The Next J.J. Abrams Movie

Donna and I enjoyed the new summer blockbuster movie Super 8 yesterday with our good friends Bud and Yo Plake. The movie is the brainchild of director J.J. Abrams, known for his smash hit television series Lost and last years reboot of the Star Trek series. We loved it for a lot of reasons, but mostly because of the obvious homage it pays to Abrams' childhood hero Steven Spielberg. The movie is set in the late 1970's so it immediately has a similar look to movies in Spielberg's early career that put him on the map: Films like Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and of course ET. The main characters in the new movie are kids - once again bringing to mind movies like ET and The Goonies (another movie that was produced by Spielberg early in his career). Then there's the fact that the movie is about an alien trying to get back home - uh, yeah - sounds familiar right? I think it's supposed to because again - this is really a tribute film - A film to honor the genius who inspired, not only J.J. Abrams, but an entire generation of young film makers. And it's a worthy effort - The movie smacks of Spielberg right down to the John Williams-esque soundtrack, the secret military handling of the extra terrestrials and the inclusion of tense family drama woven within an effects-laden sci-fi flick! 

It got me thinking of one of my life-long fantasies - I would love to produce a major motion picture - One with a Hollywood budget, cast and crew. Before you write me off as a goofball, studio mongol wanna-be, hear me out! My film would be the story of one of my true heros - Dave Roever. I believe the Dave Roever story is as powerful as any Hollywood has ever told and could be made into an Oscar winning film. It's got all the elements required for an Academy award winner: It's a war story, a love story, a story of redemption - It's got good guys and bad guys and most of all it has moral lessons this world desperately needs to be reminded of! I'm telling you, it could be a blockbuster in the tradition of Saving Private Ryan or Schindler's List! All I need is a few million dollars and Steven Spielberg to agree to direct it. Or maybe J.J. Abrams! 

Don't Be A Weiner

By now you have all heard of the tweeting indiscretions of New York Congressman Anthony Weiner. Like me, I'm sure you have sat back in disbelief all week and wondered, "Why?" Why would anyone do that? I believe one word explains it all - PRIDE. If you have had any opportunity to see Weiner in action as a congressman you know it is obvious. This man has carried himself in a more egotistic fashion than almost anyone else in Washington - and that's saying a lot! Now the arrogance demonstrated in interviews and grandstanding sessions on the congressional floor has placed him center stage in one of the most embarrassing public scandals that's come around in a while. Only pride could convince someone they could get away with this kind of thing.

Pride wants to convince us of the same. Go on doing what you want! No one will ever know. God doesn't notice!

Galatians 6:7 says, Do not be deceived: God cannot be not mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Don't be fooled. Don't listen to pride! Don't be a weiner!

Excited about Master's Commission

Twenty years ago, when we launched a program called Master's Commission here in Lafayette. I knew God would use it to lay a strong discipleship foundation for young men and women in our church as they moved from their teen years into being an adult. I knew it would help them discover the call that God has on their lives and prepare them for ministry in whatever capacity God had chosen. What I didn't know was that it would be my own children that this program would serve. This weekend, Robin graduated from our Master's Commission program and we are so proud of the way she has embraced everything this program was designed to accomplish in a young person's life. She is more mature, more Christ-like, more bold and confident in her faith than ever and has heard God's Holy Spirit calling her into the ministry He had in mind for her before the world began! Robin has always known she wanted to go through Master's Commission and it's been such a joy to see her dream realized. She'll be attending a second year to complete her degree with West Coast Bible Institute and prepare for work in Africa.

Chase has never really expressed an interest in attending the program. In fact, he went as far as to say he didn't think he would. However, a couple of weeks ago, XMC hosted their annual Experience week, where Juniors and Seniors can spend a week experiencing what it's like to be in the program. We let Chase know we wanted him to attend. He reluctantly agreed. By the end of the week, God had really got a hold of his heart and, to our surprise, he asked us to allow him to graduate early (he only lacks two credits to complete his High School education) because he wants to go through Master's Commission this year! We have decided to allow him to do that and he is very excited! As are we.

Is that egg on your face?

May 21 has come and gone and the rapture did not take place! In case you were unaware, Harold Camping, California Bible teacher and owner of Family Radio International said that it would happen last Saturday at 5:59 PM. I blogged on this earlier this year, but I felt like I should write this follow-up piece to emphasize why this is so dangerous.

When these 'predictions' get this kind of publicity and then fail to happen, instead of just discrediting the false prophet who wrongly predicted it, it begins to discredit the idea of the rapture itself in the minds of people. Maybe that's why the Bible declares so few will be expecting Christ's return when He comes! The truth is, the rapture will one day take place and God's people will be caught away, ushering in a seven year period of great tribulation like this world has never experienced. As awful as the recent natural disasters have been, they are nothing compared with what the Bible says will happen when God's judgement is poured out on this world. We need to be ready, waiting and watching!

Today, Harold Camping has egg on his face because he ignorantly tried to predict what Jesus declared none of us can know (the exact time and day the rapture will happen), but there is a much worse case of egg on the face - and that will be found on the face of those who say the rapture will never happen!