by Brian Hobbs | Sep 14, 2016
Rudy, Remember the Titans, Facing the Giants and Woodlawn: If you liked all of these movies, you are sure to like the new film release, Greater.
Plot summary
According to the film’s website, the based-on-a-true-story movie goes like this: “Brandon Burlsworth is perhaps the greatest walk-on in the history of college football. Brandon dreamed of playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks, but was told he wasn’t good enough to play Division I ball. Undeterred, Brandon took a risk and walked on in 1994. Written off by fellow teammates and coaches, Brandon displayed dogged determination in the face of staggering odds. The awkward kid who once was an embarrassment to his teammates and an annoyance to his coaches, ended up becoming the most respected player in the history of the program, changing the lives of all he touched.”
Positive elements
Americans love an underdog story, and you can’t get any more of an underdog than this. Whether you are a football fan or not, you will love Brandon Burlsworth the person, his perseverance and character. While some skeptics and non-believers might view the film as weak in places, the message of the movie and quality of cinematography and acting were better than the normal faith-based film. This movie also features character development that will challenge and inspire.
Negative elements
There are at least two instances of bad language, in a football practice setting. In one scene, drinking alcohol is shown. Also, for those who are a bit film-snobbish and only want to see award-winning, artistic films, they might skip this one.
Spiritual content
The greatest strength of the movie is the message and that it’s based on a true story. Through Greater, we are forced to think about issues like sin, faith, repentance, doubt, fear, struggles and overcoming. The movie also has a character that represents doubt or lies from the devil, and it faces those questions head on.
Overall
I am a bit of a pushover or “sucker” for sports movies. From Hoosiers to Rocky to Rudy, nothing quite floats my boat like sports movies. That being said, I am not a huge fan of the SEC football conference (in fact, I have some “SEC Envy” of which I need to repent), but this Oklahoma football fan was still able to enjoy fully the movie and recommend it with a whole heart. If you want to see it in the theatre, though, you might hurry, because it was a limited release movie. You will be glad you saw it.
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars
by Brian Hobbs | Aug 31, 2016
On Aug. 30, select theatres in the United States showed a limited-release new movie, The Insanity of God. The film documentary is a dramatic autobiographical account of two Southern Baptist missionaries from America and includes stories of persecuted Christians in the modern world. For those who enjoyed the best-selling book, The Insanity of God, this movie probably did not disappoint.
Plot Summary
According to the website, “The Insanity of God is the true story of missionaries Nik and Ruth Ripken. After the death of their son, this ordinary couple journeys into the depths of the persecuted church, asking the question-IS JESUS WORTH IT?”
The film explores: “How does faith survive, let alone flourish, in the places of the world that are overcome with the darkness of sin, despair and hopelessness? Join the Ripkens as they tell the story of being taught by believers in persecution ‘how to follow Jesus, how to love Jesus, and how to walk with Him day by day even when it doesn’t make sense.’”
Positive Elements
Stories, stories, stories. The biggest appeal of the movie is what was appealing about the book. There are real-life, dramatic encounters that show the cost of being a Christian in some parts of the world today.
We hear about what it was like to be a Christian during the times of the Communist USSR and the brutal torture and persecution of believers. We relive the horrors of life in Somalia during the 1990s. We think about what it’s like to be an underground church in East Asia.
The Ripkins themselves, through interviews, passionately relate the story of what God did in their missions travels in parts of Africa and, later, other parts of the world. Due to security concerns, their faces are not shown on camera (though we see photos of them from years gone by), which added to the gravity of the movie.
There are gripping moments in which you feel the weight of the risks they took and the trials they faced—and share in the triumphs of seeing people being transformed by the Living Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Negative Elements
The movie did not feature any A-list actors, and, in some places, it showed. At the same time, a big-name actor could have detracted, not added to the message of the movie.
Spiritual Content
It is hard for me to know how a non-Christian or skeptic might receive the movie. What I do know is that Evangelical Christians will walk away challenged to go deeper in their faith and pray how God can use them.
After the film concluded, the movie breaks character, and there is a “post-game interview” between David Platt, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board (who was a partner in the movie’s making and debut), and the Ripkins. The interview is done well. For some viewers, though, it could feel anti-climactic, because of how powerful the movie itself was. Platt also extends a challenge and even an alter call at the conclusion of the movie, which many Christians will appreciate. Again, I do not know how a non-Christian would receive this.
Overall
Whether you’ve read the book or not, The Insanity of God, is an inspiring real story of the real sacrifice of missionaries that most people will appreciate and find inspiration. We thank God for the Ripkins and pray the Lord would raise up 10,000 more just like them.
Stars
3.5 stars (out of 4)
by Brian Hobbs | Aug 23, 2016
“His name is Omran,” reads a powerful headline on CNN.com.
The story is about a boy of approximately five years of age who was bruised and bloodied in the Syrian war. Through a powerful photo and also knowing the child’s name, the Syrian refugee crisis has resonated with many previously distant and unaffected people.
There is something in human nature that responds more acutely to a single person’s tragedy, as we see here. A quote attributed to the evil Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin, says, “The death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic.”
Think about it this way. According the latest research, there have been some 57 million children aborted in America since the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling. For many Americans, even a number like that doesn’t seem real, but more of a statistic. As Christians, however, we know that each one of these boys and girls deserved to live and is precious to God and to us.
I would go one step further and say that it’s not only a single person that makes a tragedy seem more real; it’s knowing a name.
Think back when much of the nation grieved over the death of “Cecil the Lion” and “Harambe the Gorilla.” While these instances were certainly sad and unfortunate, many of the same people who grieved over these animal deaths are stalwart abortion rights proponents.
In the Bible, we see that one of the first things God had Adam do was name the animals. The Bible also promises us that God knows each one of us by name. To borrow a well-worn phrase, what’s in a name? It turns out, there’s a lot.
Today, we grieve Omran’s plight and are moved to prayer and other action. As Christians, let’s be more aware of the power in names and try to put a face on major issues like sanctity of human life. After all, God’s Name is honored when we promote justice and stand up for the defenseless.
by Brian Hobbs | Aug 2, 2016
In one of my favorite movies, Ernest Saves Christmas, one of the main characters is teaching a group of children this phrase: “They never get old. They always stay new. Those three little words, ‘Please’ and ‘Thank You.’”
In my own life, I’ve tried to remember not only to teach my children the power in these words, but to live it myself. I have learned, also, there are three other little phrases that, if said and lived, are even more powerful. They are as follows:
1. “Yes sir/ma’am”
Many parents do a great job teaching their children to say “sir” and “ma’am” when talking to adults. While this is not necessarily a 100 percent right and wrong method, the idea behind it is one that every person must learn. From intern to CEO, from citizen to president, each and every person is under authority.
We know from history that when a person comes to believe that they should not answer to anyone, that they are the ultimate authority, trouble ensues. To take an extreme example, historians say that even from childhood, Adolf Hitler despised being under authority.
From looking at childhood photos to the time he was executing his murderous vision on the world, he resented all other authority but his own. Now, there is very little chance than any one of us will raise a little Hitler, but the point stands that if we can learn to submit to proper authority, life will go better (1 Tim. 2:2).
2. “Yes dear”
For those of us who are married, we know what a blessing married life is. Whether you are newlywed or have been married for many years, though, we also know that marriage brings challenges and opportunities for growth.
In biblical marriage, the man is head of the household. But the Bible clearly teaches mutual submission to one another, too (Ephesians 5:21-6:4). When the world hears the term “submit,” it thinks doormat or pushover. In Christianity, though, we see a beautiful picture of dying to self and putting another first. Husbands, by learning the key phrase, “yes dear,” we not only learn a happier way of life, we learn what it means to be servant-leader of our homes.
3. “Yes Lord”
In the parable in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 21, we hear of two sons. When their father asks them to do something, one son says “Yes father” but does not follow through. The second says “No father” but changes his mind and obeys. God is teaching us that he wants our actions, not merely our words.
With our lips and lives, every Christian believer must learn to say “yes” to God. Not only is this the true path to blessing, it is the only acceptable way to our Maker.
In the end, while “please” and “thank you” will make you a more polite and thankful person, learning when and how to say “yes” to God and the proper people is the surest road to a blessed and obedient-to-God life.
by Brian Hobbs | Jul 21, 2016
My favorite college professor tells the story about Edward Gibbon, the famous Roman historian. When Gibbon served in British Parliament, he never once gave an address or speech. When asked why, he said the examples of the good speeches and bad speeches deterred him from doing so.
As I watch the national dialogue, relating to the tragic deaths—of police and African American men—in recent weeks, I frankly have not spoken out very much publicly. The examples of the good things I have heard, as well as the bad things I’ve heard, have deterred me.
While I have not said much, I have thought about these issues and prayed about them more than any time in my life. After some discussions with some African American pastors, I can see that I have been blind to the plight and fears of many in the black community. After discussions with law enforcement personnel, I can see that I have been blind to the risks and pressures they face every day.
Here are three things I have learned during this time:
1. I need to listen even more
I am grieved that people on all sides of the issue are largely talking past one another. I think if each one of us listened more than we spoke, we would all be better off. A famous prayer says, in part, “O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love…” This kind of understanding only can come with a listening heart.
2. There’s so much I don’t understand
I once interviewed a pastor and asked, “What blind spots do Southern Baptists have in the culture today?” He replied, in a humorous and pointed way, “By definition, we don’t know our blind spots.” He went on to say that we can prayerfully work on the ones we just found out we had. This issue of racial reconciliation is a blind spot to many. May God give us more understanding.
3. Pursue justice, pray more
There’s a popular retail store whose motto is “expect more, pay less.” When events unfold as they have in recent weeks, there is a tendency to start to expect less from society, to lower our standards. There is also a tendency to give up, to pray less, not more. As Christians, we must be first in line to recognize the worth and dignity of every person of every race, and to bathe social problems and calamities in prayer.
I will continue to listen, long for and pray for a way forward through this crisis, believing that God can bring beauty and peace out of hard times. Lord, help us…