I've had enough. I'm done with 'R' rated movies.
My wife and I rented what the jacket billed as the ultimate romantic comedy, Love Actually.
While it delivered the laughs, it often served them up wrapped in profanity, nudity and sexual situations. To be fair, the rating warned me about those issues. I should have known better.
What bothers me is that so much of it was completely unnecessary, especially the sex.
Another Spoiler Alert!
Two of the ancillary characters in the movie (I don't even remember if they even had names) get together through their, um... work. They are actors in a so-called 'adult' film. Their roles in the plot are on the fringe to say the least. The parts could easily have been cut without compromising the movie. In fact, removing them would have allowed greater development of Laura Linney's character. As it turns out, we end up knowing more about how the porn stars fare, than we do about Linney's frustrated love life. Still, as they say, "sex sells" so the porn stars escape the cutting room floor. Okay, so the director made the decision to keep the adult film "actors" in the movie. Even so, it wasn't necessary to show what I believe was showed. I say believe, because I closed my eyes and looked away at the first sign of trouble. Call me a prude if you must, but there was just nothing I needed to see in that scene. We could have gotten the point without actually seeing what they apparently chose to show.
We are called on to be holy as God is Holy. I, for one, do not believe that one can watch that kind of thing without it having an effect on one's psyche. I try to impress on our children the need for caution and restraint when choosing our entertainment. So often, I hear people say things like "It doesn't bother me. " or "It doesn't affect me." Sadly, it just ain't so. The really insidious thing about it is the lie. If anyone believes it doesn't affect him or her, then they go on watching stuff like that and often progress toward more and more wicked things. Starts out with a popular mainstream movie, moves into a hip "cult" favorite flick, on to soft core porn and then to X and XXX. Each one is a stepping stone to the next. A gateway drug, if you will. Each step moving closer to total depravity.
And it's not just sex. It's violence and evil, too. One of my best childhood friends was obsessed with monster movies. The scarier and gorier the better, in his opinion at the time. For him, movies just weren't much good unless they scared the bejeebers out of you or totally grossed you out with the special effects. So many of these scary flicks centered around monsters, aliens, and more frighteningly, demons and such. One of his favorite movies was Salem's Lot. He described a scene to me in which one of the monsters (a vampire type critter, I believe) was sitting outside a kid's bedroom window asking to be let in. In another movie, Fright Night, parts of which I'll admit I did see, the vampire villain couldn't come in to your house uninvited. I think the same thing happened in the 80's flick, The Lost Boys. Polite devils, those vampires. I am happy to report that this young man, my school friend, is now a devout Christian last I heard. Perhaps those movies literally did finally scare the hell out of him.
Frankly, a movie these days doesn't even have to be rated 'R' or even 'PG-13' to be potential poison to your soul. (Reference my earlier post on WALL-E.) Take the Golden Compass movie from a year or so ago. There was so much hype about that film meant to get families, kids and young people to go see it. All with a latent(?) sinister intent. Even though the author on whose work the film was based claimed the movie was a little watered down, the message was still pretty clear from what I understand. I'll have to admit I didn't see it. I don't want to see it, even to pick it apart flaw by theological flaw. I certainly wasn't about to pay to see it. I won't buy any of the toys or books, or allow my kids to have them. (They don't want them, anyway.) The author of the books, Philip Pullman (as in pull man away from God, on Satan's behalf) once stated in an interview (I'll have to paraphrase) that his whole purpose in writing the series was to destroy children's/people's faith in God and/or religion. Oh, and I'm pretty sure he didn't mind making a few bucks in the process, either. In fact, this film's existence has left such a bad taste in my mouth it has colored my opinion of the actors involved in making the film. I don't plan to see a Daniel Craig film, or a Nicole Kidman movie anytime soon. It has colored my view of other actors as well. Ian McKellen, whom I enjoyed watching as the heroic wizard, Gandalf, in the Lord of the Rings films, lent his voice to an important animated character in the Golden Compass. His association with this film, along with the rumor that he is a homosexual, taints my opinion of him at least as an actor and yet also as a person, too. According to the credits, Kathy Bates, Sam Elliot, Kristin Scott Thomas, are all in the film. Last, and certainly not least, Christopher Lee, himself no stranger to dark roles in dark films, played a role as well.
Even the character's names could be construed as having significant meaning, particularly Lord Asriel, Daniel Craig's character. If I'm not mistaken, the Bible refers disparagingly to a sorcerer or sorceress named Asreal (sp?). I think it's in Judges, but it may be Kings or Chronicles, or I might just plain be wrong about where it is. The similarity in these names is striking... and I'm sure it's no accident. It's a chance for someone like Pullman to take another (not-so-subtle) jab at God and His divine judgment of wickedness.
...And for you children of the 80's like me: Azreal was the name of Gargamel's cat on the Smurfs. Gargamel was the "human" bad guy who looked like Gregor Mendel's mentally unbalanced cousin. I think that Smurf lore attributes the Smurfs creation to Gargamel, and yet in spite of this fact (or maybe because of it) he spends most of his time trying to capture them or put an end to their idyllic lifestyle. The blue homunculi, in turn, spend most of their time running from him and countering his evil schemes.
It's at once encouraging and sad to see films like Facing the Giants and Fireproof. It's great that these films are being made. It's sad to see they usually only make it out in limited release. I assume it's because they anticipate there's only limited interest, or maybe there really only is limited interest and that is sadder still.
The bottom line is this: You are what you eat. If you feast your eyes on whatever garbage Hollywood is offering, then you will eventually become what you watch. Violent, oversexed, foul-mouthed, etc. Be careful friends. Be vigilant, brothers and sisters. As they say, the eyes are the window to the soul. Be careful what you let in the window. It can't come in without your permission.
Have a Smurfy Day!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Be Careful What You Wish For
Well, the election is now over. It seems we have a new president in Barack Obama. Okay. America has spoken. About 51% of Americans wanted change. Change they did not expect to get from John McCain. Change we shall have. But will the change be for the better? What are we wanting to change into? Will the country be moving in the right direction? I will concede that the nation does need change, especially in the way our government works. This country was founded on the idea that government should be of the people by the people for the people. Unfortunately, it is all too often, of the money, by the money, for the money. We need fewer politicians and more statesmen (statespeople, if you prefer.) Do away with lobbyists and special interest groups and make it illegal for our elected officials to take ANY money from ANYBODY for ANYTHING -including and perhaps most importantly, election and re-election campaigns. If they don't owe anybody anything, then maybe they can vote their consciences, instead of scratching somebody's back. I dare say it would probably cut 90% of the pork out of proposed legislation as well. Raise their salaries, if you must. I realize they have to have a place to stay in Washington as well as a place to live in their home state. I understand that is expensive and difficult. Heck, I'd even go as far as to say, let's take a bunch of unused/underused land in the area (there's got to be some.) and build our senators and representatives nice, clean little modest homes that they can use while they're in office. When they lose their seat or retire, their replacement moves in. Sorry, got off on a tangent again. Blame it on my ADD/ADHD.
God gave us free will to choose. He wants us to choose to love Him first and foremost. Doing so means loving what He loves and hating (not choosing) what He hates. Choice, however means consequence. There are always consequences for our actions. So, we must be careful what we choose. We must really evaluate our options and choose what is right and good and in accordance with God's laws. If we break the laws to get what we want, even if it profits us for a while, then we'll get what we deserve in the end.
God gave us free will to choose. He wants us to choose to love Him first and foremost. Doing so means loving what He loves and hating (not choosing) what He hates. Choice, however means consequence. There are always consequences for our actions. So, we must be careful what we choose. We must really evaluate our options and choose what is right and good and in accordance with God's laws. If we break the laws to get what we want, even if it profits us for a while, then we'll get what we deserve in the end.
TANGENT ALERT!
1. resentful and envious as of someone's attainments or of a person because of his attainments, advantages, etc.
God might be resentful what humans have attained in as much as our pride in "our" achievments has often displaced Him in our lives, but envious? I doubt it. He can do and has done infinitely more than we will ever achieve. Disagree? Try creating the universe sometime. Ain't gonna happen. Anyway, this definition doesn't sound like God to me. How else can jealousy be defined?
2. fearful of losing another's affection
We're getting warmer, here. God doesn't need us to give him our affection, but He does want us to love Him. I don't think fearful is a word I would ever use to describe God. He is who and what He is, and therefore has nothing to fear. Nothing we can do, no matter how much power the enemy gains, God is the great I AM and will be victorious over all His enemies. Still, He does have great concern for us and doesn't want to lose our love as He knows what calamity awaits us if we give our love to other "gods." Still, we're not quite there. How about this?:
3. troubled by suspicions or fears of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc. as in love or aims
The Lord may be saddened or perhaps even angered by our choice to put other "gods" before Him, and He has every right to be more than suspicious, for our actions are indeed suspect. We've already covered the "fear" thing above. Other than grave concern for our well-being, He doesn't know fear, for He has no equal (and never will) and therefore has no reason to fear. Unlike Satan and his demons, God's power is not diminished if we turn from Him.
4. solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something
God has delivered His faithful remnant time and again. He is our strong tower when we turn to Him and rely on Him. He warns us through His Word, as revealed in the scripture through the prophets, to be on guard against the enemy's repeated attacks. In this respect, yes, God could be called jealous.
5. intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry
We have another winner! The dictionary even included the biblical example: "The Lord is a jealous God." So true...and who more worthy of our love and respect and faithfulness than the one who created the universe and all things? The first commandment, folks: "..thou shalt have no other gods before me..." Jesus repeated it when asked what to do: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength. This is first and greatest commandment..." To say that it bothers you that God is a jealous God is as if to say that God has no right to be jealous. Ridiculous! We have no rights except those given us by our creator. Demanding more from Him than He has chosen to give is to follow the enemy in rebellion. Satan thought he deserved better, too. He thought he deserved to be like God and believed his own lie that he, through his own power and works, could in fact be like God.
Sorry. Oprah could be the subject of a post unto herself. No doubt that would please her best. But since I'd much rather please God than Oprah any day of the week, I need to redirect myself.
Getting back on track...
We must be careful what we wish for. Sometimes we'll get it. God doesn't want us to choose things that are bad for us, but because he gave us free will, he allows us the choice...and allows the consequences of that choice. God doesn't make bad things happen to those that love Him, but He does allow bad things to happen to His people. Usually, it's because of a bad choice we make, but sometimes, it's to test our faith. Read the book of Job. It's full of examples. As Christians and followers of God we will in all likelihood face trials of our faith, because of our faith.
So the faithful of this nation will be tested in the next four years and perhaps the next eight or even more. I'm not suggesting that it will only be a struggle while the Democrats control the White House or Congress or the Senate, or anything like that. There are probably "good" Democrats out there (gasp) as well as bad Republicans (double gasp.) I'm merely saying that as a country, as a nation, as a people, and as individuals, we must endeavor to choose what is right and good in God's sight, whether He blesses us for it or not. He will not curse us if we follow His perfect will for us, that's for sure. There will be trials and there will be tests from the enemy, but we must remain steadfast in our faith in the Father. When we wish for what he wills for us, then we needn't be concerned. The book of Jeremiah makes it clear: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you..." When our will is one with God's and we don't expect it to be the other way around, then we can be assured that we're asking for the right things. God's Word reveals to us that He has a beautiful plan. I, for one, can't wait until it unfolds.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
WALL-E
My wife and I took the kids to see WALL-E last night. It's a cute little film, that has some good messages. It's also visually stunning, especially the some of the early scenes in space. Still, I take issue with a couple of things. The film has its flaws, from a Christian perspective (in fairness, fewer than most Hollywood offerings) most notably the notion that we can save ourselves from our downward spiral.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
The primary themes of the movie are that the human race is spoiling the Earth (agreed) and that we are gluttonous consumers overly dependent on our technology, a fact that will render us progressively helpless (also agreed.)
WALL-E is a robot alone on the future Earth. He's basically a little trash compactor on tank treads. He looks a lot like a shrunken Number 5 from the Short Circuit movies of the 80's.
700 years after what's left of the human race has abandoned the planet on a giant cruise (space) ship, the Axiom, little WALL-E is still trying to clean up his corner of the world. His only friend: a cockroach. One day, a spaceship lands and deposits "EVE" a trigger-happy egg-shaped robot whose job it is to find evidence of plant life on Earth. She scans everything in sight, but to no avail. After nearly blasting poor WALL-E to bits, she befriends our metallic protagonist. He offers her shelter from the frequent sandstorms and shows her his "home" inside the hulk of an old garbage truck and the collection of trinkets he's gathered. When WALL-E shows EVE the tiny plant he found growing in the wasteland, she squeals with delight, takes the plant into her on board storage compartment and promptly goes into a state of suspended animation. The only sign she's still functioning is a glowing green plant icon on her belly. WALL-E takes care of EVE rain and shine until one day her spaceship returns to collect her. WALL-E stows aboard and comic mayhem ensues.
I found some interesting parallels, contrasts and symbolism. Some of these things might seem a bit of a stretch, but nevertheless, they are food for thought:
The hope for all mankind has humble beginnings. In WALL-E, it's a tiny plant sprouting in a garbage dump. In real life, it's the seed of David, born in a manger. (see Luke 2 :4-7, Isaiah 11:1-4 etc.) The vine. (John 15:1-11)
WALL-E's companion is known by the acronym EVE. This name is probably not an accident, either. It is a little odd, however, if taken from the Biblical perspective, since Eve, deceived by Satan in the form of the serpent, took the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, offered it to Adam and in their partaking, caused the Fall of man. In the movie, EVE holds the hope for humanity inside her. In reality, our only hope came forth from the womb of a God-fearing virgin Jewish girl named Mary.
Interestingly, sadly and predictably, there's no mention of God in the movie. The climax involves a showdown between Otto (auto?) the Axiom's computer/robot first mate, who's shaped like a ships wheel, and the Captain of the ship, who like all the other humans aboard has seriously gone downhill after a lifetime of coddling and spoiling by the ships automated "life-support" systems. (The passengers of the Axiom are built like Weebles or maybe guinea pigs. The have suffered bone loss from their sedentary gluttonous lifestyle and from being in space all their lives. Their chubby arms and fat, stubby legs are no longer good for much of anything.)
The captain knows about the little plant and since he learns about the way life used to be on Earth, he wants to go "home." However, the only way the ship will "allow" a return to Earth is by verifying that life can be sustained there again. Once a sample of plant life is analyzed and accepted by the ships systems, the Axiom will automatically head for home. Otto, who is trying to follow his new programming directive from a pre-recorded message from the Buy N Large CEO, won't let the captain (or anyone else) place the plant in the sensor. In fact, Otto doesn't seem to want the status quo to change. He directs the ship's robots to try to destroy the plant. Therein lie shades of a warning about AI and the dangers of a self-aware machine.
There is also a message about commercialism, that is at once latent and blatant. The "Buy N' Large" corporation is the company who apparently provided every indulgence the world (n) ever needed and sustains the passengers of the Axiom. The Buy N' Large CEO, delivers his recorded messages from a lectern in front of a "great seal" -like in a televised address from the President. Caveat emptor indeed.
At any rate, when the captain musters the will to stand up to Otto (it's a wonder he can stand at all) he rises with steely resolve and takes what are likely his first steps. Familiar strains of Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra are the musical backdrop for this dramatic moment.
In response to questions about his motive for writing this piece, Strauss once said "...The whole symphonic poem is intended as an homage to Nietzche's genius...." Nietzche, of course is the writer known best for asserting that "God is dead." The use of this music is enough to suggest the message in this part of WALL-E is a humanistic one, that we can rise above our pathetic condition and save ourselves by good thoughts and good deeds. Others may think the music just sounded neat and fit the scene.
Truth is, we need saved. We are helpless. We are headed for nowhere, left to our own devices. The Earth and all it offers is temporary. We were meant to be eternal. There is but one way to get back to paradise. No matter how bad things are right now, no matter where your life is going, you can turn it around through genuine faith in Christ Jesus and his work on the Cross.
Believe it.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
The primary themes of the movie are that the human race is spoiling the Earth (agreed) and that we are gluttonous consumers overly dependent on our technology, a fact that will render us progressively helpless (also agreed.)
WALL-E is a robot alone on the future Earth. He's basically a little trash compactor on tank treads. He looks a lot like a shrunken Number 5 from the Short Circuit movies of the 80's.
700 years after what's left of the human race has abandoned the planet on a giant cruise (space) ship, the Axiom, little WALL-E is still trying to clean up his corner of the world. His only friend: a cockroach. One day, a spaceship lands and deposits "EVE" a trigger-happy egg-shaped robot whose job it is to find evidence of plant life on Earth. She scans everything in sight, but to no avail. After nearly blasting poor WALL-E to bits, she befriends our metallic protagonist. He offers her shelter from the frequent sandstorms and shows her his "home" inside the hulk of an old garbage truck and the collection of trinkets he's gathered. When WALL-E shows EVE the tiny plant he found growing in the wasteland, she squeals with delight, takes the plant into her on board storage compartment and promptly goes into a state of suspended animation. The only sign she's still functioning is a glowing green plant icon on her belly. WALL-E takes care of EVE rain and shine until one day her spaceship returns to collect her. WALL-E stows aboard and comic mayhem ensues.
I found some interesting parallels, contrasts and symbolism. Some of these things might seem a bit of a stretch, but nevertheless, they are food for thought:
The Axiom is the ship on which the remnant of the human population escaped the ruined Earth. An axiom is an accepted or self-evident truth. When something is axiomatic it is taken for granted. Interesting, no?
The hope for all mankind has humble beginnings. In WALL-E, it's a tiny plant sprouting in a garbage dump. In real life, it's the seed of David, born in a manger. (see Luke 2 :4-7, Isaiah 11:1-4 etc.) The vine. (John 15:1-11)
WALL-E's companion is known by the acronym EVE. This name is probably not an accident, either. It is a little odd, however, if taken from the Biblical perspective, since Eve, deceived by Satan in the form of the serpent, took the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, offered it to Adam and in their partaking, caused the Fall of man. In the movie, EVE holds the hope for humanity inside her. In reality, our only hope came forth from the womb of a God-fearing virgin Jewish girl named Mary.
Interestingly, sadly and predictably, there's no mention of God in the movie. The climax involves a showdown between Otto (auto?) the Axiom's computer/robot first mate, who's shaped like a ships wheel, and the Captain of the ship, who like all the other humans aboard has seriously gone downhill after a lifetime of coddling and spoiling by the ships automated "life-support" systems. (The passengers of the Axiom are built like Weebles or maybe guinea pigs. The have suffered bone loss from their sedentary gluttonous lifestyle and from being in space all their lives. Their chubby arms and fat, stubby legs are no longer good for much of anything.)
The captain knows about the little plant and since he learns about the way life used to be on Earth, he wants to go "home." However, the only way the ship will "allow" a return to Earth is by verifying that life can be sustained there again. Once a sample of plant life is analyzed and accepted by the ships systems, the Axiom will automatically head for home. Otto, who is trying to follow his new programming directive from a pre-recorded message from the Buy N Large CEO, won't let the captain (or anyone else) place the plant in the sensor. In fact, Otto doesn't seem to want the status quo to change. He directs the ship's robots to try to destroy the plant. Therein lie shades of a warning about AI and the dangers of a self-aware machine.
There is also a message about commercialism, that is at once latent and blatant. The "Buy N' Large" corporation is the company who apparently provided every indulgence the world (n) ever needed and sustains the passengers of the Axiom. The Buy N' Large CEO, delivers his recorded messages from a lectern in front of a "great seal" -like in a televised address from the President. Caveat emptor indeed.
At any rate, when the captain musters the will to stand up to Otto (it's a wonder he can stand at all) he rises with steely resolve and takes what are likely his first steps. Familiar strains of Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra are the musical backdrop for this dramatic moment.
In response to questions about his motive for writing this piece, Strauss once said "...The whole symphonic poem is intended as an homage to Nietzche's genius...." Nietzche, of course is the writer known best for asserting that "God is dead." The use of this music is enough to suggest the message in this part of WALL-E is a humanistic one, that we can rise above our pathetic condition and save ourselves by good thoughts and good deeds. Others may think the music just sounded neat and fit the scene.
Truth is, we need saved. We are helpless. We are headed for nowhere, left to our own devices. The Earth and all it offers is temporary. We were meant to be eternal. There is but one way to get back to paradise. No matter how bad things are right now, no matter where your life is going, you can turn it around through genuine faith in Christ Jesus and his work on the Cross.
Believe it.
PS: Oddly enough, I had a dream many years ago in which I watched helplessly as a very young child, his feet cemented to the earth in a knee-high pile of his own dried excrement, cried out pitifully as a tsunami of filth overtook him. Dark...I know.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Yard sale! Sacrifice! Everything must go!
We recently hosted a yard sale. My wife worked ridiculously hard getting everything ready. She spent over a week sorting, pricing and deciding what could stay and what needed to go. I did the really hard stuff like going to the newspaper office to place the ad and posting the signs at the nearest intersections. We agreed when it was over, that anything that didn't sell was either to be donated, sold at our parents' upcoming sales or thrown out for good.
At the end of the (rainy) day, we were down several boxes of junk and old clothes and had a few bucks to show for it. My wife and I loaded up the minivan with bags and boxes of clothes for the Salvo and put quite a bit at the curb for l'hombre de refuse. The remainder is still on our front porch and there it will likely stay until my in-laws have their sale in a week or two.
A funny thing happened while we were getting ready. I predicted it might. My eight year old had some reservations about many of the things we were looking to liquidate. His reaction varied depending on the item, ranging from mild concern to righteous indignation. So much of this stuff he hadn't seen or played with in several months. Still, once he was reminded of these lost treaures, he got it in his head that he couldn't live without them.
He also explained to me that he expected that he would be given the proceeds from everything we sold that belonged to him. I explained that it wasn't going to work that way, and the idea for this installment took root.
Everything he has came from us, or from family. At this early point in his life, there really isn't anything that he owns that he got for himself. Everything good he's got came from someone else. We're like that. Apart from God, we have nothing. God gave us everything.
Wait a minute, Damon. God didn't give us life. My mother gave me life. Well, sort of. Mom didn't come up with the idea all on her own, and I don't mean that it was all your father's idea, either. In fact it was all your Father's idea. God created everything, including the miraculous mechanism by which you entered the human race. So, will all due respect to Mom, you really owe God the greatest debt of gratitude for your very existence.
But what about my job and the money I make. Isn't that mine? Nope. No one exists in a vacuum, my friend. All that education and training you got in order to get and keep that job of yours: You guessed it. It all gets traced back (however indirectly you care to make it seem) to the Almighty. Even the guy on a desert island who ekes out his existence by collecting rain water on palm fronds and spearfishing in the surf owes it all to God, cause God made it all and sustains it all.
See, I've been working on tithing. In the past, we haven't given much to the church. Practically nothing, if you want to know the truth. But now, I am convicted to be more generous and diligent about giving back to God a portion of the blessings He bestows on me and my family. It all comes from Him, so it is right that we give back as much as possible. This idea goes waaaaaay back. Genesis 14:20 actually. Abram (Abraham) gave Melchizedek, a godly person who served the living God while living in the land of Canaan, a tithe (tenth) of the spoil collected from his enemies to give thanks to the Lord for helping him defeat his enemies. This example preceded the Mosaic provision for thithing, re-established centuries later in Leviticus 27:30.
If I'm being honest, Ihave to say that the idea of giving ten percent to the church bothered me for some time. It seemed like a lot, especially at times when we were just getting by. How much does the church really need anyway? Well, a lot, actually. If you look closely at the overhead of just about any church, I think you'd be shocked at what it costs to keep one going. There's the building with mortgage, upkeep, etc. There are the utilities, electric, gas, water, sewer, phone, internet, etc. There are salaries, wages, and benefits for the employees. It's kind of overwhelming when you think about it. Then, there is the critical work of missions and outreach programs. There's so much that goes into doing the Lord's work. Ten percent hardly seems enough.
God really wants us to give Him our whole lives. He lets us use some of His resources. He provides us with what we really need. If we choose to go after more, we really need to examine our motives and methods. Is it God's will that we run out and by that flat screen TV on our credit card? Probably not. And someday, when that flat screen ends up in our yard sale because we bought a bigger and better one, will we remember to give back a portion of that which He has given us? Probably not.
When our yard sale was over, we counted up our profit and set aside a portion for an offering to God through the church. I also gave my kids a portion. God gives us a portion. Can we learn to be content with His provision for our lives? We need nothing more.
At the end of the (rainy) day, we were down several boxes of junk and old clothes and had a few bucks to show for it. My wife and I loaded up the minivan with bags and boxes of clothes for the Salvo and put quite a bit at the curb for l'hombre de refuse. The remainder is still on our front porch and there it will likely stay until my in-laws have their sale in a week or two.
A funny thing happened while we were getting ready. I predicted it might. My eight year old had some reservations about many of the things we were looking to liquidate. His reaction varied depending on the item, ranging from mild concern to righteous indignation. So much of this stuff he hadn't seen or played with in several months. Still, once he was reminded of these lost treaures, he got it in his head that he couldn't live without them.
He also explained to me that he expected that he would be given the proceeds from everything we sold that belonged to him. I explained that it wasn't going to work that way, and the idea for this installment took root.
Everything he has came from us, or from family. At this early point in his life, there really isn't anything that he owns that he got for himself. Everything good he's got came from someone else. We're like that. Apart from God, we have nothing. God gave us everything.
Wait a minute, Damon. God didn't give us life. My mother gave me life. Well, sort of. Mom didn't come up with the idea all on her own, and I don't mean that it was all your father's idea, either. In fact it was all your Father's idea. God created everything, including the miraculous mechanism by which you entered the human race. So, will all due respect to Mom, you really owe God the greatest debt of gratitude for your very existence.
But what about my job and the money I make. Isn't that mine? Nope. No one exists in a vacuum, my friend. All that education and training you got in order to get and keep that job of yours: You guessed it. It all gets traced back (however indirectly you care to make it seem) to the Almighty. Even the guy on a desert island who ekes out his existence by collecting rain water on palm fronds and spearfishing in the surf owes it all to God, cause God made it all and sustains it all.
See, I've been working on tithing. In the past, we haven't given much to the church. Practically nothing, if you want to know the truth. But now, I am convicted to be more generous and diligent about giving back to God a portion of the blessings He bestows on me and my family. It all comes from Him, so it is right that we give back as much as possible. This idea goes waaaaaay back. Genesis 14:20 actually. Abram (Abraham) gave Melchizedek, a godly person who served the living God while living in the land of Canaan, a tithe (tenth) of the spoil collected from his enemies to give thanks to the Lord for helping him defeat his enemies. This example preceded the Mosaic provision for thithing, re-established centuries later in Leviticus 27:30.
If I'm being honest, Ihave to say that the idea of giving ten percent to the church bothered me for some time. It seemed like a lot, especially at times when we were just getting by. How much does the church really need anyway? Well, a lot, actually. If you look closely at the overhead of just about any church, I think you'd be shocked at what it costs to keep one going. There's the building with mortgage, upkeep, etc. There are the utilities, electric, gas, water, sewer, phone, internet, etc. There are salaries, wages, and benefits for the employees. It's kind of overwhelming when you think about it. Then, there is the critical work of missions and outreach programs. There's so much that goes into doing the Lord's work. Ten percent hardly seems enough.
God really wants us to give Him our whole lives. He lets us use some of His resources. He provides us with what we really need. If we choose to go after more, we really need to examine our motives and methods. Is it God's will that we run out and by that flat screen TV on our credit card? Probably not. And someday, when that flat screen ends up in our yard sale because we bought a bigger and better one, will we remember to give back a portion of that which He has given us? Probably not.
When our yard sale was over, we counted up our profit and set aside a portion for an offering to God through the church. I also gave my kids a portion. God gives us a portion. Can we learn to be content with His provision for our lives? We need nothing more.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Is anybody else outraged?
Is anybody else outraged?
Now, I understand that this country was founded on (among other ideas) the notion that you can practice your religion freely here. The Puritans came here on the Mayflower so they could worship as they liked. Still, we have to have rules. If your religion, for example, demands that you sacrifice people, then that's still not okay. That's kind of how I look at this YFZ ranch thing. Just because their VERY misguided interpretation of what they call Christianity says that middle aged men should "wed" and impregnate as many women and/or teenage girls as possible, doesn't mean they should be allowed to do so. I understand that the FLDS dates back to the mid-1800's when it was somewhat normal for a girl of 16 or so to be married. It's even legal in Texas, I believe for a 16 year old girl to get married with parental consent. This is not that. This is apparently not a choice for these young ladies and apparently, many of them have marriage thrust upon them well before they even turn sixteen.
I find it very interesting and disturbing that through the whole thing, I haven't seen ONE of these men speak out about what's going on. We have only seen the women, the mothers who refuse to answer any questions about whether anything illegal or strange is happening. Their canned response: "We just want our children back." Of course they do. What mother wouldn't? I do feel for them. However, I feel that anyone that would allow their twelve year old to passionately kiss Warren Jeffs or any other middle aged man has got to have their priorities WAY out of whack. The whole thing is a perversion.
I do not believe that these people really know God or Jesus. I don't believe they are really godly. They are under a powerful influence, for sure, but it is not a holy one.
Jesus said: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believeth in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:6 KJV
It is for God to judge their punishment, but I can't help but be angry at these apparent sins. Now it seems that many of these kids are going back to their parents. I pray that God will protect them and help them to grow in his love and wisdom so that they might escape the bonds of this dangerous cult and discover what freedom to worship God according to His will is really all about.
Now, I understand that this country was founded on (among other ideas) the notion that you can practice your religion freely here. The Puritans came here on the Mayflower so they could worship as they liked. Still, we have to have rules. If your religion, for example, demands that you sacrifice people, then that's still not okay. That's kind of how I look at this YFZ ranch thing. Just because their VERY misguided interpretation of what they call Christianity says that middle aged men should "wed" and impregnate as many women and/or teenage girls as possible, doesn't mean they should be allowed to do so. I understand that the FLDS dates back to the mid-1800's when it was somewhat normal for a girl of 16 or so to be married. It's even legal in Texas, I believe for a 16 year old girl to get married with parental consent. This is not that. This is apparently not a choice for these young ladies and apparently, many of them have marriage thrust upon them well before they even turn sixteen.
I find it very interesting and disturbing that through the whole thing, I haven't seen ONE of these men speak out about what's going on. We have only seen the women, the mothers who refuse to answer any questions about whether anything illegal or strange is happening. Their canned response: "We just want our children back." Of course they do. What mother wouldn't? I do feel for them. However, I feel that anyone that would allow their twelve year old to passionately kiss Warren Jeffs or any other middle aged man has got to have their priorities WAY out of whack. The whole thing is a perversion.
I do not believe that these people really know God or Jesus. I don't believe they are really godly. They are under a powerful influence, for sure, but it is not a holy one.
Jesus said: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believeth in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:6 KJV
It is for God to judge their punishment, but I can't help but be angry at these apparent sins. Now it seems that many of these kids are going back to their parents. I pray that God will protect them and help them to grow in his love and wisdom so that they might escape the bonds of this dangerous cult and discover what freedom to worship God according to His will is really all about.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Expelled!
I can't wait to see "Expelled."
A local pastor mentioned in his sermon that he had seen an ad for the movie. He couldn't recall the name, but his description of the basic premise intrigued me. A recent article published in our local paper piqued my interest as well. In fact, it's fairer to say that I'm going to make a point of seeing it because of these two events.
The article was submitted by Dr. Keith Lockitch, a fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute. He gave the movie an 'F.' However, the bulk of his commentary was not on the film itself, but rather, it was an attack on intelligent design and the ridiculous notion that the universe was created. Lockitch dismisses the film as a simple attempt to discredit Darwinism. He also says that the defenders of intelligent design will do anything except use science to explain Biblical truth.
Militant scientists would have us believe the even more ridiculous notion that the universe somehow created itself.
What troubles me is that they fault those of us who believe in God because of our faith without acknowledging that they place their complete trust in what their science can reveal. Science is their religion.
They tell us that everything in the universe formed from one tiny speck of super dense, super hot material. They're talking about something smaller than an atom and into the billions of degrees. Why should we all believe this? Well, because science tells us so, that's why! They make no attempt to explain where this 'speck' came from or why it formed, just that it was there and exploded - giving rise to the entire, infinite universe. In fact, they can't prove it either, by any scientific means. Based on what they can know, they can only hypothesize. Theorize. Guess. Dare I say it? Believe.
They defend Darwinism as if Charles Darwin was their messiah. Why? Because they think they can prove evolution. They are not willing to take the leap of faith to believe in God because their faith lies in something that men created.
Personally, I think that it's at least possible that evolution is the way life changes on Earth, but in the same breath I would say that if that is how it happens, then it's still all part of God's plan, which we were not meant to understand entirely. Science is a gift from God. We were created with questioning minds. God can handle all the questions. As I wrote in an earlier post, science isn't killing God. It can't. It's revealing all the majesty and mystery that is the Almighty. God isn't Oz behind the curtain. God is so far beyond the curtain that we simply cannot comprehend.
When science asks us to take it on faith that there are trillions of stars or that the universe is boundless, they do so out of faith. Their faith is in science. We place ours in God.
They would say that we don't need God. We have science. There is no right and wrong. No good and evil. Only survival of the fittest and, to paraphrase Ayn Rand, the pursuit of whatever makes you happy.
I just finished a very interesting book by Scott Hahn, Reasons To Believe. In it he recalls a moment in his classroom when a student spoke up to say that if God didn't exist, we would have created Him anyway, and we did. Dr. Hahn responded beautifully, saying that even if God exists (and He does) that we'd create atheism anyway...and we did. Then he took things a step further:
If humans created God, then why didn't we create a God that let us do whatever we want without fear of punishment or separation from Him? Why not create an amoral god that allowed us to indulge every worldly pleasure? Good question, eh?
Peace in Christ,
Damon
A local pastor mentioned in his sermon that he had seen an ad for the movie. He couldn't recall the name, but his description of the basic premise intrigued me. A recent article published in our local paper piqued my interest as well. In fact, it's fairer to say that I'm going to make a point of seeing it because of these two events.
The article was submitted by Dr. Keith Lockitch, a fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute. He gave the movie an 'F.' However, the bulk of his commentary was not on the film itself, but rather, it was an attack on intelligent design and the ridiculous notion that the universe was created. Lockitch dismisses the film as a simple attempt to discredit Darwinism. He also says that the defenders of intelligent design will do anything except use science to explain Biblical truth.
Militant scientists would have us believe the even more ridiculous notion that the universe somehow created itself.
What troubles me is that they fault those of us who believe in God because of our faith without acknowledging that they place their complete trust in what their science can reveal. Science is their religion.
They tell us that everything in the universe formed from one tiny speck of super dense, super hot material. They're talking about something smaller than an atom and into the billions of degrees. Why should we all believe this? Well, because science tells us so, that's why! They make no attempt to explain where this 'speck' came from or why it formed, just that it was there and exploded - giving rise to the entire, infinite universe. In fact, they can't prove it either, by any scientific means. Based on what they can know, they can only hypothesize. Theorize. Guess. Dare I say it? Believe.
They defend Darwinism as if Charles Darwin was their messiah. Why? Because they think they can prove evolution. They are not willing to take the leap of faith to believe in God because their faith lies in something that men created.
Personally, I think that it's at least possible that evolution is the way life changes on Earth, but in the same breath I would say that if that is how it happens, then it's still all part of God's plan, which we were not meant to understand entirely. Science is a gift from God. We were created with questioning minds. God can handle all the questions. As I wrote in an earlier post, science isn't killing God. It can't. It's revealing all the majesty and mystery that is the Almighty. God isn't Oz behind the curtain. God is so far beyond the curtain that we simply cannot comprehend.
When science asks us to take it on faith that there are trillions of stars or that the universe is boundless, they do so out of faith. Their faith is in science. We place ours in God.
They would say that we don't need God. We have science. There is no right and wrong. No good and evil. Only survival of the fittest and, to paraphrase Ayn Rand, the pursuit of whatever makes you happy.
I just finished a very interesting book by Scott Hahn, Reasons To Believe. In it he recalls a moment in his classroom when a student spoke up to say that if God didn't exist, we would have created Him anyway, and we did. Dr. Hahn responded beautifully, saying that even if God exists (and He does) that we'd create atheism anyway...and we did. Then he took things a step further:
If humans created God, then why didn't we create a God that let us do whatever we want without fear of punishment or separation from Him? Why not create an amoral god that allowed us to indulge every worldly pleasure? Good question, eh?
Peace in Christ,
Damon
Monday, March 17, 2008
Why are there stars?
When I took my dog out last night, I looked up into the clear March sky. There were a great many stars out. I saw Orion, the dippers, and other constellations only my dad would be able to recognize or spell correctly. I couldn't help but ask myself, "Why are there stars?"
I think the prevailing school of thought is that the universe likely just keeps on going and going on to infinity. That is a very heavy thought indeed. To think that all the thousands of stars we can see from Earth and have identified are just a relative few compared to the billions we cannot see, but probably exist is truly incredible.
I got a forwarded e-mail last year from my boss. It was the kind of thing I'd normally look at once and then delete, but this was sooooo cool I had to keep it. I wish I could incorporate it into this blog. It shows the Earth in comparison to the other planets in our solar system and in comparison to the sun. Then, it showed our sun in comparison to other stars. Whoa. We are tiny, my friends. Tiny. Really, really tiny.
So what's with all these other stars? Do they have planets just like our solar system. I kinda think they must. Is there life out there? I think there might be.
I got to thinking...Are we the only ones God created? If not, at the end of times...will all God's people be gathered at once? Or is the same thing going to happen over and over on other worlds? I don't mean to wax too Joseph Smith, here, but what if we aren't the only ones to receive God's invitation and the Good News of Jesus Christ?
I'm not suggesting that I agree with the teachings of Joseph Smith or Mormon philosophy. Nor am I in a position to refute Mormonism. But, if I may quote Ferris Bueller: "Isms, in my opinion, are not good." I know people in a church founded by Emmanuel Swedenborg, who had some very interesting prophetic(?) "visions" of his own. Some, I understand, involved life on other planets. Not to get any further off on a tangent, but since I'm on the subject of denominations, I don't believe any particular "brand" of Christianity is a good thing. I have to think the Master is probably shaking His head at all of us and perhaps thinking: "You don't have it right, yet, my children." Still, those who preach Christ, the Son of the Most High crucified for the remission of our sins, to allow us back into the presence of the Lord God Almighty and resurrected from the dead and is now seated at the Father's right hand and who will come again to judge mankind are at least partly right-if they mean it.
I was reading passages from Revelation recently and I'm struggling with identifying false prophets in the end times. It isn't easy. The enemy is a master deceiver, he is a liar and the father of lies. Still Christ assures us in Matthew 7:16 that "Ye shall know them by their fruits."
We are told that the a third of the stars will be smitten along with a third of the sun and the moon when the fourth angel sounds his trumpet (Rev.8:12.) That the dragon will sweep a third of the stars from the sky. (Rev. 12:4) Yet we are given hope. Those whose faith in God and Christ is true will be gathered to Him. We shall have no need of the Sun and the moon (Rev. 21:23) when God's Holy city, the New Jerusalem is opened to those who believe.
I think maybe there are stars in the night sky to serve as reminders to us of the light that is in Christ and that is Christ.
Amen
I think the prevailing school of thought is that the universe likely just keeps on going and going on to infinity. That is a very heavy thought indeed. To think that all the thousands of stars we can see from Earth and have identified are just a relative few compared to the billions we cannot see, but probably exist is truly incredible.
I got a forwarded e-mail last year from my boss. It was the kind of thing I'd normally look at once and then delete, but this was sooooo cool I had to keep it. I wish I could incorporate it into this blog. It shows the Earth in comparison to the other planets in our solar system and in comparison to the sun. Then, it showed our sun in comparison to other stars. Whoa. We are tiny, my friends. Tiny. Really, really tiny.
So what's with all these other stars? Do they have planets just like our solar system. I kinda think they must. Is there life out there? I think there might be.
I got to thinking...Are we the only ones God created? If not, at the end of times...will all God's people be gathered at once? Or is the same thing going to happen over and over on other worlds? I don't mean to wax too Joseph Smith, here, but what if we aren't the only ones to receive God's invitation and the Good News of Jesus Christ?
I'm not suggesting that I agree with the teachings of Joseph Smith or Mormon philosophy. Nor am I in a position to refute Mormonism. But, if I may quote Ferris Bueller: "Isms, in my opinion, are not good." I know people in a church founded by Emmanuel Swedenborg, who had some very interesting prophetic(?) "visions" of his own. Some, I understand, involved life on other planets. Not to get any further off on a tangent, but since I'm on the subject of denominations, I don't believe any particular "brand" of Christianity is a good thing. I have to think the Master is probably shaking His head at all of us and perhaps thinking: "You don't have it right, yet, my children." Still, those who preach Christ, the Son of the Most High crucified for the remission of our sins, to allow us back into the presence of the Lord God Almighty and resurrected from the dead and is now seated at the Father's right hand and who will come again to judge mankind are at least partly right-if they mean it.
I was reading passages from Revelation recently and I'm struggling with identifying false prophets in the end times. It isn't easy. The enemy is a master deceiver, he is a liar and the father of lies. Still Christ assures us in Matthew 7:16 that "Ye shall know them by their fruits."
We are told that the a third of the stars will be smitten along with a third of the sun and the moon when the fourth angel sounds his trumpet (Rev.8:12.) That the dragon will sweep a third of the stars from the sky. (Rev. 12:4) Yet we are given hope. Those whose faith in God and Christ is true will be gathered to Him. We shall have no need of the Sun and the moon (Rev. 21:23) when God's Holy city, the New Jerusalem is opened to those who believe.
I think maybe there are stars in the night sky to serve as reminders to us of the light that is in Christ and that is Christ.
Amen
Sunday, March 16, 2008
It's good to be back.
Well, it's good to be back. After a too-long hiatus, I've decided it's time to start blogging again. A lot has happened and yet not much at all. Some of it very important and some of it not at all. At any rate, it's time for me to get back into the swing of things for the Master.
In my hometown, we recently lost a young firefighter who died from injuries he sustained while trying to help someone escape a fire in her home. Sadly, the woman he was trying to rescue also died in the fire.
Many people in our town have been calling this young man a hero. I have to agree he was. So, too, was another firefighter who was also injured at the scene. Fortunately, this second man survived, though he will have scars for the rest of his life, both seen and unseen. Still, the tragic death of this young man and the woman he was trying to save got me thinking about what a hero really is.
I started thinking about the greatest hero of all, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray they both knew Him in life, and now know Him better still.
Webster's Dictionary defines a hero and heroic in several ways:
Christ fits the bill. The Bible evidences:
Divine descent: Jesus was the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. He performed many miracles, healed the sick. Raised the dead. He, Himself, rose from the dead.
A man admired for his achievement and noble qualities: He lived a sinless life. He was tempted to the utmost, and remained blameless.
One that shows great courage: Christ knew he would be tortured and killed, yet remained in steadfast submission to The Father's will.
The central figure in an event, period, or movement: Christ's time on Earth ushered in a new era, and established a new covenant between God and man, providing us a bridge back to fellowship with The Father, and setting the stage for the coming of His Kingdom.
An object of extreme admiration and devotion: Well, He had better be. No one in history was nor will any one in the future be as worthy of our admiration and devotion.
Supremely noble or self-sacrificing: The Lamb of God without blemish, Christ provided the ultimate sacrifice to save us all from our sins. He died horribly on the Cross that we might be saved and once again be accepted by The Father.
A hero? Jesus Christ is THE hero.
He is my hero. He saved my life.
If you ask Him to, He will save your life, too. That's what a hero does.
With Easter only a week away, now is as good a time as any, better than most, to pray to the Lord for salvation. Please invite Jesus to be the Lord of your life or renew your commitment to Him today.
Amen.
In my hometown, we recently lost a young firefighter who died from injuries he sustained while trying to help someone escape a fire in her home. Sadly, the woman he was trying to rescue also died in the fire.
Many people in our town have been calling this young man a hero. I have to agree he was. So, too, was another firefighter who was also injured at the scene. Fortunately, this second man survived, though he will have scars for the rest of his life, both seen and unseen. Still, the tragic death of this young man and the woman he was trying to save got me thinking about what a hero really is.
I started thinking about the greatest hero of all, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray they both knew Him in life, and now know Him better still.
Webster's Dictionary defines a hero and heroic in several ways:
- a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability
- a man admired for his achievement and noble qualities
- one that shows great courage
- the central figure in an event, period, or movement
- an object of extreme admiration and devotion
- supremely noble or self-sacrificing
Christ fits the bill. The Bible evidences:
Divine descent: Jesus was the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. He performed many miracles, healed the sick. Raised the dead. He, Himself, rose from the dead.
A man admired for his achievement and noble qualities: He lived a sinless life. He was tempted to the utmost, and remained blameless.
One that shows great courage: Christ knew he would be tortured and killed, yet remained in steadfast submission to The Father's will.
The central figure in an event, period, or movement: Christ's time on Earth ushered in a new era, and established a new covenant between God and man, providing us a bridge back to fellowship with The Father, and setting the stage for the coming of His Kingdom.
An object of extreme admiration and devotion: Well, He had better be. No one in history was nor will any one in the future be as worthy of our admiration and devotion.
Supremely noble or self-sacrificing: The Lamb of God without blemish, Christ provided the ultimate sacrifice to save us all from our sins. He died horribly on the Cross that we might be saved and once again be accepted by The Father.
A hero? Jesus Christ is THE hero.
He is my hero. He saved my life.
If you ask Him to, He will save your life, too. That's what a hero does.
With Easter only a week away, now is as good a time as any, better than most, to pray to the Lord for salvation. Please invite Jesus to be the Lord of your life or renew your commitment to Him today.
Amen.
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