Like I Said...

...there is just something evil about this whole deal.

Where do I begin?  Well, let's start here, because, even without a crazy evil shooter, are you freaking kidding me?

Officials with Children's Hospital Colorado said six victims, ages 6 to 31 years old, have arrived at the hospital. Updates on their conditions were not available.

Somebody brought a 6-year-old to this movie?  Seriously?  That right there is cause for Child Protective Services to get involved, as far as I'm concerned.  Congrats, your kid is going to be scarred for life.  Physically and emotionally and spiritually.

Second, and this is the real issue here: There is evil in this world and we ignore it at our peril.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.  ~ 1 Peter 5:8

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  ~ Ephesians 6:12

We saw this with The Dark Knight, and Heath Ledger's suicide.  We see it now, with the deaths of at least 14 people in Colorado.  To be clear: I don't think that the directors, producers, actors, etc of these movies are themselves evil, or possessed by demonic forces, or whatever.  But I think that the storyline they have created and they way they've chosen to portray it provides a foothold for Satan to work his evil.  Did the dude who shot up the theater have other problems?  No doubt.  Did Heath Ledger have a lot working against him?  Definitely.  But I think when you combine "normal problems" (i.e., the known generic effects of sin, death, and the power of the devil) with specific, intentional engagement of evil, the outcome is multiplied way beyond anything we expect.  And it's horrifying.

As Christians, our job is to engage the enemy when she picks a fight, and then do so only with the intent of conquering her with the Blood of the Lamb.  That is all.  No other times, no other reasons.  Yes, Jesus already won.  Without a doubt.  But that victory has yet to be fully executed in this world.  We have no business mucking around in the evil and darkness, simply for the sake of morbid curiosity.  The evil one does still have power, and it is real, and it is dangerous.  There are consequences to playing with it. 

But take heart, Christians!  "In this world you will have trouble."  But Christ has overcome the world!  We know who gets the last word, and it is not the Evil One.  Be sober, be vigilant, but know this:

...the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 

"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where O death, is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  ~ 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

And this is that victory:

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  ~ Revelation 21:4

 Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

♪ He rules the world... ♪

...with truth and grace... ♪

The Hallmark Channel has been running some sort of Christmas in July thing, calling it a Christmas Classics weekend.  Don't go thinking it's all It's a Wonderful Life  and Miracle on 34th Street.  Not those kind of Christmas classics.  More like The Christmas Card  and Moonlight and Mistletoe. 

Now, this is actually perfect for me, because I love Christmas, and I love cheesy, predictable romantic movies, and these are all of that rolled into one.  Also, it's crazy hot out, and I'm really not all that into summer, and I'm ready for it to be winter and Christmas. 

So, yay, good weekend for me! 

Last night, though, one of the movies had "Joy to the World" in it, and it got me thinking.  He rules the world with truth and grace.  Truth, and grace.  Truth. And. Grace.  If that's how Christ rules, isn't that how we're supposed to rule, or live, as well?  With truth and grace?

It's such a hard balance.  Sometimes when we're busy proclaiming truth, we forget to do it with grace.  It's easy to stand on a mountaintop and get so worked up about what is right that we don't take care to find out what the people listening to us are actually hearing.  And sometimes, we're so eager to dispense grace that we take no care for the truth.  Sometimes, depending on what place people are at in life, truth can sting.  And when we try to offer grace with a guarantee that there's not sting involved, truth can get sacrificed.  I don't think anybody does either intentionally, but it happens. 

That's one of the reasons I really like Grace for the Good Girl - it gives me the truth I need to hear, but it does so with grace. There are parts that sting, but it's good for me, and it's followed immediately by grace.

Truth and grace is hard, but it's important.  I need to try to do a better job of it myself. 

He rules the world with truth and grace.  May we always remember that. 

The Dark Knight Rises

Really?

Really really really?

Perhaps it's just that I have a much different personality and a much lower tolerance for the graphic portrayal of evil than lots of people, but why-oh-why would anyone want to go see The Dark Knight Rises?  The Dark Knight was so...well...dark.  Dark and evil and awful. 

A lot of that was due to the Joker.  I suppose a sophisticated film critic would say that Heath Ledger did a really good job of playing the Joker.  He certainly had me convinced that he was evil and hideous.  That same cute boy with the Australian accent from 10 Things I Hate About You was transformed into, well, dark.  Evil.  There's really no other word. 

And it took its toll.  How could it not?  How could playing that character, getting the evil mass-murdering mindset in one's head, not have consequences?  And Heath Ledger paid those consequences - with his life.  Of course, nobody really knows the ultimate reason for Ledger's suicide - he'd recently broken up with Michelle Williams, he was into drugs and sleeping pills, etc.  But he admitted himself that the role was causing him problems:  He apparently told reporters that he "slept an average of two hours a night" while playing "a psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy ... "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going."

And now there's a sequel.  Four years ago, Hollywood produced a movie that drove one of the main actors to suicide, and somebody thought a sequel would be a good idea?  True, there is no Joker in this year's film.  But I'm not convinced that matters.  Darkness and evil are no joking matter, they aren't something to fool around with.  They are real, they are powerful, and there's no such thing as "just playing".  Even without a Joker, can we believe that The Dark Knight Rises will be any less dark?  Batman may well win - I don't know, and I don't intend to see the movie - and it will help to see good triumph over evil.  Nevertheless - why would anyone take the roles, and why would anyone go see the movie, knowing just how deeply it engages the darkness and evil?  Why open yourself up to those attacks from The Evil One? 

Heath Ledger, Rest In Peace. 

Academy Awards

Since apparently I'm watching them...

It's been a long time since I watched the Oscars - I hardly ever see movies anymore, and I hardly ever see movies that get nominated for Academy Awards.  The show always seems to be, especially since 9/11, to be a forum for a preening, self-centered, self-righteous, morally depraved, Godless Hollywood to dress trampily, spew vile language and offensive political rhetoric, and generally mock average America. 

So why bother, right?

But I do like Anne Hathaway - she has such an old-world charm to her, and so I ended up tuning in just to see if she would live up to that in cohosting the Oscars.  She seems to be doing a good job.

I forget who it was from The Fighter, who felt the need to go on some "f--- rant."  I never understand this.  You get 45 seconds to say thank you and recognize co-artists and people you love, upon receiving your industry's highest award, and you need to show off by swearing?  My mother would be so embarrassed if I did that.  And besides, since when is vulgar language "edgy"?  What are you, in the seventh grade?

Kirk Douglas.  Awww...  What a sweet, sweet man.  Another throwback to the days of yore.  I love old men, especially the ones that are cute and flirty without being disgusting.  (See White, Betty.  An old woman, but still...)

Reese Witherspoon is simply delightful.  She always looks joyful, no matter what she's doing, even when she's playing an angry or sad role, there's just a heart, and soul, and playfulness that underlies her, almost an innocence, which is rare to find in town that I suspect does its level best to steal one's innocence on a near-daily basis.  The dress she wore tonight was stunning - very modest, absolutely gorgeous in that old-fashioned, formal way.  And her hair in a high, shiny ponytail.  She was - is - just classically beautiful.  And as she presented the award for...I don't even know what...there was no screwing around, being gross or vulgar, condescending to tasteless language or behavior.  She was just her captivating self.  She is, in every way, exquisite.

In other news, Matthew McConaughey is still hot. ;-)

Colleen Atwood, for Best Costume Design in Alice in Wonderland.  Hey look!  A woman who's not a size 2.  Of course, she's not onscreen, but still...  (For the record, not that anyone cares, I wear the same size clothing as Marilyn Monroe.)

Um, hello...who is that cute boy singing with Mandy Moore?

What are these "short films"?  Some of them look kind of interesting, but where does one find them to actually watch?  Oh hey, iTunes! 

Eew, Oprah.  I just switched over to Everybody Loves Raymond reruns.  I can't handle that woman.

Holy buckets, Peter.  Billy Crystal is getting old.  He's still cute and funny, though. 

Since when is Gwyneth Paltrow a country music singer?  Good call on Randy Newman, though.

I didn't know Lena Horne or Lynn Redgrave had died. 

I'm sure it's an honor to be chosen to host the Academy Awards.  But I would hate any job that made me change clothes as many times as Anne Hathaway has.

You know, the more I watch, the more it seems like "traditional" and "classy" are in for eveningwear this year.  Praise God!

Aww, I love the Lifetime Achievement Awards.  Back to when Hollywood was, well, a different place, it seems.  Eli Wallach was adorable in The Holiday.

Is Natalie Portman pregnant?  Well, she's adorable in that dress. 

Aww, Sandra Bullock.  Love her.  Again, such a classy, classy person.  And beautiful. 

I guess I'm going to have to see The King's Speech. 

All in all, not bad.  Now time to get ready for another week...