The Three Doors

Recently at Church I heard the gospel presented to the unchurched (how many people are really coming to a church on sunday morning that need to hear the gospel for the first time? It's always worth it, but I still wonder)

And the key verse for the gospel presentation was Revelation 3:20.

Is this really the gospel? I completely affirm this as communion with Christ, but I'm not sure that this communicates anything about the gospel standing alone. This sounds suspiciously like the "pray a prayer and ask Jesus into your heart" motif of the Southern Baptist movement, and I may not see eye to eye on everything with him, but Rev. Paul Washer does a pretty good job of debunking this as the gospel, if you haven't already heard that. Pretty crazy sermon.

Personally, I like studying the bible as literature, I'm no liberal (in the literary critical sense; I don't really have a side in politics) but I think it's an important school of thought. And in the Bible this 'door' motif actually comes up a few times.

In revelation, the surrounding verses seem to talk mainly to people who are already saved, or at least in churches, and Specifically, who are struggling with worldliness. v. 19 and 21 seem to point to renewing faith, and the perseverance and good works of the saints. Opening the door is the Gospel in deeds, not in word.

Jesus has mentioned the door in the sermon on the mount, but in that instance, he talks about seeking relationship with God, and calls others to "knock, and the door shall be opened to you". So there is a reversal, where we must seek God's kingdom. This is the gospel in Word, seeking the true Word of Truth, the one true God.

The door comes up a third time in the gospel of John, where instead of anyone knocking, Jesus declares "I AM the door" and only through him may anyone be saved. This is the gospel in power, the safe passage of the undeserving into paradise. It is our spiritual protection and the initiation of trust. (The hebrew word for believe is the same word for trust) The only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ. This is particularly noteworthy 6 chapters later when Jesus literally stands between his disciples and a cohort of roman soldiers in the garden of Gethsemane.

I love my church (this was the same sunday I became a member), and I don't mean to be overly critical, but, I want to look at the Bible and at life holistically, and I'm not sure that "opening the door and letting Jesus in" really communicates salvation by grace through faith resulting in a redeemed life. It definitely grabs onto the relationship aspect, but out of context, I just wonder what kind of impact the literal word actually has. The Gospel travels in Word, Deed, & Power. I myself am humbled by this, and need to be refreshed in it constantly.

Stay Gold

Well, it's oscar time, I have to comment at length.

Best Picture: Black Swan

I'm already a huge Arinofsky fan (The Fountain is one of the most aesthetically exquisite movies ever) and I really hope we go with the controversial pick. This movie had me jumping, and if you know me at all, you know I don't jump in movies.

Best Actor: James Franco

Franco is captivating in 127 Hours, I have extremely high expectations of Danny Boyle movies, and Franco really outdid them in his own self-contained performance. However, I think the Academy will pick Javier Bardem, since he's not even in an american picture and he's nominated for the award, and really, they've wanted to reward him ever since The Sea Inside. Beware the retroactive oscar.

Best Actress: Natalie Portman

I'm not sure if she'll win this round because of the older gals she's competing with, but she surely will win someday, and she totally undid her image in Black Swan. By the end of the movie, I could only see Nina.

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale

Wow. I was blown away by his performance. He makes everyone in the movie better.

Best Supporting Actress: Haley Steinfeld

How is she not up for best actress? Loved this movie, and she works it.

Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3

If it's up for best picture, does it even need to be a question? I didn't see any of the other nominees. Also, why wasn't Tangled nominated?

Best Art Direction: Alice in Wonderland

Not much for story, but the aesthetic of this movie was dizzyingly good.

Best Cinematography: Inception

I loved the framing and shot selection of this movie. Without using digital film alteration, they made such clear distinctions between dream and reality. Not sure why people had so much trouble following it.

Costume: Alice in Wonderland

Again, the way everything that's real works together in this movie is fantastic, but the story and acting and other things really diminished a flawless aesthetic.

Best Director: Darin Arinofsky

This is THE Arinofsky picture. He has shown his mastery with lesser actors and stories, and this is the story and picture that bring it all together for him to shine as the story teller.

Best Editing: 127 Hours

This leaps off the screen from the very outset

Best Makeup: The Wolfman

I kinda forgot about this picture, but it was fantastic for what it was.

Music: Inception

I just loved this score, I have a feeling they might go with 127 hours; A.R. Rahman is such a standout from the field, but I didn't feel he accomplished quite what he did with Slumdog Millionaire, and Zimmer outdid his work on Pirates for this one.

Song: Tangled

I want this movie to be rewarded.

Sound Editing: Tron Legacy

I think this one is much more involved than any of the other nominees.

Sound Mixing: Inception

As with the Cinematography, they distinguish 4 seperate realities, yet present a unified vision and film. Very excellent work.

Visual Effects: Inception

I downplayed my reaction to this movie, but it really is dazzling, especially everything you notice on the second viewing.

Adapted Screenplay: 127 Hours

This is probably one of the most challenging stories to bring to life on the screen, and it's written very well, exploring so many facets of humanity. I have a feeling they will choose The Social Network, because it's a media darling and what else could it possibly win for? Still uncertain why people liked this disjointed teen drama.

Original Screenplay: The Kings Speech

Everyone's raving about this movie (I haven't seen it) and I haven't really given it a chance in any other category, so I figure it has to win something.

OKAY, I have commented in the past about my personal distinction between BEST and FAVORITE. These are all in the BEST category, but I usually pick something else for my favorite movie of the year, and honestly, my favorite movie that I saw this year was, well, The Runaways. I thought it was great. It gets the Golden Mattyo. Also a total breakout performance for Dakota Fanning. Looking forward to her acting as an adult.

Final Scores

Inception: 4

Black Swan: 3

127 Hours: 3

Alice in Wonderland: 2

1 Each: The Fighter, True Grit, Toy Story 3, Tangled, Tron: Legacy, The Kings Speech