This is not usual for me to post on my blog about “culturally relevant” things but as I was browsing some blogs this evening I came across a couple of Christian blogs that are talking about the latest Batman movie called “The Dark Knight”. Some of the blogs are using the content of the movie to describe the condition of man and assessing the evil of evil through the character “Joker” played by the late Heath Ledger.
Before I begin to rail on movies in general let me start by saying that I love to watch movies. I believe there are some fantastic movies out there that get us thinking. For example, John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” was recently made into a feature length film and it is outstanding. The story is true to the book and the acting is wonderful and of course it is Christ exalting and causes us to use our mind to reflect on God and His mercy and grace. However, I draw the line with many of the movies out today and refuse to sit through several hours of a film that attacks Christianity or worse blasphemes Christ.
Great God, in public and private, in sanctuary and home, may my life be steeped in prayer, filled with the spirit of grace and supplication, each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood. Help me, defend me, until from praying ground I pass to the realm of unceasing praise. Urged by my need, invited by Thy promises, called by Thy Spirit, I enter Thy presence, worshipping Thee with godly fear, awed by Thy majesty, greatness, glory, but encouraged by Thy love.
I am all poverty as well as all guilt, having nothing of my own with which to repay Thee, but I bring Jesus to Thee in the arms of faith, pleading His righteousness to offset my iniquities, rejoicing that He will weigh down the scales for me, and satisfy thy justice. I bless Thee that great sin draws out great grace, that, although the lest sin deserves infinite punishment because done against an infinite God, yet there is mercy for me, for where guilt is most terrible, there Thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep. Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give Thee no rest untiI Christ shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to Thee, and ever clings to the cross.
From Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers
The world today whispers and yells to us that our pleasure, security and contentment are the cornerstones of a happy, healthy marriage. In fact, the grounds for divorce in most instances are labeled as “incompatibility” and “unable to get along”. If one carefully lifts up the labels will find that the true reason is simple selfishness.
Paul Washer is probably one of my favorite preachers right along with Piper, Noblit and MacArthur. In this short clip from a missions conference Paul Washer speaks the truth with such passion. This is a message that must be heard….
“Reader, if God has given you His only begotten Son, beware of doubting His kindness and love, in any painful providence of your daily life! Never allow yourself to think hard thoughts of God. Never suppose that He can give you anything which is not really for your good. Remember the words of Paul: “He who spared not His own Son—but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32)
See in every sorrow and trouble of your earthly pilgrimage—the hand of Him who gave Christ to die for your sins! That hand can never smite you—except in love! He who gave His only begotten Son for you, will never withhold anything from you which is really for your good. Lean back on this thought and be content. Say to yourself in the darkest hour of trial, “This also is ordered by Him who gave Christ to die for my sins. It cannot be wrong. It is done in love. It must be well.”
Temptations serve to abase the servant of God, and to bring him down in his own conceit, that he be not proud of those things that are in him, or puffed up with conceit that there is more in him than indeed there is. This we saw in Paul’s example: he was buffeted of Satan, lest he should be exalted with abundance of revelations. We may see a type hereof in worldly affairs. The best ship that floateth on the sea, when it carrieth in it most precious jewels, is ballasted with gravel or sand to make it sink into the water, and so sail more surely, lest, floating too high, it should be unstable: even so dealeth the Lord with his servants; when he hath given them a good measure of his graces, then doth he also lay temptations upon them, to humble them, lest they should be puffed up in themselves.
(I regret I do not know who originally wrote this and if anyone knows please let me know. It is beautiful and something the world cannot understand.)
Thou Great Three-One,
Author of all blessings I enjoy, of all I hope for, Thou hast taught me that neither the experience of present evils, nor the remembrances of former sins, nor the remonstrances of friends, will or can affect a sinner’s heart, except thou vouchsafe to reveal thy grace and quicken the dead in sin by the effectual working of thy Spirit’s power.
Thou hast shown me that the sensible effusions of divine love in the soul are superior to and distinct from bodily health, and that oft-times spiritual comforts are at their highest when physical well-being is at its lowest.
Thou hast given me the ordinance of song as a means of grace; fit me to bear my part in that music ever new, which elect angels and saints made perfect now sing before thy throne and before the Lamb. I bless thee for tempering every distress with joy; too much of the former might weigh me down, too much of the latter might puff me up; Thou art wise to give me a tast of both.
I love thee for giving me clusters of grapes in the wilderness, and drops of heavenly wine that set me longing to have my fill. Apart from thee I quickly die, bereft of thee I starve, far from thee I thirst and droop; but thou art all I need. Let me continually grasp the promise, ‘I will never leave thee or forsake thee.’
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