At last … a new Midnight Picture

It has been over two years since Andrew Harrison and I produced Saul’s Pupils. Since that time, many ideas for new films have emerged and, well, withered. But we’ve finally hit on one that’s sticking. In truth, we can’t claim it as our own. What we’re doing is a film based on Ray Bradbury’s short story The Trapdoor. Unfortunately, when many of us think of that title, we automatically think of that kid’s TV show with the big blue Plasticene character, Bert. So, we’re calling it Don’t Look in the Attic. Andrew and I have given this a definite green light. More news as it happens.

Finding stability in your walk with God

Something really important clicked with me last night when I was lying in bed thinking. I was musing about how there are times in my life when it’s easy (or easier) to be a good person; times when temptations seem to hold very little power and I’m able to sense a stability about my life that makes me feel very happy. Then there are times when I feel like I’m way too close to becoming a different person; when I’m dealing with all kinds of secret thoughts, fighting off temptations left right and centre, feeling quite unstable and quite depressed about it. Why does this happen? What causes a person who wants to please God lose his way so easily?

I got thinking about King David, when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, then arranged for her husband’s murder, to cover up the fact that he’d got her pregnant (2 Samuel 11). What a mess! And to think this was the same David who was once a shepherd boy who had enough faith in God to stand in front of a Philistine giant (Goliath), armed with nothing but a slingslot.

There’s something important about David’s life, when he committed adultery. The first verse of 2 Samuel 11 says: In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. David was a king who had gotten lazy in his duty, and it was his undoing: One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her.

I remembered that as Christians, we’re supposed to be different from others in the world. We don’t think the we they do; we don’t tolerate the same things they do; we don’t accept things the way they are just because everyone else is doing it. We’re part of the kingdom of God, and we do things the way God wants.

So, the big question is, are we living too close to the world? Are there things in our lives that need to change? And is this why I’m having so many problems struggling with sin? Yes, it is. I get lazy as a Christian and I start tolerating things that I know are wrong. Before I know it, I’m on a downward spiral. At some point I always manage to pull myself out of the hole, and slap some sense into myself, but now I have finally clarified why I keep falling in in the first place.

This is really important for me because a year and a half ago I moved away from my parents and got my own house. It’s all mine, and I can make any lifestyle change I want without consulting anybody. For many, that means the freedom to party, but for me it’s an opportunity to create an environment that’s free from temptation, where nothing bad exists; a place where I can rest and feel the presence of God.

It’s up to me now to stop getting lazy in relationship with God - to stop tolerating the little sins that keep wanting to worm their way back in, and to make whatever changes I can in my life to tempation as far away from me as I can.

When God’s plans seem to backfire

I discovered a very special little nugget of truth recently when reading the book of Exodus. To summarise: The people of Israel have been living as slaves in Egypt for centuries. God chooses one Israelite man, Moses, to be his spokesperson - to demand Israel’s release before Pharoah. First, he goes to the Israelites and tells them that God has heard their prayers and is going to free them. Then, when Moses confronts Pharoah, the Egyptian ruler basically says, “I obviously haven’t been keeping you Israelites busy enough.” And he doubles their workload. Israel’s joy evaporates, as they realise they were better off before Moses opened his mouth. It must have felt like a slap in the face from the Lord, as they saw God’s intentions literally going backwards. But God did free his people - just not immediately. It was his plan to do so through many miracles (ten plagues and a path through the middle of the sea), so that everyone would know of his power.

The important lesson I drew from this Bible story is this: When you see events conspiring against you, assume nothing! It doesn’t mean God isn’t powerful enough to help you; it doesn’t mean he has turned against you; and your experience certainly isn’t unique. God blesses those who love him, but sometimes you have to feel your way blind through some tough experiences to get to that blessing. Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better, and only God knows why that is. However, sometimes you do get to look back on it all later and can say, “Yes, I see it now. And I’m glad it happened this way.” But when you’re right in the middle of it all, the important thing is to have faith.

Reflecting on a difficult summer

Summer was tough, this year. My workplace (a school) largely turns into a ghost town over summer, which means I spend a lot of time alone in there for two months. On top of that, now than I’m a home-owner (and single), I was spending a lot of my evening time alone, too. I found that it affected me in ways I didn’t like, and I was very glad when things got back to normal in September.

Summer was also tough on me spiritually. I found my enthusiasm for Bible study and prayer and church waning drastically. I let things slide in a big way and it became increasingly difficult to live a holy life. In the end, the only thing for it was to pick a short time each day, reserve it for God, and absolutely force myself to sit down and read a chapter of the Bible then pray for a couple of minutes, while every impulse in my mind is telling me to do something else. Makes you wonder if there isn’t something (or someone) else affecting my mind, if you get my meaning.

I’ll tell you something else, this kind of experience is something that the critics of Christianity should note - those who think we’re weak-minded and in need an emotional crutch to lean on. Being a Christian is hard work at times. Sometimes giving up gets very attractive, and the only things keeping you going are your confidence in its truth and your sense of duty to God.

I still haven’t really got back my passion for the Bible, but I’m persevering, keeping in mind that it’s the things I’m learning bit by bit are helping me to be a better person. And in the future I’ll be able to be more useful to God.