So, sometimes I can be picky about what movies I watch. If I feel it will be a waste of my time, it takes some persuasion to get me to watch whatever movie is presented. That being said, I've seen several movies lately, but only 2 of them made my "good movie" list. For me, the standard of good boils down to the level of hope represented throughout the movie.
The first movie that I really liked is calld 50/50. It's a movie about a 27 year old man, who has a cancerous tumor, and when he looks up the survival rate for his specific form of cancer, it says chances are 50/50. The movie highlights all of his relationships, and he seems to hold back his frustrations and fears for a while. But the longer his treatment goes on, the more he longs for those around him to be real that this cancer might really take his life.
So, I really liked delving into these characters. They all had different flaws - the cheating girlfried, the best friend who exploits his cancer to get women into bed, the mom who wants to take care of him to a smothering degree, the therapist who is new to counseling and has no idea how to really comfort her patient. Some characters had to go (sorry cheating girlfriend who sucks for cheating on her boyfriend that has cancer, and not just ending the relationship...) while the others grew. It must be that the reality of cancer weeds through relationships and you learn who really is there for you.
Well, I've already admitted I like movies that have a hopeful theme, I'll leave the ending alone for you to make the judgement call yourself. I just really thought the movie was real. It did not glorify cancer, it was... honest. I have never had someone I've been close to battle cancer, except my mother, but that does not count because she had cancer before I was even born, so I did not go through that with her. And, the stories where people beat the cancer are always encouraging, but not everyone survives. Some people die. So, I am sure it is probably the most emotional rollercoaster a person ever is thrown into in their whole life. I hope I never do have to walk that road myself or with someone I love, but seeing that I'm only 30 years old, chances are it will happen. But, my journey in that trial will have a greater hope, that is, that Christ has redeemed my life, and whether I live or die, I will only be drawn closer to Him.
The second film I've really enjoyed lately was We Bought a Zoo. It is about a family struggling to survive because the wife/mother had recently died. The dad decides his family needs a change of scenery and a change of pace in life, and buys a property outside of the city that owns a zoo. He becomes the owner/manager of the zoo, and has to upgrade the whole place to get it ready for the public that summer and actually make some money. The journey of the family and the other zoo keepers uniting over the task of making an excellent zoo is heartwarming. The father's relationships with his son and daughter grow, and by then end, he is ready to share his love of his wife with them as well.
I thought this movie also captured the heart ache of losing someone you love, and the grief process that takes place. It was 6 months after their loss, so I didn't see the immediate pain and heartache, but I did get to see some of what the healing process can look like. But I know that through whatever loss life brings me, again I have hope, and not just hope but a sure faith, that Christ is better than that loss, and that my salvation was secured 2000 years ago on a cross. Of course, Hollywood movies rarely delve into positive portrayals of modern evangelical Christianity, BUT many do endeavor to portray Christian themes, whether they acknowledge those themes as Christian or not.
So, I enjoyed these movies the most of all the movies I've had recently, but that's not to say I have not seen other good movies. Both The Descendants, and Oslo, August 31st were good movies, excellent movies, but there was not much sense of hope from either of them. Puss in Boots was cute, but no Shrek. But, really, what has perplexed me is how my mother and I can have such different views of a good movie. It makes me laugh, though, because one of her criteria is language. She is simply offended by bad language, whereas I may recognize it is there, but I look at the overall film impact. Language doesn't bother me.
If that one simple issue causes a diffence of opinion on the quality of a film, is there a way to independently judge the quality of movies? Or will it always be simply up to each individual to judge? I guess it is true, that everyone's a critic. And in the U.S.A. you can have whatever opinion you want! (However, your opinions are subject to other's judgements as well.)
I'm going to chew on this a little more, this post is to be continued. I have an idea of where I'll be going to find some film critiques. But I'll end the post by saying my mom and I did agree on We Bought a Zoo - it was a very family friendly good movie. No language, full of hope.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
10 Lepers and Jesus
I've been studying Luke for a little while this year, and this story always fasinates and convicts me at the same time. You find the account in Luke 17:11-19. A summary would be that as Jesus is traveling between Samaria and Galilee, he comes upon a group of 10 lepers on the side of the road, and they call out to Him and ask for His mercy. He sends them to the priests, and on their way they look and see that incredibly they have been healed! And then, one of those 10 lepers praises God and goes back to worship Jesus and give Him thanks. Only one went back, out of 10 who were healed. Jesus is surprised as well, and then the one who came back was a Samaritan... Jesus tells him his faith has made him well, and sends him on his way.
There was a point in my life where I only identified myself with the one leper who gave thanks for his healing. Of course I am grateful to God for my life, my salvation, my community, my many blessings. With longer life and experience though, I suppose a humbling nature might be acquired, or maybe given is a better word, because I'm not sure we ever acquire humility of our own discourse and direction. What I mean to say with that is that now I'm aware that often I am like the 9 lepers who did not return to praise and thank Jesus for their healing. (Now, I do think that people can have varying amounts of humility through the common grace God gives humanity, but that might be a different blog post.) I think beyond that gift of common grace though, our sinful natures draw us to defend our selfish and sinful ways and hearts, and as we see in this passage, the only hope of salvation from this disease of the soul, is Jesus the King.
There have been times in my life that have been eclipsed with an overall sense of gloom, depression, and dissatisfaction. Maybe a lack of gratitude summarizes this well. But these periods have been filled with complaints, and frustrations. I would think, why am I here, God, in this uncomfortable place, and could you come and save me from it? I want deperately for my circumstances to change, whether that means another job, moving to another city, a new church, a new career, a new start at school, a new place to live, new relationships, new friendships, a boyfriend, etc etc. And I think, well, if such and such actually happened, of course I would give prasie and thanks to God.
But, that is not really the case, or at least not often the case. Here is my most recent example. Last fall I began a job with a really terrible boss. She yelled at her employees, often in front of customers, she berated those around her... I was pretty desperate for a job at all, so I stuck with it, but I trained a lot of people who decided this person was a little too... mean to work for. I was thankful for a job at all, but I wanted something else for sure.
Well, right at Christmas time, someone at church referred me to another job more in the social work field, working with individuals with developmental disabilities. And I was at first so thankful for the job! But after a few months there, I've found myself with a new list of complaints. The hours are weird, there's no gas reimbursement and I drive all over the place, I'm working more hours than I actually get paid... how quickly did my grateful heart turn to complaining? Too quickly, I admit, embarrasingly.
So, if I'm looking to my circumstances to change as my salvation, instead of to Christ as my salvation, I am always going to be disappointed. There will always be something else, something new, something different, that I will foolishly think, if I just obtain THAT, I will be happy and grateful to God for His blessings! But, who could predict that I would respond as the grateful leper over the lepers that forgot their source of life as soon as they were physically healed?
If instead I learn to look to Christ for my salvation, and if I learn to cherish Him in all circumstances, my finicky heart might start to learn to worship Christ in the middle of my circumstance. And in that discipline, I might learn to recognize His Hand over every area of my life, and adopt an attitude of gratefulness. And I pray that that would be the case.
Because truthfully, my heart was destroyed and dead in sin, and that is infinitely worse than having a flesh eating disease, for one affects my entire eternal existance, whereas the other only destroys the body. And when I begged Christ for mercy and forgiveness and healing, He offered such salvation freely. Yet this salvation caused Him to take on my death and punishment for sin upon His body at the cross. His death brought about my life.
Yet that death could not bind Him - He rose from the grave, and his death and resurrection as what purchased my new life.
I know I do not praise Him perfectly for this gift of salvation that should always be at the front of my mind. Maybe I am sometimes like the lepers that were healed, but still spiritually dead. Except for this, I know I am spiritually alive, because the faith God has given me does drive me back to worship Jesus. I may fail a hundred thousand times a day to properly give thanks to a perfect King who deserves perfect worship from His creation, but I do cling to the cross where I know He did give me a new life, and a new heart, and salvation from all means of leperousy, temporal and eternal. And sometimes, I even give thanks for the circumstances He has put me in, when I have a brief moment of cognitive clarity, because His salvation and healing is not for one moment, but for eternity. I pray that God would continue to change my heart to more reflect the Samaritan who praised and gave thanks to Jesus, so that it would declare the amazing grace of God to my community and the world.
There was a point in my life where I only identified myself with the one leper who gave thanks for his healing. Of course I am grateful to God for my life, my salvation, my community, my many blessings. With longer life and experience though, I suppose a humbling nature might be acquired, or maybe given is a better word, because I'm not sure we ever acquire humility of our own discourse and direction. What I mean to say with that is that now I'm aware that often I am like the 9 lepers who did not return to praise and thank Jesus for their healing. (Now, I do think that people can have varying amounts of humility through the common grace God gives humanity, but that might be a different blog post.) I think beyond that gift of common grace though, our sinful natures draw us to defend our selfish and sinful ways and hearts, and as we see in this passage, the only hope of salvation from this disease of the soul, is Jesus the King.
There have been times in my life that have been eclipsed with an overall sense of gloom, depression, and dissatisfaction. Maybe a lack of gratitude summarizes this well. But these periods have been filled with complaints, and frustrations. I would think, why am I here, God, in this uncomfortable place, and could you come and save me from it? I want deperately for my circumstances to change, whether that means another job, moving to another city, a new church, a new career, a new start at school, a new place to live, new relationships, new friendships, a boyfriend, etc etc. And I think, well, if such and such actually happened, of course I would give prasie and thanks to God.
But, that is not really the case, or at least not often the case. Here is my most recent example. Last fall I began a job with a really terrible boss. She yelled at her employees, often in front of customers, she berated those around her... I was pretty desperate for a job at all, so I stuck with it, but I trained a lot of people who decided this person was a little too... mean to work for. I was thankful for a job at all, but I wanted something else for sure.
Well, right at Christmas time, someone at church referred me to another job more in the social work field, working with individuals with developmental disabilities. And I was at first so thankful for the job! But after a few months there, I've found myself with a new list of complaints. The hours are weird, there's no gas reimbursement and I drive all over the place, I'm working more hours than I actually get paid... how quickly did my grateful heart turn to complaining? Too quickly, I admit, embarrasingly.
So, if I'm looking to my circumstances to change as my salvation, instead of to Christ as my salvation, I am always going to be disappointed. There will always be something else, something new, something different, that I will foolishly think, if I just obtain THAT, I will be happy and grateful to God for His blessings! But, who could predict that I would respond as the grateful leper over the lepers that forgot their source of life as soon as they were physically healed?
If instead I learn to look to Christ for my salvation, and if I learn to cherish Him in all circumstances, my finicky heart might start to learn to worship Christ in the middle of my circumstance. And in that discipline, I might learn to recognize His Hand over every area of my life, and adopt an attitude of gratefulness. And I pray that that would be the case.
Because truthfully, my heart was destroyed and dead in sin, and that is infinitely worse than having a flesh eating disease, for one affects my entire eternal existance, whereas the other only destroys the body. And when I begged Christ for mercy and forgiveness and healing, He offered such salvation freely. Yet this salvation caused Him to take on my death and punishment for sin upon His body at the cross. His death brought about my life.
Yet that death could not bind Him - He rose from the grave, and his death and resurrection as what purchased my new life.
I know I do not praise Him perfectly for this gift of salvation that should always be at the front of my mind. Maybe I am sometimes like the lepers that were healed, but still spiritually dead. Except for this, I know I am spiritually alive, because the faith God has given me does drive me back to worship Jesus. I may fail a hundred thousand times a day to properly give thanks to a perfect King who deserves perfect worship from His creation, but I do cling to the cross where I know He did give me a new life, and a new heart, and salvation from all means of leperousy, temporal and eternal. And sometimes, I even give thanks for the circumstances He has put me in, when I have a brief moment of cognitive clarity, because His salvation and healing is not for one moment, but for eternity. I pray that God would continue to change my heart to more reflect the Samaritan who praised and gave thanks to Jesus, so that it would declare the amazing grace of God to my community and the world.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
GCB
So... like many Americans on Sunday evening, I was glued to ABC from 8:00pm to 11:00pm. While I could pontificate the Gospel being revealed through fairy tales in Once Upon a Time, or the deadliness of sin seen in our favorite Desperate Housewives, the show that struck me as both funny with its irony yet sad in its seduction and portrayal of Christianity was GCB.
It's based on the book, and if you were wondering at all what it stands for, let's be clear - it means Good Christian Bitches.
So the name says it all... a young woman who recently lost her husband who was a con artist moves back home to her mom's house with her two teenage children. Not too exciting, except when you throw in LOTS of money, a splash of religion, a few misquoted Bible verses, and neighbors who will make your life a living hell, as if the fire and brimstone needed to start on this side of heaven for this poor woman.
Granted, the said main character was a mean bitch in high school. These woman plotting her demise are simply making up for the past. But they dress up their revenge to make it sound like the high road they wish it would be.
The show is entertaining, but it shows nothing true about Christianity, except to highlight that ALL of us are hypocrites.
There was one moment in the show I held my breath and thought, this woman is going to offer sincere forgiveness in this prayer... but the short sentances became more mud slinging and slander.
I confess... sometimes I am a bitch. It's not like I mean to be, but... I'm a woman, I have my mood swings, and hormones, and emotions that swing all over the place. I'm sometimes mean, I've shared more gossip than I'd like to admit, I can be judgemental even if I don't speak what's going on in my mind... and if it wasn't for God's grace, I'm sure I'd be much worse.
There's a humility that marks a follower of Christ. That person knows they are not perfect that in fact, they are a sinner. In fact, as you grow as a Christian, you grapple with the truth that you are entirely more sinful than you ever imagined, but you are loved by God farther and more than you could ever dream.
And that love, the perfect love that sent Christ to lay down his life for his friends, spurs Christians on to love God and love people, those around them and all over the world.
I don't know if this show will last for 6 shows or 6 seasons, but I do hope Christians will seize this cultural opportunity to share what it really means to follow Christ.
It's based on the book, and if you were wondering at all what it stands for, let's be clear - it means Good Christian Bitches.
So the name says it all... a young woman who recently lost her husband who was a con artist moves back home to her mom's house with her two teenage children. Not too exciting, except when you throw in LOTS of money, a splash of religion, a few misquoted Bible verses, and neighbors who will make your life a living hell, as if the fire and brimstone needed to start on this side of heaven for this poor woman.
Granted, the said main character was a mean bitch in high school. These woman plotting her demise are simply making up for the past. But they dress up their revenge to make it sound like the high road they wish it would be.
The show is entertaining, but it shows nothing true about Christianity, except to highlight that ALL of us are hypocrites.
There was one moment in the show I held my breath and thought, this woman is going to offer sincere forgiveness in this prayer... but the short sentances became more mud slinging and slander.
I confess... sometimes I am a bitch. It's not like I mean to be, but... I'm a woman, I have my mood swings, and hormones, and emotions that swing all over the place. I'm sometimes mean, I've shared more gossip than I'd like to admit, I can be judgemental even if I don't speak what's going on in my mind... and if it wasn't for God's grace, I'm sure I'd be much worse.
There's a humility that marks a follower of Christ. That person knows they are not perfect that in fact, they are a sinner. In fact, as you grow as a Christian, you grapple with the truth that you are entirely more sinful than you ever imagined, but you are loved by God farther and more than you could ever dream.
And that love, the perfect love that sent Christ to lay down his life for his friends, spurs Christians on to love God and love people, those around them and all over the world.
I don't know if this show will last for 6 shows or 6 seasons, but I do hope Christians will seize this cultural opportunity to share what it really means to follow Christ.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Church Membership
So... from the title of this post, one might assume that I will have a diatribe about the importance of belonging to a local body of beleivers. And I do think that is true. But really, this post is a confession. I've been attending a church off and on for over half a year now, and I have still not joined and become a part of the congregation.
It's not that I don't really like the church, I do. I think it's a very nice worship service, and that the leaders strive to make it all Christ-centered. I enjoy the music, I love taking communion together each week, the teaching is great. And I like the outreach strategy of the church, to use small groups in each neighborhood around the triad to reach out to their neighbors to bring them to know Christ.
No... I appreciate my church. And I would be one of the first people to spout off the importance of being a member of a church. But, right now at least, that would be entirely hypocritical to come out of my mouth.
One might wonder, well, Stace, if you know the importance of being a member of a church, why aren't you? I've had various excuses for my spotty attendance, and vacilated between my old church and new church. But, when the real reason I've dragged my feet about this issue arises, it haunts me.
Truth be told, I do not want to be known.
That is, I do not want to be known by new people.
Everyone wants to be known.
But honestly, I'm pretty embarrassed and humbled about where I am in life. Especially about my job, and lack of career direction.
Think about it, when you meet someone new, what's the first thing that comes out of their mouth? "Hi, I'm so and so, nice to meet you! So, what do you do?" And then, that person proceeds to size you up according to your answer, whether they are trying to or not, a certain judgement is passed.
I already struggle with feeling like a failure within the confines of my head. How much of myself do I really want to let new people see or know. Truthfully, not very much.
My church is so small though, it seems inevitiable that I will meet people...
I know you may be thinking, well, you are idolizing what other people think of you. And... that's part of the truth.
But, I'm not ready yet, to commit... I'm not ready to be known. I feel ashamed at my life the past few years, and my life now. I would be more comfortable going to a worship service that is so huge that if you don't plug in, you'll be left alone. I don't want to mingle after the worship service with new people who don't really know me. I'm part of a small group, that's about all the people I can take knowing my business, even there I wish it was less known.
Anyhow, so that was my church confession. I suppose a goal of mine within the next bit of the year will be... actually joining the church. Actually becoming a covenant partner. I'll let you know how it goes.
It's not that I don't really like the church, I do. I think it's a very nice worship service, and that the leaders strive to make it all Christ-centered. I enjoy the music, I love taking communion together each week, the teaching is great. And I like the outreach strategy of the church, to use small groups in each neighborhood around the triad to reach out to their neighbors to bring them to know Christ.
No... I appreciate my church. And I would be one of the first people to spout off the importance of being a member of a church. But, right now at least, that would be entirely hypocritical to come out of my mouth.
One might wonder, well, Stace, if you know the importance of being a member of a church, why aren't you? I've had various excuses for my spotty attendance, and vacilated between my old church and new church. But, when the real reason I've dragged my feet about this issue arises, it haunts me.
Truth be told, I do not want to be known.
That is, I do not want to be known by new people.
Everyone wants to be known.
But honestly, I'm pretty embarrassed and humbled about where I am in life. Especially about my job, and lack of career direction.
Think about it, when you meet someone new, what's the first thing that comes out of their mouth? "Hi, I'm so and so, nice to meet you! So, what do you do?" And then, that person proceeds to size you up according to your answer, whether they are trying to or not, a certain judgement is passed.
I already struggle with feeling like a failure within the confines of my head. How much of myself do I really want to let new people see or know. Truthfully, not very much.
My church is so small though, it seems inevitiable that I will meet people...
I know you may be thinking, well, you are idolizing what other people think of you. And... that's part of the truth.
But, I'm not ready yet, to commit... I'm not ready to be known. I feel ashamed at my life the past few years, and my life now. I would be more comfortable going to a worship service that is so huge that if you don't plug in, you'll be left alone. I don't want to mingle after the worship service with new people who don't really know me. I'm part of a small group, that's about all the people I can take knowing my business, even there I wish it was less known.
Anyhow, so that was my church confession. I suppose a goal of mine within the next bit of the year will be... actually joining the church. Actually becoming a covenant partner. I'll let you know how it goes.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Kissy Lane
This past Thursday my mom and I did one of the saddest things I've ever had to do in life... we brought our beloved dog Kissy to be put to sleep. Kissy was the queen of the house. She was spoiled and pampered as many dogs are. I loved her so much. I am going to miss her. When I walk into the house... there is this strange stillness. I know I'm not going to be finding Kissy to play with her, and she will not be jumping down to greet me at the door. I won't be able to pet her, hold her... I won't be going on walks with her anymore. I remember one time, I thought it would be a great idea for Kissy to come jog the neighborhood with me! What a terrible idea for a miniature poodle who has not built any long distance stamina! She couldn't jump on the couch for 3 days she was so sore!
So that is that. I don't like not having a pet. It's lonelier. (Yes, I wrote lonelier instead of more lonely.) I'm sure in the future I will have another dog to share life with.
But no dog can replace Kissy, and the memories she has in my heart.
As my wise friend Sarah Pruitt texted to encourage me, one day we will live in a world where death no longer exists! And I think that is hard for me to wrap my mind around. Life without death... the way it was intended... before the fall of mankind into sin...
So even the loss of a dear dog points me to Christ, who conquered the grave through his triumphant resurrection, and reminds me to pray for the Lord to return soon.
Yes, I miss Kissy. I loved her so much. She was one of God's many blessings in my life.
"every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17
So that is that. I don't like not having a pet. It's lonelier. (Yes, I wrote lonelier instead of more lonely.) I'm sure in the future I will have another dog to share life with.
But no dog can replace Kissy, and the memories she has in my heart.
As my wise friend Sarah Pruitt texted to encourage me, one day we will live in a world where death no longer exists! And I think that is hard for me to wrap my mind around. Life without death... the way it was intended... before the fall of mankind into sin...
So even the loss of a dear dog points me to Christ, who conquered the grave through his triumphant resurrection, and reminds me to pray for the Lord to return soon.
Yes, I miss Kissy. I loved her so much. She was one of God's many blessings in my life.
"every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17
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