Archive for the 'movies' Category

The Cruciform Church

Published
by
Mike
on September 25, 2007
in Books, Church of Christ and movies
. 32 Comments

Have you seen the movie “Jesus Camp?” Scary! It’s worth watching. Would be good for us to talk about as we seek to think through our identity as people of God.

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Here’s my foreword to the new edition of Leonard Allen’s The Cruciform Church:


The Cruciform Church is one of the most formative books of my Christian life. It’s a pleasure to write a foreword for this new edition. In some ways I feel like I’ve written many forewords over the past sixteen years (since it was first published) as I’ve encouraged many young ministers and university students to read it.

When I first read the book, it felt like Leonard Allen had just flipped through the photo albums of my spiritual family, guiding me, enlightening me, and encouraging me. He provided just what I needed: deep appreciation for the strengths of this heritage but honest description and evaluation of ways in which the “movement” got off course.

So helpful was it that I’ve been known to tell people that in my humble opinion it’s the most important book written about Christian faith and discipleship from within Churches of Christ in my lifetime.

Thanks to Leonard’s book, the word “cruciform” entered the central vocabulary in Churches of Christ. He helped us see that the death of Jesus is so much more than just the sacrifice for our sins (though, thank God, it certainly is that!). The cross of Jesus is the claiming of a new creation; it is the reconciling of all things to God; and it is the Jesus-style of living, the laying down of one’s life for the world.

In his original preface, Leonard said that some encouraged him to omit the word “cruciform” because it was too unfamiliar. But he kept it, he wrote, “in hope that this image might become the dominant image by which Churches of Christ speak of identifying the New Testament Church.”

Though sixteen years have passed, The Cruciform Church is, if anything, even more relevant today. We live in a consumeristic society – an environment that has spilled over into Western churches. We are constantly tempted to be providers of goods and services to draw the already-convinced rather than outposts for the mission of Christ.

The word I hear a lot now to describe the need to lean against this consumerism is “missional.” We are called to participate in the rule of Christ as his hands, his feet, and his voices in this world. We are to remember that we’ve been blessed to be a blessing to others. This powerful book really anticipated that perspective, calling on the church to be cross-shaped in its identity and mission.

We also need to hear again Leonard’s call to live as aliens in this world, remembering that our citizenship is in heaven. Too many Christ-followers are filled with anger, feeling snubbed by the world for not receiving privileged treatments. But we follow one who for the joy before him endured the cross (Heb. 12:1-3).

On a personal note, I write from a very different place now than I would have in 1990. At that time Leonard Allen was a respected professor and author—a scholar in every since—whom I didn’t know well. Since then he’s become my teacher, my spiritual guide, a member of the church where I preach, and, most importantly, my friend. I knew long ago the wisdom that came from his head; I now know that it comes from his heart.

Amazing Grace

Published
by
Mike
on February 22, 2007
in movies
. 31 Comments

Here is a note that my friend Darryl Tippens sent out:

I am enthusiastic about a new movie that will open on Friday. “Amazing Grace” is the story of William Wilberforce, the British Member of Parliament who succeeded in leading England to abolish slavery in the British Empire, long before the American Civil War. Wilberforce was a man of deep faith, a wonderful example of how the Gospel changes lives and improves society. In a time when we promote diversity, it’s important to remember it was Christian abolitionists like Wilberforce who brought slavery to an end. A particularly interesting detail of the film concerns the link between the familiar: a hymn “Amazing Grace,” written by John Newton, and the life and work of Wilberforce.

I hope you will share the news of this film with your friends, family, and students, and I hope you will see the film yourself. Incidentally, the producer of the film is Ken Wales, a good friend to many of us at Pepperdine. If you believe in positive, uplifting movies, this is one you will want to support.

At the following web address you can watch a trailer for the film, find theatre locations, and even download study materials appropriate for classes.

http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/

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Here again is the address for Pepperdine’s “Ascending Voice” conference in June. Darryl has made it clear that this is not an attack on the part of the Christian tradition that uses instrumental music; rather, it is a celebration of the a cappella heritage in many, many churches. (They’re discovering more all the time!)

I’ll be there if it doesn’t conflict with coaching baseball. First things first.

Renouncing Satan

Published
by
Mike
on August 2, 2006
in General and movies
. 9 Comments

It’s hard to forget the power of that scene near the end of “The Godfather.” Michael, serving as godfather for his sister’s firstborn, renounces Satan — just as his hitmen are carrying out murders of revenge on the heads of the other crime families. The juxtapostion of religious symbol and bloodshed is jarring.

But what a statement. The good that’s in us; the bad that is lurking.

Does that give us some perspective on these battles in the Middle East that won’t end?

Or, perhaps more importantly, does it offer any insight into yourself?

As someone has said, in baptism the “old man” is buried — but he refuses to drown.

Cars

Published
by
Mike
on June 20, 2006
in Baseball, family and movies
. 32 Comments

We caught “Cars” last Friday evening. While I’ve read some really bad reviews, it worked for us.

Maybe not quite “Toy Story” or “The Incredibles.” Maybe not even “Bug’s Life.” But Pixar is still creative and still knows how to add heart. The nostalgic longing for the Route-66 world, the emptiness of fame and success, and the deep joy of friends — that’s enough to carry this one for me.

If you go, be sure you don’t leave too early. The spoof on earlier Pixar films is worth the price of admission.

Great fun at Fenway last night (well, except for the three obscene, aggressive drunks behind us who had to be hauled off by security in the 8th inning while five rows of people sang “nah-nah-nah-nah, hey-hey, goodbye!”). Except for the luxury boxes, it looked like every single seat must have been taken. We thought we’d heard the crowd really loud until Manny hit one out — way out . . . probably on the roof of the Cask and Flagon — in the 8th.

The Evil Empire and Christianity . . . and Hit 1,000,000

Published
by
Mike
on June 15, 2006
in Baseball and movies
. 46 Comments

Bobby Ross, editor of the Christian Chronicle, asked me if one can be both a Christian and a Yankees fan. My answer can be found here.

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Check out this piece by N. T. Wright on “Women’s Service in the Church: The Biblical Basis.”

He says at the end:

I think I have said enough to show you where I think the evidence points. I believe we have seriously misread the relevant passages in the New Testament, no doubt not least through a long process of assumption, tradition, and all kinds of post-biblical and sub-biblical attitudes that have crept in to Christianity. Just as I think we need radically to change our traditional pictures of the afterlife, away from the mediaeval models and back to the biblical ones, so we need radically to change our traditional pictures both of what men and women are and how they relate to one another within the church and indeed of what the Bible says on this subject. I do wonder, sometimes, if those who present radical challenges to Christianity have been all the more eager to make out that the Bible says certain things about women, as an excuse for claiming that Christianity in general is a wicked thing and we ought to abandon it. Of course, there have been plenty of Christians who have given outsiders plenty of chances to make that sort of comment. But perhaps in our generation we have an opportunity to take a large step back in the right direction.

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Diane and I had a real, live date night Tuesday before the middle school boys returned from the Houston Impact trip. We went to see “Prairie Home Companion.” I’m guessing it won’t be on many Top 10 lists, but for those who’ve been listening to and reading Garrison Keillor for as long as we have, it was great. Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Lindsay Lohan, Tommy Lee Jones, John C. Reilly, Lily Tomlin, Virginia Madsen, Woody Harrelson, and, of course, GK.

Ebert and Cope give it “two thumbs up.”

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This is pretty arbitrary, because for a long time this blog didn’t have a counter. But after I dropped one on, it rolled over to 500,000 about 6 1/2 months ago (11/28/05). I sent the “lucky” 500,000th person a copy of Seeking a Lasting City signed by the authors (Doug Foster, Randy Harris, and Mark Love).

In a few days, the counter will hit 1,000,000. Any suggestions for a prize? Maybe signed photos of Foster, Harris, and Love in summerwear? (Do shorts and swim suits come in all black for Randy?)

All right — perhaps another book? I’m thinking maybe a signed copy of Pilgrim Heart (Darryl Tippens) or of the updated Cruciform Church (Leonard Allen). Maybe free registration to the fall Zoe Conference? (How about it, Eric?) Think outside the box.

The Da Vinci Code

Published
by
Mike
on May 17, 2006
in Books and movies
. 42 Comments

Yes, I read the novel. And yes, I thought it was well crafted.

But as one reviewer said (I think it was in Time Magazine about three years ago) — it’s well-written, but it’s one of the few novels that leaves you dumber after you read it than you were before you read it.

That’s because if you’re not careful you’ll start assuming that Dan Brown is dealing with well-documented facts. He’s not –despite the deceptive foreword.

Combine that with the eagerness on the part of so many people for secret, insiders’ information that has now wonderfully been revealed to them (an eagerness that has made several Christian novels popular, too!), and you can have some real problems.

However, having said that I don’t think this will undermine the Christian faith! Here’s what could happen:

First, believers could be forced to ask questions about why they believe what they believe. It would do lots of Christians good to consider the possibility that they may be wrong. This story of God coming in the flesh, living and teaching among a predominantly Jewish audience in the first century, dying on a cross, and being raised on the third day — well, it isn’t a scientific fact. It is a truth, a story, that we believe by faith. (Of course to “believe by faith” certainly doesn’t exclude the use of our reasoning abilities.)

Second, for nonbelievers it could lead them to investigate the Jesus story. They might find that they, too, have to decide something about this remarkable person named Jesus. They could decide that the Christian story is a hoax — that he really was just a man who got married and had kids. Or . . . they could have the experience of Paul — the experience of encountering the Risen One in a way that all of life turns on a dime.

At least this is what I hope will happen!

Friday, March 3

Published
by
Mike
on March 3, 2006
in food and movies
. 48 Comments

I love what’s happening at the Walden Media group, the ones who produced “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” Check out their website for films they have coming, including one based on the life of William Wilberforce. My buddy Darryl Tippens just heard Michael Flaherty, president of the company, speak and said he’s a seriously devoted Christ-follower.

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Meals are such a dance with two working parents. How do you provide dinners that are fairly healthy, fairly inexpensive, fairly easy, and fairly good?

Here are some of our secrets:

- Taco Tuesday at Rosa’s (all right, that probably doesn’t meet all four criteria–but it’s inexpensive, easy, and [two out of three of us believe] good!)

- Roasted whole chickens from the supermarket along with the “fresh” spinach salad-in-a-bag and a loaf of fresh bread

- The crock pot (Diane’s magic)

- The outdoor grill (my magic) along with sauteed vegies from the pre-cut fajita pack (HEB) or steamed brocolli, which we all three love

- Pasta with “homemade” marinara sauce–you know, the kind that was made in someone else’s home but is sold at the grocery store (we love the ones from Central Market)

- Fresh guacamole and chips–along with whatever leftovers you can find in the fridge

Some nights (think: Saturdays and school holidays) one of us has the time and energy–working around soccer, basketball, baseball, or football–to actually COOK a meal that looks like something from childhood. But whether the meal was thrown together quickly or put together slowly, we almost always slow down and eat together without the television on.

Last night we had “Steven Curtis Chapman” on–the first time we’ve listened to him in a long time. Still love his music.

Any other fairly quick/fairly inexpensive/fairly healthy/fairly good meal suggestions?

“Glory Road”

Published
by
Mike
on January 15, 2006
in justice and movies
. 7 Comments

The weekend before the Martin Luther King holiday was a fitting time to watch “Glory Road.”

It is, of course, a great sports movie. Josh, Chris, and I did all we could not to stand and yell for the guys from El Paso–even though we knew the outcome. Chris said he wanted to scream “he stepped out!” when Jo Jo White’s heel went out of bounds.

There is also the humor that we locals can appreciate when these young men are traveling through West Texas for the first time. One of them wants to borrow a quarter to call his mom so he can tell her he’s the first black man on the moon.

But the hard part is watching the horrible racism the team faced at home and as they traveled. There is a powerful scene where the black players are huddled together in a room trying to figure out whether Dr. King’s way (of nonviolence) is the right way.

I’m sure the vicious racism they received all over the country is accurate. Whether Coach Rupp’s racism (as depicted in the movie) is accurate or not, I just don’t know. I’ve read that in his forty years of coaching, he only recruited one African-American player to play at Kentucky and that was at the very end. But maybe all that means is that he missed an opportunity to be remembered as the guy who helped break the barrier.

It’s a good weekend to read again this essential speech from American history.

The Counterculture of Sleep

Published
by
Mike
on January 7, 2006
in General and movies
. 4 Comments

“How can followers of Christ be a counterculture for the common good?” That’s the question that Books and Culture, Christianity Today, and Leadership Journal are joining together to ask this year.

They’re inviting six creative Christian thinkers to answer the question. The first is Lauren Winner, the 29-year-old author of Girl Meets God and Real Sex.

Her answer to this significant question is about sleep. That’s right. We, as followers of Jesus Christ, can take sleep more seriously. You can find her essay here.

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Check out this review of King Kong by Deana Nall.

King Kong

Published
by
Mike
on December 30, 2005
in movies
. 14 Comments

By a 2-1 vote, we give “King Kong” a thumbs up. Diane, who isn’t that crazy about seeing people pursued and eaten by bugs, dinosaurs, and gorillas, couldn’t really get into it. I think she described it as three of the longer hours of her life.

However, Chris and I loved it. Chris loved it because he’s a seventh grade boy; I loved it because I was sitting next to him and he loved it. (Plus, there is still a little bit of seventh grade boy in me.)

Afterward, he said, “You know, I’ve never seen Jurassic Park.” So the last couple nights, he and I watched it together. Near the end last night he said, “I think this is about the best movie I’ve ever seen.” (The ABOUT is important, of course, because of the privileged place given to all three LOTR movies.)

He’ll become more and more independent, I know. But for now this is one of my life’s great joys: he loves to play catch with me, to play one-on-one with me, to watch movies with me, to ride bikes with me, and to wrestle with me. Glory days that I’ll always cherish (even as I still cherish the same days in the past with his brother–who starts his rotations at Baylor next week).