Pastor's Review of 300 ...

I'm having a love hate relationship with this movie and I guess a lot of what Hollywood does.  In all honesty I loved it, but there were some things of note that I was absolutely appalled at.  All of them had to do with the Circus freak-show of sexuality that got tossed into my lap.  Both the Oracle scene and the menagerie of sex freaks that Xerxes kept twisted my stomach.  Even the, what seemed to be more tastefully done, scene with Leonidas and his wife, made me uncomfortable, although I didn’t see but maybe a glimpse or too of it.  I found my popcorn fascinating at the time.         

Now I know I am in the minority of American men when I say that any over intensive sexuality puts me on edge.  Heck, I won’t even watch a Victoria’s Secret commercial.  But I think for men (typically) there is a much more dire consequence to image intensive sexuality than written or spoken ones.

It comes down to this, the only naked I ever want to see is my wife.  She’s the only woman that I want to arouse me.  And it pains me deeply when my life over the years has drifted from that either via the TV or Internet or what not.  That is an area of my life that I vowed belonged solely to her nearly a decade and a half ago.  And since men are so visual we have to guard our eyes and our hearts against anything that might compromise our thoughts.  I am not a believer in the “it’s ok to look as long as we don’t touch” philosophy.  I’ve done way too many marital counseling sessions over my years with people who have thought that to ever even acknowledge the possibility of being able to do that honorably. 

So as much as I loved the story and the visuals of war in 300 (especially when they pushed the elephants off the cliff) … I guess I’ll never see it again.  Unless it’s edited for TV.  Had I put more thought to it going in I probably wouldn’t have gone in the first place.  I skipped “Ghost Rider” because I heard the main actress say” They shot the film around my chest”

But some would say “it’s only a little nudity.” maybe, years ago my father said something, that now that he’s dying haunts me … “Mike, it’s only a little cancer …”  Call me crazy but I don’t want any cancer in my marriage.  

In the end I would love to reccomend this movie to folks who love fantasy epics ... I just can't.

Today marks a moment in history ... It is the Closing of an Era.

Imagination is one of the most remarkable qualities that God has gifted men with.  And it is an Era of imagination that is coming to a close.  in 1941a man named Jack Kirby drew out perhaps what would become the latter half of the 20th centurie's greatest symbol of American pride and heritage.  He penned for the first time a young man named Steve Rogers. 

A frail youth stricken by disease, but with a passion for his country, Steve attempted to enlist in teh Armed Forces.  He was of course deied.  Then, as if fate, destiny, and providence had all agreed in unison.  Steve was offeder a chance to take part in the greatest experiment of their time.  An early genetic effort transformed Steve's weak body into the pinacle of human fitness.  Soon after he doned a Red, White, and Ble uniform.  A symbol more than a uniform really.  Stever Rogers became Captain America.  Stever Rogers became the living breathing embodiment of all that was ever good about America.  Our Hopes and Our Dreams.  Our Justice and our Liberty.Our Strengths and our Power.  Our Heritage and our Foundations.  Steve did not only stand for those things ... he became them. 

Today ... on this day ... the 7th of March in the year 2007.  Steve Rogers, Soldier, Patriot, The Sentinal of Liberty, Guardian of Truth, Justice, and the American way, Captain America, and my Hero since I was 5 ... died. 

Farewell old friend ... it is because of you that I so dearly love the Land that Birthed me.  It is becasue of you that all of the things God has taught me found an open heart and fertile soil to grow in.  It is becasue of you that I dare to imagine things beyond that which is norally possible.  It is because of you that I believe there really are Heroes in this dismal world.  Farewell.

Tell me that I did not give my all for you in vain
That brothers and sisters do not look upon my sacrifice
With hateful,
Or even worse,
Uncaring disdain.

Do not forget me when my valley’s hushed
And white with snow,
Grass growing green in the summer of my meadow
Help me see the peace I lived and died for grow.

Make my lonely grave richer,
Sweeter be...
Make this truly,
"The land of the free
And the home of the brave,"
I gave my life to save
That I might too, lie eternally,
Forever free...

Together

So ... I was pretty much outta my mind with tired last night and don't really remember a lot of what I said. 

I do know that I talked alot about God's sacrifice for us His kids, and compared it to Dick and Rick Hoyt.  Watch the documentary and see if you can find any good comparisons between them and how God loves and cares for us.

Documentary

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4642920755415594672&q=Rick+Hoyt&hl=en

Some other videos worth watching

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8761575211251489877&q=Rick+Hoyt&hl=en

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D52rJd9GX10

It is coming ...

Well School is once again on the way and I decided that perhaps I should start this up again.  We shall see won't we ...

Lemme jsut lay on you what this next year is holding for me and the ministry

1) Re-Energize Youth Group.  Massive Undertaking which will literally change every aspect of what we do.

2) Start a Jr. High Youth Group.  Out of necessity for the future. 

3) Learn how to lead an entire section of Youth Pastors.  That's right some crazy person thought I'd be good at leading the section.  Soooo now I'm in charge of a huge area of youth ministries.

4) Check myself into a mental ward for starting a Jr. High Youth Group.

5) Re-Tool Childrens Church

6) Keep my act together Personally and overcome my relentless bad habits.

7) Start College this Spring.

What can you do to help?  For the love of all things Holy set aside five minutes a week and ask God to give me strength.  Also ... heh ... well maybe I'll get to those in future posts.

What do you do when everything in your life feels like you a car stuck in the mud hopelessly spending huge amounts of energy and never getting anywhere?

You pray ...