Only Superman Can Fly

Please forgive the length of time between blog entries, my friends. I told you in my very first blog to expect such inconsistency! Books and reading have become one of my passions over the past few years. Out of the darkest, most broken times in my life, strong truths from the pages of not only scripture, but dozens of inspired writings from various authors have brought me out of my despair and provided insight and wisdom just exactly at the moment I needed them. So I offer you an excerpt from a book I'm reading by an amazingly insightful guy named Ed Gungor. The book is "Religiously Transmitted Diseases - Finding the Cure When Faith Doesn't Feel Right." Publisher: Nelson Ignite/Thomas Nelson Publishers; Copyright 2006. I highly recommend it! This small portion speaks into changing our perspective on what "living the Christian life" by faith really means. We (I) have spent so much of my life spinning my "spiritual wheels," while going absolutely nowhere because I have (like the author suggests) put an extra "o" in the word "GOD." I've focused, in my own fallible flesh, on being "good," rather than on relying on God and what He has already done through the finished work of Christ. Happy reading! (buy the book!)

Chapter 3 - The Deadly "O" - God Is Not for Sale
Only Superman Can Fly
Only Superman can fly. But Lois had to discover that on her own.

In the second Superman movie that came out in the 1980s, Superman took Lois Lane flying with him. Early in the scene, Lois clung tightly to Superman, refusing even to look down. But as they flew around for a while, she became more and more confident. Slowly, she stopped clinging so desperately to Superman and began to stretch out her own arms, imitating him and pretending she could fly. Soon she forgot that her flight was only possible because of her connection to Superman. She inched out to the tips of his fingers, and then, suddenly, she lost connection and dropped like a stone! Superman swooped to catch her, and the meaning is clear: only Superman can fly.
In the arena of faith, only the God-man, Jesus, can fly. People can't. There is no way humans will ever be able to pull off divine goodness. That stuff is from another world. True, if you get up real high (really, really, really try to live right) and jump, you will have the illusion of flight, but it doesn't end well.
Discipleship is not about teaching people how to fly. Discipleship is about teaching people how to stay connected with Jesus, the only real Superman who ever lived. We have to fight to not make faith about self.

Do We Truly Know What We Believe (Pt. 2)

Sorry I have missed a few days between communications. I fear I'll be making many more apologies along these lines as the things of "life" press me from time to time.

My intent is never to make this forum a platform for debate, only expression . . . but I must tell you, I just read a comment on Part 1 from a dear friend and she summed up the intent of this present topic quite nicely. (Yes, I've officially been "out-blogged" friends and neighbors!)

While we each should feel it essential to truly KNOW why we believe what we believe so that we may be more effective salt and light in this world, we must primarily seek balance and walk in true humility (but I digress, as usual!) The point my friend made (other than the issue of balance between faith and science) is that, while most people of faith are not educated to the minutia of earth sciences, evolutionary theories (and facts), and like topics, the average person who only allows for scientific approaches to life and environmental issues isn't usually well-read or fully-knowledgeable on the tenets of faith. And it IS pretty difficult to allow God His "space on the throne" if we ourselves occupy it! An important thing to note here is that a large percentage of believers maintain this relational position, too, not just those who do not prescribe to the judeo-Christian ethic. Sad commentary . . . . . but ahhhh . . . what about grace!? All I can say about THAT topic (by way of mere introduction) is . . . . I am livin' in it BIG TIME right now. I am so blessed by the grace of God. Maybe we'll ramble on about that topic next time around.

As always, grace, peace and love, and thanks for tuning in, friends.

Do We Truly Know What We Believe?

I've never been one to believe that the One whom I believe to be the God of this universe treats the His children like we're in some sort of intergalactic chess game, manipulating us from His throne like pawns, knights, bishops and rooks. This topic, along with a great number of other things was discussed when I recently had a heart-to-heart with a close relative of mine (whom I love more than life itself, by the way). We have these deep conversations on a fairly regular basis, mainly because I'm one of the few (if not the only) person of faith he knows who seems to be able to openly discuss things like, creationism vs. evolution, the Judeo-Christian ethic vs. atheistic views, abortion vs. pro-choice, right vs. left wing political views and even various other hot button topics that usually get people throwing muck at one another. We are on opposite sides of the fence on most things, it seems. Like him, there are a great many people who were raised attending Sunday school and church on a fairly regular basis, who were taught most of the doctrinal truths from scripture growing up/ They were encouraged by example and taught to follow after the teachings of Christ, and yet somewhere along the way either "lost the faith," or become totally convinced that there is no God, and that Christians are fairly ignorant about most scientific things. Sadly, in most cases, he is absolutely correct.

to be continued . . .

Doubt

This is a transcript excerpt taken from one of the opening scenes of “Doubt” – the Movie, © 2008 Miramax Films. and based upon stage and screen play, by John Patrick Shanley. I was so moved by the content of it, I had to share it as my second installment in this blogspot.

Sermon in movie delivered by Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character, “Father Flynn.”

“What do you do when you’re not sure?”

“When President Kennedy was assassinated (just as on the tragic date of 9/11)*, who among us did not experience the most profound disorientation . . . . despair? Which way? . . .What now? What do I say to my kids? What do I tell myself? There was a time of people sitting together . . . bound together by a common feeling of hopelessness. But think of that . . . your bond with your fellow being was your despair. It was a public experience – it was awful! But we were in it together. How much worse is it then for the lone man – the lone woman – stricken by a private calamity? . . . “No one knows I’m sick.” . . . “No one knows I’ve lost my last real friend.” . . . “No one knows I’ve done something wrong.” Imagine the isolation. You see the world as through a window: On one side of the glass – happy, untroubled people, and on the other side . . . you.”

“I want to tell you a story: A cargo ship sank one night. It caught fire and went down. And only this one sailor survived. He found a lifeboat, rigged a sail and, being of a nautical discipline, turned his eyes to the heavens and read the stars. He set a course for his home and, exhausted, fell asleep. Clouds rolled in, and for the next twenty nights, he could no longer see the stars. He thought he was on course, but there was no way to be certain. And as the days rolled on, and the sailor wasted away, he began to have doubts. Had he set his course right? Was he still going on towards his home, or was he horribly lost and doomed to a terrible death? No way to know . . . The message of the constellations . . . had he imagined it because of his desperate circumstance, or had he seen truth once and now had to hold on to it without further reassurance? And I want to say to you . . . . doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty. When you are lost, you are NOT alone.”

*(Parenthetic material added as modern day reference only, and is obviously not a part of the original script.)

Back to Bruce talking now . . . .

The themes of this script obviously possess a depth which may not be captured at first-read. I must admit, I may be stretching the meaning a bit here for sake of application, but these are simply the things I thought about as I viewed the scene and typed the transcript. Though the “theology” of the content of this movie excerpt may be challenged by some, many of the thoughts definitely carry some validity. As believers, we know we are NEVER truly alone. We possess the Holy Spirit of God. However, have you not ever felt lost at times? Not eternally lost, but lost in your direction? Even lost in your sin? Though in your mind you know the debt has been paid . . . in your flesh, you remain in despair for a time. We have been instructed not to doubt, but to believe, but we are indeed fallible beings. Do you ever have doubts? Doubts about what you believe? Doubts about crucial decisions? Certainly, we have been encouraged in scripture to remain close to the Good Shepherd, and that His Spirit will indeed graciously provide us comfort. But I believe it is in community and pure fellowship with one another that we have also been given further opportunity for peace and comfort. To know that others face our same struggles of doubt and uncertainty does not solve our immediate problem or meet our present need. However, it is of a certainty, that it can often bring comfort, while helping to point us in the proper direction, which is to our heavenly Father. The knowledge of this, combined with actual fellowship and wise counsel of friends can bring indescribable joy!

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galations 6:2 – KJV)

What Is a Spiritual Leader?

I suppose my definition of a Spiritual Leader may be a bit different from the norm. In a nutshell, I believe it to be "one who leads with spiritual sensitivity." I do not necessarily think a true spiritual leader necessarily has a superior cognitive knowledge of spiritual things, has more scripture passages memorized, prays longer or more often than the next guy, has a degree hanging on the wall, or even leads a larger number of people to Christ. Those can be wonderful examples of good spiritual behavior, but are not always indicative of possessing qualities of true spiritual leadership. I believe a spiritual leader to be a man or woman who sensitively follows the prompting of the Spirit of God. A person in this category is loyal first to following and loving God, while remaining faithfully sensitive to the calling and prompting of God in their lives. Secondly, they are consistently faithful and sensitive to the needs of others. I struggle daily with these priorities, but do realize them to be the basic starting points of my Christianity and the foundations of my faith in action. The list of those I am acquainted with who also exemplify and live out these priorities is relatively short as well. This philosophy of spiritual leadership basically encompasses the two most important commandments, exemplified perfectly by Jesus: Love God . . . . love others. We are commanded to do these things.

One of the things I have the biggest problem with is the lack of true "community" exemplified in the church, in the Christian workplace, and in my very own life. It is a frustrating thing to have people who have been Christians for a large part of their lives . . . . some deacons . . . some Sunday school teachers . . . .some Christian music industry professionals (imagine that!) and even pastors and staff members I have worked closely with over the years tell me they love me and those around them while, truthfully, rarely seeing them make any sort of ongoing effort to build relationships that move beyond the surface. I am just as guilty in this much of the time. Especially when I realize how little I have even attempted to get to know the neighbors on either side of me, much less pray faithfully for them and work hard enough at gaining the respect from them necessary to speak meaningfully into their lives. I (we) have a lot of work to do . . .

God is not impressed with my prayers, nor my reading through the Bible in a year, nor even how many church services I attend. "To obey is better than sacrifice . . . ." Obedience does not equate to working through a checklist of what has traditionally been accepted as doing what it takes to be a "good man" or a "good woman." The total package requires that we exemplify the love of Christ and walk in that love, serving one another. This is true love and true Spiritual Leadership. At least that is the place we must begin . . . in my opinion. As I type this very article, I am sorely convicted of how much more yielded to Christ I need to be, so that His light of love will shine effectively through this broken, human vessel.

I have NO idea why I chose this topic today. We all have things we want (and often NEED) to express. Sometimes, my heart is so full, and I'm compelled to finally do something about it. Blessings to you for being brave enough to dive into my very first blog! Thanks for reading!

Bruce