Note: Normally I wouldn’t have noticed the remaking of an old movie. I’m not wed to the belief that movie remakes are heresy; however, there are just some movies that Hollywood should just leave be.
It’s a travesty I tell you; a travesty! A black dot on the film industry. Marion Morrison, better known as John Wayne or The Duke, is rolling over in his grave. How can Hollywood even consider remaking one of John Wayne’s films? But, that is exactly what is happening. The Coen Brothers are producing a remake of True Grit. The remake is supposed to follow more closely with the Charles Portis novel, True Grit, but come on, who in their right mind can picture Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn? You have to be kidding me! After all, John Wayne won an Oscar for his performance in the movie and the 2009 Harris Poll listed him as one of America’s top 10 actors. I don’t have anything against Jeff Bridges, but there is no way he can come close to The Duke as Rooster Cogburn. And to make matters worse, Matt Damon, who is playing a Texas Ranger in the remake, actually admitted that he had never seen the original movie. Really??
As I was tirading (yes, I just made up that word) around the office, it became really clear that others did not value True Grit or John Wayne, for that matter, the same way I do. In fact, no one in the office has ever seen True Grit. Now that is just un-American. Ok, so here is the thumbnail sketch of the movie plot: Mattie Ross, a teenage girl, hires the one-eyed, drunken, hard-core U.S. Marshall to help find her father’s murderer.
The Duke was 62 years old when True Grit was filmed in 1969. He had one lung and was in such poor health that he couldn’t do his own stunts. Let’s face it; John Wayne had as much grit as Rooster Cogburn during the production of the award winning film.
True grit. Determination. Resolve. Tenacity. Doggedness. Those are definitely words I’d use to characterize John Wayne and the characters he portrayed in 100 or so movies. However, there is something to be learned here.
Stop for just a moment and think about the meaning of those six words. They are the same words that should describe our journey with Christ. Discipleship requires sacrifice and sacrifice requires total commitment. Total commitment comes from true grit, determination, resolve, tenacity and doggedness. The words Jesus said to his disciples 2000 plus years ago still ring true today; “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
Although John Wayne was a movie icon, his life was not without controversy and neither is our call to discipleship. Time and time again, God places us in situations where we are called to proclaim our faith. God’s movie is one that can never be remade, but isn’t it wonderful that he rewrites our role so that we can learn the script, become a practiced player and develop the true grit that makes us fit for service in the kingdom of God. Thanks be to God!
Judith Bell 8/27/10
Copyright © Judith Bell 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Opening the Door
J.B. is the baby of his family and has assumed primary supervisory responsibility of his 91 year-old mother. I’ve never met Mrs. V, but apparently she is something else! She lives by herself, has a cell phone that she knows how to use, still drives and generally is the queen of the house. I repeatedly tell J.B. how much I admire his unflappable patience with his mother. I usually laugh when J.B. tells me a Mrs. V story, but last night’s story though worrisome, gave me pause and caused me to seriously consider how I invite others to Christ.
Sunday afternoon a white pick-up pulled up to the curb in front of Mrs. V’s house. A man knocked on her front door and when she answered told her that he was from Texas State Technical College and was painting house numbers on curbs. She talked to him through the screen door for a while, but quickly tired and invited him in. He told her that he had been in prison for 17 years, but she shouldn’t worry, because after all he hadn’t hurt anyone to get there. In between hearing about how she asked him if he was on drugs and him starting to “use cuss words” my mind went to the ugly place. My heart was racing as J.B. told this and I assure you that my positive intent meter had dipped into the extremely low range for Mrs. V’s Sunday visitor.
After my outburst and tirade of all of the bad things that could have happened, J.B. casually said, “I really can’t be too upset with her; after all, the only perfect human on this earth opened the door to everyone. “ Those calmly uttered words stopped me in my tracks and demanded that I pay attention. There was a message that I needed to hear.
J.B. was right; Christ wasn’t selective with his invitations. He opened the door to those who were imprisoned, to those who were addicted, to those who were without, to those who had made poor choices and to those who were different.” He invited in the poor, the unclean, the unsavory, the sick, the lonely and the unfamiliar. Christ wasn’t choosey when it came to inviting others into a relationship with him.
Far too often, I not only close but also lock the door on people that threaten the safety of the world I have created. I avert my eyes from the homeless man on the corner begging for money. I cross the street to avoid greeting the woman that is unclean and grubby looking. I tsk, tsk the objectionable body art and piercings of a teenager. Far too often, I practice selective discipleship by inviting only those who are similar in status, appearance and culture to experience the love of Christ.
Mrs. V’s invitation of hospitality to a stranger reminded me that Christ is available to everyone, not just to those with whom I am comfortable. Patrick Patterson from Volunteers of America Michigan says it best; “He set the standard and didn't provide any exceptions.”
And because I have already been invited in and have experienced His grace, I am to unlock the door of my heart and invite others in, as well.
Judith 8/20/10
Copyright © Judtih Bell 2010
Sunday afternoon a white pick-up pulled up to the curb in front of Mrs. V’s house. A man knocked on her front door and when she answered told her that he was from Texas State Technical College and was painting house numbers on curbs. She talked to him through the screen door for a while, but quickly tired and invited him in. He told her that he had been in prison for 17 years, but she shouldn’t worry, because after all he hadn’t hurt anyone to get there. In between hearing about how she asked him if he was on drugs and him starting to “use cuss words” my mind went to the ugly place. My heart was racing as J.B. told this and I assure you that my positive intent meter had dipped into the extremely low range for Mrs. V’s Sunday visitor.
After my outburst and tirade of all of the bad things that could have happened, J.B. casually said, “I really can’t be too upset with her; after all, the only perfect human on this earth opened the door to everyone. “ Those calmly uttered words stopped me in my tracks and demanded that I pay attention. There was a message that I needed to hear.
J.B. was right; Christ wasn’t selective with his invitations. He opened the door to those who were imprisoned, to those who were addicted, to those who were without, to those who had made poor choices and to those who were different.” He invited in the poor, the unclean, the unsavory, the sick, the lonely and the unfamiliar. Christ wasn’t choosey when it came to inviting others into a relationship with him.
Far too often, I not only close but also lock the door on people that threaten the safety of the world I have created. I avert my eyes from the homeless man on the corner begging for money. I cross the street to avoid greeting the woman that is unclean and grubby looking. I tsk, tsk the objectionable body art and piercings of a teenager. Far too often, I practice selective discipleship by inviting only those who are similar in status, appearance and culture to experience the love of Christ.
Mrs. V’s invitation of hospitality to a stranger reminded me that Christ is available to everyone, not just to those with whom I am comfortable. Patrick Patterson from Volunteers of America Michigan says it best; “He set the standard and didn't provide any exceptions.”
And because I have already been invited in and have experienced His grace, I am to unlock the door of my heart and invite others in, as well.
Judith 8/20/10
Copyright © Judtih Bell 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
The Zombie Plan
There really are times that I’m convinced that Lee Bray is not my child and was in fact swapped at birth. There is absolutely no way that this now 24 year-old belongs to me. Yes, I’ve always known that he marches to his own drummer and lives to the far left of what most people consider normal. The fact that my genius child is a struggling tattoo artist and believes in zombies is still something that I’m grappling to accept.
Where Lee comes up with some of the stuff he comes up with is beyond me. I’ve always - and I mean always - wondered about how his mind works. He is the most eclectic, free-thinking person I know. He can talk knowledgably about anything from ancient history to urban legends to pop culture and is the only person that I know for sure who has actually read Dante’s Inferno.
So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he has immeasurable information about zombies. Don’t ask me because I couldn’t even begin to explain why, but for years he has talked about how zombies are going to take over the world. For the most part, the zombie conversation is brought up after he has watched some horror film or has seen some obscure program on late, late, late night television. I admit that I usually don’t give him my full attention when he starts talking zombies. I listen with one ear, nod my head and utter a “really” every now and then for good measure. That was true until he laid out his escape plan for when Haitian zombies invade.
He was dead serious (no pun intended) when he laid out the master escape plan in detail. His entire plan is based on the theory that when the Haitian zombie invasion begins, it will be in our best interest to leave the city and head for the country. He gave Reid, Evan and me specific instructions about where to meet, where we are to stop for gas and supplies and where we are to go—to Sarepta, Louisiana and my parents’ house. I won’t bore you with the details, but trust me; he has a plan to survive the zombie invasion. Like I said, there are times when I’m absolutely convinced that there is no way in this world that the boy belongs to me. I am telling you the honest truth; he has a plan for evading zombies but doesn’t have a clue about what he is going to do with the rest of his life. Go figure.
There are certain things in life that make you go “hmmmmmm” and Lee’s zombie plan is one of those things. Regardless of how farfetched and unrealistic the need for a zombie plan seems, I am reminded that having a plan helps provide direction, reach goals and unravel the future. Coming up with a plan is the easy part; putting God in the plan--not so much so. Though I hate to admit it, I have repeatedly found myself ignoring God’s plan for my life and am continually having to find ways to out-maneuver the zombies.
While I don’t always see God’s overall plan, it is comforting to know that God really doesn’t need much from me to accomplish His plan for my life. He needs my mind, heart and spirit to open to His presence. He needs my willingness to let go of where I want to go and how I want to get there. He needs to me to allow Him to be the fiber of my very being.
Unless I allow God to be the designer of my life plan, I might as well be planning for the zombie invasion.
Copyright © 2010 Judith Bell
Judith Bell 8/13/10
Where Lee comes up with some of the stuff he comes up with is beyond me. I’ve always - and I mean always - wondered about how his mind works. He is the most eclectic, free-thinking person I know. He can talk knowledgably about anything from ancient history to urban legends to pop culture and is the only person that I know for sure who has actually read Dante’s Inferno.
So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he has immeasurable information about zombies. Don’t ask me because I couldn’t even begin to explain why, but for years he has talked about how zombies are going to take over the world. For the most part, the zombie conversation is brought up after he has watched some horror film or has seen some obscure program on late, late, late night television. I admit that I usually don’t give him my full attention when he starts talking zombies. I listen with one ear, nod my head and utter a “really” every now and then for good measure. That was true until he laid out his escape plan for when Haitian zombies invade.
He was dead serious (no pun intended) when he laid out the master escape plan in detail. His entire plan is based on the theory that when the Haitian zombie invasion begins, it will be in our best interest to leave the city and head for the country. He gave Reid, Evan and me specific instructions about where to meet, where we are to stop for gas and supplies and where we are to go—to Sarepta, Louisiana and my parents’ house. I won’t bore you with the details, but trust me; he has a plan to survive the zombie invasion. Like I said, there are times when I’m absolutely convinced that there is no way in this world that the boy belongs to me. I am telling you the honest truth; he has a plan for evading zombies but doesn’t have a clue about what he is going to do with the rest of his life. Go figure.
There are certain things in life that make you go “hmmmmmm” and Lee’s zombie plan is one of those things. Regardless of how farfetched and unrealistic the need for a zombie plan seems, I am reminded that having a plan helps provide direction, reach goals and unravel the future. Coming up with a plan is the easy part; putting God in the plan--not so much so. Though I hate to admit it, I have repeatedly found myself ignoring God’s plan for my life and am continually having to find ways to out-maneuver the zombies.
While I don’t always see God’s overall plan, it is comforting to know that God really doesn’t need much from me to accomplish His plan for my life. He needs my mind, heart and spirit to open to His presence. He needs my willingness to let go of where I want to go and how I want to get there. He needs to me to allow Him to be the fiber of my very being.
Unless I allow God to be the designer of my life plan, I might as well be planning for the zombie invasion.
Copyright © 2010 Judith Bell
Judith Bell 8/13/10
Friday, August 6, 2010
"Skip-a-dee-doo-dah"
Ok, I am about to date myself and at the same time reveal just how country I am. I was driving home the other day and for some reason had the radio dialed to a Country Oldies station. I have always listened to country music and really did put peanuts in my coke, just like Barbara Mandrell sang about in the early 1980s. I went barefoot, ate watermelons straight from the field, and ate bologna sandwiches on white bread, moon pies and Miracle Whip sandwiches for snacks.
Unfortunately, I can go back even further than Barbara Mandrell in the early 80s. I can go all the way back to 1972 and Donna Fargo. So, when her 1972 hit, “The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA,” came on the radio, I sang right along with her and didn’t miss a word of the lyrics.
After the song ended, my brain started processing happiness. I began creating a list of the things in life that bring out my happy feelings and take me to my happy place. Of course family and friends topped the list, but I filtered the given and started thinking about the little things; those things that bring a smile to my face and make me laugh. I thought about fireflies, puppies, purses, shoes, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, watching college football (as long as my Razorbacks are winning), chocolate milk, wild flowers, rushing streams, jumping in the lake, sitting with my toes in the water, watching old television shoes like Dragnet, Adam 12, and Hawaii Five-O, ice cream cones, Sunday drives and listening to it rain on a tin roof.
The timing of the song can only be described as a “God thing.” Just let me say…it has been a long seven days! My car has been in the shop since last Thursday because rats ate through the electrical wiring, the water pump died and there was a coolant leak. The air conditioner at home decided to go out on the exact same day. I suffered through the three digit temperatures until a new unit was installed Sunday afternoon, but my car is still in the shop. And believe it or not, I was able to remain remarkably calm and maintain a fairly optimistic outlook. Each time I thought about having a pity party, and let me say, I could have had several of them, I would stop and sing the line in Fargo’s song: “I’m the happiest girl in the whole USA.”
One of my favorite pictures of Jesus is the one of him with his head thrown back in laughter. It reassures me that God enjoys a good laugh every now and then. That picture also reminds me of Mike Dooley’s thoughts about the fun loving nature of God. Dooley writes, “God prefers to go barefoot, laughs a lot and is always happy. Loves orange, wears blue jeans and has read every book ever written. Skips stones, plays in the rain and rocks out. Remembers birthdays, forgets arguments and every day visualizes me smiling even more.” God is truly a God of joy and laughter.
Happiness is a state of being. It is a choice and I am in control of embracing my state of happiness. I keep a quote by Martha Washington taped to my computer screen that reads: “I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.”
I am the only one that can make me happy. I am the only one that can willingly share my happiness with others. I am the only one who can share the happiness that Christ brings. I am the only one that can make it a Skip-a-dee-doo-dah day and claim the title of “happiest girl in the whole USA.”
Judith Bell 8/5/10
Copyright © 2010
Unfortunately, I can go back even further than Barbara Mandrell in the early 80s. I can go all the way back to 1972 and Donna Fargo. So, when her 1972 hit, “The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA,” came on the radio, I sang right along with her and didn’t miss a word of the lyrics.
After the song ended, my brain started processing happiness. I began creating a list of the things in life that bring out my happy feelings and take me to my happy place. Of course family and friends topped the list, but I filtered the given and started thinking about the little things; those things that bring a smile to my face and make me laugh. I thought about fireflies, puppies, purses, shoes, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, watching college football (as long as my Razorbacks are winning), chocolate milk, wild flowers, rushing streams, jumping in the lake, sitting with my toes in the water, watching old television shoes like Dragnet, Adam 12, and Hawaii Five-O, ice cream cones, Sunday drives and listening to it rain on a tin roof.
The timing of the song can only be described as a “God thing.” Just let me say…it has been a long seven days! My car has been in the shop since last Thursday because rats ate through the electrical wiring, the water pump died and there was a coolant leak. The air conditioner at home decided to go out on the exact same day. I suffered through the three digit temperatures until a new unit was installed Sunday afternoon, but my car is still in the shop. And believe it or not, I was able to remain remarkably calm and maintain a fairly optimistic outlook. Each time I thought about having a pity party, and let me say, I could have had several of them, I would stop and sing the line in Fargo’s song: “I’m the happiest girl in the whole USA.”
One of my favorite pictures of Jesus is the one of him with his head thrown back in laughter. It reassures me that God enjoys a good laugh every now and then. That picture also reminds me of Mike Dooley’s thoughts about the fun loving nature of God. Dooley writes, “God prefers to go barefoot, laughs a lot and is always happy. Loves orange, wears blue jeans and has read every book ever written. Skips stones, plays in the rain and rocks out. Remembers birthdays, forgets arguments and every day visualizes me smiling even more.” God is truly a God of joy and laughter.
Happiness is a state of being. It is a choice and I am in control of embracing my state of happiness. I keep a quote by Martha Washington taped to my computer screen that reads: “I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.”
I am the only one that can make me happy. I am the only one that can willingly share my happiness with others. I am the only one who can share the happiness that Christ brings. I am the only one that can make it a Skip-a-dee-doo-dah day and claim the title of “happiest girl in the whole USA.”
Judith Bell 8/5/10
Copyright © 2010
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