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January 26, 2007
Freedom Writers
Wow! What a movie. I recommend this real life triumphant movie. It is the combined stories of high school freshmen struggling to learn in the midst of so much disappointment and despair so prevalent in the communities and homes in which they lived. It is the sense of calling that a teacher embraced that these teenagers find real freedom to become the persons God created them to be. The tremendous lessons in this movie are those we all need to learn. It is a movie about keeping hope alive when there is really no reason to have hope. It is a movie of how one person can make a difference. It is a movie of the power of living a sacrificial life. It is a story of how we overcome the bad teachings we receive from our families and surroundings. It is a movie of how we can crush people if we love the system more than people. It is a movie that proves that we have more in common even when we do not look or speak the same.
I might warn you to carry some tissue with you because the drama and acting is so powerful that you will be moved to tears. There will be tears of sorrow and tears of joy. So many images and scenes from the movie flood my mind even as I write this. Just go see the movie regardless of what you read from those who write reviews.
Posted by Bishop at 11:45 PM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2007
Winning
My, my, I can only imagine how Peyton Manning feels after winning the AFC Championship game. I believe that this win is especially satisfying to him in light of the times when he did not win the so-called big game. It is amazing how good winning feels. And yet many opt each day not to engage life because they are fearful of either losing or winning. The challenge that comes to us when we lose is to somehow find deep inside ourselves the strength to not let the defeat be seen as the substance of our existence. The challenge of winning is not allowing the victory to make us smug, over confident, or down right arrogant. Peyton at least on camera handled the victory with the same grace he has handled some bitter defeats.
You see I believe that the most important thing in life is how you grow each and every day regardless of whether you are victorious or defeated. How do you not let the drive to win so dominate you that you will do anything, even act in immoral ways to win? It appears from the numbers and even the attitude of the United Methodist Church that we are losers. However, I would remind us if we could but admit we have made some mistakes and then learn from them, I believe the Lord would send a bounteous harvest to us. I believe the scriptures tell us that we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus who loves us. I truly believe this. It is my story and I'm holding on to it.
Peace
Posted by Bishop at 12:40 AM | Comments (1)