"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." – Colossians 3:14
You show up to a social gathering you don’t know very many people at. You were invited by a close friend. You find your friend and he introduces you to someone you have never met. After exchanging names, the stranger asks, “So, what do you do?”
We are all familiar with the question, “Why can’t things be like they were in the good old days?” When we ask ourselves that question, we are conjuring up some good memories. Whether it be a hot cocoa on a cold winter day, or gathering around the grill with a group of friends during the summer, those are the types of memories that sometimes lead to that question. Continue reading “Rear View Living”
You don’t have what it takes.
What is your reaction to that above statement? Does it make you angry? Do you feel resistant? Do you want to prove it wrong? Does it deflate you into resignation? Continue reading “Who Do You Trust?”
I just saw Batman v Superman with my wife and a couple of friends this weekend. Firstly, I would recommend that people who are interested in the movie go see it and judge for themselves what they think of it. My wife and I loved it. Caveat – it is not a movie for the kiddos. Seeing your two favorite heroes duke it out and have intense internal conflict just doesn’t jive well with 5-7 year olds.
The one thing about the movie that has made me sort of uncomfortable (only very light spoilers here) is the in your face treatment of Superman being an almost allegory for Jesus. It wasn’t hidden in Man of Steel, and they pretty much beat you in the face with the symbolism in this movie. However, Jesus exists in this universe as well.
There is a difference, though. Superman can save people from violent situations, but Supes can’t save their souls. Superman can be a symbol of hope, but his saving grace stops right there. There is no restoration of relationship between God and man through Kal-El, because even though he may be symbolic for Jesus, he is not Jesus. So, the salvation that Superman offers is purely external, and he makes some pretty big mistakes in the story.
This shows us the biggest difference between Superman and Jesus, at least in this adaptation. Superman has an identity crisis. He is an alien who wants to be human. He doesn’t want the responsibility of a god. He doesn’t want people to worship him, because he is not God. Seeking wisdom in a church in Man of Steel, this version of Clark Kent seems to have been raised among very Christian ideals. So he would seemingly know the dangers of presenting himself as a false savior.
However, he also knows that he has a purpose. He feels a responsibility to help others with his powers. This is what everyone should do, we should feel a responsibility to help and serve others with what God has given us. In this way, Superman is a great symbol of Christ-like behavior.
There is only one Savior, though, worthy of true worship. That is Jesus. On Easter Sunday, we can recognize that Jesus may not solve our outward situations. However, He will give us peace in the midst of chaos. He will lead us to joy in the dark places. He will change our hearts and our lives. All things work for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.
It has been awhile since I have been a part of the blogging world. I intentionally withdrew, so that I could spend time brainstorming ideas for a book. That process isn’t done yet, as I am still working through chapter titles and topics, but I have returned to write.
When it comes to writing, spitballing is important for me. I have to get all my ideas out on paper before I can refine them. I realize that some of the things I write during this time are bad…really bad. And that is okay.
Through the creative process, there is a sinister voice that whispers accusations. They are true. I’m not a pastor, councilor, or biblical scholar. The amount of time I put into research of my blog posts tend to be pretty minimal. And that can be a problem.
However, that sinister voice can’t be paralyzing. If it is, it wins. It’s the voice of self-doubt that creeps in to keep me standing still. I can’t write without being an expert. Unless I have a PhD, I have nothing to offer.
This is a lie. All too often, I believe it. If I let it, it keeps me from moving and from putting into the world whatever gifts God has given me.
God has given us something to share. He has blessed us with gifts, not to horde for ourselves in self-doubt and self-protection. He’s given us gifts to share with others and to bless others. He has given us talents to invest. If you are like me, my doubt and my fear tempts me to bury them. That’s selfish, and in the end incredibly unfulfilling. We are all created for a purpose, each one unique.
And yet, when we take that step of faith, as scary as it is, we fit in a larger community. We fit in the Church. Like a puzzle with distinct pieces, we fit together to create a much larger picture.
Paul wrote to Timothy about the benefit of training for godliness. It has “value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:8.
It is with this in mind that I come to this in Brennan Manning’s Ragamuffin Gospel –
“The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ does not rise and fall on the issues of corrupt clergy, the exploitation of the poor, the stinginess of multinationals, or the irrational fanaticism of modern dictatorships. It deserves to be accepted or rejected for what it is: an answer to the most fundamental questions a person may ask: Is life absurd or does it have a purpose? Jesus replies that not only do our lives have purpose but God has directly intervened in human affairs to make abundantly clear what that purpose is. What is the nature of Ultimate Reality? Jesus responds that the Really Real is generous, forgiving, saving love. In the end, will life triumph over death? With unshaken confidence Jesus answers, The kingdom of My Father cannot be overcome, even by death. In the end everything will be all right. Nothing can harm you permanently; no loss is lasting, no defeat more than transitory, no disappointment is conclusive. Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement, and death will be part of your journey, but the kingdom of God will conquer all these horrors. No evil can resist grace forever.”
At our core, if we are becoming who we are made to be, then we are moving further into the mystery of God’s unconditional love. No one can train for godliness without God.
May we learn how to rest and trust in His love, not our own efforts.
I like technology. I love keeping up with all things tech. I use Android, but I like to keep up with Apple and Microsoft news as well. I think the innovations that companies make are absolutely amazing, and I enjoy watching press conferences. I think it is pretty cool that we live in a world where that even the general public can view press conferences live through YouTube.
However, there is a problem. My interest in technology can very easily become an idol. As the next big thing releases, sometimes something stirs inside of me. It is the desire for the next big thing (as Samsung likes to call it), whether it be the next tablet, computer, phone, or even smart watch (FYI – I am not a fan of Apple’s grossly expensive Apple Watch, but that is not what this post is about). These things are cool to read, watch, and listen to news about. However, when money plops down on the table, the shinyness only lasts until the next thing is announced.
The tendency to spend on things that we don’t need is not a unique problem. It is pretty rampant in Western culture. We live in a culture of excess. Why? What compels us to look for the next thing?
We are all trying to fill a hole in our lives. An addiction to consumerism could be spurred on by something much deeper. Why did I buy a smart watch? Was it because it adds utility to my life, or was it because I wanted people to give me attention? To be honest, some people might get stuff to garner attention from others. Other people might just be straight up addicted to new stuff. Both of these things are a form of idolatry.
So where does God fit in? Is it okay to be interested in technology, movies, or sports? Of course! However, things get crazy when interests become obsessions. When interests become obsessions, that is when we find that what we once just did out of enjoyment has become a god in our lives. When the new stuff controls our spending habits and sends us into a whirlwind of debt, then we have to ask ourselves if we have become a slave to our own interests.
This was a hard lesson for me to learn. However, when we can start to recognize when our affections are drawing away from what really matters (God, family, friends, etc), then we can redirect our affections. It may seem forced at first, but when we put in the effort to redirect our affections away from the trivial to the eternal, then we will see lasting joy begin to bloom in our lives.
musingsonlife 