Confessions of a "Phantom of the Opera" Lover...

After watching one of my favorite movies of all times recently I am left with a few thoughts. Permit me, if you will, to share some of them with you.

1) A kiss is very powerful. It can save your true love from being hanged by an evil, ugly, yet misunderstood being.

2) If you hate mirrors to the point that you want to cover them up or angrily smash them with a candlestick, why would you build them in your evil liar? I mean, you designed it- couldn't you have just not put them in?

3) Gerard Butler's voice when he sings "Music of the Night" is intoxicatingly sexy (sorry guys, but its true)

4) There is no reason why you can't sing at all times of the day. It seems the best way to express your feelings.

And finally last but certainly not least...

5) Everyone (including a phantom) can be redeemed.

It's this last one that I'd like to focus on. Because you see, I'm a firm believer that everyone has at least one redeemable quality if you look hard enough. But I know that a lot of people don't believe that's true. Call me ignorant, stupid, naive, whatever, but I still hold to the fact that people can change. Sometimes they just need someone to give them the chance. But I know that ANYTHING is possible with God, so why would I not believe that He could change their heart?

But all this aside, it gets me thinking. How gracious it is of God to redeem us. Because think about it, what have we got to offer?

So what is redemption you may ask? Well according to one Noah Webster it is "The action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment." I like this definition simply because it uses the words regaining possession. It relates more to the fall of man. We were in unity with God in the garden and then man fell. But Christ's blood brought us back and now we are restored if we choose to accept the gift. Think about it, that's a pretty big restoration- from complete unity to total doom back to complete unity. Romans 7:14 tells us that we were a bonded slave sold to sin. How strong is the love of Christ if He is able to break that bond? And not just break it, but defeat it!

Think about how much work it would take to redeem just one person from this kind of situation. And yet Christ redeemed the whole world. (1 John 2:2).

I think today Christians in general have lost the "awe" factor of the cross. We focus so much on the resurrection, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, that we often neglect the true meaning of the cross. It wasn't just the spot where Jesus died. It wasn't just a mandatory means of death so Christ could rise again. This was the place for all the shame. This was where He separated himself from the Father and declared, "My God My God, Why have you foresaken me?" (Matt 27:46). This was where Christ took on all the sin of man and declared, "It is finished." Paid in full. By dying on the cross He had set in motion the complete enactment of the finished work of God's intent for the restoration of mankind.

So it leads me back to that first question, why? Why us? What have we got to offer? I draw a blank. I am left without any thought, except one- love. It was all motivated by love. Humbling isn't it?

"So I'll cherish the old rugged cross till my trophies at last I lay down. I will cling to the old rugged cross..."

Confessions of a Wannabe Philosopher...

Something I've realized lately is that words are very powerful. I've heard all my life that "actions speak louder than words," but that doesn't give them any less significance. Words can utterly destroy someone. That is why a restraint on gossip is so needed, but that is another blog for another time. Proverbs 10 reminds us that words have tremendous power to raise or sink the spirits of the people around us.

This past semester at Navigators we studied Ephesians. And the verse that just slapped me upside the head was Eph. 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Now, I don't know about you, but I like to talk... A LOT. Those who don't know me think I'm quiet. Those that do wish I was. My poor roommate puts up with so much of my babble she should be given a purple heart. But the part that got me was, "only what is helpful for building others up..." It made me think. How would my relationship with people change if the only words I said to them were uplifting and encouraging?

Because here's the thing about encouragement- we all need it. And you never know how deeply what you say can affect someone. Just look at Barnabus. Now, if you haven't read up on your Bible trivia Barnabus' name means son of encouragement. And that's exactly what he was. Read Acts 9. After Saul's conversion "at once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God"(vs 20). This is a man who had completely turned his life around. He was on fire. He was ready to go! So, what does he do? Paul travels to Jerusalem and tries to join the disciples. I mean, what better way to preach than with those chosen by Jesus Christ himself right?

But here's the end of the anecdote, they didn't believe him (vs 26). In fact, they were afraid of him, acting like he was a spy or something. Talk about rejection. That's got to put you down in the dumps! But we've all had moments like this. We've all had those times where we get excited and we hope, and then we get disappointed. And it's during these times that we find ourselves questioning whether we were ever on the right path to begin with.

These thoughts and doubts can turn to ruin if they go unchecked. I mean, think of what was going through Paul's mind. But God sent Barnabus. "And Barnabus took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus." (vs 27) Not only does Barnabus intercede on Paul's behalf, but he also brags on him a little.

And Barnabus also a few chapters later defends John Mark to Paul (Acts 16:36-41). Paul had been questioning John Mark's committment, but Barnabus stood up and said, "Hey, give him a chance, he can do it!"

We need someone who stands up and intercedes on our behalf. And thank God we have Christ! "Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." (Romans 8:34). But just because Christ is the ultimate example does not mean that in our pursuit of being like Him we get to be lazy.

Think of what could have happened to Paul if Barnabus had not said anything! Think of where John Mark would have ended up! Would we even have half of the New Testament Books?

It should seem obvious by now that the world likes to beat people down. All through school we wonder am I good enough? Am I smart enough? Can I really do this? Can I pursue my dream? Will I be successful? What if I'm not? What if I fail? And this is just one example. There are thousands more! We need that encouragement. We need someone to come along side us and say "Hey look, the only one right now that thinks you can't do it is you, because I know you can."

A great philosopher named Plato once said, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." And that's the simple fact of it. We need each other. We need someone to say something uplifting. Think about how much it changes your mood when someone simply compliments you. It kind of makes your day. At the very least it makes you smile. And you know what, the blessing goes both ways. Because when you encourage others, it makes you feel good too. You feel like you make a difference. Doing good for people really does make ou happy. Don't believe me, try it out for yourself. Why is this so? Because that's what we were created to do, and we know that our Father's pleased with us.

Don't be afraid to encourage. You never know when it just might make the battle sway the other way. And what better and more powerful words are there, than those that lift someone up? You're going to be remembered for something you say. Might as well make it good.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25)