God in Art: NINE

So I know I’m a little behind on this one, NINE came out back in 2009 (haha, Nine, 2009) but I just saw it last night, and it spoke to me very clearly.  Now I’m reasonably certain that a great many Christians probably looked down on this movie….very very far down.  The main character played by Daniel Day Lewis (who put on a stunning performance in my opinion) is plagued by an addictive personality.  I mean this guy smokes, drinks, and sleeps around like it’s his job.  Nevermind that he’s supposed to be a film director this guy is in all kinds of trouble and completely unrepentant.  What really got me personally about him was the casual acceptance of extra-martial affairs.

Standing Orders

Anyone who has ever watched a war movie has heard the expression “standing orders.”  What does this mean?  It means that it doesn’t matter what the circumstances are there are some things you always look for.  It might that no matter what the first goal is take prisoners of war, or it could be that the first course of action will be to asses the needs of civilian populations.  As Christians our orders are pretty simple “Love the LORD with all your heart…and love your neighbor as yourself.”  “Heal the sick, cleanse lepers, cast out demons and spread the news of the Kingdom of God.”  “Go and make disciples of all the nations.”  Now my buddies over at Daily Discipleship, Pursuing a Life of Significance, and Campfire Cowboy Ministries do a great job with these I really encourage you to take a look over there if you feel like these are places you want to grow (I probably get half my ideas and materials from them anyways – thanks guys!)

But there’s one other set of orders we don’t usually think about in Ephesians 6:13.  “Withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

What?  You might ask.  “What’s he one?  Dude, why aren’t you sharing?”  Well I’m on Jesus and THIS is sharing. :-p

Receiving Love

NEWSFLASH: God loves you.  Next newsflash: it doesn’t matter if you can’t accept it.

I’ve been asking myself over the past few days what I need in order to really accept God’s love for me.  Now let me say before the comments start flying that I don’t have a problem at all believe that I am personally loved and accepted by the LORD and that He so loved me that He sent His only son to die for me.  I got it.  I believe it and it forms a key cornerstone of my life.

But I think of it as kind of…out there.  You know?  As if God’s love for me isn’t something I can actually feel, receive, absorb and rest in even though I know that’s what it is.  It’s a curious circumstance of human life that we can be loved and yet not receive love.  Now this is an important part here.  If you would like to read more about love and loving God and others there are list of posts at the bottom you can check out.  I deliberately left the title out of each the links because I thought it would be more fun that way to just see where you end up.  But for now, the question at hand is, “how do you accept and live in God’s gracious love?”

6:13

The ground is blasted to pieces
And the land lays tormented.
But see
Our flag stands.
Fallen friends and foes
Lay on fallow ground.
But see
Our flag stands.
Death walks the fields
And creeps along country lanes
While despair seeks his foothold
In the safe places of our cities;
Shame slithers through silent slums
Striking the stillness
And fear regains his feet once again.
But see
Our flag stands
And in standing declares
“not today
Not tomorrow
Not ever
For see,
I stand I THAT AM.”

Sweet Mercies

This song is probably one of my favorites in my massive arsenal of worship songs (you know, all three of them).  The Lyrics are really simple but they are open, honest and heartfelt.  This song speaks to me a lot of different levels and has really ministered to my heart.  I hope it does the same for you.  Lyrics below the video if you’re interested.