CREEDE HINSHAW: Angelic songs and devilish deals

While various countdown clocks ominously warn how few shopping days remain before Christmas, here are some other numbers to ponder:

99: The percent of his fortune that Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg announced he and his wife will give to charity by sale of their Facebook stock. (New York Times, Dec. 1, 2015). This amounts to at least $45 billion or more, depending on whether the stock rises. Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all and give to the poor, but perhaps 99 percent falls into the margin of error.

1: The percentage of the Zuckerberg fortune remaining for their new daughter, Max. Trying hard to remember my 7th grade calculating skill, I think that baby Max’s 1 percent will end up somewhere in the neighborhood of $450 million. Certainly a comfortable amount for her to eventually share, too.

31: No, this is not Baskin Robbins ice cream flavors. It is the number of U.S. governors, 30 of whom are Republican, who have barred Syrian refugees from entering their states. (Multiple sources) Georgia’s Gov. Nathan Deal is a member of this shameful group.

80: Percentage of refugees fleeing from Syria who are women and children. (International Rescue Committee, www.rescue.org) Over 3 million Syrians have fled their nation as a result of a cruel, vicious civil war. Of this number, the U.S. has received some 10,000 people cleared by a very thorough vetting process involving the cooperation of both government and nonprofit agencies. The heart of Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions involves hospitality towards the stranger.

8: Days that a one-day supply of sacred oil miraculously burned in the restoration of the Jerusalem Temple in 167 BCE. Jews now celebrate this holiday as Hanukkah, which begins on sunset Sunday and concludes on sunset Dec. 14. Though not a major Jewish holiday, it celebrates God’s generous hand and miraculous power. The oppressor in that day was the cruel Syrian Antiochus.

9.6: Average number of victories that UGA head football coach Mark Richt had each year for 15 years until he was fired late last month. Richt, his detractors said, couldn’t win the big ones often enough. Some people will never be satisfied. Richt will be remembered for his winsome Christian faith.

666: UGA’s next coach, whoever he may be, will have a rabid fan base to satisfy. Diehard UGA football fans will clamor for the new coach, if necessary, to make a deal with the devil to win a national championship.

3: Number of Sundays remaining between now and Christmas. The month of December is a fabulous month to have perfect attendance in church. Choirs will present sacred music, congregations will sing Christmas carols, sanctuaries will be decorated and angels will again be heard announcing “peace on Earth and goodwill to all.”

Email columnist Creede Hinshaw at [email protected].