lift off!

In the most recent past, we found 2 eccentric billionaires racing to space. Each one with their own rocket or shuttle and accompanied by several passengers. They had been preparing and developing it for years. Finally, in July of 2021, liftoff! Citizens had reached space on their own!

Have you ever watched Star Trek? Remember Captain James T. Kirk? Picard? How about Scotty? My family used to bring up a recycled line from Captain Kirk saying, “Beam me up Scotty.” Then there were the super heroes back in the day. I grew up watching Christopher Reeves playing Superman, Adam West and Michael Keaton playing Batman, Bill Bixby and Lou Ferigno playing Dr. David Banner a.k.a. The Incredible Hulk. Let’s not forget Linda Carter playing Wonder Woman. Yes, my childhood had incredible individuals exuding super strength, power, intelligence, bravery, and flight.

I think of the story of Samson and when the Spirit of the Lord stirred him he would have incredible feats of strength. He was on his way with his parents walking along when a lion met him and he tore it to pieces with his bare hands (Judges 14:6 ESV). I can imagine him roaring after that! But Samson was probably a bit peculiar to the people of his day. He had never cut his hair and he was crafty with riddles. But his feats of strength through the Lord’s Spirit left an impression upon the history books and provided deliverance for Israel at a time when it was under occupation by their enemy.

Another figure from the bible and little is known of him, Enoch. He was a man on the earth one moment and then the next, he was no more... for God took him (Genesis 5: 23-24 ESV). Imagine that... here one second and then gone the next. It was as if he could have boarded the Star Trek Enterprise from earth without missing a step!

Then came Jesus... ka boom! The man of the hour. After His resurrection, he gathered all of His disciples and went to the mount and then he began liftoff! Poof (Acts 1:9 ESV)! Maybe it was a cloud chariot that lifted Jesus away... or a swirling cloud like the whirlwinds that caught up Elijah (2 Kings 2:11 ESV). However it was they were caught up, up and away!

Still there was another! An apostle named Phil ran alongside a chariot listening to a eunuch reading from the book of Isaiah without understanding what was being said. Phil joined the gentleman and began to expand on the topics the eunuch had questions of. Then shortly after that both of them went to the river and the eunuch received his baptism. As they were coming up out of the water Phil was caught away by the Spirit (Acts 8:39 ESV). So Phil had unique speed and flew away by the Spirit!

All of these biblical characters mentioned had a trace of the impossible, and Jesus was and is the most peculiar of them all! Each story shared here showcases something out of this world. I guess my question of the day is, will we see it only on our tv’s and in the movies or is God about to shake things up once again?

Recently, I was reading up on Saints in history who had peculiar moments of flight. St. Francis of Assisi and St. Joseph of Cupertino. Both would be worshipping the Lord and, at times, be lifted off the earth as they adored their God. Anyone remember “The Flying Nun” who would fly around? I know this may be “out of the ordinary” but... haven’t you ever pretended to fly like superman? Or run like the Flash? Or harness a stone and launch it at a target pretending to be David striking down Goliath?

I wonder in these times we live if we will see manifestations that are out of this world. I can imagine seeing a saint or two flying through the air en route to a service that God needs them at. Or a mom needing to change a tire and heaves the car up with one hand. How about a dash through the forest or leaping further than a gazelle? Strange things in the world of science but common-place in the adventures with God. Isaiah mentioned that we would have renewed strength, mount up with wings like eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31 ESV).

“Truly, Truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12 ESV).”

Godspeed, The JourneyMan

Ps. Today’s story comes with a little dessert. Still, we can find more of the improbable in the bible. This entry today is a small glimpse at a common thread throughout the bible. Each one marked a bit differently, but each one had commonality to the God they served. I’d say to get ready for some special times of God ahead. I pray for Him to use you mightily in His awakening! Have a great day! Love you all!

Genesis 5: 23-24 ESV “Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”

Judges 14:6 ESV “Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.”

2 Kings 2:11 ESV “And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”

Isaiah 40:31 ESV “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

John 14:12 ESV “Truly, Truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

Acts 1:9 ESV “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”

Acts 8:39 ESV “And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carriesPhilip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.”