836AFC 090508
When I was in the eighth grade, I had to take some “shop” classes. I was not very handy with tools and my shop projects were usually pretty shabby. I did learn a lot about tools and using tools way back then, but I’m still no prize-winner when it comes to building things and making things. I find it interesting, though, that I can remember some of the details of what was taught back in 1959. One of the things I can remember building was a small, hand-wound, step-up transformer. The image you see above is a transformer. It is the kind that is found in gas-discharge lighting – fluorescent lights and neon lights for example. The image comes from an on-line electrician’s course at http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/electricCircuits/AC/AC_9.html
Transformers are pretty amazing things. If you try reading the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer you’ll get a lot of really technical information, mathematical formulas, the information about Faraday and electric induction theory. Great stuff. Hard to read and understand, but great stuff. Way more than I needed to know to make my little shop project, that’s for sure.
To make the transformer we took a piece of flat iron bar and bent it into a square, then we wrapped a whole bunch of varnish-coated, really thin copper wire around one side. Next we wrapped an even BIGGER bunch of the same wire on the other side. Finally we attached a 6 Volt dry cell battery to the input side and a Voltmeter to the output side. The voltage coming out the output side was higher than the voltage going in; hence, the voltage was “transformed” by something called mutual induction. So what?
So, that’s an electrical transformer. I used to have a nice one on my Lionel train set, and it also had a rheostat (don’t even bother to look that one up!). Cracking the lever to the right made the train go faster. So, transformers take an input and step it up or down so that the output is different from the input.
“Transform” is also a word that is synonymous with the kinds of change we call metamorphosis, and that’s what got me thinking about transformers. One of my very favorite Bible passages is Romans 12: 1-2 : 12:1 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” The word Paul used there was μεταμφοώ metamorpho’o {met-am-or-fo’-o} to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure. He’s talking about changing our bodies from vessels of carnality to offerings of service to God. I used to think Paul used the work Metanoia there (that one you should look up), but he did not. So when I heard that passage in last Sunday’s readings, my mind locked onto the idea of transformer, transformation, transforming – not the silly toys or goofy movie about machine changing into “living” things – and about the whole mutual induction thing.
This could go on for pages and pages, but let me just shorten it all up by saying that it dawned on me that Christ is part of my transformer, my transformation, my transforming. How well a transformer works depends on the content of the core, the number of windings on each side of the core, how tightly the windings are wound, how much current is on the input side, and a whole bunch of other things that also apply to living The Transformed Life.
So, beloved, how tightly are you wound? And are you a step-up or step-down transformer. Christ is the input. How much resistance do you put in the inbound current? Is your core solid so that the current of the Gospel eddies around and leaks away, or is your core laminated – made of hundreds of faith experiences – so that nothing is lost as the power of Christ’s love courses through you and into the output junction to which you’re attached? Are you transformed? Are you transforming others?
So, think about that for me, will you? And while you’re at it, take a look at this:
Back in the 1840’s there was a rancher named Sam Maverick. He was infamous for not branding his cattle – something which everyone else did as a way to protect the community from rustlers and other disruptions to the community. Eventually the word Maverick was used to describe unbranded cattle – particularly calves – and later became synonymous with someone who did not follow the herd-instinct, someone who didn’t stick to the community norm, a bit of a rebel but a responsible rebel. A maverick is someone who exhibits a lot of independence in thought, word, and deed. In Sam’s day, the first person who could catch an unbranded calf and put his own brand on it got to keep the calf. Nowadays the connotation is that a Maverick can’t be branded because it can’t be caught. Living as a Maverick means living independently outside the community norm. A Maverick does not necessarily represent a deviant or a law-breaker; it is only someone who is well-known for being consistently independent. Just thought I’d throw that little piece of feedback in there. (Remember, feedback is nonjudgmental information given for the purpose of facilitating change.)
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service.
Aloha nui loa.
Chick
Oh dear! I almost forgot! Living with Jesus is another form of mutual induction – very transforming indeed! See http://www.gcse.com/gcse_science_physics_past_paper_j03_2.htm 
836AFC 090508
When I was in the eighth grade, I had to take some “shop” classes. I was not very handy with tools and my shop projects were usually pretty shabby. I did learn a lot about tools and using tools way back then, but I’m still no prize-winner when it comes to building things and making things. I find it interesting, though, that I can remember some of the details of what was taught back in 1959. One of the things I can remember building was a small, hand-wound, step-up transformer. The image you see above is a transformer. It is the kind that is found in gas-discharge lighting – fluorescent lights and neon lights for example. The image comes from an on-line electrician’s course at http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/electricCircuits/AC/AC_9.html
Transformers are pretty amazing things. If you try reading the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer you’ll get a lot of really technical information, mathematical formulas, the information about Faraday and electric induction theory. Great stuff. Hard to read and understand, but great stuff. Way more than I needed to know to make my little shop project, that’s for sure.
To make the transformer we took a piece of flat iron bar and bent it into a square, then we wrapped a whole bunch of varnish-coated, really thin copper wire around one side. Next we wrapped an even BIGGER bunch of the same wire on the other side. Finally we attached a 6 Volt dry cell battery to the input side and a Voltmeter to the output side. The voltage coming out the output side was higher than the voltage going in; hence, the voltage was “transformed” by something called mutual induction. So what?
So, that’s an electrical transformer. I used to have a nice one on my Lionel train set, and it also had a rheostat (don’t even bother to look that one up!). Cracking the lever to the right made the train go faster. So, transformers take an input and step it up or down so that the output is different from the input.
“Transform” is also a word that is synonymous with the kinds of change we call metamorphosis, and that’s what got me thinking about transformers. One of my very favorite Bible passages is Romans 12: 1-2 : 12:1 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” The word Paul used there was μεταμφοώ metamorpho’o {met-am-or-fo’-o} to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure. He’s talking about changing our bodies from vessels of carnality to offerings of service to God. I used to think Paul used the work Metanoia there (that one you should look up), but he did not. So when I heard that passage in last Sunday’s readings, my mind locked onto the idea of transformer, transformation, transforming – not the silly toys or goofy movie about machine changing into “living” things – and about the whole mutual induction thing.
This could go on for pages and pages, but let me just shorten it all up by saying that it dawned on me that Christ is part of my transformer, my transformation, my transforming. How well a transformer works depends on the content of the core, the number of windings on each side of the core, how tightly the windings are wound, how much current is on the input side, and a whole bunch of other things that also apply to living The Transformed Life.
So, beloved, how tightly are you wound? And are you a step-up or step-down transformer. Christ is the input. How much resistance do you put in the inbound current? Is your core solid so that the current of the Gospel eddies around and leaks away, or is your core laminated – made of hundreds of faith experiences – so that nothing is lost as the power of Christ’s love courses through you and into the output junction to which you’re attached? Are you transformed? Are you transforming others?
So, think about that for me, will you? And while you’re at it, take a look at this:
Back in the 1840’s there was a rancher named Sam Maverick. He was infamous for not branding his cattle – something which everyone else did as a way to protect the community from rustlers and other disruptions to the community. Eventually the word Maverick was used to describe unbranded cattle – particularly calves – and later became synonymous with someone who did not follow the herd-instinct, someone who didn’t stick to the community norm, a bit of a rebel but a responsible rebel. A maverick is someone who exhibits a lot of independence in thought, word, and deed. In Sam’s day, the first person who could catch an unbranded calf and put his own brand on it got to keep the calf. Nowadays the connotation is that a Maverick can’t be branded because it can’t be caught. Living as a Maverick means living independently outside the community norm. A Maverick does not necessarily represent a deviant or a law-breaker; it is only someone who is well-known for being consistently independent. Just thought I’d throw that little piece of feedback in there. (Remember, feedback is nonjudgmental information given for the purpose of facilitating change.)
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service.
Aloha nui loa.
Chick
Oh dear! I almost forgot! Living with Jesus is another form of mutual induction – very transforming indeed! See http://www.gcse.com/gcse_science_physics_past_paper_j03_2.htm
About Chick Todd
American Roman Catholic reared as a "Baptiterian" in Denver Colorado. Now living on Kauaʻi. USAF Vet. Married for over 50 years. Scripture study has been my passion ever since my first "Bible talk" at age 6 in VBS.
