This is the network of the Cross Tribe. Now is our time. If you have been keeping in touch with the events over the last few years, months, weeks, days... you should know that there may be a limited amount of time left for us to share the Gospel... at least without worrying about being intimidated and vilified.
Some people think the Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves. But you won't find this quoted in the Bible. In fact, it is not a biblical concept. The fact is that God helps those who can't help themselves. God helps those who see how radical their condition is, who recognize there is no way they can save their own souls.
The Bible tells the story of a man like this, a man who was in a very difficult state – a seemingly hopeless situation. I think it may even have been his utter helplessness that drew Jesus to him. He had been abandoned. He was a desperately lonely man, a man who, for all practical purposes, was an outcast.
Paralyzed for 38 years, he spent his days by a pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda, hoping for a miracle. All alone and in need, he was surrounded by people who were blind, lame and paralyzed. Each were waiting for the stirring of the water – believed to be the work of an angel – because the first one to step into the pool would be healed.
Perhaps the night before, this man had offered up a prayer to God. Maybe he prayed, "Lord, if you would just help me be the first one into the water when the angel stirs it up, I would be so grateful." Little did he realize that God himself would come in human form and give him far more than what he asked for. Instead of sending an angel to stir up the waters, God was about to stir up his life – not just physically, but – more importantly – spiritually. The Bible tells us that God is able to do above and beyond that which we could ask or think (see Ephesians 3:20). And that is what happened in this man's life.
The Bible says that "Jesus saw him lying there" (John 5:6 NIV). What I find interesting is that he wasn't the only person there at the pool. There were a lot of people. But we don't read that Jesus saw them. The Bible says that Jesus saw him. And that is important to realize, because when God looks into a crowd of people, he sees you. He sees you as an individual, just like he saw this man. In the midst of all this activity Jesus had time for an individual whom he knew by name.
Then Jesus asked him – and in a broad sense, all of us – a poignant question: "Do you want to get well?" (verse 6 NIV). Or to expand the question, "Do you want to change your life?" Jesus was essentially asking, "Are you willing to put yourself, just as you are, in my hands? Are you ready for me to do for you what you are unable to do for yourself?"
Now this may seem like a strange question. We might think, What kind of thing is that to ask a guy who is paralyzed and unable to move? Of course he wants to be made well. But not everyone wants to change. Not every drug addict wants to be free from the power of drugs. Not every immoral person wants to be a moral person. Not every person who has chosen a certain lifestyle wants to break free from it. So it is a valid question: Do you want to change your life?
I can't remember the last time I had two current movie recommendations to offer at the same time.
I told you last week about "The Book of Eli," an amazing new release starring Denzel Washington – the kind of movie one would never expect to come out of Hollywood. If you haven't yet seen it, do so. But remember, it is mega-violent and contains some very rough language and harsh scenes unsuitable for kids.
This week, I want to tell you about "The Blind Side," a movie for the whole family starring Sandra Bullock.
This one is the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless black teenager welcomed into a wealthy white Christian family.
What these two films have in common is a strong Christian worldview – not exactly considered part of Hollywood's formula for success.
Both are stories of faith in action – one fantasy, one very real.
"The Blind Side" is a feel-good movie all the way.
It's a story about the biblical admonition to care for orphans lived out by a mom and her family – and the joy and victory it brings not only to the young man, but to all those involved.
The movie is an adaptation of the 2006 book by Michael Lewis – "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game."
Michael Oher was born to a crack addict mother in Memphis in 1986. he had trouble in school, was bounced around in foster care and spent periods of his life before the age of 16 on the streets.
Through the intervention of other adults in his life, Oher is enrolled in a private Christian high school, where he continues to flounder as a student and still faces the challenges of poverty, alienation and learning problems.
This November, you'll get a hard-hitting football movie featuring no less than Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates and Tim McGraw. It's called The Blind Side, and it might be the Rudy of the new millenium.
When a high school student, operating under the perfect storm of being poor, wildly undereducated and badly out of shape, gets recruited by a major football program that grooms him into the exact opposite, his life will change forever. But will it change it for the better? Check out the trailer.
November is the perfect time of year for this kind of movie to hit because it so clearly wants to go for an Oscar run. But at the same time, it should prove accessible to anyone who watches it. Dust off your thesauruses--you'll need synonyms for "heart-warming" because EVERYONE'S going to call it that. But do you want your heart warmed? Or does this one leave you cold? Hit the comments section and tell us what you think. Thanks for watching!
The Blind Side Cast: Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, Kim Dickens, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Rhoda Griffis, Ray McKinnon, Lily Collins
The Blind Side movie trailer courtesy 20th Century Fox. The Blind Side open in US theaters November 20th, 2009. The Blind Side is directed by John Lee Hancock.
It's unusual for a newsman to offer up a diatribe on the sanctity of life.
Yet, today, as we mark the 37th anniversary of the most ill-conceived and most politicized Supreme Court decision in the history of our republic, I feel compelled to speak out again.
Any society, if it is to remain a self-governing, free and cohesive one, must have consensus on some foundational issues.
Our founders understood this. In fact, they knew well that slavery was an issue causing so much division within the early republic that it could well tear the nation apart – as it did in an internecine war that would be the bloodiest in which Americans ever fought.
From the beginning, however, there was a consensus on the sanctity of life.
It was written into the Declaration of Independence and, in a way, less directly, yet still clearly, into the Constitution of the United States.
Only when America began to lose its moral bearings did the idea that people had an inherent right to kill their unborn offspring and others who couldn't speak for themselves begin to emerge and even dominate our society.
Today, I am considered some kind of fanatic within my own profession because of my outspokenness about the sanctity of life.
Yet, child sacrifice, whether performed in the name of Baal or to the gods of feminism, political correctness, convenience or the "right to choose," is wrong, immoral, evil and sinful. It always was and it always will be.
On that principle, Americans need to rebuild a consensus.
Without some media support, that will be difficult.
It might surprise some that many of the greatest newspapers in America were founded on Christian principles. After the American Revolution, Christians dominated U.S. journalism, and their worldview characterized many major American newspapers. What was the largest circulation weekly in 1830? The New York Christian Advocate.
What were newspapers like in those days? Three-quarters of all material in papers at that time was religious, theological, ethical and devotional. And, in the early 19th century, New York City alone boasted 52 magazines and newspapers that called themselves Christian. Between 1825 and 1845, more than 100 cities and towns in America had explicitly Christian newspapers.
"If you are looking for an action-packed adventure movie that carries a powerful message and profound truth, I urge you to go see Denzel Washington's triumph."
It's called "The Book of Eli" and stars Denzel Washington.
In Hollywood high concept language, you might want to think of "Mad Max" meets "Raiders of the Lost Ark." But that wouldn't be doing it justice.
It's a hard movie to watch – dark, violent. It's not a movie for children. But its redemptive message couldn't be clearer or more needed for a time such as this.
The movie is set in the future, after an apocalyptic event or events leading to the destruction of organized society in America and the rest of the world. What's left after this somewhat mysterious disaster are marauding bands of criminals who prey on others, widespread cannibalism, drunkenness and pockets of communities with little sense of morality.
It seems after the "event," there was an effort to destroy all the world's Bibles. In their wisdom, world leaders deduced that it was this book that caused this plague to befall them.
One man, though, has a copy of the King James Bible and is given a mission by God to take it West. He is also promised that he will be protected in this quest.
The movie is about Eli's story and what he encounters on this trip.
I don't believe I have ever seen a more overtly Christian movie come out of Hollywood.
It shows what the world would be like devoid of God's Word, His law and the hope of salvation He offers. It shows what happens when the salt and light and truth are removed from the world. It shows the world in its most fallen state.
How a movie like this could even be made today is a mystery. One has to conclude it has much to do with Denzel Washington's own values and clout in the industry. He not only stars in the movie, he is one of the producers.
The overall theme is walking by faith, not by sight.
UPDATE 01/12/10 at 3:51 a.m.: I was not able to get the above video to work when I clicked on the PLAY button. If you are having the same problem, here is the direct link to the video: http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=0edec55cb25411422efd
It was the 201st decade since the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. It was a decade of wars. and very little peace. While there was the actual wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and every where else in the world that terrorists were able to strike, there has also been the virtual war for the hearts and minds of the masses. The battlefront has become youtube.com, facebook.com, twitter.com, and on the blogs. Between those two fronts, I opted for the cyber side of the war. It doesn't require blood, guts, and glory, but it does involve a lot of blood, sweat and tears.
My ultimate weapon of choice has been my work on youtube.com, along with this blog. That's right, uploading videos to youtube.com is a fantastic way to keep many people informed of all the things that are involved in the way this world is now headed. I don't even feel the need to expound in the video descriptions. I'll just let the videos speak for themselves.
I hope that the videos I tell you about today, that you'll see below, will show that not everything I think about has to do with politics.
December 21, 2009 - Has Anyone Told You? You are loved!
Jack and Rexella Van Impe provided me with the perfect video for this wonderful season to upload to this channel.
This will hopefully help remind you of the Reason for the Season.
December 23, 2009 - The spiritual surge in sports
It seems to me that in this segment, the spiritual surge in sports is being attacked. Or,is it just me?
December 24, 2009 - Best Church Choir In America - The Atlanta West Pentacostal Church Choir
This is absolutely sensational! They really are deserving of the honor of Best Church Choir In America as you will see - AND HEAR - in this video.
Thank you all for visiting my channel, TheREALjohnny2k. Please have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I love you all!
December 27, 2009 - "Onward Christian Athletes" - The problem with turning athletes into "heroes"
Who should be our heroes? This video brings up some interesting questions about athletes being heroes, and if some are expressing their Christian faith only when they win.
December 31, 2009 - About a Christmas Miracle - This will make you smile!
This video is about a great miracle. This happened just before the Northwestern Flight 253 miracle, where a bomb ddn't work, 278 people were sill alive, on Christmas day. Here are two more people that made it. God just wasn't quite ready for them to go home.
FAVORITE OF THE WEEK
Maybe it's because of the season. I chose this one to be my favorite of the week.
December 04, 2007 - Christmas Story - Steven Curtis Chapman - BluefishTV.
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