Peace on Earth?

"I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself."    George Frideric Handel, after writing "Hallelujah Chorus"

Have you noticed tension and tragedy in the national and world news?

George Friderick Handel (1685-1759), composed
Messiah in only 24 days. During that time he rarely
ate or left his room.

This Christmas and beyond we desperately need a compelling vision of something larger than us and our differences, that puts our problems into perspective. Handel caught a glimpse of such a vision as he wrote his musical masterpiece "Messiah". The vision was so overwhelming that, according to a friend who visited during that time, Handel sobbed with intense emotion as he composed it. Later, as Handel groped for words to describe his experience, he quoted St. Paul, saying, "Whether I was in the body or out of my body when I wrote it I know not. God knows". (1, 2)

Oh that we would be overcome by the beauty and power of that vision.

Grasping the Vision
The lengthy vision embodies a love story of powerful intervention into the sufferings of humanity, the eventual destruction of death and evil, and the renewal of all things.

Specifically, it is a journey through many prophesies about the Messiah (Jesus Christ), His birth, sufferings, death, and resurrection, and His promised return to wipe away sorrow, destroy death, and make all things new. (3)

It is a vision about love, mercy, forgiveness, and redemption, encompassing the incomprehensible sacrifice and sufferings of Christ to intervene for all who accept His payment on their behalf. (4) 'He came to pay a debt he didn't owe, because we owed a debt we couldn't pay.'  His work gives us great hope and joy even in the midst of pain. It reinstates our place in His Kingdom, now and forever.

The vision is also about justice, judgement and vengeance. ' king of kings and lord of lords', a prominent line in 'Hallelujah Chorus', is from Revelation amidst a description of Christ and his armies destroying the forces of evil. (5)

At first, that may not sound like peace. But think of it. All the murder, rape, theft, and injustice of history, and even death itself and the enemy behind it all will be judged, avenged and destroyed.

Jesus warned things will get worse before they get better. (6) This Lord of the Rings video gives a glimpse of what that day may look like.

We need this vision. It is much larger and more powerful than any troubling headline of our day. 

Peace on Earth?
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." So the angels declared as they announced the birth of Christ that first Christmas night many years ago. (7) Dare we believe it?

I believe we can. The book of Revelation in the New Testament proclaims that countless people from every nation will praise God, (8)  and that the "the leaves of the 'tree of life' will be for the healing of the nations." (9)

The nations at peace. No more death or mourning or crying or pain. All things made new. All injustices undone and made right. 

That's something to hope for.

Hallelujah Chorus!
Andres Rieu directed the choir in the video below, telling his audience "no matter what last year brought to you, I know of no music that brings more joy and more hope than this song". The optics of his choir are powerful too, an illustration of the nations praising God.

As you listen, ponder the vision Handel and others have experienced. 
 
May you experience the King of Kings this Christmas season and for all eternity!

HANDEL - Messiah (Johann Strauss Orchestra and Harlem Gospel Choir) from Joe Orgill plus joe.orgill.slcc on Vimeo.

From Andre Rieu's "Live From Radio City Music Hall" in New York City 2004.

Hallalujah Chorus Lyrics
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah!
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah!

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah!

The kingdom of this world is become
The kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ!
And he shall reign for ever and ever!

King of kings and Lord of lords!
King of kings and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever!
Forever and ever!

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

1. https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/messiah-and-george-frideric-handel-11630237.html

http://www.gfhandel.org/handel/anecdotes.html

2. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

3. For a list of verses in Messiah, see website: http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/messiah.htm

4. Without the intervention of Christ, no one could stand in the presence of God and live, for we are imperfect and sinful. Isaiah understood this when, in a vision similar to that in Revelation, he cried "“Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and...my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5) See also Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:13.

5. 'I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war...He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:  king of kings and lord of lords.'  Revelation 19:11-16

6. Matthew 24:3-9

7. Luke 2:14

8. "...there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:"
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”  Revelation 7:9-10

9. Revelation 22:1-2

Scotland, Freedom, and Turfgrass

"Go back to England and tell them...Scotland is free."  William Wallace

My wife and I recently visited Scotland and England. Here are a few photos and thoughts from our journey... 

Edinburgh Castle, an imposing sight from the streets of the city.

Statue of William Wallace, flanking one side of the entrance gate to
Edinburgh Castle along with Robert the Bruce on the other (not shown here, but
can be seen at a distance in the picture immediately below).

Scotland and Freedom


It seemed impossible not to think about freedom and liberty during our visit to Scotland. At Edinburgh Castle there are statues of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce flanking the entrance to the castle. Both are national heroes of Scotland because of their leadership in the fight against English tyranny in the 1200's and 1300's AD. William Wallace, you may recall, was portrayed in the movie Braveheart, who paid the ultimate price by being brutally executed at the hands of the English. 

(more thoughts below)

My wife Jannis standing before the arched entrance of Edinburgh Castle. Statues of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce
can be seen on either side of the archway entrance to the castle.

View of the city of Edinburgh from Edinburgh Castle.

Freedom and Tyranny Have Many Dimensions
We also visited the Wallace Monument near Stirling, Scotland, where we had an interesting discussion with a man from San Francisco. We were visiting with him about travel, life, and work when he made a curious statement, mostly in regards to work. "As long as we are okay with it in here", he said pointing towards his heart. Somehow his words transcended the moment, notably because we were at a monument dedicated to freedom. His statement caused me to pause and reflect...

Am I at peace in my heart about how I spend my days? My work? None of us are getting any younger, and if we aren't passionate about what we do, if we are afraid to do the things we are called or made to do, which may require risk, then I believe we can live under a sort of self-imposed tyranny and not really free; not really living. Perhaps that is what led William Wallace to say:

"Every man dies, not every man really lives"     

And the Psalmist to write: 

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" Psalm 90:12

Are you passionate about your work and life? How do you handle fear and risk?

The view west from Abbey Craig, the site of the Wallace Monument, towards the city of Stirling, Stirling castle, and the
site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge (see below for details). Courage and risk in the face of fear was required by the Scots
who fought against the odds in this battle to gain freedom for their people.

The Universal Yearning for Freedom
As an American, these topics of liberty and freedom in Scotland resonated with me. I love this excerpt from our Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"
                                                                                       
 Interestingly, I found the following quote in my passport, which seemed to parallel the themes discussed herein:

"It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win." John Paul Jones, naval commander, Revolutionary War.

Risk is scary, because we stand to lose something. There were Scots in Wallace's day who would not fight because they feared losing their land, possessions, or lives. Wallace risked it all and paid with his life, but he also inspired a nation and his legacy endures to this day. He was a man who "really lived".

Risk for you and I may not mean facing a physical battlefield, but perhaps stepping out of our comfort zone and into the unknown. It could be starting a new business or job, going back to college, pursuing your dreams, pursuing happiness.

Jannis by Hadrian's Wall at Birdoswald Roman Fort, UK. The wall was built by Emperor Hadrian in 122 AD,
who apparently decided it was better to try to keep the Scots out of the Roman Empire than fight them! The
Scots enjoyed their freedom, even 2000 years ago!

Spiritual Freedom and Tyranny
 How did Wallace develop his deep convictions about freedom? I believe they came at least in part from his Christian faith in the Creator who endows these Rights. Wallace was educated by his uncle, the priest of Dunipace. In his studies he undoubtedly was influenced by the Bible, in which freedom is a common theme. Does that surprise you? For example:

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  
                                                                                               Jesus Christ (John 8:32)

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" 
Apostle Paul (Galatians 5:1)

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there the heart is free"
Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 3:17)

[Christ] "stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets."  [Therefore], "because of [the] Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do...it is what God is doing...Apostle Paul (Colossians 2:15; Galatians 6:15, The MSG)

Why should I fear if God calls me into the unknown, to follow the dreams in my heart, dreams that were placed there by Him? Where failure seems possible and the price could be high? Why am I too often paralyzed by what others think about me? Clearly there is more to unpack here than there is space in this post, such as how to discern what God may truly be calling you and me to do in our lives. Though I still sometimes fear, I also know the Lord is near, and I'm both challenged and encouraged by my faith.

St. Margaret was an English Princess, a Scottish Queen, and a pious Christian
who undoubtedly knew about the freedom taught in the Bible. This stained glass
panel is in St. Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh's oldest existing building (it is located
in Edinburgh castle), probably built in the early 12th Century.

Turfgrass
So what does all of this have to do with turfgrass (as indicated in the title of this post)? Well, as my turfgrass colleagues know, golf originated in Scotland. And Jannis and I were fortunate enough to visit the Old Course at St. Andrews, which is the oldest golf course still in existence today.

Me at the Old Course!

Jannis and I at the Swilkan Bridge, between the 1st and 18th fairways at the Old Course.

Actually, the main reason we were in the UK was to attend the European Turfgrass Society Conference. There were many excellent presentations by turfgrass scientists from around Europe and also the US. Thanks to Drs. Stewart Brown, Claudia de Bertoldi, and Bernd Leinauer for organizing and coordinating this event! Thanks also to the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) for partially funding my research presented at, and my travel to the conference.

You can tell this is a bunch of turfgrass enthusiasts since they are down inspecting the turf, here at Manchester City Stadium!

Attendees of the European Turfgrass Society conference at Campey Turf Care Systems Headquarters, near Manchester.

Dr. Christian Spring, research operations manager at the STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) at Bingley, UK, explaining
their research plots.

Below is a video and a few other photos from our visit to Scotland. The video was taken outside the gates of Hollyrood Palace in Edinburgh, where we happened to stumble across the Royal Regiment of Scotland. They were entering the grounds to honor the Queen, who was in residence while we were there. It was amazing!

The sun sets late this far north; sunset after 10 pm and sunrise at 4:30 am. Twilight never stops. This is Portobello
Beach, near Portobello, a coastal suburb of Edinburgh.

Ruins of the 12th century St. Andrews Cathedral, once the largest cathedral in Scotland. St Rule's tower is the tall structure
to the right, which predates the cathedral. Visitors can climb the stairs for a great view of St. Andrews and surroundings.

West Sands Beach, beside St. Andrews Golf Course, stretches for almost 2 miles. This where a famous scene from the movie
"Chariots of Fire" was filmed, where Olympian Eric Liddell ran along the beach. Eric was a devout Christian who said
"when I run, I feel His (God's) pleasure". I could almost hear the theme song from the movie "run" through my mind as we
strolled the beach. It is beautiful!

The Scottish countryside is beautiful. This is in the lowlands, southwest of Edinburgh.

Broomhall Castle, at Menstrie, which is near Stirling, Scotland. We stayed for one night. It was a fun experience!

We flew via Icelandair, landing at Keflavik, Iceland, on our way to and from the UK. This was the view out the window as
we were descending to land in Iceland.

Finally, this is northeastern Canada, with ice floating offshore in the ocean (left). We also flew over Greenland, which
had many snow-covered peaks, too. I think it would be fun to visit some of these remote places someday!