My novel, Aliens Are God's Children Too, explores may issues in life. Yes, it is science fiction. It also has Christian themes infused into it. It is also a romance. It explores love as expressed by creatures on other planets. It also explores the idea of how God's love might be expressed through intelligent life on other worlds.
"Love never ends," says 1 Corinthians 13:8a (NRSV). To put it another way, “Love is eternal.” Scientists talk about infinite things. Mathematicians use infinity as a device in doing a number of critical calculations. When scientists and mathematicians talk about infinity however, it is an incalculable distance or amount within our created universe. The human mind hardly comprehends the infinite in any useful way outside of science and mathematics. This is not a new challenge.
An eon is a stretch of time so long that no one can fathom it. Plato, a few years before the birth of Christ, coined a new word: aionios. What he literally meant was eternity. Eternity means having no beginning and no end, no change and no decay. Whereas an eon means indefinite time you cannot measure, eternity has nothing to do with time or anything measured. There is nothing created or destroyed in eternity. There is no past, present, or future. Eternity can only be applied to God.
The Greek word used in the New Testament which we translate eternal literally means without time, growth, past, present, or future. There are two areas where this word eternal is used in the New Testament. First, it is used in terms of covenant. When God makes a covenant with us, it has a beginning but has no end: Time is literally meaningless as far as God’s covenant is concerned, and that covenant cannot be destroyed.
The other way that the New Testament uses eternal with is hope. Our hope is eternal. The idea of eternal life is crucial to Christian faith. It is fundamental to our understanding of who Jesus Christ is, who God is, and how God works.
I am not one to do statistics of the Bible very often, but I have been fascinated by what I have learned about the word eternal. Eternal is coupled with a number of different words one to three times – except for one word. Eternal is coupled with life – eternal life – forty-four times. It makes us stop and realize how crucial the concept of eternal life was to the early church. It predominates the writing of John, of the Apostle Paul, and of all writers of the New Testament. How many times do we read, “His steadfast love endures forever" in the Psalms? Notice this word steadfast. It is coupled with dozens of different words in the Old and New Testament, but steadfast is coupled with love dozens of times. Love is constant. That brings us right back to the statement of the Apostle Paul in the eighth verse of I Corinthians: Love never ends. Love is steadfast. Love endures forever. We can really celebrate the ultimate source of the love that we receive from our mothers and fathers, for all love comes from God.
Once we acknowledge that idea and assimilate it into our minds, then we begin to get a feel for how much our God loves us. Moreover, we get a feel for how important it is to let God’s love flow through us, that others might see God's love in us. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful, nor is it arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. Love is not irritable or resentful. Love does not rejoice at wrong, but love does rejoice in the right. Love does bear all things. Love does believe all things. Love does hope all things. Love does transform all things with triumphant fortitude. Love never ends. Indeed!
Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas on another planet
The following is an excerpt from “Aliens Are God’s Children Too,” © 2008
The cat manipulates the controls. The vehicle rises and moves further south. The large plant life diminishes as the sun gets lower on the horizon. Where the sun has almost set, they come to a small town. Children are playing, and adults are moving about. The vehicle stops just outside of the town, hovering several meters above the ground.
“If you will disguise yourself as a Quzak, we can proceed on foot.”
Kieya's sloped cushion disappears, and she shrinks to Ooza's size. Then she takes on features similar to those of Ooza. “How's this?”
Ooza giggles. “Except for the hairy arms you look like my colleague Zahrated!”
The hair disappears from her arms. “Better?”
“Much better!”
“It always feels most peculiar to become a biped.” She purrs subtly.
“Don't do that! Quzaks don't purr.”
“Understood. I will restrain my instincts.”
Someone approaches from their left. “We will need to provide gifts.”
Ooza’s face brightens. “Qaak! Except for your eyes and voice I would have assumed your were a Quzak! Very well done.”
“Thank you.”
“Hello Qaak. You just said we will need gifts. Why?”
“The Creator told Walter that this was to happen soon on Ooza's world. We need to humble ourselves and recognize this privilege.”
Ooza is puzzled. “I don't understand.”
“You will. What is the most precious form of spices on your planet?”
“Spice crystals. They have a multitude of uses but are very costly.”
Kieya nods. “I now understand what Qaak is telling us. Do you have fragrant oils here?”
“Yes. This is all so mysterious. I will go along. What else do we need?”
“I remember watching your female support group talk about the virtues of spun gold.”
Qaak looks directly at the new Gaardian. “Ooza, I want you to think back over your lessons in Quzak history. In the age when leaders were born into their legacy, how were these children approached?”
Ooza is quiet and thoughtful for a moment. “We are bringing three gifts. Three especially rare gifts. ...” She looks into the faces of Qaak and Kieya, and tears begin running down her face. “I now know. The Arkaynee! There have been prophecies. Piatek spoke of it recently. We fit the prophecies. This child will bring the quiet but controversial revolution to Quzak that it has waited for during countless generations. This child will rule the hearts and minds of Quzaks for countless generations to come even after returning to The Creator.” She pauses and dries her eyes. “To answer your question, we must approach with humility and reverence. After leaving our gifts we must back out and leave instantly, vanishing and leaving no trace.”
Qaak nods. “I did not come in a vehicle. May I join you in yours, Kieya?”
“Of course. It will adapt. Now. The precise center where the solar flare pointed is that small building over there. Ooza, please provide the appropriate gifts.”
Containers appear in their hands, and they walk quietly towards the small building. Going inside they see a young mother nursing a child, with the mate standing nearby. They approach and begin opening their gifts.
Qaak’s voice is unusually soft and low. “I come from a planet far away. I bring you spun gold.”
Qaak backs away, and Kieya approaches. “I too come from a planet far far away. I bring you spice rocks.”
Kieya backs away, and Ooza approaches. “I come from the eastern continent, north of here. Have no fear. The Creator, Ruach, has brought us. The knowledge of this special event will not reach the other continents for many years. I bring you precious oil.”
She backs away, and the three of them back out the door. On the outside no one sees them exit, for they vanish instantly back to Kieya's vehicle.
The cat manipulates the controls. The vehicle rises and moves further south. The large plant life diminishes as the sun gets lower on the horizon. Where the sun has almost set, they come to a small town. Children are playing, and adults are moving about. The vehicle stops just outside of the town, hovering several meters above the ground.
“If you will disguise yourself as a Quzak, we can proceed on foot.”
Kieya's sloped cushion disappears, and she shrinks to Ooza's size. Then she takes on features similar to those of Ooza. “How's this?”
Ooza giggles. “Except for the hairy arms you look like my colleague Zahrated!”
The hair disappears from her arms. “Better?”
“Much better!”
“It always feels most peculiar to become a biped.” She purrs subtly.
“Don't do that! Quzaks don't purr.”
“Understood. I will restrain my instincts.”
Someone approaches from their left. “We will need to provide gifts.”
Ooza’s face brightens. “Qaak! Except for your eyes and voice I would have assumed your were a Quzak! Very well done.”
“Thank you.”
“Hello Qaak. You just said we will need gifts. Why?”
“The Creator told Walter that this was to happen soon on Ooza's world. We need to humble ourselves and recognize this privilege.”
Ooza is puzzled. “I don't understand.”
“You will. What is the most precious form of spices on your planet?”
“Spice crystals. They have a multitude of uses but are very costly.”
Kieya nods. “I now understand what Qaak is telling us. Do you have fragrant oils here?”
“Yes. This is all so mysterious. I will go along. What else do we need?”
“I remember watching your female support group talk about the virtues of spun gold.”
Qaak looks directly at the new Gaardian. “Ooza, I want you to think back over your lessons in Quzak history. In the age when leaders were born into their legacy, how were these children approached?”
Ooza is quiet and thoughtful for a moment. “We are bringing three gifts. Three especially rare gifts. ...” She looks into the faces of Qaak and Kieya, and tears begin running down her face. “I now know. The Arkaynee! There have been prophecies. Piatek spoke of it recently. We fit the prophecies. This child will bring the quiet but controversial revolution to Quzak that it has waited for during countless generations. This child will rule the hearts and minds of Quzaks for countless generations to come even after returning to The Creator.” She pauses and dries her eyes. “To answer your question, we must approach with humility and reverence. After leaving our gifts we must back out and leave instantly, vanishing and leaving no trace.”
Qaak nods. “I did not come in a vehicle. May I join you in yours, Kieya?”
“Of course. It will adapt. Now. The precise center where the solar flare pointed is that small building over there. Ooza, please provide the appropriate gifts.”
Containers appear in their hands, and they walk quietly towards the small building. Going inside they see a young mother nursing a child, with the mate standing nearby. They approach and begin opening their gifts.
Qaak’s voice is unusually soft and low. “I come from a planet far away. I bring you spun gold.”
Qaak backs away, and Kieya approaches. “I too come from a planet far far away. I bring you spice rocks.”
Kieya backs away, and Ooza approaches. “I come from the eastern continent, north of here. Have no fear. The Creator, Ruach, has brought us. The knowledge of this special event will not reach the other continents for many years. I bring you precious oil.”
She backs away, and the three of them back out the door. On the outside no one sees them exit, for they vanish instantly back to Kieya's vehicle.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
“Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed -- and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” (Luke 2:34-35 NRSV)
Evidently Simeon was a very old man. We are told that within the Jewish community he was known as a man who was righteous and devout, and that the Holy Spirit rested upon him. We are also told that he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. This meant he was waiting for the vindication of Israel to her enemies by God's messiah or savior. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that rested upon him that he would not see death until that happened. The scripture we are looking at today contains what Simeon said to Mary after he had praised and thanked God for what he was privileged to see.
Many years ago a science fiction movie was made in which visitors from another civilization visited earth and left behind some strange little devices. As they were given into the hands of a wide variety of people the people were told that the devices represented life and death. When the first device was activated several thousand people died within the radius of hundreds of miles. As scientists clamored over the devices in order to study them a great controversy arose as word of the devices spread. Power hungry people and self-proclaimed saviors wanted control of the devices because they represented life or death. Soon the whole world knew of the devices, and panic began to spread as people feared power that might get out of control when unleashed. Finally one quiet individual understood what the aliens had really said. The visitors had spoken of the power of life and death and not life or death. Without asking anyone for permission that quiet person unleashed the power over the entire earth. Those who had compassion, caring, and love for others lived, and the rest did not.
That story is science fiction, but Simeon saw God's reality. Simeon saw not merely the consolation of Israel but the consolation of all humankind. Perhaps Simeon even realized that God's messiah was a redemptive and loving savior of life and death rather than a might warrior of life or death. Jesus, Simeon said, "...is destined for the falling and the rising of many...." What did Simeon see as he said that? We will never know. What did Simeon see when he said that Jesus was destined "...to be a sign that will be opposed...."? Again we will never know.
There are things that we do know. We know of the falling of the Roman Empire and of the rising of Christ's church. We know about the opposition to Jesus' ministry, and how that opposition climaxed in an open tomb instead of a cross. The church is a Christmas people because it is an Easter people. We are fascinated with the manger because of an empty tomb.
My novel, "Aliens Are God's Children Too," reflects on these realities by doing theology through storytelling.
Evidently Simeon was a very old man. We are told that within the Jewish community he was known as a man who was righteous and devout, and that the Holy Spirit rested upon him. We are also told that he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. This meant he was waiting for the vindication of Israel to her enemies by God's messiah or savior. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that rested upon him that he would not see death until that happened. The scripture we are looking at today contains what Simeon said to Mary after he had praised and thanked God for what he was privileged to see.
Many years ago a science fiction movie was made in which visitors from another civilization visited earth and left behind some strange little devices. As they were given into the hands of a wide variety of people the people were told that the devices represented life and death. When the first device was activated several thousand people died within the radius of hundreds of miles. As scientists clamored over the devices in order to study them a great controversy arose as word of the devices spread. Power hungry people and self-proclaimed saviors wanted control of the devices because they represented life or death. Soon the whole world knew of the devices, and panic began to spread as people feared power that might get out of control when unleashed. Finally one quiet individual understood what the aliens had really said. The visitors had spoken of the power of life and death and not life or death. Without asking anyone for permission that quiet person unleashed the power over the entire earth. Those who had compassion, caring, and love for others lived, and the rest did not.
That story is science fiction, but Simeon saw God's reality. Simeon saw not merely the consolation of Israel but the consolation of all humankind. Perhaps Simeon even realized that God's messiah was a redemptive and loving savior of life and death rather than a might warrior of life or death. Jesus, Simeon said, "...is destined for the falling and the rising of many...." What did Simeon see as he said that? We will never know. What did Simeon see when he said that Jesus was destined "...to be a sign that will be opposed...."? Again we will never know.
There are things that we do know. We know of the falling of the Roman Empire and of the rising of Christ's church. We know about the opposition to Jesus' ministry, and how that opposition climaxed in an open tomb instead of a cross. The church is a Christmas people because it is an Easter people. We are fascinated with the manger because of an empty tomb.
My novel, "Aliens Are God's Children Too," reflects on these realities by doing theology through storytelling.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Prayer
PRAYER
A scientific age proclaims the foolishness of prayer.
The media just lusts for facts and people's points of view.
We live our lives with stumbling steps and struggle, still aware
That things don't always come by chance or scientific cue.
So mysticism has its place and superstition too.
And luck is less a threat than facing power out of sight.
So we want power we can understand and keep in view.
And we want gods to be controlled with scientific might.
A humble person gathers scorn by those who relish strength.
And kneeling just is not a stance for those who want control.
When chaos reigns as people struggle, keeping fear at length,
Their comfort's sought in facts and trends or in opinion polls.
The ease with which a life of prayer is lived seems odd to some.
Unlike the lives of those who offer prayers when times seem right,
A life of prayer is one that lives each moment with the Son,
We pray and love the power found just walking in God's light.
There always will be some that do not seek the living God.
To focus on one's self is always easier for most.
To shift away from self-control, the concept must seem odd,
But life's a prayer for those who live to join the heavenly hosts,
And prayer is so much more than giving thanks to God above.
A prayer is even more than calling out in pain or fear.
Our God is waiting to forgive, relating just with love.
The bonding starts with prayer fulfilled, with God forever near.
A scientific age proclaims the foolishness of prayer.
The media just lusts for facts and people's points of view.
We live our lives with stumbling steps and struggle, still aware
That things don't always come by chance or scientific cue.
So mysticism has its place and superstition too.
And luck is less a threat than facing power out of sight.
So we want power we can understand and keep in view.
And we want gods to be controlled with scientific might.
A humble person gathers scorn by those who relish strength.
And kneeling just is not a stance for those who want control.
When chaos reigns as people struggle, keeping fear at length,
Their comfort's sought in facts and trends or in opinion polls.
The ease with which a life of prayer is lived seems odd to some.
Unlike the lives of those who offer prayers when times seem right,
A life of prayer is one that lives each moment with the Son,
We pray and love the power found just walking in God's light.
There always will be some that do not seek the living God.
To focus on one's self is always easier for most.
To shift away from self-control, the concept must seem odd,
But life's a prayer for those who live to join the heavenly hosts,
And prayer is so much more than giving thanks to God above.
A prayer is even more than calling out in pain or fear.
Our God is waiting to forgive, relating just with love.
The bonding starts with prayer fulfilled, with God forever near.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Infinity and Eternal
"Love never ends," says 1 Corinthians 13:8a (NRSV). To put it another way, “Love is eternal.” Scientists talk about infinite things. Mathematicians use infinity as a device in doing a number of critical calculations. When scientists and mathematicians talk about infinity however, it is an incalculable distance or amount within our created universe. The human mind hardly comprehends the infinite in any useful way outside of science and mathematics. This is not a new challenge.
An eon is a stretch of time so long that no one can fathom it. Plato, a few years before the birth of Christ, coined a new word: aionios. What he literally meant was eternity. Eternity means having no beginning and no end, no change and no decay. Whereas an eon means indefinite time you cannot measure, eternity has nothing to do with time or anything measured. There is nothing created or destroyed in eternity. There is no past, present, or future. Eternity can only be applied to God.
The Greek word used in the New Testament which we translate eternal literally means without time, growth, past, present, or future. There are two areas where this word eternal is used in the New Testament. First, it is used in terms of covenant. When God makes a covenant with us, it has a beginning but has no end: Time is literally meaningless as far as God’s covenant is concerned, and that covenant cannot be destroyed.
The other way that the New Testament uses eternal with is hope. Our hope is eternal. The idea of eternal life is crucial to Christian faith. It is fundamental to our understanding of who Jesus Christ is, who God is, and how God works.
I am not one to do statistics of the Bible very often, but I have been fascinated by what I have learned about the word eternal. Eternal is coupled with a number of different words one to three times – except for one word. Eternal is coupled with life – eternal life – forty-four times. It makes us stop and realize how crucial the concept of eternal life was to the early church. It predominates the writing of John, of the Apostle Paul, and of all writers of the New Testament. How many times do we read, “His steadfast love endures forever" in the Psalms? Notice this word steadfast. It is coupled with dozens of different words in the Old and New Testament, but steadfast is coupled with love dozens of times. Love is constant. That brings us right back to the statement of the Apostle Paul in the eighth verse of I Corinthians: Love never ends. Love is steadfast. Love endures forever. We can really celebrate the ultimate source of the love that we receive from our mothers and fathers, for all love comes from God.
Once we acknowledge that idea and assimilate it idea into our minds, then we begin to get a feel for how much our God loves us. Moreover, we get a feel for how important it is to let God’s love flow through us, that others might see God's love in us. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful, nor is it arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. Love is not irritable or resentful. Love does not rejoice at wrong, but love does rejoice in the right. Love does bear all things. Love does believe all things. Love does hope all things. Love does transform all things with triumphant fortitude. Love never ends. Indeed!
I believe that beings on other planets that are more advanced than ours recognize the existence of God. I doubt I'll ever meet such and "alien," but the science fiction novel I just published explores the possibilities.
An eon is a stretch of time so long that no one can fathom it. Plato, a few years before the birth of Christ, coined a new word: aionios. What he literally meant was eternity. Eternity means having no beginning and no end, no change and no decay. Whereas an eon means indefinite time you cannot measure, eternity has nothing to do with time or anything measured. There is nothing created or destroyed in eternity. There is no past, present, or future. Eternity can only be applied to God.
The Greek word used in the New Testament which we translate eternal literally means without time, growth, past, present, or future. There are two areas where this word eternal is used in the New Testament. First, it is used in terms of covenant. When God makes a covenant with us, it has a beginning but has no end: Time is literally meaningless as far as God’s covenant is concerned, and that covenant cannot be destroyed.
The other way that the New Testament uses eternal with is hope. Our hope is eternal. The idea of eternal life is crucial to Christian faith. It is fundamental to our understanding of who Jesus Christ is, who God is, and how God works.
I am not one to do statistics of the Bible very often, but I have been fascinated by what I have learned about the word eternal. Eternal is coupled with a number of different words one to three times – except for one word. Eternal is coupled with life – eternal life – forty-four times. It makes us stop and realize how crucial the concept of eternal life was to the early church. It predominates the writing of John, of the Apostle Paul, and of all writers of the New Testament. How many times do we read, “His steadfast love endures forever" in the Psalms? Notice this word steadfast. It is coupled with dozens of different words in the Old and New Testament, but steadfast is coupled with love dozens of times. Love is constant. That brings us right back to the statement of the Apostle Paul in the eighth verse of I Corinthians: Love never ends. Love is steadfast. Love endures forever. We can really celebrate the ultimate source of the love that we receive from our mothers and fathers, for all love comes from God.
Once we acknowledge that idea and assimilate it idea into our minds, then we begin to get a feel for how much our God loves us. Moreover, we get a feel for how important it is to let God’s love flow through us, that others might see God's love in us. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful, nor is it arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. Love is not irritable or resentful. Love does not rejoice at wrong, but love does rejoice in the right. Love does bear all things. Love does believe all things. Love does hope all things. Love does transform all things with triumphant fortitude. Love never ends. Indeed!
I believe that beings on other planets that are more advanced than ours recognize the existence of God. I doubt I'll ever meet such and "alien," but the science fiction novel I just published explores the possibilities.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Other Worlds in God's Creation
For all the galaxies, there is God.
For every planet, there are plans.
For all that hunger, there is hope.
For all that reason, there is responsibility.
For all that love, there is laughter.
For all that do not, there is mercy.
Do we wonder why?
Why are men and women so self-centered that they believe that humans are the only ones in the universe that God considers to be His children?
For every planet, there are plans.
For all that hunger, there is hope.
For all that reason, there is responsibility.
For all that love, there is laughter.
For all that do not, there is mercy.
Do we wonder why?
Why are men and women so self-centered that they believe that humans are the only ones in the universe that God considers to be His children?
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