at that. Not only that, but He knows and controls the position of every one of those tiny sub-atomic particles filling that enormous space. He keeps it all going moment by moment; nothing is random or left to run on its own. So, if someone as important as God came to town, how much impact would it have? Normal life would come to a standstill with everyone out on the streets falling on their faces. Right?

How did He come then? He arrived as one of those helpless, pooping, crying babies. Consider the indignity of it. The one who shaped stars having His diaper changed.

Why did He come? To give us what we really need. Forgiveness. That we don't deserve. Despite our arrogance.

Big things often start small. That small clot in a brain that disables a parent. That call from the boss to say you are laid off. That spark of an idea that creates a new industry. The list is endless.

Jesus birth seemed small. But His impact was, and continues to be, worldwide and eternal. Best of all, heaven will be populated because of it.

Will you be there?

That is Christmas.

Addictions

I am coming to the conclusion that everyone is prone to some form of addiction or another. Some people struggle with the obvious bad ones like alcoholism, the need for drugs, sex, whatever. Other peoples “habits” or “needs” are not perceived as dangerous: chocolate, music, entertainment, video games. However – all of us crave to fill some part of our lives with something external.

This should help us in some of our decision making. Knowing your weakness should guide you away from places where that material is available (like bars for alcoholics) or will affect your walk with God. I knew one guy who very carefully avoided listening to certain music – because it had the potential to drag him back to his pre-conversion behavior. This was good. However, it did take a while for him to accept that for other people who had not lived that life, music of that style could be used to glorify God. That is another discussion.

When we try to break away from these cravings and to change our habits, we struggle. This may be because some of the products mess with the wiring in our brains. I wonder, though, if the start of these cravings is not simply an expression of our desperate need for God to fill our lives.

Therefore, if we were fully satisfied by Him, then there wouldn’t be space for those cravings, right? The trick is doing that. On the one hand, there is nothing we can do to earn/create/invoke that satisfaction; it is entirely a gift of God’s grace. Holding your breath or being nice won’t help. On the other hand, we are required to worship and love God with all of our being and to ask Him nicely for the rest of our needs. He is then likely to delight in filling us with joy – because that is what He designed us for. We worship: He satisfies. Simple. Maybe someone should tell Mick Jagger.

Figuring that out has taken me years, yet it is so clearly stated in scripture and in the old hymns. Duh!

Tendering Thanks in Tough Times

We are told in 1 Thess 5 to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

But will life always be good? Experience says not. We will all have to deal with loss at some time. Should we be thankful for that? How?

I struggle with this time of year. My extended family is on other continents. It is getting cold and dark, which is tough for a creature born and raised in the tropics. Forced gaiety and commercialized “xmas” rubs me the wrong way. Thanksgiving? Big woop. But it says we have to “give thanks in all circumstances.”

Typical culture is thankful for health, wealth, comfort and being an American. What if they go away (not unlikely in this economic time). 2.5 Trillion $ evaporated? Including many pensions. Are those American families thankful? They should be.

How do we do that, fake it? No; by considering what we are thankful for. Look at prayers of thanks in the new testament.

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

Or “Thanks that I am middle class, mid western, and covered the mortgage this month. Thanks that I am not like them ‘durn furiners’.” This prayer did not sit well with Jesus. This complacency breeds contempt, leading to unloving (and so sinful) prejudice. The Bible does not promise the American dream.

1 Cor. 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

So it is not about stuff, or who we are, but about grace.

But it hurts! My life is still tough! I heard a sermon recently that said “Our troubles are designed specifically for us.” Habakkuk 3:17-18 celebrates God’s glory in the face of starvation – because it was worth it!

Why? It is what we are made for – to glorify God. Always. Look at the story of Lazarus. Why was he allowed to die? “… for the glory of God." (John 11:4.) So we are best fulfilled if we do what you were designed to do.

So we are thankful. For the blessings we have: grace, life, salvation and a relationship with the creator. The stuff like abundant food, family nearby, warm beds – those are icing on the cake.

Stand Up

“Reverend Sykes said “Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin’.” (To Kill a Mockingbird = Harper Lee, Chapter 21)

This statement is made to pay respect to a man who just failed at his assignment. The respect is given in honor of who he is, and that he attempted an impossible task. The Bible instructs that we are to honor our parents (i.e. stand up for them in public.) The text pays no heed to their qualities as parents or people, nor their successes or failures. They are to be respected because of their position of authority over their children. Our culture downplays the respect parents are due. By extension, the respect owed to other people in authority is also decreasing. The logical conclusion to this at the extreme is anarchy and chaos. And sin.

So. Who will you stand up for?

I will stand up for my parents for blessing me with an opportunity to hear the gospel, and for talents, a work ethic and world view that are helping my career.

I will stand up for my Pastors, past and present for demonstrating Christ’s life to me.

I will stand up for many others who have taught me and loved me.

Lets stand together to honor those whom God has placed over us.

So is it bad to be ambitious?

Having moved into an academic environment relatively late in life, it is fun to watch the faculty politics with an outsider’s eye. Most people perceive life as a professor as protected from the real world. The truth is very different. The treadmill is just the same as any career in industry – first you have to get your PhD, then a job as a professor, then tenure, then to set up your own “center”, then turn it into an institute….and so it goes until you reach your level of incompetence. Everyone outside this cycle is treated with disdain. Those inside bicker and fight for recognition. Sound familiar? Yes, I know this is a glorious generalization and that there are exceptions.

I always thought I was humble and retiring; but recently was forced to admit to myself that I am incredibly ambitious. I enjoy teaching a crowd of my peers and being considered an expert. I can’t deny that I seem to be pretty good at what I do. How can I make this consistent with scriptural principles?

The trick questions are “Who gets the glory?” and “Are you being loving?”

I thank God that I am not on the academic treadmill and that I have boss I can trust, respect and like. I am well aware that I would not have got here without some extraordinary blessings from Him. So who gets the glory? He does. What about the loving part? You will have to ask my colleagues, family and friends.

“Big whoop. Yippee for you,” you say. “My life is a disaster and success is a foreign concept.” Some wisdom I was given very early on was from my boss at the time. I irritated him by being too forward and was told “Be patient – it will all come in time.” This is true to the Bible pattern. Paul spent 14 years between conversion and starting his ministry. Abraham waited a hundred years for the son he had been promised. God does not often hurry.

Not good enough? Another piece of wisdom learned the hard way. My career is looking OK but there or other parts of my life that are a train wreck. It is likely God keeps it that way to make sure that I remember that without Him, all is vanity. I have a friend who I wish I could be like. He spent a year looking for a job, yet the stuff I struggle with he had down. It was good for us to be able to share and support each other – where he was strong, I was struggling, and vice versa. The point? We all have problems. They are different for different people. Enjoy.

Finally. 1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” When is the proper time? When He decides. What sort of exalt? That’s up to Him. Jeremiah 29:11 says (addressing Israel as they are sent into exile) “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” The conditional behind this is that if your desire is for God – you get want you want.

Whining on a Plane

Another airplane delay day. Once again it is fun to watch the people around me deal with it.

The guy next to me is stoic. He is sitting staring at the wall, and has done so for 2 hours. By contrast the fellow behind has had a merry time on the phone bouncing from one complaining call to another. His bank, stock broker & cell phone service provider have all had the pleasure of his attention. As have the rest of the flight within earshot.

I am going to be late for my presentation, so the guy meeting me must be starting to get anxious. He organized the dinner meeting I am supposed to regale with my unrivalled skills and expertise. Mmmmm. Hopefully they will still figure it was worth the cost.

The guy in front has been lambasting airline management with his opinion of the quality of "the piece of junk" we are sitting in. The cause of the delay is a puncture, followed by a ground crew too busy to back us out.

Also nearby is the fellow who is making sure we all know he is a medical doctor, whose patients are suffering because of his absence.

Let's revisit how we react to these problems.

So I mock the doctor for being self important. This is precisely the trap I have fallen into by telling you about why it is important I am not late. Ooops

Maybe I am jealous of the whiners because I don't have a stock broker or access to airline management. Ooops

But I don't whine! Right? Oh dear, I just did. Ooops

Pride. Covetousness. Jealousy. Complaining.

Just goes to show how easy it is to get fall into un-loving behavior.

Thankfully we are gracefully reminded of how we sin, and we are offered a means to forgiveness. Jesus was perfect and he wants us to be perfect too. If I remember it is all about Him, not me, it will be much less tempting to be proud or angry when I don't get my way. He always gets His way, so if I am tuned into His plans, life and flying become a whole lot less stressful.