Born to Die

There is a scene in the comedy Talladega Nights where Will Ferrel's character is praying and he prays to the baby Jesus . Then  a fight ensues about what Jesus is their favorite but Ferrell insist on his favorite is the baby Jesus.  Its safe to have Jesus stay in the manger.  Most of the world would love to keep Him there. For we can so skew the story that is all about love , that the baby Jesus becomes a symbol of giving and love , nothing more.

But just as this song points , the cross was ever the shadow. Jesus came to die , to give His life as a ransom for many. Why? Because the ugly truth is mankind is polluted with sin. We are alienated from a holy God because we are fallen .We are in a state of rebellion .  The father sent the Son , to pay the penalty to satisfy justice. We are therefore justified because of the offering of Jesus on the cross were He bore our sin, our shame. The wrath due us poured out and was fully satisfied because Jesus was the spotless lamb ,sinless.

The true Jesus confronts us because it forces one to realize that your are either for Him or against Him. He didn't stay a baby. He grew to a man , preached the truth to repent and believe in Him to be saved. A baby says nothing but the God man says ....


[6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(John 14:6 ESV)

Favorite Christmas Movie or Special Scenes

Over the next week or so ,I will show some of my favorite Christmas scenes from movies or specials that I love. I'm  sure they will all be familiar but its my blog and I feel like sharing.

The first is Its a Wonderful Life .The ending of this movie gets me every time. The great Jimmy Stewart carries this scene with such force that you cannot help but feel the joy of a man who realizes that he has a wonderful life , even if it took some divine interference to grasp that truth.

May we pause this Christmas to realize what truly makes a man rich and its not a pocket book .

Mr Bean - Nativity Scene

This made me crack up . No disrespect intended at all . I can remember doing something very similar when I was a kid . Plus God has to have a sense of humor , he saved a wretch like me , enuff said. Enjoy and laugh . Mr Bean rocks .

Our God Is In Control - Steven Curtis Chapman

The one artist I have said over and over again that I longed to see beyond any other is Steven Curtis Chapman. His music and walk with Christ has been an inspiration to me. When I was drifting or at my lowest , his lyrics would minister to my soul.

So I'm truly over the moon when it was announced he will be playing in Nova Scotia , less than an hour away at the Rock Church Lower Sackville. Needless to say I'm looking forward to listening and watching this amazing Christian man in the flesh .

MercyMe - Joseph's Lullaby

To say Joesph is the forgotten person in the whole Christmas narrative is really a huge understatement. We hear of the Shepherds, the wise men and of course Mary but Joseph . He seems to be a shadow in the story. But in reality , he was amazing man and we are given a few clues into what type of man he was . The fact that he was to be Mary's husband ,just as Mary was chosen to give birth to  Jesus , Joesph was picked as the earthly father of Jesus. Nothing happens by chance , God showed grace to Joseph in giving him the task to father Jesus.

When we look to scripture we see  recorded he was a just man or righteous (Matthew 1:19) This reveals he was a true believer of God . That he was devote . It also tells that upon him finding out Mary was with child , and under the assumption from adultery , even though it was within his right to deal with her harshly , he showed mercy and compassion.He had decided  to divorce her quietly , for he did not want to shame her. In doing this one can also , I believe , points to  his genuine love towards her . Finally , he was obedient to God . Upon the Angel of the Lord telling him that the child within Mary was from the Holy Spirit and that he shall take her as his wife . He obeyed . Showing a active and living faith .

I still recall holding my sons in my arms after they were born. Thinking of the blessing and responsibility I now had as a Dad. I'm sure that on that faithful night Joesph did the same . He probably made sure that Mary was cared for , that the stable was as clean as possible and that the manger or cattle trough had clean straw .That is what a good husband would do and there can be no doubt he was. He is more than a shadow at Christmas , he was a faithful servant of God who entrusted him with protecting and loving Jesus , his Saviour and mine.

Strange Christmas Albums

If anyone other than my faithful wife reads this blog , they know I enjoy the Christmas season. From decorating to buying gifts , to Christmas carols. Yes I'm a man and love Christmas. So get over it !

But one peculiar thing I don't get is why some in the music business feel its needed or necessary to jump in the season and grace us with a Christmas CD . Having worked in a CD store I sampled them all . So here are a few that have made my head take a double shake.

1. Twisted Sister - Twisted Christmas - Aging glam rockers ,power chording to Carols . 
2. We Wish You a Hairy Christmas - Hair metal bands singing cheesy songs , dreadful .
3. Barry Manilow - Who in thier right mind would want any Manilow ?
4. Mariah Carey - Screaming out not 1 but 2 Christmas albums .Aren't we blessed!
5. Celine Dion - Over the top and annoying , what more can  I say.
6. Rap Music - There were a few and man if my ears could bleed.
7. Twangy Country - Too many to list , but the nasal sound of some of them singing Silent Night ,made wish it was.
8. N-Sync - Do I have to even comment . Boy band ,Annoying!
9. Neil Diamond - This one is hard to fathom. Its just plain . No energy or fun . Well it is Neil Diamond.
10. Sting - If there is any more pretentious artist to release a Christmas CD , I don't know . Until Bono releases one ,Sting is the king . 

10 is a good number to end on but honorable mention has to go to Rob Halford of the heavy metal band Judas Priest . Black leather and Christmas , I don't know what to say.

I'm sure the oddities will not stop . It seems everyone and their cat  must release a Christmas album. Why , I do not know. Some are great , and will become classics . I truly love Josh Grobans release last year but many  should just sing the Christmas tunes in the shower. Plus the bottom line is , if you  don't really believe  Jesus is the Son of God who came  to die for your sins on a cross and was raised again , don't sing about Him . A pet peeve of mine . Now for some eggnog and Bing....

Have Some Integrity

The new Chronicle of Narnia movie is set to hit screens this weekend . The last two did well , however the last one did not perform to expectations. Having seen  both , unlike the first one , the second lacked the charm and strong Christian overtones of the Lion , The Witch and the Wardrobe(which was still water downed a bit) . Well hoping to right the ship , apparently the Voyage of the Dawn Treader embraces the underlining Christian message more clearly.On that one , we shall see.

Now comes a interview with Liam Neeson , the actor who voices Aslan . Well read this for yourself and chuckle at his pathetic politically correctness and relativistic thinking.

"Aslan symbolises a Christ-like figure but he also symbolises for me Mohammed, Buddha and all the great spiritual leaders and prophets over the centuries.

That’s who Aslan stands for as well as a mentor figure for kids – that’s what he means for me." Liam Neeson

The most important words in this whole statement are for me .  In other words it doesn't mean a hill of beans what Lewis wrote , what he intended with his story that clearly , without mistake , makes Aslan a Christ figure . No I can twist and distort for my own pleasure what it means to me. Even if Neeson doesn't like the exclusive nature of Aslan being a Christ figure , at the very least have the integrity to ackowledge Aslan cannot be Buddha or Mahammed. Its insulting and yes it gets my dander up when a "actor" speaks of which he doesn't know.

Even if he didn't like the message of Narnia ,  he should just keep his mouth shut till at the very least he has something to say that makes sense. In the Chronicles it is so clear that Aslan is Christ . He dies for sins and rises from the dead  .Did Buddha or Mohammed do that . No. Did they teach that they were God in the flesh. No.

The gulf between every religious figure and Jesus Christ is a chasm that even the universe is insufficient to describe. 

Now some may say , lighten up its a talking Lion for goodness sake. But the fact is what right does Neeson have to take what Lewis clearly meant in the text and twist it for his own purposes. For that matter , even on this account the filmmakers have fudged as well in the previous film. In many ways , as its been said by other critics of the films , they domesticated Aslan.

Just as dealing with any author , we should let the text speak. Plus if we have any integrity , we will without twisting it to fit our own preferences . Many do the same with the Bible , reducing Jesus to a wise sage or  moral example . But the writers of scripture knew what they meant. One may not like it but too bad.


So I'm hoping this new Narnia will right the ship and let the truth Lewis was pointing to shine through his stories and may they be told with some integrity . Aslan after all is not a tame Lion !