reelmeaningful

the 10 Commandments

“…They stiffened their necks and determined to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and you did not forsake them.” Nehemiah 9:17

At the mention of this movie I bet I could guess the first couple of images that pop into your mind. And I’d also bet it’s not the golden calf. This multiple Oscar winner has been a regular must see since 1956. Running a full 2 hours before the intermission meant that so many visual effects were available for viewing prior to the break, (think burning bush, the plagues and the sinister angel of death floating through the ) that when it typically aired on Easter Sunday night most people probably tuned out after the parting of the Red Sea. I know I was sent to bed and didn’t see the end of the film til my teenaged years when I could stay up past 11.

This film, which in 1999 was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry partly for its historic significance, was based on the Book of Exodus and other biographies. The movie dramatized the life of Moses from his birth into his transformational adulthood when he is shaped and used by God to liberate the enslaved Hebrews from Egypt, through the wilderness and finally to the brink of the promised land.

In the movie, not long after their spectacular rescue, those same chosen people began to complain and actually say that their life of slavery in Egypt was better than the freedom God provided. Their grumbling escalated to idolatry and debauchery. While Moses was physically away from them communicating with the Lord, they crafted a golden calf and actually said (in the Bible and in the movie) that it was this idol which was responsible for their deliverance from Egypt. Exodus 32:4 and Nehemiah 9:18.

Although written some 1000 years after the Exodus, the book of Nehemiah describes a new chapter – essentially a ReStart for the nation of Israel. After a Millenia of relapses between rebellion and repentance, Nehemiah recounts the Israelites eventual return to rebuild Jerusalem, their promised homeland. In an attempt to turn over yet another leaf, Nehemiah along with Israel’s leaders approach God with words of repentance Nehemiah chapter 9 is actually a corporate prayer confessing their own and their ancestors’ many betrayals against God, acknowledging their constant need for him as they seek to restore and re inhabit their homeland. More than once throughout this prayer Israel admits that despite their treasons, God remains gracious and ready to forgive and restore time and again.

Since launching this site in 2018, it has become more and more popular to point out the foibles in history and criticize the actions of America’s founding fathers. There is an equally strong opinion which denies the need to admit anything. Neither vilifying nor absolving our ancestors (or ourselves) is a satisfactory solution. If we hope to go forward with God’s mercy/blessing upon America, confession and repentance are equal portions of the equation. This Tuesday marks the primary voting day in the state of Illinois. Essentially a new chapter or ReStart for our state and nation. For those of us who acknowledge the authority of Scripture, we have the play book from, Nehemiah 9 as the blueprint to influence our attitudes and actions in this, yet another, election cycle.

Although I usually fill this site with classic Christmas movies and the Biblical references tied to their quotable characters, I would wager that if you enjoy those films you are also familiar with this Easter blockbuster. Being convinced that timeworn classics have earned their reputation for a reason, the epic 10 Commandments offers up the relevant juxtaposition between a classic film and the lifechanging Biblical Scripture that forms the basis for this site. And maybe reading this particular Nehemiah 9 passage will change attitudes, behaviors and approaches to God. Then- if so- it will be life changing.

Information for this post comes from Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.or/wikiThe_Ten_Commandments_(1956_film).

March is Women’s History Month

The Classic-When we love someone-we are really loving God

Typically I post about these particular characters from the classic Christmas movies because I find them so relevant to contemporary life. The express purpose of this project is to juxtapose quotes from these films with related Biblical Scripture in order to familiarize women with the beauty and pertinence of Scripture. With a minimal paradigm shift, the ladies from these Christmas movies nicely fit into the topic of Women’s History Month. They have so much to say about life and relationships. We love these characters because we love their character. Armed with the information we obtain when we take the “Screen Test” associated with this project, we can connect with these heroines and find out what the Bible has to say about our distinctive personalities and how to share community with our Creator.

Coupling this information with devotional Bible studies like Seen and Loved and By Faith ( devotionals about New and Old Testament women from Moody’s TodayintheWord.com in March 2023 and 2022 respectively) we see that the God of the Bible has always treated women with the esteem and respect we crave. Studying the Bible gives us documentation of:

Historic women whose names and stories are profiled in important genealogies (Matthew 1:1-6)

Deborah a judge and triumphant military leader (Judges 4 and 5)

Abigail a courageous mediator who defused dangerous tempers (1st Samuel 25-30)

The Queen of Sheba who ruled Arabia yet sought to discover the source of Solomon’s greatness (1st Kings 10:1-13)

Huldah and Anna esteemed prophets from whom the nation sought wisdom (2nd Chronicles 34 and Luke 2:36-40)

Esther a beautiful queen brave enough to bend the ear of a King (the book of Esther)

Multiple examples of successful women managing their livelihoods (Proverbs 31 and throughout the epistles)

Talk about a paradigm shift— to treat women with the high regard described in these Scriptures was a foreign concept to most cultures during Biblical times. It’s time we read the Scriptures for ourselves ( taking into account original language and cultural context) and not allow detractors to influence our thinking. The God who made us, truly understands us and gives us the recognition, respect and dignity we crave when we are in relationship with Him.

Simply Returning with Words

“Please God-I want to live again.”

When we feel the prompting to repair our broken relationship with God, He clearly and graciously provides us with instructions on how to do that.

Take words with you and return to the Lord; say to Him ,”Take away all guilt.” Hosea 14:2

Have mercy upon me oh God according to your lovingkindness. According to your steadfast mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1-2

Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me. cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11

Restore unto me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with your loving Spirit. Psalm 51:12

Returning with words.

It’s always been God’s plan and it’s pretty straight forward.

Are you surprised by the simplicity with which you can approach the Almighty? What reservations do you feel when you consider this approach?

Get to know Jesus– the Real Reason for the Season. He would die for you to get to know him .

Working for a Living

It’s been awhile since I posted but the lessons I learn from these characters and their movies frequently inspire my thinking. So I don’t know why it took me so long to come to this conclusion: Maybe these timeless characters are so relatable because when we see them they are always working. Somewhere between winning the right to vote and beginning discussions about the equal rights amendment, these mid century movies depict women doing what they have always done: working for a living while juggling home, domestic and relationship responsibilities.

One of the ongoing purposes of this site is to support the idea that God’s desire for relationship with us results in his choosing to share some commonalities with us as well. So for the purposes of this post, I’d assert that God works and empathizes with us through work. Without any formal Biblical training, I confess my doctrine comes from lifelong church attendance and Bible Study along with both traditional hymns and Contemporary Christian Music. I learned early on that Christ’s seated position at the right hand of the Father indicated that His work was finished. Amen. So I assumed that no further work was required. But sometime during private Bible study and reflections on answered prayer I realized how busy my Father and my God has been in my life alone. Just for starters:

He constantly intercedes for me. Romans 8:26

He searches my heart. Romans 8:27

He restores, strengthens supports and establishes us. First Peter 5:10

Amen Again. Now when we sing the Brian Ortize song Waymaker ,” …You never stop, you never stop working,” I have a bit clearer idea of what God is doing.

Please share any stories of what God is doing in your life.

Volatility and Stability

space grey ipad air with graph on brown wooden table — Photo by Burak K on Pexels.com

Wow! It felt so good to entitle that late December post “The End”. I believed that it was. For during the quiet Winter of 2020 I was very content with my completed blog project. But then I don’t have to tell you the world, with its unstable political, social, natural and economic foundations, has become completely unhinged. On yet another rollercoaster stock market day my mother’s broker called with information on what she called a “profit grab”. Instead of focusing on the decision at hand, that comment transported me back to 2 classic Christmas films. And once again I discovered that I can say something new regarding the films about which this entire blog has been written. The transcendent nature of these classics invariably capture and comment on the stability and volatility of life. Some of them even comment on financial aspects. Yes even the little bit I know about Economics I learned from these movies. For example, in the middle of It’s a Wonderful Life, there is an extended scene depicting a Run on the Bedford Falls Bank where George Bailey practically explains Fractional Reserve Banking. He tries to dissuade customers from approaching Mr. Potter for a smaller return on their investment by reminding them that “Potter isn’t selling –Potter’s buying –because we’re panicky and he’s not!”

Then again, in Miracle on 34th Street, Judge Henry Harper agonizes over whether to entangle the New York State Supreme Court in deciding the legitimacy of Kris Kringle’s claim to fame. Inside Harper’s chambers, his political advisor reminds him of the power of trickle down economics. Should he decide that there is no “Santy Claus” then everyone from the department stores and toy manufacturers, the greeting card makers, the candy companies and the AF of L and the CIO would be offended –resulting in negative consequences for his re election.An online search of this movie reveals recent and extensive commentary which runs the gamut from the feasibility of actually trying this case on up to the ethics of judiciary election vs appointment. My point is this: People still watch, learn from, think and talk about these classics which make them prescient even today.

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So this morning rather than playing the entire DVDs, you tube clips were the source of my instant gratification. That’s where I also found the surprising commentary that accompanies these films. People still see connection between these mid century movies and current fluctuations. Rather than experiencing the typical nostalgia associated with this quick Christmas fix, I received an unanticipated gift: A sense of well being which only partly comes from remembering how these movies end.

Popcorn

Over the past 2 years each of my posts contain a purposeful juxtaposition of Christmas films with Biblical Scripture by intentionally pairing classic cinema and Scripture verses to encourage contemporary readers with transcendent truths. From Biblical Scripture I get a perspective that comes from a relationship with the God who knows the end from the beginning. I get a promise for a peace that this world can neither give nor take away. In other words, as my church likes to promote: God’s got this! 2020 still remains a most unique year with some of the most life altering ramifications yet to come. I join many people who interpret this season Biblically, as a sort of serious spiritual calm before a storm.

This time I include a Bible verse from the Old Testament –2nd Chronicles 7:14. If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven , forgive their sins and heal their land.

green and multicolored globe — Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Pexels.com

Within my church circle I am exhorted to humble myself, pray and seek God’s face and repent (or turn away from my wicked ways) in order to take advantage of providential offers to forgive me and heal my land. I know of many people who are doing this on a regular basis right now.

On the northbound side of 294 between Northlake and the airport is a bill board proclaiming 2 Chronicles 7:14 which also includes an admonition to do God’s will. Discovering God’s will is a controversial topic even within my churched circle. I know one thing about God’s will . God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2nd Peter 3:9 Repenting and believing in Christ are the first steps to approaching a holy God. If you read any of the posts throughout this project I think you would agree that I strongly advocate a relationship with Christ for many personal and pretty reasons. Now I believe the reason to encourage such a relationship is more imminent than ever before. Jesus Christ’s desire for a relationship with you is possible. I close each post with the same encouragement. Get to know Jesus –He would die for you to to get to know Him. 2 great places to start are in the second half of the Bible. Reading the book of John will show that Jesus is God and the book of Mark describes how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.

The End

dudley skates

“The only people who grow old are those who were born old–You were born young.” Dudley–The Bishop’s Wife

The end of this Christmas Season brings us the beginning of a new decade. Nothing juxtaposes old and new so much as the New Year holidays. Coupled with the above, these additional quotes from The Bishop’s Wife allow us to peer into the timeless struggle between aging, beauty, wisdom and significance:

“The world changes but two things remain constant–Youth and Beauty”

“If you want to know about a woman, ask the old men. They know”

Scripture acknowledges that we humans experience frustrations accompanied with aging while reminding us we can have a relationship with the One who is ever of old but never grows old.

Listen to me you descendants of Jacob.. you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:3-4

December the 25th

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If you’re anything like me, today, Christmas Day, has a poignant significance for you. The implication that on this date 2000 years ago “God and sinners (were) reconciled” is enough to change the Christian’s life forever. But there are plenty other people who struggle with the fact and idea of this season. No doubt Christmas is an emotional holiday. Obviously throughout this blog I’ve been writing as a fan of Christmas , and for the past 4 weeks or so waiting for today.

And when it finally gets here– while living the dream –we may worry that our hearts will feel a little bit broken tomorrow. Lord knows that among the stores and radio stations touting the importance of the date up til now, there is a shockingly abrupt end to the celebration on December 26. We will miss the music, the lights, the exclamations of goodwill so stimulating in December and so absent in January. A priority of this blog has been to emphasize the relevance of Christmas upon every month of the year in order to anticipate the season. Today’s blog is written to extend this same season. My friend Teresa’s father points out that the holidays extend from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day so that gives us a little more time to enjoy the sights and sounds for awhile. Although referred to frequently throughout these posts the following quote paired with transcendent Scripture merits another look.