snakes in the church?

God's people were afflicted with deadly serpents in Numbers 21. They cried out to God and he put a snake on a pole, that whoever looked at it would be saved from the snakes. How many afflictions do people deal with today in our city? How much pain and suffering do people go through just to get through the day? The wife that feels she has to live with abuse so her children can be provided for. The child who grows up without love, only knowing the pain of criticism. The parents of a teenager who has decided that the streets are more important than his family. Why have we as a church avoided these communities and families and replaced ministry to the hurting with ministry to ourselves? Because we, like the Israelites, are chronic complainers and think only of own petty problems instead of God's mission. We prefer to focus on securing our own comfort instead of bringing comfort to those who are suffering without hope. Maybe God will send us our own batch of snakes so we will look to Jesus and remember our mission. Maybe He is already just punishing complacency with more complacency and we lose out on the blessing of being part of what He is doing to transform our city, myself included.

Snakes on a plane - official transcript (sort of)

VOICE OVER: In a world where snakes can get on a plane...

FADE IN ON: An airline check-in counter. The TICKET LADY is stamping somebody's ticket.

On the other side of the ticket counter is the passenger: a snake. In an effort to look more human, the snake is wearing a false moustache and an old-fashioned bowler hat.

TICKET LADY: Enjoy the flight, Mr...
(CHECKING THE NAME ON THE TICKET) Snakerson.

THE SNAKE: Sssssssss.

VOICE OVER: ... one man is on a plan with snakes.

CUT TO: Samuel L. Jackson, sitting on a plane. The snake is sitting in the chair next to him. Jackson chats away, apparently unaware that his seatmate is a snake.

SAMUEL L JACKSON: Well, all I'm saying is, just because I had a baby with her doesn't make me a father, you know what I'm saying? I mean, I want to go to the birthday party, but I've gotta fly to LA and take care of business.

THE SNAKE: Sssss....

The camera pulls back to reveal that every passenger on the plane except Samuel L Jackson is actually a snake . They are wearing a wide variety of disguises--one of them has a fake bushy Hasidic beard and is wearing a prayer shawl. Another has an outrageous afro.

SAMUEL L JACKSON: Hey, you've got something on your moustache there.

He reaches over to brush it off, and the moustache comes off.

SAMUEL L JACKSON: Wait a minute. You're a SNAKE!

VOICE OVER: Now.. that man must warn the world.

CUT TO: Jackson is in the cockpit. The pilot is slumped over, dead. Jackson yells into the radio.

SAMUEL L JACKSON: You've got to listen to me. There are SNAKES... on the
PLANE!

CUT TO: Samuel L Jackson punching a snake. The snake is wearing a pair of jeans.

Jackson finally knocks the snake out. He rummages through the snake's pockets and is shocked by what he finds.

SAMUEL L JACKSON: Oh my God. This snake has a PILOT'S LICENCE!

CUT TO: Samuel L. Jackson is talking on one of those phones they have in the seatbacks of planes. Tears are streaming down his face.

SAMUEL L JACKSON: Listen, sweetie, I know I haven't been the best father. I'm so sorry. I don't think I'm going to get through this, and I wanted you to know something: I love you very, very much. Oh, and by the way, there are *%#@* SNAKES! On the *%#@ PLANE!

VOICEOVER: Coming soon: SNAKES ON A PLANE. Because on a plane...
nobody can hear the snakes.

FADE OUT.

this movie will make it all worth while

snakes on a plane

I HAVE to see this movie.

Beaks: One of those films that you're working on right now is well, it's called Pacific Air 121
Jackson: Snakes on a Plane, man!
Beaks: Exactly.
Jackson: We're totally changing that back. That's the only reason I took the job: I read the title.
Beaks: Snakes on a Plane! That's everything!
Jackson: You either want to see that, or you don't.
Beaks: And how are those snakes? Besides being on a plane?
Jackson: Some of them are aggressive, some of them are cool. They're interesting to watch, and interesting to interact with. It depends on what kind of snake it is. One day, it took, like, four guys to bring in this 350 lb. Burmese Python. We were all like, "Where's that goin'?" And I watched an Albino Cobra strike airplane seats the other day. I watched it from another studio. It's actually been a fun show. But we're taking the name back!