Mel Gibson’s new movie project is the two-part biblical drama The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One and The Resurrection of the Christ: Part Two, serving as the direct follow-up to his 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. In a press release, Gibson shared that the story was brought to the screen “exactly as I envisioned it.”

After examining Mel and his belief system and his work as a producer, my advice is get familiar with the Gospels and stick to reruns of Leave It to Beaver. Scripture makes a great divide between Mel’s envisioning things and the facts of Holy Writ.

Revelation 22:18-19

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Deuteronomy 4:2

You shall not add to the Word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

Careful with allowing Hollywood to define what comes from Scripture. Give it some careful consideration.

Gary

David Fincher says, “Yeah, you see the glass as half full, but it’s half full of urine. Anyway, I’ve never been suicidal except for one little period.”

Everybody has hardships, but some are much greater than the average. Does the Bible address these phenomena? Glad you asked.

Genesis 3:17

….. “Cursed is the ground because of you;
    through painful toil you will eat food from it
    all the days of your life.

Job 5:7

Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

So, you’re having trouble; deal with it because everyone else is. Give it some consideration.

Gary

You have heard the old saying, “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Well, I just created a new one. “If life gives you dough, make cookies for others.”

Philippians 2:3 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Ephesians 4:32 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Give it some thought and start baking.

Gary

My psychiatrist told me I was crazy. 

I responded, “I want a second opinion.”

“Okay,” he said. “You’re ugly too.” 

–       Rodney Dangerfield

Why did he make the appointment? Knowing his whole personality was out of whack, he still wasn’t ready to face reality. On top of that diagnosis, he received more unwelcome but truthful information.

That psychiatrist reminds me of God. We examine what Scripture has to say about our condition, but then we turn away in disbelief and denial. Here it is:

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?

James 1:23-24

For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Come on now.  Take a good look, and then with the help of God, do something about it.

Gary

I was eleven with a twenty-six-inch bicycle, and I wanted to experience what it could do. Dad was the foreman of a lumber camp some twenty miles from home, and I talked him into spending a night at the camp after which I would ride home the next day. It was a good ride, although I was fearful at times, for I was alone. He’d allowed me to do that, because I’m sure, he planned to tell the truckers to keep an eye on his willful, adventurous kid.

I’m an old man now, but I believe God has told the angels, “Keep an eye on my boy until he gets home because he doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into sometimes.”

Psalm 91:11-12 

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Psalm 23:6 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

On your way home, give this some thought.

Gary

While it is impossible to give an exact global head count, millions of people enjoy fruitcake, with commercial bakeries selling over 2 million pre-made cakes annually in the U.S. alone. Historic single-town bakeries move millions of pounds each year.  The UK maintains a massive and traditional holiday market for it.  Personally, I think the Brits have strange tastes because they also like the monarchy.

Back to what you like and don’t like, how about this:

Deuteronomy 32:2

Let my teaching fall like rain and My Words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.

Isaiah 44:22

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.
Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.

Do you like these verses or not?  It says something about your taste. Give it some consideration.

Gary

“Just One Look” was a hit song when it came out in 1963 and was sung by many groups which put it back on the charts over the years. How many got involved with some sort of sadness and regret because they believed in that false premise of love at first sight?  Like pop-ups on your computer, don’t click on that unless you really know what you are doing. There are demons out there that work to capture you if you’ll only look.

Does the Bible address this phenomenon? Glad you asked.

1 John 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Romans 12:2 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Be careful about what captures your attention at first glance. Give it some consideration.

Gary