NEW MARVEL BLOG SERIES
COMING VERY SOON....

Before I freak out any faithful readers of this blog that appreciate it for the spiritual and practical applications I try to present through it, I implore you, FEAR NOT. This new announcement is going to be a break from my typical formula, and the first time I'm using a themed series for this blog, but it will not be merely a venture into the comic universe that I love. Instead it will be a deeper look into the characters that inhabit that universe. I intend to choose just one character for each post and, after giving a brief profile, begin to expound upon two main points. 1) What is it about this character that intrigues me. & 2) What practical lessons and deeper messages can we learn from the incredible depth of these characters. THIS is why I love the MARVEL universe so much! Its characters are timeless not just because of the creativity behind each of them or their sheer brilliance, but because they are grounded in a real world just like you and I (real in the sense that many of these characters endure real life trials like you and I. Plus they live and interact in real places like NYC and Los Angeles, not fictional Gotham City or Metropolis. Had to get my DC jab in here.)

It's no coincidence that a poster of this very picture hangs right behind my desk where I write most of my blogs.

I hope that through this series, which has the potential to be quite lengthy given Marvel's stellar and vast lineup, or extremely short if it turns out not to be edifying, you will be introduced to my reason for loving these characters. But more importantly, and my reason for writing this blog apart from getting my thoughts out there, I hope that you will learn practical and real life applications, as well as be encouraged and challenged through it all.

" 'Nuff said."

It's 5:00 AM ... my eyes are heavy and I could easily crash just by leaning over and letting my head hit a surface, but for some reason I don't want to. So here I am now in the blogosphere. An unlikely destination at such an hour, but it is where I have arrived nonetheless.

Sleep is such a peculiar matter. A few years ago, I would have considered it a blessing if I had the mysterious super power, I trust no one does, to never need sleep. How much more could we accomplish if half our lives were not spent lying down with our eyes closed and our minds wandering off unrestrained? I suppose it's a childhood mindset that never really left, but I've always had a disinclination about sleep, especially naps. While I still personally prefer my days napless (not to be confused with Indianapolis) I have now, thank the Lord, come to the point where I no longer, at least not nearly as much as I used to, sneer at those of you who do enjoy your occasional naps. Good for you.

I don't like sleep. First of all, it's scary what your mind can do to you when your in the sleeping state. You're in no control whatsoever and .... (Time out. I'm listening to Brian Regan as I'm writing this and, as you can imagine, it's EXTRA funny given the current hour. "Donut Lady" currently if you must know the specifics. ... Time in) As I was saying, when the realm of sleep is entered, our minds are at the mercy of our imagination, and that is indeed a frightening place to be for some of us. Dreeaams ... there is depth I could write about on this topic alone, but again, given the hour, I dare not attempt such a thing, both for your sake and my own.

Regardless of what we dream of, or don't dream of ... ("Suff-O-cotting" hahaha).

To this day, I'm still not a fan of sleeping, but I've come to recognize, or at least better understand to an extent, why God made it. The physical energy regained by sleep is the obvious gain, but I believe the greater gift of sleep is the extended period of time for our mind to shut down. I don't mean physically shut down of course, but you all know what I mean, for everyone reading this has fallen asleep before. I now know that God did not make each day 24 hours long by accident. Nothing the Lord does is an accident. Or as Michael Tait likes to say, "God don't make no junk." (Yes, double negative, I know. It's not my quote, but the point remains.) God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that we can only handle so much and then not only our bodies, but our minds as well, need a respite. 6:15 AM. It is with this knowledge that, though I still don't really like it, I thank the Lord for sleep. And with that, it is time I finally go get some....

Simultaneous good night and good morning,

Brian