Expections Vs Reality

If you've known me for very long, then chances are you've realized that I don't watch a ton of movies outside of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

Typically, a movie has to be either far better than average or far worse than average for me to waste my time watching it. And it has to be even more extreme for me to waste much time talking about it. This is about to be an exception to that trend.

The movie is called 500 Days of Summer, and I'll be honest with you up front: It's a chick flick. And since we're being honest, I'll admit that yes, I kind of liked it. But this isn't a movie review, so I must get to the point.

The reason I'm going on about this relatively-better-than-average-but-still-not-Oscar-worthy film is because it has one of the most memorable scenes of any movie out there, at least as far as I'm concerned.

If you haven't seen the film, I'll save you a bit of time and summarize it for you, up to the point of the clip.

500 Days of Summer follows a guy named Tom (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is madly in love with a girl named Summer (played by Zooey Deschanel). And although they're in a relationship, Summer makes it clear that she isn't looking for anything more than something casual, and (blah blah blah), Tom wants something more than that, and they eventually break up.

Some time later, Summer runs into Tom and invites him to a party back at her place. (Tom's still crazy about Summer at this point, even though they've broken up, by the way.)

Enter memorable movie scene: On the left half of the screen, we see Tom as he imagines the night will play out: Tom's Expectations. On the right half of the screen, we see how the night really plays out: Tom's Reality.

What happens in the scene doesn't really matter, so much as the fact that Tom's expectations are set way to high, and could at best be met, but probably not exceeded by his reality.

Now the reason why this is one of the most memorable scenes to me is because it hits so close to home.

Far too often we play events out in our minds, and they rarely ever match our expectations, let alone exceed them. (I say we, because I'm sure I and the movie director are not the only ones who do this.)

And while I could go on blogging for hours about specific experiences of mine that relate to this scene, I don't think that's particularly necessary.

What I'm getting at is that if your'e at all like me, you should at all costs avoid the route that is setting expectations.

Take my advice: rather than setting the bar of expectations high or low, don't set the bar at all; it's not fair to you, and it's certainly not fair to them.

Instead, go into every situation with an open mind and an open agenda. You will be a better person for it. Who knows, you may even end up finding something better than what you've been looking for along.

"Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he will never be disappointed."

- Alexander Pope

Current thoughts, fears, observations.

This week in my "Great books" class in school we started reading a book titled "On the origins of species" (the book that revolutionized Evolution). Which was written by, none other than Charles Darwin, himself.

Every time I start diving into the book's content, I can't help but to be overwhelmed by the fact that a mere mortal can be so incredibly influential on the rest of society.

I can't help but realize how one man has skewed the truth for so many people.

I can't help but realize how the writings of ONE man so easily caused MILLIONS of people to come to the wrong conclusion of God, and how easy it was for him to drag others down the path of death and destruction.

And I can't help but wonder... am I doing the same thing?

Now, obviously I'm not a published author. And I'll probably never write anything that will influence millions of people's lives... (be it in a positive or negative way), but that's not the point.

The point is, am I living my life in such a way that is causing others to come to the wrong conclusions of God, or more specifically, Christianity in general?

If I profess to be a Christian, but I act in such a way that causes other's view of Christianity to become skewed, how does that make me any different than Mr. Darwin?

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surroumded with such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everytging that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverence the race marked out for us."

Conclusion: I want to live my life in such a way that others will look at me and my life and see Jesus in the flesh; not just a typical "T-shirt Christian," whose religion only goes as far as chanting some heartless "sinners prayer."

That is all.

Have you ever stopped to think...? (8/31/08)

Have you ever stopped to think that you might be someone's role model without knowing it?

Have you ever stopped to think that maybe someone models their life after yours?

Have you ever stopped to think that the choices you make not only affect you and your spiritual walk, but someone else's as well?

Have you ever stopped and thought, "Maybe I shouldn't do this... or maybe I shouldn't say that... or maybe I shouldn't encourage this kind of behavior, because someone else might be watching, and their chance at salvation or their chance at getting closer to Jesus might be negatively affected because of something you are about to do, say, or encourage"?

This is something God kind of "laid on my heart" this morning -- something I felt like God was pressing me not only to hear but to ADHERE.

Next time you are about to do something you know is wrong, ask yourself this question, "Do the pleasures of this sin outweigh the cost of causing someone else to fall?"

Think about it...

A new awakening (9/11/08)

Earlier today in my study of the Bible, I was reading from a book that was written by quite possibly the best author to ever walk the earth, and my second favorite Bible character (after Jesus): Paul.

The book I was reading from was none other than 1st Corinthians - or Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth. And the exact location of my reading was chapter 2, starting in verse 1.

(1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
It says, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling, My message and my preaching were with not wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
- WOW!

Paul, over here - a feared man who once persecuted christians - is stating that HE, of all people, was TREMBLING WITH FEAR as he was speaking the word of God to the people of Corinth.

Paul - the same guy who penned most of the New Testament - was admitting that he he "did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom" (he may have even had a stuttering problem).

Paul - one of the most powerful writers of all time - stating that he was coming to them "in weakness".

AND YET HE STILL PREACHED THE GOSPEL!

Reading this I can't help but think these were LEGITIMATE excuses for Paul to sit at home and be lazy like everyone else! I mean, c'mon. The guy is weak. The guy is scared. The guy is even a poor speaker, for goodness sakes!! Why was God asking such an under qualified man to spread the gospel to thousands, if not literally millions of people? Or perhaps this raises an even better question:

Why is God asking ME to do the same thing?

Paul never denied the fact that he was scared, but he wasn't letting that fear stop him from advancing the gospel.

I can't help but ask myself how much longer I can sit back and watch the world go to hell because I have a few "legitimate excuses" that are keeping me from advancing the gospel.

I believe the reason God asked Paul is because not only was he willing to go, but I believe Paul had a COMPLETE grasp on what the gospel was really about: he "resolved to know nothing ... except Jesus Christ and him crucified", and in knowing this, he couldn't keep it to himself.

In conclusion, I have to ask myself, "Do I know Christ?" "Do I know him crucified?" And if so, why am I letting my weaknesses get in the way of God doing a work in me?

Random thoughts: Obedience

Lately I've been struggling with material possessions. 

As many of you know, I spent a little over a week at CBC visiting my most amazing older brother, Jared. While I was there, the school had a special speaker named Mark Batterson come and teach for spiritual emphasis week. 

During one of his "sermons", he said something that completely transformed my mind. He said, "Don't accumulate possessions, accumulate experiences." It's such a simple concept, but it struck me in such a way that, to say the least, changed the way I will forever look at myself. 

Over the course of the past few years I've been building this library of my favorite movies. l had a few of my favorites from various genres. I had a couple Pixar animated videos; a few high-budget action movies; a few Will Ferrel comedies; a few dramas, and even a tear-jerker. To say that I love movies would be a major understatement.

While I was at CBC I met a kid who was playing Donkey Kong on a rather incapable television. At first I didn't think much of it, but after he stood there slapping the tv with his bare hands trying to jolt some life into it, I felt like God was telling me to bless him by giving him my tv. So I offered it to him, and he accepted it gratefully. 

Later that week I realized, hey, I have an Xbox, but no tv to play it on. I considered telling him he couldn't have the tv after all, but I knew that wouldn't be right. So I resolved to offer the Xbox to him as well, which he accepted. 

Saturday morning Jared drove me home. I was prepared to give him my tv and my xbox, but for some reason I didn't even think of the fact that I have a decent movie collection of 60 some titles. 

As soon as I made eye contact with the movies, I knew I was supposed to give them away too. So I took Jared's iPhone (which is pretty sweet, btw!) and called this guy up. He said he'd be happy to have my movies, and I was happy to give them away. 

As I was sitting there boxing up these movies, I felt like God was telling me to give every bit of entertainment I had away so that I could focus on him more easily. But the longer I sat there, the harder it was for me to put some of them in the box. 

I thought to myself, "What am I doing? I'm giving away at least $200 worth of movies here!" So I resolved to keep my favorite titles to myself, and box up the rest to give away. I said to myself, "That's not a bad compromise.... right?"

WRONG. 

Too often I find myself trying to compromise with God, saying things like, "God won't mind if I watch this; this movie isn't that bad" or, "God doesn't care if I listen to this band, so long as they don't curse" or, "God doesn't care if I talk like this, because people know I'm just joking around..."

Seriously? Can I even say that, and at the same time call myself a Christian?

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

God calls us to live perfect lives. Now I'm not saying he EXPECTS us to be perfect... but that's what he asks of us. He wants ME to throw away everything that keeps me from better serving him, and furthering his kingdom (i.e. movies), but I find myself damning God to the confinements of this box of compromises instead of being real with myself and saying, 'You KNOW this is what God is asking of you!'

Now, maybe the issue with the movies wasn't that big of a deal, (although there's something to be said about disobeying God), but I just find that this situation is symbolic with how I live my life: Just as I picked and chose which movies I was going to keep for myself, I pick and choose which areas of my life I will be completely Christian in. 

In conclusion, I pray you will learn from my experience and listen (and obey!) when God speaks to you. I pray you will not be like me in choosing your areas of christianity. I pray that you would seek to gain experiences in life - not worthless possessions. And lastly, I pray that you will give me prayer to have the strength to do the same. 

Peace out. 
One love.