Discipling my son Reece is a real world experience. I just thought I’d share an example

This is an actual conversation Reece and I had while watching an episode of “The Office.”

Reece: Why do they have Angela be a mean Christian who looks down on everybody?

Me: Well, sadly, some Christians are like Angela and are judgmental. But not all of us are.

Reece: Like us, right Dad? I’m glad we’re not like that. We’re cool and we actually like people.

Me: That’s right buddy. You are more mature than many other Christians I know. Some don’t quite understand. Let’s talk about the difference between sawdust and 2×4’s…

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Tags: TheOffice, Angela, son, father, Christianity

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There’s a poignant scene in the film “Blood Diamond” starring Leonardo DiCaprio that just struck me. The film opens with a joyful moment between a father and a son. They are obviously close. Later, the village they lived in was attacked and the young boy was captured by rebels and brainwashed to hate and kill. Throughout the story, his father risks his life and tirelessly searches for him- eventually finding him in a dramatic moment.

This scene picks up with the boy pointing a gun at his father with calloused eyes ready to kill him. The father, with tears streaming down his cheeks, begins to talk to his son about how much he loves him, how nothing he has ever done could ever stop that, and how the boy can return to the family and rest securely in his father’s love. The boy begins to weep as he listens to his father. The father moves toward the boy and they embrace. Powerful! Love won!

Being a Christ Follower, I couldn’t help but think of Romans 12:21 where we’re given these words: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” I also thought of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15; in particular Luke 15:20- “So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

As a Dad, I want my children to get this because so much of what I see today is evil returned with evil. That is our natural response. I also want them to know that there’s nothing they can do to make me stop loving them. I want them (and me) to live supernaturally. Anyone can destroy but it takes special people to restore.

When my son and daughter don’t get along with each other or other people, I don’t want to see revenge and grudges, I want to see grace and forgiveness. Likewise, when I am wronged (it happens), I too need to do the same.

How about you? Anyone you need to forgive? Anyone you need to encourage? Anything you need to do?

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Last night I went to see the Transformers movie with my son and my dad. It was dynamite.

As a kid growing up in the 80’s who had a bunch of Transformer toys, I was really looking forward to the movie. I was concerned that the Transformers in the movie would be secondary characters and that the film wouldn’t be true to the original cartoon. After seeing it, I can say that they did it right.

I don’t want to give away much but this summer blockbuster was action-packed with great effects and quite funny. In fact, it was funnier than some of the comedies I’ve seen recently. I never thought I’d see an Autobot take a leak. The theater was filled with a bunch of 80’s geeks like me who cheered with the arrival of Optimus Prime. That’s unusual for a more conservative South Dakota crowd.

From a father’s perspective, I appreciated the clear battle between the good guys (Autobots) and the bad guys (Decepticons). That’s not often the case in movies today and this had it. And although it had couple of swear words, I can use this to teach life lessons to my son. Some of the topics I can teach my son with this movie are leadership; gentleness; commitment and loyalty; love; teamwork; sacrifice; mercy; the value of a life; and how God can use the least to show how great He is.

If you’re a dad and you take your child to see this movie- there’s plenty of meat to teach them valuable life lessons.

This movie was better than I thought it would be. If you’re looking to see a film that will keep you engaged from beginning to end, this is it. It doesn’t disappoint.

P.S. The soundtrack rocks. I love the theme song by Mute Math!

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Tonight’s episode of 24 was off the hook!

The story is getting to the point where crap is starting to hit the fan and it holds the audience in its clutches.

I especially enjoyed the scenes where we see the usually hardened Jack Bauer show his compassionate side with a mentally-challenged guy.  I really felt it was tastefully done while remaining in the context of the story and true to the character of Jack Bauer.  I written before about how Jack Bauer is a Christ-like character and the compassion shown by him in this episode is yet another aspect of that.

Also, you’ve got to love how it always seems the greatest threats are the old, good-ol’-boy politicians who are always looking to take control of the government and respond as if we were still in the 1950’s.  It was great to see President Palmer get back on the saddle even if the good-ol’-boy network led by his VP attempts to push him off.

Overall, a great blend of stories in 24 tonight.  I can’t wait until next week.

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I will admit up front that I love M. Night Shyamalan movies. He writes, produces, and directs his own films and casts talented actors. His movies have layers to them, often represent some deeper message, and are just plain intriguing. The modern-day fairy tale ‘Lady in the Water’ is no diifferent.

Story (The Lady) speaking to Vick (a writer): A boy, in the midwest of this land, will grow up in a home where your book will be on the shelf and spoken of often. He will grow up with these ideas in his head. He will grow into a great orator. He will speak and his words will be heard throughout this land and throughout the world. This boy will become leader of this country and begin a movement of great change. He will speak of you and your words and your book will be the seeds of many of his great thoughts. They will be the seeds of change.

One of the primary motif’s of this film is that of purpose and destiny. We were all placed here for a reason- on purpose. Vick, a writer in the story played by M. Night, is struggling to write. What he’s put together is a bunch of his random thoughts in a working book titled, “The Cookbook.” He doubts it’s anything great and lacks the motivation to complete it. I think we all feel like Vick sometimes. We have a dream- we get excited enough to start it- but then it fizzles like our confidence in our talent and ability. We think it really doesn’t matter and that’s the end of it.

Vick didn’t know it but his writing will spark great change in the future. Don’t we all wish we could see a step ahead like this? Proverbs 16:9 tells us “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Isn’t that interesting? God is in the details.
Vick’s obscure thoughts and attempts at writing may not seem great now- but they will be. We never know what affect our life will have on another. For every Jesus- there’s a John the Baptist. Someone who plants the seed, someone who lights the match, someone who prepares the way.

Story (The Lady) would later reveal to Vick (the writer) that his sister, who’s an adult, would have seven children but he would only live to see two of them. That may seem like a bummer- but Vick got a glimpse of his destiny. Knowing that the text he’s mulling now may instigate change later and that he won’t live a long life likely fuels a sense of urgency to complete his work and do it to the very best of his ability.

What would happen if we would approach our lives in a similar way? What if you were given your expiration date? What would you do different? What if we started to live as if this was the last day of our life? How long would we wait until we do what we always knew we were meant to? This is how we should live, isn’t it? Why don’t we?

I love what Psalm 39:4 says, “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away.” Why would we ask for that? Because it brings us focus- just like it did for Vick. We do what we’re meant to do, we become who we were meant to be. That’s why a song like, “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw touches so many people. Instictively, we know we should live today as if it were our last. We’d all likely do things differently if we did. So let’s do it. We aren’t promised tomorrow. The harvest is today- the workers are few- the time is now!

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Ricky Bobby: Dear Lord baby Jesus, we thank you so much for this bountiful harvest of Dominos, KFC, and the always delicious Taco Bell. I just want to take time to say thank you for my family. My two sons, Walker, and Texas Ranger, or TR as we call him. And of course my red hot smokin’ wife Carley, who is a stone cold fox.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: mmm-mmm…
Ricky Bobby: Dear tiny infant Jesus…
Carley Bobby: Hey, um… you know sweetie, Jesus did grow up. You don’t always have to call him baby. It’s a bit odd and off puttin’ to pray to a baby.
Ricky Bobby: Well look, I like the Christmas Jesus best, and I’m sayin grace. When you say grace, you can say it to grown up Jesus, or teenage Jesus, or bearded Jesus, or whatever you want.

I was talking with my four-year-old daughter the other day and we were talking about Jesus. I was telling her that the baby Jesus is the same person as the Jesus that was on the cross. I could just see her connecting the dots as I explained that to her. Then she said, “I like the baby Jesus- he’s cute.” What can I say to that? That reminded me of Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights. He envisioned Jesus as a baby when he prayed. Was Jesus any less holy as a baby than he was at age 33? Does it really matter how we envision Jesus when we pray? We don’t even know what he looked like anyway? The point is that Ricky Bobby was praying- and Jesus digs that.

What I love about Ricky Bobby’s prayer is that it was sincere. Jesus looks at our heart- not our use of language. We can learn from this. When we pray, we need to keep it real. If we’re angry, we should tell God we’re angry. If we’re stoked, we should tell that to God too. He already knows, right? Let’s be authentic.

I also dig how Ricky Bobby gave thanks:

1. He thanked Jesus for his food. Even Jesus gave thanks for his food before he ate. (Mark 14:22). Plus, he was specific about the food he had.
2. He thanked Jesus for his kids. (Proverbs 20:7) Ricky prayed for his children in front of them. That will carry with them their entire life.
3. He thanked Jesus for his hot wife. (Song of Songs 4:7). I’ve also thanked God for my smokin’-hot wife.

Jesus loves prayers from people like my daughter and Ricky Bobby just as much as he loves them from me and you. God cares that our prayers are real, authentic, and genuine- not fake, showy, or scripted. It’s a matter of heart and believing Jesus is Lord- that’s it! Just love Jesus- baby or bearded.

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Do you remember the movie, “Meet the Parents” with Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro? Think back to that movie. I had a “Meet the Parents” moment last night. I didn’t have a polygraph test from an ex-CIA agent or talk about milking a cat. I had the volleyball moment.

In the movie, there’s a scene where Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) plays water volleyball with the family the day before his girlfriend’s sister’s wedding. The game got intense and Greg ended up spiking the ball directly into the face of the bride-to-be. He felt like such a heel- and I did too.

Last night, we had a tournament to wrap-up our league’s co-ed volleyball season and determine a champion. During one of the games, I went to spike the ball and nailed this sweet girl right in the face. The ball actually bounced off of her face and went right back over the net to me where I proceeded to spike it again with my other hand and get the point. The poor girl cried and ran off of the court and into the ladies room. I felt so bad. Of course, I wasn’t trying to nail anyone, I just wanted to spike the ball to the floor. We continued the game and, like a trooper, she eventually returned and I promptly apologized and made sure everything was okay. She forgave me.

Have you ever hurt anyone? As you know, it doesn’t matter if it’s intentional or not, physical or emotional, it still sucks. We all have had a “Meet the Parents” moment and we will have more throughout our lives. The key is, when we do, to quickly make things right. Whether you receive forgiveness or not, at least you’ve done your part.

My duff last night was a good reminder of this important principle.

P.S. We did end up winning the entire tournament and are the champions. The MVP- my wife, Gwyn. She may be 5′ tall- but she packs a punch!

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At the request of my son, here is a lesson from Pirates of the Caribbean. He’s big into pirates right now and I love teaching him that he can learn life lessons from movies.

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In order to fully appreciate this post, I suggest you watch the film ‘Nacho Libre’ starring Jack Black now available on DVD. Some of the content may contain spoilers, so don’t be mad at me if I blow it for you.

Nacho: They think I do not know a buttload of crap about the Gospel, but I do!

Have you ever been underestimated? Have you ever been told you don’t have what it takes? This happens to the best of us. This is what Nacho was confronted with in the movie. He was relegated to KP (kitchen patrol). It was assumed that among all of the other monks and nuns in the monastery, he knew the least about the Gospel.

So what should we do if we’re underestimated? Some people start to believe it. Others are challenged by it. What about you? Remember the story of David and Goliath? David didn’t have a chance…but he knew better. Although outsiders didn’t believe it, he knew he had the ability to take down the giant. Well…with the help of five smooth stones, but he still did it. David didn’t just get lucky, he had skills. He’d been in situations like this before with beasts coming after his sheep as a youngster and when the opportunity to fight Goliath came- he was ready, tested, and proven.

I take a lot of comfort in 1 Timothy 4:12- “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” Let’s remember that the next time we feel as Nacho did.

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