Long Story Short » Faith and Theology

Soul Surfer

Tom Long — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:55:45 +0000

I just got back from an incredible movie experience. Soul Surfer portrays the injury and recovery of Bethany Hamilton. Bethany would be a remarkable person if only for her surfing ability. But Bethany’s story is so much more than that. At a young age, her arm was literally bitten off by a shark. Yet, Bethany went on to become a professional surfer and inspiration to millions of us.

I certainly wasn’t injured as seriously as Bethany. I had a motorcycle accident and lost several inches of my left femur. Like Bethany, faith and surfing played major roles in my recovery. I totally loved this movie even as I cried my eyes out. Two thumbs – five stars. To quote my buddy Jerry Voorhis, “I love it. I love it. I love it.” Stop reading and buy your ticket already.

"Love in the Mortar Joints"

Tom Long — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:58:47 +0000

Millard Fuller wrote a book. It was short, simple, and enormously profound. In this book we learn how Fuller gained millions of dollars but was on the brink of losing his wife. They sold everything and joined a Christian commune. It was there that Millard developed the concept that became Habitat for Humanity. This organization sprang from the profound spiritual renewal of one formerly avaricious lawyer.

Millard Fuller touched my heart. Fuller’s book, Love in the Mortar Joints, and Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, were pivotal in my own spiritual formation. But Fuller’s writing was unique in its focus on tool-belt Christianity. As an engineer, I appreciate the deft melding of practical service with the deepest Christian motivation. Furthermore, Millard acted as an example of how a movement born of deep Christian fundamentals can be joined with a tolerant, cooperative heart. No one need pass a doctrinal exam to grab an HFH hammer.

Millard Fuller built a house. Actually, countless houses. So many lives changed as potential home owners went from becoming builders of others houses to receiving the keys to their own beautiful home and a gift bible.

Millard Fuller went home. On February 3, 2009, Millard Fuller passed away. Those inspired by his life continue to serve: building houses, building relationships, showing their Christianity by their actions. How fitting that today the rich young lawyer who did give it all away lives in his “mansion in the sky.” One can only imagine how warmly he was greeted by the Carpenter he served so well. Thank you, brother, for what you built in me.

It's a tough "Job"

Tom Long — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:03:27 +0000

Since “the problem of Evil” is such a classic conundrum, few people look beyond that issue when studying the book of Job. However, while reading through Job, I was impressed by a different message. As I read about his legendary “comforters”, I thought about how often we modern religiosos fall into a similar pattern. If someone is sick or financially destitute or unpopular, we quickly pass judgment that this person must have been responsible for bringing this on themselves.

Of course, if we looked before we leaped to judgment we would quickly be aware that many people get where they are through circumstances that most of us would also not have anticipated.
-Health costs beyond what insurance covers
-Natural disaster that wipes out home and/or business
-Mental illness
-Cheated (think Bernie Madoff)

Jesus talked about Galileans who had been killed by Pilate or others who died when a tower fell on them. He said that they were no more guilty of sin than the rest of us (Luke 13:1-5). Jesus elsewhere (Matthew 5:44) states that God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

In the post-fall world, bad things do happen to good people. Indeed, the Bible makes clear that even bad people are valuable because they are created in God’s image. So the next time I think, “Why is he asking me for money?” instead of “There but for the grace of God go I,” I hope I will remember Job’s comforters and change my attitude.