DISQUS

Tanya Dennis · 2 years ago

Good thoughts. Great reminder. Thanks. :)

Jenn · 2 years ago

Sometimes I feel like my work is a Christianised spin on the army of one. And not so much heroic.

Susan · 2 years ago

Hey - I think I just read an ESI post on your blog - when did he become an editor?

Seriously - this is a wonderful post and a great encouragement! It is why I do what I do - why I go back to the lab yet again when the data have made no consistent sense for a year, why I keep reading the scientific literature, keep writing grants (very much like Medieval torture for me) and curriculum and trying to learn to be a better teacher.

If I don't investigate, I may never answer a question that benefits people, if I don't teachwell, not only do I not impart the information they need, I don't build the relationships I need so that even earn the opportunity to give them a glimpse of the Christ that I know!

Carl Holmes · 2 years ago

Here I go recommending another book. But Me, Myself and Bob by Phil Vischer is a wonderful book about the start, and demise of Veggie Tales. It is a great testimony for sure.

O.K., no more book recommendations today.

Charity Singleton · 2 years ago

Mark -- I LOVE this post, and will have to catch this movie at some point.

I just went to a four-year-old's superhero birthday party a couple of weeks ago, and though I didn't have a costume on myself, I kind of marvelled at how these young children who've never watched a full-length super hero movie resonated with the idea of having extraordinary power to save people from evil. As all the little superheros were saving the pinata from the villain (my friend's brother-in-law bearing a striking resemblance to the joker), I even commented that the party had turned in to the epic struggle of good versus evil.

I like this more nuanced thinking about superheroes, however. That doing something extraordinary is about answering an extraordinary call. Which is nothing short of the call Jesus makes on all our lives through his blood.

On an interesting side note, one of my roles at my work is to be the super-user of our database system. I've always joked with my boss that I'm still waiting for my cape. Now, thanks to your post, donning a cape and mask at work has taken on a new meaning.

Marcus · 2 years ago

Somehow I missed all of these comments! It's been a crazy week. (The conference, then my wife got strep, then she got tonsilitis!) All is better now. Mostly.

Tanya, thanks for the kind words.

Jenn, good to hear from you! I much prefer the army's old slogan, "Be all you can be." But I struggle with the same problem in my work. Trying to take on the world, and not in a heroic way.

Susan, that is such a beautiful comment. I won't mess it up by adding anything to it. Thanks for your wonderful thoughts.

ESI and I go back a ways. I even know his real name! But I'll never tell. He and I definitely see eye to eye.

Carl, I've been meaning to read that book for some time now. We've got an interview coming up with Vischer on TheHighCalling.org (in December, probably). I guess I should use that as an excuse to read the book. Also, your recommendations are always welcome!

Charity, so good to hear from you again! Your comment reminded me of the funniest book promotional video I've ever seen over at IVP. Comic Book Character. Too bad it's not embedable.