The Man and The Superhero

The third movies in several trilogies (Spiderman, Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek) has hit Hong Kong in the last month or so, leaving many here struggling to catch up with the first one, or two of them so they are fully up to date with the final instalments (or getting a refresher course!)

I watched the second Spiderman movie the other night, and yes, and now keen to watch the final instalment. I was struck though, in this one, by the comparison between Spiderman, the superhero, and the man within. Or, rather, the man, Peter Parker with the superhero within.

It left me wondering about ideals and expectations, who we want to see, and who we actually end up with as we get to know someone. I don’t think anyone could have imagined that quiet Peter Parker could possibly turn out to be Spiderman, but there we go…. Is the super hero hidden inside movies, or…do we secretly look for and expect the superhero, or are they in everyone waiting to be uncovered, given the right circumstances (trigger/venom/situation)…

I think there is probably a superhero in all of us, given the right circumstances, though it may not be what we expect to see(given that there are a lot of different kinds of superheros out there). But given that God created each of us to for a specific plan and purpose, and gave us all we need to do all he asks, I think we are all off to a pretty good startJ

Which then brings us to how we use our gifts…!

Being removed

I was looking at a friends engagement party photos tonight, and it got me thinking...

They are lovely photos, a gathering of people, some friends I know, some I don't, all happily together, surrounded by beautiful gum trees and other familiar bits of Australian landscape, the picnic tables, frisbee, people doing normal picnic things... it was all sooo familiar and known, so much so, I could almost smell the beautiful gum trees!

The thought came to me though- I am so removed from it all! From all that is there, known familiar, loved. I had been thinking about it in a very different context recently, but it struck me afresh tonight 'home', familiar, and normal can mean so many different things!

So for now, I am removed from there, and am well and truly here, and that's just right, and till God says so, this is home, normal and familiar:)

On Patience…:)

God of Patience and endurance,

Steadfast as the steadfast stars

Stands Thy promise, Thine assurance

Unto Thine ambassadors:

“I, thy God, will strengthen thee…

Where I am, there thou shalt be.”

Lord, we would endure; O sift us

Clear of weakness; make us strong.

Lord, we would endure; O lift us

Into joy and conquering song.

Cause us in thy peace to dwell,

Seeing the Invisible.

Let us welcome all life’s weather,

Whatsoever it may be;

And, or singly, or together,

Find our heart’s delight in Thee,

Our redeemer, our Adored,

Lover and beloved Lord.

By Amy Charmichael

A WOW verse:)

I was reading through 1 Chronicles 22 last night, and came across the following verse!

Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God, Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD. (1 Chron 22:19)

I love it! Why, I hear you ask?? Well, now that Jesus has come and fulfilled the covenant, he dwells in each of us, his temple. We are called to action, to devote ourselves to God, and build his temple… how else does that work? I guess all we do is a building of His temple, His kingdom, so in all we do, within, and without, we are building something in some way. All we need to do is start..! I am sure there is more to say, and I haven’t been very clear, but there we go, I wanted to share:)

On being beloved (who? Everyone!)

I am reading a book at the moment by Henri Nouwen, called “Life of the Beloved”

It’s awesome! And touches on some things I have read in a previous book I have read by him, on being beloved. It talks through some of the aspects of why we are Christians, from the stand point of being beloved. We are God’s beloved! Each one of us! Knowing, believing, living this has implications on our lives and the lives of those, known or unknown, how we treat them, and ourselves each day. Have you ever tried living as though you were the beloved of someone?

Here’s a few random bits from his book I thought I would share. Enjoy!:)

Yes, there is that voice, the voice that speaks from above and from within and that whispers softly or declares loudly: “You are my beloved, on you my favour rests.” It certainly is not easy to hear that voice in a world filled with voices that shout: “you are no good, you are ugly; you are worthless; you are despicable, you are nobody- unless you can demonstrate the opposite.”

When I know that I am chose, I know that I have been seen as a special person. Someone has noticed me in my uniqueness and as expressed a desire to know me, to come closer to me, to love me. When I write to you that, as the Beloved, we are God’s chosen ones, I mean that we have been seen by God from all eternity and seen as unique, special, precious beings.

When love chooses, it chooses with a perfect sensitivity for the unique beauty of the chosen one, and it chooses without making anyone else feel excluded.

Wading through Revelation...!

Tonight I am wading through, and trying to understand Revelation 6-19, in order to help 10 children aged 7-14 to get a feel for and understand it a bit more for themselves.... and how long do we have to do all this?? About 40 minutes!:)

I think we are going to take the highlights, the pictures, the words spoken out, the events that take place, and find a way for them to explore it for themselves.

Why is it that nothing much has been written on it for Children though? While a nice big challenge for me and my friend as we teach this together, it's also got some good stuff in it for kids, and everyone!

How awesome is this...!!!
I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing: Salvation to our God on his Throne!
Salvation to the Lamb!

And this...!
Immediately I saw Four Angels standing at the four corners of earth, standing steady with a firm grip on the four winds so no wind would blow on earth or sea, not even rustle a tree. 2-3 Then I saw another Angel rising from where the sun rose, carrying the seal of the Living God. He thundered to the Four Angels assigned the task of hurting earth and sea, "Don't hurt the earth! Don't hurt the sea! Don't so much as hurt a tree until I've sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads!"


And this...!

Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, the sound of strong thunder:

Hallelujah!
The Master reigns,
our God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Let us celebrate, let us rejoice,
let us give him the glory!
The Marriage of the Lamb has come;
his Wife has made herself ready.
She was given a bridal gown
of bright and shining linen.
The linen is the righteousness of the saints.

9The Angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.'" He added, "These are the true words of God!"

So yet again I sit in wonder at what an amazing God we have, that we can call him Lord, Friend, Master, King...!

Thoughts on Daniel

The sermon yesterday was on Daniel 2, and has been niggling at me ever since!

There is so much in it, and so much I know I probably wasn't listing to, but I thought I would share a couple that have stuck out:)
One was Nebachadnezza's attitude towards the 'wise men': You have to tell me the dream, AND the interpretation! Now that is a great way to be able to know for sure that what they are telling you is coming from God!

And I love that Daniel has a group of people to pray with, that he's got someone watching his back, supporting, encouraging him, and walking with him, who he can also support, encourage and watch their backs!

But in all of it, the dreams, the interpretation, all the circumstances points to a Heavenly Father leading, directing and orchestrating everything, that all involved can say "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries..." (Dan 2:47)

Oh, to see again and afresh His hand working so clearly and purposefully, daily, and clearly! May we never tire of it!:)