January 26, 2010
By Josh Kimball
as appeared on The Christian Post, January 19, 2001
With the story leading to his birth and the story leading to his crucifixion having already reached 21st Century moviegoers on the big screen, it was only matter a time before the story following Jesus Christ’s resurrection would reach the box office.
And now, Easter 2011 looks to be when Jesus’ rise from the dead will be witnessed by people across America. (International release dates for “The Resurrection of the Christ,” meanwhile, are still waiting in the wings.)
According to weekly entertainment-trade magazine Variety, shooting for “The Resurrection of the Christ” is set to start in July with indie filmmaker Billy McKay producing, Jonas McCord directing, and Dan Gordon penning the screenplay, which is expected to focus on the power, greed and ambition of those involved in the crucifixion – Pontius Pilate, Herod, Caiaphas and Judas.
“It’s as much about the key players as it is about Jesus,” McKay told Variety. “We want to bring in the ‘Gladiator’ dimension of the first century against the political milieu of the time.”
McKay, who was one of three producers behind “Billy: The Early Years,” which told the story of evangelist Billy Graham’s rise to prominence, also said “Resurrection” will remain faithful to biblical and historical records.
The film is set to shoot in Israel, Morocco and Europe and will be distributed domestically through Samuel Goldwyn Films, which has been behind faith-based favorites such as “Amazing Grace” and “Fireproof” as well as upcoming movie “To Save a Life,” which hits theaters this Friday.
Notably, while Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ” chalked up over $611 million worldwide in 2004, “Nativity Story” only picked up $46 million after its December 2006 release.
A production budget of $20 million has so far been planned for “Resurrection” – significantly less than was reported for “Passion” ($30 million) and “Nativity Story” ($35 million).
Easter next year falls on Apr. 24.
January 24, 2010
by Duane Careb
President of RVchurchesUSA and a Teaching Pastor
There is a plethora (I just learned that word) of GPS devices available in the market place today – cell phones, hand-held units, marine, aircraft and those more
familiar to us RVers (the walking/car/biking/truck combination models).
Like you, we use our find-a-campground/resort-across-America road atlas to get a general overview of the area in which we are planning to travel. But if you’re like Erika and me (Seniors), we usually pull out the magnifying glass to identify and navigate the tiny side-roads sprouting from the national and state highways. We need a more detailed understanding of where we’ll drive our motor home without regret.
On the other hand, a GPS streamlines that process simply by entering the address and pressing the “Go” icon. By setting the correct parameters for your vehicle (type, avoidances, detailed view, etc), the GPS provides pre-programed best routes which generally result in less confusion and – at times – even less conflict! You know exactly what I mean, don’t you?
Consider this: invest in a non-traditional GPS (God’s Perfect Solutions) device called the Bible that could be used to give clear direction when trying to navigate the many “life side-roads” in your life – challenges we face every day. Unlike conventional GPS devices which is limited to displaying streets and objects, God’s GPS offers guidance and solutions to real-life scenarios while providing long lasting relief from anxiety, disorientation and even relational separation. God’s GPS is never dependent upon any other power source, does not require frequent updates and usually causes you to “re-calculate” pathways on your own.
We’ve all asked ourselves or others, “What should I do next?” or “Where can I gain discerning knowledge to make the best decision?” I propose we consult God’s GPS to gain the same benefits of Jesus’ teachings, principles and wisdom that empowered the characters of Old and New Testaments to apply to their everyday life. All parables and stories of the Bible address our present-day challenges concerning issues like health (John 5:3-9), relationships (Matt 22: 37-39), finances (1Tim 6: 10)- just to name a few.
God’s Perfect Solutions can help navigate obstacles in your path by providing fuel (encouragement Psalm 37: 7), maintaining your mind’s GVWR (keeping balanced 2 Cor 13: 7) and even becoming de-laminated (tempted 1 Cor 10: 13). The Bible also offers full-hook ups, a trickle charge for your battery, inverts your little energy to passionate serving, auto-levels your systems and even enables your slide-outs to expand your territory.
Here’s a tip for the next time you frequent a dump station; consider flushing all negative thoughts (temptations, anger, guilt), unacceptable actions (sins) and self-righteous attitudes (“I only depend on me”) out of your system – forever to be washed away! Then rinse thoroughly with fresh “living” water (God’s free gift of unconditional forgiveness Rev 7: 17) to begin your new life-journey using His GPS to maintain your course and direction. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? IT IS!
In Christian-ezze that process is called “praying the sinner’s prayer”. Initially you may experience feelings of awkwardness, humiliation and even shame. But after you have sincerely turned your gaze to God through this process, you will be overcome with the joy and a sense of peace that “surpasses all understanding” – God’s total unconditional love and forgiveness!
If you would like discover more about this simple life-changing process of beginning a new life in Jesus, please call 1- 888 NEED-HIM (633-3446) anytime – even from your cell that has a GPS in it!
You can email Duane at dcareb@RVchurchrsUSA.org
January 24, 2010
by John Imler
John is the author of It’s Never Too Late
In 2007 my wife Ruth and I made plans to venture to Alaska in our RV. We knew it would need to be well planned, as we would go over roadways
that we had never traveled I obtained an up-to-date road atlas so I could choose each road through the several states and provinces. We researched sites we wanted to see and accommodations available.
Others who had taken a similar trip told of a book that would be a big help in our final plans, although it would require a lot of study. They said it was a must read, if I were to be adequately prepared for some of the difficulties we might face. It had everything the atlas had and much more. It was called The Milepost and took me milepost by milepost along each road I had selected warning me of every possible hazard to be encountered.
Other books are available on Alaska that would give opinions on what to see and the best road to take. However, The Milepost was written by those who had driven every mile. It was available to me if I wanted to take the time to not only just read it but study it. Once I read it I could take the word of someone who had driven the road or disregard their advice. It was my choice.
The Bible is like that. We can just read it or we can study it. We can take its advice about the journey called our “lifetime’ or we can disregard its advice. It is always our choice. Granted it is easier to just disregard it and travel whatever roadway unfolds before us, assuming that God has no interest in us and that whatever will be will be. However, there is One who has traveled this journey before us, and He invites us to allow Him to provide a mile by mile description of every roadway that lies ahead.
It is my recommendation that you not just own this Book but that you take the time to read it and study it. You will want to memorize some of it (Psalms 119:11). So on your journey, don’t be tempted to travel without consulting the Guidebook of life, for though “there is a way that seems right to man” it leads to the wrong destination (Proverbs 14:12). God’s way is the perfect way (2 Samuel 22:31). He has offered to “show you the way you should go” (Deut. 1:33); however, the decision as to taking His advice is up to you.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
January 22, 2010
by Jennifer Riley
The Christian Post reporter
Controversial charismatic Pat Robertson has put his foot in his mouth with yet another post-disaster remark – this time regarding the hard-hit country of Haiti.
While hosting “The 700 Club” on the Christian Broadcasting Network Wednesday, Robertson said the 7.0-magnitude quake that struck Haiti a day earlier was the consequence of the curse that had befallen the country’s people after its founding fathers made a “pact to the Devil” in exchange for Haiti’s independence from France.
“[E]ver since they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor,” Robertson said.
He noted how Haiti shares the Island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic and how the latter is “prosperous, healthy, full of resorts” while Haiti is “in desperate poverty.”
“Same island,” he emphasized.
Robertson based his comment on a well-known folk tale among Haitians that not all citizens believe.
Robertson’s latest remark – coming as television screens are filled with images of bloody survivors and dead bodies stacked on streets – hit a sensitive nerve with secular commentators as well as conservative evangelical leaders.
Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas called Robertson arrogant during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday.
“It is absolute arrogance to try to interpret any of God’s actions as a judgment against this person or that person,” the Southern Baptist minister said. “ Our duty as Christians is to try to help these people pray for these people and to help them.”
Similarly, Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, responded to Robertson’s “embarrassing” remarks by highlighting the“Theological arrogance matched to ignorance.”
In a commentary posted Thursday, Mohler acknowledged that Haiti has a well-known history of the occult, voodoo, and sorcery. He also said he agrees that God does and will judge the nations and has sovereign power over everything.
But the highly respected evangelical scholar said “we have no right to claim that we know why a disaster like the earthquake in Haiti happened at just that place and at just that moment.”
“We can trace the effects of a drunk driver to a car accident, but we cannot trace the effects of voodoo to an earthquake – at least not so directly,” Mohler contended.
“Will God judge Haiti for its spiritual darkness? Of course,” he added. But humans cannot claim to understand the judgment of God.
To illustrate his point, Mohler brought out a series of unanswerable questions.
“Why did no earthquake shake Nazi Germany? Why did no tsunami swallow up the killing fields of Cambodia? Why did Hurricane Katrina destroy far more evangelical churches than casinos? Why do so many murderous dictators live to old age while many missionaries die young?” he posed.
Mohler argued that instead of asking if God hates Haiti, people should simply say that God hates sin and know that individual sinners and nations will be punished.
“[T]he earthquake reminds us that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only real message of hope. The cross of Christ declares that Jesus loves Haiti – and the Haitian people are the objects of his love,” Mohler concluded. “Christ would have us show the Haitian nation his love, and share his Gospel. In the midst of this unspeakable tragedy, Christ would have us rush to aid the suffering people of Haiti, and rush to tell the Haitian people of his love, his cross, and salvation in his name alone.”
Robertson has a history of making controversial remarks following major disasters and crises. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Robertson laid blame on “the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way – all of them who have tried to secularize America.”
“I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen,’” Robertson had said.
Then after Hurricane Katrina, Robertson came out and said it was God’s punishment of the United States for allowing abortions.
Robertson has also called for the assassination of Venezuela president Hugo Chavez.
Robertson’s latest comments came as the estimated death toll for Haiti reached as high as 500,000, though most news agencies are reporting the toll more conservatively – at around 50,000. Relief teams, meanwhile, are flooding into Haiti to try to beat the clock and rescue as many victims still buried under rubble as possible. Aid workers say there are only so many hours someone can survive under collapsed infrastructure without water and food.
