Got Fruit ?

I mentioned in Sunday’s post that on Saturday my youngest daughter and I went to go see Batman: The Dark Knight.  Instead of giving a full review of the film, I’ll focus on one of the characters, their shortcomings and a Scriptural thought or two that ties in with the film. For another perspective on the film visit KOG Media .

To those readers that haven’t seen the film yet, be warned, movie spoiler ahead!

  In about the final third of the film (runs approx. 2 /12 hours), the second half of the Harvey Dent/Two-Face character (Aaron Eckhart) develops.  The Joker has devised a scheme whereby he springs his multi-tiered plan for chaos and destruction upon Gotham and it’s Kevlar clad Knight.  While being interrogated by "The Bat", The Joker menacingly toys with Batman in a game of brains verses brawn (ala Tyler Durden and Lou from Fight Club).  After several minutes of being literally tossed around the interrogation room, the Joker let’s on that he has abducted two people close to Batman; Rachel Dawes lifelong friend/forbidden love interest, and hotshot DA Harvey Dent, current apple of Rachel’s eye and shining knight in armor for Gotham.  No, Batman is not the hero in this installment (or is he?), he’s a vigilante in the eyes of the public, and as real life sometimes plays out, things get worse before better (scapegoat).

Dawes and Dent having been abducted are whisked off to separate locations in Gotham by The Joker’s henchmen, each being placed into a perilous situation, where Batman and Chief Gordon are thrust into a mad dash to save them once The Joker "gives up" their locations. Real life tragedy plays out and  in their efforts to save Rachel and Dent, only Dent makes it out "alive". 

Dent physically and emotionally scarred over Rachel’s death is covertly visited by the Joker while in recovery at Gotham General.  The Joker manages to convince Dent to turn from his schoolboy ideology after manipulating the series of events that led to his current condition.  Having convinced Dent, The Joker’s plan now comes into full bloom as a spiritually beaten Dent succumbs to the allure of vengeance and anger, he’s primed, ready to be unknowingly used to undo all of the good he’s done in Gotham, thus "killing" the hope of Gotham, and throwing wide open the gates that held anarchy at bay.

Dent’s undoing if you will is nothing new, a similar plot played out in Star Wars initially when Anakin Skywalker loses his mother and escalating deeper into the abyss as he loses his love,Padamee.  The analysis of both Batman:TDK & Star Wars being that heroes are deceived by their hearts, their self centeredness in turn leads them down paths of evil.  Art imitating life?

Jeremiah 17:9
9 The heart is deceitful above all things
       and beyond cure.
       Who can understand it?

The final thought however is not from Jeremiah 17:9 but rather from something that Jesus said in Luke 14.  See?  As Harvey Dent had two loves; Rachel and the law, one was elevated higher than the other.  In losing what he loved most, Dent traded hope and determination to carry on in pursuit of true justice  & the well being of many for his own cause; something that in his own distorted sense of fulfilling justice, Batman was able to maintain focus on.

Luke 14:25-27
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Grace and peace be with you.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12b-13

Salvation is not an event; it is a process. Salvation is God’’s gift, for there is nothing we can do to save ourselves (Eph 2:8-9). Yet with salvation comes the responsibility to work out our salvation. Once we have been saved, we must claim all that has become ours.

Through salvation, God gave you victory over sin. That victory applies not only to past sins but also to every problem you encounter. When you became a Christian, God made you a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). God wants to continually build new things into your life as you walk with Him. God gave you His joy when He saved you, and He wants to fill you with His joy daily. When you first repented of your sin, you relinquished your right to your life. God continues to ask you to yield your will to Him and to follow His leading rather than setting your own direction for your life. When you were converted, God made everything available to you; how you implement what He has given you is your choice (2 Pet. 1:3-9).

This is the great paradox of the Christian life. We are to work diligently on our faith, yet always with the awareness that only God can bring about lasting change in our lives. As we see God at work in us, we are motivated to work even more diligently. God will not force His changes upon us; neither can we bring about lasting change in our lives apart from the work of the Holy Spirit.

When you sense God developing an area of your life, join Him in His activity so that His salvation will be demonstrated fully.

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Another weekend has come and gone.  Oh well it wasn’t a loss. This past weekend was my weekend with the kids, which turned into my weekend with my youngest for the most part.  The two oldest knuckleheads spent time with friends for various reason, which left me and the youngest to fend for our selves.

Maybe not a lot to blog about in the sense of “exciting things”, however after taking the kids back to their mother’s this afternoon and returning back to my lair, I realized how much I enjoyed just being around my youngest for the weekend.  We didn’t really do a lot, in fact, she spent her fair share of time “chatting” with her friends, be it on the phone or online.  I spent time doing my own thing as well, so it wasn’t as though we were constantly engaged. Partially it may be an appreciation that my youngest hadn’t outgrown dad yet, but the thought that really sits is that I was simply happy to have her around.  It\’s that idea that causes me to pause for a moment and understand better how God desires for us, to spend time with Him.

Psalm 37:7
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
       do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
       when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Grace and peace be with you.

The difference between a prejudice and a conviction is that you can explain a conviction without getting mad.
~Unknown

Source: “An Apple a Day: Treasured Selections from Apples of Gold” by Jo Petty

Grace and peace be with you.

Over the course of the past 2 1/2 to 3 years I’ve come to notice a pattern to how God is working in my life with regard to how I’ve treated others in the past. I’ve been hurtful, envious, lashed out with a vengeful heart, as well as covetous in my previous “incarnation”. None of these things we’re truly evident for what they were in my life until I turned to God. Since turning however, God has made it quite clear of when and where I’ve royally messed up.

My experiences have shown that when you turn to God, you’re going to be hit with some realities about the true condition of your heart. You start to see the bigger picture of where your sins led you, and the consequences; how they negatively impact not only yourself and your relationship with God but with others as well. For me it’s been a slow and methodical process of recognizing areas that I’ve sinned in the past, recognition by way of God’s Holy Spirit speaking to the heart. At least in my walk with Christ, that’s the way He’s dealt it. Instead of revealing all of the major offenses/ wrongs I’ve committed at once, He’s’ sort of laid ”em out over a 3 - 4 period; a merciful act I guess you could say. The recognition itself however means nothing without resolve to act on what’s said about your heart.

About a month ago, I was laying around, not really having anything on my mind (we guys are good at this), when I remembered a past transgression committed from about 5 years ago. Once recalling the event I realized in my heart what needed to be done, an apology was in order; a plea for forgiveness from a wronged fellow human being.

On and off, more off than on; I spent the past few weeks trying to locate this person that I’d crossed. The first few early attempts ended with no leads as to where to locate the person, I had some general info, but nothing concrete. A few calls here and there netting nothing. Due partially to frustration I put the issue on the back burner… until this past week. God may not force Himself on an unbeliever, however I think His Holy Spirit knows how to persistently hammer away on a foot dragging believer.

Wednesday evening, about an hour prior to heading off to church, I was “motivated” again by the Holy Spirit to reconcile, so I did some digging around again and eventually got the right lead. Numbers were exchanged and within the hour was a call from the person that I needed to make things right with. As it turned out, my expectations of how this was going to play out, were way off. No cussing and fussing, no accusations or malice, just a receptive ear on the other end that accepted my apologies. The manner in which the offended handled the situation was nothing short of graceful, something I hope to be able to reciprocate if on the receiving end of an offense. As I close, it occurs to me how the associated thoughts of my wrongs have now become more disassociated with who I am becoming.

Hebrews 9:14
14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Grace and peace be with you.