tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61549752174360104072024-03-13T02:05:57.619-07:00Kingdom of God MediaThe Mysteries of God's Kingdom Revealed Through Movies, Music and TelevisionPat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-83450289582022996882009-07-20T22:01:00.000-07:002009-07-20T22:56:49.456-07:00Three Levels of GreatnessThere are three progressive levels of greatness:1. Saved: Wanting to look great.Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore) of the movie Saved wants to be admired even though there is basically nothing admirable about her. On a basic level she knows this but, on another basic level, looking the part is her top priority.2. The Quick and the Dead: Wanting to be great.In The Quick and the Dead "The Kid" (Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-54938891975242614142009-05-22T23:39:00.000-07:002018-06-22T14:57:50.808-07:00Terminator Salvation
“Learn to do good;Seek justice,Reprove the ruthless,Defend the orphan,Plead for the widow.”
--Isaiah 1:17
** Beware, spoilers ahead ***
Terminator Salvation stars Christian Bale as John Connor, Sam Worthington as Marcus Wright (man reborn as robot-man), Moon Bloodgood as Blair Williams (who has a crush on the robot-man), Helena Bonham Carter as Dr. Serena Kogan (the voice of Skynet), Anton Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-43498783943420851642008-12-10T04:58:00.000-08:002018-06-22T14:59:46.455-07:00A Charlie Brown Christmas
In A Charlie Brown Christmas, the Peanuts gang gives Charlie Brown a special assignment: Go buy a big, pink, shiny, aluminum Christmas tree for their Christmas play. So Charlie Brown and Linus set out for the tree lot, where they wade through a myriad of gaudy, metal trees to find the only natural tree in the lot, which happens to be pitifully scrawny and prone to dropping the few pine Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-1934253691673051822008-12-05T17:19:00.000-08:002009-03-13T14:16:59.032-07:00Sufjan Stevens -- The Transfiguration(Photo courtesy of Joe Lencioni)Transfiguration Lyrics: When he took the three disciples to the mountainside to pray,His countenance was modified, his clothing was aflame.Two men appeared: Moses and Elijah came; they were at his side.The prophecy, the legislation spoke of whenever he would die.Then there came a word of what he should accomplish on the day.Then Peter spoke, to make of them a Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-66520843037957183572008-12-04T22:33:00.000-08:002008-12-18T17:35:53.730-08:00Star Wars Episode 1 -- Midichlorians and GodDuring one of many awkward dialogues in Star Wars, Episode 1, Qui-Gon Jinn takes young Anakin aside to teach him how the Force works. The Force works really well for Anakin because has a lot "Force Genes," also known as Midichlorians. According to Qui-Gon (and Obi-Wan Kenobi) Midichlorians float around in people's body like little tubes of super-Force glue. The more of these pseudo-genetic Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-63987715061668450402008-11-23T10:17:00.000-08:002008-11-23T10:55:51.974-08:00Dead Man WalkingDead Man Walking stars Sean Penn as Matthew Poncelet (the guy on death row) and Susan Sarandon as Sister Helen Prejean (the nun who reaches out the Matthew). The main theme of this movie is mercy. Sister Helen's desire to show mercy to Matthew conflicts with the parents of his victims, who would like to see him dead. The parents think that bestowing kindness on Matthew is the same as condoning Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-31371616466093690902008-11-19T09:50:00.000-08:002008-11-19T12:40:47.204-08:00The Elephant Man (1980), starring Anthony HopkinsOh yeah,I know I'm not brokenA little crackedBut still I'm not brokenI wanna laugh But I think that I'm choking on realityPlease listen to meThere is no such thing as human debris...-- Bad Religion, "Broken"***The Elephant Man stars John Hurt as John Merrick (the Elephant Man), and Anthony Hopkins as Frederick Treves (the physician who eventually becomes sympathetic with Merrick's situation). IPat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-86752136778196215792008-11-16T12:51:00.000-08:002008-11-22T14:51:19.792-08:00Midnight Clear -- People Need PeopleMidnight Clear is a realistic yet hopeful story about a handful of people who are grappling with severe depression and loneliness on Christmas Eve. They feel hopeless and alone in their own particular way until they run into each other and help each other out in their own particular way. The central thing these people do for each other is be there for one another. They squelch their relationalPat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-42631279011662768862008-11-14T17:45:00.001-08:002008-11-15T00:26:33.518-08:00Luther -- Quick, costly obedience“Quick, costly obedience”-- Wolfgang Simson, present-day German theologianThis statement describes a major characteristic of God’s kingdom: If people are under God’s rule, they will do what He says and they will do it quickly.This is also the best way to get to know God. People who follow Christ’s lead will fellowship with Him on a level that lip-service Christians can’t comprehend. The best Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-8460120386624755152008-11-14T16:04:00.000-08:002008-11-14T16:36:27.832-08:00Bruce Almighty -- Signs from GodBruce Almighty illustrates the way that God is ever-present, giving us all kinds of "signs" (literal and otherwise) that clue us in to what's going on around us. Bruce ignored all the signs that crossed his path until his life literally came to a crashing halt. Like most people, he was so distracted by his small expectations for God that he failed to appreciate all the ways God was already Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-80426793366239278212008-11-13T17:26:00.000-08:002008-12-20T14:29:46.262-08:00Changeling -- True ManlinessChangeling illustrates the world's desperate need for godly men.Morally wishy-washy men sabotage the lives of Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) and her son, Walter. Her husband leaves her as soon as Walter was born because he feared responsibility. Then a man kidnaps and killed Walter. Then the men of the LAPD compound her problem by refusing to do their jobs, practically guaranteeing that noPat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-18254675458417066912008-11-12T21:47:00.000-08:002008-11-14T16:08:14.522-08:00Bruce Almighty -- Effective PrayerBruce Almighty stars Jim Carrey as Bruce Nolan, Jennifer Aniston as Grace Connelly (Bruce's girlfriend) and Morgan Freeman as God.Bruce Almighty makes some surprisingly poignant statements about the God's interaction with human beings. In particular, the movie goes to great lengths to demonstrate how much better the world is when people surrender to His divine know-how. By the film's end we Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-76470118918612392712008-11-11T20:24:00.000-08:002008-11-12T22:06:08.620-08:00Bad Religion -- "Sorrow" (caused by our own evil)What if every living soul could be upward and strong?Well, then, I do imagineThere will be... sorrowYeah, there will be... sorrowThere will be... sorrowNo More.***As of now, our evil desires are causing us all kinds of trouble. If the world was totally devoid of spiritual perversity, we could live without sorrow.We have economic problems, for example, not because money is evil, but because we (Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-53894237722245246212008-11-09T13:47:00.000-08:002008-11-09T14:37:23.589-08:00Bad Religion -- "Epiphany""Epiphany" comes from Bad Religion's album, The Process of BeliefA new age of reasonBrain treason to trick the mind What good is searchingIf nothing's there to find We arrive at this placeOf no return my brothers Only to discover that our minds have led us away So far from the painful truth Of who we are (chorus) What's right is wrong What's come has gone What's clear and pure is not so sureIt Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-8136217659416034352008-11-08T15:34:00.001-08:002008-11-08T16:04:10.497-08:00The Apostle (starring Robert Duvall) -- The GoodThe one good thing about The Apostle (also written and directed by Robert Duvall) is the way Sonny prays to God when he is in trouble. He does a lot more than what many people would consider "praying"--he goes up by himself to his second story bedroom and rants and raves at God about his troubles. He reasons with God using all the energy he can muster, frequently bringing up the relationship hePat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-69230189989001948392008-11-08T15:05:00.000-08:002008-11-09T16:49:47.478-08:00The Apostle (starring Robert Duvall) -- The BadThe Apostle demonstrates most if not all of the detriments being dedicated to man-made religion. According to this movie (and man-made religion in general) it's OK to be in denial of your crimes against humanity and against God as long as you can put on a good enough religious show.Sonny (Robert Duvall) is a dedicated Evangelist of the "Holiness" persuasion (a derivation of the Charismatic Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-87837628667373998032008-11-05T20:01:00.000-08:002008-11-05T21:00:45.648-08:00Hoobastank -- "Crawling in the Dark"I will dedicateAnd sacrifice my everything for just a second's worthOf how my story's endingAnd I wish I could know if the directions that I takeAnd all the choices that I make won't end up all for nothing(chorus)Show me what it's forMake me understand itI've been crawling in the dark looking for the answerIs there something more than what i've been handed?I've been crawling in the dark looking Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-16581606368693117512008-11-04T17:48:00.000-08:002008-11-04T18:27:56.906-08:00Pay It Forward"The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time."--Genesis 6:5"but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more..."--Romans 5:20***Trevor (Haley Joel Osment) devises a plan to change the world. He calls it "paying it forward." The plan is simple: Bestow a major act of kindness on three Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-21285590732386268982008-10-31T00:23:00.000-07:002008-10-31T01:27:28.708-07:00Fuel -- "King for a Day""King for a Day" comes from Fuel's album, SunburnBled the line tonightFading as the liesLay weeping on the page...Nothing was savedFalling at the sightPhotographs of whiteBright grin and sunny daysAnd all was betrayedAnd I think I knowThe reason that your light would never stayAnd all that's left to showAre memories now, but I can truly sayI was king for a day(If you've never heard of this Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-85230921610732966142008-10-30T23:45:00.000-07:002008-10-31T00:22:09.190-07:00Bad Religion -- "Skyscraper""Skyscraper" comes from Bad Religion's album, Recipe for Hate Come let us make bricks and burn them hard,We'll build a city with a tower for the worldAnd climb so we can reach anything we may propose...Anything at all(Chorus)Build me up, tear me downlike a skyscraperBuild me up, then tear downthese joining wallsSo they can't climb at allI know why You tore it down that dayYou thought that, if YouPat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-7489705420320199082008-10-27T20:05:00.000-07:002011-04-26T22:05:43.693-07:00"Handlebars" by the Flobots -- It's Good to be Alive"Handlebars" comes from Flobots' album, Fighting with Tools
I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars
Look at me, look at me
Hands in the air like it's good to be
ALIVE
And I'm a famous rapper
Even when the paths 'r all crookedy
I can show you how to do-si-do
I can show you how to scratch a record
I can take apart the remote control
And I can almost put it back together
IPat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-54594932853088420522008-10-24T17:48:00.000-07:002008-10-24T18:53:14.602-07:00The Man of La Mancha -- Crazy GoodTo dream the impossible dreamTo fight the unbeatable foeTo bear with unbearable sorrowTo run where the brave dare not goTo right the unrightable wrongTo love, pure and chaste, from afar,To try, when your arms are too wearyTo reach the unreachable starThis is my Quest, to follow that star,No matter how hopeless, no matter how far;To fight for the rightWithout question or pause,To be willing to Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-556870176558686342008-10-24T10:55:00.000-07:002010-08-03T15:09:49.574-07:00W. (starring Josh Brolin)"Hey brother Christian with your high and mighty errand,Your actions speak so loud, I can't hear a word you're sayin'(chorus)And I want to conquer the world,Give all the idiots a brand new religion,Put an end to poverty, uncleanliness and toil,Promote equality in all my decisionsWith a quick wink of the eye and a godYou must be joking!"--Bad Religion, "I Want to Conquer the World"***Dubya has Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-91073911331616182192008-10-20T04:15:00.000-07:002008-10-20T04:29:06.550-07:00Finch -- "Awake""Awake" Lyrics:One devotion, to an empty moment“Can you stay tonight?”Silence broken, with words unspokenNow she’s on her kneesNo more feeling so useless"Can I beg for one more?” she saidTaking with arms wide openLonging for sleep againThe air is clearing, again we’re breathingWater turns to wineThe day is tired, the night’s inside herNow she is aliveNo more Feeling so useless,"Can I beg for one Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154975217436010407.post-44426787805273787932008-10-18T12:16:00.000-07:002008-10-18T14:35:09.251-07:00Are You the Kind of Person That Sees Signs?Signs stars Mel Gibson as Graham Hess (former Catholic priest), Joaquin Phoenix as Merrill Hess (Graham's younger brother) and M. Night Shyamalan as that guy who always shows up in M. Night Shyamalan movies.Since Graham used to be a Catholic priest, his family and his community are in the habit of looking to him for spiritual guidance. Most people can't help calling him "Father." But Hess does Pat Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397839550090715753noreply@blogger.com3