Analyzing our belief system

I wonder, how many of us fully understand our belief system? We all believe something, or have some type of a worldview, a way in which we view life, or how we account for why things are the way they are. Perhaps some of us think about it more than others. Do you even know why you believe what you believe? Have you thought out the details about what you think you believe? Is your worldview based on what you see, and is consistent with evidence and the observable world? Or is it piece mealed together not based on facts or evidence, but rather based on culture or other's opinions and beliefs, often chosen to justify how we live, or who we think we are, essentially internally driven rather than externally? I think one of the truest tests of any worldview is to see how we handle hardships and difficulties in life. Do we find life's trials to further confirm our beliefs? And does our worldview provide a way to help cope with those hard times? Or, do we find that our worldview is actually lacking the ability to do that, and we therefore end up stealing ideas and beliefs from other worldviews or religions? I think this is often true for many modern ways of looking at the world, but are we being honest enough to see that and acknowledge the holes in our worldview? If we find this to be true, we should probably admit that we have the wrong view on life and look at alternate belief systems.

The Sound of Freedom: A Movie Review

Last night I was finally able to get out to the movie theater and see the movie "The Sound of Freedom." I have been posting about this movie for a litte bit now, but had not been able to personally view it until now. I can honestly say this was probably one of the most moving movies I have ever seen. It is so well done, and deals with a topic that a lot of people aren't aware of, or choose to turn a blind eye to. This movie is based on a true story, this stuff is really happening in our world, whether you want to accept that or not is up to you. This movie is not political in any way, for anyone to try and imply it's far-right or whatever, I really would have to question where your heart is at, because it is simply not done with that sort of bias, it is just presenting a story based on real events. I have not been so moved by a movie in a long time, it was truly refreshing to walk out and feel like I actually spent my money on something good, towards a noble cause. It was also the first time I have ever seen the audience applaud for a movie in a theater, I'm sure it happens elsewhere, but I have just never seen that, the audience literally applauded, and that was very moving to me as well, it gives me hope for our country still.

There is a scene in the movie that is repeated a couple of times, where the father of the kidnapped children looks in his daughter's bedroom and stares at her empty bed. I don't know how as a human being you could watch that and not be moved to tears. When I got home from the movie and was putting my kids to bed, I walked by my girls' room and caught a glimpse of Leona's bed before she got in it, it was temporarily empty, and my mind flashed back to that scene in the movie and I couldn't help but imagine the pain a parent feels through the loss of their child, and I was again moved to tears. I am so thankful for the children God has placed in my life, and I try and be grateful for what I have every day regardless of what life throws my way. Children are a gift from God, something we have for a short period of time, whether we are fortunate enough to not experience losing them, or whether we can see them grow into adulthood, they eventually leave our homes or we lose them in some way. I pray that we would fight for our children, and the children of the world. Children are our hope for the future, and are among the most vulnerable of the population. Let us unite together and stand up for them, since they are too young to do so themselves. Children are under attack in our world, which I see as the highest form of evil, there is truly nothing more depraved in my opinion than a person who can harm a child. They need us to defend them until they are grown up enough to understand right and wrong, good and evil, and make those decisions on their own. Until then, they are our responsibility. Will you accept that role? Will you open your eyes and be willing to see what is happening in our world today? A person who chooses to ignore reality is no defender of the weak. By opening our eyes, we can speak for the vulnerable, and defend them, and demand justice. We can collectively pray for them, something I truly believe has the power to change and heal a nation, and a world.

If you haven't yet seen "The Sound of Freedom," I implore you to do so while it's in theaters. I haven't believed in the cause of a movie for quite some time like I do this one. If you can't afford to go, Angel Studios has setup a "pay it forward" program to pay for someone else's tickets, so finances would not be a reason to not see it. If you are moved by the movie like I was and can afford to pay for a couple other tickets for someone else to see it, I would encourage you to do so.

Spread the word: God's children are not for sale.