The Maquis 6

I still find it interesting that a German TV news program actually some how mistook a Photoshopped picture of a Star Trek emblem of a fictional terrorist group for the real Navy SEAL emblem. It used to be "fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." But in this case it's "fool me once and-it's-posted-all-over-the-internet-and-shown-on-the-FOX-news-website" Of course, you can tell that it's pretty menacing with the bat'leths surrounding the skull of a Klingon. Totally looks like a Navy SEAL emblem of the 21st Century and not of the 23rd.

But, hey, it's what they were looking for, wasn't it? I mean, they were looking for a menacing emblem that showed the strength, veracity and honor that the Navy SEALS are known for. So, some geek with Photoshop know-how put this together and while looking for something, they found this. It was what they were looking for. And they found it.

The same is true in health. I'm struggling with this myself. If I'm looking for it, I'll find it eventually. If I'm looking for nothing, if I'm looking for a no guidance, if I'm looking for no reason to lift, then I'll find it each time. If I'm looking for something that'll make me loose ten pounds in a week and will make me look like those people on the TV and I find the miracle product that does it all, of course I'm going to get it. It's the answer to what I'm looking for.

Paul says it really nicely

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 1 Timothy 4:3

Are you turning towards the things that'll answer what you want to hear? Or are you seeking answers from somewhere that'll tell you the truth even if you don't want to hear it? What's your goal? Where do you want to go form here?

I like how Craig Groeschel says it in his book Chawzon, "Everyone will wind up somewhere but not everyone will get there on purpose."

What are you seeking? Is it to get ripped and look all cool this summer? Then forget it. Go to a different blog. Are you looking to be healthy because it's important to you? Then keep reading. I'm going to fail. I have failed at times. But I keep getting back up and moving forward. How's that Cake song go?

Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course, He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse. He's going the distance.

Where are you going? What are you searching for? Don't just listen to anyone, especially those who tell you what you want to hear. Listen to what the truth is and follow the Truth towards what is right and healthy. I'm still working on it.

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.

FORD Tough--Part 2 Beginning repairs

Just a quick update. My pickup is once again in the shop. Yes. That's right. Back in the shop. It's a small cracked seal. Easy cheap fix, right? Wrong. It's a seal that's right near the transmission. In order to get to the seal, the transmission has to be removed. In order to remove the transmission, you have to open up the engine all together. I'm also worried that this blog on being healthy is going to start being a blog bemoaning my pickup. And I get ribbed because it's a Ford (Fix or Repair Daily they tell me). Well, I want to be FORD tough.

Being FORD tough is hard. It takes a lot of work. So many times we think we're dealing with a simple problem. We think, "Hey, it's just leaking oil. No big whoop. Just need to tighten the cap on the oil pan." We look at the symptoms and think that all we need is just a little fix.

I think we do that in life sometimes too. We look at the symptoms and think that all we really need is a little fix. Just some extra effort here, a little bit of work there. But in all honesty. I think we need to honestly look at ourselves.

I came across a blog that has really hit home for me. It's called Fat Girl,Fit World. Her latest blog post reflected what I've had to realize about myself. She said that it's hard to see yourself for you you really are. And that's so true.

And I've had to come to a realization that my pickups messed up too. It's a classic. It's great. And it's falling a part. So, how is this being FORD tough? When you're FORD tough, you have to constantly understand that you're in need of fixing and repairing daily. You have to actually admit it. And that's hard. This is called "confessing" something that I talked about at the end of Part 1 of being FORD tough.

To be FORD tough is to admit that you're not perfect, that you are going to make mistakes and you need to forgive yourself of your mistakes, and ask others to forgive you as well. But it's hard to do so. Being FORD tough means you understand you need help in this area.

I like these words

Praise the LORD , O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. Psalm 103:2-3

We have other words on forgiveness--forgiving each other, forgiving ourselves. We have the truth that is given to us. I love to hear these words from Jesus

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7

The truth is: My pick ups busted. The truth is: I can't fix it myself but need help from Grant at Select Services here in town.

The truth is: We make mistakes and need help accepting them. The truth is: There's only one person who can truly help us do this.

The truth is, there's a great way to be repaired.

What mistakes do you need to accept? What are things you need to forgive yourself for?