Movie Review: October Baby

 {The trailer}

Hannah's world has turned upside down. at 19 years old, she has just found out that not only is she adopted, but she was a survivor of a failed abortion. Going on a road trip to discover who she really is, she must learn to choose forgiveness, and learn to forgive herself.

I ♥

• The immensely pro-life story line. I cannot even believe how wonderful it is. Really. It presented abortion in a way that did not condemn those who have had one, yet it showed the injustice. That is a difficult balance to keep.
• The plot. Even if said from a secular viewpoint, this movie had a fantastic plot, with plenty of twists that you don't see coming.
• The tear-jerking scenes. It may seem funny, but some movies you just need to have a good cry. This movie was one of them. 
• The true story that inspired this movie. There is actually a woman named Gianna Jessen who is actually an abortion survivor.
• The music. Even though most of the music was more in the background, I LOVED it. Actually, one of the songs {Ocean Floor}is one that Gianna Jessen is singing. 

I didn't ♥

•  One scene. There was a scene where, due to unforeseen circumstances, Hannah and  Jason are forced to share a hotel room. Nothing super inappropriate happens, and they end up not even staying in the room. But still, a bit inappropriate.

Overall:
This is a fantastic movie. I urge you to go see it. I believe it is in theaters for another week or two, and I would definitely take anyone 13+ to this movie. I would love to support this movie as much as possible. Truly.

The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall

   This book centers around four people: Lena, Deborah, Grey, and Cara. All of them are taking  life's problem's one at a time. Lena, the Amish schoolteacher, has to deal with a birthmark on her face, and her rejection from both Grey and the School-board. Deborah has to try and rid herself of grievances against her fiance, who abandoned her. Cara tries so hard to fit in to the foreign Amish culture, and always feels that she can't do enough right. Grey struggles with a marriage filled with hurt, loneliness, and miserableness, yet tries to act as if nothing is wrong. Climaxing when Lena's life is in danger, this book's plot is somewhat predictable, but still written well.
    I enjoyed the book quite thoroughly, except for an occasional hear-shattering part. This book enlightens readers to a new view of the strict Amish community, and also, it causes you to fall in love with the Amish. I have always enjoyed books about the Amish, and I think this one turned out well. The resolution was a happy one, which is EXTREMELY important to me. One thing the author did that impressed me, was that she made sure not to make beloved characters die, even though a few others do. There was rarely a dull moment, and the captivating plot keeps one awake long hours into the night. I overall enjoyed this book, and I certainly hope you will go and buy it, because it is a GREAT book!


P.S. Waterbrook Publishing sent a a free copy to me so I would give an Honest{ The good the bad and the ugly} review.

Don' trip anyone {In other words, don't make your brother stumble}

   Imagine this scenario: You are on a diet, which you started less than a week ago; you really felt this diet would be a great thing for you. So far, you have done well, and you have not eaten anything except salad. Then your friend calls, “Want to go out to lunch?” You agree, and you suggest saladtopia. Your pal says that nothing is wrong with saladtopia, but he thinks it would be fun to go to McDonalds; since it had many choices including salad. You hesitantly agree, and the date is set. When you get to McDonalds, you quickly order a salad. As you sit down, your friend walks over to the table with a Big Mac, a large fry, a large sweet tea, and an apple pie. You sit twirling your salad pretending the slimy green leaves were French fries…it is not working. Your friend asks, “Wanna fry? I have plenty!” Just one, you think to yourself. Before you know it you’ve consumed the entire box. By this point you have completely given up on the diet altogether, though your friend “technically” did nothing wrong…

This is the scenario in which Paul urges Christians to avoid. There are two groups who participate:the weaker and stronger brother. From what I have studied, the weaker is the one who is “weak in faith.”[1] Paul clearly states that it is ok to eat all food. However, some people simply felt convicted to eat only vegetables, for the fear that if they ate the market’s meat God would smite them. Someone weak in faith is someone without strong enough faith to believe that God loves him or her even if He eats pork, and they think God will smite them if they wear pants. [2]

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 Numerous issues; can completely divide two groups of Christians, no matter how petty the issues are. One of the issues that Paul deals with is the eating of meat sacrificed to idols. Some people were not sure if the meat in the market was sacrificed to idols, so rather than abide under the grace God had given them, they chose not to eat meat at all.

     All of the issues have one thing in common; they are not a sin[3]. If they were a sin, then the entire matter would be different. If someone was say, lying all day, then that would be a sin, and it is not something that is neutral.  If there is a verse in the bible that specifically says to do/don’t do then it is not neutral. Lying, stealing, and adultery are all subjects in the Bible that are not neutral.  What then would a neutral issue be?

  A neutral issue is one that is neither right nor wrong, such as buying a puppy calendar, or taking a picture of the sky; doing these things is not a sin, and you aren’t doing these things without love { see footnote 1} However, some people have different convictions then that of your own. Such as girls wearing skirts singularly.  This is not a problem; it depends on the specific person’s convictions.

     One of the issues the church of Corinth was dealing with was the eating of meat sacrificed to idols. Some members of the church were not sure if the meat from the market had been previously sacrificed to idols. This is a neutral issue.

    In Romans 14-15, Paul is talking to the Romans about not letting such issues come between them; such as meat sacrificed in idol worship. Paul said it would be better for him never to eat meat again then to cause a brother to stumble. How would he cause someone to stumble by eating meat? Pretend I was delivered from idol worship, if I see you, a redeemed Jew {who never struggled with idol worship} eating food sacrificed to idols, then it might cause me to stumble. It was a problem for me because it brought up the past, causing doubts and temptation.  Paul tells us to strive not to cause our brothers {and sisters} to stumble. If say, a young girl wore a dress she believed was modest, but it was causing one of her brothers to stumble, then it would be far better for her to wear something different then for her to cause her brother to lust.

     ~

     There are always going to be differences in the body of Christ. There is nothing wrong with differences unless we let them become division. In Romans 14, Paul talks about how we are to act in love[4] Paul says that if what we eat causes our brother to stumble; we are no longer walking in love, which would be breaking Jesus’s commandment. Paul also says that we should not judge each other. The Man who eats meat must not judge the man who does, and the man who does must not judge the man who does not. Paul does not want them to remove their differences; he wants them to rise above the differences.

     Over all, it is our duty as Christians to do our best not to offend other believers by our actions. If we cause strife, then we cause division, and that causes a fracture in the Body of Christ. Considering that Jesus prayed for unity in the church[5] and unity is mentioned numerous times in the New Testament, I think that is important that we maintain it. In history, every war was cause by fractured kingdoms, which were not in unity with each other. Fractured unity means a fractured army. We will not be able to stand up to fight the battle against the enemy unless we are constantly keeping peace with our brothers and sisters, and standing in unity. Therefore, we need to make it our first priority not to cause our brothers to stumble, and strive to continue living harmoniously with our fellow companions.

Ephesians 4:3

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace…

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[1] Romans 14:1-2

[2] Please note that I think both of these things are great if God convicted one personally of doing these things. I am simply talking about one who does them ONLY because they think God will not love them if they do. The same with eating only vegetables. If one is doing it for health reasons then it is different from doing it ONLY because you think God will not love you if you eat meat.

[3] The law Jesus gave reveals sin,
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind and with all your strength, the second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these” These two commandments alone cover every one of the Ten Commandments and more. If you love your neighbor you are going to steal from them, you are going to be jealous of them; you are not going to murder them, etc. Likewise, if you love God, you are not going to take His name in vain, you are not going to worship another God, etc.

In Galatians 5: 12

[4] See footnote 1

[5] John 17

Star Trek Movie Review, with Clearplay.

                                                                                

                                   

Star Trek Movie Review by Libbi Hartwig

 *SPOILER ALERT*       

     Star Trek was originally a TV series, but in 2009, Paramount Pictures decided to make it into a movie. Critics gave it 8.1 out of 10 stars, even though it rated PG-13.  Entering theaters on May 8, 2009, this movie earned grossly $257,704,099, since it gained nearly half the opening weekend. Why did it earn the money? Why was it given 8.1 stars? Read on!

      Traveling at warp speed throughout the measureless macrocosm, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto star in this sci-fi flick. They star as James Kirk, the ships sarcastic captain, and Spock, a part-human part-Vulcan genius. The saga takes place on Earth, the planet of Vulcan, and the USS Enterprise. Starry clusters and flocculent, colorful nebulas whizz by rapidly, dazzling the eye. Throughout the ship, the technology is astounding; control boards line the inside of the main room, and the crisp white paint everywhere brightens the seemingly dark atmosphere.

     The story begins on an anomalous night, where a vivid lightning storm appears in space. Nero, the leader of the Romulans, summons the ship’s Captain, who is mercilessly murdered.  George Kirk {Chris Hemsworth}, the captain’s replacement, forces all of the ships inhabitants into shuttles, to escape the Romulans fire. He sacrifices his safety to keep the battling Romulans from destroying the hastily escaping shuttles. At that exact moment, Lieut. George Kirk’s wife has a child, James {Jim} Kirk {Chris Pine}. Throughout his childhood and into his adulthood, Jim mischievously makes trouble, despite his keen mind.  Captain Christopher Pike {Bruce Greenwood} encourages young Jim to join the star fleet, which Jim graduates in nearly 3 years. Called to Vulcan for a natural disaster, Jim tags along with the star fleet, and discovers yet another mysterious lightning storm.  Found out to be another of the notorious Nero’s schemes, Jim and the team violently fight against him; to ensure the Vulcan’s, and furthermore Earth’s continued peace. Along the way, he meets the future Spock, and realizes that because of a series of fateful events, he lives in an alternate reality, which he must fight ferociously to normalize.

     Terrifying Romulans attacked.  Black hole opened. Red matter used. The movie climaxes when the Romulans set off to destroy earth. Spock and Captain Kirk rush to combat the Romulans, battling to save Captain Pine from the brain-sucking leeches, and to destroy the vicious, demonic Romulans. Dangerously, Spock raced to his (future) ship, and zooms out of the Romulan’s reach. All of the people aboard use every effort to destroy the Romulans. Fortunately, a black hole sucks the Romulans in. Unfortunately, it also begins to swallow the USS ENTERPRISE. In a final effort to survive, the star fleet shoots Red matter into the black hole, exploding them out of harm’s way. The movie concludes with the ship blasting off to explore unknown worlds and fight villainous tyrants. Oh yeah, Captain Pike now spends his days in a wheelchair, what a “great” ending.

    One can love this movie. One can hate this movie.  One can be completely unsure whether this was the best or the worst movie they ever saw. With stunning graphics, an incredible setting, and a fantastic set of actors, how could you go wrong? Unfortunately, this movie also had a brain-twisting plot, an awful resolution, and too many deaths to count. Was it worth watching Spock’s mother die?  Was it worth seeing the spinal-sucking leeches eat Captain Pine’s brain? One cannot be sure. It comes down to the balance between good and evil. Did good win? Sort of, except that most of the good people were killed off. Overall, a view of this movie depends on how willing one is to settle for less; to receive the poor conclusion when a better one is within reach.  Fortunately, the producers began filming a sequel this year, so perhaps it will bring a more delightful ending then the one just described. Until then, “Live long, and prosper.”

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[1] Just a note, I am rarely allowed to watch movies without Clearplay, so I will be commenting mostly on the plot etc. I will not be reviewing the morals, simply because with my Clearplay DVD player it takes out all the yucky stuff, so just because I did not see anything bad, does not mean that there was not anything bad.