There is just news... no good or bad

It does not happen as much as it used to, but I still find myself gleaning wonderful truths from animated films. We recently discovered "Kung-fu Panda" and my son enjoys it... so we have watched it more than once. Do not feel bad if you miss the deep truths that abound in movies like these, because many times it is necessary to view them 10-20 times before the mysteries really settle in.

The first lesson that we learn from the Panda is that there is no charge for awesomeness, or attractiveness. That one cut me pretty deeply and I feel the need to reimburse many of you that I have charged both for my Awesomeness and my Attractiveness.

The next line is one that I actually struggled with a bit, but that has spoken to me about my faith in God and how that faith actually works itself out in my real life. The line comes after a villain has escaped from prison and one character says to another, "I have bad news." "There is just news, no good or bad", is the response. "But, [the villain] has escaped from prison!!" "Hmm, that is bad news, if you do not believe our hero is strong enough to defeat him."

I started wondering about all of the times that I hear things and attribute to them Danger or Worry. How easily do I hear news and say, "Man that is bad news", when what I should really say is, "Wow, that sure would be bad if God were not as powerful as He is!" That may sound corny, but the truth is that Bad news often works its way out of my mouth and into my heart. I often start believing the news, which means that I believe that the situation that is Bad is more powerful than my God, who is good.

Romans 8 talks about this, and Paul tries to get the believers in Rome to realize that there is nothing "bad" that can overpower the Good that exists in God. If He is for us, then no matter what comes against us, it will work out for good... because God is just that strong.

When I find myself slipping into doubt or despair over bad news I need to remember that it is only bad if I do not believe my Hero is strong enough to win in the end!