Strange attractions

Well, that is a little disturbing. Actually, it is very disturbing. But unfortunately, not unexpected. Since the news was released about Luka Magnotta’s murder and dismemberment of Jun Lin in Montreal, he has garnered literally hundreds of online fans. His largest fan page on Facebook has over 1400 members and that is just one of many. There are those who think that Magnotta has been hard done by--that he is either innocent or, because of mental illness, isn’t responsible for his actions.

Others have no doubt that Magnotta is guilty as sin, but they say they admire his style. One admirer wrote, “I like Luka Magnotta because he is inspirational, nice, and very, very good looking.” It would appear that Magnotta has achieved that fame that had eluded him for so long.

I suppose if there weren’t those who were attracted to the dark side, Satan would be very lonely. Some people are attracted to evil in the same way that moths are attracted to a flame. And often with the same results.

We can’t change what others are attracted to, but let’s be careful to set our minds on what is true and honourable, right and pure, lovely and admirable, excellent and worthy of praise. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Walking the Wire

What were you doing Friday night?  A lot of people were watching Nik Wallenda walk across Niagara Falls on a wire. Pretty impressive. I don't want to rain on Nik’s parade, but I have always been a fan of the Great Blondin who made numerous walks across the Falls in the mid 1800s, including once pushing a wheelbarrow and once carrying his manager. Now, I understand that the Great made his journey across the gorge and not across the precipice of the falls, but he did it on a rope not a wire, carrying his manager and not wearing a harness! Still, I didn’t take my eyes off the screen at all during Wallenda’s 26 minute journey.

At the end of the walk, Nik commented that he had done what nobody else had done. And he was correct--nobody had ever done that, ever. That night, I woke up at 3:00 a.m. with the thought that when I got up in the morning I was going to do what nobody else had done, ever: I was going to live Denn Guptill’s life on June 20, 2012. . . something nobody had ever done, ever.  

Every day each of you will get to do what nobody has ever done before, so do it well.  Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Late Night Phone calls

The phone was ringing and it was 4:45 in the morning! You know that if you get a telephone call at that hour it can't be good news. Nobody calls you at quarter to five in the morning just to say hello or to tell you that you’ve won the lottery….. in which case it would be a wrong number at our house. We have had people call at that hour to say G'day, but that was because they were confused about the time difference.

It is amazing how many thoughts can go through your mind between the time the phone first rings and when you finally pick it up.  Within seconds, you have considered every possible tragedy that might have necessitated someone calling you at that horrendous hour, because you know in your heart of hearts that it has to be bad news.  In our case whoever was calling hung up as I answered the phone. The caller ID showed it was a payphone.

I wonder if our prayer lives are reflective of early morning phone calls in that they only happen when there’s a problem.  God wants us to bring Him our troubles, but I’m pretty sure He wants to hear the good news as well.   Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Bizarre? Maybe not

It’s been a bizarre couple of weeks, with stories in the news about the Cannibal Zombie in the Miami area, a gunman opening fire on shoppers in the Eaton’s centre in Toronto, body parts being mailed to the Prime Minister and yet another murder here in Halifax.  It leaves people shaking their heads and asking, “What is the world coming to?”

But the world isn’t coming to any place that it hasn’t already been.  You only need to study history, recent and ancient, to discover the depravity of mankind and to see that mankind has never been able to change on their own.  We talk about changing people by changing society but that is only putting a coat of whitewash on the problem.  The problem is sin, the problem is people’s disconnect with their Creator.  The problem in AD 2012 is the same as the problem was in 1012 BC in the book of Judges, and that is that everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes.  Our society needs to discover the solution isn’t to ignore God and His teachings, it needs to embrace God and His teachings.  Which is why Jesus told us the greatest command is to love God and to love others.     Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

That's not space. . .

That’s not space, that’s just really high in the sky. . .  I was brought up watching Star Trek, watching them “Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before”.  When I was 9, I watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon and when I was 17 I was introduced to the conflicts that were happening between the Galactic Empire and the rebels.  And I knew one day mankind would conquer space and explore the heavens,  and now after all these years we have the International Space Station, so cool.  But just the other day I heard on a news report that the International Space Station was 350 km above the earth.  350 km?  I never thought of it before but that’s just about the same distance as Halifax to Sussex.  If I could get my Smart Car off the ground I could be at the Space Station in three and a half hours.  That’s not space, that’s just really high in the sky.

Mankind thinks so much of itself and its achievements, we say “we’ve been to the heavens and there is no God.”  The reality is, with all that we have learned and all that we have accomplished we have barely touched the very edge of His creation.  Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

I want a Submarine

I want a submarine.  Which is bizarre since I have never really wanted a submarine, except when I was 12.  But I want one now.  It doesn’t have to be fancy or even yellow, any old sub will do as long as it floats when it is supposed to and doesn’t float when it not supposed to. 

So what has brought about this sudden desire to become a submariner?   My recent discovery that the U.S. congress has told me that I can’t.  It seems in 2008 Congress passed a law making it illegal for me, Denn Guptill, to own and/or operate a submersible or semi-submersible vessel on the high seas, in international waters outside the normal territorial jurisdiction of the United States of America.  Can you imagine?  Who do they think they are? 

Often our response to God’s laws is just as silly and irrational.  If God says we can’t do it then by golly  we’re going to do it, even when we know that God puts those guidelines in place for our own benefit and safety.  Who does he think He is?  God of course, and we are supposed to obey Him because we love Him. 

But back to the point, does anyone know where I can buy a sub?  Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Growing Older, but not Gracefully

I thought I was going to have to pick Angela up off the floor as she was laughing so hard. She was really enjoying herself at my expense. We were shopping and the clerk at the check-out asked if I was a senior. Hello! So I replied “yes, I'm ninety-two.” Which I thought was an indirect way of saying “NO I'M NOT A SENIOR YOU NINNY.” She gave me the discount.  In retrospect, I suppose I am a lot closer to sixty-five than I am to eighteen.  Well maybe not a lot closer  but definitely a little closer.  It’s funny though, it doesn’t seem like that long ago that I was a teenager, but becoming a senior seems like a long way off. Which is all a matter of perspective.

Now I understand what James meant when he wrote; For your life is like the morning fog – it’s here for a little while and then it’s gone.  I trust that none of you are putting off decisions until later….. it’s later already. Which is why the Bible says “Today”, not tomorrow, “is the day of salvation.” Not that the cashier’s comments bothered me……. much.  You’ll have to excuse me for now, I need to look for my Grecian Formula.   Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.