First off, I’m a fan of the graphic novel. I read it before I saw the movie and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was layered far deeper than what was able to be contained in the movie. The classic “the book was better” line applies. However, I did like Zach Snyder’s adaptation. His personal fandom kept him true to the graphic novel and I appreciated it. The “non-squid/fake alien” ending was alright with me. It worked and made sense bringing the world together out of fear that Dr. Manhattan would strike again. 

I did not like the artistic license to make the movie more graphic in terms of sex and violence. The story contained enough already and the message was strong enough without that excessive display. 

Obviously, on moral grounds, there was so much wrong in the story. It displayed “heroes” who allow the end to justify the means. This is becomes true for all vigilantes who don’t submit to the civilizations code of laws (flawed though it may be), but is really driven home in the Watchmen story. That is the message, “Who watches the watchmen?” These watchmen and our own law enforcement and armed forces are all flawed, sinful human beings. And as more power is given to them, those flaws are even more evident. Therefore the nobel cause of Justice is perverted because sinful man can’t truly dispense it. Even other superheroes who have their own personal code of crimefighting fall into this trap because the nobility of the cause of Justice is overwhelming in the face of the great need. Violence and death usually results and becomes the Comedian’s joke as he embodies cruelty with the license to end cruelty. Ironic humor. Yet, when he faces it on the scale of Ozymandias’ design, he is overwhelmed.

Where’s the redemption in a story like this. The nihilism and the corruption of man is hopeless without a Savior. Someone must redeem man from his own destruction. It is not found in the classic philosophers (ala Ozymandias) for that would lead to the murder of 15 million people–an unacceptable price for peace. It can only be found in God himself. The Just One. Yet his plan to bring peace involved self-sacrifice. And it is that display of Love that draws us back to God and allows us to be transformed from the earthly man with his corrupt desires and sinful ways to the godly man who loves his enemies; enemies who still bear the image of God despite how hidden it has become. It is only in this environment where people are transformed that hate turns to love, vengence turns to mercy, revenge turns to forgiveness, and war turns to peace.

This question went along with the reading of Ephesians 1:1-14 which is full of blessing.

• “Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms” v.3
• “He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world” v.4
• “That we may be holy and unblemished in his sight” v.4
• “Adoption as sons” v.5
• “Grace that he has freely bestowed on us” v.6
• “Redemption through his blood” v.7
• “Forgiveness of our trespasses” v.7
• “Lavished on us all wisdom and insight” v.8
• “Revealed to us the secret of his will” v.9
• “Marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit” v.13

I find myself being reoriented in my relationship with Christ. The book, “The Divine Conspiracy” by Dallas Willard, is helping me see the Kingdom of God and how to live in it in a new way. I feel that I am being reoriented to the way God wants me to live in relation to him and his Kingdom. I wouldn’t say that it has moved from my head to my heart and will yet, but it is stirring in me the desire to draw near and live under his kingship.

I wouldn’t say that there are any major times when I have been away from God so long that there was a restorative event, but there all the more frequent times of restoration. Sometimes in worship I feel more connected with God then normal. It is then that I realize that I haven’t been as close to him as I have been. It is in the heights of worship that I realize that I haven’t been walking closely with him and return refreshed. Also, I would say that celebrating the Lord’s Supper also serves to restore me to him. Our church celebrates communion once per month. There are times when preparing my heart that the burden of sin is lifted off and I feel lighter and joyous again.

Interestingly enough, I think I was spiritually thirsty the year I was in seminary. This might be shocking, but you can spend a lot of time in the Word, studying it in depth and not connect to God. I think what also made this a spiritually dry time was that I wasn’t connected to close friends and particularly Samantha. We were engaged, and distance doesn’t promote intimacy. I attended classes with many great Christians, but they lived an hour away, so spending time with them wasn’t feasible. And although I took advantages of opportunities with the Young Adults Group I didn’t make any great connections. It wasn’t a desert the whole time, there were oases God provided–all-seminary spiritual retreats and God speaking occasionally to me in my studies–but overall it wasn’t an easy time.

Right now I am coming to the realization that God is in every place at all times. Yes, that is his omnipresence. But all too often we don’t really believe it. How could we boldly sin if we believed he was right there with us at the time? It’d be like cheating on your wife in her presence. Beyond sins, I feel that most of the time I don’t believe he’s right here. Certainly much of my past was the same way. I do know that in the times I really needed him to be there–when I felt the most alone and hurt–I was aware of his presence. For that I give thanks. My prayer is that I would come to the everlasting awareness that God is with me at all times and that I would live my life accordingly.

What marked the beginning(s) of your faith journey?

I would have to say that my faith journey is closely tied to my heritage and godly family. Yes, God calls individuals, but often we find him doing so to establish a people who are faithful to him. Certainly I have seen this in my family. So many of my relatives and ancestors walked closely with God. My own journey has benefited from the knowledge of God passed on to me. I consider this a blessing and as I now have children, seek to continue the legacy. 

The milestones of my personal journey:

• January 1984 – Accepted Christ’s death and resurrection for the forgiveness of my sins
• September 1989 – Baptized
• June 1995 – Made a commitment to go into full-time ministry
• February 1997 – Mission trip to Honduras
• 1997-2001 – At Crown College
• 1999 & 2000 – Camp counselor at Big Sandy Camp
• 2001-2002 – At Canadian Theological Seminary
• 2002-2003 – First ministry position at Hope Church in Apple Valley, MN
• 2006-present – Current ministry position at Faith Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, MN

    If Jesus were walking our streets [post]. . .

• He would be more critical of those who are theologically on target than those who are not.
• He would attend celebrations and drinking parties.
• He would possibly provide the beer.
• He would drink with the rest of us.
• He would spent a good chunk of time with those whom the religiously “pure” had no time for.
• He would interrupt some of our religious services by making unplanned announcements and controversial statements.
• He would tell stories that were relevant and attractive but not always immediately clear.
• He would spend a lot more time encouraging others to follow him than he would simply providing religious facts about himself.
• He would live courageously yet humbling.
• He would serve those who crossed his path.
• He would rub shoulders with the outcasts of society.
• He would demonstrate that theology is intended to be done in public and on the streets.
• He would go places deemed objectionable by the moral standard-bearers of society.
• He would make people feel both comfortable and uneasy.
• He would violate some of the rules of the religious establishment.
• He would desire to heal and not to hurt.
• He would be compassionate every day.
• He would be challenged (and in some cases hated) by the experts of our day.
• He would probably cause a lot of us to wonder if he is truly the one he claimed to be.
• He would keep his promises.
• He would most likely be criticized by a good percentage of the media.
• He would . . .

Also, peek around on the sight I found this on: The Porpoise Diving Life–Reality For the Rest of Us or Picking Up Where Purpose-Driven Peters Out by Bill Dahl.

1. Rice and black beans
2. Everything bagels, pancake mix, & 2 bananas
3. Pancake mix & bananas
4. Five pounds of potatoes
5. Ramen noodles and kool aid

We found it was definitely doable, tho’ not incredibly tasty. We estimated that we spend between $15-25 per day on food. Almost ten times what most people live on.

We looked at these verses:

“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.” -Prov. 19:17

“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” -Prov. 21:13

“A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” -Prov 22:9