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The Opposite of Faith

8/10/2016

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"The opposite of faith is not doubt,
​but fear."


– Wol Ryeong (Gu Family Book)

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"The opposite of faith is not doubt, but fear."

This line captured my attention yesterday as I watched a TV Show called "Gu Family Book". I've recently discovered and unbelievable adoration for Korean dramas. Weird, right? I may never watch an English speaking show again! (Shout out to subtitles, haha) Can you say new obsession?

Anyways, back to the quote! One of the characters spoke these words to his son in a final farewell. Hours after I'd finished the episode, I found myself continuing to ponder it's meaning and validity. I was enraptured by this idea that the true destroyer of faith... perhaps is not DOUBT, but instead FEAR. I wanted to know, is God more concerned with my doubt or with my fear? Which is truly the executioner of our faith?


Mind you I'm no Bible scholar, but I wanted to investigate and find out if this view is supported in scripture. First, I searched to find out how many times the word "fear" shows up in the Bible. I realized that was a little too broad. Instead, I sought to find out how many times someone (whether it be a Biblical person or the reader) is commanded to "Fear not". How often does God's word seek to remind us not to be afraid? I found an article written by a pastor's wife, where she describes her search for the answer to this same question. According to her, her initial study established the words "Fear Not" are written in the Bible 365 times! Basically, that's a command for everyday of the year. However, her search went deeper. She broke down the times "Fear Not" into times when it's used in faith specific context. She writes, "The phrase in the intended context is only used 80+ times [...] Other word pairings that would be equal to “fear not” (“do not be afraid”, “do not fear”, “be not afraid”) is used 30+ times" (Source). From this study she actually created this printable with all the verses put together. It's really quite awesome.


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​I was very excited. It was obvious from this 'research' that God really did spend a lot of time, in both the Old and New Testament, instructing his children -- instructing me -- not to fear! My next objective was to find how many times the word "doubt" appeared in the Bible. Obviously, depending on your Bible translation the number of times changes. However, after looking through the most well-known/popular versions of the Bible I found about eight-thirteen uses of the word "doubt". When I looked at the context in which "doubt" was used, only about six of them actually related to a lack of faith. 

I was beaming. It seems that I proved this thought to be true. Perhaps, we spend far too much time dwelling on curbing our "doubts" when we should be focused on suppressing our fear. I couldn't tell you which one comes more naturally. And yet, if I think about I... I feel that most doubts are born out of fear. Doubt is born out of a fear of the unknown, fear of change, fear of anything that is a risk in our lives. We fear what is difficult and therefore doubt God's ability to overcome challenges. At least, that's how it is for me. 

Reflecting on this quote, I want to live with a consciousness that having faith doesn't mean I won't have doubts. Nonetheless, if I want to remain strong in my faith, what I really must fight is the despair and anguish that comes from having a fearful heart. We can overcome our doubts, but fear is a much more dangerous threat to our faith. It strips away all we know to be truth and sets a stone of helplessness in our hearts. I have a mighty and powerful God; therefore, I have no reason to be afraid. 


I am amazed that God used this unexpected Korean drama to draw me into His Word with a desire to learn more about Him. Another English writer translated this same Korean quote to read, "The antithesis of trust is not faithlessness, but fear." Though the wording is different, the message is just as powerful. Fear can be deceiving and is used by the enemy to lead us away from God.  

DO NOT be afraid. The same God that conquered armies, plagues and giants in the Old Testament—the same God that conquered mortal life and eternal death in the New Testament—is the SAME God that loves you, defends you and walks by your side. Do not be afraid!
"He said, 'Do not be afraid, for those who are with us
​are more than those who are with them'."
2 Kings 6:16
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"But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe..."
Luke 8:50

A "Fans of Faith" Blog

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Burdened with Glorious Purpose

5/19/2016

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          Recently, I re-watched the epic and popular superhero film "The Avengers". I can easily recall my feelings the first time I saw the film in college. I loved it. Within this very quotable, action packed, and thematically inspiring film there is an iconic scene where the anti-hero, or as some would call him super villain, Loki of Asgard, makes a clear and defining statement about his goal and motivation for coming to earth.
"I am burdened with glorious purpose."
          This is Loki's introduction, spoken with conviction and dedicated seriousness. I remember being struck by that statement, unable to get its echo out of my head.  There is something infinitely true about feeling an inescapable burden upon oneself. I think all of mankind can relate to this statement... this feeling of being burdened.... burdened by something that can only be explained as glorious purpose.  

Do you not at times feel weighed down by something so great you have no words to explain or describe it? Something bigger or better than you could possibly imagine? I recall countless times in college, when my greatest frustration and fear was feeling as though I was "wasting my life". Once, one of my college professor's laughed in response to this, puzzled by my declaration. She asked, "Why in the world would you feel like you’re wasting your life? What do you think you're supposed to be doing that you’re not already doing?" I shook my head, I didn't know. Yet, I still felt this burden for some distant purpose. 

I’d like to believe I’m not alone in an awareness of this burden. An uncomfortable sense of dissatisfaction with your current place in life. Unfortunately for humanity, we are often unsure of what said “glorious purpose” may be. What is this burden that tells us we can attain something greater? What is this feeling that something beautiful is just out of our reach? What is the desire to achieve something that truly makes life worth living? When we get tired of wondering what our glorious purpose is, we feel the need to make one up (ie: my pal Loki and his quest for world domination, ha).

It is my own belief that mankind’s quest for purpose begins with a desire for their life to matter. We seek to find assurance that our losses and suffering, our successes and happiness… mean something in the grander scheme of life.  The only answer to these questions, I believe are found in God and His Scripture.

Born-again Christians are burdened with the glorious purpose of a fierce and mighty God. Consequently, I believe mankind’s desire to matter stems from creation. God created Adam and Eve not only to care for the earth and be fruitful… He created them with the glorious purpose of knowing God and attending His exaltation across the earth. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says this, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (ESV). We are literally programmed for glorious purpose! The difference is that the glory is not our own, its God’s. In Isaiah 43:21 it is written, “The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise” (HCSB). 

It seems so simple. Our "glorious purpose" is to glorify the majestic and holy God of the universe! He is so unquestioningly worthy of our devotion and tribute. Why is it so hard then, to feel we are living out our glorious purpose? Why do we still bear the burden?

This is where the character of Loki becomes so relatable to me. Loki is broken. He is proud. He has been let down by those he trusted and loved. Like Loki, I am often unwilling to do the one thing God requires of me… to become vulnerable. Giving praise to God requires selflessness and sacrifice. God demands that we trust him with wherever we are and whatever we're doing, believing in His greater purpose in our lives. We have to let go. The burden shall be lifted when we turn over our false ideals of control, our personal agendas, and trust the Father to be glorified in our submission. Surrendering our counterfeit authority is the only thing that will remove our burden. It’s when we renounce our worldly definition of glory and purpose that our burden becomes a call and His glory becomes our glory.

A burden crushes and destroys. A call, on the other hand, attracts, invites, and summons. Romans 8:30 says it best, "And those God chose to be like his Son [predestined; chose beforehand], he also called; and those he called, he also made right with him [declared righteous; justified]; and those he made right [declared righteous; justified], he also glorified [both a past act in Christ, and a future transformation]" (EXB). There it is! In the call, glory is achieved. Not simply "temporary human me" glory, but an omniscient God’s glory. When I glorify God, when I am content to let Him rule in my life (no matter where I am or what I feel), He allows me to share and remain in His glory. That blows my mind! When I am in Christ, my glory is no longer my own and it doesn't matter. It's his perfect glory that truly transforms me first, and then the world.

Therefore, I am satisfied to be a bearer of glorious purpose, rather than burdened with confusion over it’s meaning. I am confident in the truth of the call. His ageless and fulfilling call. It is my pursuit to bring glory to God in all I do. Specifically, every time
 I seek Him (pray, trust, and surrender!), listen to Him (read my Bible!), and share His goodness (testify!) with the world!


"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" 
Micah 6:8 

A "Fans of Faith" Blog

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Thirty-seven Seconds

2/24/2016

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"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12
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Personally, one of the most inspirational films I've ever seen is an underrated movie titled “Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium”. On the surface, this film seems like a children's tale about faith, love, and friendship--gift wrapped in a story about magical toy store and its kooky owner. In reality, to me, this film has some of the most profound adult-life messages that I've ever experienced. I’ve carried the words, symbolism, and powerful themes with me since the first time I watched it when I was fifteen years old. If I took the time to write down every inspirational quote or scene I've ever been moved by because of this movie… it might be a blog post that would never end. Therefore, I'm going to start with my favorite.

Right before the weighty and moving climax of the film, our hopeful and silly shop owner Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) is treated to a day of momentous and remarkable, yet simple, adventures by his assistant. As a part of this sensational day, Magorium’s devoted and loving assistant Molly Mahoney, (Natalie Portman) leads him into a charming clock shop. In this shop, the two fun and childlike souls, take it upon themselves to set all the clocks to go off at exactly the same time. Molly quickly and excitedly returns to Mr. Magorium after the last clock had been set and he informs her that all they have to wait is thirty-seven seconds for the myriad of clocks to go off. Their conversation goes like this:

Mr. Magorium: "Thirty-seven seconds."
Molly Mahoney: "Great. Well done. Now we wait."

Mr. Magorium: "No. We breathe. We pulse. We regenerate. Our hearts beat. Our minds create. Our souls ingest. Thirty-seven seconds, well used, is a lifetime."


This simple statement has made a very deep-seated impression in my daily outlook on life. I think most of us have heard and comprehend the big idea that is not about HOW MUCH time we have in life, but rather, what we do WITH the time we have. The uncomplicated presentation of thirty-seven seconds, I believe, completely and encapsulates the meaning and importance of this familiar thought. Much of our lives are going to be spent doing a lot of things that seem meaningless and inconsequential. We're going to spend numerous seconds of our time on earth waiting for what we believe is the next decisive prize or accomplishment. Our big "next". We spend our lives wishing for the the next thing in life we're looking forward to. The practice spending our duration on this planet eagerly waiting for what we want becomes habit. Waiting and wishing becomes comfortable. Waiting and wishing becomes the expected thing to do in life. However, I truly do not believe that this is how we were intended to live our lives.

Instead of seeing thirty-seven seconds as purposeless waiting time, what if we saw every thirty-seven seconds as a lifetime of choices that could change the course of our existence? Or not even simply our personal lives, but the lives of anyone with whom we come in contact with on this journey? The truth is that none of us know how long we have to live. The hour and minute of our last breathe is unknown to us. Only last year I experienced firsthand the fleetingness and unknown of living. The terrifying truth of having a beloved student there at his desk one minute, and gone only the next day. To some in the world, this is the tragic truth of the human reality. It’s a deadly, unchangeable end we must all encounter. Instead, when I'm reminded that none of us are promised a tomorrow, I think of those thirty-seven seconds. Life is full of thirty-seven seconds. They come and they go and we miss them more often than not. Thirty-seven seconds to smile, to laugh, to breathe, to hope, to be content… thirty-seven seconds to see an opportunity and not let it pass you by. Thirty-seven seconds to take a risk, to make a change, to feel pain and loss… thirty-seven seconds to realize you are not alone in the world.

“Thirty-seven seconds, well used, is a lifetime.”

One piece of advice I've given all students in my first two years of teaching is “Don’t wish away your high school years.” I give this advice, not because I think high school is going to be the best four years of their lives. It definitely won’t be. I don’t say it because I think when they get into college they're going to miss being in high school. Most of them won't. I don’t give this advice because of some selfish desire that they’ll look back and remember their high school English teacher who inspired them and told them to appreciate what they had. I give my students this advice because of thirty-seven seconds.  High school will come to an end for all of them. I hope, for all of them, it's with a diploma in their hand.  Even if it isn’t with a diploma, everyone’s high school career will end. I tell my seniors, especially, not to wish away their senior year because I know if they took the opportunity to make the most of every thirty-seven seconds of those last 180 days they could change the world. No, perhaps not in the broad sense of changing the universe or the ultimate course of human history. But I assert, without a doubt, that high school is full of thirty-seven second occasions that could change someone’s life.

High school is unique if nothing else. Never again will you get such a broad variety of passions, talents, backgrounds, and interests. Even in college students will likely fall in with people of similar majors or interests. I simply want my students to see that wishing away their high school career doesn’t make it go by any faster… it just makes the time in between living in it and leaving it all the more meaningless and unremarkable. High school WILL end. High school DOES end. But what each person chooses to do with their words and actions during the in-between of all those years can be astonishingly abysmal.

Do I wish I was back in high school? No. Do I sometimes wonder how I could have impacted the lives of those around me differently by seeing school as a full thirty-seven second opportunity as opposed to a four year aimless obligation? Absolutely, 100%. The good news is, I have more thirty-seven seconds to fill with a lifetime of opportunity. Amidst my time, I try and pass on this idea not to wish away "the now" in light of what we view as the “better thing” coming next. Thirty-seven seconds comes and goes in a blink of an eye. High school ends. College ends. Life ends. And you can fill your life up with empty thirty-seven seconds of waiting for that current moment to end… or you can say, I have thirty-seven seconds to make someone else’s life better. I have thirty-seven seconds to leave a legacy in this instant. It’s thirty-seven seconds to pray. Thirty-seven seconds to forgive… to love…to say thank you. It’s thirty-seven seconds to breathe and live and move in a way you never have before.

“Thirty-seven seconds, well used, is a lifetime.”


It starts now… so what are you going to do with it?

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."
2 Peter 3:8  
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A "Fans of Faith" Blog

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"Remember who you are..." - Mufasa (The Lion King)

10/16/2011

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Hello friends! 
     If you know me well, I'm sure you realize that I am a total Disney classics nerd. Yeah, I'm talking Cinderella, Peter Pan, Pocahontas, Lady and the Tramp, Bambi, Aladdin, The Sword in the Stone, Fox and the Hound, Dumbo, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast... etc, etc... I could go on and on. 
     I'm sure you can imagine my excitement when I heard they were "re-releasing" Walt Disney's "The Lion King" into theaters! I wanted to go so bad, I mean come-on, how fun would it be singing along to "Hakuna Matata" and "Can you feel the love tonight?" on the big screen. I thought it'd be pretty epic. Unfortunately I realized on a college student budget this wasn't exactly a wise idea. I mean on the one hand you're like "OH MY WORD! IT'S THE LION KING!!" and on the other hand your like "Oh, The Lion King? I've seen that movie a billion times..." So when I got to North Carolina to be with my family for fall break, you can bet-ya that I dug through our trunk full of VHS Disney movies at home and spent one evening watching "The Lion King". I forgot how much I love that movie! lol. 
    Not going to lie, now that I'm older when I watch these types of movies there is a part of me that relives my childhood... Yet, the adult in me tries to pull a life lesson from the films that can still relate to my life now as an adult. Guess what? I made an amazing discovery! 
     I think part of it may have to do with the fact when I went to church with my family this past weekend the pastor was talking about how lots of people in the world talk about this cliche idea of "becoming the person God wants me to be". Pastor Derwin said, "that is so wrong! We don't need to "become" anyone. God has already made us into the person He wants us to be... All that has to happen is that we need to start LIVING like the person we already are, in Christ." 
     I was taken aback by these words. I guess I've always had this mindset of this "other person" I would transform into when I was strong in my faith and lived like Jesus. Yet, the truth is that I already am the person God wants me to be, I just need to remember who God created me to be and live... I mean really live... like who I already am in Christ. At first, I wasn't sure if that really made any sense at all, so imagine my surprise when I'm watching "The Lion King" late last night and God reveals --- not only Himself, but also myself, in a new and amazing way to me:
          Please watch the clip below:
     Can you say "whoa"? 
     "You are more then what you have become." I get chills every time...
     The first thing that stuck out to me about this scene is when Rafiki says to Simba, "You see, he lives in you." As Christians on this earth aren't we supposed to be reflecting God's love and light into all the world? Jesus lives in us and that changes everything. We are a reflection of Christ wherever we are. 
     The second thing that stuck out to me in this clip is Mufasa telling Simba, "Remember who you are." Simba is the son of a great King, his father no longer on earth has left Simba a legacy and destiny that he expects Simba to fulfill. Like Simba, when we accept Christ into our hearts we too are the sons and daughters of The Great King. We cannot forget who we are in Christ. We are God's children, sent out into the world as ambassadors for Christ. Just like "Pride Rock" is overtaken by the cruel and evil Scar, there is an evil power that rules over the our world. Satan, "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). We are not to stand by and let people be taken in by the hatred and malice of the devil. Meanwhile... we cannot let fear ruin who we are in Christ. No evil power, no sin, no amount of miles can ever change the fact that we are God's chosen children! This great God, a Great King is our protector and our Father. Isaiah 31:4 says God will defend His people like a lion: "Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof." 
     So my Christian friend, "REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!" You are who God created you to be, you have nothing to fear, nothing to hide from... You have the strength of The Great King reflecting through you as you walk through life. "He lives in you."
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"Born of Hope"

2/16/2011

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    It is a glorious day outside! There is a cool breeze blowing and the sun is shining! This is one of those days I totally didn't mind parking in the furthest school parking lot and enjoying the short walk to the college buildings.  It's one of those days where I want to ponder God and ponder my life... actually since I've started this blog it seems I've been doing that a lot! haha. 
    Most of you know me well enough to know I'm a total movie junkie. haha.  Yet, I have a very "strange" as my mother would call this, or "boring" as most of my guy friends would call it... taste in movies. I love movies that challange me, movies that have moral themes and such that make me want to be a stronger person.
    Movies that are more than gore and fighting, sappy romance and love, or even comedy and humor.

    I love movies that inspire.
    Recently, my best friend Molly and I had a movie night together. Considering we live on different sides of the continent, ya'll probably think I'm talking crazy. Haha, but we did.  I came across an "online" film.  This means the film was only released for veiwing on the internet.  This film started out as a "fan film" for J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings".  It is a prequel film to Peter Jackson's trilogy. The film started out as a backyard project, but if you watch the film, you would never know.  All the actors are proffessional actor, the computer generazation is brilliant, and the story is epic.  So Molly and I, with the thanks to Youtube and Skype, watched this film together, talking and laughing as though we were in the same room.  It was so fun!  Yet, what made it even more special was the quality of this film's message.
    For those of you who are not "Lord of the Rings" fans or are not familiar with them, sorry if I totally geek out a little bit. hehe.   
    The offical website of the film states:
"A scattered people, the descendants of storied sea kings of the ancient West, struggle to survive in a lonely wilderness as a dark force relentlessly bends its will toward their destruction. Yet amidst these valiant, desperate people, hope remains. A royal house endures unbroken from father to son. This hour long original drama is set in the time before the War of the Ring and tells the story of the Dúnedain, the Rangers of the North, before the return of the King. Inspired by only a couple of paragraphs written by Tolkien in the appendices of the Lord of the Rings we follow Arathorn and Gilraen, the parents of Aragorn, from their first meeting through a turbulent time in their people's history."
    I absolutley loved it.  
    Yet, it was not Aragorn's parents story that quite captured my heart and imagination.  A new character introduced by the team behind "Born of Hope", called Elgarain (portrayed by Kate Madison), taught me some powerful lessons about what it means to have a selfless heart.  Throughout the film, Elgarain gives and gives to those around her.  A constant support and encouragment she is a most loyal friend and companion.  Though hardship and pain strike, she never lets it hinder her from helping others.  She values those she loves, and is willing to do her part in the protection of her people.  
    Elgarain displays the most selfless giving heart.  In my mind I kept playing John 15:13 over and over in my head as she displays this great love in all she does.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."  
    Selfless love... was giving a whole new meaning to me through this film.  Jesus too, displayed this kind of selfless love.  Giving every part of Himself, so that we could have eternal life.  I want to have that kind of selfless love for those who the Lord puts into my life.
    Another theme in this film is related to the title. "Born of Hope", refering to the birth of Aragorn, who someday would be King and Restorer of Middle Earth.  Elgarain said in an emotion part of the film, "Aragorn must live. We cannot lose our hope."  It reminded me of another child, who was born of hope.  Except this child, came to be the Savior of our world, and the Savior of his people.  Jesus, is our hope.  Just as the Dunedain lived and died for their people and their future King, so we must we.  Now, I know this is just a film, but God reveals things to us in mysterious ways.  He opened my eyes to what a selfless heart is, and how I want to have a selfless heart.  He also revealed to me how we too, present day Christians are awaiting the return of our King, and the redemption of our people.  
 
    So if you have some free time.  This film is only an hour long, but worth the watch. I would definently recommend this film, especially if your a "Lord of the Rings" fan, it's a must!  Still, even if you are not, maybe it can inspire you the way it inspired me!

Official Site:

http://bornofhope.com/
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Below is the youtube version of "Born of Hope"
Definitely worth the watch!

A "Fans of Faith" Blog

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MEGAMIND and Ezekiel

1/17/2011

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Isn't it funny when you discover God in a totally random and unexpected way?
    A constant reminder that God is everywhere and in every tiny second of our lives.  Yesterday, I went with a group of friends to the $2.00 movie theatre in town.  What can I say we're all cheap, I didn't even pay for my own ticket... that's how cheap I am lol.  We went to see a film called "Megamind".  Truth is before this day I hadn't heard much about the film other than a few trailers that I may have watched out of the corner of my eye.  I hate to give the plot away, but the story is about a super-villian who assumingly destroys the super-hero who was always there to save the day.  The villain, Megamind, discovers that at the loss of his arch nemisis, the Hero is really what gave his life of evil... how do you say... purpose. 

Clip of dialogue from "Megamind":

Minion:
"Create a hero? Why would you do that? "

Megamind:
Minion, I'm a villain without a hero, a yin with no a yang, a bullfighter with no bull to fight! In other words, I have no purpose! 

    Long story short, Megamind goes out of his way to try and find a way to restore a Hero into his run-down town, but when his replacement Hero decides he doesn't want to be a hero... instead he'd rather play the villain! Megamind must make a choice...walk away, or... dare I say it... become a hero himself.  
    The film was cute and funny, but what was surprising most was what happened after the film.  I was walking out of the theatre with my group of friends talking to my friend Hannah.  She must get entire credit for this inspiration.
    I said, "I think it's interesting that after Megamind saved the day, everyone sort of forgot about all the bad things he'd done before... you know when he was supposed to still be the villain."
    Hannah nodded in agreement, but then surprised me by saying, "Yeah, but I guess it's kind of like what it says in the bible about a man who does a lifetime of evil will never be remembered, while a man who does one righteous act will be remembered and respected...or something like that."
    "The Bible says that?" I asked.  It was an interesting thought... so of course I scavanged through the Bible to discover this verse Hannah had told me about. The verse is found in Ezekiel.  It's a mouthful, but worth the read. I bolded in yellow the important passages...

Ezekiel 33:10-20
"Son of man, say to the house of Israel, 'This is what you are saying:
 "Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?" ' Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?' "Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, 'The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live because of his former righteousness.' If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done.  And if I say to the wicked man, 'You will surely die,' but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right-- if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die.  None of the sins he has committed will be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live.  "Yet your countrymen say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But it is their way that is not just.  If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it.  And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so.  Yet, O house of Israel, you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But I will judge each of you according to his own ways."
 
What can I say about this.  Our God may be a God of judgment and wrath, but in that judgment and wrath... Christ provided us REDEMTION AND MERCY. 

Don't EVER give up.


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Megamind

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