On the Incarnation

 I will admit the incarnation of Jesus Christ is not an easy piece of theology to wrap our heads around. There are a few things we do know, but a lot that needs to be taken with a dose of faith and humility. As human beings we will not be able to have all of the answers in terms of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, however, there are many things we can take away from this miracle that will greatly impact our walk in 2014. Here are a few things to consider and pray about.

1) The incarnation of Jesus Christ was foretold long ago. Many Old Testament prophecies align directly with the birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ. Some of the most applicable prophecies surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ are Micah's prophecy in Micah 5 that Jesus will be born in Bethlehem and in Isaiah 7 where it is prophesied that a virgin will give birth. Is this the way it had to be done? Did God have to enter into humanity is such a humble, but yet miraculous way? Well, sadly my answer is, "I don't know." I do think the prophecies served the purpose of showing and allowing the people of God to see that when the Messiah who they've been waiting for generations will come these are the signs to look for. God could have entered the scene whenever God chose to, but there's a good chance people would not have recognized God. The prophecies are important, but they should always be subservient to the one they are prophesying about.

2) The incarnation shows that God is literally crazy about knowing human beings. I will tell you this don't try and rationalize the incarnation of Jesus Christ. First of all, it's a mistake in my mind to try and and wrap your brain around why God does what God does. However, the point I'm trying to make is that the incarnation is God's ticket into a deep, close, personal relationship with every human being who desires one with God. There's no other way to wrap your mind around it other than to say that God wants to know and empathize with human beings, so God became one. Now, I will say there is the issue of sin and its consequences, and that truly is one of the major things Jesus Christ took care of with His death and resurrection. However, if sin never happened, and I believe it would have eventually, could God really relate fully to human beings without becoming one of them? Well, that question is tough to answer, the great, amazing truth is that God did to become one of them and surely that is some of the best news of all human history.

3) God can do both. In theological circles many folks have debated how could Jesus be both fully man and fully God at the same time? Well, there aren't any other examples of a God/Man walking around in our society today, so there really is nothing or no one to compare Jesus to. However, with God I firmly believe all things are possible. I challenge you to have the faith and belief knowing that your God walked this earth as a complete human being and complete God at the same time.

4) The incarnation gives way to reconciliation. The Apostle Paul speaks clearly about God's goal for humanity in 2 Corinthians 5 when he says that God is reconciling the world to himself in Jesus Christ. Sin broke the relationship between God and humans in the Garden of Eden. The goal of all human history is for God and humans to once again be reunited in a full, close relationship. The incarnation is a key piece in making this happen. This new year I hope you rejoice in the truth knowing that God came to you and God continues to come to you.

On the Season of Advent

   The season of Advent is one of my favorite times of year. The excitement and anticipation are great and even truly life changing at times. Advent in being observed is a time of expectant waiting, for something amazing to happen: the birth of Jesus Christ. It's a time that church and ministry leaders earnestly and pray that all laity would take seriously, because Advent has the potential to be a time of amazing spiritual growth. In looking at Advent there are many great spiritual truths to pull out of this amazing holiday. I've listed three below.

1) We all are waiting for something. Let's face it we as human beings know how to wait. We wait in line, for promotions, we're put on hold, we sit in traffic, we wait for phone calls, emails, text messages, and the list can go on and on. So, we know how to wait and anticipate what's coming. But, do our expectations normally line up when reality hits when the waiting is over? The answer is not always. But, Advent is a whole different experience all together, we wait and wait, but in Advent our expectations are blown away by the truth that God is among us. Our expectations haven't been let down, but my hope is that in waiting for Advent they have been blown-up all over again! Know that we all wait for someone or something, and this Advent season I hope you realize waiting for Jesus to come as a baby will never let you down!

2) The message and hope of Advent is for all people. A lot of what our society throws our way is designed to exclude people. People are often excluded because they don't have enough money, don't look right, don't act right, don't say the right things, aren't educated enough, don't have the right title attached to their name, and I think you understand/get the point. Exclusions are everywhere. But, the joy of Christmas and one of the many things that sets this amazing time apart is that no one excluded from rejoicing in the incredible truth that God has come to live among us. This message excludes no one, and for that amazing truth I say praise God!

3) Advent signalizes that the best is yet to come. I was having a conversation onetime a person who was a known agnostic, and they lamented to me saying that how upset and depressed they were because their life was as good as it was going to get. What an incredibly sad way to live! The baby in the manger signalizes an amazing truth: God is not okay with allowing us to remain in our, God wants to do something about it. God is not okay with us walking in the hurtful moments of life alone, God wants to experience them so God can walk with us. The baby in the manger is God's message to us that the best is yet to come, God wants to be with us, and one we will all be with God forever where there are no more tears, pain, hurt, or sin! This Christmas season no matter where you're at rejoice and know that the best is yet to come!

On the Hunger Games: Catching Fire

You may never have read the books or seen the first movie, but I'm fairly certain you've heard about The Hunger Games. This trilogy of books was written by Suzanne Collins, and it chronicles a time that is supposed to be futuristic in nature. To give you the context of her novels: there was an uprising against the capital over seventy years ago. The capital crushed the rebellion, separated people into districts, and each year held a Hunger Games to remind the citizens of the country what the rebellion cost them.

The Hunger Games are an annual event that require one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts: twenty-four participants in all, to try and kill each other and avoid being killed. The games are held as a reminder/punishment not to rebel against the capital.

In this the second movie of what everyone is saying will be four movies, Katniss and Peta from District 12 (the poorest district in the country), are going on their victory tour after being victors in the 74th annual Hunger Games from the year before. The President of the nation, President Snow, is worried that Katniss' behavior in the Hunger Games is giving people hope and a cause for rebellion. This worries the President, and he assures her that her behavior must change. If you combine that with Katniss' and Peta's fake love story, Katniss' real love for Gail, and the fact that after the victory tour President Snow's see LOTS of signs of rebellion, you know trouble is coming. Well, to prevent a war/revolution from starting President Snow and the Head Games Maker introduce a Quarter-Quell for the 75th Hunger Games. The quarter quell would bring back previous Hunger Games winners from each district to face off in another round of the Hunger Games! Well, that brings Katniss and Peta back to the Hunger Games again!

Be prepared to witness acts of bravery and self-sacrifice as Katniss and Peta struggle to stay alive in this most fierce, intense round of the Hunger Games. I'll stop the story synopsis right there and let you know that you have to watch the movie to find out how it ends!

It is important to look at movies through a Christian lens, and for all of us as followers of Jesus to analyze and interpret the messages that media sends us. First, of all let me be clear that the Bible clearly tells us that we should not kill, murder, or take life. Now, some of you may be asking, "What about in times of war?" Well, that issue gets a little more sticky, and I will say that's not what's going on here. So, please if you see the movie or know a young person who has seen the movie please tell them it's not real and what they're doing in the Hunger Games by killing each other is very wrong. I think we as Christians need to protect, celebrate, and value life, and please tell your young person that's not what they're doing.

Point two to look at when watching Catching Fire, is that this movie is very good at showing how awful and how good humanity can become. The fact that anyone would enter into a situation and kill someone else for no reason other than they don't want to be killed is awful. What is even worse is that a government would regularly set these games up and people would watch them for entertainment! It kind of reminds you of what the ancient Romans did to Christians. But, the movies do show people looking out for each other, encouraging each other, and sticking with each other through very tough times, which do show the movie goer the better side of humanity. The quote from Edmund Burke is so true that evil thrives when good people do nothing.

Finally, I want to encourage you after watching the movie. Be involved in what goes on in our society. Be a reasonable voice for good and change in our society. Pray for your government officials. Take time to vote in elections. Look to help others in need. Let your family know that you love them and pray for them. Above, all fall in love with Jesus. Because, it is truly only Jesus that changes things, people, and reality. Catching Fire is a fictional glimpse at what could become reality if good people don't live bold, unashamed lives for God.

In terms of quality of movie, I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. The acting was good, special effects, make-up, and costumes were amazing! The dialogue in my opinion was a tad weak.

I give it 2.5 out of five stars in terms of family friendliness. It has some scary scenes, violent images, and a few cases of alcohol and language. Until next time, happy movie going!

On Thanksgiving

Abraham Lincoln left an incredible legacy for the American people in 1863 when he declared that we should spend a day giving thanks for what God has blessed us with. In my honest humble opinion this was an incredible legacy and a holiday that we as Christians should take very seriously. One of the big mistakes I think a lot of people make, and I most certainly include myself in this camp, is that we see Thanksgiving as only a time for food and football. My challenge to you this year is to see Thanksgiving as something more. Here are a few thoughts and perspective I have on arguably one of my favorite holidays.

1) Make a list of your blessings. It is funny that we as human beings can very easily recall areas in life where we feel disappointed and let down. We might think that we don't drive a nice enough car, don't have a big enough IRA, aren't as successful as we'd hope to be, or that relationship we'd been counting on just didn't work out. The list can go on and on and on. But, the truth is you have been blessed. If you're reading this right now, that means you've been blessed enough to afford a computer, Internet, and you've been blessed with the knowledge that directed you here. A lot of folks all over the world don't have access to things we take for granted like the Internet. So, I'm writing all of this not to make you feel bad. I want to highlight that you've been blessed. Thank the people who have been a blessing to you this Thanksgiving and pray for those who frustrate you. Lists of your blessings in visible sight will serve as a powerful reminder that you truly are blessed.

2) Live a life that is filled with gratefulness. One of the saddest things I've seen in my life is Christians who are so upset and miserable that it absolutely breaks my heart. Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, states that we need to give thanks in everything. This is not just an incredible command, but also a lifestyle that I believe all Christians need to emulate. We as Christians need to be some of the most grateful people in the world, because we serve a God who wants to know and for us to know Him! This is one of the best pieces of news that we've ever heard! Be grateful for what God has done and is doing.

3) Thanksgiving should also be a time of giving. The sad reality is there are a lot of people who don't have enough to eat or live on in our world today. I would encourage you this Thanksgiving to be faithful to what God has laid on your heart to do in response to those who don't have enough. Because, the reality is you won't be able to do everything, but you can do something. Our world is broken, but we as Christians know how to bring healing into the world, and it's not just through giving and providing: it's through giving and providing all in the name of Jesus. I hope this Thanksgiving is extra special for you and your family. We'll be back in December.

On loving your enemies

I will admit this is one of those phrases that I really, really wish Jesus had never said. This is in Christianity where the rubber really meets the road! Because let's face it there are a lot of people at our work, in our schools, in our neighborhoods, and in our lives who really grate on us socially, emotionally, and sometimes even physically!

So, the question remains what is Jesus really asking us to do and why is he asking to do it? Well, I will begin by telling you this what Jesus is asking is not easy, but it's something if we really follow and take the words of Jesus seriously we have to do. One might be asking where exactly is this coming from? Well, I will say this Jesus doesn't address our need to love our enemies as much as he addresses our need to care for the poor, but he does say this very squeamish quote in a few places. One of the most notable is Luke 6:27-28, "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

1) God desires all to be united. This is one of the driving principles of the Kingdom of Heaven and God's goal for all of human history. 2 Corinthians 5:19 states that God was and is reconciling the world to himself! That means everyone is being reconciled to God! To put it nice and simply, what God is doing is repairing and restoring all of human beings broken relationship to God. At the end of time, I am firmly convinced that God doesn't want anyone to be separate from God. Unity is important in the Kingdom of Heaven and likewise it should be just as important for us as well. It may not be easy at all for us to love and pray for our enemies, but as followers of Jesus that's what we're called to do.

2) We're called to look different than the world. Jesus said many times that we're called to love those who hate us and do good to those who won't be able to do good for us in return. The world expects you to hate your enemies. The world expects you to do good to those who can in turn, return the favor. What Jesus is saying: be different from the world. Let your shine, let people in the world see and claim, "There's something different about them!" It's not easy and sometimes the road is lonely, but it's what we as followers of Jesus need to do!

3) Finally, you may be asking yourselves how do I do this? Well, there's not a scientific formula or one size fits all model unfortunately. But, there is a crucial first step, and this where I hope you take this from here: we all can begin praying for our enemies. I just know there is someone in your life, in your family, at your work, or even in your neighborhood who needs prayer and God is tugging at the strings of your heart to speak kindly and graciously with them. My hope is that you today make a commitment and effort to love and reach out to the enemies in your life, not because it's easy or convenient, but because it's what Jesus would have you do.

On Bullying

This is a continuation of the discussion we had Sunday night in youth group. I hope that we can continue to be a voice and encouragement for those both in our community and our society who feel bullied and continued to be bullied by others. We had this lesson/discussion immediately proceeding a lesson on salvation and our aim in doing this lesson was to encourage our young people that one of the best ways to live out their salvation was to stand up for those who are bullied and oppressed in our societies. Here are a few things to draw from what we learned.

1) Bullying is far greater than on the bus- One of the big mistakes people can make is to believe that bullying stops after high school. We challenged our students to see bullying as one person exerting an unfair advantage over another. So, the truth is bullying happens a lot in our society. It happens when the employer or person in advantage takes advantage of someone without a voice or person of influence in our society. Sex trafficking, discrimination, gossip, lies, and the list can go on and on about people getting bullied in our society. One of the first steps we as Christians need to do is to educate people and allow them to see that bullying goes in our society in many ways and that if we as followers of Jesus Christ really take him seriously we need to be intentional about standing up against bullying in our society.

2) In Luke 15- Jesus tells three really powerful stories about things that were lost and become found. With the most powerful story being the Prodigal Son. But, right before the stories, the teachers of the law come up to Jesus and say that He is a man who eats with sinners and the unrighteous. What a comment, but essentially without going into it full blown, they described Jesus as someone who associated with those who are bullied. What a thing to be said about Jesus, and what if it was said about us: that we were people who welcomed all into our church, home, and life?

3) Finally, we want to be people who recognize and understand the solution. I will be the first to tell you, the solution to this problem is far greater than one person, one idea, or one church. But, that should not stop us from looking at issues in life and doing our best to make right the people who have been wronged in our society. One of the valuable first steps is to understand that power and wisdom come through prayer. Before acting first pray, and seek what God would you have do right here and right now. There's value and insight to be gained in prayer, and I hope that all of us would relish in the fact that we can do something to make right all the wrongs in our society. 

On the Dependability of Scripture

This might be the million dollar question! How, can we be sure that the what Bible is telling us is true and reliable today? Is what we read in the Bible able to deal with issues and problems that we often face in our high-tech world? Well, this blog post may be one of the most important posts I've made yet. Because, we believe 100% that the Bible is relevant and applicable for today. Here's are just a few things we need to understand when looking at just how dependable is the word of God.

1) The Bible revolves around ordinary people who are dealing with normal "life" circumstances:
  Please don't ever make the mistake and think that the people who make and star in the pages of scripture are any different than you. That would be a terrible mistake for you to make! We often view folks such as David, Moses, Noah, Ruth, and Hannah as people who are far greater and grander than we are. In fact the opposite is true, these often were people who were down and out, people who didn't have a lot to offer society. These people were so inspiring, so transforming, because was able to work in mighty ways in their lives. So, the question remains is God able to work in your life? Is what God wants, God's priorities, God's desires, God's goals, and God's mission greater than your's? That's a tough question for many of us to answer, but what the Bible is all about is making God's desires greater than your own. God was able to move and use ordinary people because these people placed their desires on the back burner.

2) The Bible isn't designed to answer every life question:
  The word of God can often get a bad rap because people will ask or say something like, "The Bible doesn't even talk about this or that, it must not be reliable." Which, it is true that Bible doesn't cover all of life's questions or answers. As a future father, I really wish the Bible would be tell me how to put on a diaper. It unfortunately doesn't do that. However, the Bible does do something and it does it very, very well the Bible's purpose isn't to answer every life question. Rather, it's purpose is to inspire and show you how to fall in love with Jesus and change your heart to Jesus' heart. If the Bible gave you every answer to every question you wouldn't need to have faith, and as we all know that kind of is important.

3) The Bible addresses and shows humans how to fill their deepest need:
  Thousands of years into the future everything will more than likely be different than what you and I are used to today, but one thing will not change: human beings are sinful and they need a savior. The Bible addresses the most important part of the human story, we as human beings need Jesus. Without Jesus life we're missing what brings us true satisfaction, true joy, and true contentment. Without Jesus we'll never experience amazing grace, perfect love, and unending forgiveness. The Bible is and will still be relevant in the future because it shows and allows humans to meet their most basic need: for a Savior.

On Grace

This is arguably one of the easiest posts to writes but one of the toughest to wrap your brain around. I will begin my post by saying that grace is a truth of which I am eternally grateful, but I will never understand fully how it works. Looking at grace many people would define grace in the terms of unmerited favor. Grace is something that we sing about often in our churches, read about often in our Bibles, and we hear a lot about in spiritual conversation, but the question have we really been grabbed by grace? Has grace really changed us? Here are a few things for us to consider when looking at grace.

1) Grace is a past joy and present reality-One of the struggles a lot of us have in our Christian existence is maintaining a high level of spiritual enthusiasm throughout your Christian life. Most of us live through the spiritual highs and ride those highs until the next spiritual high. A lot of us in our spiritual lives live and relish in past moments and past glories. What I'm saying is that we need to seek the presence, face, and touch of God in the present. God spoke to and grabbed us in the past, and what's not to say that God still doesn't want to know us, love us, and shower us with His grace in the present? Grace is a present reality. Pray for it. Crave it. Desire it. Set aside your own inhibitions, ideas, and prejudices when you enter worship. Pray with the confidence and desire knowing that God will bring His grace and love to you in the present.

2) Know that God is for you- Joy should be woven into the fabric of our Christian existence. We serve and worship a God who is absolutely crazy about us! Grace is clearly shown on the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. That act on Calvary's hill is the Lord of the universe telling everyone for all times and all places that I am for you. I'm giving you an incredible gift which you don't deserve, and you can't earn, but I'm 100% crazy about you! Many people make the mistake of basing God's opinion on them through the lens of their own circumstances or what is happening in the world. The sad reality is that paints a very false picture of God. God weeps when you hurt, is there when you're alone, and is sometimes your only support in the midst of life's greatest struggles. If you don't get anything else from this entire blog, please get this God is for you. If he weren't then the Cross would have never happened.

3) Grace is the message and the lifestyle- One of the best ways to communicate this message of grace powerfully is to live what you're saying. With that being said we as Christians need to understand that the Kingdom of God and a seat at the Lord's table are for all people. We very easily don't want to or don't associate with those who make us feel uncomfortable, and the sad reality is that can often carry over into our spiritual existence. Learn to live a lifestyle filled with grace, have someone keep you accountable as you strive to live into a more graceful lifestyle.

Remember grace changes everything! It's amazing and it's for you.

On Heaven

  One of the things I think we don't talk about enough is Heaven. We talk a lot about the temporary, the present, but we often forget to talk about and dwell on eternity, and our eternal destination: Heaven. Heaven is one of life's great mysteries, which this writer believes and holds true will be well worth the wait. There are many things we don't know about Heaven, but there are a few we do. The following ideas that follow are a Christian perspective on Heaven.

1) Heaven is a reality where God is said to dwell-Numerous examples throughout the Old Testament show that God dwells in Heaven, gives gifts from Heaven, is worshiped in Heaven, and the list can go on and on and on. A lot happens in Heaven. One of the main things we want you to understand is that Heaven is the ultimate destination of your future. That destination won't change, cannot be altered, isn't affected by your circumstances, and it's a place you can never be taken away from. Be comforted and assured that no matter what your government does, your children get into, your bank account reads, etc. Your citizenship in Heaven cannot be taken away from you!

2) The Kingdom of Heaven is here but not fully realized- This is not an easy thing for people to understand. When you arrive at a party or at work you are totally 100% there and fully realized. But, it can be tough to see how something is here but not fully realized. One thing we know for sure, the Kingdom of Heaven is directly tied to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Throughout his earthly ministry Jesus preached for sinners to repent for the Kingdom is near or at hand. We believe that the Kingdom will be fully realized in the second coming, but we do see glimpses of the Kingdom right now. When a marriage comes back together after being on the brinks, the Kingdom shows. When someone sacrificially gives to others who are hungry, tired, cold, or thirsty, the Kingdom shows. When someone who has been controlled or addicted by external forces gives that up and pursues help, the Kingdom shows. When children talk innocently and plainly about their faith and trust in God, the Kingdom shows. The list can go on and on and on. But, I think you get my point.

3) The Kingdom is our message- One of the biggest things I hear in fear of evangelism is people don't know what to say or are afraid they'll say something wrong. My best advice share the message Jesus shared. The kingdom of God has come and is for everyone. Jesus is not distant, impersonal, or doesn't care, Jesus Christ the Son of God has come to bring the Kingdom to it full reality and it will be a day you won't want to miss! That's the message the world needs to hear.

On Syria

  A wise women once told me, "Brian, if you want to lose all of your friends start talking about religion or politics." Well, I most certainly don't want to lose all my friends, but there are certain issues in our society that just cannot be swept under the rug, and I believe the escalating tension in Syria is most certainly one of those issues. I hope that we as Christians and those who may be seeking can learn and grow together in our understanding of some very difficult/complex issues that a lot of us must go through. Let me be clear before we dive into this post, I'm not looking to solve the Syrian crisis or state which way or another that US troops should or shouldn't go. I'm looking to offer some perspective on the issue through a Christian point of view. Here are just a few things that come to mind when looking at Syria.

1) This is a crisis that involves human beings.
  When we are detached from a situation it can become very easy to lose the personal effect of the situation. We are blessed to live in the United States of America, and the situation that is going on in Syria right now is very foreign to us. Very few if any of us can even imagine the horror of losing 100,000 due to war in the span of 2 years. I hope that as we continue to see how events unfold in Syria we become committed to praying for the Syrian church, people, leadership, and leaders all over the world as they continue to look at this very pressing issue which is affecting the entire country of Syria. Please remember it is very easy to point fingers, name names, and be part of the problem in the discussion, my encouragement would be to be part of the solution and vow today to continue to pray for the Syrian church.
2) God is still in control
  If anytime people doubt the control and power of God it would be a situation that is similar to what's going on Syria. What we're seeing Syria right now is absolute chaos. Bombings, deaths of children, fire, disease, and the sad part is this has been going on for far too long. I want to be clear: God cares deeply about the thousands of innocent lives and people who have been lost in Syria. God has not lost any power or control with the current situation in Syria, while as a limited human being I cannot fully explain how God still maintains control in this current situation, but one thing is certain that God hasn't lost power or goodness with what's going on in Syria. The Syrian civil war is a MAJOR test of faith of for many people, and I hope we can continue to be faithful in the midst of the storm.
3) These people need Jesus
  Religion is often blamed for starting many wars and conflicts throughout our world. I must say that it religion certainly is blameworthy in sadly quite a few instances of violence in human history. But, these people in Syria, in the Middle East, across the world don't need religion. Religion doesn't save people, only Jesus can save people, heal people, and be the fulfillment that all people that all people desperately seek. Let me be clear here, most people believe in Jesus. They believe that he is a historical, real person. But, where a lot of people disagree is about Jesus' divinity. Most people in all different religions will claim that Jesus existed, they won't say that Jesus can save you from your sins. So, the challenge is to communicate the saving message of Jesus to those who don't believe. It's never easy, but we as Christians need to take the words of Jesus seriously, be in prayer constantly, live a moral/righteous life, and we need to seek to be the church wherever we go.

I hope we continue in prayer for the ongoing crisis in Syria.

On Lee Daniels' The Butler

  It's already getting Oscar buzz, hype, creating conversation, and it is pegged by several critics of the must see movie of the summer. No, I'm not talking about Planes. The movie is Lee Daniels' The Butler. This movie walks the viewer through the life of butler, Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), who served as a butler to the President of the United States beginning with Dwight Eisenhower and ending with Ronald Regan. The movie also captured a lot of the of the prevailing social issues that dominated life for African Americans during their fight for civil rights during the 1950's and 1960's.

  The movie begins by showing scenes from Gaines' childhood growing up in the deep south. Tragedy, hardship, and a stroke of luck land Gaines a job working at an upscale hotel in the deep south, where he is befriended by the hotel's butler. Together the two of them faithfully serve the hotel and its guests day in and day out. It was working at this hotel that the opportunity of a lifetime falls in Cecil Gaines' lap. He gets a job opportunity to work at a prestigious hotel in Washington D.C. Gaines' readily accepts the job, and his hard work, dedication, and charming personality land him an even bigger job in 1957: a job serving one of the most powerful men in the world, President Eisenhower. Thus begins Gaines' career serving the most powerful people in the world. It is a remarkable film with a stellar cast and in-depth glimpse of life in the Oval Office, but even greater than that the film shows the struggle by African Americans for full acceptance in American society. The film also shows poignant moments from Gaines' personal life, and it really give the viewer an personal feel to the film. You will walk out of the theater thinking that you know Cecil Gaines.

  In terms of family friendliness The Butler falls about on the middle of the spectrum. There is little sexual scenes or innuendos in the film. But, the film does have moments of strong language, violence, and scary images. I would rate it 2.5 out of five stars in terms of family friendliness. In terms of overall quality the film shines at some moments and not at others. Whitaker and Winfrey are absolutely stellar in terms of acting, but the script leaves characters undeveloped, tries to do too much in the time frame allotted, and feel forced at times. I would bet it will see lots of attention come Oscar season, but for this reviewer it only gets 2.8 out of five stars.  

On Honesty

  This post strikes deep for me. I must say this is one of the toughest posts for me to write. Because, the temptation to be dishonest runs deep within our society. It is easy to cheat on your taxes, lie when the cashier gives you too much change, take an extra sick day at work, lie to your family, be dishonest with your friends, etc. The list can go on and on and on. But, the question remains are we really committed to live out our faith? If the answer is yes, then being an honest person/person of integrity has to be a MAJOR priority in our lives. Proverbs 24:26 states,"An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips." John 9:24 states, "Give glory to God by telling the truth."

  I hope through all of us learn not that we should be honest. I'm hoping by now through lessons from our parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers, etc. That we all know we should be honest. What this post is designed to communicate is that honesty doesn't need to be something we follow when it's convenient, honesty needs to be something that our lives revolve around. We need to be intentional about holding each other accountable in moments of deception and untruth. Being honest is one of the greatest witnesses and testimonies that we as Christians can have to an unbelieving world.

  In our current post modern world, where truth is under attack, where absolute truths are being debated/redefined/rewritten, we as the people of God need to stand up for what is right and true. I want you to understand that two truths need to be communicated and lived out in this generation. First, being that God loves sinners and has come to save them. We need to look past just having a church that appeals and welcomes people who look they have it all together. We need to reach out to the lost and broken, those who don't have a clue, the destitute, distraught, ashamed, sinful people, because that's exactly who Jesus reached out to in the Gospels and continues to reach out to today. Secondly, that we are called to be transformed in our walk with the Lord. The Bible isn't designed to give humans every single answer. It doesn't answer issues such as identity theft, cyber bulling, etc. The Bible's purpose isn't even for you to worship it, rather the purpose it serves is to transform you to look and act more like Jesus every single day. We as Christians need to understand that Christianity cannot be something we just do on Sunday morning. This is every part of our existence. One of the main ways we live out our faith is being honest and truthful all the time.    

On the Cuckoo's Calling :)

  Robert Gailbrath, aka J. K. Rowling, came out with her latest novel Cuckoo's Calling a few months back. Before I dive into a review on the book, let me start out by saying: it's nothing like Harry Potter. But, needless it is written a very thrilling, captivating way. One of the things I'm very intentional about in these reviews is telling you a synopsis, Christian perspective, but I don't want to ruin the plot or the ending for you. So, without further adieu, let's dive in!!!!

  The Cuckoo's Calling is JK Rowling's second novel written for adults, the first novel being a Casual Vacancy. This novel centers around the mysterious death of supermodel Lula Landry as she fell out of her second story apartment window to her death on a cold January night. The police rule Lula's unfortunate death as a suicide, and the case is quickly dropped from there. However, that doesn't sit well with Lula's half-brother John Bristow. He believes that Lula was pushed, and that her death was in fact no accident. John Bristow is convinced that Lula was murdered. So, he sets out to hire a private detective Cormoran Strike. Strike a detective down on his luck and feeling a major financial pinch, reluctantly agrees to take the case. He even accidentally hires a secretary from a temp agency, Robin, even though he really can't afford to pay her much of anything. Strike and Robin set out to try and prove Bristow's assumption and as he begins to look at the major suspects: the troubled boyfriend, the angry film producer, the rapper who moved below her who had trouble with the law, and the jealous friend, Strike finds a case that is truly twisted, surprising, and down right dangerous. What they find will make your jaw drop!

 That is a brief overview of the book. I will say I was glad I read it, but I don't know if I would read it again. The character development is good, but I don't know if I would say great. JK Rowling brings in some characters really quickly, and it leaves the reader asking where did they come from? She also could develop more characters which she mentions but doesn't give much time in the story such as Robin's fiancee, Strike's ex-lover, and even John Bristow's brother Charlie. But, overall I would say the quality of writing and the story is very good. It's a great page-turner, easy read, and I love hearing British terms for things such as a cell phone is called a mobile. The highlight is the end of the story, a truly great surprise ending:). Which won't be revealed here:) I would give it 3.5 stars out of five.

 In terms of a Christian world view, I would say the book had some major areas that Christians need to be aware of and take a look at. Surprisingly, the book was not very sexually explicit at all. It did mention a few cases of unmarried people living together, which in our day and time can be a very gray area for folks. My folks raised me to be against it, but that is not me saying if you live or have lived with a boyfriend/girlfriend or whomever you're a bad Christian. There are many things to consider if you are, but please note that the Bible is very clear about the dangers of sex outside of marriage. One of the main struggles I had with the book though was the language. There was a lot of profanity in the book, and that did bother me. I would say that is probably the main reason why I won't read it again. All of the profanity is unnecessary, and it goes against directly what Paul is telling us in Philippians 4 saying that we as Christians need to look for and cling to things that are pure, noble, trustworthy, true, holy, etc. If profanity bothers you in a book then this is not the book for you. I give it 2 out of 5 stars for my Christian/family friendly book.

The Sufficiency of the Gospel

  This is a post that I am absolutely stoked to be writing. I know for a fact that this post needs to be written. Because in our modern day and times I see a lot of the church trying to do things to paraphrase Frank Sinatra, "Their way." There is a constant push to change the image of God to being someone who is your buddy, pal, jokester, and even at times wing-man. There is a push that tries to eliminate the wrath and judgement of God from our theology, conversation, and beliefs. To illustrate that point more clearly the leaders of a new hymnal committee for a mainline denomination church chose not to include the favorite hymn "In Christ Alone," because it included a line about the wrath of God. It worries me greatly that we as the church in the 21st century believe the gospel needs our help. I cringe a little when I see people trying to adapt the gospel and make it fit into popular culture by watering it down, tweaking what they don't like, or just ignoring things that make them uncomfortable. I say all of this to stress to you my readers: the gospel is absolutely fine on it's own. The good, saving message found in scripture doesn't need our help, our addition, our wisdom, to accomplish it's purpose. It just needs us to be faithful to it's original message and faithful in telling everyone about it.

  Paul has many great things to say about the gospel, unfortunately unless I wrote a 70 page blog post we wouldn't be able to do justice to all of the great things he has to say. However, here are a few things Paul does say about the gospel found in Romans 1:15-17, "15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith." (This is taken from Biblegateway)

  

  Three things that I want to pull from these three verses. First, is found in vs. 15, Paul talks about how eager he is to preach the gospel. At the heart of our existence as Christians I hope our mindset becomes or is similar to that of Paul. We are eager and excited to tell people about the incredible saving news that God chose to save us by his grace and love rather than give us what our sins deserved. I can't think of any better, more exciting, or more amazing news than that. So, the question remains if the news is so great, if our God is so loving, and if our future is set, why are there so many SAD, SAD Christians?! I'm firmly convinced that living a life filled with the joy of the Lord is one of the most powerful witnesses and testimonies you can give. So, I just want to challenge you to take a good hard look at your life and understand the truth that your life preaches and tells a message. The way you act, how you speak, and how you live speaks volumes about who you are and what you believe.

  Second thing to consider is found in vs. 16. I want to draw your attention to who Paul says has the power. The gospel's power is not found in our words, our charismatic presentation, our abilities, or anything to do with us. What makes the gospel so powerful and far reaching is that it's power is found in God and God alone. As you present the gospel please remember that the word of God is eternal, and the word of humans are only temporal. Be faithful in it's presentation. The reason why I say that is because it works. For over 2,000 years people have come to know the incredible truth that Jesus Christ saves sinners through his blood on the Cross. It saves old people, young people, rich people, and poor people. The Cross saves people of all different educations, backgrounds, races, and languages. It's the incredible universal message of truth, and I think we as the church don't need to change, tweak, or add to the message. We have to find creative, compelling ways to share this great message of truth!

  Finally, the gospel must be accepted by faith. One of my modern heroes is Pastor Louie Giglio, states that the mystery is that if we can add it all up then there is no room for God. If you have all the answers in your life, then the truth is that God has no place. I've been alive for about 27 years, and I've seen a lot of people and come across a lot of stories and one of the biggest mistakes I've seen people make over the years is try and find every single answer to all of life's questions. The sad reality is that you'll never be able to do it, because you're not God. But, here is one answer which I hope you will understand and relish in all of your days: God is good and God does love you. If either of those statements were false the Cross would have never happened. Please know that the gospel and good news is sufficient to save people. It has done that very effectively for a very, very long period of time and will continue to do so in the future.

  

On Despicable Me 2

  I love writing movie reviews. I think movies are very powerful tools that communicate ideas, thoughts, and morality to a wide range of people. Movies are some of life's great joys, but I do believe that movies need to be viewed and understood for what message they are trying to communicate. With all of that being said I think we need to encourage movies that support Christian values and be very cautious of those that don't.

  One of the more enjoyable movies I've seen recently has been Despicable Me 2. This is the sequel movie from the 2010 smash hit, Despicable Me. In this film we are centered around the story of Gru, former master criminal who turns good guy once he adopts three orphan girls: Agnes, Edith, and Margo. The story centers around the AVL, Anti-Villain League, recruiting Gru to work at a local mall and discover who in the mall has a syrum that can create a pack of ruthless killers. (The movie is a cartoon) Well Gru is assigned to work at Bake My Day, the local bakery, and he is partnered with Lucy an agent with the AVL. The movie follows the hilarious hijinks of Gru and Lucy as they attempt to find who has the serum. The viewer gets to see some of the craziness of Gru's minions, the little green guys who speak in a funny language. We are also treated to Gru's adorable girls as they are more grown up in this film, and his oldest, Margo, is even interested in a boy!!! But, the race is on between Gru and Lucy and the conniving villain who is using the deadly serum on his minions! You'll have to watch the movie to see who it is, and if they're able to catch him or her in time!!!!

  But Despicable Me 2 does stay true to its form. If you like the first movie, I guarantee you will like the sequel. It stays true to the first movie with lots of cute lines from all three girls, lots of big cartoonish explosive, exciting super hero and villain scenes and weapons, and the minions are absolutely hilarious. I don't know if they are speaking Gibberish or Pig Latin, but they are really, really funny. In terms of family and moral values the movie is rated PG. It does have a somewhat scary scene that might scare really little ones. There are moments when light crude humor is displayed (they use a fart gun, laugh at someone's butt), but other than that the movie is very clean and a very enjoyable flick for the whole family. Despicable Me 2 does show the importance of one's family and sticking together no matter what, standing up for what's right, and it shows us very clearly that we need to let the people we care about know how we feel. I give it 4 out of 5 stars on family friendliness and 5 out of 5 stars overall. I really liked the movie, and I would highly recommend it if you liked Despicable Me.

On Purity

  The verse we're looking at for this particular post is one of the Beattitudes found in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God." Such a simple verse, but if lived out this verse has seriously powerful implications. What this is essentially telling us is that God is absolutely, 100% pure. What we're talking about when we say purity is something or someone that is 100% clean. There is no defilement, blemish, or anything wrong with them. In the Old Testament when someone made a sacrifice to God their sacrifice had to be pure/perfect containing no blemish or defect.
  Of course we know of the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice made for us is Jesus' death on the Cross. Jesus is the embodiment of purity. He is in no way affected or tainted with sin. His love is perfect. God forgives perfectly, and God cannot or will not be able to have a relationship/fellowship with those who are sinful. This verse is absolutely 100% HUGE. It's the problem in one verse: sin is separating you from God. But, the incredible news of the Gospel, is that separation can be removed, but it cannot be removed by your own doing. Jesus makes you pure. All your trying, effort, education, etc. is good but it won't fully ever do the job. Your purity comes by the grace of Jesus Christ. So, the question remains: now what? Well, there are many aspects and thoughts about purity. There is no way we can wrap it all up in one blog post, but we will hopefully start the conversation. Here are three things that come to mind when I think about purity.

  First, purity is very hard to maintain but very easy to lose. I would use the metaphor that purity is very similar to a house of cards. One must use a lot of concentration, focus, and determination to build a house of cards. I've tried it, it's not easy. But, as soon as someone sneezes, bumps the table, or anything happens that house of cards comes tumbling down. Well, purity works in a very similar way. In our ever increasing technologically advanced society, where we can see anything or anyone at the push of a button people now have access to information, resources, opportunities, and temptations they've never had in the past. I'm saying all of this to say that with more opportunity for temptation, access to ideas, information, sinful opportunities, one's purity can be compromised very easily. For some of you this thought rings very true, purity takes a long, long time to build up and master, but can be lost in an instant. So, I want to encourage you to guard your heart, be very careful about the friends you associate with, the movies you watch, what you look at on the Internet, etc. Because, once impure thoughts enter your head it's very difficult not to act on them, so be very, very careful.

  Second thought is purity is something that God cares a lot about. In the Garden of Eden we are told that God was able to walk and fellowship with Adam and Eve and they enjoyed a closeness and intimacy with God that we will experience in Heaven. But, then disaster struck as the evil one took on the form of a serpent, deceived Adam and Eve, and their eyes were opened to good and evil. Their purity was forever taken, God banished them from the garden, and the relationship would never be the same. As we all know that decision to listen to the evil one and eat the forbidden fruit had absolutely disastrous consequences for all of us throughout human history. But, one thing it did do was it forever made the purity God requires unattainable on our own. But, the good news of the gospel is that Jesus attains that for us. But, if we are people who claim to be in love with Jesus, care for and desire what Jesus desires, then it is very easy to draw the conclusion we would want to be pure in everything we do.

 Third, purity should be something we strive for together. It's not just an individual thing. One of the biggest mistakes I think the church makes is that we see our purity and our sanctification as a private thing. We don't want to get involved in other's lives. We don't want to share what's going on in our lives for fear someone might not approve. Well, I'm writing today to suggest that if we want to see a radical new desire to be pure, to be holy, and to see a revival in our land and in this generation it can't happen by individual people trying their best. It's a thing the entire community needs to get excited about and then with the power of the Holy Spirit we will be a nation that shines brightly the light of Jesus Christ.

We're beginning something really, really cool soon, so stay tuned.

Now You See Me

  I must say a lot of these upcoming posts may be about movie reviews. I think it's important to be able to look at movies through a theological lens/perspective. Because, entertainment and movies are one of the most powerful ways which ideas, thoughts, lifestyles, and view points are communicated. I really honestly believe that if you want to see what a society looks like look no further than the movies they watch, the books they read, and the music they listen to. With all that being said are hope is to continue to provide our readers with honest, intentional looks at the movies in our society today.

  I must be honest, I really like movies, and I really enjoyed Now You See Me. If you've been to a movie in the past few months there is a really good chance that you've seen a preview for Now You See Me, it is a movie about four rogue magicians who some how get brought together by a force/person they are unaware of. But, they all come together for one reason: they want to join The Eye one of the most sacred/prestigious accolades for a magician. (Note: The Eye is a fictional aspect of the movie) As they begin their quest to join the eye they are told they need to preform in three separate venues and conclude each evening with a MAJOR trick. The first major trick as is seen in movie trailers is the group brings a man up at the end of their first show in Vegas, they transport the man to his bank, and the man proceeds to rob the bank. Once the man returns the magicians, who are called the Four Horsemen, rain all the money from the bank's vault to all the people in the audience. The crowd is stunned that the final trick of the night was robbing a bank of three million dollars.

  Needless to say this enrages the FBI, and they desire to arrest and bring down the Four Horsemen. However, the group is very evasive and that proves to be easier said than done. A very exciting plot twist is that in the audience of each of the Horsemen's shows is a magician debunker named Thaddeous Bradley (played by Morgan Freemen), and Bradley's goal throughout the movie is expose the Horsemen as frauds. Whether he does it or not you'll just have to watch the movie and see. The thrilling conclusion, and their final trick are sure to leave your jaws dropped!

  In looking at the movie from a Christian perspective one will notice an obvious truth that stealing is obviously very wrong. It is important especially if you and a child go to see this movie that they understand that what the Horsemen did in robbing the bank was a very wrong thing. They did have noble intentions, you'll see when you watch the movie, but that just continues to show us a very important truth that the ends should not justify the means. The FBI are painted as the bad guys in this film, so please make sure that if you're watching the film with little ones they understand that taking something that isn't there's is always wrong.

  The second aspect of the film to which I want to draw your attention is that unfortunately magic isn't real. In  John 14 Jesus told all of his disciples that he was the way, the truth, and the life. Apart from Jesus there is no truth and reality. We can easily get excited about magic, because it's something new and different. It challenges us and even at times inspires us. But, please understand that magic at it's heart is just a deception, and I think the film does a very good job of reminding it's viewers about that.

  In terms of family friendliness I would give this film 2.5 stars out of five. While there is very little sexual content, there are intense situations, at times foul language, and one does see smoking and alcohol. But, in terms of the overall quality of the movie I give this film 4.5 stars out of five. It is in my opinion one of the most original, unique movies I've seen in a long time.

On Success

  I am a recovering success addict. It pains me to say this, but I've lived a lot of my childhood and adult life as someone who hasn't needed drugs or alcohol or even a lot of money, as I'm writing this to you right now I can definitely tell you that's not the case. But, I've been someone who's been fueled by success. I've been someone who so earnestly desired to ride waves of success, praise, and compliments that it has hurt me from time to time. But, I'm getting better. I think one of the prescriptions that the good Lord gave me to cure this disease of always needing to be successful was he gave me a loving, caring, wife who is never afraid to speak her mind. I would say about 95% of the time that's a great thing, she does get her self in trouble, only about 5% of the time. But, she has done a very good job of keeping me grounded and focused on what's most important in life.
  I will say this though, I still have a long way to go. The desire to be first, to be praised, to be right, to be highly thought of, is not an easy desire to shake. But, I'm continuing to grow and learn. Now, one thing I must say is that success doesn't fuel everyone, there are certain people in this life who do their best day in and day out and their effort is good enough for them. But, for most of us status, esteem, and praise matter. I am not here telling you that success or praise of people is in and of itself a bad thing. However, it can be a very slippery slope for a lot of people. As is well defined in all theology pride is one of the root sins that all of us struggle with, some people struggle with gambling, others with drug addiction, or temptation for lust, but those struggles often aren't universal. Pride is the universal temptation/sin. St. Augustine one of the pillars of our church said that pride was one's refusal to submit to God. Essentially saying pride is at the heart of sin, pride is making much of yourself.
  The question remains though, can we do anything about it? Can we be successful without being prideful and arrogant about it? Well, I would say of course there is. As a recovering success addict, here are a few things I've learned and I hope you can as well. Balance is very key in life, while as pride and success are often about taking or getting, I would encourage you to spend some time in your life giving. Watch the neighbor's kid for free, so they can go out on a date together as a couple. Spend a few minutes a day praying for your friends and even your enemies. Give a portion of your paycheck to a local charity to benefit those less fortunate, and I think you can see there are lots of ways that you can live a life that is humble and honoring to God. Two final things to consider: first, please, please surround yourself with good people. It is so easy to fall into sin and things that we shouldn't be involved in because we surround with ungodly people. Now, I'm not saying don't have friends that aren't Christians, but be very careful how your friends and family are influencing you. Take time to develop real, deep relationships with Godly, spiritual mature men and women. Finally, know and understand who is the giver of all gifts. I hate to burst your bubble, but you're not the center of the universe. The world has been doing just fine before you came along, and it'll probably do okay after you and I leave it as well. But, spend your time making much of God. One verse I'll share as we close is found in Matthew 6:33, this is an incredible way to live and would highly encourage you to make this verse the mission of your life, "But, seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all of his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Next week we're talking about social media :)

On the Word of God: Psalm 46:9-11

  The Psalms are probably my favorite part of the Bible. I'm not going to lie the uplifting beautiful poetry and imagery as presented in the longest book of the Bible are truly things to be treasured and cherished. When I'm down and needing hope I go to the Psalms. When my heart is so joyful and jubilant I go to the Psalms, this wonderful book has something to say about every walk of life. Another great part of the Psalms is that this wonderful book is a great resource to enrich and develop a healthy, fruitful prayer life. The language in the Psalms is something that will truly take your prayer life to the next level. 

  On to the text we're looking at today, I'm here to discuss three verses that contain one of the most recognizable phrases possibly in all of the Psalms: "Be still and know that I am God." These verses I think center on that command, but I think it's an injustice to just look at that command, let's take just a moment to read those three verses, and then we'll come back and discuss them. 

  Now, looking at the passage the first thing that comes to note is that this psalm wasn't written by the most famous Psalm writer, King David. This Psalm was written by rather than the Sons of Korah, who did write many famous psalms of both praise and lament throughout the 150 Psalms in the Old Testament. This particular Psalm is a psalm of hope and assurance in the power and goodness of God. One of the main adjectives that characterized life at the time for the nation of Israel during the time that the Psalms were being written was uncertainty. There were wars and rumors of wars, the nation was small and vulnerable, but they did have the favor and power of God on their side. That's what this Psalm reflects on, God's power and might to defeat his enemies. It's a powerful reminder that even though evil and darkness can surround us, they may even do harm to us, but they will never have the last word or win the final victory.

  What our passage today is reflecting on very nicely is that in the quiet moments of our life, the moments when we are still, when the noise is off, and the distractions, are kept at a distance that is when we will truly and fully be able to comprehend just how incredible and amazing God really is. The Psalmist knew that it is very easy to lose sight of the grandeur and goodness of God, trust me it's even more so easy to do that with all the noise, distraction, and busyness of our current lives. So, I encourage you to take seriously this command, be still and know that He is God. When you do you'll understand truly what's important in life, and just how great and wonderful God has been and will be in the future. Take a few moments out of each day and meditate in silence, I've been practing doing this in the car while I'm by myself. The level of intimacy you will experience with God will be great! I'd encourage you tonight to read the entirety of Psalm 46, spend a few minutes in silence as the Holy Spirit speaks to you, and then read it all again. Until next time, may God be with you!

on Star Trek: Into Darkness

  I actually really enjoy writing movie reviews. I must admit that these reviews are most my opinion, and some will read this review and say, "I full heartily agree." While others will more than likely say, "This guy is a nut." That's kind of what you get when you write something and put it on the Internet. Anyway, I do think it is important for us as the body of Christ to look at films, music, books, and other areas of media and understand exactly the message we are being sent.

  As I dive into this review, I must first admit that in reviewing movies I sometimes can seem vague or as if I left something out. This is done intentionally, so I don't spoil the movie for you especially if you haven't seen it yet. The second installment of this Star Trek series came out on May 17, it stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and Zoe Saldana. The film stars out in a very exciting way as Captain Kirk (Pine) and Dr. McCoy are running from a band of savages on a remote planet. Meanwhile, Mr. Spock (Quinto) is tasked with trying to stop a volcano from erupting and wiping out the entire race. The movie continues on a tour-de-force journey as the crew of the USS Enterprise is seeking justice for a man who has committed several crimes that hit close to home. They follow this man (you'll have to watch the movie to see who he is and what's he done) to the edge of the Klingon planet: Cronos. Looking to take him out, Kirk is convinced otherwise by Spock who convinces him that this man should stand trial. After the man surrenders to the crew of the Enterprise that's when things get really interesting. The crew quickly realizes that they'll need his help in getting him back to earth to stand trial, and they are shocked to discover just who this man is and what he has on board their ship. It is a thrilling race to the end, and movie goers will be on the edge of their seat.

 One of the best moments in the movie is the transformation of Captain Kirk throughout the movie. Early he is described by Captain Pike as someone who is arrogant, brash, and listens to no one. By the movie's end and throughout certain events in the movie the viewer can see that Kirk has truly transformed into a more humble, thoughtful, and mature captain. This is a great lesson for viewers of all ages to see and learn from. The viewer also gets to see first hand just how powerful evil when it is unleashed can be. It is a powerfully gripping film, with good action scenes a little bit of language, but no major sexual scenes. There is a brief shot of a young woman in her underwear, though. The movie is rated PG-13 mainly for violence and disturbing images. I wouldn't recommend it for any young children, but it is a very entertaining film for both Star Trek fans and those who wouldn't label themselves a fan. If you didn't see the first film you can come watch this film without being lost. In terms of family friendliness I give it 3 stars out of five. In terms of quality of movie, I think it's a good film and I give it 3.5 stars out of five.

On the Family Part 2

  Jesus tells us something very troubling in Luke 14, He tells His followers that whoever doesn't hate their mother and father cannot be his disciple. The troubling thought from all of this is Jesus telling us that we need to hate our parents to be a disciple? Do we need to despise and reject those who are closest to us? Well, let's I will say this is one of the most complicated and difficult things that Jesus said to His disciples. However, I will say this in life we often rank/prioritize what we believe to be most important in our lives. Some of us do this consciously other of us do this rather unconsciously. But, regardless how we prioritize the things and people in our lives happens pretty much all the same way. Where we spend our time, our money, who we talk about, what we think about, and where we place our hopes and dreams will show people what we view as most important.

  I don't think there is one clear cut answer as to what Jesus is trying to communicate with us in these verses in Luke 14. It is tough to try and reason out what Jesus meant, what the purpose was behind his words, etc., and I think we often over step our bounds when we do so. One thing for sure the tone of the statement does fit nicely with similar tones Jesus had throughout the gospels. This statement makes us feel uncomfortable, it causes us to squirm, a little bit, and I think that was done intentionally. One of the biggest injustices I think we have done in our modern times is that we have cast and displayed Jesus as a mild person where everyone feels uncomfortable around. The Jesus in the gospels is much, much different. Jesus in the gospels challenges us, drives us to places where we feel uncomfortable, and that's done intentionally so we can grow and prosper.

  But, I want to leave you with thinking about the family. I don't think Jesus was telling us to hate our father and mother. However, I do think what Jesus was telling us is that nothing should come above serving Him and the Kingdom. Nothing. Period. It is so easy to get wrapped up in what we do as a family, as individuals, in our careers, and in ourselves, that we often lose sight of what's most important: nothing in our lives should be greater than Jesus. Now, I will say I do see the family as a huge blessing and a blessing that is a gift from God. I don't think that this gift should be taken lightly. I want you to be left with this: love your family, cherish your family, if the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma have taught us anything is that we aren't promised tomorrow so make the most of today. But, Jesus should always be at His rightful place in your life and that is at the very top. We have one more post on the family stay tuned.

The American Dream

   The American Dream is something that many, many people today are striving to achieve. The idea of the American Dreams is based in the Declaration of Independence, which states that all people should have the opportunity to pursue: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In 1931 James Truslow Adams stated the American Dream is, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." I will say this: I really like Adams' definition. I think that there is nothing wrong with us trying for and desiring to have a full, rich life. But, the important part is to understand where our fulfillment and happiness comes from. I think we often make the mistake that we believe our happiness and contentment are found in a new car, a promotion at work, the next award, being popular, being famous, being rich, or even being in a relationship.

  At the end of Matthew 6, Jesus offers some very comforting words to those who feel worried, downtrodden, fearful, or those who need a little extra dose of encouragement. Jesus tells his followers that if God cares about the birds of the sky and the lillies of the field and if God provides for them how much more will God provide for us? We are the prize of all creation! Let me be perfectly honest, the American Dream is great, but please be very careful. It is so easy to get caught up in making much of yourself, your abilities, your gifts, and what you bring to the table that it is so easy to forget to honor the person who gave you all of those abilities.

  I think looking at Jesus' example is very pertinent in regards to our perspective on the American Dream. The danger in pursuing the dream is that way too often get consumed with making much of themselves. We want people to notice us. We desire to be recognized and praised, and the list can go on and on. That's how almost all of us are wired we thrive on being noticed, being praised, and being made much of. However, the example Jesus gives us is one that is much, much different. In Mark 8 Jesus tells his disciples that whoever desires to find his life will lose, and it is only those who desire to lose their lives will find their life. Near the end of his earthly ministry Jesus was about to endure the Cross, the shame, the torture, and the humiliation for us, and in John 13 the night he was betrayed he doesn't spend the hours leading up to his arrest fishing for compliments, asking his disciples to serve him, rather he bends town with a towel and a basin and washes their feet. Jesus serves them, and he makes much of them rather than himself. 

  The American Dream can be good, but it is dangerous. Because so many people including good Christian men and women can easily fall prey to the danger of the dream: making much of themselves. Let us strive to be the best we can be, but let our ultimate goal our ultimate reality be to make much of Jesus Christ and the people all around us. I think at the end of it all, we'll be much happier and content when realize our worth is not in our possessions or accolades and our goal is to make little of ourselves and much of Jesus.

Parental Guidance

  The 2012 Christmas-release, smash-hit comedy Parental Guidance, stars acclaimed actors Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, and Marissa Tomei. The comedy begins with minor league baseball announcer, Artie Decker, (Crystal) loses his job, because he is no longer hip, current, and he doesn't have a Facebook account. Artie takes the loss the hard, but his sadness is short lived as his daughter Alice Simmons gives him a call and informs him and his wife Diane (Midler) that she and her husband Phil (Tom Everett Scott) need to leave town on business. Alice asks Diane and Artie to watch the kids for a few days and to her surprise they agree!

  Hilarity ensues as two very different styles of parenting collide as Artie and Diane come to learn that Phil and Alice never tell their kids no, allow their kids to play baseball where no score is kept and no one is out or safe ever, and feed their kids such "delectable" treats as tofu dogs and eggless egg salad. Despite, all of that Diane and Artie are determined to make their week with their grand kids, who they rarely see, a major success. Alice and Phil aren't so sure about it, and Alice even delays her plane flight just to make sure that Artie and Diane don't mess things up too badly. Well, needless to say it is one crazy week as everyone learns a great lesson with a few laughs along the way. The movie was definitely one that warmed and touched my heart as Artie and Diane became reconnected to their grandkids.

  As far as family friendly goes. The movie scored a 4.2 out of five stars. There were moments of somewhat crude comedy (nothing vulgar or offensive). But, the message of the movie is very good for anyone to learn and see. I myself would personally recommend the movie. Billy Crystal is hilarious as usual. Bette Midler provides a warm/stabilizing presence. And of course the grand kids are absolutely hilarious and adorable all at the same time. Definitely recommend this movie for family movie night, maybe not if your kids are five or under though.

The Boston Marathon Bombing Part 1

  It's been not quite two weeks since the entire nation was shocked by what happened at the Boston Marathon. Many questions, concerns, and worries came to many people after seeing the horrific actions that men did in setting off bombs at the marathon. The effects were devastating for many people, injured several, and even cost a few people their lives.

  During tragic moments that touch both the nation or just our individual lives, many people are stuck asking the question why? As they ask this poignant question many people turn and ask God why did this happen? Well, to be perfectly blunt there are no very good reasons why two men would set off bombs at the Boston Marathon and kill some people and injure many other people they didn't know. However, in spite of all the pain, heartache, and turmoil these young men caused, we can be sure of a few things. That's what this blog post is here and designed to do: give us the things and areas we can be 100% sure about in this awful situation.

1) God is still in control and still cares. This sentence may be very difficult for people to grasp, especially those who were directly affected by the events in Boston last week. But, one of the truths in our Christian faith is that God cares deeply for everything that happens to us. When those bombs went off and poor Martin Richard went to his eternal home, I guarantee that God shed not one but several tears because earth lost somebody very special. The Bible tells us in Psalms that God cares for us deeply that he fashioned and created us in our mother's womb and that even the hairs on our head are numbered! That's how well God knows us. In the New Testament we're assured in the Gospel of Matthew that if God cares and clothes the birds of the sky and the lillies of the field how much more will he care for and take care of us! It is easy to point the finger and say God doesn't care in the midst of an awful tragedy, but I think from personal testimony, the word of God, and just everyone that was saved from being harmed or killed by the bomb one can say that God does care.

  So, one can see that God does care about what happens to everyone! That leaves us with another very pressing question: can God do anything about it? Is he powerful enough to stop human beings from hurting each other? Well, to put it nice and simply the answer to that question is yes and no. God is powerful enough to part a sea, raise someone from the dead, cure leprosy, cause the lame to walk, and the dumb to speak. So, I don't think he lacks anything in the power department. But, one thing we have to remember throughout all of this and we'll look at this in part two, is that awful things that happen in our world today: Newtown, CT shootings, bombing at the Boston Marathon, etc. are done by human beings who had the choice not to sin, but decided against that choice. Could God have stopped them? Absolutely, God could have, why God didn't stop the bombing? I can't say for sure. But, one thing I do know without a shadow of a doubt is that God cares deeply, is crying with the victims families, and God still is in control of our entire existence. Part 2 is coming soon.

Satisfaction

   Satisfaction is one of the biggest drivers in all of our decision making. After high school a lot of us go to college and some beyond, because we believe education will open up a door to a job that we enjoy doing and find satisfaction and fulfillment in doing. We spend time with people and develop relationships and friendships with people and even sometimes we'll have romantic relationships with people because we desire satisfaction and fulfillment. Those feelings are normal/common feelings for every human being, however the problem most of us run into from time to time is that we seek satisfaction in all the wrong places.

  I will say that this blog post serves one purpose: to remind all of us that true satisfaction can be found in Jesus Christ alone. I'm not saying that you can't find joy and fulfillment in your achievements, your education, or even your hard earned money, but I want you to understand that all of those things are temporary. For one day money will be spent, certificates and degrees will be forgotten, and we will soon have retired or been replaced where we work. So, to find satisfaction in areas of personal achievement will produce a very roller coaster emotional existence in your spiritual walk. When things are going great, you'll more than likely praise God, or worse yet, you'll take the credit. When things are down, and the future looks bleak the sad reality is that a lot of people blame God for the bed they made. So, what I'm trying to encourage you in this blog post, is to not look to your achievements for your sense of satisfaction or identity. Understand that as a human being you will make mistakes, say things you shouldn't have said, and you will make poor decisions, but you will also make good decisions and experience success and joy. But, at the end of the day, the question I want to leave you with are you going to find lasting satisfaction in your achievements, your abilities, or even in something destructive? Or will you find satisfaction in knowing and loving the true, risen Savior of your soul and the entire world? The choice is entirely yours to make, but your decision does and will have real consequences either way. To finally illustrate how true satisfaction can be found in Jesus Christ alone, I want to share a quote from MVP, Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady, "Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be … I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I’m trying to find.” (Taken from http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/tom-brady-super-bowl-rings-and-ecclesiastes/) This is a man who has it all, but still he's not satisfied. The choice is yours to make today.

Holy Week

  One of the biggest weeks in our entire Christian existence is right now as we embark on Holy Week. The week of the Last Supper, arrest, betrayal, Cross, and ultimately Jesus triumphantly rises from the dead, but this week can easily lose its meaning and we can become very calloused toward Holy week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. This entry is designed to allow us to not lose focus and passion during this incredible, life-changing experience. Let's dive a little deeper and rediscover what is going on during Holy Week.
  One of the things that most astonishes me about Holy Week is that Jesus was never shy about His death and resurrection. When He was arrested in the Garden not one time did Jesus yell, "Surprise! Oh wow! I didn't see this one coming." In fact, almost the exact opposite occurs. Christ almost from the beginning of his ministry tells his disciples that the time is coming when He will suffer and die. When that time did come all of His disciples left the scene. What this shows us is something very interesting. The disciples by abandoning Jesus after His arrest, trial, punishment, and eventually crucifixion had non-verbally communicated that Jesus had failed. Jesus hadn't delivered them the way they expected, in fact on Good Friday the disciples believed that Jesus had done the exact opposite, He had failed, because instead of delivering them. He was being crucified on a Cross. To give the disciples credit, and I don't think we do this enough. They didn't fully know the end of the story. The disciples weren't aware that death would not have the last word. It wasn't until they Jesus that things changed for them.  So, I hope we understand that living on this of history, we do have the privilege of seeing that Jesus though killed on Friday does come back on Sunday. I hope we remember that the first Good Friday was anything but good for those who followed Jesus.
  Holy Week shows us many things. It really does. It shows us that death is not as strong as life, and it shows us just how fickle human beings can be. But, one of the main things that Holy Week shows us is how God feels about us. If God just liked (likes) us Holy week would have never happened. If God just loves us, then Holy Week would have never happened. God is 100%, over the top, madly in LOVE with us! God has told us that in His word, communicated it through the teachings of Jesus, but the Cross and the Resurrection show it so clearly how God feels about you. God loves you so MUCH, because that should have been you in Jesus' place. So, whenever you're down or feeling a little blue, look back to the events of Holy Week and understand that God is 100% crazy about you.
  

On Finances!

    Let's be honest finances can be a very sticky topic for most people. I know for me they can be, money is such a confusing thing, because I firmly believe we all think that more money will often make us happier when that is hardly ever the case. One thing I do believe is important is to develop a right and powerful perspective on money that will guide the way we live. This topic shouldn't be pushed under the rug or dealt with at a later date, because like it or not our issues with finances aren't going away. Let's take a good hard look at two things to remember about our finances.

1) Finances and money are nothing more than temporary created things. One of the most common topics discussed in the New Testament is in fact it is mentioned over fifty times in the New Testament alone! Needless to say the writers of the New Testament had a lot to say about money, it was an issue back then and it continues to be an issue today. Jesus gives us parables about a lost coin and a master who gave his servants talents. We're told to give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and we are clearly told that the root of all evil is for us to love money. That just scratches the surface on the Bible's teaching about money. Before we go one let me preface the remainder of this blog post by saying that these two ideas present, won't make money problems or difficulties go away. The purpose of the ideas is to help us develop a healthy, Christ-like perspective on money and finances.

  We all have at some point in time in our lives wanted to keep up with the Jones, buy that new boat, or dump more money into our IRA. Let's face having financial security is not a bad thing, but it can become a bad thing when it is the very most important thing in your life. The studies have shown that money is one of if not the main contributor to failed marriages in this country. We need to get a grasp and understand money. Money is something that everyone needs, let's face it we need money to feed ourselves, clothe ourselves, put gas in our car, etc. But, money is something that never will satisfy us. I've been around for awhile, and I've never met anyone who spent their life striving and giving everything they had to get more money, advance in work, get more things, and at the end of the day I think we all can agree those are the most miserable people around. Money does provide our needs but should never be the basis of our identity and self-worth. If that were the case then Jesus, the Son of God, would be a failure because he had no money to his name. Understand that it is important to work hard, do your best, and provide for your loved ones. But, your job and your money should never affect your relationship with your family, your friends, and with your God.

2) Use money as a blessing
   If you're reading this right now, you're blessed. There is no other way to say it. If you have a computer and can afford to pay for the Internet, then you're doing okay financially. Most people throughout the world have worries and concerns about whether or not they'll have enough food to eat. We often have concerns about our Internet being too slow, we didn't get a sale for the latest style of shoes, or and this is one of my favorites we don't have enough room for all of our stuff. The ironic part is that if I wanted to start a storage bin business in Zimbabwe, I would more than likely go bankrupt within a few months, a surplus of things is not a worldwide problem.

  So, where does that leave us? Well, first of all I don't want you to feel bad for having things. But, those excess things you don't need, that shirt which hasn't been worn since 2009, those shoes which were last year's style, or that PlayStation video game, do you need to keep those? Sure, they may not be the VERY best anymore, but someone can use them and benefit from them. So, instead of practicing a lifestyle of hoarding why don't you practice a lifestyle of giving away and blessing others. The exact same thing is true of our finances, do we really need to eat out several times a month? Or could we cut back a little so others could benefit. There is a world filled with hurting people who need the love of Jesus and a little dose of our generosity let's strive to give them just that!

On Trouble with the Curve

  Movies entertain us, inspire us, frighten us, cause us to cheer, and movies whether we like or not affect who we are. It is important very important for us as Christians to understand how movies affect us and what message the movie is sending to us. This movie, Trouble with the Curve, is no longer in theaters, but when you approach a Blockbuster or Redbox kiosk, there is a great chance you will have the opportunity to rent Trouble with the Curve. I saw it recently and here's what I thought.

  Trouble with the Curve is a story about a baseball scout, Gus Lobel played by Clint Eastwood, and his trip to scout a high school baseball talent. Lobel we find out is a very talented, but old baseball scout for the Atlanta Braves. Lobel for the Braves had brought in lots of past talent in years past, but one of the criticisms some of the other scouts had against Lobel is he didn't know how to adapt to all of the game's new technology and new ways to scout baseball talent. Lobel often rebuffs and pays little attention to these criticisms, this is classic Eastwood. But, people in the Brave's front office are worried about him, so his daughter Mickey is called to join him as he scouts what many people believe to be the number one pick in the draft.

  Mickey joins her dad in scouting this young talent, and during their few days scouting, the viewer sees a very complicated relationship between a father and daughter. We learn how their relationship has evolved and been affected by events over the years. As they scout the talent, they bump into one of the best talents Gus has scouted, Johnny played by Timberlake. Johnny was a talented pitcher, who sadly got traded in the minors, and due to the trade Johnny blew his arm out in the minors. Johnny befriends Mickey and we get to see their friendship grow, and we see Johnny encourage Mickey to live life to the fullest and spend less time worrying about her career as a lawyer. Johnny encourages Mickey to pursue what she loves, and that causes Mickey to ask some serious questions. If you enjoyed Moneyball, there's a good chance you will enjoy Trouble with the Curve.

  In terms of family friendly, I would give the movie 2.5 stars out of five. There are scenes in the movie which show smoking, drinking, and there are a few scenes that take place in a bar. In terms of language the movie does have a few incidents when strong language is used. But, the movie is a touching story about love and America's past time. It is at times slow in the plot, and Eastwood's diction could drastically be improved, but the movie is definitely worth a see. I would recommend this as a rental. I'd give it 2.5 stars out of 5.

On the Church

  I know some of you reading this title will be like, wait a minute, A Christian Perspective on Church?! Brian has lost his mind! We don't need any Christian perspective on the church! You're wasting your time on this go to more important, juicy items such as politics, entertainment, scandals, or even gossip. But, the church?! Yes, the church. It is so important that we have a right theology of the church, because it is our experience in the church that largely shapes our Christian journey and identity. So, the questions remain how should we perceive the church? What is the proper role of the church in the 21st century?

  The word church appears over 100 times, all in the New Testament and mostly in the Pauline epistles. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost in Acts 2 was the beginning of the church as everyone was amazed that the disciples could speak to them in their own language. In its early days the church was small, not established, and searching for its place in society. There were no boards, bishops, councils, or even elders. But, as Luke recalls in Acts 2 they knew what was most important, "⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:44-47) During its early years the church also experienced much persecution at the hands of the Roman government. 11 of the 12 disciples ended up dying horrible, gruesome deaths because of their faith. The church had to go into hiding and meet in secret in people's homes for fear they could be arrested and at times even put to death. 

 All of that changed when Constantine came to power in the early third century. The church no longer had to be in hiding. They didn't have to be afraid. The church was now at the center of society, persecution was a thing of the past, and little did people know at the time the church would largely would never be the same. 

  If we fast forward to our modern "western" church two things in particular stand out which I think need to be looked at: 1) Break from the cookie-cutter mindset 2) Return Jesus to His rightful place in our lives.

  Church today has become easy, convenient  and most people can fulfill their weekly requirement in one hour and sometimes even less. We have come to expect the same thing each week we come into worship. From week to week we see the same format, we expect the same things, and we've become very comfortable in worshiping God. We like to worship God this way because it has become safe, easy, and comfortable for us to do so. The ironic part is we worship a God who is anything but safe, and an experience with Him should make us feel a lot of different emotions and comfortable is not one of them. To recover a life-changing experience of worship, I would encourage all people in churches reading this to look to worship in many different ways: traditional worship with hymns, prayers, and the word preached. But, also look to worship in new and different ways and see how God will speak to us when we worship God in dance, art, silence, lectio divina, and seek to worship God in non-traditional places. One final note: one of the biggest poisons in our church today, is the attitude that our way of worship is superior over other forms of worship. We need to as a church judge less and embrace more. Our goal should be to expand our horizon of worship and be open to where God will lead us.

  In Exodus 20 God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. The very first commandment is that you shalt not have any other Gods before the one true God. If we truly live this out, and place God at the top of our lives then everything else will fall into place. Our worship will be pure, and we will live out lives that are effective and influential. When God is truly Lord of our lives, our words, our actions, our time, our checkbook, and our worship will be pure and our church will be truly a city set on a hill. This commandment was given first because if one follows this commandment everything will fall into place: including the church.