The Tree of Life

"There are two ways through life:
the way of nature and the way of grace.
You have to choose which one you'll follow.

"Grace doesn't try to please itself,
accepts being slighted, forgotten, disliked,
accepts insults and injuries.

"Nature only wants to please itself,
get others to please it too,
likes to lord itself over them,
to have its own way.
It finds reasons to be unhappy
when all the world is shining around it.

"No one who loves the way of grace ever comes to a bad end."

~ Mrs. O'Brien
from the movie The Tree of Life

~ ~ ~

The highest aim of nature is to make of ourselves the best we might be, and we are damned by it.

The highest aim of Grace is to make of God all He has proven to be, and we are saved by it.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
~ Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

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Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Most Dangerous Virus

"An idea is like a virus—resilient, highly contagious.
And the smallest seed of an idea can grow;
it can grow to define or destroy you."
~ Cobb, from the movie Inception,
© 2010 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Though the movie Inception is science fiction, its premises are chillingly real. An idea can be planted in the mind from the inside. Ideas may take root which both defy eradication and come to define and destroy a person. And the attempt to alter our world by defining our own reality with deceptive ideas is most assuredly a deadly mind game.

Our enemy the devil is master of inception. His goal is to steal, kill and destroy. His modus operandi is to first plant an idea from within, mixing the lie with enough truth for it to take root.

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
~ John 10:10 (NKJV)

Another premise of Inception is that freefall is fatal even before it ends with an impact. When we think of what is needed to sustain life, we think air, water, food. But the need for something solid to stand upon is also vital.

Skydiving exhilarates with its eagle's ride upon the wind, until the moment when a ripcord is pulled and one floats gently back to terra firma. Without a parachute to capture the earth's breath, the same swan dive would bring death—whether when man meets rock, or in terror of anticipating that inevitable end.

The freedom of traveling upon the ocean is likewise thrilling—as long as one has feet planted in a reliable vessel. But a ship must eventually return to land to sustain its human cargo, and one could not float or tread water for long without solid support before the sea would prove fatal.

Jesus warned that shifting sands of self-defined reality will inevitably collapse, resulting in thorough destruction. Our lives are secure only if resting upon the solid rock of His words. (Matthew 7:24-25) If we do not build upon that rock, truth will fall upon us with crushing power.

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone ...' ?
... whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."
Matthew 21:42-44 (NKJV)

It's been said that not all lies send you to Hell. But to embrace a lie is to sleep with the enemy, who is father of lies. Whether inception plants deception in mind of self or another, lies compromise ability to discern truth, distort reality, and architect a hell of the mind which destroys life.

Our enemy attacks not only when he covertly speaks within our minds, but when he speaks through the false teachers who infiltrate our churches and other Christian circles. No weapon of man can fight deadly ideas, but only the sword of God's Spirit.

In the movie Inception, potential victims can be trained to fight against an enemy who enters the mind.

In reality, it is critical that we immerse ourselves with the truth of God's Word so that the enemy's seeds find no inception.

"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."
~ John 17:17 (NKJV)

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

This post is the rest of the story attached to the gratitude I express today at Everyday Testimony.

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

The Book of Eli

"People had more than they needed,
people didn't know what was precious and what wasn't,
people threw away things they kill each other for now."
~ Eli, describing the pre-apocalyptic world

The Book of Eli

[God] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son ... [who is] upholding all things
by the word of His power ...
~ Hebrews 1:2-3 (NKJV)

By request, I'm today sharing some thoughts about the movie The Book of Eli.

Aside from historicals, I generally avoid movies of gratuitous violence. But I’m one HUGE fan of the Book of Elohim (also called Holy Bible), so there was no way I’d miss a movie centered upon pursuit of a Bible for the power in its words.

As with any other post-apocalyptic movie, one must suspend belief in the Bible's version of end-time events to engage with the story line. The irony here is that the story asks the viewer to believe that the Bible holds words so powerful that one man (Eli) will kill to protect it, and one man (Carnegie) will kill to obtain it for his personal ambition.

I have enough imagination to suspend belief in both prophecy and the movie's various technical oversights while I watch the story.

Eli's use of violence (beyond self-defense) didn't bother me. In society, government is responsible for administration of justice. In a vacuum of governmental authority, where vigilante justice rules, Eli demonstrates righteous use of the supernatural protection and defense tactics he employs. He seeks peace with other men, but does not tolerate their evil attacks on innocent people. I am reminded of Samson, who God used to punish evil Philistines in a similar manner.

As in societies the world over throughout human history, most people in the movie employ power through physical might rather than intelligence or honor. Women are the physically weaker sex, and therefore exploited by the evil and protected by the righteous. The movie's R-rated profanity is not gratuitous. Both these elements are realistic rather than sensational.

Jesus is never mentioned. Such a glaring oversight might be expected in a movie which operates on more Old Testament principles than New Testament ones. I appreciate the movie's scriptwriters' expression of faith in divine protection and preservation of God's Word, and in the great power of God's Word—power which men employ for good or evil. But failure to see the truth in that power as relevant to the story shows their faith to be marginal.

Despite its many flaws, faith was in evidence throughout The Book of Eli. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it. Aside from The Passion of the Christ, this is the only R-rated movie I've allowed my 11-year-old son to see. (I had him skip an attempted rape scene.)

And the ending scenes had too many good surprises for me to spoil them here.

I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image are from the movie "The Book of Eli," © 2010 Alcon Entertainment

Lessons on Emptiness from the Movie 300

The theme for today’s blog carnival (hosted by Bridget Chumbley) is “Emptiness.” Visit her site for thoughts from others.

"Freedom isn't free at all.
It comes with the highest of costs—
the cost of blood."
~ Queen Gorgo, 300

Lessons on Emptiness from the Movie 300

It is said that in heat of battle, a soldier fights not for country but for brother soldier. Yet if not for home and freedom, the soldier would not train for battle or go to war in the first place.

I appreciate the war movies which illustrate both, whether with the credibility of We Were Soldiers, or in the fantasy historical 300. In the latter, all of value to the men—sons, land, freedom—is represented in their women. The Persian enemy threatened, “We will make your women, your children our slaves.” Such taunts solidified the Spartans’ resolve to fight.

The queen of Spartan king Leonidas did not go with him to battlefield, but fought for him from her place at home, bolstered by the esteem He’d shown her. She was privy to talks with foreign diplomat—a man slain by Leonidas for insults capped with disdain for his queen. In hour of decision, after consulting others, Leonidas came to her who knew him best, and she articulated the cause in his heart: “Fight not as a king ... fight as a free man.” For his cause she sacrificed her dignity to a traitor yet remained above degradation. She appealed with eloquence to the council authority who could give her king support. Leonidas took courage in death with the words, “My queen, my wife, my love.” When the time came to lay down his life, the message he sent was the simple request, “Remember me.”

Call me a naïve romantic or out of date for my perspective. In this world, a woman’s foremost purpose is still as champion of the men in her life—be they father, son, brother, husband—empowering them with respect, sacrificial action, worthy words. A man’s foremost purpose is esteeming the love of his life and everything of value she represents with the laying down of his life, whether with his blood or in day to day sacrifice. Neither death nor degradation should threaten our resolve.

Is it possible that we live with emptiness in our souls because we seek to fulfill ourselves in lesser purposes?

"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
~ Ephesians 5:31-33 (NKJV)

There is a far greater reason for the soul’s emptiness—its God-shaped void.

Temporal romance awakens us to the divine romance. This love story is of the mighty Prince Who creates a magnificent home for the love of His life. He patiently woos His love for many years, and finally betroths her to Himself by defeating with His shed blood the evil dragon which has long tormented her. He asks as He lays down His life, "Remember Me."

We are the love of His life, and our purpose is to be constant champions of His cause, shown in our great respect for Him, sacrificial action, words of appeal to the authority of the Father. The world may degrade us, yet if we are humble we remain above it.

We feel emptiness when we seek fulfillment apart from the cause of our King. We also feel emptiness in separation from our King. But unlike the queen of King Leonidas, we are assured of our Lord's return, and He remains with us through His Holy Spirit.

They said to the LORD, "We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray." So they turned from their idols and served the LORD. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of His people.
~ Judges 10:15-16 (author paraphrase)

I believe that God’s great love for us creates a humanity-shaped void in His soul. I believe He knows misery in His soul in our separation from Him. It begins to be satisfied when we are reconciled to Him, and give His Spirit a home in our hearts.

But until the day all separation ends, our God shares our emptiness.

This post is dedicated to all the military and civilian personnel who have given their lives to protect us and our freedoms. They have my profound gratitude, on Memorial Day and every day.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image from the movie 300, © 2006 Warner Brothers Pictures

The Lord Bless You

The Lord Bless You
#powerofwords

"The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."
~ Numbers 6:23-26 (NKJV)

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
~ Psalms 103:1-2 (NKJV)

The Aaronic Benediction from Numbers 6 is used to this day by rabbis and Christian pastors alike to bless their congregations. But the Jews also begin their prayers in blessing, with the words "Blessed are You O Lord our God." (Baruch ata Adonai Elohei-nu)

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God using all within you, and the second greatest to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

It seems many people think the words "I love you" either awkward or overused. So I've made it a habit to bless the Lord and bless people, as an expression of love. I'm as creative as possible, and speak a blessing in the form of a prayer. One of my favorites (I forget where I heard it) is "God bless you real good."

In the movie Flywheel, a pastor blesses a car salesman with the prayer, "And Lord, I ask that you treat Jay just like he treated me today." Jay knows he just swindled the pastor, and is filled with fear of God answering the prayer. He begins reflecting on his deceitful ways, and ends up turning his life over to the Lord. And thus the pastor's words lead to blessing, just as he originally intended. Funny how blessing might work out.

Would you be willing to speak blessing to someone today?

And by the way, God bless you real good.

Blessed are You, Lord! You've poured out forgiveness, healing, and satisfaction. Thank You. Thank You for sending people to read these words, however they happen to be seeing them. I pray for all these people that You'll bless them in a new way today, and that You'll do it in such a manner that they know it was You.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Friday Freelance: FINAL COST, PART II

I recently watched the movie WALL•E with my family. The benign humans were disturbing, though probably only to grown-ups.

Imaginatively fast-forward about 700 years, to a time when an environmentally destitute earth is incapable of sustaining life, and obese humans move on floating amigo-carts. The final cost of reliance on robots without any human exertion becomes lack of sufficient muscle tone and bone density necessary to independent mobility on one's feet.

The animators' tongue-in-cheek portrayal may not be too far off from present spiritual reality in much of mainstream Christianity. In the imaginative world of some churches, seeker-friendly worship services balance a good show with a feel-good message about the health and wealth available by faith.

Even in many evangelical churches, there's no motivation to grow in holiness through sanctification (being cleansed of sinful actions and attitudes), because if you've merely said the "sinner's prayer" and "accepted Jesus," you've reserved your ticket to heaven and need only wait on your ride.

Legalism, pride and hypocrisy have given holiness a bad name, and put tolerance in a good light. While years of snobs treating non-conformists as riff-raff needed correction, we've hit the other extreme when we preach that acceptance of a sinner requires acceptance of sin.

The final cost of reliance on grace without any human exertion becomes lack of sufficient spiritual tone and Word density necessary to dependent relationship with one's Lord.

Make no mistake, to confess Jesus as Lord means obedience and repentance of sin. To receive the Holy Spirit is to cooperate with His work of sanctifying us from all that is unholy. And true holiness is free of pride.

A people used to numbing pain with medicine rather than searching out and eliminating the cause may be inclined to numb the voice of conscience with feel-good church. If we have truly put our faith in Jesus Christ, and name Him as Lord, we are spiritually cleansed by His blood. But our souls also need cleansing.

In the Old Testament, the three agents of cleansing were blood and water—and as a last resort, fire. We can willingly allow our Lord to cleanse our souls with the water of the Word by regularly spending the time necessary to read and apply the Bible to our lives. It will come at the cost of time spent on something else.

The Holy Spirit yearns to make the church clean for her Bridegroom. If we are insufficiently cleansed with the water of the Word, should we be surprised if the final cost of cleansing is the loss of whatever must be consumed by fire?

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy

Almost Stumbled

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked...
I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end...
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
(Psalms 73:2-3,17,25-26 NKJV)

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."
(1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV)

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
(Romans 14:12-13 NKJV)

In the movie The Razor's Edge, Bill Murray's character seeks out a mountain guru and is told, "It's easy to be a holy man on a mountain." Indeed, even the first man to sin asserted he did so because of the company God gave him.

We might more easily avoid certain sin if not for provocation by the boastful, proud and wicked. But in the end, when we each give an account to God, we can blame nothing on another. Each one answers for self. If provoked, we must immediately turn to God and seek the strength of His Spirit to respond.

He is also the Supreme Justice of the highest court in the universe. If injustice prevails here and now, we can rest in the assurance that the Judge of all the Earth is in control of the outcome, both in immediate future and in eternity, whether we or another has done wickedly.

Oh El Elyon—God Most High—what are we without You? You clothe us with Your righteousness so we may stand in Your presence. You grant both deliverance-salvation and freedom-salvation from sin. Please keep us from stumbling, and from provoking anyone else to stumble.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy