Speaking of time, here are the lyrics to a Rich Mullins/Mark Robertson song that reminds me of what’s really important, what’s bigger than science and knowledge, and what’s worth every moment of work and living. May we all find and know the love that won’t give out.

By the way, if you know the whereabouts and happenings of Mark Robertson (Ragamuffin Band, This  Train, etc.), please let me know. I’d really like to know what he’s up to these days, and to thank him for his music. If his music is available directly (i.e., in a manner that puts the money in his pockets), I’d like to link there.

A Million Years

by Rich Mullins, Mark Robertson and Mitch McVicker
(c) 1998 Liturgy Legacy/Word Music/Alien Autopsy/Ross  Island Music Publishing.
from the album by This Train called “Mimes of the Old West”

Time doesn’t scare me.
No, I’m not impressed by time.
In the scheme of eternity,
Millenniums don’t seem to be
Worth much more than a dime,
Except for the love that you find in it;
Every minute’s worth its weight in gold,
Whether you’re a million years young
Or a million years old.

And if I’m still around a million years from now
If I’d been around a million years ago
Everything I’ve learned or forgotten
Imagined or come to know
Would disappear into the moment
I found that love would not give out
Even if I’m still around another million years from now

And change doesn’t scare me.
No, I’m not impressed by change.
In the light of reality
These fads are just fallacies,
And they all get washed away,
Except for the change that brings me closer
To the love that always proves
As current as tomorrow
Or as ancient as the truth.

And if I’m still around a million years from now
If I’d been around a million years ago
Everything I’ve learned or forgotten
Imagined or come to know
Would disappear into the moment
I found that love would not give out
Even if I’m still around another million years from now

All the ‘way back whens’ and ‘ever afters’ spin their wheels
And love looks back and laughs at them from yet another million years

And if I’m still around a million years from now
If I’d been around a million years ago
Everything I’ve learned or forgotten
Imagined or come to know
Would disappear into the moment
I found that love would not give out
Even if I’m still around another million years from now

And when I disappear into that moment…

Christian astronomical awe

Here’s the popular video for “God of Wonders” from YouTube:

And check out those videos by Louie Giglio that correspond to the “Indescribable” Passion Conference tour (there are five 9-minute videos if you want to hear the whole message).

And this video snippet by Francis Chan, which he references in his delightful book Crazy Love (click “videos” then “The awe factor of God” to run the snippet).

Big space = awesome God

Last week at my church, the elder who gave the communion meditation immediately following our singing of “God of Wonders” was full of praise and delight as a result of the stunning Hubble Telescope images that were displayed with the song. The vastness of the universe is truly awesome, amazing and humbling, especially as we reflect on what it tells us about the greatness of its Creator. And even more especially as we reflect on the juxtaposition of God’s transcendent greatness with his loving intimacy and incarnation in Christ. Wow, indeed!

But what about time?

Yet, I am saddened and somewhat dismayed when I think about the fact that nearly everyone worshiping with me in my church is experiencing only half the wonder. They acknowledge the size of the universe (i.e., the physical space)  but completely ignore the time that is represented by the same imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope.

Go out and find any astronomer or astrophysicist who has anything to do with studying the meaning of data obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope (and this includes a good share of Christians). Ask him or her if it’s even possible to say anything about the size of the universe or even our own galaxy without simultaneously acknowledging the vastness of time inherent in the reality that we observe through the telescope.

It’s nonsensical to accept the large size of the universe represented by those images on the screen while at the same time denying that the universe is billions of years old. To be more exact, it’s about 13.7 billions years old according to data from the Hubble Space Telescope.

Be amazed, be doubly amazed!

So, be amazed and worship the God of wonders. Be doubly amazed. He’s given us both the space and time for worship.