The Corruption of a Leader

Admiral Marcus

Ok, I know I have already posted about Star Trek's new movie, Into Darkness, but I wanted to reflect on the topic I had planned to discuss before I went to see the movie and became distracted by the overwhelming message of friendship bonds.  I was interested to see how the character that had risen up the ranks of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, Admiral Marcus, became so twisted in his thinking patterns and so off track of the original purpose of Starfleet.

Admiral Marcus was so consumed by his hatred for the Klingons that he created a hidden purpose within Starfleet, a supremely military purpose.  He used subversive means to get his hidden agenda across, so that no one was aware of what was happening.  He planned the regeneration of a historic super-villian, Khan, for his ability to craft a super military vessel.  He was going to sacrifice the Starfleet flagship explorer vessel Enterprise to start a war with the Klingons.

How did he get that way?  Does that really happen to good people, and good leaders?  Do we really lose our purpose and go down a dark path?

Yes.

Let's look at a biblical example.  King Saul was given God's blessing to become Israel's first leader.  However, he soon lost the blessing of God, due to disobedience.  God expected full obedience of his people, and was disappointed.  David became the chosen leader of God.  Saul became consumed by his jealousy of David, and then plotted to kill him.  He was blinded by his sins.  I do believe Saul was a good leader for Israel, since God had chosen him, but he went down a path into darkness.  He never recovered.

Christians, and even church leaders are not immune to darkness.  We are often targets of Satan's attacks.  Sometimes the attacks are in the form of things that we want (temptations).  Sometimes the attacks are in the form of hardships, illness, or pain.  If we allow these things to consume our thinking, we will wind up in the dark places of our being, and we risk losing our connection with God.  How do we keep ourselves protected?

We need to stay connected to the Word of God and to His people.  We need to study daily His Word and meditate on His purposes.  We need to stay connected to His people by attending a church that encourages conversation and discussion about the things of the bible.

I encourage you to find a group of people you can study with and discuss the purposes of God, as well as our attacks and responses (both when we succeed, and when we fail).  If you want help finding a small group, please comment.  I would be happy to try to help you.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name (Jesus), there I am in the midst of them." ~Matthew 18:20 KJV

Love Beyond Life

Spoiler alert... don't read this if you haven't seen the movie, Star Trek Into Darkness!

Do we know what it means to love these days?  I just went to see a great movie last night, and was surprised by the message I took from it.  We saw the new Star Trek - Into Darkness movie, and I must admit, I had read a spoiler before going to see it, so I thought I would know what lesson I would take and write about.  I was wrong.

"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.  So we ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters." ~1John 3:16 (NLT)

Towards the beginning of the movie, Spock is willing to lay his life down for the "needs of the many." What he doesn't understand is just how much his death would impact his friends, and how hurt they were that he would just willingly put himself in harms way.  He says later, "I did feel those feelings when my world died, so I choose not to feel.  It doesn't mean I don't care."  Kirk wonders how he can do that.  Personally, I know I have buried feelings and not allowed myself to feel.  I never knew that others would perceive me to not care.  

Later in the movie, we see a twist... and Kirk is given the opportunity to lay his life down for his friends.  We see Spock run down to see his friend dying.  He says to Spock, "how do you choose not to feel? I don't want to feel scared."  But, we see Spock with tears in his eyes say, "I don't know, I seem to be having difficulty right now."  Spock suddenly experiences very real emotions.  

When Kirk dies, Spock feels rage and a thirst for revenge at the loss of his friend.  

This is what the disciples must have experienced when Jesus died.  There must have been tremendous pain, fear, confusion and anger at the loss of their beloved friend and leader.  How much more pain would they have to endure?  

As we go through life, we start to see more and more that life is pain.  We see how much more we need our friends to care for and love.  We need to think of them when we consider eternity.  Will they be joining us in Paradise?  These are the friends we give our lives for.  

"This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.  There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." ~John 15:12-13 (NLT)

Fighting Burnout

Iron Man 3 will be released on Friday.  I'm getting excited to see the movie after seeing the trailer.  If you haven't see the trailer, click the link.

What's interesting is the angle this movie seems to take.  This is a very powerful, rich man who could have anything he wants.  He has the girl, he has the money, and yet, there is this level of anxiety and worry that seems to overwhelm him.  He is consumed with the idea that he needs to build more and more super suits, and the obsession takes his attention away from his girl.

Have you ever felt that level of anxiety that consumes you?  Do you have obsessions that take over your life, because you worry about what may happen if you don't focus on them?  Jobs can take over our lives, if we don't be mindful of what is important.

Solomon writes about life and how much the pursuit of wealth is meaningless.  Listen to this passage he writes:

"So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety?  Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest.  It is all so meaningless.  So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work.  Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.  For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from Him?" ~Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 (NLT)

Eat, drink and find satisfaction in the work, but then he points out nothing has meaning without Him.  He goes on to say that we need companions to get through our short time on earth before we go to heaven.  The secret to fighting burnout is to find relationships that have meaning.  We need each other to be able to fight the battles that we face in our daily walk.  We need our loving friends.

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.  Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

~Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)

Don't be afraid to share your real self with others.  This helps you be in the kind of relationship that will help you get through this life until we go to heaven.  This helps with the burnout we face in our daily walk.  We need our friends.  We need love.

Gift of Power

Bruce Banner or Incredible Hulk

Have you ever felt powerless and weak when you were facing an adversity?  Have you wished that you could be filled with power when the need arose?  Growing up as a girl in the 1970's, I admit I was fascinated with the TV show "The Incredible Hulk."  Bruce Banner was accidentally exposed to gamma radiation and given to turn into a large and powerful creature when he became too angry, or if his life was in danger.  This is a power Bruce felt was not his, and rather was more of an alter-ego, because he wasn't always in control of the Hulk.

I've been studying the gifts of the Holy Spirit as described in the New Testament of the Bible.  When the Spirit came upon the believers of the early church in Acts 2, there were many signs and wonders.  Winds whipped through the house, and tongues of fires appeared upon the people.  Believers spoke in other languages, and performed all kinds of miracles.  They appeared for all to be supermen.  Men with innate power and abilities.

However, the source of the power was not theirs.  God would choose to fill them with His Spirit and then consume them.  The power manifested by the men was actually God's Spirit overflowing through them.  It gave them strength to speak before many people and withstand tremendous persecution and abuse.  God knew we believers would need Him, and His power is still bestowed on those of us who remain close to His Truth and choose His path.  I've written about our responsibility when we have this great power in a different post (Great Power, Great Responsibility).

When God fills us with His Holy Spirit, we may feel like Bruce Banner did when the Hulk came out - a bit out of control.  But, God means for us to submit to Him and allow His power to work in our lives and in the lives of others.  We must yield to Him.  If we worry about criticism, this means we are still focused on ourselves.  Don't worry about making a mistake.  Remember, God is big enough to handle your mistake.

"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.  But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint." ~Isaiah 40:29-31

One Man's Disability is God's Superpower

Have you ever felt less than adequate?  Let's think about those among us living with a disability of some kind.  Some people have difficulty walking, and others have difficulty thinking clearly.  Some cannot see, and others (like me) cannot hear.  Some disabilities are invisible, but completely debilitating.  Autism spectrum disorder is one such disability.  People with this disorder (on the higher functioning end) describe themselves as socially awkward, or having extreme anxiety in social situations.  They have intense interests and a singular ability to focus on their specific interest.  They often have a black-and-white view of the world, and have a strong sense of justice, as they know deep down what is right, and cannot see or tolerate anything else.

As a special educator, I sometimes recognize these hidden disabilities in others.  I love to watch these people overcome their weakness and capitalize on their strengths.  After reading several books in the Bible written by Moses, I am convinced he was such a man.  When God chose him to deliver the people of Israel out of Egypt, he protested.  He knew he could not speak with others, and would often get tongue-tied.  He needed Aaron to speak for him.  Why would God choose him?

Moses had a singular knowledge of what God wanted, and the ability to know it to the smallest detail.  Think about how detailed the Tabernacle had to be, and what the different offerings needed to be to please God.  The repetition and detail in these books written by Moses indicate an individual with the ability to see the importance of even the tiniest details.  God knew he needed such a person who could remember all the small details to get it right, lest something go wrong, and sin be exposed in God's presence.  God needed a person wired just like a person on the Autism spectrum.

When you see someone with a disability, or if you are such a person, think about what makes you strong.  What can you contribute for the work of God?

"Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write down all these instructions, for they represent the terms of the covenant I am making with you and with Israel." Exodus 34:27 (NLT)

Unlikely Hero

Bilbo Baggins, resident Hobbit from Bag End, in the Shire of Middle-Earth was quite surprised to find himself on a journey "there and back again."  Hobbits are also known as halflings due to their small stature, and are usually quite content to stay at home, eat and drink and be merry among their friends and family.  Bilbo was no exception until Gandalf the Grey (a wizard) named him to go with the dwarves to reclaim a treasure from a dragon.  Neither Bilbo or the dwarves felt he could do this adventure, but Gandalf assures everyone, "There is more to this Hobbit than meets the eye."

God saw a similar unlikely hero in Moses.  Think about his story.  He was trying to live a quiet life as a farmer in a quiet land when God appeared before him as a burning bush.  God gave him a huge task to go to Pharaoh and lead the Hebrew people out of oppressed Egypt.  Moses did not believe he could do it, protesting more than once.  God did not accept the excuses of Moses, and gave Moses the tools he needed to accomplish the mighty task.

What would God have you to do?  What task seems insurmountable to you?  Did you know that Moses was just like you?  He was full of anxiety and self-doubt, but with God, he did it.  So can you.

"God arms me with strength,

and He makes my way perfect.

He makes me as surefooted as a deer,

enabling me to stand on mountain heights."

(Psalm 18:32-33 NLT)

Go.  Accomplish your task.  Fulfill your purpose.  God will arm you with strength.

Accepting Mercy

Redemption.  Mercy.  These are the overwhelming themes of the show Les Miserables.  I recently attended the movie version of the well-known musical, and I was struck by how strong the message really is.  The show opens with a strong image of punishment of convicts in 19th century France.  We meet Valjean, a broken man, convicted of stealing bread for his sister and repeated attempts to escape.

He is finally granted parole, and leaves the prison.  He does not find solace in the town he dwells, as there is no mercy for convicts there.  Desperate, he steals silver from a monastery.  When caught and returned to the monastery, the monsignor claims he gave him the silver and gives him candlesticks in addition to the silver.  This man knows he should be punished for stealing.  However, the monsignor granted mercy.  Valjean responds with repentance and a vow to live right.

As we watch the show unfold years later, Valjean gets to show mercy to young woman and her child, but still remains on the run from Javert, the officer determined to find this escaped convict and return him to prison.  A revolution unfolds, and Javert is caught as a spy by the young revolutionaries.  Waiting to be executed, Valjean finds him, and shows him mercy.  He allows Javert to escape with his life.

Javert is a man who knows all crimes must be punished.  He knows he was "convicted" as a spy, and deserved to die, especially at the hands of a man he mistreated.  He has no idea how to react to this, and could not accept the concept of a pardoning.  Why is he free?  Why didn't he die for his sins?  He commits suicide, unable to bear the idea that forgiveness could trump judgement.

We were granted a pardoning by our God.  We were given mercy when we deserved death for the sins we committed.  What will you do with this undeserved mercy?  Will you respond as Valjean did, and repent?  Will you choose to live right in the eyes of God?  Or, will you respond as Javert did, and refuse to accept the forgiveness our God offered?

You get to choose.  Accept forgiveness or refuse.

"Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand.  When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.  For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes - so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.   So, I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it."  (Acts 28:26-28 NLT)