Created in His image…

I know the last time I wrote, it was referring to a cartoon movie…and…I’m gonna do it again. Yes, I think we can take away a lot more from movies than what initially meets the eye.

I love cartoon movies. I love cartoons altogether actually. I was thinking about an incredible message a previous pastor of mine had braught out of “The Lion King”. I’m still trying to figure out how to put videos on here but until then, I’ll just have to tell you about it.

Simba had been lied to when he was a young cub by his uncle Scarr. He had been convinced that it was his own fault that his father had died. As a result, Simba wondered into the wilderness where he met Timon and Pumbaa and adopted the Hakuna Matata “nothing matters/no responsibility” outlook on life. His old friend Nala finds him and attempts to talk him into coming back to the pride lands because Scarr and the hyenas have taken over and the situation is looking very bad. Simba is very quick to let her know that he doesn’t feel that he has what it takes to return to the pride lands and fill his father’s footsteps as King. He then runs away from Nala.

Thankfuly this isn’t the last time Simba will face some positive peer preasure. He is then approached by a monkey by the name of Rafiki. Rafiki’s purpose for the visit, which is unknown to Simba, is to remind the young cub of who he is…and more importantly, where he has come from. After Rafiki hits Simba in the head a couple of times with his stick and leads Simba to a water hole, something special happens. This is the actual script…

Rafiki:	Look down there.

{Simba quietly and carefully works his way out. He looks over the edge and sees his reflection in a pool of water He first seems a bit startled, perhaps at his own mature appearance, but then realizes what he’s looking at.}

Simba:	{Disappointed sigh} That’s not my father. That’s just my reflection.
Rafiki:	Noo. Look harder.

{Rafiki motions over the pool. Ripples form, distorting Simba’s reflection; they resolve into Mufasa’s face. A deep rumbling noise is heard.}

Rafiki:	You see, he lives in you.

I love this! Rafiki leads him to the water where Simba first see’s his own reflection. When he looks harder, he sees his fathers image. This experience opens Simba’s eyes to see that he has had what it takes to be the King his whole life because of the blood that runs though his viens. Not only does he have what it takes, but it is his responsibility to be King.

The reason I love this is because things are often the same with us Christians. To put it bluntly, we can be convinced of the lies from Satan that we are not worthy and that we don’t have what it takes to represent God. We sometimes allow ourselves to come to the point of believing that it would be better to not even put forth the effort to make a difference but rather live a life of apethy. When we find ourselves in these situations, it is imperitive that we have others in our lives that are willing to come along like Rafiki, hit us in the head with a stick, and hold us accountable to the truth that keeps us effective for the Kingdom. Ok, we might be able to do without the stick hitting. We seriously must understand that it is crucial to surround ourselves with others who understand the mission of Christ. We have to remember that in the same way that the reason Simba was worthy to be King was because of the blood that ran through his veins, the reason we are worthy to represent God is because of the blood that Christ shed on the cross. Ask yourself everyday when you see your reflection in the water “or in the bathroom vanity”, whose image do you see-yours or your Fathers? Be blessed.

The Crash Encounter

 

Not Impossible…Impassible

Most of us have had the opportunity at one point to see the Disney flick by the name of “Alice in Wonderland”. I’ll be honest. I never liked it much. Always seemed a little freakish to me. Anyway, I was having a short discussion with a friend of mine and he mentioned something about the movie that I had never paid any special attention to. This is the scene.

Doorknob: Ohhhhh!!

Alice: OH! Oh, I beg your pardon.

Doorknob: Oh, oh, it’s quite all right. But you did give me quite a turn!

Alice: You see, I was following…

Doorknob: Rather good, what? Doorknob, turn?

Alice: Please, sir.

Doorknob: Well, one good turn deserves another! What can I do for you?

Alice: Well, I’m looking for a white rabbit. So, um, if you don’t mind…

Doorknob: Uh? Oh!

Alice: There he is! I simply must get through!

Doorknob: Sorry, you’re much too big. Simply impassible.

Alice: You mean impossible?

Doorknob: No, impassible. Nothing’s impossible!

Impassible? Wow. I’ve never heard that one before. My friend brought it to my attention that there is a spiritual aspect to pay attention to here. Sometimes we want certain things in our lives to work out “doors to be opened” and they just never seem to do so. It’s not that those things are impossible. Nothing is impossible with God. Some things on the other hand, may be impassible. God sees the big picture and sometimes chooses to keep certain doors closed. This could be for a number of reasons. The most important thing to remember is that God knows our every need and the desires of our hearts. He also knows how those things line up with His perfect will.

Know that nothing is impossible with God…maybe just impassible. That’s a lot to learn from a doorknob. 

Ephesians 3:20 (New Century Version)
With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.

The Opossum

I was working security at Baylor School one night in 2007. Well, I wasn’t really working, but I was there trading time for money. It’s a private high school in Chattanooga, Tennessee and it was a pretty high profile post for the fact that it’s such a fancy place and everyone affiliated with Baylor seems to be extremely wealthy. At least according to society’s terms. This particular night, as I walked out of the guard house to greet “smile and wave” someone who was entering into the campus, I noticed a baby possum began to cross the driveway in the path of the incoming vehicle. I quickly motioned for the vehicle to stop so that the little critter to get across the road to safety. The driver of the vehicle looked at me as if I was doing something wrong and was hindering them. After the possum finally got across the road, I motioned for the vehicle to proceed down its original path as I smiled and waved somewhat sarcastically. I then noticed that the possum stood still from all the lights and commotion. I took a glove out of my work bag, put it on, and carefully picked the little fella up. I carried him over and put him in the back of my truck. I called a couple of people and asked them about a possum’s diet. I was informed that possums eat about anything. I warmed up some teriyaki chicken and rice I had left over from the Japanese restaurant earlier that day. I took some of the chicken and a piece of a cookie and left it for him to eat. He was really scared at first but after a few minutes, he took the chicken and the cookie and ate it. It was an awesome thing to watch because it honestly looked as if he was happy. After he ate, I picked him up and carried him to what I thought might be more of a safe place for him and let him go.

I began to think about what had just happened a little while later. I thought about all the people in the world who are wondering around in the darkness. Some of these people seem to be in the path of danger. This danger could be anything from an addiction to something harmful, depression, living with no positive guidance or direction, and an array of many destructive lifestyles. These people need to be gently “picked up and loved” by someone who cares. Their needs must be met, even if it seems to hinder or disturb those around us who don’t understand the mission and are only concerned with themselves. Negative bystanders need to be offended for their own good. This is the life that Jesus Christ lived and unfortunately not the life that most of your religious church goers are living. Read 2 Cor. 5. Look around you for those who are hurting or scared. Don’t do “nothing”. Do something.

Team Hoyt

Yeah so I’m a sucker for tear jerkers. That’s right. I’m one of those wierd guys that likes the drama movies that’ll make you cry. The Green Mile does it to me every time. It’s ok though. I’m fine with it.So I saw a video on YouTube.com a while back called “World’s Strongest Dad”. You talk about inspirational! It was honestly one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen…and I cried like a baby.It’s about a father and son named Dick and Ricky Hoyt who participate together in various races ranging from basic running to iron man triathlons. That’s not all though. The amazing part of the story is that Ricky “the son” was disabled from birth by a lack of oxygen to his brain because his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. He also has cerebral palsy. He can’t walk or talk and has very little control over his body whatsoever. That hasen’t stopped him.When Ricky was a teenager, he used his communication device to tell his dad that the only time he didn’t feel disabled was when his dad pushed him in his wheelchair in a charity race for Dick’s coworker. At that first race, Dick Hoyt wasn’t an athlete with extroidinary running, biking, and swimming abilities. In fact, Dick Hoyt couldn’t swim at all. That changed quickly knowing he had the ability to help his son to feel normal. Since then, Dick and Ricky Hoyt have competed in hundreds of races including the Iron man Triathlons. Dick pushes Ricky in a racing wheel chair and a special bike made specifically for them and he pulls Ricky in a raft while swimming. These guys have an incridible story and have inspired many including myself.After I had the opportunity to learn about Team Hoyt, God spoke to me very clearly. Although Ricky is unable to run, bike, and swim himself through the finish line, his father Dick was able to use his own arms and legs to fulfil his son’s passions. In many interviews, Dick Hoyt has stated that he feels like he gets the energy to compete from his son and that without his son, there would be no way to continue. I was reminded from Dick and Ricky Hoyt that as a Christian, it is my job to carry the Father’s heart. Though Jesus can’t physically be here to love people and meet their needs, I can do that because of the energy and passion He’s given me. I’m thankful to Team Hoyt for reminding me to continue to run the race and to trust Jesus to give me the energy to do so. Be blessed.

A Crash of Rhinos

 I wanted to share with you a little piece of a book called “The Barbarian Way” that changed my life and the way I look at the role of the church. I encourage you when you get a chance, to add this book to your library and to make good use of it. It was written by Erwin McManus who pastors the Mosaic church out of California.

A Crash of Rhinos…a Committee of Buzzards

“Rhino Crash Church”from The Barbarian Way, Erwin McManus

A few years ago I took my kids to a wildlife animal park near San Diego. As we rode on a tram through the open terrain, a guide pointed out the unique features of the different species that we encountered. I suppose I always knew it in part, but I had not come to realize how most groups of animals have unique names or designations when they dwell together.With insects most of us know that bees are called swarms, and ants are called colonies. Among ocean life, I was aware that whales are pods, and fish are schools. Cattle are herds, birds are flocks, and if you watch Lion King, you know a tribe of lions is a pride. If you grew up in the country, you might know that crows are murders. Maybe the most unnerving one is an ambush of tigers.I was surprised to learn that a group of buzzards waiting around together to feast on leftover carnage is called a committee. Just this one insight is worth the price of the whole book. This explains so much of what’s going on in churches—a lot of committees waiting around to live off human carnage.

Flamingos are called flamboyants, which for some reason reminds me of TV evangelists. And the less glamorous owls are known as parliaments. They do seem sort of British.

But my favorite of all is the group designation for rhinos. You see, rhinos can run thirty miles an hour, which is pretty fast when you consider how much weight they’re pulling. They’re actually faster than squirrels, which can run up to twenty-six miles an hour. And even then who’s going to live in dread of a charging squirrel! (Sorry—that was a bit off the point.) Running at thirty miles an hour is faster than a used Pinto will go. Just one problem with this phenomenon. Rhinos can see only thirty feet in front of them. Can you imagine something that large moving in concert as a group, plowing ahead at thirty miles an hour with no idea what’s at thirty-one feet? You would think that they would be far too timid to pick up full steam, that their inability to see far enough ahead would paralyze them to immobility. But with that horn pointing the way, rhinos run forward full steam ahead without apprehension, which leads us to their name.

Rhinos moving together at full speed are known as a crash. Even when they’re just hanging around enjoying the watershed, they’re called a crash because of their potential. You’ve got to love that. I think that’s what we’re supposed to be. That’s what happens when we become barbarians and shake free of domestication and civility. The church becomes a crash. We become an unstoppable force. We don’t have to pretend we know the future. Who cares that we can see only thirty feet ahead? Whatever’s at thirty-one feet needs to care that we’re coming and better get out of the way.

We need to move together as God’s people, a barbarian tribe, and become the human version of the rhino crash. The future is uncertain, but we need to move toward it with confidence. There’s a future to be created, a humanity to be liberated. We need to stop wasting our time and stop being afraid of what we cannot see and do not know. We need to move forward full force because of what we do know.

Yesterday Mariah was in a store with her mom. She saw a man working with fabrics, and for some reason he caught Mariah’s attention. Mariah looked at Kim and pointed to the man, and she said, “Mom, look at the man. He’s the loneliest person I’ve ever seen.” Mariah began to weep uncontrollably.

We may not be able to see what’s at thirty-one feet, but we don’t have to be blind to what’s right in front of us. There’s a world that desperately needs God, a world filled with loneliness, hopelessness, and fear. We have somehow become deaf to a cry that reaches heaven coming from the souls of men. But God hears.

Erwin McManus

 

Laminin- Colossians 1:17

My friend Brian sent me an email the other day suggesting that I go on YouTube.com and find a video titled “How great is our God”. It’s a video of pastor Louie Giglio giving a message after a Chris Tomlin concert. He’s speaking to a crowd of about 7,000 about the amazing wonders of God and how God presents Himself to us through creation. I haven’t learned yet how to put videos on my blogging page but as soon as I do, I’ll be sure to get it on here. Just as I would have expected  because of my previous experiences hearing Louie’s messages, I was truly blessed by what he had to say. You definitely need to watch the video but I wanted to tell you about two things. The BLACK HOLE and LAMININ.

This is a photograph taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. It is of the center of a black hole in a galaxy millions of light years from Earth. All Christians believe that God created the universe and everything in it. Look at what the image is that is located in the center of that black hole millions of light years away. I won’t tell you what it looks like to me, you just decide quickly what it appears to be to you.

Laminin is some kind of protein that acts as the glue that holds all of our trillions of cells together.
Here is a diagram of what laminin looks like in scientific circles…….
During the talk, Louie Giglio then displayed an actual microscopic photo of a single Laminin cell and it looked exactly like the photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope of the black hole light years from Earth. They say that God is everywhere. In the far reaches of the Universe and in every cell of our bodies. Scripture states in Colossians 1:17 that by God, all things hold together. Be blessed.

Heart of a hero

My wife Debi and I have a nephew named Michael. Michael had the opportunity of living an incredible life for 17 years and was then able to help others as he went to spend eternity with Jesus. I wanted to share his story with you. This is a picture of Michael’s mom Anita “my wife’s sister” and David “the man who recieved Michael’s heart” 

On June 22, 2004, Anita Erwin looked hopelessly at her physically shattered 17-year-old son, Michael Williams. The North Carolina teenager was in the Intensive Care Unit at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte after suffering a host of injuries in a car accident the day before: a fractured skull, pelvis, clavicle, ribs and eye socket, a ruptured spleen and a lacerated liver. Worst of all was the injury to his brain, which had been so badly battered it could no longer tell his collapsed lungs to breathe.When the neurosurgeon said it was time to discuss organ donation, “it was almost a relief,” recalls Anita, 40, a disease management specialist from Kannapolis, N.C. As a registered nurse, Anita knew that Michael, a swimming and gymnastics star who loved kids and was a dedicated volunteer for his church and the local fire department, couldn’t survive.”I needed an answer, a direction to go in.” Fulfilling Michael’s wish to be an organ donor allowed Anita to feel that she could perform one last act on behalf of her son: “I was not going to let Michael go without honoring his request.”Little did she know that by authorizing the recovery of Michael’s organs, she would forge an unusual friendship that would celebrate her son’s life and light up the darkest chapter in her own.

A Priceless Gift

After Michael died, Anita received a letter informing her that one person had been implanted with his heart, one with his kidney and one with a portion of his liver. “I was just ecstatic that life could continue,” Anita recalls. Then, three weeks later, the daughter of a woman Anita’s father was dating said that she knew who had gotten Michael’s heart: She had once worked in a factory with the man’s wife. The revelation, says Anita, “was like dangling a carrot in front of a horse. This man possibly has my son’s heart! The heart that used to beat in my body, too!”

Meanwhile, David Harris of Marion, N.C., was marveling that he could now plan a future. Only a month earlier, the disabled construction worker, no longer able to work, was dying from an inherited heart defect called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. “I was weak, weak, weak,” says David, now 48. “Every time I put my shoes on I thought, Will I take these off at the end of the day or will someone else?” He had every reason to wonder. In 1983, his father, Fred, had died of the same disease at age 57; five years later, his brother, Terry, died at 27. Just a year earlier, David’s only son, Josh, despite having been implanted with a pacemaker, died suddenly at 22.

In August, the mutual friend of the two families put Anita’s dad, Paul Capps, on the phone with David. Paul suggested that Anita might want to meet him. “When she’s ready, I’m ready,” said David. Anita called in January.

David felt awkward telling Anita how good he now felt with her son’s heart inside him: He bicycled 25 miles a night and walked everywhere, dropping 30 lbs. Mindful of his gift, he shunned alcohol and cigarettes. “I was glad to hear he was taking care of it,” says Anita, smiling. “I would have been real mad at him if he wasn’t!”

One day in September 2005, David happened to be near the hospital where Anita worked and dropped by to visit. “We hugged and we cried,” he recalls. “I thanked her, but I could thank her a million times and it still wouldn’t be enough.”

Legacy of Hope

Two months later, on National Donor Sabbath, David went with Anita to her church, the First Reformed Church in Landis, N.C., to help her give a presentation about the importance of organ donation. The two have since become good friends and travel together to promote organ donation awareness.

“Knowing David has been absolutely wonderful for us,” says Anita. “He has a lot of love and compassion and knows what it’s like to suffer and to lose a son. We’re family members now.” That they are — over Thanksgiving, David, his wife, Debra, and daughter, Latisha Thomas, 29, stayed with Anita, her husband, Mike Erwin, and Anita’s daughter, Emily Williams, 18.

David notes Michael had won trophies for swimming and gymnastics, but his achievements did not end with his death: “Michael saved three lives!” he exclaims. “If there’s such a thing as a hero, Michael is a hero.”