Invictus

Invictus is a movie of forgiveness and conquering. It was produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, and stars Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela who was held a political prisoner for 27 years by the apartheid government of South Africa and Matt Damon as the captain of the South African Rugby Team, the Springbok, that won the World Cup in 1995.

Nelson Mandela has been released from prison and won the first fully democratic election for presidency in South Africa, and South Africa is hosting the World Cup in rugby. The Springbok had been a dominant team before its isolation from the world because of apartheid. And although Rugby is considered the sport of the 63,000 Afrikaners while soccer is the sport of the 43,000,000 South Africans, President Mandela sees the hosting of the World Cup as a vehicle for uniting all of South Africa behind a common goal. South Africa must win the World Cup!

The sports footage throughout the film is great! In fact, it is a great sports film. Along the way we learn lessons on leadership and forgiveness and avoiding the traps of hate and fear. When you see it next, be sure to look for these great lines in context:

• When Jason, the chief of his security detail, tells him that the four newly assigned security officers may be same ones who tried to kill him not long ago, President Mandela responds, "Forgiveness starts here too. Forgiveness never hurts the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon. Please, Jason, try.
• President Mandela "does not like it if you do not smile when you push people away."
• "We will call him Mr. President."
• "In order to build our nation we must all succeed our own expectations."
• "My father was a polygamist. As you know, I am not. But when I look at you, I envy my father."
• "You know things change, and we need to change as well."
• "We had the support of 43 million South Africans"

Invictus is the name of the poem that gave Mandela hope and determination while imprisoned for 27 years. In Latin, it means unconquered

Brooklyn's Finest

Brooklyn's Finest follows a growing trend in the motion picture industry of giving sympathetic reason for illegal activity making the particular criminal activity palatable to viewing masses. There are some good messages here but the film cannot be recommended for family viewing.

Brooklyn's Finest can be classified as a police or societal tragedy. A break down of main characters follows.

Sal’s wife suffers from asthma due to the wood mold in the walls of their small home. She is also expecting twins and Sal has been advised that because of the asthma one of the twins will be smaller than the other. The doctor also recommends moving to a different house. Sal is doing all he can to make this happen-- not all efforts are legal.

Detective Ronny Rosario is Sal’s friend and partner and appears to be the only one character in this police action tragedy with the right values.

Eddie has 7 days before he can retire, and he just wants to get to that day and retire before he succeeds in the daily suicide attempt that has become his morning ritual.

• But he has involuntarily been assigned as a rookie training officer for his last 7 days.
• On a visit to a prostitute one night he sees a girl being beaten by her pimp. It is not his concern; and he does nothing.
• Later when he identifies the same girl in a missing persons poster he thinks about the arrest he could have made were he not simply serving out his last 7 days.
• On a visit to the prostitute following his retirement Eddie unwittingly leads her to believe he wants an exclusive retirement future with her only to modify his desire when she responds more exuberantly than expected.
• She shrinks back and asks him to leave, the exchange having revealed the difficulty in completing her desired career change.
• The forceful requests immediately catapults Eddie to suicide mode. (The scene elicits my poetic interpretation of the moment.)

Tango is deep undercover, and wants out. He is so far under, he is in danger of becoming more of a criminal than a cop.

Federal Agent Smith gives us reason to continuing blaming the FEDS for all of our wrongs.

Caz rules his drug empire with the protection of his friend, Tango.

Brooklyn’s Finest is the story of three cops who, if not for their circumstances, would-be good cops. But as it is, they are three cops in need. Individually they are all pleading for help. An illustration of their need is found Sal’s confession to his priest:

• He confesses that he has killed a bad guy and he is asked whether he has prayed to God for guidance. He says he couldn’t do that because prayers are not going to give him what he needs. When he is told that God will forgive him because we are all imperfect creatures and led to sin, he responds in anger asking "why does God get all the glory?" He further states that he does not want God’s forgiveness, he wants God’s help! He immediately apologies to the priest and requests "a few Hail Marys and leaves before the priest can stop him.

Perhaps the real message here is that Believers should consider their role in their own salvation and continuing Christian life. As God has provided all that is needed to live the Christian life, we should seek him for it. And Thank God, we can go direct.

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Proverbs 30:7-9 (KJV) Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: {8} Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: {9} Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

 

The Book of Eli

Following a nuclear holocaust, he treks across the continent westward. He has been walking for 30 years and along the way he has overcome many obstacles some obviously lengthening his journey. Perhaps his need to memorize the book before delivery, or teach himself Braille, or purify himself to enure the mission’s success, or allow the remaining world to realize their need of what he carries, have all added years to his journey?


He has a singular mission and he lets nothing deter him-- not even mercy, least he fail. He is peaceful, even when provoked, but resilient and always victorious.


He is Eli and he carries the one remaining book to save the world. He is its defender, against all comers. And no matter the power of the opposition he does not draw back.


He is both determined and certain of his eventual success.


Denzel Washington stars as Eli, Mila Kunis as Solara, Jennifer Beals as Solara’s mother Claudia, Gary Oldman as Carnegie, the iron-fisted ruler of a dilapidated town of survivors Eli stumbles through. Carnegie knows the book exists, and believes that with it can rule the world. But Eli knows the book he carries can be used for good or bad, and the town run by Carnegie is not its destination.


The Book of Eli was released in January 2010. It is the most recent in a continuing line of movies where Denzel Washington plays a character of character. But although it has some great messages this is not a movie for young children. Some reviewers have said that Eli represents every man. These reviewers may be more on point than they realize.


I’m sure you will enjoy it when you see; and because some of you have not seen it yet I won’t spoil it for you with more detail. But here are a few things that registered with me:
• When told he has no choice with regards to accepting Carnegie’s invitation to spend the night before continuing his journey, he responds there is always a choice.
• Eli has remained focused on single mission for over 30 years, and allowed himself no distractions.
• Eli is focused on carrying out his mission, not explaining it.
• After surrendering the book to Carnegie to save Solara, Eli confides to Solara that he has been so busy defending the book that he has not lived by it.
• In even the worse circumstance when failure appears certain, Eli remains focused on his mission.


Eli is a man with a purpose, and a man with no friends. In every circumstance he chooses his mission over his own convenience. The Book of Eli provides great motivation for each of us to start, continue and complete our mission, whatever it is.

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1 Thessalonians 3:3 (KJV) That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto

 

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Supposing?

Do you think your life is hell?

Well . .  think about it. Maybe it is. Maybe that is why Christ came, to deliver you from hell, To give you the tools to navigate around a life of hell!

Suppose the idea that we go to Heaven or Hell after we die is part of Satan’s trick? He’s been around a long time and has had time to work out the most successful approach to keeping you from God.

And suppose he does this not so much to deny you, but to irritate God, to deny God you?

Suppose you really aren’t Satan’s enemy? And he wars with you only to irritate the One he can not defeat?

Suppose there is hidden truth in the film The Matrix? That we live in a system far below the system for which we were intended, and to keep us captive this system filters the information we receive?

Suppose Hell and Heaven were now, and we choose between them with our words? If Hell were now, what difference would it make to you? If Heaven were now, how would it impact your words?

Suppose our great men introduce new terms and teachings only to get us involved in debates over their validity? Not of their own intent of course, but as Satan is wise, he could he drop new terms to be introduced and taught so that regardless of the validity our time is consumed with the new thing rather than application of the Word?

Suppose the only way God could see His son, Jesus, is through you? Would you let Him? Or would you direct Him to the stained-glass image?

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• Proverbs 18:21 (KJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
• Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV) I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
• Proverbs 14:27 (KJV) The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
• Genesis 27:36 (KJV) And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
• Deuteronomy 11:26-28 (KJV) Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; {27} A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: {28} And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
• Mark 10:45 (KJV) For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
• Exodus 20:4 (KJV) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
• Leviticus 26:1 (KJV) Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.
• Deuteronomy 4:23 (KJV) Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.
• Acts 17:21 (KJV) (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)