Everything You Know Is About To Change Forever

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:
PRINCE CASPIAN

Directed By
Andrew Adamson

Written by
Andrew Adamson
Christopher Markus
Stephen McFeely

Based on The Novel by
C.S. Lewis

Starring
Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes,
William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Sergio Castellitto,
Peter Dinklage, Warwick Davis, Eddie Izzard,
Tilda Swinton, and Liam Neeson


"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen."
HEBREWS 11:1


Join Us
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 at 7:00pm
in the CHAPEL ROOM at
CALVARY CHAPEL BURBANK

Is It Possible?

We tackled the difficult subject of demonic activity at our last meeting, watching Jennifer Carpenter's compelling turn in THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE. Part courtroom drama, part horror film, the story stays grounded in reality with believable performances from a credible cast. All leading up to the inevitable question: What really happened to Emily?

While the film owes a great deal to its 1973 predecessor, director Scott Derrickson doesn't need foul language or gruesome effects to engage his audience. With the help of Paul Boardman, his producer/co-writer, he portrays the scary moments with both eyes open, allowing the viewer to determine if Emily is truly possessed, or merely suffering from medically explainable conditions.

We discussed how focusing on the demonic can lead down a confusing path. Some see a demon around every corner, while others rule out demonic influence in the life of a believer. And then there are those who see spiritual warfare as some kind of power struggle, ranging from deliverance ministries to outright exorcism.

Rather than go down any number of rabbit holes, we zeroed in on scripture, where the emphasis is on who we are in Christ. Here is where true freedom can be found! There are so many blessings for the believer in Jesus that we could have spent all night praising God for them. Here are just a few:

I am God's child.
JOHN 1:12

As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
JOHN 15:15

I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
COLOSSIANS 1:13-14

I am a citizen of heaven.
PHILIPPIANS 3:20

I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
EPHESIANS 3:12

I can do all things through Christ,
who strengthens me.
PHILIPPIANS 4:13

These eternal promises are true for the believer right now! None can be taken away by our adversary.

Precept after precept, the Bible builds the case that God loves us and "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 TIM 2:4). While we are not to be unaware of the devil's schemes (2 COR 2:11), our focus should be on the Lord Jesus Christ, who has already overcome the world (JOHN 16:33)!

As always, we ended our time in prayer for the cast and crew of the film, asking God to redeem their gifts to glorify himself.

If you're still curious about our ministry, please email me, find me on Facebook, Twitter, or go old school and talk to me in person at church!

See you next time at THE DECODER RING.

It has begun. Let us pray.

THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE

rated PG13

(for intense horrific scenes and subject matter)

Written by

Paul Harris Boardman

and Scott Derrickson

Directed by

Scott Derrickson

Starring

Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson,

Campbell Scott and Jennifer Carpenter.

Watch it with us

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23rd at 7:00pm

in the Chapel Room at

CALVARY CHAPEL BURBANK

"Be merciful to those who doubt;

snatch others from the fire and save them;

to others show mercy, mixed with fear."

JUDE 1:22-23a

Wake Up!

At our last DECODER RING screening, we traveled to the alien world of Pandora, following ex-marine Jake Sully as he incorporates the Avatar of a Na'vi warrior. Jake discovers a whole new world of beauty and wonder as the exotic Neytiri teaches him her tribe's ways. When the Na'vi home is threatened, Jake rallies them against the oppressors... his fellow humans.

Watching James Cameron's mega-hit movie AVATAR is a conflicting experience. On the one hand, it is immersive, beautiful and detailed. On the other, the ideas and beliefs presented are confusing and ultimately dangerous. We had a lot of ground to cover, and I'm grateful to everyone who made it through to the end.

First off, I must acknowledge the incredible leap forward that James Cameron has made here. It cannot be overstated that this is a truly advanced cinematic experience. AVATAR is a marker in film history when everything changed. The technology to produce AVATAR had to be created by the director himself, including the Cameron/Pace fusion 3D camera system. The computer graphic artists melded the actors' performances with alien characteristics for an unforgettable presentation.

Despite all of the spectacle however, the story lingers on the culture and spirituality of the Na'vi people. We are trained along with Jake to literally connect with animals, plants, trees, and ultimately their ancestors and goddess. If all of this sounds familiar, well, it is. Heavy doses of Native American religion are present here, modified to fit an alien race. Add the modern twist of logging in to be someone else in another world, and you've got a destructive pairing of escapism and paganism.

I wrote a review of AVATAR when it first came out, elaborating on the three main agendas of the film: the Military-Industrial Complex, Environmentalism, and Pantheistic Spirituality. The greatest danger of the film is tying a political stance (the green movement) to false teaching (worshiping nature) with a supposedly scientific basis.

Here is the truth: God is not nature. God CREATED nature. The first words in the bible echo this timeless reality:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
GENESIS 1:1

Do you believe that?

Unfortunately, James Cameron (one of my favorite filmmakers) is a professed atheist. And he is propagating falsehood through entertainment. With AVATAR, he is promoting an agenda that despite its good intentions has real power to turn people away from the one true Creator-God and his only son, Jesus Christ.

So we prayed for Jim, his wife Suzy, and the rest of the cast and crew that the LORD would bring them to himself and they would use their incredible talents for His kingdom. And we prayed for all those who have watched this film, that their eyes would be opened, and their ears would hear the still small voice of God calling their name.

See you next time at THE DECODER RING.

Just relax and let your mind go blank.

AVATAR
rated PG13
(for language, sci-fi violence, and some sensuality)

Writen and Directed by
James Cameron

Produced by
Jon Landau
James Cameron

Starring
Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver,
Stephen Lang, Joel Moore, Giovanni Ribisi,
Michelle Rodriguez, Laz Alonso, and Wes Studi

"In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made."
JOHN 1:1-3

Join us
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 at 6:30pm
in the Chapel Room at
CALVARY CHAPEL BURBANK

See You There!

COLLISION Encore Presentation

rated PG
(mature themes, some language)

Directed by
Darren Doane

Produced by
David Hagopian
Gary Demar
Josh Karchmer

"Starring"
Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson


See to it that no one takes you captive
through hollow and deceptive philosophy,
which depends on human tradition
and the basic principles of this world
rather than on Christ.
COLOSSIANS 2:8

A Special Encore Presentation
SATURDAY, JULY 24 at 7:00pm
in the CHAPEL ROOM at
CALVARY CHAPEL BURBANK

I Know Where I Am With Him

What could I possibly say after our last screening at The Decoder Ring? I stand amazed. Amazed at the Holy Spirit for taking the reins and leading us all into one of the most genuine, spiritual, positive, productive, blessed, and deeply moving times in the Word I've ever had. I cannot thank Him enough for the power He showed us last Saturday. It was epic.

Lots of new faces graced us as we prepared for a COLLISION of worldviews: Atheism and Christianity. Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson battled it out in the marketplace of ideas for the hearts and minds of the audience, both the one on film and the one watching this documentary. Points on both sides were won and lost. But in the end, Hitchens volunteered a startling position. When proposing the scenario that he could eliminate all belief from the entire world... well, if you watched the documentary, you know where he stood. ;-)

Inevitably, debates like this one run into recycled arguments and eventually a stalemate. But where the film ended, our Bible study began. We tackled all the inconsistencies in an Anti-Theist stance, and noted several places that Pastor Wilson might have used scripture instead of secular literature as the basis of his arguments. Hard questions were asked during the discussion, and biblical answers were offered from everyone: many different angles, all positive and edifying! It was a blessing to see the church truly be the church.

We pored over the scriptures, reading words from thousands of years ago that are startlingly relevant in today's world. We opened up to the Spirit to lead us in prayer for director Darren Doane, Christopher Hitchens, and Douglas Wilson. And we basked in God's promises for everyone who seeks him. For the Bible says,

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests,
prayers, intercession and thanksgiving
be made for everyone—
for kings and all those in authority,
that we may live peaceful and quiet lives
in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
who wants all men to be saved and
to come to a knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one mediator
between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus"
1 TIMOTHY 2:1-5

Amen.

Thanks for joining us at The Decoder Ring.

See you next time!

----------------------

If you want to read more from Pastor Douglas Wilson check out his website

----------------------

Here is a list of the Apologetics resource books I brought to our study:

LETTERS FROM A SKEPTIC
Gregory A. Boyd and Edward K. Boyd

MORE THAN A CARPENTER
Josh McDowell

ANSWERS TO TOUGH QUESTIONS
Josh McDowell and Don Stewart

REASONS SKEPTICS SHOULD CONSIDER CHRISTIANITY
Josh McDowell and Don Stewart

THE CASE FOR FAITH
Lee Strobel

THERE IS A GOD
Antony Flew

He Appears to Really Believe It

rated PG
(mature themes, some language)

Directed by
Darren Doane

Produced by
David Hagopian
Gary Demar
Josh Karchmer

"Starring"
Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson


"The fool says in his heart,
'There is no God.'"
PSALM 14:1a

Join us SATURDAY, JUNE 26 at 7:00pm
in the CHAPEL ROOM at
CALVARY CHAPEL BURBANK

See You There!

Mind What You Have Learned. Help You It Can!

We had amazing time at The Decoder Ring as we celebrated the 30th anniversary of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, the best of the STAR WARS films. We returned to that galaxy far, far away and met up with new characters, familiar foes, and a heap of trouble for the rebel heroes. Issues of faith, destiny, paternity, integrity and perseverance are front and center in this character-driven, emotional second act of the original trilogy.

What makes EMPIRE, and for that matter, the STAR WARS saga, such a cultural phenomenon more than 30 years after the release of the original film? Lucas' vision of The Force, Yoda's wisdom, Luke and Vader's destinies... they play out like an epic tale akin to Roman and Greek legends. These aren't just movies. They have impacted the world in such a way they are a canon of cultural scripture.
There is so much we could investigate about THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, but we needed to narrow our focus to the big idea surrounding the nature of The Force. Is it like God? Or is it some impersonal, mystical thing that distracts us from knowing the true attributes of the LORD? We went line by line through Yoda's dialogue, comparing and contrasting this fictional energy field...

YODA
Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force.
But beware. Anger, fear, aggression.
The dark side are they.

... with what the Bible has to say. And the results are illuminating:

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you:
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
1 JOHN 1:5

God has no Dark Side! Such a marked difference. But does Jedi training have anything in common with biblical teachings? Later in the film, Yoda tells Luke,

YODA
You must unlearn what you have learned.

Gee, that sounds familiar...

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
ROMANS 12:2a

But the Bible adds a great reward in the second part of that verse:

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—
his good, pleasing and perfect will.
ROMANS 12:2b

Then comes the most poignant scene in the film, with words that have resonated for over 30 years:

The entire X-wing moves majestically, surely, toward the shore. Yoda stands on a tree root and guides the fighter carefully down toward the beach. Luke stares in astonishment as the fighter settles down onto the shore. He walks toward Yoda.

LUKE
I don't...I don't believe it.

YODA
That is why you fail.

Why is this statement so powerful? Because it cuts to the core of every single one of us. Jesus himself addressed this most personal of struggles in a person's heart:

Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"

"From childhood," he answered.
"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him.

"If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

" 'If you can'?" said Jesus.
"Everything is possible for him who believes."

Immediately the boy's father exclaimed,
"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

MARK 9:20-24

We all have a choice to make. A choice to take God at his own Word, or to fail in our unbelief. Jesus is ready to give life to your dead spirit and give you the gift of faith, if only you ask Him to. He is not some impersonal Force, some spiritual energy to be manipulated. God is a personal, just, holy, loving, and merciful God, with an eternity of grace at His disposal. To know him, to "train" (study) in His Word, and to live a life in the Spirit is the greatest adventure you can ever experience this side of heaven. Won't you come to Him and receive it?

At the end of our time we prayed for the filmmakers, cast and crew. For George Lucas and his children. For Harrison, Mark and Carrie. For the visual effects wizards and sound technicians. For director Irvin Kershner, who at the time of this writing is battling cancer. For all the wonderful, talented and creative people behind one of the greatest films ever made. That God would enter into their lives and redeem their talents, all to bring Him even more glory. Amen!

Thank you all for coming. See you next time at The Decoder Ring!

Luminous Beings Are We! Not This Crude Matter.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Directed by
IRVIN KERSHNER

Written by
LEIGH BRACKETT
LAWRENCE KASDAN

Story by
GEORGE LUCAS

Produced by
GARY KURTZ

Starring
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Frank Oz,
Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker,
Peter Mayhew, Alec Guiness,
David Prowse, and James Earl Jones

"For the kingdom of God
is not a matter of eating and drinking,
but of righteousness,
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit"
ROMANS 14:17

Join us SATURDAY MAY 22 at 7:00 pm
in the Chapel Room at
CALVARY CHAPEL BURBANK

I Have God To Thank For That

What a fun time at THE DECODER RING last Saturday! We watched the wonderful family film THE BLIND SIDE starring Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock. This film was adapted from the true life story of the Tuohy family and their relationship with a homeless young man, Michael Oher.

"Big Mike" is a young black student at an all-white Christian private school. Quiet and withdrawn, he is invited in by Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family on Thanksgiving weekend. All their lives change from that one small moment of grace.

THE BLIND SIDE is a wonderful break from the constant bombardment of negative messages from Hollywood. The Tuohys are a modern Christian family, trying to do their best to live out God's commands. Their community, their family, and their faith sustain them through their daily lives. And Michael Oher's story is an inspiration to us all.

We focused our discussion on our role as Christians in the world today. The Bible clearly states we are to "Make disciples of all nations" (MATTHEW 28:19a). How many "nations" are in your neighborhood? Who has the LORD placed on your heart? How can you--you personally--help someone in your sphere of influence? We centered on prayer for God to show us who is on His heart close to our own address.

We ended our time by praying for the cast and filmmakers, specifically for Sandra Bullock who at this time is enduring serious struggles in her private life. We also prayed for Alcon Entertainment, the production company for THE BLIND SIDE, that they would continue to develop and produce stories with biblical values and themes.

Thanks again for coming to THE DECODER RING. See you next time!

You Can Thank Me Later

rated PG-13

(brief violence and brief language )

Directed by
John Lee Hancock

Written by
Michael Lewis
John Lee Hancock

Starring
Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron,
Jae Head, Lily Collins, Ray McKinnon, Kathy Bates

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
MATTHEW 25:40

Join us Saturday, April 17 at 7:00pm
in the Chapel Room at
Calvary Chapel Burbank.

See You There!

Go Back To The Source

In the alternate history world of "9" we find ourselves in the aftermath of a World War. Every biological entity, including humans, has died. The only life that now exists is in the form of living dolls, trying to make their way in this desperate landscape. Unintentionally waking up the very machine that caused this destruction, they must band together to defeat it. With an uncertain future, they forge on.

Director Shane Acker won an Academy award for his animated short film of the same name. Now expanded into a feature length story, the ideas and designs can really flourish. Shane pulls from so many sources that they don't always fit together coherently, causing confusion in this visually compelling world.

Where the lines do seem to be drawn, however, is between the character "1" who represents the old religious order of things, and "9" who represents the uninformed and idealistic new. Throughout the film, Squinty-eyed "1" is portrayed as a heartless, fearful tyrant, and wide-eyed "9" glows with courage and skepticism. There is a point in the story where the religious attire of "1" gets caught in a bind, and "9" tells him, "You have to let it go!" Later, as they walk away from the danger, "1" looks on as his sanctuary, an old church, burns in the background. And then they all move on.

At THE DECODER RING, we focused on this concept of moving on, letting go of the supposed trappings of the past. We discussed Secular Humanism and its belief that mankind is perfectible. Then we moved to Postmodernism, where truth can be custom-tailored to each person individually. Skepticism, where everything in life is questioned ad nauseum (except for questioning Skepticism, of course!)

And, due to the filmmakers expressed intent to make the story ambiguous and open-ended, we finally settled on Deconstructionism, where regardless of the creator's intent and design, the audience breaks down all the elements presented to them to create their own meaning.

This lingering mindset prevails today. And it creates confusion when messages are received by the masses. It deceives people by robbing them of the truth regarding the message-maker's influences, agenda, and intent. In effect, all opinions are valid because their is no foundation of truth to rest upon.

Ah, but there is! Praise God that He's given us his Word. I remember the old song, "On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand." God gives us the security we need to stand sure-footed in this ever-shifting world.

Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching,
you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free."
JOHN 8:31b-32

At the end of our time we stopped and prayed for the filmmakers, cast and crew. All of these talented people have done amazing work, and we asked the LORD to call them to Himself so they can use their gifts to honor Him and share his message of salvation and grace with the world.

Thanks again for joining us at THE DECODER RING. See you next time.

Sometimes Fear Is The Appropriate Response

9
rated PG13
(for violence and scary images)

Produced by
TIM BURTON
TIMUR BEKMAMBETOV

Directed by
SHANE ACKER

Written by
SHANE ACKER
PAMELA PETTLER

Starring
ELIJAH WOOD, CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER,
JENNIFER CONNELLY, JOHN C. REILLY,
MARTIN LANDAU, CRISPIN GLOVER

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,
but a spirit of power,
of love and of self-discipline."
2 TIMOTHY 1:7

Join us SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 at 7:00pm
in the CHAPEL ROOM at
CALVARY CHAPEL BURBANK

See You There!