In The News

What Happens In Vegas

A New Leaf

Having seen WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher, this writer is reminded of the reason why movies, even those delighting in debauchery, are paramount to our understanding of life. What we yearn for is to be witnesses of change, the fundamental principle behind any admirable flick and a remedy paramount to success, whether of our life or that of on-screen image. Without change, there would be no life - because for growth to occur there must be change. For life to exist, you could say, there must be a death. If characters in movies didnot change they would be flat and mundane and very unappealing. It is the quintessential aspect of any story for the protagonist to wind up in a more admirable position at the end than when we were first introduced to him - or her.

The plot of this movie is not that simple: for an quick overview you can read about it here. The two main characters are Joy McNally and Jack Fuller, desparate for a change of circumstances in their lives following a fall-out in their most important relationships, Joy with her fiance' and Jack with his dad. What they seek is what we often seek when we consider a need for change: this would be change of circumstances and not a change of behaviour. Heading off from New York, both Joy and Jack wind up in 'Vegas in the false hopes of finding that change - but come to realize in the end that change is closer to home. Welcoming change is not bad, when we go from one level of circumstances to a more pleasing one, or where a dream is realized, or better yet, a goal accomplished. Truly, it is the journey along the way and the noticeable change in one's outlook, behaviour and character that manifests the results which are more pleasing in the long run and very admirable. If Jack Fuller didnot change at the end of this movie but remained the same irresponsible "bachelor-type" of person as he is in the beginning, where would be the interest?

The movie WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS is not a bad show at all. Except for some occassional scenes where the excess of Vegas nightlife is gross and the writer of this movie thinks we really need to get spot shots of debauchery to understand how Diaz and Kutcher are "drawing near to each other", the premise of the movie and the change which each character exhibits at the end of the flick causes it to be seen as decent material. It is, of course, all about change. If both characters coming across the screen remain the same we would naturally tire of them, yet they, as Joy and Jack play roles of people unable to exhibit their true selves and desire for improvement, finding it only when each draws it out of the other. Joy wants to be valued by the opposite sex - that's her makeup - a man who values her zest, her party spirit but feels compelled to find it only in the security of a successful person like herself. She's no bum. Kutcher - who can't act, by the way - as Jack is that type of guy who finds it hard to stick with something because it impedes on his hip, gung-ho personality. Constancy eludes him. He's not looking for the challenge to change, but in fact wishes to remain the way he is, to which he would respond: "How much do you want to bet I can change?"

The human condition seeks change, albeit a "change of address", to live in a new set of surroundings. Places like Vegas seem to offer that, where turning a blind eye momentarily to morality and conscience is the hip thing to do. Everybody needs a 'Vegas; what matters, though, is a change of being, as this story shows. We are a very big consumers in this nation of books and movies and we delight in tales showing the lead character coming to terms with a poor situation and in the end, himself turning out to be a better person. Yet, for us the viewer, change comes too slowly and is not nearly as fun or worse - it's looked upon in the wrong light.We only wish to go from an 'inferior" position to a "superior" one and, no longer being on the bottom, where we presume we are, or in the middle - where we can begin and end - our yearning is for the opportunity to dictate how things should be, in our mind's eye. Take Jack Fuller as an example: prior to winning the three million dollars he was unemployed and broke. Don't ask how he got to Vegas - but winning several million dollars would surely change any person's circumstances. The gist of the movie is the change in his behaviour that follows, which makes his character more appealing. How, then, do we affect change in our own lives?

To change requires two things: increase in understanding, thereby becoming a better person, and also make the sacrifice that makes the hidden portion of you to grow. For every investment made, we expect a profit. This is a universal explanation of why we are attracted to the things that show a change: to make better on top of what we have - or to become better on top of what we are. In addition, no change can occur unless there is a sacrifice - the sacrifice of ourselves. Jack Fuller must give up his attraction to the easy life, where his dad provides for him and no matter what, he'll always have something to fall back on. By winning the three million dollars you could say he had something to build upon - and better do such! Joy has the more difficult task - she must give up pursuing what is not good for her, and that is money - or rather the person who has it, and instead focus on enriching the life of the man who values her.

It's obvious that what happens in Vegas doesn't stay there; that's only because Vegas, deep down inside, doesn't change. It's baudiness and fantasy "no cost", emotive changrilas remain the same. Not a bad place to grow up, though; people there seem to have good family and moral values. Perhaps that's what we should take with us when we happen to be there - if we find a change in our behanvior too demanding.

The Great Debaters

And The Winner Is -

By this time you have either seen the movie The Great Debaters or have heard a lot about it that you already know the storyline: a college debate team from a small, Southern Black college during the early 20th Century enter into history by becoming the nation's college debating champions. The college, located in Wiley, Texas, and the debaters, known as The Wiley Debate Team, dominate this unique academic pursuit - debating - over both black and white colleges supposedly for 10 years. Some of facts have been altered in order to make this an inspiring and entertaining film, but that's pretty much what the film is about. The movie is very historical: you are presented with both a mental and emotional portrait into what black colleges were like, in the South, during the 1930's, where not far outside the campus run-ins with the police or a lynch mob was what you call an "everyday reality". In the last debate of the movie, the youngest debater,James L. Farmer, Jr., from the Wily Team, recounts his experience, before the crowd, in seeing a lynch mob come very close into taking his life and the life of his fellow team-mates.

It was his position in this debate to argue in favor of Civil Disobediece as a moral issue; he ascertained that civil obedience, obeying the law in the South, for a black person, can result in police brutality and lynching, whereas civil disobedience results in safety or social change. He ends his debate with these words: "You should pray I choose the latter".

In that he says, YOU SHOULD PRAY I CHOOSE THE LATTER, using the words pray, choose and latter, three biblical terms we are versed in - to pray always, to choose good above evil, and the latter, referring either to prophets or the last days, it is necessary here to point out the nature of threats - not according to human weakness, such as from Mr. Farmer, but according to what is going to occur according to threats which come from above.

Threats come in all forms and shapes and are usually always taken seriously. Some seem to be more legitimate than others and we esteem those who have the power and the will to carry it out. A prime example is the popular threat known as "the mother of all battles", a verbal lob at America from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in the First Gulf War http://www.halexandria.org/dward256.htm.  A more serious threat was heard recently from Paris, where we receive the following: "The Dakar Rally, the epic motorcycle, car and truck race across the Sahara desert, was canceled Friday by organizers citing 'direct' threats of terrorism from al-Qaida-linked militants."

A threat is defined as (3) : an indication of something impending http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/threat though most times we consider it as (1) an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage. When we read the scriptures we sometimes overlook the threats which God showed he would do if certain things do not take place. In fact, it is from certain scriptures that many have confused the Old Testament, in particular, with a sort of "old and angry God". In the New Testament, from which many get the impression of a "young and compassionate saviour/god", we would reckon there are no threats - but there are; to name one in particular please turn to the Book of Luke in your Bibles, Chapter 23.31: "For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?” The verse should properly be rendered, "If they do this to a green wood, what will be done to the dry?" Jesus Christ is setting the stage for his hearers to know that a time of reckoning is coming upon those who reject him as Saviour, for the audience seeing his crucifixtion and for those who will not repent. We know, historically, that his audience, the Jewish people of Jerusalem circa 31 AD, suffered horribly - both physically and spiritually - during the Jewish Wars some 40 years later, in which Jerusalem was mauled and conquered by the Romans. Furthermore, we were told that the spiritual condition of Jerusalem would worsen after Jesus left. He spoke of this threat in Matthew 12, verses 43 - 45: “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

As with all threats, we focus deeply on the one who can carry the threat out - who can say something and bring it to pass; the one who, if pleased with the turn-around with those who have been threatened, can actually turn matters around and instead give a blessing. Fathers, or mothers - parents - are indeed examples of those who sometimes threaten -  and if the child whom they threaten refrains from doing wrong, the threat can be withdrawn and instead the child is given a blessing - perhaps a hug or a kiss or encouragement.

There is a theat noted in the Bible that most people overlook and it 's a pretty big one - and yes, it is in the Old Testament. It does come, however, from the same God who eventually became Christ Jesus our Saviour. Jesus is the God who led Israel out of the Egypt and gave Israel his commandments and today he is the one who also leads us out of spiritual Egypt. Christ Jesus is our Passover Lamb.

The threat actually involves you and me. As Christians, we are reminded of the seriousness of the salvation which God offers us and which has world-wide repercussions. Our calling is a process that if not successful, results in a curse. Turn to the Book of Malachi, which is the last book of the Old Testament. It does seem that right up to the last verse of the Old Testament we come across the "old and angry God scenario". In this book, in particular, we see that the saints are encouraged to continue in their obedience because judgment is coming soon upon the wicked; now, take a look at verse 6:

"And he will turn
  The hearts of the fathers to the children,
  And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
  Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

If this book is not taken seriously, if the hearts of the fathers are not turned to the children and vice-versa, God makes it very clear what the outcome is. Now, in mentioning the book of Luke, Chapter 23, some may ask, What about the verse that says, "Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do'" - which is verse 34. Would you be amazed if you discovered that Jesus never said it?  It is contrary to scripture for God to threaten in one section and then forgive his persecutors in another section without any of them showing repentance. That verse is considered spurious and is not in the critcal text of the Greek New Testament.

Threats, as mentioned, do come in all shapes and forms - in fact, you may not recognize it when it presents itself. A good threat is subtle - the focus is on who is saying it and the manner thereof; in the final debate from the movie The Great Debaters, Mr. Farmer's threat was so good that he receives a standing ovation - obviously his audience did not take the time to consider the consequences of his statement. Some 20 - 30 years later Civil Disobedience became the popular means of nonviolent resistance in the American Civil Rights Movement. The issue here, of course, is not about civil disobedience; it's about threats.

The only threat we surely need to take note of is from above. Mankind must take heed to the threats from God: to refuse to repent leads to a curse. To repent, to instead have one's heart turned "to the children" and likewise the "hearts of the children turned to their fathers", is one sure thing that produces safety, that also brings social and beneficial change. Ask yourself: a curse or to repent? YOU SHOULD PRAY HE CHOOSES THE LATTER.

Transformers

Will The Real Transformers Please Stand Up?

The hottest movie this past summer is about alien robots who transform themselves into and out of cars, trucks, planes and ‘copters. From desert military bases to the Artic Circle to yes, even the Big City, the movie-goer is heavily entertained by the transformation of these machines from one mechanized state to another. One sect, called the Autobots, has as it’s leader OPTIMUS PRIME; besides being the strongest and most impressive of his group, he’s the main robot who, in times when it’s needed to change into or out of the their robot stage, says to his companions, “AUTOBOTS,TRANSFORM.”

This command, to transform, is not new to Christians. Jesus Christ, our leader, through the Apostle Paul, asked of his servants to do the same thing in Romans 12.2: “be not conformed to this world,” Paul writes, “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The word “transformed” means to “transfigure” or more radically, to “metamorphose” – as is stated in Strong’s Concordance, number 3339, in the Greek.

Clearly, the intent of the transformation is an outward evidence of the inward working of the renewal of our minds, which is caused by the receipt of God’s Holy Spirit. The transformation of the mind is not being recorded here; what is recorded is that once we are renewed in the mind we need to show a change in our behavioral fruits and that there be visible hallmarks of the work of the invisible spirit.

How can we, like the Transformers seen on the big screen, also transform and show the working of God’s Spirit within us? Transformation for the Christian requires, upon renewal of the mind, practicing righteousness in three major areas of your life. Here they are:

Righteousness must be practiced by all who are in the Body of Christ: this necessitates proof to believer and unbeliever that it is God alone who is this person’s deliverer. The renewed mind leads the transformer to no longer rely upon flesh, but upon the Spirit for his needs. For this you may refer to Romans 12.12; the transformer totally relies upon God for help. Suppose you were in need of $500, real bad. Prior to the renewal of your mind you would have gone to you employer and asked him for a “cash advance” on your upcoming paycheck; now, after renewal, you pray steadfastly for God to both bless you and deliver you from this financial hardship. This “transformation” is not lost on those who know about your financial predicament - they are amazed that you wait not for man to deliver you, but God.

Righteousness must be practiced in the world: this requires the transformed of God to have proper fear and to be submissive to ruling authorities so that God may be glorified in the believer. Paul commanded his Roman audience in Romans 13.7 to “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” Before the renewal of our minds we call the President of The United States “Bush” or “George”; after the renewal of our mind we are reminded to place the proper title before the name: President Bush or President George Bush. In fact our speech becomes the barometer of our conversion: the day eventually comes when those who hear us, in which we speak both purposely and respectfully of others, say, “You must be from another planet.”

Righteousness is to be practiced amongst weak and strong Christians: Paul writes in Romans 14.4, “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” Prior to our renewal we easily judged those who had weird religious practices or who stayed away from certain foods, who kept strange religious holidays or who “tithed” their income to their religious affiliation; after our renewal we realize that we all have one master, that we are him or we are her whom we used to judge and therefore, should not belittle the weak amongst us – because God can make him stand higher than you – and we should not disdain the mature – because God can bring him down to your level.

At the end of the movie, Transformers, the lead Autobot, Optimus Prime, stands on a hill and looks up into the heavens, into the wide blue yonder and he says something to the affect that he is waiting – waiting for something to come out of the heavens from which he had his origin. When it finally does come, he states that he’ll be ready. Christians, too, as the true transformers, must be ready. When our transformation from being carnal-minded and carnally respondent to the pulls and pushes of our minor existence to living in the fullness and obedience of the Spirit of Christ is accomplished, God says he “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Phil. 3.21) What more can be said, but, Transformers, transform!