Do I need to say that "baseball" is a metaphor, or should I assume that you already know that?
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Friday, August 29, 2008
Our Field of Dreams
(Please scroll down and pause the playlist before playing clip...)
Do I need to say that "baseball" is a metaphor, or should I assume that you already know that?
Do I need to say that "baseball" is a metaphor, or should I assume that you already know that?
Monday, July 21, 2008
Two Thumbs Up!
Happy Monday, bloggers!
I'll be back later today with some good stuff...in the meantime, here are the Beattitudes from the KHABORIS MANUSCRIPT (in Aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke) for you to enjoy and discuss...
Also, feel free to continue the discussion from yesterday...
Later...
________________
OK, I'm back now (currently 10 comments)...
Yesterday, after the kids got on the road back to NC, I laid down for a little Sunday afternoon nap on the sofa, with AMC playing in the background. A little while later, I was awakened by this scene playing from the 1962 movie The Miracle Worker:
(If the playlist is playing, you'll need to scroll down to it and pause it)
In case you haven't seen this biopic about Helen Keller, here's a synopsis of it:
The Miracle Worker opens with a doctor assuring Captain Keller and his wife, Kate, that their infant daughter, Helen, will recover from a serious fever. Soon after the doctor leaves, however, Kate realizes that Helen is deaf and blind. In the next scene, Helen is about six years old. She is a wild, undisciplined child. Though they try, her parents are unable to help or control her. In desperation they hire a young woman, Annie Sullivan.
From the moment Annie arrives, it is clear that she and Helen will be gripped in a great struggle. But Helen is not the only problem for Annie. Annie must also convince the Kellers, especially the Captain, that she, Annie, needs complete control of Helen if she is to reach the child. Annie is certain that language is the key to gaining access to Helen's mind, and she constantly spells the names of things on Helen's palm.
Although Helen can spell them back on Annie's palm, the understanding that the words represent things eludes her. After spending two weeks together in the garden house, Helen finally obeys Annie, but when the time is up and they return to the family, Helen quickly reverts to her former behavior. The Kellers are indulgent, ready to fall back in their old pattern of behavior, but Annie doesn't let them. When Helen spills a water pitcher on Annie, Annie takes her out to refill it. She spells "water" into Helen's hand, and suddenly the miracle happens. Helen understands.
In the scene above, the reason that Helen finally makes the connection with "water" is that, before she lost her sight and hearing, she could say "wa-wa" when asking for water as a baby. You have to see it to get it, but what stood out to me the most yesterday (I guess I never thought about it before, even though I have seen it many, many times) is when she hands her teacher, Annie Sullivan, the keys that she had taken from her when she locked her in her room earlier in the film.
The "Keys of the Kingdom" are what we use to unlock our knowledge of first, eternal things ("Let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning")...we still know what we knew ("But you have an anointing and you know all things"), but the knowledge is buried beneath the blindness of logic and human reasoning, and the deafness of religious tradition. But somehow, through the washing of the WATER of the word, we make the internal connection, and remember what we knew about God in the now!
Anyway, I laid there and meditated on it, and I dozed off a little more. When I woke back up, West Side story was playing, and Tony was singing Something's Coming!
Just thought I'd share that with you.
I'll be back later today with some good stuff...in the meantime, here are the Beattitudes from the KHABORIS MANUSCRIPT (in Aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke) for you to enjoy and discuss...
Matthew 5:2- 10
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those whose home is in Truth; theirs is a heavenly state.
4 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those mourning their wrongs; they shall be comforted.
5 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those with humility; they will gain the earth.
6 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those who hunger and thirst for justness; they shall attain it.
7 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those whose love is without conditions; they will therefore receive unconditional love.
8 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those without fault in their minds; they will see God.
9 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those serving the peace of God; they will be called the children of God (Alaha).
10 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those being scorned because of their justness; theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Also, feel free to continue the discussion from yesterday...
Later...
________________
OK, I'm back now (currently 10 comments)...
Yesterday, after the kids got on the road back to NC, I laid down for a little Sunday afternoon nap on the sofa, with AMC playing in the background. A little while later, I was awakened by this scene playing from the 1962 movie The Miracle Worker:
(If the playlist is playing, you'll need to scroll down to it and pause it)
In case you haven't seen this biopic about Helen Keller, here's a synopsis of it:
The Miracle Worker opens with a doctor assuring Captain Keller and his wife, Kate, that their infant daughter, Helen, will recover from a serious fever. Soon after the doctor leaves, however, Kate realizes that Helen is deaf and blind. In the next scene, Helen is about six years old. She is a wild, undisciplined child. Though they try, her parents are unable to help or control her. In desperation they hire a young woman, Annie Sullivan.
From the moment Annie arrives, it is clear that she and Helen will be gripped in a great struggle. But Helen is not the only problem for Annie. Annie must also convince the Kellers, especially the Captain, that she, Annie, needs complete control of Helen if she is to reach the child. Annie is certain that language is the key to gaining access to Helen's mind, and she constantly spells the names of things on Helen's palm.
Although Helen can spell them back on Annie's palm, the understanding that the words represent things eludes her. After spending two weeks together in the garden house, Helen finally obeys Annie, but when the time is up and they return to the family, Helen quickly reverts to her former behavior. The Kellers are indulgent, ready to fall back in their old pattern of behavior, but Annie doesn't let them. When Helen spills a water pitcher on Annie, Annie takes her out to refill it. She spells "water" into Helen's hand, and suddenly the miracle happens. Helen understands.
In the scene above, the reason that Helen finally makes the connection with "water" is that, before she lost her sight and hearing, she could say "wa-wa" when asking for water as a baby. You have to see it to get it, but what stood out to me the most yesterday (I guess I never thought about it before, even though I have seen it many, many times) is when she hands her teacher, Annie Sullivan, the keys that she had taken from her when she locked her in her room earlier in the film.
The "Keys of the Kingdom" are what we use to unlock our knowledge of first, eternal things ("Let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning")...we still know what we knew ("But you have an anointing and you know all things"), but the knowledge is buried beneath the blindness of logic and human reasoning, and the deafness of religious tradition. But somehow, through the washing of the WATER of the word, we make the internal connection, and remember what we knew about God in the now!
Anyway, I laid there and meditated on it, and I dozed off a little more. When I woke back up, West Side story was playing, and Tony was singing Something's Coming!
Just thought I'd share that with you.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Much To Consider Pt. II (And then some)
Hey bloggers,
I'll be back later today to finish this, but in the meantime, I found this video that includes some clips from Ben-Hur (see yesterday's article). Again, you'll need to scroll down to the music player and pause it so that you can hear the song (which is one of my favorites)...
_____________...Later
OK, I’m back…finding time to write anything today has been challenging, to say the least…we just found out that we have to go to Washington day after tomorrow, and are having to rearrange some things in the already busy schedule…and I just found out that Betty Orsini’s mom just passed away, so I’ve got to go see about that.
The bottom line is, I may not get to finishing this article today. But please feel free to continue the discussion without me. I love what you've already written (8 comments). It’s no problem putting your stuff through, even when I'm busy with something else...and sometimes I enjoy just seeing where the conversation takes you on your own…Be back as soon as I can…
_____________...Even later
OK, now I’m really back…
First of all, I owe everyone connected with this blog a huge apology! I really didn’t think about it at the time, but I realize now that I did something very hypocritical here last week…something very wrong and counter-productive…and for that I sincerely ask for your forgiveness.
I’m referring to the fact that, in answer to someone’s question a few days ago, I re-posted a letter that had been on here before, but that I had removed some time back for several reasons. Many of you will remember that when I first started the blog, it was primarily about answering my critics, defending my doctrine, and protecting my reputation concerning things that had been written about me on-line. But after a few weeks of being bombarded with pointless arguments from the religious cyber-community, I decided to change the direction of the blog, and to move away from the defensive posture that I had been taking here. So I deleted all of the original stuff (for a long time you could still find it all on-line, but it seems to be all gone now), and re-created the edifying, Christ-exalting site that we now all enjoy. The one thing that I kept was the article about my son, Jared, simply because it saves me time in not having to answer people about the things they read about him and his band on-line.
The reason I say that I did something hypocritical is that today I was scrolling back through all of the articles that are listed under the Blog Topic “reconciliation”, and it occurred to me (especially when I read the articles from May 9 – “Forgive the World”, and March 12 – “How Great is our God!”), that I had said I wouldn’t answer my critics or defend myself any more. It’s not that I can’t answer them, it’s just that doing so doesn’t do anything to build the Kingdom of God or to help people. Jesus generally avoided answering the questions (which were traps) of the Pharisees for the same reason.
You know how I said the other night in a sermon that the hardest thing you’ll ever do is to walk in your own revelation? Well, I’m confessing my fault in that area here, because I have already said (more than once, in fact) that it didn’t matter to me what people thought of me, and yet I still took a defensive stance concerning an accusation that had been hurled at me.
The worst part of it is that when I posted the article, it opened up a very negative atmosphere here, and suddenly there was a mean-spirited tone coming from the bloggers that is out of character for them, and totally out of keeping with the purpose of this blog. Don’t get me wrong…I’m not accusing those of you who wrote the negative stuff. I take full responsibility for everything that was here (that has now been deleted) because all of you were simply taking your cues from me, and I willingly posted all of your comments. In all honesty, I must confess that I cringed at some of the stuff that many of us said here (I am the chiefest of sinners in that respect), but my flesh enjoyed it, even though it grieved my spirit. I love the fact that you all want to protect me, but I’m a big boy…I shouldn’t even need that kind of affirmation at this point…and I am your shepherd. I should have never taken you there.
You may say that we were all justified in our reactions, because some really negative things were said about me by someone who doesn’t know me…but that’s not the point. I have already said that I would turn the other cheek, regardless, and yet I didn’t do it. Hopefully, I have at last learned my lesson in this respect.
As to the subject of answering doctrinal questions here, I can only say that I have already answered those questions presented to me over and over again, and at this point I consider that I owe no man anything but to love him. Besides, you can have all of your doctrinal ducks in row, and still be completely wrong in your motives. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. And no matter how many questions you answer, one man’s revelation is another man’s heresy. One man’s spiritual evolution is another man’s apostasy. One man’s ascent into greater truth is another man’s descent into error. One man’s orthodoxy is another man’s legalism. One man’s Scriptural interpretation is another man’s false doctrine. One man’s liberty in Christ is another man’s deception. My only answer to anyone concerning my preaching is this:
Anyway, it doesn’t matter what anyone says about me, or accuses me of…it doesn’t justify sarcasm and insults on my part. We wrestle not with flesh and blood.
I am confessing my fault that I may be healed. The sound of His voice has taken the sword from my hand.
Please forgive me, and agree with me that this battle in my life is won once and for all…
(Please pause the music player before viewing this...)
Selah.
I'll be back later today to finish this, but in the meantime, I found this video that includes some clips from Ben-Hur (see yesterday's article). Again, you'll need to scroll down to the music player and pause it so that you can hear the song (which is one of my favorites)...
_____________...Later
OK, I’m back…finding time to write anything today has been challenging, to say the least…we just found out that we have to go to Washington day after tomorrow, and are having to rearrange some things in the already busy schedule…and I just found out that Betty Orsini’s mom just passed away, so I’ve got to go see about that.
The bottom line is, I may not get to finishing this article today. But please feel free to continue the discussion without me. I love what you've already written (8 comments). It’s no problem putting your stuff through, even when I'm busy with something else...and sometimes I enjoy just seeing where the conversation takes you on your own…Be back as soon as I can…
_____________...Even later
OK, now I’m really back…
First of all, I owe everyone connected with this blog a huge apology! I really didn’t think about it at the time, but I realize now that I did something very hypocritical here last week…something very wrong and counter-productive…and for that I sincerely ask for your forgiveness.
I’m referring to the fact that, in answer to someone’s question a few days ago, I re-posted a letter that had been on here before, but that I had removed some time back for several reasons. Many of you will remember that when I first started the blog, it was primarily about answering my critics, defending my doctrine, and protecting my reputation concerning things that had been written about me on-line. But after a few weeks of being bombarded with pointless arguments from the religious cyber-community, I decided to change the direction of the blog, and to move away from the defensive posture that I had been taking here. So I deleted all of the original stuff (for a long time you could still find it all on-line, but it seems to be all gone now), and re-created the edifying, Christ-exalting site that we now all enjoy. The one thing that I kept was the article about my son, Jared, simply because it saves me time in not having to answer people about the things they read about him and his band on-line.
The reason I say that I did something hypocritical is that today I was scrolling back through all of the articles that are listed under the Blog Topic “reconciliation”, and it occurred to me (especially when I read the articles from May 9 – “Forgive the World”, and March 12 – “How Great is our God!”), that I had said I wouldn’t answer my critics or defend myself any more. It’s not that I can’t answer them, it’s just that doing so doesn’t do anything to build the Kingdom of God or to help people. Jesus generally avoided answering the questions (which were traps) of the Pharisees for the same reason.
You know how I said the other night in a sermon that the hardest thing you’ll ever do is to walk in your own revelation? Well, I’m confessing my fault in that area here, because I have already said (more than once, in fact) that it didn’t matter to me what people thought of me, and yet I still took a defensive stance concerning an accusation that had been hurled at me.
The worst part of it is that when I posted the article, it opened up a very negative atmosphere here, and suddenly there was a mean-spirited tone coming from the bloggers that is out of character for them, and totally out of keeping with the purpose of this blog. Don’t get me wrong…I’m not accusing those of you who wrote the negative stuff. I take full responsibility for everything that was here (that has now been deleted) because all of you were simply taking your cues from me, and I willingly posted all of your comments. In all honesty, I must confess that I cringed at some of the stuff that many of us said here (I am the chiefest of sinners in that respect), but my flesh enjoyed it, even though it grieved my spirit. I love the fact that you all want to protect me, but I’m a big boy…I shouldn’t even need that kind of affirmation at this point…and I am your shepherd. I should have never taken you there.
You may say that we were all justified in our reactions, because some really negative things were said about me by someone who doesn’t know me…but that’s not the point. I have already said that I would turn the other cheek, regardless, and yet I didn’t do it. Hopefully, I have at last learned my lesson in this respect.
As to the subject of answering doctrinal questions here, I can only say that I have already answered those questions presented to me over and over again, and at this point I consider that I owe no man anything but to love him. Besides, you can have all of your doctrinal ducks in row, and still be completely wrong in your motives. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. And no matter how many questions you answer, one man’s revelation is another man’s heresy. One man’s spiritual evolution is another man’s apostasy. One man’s ascent into greater truth is another man’s descent into error. One man’s orthodoxy is another man’s legalism. One man’s Scriptural interpretation is another man’s false doctrine. One man’s liberty in Christ is another man’s deception. My only answer to anyone concerning my preaching is this:
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1, 2 – KJV)
Anyway, it doesn’t matter what anyone says about me, or accuses me of…it doesn’t justify sarcasm and insults on my part. We wrestle not with flesh and blood.
I am confessing my fault that I may be healed. The sound of His voice has taken the sword from my hand.
Please forgive me, and agree with me that this battle in my life is won once and for all…
(Please pause the music player before viewing this...)
Selah.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Much To Consider Pt. I
Hey bloggers...I'll be back later today with some good stuff...awesome service yesterday...did a little clean-up here and there on the blog...please be cool if something you posted got deleted...it's all good...in the meantime, consider this...
Check back later...
___________________
OK, I'm back...there are currently 17 comments posted (some interesting stuff you should check out...)
It has been a favorite summer tradition of mine for many years to attend at least one of the presentations from Coca Cola’s annual film series at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. Originally, the series was comprised exclusively of film classics (over the years we’ve seen The Sound of Music there, The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, to name a few). If you go to the theatre a little early, before the show they have live music performed on the giant Möller theater organ (called “Mighty Mo”), a sing-along, and they show vintage cartoons and old newsreels. The whole experience is a nostalgia lover’s dream.
In recent years, I have become less and less enchanted with the series because it seems to me that they continue to show more and more first-run flicks that are still on at the local multiplex, and less of the old greats that I want to see on the Fox’s giant screen. But 18 summers ago, when they were still only showing the oldies, Debye and I attended a night of the series to see the 1959 epic, Ben-Hur, and that night turned out to be very significant for us.
At the time, she was nearing the very end of her fist pregnancy (our first child together). We had had two sonograms, both of which read that we were going to have a baby girl, and we were fine with that. I just wanted a baby that looked like Debye, and would grow up to be musical, but the doctors were so adamant that we were having a girl that we had only picked out a girl’s name (Victoria Elizabeth). We had also had a very pink baby shower in which we received nothing but girl gifts.
But on that hot August night in 1990, as we sat at the front of the Fox watching the winner of the most Academy Awards in history (until Titanic tied with it), I began to feel something unusual every time one of the characters in the movie called the name – “Judah Ben-Hur”. After the first half of the movie (it’s a long one), I turned to Debye and said, “I know they are convinced that we’re having a girl, but I just want to say that if we do happen to have a boy, that I am totally naming him “Judah”…“Judah Benjamin”! And when I said it we both, for lack of better term, felt an anointing on it, and I immediately saw a picture in my spirit of a tall, young man with long, blond hair.
Fast forward to 2008…last night they showed Ben Hur at the Fox for the first time in all these years, and we took Judah to see it (along with Jonah, and Aaron Conyers and Cody Daniel, and my parents), and we had a wonderful time. I had not seen it since before Judah was born, and there’s nothing like seeing the chariot race on a 70mm screen. You have to judge it in its proper context…it has some of the trappings of the typical, over-the-top, melodramatic Bible epics of the 50’s, along with some laughable special effects…but, all in all, it was actually much better than I had remembered.
For one thing, it was cool to take Judah to see it and sit close to where we sat the night we first imagined him (and he totally got it, by the way). But also, the story is so much about the mercy of Jesus Christ, and the salvation He provided for ALL people, that I really saw and heard it with new eyes and ears last night. Everything that they said about Jesus in the script sounded like the Jesus that I preach and believe in. It was very moving and timely for me.
The famous last line of the movie is Judah Ben-Hur telling his family of how his encounter with Christ delivered him from his hatred and need for vengeance…“And I felt His voice take the sword out my hand”…
I want to talk about that some...
To be continued tomorrow…
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.(Philippians 4:8 - The Message)
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. (Philippians 4:8 - Amplified)
Check back later...
___________________
OK, I'm back...there are currently 17 comments posted (some interesting stuff you should check out...)
It has been a favorite summer tradition of mine for many years to attend at least one of the presentations from Coca Cola’s annual film series at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. Originally, the series was comprised exclusively of film classics (over the years we’ve seen The Sound of Music there, The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, to name a few). If you go to the theatre a little early, before the show they have live music performed on the giant Möller theater organ (called “Mighty Mo”), a sing-along, and they show vintage cartoons and old newsreels. The whole experience is a nostalgia lover’s dream.In recent years, I have become less and less enchanted with the series because it seems to me that they continue to show more and more first-run flicks that are still on at the local multiplex, and less of the old greats that I want to see on the Fox’s giant screen. But 18 summers ago, when they were still only showing the oldies, Debye and I attended a night of the series to see the 1959 epic, Ben-Hur, and that night turned out to be very significant for us.
At the time, she was nearing the very end of her fist pregnancy (our first child together). We had had two sonograms, both of which read that we were going to have a baby girl, and we were fine with that. I just wanted a baby that looked like Debye, and would grow up to be musical, but the doctors were so adamant that we were having a girl that we had only picked out a girl’s name (Victoria Elizabeth). We had also had a very pink baby shower in which we received nothing but girl gifts.
But on that hot August night in 1990, as we sat at the front of the Fox watching the winner of the most Academy Awards in history (until Titanic tied with it), I began to feel something unusual every time one of the characters in the movie called the name – “Judah Ben-Hur”. After the first half of the movie (it’s a long one), I turned to Debye and said, “I know they are convinced that we’re having a girl, but I just want to say that if we do happen to have a boy, that I am totally naming him “Judah”…“Judah Benjamin”! And when I said it we both, for lack of better term, felt an anointing on it, and I immediately saw a picture in my spirit of a tall, young man with long, blond hair.
Fast forward to 2008…last night they showed Ben Hur at the Fox for the first time in all these years, and we took Judah to see it (along with Jonah, and Aaron Conyers and Cody Daniel, and my parents), and we had a wonderful time. I had not seen it since before Judah was born, and there’s nothing like seeing the chariot race on a 70mm screen. You have to judge it in its proper context…it has some of the trappings of the typical, over-the-top, melodramatic Bible epics of the 50’s, along with some laughable special effects…but, all in all, it was actually much better than I had remembered.For one thing, it was cool to take Judah to see it and sit close to where we sat the night we first imagined him (and he totally got it, by the way). But also, the story is so much about the mercy of Jesus Christ, and the salvation He provided for ALL people, that I really saw and heard it with new eyes and ears last night. Everything that they said about Jesus in the script sounded like the Jesus that I preach and believe in. It was very moving and timely for me.
The famous last line of the movie is Judah Ben-Hur telling his family of how his encounter with Christ delivered him from his hatred and need for vengeance…“And I felt His voice take the sword out my hand”…
I want to talk about that some...
To be continued tomorrow…
Monday, May 5, 2008
Carpe Diem!
Happy Monday, Happy Cinco de Mayo and Happy Birthday to my daughter Christina!
Carpe diem is a phrase from a Latin poem by Horace which is popularly translated from the movie Dead Poets Society as "seize the day". The general definition of carpe is "pick, pluck, pluck off, gather" as in plucking or picking a rose or apple, although Horace uses the word in the sense of "enjoy, make use of, seize." The point is, this is the day the Lord has made…don’t waste it.
If you’re angry with someone today, just go ahead and forgive them if you can, because what you’re mad about is, more than likely, not worth it. This time next year it probably won’t even matter to you…you might not even remember it. One thing is for sure, if you knew that this was your last day on earth, you would definitely wouldn’t care about some petty offense or hurt feelings.
If you’re dealing with disappointment today, get things in perspective. If you can move away from it a little and try to see the situation objectively, you’ll probably realize that the perceived disappointment may, in fact, be a blessing in disguise. Who knows? Something may have been removed from you to make room for something new and better.
If you are dreading or fearing something that is coming up, just stop worrying about it. Things are rarely as bad as they first appear, or as your anxiety makes you feel that they will be…and if it is actually a negative thing, worrying about it isn’t going to make it any better. Just deal with it when the time comes.
It’s a beautiful day, so make the decision to enjoy it and make the most of it.
Something really wonderful may be on its way to you right now. Don’t miss it. Opportunity may knock today, and if it does, you don’t want to be distracted by a lot of unnecessary noise in your head…you don’t want opportunity to have to leave a note that says, “I knocked, but no one was home so I moved on”.
Get into your day…live in every moment…Carpe Diem!
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.’ (Matthew 6:34 – The Message)
Carpe diem is a phrase from a Latin poem by Horace which is popularly translated from the movie Dead Poets Society as "seize the day". The general definition of carpe is "pick, pluck, pluck off, gather" as in plucking or picking a rose or apple, although Horace uses the word in the sense of "enjoy, make use of, seize." The point is, this is the day the Lord has made…don’t waste it. If you’re angry with someone today, just go ahead and forgive them if you can, because what you’re mad about is, more than likely, not worth it. This time next year it probably won’t even matter to you…you might not even remember it. One thing is for sure, if you knew that this was your last day on earth, you would definitely wouldn’t care about some petty offense or hurt feelings.
If you’re dealing with disappointment today, get things in perspective. If you can move away from it a little and try to see the situation objectively, you’ll probably realize that the perceived disappointment may, in fact, be a blessing in disguise. Who knows? Something may have been removed from you to make room for something new and better.
If you are dreading or fearing something that is coming up, just stop worrying about it. Things are rarely as bad as they first appear, or as your anxiety makes you feel that they will be…and if it is actually a negative thing, worrying about it isn’t going to make it any better. Just deal with it when the time comes.
It’s a beautiful day, so make the decision to enjoy it and make the most of it.
Something really wonderful may be on its way to you right now. Don’t miss it. Opportunity may knock today, and if it does, you don’t want to be distracted by a lot of unnecessary noise in your head…you don’t want opportunity to have to leave a note that says, “I knocked, but no one was home so I moved on”.
Get into your day…live in every moment…Carpe Diem!
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.’ (Matthew 6:34 – The Message)
Sunday, April 27, 2008
What's Goin' On?
It's a great day to be alive! If you're reading this before church, my word to you is...CHURCH IS GOING TO BE AWESOME TODAY!!! If you're reading this after church, it's...WASN'T CHURCH AWESOME TODAY?! Both statements are/will be true...
I did some remodeling here again...as is typical with every change that I make, I get completely different reactions from people...like when I shaved the other day, people lined up to tell me that they were so happy that I did, and that I looked so much better without facial hair, and just as many told me that I had ruined my looks by doing it...comes with the territory...five new songs on the playlist...love what's going on here...happiness is setting your faith for 100 comments on an article and getting 161...
...saw Ben Stein's movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed about the scientific world's prejudice against the concept of intelligent design...it's pretty good...makes some interesting points...I would say worth seeing...but fans of the Beatles' Imagine, beware...it has a negative take on the song...
...yesterday, before Sofia's party, I was watching a documentary on the World Trade Center that I have actually seen a couple of times before, maybe more...but I had never payed attention to the fact that the now-deceased architect, Minoru Yamasaki, was terribly afraid of heights...don't know why, but I can't seem to stop thinking about that...I mean, he designed what was, at the time, the tallest buildings in the world, and he couldn't go to the top of them! I'm sure that that will find its way into a sermon at some point...
...it's been quite a week...I was struck by how much Jon Bon Jovi borrows from gospel preaching when he is performing...several times during the concert he would tell the crowd to say "Amen" or ask "Can I get a witness?", and the way he just generally interacted with the audience was very much like an old-school preacher getting his congregation all riled up...interesting...
...when I got home from Nashville Friday my daughter and granddaughter were here...wonderful...Sofia is walking a little and we've had such a blast with her...she's so much fun...I hate that Daisson is missing this time with her and her 1st birthday, but he'll be home in a few weeks...may have to go to Afghanistan...
...also, when I got home Judah's cap and gown were hanging on a door in the hallway...can't believe how time is flying...gotta seize the day, every day...
...excited about the Spirit moving all over the earth...CITN is alive and well...we are blessed...if you didn't get a chance to respond to yesterday's article, please do so...it took me a long time to put it together...
...just wanted to share what was in my head and heart today...
I did some remodeling here again...as is typical with every change that I make, I get completely different reactions from people...like when I shaved the other day, people lined up to tell me that they were so happy that I did, and that I looked so much better without facial hair, and just as many told me that I had ruined my looks by doing it...comes with the territory...five new songs on the playlist...love what's going on here...happiness is setting your faith for 100 comments on an article and getting 161...
...saw Ben Stein's movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed about the scientific world's prejudice against the concept of intelligent design...it's pretty good...makes some interesting points...I would say worth seeing...but fans of the Beatles' Imagine, beware...it has a negative take on the song...
...yesterday, before Sofia's party, I was watching a documentary on the World Trade Center that I have actually seen a couple of times before, maybe more...but I had never payed attention to the fact that the now-deceased architect, Minoru Yamasaki, was terribly afraid of heights...don't know why, but I can't seem to stop thinking about that...I mean, he designed what was, at the time, the tallest buildings in the world, and he couldn't go to the top of them! I'm sure that that will find its way into a sermon at some point...
...it's been quite a week...I was struck by how much Jon Bon Jovi borrows from gospel preaching when he is performing...several times during the concert he would tell the crowd to say "Amen" or ask "Can I get a witness?", and the way he just generally interacted with the audience was very much like an old-school preacher getting his congregation all riled up...interesting...
...when I got home from Nashville Friday my daughter and granddaughter were here...wonderful...Sofia is walking a little and we've had such a blast with her...she's so much fun...I hate that Daisson is missing this time with her and her 1st birthday, but he'll be home in a few weeks...may have to go to Afghanistan...
...also, when I got home Judah's cap and gown were hanging on a door in the hallway...can't believe how time is flying...gotta seize the day, every day...
...excited about the Spirit moving all over the earth...CITN is alive and well...we are blessed...if you didn't get a chance to respond to yesterday's article, please do so...it took me a long time to put it together...
...just wanted to share what was in my head and heart today...
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Who Do Men Say That I Am? Part II
I could have easily named this article "Who Does Hollywood Say That I Am?". Because it's Passion Week (aka Easter Week), the time when you see all of the usual 'Life of Christ' movies shown on TV, I'd like to discuss a few of them that may be aired in the next few days, along with some others that I just enjoy and appreciate for various reasons. Many stations even play The Ten Commandments during the Easter season (never sure why, since it's not about Jesus or the resurrection) but usually you just see movies shown about the Savior of the World starring very white, Euro-centric actors with British accents who portray Him in a very mannered and contrived way. Some of those films are listed here, but I do think that even they have redeeming facets to them. This isn't necessarily my Top Ten Favorites list, I would just like to comment on each of these.
1. The Passion Of The Christ. This movie made so much money for Mel Gibson that it altered the way Hollywood views all independent projects like this. I think that Gibson is a good actor and director, but in the case of TPOTC, he really shined (shone?) as a producer. He promoted his project heavily with and in churches before release, and as a result the movie developed a huge, grassroots following, and paid for itself in its first weekend.
There are many things about it that I like, particularly the fact that it was spoken entirely in Aramaic, Jesus' native tongue, and I also thought that Jim Caviezel was very effective in it. What's interesting to me, however, is that certain high-profile Evangelicals such as John Hagee, who are decidedly anti-Roman Catholic, promoted it so heavily. They seemed oblivious to the fact that it is so overtly Catholic in spirit and viewpoint. Director Gibson intended fidelity to the New Testament, yet expanded the screenplay by making use of additional sources. The principal, most controversial source is The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ ,the meditations of the stigmatic, German nun Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774–1824), as told to the poet Clemens Brentano. Her vision of Christ’s Passion depicts certain Jews as more vicious and bloodthirsty than the Romans ruling Judaea. A secondary, extra-biblical source is The Mystical City of God by Maria de Agreda (1602–1665), a 17th century Spanish nun, and some imagined sequences. Many critics noted that the costumes worn by the Blessed Virgin (Maia Morgenstern) and Mary Magdalene (Monica Bellucci) resemble the habit of the Augustinian Order nuns, in homage to Emmerich. There's also a scene where Mary seems to display telepathic powers, and sees and hears Jesus being tortured on the other side of a stone wall.
The Jewish community passionately protested the movie, and Gibson's subsequent anti-Semitic remarks have seemingly confirmed some of their accusations of his motives in making it. The movie was also controversial because of its graphic violence, but I personally don't think it even scratched the surface in conveying the horrors of the crucifixion. If that were portrayed accurately, the film couldn't even be released in theatres. But all in all, it's a very well-crafted film, and is definitely worth seeing.
2. The Gospel According To Matthew. This movie was produced by the International Bible Society, and has a script that is taken, verbatim, from a modern translation of the Scriptures. I was greatly impressed with the performance of Bruce Marchiano as Jesus, because, for one thing, he at least looks a little more middle eastern and a little less Anglo than the typical actor who portrays the Nazarene. His Jesus is probably the most joyful one you'll ever see in a movie...it's the only time I ever remember seeing a film that showed Jesus laughing...and his interaction with the disciples seems real and is quite believable. I like this one a lot.
3. The Gospel of John. Here you find the standard white, British "movie" Jesus (at least he doesn't have blue eyes like Jeffrey Hunter in King of Kings) but I have to say that this is really a beautiful film. The depiction of Jesus washing the disciples' feet is particularly moving, and the scene where Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him is the best I have ever seen portrayed. I recommend it.
4. Jesus of Nazareth. Some would say this is the best Jesus film; it is certainly the most. At six and a half hours, Franco Zeffirelli's mini-series gets to explore the Gospels at greater length than usual, and it fleshes out the supporting characters in ways that convey the breadth and depth of the impact Jesus had on his contemporaries. This Jesus does have blue eyes, though. I generally like Zeffirelli as a director, but this isn't one of my favorites. The DVD makes a nice gift, though.
5. Jesus Christ Superstar. You don't want to get me started on JCS...too much to say, not enough time. Let me try to be succinct. Jeff Fenholt, the original "Jesus" on broadway is a good friend of mine, so I have a special appreciation for the Original Broadway cast album...didn't care too much at all for the movie...hated the revival of it on Broadway a few years ago because the director didn't seem to unserstand what it is about.
Theatrically, it's written with Judas as the protagonist, and it explores the human side of Jesus, and how he dealt with the fame that came from His public ministry. The whole thing is supposed to be seen through the eyes of Judas, who is meant to be portrayed as a sympathetic, conflicted character. It is generally denounced by mainstream ministers as being blasphemous, but I've never seen it that way...mainly because I understand that it's not meant to be the Passion Play from First Baptist Church, and I do believe that Judas was not who we traditionally have thought that he was (see School of the Bible I), and I accept the fact that Jesus was and is every bit as human as He is divine!
The picture posted here is of the studio album that came out before the Broadway show, with Ian Gillan, the lead singer for Deep Purple, as Jesus. For me, it's the only Jesus Christ Superstar, and I love it. Maybe I just understand it because it was so much a part of my generation, but I had to include it here.
6. Godspell. 
Also part of my generation, and also loved by me. Not everyone gets it...you kind of had to have been there. Movie is pretty good (pictured on the right)...came out just as the twin towers of World Trade Center were being completed, and a big musical number is shot on top of one of them (the picture of it is on the cover of the movie soundtrack album). Great celebration of Matthew's gospel, and particularly effective in teaching the parables in an entertaining fashion. The picture on the left is the cover of the original broadway cast album...I love all of it except for the voice of the guy who sings "All Good Gifts".
7. The Greatest Story Ever Told. In my opinion, a little boring and pretentious, but beautifully shot. The main attraction of this one for me is the large and notable cast...I mean practically everyone who was alive in Hollywood in 1965 is in this! Charlton Heston is John the Baptist, Telly Savalas is Pontius Pilate, Claud Rains is Herod, Jamie Farr (M.A.S.H.) is a disciple...Pat Boone, Sydney Poitier, Carroll Baker, Victor Buono, Van Heflin, Russell Johnson (the professor from Gilligan's Island), Martin Landau (Mission Impossible), Angela Lansbury, Sal Mineo, Donald Pleasence, Marian Seldes, Shelley Winters, and Ed Wynn are all in it...even John Wayne plays a centurion!
I don't really enjoy Max Von Sydow as Jesus, but it's interesting to see him in the role because he's played the devil in a couple of things, and was Father Merrin in the Exorcist! I recommend this only for true cinefiles, simply because of the sheer uniqueness of it.
8. Color of the Cross. I really wanted to love this one more than I did. It has a lot of potential, and, to my knowledge, is the first big-budget Jesus movie with an all black cast (I don't use "African-American" here, because I'm not sure all of the players are American). Some of it is quite compelling, but I was looking forward to seeing a more powerful and magnetic Jesus of color on the big screen. Unfortunately, the gentleman who played Him was my least favorite cast member (I had my own ideas about casting Him, especially after seeing Blair Underwood read the words of Jesus in such a mesmerizing way in the DVD of The Making of 'The Bible Experience'). Some viewers may not know what to make of Mary asking Joseph, after finding out that their son had been crucified (or maybe it was after she found out He had been arrested, I can't remember), if they were punishing Him because He was black. It wasn't a great line, especially because the ones arresting Him were black (or at least that's the way I remember it...I'm open to correction on this). Anyway, it's not bad, and is worth a viewing.
9. The Gospel Road. I hadn't seen this in thirty-something years and ran across it in a store recently and bought it. After watching it I realized that most of it wasn't as good as I remembered, but parts of it were still pretty enjoyable. If you're a true Johnny Cash fan you'll appreciate it just for the music. My personal favorite part is seeing June Carter Cash play Mary Magdalene and sing the John Denver (yes, I admit it...I was a huge John Denver fan) song, Follow Me. But be warned, Jesus isn't just white in this one, he's a blond! This one I recommend mostly for the soundtrack.
10. Cotton Patch Gospel. I haven't screened the taped version that is pictured on the left, but I've seen it live on stage with Tom Key, and it's one of my very favorite versions of the Jesus story! CPG is a musical that retells the story of Jesus as if in modern day, rural Georgia. Based on the book The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John by the very cool and totally ahead-of-his-time Clarence Jordan, the music and lyrics to the musical were written by Harry Chapin (Cat's in the Cradle) and were his last work before his death. The stage version was written by Tom Key and Russell Treyz. As if the gospel weren't scandalous enough, having a teenage girl impregnated by God to bear the Messiah, the Cotton Patch Gospel ups the ante. Mary, it seems, is the daughter of a deacon at First Baptist Church of Opp, Ala. And Jesus isn't crucified by Pontius Pilate but lynched by the Ku Klux Klan working in concert with Gov. Pilate of Georgia. It's got awesome bluegrass music, and even after all the years that it's been performed on stage, some theatergoers still walk out in protest of the play's inference of racial equality as a gospel cause. I love, love, love this one!
One more thing...
The Last Temptation of Christ. This much-misunderstood movie is based on the novel written by Nikos Kazantzakis (Zorba the Greek), first published in 1951, which follows the life of Jesus Christ from his perspective. The novel has been the subject of a great deal of controversy due to its subject matter, and appears regularly on lists of banned books. The central thesis of the book is that Jesus, while free from sin, was still subject to every form of temptation that humans face, including fear, doubt, depression, reluctance, and lust. By facing and conquering all of man's weaknesses, Kazantzakis argues in the novel's preface, He struggled to do God's will, without ever giving in to the temptations of the flesh. His premise is based on Hebrews 4:15 which says that Jesus was “tempted in all points, yet without sin.”
The movie was directed by Academy Award winning director, Martin Scorsese, and when it first came out it set off a major protest movement from Evangelicals, led mostly by Jerry Falwell. It’s not what I would call an uplifting movie because of the heaviness of the subject matter, in fact it’s a little dark, but it’s not AT ALL what the televangelists said that it was! I own it and have seen it many times, but I don’t necessarily recommend it to everyone. It isn’t your garden variety ‘Life of Christ’ flick, and many church people aren’t intellectually deep enough to grasp its concept, or to even understand the meaning of “fiction”, for that matter. None of the stuff that Falwell and others like him said was in it is actually in it.
Basically, the whole thing is about a satanically-suggested dream sequence that Jesus has while He’s dying on the cross. In the dream an angel tells Him that He doesn’t have to die for the sins of the world, and He comes down off of the cross and begins to live a natural life, in which He marries Mary Magdalene and has children with her, and lives out a normal existence as a carpenter. I hate to spoil the ending (by the way, Bruce Willis was one of the dead people in The Sixth Sense, and “Rosebud” is Kane’s sled!)…but He wakes up from the dream and realizes that He is still on the cross, and that He still wants to fulfill the will of the Father in dying for the world’s sins, and then He dies. The end.
Neither the novel nor the movie was ever meant to be intentioanlly blasphemous. On the contrary, in fact. Do I recommend it? If you’re intelligent enough to understand that Jesus was and is as much Son of Man as Son of God…as human as He is divine…and if you believe that “tempted in all points” means just that...and if you understand the definition of "fiction". If not, you may need to stick with King of Kings.
If there's one that I didn't mention that you like, feel free to write your own review.
1. The Passion Of The Christ. This movie made so much money for Mel Gibson that it altered the way Hollywood views all independent projects like this. I think that Gibson is a good actor and director, but in the case of TPOTC, he really shined (shone?) as a producer. He promoted his project heavily with and in churches before release, and as a result the movie developed a huge, grassroots following, and paid for itself in its first weekend.
There are many things about it that I like, particularly the fact that it was spoken entirely in Aramaic, Jesus' native tongue, and I also thought that Jim Caviezel was very effective in it. What's interesting to me, however, is that certain high-profile Evangelicals such as John Hagee, who are decidedly anti-Roman Catholic, promoted it so heavily. They seemed oblivious to the fact that it is so overtly Catholic in spirit and viewpoint. Director Gibson intended fidelity to the New Testament, yet expanded the screenplay by making use of additional sources. The principal, most controversial source is The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ ,the meditations of the stigmatic, German nun Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774–1824), as told to the poet Clemens Brentano. Her vision of Christ’s Passion depicts certain Jews as more vicious and bloodthirsty than the Romans ruling Judaea. A secondary, extra-biblical source is The Mystical City of God by Maria de Agreda (1602–1665), a 17th century Spanish nun, and some imagined sequences. Many critics noted that the costumes worn by the Blessed Virgin (Maia Morgenstern) and Mary Magdalene (Monica Bellucci) resemble the habit of the Augustinian Order nuns, in homage to Emmerich. There's also a scene where Mary seems to display telepathic powers, and sees and hears Jesus being tortured on the other side of a stone wall.
The Jewish community passionately protested the movie, and Gibson's subsequent anti-Semitic remarks have seemingly confirmed some of their accusations of his motives in making it. The movie was also controversial because of its graphic violence, but I personally don't think it even scratched the surface in conveying the horrors of the crucifixion. If that were portrayed accurately, the film couldn't even be released in theatres. But all in all, it's a very well-crafted film, and is definitely worth seeing.
2. The Gospel According To Matthew. This movie was produced by the International Bible Society, and has a script that is taken, verbatim, from a modern translation of the Scriptures. I was greatly impressed with the performance of Bruce Marchiano as Jesus, because, for one thing, he at least looks a little more middle eastern and a little less Anglo than the typical actor who portrays the Nazarene. His Jesus is probably the most joyful one you'll ever see in a movie...it's the only time I ever remember seeing a film that showed Jesus laughing...and his interaction with the disciples seems real and is quite believable. I like this one a lot.
3. The Gospel of John. Here you find the standard white, British "movie" Jesus (at least he doesn't have blue eyes like Jeffrey Hunter in King of Kings) but I have to say that this is really a beautiful film. The depiction of Jesus washing the disciples' feet is particularly moving, and the scene where Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him is the best I have ever seen portrayed. I recommend it.
4. Jesus of Nazareth. Some would say this is the best Jesus film; it is certainly the most. At six and a half hours, Franco Zeffirelli's mini-series gets to explore the Gospels at greater length than usual, and it fleshes out the supporting characters in ways that convey the breadth and depth of the impact Jesus had on his contemporaries. This Jesus does have blue eyes, though. I generally like Zeffirelli as a director, but this isn't one of my favorites. The DVD makes a nice gift, though.
5. Jesus Christ Superstar. You don't want to get me started on JCS...too much to say, not enough time. Let me try to be succinct. Jeff Fenholt, the original "Jesus" on broadway is a good friend of mine, so I have a special appreciation for the Original Broadway cast album...didn't care too much at all for the movie...hated the revival of it on Broadway a few years ago because the director didn't seem to unserstand what it is about.
Theatrically, it's written with Judas as the protagonist, and it explores the human side of Jesus, and how he dealt with the fame that came from His public ministry. The whole thing is supposed to be seen through the eyes of Judas, who is meant to be portrayed as a sympathetic, conflicted character. It is generally denounced by mainstream ministers as being blasphemous, but I've never seen it that way...mainly because I understand that it's not meant to be the Passion Play from First Baptist Church, and I do believe that Judas was not who we traditionally have thought that he was (see School of the Bible I), and I accept the fact that Jesus was and is every bit as human as He is divine!
The picture posted here is of the studio album that came out before the Broadway show, with Ian Gillan, the lead singer for Deep Purple, as Jesus. For me, it's the only Jesus Christ Superstar, and I love it. Maybe I just understand it because it was so much a part of my generation, but I had to include it here.
6. Godspell. 
Also part of my generation, and also loved by me. Not everyone gets it...you kind of had to have been there. Movie is pretty good (pictured on the right)...came out just as the twin towers of World Trade Center were being completed, and a big musical number is shot on top of one of them (the picture of it is on the cover of the movie soundtrack album). Great celebration of Matthew's gospel, and particularly effective in teaching the parables in an entertaining fashion. The picture on the left is the cover of the original broadway cast album...I love all of it except for the voice of the guy who sings "All Good Gifts".
7. The Greatest Story Ever Told. In my opinion, a little boring and pretentious, but beautifully shot. The main attraction of this one for me is the large and notable cast...I mean practically everyone who was alive in Hollywood in 1965 is in this! Charlton Heston is John the Baptist, Telly Savalas is Pontius Pilate, Claud Rains is Herod, Jamie Farr (M.A.S.H.) is a disciple...Pat Boone, Sydney Poitier, Carroll Baker, Victor Buono, Van Heflin, Russell Johnson (the professor from Gilligan's Island), Martin Landau (Mission Impossible), Angela Lansbury, Sal Mineo, Donald Pleasence, Marian Seldes, Shelley Winters, and Ed Wynn are all in it...even John Wayne plays a centurion!
I don't really enjoy Max Von Sydow as Jesus, but it's interesting to see him in the role because he's played the devil in a couple of things, and was Father Merrin in the Exorcist! I recommend this only for true cinefiles, simply because of the sheer uniqueness of it.
8. Color of the Cross. I really wanted to love this one more than I did. It has a lot of potential, and, to my knowledge, is the first big-budget Jesus movie with an all black cast (I don't use "African-American" here, because I'm not sure all of the players are American). Some of it is quite compelling, but I was looking forward to seeing a more powerful and magnetic Jesus of color on the big screen. Unfortunately, the gentleman who played Him was my least favorite cast member (I had my own ideas about casting Him, especially after seeing Blair Underwood read the words of Jesus in such a mesmerizing way in the DVD of The Making of 'The Bible Experience'). Some viewers may not know what to make of Mary asking Joseph, after finding out that their son had been crucified (or maybe it was after she found out He had been arrested, I can't remember), if they were punishing Him because He was black. It wasn't a great line, especially because the ones arresting Him were black (or at least that's the way I remember it...I'm open to correction on this). Anyway, it's not bad, and is worth a viewing.
9. The Gospel Road. I hadn't seen this in thirty-something years and ran across it in a store recently and bought it. After watching it I realized that most of it wasn't as good as I remembered, but parts of it were still pretty enjoyable. If you're a true Johnny Cash fan you'll appreciate it just for the music. My personal favorite part is seeing June Carter Cash play Mary Magdalene and sing the John Denver (yes, I admit it...I was a huge John Denver fan) song, Follow Me. But be warned, Jesus isn't just white in this one, he's a blond! This one I recommend mostly for the soundtrack.
10. Cotton Patch Gospel. I haven't screened the taped version that is pictured on the left, but I've seen it live on stage with Tom Key, and it's one of my very favorite versions of the Jesus story! CPG is a musical that retells the story of Jesus as if in modern day, rural Georgia. Based on the book The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John by the very cool and totally ahead-of-his-time Clarence Jordan, the music and lyrics to the musical were written by Harry Chapin (Cat's in the Cradle) and were his last work before his death. The stage version was written by Tom Key and Russell Treyz. As if the gospel weren't scandalous enough, having a teenage girl impregnated by God to bear the Messiah, the Cotton Patch Gospel ups the ante. Mary, it seems, is the daughter of a deacon at First Baptist Church of Opp, Ala. And Jesus isn't crucified by Pontius Pilate but lynched by the Ku Klux Klan working in concert with Gov. Pilate of Georgia. It's got awesome bluegrass music, and even after all the years that it's been performed on stage, some theatergoers still walk out in protest of the play's inference of racial equality as a gospel cause. I love, love, love this one!
One more thing...
The Last Temptation of Christ. This much-misunderstood movie is based on the novel written by Nikos Kazantzakis (Zorba the Greek), first published in 1951, which follows the life of Jesus Christ from his perspective. The novel has been the subject of a great deal of controversy due to its subject matter, and appears regularly on lists of banned books. The central thesis of the book is that Jesus, while free from sin, was still subject to every form of temptation that humans face, including fear, doubt, depression, reluctance, and lust. By facing and conquering all of man's weaknesses, Kazantzakis argues in the novel's preface, He struggled to do God's will, without ever giving in to the temptations of the flesh. His premise is based on Hebrews 4:15 which says that Jesus was “tempted in all points, yet without sin.”
The movie was directed by Academy Award winning director, Martin Scorsese, and when it first came out it set off a major protest movement from Evangelicals, led mostly by Jerry Falwell. It’s not what I would call an uplifting movie because of the heaviness of the subject matter, in fact it’s a little dark, but it’s not AT ALL what the televangelists said that it was! I own it and have seen it many times, but I don’t necessarily recommend it to everyone. It isn’t your garden variety ‘Life of Christ’ flick, and many church people aren’t intellectually deep enough to grasp its concept, or to even understand the meaning of “fiction”, for that matter. None of the stuff that Falwell and others like him said was in it is actually in it.
Basically, the whole thing is about a satanically-suggested dream sequence that Jesus has while He’s dying on the cross. In the dream an angel tells Him that He doesn’t have to die for the sins of the world, and He comes down off of the cross and begins to live a natural life, in which He marries Mary Magdalene and has children with her, and lives out a normal existence as a carpenter. I hate to spoil the ending (by the way, Bruce Willis was one of the dead people in The Sixth Sense, and “Rosebud” is Kane’s sled!)…but He wakes up from the dream and realizes that He is still on the cross, and that He still wants to fulfill the will of the Father in dying for the world’s sins, and then He dies. The end.
Neither the novel nor the movie was ever meant to be intentioanlly blasphemous. On the contrary, in fact. Do I recommend it? If you’re intelligent enough to understand that Jesus was and is as much Son of Man as Son of God…as human as He is divine…and if you believe that “tempted in all points” means just that...and if you understand the definition of "fiction". If not, you may need to stick with King of Kings.
If there's one that I didn't mention that you like, feel free to write your own review.
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