oasisCHURCH

I Am Second

How Hard a Hit Can You Take?

Rocky Balboa certainly didn't disappoint, at least not for an old Rocky fan like me. I give it a thumbs up. In this movie the character Rocky is more likable than ever. My favorite line in the movie:

Life will bring you to your knees and keep you there. Permanently, if you let it. It's not about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit, and still keep moving forward. Keep moving forward. If you know what you're worth, go out and get it. But you have to be willing to take the hit.

I'm sure there's a sermon or an article hidden somewhere in that quote.

Rocky for a New Generation

Brock and I have been counting down the days. Both of us can't wait to go see the new Rocky movie, Rocky Balboa, scheduled to be in theaters this Wednesday, December 20. I know some people are having fun at Stallone's expense with the release of the 60-year old Rocky Balboa who dares to step into the boxing ring for a sixth time. But I am glad he did it.

Watch this trailer and then tell me you don't get just a little bit pumped.

I remember the first time I ever saw Rocky and Rocky II. I was in elementary school, and after we bought our first VCR those movies became staples in my house. I had the soundtracks to all of the Rockys. Before every football, basketball, or baseball game I would watch Rocky III, and I would have the great comeback and music playing in my mind throughout the entire game. Then Rocky IV helped motivate me during the sporting years of high school and college. I love films that motivate and encourage. That's what the Rockys have done (well, perhaps not Rocky V, but even Stallone would like to forget that one; I even heard him admit in an interview with Dan Patrick this week that he made this final movie for the true fans of Rocky and Rocky II, because he felt he let them down with Rocky V). In a day when "reality" movies rule and it seems to be hip to have you leave the theater feeling confused or disoriented, we could use some fantasy entertainment that lifts the heart and motivates.

Yep, I've always been a Rocky fan. I thought the generations of Rocky had passed. But now it gets to live on. Now my eight-year old son is also a Rocky fan. Last week he watched the first three consecutively. I've been hearing the Eye of the Tiger and Gonna Fly High Now in my ears all week. I can't wait.

Yo!

So Here Goes

Just wanted to test this out really quick. so here is my plug for two movies. First if you haven't yet, go see the INCREDIBLES. secondly, if you haven't seen POLAR EXPRESS..do. Both movies have good messages and Polar Express has some good things to make your kiddo's possibly even you think about FAITH.

how's that for a small trial.

shark & puppy tales

Had a family date night last night... took the family to dinner at Damons and then to see Shark Tale. I'm convinced that life's greatest lessons come when we are around children, being like children, watching children's movies, etc. Shark Tale is simply about authenticity. Are we content with what God is creating in us or do we long to be someone else? To have someone else's gift or talent? Likewise, as parents are we content with who our children are becoming? I tend to struggle with this one at times. I love baseball so much, and I so badly want to see my son, Brock, play and succeed in baseball. Sometimes it goes so far to where I don't want him to become interested in other things (such as skateboarding) because I would rather he spend time developing baseball skills. But he really likes a lot of things, and he is really good at a lot of things. So I must constantly put aside my selfish desires and allow him to become his own person, trusting that God is molding Him and gifting him with things that will impact the Kingdom. That's what it is ultimately about.

We sent a letter to our landlord this week pleading with him to allow us to own a puppy in our home. We're praying he finds favor with us. It melts my heart to see Kaylee with puppies. She loves them so much. It's nothing for us to take 3 or 4 trips per week to Petland so she can play with the dogs. Every time we leave she says, "I hope our landlord lets us have a puppy someday." So... I did my best. I wrote the most heart-melting, gut-wrenching, convincing letter I could possibly muster. We'll see what happens.

The Passion of the Art

Today (Wednesday) is one of my usual “work” days, but every now and then it gets sidetracked… like when ‘maw maw’ gets called in to work and so she can’t come to be with the kids during the day. So today I am blogging between reading stories to Brock and Kaylee… so if I accidentally mention Dora the Explorer or Cat In the Hat while writing about Jesus now you know why… my mind isn’t exactly focused.

I’ve wanted to share this all week. The Passion of the Christ has had a profound effect on my life. Not just the movie, but His passion. The movie was an incredible visual illustration of the Truth I have always known. After seeing it for the second time on Sunday night I walked out to my car, opened the door, sat down, put the key into the ignition, and then laid my head on the steering wheel and began crying like a baby. I wasn’t thinking about the movie. I was thinking about Jesus. And all this week I have personally felt a deeper love and passion for Jesus. I have had a particular hunger for reading the Word. Things… little things, you know… just haven’t bothered me as much this week.

I can still remember the first time I sang the song “Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble” in a room full of worshipers. The experience was amazing. I poured my heart out to God more than I had ever done before… and it had an effect on my life. I went home and loved my wife more. I loved Jesus more. I had a deeper passion for sharing his Word than I did before.

Art has a way of doing that. It has a way of escorting us into a more intimate personal experience with our Lord. And we come away from it a changed people. Not because of the art… but because of Jesus. The art was just the vehicle that drove us to Jesus.

But sadly, some people worship the art. Some people “believe” in the art. It becomes their Gospel… their Good News. But it’s not the art’s fault. The art knows its role. The art knows it is not the end… but merely a means to the end. The art knows it is not the message of Truth, but simply one of the many messengers that point the way to Truth.

One of the most fascinating lines from the Gospel of John (which was especially brought to my attention in the movie) is when Jesus tells Pilate, “…I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice” (The Message). It is this very line that explains whether or not people will get the point of this movie or not. If a person watches the movie SEEKING TRUTH, then they will find it… and they will find it in Jesus. Because the Spirit of Christ will reach out to them and reveal Himself to them.

The message of the Gospel is such a passionate message. The Good News is an absolutely incredible thing to consider. Are we as excited about the Good News, the Gospel message, as we were the movie before it’s release? Christians everywhere have no doubt had countless conversations about The Passion of the Christ over the past several weeks. It’s like we’ve been given a surge of excitement to all of a sudden speak to people about Jesus.

Or are we just speaking about a movie?

Will I still be talking with people about the passion of Jesus Christ a year from now? Will this surge of excitement still be in my heart when the visual images have faded away? Am I really in love with Jesus more? Or did I get infatuated with a movie?

My prayer is that (we) Christians would get as passionately worked up about the Truth as we are about a movie… that conversations about the “Good News” would pour from our lips as often and as freely as conversations about this movie. For “all seek the truth will hear His voice.”

Post-Passion Thoughts

Well, just got home after seeing The Passion of the Christ and I thought I would have a lot to say, but I don't. There isn't much you can say after watching it. I think everyone just needs a few hours to themselves afterward... that would probably be the most appropriate way to come away from it.

I will say this... if you have not yet been to see the film, DO NOT GO SEE IT FOR ENTERTAINMENT VALUE. There is none. This is the reason why I think the film is getting such mixed reviews. It is not an entertaining picture. If you are interested in the story of Christ, and are curious about him, and would like to know more about Christianity... then go see it. Otherwise, I would not recommend it. You will only find yourself with all of the others who have missed the point, and wonder if it was really necessary. I can actually understand, after seeing the film, the point of view of a person who isn't really interested in believing in Christ or being a Christian. I can understand why they might have a problem with the movie. Outside of the Gospel, the movie would be extremely undesirable to me.

I do have several thoughts that came to me while watching the film. Just some of the interesting theatrical elements and liberties that I thought were significant... but I will wait to share them another time. Right now I am exhausted. All I did was sit and watch the film... but in some strange and erie way, I felt like I was there... as part of the crowd.

+ + + It was me, Lord Jesus. I confess. I hate the thought of me putting you through what I just saw. But I know I did. Thank you for the visual reminder. Thank you for the power of art. Tonight I am drawn to a deeper affection for you. I love you. + + +

Obligatory "Passion" Post

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 NIV

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
"For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:11-16 NIV

For the most part I have abstained from writing about the film The Passion of The Christ because there has already been so much said on all sides of the issue that I wonder if there really is anything new a person could bring to light. Of course the answer to my query is "no, there is nothing new under the sun." But since it has become such a phenomenon in our culture this week I will share my thoughts. They begin with the scriptures above, so if you did not read them carefully, go back and do so now.

Every time I turn on a major news network and listen to debates over Mel Gibson's film it does nothing but solidify the truth of God's Word for me. Everyone is missing the point. Even most Christians, I believe, are missing the point of this film. The most prevalent debate is about stirring up "anti-Semitism"... definition: hostility toward, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews or Judaism. Not only is that a foolish thing to consider... it just isn't going to happen... but even more so, I believe it is a waste of breath for a Christian to try and argue with someone about this. Late last night on ABC Nightline I watched Ted Koppel interview several church leaders from both Catholic and Evangelical churches, a number of Jewish leaders, and a few scholars who were not believers. Obviously the church leaders were adamantly for the film and trying to deflect the criticisms of the Jewish leaders and the scholars. One of the scholars made a comment that further proved the apostle Paul's point. He said something like this (not a direct quote, but close), "When Christians go to watch this film it is going to make them angry when they see how Christ was treated. Whether historically accurate or not, such gruesome portrayal is going to stir up anger at who was responsible. Now who are they going to be angry at? Are they going to be angry at God? Of course not? Who is their anger going to be directed toward? It's going to be toward the Jews." And of course, the Christian leaders went around and around in an unending web of debate with this "scholar."

But it's meaningless. Until the spirit of God penetrates the heart of these people they will never understand. Everyone misses the point. Unbelievers ask the question, "Who is to blame for Jesus' death?" And they are dumbfounded when Mel Gibson, or another Christian answers, "We all are responsible." They don't get it. They are worried about anger and anti-Semitism. But what they don't understand is that this film is not going to stir up anger within the Christian. It's actually very much the opposite. It will stir up a deep love for Christ. You see, the reason the scholar misses the point is because he sees Christ much differently than I do. I see that horrific act of violence and death and recognize that it was his (Christ's) plan to begin with. He did it because he loves me. He did it because he loves the person hitting him in the face and the person driving the nails into his hands. And when the Spirit of Christ enters a person their only response is to react in the same way he reacted. With love and obedience. But it takes the Spirit to understand things of the spirit. The film makes sense to a Christian. It does not, however, to someone who does not believe in Jesus Christ. To the person who does not believe, all that is seen is a physically violent, unnecessarily gory and racist film. To see it only in the physical is to terribly miss the point. And we must understand that the "physical" is the only way a person who refuses to open their heart to Christ is capable of seeing this film.

But I am afraid that even many believers in Christ are, too, going to miss the point because of the physical nature of the film. It is true that Jesus took the punishment for all the sins of all the world. It is true that the punishment he received was an extremely gory, bloody event. It is sad to watch. But it isn't the point. The punishment was not what Jesus was weary of. The thorns, whips, and nails were not why he withered in the Garden of Gethsemane and cried out to God to "remove this cup" from him. What you see in Mel Gibson's film is what the last 12 hours of Christ's life on earth (before the resurrection) physically LOOKED like. But if that is all you see... if that is what makes you upset... if that is what makes you cry... then you've missed the point.

The most horrifying part of the event of Christ's death was not the blood... it was this: the fact that "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" 2 Corinthians 5:21. And in other words, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" 1 Peter 2:24. The thing that we must realize in watching this film is what happened in the spiritual realm while Jesus was taking the pain of the nails. The physical pain alone would have been bearable. In fact, if it were just about the physical pain there would be no reason for a movie like this. Lots of men had been crucified in that day. Lots of men had faced death bravely. It wasn't about the physical stuff you see. It was about the fact that for the first time in the eternal life of the Christ, he was feeling what it was like to be completely separated from God. He cried, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"–which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46. God had forsaken him because of what 2 Corinthians 5:21 and 1 Peter 2:24 says. For the first time in his life, Jesus was covered with sin. All sin. Of all the world. Mine. Yours.

You see, "sin" was the scariest thing. Not nails. But many people will miss that point. If they have not come face to face with their own sin and accepted the grace that Jesus was on the cross to offer, then all they will see is a man being brutally punished. They will miss the point.

Please don't miss the point of this film... you who "have the mind of Christ." And please stop trying to argue with people about the point. Pray that God reveals Himself to whoever doesn't get it. It's the only way things will change. Otherwise, just accept the fact that the presence of Jesus Christ in the world today has the same potential to stir up the same amount of trouble as when He was on this earth 2000 years ago.

"Open Range" | a movie

After a full morning of studying and preparing for Sunday I like to relax a little in the afternoon. There's no better way to relax than to watch a movie. I love all kinds of movies. I'd been thinking about doing some movie reviews on here every now and then, so... here's one for you.

I've never been a big fan of the western genre. I can probably name all the westerns I've watched on both hands (and three of them have the words "young" and "guns" in them). But I have to admit that I really liked this movie! It was very character driven... with Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner playing the lead roles of Boss and Charlie, two cattle-herders who've been working together for 10 years. For the most part it was just a good story about two men with conviction and character (a refreshing thing to see in a film). Not a whole lot of spiritual symbolism. But as you can probably guess, I had to find some...

This is a movie about tough decisions. The world isn't always as black and white as many who walk the Christian walk like to try and force it to be. There are tough decisions to be made every day. Sometimes all we can do is pray for wisdom, and then make the best choice we know. It's a matter of trust. This film is laced thoughout with the theme of trust.

Because this film is so character driven you can see how Boss and Charlie grow both personally and relationally. One last thought I had after watching the movie was about the "human condition" and the fact that it really hasn't changed after all these years, and never will in this world. Perhaps in small ways it has, but not in the grand scheme of life. There has always been injustice, pain, and hurt... and there always will be. I've been studying the book of Ecclesiastes this week, so maybe that's why my mind is in that particular train of thought. The author of the book had many experiences... but in physical life was unable to find a cure for the human condition. More on that later.

Hope you enjoyed the movie review. Oh, by the way, if you decide to watch it I wouldn't recommend watching it with young children. It gets pretty violent.