Lessons Learned from Mel, part 2

2. Our need for community. I am more and more convinced in our need of others. God created us to be in communion or community with others. We are not designed to go through life alone. What specifically applies here is our need for accountability, for someone in our life to straighten us out when we are off-kilter. There is a proverb that says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” Faithful are the friends who will take my anger to tell me the truth, to tell me where I am messing up. I don’t know whether Mel has friends like that or not. That he has said the things he said about Jews would tell me if he does have close friends talking to him, they are too like-minded. We have to have friends that will disagree, and have opinions other than our own, so we together can help each through our areas of weakness.
3. Our need of prayer. I’m building off of the theme of community. We need accountability, but we also need to be in a group who will love and protect us unconditionally, and that includes praying for one another. If Mel was a “target”, which I believe he was ( I am not giving him excuse for his behavior, though!) he needs prayer. Those who are willing to take the hits and ridicule of others to proclaim the name of Jesus as Lord are targets of this world system. Since they are targets, it is the obligation of others, like you and I, to pray for those “on the front lines”, so to speak. We cannot leave our leaders and spokespersons unprotected. Whether you think he is or is not your spokesperson is not relevant.

I had friend tell me this week that they had noticed that any person in the news who claims the name of Jesus, a big target is placed on you. I would agree. Again, there is no excuse for Mel’s behavior, but there has been a target on him since the making of “The Passion of the Christ.” I have no doubt that there are many who have anxiously awaited this day, to bring the director of “The Passion” down into the gutter. That proves two things; we desperately need the grace of God. I am grateful that it is His grace that saves me, not my own righteousness. And the second point, those who have need to bring others down, are only bringing that person down to their level. That doesn’t say too much for those relishing in Mel’s disgrace.

He needs prayer, and he needs the love of a community who will stand with him in the midst of his sins and errors. In fact, we all need that. “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Mel Gibson and Christianity: Lessons learned from Mel

Part 1
I’ve been a fan of Mel for years, going back to the first Lethal Weapon. Some of my favorite movies were done by him (Braveheart, We were Soldiers, The Passion of the Christ). He is a creative, talented man, able to masterfully tell a story on film that captures my imagination and inspires me to see beyond myself. Creative genius and an ability to inspire does not necessarily equate to ethical or moral fortitude. History is filled with those who did not live out the moral or religious standard they espoused.

I was shocked and disappointed by his actions the last week. Not just that he was drunk, but that he was driving drunk. He’s a husband and father. How can one who is a husband and father willingly put the lives of others in jeopardy by his driving? And in addition to that, there are the things he is alleged to have said about Jews that were not just stupid, but outrageously bigoted and far removed from the Christian religion (Catholic) he claims as his own. (The Jews are still God’s chosen people, but to expand on that thought is for another time).

Lest you think this is yet another tirade on Mel, it’s not. In reflecting on the incident, there are three lessons that can be learned.
1. But for the grace of God go I. Jesus said, “He who is without sin can cast the first stone.” Often people use that for an excuse to sin and do whatever they want, but I’m not quoting that verse for that reason. I am acknowledging that I, though a follower of Christ, being redeemed by His sacrifice on the Cross, am still a redeemed sinner. The apostle Paul wrote about this very issue in Romans 7:
a.

Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

No, I don’t have trouble with being a drunk or a bigot, but I am no less capable of sin, and therefore no less in need of God’s grace.

Vacation 2006 pictures

Here are more pictures of the vacation.

Vacation 2006: Lake Tahoe

We had some friends give us a time share week, and we chose to go to Lake Tahoe for vacation. Neither Traci nor I had been there before. It was a fantastic choice. The lake was beautiful, the trees majestic and the lifestyle considerably slower than LA, not to mention the temperature and humidity, which was much more comfortable than LA, too. And we of course found an excellent coffee place that roasted their own beans fresh, which was a blessing, too. Here are a couple of pictures of the week. I had asked the kids what the highlight was, and one of their highlights was getting to see the neighborhood bear on two different days. He's here rummaging through the garbage looking for something to eat. We got within about 20 feet of him, but he didn't really care.


Their highlight was also the clearness of the lake. None of us could get over how incredibly clear it was. They had a great time swimming in it. Bryson kept diving down into the water to get rocks, and found one that was heart-shaped, which he promptly gave to Mom. He then found some other rocks, treasures to him, and gave them away to her, too. He later told me that one of his highlights was getting rocks for Mommy. He is quite a romantic at heart. Maybe he picked that up from Dad.