Movie quotes and faith

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Swing

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

My daughter asked me if this was movie week. Well, it didn’t start out that way, but while doing the Titanic puzzle, I watched plenty of movies. The topic of today’s post is this movie.

HAVE YOU EVER MET SOMEONE WHOSE SWING WAS MESSED UP?

Now…I am not talking about their golf swing or their baseball swing or their tree swing. Bagger Vance is filled with quotes that flow off the screen onto the page. It isn’t too far of a stretch to say that many of them can be made “spiritual.” That sounds sort of strange doesn’t it? But let me give you some of the quotes from the movie:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146984/quotes?qt=qt0208956

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146984/quotes?qt=qt0208970

Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that’s ours and ours alone. Something that can’t be learned… something that’s got to be remembered…Over time the world can rob us of that swing…it get buried inside us with all the wouldas and couldas and shouldas…Some folks even forget what their swing was like. Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146984/quotes?qt=qt0208984

First, I realize that some of this pure poppycock. It is “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” mentality. It is the old Robert Schuller/Joel Osteen junk that I have blogged against. But on another level those statements can be seen as true. Many Christ-followers lose their way (swing) by the cares of this life pressing in. Luke 9:23-25. Luke 8:4-8. We take our eyes off Jesus and focus on the here-and-now, the transient things, instead of what really matters. We get so tied up in our every day life that we find ourselves looking back at the wouldas and couldas and shouldas. And just like Rannulph Junah, we need to get back to Square One.

SQUARE…ONE…IS…JESUS

He is the ONE we must go to to find our swing. He is the ONE who reminds us we are not an accident. I think this post here does an excellent job of showing that. If we hope to find our swing again, we need to go back to the Source of the swing.

Have you lost your swing? If so, have you taken the time to figure out where/when it happened? Do you need to do that? Have you ever seen The Legend of Bagger Vance? Any thoughts?

Disclaimer: there is some not-so-nice language used.

Tomorrow will be a different post: it will include a give-away. See you there!

Posted in Christian living, God, Just Wondering, Little Bit of Fun, Movie quotes and faith | 36 Responses »

TITANIC

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

WARNING AHEAD:

MANCARD LOST!!

I’ll head you off at the pass. I guarantee that to many of you I have either already lost or will soon lose my MANCARD. I confess: I like Titanic. You know…the movie with DeCaprio and Winslet and Zane and Bates and a host of other actors/actresses. Not only that, I have the Director’s Cut, and am just geeeeeeky enough to have watched the extras. I also just completed this puzzle. In fact, it was while working the puzzle that I had a chance to watch the movie again. To top it off Sunday, April 15th is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the ship “that not even God could sink.” (Hmmm I am wondering if that man was eating his words a few days after he said that).

HOWEVER. I. DO. HAVE. A. POINT. SO. I. WILL. GET. TO. IT.

I’m going to forgo retelling the story of the sinking liner since I believe most people know about it. If you want to know more about the Titanic you can check out this site and this site. For a really interesting one check here. I am interested in some of the lessons we can learn:

LESSON #1: We can learn that in a crisis there is both Bravery and Cowardice.

The accounts of both cowardice and bravery in the movie are actually factual. The story of women and children first is true. Benjamin Guggenheim, who reports say was there with his mistress, is reported to have said, “We’ve dressed in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen.”

Isidor Straus and his wife, Rosalie, (pictured in the movie as the old couple huddling together in bed) were a historical couple. He tried to get her on one of the lifeboats but she refused saying, “We have been together for many years…where you go, I go.”

The band playing “Nearer My God to Thee” is a real historical fact. The band leader was Wallace Hartley. He perished, but on May 4, 1812 his body was recovered.

There were also cowards. Many men donned women’s clothing in order to get in a lifeboat and save their own skins. In the film, Cal’s (Billy Zane) lack of integrity comes out in spades.

LESSON #2: God cannot be trifled with.

I am not for one moment insinuating God caused Titanic to sink. But one verse of Scripture keeps coming back to me: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” [Gal.6:7] God has no equal. The ship that “not even God could sink” did exactly that.

LESSON #3: All the stuff in the world amounts to nothing in the end.

I’ve never seen a hearse with a trailer hitch. All the wealth in the world (and there was plenty of it) could not buy anyone off the ship. When Titanic sunk so did the money, status, influence, and “stuff.”

Titanic was a monument to man’s ingenuity, a failure at best. We still haven’t learned as we continue trying to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. Man’s best efforts are worthless. Only Jesus can pick us up. Only Jesus can heal. Only Jesus can give meaning.

So…have you seen Titanic? What other lessons can we learn? One more: have I lost my MANCARD?

Posted in Christian living, God, Just Wondering, Little Bit of Fun, Movie quotes and faith | 37 Responses »

Generosity

Monday, March 5th, 2012

The pages of the Bible overflow with examples of generosity.

The pages of history overflow with examples of generosity.

The pages of my life (I hope) overflow with examples of generosity.

This past weekend I saw a movie for the first time that overflowed with ~~an example~~ examples of generosity. In many cases, especially when it comes to movies, I am a ~~late-bloomer~~ latecomer. Jo and I will often talk about going to certain movies, but we have trouble flipping the switch, largely due to cost and time. To be honest, the one I watched this weekend wasn’t even really on our radar when it was released. But while working a jigsaw puzzle, I put the DVD in and watched it. WOW! I plan to watch it again! The movie?

THE BLIND SIDE

I had no idea what to expect, except for what I had heard or read. I had heard from someone that Leigh Anne often helps with Extreme Home Makeover with Ty Whatever-his-name-is. I also knew they had a book available. But that is as far as knew…until I watched the movie. I don’t know how much was movie embellishment and how much was real life, but if real life was even half of the movie’s depiction…WOW! To watch an upper class white family take in a homeless African-American and give him a home and love was heartwarming. There were so many lessons that came screaming at me from the movie, but one that stood out is found here. The Tuohys did exactly that.

They were practicing not only what Jesus said, but what Jesus did. Nobody was too bad or good for Him. Be it the leper, or the blind, or the lame, or the prostitute, or the tax collector, or the fisherman, or the demoniac, He reached out to them. His generosity for those who needed it knew no bounds. I read on Monday from Mark 6: 34: “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”

I can’t help but wonder how compassionate I am.

I can’t help but wonder how often I find an excuse not to be.

I can’t help but wonder how much of an influence I could make if generosity came from me like it did with Jesus.

I wonder…I wonder…I wonder.

Then I realize it doesn’t take a grand effort like the Tuohy’s. It doesn’t take a grand effort like Compassion International or World Vision. It really only takes one step at a time. Would you describe yourself as a generous person? Have you shown generosity lately to someone? (No need to tel what it was). How did it make you feel? Was your generosity more of a one-time shot or will it be an on-going commitment?

Posted in Christian living, Church, Friendship, Just Wondering, Movie quotes and faith | 44 Responses »

Dreamers

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

I realize there have been and will continue being many posts on dreaming and vision. I am not kidding myself that I actually have anything new to add to this party, but I hope you will hang in there with me. Yesterday morning I was doing “spade work” on a sermon on Elisha’s servant, found in 2 Kings 6: 8-19. I will recap it for those of you who can’t stop to read it. Elisha is surrounded by the king of Syria’s army. When his servant looks out, all he sees is the enemy. Fear grips him, but Elisha tells him not to be afraid. Then Elisha prays for the servant’s eyes to be opened, and the young man sees, not the army of the enemy, but that the whole mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. What a mismatch! The Syrian army is blinded and Elisha actually leads them to Samaria.

When I read that, I got chills. I have heard missionaries speak of events like this happening. I heard one missionary, whom I trust completely, tell of the time when his mission team was braced for certain death, but nothing ever happened. One day the leader of the band of marauders was saved and in the course of talking this missionary asked him why he never attacked that night. The leader said, “We couldn’t. Who was that army you had protecting you that night?” Maybe you have your own story of God’s miraculous intervention you have heard or experienced.

But this story of Elisha’s servant’s eyes being opened really struck home with me yesterday. There is a quote from the movie, Open Range, that says what I am thinking right now:

Well, you may not know this, but there’s things that gnaw at a man worse than dying. Charley Waite (Kevin Costner)

I can remember as a kid playing Cowboys & Indians and pretending to be Mike Nelson (Lloyd Bridges) in Sea Hunt (I know I’m dating myself). We used to go on “safaris,” and pitch tents, and cook baked potatoes by burying them in a pit with a wood fire. Sometimes I wonder where that “dreamer” went. At the end of Field of Dreams (Okay, so I like KC), when Ray hears the mantra, “If you build he will come,” and blames Shoeless Joe, Joe directs his attention to the man whom Ray recognizes his father, “before he was worn down by life. Look at him. He’s got his whole life in front of him, and I’m not even a glint in his eye.”

All this has got me thinking. When did I/you stop dreaming big dreams? When did I/you stop seeing God take “impossible” situations and make them possible? When did I/you stop seeing the Bible as more than a book for sermons or good stories? There are things that gnaw at a man more than dying. Living a life without dreams has to be near the top of the list. I would like to hear your thoughts and/or story…if you care to share them.

Posted in Christian living, Just a Quote, Leadership, Miscellaneous, Movie quotes and faith | 26 Responses »

Religious Moralism

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

I have a confession to make. Some of you are going to choke when you hear it. Others will yawn. I realize that but here goes: when Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy first came to the theaters, I did not go to see any of them. How can I say this? I was not (choke) the least bit interested in them. Please don’t hang me out to dry if you are a “Rings” fan. And please don’t cheer too loudly if you could care less. One day though, back around 2004, I was visiting in the home of someone who had knee surgery and I saw “The Fellowship” DVD sitting there. Since I had been really psyched about Wild at Heart and that was one of John’s favorite series of movies to refer to, I decided to borrow it. I watched it that night and have to admit…I was hooked! I mean big time hooked. I even called Tom to ask if I could visit him again (the next day) and also borrow the other two DVD’s. I watched them immediately. I was really hooked! And then…for my birthday my oldest daughter found the Director’s Cut of “Fellowship” and for Christmas she found the other two. About once a year I will have a “Rings” marathon, usually while working a jigsaw puzzle, and play all three back-to-back-t0-back. That has got to be about 11-12 hours of “Rings!”

But I have to admit that there is one place I really want to act like the Hobbits…sleep…when Merry and Pippin are with Treebeard. I realize that is the character but man…is he slow or what? (Reminds me of some churches I know. Take forever to make a decision and by then the decade has passed). When the hobbits ask Treebeard whose side he is on, he answers, “I am not altogether on anybody’s side, because nobody is altogether on my side…[But] there are some things, of course, whose side I’m altogether not on.” While reading Tim Keller’s book The Prodigal God, I came across this thought: “Jesus’ own answer to the question of whose side He was on, is similar to Treebeard’s. He is on the side of neither the religious or irreligious, but He does single out religious moralism as a particularly deadly spiritual condition.” I have run across religious moralism, as I am pretty sure many of you have. It is an ugly, insidious, judgmental way of life. “See as I see it (it is the only right way). Think as I think (it is the only right way). Believe as I believe (it is the only right way).” You get the idea don’t you? Christianity was never meant to be a religion. It always has been and always will be about a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Any thoughts on what I have written today? I would love to hear them…pro or con. All comments are accepted-just be nice.

Posted in Christian living, Church, Just a Quote, Just Wondering, Movie quotes and faith | 9 Responses »

A Leap of Faith

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

One of my favorite movies scenes is from Indiana Jones #3 when Indy’s father has been shot and he must pass the three tests. My favorite test of the three is when Indy comes to the end of the cave and must take a leap of faith into a big cavernous hole. When he does he steps onto an up-to-that-point hidden walkway. That step of faith led him across the big hole into a cave where the treasure (the cup of Christ) resided. Indy would have missed the treasure if he had failed to take that step of faith (some might call it a leap of faith). Here is something to think about:

I love the recklessness of faith. First you leap, and then you grow wings. William Sloan Coffin

Much of what we do as Christ-followers involves steps, even leaps, of faith. Trusting when the end result is not seen. Trusting when everything within us says, “No way!” Trusting when everyone around us thinks we are nutty as a fruitcake. But the real truth is that when God says, “Move” or “Go here” the only real obedient option is to do so. Even when it appears to be a whacked move. Sometimes following God’s calling on your life means taking that leap/step of faith.

What about you? Have you taken any steps of faith recently that defied logic? Have you done anything for God lately that had people shaking their heads in disbelief? I would like to hear from you.

Posted in Christian living, Just a Quote, Just Wondering, Movie quotes and faith | 2 Responses »

Living Large

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

If you have ever watched Mel Gibson’s movie Braveheart, then you have heard the saying, “All men die. Few men every really live.” I like it so well that I have it engraved on my RoadID. Several years ago my daughter and son-in-law gave me a sign that had this saying: “Life isn’t measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” Unless you are dead (which means you would not be reading this post) I suspect there are very few of you who would want to waste your life in trivial pursuits. I personally do not want to waste my life…I want to go out living large. I read the following quote by Diane Ackerman: “I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.” Oh man, I like that!!

Have you heard about the guy who got the news from his doctor that he only had six months to live? After the news sank in Bob asked him, “Is there anything I can do, any experimental drugs or treatment I can take to change this?” The doctor said, “There is one thing you can do. You can move to the country and buy a pig farm and raise pigs. Then you can find a widow who has fourteen or fifteen kids, marry her, and bring all of them to live with you.” Looking somewhat puzzled Bob asked, “How in the world is that going to help me live longer?” The doctor said, “Well, it won’t but it will seem like the longest six months of your life!” I have to admit that I groaned and then chuckled after reading that.

May I ask you a question? How do you want to live your life? Bon Jovi has a line in a song that says, “I’m going down in a blaze of glory.” I want to reword that by saying, “I’m going out in a blaze of glory.” I have no intention of laying down and watching life pass me by. If God grants me one day or one year or ten more years, I totally intend on living life large. The Apostle Paul lived that way: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil.3:12-14 (ESV) Paul had no intention of slowing down or giving up. Neither do I. I pray God allows me to live out the mantra: “All men die. Few men ever really live” as being one who lives large.

And you? What are your thoughts?

Posted in Church, Just a Quote, Leadership, Movie quotes and faith, Scripture look | 16 Responses »

Danger Ahead

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

My stat page tells me that I have written 644 posts. Since I celebrated a year of blogging in February, I reckon someone could say 1) I had a lot to say or 2) I had a lot to say! I say that because what I want to write about today is something that is close to my heart and because of that I know I have blogged about it before. However, I will defer to this one and this one as taking up that banner in a more concrete way. I could go back and link you to posts I have written about this subject but trust me when I say that I don’t have the time to do that. (If you want to please be my guest!) I have written several posts recently here and here that touch on the issue that I want to blog about today.

In Matthew 15: 3, 8-9 Jesus said, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?…This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” I believe very strongly, and have for years, that Jesus is much more concerned about our heart condition than He is in our doctrinal condition. Please don’t jump all over me just yet…hear me out. I believe doctrine is important and believing in what I call non-negotiables is essential. But even believing in those non-negotiables should never and must never take the place of having your heart right with Jesus. You have heard the old adage I am sure: some people spend so much time studying about God that they don’t know God. It is true you know? I know people who can quote the Bible frontwards and backwards but don’t know the Author of the Bible. I used to hear when growing up that “some people miss heaven by 18 inches-the distance between the heart and the brain.” Translated: many people have a head knowledge of Jesus but no heart knowledge. I am afraid that many in the church today fit that bill. Some are so bent on keeping all the rules (as they perceive them to be) that they leave behind a sincere, heart-felt faith in Christ. Principles quickly become more important than faith. I read that Frederick Buechner once said, “Principles are what people have instead of God.” WOW ain’t that the truth!! (Excuse the English). And that is exactly what I am trying to say. It is so easy to get comfortable with complacency, i.e. “I am doing the principles and therefore I must be committed.” But what happens so often is that being hell-bent on keeping the principles often leads a person away from that vital intimate relationship with Jesus. As William Wallace says in Braveheart: “All men die; few men ever really live.” My blogging friend Tony has a good question at this post about men. Part of the problem with so many men (and women) is that we have exchanged the exciting life of being a follower of Jesus for being a follower of principles (translated: rules & regulations). We obey rules instead of obeying the voice of God. To borrow a phrase from the previous mentioned bloggers (Kary & Kevin): we have become Pharisees. Recovery from being a Pharisee can only come when we let loose of the chains of principles and embrace the life of freedom that Jesus offers.

Now before you crucify me for what sounds like heretical thought and unfettered license, please don’t put me in that camp. I believe in license hitched with love. What I am making reference to is that we make a lot of assumptions when we turn those guidelines into a formula for “real Christianity” but the trouble is that many of those assumptions become sacred. “Ope, you don’t do Christianity like me so you must not really be (said a pious voice) a Christian.” Sound familiar? Perhaps like me you have either used those words or heard them or both. I think it is high time we lead people to Jesus instead of a bunch of rules and regulations that they must follow. Lead them to Jesus and then let Him show them how to live. (Note: this post and some of its thoughts was inspired by a book I just started reading called Fixing Abraham by Chris Tiegreen)

Your thoughts? I would like to hear from you…agree or disagree.

Posted in Church, Doctrine, Movie quotes and faith, Scripture look | 10 Responses »

The Picture of Power

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

WARNING! THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL POST!! I know I can sense your angst as you read in disappointment that I am not going to post about the “historical presidential nomination” that took place yesterday. I will keep my thoughts to myself for now as there have been many who have already said their piece or there will be many who will say their piece. I have to admit that the events of yesterday did spark the thoughts in this post but that is as far as will go. So… without further adoo…..

Power is an interesting concept. Plenty of books have been written about it. Bill Hybels once wrote about it from a different viewpoint in Descending Into Greatness (a book about servanthood). Pat Williams has written a book called The Paradox of Power (a book about transforming leadership). I have several books in my library that talk about the Shepherd or the way of the Shepherd. I am old enough to remember “Power lunches” and “Power ties” and “Power clothes.” Seriously? You mean a lunch or a tie or a suit gives me power? If so, I am dead meat since I eat Chinese, Mexican and other common lunches. I literally “hate” ties and only wear one at a funeral or a wedding. (I even told Jo she better never bury me in a tie!). I wear/preach in jeans or dockers and casual shirts. But that is getting away from my point. Sports teams use names of power: Lions, Tigers, Rams, Bears, Gators, etc. Any Lambs? Sheep? I suspect you know where this is going now. Yesterday was a day for the “power brokers” to exert themselves. Schmooze, be seen, get that Kodak moment, whatever.

I have a better idea. While the media elite and others celebrate the “power brokers” and the wanna-be’s, let me give you something else to think about. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.” [Ps.20:7-8] This is not a slam against President Obama, whom I will pray for… It is a statement for everyone who thinks they are “someone”, wants to be “someone”, will even connive his/her way into being called “someone.” Real power is not found in the halls of the White House or Congress. Jesus has shown us that real power is found in serving others. We can trust in our might and power (be it human or machine) but real strength is found only in the name of the Lord. You can’t help but read Revelation 5 and see that in the end the real power will not come to/from the “power brokers” but from the slain Lamb of God. The picture in that chapter is of worship and adoration, of falling down before Him. Broken on earth…exalted in heaven. God chose a shepherd (David) to become king. He chose a Lamb to pay the ultimate sacrifice and then to be exalted far above all and anyone else. Some day, the Bible says (Phil.2:10-11) every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Every knee and Every tongue! Won’t that be something to see those who are so intent on gaining power in this world to find themselves bowing to the One they may have ignored, made fun of, or even blasphemed? One of the most poignant phrases of the movie Gladiator is “The General who became a slave; the slave who became a Gladiator; the Gladiator who defied an empire.” In one of the scenes his former love interest and sister to Commodus said, “Today I saw a slave become more powerful than the emperor of Rome.” (See trailer here) With all the posturing that went on yesterday and will continue to go on, let’s not forget that the story isn’t finished yet. In the end the Scripture will be true: “They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.” Led by a Lamb.

Any thoughts? Please feel free to express them-agree or disagree. Just be kind to all.

Posted in Church, Doctrine, Leadership, Movie quotes and faith, Scripture look | 2 Responses »

Check this out and Know!

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

One of the knocks about Christ-followers is that we are unable to understand the world, that we are unable to relate to the world. We are inferior (they say) to their way of thinking. We have nothing in common with them. We complain about the media but do very little to change it. The gang at Sherwood Baptist Church decided to put their money where their mouth is and began making movies. First was Facing the Giants. The latest was Fireproof which I saw just passed the $20 million mark. Ain’t that cool! It only cost $500k to make! Awesome! If just one marriage was fixed, repaired, put back on the right track, saved, strengthened or whatever else you want to say, then I would say that was money well spent. A recent comment to my blog here led me to investigate the one who made the comment. (You will need to read the comments). I found a fascinating & informative site/blog that covered the media. If you go here you can check it out for yourself. You may find stuff there you will not agree with. Then again, you may find some stuff there that will allow you to see media through a different glass. Check it out. Link to it on your blog. Be informed and creative.

Posted in Movie quotes and faith | No Responses »