Little Things

Russ Carlson,
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
University of Georgia

[Nov 29, 2009] —

Luke 19: 17 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’”

I am quite sure that I do not want to have authority (or responsibility) over ten cities!  However, I do know that more than anything I want to hear the Lord say to me, “Well done, good servant.”

Three Things

It is very encouraging to know that I can please the Lord by being faithful in   –   little things.  As a faculty member at the University of Georgia and part of our Christian Faculty Forum (CFF), I’ve become aware of a number of things to do for the Lord over the years.  Here are three that I have done:

• I identify myself as a Christian to my students.
• I have written my personal story. This has been placed on the  Christian Faculty Fellowship website (www.uga.edu/cff) as well as on my own website.
• I’ve also given permission for my name to be included in the ads sponsored by our CFF in the University newspaper (The Red & Black) which identify Christian faculty members and encourage students to consider the claims of Christ.

I’ve read a number of my colleague’s personal stories and they are very compelling.  Frankly, I never considered my personal story to be very compelling.  In fact, it seemed a bit dull to me and I didn’t think that placing it on my website would matter very much.  Nevertheless, as the passage from Luke says, God instructed me to be faithful in very little so I did it, and have been encouraged by the responses.  The following is an email I received last year in response to the newspaper ad:

“Dr. Carlson,

“I read your profile and it EXACTLY matched what my life has been like so far. I am going through the same experiences with doubts about God. There are so many questions that I can’t answer and so many people say that they have proof that God doesn’t exist.

“Plus, I am currently taking a Religion class and that has caused me to doubt very seriously as well. I am so worried and confused. I was wondering if you could answer some questions since you went through the same things that I am going through now?
Thanks so much for posting your testimony online, Morgan”

I replied to her email and arranged to talk with her in person.  Morgan was searching for answers.  At this point, my wife, Cheryl, and I were able to help. We began to meet with Morgan each week to go through C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity and have had some very good discussions.  Later, even though she had prayed as a child, she wanted to be sure of her commitment to Christ, so she recommitted her life to Jesus Christ.

She Related To My Story

Morgan was not a student in my class, but found the personal story that related to her life.  She read the CFF advertisement in the student newspaper (The Red & Black), saw my name among nearly 100 others, and began reading the personal stories.

I was amazed that these little things I had agreed to do had this much impact in the life of one student.  It really brought home to me the important lesson from the Lord’s words that “being faithful in the very little” allowed Him to speak to Morgan’s heart; a much, much bigger thing! As this year ends and 2010 arrives, I will be looking for more “little things” that I can do for the Lord.

© 2009 Russ Carlson

This World Has Nothing For Me

Phillip A. Bishop
Exercise Physiology,
University of Alabama

[Nov 22, 2009] —

We sang a song in church recently with the words, “This world has nothing for me.”  I thought, “They must be kidding!  This world has lots for me.”

I’ve spent all these years in school, and thousands of hours studying so that I could squeeze as much out of this world as possible.  And squeeze I have.

I worked my way through school.  I put in lots of hard hours.  What the world has given me, I have earned.  After all, I was smart enough to be born in a free country.  I chose my parents wisely enough to inherit enough basic intelligence.  I was skilled enough to be in the right place at the right time.

I Want More

I have a doctoral degree, a great job, nice students, a wonderful family, and a house in a nice neighborhood.  I have just been nominated for a prestigious (well-deserved, in my opinion) professional award.  A student and I are in the final stage of negotiating a research contract with an international corporation.  I get to travel lots of places on other people’s money.

Sure, this world has plenty for me.  And I want more.

I’m not greedy, understand.  Well, maybe I am a little greedy, but I deserve it.

God intended for me to be happy…. I think Scripture says that somewhere.  God surely must have wanted me to have all this stuff.

Of course I have to keep working hard to hold onto this stuff.  I have payments due, you know.  And I certainly don’t want to jeopardize my job.  That puts food on the table so that I can go to church on Sunday.  That’s what God wants, right?

And I am extremely busy.  After all, I teach two classes a term!  I am so busy that I can’t be expected to meet with other Christians on campus, and I sure don’t have time or energy to minister on campus.  That’s why there are professional campus ministers, right?

My Reputation

Plus in our academic culture, Christianity is definitely uncool.  Religion is superstition, many of my colleagues say, and I don’t want to upset them. I sure don’t want to be known as a Christian. That could hurt my reputation.

I’m a helper, too. Just the other day, I helped out a colleague by pointing out that an award he had won  was just due to luck, and the vote had been really close until I cast the deciding vote for him.  Got to help them stay humble right?

….I hate to admit that I actually do think some of these things from time to time, but God sets me straight. Sometimes God corrects me through sermons, sometimes through the authority of Scripture, sometimes through Christian colleagues.  I’m just glad He hasn’t lost interest in me.

He has given me all that I have. Everything.

Happy (acts of) Thanksgiving!
© Phillip A. Bishop

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