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Don't go see that movie

2/16/2015

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By Darrel Proffitt, Lead Pastor
I made a bold pronouncement in Church last week: “Don’t go to see Fifty Shades of Grey.” I’m sure that statement surprised some. I mean, how bad can it be, it’s just a movie?
The problem with such movies and books is that they seek to reach a wide audience, many of whom are unsuspecting students and young people. The quality of a healthy, balanced and Biblical life has nothing to do with the abuse chronicled by Fifty Shades of Grey. To open oneself to putting this relationship as normal is dangerous. We are to be renewed by the transformation of our minds which means we need to monitor what we read and watch.
I was reading a review of the movie in Atlantic Monthly and came across this bit of dialogue from the movie:
He hits me again … this is getting harder to take. My face hurts, it’s screwed up so tight. He strokes me gently and then the blow comes. I cry out again.
“No one to hear you, baby, just me.”
And he hits me again and again. From somewhere deep inside, I want to beg him to stop. But I don’t. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction.
Unfortunately, this is tame compared to much of the dialogue quoted. Do we really want to hold up domestic violence as something in which to be entertained? It’s more than the depravity of the story; it goes well beyond that. The story is about someone who abuses a woman and a woman who is violently abused and violated.. And we are told this is a love story? We live by a much higher standard than that.
Compare the above dialogue with God’s Word. From Ephesians 5 Paul writes:
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
So, let me say again, “Don’t go to see this movie!” Don’t give Hollywood your hard earned money. Each ticket purchased is a vote for this kind of damaging movie. Put your foot down and say: enough is enough. But don’t go mostly for yourself. If you own the book, throw it into recycling. Stand for the truth, not for such sinful and damaging filth.
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A Challenge to Live Your Life Biblically in 2015

2/4/2015

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By Darrel Proffitt, Lead Pastor
As I was working on my Lenten sermon series, I came across a blog that reminded me of the importance of reading the Bible every day.  I thought the points were so important, I have recopied them on my blog.  Even though we are now in February, it’s never too late to make a commitment to improve your life.  The following was written by  14 year old,  Amanda Beguerie:
Honestly, how many of us truly read our Bibles regularly? How many of us memorize scripture? Do we see it as important? Well, according to God’s Holy Word, it is very important.
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” — Psalm 119:9-11
Do we want to live purely and make a difference in our generation? We need to live our lives according to the Bible.
Do we want to be in a good relationship with God? We need to read the Bible and memorize it.
How do we know how to live? By the Bible.
And how will we know the Bible if we don’t read it?
We can’t.
This past year, my New Year’s resolution was to read the Bible every day. Now, I had never done this before, so it took some real habit-making for this to happen for me. But now that I have kept it this far, I look back and it has changed my life.
You see, the more we read the Bible, the more we want to read it. The more we see God’s love for us, the more we love Him back and love others. The more we see the example of Jesus, the more we want to follow Him, and the more we follow Him, our life changes too.
Being a Christian is way more than just accepting death-equals-heaven insurance. It is following Christ day after day, and living as a new person in Him. How do we do that? We let go of our sin, and we start living how God wants us to. How do we know how God wants us to live?
We read the Bible.
“Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” — 2 Timothy 1:13
So I want to encourage us all to do something together. It may be a small hard thing for some of us, and it may be a very big hard thing for others.
My proposal is that we read the Bible every day of 2015. But we need to do this out of true sincerity. We need to make it a habit because we want to.
This past year, I read 4 chapters every day to finish the Bible in a year. You can also find a plan online, or read even just one chapter each day. But we need to be spending time with God every day, because this is how we grow.
And you can bet that I’ll be doing it right along with you all.
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Church of the Holy Apostles
1225 West Grand Parkway South
Katy, TX 77494
info@cotha.org • 281-392-3310

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Sundays 8a and 10:30a
Sunday School 9:15a • Breakfast 9a


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