Super Hero Physical Exam

How do these Super Heroes do what they do? Brains? Brawn? Have best friends who are also super heroes? Special weapons? Perhaps all of the above! Captain America once went against Iron Man in Civil War, and now they all work together for the Endgame. The whole thing is...

Complex. The entire thing is complex. Being a real super hero in a world that wants to drag us down takes more than just brains, brawn, best friends, and the latest weapons of warfare. 

                              

Ask yourself, "What is my endgame? Where do I want to end up?"

Let's do a Super Hero physical exam and find out where we are at. Are we good enough from Marvel's team of Avengers- or even something bigger? What about in God's Kingdom?

Heart Exam- Be a man that chases after what is important to God. Take the time to stop and look deeply at your life and compare it to Jesus. After all, He is not only God in the flesh, he is the standard of what a man should be. Pure, holy, and powerful. 100% sold out to complete the work the Father had given him. And you we glad He did? King David was called a man after God's own heart. Not because he was perfect- he wasn't- but because he kept going back to God again and again. 

Loins- Do you use your body for sex in a way that pleases God? Don't be a Deadpool kind of guy, jumping on anyone who makes your pulse race. Life is so much more than fulfilling your lusts. Drop the porn and the cheap sex to move on. (No, I haven't intentionally seen the movie. I did, unfortunately sit a few rows over from a guy on a plane who was watching what looked like hard core porn graphically simulating anal sex. Then I realized the actor was Ryan Reynolds. What a major disappointment to see him doing this!) 

Examine your Head-  Are you thinking Biblically? Do you think like those in the world or are you being transformed by an ongoing diet of God's Word and applying it? Don't be deceived by the world's way of thinking: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8.

Neck- Are you easily turned to the right or left when God speaks? Or do you live intentionally and with purpose to please God and make him known? What is the depth of integrity in your life? Be the same person everywhere you go.

Hands- Keeping your hand to the plow takes effort. Constantly. Giving up is just so easy at times. Look what Jesus himself says to someone who wants to follow him in the book of Luke Chapter 9- "Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Stay at it!

Knees- Be a man of prayer! It's easy to try to do what we think is right and miss the mark. It's much more difficult to move in a wrong way if you are constantly before God in prayer, speaking to Him and seeking to listen to him. He wants to speak to you!

Feet- Walk where God tells you. Does the road look long or hard or one where you'll travel seemingly on your own? Doesn't matter!  Do what He says. Obedience is the issue. Does your road lead to death? It should at least lead to "death to self."

Mouth-  Speak well of others and of our God. Harder than you'd think! In fact, the book of James in the New Testament tells us that even large ships are directed by a small rudder. Our tongue can get us into trouble too many times. Use it wisely.

Weapon Check- Are you prepared? God doesn't call us out to Spiritual Warfare without giving us what we need! The Armor of God gives us the list of weapons: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit - The Word of God. Our Creator also gives us the Gifts of the Holy Spirit: everything from Miracles and Discernment to Leadership, Mercy, Administration and more. (Twenty-five or so to be exact.) Don't forget- spiritual war is fought with spiritual weapons. You can't do this in your own strength. Like the fictional Steve Rogers, we must be worthy. Ready to be self-sacrificing for things eternal. But it is not our worthiness I'm talking about, because in that case, we all fall short. It is only through the blood of Jesus cleansing us from all sin and brokenness that makes us worthy. He paid the price on our behalf. That is where our true value comes from.

So, how did you do on our Super Hero Physical Exam? Not perfect? Me, neither! But let's agree to keep working on it. We need each other to succeed. Just like real life, a life of faith requires partnership with others. We can't do this alone.

(Images copyright Marvel and DC Comics.)

Iron Man Experience On Ride Video

Get it quick before it disappears! We all know this Marvel based Iron Man attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland needs to be a big hit- 

and I must say, even though it's similar in some ways to Star Tours, I think it stands on its own pretty well! See for yourself...

(First found on WDWMagic. Video copyright Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney and Marvel.)

#GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend

Take this news for what it is: Gay fans and political groups are approaching Marvel executives and calling out for the very single Captain America to be given a boyfriend. All coming from the same groups that are asking, almost demanding, that Frozen's Elsa be given a girlfriend. 

The answer needs to be "No." Back in the day when things were less open, Stan Lee could have made the Captain intentionally sexually ambiguous, but he did not. Let's stay with the original content and honor those who created him. These fans asking for the boyfriend should be ashamed of themselves for wanting to change a classic piece of comic and film art to suit their political agenda.

Will Disney ever make a gay hero or heroine? I'm sure the time will come, but it certainly is not now for this iconic hero. 

Starting a Civil War

The latest preview for Captain America : Civil War is out, and it's a great one!

Chris Evans rocks as Captain America.

As to be expected, an international crisis arises, and our Marvel superhero team ends up taking sides, one against another. Robert Downey Jr.'s arrogant Iron Man against Chris Evans' sometimes innocently naive Captain America. 

Spider-Man even comes out to play, making it all so convenient for the reboot of that storyline to kick into high gear. I'll pass on Thor and any film based on the other members, but Captain America? No way.

(Photographs and video copyright Marvel and Disney.)

Real Magic

What follows is an absolutely incredible statement by Lee Stoneking as he address the United Nations General Assembly on April 22, 2015. 

In a world where Disney magic is the order of the day, where imaginary superheroes like Avengers dominate the entertainment headlines, and where the atrocities of man against man are everyday news, Mr. Stoneking's words could not be any more timely. Definitely worth your listening time.

Avengers Age of Ultron- New Poster for Marvel Movie

Pretty nice, huh? This new poster for Marvel's Avengers, Age of Ultron gets the point across quite well. I'll be in line on May 1!

Captain America on His Way!

As one of my favorite comic heroes, I cannot wait to see Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  I love his heart to do what's right in the face of evil. Chris Evans brings an inner strength to the role,  making him an equally effective Marvel hero to Robert Downey Jr.'s sarcastic, witty, and talented Iron Man. Speaking of Iron Man, I'm ready for another Avengers as well. Bring on the summer flicks and the popcorn!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company / Marvel)

The Avengers Lose Their Way

Robert Downey Jr. owns this film, but that is not his fault or the fault of the other actors. Compared to Tony Stark's suave and focused Iron Man, Marvel's poor superhero Captain America has little to do in a film where brotherhood should rule the day. For all the other characters, it's more of the same. Much ado about nothing. 

Captain America's heart is full of integrity, straightforwardness, and outright old fashioned patriotism. Combined with his self sacrificial attitude and military training, Steve Rogers is a true hero and a nice counterbalance to Stark's cynicism and irreverence. It's part of what made his first appearance in his own movie so compelling. Chris Evans does the best he can with a script strong on visuals but weak on dialogue, terrific one liners aside. It's a problem all the others seem to share. 

The centerpiece villain is left to inactivity for most of the film. Huge misstep. Tom Hiddleston is made to play the evil character, Loki, yet the script treats him as if he were a nuisance versus a real threat. His brother, Thor, is better here as part of the team than a solo star in his own film. Perhaps Chris Hemsworth just needed a better cast to pull it all off. The sole key female, Scarlett Johannson... just doesn't fit.

I'd give The Avengers a high mark for visual appeal and interesting main characters. However, the film also gets low marks for making poor use of the cast and an even poorer story line. Seems Jon Favreau and company cannot decide between making a Transformers film, sticking to what Marvel does best, or just spending his time setting up a series. The team, including Stan Lee, is stuck between playing tongue in cheek with it all and creating a film where the characters truly believe the world in which they live. 

The potential is huge, and the market is waiting. There's always the next film and a theme park on its way.