Ocean Shores - 2015

Hey everybody, check out this video!!! It's just something that I put together from the footage of a trip some friends and I took to Oceans Shores, Washington earlier this summer. Hope you enjoy it!

The Reflection of Christ... Through Thor?

Okay, if you know me, you know that I absolutely love Thor, the movie, that is. 

I am so impressed... No. I am astounded with the way Anthony Hopkins portrayed the emotion in this

scene. 

The brokeness that Odin feels for his son's arrogant rebellion and shameless disobedience. The admittinge that he made a mistake in thinking Thor was ready. In a way (now I want to be careful in how I say this! as to not be sacrilegious or blasphemous), Odin is a type, a shadow if you will, of our own Heavenly Father. The Bible says that the Lord disciplines him whom He loves, as father, the son in whom He delights. Freya tells Loki that Odin has a purpose for everything. He chose to chastise Thor... To bring about change. He broke his son. In order to rebuild him. Because he loved him. It's so beautiful. 

And then, in this scene, Thor himself reflects Christ. Sacrificing his love to save his enemies. The frost giants. 

I find it beautiful that such a well-done movie reflects such strong Christian morals. Loving your enemies. Honoring your parents. Forgiving your betrayers. 

I keep finding more reasons to like this. I'll find more later.

Be Excited. Jesus Loves You.

So, today, I was talking with some friends about how when you are alone in liking a certain TV show or movie or whatever, it's difficult to share your joy alone. It is. It just is. Then, in church, Pastor Mark Toone spoke about Psalm 122, where the Psalmist is saying "I was GLAD when they said too me, let us go to the house of The Lord!" I was GLAD. You hear that. He went on to say that so many Christians, too many Christian are more excited about the Seahawks than they ever are about church. How it's saddening that so many seats are empty on Sunday. How people are at church because it's the "right thing to do" not because they WANT to. His point in all this was, "Why aren't we sharing our joy? When you're late to church consistently, and don't care, it really shows where your priorities are. You dine and dash. You don't give, you just come and take." I paraphrase, but still, how true is that? Get excited about Jesus. Get excited that He loves you. Come to church, GO to church, be amazed and fall in love, or back in love with Your Saviour...