Stacy Memes: It's Been A While

It's been a very, very long time since I last shared my wife's adorable antics.

Here's some highlights from the last week:

On Wearing a Pittsburgh Penguins Jersey to a Dallas Stars Home Game

 

 

On the Recent Texas Transitional Weather

 

 



Heroic Faith

Two constants in my childhood through my adult years have been church and a fascination with comic book superheros.  I honestly never viewed the two as having anything in common.  However, in recent years, I've gained an appreciation for both the real life lessons embedded in comic books as well as the immeasurable strength of character the Christian faith can develop.  This past Sunday, I sat through an amazing sermon (which was really a commentary on the greatest sermon of all time), and it reminded me of one of the most iconic superheroes of all time.  Combined, I think there is a great image of what we can all strive to be.

An Unlikely Hero

When I was a kid, I always thought it would be cool to have superpowers.  As a result, my favorite superheros were always the ones with over-the-top powers: flying, shooting laser beams, breathing fire, etc.  While I always respected Captain America as a classic superhero, he never ranked anywhere near one of my favorites.  His powers came across as a little vanilla compared to the Spidermans and X-Mens of the Marvel Comic Universe. 

When Marvel unveiled their cinematic strategy building up to Avengers, my desire to see Captain America was based more on it being the last piece of the bigger movie puzzle.  I was really skeptical that they could make the hammy World War II propaganda appealing to a 21st-century audience.  But I went to see it.  More interestingly, it happened to be my second date with the girl I ended up marrying 2 years later.  It was a fun date and a surprisingly fun movie.  What made it work for not only that movie but also as a set-up for Avengers was how much they focused on building the character of Cap.  He wasn't the strongest or toughest candidate for the super soldier formula, but his heart proved that he could handle being gifted with off-the-charts strength speed and agility.  

When we saw Avengers  a few months later, I asked my wife (still girlfriend at the time) who her favorite was, she said it was Captain America.  When asked why, she said he reminded her of me (cue studio audience "aawwww").  As much as I'd like to think she was noticing how much I had been working out, she was talking about how she viewed my character.  While I am far from perfect, it got me thinking that there's more to being super than just physical ability.  

Blessed Are...

At Stonebriar Community Church, Chuck Swindoll is currently leading us through the book of Matthew, and we just recently hit the Sermon on the Mount.  This past Sunday was the beatitudes:

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted. 
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

-Matthew 5:3-12

Pastor Chuck did an excellent job contrasting the world's value system to heavenly values.  On the surface, these aren't qualities most people would equate with power.  In a world where we're encouraged to look out for ourselves and use any means possible to get ahead, the beatitudes don't fit in well.  We're taught that nice guys finish last.

If you look closely at the meaning of these qualities, though, you begin to see a great deal of inner fortitude:  "Poor in Spirit" = being big enough to recognize our weakness;  "Those who mourn" = caring immensely; "Gentle" = strength under control; "Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness" = desire to grow; "Merciful" = a heart moved for someone in need; "Pure in Heart" = genuine; "Peacemakers" = creating light rather than heat; "Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake" = the more we act like Christ, the more the world will be against us.  
(The Gospel of Matthew, Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. - 3/1/15)

The sermon hit me hard.  It was a sobering reminder of the tall order laid out in that passage.  Being a Christ-follower means having strength to do what's right even under the most challenging circumstances.  It means being super...

No, you move....

Some people think Captain America is corny because he embodies an imperfect America in a seemingly perfect way.  His ideals can come across as too unrealistic.  But Captain America (at least 1960s-present) isn't supposed to represent what America is.  Rather, he is a symbol of what the country should strive to be.  Likewise, the imperfect Christian is striving to model a perfect Savior.

Sunday's sermon reminded me of an iconic quote from Cap.  During a 2006 Marvel cross-over series called the "Civil War," Cap was at odds with other superheros because he took a stand against a controversial government policy aimed at "super humans."  In Amazing Spiderman #537, he explains his stance:

"Doesn't matter what the press says. Doesn't matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn't matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world — 'No, you move.'"

The more I thought about the beatitudes, and the more I thought about this quote, I realized there was still an opportunity to fulfill my childhood daydreams of being a superhero.  Not because I can model Captain America (although, if Avengers  gave us any clues to his faith, Cap's definitely Christian).  It's because I can model Christ, the ultimate superhero.

True Power

No one said the Christian walk is easy.  In fact, we're told over and over again in scripture that there will be trials (John 16:33).  We also live in a world where most circles do not make it easy to do what we know is right.  However, it's worth noting that each beatitude begins with "Blessed are." Obedience to Christ comes with an inner contentment unaffected by external circumstances.  These are promises made by the One who can't lie.  When we're living in light of those truths, the right thing becomes a little easier.  Not only that, before we know it, the right thing is what motivates us.

Thus, when challenges come, rather than being overwhelmed or simply giving up, we can view it as an opportunity to do something super, maybe even heroic.  When we're told that we're too soft, too nice, we can't help everybody, we're too idealistic, we should be more open-minded, more progressive, our convictions are too strong, truth is relative, or even that our beliefs are foolish - if we rest in the promises of the Savior, we can hold to our convictions and say, "No, you move."