Tag: movies

Control Freak

On By hawkinsm6In Christian Living, Christianity, Discipleship, Encouragement, Spiritual1 Comment

Talking to some friends yesterday and somebody said I wouldn’t let my kids read Harry Potter books.

Not true…

I know my kids (who are now all adults with families of their own).  If I would’ve said you aren’t allowed, they wouldn’t have been able to help themselves.

Chips off the old block.

What I told them is that I would rather they didn’t.  And it had very little to do with how bad the writing is.

I think there are only three powers that I can control.  Two of those my only control comes from my submission to that power.  The one remaining is me.

Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy.”

He was referring to Satan when he said this.  He tempts you with the idea that he can give you power that you can control.  It just never ends up being true.  The “power” always, ALWAYS, ends up controlling you.  No one is exempt.

Jesus went on to say, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Check yourself on this, does watching a movie or reading a book lead you to thinking, “I want more of God’s power.”  Or does God’s power sound kinda lame compared to casting spells and flying in a game of quidditch.

What an old fuddy-duddy!  It’s a kid’s series for entertainment.  This is a stupid argument used to justify various levels of pornography, horror/slasher media, and multiple addictions.

I would remind you that if it’s not coming from Jesus, it’s not intended to entertain you.  It is seeking to steal, kill and destroy.

Steal your identity.

Kill your passion and compassion.

Destroy your heart and soul.

Sounds melodramatic but what can I say?

He’s a control freak.

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All I Can Say…

On By hawkinsm6In Christian Living, Christianity, Discipleship, Encouragement, SpiritualLeave a comment

I watched “the Good Place.”

In fact, I’ve watched several shows that depict God, Christianity, Christians and religious zeal.

We’re bad!

And I don’t mean a little bad.

Well, some are just weak-willed sheep. They plod through accepting whatever, questioning nothing. Pathetic. Extras in the scene.

But most pictures presented are downright evil. Murderous, hateful, vile.

And God, my King and Hero, is presented as, for the most part, simply not really there. Humans doing whatever they want. Demons having the real power, the real authority over humanity.

And we sit back, silent.

No, don’t start bashing the movies, the shows. They only glorify what they have been taught.

We need real Christians, living out the love of Jesus, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, moving by faith in the Holy, beautiful, amazing, one and only GOD.

It might even make a good movie.

Clear and Present Danger

On By hawkinsm6In Christian Living, Discipleship, Encouragement, Spiritual, Uncategorized, Worship4 Comments

With the phenomena of a variety of movies and literature over the years, free speech is a common theme as people argue over the merits or issues revolving around a particular theme. Free speech is touted as a catch phrase basically allowing people to say whatever they want. But there are limits on this, certain “tests” that the Supreme Court uses to determine whether a document or rhetoric is protected by the first amendment.

Now, I’m not a lawyer. I’m not a judge. I did serve once on a jury. But since most citizens are considered capable of that duty I hardly think that qualifies me to speak. Ah, but speak I shall.

When movies are made to celebrate abuse, sexual, physical abuse, I think it fails the clear and present danger test. When pornography promotes child molesting, incest, bestiality and other forms of degradation and depravity, I think it fails this test. And if it doesn’t fail it for the Supreme Court, it should for us as human beings.

We have a scriptural mandate to think on whatever is pure and holy and true and noble.

So what should our response be as movies are released, as books hit the shelves?

We worship. We sing. We speak the truth, in love, with mercy and grace. That is what sets us apart. That is what the world needs, the love that will heal its wounds.

There is a clear and present danger, and we are armed and fit to conquer it.

Oh, for the love of…..Zombies?

On By hawkinsm6In Christian Living, Discipleship, Encouragement, Spiritual, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Zombie movies surface from time to time and usually are received fairly well in the box office. The industry likes them because they’re usually fairly cheap to make. Low film quality and bad acting are often the norm, but, not always.

Recently I watched “World War Z”. You should know, at the outset, that I am not a fan of this genre. The idea that a human body can cease to function and yet still function, and often function amazingly well, is beyond ridiculous.

I won’t bore you with a lot of science at this juncture. In the movie, near the end, the star meets up with some World Health Organization people. He asks about his idea of using a lethal virus and they respond with an interesting line. “We already tried that. You need a functioning circulatory system to make them sick.” Apparently, it is not necessary for nerve cells (they see and smell) and muscle cells (they run really fast and jump huge distances) to be provided with nutrients. Those cells can function just fine without a circulatory system.

I don’t usually write just to rant about something. This is no different.

Life is a daily, constant miracle of chemical pathways, cognition, sensory input, defensive and salutatory mechanisms. It is a gift that is fragile, transient, that cannot survive randomly, thoughtlessly. It is constantly warring for survival and is amazing in its ability to adapt, improvise and overcome.

It is a gift that we can’t live without.

Zombies are not possible. The warning to us should be, are we really living?

Flinching

On By hawkinsm6In Christian Living, Discipleship, Encouragement, Spiritual, Uncategorized, Worship1 Comment

“Two for flinching!” Bam! Bam!

Did you ever play that game when you were young?

The idea is this. I act like I’m going to punch you and, if you flinch, I get to punch you for real.

My boys tried it with me and I told them that if they punch me for flinching I get to kick them for being silly.

“But dad, it’s just a game.”

No, it’s trying to train my body to not do what it was designed to do.

Flinching is an autonomic reaction to a visual stimulus. It can be directed into various reactions of defense or offense. But to teach yourself not to react is just bad.

So gentlemen, why do we watch TV, watch a movie and then wonder why we struggle with pornography, with lust? Ladies, why do we read romance novels and then wonder why there’s a struggle to love your husband? Teens, why do you listen to popular music and struggle to find time for God?

These things will always backfire because they go against the design. We were designed to be visually stimulated, as men. Don’t put a stimulus in your path, don’t choose one that isn’t your wife. As women, you desire relationship. Don’t fill that need with the false ones in a book. As humans, our need is to be with God, spend time with Him. Don’t choose to listen to the world’s preaching, the world’s worship of money, of fame, of humanity.
It’s always best to follow the design.

Ha! Two for flinching!