Things I Think
1. “Avengers: Endgame” is a world wide movie phenomenon. Why should you care? Because it means that the world is still interested in narratives that speak of virtues like sacrificial love, redemption, and heroism, and the reality of good and and the reality of evil.
It means that we can come together around these noble truths even in our terribly fractured societies. It means that people will still take the time and spend the money to hear great stories…and we have the greatest story of all to tell…
2. Speaking of evil…we had to make haste to see the movie before we inadvertently came across “spoilers”, either online or off. There were people deliberately trying to ruin the experience of the movie for other by divulging plot outcomes and events in the movie. There are people who can’t stand to see others find joy in anything…and they don’t just try to spoil movies…
3. I didn’t want to know any “spoilers” because I wanted the people who made the movie to tell the story they wanted to tell, the way they wanted to tell it. That desire, by the way…to let people tell their own stories their own way… is a gift we should give each other always…
4. All day and into the evening on Saturday the “trending” topic on Twitter was a thank you thread to the all the people that made “Endgame”. Think about that…instead of the usual vitriol and arguments, people took the time to be thankful for something…
5. I confess that my emotions got the better of me a few times during the movie. I was invested in these characters and invested in their stories. It was a good pastoral practice refresher…
6. We should…we must… once again recognize the power of both story and art and wildly encourage those in the church gifted in both…
7. There is joy in doing and experiencing things in community…I’m glad I shared this movie with a theatre full of people and not by myself at home…anything that draws us out of our cocoons is valuable these days…
8. Movies and life are all about suspending unbelief…
9. Dragging politics into this movie would have spoiled the heart of the story…make your own application…
10. How can we tell the greatest story ever told better than we are now?
phoenixpreacher@gmail.com
#-10. A question worth a ponder
It is strange how the world loves the supernatura!… Unti l it comes to what the Bible relates
LOL, I was looking forward to my post-Lenten return to the PhxP so I could comment, point by point, like I used to do, on your Monday Thoughts. But I have never seen this movie (and probably won’t) so I don’t have anything to say, probably to the relief of everyone!
Christ is risen!
I felt much the same the previous week when I took a couple of the grandkids to see the new Dumbo movie.
The good guys won and the bad guys lost. I even had happy misty eyes a couple of times.
Xenia,
I’ll be a little broader next week!
We’re all glad you’re back…
MLD,
Good on you for taking them…it was good to see families together at this one.
Em,
I think it’s how we tell the story that turns people off that may receive it otherwise…
Is it essential to see Captain Marvel first?
London,
No…but that’s worth seeing too.
I want to see it too, but I want to see Endgame before someone ruins it for me.
London,
We went out of town Friday to see it a smaller theatre (Medford was sold out for days)so no one would ruin for me.
If you’ve seen the first two Avengers movies you’ll get it…
Michael @ 11:26
If it is “how we tell it,” does that mean that we have become salesmen? eternal life, holy God, hell. .. Shoved in the back to sell prosperous life in the here and now? You, too, can be like the Pastor’s wife and kids who shop high end stores and expensive designer salons?
Em,
No.
It means that we teach in such a way that people can receive it.
Trey learns much more quickly through video than written word…I think things like The Bible Project on YouTube are solid gold…
As for spoilers, (not specific to any particular movie) I’m guessing that few want to spoil the story for others, but many want to be first to discuss or make a particular comment while a movie is the current popular thing.
Telling the story today – visual, where available, has always been more gripping that the written word. A few weeks ago our little church enacted Mary tipping a whole container of perfume on Jesus. Our pastor said that story stuck in people’s minds – I hope so, because I smelt like a whole container of perfume the rest of the day.
I tend to think telling the story while living in the story is best. But I don’t know what that loos like most of the time.
Eric,
“I tend to think telling the story while living in the story is best.”
Well said…
Agreeing with Michael @ 5:01 well said, Eric, well said indeed
Thank you for your broader comments on story and narrative–under valued and often misunderstood in our culture. Yet, we all have a story itching to be told if anyone would take the time to listen and/or ask. The way around the impasse of our times is to listen. When we hear the back-story of others lives, we better understand their choices, needs, and uniqueness. It is the opening for relationship that gives the purchase for sharing our gospel. May we move forward towards loving encounter by closing our mouths and opening our ears.