Aug 17, 2014
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” – Whose Fight?
UntitledToday we conclude our God on Film message series with a movie that is considered epic high fantasy. "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is the work of Christian author J. R. R. Tolkien. But can we possibly find spiritual relevance in a work of clear fiction and fantasy? Tolkien sure hoped so, and so do we. Today's themes of victory, honor, love, friendship and self-sacrifice are all visible in the scene from the movie as well as our Biblical texts. Jesus didn't intend for His disciples to simply sit back and watch evil triumph in the world. Rather, He calls us into loving service and defense of our neighbor. Moreover, He doesn't just call us into service, He demonstrated that loving service and protection as He laid
down His life for us undeserving sinners.
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  • Aug 17, 2014“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” – Whose Fight?
    Aug 17, 2014
    “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” – Whose Fight?
    UntitledToday we conclude our God on Film message series with a movie that is considered epic high fantasy. "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is the work of Christian author J. R. R. Tolkien. But can we possibly find spiritual relevance in a work of clear fiction and fantasy? Tolkien sure hoped so, and so do we. Today's themes of victory, honor, love, friendship and self-sacrifice are all visible in the scene from the movie as well as our Biblical texts. Jesus didn't intend for His disciples to simply sit back and watch evil triumph in the world. Rather, He calls us into loving service and defense of our neighbor. Moreover, He doesn't just call us into service, He demonstrated that loving service and protection as He laid
    down His life for us undeserving sinners.
  • Aug 10, 2014“Heaven is for Real” – Is There Anything After Life on Earth?
    Aug 10, 2014
    “Heaven is for Real” – Is There Anything After Life on Earth?
    UntitledToday’s message is inspired in part by the new movie HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, based on the well known book Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. Todd is Pastor of Crossroads Wesleyan Church in Imperial, Nebraska. He is the father of Colton Burpo, who during an emergency appendectomy and miraculous recovery, recalls in detail his trip to heaven and back. Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital during his operation. Colton talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told him by people he met there—people whom he had never met in his life—sharing events that happened even before he was born and giving astonishing descriptions and obscure details about heaven that match the Bible exactly. When young Colton Burpo was asked by the book editor, “What do you want people to know from your story?” Colton,
    without hesitation replied, “I want them to know that heaven is for real."
  • Aug 3, 2014“Iron Man” – Who Needs Armor?
    Aug 3, 2014
    “Iron Man” – Who Needs Armor?
    Untitled“Life is not all fun and games!” … Did your parents ever tell you that to try and alert you to the realities of life? Even as we grow and mature, we still can be tempted to see life as a kind of pleasure cruise. We are happy when business is thriving, bank accounts are full and body is healthy. But when things are not like that, we wonder what went wrong. The problem for us is that we can tend to look just at the surface, and be unaware of the spiritual battle that is being waged out of sight. There is a real war being fought in the heavenly realms, and we are a part of it! So what can be done? Thankfully, God gives us spiritual armor to use in
    this battle – and He tells us how to use it!
  • Jul 20, 2014“The LEGO Movie” – Who is the Special?
    Jul 20, 2014
    “The LEGO Movie” – Who is the Special?
    UntitledWe live in a world that is obsessed with being "special." Everyone wants to stand out, and rise above others. We want to wear clothes that are better than what others are wearing, and we want to achieve success that outshines the rest. But how can everyone be special? And who is truly special? Actually, the Bible does talk about being special ... but not in terms that you might suspect. We're told that we're special, not by what we achieve, but by who we are and how we live. Today we'll hear Jesus
    speak about some of the special qualities of those who follow Him.
  • Jul 13, 2014“God’s Not Dead” – How Do You Deal With Doubt?
    Jul 13, 2014
    “God’s Not Dead” – How Do You Deal With Doubt?
    UntitledDo you consider yourself a skeptic? Many people are. When you see a far-fetched statistic, do you look into the source data and background assumptions? When you hear an unbelievable sales pitch, do you do research on the product before you buy? When someone claims to have caught a fish “this big” do you ask to see the pictures? (ha ha). If you do, then you may be a skeptic. Most of us likely know someone, or once were ourselves, who is skeptical about the claims that Christians make about Jesus Christ. And often we can lose our patience with people as they continue to ask questions and have doubts about Jesus. How can he be God and man? Isn’t the Bible just made up stories? How can you believe in something you cannot see? Didn’t everything around us just evolve by mutation and selection? If God is so good, then why do bad things happen? … all of
    these and more. How do you respond? I’m glad you asked …
  • Jul 6, 2014“My Big Fat Greek Wedding” – Are You Trapped By Your Past?
    Jul 6, 2014
    “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” – Are You Trapped By Your Past?
    UntitledAll people have a past! Sometimes that past is something they’re not proud of. They want to change it, but it seems to call them – either in an attempt to avoiding changing their ways, or to fill them with guilt and shame. Truly, all of us have things in our past we wish to free ourselves from to some degree or another. It started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve sinned and ate of the fruit of the Tree of Good and Evil; and God banished them from the Garden – into a world full of toil and pain. And today, in the midst of a world full of hurt and regret, God says, “you can leave your past and start fresh and new with me!” Come to Him. He never left you. Your past does not define you. Rather, your
    relationship with the Lord defines your true identity.
  • Jun 29, 2014“Frozen” – What Do You Need To Let Go Of?
    Jun 29, 2014
    “Frozen” – What Do You Need To Let Go Of?
    UntitledFrozen is Walt Disney’s 53rd animated feature. As of this month it has surpassed $1.2 Billion in revenue from box office, download, disc and copyrights. It is a widely viewed film, and very well known for the song “Let it Go,” with over 265 million views on Disney’s official You Tube page for that song alone. Some of the lyrics from this song are filled with emotions that many can relate to: “A kingdom of isolation.” “The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside.” “Don’t let them in.” “My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around.” But the song also speaks of hope: “Let it go!” “The fears that once controlled me, can’t get to me at all!” “Here I stand!” “I’m free.” You may need to let go of some things. The
    question for you today, is where is that freedom found?
  • Jun 22, 2014“Alone, Yet Not Alone” – Responding in Time of Testing
    Jun 22, 2014
    “Alone, Yet Not Alone” – Responding in Time of Testing
    UntitledThe movie Alone Yet Not Alone opened in theaters last Sunday. It is based on the true story taken of Barbara and Regina Leininger, daughters of German-Lutheran immigrants, who, in 1755, were taken captive by the Delaware tribe during the Seven Years (French & Indian) War. Barbara and three others made a daring escape, while Regina stayed as a captive until the end of the war in 1765. The family reunited with Regina with the help of their pastor, Henry Muhlenberg, often regarded as the father of American Lutheranism. At its core, the film is a moving reminder of the foundational
    truth that, "God will never leave nor forsake us!
  • Jun 15, 2014“A Long Way Off” – A Father’s Love
    Jun 15, 2014
    “A Long Way Off” – A Father’s Love
    UntitledHappy Father’s Day! Jesus tells his followers a parable about a man who had two sons. One of the sons (often called the prodigal son) asked for his inheritance and left home, leaving his father and brother. Imagine the pain that must have caused the father. And yet, this father still welcomed his wayward son home after squandering all his riches, even running to him while he was still “a long way off.” Today we see God on Film in a modern story of the prodigal son called “A Long Way Off.” Does Jesus’ parable have application today? Even in today’s world, this Bible
    story is as true as it has always been!