Some Interesting Reading

Hi everyone!

Well, it's been a while since my last post.  Sorry for that!  My new post below is some new ground for me.  To be honest, it was a personal journal entry of mine I wrote last week, but I keep reading it and really want to share it with you.  It is a lot of reading, and is most effective when you read the Scriptural references in conjunction with it.  But hopefully it will encourage you for whatever circumstance it is that you find yourself in.

I'd appreciate it if you made some comments, and give me some feedback.  As I intend on writing more material based on my studies of Scripture.

My media journalism has been a bit quite since the movie the Dark Knight.  I haven't watched a movie that has inspired me since then.  So until that movie comes...  We keep waiting.  The Oscars were interesting.  I was pretty off the mark with my predictions.  Oh well, what can you do?  :-)

Thanks for reading my Blog.  Great to have you.  Have a read and keep the feedback coming in.

Ciao for now!

James

Is Your Faith Being Tested?

James 1:2 – 12

What a remarkable passage.  To many people this passage can very easily be just another passage of Scripture in the Bible easily over-looked.  But to those who have faced trials (of many kinds), and especially to those who are currently facing such trials, this passage is a rich source of encouragement in our “race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12).

I was one of those many people, who knew this passage well, and could quote it to those who needed to hear it.  And by God’s grace, it could well have encouraged them in their time of trial.  But it seldom jumped out at me personally.  I often battled to relate it to my life, and my circumstances.  You see, this passage is applicable to circumstances.

Some passages in Scripture describe God’s character, and delve into the riches of the Godhead, revealing His nature, mystery and Glory.  But other passages are written to and for people’s circumstances.  Giving instruction and direction to those in need of it at a certain season in their lives.

What James writes in this passage is one such example.  It is written to those who need it.  If you have never experienced such trial, then it wouldn’t necessarily apply to you…  yet.  But oh, your time shall come.  God wants to transform each and every one of His people into the image of His Son

(2 Corinthians 3:18), reflecting something of His Glory here on earth.

One of the principal ways He does that is through trial and testing.  So that we would be a people strong in character, standing firm under all kinds of testing and accusation.

I have reached such a season in my life where this passage of Scripture is so pertinent.  I am a young man.  I have the privilege of serving my local church full-time in the capacity and office of an elder.  I also have the immense privilege of being married to one of the most beautiful and gifted women in the world for almost 3 years now.  But such responsibility (of being both an elder and a husband) requires broad shoulders.  It most certainly isn’t for the faint hearted.

It will bring out the best in you.  But it will also bring out the worst in you.  Fortunately, God loves His children so much that He allows for the imperfection in our character to be revealed early, so we can deal with them before it’s too late.  The key, is allowing Him to teach us.

I am a care-free guy who doesn’t like boundaries and structure all that much.  Deadlines and time-restrictions have always been my enemy.  I cruise from one requirement to another.  Meeting obligations as I go along, and getting distracted along the way.  I lose control of what time I have left in each day.  This comes down to a lack of diligence, self-control, and self-discipline.

For many years I have cried out to God for an increase in these qualities, and a decrease in the opposite:  Mainly distraction and carelessness.

I have tried, but seldom won.  It has been a constant battle in my life.  But God, in His infinite wisdom and grace, knows what He is doing.

If I am to continue along the path He has called me.  If I am to “run the race He has marked out for me”, I am going to need to change.  I will need to make adjustments.  This race is an ongoing process of transformation.

God allowed this battle to continue within me until it affected me so personally that the only thing left to do is change.  I am at that very point right now.  The very reason I write this is because I am undergoing change in my heart.  I have to, or else the result of not changing and making these adjustments could be absolutely catastrophic.

I realized for the first time in my marriage that the “work of the Lord” and ministry requirements had taken preference over my ministry to my wife.  Scripture makes it clear that as a husband, I am required to love my wife before meeting the constant requirements of full-time service in the Lord.  After all, Jesus is the one building His Church, not me.

Scripturally, I believe our priorities should be ordered in the following manner:

1.                  Devotion to God.

2.                  Loving our spouse.

3.                  Loving our children.

4.                  Our ministry.

Paul makes it quite clear in 1 Timothy 3:5 that “if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?”

I don’t have children yet.  Thank God He has shown me the effects of my lack of character now, before the added responsibility of children.

Enter the passage of Scripture I base this writing on.  James 1:2-12.  The process of dealing with the deficiency in my character is by no means an easy task.  And at the moment seems like a giant mountain standing before me.  But I am to count such a task as a joy.  (Verse 2)  Because when I learn, I will be able to reveal more of God’s character here on earth.  And be even more effective in my devotion and service to Him.

The task I undertake will test my faith.  (Verse 3)  It will reveal the state of my faith.  It will reveal whether I am relying on God, or if I am relying on my own strength to overcome challenges.  In my own strength, this challenge is an undefeatable Goliath.  When my faith and reliance is in God, that Goliath has a glaring forehead just waiting to be struck by the penetrating power of God.

This testing of my faith is developing something deep within that will mature me, and bring me closer to that man of character God is creating me to be.  (Verse 4)  All I need to do to be victorious in this battle is to rely on Him.  Rely on the wisdom that He so freely gives (Verse 5 -6), so that I can conquer the giant I face skillfully, without wasting any unnecessary time and energy.

The road I face will be no easy task.  It is a trial I shall be under until I have overcome these weaknesses.  Like being in the gym, holding up a bar of weights, I am under this trial (Verse 12) to strengthen my weak muscles.  Once these muscles of diligence and self-discipline are strengthened, and the test has passed (Verse 12), I can walk in the blessing of being even “stronger”.  “I can run this race marked out for me” with a little less huffing and puffing.  And be an even greater blessing to my wife, my (future) children, and the people I serve.

I count this process a true joy.  Until the next muscle needs to be strengthened…

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What is it that you need adjust?  Because it could very well be the trial you need to face to be transformed even further into the image of Christ.

Don't forget to leave your comments.  Until next time folks...

The 81st Academy Awards: 2009 Oscars

Ok, so I was wrong. The Dark Knight didn't even get nominated for Best Picture ahead of the 81st Annual Academy Awards. And I made the rash prediction that it would win the award. How humiliating!

Yet, not all is lost for us Batman frenzied fans of the shadowy caped hero! The remarkable production did receive 8 nominations for this year's Oscars. Including the expected "Best Supporting Actor" nomination for Heath Ledger as he wowed audiences with his outrageous performance as The Joker. Although, many have argued it should've been classified as a lead role. The full list of nominations for The Dark Knight, the second highest earning film of all-time, are listed below. I have also bracketed what I believe will be the biggest competition the film will have for each award.

The Dark Knight’s Oscar Nominations
(Biggest competition listed in brackets):

-Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
(Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt)

-Achievement in Art Direction
(The Curious Case For Benjamin Button)

-Achievement in Cinematography
(The Curious Case For Benjamin Button)

-Achievement in Film Editing
(The Curious Case For Benjamin Button)

-Achievement in Makeup
(The Curious Case For Benjamin Button)

-Achievement in Sound Editing
(Wall-E)

-Achievement in Sound Mixing
(Wall-E)

-Achievement in Visual Effects
(The Curious Case For Benjamin Button)

As you can see, it will be no easy task for The Dark Knight to walk away with any of these awards, as the competition is stiff to say the least! I often had trouble deciding which of the nominated films would be the toughest competition.

It is also clear that the big film of the year is "The Curious Case For Benjamin Button". The cast of this masterpiece is led by the gifted Brad Pitt and supported by the equally talented Cate Blanchett. And a masterpiece indeed this film looks to be. Critics are labelling it as the "best film ever made", so it goes without saying that for most of the nominations where the Dark Knight finds itself pitted against this film, it will struggle to come away with the award.

The other tough opposition comes in the form of that little animated robot; Wall-E. The latest offering from Disney-Pixar has kicked up quite a storm of late, as some respected film reviewers have also found this futuristic animated film to be a classic of epic proportions. Although, it seems the Dark Knight has a slight edge over the lonely robot in the categories where they share nominations.

If this latest Batman production, The Dark Knight walks away with only 1 Oscar at this year's awards, it must be said that Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker is without doubt the greatest contender by a long way. Although, having said that, it would be a travesty for the film to walk away with only one Golden Statue given its high critical acclaim. But such is the nature of this Oscar beast, it is not unlikely that The Dark Knight walks away empty-handed.

We shall have to see.

Come the 22nd of February 2009, see we shall. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button could well re-write the history books. Already notching up 13 (yes, 13!) nominations! It won't be easy to beat this masterful cinematic artwork.

Considering my blog has produced a couple of predictions of late (Barack Obama and the Dark Knight) and considering I have a 50% record; why not have another bash?

My predictions for the following 2009 Oscars are:

-Best Actor:
Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

-Best Supporting Actor:
Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight.

-Best Actress:
Meryl Streep for Doubt.

-Best Supporting Actress:
Taraji Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

-Animated Feature Film:
Wall-E.

-Art Direction:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (This one's going to be close!)

-Cinematography:
The Dark Knight.

-Costume Design:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

-Directing:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

-Film Editing:
The Dark Knight (Another close one, here!)

-Foreign Language Film:
Waltz With Bashir.

-Make-Up:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

-Music (Score):
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

-Music (Song):
Wall-E.

-Best Picture:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

-Animated Short Film:
Presto.

-Sound Editing:
The Dark Knight.

-Sound Mixing:
The Dark Knight.
(Eish, these last two were tough calls!)

-Visual Effects:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

-Adapted Screenplay Writing:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

-Original Screenplay Writing:
Wall-E.

So there you have it! My predictions for the biggest awards ceremony of the year! Don't be surprised if I get a few wrong. But rest assured I will be taking some credit for any correct predictions. And if I get all my predictions right... Well, you come up with a fitting gift! :-)

Until next time...

Pure Poverty

For those that don't know, I have just returned from spending a week in Delhi, India. One of the most densely populated cities in the world. With over 13 million people in the city alone, there are 9294 people per sqaure kilometre. And that fact is certainly experienced.

This picture on the left barely does justice to the situation. Everywhere you go in the city, the sense of being surrounded seldom, if ever, leaves you. And with so many people in such a small area, there is bound to be poverty. But the poverty in India, and in particular Delhi, is different. It impacts you in ways you cannot imagine.

But what is so remarkable is that the people without don't look longingly at those with much. It is a very different mindset.

Of course, here in South Africa poverty is abundant. But those in poverty feel like the world owes them something. Beggars expect to be given to. It is their right. And this is wrong. But let me not digress...

The poor in India accept their circumstances, and the only reason they beg is because they have nothing else left. It is their only hope for survival. Take this woman for instance...

She was one of many that wrenched my heart. She expected nothing. She is the epitomy of pure poverty. Nothing left. Not even her dignity.

Oh Jesus, give me the Grace to outwork your love for people like this in the physical realm. You would have held this woman in your arms. Embraced her. While thousands pass her by each day, your love would have penetrated her heart as you showed it to her in action. Jesus, your Gospel is for everyone, especially the poor. Open our hearts to this Truth. One of the many that transpire from the Message of Love that is the Gospel.

I am back in South Africa now, and I will be posting an entire album of my truly remarkable experience in India on my website www.sonicsubstance.com within the next week.

The Dark Knight For Best Picture

I've been waiting to write a post about the movie The Dark Knight for a long time. Reason being, it ranks right up there as one of my all time favourites.

With the announcement of the nominees for next year's Academy Awards not far away, I thought now was the best time to let my opinion be heard.

It's not one of my favourites because of it's heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat action. Nor it's breathtaking cinematography. Nor was it Christopher Nolan's interwoven, unpredictable storyline. Not even Heath Ledger's unforgettable, spine-chilling performance as The Joker makes it a favourite. Although all of these factors certainly have been taken into account.

What makes this July 2008 masterpiece one of my personal favourites is it's frighteningly accurate comment on society today, and where we are as a people.

The Dark Knight is more than a movie. It is art. And it most certainly isn't abstract art either.

Art is renowned for taking a dig at where society is at. Whether it be the political agenda of the day; be it certain limitations and restrictions on a certain people, whatever. Art always has a message. And it uses its chosen medium to get that mess age across.

Christopher Nolan (The film's director) uses film, and the Dark Knight in particular, to tell the world how fickle we really are. We so quickly want a saviour when things aren't going all that well for us. But once our chosen saviour has served their purpose, we are so quick to discard them.

"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain."

One of the pinnacle lines of the movie. And it su ms up exactly where we are as a people. We don't want our heroes to die heroes. Once they've served their purpose as saviour, we want to find what it is they've done wrong. And how bad they really are.

And I say all this because this is the reason the latest installment in the new Batman franchise will win "Best Picture" at the 2009 Academy Awards in February next year. Big call, I know. But this film has it all. Superlative acting, sublime screenplay, scintillating action, and serious cinematography. This film has it all.

The only film ever to gross more than $500 million at t he box office, Titanic, won Best Picture in 1997. No other film until now has ever broken through the $500 million barrier. Last time I checked, the Dark Knight was sitting pretty at $528 million.

A movie doesn't rake in that kind of cash because it packs a real punch, no... More than that, tt brings in the masses because it's a darn good movie!


Have you seen the movie? Let me know what you thought, and if you agree with my comments above!

Until next time…

Barack Obama Wins

Well, just as I assumed (as did most the world) Barack Obama won the race to become the next President of the USA. That's if he can hold on until the 20th of January. The day he gets sworn in. (Until then he's just the President Elect).

But what I didn't predict was the huge margin by which he beat his opponent John McCain. It was quite something.

I do feel for Johnny. Both candidates were very humble in the way they accepted the result. I guess due to the margin. They were both humbled, for different reasons.

But it was nice after the bitter comments made in the past by Al Gore and John Kerry. So there you go Democrats, you finally won! Enjoy it.

Time will tell whether Barack can withstand the pressure of this most difficult of roles.

God speed sir.

Who Consumes The Most Oil?

Who do you think?

Without any shadow of a doubt, the ignoramuses in the Western hemisphere. The U.S.A..

5% of the world's population consumes more than 25% of the world's most valuable resource. Oil. That is immoral. To say the least.

I recently watched the eye-opening 2005 blockbuster film "Syriana". The one where George Clooney won an Oscar for "Best Supporting Actor". What a great comment about the American's consumer mindset. And what was so refreshing, was that it was made entirely by Americans.


It is about time they started evaluating their ominous situation.

The film is a clear statement concerning America's lust for oil. And how their government will do whatever it takes to obtain the precious commodity as cheaply as possible. Of course it has taken artistic license here and there, but considering it is based on a book by Robert Baer (a former C.I.A. agent) it poses a lot of deep questions.

The producers of the film (Academy Award Winner Stephen Gaghan) aimed to do exactly what I am expressing here: Reveal America's out-of-control consumerism, and the price they are willing pay to keep that self-destructing ball rolling.

But what is most startling is how true to fact it really is. Here we are: November 2008. 3 years on from the film's release.

The world markets are among the most volatile in history. Swiss banks are going bankrupt! Entire nations are going bankrupt! (Greenland)

Why?

Because the Americans can't stop consuming. That is what it comes down to. The American people couldn't help themselves, and their banks were happy to keep lending at ridiculous rates. The banks found themselves in trouble. So did their markets. And before you know it, the insecurity this all created for Wall Street became too much. Their markets crash. And so do the rest of the world's.

And the Chinese are smiling all the way to their preverbial reserve bank!

The Bible is full of warnings against such gluttony. Proverbs 23:2 is probably the most severe:

"...put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony."

Our world has forsaken the sanctity of the Bible. The West questions it as the infallible word of the living and personal God.

Pity, because now look at the hole the West finds themselves in.

What am I not saying?

I am not saying that we should live as monks and not enjoy life. We should enjoy ourselves. And that of course costs money. But for crying out loud! Let's live within our means!

I read a remarkable truth recently: The world goes into chaos when the rich are struck by severe financial crisis. But for centuries we have turned a blind eye to the constant tragedy of those in poverty.

Come on world. Wake up.

What Change Will Barack Obama Bring?

For me as a South African, the relevance of the American poll is minimal. But as always, the fight for the helm of the "free world" is always an interesting bout.

But I just wanted to get something off my chest.

1.Barack Obama will become the next president of the USA.

Mark my words. While every other media outlet asks the question, I make the outright prediction. From what have I drawn my conclusion? His smile. I am telling you, people vote for a face. A person they can trust. Barack's smile has that quality in abundance. McCain doesn't even have a smile.

2.A major controversy will arise during his term of Presidency.

Come on. Someone somewhere is already digging in the dirt of this guy's history. We've already seen it with Sarah Palin's attack on his support from a "domestic terrorist".

I know it is terrible to say so, and speak such words into being, but you almost get that feeling "it's only a matter of time". It is the unfortunate reality that Western society today only builds heroes up just so they can tear them down again.

"You either die a hero. Or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Credit to Christopher Nolan for that quote. It comes from Aaron Eckhart in Batman: The Dark Knight.

So remember... You heard it first right here.

Let me know your thoughts and feelings. Post a comment, and let's get talking!