Comments on: To Save a Life (or “The Death of Cheesy Christian Movies”) http://www.gregstier.org/rants/to-save-a-life-and-cheesy-christian-movies/ Relentlessly pursuing Christ and His Cause Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:20:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: jay http://www.gregstier.org/rants/to-save-a-life-and-cheesy-christian-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-168760 jay Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:06:55 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/?p=712#comment-168760 Greg, Praise the Lord for your stance and for going directly to the producer. I don't want to regret any opportunities to share the gospel for the length of eternity (in the name of political correctness, etc.). Thanks again for loving God's Word and His mission and leading others to do so. Greg,

Praise the Lord for your stance and for going directly to the producer. I don’t want to regret any opportunities to share the gospel for the length of eternity (in the name of political correctness, etc.). Thanks again for loving God’s Word and His mission and leading others to do so.

]]> By: Nathan Smith http://www.gregstier.org/rants/to-save-a-life-and-cheesy-christian-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-167278 Nathan Smith Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:13:59 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/?p=712#comment-167278 i agree that the gospel was not presented but... i have watched so many new believers accept christ and have the world cave in. I really appreciated the fact that this movie showed that accepting Christ is not easy street and my kids got a huge bounce out of this movie and want to bring their friends later this week. being real in the movies is real to these kids. this movie is a must see and a great tool for parents. i agree that the gospel was not presented but… i have watched so many new believers accept christ and have the world cave in. I really appreciated the fact that this movie showed that accepting Christ is not easy street and my kids got a huge bounce out of this movie and want to bring their friends later this week. being real in the movies is real to these kids. this movie is a must see and a great tool for parents.

]]> By: Greg http://www.gregstier.org/rants/to-save-a-life-and-cheesy-christian-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-167273 Greg Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:19:23 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/?p=712#comment-167273 Will pray Katelyn. Remember it is a war and God will give you the strength to win in the end. In every war there are battles won and battles lost but, ultimately, we know that we will win the war in the end because of Jesus Christ! Keep moving ahead and find your "Jonathan" (a sold out Christian friend) to help you battle through. Check out 1 Samuel 18:1-8 for some encouragement to pray for and search for that Jonathan to give you encouragement along the way. Will pray Katelyn. Remember it is a war and God will give you the strength to win in the end. In every war there are battles won and battles lost but, ultimately, we know that we will win the war in the end because of Jesus Christ! Keep moving ahead and find your “Jonathan” (a sold out Christian friend) to help you battle through. Check out 1 Samuel 18:1-8 for some encouragement to pray for and search for that Jonathan to give you encouragement along the way.

]]> By: Katelyn http://www.gregstier.org/rants/to-save-a-life-and-cheesy-christian-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-167272 Katelyn Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:01:19 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/?p=712#comment-167272 I saw that movie the night it came out in theatres. It was good... i cried a little. and I do mean a little. But what I wanted to say was that I haven't had the best feeling. It's been like this since Friday night before going to see the movie with some friends... before we got to see the movie, there were three interrupyions... the first one I liked, the other two not so much. 1. I got to see my dad (he brought over some late Christmas presents. I got some jewelry... only a necklace and ear rings that I havent taken off yet. I had him put the necklace on me.. I feel bad though, he got me an ipod nano accesory kit and I don't own an ipod nano. and he got me 2 hats and I dislike hats... and he got me a 2009 nascar poster thing and I'm not really into nascar that much anymore... and I couldn't tell him this... the look on his face that I'd get would kill me! I didn't want to hurt him so I "acted" like I liked them...) 2. My mom accidently took the tube thing that bank drive throughs have... 3. I lost $20 and so had to go somewhere else for dinner... The reason I'm really hurting is because my birthday is February 16th and I'll be 16 and since I can remember, I've been bored as heck on my birthday. I've never had a birthday party and my dad is never there for one even if I did have one. It's like fathers day all over. As if one day out of the year isn't enough!? Can't I just skip my "sweet" 16th birthday?! I don't want this. too much pain. I feel like I'm about to cry... at school. Don't people see that I'm not happy? Don't people see the pain in my eyes?! Are they really THAT oblivious? How long will they be fooled before they realize they've completly missed it? What will it take? A school shooting? A teenager crying on the street corner or in a coffee shop all alone? What? Why not realize it now? realize that these smiles and laughs are fake.... they're a mask that no one, except Jesus, is seeing through. I would've sent this to you on facebook but I'm pretty sure this teacher will take my phone if I have it out.. Every time my comments are this long, I feel like I'm rambeling on and on... I don't know how long I can fight the tears and not let them fall. I heard from Shawn on fb that you mentioned me by name as being an example of what THE cause is starting to look like... but why me?! I haven't been my normal self lately and just don't get it! I'm sure theres some other teenager out there doing a way better job than I am... In your book Firestarter, I feel more like Jen instead of Kailey.. help. please. praying will help. I saw that movie the night it came out in theatres. It was good… i cried a little. and I do mean a little.

But what I wanted to say was that I haven’t had the best feeling. It’s been like this since Friday night before going to see the movie with some friends… before we got to see the movie, there were three interrupyions…
the first one I liked, the other two not so much.

1. I got to see my dad (he brought over some late Christmas presents. I got some jewelry… only a necklace and ear rings that I havent taken off yet. I had him put the necklace on me.. I feel bad though, he got me an ipod nano accesory kit and I don’t own an ipod nano. and he got me 2 hats and I dislike hats… and he got me a 2009 nascar poster thing and I’m not really into nascar that much anymore… and I couldn’t tell him this… the look on his face that I’d get would kill me! I didn’t want to hurt him so I “acted” like I liked them…)
2. My mom accidently took the tube thing that bank drive throughs have…
3. I lost $20 and so had to go somewhere else for dinner…

The reason I’m really hurting is because my birthday is February 16th and I’ll be 16 and since I can remember, I’ve been bored as heck on my birthday. I’ve never had a birthday party and my dad is never there for one even if I did have one. It’s like fathers day all over. As if one day out of the year isn’t enough!? Can’t I just skip my “sweet” 16th birthday?! I don’t want this. too much pain.

I feel like I’m about to cry… at school. Don’t people see that I’m not happy? Don’t people see the pain in my eyes?! Are they really THAT oblivious? How long will they be fooled before they realize they’ve completly missed it? What will it take? A school shooting? A teenager crying on the street corner or in a coffee shop all alone? What? Why not realize it now? realize that these smiles and laughs are fake…. they’re a mask that no one, except Jesus, is seeing through.

I would’ve sent this to you on facebook but I’m pretty sure this teacher will take my phone if I have it out.. Every time my comments are this long, I feel like I’m rambeling on and on…

I don’t know how long I can fight the tears and not let them fall. I heard from Shawn on fb that you mentioned me by name as being an example of what THE cause is starting to look like… but why me?! I haven’t been my normal self lately and just don’t get it! I’m sure theres some other teenager out there doing a way better job than I am…

In your book Firestarter, I feel more like Jen instead of Kailey..

help. please. praying will help.

]]> By: durb http://www.gregstier.org/rants/to-save-a-life-and-cheesy-christian-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-167269 durb Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:22:05 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/?p=712#comment-167269 I guess you better remove some passages from Ezekiel (profane), a few chapters from Genesis (lots of sex), and the entire books of Judges and Joshua (violence)by that standard. Oh and remove all those Psalms from that adulterer David. We took a group last night and have already had some significant conversations about it, with more to come this week. No, the gospel is never clearly presented in this movie, and I agree with Greg that it could have been done in a non-cheesy way within the context of some of the scenes. But it does provide the intentional youth leader the opportunity for good follow-up discussion. It's amazing how it stands out that "church" scenes in movies are usually so phony and staged, in contrast to the scenes here which ring pretty authentic. I also agree with Greg that they tried to cover too many issues (is this kid Jake or Job?). Compared to most of what passes as teen marketed entertainment (all those CW shows), the production is well done and the acting is solid. Overall feedback from students and the parents who went has been very positive. We'll see how much long-lasting impact it can have as leaders follow-up with additional teaching, training, and discussion. I guess you better remove some passages from Ezekiel (profane), a few chapters from Genesis (lots of sex), and the entire books of Judges and Joshua (violence)by that standard. Oh and remove all those Psalms from that adulterer David.
We took a group last night and have already had some significant conversations about it, with more to come this week. No, the gospel is never clearly presented in this movie, and I agree with Greg that it could have been done in a non-cheesy way within the context of some of the scenes. But it does provide the intentional youth leader the opportunity for good follow-up discussion.
It’s amazing how it stands out that “church” scenes in movies are usually so phony and staged, in contrast to the scenes here which ring pretty authentic.
I also agree with Greg that they tried to cover too many issues (is this kid Jake or Job?).
Compared to most of what passes as teen marketed entertainment (all those CW shows), the production is well done and the acting is solid.
Overall feedback from students and the parents who went has been very positive. We’ll see how much long-lasting impact it can have as leaders follow-up with additional teaching, training, and discussion.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.gregstier.org/rants/to-save-a-life-and-cheesy-christian-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-166640 Ryan Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:55:37 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/?p=712#comment-166640 I guess seeing a movie with violence, sex, and profane language is a great way to spread the gospel! Which, by the way, IS NEVER PRESENTED!!! O, how we have fallen! I guess seeing a movie with violence, sex, and profane language is a great way to spread the gospel! Which, by the way, IS NEVER PRESENTED!!! O, how we have fallen!

]]> By: Rae http://www.gregstier.org/rants/to-save-a-life-and-cheesy-christian-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-166637 Rae Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:24:15 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/?p=712#comment-166637 cool cool

]]> By: Brian http://www.gregstier.org/rants/to-save-a-life-and-cheesy-christian-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-166573 Brian Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:35:06 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/?p=712#comment-166573 I remember previewing the movie last year at SYMC and I thinking it's a good movie but just lacked the gospel being presented clearly. I'm praying youth leaders that take students to see the movie will take some time afterwards to discuss the movie, generate questions, and clearly give the gospel. I remember previewing the movie last year at SYMC and I thinking it’s a good movie but just lacked the gospel being presented clearly. I’m praying youth leaders that take students to see the movie will take some time afterwards to discuss the movie, generate questions, and clearly give the gospel.

]]> By: John http://www.gregstier.org/rants/to-save-a-life-and-cheesy-christian-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-166486 John Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:31:35 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/?p=712#comment-166486 Really looking forward to this one! Really looking forward to this one!

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