Popeye Theology

“… in quietness and trust is your strength …”

Isaiah 30:15

Popeye was a quiet guy and often talked and chuckled to himself, above all, he relied on his source of strength, spinach. He was never without a can of spinach nearby. When trouble came, Popeye would pull a can out from under his shirt, where he kept it next to his heart. He relied on all the strength in that can of spinach to take on his nemesis Brutus—Popeye could take on the world and always come out the conqueror, a victor. Popeye always claimed to be what he was and nothing more, as he confessed, “I yam what I yam!” He was weak in himself, and had total reliance in the source of his strength to make him a conqueror.    

You and I, when in a quiet moment need to chuckle to ourselves, knowing we can rely on the source of our strength—He, who has victory over our nemesis!

When trouble comes, you simply pull out all the strength you need. God is always, in your heart: reach in for Him! The Bible shakes us up when it says, “If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!” (Prov 24:10) We can’t fall apart; we must be like Popeye and rely on all the strength of whom we claim to have faith in. When life deals you a Brutus, a problem you can’t bear, a disease you can’t imagine living through, a fear you can’t overcome—what do you do? It is time to simply reach into your shirt, there next to your heart, and remember where you strength is. Be honest, “I yam what I yam!” I am who is in me, Christ, who has all strength, all power, all ability, all courage to overcome Brutus—“because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Like Popeye, you are weak in yourself, “you are who you are,” but you are more in Christ.

O my Strength, I sing praise to you;

you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

Psalm 59:17

I Yam, What I Yam
Owen

Donkey in the Well

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember five simple rules:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive. (Like 6:37)
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen. (1 John 4:18)
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have. (Like 12:15, 33)
4. Give more. (Luke 6:30)
5. Expect less (Philippians 4:12-13)

Blessings,

Owen

Uncomfortable Moments

“We wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.”  1 Thessalonians 2:18

We Christians sometimes become selective, we ignore what is revealed and taught in Scripture about living as a follower of Jesus—simply, some verses are uncomfortable.  We are uncomfortable with the stories of Jesus casting out demons, uncomfortable with teaching on spiritual armor used in demonic battles, and uncomfortable with Jesus declaring that “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14).  Those are superstitious topics and a narrow-minded, conditional demand.

Our tendency is to embrace the promises that give us pleasure and our perception of freedom.  We embrace only we want for a comfortable religious life.  Subjects on Satan, demons, sin, hell, obedience, etc., are not comforting.  We avoid what our time views as old school or superstitious.  We stop witnessing Christ, or stop loving others as Christ commanded.  Why?  Was it uncomfortable?

Embracing a half-faith, a half-truth, a half-demon, a half-heaven, or half of a command of Christ gives you absolutely nothing.  The apostle Paul must have been extremely uncomfortable, but he tried, as he said, “again and again” to carry out his call.   When ceasing preparation to battle demons, when refraining from witnessing Christ, when severing friendship with Christ—was it due to being uncomfortable, or was it with ease that “Satan stopped” you?

Uncomfortable, Obedient,

Owen <><