Another movie has come out based upon the life of Louis Zamparini entitled, Unbroken-Path to Redemption." Some of you may remember that Angelina Jolie directed a film called Unbroken back in 2014. Perhaps you read the book Unbroken by Pulitzer Prize winning author Laura Hillenbrand, which was on the New York Times Bestseller list for 108 weeks back in 2010. After all that, you may ask yourself why see this movie?
Here's why. Unbroken: Path To Redemption is a well-acted film depicting the power of Christ to transform a life. So few Christian movies ever make it to the big screen. As a result of that, Christians do not often get validation or mirroring of their lives through film. In Unbroken: Path to Redemption, you get all that and more. The film has a first rate cast and director who faithfully portrays this Christian story.
For those of you unfamiliar with this true story, Louis Zamparini was the child of Italian parents who moved to the United States. He was bullied as a child and then grew into a bully himself. His behavioral problems included smoking, drinking and stealing. He did not take correction well and even flattened a teachers' tire for trying to discipline him. He had set sail on a clear course for the Department of Corrections when something intervened. That was, his God-given talent to run.
Those close to him, including his older brother Pete, a caring police officer, and some pretty high school girls eventually influenced him to join the track team. The discipline and routine involved in this sport rerouted his time and energy to a more positive direction. He soon began to thrive. He was routinely winning races and was dubbed the "Torrance Tornado" by the local media. He set a high school track record with a 4:21:2 minute mile. His high school record was unbeaten for nineteen years.
Louis received a track scholarship to the University of Southern California and was even invited to join the 1936 United States Olympic Team. He was the youngest person on that team, finishing 8th in the Berlin Olympics with a sub-60 second final lap. His performance created a buzz suggesting he would compete in the next Olympics and win with a 4 minute mile. But the winds of war changed all that, and as with many a young life during wartime, Louis would never be the same.
He dropped out of college and joined the Air Force where he served as a bombardier in the South Pacific. He saw action and almost lost his life on many occasions including surviving a plane crash and being lost at sea for 47 days. The worst was yet to come. Louis Zamparini's raft drifted into Japanese territory. He and a fellow crewmate were taken as prisoners of war by the Japanese where they were subjected to cruel and sadistic treatment.
This movie begins in the period immediately following Louis' release from a Japanese prisoner of war camp. He struggles to return to a normal civilian life. As a result of dropping out of college to enlist in the Air Force, he had no clear career path, and he still had the dream of a future Olympic run. He was confused. However, the biggest struggle he had was the post traumatic stress disorder which consumed him. Even with love and support from both family and friends, Louis was full of anger and pain. He did not yet know the Lord, nor did he wish to (as our movie opens).
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a cruel thing. Louis had successfully survived torture, starvation and unimaginable deprivation. Yet, now safely returned to his country and family he began to relive those nightmare events. The movie passionately tells the story of how the Lord healed and redeemed him and gave new meaning and direction to his life. In so doing, every film goer is challenged to contemplate what God can do in their life. What do you need God to heal and redeem in your life? Go see this movie, I promise you won't be disappointed!
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Saturday, September 15, 2018
To Date Or Not To Date?
To date or not to date is an important question for any Christian single. The time to ask this question is before saying yes to the date. This is crucial if you want to stay on track in your walk with the Lord. The stakes are high. I have seen many a godly man or woman go down the rabbit hole of insanity when they step into the wrong relationship. Why does this happen?
One of the things that seem to universally apply to these situations is faulty thinking and confusion about what the Bible teaches on dating. Add to that, the powerful emotions that we can feel towards another person and we can essentially understand why this occurs so often. It is crucial that we anticipate these circumstances so that we are not controlled by our emotions and have a Christian road map before we start our dating journey.
Take Nicole* for example. She was at a good place in her life when she met Eric.* She attended a Church that she loved and had just started a catering business. Eric had visited her church with his good friend Jim,* from a Westchester, N.Y. kayaking club. Jim had a lot of struggles with his faith, where women were concerned. Although he read his bible everyday and attended worship regularly, he had struggled to change his sexual lifestyle after he had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Eric, voted for Bernie Saunders in the last United States Presidential election. He was raised by two thoroughly progressive Westchester parents who portrayed Christianity as extinct and unnecessary. He had literally never met a Christian in his life, one who admitted it anyway. That is until he met Jim. Jim was a successful businessman, kayaker and personable fellow. Eric liked the way that Jim took him under his wing and introduced him around the kayaking club. As a newcomer to the group, he could see that Jim was a sort of informal leader at that club.
Before long, they were fast friends. These men found that they had a lot in common. They liked similar cuisine, enjoyed the same hobbies and both had an eye for the ladies. So, it was quite a shock when Eric found out that Jim was a Christian. But shock eventually turned to curiosity and this caused Eric to accept an invitation to attend a church social. It was here that Eric met Nicole. Jim introduced them and it was an immediate and powerful connection for each of them. The proverbial love at first sight.
But, what does the Bible say about these things? The Bible has an array of stories depicting some wise and unwise love connections that were as instantly combustible as this. Think Samson and Delilah, or Jacob and Rachel. Without any commitment to God, Eric instantly decided that he would attend church next Sunday. He had to, just to see Nicole again. This continued for a short time until Eric got the courage to ask Nicole out on a date. Nicole instantly agreed without any surety of his commitment to God.
As she dressed for her date, she had a nervous feeling that Eric might not be a Christian. In their conversations at church coffee hour, she recalled that he had voiced many ambivalent feelings regarding the sermons that he had heard by Pastor Bob.* At first, she thought he was a new believer whom she wanted to encourage. But now, as she prepared for her date she wondered if she was just hoping that this was true because she wanted it to be true. Her mind wandered to the often quoted dating advice for Christians of not being unequally matched with an unbeliever.
She didn't have time to think any further because the doorbell was ringing and it was Eric. But what about this quote? In its entirety it reads: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?- 2 Corinthians 6:14-15. This passage has imagery and principles that begin to create a godly roadmap for dating.
Let me start by saying this passage does not preclude relationships by Christians with non-Christians. The emphasis is on the situations which may compromise our spiritual path as we choose to follow Jesus. Dating definitely qualifies as a situation where we will see cautionary road signs. In the first verse of 2 Corinthians 14 we see the imagery of animals who are tied together by a device placed around their neck. This device enables them to work together in the job of plowing a field. As we think of dating, it is paramount to recognize how we will be tied together with that person, just like two animals brought together to pull the plow.
Many a marriage dissolves because two people were not equally pulling their weight in situations, such as childrearing, finances or doing chores. When two people are Christians, it connects them to the truth of God's plan for a righteous relationship. The Word of God teaches us about a covenant love. A love that serves, that stays committed and works through the issues that will arise over time. We learn that God's love for us mirrors what our love for one another should be like. We are given the strength to live this out through the Holy Spirit.
When you date a non-Christian, the vision that each person has for that relationship will at some point diverge. It will be as if you are pulling that plow all by yourself. Maybe, your partner is just sitting down in the field, or decides that he wants to go in another direction. 2 Corinthians 6:14 notes that righteousness and lawlessness have nothing in common. Lawlessness is described in the Bible this way, all "sin is lawlessness"- 1 John 3:4. Your partner will eventually tempt you to do something which you know is a sin, because they are in the lawless state of unbelief.
Second Corinthians pulls no punches in its endeavor to warn us of the impending danger of dating outside of our faith when it asks, "what accord has Christ with Belial (Satan)?" While you may not think of your weekend date as Belial, (note: we are not Christ either), it dramatically portrays the different values that two people can bring to a union. Contemplate how impossible it would be for Christ and the Devil to work together and it may give you some idea of the lack of harmony which may occur.
As for Eric and Nicole, things didn't work out so great for them. Nicole could have saved herself a lot of heartache if she had just realized the help that the above scripture verses offered her and accepted the directive. Instead, she went down that rabbit hole of insanity and got caught in a maze of drama and pain. As time goes by, I hope that she learns from her mistake and realizes the wisdom of the Bible. I hope that we all do!
* the names are changed but the story is true.
One of the things that seem to universally apply to these situations is faulty thinking and confusion about what the Bible teaches on dating. Add to that, the powerful emotions that we can feel towards another person and we can essentially understand why this occurs so often. It is crucial that we anticipate these circumstances so that we are not controlled by our emotions and have a Christian road map before we start our dating journey.
Take Nicole* for example. She was at a good place in her life when she met Eric.* She attended a Church that she loved and had just started a catering business. Eric had visited her church with his good friend Jim,* from a Westchester, N.Y. kayaking club. Jim had a lot of struggles with his faith, where women were concerned. Although he read his bible everyday and attended worship regularly, he had struggled to change his sexual lifestyle after he had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Eric, voted for Bernie Saunders in the last United States Presidential election. He was raised by two thoroughly progressive Westchester parents who portrayed Christianity as extinct and unnecessary. He had literally never met a Christian in his life, one who admitted it anyway. That is until he met Jim. Jim was a successful businessman, kayaker and personable fellow. Eric liked the way that Jim took him under his wing and introduced him around the kayaking club. As a newcomer to the group, he could see that Jim was a sort of informal leader at that club.
Before long, they were fast friends. These men found that they had a lot in common. They liked similar cuisine, enjoyed the same hobbies and both had an eye for the ladies. So, it was quite a shock when Eric found out that Jim was a Christian. But shock eventually turned to curiosity and this caused Eric to accept an invitation to attend a church social. It was here that Eric met Nicole. Jim introduced them and it was an immediate and powerful connection for each of them. The proverbial love at first sight.
But, what does the Bible say about these things? The Bible has an array of stories depicting some wise and unwise love connections that were as instantly combustible as this. Think Samson and Delilah, or Jacob and Rachel. Without any commitment to God, Eric instantly decided that he would attend church next Sunday. He had to, just to see Nicole again. This continued for a short time until Eric got the courage to ask Nicole out on a date. Nicole instantly agreed without any surety of his commitment to God.
As she dressed for her date, she had a nervous feeling that Eric might not be a Christian. In their conversations at church coffee hour, she recalled that he had voiced many ambivalent feelings regarding the sermons that he had heard by Pastor Bob.* At first, she thought he was a new believer whom she wanted to encourage. But now, as she prepared for her date she wondered if she was just hoping that this was true because she wanted it to be true. Her mind wandered to the often quoted dating advice for Christians of not being unequally matched with an unbeliever.
She didn't have time to think any further because the doorbell was ringing and it was Eric. But what about this quote? In its entirety it reads: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?- 2 Corinthians 6:14-15. This passage has imagery and principles that begin to create a godly roadmap for dating.
Let me start by saying this passage does not preclude relationships by Christians with non-Christians. The emphasis is on the situations which may compromise our spiritual path as we choose to follow Jesus. Dating definitely qualifies as a situation where we will see cautionary road signs. In the first verse of 2 Corinthians 14 we see the imagery of animals who are tied together by a device placed around their neck. This device enables them to work together in the job of plowing a field. As we think of dating, it is paramount to recognize how we will be tied together with that person, just like two animals brought together to pull the plow.
Many a marriage dissolves because two people were not equally pulling their weight in situations, such as childrearing, finances or doing chores. When two people are Christians, it connects them to the truth of God's plan for a righteous relationship. The Word of God teaches us about a covenant love. A love that serves, that stays committed and works through the issues that will arise over time. We learn that God's love for us mirrors what our love for one another should be like. We are given the strength to live this out through the Holy Spirit.
When you date a non-Christian, the vision that each person has for that relationship will at some point diverge. It will be as if you are pulling that plow all by yourself. Maybe, your partner is just sitting down in the field, or decides that he wants to go in another direction. 2 Corinthians 6:14 notes that righteousness and lawlessness have nothing in common. Lawlessness is described in the Bible this way, all "sin is lawlessness"- 1 John 3:4. Your partner will eventually tempt you to do something which you know is a sin, because they are in the lawless state of unbelief.
Second Corinthians pulls no punches in its endeavor to warn us of the impending danger of dating outside of our faith when it asks, "what accord has Christ with Belial (Satan)?" While you may not think of your weekend date as Belial, (note: we are not Christ either), it dramatically portrays the different values that two people can bring to a union. Contemplate how impossible it would be for Christ and the Devil to work together and it may give you some idea of the lack of harmony which may occur.
As for Eric and Nicole, things didn't work out so great for them. Nicole could have saved herself a lot of heartache if she had just realized the help that the above scripture verses offered her and accepted the directive. Instead, she went down that rabbit hole of insanity and got caught in a maze of drama and pain. As time goes by, I hope that she learns from her mistake and realizes the wisdom of the Bible. I hope that we all do!
* the names are changed but the story is true.
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