Church vs Hollywood

Today because of the coronavirus situation, while Hollywood is virtually shut down, the Christian churches and institutions are ramping up media production to the highest levels in history.

From live streaming worship services, to producing short videos, to impromptu Facebook/ Instagram videos and webinars – churches and ministry organizations across the country are answering the call to reach out and connect through media.

While Walt Disney Studios, Universal, Fox, Lionsgate and other film studios sitting silent, churches and ministries are up trying to catch up with the demand in an unprecedented quest to share Christ to the post-Corona world.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church had already several aces in its "missiological sleeve":

1. eschatology - 2nd coming of Jesus,
2. lifestyle and heath-reform and
3. the 7th day Sabbath as an everlasting sign from God.

Combined with the power of the (4). media - quality movies (not just recording sermons and Revelation seminars), documentaries and fictional stories, courageous debates, and reality shows - it's going to be the ace-high straight flush or Royal Flush.

Movies? Yes. The tremendous power of this tool is undeniable. If the amateurish low budget "Tell the World" had such an impact on our people, imagine what a movie director like Martin Scorsese or Stephen Spielberg can do with a clever script on Revelation 14 or the Desire of Ages in reaching the entire world.
Or maybe I am the only one dreaming of reviving the Adventist Lazarus?

Soccer and Life

Soccer, in my opinion, it best represents life’s struggle between chaos and order, between pandemonium and what in the NT Greek is “telos”. 

A top soccer club has to have great organization, and players need to have a strong base of fundamental skills. But it’s the teams and players that are creative and thrive in chaos/ randomness that win game after game and finally the championships.

I’ve watched on Youtube a game in the English Premier league, a regular season game: Arsenal vs Norwich City, back in 2013. Arsenal’s on the attack, and Norwich has eight men back defending. A midfield named Cazorla slots a pass to the French player Giroud, who flicks it over to Jack Wilshere, who flicks it back to Giroud, who one-times it forward to Wilshere, who finishes. There were seven perfect passes in a row. Perfect creativity amid chaos and randomness, just pure beauty. All about being part of the team and helping the team. I just don’t see that in any other sport.

I don’t mind other sports, but they all have their issues in this area of creativity and team vs. individual. For example, baseball - it seems way too dependent on traditions and statistics with little opportunity for creativity. The spectators can almost predict every situation. 

I’ve watched only a couple of live baseball games and I was bored to death. Football is more spectacular but still plagued by these too frequent interruptions. Not even counting the fact that the coach tells the players what and when to do - if they suppose to use the #5C or #3B scheme at any given moment. Disclaimer - I do not want to offend any football fan. '

While soccer has to rely on a general shape and a team philosophy, the best teams operate freely inside of those structures. 

And this is a good illustration of our lives playing for a team called church. The Coach is there to motivate its players and the players are using their talents, energy and strong bond that unites the team for victory.