The Heart of Man, The Love of God
Don't miss this one!
You have one more chance to see this great movie!
I love movies. I love movies that are made well. I love films where the director focused his lens on beauty. But I really love movies that make me think and potentially change my view on the world.
The Heart of Man is one of those movies. As a reader of my blog, I don't want you to miss your once chance to see this film on a big screen, surrounded by a full audience in a public theater environment. It really is worth your time and money to experience this film in a theater.
You know how much I love to talk about the gospel and the love of God. It is part of my everyday conversations around here. It is so rare that a film is made and communicates the concepts of God's love and redemption so clearly.
FILMING TECHNIQUE
The Heart of Man is filmed in a unique way. It very clearly depicts individuals and couples who share their personal lives in a documentary interview format. They are quick to walk you down to the dark spaces in their journey with God. Addictions, hurt, damage, and pain are on display. (Note: this film speaks candidly about sexual sin and you should consider who you bring - more on that below). Had the director stopped there, I would simply not recommend this film. There are plenty of places on the internet where you can listen and watch folks open up honestly about dark sinful choices and how they were redeemed.
“What if our brokenness is a bridge, not a barrier?”
This director does not stop there.
Within the personal interviews, the director weaves a story of The Prodigal in a beautiful and vivid way. The story is simple and easy to follow, but is told without dialogue. This is why you must see this film. The images still burn in my mind. To see the depth of the love of God and what He does to pursue us before, during and after our descent into sin is life-changing.
THEMES
This film speaks clearly to themes of sexual addiction, infidelity and sexual abuse, but in no way should you pigeon hole this movie in that way. It's a movie about living in freedom and knowing that the Father loves you and pursues you and never gives up on you.
This is a film for those struggling in addictions. A film for those struggling with sin. It is a film for those struggling with loss. It's a film for those struggling with despair and a loss of hope.
In fact, I would say that this film is made for everyone. Sinner. Saint. Believer. Unbeliever. Christian. Non-Christian. Protestant. Catholic. Muslim. Jew. Hindu. Buddhist. Gay. Lesbian. Transgender. Man. Woman.
DISCUSSION
I believe this movie will begin discussions on your walk back to the car. You will leave a changed person with a desire to talk through certain scenes, how they were filmed and what they communicated and how you feel about it.
Kendra and I saw it on opening night during a limited release. We immediately made plans to purchase this film and turn it into a community event where we could invite our friends who are waking up from Gospel Amnesia and those who are discovering the love of God for the first time. We were stoked to hear it was out on re-release for one more night.
What about kids? We have learned to have discussions sooner rather than later. That being said, we would not hesitate to take OUR 10 year old son. We've had hard conversations already. This film would only serve to clarify the love of God in his life. We are willing to step in and talk about themes of sexuality, lust, adultery, pornography and the brokenness in the world. If you aren't prepared for that, you might want to consider who you invite along.
Are you interested in joining us? Leave a comment or contact me here and we'll keep you in the loop.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
On my iPod - Artists Beginning With "S"
Sting - "Love is the Seventh Wave" - I loved the police when I was growing up...and Sting was one of the few performers that got even better when he went solo. Besides that...I dig the name...Sting...how very cool to have one name (like Cher and Bono).
Steve Martin - "Dentist" - from the musical, Little Shop of Horrors. One of my favorite dentist "clips" from a movie..."there he is boys...the leader of the plaque."
Steve Camp - "Abandoned to God" - one of my favorite Christian albums of all time. He is anti-music establishment, plays small venues, and writes great music!
Sergio Mendes - "The Fool on the Hill" - more cheesy sixties music!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
Stranger Than Fiction
The concept in this movie is brilliant, the cast is fantastic, and the acting was smashing. This movie opens doors for conversation on the discussion of free will. I don't want to spoil anything for you, because I think this movie should just be enjoyed. But, speaking in vague terms, who is in control of your life? Is it you or do you have someone else authoring your life? Is there a supreme author in all of our lives? Do you have a role in deciding each and every page of the book and how the chapter turns and twists, or are you written in and out of scenes at the will of the writer?
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
On my iPod - Artists Beginning with "G"
Glenn Miller - "In the Mood" - I have the entire collection, but this is the classic piece from his orchestra that best symbolizes the music from the WWII era. I can remember hearing this every morning on the AM radio in the kitchen (KLIV - "The Music of Your Life" in San Jose, Ca) as I ate my breakfast and got ready for school.
Garrison Keillor - not music, but if you haven't signed up for the "Lake Wobegon podcast" you don't know what you are missing. A Prairie Home Companion is one of my favorite radio shows and the highlight is the news from Lake Wobegon where "the women are strong, the men are good looking and all the children are above average."
Guns n' Roses - "Welcome to the Jungle" - so there are some things from college I cannot shake. actually I keep this song for waking up the house, pushing me that extra bit when running, or just keeping people on their toes who think they know me...
Gypsy Kings - "Bambaleo" - summertime, the back porch, and fuzz buzzes...did I mention it was almost time for peaches again?
Gene Autry - "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" - minimum playtime...one time per year...but classic
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
On my iPod - Artists beginning with "A"
Astrud Gilberto (with Joao Gilberto and Stan Getz) - "The Girl from Ipanema" - I can remember listening to this song regularly when I worked at Wine Wizards in Stockton with Byron. Great memories of good wine, great bread and a ton of fun in the first year of marriage.
Al Jolson - "The Spaniard that Blighted my Life" - old 30's/40's comedy cd i own. really funny duo song with bing crosby.
Apologetix - "Baa! We're lambs" - this group is the Weird Al Yankovic of Christian music. This song is a parody of the Beach Boy's "Barbara Ann." If you want a good giggle, go to their site for free downloads. These guys are pretty good.
Alan Jackson - "It's Five o'clock Somewhere" - great tune...and often played on the back porch!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
On my iPod - Artists Beginning with "H"
Hank Williams, Sr. - I Saw the Light- I downloaded this song off iTunes because I remember watching Johnny Cash sing it in an episode of Columbo...but there is no recording of Cash singing it...drats! Hank's version is not too bad!
Hootie and the Blowfish- Only Wanna Be With You- A few years ago I won some tickets at Rotary to hear Hootie in Downtown Modesto. kenj and heather ended up going and enjoying a fun summer concert. His music always reminds me of college life.
Harry Belafonte - Jump in the Line - you might remember it from the end of the movie "Beetlejuice." Great little Caribbean tune that gets the mangokids jumping and dancing when we do the dishes at night.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
On my iPod - Artists Beginning with "F"
Frank Sinatra - Young at Heart - Some can't stand Frankie, but old blue eyes had a set of pipes and there is something about his Vegas/Mafia connections that I find intriguing.
Flip Phillips - A Smooth One - great jazz song and favorite of theMangoTimes.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
On my iPod - Artists Beginning with "C"
Carl Douglas - "Kung Fu Fighting" - everybody was kung fu fighting! My wife cringed when I first unleashed this in the kitchen after dinner - like our boys need the encouragment!
Crosby, Stills and Nash - "Marrakesh Express" - this was the first album I bought after bringing home my VW bus.
Choir of King's College, Cambridge - "O Thou in Whose Presence" - beautiful choral arrangements of my favorite hymns.
Clark Terry/Chico O'farrell - "Mexican Hat Dance" - I know that you are humming it right now in your head, just because you read those words. I'm thinking of buying an official sombrero.
The Commodores - "Brick House" - she's mighty mighty...
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
On my iPod - Artists Beginning with "J"
Jimmy Buffett - "I don't Know and I Don't Care" - great little tune about living life on the periphery, hence the title.
Johnny Cash - "I Walk the Line" - the man in black. I love listening to Cash. Did you catch Joaquin Phoenix in the movie?
John Coltrane - "Epistrophy" - great jazz with the Thelonius Monk quartet. This piece especially makes me feel like I'm in a smoky club checking out some good tunes.
Joey DeFrancesco - "Fly Me to the Moon" - more jazz. I would love to have this as background music to my day to day life.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
theMT Recommendations - July 06
Pirates of the Caribbean, Part Two: I stopped recommending movies a long time ago. It seems there are many homeschoolers with opinions toward film and culture...so I'm not recommending that you go see this movie. I'm just saying that I liked this movie...saavy?
French Exchange Students: Not all students...just ours. Elise was with us for nearly two months - it was a great experience that is worthy of it's own blog.
Crackling Cactus: This is a firework that was a smash at this year's event. Remember, in California, we have to use these wimpy fireworks - nothing big or in the air...
Flora Springs Wines: We spent our 15th anniversary in Napa Valley. I was able to make it by FS for another great tasting. I recommend their estate wines, as well as a new winery they started called "Toad's Hall" which pours a great full bodied red called "Bodacious."
Cambazola: I am a lover of good flavors. I used to work at a little bistro in the valley that served cheese and fruit boards and I fell in love with good cheeses. Cambazola remains a favorite. It is soft and creamy (like brie) with a streak of bleu cheese down the middle for some bite!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch