“I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit” (Leviticus 26:4).

Sunday was one of those wonderful days when we enjoyed the spiritual advantages of our assembly with the additional benefit of a comfortable August day.  The respite from the string of days in the high 90’s made me wonder about some things.  This is what I was told: 

It's been so hot, the birds were seen using pot holders to pull worms out of the ground.

It was so hot, potatoes cooked underground and all you had to do to have lunch was to pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper.

It was so hot that the chicken farmers were feeding the chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.

It was so dry for a while the cows were giving evaporated milk.

It was so dry, the trees were whistling for the dogs.

I can’t vouch for the accuracy of those statements, but I can certainly testify to the faithfulness of the Almighty who provides the appropriate needs for life on earth.  We can always depend on His love. 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22).

I look forward to seeing you Sunday with a Bible, a smile, and a positive word!                           RA

Who’s the Real Superhero?

I took in the Superman a few nights ago with a few buddies from church.  This was unique for two reasons:  1) I don’t usually, in fact rarely, do I go to the theaters; 2) I never watch movies about comic book characters.  I did both and walked away disappointed.

Superman as a movie was terrible for several reasons, but the overarching reason was the overt attack on family values.  The plot revolves around the love interest of Superman and Lois Lane (which, by the way, spawned an illegitimate child sometime before he left to visit his collapsed planet five years and nine months prior).  The movie picks back up with Lois Lane who moved on with another guy who happens to be her live in fiancé. Superman spends the movie trying to ignite the old flame.  Toward the end of the movie I kept asking myself, “Why doesn’t Superman acknowledge his son?”  I know it would ruin the ending and the sequel.  With that said, I couldn’t help but walk away thinking that our culture is working overtime to convince us that the super-heroes of our day are the mothers of illegitimate children and self-centered dads.

I haven’t the time or the space to defend all the legitimate reasons people get a divorce nor is this article an indictment, necessarily, on divorced moms and dads.  I simply want to affirm that God never intended for children to grow up in weird scenarios of blended families with stepparents and biological parents who have visitation rights.  And yet, the message of Superman is clear.  Dad can stop by a few weeks out of the month, play a little ball with his son and return to his life thinking he is “Superdad saving the world.” The final dialogue between Superman and Lois sums up the message of the movie.

Lois:  “Will we see you again?”

Superman:  “I’ll be around.”

My outrage toward this kind of message is that I see the aftermath of Dads and Moms who experience a collapse in their marriage and the children are left to pick up the pieces everyday.  It is the children who suffer.  And no, the kids don’t get over it.  No, it isn’t better to have two sets of parents instead of one.   No, Dads, your happiness is not more important than the covenant to your family.

I would like to offer the following characteristics of a true Superhero:

¨A man who remains faithful to his covenant with God as well as his covenant to his wife.

¨A man who doesn’t use his role as provider as an excuse to neglect his family.

¨A man who can lead his family to heaven.

¨A man who isn’t afraid or too proud to admit he is wrong.

¨A man who can resist the temptations of money, sex, and power.

You get the idea!

– Chris King