If you haven’t seen Spiderman yet, you may want to turn down the sound before I give part of it away.
Having said that, I have been reflecting on the theology of Super Heroes.
God’s Glory and Our Joy
Most Christians could tell a story about some pastor or theologian who helped them understand a key truth. One of my key influences has been John Piper.
For years I struggled to understand the relationship between God’s glory and my happiness. I knew that two things are true: God is deserving of all glory. And, second, I knew that I wanted to be happy. The Bible clearly says that God will show all people that He is the greatest, most glorious God and that there is no other. And, I knew personally that I wanted a life full of joy.
Emphases for High School Graduates
Graduation is just around the corner. As a pastor, that means that I will once again be sharing a letter with graduating seniors. Every year I make it a point to tell graduating seniors who are getting ready to venture out into the world what we most want them to remember. These are the things we pray will always stick with them.
We tell our graduating seniors. Never forget:
1. Jesus Christ is the only solution. He paid the penalty for His people. Believe in Him. Receive the gift of eternal life from Him and your sins are forgiven. The alternative is unthinkable (John 3:36).
If You’re In a “Tight Spot”
The other night at dinner my family reviewed the Old Testament story of Jehosheba. The quick summary is that a murderous woman named Athaliah made it her goal to murder all the heirs to the throne. But, for brave Jehosheba she would have been successful. Jehosheba was heroic. She hid her little nephew and his nurse for six years. Discovery at any time would have meant horrible death.
My family and I talked about what had to be true of Jehosheba in order for her to save the life of her baby nephew. We concluded that in a time of crisis Jehosheba combined clear thinking, faithful courage, and decisive action.
Feeling Down?
Week of May 7, 2007
One way to beat depression is to stop thinking of ourselves and start thinking more deeply about Christ.
Let me tell you something to avoid asking a friend who is feeling down. I am not saying it is always wrong, but be careful. Ask this question and you may make the situation worse.Here is the question to avoid, “How are you doing?” “How’s it going for you?”
It is Not a Swear Word
Week of April 30, 2007
The biblical concept of submission is a beautiful one. God works in and through submission and uses those over us to shelter us from some of the storms of life.
Non-Christians regularly throw around words that should not be part of a believer’s vocabulary. No matter how flippantly people may say, “Oh my God,” Christians should never use our Creator’s name irreverently.
You already knew that. What is interesting, is that there are words in the Christians vocabulary that society treats as swear words.
Don’t Get Phished
Beginning the week of January 22, 2007
Don’t get “phished.” The kind of “phishing” I am talking about here has nothing to do with lures or tackle boxes. It is phishing spelled with a “ph.” Getting “phished” happens when you receive what looks like a harmless e-mail asking you to click on a link or download something. But, when you do this, your identity is ultimately stolen via the internet. Identity theft rocketed to an estimated 56 billion stolen in 2006.
God is a Sun and Shield for His Own
For the week of September 18, 2006
If you are looking for a verse for this week, think about this one. Psalm 84:11 says,
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
Reflect on the picture that God is a “sun” and “shield.” The idea of God being the sun symbolizes power. To even look at the sun hurts our eyes. God is an atomic explosion. All power, light inaccessible hid from our eyes.
We All Want to Be Written Into the Story
For the week of September 11, 2006
My 3 year old daughter Mary Beth loves to be written into the story. She likes traditional fairy tales a lot. But, she loves them even more when I invent a role for her in the story. So, I’ve been rewriting fairy tales with a dark haired 3 year old named Mary Beth in a starring role.