Remembering "The Flash" and the "Arrowverse"

10 years ago this month, “The Flash” starring Grant Gustin premiered.  It was October 7, 2014.  The entire first season was off the charts, but I want to talk about the pilot today.  One of the memorable moments in this pilot episode is when Barry runs to Oliver Queen for help after a setback.  This was a compelling moment because “The Flash” was the first of several spin offs from the TV show “Arrow” resulting in the so-called “Arrowverse”.  In the course of their conversation, Barry says, “I’m just not sure I’m like you, Oliver.  I don’t know if I can be some vigilante.”  “You can be better,” Oliver replies.  “Because you can inspire people in a way that I never could.  Watching over your city like a guardian angel, making a difference, saving people in a flash.”

At the time, I had not gotten into “Arrow”, but eventually – thanks to the ability to see it on Netflix – I did.  Because of this, today I know that when Oliver spoke of Barry being able to inspire better than he ever could, he was being modest.  The truth of the matter is, Oliver Queen’s example of selflessness, loyalty, and heroism is inspirational.  Not only did he inspire Barry, but many others as well; in fact, several years later, in season 8 the final season of “Arrow”, Oliver sacrificed his life to save the world.

There’s another interesting note on the pilot episode of “The Flash”: this was the first time we saw a newspaper headline hinting of an upcoming event called Crisis.  The headline read, “Flash missing vanishes in Crisis”.  The date on the newspaper was actually April 25, 2024.  While this newspaper headline was a recurring storyline, ultimately, this development was averted. The Flash didn’t vanish in Crisis, at least not Grant’s Flash.  After a “time flux” changed Crisis from occurring in 2024 to 2019.  We learn in Part 3 of the epic crossover event “Crisis on Infinite Earths” Grant’s Flash was ready and willing to die, but The Flash from another Earth (played by John Wesley Shipp) heroically stepped up and gave his life to save Grant’s Flash, and save countless other lives.

Someone wants to ask, “So what?  So it’s been 10 years.  What is your point?”  I have three points.  I’ll call them takeaways.  Takeaway 1: Doc Brown, from “Back to the Future” said it best in Part 3 of the trilogy: “Your future hasn’t been written yet, no one’s has, so make it a good one.”  The concept of time travel in “The Flash” is similar: the future is not written in stone; it can be changed.  Of course, travelling through time is not real, but it teaches me that if I could communicate with my future self, undoubtedly, he (or I) would say that choices have consequences, so always choose to do the right thing, the God-honoring thing.

Takeaway 2: Superman once asked, “What better role for any to aspire to than hero?” (from “Superman/Batman: Apocalypse”).  While I’m not suggesting that “The Flash” is perfect by any means (there are obvious times the show dipped in quality; I’m looking at season 7 in particular), whatever craziness he was facing, Grant Gustin’s portrayal of Barry Allen/The Flash oozes nobility and heroism.  Incidentally, the show “Arrow” also had its ups and downs; furthermore, I contend that Stephen Amell is the best incarnation of Oliver Queen.  While I could write a whole blog on the unsavory and truly repugnant aspects of the so-called “Arrowverse”, I still submit that this era of superhero stories was absolutely a golden age, with Amell’s Oliver Queen the leading figure.

Takeaway 3: Jesus Christ said, “Greater love has no one than this than to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  Oliver selflessly gave his life – technically he did so twice in Crisis.  And The John Wesley Shipp Flash gave his life so others could live.  I could go on and on with examples, but the point is these selfless sacrifices are shadows or pictures of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for you and me.  He did this out of pure love.  Now, through His subsequent resurrection and ascension to Heaven, through simple faith and trust in Him, we can have the gift of eternal life.  This is the message that I will tell until my dying breath.

God bless,

Kevin

"Upon further review..."

Last month, I referenced that a pastor rightly stated where you put your faith is only as important as the object.  I then used the example of quarterback Bo Nix, and the Denver Broncos.  They had started 0-2.  I explained that everyone in Bronco-land had put their trust in Nix to lead Denver out of the mediocrity they have been in since winning Super Bowl 50, but it wasn't going to happen this year.  The fact is, I should have used a different example; because, since writing those words, the Broncos crawled out of the hole of their slow start and made their way to a 3-2 record.  Yesterday, the Broncos notched an impressive 34-18 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.  Bo Nix threw three touchdown passes (it should have been four, a receiver was wide open in the end zone, and his receiver dropped it), and with no interceptions.

Now, I’m not suggesting that the Broncos are going to the Super Bowl, or that Bo Nix is the next John Elway.  The jury is still out on the 2024 Broncos and on Nix.  I’m simply saying I used an example that I shouldn’t have in that blog last month.  The sermon I was referencing that day was from a pastor of a church I was visiting back in 2019; after he proclaimed that faith is only as good as the object you believe in, he used a better example than I did: having faith that the Colorado Rockies were going to win the World Series in 2019; you couldn’t with any confidence trust in this happening.  Of course, the Rockies are the perpetually terrible baseball franchise; they just finished the 2024 season with a record of 61-101, wrapping up another unimpressive year.

My decision to use an example of stating that an NFL season’s was effectively over after just two weeks was premature, but it does give a good illustration of how sometimes I can make bad decisions.  I’m far from perfect and sinless; in fact, the Bible says someone who claims he is perfect and sinless is actually deceived and the truth is not in him (1 John 1:8).  But God continues to shape me, and change me, into who He wants me to be.  As a boy, I felt God telling me to put my faith, trust, and hope in Jesus Christ to save me.  I did so, and I am so grateful that I did.  The old hymn “In the garden” by C. Austin Miles, says it well, “He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I’m his own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”  Today, I feel like the Psalmist who wrote these words in Psalm 40:

“He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, and the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps, He has put a new song in my mouth – praise to our God, many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.  Blessed is that man [or woman as well] who makes the Lord his [her] trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.  Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (verses 2-5; NKJV).

God bless,

Kevin

A hidden gem of a movie from 2017

I have seen the 2017 film “The Resurrection of Gavin Stone” numerous times.  I’ll never forget the first time I saw this film on Netflix (although it’s not available on this platform anymore).  At that point, the only other project that I had seen with Brett Dalton – the lead actor on this film – was on “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” where Dalton played Grant Ward.  In season 1 of that show, it was revealed that Grant was a wolf in sheep’s clothing; he was the Judas Iscariot figure who ruthlessly betrayed his entire team.  Grant continued to oppose the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D until he was killed in season 3.

Therefore, as silly as it sounds to me now (he is an actor after all; of course he can portray the good guy, or the irredeemable villain), because Dalton was so convincing in his role of Grant Ward, I honestly didn’t know what direction “The Resurrection of Gavin Stone” was going to take.  Would it be nothing more than a mockery of Christians and the Christian faith?  Spoiler alert: the answer to that question is no; it doesn’t mock Christianity at all.

In the film, Brett Dalton plays actor Gavin Stone, who can never get out of the shadow of a role he played as a child.  He gets in trouble with the law, and is assigned to do 200 hours of community service which he has to work off at a church.  He learns of the church’s annual play on the life of Jesus Christ; Gavin wants to audition for the role of Jesus, but is told that everyone in the play needs to be a Christian.  He lies and claims that he is a Christian, and soon he gets the role.

For the sake of those who haven’t seen this film, I don’t want to reveal too much about the plot.  However, since I’ve described the tension I felt when I watched this film for the first time, let me submit to you, for the record, "The Resurrection of Gavin Stone" is an excellent film.  In fact, as I said, I’ve seen it numerous times, and it never gets old, no matter how many times I view it.  To put it succinctly, because of the influence of his Christian cast mates, Gavin learns about grace, second chances, humility, and of course, Jesus Christ Himself.  Check out this film, if you haven’t yet.

To conclude, the church’s play in “The Resurrection of Gavin Stone” beautifully depicts a poignant exchange between Jesus and a woman caught in the act of adultery – this account can be read about in John 8:1-11.  This woman is thrown at Jesus’ feet, a group of people are ready to stone her to death – as the law of that day dictated.  And the Lord says, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”  One by one, they all drop the stones to the ground, knowing they are all guilty.  I love the compassion in Gavin’s eyes, as he portrays Jesus in that moment, “Where are your accusers?  Is there anyone left to condemn you?”  She answers no one.  “Neither do I.  Go and sin no more.”  To see the look of relief on her face, as she reacts to the forgiveness from Jesus, is one of my favorite scenes in the film. 

God bless,

Kevin

"His mercy is more"

There’s a tremendous passage in the gospel of Luke chapter 7.  Jesus is invited to have a meal with a Pharisee named Simon.  As they were eating, a woman – unnamed by the gospel writer – enters; we are told that she “had lived a sinful life in that town” (verse 37).  This woman proceeds to do one of the most poignantly beautiful acts done for Jesus in all the Bible, as I see it.  She washes the feet of Jesus, with her tears, and with the perfume she had with her (verses 37 and 38).  When Simon the Pharisee saw this, he reasons, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner” (verse 39).  Like so many, he had misunderstood what Jesus had come to do.

Jesus responds with a quick parable.  He tells of two men who owed money to a landowner; neither had the money to repay their debt, so he cancelled both debts (verses 41 and 42), “Now,” Jesus concludes, “which of them do you suppose had the bigger debt cancelled?”  Of course, the answer is the one who had the larger amount of debt, and that’s what Simon the Pharisee answers, and Jesus says that he answered correctly.  Jesus basically goes on to say, “You invited me into your house; you didn’t wash my feet and you didn’t anoint my head with oil, but this woman did.”  “Therefore,” He says in verse 47, “I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven…But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”  I imagine Jesus looking in this woman’s eyes with compassion, grace, and kindness like she had never seen before, as He says – in verse 48 – these liberating words to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Rather than reacting to this amazing moment with celebration, people at the table are confused at Jesus’ statement, and they wonder, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”  I say again, Jesus was often misunderstood.  However, perhaps someone reading this is also confused.  You are wondering why Jesus extended forgiveness to her.  Because Jesus, as God in human flesh, had the authority to grant her full pardon for her sins.  Further, Jesus knew His mission was to eventually sacrifice His life on a cross, and subsequently rise from the dead, to fully pay the price of humanity’s sin – including the sins of this dear woman in Luke 7.

The section in Luke ends with Jesus essentially ignoring the murmurs around the table, and instead He says to the woman, “Your faith has saved you, go in peace” (verse 50).  Talk about a mic drop moment!  I once heard from a pastor in a powerful sermon declare that faith is only as good as its object.  For example, after a dazzling pre-season, everyone in Bronco-land was putting their faith in rookie quarterback Bo Nix to lead the Denver Broncos out of the mediocrity they’ve been in.  Two weeks into the regular season with an 0-2 record, and an offensive output just as abysmal as ever, Bronco fans are strapping in for another long year.  But when you do as this woman in Luke 7 did, when you seek out Jesus, and you put your faith in Him, He will provide the forgiveness, hope, peace, and satisfaction you need.

In conclusion, sometimes I ponder what my life would be if I had never met Jesus.  It’s a humbling exercise, because it’s not a pretty picture to contemplate who I would be, what I would do, if the Lord had not revolutionized my life.  I would not be writing a blog proclaiming the incredible mercy, grace, and kindness of God, that’s for sure.  Then I come back to the reality, that Jesus saved me, and it makes me want to sing.  The beautiful song “His mercy is more” written by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa comes to mind.  Check out this stanza of the song: “What patience would wait as we constantly roam?  What Father, so tender, is calling us home?  He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor.  Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.”

God bless,

Kevin

A very special September 12th

Once upon a time, I bought a shirt for my father as a gift that says, “Dad not all heroes wear capes”.  I held on to that shirt all these years, for sentimental reasons, and I still look at it from time to time.  I’m bringing it up now because today is my dad’s birthday; he would have been 70 years of age.  Of all the things I could say about my dad right now, I stand by the caption on that shirt: my dad was a hero who didn’t wear a cape.  This is not inappropriate hero worship here; my dad was not perfect because no father is.  But Dad lived his life with gentleness, integrity, valor, and character.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy.  It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”  That captures my dad so well.  He was honorable, compassionate, a difference maker, who lived well to the very end of his life.  I want those terms to define my life as well, as I run “with perseverance the race marked out for [me]” (Hebrews 12:1).  The very next verse speaks of fixing our eyes on Jesus.  I’m learning – even to this very hour – I can’t fix my eyes on my pastor, parents, or my past, but on my Savior.  However, that said, I’m encouraged and fortified by contemplating my dad’s example too. 

Today was special, but it was also bittersweet.  I miss my dad.  I still think of his faithfulness, his strength, his self-discipline, and of course, his amazing sense of humor that no one could ever duplicate.  Dad’s unexpected passing changed my life, because part of my life now is to take care of my mother.  James 1:27 speaks of looking after widows in their distress; I want to follow this Bible verse as this is an important concept, but also because – as I was recently telling some people at an event at church – my father absolutely adored my mother, and I know he would be pleased to know that I am looking after her.

In closing, I’m so grateful for the assurance that the grave is not the end for the believer in Christ.  There is an existence after death.  The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5 “absent from the body…present with the Lord.”  I miss my dad, but to think of him in the wondrous bliss of Heaven comforts my heart.  I mean, consider this: my dad, on those streets made of gold, finds himself alongside men like Billy Graham, Luis Palau, Jim Elliot, Truett Cathy, Charles Stanley, Adrian Rogers, beloved Christian singer Carman (and on and on I could go).  There is hope in this; not a wishful thinking kind of hope like we use it in English (“I hope it doesn’t rain”), but rather a determined certainty of coming good.  

God bless,

Kevin

"Scars are tattoos with better stories"

I was originally going to call today’s blog Hello September, until I went in another direction.  I intended to call it that because it is now officially a year ago that I returned home from the emergency room.  As I began mentally putting this blog together, I saw someone with a shirt that had these words: “Scars are tattoos with better stories.”  Amen to that!  What is a scar after all?  It’s a wound that has been healed.  To be transparent with you, even though I like the sentiment of that shirt, I wonder if what I endured a year ago, psychologically speaking, is a scar yet.  I wonder about this for a few reasons. 

First off, because sometimes I have what I call memory flashes of my time in that hospital and the aftermath.  Inwardly, I still wince whenever I see a character from a movie or TV show in a hospital; I know firsthand how traumatic it is for the patient and their loved ones to be in that stressful environment.  Or for another example, every time I drive on a certain road, my mind goes to my brother driving me home on that very same road last year, feeling so grateful to be alive, and to be out of that ER.  The emotional healing continues.

Another element of this whole idea of a wound healing to become a scar arose just last week.  On Friday (8/30), it was a normal work day, when out of the blue, I began to feel symptoms like I’ve never felt before in my life.  I began feeling dizzy and off-balance with every step (I’ve never been drunk, but I imagine that’s what it must feel like).  I promptly left work.  What ensued was vomiting 6 or 7 times, and being so fatigued that I basically slept from 3 in the afternoon to 12 Midnight.  The next day I was feeling better, as if nothing had been wrong.  I still have no explanation as to what happened; my best guess is a severe allergic reaction, or perhaps a 24-hour bug.  Ultimately, however, it doesn’t even really matter to me what it was.

I share all of that vulnerably with you to say this: I have my struggles.  I’m not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  This year, for instance, anxiety can easily take over and convince me that I will soon be back in the ER again.  Whether it is the aftermath of trying to process what happened on Friday, or any other sickness I’ve had since last September; or even just to have some random pain in my stomach that amounts to nothing, it’s easy to spiral down a path of uncertainty, lack of trust in God, and fear.  I’m just being real with you.  But the Bible instructs me to “take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

Therefore, I have cited various Bible verses to combat the anxiety and fear.  I have quoted Psalm 31:15 where the Psalmist affirms to the Lord, “My times are in your hands.”  Or Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”  Or even the beginning words from the ever-popular Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd.”  I can testify to the absolute truth of Psalm 91:1-2: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.””

In conclusion, in 2018, the group “I Am They” released a song titled “Scars”.  I love this song; and I hear its truth, as it were, with new ears: “Waking up to a new sunrise, looking back from the other side; I can see now with open eyes.  Darkest waters and deepest pain, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  ‘Cause my brokenness brought me to You, and these wounds are a story You’ll use.  So I’m thankful for the scars ‘cause without them I wouldn’t know Your heart; and I know they’ll always tell of who You are.  So forever I am thankful for the scars.  Now I’m standing in Your confidence, with the strength of Your faithfulness, and I’m not who I was before.  No, I don’t have to fear anymore.”

God bless,

Kevin  

"To live is Christ and to die is gain"

My original plan for this blog today was to walk through some verses from Philippians 1, but God took me in a different direction; it became apparent that instead I was to focus on a singular verse – Philippians 1:21 (“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”).  I’ve been forthright about my health struggles in 2023.  I’m certainly quite grateful to the Lord for the gift of life, but just to have it documented, what if I didn’t survive?  My answer is Philippians 1:21; “to live is Christ” – a sentiment I want to delve deeper into in a moment – and to die is actually gain.  

I was impacted by an article that I came across from got questions.org titled “What does it mean “to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21)?”  This page begins with these words: “Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Most people focus on the second part of the verse, “to die is gain,” and contemplate the joys of heaven.  But we should not overlook what comes before.  The importance of the phrase “to live is Christ” cannot be overstated.  In all honesty, this phrase should be central to every Christian’s life.” 

While I’m not able to share the whole article today – the link can be found right here if you are interested in reading it in its entirely; however, I did want to include that the author goes on write: ““To live is Christ” means that we are willing to give up anything that prevents us from having Christ.  Paul’s testimony in this regard: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him” (Philippians 3:7-9).  We cling to the promise of our Lord in Mark 10:29-30 that our sacrifices for Jesus’ sake will be repaid a hundredfold.

“To live is Christ” means that Christ is our focus, our goal, and our chief desire.  Christ is the center point of our mind, heart, body and soul.  Everything we do, we do for Christ’s glory.  As we run the “race marked out for us,” we lay aside the entangling sin and worldly distractions, “fixing our eyes of Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2).  He is our life.”

Someone recently asked me about my view on if there is afterlife or not.  I answered that I believed that there is an afterlife.  When he asked me to elaborate more on this, in essence, I answered, ‘my dad passed away several years ago now; he went to Heaven because he had a real, right relationship with God.  And because I also have a real, right relationship with God, whenever I die, I will see my dad again in Heaven.’  This person seemed satisfied with my answer. 

The Bible says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).  Call on His name, if you haven’t, and be saved from God’s wrath against sin.  To have a relationship with God is glorious; to live for Him is so much better than to live for self (“to live is Christ”), and one day, when this life ends, the infinite bliss of the paradise of Heaven awaits (“to die is gain”).  Perhaps I will say more about Rebecca St. James’ 2003 song “Yes, I believe in God” another day, as a lot more should be said.  But for now, let me share that I was particularly struck – hearing this song again 20 years later – with this line from her work, “So through the fire I’ll be refined.  And if that fire were to take life, I’ll be with Him forever.  I will be with Him forever.”    

God bless,

Kevin