Tag Archives: pop culture

Life is not a Collaboration

Posted on
1

The late actor Dennis Hopper had an eclectic taste for art that found expression in the paintings of artist Andy Warhol; so much so the two decided to collaborate on an art piece….sort of.

Hopper owned a piece entitled “Mao”, an original by Warhol. While in his home one evening Hopper caught a glimpse of the piece and became so spooked he shot the artwork twice. Instead of angering Warhol it impressed the artist so much that he titled each bullet hole and declared the work a “collaboration”.

There’s a lesson to be learned here about our relationship with God.

When it comes to the lives of His followers God is an artist. He is making us into His masterpiece and He’s doing all the work. Now from time to time he gives us a glimpse of His portrait but always with the caveat that He is not finished yet.

Yet sometimes we get spooked at what God is doing in our lives. He may be changing us in ways we never imagined or rearranging things such that we are shocked. These times in our lives can be challenging and they can scare us into thinking we need to collaborate with God. Have you ever found yourself bartering with God over some area of your life? I can think of several times when I’ve had no idea where God was headed but trust me when I say not all portraits are better off with bullet holes in them.

I don’t think anyone of us could legitimately say that Dennis was trying to improve the work, he was scared of it. When we try and wrest control from God as He is painting us into His masterpiece we are in danger of smudging His work. Trying to control our own lives is like asking a toddler to improve on the Mona Lisa with a crayola marker…it’s not going to help.

Let me challenge you today. Read Psalm 113 and Micah 7:18-19.You may be frightened from time to time about what God is doing in your life, it might be uncomfortable or even down right disagreeable but you need to trust God. His character proves that He is working to create the best version of “you” possible. He is not out to ruin us, but to help us thrive. Be patient, be willing and as you do I think you be surprised to find that God is eager to finish his masterpiece with our support but without our “collaboration”.

Community Questions:

Why do you think it’s difficult to trust God in the midst of our everyday lives?

As an artist has God offered us a look at his portfolio? Where?

Knowing is still only half the battle

Posted on
4

Far before it was a Hollywood hit GI Joe was a afternoon cartoon series for kids. I am proud to say that I was one of those kids…and so were many of you. I can still remember some of my favorite episodes where GI Joe and C0bra would battle it out. Do you remember the old Public Service Announcements they would run at the end of every show. These PSA’s reminded children everywhere not to take rides from strangers and to avoid playing with downed power lines. They were simple straight forward reminders of how to stay safe. But these PSA’s always ended with a very important phrase; do you remember what it was?

Now you know and knowing is only half the battle.

In other words they were telling us kids that knowing what to do is not enough. We had to do it too! That’s the other half of the battle.

Christians can learn something from GI Joe. Knowing is still only half the battle. I meet many people who know a lot of Bible verses but these same people have trouble putting into practice what they know. Have you ever struggled with this? Let’s get real practical. How many of us struggle with giving God a portion of the money we earn? You know that fancy word called tithe? Many of us know that God wants us to give yet struggle to actually give him anything. We come up with lots of excuses.

We need to understand that knowledge is only half the battle. Action is the other half. Knowledge without action leads to defeat. Consequently action without knowledge can sometimes lead to disaster. Let’s step up to the plate and line up our actions with our knowledge. GO JOE!

Community Questions:

What are some areas in our churches where we excel at knowledge but are deficient in action?

How are you going to put what you know into practice?

Silver Bullets Part 2

Posted on
1

Some of us may remember the Lone Ranger. He was feared by all the criminals of the west for one key reason. He was effective at bringing them to justice. They might be able to escape other lawman, but not the Lone Ranger. His calling card was a single silver bullet. This silver bullet would strike fear into the heart of those who would break the law for they knew it belonged to the one who could stop them. If the Lone Ranger was not able to bring lawbreakers to justice his calling card would be ineffective. The same is true about the Christians silver bullet.

John told us that our faith brings victory. The only way the world will fear our faith, is if we consistently have victory. SO, the million dollar question is how do we get the victory? 1 John 5:10 answers that question. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ we receive an inner witness.

The inner witness is the Holy Spirit (look at verses 6-9). The Holy Spirit comes into the life of the one who has faith. It is the Spirit who makes us into the Children of God. This is important because it is only when the Spirit enters us that we actually have the power and presence of God in our lives.

Our power for victory comes because the Holy Spirit is active in our lives. He brings the full power and presence of God in our lives. Through Him we overwhelmingly conquer (Romans 8:37). Through Him we have the power to defeat the schemes of the devil (2 Corinthains 10:3-5). We succeed because He works through us.

In a way then, we are God’s calling card. His reminder to the world that HE can bring them to justice, He has the power to overcome the world. The Spirit through us is consistently confronting those in the world who would see those who follow Jesus fail. If you and I are God’s calling card, are we being effective? Are we communicating victory or defeat? Do our lives strike fear or bring laughter? Now is the time for victory. Faith is the tool, the Spirit is the means, and you and I are the calling cards.

Community Questions:

Where has God placed you as His calling card?

Why is important that we have an “inner” witness and not just an “outer” witness?

Silver Bullets Part 1

Posted on
1

While you may not find any mention of werewolves in the Bible, there is something we can learn from the mythical creatures that can help us in our everyday Christian life.

Werewolves are mythical monsters which are notoriously difficult to dispatch. In fact, the only real way to kill a werewolf is with a silver bullet. Shoot with any other kind of bullet, trap it, drown it, burn it, nothing else works, silver bullets are your only hope against werewolves. 300 years ago when people believed these monsters lurked the woods hunting innocent people the silver bullet was their only hope for victory.

As Christians we face a daunting foe too, the world. It may seem as though the world is harmless enough but the Apostle John told us that the world is all those who have set themselves against Jesus Christ and His followers (1 John 5:19). That is a large foe, a powerful foe, a foe which at first glance seems difficult to overcome. But John didn’t think so. He said those born of God overcome the world. (1 John 5:4). So how can we overcome the world? Is it social justice? Is it Christian leadership in places of influence? Is it Biblically literate Christians? Perhaps. But not one of these, as important as they all are, act as a silver bullet. A single source for victory. So is there a simple solution to overcoming our enemies?

YES! John said: and this is the victory that overcomes the world our faith! (1 John 5:4). Faith is the Christians silver bullet. The one thing that will stop the world every time. So let me ask you…are you using silver bullets? What is the one thing you fall back on when things get tough. When the world comes at you with all it’s got how do you respond? It’s tempting to think escaping or hiding from the world is just as good as victory, but in truth there absolutely different. The best way to find out whether or not your using silver bullets is to understand how you cope with challenges the world throws your way. Some of us turn to food, some to cigarettes, some to television, some to our i pod. We try and escape the fear and the challenge. But why escape when you can have victory.

Jesus went to great lengths to give us a weapon for victory. When we exercise faith, we can overcome any challenge the world throws our way.

Community Questions:

What are some things that you turn to when the pressure is on in order to escape the world’s attack?

How can faith help us overcome the daily challenges we face?