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Jesus and Superman

So, I'm sitting at my parents-in-law's home right now. I’m relaxing in the basement, surfing the web, reading and generally not doing a lot.

Next to me on the other sofa is my father-in-law Mike, reclined back on the sofa watching Superman II. As he dozes in and out of sleep, the TV rambles on. It’s a virtual commercial-fest. I hate commercial-filled TV, especially when watching a movie. He then gets a long distance call from my brother-in-law Mike who lives just outside Los Angeles.

So Superman II is on BBC America, great channel. I find the commercials EXTREMELY corny, yet poignant. This movie is part of the "Accent of Evil" series on BBC America. Hilarious.

Mike goes to the other room to take the call, and I finally start paying attention to Superman II.

Clark and Lois go into a diner to have a bite to eat. Lois finds a seat and sits down. However, Clark is left hanging because there is a guy sitting down who won't vacate his comfortable seat in the diner, so Clark can sit next to his woman. Clark taps the man on the shoulder, asking him to show some respect, perhaps get up out of his seat. The man remains seated and Clark asks him a couple more times, until finally he's fed up and asks the man to step outside. The man takes Clark up on the offer and says "after you" pointing the way for Clark to leave the diner first. Clark turns away and starts walking towards the door, but is jolted to the ground after the man punches Clark with his full force. A fight ensues and of course, Clark is more of an intelligent, gentlemanly type, of course meaning he gets his clock cleaned.

Right after Clark gets all bloodied up and the bully leaves, everyone in the diner looks up to see the breaking news story. It comes as a shock to everyone in the room. The president of the United States is declaring his allegiance to General ZOD, the villain of the film. General ZOD is taking over the world and basically demanding that all peoples, including kings, queens and all authorities to bow to him if they want to spare their lives.

Of course Clark’s/Superman’s blood boils as he watches this scenario unfold. It’s incredible that the creator of Superman to be such an incredible, multi-faceted character. On one hand, he is a dorky, intelligent journalist, and on the other, he is an incredible Superhero.

JESUS is Superman. Look at Jesus; he was born in a stable meant for pigs, cows and other animals. He grew up learning the trade of carpentry, just like his father. That’s a pretty simple and ordinary lifestyle if you ask me. On the other hand, Jesus was 100% messiah, redeemer and CREATOR of all that is. HE ALONE conquered sin, death and the grave.

SATAN had humankind spellbound because of the curse of sin that originated with the fall of Adam and Eve. Jesus broke that. No longer are we zombies, mindless, aimless creatures following the god of this world.

JESUS pierced the darkness shining forth in all his glory. He brought us “out of the darkness and into his marvelous light” according to the Apostle Paul. In SO many ways, Jesus is like Superman, or rather vice-versa.

Oftentimes I wonder: how many of these superheroes that have been created by our American pop culture get their inspiration directly from Jesus. I see a connection, do you?

This too, must be an adventure….A work in progress

That’s right, I must view this as an adventure as well. Where am I? I’m in Philadelphia, PA, the land of rich American history.

Is it the same when I was in Erbil, Kurdistan, Baghdad or Calcutta, India? No. Is it every bit as full of life, culture and people? To love a city is to love its people. I must get out and see it more. I literally must see more of this city, more of its cracks, crevasses, nooks, alleys, parks, streets, corners, bars, stores and the like.

I’m on the cusp of something awesome here. Tremendous disappointment must breed incredible HOPE, ASPIRATION and LONGING for something greater. I must dive in and dig deep, deeper than ever before. As always to know myself, I must know God. I cannot fully know who I am until I know who he is (see accompanying tweet from 1:11 am).

@vervecam To truly know myself I must truly know my God. I’m shapeless, formless, unknown, foreign to myself. ONLY by looking into HIS face can I see my own

Prema Milan

Prema Milan

My friend Robert's blog from Mumbai...Read it.

Awesome stuff.

Older Posted Poems by Cameron Crawford

STAGES

Two middle-aged Japanese folks carry on a conversation
about their lives

So real, so settled

As they discuss their plans, kids and
retirement funds,
I wonder when
my next train will arrive


DAYBREAK

Distinct faces.
All of them nestled
in a busy room.

A virtual hub-bub of beans,
java and warm drinks galore

A window masks the face
of one fleeting beauty as I turn
my head to take a sip

Quick Update on Cambo

Hello Readers.

Man, it's been to long. Sorry I haven't written all of you in so long.

But thanks for continuing to read.

Well, where do I start? Life seems to be moving at a break neck pace right now, and I'm doing my best to keep my neck from breaking.

So that part is good. Head above water at least.

Work has been very interesting lately. My boss is currently out of the country traveling. Several of us are still here in the office today, due to latebreaking company news. We're working on getting a news release out and all that.

This actually is my second consecutive night this week that I've stayed late. To be honest, I'm kinda happy to show my company that I'm still devoted to it, and am happy to pitch in and give more than is required.

I say this as I'm blogging and still at work.

I've been going through some changes recently. I'm trying and living right now, praying that my life is molded in the right way.

There have been challenges in my life over the last few months. They've been very difficult and range from my job to my apartment, then to my personal life.

All of this, I believe, is a challenge to my manhood. I'm determined to let it be shaped by the Lord, not by me, or by others and their wishes.

Growing just hurts sometimes, you know. I feel like a branch or a caterpillar or something right now.

Just take any cheesy example or analogy for people growing, and becoming better and I think it would apply to my life right now. 'when the going gets tough', etc. etc.

So, how are all of my readers out there?

I know that many of you are going through difficult life changes right now. Please know that you are in my prayers too. Even IF, we don't talk a lot now or haven't talked in a while.

Please do the same for me.

I'll write more this century, I promise.

For now ladies and gentlemen,

Cameron

Finally...Some Sensible Legislation!!!

'Cheeseburger bill' puts bite on lawsuits
House passes legislation to curb fast-food obesity claims

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would block lawsuits by people who blame fast-food chains for their obesity.

The "cheeseburger bill," as it has been dubbed in Congress, stems from class-action litigation that accused McDonald's of causing obesity in children.

The legislation's backers say matters of personal responsibility don't belong in the courts.

"As one judge put it, if a person knows or should know that eating copious orders of super-sized McDonald's products is unhealthy and could result in weight gain, it is not the place of the law to protect them from their own excesses," said Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisconsin, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

The bill seeks to thwart class-action obesity lawsuits against food manufacturers and restaurants.

In a lawsuit filed in 2002, two Bronx teenagers accused McDonald's of making them fat by serving them highly processed food that affected their health. A judge tossed out the case a year later, but an appeals court reinstated part of the suit earlier this year, according to published reports.

The legislation does not block all legal action against the food industry. A lawsuit would still be permitted if a person got sick from contaminated food.

Citing statistics that obesity among children has doubled in the past three decades, with one in three children currently overweight, some committee members argued that fast-food companies need to be held accountable for their harmful products.

"Congress has allowed the need of big corporations before the need of our children," said Rep. Bob Filner, D-California.

The House bill passed 307-119, but it faces an uncertain future in the Senate. A similar bill passed the House during the last Congress, but the Senate never acted on it.

About 20 states have passed similar legislation, according to reports.


Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/20/cheeseburger.bill