I love mowing my yard. When I'm pushing my mower it's like the whole world disappears. There's something about that 6.5hp Briggs and Stratton motor with a 22 inch mulching blade that gets my thinking juices flowing (Tim the Tool man grunt). I believe my last post was about rain or should I say the lack of rain. Well, we finally started getting rain (thank you Jesus) that makes everything grow once again. It's like spring in August. All the grass looks dark and new; I even had some flowers send up shoots and blooms. The other day I was doing the zombie mower walk and a song popped in my head, "The Eye of the Tiger", and it wouldn't go away! Don't you hate that? And the worst part is you only remember the chorus and bits and pieces of 1 verse. But then I started thinking about the movie this song was written for, Rocky III. Good movie. We get introduced to Mr T, aka Clubber Lang...'I pity the fool!' Anyways, what's this have to do with God? Well, first of all I have to say that Sylvester Stallone is a genius. Anyone that can become a millionaire by grunting a dialog, running through the woods while killing the remaining movie cast is just pure genius. OK, enough about that.
I was going to title this 'The Gospel According to Rocky' but then the title above hit me...kinda catchy. Each movie is the same, Rocky gets challenged, Rocky trains, Rocky gets the snot beat out of him followed by a close range weyley of punches that always ends up to Rocky's advantage. I will point out that Rocky didn't win in the original movie but it did prepare him for the sequel. Now once again you're asking, what's this have to do with God? Sly Stallone is great at portraying an underdog. The guy had only lost one fight in all 23 movies (exaggeration), but he's still seen as the underdog in all of them. Through the adversity he faces in all the movies, through all the horrible dialog and porely choreographed fight scenes Rocky always comes out on top. Why? He gets back to the basics. There are so many scripture verses that can go along with this. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." James 4:8 "Come near to God and he will come near to you." Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." The character of Rocky got focused and didn't allow the influences of the world to take over him any longer. He set his mind on the goal to achieve and didn't let anything get in the way.
Do you think Sly Stallone had God in mind when he did the Rocky movies? He did throw in some Catholic involvement with the Father Carmine blessings but I think that was more for show. In all the movies, Rocky did his best after he calmed down and got back to basics.
I want to wrap this up by saying. No matter what adversity, decision or problems you're having in life your best solution is God. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Now, will coming to Christ help you beat up giant Russians? Probably not but it will help you to see a better life. A life more fulfilling, a life with more meaning, a life that you'll be able to face the challenges that will arise. That's because Matthew 11: 28-30 is a promise, a promise from God to you that He will take you no matter what. So how about it? Are you ready to get back to the basics?
Peace...
totalheel
I was going to title this 'The Gospel According to Rocky' but then the title above hit me...kinda catchy. Each movie is the same, Rocky gets challenged, Rocky trains, Rocky gets the snot beat out of him followed by a close range weyley of punches that always ends up to Rocky's advantage. I will point out that Rocky didn't win in the original movie but it did prepare him for the sequel. Now once again you're asking, what's this have to do with God? Sly Stallone is great at portraying an underdog. The guy had only lost one fight in all 23 movies (exaggeration), but he's still seen as the underdog in all of them. Through the adversity he faces in all the movies, through all the horrible dialog and porely choreographed fight scenes Rocky always comes out on top. Why? He gets back to the basics. There are so many scripture verses that can go along with this. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." James 4:8 "Come near to God and he will come near to you." Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." The character of Rocky got focused and didn't allow the influences of the world to take over him any longer. He set his mind on the goal to achieve and didn't let anything get in the way.
Do you think Sly Stallone had God in mind when he did the Rocky movies? He did throw in some Catholic involvement with the Father Carmine blessings but I think that was more for show. In all the movies, Rocky did his best after he calmed down and got back to basics.
I want to wrap this up by saying. No matter what adversity, decision or problems you're having in life your best solution is God. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Now, will coming to Christ help you beat up giant Russians? Probably not but it will help you to see a better life. A life more fulfilling, a life with more meaning, a life that you'll be able to face the challenges that will arise. That's because Matthew 11: 28-30 is a promise, a promise from God to you that He will take you no matter what. So how about it? Are you ready to get back to the basics?
Peace...
totalheel
