Pastor's Pen: Looking for a Hero

In 1938, two high school students from Cleveland had a vision for a comic hero.  He had super strength, super speed, and super senses.  The character resonated with the public, and Superman was born.  Since that time, a thousand heroes in tights have bloomed.  Whether they are women or men, aliens or mutants, or even wizards or robots, they all have one thing in common.  Each has powers and abilities far beyond us mortals.

In the early days, the assumption was that superheroes used their powers for “truth, justice, and the American way.”  However, since then we have grown cynical.  Power, we realize, has its own temptations.  This isn’t a new revelation.  In fact, it is as old as the tempting of Adam and Eve.  The serpent whispers, “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5).

In 1962, Stan Lee created a comic character struggling to make the transition between adolescence to adulthood.  Due to a bite from a radioactive spider, the awkward teenager must deal with incredible powers thrust upon him.  “With great power,” we are told, “comes great responsibility.”  Jesus himself will similarly declare two thousand years earlier, “To whom much is given, much will be expected” (Luke 12:48).

We don’t have x-ray vision or the ability to sling webs, but we are blessed.  Our talents and abilities are formidable.  How do we avoid temptation?  How do we reject exploitation or the abuse of power?  How can we be gifted yet humble?

The model for us is Jesus.  Jesus came and walked with us.  He listened to God, trusting in God’s word.  He spoke out against injustice.  He faced danger with courage.  Jesus continues to love us with a sacrificial love.  Moreover, Jesus offers these gifts to us.  “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these” (John 14:12).  If we are looking to be a hero, we need to look to Jesus.

From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on June 18-22, our children will be exploring what it means to be a hero at Ardmore Presbyterian Church’s Vacation Bible School.  Exploring the stories of the Old and New Testament, we will be looking for Jesus.  Through games, crafts, and lessons, we learn what it means to follow him.  Check out www.ardmorepres.org for more information. 

Grace & Peace,

James Hodsden

REGISTER ON-LINE FOR VBS HERE.

VBS: Media Wrap-Up

Thank God for a wonderful Vacation Bible School this year.  We traveled to Narnia to hear the story of God's sacrifice for us.  The local media covered our time.  Here is a media wrap-up:

...from the Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewood Patch:

NARDMORNIA?  THE LION, THE WITCH, AND 'KINGS AND QUEENS'

...from the Main Line Media News:

ARDMORE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WRITES ITS OWN NARNIA PROGRAM FOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

There is a write-up with each video.  We all had a fun time.

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT VBS

This summer we entered the land of Narnia to learn about the story of God's love.  It wouldn't have happened without the great work of lots of volunteers and the leadership of our Christian Education Director, Kristen Thomas-Clarke.  Thank you so much for your dedication to our children.

Pastor's Pen: Wild About Harry

"Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."
--1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Plans are well underway for the Ardmore Presbyterian Church’s 2010 Vacation Bible School. The games, the crafts, the stories and the music have been a wonderful tradition at our congregation. Both volunteers and the children have great fun. For a few hours each day, the participants escape into the world of imagination. They might step into a wild West town, a space station, or a medieval castle, but the setting never detracts from the important lessons about the good news of Jesus Christ.

If you haven’t heard by now, this year we will be exploring our faith using the stories of Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. Recreating a school for wizards in our Fellowship Hall might seem a strange way for the church to teach about the faith. When the books first arrived on the scene, some Christian groups condemned the stories as invitations to the real world of the occult and witchcraft. Since then, positive reviews of the books and movies have shown up in Christianity Today. Other authors such as John Granger have explored the Christian themes and symbolism found in the tales of Harry. Rowling, herself, has acknowledged that her own Christian faith has influenced the writing of the books.

We do need to acknowledge that magic is condemned in the Scriptures, and it is true that the occult seduces many into a spiritual bondage. However, the magic of Harry Potter is instrumental, not supernatural. Harry Potter does not call down spiritual forces. Instead, his magic is a tool or an ability that works in his world like technology does in our own. In that way, the magic of Harry Potter is similar to the force of Star Wars, the x-ray vision of Superman, or the magic of Cinderella’s fairy godmother.

Rowling has created a world where choices have consequences. The courage to stand with the right is honorable, and wickedness is condemned. Love and friendship are celebrated, and the theme of resurrection echoes throughout the books. G.K. Chesterton once praised fairy tales because they give children the idea that evil can be defeated. He writes, ”The baby has known the dragon intimately ever since he had an imagination. What the fairy tale provides for him is a St. George to kill the dragon.” Soon we realize that the fairy tale is reflecting the light rather than generating it, and we open ourselves to the true source of light.

Join us June 28 through July 2 for this year’s “A Journey in Faith with Harry Potter”. More information and registration is available on our website at ardmorepres.org.