Most of you have heard in the news of the report that Houston mayor, Annise Parker, has subpoenaed the sermons of local Houston pastors that mention her name or that mention a local city ordinance which many pastors and churches aren't in favor of. This event has caused much public outcry over the government's relationship to faith based institutions and how far is too far in government reach into religion?
There are lots of issues surrounding these actions, and I will not for once ever admit to being an expert in the realm of politics, law, or even most times at religion. However, there are quite a few things to look at in the case of Annise Parker.
1) Always look at the big picture. When I first heard this my proverbial claws came out. I uttered phrases such as, "How dare she?" "Who does she think she is?" And even a few more phrases that I'm not very proud of. But, oh the wonders of social media, one of my good buddies Scott posted on Facebook that this subpoena of sermons might be a golden opportunity for Annise Parker to hear the incredible news that Jesus Christ saves sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) Because, I think one big mistake many of us make and that I made when I first heard the news is that we let little annoyances or disturbances interrupt the incredible story that Jesus' blood and power calls all sinners to repent. My advice is to never lose sight of the big picture. People who annoy us, irritate us, and even disagree with us need to know and come to home to know Jesus forgives their sin. That's the big picture we all need to remember no matter what.
2) God is greater than all of the problems we all face.
I will admit that I'm one of the first people who gets upset when I hear that another Nativity scene gets taken down, or someone has an issue with a Cross in the town square. But, let me say that despite all of the struggles that Christians have had in recent years, we need to remember that no matter what God has the final word in our lives and for all of human history.
It would be incredibly nice to know all the twists and turns in the story, but if we did there wouldn't be any need for us to have faith. We don't know the entire story, but we know that the author is good and loves us and we know in the end Jesus wins.
3) Preach the gospel with your life.
God's Not Dead is another of the many quality Christian movies that have been shot and produced over the past few years. In the movie college freshman Josh Wheaton is challenged in his philosophy class to prove to his class that in fact God is not dead. Well, the movie brings about some very compelling facts and arguments for the existence of God. But, what I want to share is a quote earlier on in the movie that many may have missed. When considering whether or not to prove God's existence Josh goes and talks with a pastor, and the pastor tells him this (paraphrased), "If you take this challenge, this may be the only time some of the students in the room hear the gospel." What an incredible idea! Difficult times, opposition from those who disagree, and problems can be opportunities to communicate the gospel to an unbelieving world. Remember that tough times don't build character, they reveal the character that is already there. Houston pastors can have an amazing show of character as the situation with Annise Parker continues to unfold.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Gone Girl
Without a doubt you've seen previews or heard talk of the newest movie that just came out last Friday: Gone Girl. I have not seen the movie, so this review is of the book which I finished about a week ago. In this review I won't spoil any plot twists or the ending. So, let's dive in here.
Gillian Flynn's 2012 smash hit, Gone Girl, highlights the story of Nick and Amy Dunne. This couple moves from New York to Missouri to care for Nick's mother and father after the economy crashes. The couple struggles to adjust to life in a Missouri small town, but they do manage and Nick opens a bar with his twin sister with money that Amy received from her trust fund.
The story really picks up on the day of their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick gets a call at the bar from his neighbor that his front door is wide open. Confused and slightly alarmed Nick rushes home to find his house in a mess and his wife completely gone. Frantically, Nick calls the local police and then the search begins! Over the next several days Nick is questioned several times by the police, his past begins to unfold more before the reader's eyes, and he desperately searches for anything that will prove that he is not responsible for her disappearance.
Nick's search takes him everywhere as he delves into Amy's past, meets some shady and some interesting characters, hires a lawyer, defends his actions, has his past behavior unearthed, and it all leads up to the answer of the million dollar question: who exactly is Amy Dunne and what is she capable of?
There were certain parts of the book I really loved and others I didn't care for that much. I didn't share as much because I don't want to spoil anything if you plan on reading the book or seeing the movie. The previews do make the movie look extremely compelling. In terms of quality of work I'd give the book 4 out of 5 stars. Gillian Flynn's style in this book is unique, and I actually really enjoyed it. The pace is fast, and you really do feel in the middle of a missing person search. I will let you decide about the ending, I won't say much in here about my opinion on it. In terms of overall family friendliness this book gets a 1 out of 5 stars. There are some very mature themes in the book (drugs, sex, rape), and there is pervasive language throughout the work. I did enjoy it, but I had higher expectations. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 overall.
Gillian Flynn's 2012 smash hit, Gone Girl, highlights the story of Nick and Amy Dunne. This couple moves from New York to Missouri to care for Nick's mother and father after the economy crashes. The couple struggles to adjust to life in a Missouri small town, but they do manage and Nick opens a bar with his twin sister with money that Amy received from her trust fund.
The story really picks up on the day of their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick gets a call at the bar from his neighbor that his front door is wide open. Confused and slightly alarmed Nick rushes home to find his house in a mess and his wife completely gone. Frantically, Nick calls the local police and then the search begins! Over the next several days Nick is questioned several times by the police, his past begins to unfold more before the reader's eyes, and he desperately searches for anything that will prove that he is not responsible for her disappearance.
Nick's search takes him everywhere as he delves into Amy's past, meets some shady and some interesting characters, hires a lawyer, defends his actions, has his past behavior unearthed, and it all leads up to the answer of the million dollar question: who exactly is Amy Dunne and what is she capable of?
There were certain parts of the book I really loved and others I didn't care for that much. I didn't share as much because I don't want to spoil anything if you plan on reading the book or seeing the movie. The previews do make the movie look extremely compelling. In terms of quality of work I'd give the book 4 out of 5 stars. Gillian Flynn's style in this book is unique, and I actually really enjoyed it. The pace is fast, and you really do feel in the middle of a missing person search. I will let you decide about the ending, I won't say much in here about my opinion on it. In terms of overall family friendliness this book gets a 1 out of 5 stars. There are some very mature themes in the book (drugs, sex, rape), and there is pervasive language throughout the work. I did enjoy it, but I had higher expectations. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 overall.
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