Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Too Busy to Be Thankful

I can’t believe I’m seeing Christmas trees going up already. I must admit: it gives me a little bit of that humbug feeling. Seeing those trees makes me think of everything I have to do, like make extra purchases for parties and gift exchanges, and be on my best behavior around extended family and people I don’t see very often. The holidays are always a lot of extra work. Sadly, I’ve realized with Thanksgiving coming up this week . . . I’ve forgotten how to be thankful. I’m too busy.

Complaining comes easily. But you need a plan for thankfulness. Being thankful takes intentionality. Included below is encouragement for and examples of biblical gratitude. Read some of these verses to yourself, then pick a few and make time to read them with those you gather with for Thanksgiving.

Exhortations from the Bible to Be Thankful

“And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.“—Deuteronomy 8:10

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”—Psalm 100:4

“And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!”—Psalm 107:22

“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”—Colossians 1:12

“Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”—Colossians 2:7

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18

Examples of Thankfulness Shown in the Bible

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.”—Psalm 68:19

“At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.”—Psalm 119:62

“To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”—Daniel 2:23

“And he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks.”—Luke 17:16

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.“—1 Corinthians 15:58

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”—2 Corinthians 9:15

“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service . . .”—1 Timothy 1:12

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Movie Review: Risen

I know I’m not supposed to, but I have to admit it, I love a good fight. The new New Testament era movie Risen starts with a brilliant Roman era battle scene. This is where director Kevin Reynolds set the hook in me. The scene was not over done. It was a simple, believable depiction of a confrontation between rebels and Romans that made the conflict real rather than cinematic. This is how I knew I was in for a good yarn that would have the kind of tension we love to experience in a film done well.

In Risen, Joseph Fiennes plays Clavius, a high-ranking Roman Military Tribune serving directly under Pilate, the Roman governor who, against his better judgment, passed the death sentence on Jesus of Nazareth.

Clavius first comes in contact with Jesus after he is dead on a cross. In fact, it was Clavius, as our story’s narrative goes, that ordered Jesus to be run through with a spear rather than have his legs broken, ignorantly but importantly fulfilling prophecy. He also authorized Jesus’s body to be handed over to Joseph of Arimathea. At that point, Clavius thinks he is done with the man dubbed King of the Jews.

On the first day of the week, Clavius is summoned to Pilate’s quarters. The body of Jesus has disappeared from the guarded tomb and word is starting to spread that he has been seen alive. Clavius is tasked by Pilate to produce the corpse of Jesus to quell any potential uprising that could result from Jews looking for any reason to rally and rebel against the occupying Roman infiltrator. The tribune’s future is entwined with the political destiny of Pilate. Pilate’s future depends on the peace of Jerusalem which continually hangs in the balance.

The story fills in gaps in the New Testament gospels. Reynolds’ interpretation of events is believable when compared to what one reads in the Bible. There are guards paid off by religious leaders who have curried political clout. There are disciples in hiding. There is a repentant, yet well known harlot who has seen and touched the risen Jesus. We’re introduced to a doubting Thomas. We have the first Jesus I’ve ever seen cast that looks like an actual Jew rather than a chiseled, Western European super-model.

As Bible-based movies go, this is the first non-cheesy one worth seeing, in my opinion, since Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ. Hollywood has made the attempt to blow out theaters with big budget, special effects packed block-busters like Noah and Exodus: Gods and Kings and have mostly alienated people who read and believe their Bibles and left those indifferent about the Bible indifferent about these awkward interpretations.

Reynolds went in another direction with Risen. It was refreshingly free of special effects and computer generated landscapes. It relied on narrative and on-site cinematography that was stunning. And while the story is fiction, it honors the Bible by staying true to the textual narrative. It fills the movie-goer with the hope of resurrection and everlasting life. You really need to go see this movie on January 22, 2016, when it comes out. And bring a friend you’d like to see filled with hope.