Are You on the Right Track?

Psychologists and psychiatrists use a variety of methods to delve into what makes us choose one decision over another. They help us to understand why we take unnecessary risks, why we refuse to follow the herd, and why we refuse help when a dangerous addiction overpowers us. By asking the right questions, they can unlock patterns of behavior that may turn destructive or start an individual on the road to self-confidence. If you are not a trained professional in the art of deciphering human behavior, where do we begin? The Bible records several instances of people acting inappropriately and later finding their moral compass. Would you believe that one such person was Paul the apostle? Someone who wrote nearly one third of the New Testament? That he would sum up his feelings of inadequacy, rise above them, and help us in the process? In Romans 7 Paul says, “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual”. “When I want to do good evil is right there with me”. Paul tries to get us to understand that ‘his’ struggle is ‘our’ struggle. This intensely personal perspective is his diagnosis of the human condition. Paul makes us aware that in this body of flesh, we contain a sinful nature, but at the same time, we may possess the Holy Spirit who can control that nature—if, we will only let Him do so.

A keen observer should see their life—in the universe—in perspective. In the picture above, do you see yourself traveling on the right track, headed for blue skies and greener pastures? What if the proper perspective is that you’re on the right track, but you’re coming ‘out’ of the tunnel, ‘out’ of the green grass, ‘out’ of the forest and into the unknown? Paul told us how to be prepared. Do you see Paul’s world perspective? Can you write down three things—three things you’re dead sure of, and three that you must do before you die? Does this indicate which track you’re on?

Regardless which track you’re on Christ is the only way. Paul says in Romans 7:15-20 “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but, I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Paul recognizes he’s a wretched man and needs rescued from this body of death. He clearly states “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Hence there can be no condemnation for those who are in Christ for the Law of the Spirit of life sets us free from the law of sin and death. In the Book of Romans Paul knows we cannot do it on ‘our’ own. The Book of Romans is like a legal document and shows us that the law can show us the way to live but cannot live it for us. If, you’re on that train, choose the right track carefully.

What is really on the inside?

Appearances are deceiving. Some mushrooms sautéed in butter are quite delicious and leave a delicate lingering aftertaste, and some mushrooms will have you in the graveyard with lingering aftertaste of, “How foolish could I have been”! 

Some snakes are exquisitely detailed with vibrant colors and patterns that are very pleasing to the eye and some are the color of dirt. The difference is that some snakes are harmless and some can kill with a single drop of venom. Seeing what’s on the inside can be a terrific advantage. People are often the most challenging specimens. It’s not easy to discern whether someone’s a ‘new friend’ or wants to rob you and leave you for dead.   

Everyone has to learn to be a good judge of another’s character. Politicians have always been under suspicion because of their proximity to money and power. What lies just under the surface can suddenly swallow a person whole. Just ask Jonah. In Jesus’ day there were many who appeared to be one thing but in reality were something totally foreign. Common people had some difficulty with discernment, but not Jesus. He looked at their hearts and intentions. And some were revolting!   On one particular occasion Jesus called a spade a spade and the crowd loved it, but those He addressed weren’t so impressed with His description of them. Jesus was talking to the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. 

In Matthew 27, He let the people listening see what was really on the inside of these ‘holy’ men. Jesus said that everything they do is done for men to see. He said they are full of pride and love the attention of others. Jesus said they were hypocrites, blind guides, and blind fools! He said they were full of greed and self-indulgence. Jesus said they were like whitewashed tombs, which looks beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. He said they were snakes; a brood of vipers!   

 Jesus sees what’s on the inside of everybody. If you started peeling, what would the world see?   “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask.” Matthew 6:7

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Work This Puzzle Brainaics

People the entire world over simply love puzzles and games. Kids love them because they are both fun and intellectually stimulating. Adults love them because they are fun and intellectually stimulating and a challenge to their mental prowess. Businesses love them because of the money that cascades in from their manufacture. Let’s be honest, everybody loves a good puzzle! Everybody thinks they can outsmart, solve, or cheat it. Rubik’s cube was invented by the Hungarian professor and architect, Enro Rubik in 1974. The picture here is a mild distortion of the actual device. The toy was an instant success and a commercial gold mine. Many think it has been the World’s best selling toy. It was all the rage in the 1980’s. The game consisted of eight corners, twelve edges, and 54 individual squares. The game was advertised as having a billion combinations. Wrong! Because most people didn’t understand higher mathematics they didn’t tell the whole truth. The game actually had over 43 quintillion possibilities. Thaaaat’s right! What does that look like: 43,252,003,273,489,856,000? Check the research—the numbers align. In so many words, it was a brain teaser and a brain twister. It is widely believed that dozens of insane asylums opened up shortly after the game was introduced to house those who couldn’t crack the winning combination. This completes our take on game theory and invites you to ponder another mystery. This mystery is taken straight out of the Bible and has baffled scholars, theologians, seminary students, professors, the laity and many others in almost every country for two thousand years. By the way, all you geographers, archeologists, mathematicians, paleontologists and other professions interested, you’re welcome to apply all your inductive and deductive skills in solving this mystery. Good luck. “Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow; in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 The question for puzzle lovers is: Where exactly is "under the earth"?

What’s After The Big Ol’ Bango Theory?

Are you an Evolutionist or a Creationist or an I-don’t-give-a-hootist? Charles Darwin was a keen observer of life on this planet. His “general theory of evolution” contains some genuine original thought, and some genuine original observations on “His” theory of evolution. It’s like going to Disneyworld with your kids. As long as you go there “knowing” it’s an entertainment Mecca meant solely for amusement and profit, you won’t drag home disappointment that mice, dogs, and duck’s can’t talk, sing and dance. Many Super Bowl players after winning the big game are asked what they are doing to do next. Say it with me, you’ve heard it over and over, “I’m going to Disney World”. Hopefully, those millions who hear that realize that there’s a big difference in “The Magical Kingdom” and “The Heavenly Kingdom”. Just once, I’d like to hear one of these skillfully trained professional athletes who deserve the recognition for winning the “big” game say, “Thank you Lord for all the abilities you’ve given me, and one day I want to be deserving of visiting ”The Heavenly Kingdom”. Just remember one kingdom belongs to man and one Kingdom belongs to God. Let’s get back to those tricky molecules.

Molecules. Every living thing in the universe has them and even the stuff that doesn’t have life has them, too. If you’re an animal, mineral, or vegetable you’ve got molecules. There’s a little debate whether organic or inorganic molecules came first, but that’s a different horse race. Let’s focus on where those first molecules came from. Where ‘exactly’ did those first building blocks of life come from? Did they come from the roly-poly innards of the Big Bang Theory? Were they spawned from exploding stars and wayward meteors carrying ice crystals with indeterminate molecules as a hitchhiker? Could they have come from something that slithered out of the ocean deep carried by a current deposited on a sandy beach? Did they come from spewing volcanic particulates?

Whatever brand of primordial soup that caused comets and asteroids and planets and moons to be in existence and to be fixed in a determined orbit around a perpetual burning star may never be uncovered. But one thing is certain, as long as all the great minds across the planet continue to theorize and hypothesize about these unfathomable details on the creation and its subtle nuances, God will continue to get a chuckle a day. And who said God didn’t have a sense of humor?

  

If you believe the first sentence of the Bible, everything else falls into place. If you are determined to ferret out all the minute mysteries of the universe, you better start with the Book of Genesis, because that’s where the very first Genes are found.

The Only Way To Heaven?

 

Ever been lost? When exactly was the moment you knew it to be a certainty? Did you try and bluff yourself into believing you were almost lost, or did you admit you really needed directions? We know when something’s wrong, but don’t always have the good sense to admit it and seek corrective action. This behavior is not only dangerous, its borderline foolish, and can prove fatal if not corrected in time.

Everyone has been “geographically” lost at some point in time. Some people are “spiritually” lost at this point in time. Finding your way in both situations is important but one happens to be a tiny matter of life-and-death! The main difference is that one direction has ‘unchangeable’ consequences.

You have heard people talk about how you get to heaven. If you’ve heard ten people discuss the issue, you’ve heard at least eleven different points of view. Is there really one way to heaven? For a question this serious, the only way to resolve it absolutely is to go straight to the source. Jesus was asked about the kingdom of heaven and how to obtain it. This is his answer:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

Does that settle the matter? Are the words of Jesus enough? No? Try this.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Why won’t you believe someone who came back from the dead on his own? If you don’t believe Jesus is the only way to heaven, who would you pick? What does the future hold for you? Well, that’s simple enough. Here are some Biblical scriptures that will answer your questions.

• “But we know that when he appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”. 1 John 3:2
• “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
• “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”. Ephesians 2:6
• “I tell you the truth; whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life”. John 5:24

I would like to think that heaven with its streets of gold, gates of pearl, foundation of chalcedony and sardonyx, might be absolutely happy, and our eyes will experience complete darkness (for a bit), to protect us from the blazing brilliance, omnipresence, omnipotence and gloriousness of God. After you get up from being on your knees…well, you can fill in the rest for yourself.

He Nailed the Money Changer's Club

It doesn’t matter what dispensation you refer to, money is a #1 priority. Don’t believe it? Have you noticed that the Bible speaks volumes about money? And not very much of it is favorable. The money changers seem to warrant special attention from the majority of people and Jesus too.

Where there’s money, there’s always someone trying to ease your burden of carrying it! The money changers reputations weren’t too favorable. Maybe that’s why their names are omitted. Don’t you think it’s bad enough that nobody is named Judas or Jezebel anymore?

A couple instances in particular stand out in history. One special event occurred immediately after Jesus rode into Jerusalem and the people spread their coats and palm branches on the road when Jesus rode that donkey into the city. The Scripture in the Bible records what happened when Jesus visited the Temple.

“Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer,” but you are making it a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:12-13

There was another instance where Jesus drove out money changers in the Temple. (John 2:13-16) Jesus was very upset that God’s temple was again being misused by people who had turned it into a marketplace. These marketers had forgotten, or didn’t care, that God’s house is a place of worship, not a place for making a profit. Jesus was obviously angry at the merchants who exploited those who had come to God’s house for worship. Jesus made a whip and chased out the profiteers. He took the evil acts in the temple as an insult to God, and did not deal with them halfheartedly. He was consumed with righteous anger against such disrespect for God.

The money changers were doing the visitors at the Temple a favor—or so it seemed. You see, ordinary coinage had to be exchanged for ancient Hebrew or Tyrian shekels, which were of standard weight and without blemish, as an offering to God. Maaaybe they made a tiny profit in the exchange! But there is something bigger under the surface here. Did you notice Jesus combines parts of the Old Testament verses together? (Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11) That’s warning two birds with one rebuke!

Today's Special--Human Sushi

Are you careful what fish you swim with? Most are rather friendly. However if you see a fish with plenty of gleaming sharp teeth, porcupine poisonous type quills on its body sporting an antennae on its forehead with a chemical light to attract prey you may safely assume that it’s a meat eater. Apart from the South American piranha and the great white shark, human sushi is quite rare. But let’s face facts; food is food, whether it’s in or out of the water--salt or fresh. Another fact; we’re more likely to eat something that comes out of the water instead of something there waiting to eating us.

In summary, if you’re in unfamiliar territory, you’re more likely to be the ‘special of the day’ instead of the one ordering the special. Think it’ll never happen to you? Always under control, measured, steady, master of your domain? In the Bible one man thought he had things under control until he was plucked out of his comfort zone and served with a sprig of parsley!

You’re familiar with the story of Jonah the prophet. God asked him to go to the country of Assyria (Nineveh to be exact) and preach to them. The Assyrians led people around with hooks in their mouths and tortured them unmercifully. Not exactly a place where a visiting preacher would want to hold a church revival meeting. Assyria--a great but evil empire--was Israel's most dreaded enemy. They flaunted their power before God and the world through acts of heartless cruelty. When Jonah heard God tell him where to go--Jonah went in the opposite direction. "Ran" is the key word. Jonah got on a boat going in the opposite direction and thought that God would just have to choose someone else to do the dirty work. God thought different. The boat he was on ran smack into the perfect storm (God induced of course) and everyone on board, except one, was wondering why this was happening. The men cast lots to find out who was responsible, and the lot fell on Jonah!

The men wanted answers, they were terrified. Who was this man Jonah, why was this happening, what could they do? Jonah told them everything and they made an effort to help him! They tried to row back to land, back to safety, but the sea grew wilder than ever before. Then something amazing happened. Just minutes before each man were calling on his own god to save them; now they called on Jonah’s God not to hold them responsible. Do you see what happened? They believed in Jonah’s God. They threw Jonah overboard and the storm quieted down. “The men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.” Jonah 1:16

The book of Jonah tells the story of this prophet's flight and how God stopped him and turned him around. But it is much more than a story of a man and a fish--Jonah's story is a profound illustration of God's mercy and grace. No one deserved God's favor less than the people of Nineveh, Assyria's capital. Jonah knew this! God told Jonah that there were 120,000 people there who could not tell their right hand from their left, so, go and preach there. He also knew that God would forgive and bless them if they would turn from their sin and worship him. As you read Jonah, see the picture of God's love and compassion and realize that no one is beyond redemption.

If you think this is just another fish story, read Jesus’ words in Matthew chapter 12.

Coming Soon

Hard to imagine this third rock from the sun could support seven Billion! Any idea how much food is required for seven Billion people? How much shelter, how much clothing, how much clean water, how much clean air, how much of everything? It currently takes an enormous amount of resources to just maintain who’s on this spinning ball right now. And it’s fragile! Imagine all the limited resources getting stretched even thinner. Imagine all the scientists, governments and planners working feverishly to organize this chaos. Imagine if you can when the odometer turns closer to Eight Billion!

There’s enough to worry about now you say, why complicate things? If someone doesn’t plan ahead do you know what could happen? I’ll tell you what will happen; the world will continue to fall into disrepair and hubris. Ever since the Garden of Eden appeared in the rear view mirror, this spinning ball of filth and garbage has barely survived. Want proof, check out any history book. Look around you, have people gotten “better” since you were a kid? I know there are exceptions, but I’m talking about the other 98% of the walking dead.

Remember that little conversation in the Garden of Eden that Eve and the serpent had? I believe the serpent’s exact words were, and may I quote him. “You won’t surely die”! What does that have to do with the earth’s population racing towards Seven Billion people? How many cemeteries are there in your town? Are they getting smaller or bigger? Well you can thank God “Someone” planned ahead and made appropriate provisions—for all.

Where’s the bottom line you ask? Were you aware that the Gospel of John reveals the biggest secret in the world? John referred to Jesus as, “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” John 1:29 How much sin can Seven Billion people manage? Thank God, it is no longer an issue. But why? Why isn’t it an issue? It’s not an issue because of what God did! “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

The Sky is Falling

If you’re a kid and you had never seen snow, wouldn’t you think that? Wouldn’t you think that the clouds themselves were actually breaking up and falling? Sure you would. Innocent minds think innocently and literally. Would you think it was the end of the world? If you were a kid—maybe, but you’re an adult now. You know that there are certain ‘signs’ that happen, that have a reasonable explanation.

The Old Testament tells of the Messiah performing miracles “In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.” (See Isaiah 29:18, Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:18-21). The New Testament records numerous signs and wonders by the Messiah. Even John in prison had doubts about whether Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus sent word back to John: everything was going according to plan. His response was: “So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” Luke 7:22

When the Pharisees and the Sadducees asked Jesus for a ‘sign’, He refused (because they had already seen enough miracles to believe) except to refer them to 'the ’sign’ of the prophet Jonah (Matthew 12:39). Just as Jonah had been in a fish’s belly for three days and nights, so Jesus would be in the grave for the same amount of time. Jesus’ appearance after three days would indict his generation, just as the Ninevites were!

A son of the gods?

Who practices the black arts of magic or sorcery? Can a mere mortal really summon up the power of fire and lightning from the nether regions? Before we go any further down this rabbit hole, let’s examine what’s happening. The man you see is George Speake. He was demonstrating a scientific principle. Electricity flashes from the thimble-topped fingers of traveling “preacher-scientist” George Speake. From the 1940’s into the 1960’s, he demonstrated religious faith by demonstrating scientific principles. To create the lightening effect, Speake would stand atop an electric transformer coil. The room would darken, get eerily quiet, at his command, a brief high-frequency current would travel over his skin, up from his feet and out his fingertips. According to Speake’s personal notes he suffered no injury because the high-frequency juice was too fast to be felt. These demonstrations fascinated the crowds. George Speake wanted the audience to see that religious faith and scientific principles are both real. This was obviously for spectacle purposes only so don’t try this at home!

Science and faith have always struggled for the hearts and minds of men. From King to servant, this dichotomy is sometimes unbearable and yet mystifying. Circumstances out of our control are usually met with anger or indifference. In Babylon, there was a King named Nebuchadnezzar who understood neither, but was quick to learn the difference.

The King had a statue built to honor his position in the kingdom. Everyone was ordered to worship the King and his idol. Three Jewish men refused and were arrested. The King decided that they should be thrown into the royal furnace and burned alive! The three Jewish men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told the King that their God could save them if He so desired. In a rage, the King ordered them bound and thrown down into the blazing furnace, which was heated seven times hotter than usual! It was done, and when the King looked into the furnace he saw something unbelievable! Four figures! “He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’” Daniel 3:25

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s “fireproof servanthood” served them well. They chose to be faithful to God. I know what you’re thinking. Who was that fourth figure? We cannot be certain. We do know that this person was “supernatural”. It could have been an angel or a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. In either case, God sent a heavenly visitor to accompany these faithful men during their time of great trial. Their destiny was in God’s hands, not in human hands. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew: “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3

Bottom Line Nebuchadnezzar saw the men’s faith tested; demonstrated, and vindicated!

Well Will We Can We?

Someone hurts you deeply, feelings are left raw and bleeding, the pain is incessant, emotions are fraught and twisted, and understanding is absent. The head and the heart are chasms apart and logic has gone walkabout. What else on earth can cause such angst and disharmony? It’s a conundrum.

We hear forgive and forget statements “Bury the hatchet”, “Let’s let bygones be bygones” and a multitude of others. We have many ways of describing forgiveness—yet so few strategies in accomplishing it. Feelings and science is the key. Researchers, therapists, religious leaders, psychologists, psychiatrists, professionally written books on the subject-matter and mental-health professionals have found that we can forgive and forget—it’s healthier. Unforgiveness can cause mental distress, if the injustice grows to vengeance, hostility, bitterness, anger or worse, high blood pressure even heart attacks kick in. Forgiving is not always easy and there are those who might wish to ambush the process but confronting and talking about the problems with injured parties are integral. Some therapy may be needed. Some pride might have to be swallowed. Be the first to make that first move—reach out. Humans are social creatures, and forgiveness can help us repair valuable bonds with friends and relatives. Forgiveness or unforgiveness is an individual journey. Don’t let it consume you.

Jesus said, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15

What would Jesus do? Didn’t friends and enemies both betray Jesus? What did he recommend about this delicate business of forgiveness? Every hurt is unique and individual. Some leave a tiny scratch and some leave a scar with the imprint of the devil’s pitchfork. Some hurts are mere insults that bite with a teaspoon of sarcasm and some are cutting your juggler vein while the knife is busy twisting slowly in your left ventricle.

What would Jesus do? Would he wait? They say that time heals all wounds. Maybe -Maybe not. Could it depend on the injury, who inflicted it, and whether it is forgivable? Do circumstances bear on the decision to forgive and forget? Can we forgive but not forget? Can we forget but not forgive? Casper is a friendly ghost until you realize he’s a ghost that can still haunt.

What would Jesus do? When he was hurt repeatedly, did he forgive, did he forget? The answer is as you expected – yes! Some hurts were from ignorance, some from malice, and some were intended to maim and kill. Let’s realize one thing, Jesus forgave and forgot when it was the right thing to do. And it was always the right thing to do. Your case will be special and unique, and the right thing will be different for each person. People from past wars meet their former enemies decades later and shake hands. People from a concentration camp meet their former tormentors and will not shake hands. Can you see the issue from both perspectives? Maybe it depends on how deep and personal it is.

What would Jesus do? Jesus would always take the higher ground. Jesus went a step further: “You know what you have been taught, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has wronged you. When someone slaps your fight cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek. If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well. If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them.” Matthew 5:38-42.

What would Jesus do? He would do the right thing! What do most people do? I would hope they follow Jesus.

Waiting For Heat

The human race is fickle. We are impatient, impulsive, and impressed easily. These are traits that don’t always serve us well. The Bible speaks volumes about our human nature and our inability to focus on eternal priorities. There is a classic example found in the Book of Revelation concerning our impatient and impulsive behavior, despite all the instructions on such matters found in the Book of Proverbs.

The Book of Revelation is a thinly veiled picture of earth’s end-time events. When mankind rejects all offers and entreaties by God to repent and seek Him, some terrific, horrible, and unchangeable events take place to serve as our warning here and now. Repentance then will still be possible, but the conditions will be unbearable. Why wait for the pressure to build to a crescendo, when you can think clearly and accept God’s offer now?!

Revelation chapter 16 tells us of seven judgments in rapid succession. These seven bowls of God’s wrath are not from impatience or impulse; they were recorded over 2,000 years ago! Painful sores on many, everything in the sea dies, fresh water in the rivers turn blood, a scorching sun, darkness covers entire cities, the Euphrates River dries up making ready for Armageddon, and then great widespread destruction occurs.

“…they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory.” Revelation 16:9

People don't usually fall into immorality and evil suddenly--they slip into it a little bit at a time until, hardly realizing what has happened, they are irrevocably mired in their wicked ways. Temptation entertained today becomes sin tomorrow, then a habit the next day, then death, and separation from God forever. "Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:15

Bottom line: Things are going to heat up—soon—will you be inside or outside of the pot!

We Need A Hero

What makes a hero? A cape, a baseball bat, a sword, what about a scream in the jungle swinging from tree to tree? What makes a hero? A uniform with shiny stars on the shoulder, famous statements, unimaginable strength, ten-gallon hats with six guns riding fast horses, Olympic medals? What makes a hero? Courage, nobility, accomplishments, inventiveness, the list is endless. As children we all had heroes. As we get older it is harder to have heroes. Opportunities for heroism are sometimes limited in this world; the most we can do is at times not be as weak as we once were. The ordinary person usually is involved in action, the hero acts! To be a hero one must give an order to oneself and then perform.

Random events cause many of us to change our ways and alter our “Life-path”. Usually when there’s a catastrophe, a hero emerges. As fun as it is to pretend, Batman, Superman, Spider Man, Wonder Woman, and the many other “superheroes” are made up personae. Many of our hero’s live in costumes and live out fantasies at comic-con conventions. Their contrived histories are good for Hollywood with all the money they pull in, but what we need is real-life people with real-life flaws the morph into a hero. They wear ordinary clothes and live ordinary lives until a moment-in-time changes their DNA into hero stuff.

Just consider some of the hero’s in the Bible and their impact on our lives. Joseph in the Book of Genesis was assaulted by his own brother’s and “sold” into slavery and taken to Egypt! He was put into prison under false charges and became a model prisoner who helped other prisoners. When a famine affected his family back in Canaan, Joseph helped supply them with food. He was later instrumental in helping the brothers who almost killed him, and others, in finding a home and food and work in Egypt! And he did it all without an ounce of malice, cape or costume.

There’s Daniel in the Old Testament who was living in Jerusalem as a teenager until the city was attacked by the Babylonians, and he and others were carried off into captivity. He later became friends with the Babylonian king and displayed the highest morals. He helped the king interpret dreams and taught him about the God of Israel. He soon gained the respect of a new king. Daniel was above reproach in all his words and all his actions. And he didn’t have to fly at the speed of sound, bend steel, flame-on, be invisible, and have any magical paraphernalia.

Samson started off weak, but finished strong. King David was a man after Gods own heart. Elijah was a prophet of enormous respect in troubled times. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah and countless others lifted up God. And they didn’t need secret identities, Hollywood’s special effects, fake storylines or character disguises. They were real-life people with real-life flaws guided by a real-life God!

Every superhero movie, idea, conception is an origin story. Why is that? Perhaps we like stories, that shows us the exact place and time when a normal guy goes from being 'just like us' to to being somehow smarter, stronger, better, faster. Look at it from another perspective. Perhaps origin stories show us not how to become super but how to be heroes, choosing altruism over pursuit of wealth and power. There is one real "supernatural" hero who actually came to earth, had all the characteristics of a 'superhero', who helped people, healed people, loved people, saved people, brought people back from the dead, overcame death himself and fought supernatural forces and defeated them. His name is Jesus. For you, he did this. Pretty "SUPER" huh?

Does your hero hide behind a mask or cape; reside in a comic, act out a script on cue, or behind the power, majesty, and glory of the living God?

Atoms, Molecules and Evil

We’re made up of flesh and blood. Bones, cartilage, muscle, nerves, organs, some connecting tissue, a little enamel and a bucket full of chemicals and you too could build a human. Genesis says that God created man in His own image. Maybe He took the same blueprints and tweaked them a bit to create the animals, fish and birds. One thing God didn’t include was EVIL. We managed to find that all on our own. Don’t snicker and point fingers, if you had been in Adam and Eve’s place you probably would have failed sooner than later, and somebody would be talking about you.

Thousands of years later we’re still here and so is evil. As the diagram shows it’s in our head, it comes out of our mouth, it’s in our heart, and it is spread by our own hands and it’s in our legs so it can travel faster with us.

 

When God put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He told them they could do anything under the sun but eat the fruit from one particular tree. You know what happened; all that instruction went in one ear and flew out the other. Luckily the serpent was there to direct them to the very tree that would ultimately kill them! A tree that contained the knowledge of good AND evil. One tree, one fruit. Who wouldn’t desire to have it all?

 

This could well have been the first case of food poisoning. A buffet of any fruit the mind could imagine and all waiting to be picked by innocent human hands until a crafty busboy directed the innocent diners to one deadly fruit. Once evil was ingested, it infected the entire body. Evil is contagious.

 

Psalms 23 reminds us, “I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.”

Romans 12:21 reminds us, “Do not be overcome with evil.”

1 Thessalonians 5:22 reminds us, “Avoid every kind of evil.”

James 1:13 reminds us, “Good cannot be tempted by evil.”

 

Sin nature is in us, evil is all around us, but, it doesn’t have to control us. Evil is real and must be resisted, hated and resisted while there's breath in our bodies. I believe in the flesh and the senses, tasting, feeling, seeing, hearing. smelling and especially good sense, so, go ahead and 'tag me' as a miracle. After all, I was made in His image.

Christ Lifted Up

There is no greater or meaningful event in the history of the world than what happened in Jerusalem on that fateful day that Christ was crucified. Period! The world had been created, people had been created, animals had been created, everything the world needed was in place; then it happened, the serpent ushered sin into the world. Everything was in place then everything changed. Now, there was one puzzle piece added and one piece missing!

There was something added in the world that had to be removed and there was something not in the world that had to replace it. Perfection stepped aside while sin stepped in. Now Perfection would have to step back in and replace sin. This would prove to be no easy task. How do you replace something cancerous and deadly with something pure and undefiled?

Jesus tried to explain his mission and purpose to Nicodemus that night he came to Jesus searching for answers to some tough questions. What he told Nicodemus probably didn’t make much sense at the moment, but when Nicodemus was there at the crucifixion a short three years later, he understood perfectly through his tears.

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14

The reference to Moses is found in Numbers 21:5-9. That part everyone can understand, but why does this Son of Man have to be lifted up, and who exactly is he? The Bible tells us that the Son Man is the Son of God, and the part about Him being lifted up is obvious. When Christ was crucified, he was nailed to a wooden cross and “lifted” off the ground for everyone to witness. A carpenter who worked with wood most of his life is now nailed to a wooden cross. Can you hear that piece of wood weeping “I’m so sorry”?

Let’s be crystal clear here: Christ looked upon his cruxification as the completion of all his work, and therefore he looked upon it as exaltation. Christ won more love by the cross than he ever did win elsewhere in his 33 years. He won more adoration, love and glory by nails than scepters. Christ was never so lifted up as when he was cast down to be nailed to a cross. About being lifted up Christ said: “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself”—John 12:32 He will draw us heavenward. Does the wood in the trees still weep? Everyday—I’m sure.

Our bottom line comes from the chorus of an old Gospel Song: “Nothing took his life with love he gave it. He was crucified on a tree that he created. With great love for man, God gave with his plan. He grew the tree so that we might go free.”