Things we can glean from the movie 1917

There are some important concepts that we can glean from the movie 1917.  It made me think of certain aspects in the Christian life that are important.  The movie brought to light certain themes that we can apply to our life.  It also made me think of those themes in terms of the war.   The movie helped me see why these themes are so important.
The first theme that was important was importance of sharing the gospel.  This theme occurred throughout the movie when the two soldiers were walking across enemy lines to deliver the message of an impending attack. This helps us see the importance of spreading the message of the gospel every day.  The gospel means "good news."  Jesus tells disciples in Matthew 28:16-20, to "go into the world and tell others about him and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them all that I have commanded you."
The second theme I saw in the movie was edification.  The two soldiers encouraged each other on their journey.  When one of the soldiers died, the soldier took the others belongings and vowed to tell the other soldiers brother about him.  At the very end of the movie, Colonel William told Officer Blake's brother about his death.  He gave him his brother's possessions about told Blake's brother about how we fought valiantly before he died.
Movies can help us see certain themes in our life or in a theological sense.  This is why I love to watch movies.  They bring out certain important principles in life.  I hope we can see themes even in simple movies as well.  Lastly, movies give us a sense of how to apply certain principles shown in our life.

Time of Lockdown

During this time of lock down,  God revealed to me certain sin my life that I needed to get rid of and cut down.  God showed me that I needed to destroy the harmful affects that porn/lust has on my life.  A friend has come alongside of me and encouraged me in these struggles.  He showed me that I need to give these struggles to God.  I recently signed up for a service called Covenant Eyes that watches the lustful types of things I look at on my phone or computer.
God revealed to me how much we need to desire a life of holiness.  Jesus died on the cross for sins and we are not to live a life bondage to our sins anymore.  The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:18, "you are bought with a price therefore flee from sexual immorality."  God desires us to flee from the things that cause use to sin because of what he has done for us.  We are to keep our minds away from these lustful desires that pull us in.
The Holy Spirit has convicted me of these sinful desires.  He has helped me see my need to give these struggles to Jesus.  In John 16:8, Jesus says the Holy Spirit will convict you of "sin, righteousness, and judgement."  Also, in John 16:13, "when the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truth."  These two verses show that God has used his Holy Spirit to convict me of my sin and reveal to me how I need to surrender these sins to God.
As I close this post today I have two questions for you, how is God molding you into his image during the quarantine?  What sins do you need to surrender to God?

Contentment in God

Contentment in what we have

April 10, 2020- Luke Urban- Philippians 4:10-13;1 Timothy 6:6-7

  As I have been praying, God has been that I need to be content in who I am in Christ and it has been frustrating waiting God for a full-time job. At times, I have a sense of discontentment about not finding a wife.  As a single guy, I desire a companionship of a wife and a godly woman to serve Christ with.   Paul had this source of contentment in while he was in prison.  In Timothy, Paul tells his mentee Timothy to be content in what you have.

Paul had this level of contentment in whatever situation that he was in.  He was not moved by a changing situation or hardship that would come his way.  Paul describes this level of contentment in Philippians 4:11-12, saying “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”  This story from the book of Philippians helps me realize that I need to be content in what God has done in my life and he will give me what I need in his timing.   When I rest in who God is, he will give me what I need.

It is important we find contentment in our monetary situation.  Paul tells Timothy, “But godliness with contentment is a great gain.” He goes on to say God has already provided us food and clothing, so we need to be content with that.   God will meet our monetary and physical needs. 

Dear Father, I pray we can be content with what we have.  Give us to the strength to be content that you are all we need.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi compared to Revenge of the Sith

At the end of Star Wars:Return of the Jedi Luke Skywalker defeats Darth Vadar and rescues him from the Emperor.  We think Darth Vadar or Anakin is saving the Emperor but he is really saving his son, Luke Skywalker.  It turns out in the book for Rise of the Skywalker and when I was watching Return of the Jedi you can use Vader turning to the light sooner than the end of the movie.  The sins of the father will not be repeated in the son, in the Christian life we cannot let our sins and emotions overtake us.
Anakin let his sinful nature overwhelm him.  He always looked to the future and the worries of this world.  He fell into the Romans 7 mindset by doing what he did not want to do.  Through his struggles, he did not remember Romans 8:1 in his life.  Anakin fell into the trap of letting the worries and cares of his world overwhelm him.
His son, Luke Skywalker had a heavenward focus in the Return of the Jedi.  His mind was focused on the things above: Colossians 3:3.  He had a desire to see the good in his Father though his Father had chosen to go down a dark path thereby becoming Darth Vader.   Luke had surrendered to the light side and it controlled him by the Return of the Jedi; Romans 12:1-2.  By the end of the movie, the light side was producing fruit in him and he was growing into maturity; Galatians 5:22-23.
The question is who do you want to be more like the Father consumed by the dark side.  In another sense, would you like to be like the son who was consumed by the light side and redeeming those caught up in the dark side of the force.

Star Wars Pre-Ques in comparison to the virus

The battle we face today is similar to the battle against the battle in Star Wars.  There is a behind the scenes enemy who does not reveal himself right away.  Darth Sidious the evil Sith Lord hides himself in politics.  He moves up into greater position as we progresses into the story of the pre-quels.  The Jedi Council does not sense his presence until it is too late.
His real name is Palpatine, which we find out as we move through the story.  Palpatine moves to the title of Senator midway through the Phantom Menace.  Then as a Sith, he grooms Anakin by befriending him in Attack of the Clones.  This leads to Anakin defending the Palpatine as he moves to the title of Chancellor in Revenge of the Sith.  Anakin then carries out Chancellor Palpatine's order to destroy the Jedi at the end of Revenge of the Sith.
Today in this crazy world we have to put in place measures to protect ourselves against this behind the scenes virus.  The virus is lurking around us and you never know where it is until it hits us.  In the early Star Wars movies, the Jedi did not see the Emperor working behind the scenes until it was too late.  They sensed that there was an evil force at work but they did not go to drastic measures to stop him.

Wait on God

In this season of pandemic God calls us to wait on him.  A lot of people are experiencing loss of job, ability to go out to eat, to travel, and to partake in other fun things.  In these seasons of life God calls us to wait on him.  As believers in Christ we are to put our hope and trust in him and not in worldly things that do not give us joy.  Jesus Christ is our hope and gives us peace beyond circumstances.
The passage I will use to define waiting on God is Isiah 40:30. Isiah 40:31 says, "Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount on wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary." First, when we wait on God we gain strength.   When we wait on God daily in these times, he will give us strength to get through these times.  He reminds us scripture while he go through these times.
Second, it says we will mount on wings like eagles.  This means that he reminds us of our hope in Christ daily,  Waiting on God allows us to trust that God is eternal.  Also, it reminds us our citizenship is in heaven.  God shows us we have to look to him for our needs.
Third, these last two go together.  Isiah says waiting on God will help us run and not grow weary and walk and not be faint.  When our daily rest is in God, then he helps us in our time of need.  Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30,   "Come to me all you are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  This reminds us that when we daily rest in him then God moves through us and he will give us the strength to run and do anything in his power.  Resting in him reminds us that when we trust in his power, he gives us the ability to wait on him.

New job

In this past year, God has given me a new job.  The job is a fun job because I get to work with  kids and a wide range of people.  I have had to travel and commute across the area for the job.  I have had to implement a wide range of games for the job.  Also, I work with a wide range of  kids in the YMCA After School Programs Group Leader position.  It has been a fun job working and mentoring these kids.  I have done well in implementing new things in the job.
I am hoping and praying it moves to full-time eventually.  When I was first fired, one of the staff the hired me said it could move to full-time.  The higher up staff are really nice and helpful.  They usually help me with any aspects of the position.  Also, they give me tips on improving and various new concepts to implement.
Lastly, the job uses my gifts of being very relational.  Also, it uses my ability to work with kids and mentor others.  Also, it shows the side of me that is very high energy and fun to work with.