Son Of God

I give it a Thumbs Up.

Having watched "The Bible" miniseries last year leading up to Easter and very much enjoying it I'm sure it will come as no surprise that I have been super excited to see the film "Son Of God". In fact I had been waiting with baited breath to see it and went opening day, Friday night.

Then it happened, I made the mistake of looking at my phone and just as it did last year, the hate started to consume my newsfeed on Facebook. Before I knew it the internet was full of it. Full of what you might be wondering? Super Christians bashing a film, in many cases some had not even taken the time to see yet before proceeding to write a scathing review about how "biblically Incorrect" it is.

I had already experienced many of these same "Super Christians" bashing "The Bible" miniseries before and it irked me so much that I blogged about it last year (read that blog here) Seeing these people bash the film in particular when it is "Christians" doing the bashing is beyond silly if you ask me. In my opinion they are just as bad as the Pharisees who killed Jesus. It is totally counter productive and further in my opinion actually disrespectful to Jesus to bash and or nit pick these things to death. It is one thing if someone is preaching a false doctrine, however some Christians seem to get some sort of satisfaction from super judging. Anyhow this is what I thought about the film.

The thing is as bad as it is today in our country and around the world politically... Jesus is bigger than politics. We are all called to go and spread the good news to all of creation and to be the light. Unfortunately most of us myself included get far too distracted with things that ultimately do not matter in the end. Yes there was a lot of hoopla made in the media about the editing out of the "Devil" character. It didn't bother me that they took the devil out of it, after all it's about the Gospel of Jesus, not the gospel of the devil. The film starts with Jesus coming into Galilee so it's focused on Jesus and his message and his time with the disciples up until his death so it makes sense that they took it out anyway.

Now regarding the "theologically correct" part that people seem to be losing their minds about... the point of the film and mini series as I understand it from seeing them in interviews talking about it, was to bring the message of salvation and Jesus Christ to people in a way that will reach them in "todays world". To reach people and change hearts with the love of Jesus. For people (Christians in particular) to nit pick every single little thing in my opinion is just as bad as the Pharisees who killed Jesus because he did not come "the way they thought a king should". Why... because they were too wrapped up in their own "religiosity" to see him "The Son of Man" standing right there in front of their faces.

No one was around when the scriptures were written and they have been translated how many times? The important thing is the message being correct and in that vein it was correct. What annoyed the fire out of me was seeing people last year saying they were boycotting the bible miniseries at Easter because thus and such and then at the same time not having any problem with Beyonce and the Superbowl debacle and then being obsessed with shows like American Idol, along with engaging in things that totally contradict their supposed ideology.... which is a total hypocrisy.

Jesus instructed us to go and spread the "good news", further to GO and preach the message of salvation (the gospel) to every corner and to every creature and to love one another and to be the light. Far too often Christians spend too much time pointing out the speck in others eyes while walking around with a giamungo plank in their own eyes.

When a hollywood power couple spends their time and resources to produce a film about Christianity in a modern way to try to cut through to pop culture which is a total mess btw and then Christians sit around bashing their efforts because thus and such pastor i.e. "Joel Osteen" was a consultant on the film is ridiculously unproductive if you ask me. I do not think Jesus would be happy about that kind of behavior. Just my opinion of course one can take it or leave it.

Some have said the film is blasphemous and changes the scripture and all kinds of other outrageous things. Some have even made these claims with out even seeing the film mind you. Newsflash to these Debbie Downers: the bible in English is inaccurate.... since they actually spoke Aramaic. So that would make the King James, NIV, Message, NAS, Amplified, and all other bible versions  outside of Aramaic, Greek or Hebrew inaccurate. They have been translated how many times? And by whom? Yes that's right, by "man" whom is imperfect. The Greek and Hebrew are the only languages that are the traditional language of the bible from the time of Jesus and the disciples since no one is really running around speaking Aramaic anymore. Need I remind these same naysayers the pharasies said many things along those same lines about Jesus because they were worshipping their "words and traditions" and not seeing with their eyes of faith or their spirits. Not only missing out on but killing Jesus because it was not word for word what they had in their minds. A sad yet familiar pattern with Religion. People can forget Jesus came for us to have a "relationship" with him not a Religion.

So say what you will but the fact that Jesus and the message of salvation through him with a modern perspective is on the big screen is far more important than "Super Christians" sitting around pointing fingers from lofty places. That does not win souls for the kingdom - Shame on anyone who would try to stop that message from reaching people.

I loved the film. I left there feeling my heart very filled with love for Jesus and what he did for all of humanity. So in my opinion I think they did their job well, thumbs up... in my humble greek girl opinion that is.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Tolerance

Nothing like a little side of "Tolerance" with those waffle fries....

What was that?  That loud clanking sound?... oh that was nothing, it was just my filter it fell off and hit the floor.  Seriously, does the above photo look like "Tolerance" to you?

No one really wants to talk about it, but enough is enough.  The gloves are off and the Greek Girl has had it.  Has anyone else noticed that there is an all out assault on Christianity in the United States?  It's OK for everyone else to be whatever he or she desires to be: Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Atheist, Wiccan, gay, bi-sexual, LGBT, or anything else I forgot to mention - and we must not ever offend or make any of those people uncomfortable ever.  Because that would be just plain wrong, wound't it?  But those Christians, now they really have a lot of nerve don't they to expect the "exact same" freedom and respect to express their beliefs and to worship and among other things run their lives and businesses as they chose.

We have a word for this in the Greek language people it is called, Hypocrisy.

We have this amazing thing in the United States, it is called "The Constitution".  You know, it's a document that is over two hundred years old.  It was laid out for us as a guide by our Founding Father's.  Let's examine the First Amendment shall we?

AMENDMENT I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In case anyone needs a refresher course about the Pilgrims and why they risked life and limb to travel to the "New World", it was not to escape Religion.  It was Freedom OF Religion, not Freedom "From" Religion.  Many people have this misunderstanding that it was Freedom "From" Religion.  It was in fact, for the Freedom to practice their Religion the way they chose to.  The Freedom to be Protestant, Methodist, etc.  The Freedom to practice something other than the "State Run" Religion that was the law of the land in England.  The idea was to not have a "Government Run Religion".  That was the whole point of separation of Church and State...  Not to have a country without God, as many would like to have it nowadays.

Yet here we are hundreds of years later after good men and women fought and died for our Liberty and Freedom and now we have a Government telling us we can not offend anyone by being Christian.  They took God out of the Pledge of Allegiance, and want to strip God from every public building.  That everyone needs to be free to be whatever they want, as long as that is not "Christian".  Because we Christians are offending people.  I find it ironic that we have Muslims coming here using our own laws against us, they are free to worship, establish mosques, get onto our social programs, and yet we "Christians" can not even live according to our faith because it might offend them or someone else.

Last time I checked, if any person enters a Muslim country with so much as a cross or a bible in their possession they will be tossed into jail, beaten, stoned, and or much worse things I don't care to list here but you get where I'm going.  But gee willikers if we Christians "offend" any Muslims here in our own country.  That would be so wrong...

I'm pretty sure the Founding Father's goal of Freedom of Religion was not meant to give people the right to practice a religion that tortures women, children, and animals among other things.  Peaceful Religion my behind.  A religion that offers a reward of being able to have 72 Virgins in heaven (which by the way having relations with a virgin can be a harsh act in and of its self, yet it's not just one, but 72 virgins no less), a religion that stones people, cuts off limbs for stealing, allows and encourages arranged marriages of children as young as 1 year old and those marriages to be consummated by the age of 9, and gasp... even condemns homosexuality to the point of even killing them.

So where is the outrage from the LGBT community towards Muslims?  Why aren't they up in arms demanding that Muslim owned businesses be boycotted?  Why aren't they accusing them of hate, and hate speech?  Just because there are no interview's dominating the news with a quote from a Muslim owned business owner does not change their position on homosexuality.

Tolerance - it's a simple enough idea.  I mean really who could argue with the whole "say la vie" mentality?  Live and let live in peace, and respect the beliefs of others.  Yet somewhere along the way in our society the whole idea has become really kajumpled.

Who could miss all the controversy that's been swirling around the word lately?  Unless of course you're one of the millions of people who keep track of just the "important stuff", you know like everything about The Kardashian's, and yet have no idea who their local Senator is...  (inside voice: the thought that these people are voting is frightening, really... but thats a rant for another day).  There's been lots of talk about Freedom of Speech, and tolerance.  Well in order to get some perspective about this whole fiasco lets take it back to the classroom shall we?  Tolerance according to the Merriam Webster dictionary means:

Tol·er·ance [tol-er-uhns] noun

1. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.

2. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.

3. interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc.,foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.

So I just have one question, where's the tolerance?  A man stated his personal beliefs in an interview.  He stated his own personal views about the whole Gay Marriage issue.  No where in his statement did he say that he hated gays, that he didn't want gay people to eat there, or anything else that could be considered hateful.  What he stated was his personal belief and according to his faith that "Marriage" is between one man and one woman.  He went onto further express that when we as a society start to think we know better than God it is a slippery slope.  Marriage by the way is a "biblical" term.  Why gay people demand that a religion that clearly states what they are doing and how they are living is against it's practices, why they demand that religions "term" be used to describe their lifestyle makes no sense in my noggin.

How is it tolerant to start a great big fat muckery sandwich in the media over a company that is free to run it's business however it choses, and to express their faith?  Because according to The Constitution Chick-fil-a is free to do just that.

If we all have to be tolerant of everyone else's beliefs, then you know what, everyone else better get used to Christian's being able to express their own beliefs as well.  Because it goes both ways people, it goes both ways.  All right, Greek Girl is coming down off of my soapbox, and going to attempt to re-insert my filter....  Signing off until next time.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :) xox
www.avaaston.com

People Who Live in Glass Houses

It's OK to be Different ;D

We've all heard the saying more times probably than we care to remember.  If you stop to think about it, are most of the people who are throwing the saying around - really doing so?  Not throwing stones, that is.

I mean everyone wants or likes to "think" that they are open minded, and not really judging people.  But if you stop to really ask yourself, are you really accepting of others for who and what they are and or believe or does it only apply to people who share the same ideology, religion or political persuasion as you do?  Oh boy Mr. Bricks is probably going to choke on his MCrib sandwich today when he reads my blog because I just broke the cardinal rule of a Rock Star.  I just used the words politics and religion in the same sentence...  Yikes ~ I may just end up in Bricks Jail after this blog.

Seriously though.... with so much media inundating us from every direction, there's facebook, twitter, and about a zillion news channels to watch as well as internet websites.  I can see where it could be easy to let your mind be swayed to a "popular" opinion on anything, without even realizing it is happening to you.  Take for example any murder trial such as the Casey Anthony Trial that has received a lot of media coverage.  No one knows what happened in any situation unless you were actually there.  Unless you are serving as a judge, juror or personally involved in a situation it's silly to make assumptions about a persons innocence or guilt.  Yet I would guess it'd be a safe bet to say we have all at one time or another been guilty of it.

There are some people who are so wrapped up into politics that they actually will not watch particular TV Networks just because that network may have a different view or ideology about things.  I just can not roll that way no matter how passionate about any particular subject I may be.  Because at the end of the day, life is just way too short to be so tightly wound up that you have to boycott networks, people or shows.  It would probably get pretty boring and or lonely.

Being in entertainment I have a lot of friends and associates with totally different views and thoughts about certain things ~ and you know what, that is OK with me. Not everyone has to agree on everything, and people can still be good people and have a lot of things in common even if they disagree about the two cardinal swear words... Religion & Politics.  I'm not saying to never speak your mind or get involved in the things and or causes that matter to you as an individual.  What I am saying, is everyone has the right to think what he or she thinks at the end of the day. ;D  "C'est la vie" the French phrase, "Such is life".

Have a beautiful blessed day ~

Ava :D xox