Archives For God

Dipper vs. Manliness, Part 2 – The Journey Notes

May 23, 2013 — Leave a comment
Watching Disney Channel Original Series, "Gravity Falls" on MacBook Air

Watching Disney Channel Original Series, “Gravity Falls” on MacBook Air

When the episode of “Gravity Falls,” “Dipper vs. Manliness” went on the air, I spent days, weeks and months after thinking about the question Dipper Pines was trying to seek the answer too:  “what is a man!?”

I can’t say it all in one post, but I’ll do my best to share some of what I learned.

Think about the episode (if you’ve seen it, but if you haven’t, I got your back here). Dipper sought after the likeness of what a man looks like. He found it in the mythical creature he ran into in the woods, a “Manataur.”

I looked in the scripture and found Genesis 1:27:

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them

During my journey, I discovered that MY definition of manhood was in my writing, my academic background, the ability to pay my bills, go to work every day and find a wife. This is a very confusing, fake version of what a “man” is given to us from the world.

The focus for me went from stuff and people validating me to God giving me validation, value and Love. Everything else is good, but just extra, not my life line.

Scripture also points towards men being courageous, strong, standing firm in the faith (1 Corinthians 16:13) and understanding that regardless of the situation, in their ups or downs, that they can do ALL things through Christ, who gives them strength (Philippians 4:13).

Being made in the image of God, we are His masterpiece, we are chosen we are His sons…overall and more importantly He LOVES us. He shows us that love by sending His son Jesus Christ to die for us all.

The manhood or masculinity of Jesus Christ cannot be missed: He loved, healed, delivered and saved the lives of many. He stays connected to God the Father. He operates in perfect unity with God and the Holy Spirit.

What kind of man should we be then!?

When we are connected to God and Christ, we will take care of business as real men. We will do good work in the spirit of excellence. We will love more. We will be more patient. We will see others and their needs before we see our own. The things I’m gifted to do doesn’t become my definition of what kind of man I am….but the identity given to me by God and Christ.

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The Heart

May 7, 2013 — Leave a comment

Screen Shot 2013-05-07 at 6.18.01 PM

Earlier this week, I asked God to show me who I was to Him. “What do you REALLY think of me!?” I asked.

Bold move, I know.

I promise you, I got a lot of AWESOME answers…I’m one of his sons….I’m covered by the blood of Jesus…my sins are paid off…I am Kendall Lyons…I am a MAN!

Powerful answers for sure!

But I got one answer that really threw me off and I suppose it was God wanting to make sure I was paying extra attention.

“I am his Dipper Pines!”

I then thought, “wait, what!? No way, he’s a cartoon character and that’s just silly.”

Then God responded to me with this…”you’re looking at a cartoon character, he’s one of your favorite characters in a cartoon series right now. There’s a reason you relate so much to Dipper, but I’m looking at something else about him that you can’t see.”

I realized what He meant. This wasn’t some kinda weird and sick joke nor was this meant to be a theologically offensive analysis.

Besides, think of the characters in your favorite movies or TV shows that you SO wish you could be. What do they stand for? What’s their heart like? What do they fight for?

Dipper is a kid who goes through so much on a constant basis. He’s sort of an underdog in a large role. He doesn’t know he plays a big part in the “Gravity Falls” universe, but he often gets the short end of the stick in multiple moments. But one thing about this kid, he will always end up doing the right thing or standing up to do what needs to be done. We saw this in the episode “Dipper versus Manliness” and we saw this in “Fight Fighters” and “The Time Travelers Pig.”

When Samuel was looking to anoint the young man that God would make King, he was looking at the older sons of Jesse in 1 Sameul 16. Little did Samuel realize that he was going to end up anointing Jesse’s youngest son, David. But verse 7 is what stuck with me…the very thing that God was trying to point out:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Dipper maybe short. He may have his issues, but he has heart!

THIS was what God wanted me to see! That yes, even when I mess up, He’s still looking at me and looking at my heart. He could care less how short, tall, black, white, rich, poor or popular or unpopular I get. As a matter of fact, my outer appearance is a beautiful design covering up a part of my body that can perform beautiful designs..that IS…if my heart seeks after God and Christ!

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A Guest Article Post

April 22, 2013 — Leave a comment

Cartoon Daily News acquires Creative Home Offices, Cartoon Daily News (c) 2012, Kendall Lyons

Minister, Writer, Thinker and Speaker, Bill Blankschaen, whom has allowed me to participate in illustration work in the past for his e-book, Finding the Curve: The Secret to Explosive Personal Growth, has given me the privilege to guest post this once on his blog.

Check it out right here!

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Almost Broken Dreams

April 11, 2013 — 2 Comments

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I feel horrible for people whose dreams have been crushed…because for many of you, it only took a few words…words from people who claimed to love you and have your back…I can understand and relate.

My Dad had NO idea what he was doing when he told me things like “nobody cares” when I showed him a comic strip I drew.  Granted I did it during church, but I merged the story of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with “A Goofy Movie.” I was 10, so I thought “that’s the stuff right there.”

Then, another moment…I was 16 when I actually wrote a mini-devotional using “Dragonball Z” and talking about the power we have in Christ as Christians. I left this written work on my bed and my Dad saw it and read it. He told me he read it. But, instead of encouraging me to consider using more illustrations like this to push good and basic Christian values, he said, “some people might not like this.”

I didn’t write for a while after that. I didn’t even let people see my written work unless it was for school. If I was writing, I kept it secret.

Until, one day, God hit me with it again…and I couldn’t help it…I had to write it. That time, it was “Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends,” and I was able to talk about identity.

I did this particular writing in college during my 3rd year at Oklahoma Christian

I suggested it could be a topical sermon for chapel. I didn’t think that they would take me seriously after introducing the idea.

48 hours later, I was standing in front of the entire student body giving my mini-topical sermon. It was quite literally the first sermon I ever preached.

Over the years, my heart slowly opened up to the idea of writing again, drawing again and using cartoons to reach people with the message that they didn’t have to rely on their own strength, but the strength of Christ.

Those words my Dad spoke were words of ignorance…I still love my Dad, but, I have to seriously disagree with him.

I love God, I love people and I love writing!

And if someone, not even specific family members like it, then its their choice NOT to click the button on my site or read the words that I print.

I have no ill will towards them. After all, they didn’t give me my gift, and you can’t win everyone with your gifts or beliefs.

But believe me when I say this, I want people to live life more abundantly, and that’s from the Bible and that’s from my heart.

You don’t have to hide your dream or your light of life…go out there and pursue it! Live it! You know it’s in your code, your make-up, your DNA. If you think you forgot what it is, search it out. Pray for it! Run for it! Research!

Go deep into your wounds and pull out the broken glass that originates from pieces of your broken dreams.

This year, that’s what I’ve been doing, from the counseling to ministry organizations.

I’m getting my true identity back…I’m getting my dreams back…I’m getting my life back!

Will you join me!

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“I Can Feel It In My Code”

March 30, 2013 — 1 Comment
Vanellope Von Schweetz from the Walt Disney Movie, "Wreck It Ralph" (c) 2013

Vanellope Von Schweetz from the Walt Disney Movie, “Wreck It Ralph” (c) 2013

Vanellope Von Schweetz of the movie, “Wreck it Ralph,” said something that has stayed with me ever since I’ve seen the movie…again…and again….and again (as you can tell I’m a fan).

I know I’m a racer, I can feel it in my code.

This statement is SO profound, not just for me but for all of us!

I so relate to this Vanellope here!

All of us have something that has been programmed in…a purpose…a passion…a goal…a dream…a reason!

Often times, we have “King Candy’s” (the guy who doesn’t want Vanellope to be a part of the game), running around trying to mess with our code. They can’t destroy us, but they can hinder us. They can slow us down.

But, even in the midst of being slowed down, they still can’t fully tear down that programming that’s built into us all that makes us say, “I know I’m purposed and made for something greater than me.”

I feel it in my code to write. I feel it in my code to help people. I feel it in my code to blog. I feel it in my code to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as a Christian and as a Minister.

There’s things in your life you gotta do! If you don’t, you’ll be unhappy. You’ll be unfulfilled. Ultimately, you just can’t help yourself!

Much like Vanellope, I agree with Jeremiah in Jeremiah 20:9, when he said this

“But if I say, “I will not mention his word
or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
indeed, I cannot.(New International Version)

Whether you agree with me or not, at the end of the day, I gotta be me and I gotta be real!

After all, it’s all in my code!

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