Seven Pounds

A guy is haunted by his past. In his attempt at redeeming himself, he finds seven people to help. What an amazingly sad story! Can we redeem ourselves? Can I repay all the bad things I’ve done by somehow giving up my life?

My mind replayed the movie several times throughout the evening. Was this a righteous act? Was there any other way?

The conclusion that I came to is that we cannot be a savior. A messiah. We are born sinners. We do things that hurt people. We live guilt ridden lives because of the damage we do. Sometimes the damage is to ourselves. Sometimes it’s damage to our lover. Sometimes it’s damage to our children. And other times it’s damage to strangers. Those we don’t know.

Fortunately, there is another way. And as the movie portrayed, a sacrifice is required.

The Drummer Boy

Donna suggested I read this due to a comment it had about the exclusion of Christmas from the lives and language of the people of the day. This was enforced by laws. Her fear is that this may be the society that our children will live in one day. Even so, the end has a great insight on what will happen should society adopt such attitudes. The book is a very quick read. It took me about 45 minutes with kids interrupting and everything.

The fear that the next generation of people will fully abandon what my generation and the generation before me began abandoning is a legitimate concern. However, I return to the Bible and realize that Christ did not grow up in a Judeo-Christian society. It was Jewish, sure. But it was under Roman control. The first century church was was not in the American Midwest surrounded by dozens of other churches of many different denominations. It was all by itself in a world controlled by those that hated it, despised it and persecuted it.

If the first century church survived, why can’t my family? Why do I fear? Why am I teaching my kids to fear? I need to teach them to walk to the beat of a different drum, like this kid here. Not following the Baptist crowd. Not following the Oprah crowd. And certainly not following the crowds of modern society. I must instill in them a Biblical worldview that God is God and we are not. That our job is to bring Him glory. That the Bible is the infallible, true Word of God. And that we need to listen to Him through His word, the Spirit and the church. Then my children may be persecuted. They may not have many friends. But I guarantee that they will influence people!