We saw, I Am Legend at the theater when it came out. It was alright, but I wasn’t pleased with how it ended. So when it came out on video, we gave it another try. I liked it better, but still not as much as I hoped. The Boy gave me fits about wanting to see the alternate ending, but you had to buy the movie to see it. I finally relented. On Monday, we watched the movie with the alternate ending and new scenes added. It is WAY better. (IMO) 

Many bloggers have written about the movie, many talking about the allusion of the virus to sin and its horrible impact on the world. There is definitely a spiritual vein in the story. One of the most prominent is the influence of the music of Bob Marley. I’m sure Bob Marley was a gifted man, but he was also very misguided. Many of the things he said in terms of philosophy were versions of the words of our Master. And while he believed in some version of God, he was in no way a Christian. His penchant for the herb is well known and it fogs the value of many of his words. 

Robert Neville (Will Smith) quotes Marley in one scene and says, “Light up the darkness.” Marley’s reason for this statement was the hope of uniting mankind through love and music. These are not bad things. However, it was Jesus who first spoke of lighting up the darkness when he said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) Jesus purpose for lighting the darkness was that the praise of the Father. When man seeks to lift himself, God is set aside. As we praise God, He lifts us up. 

When John Lennon’s Imagine came out, like most people, I loved the song. A man at my church, who I really admired, tried to show me the shortcoming of Lennon’s words. It was Marley’s contention that music and love could change the hearts of men. It is the influence of God through the character of Christ and the work of the Spirit that changes people. There are many things that inspire us to change, but at the end of the day, only God can change us.  

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” He also said, “You are the light of the world.” Of course, we must let our light shine. Expose the deeds of darkness. We need to be good and noble people who make a difference in the world, but not for the praise of man, not for the glory of the world, rather for the praise of our Father. 

telemicus out

In the classic movie of 1953, The Wild One, Marlon Brando plays Johnny Strabler, a juvenile delinquent wrapped in black leather. In one of the most famous lines from the film, Mildred asks, “What are you rebelling against Johnny?” Tapping a tune on the jukebox, he lifts an eyebrow and says, “Whaddya got?” 

A few years ago, the Milk Producers began the “Got Milk?” campaign. Since that time the brilliant ad has been ripped off for everything from apple pie to zebra cakes. (I have a “Got Jesus?” bumper sticker on my bulletin board.) I heard one aspiring celebrity asked, “When did you know you had made it?” He answered without hesitation, “When they asked me to do the ‘Got Milk?’ ad. 

The religious leaders confronted Jesus one day challenging his right to say the things he said. He said to them, “You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.” (John 8:15 -16) I love good arguments. I love to see good lawyers trap bad people in their own words. I’m impressed when I see people take a stand good or the cause of justice.  

There are three great things about Jesus’ response. First, he affirms that his decisions are right; not because he is all knowing but because he know the basis on which he makes decisions. Second, he is not alone. Understanding the fellowship of walking with God or in this case, standing with God, is key to humble confidence. Finally, he states emphatically that he stands with the Father and proclaims him as his origin.  

We should be a people who stand for what is right and just. Of course, there is a place for mercy and grace, but those things do not wink and look the other way when wrong is happening. In the past week we’ve seen a hypocritical governor, a shameless prostitute, a renegade preacher and several rubber legged politicians.  

Let’s have some people who take a stand for what is good and right. Let’s be honest about our failings and confident when we are right, not because we are smart or great, but because we are not alone, because we stand with the Father and we are His. So my question for you this week is, “What are you standing for?” 

telemicus out

The critics got it wrong. I heard a number of reports that this movie was bad and dumb and one of these self-proclaimed experts actually said it was “funny.” It’s not funny – although there are funny moments. It’s a serious story that carries us through struggle and genuine pain. There are physical challenges and emotional heartbreaks. Once again, I think the critics miss the point of films like this one.  

They criticized the film because the primary group speaks English. I don’t think it was intended to be an epic masterpiece, they were telling a story. . . to English speaking people. It is a story of a young man who is an outcast and is misunderstood. In time, he becomes a leader and rises to the challenge of his life. It’s inspiring. He’s brave and honest. There is much to like about this film.  

One of my favorite scenes is where the young man, D’Leh falls into a trap. There is also a giant saber toothed tiger in the pit. Rain is falling and the tiger will soon drown. D’Leh struggles with whether to release the tiger and hope to survive, or to allow the tiger to expire in the pit. He makes his decision and says to the tiger, “Do not eat me when I save your life!” 

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had the experience of helping someone only to have that person turn and try to tear them to pieces. How dare they! I heard a lady on the radio today say that she offered to help a homeless person find some work and they yelled at her and became unhinged. She said, “I guess no good deed goes unpunished.”  

We took a group of teens down town to feed homeless folks one evening and before going, we made PB&J sandwiches. When the students began to hand them out, some of the recipients began to complain that we were not giving them meat. Does that mean that we stop helping those in need? Of course not. It may simply mean that we remind them, “Do not eat me when I save your life.” 

telemicus out

You know the old saying that goes, “The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.” This is true in principle, but it isn’t true 100% of the time. People evolve. My experience says that politicians don’t evolve toward nobility. This makes me sad. My contention is that the higher the visibility the greater is the likelihood that the person will evolve in the wrong direction. (This may be the result of brighter lights and higher heat or the corrupting nature of power.) 

Here is what I would like to see in the Noble Politician. I want to see the courage of McCain when he endured the horrors of captivity in Viet Nam. I want to see the character of Obamah, refusing to accept money from lobbyist. I want to see the moral clarity of Huckabee. I want to see the tender heart of George W. Bush. I want to see the leadership and conviction of Reagan.  

Now I can hear people screaming from every corner of the political landscape about the shortcomings of all of these politicians. I’m aware. My point is that the ideal candidate isn’t out there. We should stay involved. We should help select leaders that represent what is right for our country in light of our beliefs about who we are supposed to be. 

Jesus said to the leaders of his day, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) You could tell who they really were by the kind of people they were in their down time. The same is true now. In the movie, Spiderwick Chronicles, a Brownie called Thimbletack says this, “You don’t see us; Now you do, but only if we want you to.” This is true of the modern politician. We see of them what they want us to see. 

Choose the person you vote for based on the type of person they have shown themselves to be in their life away from platforms and planned statements. That other Clinton taught us that character counts, but beyond character, we need leaders who are forged from steel; that will not run from the light of truth, that will not melt in the heat of battle and will not falter when the race is long.  

telemicus out