What Do You Want Your Legacy to Be?

I just got back from the funeral for one of our original elders. Ed Gaines was one of the elders who drove two hours to meet me for my first interview. Over twenty years later I can only imagine how much that day in Corbin affected my life. Ed was a great leader, he was a great family man, he was a star basketball player, but most importantly he was a man of God. His passing has made me wonder what people would remember most when they leave my funeral. What do you want your legacy to be?

What Do You Need to Give Up?

In Spider-Man 2, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) dreams of creating a machine to produce renewable nuclear fusion energy for the world. The dream turns to a nightmare when the machine malfunctions, fusing multi-tentacle arms to his body and transforming Octavius into a sinister villain bent on destruction.
Meanwhile, a discouraged Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) has hung up his Spider-Man costume after heroism has left him broke, failing in school, and without Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), the woman he loves.
In the climactic scene, Doc Ock kidnaps Mary Jane and Peter re-emerges as Spider-Man in order to save her. Spider-Man struggles with Doc Ock in intense hand-to-hand combat, while in the background the nuclear reactor spins out of control. The reactor emits a brilliant light as it sucks in debris, cars, buildings, and jeopardizes Mary Jane.
Over the sound of rushing wind and crushing metal, Spider-Man begs Doc Ock to shut down his deadly invention. Doc grabs Spider-Man by the throat with one of his tentacled arms and says, “No!”
Struggling to speak, the super hero reminds Doc Ock of his original dream. Speaking from experience, Spider-Man pleads, "Sometimes to do what is right, we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most, even our dreams."His words strike a chord, and Doc Ock disconnects the exploding experiment and drags it to a watery grave, giving up his life for what is right.

What do you need to give up to do what is right?

Where were you when you hurt?

Six years ago, our hearts changed foever. Where were you when you heard and how has God changed your life in the last six years.

Roaring Lions

Peter is very careful to warn the Christians scattered in Asia Minor about the devil who would find any way possible to destroy their lives. Many times Satan uses that which was meant for good to deceive people and turn it into something evil. As we start this process of blogging, be very careful where you go from this point. My suggestion is to avoid the "next blog" button. I am hesitant to mention it, lest we become like little children who never want to touch the wet paint until there is a sign that says, "Don't touch". The internet is a valuable tool, but it opens many doors we don't need to open as Christians. We have no control over the "next blog", so my suggestion is to stay away and enjoy the time of interaction available through the "Keep on Reaching" Blog. Until next time, watch out for roaring lions!