Month: March 2014

Noah (Review)

*Warning contains spoilers*

But I mean if you read the book you know what happens anyways.

So I was really, really excited for this film. It just missed the mark on a lot of things.

You can read my other post on how Christians can use this movie here.

A lot of stuff in the movie came from the bible but how the director used it wasn’t biblically accurate but we’ll explain it.

I’m not a bible scholar, but I do read the bible, so if there’s more to it please feel free to add comments and we can discuss it.

The Watchers
When we were first introduced to these creatures my first thought was “there were no Transformers in the bible!” But my bible scholar of a wife (masters in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary…she’s a smarty pants) informed me that these could be their interpretation of the Nephilim. The movie portrays it as certain angels felt bad for Adam and Eve so they went to help them and God cursed them once they hit the ground to become these rock creatures that were giants compared to men.
There’s 2 things here. First the angels didn’t feel bad for Adam and Eve. The angels that fell followed Satan in rebellion against God (Revelation 12). The Nephilim were creatures that came to be when the sons of God had relations with women. Their offspring were the Nephilim (Gen 6)
Also please visit Answers In Genesis for more info on them.
There are different views on the Nephilim.

Noah’s dad was murdered by Tubal-cain
Just by looking at Genesis 5:30 it says Lamech (Noah’s dad) lived 777 years and he died. Maybe. Doubtful. Who knows. Biblically, Tubal-cain was a person that forged bronze and iron (Gen 4:22) so to use him as a villain that was industrial was pretty cool, but not accurate because the bible doesn’t have him attacking Noah and getting on the boat.

Noah received advice from Methuselah
Nope not in there. Yes he is the grandfather (Gen 5:27)

Shem had a wife
Yep. She got to go on the boat. But so did Ham and Japheth (Gen 7:7)

The flood
Nailed it. Good job.

The raven
Nailed it. (Gen 8:7)

The dove and the olive branch
Nailed it. (Gen 8:11)

Noah gets drunk
Of course Hollywood gets this right. I’m amazed at how many people that hear Noah’s story don’t know about this part. After the flood Noah makes a vineyard, indulges in the wine, becomes drunk, gets naked (Gen 9:20-21). If it ain’t broke don’t fix it I guess.

Ham is kind of a selfish jerk
Yep. Genesis 9:22. Every time Ham was on the screen I wanted to punch him in the face.

Noah wanted to kill Shem’s wife children

Nope. Not even close.

My take away

I wasn’t thrilled with the movie. In fact, immediately after the film was over I posted my thoughts on it. But now that I think about it…

I actually somewhat enjoyed the movie. The emotional turmoil that Noah went through, shown as he sitting in the ark listening to the screams of the people’s pain and torment. Because God hasn’t said anything to him that he thinks he needs to kill his daughter in law’s new born children. This was really captured well by the director and the acting of Russell Crowe.

All in all, looking purely on entertainment alone I’d give the movie 3.5 out 5. Don’t go expecting to get a pure biblical perspective from this movie, but like I said use this as a way of evangelism to a friend, neighbor, or co-worker. It can lead to a great discussion, just make sure you’re caught on the story of Noah.

The Book is Better

I will go see Noah In fact, I’ve been uber excited about this movie ever since I first saw a trailer for it. The story of Noah is one of my favorites along with David v. Goliath and Samson who killed 1000 men with the jaw bone of a donkey.

Oh and Jesus of course…

But there’s been a lot of talk and a lot of debate whether Christians should support this movie.

Now this movie is coming fresh off the heels of Son of God, a movie I did not see not by choice but because it’s very difficult to find a babysitter for a 10 month old so that my wife and I can go on a date. People got in an uproar with that movie because the directors took “creative freedom” with it, but still told the basics of the story.

Same with Noah. They’re taking “creative freedom” but still telling the story. Click here for more info

Now I have a couple different reasons why I’ll be seeing Noah tomorrow night. Some reasons are me reasons (meaning I really don’t have to explain myself) and other reasons are more “religious” based.

What if we changed the story? Think about it. Let’s say we make this a more modern movie. Set it in the new era of the 2000’s. Make the main guy relatable, dumb, yet funny. Give him a good looking wife and some kids. Him and his family could live in a nice house in a nice part of town, and his life be pretty good.
Hasn’t this already happened?

Oh that’s right! It did. The movie was called Evan Almighty. I don’t recall people being upset about that?

Do people ever get story’s right? No. Case in point, whenever the Twilight or Hunger Games films came out what did people say?

“Oh it was really good bbbbuuuuuutttt…the book is better!”
Well people. Noah looks good. It has a lot of promise

Bbbbuuuuuutttt…the book is infinitely better.

What’s really important? In a world that promotes unbiblical themes; greed, lust, envy, murder, lying… Here’s a film that doesn’t. It’s a breath of fresh air.
Not only is it a breath of fresh air but it’s got big name actors like Russell Crowe and Anthony Hopkins. I couldn’t even try to name you the dude that played Jesus in Passion.

You can’t do that! As a Christian there’s times I’ve been told things that I can’t do. Not by unbelievers, but by fellow Christians. I remember once walking in the rec hall of my church with a hat on and a fellow member told me that I was in God’s house and I can’t wear a hat.
The music artists I listen to like Switchfoot, Lecrae, and Andy Mineo get told that they can’t rap about Jesus or put “secular beats” to lyrics about Jesus.

It reminds me of how Jesus was told he can’t do things like in Mark 3. But he did it anyways.

The director is an atheist!How could I possibly support someone so against God? Aren’t you worried that the rapture could happen and because you’re seeing this movie it automatically makes you go straight to hell? Won’t you…

Shhhh… That stuff doesn’t matter to me. You’re missing God’s bigger picture.

Something in the heart of this self proclaimed atheist…
This unbeliever or our creator…
This heathen…
Wanted to create a biblical story for the big screen and it’s been done.

What you miss out on, is that

God

Can

Do

Anything

He

Wants!

For that I’m excited, and thankful. That people that don’t know God have an opportunity to learn about God.

If you’re so worried about this film then I ask you to try this.

The story of Noah is just a paint stroke in the bigger painting that leads us to reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ.
That coworker, that friend, that colleague that doesn’t believe. Offer to take them out. Your treat. Love them by treating them. Afterwards have a discussion about what that bigger picture is.
The creation, the fall, the redemption, and the restoration is the full story. Here’s your opportunity.

Creamy Crack

Oh? The local frozen yogurt got a new flavor called creamy crack?

Not quite.

You see there’s this form of bullying between women of color. I had no idea that this was a thing until I met my wife. She used to get a perm, or relaxer, to get her straight because

  1. she enjoyed it
  2. it made her feel pretty
  3. she can do whatever she wants

Then she met some people that were “natural nazis,” (her words not mine) and that mixed with other aspects of life she changed her hair to become more natural.

I would occasionally tease her when she would be talking to her other natural friends (the nice ones) saying that she was plotting against those who enjoyed the creamy crack.

Why am I writing about natural vs perm?

Because tonight I became team creamy crack.

I’ve never been happy with a haircut. When I would go get a haircut I would be very passive and say “Yeah it looks great.” Then get home and shave my head because I wasn’t happy. That plus I really only paid $8 for a haircut.

For the first time in a while I can actually say that I’m happy with how my hair turned out. The lady, Lena, did an awesome job and she said that she could add a cream to my hair to get it straight and make it look how I want.

That’s really what this is about. I added something to my hair to make it look how I want it to, which in turn makes me happy.

So for the women out there that feel like they’re being bullied/harassed/excluded because you’re on that creamy crack…

Tell em’ to buzz off.

#TeamCreamyCrack

 

Pushing On A Pull Door

We are tired. Worn. Exhausted.

Every day it seems as it’s another uphill battle that just can’t be won. We do all this work for the outbox and the inbox is piling up 3 times faster. It’s a struggle and I’m trying to see the light at the end but the darkness is thick.

“If I could just…”

“Maybe when I…”

“If I had…”

These tend to be the themes and hypotheticals I play over and over in my head as if it was a song I put on repeat. And not even a good song. Life becomes about pushing on a pull door. I’m trying to exit and it’s another stumbling block put in to play. But I’m reminded in Psalms 23.

The Lord is MY shepherd. I have everything that I need. He lets me rest in meadows and leads me along the peaceful streams. While I walk in the valleys I know that he is with me. And I love this quote I heard recently;

Grass doesn’t grow on the mountain tops. It grows in the valleys.

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12

We Can’t Make It To The Next Life.

How many times have you heard “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle?”
Or a song like “I might let you bend, but I won’t let you break.”
For me personally when I hear those phrases…I cringe. In my life there have been times where I’ve been at absolute-beat up-banged up-down and out-nothing left-rock bottom. Completely broken and helpless. In that moment of my life I had nothing.
So I wondered…is it true that God DOES NOT give you more than you can handle? (Because I beg to differ)

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Now that looks at temptation…not pain…two very different things. This is the verse that people misquote constantly.
If we look to Job, here’s a man that lost every thing he had (Job 1). Oxen, sheep, camels, donkeys, servants, and his children, in a blink of an eye, were gone. And it wasn’t God that did this. It was Satan BUT only with PERMISSION from God (Job 1:12).
Another example would be Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. In Matthew 26:39 …And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
In other words, “I don’t choose this. I don’t want this. It would be nice if something else could happen, but if not then I will stay faithful to your ways.”

So yeah God, does let more than we can handle. God does allow things to happen. It’s a reminder of the fact that we can’t make it through this life, or make it to the next life without Jesus. I once heard of a story about a boy and his father on a hunting trip. The boy was upset that bad stuff happens to good people. The dad pointed over to a dead animal carcass and asked “do we shoot at that?” The boy replied, “no it’s dead.” The father said “Neither does Satan.”

A final thought I leave you with is from James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.

Love Thy Neighbor

Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?” He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?” He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.” Luke 10:25-27

Love God…check. Love my neighbor…not so much.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am probably the opposite of this guy. He’s wanting to know what defines a neighbor and I’m all like I’m going to help every one I can…except for my actual neighbor.

You can look at this text literally or figuratively. I’ve got the figurative part down. If I drive past a homeless person, I usually have an extra water bottle for them. Or, I can give some spare change that’s just going to sit in my car cup holder that is just going to get nasty anyways. You’re broke down or ran out of gas? Yep, did that deed. Volunteer at my church in serving others? Check. Set up a bible study and devotional at a Starbucks? Nailed it.

But ask me the name of the people that live below me… Literally, I walk down 15 steps and I’m at their front door. What do they do? Well I know it’s a dude, his lady friend, and a kid. I know they drive a grey/tannish Ford Mustang. Other than that, not a clue in the world.

This has been bothering me for some time now. For me to get up the strength and energy and courage to take a 3 second trip out my door to theirs and ask them over for coffee or dinner or anything else. We worry about so much other stuff in this world and yet I’m sure I’m not the only one that has no idea about the people that live below them or above them or next door or however else.

It’s Official!

Welcome, and thank you for taking this journey with me! I’ve finally taken the next steps into becoming…

*drum roll please*

A semi-professional author!

You’re looking at the new site (but old) and officially popping the champagne with me for the mess of me blog.

Enjoy, as I continue on this exciting journey of how I’m taking the mess of me and turning it into the message of him!

I’m also on twitter @messofmeblog so feel free to join me on there as well…

 

Thanks again for those who have been reading this since I started and welcome all new friends!

Matt