If you eat 'mor chikin, you might be "over-saved"

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When my mom was having surgery on her hip a couple of years ago, I was seated with my laptop in the waiting lounge at the hospital. This minister acquaintance strolled in, caught my attention and proceeded to plant himself down in the seat next to me. I knew I was doomed and might as well forget about using my computer or reading the newspaper online. He and I are at opposite ends of the theological spectrum. He probably thinks I'm barely saved and I feel the same about him, so I chose to just sit and listen rather than offer my advice or wisdom which would have gone in one ear and out the other anyway.

He was lamenting the fact that some folks only go to church once or twice a month. And then, all of a sudden, he turns and looks at me almost like I was one of "them" and he says, "I can't understand how some folks think they're going to heaven when they don't go to church on Sunday nights and they miss the mid-week service." Like the hypocrite that I was, I agreed with him because I did not want to get into a big theological argument there in the surgical lounge, surrounded by so many church people who, if they had to choose sides would probably have ganged up on me and beat me senseless with their Bibles. His last words on this subject were, "Where's their commitment? Where's their love for God and His Word?"

I thought of that encounter yesterday as I was running some errands and listening to K-Love on my car radio, The song, "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe came on and I immediately punched in another station because I really can't stand that syrupy song that every Christian is supposed to love. It got me to thinking that maybe I'm not saved. Because if I were saved, I would want to go to church on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights. If I were saved, I would love "I Can Only Imagine" and wouldn't be switching to some pop song by Imagine Dragons. 

There are church folks who will question your salvation if they see you smoking. When I was a young youth pastor in Burlington, Vermont, I remember the senior pastor was on a tirade because members were smoking in the parking lot and stomping out their cigarettes just before walking into the church building. He had heard from some members that it was not a good "witness" to those who happened to drive by and see this horrible sight. So one Sunday, he's in the pulpit and says, "I better not catch anyone in this church smoking. You're ruining God's temple and it's a sin." From that point on, all the condemned smokers would wait until they were in their cars to light up. I resigned from that church a short time later and this was just one of the many reasons why I felt like I didn't belong there any longer.

Eat mor chikin

As Christians, we can be an awful self-righteous bunch. We so easily fall prey to setting up our own Pharisaical standards. Here are a few that come to mind. You might not be a Christian if.....

• You don't go to church??(I used to think that and now I realize that there are a number of saints who don't attend church for various reasons, including some bad experiences. Renee and I went to 5 or 6 churches in this area over a period of several years before we found the fellowship that we currently call home. We also spent many a Sunday at home. I understand how condemned you can feel when you are exercising at the gym on Sunday morning rather than sitting in church.) 
• You don't listen to Christian radio?!! What's up with that? Sometimes I listen to Christian radio but after awhile, it starts to sound like Christian muzak with a homogenized sound, and it becomes 'boring.' I know that there will be some reading this who will truly wonder about my salvation, but that's just the way it is. There are times when I think K-Love needs MORE energy, and that's when I punch in either talk radio or Maroon 5. 
• You watch HBO?!! The typical Christian response is, "Are you kidding me? HBO. No way. I only watch the Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Inspirational Network and the Worship Channel. Yeah but then you're going to miss "Game of Thrones." Actually, I think I would be better off spiritually, watching Game of Thrones on HBO than most anything that TBN has to offer. I try to stay away from the Christian "entertainment" ghetto because IMHO, it can mess up your head and your spiritual life.
• You don't eat at Chick-fil-a?!! What's up with that? Don't you love Jesus? This may be a southern thing because there are no Chick-fil-a's in New England and I don't think they are out west yet, but I'm sure they're headed your way. Around here, it's almost a sin to not frequent Chick-fil-a because it's owned by Christians and they are closed on Sunday (the Lord's Day). I have nothing against Chick-fil-a, but I prefer hanging out with the heathens at Taco Bell or Dairy Queen. Besides, you can't get a Blizzard at Chick-fil-a.

I could list several more things that make others question your salvation, and maybe you could as well, but you get the idea. Now, hopefully, you realize that much of this post has mostly been written with tongue-in-cheek. I like K-Love radio and listen to it a lot. I also like Chick Fil-a but I've only been to their store one time because I'm not that into chicken sandwiches. Still, I think they are a great American fast food company with strong Christian values. I also believe that God has a purpose for the church and we need to be in community with other believers and not living as "lone ranger" Christians. But sometimes that's not an easy process and it's not always as simple as "If you truly loved Jesus, you'd go to church."

There is a point where you can be "over-saved." An "over-saved" person is just religious, and lives an insulated life apart from the world. He's in the world, but he's NOT in the world. To give you a funny take on what an "over-saved" person sounds like, watch this brief video from comedian Michael Jr (one of the funniest comedians around today!) It's less than 2 min. in length and will put a smile on your face!

                                  Christian comedian, Michael Jr "Over-saved"

Ten Great Mini-Series to See Before You Die

I will never apologize for my love of television. In fact, I'm sorry for those who have missed out on great moments in television like these mini-series. When they aired, it was a collective event for Americans. You talked about what you had seen the night before around the water cooler. Unlike today's segmented audiences, everyone was watching the same show, the same mini-series. 


The mini-series I've listed here, captivated us as a nation and kept us glued to a 23-inch screen in our living rooms. I realize many of you have NEVER seen, much less heard of some of these mini-series because they may have been made before you were ever born. So, don't ignore them because you think they're "dated." They are still some of the finest cinematic moments in either television or film that you will ever see.

These are my ten favorite mini-series of all time. (However, because of technical difficulties with Blogspot today [it erased half of my blog twice] I am too tired to try it a third time, so for now, I leave you with my top 5 and later on this week, I'll complete the list with the remaining five.)


Most of these videos can be rented at Netflix, downloaded at iTunes, or in many cases, borrowed from at your local library. Also, Band of Brothers is shown frequently on the History Channel and Spike. Lonesome Dove airs on AMC and CMT. 

1) Band of Brothers - 2001

It was easy choice giving this incredible awesome HBO miniseries first place. Even though it's a newer series, I think in the end it will have a lasting impact. But beyond that, the cinematic production is amazing. It's like watching "Saving Private Ryan" ten times over. This joint Steven Spielberg-Tom Hanks production tells the real-life story of Easy Company (E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division) from D-Day to the end of the war in Europe. Everything possible was done to make the Band of Brothers miniseries as authentic as possible.Nearly all of the main cast members were chosen because they looked like the Easy Company soldiers they would portray.  



Easy Company took part in some of the most difficult battles, including the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the failed invasion of Holland, and the Battle of the Bulge, as well as the liberation of a concentration camp and the capture of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. But what makes these episodes work is not their historical sweep but their emphasis on riveting details (such as the rattle of a plane as the paratroopers wait to leap, or a flower in the buttonhole of a German soldier) and procedures (from military tactics to the workings of bureaucratic hierarchies).


Band of Brothers is better than Saving Private Ryan, and better than most any other war movie. There's a reason why Band of Brothers earned so many awards and so much acclaim. It takes the amazing true story of heroes and honors them by showing the bonds that were formed in the darkest of times. Having never served in the military, the mini-series is a sober reminder of the price that has been paid by so many so that we can enjoy freedom and even take it for granted. When I hear the President speak about shared sacrifice, I realize how clueless he is. Most of us, myself included, are clueless as to what shared sacrifice means. Band of Brothers is about real shared sacrifice--the kind that made our country great. Don't pass up this mini-series. It may be the reason why television was invented for something as great as this!

2) I Claudius - 1976

I was never big on Shakespeare or plays. This series is like watching a play. There's not much in the way of action, it's mostly dialogue, but so intriguing. It lures you into the world of the Caesars and a period in history with many similarities to Hitler and our present day.


This 1976 BBC production was quite successful, and memorable, for its vast cast. It told the tale of the first Caesars, from Augustus down to Nero, as seen through the eyes of the fourth one, Claudius, who was considered (to put it kindly) retarded. Derek Jacobi stars in the title role. This is a real classic and it is currently being re-made by the BBC and HBO. 

3. Lonesome Dove - 1989 

I just finished reading the book, and this is one of the few times when I can say that the mini-series (film) is as good as the book, although the book gives much greater depth and insight into the thoughts and feelings of the main characters. Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones star as Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call, aging cowboys and former Texas rangers and who organize a 2,500 mile cattle drive for one last great adventure in this excellent 1989 miniseries adaptation of Larry McMurtry's novel. The best friends, who steal the herd from a gang of Mexican cattle rustlers, drive their herd from Texas to Montana, battling horse thieves, angry Indian tribes, and a renegade half-breed killer named Blue Duck (Frederic Forrest) on a mission of revenge.

The heart of the drama belongs to McCrae and Call, memorably etched by Duvall and Jones as the last of the range romantics. In the age of revisionist Westerns, this excellent cattle-drive drama nicely maintains an old-fashioned feeling while still showing the dark side of the American West. Winner of seven Emmy Awards. 

4. Jesus of Nazareth -1978

  

This is my favorite film on the life of Christ, even surpassing Mel Gibson's "The Passion."

This joint English-Italian production is hailed as a masterpiece and in 1978 was labeled the greatest miniseries of all time by TV Guide. Franco Zeffirelli’s life of Jesus Christ was gorgeously filmed, powerfully acted and featured a haunting performance by Robert Powell as Jesus. Michael York’s performance as John the Baptist is exemplary, and exactly how you’d imagine that the locust-eating John was. If you watch only one movie or miniseries about Jesus Christ, make it this one.

5. Roots - 1977

Based on Alex Haley's best-selling novel about his African ancestors, Roots followed several generations in the lives of a slave family. The saga began with Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton), a West African youth captured by slave raiders and shipped to America in the 1700s. The family's saga is depicted up until the Civil War where Kunte Kinte's grandson gained emancipation. Roots made its greatest impression on the ratings and widespread popularity it garnered. On average, 130 million - almost half the country at the time - saw all or part of the series.

Next post: My top-ten mini-series of all time (from #6-10). Who makes the cut?