I just realized I did not post this review last month as I’d planned. Here it is now.

          I went to see the book of Eli recently. (Well, since this didn’t get posted when I’d planned, it was over a month ago. ) I am amazed and thrilled that this movie came from Hollywood.

          The Book of Eli is a “dystopian” movie, a depiction of society that has devolved into a bleak, harsh world where hope and joy are non-existent. I’m not sure what it indicates about our current society, but it seems these types of stories are becoming more and more popular. The difference with The Book of Eli, though, is that the overarching message (at least the one I got) is one of hope.

          Eli, played by Denzel Washington, is a nomad, a sword-wielding, ferocious nomad on a years-long trek across a country almost unrecognizable as our own. Decades before, the world was devastated by a cataclysmic natural event that shattered society and blinded anyone exposed to it. All that is left are pockets of pseudo-civilizations, mostly ruled by cruel gang lord types. Eli stops to barter and rest in one such gang lord’s ‘town’.

          This gang lord, Carnegie, learns Eli has a book. A book Carnegie believes holds the power he needs to solidify his domination over the region and beyond. Eli says he was led to a book sometime after the cataclysmic event that destroyed society and that he was told to protect the book and to take it west. He refuses to give it to Carnegie or even to allow him to see it. The rest of the movie is the chase and struggle and seeming defeat of Eli at the hands of Carnegie. In true poetic justice, though, Carnegie’s victory is short-lived and Eli’s defeat is really no defeat.

          Eli is a true to life personification of a man caught in a horrible world trying to do what he’s been called to do. He does some things that don’t fit with the idea of a pacifist Christian. He’s hard and solitary and not at all friendly. He kills, he’s rude, he’s abrupt and to the point when discussing, confronting and negotiating. He’s a hard man. But he’s a man. He’s a man intent on accomplishing the task he’s been given. He’s a focused man and he’s a capable man. He wields a sword and his wits with equal dexterity.

          sometimes he makes choices that seem contradictory to what we think of as the Christian life (such as refusing to share with others what is in the Book), it is evident he is focused on completing his task. A task he knows came from the author of that Book. Those seeming unChristlike choices are addressed later in the movie when he says, “I was so intent on protecting the Book that I forgot to live by what it taught.” Even with that confession, it was obvious he did believe and live much of what he’d learned. He walked without fear across the country. He gave warning to those attacking him, giving them a chance to abandon that course. He steadfastly refused to desert his task. He was faithful.

          The book of Eli is filled with violent images and depicts a tragic world, one almost devoid of hope or joy and anything good. The world seems to be place filled with pockets of thugs ruling little fiefdoms or solitary people living an horrific existence. This movie just as graphically imposes hope, realistic, possible to attain hope into that dystopia. The book of Eli, while one of the most stark dystopian movies I’ve seen, is also one of the most hopeful. One of the few that I’ve walked away from encouraged and inspired.

          The hope that is depicted in the storyline is also seen in the way the film is recorded. One of the complaints I have about a lot of the emotionally dark movies is how they are also filmed in dark surroundings. This makes things hard to see and gives an oppressive feel to the entire story. I realize that is probably the intent, but I think sometimes it is overdone. Maybe that’s why I don’t like dark movies. (By dark, I mean those storylines that depict life as oppressive, tragic, devoid of enjoyment, where bad triumphs over good.)

          The Book of Eli was a different. Yes it is an oppressive society. There is little enjoyment and life is tragic. But most of the movie was filmed in daylight. Even the nighttime scenes are lit well. I think this is significant. Again, this was probably done intentionally. Even if not, it added a huge subliminal message that light can dispel darkness, right can triumph over wrong, and justice will be done.

          The ending scene is of the book, the Holy Bible, being put on the shelf with the Koran. I’ve heard many complain about that, saying it equates the Bible with all the other great books, or that it dilutes the message of God protecting His book. I disagree. I think it sharply, with one crisp visual, shows how God accomplishes His purposes even through those who do not acknowledge His involvement. All throughout history, the Lord, His Word and His people have been protected and guided, sometimes by obvious means, most times by not so obvious. In the Book of Eli, Eli is guided directly by God, given a sight and an understanding he doesn’t have on his own. Just because the Lord also used a group of people intent on preserving all the great literature does not discount God’s working in those events.

          According to my statement of purpose I want to remark on and bring into better focus that which is good and pure and noble and lovely and of good report in the books and movies I review. In my reviews, you will read about what is good, what I liked about the movie, how I was enriched and encouraged by watching it, what I saw that made my Lord’s truths more clear, more real. In my opinion, The Book of Eli is a wondrous story of one man’s walk of faith and the impact it had on his world.

          If you are reading through the Bible using my Bible Reading plan, you recently finished reading Leviticus and are now reading Hebrews. You might be wondering why I jumped from Leviticus to Hebrews (yes, I organized the schedule according to my own preferences). Granted, I wanted to alternate between the Old and New Testaments. This makes reading through the Bible more interesting. There is a much more immediate reason, though, that makes Hebrews the logical next book after Leviticus (it also is serendipitous that Hebrews begins right after Easter).

          These two books are intimately related. Leviticus is a detailed account of duties and expectations of the priests in Israel. Hebrews is the detailed, precise explanation of how and why Jesus is the fulfillment of Leviticus. This book is rife with verses that reveal and illustrate this truth, such as

Hebrews 2:17

For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

and Hebrews 1:3

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

          Easter marks the day Jesus’ work was completed and validated, when he began His new work, as outlined in Hebrews, as our High Priest. As you read through Hebrews this month, I hope you see Him and His work, in the world and most particularly in your life, in a vibrant new way.

I have no idea who Percy H. Johnston is, but this quote is powerful.

It is the height of absurdity to sow little but weeds in the first half of one’s lifetime and expect to harvest a valuable crop in the second half. Percy H. Johnston

I wonder if he knows the Bible teaches the same thing?

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

What are you sowing in ‘the garden of your life’?

          If you are following my plan for reading through the Bible in a year, you have just started reading Leviticus. I wonder if your reaction is the same as mine the first time I came to Leviticus? Probably not.

          I grew up in an occasionally religious, but mostly not, household. Sometime in my mid-teens, I started attending a nearby church and accepted the truth of the Gospel. Even so, it was not until many years later that I established a consistent lifestyle that reflected that Truth. One of the decisions I made as I was developing that consistency was to read through the Bible in a year.

          When I came to Leviticus, I was amazed. This was a boring book? Not to me! It was fascinating. Full of instruction straight from God to the Israelites. Specific directions on what sacrifices to bring to Him; the exact requirements and how they could be varied, or not; complete instructions on when to bring them, which ones were mandatory, which voluntary. Just as Exodus had given instructions about living life, Leviticus revealed even more of what God expected.

          I guess what fascinated me most was that it was all there, written down, unchanging. God said, “This is what pleases me. Do this and you please me.” That stability, that assurance, that knowledge was so welcome to me. It’s not that I had a terrible childhood. I had a mom and dad who loved me, cared for me, did the best they could for me. They gave me a good, safe, happy childhood. But sometimes there had been a disconnect between what they said they wanted from me and how the responded to me and my actions. A disconnect that often left me confused, unsure, doubting myself or resenting them. Not so with God! He had laid it all out, exactly what He wanted. It was all there in Leviticus!

          I’m glad I came to Leviticus after I knew about Jesus, after I knew how He satisfied the Old Covenant, revealed in Exodus and Leviticus; after I knew his life and death had ushered in a New Covenant. Otherwise I might have fallen into legalism, based on unnecessary adherence to Old Testament covenant laws. I was that fascinated.

          But I’d already learned, at least partially, that those laws and sacrifices were meant to foreshadow the Fulfillment, not be the Fulfillment. Years before I’d read and memorized Romans 6-8, Scripture that teaches the Law came to show where we displeased God, but that was all it could do. Jesus lived the Law, every aspect of it, even becoming the sacrifice required in Leviticus. He did that so he could then bring me to the Father, atone for my failure, my sin with His perfect life, death and resurection.

          Reading Leviticus, that first time and every time since, provides a greater depth of understanding and appreciation for the work He’s done in my life by writing His law in my heart and mind, just as He said He would do. (Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 31:3; Ezekiel 11:19)

          What about you? Are you living the truth revealed in Leviticus? Or do you even understand it?

          It’s been about a month since my last post. It is about time for me to say, “Ok. NOW I’m going to start posting regularly. This is For Real this time.” And, maybe, just maybe, it isn’t time for you to roll your eyes and say, “Yeah, right.”

          Then again, maybe there is no one left to respond at all. I’m certainly not giving you anything interesting to read. I want to. I want to write things that are interesting and helpful, that make you want to visit my site often. Really. That is my plan. I’m just having trouble implementing it. (Duh. Pretty obvious, isn’t it?)

          Typical of me. I have an idea, a dream and I step out to accomplish it. Suddenly it is too big for me. Too much for me to accomplish. I’m not sure if it because I don’t consider all the variables or if I take on too much at once or expect greater perfection than I can deliver or . . .

          Whatever the reason, I’m here again, saying I think I’ve a plan.

          I have many interests in my life, many areas where I think I have something to share, many articles or snippets of articles I’ve written on so many subjects.
         

• I am knowledgeable in the Bible and in living a Scriptural life.
• I have 17 years of homeschooling experience, with some very definite opinions and insights.
• I have interest and expertise of various levels in scrapbooking, needlework, cooking, writing and more.

          All I need to do is wander through my multiple computer files of articles, devotions, letters and more. There is a wealth of opinions and thoughts to be mined. If I’ll just edit them a bit, they will make a multitude of short, interesting, helpful blog posts.

          As I said before, I’ll be experimenting with schedules, so at first my posts will probably seem a bit hodgepodge. Eventually, I’m sure I’ll fall into a routine (rut?) and a schedule will present itself. For now, enjoy the eclectic mix of my interests.

          Really. Believe me. This time will be For Real.

          I did it again, didn’t I? Posted a few regular entries and then disappeared. There’s a difference this time, though. I’m preparing and planning and will be posting soon. I’ve gotten my routines back into proper order and am defeating that procrastination monster as well as tackling the I’-m-so-overwhelmed-I’m-just-going-to-sit-down-and-cry feeling. There is still a lot on my plate, but not as much as before and not nearly as overwhelming. Re-establishing my routines has whittled away much of it. Readjusting priorities has eliminated some of it. And life transitions have taken care of the rest.

          I’m establishing a schedule of posts that should have me blogging here at least once a week. Come back next week to see what I have planned.

Matthew 2:19-23

          After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

          But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Matthew 2:16-18

          When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” {Jer. 31:15}

Matthew 2:12-15

          And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

          So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” {Hosea 11:1}

Matthew 2:1-11

          After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi {Traditionally Wise Men} from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east {Or star when it rose} and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

          When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ {Or Messiah} was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” {Micah 5:2}

          Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east {Or seen when it rose} went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

          When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.