Yoda, Picard and that other guy

In my office, I have a number of items. I have books. I have a laptop, I have pens and highlighters. I have mementos from mission trips and gifts from friends and family members. I have a pair of wooden shoes in size 15 sitting on the top of a bookcase. I also have figurines of Hahn and Chewbaca, a Yoda figurine, an Optimus Prime figurine and other items.

Why do I have these last few items in my office at church? Because not only do they rock the Casbah, but they also have meaning to me.

They are the epitome of manliness. To which, you might be asking yourself: "Huh?" Hahn many people get but Yoda and Optimus Prime? And why is Picard's name in the title if he's not one of those in my office?

Good questions all of them (and not because I asked them myself). I've been reading Wild at Heart by John Elridge. It was suggested to me on the post Scratch and Spit. The book is about being a man of God and what it means to be a man of God.

One of the things I've realized in the last few years is that our role models for men is sparse. No offense...or maybe there should be some. Because instead of looking towards men who could truly show what it means to be a man, I've turned to Sci-Fi for assistance. Now, don't get me wrong. I've had some amazing mentors over the years who've been there for me and have walked me through some important chapters in my life.

But why these guys? Well, Yoda is wise and is a teacher and mentor to Luke. Picard is a thoughtful and determined leader who takes time to teach, instruct and even admit when he is wrong. The same is true with Optimus Prime. And Hahn and Chewy? Well, they just rock.

It takes more than one person to raise a child. It takes more than one man to teach a boy how to be a man. It takes more than one man of God to teach young men what it means to be a man of God.

Luckily I had 5 men when I was in high school and my first few years of college who did just that. But there are others who don't and didn't have what I did. Many don't even look to Yoda, Picard or some other guy. Instead, they turn to celebrities who's lives are screwed up just as much as their own.

So, my charge, my request...heck, my frakin challenge to you men who are reading this: DO SOMETHING! It takes more than one man of God to teach a young man what it means to be a follower of Christ. Come along side these young men who need mentors. Be a spiritual mentor. It's not as tough as you think. Be yourself in Christ with them and teach them to do the same. But do it. As Yoda would say "There is do or do not. There is no try." Or Picard: "Engage."

The last gasp of Data--A Lenten Meditation

Nine years ago or so Star Trek: Nemesis, the last Star Trek: TNG movies, came out--to poor reception. Roger Ebert said that while he was watching the movie, he realized that the franchise had run out of gas. Rotten Tomatoes has only given it 37% positive rating. It only raked in $43,254,409 and was beaten in the box office by a J Lo movie (all according to Wikipedia that is)

Oddly enough, Nemesis is one of my favorite Star Trek movies. It is right behind Star Trek IV and First Contact. The reason why is because of the final scenes. It is the final scenes that stick so vividly in my mind.

Picard and Data have a bond. It stems back to the Battle of Wolf 359 where Data did not give up saving Picard after he was assimilated by the Borg. In First Contact, Data is captured by the Borg Queen and Picard stops at nothing to rescue Data.

So why is this all important?

In Nemesis, Picard willingly takes a one way trip to the Romulan War Bird housing his clone, Schizon, who is bent on killing Picard. Picard knows that he must do this to save his people, his ship, his friends. Data, the android who so desired to be human, learns of Picard's intentions. And so, in pure sci-fi-is-it-sentient-or-not fashion, Data proves his humanity in giving his life to save Picard's.

There is a scene at the end where Data leaves the safety of the Enterprise, flies through space itself and enters the chaotic world of the War Bird. He enters in and saves Picard, giving up his own life to do so. Data's first and last breathe as a person was to give his life for another.

Today is Good Friday, the day that Jesus hung upon the cross. Thinking of that scene from Nemesis, I keep thinking of Jesus here on earth.

Jesus proved his humanity by willing to give up his own life for ours. Jesus leaves the safety of being in perfect triune community with the Father and the Holy Spirit, enters into our chaotic world and gives his life to save ours.

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. John 13:1

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. 1 John 3:16

I'm a spiritual musclehead and I am a geek. I find the touch of the divine in the attempt to look at the possible. The story of humanity is one reflected in battles of Yavin Prime, at the Battle of Wolf 359, along the Plains of Mordor and the halls of Hogwarts. They are mere reflects of the truth. The Truth incarnate, that Friday afternoon, breathed his last, said "it is finished" and gave up his Spirit so that we would be saved.

Today is Friday, but Sunday's coming soon.

Who's Who--A Lenten Meditation

I'm geeking out here big time. Dr. Who is coming back April 3!Dr. Who is in the Guinness Book of World records as being the longest running show in history. Dr. Who is about a time traveler who is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifry (Gal-eh-free). He travels around time and space in a big blue British police box called the TARDIS. As it has been explained numerous times, the TARDIS has the capability to blend in with its surroundings. Sometime during an adventure in the 1960's, the TARDIS disguised itself as a blue police box and became stuck in that disguise. The Doctor is a lone traveler and tends to pick up people who travel with him from time to time. These are called his companions. It is a way for the writers to help give voice to the viewer, being amazed at these adventures in time and space.

After a run through almost three decades, Dr. Who went off the air in the 1980's. in 2004 the show was rebooted by the BBC with the 9th Doctor being played by Christopher Eccelson. Then there was the 10th Doctor played by the very talented David Tennant. And now, just last year, the 11th Doctor is beginning his second season as played by Matt Smith.

Now, to non sci-fi and Dr. Who fans this may not make sense. How one show last so long with the main character being played by multiple people. That just doesn't make sense. There are 11 Doctor Whos but only one Doctor Who throughout the whole series. As the 9th Doctor explained to his traveling companion Rose Tyler--Time Lords have a way of cheating death. They regenerate. They die and then come back to life in a new body. It is the same doctor with roughly the same personality, yet different.

Now, what does this have to do with Easter? It is Easter Sunday when we celebrate Jesus' resurrection. The Doctor regenerates. He dies. Yet he cheats death. He continually hides from death. Each time he is about to die, he changes his look, his personality, his appearance so that he may not truly die.

Jesus on the other hand truly did die. He was dead and buried for three days in the grace. And we celebrate Easter because he didn't cheat death he down right defeated it. Jesus wasn't just resurrected he is the resurrection.

Jesus says

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26

As much as I like the Doctor, he does cause problems. In fact, the British government created a fierce military command called The Unit which was created to specifically deal with Doctor related issues. After a run in with the Doctor, Queen Victoria creates an organization called Torchwood to deal with Doctor related issues. The Doctor has many times been the Earth's champion and savior and other times, unintentionally, it's worse enemy.

As we approach Easter, I think about this interesting comparison with Jesus and the Doctor. The Doctor dies to cheat death, Jesus dies to save us from death.

Jesus says

I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it form me, but I lay it down on my own accord. John 10:17-18

We celebrate Easter because Jesus did lay down his life for us. He laid it down so that we might rise up with him. With Jesus, you don't cheat death, you have victory over it.

Do you have this victory?