Intentional Excellence

For the past three months I have been praying, reading and faithfully searching for answers to numerous issues in youth ministry. None more so than that of “excellence.” As I continue to delve into the Word, youth resources and good old Google, I continually come up with a word that is more important than excellence: Intentional. The more I read and study, the more I see the word “intentional.” My studies began with Mark DeVries book "Sustainable Youth Ministries," before shifting to lunch and dinner with two other youth workers. Now matter what I read or who I spoke with, the word “Intentional” became synonmous with that of Excellence. Maybe it is my Master's in litertaure and all the hours teachers bashed into my head, “When you see it more than twice, it's an important word.” It could also be my paranoia. Whatever the case, I am not joking when I say I pulled random articles from “Group” Magazine and there was that word again. So, I began thinking, does the Bible show us Intentional Excellence? Of course it does. Where? The best book ever: Proverbs.

In Proverbs, there is a very small, but profoud verse that encompasses much of the work youth workers must do. Proverbs 14:4 says that “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of oxen.” Many scholars have disected and drawn conclusions on this small verse. My favorite is The Ryrie Study Bible in which the note says, “There is no milk without some manure. Some disturbance is the price of growth and accomplishment.” My take is much like that of Mark DeVries in Intentional Youth Ministry: “You have to work hard to get the product you want...because your ministry is drawn up to give you the results you want.” Wow! Based on the principles in this powerful verse and the ministries I am a part of, you have to get dirty to really see some growth. In the context of Proverbs, oxen were invaluable tool in the process of running a farm and helping produce a harvest that one could live off of. How does that connect with youth workers? In several ways, the most important being: You gotta roll up your sleeves and dive in. I have come up with 5 things that Youth Workers must be Intentional about in order to obtain the Excellence they want to see in ministry: Relationships, Quiet Time, Changing Culture, Parents and Kids. The other ideas/items that could fit into this mold of intentionality can probably be put into one of these.

When we look at Proverbs 14:4, one will quickly notice that an oxen is a huge tool when it comes to a farm and producing the crop we want. Likewise, as youth workers, we need the tools that help create excellence, knowing full well that being intentional about our work will result in God's harvest. Practically speaking that means we must have our own oxen/tool, the most important tool being a solid Bible and the self control to have a quiet time numerous times in the week. Doug Fields has written many books and articles about youth workers and their first two years at their current church. He notes that the most important thing one can do is slow down and focus on Christ, which must be done intentinally, as we can't abide in Christ if we are doing things on our own. The problem is we become intentional in “doing things” because we were “hired to hangout with kids.” Sadly, this leads to a lack of excellence...our “manure” is not connected to the oxen, in a metaphorical sense. We must be intentional about our time with Christ, knowing it is vital to all that we do as an individual in Christ. It is not ironic that a few verses later, we read that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Stern words. Are we being intentional in our quiet time? Mark DeVries writes that the “most powerful resource we have for lasting change is to initiate change in ourselves first, which comes only through time with Christ.”

As I was having lunch with Pastor Joe, he said, “Relationships have to be intentional.” I asked what that meant. “You have that specific question that breaks your time up...that awkward, must-think-about things-moment when you are hanging out with kids.” Wow! That blew my mind. It shouldn't, but it did. Throughout the New Testament, Christ was intentional about meeting and asking questions of people, most notably, the woman at the well in John 4. In John Maxwell's Leadership Bible, he writes that Jesus showed, as a leader, the “Law of Connection,” that is, Leaders initate the contact with others. They are intentional about challenging others to be better than they are. There is that word again. Intentional. Are the relationships I have formed intentional in challenging people to grow in Christ, but avoiding a condemning tone towards others? Christ never condemned the woman at the well.

If intentional relationships are vital for our ministry, than think about this principle in terms of parents and children. If you are a parent, the prinicpal of “cow manure” is HUGE when it comes to raising your child. You must be intentional about teaching God's truth to your student because one day there will be a final exam. What is sad is the intentional attutde many have in regards to their finances or personal TV time, yet neglect the “heart work” that this powerful Proverb reveals. We think that kids will just “turn out” or if “we get them enough church” they will somehow turn into great believers for Christ. Andy Stanley writes a provacative challenge to parents in his book Principle of the Path: Too many of us treat our spirititual lives and that of our kids as if they were automobiles. We wait for the red engine light to flash before we make a change. But by then, it's too late. The teen years are when parents see what they have invested in their children. Sadly, many try and cram spiritual things into their kids during these years, hoping it will work, but you can't cram a human being like you cram for a math test.” Ouch. Those words hurt me and I don't even have kids! Larry Fowler writes that as he was on a flight to a conference, he ran into a man who specilized in financial planning for compaines, yet he had never sat down with his wife and come up with a plan for raising their children. It was a devastating, awkward and life changing flight for the financial planner. He quickly set up a plan for spiritually raising his kids. But the important thing to remember about kids and parents is being intentional in meeting and encouraging them.

Finally, in regards to intentionality, there is the idea of culture. I don't mean political culture or even Hollywood culture, as we can't change that. However, we can change the culture that surrounds our church, if we are intentional in asking the tough questions: What are people saying about us? Why don't people come back? Remember, we have to get into the manure and engage in making that oxen work for us if we are to produce the product we want. Mark Devries writes that while youth workers can never stop students from attending sports instead of youth group, we can create a culture that makes it tough for them to miss. He compares this to a greenhouse: “We can create an environment in which growth and change are probable...think greenhouse. The right temperature, light, food, and water supply produce living things. We can't control busy kids, complaining parents or demanding senior pastors. But we can take and build upon little victories that slowly build until the culture has been changed.” We can plant, water and buy vitamins, but ultimately, God is the one who brings who He wants. What a fascinating metaphor that brillantly brings these other elements together. We can create, through intentional means, an atmopshere that promotes the raising of godly families and children. We can create an atmosphere where relationships are at the forefront of engaging dialogue, much like Christ with the woman at the well.

As I continue to research and study what it means to be intentional, the one thing I have continually come across is the regrets youth workers have when it comes their life and ministry. Nathan Kilgore wrote an article “The 5 things I could've done better.” Number 1? Being intentional in relationships, from discipleship to better probing questions, this man's number one regret is Intional. Believe it or not, if you/we want excellence, it starts right here: Being intentional in all that you do for Christ. He is the source of Excellence, and if we want it, He has given us the model and means to acquire it, we just have to get dirty and not scoff at the idea of being near manure.

Man, I better get to work. But not before I connect with the true vine.
Intentional Andrew :)

Don't let this "Baby" pass you by--Gone Baby Gone

"I always believed it was the things you don't choose, that makes you who you are. Your city. Your neighborhood. Your family. People here take pride in these things, like it was something they'd accomplished…This city can be hard. When I was young I asked my priest how you could get to heaven and still protect yourself from all the evil in the world. He told me what God told His children. You are sheep among wolves. Be wise as serpents, but innocent as doves."

With these words, Casey Affleck not only establishes himself as one of our major actors, but he sums up what will easily be my 2008 Film of the Year in poetic form. He also effectively gives me my favorite opening to a movie. It is as close to art as we will ever find in film, as the words and soundtrack are beautifully wrapped up in a controversial issue—the unfit parent. However, we do not realize how vital this opening is until the very end of the movie.

Casey Affleck, a 31 yr old private detective, literally lives out his own prologue, as his youthful innocence and "serpent street smarts" are constantly conflicting with each other throughout this gem of a movie. Critics are already talking about the meaning of the ending, as it is both sad and devastatingly truthful. There are parents in this world that are not qualified to be parents, but still are. However, are any of us allowed to judge them? And more importantly, what do we do when we witness bad parenting in action, as Lionel and Bee do in this film? While we can't go around kidnapping kids that we believe are in a rotten home situation, we must find a role, and it is with that sentiment that this movie wrestles.

It is obvious in this movie that Amy Ryan—who should easily win a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a clueless and controversial mother—is in line for "Bad Mother of the Year," as she constantly mistreats or neglects her 3 year old daughter. However, she is never really "caught" or turned in for her neglect. While she does not do it for attention, there is, nevertheless, a sadness that comes when she realizes her child will be brought back to her, as she deeply believes, that her child would have been better off with someone else, all while she could continue her selfish lifestyle. While that is sad, it is not nearly as devastating as what Casey Affleck goes through.

First, and most importantly, Casey Affleck makes a choice, which ultimately leads to a united family, all while ruining his current relationship. While this may not seem sad, it is the soundtrack, coupled with the opening lines that bring this movie to a haunting close. Affleck "chooses" to take a stand for what is right, which leads to his downfall—his loss of identity, as the opening lines remind us. If he had not chosen to do what was right, he would have a sense of identity, as he himself tells the audience. It is what he has "always believed." There is no past tense to his sentence, voice or decision.

What was the right decision? I don't know. I do know that it will be controversial, as both my sister and I are still debating the choice made by Affleck, and we very rarely argue. You'll have to watch this brilliant movie and make up your own mind. The Bible tells us that the parents are to "train up a child in which he/she should go, so that when they are old, they will not depart from it [Scripture]." However, in this movie, it is difficult to determine who or what is the right thing, as it is wrong to steal, but it is also wrong to leave your 3yr old kid in a close car on a 105 degree day. I'm reminded of my favorite line from BJ Honeycutt from the TV show MASH: "There are some things that are wrong. And they're always wrong." This movie effectively throws that statement out the window. Affleck, in standing up for what he believes, loses everything that mattered to him, all while becoming the man he was meant to be. Has he lost his identity or given it to another? Watch and decide for yourself.

Student Critic

No Country for Old Men is Brillant, but Hard to Admire

As Newsweek wrote, No Country for Old Men is a movie that is "better to be admired than liked." I wholeheartedly agree. What makes this movie great, is its honesty in regards to violence and lonely silence, which takes up most the movies time. It is most definitely a violent movie, as well as an instant classic. Its Best Picture Oscar is most assuredly deserved, as is all the criticism it has received.

The story, much as it is, revolves around three men, one of which has taken 2 million dollars from a desert drug bust that has gone wrong. This man, Llewlyn, is chased by two other men. Tommy Lee Jones plays the town sheriff, while Javier Bardim plays a stone-cold killer—"the devil incarnate" as Roger Ebert writes. This trinity of actors define the movie, despite the three actors never being in one scene together. In fact, none of the actors are in any of the scenes together, which is what makes this movie all the more amazing. It is the silence that drives these men.

Llewlyn, played by Josh Brolin, is a Texan by birth, and plays one too. He is a man that has served in Vietnam and has recently married and retired. He is easily a symbol for the way things have always been in Texas, as he is never seen without his rifle or shotgun. His beat up truck and ripped jeans are further evidence of his masculinity, as well as the way things used to be in Texas. He has the tools to survive in Texas and its harsh environment precisely because he understands the land and its traditions.

Enter Javier Bardam and his bad haircut and evil demeanor. This man, as evidenced by the first scene, is not from Texas, nor does he know the ways in which things are done. His gigantic shot gun is evidence of this, as it is completely out of place in Texas. However, none of this matters, as he can adapt and kill with ever increasing brutality. Bardam says little, but reveals a lot in his expressions—a truly magnificent acting portrayal. He represents not only evil, but fate as well. He believes in it and relishes it, as evidenced by his conversation with the local grocery clerk, and Woody Harrleson: "That's your lucky coin. It's traveled for 22 years to save your life."

Tommy Lee Jones is the Texas sheriff that must track down these two men, trying against all odds to save one, or capture the other. However, as Jones tells us, he can't understand the world anymore, although he does believe it has fallen in part due to lack of manners. Jones is very much like Llewlyn in his manners and "old ways." Much has been discussed as to what or who Jones seems to represent or symbolize in this movie. However, I believe that he represents an old Greek chorus. He reminds us of, or tells us what our conscience should be as moviegoers. He opens and closes the movie with both sadness and despair, which can best be summed up in the old DC Talk song: "What have we become?"

This movie shows what can become of a society if it is not careful with itself. If we ignore manners, we will steal, kill and destroy, all for money. If we ignore the evil that is coming towards us, pretending it cannot destroy even the smallest and most content of communities, we will be destroyed by the very evil we tried to ignore. Tommy Lee Jones sums this premise up with his final statements, which have confused many moviegoers. He says that "I just can't understand it." Jones, who is a law man, cannot understand where our society is headed, both in crime as well as "normal" societal functions. Kids ignore their parents, do what they want and lack manners, while evil continues to kill, just because it can. I can't blame Jones for feeling this way, although it does fulfill Newsweeks claims that the "movie is better to be admired than liked." Every detail and movie technique is flawless in this movie, creating the epitome of "tour de force."

Student Critic

There will be Blood says it all

"There Will Be Blood" is a movie of both patient art, as well as a worthy successor to Humphrey Bogart's "Treasure of Sierra Madre." Both actors, Bogart and Day Lewis, achieve what one critic called "not art, but something beyond pedestrian." Both men, in different generations, have become so filled with their characters that they become something else entirely: "a legend beyond belief."

This movie works because Day-Lewis makes it work. His Oscar win is not only justified, but he should be given a future one for his unbelievable ability to literally become Daniel Plainview. As one critic said, "There is Daniel Day-Lewis, and then there is everyone else." I wholeheartedly agree. No actor living today is as good as Day-Lewis. However, to talk just about the acting would not do the movie justice. So, I will describe the subtle things that make this movie work. First, there is the Biblical ideas/names/themes throughout the movie that make it brilliant (Eli vs. Daniel, Oil vs. Church, Money vs. Religion. Isolation vs. Family). Second, there is almost a constant inverting (twisting in and out or complete reversing) of things that makes this movie absolutely stunning—art that is worthy of our time.

For example, when Day Lewis hauntingly says "I drink your milkshake," he is not merely boasting of his overtaking of Eli and his property, but his drinking of the very man himself, just as Day Lewis is doing through his astonishing acting ability. Day-Lewis has literally become Daniel Plainview, oil tycoon. His killing of Eli is not merely murder, but a complete stomping out of Eli and the folks/city/religion that he has had to compete with throughout the movie, making his statement all the more brilliant and terrifying. The abrupt ending is very much one of Biblical proportions, as we have one living man sitting next to a corpse. Plainview says to his butler, "Well, it's finished." This, of course, is a complete inversion to Genesis, when God is pleased with what he has created. Plainview has murdered, hated, stole and created the business of oil, and he is now finished with the very thing he created, knowing full well that "There will be blood."

While I believe that "No Country for Old Men" is the better movie, in a technical sense, this one stayed with me a lot longer. It is not nearly as violent, and has an epic feel about it. Numerous times in "No Country for Old Men" I would wonder why a man would go around killing people. However, in this movie, there is purpose: Money and the depths one man will go to have as much of it as he can possibly have. Words cannot do justice to the power that is felt and seen in this movie.


Student Critic

The greatness of "The Dark Knight"

have just returned from watching "The Dark Knight" and let me say, it is stunning. And not just in an "action-guy-oriented" way. No, no, no. This movie is stunning in its themes, characters and relisitic grasp of what it takes to survive, let alone stand up against evil. To be frank, Heath Ledger should win an Oscar. His Joker is not only good, but is scary, and in some ways, truly horrific. He is horrific because he not only embodies evil, but is unafraid to share his views with others, which is something that is difficult to discuss. When moviegoers watched "Lord of the Rings" everyone left the theatre amazed at Gollum--Andy Serkis--, but could understand how he had become truly evil: The ring corrupted him. With Ledger's Joker, there is not such explanation. This man kills because he "wants a new kind of criminal" in society, one that ""I'm gonna give the citizens of Gotham." He kills because he can, and wants to. Even knowing this, moviegoers must grapple with Batman's choice to not kill him, as the Joker will continue to kill others. The title, "The Dark Knight" literally says it all. Batman must become societies "darkness" in order to root out all evil.

The movie is also excellent at giving moviegoers numerous Biblical themes. From lying, to the Fall, every moviegoer will leave with clear symbols of Christs' sacrafice for us--taking our sin upon himself--while knowing that He did not do anything. Batman not only grapples with life's issues--much like Peter Parker did in Spider Man 2--he knows that his Batman is created in order to preserve the symbol that he created. This is what will become incorruptible, all while he himself is slowly turning into the very evil he has fought against. And yes Corban students, Batman struggles with his very identity, albeit, on a symbolic scale, not individual level.

This is a powerful movie, one that will stay with anyone many days and weeks after the viewing. How? you ask. Two reasons: The symbols and issues the movie shows society, are always with us. The other reason is very simple: Ledger embodies evil as the Joker! His performance is so great that I can think of two evil characters that surpass him: Darth Vader and Hannibal Lecter. He is truly stunning.

This movie is not for little kids, as the violence is palpable throughout. However, those who go to see it, are in for a devastating and truly fantastic movie. Drop what you are doing, and go see it NOW!

Student Critic

Andrew Madaus

You are not dreaming..."Inception" is a haunting film

For centuries, mankind has evaluated and discussed what dreams truly mean to the human race. Clichés have been created, bumper stickers followed and suicidal killers come and gone. From “Follow your dreams” to “Go for your dreams,” humanity has gone to extreme measures in order to capture and explain what dreams truly mean. However, with Chris Nolan’s masterpiece “Inception” moviegoers now have the answer to the power dreams have. A dreams power falls somewhere in between two famous quotes “Don’t let your dreams kill you” to Robin Williams famous poem in Dead Poets Society: “Only in their dreams can men be free/ Twas always thus/ And always thus will be.” Essentially, in the movie Inception dreams can destroy us because they are created by a mind that has enormous power over ones soul and we cannot separate dreams from emotions. It is our experiences that shape us, but our mind traps us in the past.
Christopher Nolan is not only the heir to Scorcesse, but he is literally on a “5 movie win streak.” From Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, and The Dark Knight, Nolan knows how to create characters we care about, and stories that make us think. In nearly all of his movies, the special effects (while excellent) are secondary to excellent acting and story. As Christian Bale said in The Prestige, “It is a man totally devoted to his art.” Inception is without a doubt, the pinnacle of a filmmaker that is continually getting better—and audiences are respecting his work by filling up seats at local theatres. Unlike the clichéd directors (Bay or Buckinheimer spring to mind), Nolan takes his time on projects (it reportedly took Nolan 10 years to write Inception) and fills them with good ideas and structure that enhance the solid special effects. While Avatar had an epic feel to it, the ideas and characters of Inception easily surpass Avatar’s special effects and naturalist worldview. Inception will have you staying up late at night, afraid to go to sleep because someone may be “out there, in your mind.” This is what The Matrix should have been.
The movie Inception follows the story of a man named Cobb, who can infiltrate anyone’s mind and steal ideas, objects, codes, etc—for the right price. Cobb continues to steal and work in the “dream world” because he wants to see his children again, who are in America, a place (land) he cannot enter because of an alleged crime and charges against him. Dicaprio not only has earned my respect as an actor, but he has increasingly gone out of his way to try different roles. While his role in Inception is eerily similar to that of his work in the great Shutter Island, no one can blame him for at least attempting (yet again), to remove himself from his Titanic boy image. And yes, he succeeds handily and with great emotion. He is not just a character, but a man audience members care about because he goes out of his way to do anything he can to get back his children. But here’s the rub: Cobb will not steal something for his next mission; no, in order to be reunited with his children, Cobb must plant an idea (a “virus” his associates claim) in his next victim—the term and title of the movie “inception.” Yes, this movie is ultimately in the genre of a “heist movie.” However, the movie deals with so many fantastic themes that I will try and explain its emotional themes, which has nothing to do with the now clichéd “Reality vs. Dreams” as “The Matrix” has beaten to death: “How do you define real?” Morpheus asks Neo in the Matrix. No, the vital theme of this brilliant movie are our ones emotions and there connections to our lives.
The idea of one’s emotions is not difficult to see in this movie. What makes Cobb’s inability to deal with the emotion he faces-- visually symbolized by his late wife—is the fact that she is in nearly every “job” he pulls off. Cobb originally created worlds with his wife, where they lived and played for years. While A.O. Scott criticized Inception, he describes Cobb’s true struggle in his review of the movie: “Cobb, whose life depends on suppressing emotions and memories that he cannot control, is thus a typical Christopher Nolan hero. His air of guilt and sorrow — the sense of unfinished psychic business pushing against his conscious intentions — marks his kinship with Christian Bale’s Batman, with the detective played by Al Pacino in “Insomnia” and with the anguished amnesiac played by Guy Pearce in ‘Memento.’ ” Yet, this is where Scott misses the point. We connect with Cobb because he cannot control the past, i.e. his memories. He cannot control the regret he feels, no matter how many memories he preserves or manipulates, thus making him a tragic figure; all audience viewers have regrets, past failures and suppressed emotions we struggle to control. We struggle, just like Cobb, with moving on in life, of letting our minds deal with things. For all of his bragging, (“I am the best extractor of information”) Cobb cannot outrun his tragic past—that he may or may not be responsible for his wife’s death. No matter how hard we try, memories from the past very rarely leave us; they come to define us and effect those around us. And when something or someone truly close to us dies or is hurt, that memory stays with us…effecting how we react to the future. Thus, this movie’s brilliance: Our dreams cannot save us, because they are the very thing that haunt so many of us. Even when we “deal with them,” there is no guarantee that things will be okay, no validation that things will go back “to the way things were,” a truly haunting message. Yet, it is a message that makes this movie brilliant, unique and haunting.

Roger Ebert writes that “movies today come from the recycling bin: sequels, remakes, franchises. Inception does a difficult thing. It is wholly original, cut from new cloth, and yet structured with action movie basics so it feels like it makes total sense.” Ebert is right, except for one small detail: This movie tries “Inception” on its audience. The movie plants the idea in us that this is in fact Nolan’s masterpiece in a young and growing career, but that we choose daily what we believe is reality—an idea that haunts all of us. Webster’s dictionary defines “inception” as “an event that is a beginning; the first part of a stage of events.” Watch this brilliant film and see the continued “stage of events” that is Christopher Nolan’s breathtaking career.

Student Critic

What are you waiting for?

Henry Blackaby wrote that "Waiting is not inactivity when prayer is involved." A profound statement indeed. Yet, when I think about this statement, it occurs to me that for most of our lives, we wait for something. Single, married, divorced, unsure or prisoner, our lives are full of waiting. Think about this...we wait to finish school (whether high school or college), before waiting to find a job that satisfies our souls--or not, as many take the first job that presents itself--and then we wait to find that special someone and get married; some reverse this process by getting married and then finding a job they enjoy. Many in today's promisicous society skip the waiting part, move in with the significant other and hope "happily ever after" is theirs for the taking. If we are married, we wait for the kids to come along, then we wait for them to grow up and have their own family. So, after all this, the obvious question is: What do we do while we wait? What exactly are we waiting for? Whether single or not, all must wait for something, and i believe that what we wait for is God's Provision and Endurance that comes only from God.
Looking throughout Scripture, men and women of God are clearly shown to be waiting. David is known as being a "man after God's own heart" and yet, he had to wait over 14 years to be king. We see him clearly writing in a near depressed and emotionally bankrupt state that one has to wonder why he continued to wait with such endurance. David should be admired for his ability to wait for God's provision, but many forget the intense times he endured. The same can be said of Moses and the 40 year desert "incident." These men of God model for us my point: Since we know we must and will wait in life, the best thing to do is embrace God's all encompassing Provision, knowing that that produces Endurance. These two elements are vital if we are to grow in the Lord, but they are also practical elements that we need to survive in life. Think about it, everyone, regardless of their belief in a higher power, must come to realize that their life is a blessing and they have the things they have because they have been blessed in life. Likewise, they must also know that the humble attitude they cultivate in regards to their life, produces an endurance to get through life...they should want to bless endure in order to bless others, as their life has been blessed.
Despite the fact that we live in an "instant" world of absorbant technology, it seems obvious to me that the more we speed up, the more our lives our put on hold, just as David's was, in order to show us our need for the Lord and His endurance. So, in closing, i must ask you, dear reader, the most obvious question: What are you waiting for?
The band Sic Puppies wrote a great song about waiting, and i urge you to listen to the lyrics, which i leave you with: "Another piece of the puzzle
That doesn't fit
You throw your arms up
You're so sick of it
What are you working for?
What are you searching for?
Love
You wont be thinking of cars when
You're on your death bed and dieing
You'll only be thinking of
What you were paying for
What you were praying for
Love

You join the line
Of the getting richer
You keep your pace
But it's moving slow
You are define by all that you are holding
But you are surprised it doesn�t fill up the hole

Thanks for reading
Andrew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bZ4jP6H2KQ&feature=related

If you are "Anti Nouns" you must be "Pro-verbs"

Many believe the book of Proverbs to be a well written book with quaint little sayings that can be placed into Chinese fortune cookies. That is on the surface. When the book of Proverbs is looked at in a deep way, the book becomes a powerful monologue on people, and who they choose to be; Proverbs is all about who we are becoming, or at least, the comparison of what we should be contrasted with the things that can ruin us. In society, American’s will always be known for what they possess: money, vehicles, homes, and yes, the sacred role of the family has become a material possession for some. However, what millions miss in life is the fact that the book of Proverbs is not about “cool sayings that rhyme.” No, it is a book that tries desperately to explain to those who will listen, that life, identity and humanity itself is not about possessions, but about who you chose to become, written by a man that literally had everything.
The author of Proverbs was King Solomon, David’s son, and he did in fact own or could buy anything he wanted. And what does he tell his “Son” in the book? He gives his Son a set of rules that defines who he will become if he lets “Wisdom” be the guide. What is Wisdom? Wisdom is the knowledge that penetrates the heart towards “trusting in the Lord with all ones heart.” Sadly, this is counter-imitative to what individuals feel they must do. No, we believe we have it all together, don’t need help and can find our own path because our heart will guide us. Solomon warns his “Son” that these individuals must be careful, as they are choosing a “path that will lead to death.” Solomon does not hold back, but instead warns us of all the lifestyles that we may encounter: the lazy, obese, powerful, wise, humble, poor, rich, kings, servants, bankrupt and emotionally strong. Every “genre” or cast member we encounter in life has been described in this powerful book. But again, it is not what these people are, but who they are becoming. For example, Proverbs goes into detail about marriage: “enjoying the wife of your youth” and “a wife of noble character is her husband’s crown.” However, Proverbs also talks about the nagging or contentious wife that can ruin a home. Being a husband or wife is not the issue, nor is being married Solomon’s point. No, it is who you become when married that truly matters!!!! Ladies, do not become the nagging wife; don’t let others come to know you as the wife that “constantly drips.” Instead, be known for becoming an “Excellent wife,” which few find, but are known for throughout the region (Proverbs 31:10-31). How does this take place? It comes by daily choosing to turn who you are becoming over to the Lord, your Creator and Authority for life. Likewise, men, do not become known as a “player” or “eye winker,” as Solomon writes.
Men are to be known not for their ability to pick up women, as that is folly according to chapter 7 and the fool who sought an adulterous. Instead, men should be known for their “kindness” (Proverbs 19:22) and work ethic. Men also must be the disciplinarian in their homes, as they set the spiritual tone in the home. They must have a quiet strength that few question. What is also fascinating about the traits for men in women is the fact that the book is summarized by talking about a great wife in chapter 31. However, it is interesting to note that one of the final verses is “a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Her value as an individual is not what chores she does or how she manages her finances, but is her “wisdom” which starts with a healthy fear and respect of God Almighty, which begins and ends this brilliant book (Proverbs 1:7, 31:30).

Sadly, many men and women in the Christian community are “put in a box” and stereotyped: husband/wife, 2 kids and Wednesday night church activities, missing the point. So, I will YELL it at you: You are more than that family. You are more than your spouse and their love for you. NO, you are an individual created by an Almighty, Holy God that loves you more than you will ever know. A Holy God that sent His son to die for your sins…and you must plead with God to impose that kind of Grace and Love into your soul on a daily basis if you are to become an “Excellent Woman” or a “man of wisdom.” That is who you should be and can be because Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again on the third day.
Many parents who have struggled with children that have left the faith or disregarded the principles they were taught throughout their life turn to Proverbs 22:6. However, this is a principle, not an equation that will be fulfilled successfully every time. I would also like to add this verse to my point: Teaching kids from a young age that they are more than the sports they like, the kids they hang out with, the grades they get in school and the recess games they like, will go extremely far in helping them understand that their value as a human being begins and ends with them knowing, “Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again.” That is where their value, as well as ours, should lie.
These can be difficult things to teach because to be “Pro-verbs” implies that we are active for the actions that we teach. Why not be active in teaching all the greatest verb was Christ dying for our sins!?!

Man up! Where’s the Testosterone?

The book of Judges offers people so much knowledge and cool stories that one would be hard pressed to find as much excitement in a children’s book. Swords being swallowed by fat stomachs, women killing generals with tent pegs and regular soap opera romances revolving around long hair and testosterone. This book is not lacking in the battles, fights, romance, “drama” and the testosterone department. The term “Man Up” would be an understatement.
As fascinating as this book is, what truly separates it from the other books of the bible is its honesty in telling us God’s Will. For centuries, many have asked “What should I do with my life?” and the book of Judges is very clear about answering that very question. In fact, the characters and nations involved in this book frequently ask the same question every time something doesn’t go their way. The answer is easy: God’s will is to follow His word and have a relationship with Him! It doesn’t get much easier than that. Sorry all you Staples “Easy Button” fans out there, but it is that simple. Do what God says. However, throughout the book, we read that “each man did as he thought best.” This statement is not only the pinnacle for the current trend in our 21st century colleges, but it represents Postmodernism at its most pure form: You do what you want, I do what I want, just don’t bother me or get in my way. Not only are American kids being taught this “religion,” but we can see that while people get to do whatever they want, they are either less satisfied or unsure of what to make of their life. What further elevates Judges and its importance is the fact that the more people do what they want, the worst the situation of their nation becomes. The only thing that saves them is “crying out to God.” Interesting. God’s will is not only explicit, but when we cry out to Him, answers become clear, solutions are given, and most importantly, consequences must be faced head on—with testosterone! God frequently gives explicit answers to the nation of Israel and the servants and judges of them. Leaders such as Barek, Gideon, Samson and Deborah all had literal messages from God. Most importantly, people (the judges, average citizens and enemies of Israel) KNOW where they should be in life…there is no guessing or acceptance of sin: Life becomes a little more clear and meaningful. So, next time you read about a man chopping up a woman and sending it to all the nations, remember that God’s Will for our life is very simple: Follow His Word and be ready to MAN UP when He responds. It must be a spiritual conviction, dear reader, if we are to avoid a “life of quiet desperation.”

"Hurt Locker" trumps "Up in the Air"

After a yearlong break, your favorite “student critic” is back and rather pleased with this year’s Oscar nominations and winners. Last year I was too visibly upset by the picks that I withdrew my writing and viewing, focusing instead on TV’s famous “The Wire” and hidden gem “Fringe.” Now that there are worthy films to discuss, I am ready to write with a vengeance. The last movie that truly deserved to be watched and analyzed was without question “No Country for Old Men.” I do not believe there is one critic that will disagree with that. However, after “There Will be Blood” and “The Dark Knight” there was a void in Hollywood, until this year’s renaissance that began with “Avatar.” While it is a fun and solid film, it lacks certain things that Oscar requires. Nevertheless, it did pave the way for two excellent films that took home the gold this year: Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” and Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air.”
The unique thing about these movies is that they are almost entirely set up to dislike. One is about the Iraq war, which screams “war movie cliché,” while the other is set up in a relevant recession-job-loss-market, but plays like it wants to be a chic flick. Nevertheless, these movies are astounding because they probe the mind and heart of their viewers, which they do through gradual suspense and the universal theme of loneliness.
When the “Hurt Locker” begins, we see Guy Pearce die trying to disarm a bomb in the streets of Baghdad. The next scene shows Jeremy Renner show up as the new bomb explosion expert, Sgt. William James. At this point, I nearly screamed, as I thought of the movie “Swat” and Renner’s tango with Farrell’s character in that movie. However, Renner not only abolishes that old movie, but he subtly moves us to care about him and his lifestyle of bombs and kept keepsakes.
Renner moves through the film dismantling IAD’s and unknown bombs through a renegade style of operation, one that Sanborn and Elderidge—his two “covering fire” mates—dislike. However, this film does not merely repeat action scenes in the desert, as Jamie Foxx does in “The Kingdom.” No, Bigelow makes Renner into a character that is best described as an artist, or an athlete that loves the “big game.” Renner does not want a robot to diffuse bombs; no, he wants to experience dismantling the bomb in order to obtain the “drug” or adrenaline rush that he misses and craves in life, but also because he wants to feel what his enemies went through in preparing the bomb. He not only becomes transfixed, but we feel the suspense he feels, knowing that one mistake could cost him his life, but also because that one moment of suspense could be worth the lives he saves…thus the title of the movie: “the HURT Locker.” He can literally be “hurt” doing his job, but even when he succeeds, he is “hurt” because he has some connection with the makers of every bomb, which is ably shown when his “keepsakes” are found under his bed. Sanborn tries to say that “it’s just cheap stuff found at RadioShack.” We know it is not, because moments before Renner tries calling his family and does not know what to say to his wife and child, but he has no problem discussing what he feels when sifting through the parts of various bombs he has diffused. We hear him say that he has diffused over 800 bombs, while his baby has not even been around that many days, nor has his wife seen him that long in years, a testament to the power of the title: Renner has a face of empathy and is truly “hurt” inside the “locker” of his own soul—loneliness that many of us will, thankfully, only see and not experience. Hitchcock said when there’s a bomb under a table, and it explodes, that’s action. When we know the bomb is there, and the people at the table play cards, and it doesn’t explode, that’s suspense. This movie is full of both, but it is the loneliness that truly drives us nuts, as we do not understand how anyone can be away from a family so long and not be anxious to get home, while Renner is the opposite—a man that cannot understand why others would want to keep him from his art and “locker.” Truly, this is a powerful metaphor for the Iraq war and the soldiers that have and continue to fight in it.
While the “Hurt Locker” is literally shot in a war zone, Jason Reitman’s film “Up in the Air” contains battles that many of American’s are feeling right now: the loss of employment. George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a man who is sent throughout the states to fire individuals on behalf of the companies that are too scared to do it themselves. He does this with resolve and proficiency, because he believes that he has what Hemingway once termed “dignity” or “grace under pressure.” When his company decides to hire a new female, one that initially believes that she can fire people through a computer screen, Clooney is taken aback for numerous reasons, the biggest of which is, he likes traveling and being alone. Not only does Clooney enjoy loneliness, but he truly feels a connection with people when they are fired, a connection he believes cannot be “felt” through a computer screen. What transpires over the next 90 minutes is a film in which relevant job losses are felt by viewers in two ways: America’s literal recession and the actor’s who portray those who have just been laid off, as Reitman hired individuals who had just been laid off to reenact what they went through just a few months before. This leads to many interesting emotions: Should be feel sad for Clooney who is isolated of his own choice? Or do we feel bad for those who have just been let go, but have a “packet” of hope and a family to go back to—something Reitman is forceful in showing us: All of the “victims” of job losses have families to go back to, while Clooney does not. All of this leads us to a feeling that is best summed up through the title: “Up in the Air.” We are not supposed to know what or how to feel.
While this film has a brilliant first act, it does become rather clichéd near the end, as Clooney feels he must “take a shot” at love and the girl he pines for: Verga Farmiga, the beautiful and underrated actress who played duel love interests in the brilliant “Departed” by Scorsese. While Clooney is not rewarded for putting himself “out there” for love, we are unsure what to make of this move by Reitman, as the film was great until the “chic flick” third act. Don’t misunderstand me: This is a good film, one that is worth watching. It’s just, man, it could have been great: A man that embraces loneliness and learns to tell the tale…a direct connection to “The Hurt Locker” and Sgt. William James. He plays with fire and loneliness and is literally still alive to tell the tale. Clooney is hit by a “love bomb” and is unsure of how to act after it blows up in his face, a real metaphor that does explain why “Locker” won this year’s Best Picture Oscar. James collects the hurt and puts it in his locker, while Clooney just keeps flying.

Thanks for reading,
Student Critic

Settling down with Loneliness

When it comes to relationships, many know of and have pondered the story of the beautiful female dating the horrible, or dare I say, atrocious gentlemen; or vice versa. It is a story heard throughout time and a story that will forever baffle counselors, pastors, and the frustrated doctoral candidate. Many have attempted to answer the “why” part of this dysfunctional equation. However, what many have neglected or purposefully ignored is the reason such individuals believe they must settle down with such a dismal spouse/significant other. Many in the religious arena—myself included—attempt to pin-point the symptoms, usually directing the discussion to or implying man’s sinful nature. While I do believe the reason many choose a partner that is incorrect for them is due to humanity’s sinful nature, I am more concerned with the belief that one can only be happy when in a relationship. This false belief permeates our society (especially in American churches), directly showing how the family has been damaged by divorce, abuse and single parent situations. However, it also shows many that the current generations, and the ones to follow, are not only lonely and depressed, but unsure of how to deal with these two brutal emotions. Because of this inadequacy many, especially Christians, “settle” in their life. What do I mean by “settle”? I mean Christians have such an urge and desire to meet “that special someone” that they will choose someone that has very little in common with them. Not only will they settle in choosing their future spouse, but they also begin to settle in their walk with Christ. Instead of learning how to deal with loneliness, they begin to skim passages of the Word with little interest, knowing full well that the Word does pierce their hearts and bones, but refuse to let it because they do not want to lose the feeling of worth that this other individual (briefly) gives them.

My dear friend, and boss, Marty Trammell, has told me of the numerous times he has had to tell couples that he would not marry them, or counsel them because he knew they were not right for each other, and that Christ had not been the focus of their live while they had been together. “What do couples do when you tell them that?” I asked in astonishment. “They just find a pastor that will marry them. They don’t realize that marriage is about sacrifice.”

This scenario is not an epidemic that will diminish or leave any time soon. Yet, it is fascinating to read and learn that Scripture not only talks about loneliness and depression, but it also tells us that the greatest leaders are those that never “settle.” David wrote so many lonely Psalms that he would be put on at least a dozen anti-depressants today; yet he was considered not only a great king, but “a man after God’s own heart.” David was FORCED to wait for the great things of God, even though he had been told by a Prophet that he would one day be great. I don’t know about you, but if I knew I would be worth a billion dollars in twenty years, I can pretty much assure you that I would be taking numerous short cuts, as well as reading the Cliff Note version of anything business related. Moses was smart and handsome, yet he was 80 before he truly began to live. Abraham was married, wealthy and the owner of numerous animal endeavors. However, he not only had to wait for the great things of God, he was mere seconds away from sacrificing them to show God his love and deep belief that God knew what was best. My point in all this is to not only show, but to prove that God desires the greatest for us, but we have to wait for them. More importantly, we must be WILLING to wait for them. This is where the problem comes in: We not only don’t want to wait, but we get deathly afraid of waiting. We are so afraid of loneliness that we will do anything to avoid the feeling. We turn up the music, crank out the text messages and post numerous dating profiles online in hopes of connecting with someone…anyone. We not only can’t stand being lonely, we have no idea how to adjust to being lonely, which terrifies even the greatest of souls.

While no one can truly answer the question “How does one deal with loneliness?” I do want to challenge you, dear reader, to not only face loneliness head on, but to embrace it. Embrace it? How does one embrace it? Even if I do embrace it, loneliness is nothing to “play” with, as it destroyed both Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, two of America’s finest authors. Well, first, we must write about it. Write what goes on inside the soul, the feelings that are created when alone…not a “dear diary.” Second, do not be afraid of the empty house, as that is where character not only grows, it deepens. Third, you must tell one trusted friend what you are going through, as this allows one other person to help you through this difficult time. Fourth, remember that God does want the best. Throughout Scripture we see individuals living up to great things of the Lord—after a lengthy period of sadness, loneliness, or personal inner struggle.

When all is said and done, we must ask ourselves, “In twenty years, was it worth it?” Remember, marriage, surface friendships, and limited walks with Christ all have one thing in common: hard work. You have to work to keep a marriage healthy. You have to work in growing deep with Christ, and you have to work at the friendships you have been given. Dealing with loneliness actually helps any individual in these areas. How? Loneliness prepares your heart and soul for these special gifts. Loneliness teaches you how not to take advantage of a friendship, but deepens it through personal struggle, and then sharing it with others. And finally, you have to want to be alone, thereby implying the scariest of all statements: You have to want to be lonely, knowing God will transform you through it. This is a statement 90% of humanity refuses to believe, nor accept (just read the response comments to this blog)

As Wilson told his friend Gregory House on the TV show “House,” “You hate yourself, but you do admire yourself. You're so afraid that if you change, you'll lose what makes you special." I would add that we are so afraid of being lonely, that we’ll settle in the areas that matter most: relationships, marriage, job, and ultimately, our walk with Christ. Is it worth it? Don’t wait and see!