Ode to Monty Python

"I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel:"
- Phil 1:12

Who has seen Monty Python's Life of Brian?  This has to be one of the funniest movies the Monty Python bunch put on besides their Holy Grail movie.  In this movie, Brian, the main character, is actually mistaken for Jesus Christ and everyone is following him around as if he is the Messiah.  Many Christians would see this movie and scream blasphemy.  Grow a sense of humor, folks.  At the end of the movie, there are guys on crucifixes who begin singing a song.  "Always look on the bright side of life, (whistling in tune and key of the music)....." 

So my point is this: Paul always looked on the bright side of life, that is, his life in Christ Jesus.  He never saw his suffering as such, but really looked for the way in which he could use his dilemma to further the kingdom of God.  While he was writing his letter to the Philippians, Paul was sitting in a Roman dungeon, chained to a wall and sitting in his own bodily waist.  What could be worse than that?  What he did was use the opportunity to talk with the guards and other prisoners and actually bring many of them to Christ.  How awesome is that? 

So no matter how hard our situation may be, we always need to look on the bright side of our life in Christ Jesus and find how we can use our circumstances to advance his kingdom. 

I will address the Monty Python, Life of Brian, blasphemy thing tomorrow.  Trust me, you will see the bad things that Christians do in a whole new light.

Freak