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On June 20th, 2009, I organized a group of 16 brothers and sisters from our congregation in Lake Mary, FL to go up to Keystone Heights to help with the preaching work there. Keystone Heights is a small, rural area near Gainsville. There were only 5 local publishers who met with us. Their congregation is small in relation to their territory, so they really need the help. I worked with my brother Aaron and my sister Heather in the morning. We had a lot of fun and were able to speak to quite a few people. Other groups had even more success. One brother and sister started a Bible study. For the most part their were very few bad experiences, though one young brother got chased by a dog, and another one got chased by a parrot. Here is a picture of some of the group breaking for lunch:
I suppose I could have folded this article in with my review of Batman Begins, but the movie has so many good lines that I wanted to write a separate article.
"There are those without decency who must be fought without hesitation, without pity." "The training is nothing! Will is everything! The will to act."-Ducard
These sentiments really strike a cord with me. They fit well with the honor codes of Chivalry and Bushido that I admire. Ducard is one of my favorite characters in Batman Begins and I like how his philosophy, tempered with the kindheartedness of Bruce's father, really have a profound impact on Bruce's character. You can very easily see Ducard and Batman becoming allies if their methods were just a little more compatible. While I won't endorse literally fighting evil, there are times when we must do the right thing without hesitation. That's why Phinehas (Numbers 25:7-11) is one of my biggest Biblical heroes.
Alfred: Why do we fall, Master Wayne? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.
Bruce: You still haven't given up on me, have you?
Alfred: Never.
This exchange says a lot about how we should view our own failings and those of others. Don't be discouraged, learn from your mistakes, and never give up on your friends.
"It's not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you."-Rachel Dawes
I know, probably one of the cheesiest lines in the movie, but it still holds a grain of truth (or is that the truth about grains?). I also like how Batman later turns the line around on her. There are quite a few lines that get turned around in this movie, actually, including Thomas Wayne's last words being repeated later by Ducard. It's rather clever.
"Does it come in black?"-Bruce Wayne
Bruce Wayne's response to test driving the Tumbler. It's never a mistake to ask this about anything you like. Clothes, cars, anything. It kind of reminds me of Roger Smith (from The Big O).
What about you? Are there any lines from Batman Begins, or other movies, that really strike a cord with you?
In this edition of Words to Live By, I wanted to share a couple of my favorite scriptures from the Bible dealing with responsibility. So many people in the world seem to shirk responsibilities. People don’t want to accept responsibilities, or they try to pass their responsibilities off on others. This can be seen in the general spirit of apathy present in the world today. Back in the day, long before my time, people in general wouldn’t be content to stand by and watch while other people suffered. Today, most people fail to act when they see others in need.
“Do not hold back good from those to whom it is owing, when it happens to be in the power of your hand to do [it].”-Proverbs 3:27
“Therefore, if one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him.”-James 4:17
This scripture takes it a step further, saying that failing to do what is right, isn’t just failing to do what is right, but is actually doing something wrong. In other words, lack of positive action isn’t just a lack of action, but can in itself be negative action.
I think it’s very important for each of us to personally shoulder our own responsibilities and to look out for the welfare of others. That’s a principle that I really cherish, and one that has had a profound impact on my life and my outlook. It hasn’t always had the degree of influence on my life that I’d like it to have, but I continue trying to apply it every day.
What do you think about the scriptures mentioned above? Have they had any influence on how you view responsibilities? Are there any scriptures that have especially touched your life?
I'm starting a new regular column in my blog called "Words to Live By". The purpose of this column is to share words of wisdom from various sources that have significant meaning to me. Sometimes it will be serious, and sometimes humorous. For this first edition of the column, I wanted to share some thoughts from my recent Bible reading.
"That YOU should put away the old personality which conforms to YOUR former course of conduct and which is being corrupted according to his deceptive desires; but that YOU should be made new in the force actuating YOUR mind, and should put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty."-Ephesians 4:22-24
Here the apostle Paul was talking about being made into a new person who would be pleasing to God. It's easy to get bogged down in negativity, thinking that you could never please God. This scripture makes me realize that we can change our personality to eliminate flaws and undesirable traits, even to the point of changing how we think. Furthermore, God is the one who creates our new personality. This tells me that He wants to help us make those changes. Also, God creates this new personality, tailor made for each one of us. Putting on the new personality does not mean that we lose our individuality, it just means that we become a better version of ourselves.
"So keep strict watch that how YOU walk is not as unwise but as wise [persons], buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked."-Ephesians 5:15, 16
Yeah, this one's been on my mind quite a bit lately. Knowing that we are living in the last days of this system of things, it's important that we pay attention to how we use our time. I've been doing this through my weekly time logs. I strongly recommend to anyone that they try logging how they spend their time for a few weeks. It really makes you aware of your strengths and weaknesses in time management, and empowers you to make improvements.
What about you? Please share your thoughts on the quotes above, or share some of your own favorite words to live by.