Elijah's Great Run

Preaching through the life of Elijah, we encountered the incredible story (that is almost mentioned in passing) of Elijah running ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to Jezreel. It only takes up one verse, the last verse of chapter eighteen of 1 Kings.

The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. -1 Kings 18:46 (NIV)

There are many who scoff at stories like this in Scripture and say, “It is physically impossible for a human to do something like this.” Bill Maher, comedian and well-known atheist, has referenced this story in comedy routines saying it is just another reason why he rejects the Bible as a myth.

Did you realize that doctors and scientists said it was impossible for a man to run a mile in less than four minutes? They said that our bone structure was wrong and wind resistance was too great and our lungs did not have adequate power as well as the human heart could not take that kind of stress and you would die in such a foolish attempt. It is an impossible dream to try to run a mile in under four minutes.

But 25 year old Roger Bannister didn’t listen to the experts.
He endured thousands of monotonous laps around the same university track. Bannister was determined to shape his body and his mind. On May 6, 1954 at Oxford University in England Roger Bannister was the first known human to run a mile in under four minutes.

I say known because Elijah may have well been history’s first. Since that historic day in 1954, one of the greatest sports achievements ever, 955 runners have achieved the same impossible dream as Bannister did. In fact, those runners have beat the four minute mile over 4,700 times now.

The next time someone you see on television scoffs at something in the Bible, just remember how impossible the four minute mile USED to be. Scripture affirms for you and me this timeless truth:

For nothing is impossible with God. –Luke 1:37 (NIV)

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

Bill Maher, ever the controversialist, is at it again. He has linked up with Lion's Gate Films and made a movie about something that he loves to hate...religion. The movie is called Religulous and is due in limited theater showings on October 3rd.

Bill Maher hates Christianity with a passion. This film is his own vain attempt to show how "ridiculous" it is to hold any religious views. But Bill is an equal opportunity religion hater. He hates Jews and Christians and Muslims alike.

One of the interesting things to me is all the money, all the effort and energy that would go into a project of this magnitude all for the sole purpose of Bill Maher to scream through his media megaphone that God does not, cannot, should not exist and anyone who would believe in him is an idiot. It leans a little heavy on the "Thou dost protest too much" side for me.

It's almost like Bill is trying too hard to prove his unprovable point. What could cause such hurt and rage? Why does he believe that so many countless millions of well-adjusted, intelligent, non-marijuana smoking people all over the world...including presidents, chief justices, scientists, sociologists, economists as well as honorable butchers, bakers and candle-stick makers who claim they experience the love of God are in a grand delusion?

How is that possible? How can so many be so wrong at claiming they experience the forgiveness of God or the peace of God or the comfort of God?

That cannot and should not be taken so lightly. But Bill Maher has no interest in doing a sincere investigation. He just wants the opportunity to shout from the mountain tops that "God is dead." Well, he'll have his opportunity.

I think it is honestly a little humorous when Hollywood-types such as Bill Maher think that they can come up with some new and amazing argument that will shatter the faith of the faithful. I have been in the living room of just enough of the faithful to know that after having had God come near in their dark nights of the soul that there is nothing Bill Maher could say that could shake them from experiencing the supernatural comfort that only comes from a real and awesome and living God!

If you want to see a little more on this you can see this SITE but let me fore-warn you. The site contains foul language. It was put up as a marketing tool to promote the upcoming movie by Bill Maher.