Blindside

Last week I went to see the movie "Blindside". I wasn't sure about going because so many people had raved about it I did not want to be disappointed. Often that seems to be the way it is, I don't tend to like the movies others like and visa versa. But this was one time the raves lived up to the movie. It was a great movie with a great message. I couldn't help but want to watch the Baltimore Ravens play yesterday, just to see Michael Oher now.

If only there were more Tuohy's in the world. People who saw beyond color to need and rose up to meet that need. I love the line when one of her friends says to Leigh Anne "I bet you are teaching him alot" and she says "no, he is teaching me alot." That is always the way God works; when you think you are blessing other people,it is actually you that is blessed.

There is one problem I had with this movie and that was their protrayal of Christians. I am sure that Leigh Anne Tuohy is a force to be reckoned with and is an advocate for her children and Michael, but I don't think she would do it in a way that dishonored God by using the same foul language that others used on her. When the family prays over Thanksgiving dinner, there is no mention of Jesus or praying in His name. I can't imagine that is the way the Tuohy's say their prayers.

Typical Hollywood. Come close to presenting Christianity as it is, but keeping the reason we all live the way we do out of the movie. They said the Tuohy's practice Christianity without being preachy. St. Francis of Assisi said "preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words". Yes, we all should have lives are reflective of the Lord of our lives. But not once in this movie does it show the Tuohy's gaining strength to live that life in prayer or in community with other believers. Maybe I am unrealistic and this is the best Hollywood can do.

What I find really interesting is when people say to me "didn't you just love that movie?" and I say "yes....but..." They reply, "oh, I didn't really notice that Jesus name was never mentioned". Maybe, just maybe it is because so many of us live life everyday without mentioning His name. Yes, I am talking about myself too.

Home Going

Today I attended the "home going" of an 82 year old sweet sister in Christ. Don't you just love that thought?? Homegoing. I had always heard of homecomings, but not homegoings. Everyone handles grief differently. But the husband and children of Nita Lee understood that the end of life is a time of celebration. Today we celebrated Nita's life with some of her favorite things, including a man playing "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes. I didn't know Nita very well, because about the time she and her husband came to R.E. I had my wreck and as I recovered she got worse in her on health. It has only been in the last year that I had a few conversations with her. My last memory will be running into her and James at Panera Bread and James was indulging her by letting her go back to the counter and order some sweets. She was like a child in a candy store, as all the sweets were so appealing to her. I had to order and didn't see what she ordered, but I just remember her delight in choosing.

I never can attend a funeral without contemplating my own death. I hope that my memorial service will also be a great time of celebration. I am glad that those that love me can have confidence that I have lived my life with the Lord at the center of it. No, I am not perfect and will not have been when I die, but I will be covered by the blood of my Savior and He will make me perfect.

One thing did make me really sad today. As Steve and I contemplate moving it dawned on me that there will be many of my dear senior saints that I have spent the last ten years with and won't be here to see their "home going". While that makes me sad, what makes me glad?? That I will see them again at the feet of my Savior some day. I live my life for heavenly reuinions.

Jesus said..."I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 Yes, Lord I do!!

Rest In Peace

Tonight we went to a visitation of a sweet sister from church. She and her husband had been married for 60 years! I cannot even imagine how lost you feel after spending 60 years with someone and then there not there. It was sweet hearing him telling stories about the woman he loves.

In the last week or so there have been several deaths of people much younger. To me death is harder when it is not what is expected. In other words when you are 80 or 90 each extra day you have is a blessing, but no one thinks a 15 year old or an 18 year old are going to die.

Now that Facebook is such a popular way to stay connected, people post all sorts of things. But I have noticed a lot of people post "Rest In Peace" (RIP)after someone dies. I realize that most people mean well, but what exactly are we saying when we say "rest in peace"? It almost sounds like it is in the dead person's control to make sure they are resting in peace. Like we can will someone to rest in peace??

The truth of the matter when you are in Christ Jesus when you die, there is no doubt that the person is resting in the arms of the one who is perfect peace. Our life is over, there is nothing we can do. We don't have to wish someone peace, they are at peace. Unfortunately, if they are not in Christ then you can say "rest in peace" all you want and it won't do any good because that person is not going to have peace now or forever. It is a terrible thought.

Look at all the verses that promise us we have peace in Jesus Christ.
John 14:27
John 16:33
Romans 3:17
Romans 5:1
Romans 15:13
Ephesians 2:14
Philippians 4:7
2 Peter 1:2

Then these are all the verses that say God himself is Peace:
Romans 15:33
Philippians 4:9
I Thessalonains 5:23
Hebrews 13:20
Revelation 1:5

So maybe I am being nit picky but I think the better thing to say would be "I am glad you are at peace" or "thanks for the memories" or best of all "rest in God".

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way."
2 Thessalonians 3:16

The SON

I am sitting here all nice in warm in my house on a really cold day looking at the sun beaming through my sun room windows. It made me think how deceiving it looks. It is such a bright sunshiney day that it looks like I should just be able to walk outside and sit on the deck. But it is only 27 degrees outside today. I thought of two different spiritual truths that this represents to me.

First, is this not the perfect picture of the SON?? He brings light into the darkness. He brightens our lives. He brings the warmth of His love into our hearts. The SON radiates and reveals what is hidden. We are drawn to the SON.

On the other hand on a day like today the sun is also somewhat like Satan in that it is actually disguising what is really happening. We think the sun warms things up and when it is shining brightly we just assume it will be warm outside, but on days like today, even though it looks like things should be warm, it isn't. Satan is the biggest deceiver of all. He makes things appear appealing and we walk into his trap.

The lesson for me??? Is it is always in my realm of control which way I look at things. I hope more and more I will see the SON and bask in all that He has to radiate on me.

"The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22:3-5