NowTHINK!AboutIt

“Surrogates” Movie Review

November 19, 2009 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Science Can’t Change
Human Nature Or Need

Gendre: Sci-Fi with a moral.

Release dates: 25 Sept 09 (USA), 13 Nov 09 (South Africa)

Cast:

Bruce Willis – Tom Greer, FBI agent
Radha Mitchell – Jennifer Peters, FBI agent
Rosamund Pike – Maggie, wife of Tom. Works as a facial features stylist for surrogates
James Cromwell – Dr. Lionel Canter, inventor of surrogacy and head of VSI
Ving Rhames – The Prophet and leader of those violently opposing surrogacy

Set in 2017, VSI, the Microsoft of robotic technology, develops the ability to manufacture human-like and very functional robot models for every person and the best part is these models can be controlled by the robot’s owner (operator) from the safety of home. Ultimately, they create a world in which robots rule outside the home and humans never need leave the house or bed even. [Read more…] about “Surrogates” Movie Review

THE BLIND SIDE, by Michael Lewis

November 16, 2009 by EnnisP 4 Comments

If you enjoy real life stories about individuals improving themselves against great odds then you’ll love this book.

Mr. Lewis tells the story of a young African-American boy, Michael Oher (pronounced “oar”), born in the worst section of Memphis, TN into one of its most dysfunctional homes as he makes the gargantuan leap from the arm-locking embrace of disadvantage to celebrity. The book also gives witness to the fact that these transformations don’t happen easily. It takes the will power, resolve, love, interest and effort of every possible person you can imagine and some good fortune too.

Born to a drug-addicted mother, Michael bounces in and out of school and various hideouts in an attempt to avoid foster care, which was more oppressive than the gang infested housing development he managed to surivive, for the better part of his first sixteen years of his life. [Read more…] about THE BLIND SIDE, by Michael Lewis

Mercy One Person to Another

November 10, 2009 by EnnisP 3 Comments

Maintaining Relationships
Without Mercy
Is Like Washing A Car
With A Dry Cloth

It is no surprise that Jesus mentions mercy in the Sermon on the Mount. Of all the characteristics attributed to God mercy predominates.

God was merciful to:

Adam and Eve when they ate the forbidden fruit.
To Cain when he murdered his brother Abel.
To Abraham when he lied about his wife Sara, not once but twice.
To Joseph when he was in prison through no fault of his own.
To the Israelites when He delivered them from Egyptian slavery.
To David when he committed both adultery and murder.

And there are many statements in the Bible which declare mercy to be one of God’s most outstanding qualities. It certainly is the one that most defines His relationship to humanity. [Read more…] about Mercy One Person to Another

What Is The Purpose of Bible Study?

November 9, 2009 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Bible study is one of the cardinal practices of today’s churches. It happens at least once and often multiple times weekly in most Bible believing churches. It is so heavily featured that most pastors aspire to be great teachers of the Bible and work hard at honing their teaching skills as if there are no other significant activities to ministry. To be recognized as “knowledgeable” or “clever” is considered a great honor. Unfortunately, style and originality don’t vary that much between churches. If you’ve heard one you’ve heard most of the others as well.

And for the church member, attending these studies in addition to regular Sunday services is the gauge of their spiritual vibrancy. When they miss too many they are treated condescendingly at arms length as if they have contracted a communicable disease. Having this rule in place, of course, keeps people coming back even when the teaching is less than compelling. In many cases it is far less. [Read more…] about What Is The Purpose of Bible Study?

If Not Perfect, Things Can Be Better

October 24, 2009 by EnnisP 1 Comment

Jesus used very human sensations, hunger and thirst, to make an important point about righteousness and, at the very least His remarks suggest that we’ll never achieve it if we don’t develop a taste for it.

Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.

What that means is righteousness does not happen automatically.

“Hunger and Thirst” are naturally occurring biological indicators that need no conjuring. We don’t have to work at being hungry. Biology does that for us.

But, even though hunger develops very naturally on a biological level it doesn’t guarantee a taste for a nutritionally balanced diet. Hungry people eat anything and will often eat wrong things just because they are hungry. So Jesus was suggesting that the same intelligence and discipline we use to establish a healthy diet should be employed on a spiritual level also.

Just as sating your hunger can be done without meeting nutritional needs, cries for righteousness can easily be muffled with no regard for what is right.

The righteousness Jesus referred to was more than a personal matter or an abstract spiritual issue. It applies here, now and to everyone and there are, in fact, several observations to be considered about this pursuit: [Read more…] about If Not Perfect, Things Can Be Better