abandoned to Christ.

There are many (too many) days I have trouble just opening the Word and getting my day started with Praise and Quiet Time in the Lord. I know this isn't a popular thing to share, but it's an honest thing to share about my spiritual walk...or sometimes, lack thereof. Though I could keep this weakness of mine hush hush and only share my accomplishments, my highs and all my joys I have in Christ, I can't do that because it would be disingenuous.

When I remember I'll never be the wisest, kindest or most Christ-like person on this side of Heaven, I am both relieved and spurred on toward holiness (2 Cor 7:1, Eph 4:24, Heb 12:14). This may sound a bit strange—to feel relieved and encouraged by what makes me weak; but in Christ, these seemingly diametric concepts are actually harmonious.

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

~2 Corinthians 12:7-10, ESV (emphasis, mine)

So as not to misunderstand what our Lord Jesus means that we are made "perfect" in verse nine, let me digress for a moment. The Greek phrase used for "is made perfect" in this verse is, τελέω (transliterated, teleō); which means, to bring to an end, complete, fulfill. The verb τελέω is in the present, passive, indicative. This means "is made perfect" is spoken in the present tense (occurring now), in the passive voice (the Apostle Paul is the recipient and not the doer of the action) and in the indicative mood (Jesus Christ, who is speaking, is making a definitive statement).

Therefore, it's clear that Christ is neither telling the Apostle Paul nor any of us that we will, or can ever be "perfect" (without any sin or flaw) on this side of Heaven. There is only one Person who has ever and can ever live a sinless life, and that is the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now that we have the biblically accurate understanding of what Jesus was telling the Apostle Paul about being made perfect, let me clarify a second aspect of this passage. Jesus' power is made perfect, that is complete, fulfilled and most evident in us when we are weak. That doesn't mean that we supposed to go around parading our troubles or wallowing in our weaknesses so the power of Christ will be perfected in us. It means that when we humbly and truthfully recognize our limitations, whether physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually, then yield to the Lord and cry out for His help, we can more clearly witness the demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us to accomplish whatever God has called us to (Phil 2:13, 1 Cor 2:4-5).

"Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

~Jesus the Christ (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV)

So on those many days, sometimes weeks and sometimes months I have a hard time just opening my Bible, I remember that God is fully aware of this weakness in me (Ps 103:13-14). And I rejoice in the supernatural help from Christ, who was tempted in every way to sin, yet was without sin (Heb 4:15-16).

When I admit my weaknesses before God and humbly seek His help, He immediately answers as He always does (Mt 20:34, Ps 65:5) and He helps me to remember how to worship, and why I so desperately need to commune with Him through reading, meditating and studying His Word.

It's in these moments, I remember why I've always called my time with the Lord, "Praise and Quiet Time"—because I always start with a song of praise, which moves me to open my Bible, and beckons me to bask in the quietness of communion with Him through "sitting at Jesus' feet" and listening intently to every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

Personally, I've found hymns are the best help for me because all hymns are either based on Scripture, or references Scripture. After I have my time of worshiping the Lord in song, I read the Scripture associated with the hymn, then read the entire chapter that particular verse is found in. The next thing I know, I'm in full blown worship; sitting quietly at Jesus' feet, in awesome wonder of how every one of His words illuminates my mind and soul.

"Lord, Speak to Me that I May Speak"

"Lord, speak to me that I may speak in living echoes of Your tone;
as You have sought, so let me seek Your erring children lost and lone.

"O teach me, Lord, that I may teach the precious things You do impart;
and wing my words, that they may reach the hidden depths of many a heart.

"O fill me with Your fullness, Lord, until my very heart o'er-flow
in kindling thought an glowing word Your love to tell, Your praise to show.

"O use me, Lord, use even me, just as You will and when and where;
until Your blessed face I see, Your rest, Your joy, Your glory share."

~Hymn by Frances R. Havergal, 1872

(published in the Trinity Hymnal)

"While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. BUT JESUS rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God."

~Luke 9:42-43, ESV (emphasis mine)

When was the last time I was astonished at the majesty of God?

When was the last time you were astonished at the majesty of God?

We're often astonished by so many things: breathtaking musical talent, incredible athletic ability, jaw-dropping acts of illusionists, amazing (and often humorous) animal antics and even the evil we see all around the world. I'm not saying this is wrong. What I'm saying is, are we more astonished by these creations, or their Creator?

We live in a generation deluged with information through news, videos and social media. With this influx of information it seems we've forgotten the most important aspect of communication—listening. We've forgotten how to stop and smell the roses, that is, linger on a thought and consider it in the light of the Gospel, rather than in the darkness of our own opinions, or that of others.

The things we mostly think about, talk about, share with others and are astonished by, proves what we value, and therefore, determines where we spend the majority of our time—in the Word or in the world.

If we, as professing believers, valued God more than this world, we would spend more time in His Word. And like Mary of Bethany, we would sit at Jesus' feet, that is, read Scripture, and listen intently to every word that comes from His mouth; with an increasing and fervent desire to know Him more in order to love Him better. I know this for a fact because there is nothing greater or equal to the LORD of hosts. And thus, there is nothing more astonishing than God and the things of God.

There should never be a time in a Christian's life where upon reading the Scriptures, we are not astonished. Even reading the genealogies is astonishing. You think not? Well, I encourage you to read and study them again. If you do, you'd find some astonishing facts about who's related to who and who gets to be included in the earthly genealogy of Jesus Christ.

The fact that we mere mortals have God's transcendent Word and can understand the eternal meaning, is in itself...astonishing.

"But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory...these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God."

~1 Cor 2:7, 10-12 (ESV)

Like the demon possessed boy in Luke 9, prior to salvation, we're all possessed by our own evil desires that thrust us to the ground: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of possessions (1 Jn 2:16). We all desperately fall short of the glory of God and wallow in our cesspool of sins; blinded by the idols we create for ourselves, whether by graven images or the imaginations of our crafty minds.

So the fact that a holy, righteous and just God takes notice of us in our putrid state, is astonishing to say the least. The fact that God chose me, a wretched sinner, before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:3-6), to call as His own possession, a daughter of the Most High God...is...astonishing! I know me. And I would've never picked me. But thanks be to God Almighty, like the demon possessed boy in Luke 9, there's a "But Jesus..." for me too. And because of this truth, I am eternally freed and healed from the captivity and penalty of my sins.

I am astonished at God's majesty I see daily in creation; like the bright and enormous stars that seem so small from where I stand. I'm astonished at God's mercy that sent His one and only Son as a propitiation for my sins and poured out His wrath on the sinless Christ instead of me (2 Cor 5:21). I'm astonished at God's compassion that remembers that I am yet but dust (Ps 103:13-14) and gives to me according to His wisdom and not according to my folly. I'm astonished at God's steadfast love and faithfulness that preserves me when I break faith with Him by sinning (Ps 40:11, 2 Tim 2:13). I'm astonished that God continually grants me the gift of repentance and forgiveness when I sin, because He keeps His promises (Phil 1:6).

I could go on and on about all that astonishes me about God, but I echo what the Apostle John recorded in the last verse of his gospel (John 21:25), "Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." And though it's impossible to list all that astonishes me about God, I won't stop doing it and sharing it with others (Ps 9:1-2). I can't help it (Acts 4:20).

This should be true for everyone who professes the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. There truly is, more than we can ever number, wonderful things that ought to astonish us about God. The question and challenge for us then is this, "Are we as often if not more, astonished at the things of God, as we are by the things of this world?"

If we spend more time with the Lord, through reading, mediating, studying, memorizing, praying and sharing His Word, I know we'll all be less cynical and critical about the world we live in, and more grateful for the astonishing Christ that lives in us (Gal 2:20).

"You have multiplied, O LORD my God, Your wondrous deeds and thoughts toward us; none can compare with You! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told."

~Psalm 40:5, ESV (emphasis mine)

Authors and media representatives occasionally contact me to review their book or movie. Ninety percent of the time I say "No". I don't decline their request to be unkind, but most often the reasons are: I have to manage my time wisely due to the effects of my rare metabolic disease; we have different theological views and I don't enjoy writing a bad review just because I don't agree with a non-essential; and finally, I can't recommend the book or movie because I didn't really like it and don't desire to discourage a brother or sister in Christ simply because their work didn't interest me.

When I was contacted by Sandy Boikian, the writer, director and co-producer of "Leaving Limbo", I actually said, "Yes" and I'm delighted I did.

"Leaving Limbo" is an honest and refreshing look at the life of its main character, Monica (Mandy Brown), who has miraculously awaken from a 19-year coma. It was based on the stage play "My Wonderful Coma" by the same playwright Sandy Boikin.

While waking from a 19-year coma might seem outrages to most, it's not unheard of. As a matter of fact, if you search the internet about long term coma survivors, you'll read stories about people like Mr. Jan Grzebski, a Polish man who woke from a 19-year coma after being hit by a train. Mr. Grzebski was happy to wake up and find that communism no longer ruled and there was plenty of food for everyone.

Genre: Inspirational Drama

MPAA Rating: NR

Run Time: 94 minutes plus extras

Release Date: July 2, 2013

Awards: Click here

Produced by: Bruised Reed Productions, LLC (Sandy Boikian, Lisa Boore Lambert)

Synopsis

The movie opens with Scripture, Joel 2:25, on a black screen, then fades to a 1989 scene where four high schoolers (Monica, Ben, Tuesday and Wallace) are at the movie theater on a double date. Later, overly confident and loud Wallace drives recklessly causing a serious car accident.

Nineteen years later, while Monica lies lifeless in a hospital bed, we hear the cheerful voice of her nurse Rosa (Amy Mathieson) chatting away about her life. Rosa endearingly calls Monica "lamby" and we see her fixing Monica's hair, doing her nails, dressing her for different occasions, taking pictures, etc. over the course of 11 years.

Then one day, while Rosa is chatting and caring for Monica...she wakes up.

When Monica discovers she's been in a coma for 19 years, she's understandably in tears. Overwhelmed she went to "sleep" as a 19-year-old and woke up as a 38-year-old; no longer engaged to her high school sweetheart and having to face the reality that her niece is mentally and socially older than she is, drives Monica into a whirlwind of selfishness and anger.

Monica is incensed that her fiancé Ben (Elias Cecil) and best friend Tuesday (Noelle Perris) didn't stand by her bedside, but quickly forgot about her and went on with their lives.

Though her loving and selfless father Jack (David Fruechting) and adoring niece Jordan (Lauren Montgomery) stood by her side for 19 years, praying and believing God would work a miracle, Monica is still brooding. She spends the first portion of the movie talking like an '80s teenager and behaving like one too...selfish, loud, immature and envious of everything others have rather than be grateful for all that's beautiful in her life.

As the movie works through the true turmoils someone in Monica's situation might experience, it continually weaves in the message of forgiveness, gratitude and a trust in God's sovereignty even, or rather, especially when we don't understand why some things happen.

Pros

Though this movie is not marketed/categorized as a Christian film, I love that it opens with Scripture and rightly displays Christian love, forgiveness (except in one scene), peace, patience and ultimately hope in God's infinite goodness and wisdom rather depending on our finite ways and perspective.

I loved the scenes where the Bible was studied, enjoyed and rightly applied to real life situations within the context of the passages shared. I am zealous for the Word of God and sound doctrine; therefore get indignant when God's holy Word and His precepts are marginalized by anyone who erroneously uses the Bible only to make their worldly point.

I enjoyed the comic relief portions of the film, as well as the real and raw emotions displayed by Monica. Rather than portray Monica with a plastic heart and plastic smile, I was delighted to find myself annoyed with her where I should be annoyed, compassionate where I should be compassionate and rejoicing with her where I should be rejoicing.

I liked that Monica's character wasn't perfect, but she was deep enough to finally get it—that her life and the lives of those around her, wasn't all about her and how she perceived things to be. It was refreshing to see her struggle through the difficult realities she had to face and slowly overcome them through the constant encouragement of those around her who continued to live their lives with gratitude towards God.

Cons

Often when stage plays are adapted for a movie, it's a plus to have the same actor play the main character (like Robert Preston in "The Music Man"). This proved true for the majority of Mandy Brown's acting for this movie, however, I found Monica's first waking moments to be a bit unrealistic (it seemed canned and rushed); lacking the proper grogginess and confused emotions needed for a 19-year coma patient.

I don't know what order the scenes were shot, but the "pro" of this "con" is, Mandy's acting got better as the movie went on.

As mentioned in my "Pros" above, there was one scene where Christian forgiveness was not inline with the biblical definition of forgiveness. Rather, the worldly one that has crept into many churches, also crept into this movie by way of this one scene.

Monica says to Wallace, "Do you believe God has forgiven you?" to which Wallace answers, "Yes, but I know I have to suffer the consequences for my actions." Then Monica, says, "God has forgiven you. My dad has forgiven you and I've forgiven you. You need to forgive yourself." She had it right...until the last statement. Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded or taught to forgive ourselves.

This unbiblical teaching of forgiving self, puts the focus on the non-existent power of self to provide freedom from the destructive nature and bondage of our sins. If as Christians, we profess that no one can be granted forgiveness from God the Father without repentance and faith in the Son of God, then we must live by the truth that Christ alone has the power to free us from the penalty of our sins. God's grace and forgiveness is more than sufficient for any of us to move on from any devastating circumstance; whether caused by us or others.

Conclusion

I gave "Leaving Limbo" three out of five stars because it's a good, family friendly movie with a mostly good script, a good message, and is a movie I would recommend to others (as I'm doing now). The biblical accuracy on the essentials was a plus, and the majority of the acting was on spot. The camera work, sound and lighting were good too.

There aren't many movies I enjoy watching because the majority of them have been infested with profanity and sexual content which are all unnecessary for one to make a good movie and tell a good story. So watching a movie like "Leaving Limbo" that grabs your attention and moves your heart, without the employment of any immorality, was very refreshing and entertaining!

It's great to be able watch an engaging movie without feeling like you have to repent and take a shower afterwards.

You can purchase "Leaving Limbo" from these two sources: Leaving Limbo DVD or Amazon.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ASL) commonly known as Lou Gherig's Disease, is a fatal neuromuscular disease that presently has no cure. No ALS patient is alike. Some people experience a slow degeneration, while others experience a more rapid degeneration of the motor neurons in their brain and spinal cord that disperse messages to allow voluntary muscle function throughout their body. Variant rates of motor neuron degeneration allows for patients diagnosed with ALS to live anywhere from three to five years after diagnoses.

The "ALS Ice Bucket Challenge" campaign began with "SC Featured: Pete's Challenge" shown in the video below.

Many people are taking the "ALS Ice Bucket Challenge". I think this is a fun and fantastic way to promote awareness and garner financial support to help people afflicted with ALS, as well as finance research to find a cure.

A good way to accomplish this is to support organizations like Team Gleason. This organization was founded by Steve Gleason, former NFL player and current ALS braveheart. Their mission is to "Help provide individuals with neuromuscular diseases or injuries with leading edge technology, equipment and services. Create a global conversation about ALS to ultimately find solutions and an end to the disease. Raise public awareness toward ALS by providing and documenting extraordinary life adventures for individuals with muscular diseases or injuries."

Team Gleason partners with many organizations to accomplish their mission and one of them is Cord Blood Registry (CBR). Organizations like CBR only collect, store and use stem cells from the umbilical cords of newborn babies rather than harvest them from the helpless bodies of aborted, unborn babies.

A not so good way to promote awareness and support for ALS is to donate to the ALS Association. Though ALS Association promotes the betterment of current ALS patients and research to help find a cure, they do not promote or encourage the betterment of all life; specifically, precious and innocent unborn babies.

The ALS Association offers grants to many research organizations and one of them is the Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS).

On the NEALS website, they state, "These stem cells have been engineered from the spinal cord of a single fetus electively aborted after eight weeks of gestation. The tissue was obtained with the mother's consent."

The extraction of stem cells from unborn babies is completely unnecessary for this or any research. There are many other options for stem cell research where the opportunity to live is not callously stripped away from a precious innocent baby.

I wholeheartedly support and encourage more prayer and awareness for ALS patients and their families to: acquire expensive equipment, obtain exemplary medical care and look forward to research that may discover a cure for this fatal disease.

As a Christian, I unashamedly stand for life...all life.

Because I am an image-bearer of the Creator and because He so graciously granted me the gift of repentance that leads to life-giving faith in Jesus Christ, I desire nothing less for any other human being—whether they reside inside or outside the womb.

All life is precious and all life should be protected, supported and allowed to maintain the quality of life we all desire.

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