Movies

I went to see a movie with a friend from college last night. We picked, True Grit, which was about a 14 year old girl seeking to avenge her father's death and hires/assists a US Marshall in tracking her father's murderer down. I went home, did not think about it much, but as I woke up this morning I was going to watch a movie, but I could not help but think about the movie I saw last night. The entire movie they shoot people, connive to get ahead, and seek revenge. Never once did I stop myself and ask is murdering wrong, is it wrong to get ahead by lying, cheating, or injuring, or is it wrong to seek revenge? I am tired this morning so I was going to watch a movie on my computer to try to fall back asleep. Once again I see all these subtle plots about revenge, sex, lying, murdering, conniving, etc... I know this is no surprise, considering who produces movies. Keep in mind the next time you go see a movie that everybody has a worldview they are going to push and shove at you.

What if?

What if we started believing and living like we say we do? Think about the fact that John 14:12 tells us that Jesus said that we will do even greater things than he did, but also in Matthew 5:16 He tells us to "let our lights shine so that people may see our good works and praise our Father in Heaven." Or think about the early church who were so filled with the Holy Spirit that it just sort of overflowed think about Pentecost, 3000 souls that came to believe, it was not because Peter was such an inspirational speaker, or because Matthew had donated his embezzled money to a worthy charity or anything else that they did something because of their strength or because they read so many self help books. People were reached because the Holy Spirit was allowed to move. When was the time you saw the real power of God?

Our God is a healer

About half of you know what I used to do. I used to cut, the last time was October 2009 and the scars i inflicted on myself were supposed to stay with me for a long time. I am here to tell you that we serve a God who heals. I have no scars anymore. NONE!!!!!!!!!!!! Just saying that God can and will heal you if you let Him.

Suffering

One of the biggest objections to the idea of a loving, good God is the amount of suffering in the world. People will ask how can God tolerate such pain and suffering if He is good? Now have you ever noticed that so often the people who raise this objection live relatively comfortable lives and the people who suffer are grounded so much more in their faith. One last thought, so often the pain we go through producess more character then the comfortable times. Perhaps the next time you are going through something you will remember to be grateful, and if you have the hope of eternal life living in you then even more so you will have more to be thankful.

'Tis the Season

It is that time of year again. Packed malls, screaming children, and bad cooking (just kidding). As we hear the cliche, the reason for the season, do we ever think more deeply then the nativity? Have you ever considered the fact that the same Jesus who hung on the cross once was a lovable infant. I look at my adorable three month old nephew and I start thinking about the fact that Jesus was once that small, that the little baby grew up to die so that you and I could spend eternity with Him. As you exchange gifts this year, think about the fact that Jesus exchanged his place in heaven to come down to suffer and die.

The Id Strikes Again

We just finished studying nSigmund Freud's theory of the Id, ego, and superego. While a lot of what Freud says is well out there at best I wonder if maybe he was onto something.

It seems as though the recurring theme in my life this year is be careful what you pray for, because it seems I pray something then approximately 20 minutes later I am trying desperately to take it back.

I am not sure how much you know about the id, ego, and superego, but supposedly here is how it works. Your id works totally for gratifying whatever impulse happens to come. Your ego supposedly keeps that in check. On the off chance your ego lets its guard down the id may escape and you may accidentally say something totally inappropriate (or a Freudian Slip). The superego is you conscience.

Like most things in Christianity this is totally backwards of the world. If we have accepted the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ we know that the Holy Spirit lives within us. That is your spiritual id, your ego is where your social standing comes in and will "quench the spirit" if the ego is your selfish thoughts that keep you from doing some things, and your superego checks with the social norms to see if something is alright. I hypothesize that on those rare occasions when your spiritual ego and superego take a break, the Holy Spirit comes in and you find yourself praying the things that everyone told you not to pray (did that accidentally tonight, although I am unable to recall which taboo prayer I prayed). Ultimately I think we would live to our fullest potential if we just let the ego (self) die and allowed the Spirit to guide and change our lives.

Love-hate relationship

I have discovered that I have a love-hate relationship with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the Spirit is awesome, and then there are times when I wish that the Spirit would just leave me alone, ha ha. Like tonight, I am reading and there is a cross reference to Psalm 42:1, which says, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." At first I simply thought that it was a pretty verse, but before long that still, small and painfully annoying voice said, "Do you really pant for God like that." Because the picture painted here is not of a deer gracefully drinking from water, but of a parched animal in the desert longing for water. Picture walking through the Las Vegas desert on a blistering July day where the temperatures are well over 110, you are not kind of thirsty, you are dying. To be honest I really do not think that I long for God like that. Do you?