For this reason, my dad and I never watched TV on Sunday morning. Saturday morning was all about cartoons. Sunday morning was reserved for Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, and other televangelists. Sunday morning TV was religious, and religion was for kooks.

I spent the first part of my adult life with this preconception about Bible teachers and preachers on TV. It didn’t help that the transgressions of Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart received unbridled media attention in the 1980s. Televangelists were all a bunch of charlatans and hypocrites. That’s what my dad believed, and that was what the news media reported. So, that’s what I believed, too.

And then I got saved.

After I became a Christian, my preconceptions were still there. I was wary of watching a preacher on TV, but I was also curious. Some were overly saccharine. Some were painfully dull. Some were unsettlingly focused on fire and brimstone. And some…some were very good.

A couple of the television Bible teachers really resonated with me. I liked their style of communication. I appreciated their depth of analysis and their insights concerning the original language and historical context of various Bible passages. I valued the real world application of their teaching, and I found that the more I listened — the more I studied and learned — the more interested I became in other teachers. A message that previously may have seemed too radical or extreme made sense after I understood the fundamentals.

Imagine sitting in a lecture on calculus when you are 8 years old and just getting a handle on fractions. The instructor is blabbing on about limits, derivatives and integrals, scribbling formulas on the whiteboard — and it’s all gibberish to you. It simply makes no sense. You may feel bored, annoyed, or even a little stupid. You have no context, no foundation for the teaching, and so you have no interest. It is not until you have learned fractions, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and other mathematical fundamentals that you can understand and appreciate the application of calculus.

I watch several television Bible teachers frequently now, and their instruction is invaluable to my personal development and my Christian walk. Are there charlatans and hypocrites out there? Sure. There are also some pretty crappy math teachers. You can find people who lack character in virtually any profession. You will also find some very talented, committed people of integrity who are walking in their natural gifts.

If you are new to the Bible or not even a Christian, I recommend you check out Joyce Meyer. She’s a real straight shooter who speaks in a voice reminiscent of Marge Simpson’s sisters. You can watch episodes of her show, Enjoying Everyday Life, for free on her website. Give her a try for a week. If you are bold, give Creflo Dollar or Jack Hayford a shot. They rock. On the web, check out the blog by my friend Rebecca Carrell at Love.Serve.Shine.

Are they all a bunch of kooks? I encourage you to set aside any preconceptions and simply listen. Then make up your mind. You might be surprised at what resonates.

And even that is hard.

It’s hard to be bold in my faith on Facebook, because I’m afraid of what people will think. I’m afraid some folks will be turned off. I’m afraid of being “un-friended.”

My goal, of course, is for people to see someone whom they know and (hopefully) respect actually walking out their faith. I also hope that people who knew me from grade school or college or a former employer—people who knew me before I was saved—might be curious about why the once secular girl raised by an atheist is now professing her belief in Jesus Christ.

That’s my hope. My fear is that they’ll think I’m a nut job—that they will dismiss my zeal as religious nonsense, or worse, think I am sanctimonious and judgmental.

Really, my pride is getting in the way. It would hurt my pride for someone to call me a name, dismiss my beliefs, or cut ties all together. It would also hurt my pride if I failed.

I want to lead people to Christ, to show them that they are missing a whole dimension of life—the very purpose and meaning of life. I want them to understand who Jesus is, and that He loves them SO MUCH that He suffered torment and physical abuse, and ultimately died on the cross…just for them. I want them to accept Christ into their heart before it’s too late. If instead I turn them off, pushing them even further from the Lord, I will be ashamed, embarrassed, and flat out mortified.

Aye, there’s the rub. Because that fear of failure is really narcissism in disguise. It’s making myself greater than God, as if He weren’t able to speak directly to someone’s heart, even if I “blow it.” As if he weren’t able to speak through me, when I don’t know the right thing to say.

Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Exodus 4:10

When I look at how God worked in my life, I can see plainly that no amount of preaching was going to reach me until I was ready. I attended Catholic church for eight years and never had a relationship with Jesus. It wasn’t until Craig witnessed to me one night in July 2003 that everything clicked. I couldn’t tell you a thing that he said, but I was wrecked. God spoke to my spirit. I asked Jesus into my heart, and my life has never been the same.

God meets us where we are at. He met me when I was steeped in sin, living a Sex in the City lifestyle in Manhattan, sans the Manolo Blahniks. He spoke to me through Craig. Then he spoke to me through a stranger named Valeria Smith who invited me to sit with her at Brooklyn Tabernacle. Over the next year, he spoke to me through Pastor Lawrence Kennedy and my friends from the North Church, Kara Sparks and Lori Yeary, teaching me what it means to be a disciple of Christ and to walk in His will.

Today, God continues to speak to me through friends, blogs, preachers, teachers, scripture, songs, and sometimes just straight into my head. Several years ago, He planted us at a different church, where I continue to be fed and challenged to study the Word and go deeper in my faith. My prayer is that God will continue to bless me with wisdom and discernment, and to use me as his mouthpiece to speak encouragement and truth into the lives of others.

Because it’s not about me, it’s about Him. I’m just the messenger.

The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:11-12

A walking path cuts through the center of the arboretum, making a direct line from the entrance to the exit, which is far off in the distance—much too far for you to see. Offshoots from the main path lead into different parts of the arboretum—shady areas perfect for lounging, ponds that are home to all types of fish and beautiful water fowl, and tall grasses that beckon you to run and play.

As you sit at the entrance to the arboretum, you lean forward on your motorcycle and rev the engine. Lifting both feet off the ground in one swift motion, you take off like a rocket, zooming straight along the center path toward the exit gate. You are driving so fast, your eyes fixated on the pavement ahead of you, that you don’t notice the flowers or the trees or the birds. You are scanning the horizon for the exit gate—you know it’s there—because somebody told you that just beyond the arboretum is a beautiful garden where you can see the most incredible flowers and trees and all manner of wildlife. You can relax and play there, and you will be happy.

So often, we find ourselves speeding through life, trying to get to the “next garden” as quickly as possible without taking the time to appreciate the place we are in. We’ve heard that just past the exit to this place is a better place—a bigger house, a better job, a more thoughtful spouse, a retirement condo on the beach—and we race to get there, our eyes fixated on the path ahead.

The distractions of this world only fuel our journey. We cruise on, powered by days of office drudgery and nights in front of the TV, without taking time to appreciate where we are. We ignore relationships, say we’re too busy to volunteer, postpone taking action on our personal goals, and cut short our prayer time (if we pray at all). We focus on “just getting through the day,” so that we can be one step closer to the promise of a better tomorrow.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Each of us is here for a purpose—you are here for a purpose. To know that purpose and walk out God’s plan for your life, you have to look at where He has you right now. Not where you want to be. Not where the grass is said to be greener. Not that goal off on the horizon, but where you are right now.

When we are driving full throttle along the walking path, cutting straight through life at lightning speed on our way to what we believe is a happier future, we miss the beauty of our surroundings. We fail to see the glorious garden in which God has put us in this very moment, or the side paths He is guiding us to follow for remarkable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Whether your garden is the inner city streets of New York the open plains of Iowa—whether it’s in a comfortable suburban enclave or a cramped trailer park—it is full of the beauty of God’s creation. It is full of people.

I encourage you today to slow down and spend a few minutes with the Lord. Ask Him who you can lift up today, and how you can better appreciate the place that you are in. Turn off the TV, log out of Facebook, and put down your cell phone. Take a moment of pause, and ask Him to show you the beauty that is all around you. Even in the tough times, we are surrounded by the beauty of God’s grace. Every challenge presents an opportunity for growth. Every meeting presents an opportunity for connection. Every relationship presents an opportunity to express His love.

You are here for a reason. Don’t drive through life so fast that you miss it.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Most Americans enter into the first weeks of the year full of enthusiasm, proudly proclaiming their New Year’s Resolutions. I will admit that I’m no exception. In addition to reading through the Bible in one year (something I have done previously and enjoyed), I intend to work out at least 5 days/week with the goal of building muscle, improving my cardiovascular strength, and (of course) losing 10 pounds.

As I thought about ways to increase my chances of long-term success, I started to consider the root of the word “resolution.” When we make a resolution, we resolve to do something, what does that really mean?

Random House Dictionary defines the term resolve as, “to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something).” Those words are key — definite, earnest, determine(d). There’s no ambiguity there. When we resolve to do something, we are serious.

In addition, the dictionary includes two more definitions that I believe are worth noting:

• to reduce or convert by, or as by, breaking up or disintegration (usually fol. by to or into ).
• to convert or transform by any process (often used reflexively).

Making a resolution is a transformative process — we are breaking with the status quo and converting to a new system (whether that is following a healthy eating plan, using Quickbooks for accounting, or allocating 10 minutes each morning to prayer).  When we make a New Year’s Resolution, the ultimate goal is to be transformed.

“Resolution” also shares the same root as “resolute,” which means to be firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion. Again, we are firm in our convictions and set on a path toward positive change. When we make a resolution, we should be unshakeable.

With the Christmas season having just passed, I am reminded of the resolve demonstrated by Joseph, perhaps one of the greatest unsung heroes of scripture. While traveling with his young fiancee, Joseph is presented with a difficult and very emotional choice:

…Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:18-21)

Bear in mind that in Joseph’s day and age, Mary could have been stoned to death had she been found to be pregnant out of wedlock. Stoned to death. Her life was literally in his hands. What’s more, Joseph could have been cast out of society for choosing to stay with her — and here an angel was telling him to take Mary as his wife and accept the child as his own?

Think about the magnitude of that decision. Think about the conviction it takes to accept that burden — to take that risk — and walk in obedience. Joseph demonstrates this kind of resolve:

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25, emphasis mine.)

Joseph made the ultimate New Year’s Resolution: he resolved to trust God. After Jesus was born, Joseph was again visited by an angel of the Lord, first telling him when to flee with his family to Egypt, and later telling him when to return to Israel. Each time, without hesitation, Joseph obeyed. He was set in his opinion that God is trustworthy. He was earnest in his decision to follow God’s directives, and because of his resolve, his life and the future of all mankind was transformed.

This year, as you write down your resolutions, I encourage you to put God on the list. Make a commitment to spend some time with the Lord, getting to know Him and asking for guidance.  Jesus tells His followers, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

Resolve to ask, seek and knock this year. I promise, you will be transformed.

Her words came back to me this morning after I met a young man who is trying to make his way in the film industry. At least, he says he’s trying to make his way. His appearance and demeanor sent the opposite message. He recently returned to Texas after dropping out of film school and is working part-time at a child care center in a local gym. To my knowledge, he is not plugged in with the local film and video production community (which is huge and thriving in the Dallas Metroplex), nor is he savvy about new trends in online video (as evidenced from our conversation). His mode of dress – a well cultivated hipster thrift-store look – likewise did little to convey the qualities of ambition and drive.

I found myself feeling not only let down by my brief encounter with this individual (who I had hoped might be a resource for upcoming projects), but also feeling resentful, even angry toward him. In recognizing this, I had to ask myself just why I was so hot and bothered by someone else’s shortcomings?

The truth is that I do see some of myself in him. I like to think of myself as a highly driven and ambitious person – but upon closer examination, I am only motivated in those areas that are most comfortable for me. I will put in 12- or 14-hour days working on projects for clients. I will dedicate 3-4 hours a week for Tae Kwon Do class. Often, I will stop whatever I am in the middle of to help my husband with an immediate need. And in doing these things, I pat myself on the back and laud myself for my work ethic. But God’s Word keeps coming back to me…

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

God must have known that the focus on worldly pursuits over our walk of faith would be a major sticking point for us mortals. He issues this same warning multiple times in the New Testament, including Mark 8:36, Matthew 16:26, and Luke 9:25.

So what does my worldly workaholism have to do with the slacker tendencies of the young man I met earlier today? I believe that both are rooted in the lack of willingness or desire to put to use the talents that God gave us to further His kingdom here on earth.

The erstwhile film student said this morning that he just wants to share his art with the world; yet, he chose to drop out of school and is not actively pursuing connections in the industry. The erstwhile Christian blogger – that would be me – says she wants to help lead others to the Lord by writing inspiring, thought-provoking articles and essays. Yet, it has been almost two years since I posted anything to my inspirational blog.

Twice in the past 48 hours, God has brought Matthew 25 to my attention – once through a television show I stumbled upon, and again this morning when it appeared as today’s passage in the Christmas reading plan I am currently following. This chapter includes the parable of the talents, in which three servants are entrusted with gold coins (called talents in ancient times) by their master, who is leaving on a journey. One received five talents, one received two talents, and the last received one talent. Two of the servants took the coins given to them and put the money to work, so that they returned to their master twice as much as he entrusted to them. Both are rewarded for their efforts, with their master putting them in charge of even more wealth and inviting them to celebrate with him. But the third servant, who had been given only one talent, got scared and hid it in the ground. When he comes before his master, he is chastised for his laziness, the money is taken from him, and he is thrown out into the darkness.

The message is one of eternal significance. As Bible teacher Bob Deffinbaugh writes, “Faithful service led to increased responsibilities in the kingdom of heaven, and eternal joy in the presence of the Master, Jesus Christ. Unfaithful service led to condemnation, the removal of one’s stewardship, and an eternity of weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness, away from the presence of our Lord.”

We cannot let our fears keep us from using our talents. You are not here by accident. You were made for a purpose. The Bible says in Ephesians 2:10:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We all have different gifts – some are good at music, others at science, others at writing, and others at machinery. No talent is better than any other, and all are blessings from God. This Christmas season, the best way to celebrate the birth of the Son who gave his life on the cross so that we can have eternal life is to demonstrate your love and gratitude by using your talents. This is my commitment to Him – and to you – now and in the coming New Year. God bless.

My dad was angry about this, and felt robbed of the comfortable retirement he had neatly planned out. After four decades of teaching at the university level, he was looking forward to taking the first of many ocean cruises with his wife of 28 years, Regina. Instead, he made his first of many visits to the hospital for bloodwork and PET scans and chemotherapy treatments intended to ward off his disease.

I miss my dad with a deep ache in my heart. But I am deeply blessed by the time we spent together during the last year of his life, and the knowledge that we became closer and loved one another more than we ever had before.

You see, my father was something of a stoic. He raised me as a single parent for 11 years before he remarried, and although he loved me deeply, he wasn’t one for outpourings of affection. We were more like roommates, each going about our daily routine and carrying our weight in keeping up the household. He was also a strict disciplinarian, especially when it came to academics, and as a child I regarded him with equal parts adoration and fear.

More importantly, my father was an atheist. And, despite all his best efforts to teach me to be a “free thinker”, I became a born again Christian at age 34.

We never talked about religion, except once several years prior, when I was attending Catholic church. Having never been taught about God at all, Catholicism was a comfortable stepping stone in my journey of faith. It was also anathema to my father, who was raised Jewish and — although he was a theology minor in college — later chose to abstain from any religious doctrine or belief in a higher power. The conversation was laughable, like a child at her First Communion trying to explain the precepts of faith to a Ph.D., when she had only encountered a feltboard Jesus.

We never discussed religion after I was born again, and left the Catholic church in New York for a pentecostal congregation in Dallas, Texas. We never talked about what it meant for me to accept Jesus into my heart, or how the Holy Spirit truly transformed me from the inside out, softening the hard edges and filling me with joy, faith and compassion.

But he saw it.

I flew to North Carolina to visit my father several times during the last two years of his life, knowing — if only in theory — that our time together was suddenly limited. And, although I never witnessed to him or shared the gospel in conversation, I lived it. I demonstrated Christ’s love to him in every way I knew how, which sometimes meant just being there to encourage him with my companionship. I asked him to tell me stories about his accomplishments in high school and college, and I helped him organize the myriad photos, awards and papers that would mark his legacy. I assured him that my husband and I were happy in our marriage and financially secure — two things that mattered deeply to him.

And I told him that I loved him. Whenever I came to visit, and whenever we talked on the phone, I made sure to tell him — and as time went on, I felt it deeper and deeper in my heart. Despite the battles of my youth and our divergent worldviews in my adulthood, I respected and appreciated my father more than ever. Nothing could take away the pain and bitterness of his sickness, but he knew that he was loved, and there is no greater balm.

My husband Craig put together this wonderful video tribute to my father’s life to play at his memorial. I’m adding it here to honor him.

I love you, dad.

[See post to watch Flash video]

Dr. Jay Rosenberg
1942 – 2008

Since that time, I have of course come to realize that astrology — like so many mystical and New Age teachings — is a load of bunk. But, for a number of years, it held enormous appeal for me, because it helped quell my anxieties.

Astrology made me feel powerful; it gave me a sense of control. If I could just interpret the stars correctly, I would know what was coming at me — I could be prepared. Computer crashed? Must be the planet Mercury rising. Challenges communicating with a co-worker? It’s because they were born under a constellation that makes them bullheaded and proud. (Couldn’t possibly have anything to do with my attitude.)

All of this came to mind recently when I saw the description for a group on Facebook called the New Thought Movement.

According to Wikipedia, the New Thought Movement “is comprised of a loosely allied group of denominations, organizations, authors, philosophers, and individuals who share a set of metaphysical beliefs concerning healing, life force, visualization, and personal power…. It promotes the ideas that God is all powerful and ubiquitous, spirit is the totality of real things, true human self-hood is divine, divine thought is a force for good, all sickness originates in the mind, and ‘right thinking’ has a healing effect.”

In other words, it promotes the idea that we, as humans, hold divine power — that we can be God simply by “right thinking”.

Like astrology, Tarot, and Wicca, the New Thought Movement — and so many other mystical teachings — offer believers a sense of control and empowerment by promising that they can know and do things beyond normal human ability, whether through controlling their thoughts or casting spells or interpreting the signs correctly.  By working the magic formula, we can govern our environment, the people around us, and diseases that plague our bodies.

(Why do you think the Harry Potter series is so wildly popular? Wouldn’t we all like to discover our secret wizardly abilities?)

The truth is, we do have the power to heal our bodies and to achieve our goals and to receive immeasurable blessings in our life. But, that power is in Christ Jesus — not in our minds or our will or mystical practices.

Scripture tells us in Matthew 24:11 that in the last days, “many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” Of course, mystical teachings are nothing new, and who knows whether we are in the last days. But Jesus and his disciples repeatedly caution Christ’s followers not to be deceived or led astray.

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

That last line is the clincher: They refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

There is really just one answer to this riddle called life. There is one truth — not many truths, not variations of the truth. One truth.

But, guess what? When we put our faith in Christ Jesus, he gives us the power and authority we so deeply desire. He hears our prayers and works miracles in our lives. Through the Holy Spirit, we can heal the sick and raise the dead. And, God promises to pour out his blessings on his people — as long as we are walking in his will and are obedient to his commands.

Obedience. Submission. If we are willing to give up control and put our faith in something outside of ourselves — something far greater — then we DO have power. We have authority. We have salvation. And we have eternal life.

Yes, million.

How did they “prove” it? By measuring magnetic particles in the rocks where they found the artifacts and gauging the age based on shifts in the earth’s magnetic poles over the past several thousand centuries.`

Come again?

First of all, who’s to say that the artifacts are the same age as the surrounding rocks? That conclusion, in and of itself, is flat out silly. What if I took a 1982 penny and threw it one some million-year-old dirt? Does that now mean the penny is a million years old?

More importantly, though, I’m supposed to believe science – which is inherently fallible and constantly changing – over the infallible and unchanging Word of God that He created mankind in His likeness.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” – Genesis 1:26-28

Hard to fathom that a higher power conjured us up out of thin air? Sure. But, is it really soooo much more plausible that humans were born out of primordial muck and evolved over millions of years — making our way from single-celled amoeba to some sort of fishy things, then to apes and finally homo erectus? Does that make any more sense than that we were born of a loving God, an almighty Creator, who made us in His image by blessing us with the very same power to create all sorts of wonderful things?

According to the theory of evolution (and mind you, it is still a THEORY), all of nature — the millions upon millions of species of plants, flowers, insects, animals, birds, fish and reptiles — came about through happenstance. Everything — EVERYTHING — in our world is all just a grand coincidence.

Sure, that makes sense.

‘But, the scientists have proof!’ you say. ‘They teach these things in grade school!‘ You cite the work of the all-knowing sage Charles Darwin, author of The Origin of Species, who deduced that mankind actually evolved over millennia from other, lesser creatures. Hmmm… Here’s what else Darwin has to say about evolution:

“The chief distinction in the intellectual powers of the two sexes is shown by man attaining to a higher eminence in whatever he takes up than women can attain, whether requiring deep thought, reason, or imagination, or merely the uses of the senses and hands.”

In other words, men have “evolved” to a higher level of intellect, creativity and dexterity than women. Oh, and did I mention that Darwin also thought that whites are more “evolved” than blacks?

I’m getting all preachy here, but if you want to explore the topic more, erstwhile child star Kirk Cameron and evangelist Ray Comfort have put together an excellent and very funny video on Evolution vs. Intelligent Design. Just click on the image to the left here to watch it online.

Pressed for time? Here’s a ten-minute clip that hits the high points, if you’ll forgive the cruddy broadcast quality of YouTube:

“Evolution is unproved and unprovable. We believe it only because the alternative is special creation, and that is unthinkable.” -Sir Arthur Keith, Physical Anthropologist and Anatomist (1866 – 1955)

]]> http://www.outoftheherd.com/character/playing-god-and-proving-lies/feed/ 2 http://www.outoftheherd.com/character/the-ultimate-superhero/ http://www.outoftheherd.com/character/the-ultimate-superhero/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:45:15 +0000 lesliejthompson http://www.outoftheherd.com/?p=25 Throughout the past year, I couldn’t help but notice Hollywood’s renewed fascination with superheroes. Batman. Iron Man. The Hulk. The Spirit. It seems these days that every cinematic blockbuster centers on a comic icon. And don’t forget the mortal crusaders protecting us from evil, like Jason Bourne, James Bond, or Max Payne. Their bravery and brazenness make us all feel a little more empowered, and let us vicariously stand-up to bad guys of every ilk as we comfortably munch on popcorn and Junior Mints.

It’s as if, in our collective consciousness, we secretly hope that a mysterious stranger will come swooping in and save us from society’s ills. As a nation, we long to abdicate responsibility for our current state of affairs and instead look for a mystical bail-out package wrapped in a flowing cape. We want a crime-fighting vigilante with super human strength, an iron will, and perhaps a few cool gadgets to deal with the drug lords, gangbangers, and scheming sociopaths all around us.

But, this Christmas season is a reminder that the ultimate superhero has already come, and still walks with us today. He’s not an undercover agent or a radioactive monster. He is God made man — the King of King and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.

It’s hard to imagine that the helpless infant born in a manger some 2000 years ago is the Savior for whom we have all been yearning. He was a carpenter, not a covert operative. He never carried a weapon, never beat up a bad guy with his bare hands. But, he overcame the world. All our sin, all our shame. We are made clean by his sacrifice – if only we will believe.

Ay, there’s the rub.  Because for all our fantastical visions of celluloid superheroes, millions still turn away from the one who came to save us. Christ is merely a myth, they say; only the feeble-minded believe those old stories.

Why don’t they accept that Jesus is our Savior? Because it’s hard. Unlike the Hollywood heroes we hope for, Christ holds us accountable. He offers salvation, but the price is submission. And, in our fast-paced, gratification-driven, socially networked world, it’s hard to imagine that we’re not the center of our universe. Scripture tells us to play by his rules — to obey Christ’s commands. Obey? Commands? This whole Christianity thing sounds more like a dictatorship.

Except that Jesus’ principal command is this: Love each other.

What dictator ever demanded that?

If you think about it, if everyone followed this one command – this one simple plea – we wouldn’t need a superhero. If we loved each other the way that Jesus loved us — through service, grace and mercy — there would be no crime, no violence, no emotional neglect or physical abuse. There would be no greed, no prejudice, and no self-centeredness. If we really understood and put into practice what Jesus calls us to do, then we would see that he truly is our Savior, wanting nothing more than to save us from ourselves.

Instead, we spend our days griping about government bail-outs as we wring our hands over our own mounting credit card debt. After a hard day’s work surfing YouTube and sending text messages, we swipe a pack of Post-It Notes from the supply room, then spend $4 on a cup of Starbucks. We hide in our homes at night and watch riveting dramas about adultery and homicide to unwind, and just before bed, we secretly peek at online porn, forgetting that the girl splayed out naked for our entertainment is someone’s daughter.

We hope for a hero, and all this time, our true hero is hoping for us. Phillipians 4:19 assures us: “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. God promises that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28), and that those who believe in Jesus and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins will be saved (Mark 16:16).

He promises to give us hope and a future, if we will just believe. This Christmas, don’t look to the movies for a miracle. Look to the baby in the manger, who is the only hero we need.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
– Isaiah 55:6

‘Wait a second, lady,’ you’re probably saying, ‘I’ve been praying for a breakthrough and petitioning God for weeks/months/years to help me out of this mess. How can you say that I’m not connecting with him?’

Think of it this way: You’re in need, and you’re looking at a door that’s locked from the inside. The person that can help you is on the other side of the door. You’re talking to them–telling them all about your troubles and frustrations and how much you need their help–and they can hear everything you’re saying. But, they need you to unlock the door and let them in before they can help you. Telling someone all your problems when there’s still a barrier between you may feel like you’re asking for help. You can even start to feel bitter and resentful if they don’t come charging in to deliver you from your trials. (They’re right there, just a few inches away–why aren’t they doing something?!) But, eventually, it’s up to you to open the door and allow that person to get close.

Still not making sense? After all, God is omnipotent. When he hears our petitions, he has the power to overcome any obstacle to come to our aid.

Of course. But God is not a superhero on call. He is our loving Father. And, while he will help clean up our messes and is boundless in his mercy and grace, in the big picture, he wants a relationship with us.

And that means sometimes we need to not only ask for God’s help, but ask to know God. We need to pray not just for Him to provide a solution to our problems, but to instill in us His wisdom. Because when we’re walking in His will, we’re more likely to avoid troubles to begin with. And, when we are filled with the fruit of the Spirit–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control–then we are unphased by the trials and tribulations that life throws our way. We feel a deep and abiding sense of security in the arms of our loving Father that is unshakeable because we know Him. We know that we know that we know.

Some days, I find my desire to connect with God waning. I don’t feel like putting in the effort. I don’t feel like spending quiet time in His presence. I’m caught up in the world–I have too many projects on my plate, people to call, places to go–and my relationship with the Lord gets put on the back burner in much the same way that our relationship with our spouse and our friends can sometimes take second place to other “more pressing” concerns.

It’s during those times that I simply pray for God to give me the desire to know Him better. “God, I don’t want to slow down and spend time with you. Please help me want to want to.” I know that I generally do what I want, so praying to have the want is the first step to drawing nearer to God.

We are each of us qualified and invited to be in relationship with Him. Doesn’t matter your skin color, your upbringing, your education, or how badly you’ve sinned. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior to all who ask for His help. If you’re afraid to ask, then just ask for the courage to ask.

Unlock the door, and He’ll come in.

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right….” (Acts 10:24-35 NIV)