en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/284012 Comments by chrismarsden http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/04/2700/#IDComment66159895 The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur, & The Passion of the Christ were not "christian films". They were movies that happened to be about God and Godly things. That is one of my biggest pet peeves in the whole "christian film" (or music, tv, books, etc...) conversation. Why not just make a great film worthy of attention and give God his rightful place in it. Tue, 6 Apr 2010 04:18:23 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/04/2700/#IDComment66159895 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/04/2700/#IDComment66037517 And another point for your post, Jon.... All Christian films are dramas or cartoons/kids shows. I'm sure that is not true in the 100% sense of all, but probably 90-95%. I happen to like (good) dramas, but the average American (and certainly the average guy) isn't watching them. Where are the Christian action flicks and Comedies? What about a little Romance or even a Romantic comedy. Is the Christian life limited to heavy drama? Mon, 5 Apr 2010 12:31:19 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/04/2700/#IDComment66037517 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/04/2700/#IDComment66037140 This is a frustrating topic for me. I just wrote a six point open letter to the makers of Facing the Giants, Kirk Cameron, and anyone out there making "christian films", (but I deleted it because it got way too long). I get what they are trying to do. I love that they are trying to do it. I wish they would do it better (and not just the quality, but the whole experience). I am a movie lover. Really, I am a story lover. I love an artist who can capture characters and story and emotion and paint it on to the screen in a compelling way. What I find is that most, if not all, "christian films" are like fat blind date. "So what does she look like?" you ask. "She has a great personality." Whenever I meet a fan of a "christian film", they tell me about the message it is trying to convey, the lives the movie changed, or how the guys who made it are doing a great thing. They never tell me about the memorable characters, the compelling story, the amazing camera work, or anything else that makes a great film. Yes I know I am overgeneralizing. Tell a great story, stick to the story, trust that the Holy Spirit will translate it into the lives of the viewers, and don't beg me to watch it or tell me it is as good as Hollywood - just make it worthy of your viewer's attention so you don't have to market it as a "christian film", begging every church member in the country to see it and making them feel guilty if they don't. Mon, 5 Apr 2010 12:27:20 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/04/2700/#IDComment66037140 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/throwing-away-the-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue/#IDComment56362940 I love the Ez. 33 thought. My job to warn, not to control. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:03:21 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/throwing-away-the-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue/#IDComment56362940 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/throwing-away-the-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue/#IDComment56362844 I am a father of 3 little girls. Swimsuits are not my concern unless they are wearing them. But these questions are real and will only get more important as they grow. The problem I have always had is where to draw the line. I went to a bible college where they didn't have cable hookups because of all the negative content on cable, so instead of being able to watch the Discovery Channel or ESPN, most of my roomates watched Jerry Springer. There was a no rated R rule, so Passion of the Christ was out along with Saving Private Ryan and a ton of incredible films, but you were fully allowed to watch as much PG & PG13 trash as you wanted. Books and art bring in another aspect where this becomes a problem. Somehow art is above criticism for most people. I had a girl in my Youth group who watched, listened to, and read Les Miserables which among other things, contains mild profanity, inappropriate sexual relationships, and violence but she wasn't allowed to watch PG movies without her Mom present or read modern histories that had too much violence or sexual content. I struggle to find the line between being a rules guy who tells my kids what is right and wrong and being a guide who shows the dangers and helps them stay on the path. It becomes especially complicated when it is OK for some people in some situations but not in others. Back to the Swimsuit issue, how is that so wrong its not worthy to come in the house while the same models are in ads inside the other 51 editions of SI? Still just wondering how this lives out in real non-dictator controlled life. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:02:27 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/throwing-away-the-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue/#IDComment56362844 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/throwing-away-the-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue/#IDComment56337586 I struggle with this (not the swimsuits so much as the idea of censorship). I totally get that we shouldn't put the obvious temptations in the hands of our kids. But how does blatant censorship teach kids the ability to discern what is right and wrong later. I don't have the answer, and throwing up your hands and telling little Johnny to do whatever they want is fine isn't the answer either. But did your dad taking away the swimsuit edition somehow stop you from making similar mistakes in life? (and no, I don't think him letting you have the swimsuit edition would have prevented later mistakes either. It would have, in fact, probably accelerated that path). How do we protect our kids AND teach them the lessons that lead to them making wise choices on their own? Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:18:58 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/throwing-away-the-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue/#IDComment56337586 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/can-i-write-a-guest-post-for-your-blog/#IDComment56031335 Hey Jon... So I am launching a new blog (relaunching my old blog) called Everyday Ordinary. The whole idea is based around the fact that God uses everyday ordinary people to do crazy extraordinary things. I wasn't born rich, don't have amazing athletic skills, and am certainly not the greatest thing since sliced bread... And yet... God keeps putting me in these situations where I get to do really cool things. This everyday ordinary guy gets to be a player on some amazing teams. I think your story fits well and I would love to have you write a guest post. Check out everyday-ordinary.com. Thanks. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 16:02:15 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/can-i-write-a-guest-post-for-your-blog/#IDComment56031335 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/smoking-or-not-smoking-definitely-one-of-those-two/#IDComment55016661 Now that I've had my first cup of coffee I totally recant my previous musings. Seriously. What was I thinking lumping coffee in with cigarettes. Something this good just can't be wrong. Tue, 2 Feb 2010 13:23:17 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/smoking-or-not-smoking-definitely-one-of-those-two/#IDComment55016661 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/smoking-or-not-smoking-definitely-one-of-those-two/#IDComment55016474 And what about the "on special occasions" clause. It's why Thanksgiving gluttony is OK but competitive eating is a sin. A glass of bubbly at a wedding or New Years...OK. A glass of anything at 4PM on a Thursday...sin. A cigar to celebrate a new baby...Hooray. A cigar to celebrate life just because... well... I'm not sure about that. Tue, 2 Feb 2010 13:20:51 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/smoking-or-not-smoking-definitely-one-of-those-two/#IDComment55016474 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/smoking-or-not-smoking-definitely-one-of-those-two/#IDComment55015755 Its about the same as the redeeming value in watching TV. Which also probably fits under the category "everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial" category. Tue, 2 Feb 2010 13:10:46 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/smoking-or-not-smoking-definitely-one-of-those-two/#IDComment55015755 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/smoking-or-not-smoking-definitely-one-of-those-two/#IDComment55015048 You forgot the most obvious church endorsed drug abuse... Coffee. Now don't get me wrong. I'm all for a cup or two (or full pot by myself) of coffee in the morning. I don't even mind a second pot on the occasional chilly afternoon (or warm... I'm not picky). And there is nothing like a late night Venti Mocha to get me ready for bed. Seriously. I love my coffee! But... coffee was/is always the sticking point for me when it came to complaining about smokers (and don't get me started on energy drinks and Mt. Dew). Caffeine is a highly addictive drug that messes with your ability to get good sleep (even if you only drink in the AM), messes with your heart, and throws your energy levels out of whack. And the older people at church, many of whom were on the 4th or 5th cup of coffee for the day, would shake their heads and criticize those poor addicts who had to sneak out for a cigarette between Sunday School and the Worship Service. Seriously?!?!? Yeah, sure, gluttony is a sin. But just think about the gallons of drugs most churches are giving away on Sunday morning while criticizing the other drug users. Some churches even have coffee shops that sell the stuff, essentially making the drug dealers. Right?!? And we were worried about whether smoking was ok. Tue, 2 Feb 2010 13:00:54 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/smoking-or-not-smoking-definitely-one-of-those-two/#IDComment55015048 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/01/free-sony-ereader/#IDComment53929430 I've been reading on and off since the beginning (or fairly close to it). I didn't start reading consistently, though, until NYWC in the ATL. Anyone who can speak and hold their own mic while still being both funny and informative is worth reading. Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:57:35 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/01/free-sony-ereader/#IDComment53929430 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/01/meeting-jon-acuff/#IDComment51017759 At the very least, we need a facebook group with tips on where to find inexpensive wicker chairs that are still quality enough to be considered a worthy gift for Jon Acuff. Fri, 8 Jan 2010 14:12:25 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/01/meeting-jon-acuff/#IDComment51017759 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/01/meeting-jon-acuff/#IDComment51017647 I was at the workshop in Atlanta. The mic thing was pretty ridiculous, but you have to turn it into a skill (ala nunchuck or bow fighting skillz) for your speaking resume. "While other speakers would simply mumble through, partially unheard, Jon Acuff is committed to communication. He's even been know to hold his own microphone without fear of embarrassing photos that may arise in the age of countrymen headset mics." That quote is Creative Commons licensed, BTW. So feel free to use it. Fri, 8 Jan 2010 14:11:22 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/01/meeting-jon-acuff/#IDComment51017647 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/01/meeting-jon-acuff/#IDComment51013651 If had known the appropriate response/gift for meeting Jon Acuff, I would have brought a wicker chair to NYWC. Just imagine how many youth workers will have one in tow next year now that we know how to "properly" meet you. Fri, 8 Jan 2010 13:27:48 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/01/meeting-jon-acuff/#IDComment51013651 http://solarcrash.com/2009/11/she-needs-a-hero/#IDComment43935344 Whenever I think about needing/being a hero, I think about Sam and Frodo towards the end of their journey to Mordor. It has been a while since I read it, but Sam says something about wishing there was a "real hero" from one of the old songs to come and do what needed doing and Frodo replies that maybe they felt the same way. That the fact that they stuck out the mission and did what needed to be done made them a hero, not that they were already heros. It is pretending in a way. It is asking ourselves what would a real Hero do, and doing it instead of what we maybe would want. The key, I think, is consistency (Meeker mentions this). We need to "play" the Hero, not for a stage of their life, but consistently through their life. It is easy to be the Hero and clean up blood or vomit, even if it is against our nature or impulse. It is harder to hold a hand when "none of my friends like me". And when boys come into the picture in my little girls' lives, I can't even imagine the how hard it is going to be. But unlike most war stories, where if the Hero dies, someone else just picks up the gun and keeps fighting (and becomes the hero), we are the one shot our girls have. We have been charged with the mission of being the Hero in our little girls lives. And in order to complete the task, we have to stick with the journey until the very end. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:30:30 +0000 http://solarcrash.com/2009/11/she-needs-a-hero/#IDComment43935344