April Fools

We interrupt this photographic line-by-line reading of Ecclesiastes for this April Fool's day commentary:

Ecclesiastes 2:4

2:4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.

Ecclesiastes 2:3

2:3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

Ecclesiastes 2:2

2:2 "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?"

Ecclesiastes 2:1

2:1
I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 1:18

1:18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

1:17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:16

16 I thought to myself, "Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge."

Ecclesiastes 1:15

15 What is twisted cannot be straightened;
what is lacking cannot be counted.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-14

1:12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:11

1:11 There is no remembrance of men of old,
and even those who are yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow.

Ecclesiastes 1:10

1:10 Is there anything of which one can say,
"Look! This is something new"?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.

Ecclesiastes 1:9

1:9 What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:8

1:8 All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing.

Ecclesiastes 1:7

1:7 All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again.

Ecclesiastes 1:6

1:6 The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.

Ecclesiastes 1:5

1:5 The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.

Ecclesiastes 1:4

1:4 Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.

Ecclesiastes 1:3

1:3 What does man gain from all his labor
at which he toils under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 1:2

2 "Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless."

Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 1

1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:

Hope Chapel South Africa 2006 Mission Trip

My brothers and sisters in Christ:
Hope Chapel South Africa 2006 Mission Trip

God, please bless their obedience.

Happy Purim, Mr. Ahmadinejad!

My prayer today is that God would guide Mr. Ahmadinejad to the book of Esther. I confess that my initial thoughts on this issue involved a spirit of meanness. God, however, loves Iran's president as much as He loves me, and would much rather have him come to a saving knowledge of Christ than anything else. So, Mr. Ahmadinejad, on the off chance you're reading this, may I humbly tell you that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob loves you, and sent His son to atone for your sins as much as mine.
Here's a timely article on the significance of the book of Esther, and the celebration of Purim.

Heavenly Genes

Sometimes I marvel at how God uses our earthly relationships to teach us more about our relationship to/with Him. Scripture makes this plain in such passages as the challenging Ephesians 5:25: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.
Shortly after giving us the model of the Lord's prayer, Jesus encourages us to pray to the Father, using a Father/Son analogy to convince us how eager the Father is to hear and respond to His children's prayers: Luke 11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Though I know I am an inherited son of God through my kinship with His son Jesus Christ, my earthly life hardly seems indicative of this new spiritual nature. Sure, there are moments when I might see the shadow of the new man I've been promised I'll become, but most days involve deep sighs reflective of how far my flesh is from that spiritual destiny. Yet, despite this disconnect between the old/new me, God sometimes gives me a glimpse of what these earthly relationships might feel like in Heaven.

My 8-year-old daughter has recently begun piano lessons. This afternoon, I listened to her play a simple melody (Jingle Bells) using two hands. She is just starting out, so timing, concentration, and overall execution are consistent with that of a beginner. However, she did play well enough for me to be able to accompany her for a few bars on my nearby drumset. Lo and behold, while we didn't exactly bring down the house (we were alone in the basement), the duo offered hints of Bernhardt family jams that may come in future years.

As her Father, I simply delighted in being able to share this gift of music with my own daughter. Thoughts like: "Hey, this is my own flesh and blood that's making this music with me!" ran though my awareness. What a treat to know that something so dear to me (the beauty of music) is also appreciated by my kin. Even though her musical ability may not come from my genes (they could come from her Mother's side, and more to the point, this is a gift from God), the shared experience of using our shared gift left me with a deeper appreciation of the blood bond between my daughter and myself.

God, do you take delight like this when I take interest in something that you love? Does it fill you with visions of the two of us making beautiful music someday, even though my performance is clearly that of a beginner? Does is tickle you when we're playing the same passages of a simple little ditty, even though you could leave me in your dust? Do you have to restrain yourself from coaching me too quickly, lest I get lost in your mastery and become frustrated?

Thank you Father, for my daughter. Thank you for the lessons you teach us about your love through our imperfect performance in our family roles. Thank you for being the perfect Father to my daughter and to me. Thank you for giving us family ties so we can know something about love. I pray that you continue to use this family to demonstrate your glory.
This experience has helped me look at the Lord's prayer in a fresh way. I'll close by typing it here, highlighting in bold the words that can be better understood by relecting on our own family:

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

.

Much Ado About Nothing

In the latest incident of alarming insensitivities in the publishing world, a mid-western daily newspaper has drawn the ire of atheists worldwide with the adjacent "cartoon." While some may see nothing but an empty box, regular readers of the "Daily Disturber" newspaper became suspicious that the ominous white space was just the latest in a series of off-color jibes at the figures of various religions. The Disturber's cartoon the day before portrayed a cosmic chef spitting in to a bowl of primordial soup.
The controversial blank cartoon drew immediate reponses from the local atheistic community. Armed with high-resolution scanners and email, members of the local chapter of ANGER (Atheists Not Getting Enough Respect) sent flawless digital copies of the offending image via email to their godless brethren worldwide, fanning the flames of global outrage.
Asked what, in particular, she found most offensive about the cartoon, local atheist Mary Fornow answered: "Well, it's not so much an issue of what IS in the cartoon, it's more about what's NOT there. Sometimes, as is clearly intended here, silence speaks volumes. I mean, everyone knows that atheists don't believe that there even is a god, so this picture of nothing is obviously poking fun at us, and our most sacred object of (non) worship."
The editor of the Daily Disturber, Mr. Lance Disturber, was immediately questioned as to whether the blank box was intended as commentary on atheism. His response was non-commital: "A blank white space can be perceived in many ways. People are going to see what they want to see. Perhaps it was just a printing error. Maybe our printer ran low on toner?"
Gene Chance, president of the group Mid-Western Atheistic Humans Against Hatred All-over (MWAHAHA), doesn't find that answer satisfactory. "Who's he (Mr. Disturbed) trying to kid? The cartoon was surrounded by stories of the Prophet Muhammad situation, and biographies of famous atheists. Context is everything. Just because we athiests don't believe in God, it doesn't mean we're stupid."
Not everyone agrees with Mr. Chance. Even among fellow disbelievers, more moderate atheists are calling for calm and measured reactions. Les Newdoh is one of this camp. "Sure, the piece is in poor taste, but let's use this as an opportunity to show the world what we're all about. Just as Christians strive to emulate their Christ, and Muslims try to be like Muhammad, let us atheists respond as we believe our (non) creator would - by doing nothing at all."
As with the recent prophet Muhammad cartoon response, the blank box brought it's share of extremist reactions. Said Mr. Stan Mistenay, founder of GLAD (God Lovers Are Dangerous) : "This cartoon is an absolute outrage. Mr. Disturber and his entire staff should burn in ...well, I don't know, SOMEWHERE! How can any publisher, knowing what kind of dangerous worldwide reactions we've seen with the whole Muhammad thingy, willingly offend such a growing segment of the population? It's unethical, and society ought to hold that editor accountable. Deplorable actions like his make me so angry, I almost wish I believed in God, so I could pray that curses would be rained down upon his head."

Jesus - Prophet of Islam?

John Lawrence, writer of Canadian website Conservative Joe, comments on recent publication of cartoons from the Muslim world depicting Jesus:

"In the latest ridiculous tit-for-tat offering from the muslim world, an Azerbaijani weekly publication has published cartoons that include Jesus and Mary."

A few lines later, he asks:

"As part of their outrage, muslims have stated that any depiction of the prophets of their faith is blasphemy. We are also told that they consider Jesus a prophet. How then is it that a muslim publisher can publish images of Jesus?"

Wonder of Joe will get any answers to this?

Every Cartoon Tells a Story, Don't It?

Followers of Islam are becoming violent in their outrage at their prophet Momamed being caricatured in newspaper cartoons. One of these cartoons shows the prophet with a lit bomb behind his turban. I guess the perceived suggestion that perhaps there are violent aspects to their faith is insulting. Insulting enough for some to start fires and burn flags. Indeed, a leader of the Islamic militant Hamas group, which recently swept Palestinian parliamentary elections, told an Italian newspaper on Saturday that the cartoons were an "unforgivable insult" that should be punished by death.
It's awfully tempting to compare and contrast Christian vs. Islamic reactions to having one's God mocked. Sadly, it wouldn't take long to dig up historical and current incidents of Christians resorting to violence in defense/pursuit of the Gospel of Christ. Rather than pit Christian behavior against the behavior of non-Christians, which only invites (often valid) cries of "HYPOCRITE," Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... (Hebrews 12:2). How would/did/will Jesus respond to being insulted, and what does that mean for us?
Jesus was/is no stranger to being mocked. How did he respond? There are numerous examples in the Bible, but the clearest is His reaction when being mocked by those watching as He endured His crucifiction. Luke 23:34 reports: Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Jesus is clear that many of his followers will endure not just mockery, but death as well. His command, though, is hardly to take up arms:

If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity he will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword,
with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. (Revelation 13:10)

This willingness to endure mockery of one's God, and one's faith in that God, (even to the point of death!), is hardly one of the Bible's most attracting lines of scripture. In fact, without knowing how God's grand scheme all works out, the level of commitment required would be ludicrous.

The "human" part of me would be unwilling to die for an unseen God. Hence, the importance of Faith. That same "human" side of me would also react with rage if someone insulted me or my God. It's through God's grace alone that any Christian can respond with love to an enemy. Do we always succeed? Hardly. Once again, our individual success rate is not the good news of the Gospel. The Good News is the forgiveness offered by the one (Jesus) who we've all mocked/insulted/disobeyed, etc. Portraying Jesus in a less-than-flattering light in a newspaper cartoon is mild compared to how we've all treated our very Creator. And yet, He stands ready and eager to forgive us if we simply admit our sin, and ask for His forgiveness.
The difference between following Jesus, and any other religious pursuit, is that Jesus is solely responsible for making us Holy enough to find favor with God . We do not have to blow ourselves up, kill infidels, or even demonstrate a proven track record of behavior where our goodness outweighs our badness. (Yes, we are expected to strive for Holiness, but Jesus makes it clear that we will all fall far shy of the mark until we are perfected in Heaven). Once again, Christ is the author and perfector of our faith (see above). Christ is the one true God who does it all, including taking care of Himself. Jesus does not need us to defend Him, but He does give us the gift of wanting to share His good news.
Does a Christian then, have no inner turmoil when his Lord is mocked? Of course not. It IS uncomfortable. However, the discomfort often has more to do with anguish for the mocker's soul than any personal slight. We know that it is not our place to avenge (Do not be revengeful, my dear friends, but give way before anger; for it is written, "'Revenge belongs to Me: I will pay back,' says the Lord." (Romans 12:19). Even if we were to disobey this command, we know that NOTHING we could dole out would compare with God's wrath: Matthew 10:28 tells us (and anyone willing to listen): "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
No, God does not need His followers to stick up for Him. The end for those who mock Jesus is horrifying. Even this final judgement, however, is not God's wish for anyone. God does not want anyone to perish but wants everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
Someone. right now, is mocking the God I put my faith in. Jesus does not want me to burn their buildings. God does not ask me to convert them by force. Rather, He has prompted me to share the news of His available, incredible mercies. That same mercy is available, right now, to everyone who still breathes. As the saying goes, "don't be caught dead without Him."

Why Support Israel?

Shortly after I came to Christ, I joined a Bible study. What a wonderful thing it is for a new believer to get with a bunch of folks who have studied the Bible for years. Their insights, explanations, and guidance (not to mention enthusiasm) are immeasurable for one's understanding. Of course, the Bible tells us that without the Holy Spirit, the natural man cannot understand scripture, but even with the Holy Spirit, an experienced man of Faith can accelerate a fresh believer's learning.
Somewhere along the line, I came to realize that much of the Old Testament was "over my head," since I had next to no understanding of Hebrew/Jewish history, customs, language, etc. I believe the Holy Spirit prompted me to take an interest in things Jewish, to better understand the Bible.
Over the last two years, I've found a few sources that help me gain an understanding of the Hebrew roots of my faith. Television ministry's like those of Zola Levitt and Perry Stone, authors like Ariel Fruchtenbaum, and the ministries of Friends of Israel or Jews for Jesus are a few of my "Rabbis."
With current world events pointing more and more to the tiny nation of Israel, it makes me wonder if even secular news-readers ever wonder why that nation gets so much news coverage? If anyone doubts this, just click on your news-page of choice. Can two days go by without Israel in one of the top-five headlines? Ariel Sharon's coma, Hamas winning the Palestinian election, the leader of Iran threatening to "wipe Israel off the map," etc., etc.
Now I'm no prophet, but I have read the Bible, and I feel it's safe to say this: Israel will remain in the news for the foreseeable future, and will likely become even more of the entire world's focus. Yeah, I know, hardly a profound insight, right?
For non-believer's sake, I kind of wish Israel's current visibility would fade back, for that would suggest that world events are NOT currently lining up like dominoes for Christ's soon return (which would mean there would be more time for non-believers to come to Jesus). Only God the Father knows His timetable, but regardless of when He acts, Israel will be center stage in the end of this age.
Are you a believer? Read your Bible, watch Israel, and marvel at God.
Not a believer? Dust off your Bible, watch Israel, and you too, will marvel at God.
Here is one of the best short Biblical explanations I've found for why Israel is important to followers of Christ: http://www.jhm.org/support-israel.asp
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. Why? Because it will not happen without the Lord's help.

Maranatha (come Lord Jesus)

Joel C. Rosenberg: WELCOME TO HAMASTAN: A new terrorist state has been born. What President Bush should do now.

Joel C. Rosenberg is not only an excellent political analyst, but also an incredible writer. His latest, The Ezekiel Option, is a riveting read. Here's his take on yesterday's surprise victory for Hamas.
In other news, farmer Brown has appointed the foxes to gaurd the henhouse, the bloods and crips have been elected to govern Los Angeles, and the runner of a local crackhouse has agreed to spearhead a community safety task force.
My cd-player is set to play the song "God's Got It All In Control" repeatedly. Developments to follow....

Joel C. Rosenberg: WELCOME TO HAMASTAN: A new terrorist state has been born. What President Bush should do now.

Got Light?

Light of the World

Genesis 1:3
And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.


2 Samuel 22:29
You are my lamp, O LORD;
the LORD turns my darkness into light.

Psalm 89:15
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:130
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Psalm 136:7
who made the great lights— His love endures forever.

Proverbs 6:23
For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life

Proverbs 13:9
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Isaiah 10:17
The Light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers.

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.

Isaiah 50:10
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.

Isaiah 58:10
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Daniel 2:22
He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 17:2
There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 1:9
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

John 3:19
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

John 3:20
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 12:36
Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Acts 26:18
to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 11:14
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Ephesians 5:14
for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

1 John 1:5
[ Walking in the light ] This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 2:9
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.

Revelation 21:23
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Revelation 22:5
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Secular News Takes Notice

It seems the world is experiencing such a frequency of disasters of "Biblical proportions," even the secular news sources are starting to pay attention. Case in point is this article at MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9731623/

Pray for peace in Jerusalem

Pray Today for the peace of Jerusalem. Here's why:
http://www.jnewswire.com/library/article.php?articleid=778

The One True Ref

Canada's sports website TSN reminds readers that there are only "55 days 'till the puck drops." Whoohooo!
Along with the constant news of trades and player acquisitions as managers attempt to fine tune their teams with the new budgets, comes a follow-up story to a nasty incident from the last full season:

"Former Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore said he was surprised when Todd Bertuzzi was reinstated to the NHL after delivering a blindside punch 17 months ago that broke his neck and left his hockey future in doubt."

Now hockey is a sport known for its roughness, so Bertuzzi's aggressive act, while hardly commendable, was not exactly a one-time occurrence in the NHL. To it's credit, the NHL used this grisly event as a platform to say "let's clean up the game."
As a matter of fact, despite the fights (both dirty and clean), the game of hockey could not be played without some semblance of order. Like any sport, the game has clear rules involving game play and conduct. Those who transgress are punished accordingly, receiving a penalty. During the penalty, the player is publicly isolated and "shamed" in the "sin-bin" for a certain length of time, which gives his teammates the temporary difficulty of being a man short.
This is not too far removed from how we treat infractions in the real world, right? Let me stretch the comparison a little more, if I may.

• The penalty only happens if the offending player is caught/seen by the officials. Many a booing crowd are simply expressing outrage that justice has gone unpunished.
• All the players know the rules, but there is a clear spectrum of seriousness to the range of infractions. Most would agree that beating up the ref is unacceptable, but minor infractions like "icing the puck" are sometimes mere annoyances. If all players had to follow every rule 100% of the time, it would be difficult to play the game. Kind of like our society, that says, "Hey, I know the speed limit is 55, but hey, I'm late for work here. Let's 'get real'."
• Without the rules, the game would simply become a death sport. Nothing would stop players from impaling each other with sharpened sticks. I'm not saying most players would embrace such gore if it weren't actively disallowed, but who knows?

So how is all this relevant to the goal of this blog?

Point A - rules are not designed to kill off fun, but to protect the individual and society. Truly, God knows that the best games happen when nobody breaks the rules. Clean play results in a display of true athletic ability, which I daresay would be as much fun (if not more) to watch than mere slugfests.

Point B - the rules themselves, be they the 10 commandments, or sports rules, are logical, and easily understood by each player as necessary. In his book "Mere Christianity," C.S. Lewis suggested that everyone intuitively "knows the law." He demonstrated that, when we are caught breaking any law, we automatically defend our behavior by trying to show the extenuating circumstances that made it necessary - just this one time- to stretch the rules.
This is no different in hockey. No player who's had the whistle blown at him says: "Hey, FORGET that stupid rule. I make my own rules!" No, he has already agreed, before lacing up the skates, what the rules of the game are. Instead, the hockey player defends with: "I couldn't help it/it was an accident/I'm simply getting him back for the bad thing he did to our team that you didn't call/it's an intense game right near the end, so ease up on the rules." In other words, the validity of the rule itself is unquestioned. The only defense is to attempt to convince the referee that you didn't "really" break the law.

Some refs are more lenient than others, but no ref can completely disregard the rules of the game and keep his job. Both teams would be screaming blue murder, and demand a "fairer" judge.

Nobody respects a corrupt judge.

What would happen if a 100% play-it-by-the-book ref were to skate on the ice? A ref that demanded penalties for EVERY infraction, slight or great. A ref that had eyes everywhere, and saw every infraction. How about a ref that knows you're going to be guilty of high-sticking before the game even starts?
In real life, it wouldn't take long before the players, the coaches, the crowds in the stands, and even people watching on TV would be saying: "Who's this guy? What gives him the right to be calling every little infraction? Isn't this Joe Shmoe from Medicine Hat, the simple skate-sharpener?"
Rather quickly, Joe the ref's credibility would be questioned. Everyone would break out the NHL rule book, and line up for a chance to show Joe that he's wrong. The only problem is, nobody could do it. Joe is always right. This would just make most people even more angry, and they'd start crying for a new ref. "Get that guy off the ice," they'd yell, "We can follow the rules without Him. As a matter of fact, we've been following the rules just fine until He came along."
As Christians, we believe the extreme claims of our Joe. Joe said that He wrote the rule book. Not only that, he claims to have built all the hockey sticks, the ice, the seats in the stands, the stands, the ground the stadium sits on, and every kernel of popcorn you're munching as you watch the game Joe invented.
This, obviously, is where believers and non-believers part ways. However, rather than attempt to prove why Christians believe that Joe (the God of the Bible) DID create all those things (thus having the right to write/enforce the rules), let's just focus on ONE aspect of why people don't like Referee Joe.
The fact is, everyone playing this hockey game called life LIKES PLAYING DIRTY. Some of us are big goons, others will trip other skaters when they think no one is looking, and another group are experts at making a big deal out of a valid hip- check, diving to the ice in mock pain to get a penalty called.
I know that's a hard pill to swallow, yet that's what the Bible says. The only consolation to the fact that you are a sinner is that you are not alone.
Joe, the One True Ref, has stated the rules of the game, and expressed an intention to judge every player by those rules. Many players didn't like this plan, and decided to look for another ref, despite the fact that Joe's record was impeccable.
Many said: "O.K., I will follow the rule book perfectly." Surprise surpise, they failed miserably, DESPITE their best intentions.
Ref Joe, however, was not surprised at this failure. As a matter of fact, if you read the rule book carefully, you'll see that He KNEW the rules were impossible for this group of players. Ever since the first couple on the ice disregarded Ref Joe's first rule, the entire ice, and all subsequent players have been tainted, and INCAPABLE of playing a clean game.
This is where Christianity is often misunderstood. Dirty players don't want to admit that they like to play dirty, and even if they ARE willing to admit it, they don't want to give up the game they've been playing. But, rather than looking at their true motivation (of liking dirty play, and being unwilling to learn to play clean), it's easier to live with your "bad self" by insisting that Joe is NOT the Ultimate Ref, and His rule book doesn't apply!
This does not describe EVERY person's objection to the God of the Bible, but it IS a big one. It's understandable, if you don't have all the facts.
The Good News essentially tells us that Ref Joe knows we are incapable of playing clean. Fortunately, there is a solution offered. No, He will not overlook the penalties, but He will provide a player to take your place in the penalty box (by the way, they really do call it the sin bin).
But how, we ask, is it fair for someone to take my punishment? Well, even in hockey, it's not uncommon for one player to take the penalty for another player. Interestingly, it would not be fair for the team's poorest player to take the penalty for the team's captain. Nor would it be fair the other way around. The punishment, as it goes, must fit the crime.
OK, so now imagine Ref Joe says that He has provided one player, who will take the penalties of EVERY player who's ever played the game, for every game that ever has, or ever will be played. To be fair, would this substitute player not need to be perfect? I mean, He's taking EVERY penalty that EVER WAS, or WILL BE! Could anyone less than Wayne Gretzky take this role? Wait a minute. Ref Joe says the only player who could take all these combined penalties MUST BE PERFECT. This puts Gretzky out, because with all due respect, he had an NHL career total of 577 penalty minutes. Sorry Wayne, love ya, but you're out of the running.
Not only that, Ref Joe insists that the ultimate penalty taker (scapegoat) must have played the game, with all it's temptations and opportunities to play dirty.
But wait a minute, Ref Joe already said that no one is capable of playing clean.?
Right.
That's why no one, except God Himself, could sit in the penalty box for every player that's ever played. Yes, Jesus was a player (human), and He did play a 100% clean game EVERY TIME. Thus, God Himself, in the figure of His perfect Son, stepped in to the penalty box. This analogy breaks down here, since a trip to the penalty box in NO WAY covers the magnitude of what Jesus went through to take our punishment. If you want a better understanding of that, may I suggest watching the Passion movie. Apparently, even that was probably tame compared to the real event.
So then, if Jesus already went to the penalty box for every player's sin, does that mean we can now play dirty? Well, I suppose one could, but it would make observers wonder if you really understood the magnitude of what was done for you. The rule book has not changed - it has been made powerless since the penalties have been paid.
Jesus wants us back in the game, with full knowledge of how he has already paid every penalty. Our goal now, is to let every other player know what He has done for us. Meantime, TRYING not to deliberately sin shows gratitude and appreciation for your freedom.
Something I have to be continually reminded about is that I can't make any progress learning to play clean without focusing on Jesus. It's already been proven to me that I can't play that way on my own. Some day, in heaven, we'll all play a sinless "game," but for now, the only progress to be had seems to come as a byproduct of:

1. Sharing the Gospel
2. Watching and studying the replays of Jesus' career (sinless life)
3. Praising Jesus as the One True Ref, creator of everything, and source of all life.

Sadly, the Bible is clear that many will reject the authority, messages, and even existence of this One True Ref. Many will claim ignorance of the rule book, and the Ref, on the day He rolls the replays of their life.

Romans 1:20 states:

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."

This suggests to me that God and His rule can be seen in EVERYTHING. Even hockey. Maybe I'm just a crazy canuck making a real stretch to show the Gospel through the analogy of hockey penalties. Go ahead and blow the whistle on me for using such a loose example. I don't mind.
I encourage you, however, to read the Bible for yourself to explore your reaction. It's true that there are many rule books to this sport we call life, and just as many self-appointed refs. They can't all be right. Read all the rule books if you must. I believe the TRUTH will be evident.
Like hockey, life IS a battle. There is a spiritual battle being fought for each of our very souls. Unlike hockey, life is no game. If Jesus, as He claims in John 14:6, IS the Way, the Truth and the Life, and you reject his offer of taking your place in the penalty box, you've left the righteous Ref with no alternative but to let YOU take the punishment for your sins. If the Bible is correct, there won't be much ice near that eternal penelty box. Why not say "Thank you Jesus" today.
Enjoy the new hockey season. By the grace of the Father, in Jesus name, may you never view another game quite the same.

'Till Death Do Us Save Some Dough

A couple of fiscally opportunistic Canadian men have decided to get hitched for the sole purposes of financial gain. Read about it here.
I wonder if they're going to consumate the "blessed" event by opening a joint bank account? Should they carry white wallets? Hmmm?
Ah, if only my fellow Canadian Wayne Gretzky (and myself) weren't already married. Sigh...

Whatchya Polishing There?

Shortly after I came to Christ, I was introduced to the "Left Behind" series. I found the series fascinating, but did my best to focus on the entire Bible, so as not to over-focus on end-time prophecy. I know that many people feel that a lot of Christians have some kind of morbid fascination with doom and destruction, but for me, prophecy inspires me to live right today. Here's a list I've borrowed that mentions good reasons for studying prophecy:

Why Study Prophecy?
Nearly 1/3rd of the Bible deals with prophecy…events which at the time they were written had not yet occurred.

A. Prophecy Comforts and Calms (1 Th 4:16-18)
1. (1Th 4:18) “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

B. Prophecy Converts (Acts 4:1-4)
(fulfilled prophecy provides proof of the Bible's authority and veracity to help convert the unbeliever)

C. Prophecy Cleanses (1 Jn 3:2-3)
(we are declared righteous but we will be righteous at the marriage supper)

D. Prophecy Reveals True Doctrine
(pre-millennial position is not a popular one, but it is Biblical…literal)
(over 300 OT prophecies told of the coming Messiah...all fulfilled in Jesus, but the Nation of Israel failed to recognize Him as their Messiah)

E. Prophecy Instructs (1 Jn 2:27)

If we look at the prophecies that have been fulfilled, we see that they were fulfilled literally... and THAT fact gives us reason to believe that those prophecies that are yet unfulfilled, will be fulfilled.

That said, I also can't help paying attention to the warning of Ray Comfort, reminding us that examining the details of possible end times scenarios (amongst Christians) does nothing to evengelize. In his words:

Prophecy is great, it's fun, it sparks the intellect and proves the bible is divine revelation BUT it's polishing the brass inside the lifeboat.

Good point. However, I still think prophecy itself can be a powerful evangelizing tool. If and when someone can see that the Bible is astoundingly accurate at showing what's to come, it can make the person see God's omniscience, and spark an interest in learning more about what the one true God has to say on other matters.
Once again, I hold to no specific time that the end-times will occur, but this list certainly makes one wonder if we are "in season." Today, next week, 147ooo years from now? Only God knows, but Luke 21:36 tells us to : "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

101 Last Days Prophecies

Can Anything Good Come From Canada?

Born and raised a proud Canadian, it dismays me (as a Christian) to see the ultra-liberal path my home and native land seems to be walking down. The media that reaches me here in North Carolina would have me believe that the majority of Canadians spend their days getting high with their same-sex spouse. While one hand is busy growing and exporting marijuana to the US, the other hand is busy importing aspects of Muslim law (Shariah) in to the legal system. Supposedly, many parts of scripture cannot be uttered lest it be interpreted as "hate speech." This article by Hal Lindsay is nothing less than frightening in it's potential, long-term implications.
However, as with any country, the media coverage does not necessarily reflect what's going on in the mind and hearts of the populace. Even though he spends little time in Canada now, my fellow countryman, actor Kirk Cameron, is doing his best to spread the Good News with his "Way of the Master" Ministry. Here's a great article detailing his courageous witnessing to others on the set of the Left Behind III movie. Way to go, Kirk!
On one hand, I fully expect to see my beloved country of origin more and more in the news, as the inevitable tragic consequences of turning further and further from God come about. The good side of this is that the light that does exist in Canada will only become that much brighter. Whether or not it makes the secular news, I'm ready to hear stories of revival in pockets
of the Great White North.
How do I know this? The bible shows, over and over again, that God puts light in the midst of great darkness. The greatest darkness ever - Jesus' death - was ultimately the greatest light known to man. During earth's final days before Christ's return (the 7-year tribulation), Godless behavior will be happening at an unparalleled rate. Yet, at the same time, 144,000 Jewish witnesses will be bringing people to Jesus at unprecedented rates.
For any fellow Canucks reading this, I'd love to hear stories that verify the intense activity for Jesus when it comes.
Meantime, to Canadianize Micah 6:8, "Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God, eh!"

Here's Mud In Your Eye

Image problem

I've always loved contrasts. Words like paradox, oxymoron, and yin/yang serve as humbling reminders of how dangerous it is to assert oneself too strongly. Throughout life, I've always been wary of forcefully insisting that I'm right, since there always seems to be too much conflicting data on any given topic. Debaters and students quickly find that, no matter what the issue is, there are stacks of research of equal height to "verify" both sides. I like to think that my gentle nature is simply a reflection of this fact, but I'm sure there are those who would argue that I'm simply wishy-washy.

To be sure, the only thing I'm 100% convinced of is God and His Word. May God never let that be shaken.

My reading today offered a rather intense contrast. The FIRST thing I read today was an article on the front page of my local newspaper. It describes some fake mud that SUV drivers can spray on their vehicles to give the appearance of actually using your RV for off-road activity. The brisk sales of this product suggests that many are loathe to be perceived as driving such gas guzzlers simply because they can. This, folks, is front page news.

The LAST thing I read today was an online article on Christian suffering titled "It's Hard To Be Like Jesus." I'm going to print it out, and carry it around with me so I can pull it out any time I feel like life's not treating me fairly.

It was easy to read the first article, and feel superior to the crowd that would shell out money to gaurd their image. Can you imagine catching someone in the act of spraying this stuff on their SUV? I can almost hear their defense:

"Well, I really AM a rugged kind of guy, and I really do PLAN on doing some off-roading. But you know, with the business of life and all, I just haven't had a chance to actually GET to it yet. Hey, I'm just putting across the image of who I really am INSIDE - the guy I'm BECOMING, you know?"

Let's give our sprayer credit where it's due. Maybe he does have SOME rugged qualities. Given time and practice, perhap he WILL grow in to the daring off-roading "stud of the mud" he envisions. Some day. Today however, we know how far he is from that ideal.

I could only hope I would be granted such understanding from a suffering missionary who would examine my comfy Christian walk. I can almost hear my defense:

"Well, I really AM willing to pick up my cross daily, and I really do PLAN on doing some serious missionary work. But you know, with the business of earthly life and all, I just haven't had a chance to actually GET to it yet. By calling myself a committed Christian, I'm just putting across the image of who I really am INSIDE - the guy I'm BECOMING, you know?"

Luckily, a true man of God would probably not condemn me as a faker, because he would know that our maker will not cease His work of changing us until we are like Christ. Meantime, I'm reminded of how far I am from that ideal.

Meantime, I believe God has reminded me why it's not for me to judge the SUV sprayers of the world. He knows that ALL of His followers have spray cans of various sizes. Dare I imagine what Jesus would say to us, I think it would be something like: "Just keep following me in Faith, and I'll loosen your grip on that spray can until there's no need for it."

Thank you Jesus, for your awesome patience.

the Word = the Gospel

Pimple on the Body of Christ?

Ole Anthony

Oh man, if you want a good read, this is it. This guy (Ole Anthony) is dubbed "the man televangelists hate." I haven't read anything this inspiring, laugh-out-loud-funny, yet bordering on irreverent, in.. well, I don't know when. And that's just an ARTICLE on the man and his ministry. I can only imagine how fascinating he would be in person. If you like 'em rough around the edges, start reading, and enjoy...

7's on the Seventh

7

I'm busy preparing for an exam on Thursday, so I haven't posted much. Meantime, since today is the 7th, here's a fascinating article on the number 7:

Shavuot and the Magnificent 7's
by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

An incredible tapestry of 7's has been woven into the creation. How many can you name?

In the beginning... God created 7's.

Oh sure, He created light and dark, the heavens and earth, too. But for reasons unknown to us, He seemed to have a special affinity for the number 7.

The fact that the Torah begins with a verse containing 7 words and 28 letters (divisible by 7) is hardly remarkable. But when placed within the context of the overwhelming number of associations in Judaism with '7', a fascinating tapestry begins to unfurl. Let's take a closer look at this phenomenon.

WHY "SHAVUOT?"

Every spring, Jews around the world celebrate the holiday of Shavuot --commemorating the most seminal event in the history of mankind, God's revelation at Mount Sinai.

Shavuot. Curious name for this holiday, no? Shavuot means "weeks," underscoring the 7-week period between Passover and Shavuot in which we count each day (and week) in anticipation and preparation for re-living the Sinai revelation. But why call it Shavuot -- "weeks"? Why not call the holiday "Torah," or "Sinai," or "Commandments," or "Tablets." Of what significance is "Weeks"?

Time contains many different entities. Nearly all of them are related to natural phenomena. Days, nights, months, seasons and years are all directly determined, in some way, by the constellations. There is one exception -- the week. The formulation of a week seems to be totally arbitrary. Who needs it? Let one day just follow the previous one. And why 7 days?

The concept of a week and its constitution of 7 days is one that is strictly God-invented and human-adopted. While we may quibble about creation -- how, when, by whom, why -- the world has consensually agreed to the concept of a week. The Beatles were wrong... there are only 7 days in a week. And whenever a week is completed it is yet another reminder to mankind (or should be) that God created the world in 7 days. (Only 6 days were required to manufacture the physical structures, but the process was not complete until the spiritual realm, Shabbat, was added.)

Call it the "week link."

WHY "7"?

Kabbalah teaches that 7 represents wholeness and completion. After 7 days, the world was complete. There are 6 directions in our world: north, south, east, west, up and down. Add to that the place where you are, and you have a total of 7 points of reference.

Shavuot, marking the emergence of the Jewish people into a nation, by virtue of their receiving and accepting the Torah, also marks a completion. Perhaps that is why the holiday is called Shavuot, "Weeks." We want to identify this holiday as a completion of the process of Jewish nationhood.

No one is certain why God chose the number "7" to signify completion. All we can do is speculate, observe and marvel.

In honor of our own completion of the 49 day period leading up to Shavuot, we present 49 allusions to the number "7" within Judaism. How many of these do you recognize? How many more can you add?

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVENS!

1. Shabbat is the 7th day of the week.
   
2. There are 7 weeks in the counting of the Omer before Shavuot. (Leviticus 23:15)
   
3. In Israel, there are 7 days of Passover and Sukkot. (Leviticus 23:6, 34)
   
4. Every 7th year, the land lays fallow during Shmita (Sabbatical year). (Leviticus 25:4)
   
5. After 7 cycles of Shmita, we have a Jubilee year (Yovel). (Leviticus 25:8)
   
6. When a close relative dies, we sit Shiva for 7 days.
7. On Sukkot we shake 7 species - 1 Lulav, 1 Esrog, 2 willows, and 3 myrtles.
   
8. Yitro, the first real convert to Judaism, had 7 different names, and 7 daughters (one who married Moses).
   
9. Moses was born and died on the same day - the 7th of Adar.
10. Our Sukkah huts are "visited" by 7 guests - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David.
    
11. The Menorah in the Temple had 7 branches.
    
12. Achashvarosh, King of Persia during the miracle of Purim, held a party for 7 days. (Esther 1:5)
    
13. There are 7 holidays in the Jewish year: Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukah, Purim, Passover, and Shavuot.
    
14. In addition to the 613 Commandments, the Sages added 7 more.
15. There are 7 Noachide Laws pertaining to all humanity.
    
16. At every Jewish wedding, 7 blessings are recited (Sheva Brachot).
    
17. Each Shabbat, 7 people are called to the Torah reading (Aliyot).
    
18. The first verse in the Torah contains 7 words (and 28 letters).
    
19. Our Matriarch Leah had 7 children - six sons and one daughter.
    
20. There were 7 days of preparation for the construction of the Tabernacle in the desert. (Leviticus 8:35)
    
21. Traditionally, the bride circles the groom 7 times under the Chuppah (wedding canopy).
    
22. We wind the Tefillin straps around the arm 7 times.
23. Moses was the 7th generation after Abraham.
    
24. Each plague in Egypt lasted 7 days.
    
25. In Pharaoh's dreams there were 7 cows and 7 stalks of grain. (Genesis 41)
    
26. The Biblical contamination period typically lasts 7 days. (Leviticus 13:4)
    
27. God created 7 levels of heaven. (Hence the expression, "I'm in 7th heaven!")
    
28. On Shabbat and holidays, we recite 7 blessings in the silent Amidah.
    
29. There are 7 special species of produce by which the Land of Israel is praised: wheat, barley, grapes, pomegranates, figs, olives, and dates. (Deut. 8:8)
    
30. The world has 7 continents.
    
31. The 7 weeks of the Omer correspond to the 7 "sefirot," the 7 behavior traits in which we serve God: kindness, strength, beauty, triumph, splendor, foundation, and kingship.
    
32. Noah sent the dove and the raven out of the Ark for 7 days to inspect the weather conditions. (Genesis 8:10)
    
33. 7 nations warred with Israel: Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites.
    
34. On Yom Kippur, the High Priest sprinkled the blood in the Temple 7 times. (Leviticus 16)
    
35. The Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashana occurs, surprisingly, in the 7th month -- Tishrei. (Leviticus 23:24)
    
36. The Jewish calendar, largely lunar, has a cycle of intercalation that contains 7 leap years during each 19-year period.
    
37. There are 7 notes on the musical scale.
    
38. A Kohen (priest) should participate in the burial of 7 relatives: father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, and spouse. (Leviticus 21:2)
    
39. We dance 7 circles (hakafot) on the holiday of Simchat Torah.
    
40. The smallest allowable dimension of a Sukkah is 7 cubits by 7 cubits.
    
41. The world has 7 seas.
    
42. Joshua led the Jewish People around the walls of Jericho 7 times before the walls fell. (Joshua 6:15)
    
43. Jacob worked for Laban for 7 years (twice) in order to marry his daughters. (Genesis 29:27)
    
44. The Holy Temple contained 7 gates of entry.
    
45. We recite 7 blessings every day before and after the "Shema" -- 3 in the morning and 4 at night.
    
46. The Talmud lists 7 female prophets: Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Avigail, Chuldah, and Esther.
    
47. A Jewish servant regains freedom after working for 7 years. (Exodus 21:2)
    
48. We conclude our Yom Kippur prayers by proclaiming7 times, "The Lord is God!"
    
49. A Jewish wedding is followed by 7 days of celebration (Sheva Brachot).

Author Biography:
Yaakov Salomon is Creative Director of the Aish HaTorah Research and Development Department; North America and a Senior Lecturer for their Discovery Seminars program. He is also a psychotherapist in private practice in Brooklyn, New York and an author and editor for the Artscroll Publishing series. He is tolerated at home by his wife, Temmy, his eight children (three of them with spouses), and six adorable grandchildren.
Yaakov Salomon is also the coauthor of “What the Angel Taught You."

---

This article can also be read at: http://www.aish.com/literacy/mitzvahs/Shavuot__and_the_Magnificent_7s.asp

Late to the Party I Am

Yoda

O.K., it's already two weeks since the latest Star Wars came out. Many blogs I follow had observations on this event the day after it was released. Surely, Yoda would admonish me thusly: "Late to the party, are you." Hopefully, you'll forgive me for covering something that's two weeks in the distant past. If not, you may have real difficulty when I tie in events from over 2005 years ago....

I went to the movie with my 10 year-old son. I'm one of the many fathers who got to introduce this younger generation to the Star Wars saga when the series resumed with The Phantom Menace. The big difference for me, as a viewer, was that I now see with a brand new set of eyes. So, viewing Revenge of the Sith opened up a whole new dimension of spiritual connotations that I didn't focus on too much while enjoying the first 5 Star Wars movies.

Of course, Star Wars is just a fantasy movie, so perhaps an examination of it's spiritual components is not called for. I did, in fact, remind myself to just enjoy the film - especially since it was quality time with my son. I deliberately forced myself to "watch and enjoy now - analyse later." Even still, driving home from the movie, I couldn't help but offer a couple observations from the Christian perspective to my son. Thank God, it actually turned out to be a good (if brief) conversation.

So why should I bring this issue in to this blog? Yes, it is just a movie. BUT...an article by John Sweeney titled Jedi “Religion” Sees Dramatic Growth (we’re not kidding) reports that an increasing number of folks see Star Wars as much more than just a fantasy film.

At risk of posting yet another long post, I'd like to offer some comparisons/contrast between the Jedi "religion," and the way of the one true God of Christianity. First, the similarities:

1. Both have a "dark lord" who uses lies to entice people to evil. Interestingly, both involve lies concerning death. In Christianity, it was Satan who suggested to Eve that, contrary to what God had told her, she would NOT SURELY die if she ate the forbidden fruit. In Star Wars, Palpatine suggests to Anakin that the dark side has knowledge of how to cheat death. Palpatine himself, admits that this power is not "natural.' In both cases, the dark power is hinting that those following the light side have been duped, and should come out of their naive, archaic beliefs to a mature, practical acceptance of harsh reality.
2. In both, the stated agenda of the dark side is peace. In Star Wars, Palpatine claims that his ultimate goal in wiping out the Jedi is simply to stop all the fighting, and bring peace to the galaxy. In the Bible, we learn that the anti-christ will come on the scene bringing a similar lie of peace.
3. In both, the members of the dark side come to see the members of the light side as the enemy. In Star Wars, Jedi's are seen by the dark side as a threat to be hunted down and killed, lest they continue to bring imbalance to the galaxy. In the Bible, the Lord Jesus spoke of a future time when He said that those who kill us (referring to Christians and/or Jews) will think they're doing God a favor (John 16:2). Indeed, in many parts of the world, this is happening now (see THIS or THIS site). Edit as of 6/7/05, I just stumbled across this new blog about Christian Persecution: http://www.persecutionblog.com/
   
4. In both, followers of the light side are expected to give up selfishness, and pursue the common good.

I'm sure there are many more similarities. However, let's move on to the important differences:

1. In Star Wars, the qualities and characteristics of the light and dark sides are vaque and nebulous. Of course, this is a film, so Lucas is hardly to be blamed for not spelling out the foundations of "The Force." In contrast, Christianity (through the Bible) offers a full description of good/evil, instructions on exactly how to live, and the characteristics God himself!
2. In Star Wars, one seems to have to move away from good by voluntarily choosing to align with the dark side. The Bible, however, teaches us that we are all born sinners, and must come to the light by accepting Jesus' sacrifice for our sins.
3. Star Wars never suggests that the "force" will ultimately exert itself, bringing divine justice throughout the galaxy. Thus, it is up to the Jedi to bring about, and maintain, ultimate good. They do this with the sheer force of ninja fighting techniques and light sabres. In contrast, Christians know that Jesus will return to bring justice, and set up the eternal abodes of the righteous (Heaven) and the unrighteous (Hell). Rather than a sword of laser power, Christ's sword will emanate from his mouth. His sword will be His Word, and with it, He will be victorious. This is not to say that followers of Christ are not expected to live as righteously as possible BEFORE Christ's return, but we know that we are powerless to bring peace by our own efforts. Christ will return as our King. EVERY knee will bow to Him, the creator of all things.
4. Star Wars, as fun as it is to watch, is the product of a human being's imagination. In contrast, everything that actually exists is the real product of a real God. George Lucas needed countless helpers and complex technology to create a 12-hour world that only exists as a fun diversion for the eyes and ears. In contrast, God used Himself alone to THINK everything in to existence, including one of his more creative products - George Lucas.