Have you watched Fireproof? Kirk Cameron played the role of Captain Caleb Holt, a firefighter, who lives by the firefighter’s adage: “Never leave your partner.” Yet he has another battle to fight – to rescue his marriage with Catherine.
Like any other men, Caleb needs the guidance of his idol, John Holt, his dad. Full of wisdom, John Holt challenges him to commit to a 40-day experiment: “The Love Dare.”
I really love most part of the scenes but what struck me most is that scene where Caleb engages his Dad to a man to man conversation. It’s an amazing picture and probably the best part of the movie! I really appreciate the value of having a father and son private conversations. Honestly, I didn’t have much of it with my father. That’s why I am making most of my time to talk with my 5 year old son. Fathers are heroes to every son and are very influential in shaping their son’s future. It would be my most wonderful experience if I were to play the role of John Holt. But I have no acting ability so I’d rather appreciate and reflect on the conversations between Caleb and his dad. Yep, I researched the transcript for better understanding. You can watch the video at the end.
Caleb Holt: Yeah, well, Catherine’s not buying any of it.
John Holt: And why do you think that is?
Caleb Holt: She doesn’t love me. She doesn’t even like me. Dad, she just about ignored everything I’ve done.
John Holt: Are you reading everything on each page?
Caleb Holt: You mean the Bible verses at the bottom. I’m not, dad. I told you, that is not what I need.
John Holt: Then what do you need?
Caleb Holt: I need Catherine to wake up to the fact that we’re about to get an ugly divorce. And I’m trying to prevent that. But I cannot do it by myself.
John Holt: That may be true. But I think you need more than that.
Caleb Holt: Dad, if you’re gonna tell me I need Jesus, please don’t. I don’t need a crutch to get through life.
John Holt: Son, Jesus is much more than a crutch. He’s become the most significant part of our lives.
Caleb Holt: Dad, why do you keep saying that? The most significant part… How is that?
John Holt: When I realized who I was, and who He was, I realized my need for Him. I needed His forgiveness and salvation.
Caleb Holt: See, I don’t understand. Why do I need His salvation? What? Am I gonna be thrown into hell? For what? ‘Cause I got divorced?
John Holt: No. Because you violated His standards.
Caleb Holt: What? ‘Thou shall not kill’? Dad, I help people. I am a good person.
John Holt: According to you. But God doesn’t judge by your standards. He uses His.
Caleb Holt: And what are His?
John Holt: Well, truth, love…
Caleb Holt: Okay. I’m honest.
John Holt: Faithfulness…
Caleb Holt: I care about people. I am those things.
John Holt: Sometimes. But have you loved God? The one who gave you life? His standards are so high, He considers hatred to be murder, and lust to be adultery.
Caleb Holt: Dad, what about all the good I’ve done?
John Holt: Son, saving someone from a fire doesn’t make you right with God. You’ve broken His commandments. And one day, you’ll answer to Him for that.
John Holt: Caleb, if I had to ask you why you’re so frustrated with Catherine, wha
t would you say?
Caleb Holt: She’s stubborn. She makes everything difficult for me. She’s ungrateful. She’s constantly griping about something.
John Holt: Has she thanked you for anything you’ve done in the last 20 days?
Caleb Holt: No! And you’d think after I washed the car, changed the oil, do the dishes, washed the house, that she would try to show me a little bit of gratitude, but she doesn’t. In fact, when I come home, she makes me feel like I’m an enemy! I’m not even welcome in my own home, dad! That is what really ticks me off! Dad, for the last three weeks I have bent over backwards for her! I have tried to demonstrate that I still care about this relationship. I bought her flowers, which she threw away. I have taken her insults and her sarcasm, but last night was it. I made dinner for her. I did everything I could to demonstrate that I care about her, to show value for her, and she spat in my face! She does not deserve this, dad! I am not doing it anymore! How am I supposed to show love to somebody over and over and over, who constantly rejects me?
John Holt: [John Holt strokes the wooden cross, and turns to Caleb] That’s a good question.
Caleb Holt: Dad, that is not what I’m doing.
John Holt: Is it?
Caleb Holt: No. Dad, that is not what this is about.
John Holt: Son, you just asked me: how can someone show love over and over again when they’re constantly rejected? Caleb, the answer is: you can’t love her, because you can’t give her what you don’t have. I couldn’t truly love your mother until I understood what love truly was. It’s not because I get some reward out of it. I’ve now made a decision to love your mother whether she deserves it or not. Son, God loves you, even though you don’t deserve it. Even though you’ve rejected Him. Spat in His face. God sent Jesus to die on the cross for your sin, because He loves you. The cross was offensive to me, until I came to it. But when I did, Jesus Christ changed my life. That’s when I truly began to love your mom. Son, I can’t settle this for you. This is between you and the Lord. But I love you too much not to tell you the truth. Can’t you see that you need Him? Can’t you see that you need His forgiveness?
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Fireproof The Message of the Cross, Fireproof The Message of the Cross movie, Fireproof The Message of the Cross insights, Fireproof The Message of the Cross lessons, Fireproof The Message of the Cross evangelism
To a young New Zealand teenager, the answer is YES! She auctioned off her virginity to a stranger for over $45,000 to fund her university tuition fees according to a New Zealand news headline story. The 19-year-old Northland student, who listed her virginity to an unpopular auction website i need.co.nz, even thanked more than 30,000 people who viewed her ad and to the more than 1200 offers made.
Is this a growing trend? Are teenagers resorting to a high class prostitution taking advantage of the advancing technology and the obscure legality of prositution? Earlier this year, In the United States, a Fox News Story reported a 22-year-old woman, Natalie Dylan, is selling her virginity online — offering her body to bidders nationwide in an auction that reportedly has netted a $3.7 million offer — and the law isn’t doing a thing to stop her. Then another teenager Alina Percea, 18, in the United Kingdon auctioned her virginity on a website so that she could afford to pay for her computing degree. Percea said she was inspired to auction herself on a German erotic website after reading how American woman Natalie Dylan, 22, from San Diego, had put her virginity up for sale for £2.5million. Percea even revealed her “first time” story to be published.
What’s going on? Have we lost our sense of morality in our society? Our once “daddy’s little girls” are now putting their “fresh meat” on the market! Yes, these young girls obviously needs money. Yes, they have their own private and personal reasons to do it. And yes, they are no longer “minors.” But what is disturbing is the apparent laxity of concerned parents, government officials, and unmindful businessmen. Is our world now so wicked to tolerate and allow these things to happen right before our eyes?
To some governments like New Zealand, prostitution is legal. But we have to understand that what is legal is not necessary moral. I lived in New Zealand for several years and I have witnessed how government officials tolerate scandalous and obscene activities like the yearly “Boobs on Bikes” at the heart of Queen Street in Auckland. That despite several killings of prostitutes in its major cities, the New Zealand government is not doing much to address the perils of prostitution. I wonder how many teenagers are working in various brothels, dim streets, and even public toilets.
But what about the auction website ineed.co.nz? Are the owners of this website just trying to gain publicity or just plain insensitivity? Of course, this is a “little known” auction site knowing that “Trade Me” is so popular in New Zealand. All I can say is, shame on this website! Kiwis shouldn’t be patronising such irresponsible auction site.
To the young teenager, I hope you realise the moral consequences of your actions. I hope that the winning bidder does not have AIDS, Syphilis, or any STDs. I want to tell you that God loves you despite of what you’ve done. God does not condemn you. Jesus Christ can make you clean as white as snow. He can remove even the toughest stain of sin if you are willing. May you encounter the love of God and realise that He has great plans and purpose for your life. Repent and put your trust in Christ.
Finally, to the patron bidders of this young girl’s virginity, I hope one of these days you will not be bidding on the virginity of your daughters, grand daughters, sisters, or even grandmas. Seek the Lord while He may be found.
This is a very interesting e-mail I got from a friend. You’ve got to read this! It’s worth more than few minutes of your time spent reading this article. Here it goes.
One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”
“It was great, Dad.”
“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.
“Oh yeah,” said the son.
“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.
The son answered:
“I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”
The boy’s father was speechless.
Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”
Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.
Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed – Jesus Christ
I am browsing the headlines today and found this very interesting news at CNN World News. Another great piece of discovery. Slowly but surely, historical evidences are being unearthed proving to us the reality that Jesus Christ had in fact walked into this Earth thousand of years ago. This news article reminds me of the story of Doubting Thomas in John 20:24-29. Thomas, one of Jesus’ apostles, said to the other disciples (who earlier testified that they have seen the risen Lord Jesus): “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And it went when Thomas met Jesus in the presence of his fellow diciples. Jesus called on Thomas and said “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus replied, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Now, my question to you. Are you a “doubting Thomas”?
Shroud from Jesus’ era found, researchers say
By Kevin Flower, CNN December 16, 2009 11:15 a.m. EST
Jerusalem (CNN) — Researchers said Wednesday for the first time they have found what they believe to be pieces of a burial shroud from the time of Jesus.
The find is of importance because tests on the shroud and the body it wrapped revealed the earliest proven case of leprosy in the Old City of Jerusalem.
And in addition, the weave of the shroud raises fresh doubts about the Shroud of Turin, which many people believe was used to wrap the body of Jesus.
According to researchers involved in the excavation and subsequent testing, the recently discovered shroud lends more credible evidence that the Shroud of Turin does not date to Roman times when Jesus died but from a later period.
The latest shroud was found in a tomb complex on the edge of the Old City of Jerusalem.
“This is the first time that we have a shroud from the time of Jesus,” said Shimon Gibson, the excavation director.
He called such a find in the Jerusalem area unique because the high humidity levels in the city do not normally allow for the preservation of organic material. Read full story here
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”(Romans 13:9)
What’s in the mind of a suicide bomber? What are his motives? Why is he willing to blow up himself into pieces without taking into consideration of the lives of his innocent victims? You will be amazed or even be shocked to listen to what this suicide bomber has to say.
In this interview, the bomber at one point was asked if he wants to get married. He shakes his head and said “no” and goes on to says “Seventy virgins are waiting for me in heaven — so why should I prefer only one here?”! He also keeps on saying “god willing” and it blows my mind on what kind of god he is referring to. What kind of heaven would there be where polygamy is allowed? If that’s the case then many men around the world would then be saying “sign me up!” “Yes, I’m raising my right hands up to become a suicide bomber!” Lo and behold, they will be lusting in eternity.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is totally the opposite. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves and heaven is place where there is no sin, no suffering, and no hatred.
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