It may seem strange (considering my age and all) but I am a big fan of the animated series "Avatar, The Last Airbender". It’s a quirky story about a world where every nation has a specific power or ability to interact with the forces of nature (earth, wind, fire, and water) and command them by "bending" them.
It may also surprise you to know that I'm a huge fan of M. Night Shyamalan (director of "Sixth Sense", "Signs", "The Village" and "Lady in the Water" - some of my favs) so you can only imagine how COMPLETELY excited I was to hear that he was doing a movie about the quirky little cartoon!
Unfortunately, I've been told that M. Night's portrayal of the characters is very different from those in the cartoon. The slapstick sidekick of Aang, the avatar, isn't funny or slapstick. His antics in the cartoon were part of why I watched the show. That alone is keeping me out of the theater. Of course M. Night is not the creator of the cartoon characters; he is merely an observer who took his interpretation of the personalities and put them on film. It makes me wonder what Jeremy Zuckerman, composer of the original series, thought of M. Night's characterizations. He must be disappointed that M. Night didn't value his version of the characters enough to maintain their personalities as he had written them.
All this got me to thinking, dangerous - I know! Have I done that to people? Have people done that to me? Have I made snap judgments on who a person is and then represented them to others as MY version? Have I, in all my "brilliance and discernment", created false, disappointing versions of someone only to portray them as such? Did I rewrite who they are? It has been known to happen.
God created the perfect version of us when we were "formed in our mother's womb". Ps 139:13 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Inmost being in Hebrew literally means "kidneys" but is also a Hebrew idiom meaning "the innermost center of emotions and of moral sensitivity", that part of us that makes us who we are.
People will tell you that time, environment, and experience form our personalities and make us who we are but the truth is God made a perfect version of us at our beginning. "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Ps 139:14) Yes, all those influences - time, environment and experience - affect who we are but they did not form who we are. God's version of us, the one "written in His book" before one day of our life even began is the version He designed knowing what every day of our life held. (Ps 139:16)
David, the author of Psalm 139, recognized God's love for him in verses 17 & 18 "How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!" God's love is the same for us!
Maybe Jeremy Zuckerman is disappointed, too, in M. Night's version of his airbending characters, but it didn't change who they truly are. Jeremy still knows them well and continues to write about them in their original form. God won't let us down, either. His version of us has not changed and He is still watching our story unfold. He loves us and sees us in His version and is NEVER influenced by anyone else’s view of us. We need to look for the "God version" of ourselves and others and remember that we can walk with great confidence knowing God's is the true version of who we are - and the ONLY ONE that really counts!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Is God a Liar?
Is God a liar?
"Of course not!" "How could you say such a thing?" "That's preposterous, completely absurd!" you say?
Really? You're right of course. It is absurd and yet. . .
When is the last time you thought "I'm fat and ugly!"? How about "No one cares what I think. I'm stupid and have nothing of value to contribute!" Or "No one appreciates me. I give and give and give and no one even notices!" And "The only thing I'm good for is _________ (you fill in the blank!)". I could go on. It's a little like the old whine "Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I'm gonna eat some worms!!" isn't it?
There may be a small element of truth in each of those statements but they are NOT absolutely true! When did we start thinking this way?
Well, not to blame the devil for everything but, he started it!
Genesis 3:1-7 (MSG)
1 The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"
2 The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. 3 It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"
4 The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. 5 God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."
That snake was clever alright! He took God's words and twisted them first by saying "God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden, right?" The snake knew exactly what God had told them. (Gen. 2:16-17) 16And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17But (except) of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.' (Amplified Bible) That snake told her "God lied to you. He was trying to trick you!" when he said, "You will not die."
God's instructions were very clear. You may eat of every tree except... The woman spoke correctly when she answered the snake but the snake caused her to doubt the command by saying "You won't die!" He told the woman that God was trying to trick her because "God knows that if you eat the fruit from that tree, you will learn about good and evil and you will be like God!" (Gen 3:4) Why would God not want her to learn about good and evil or as the Message says it, "knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."? Was God trying to keep her from being just like Him? If so, why does it say in Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:15 (and several other places) "Be holy, because I am holy." In other words "Be just like me!" The snake accused God of jealousy. He convinced the woman that God didn't want her to be "just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." Vanity. He played on her vanity and pride! He used vanity to throw Eve off the course of God's plan for her and all the children of Eve as well - US!
The snake is still preying on people's vanity and pride today. Those half truths about our looks or brilliance, worth and value are again the snake's way of making us doubt God. God said we are His treasured possession (Exodus 19:5 & Deuteronomy 7:6) Think about that! God owns EVERYTHING yet we are His treasured possession, "the apple of His eye" (Zechariah 2:8) The apple of his eye literally means "little man of his eye," referring to the pupil, a delicate part of the eye that is essential for vision and that therefore must be protected at all costs. (NIV footnotes for Deut. 32:10) It is an expression deep love. YOU are loved and precious to God Almighty. Not only does God want us to be "just like Him", He made it possible by sending Jesus, His only begotten son, to suffer death on a cross so we could overcome what "knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil" has done to us. We may not recover the innocence but we ARE declared innocent!
When God gave the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel, He told Moses to tell the people "If you will obey me fully and keep my covenant (agreement), then out of all the nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:5 & 6) Once again it comes down to believing God - who cannot lie (Numbers 23:19) - and obeying His commands - that are given to protect us - and understanding that the snake is the father of lies (John 8:44) wanting to rob us of what he cannot have; life eternal WITH God.
Father, forgive me for the times I've believed the lies the snake whispers to me. I know You treasure me as I am, but I want to "reflect the Lord's glory, being transformed (changed forever) into (Your) likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18) I want to be just like you!
"Of course not!" "How could you say such a thing?" "That's preposterous, completely absurd!" you say?
Really? You're right of course. It is absurd and yet. . .
When is the last time you thought "I'm fat and ugly!"? How about "No one cares what I think. I'm stupid and have nothing of value to contribute!" Or "No one appreciates me. I give and give and give and no one even notices!" And "The only thing I'm good for is _________ (you fill in the blank!)". I could go on. It's a little like the old whine "Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I'm gonna eat some worms!!" isn't it?
There may be a small element of truth in each of those statements but they are NOT absolutely true! When did we start thinking this way?
Well, not to blame the devil for everything but, he started it!
Genesis 3:1-7 (MSG)
1 The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"
2 The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. 3 It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"
4 The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. 5 God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."
That snake was clever alright! He took God's words and twisted them first by saying "God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden, right?" The snake knew exactly what God had told them. (Gen. 2:16-17) 16And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17But (except) of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.' (Amplified Bible) That snake told her "God lied to you. He was trying to trick you!" when he said, "You will not die."
God's instructions were very clear. You may eat of every tree except... The woman spoke correctly when she answered the snake but the snake caused her to doubt the command by saying "You won't die!" He told the woman that God was trying to trick her because "God knows that if you eat the fruit from that tree, you will learn about good and evil and you will be like God!" (Gen 3:4) Why would God not want her to learn about good and evil or as the Message says it, "knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."? Was God trying to keep her from being just like Him? If so, why does it say in Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:15 (and several other places) "Be holy, because I am holy." In other words "Be just like me!" The snake accused God of jealousy. He convinced the woman that God didn't want her to be "just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." Vanity. He played on her vanity and pride! He used vanity to throw Eve off the course of God's plan for her and all the children of Eve as well - US!
The snake is still preying on people's vanity and pride today. Those half truths about our looks or brilliance, worth and value are again the snake's way of making us doubt God. God said we are His treasured possession (Exodus 19:5 & Deuteronomy 7:6) Think about that! God owns EVERYTHING yet we are His treasured possession, "the apple of His eye" (Zechariah 2:8) The apple of his eye literally means "little man of his eye," referring to the pupil, a delicate part of the eye that is essential for vision and that therefore must be protected at all costs. (NIV footnotes for Deut. 32:10) It is an expression deep love. YOU are loved and precious to God Almighty. Not only does God want us to be "just like Him", He made it possible by sending Jesus, His only begotten son, to suffer death on a cross so we could overcome what "knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil" has done to us. We may not recover the innocence but we ARE declared innocent!
When God gave the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel, He told Moses to tell the people "If you will obey me fully and keep my covenant (agreement), then out of all the nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:5 & 6) Once again it comes down to believing God - who cannot lie (Numbers 23:19) - and obeying His commands - that are given to protect us - and understanding that the snake is the father of lies (John 8:44) wanting to rob us of what he cannot have; life eternal WITH God.
Father, forgive me for the times I've believed the lies the snake whispers to me. I know You treasure me as I am, but I want to "reflect the Lord's glory, being transformed (changed forever) into (Your) likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18) I want to be just like you!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Simple Complications
Wow! Last post was 10 months ago. I know - so who noticed?
Much has changed since September 26, 2009. There are going to be 2 new grandchildren before 2010 waves goodbye; it is doubtful that the public school systems will be my employer; all the kids are high school graduates; and the once complicated version of my life has just become "simply" complicated.
Simplicity isn't all it is cracked up to be. There, of course, is the first few days when looking at an empty calendar has the complete "Ahhhhh" factor going for it but then, in less time than expected, those empty pages loom ever so daunting. The echo of time for yourself becomes worrisome and depressing. Yard work, cleaning, social activities, vacation, kids, grandkids' ballgames...all great and (hate to admit it) cathartic but summer comes to an end and then what?
That is pretty much where I am. (Yes, I know the date is only July 13 but I'm a planner - so, I'm already preparing for my angst!)
I've been sitting in my "little piece of heaven" (our backyard) every morning listening to the world of birds, cars and our neighbor's roofing project all around me. The Bible is sitting on my lap and my laptop is open to a newly created folder, Devotions/Journal. Prayer has led me to scriptures that have been inspiring and encouraging. There is peace that comes with my time with the Lord and I feel freedom in the "down time". God knows where I am, how empty my calendar is and just what will be filling my days in the future. He has led me to this place, provided ALL that I have need of and He hasn't forgotten me. Just as I had to rely on God to help me get through the days of "too much to do", I MUST rely on Him in these "empty calendar" days. After all God made us all a promise in Hebrews 13:5 (MSG) "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," I guess that means He's staring at those empty calendar pages, too. (I'm pretty sure, however, that God has those Benjamin Franklin glasses that let you read the invisible water markings on those "empty pages"! You know - like in "National Treasure" with Nicholas Cage.....? What? You don't watch movies?)
Much has changed since September 26, 2009. There are going to be 2 new grandchildren before 2010 waves goodbye; it is doubtful that the public school systems will be my employer; all the kids are high school graduates; and the once complicated version of my life has just become "simply" complicated.
Simplicity isn't all it is cracked up to be. There, of course, is the first few days when looking at an empty calendar has the complete "Ahhhhh" factor going for it but then, in less time than expected, those empty pages loom ever so daunting. The echo of time for yourself becomes worrisome and depressing. Yard work, cleaning, social activities, vacation, kids, grandkids' ballgames...all great and (hate to admit it) cathartic but summer comes to an end and then what?
That is pretty much where I am. (Yes, I know the date is only July 13 but I'm a planner - so, I'm already preparing for my angst!)
I've been sitting in my "little piece of heaven" (our backyard) every morning listening to the world of birds, cars and our neighbor's roofing project all around me. The Bible is sitting on my lap and my laptop is open to a newly created folder, Devotions/Journal. Prayer has led me to scriptures that have been inspiring and encouraging. There is peace that comes with my time with the Lord and I feel freedom in the "down time". God knows where I am, how empty my calendar is and just what will be filling my days in the future. He has led me to this place, provided ALL that I have need of and He hasn't forgotten me. Just as I had to rely on God to help me get through the days of "too much to do", I MUST rely on Him in these "empty calendar" days. After all God made us all a promise in Hebrews 13:5 (MSG) "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," I guess that means He's staring at those empty calendar pages, too. (I'm pretty sure, however, that God has those Benjamin Franklin glasses that let you read the invisible water markings on those "empty pages"! You know - like in "National Treasure" with Nicholas Cage.....? What? You don't watch movies?)
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