My Argument With His Argument

I'm a huge fan of The Office. So I was thrilled when I received my new copy of Best Life magazine, to see it had an article with Ricky Gervais, creator of the original BBC version of the show.

I became even more interested when I saw the title of his article: "My Argument With God: How I went from Jesus-loving Christian to fun-loving infidel...in one afternoon."

Hmmm....this should be good.

So here's his story: Gervis starts by saying: "I loved Jesus. He was my hero." Gervais grew up in a poor, working-class district outside of London. One day, when he was 8 years old he says was drawing a crucifixion scene as part of his Bible-studies homework. His 19 year old brother, Bob, walked in and said "Why do you believe in God?"

Gervais says that he could sense his mom panic and say "Bob!" in a tone meant for Bob to keep quiet. He says that he realized that his brother didn't believe, and deep down, his mother didn't either. He says he thought about it and "within an hour" he was an atheist.

Wow. Is this all it took?

The most important decision of his life. Made in an hour. At the ripe age of 8.

This has to be the most questionable "reason" for turning into an an atheist that I've ever heard. It's certainly the laziest. I couldn't help but think that I doubt Mr. Gervais has been this non-chalant in any other area of his life.

He's an award-winning comic and started one of the funniest TV shows ever. But would he have "given it all up" if his brother had asked him why he wanted to be a writer?

I can just see him, working on his first treatment of The Office in his college dorm room, when his brother Bob calls up:

Ricky: Hello?

Bob: Hey, Ric...whatcha doing?

Ricky: Not much, bro. Just finishing up a manuscript...

Bob: Why do you wanna be a writer, Ric?

Ricky: AAAAAAAAARRrRrrrrrrrrrggggghhhhh! That's IT! I quit!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously. Is this all it took? I have no idea if Mr. Gervais is in a long-term relationship, but let's just say he's been dating the girl of his dreams, when they have "The talk."

You know the one. The "Where is this relationship going?" talk.

Girl of Dreams: I had a great time tonight.

Ricky: So did I.

Girl of Dreams: Ricky...We need to talk about us...

Ricky: AAAAAAAAARRrRrrrrrrrrrggggghhhhh! That's IT! I quit!!!!!!!!!!!

I understand that people can face trials and tribulations that shake their faith to the core, or cause them to abandon it completely. An abusive spouse. The death of a loved one, or God forbid, the death of a child. Addicitions in all shapes and sizes. A horrible event like the holoucaust or 9/11. There are tons of burdens that I can't imagine bearing.

I also truly believe that it's not only ok to question God, but he wants us to do so. It's ok for us to have doubts and wrestle with God - not accepting what others tell us hook, line and sinker.

But frankly, I don't buy that either was the case in Mr. Gervais' conversion to atheism. Sounds like while he grew up working-class, he had a mom and dad that provided, and had him interested in faith. Then he bought into some peer pressure from his brother and just made a lazy, short-sighted decision. His brother wasn't doing it, so neither should he. At the age of 8, you're not really prepared to make those kind of long-term decisions, so I can see why his mom interveined.

The real problem I have is not that he made that choice then, but why would he still be ok with than now as a middle aged man?

He says in the article:"I no longer needed a reason for my existence, just a reason to live. And imagination, free will, love, humor, fun, music, sports, beer and pizza are all good enough reasons for living."

Huh?

Don't get me wrong: I LOVE all those things. (My wife might say the sports/beer/pizza thing a little TOO much.) but I don't think any or all those things are truly a "reason to live." I mean, have you ever seen someone's tombstone say "Here lies a true pizza lover..." or a person dies and they leave their estate to....beer?.

No, it's the humans that do those things, that create those things, that love and build those relationships that matter. So my question to Mr. Gervais is: where does THAT come from? All the things he listed as "reasons for living" are fun. I love them all myself. But I'd just like to ask Mr. Gervais, what happens when all the fun comes to an end? Which it will. There just has to be more to existence than sports scores, pizza or even really, really funny sit-coms.

A few other points from his essay spoke volumes. The fact that he included the description "fun-loving infidel" in the title and ended by saying "I hope I haven't offended anyone with this article. Okay, that's a lie." especially.

You haven't offended this Christian, Mr. Gervais. Just proven yourself to have given up way too easily. Your loss.

Normal Watches

Two off the coolest kids I know just started an awesome company: Normal Watches.

They are selling "designer watches for silly prices." As in less than $20! Their first line of 4 watches are out now, and they should have 15 designs by the end of the year. So now you can save money, make a stylish statement, and profess your love of "The Golden Girls" (don't deny!) Check 'em out, yo!

As for me, I'm rolling with the red tribute to the King of Pop. Because this IS thriller...

Psalm 118:24

"This is the day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24

This has always been one of my all-time favorite Psalms because it's so positive, grateful (and easy to remember). It always reminds me of the epic video P.O.D. did for "Alive" a few years back. The song/concept/execution on this video is simply beyond awesome. Enjoy + rejoice!

Psalm 19:1

"The heavens tell of the Glory of God."
Psalm 19: 1

I think of Psalm 19:1 as God's business card. Anyone can take a look at it to see what God can do.

Or rather look up. Or look all around. The heavens, the changing seasons, all that's delicate, intricate and breathtaking about this beautiful planet we live on has God's fingerprints all over it.

I think that's what has always bugged me when people say things like "I wish God would speak...like he did in the Old Testament." To that I suggest, maybe God IS speaking all the time. It's just that we aren't listening. Just because it isn't an audible "Voice of God" from the clouds doesn't mean he doesn't have a lot to say. Our challenge is learning to hear.

Take nature alone. Who hasn't hasn't been inspired by a beautiful sunrise or sunset? I live near the Smoky Mountains, so a drive through them in the fall when the leaves are changing is very much a spiritual journey. I've never been to the Grand Canyon, but my wife and I once took a morning train through the Swiss Alps. Un-be-lievable! The sheer enormity and beauty of that creation can still overpower me when I think about it. I've only seen a shooting star once. I was 12 and was spending the night with a friend. It was so surreal. It still puts a smile on my face to think of how awesome that was to see.

There are a billion other intricate details about this fantastic place we call home that to me are as awe-inspiring as they are mind-boggling.

Our globe's weight has been estimated at SIX SEXTILLION TONS! Yet, it is precisely tilted at 23 degrees. A degree or two the other way and bye-bye life on this planet. Our globe is constantly spinning at a rate of one-thousand miles per hour. Yet all of us remain grounded. Literally speaking, of course.

Every square yard of the Sun is constantly emitting the equivalent of 450 eight-cylinder automobile engines. At a distance of 93 million miles away from our earth. Yet, as powerful as our Sun is, it is but one minor star in the 100 BILLION orbs that make up our Milky Way Galaxy.

Everyone's favorite astro physicist, Stephen Hawking says that we live on "a minor planet of a very average star in the outer suburb of one of a hundred billion galaxies." In light of all that, maybe our day to day problems really aren't that big. But our God, who made it all, certainly is.

Do Anything Other than Nothing

I was reading the new issue of Relevant magazine yesterday (which, by the way if you haven't checked it out it is a MUST read!) when I came across a brilliant quote from the always brilliant musician Ben Harper.

Do Anything Other than Nothing.

He says that in this day and age, we often are told by others (or ourselves) that we have to do it all. We have to be it all. If we say no to some social event or to someone's request of our time, that we are somehow not measuring up.

It's a big, fat lie.

He adds that it's not like we have to do everything - but that doesn't excuse us from doing SOMETHING. It's so easy to feel overwhelmed by all that could be done that we freeze up and don't do a thing. So no matter how big the personal Everest is we're facing, let's do like Ben suggests and do something. It beats nothing.

We're Number 1!?!?!?!

Over the weekend I watched the UT Vols become the #1 team in the country. In basketball. Men's basketball.

What's that got to do with faith? Evidently, hell decided to freeze over the weekend, too.

As a lifelong hoops junkie and University of Tennessee fan, normally March is a time to talk about the football team's Spring Game, not be concerned with hardwood tournament seedings. I was too young to catch "The Ernie & Bernie" show, so for the most part, following UT hoops has been brutal. Sure, there have been some highlights, like Dale Ellis, Dyron Nix, Ron Slay and definitely Allan Houston, but for the most part UT men's basketball has been a vast wasteland of suckitude.

40 point beatdowns by Kentucky.

5-22 seasons.

JERRY "If you don't like it you can go shop at K-Mart" GREEN!?!?

All of this has been complicated by the fact that my father-in-law is a rabid Kentucky fan. So there has been no escaping the reality of how woeful our program has been. CBS Sport columinist, Clay Travis, has felt my pain and writes about it in a recent article. In it, he talks about how all the misery ended a few years ago when UT hired Bruce Pearl - who Travis says is now "the second most popular Jewish man in East Tennessee next to Jesus."

He may have a point. After witnessing UT beat an undefeated Memphis team on the road to become the #1 team in the country, Pearl if nothing else has resurrected a program that had been dead for years. And while I'm entirely prepared that Vandy may beat us Tuesday and make our reign at #1 a short one, it's a great time to celebrate being a Vol. Or as the Psalmist said:

"Let us sing to the Lord; Let us make a joyful noise...."
-Psalm 95:1

Amen!

Pray for Levi...

A friend of mine has adopted 5 children. While that's a blog post unto itself, I have a special favor to ask of you now. Please pray for his youngest child, Levi Brass.

Levi underwent heart surgery last week at Children's Hospital, and is now fighting through some very complicated side effects. The family is posting updates at www.levisheart.blogspot.com if you'd like to know more about the situation. Please pray for this brave little guy and his wonderful family for this incredible ordeal they are facing.

With gratitude,
lance