Distance makes the heart grow fonder

After a short hiatus, I'm back! While healing through injuries and several other life things. I couldn't get the last book of Christopher Paolinis' out of my head. He describes the distance between dragon and dragon rider as an unbearable ache. After leaving his dragon behind; the dragon rider missed her presence in his head. Missed having her understanding love and her disciplining care. Everything about her, he missed. I couldn't help but think of the Old Testament. About how the people and their decisions brought them closer or further away from God. The emotions all tied up in these decisions and how it is the same today for our walk with Christ.

When we make decisions for God, we are close to Him. We walk with Him and have the ties that bond us to Him. When we don't; when we decide to go out on our own, we end up with the same feelings as the dragon rider and his dragon. When we forsake prayer, Godly actions and Godly thoughts we begin to miss the still small voice of Christ. Miss his discipling care. The piece that makes us whole. He is the friend that dances with us and that tells us when we mess up. He is an integral part of ourselves. Bonded from the moment we are reborn to him and a life long friend that can always be counted to defend and love us.

As Psalms 119 says: "Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight." {111}, "You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word."{114}, "Your testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors." {24}, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." {105}. His testimonies and laws and words are all God getting to know us; presenting himself to us to love and be loved in return.

A Dragon of a Prayer

I've been, how should I say it?... Devouring Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle. It is what you would think about dragon books. Dragon and rider are connected, they have to learn how to work as a team, they have to save the world.

Through all of that though, what really got to me was this part of the book:

They enveloped each other within the folds of their thoughts, holding each other with an intimacy no physical embrace could replicate, allowing their identities to merge once again. Their greatest comfort was a simple one: they were no longer alone. To know that you were with one who cared for you, and understood every fiber of your being, and would not abandon you is the most precious relationship a person can have...

In that moment, while I was reading, it immediately brought to mind prayer. Prayer is the way we talk to God, we are told to, "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), that when we pray we are to give thanks; to come to Him with everything that we are. Our worries, our plans, our loves and our troubles. When I pray, I am enfolded in His love, held by Him in an intimacy that no physical embrace can even dare to match. I am folded within the Loving arms of God, and in prayer, I am no longer alone. I am merged with Him and have that most precious of relationships. I am understood, cared for and totally belong. Never neglect prayer for the small things of this world. We are created for this type of relationship; one only found with Jesus Christ. Believe He is, all that He says He is, and you will have the ultimate relationship better than a Dragon and her Rider.

What Batman taught me

My brother and I were having one of many random conversations and we meandered to the topic of what comic books taught us. Being different people we learned different things and Batman is one of my most memorable.

Batman epitomized for me the ideal of taking a horrible situation and not letting it destroy you. If Batman had given into the deaths of his parents, he could have walked the path of bitterness. He could have walked the path of destruction and disease; creating nothing but fear and death in his wake (and I'm sure somewhere someone has written an alterverse where that is exactly what he did). However he didn't give into those things.

Instead he became The Caped Crusader. Fighting for truth and justice and for the cleaner streets of Gotham. In much the same way we can also rely on Christ to help us become The Caped Crusader for the people in our lives. Genesis 50:20 says, "But as for you, you thought evil against me; God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

Even when people do evil towards us, when we lose the things we hold most dear; we can hold to the knowledge that Christ works through us all for good. To save those who we don't even know yet, to give us what we lost, to work the plans that He has for us, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Once Upon a Faith Pt. 2

Episode 22; Emma has eyes opened by faith. The message of True Love defeating all curses rings in her ears, and throughout the episode... and I can't help but think: God's Love is like this.

The truest form of Love. Caring for us before we are born (Psalm 139:13), while we do evil (Romans 5:6) and when we become his heirs (Matthew 7:9-11). He lived for us to know, died to be with us forever and came back to Love us all over again. His Love breaks any curse (sin) that holds sway over our lives, any difficult path we must follow to stay on his path (temptation) His Love makes everything right and new again ().

Just as the true Loves kiss Snow White received brought her new and happy life; so does following Christ in everything that we do. So does caring for God as our first Love (Jeremiah 2:2) always will.

Once Upon A Faith Pt. 1

I've been watching Once Upon a Time on Netflix. Giving it, its fair shake; basically watching as much of the show as Netflix has. This shows' main message is the power of true love and faith. Which cannot help but bring me to The Bible and Christ.

There was a time in all of our lives when our faith did not exist. That other Christians running around believing in this book of stories, sounded just as crazy as Henry talking to Emma about the book. You may have felt sorry for them, or wanted to shake what you thought was sense into them; you may have even just tried to humor them. But then something happened, you found faith.

For Emma she had no faith until.. tragedy. Henry dies. But, it is his action backed faith that opens Emma's eyes. Just like The Bible says about our faith in James 2:17-18. Our faith is supported by the works that we do in obedience to Christ and what He says is right. When we obey and trust; our eyes are opened more and more. People believed Jesus when they saw His works, we now are encouraged and grow through works. Just as Henry kept his faith through trials and disbelief so must we. In the end we may lead an Emma to trust and obey and find the family they have been searching for all along.

Psyched Out

I don't know if you have heard of the show Psych, but I consider it a fun watch.

While enjoying the silliness I realized that this show is a good example of Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Each episode starts with lessons or experiences that Shawn and Gus have when they were children. The episode then shows how that experience or lesson correlates with what they are doing as adults. They go through all the shenanigans and usually end up getting advice from his dad, and then solving the case. It's a good reminder for us that as we have our own children, or influence children, to be careful what you teach them. It will effect the rest of their lives.

Worf's Stand

Recently I was watching an episode of Star Trek: TNG where Worf makes a very unpopular decision. He refuses a blood transfusion to a Romulan. He believes that to help the Romulan would be giving aid to the enemy ; something totally against everything he stands for. Pushed, prodded, guilt tripped and made to watch the Romulan die, he still stands for what he believes.

Even when the culture around him, the government he has chosen to live under, and his closest friends disapprove; he stands firm.

This is a small picture of how we as Christians should stand for what Christ has laid out for everything (the universe, sexuality, you). Just like Daniel when he is thrown in the lions den in Daniel 6. We stand firm for Christ in our positions within friendships, cultures and the government we choose the live under, God will take care of the rest.

Fringe: Who are your choices for?

I've been catching up on Fringe. I missed so much the first time and I'm really enjoying catching up on it all. The broad message of the show is choices we make for Love.

Walters' choice for Love was to open up the fabric of space time. He based his decisions on the emotions he felt for his son and how it was to lose him. What he intended for good {save Peter from the disease that was killing him} ultimately cause destruction and pain to not only Peter but those effected by ripples Walter set in motion when he opened that tiny crack.

What Walter couldn't see was any other plan, but the one he had hatched. God always has a better plan for us. God says, "For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." {Jeremiah 29:11} Sometimes we need to be reminded that God's Love is the only plan that comes out the best. Even when we think we have the answer sitting right in front of us, staying the course of God's plan for you leads to what you lost and more than what you've always dreamed.

As we can see in Fringe even our choices made out of something as noble as love can have disastrous consequences. This is why we must always "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" {Matthew 6:33} so that the ripple effect in our lives becomes one touching all others with the hope and Love of Christ.

Friends: The Legendary Journey

I've finally finished my Hercules: The Legendary Journeys watch through. I have to say there are things that I didn't remember and as I watched Sorbo do his thing after three heart attacks/strokes; I was impressed. The one thing that struck me most about this show is how, even though Hercules was as strong as 10 men, he couldn't do it all without his friends. They were there for him through thick and thin. They were willing to give their lives to save his. They were understanding when he had to make whatever decisions he had to make and got on to him when he wasn't thinking straight. These are all characteristics of what makes a good life, good friends. The Bible says in Proverbs 1:10-18 to beware people who encourage you to do the wrong thing. To run from them. It says in Proverbs 18 that "a friend sticks closer than a brother." This show is a small picture of what life and relationships with Christ is like. Relationships that grow ever deeper. Until you know without a doubt; that these people will always be there for you. In hard times and the good times, we fold each other in Love that can only come from Christ. Remember as you go about your day to extend the Love of Christ not only to the lost and unresponsive; but to your fellow Christians as well.

Brightest Day and Blackest Night Con Nooga 2012 Sermon

Just a quick 'ello! To all my new followers, so happy to see you reading this. Please feel free to interact in whatever way you are lead!

For everyone's viewing pleasure: Brightest Day and Blackest Night Con Nooga 2012 Sermon

A new blog coming soon! Until then, enjoy!