No, they don’t walk into a bar. But what happens is pretty funny anyhow.
Month: January 2010
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The God-Talk Club and Haiti
*“I don’t understand how you can believe in a loving God in the face of what we’re seeing on the news right now,” said Bob Norman, bringing the small talk to a halt. In that informal way they had, the God-Talk Club was now in session!
“It is difficult, isn’t it?” said Jerry to the group as a whole. Bob looked surprised at Jerry’s response.
“You do believe in a loving God, though?” said Bob, making it a question by his tone.
“Well, yes. But I don’t believe that I have all the answers.”
“You’ve just shattered Bob’s impression of fundamentalists,” said Mandy.
“I’m not a fundamentalist,” Jerry retorted. “I’m conservative, I’m evangelical, I’m orthodox. I’m not a fundamentalist.”
“But Bob thinks you are,” Mandy insisted.
“I bet Bob thinks you are a fundamentalist,” said Jerry. “Don’t you?” he continued, turning to Bob.
“Well yes,” said Bob. “I have a hard time telling the difference between you various religious people. There’s always the fact that you believe in God and I don’t. That’s such a large difference that distinguishing one denomination from another just takes too much energy.”
“Hmmm! Me as a fundamentalist. That takes some getting used to.” Mandy managed to combine shock and innocence in her look.
“But all this doesn’t answer my question,” said Bob. “Just how do you deal with it?”
“It’s difficult for me, I admit,” said Jerry after a pause. “I know that God is the creator. I know that He takes responsibility for everything (Isaiah 45:7). But just because I admit it’s difficult doesn’t mean I don’t have any sort of answer. It just means it’s difficult!”
“So give,” said Bob. “Do you believe God is punishing Haiti for its sins, like Pat Robertson?”
“Well, I believe Amos 3:6 -‘Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?’ (ESV) God is responsible for everything, which makes the question difficult. But unlike Pat Robertson, apparently, I believe that God has as much against this town as he has against Haiti. Rather than thinking that God did this to Haiti, I think it happens because this is a sinful, dangerous world, and thus such disasters are possible. It was Haiti this time. It might be a tornado coming right through this building next time.”
“But how does that make God a loving God?” asked Bob.
“It doesn’t. I believe God is a loving God because He is with each and every person in disaster. He doesn’t prevent it, but he goes through it with us. He’s right there.”
“I think the way God shows his love is through us,” said Justine. “My church already has a team ready to leave. We’re just waiting for the right moment. Our folks are builders, and they won’t be needed for a few days, so we don’t want to go in too early.”
“I always wonder about these church teams,” said Mac. “Amateurs can mess up the works.”
“I expect that from Bob, but not from you!” said Justine. “How do you know we’re amateurs? In fact, we have a very qualified team and they’ll be going in with all the proper support, coordinated with the proper authorities. I don’t know the details, but we’ve taken years building a properly certified response team.”
“I’m sorry Justine,” said Mac. “I didn’t realize. I had just heard of a group driving into the country from the Dominican Republic that hadn’t done their homework. Fortunately they were turned back. That kind of people just get in the way.”
“I heard that some Christian groups are sending in pastors. What do these people need with pastors? They need food and water, not to mention getting dug out of the rubble!” Bob was looking annoyed again.
“I think that’s a pretty narrow attitude,” said Mandy. “Why do we send grief counselors in after a disaster? People need more than physical relief. I agree there must be some priority, but many of the Haitians are Catholic. I think last rites would be important to them.”
“I don’t mean to deny people their comforting superstitions,” said Bob. “But I wouldn’t want to contribute to it.”
“Surely you don’t let that stop you from giving,” said Jerry. “I know you’re plain-spoken to the point of being rude, but I think you really care.”
“Oh, there’s a good answer to that. Richard Dawkins has created a fund for us infidels to give to. It’s called Non-Believers Giving Aid. That way we can give without supporting religious organizations.”
“That’s great,” said Ellen. “I was wondering if you had anything like that. I’ve given through my church (LDS Aid).”
“I’ve given through my home church,” said Mark (UMCOR).
“Me too,” said Jerry (PCA-MNA).
“Our church as well,” said Mandy (PCUSA).
“I went with the same option as Bob,” said Mac.
“So now that we know we’re all doing something, with Justine admittedly in the lead with an actual team, what more can be done?” asked Bob.
Everyone was quiet for a moment. Nobody wanted to say “Give more money.” It wasn’t that they didn’t want to. Pretty much everyone planned on doing that as soon as they could. It just didn’t seem to meet the need. They suddenly felt that the God-Talk Club needed to do something specific.
“OK, I’ll start it. Justine, is there a way I can give to your team without it going to pay for a chaplain? That’s just not something I’m willing to do.”
“I can understand that. I’m going, but I happen to be qualified to do several tasks that are required by the team. I might preach if I’m invited, but that’s not the purpose of the team. We’ll be working on housing. I could designate your money to buy building materials.” She paused. “You all do understand we’re not part of he initial response. It could be weeks before we go in. It depends on what priorities others set.”
“Yes, we understand that.” Bob pulled out a checkbook and started writing. “I’m taking your word on how this is spent,” he added.
In a minute Jerry’s check joined Bob’s. “I doubt the two of you have ever donated to the same cause before,” said Mac.
“Doubtless you’re right, and it’s even more surprising that it’s a project for Justine’s church. But this feels right.”
Nobody noticed that Ellen had left until she returned with a couple of other waitresses carrying large plastic cups. The manager followed.
“This lady here, a regular at our cafe, is going to be taking a team to help rebuild in Haiti. We’re going to pass around these cups, and I know you will all be generous.”
[While this post is a work of fiction, the aid agencies referenced (except, of course, for Justine’s fictional church) and linked are real and are actively engaged in Haiti relief. I do believe that the fictional people in my God-Talk Club stand for many millions who are doing their little bit to aid the people of Haiti. Find a trustworthy agency to support, or a person or team that is going to do the work on the ground and give them your support.]
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Tlisli and the Tlazil II
Tlisli* jumped up from lunch and reached for her backpack. Azzesh had again provided an excellent meal, cooked quickly and yet tasty and well seasoned. There was more meat than Tlisli would have preferred, but she would never think of mentioning that to Azzesh.The reason she had jumped up and reached for her backpack was that Azzesh had gotten up and was reaching for her own pack. Tlisli had learned to respond quickly when Azzesh wanted something done, and one thing Azzesh never permitted was wasting time on the trail. And while Azzesh was neither like the smothering discipline of her childhood, nor like the brutality of the grand-emperor’s people, she could make life uncomfortable. Tlisli was convinced that she had been tripped several times, had stumbled into a couple of trees, and even fallen into a large thorn bush because she had managed to put the Tlazil in a bad mood.
It was two days since her conversation with Azzesh regarding the sword she had found (see Tlisli and the Tlazil – I). Azzesh hadn’t discussed it, nor had she said she was taking the sword, but she had stuffed it in her own pack, and Tlisli hadn’t objected.
“What are you putting on your pack for?” asked Azzesh.
“I thought we were leaving,” replied Tlisli, puzzled.
“No. It is now time for you to learn to use this sword of yours.”
“Mine?” said Tlisli. “I thought you said I didn’t deserve it.”
“I don’t think you do, but the gods are more gracious than I. They have given it to you.”
“I found it,” said Tlisli looking down, and downcast at the same time.
“The gods are gracious,” said Azzesh, “But they give gifts that require our efforts. Do you think you found this sword on your own? Do you think you survived on your own? No! The gods brought you here. The gods let you find the sword. The gods helped you survive. That is surely the only reason I don’t eat you for dinner.” Azzesh paused. “Well, that, and the fact that you would be stringy and doubtless bland in flavor. But with Nistl roots and seasoned with serriss, doubtless even you would be edible.”
She held out the sword. “Take it and prepare to defend yourself.”
Azzesh immediately grabbed a stick that Tlisli hadn’t noticed and began to attack without any warning or instruction. Tlisli tried to block her attacks, but she was largely unsuccessful. It seemed that wherever she moved the sword, Azzesh’s stick was coming at her somewhere else. She was being poked or hit every few seconds, though the blows were not that heavy.
Suddenly Azzesh swung hard, and as had been the case nearly every time, Tlisli was trying to parry a blow somewhere else, one that never came. She staggered back, startled by the pain.
“What did you do that for?” Tlisli asked.
“To motivate you.”
“But that hurt!” Tlisli was still rubbing her side.
“And had I been swinging a sword, you would now be in two parts, quite ready for me to cook for dinner.”
“I thought the main point of a sword was to attack the other person.”
“And what did you expect to do to keep from getting chopped in half yourself?”
“Use a shield.”
“Shield?” asked Azzesh, looking around dramatically. “What shield?”
“Well, I imagine I would get one.”
“And if someone tried to kill you before you got a shield?”
“Well …”
“No, small human. You have to learn to defend yourself. Your sword is designed for it. Do you feel how light it is?”
“I thought it was a bit light, but then what do I know?”
“Wisdom at last!” exclaimed Azzesh. “Exactly the right answer, no matter how depressing. What do you know indeed?”
“But why is the sword light?” Tlisli was so used to being insulted that she hardly noticed.
“It was built of a special metal. I don’t know any craftsmen these days who know how to make it, but it is harder than our ordinary steel and lighter at the same time.”
“So what does that mean about the sword. I know it is easier to carry and to swing.”
“True, but that is both a blessing and a curse. You can wield it more quickly and with less strength, but then your blows may be less effective. It is, in fact, intended for someone who plans to use it for defense as much or more than for attack. There are other features such as the guard on the hilt that suggest the same thing.”
With that, Azzesh swung the stick again, and hit Tlisli on the other side before she had even raised the sword. By now she knew better than to complain and simply tried to get her sword into position as quickly as she could.t
To be continued … next episode – Ambushed!
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*This is part of the continuing story of Tlisli. It is obviously a work of fiction, and anything that resembles anything in the real world is purely accidental. I am finally resuming this series after more than a year’s break. I am also trying to return to the original plan of short episodes. (Return to Top) -
Selective Science Fiction Rant
Way of Life Literature has a rant on science fiction that is really quite odd and rather selective. It appears that science fiction is the product of evolutionary thinking and that most of its key authors were atheists, and of course, evolutionists.
I am both a Christian and a fan of science fiction, having even written just a bit of amateur science fiction on this very blog. I must also plead guilty to evolutionary thinking, because I think the theory of evolution is good science and provides the best scientific explanation for the diversification of life on earth that we have. I would also note, however, that evolutionary thinking has been applied in many places where it doesn’t work well, such as in tracing evolution of thought, which has often resulted in very poorly supported dating for Biblical materials.
There is literature that is of value in many genres, I believe, in science fiction just as in others. As with any literature, if you are going to build your life on it, you may well be led astray. Authors do–and indeed should–have moral and theological viewpoints which are often reflected in their writing.
The answer is not staying away (though there are some items in literature I would recommend staying away from), but reading with your mind turned on.
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Christian Carnival CCCIX Posted
… at RodneyOlsen.net. Go check out the first Christian Carnival of the new year. (No, I didn’t contribute anything this week.)
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Clarity of Night Short Fiction Contest
It’s on. Information here. Blogger Jason Evans offers cash prizes and everything!
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Shrewsbury Gas Explosion
I visited Shrewsbury while in England in 1999 because I’m a fan of the Cadfael series. It appears there’s been an explosion downtown there, probably due to a gas leak. More at Christian Today.