Journey to Anthem: The Faith Factor

"We are closer to God when we are asking questions than when we think we have the answers."

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

It is now less than 2 months until I move to Anthem, Arizona. I am overwhelmingly excited to be starting a new chapter in my life out west, and am eager to see how God uses Crosslife Church to bring hope and restoration to our city through Christ. 

When the discussion first began over a year ago, there were certainly many doubts in my mind regarding the whole process. Where would I live? What kind of a job would I have with the church? Would I be able to find new violin students in Anthem? 

The list goes on....

In a surprising twist though, these doubts are still in my mind. I still don't have an apartment lined up, my job situation is up in the air, I have not been approached yet about any sort of music work.

But somehow, none of these questions keep me up at night. I have NO answers, yet I have never been more certain of anything in my life as I am of the fact that God wants me to go West.

For a while I thought that this meant that my faith was growing... and of course in my pride I would pat myself on the back and marvel at how much I was maturing as a Christian.

But no no no no no. This is NOT at all what was going on in my Spirit. In fact, those moments of seemingly great faith NEVER correlated with a "God moment."

I started to notice a pattern. When I had the biggest moments of doubt, THAT was when God chose to show Himself. It was never when I felt like my faith was the strongest, but in the moments of weakness that God provided. 

This is a pattern I have noticed throughout scripture. 

In Matthew 17 we read an account where the disciples were attempting to drive out a demon from a boy, but were unsuccessful. (Jesus of course did so with no problem.)

"Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” “Because of your little faith,” He told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." - Matthew 17:19-20

Notice what Jesus NOT saying. 

He is NOT telling them that they were not trying hard enough, or that they weren't doing enough, or concentrating enough. 

He IS telling them that their faith is misplaced. Even the TINIEST amount of faith in Jesus comes with GREAT power, because Jesus has INFINITE power at his disposal. Colossians 1:15-20 describes the Jesus this way:

"He is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn over all creation.

For everything was created by Him,

in heaven and on earth,

the visible and the invisible,

whether thrones or dominions

or rulers or authorities—

all things have been created through Him and for Him. 

He is before all things,

and by Him all things hold together. 

He is also the head of the body, the church;

He is the beginning,

the firstborn from the dead,

so that He might come to have

first place in everything.

For God was pleased to have

all His fullness dwell in Him,

and through Him to reconcile

everything to Himself

by making peace

through the blood of His cross- 

whether things on earth or things in heaven."

Do you follow the point here? When I was young I just assumed that Jesus wanted me to have more faith in Him - and so I tried to build that up, somehow, which is really hard for a man to do on his own (impossible, even). 

Imagine the relief I feel now, knowing that the amount of faith that I have is not the question, it is the Object of my faith - Christ! Even if my faith is small, He remains mighty. The same One that created all things and has redeemed all things by his death and resurrection is asking me to TRUST HIM. 

Jesus just wants me. He wants me to stop striving, stop worrying, stop trying to prove myself, stop trying to provide for myself apart from Him. 

The Object of our faith is FAR more important than the amount of faith that we possess. 

I always got frustrated how the characters on the tv program LOST would always talk about "You just have to have faith, Jack" or "I'm just going to have faith that this works" without ever mentioning what their faith was in. Having faith for the sake of itself is pointless. BUT, if we are placing our faith in a GOOD God who knows every detail of our lives and desires to be in a relationship with him, then we truly can have assurance of our faith. 

"Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen." 

- Hebrews 11:1

Imagine how pointless it would be to have a great amount of faith in my own ability to work things out for my own good, or how fruitless it would be to have faith that things were going to work out simply because I thought it... No matter how awesome a person I may be, I will NEVER have that kind of power. 

So, at the end of the day, my faith is growing yes, but not because I have done anything - but because the reality of what I hope for is found in Christ - and I have PROOF through his resurrection that He is who He says He is, and His power is limitless. 

That is something we can rest in. 

Reflections on the Seminary Years

I am currently less than 19 hours away from having a Master of Divinity degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. This moment has been 4 and a half years in the making, and as I sit in my room past my bedtime, I can't help but think back on how much has changed since January of 2012, when I first began my preparation for ministry.

First off, 23 year old me was much more insecure in his faith. I remember those early days, when I was so bound to my service to the church and my seminary preparation that I bought into the lie that my identity was somehow defined by my performance.

What a dangerous thought that ended up being...

I nearly worked myself to death, trying desperately to prove that "I'm worthy to go!" or "I'm worthy to serve." In reality, none of us are worthy.

I also found myself facing a new enemy - Depression. This foe sought to take my joy and purpose in living. I'm not gonna lie, those days were very dark - despite my 4.0 GPA and smiling face on Sundays and Wednesdays.

This depression stayed with me for 2 years at least, and rears its ugly head from time to time even now.

But I have changed - in my final year of seminary, no less.

After wearing my spirit out, buying into the lie that I had to keep DOING in order to be a good Christian, and seeing door after door slammed in my face in the church, I thought I had made a HUGE mistake. After all, if I was called to ministry, wasn't I supposed to constantly be leading, and shouldn't I feel JOY in my soul? At times I honestly didn't.

I was reminded though of something my friend Matt Cureton had warned me about before I began my studies. "It is going to be very hard to keep your personal walk with Christ going" he had said. "You are going to get so wrapped up in your studies that it will want to take the place of Jesus, but it can't."

It felt like I was so busy working FOR Jesus that I had ceased to even talk to Him anymore... and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I ended up through a long series of events at Christ City Church in Memphis, where I am now a member, and being prepared in more ways than I could have dreamed for church planting. The people there for the FIRST TIME refused to allow me to find my identity in what I did. That is not ministry, they said. YOU need to just spend time with God, spend time with His people - LOVE HIM, LOVE HIS PEOPLE... and then follow what He says.

I tried so hard to find something to do - something to validate myself, something to scratch that itch of action... but Jesus wouldn't let me.

Something crazy happened in the past year. I was forced to be still for a second and actually listen. And it was THEN that I heard it.... Through God's Word, through his people... my identity or value as a person (or a minister) has nothing to do with anything I possibly can do, but who I am loved by. I realized anew that I was loved DEEPLY by God, and that before ANY other responsibility, He just wanted me to want HIM.

It was a rude awakening, and something that seems to be a given in seminary life, but it really is so hard to keep in mind - Jesus loves me.

Seems almost silly, right?

That's what I thought. But then it hit me... this identity was freeing me to tell my story, freeing me to no longer fear my imperfections or my past. The fast that JESUS actually loves me gives me the proper motivation for doing all of the ministry that I had been training for over this past 4 years... I am just a guy, who has nothing to offer, who has been saved by God because of nothing that I did or will do...

God's just good like that.

So as I prepare to walk in a few hours, I feel almost juvenile in the way I feel about my faith with Jesus... but at the same time I realize that this is my ammunition to combat injustice, wickedness, depression, hate. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.

Why was it so hard for me to really GET that? I don't truly know.

I have a heck of a lot of head knowledge now, and I am thankful for that. I know how to evangelize, how to teach, how to parse Greek and Hebrew, how to lead worship - but at the end of the day, the question really is this:

Do I really REST in what Jesus has done for me?

Cadence

In Western musical theory, a cadence (Latin cadentia, "a falling") is "a melodic or harmonic configuration that creates a sense of resolution."

In the process of moving forward, many things must be left behind. I'm currently in the process of sorting through the vast amounts of things that I have and sorting them into keep, donate, or garbage piles. 

Seems easy right? Not for me. Everything seems to carry some sort of sentimental weight, and I cannot let go easily. Before you know it, the box for items that I plan on keeping is already full, and there are just a few small items in the trash bag or Goodwill donations.

Grrrr. Darn my sentimentality.

This seems to be a problem in every area of life for me - I cannot easily let go.

Whether it is a gift from a friend from my college years, or a photo from a camping trip in 2012, or a friendship itself... I try to hold on to everything.

One might say I have become a spiritual hoarder.

As if my own baggage wasn't enough, I try to gather and carry the baggage of every person I know too. The weight often forces me to break... I can't move forward and I can't move backwards, I'm just stuck.

It is one of the beautiful privileges of life to get to move on, but it is also source of some of the deepest sorrow. In most cases the people and places we leave behind in life aren't bad for us necessarily, or bad in themselves - they just are not what God has in store for us in this particular chapter in life.

As I prepare to move west, my heart is torn in two. On one hand I am eager to meet new people, see new places, and experience the richness of life that can be found in following God's calling. On the other, I am deeply saddened by the many people that I am leaving behind in Memphis. The relationships (good AND bad, I might add) that I have had in the 901 have truly shaped me into the man I am today. The good ones pushed me to be a better man, the bad ones pushed me to trust God more. 

I can honestly say that in the past few years, God has been preparing my heart to let go of a city and a people that I love. When my family moved to Nashville, I could tell that my life was not going to play out exactly how I expected... 

I can tell that this current segment of my life is coming to an end - and it's a beautiful ending! At first I viewed this as losing something... but honestly, I think it is far better to leave something of great value behind. Else, I would just be an escapist - running from my problems, rather than trying to share the beauty of fellowship with a new audience.

At first I was fearful, but the amazing thing about the God I serve is that when He calls me to do something, He provides all that I need to do it out of his abundant grace. 

Lord knows I have trouble letting go - and He isn't forcing me to move without a proper sense of closure. In just the past few months I have seen God bring people from my past back into my life in exciting ways - as a sort of celebration of my life here in Memphis. It's as if He is saying "I know this is hard for you, so I am going to allow you to say goodbye to the people who matter the most to you."

Me and Tim, after my Senior Recital at the University of Memphis, Spring 2010

Just this week I was able to reconnect with my violin professor from the University of Memphis. I had not seen him in 5 years, yet everything I do in music today can be credited to his life-impacting influence on me. Tim had spent the last couple of years in New York on sabbatical, so I was pessimistic about my chances at seeing him again before I move. 

On Monday morning though, I found out that he had returned to Memphis and was giving a Bach concert on campus (THAT NIGHT)- so naturally, I jumped at the chance to see him.

There Tim was on stage, still the same man, but with a noticeably different sound. Yes, he was playing on a Baroque violin, but there was something deeper than the instrument itself that was affecting him - the time away from Memphis had seasoned him as a performer, given him more to share, enhanced the beauty of his music perhaps - it was more pure and raw.

As I listened to the Chaconne from the Bach Partita in D minor, I could not help but feel like God gave me that moment - in that concert hall - on that beautiful evening, just to remind me that He was doing the same exact thing with me.

It is now my turn to go away for a while. 

But through that experience, He is going to strengthen my song. The melody that my life plays will be more pure, more raw, and deeper because of this change.

I'm at the cadence of this movement of my life, but once it resolves - who knows where the melody will go?

Go West, Young Man

I have always enjoyed adventure.

I love the thrill of new locations, sweeping vistas found only by going off the beaten path, the inspiration of new people and their stories.

There is something in me that has always known I would get to live an adventure. I never really knew what form this adventure would take, but I hoped in the deepest places of my soul that I would get to travel the world and live in some exotic locale.

To a degree, my music career has afforded me the opportunities to see the world and experience new cultures. In my journeys to Belize, Guatemala, Jamaica, Germany, France, and Czech Republic; music has played some part in my experience.

There is something inherently beautiful about the way that music transcends culture, language, religion, and age. It has always been a part of my ministry, and will remain so as long as I have the use of my two hands.

Over the past few years, I have felt a pull at my heart to go west. This made no sense in any of the contexts I was in, but it was a deep-seeded feeling of adventure and longing to seek what is new.

In the moment I had no clue whether this desire was of God, or my own childhood longings come to fruition.

Could I go wrong either way, though?
After all, if God's will for my life is more of a state of mind or being than an actual series of decisions, technically I could go or stay and still be fulfilled in what I do.

At this point I realize that if I don't use my music to reach people, THEN I am missing the whole point of my life.

So I am excited. In a mere 5 months I will be living in Anthem, Arizona; where I will be using my gifts and abilities to invest in the next generation of musicians. I'll get to take my whole philosophy of faith and art and bring them to a new community.

I'll be living an adventure with people I care about, doing something I love, in one of the most beautiful and vast places I know.

Is there fear? Yes, but also excitement

Any decision worth making is going to wreck us a just little bit on the inside.

If the path was not difficult, it wouldn't be an adventure.

Top 10 Films of 2015

It has become something of a tradition for me to release an annual year-end recap to my favorite films. As my cinematic eye and knowledge grow, I sense my taste in films being refined. A few flicks will inevitably show up that are blockbuster hits, but each one of my selections are artistic expressions, and were somehow able to delight and move me. Each of the following films listed did exactly that for me in 2015. I believe these films to be the highest examples of art in their respective fields. Artistically these films are stellar, and emotionally they grabbed me at the core. They appeal to nostalgia in some cases, but stand on their own as fantastic films.

After reading my list I would love to hear your thoughts! What films delighted and moved you this year?

10. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation/ Kingsman: The Secret Service
Tied for 10th place are two remarkable action flicks. While both are spy movies, they could not be more different.

MI5 is the best film in the Tom Cruise anchored franchise. Directed by his Jack Reacher collaborator Christopher McQuarrie, MI5 is sleek and stylish, accomplishing what Spectre failed to do for the 007 franchise. Mission Impossible has always seemed larger than life, but McQuarrie brings a real-world grittiness to the franchise. While Cruise is still impressive with his over-the-top stunt acting, it was Rebecca Ferguson who stole the show. Her leading lady stunts and acting were enough to get her an invite to return for the next installment of the Mission Impossible franchise.

Kingman: The Secret Service was one of the year's best surprises. Directed by British director Guy Ritchie, Kingsman does not hold back on the blood and gore. Starring some of Britain's finest actors, as well as a fantastic breakout performance from Taron Egerton, Kingsman is edgy, shocking, and refreshing in a market packed with cliche, unremarkable action movies. The camera seemingly revels in the carnage, and at times Ritchie allows the scenes to play out in changing frame rates and camera angles a'la 300. Although I loved it, this film is NOT for children.


9. While We're Young
Noah Baumbach is perhaps the one filmmaker who has his finger on the pulse of the millennial generation. Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts are brilliant as an aging couple struggling with their identity in a rapidly changing world, but it's Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried who had the biggest impact on me as a young hipster couple. Comically serious about their anti-technological views, this young couple challenges not only Stiller and Watts, but the viewer, to evaluate the roles that communication and relationships play in their lives in a predominately digital world.


8. The Martian
The ad campaign for director Ridley Scott's NASA rescue film was surprisingly deceptive. What was presented as a Matt Damon anchored drama ended up being a smart, witty film full of strong performances from the supporting cast, featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, and Donald Glover, just to name a few. I responded even more strongly to the optimistic nature of the film, adapted from Andy Weir's book by Drew Goddard. The dialogue was hopeful, lighthearted, and was devoid of cynicism - which is a rare treat for filmgoers these days. After a handful of misfires, it is good to see an iconic filmmaker like Scott back in business.


7. Bridge of Spies
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks are always a winning combination in cinema. At this point Spielberg's filmmaking is fluid and understated. Even a lesser Spielberg flick is still better than 95% of what is showing at your local cinema. In this case, Spielberg has crafted another historical masterpiece. Bridge of Spies features fantastic dialogue, wonderfully set up shots, and beautiful period production design. Hanks is brilliant as always, but Mark Rylance is the surprise in this film, an acting revelation as the Russian spy captured by U.S. authorities. Not only one of the best films of the year, this is one of Spielberg's best films, period.


6. Ex Machina
Alex Garland is a relatively unknown filmmaker, but he is a writer and director to watch. Ex Machina doesn't ask new questions about humanity, but manages to repackage them into a sleek, sexy, modern film. Before they shared the screen in Star Wars, Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson appeared in this quiet, unsettling film about what makes us human. Alicia Vikander is the real standout though, playing an advanced robot seeking humanity. The audience begins to feel for her, along with Gleeson's character, making us suddenly realize that perhaps WE are the test subjects. (Note, there is a fair amount of nudity in the film, so viewer discretion is advised).


5. Sicario
Dennis Villaneuve has established himself as a modern film auteur. Similarly to his previous films, "Prisoners" and "Enemy," Villaneuve manages to create tense, taut scenes without resorting to cheap gimmicks. Roger Deakins provides breathtaking cinemtography, with a dusk raid sequence that just might land him an Oscar nomination. Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro deliver awards-worthy performances themselves in this tale of corruption on the U.S./Mexico border.


4. Brooklyn
Brooklyn is probably the smallest and quietist film on my list, yet it is one of the best dramas I have seen in years. Saoirse Ronan is beautiful and wonderful as an Irish immigrant who makes her way to Brooklyn, NY in the mid- 20th century. The story is nothing new, but executed so beautifully and so wonderfully, that it makes Brooklyn a must-see film. The period clothing and sets are immaculate, and the score is hauntingly beautiful. You find yourself aching and laughing with real emotion, which is in part due to Nick Hornby's screenplay, and partially due to the tasteful and tender direction of John Crowley.


3. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
If I only factored in sheer enjoyment and nostalgia, this film might have ended up as my top pick of the year. With a hype level greater than any film in history, the newly reformed and Kathleen Kennedy led Lucasfilm had to deliver a film that appealed to both the generation that grew up with George Lucas' original trilogy, as well as a new generation of kids that knew nothing of the adventures of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.  And boy, did they deliver! Bringing in self-avowed Star Wars fan J.J. Abrams to co-write and direct The Force Awakens was perhaps the best decision Disney could have possibly made. Abrams manages to find a balance between nostalgia and discovery, allowing our old fan favorites to mentor new characters that will carry the franchise into the next decade. The film feels real, magical, and creates a sense of wonder in me that no movie has been able to do in years. You care for Rey (Daisy Ridley's incredible acting debut), Finn (John Boyega from Attack the Block), and Poe (my favorite actor, Oscar Isaac), and find yourself physically affected by the joy and pain they feel in the heart-wrenching script from Lawrence Kasdan. While it is not a PERFECT film, The Force Awakens hits all of the main points that a Star Wars film needs to, and is a very welcome return to a galaxy far, far away.


2. Inside Out
Pixar has long set the standard for animated features, but with a series of subpar entries in their film canon, many wondered if perhaps they had lost their magic. With Inside Out, however, Pixar was able to return to the height of storytelling that we've come to love and cherish. Few animated films have moved me in such profound ways as the Toy Story trilogy, UP, Ratatouille, Wall-E, Finding Nemo, and now Inside Out. Director Pete Doctor navigates a very difficult world of emotions, introducing complex concepts in understandable and relatable ways. This is one of the rare films that will appeal to children and adults alike. You will find yourself deeply moved, and able to understand others just a little bit better.


1. Mad Max: Fury Road
If you are reading this and you have not yet seen Mad Max: Fury Road, stop what you are doing and go watch it right now. Fury Road set a new standard for what action movie can and should be. The cinematography is gorgeous, capturing the post-apocalyptic wasteland and warfare in creative and absolutely impressive ways. The shots in this film are perfectly executed, and must have been unbelievably difficult to capture. In addition to intense and thrilling chases and action sequences, Tom Hardy as Max and Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa are wonderful, proving that you don't have to have much dialogue to make a strong impression. Mad Max was a welcome return for the original franchise director George Miller, and I cannot wait to see what he has for us next.

Top 10 Films of 2014

Once again, here are my top ten films of the year. Please note that not all of these are appropriate for viewers of all ages. I found these films to be exceptional examples of artistry, or films that impacted me deeply on some level. It was refreshing to see so many original ideas in cinemas in 2014, and the year yielded one of my all time favorite films, this list's number 1 movie!

Honorable Mention:

While they didn't make my top ten, these films were solid enough entries that they are worth mentioning! 

- Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

- Fury

- Begin Again

- Edge of Tomorrow

10. Gone Girl - directed by David Fincher

- Fincher's adaptation of the novel by Gillian Flynn is cold, calculated, and cerebral. With a chilling performance by Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck in one of his most solid roles to date, Gone Girl gets under the skin and stays there, infecting your mind like a parasite. Tonally similar to Se7en as opposed to more comfortable fare such as The Social Network, Fincher stays surprisingly true to the source material, even to a shocking end. (This is also due to the fact that Flynn also wrote the screenplay). I would be surprised if this DIDN'T receive some Oscar nominations. 

9. The Lego Movie - directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller

- The Lego Movie was a complete surprise this year. Both witty and charming, Lord and Miller were able to craft a film that appealed to young and old alike. The voice cast was impressive and worked perfectly with their characters. (Will Arnett's Batman - case and point). I was surprised at how self aware this movie was, and it embraced the building aspect of the Lego product creatively. Each time you view The Lego Movie you catch something else hidden in the script or background, so it easily supports the repeated viewings that most kids will require.

8. Snowpiercer - directed by Joon-ho Bong

- The first English-speaking film from Korean director Joon-ho Bong was a surprise masterpiece of the year. While technically made for 2013 release, Snowpiercer was delayed because of a constant tug of war between the director and the producers. This dystopian futuristic story plays out in segments aboard a single futuristic train, and would take up far too much time to summarize here. What you do need to know is that Snowpiercer is shocking at times, and delves into such topics as social justice, power, regret, love, and control. Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton are both spectacular.

7. Unbroken - directed by Angelina Jolie

- Angelina Jolie has been full of surprises this year, first starring in the global hit Maleficent and now delivering an incredibly moving and emotional biopic on famed Olympic athlete Louie Zamperini. Jack O'Connell anchors the film with a moving performance, depicting the early life and war years of the real Zamperini. While many people criticize the film for leaving too much out, it truly would be impossible to cover the post war story as well in one film. Jolie wisely chose the portion of Zamperini's story to tell, allowing silence and imagery to aid her story telling just as much as the script. The torture and hardship are never divorced from the spiritual war going on within, and Jolie bravely acknowledges the spiritual aspect of Zamperini's life in one of this year's finest films. 

6. Guardians of the Galaxy - directed by James Gunn

- James Gunn's first foray into the Marvel cinematic universe is undoubtedly the surprise hit of the year. While many sci-fi films take themselves way too seriously, Gunn handles his source material with tongue in cheek humor and pop culture references. Chris Pratt is phenomenal in his second hit of 2014, and Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper steal the show as Groot and Rocket, possibly the most popular on-screen duo since R2-D2 and C-3PO. On top of the unique characters and story and the witty script, the soundtrack stands out due to the clever use of 70's and 80's pop hits. 

5. Nightcrawler - directed by Dan Gilroy

- Not since Norman Bates in Psycho has an on screen character appeared so believably insane. Jake Gyllenhaal carries Gilroy's somewhat old-fashioned thriller with a chilling performance. Rene Russo and Bill Paxton costar in this film on obsession and power, yet Gyllenhaal steals every scene as Louis Bloom, an eccentric entrepreneur who decides to enter the world of tv news. The plot slowly builds to an explosive finale, revealing  the drastic lengths a person will go to in order to achieve personal significance. Gyllenhaal is sure to receive a best actor nod for his acting. 

4. The Grand Budapest Hotel - directed by Wes Anderson

- Wes Anderson is one of my all time favorite directors, thanks to his quirky style and old world charm. One could swear that he was born in the wrong era, as his films evoke a 60's aesthetic in color, style, and setting. The Grand Budapest Hotel is a mystery, yet at times plays as a comedy, anchored by phenomenal performances from Ralph Fiennes, newcomer Tony Revolori, and the massive A-list cast that Anderson assembled. F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Ed Norton, Saoirse Ronan, and Jason Schwartzman round out the cast of this retro heist. Anderson's films are always beautiful, and The Grand Budapest Hotel resembles a fancy pop-up book, as he utilizes 3 different aspect ratios to tell the multi layered story.

3. Interstellar - directed by Christopher Nolan

- There are few films made these days that can be classified as "epics", yet Nolan's latest masterpiece could easily be grouped into this category. At one time, Hollywood produced films that were massive in scope, yet featured such strong leading characters that the viewer would be impacted on a personal level. (Think Lawrence of Arabia, Ben Hur, Star Wars). Matthew McConnaughey brings this personal grounding to the vast, mind-numbing scientific world of wormholes and time travel. Nolan went above and beyond with everything in Interstellar, bringing in physicist Kip Thorne to help develop the black holes, wormholes, and scientific theory of the film. Hans Zimmer delivered a beautiful and sacred score that combines his signature blasting score with icy piano quartets and a hair raising pipe organ. When combined with the deeply emotional performances and heavy stakes to the events within, Interstellar had me hooked for every minute of its twisting 2 hrs and 45 min.

2. Birdman - directed by Alejandro G. Iñarritu

- Birdman is a work of art. While abrasive and clashing at times, Inarritu's film is shot to in such a way that the entire film is basically one long camera shot. Michael Keaton plays a struggling actor trying to transition from film to stage in order to "find himself" while at the same time dealing with family drama, coworker drama, and his identity as "Birdman." Emma Stone, Ed Norton, Naomi Watts, and Zach Galiafanakis all deliver stellar supporting roles to Keaton's sure-to-be-nominated turn as Riggan. Even though Keaton swears this role is the furthest from his actual character, Birdman seems to echo his own life to a degree. Examining the smoke and mirrors of real life vs. acting, finding significance in life, and the struggle every artist feels, Birdman is surprisingly moving. The script is smart, the cinematography is ground breaking, and the acting is some of the best I have ever seen.

1. Boyhood - directed by Richard Linklater

- Finally, my number one film of 2014! While all of the aforementioned films are excellent in their own right, few films have impacted me as personally as Richard Linklater's Boyhood. Shot over the course of 12 years using the same actors, Linklater has captured what it feels like to grow up, what it feels like to love, to hurt, to grow, to move, to change, to become someone else. Writer and Director of such masterpieces as the Before Sunrise trilogy and Dazed and Confused, Linklater is no stranger to making films that pierce your soul deeply. As an existential director, he is constantly aware of the little moments in life that impact us and the way in which our relationships alter us as people. Frequent Linklater collaborator Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette give stellar performances as the struggling, divorced parents of Mason, played by the incredible Ellar Coltrane. The film never alerts the viewer to the changing of years, and is at times almost unnoticeable. This sucks the viewer in, as you gradually grow and change with Mason. Linklater never covers cliche moments in a boy's life, choosing to focus on the smaller and more intimate moments that truly shape an individual. As Mason ages, we see the struggle for his own identity slowly grow and then mature, as he transitions from a boy into a young man. At times Boyhood is unpleasant and heartbreaking to watch, but Linklater constantly reminds us that this is necessary to growth, and to healing. 

The Incarnation - A Christmas Meditation

“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” 

- Matthew 1:23

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

- John 1:14

Of all the sacred aspects of Christmas, the incarnation of Christ remains the most fascinating and vital to me. That God Himself became flesh is a concept so ridiculous, so inconceivable, so scandalous, that it sets Christianity apart from all other religions. Rather than being a wise sage or a model example of morality, Jesus claimed to be God Himself in the flesh. 

The word "incarnation" itself means "in the flesh." Rather than having a God who kept His creation at a distance, He entered into the mess of humanity in order to redeem it. Some say this says a lot about how much God was willing to spend to restore us to Himself, but in reality it says more about his character than anything.

When Christ became human, he gave up his throne, his privilege being God, he gave up his comfort. This incarnation is the crux of our faith. How could Jesus take the punishment of sin for a people he didn't relate to? To be able to be our substitute on the cross, God would have to be man. He would have to be WITH us, in our midst, a mighty one to save. By becoming man, God demonstrated His monstrous love. Not only would He save us, but he would become us, relate to us, experience what we do so that we might have a real relationship with God through the person of Jesus.

"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." 

- Hebrews 4:15

This is the significance of Christ's identity as "Immanuel." As Matthew explains Isaiah 7:14, this name means "God with us" and He will save His people from their sins. The entire purpose of Jesus's earthly life is contained in this name - His deity, his relationship to us, and his purpose. Never before had mankind experienced this kind of radical intervention, this kind of scandal. Why should God almighty give up so much for created beings? Through such an act of love, we might be reunited in relationship with God, and the character and glory of Christ would be put on full display for the World to see.

"although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

- Philippians 2:6-11

Charles Spurgeon, one of history's most acclaimed preachers, taught on the incarnation of Christ on Christmas Eve of 1854:

"Oh, wondrous stoop of condescension, that our blessed Jesus should be girded with humility and stoop so low! Ah, if He stooped, why should He bend to such a lowly birth? And if He bowed, why should He submit, not simply to become the Son of poor parents, but to be born in so miserable a place?

Let us take courage here. If Jesus Christ was born in a manger in a rock, why should He not come and live in our rocky hearts? If He was born in a stable, why should not the stable of our souls be made into a house for Him? If He was born in poverty, may not the poor in spirit expect that He will be their Friend? If He thus endured degradation at the first, will He count it any dishonor to come to the very poorest and humblest of His creatures and tabernacle in the souls of His children? Oh, no!"

The incarnation of Immanuel- God With Us- offers us hope. By his humility in coming to earth, Christ showed us that he was here to save even the lowly and the weak. As Spurgeon noted, "why should not the stable of our souls be made into a house for Him?" The beauty of God With Us is that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He died for us even in his birth in Bethlehem. Christ was crucified even when the shepherds made their way to the stable. 

There was never any plan B. Jesus' purpose in being born was always to die for the sins of the world and pay our sin debt. 

While we open our presents and spend time with friends, family, and loved ones this holiday season, let us remember the significance of the incarnation. Jesus gave us his life, both living and dying, so that we could have a relationship with God again. The sweetness of relationships with those we love are just a tiny glimpse of the pure relationship we will have with Jesus when we are with Him in heaven. Likewise, the loneliness felt by many at this time of year is a  reminder that this world is not our home.

Thank God that he didn't condemn us to the loneliness of this world, but entered into it Himself so that we would have hope beyond it! This is the joy of Christmas, the significance of the incarnation.

Christ by highest heav'n adored

Christ the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold Him come

Offspring of a Virgin's womb

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see

Hail the incarnate Deity

Pleased as man with man to dwell

Jesus, our Emmanuel

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

- Hark the Herald Angels Sing, vs. 2

By Steven Bowman,

December 24, 2014