I’m sitting watching Spiderman 2 tonight. It’s the one where Peter Parker tries to live what others would call a normal life, but destiny beckons.

It’s one of the few sequels that are better than the first film, in which Parker  longs for what others call a normal life, and the less he exercises his powers, the less evidence that he has any.

His faith is fading, but the need is urgent – and without him stepping up to make a difference, people are dying.

The most memorable quote?

Whatever life holds in store for me, I will never forget these words: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Christ-followers have great power at our disposal (it’s not our power – but it’s His in us). Power to change lives here and eternities.Power to bring hope to the hopeless. Power to be good news to the poor and to set captives free. There are some things that if we don’t do it – nobody else can.

Bill Hybels is right, “The local church is the hope of the world.”

Now is not the time for us to lose our confidence in who God calls and enables us to be and to do.

Here’s how Jesus put it two millennia ago:

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.  “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!