Coram Deo ~

Looking at contemporary culture from a Christian worldview

Monthly Archives: November 2016


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My Review of the Movie “Arrival”

arrivalArrival, rated PG-13
** ½

This science fiction film is directed by Denis Villeneuve (2015’s Sicario, and whose next project will be 2017’s Blade Runner 2049). The script is written by Eric Heisserer, adapted from Ted Chiang’s 2000 short story “Story of Your Life”, which was the original title of the film. The wonderful cinematography is by Bradford Young (Selma and A Most Violent Year) and the powerful music score by Johann Johannsson adds a great deal to the film.

As the film begins, we are told that twelve large egg-shaped ‘shells’ (alien spaceships) are suspended over the earth in seemingly random locations. The stock markets go crazy, and around the world panicked people take to the streets rioting and looting. Every eighteen hours, a doorway at the bottom of these shells opens and allows scientists to come aboard. Government and military personnel around the world have questions about these creatures they’ve named heptapods. Are they intending to attack the Earth? What is their purpose for coming? Why are they here? But they are unable to communicate with these mysterious creatures.

Forrest Whitaker (Oscar winner for Best Actor for The Last King of Scotland) portrays Colonel Weber. He makes a visit to university professor and linguistics expert Dr. Louise Banks (five-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams). She and physicist Ian Donnelly (two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner) are assigned to board one of the alien ships in Montana to see if they can figure out how to communicate with the heptapods who are covered in mist, smoke and shadows, and hold off a global war.

The film shows us in the beginning that Louise suffers a personal tragedy. We see this portrayed in numerous scenes that correspond with what she is going through in her efforts to communicate with the heptapods, who are separated from the humans by a white wall or window, giving the effect like they are inside of an aquarium.

Time, particularly non-linear time, plays an important role in this film as Villeneuve and Heisserer continuously jump from time and place. I had a hard time seeing what they were trying to accomplish with that. Although the film leads you to believe it is about the heptapods, their purpose for coming and a possible global war, it isn’t truly about that at all. Although the film has some stunning imagery and effects, it instead focuses on language and communication. It is a film that you will want to talk about as you leave the theatre as you think back on the film trying to complete the puzzle and consider the morality of decisions made.

There is brief adult language, but overall a refreshing minimal amount of language or other content issues for a PG-13 rated film. And, despite the threat of a global war, we don’t see anyone praying or crying out to God. God is completely absent in this film.

Amy Adams is one of today’s best actresses and she carries the film. She is in almost every scene, and we see her go through a variety of emotions. Is her performance worthy of a sixth Oscar nomination? I think it is. I also believe the film may get consideration for Oscar nominations for best film, direction, cinematography and music. Jeremy Renner, Forrest Whitaker and Michael Stuhlbarg were also solid in their roles, but the film belongs to Adams.

A rating for a film is always a personal choice. It is based on quality, worldview, content issues, what did I think of the film and how did it move me. My rating for the film is lower than most are giving it. But Arrival didn’t come together for me as a film as much as the individual elements (Adam’s performance, visuals, music, etc.) did. The total movie wasn’t as good as its individual parts, and I came out of the show and said to my wife, “Explain to me what I just saw”.  If you see the film, let me know what you think.


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FAITH AND WORK: Connecting Sunday to Monday

Faith and Work News ~ Links to Interesting Articles

WISE WORDS FROM JOHN MAXWELL AND DR. ALAN ZIMMERMAN:

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  • The Ten Commandments of Confrontation. John Maxwell writes “So is there any good way to confront or correct a team member? I believe there is. That doesn’t mean it’s always easy, or always goes the way we want it to. But there are some guidelines we can follow to create the best conditions for a positive outcome.”
  • In this “Minute with Maxwell”, John Maxwell states that branding identifies us and it is how we are known by others. Are we being branded in a positive way or a negative way?
  • Bounce Back from Your Setback. John Maxwell writes “Of all the traits I’ve learned as a leader, perhaps none has been as useful to me as resilience. The ability to bounce back from a setback often makes the difference between losing and winning.”
  • Facing the Challenge of Leading Up. John Maxwell begins what could be considered a refresher course on his book The 360° Leader. Here he looks at the challenge of leading up – of influencing the people above you in your organization.
  • The Power of Sacrifice. John Maxwell writes “Whether you’re talking about personal growth, personal health, business or some other aspect of life, nothing of value is easy. The precious things in life require something in exchange.”
  • In this “Minute with Maxwell”, John Maxwell states that whatever we do, we should be able to sign our name to it with pride.
  • Four Questions to Ask Before Moving On. John Maxwell writes “No matter where you are now, if you’re committed to growth, you will eventually feel like you have more to give than your current situation allows. And the good news is, there are always places for people who are pushing the limits of their potential.”
  • In this “Minute from Maxwell”, John Maxwell states that it is wonderful when the leader believes in the people.
  • Developing a Powerful Positive Perspective. John Maxwell writes “One of the greatest assets any leader can have is a powerful positive perspective – the ability to see the good in any circumstance.”
  • Do People Skills Really Matter? Alan Zimmerman writes “Some people hold a “leadership” title, but that is no guarantee that he or she knows how to bring out the best in others.”
  • The Payoff Principle – 4 Approaches to Life and Work. Dr. Alan Zimmerman shares a “15-question quiz will open your eyes to the 4 approaches to life and work, as well as the 3 secrets for getting what you really want out of life and work.”
  • 6 Attitudes for Dealing with Difficult People. Alan Zimmerman writes “If you work in a typical organization, you’ve probably got more difficult people floating around than you would like. If your family is even somewhat normal, you’ve got a few difficult family members as well.”
  • Self-Control. In this “Minute with Maxwell”, John Maxwell states we can be and should be responsible for ourselves.
  • The Greatest Secret in Emotional Intelligence. Dr. Alan Zimmerman offers ways to implement the emotionally intelligent practice of making people feel important in your life.
  • What You Say Before You Say a Word. John Maxwell writes “Attitude is a choice. Choosing a positive attitude is not always easy. And sometimes we’re tempted to just let a negative attitude flow. But when we do, it will show on the outside. And it will have an effect on our interaction with others.”
  • Roadblocks. In this “Minute with Maxwell”, John Maxwell tells us to take a roadblock and make it a moment for learning, growth and advancement.
  • Hard Work and Success. Dr. Alan Zimmerman writes that working hard involves three things.
  • In this “Minute with Maxwell”, John Maxwell encourages us to find one person or activity that helps us to relieve stress.
  • Be Quick to Encourage Growth in the People You Care About. John Maxwell writes “Life is about more than work. And influence is felt in more places than the office. Opportunities exist all around to encourage growth in the people we care about outside of work. That means your family, your neighbors, and people in your community can grow as a result of your influence.”

INTEGRITY, CHARACTER AND KINDNESS MATTER!

  • Be a Finisher. Brad Lomenick writes “I love leaders who execute. Leaders who get it done. Leaders who can take a project across the finish line. Leaders who know how to finish. And are motivated towards completion.”

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THIS & THAT and Favorite Quotes of the Week

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  • Owning My Critical Spirit. Scotty Smith prays “Lord Jesus, when I rubbed my irritated eyes this morning, I soon realized it wasn’t a speck of dust, but a rough-hewn board stuck there—a plank of self-righteousness. I went to bed last night having made myself the judge, jury, and executioner of those who irritate, disappoint, and fail me—politicians and otherwise.”
  • Isn’t Unlimited Atonement More Glorious than Limited Atonement? In this episode of the “Ask Pastor John” podcast, John Piper addresses the question “How does limited atonement make much of the majesty of Jesus when it is called limited?”
  • The Ordinary Christian Life. Michael Horton writes “And who knows? Maybe if we discover the opportunities of the ordinary, a fondness for the familiar, and a wonder for the mundane, we will end up being radical after all.”
  • God Doesn’t Owe Us Mercy. In this short video excerpt from his teaching series Fear and Trembling, R.C. Sproul teaching series, R.C. Sproul reminds us that God does not owe us mercy.
  • Do You Want Heaven for the Wrong Reason? Watch this message from John Piper, using the text 1 Peter 3:17-22.
  • Four Key Principles of Repentance. Tim Challies writes “These are basic truths about basic Christianity—repenting of sin and coming to alive to righteousness. These are truths my children need to hear and believe. These are truths their parents need to hear again and believe anew.”
  • Cultivating Christian Discipleship in the Family. In this excerpt from the new book The Legacy of Luther, Joel Beeke writes “Luther believed that the stresses of family life offer one of the best environments in which to cultivate Christian discipleship.”
  • Parents Fear That Religion Will Make Their Children Outcasts. Danny Boyle writes “Almost a quarter of religious parents are not passing on their faith to their children for fear they will be alienated at school, a survey has revealed.
  • Will Beauty Save the World? Albert Mohler reflects on the nature of true beauty in the Christian worldview.
  • 4 Portraits of Power from a Magazine Rack Near You. Jen Wilkin writes “Based on their faithful report, our culture grants power to the strong, the beautiful, the wealthy, and the charismatic.”
  • Civility in the Public Square. Nicholas Kristof (Pulitzer Prize winning NY Times columnist), John Inazu (author of Confident Pluralism), and Tim Keller discuss rediscovering civility and dignity in the public square.
  • God’s Call to Leave This American Mess. John Piper writes “If you are discouraged, personally or politically, join me in lifting up your eyes. Christ has all authority over the world. His mission will be finished. Join him in it. Light will dawn in your heart.”
  • Love Your Neighbor Enough to Speak Truth. Rosaria Butterfield responds to recent comments made by Jen Hatmaker.
  • A Few Brief Thoughts on the Hatmaker Hermeneutic. Kevin DeYoung shares “a few quick thoughts about the Facebook post from Brandon Hatmaker (Jen’s husband). While I commend Hatmaker (both of them) for what seems to be a serious process of reading, reflection, and prayer, I find the logic of their position unconvincing.”
  • What’s Really Going on With Evangelicals and Same-Sex Marriage? Trevin Wax writes “The biggest debate in evangelical circles these days is not over same-sex marriage. It’s whether or not male-female marriage is a “core commitment” or an issue we can “agree to disagree” on. And more and more institutions and organizations are making it clear that marriage is the first, not the second.”

CUBS WIN!ben-zobrist-mvp

  • Pop Artist Julianna Zobrist’s Husband Ben Named World Series MVP. I thought our Cubs fan readers would enjoy the title of this article. Congratulations to Ben Zobrist, who grew up not far from where I live.
  • Intense Revival Breaks Out In Chicago Overnight. The Babylon Bee (Your Trusted Source For Christian News Satire) reports “Infused with a spiritual high after the Cubs won their first World Series since 1908 in an epic, middle-of-the-night game 7, hundreds of thousands of Chicago residents announced a new or rekindled faith in God, openly expressing heartfelt gratitude for His blessings and grace as intense revival broke out across the city early Thursday morning, sources confirmed.”
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Courtesy of World Magazine

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Doug Michael’s Cartoon of the Week

10+Favorite+Quotes

  • Congratulations Cubs fans. When Chicago last won the World Series Edward VII was King of England and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary was located in downtown Louisville. Albert Mohler
  • All is well, all is very well. God is on his throne, Jesus is coming back, and the Cubs won the World Series. Scotty Smith
  • My boys want to stay up and watch the Cubs. What am I supposed to say, “Nah, you can watch them in 2124”? Kevin DeYoung
  • One day America and all its presidents will be a footnote in history, but the kingdom of Jesus will never end. John Piper
  • If Jesus is not first place in our lives, then everything else is out of place. Steven Lawson
  • After you tried the higher life, deeper life, and your best life now, go to the gospel of Jesus Christ that gives abundant, eternal life. Burk Parsons
  • The real Jesus requires more than you ever thought, but offers more than you ever imagined. Tim Keller  
  • God helps those who cannot help themselves. Charles Spurgeon
  • Until we are reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus everything to which we look for satisfaction will fully disappoint us. John Newton

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BOOK REVIEWS and NEWS

book reviews

the-magnolia-storyThe Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines with Mark Dagostino. Thomas Nelson. 208 pages. 2016
****

This book tells the fascinating story of Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of HGTV’s popular Fixer Upper television series, now in its third season, and how God has worked in that story.  The book is written by both of them, with Joanna taking the lead. The audiobook version is well-read by the authors.

The book begins with the incredible story of how they got their television series to start with. We also hear how God worked in their lives to get the property for Joanna’s first store in Waco, Texas, an unexpected loan of $100,000 from a friend when they were literally broke, as well as how they got the 40-acre farm they live on with their four children as well as the old cotton mill where their new Magnolia Market is located.

Both Chip and Joanna go back and give us a glimpse of their lives growing up. Chip was an entrepreneur. He was known as the “Mayor of 3rd Street” in Waco, about a mile from the Baylor University campus. He was a star athlete in high school and would go on to play baseball in college. Joanna’s mother is Korean, and she writes of some difficult times she endured in high school because she looked different from the other girls. Chip and Joanna are opposites in many ways, but write of how they have used their individual strengths to be good together.

The authors write openly of their faith and how God has led them along their journeys, oftentimes referring to His still, small voice leading them.

Joanna writes about being inspired by visits to boutiques she visited in New York City, eventually leading to the opening of her own shop (The Magnolia Shop), which she closed in 2006 to concentrate on her family.  But other businesses would follow, a home furnishing brand and Magnolia Homes, which really took off after their first shop closed.

Life changed significantly for the Gaines when the pilot of Fixer Upper aired in 2013 and with the show’s first season in 2014. Joanna would later feel led by God to open Magnolia Market, bringing in her father to assist with the business.

We read that the Gaines have never had a television in their home in the thirteen years they’ve been married, and that they do better as a couple the more time they spend together.

Joanna shares some of her thoughts about design and decorating as well as philosophies about life, such as:

  • Thrive, don’t just survive
  • Focus on thankfulness and contentment
  • Don’t wait for things to be perfect before you are happy
  • Don’t worry about always keeping the house clean

This is a quick and enjoyable read, especially for those fans of the TV show Fixer Upper.

killing-the-rising-sunKilling the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. Henry Holt and Co. 336 pages. 2016
****

This is the sixth book in Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard’s Killing series, with previous volumes on Lincoln, Kennedy, Jesus, Patton and Reagan. Next to the book on Lincoln, this book, which addresses the events leading up to the end of World War II, has had the most impact on me. As with the other books, this one provides day-by-day, and at times hour-by-hour accounts of the events leading up to the end of the war. The central character in the book, in my opinion, is not a person, but the atomic bomb.

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MY REVIEW OF HACKSAW RIDGE

hacksaw-ridgeHacksaw Ridge, rated R
****   

This powerful film tells the incredible story of Desmond T. Doss, a pacifist World War II medic who would become the first conscientious objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics in the Battle of Okinawa. I recently read about Doss’s heroics in Bill O’Reilly’s and Martin Dugard’s excellent but equally brutal book Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan. You can read my review of that book here.

This film is directed by controversial two-time Oscar winner Mel Gibson (Braveheart). This is Gibson’s first feature film since 2006’s Apocalypto, which received three Oscar nominations, but made only $50 million at the box office, compared to $370 million (in the U.S. alone) for his previous film The Passion of the Christ. This film will be of interest to Christians and is written by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight. The musical score is by Rupert Gregson-Williams.

The film opens with excerpts from Isaiah 40.  We see the young Desmond (played by Darcy Bryce) growing up with his family in Virginia. His father Tom (Hugo Weaving who starred in the Lord of the Rings films) is a bitter and mean alcoholic World War I veteran. His violent behavior pushes Desmond toward his eventual pacifist beliefs. According to his 2006 obituary in the New York Times, Doss was guided all through his years by a framed poster of the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer that his father bought at an auction when he was growing up in Lynchburg, Va. That poster depicted Cain holding a club with the slain Abel beneath him. “And when I looked at that picture, I came to the Sixth Commandment, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ ” Mr. Doss told Larry Smith in Beyond Glory an oral history of Medal of Honor winners.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor Desmond (Andrew Garfield, Golden Globe nominee for The Social Network), volunteers to serve his country in the war as a medic. He had promised God that he would never carry a weapon or kill anyone. This immediately causes him problems in basic training. Doss is a Seventh Day Adventist and is portrayed reading the Bible often. Sarge (Vince Vaughn, who normally appears in comedies) does not care for the skinny Desmond, and nicknames him “Cornstalk”.  His commander, Captain Glover (Sam Worthington, Avatar) is not a fan of his either. Doss is seen as a coward, and they encourage the other soldiers to harass and beat him so that Doss would quit. But Doss will not quit. As a result, this leads to a court martial hearing. Doss receives strong input from his fiancée Dorothy (Teresa Palmer) because she does not want him to be sent to prison, but he stays true to his ideals. And we know from the trailer that the decision is made to allow Doss to remain in the military and that he will not be forced to carry a weapon.

The second half of the film takes us fully into the Battle of Okinawa, which took place toward the end of World War II, on an island about 340 miles from Japan. Germany has already surrendered, but the Japanese vow to fight on with tenacity.    Corporal Doss was a member of the Army’s 77th Infantry Division.

The film is rated “R” for some of the most brutal, horrific war violence that I can recall, some soldier nudity (not portrayed in a sexual manner), and some adult language (Gibson removed any “F-words” and abuses of God’s and Jesus’s names).

This film had a 14-year path from idea to production and a budget of approximately $45 million.  It shows the incredible, inspiring, and mostly unknown story of Desmond Doss, a hero who stays true to his beliefs. Garfield is superb as Doss, with a performance that I believe is Oscar-worthy. Vaughn and Worthington also turn in strong performances.

Unfortunately, many will not be interested in sitting through the brutal violence that Gibson portrays here (think of the violence portrayed in Gibson’s Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ, or the opening scene of Steven Spielberg’s film Saving Private Ryan) of the Battle of Okinawa, which had more than 14,000 Allied deaths (mostly American) and incredibly more than 77,000 Japanese deaths.  Those who are interested in Doss’s story, but not interested in sitting through this brutal film, may be interested in one of the books that tells Doss’s story, such as Desmond Doss: Conscientious Objector, published earlier this year by Doss’s second wife Frances.


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MOVIE REVIEW ~ DR. STRANGE

dr-strangeDr. Strange, rated PG-13
****

Dr. Strange is the fourteenth film to be released by Marvel Studios for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is directed and co-written (with C. Robert Cargill) by Scott Derrickson. The film is based on the Marvel Comics character created in 1963 by Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. The film had a budget of approximately $165 million. It’s designed as the Doctor Strange franchise-launcher, with sequels to follow.

Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) stars as the rich, egotistical New York City neurosurgeon Stephen Strange. Due to distracted driving, he gets into a terrible car accident that ruins his hands, and as a result, his career as a surgeon. He becomes even more cruel and withdrawn, lashing out at ex-lover and co-worker Christine Palmer (Oscar nominee Rachel McAdams).

Strange seeks healing for his hands. He is given a tip about a secret sect in Nepal led by a sorcerer referred to as the Ancient One (Best Actress Oscar winner Tilda SwInton). (Note: in the comic which debuted in 1963, the Ancient One is played by an older Tibetan male). The Ancient One opens Strange up to worlds he never believed existed as she introduces him to the spirit world. Previously, he only believed in a material world. Some of what you see may remind you of Inception and the Matrix films. Strange is exposed to the Mirror Dimension, in which the magic doesn’t affect people in the real world and the laws of physics don’t apply. We see Strange learn how to bend time and space.

Working with The Ancient One and mentoring Strange are Wong (Benedict Wong) and Karl Mordo (Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor).  The villain in the story is played by Kaecilus (Mads Mikkelsen), a former student of the Ancient One who steals pages out of an ancient book in the opening scene.

The film is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action throughout, and the intense crash scene. As far as content concerns for Christians, Cumberbatch has stated the spiritualism of Doctor Strange is what appealed to him the most about the role. Ted Baehr of MovieGuide.org, a site that I’ve consulted for years, has issued the below warning about the film:

“Doctor Strange is a dangerous introduction to demonic occult deception….The Bible clearly warns against the kind of occult practices and sorcery the hero in this movie learns to do in Deuteronomy 18:9-12 and Galatians 5:20. Also, in the movie, the hero’s New Age occult guru teaches that there may be no afterlife, that death is truly the end, and that this is a good thing”.

Although I respect Dr. Baehr’s warning, I felt that the film did include some Christian themes of humility and sacrificing yourself for the good of others; it is basically a good vs. evil story. The evil offered eternal life, just as the serpent offered to Adam and Eve in the garden.  I saw the film in IMAX 3-D, and felt that it was worth the additional cost. The 3-D brought out the film’s excellent CGI (computer generated imagery). It is a visually stunning film and I would recommend you seeing it in 3-D.

I thought Cumberbatch was superb as Doctor Strange, and the supporting cast of Ejiofor, Wong, Swinton and McAdams solid. The film also includes some excellent humor and interesting details, such as a man on a bus reading The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley. First published in 1954, it details his experiences when taking mescaline.

I enjoyed the film’s costumes and Dr. Strange’s Cloak of Levitation. The musical score from Michael Giacchino also added to the enjoyment of the film.  I look forward to additional Dr. Strange films.

And with all Marvel films, don’t forget to wait after the movie. There are two end credits scenes.


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THIS & THAT and Favorite Quotes of the Week

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IN THE NEWS:

ELECTION:

  • Check out iVoters.com, a non-partisan voter information service to help you make informed voting decisions.
  • A Leopard Doesn’t Change It’s Spots. Tim Challies writes “It’s election season and millions of Americans are weighing and evaluating the character of the candidates. Why would they examine a person’s character when deciding how to cast a vote? Because a leopard doesn’t change its spots. What those candidates have been in the past is a predictor of what they will be in the future.”
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Courtesy of World Magazine

PORNOGRAPHY:

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