by Brian Hobbs | Jul 22, 2013
While the world is buzzing about the birth of Duchess Kate and Prince William’s child, I offer these thoughts.
5. People love babies. In our abortion-rights saturated culture, it is good to see that people still love a good birth. As with marriage, people love a good wedding more than the hard work of a good marriage. The same is said on an occasion such as this.
4. Live your life. While I, like you, stand in awe of Royalty and the pomp surrounding it, God made you. He put you were you are and has a plan for your life. This cannot be fulfilled by only living vicariously through the lives of others. We have one life on this earth, so today, embrace the gift of life.
3. Sex matters. The sex of the baby, I mean. When the doctor announced “It’s a boy!” that genetic fact determines a great deal. In a society that increasingly wants to minimize the differences between the sexes, this birth is a reminder that God created man and woman as distinct, equal beings.
2. Remember the orphans. While it is fun to fawn over the Royal Baby, it is also a good time to take stock of the orphans in society. In Oklahoma alone, there are 10,000-plus children the foster care system who need our thoughts and prayers, too.
1. With this birth, let’s remember His birth. Before there was Twitter, before the House of Windsor, there was a baby in a manger, the Christ Child. How amazing to ponder that God Himself came cloaked in human flesh in the form of Jesus Christ, truly the most important birth of all time.
by Brian Hobbs | Jul 19, 2013
While I am a defender of the free-market system, I am keenly aware that capitalism often does financially reward those who appeal to the lowest common denominator. Whether it’s music or art or food, the marketers often appeal to what is most base in us to get into our wallets.
Billboards, TV commercials, web sites—each of these increasingly cater to what I call the barbarians among us. I do not have to spend much time defining who I mean, because you have seen them. They are the loud, rude men (overgrown boys really) who whistle at women, dress like slobs, wearing ball caps indoors and cutoff cargo shorts everywhere they go, and walk in front of women instead of holding the door for them.
While we have long suffered through having restaurants at which scantily-clad waitresses serve food, unfortunately we can now add haircut places to that list—even here in Oklahoma. Our pornographic culture takes the greatest toll on women, who feel like they must play along in order to get attention from men.
In the end, the biggest losers in the equation are children, who see all of this and think it is the way the world works. We are, of course, not the first to suffer under such a barbarian’s world. We are, however, the only culture to do so while women’s rights were so supposedly guarded.
Conservative Christians who decry this culture are painted as extremists. The real extremists are those who have no standards. What Christians want is not women covered head to toe (like in some Eastern nations). We want modesty and beauty (instead of revealing and “sexy”).
The solution to this growing problem is not easy. But then again, nothing worth doing is ever easy. It starts with Christians taking a page out of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s playbook. Namely, refusing to give business to purveyors of the problem. If businesses or restaurants use women (or men) for their looks in order get business, don’t go there.
Secondly, he who controls the culture controls the destiny. Christians should not stop at boycotting bad movies and books. We should be creating good art. We do not need only Christian movies that appeal only to Christians (though I love those). We need Christians who make movies.
Thirdly, we must train the appetites of children now growing up to recoil at the sight of barbarians. Now, we want them to be redeemed from their sins and bad behavior (after all, we are all heathens in our hearts, solely dependent on Christ for redemption), but we must teach the children as we go that this is not the way men should act.
Finally, we must pray like never before. It might have happened to you already today. The marketing message bombards and tempts all that is base in our hearts. Ask God to change your heart and desires and to say no to the barbarian’s paradise, and yes to the paradise that Jesus promised the thief on the cross (Luke 23). May God help us each to become who He intended us to be, by His grace.
by Brian Hobbs | Jul 17, 2013
“Who was that masked man?” seems ever an appropriate question for the recent rendition of “The Lone Ranger,” starring Armie Hammer as the title character and Johnny Depp as “Tonto,” his iconic Indian sidekick. The reason I say this is that “The Lone Ranger” film did not really fit in the library of movies, books and storytelling from the legend. This movie was nothing more than a third installment of “Shanghi Noon,” a movie I liked at the time I saw it in college but was by no means a classic or appropriate for polite company.
Positive Elements
There were a few good scenes in “The Lone Ranger,” especially the finale. The movie even made good use of “The William Tell Overture,” a song I love to hear and play (on my trumpet). With many of the characters, we get to see a moral development, especially the man that becomes “The Lone Ranger.” Moviegoers also are forced to grapple with the concepts of justice and the plight of Native Indians, who dealt with the Westward expansion of the Frontier.
Negative Elements
I guess I don’t have a major problem with showing violence for a purpose, to display the evil of characters (as long as it is not unnecessarily graphic), but this movie went too far. There was even cannibalism, folks. The bad language throughout was pronounced, and I understand that the Old West had prostitution, but the movie reveled in it too much.
Spiritual Elements
Christianity did not have a favorable view in the Wild West portrayal. “The Lone Ranger” himself was, at best, a benign deist whose “bible” was the writings of John Locke. The language throughout was a problem for youth, and the Lord’s Name was taken in vain (though it was hard to hear anything among the scenes of gun-firing).
Overall
Critics and people at the box office alike are turning their noses up at “The Lone Ranger.” While the movie had its entertaining moments, it fell flat and by its crude, inappropriate content, missed a chance to make a movie that would shape the moral imaginations of children for years.
Rating 2 stars (out of 4)
by Brian Hobbs | Jul 15, 2013
Let me preface this review by saying that, growing up, I was a huge fan of Superman. Of all of the fictional superheroes, the one who stood for “truth, justice and the American way” was about my favorite. Though not a big comic book reader, I did watch the Christopher Reeves movies time and time again, as well as re-runs of the original “Adventures of Superman” TV show.
The expectations from these set me up for a letdown with the new “Man of Steel,” which was too long, full of inane action and a disappointing amount of crude, offensive language.
Positive Elements
“Man of Steel” did a good re-telling of the myth of Superman, coming from Krypton. Further, the actual actor in the movie was pretty likeable, though I wish he had shown more personality. Amy Adams’ rendition of “Louis Lane” was very modern day, which was its strength and its weakness. The special effects were spectacular, though it is obvious that’s what they were–computer-generated special effects. Some of the supporting case, including Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner, did a great job (perhaps better than the main cast). My favorite character was “Perry White,” editor of the Daily Planet (but I am probably biased there by my own profession). For an hour and a half movie, it was at least entertaining, if nothing else. The problem is this was a two-and-a-half hour movie.
Negative Elements
The largest problem in “Man of Steel” may have gone unnoticed by most movie goers. The Lord’s Name was taken in vain (in the “OMG” form) multiple times, which should not be in any Superman movie (or any movie, really). This next point is a superficial criticism, but while the “Man of Steel” was concerned for us earthlings in the movie, he did not seem as concerned from preventing destruction around him. In one scene, he is battling a super-powered enemy, who throws a fuel tanker semi-truck at him. Rather than stopping the truck, Superman just jumps over it, letting the truck hit a building and explode. Exploding buildings were everywhere in this movie, leaving the reviewer with a yawn by the end.
Spiritual Elements
Throughout the movie, the moviemakers hinted at comparisons between Jesus Christ and Superman, who in the movie “was sent to earth to save” people, was 33 years old (the same age of Christ during His earthly ministry), and in one scene, he hangs in space with his arms spread wide. C.S. Lewis likes to say that we should expect imitations of the real thing in pagan myths and other forms of culture, but in today’s confused culture you have to be extra careful with such tactics. The movie did uphold the good vs. evil narrative, but not in a way that all audiences can resonate with, especially younger (e.g. 13 year-old) viewers. “Man of Steel” did struggle with the great theme of “the greater good,” which is important philosophically, as well as following your calling and doing your duty. These are more than bubble-gum thoughts.
Overall:
Most people who see “Man of Steel” will like it. I supposed if I had lowered my expectations and turned my mind off for more of the movie, I may have liked it more, too. As it stands, I cannot safely recommend this movie for families.
Rating 2.5 stars (out of 4)
by Brian Hobbs | Jul 8, 2013
Though we do not usually go to see the latest “family movie” on opening weekends, I did take my wife and children to see “Despicable Me 2.”
I had the disadvantage of having not seen the first movie, so I had no emotional attachment or background information on any of the characters. My children filled me in on the basic plot, and it’s not complicated material here. In fact, according to the movie’s own promotional material, the plot of “Despicable Me 2” can be summarized in one sentence: “Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal.”
Positive Elements
“Gru” seems to have mended his villainous ways since the first movie, as he attempts to piece together a day job/honest enterprise of his own (prior to being recruited to work for the “Anti-Villain League”) and take care of his three girls. Throughout the movie, we see the fatherly protection he has and a sense of family. While the plot contains a portrayal of blended family, the fact of the matter is that is where a vast number of Americans are today. Marriage is upheld as a goal in this movie, which is good.
The famed “minions” do their part in this movie to provide laughs for children viewers. In the end, the good triumphs over evil, as well. Finally, in spite of its PG-rating, had little to no bad words. It was relatively clean for viewers of all ages.
Negative Elements
The movie contains a fair amount of bathroom humor. While most dismiss this as childlike fun, it is no wonder that our children grow up with and among such poor manners. Socrates said, “there is nothing more telling of a man than what he finds funny.” Most Americans, unfortunately, find bathroom references funny. Some of the scenes of this movie could be frightening to the youngest of viewers, as there are some large purple monsters.
Spiritual Elements
There is no mention of God in “Despicable Me 2.” For those wishing for a teachable moment, a la Sunday School, they will walk away disappointed. There are, however, family lessons about boys and girls and dating and marriage that could be discussed by families.
Most viewers going to see this are going for pure amusement (‘a’ means without, ‘muse’ means thinking; put together the word means “without thinking”) for 90 minutes. Within the plot, though, we see the value of forgiveness, redemption and friendship. These are important lessons for children and adults alike these days.
Overall Rating: 3 stars