Go ye into all the world and make a movie?

This morning I awoke to read the wonderful world of scathing Christian movie critics... Primarily friends... Reporting back on the movie "Noah".  It appears (I have not yet seen it) that the movie has left the biblical narrative and has left a sour taste in the mouths of Christians who feel that God was misrepresented..

Sigh...

How can I say this politely? God did not ask us to share the truth of His character through the simplicity of the silver screen but through the messy distorted and often confused reflections of our lives.  Once again we are attempting to buy our evangelism. Shot gun evangelism. "If we just get the gun pointed correctly at people who don't know the story that somehow the story will bring heart change and repentance will occur.  BLAM!!!   There! Take that! Now do you know God yet?" This is not only NOT biblical it simply is complete nuts!

It appear from the communication being printed and spoken through Facebook, Christian Blogs and discussions throughout the Christians subculture that some Christians are somehow disappointed for God that He is being painted as a distant heartless vengeful deity that is hellbent on destroying the world with little to no discussion or negotiation.   SPOILER ALERT!    Read the bible.  He clearly is that... in this story.  

Yes we understand the entire narrative of his grace and mercy... And we get the need to protect the redemption plan that God has designed for man... but come on people.... The entire population of the world is destroyed in a single planned attack!  This is not the simplicity of the bible story on flannel graph. (As the bad people simply get lifted off the poster board and placed back in the box.) If you believe the bible and its truth, millions of real people were viciously and ruthlessly destroyed and covered by millions of gallons of water and died as they drowned in fear and distress.  What part of that story fits with our modern church sensitivities? "Be careful...don't offend anyone... they might not like our God."

Is it our desire to let the writers and producers in Hollywood to somehow bring repentance to the world? Is it our desire to want Hollywood to characterize God on our behalf? That thinking is empty at best and irresponsible at worst.

This Easter we are telling the life changing story of the viciousness of the cross. But not in some distant narrative -  rather in the messy, confusing often repulsive stories of Christ in us... The hope of glory.

"Beauty in the Broken." 

I'm broken... And yet God! This world is broken...and yet God. You're broken...and yet God! Jesus was broken...and God!

The distant God of Noah with His purity, holiness, jealously, righteousness and truth offends... But it needs to! Its reality needs to sink deep into our hearts to allow us to see past our false sense of entitlement and self security, to the place of brokenness and need that brings reality to our lives. For without that reality we will never see or know the closeness, mercy, long suffering, redemptive, justifying grace of God, paying the price for the world so that we would not need to.  

 
Enjoy the movies, but don't release the responsibility to reflect God's character and love to the world to the thin veneer of the silver screen, but rather allow your wounds and scars to be filled with the grace of God and His character clearly seen through the drama of your broken life. The three dimensional you will trump the artificial 3d image of the screen. 

Leave the message of the grace of God to the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. It is there that the victory is won and the enemy is overcome.

"Now is the winter of our discontent...

" Shakespeare could not have written a better phrase that applies more easily to the lives and passions of those who work and live in this fine city. You see avid reader, the city of Edmonton is in a funk.  It's football team has come off the worst season in decades and it's hockey team as of this morning is rated dead last in the league.  To make matters worse they were soundly trounced by Calgary on Saturday night 8-1.  Which when I read this four years from now will seem like the meaningless dribble that it is... But as Will said hundreds of years ago... "Now is the winter of our discontent..."

Which bring us to the question I would like to pose. What is it that brings you contentment?  What is it that slows your angst and calms your heart to rest and breath?  Is it some form of meditation? A good book along with a coffee and chocolate? Or rather is it prayer and waiting on God. Because the answer is not as easy or as clear cut as you would imagine.

The bible says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. But is that a reality for you? Are you able to trust the Lord?  Are you able like the old hymn says, "...take your burdens to The Lord and leave it there?"

If this is in fact what we are instructed to do, then why is there so much anxiety in the church week after week. The sound is too loud. The wrong missions team was highlighted on the platform, the youth are dress inappropriately, the adults are not willing to change... And on and on it goes.

Anxiety is not something that the body of Christ has the victory over but rather stews and sweats continually destroying the joy and friendships in its wake. Are we the receivers  of Gods amazing grace suppose to live lives that reflect the thought, "I have no worries. My dad has everything well in hand." Or are we no better than those who have no hope eternal?

 Sure we remember the old song, "He's got the whole world in His hands but do we believe it for ourselves? Some how I doubt it.  

Here is where you come in... Tell me what you do to bring peace in the midst of the storm. What is your go to activity? Where is your go to place? Who is your go to person that brings that sense of rest to your soul.

I really want to know. 

What is your end game?

Erma Bombeck once said, "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'."

Often in life I have heard this idea same thing. "Dave...you should slow down. Take it easy...relax."But I have decided a long time ago that I would, like Erma, live a life that would burn out rather than rust out.

So, how about you? Are you living a life that will stand after you cannot. Are you living a life that is earthly good but with eyes clearly on heaven? Does your faith live outside of the church on Sunday...or does it hide when the bright lights of Monday appear?

"Four score and ten will soon be past...only what's done for Christ will last."... is a  phrase that comes down through the years with guilt and insecurity attached to it. And yet it's not guilt that this phrase should speak to us... it is the challenge of the time that should challenge us.

You have so much value to share with others. So much thoughtful interaction that will change lives and change your life if you let it. God has placed us in a place where we can influence others to reach towards Christ, whether they have lived for Christ for years or whether they have never confessed a faith. Regardless, God has given you the treasures and hidden them in your heart and spirit, safely stored there until the moment when people will ask you for it. Then the truths well hidden inside you will spring to your mind. 

So burn... burn brightly... from both ends and place a blow torch to the centre. Lives will be changed... people transformed...hell plundered...heaven filled.

"Live a life that at your funeral they won't have ponder long to write down your eulogy." Dave Wood

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'.

Erma Bombeck

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/erma_bombeck.html#2QlcIUg0yARGuao7.99

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'.

Erma Bombeck

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/erma_bombeck.html#2QlcIUg0yARGuao7.99