Does My Position Here & Now Matter in the Hereafter?

With my dad here in town, a baptism at church, and extended family gatherings, I've recently been giving some thought to my family history. I find it easier to listen than to read the "family tree" so I asked my dad to tell me about his recollections of his relatives - you know, oral history.

After hearing the memories and looking backward, I would confidently conclude that the Miller clan cannot claim the "pull-myself-up-by-the-bootstraps" or pioneer mentality throughout its 20th century generations. Living in dark shacks, in the grip of alcoholism, and other self-destructive behavior - this was the legacy until Grandpop - my dad's dad.

Now I have a bunch of questions: What happened at the point of my Grandpop's life to change the pattern? How does one get where he or she is at in life? Is it just happen-stance? How can my family of origin be doing so well? Define "well" by most people's standards: My health, Roof over the head, Safe area to live, Healthy children, Food on the table, Clean water, 24/7/364 Electricity (we live in Florida, hence the outage factor of 1 day), Steady job, Bills paid, Friends, Reliable transportation.

Answers??

• If I believed in Hinduism, then I would accept this as "karma," that somehow I had done something right in another life and was benefiting now for past actions.
• If I were a humanist, then my family must have worked real hard and had many who helped them to this place.
• If Taoism were my central belief, I might believe that sacrifices to my deceased relatives had somehow curried favor with eternal entities and now I find myself in the flow and balance of the life with the universe.
• If I were an evolutionist or pragmatist, I would believe that my family evolved in their thinking in each succeeding generation and loosened their bonds to poverty.
• If I believed in Zoroastrianism, then I must have had enough good thoughts, good words, and good deeds to have brought on this station in life.
• If I was a post-modernist, I'd be skeptical of any ideas on how this happened.
• If I were silly, then I'd think I was "lucky."

As a Christian, however, I am closer in life to the lyrics that Chris Rice writes in his song, "Face of Christ":

How did I find myself in a better place
I can’t look down on the frown on the other guy’s face
‘Cause when I stoop down low, look him square in the eye
I get a funny feeling, I just might be dealing
With the face of Christ

See you had no choice which day you would be born
Or the color of your skin, or what planet you’d be on
Would your mind be strong, would your eyes be blue or brown
Whether daddy would be rich, or if momma stuck around at all

The apostle Paul wrote:

"And he made from one man every nation of mankind
to live on the face of the earth,
having determined allotted periods
and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
that they should seek God,
in the hope that they might feel their way
toward him and find him.
Yet, he is not far from each one of us, for
'In him we live and move and have our being...'"

Acts 17:26-28 (ESV)

As much as I think about the station in life from whence my family recently occupied, my attention is captivated by the truly remarkable present contrast:

My family tree was taken from the kingdom of darkness
and brought into the kingdom of light,
and made a Covenant Family
by the God Almighty, through Jesus Christ His Son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The life given to me, I am told, is a gift.

"For by grace you have been saved
by faith (in Christ).
And this is not your own doing
it is the gift of God,
not a result of works,
so that no one may boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) (italics mine)

How I am grateful! Soli Deo Gloria - To God be the Glory!

--CFM

In The World

Have you ever wondered what demons converse about? In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis vividly portrays a demon and his reactions to certain situations. HarperCollins published the book in 2001. Interestingly, this book is fiction, but feels authentic. While reading this book, C.S. Lewis, who was born in Ireland on November 29, 1898, paints a vivid picture of a demon's attempts to influence a human. Using humor, Lewis keeps his book lively when it could have been foreboding.

Screwtape is the author of the letters written in the book. Closely, he oversees his nephew Wormwood's temptation techniques. Throughout the book, Screwtape shows his growing disgust of Wormwood's rookie attempts at enticement. Although we never hear directly from Wormwood, we are able to picture, from Screwtape's responses, a "field agent" who is trying to please his uncle. Failing miserably, he comes to an unhealthy end. The "patient," the human Wormwood is "working" on, is completely oblivious to the spiritual struggle for his soul. He doesn't realize how his thoughts and actions are influenced by Wormwood. His story line ends happily. Of the three main characters, the "patient" changes the most while Wormwood "works" on him.

Prepare to enter the demented mind of demons. Screwtape shows Wormwood, as well as the readers, the many ways to turn Christians from their spiritual lifestyle. Unsurprisingly, most of the temptations use our pride and selfish thoughts to reverse our direction from God to physical pleasure and gain. In the "patient's" life, the law of undulation is a powerful tool. As humans experience life's joys and pains, they exhibit the law of undulation through peaks (joy) and troughs (pain), which is also how God strengthens our faith in Him. Demons use it differently. Tempting us, demons manipulate the desires of the flesh to turn us to sinful thoughts and actions. While in the troughs, our resistence to sin is at its weakest, leaving us open for attack. God wants us to turn to Him in these troughs, trusting in Him to get us through. Screwtape states that our sinful nature makes us feel inadequate in contact with God. Not surprisingly, the "patient" experiences the same inadequacies.

Screwtape fears. Wormwood fails. The "patient" succeeds. Interestingly, Screwtape instructs Wormwood to keep the "patient" safe from physical harm. His reason is that if the "patient" dies, he will surely be lost to them. During life, the doldrums of middle-age are, in Screwtape's mind, the best time to have a human die. "The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or...adversity are excellent campaigning weather," Screwtape states. A reason for his anger against Wormwood is that the "patient" has a Christian woman he loves. "Such a Christian," Screwtape moans. Sadly, all stories come to an end. During an air raid, the "patient" dies. Understanding instantly "how all his doubts" were "ridiculous," he is joyfully received in Heaven. Wormwood doesn't have such a happy reception when he returns to Hell.

Thomas More wrote that "the devil...cannot endure to be mocked." This thought-provoking book is definitely a mockery of the devil. Using parody, Lewis makes it look like Satan, "Our Father," is mirroring Heaven. Throughout the book, the letters written by Screwtape could be seen as parodies of the letters written in the New Testament. Interestingly, the temptations, which are used by Wormwood, create, in this book, a genuine feeling. Do we fall into sin by being prideful and selfish? The only answer is yes. Many, if not all, of the temptations in The Screwtape Letters have been experienced by us or by someone we know. The most important part of this book is that even in the hard times, the "troughs," God is still there. While in "troughs," humans feel alone and afraid. Things happen to us that we don't enjoy, but we need to step back and ask, "What is God telling me and what am I supposed to learn from it?" In this story of demons tempting man-kind, Lewis reminds us that we are in the world, not of the world.

--JFM

"Cheese, please?"

"Cheese! Cheese, me? Cheese, me, please?"

It may sound like a line from a Dr. Seuss book but it is actually the daily verbiage of my two, almost three, year old sister. A girl after my own heart she enjoys a good hunk of cheese as an appetizer before dinner. In fact, if she hears us in the kitchen, she will begin her pleading for cheese before she even reaches that room. Down the hall she comes chanting, "Cheese, Nan!"

The other day I was slightly irritated, okay perhaps just plain irritated, at how she constantly seems to repeat the cheese question until she actually receives her piece. I can even have said, "Yes, Grace, I will give you a piece of cheese", and she will still keep on asking for it.

I said to Mom, "Doesn't she believe us? Doesn't she know that when we say we will give her cheese, she will receive it?" In a calm, cool, and collected way, Mom replied, "We do the same thing to God."

Musing upon this, I realized that nothing could be closer to the truth. We beg, plead, pray that God will give us what we need and yet we don't always trust that he will actually give it to us. I've feared I haven't had enough faith. What if I die and find out that whoops I just didn't believe hard enough?

For starters, that's not how Christianity works. We don't will ourselves into Heaven. Faith is not something that I can conjure up on my own and it is not based upon the mood of the moment. Sometimes this is a whole lot easier to say than to believe which is where faith comes into play.

Moreover, God promises that he will supply the faith we need. From him come the desire to do his good will and pleasure. "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24). "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful" (1 Corinthians 1:9). "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

Yet on a daily bases, I struggle to trust that God will do what he says he will do in his Word. Mercifully, he does not treat me as my doubt deserves. He, instead, is more like my mom. Grace is continually asking for her aged dairy even though she has been guaranteed a piece. Mom continually tells her yes, and hands her a chunk of cheese.

Happy Reformation Day

"Spiritually earnest people tried to justify themselves
by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious
performances and devotions, but they were left
wondering if they had done enough
to escape God's anger and punishment."
- from http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/MP3-Audio--Multimedia/Celebrate-Reformation-Day/

"For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God, not as the result of works,
so that no one may boast."
- Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB

Reformation Day celebrates the reform of the church that occurred in the 1500's, captured in the storyline of Martin Luther nailing the 95 theses to the Castle Church doors to debate, among a number of issues, the ongoing practice of indulgences, basically explained as paying to have your sins removed.

The Reformation is also known for the "Solas"- 3 of the 5 listed here:

• Sola gratia. Salvation by grace alone.
• Sola fide. Justification by faith alone.
• Solus Christus. Through Christ alone.

Having grown up Lutheran, the denomination that grew out of Luther's bent on the Gospel, the grace theme of Ephesians 2, verses 8 through 9, runs strong in my blood. A free, unmerited gift of God is how grace was explained to me as I grew up. No way for me to earn salvation.

End result of grace:

• Christ's perfect life of obedience to God's Law for my life disobedience
• Christ's suffering God's wrath which I deserved for my disobedience
• Christ's perfect sacrifice to satisfy the necessary requirement to pay for my sins
• Christ's resurrection to conquer once and for all, sin, death and Satan and emphatically show He is the perfect Lord and Savior
• Christ's giving of the Holy Spirit, third member of the Trinity, to empower me to live a Christ-like life, change me into the likeness of Christ, and preserve me until Christ comes again
  

So, what's my response?

I believe in all that Christ did and that it all applies to me. Thank you, Jesus, my Lord and my Savior. Amen.

-- CFM

Rolling Around

One night I was lying in bed listening to The Horse and His Boy, a radio theater production. As I attempted to fall asleep, I mused upon a certain section of the story: when Bree and Shasta are at the beginning of their journey to "Narnia and the North". After a hard night's ride, Bree desires to take a roll in the grass before donning the saddle once more. The conversation goes like this:

When Shasta had finished his breakfast..., Bree said, "I think I'll have a nice roll before we put on that saddle again." And he proceeded to do so. "That's good, That's very good," he said, rubbing his back on the turf and waving all four legs in the air. "You ought to have one too, Shasta," he snorted. "It's most refreshing."

But Shasta burst out laughing and said, "You do look funny when you're on
your back!"

"I look nothing of the sort," said Bree. But then suddenly he rolled round
on his side, raised his head and looked hard at Shasta, blowing a little.

"Does it really look funny?" he asked in an anxious voice.

"Yes, it does," replied Shasta. "But what does it matter?"

"You don't think, do you," said Bree, "That it might be a thing talking
horses never do -- a silly, clownish trick I've learned from the dumb ones? It
would be dreadful to find, when I get back to Narnia, that I've picked up a lot
of low, bad habits. What do you think, Shasta? Honestly, now. Don't spare my
feelings. Do you think the real, free horses -- the talking kind -- roll?"

Now, Bree had an honest, legitimate fear. What if he can't do something like rolling which brings him great delight in Narnia? What if real horses don't roll?

Translate that to the Christian life. In many ways, Christians believe that doing certain things shouldn't be done by "real" Christians? At times We can be a bit like the town folks in the film Babette's Feast who fear enjoying the feast because if they enjoy it, they may fall into sin.

As Bree forgot that though he is a Narnian horse, he is a horse, we forget that we are human beings as well as Christians. We were made, created to enjoy the world around us, even more so than those who are not believers. Christians should find delight in everything from a well, crafted dessert to a beautiful sunset, a stunning painting to a fragile butterfly. There is no shame in reveling in the good gifts God has given us, "for everything God created is good" (1 Timothy 4:4) and he has "richly provided us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Timothy 6:17).

So by all means Bree, roll!

Blasphemy

Over the past couple of months I have watched the Bourne trilogy. Though well crafted with excellent directing and storyline, they are intense to watch. The first two movies were rated PG-13 for intense sequences, language, and action violence. The last one, I noticed, was rated the same but did not mention language.

Good, I thought. I don't like language and it isn't necessary. So I settle down to watch the final installment. Shortly into the film, I am rudely jarred by the unremorseful taking of God's name in vain. I thought to myself, they said no language on the rating. Then I remembered, blasphemy isn't considered language in our culture.

Truth be told, movies can take God's name in vain in one breath and then thank Him in the next. The "thank Gods" of cinema are almost as blasphemous as the actual blasphemes: the 'thank yous' mean absolutely nothing since the characters obviously are not grateful to God.

I often remember Exodus 20:7 when I hear such irreverence: "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." As a young child, I realized the gravity of those words. I had heard God's name misused in the movies and could only think what would happen if those souls did not repent. Even now, I send up a prayer similar to Jesus: Forgive them, they don't know what they are doing.

Blasphemy isn't language; it is much, much worse. If only they would label the movies "PG-13 for action violence, thematic elements, and blasphemy," it would make my movie selections easier.

--HM

Sleep

Over the past week and a half, I have had difficulty sleeping. My symptoms would include not being tired, feelings of anxiety, rapid pulse, feeling pulse in my neck, and adrenaline rushes. None of these are conducive to sound sleeping.

It hasn't been easy to deal with the symptoms; but, I realized after my second short night that I had before me an opportunity to trust that God was in control of even my sleeping patterns. And even in my sleeplessness, I could give Him glory.

Perhaps I was more acutely aware of this because the week before my brother's appendix burst, the closest any of us have come to facing death. Yet in the situation, all of us were cognizant of the fact that God had everything in control, was working it for our good, and was bringing glory to Himself.

Sure, it doesn't make sense to me why an appendix needed to burst or that I should have trouble sleeping. During my wakefulness, I was confident that God could still my being and cause me to sleep just fine if he so wanted. But my restlessness continued.

As my mom reminded me, God is in charge of our sleep. "For he grants sleep to those he loves" (Psalm 127:2). I know that my emotions are a huge part of the stress I personally deal with. Sometimes it is self-inflicted: getting worked up over situations that don't require that kind of response; ruminating about problems as if dwelling on them further will solve them.

The other night I was very stressed and anxious about the prospect of another uncomfortable rest. I was tired of feeling this way. In that struggle, I prayed aloud that God would grant me peace, having mercy on me; and that I would give him the glory. I calmed down and had a better night of sleep. The next night, I slept normally. To God be the glory!

A good nights sleep is relative. Children need 10 to 12 hours. Most adults need 7 to 8 hours. Some people have the remarkable ability to be rested after only 5 hours of sleep. God knows exactly how much sleep I need and for purposes only He knows right now, that is less than what I think I need.

A dear friend of ours reminded my mom during my mom's episodes of insomnia, "It's just sleep." How true! Another great saying also puts sleep in its proper perspective: as one of the chipmunks from Alvin and the Chipmunks tells Dave, "You can sleep when you're dead!"

--HM

Be Bacon

Commitment is a funny thing.

It is one of the most desirous aspects of a relationship. Yet at the same time all of us shy away from the requirements of commitment because we must give up something of ourselves to someone else.

Marriage is a commitment with vows spoken before witnesses; a covenant of dedication between one man and one women to be faithful to each other until death. Each has to give up their own desires for the other's well being. Give and take.

Currently, people shirk the duty of a solid marriage commitment for the comforts of "Styrofoam cup" relationships. All the emotions, responsibilities, and lifestyles of a married couple are thrown out for just "couple"; or more politically correct, "partner". Like a Styrofoam cup, the relationship can be tossed out whenever it suits us; whenever we have had our fill. Like a Styrofoam cup which is non-biodegradable, the consequences of such relationships won't go away.

Though this isn't an endorsement of Pope John Paul II, I believe he was accurate in his assessment of commitment--less relationships, "The fear of making permanent commitments can change the mutual love of husband and wife into two loves of self - two loves existing side by side, until they end in separation."

In the same vain, Scripture tells us, "You can not serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). Christians are called on to be committed only to Christ. Even if one is single, they are married to Christ as His Bride. We are to be wholly dedicated to the Truth of Scripture and the glory of our Father in Heaven.

Everyday I struggle with my own self-centeredness, to be committed to Christ's agenda or my own. My mother reminds me, "It's not about you"; it's about God.

Dr. Kistler told a joke a few Sundays ago:

"If you have eggs and bacon for breakfast, then you see different levels of
dedication. The chicken only made a donation; the pig made a commitment."

Let us, then, in our Christian walk be bacon.

What If...

"What if...". Placing those two little words at the front of a question turns it into speculation. Hypothetical, conjectural, theoretical. This past week, my family and I have had to face many "what if's".

My brother had a burst appendix which is a nasty business. His body had created an enclosure around the poison so that none of it had spread prior to surgery. The surgeon felt he cleaned up the area very well. However, we were told if it had been 24 hours later, the problem could have been much, much worse.

As you can imagine, our imaginations began to speculate of what could have happened. What if we hadn't gotten him to the hospital on time? What if urgent care had properly diagnosed him the night before? What if the poison had spread? What if he had died?

The leader of an adult Bible study at church, reminded the class one Sunday that we as Christians do not deal with "What if's"; we deal with as the Apostle Paul says "whatsoever is true" (Philippians 4:8).

Thus, our imaginations were restrained. This is the truth: we got to the hospital on time, urgent care didn't diagnose properly, the appendix poison hadn't spread and he didn't die but is on the road to recovery.

C.S. Lewis delves into this concept in The Chronicles of Narnia. In Prince Caspian, Lucy is the only one who sees Aslan who wants them to follow him. Instead of listening to Lucy, the group wanders lost and is even ambushed. Eventually, Lucy speaks to Aslan in the woods. She comes to realize that she should have pushed for the others to follow or have followed Aslan alone. She asks:

" 'But what would have been the good?'
Aslan said nothing.
'You mean,' said Lucy rather faintly, 'that it would have turned out all right -- somehow? But how? Please, Aslan! Am I not to know?'
'To know what would have happened, child?' said Aslan. 'No. Nobody is ever told that.'
'Oh dear,' said Lucy.
'But anyone can find out what will happen,' said Aslan."

Trying to wrap our minds around what would have happened, is a waste of time. The emotional energy, good or bad, isn't worth the effort. We don't deal with "what if's"; we deal with "whatsoever is true", and that is a great comfort.

--HM

Who is Man?

PARADE Magazine ran an article in this Sunday's issue called "For the Love of Hubble". The Hubble Telescope, I learned from the article, was shot into space in 1990 and is going to receive a tune-up in October of this year (http://www.nasa.gov/). Though what truly grabbed my attention was a section my brother read to me:

"It [the Hubble Telescope] has taught us so much -- including that the universe is 14 billion years old."

I couldn't help but asking, "What end of the telescope were they looking through?!" My dad drolly replied, "The wrong end."

Truth be told, the stars should point us not to the age of the universe but to the creator of the heavenly beings. The article in PARADE goes on in praise of this telescope:

"Among Hubble's highlights is settling the decades-old debate about the age of the universe. Previously, the data were so bad that astrophysicists could not
agree. Some thought 10 billion years. Other, 20 billion. Yes, it was embarrassing. But Hubble enabled us to measure accurately how the brightness varies in a particular type of star that resides in a distant cluster of galaxies. That information, when plugged into a simple formula, tells us their distance from Earth. And because the entire universe is expanding at a known rate, we can then turn back the clock to determine how long ago everything was in the same place. The answer? The universe was born 14 billion years ago".

What? The greatest accomplishment is that it helped us determine whether the universe is 10 BILLION or 20 BILLION years old?! It's ludicrous! Should not the greatest triumph of space exploration in general be what David declared in Psalm 8: "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor" (v. 3-5)?

I had the opportunity to look through a telescope, one my grandpa set up in my cousins' big field on their property which sits up on a hill. It was dark and the stars were out in droves. Looking through the eyepiece, I beheld Saturn and it's rings! If that wasn't awe inspiring, I don't know what is! "Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands" (Psalm 102:25).

"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible" (Hebrews 11:3). When we behold the stars, we gaze upon the the heavenly lights that God spoke into existence. Take a stroll around the block or if you are fortunate, a walk in a field, and turn your gaze upward, pondering who we are, that God of the universe is mindful of us. "You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you" (Nehemiah 9:6).

Batman Probe

I held off seeing Batman Begins until it reached Blockbuster's shelves. My friends had raved about it; critics seemed to like it; so when the right opportunity came along, my brother, dad, and I watched it. My initial reaction was that the movie was well-made, the acting superb, and the plot excellent (albeit the film in its entirety is dark).

My brother ended up purchasing the film and we watched it again. And this time I walked away feeling unsure of whether I could root for Bruce Wayne/Batman. Meaning I questioned if Batman was truly a "good guy".

I mentioned this to a friend the other night and the shock on his face told me my views weren't readily shared. Nevertheless, I hope I can explain this belief. I will begin with an interview I read with Christian Bale (aka Batman) before the film's theatrical release. Surprisingly, Bale mentioned that he wanted an R-rated version which could delve into the character of Bruce Wayne. In fact, he described Wayne as a guy you wouldn't want to be left alone in a room with. Interesting.

In another interview, Christian Bale said, "I mean, he’s the really on-the-edge one [superhero] because he’s the guy that, okay, he’s doing good but he’s the Dark Knight. I mean, a knight is meant to be in shining armor and he’s the Dark Knight. He could do good things but man, he could just as easily flip over and become like the ultimate villain" (1.).

The film begins with Bruce's terrifying encounter with bats, his continued fear of the winged mammals shown at the opera, and his parent's murder in the theater's back alley. That fear, pain, guilt, anger, resentment, hatred (I'm running out of negative descriptive emotions) is what drives his life. Everything he does is based on his desire to get revenge, to fulfill his "weakness" as a child by facing the bad guys head on.

My friend wanted to make the point that it's not revenge, it's avenge. However, if you look at the etymology of word "avenge", along with the words "revenge" and "vengeance", the word from which they are all derived is "vengier". In Old French this means "take revenge" (2).

"It is mine to revenge; I will repay." (Deut. 32:35)

Moreover, compared to Spiderman or Superman, Batman is not there to truly save the people of his city, he is there to get the criminals. It is protection of the innocent vs. destruction of the guilty.

I think what sealed it for me was the moment in the film where Ra's Al Ghul (Liam Neeson) is on a tram flying toward the city's main water tower. Batman defeats him and Ghul mocks him because he couldn't kill before. Batman replies, "I won't kill you; but I don't have to save you." In light of other superheroes, it seems pretty cold. Spiderman tried to save the Green Goblin, he successfully saved Doc Oc (though Oc dies in order to save the city), and he attempted to save Venom. Even Superman did not exact vengeance on Lex Luther.

Batman is the reality and Bruce Wayne is the mask. Can we really cheer for this kind of character? Channeling anger and hate can work for a while but at some point or another you have to decide if you want them to be the driving force of your life. Ra's Al Ghul/Henri Drucard reminds Bruce of this, saying, "Your anger gives you great power. But if you let it, it will destroy you. As it almost did me." Wayne inquires to what halted it. One word is all Drucard uses: "Vengeance." To inflict pain on those who have wronged you isn't any less destructive than anger. A choice is given. It appears Wayne has made his decision.

--HM

1. http://movies.about.com/od/batman/a/batman022005_2.htm
2. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=avenge&searchmode=none

Transformers and Eye Candy

Last Saturday I popped in Transformers and settled back for a fluff movie (doesn't have a whole lot of depth to plot, message, etc.). My brothers had previously viewed it and so I knew from them that it was a decent film with funny banter between the machines.

The special effects were quite fantastic and the Transformers were jaw-dropping realistic. But there was something else that caught my eye which made me wonder about the screenwriters and the actresses. To me, it appeared that the main female character and Sam's interest, Mikaela Banes was created for no other reason than to provide eye candy in an otherwise masculine film. If Mikaela was removed from the screenplay (short skirt, midriff revealing shirts and all) would the movie miss her. Honestly, what great part does she play in saving world? Remove Sam and there is no movie; remove Mikaela and there is less hormones running wild.

Even beyond this character, other women are strategically placed in the film wearing revealing clothes. For example, in the climatic city fight scene, a Transformer hurtles his way down a street. Yet in the foreground, a woman screaming in slow motion is stopped in front of the camera with a blue, low cut dress. I don't know about you but if one of those machines came flying down the street, I would run for cover instead of posing for the camera.

What is the point for filmmakers to throw these things into movies? No one would notice if they weren't there and it would be less of a temptation for men. My other question is, "Why are women taking these roles?" Why put yourself in that position? I could only shake my head as the credits role and hope (but I'm not holding my breath) that Transformers 2 does a better job.

Re-defining Refinement

Our pastor asked yesterday in church why it sometimes seems that the wicked prosper and the righteous perish. He asked this in context of Malachi 2:17. In this verse, Israel was demanding where God's justice was: the pagan nations were rich and powerful while Israel, God's chosen people, were poor and oppressed.

Asaph asks a similar question in Psalm 73. Honestly, he reveals that he "envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (v. 3). Using candid language, Asaph lists the "blessings" of the wicked; they appear problem free, healthy, strong, burdenless, carefree, and wealthy (v. 4, 5, 12). "What's the point then," inquires Asaph, "of following God."

"Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence" (v. 13).

Think of miserable Job; he did not have the same advantage we have of knowing the interaction between God and the accuser (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). All he knew was he, a righteous man, was afflicted by God. Job's good behavior and obedience did not seem to line up with the painful circumstances of his life.

But is not that the problem with the way the Gospel and Christianity is viewed in churches and society today? The Gospel has become the message that "God has a wonderful plan for your life". Truth be told the Christian life is sometimes no where near being hunky dory. Our obedience and the events of life do not always reflect that "wonderful plan" mantra.

Sitting in church, I thought through the difference between us and them, between "the children of God and the children of the devil" (1 John 3:10). Scripture tells us that "small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and few find it" (Matthew 7:14). The Greek word for "narrow" in this passage means, "afflict, narrow, suffer tribulation, trouble" (Strong's Concordance). It doesn't sound easy to me. Furthermore, the passage in Malachi goes on to say that the messenger of the covenant is coming and "will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Malachi 3:1-3).

The refining process by a silversmith or a goldsmith is fascinating. One who refines precious metals does so by placing the ore in high heat. The impurities are then separated from the metal. The ore is left in the fire until the refiner can see his reflection in the metal.

What a picture! Christians may be struggling, undergoing hardship, and persecution. But we receive it because we are being made more into the image of Christ. God loves us and so is making us more like Jesus. What happens now in this life will impact the future, eternal one to come. Pagans are not being refined, so why should they suffer now?

Our hope is that though we experience trials and tribulation we are redeemed. Isaiah poignantly transcribed the words of God:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior" (Isaiah 44:1d-3b).

As Asaph struggled to reconcile the evildoer's life with life God's children experience, he was reminded:

"Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strenght of my heart
and my portion forever" (Ps. 73:23-26).

--HM

Chosen

(Copyright 2008 by Hannah Miller)

Clarity of understanding is sometimes slow in coming. As on a humid morning it can take time for the fog to evaporate.

Personal clarity, for which I can take no credit, is coming. It started a few Sundays ago when our pastor asked during his sermon why we were here, worshiping in church, believing in Jesus, when in Myanmar (Burma) a storm had wiped out hundreds of thousands of a population that has just a single digit percentage of Christians. Most died as unbelievers yet there I was, alive and saved. Why? Why me? The very fact that I do believe points to the even greater and more significant fact that God loves me, chose me and did so first.

What a thought! What magnitude of love this is! God loved me first? He is pleased with me? Yet I have done nothing.

My fog cleared a little more yesterday while in family devotions we read Romans 9:18: "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden." So not only did God choose me, there will be and are those that won't be chosen. It's not easy to grasp. In Calvinism, this is the idea of election. What joy in realizing I'm elected!

Then we read John 6:39: "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but will raise them up at the last day." Even greater news: I can not lose my salvation because I do not carry the responsibility of attaining it. I am given to Christ and He has bestowed upon me salvation; it's not mine to lose.

And then today, I was reading through the Psalms and ended up cross-referencing John 6 again. I didn't even realize until just now but it is what we read yesterday. John 6:36 states, "But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe." I thought, "How could the Israelites not get it; how could they not realize that Jesus is God?" Then I realized as I read it again that I wouldn't get it. God could be standing right in front of me, like he did 2000 years ago to the Hebrew crowds, and I still wouldn't get it if he had not lifted my fog.

I would have to agree with Spurgeon who said, " I believe in the doctrine of election, because I am quite sure that if God had not chosen me I would never would have chosen him..."

--HM

Movie Reviews: Prince Caspian

I have missed Narnia.

And I know that I was expecting bit more out of the filmmakers since the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I knew plot changes were added, I knew it would be more intense. I hoped beyond hoped that it would still be the Narnia that I love so dearly. And it was.

The magic of the world Lewis created is ever present in this latest film. I kept thinking during the movie that many of the events could happen "only in Narnia." It was almost a sigh of relief that the film jumped from England to Narnia within the first 10 minutes or so; it was so good to get back.

All this to say, I was disappointed in some aspects of the movie.

Add a Little Here and a Little There...

The Pevensies are older and with age comes change. Yet (and perhaps I am an old stickler for staying true to the story) it doesn't mean the story has to be changed. One of the key alterations were the additudes of the two eldest, Peter and Susan. Peter first.

He is struggling with the fact he is no longer a king. He is a bit tiffed at having to return to the "normal" world. Who can blame him? Pride combines with stubbornness to produce a real mess. Peter wants to prove himself, that he "coulda been (or still is) a contender." In this spirit, a raid on Miraz's castle is formed and ends up costing the lives of many Narnians. I even got a bit choked up when at one point part of the group has escaped and the other part is trapped inside the castle with no way to out.

I sympathize with Peter. As he tells Lucy, he just wants proof that Aslan is real, that he called them, and that he has a plan for them. But don't we all? Lucy comes back with, "Well, maybe we need to prove ourselves to him." Unfortunately, she didn't see the faces of the Narnians who knew they couldn't escape the doom descending upon them in the castle when Peter's attack failed. Attempting to prove our worth or maturity won't work and Peter learned that the hard way. We under no certain terms can ever prove ourselves to God. On the contrary, God proved himself to us, establishing himself as both just and the justifier of our sins (Romans 3:16).

On to Susan. I'll admit, I may be too hard on female characters in movies. Nevertheless, I stand by my conviction that this portrayal of Susan was really off the mark. The actress who plays Susan is pretty and rightly so. Queen Susan was the fairest of all while in Narnia. However, this beauty comes off as too much of Hollywood's babe mentality. Susan catches the eye of Prince Caspian. She says some of those phrases we all know from the romantic movies, such as "You may need to call me sometime." And she even kisses Caspian in the end! There were audible groans and a few forehead slaps after that one in the theater.

Somehow I don't see Lewis's Susan doing any of those things. It was written in one of the books that Susan received at her court the requests of many lords for her hand in marriage yet she was unswayed by all of them. She wasn't easily wooed. Was she a strong woman? Yes, but she didn't need to fight single-handily in the woods against Telmarines to prove it (another addition to the story I didn't quite appreciate).

Now could there be room for creative liberty in Lewis's story for developing typical teenage feelings and attitudes? Perhaps. But as we must remember, these were no ordinary children. These were kings and queens. These were called by Aslan.

Steadfast

Lucy (and Edmund) was very much the same. She was a bit taller and she had grown up but she as a Lewis character was still there.

It was almost as if Lucy was the only character who understood that major changes had been made to the story and she wasn't impressed with them. Peter wants to charge the castle and Caspian wants to hunker down in Aslan's How. Lucy pipes up with, "But you only seem to think there are two options." Anyone for Lewis's idea for the story?

In another scene, Susan bashfully looks down from a horse at Caspian and tells him to keep the horn because he may need to call her again. Lucy repeats the line to Susan later in the story as if to say, "What was that?!" She never got a full explanation.

Finally, when Susan runs back to Caspian for her kiss, Lucy's jaw drops and she says, "I don't think I will understand that until I am a grown up." I didn't understand it so I doubt she ever will.

Even with these major changes, the magic of Narnia was there. The first film had the story but lacked the magic. This one has the magic but lacked the fullness of the story Lewis penned. Maybe the next film will prove itself to combine both elements.

Conclusion

I'll say it again, I have missed Narnia.

Perhaps as much as the four Pevensie children did. However, while they have tasted the sweetness of Aslan's breath and have felt the warmth of his golden mane, I am still waiting for that day. The day when "we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). See the movie if for nothing else to be stirred with the longing to move beyond this world into the next; to move "further up, and further in"; to kneel before the great Lion who isn't a tame lion but loves us and has "called us out of our darkness into his marvelous light," according to his purpose (1 Peter 2:9).

-- HM

The New Blog: Viva, Mangi, Ami

Well, I decided to start another blog (I think I'm becoming an addict). This one will focus on food and the construction of delicious meals we make in our own kitchen from scratch.

Now you may be wondering how theological/issue-covering blog may have anything to do with a foodie blog but I assure you there is a great connection. Solid discussion among friends is nourishing for the soul; who can beat a good conversation? Nutritious food is nourishing for the body; think of the best dish you have ever had. Now combine good conversation with a wonderful meal and that is how life is to be. Food and conversation go hand-in-hand.

So I hope you will visit my other blog at: www.viva-mangi-ami.blogspot.com. It's title translates: "Live, Eat, Love." And I hope you do.

--HM

Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder

This post comes a few weeks after the hub-bub on the internet regarding some photos. Needless to say it has more to do with who is in the photo than the photo in and of itself. Sure, Miss Miley Cyrus has the devout loyalty of girls between the ages of 10 and 14 and some even beyond that but her latest photo shoot with Vanity Fair has caused an uproar.

I rolled my eyes a bit at the commotion but when I was out on my run/walk the other week, I saw a section of newspaper, still tucked in its handy plastic bag, on a stranger's driveway. The only portion I viewed was this picture of Miss Cyrus and I guessed the paper was probably taking her to task.

Now I have seen the photo in question and have read Miss Cyrus's view on it. She thought it was "artistic" and when she viewed after the shoot, she and her mother loved it.

I haven't been able to understand this pop culture queen. She is a 24 year old in a 15 year old's body. That's entertainment, for you. However, you look at dresses she has worn and outfits she has paraded in front of cameras and it is kind of hard to get why everyone is upset about this particular photo. Change the sheet to a gown (keeping the same cut) and change the shoot to a red carpet, and there would be little to no bruhaha about it. A bit hypocritical?

And really what is beauty? Is it a photo such as the one Miss Cyrus is in? And who is to tell us what is beautiful? The culture? They have no idea. Is it all make-up and glamour?

"Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" (1 Peter 3:4). We seek what is beautiful in God's sight; not what anyone else deems as pleasing to the eye. Is it hard? Yes. Is it true beauty is twisted into an unrecognizable mess? Indeed, we live in a fallen world marred by sin. Yet, God in his mercy allows us to still see beauty and may we never exchange it for lesser things.

"For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise." Copyright 2008 by Hannah Miller

--HM

My Review of College Plus!

As I begin my endorsement, I must mention that I haven't been asked by the said organization to write any review good or otherwise. I have talked to a few people who have questions about CP! and so I am here to give a brief overview about my experience as a student who has completed the program.

Here is a bit of background on my decision to use CollegePlus! During my junior year, my parents and I began to consider options for my senior year of high school and subsequently my college career. Through discussions, we specified four points that were important to me, that I had strong desires for: 1) to go through college as quickly as possible (I didn't want to spend four more years of my life in school); 2) to get through college debt free (no student loans, no nothing); and 3) to be at home because I wanted to be there when my little sister came home from China (ruling out out-of-state universities).

Now I have a highly popular university just 15 minutes down the road from my home which takes care of point number 3; I could get a full scholarship if I received a certain score on my SATs meeting point number 2. I could even cut down on the time it took to get my college degree by dual-enrolling during my senior year of high-school; thus point number 1 could have been fulfilled.

However, I also did not want what is point number 4: to sit in a classroom under the tutelage of a unbeliever in an secular institution. I just couldn't do that.

So my mom recommended CollegePlus! which met my criteria for college. The process has changed since I first enrolled (the tuition has gone up, other programs are part of the package, etc.). But I started with Life Purpose Planning for about 6 weeks. During this time, I answered questions and discovered strengths and weaknesses I have. I also got to know my coach. CP coaches are always boy to boy or, in my case, girl to girl.

If there was only one thing I could say on what made CollegePlus! excellent, it was the personal coach. My coach walked me through tests, worked me through mental barriers, suggested study tips, prayed for me at the end of each call, and encouraged me. The coach can not take the place of parental involvement and support, but he or she is a wonderful supplement that make this experience.

After Life Purpose Planning, I used CLEP tests to fulfill most of my general education requirements. You can see a list of the tests by College Board (the same people who handle SATs) and get more information here: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html.
These exams are taken and if passed, are worth the credits of what a student would have earned who had sat through the classes and passed. The credits range from 3 credit hours to 12 credit hours, varying from exam to exam.

I also used DANTEs exams. At first, these were only open to the military but that has now changed and civilians can take them instead of sitting through the class. Prometric's site (http://www.getcollegecredit.com/04learners_a.html) lists the tests they offer.

For all the CLEPs I took and for a couple of the DANTEs, my coach e-mailed me study guides CollegePlus! has developed to aid students in passing the tests. These study guides recommend appropriate reading material for studying and give insight into how to pass. For CLEPs and DANTEs, I would read the recommended books, take notes, perhaps make flash cards, study, and take a practice exam. Then I would go to the testing center (which your coach will help you locate) and take the exam. It may sound simple enough but I often would study 4-6 hours a week, 6 days a week for roughly two weeks per exam (some took more time).

About a year into my program, I enrolled at the college. Mine was Thomas Edison State College (http://www.tesc.edu/) an online course institution that has the highest accreditation a college can have. My degree will be good anywhere; it's definitely not a mail-order degree.

The process for me wasn't smooth and easy. I had rough patches; it was intense. I spent the greater portion of the last 20 months in my room studying and managing a part-time job. I didn't get out much. But now I can say I am done with my college degree.

This way of getting your degree is not for everyone. Being an independent learner and being self-governing/diligent are important qualities to have (perhaps this is why CP! appeals to homeschoolers). Nevertheless, I would not limit it to homeschoolers only. Working adults would find the program most helpful as it plans your degree schedule which is flexible to work around your day.

With college tuition continually rising, CP! is a wonderful option to cut down costs and get a good education at the same time. I have worked with CP! on its E-Zine Acceleration and have gotten to know a couple of people beyond my coach which has truly enriched my experience. If you have any questions about CollegePlus! check out their website at www.collegeplus.org or e-mail me with questions at wicket.gate@yahoo.com. I love to discuss this program and the cutting edge approach to college it gives.

Perspective - What's yours?

Check out the sign I saw hanging in a store; it struck me that a person could read this particular sign in at least two distinct ways. What do you read?

If you see a sign for a section of a clothing store, you see one way of interpreting the sign. If you read a statement about men, you see a different perspective. Maybe, a third perspective is present.

Today, my daughter asked me to tell her what was wrong about the two questions she would ask me, and to use logic to determine their faults. The questions were: 1) What is the meaning of life? 2) If you died tonight, where would you go?

How about you? What is your perspective about life and death? What is it based upon?

- CFM

Hungry?

For the past couple of weeks, I have tested an alteration of my eating habits. Lest it be misunderstood, I will clarify: I am not doing a diet! I simply am adjusting slightly my eating to see if it helps my health. Consequently, I am a bit more hungry. A sumptuous meal tastes better when you're hungry.

Jesus talked about people being hungry and thirsty. Actually, "Blessed", said Jesus where those who "hungered and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6). It wasn't about dieting or not eating certain foods, it was about desiring the things of God.

If one is to be fed, one has to first admit one is hungry. Saying, "I'm not hungry" at meal time around here will get you the response, "Well, then don't eat!" As Christians, we have to be constantly altering our eating habits (by the power of the Holy Spirit) so that we are always hungry, hungry for God's Word and his righteousness. Then it is such a sweet joy to read the Bible and understand what Scripture says about life and godliness. Indeed, it's good to be hungry.

--HM

Frustrated

Why now?

I felt the tightening of frustration's grip within my chest. Taking a few deep, cleansing breaths, I attempted to pry it's fingers from around my esophagus. I was looking over my academic evaluation, a record which shows my college credits and how they are broken up to fulfill academic requirements for my Communications Degree.

I had noticed a few days earlier that one of the credits I had taken, World Religions, wasn't listed. Not a problem, I thought at the time. I had proof I had taken the exam and passed; plus, I could easily send a transcript to my college for it to be added. I made an appointment to talk with my academic adviser about the issue.

But now I noticed that the credit I was planning to take to fulfill my last Communication requirement wasn't qualifying! "Could it mean it won't count?" I thought. I e-mailed my college coach from CollegePlus! to get my mess untangled.

My coach and I talked through options that were open to replace that credit. I felt well prepared to ask my adviser about the issue. However, when the day for the telephone call rolled around, my college was closed due to snow/icy rain storms. I had to sit back and just laugh!

I was so close to being done yet there was this glitch. Just when I thought I could get the glitch taken care of, it's cancelled! And so I laughed, trusting that God knew what He was doing sending a snow storm in February (when those things usually happen) on New Jersey.

On the following Monday, I called the college to reschedule my appointment. To my great surprise, the operator connected me directly to my adviser who told me she was available right then to talk to me. We discussed the credit which couldn't count toward Communications and then found an appropriate credit to replace it. Plus, I could send the college a transcript for my missing World Religions class.

No time was lost off my degree schedule or money truly wasted, though if anyone needs an Art of Theater textbook I have one I won't be reading! Effortlessly and painlessly the issue was taken care of. I even got my book on time from Amazon in order to study! Moreover, I have been enjoying this class and sort of wish I could have taken it sooner.

Frustration's question at the beginning of the episode seemed to be a fair one--"Why now?"

However, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). So if it took this little episode to remind me of this truth, I ask instead, "Why not?"

--HM

Blind Men Reading

"He [the LORD] will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37: 4b). "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19). "You may ask for anything in my name and I will do it" (John 14:14).

I have heard these verses and others quoted in proof that if we ask, God will give. It sounds good and, hey, it is Scripture so it has to be true. It is true but only to a certain extent.

This sort of Scripture selection is similar to the poem "Blind Men and the Elephant" by John Godfrey Saxe (1.). In the poem, six blind men feel different parts of an elephant and each comes to a completely different opinion of what an elephant is like. One grabs the tusks and thinks the animal is like a spear. Another finds the trunk and assumes the behemoth is like a snake. One blind man secures the tail and says, "I see...the Elephant is very like a rope."

Though the men were in essence wrong (the whole of the elephant isn't like a rope!), they had part of it right. The trunk of an elephant is similar to a snake but in full view of its size, the animal in and of itself couldn't be farther from the truth.

The same goes with Scripture. If we blindly grab onto one verse of Scripture, such as "He will give you the desires of your heart" and fail to view the Bible as a comprehensive whole, we will miss the big picture and be stuck with only misconstrued truth. This is true for any verse or passage in God's Word.

God does promise us that He will give us what we ask for but it is to be in line with His will: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us" (1 John 5:14, emphasis added) and "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4, emphasis added).

Thus, we, as Christians, read the entirety of the Bible so that we may truly know what God says and what He requires of us.

--HM

1. http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/1/?letter=B&spage=3

The Overwhelmed Generation

Each generation gets a label. At least it has been this way the last few generations. Starting with the "Baby Boomers" and continuing with Generation X and Y, we find labels that not only describe when a group of people were born but what their beliefs and ideas are. For instance, "Baby Boomers" were born between the years of 1946 and 1964 and are known for their relaxation regarding social and religious ethics that were previously in place.

Dr. R.C. Sproul pointed out in church this past Sunday that during the 1960s and 1970s when these boomers were now growing up, the social etiquette and fear of disapproval were tossed out the window, rationalized away, to make room for the "sexual revolution". The hippies and rallies have dissolved away. However, now we who are growing up in this generation of the "digital revolution" have it as bad if not worse than the boomers did in the '60s.

The ideas that took place in those decades were merely that, ideas. They professed them in lecture halls, screamed them in the streets, and flaunted them for all to see. Now those ideas are the very substance on which we thrive. The digital revolution has taken the ideas of the rebellious '60s and turned them into marketing tools. Every billboard, every clothing store, every Hollywood movie, every magazine, every newspaper, every commercial, every television show take the ideas and sell them to us.

For girls if we aren't skinny and pretty and fun, well then you're just an "ugly Betty". If guys aren't handsome and buff and trendy, than they are "Napoleon Dynamites". Pretty women and handsome dudes sell everything from "cars to Eskimo pies" as Dr. Sproul put it. And it is everywhere.

Ubiquitously, I am fed the message that being thin and having immaculate, revealing clothes and styled hair is the only valuable things worth having. Only when I climb into bed and turn out the light or when I am reading my Bible is there some respite from the constant noise of our society.

My dad asked one day on the way home from work how my faith was doing and if I had any questions about Scripture or theology. I told him that it was so hard to live in faith when all around godlessness is being broadcasted, not merely as palatable but as the best fudge sundae you have ever had! What is even harder is many Christians have latched onto these ideas to be "culturally relevant" and in the process, have lost the distinction between what is of God and what is of man.

When Jesus came, he had to differentiate between what the Pharisees and the Sadducees were teaching everybody and what he, the God of the Universe, really meant. His Sermon on the Mount is the message that corrects the faulty thinking of a wayward generation: "You have heard it said...But I say."

Now, right now, Christians are being told that it is acceptable and even required to look, act, sound, and think like the world around us. Churches are now rock concerts with a few feel good messages thrown in just so that we can label it a "church service". Call me harsh, but this is the world we live in. We are an overwhelmed generation, overwhelmed by the self-gratifying messages of the culture and now the church. We as Christians are called to be set aside, a holy people (1 Peter 2:9, 10). We are to be different than the rest of the world, living our lives as an pleasing aroma to our Heavenly Father. "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11). God said it, so that settles it.

--HM

The Next Step

Traditional wedding vows run along the lines of: “I, _______, take you, _______, for my wife/husband to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” However, as society has “progressed” the last phrase of the vow, actually the entire marriage vow itself, has been disregarded.


Staring down those who would strive “to have and to hold” until death are forces to be reckoned with. Divorce rates are on the move with about 41% of marriages ending in the termination of nuptial vows (1.). Along with the rates is the alarming fact that Christian divorces are higher than other religious groups (2.). Moreover, one of the largest areas of influence, entertainment media, is promoting non-commitment to millions of viewers. Brad Pitt announced that he would not marry Angelina Jolie until there was marital freedom for everyone. Oprah Winfrey and her boyfriend of 20 years decided to take the “next step” and move in together. Countless others are pairing up and then breaking up (Jennifer and Vince anyone?).


Yet the world goes on and no one shouts out to them, “That’s just not right!” Why? Why is it that 40 years ago it was inappropriate and looked down upon to “live together”? How can a society 40 years later make room for such nonsense?


The answer is one that, as a Christian, you must always come back to: the problem of sin. However, nonchalantly stating it’s a sin problem is a bit too vague. What specifically about the problem of sin affects this area of life?


“Reason is always reasonable,” wrote G.K. Chesterton. God himself is at the very highest pinnacle, the zenith of the entire universe. From him, reason becomes reasonable. From him comes the very source of reason. Yet from the Fall of man, human beings have desperately strained to replace God with any sort of miscellaneous creations. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles…They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:21-23, 25).


We replaced God’s truth for a lie and thereby banished from us the standard of reason. With this removed, living together in marriage relationship but never marrying makes perfect sense! With the standard removed, announcing that you will never marry until there is marriage freedom for all is wisdom! With this removed, we not only continue doing these very things, but also approve those who practice them (Romans 1:32b).


However, we, as Christians, are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” (1 Peter 2:9a). We are not to reflect the world around us but Christ Jesus. Sadly, Christians are behaving more and more like the world as seen in the divorce rates, teen pregnancies, etc.


With this knowledge, how should we then live? We are urged by Paul “to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1), with “not even a hint of sexual immorality” (Ephesians 5: 3), worthy of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice. We are chosen so that we “may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9b).


With this knowledge, what is the “next step” for Christians? The glory is that the “next step” has already been taken for us by Christ on the cross. We, then, are to be imitators of God, taking up our cross daily and following after Him. Here and now as Christians let us glance neither to the left nor to the right but, “let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2a).



--HM


1. http://www.divorcerate.org/


2. http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm

Grace

A few years ago an incident occurred after we had recently moved into our house here in Florida. I had just woken up and was exiting my room. My brother hurried past my doorway and I suppose (since this was some time ago and the exact details escape me) that his attitude communicated something was amiss. Following him, came my mother who also was frustrated. When I asked what was the matter, I received the reply from my mom that my brother had "done something" already that morning which was wrong.

Hoping not to add to the tense atmosphere, I hastly retreated to my room. There I mused as I made my bed how Scripture promises God's "mercies are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-24). Yet this very morning as I had barely stepped from my bed, tension, frustration and disobedience seemed to have marred our day's beginnings. "What are we to do, Lord, when we seem to have blown it right away?"I asked. What is to be done when the promise of new mercies is swept aside by our own sin?

Do you know what He said? "My grace is sufficient for thee" (2 Corinthians 2:19). Even though we may have seem to gotten off on the wrong foot or up on the wrong side of the bed, God is faithful and will supply all our needs. What a loving Father!

--HM

Sovereignty

In recent weeks, I have seen a need in my life to rely on God's sovereignty. Last week I took an exam that I have been preparing for, for almost a month. It wasn't an easy task and the test itself was a challenge. I prepared through studying and talking with my college adviser regarding it. To the best of my ability, I exercised my brain powers to retain the information. Nevertheless, I went into the test with full knowledge that not only did God know whether I would pass the test or not but He also foreordained whether I would passed or not.

Many argue that if God controls all things then we are no more than robots, programmed to do whatever He pleases. But I would ask this question, "Is it wrong for the author to know the book's ending before he even picks up the pen to write?" I believe it was screenwriter Brian Godawa who pointed out this truth on a podcast from St. Anne's Public House. The author knows the outcome and the author determined the outcome yet we the readers have no issue with this fact. We trust that the writer will lead us along the story's path and bring us safely to the ending. The characters though unique and interesting derive their characteristics, actions, and thoughts from the author. They in many senses have inherent qualities or behaviors that the author himself has. Can there be any doubt that the quick wit of Elizabeth Bennett was due to the fast tongue of her creator, Jane Austen?

From the prophesies of the old testament to the visions of the Apostle John in Revelation, God has revealed that He is very much guiding and controlling the events of history. "God is not all-knowing simply because he has applied His superior intellect to a sober study of the universe and all its contents. Rather, God knows all because He created all and He has willed all. As sovereign Ruler of the universe, God controls the universe. Though some theologians have tried to separate the two, it is impossible for God to know all without controlling all, and it is impossible for Him to control all without knowing all. Like all attributes of God, they are codependent, two necessary parts of the whole" (Essential truths of the Christian Faith by Dr. R.C. Sproul, p. 46).

Thus, I had no reason to be anxious about my test (though I greatly was!) nor do people need to worry about who will win the presidential election or what will happen in Iraq or Iran. God knows and the outcome will be what brings Him glory and honor. For Christians, this is the best place to be.

Government in the Sanctuary

Today I voted for the very first time in the Florida primary. In doing so, I partook in the democratic system that is our government. I assisted in electing an official that could be next the leader of the United States of America. And so I drove with my father to exercise this freedom. I went to vote...at a church.

Now this thought struck me today as quite illogical. God cannot be in our classrooms but the government can be in the sanctuary. Isn't there a divide between church and state? If we are to leave Christ out of science, history and all other school curriculum, let us at least be consistent and keep the government out of the church.

--HM

Movie Review -- "The Family Stone"

To be honest, I did not think I would ever end up watching this movie. After reading a Christian review of the film when it first came out, I wrote it off as an unworthy object of my attention. If a reviewer wrote that the movie "Stone deserves to sink like one" (1), how good could it possibly be? But after my mom watched the movie on DVD (plus all the extras, which is a rare feat), I thought I would give The Family Stone a chance.

The Gist of It

The movie revolves around the Stone family, a group of interesting characters to say the least, during a three day Christmas period. The parents, Sybil and Kelly (go ahead and try to figure out which one is the mom and which is the dad) have 5 unique children who fit every characteristic children could have: one is the professional businessman, one a professed freak, another a rebel, one a wife and mother, and one is deaf and gay. The eldest is Everett, the professional, who is bringing his uptight, high-strung, extremely nervous girlfriend, Meredith Morton, to meet his quirky family. They are all predisposed to believe the reports of the rebel Amy that Meredith is a stuck-up, proud, party-pooper. And so the gossip begins. Yet as the time passes and we watch Meredith's interaction with the Stone family, we begin to see not only a tight-knit family but also the attempts of a woman who wants to be accepted by them. Moments in the movie range from moving to the extremely painful, but, by the end, not only is the family circle larger, it is stronger as well.

A Diamond in the Rough

Forgive the cliche but I figured I better stick with the theme. The diamond part of this movie is it's focus on family relations. No one, and I mean no one, in this movie comes off as even a goody-two-shoes. Each character has its issues and flaws which are blazingly apparent. Yet even with flaws, the parents love each one of their children dearly.

For example, the gay/deaf son is welcomed joyously with his partner for Christmas. Some may argue that promoting positively a gay couple is inappropriate and wrong especially for Christians. The Bible does clearly state that homosexuality is a sin and we are not to live in sin. Nonetheless, this does not stop Christians from loving our gay friends or family members any more than it stops us from loving those who deal with other sins. The nonjudgmental love of the Stones was moving. If a family of nonbelievers can have such depth of love, can not Christians have it, if not more?

This movie is a glimpse, a snapshot, into family life. It is taken to an extreme but that is how the points of the story are made. Meredith Morton is an outsider who just needs to relax. As the movie moves on we get to see her relax a little bit. I wish we could have seen it revealed more. We have all felt like an outsider, that no matter what we do it is never good enough or never meets the expectations of those we want to please. Even in trying to understand the different relationships in the family, Meredith comes off the wrong way and is misunderstood. As Ben the "freak" told her, she has a freak flag; she just doesn't fly it.

So what is the point then of portraying a loving family? What is the truth in this? The truth is revealed in a pivotal scene after an event in which Meredith says something perceived to be completely offensive to the family. Sybil is in the kitchen with her son, Everett, who is still bent on marry Meredith. The mother explains to her son simply that she is dying and that nothing he does can save her: not being the perfect professional, not having a good job, not even by getting married. The screenwriters reveal an inherent truth: a family's love is glue that keeps them together but no matter how much we as humans love, we are utterly incapable of saving each other. Unfortunately it isn't communicated who can save us --only God : Jesus Christ.

Everett not marrying Meredith isn't going to keep the family intact. When this is realized, a resentment is eased towards Meredith. It also helps that Meredith, for all her striving, buys the best Christmas presents the family needs at this time of death: a beautifully matted and framed picture of Sybil, in the vitality of youth and life pregnant with one of the children. Thus, the family embraces Meredith, grasping that though she is different and is still discovering who she is, she needs a loving family; that their love can help her in this journey.

We are all a bit like Meredith. We strive to do the right thing, to say the right thing, to be the right person in order to please and to be loved by our family, friends and/or others. But that then is not love; it is simply an acceptance based on merit. As Meredith comes to realize, love is not founded on performance. It is unconditional, no matter how well we pull ourselves together, or, don't.

It was God's love for us that saved us; that "while we were still sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). We are then to channel this love to shower on others. Love as I have loved you, Jesus said (John 15:12). Sadly, Stone doesn't recognize this source of their love.

The rough part of the film comes from the language and sexual innuendos that lace the dialog. Though a good movie (which had me in tears at the end, a rare feat), it isn't for those who don't want to think about what they are watching. For that type of viewing, I would recommend something along the lines of Veggie Tales.

In the End...

The Family Stone works at showing family relations realistically. Life isn't easy nor are the people in your life but a family that loves each other no matter what will survive, even the most devastating of blows. Nevertheless, our human love is only good to a certain extent and, happily, Meredith gets to experience this love by the end of the film. It is only through God's fullness of love and grace we are saved from the trials of this life and our sinful nature. For those who feel up to the challenge, the movie is a warming picture of family. The film isn't perfect but neither is family life which in some ways enhances the story even more.

--HM

1. http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0002456.cfm