Whatever

God can really use anything!! During Professor Leeper's lecture my binder was sitting in front of me with its blue letters glaring up at me, "Whatever."

The whatever was in reference to Phillipians 4:8. I'll quote the King James Version. Why? Because its cool and I can! "Finally, Brethern, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

I think its interesting that this verse is found in the same chapter as some of the other famous verses, "And the peace that passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds though Christ Jesus." and "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Isn't that a cool word? Strengtheneth? What if we all said that? "You should eat some carbs before powderpuff, it will really strengtheneth you up!"

So Paul throws this out there. Whatsoever is true...think about it!!!! What's true in Ratatouille? Because Professor mentioned Ratatouille in class i will use it as an example. (Anyone else thought it was stinking awesome that he met the writer????? Dude!) Ratatouille shows us that "anyone can cook" and not to judge people to quickly and to believe in the beauty in your dreams. All that stuff is true... so let's think about it! Jesus talked about judging people...so this Pixar movie has Christian messages!

It's just like Professor Leeper said, If something is a masterpiece than no matter which why you slice it, it will bleed its essence. And Christianity is a masterpiece!! God was planning for Jesus to come to earth since before sin existed!!!!! He's got it covered! If anyone is scared of the future, don't be! God is a big God! Jesus says, "Can all your worrying add a single moment to you life?"

I look at Phillipians 4:8 and I see incredible freedom! So often I feel like we put God in a box, we have to pave this little road for him to use in the art world that has perfect people running around trying to gain some common ground with the rest of the world.

Although Fireproof and Facing the Giants have their place and can even be a inspiring, they aren't the only types of films God can use!!

God can use whatever he wants! He can use whatever is true...whatever is honest...whatever is just...whatever is lovely....

Do you feel the freedom? Jesus doesn't need us to pave a little street of "clean"movies that he can march through Hollywood on. He's already there.

God's not going to be offended if we ask the hard questions. That's the kinda freedom that the reading was talking about. The freedom to search, and to discover and dig and pick at things, even dumb stories like the Little Red Riding Hood.

Just like the parable of the Talents.....the only guy that God go mad at was the one who refused to take a risk....refused to come to the terms that maybe he would fail.....

We don't have to worry about getting it right!! We just got to trust in the One who did!