Ramblings and Reflections

When participating in a writer’s Q&A at a writer’s seminar, one of the attenders asked this question.

“How do you come up with names for planets when writing Sci-Fi?”

Members of the panel answered in various ways. Some had answers filled with scientific gobble-dee-gook. Others leaned more toward mythology, like naming the planets after gods (Mars, Venus).

I smiled, inwardly. I guess I’m sort of simple. I’d name a planet GEORGE. 

That’s a great name.

Think about it. People get all caught up in fancy names or names with numbers, like Talsetti V. By the way, that “V” is the Roman numeral five, not the letter. 

SEE! What good is a name you have to stop and explain. On top of that, when something is named Talsetti V, it makes me wonder what happened to 1, 2, 3, an 4?

“We blew up Talsetti 1, so we moved on.”

Oh really? Then what happened to the other three? Did you blow them up too?

“Well, Talsetti II is just a colony of our planet.”

Don’t they have the imagination to come up with their own name?

“And we found out Talsetti III was uninhabitable. It had trees that gave off an odor that smelled like my uncle Marvin after he had a couple helpings of Aunt Betty’s Cauliflower and Bean casserole.”

That’s just disgusting!

Honestly, names with numbers makes me wonder if the inhabitants will use up the planet and just move on, checking off another mistake on their long line of blunders.

The other problem I have with naming planets is this—Who are we to think we have the right to name someone else’s home. I’m speaking in the Sci-fi terms here. Imagine we land on Mars. Low and behold, we find life! Thousands and thousands of beings, living underground in a very complex and sophisticated society. They send a delegation out to meet us. 

We approach, “Greetings Martians. It is good to meet you.”

They share a puzzled look, then in perfect English (Obviously all aliens speak English) they say, “Martians? What are Martians?”

“You are, or course. You come from this planet, don’t you? You come from Mars?”

They nod their heads, their eye stocks bouncing around as they do. “We come from this planet, but it’s not named Mars.”

“What is it called?”

They smile. “Why, George of course.”

You see, even the Martians … I mean Georgians know a perfect name for a planet when they hear it.

Of course, there is One who has the ultimate right to name all things; the One who created everything that is.         You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created (Revelation 4:11)

Psalm 97:2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

Can you have veal parmigiana without the cheese? Impossible! It wouldn’t be veal parmigiana, would it? Some things need all the ingredients to be what they are. This is true of God, also. Now, don’t go off thinking I’m comparing God to a wonderful Italian dish. It’s simply an illustration. 

There are those who only want to take a small part of God and say that’s all He is. For instance, “God is love,” they declare. That’s it. They get stuck on that one attribute, and neglect everything else about Him.

But, just like veal parm without the cheese isn’t veal parm, God without all His other attributes isn’t God.

“Oh, but God is love! That means He loves me and let’s me do or be anything I want.” Those who make this claim like to compare God to an old grandfather figure who, with a wink of his eye, accepts everything his grandchildren do.

Don’t forget, God is also just. God is judge. God is the giver of laws. God is righteous.

How can we possibly mesh together a loving god with a god of justice and judgment?

Easy. How did He show His love? By dying on the cross. Why did He have to die? Because all people sin and are not worthy of anything but judgment. God, as love, mercy, and grace took our place and died a sacrificial death for our sins.

The trouble with people today is they don’t want to admit they are sinners. Or maybe they have a very narrow (unbiblical) view of what sin is. Or they’ve rewritten God’s word, changing what God declares to be sin as normal and right. 

Wake up! God is love, but you will never truly know His love unless you can first say, “I am a sinner.” 

To declare, “God is love” without understanding how He’s shown His love is like accepting veal parm without the cheese. It makes no sense.

Looking back, here’s something I posted six years ago. I think it is worth sharing again.

It’s the 4th of July. As I look at the state of our nation, I am concerned. We are divided, both sides claiming the ethical high ground. We are so blinded by hate that neither side will listen to the other. We are so morally bankrupt that when deciding right from wrong, no one asks, “What does God say?”
It’s time for Christians to start acting like Christians.
I threw together what I call my Declaration of Dependence. After you read it, I’d appreciate your comments. Is there anything you can think of that I’ve left out?

When a nation, so blessed by almighty God, has turned her back on the One who has done the blessing, when a people pass laws giving no regard to the great Lawgiver, when a society would actively commit sin, not only flaunting it, but condoning it,
then it is time for good Christian men and women to declare their Dependence on God.

I DECLARE MY DEPENDENCE ON GOD

–I Recognize that true life, liberty, and happiness comes from pursuing a relationship with God.
We were made in God’s image. From the beginning of time we have walked away from Him, forfeiting the benefits of that relationship.
My sole source of Life is found only in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice upon the Cross.
My sole source of Liberty comes from Jesus. For true freedom is not political, nor economic. It is freedom from the power of sin. “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
My sole source of Happiness is found in following God’s plan for my life.

–I Recognise there is no other God, save the one shown to us in HIS Word. He manifests Himself as a triune God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In a society growing more exceedingly pluralistic, I will denounce false gods and cling to the one and only true God.

–I will not honor nor recognize any law that is contrary to God’s word.
The laws of our society, at its founding, were based on God’s word. There has been a drastic falling away. Now an individual’s right to Freedom of Expression is considered more important than what serves the betterment of society and what God says.
Our laws are becoming a smoke screen to allow an individual and nation the ability to sin and proclaim it legal.
With this in mind, I will do all in my power, as a citizen of this earthly kingdom, to change the immoral laws when I can, to vote for leaders with Godly views, and to fight and protest the laws that are an affront to God Almighty.
I will also be daily on my face before God, to pray for the return to civil sanity and to pray for strength and conviction for the Christians in our government.
I will also pray for the sinners, so caught up in the carrying out of their horrendous acts that they do not see the eternal consequences.

–I will be obedient to the Word of God
God’s Word, given to us in the Holy Bible, is to be held at a higher level than any other book of religion, philosophy, or history. God has revealed Himself in these pages.
I will study it to the best of my ability.
I will pray that the Holy Spirit will bring conviction on my heart through it.
I will pray for the strength to be obedient to it’s proclamation.

–I will seek to convert the world to true faith.
I believe that without Jesus, a soul is destined to an eternity of Hell and damnation. I will stand before the lost, as a block to that road and proclaim salvation in Jesus Christ.
I will do this through my life, through my daily actions, and through my words.

–I will seek the Lord’s forgiveness every day.
I recognize my human frailty. When I falter and fail at the task placed before me, I will turn to God and ask forgiveness from Him. I will depend, by faith, on His promise to forgive and cleanse me through the blood of Jesus Christ. For His Word says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

–I will believe these things unashamedly and unequivocally, not allowing the forces of darkness that seek to conquer this world, to conquer my witness.
So much as in me lies, by the power of the Spirit of God, Who is able to present me faultless before the throne of God, I do hereby declare my total dependence on God and my allegiance in serving Him.

Valentine’s Day can get so expensive. Flowers, candy, jewelry, dinner out! Where does it end? But this year, I thought I’d figured the perfect solution. I was working on it in my study when my wife walked in.
“What are you doing?”
I proudly held up the picture of a floral bouquet I’d copied off the Internet. “It’s your valentine’s gift.”
She frowned. “Why did you run a picture off? Afraid you’d forget what the arrangement looked like before you got to the florist?”
“No, silly. This picture . . . I mean this highly detailed rendition of the perfect flower arrangement IS your present.”
Again she frowned.
Hey, don’t get me wrong. I’m no cheapskate! I’ll even take my wife to an occasional movie . . . As long as it’s a matinee . . . And we bring our own drinks . . . And popcorn. Have you seen what they charge for movie theater popcorn? It’s robbery.
“So let me get this straight,” my wife said. “The picture is my gift?”
I nodded. “It shows how much I love you, a lesser man would give real flowers.”
“You’re going to have to explain that one.”
“Ok. Number one- We avoid a potential trip to the emergency room.”
Again she frowned.
Boy she frowns a lot. If she’s not careful, her face is going to get stuck like that.
“Real flowers are a health risk,” I said. For all I know you’re allergic to roses-”
“But I’m not.”
“Are you sure? A lot of people develop allergies as they grow older-”
“Older? Are you saying I’m old?”
There is no correct answer to that question. “Then there’s the thorns. What if you jabbed yourself with a thorn. Then it got infected. For all you know, they may have to amputate a limb or something.” I beamed. “I saved you.”
“My hero,” she said flatly.
I pressed on. “Also a picture lasts longer than the real thing. In a few days those flowers would be dead and withered, dropping their decaying petals all over the floor. Then you’d have to clean them up. Look at the time and energy I’m saving you.”
“How considerate.”
“Why, for a dollar at the dollar store, you could buy a nice frame. That picture could last for eternity. Just like my love for you.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You’re so romantic.”
“So you see, my love, this picture is the perfect gift.” I pressed the paper in her hand. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
She looked at the picture, then silently left the room.
I was giddy from my victory. I did it! I beat the Greeting Card Mafia. Everyone knows they run the whole valentine scheme. Why, when other husbands find out about my brilliant move, millions will join me on my quest to give pictures of flowers. I’ll be a hero!
I was reveling in this thought when my wife returned. She placed two papers on my desk: one had a picture of a cooked chicken on it. The other, a woman’s lips.
“What’s this?”
“That’s your supper and a thank you kiss for the valentine’s gift.”
“Huh?”
She patted the top of my head. “Think about how much longer they’ll last.” She walked out.
Friends, I’d like to type more about this, but I don’t have time. I’ve got to get to the florist before it closes.
Happy Valentine’s Day.