The Toy Story Gospel

So we went to see Toy Story 3 this evening and then went to Applebee's for a Father's Day dinner. While I would normally not choose a cartoon, nor Applebee's for such a "special occasion" outing, I wanted to see Toy Story 3 (so did Luke) and I like the price of the theater in Hartsville, SC. Two dollars grants you entrance to see first run movies there, compared with ten dollars in Columbia. And Applebee's and Mickie D's are about your only choices of restaurants in Hartsville. So, once again the cheap-skate ariseth and calleth me forward.




But without digressing, let me give you my quick application. The little green aliens are some of my favorite characters, especially their adoration of the mystical "claw." If you haven't seen the first movie, not much need in reading further, you'll probably be lost.



So the aliens worship "the claw" as their deity. It is one of those arcade machines where a claw drops into a bunch of toys and attempts to grab one and drop it down a chute for the player as a prize. The toys embody their theology in the original movie: "The claw is our master." "The claw chooses who will go and who will stay." They venerate the claw and see it as all wise and all knowing. In one scene of the first movie the claw grabs one of the alien toys. As he is pulled up, the toy beams, "I have been chosen! Farewell my friends, I go on to a better place."



Scarily similar, huh? No, no. Not similar to pretrib doctrine. What are you thinking?! No. Similar to the cultures veneration of anything seen as mystic or spiritual. In our day, as in any other I suppose, people worship out of ignorance. And they will worship anything. But most especially in today's techno-savvy society, we tend to deify anything that posits progress. Paul said to the group gathered on Mars Hill "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you." (Acts 17 NIV) He acknowledged the fact that they had a desire to worship something. So much so in fact, that they would even worship the Unknown God, just so they wouldn't risk offending any.



Our culture trusts "progress" in much the same way. We believe that it will take us to that better place, and so there is no need for another god. But if the objects of our worship are machines, they are only as good as the person who is at the controls. It is far better to trust in God than in man-made machines. Progress may take us to the sea floor, the top of Mt Everest, and even to the moon; but progress cannot and will not take us into the family of God and to His heaven. Only a right relationship with the right God can do that.



So don't be like the little green aliens of Toy Story fame. Don't look for the claw to take you somewhere better. Look to Jesus, the Messiah, the only wise God and our Savior. Paul says it best:

"The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn't live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn't take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don't make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him! One of your poets said it well: 'We're the God-created.' Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn't make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it? (Acts 17 The Message)

No, Paul. It really doesn't.

Happy Father's Day, Y'all

Two things for today, and then off to church and family time after that! First a funny about us guys from a feminine perspective. Enjoy ladies....


 

WHY MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER PEOPLE
Your last name stays put. 
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be president.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO T-shirt to a water park.
You never have to drive to another gas station because this one's just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress - $5000; tux rental - $100.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood, ALL the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You are unable to see stains in your clothes
Your belly usually hides your big hips.
One wallet and one pair of shoes, one color, all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can "do" your nails with a pocketknife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives, on December 24, in 45 minutes.
No wonder men are happier
 
and now a Scripture...
 
How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table. Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion, And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your children's children Peace be upon Israel! Psalm 128 (NASB)


If you have a father, hug him, call him, love him. If you do not, remember that God is the Father of the fatherless.

Peace and Blessings on you today.

The Leigh Boys

Luke, Me, My Dad

Learning To Fear The LORD

As father’s Day approaches, I am reminded of the safety of Dad. After all, if daddy is afraid, who are the children to turn to? The writers of the Bible knew this fact. That's why Proverbs 14:26 says, "His children will have a refuge," if Daddy has a "strong confidence." Daddy's confidence is the refuge of his children. Dads, the battle to be confident is not just about us, it is about the security of our children. It is about their sense of security and happiness. It's about whether they grow up fretful or firm in faith. Until children can know God in a deep personal way, we are the image and the embodiment of God in their lives. If we are confident and reliable and safe for them, they will be much more likely to cleave to God as their refuge when the storms break over them later.

So how shall we have "strong confidence"? After all, we, too, are little children, clay pots, weak and broken and battling anxieties and doubts. Is the solution to put on the best show we can and hide our true selves? That will lead to ulcers at best and God-dishonoring teenager-repelling hypocrisy at worst. That is not the answer.

Proverbs 14:26 gives another answer: "In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence." This is weird. It says that the solution to fear is fear. The solution to timidity is fear. The solution to uncertainty is fear. The solution to doubt is fear. But how?

Part of the answer is that the "fear of the Lord" means fearing to dishonor the Lord. Which means fearing to distrust the Lord. Which means fearing to fear anything that the Lord has promised to help you overcome. In other words, the fear of the Lord is the great fear destroyer.

If the Lord says, "Fear not, I am with you, be not dismayed, I will help you," (Isaiah 41:10), then it is a fearful thing to worry about the problem he says he will help you with.

Who are you to fear any problem, when God has promised to help you? So it is prideful to fear problems. And pride is the exact opposite of the fear of God.

So, yes, the Proverb is true and a great help to us. Fear God, dads. Fear God. Fear dishonoring Him. Fear distrusting Him. Fear putting your assessment of the problem above His. He says he can help. He is smarter. He is stronger. He is more generous. Trust Him. Fear not to trust Him.