An Unusual Recommendation

You are about to read a CandyceLand first - a recommendation to watch a particular movie.  (At least I don't remember doing this previously, but I just did some research and having written 499 articles I suppose it's remotely possible I have written on this topic.) In general, recommending films is a tricky business since one never knows what another person's sensitivities or preferred genres are that best suit their interests. But even if I have done a movie review before, I am 100% sure I haven't encouraged my readers to watch a movie I haven't yet seen. 😂

In my defense, I haven't viewed Minari because I have thus far refused to pay to do so. COVID has changed the entire way that films are rolled out to the public. The norm now, since theaters have been closed, is to charge 'movie-goers' to stream movies on various services, like Apple TV +, Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. The going rate seems to be $20 for a 48 hour rental. This primarily applies to new releases, especially those that are expected to garner Oscar nominations, which was the case for Minari. The price will go down eventually, although after reading this review written by a contributor to The Gospel Coalition, I am beginning to weaken my resolve to be patient. I want to watch it NOW. 

Here are some snippets of the review written by Eugene Park to pique your interest:

Chung (the Director and Screenwriter for Minari) wanted viewers to resonate with a desire to return to Eden. “Of all texts, Scripture was most likely the biggest reference for the script,” he told me. “The Bible includes many stories about gardens and farming, and the entire arc of its narrative seems to place key moments of betrayal and redemption within gardens. Minari is a story of immigrants, but at its heart, it’s about a family trying to find a new life. They’ve left one garden and are in search of another.”

Minari reminds us of the truths of Hebrews 11: 13-14, that we are “strangers and exiles on [this] earth . . . seeking a homeland.”

I’ve experienced various expressions of faith and faithlessness myself, and I wanted to try working the way Dostoevsky approached faith in his books, by allowing different characters to express or wrestle with a facet of the author’s own internal life. He gives his characters free rein to do this and lets them find grace and redemption in surprising, unorthodox ways.

Every human is a gardener at heart, haunted by a longing for Eden, as Minari masterfully shows. Yet no earthly place we’ve settled in—or migrated from—will ever satisfy our desire for a better country, the “heavenly one” where God’s people will dwell forever with Christ (Hebrews 11:16). That’s where we’ll find Eden again. Every human is ultimately a migrant farmer, always restlessly seeking for that place. Let’s help each other on that journey—pointed in the right direction and rooted in soil fed by living water.

These quotes are just a small portion of this great review. If anyone has seen the movie already, please let me know your thoughts. And maybe I'll write again too - if I give in and watch it soon!

For a synopsis of the plot and further commentary on the entirety of the film, Read here!

The "Apple of HIS Eye"

Do you ever read verses in the Bible without really studying them?  I certainly confess to doing so. Sometimes the Scripture in question might seem fairly understandable so we just pass by it. But I have learned over the years that a Study Bible is such a help in taking "understandable" verses and showing us that there really is so much more to be learned than from a very cursory glance when we think we know what is being communicated. 

Case in point: "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me."  (Psalm 17:8)

This is a beautiful image that makes us feel safe and special, right?  As humans we all long to be the "apple of the eye" to someone we love. How wonderful is it that God feels that way about us? He will love us, protect us, and restrain our enemies. That would be my simple summary. 

But bring on someone like Charles Spurgeon to explain this passage, and I feel foolish for my almost casual assessment of that one verse. Listen to his explanation and encouragement, and realize how much God really does think of us as the "apple of HIS eye." Very lovely!

"In the providence of God, the pupil of the eye is defended with peculiar care and transcendent skill; those who have studied the formation of the pupil itself will tell you with how many coats the retina is preserved. The most common observer knows how the eyebrows, the eyelashes, and the eyelids are formed as outworks, fences, and barricades to protect the pupil of the eye, which is thus made to dwell securely like a citizen within the entrenchments of a fortified town. Being one of the tenderest organs of the physical frame, the eye should be well preserved, in view of its exceeding sensitiveness. Nor is it merely sheltered in its own fortification, but sentries keep watch lest it should be exposed to peril. Whenever it is threatened with even the appearance of danger, no time is lost in consultation with ourselves; but with agility so brisk that it seems almost involuntary, the arm is lifted up and the hand is raised to screen it from harm or to resist attack. And if we are about to stumble, we naturally put out our hands to save our eyes. Instinct seems to teach us the value of eyesight, and our whole strength is put forth to preserve it. In fact, all the members of the body may be regarded as a patrol for the safekeeping of the eyes, and all the incorporated human powers are in constant vigilance to guard and protect that precious orb. Likewise the Lord has been pleased to surround his people with the strong bastions of his providence. And just as our eyes are protected and cared for even in our sleep, so the Lord's care and protection of us is constant."  

In another place Spurgeon uses this same verse to speak of the attributes of God. (Emphasis mine.)

"The one who prays intelligently must have some knowledge of the God to whom he prays. He has learned the uselessness of all other sources of protection. The invocation is addressed to God, for he is well aware that no other can respond to his call or intervene for his aid. He who uses the prayer intelligently perceives the omniscience of Jehovah, who, better than a hundred eyes, can see all his foes from whichever quarter they may come. He believes also in God's omnipotence, that no assailant is so strong as he who is Israel's refuge and fortress. or is there any danger so imminent that he cannot anticipate and avert it. He relies, moreover, on the love of God whose willing heart will support his interests; he relies on the faithfulness of God to show the mercy promised to the fathers and on the unchangeableness of God who will never turn back but finally achieve the salvation of his servant and protect him to the end."  

 

 

Quotables #10

A couple of days ago I was shocked when I noticed that on my phone are stored 7,920 pictures and 1,278 videos. YIKES!  So I spent a couple of hours scrolling through the phone app and started deleting - about 724 were deemed by me to be not useful anymore - so they have been permanently removed. In order to downsize even more, I'm doing another Quotable post based on the screenshots of terrific quotes I have found. You all know the drill: Please let me know your favorites! 😉

Mine are #6, 8, 12, 13, and 14. 

1. "We forget that God's primary goal is not changing our situations or relationships so that we can be happy, but changing us through our situations and relationships so that we will be holy."  Paul Tripp

2. "God never withholds from His child that which His love and wisdom call good. God's refusals are always merciful - 'severe mercies' at times but mercies all the same. God never denies us our heart's desires except to give us something better."  Elizabeth Elliot

3. "There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still."  Corrie ten Boom

4.  "Prayer is not magic. God is not a celestial bellhop ready at our beck and call to satisfy our every whim."  R.C. Sproul

5.  "Never pass up the opportunity to keep your mouth shut."  Elisabeth Elliot

6.  "The irony of the Gospel is that the only way to be worthy of it is to admit that you're completely unworthy of it."  Tim Keller 

7.  "Solitude with God repairs the damage done by the fret and noise and clamor of the world." Oswald Chambers

8. "Satan loves to fish in the troubled waters of a discontented heart."  Thomas Watson

9. "It is a good rule never to look into the face of a man in the morning till you have looked into the face of God."  Charles Spurgeon

10. "God's grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves."  J.I. Packer

11. "Be humble, talk little, think and pray much."  George Whitefield

12. "Where there is no holy living, there's no Holy Spirit."  J.C. Ryle

13. "Consider how precious a soul must be, when both God and the devil are after it."  Charles Spurgeon

14.  "Modern religion focuses upon filling churches with people. The true Gospel emphasizes filling people with God."  AW Tozer

15. If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me."  Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Divine Interruptions

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's thoughts: "We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks, as the priest passed by the man who had fallen among thieves... When we do that we pass by the visible sign of the Cross raised across our path to show us that, not our way, but God's way must be done... But it is part of the discipline of humility that we must not spare our hand where it can perform a service and that we do not assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by God."

Candy's thoughts: Ouch! As confessed just two weeks ago here on CandyceLand, I am addicted to all things list-related: the making of them, the organizing of them, and finally the doing of them. So when my schedule goes askew, so do I.  My mind gets flustered and frustrated, and I overcompensate by scrambling to do ALL THE THINGS ON MY OWN LIST instead of calming down and doing ALL THE THINGS ON GOD'S LIST. 

The good part of this story is that through sanctification I have become much better at dealing with scheduling snafus than when I was younger. These days (meaning now that I'm much older... 😉) I am more relaxed when the unexpected happens. Years of experience have shown me that more often than not the divine interruptions that come my way are delightful gifts from God. I'm referring to surprise calls or emails during the day from people that make me stop for a smile or laugh; an opportunity to care for my grandsons; a call for help from someone who ends up blessing me much more than the other way around.

If as believers we truly believe in the sovereignty of God, then we should be looking for these 'God Moments' and rejoice that He is sending a gift to us through them - not to discourage us - but to bless us. Praise God From Whom All Blessings (And Interruptions!) Flow! 😇

Two Inspiring Music Videos

I'd like to share two music videos that I've been listening to repeatedly. I have found them rich in theology and hope. Please let me know what you think. 💜

The first is by Shane and Shane called "Though You Slay Me" and features verses from the book of Job and an exhortation by John Piper on the topic of suffering and pain. If you'd like, click on the CC (Closed Captioning) feature at the bottom of the video screen in order to read the lyrics while the musicians are singing and Piper is speaking.

Here is "Though You Slay Me."

The second is by Andrew Peterson entitled "Is He Worthy?"  This particular version was part of Keith and Kristyn Getty's Music Worship Conference. 

Here is "Is He Worthy?"

Index Cards

When I was a young girl my parents had a real-estate business in North Adams, MA. I really enjoyed functioning as the receptionist and errand girl and overall 'gal Friday.'  About once a week I was sent downtown (15 min walk) to the local stationery store to pick up miscellaneous supplies. This was the highlight of my week! I would purchase what was needed but then roam around the store looking at all the fancy papers and pens and gadgets, running my fingers over them as if they were mine. I'm sure this is the reason behind my love, to this day, of index cards and steno pads and sticky notes.  Because of this minor obsession of mine I have always been a list-maker and a note-taker. As I am typing this blogpost my desk is even now littered with remnants of reminders and notes and random ideas I have written down.

So it was with great delight yesterday that I found the old index cards I used while writing a book review in 2018. One night Steve and I had dinner with Rev. Greg Reynolds and his super-wife Robin (Hi, Robin! 😉).  I was expressing excitement for a book I had purchased entitled Prayers of the Bible by Gordon Keddie.  Much to my surprise, Greg knew Mr. Keddie personally but had not yet seen his book. He glanced at the volume and was favorably impressed. At that point I was only on page 27 or so when Greg asked if I would be willing to write a review for Ordained Servant of which he is the editor. BIG GULP: I had never written anything for a publication so I was very overwhelmed with the idea of doing so. But more than that, I also squirmed because the book itself was 764 pages long, including Endnotes. YIKES! 

As it turns out, Prayers of the Bible was very much worth spending 6 intense months of reading and taking notes on file cards. It truly is a remarkable book and I would recommend it to everyone. (Local friends can take a peek at my copy if interested.)  

Here is the link to the actual review in Ordained Servant.

And now back to the index cards that I recently found in a desk drawer. Here are some fascinating facts I had discovered:

1. Where in the Bible was the first prayer meeting noted?  Genesis 4:26

Keddie's answer: "Only after the birth of Adam's grandson Enosh do we have the first record in the Bible of a public meeting for worship and prayer. There were now two growing families serving the Lord - those of Adam and Seth. It appears that they were moved to meet together for praise and prayer, This was when "men began to call on the name of the Lord."  

2. Where in the Bible was the first recorded prayer mentioned?  Genesis 15:2

Keddie's answer: "Lord God, what will You give me, for I continue childless?"  "God promptly promises a child... God also promised life beyond measure. In the end, Abraham would have descendants as uncountable as the stars in the night sky. This takes the promise to a higher level because this obviously vastly transcends the natural descendants of Abraham.

3.  What is the shortest prayer in the Bible?  Matthew 14:30

Keddie's answer: "But when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord, save me.'  It is surely no accident that the shortest prayer in Scripture is about the largest problem in human experience - that of life or death for both time and eternity. After all, people in desperate situations do not have much time to pray."

4. What is the first intercessory prayer?  Genesis 18:23

Keddie's answer: "Then Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?""  This surely challenges us to pray for lost people - for even the most outwardly wicked lost people. If we have a love for souls, as did Abraham, than we will surely desire to see people saved by the free grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is the vital test of our own love for Jesus, because saving grace for the notoriously wicked cuts against the grain of human nature and the natural desires we have for justice and even sheer vengeance. Anyone can love his friends."

These are but four of the hundreds of index cards I used to research and review Prayers of the Bible. What I have listed above may seem like trivia points, but Keddie's book was full of theological insights that I found very worthy of study. 

A Foretaste of Heaven

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (Hebrews 12: 22-24)

There is something about this passage that makes me excited and glad and grateful and amazed all at once. It seems as though this is written to present day believers - even though it says that we have come to the heavenly Jerusalem now, as in today! How can that be? It must have something to do with worship - that somehow when we enter into that activity here on earth, we are also simultaneously entering into worship in Heaven. If that is the case, then our fellow worshippers are those that have gone ahead of us, namely our loved ones. Could it be that when we sing and pray and read God’s Word that the person sitting next to us in the pew is the very one that has departed from us and we are missing so much?

My theory here seems to be supported by the ESV Study Bible, which states:

“This (passage) draws on extensive OT imagery of a new heavenly Zion/Jerusalem to say that Christian believers have access, in the invisible, spiritual realm, into the Heavenly Jerusalem, and therefore participate in worship with innumerable angels and the great assembly of those who have died in faith and are already in God’s presence.”

Certainly the language of these verses confirms the reality of existence for those who have gone before us. The “assembly of the firstborn,” for example, while initially referring to Christ, has been expanded to include all the heirs of salvation. Those “enrolled in Heaven” probably refers to the Book of Life referenced in several places in the Bible. And finally, “the spirits of the righteous made perfect” clearly refers to believers who were made righteous on earth because of Christ’s work on the cross, but were made gloriously perfect upon their entrance into Heaven.

Of course, as wonderful a concept as it is, we should not be overly fixated on the fact that our family and friends in Heaven are worshiping together with us on Sunday mornings. The most important person we should be focusing on is Christ, “the mediator of a new covenant,” who made all this possible. Without His sacrificial life and death, we wouldn’t be excited and glad and grateful and amazed at all.

Thanks be to God for the incredible privilege of entering into Heavenly worship while we are still living as sojourners here on earth. Better still, one day we will experience the fullness of worship that we now know by faith alone; in just a little while, our faith will be sight!

(From the Archives)