Why the Universe is So Big

It has been a long time since I have posted.  I just haven't really had time to put the thought into writing a post.  I just had a thought today though that seems worthy of a post.  Maybe no one will ever see it but it is my way of putting down my thoughts.
My thought was prompted by Louie Giglio actually.  I was watching his talk, "Indescribable" and in it he talks about the size of the universe.  Some people think that the size of the universe is too big for just one little planet in one little galaxy to have people - that it is arrogant for us to think that we are the only intelligent life in the universe.  Louie puts it well though when he says that maybe the size of the universe isn't about us at all.  Maybe the vastness of the universe is to display the hugeness, the majesty, the glory of God.  So anyway, that sparked a thought...
It seems that God makes big, huge things to provide a backdrop and a context for His particular action in one small part, so that his particular action in that area is made all the more conspicuous and special.  God made the vastness of the universe, billions upon billions of galaxies each with billions upon billions of stars - all to showcase his special action of creating life on one small planet orbiting one small star in all that vastness.  On that planet, God created myriads upon myriads of living creatures, millions of different species of all different shapes and sizes - all to showcase His special action of forming one living creature in His own image and giving him, mankind, a living soul.  God caused millions of humans to grow and spread over the earth, and out of those millions He chose one man, Abraham, on whom to set His special blessings.  God separated the people into nations and tribes and languages, thousands upon thousands of people groups - all to showcase His special action in redeeming His chosen people, Israel, from among them.  Examples abound.  And God continues to showcase His special action on a small portion of the vastness of His universe and His world.  He has set his love on the people He has chosen, He has redeemed them by the blood of His own Son, and He has called them out from among the billions of humanity to be His people and His church.  All of His elect have reason, even obligation, for humble, awe-filled praise to our God. 

We Strive, He Provides

   I just finished reading Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper (the Kindle version is on sale for $2.99 at Amazon by the way).  In this book, Dr. Piper centers his thesis around two passages of Scripture:  2 Timothy 2:7, "Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything." and Proverbs 2:1-6, which basically boils down to "If you ... raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver ... then you will ... find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding".  His point is that we as Christians should be making intellectual effort; we should be thinking.  And the reason given for this is that God gives understanding and wisdom.  It is essential that we do the effort of thinking, but it is God who gives the knowledge.  In Dr. Piper's words, "They go together - our seeking understanding and God's giving it.  Seeking it like silver is essential to finding.  But finding is a gift of God".
   It strikes me that this same principle applies in the question of sanctification.  We often discuss whether we should be making effort in our sanctification, or if it is God who produces holiness in us.  It seems to me the answer to this question is "yes".  We should be making an effort in our own sanctification and the reason, at least in part, is that God provides growth in holiness.  This principle is portrayed in Philippians 2:12b-13: "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."  The latter part of verse 12 here, "work out your own salvation" is referring to our effort in sanctification; striving to produce character and outward behavior in consonance with our already achieved salvation.  The "for" that I have underlined gives the reason for this effort just as it does in 2 Timothy 2 and Proverbs 2.  The reason given is that God works in us both to produce the will to work and the work itself.  The "for his good pleasure" clause could be taken as referring either to God's work in us or to our work.  I think both are appropriate.  It pleases God to work in us; and, our work in sanctification should be to please him.
   So, they go together - our striving for holiness, and God's giving it.  Working for holiness is essential to growing in it.  But, growing in it is a gift of God.

Unbroken

I just finished reading Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.  It is an outstanding book and I highly recommend it to anyone.  It is the story of Louie Zamperini, an Olympic runner, Army Air Corps bombardier in WWII and POW in Japan.    It is absolutely amazing what he went through after his plane crashed in the Pacific and then was picked up by the Japanese as a POW.  At times it was hard to read the horrific abuses that he suffered.  That made the joy all the more intense when he was finally liberated at the end of the war.  It was not very long, though, before his life nose-dived again as he dealt with the mental/emotional aftermath of his abuse as a POW.  As great as the joy was when he was physically liberated, it was even greater when he was spiritually set free by giving his life to Christ. 
It was interesting to note how his story followed a similar pattern to the nation of Israel.  He was set free from physical captivity by a great deliverance.  It was wonderful to be out of prison but he wasn't really free.  He was still oppressed in his mind and in his spirit.  It wasn't until Jesus Christ came into his life that he became truly free - free of sin and guilt and shame.  Ironically, the title is Unbroken, and appropriately so since he never broke mentally/emotionally under all the abuses as a POW.  But, it wasn't until he recognized his spiritual brokenness and trusted in Christ to put him together again that he was truly healed.

Impressions of Afghanistan

I am currently deployed in Afghanistan with the US Marine Corps.  In the context of my job I have the opportunity to travel a fair bit around a pretty wide area of southern Afghanistan.  These are just some of my impressions of the land and people, adapted from a newsletter I wrote for the families of my battalion:

This is a rugged and austere land.  The open desert is as dry and desolate a place as you will ever see.  There are very few plants – mostly a scrubby grass or a thorny plant somewhat like the bush in the United States that turns into tumbleweeds.  As you get closer to the river, though, green sprouts everywhere (at least this time of year) and some places can even look quite lush.  Although it is not widespread, beauty is possible to find if you look for it.  And, it is all the more noticeable for its humble surroundings.  There are vinyards scattered around here and there.  I think they grow grapes mainly for making raisins.  In two of the vinyards I saw during a convoy I went on just yesterday, there were small clusters of sunflowers; the yellow petals glowing brilliantly against the mud brick walls. 

The children, too, are (mostly) beautiful.  Generally their faces light up with a big smile and they wave or give the thumbs-up sign as we drive by.  Some of them are a bit rascally though and make obscene gestures (probably taught them by Marines on patrol).  Some even throw rocks.  I think it is their form of “trick-or-treat”.  They make signs asking us to throw them food or bottled water.  If we don’t, they throw rocks at our trucks.  If they can, some will also try to steal things off our trucks.  They seem to know just where to look and can get compartments open and the contents out in a split second.  Mostly, they are cute kids – tending flocks of sheep, playing, or swimming in the canal. 

The people live a hard life.  Most of what is around is rocks and dust the consistency of flour.  The people are geniuses with that dust.  Add a little water and bake it in the sun for a little and it turns into brick.  They build everything with it.  They even shape it into latticework and fancy arches.  They are also very good at irrigation.  Canals of every size criss-cross the landscape for about a mile or two on either side of the river.  They grow everything from grapes and corn to wheat and poppy.  There are some tractors around (the rich folk) but their farming methods are almost all by hand.  I have seen them plowing behind a donkey, sowing seed by hand and harvesting huge multi-acre fields of wheat with sickles. 

Vehicles are much more common here than we expected.  There are delivery trucks, pick-up trucks, vans and sedans.  Almost all of them are white (makes sense in this hot region I guess).  But, more common than anything are the little motorcycles that almost everyone seems to ride.  We have seen whole families of five on one motorbike: father, mother (in a burkha of course), and three kids ranging from infant/toddler to tween.  They ride these things without fear in and out of our convoys, through deep dust and gravel, and over narrow foot-bridges about 18 inches wide.  They get their gas at little road-side shacks with a 55-gallon drum out front and plastic jug and a funnel. 

It is an interesting country.  The people, for the most part, are just doing the best they can to make a living and provide for their families.  The efforts of all the Coalition Forces here are having an effect and are making things better. 

External behavior gives evidence of the heart's inclination

A fairly controversial discussion has been lighting up the blogosphere:  Should Christian husbands be interested in the external appearance of their wives, and should Christian wives feel like they should cater to that interest?  I have only had time to read some of the discussion:  This article from Tim Challies, and this article from Mary Kassian.  I am in general agreement with both of these articles.  However, many of the comments in both threads, I think, are misguided.  The below is the comment that I posted on Mary's blog as my contribution to the discussion:

The importance of his wife's outward appearance to a husband lies not in the appearance or beauty per se, but in what it says about the inclination of her heart towards, or away from, her husband.  It is analagous to the importance of our obedience to Biblical commands as Christians.  Our obedience is not what makes us right with God, it is evidence of a heart that is already inclined toward Him.  So, knowing that outward appearance carries at least some importance to her husband, it seems a wife would want to pay some attention to it - out of love for him.  Similarly, if I know that clean dishes and a clean house are important to my wife I will do the dishes and pick up my dirty socks.  I know that it is not the clean dishes and tidy bedroom that are as important to my wife as what the fact that I cleaned them says about the inclination of my heart towards her in love.  I could say that she should just get over it and accept the fact that I prefer to leave my dirty clothes in a pile in the corner.  She should love me in spite of that.  But, what would that say about my love and ocmmitment to consider her needs before my own? 

So, if we grant the assumption that some level of attention to outward appearance is appropriate, what level is that?  I would agree that if a husband expects his wife to live up to the beauty standards of the world and look like the cover of a magazine, he probably has some heart issues of his own.  And, to any godly husband it is beauty of character that should be of primary importance.  But, that does not mean that outward appearance is of no importance.  It seems that all a husband would could expect is that his wife make a reasonable attempt to do the best she can with what God has given her.  And, this is a general, overall trend.  This does not mean that a husband would consider his wife as failing in this regard if she wears an old tshirt and sweatpants as she does housework.  But, to use the opposite end of the spectrum, he might be disappointed if he sets up an anniversary date at a nice restaurant and his wife comes to the date in those same clothes.  Again, not primarily because of how she looks at that point, but because of what it indicates about her heart and her relationship with her husband.

And, yes, this principle about external appearance applies to the men too.  Men should not assume that because external appearance is known to be generally more important to men than women that it is entirely unimportant to their wives.  A man’s disregard for his own appearance, a failure to make a reasonable attempt to do the best he can with what God has given him, likewise gives evidence of a heart that is not inclined toward his wife as it should be.  I think I Corinthians 7:4 does apply here.

So, the bottom line here is that any external behavior, whether care for appearance or doing dishes or giving gifts, between husband and wife is important, first of all, for what evidence it gives of what is going on in the heart.

Christian... and Patriot

As a Christian and a military officer, one of the things that I have had to think through is the relationship between my patriotism to my earthly country and my allegiance to the kingdom of God.  This weekend is Memorial Day in the USA.  It is a time that we show appreciation for members of our military, especially those who have been killed in the service of their country.  It is, then, an appropriate time to share this article from Kevin DeYoung, which is helpful in thinking through the issues of allegiance to our earthly country and God's kingdom.
To summarize, his points are:
1. Being a Christian does not remove ethnic and national identities.
2. Patriotism, like other earthly “prides,” can be a virtue or vice.
3. Allegiance to God and allegiance to your country are not inherently incompatible.
4. God’s people are not tied to any one nation.
5. All this leads to one final point: while patriotism can be good, the church is not a good place for patriotism.

read the rest here.

Run to the sound of the guns

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”

- attributed to Martin Luther, quoted by Francis Schaeffer in The Great Evangelical Disaster

(HT: Trevin Wax)



It's been a while

Ok, the blog has been dormant for several months.  In my defense, I have been in pre-deployment training getting ready for an Afghanistan deployment.  Since I am sure I don't have any readers left, not that I really had any to begin with, I am probably just talking to the wind.  But, this can suffice for the historical record.  I am still pretty busy over here in Afghanistan, but I do have time I can use to write.  Lets just see how this goes.

Semper Fidelis

Today is the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.  It is a day that we remember our traditions and the heroes who have established the honorable legacy of the Corps.  Around this time we often recite our honor roll; names like O'Bannon, Lejeune, Vandegrift, Basilone, and Pappy Boyington and Chesty Puller.  These are men who have displayed extraordinary courage, skill and leadership.  It was appropriate, then, that in my devotional reading today I read Hebrews 11.  It turned my attention to another honor roll.  This one of men and women who also displayed extraordinary courage and leadership, but more importantly displayed amazing faith.  Their faith was in the awesome God, creator of the universe.  Their faith was not some pie-in-the-sky wish for some positive outcome, but a well-grounded, solid conviction in the sovereignty and goodness of God.  Their faith points us to one who is truly faithful; one who has promised good to those who are his and is more than able to carry it out.  He is the ultimate embodiment of the Marine Corps motto, "Semper Fidelis".

I'm still around

...but it has been hard to publish blog posts when I am out in the field.  My battalion and I have been training hard for our upcoming deployment.  We have been in the field for 4 weeks now and have 2 more to go.  I haven't really been able to think about anything to post.  I didn't want this blog to turn into a Twitter update type thing of what I have been up to lately.  I still don't.  As I have the mental energy, time and internet connection I will continue to post.  I didn't really have any readers to lose anyway so my infrequency of posting is probably no big loss.

Stimulus not virtue?

If this article title is not a nice summary of what is wrong with America then I don't know what is:

"America needs stimulus not virtue"

The article is about economic policy, but the title summarizes the attitude of Americans in many arenas of life. I don't claim to be an economic expert but there is little I agree with in the title or the article.

Our lives are not in vain

A great post here from Tim Challies:

"...God makes people serviceable to his glory and that he does so in the way he thinks fit. He may let us serve him in our actions or in our suffering. Regardless, as long as God can be glorified in us, then our lives are not in vain and our suffering is not in vain. No situation is useless or hopeless or irredeemable if God uses it to glorify himself."

Read the rest here:
http://www.challies.com/christian-living/we-were-not-made-in-vain

Running the race

I enjoyed this post from Triablogue:

"The Christian pilgrimage is a paradox. At one end, when we begin the race, the journey is intimidating. We have such a long journey ahead of us. So many miles to cover. So many years to travel. And we will pass through so many strange towns and cities, side-streets, crowded freeways, and deserted highways on the way to our hoped-for, longed-for destination. It’s a daunting prospect.

On the other hand, when we begin the race, we’re young and strong. Fresh and vigorous. We have energy to burn. Snappy reflexes. Brimming with optimism. In the very prime of life. There’s so much to do, but we have so much in reserve.

At the other end is the aging runner. He has far less ground to cover. So many miles behind him. So few ahead. His destination is so much closer than when he began. And that’s encouraging.

On the other hand, he’s bone-weary. Every step is effortful. He’s fallen down so many times. Been injured so many times. Where he used to sprint, he limps. He’s hot and dry and breathy. His feet ache. His knees ache. His eyes are bleary.

The remainder of the journey is brief, but it takes more effort to cover less ground. Every hill may be the last, or every hill may be the next to last. He only knows by going.

Some of his fond old companions have gone ahead. Disappeared over the distant hills and ridges. Others fell behind. Dropped out of the race. Settled for a way station.

At that sparse stretch in the race he is far from the verdant valleys of his earthly home, yet he hasn’t arrived at the outskirts of his heavenly destination. There’s no going back, but he can’t skip ahead to the finish line. He’s learned from sad experience that short-cuts take longer. So mile-by-mile and day-by-day he must press ahead, one step at a time. Yet whenever he feels on the verge of collapse, something unexpected keeps him going. A spring rain. A sudden breeze. A cooling stream. Wild blackberries.

Then one morning he gets up, just like any other day, only this day is not just any other day. As he heaves and pants his way up another interminable hill, he catches a glimpse of the heavenly spires, gleaming in the everlasting dawn. And as he rounds the hill, a cloud of witnesses is standing at the finish line to welcome him home."

My response:
I also like to imagine that when we get to the heavenly city there are running trails along the banks of the river that flows from the throne. I can run there, for enjoyment now, on untiring legs. Sometimes, one who runs on nail-pierced feet even joins me for a few miles. Light is everywhere, so there is no shadow. It is the light of glory so there is no need or desire for shade. However, I imagine that it will still be enjoyable to run beneath the boughs of the trees whose leaves are for the healing of the nations.

Battle Wounds

I am in a desperate battle.  Most of the members of my unit are in captivity to the enemy.  Of those who are free, most are too frightened to do anything about it, or just don't think it is important enough to try.  However, there are some few who, with me, are trying to rescue the captives, to bring the great power of our high command against the strongholds of the enemy. 
Things were actually beginning to shape up.  We have been setting the conditions for a future success.  Then, all of a sudden, my right-hand man in this mission was grievously wounded.  What now?  My heart aches for the pain he is feeling.  My skills in first aid are limited but I do what I can.  I call out for help from high command, and I know it is on its way.  But, full healing will take time.  Meanwhile, the battle still rages.  Will he be able to continue in the fight?  He is going on courageously for now but his capabilities will have to be affected.  It is too early, yet, to know exactly to what extent.
So again, what now?  I can't leave him behind.  We don't do that in my outfit.  And, I need his particular skills for this mission.  Besides, he is my friend.  I will carry him myself if I have to.  We will make it work somehow.  We must.  Our commander has assigned us this mission.  We will press on.  We will be provided assistance and reinforcements when they are needed.  It will not be easy.  Further wounds will likely be suffered; though, I hope none so deep as this one.  With the help of our high command, we will succeed.

Christians Need Spines

Outstanding political commentary here by Doug Wilson...

"I said that the Muslims know what they are doing. What is that exactly? They are exposing the intellectual, theological, and ethical bankruptcy of secularism, and they are doing it on purpose. To answer their challenge, someone as intelligent as Charles Krauthammer is reduced to saying that sacrilege is defined by what lots of people think, true or false, doesn't matter, or where lots of people died, right or wrong, doesn't matter either.

Someone really does need to tell secularist America that her gods are genuinely pathetic. And currently, the Muslims are doing this because the Christians won't. And the Christians who won't do this are not so much in need of a different kind of theology as they are in need of a different kind of spine."

Read the rest here...
http://www.dougwils.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7892:a-different-kind-of-spine&catid=146:mere-christendom

Steak on a Paper Plate

Great analogy and a good, thoughtful post. I hadn't thought of it that way, but it resonates.
http://trevinwax.com/2010/08/17/steak-on-a-paper-plate-a-reflection-on-worship/

Links

A couple of good, convicting posts from Ray Ortlund...
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2010/08/10/the-unbeatitudes/
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2010/08/10/for-the-sake-of-the-liberation-of-others/

Dancing on the edge

This week I read Acts 5 during my devotional reading.  It was a bit convicting to read about the apostles who defied the rulers of their day when they were ordered to preach no longer in the name of Jesus.  The apostles decided to obey God rather than man. 
I, too, am under a gag order of sorts.  As a military officer, especially as a battalion commander, I am prohibited from proselytizing.  According to regulations, I cannot freely preach the gospel in my professional context.  I can make it clear that I am a Christian and I can live according to Biblical principles.  I am fairly safe to answer questions about my faith.  Even my chaplain is not allowed to proselytize except in the context of a religious service for his specific faith group.
Sometimes I struggle with this.  Should I be more forward about sharing the gospel and risk censure, or even losing my leadership position?  Or should I abide by the regulations to protect my position because I can still open about what my beliefs are without actually "preaching" or "witnessing"?  Obviously I am not going to be completely quiet about my faith and I am going to live according to Biblical morals.  But I want to do more and I wonder how much I can get away with, or even how much I should try to get away with. 
For now I have been trying to be content with just being clear where I stand.  I look for opportunities to share more when talk sometimes turns to the spiritual.  It gets tiring dancing around on the edge of regulations.  Maybe that is why I am interested in retiring and going into Christian ministry.

Training

Today my battalion is officially in the pre-deployment training program.  It is still about eight months until we deploy but I have been struck with how much training we need to do and how little time there is to do it.  It has been said that there is a moral imperative in command.  The moral imperative shows up in many aspects of command, but the one I am most aware of right now is the need to properly train my Marines and Sailors to be ready for the rigors of combat.  It is incumbent on me to ensure that they get the training they need to do their job as well as possible - lives may depend on it.  It is a heavy responsibility. 

It brings to mind a similar responsibility - that of pastoral shepherding.  There is a moral imperative for training there too, one that is so often neglected in the church today.  The pastors and elders have a responsibility to train the congregation to get them ready for the rigors of spiritual warfare.  The weapons and equipment are different than in physical combat, but every Christian should be proficient in their use.  The way most churches train their congregations in doctrine, in love and in service is like if the Marine Corps emptied out a few elementary schools and sent the students to Afghanistan.  Shameful!  May God have mercy on us and give us the grace to do better - to train the new believers to properly wear their armor and to skillfully use their swords and shields. 
The battle is joined! To arms!

Various thoughts

Sorry it has been a while since I last posted.  Not that I think anyone missed it, since I have all of one or two readers who show up every once in a while.  Rather, I am trying to stay disciplined and not doing very well.  It isn't that I haven't had thoughts that I could blog about, I just haven't taken the time to sit down and write.  So, a few updates on things recently...
- Started geocaching recently.  Lots of fun for the whole family.  Hikes with a mission.
- Had an earthquake today... 5.4, just south of Palm Springs.  We could feel it pretty strong where we live.  Pretty weird to feel the ground/floor moving under your feet.
- Speaking of the ground shifting, this article from Al Mohler took my breath away (in a bad way)... just amazing how sinful we humans can be.
- When they say leadership involves spending 90% of your time with 10% of your people, they speak truly.  It makes it all the more a joy to sign good conduct medal and promotion certificates.  It reminds me that the majority of my Marines are motivated professionals who want to do the right thing.