‘Encanto’ movie inspires gospel reflections
Pastor: “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from #Encanto gets the hype, but we know the real song is “Surface Pressure” with lyrics like:
- “Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that will never stop.”
- “Who am I if I can’t carry it all?”
- “If I could shake the crushing weight of expectations.”
I know many of you are walking through deep waters, emotional turmoil and unrealistic expectations (from others and that you put on yourself). I’m praying for you and would be happy to pray with you.
Philip Nation
Vice president & Thomas Nelson Bible publisher at HarperCollins Christian Publishing via Facebook
I want to thank my friend Philip Nation for posting this (see “Pastor” above). He is a pastor to pastors.
I didn’t think about the truth of this the first time I watched the movie, but this morning I listened to it again, and oh my gosh. If you substitute “pastor” every time it says “sister,” you’ll feel like the songwriter crawled up inside your soul.
Pastor James Jackson
Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville, via Facebook
Parents/grandparents: Advice for having meaningful and spiritual conversations with your kids this week — Disney’s newest movie “Encanto” peeks into the life of a family in Columbia and their striving to find worth. The movie is filled with gospel threads, like:
- People are made in the image of God.
- Worth is not tied to their production or work but being made in the image of God.
- Strive for unity through reconciliation, repentance and forgiveness.
Sit down and watch it as a family and listen to your children. Ask them if they ever feel their worth is tied to your approval of their performance, grades, etc. Assure them your love for them is not tied to their “gifts.”
My experience right now is that most kids and college students are fighting the lie in their heads that their worth is coming from what they do rather than who they are.
Use this opportunity to reassure them of your love and point them to their immeasurable value in Gods eyes as His creation.
Will Spivey, College pastor
First Baptist Church Opelika via Facebook
Luisa [the character in the film “Encanto” who sings “Surface Pressure”] learns the biggest lesson of all: Your identity and purpose should not be tied to your own strength and performance.
She asks “who am I if I can’t carry it all?”
And while the song itself doesn’t reach that point of understanding, those who’ve seen the movie will get the message.
That’s profound. And as an oldest child, I’ve often asked myself the very same question.
But the good news of the gospel, which isn’t mentioned in this song, is that we were never meant to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. And by the films end, Luisa learns that very lesson.
Kristin Smith
Reprinted with permission from Plugged In Media pluggedin.com/track-reviews/jessica-darrow-surface-pressure
It’s all about the Lord
By Franklin L. Kirksey
Robertsdale, Ala.
Cooper Kupp, wide receiver with the Los Angeles Rams, completed a Triple Crown season and was voted MVP in this year’s Super Bowl.
Upon learning this, my mind went back almost 50 years to a time when Jake Kupp, Cooper’s grandfather, a legendary lineman with the New Orleans Saints, spoke in chapel at Greystone Christian School in Mobile in 1973.
Jake was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 1991.
For many years, he has used football as a platform to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, as did his son, Craig, quarterback with the Phoenix Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. Now his grandson, Cooper, is following in their footsteps.
This family’s godly tradition reveals it’s all about the Lord.
Every believer must realize it’s all about the Lord. Here are some things to remember:
- Remember your relationship with the Lord (Col. 3:17).
- Remember your regard for the Lord (Col. 3:23).
- Remember your reward from the Lord (Col. 3:24a).
- Remember your responsibility to the Lord (Col. 3:24b).
Stay the course
Major W. Ian Thomas shares his understanding of the Christian life: “Go where you’re sent. Stay where you’re put. Give what you’ve got.”
That’s what Jesus did. He was sent to earth by the Father, and He stayed on earth until He completed His mission. He gave His life on the cross so we could be forgiven of sin and have eternal life by His death, burial and resurrection.
The greatest tragedy would be to hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and fail to heed it. May we never forget it’s all about the Lord.
Encouraging ministers
“Most people don’t understand that being a pastor can be a lonely road to walk,” said Randy Nelson, pastor of Westside Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, and member of the Walton County Baptist Association’s Minister Encouragement Team. “This [team] gives us close relationships to share our concerns and burdens. I find myself encouraged as I strive to encourage another. It is an iron-sharpening-iron relationship.”
Sabbatical is over. (Here are mine and my wife’s) major takeaways:
- We choose to come back and enter into the highs and lows of people’s lives. To carry the weights and burdens that accompany this role.
To go to war with the forces of darkness that seek to destroy the hope of the gospel. To embrace the hurt and wounds we receive because hurting people, hurt people.
To roll up our sleeves next to the men and women who are willing to stay in the trenches with us, allowing progress to be made that could never be made alone.
To celebrate all the wins that Jesus will undoubtedly secure for His own glory.
Because, after six weeks away, we recognize … we are still called by God to all of it. What a joy and privilege.
- And most importantly — Jesus is the sabbatical. Every time we intentionally spend time with Him, we return to that sabbatical rest. His yoke is easy. His burden is light. Let’s get it!
Pastor Terrence Jones
Strong Tower at Washington Park, Montgomery, via Facebook
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
Evangelism and discipleship are two wings on the same airplane.
Sammy Gilbreath
Event evangelism strategist, Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
Now, perhaps more than ever, people are open to conversations about faith, yet few Christians actually take the opportunity to engage with them.
John B. Sorensen, President and CEO
Evangelism Explosion International
[Most] people aren’t atheists and agnostics. They believe in god. And that’s the problem. They believe in a ‘lowercase g’ god. Very vague, very generic. Anywhere from a divine Santa Claus to a Yoda-type figure from “Star Wars” to a good luck charm … you appeal to when something bad happens.
Pastor Dean Inserra
City Church Tallahassee, Florida
God has blessed my willingness to lean on Him. He has encouraged me through moments of despair. He has lifted my spirits with opportunities and awards. I am no prolific or great writer, but all I do, I do for the glory of God, the One who continues to bless me over and over again.
Karen O. Allen
Author of “Confronting Cancer with Faith”
“We want to meet people in that unplanned pregnancy situation, but we want to go beyond that,” said Julie McLendon, director of North Jefferson Women’s Center/Sav-A-Life in Fultondale, Alabama. “Jesus wants us to have abundant life, and we want to walk that journey with our families.”
“He said, ‘I want you to feed 1,000 people a hot plate,’” said Amos Crews, who serves as pastor of Christ First Community Church in Birmingham. “We’re a church of 20, and I knew we wouldn’t be able to do that on our own. I said, ‘You’re going to have to be our Provider.’”
The biggest thing that influences people’s willingness to talk about faith is the presence of a relationship with that person or faith being tied to their life story. If your relationship with God isn’t impacting your life, why would someone else want to hear about it?
Scott McConnell, Executive director
Lifeway Research
From the Twitterverse
@JonTyson
I’m often amazed at how the people throwing the strongest critiques at others are often so fragile and defensive when critiqued themselves.
Lord grant us a non-defensive spirit.
@jbwester
Today was a really tough day in ministry. But I saw the grace of God shine through men and women who love Him and sacrifice so much in order for others to know and experience Jesus.
Sometimes hard days make Jesus appear even more beautiful.
@GaryFenton07
Moral cowardice is not only a failure to act, but also refusing to accept responsibility for our actions.
Many bitter conflicts could be avoided by saying, “I was wrong,” rather than attempting to justify our unjustifiable words or deeds through argument.
@pastorjaycbc
Jesus proclaimed the truth and practiced the truth.
He wasn’t worried about being invited back.
@BillyGraham
“We have not yet learned that we are more powerful on our knees than behind the most powerful weapons that can be developed.”
@MattSmethurst
Five ways to love your pastor before church:
- Pray for his heart.
- Pray for your heart.
- Read the passage he will preach.
- Resolve to come hungry.
- Resolve to leave full.
@michaelcriner
“Open your mouth and share the gospel with lost people in order to win them to Jesus Christ. You can’t serve Jesus with a zipped lip.”
Hands down one of my favorite quotes from the late professor of evangelism @DrRoyFish.
@TAndrewBrown
Preachers should be regular students of preaching. Regular exposure to books on preaching and other preachers will carry your ministry of proclamation far down the fruitful path of faithfulness.
@johnnymhunt
Rather than trying to figure out how to make the church more like the world so the world will go to church, we should be trying to figure out how to make the church more like Christ so the church will go to the world. #dwightpentecost
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