this week is one of the most difficult I have faced in college. I am convinced that my professors got together in some shadowy chamber at the beginning of the year and contrived to have all of our grades in the same weeks. As a result of this diabolical plot, 3 weeks of my semester are worth 95% of my grades in every class. As I am in the middle of one of these weeks now, I am learning a whole new aspect of leaning on God. I hit a point today where I simply could not keep studying. I flopped down on my couch, very much apathetic to this entire college experience, and was rewarded by Christ's presence flooding the room as I listened to the new Passion CD. I didn't plan to have a big Spiritual encounter, and actually haven't had time to get in the word today. But in the midst of my stress, my overworked soul was given a moment of peace and safety. the Lord, the Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, and HOLY God, looked down at little tiny me and said "I am going to give him what he needs. Not what he wants, but exactly what he needs to get through this week. And he will know it is Me."
How incredible is that thought? The Bible says that He will "lift us up on wings like eagles", that in our weakness he is made strong. That isn't a conditional, "if you try as hard as you can, I'll help some too" statement. This is a statement saying that regardless of how exhausted we are, how hard we bite it, and how epically we fail, He is there pulling us up, arms open wide to pick us up and carry us on.
How great is our God?
Monday, March 7, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
To be a hero
Hero
the word brings to mind powerful men of legend, people who have fought, bled, and died for a cause. Men and women who have gained victory against impossible odds, and as a result, are immortalized in history books across schools and libraries, and in popular media, like movies.
Men such as Alexander the Great, Winston Churchill, and even Nelson Mandela are considered heroes because they changed the face of the earth. Alexander unified an incredible amount of nations under one banner and government. Churchill stood in the face of the Nazi oppression and didn't blink, and Mandela managed to unite one of the most divided countries in human history.
There are fictional heroes that poeple look up to as well. Think of any major action movie, and the Hero is the one that wins. John Wayne always gets his man, Superman always saves Lois, Chuck Norris is always a heroic Texas Ranger, and Mark Wahlberg always manages to go from confused to heroic, regardless of the character he plays.
Today, we associate "hero" with anything from a combat veteran to a singer or athlete we admire. We have trivialized this word and turned it into a pop culture buzzword. Children are supposed to write about who their "hero" is, and are encouraged to pick a popular figure in the culture. I have lost count of how many college kids view Bieber as a hero.
The point of all of this is we are forgetting the true archetype of the Hero.
A hero is the one who comes on the scene when everything is at its darkest. He steps in the gap in front of the frightened, helpless people. He stands firm, saying "regardless of my fate, I will make sure this battle is won"
Consider Gandalf, fighting against the monster in Tolkein's Lord of the Rings. He knows he might die standing on that bridge, but he takes the hit to save the Fellowship, and stands firm, shouting "You shall not pass!"
There is one hero though, who surpasses all others. He stepped into time and space over 2,000 years ago. He lived a perfect life, and died sinless on a Cross that we might be saved from our impending doom. He is the Son of God. Christ Jesus.
The beauty is, He is coming back. And unlike his first arrival, in a lowly stable under the cover of night, His return will be triumphant. He will look the part of the Hero.
Revelation 19:11 says, "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war."
He will gather up those who have placed their faith in Him, drawing them to Himself and into eternal life.
Christ is the ultimate Hero. He loves you, and is calling you to Himself.
From the Arches, in the shadow of the Cross
T.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
the word brings to mind powerful men of legend, people who have fought, bled, and died for a cause. Men and women who have gained victory against impossible odds, and as a result, are immortalized in history books across schools and libraries, and in popular media, like movies.
Men such as Alexander the Great, Winston Churchill, and even Nelson Mandela are considered heroes because they changed the face of the earth. Alexander unified an incredible amount of nations under one banner and government. Churchill stood in the face of the Nazi oppression and didn't blink, and Mandela managed to unite one of the most divided countries in human history.
There are fictional heroes that poeple look up to as well. Think of any major action movie, and the Hero is the one that wins. John Wayne always gets his man, Superman always saves Lois, Chuck Norris is always a heroic Texas Ranger, and Mark Wahlberg always manages to go from confused to heroic, regardless of the character he plays.
Today, we associate "hero" with anything from a combat veteran to a singer or athlete we admire. We have trivialized this word and turned it into a pop culture buzzword. Children are supposed to write about who their "hero" is, and are encouraged to pick a popular figure in the culture. I have lost count of how many college kids view Bieber as a hero.
The point of all of this is we are forgetting the true archetype of the Hero.
A hero is the one who comes on the scene when everything is at its darkest. He steps in the gap in front of the frightened, helpless people. He stands firm, saying "regardless of my fate, I will make sure this battle is won"
Consider Gandalf, fighting against the monster in Tolkein's Lord of the Rings. He knows he might die standing on that bridge, but he takes the hit to save the Fellowship, and stands firm, shouting "You shall not pass!"
There is one hero though, who surpasses all others. He stepped into time and space over 2,000 years ago. He lived a perfect life, and died sinless on a Cross that we might be saved from our impending doom. He is the Son of God. Christ Jesus.
The beauty is, He is coming back. And unlike his first arrival, in a lowly stable under the cover of night, His return will be triumphant. He will look the part of the Hero.
Revelation 19:11 says, "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war."
He will gather up those who have placed their faith in Him, drawing them to Himself and into eternal life.
Christ is the ultimate Hero. He loves you, and is calling you to Himself.
From the Arches, in the shadow of the Cross
T.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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