“SING PRAISES TO THE LORD, O YOU HIS SAINTS,
AND GIVE THANKS TO HIS HOLY NAME.
FOR HIS ANGER IS BUT FOR A MOMENT,
AND HIS FAVOUR IS FOR A LIFETIME.WEEPING MAY TARRY FOR THE NIGHT,
BUT JOY COMES WITH THE MORNING.”
PSALM 30 VERSES 4 AND 5
Courageous,
So, 1 week after its release, the Christian world is abuzz with talk about Sherwood Productions’ latest film, Courageous.
Adding to the successes of Flywheel, Facing the Giants and Fireproof, the newest addition faces up to the big issue of Christian fatherhood. Arguably Courageous is by far the best production to date; better filming, a large cast and another Bible-bashing script all add up to the overall effect.
The rough format of each film is as follows:
- Flywheel: The Gospel/conversion, repentance, living for God and not mammon.
- Facing the Giants: Doing everything for the glory of God, being faithful.
- Fireproof: The Gospel/conversion, the genesis and purpose of marriage, loving like Christ did.
- Courageous: Trusting God through trials, Christian Fatherhood.
Courageous tells the story of 4 Sheriff office Deputies- and an unlikely friend- as they discover Christ’s power both for forgiveness and also transformation. Each person learns that fatherhood is not a matter of ‘being good enough’ but a matter of representing and honouring God in the home.
Doubtless the films are not perfect and make some theological mistakes, but I, for one, don’t want to bash an honest attempt at spreading the gospel and encouraging Christians to face up to their responsibilities.
I would encourage you to watch the credits at the end of the film: it is rare to see ‘Prayer Coordinator’ on the acknowledgements of a major movie! Other good credits include: ‘Sunday School Classes that donated towards Catering’ and ‘To God be the Glory!’
Courageous is a good, entertaining film, free of swearing, blasphemy and lust, and yet still filled with fun and humour: a rare find today. But on top of the entertainment factor, both non-Christians and Christians will find this a challenging film which points towards the Bible.
C4M: Coalition for Marriage
http://minibakey.blogspot.com/2012/02/coalition-for-marriage-c4m.html
Petition slips have been frequenting many Churches on behalf of God-ordained Marriage. The British Government intends to ‘re-define’ marriage to allow homosexual couples to register. Prominent voices have expressed their disgust at the attempts of Churches to stop this change, despite the very definition, purpose and origins of marriage being found in the Bible!
Alongside written petitions the online system has been ticking away since my above blog post (where the count had reached 24,000) and now has reached the lofty heights of 114,828 signatories. Lets be thankful for the response of Bible-believing Christians through C4M, while remembering that our God is supreme over all Governments and authorities and holds the votes of MPs in his hands!
‘Sinners in the Hands of an angry God.’
Jonathan Edwards is well known for many of his sermons, ‘Sinners in the hands of an angry God’ not being the least! One wonders how Edwards would have viewed the preaching of Rob Bell! It is easy to forget the seriousness of our sin and God’s just and righteous hatred of all the wickedness and rebellion of mankind. Here is a quote from Edward’s sermon:
“The God that holds you over the pit of Hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect, over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked; his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times so abominable in his eyes as the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince: and yet ‘tis nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment: ‘Tis to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to Hell last night….”
When we forget the seriousness of our sin against God, we cannot even begin to imagine the vast depths of the love which God shows in granting us forgiveness, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cruel cross.
Thank God that Christ cried “It is finished”. No longer does the Lord demand payment from us for our rebellion and iniquities!
“FOR THE WORD OF THE CROSS IS FOLLY TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING,
BUT TO US WHO ARE BEING SAVED IT IS THE POWER OF GOD!”1 Corinthians 1 verse 18
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