DISRUPTIONS
Peter Chao
About a century ago, the Austrian economist Joseph Alois Schumpeter identified “creative destruction” as the engine of economic growth. Specifically for him, the steam engine destroyed traditional business models and existing value chains.
The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted life as we know it. Disruption means that the future will be completely different from the past. It signals that we cannot project our experiences from the past into the future.
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus reminds us that change is the only constant in life. He explains, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” Consequently, we live with changing tides and seasons. But, constant and rapid changes in our lives will render us insecure and unstable. We are forced to savor the moment and anticipate the unknown.
However, we all want some measure of continuity when we think about the future. We hate disruptions, especially to our entrenched routines. We register our displeasure when a restaurant does not prepare food the way we have always enjoyed it. We complain about a procedure that disrupts our fixed routine. Every visit to my doctor treating my chronic medical condition raises the fear of disruption to my life. For the rigidly persnickety, the roof will be raised for a strand of hair that is out of place, a “t” that is not crossed, or an “i” not dotted! For such, their rhythm of life must remain “as it was in the beginning, is now and evermore shall be, world without end!” Small wonder the current pandemic creates immense uncertainty when our future is disrupted.
Yet, history reminds us that God is a great disrupter. The chronicler of the early church uses the wee word but to pull the brakes on the rush of current events to drift-slide in a new direction. To his disciples, lost and fearful after the crucifixion, Jesus said, But you will receive power…1 God interrupted the flow of anxiety to project a future of confidence.
In recounting events leading to the crucifixion, the apostle Peter declared to his audience on Pentecost… you with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him on the cross. But God raised him from the dead…2 Again, God interrupted to change the direction of history.
In narrating the seismic change to God’s redemption plan, the apostle Peter said to Cornelius …it is against our laws for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.3
Evidently, God has a habit of disrupting. He disrupts history, otherwise a humanity bent on self-destruction would have imploded. He disrupts expectations, else our well-being would have been severely threatened. He disrupts continuity, or we would have been besieged by a tsunami of dreadful consequences.
Disruptions from God are acts of His mercy and grace. But, that may not be obvious when disruptions occur. When our hopes are frustrated and our plans derailed, we are more likely to be disappointed if not totally disillusioned. Some of us may throw a tantrum like little children who are denied their desires.
The wiser response would be to consider and submit to God’s purposes. The Wisdom writer warns us, There is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end it leads to death.4 Our finite perceptions cannot foresee what is beyond the existential bend. We all navigate through life without the benefit of seeing the future. We figure out our next course of action based on projections from the past.
Where our finitude limits us, we have recourse to accept the invitation to trust our Creator: Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.5 God’s entreaty to trust Him is more than reasonable when we consider His perspective: I don’t think the way you think. The way you work is not the way I work. For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.6
Whenever our best plans are derailed, or our expectations disrupted, we have the option of looking above our shattered hopes to God, whose plans are always for our good.
To His people languishing in servile captivity, God looks to the future and assures, I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.7
Enough instances in human experience indicate that a dawn of new beginnings can only be realized with the disruption of old familiarity. It is always darkest before dawn.
——-
1 Acts 1:8
2 Acts 2:23-24
3 Acts 10:28
4 Proverbs 14:12
5 Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG
6 Isaiah 55:8-9 MSG
7 Jeremiah 29:11 MSG
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
From Ponderings to Praise
Ms Seah Jiak Choo kickstarted the Eagles Rendezvous Bible study series in 2021. She brought us to look at the book of Psalms from both literary and humanity perspectives.
“Jiak Choo’s treatment of Psalms is most intriguing to me. She brought out the beauty of Hebrew poetry. I enjoyed her session. Looking forward to the next one.” – Lim Hup Seng
The goal of this series is to stretch our minds, stir our hearts and draw us closer to God in praise – from ponderings to praise.
Watch the videos at www.eagles.org.sg/er and download the notes provided at the bottom of the page.
LEAD. COMMUNICATE. LEARN.
At Eagles, our mission is to share life and the experience of following Christ. We do that through value-based leadership programs, Gospel proclamation programs, Bible study series and spiritual formation retreats.
The pandemic in 2020 has cancelled all our in-person meetings, and we had to do ministries through video calls and video recordings.
So if you’ve missed any of the bible study programs, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a compilation of our Bible study series in 2020 – and more www.eagles.org.sg/media/Rend.html.
DISRUPTIONS
Peter Chao
About a century ago, the Austrian economist Joseph Alois Schumpeter identified “creative destruction” as the engine of economic growth. Specifically for him, the steam engine destroyed traditional business models and existing value chains.
The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted life as we know it. Disruption means that the future will be completely different from the past. It signals that we cannot project our experiences from the past into the future.
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus reminds us that change is the only constant in life. He explains, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” Consequently, we live with changing tides and seasons. But, constant and rapid changes in our lives will render us insecure and unstable. We are forced to savor the moment and anticipate the unknown.
However, we all want some measure of continuity when we think about the future. We hate disruptions, especially to our entrenched routines. We register our displeasure when a restaurant does not prepare food the way we have always enjoyed it. We complain about a procedure that disrupts our fixed routine. Every visit to my doctor treating my chronic medical condition raises the fear of disruption to my life. For the rigidly persnickety, the roof will be raised for a strand of hair that is out of place, a “t” that is not crossed, or an “i” not dotted! For such, their rhythm of life must remain “as it was in the beginning, is now and evermore shall be, world without end!” Small wonder the current pandemic creates immense uncertainty when our future is disrupted.
Yet, history reminds us that God is a great disrupter. The chronicler of the early church uses the wee word but to pull the brakes on the rush of current events to drift-slide in a new direction. To his disciples, lost and fearful after the crucifixion, Jesus said, But you will receive power…1 God interrupted the flow of anxiety to project a future of confidence.
In recounting events leading to the crucifixion, the apostle Peter declared to his audience on Pentecost… you with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him on the cross. But God raised him from the dead…2 Again, God interrupted to change the direction of history.
In narrating the seismic change to God’s redemption plan, the apostle Peter said to Cornelius …it is against our laws for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.3
Evidently, God has a habit of disrupting. He disrupts history, otherwise a humanity bent on self-destruction would have imploded. He disrupts expectations, else our well-being would have been severely threatened. He disrupts continuity, or we would have been besieged by a tsunami of dreadful consequences.
Disruptions from God are acts of His mercy and grace. But, that may not be obvious when disruptions occur. When our hopes are frustrated and our plans derailed, we are more likely to be disappointed if not totally disillusioned. Some of us may throw a tantrum like little children who are denied their desires.
The wiser response would be to consider and submit to God’s purposes. The Wisdom writer warns us, There is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end it leads to death.4 Our finite perceptions cannot foresee what is beyond the existential bend. We all navigate through life without the benefit of seeing the future. We figure out our next course of action based on projections from the past.
Where our finitude limits us, we have recourse to accept the invitation to trust our Creator: Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.5 God’s entreaty to trust Him is more than reasonable when we consider His perspective: I don’t think the way you think. The way you work is not the way I work. For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.6
Whenever our best plans are derailed, or our expectations disrupted, we have the option of looking above our shattered hopes to God, whose plans are always for our good.
To His people languishing in servile captivity, God looks to the future and assures, I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.7
Enough instances in human experience indicate that a dawn of new beginnings can only be realized with the disruption of old familiarity. It is always darkest before dawn.
——-
1 Acts 1:8
2 Acts 2:23-24
3 Acts 10:28
4 Proverbs 14:12
5 Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG
6 Isaiah 55:8-9 MSG
7 Jeremiah 29:11 MSG
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
From Ponderings to Praise Ms Seah Jiak Choo kickstarted the Eagles Rendezvous Bible study series in 2021. She brought us to look at the book of Psalms from both literary and humanity perspectives. “Jiak Choo’s treatment of Psalms is most intriguing to me. She brought out the beauty of Hebrew poetry. I enjoyed her session. Looking forward to the next one.” – Lim Hup Seng The goal of this series is to stretch our minds, stir our hearts and draw us closer to God in praise – from ponderings to praise. Watch the videos at www.eagles.org.sg/er and download the notes provided at the bottom of the page.
LEAD. COMMUNICATE. LEARN.
At Eagles, our mission is to share life and the experience of following Christ. We do that through value-based leadership programs, Gospel proclamation programs, Bible study series and spiritual formation retreats. The pandemic in 2020 has cancelled all our in-person meetings, and we had to do ministries through video calls and video recordings. So if you’ve missed any of the bible study programs, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a compilation of our Bible study series in 2020 – and more www.eagles.org.sg/media/Rend.html.