What is Peace?

My wife loves to tell the story of a wealthy businessman who once commissioned two artists to paint something which best depicted peace.

The first artist painted a beautiful landscape of the countryside on a warm spring day. A cloudless sky, a picturesque farm house, soft sunlight on rolling hills...A farmer walked behind strong plow horses making his field ready for planting, while the cattle grazed peacefully. Everyone who looked upon the painting agreed: it was a great depiction of peace.

The second artist painted a majestic, rugged cliff. Gnarled trees, twisted by years of violent winds, jutted from the craggy mountainside. Dark and threatening clouds hung low and fierce, while jagged streaks of lightning slashed across the angry sky. The painting was a picture of violence, chaos, and rage.

The businessman was confused. "This is peace?" he thought.

But as he continued to look at this unsettling painting, he noticed something. There, in one of the crevices of the rocky mountain, tucked back just out of reach of the wind and rain-- was a nest with two tiny birds. Undisturbed by the raging storm, the little birds looked peaceful and calm as they waited for the turbulence to pass.

The world defines peace as "absence of conflict." But that's not how the Bible describes peace. Jesus promised we would know tribulation in this life--Christians are not given a "Get Out of Difficulty Free" card. But he also promised us his peace:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."--John 14:27

The peace of Christ is not the peace of the world, it's not the absence of conflict. It's the peace of knowing that as hard as the winds blow, as loud as the thunder is, as turbulent as the storm may be...he gives us a "nesting place" in the midst of it all.

Top 10 Emergent Church Buzzwords or Terms Used to Diagnose Psychosis

10. Abductive
9. Dissociative
8. Borderline
7. Compulsive
6. Intersubjective
5. Deconstructive
4. Trialectic
3. Systemic
2. Disintegrative

and the number 1 Emergent Church Buzzword or Term Used to Diagnose Psychosis is...

1. Catharsis (tie)

Six Movies to Cure the Winter Blues

If you're at all like me, when the weather gets colder and the days get shorter...sometimes it's a real struggle to keep a smile on your face. Since this blog is called "The Film Pastor," devoted in equal parts to matters of the heart and celluloid, why not kick off this new incarnation with a list that addresses both? With that in mind, let me present for your consideration (and debate!)...my sure-fire list of movies to lift the spirits and beat the winter blues. Don't agree? Have another film that's your "go-to" flick for a good mood? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

1. Singin' in the Rain (1952)--Who can be down while Gene Kelley has a smile on his face? I dare you not to smile yourself. Sit back and soak it in.

2. Waking Ned Devine (1998)--Nothing beats the blahs like an 80-year-old man on a motorcycle...naked as a jaybird. Quirky Irish humor at its best.

3. Secondhand Lions (2003)--Joy and love are found in the most unlikely places, and with the most unlikely people. A great coming-of-age tale, with rousing tales within.

4. The Princess Bride (1987)--C'mon, you know you need to watch it again.

5. The Rocketeer (1991)--An underrated gem with an infectious spirit in the best "ordinary-guy-becomes-superhero" tradition. Timothy Dalton in villain mode!

6. Peter Pan (2003)--I'll never understand why this one wasn't more popular. A great version of J.M. Barrie's classic tale. Jason Isaacs as Captain Hook--need I say more?

Apologies to those who find naked old men on motorcycles offensive. And if you have small children, watch the language in "Secondhand Lions."