"VIVA CRISTO REY!"

Viva Cristo Rey

I saw the movie For Greater Glory the true story of Cristiada this evening. My husband and I don’t make a habit of going to R-rated movies but this was being promoted on Christian radio and sounded like a movie we should see or should I rather say, “stand behind.” This was a war between the people of Mexico against the atheistic Mexican government.

There is much about Mexico’s history I have no idea that went on. This particular story I was never aware of. the Cristero War where the Catholic churches were shut down in the 1920’s era. It is an amazing story of courage and a people that took a stand for what they believe in, the cause of Christ, freedom, family and faith.

This is a must see movie for Christians because I can see something like this happen in America. Little by little our freedom of religion is being taken away from us and before long we’ll be locked out of our churches, pastors will be hung or shot on sight for talking about Christ. We as Christians will be asked to renounce our Lord as Savior or be killed.

We must be prepared for what is to come. There are so many instances within the movie where you can see parallels of Christ and his disciples. Are we ready to die for what we believe in? This movie will challenge you in that respect, when you see this young boy being told by the much older priest as the Federales are coming to take him away. The young boy wants to hide him. The priest says to him, “There comes a time when you have to stand for what you believe.”

The dialog that goes on between General Valarde and Father Vega is the type of conversation many a person has had when they see so much bad going on around them.  Without giving too much plot away I encourage you to go see this movie and be convicted of what it does to you personally. The emotions you feel when the young boy Jose is tortured then walks his own “Via De La Rosa.” Then to see the impact this boy has made on the General. It took everything within me to keep from bursting out in tears.

Interesting that one of the female characters name is Adriana. The General is awaken to a voice that says, "the Child has to go before us!" CCV had the impact made on them through the life of a 15 year old girl named Adrianna. Her funeral service was a week ago. Adrianna had a huge impact on many people with her courage and was ready to see her Lord and King. Adrianna has gone before us. She has led the charge to not be afraid to face death. She is one amazing young woman and you see that in the life of Jose in this movie.

This is an incredible movie and I encourage you to go see it either in the movie theater or for sure rent it on dvd when it is available. If this could happen in Mexico I have no doubt that it will happen in America. Be ready to stand for what you believe. Viva Cristo Rey!

“Make Each Day Count”

I just saw Titanic in 3D on the IMAX screen for the 2^nd time this week. Both times I became emotional with the opening scene of the people waving good-bye from aboard the Titanic. Of course this was a movie made to represent these people but it serves as a reminder of the people that actually sailed on the RMS Titanic and as a person watching this movie I knew what their fate would be.

2,200 people were on board what was called “The Ship of Dreams.” You can only imagine the destination for each person on that ship. Some were coming to America to have a Dream Vacation of a Lifetime, while others came to make a new life. The fictitious story of Rose to her sailing on the Titanic was like a slave ship carrying her to a life she didn’t want. Jack on the other hand was a free spirit and by the luck of a draw he won his ticket to sail across the ocean on the Titanic. He had no idea he would never make it to the other side.

Here we have two lives with two different outlooks on life. Rose says, “I saw my whole life as if I'd already lived it. An endless parade of parties and cotillions, yachts and polo matches. Always the same narrow people, the same mindless chatter. I felt like I was standing at a great precipice, with no one to pull me back, no one who cared... or even noticed.” Then there is Jack who was invited to dine in 1^st Class and he says to the group, 

“I got everything I need right here with me. I got air in my lungs, a few blank sheets of paper. I mean, I love waking up in the morning not knowing what's gonna happen or, who I'm gonna meet, where I'm gonna wind up. Just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge and now here I am on the grandest ship in the world having champagne with you fine people. I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you... to make each day count.” The group all raise their glasses and give a cheer, “To make each day count!”

Those words resonated with me, “To Make Each Day Count.” We don’t know what tomorrow may hold. Sure we have our calendars and we plan but we never know exactly how things will play out. In a sense we are on our own Titanic and at this point we don’t know how our story will end. Near the end of the movie Jack tells Rose, “You're gonna get out of here, you're gonna go on and you're gonna make lots of babies, and you're gonna watch them grow. You're gonna die an old... an old lady warm in her bed, not here, not this night. Not like this, do you understand me?” 

Rose does survive and she grows old and she has a story to tell which she has been doing during the movie Titanic.

Rose is brought to the research vessel and one of the first objects she’s shown is a hand mirror that was taken from her State room, her response was, ”How extraordinary! And it looks the same as it did last time I saw it... The reflection's changed a bit.” She was 17 when she last held that mirror and now here she is almost 101 years old and sees how her reflection has changed. Rose doesn’t respond too well to seeing her reflection in the mirror but you can see how she’s worn her memories on her face. As you hear Rose tell her story you can still see a sparkle in her eyes and contemplation in her voice. A mirror has a way of forcing you to see things you might rather forget.

Rose went on and lived her life just as Jack said she would. I find it interesting that we first see Rose using a potter’s wheel and she’s shaping a pot which serves as a reminder of God as the Master Potter who is molding us. You can see Rose has lived life by all the photos she carries with her. Rose learned to lived life to the fullest. This is what we need to be doing. We have our tickets and are on board our own Titanic and we need to navigate our way in this life. We have been given this opportunity like Jack stated to “make each day count!” Rose is 100 years old and is making pots. When did she learn to do that? She lived a long life and was able to share it with a group of people to help them understand what it was like to be aboard the RMS Titanic. Lewis Bodine shows Rose on a computerized simulator how the Titanic sunk with his voice making crashing sounds as the Titanic hits the bottom of the ocean. Rose begins to tell him how she remembered it.

Now you have your own life. What are we doing with it? Are you looking for adventure like Jack Dawson or do you feel like Rose living a life that you wish you could break out of? Are we making each day count or are we waiting to have that lucky hand dealt to us? Or maybe we’re trying to make our own luck as Cal Hockley says he makes his own luck as he stashed wads of money in his coat jacket as the Titanic is sinking. There is so much in this world to experience and so many ways we can touch people’s lives and make an impact for the Kingdom of God. Are you waiting for life to happen to you or are you making things happen? Don’t sit on the sidelines and play spectator. Chart your course. Look for where God has you to go and take advantage of opportunities offered to you. There are a few times that Jack tells Rose to trust him. God asks us to Trust Him. 

Don’t ever feel like you have to jump ship like Rose was trying to do when she first encounters Jack. God hasn’t brought you this far only to have you take things into your own hands and put an end to it. If you feel that way I pray that you have a Jack Dawson in your life that will tell you if you jump they will have to jump in after you. At times we do need someone to save us from ourselves and this is where Jesus comes in to place. God sent his son, Jesus. to this earth to save us from ourselves.

Rose made the choice to avoid Cal

We are sinful by nature. We all have something or many things that cause us to sin and it’s a struggle or temptation we deal with on a daily basis. Every day we have choices to make. We can trust in God and look to him to help us or we can give in to our temptations and watch it suck us into the deep ocean until we settle on the bottom like the Titanic did in the wee hours of April 15, 1912. The warnings were there. The Captain knew they were headed into a field of icebergs and though the ship was mighty enough the Captain thought he would be able to steer clear of them. A Captain with 26 years of experience sailing the waters which goes to show that even the best can be steered the wrong way or think they know what is best. When Rose is rescued she is sitting on the deck of the Carpathia and she spots Cal Hockley looking for her. At that point I see Cal as the Tempter and Rose made the choice to avoid him. It would have been a life of luxury for Rose if she married Cal but she knew she wouldn’t be happy living that life. The Tempter of this world can make things in our life look really good but in the end may only lead us to destruction.

As I am writing this and look at the date of April 15^th I am reminded that I became a Grandmother in the early hours of April 15, 2012. I have a Granddaughter with a blank chart set before her. I have a blank chart set before me also as a new Grandmother. “Grand”. I just looked up the meaning of this word and it says, “Large and impressive in size, scope, or extent; magnificent.” That does sound more like the Titanic rather than a Grandmother. I do want my Granddaughter to see me in this way though. I want to be sure to leave an impression on her life. So like Rose I will continue to live this life God has given me and like Jack I will Make Each Day Count!

At the end of the movie Brock Lovett, Titanic’s treasure hunter, states, “Three years, I've thought of nothing except Titanic; but I never got it... I never let it in.” There are many that sail through life and may think of God from time to time. The main thing they have missed is that they have never let Him in.

As emotional as I get when I watch the movie Titanic I look forward to that day when God takes me home and I would hope to see many of those that perished that fateful night. I can’t wait to spend hours hearing each of their stories. I would hope to hear yours too!