(The clips from these are all online. You can find them on the official movie site: disney.com/pooh or on youtube or on the yahoo movie site.)
Our next movie is from a story has been around since the 1920’s.
First book is from 1926 to be exact, by a guy named A. A. Milne, son’s name was Christopher Robin Milne. Anyone want to guess what movie we will talk about this morning?
A little about the Pooh empire. In the 1930s Pooh was bringing in $50 million a year. Currently, it is estimated that Winnie the Pooh videos, teddy bears, and other merchandise generate $1 billion in annual income for Disney that’s as much revenue as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto merchandise combined. And this movie will help boost that ever higher this year. It’s a great clean safe movie. As we sat and watched it I felt a warm glow in my heart. Let’s watch the trailer so you can better understand what I mean.
Trailer Clip-doesn’t that look wonderful?
As I reflected on the movie this week one of my favorite scriptures came to mind. A scripture we see often at weddings and anniversaries. Of course I’m talking about 1 Corinthians 13.
Just before this Paul talks about spiritual gifts and one body many parts.
Paul now proceeds to elaborate on the fact that love surpasses the most important spiritual gifts. Some of the Corinthian Christians may not have possessed any of the gifts mentioned in the previous three lists in chapter 12, but all of them and all of us can practice love.
Let’s take a look…
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Do you see what Paul does here?
Notice what he is listing: tongues, prophecy, faith, giving-several of the gifts he just mentioned in chapter 12. Basically telling us it’s all useless without love.
The characters in the hundred acre wood are not perfect. They each have their downfalls. Yet the things they do are based out of love. That, for me, is a big part of what makes Pooh so endearing. For the most part every character truly has the good of the community at heart when they speak or act. They don’t lord it over the other when they have something special that the other doesn’t. Which is what can happen to us-can’t it? If we use our gifts and talents apart from any other motivation other than love we’re just spinning our wheels. God’s Kingdom is about love.
As I read this next section think about the Pooh characters and how they embody these traits…
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
As you saw in the preview Eeyore loses his tail and the rest of the gang tries to help Eeyore find a new one. It takes love to help someone...If I don't love you-ie care about you...I'm not really going to help you.
but there's something else...I have to love you to allow you to help me-why is that? Love is not proud...and also if I allow you to help me then I what you? I trust you...
And even though eeyore is the eternal pessimist he hopes and they hope they will find eeyore a new tail...
I want to show a clip to further demonstrate how this love plays out in the Hundred Acre Wood. While trying to trap the supposed villain Backson all of them except Piglet have fallen into the hole and it’s up to Piglet to get them out.
Hole Clip
We are going to get frustrated with others, but it’s how we handle it. Even though Rabbit gets utterly frustrated with the solutions you can still see his love for Piglet and the others.
And this love shown by Pooh and his friends is the kind of love we strive to continue to foster here in this church.
Not only do we want to foster that here in this building, but we want to foster that same love and community outside of these walls. Think about what heaven is like….think about the prayer we pray at least every Sunday if not also during the week…your will be done…on earth as it is in heaven…it’s our responsibility as followers of Christ to live out this model of love.
Let’s take a look at one last example from the movie-Pooh has recruited Piglet to help him retrieve some honey.
Piglet scene-The Plan
takes responsibility even though it’s clearly not his fault…that’s love…in a world that seems too long to place blame on everyone but ourselves…Piglet takes the difficult and humble road-“I’m sorry I messed up your plan Pooh.”
And at the very end of the movie, even though Pooh has not gotten to enjoy the delicious sweet honey he so desperately hungers for, he chooses to return Eeyore’s tail instead of satisfying his own hunger-love is not self seeking. And in the end because of his selflessness he gets the greatest reward of all…now that sounds familiar.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Super Summer Cinema Series Transformers 3 Celebrity
071711
Transformers Dark of the Moon
Intro
Let’s face it, as much as we may complain about it, we are fascinated by celebrities. And these days celebrity is a pretty diverse word.
Top Lists-Sexiest, Richest, Beautiful,
7 of the top 10 searches from 2009 & 2010 were celebrities
A big hit in the last few years was Rockstar by Nickelback-we all just want to be big rock stars
The people featured in video hits on Youtube will be on the national news.
And this desire for celebrity can even affect our attitude about church…we want to be a famous church, we want to build new facilities, we may even envy churches like Lifechurch.tv…
Our movie example today is no different. We’ll be taking a look at Transformers 3. The first two Transformers grossed $1.5 billion worldwide and the 3rd one has already grossed over $700 million worldwide. Not too shabby for a movie about some alien robots that transform into vehicles and planes.
As we’ll see in the first clip on of the main characters Sam Whitwickey is struggling to find a job. In the first 2 movies Sam has worked closely with the Autobots, the good robots to save the world from the evil Decepticon robots. Sam has now completed college and of course his parents are giving him a hard time because 3 mos after graduation he still has been unable to find a job.
Show clip. You’re looking for the job after this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY46zXRlPks
In this second clip Sam has teamed up with the Autobots to once again try to save the world from the Decepticon attacks. He is meeting with some other human Autobot allies when his girlfriend comes home.
Show clip-I just want to matter-you matter to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCYTsUpNIoE
There is much truth in these scenes and as I watched this part of the story unfold I was reminded of a similar problem the early disciples faced.
Luke 9
46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”
What’s going on in the story?
Just before this argument Jesus had largely deflated the disciples’ hopes for glory and grandeur by emphasizing that he would suffer and die. So the disciples are left wondering about their own place in the Kingdom as much as they were wondering about Jesus’ role in the kingdom.
The answer Jesus gives is a long way from the disciples’ ideas of a Kingdom raised by revolution and apocalyptic triumph. They were ready to go to war with Jesus as their victorious King, leading them to conquest. I can imagine the young child, standing before them, grinning and simpering under the amused gaze of the thirteen men, hardly the warrior zealot they would have imagined as greatest in the Kingdom.
Don’t you see as Christians we have it all backwards.
The scene reflects the situation that has affected the church since Jesus was resurrected, namely the struggle for leadership and status that still continues to this day. Jesus flips our desire to be famous and #1 upside down and presents a child as the model.
To become like a little child is to humble oneself, giving up all pretensions of self-importance, independence, and self-reliance and turning in trust to the heavenly Father. The story is not for us to imitate children but rather take on a different understanding of status. As followers of Christ we are to abandon the quest for status.
In the movie Sam is obsessed with status. Several times throughout the movie he loses it because he wants people to know how important he is, that he saved the world, that he matters.
This idea that I have to do something big in order to matter. Because this movie doesn’t relate to any struggle we have ever had…we all just wanna be big rock stars…
Maybe we could look at it this way. Let me ask you a few questions.
Who saved Billy Graham? Who mentored Mother Teresa? Who impacted Rob Bell or Joel Olsteen or Beth Moore? Did those people who influenced these famous Christians matter? Were they great?
But we don’t their names so how can they be famous? How do you know you aren’t the person who is going to impact the next Christian who is going to something big for God? But if we are too busy looking to be famous for fame’s sake, we’ll miss the vision and plan that God has.
It’s important for us to take each step set before us. I believe God has a plan and we have to complete a section in order to be able to move on. I can look back at my life now and those things that I had no idea why I was doing them or learning matter. At the interview-you’re looking for the job after this one.
Like Sam we want to skip steps, but there’s something important that we may need to learn in this step. I think some of the smartest companies are the ones that make you do everything before you can move up. So that way you have a better understanding.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t do our best. Great people do the small things well. We should be doing our best for God’s glory and not our own. Our desire to be known or noticed should not be driven from selfish motivations, but rather selfless, like the scripture suggests as servants.
I think what it comes down to is are we being Childish or childlike? In the movie is Sam being childish? Of course-he wants the important job, but isn’t willing to work for it. He wants to feel important by saving the world. Being ordinary is not good enough.
It is easy to lose our eternal perspective and compete for promotions or status. It is difficult to identify with children-weak and dependent people with no status or influence.
The disciples were embarrassed to answer Jesus’ question. It is always painful to compare our motives with Christ’s. It’s only wrong when that ambition becomes sin. Why do you want that status? What’s at the heart of it? Is it greed? Or is it because you are serving Christ to your utmost?
Conclusion
So this morning may we learn from the lesson of Transformers 3 and the plight of Mr. Sam Whitwicky that in order to be the greatest we must be the least.
Transformers Dark of the Moon
Intro
Let’s face it, as much as we may complain about it, we are fascinated by celebrities. And these days celebrity is a pretty diverse word.
Top Lists-Sexiest, Richest, Beautiful,
7 of the top 10 searches from 2009 & 2010 were celebrities
A big hit in the last few years was Rockstar by Nickelback-we all just want to be big rock stars
The people featured in video hits on Youtube will be on the national news.
And this desire for celebrity can even affect our attitude about church…we want to be a famous church, we want to build new facilities, we may even envy churches like Lifechurch.tv…
Our movie example today is no different. We’ll be taking a look at Transformers 3. The first two Transformers grossed $1.5 billion worldwide and the 3rd one has already grossed over $700 million worldwide. Not too shabby for a movie about some alien robots that transform into vehicles and planes.
As we’ll see in the first clip on of the main characters Sam Whitwickey is struggling to find a job. In the first 2 movies Sam has worked closely with the Autobots, the good robots to save the world from the evil Decepticon robots. Sam has now completed college and of course his parents are giving him a hard time because 3 mos after graduation he still has been unable to find a job.
Show clip. You’re looking for the job after this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY46zXRlPks
In this second clip Sam has teamed up with the Autobots to once again try to save the world from the Decepticon attacks. He is meeting with some other human Autobot allies when his girlfriend comes home.
Show clip-I just want to matter-you matter to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCYTsUpNIoE
There is much truth in these scenes and as I watched this part of the story unfold I was reminded of a similar problem the early disciples faced.
Luke 9
46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”
What’s going on in the story?
Just before this argument Jesus had largely deflated the disciples’ hopes for glory and grandeur by emphasizing that he would suffer and die. So the disciples are left wondering about their own place in the Kingdom as much as they were wondering about Jesus’ role in the kingdom.
The answer Jesus gives is a long way from the disciples’ ideas of a Kingdom raised by revolution and apocalyptic triumph. They were ready to go to war with Jesus as their victorious King, leading them to conquest. I can imagine the young child, standing before them, grinning and simpering under the amused gaze of the thirteen men, hardly the warrior zealot they would have imagined as greatest in the Kingdom.
Don’t you see as Christians we have it all backwards.
The scene reflects the situation that has affected the church since Jesus was resurrected, namely the struggle for leadership and status that still continues to this day. Jesus flips our desire to be famous and #1 upside down and presents a child as the model.
To become like a little child is to humble oneself, giving up all pretensions of self-importance, independence, and self-reliance and turning in trust to the heavenly Father. The story is not for us to imitate children but rather take on a different understanding of status. As followers of Christ we are to abandon the quest for status.
In the movie Sam is obsessed with status. Several times throughout the movie he loses it because he wants people to know how important he is, that he saved the world, that he matters.
This idea that I have to do something big in order to matter. Because this movie doesn’t relate to any struggle we have ever had…we all just wanna be big rock stars…
Maybe we could look at it this way. Let me ask you a few questions.
Who saved Billy Graham? Who mentored Mother Teresa? Who impacted Rob Bell or Joel Olsteen or Beth Moore? Did those people who influenced these famous Christians matter? Were they great?
But we don’t their names so how can they be famous? How do you know you aren’t the person who is going to impact the next Christian who is going to something big for God? But if we are too busy looking to be famous for fame’s sake, we’ll miss the vision and plan that God has.
It’s important for us to take each step set before us. I believe God has a plan and we have to complete a section in order to be able to move on. I can look back at my life now and those things that I had no idea why I was doing them or learning matter. At the interview-you’re looking for the job after this one.
Like Sam we want to skip steps, but there’s something important that we may need to learn in this step. I think some of the smartest companies are the ones that make you do everything before you can move up. So that way you have a better understanding.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t do our best. Great people do the small things well. We should be doing our best for God’s glory and not our own. Our desire to be known or noticed should not be driven from selfish motivations, but rather selfless, like the scripture suggests as servants.
I think what it comes down to is are we being Childish or childlike? In the movie is Sam being childish? Of course-he wants the important job, but isn’t willing to work for it. He wants to feel important by saving the world. Being ordinary is not good enough.
It is easy to lose our eternal perspective and compete for promotions or status. It is difficult to identify with children-weak and dependent people with no status or influence.
The disciples were embarrassed to answer Jesus’ question. It is always painful to compare our motives with Christ’s. It’s only wrong when that ambition becomes sin. Why do you want that status? What’s at the heart of it? Is it greed? Or is it because you are serving Christ to your utmost?
Conclusion
So this morning may we learn from the lesson of Transformers 3 and the plight of Mr. Sam Whitwicky that in order to be the greatest we must be the least.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Super Summer Cinema Series Kung Fu Panda 2: Identity
071011
Kung Fu Panda 2: Identity
Super Summer Cinema Series
Super Sinema joke
This morning I want to focus on our identity.
Identity is a common struggle that we all face in one way or another. Whether it was deciding what you wanted to be when you grow up or mid life crisis or addiction or the what is my purpose crisis-whatever form it takes-the source of our identity can be difficult.
We look to all different things for our identity-
We see it as far back as the Genesis story
Women look to what for identity? Men or relationships
Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
And men? Their work
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life. Is today any different?
Our struggle to find identity in anything other than God always ends poorly.
The funny thing is that we see the same struggle in our society and of course the topic of movies. One great example is Kung Fu Panda 2, bet you didn’t expect that one.
Outline the story of the first Kung Fu Panda (from imdb.com)
Is the story about a lazy, irreverent slacker panda, named Po, who is the biggest fan of Kung Fu around...which doesn't exactly come in handy while working every day in his family's noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po's dreams become reality when he joins the world of Kung Fu and studies alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five -- Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey -- under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and it's up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master into reality? Po puts his heart - and his girth - into the task, and the unlikely hero ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.
Outline the story of Kung Fu Panda 2 (from Yahoo movies)
Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po's new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Po must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed
It’s his past that I want to go into first this morning. Thanks to Joyce for pointing this movie out to me.
Here’s the basic outline of what happens in Po’s infancy. (slide)
1) The evil leader orders all the baby Pandas to be killed
2) Po’s mother hides him in a basket.
3) Po is adopted.
4) Po helps defeat the evil ruler and free the people.
Does that look familiar?
What story is that from in the Bible?
At that point in Israel’s history, what was happening? It’s during the book Exodus. Israel is in Egypt as slaves and they are slowly losing who they are, so God sends Moses, a man with an identity crises. Moses was raised by the Egyptian slave drivers, enemy of the Israelites. And the one time we know about that he comes to the aid of one of his people the Israelites, Moses kills an Egyptian and then runs off.
And when God comes to him, does Moses go willingly? No, Moses ends up begging God to send someone else even after God addresses all Moses’ excuses. Does that sound like a man who knows who he is? And in the movie Po struggles with the same thing. Take a look at this clip.
Show clip-who are you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrrdiioCI4M
Just like in the movie, Moses’ life didn’t start out well. His ministry didn’t start well. He made excuses and asked God to send someone else. But with God’s help Moses made the choice and became a great leader.
Sometimes we too can allow the events of our past to dictate who we are. Those past pains and difficulties, those things definitely shape us, but we must not allow them to define us. Those things aren’t who we are.
It seems like there’s a scripture about what happens when we are in Christ. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?
2 Corinthians 5: 17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
And once we are a new creation it doesn’t prevent us from trying to make those other things our identity again. We are still tempted. Sometimes we make excuses to validate and sustain our false identity-my parents weren’t loving enough or were too loving, my parents were helicopter parents-always hovering around, I had a bad education, I was poor, I was rich, on and on-all excuses when we as Christians have a new identify by which we are defined.
Please don’t think I am trivializing past hurts and pains. Some of us need counseling in order to move forward in our relationship with God, but we must move forward. Take Jaycee Dugart for example-the woman who was kidnapped at age 11 and held hostage for 18 years.
I heard a great quote from Jaycee when asked about her joy of life and whether she held any rage or grudge, she said “He got 18 years, I’m not going to give him one more day.”
For me-when people find out my mom was killed-“I never knew.” Exactly because it doesn’t define me. That was a terrible thing that happened to all of us, but I refuse to allow that or anything other than my relationship with God to define me.
I love that scene in the movie-Who are you?
So how do we deal with those past pains and hurt, let’s take a look at another clip.
Show clip-scars heal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjZRlBqqXAA
Let’s break that scene down:
How did you find peace?
Our peace comes from God. We find peace in our new identity in Christ.
You have to let go of the things of the past.
We would say give them to God and forgive. And I would disagree, those things matter, they shape us into the person we are today and help us in our ministry with others.
The only thing that matters is who you choose to be now. We may not have had a great start, but it’s never too late to change the end of your story, it’s never too late to live the rest of your life for Christ. Who are you? Where do you find your identity in something from the world or in Christ?
Kung Fu Panda 2: Identity
Super Summer Cinema Series
Super Sinema joke
This morning I want to focus on our identity.
Identity is a common struggle that we all face in one way or another. Whether it was deciding what you wanted to be when you grow up or mid life crisis or addiction or the what is my purpose crisis-whatever form it takes-the source of our identity can be difficult.
We look to all different things for our identity-
We see it as far back as the Genesis story
Women look to what for identity? Men or relationships
Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
And men? Their work
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life. Is today any different?
Our struggle to find identity in anything other than God always ends poorly.
The funny thing is that we see the same struggle in our society and of course the topic of movies. One great example is Kung Fu Panda 2, bet you didn’t expect that one.
Outline the story of the first Kung Fu Panda (from imdb.com)
Is the story about a lazy, irreverent slacker panda, named Po, who is the biggest fan of Kung Fu around...which doesn't exactly come in handy while working every day in his family's noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po's dreams become reality when he joins the world of Kung Fu and studies alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five -- Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey -- under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and it's up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master into reality? Po puts his heart - and his girth - into the task, and the unlikely hero ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.
Outline the story of Kung Fu Panda 2 (from Yahoo movies)
Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po's new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Po must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed
It’s his past that I want to go into first this morning. Thanks to Joyce for pointing this movie out to me.
Here’s the basic outline of what happens in Po’s infancy. (slide)
1) The evil leader orders all the baby Pandas to be killed
2) Po’s mother hides him in a basket.
3) Po is adopted.
4) Po helps defeat the evil ruler and free the people.
Does that look familiar?
What story is that from in the Bible?
At that point in Israel’s history, what was happening? It’s during the book Exodus. Israel is in Egypt as slaves and they are slowly losing who they are, so God sends Moses, a man with an identity crises. Moses was raised by the Egyptian slave drivers, enemy of the Israelites. And the one time we know about that he comes to the aid of one of his people the Israelites, Moses kills an Egyptian and then runs off.
And when God comes to him, does Moses go willingly? No, Moses ends up begging God to send someone else even after God addresses all Moses’ excuses. Does that sound like a man who knows who he is? And in the movie Po struggles with the same thing. Take a look at this clip.
Show clip-who are you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrrdiioCI4M
Just like in the movie, Moses’ life didn’t start out well. His ministry didn’t start well. He made excuses and asked God to send someone else. But with God’s help Moses made the choice and became a great leader.
Sometimes we too can allow the events of our past to dictate who we are. Those past pains and difficulties, those things definitely shape us, but we must not allow them to define us. Those things aren’t who we are.
It seems like there’s a scripture about what happens when we are in Christ. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?
2 Corinthians 5: 17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
And once we are a new creation it doesn’t prevent us from trying to make those other things our identity again. We are still tempted. Sometimes we make excuses to validate and sustain our false identity-my parents weren’t loving enough or were too loving, my parents were helicopter parents-always hovering around, I had a bad education, I was poor, I was rich, on and on-all excuses when we as Christians have a new identify by which we are defined.
Please don’t think I am trivializing past hurts and pains. Some of us need counseling in order to move forward in our relationship with God, but we must move forward. Take Jaycee Dugart for example-the woman who was kidnapped at age 11 and held hostage for 18 years.
I heard a great quote from Jaycee when asked about her joy of life and whether she held any rage or grudge, she said “He got 18 years, I’m not going to give him one more day.”
For me-when people find out my mom was killed-“I never knew.” Exactly because it doesn’t define me. That was a terrible thing that happened to all of us, but I refuse to allow that or anything other than my relationship with God to define me.
I love that scene in the movie-Who are you?
So how do we deal with those past pains and hurt, let’s take a look at another clip.
Show clip-scars heal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjZRlBqqXAA
Let’s break that scene down:
How did you find peace?
Our peace comes from God. We find peace in our new identity in Christ.
You have to let go of the things of the past.
We would say give them to God and forgive. And I would disagree, those things matter, they shape us into the person we are today and help us in our ministry with others.
The only thing that matters is who you choose to be now. We may not have had a great start, but it’s never too late to change the end of your story, it’s never too late to live the rest of your life for Christ. Who are you? Where do you find your identity in something from the world or in Christ?
Super Summer Cinema Series With Us or Against Us? X-Men
070211
4th of July
Independence
X-Men
The 4th of July is tomorrow and everyone is getting ready. Even though there is a burn ban, people are flocking to the fireworks stands to light things made in China on fire to celebrate the independence of our nation.
I want to start this morning by watching a clip from the new X-Men movie. Remember that the X-Men are superheroes with supernatural abilities. Each person has a unique power or special ability unlike any other. In this scene the bad guy, played by Kevin Bacon is offering other mutants (as they’re called) to join him. Let’s take a look.
(watch clip)
How does the saying go again?
If you’re not with us you’re against us.
One time I was working out with my youth minister friend from the Methodist Church. He had been at his home church for almost 20 years by that point. I made some comment and he said something to me that I’ll never forget…and he said it sarcastically…yes, because we are in a competition. That really sunk in and I began to see ministry in a new way. We know that there are so many people out there that every church in El Reno could be completely packed and you would have to open up more churches to accommodate everyone…so why do we make those comment and put other religions as the punchline of our jokes?
We tell jokes about other religions and faiths, specifically other Christian denominations…
I myself am guilty of it…it’s the same if you’re not for us you’re against us ideal.
We may say it in all good fun, but is it really or is there some vindictiveness in those remarks?
Us v. them
We may not agree theologically, but what does the scripture say? Let’s take a look.
Mark 9
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
The disciples have the same mentality that we sometimes do…they don’t think like us or look like us or do things the same way.
The disciples were jealous of a man who healed in Jesus’ name because they were more concerned about their own group’s position than in helping to free those troubled by demons. We do the same today when we refuse to participate in worthy causes because 1) other people or groups are not affiliated with our denomination 2) these projects do not involve the kind of people with whom we feel most comfortable 3) others don’t do things the way we are used to doing things 4) our efforts won’t receive enough recognition. Our faith is important but should never be an excuse to avoid helping people in need.
And so what does Jesus say?
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
With us or against us mentality-is that one of love or hate?
What does that sound like? Prejudice?
Is there not room for both? What about grace & forgiveness,
It’s why I am involved in ministerial alliance and do my best to promote interchurch/interfaith interaction.
After all, Jesus says his followers will be known by there what? Love
Example-politics-Do we really believe that any of our elected or appointed officials want to see this nation fall? It may seem like it sometimes, but in my heart I believe they never intend to harm our nation. At worst it’s their greed and selfishness that get in the way.
And this mentality of us v. them definitely bleeds over in relationships between different faith and churches and worse yet even can be a cancer within churches. They are not against us…well sometimes…but all of us want to see God glorified. We want others to have a relationship with God. We want others to be a disciple of Jesus.
This week at camp, the kitchen workers were apparently church of Christ
Communion every day-this particular day was graham crackers and chocolate ganache
1) communion only on Sunday
2) baptism necessary for salvation
Did we agree, no. But as Christians we must not hold onto the us v. them mentality.
How can others know we are Christians by our love if we don’t even show love to fellow Christians-fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Take Rob Bell for example and his latest book Love Wins. Other Christians were attacking him personally and condemning him to hell. Some even refer to him as the anti-Christ. How do you think that looks to non-Christians? Would you want to be part of something like that if you were on the outside looking in? Would you want to find out more about that faith?
In the same book, Rob mentions several times that those focused on heaven and hell sometime and some place else focus less on heaven and hell here and now and vice versa-those focused on bring heaven to earth now focus less on heaven and hell sometime else, someplace else.
And in this passage, Jesus again stresses the importance of deeds and actions. The gift of a cup of water is a simple act of kindness. Jesus is always more interested in how we can be good to one another and do good for one another than in the particulars of those things which divide us.
And did you notice anything peculiar about v. 41?
41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
What does v. 41 seem to imply? Inclusivity
Mark’s emphasis is on the whoever-even those who do not make the specific Christian confession are accepted by God when they do acts of compassion. The disciples were focused on one man casting out demons who wasn’t part of the 12, but Jesus busts the gates ever wider.
Maybe as Christ’s followers we too can be known for our love and throw open wide the gates of hospitality and grace to those who are different from us, regardless of church, political affiliation, theological beliefs, or even sports team.
And so may you be a people that sheds the worlds view of us v. them and the ideal of you’re either with us or against us and instead embraces the Kingdom of God-whoever is not against us is for us.
4th of July
Independence
X-Men
The 4th of July is tomorrow and everyone is getting ready. Even though there is a burn ban, people are flocking to the fireworks stands to light things made in China on fire to celebrate the independence of our nation.
I want to start this morning by watching a clip from the new X-Men movie. Remember that the X-Men are superheroes with supernatural abilities. Each person has a unique power or special ability unlike any other. In this scene the bad guy, played by Kevin Bacon is offering other mutants (as they’re called) to join him. Let’s take a look.
(watch clip)
How does the saying go again?
If you’re not with us you’re against us.
One time I was working out with my youth minister friend from the Methodist Church. He had been at his home church for almost 20 years by that point. I made some comment and he said something to me that I’ll never forget…and he said it sarcastically…yes, because we are in a competition. That really sunk in and I began to see ministry in a new way. We know that there are so many people out there that every church in El Reno could be completely packed and you would have to open up more churches to accommodate everyone…so why do we make those comment and put other religions as the punchline of our jokes?
We tell jokes about other religions and faiths, specifically other Christian denominations…
I myself am guilty of it…it’s the same if you’re not for us you’re against us ideal.
We may say it in all good fun, but is it really or is there some vindictiveness in those remarks?
Us v. them
We may not agree theologically, but what does the scripture say? Let’s take a look.
Mark 9
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
The disciples have the same mentality that we sometimes do…they don’t think like us or look like us or do things the same way.
The disciples were jealous of a man who healed in Jesus’ name because they were more concerned about their own group’s position than in helping to free those troubled by demons. We do the same today when we refuse to participate in worthy causes because 1) other people or groups are not affiliated with our denomination 2) these projects do not involve the kind of people with whom we feel most comfortable 3) others don’t do things the way we are used to doing things 4) our efforts won’t receive enough recognition. Our faith is important but should never be an excuse to avoid helping people in need.
And so what does Jesus say?
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
With us or against us mentality-is that one of love or hate?
What does that sound like? Prejudice?
Is there not room for both? What about grace & forgiveness,
It’s why I am involved in ministerial alliance and do my best to promote interchurch/interfaith interaction.
After all, Jesus says his followers will be known by there what? Love
Example-politics-Do we really believe that any of our elected or appointed officials want to see this nation fall? It may seem like it sometimes, but in my heart I believe they never intend to harm our nation. At worst it’s their greed and selfishness that get in the way.
And this mentality of us v. them definitely bleeds over in relationships between different faith and churches and worse yet even can be a cancer within churches. They are not against us…well sometimes…but all of us want to see God glorified. We want others to have a relationship with God. We want others to be a disciple of Jesus.
This week at camp, the kitchen workers were apparently church of Christ
Communion every day-this particular day was graham crackers and chocolate ganache
1) communion only on Sunday
2) baptism necessary for salvation
Did we agree, no. But as Christians we must not hold onto the us v. them mentality.
How can others know we are Christians by our love if we don’t even show love to fellow Christians-fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Take Rob Bell for example and his latest book Love Wins. Other Christians were attacking him personally and condemning him to hell. Some even refer to him as the anti-Christ. How do you think that looks to non-Christians? Would you want to be part of something like that if you were on the outside looking in? Would you want to find out more about that faith?
In the same book, Rob mentions several times that those focused on heaven and hell sometime and some place else focus less on heaven and hell here and now and vice versa-those focused on bring heaven to earth now focus less on heaven and hell sometime else, someplace else.
And in this passage, Jesus again stresses the importance of deeds and actions. The gift of a cup of water is a simple act of kindness. Jesus is always more interested in how we can be good to one another and do good for one another than in the particulars of those things which divide us.
And did you notice anything peculiar about v. 41?
41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
What does v. 41 seem to imply? Inclusivity
Mark’s emphasis is on the whoever-even those who do not make the specific Christian confession are accepted by God when they do acts of compassion. The disciples were focused on one man casting out demons who wasn’t part of the 12, but Jesus busts the gates ever wider.
Maybe as Christ’s followers we too can be known for our love and throw open wide the gates of hospitality and grace to those who are different from us, regardless of church, political affiliation, theological beliefs, or even sports team.
And so may you be a people that sheds the worlds view of us v. them and the ideal of you’re either with us or against us and instead embraces the Kingdom of God-whoever is not against us is for us.
Super Summer Cinema Series Masks
062611
X-Men
Masks
Psalm 139
I brought something with me today. Now don’t get too scared when I put it on…
I had the opportunity to go with Max to the library this past week where he made this mask. The kids made all different kinds of masks-dogs, cats, and scary, like this one. And as they pretended to be different things, I couldn’t help think we do the same thing.
Day in and day out we wear different masks. The mask at work, the mask with friends, the mask with family, the mask when we play a sport-sometimes can be scary, the mask when we drive our car, maybe even a spiritual mask that we put on when we come to church or talk to God…even students have different masks. I actually remember in high school wearing several different masks.
And when we wear these different masks, sometimes we can lose sight of who we are. Sometimes we use the mask to cover pain and hurt. Sometimes we wear a mask to fit in because we think it’s easier or better to pretend we’re someone we’re not. We don’t like to stick out, we don’t like to be different.
In fact an entire industry has developed so that if we don’t like the way we look, we can literally put on a new mask. I’m not talking about plastic surgery that is necessary-like reconstructive, I’m talking about augmentation and vanity.
Nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2007, with the five most common surgeries being breast augmentation, liposuction, nasal surgery, eyelid surgery and abdominoplasty. Cosmetic surgery is a $2.2 billion business.
One can even become addicted to cosmetic surgery. Body dysmorphic disorder describes a person obsessed with going under the knife in order to achieve physical perfection.
Some take out loans for this purpose; one woman spent over $83,000 for 14 surgeries.
Why? Because the world says you look old, that wrinkles are bad so you should inject poison into your face or get implants? When you step back doesn’t it seem insane?
But God didn’t create us to wear masks. God didn’t put you specifically on this earth to be someone or something else.
There’s an amazing passage of scripture that helps me when I begin to feel lost and desire to blend in with everyone else.
Psalm 139-let’s take a look, staring in v. 7. Feel free to go back and read the entire Psalm, it’s one of my favorites.
Psalm 139
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths,[a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
This lends itself to the belief that God is omnipresent. Omnipresent is a big church word for God is present everywhere. Did we really need a big word to say that? We know that. We know that God isn’t just here in this building. We can sense and feel God anywhere and everywhere. Because this is so, you can never be lost to God’s Spirit. This is good news to those who are lost, we can never be far from God’s comforting presence. When we are hiding behind the mask afraid to take it off, God is there to lean on.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
A lot of times we think we can go into the dark places or put those things hidden from everyone else deep within us. But as the Psalmist reminds us, there is no place too dark for God.
Here’s my favorite part…you may recognize this.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Inmost being-literally kidneys-Hebrew idion referring to an individual’s most intimate center of emotions and of moral sensitivity-that which God tests and examines when he searches a person.
God’s character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God’s Spirit is ready and willing to work within you. We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us.
There’s a great series of movies the X-Men that has created quite a franchise for itself. There’s 3 movies and a couple of spin offs. The X-Men have been around in comic book form since 1963. Surely you are at least somewhat familiar with them? Basically, it’s a group of superheroes that have what is called the X-Gene which gives them their super characteristics. They are known as mutants, for their mutated genes. Most recently they released a pre-quel. Let’s watch a clip from it.
You’re amazing
Clip
Sometimes we can see ourselves as mutants-different and ugly. We hide our pain, our insecurities, our true selves.
But God sees us differently. Show off what God has given you. Take off your mask and be the person God created you to be. When you pretend to be someone else, the world misses out on the beauty of you. God’s creation is lacking. Don’t be afraid to be who you are-warts and all.
May you not be afraid to take off your mask and may you live as a person who knows they are fearfully and wonderfully made.
X-Men
Masks
Psalm 139
I brought something with me today. Now don’t get too scared when I put it on…
I had the opportunity to go with Max to the library this past week where he made this mask. The kids made all different kinds of masks-dogs, cats, and scary, like this one. And as they pretended to be different things, I couldn’t help think we do the same thing.
Day in and day out we wear different masks. The mask at work, the mask with friends, the mask with family, the mask when we play a sport-sometimes can be scary, the mask when we drive our car, maybe even a spiritual mask that we put on when we come to church or talk to God…even students have different masks. I actually remember in high school wearing several different masks.
And when we wear these different masks, sometimes we can lose sight of who we are. Sometimes we use the mask to cover pain and hurt. Sometimes we wear a mask to fit in because we think it’s easier or better to pretend we’re someone we’re not. We don’t like to stick out, we don’t like to be different.
In fact an entire industry has developed so that if we don’t like the way we look, we can literally put on a new mask. I’m not talking about plastic surgery that is necessary-like reconstructive, I’m talking about augmentation and vanity.
Nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2007, with the five most common surgeries being breast augmentation, liposuction, nasal surgery, eyelid surgery and abdominoplasty. Cosmetic surgery is a $2.2 billion business.
One can even become addicted to cosmetic surgery. Body dysmorphic disorder describes a person obsessed with going under the knife in order to achieve physical perfection.
Some take out loans for this purpose; one woman spent over $83,000 for 14 surgeries.
Why? Because the world says you look old, that wrinkles are bad so you should inject poison into your face or get implants? When you step back doesn’t it seem insane?
But God didn’t create us to wear masks. God didn’t put you specifically on this earth to be someone or something else.
There’s an amazing passage of scripture that helps me when I begin to feel lost and desire to blend in with everyone else.
Psalm 139-let’s take a look, staring in v. 7. Feel free to go back and read the entire Psalm, it’s one of my favorites.
Psalm 139
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths,[a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
This lends itself to the belief that God is omnipresent. Omnipresent is a big church word for God is present everywhere. Did we really need a big word to say that? We know that. We know that God isn’t just here in this building. We can sense and feel God anywhere and everywhere. Because this is so, you can never be lost to God’s Spirit. This is good news to those who are lost, we can never be far from God’s comforting presence. When we are hiding behind the mask afraid to take it off, God is there to lean on.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
A lot of times we think we can go into the dark places or put those things hidden from everyone else deep within us. But as the Psalmist reminds us, there is no place too dark for God.
Here’s my favorite part…you may recognize this.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Inmost being-literally kidneys-Hebrew idion referring to an individual’s most intimate center of emotions and of moral sensitivity-that which God tests and examines when he searches a person.
God’s character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God’s Spirit is ready and willing to work within you. We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us.
There’s a great series of movies the X-Men that has created quite a franchise for itself. There’s 3 movies and a couple of spin offs. The X-Men have been around in comic book form since 1963. Surely you are at least somewhat familiar with them? Basically, it’s a group of superheroes that have what is called the X-Gene which gives them their super characteristics. They are known as mutants, for their mutated genes. Most recently they released a pre-quel. Let’s watch a clip from it.
You’re amazing
Clip
Sometimes we can see ourselves as mutants-different and ugly. We hide our pain, our insecurities, our true selves.
But God sees us differently. Show off what God has given you. Take off your mask and be the person God created you to be. When you pretend to be someone else, the world misses out on the beauty of you. God’s creation is lacking. Don’t be afraid to be who you are-warts and all.
May you not be afraid to take off your mask and may you live as a person who knows they are fearfully and wonderfully made.
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