Bitterness vs. Forgiveness

~An Unfinished Life (PG-13) In my opinion this is a fantastic movie/story.  In the real world my opinion may not count for much, but on my blog it's the most important one found. :) The acting performances by Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman are timeless and honestly... Jennifer Lopez isn't half bad either.  The story unfolds like the mystery of some dirty little secret.  It's the merging of several realistic chronicles, which form a captivating film.  Strained relationships, harboring bitterness, extending forgiveness and standing strong are themes that shine through.  It's a prime example that you don't need steamy sex scenes, graphic violence or fancy parlor tricks to make a fantastic movie. The two things I wanted to highlight are bitterness and forgiveness.  Einar Gilkyson (Redford) shows the audience the effects of harboring bitterness in your heart.  Einar has become a cold and ridged man with a broken but very hard heart.  The past tragedy he's had to deal with is no doubt painful and seems impossible to overcome.  As the film unfolds you piece together the event that has changed his life and it's easy to see why Einar is bitter.  Throughout the motion picture you see that Einar's bitterness has made him a very unhappy man and often unpleasant to be around. The other highlight I want to bring forth is the element of forgiveness.  This bit was also peppered throughout the movie and you are able to see the seeds of forgiveness planted in Einar's heart.  Many of these seeds were stomped out by the powerful root of bitterness he had allowed to consume his heart.  However, the persistence of forgiveness started to pierce the surface and slowly began to change Einar's heart.  We see that forgiveness is something we all need.  We need to forgive others along with ourselves.  It is the path to healing broken hearts and repairing shattered relationships.  Forgiveness is the life-breath of restoration. The same is true when it comes to the Christian life.  Forgiveness is the basis of our faith.  God has offered each and every one of us the forgiveness we need through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.(a)  The difference with this forgiveness(b) is that God's forgiveness doesn't take time to materialize, it is instant.  When you accept the truth of Jesus Christ(c) and confess Him as Lord and Savior of your life, you are forgiven right then and there.(d)  When we choose to forgive another person, often choosing to forgive is only the beginning of the path to true forgiveness. Bitterness is the arch enemy of forgiveness, but given the chance, forgiveness will always win out in the end... and healthy happy lives are the result. a: John 15:13; b: Ephesians 1:7-8; c: Romans 10:9-10; d: 1 John 1:9

Come Together

Coach Boone:  This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg.  Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today.  This green field right here, painted red, bubblin' with the blood of young boys.  Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies.  Listen to their souls, men.  I killed my brother with malice in my heart.  Hatred destroyed my family.  You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead.  If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were.  I don't care if you like each other or not, but you will respect each other.  And maybe...  I don't know, maybe we'll learn to play this game like men. ~quote from Remember the Titans (PG) Remember the Titans is near if not right at the top of my all-time favorite movie list.  Denzel is incredible as Coach Boone and the story itself is an amazing one.  The messages sent in this movie are as or more powerful than the crushing hits you see on the playing field.  It's something special to see people come together in the midst of difficult circumstances and that's what this movie is all about. In the day where segregation was normal, two high schools were combined.  One school was all white and the other was all black.  The story is of the football team of that now combined school and how they overcame racial odds to have one of the best teams in history.  There was much struggle and teammates were often at each other's throats, but when they finally came together and started working as a team... amazing things started to happen.  The above speech Coach Boone gave to his team was one of the turning points in the story.  He inspired those young men to put aside their differences and work as a unit. I believe the church of today could use the same message.  Often we are at each other's throats instead of working together in unity.(a)  We point fingers and put other's failures on display to show the world how much better we are.(b)  Sadly, this is not the church Jesus had in mind when he spoke of the Kingdom.(c)  It's not the church he was thinking of when He chose to sacrifice His life for us.(d)  We won't spread the gospel with hate... it's about love. If we don't come together... we too will be destroyed.  We don't have to like each other, but we must respect one another.  And maybe... just maybe we'll reach the world with the love of God. a: Ephesians 4:3; b: Matthew 7:3-5; c: Matthew 24:14; d: John 19:30

What Really Matters

Robert Langdon:  What really matters is what you believe. ~quote from The Da Vinci Code (PG-13) The Da Vinci Code has to be one of the most controversial fiction novels in recent history and the film was no different.  I never read the book, but being the movie nut I am... I had to see the film.  It was very interesting and thought provoking and it's pretty easy to see the red flags this story raises.  I guess that's the key... can you see the red flags for what they are, or are you caught up in the story and begin to change your beliefs... this is the dilemma that has many Christians jumping from their seats and condemning Da Vinci Code. Robert Langdon, played by Tom Hanks, voices what is supposed to be a very profound statement near the end of the film... "What really matters is what you believe."  It sure sounds good and it really isn't too far from the truth.  However, the context of the quote implies that it "really doesn't matter what you believe in as long as you believe... everyone is different and everyone is going to believe in different things... but it's ok".  Oh, it sounds so good, but it's still far off. Certainly it really does matter what you believe, but more importantly it matters in whom you believe... in whom you place your trust.  There are many, many people who believe in God and for them the buck stops there.  This sounds good and all, and most of us can accept that God exists, is all powerful, created the world(a) and has heaven waiting for us.... however, often the way(b) He provided for all mankind to spend eternity with Him there is missed. So many people think it's good enough to believe in God and "live a good life" for their passage through the pearly gates.  Or worse, people believe if they believe in a god... after all there is just one God, it really doesn't matter what name you give Him... come on now.  The bottom line was carved at the cross where Jesus Christ was crucified.(c)  The bottom line was sealed for eternity when, three days later, Jesus rose from the grave and conquered death.(d)  This line doesn't move and there is no compromise.(e)  The gate is narrow(f) and passage is gained only through faith in Jesus Christ.  Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart in His resurrection... that's what really matters.(g) a: Genesis 1:1; b: John 14:6; c: Hebrews 12:2; d: Luke 24:6; e: Acts 4:12; f: Matthew 7:13-14; g: Romans 10:9-10

Bang!

Danny Archer:  Over there, it's bling bling.  But out here it's bling bang. ~quote from Blood Diamond (R) My wife and I watched this movie recently and it raised a few questions for me.  However, before I get to that I want to say that this film is very well done and worth a viewing if you can handle the graphic violence contained in this motion picture canister. The quote only slightly tells the tale of the brutality throughout the African land.  I'm certain the film only allows us to catch a glimpse of what really has and most likely still does take place amidst the red sands.  The hatred and shear lack of respect for human life is utterly clear.  For me it was incomprehensible the manner in which they so freely shed the blood of their brothers and sisters of the land... and even though killing is nothing new to the history of this world, something seemed different about this.  It wasn't the brutality; I've seen other films and read other things which depict just as, if not a greater level of man's brutality.  It was the heartless almost whimsical way men, women and children were gunned down in a blaze. The bible speaks of having God's commands written on our hearts.(a,b)  The desire to do good, to serve God and keep His commandments is hidden somewhere in the heart of man.  In this film, you could see it in the eyes of the children who were taught to kill.  It took time, but eventually enough confusion, hatred and deceitfulness was imparted to deaden the conscience.  Soon, the trigger was pulled without a second thought.  At a point in the film you see that the conscience which was once covered still remains and with love and patience it can and will be restored. The other thought which my wife and I both shared was in regards to forgiveness.  Could God forgive such men?  Looking into the eyes of the children you could find sympathy for them, after all they were taught to kill.  It didn't seem too hard to imagine forgiveness extended to them.  But shifting the focus to those men who seemed to be evil to the core.  They were the ones who imparted the brutal, heartless killer instinct into these children.  Not only where they ones who pulled the trigger, but they corrupted nearly a whole generation.  My heart could not grasp the idea of forgiveness for these men, but my mind continued to ponder. The bible is pretty clear... if you believe in Jesus Christ, His live, death and resurrection and accept Him as Lord and Savior, you will be saved.(c)  Certainly they did no lead righteous lives, but through accepting God's gift of His Son, it is His righteousness which covers.(d)  Because of God's faithfulness, He will forgive those who ask.(e) My feeble mind can't grasp the idea of this kind of forgiveness, but for God it's all the same.  Whether I stole a pack of gum at the grocery store, or robbed the vault of a multimillion dollar bank... both are sin, both are forgivable.  Whether I spoke poorly of my father, or pulled the trigger and kills hundreds... both are sin, both are forgivable.  Forgiveness is not dependent upon man's ability to be forgiven, but upon God's ability to forgive. a: Jeremiah 31:33; b: Romans 2:12-15; c: Romans 10:9-10; d: Romans 3:22-24; e: 1 John 1:9 (thought history)

Take Everything!

King Leonidas:  Give them nothing!  But take from them everything!  ~quote from 300 (R) In getting back on the writing horse I wanted to write about a more recent movie, but this particular thought has been circling in my mind far too long to wait any longer… I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and I loved the “never back down” attitude King Leonidas had in leading his people – this man oozed with strength and courage.  The computer generated art direction is ground-breaking – a visually stunning spectacle.  Aside from the actors, everything you see is computer-generated, including the blood-spatter – which there is plenty of.  However, when watching this film, it’s as if the violence is fake at times; which isn’t really a bad thing.  It’s as if this film was made with the idea of making art rather than shock-value.  However, even with this in mind, 300 is extremely violent and most certainly NOT for those who don’t like such films.  If you’re looking for a testosterone fueled fix, 300 will certainly do. King Leonidas was a warrior.  He led with passion and never backed down without a fight.  At times his fire painted more a picture of madness than leadership, but make no mistake – his men loved him and gladly followed to the very end.  The quote I chose from the movie to highlight here comes from a moment in which his men are about to engage their enemy.  “Give them nothing!  But take from them everything!”  These words, barked in the king’s raspy voice, instilled courage in his men to the core, and set the stage for victory.  They also got me thinking about the battles we face in life, particularly the battle all men face against the devil. Believe it or not the devil, our enemy, is real.(a, b)  Perhaps not the red, pointy-eared, pitchfork wielding caricature we’re accustomed too, but his existence is real – living a life ignoring this fact only puts you in a more vulnerable position.  Still, this truth is only the beginning – knowing is only half the battle.  We need to be armed against our enemy, and unless you have accepted the salvation God provided through His Son, Jesus Christ(c) – you’re set up for defeat.  It’s like bringing a white flag to a gun fight – you’ve given up before you even start. For those who have accepted God’s free gift of salvation the power is available to win the battle.  Sadly, many who have the power don’t bother to use it – instead giving away everything without a fight.  We need to reverse our thinking(d); take a stand(e), never back down without a fight.  The good news here is victory, through Christ, is inevitable.(f)  The weapons of warfare here are not of flesh, but are divinely powerful for destroying the fortresses of the enemy in your life.(g)  If the devil has a foothold(h) – don’t allow him to continue robbing you of victory!  Give the devil nothing, but take from him everything!(i)  The Blood of Jesus is FAR more powerful than anything the devil can muster – if you’re covered by the Blood of Jesus, His power is surging through you.(j)  If the devil has stole from you, stand firm(k) and take it back! a: Revelation 12:9; b: 1 Peter 5:8; c: Romans 10:9-10; d: Romans 12:2; e: James 4:7; f: 1 Corinthians 15:57; g: 2 Corinthians 10:3-4; h: Ephesians 4:27; i: Luke 10:19; j: Colossians 1:25-27; k: Ephesians 6:11; (thought history)