Truth Without Excuse

Batman and Goliath

2016-01-25T07:30:00.000-05:00

Superman, Spider-man, Arrow, Iron Man - it seems like superheros are everywhere you turn these days, from TV to the big screen, and every year there are just more and more! In a couple months, they'll be releasing Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which has already had so much hype, it's sure to be a box office smash! Later this year, there will be new movies for Captain America, the X-men, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; meanwhile, Supergirl got her own TV series recently, DC's Legends of Tomorrow TV series has just kicked off, and The Flash is currently in his second season - just to name a few!

It seems that people today just can't get enough of their comic book favorites, and I think there's good reason behind it. When you get right down to it, superhero stories are great because of what they offer...

When you go to a superhero movie, you know from the beginning that you're going to see crazy costumes, a little humor, and lots of action. You know that the villain is going to have some wile, maniacal scheme to bring about utter chaos and take over the world. And you know that, when it's all said and done, no matter how evil the villain is, no matter how insurmountable and overwhelming the odds seem to be, in the end, someone is going to rise above it all, perhaps even at great personal cost, and they will emerge victorious to restore the world to the way it ought to be! Even if total victory is not achieved in this episode or this particular film in the series, we will keep coming back because we know that somehow, it will work out, and we want to be there to see how it's done!

What it all boils down to, I believe, is a message of HOPE!

We live in a world, after all, that has a lot in common with a superhero's world. There seems to be a lot of chaos in our world - terrorists, crazy dictators, corrupt politicians - and even in the personal realm, there are a lot of unknowns. Perhaps your arch-enemy is a teacher or boss or co-worker who just doesn't understand, or maybe you're facing a super-villain like cancer or looming bankruptcy. And I think the superhero stories are attractive to so many people because it's a way for them to say (even if it's all subconscious), "Look at _____! Their problems seemed to be so big, but they overcame the odds... and so can I!"

There's nothing wrong with that! People have been telling "superhero" stories for centuries for that same purpose! Sometimes the heroes were made-up characters like Jack (who climbed the magical beanstalk) or Hercules. Sometimes the heroes were real-life figures - military leaders, knights, etc.

David vs. Goliath - a superhero story of Biblical proportions!

When you turn to the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, there's a tale that has all the makings of a superhero adventure! David is a lowly shepherd boy whose bigger brothers have joined Israel's army in their fight against the Philistines. Goliath, the Philistine warrior, is a giant so big and strong that all the Israelites are terrified and no one wants to accept his challenge to battle. When David sees what's going on, he knows something has to be done, so he decides that HE will fight the giant! But nobody thinks he can win. The king tries to put him in a suit of armor, but the armor is so heavy, David can't even walk in it. Instead of riding into battle like a soldier, then, David goes down to the creek and picks up some rocks, and he runs to meet the giant armed with nothing but a stone and a sling! Yet somehow, when he lets that rock fly, it strikes Goliath right between the eyes, and the giant falls!

Children love that story, and we continue to share it over and over because it's inspirational. "You, too, can defeat life's biggest, baddest giants with God's help!"

One of my favorite things about David, though, is something he shares in common with my favorite of the comic book superheroes, Batman. See, Batman doesn't have any super powers. He can't fly. He doesn't have X-ray vision. For all intents and purposes, he is a "normal" person who simply has to rely on his wits and athleticism (and some pretty cool gadgets!) in order to beat the bad guys. And from the beginning, his story is one that highlights human fears and vulnerabilities. Even though he's born to inherit a fortune, he sees his parents murdered right in front of him. Even though he eventually takes down all kinds of outrageous villains (be it the Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, or any of a host of others), he often finds himself in situations where his life is on the line. He's not perfect. He makes mistakes. But he learns from his failures and grows along the way until he comes out victorious!

One of my personal favorites,
Adam West as Batman in 1966

And like Batman, David's story is one that mixes victories with brokenness over and over. When Samuel came to anoint the one who would be king after Saul, David's father didn't think enough of him to even call him from the field at first. Even after Samuel anointed David, he didn't become king right away, but he also didn't do anything to make himself king; instead, he had to wait for God's timing, not becoming king until after Saul died several years later. In fact, after the heroic scene where he slew Goliath, instead of letting David enjoy his victory, Saul became jealous and on several occasions tried to kill him! Then, even when David had ascended to the throne, we all know the story of how David was brought low again when he fell into the sin of adultery with Bathsheba. This is the man who wrote large portions of the book of Psalms and went on to be known as a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), yet many of the psalms show David in tears, confessing his sins and asking for God's forgiveness and help.

Victories and vulnerabilities.

This is the David I can identify with - not the shepherd who brings down a giant with a rock and a sling, but the guy who sometimes feels like he's being passed over, the guy who maybe struggles to understand God's timing, the guy who sees his shortcomings more clearly than his successes. And maybe you can identify with these feelings, too.

When I was a kid, my Dad was a superhero. I can remember, at 6 or 7 years old, being AMAZED at how big his muscles were, and thinking, "If only I could grow up to be big and strong like him!" Now, if you asked him, I'm sure he would tell you he's no Superman. I remember him coming to me a couple times and apologizing for not being the best dad, but to me - I was like, "What are you talking about? You're the best dad in the world!"

To an extent, I think it's a matter of perspective. Maybe you're so close, all you can see are your flaws, but you don't see the ways that you're already a hero in someone else's eyes! And it's OK to see the flaws and know where we want to improve, but if David's story teaches us anything, it's that you don't have to be perfect today in order to be a winner!

I think that's what's truly great about David's story. He teaches us that, even if things don't go the way they should today, the most important things are to keep our faith in God, to depend on him to keep his promises and work things out according to his plan, and then to be willing to confess our shortcomings and keep going.

Yes, there may be times when you feel small and you have to face some pretty big giants. We all have our limitations, vulnerabilities, and fears to deal with. But just like we tell the kids when we read the story of David and Goliath, with God's help, you CAN overcome!

Decide today - right now - to be strong, to trust in the Lord, to confess your faults and keep pressing on.

     Be an overcomer!

          Be a hero!

                    Just like David...

                              ...or Batman!

You might also like these superhero-themed posts I've written:
* Jesus Christ, Superman - Part 1 - A father's only son comes to earth to save humanity!
* Jesus Christ, Superman - Part 2 - Sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemption... in Smallville
* My Spider-Sense is Tingling - You are being transformed, one way or another
* Holy Metaphors, Batman! - Lessons about spiritual warfare from The Dark Knight Rises
* A Super Symbol of Hope - How Superman's 'S' shield points to the cross, and other neat things

If the Shoes Fit

2015-05-25T15:05:00.000-04:00

The Cobbler is not your
usual Adam Sandler movie

If you're like me, when someone brings up Adam Sandler, your mind immediately jumps to his zany movies like Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, and The Wedding Singer. Maybe you even think back to some of his crazy characters on Saturday Night Live, or maybe you just associate him with crude humor. I admit that Sandler's sense of humor isn't for everyone, but I also appreciate that he seems to have mellowed out a little bit over the years.

(Some of you may remember the post I made a few years ago about Sandler's movie Click - click here to go there!)

I like a handful of his movies, myself, but I'm really not a huge Sandler fan. My wife, Amber, on the other hand, has always loved him, so for better or worse, we've seen most everything he's put out. That's why we were both a little surprised when Amber was looking at a Redbox machine recently and discovered an Adam Sandler movie from 2014 that we had never seen before!

The Cobbler is nothing like The Waterboy - let's put it that way. The Cobbler seems very subdued next to the movies he was making 10 years ago, but I have to say I really enjoyed it! I'll try not to give too much away for those who might be interested in looking it up.

In the story, Max (Sandler) works in the shoe repair shop that was once run by his father and his grandfather before him. As a child, Max's dad had showed him a special stitching machine that he says was given to the family by an angel (stay with me), and he says the stitching machine should only be used in special circumstances. Max is enthralled and looks forward to helping in the family business. As an adult, however, Max has lost most of his passion for life. He lives with his ailing mother, and he doesn't seem to care anymore what happens to the shop. You might say Max feels trapped.

I'd say there are probably a lot of people out there who could identify with Max. Life hasn't turned out the way they planned, it's not as exciting s it used to be, and they feel like they just don't have much to give anymore.

But one day, something amazing happens. When his regular stitching machine breaks down and he has an order to fill in a hurry, Max decides to go down to the basement and use the special machine his dad had told him about. Later, when the customer doesn't return for his shoes, Max decides, just for fun, to try them on. As soon as he puts his feet in the shoes, though, he's startled by what he sees in the mirror - his appearance has changed to look like the customer who owned the shoes! Max tries it with other shoes, and he discovers that the same thing happens - whenever he resoles a pair of shoes using the special stitching machine, he can transform himself to look just like the customers they belong to!

What would happen if I tried THESE shoes?

At first, Max has a lot of fun running around town disguised as various people. As time goes on, it gets him into some serious trouble, too, but he finally learns that this is a power he can use to accomplish a lot of good in the world.

As I watched the movie, one of the things that kept coming to my mind was the scripture where Paul said he would become "all things to all people" in order to reach as many as possible with the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). I'm sure that literally transforming into the likeness of other people was not at all what Paul was talking about. Paul was referring to the need to meet people where they are in order to lead them to Christ. If you want to reach the homeless, you have to hit the streets. If you want to reach someone with different beliefs, you have to start with common ground. The movie didn't provide the perfect metaphor for this, but that's where my mind went.

As Max learned to do good with his new-found gift, I was also reminded of these verses from Romans:

"But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"

- Romans 10:14-15

But again, of course, the beauty of those feet doesn't come because of the kind of shoes you're wearing. It doesn't matter if you're wearing Chuck Taylors, Nike, or flip flops - what really makes those feet beautiful is the fact that they bring the messenger with good news - the good news that the love of God is free to all and Christ has come, not just to give eternal life to those who believe, but also to give you a life filled with JOY! (John 10:0)

How great it is when we get the chance to share the love of God with others! Whether it's through sharing the Gospel, meeting a specific need, or just doing random acts of kindness, I think we ought to count ourselves blessed when God chooses to use us to make a positive difference in this world! I am always happy when I can be a blessing to someone else!

Maybe, like Max, you feel like you don't have much to give, but that's really not important. Max was just a cobbler who felt stuck in his job and trapped by his responsibilities, but he was able to use the gifts that he did have to make a difference in several people's lives.

It reminded me of something I talked about recently at one of our Wednesday night Bible studies at church. We've been working through the book of Exodus, and we're up to the part where they're describing the ark of the covenant, the tabernacle, and the special clothing the priests were supposed to wear. Moses was the great leader of the people in those days, but Moses could have never done everything that was needed by himself. In order to get all the supplies that were needed, he had to take up a huge free-will offering from amongst the people. Then he needed the help of carpenters, metalworkers, engravers, seamstresses, people who could cut precious stones to the right sizes and shapes, people who could sew fancy designs into curtains... There was a great deal of work to be done, and there were a great deal of people with ordinary jobs who were needed to serve the Lord.

In other words, just because you're not rich, that doesn't mean you don't have anything to give. And just because you're "only a salesman" or "only a factory worker" or "only a secretary", that doesn't mean that your job isn't important or that you can't still be a blessing to someone in service to the Lord. I'm sure a lot of people who were called upon to help build the tabernacle had never dreamed before that their jobs mattered to the Lord. But their story serves to remind us that whatever you do, whatever your skill - what you have is a gift from God, and it all matters in his sight! We can't all be pastors or nurses or teachers, because we need people who can do other things besides that, so God created us with a diversity of gifts so that we all can work together to have everything needed (Romans 12:12-27).

In case nobody told you today, you are important.

What you do - your gifts in life are important, too.

God has given you the talents and skills and gifts that you have, and he has put you where you are on purpose, so that you can be a blessing to others.

What will you do today to bless others and serve the Lord with what you have?

"Render service with enthusiasm,

as to the Lord and not to men and women,

knowing that whatever good we do,

we will receive the same again from the Lord..."

- Ephesians 6:7-8a

Happy Days of Christmas!

2014-12-23T07:30:00.000-05:00

As you probably know, I love Christmas. I love the music, the decorations, the pageants, the get-togethers, and yes, all kinds of Christmas movies and TV specials. Over the past couple years, I've written about some of my favorites - everything from The Grinch to Ernest Saves Christmas - because the Advent and Christmas season is just one of my favorite times of the year!

A quiet Christmas with the Cunningham family
(including the older brother, Chuck!)

Recently, I rediscovered the first Christmas episode from the classic TV show, Happy Days (from Season 2), and it made a huge impression on me. In the episode, Ritchie's father, Howard, wants nothing more than for his family to have a nice, quiet Christmas together. He wants them to take part in all the classic family traditions, and most importantly, he wants their celebration to be family-only. After all, this, Howard later says, is "the whole point of Christmas Eve"!

And I would imagine that for many families, this is exactly what they believe - that Christmas is about families spending time together and having a nice dinner and trimming the tree and reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" together, and showing their love for one another by buying each other as many presents as they can afford - or as many as they can get on credit!

But then there's Fonzie...

The Fonz is one cool guy. He brings presents to Arnold's Drive-in to give to all his friends, and he gives without expecting anything in return. Yes, on the outside, Fonzie is one tough character, but as one of the waitresses at Arnold's puts it, "There is a heart under all that leather!"

But for all his Christmas spirit, Fonzie is one lonely guy. He lives by himself and has no family nearby. It must be especially difficult around the holidays for those who are alone like Fonzie, but I submit to you that there are many who find themselves in the same place. Some are living in nursing homes, some in the hospital, or in homeless shelters. Others have had a death in the family, or they just ended up living far from all their relatives. Children grow up and move away. Friends take a promotion and get transferred to another city. And sometimes, when you're missing that one important person, you can even feel lonely in a crowd of people.

Of course, Fonzie is too cool to let his friends know how lonesome he is. When Potsie invites him to dinner, The Fonz has other plans. He'll be joining his cousins in a neighboring town later that evening for a huge Christmas feast - lots of food and family and presents - or so he says. He doesn't dare to tell the truth. He doesn't want to be a burden on others. It wouldn't be cool to let himself look vulnerable. He doesn't want to be somebody's charity case, anyway, just because they feel guilty or something!

Thankfully, later on, the Cunninghams' family car breaks down. I say, "thankfully," because Fonzie just happens to still be in town, it's a relatively simple repair the car needs, and it provides Ritchie with an opportunity to learn the truth about Fonzie's situation. As Ritchie and Howard are about to leave the garage where Fonzie works, Ritchie remembers that he has a present to give Fonzie. When he goes back and looks in the door, though, he's frozen in his steps by the sight of Fonzie sitting down by himself to eat ravioli from a can.

Ritchie catches Fonzie
eating alone at Christmas

"Who would be eating ravioli from a can if they're supposedly on their way to a giant feast," Ritchie wonders. "And what kind of a way is that for someone to spend Christmas?" He doesn't do anything about it right away, but thankfully (again), those questions plague Ritchie until he has to do something!

I think God orchestrates those chance encounters for us on purpose. When you run into the homeless person on the way to work, it's not an accident. When you pass the Salvation Army bucket on your way into the store, there's a reason. Or when you find out that someone is lonely or depressed or going through a hard time in their life, it's on purpose. God is giving you an opportunity! This is your chance to do something great in the name of Jesus!

Maybe that great thing is as simple as smiling at someone or giving them a hug or praying for them. Maybe it's an opportunity to let them get something off their chest, or to speak healing into their life. Maybe it's as big as giving someone a hand up so they can improve their situation. Or maybe it's as small as inviting them to share a meal.

"For we are God's handiwork,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do."

- Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Eventually, Ritchie and Howard end up at Fonzie's apartment, and sure enough, he's still there. Now, even though The Fonz had insisted both at Arnold's and at the garage that he was on his way to his cousin's house, Ritchie feels confident in his suspicions. After all, Fonzie has missed several opportunities to catch a bus out of town! Still, The Fonz is too proud to admit the truth. He can't be made to look like a liar!

I wonder how many people we pass every day are putting on a happy face to mask their hurt. How many people live in continual pain because their pride prevents them from accepting help? And how often do we look the other way because we don't want to offend or embarrass anybody? I think, if we're honest with ourselves, we know the Scripture is true:

"Even in laughter the heart may ache,

and rejoicing may end in grief."

- Proverbs 14:13 (NIV)

Fonzie's pretty lucky to have a friend like Ritchie who sees past the facade. But how do you help someone when their pride gets in the way?

That's a tough question.

Howard has an answer. Even though it means giving up his family-only Christmas, Howard steps up and does the right thing: he offers Fonzie a graceful way out. Instead of saying, "We know you've been lying to us," and putting Fonzie on the spot, Howard asks for help fixing the family's outdoor Santa decoration. He finds a way to help Fonzie while allowing him to keep his dignity.

Why is that important? Because sometimes you can do more harm than good, even if you have the right intentions. Sometimes, you can hurt someone, even when you're trying to love them. Yes, sometimes, you have to speak up and be persistent in order to see that people get what they need, but at the same time, we remember that real love is patient and kind, and never arrogant or rude (1 Corinthians 13:4).

Howard shows love by making it easier for Fonzie to accept the invitation to spend Christmas with the family without having to look vulnerable. And Fonzie appreciates what is offered to him. He becomes enthusiastic about jumping in to help around the house and joining in with their celebration however he can.

"Hey, God? Thanks!"

We know that Fonzie's spirits have truly been lifted at the end of the episode, when the family is sitting down for Christmas dinner, and they ask Fonzie to say Grace over the meal. Instead of bowing his head, he looks up to the heavens and simply says, "Hey, God? Thanks."

Now, isn't that what Christmas is really all about?

It took sacrifice on Howard's part, and it took a spirit of deep compassion and persistent love, but wasn't it worth it?

Decorations are nice. Family time is wonderful. I enjoy the songs and the movies and the stories... But as Christians, the whole point for us is to remember what it means that God sent his Son for us. Philippians 2 puts it so beautifully when it explains that Jesus emptied himself so that he could be born as a man, and Paul says, "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus."

Jesus came to be the ultimate example of God's love (Romans 5:8), and when he was born, he came to a poor family. He was born into the lowliest of circumstances. The first people to see him were shepherds - working class folks who were generally looked down upon by the majority. And in his ministry, Jesus made a point, over and over, to associate with lepers, prostitutes, the very old and the very young, people with disabilities, outcasts of every variety. No one said, "I need to see Jesus," and found him unwilling to reach out to them, because he came to be Emmanuel - "God with us" - so we could know without a doubt that every single person is loved!

A heart and life full of love, compassion, and sacrifice - this is what Jesus showed us, and that's what he calls us to. And as we share with others the blessings God has given to us - as we make a point, even, to seek out those who are hurting and offer them the same love we've received - then maybe we can inspire them, the way the Cunninghams inspired Fonzie, to lift up out of their sorrows and give the glory to God in the highest!

That would be something worth celebrating! Can you dig it?

A Merry Christmas to all!

For more Christmas-themed posts, check out these articles:
* The Real Santa Claus - Why it's OK for Christians to believe in Santa (sort of)
* Putting on the Santa Suit - A look at The Santa Clause and the meaning of a changed identity
* Loving Charlie Brown - A Charlie Brown Christmas reminds us to love those who feel unloved
* Is It a Wonderful Life? - It can be, when you remember that God made you for a purpose!
* Overcoming the Grinch - Don't let Satan steal your Christmas joy!
* The Cure for Scrooge-itis - A 4-part prescription for what ails you!