Hammer on Anvil '

You may or may not know this about me (I can't remember if I have mentioned it before) but I am kind of a nerd.

I know, I know. You are sitting back thinking "What?! I've read some of this guy's posts and they are so well thought out and straight forward. He seemed like such a normal guy.

Well I am...or at least I think I am. But I'm also a nerd.

I am so very excited to go see The Hobbit in theaters. I won't be one of those guys who see it opening day, or maybe even opening week, but I will see it.

I am also very excited to see the new Superman movie which is coming out in June. My wife and I watched the trailer for it yesterday and she said, "That looks pretty good." Then she looked over at me and saw my reaction and said "Don't cry." As I said...very excited.

Thinking through the emotions I feel about these movies and other nerdy things, makes me think about other stuff that captures my attention. Then I wonder if I display the same level of excitement for real events as I do for the land of the make believe.

The Word became flesh. Jesus "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2:7) Do you understand what I'm saying?!

God....became man.
God... made Himself a little lower than the angels (Heb 2:9)
God...loves us enough to die for us!

This is absolutely huge. I'm talking going outside, running around and making a fool of yourself huge.

In the Old Testament when the Ark of the Covenant was brought back in to the city, David danced around and made a fool of himself because he was so excited. His wife was embarrassed by his actions, but he didn't care. He wanted everyone to know his excitement!

People go to movies dressed as characters from the LOTR, Star Wars, or any superhero movie to show their excitement and devotion to these fake people.

I'm not saying that we should go around making a fool of ourselves. But maybe we should keep in mind that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing." (1 Cor 1:18).

Those outside of Christ are going to find our excitement foolish and maybe even down right stupid.

But our God came to this earth and has offered us salvation. Remember that as we continue in our Christmas season.


That is something to show some excitement for.

1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

All of my ways are foolishness. Both when I'm being a fool and then also when I'm being a fool. Pretty interesting eh?

I'm a fool to those around me when I surrender to Christ and pursue him wildly and with full abandon to his will. People just can't imagine why such zeal should be wasted on religion or can't even see a need for it. You are foolish to believe that there is only one way to God because there's so many people and so many cultures and such great diversity. Why on earth would there be only one path? Foolish or intolerant even to suggest Christ is the ultimate truth and only in him and through him can we hope to be reconciled to God. Foolish to hope when all others around you despair.

I'm a fool because my sin is enticing enough for a moment to quiet the objections of my inner spirit man and allow myself to dive head first into sin. I'm a fool because I've not taken seriously that God is righteous and holy. I'm a fool because I crucify him all over again whom has already been crucified. Foolish to press forward in sin because I know that his grace will cover me. Foolish in my failure

Foolish not to try and press in to Christ though. Foolish to let my foolishness stop me from being a fool for Christ ;)

We'll be foolish because our beliefs don't line up with the intellectuals of today. We'll be foolish because our beliefs at first consideration seems backwards or unreasoned to a progressive and scientific society. We'll be foolish because to believe that any whale could swallow a man and that he could live. We'll be foolish to believe that God created the heavens and the earth. We'll be foolish because our faith exists without the need for signs and wonders. We'll be foolish because we believe that Christ will come again.

I know it's tough especially in middle school and high school to look like an idiot or a fool, but just remember that's really about the only option. It will be tough and that is part of the Christian faith. You'll have to expect that and to persevere. You'll have to say "I don't know" to a lot of questions that people ask, but then you get the chance to really dig into and study why what we believe is true and learn to go deeper in order to defend the faith. Not to be dogmatic or stubborn, but to be well reasoned and prepared. You yourself will have to seek out the truth in Christ's word. This isn't just a faith for old ladies anymore you have to take up the cross daily.