Ha! That was fun. ~ You other Dads have done it, too, right? As I saw my 2-yr-old about to enter my office, I threw on a disguise, and he looked at me as if to say, "Umm, I think I know you, but I'm not sure I want you to get very close ...." He was bold enough to shake my hand; and then when I pulled off the mask, he & I both laughed.
Does God do that, too, sometimes? Something crazy in your life makes you wonder, "Is God doing this? Or am I just the victim from some silly decision I made somewhere?" Then when everything works out in some surprising way, God pulls off the disguise, and we both laugh.
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Showing posts with label Rauch's Random Ruminations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rauch's Random Ruminations. Show all posts
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Singing in the Shower
Singing in the Shower -- a natural reaction of the soul to getting clean. After all, didn't the entire nation of Israel sing after passing through the Red Sea?
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Pleasure Forever
Psalm 16:11 says that at God's "right hand, there are pleasures for evermore." Then later Psalms and numerous New Testament passages tell us that Christ is at God's right hand. Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ is Pleasure for evermore!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Like My Father
I whistled today! Like my Dad!
Okay, so I've already known how to whistle for a long time; and I think that I can whistle rather nicely. I always enjoyed my Dad's whistling. It seems to me that he was quite talented (as far as talented whistlers go) -- very sharp, distinct, but not shrill. And I like to think that I can whistle a lot like my Dad.
But there's that extra whistle talent: you know that kind of whistle when, as a child, you're three houses down playing at the neighbor's for a few hours, and Dad steps out on the front porch and whistles for you to come home. I've seen some people put their pinky fingers in the corners of their mouth and let 'er rip; but again, my Dad was so talented, he didn't need to use his fingers, ... and boy, could he let 'er rip.
I've always wanted to be able to do that. And I've always told people that I've always wanted to be able to do that. I was telling my children about it again just last evening. But then the thought struck me: while I have tried before, I've never really tried that long and hard. If my Dad could do it, and I'm like my Dad, then I should be able to do it. Isn't it like ... learning to ride a bike? Or is it more like trying to add one cubit to your stature?
So today as I looked out my window and saw my wife getting into the van, I decided to try it. I tried it ten, fifteen, maybe twenty times, reshaping my mouth each time for finetuning. As my wife drove away and I turned back toward my desk, I gave one last attempt, and ... out she ripped!
Okay, so I've already known how to whistle for a long time; and I think that I can whistle rather nicely. I always enjoyed my Dad's whistling. It seems to me that he was quite talented (as far as talented whistlers go) -- very sharp, distinct, but not shrill. And I like to think that I can whistle a lot like my Dad.
But there's that extra whistle talent: you know that kind of whistle when, as a child, you're three houses down playing at the neighbor's for a few hours, and Dad steps out on the front porch and whistles for you to come home. I've seen some people put their pinky fingers in the corners of their mouth and let 'er rip; but again, my Dad was so talented, he didn't need to use his fingers, ... and boy, could he let 'er rip.
I've always wanted to be able to do that. And I've always told people that I've always wanted to be able to do that. I was telling my children about it again just last evening. But then the thought struck me: while I have tried before, I've never really tried that long and hard. If my Dad could do it, and I'm like my Dad, then I should be able to do it. Isn't it like ... learning to ride a bike? Or is it more like trying to add one cubit to your stature?
So today as I looked out my window and saw my wife getting into the van, I decided to try it. I tried it ten, fifteen, maybe twenty times, reshaping my mouth each time for finetuning. As my wife drove away and I turned back toward my desk, I gave one last attempt, and ... out she ripped!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
It's 2010 already!?
I just realized that 2010 is more than half over, and I haven't submitted a single post yet this year. ... well, ... except for this one.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Was Peter Piper a Thief?
Likely, they grinned, coolly yet leeringly, as they first rehearsed it for you:
...........“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
– It sounds so innocent, doesn’t it? Almost fun! – But have you ever considered: Perhaps Peter Piper picked that peck of pickled peppers from someone else’s pickled pepper patch? Was Peter Piper a thief?
Now I certainly don’t wish to start rumors that threaten another’s honorable reputation; but neither do I wish to pass on to my children the baton of desensitization toward the eighth commandment. If Peter Piper was a thief, my children need to know the truth.
My suspicions are not entirely indefensible. Children often pick up the habits of their parents, right? And sometimes they even take them to the next level, yes?
Well, we’ve heard it said that
...........“Tom, Tom, the piper’s son,
.............Stole a pig and away he run ….”
But is that really where the apostrophe belongs? Is Tom-Tom the piper’s son? Or is he the Pipers’ son (as in the son of Mr. & Mrs. Peter Piper)?
Now we know that Tom-Tom was a thief; the rhyme specifically tells us so. And he stole a pig, which is a rather large item. We know that. So adding the argument that children can take their parents’ bad habits to the next level, we begin to see that maybe, just maybe Tom-Tom’s dad – Mr. Peter Piper? – was also a thief. Perhaps he did not steal large items, like pigs. Perhaps he only stole small items, … like pickled peppers.
...........“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
– It sounds so innocent, doesn’t it? Almost fun! – But have you ever considered: Perhaps Peter Piper picked that peck of pickled peppers from someone else’s pickled pepper patch? Was Peter Piper a thief?
Now I certainly don’t wish to start rumors that threaten another’s honorable reputation; but neither do I wish to pass on to my children the baton of desensitization toward the eighth commandment. If Peter Piper was a thief, my children need to know the truth.
My suspicions are not entirely indefensible. Children often pick up the habits of their parents, right? And sometimes they even take them to the next level, yes?
Well, we’ve heard it said that
...........“Tom, Tom, the piper’s son,
.............Stole a pig and away he run ….”
But is that really where the apostrophe belongs? Is Tom-Tom the piper’s son? Or is he the Pipers’ son (as in the son of Mr. & Mrs. Peter Piper)?
Now we know that Tom-Tom was a thief; the rhyme specifically tells us so. And he stole a pig, which is a rather large item. We know that. So adding the argument that children can take their parents’ bad habits to the next level, we begin to see that maybe, just maybe Tom-Tom’s dad – Mr. Peter Piper? – was also a thief. Perhaps he did not steal large items, like pigs. Perhaps he only stole small items, … like pickled peppers.
******** (At this point, you should just quit reading and scratch yer head ….) *******
.........
Perhaps we should petition Congress to allocate a little stimulus money toward an investigation of this matter. Heaven knows that it’s been used for less worthy causes.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
A Character of Its Own
Have you ever heard a movie producer or director on the Special Features of a DVD say that the production sort of took on or became "a character of its own"? Or perhaps you've read an author saying that, in his novel, he had a particular character that was giving him trouble, that seemed to have a mind of his own, as if the author had some difficulty getting the character to do what the author wanted.
I think I understand what these are saying (at least generally, not necessarily from first-hand experience), which led me to wonder, "How is this phenomenon analogous to God's story-telling? Does God's story take on 'a character of its own'? Are there players in His story that don't play out their roles according to His direction?" Of course, your response to this probably depends upon how Calvinistic your perspectives are. Without having spent a lot of time on this, allow me to attempt some answers: It's not. No. Well, not really.
There are two reasons for which I say that such a phenomenon is not shared by God. 1) God is omniscient. 2) God is non-contradictory.
In the cases of the movie producer and the author, they are not omniscient. Although they are responsible for everything that goes into their projects, they don't really know every intricate detail of such projects. They do not possess infinite knowledge even on their very own subjects. -- God does.
The second reason that human authors have more trouble handling their characters than what God does (aside from God's omnipotence) is because of contradictions inherent in (likely all of) us humans. The less like God we are, the greater degree of contradiction in our lives. Human authors sometimes sense this contradiction (and thus reveal it by the afore-mentioned comments) because one part of them says that the nature of a particular character would lead that character to behave in a certain way and thus the book would not end as the author intends, but the desire of the author is to have the character enact a different behavior so that he can tell his story the way he wants. We may commend an author who acknowledges this challenge for exercising at least some honesty, even though he may proceed without appropriately resolving the contradiction. Perhaps this could best be clarified with an example.
Let's say an author writes a story where the main character is evil, executes monstrosities, retaliates against his victims' attempts for justice, and simply walks away at the end of the story. (I would bet such stories abound; my ignorance of a good example likely stems from my lack of enjoyment of such stories.) Sometimes it even seems that we are observing such depressing stories happening in real life right before our very eyes. Some of us even feel that we are experiencing such a story.
The Psalmist even acknowledges this: “I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. … Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. … When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; ….” – Psalm 73:3-9,12-14,16
So where is the inherent contradiction? Well, while the depressed author ends his story with the destroyer walking away, the Psalmist knows that this really isn't the end of the story. Notice that I didn't finish the last verse or chapter of the passage quoted above. Allow me to do so now: “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when Thou awakest, Thou shalt despise their image. … For, lo, they that are far from Thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from Thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Thy works.” – Psalm 73:16-20,27-28
God will vindicate and be vindicated. Justice will be served. Truth, beauty, goodness, love, and life will endure forever. -- Psalm 33:11, 117:2, 119:160, 135:13, 136:1-26, 145:13; I Peter 1:25
I think I understand what these are saying (at least generally, not necessarily from first-hand experience), which led me to wonder, "How is this phenomenon analogous to God's story-telling? Does God's story take on 'a character of its own'? Are there players in His story that don't play out their roles according to His direction?" Of course, your response to this probably depends upon how Calvinistic your perspectives are. Without having spent a lot of time on this, allow me to attempt some answers: It's not. No. Well, not really.
There are two reasons for which I say that such a phenomenon is not shared by God. 1) God is omniscient. 2) God is non-contradictory.
In the cases of the movie producer and the author, they are not omniscient. Although they are responsible for everything that goes into their projects, they don't really know every intricate detail of such projects. They do not possess infinite knowledge even on their very own subjects. -- God does.
The second reason that human authors have more trouble handling their characters than what God does (aside from God's omnipotence) is because of contradictions inherent in (likely all of) us humans. The less like God we are, the greater degree of contradiction in our lives. Human authors sometimes sense this contradiction (and thus reveal it by the afore-mentioned comments) because one part of them says that the nature of a particular character would lead that character to behave in a certain way and thus the book would not end as the author intends, but the desire of the author is to have the character enact a different behavior so that he can tell his story the way he wants. We may commend an author who acknowledges this challenge for exercising at least some honesty, even though he may proceed without appropriately resolving the contradiction. Perhaps this could best be clarified with an example.
Let's say an author writes a story where the main character is evil, executes monstrosities, retaliates against his victims' attempts for justice, and simply walks away at the end of the story. (I would bet such stories abound; my ignorance of a good example likely stems from my lack of enjoyment of such stories.) Sometimes it even seems that we are observing such depressing stories happening in real life right before our very eyes. Some of us even feel that we are experiencing such a story.
The Psalmist even acknowledges this: “I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. … Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. … When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; ….” – Psalm 73:3-9,12-14,16
So where is the inherent contradiction? Well, while the depressed author ends his story with the destroyer walking away, the Psalmist knows that this really isn't the end of the story. Notice that I didn't finish the last verse or chapter of the passage quoted above. Allow me to do so now: “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when Thou awakest, Thou shalt despise their image. … For, lo, they that are far from Thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from Thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Thy works.” – Psalm 73:16-20,27-28
God will vindicate and be vindicated. Justice will be served. Truth, beauty, goodness, love, and life will endure forever. -- Psalm 33:11, 117:2, 119:160, 135:13, 136:1-26, 145:13; I Peter 1:25
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Gospel from The Princess Bride
.......A good story is good because it resembles the best story, which is, of course, the gospel of Christ’s kingdom redeeming the world as seen in history. A princess is separated from her Lover, Who promises to come, rescue her, and make her His bride. But the rescue involves swords, disguise, battles with giants, challenging the apparent authority, overwhelming odds, even torture. And alas! the Princess loses all hope when her Rescuer is unexpectedly killed. But can death stop the true love of the Lord Jesus Christ for The Princess Bride?* If we ignore for now some possible irreverence, what semblance of hope, truth, and good character may we find in The Princess Bride in comparison with God’s story?
.......Many men want to know, like Fred Savage’s character in the movie, "Is this a kissing book?" But the storyteller arouses us with descriptions of "fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles." Buttercup doesn’t expect to be swept off her feet by one who has always served her. But her discovery of the real meaning behind his expression, “As you wish,” may be compared to the believer’s discovery of God’s passionate intentions manifested through His abundant grace.
.......Then the Man must go away for a while. But He promises, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). Again he assures her, “Here this now: I will always come for you.” When she asks, “But how can you be sure?” he responds, "This is true love. Think this happens every day?"
.......And, sure enough, he does come for her, but not as expected. And though it may seem “inconceivable,” He doesn’t get thrown from a cliff by His enemies. Instead he snatches the princess away from her captors for a short while, only to be captured himself and taken into the Pit of Despair – the Garden of Gethsemane. Life is sucked out of our hero through torturous means; a great cry spreads throughout the world. The last glimmer of hope is provided by the miracle worker, who has reason for a vendetta against the prince of this world. A little time passes; a Maximum Miracle occurs. Our hero lives!
.......However, despite her best efforts and intentions, it seems the princess is bound forever to be separated from her true love because of the “mawwiage” forced upon her by the mal-intending prince. But all is restored when the false-hearted prince is bound, a father is avenged upon the death of the SOB, a successor is named to carry on the redeemer’s work, and the princess bride is reminded that “there is a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. ‘Twould be a pity to damage” hers.
.......So whenever the Bride is tempted to doubt her Lord, saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?” (2 Peter 3:4), we will remind her of what he says: “I told you I would always come for you. Why didn’t you wait for me?” And when she says, “Well, … You were dead,” we will again show her that "death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while." After all has been restored and the two lovers are reunited to live happily ever after, it will be told throughout the ages that "since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure, –- this one left them all behind." We will finally be convinced that, however great might be “a nice MLT –- mutton-lettuce-&-tomato sandwich –- when the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe – tht-tht-tht! they’re so perky; I love that,” –- “true love is the greatest thing in the world!”
* - The Princess Bride, written by William Goldman, presented by Act III Communications, produced by Andrew Scheinman and Rob Reiner. (copyrighted 1987 The Princess Bride Limited. MGM Home Entertainment, 2500 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404-3061.)
.......Many men want to know, like Fred Savage’s character in the movie, "Is this a kissing book?" But the storyteller arouses us with descriptions of "fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles." Buttercup doesn’t expect to be swept off her feet by one who has always served her. But her discovery of the real meaning behind his expression, “As you wish,” may be compared to the believer’s discovery of God’s passionate intentions manifested through His abundant grace.
.......Then the Man must go away for a while. But He promises, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). Again he assures her, “Here this now: I will always come for you.” When she asks, “But how can you be sure?” he responds, "This is true love. Think this happens every day?"
.......And, sure enough, he does come for her, but not as expected. And though it may seem “inconceivable,” He doesn’t get thrown from a cliff by His enemies. Instead he snatches the princess away from her captors for a short while, only to be captured himself and taken into the Pit of Despair – the Garden of Gethsemane. Life is sucked out of our hero through torturous means; a great cry spreads throughout the world. The last glimmer of hope is provided by the miracle worker, who has reason for a vendetta against the prince of this world. A little time passes; a Maximum Miracle occurs. Our hero lives!
.......However, despite her best efforts and intentions, it seems the princess is bound forever to be separated from her true love because of the “mawwiage” forced upon her by the mal-intending prince. But all is restored when the false-hearted prince is bound, a father is avenged upon the death of the SOB, a successor is named to carry on the redeemer’s work, and the princess bride is reminded that “there is a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. ‘Twould be a pity to damage” hers.
.......So whenever the Bride is tempted to doubt her Lord, saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?” (2 Peter 3:4), we will remind her of what he says: “I told you I would always come for you. Why didn’t you wait for me?” And when she says, “Well, … You were dead,” we will again show her that "death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while." After all has been restored and the two lovers are reunited to live happily ever after, it will be told throughout the ages that "since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure, –- this one left them all behind." We will finally be convinced that, however great might be “a nice MLT –- mutton-lettuce-&-tomato sandwich –- when the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe – tht-tht-tht! they’re so perky; I love that,” –- “true love is the greatest thing in the world!”
* - The Princess Bride, written by William Goldman, presented by Act III Communications, produced by Andrew Scheinman and Rob Reiner. (copyrighted 1987 The Princess Bride Limited. MGM Home Entertainment, 2500 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404-3061.)
Friday, December 29, 2006
Ever Heard These?
"There's no such thing as a stupid question."
"What did you say?"
"I said, 'There's no such thing as a stupid question.'"
"What did you say?"
"There's no such thing as a stupid question!"
"What did you say?"
******************************************************
"God answers every prayer."
"... the LORD will not hear you in that day." -- I Samuel 8:18
"Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it." -- Job 35:13
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." -- Psalm 66:18
"And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: ...." -- Isaiah 1:15
"Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee." -- Jeremiah 7:16
See also Isaiah 59:2; Jeremiah 11:14, 14:12; Amos 5:23; Micah 3:4; & Proverbs 1:28.
"What did you say?"
"I said, 'There's no such thing as a stupid question.'"
"What did you say?"
"There's no such thing as a stupid question!"
"What did you say?"
******************************************************
"God answers every prayer."
"... the LORD will not hear you in that day." -- I Samuel 8:18
"Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it." -- Job 35:13
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." -- Psalm 66:18
"And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: ...." -- Isaiah 1:15
"Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee." -- Jeremiah 7:16
See also Isaiah 59:2; Jeremiah 11:14, 14:12; Amos 5:23; Micah 3:4; & Proverbs 1:28.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Plagiarism All Over the Place
“There is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9, Holy Bible, KJV) Two nights ago, my family enjoyed watching The Legend of Zorro (starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones), the sequel to The Mask of Zorro. One of the screen-writing elements which have been in so many movies, if not in almost every movie, occurred in this one as well. If you’ve watched very many movies at all without disengaging your brain, you’ve likely noticed this particular element – when the good guy gets caught by the bad guys, they never terminate him immediately, even when they have the opportunity. This is an extreme irony.
Often these same bad guys, earlier in the story, were killing innocent people “at the drop of a hat” (i.e., without even a second thought). Although not always the case, these innocent people are often people to whom we the viewers haven’t become too closely attached emotionally because their death would be too unpleasant for us (making the story less appealing). On occasion, however, the victim will be someone of whom we had become fond (though almost never the main hero); this is likely done to make us hate the bad guy even more, thus, rejoicing all the more (as my son did quite audibly with Zorro) when the good guy takes out the bad guy.
But back to my point about extreme irony…. The rancher whose deed the bad guy really wants for some reason, the rancher who poses so little of an offensive threat to the bad guy, is killed without the slightest hint of remorse; but when the bad guy later catches the good guy off guard, the good guy who poses the greatest offensive threat to the bad guy, this same bad guy suddenly has second thoughts about immediately terminating his opponent. (Oh, he plans to terminate him all right, but he wants to do it slowly to make it more painful for the good guy, or some other convenient reason like that.)
So what’s all this have to do with plagiarism? Well, first let’s ask “WHY?!” Why in the world do the screen-writers throw in some sort of “all-of-a-sudden-I’m-gonna-think-twice-about-my-actions” perspective from the bad guy smack dab in the middle of the story’s climax? How realistic is that? No wonder the good guy always wins! All you have to do is throw in some (additional) inconsistency in the bad guy’s character, and your story can always turn out well in the end. Well, I’ll tell you why: this is the unspoken divine element of the story.
Even years ago, I used to think that one of the basic differences between good Christian stories and good non-Christian stories was simply that one acknowledged the presence and work of God and the other didn’t. (I’ll expound on this further in a moment but first…) Basically, the reason David was able to kill Goliath is the same reason that John Wayne was always able to outdraw his opponent – because God made it so. Only, David acknowledged this truth loudly, and John Wayne did not.
As I've thought about it, I’m convinced even more that this is so. In the most real, most true Story of all, it is impossible for evil to ultimately triumph over good… because God is good. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17, Holy Bible, KJV) Goodness (and evil, for that matter, but that’s another discussion) is NOT an absolute independent of any and all sources. Walking an old lady across the street is not a good deed just because it is; there’s a reason it’s good. That reason is God, Who is ontologically Good. (That is, Goodness is His very nature; It’s Who He is.) God is Goodness. Therefore, He cannot but triumph over evil. (I’m beginning to think that evil cannot even exist apart from Him. I think He probably created evil – Isaiah 45:7 – as another means of manifesting His goodness, to make us rejoice all the more when the Good Guy takes out the bad guy.)
The better the screen-writer becomes at story-telling, the closer he comes to “plagiarizing” God’s Story. How far into a 2.5-hour movie do you have to watch before some problem surfaces? Unless the movie is quite slow-moving, it’s not very long before the viewer becomes very suspicious, if not fully aware, of the problem. (Then the rest of the movie is spent developing that problem further and/or bringing it to a resolution.) And how long did it take for Evil to show its ugly face in God’s Story? ... In chapter 3, out of 1,193 chapters!
Why do we connect with and feel sorry for the poor rancher who was so heartlessly terrorized? Because we can relate to him; indeed, because we are (or were) related to him. So now we hate Evil all the more, even though we invited him. We welcomed him, and he robbed us blind. And now we rejoice when the Good Guy crushes the bad guy’s head, and the Good Guy’s redemption of us is all the more glorious!
This is why Good must triumph over Evil. This is why the bad guy can never fully carry out his hatred against the good guy. This is why the screen-writers can’t help but turn the tables on the bad guy for no apparent reason – the reason is not apparent because they hate admitting that God tells the greatest Story and the best they can do is copy It. – They have to do it; it would not be realistic, otherwise. God is real. And He’s really good!
Often these same bad guys, earlier in the story, were killing innocent people “at the drop of a hat” (i.e., without even a second thought). Although not always the case, these innocent people are often people to whom we the viewers haven’t become too closely attached emotionally because their death would be too unpleasant for us (making the story less appealing). On occasion, however, the victim will be someone of whom we had become fond (though almost never the main hero); this is likely done to make us hate the bad guy even more, thus, rejoicing all the more (as my son did quite audibly with Zorro) when the good guy takes out the bad guy.
But back to my point about extreme irony…. The rancher whose deed the bad guy really wants for some reason, the rancher who poses so little of an offensive threat to the bad guy, is killed without the slightest hint of remorse; but when the bad guy later catches the good guy off guard, the good guy who poses the greatest offensive threat to the bad guy, this same bad guy suddenly has second thoughts about immediately terminating his opponent. (Oh, he plans to terminate him all right, but he wants to do it slowly to make it more painful for the good guy, or some other convenient reason like that.)
So what’s all this have to do with plagiarism? Well, first let’s ask “WHY?!” Why in the world do the screen-writers throw in some sort of “all-of-a-sudden-I’m-gonna-think-twice-about-my-actions” perspective from the bad guy smack dab in the middle of the story’s climax? How realistic is that? No wonder the good guy always wins! All you have to do is throw in some (additional) inconsistency in the bad guy’s character, and your story can always turn out well in the end. Well, I’ll tell you why: this is the unspoken divine element of the story.
Even years ago, I used to think that one of the basic differences between good Christian stories and good non-Christian stories was simply that one acknowledged the presence and work of God and the other didn’t. (I’ll expound on this further in a moment but first…) Basically, the reason David was able to kill Goliath is the same reason that John Wayne was always able to outdraw his opponent – because God made it so. Only, David acknowledged this truth loudly, and John Wayne did not.
As I've thought about it, I’m convinced even more that this is so. In the most real, most true Story of all, it is impossible for evil to ultimately triumph over good… because God is good. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17, Holy Bible, KJV) Goodness (and evil, for that matter, but that’s another discussion) is NOT an absolute independent of any and all sources. Walking an old lady across the street is not a good deed just because it is; there’s a reason it’s good. That reason is God, Who is ontologically Good. (That is, Goodness is His very nature; It’s Who He is.) God is Goodness. Therefore, He cannot but triumph over evil. (I’m beginning to think that evil cannot even exist apart from Him. I think He probably created evil – Isaiah 45:7 – as another means of manifesting His goodness, to make us rejoice all the more when the Good Guy takes out the bad guy.)
The better the screen-writer becomes at story-telling, the closer he comes to “plagiarizing” God’s Story. How far into a 2.5-hour movie do you have to watch before some problem surfaces? Unless the movie is quite slow-moving, it’s not very long before the viewer becomes very suspicious, if not fully aware, of the problem. (Then the rest of the movie is spent developing that problem further and/or bringing it to a resolution.) And how long did it take for Evil to show its ugly face in God’s Story? ... In chapter 3, out of 1,193 chapters!
Why do we connect with and feel sorry for the poor rancher who was so heartlessly terrorized? Because we can relate to him; indeed, because we are (or were) related to him. So now we hate Evil all the more, even though we invited him. We welcomed him, and he robbed us blind. And now we rejoice when the Good Guy crushes the bad guy’s head, and the Good Guy’s redemption of us is all the more glorious!
This is why Good must triumph over Evil. This is why the bad guy can never fully carry out his hatred against the good guy. This is why the screen-writers can’t help but turn the tables on the bad guy for no apparent reason – the reason is not apparent because they hate admitting that God tells the greatest Story and the best they can do is copy It. – They have to do it; it would not be realistic, otherwise. God is real. And He’s really good!
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