Movies

In our visual driven society, I thought it would be good to talk a little about movies. I'm just starting this list, and I've seen many more that do not need to be mentioned.

Son of God

Notes to myself after watching: Media shortens history to fit it into a nice packaged time frame. So much more could be done. We should play out every verse of scripture. It demands that much attention, that much thought, like a movie production. That much consideration of the truth and context of each word, parable, lesson, history, and life. Put yourself in each place. God is speaking to you. His words are living and active (Hebrews 4:12). He is all around you. Is that comforting or creepy? Depends who's side you're on.

Let scripture stand. Do not add, do not subtract (Revelation 22:18-19). Imagination is helpful for application, not for explanation.

Let the Spirit of God's word fill you. I do not desire this broken world, but God's will. It is freeing. God is everything and all we need. Act in the Spirit. Follow the Spirit. Keep in step wherever He leads. God's will is good.

Courageous

A movie about fatherhood. I've never cried so much. If you are a father of girls, brace yourself.

THE RESOLUTION

I DO solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ---Joshua 24:15

Godspell

OK, this one is actually a musical, but I thought I should save my notes about it. I've never seen Godspell. I've only done a little research, so I may be way off. The musical seems to be focused on community and tolerance, perhaps a morality focus, and finding humor in God's word. Originally written by John-Michael Tebelak, the script seems to be a gut reaction after attending a joyless catholic Easter service. Wikipedia (I know not always accurate, but it gets pretty close) indicates that Tebelak was a practicing homosexual, and died the day I was born due to a heart attack. A heart attack at that age usually indicates drug use, but I did not verify this. Tebelak doesn't seem to be the type of guy that I want to follow. Stephen Schwartz composed new songs to the musical and took it mainstream. He himself promotes the themes of community and tolerance in this Q&A document (page 2) and he doesn't seem to believe in Jesus as Savior of the world, only as a good teacher (also page 2). After researching this a bit, I'm not excited to see this. I'm not saying it couldn't be done well, but I think the director would have to take considerable liberties in order to align the musical with God's word.