Souljourn

Summer Blockbusters

The adventure starts again on Friday

Inspired by a toy maker

We watched ‘Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium’ last night with the family. I have to say it was a far better movie than I was anticipating.

The movie had great themes about imagination, possibilities, an optimistic outlook, believing in yourself and, really living your life – every second of it.  While I enjoyed the movie I am not going to suggest you watch it or don’t watch it as movie reviews and referrals are highly subjective.  I’m sure the reading audience’s movie tastes run from Casablanca to Shanghai Noon (a classic!) so I will leave it in your capable hands whether you ever see this movie or not.

There was one line in the movie that really made me think and I definitely consider it a line worth repeating.  In the movie, the character played by Dustin Hoffman, Mr. Magorium, is encouraging his young apprentice Mahoney (Natalie Portman) to embrace the challenges of life that lie ahead of her.  In this context he says to her:
                                    “Your life is an occasion, rise to it.”

As soon as he (Magorium) said those words I felt inspired.  That one short sentence spoke volumes about the great significance of our lives.  Our lives are too important to live casually, or carelessly.  There is too much adventure awaiting us to live ‘sitting down’.  If what we have been called to do, we already feel capable of doing, then perhaps we need to revisit what it is we feel called to do. 

The opportunities and challenges that lie before us should beckon us onward.  They should demand the very best from us and, pull the very best from us.

I don’t want to ever settle for a mediocre existence that only requires me to half-heartedly approach each day with little or no exertion or growth.   I want to stand amongst an army of passionate ‘imagineers’ that see with the eyes of the Spirit and boldly lay hold of all God’s promises.

When you look to the horizon what is it you see?  Do you see endless Kingdom possibilities that will span the globe and change the world?  Do you see opportunities all around you to make a difference in the life of those around you?  Are you filled with a growing sense of wonder & amazement at the handiwork of our Creator and the season we are living in?

I’ll close with the words of Mr. Magorium – ‘Your life is an occasion, rise to it.'

Please don't call me on the evening of May 22nd...I'll be busy

12 21 07

I've got some ideas to use this for our Christmas series.  The way I see it there was no greater treasure hunt than the one the wiseguys took.  A treasure so great that it would change the course of human history.  A treasure spoken about in ancient prophecies and archived manuscripts.  A journey laid out in the stars. A treasure hunt that would take our explorers across foreign lands, into the hallways of government and put their very lives at risk.   

If you've got any other ideas I'd love to hear them.  It is getting close to production time.