We often forget about the importance of words. After all, "words mean stuff." Accordingly, my next 10 posts will cover 10 words--one word per post--that we ought to consider the meaning of more carefully, model our lives more accurately after, or otherwise merit mentioning.
As we proceed, feel free to add other words that you feel are worth contemplating.
An illustration of what happens when words break down:
Soli Deo Gloria
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Amazing Grace
The film Amazing Grace is being released today on DVD. It was in theatres this past spring. This film is, without the need for much speculation, the best movie I have seen in recent memory. At the risk of admitting embarrassment, I watched this movie in the theaters five or six times (all except one was at a local dollar theater). This is the only movie I have ever seen more than once on the big screen. So, this alone should stand witness to the level of esteem for which I hold this film.
It centers around William Wilberforce and his fight to help end the slave trade in England. I admire the film for a number of reasons. This movie has resurged interest in an otherwise forgotten, yet important historical Christian figure (Wilberforce). In addition, the way the director unfolds the story invites the audience to take part in Wilberforce’s struggles. There are also a number of quotes worth pondering. And perhaps the reason why I enjoy the film the most is that, although not a story about Christ per se, this film is unabashedly about a Christian man and his struggle to shape and improve the world. It is a reminder that Christians can play an important role in government.
If your budget so allows, I would recommend that you purchase this movie. It can be found at Family Christian Book Stores and Amazon, as well as many other places. If you do not purchase it, at a minimum you should find a place to rent this movie. It is being released this week at Blockbuster and Netflix is also carrying it. So, I imagine every major movie rental business will carry it.
Below are a couple of clips from the movie. You can also visit the website for the movie here.
It centers around William Wilberforce and his fight to help end the slave trade in England. I admire the film for a number of reasons. This movie has resurged interest in an otherwise forgotten, yet important historical Christian figure (Wilberforce). In addition, the way the director unfolds the story invites the audience to take part in Wilberforce’s struggles. There are also a number of quotes worth pondering. And perhaps the reason why I enjoy the film the most is that, although not a story about Christ per se, this film is unabashedly about a Christian man and his struggle to shape and improve the world. It is a reminder that Christians can play an important role in government.
If your budget so allows, I would recommend that you purchase this movie. It can be found at Family Christian Book Stores and Amazon, as well as many other places. If you do not purchase it, at a minimum you should find a place to rent this movie. It is being released this week at Blockbuster and Netflix is also carrying it. So, I imagine every major movie rental business will carry it.
Below are a couple of clips from the movie. You can also visit the website for the movie here.
Trailer:
Clip 1:
Clip 2:
Soli Deo Gloria
Monday, November 12, 2007
Obsessed, Obstinate, & Oblivious
The fan craze hit the Phoenix valley this past weekend. The current phenomena: Hannah Montana. The young teenager performed before a packed house this past weekend. Certain ticket areas were rumored to go in excess of $1,000 per person. Her name was splashed amongst the headlines of the local media, all awaiting the triumphant entry of this princess-esque young girl.
What did she bring? Entertainment? Escape? A portrait of how our young women should look and act?
My point is not to "bash" the young girl referred to as "Hannah Montana." Rather, it is to observe a troubling tendency amongst our culture. Namely, it astounds me that we are so willing to pay homage to a young girl and yet we are so cursory in our attitudes towards an Almighty God. This tendency, of course, transcends the current Hannah Montana fad. It can be found anywhere there is a fan base.
We flock to the secular stadium, but we flee from the spiritual sphere. Who is most worthy of our adoration? An entertainer or the eternal, everlasting Elohim? The answer is obvious, but our actions would not always suggest so. I am reminded of Romans 7: 14-25.
Soli Deo Gloria
What did she bring? Entertainment? Escape? A portrait of how our young women should look and act?
My point is not to "bash" the young girl referred to as "Hannah Montana." Rather, it is to observe a troubling tendency amongst our culture. Namely, it astounds me that we are so willing to pay homage to a young girl and yet we are so cursory in our attitudes towards an Almighty God. This tendency, of course, transcends the current Hannah Montana fad. It can be found anywhere there is a fan base.
We flock to the secular stadium, but we flee from the spiritual sphere. Who is most worthy of our adoration? An entertainer or the eternal, everlasting Elohim? The answer is obvious, but our actions would not always suggest so. I am reminded of Romans 7: 14-25.
Soli Deo Gloria
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Clive Staples Lewis
C.S. Lewis is considered by many to be one of the most influential Christian authors of the 20th century. I myself am amazed at his gift with the pen--ranging from the polar opposites of philosophical/theological to the other end of the spectrum in the form of children's stories.
I have recently been re-reading through his 1940 work, The Problem of Pain. In it, Lewis puts for a good, and largely successful effort, to reconcile the age old paradox of a loving and omnipotent God with the existence of pain in our world. Yet it is some of Lewis' presuppositions that were the most surprising to me as I was thinking through Lewis' arguments.
Lewis seems to buy into a form of the Darwinian philosophy that mankind has evolved from lower forms of life. Although I have heard such accusations from other sources, it never ceases to surprise me, given the level of admiration I hold for a man that could effectively challenge the mainstream culture in such an honest manner.
But even now, I do not write these words for the purpose of "bashing" Mr. Lewis. While I believe his presuppositions concerning Darwinism (if he in fact did hold this view) are undoubtedly incorrect, it is his tendency or capability of incorrectness that should grab our attention.
As mentioned above, Lewis is celebrated for his intellectual abilities. Yet, he still managed to miss the mark in certain areas. Lewis himself would be the first person to admit to such faults, as is evident in the prefaces of many of his theological type works. If Lewis, then, as a man who is regarded as a giant of the 20th century can hold false assumptions and incorrect views, what then does this mean for the common man such as myself?
There are a couple of things that can be gleaned from Lewis' shortcomings. First, is humbleness. It is easier to be a play-by-play analyst than be the man in the arena. So, as a reader of his works, to suggest that I am incapable of such errors is pure folly. The humbleness, then, is achieved by recognizing that I am a man of lesser talents and abilities and, hence, I am more prone to such errors in my own presuppositions about the world.
Second, and equally important, is a desire to improve. Once we are willing to recognize that we do have shortcomings, false assumptions, and error in our judgments, we understand that we need help in order to alleviate and overcome such things. This, of course, is yet another reason to seek refuge in our Savior.
So, instead of burning Lewis at the stake, we should recognize him for what he was--a man. In so doing, we should be cognizant that we are but his fellow men and women, plagued with the same inadequacies of which only Christ can heal.
Soli Deo Gloria
I have recently been re-reading through his 1940 work, The Problem of Pain. In it, Lewis puts for a good, and largely successful effort, to reconcile the age old paradox of a loving and omnipotent God with the existence of pain in our world. Yet it is some of Lewis' presuppositions that were the most surprising to me as I was thinking through Lewis' arguments.
Lewis seems to buy into a form of the Darwinian philosophy that mankind has evolved from lower forms of life. Although I have heard such accusations from other sources, it never ceases to surprise me, given the level of admiration I hold for a man that could effectively challenge the mainstream culture in such an honest manner.
But even now, I do not write these words for the purpose of "bashing" Mr. Lewis. While I believe his presuppositions concerning Darwinism (if he in fact did hold this view) are undoubtedly incorrect, it is his tendency or capability of incorrectness that should grab our attention.
As mentioned above, Lewis is celebrated for his intellectual abilities. Yet, he still managed to miss the mark in certain areas. Lewis himself would be the first person to admit to such faults, as is evident in the prefaces of many of his theological type works. If Lewis, then, as a man who is regarded as a giant of the 20th century can hold false assumptions and incorrect views, what then does this mean for the common man such as myself?
There are a couple of things that can be gleaned from Lewis' shortcomings. First, is humbleness. It is easier to be a play-by-play analyst than be the man in the arena. So, as a reader of his works, to suggest that I am incapable of such errors is pure folly. The humbleness, then, is achieved by recognizing that I am a man of lesser talents and abilities and, hence, I am more prone to such errors in my own presuppositions about the world.
Second, and equally important, is a desire to improve. Once we are willing to recognize that we do have shortcomings, false assumptions, and error in our judgments, we understand that we need help in order to alleviate and overcome such things. This, of course, is yet another reason to seek refuge in our Savior.
So, instead of burning Lewis at the stake, we should recognize him for what he was--a man. In so doing, we should be cognizant that we are but his fellow men and women, plagued with the same inadequacies of which only Christ can heal.
Soli Deo Gloria
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Motivate Me
I have been thinking as of late on the topic of motivation. The idea of understanding what motivates a person has always interested me.
If the means are equally important as the ends, then it is important to understand why we do what we do.
At the risk of over simplifying the complexities of what motivates a human being, there appears to be a chasm in realm of motivation: on the one hand, there is the motivation to serve the self; and on the other, there is the motivation to serve others (the second greatest commandment) and the motivation to serve God (the greatest commandment). See Matthew 22:35-40.
For example, why do I like to put ketchup on my french fries? What motivates me to do so? It is the taste that I so enjoy as a result of the wedding of deep-fried potato pieces with a tomato-based miracle recipe. The point being, though, that I use ketchup for me. The fact that the answer is me and not others or God is not necessarily bad. But understanding why I do a particular thing helps me better evaluate whether I should be doing such a thing.
It seems that the answer from the motivational question is really an answer from the heart, if we are indeed capable of answering it honestly. This is, perhaps, why this question is particularly insightful.
Why do I love? Why do I smile? Why do I watch a particular television show? Why am I cordial with others? Why should I seek to become educated? Why do I do...?
It seems that the eternal, and most meaningful answers, involve a desire to serve God or others. Whereas, the temporal answers involve oneself--because ketchup sure tastes good, at least until I run out of french fries.
Soli Deo Gloria
If the means are equally important as the ends, then it is important to understand why we do what we do.
At the risk of over simplifying the complexities of what motivates a human being, there appears to be a chasm in realm of motivation: on the one hand, there is the motivation to serve the self; and on the other, there is the motivation to serve others (the second greatest commandment) and the motivation to serve God (the greatest commandment). See Matthew 22:35-40.
For example, why do I like to put ketchup on my french fries? What motivates me to do so? It is the taste that I so enjoy as a result of the wedding of deep-fried potato pieces with a tomato-based miracle recipe. The point being, though, that I use ketchup for me. The fact that the answer is me and not others or God is not necessarily bad. But understanding why I do a particular thing helps me better evaluate whether I should be doing such a thing.
It seems that the answer from the motivational question is really an answer from the heart, if we are indeed capable of answering it honestly. This is, perhaps, why this question is particularly insightful.
Why do I love? Why do I smile? Why do I watch a particular television show? Why am I cordial with others? Why should I seek to become educated? Why do I do...?
It seems that the eternal, and most meaningful answers, involve a desire to serve God or others. Whereas, the temporal answers involve oneself--because ketchup sure tastes good, at least until I run out of french fries.
Soli Deo Gloria
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
