Carl Anheuser: Where the hell is President Wilson!
White House Secretary: He's praying, sir, and I don't blame him at a time like this.

~dialogue from 2012 (PG-13) 

I am not certain if these types of "end of the world" movies are just growing numb to me, or perhaps the reality is that 2012 was average.  There are plenty of reviews out there condemning the film as the "worst ever" and others plotting it as better than sliced bread.  I think the reality is it’s more in the middle, and probably more on the upper end of middle-ground.  Lots of action, good CGI, lots of suspense, and intriguing enough storyline to keep you interested – I rate it a solid 7 out of 10.

Like many who at least acknowledge the existence of God, when times get tough people get on their knees and pray – sometimes even those who don’t believe end up on their knees as well.  To label this point of the film a "tough time" would be a vast understatement.  With the world literally falling apart all around, President Wilson chose to pray.  Certainly a noble act; however, my point here is of a slightly different spin.

Why is it that it takes catastrophic situations to bring us to our knees?  Especially for those of us who call ourselves Christians^(a), prayer should not be a "once in a while" "only when you need it" thing, it should be a way of life.^(b)  Prayer should be like breathing – not a last resort when we’re in a bind.  By all means, if you have yet to pray concerning your circumstances, please do – don’t wait another moment.  However, just because you may not find yourself in a difficult spot it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be praying.

The bible illustrates how Jesus taught this.  In Matthew 6 He made reference to "when you pray".^(c)  It’s worth noting that the word is "when" and not "if".  It is an expectation not a condition and I don’t believe this expectation was put on us as a burden – rather the exact opposite.^(d)  Imagine what life would be like if we always prayed.  I bet a few, maybe even many of those difficult circumstances could be completely avoided if we were already praying and seeking God for His will in our lives.  Let’s take it a step further, beyond imagination and into reality.

a: Romans 10:9-10; b: Ephesians 6:18; c: Matthew 6: 5-7; d: Matthew 11: 30;

(thought history)

King Leonidas:  Give them nothing!  But take from them everything!

~quote from 300 (R)  

In getting back on the writing horse I wanted to write about a more recent movie, but this particular thought has been circling in my mind far too long to wait any longer…

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and I loved the “never back down” attitude King Leonidas had in leading his people – this man oozed with strength and courage.  The computer generated art direction is ground-breaking – a visually stunning spectacle.  Aside from the actors, everything you see is computer-generated, including the blood-spatter – which there is plenty of.  However, when watching this film, it’s as if the violence is fake at times; which isn’t really a bad thing.  It’s as if this film was made with the idea of making art rather than shock-value.  However, even with this in mind, 300 is extremely violent and most certainly NOT for those who don’t like such films.  If you’re looking for a testosterone fueled fix, 300 will certainly do.

King Leonidas was a warrior.  He led with passion and never backed down without a fight.  At times his fire painted more a picture of madness than leadership, but make no mistake – his men loved him and gladly followed to the very end.  The quote I chose from the movie to highlight here comes from a moment in which his men are about to engage their enemy.  “Give them nothing!  But take from them everything!”  These words barked in the king’s raspy voice instilled courage in his men to the core, and set the stage for victory.  They also got me thinking about the battles we face in life, particularly the battle all men face against the devil.

Believe it or not the devil, our enemy, is real.^{(a, b)}  Perhaps not the red, pointy-eared, pitchfork wielding caricature we’re accustomed too, but his existence is real – living a life ignoring this fact only puts you in a more vulnerable position.  Still, this truth is only the beginning – knowing is only half the battle.  We need to be armed against our enemy, and unless you have accepted the salvation God provided through His Son, Jesus Christ^(c) – you’re set up for defeat.  It’s like bringing a white flag to a gun fight – you’ve given up before you even start.

For those who have accepted God’s free gift of salvation the power is available to win the battle.  Sadly, many who have the power don’t bother to use it – instead giving away everything without a fight.  We need to reverse our thinking^(d); take a stand^(e), never back down without a fight.  The good news here is victory, through Christ, is inevitable.^(f)  The weapons of warfare here are not of flesh, but are divinely powerful for destroying the fortresses of the enemy in your life.^(g)  If the devil has a foothold^(h) – don’t allow him to continue robbing you of victory!  Give the devil nothing, but take from him everything!⁽ⁱ⁾  The Blood of Jesus is FAR more powerful than anything the devil can muster – if you’re covered by the Blood of Jesus, His power is surging through you.^(j)  If the devil has stole from you, stand firm^(k) and take it back!

say a little something so this silly little photo aligns to the right and doesn't cover everything up like it was doing just a moment ago!^(a)

a: Revelation 12:9; b: 1 Peter 5:8; c: Romans 10:9-10; d: Romans 12:2; e: James 4:7; f: 1 Corinthians 15:57;
g: 2 Corinthians 10:3-4; h: Ephesians 4:27; i: Luke 10:19; j: Colossians 1:25-27; k: Ephesians 6:11;

(thought history)

Benjamin Button:  Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.

~quote from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (PG-13)  

I just re-watched this film this past weekend, its obvious why there were so many award nominations for this movie.  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a fantastic story and highly entertaining.  There are shares of very odd moments, as you can imagine, but all in all it’s quite the adventure following the backwards life of Benjamin Button.  One of the film’s best qualities is finishing what it starts… there are several little stories within the story and to see them all come full circle is a breath of fresh air.  If you have not yet seen it, it is well worth the rental fee from your local Blockbuster, RedBox, Movie Gallery... or NetFlix if that’s what you fancy.

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing for this movie; it’s the little details that make this film shine.  One of the blurbs of Benjamin’s narration spoke of the opportunities we encounter in life and how our lives are shaped by what we do with them… or in some cases, don’t do.  The important piece that jumped out to me is the fact that our lives are not only shaped by the opportunities we choose to act upon, but also by the ones we choose to pass by.  These opportunities missed often affect our lives equally as great as those met head-on, the thing with missed ones… we never really know.

By no means do I think we should grab every opportunity by the horns, but I think we should attempt to exercise more wisdom when choosing which moments to seize.  Often we let opportunities pass by without a thought even given to them.  Let this be received as a challenge to engage more in the things around you; the moments… the opportunities that you normally would simply let pass by.  At least grab hold of them for a moment so that you can better evaluate, with wisdom, what you should do.  Often it’s too difficult to know before you take that first step if the opportunity is going to become good or bad… ask for wisdom.^(a)

Make no mistake, our history is written by the opportunities we seise along with the ones we don't, but it is God who defines who we truly are.^{(b, c, d)}

a: James 1:5; b: John 3:16; c: Romans 10:9-10; d: 2 Corinthians 5:17

(thought history)

Adrian Veidt:  It doesn't take a genius to see the world has problems.
Edward Blake:  No, but it takes a room full of morons to think they're small enough for them to handle.

~dialogue from Watchmen (R) 

I really thought I would like Watchmen.  I'm not sure if it was that it turned out to be something I didn't expect, but it was just "OK" for me.  Decent visuals and a fairly interesting storyline... perhaps had I read the comics I would have enjoyed it more.  I certainly wouldn't suggest for anyone to run out and see it, but if you're planning to... brace yourself for an over abundance of blue male nudity.

Genius vs. moron; quite the spectrum.  Adrian Veidt is the genius and Edward Blake enjoys taking name-calling the shot @ Mr Veidt.  In the context of this dialogue, I couldn’t agree more with the sentiments shared.  Problems; whether they infect the whole of the world, or if they are narrowed down to our own lives… it’s wise to realize they are not within our grasp to handle.  Certainly there are small enough problems in our own lives where we can get by on our own accord, but it does not mean its best.  As far as the measurement of the size of the problem, it is a matter of perspective.

By no means am I a genius, nor have I considered myself a moron… well maybe sometimes; however, when it comes to problems (especially my own) I tend to lean more towards the realm of moronic… I have a feeling I’m not the only one.  When it comes to world size problems, I don’t really believe that I could handle them on my own.  But, when it comes to my own personal problems, no matter how big or small they may be, I tend to take the path of a moron and believe I can handle them on my own.  Certainly there are problems small enough that I make due with my resolutions, but there are other cases where my solutions are utter disasters and end up causing far more harm than good.  Sadly, even after years of experiencing failure, I find myself fitting the moronic mold… not always, but many times.

For God no problem is too big, no problem too small.  The trick here is to learn to lean on Him rather than ourselves.  For those of us who have accepted the free salvation gift of Christ, the way has been made for reliance on God… for those who have not, the outlook is bleak.  Through Jesus Christ we have been joined with Him.^(a)  He is available, call to Him and He will answer.^{(b, c, d)}  Seek Him with all your heart and you will find your answers. ^{(e, f, g)}.  God is always available, always listening and no problem is too large for Him!^(h)

a: Matthew 11:30, b: Proverbs 15:29, c: James 5:16-18, d: Philippians 4:6-7, e: Proverbs 3:5-6, f: Jeremiah 29:13, g: Proverbs 8:17, h: Luke 1:37

(thought history)