There was something about "Facing the Giants" that kinda' rubbed me the wrong way.
It was how everything got all wrapped up in a pretty little bow at the end.
Reminded me of the time in Bible study when a woman said, "I don't understand why my friends don't want to come to Jesus, when they know it's the best thing." She didn't mean it was the best peace or the best means of hope ... it was on the tail end of a conversation about what makes life run more smoothly.
I don't know about you - others of you who follow the teachings of Jesus - but it's friggin' hard for me. I can't even say that it's tough. To do it ... to really do it ... dang, it's a whoopin'.
I think that knowing who Jesus is, and knowing his message and his point is easy. Telling people about Jesus is easy. Being a part of this big Christian sub culture in the Bible belt is easy.
However, actually living like Jesus is where I struggle.
I've had a few people over the years ask me why I still believe in all the Jesus stuff. Ya' know, I seem like a perfectly intelligent person. So, why do I buy it? I'll post on that later on this week. Right now I have to run off and keep parenting some children who are currently incapable of trusting or loving another human being. (see paragraph #4 above - rinse and repeat)
13 comments:
This video will have me thinking for days. I have been a believer for all my life, but I wonder if I know anythign about what it means to live like Christ.
What a powerful video.
We may not agree on a political candidate but GIRL, YOU HAVE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH THAT VIDEO!!! We can stand united in that FOR SURE!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS.... America needs to SERIOUSLY wake up!
It says it ALL.
thank you
Thank you. I am FED with our version of Christianity. I love JOB of the OT because he exemplifies what I feel/believe/think Jesus' point was. Kenneth Copeland (?) was on tv this a.m. (His channel is between my two news stations) telling the listeners that we are promised physical prosperity if we are in line with THE WORD. This is why I cannot bear to hear anything related to church, and why I don't go. Yeah, I'm a hypocrite, but at least I admit it. There must be a better song than this. Anyone know the lyrics?
God did not ever promise us a rose garden here on this earth. He did promise that his grace would be sufficient and that our eternity would be with him.
That people believe that prosperity gospel stuff...ick!
It sure is crummy hard to live the gospel. I'm way bad at it....
Thanks for the hard, but good thoughts today and for the laughs.
Blessings,
Sandwich
Transparency and authenticity.....keep it up.
i love that Piper can say what needs to be said! even the fact that he is saying those things from the pulpit, fighting hard to believe truth and give it to his congregation, not allowing for wishy-washyness (sp?) is encouragement to keep up with the HARD WORK of following Jesus!
i have felt the same recently. :( that living half-heartedly while still going to church and talking with people about Jesus and reading my Bible even is possibly and even likely, but the joy and the passion and the peace and knowing JESUS is missing. but getting those things means going through the ringer, being faced with our sin, getting on our knees before God, working hard -- but oh, the blessing of that work!!
keep on, Christina! i love your posts, though i don't comment much! (sorry!)
Jamie
highcountries.wordpress
ya.. I understand what you mean about the thought at the end of FTG.... but then there is no possible way to fit a persons life in a 1 or 2 hour movie.. Sometimes we just want to read one verse of the Bible but there are more to follow...or like the old saying goes...And the rest of the story is.....so I decided to take it as just a small snap shot of what God does in His childrens lives....And little snipts are all through the Bible...like Hannah wanting a child, God gave her a child but there was an incredible sacrifice she had to face after God fulfilled that promise... Life is a journey to the end...to the beginning of eternity... God asks us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength..and sometimes it takes just that....it is hard to have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.....but God's love conqures all..one tiny mustard seed of strength... of faith...the pain, hurt, difficulty, uncertaintly, not understanding why seems to vanish when you sense His peace, and His love.. I'd much rather have Jesus than anything....
the authenticity.... the clinging to Christ when nothing else is clear.... is what is attractive to nonbelievers in the long run. press in. :)
And we don't need more "Christian" movies. They don't sit well with most believers and honestly cannot be evangelistic when they appear cheesy to nonbelievers.
I love this post...thanks for your trasnparency--it's encouraging. BTW, I learned about "Fireproof" from your blog and I went to watch the trailer. Before that, I'd never heard of it. Although upon reading the Kirk Cameron was in it, I about hurled up my breakfast. He should just bask in the limelight of that "post-Growing Pains" status and quit doing crappy Christian movies.
Anyway, I just had to show my husband the Fireproof trailer, cause I knew he'd get a kick out of it...and he did. I really had to hold my tongue, though, at Bible study last week when one woman was telling everyone about the movie and encouraging people to go. I made sure to keep my poker face on the whole time, otherwise I would've burst out laughing!
Sarah, for some classic Kirk Cameron post-Growing Pains blecgh - just head over to YouTube and do a search for "Atheist Nightmare."
Thank me later.
Regardless of faith or politic, that was powerful.
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