Thou Shalt Not Judge. . . . .

We have been talking to the kids about the parable Jesus tells about the speck of sawdust in their friend's eye and the plank in their own. I have a hard time with this one, not when it comes to eternal salvation, but rather to what kind of movies someone likes. I'm sorry, but when someone tells me that they liked Tranformers or G.I. Joe or The Rock or any Nicholas Cage movie other than Raising Arizona, something internally whelms up inside of me and I begin to think that maybe they have difficulties understanding basic concepts of a story line or of cinema in general. Maybe it was a first date with a real special girl and they have fond memories of the event that is displaced onto the actual film. Or maybe, there is another movie with the same title that is really good and I just missed it.

I actually take it one step further and begin to ask these people which movies they recommend and then don't go see or rent them.

So, in the spirit of full disclosure, here is a list I put together of my favorite movies. It is in alphabetical order, so don't read too much into it. Some probably aren't "Oscar worthy," I just enjoyed them. Some would be mediocre but the ending almost makes me cry (Hoosiers), others I grew up with so are possibly inflated (Empire Strikes Back, Back to the Future, Karate Kid). Some are rated R and are pretty vulgar (The Big Lebowski, Goodfellas), but that doesn't make them bad films. While others I watch with my kids (Kung Fu Panda, The Incredibles, Gladiator - just kidding). I have probably forgotten a few, I will add them if I think of them. Feel free to make comments and judge me, unless it is about my salvation, then I think you need to read Matthew 7:1-5.

• Back to the Future
• The Big Lebowski
  
• The Bourne Identity
• Braveheart
• Cinderella Man
• Dances with Wolves
• Empire Strikes Back
• Forrest Gump
• Gandhi
• Gladiator
• Goodfellas
• Good Will Hunting
• Gran Torino
• Hoosiers
• Indiana Jones and The Raiders of the Lost Ark
• The Incredibles
• Karate Kid
• Kung Fu Panda
• Lord of the Rings
• The Matrix
• Momento
  
• Open Range
• The Pianist
• The Princess Bride
• Saving Private Ryan
• Shawshank Redemption
• Stand by Me

Polycarp

Amazing video about the story of one of the early christian martyrs. I can only pray that I attain the faith of this disciple.

Food that costs you nothin'

“Is anyone thirsty?
Come and drink—
even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
it’s all free!
Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
You will enjoy the finest food.

Isaiah 55:1-2

Migrants in this World

I find it interesting that many evangelicals will go to Mexico to "serve" the poor by building schools, building homes, handing out candy and running impromptu Vacation Bible Schools, but when those same folks who they are serving cross the border, they look at them with disgust, dust off the conservative rhetoric and line-up with the others to solidify this country's borders with patriotic fever. Peter calls disciples of Jesus "temporary residents and foreigners." We are all immigrants, our home is not here, from the Kingdom perspective we have more in common with the illegal immigrant who knows Jesus than the red-blooded American neighbor next door who doesn't. How many of us live this way? Do our loyalty's lie with our nation or our Kingdom? Are we using our worldly eyes or our Kingdom eyes when we look at issues that face us each day?

"Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself and enemy of God." (James 4:4)

In light of the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan recorded in Luke 10: How does God expect us to treat immigrants, foreigners, and migrants?