Rose

A beautiful vase sits all alone upon the hearth of a fireplace. Thump. Tumble. Crash. Upset by an object the vase plunges down to the floor and shatters to pieces. Water flowing and roses scattered. The roses thirst. The roses are upset. The water fades and yet the pieces of the shattered home remain untouched.

Shy and yet bashful suitors presented gifts of roses to expose their hidden passion, which are delicate as roses to be expressed openly. They chose different colors, varieties, and arrangements of roses, which were used to communicate their expressed emotions. From the time of Solomon, the rose was closely linked with love. To the Greeks the rose was sacred to Venus and it connected with Cupid. Mark Anthony, received from Cleopatra the expression of her love for him through roses, eighteen inches deep, were strewn upon the floors of her palace. The couches were covered with rose petals and the fountains were filled with the aroma of rose water. Roman nobility established large public rose gardens South of Rome.

Roses have been symbols of war. In the fifteenth century the rose was used for symbols in England. Roses represented two towns, the red rose symbolized Lancaster and the white rose symbolized York. Thus the war in England was known as the "War of the Roses." Roses have been symbols of politics. In the seventeenth century royalty considered roses or rose water as legal tender. Today roses are a represented through its many colors. The following are the meanings traditionally attached to the most popular roses, according to colors:

· Red roses mean romantic love; they're the "Valentine roses,".

· Purple rose is to signify that the giver has fallen in love with the recipient at first sight.

· Coral roses, as well as orange, signal desire.

· The meaning of yellow roses is joy and friendship.

· We express our gratitude and appreciation with pink roses....

· Light Pink in color roses, signify feelings of admiration and sympathy.

· Peach is more ambiguous, as it can signify either sympathy or gratitude.

· Their purity naturally enough lends to white roses the meaning of reverence and humility.

Love, how many ways can it be expressed? Is it the symbol of roses? Is it the symbol of a dove? Is it the symbol of the heart? Sometimes love is a symbol of the roses in a vase and then something happens to which it becomes shattered. Our love placed into a loved one and the vase becomes shattered by their death. Our love placed into our spouse and the vase becomes shattered by the divorce. I believe roses are a symbol of love.

The beautiful petals represent our outward display of our beauty. The aroma is the essence of our complete being from within. The thorns remind others to gently handle us. The complete rose needs nourishment and tender shaping and pruning to keep it alive. Yet the rose remains one of the most beautiful flowers of all. It is a complete package just as love is a complete package.

I Corinthians 13:4-7 Love… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Ever felt like you were the rose in the vase? You go along simply displaying your radiance and then out of nowhere your world tumbles. What you once knew or were living in is now crushed to pieces. How can love believe in all things, hope in all things as well as endures all things?

God loved us enough to send His Son down to earth to die for us, so that we can live again as he is living. Sometimes our world seems to be shaken but have you stopped a moment and look at the rose which was crushed? He was mocked, spat in the face, flogged and beaten. Just like the object which disturbed the vase and then it begins to fall. The savior carries His cross. The vase tumbles and shatters. Just as the Savior needed someone to help carry His cross as he stumbled carrying the heavy load. The nails strike the hands and feet and the blood splatters. As the vase plummets and shatters it splatters broken pieces and water everywhere. The crown of thorns flow with blood and it scars the savior of the sins of the world. The thorns remind Him to be delicate with us and with each other.

Sometimes we think our world is broken and there is no love left. Sometimes we think there is no beauty in the world and there is no love left. When the broken pieces are left and the water is gone and the rose petals have all fallen off all there seems left are the thorns.

The next time you give a rose to your spouse, a friend or a loved one remember to watch the thorns. After all the thorns remind us to be delicate and to remember the saviors love. Thorns pierced him. Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

A rose is beautiful and represents many things. At this time and moment remember the Rose and the love it shows. For love (CHRIST) bore all things, for love (Christ) we believe in all things, for love (CHRIST) we hope in all things and for love (Christ) endured all things. God's Rose was displayed for the world to see as a reminder.

A reminder that even though the Rose has left and gone into heaven the thorns remain for us to remember there is still love in the world. The aroma of the rose is found in us. 2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. What color of rose are you? Don't despair over the broken pieces of your life. For it all has been put back together through nails.

The thorns will remain but the rememberance of the Rose will always linger. The choice is left for you to choose. Choose to remember the broken pieces of the vase and become angry at what caused the accident or choose to remember the child bringing you the roses when you were sick. These roses which lie now on the floor. It's time to appreciate the Rose for all its worth and to allow it to permeate your life with all of its love and don't remember the tattered pieces of your life.

The Breath of God

Wake up refreshed in the morning and grab a cup of coffee. When one-steps outside and feels the cool spring breeze softly blowing, one can recall the moment. The wind is sometimes soft and refreshing with a message of a great day coming. Often without notice things change during the spring and thunderstorms arise. The dead has risen and the storm tosses it violently winds to where it is almost impossible to catch a breath. The weather radio sounds like a trumpet sounding warning. The warning about the winds that are causing turbulent tunnels called tornadoes.

Uneven heating of the earth's surface causes wind by the sun. The heat absorbed by the ground or water is transferred to the air, where it causes differences in air temperature, density and pressure. These differences, in turn, create forces that push the air around.

On a global scale, the temperature difference between the tropics and the poles drives the trade winds, which act as a giant heat exchanger to keep the equator from becoming even hotter and the poles from becoming even colder. On a much smaller scale, temperature differences between land and sea and between mountains and valleys often create strong breezes. Wind direction and speed are affected by other factors, as well, such as the earth's rotation, local topographical features and the roughness of terrain.

Here are a few facts about wind:

a. SEATTLE - The Earth can be a windy place at times. But probably no spot is windier than the top of Mount Washington, N.H., which holds the record for the highest wind gust ever recorded: 231 mph on April 12, 1934

b. Hurricanes are also well known for their furious wind speeds, but the strongest hurricanes recorded had wind speeds between 160 and 190 mph.

c. The windiest place in the world is in Antarctica where in 1951 winds averaged 40 mph through the year and averaged 65 mph during the month of March.

Wind is moving air, and this fresh air is needed continually for life itself. Even seeds of trees and plants often require wind for their dispersal and subsequent growth. Wind has no material shape or form. It is invisible; we cannot see the source or the destination of wind. It is a mysterious, unseen force. Yet the effects of the winds make known its presence.

I Kings 19 :10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." 11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD , for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD , but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

Wind is a powerful force. It cannot be stopped or controlled by people. There is great variety in the wind. It may be a soft whisper gently rustling the leaves on the trees, or it may be a hurricane uprooting trees.

The wind reminds me of the breathe of God. How can it compare? God is all around.. he breathed.. life into man. Genesis 27 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. He created air. Numbers 11:31 wind went out before the Lord and drove quail. Then its writers speak of the Spirit of God as wind, they have in mind the thought of vigor, of enormous energy ... almost, you might say, of violence. So Isa. 30:28, "His breath is like an overflowing stream that reaches up to the neck."

This is what Jesus meant when he spoke of the Spirit as a wind to Nicodemus. "It blows where it wills. You hear the sound of it, but you know neither where it comes from nor where it goes to." (John 3:8) No one can tame the wind; no more can anyone tame the Spirit of God. You cannot 'domesticate' Him. He may affect us, as the wind does, but over Him we have no control at all, any more than we have over the wind. Like the wind He is invisible, but real ... powerful, but free - not subject to man. 2 Timothy 316All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Take a fan and plug it in and turn it on. Put your wind into a balloon and blow it up to mid size. Now take the small fan and turn it on its back to where the air is blowing straight up to the ceiling. Now place the balloon on top of the fan and let go. See how the balloon floats. when you turn the fan almost vertical the balloon floats in mid air.

God supports us by His spirit. He guides us to where He desires. Watch a sailboat and notice how the wind blows the sail in order for the boat to move. What does wind have to do with our lives? Sometimes it's a gentle breeze as if it was a reminder that God is near by. Sometimes it's a wild breeze as if it was a warning of the paths we are traveling. Sometimes it's not noticeable only because we have shielded our lives from Him. The wind may blow but it is our choice to move the rudder to stir the boat to be driven by the wind. It is our choice to put God first in our life in order for God to move us and be driven by Him. The next time you go outside think about the wind. You can't see the wind as like with God you cannot see Him. You can see the effects of the wind as like you can see the effects of God's wondrous power. The air is all around you as like God is always there. He will guide you but are you going with the wind or are you going to fight the wind and try to go where you want? Listen to the wind. I like the idea of the Native American Chief Plenty Horses, from Oglala Teton Black Hills, Says, "Listen to the wind and hear our elders as they speak. As long as the wind blows we are all one, connected under this blue bowl of the sky."

To put the saying in a Biblical sense, Listen to the wind and hear the Lord speak as he once did to Elijah. Since God breathed his air into us we are made in His image. As God's word is life of breath and we fill our hearts with his breath then we will be connected as one at the end of time." It is God's will to work in us and He will guide us for He has given to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. Are you willing to open your sails of life and allow God to direct you over the troubled waters?

Which road?

When you are driving, have you ever noticed that anyone in the fast lane going slower than you appears idiotic? Have you ever noticed that anyone going faster than you seems like a maniac? Roads! You can’t do without them, but you can deal with what is on the roads as long as you make the right choices.

The ancient Romans had a good system of roads, which were systematically planned and regularly maintained. Roman roads followed the straightest possible lines, although certain detours were made for safety or technical reasons. With Rome being the "hub" of the system, the now-famous saying that "All roads lead to Rome" emerged--because it was true! With over 50,000 miles of paved road, the road system of the Ancient Romans was one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of its time.

We can tell from an ancient administrative document of the first century, drawn up by the geometer Siculus Flaccus, the Romans classified their roads in the order of their importance. The most important roads were viae publicae (public roads), which were funded by the state. Of secondary importance were viae militares (military roads), built at the expense of the army; these later became public roads. Local roads, or actus, come after this. Lastly, there were privatae (private roads), built and maintained by the owners (Adam, 277).*

As a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma appears to me to be the Hub of Toll roads. I consider Oklahoma City the central hub of the United States. North, South, East, and West Interstates run through the city, connecting Canada to Mexico and California to North Carolina. Never-ending traffic zooms through the city on its way across the country. One can only begin to imagine what the roads into Rome must have been like.

We can drive down a road in a car. We can ride a bike. We can walk. Roads lead us from cities and suburbs to parks and forests. Wherever they lead, roads are specific paths built to take you from one point to another. Sometimes, this infinite maze of roads leads to a dead end. Sometimes roads have obstacles that block our path or force us to take another avenue of approach.

When there is a break in the road, such as a pothole or construction, choices need to be made, alternate routes found. Some people get lost when they are forced to change paths. They may be unfamiliar with the territory outside their usual route, leaving them vulnerable to worry, or fear of the unknown. It is the choices we make at these points that determine our destiny. A very famous poem by Robert Frost describes his journey through life. He describes his choice at a crossroad and its impact:

The Road Not Taken Robert Frost (1874 - 1963)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler,

long I stood And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood,

and I-- I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Roads are often used to describe the paths of our lives. We pick a road of work that brings us to a sense of accomplishment. We pick a road of marriage that leads us to having a family. We pick a road of mistakes that we feel “forced” in to by peer pressure. These roads are never-ending loops that can tie you in knots or leave you at a dead end. You will walk many different roads in this life. What roads have you traveled? What roads will you choose? Are you a weary traveler?

Our lives are based upon the choices of our perceptive minds. If we have a clear discernment of our purpose and a direction that is not clouded by our busy-ness, mundane things, or worries, then our choices will reflect good judgment. On the other hand, if these things are clouding our discernment, it will seem as though as our world is falling apart.

Driving a car down a road that has potholes can do damage to the car. It is the same in life when we proceed down a specific road and we encounter problems. Benjamin Franklin once said, “ those things that hurt, instruct us.” Hopefully, these bumps in the road will instruct us to try to not hit the bumps again.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)

Are you a weary traveler walking down a lonely road? Don’t trouble yourself with a heavy load and worries about tomorrow. If you hit a bump in the road just pick yourself up and realign your path. Soon you will be able to get rid of the mundane things. Tired of driving then let God be the pilot and His word be your map. Jesus is your air bag he saves us from the destruction and soon you are heading on a right path.

Although the road less traveled may not be popular, it is the right road to be on. Just pay attention to the signs! When you “drive” your life, be careful of the obstacles that will force you to choose another path. Read the map carefully. Heed the warning signs. Let God do the driving. Soon you will not be worrying about tomorrow but hoping for the coming of the day Jesus will return.

(* Adam, Jean-Pierre. Roman Building: Materials and Techniques. London: B.T. Batsford, 1994)

Are things always face value?

The hand is not really quicker than the eye. The skill of the magician is in getting an audience to focus its attention where he wants it at a specific instant. The success of magic lies in the ability to create illusions that have the appearance of reality. Let’s give it a try. Notice the picture to the right. Focus on it

What do you see? Do you see a face? Do you see the word Liar? Sometimes we want to believe in a person and yet the very signs are there that indicate the true identity of the person. What we choose to see can also become an illusion hiding the obvious. We must keep our eyes open and watch for the illusions in our life. This will help make better decisions as we walk life’s road.

For thousands of years it was believed that magicians or sorcerers were able, by use of supernatural powers, to gain control over natural forces. Magic was, therefore, closely allied with religion. A king’s personal magicians were supposedly able to make it rain, ward off enemies, prevent and cure diseases, cast spells on invading armies, and most significantly, to gain the favor of their gods.

There are ancient Egyptian records giving details of magical performances before Pharaoh Cheops, who died about 2494 BC. Later, in the Middle Ages, magicians were caught up in condemnations of witches, sorcerers, and devil worshipers. They were often jailed and sometimes executed. Not until the Renaissance did it become possible for traveling entertainers, such as jugglers and other wonder workers, to perform before royalty, nobility, and even bishops, if not always for the public. By the 16th century, there were professional magicians doing card tricks, reading minds, and making objects disappear. Illusions are misleading images presented to the vision or intellect. Assumptions can be made based off of what the individual believes he sees or hears.

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:26-28).

Sometimes when we pray, we feel our prayers need to be answered in a certain manner. In our lives events take place that appear a certain way and yet in reality they really aren’t as we see them. We only see what we want to see because of our perception of life. We can’t or don’t want to focus on what God has provided for us. We get angry when things don’t appear to go our way. We get upset when something doesn’t happen when we want it too. We question our very existence when things go wrong. Then comes the illusion of the loss of confidence and peace.

The very real neglect of prayer and reading of the scriptures starts and soon Satan overcomes many. “That is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

What we put into our heart is how we are going to think, how we will perceive things. “And He was saying, ‘That which proceeds out of the man, that is what “defiles the man.” For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.’” (Mark 7:20-22).

If we fill our minds with the illusions of every day life, it will give us a false hope of security and bring to our lives no control, but madness. It is because we can not figure out why things happen they way the do. Ever get amazed and then frustrated at a magical trick and you can’t for the life of you figure out how the magician performed his trick? When we fill our minds with Christ, it brings the reality of peace.

Do you want a life of illusion that creates a little happiness of the here and now with the pleasures of this life? Or do you want the security and peace of having Christ permanently in your life for eternity? When we pray, the Spirit knows our desires more than we know. We may pray for something we think we might need, yet the Spirit will intercede and give to us what we really need. The next time something happens in your life, pause and reflect for a moment. Let God guide you and don’t try to figure out what He is doing.

Give all to God in prayer and believe in His power. Christ did die, was buried, and was raised for us to have life eternal. This is no illusion. The illusion is when we want to do what Satan desires us to believe in and we choose a life of pleasure instead a life of peace. What is the illusion in your life that is causing you to be hindered from seeing Christ?

Jesus Cried

Dark voyages to worlds unknown and to boldly go where no man has gone before. Space is the final frontier of man. Dreams of going to the moon have been accomplished and now living in space has become a reality. Closer to the stars and now I know why my wishes upon stars never come true for the astronauts are closer and wish them all away.

In space it is an amazing showcase of colors being displayed. Stars, which appear upon earth as falling, are merely stars or comets shooting across the heavens. Great medical discoveries have been made in outer space, but what impact does space have on the human body?

In space, astronauts cannot cry because tears cannot flow without gravity. Tears contain chemicals and hormones produced by your body. When you become upset, the mind overreacts and works overtime by producing chemicals and hormones. Crying helps eliminate the hormones that we don't need in our system. As your tears flow, the hormones disappear from our body. Tears help sooth our minds by withdrawing the extra hormones. This is why many people feel calmer or more refreshed after crying.

As an infant you cried and it was your way of communicating. Then, as you grew into a child, you learned to speak instead of crying. When you were hungry, you could communicate that you were hungry and don't have to cry. At this point, crying begins when one becomes emotionally upset. You were given the natural ability to feel hurt. This is why sometimes when cry and they don't know why they are crying at times because the hormonal level in women is very high and there has to be some type of release. What has happened between the times we were children to being an adult? As adults, some do not know how to handle hurt or how to let the tears fall.

When you were a child and you felt the hurt of something, you began to cry. There is no time limit on crying and when you finished, your hurt disappeared. Why? It disappeared because you let go of the hurt through crying. You felt all your feelings and emotions. This is the natural process of feeling and letting go of your hurt. Why do we forget this process, as we get older?

When we were young we were been taught by our parents to fight the process. For example, some parents have said that boys don't cry or it's not proper for girls to cry." What about, "Men don't cry." This process teaches us to avoid our hurts. It hinders the healing process by stuffing our feelings inside and not letting them out. No matter how hard you try to hold back those tears, they will always come out. Fighting will only delay the healing process. Try not to avoid your hurt. You can't get away from it. You will continue to experience these feelings whether you want to go through them or not.

Stuffing your feelings and holding them inside can sometimes cause illnesses such as stress, anxiety and even the extremes of breakdowns or coping disorders. It is your choice to heal or to be sick. "Jesus wept." John 11:35 The shortest verse in the bible and yet so explosive in imagery! The Son of God crying can be seen as God's love and compassion etched into the scriptures to share the emotional compassion He shares with man. Jesus weeps at the tomb of Lazarus, his friend, the one he loves. How can one find such passion? He loved Lazarus and His heart of compassion allowed Him to cry, even though Jesus knew He could raise Him from the dead.

How is it possible our crying can release the hurt? By releasing your hurt, you have to be willing to experience the hurt, and by reassuring yourself it is okay to feel this way, you keep on crying. Crying is releasing your hurt. If you resist feeling hurt, then feelings and thoughts of worthlessness begin to take over and soon you feel like a failure or that you're not good enough to be loved. Then it becomes destructive.

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7 Jesus cried for us. He still cries for you to listen to His voice and to release your pain and hurt to him. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

When you let your tears flow you begin to heal your hurt and from healing, your life will begin to change. From this change you release the fear and upset. You then can fill your life with love. You can restore your life through Christ by allowing Him to create the life of peace. We have to be willing to release the feelings of fear and begin to trust.

This unwillingness to let go destroys relationships with others as you begin stuffing your hurt deep inside. Life becomes more unbearable because you're also fighting yourself from releasing your pain. When you find peace in Christ, love begins to develop because God is love. When love exists in your life, take notice of how happy and free you feel. There are no more burdens. You become confident and effective in allowing Christ to control your life. This is the experience of love. This is what we want in our relationships and in our lives.

It is evident in Psalms; David stuffed his feelings and chose not to deal with them. Examine the following passage: When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Psalms 32:3,4

To create a life that works, you need to create action of crying and developing love and not resisting your tears to come to your eyes. David realized the power in confessing and releasing his pain. Examine the following passage: Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah Psalms 32:5 If you feel so overwhelmed its time to ask God what David asked: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalms 51:10 Now is the time for you to rid your feelings and cry out. Once you are able to empty your bucket of feelings then God will fill your bucket with love. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Psalms 63:3 Don't worry about failing. Let God support you. When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me. Psalm 94:18 The next time you don't feel like crying, think about how Christ cried in the garden for you. Then think about how He died on the cross for you and cried out in a loud voice. It's time to let go and let God in. You cry. God will heal and can raise your heart from the dead to live again.

Where is the superhero?

"Why do we fall down? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up again."- Alfred Pennyworth - Batman Begins (2005)

Like the howling of a wolf in the darkness, so is the mind which is blanketed by the darkness of undaunted memories. Small eyes witness a tragic event which haunts memories with a cold chill. Echoes continue like standing in the Grand Canyon and crying out, hello. Laughter was yesterday’s event, even though it was heard seconds ago.

A boy kneels down and looks over the lifeless bodies of his parents, slain in armed robbery. The life he once knew was robbed of vitality and so Bruce Wayne exists no more, but only now in the spirit as Batman. Who is this Batman?

In a handbook called, The Batman Handbook, The Ultimate Training Manual by Scott Beatty, it describes everything you’d need to know if you were to become Batman and what you would need to learn. Learn everything you can in every discipline, no matter how obscure and here is an abridged list:

Forensics
Criminology
Law
Chemistry
Physics
Computer Science
Tracking Skills (from bounty hunters)
Training your body.
Training
your instincts.

Can you imagine trying to empower yourself with all the knowledge, so you can fight the crime which took your life and protect others from undue harm of the future? His mission is to ensure the lethal tragic event would not become a reinvented wheel for someone else. What is the psychology of Batman?

It has to be understood through the dichotomy of Batman and Bruce Wayne. Bruce no longer exists. His personality died when his parents were killed and was witnessed by their young son. The Batman Begins movie explains the dynamics and characteristics of Batman when he said, “It’s the difference between who I am and the enemy.” Who is the Dark Knight? He perches on ledges of Gotham City like a vulture waiting on an event to occur, and then too swoop down to devour the lifeless crime which engulfed its victim.

Ever looked at the storyline? I am not sure what the writer had in mind when he created Batman. The characters which exist in the different stories have a profound effect on Batman. There are several key things which provoke the thoughts in my mind.

Batman is pessimistic, moody, but analyzes the situation before engaging. He plans a battle plan. He has an active approach on how he deals with each situation and will use everything within his disposal as a tool to aid in his survival. Batman is careful in his planning, but he fights his arch enemy the Joker who acts on impulses making him unstable. Batman/Bruce Wayne is challenged by another enemy who use to be a friend. Two face acts on fate of a coin to determine his own behavior as to act well or to be evil. Batman is challenged by his own split of his personality. Each of his enemies represents a challenge to Batman’s abilities or his characteristics. Almost like a man in the mirror. The reality stands real, but the reflection is the reminder of what only lies inside.

Can you identify yourself within the stories of Batman? Like Batman, who has acquired many allies, we too have the same allies. Whether, it is Alfred the butler, or Dr. Leslie who raised Bruce after his parents were killed, as Christians there are those who are willing to step in and nurse you when your down and out or lift you up to higher realms. Did you know Christ has empowered you as a superhero? No matter how bad your situation may be.

Christ is the ultimate superhero! We are his sidekicks. It is up to you in how you face your fear and turn them into your greatest strength. Like Bruce he turned his fear of bats into his greatest strength. Christ has empowered us to know there is nothing to fear when He is on your side. No matter how bad things seem to be, Christ gives us tools to survive. Ephesians 3:16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

What is the superhero within? God has empowered you to be more than what you are able to think. We are like Batman. When a tragic event strikes we are faced with choices. Do we change our lives and make it better than what it was before? Then when we are faced with the past like the enemies of Batman, do we have the strength to beat the past?

1. Fear – Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

2. Courage – Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

3. Protect – John 17:14-16 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do.

4. Two Face – Romans 7:21-25 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Find the superhero within. Find the courage to fight evil and protect others from the evil one. There is nothing to fear. Remember the urge to do what is right and not what is wrong. Have the courage to allow God to change your life for the best. Our disguise is Christ (Romans 13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.) and we wait for our bat signal, Philippians 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The New Year Look... Happy New Year 2009!

Anxiety looks around

How are you looking? Are you tired of rubber necking? Always wondering if you will make it to the next meal? Are you able to pay for those bills? In this mode you are always looking around. Always tired and stressed as well as sometimes you are unable to sleep at night.

The remedy is given by Peter:
1 Peter 5:7 put all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Depression looks down

Feeling down and out? Feel like you don’t have a way out of the situation which seems hopeless? Seems like no one really cares about you? Unsure about tomorrow and your neck is hurting because you’re looking down? In this mode you are always looking down. Tired and do not want anyone around. Sometimes not hungry and feel lethargic.

The remedy is given by David:
Psalms 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Envy looks sideways

Always wishing you could have more lights on your house than your neighbor? Wish you could drive the newest 2009 Lamborghini car? Wish you can be like them? Wishing you was able to be promoted over the other person? In this mode your neck is stuck in one direction by putting your hope in wealth an monetary things which are uncertain.

The remedy is given by Timothy:
1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Regret looks back.

Feeling sorry for you? Feeling you could have done better? Regretting the unkind words you gave to your spouse as you left the house? Wishing you had stopped to give your child that hug when they needed you the most? In this mode your head is facing backwards; while your life is going forward in uncertainty and unable to go in a straight path.

The remedy is given by Paul:
Philippians 3:12-14 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.


Hope looks forward

Heart happy looking for a positive note? Are your emotions full of optimism through your attitude of looking towards a positive future in fulfillment of your goals, desires, and events turning out for the best? In this mode your head is facing forward. Sitting and waiting for the sunrise in gladness of another day and anticipation and optimism of faith of being sure what you hope for will be given.

There isn’t a remedy, but encouragement:
Hebrews 11:1 now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Faith looks up

Are your eyes set towards heaven? Are your prayers lifted up? In this mode your head is titled up in anticipation of an answer for direction from your Father.

This is the way to live life:
Proverbs 2:7-9 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.

This message comes to wish you happiness and to make this New Year, a wonderful one for you and then the kind of happiness desired by your heart and family times, filled with peace and joy, right from the start. Each moment in a day has its own value. Morning brings HOPE, Afternoon brings FAITH, Evening brings LOVE, and Night brings REST. Therefore, drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.

If you are tired of looking and making the same resolutions, then make this year a year of renewal:
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Romans 12:12 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Titus 3:4-6 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

May God bless you in the year of 2009! Happy New Year