You Don't Need Wings Or Red Bull To Fly

Last night at our Home Group BBQ, it just so happened that down the end of the table where I happened to be sitting there was a vigorous discussion happening about alternate realities. This, at times fiery, discussion debated whether the Bourne Trilogy (Bourne Identity, Bourne Ultimatum, Bourne Supremacy) was a docu-drama based on reality (my contention) or just sheer fantasy based on an alternate reality (everyone else’s contention). Things got particularly heated when we began discussing whether Narniareally existed or was, again, an alternate reality. I can only wonder what sparks would have flown if we had gone into the centuries long debate which has pitted philosopher against philosopher whether Clark Kent (A.K.A. Kal-El) belonged to this reality or some alternate reality. If there’s anything we learn from the story of Kal-El, it’s that you don’t need wings or Red Bull to fly – as long as you continually renew your strength.

And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
 I would fly away and be at rest;
Psalm 55:6

When Lois Lane was asked what she knew about Superman (Kal-El) she stated that he was from the planet Krypton, that he could fly, and he renewed his strength from the Sun. In the docu-drama, Superman Returns, we see Kal-El taking time out from saving people and averting disasters by flying out of earth’s atmosphere and basking in sunlight to renew his strength.

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

We each have different categories of strengths. Each of these strengths need renewing. For example, our physical strength needs hydrating, nourishing, and rest. Our mental strength needs stimulating, instructing, and musing. Our spiritual strength needs to worship, to pray, to meditate on God and His Word. 

¶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
Second Corinthians 4:16

After discovering that my spine was severely degenerated, I learned that spines need renewing. Sports scientists now teach elite sports people how to care for and renew their spines through proper hydration, active warm-ups, warm-downs, proper stretching, and use of a back roll. I’ve just spent 4 days on my back, largely unable to move, because I have spent too many years ignoring these elements of renewal. 

There is of course a more valuable spiritual application in all this talk about alternate realities and back care. Our souls need to be continually renewed. As Kim reminded us all last Sunday, this requires maintenance. But spiritual maintenance, Kim said, was different to regular maintenance – for each time we do spiritual maintenance we grow.

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.
Colossians 3:10

ONE OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL THINGS

One of the beautiful things about what Christ does in a believer is allowing us to see the world the way it actually is (Eph. 1:18). The Scriptures declare that those outside of Christ are blind (2Cor. 4:4). They cannot see the real world – they are virtually living in an alternate reality. While our Home Group BBQ discussed alternate realities last night, we also reflected on the reality that life is short and death is certain, yet so few people prepare for it. While we can get our finances in order, our health care plan in order, too few people take the time to get their souls in order by the daily renewing of their hearts and minds in Christ.

¶ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2

Even Superman has to take regular time out and renew his strength in the glory of the Sun. Even the True Superman took time out from the demands of a needy world to renew His strength by coming aside to be with His Father (Matthew 14:23). How much more then do we need renewing? While Kal-El renewed his strength from the radiance of the Sun, we renew ours from the radiance of the Son. Like the dripping wet and weary Peter meeting the resurrected Christ for an impromptu fish breakfast on the shores of the Galilee having just unsuccessfully fished all night, his strength was supernaturally renewed by the presence, words, and radiance of Christ. When the ten other disciples struggled to haul their spontaneous catch of fish to shore, it was Peter who then got up renewed from having been with Jesus and at the word of Christ he single-handedly dragged the net of 153 large fish onto the shore.  

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
John 21:10-11

The journey of following Christ is a journey of continual renewal and growth. This is why our goal is not just simply to get people savedbut to help people to grow in Christlikeness. In reflecting on these things this week, I read something yesterday that challenged me. “There has never been an easier time to get people saved and yet there has never been a more difficult time to disciple people into committed growing followers of Christ.” This Sunday we will meet together to be renewed. It could be the day when some people realise for the first time that they have been blind and living in a delusion as Christ opens their eyes. And, it should be the day when for those of us whose eyes have already been opened we will see the world a little more clearly because we will, like those seekers from Bethsaida, see Christ a little more clearly.

So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
John 12:21

Pastor Andrew

SPIRITUAL MICRO-MAINTENANCE

- The Art of Minute-Sparing

The other day I created a spare minute and went for a little stroll through my front garden. I admired the Spring daffodils. But I noticed the spent rose buds. "I should prune those", I said to myself, "when I get a spare minute." Then I recalled my inordinate good fortune - I had just created a spare minute! Realising this extraordinary coincidence, I went to my garage (where I have my gardening things in the corner) and grabbed my pruners. Returning to my rose bushes I attended to their dishevelment. As I was reshaping my rose bushes, I saw some unwanted oxalis (Latin for "pesky weed that annoys Andrew"). I was forced to create yet another spare minute to deal with this intruder. Something then occured to me.

James 5:11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

We live in a busy world. Some people love to let others know how busy they are. I don't. I find it almost shameful that I'm so busy at times. Busyness is not a statement of how important I am, as it seems to be for some. Busyness, to me, is a reminder that I need to make some adjustments to how I do life.

Life is not made richer by my busyness. Life is made richer when it is wonderful. It's too easy to see mundane and routine chores, such as pruning rose bushes, as an unwelcomed intrusion into a busy schedule. But there is wonder in a flower that comes from the mundane act of pruning. My life is made a little richer when create a spare minute and wonder about such (so called) simple things.

"Wondrous truths, and manifold as
wondrous,
God hath written in those stars above ;
But not less in the bright flowerets
under us
Stands the revelation of his love.Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Flowers"

This shy intruder into our busyness, wonder, rarely demands our attention. It gently calls to us by inviting us into some activity of micro-maintenance. I didn't have the time to pull all of my pesky oxalis out (I had only created a spare minute). But I did manage to weed a few out. I was micro-mantaining.

As my responsibilities have mounted along life's journey, I have developed the art of micro-maintaining in more areas than just weeding my garden. Spiritually I have come to value those micro-maintenance prayer times, where like Nehemiah (Neh. 2:4) you maintain your sweet fellowship with God in "moments" of prayer - not just seasons. I treasure the micro-maintenance of reading a verse of Scripture and savouring it like the Psalmists so often did (Psalm 119:15).

Second Corinthians 11:28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

There's a great illustration of micro-maintenance in the movie, The Shawshank Redemption. Little by little. Day by day. Here some, there some. And progress is made. Micro-maintenance involves creating as well as maintaining. It can 'create' a spare minute. It can give permission to step out of the HMS Busyness and repair awhile. Micro-maintenance is a slight steering wheel correction that helps us to keep our real priorities in order.

1Cor. 9:24 ¶ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

If you're daunted by how much there is on your To-Do List, and feel that the only way you can possibly get through it is to neglect those things that should be important - such as prayer, worship, Bible-reading - try some micro-maintenance. You may discover that as you pull weed some oxalis from your life that there is rose bud right in front of you opening up its wonderful blossom. Sometimes all it takes is the creation of a wonder-filled spare minute.

Psa. 34:8 ¶ Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!

Ps. Andrew