Second Tuesdays – Past the Popcorn
I love movies. I rarely go to the theater, but I do watch them at home on DVD. My favorites are quirky independents and thought-provoking dramas, as well as intelligent thrillers or movies with witty dialogue. So, when I learned about Past the Popcorn, I decided to feature it. This ministry offers movie reviews for the newest theater and video store releases; several of the contributers have theology degrees or have been contributors with Hollywood Jesus. But Past the Popcorn looks to review movies from an artistic perspective as well as – if possible – a faith perspective. From its website:
Who needs another website devoted to reviews and analysis of new film releases?
The basic premise behind our approach is the idea that the artist’s intent matters. By contrast, the so-called “fallacy” of authorial intent, one of the byproducts of twentieth-century formalism, claims that the critic or the viewer is the sole arbiter of meaning—that the filmmaker’s intent is ultimately irrelevant.
Yet at the same time, art of any form is still communication. Film, in particular, is an attempt by an artist or group of artists to express certain ideas about beauty, meaning, or truth. To the extent that a critic overemphasizes a subjective impression of a film at the expense of what a film actually says—or what can be known of a filmmaker’s intent through interviews, the filmmaker’s body of work, or the film itself—communication has not only failed, it has been willfully disregarded. Sadly, the vast majority of film criticism, while still making valuable contributions to the understanding of any given film or culture in general, tends to undervalue the communicative power of film.
I, personally, don’t think all Christian media is good simply because it’s labeled Christian. Nor do I think secular books, music, and movies have nothing to teach us about faith, especially when watched through the eyes of Christ. I like that Past the Popcorn “will attempt a serious analysis of a film’s meaning, both from the audience’s point of view and from the filmmakers’, as much as is critically possible. Recognizing that all films still exist (in part) as entertainment, films will also be subjectively reviewed for “nutritainment value” and audience-appropriateness.”
Other movie review ministries:
Plugged In Online: This site has been one of my favorite tools in regard to what I allow my son to watch. The reviews are presented only from a conservative Christian worldview – artist value is not considered – looking at all positive and negative elements, listing anything someone may find inappropriate. I appreciate the thoroughness, and like that I can be certain there will be no surprises if I let Jacob see a particular movie.
Hollywood Jesus: A great site that explores pop culture from a spiritual point of view. Everything from books to movies to comic books to toys and games are reviewed. Some rather thought-provoking questions are asked, too.
Second Tuesdays – Shoebox Ministry
I wanted to highlight Shoebox Ministry this month, not only to show how a simple but necessary idea can grow, but also to challenge other communities to conside establishing a similar outreach in their areas.
From the organization’s website:
Shoebox Ministry is located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Shoebox was founded in 1988 with a specific goal of meeting the personal hygiene needs of the homeless and working poor. We are the only agency in the greater Phoenix area that focuses on meeting this very important need. While we are not a shelter, we do distribute our toiletry kits through agencies and shelters that work directly with the homeless and working poor.
Shoebox has seen major growth and success throughout its nearly two decades in operation. The small non-profit that once only impacted the local area has now become a nation-wide program, with an outreach that has even extended beyond national borders.
What a wonderful idea. Shoebox fills, well, shoeboxes with necessary toiletry items, which are then distributed to those in need. You can find the “recipe” for the shoeboxes here, as well as an overview of the five other specialty events throughout the year (I particularly like the Mother’s Day purses and Undie Sundie).
You may not live anywhere near Arizona, but perhaps after reading this, you’ll be moved to contact your local homeless shelter, soup kitchen, or area working poor outreach, and ask if they’d be interested in some shoeboxes filled with toiletries. Or, perhaps you’ll consider starting a similar ministry in your own community.
Second Tuesdays – Make Way Partners
Human trafficking is the second largest industry in the world, and the fastest growing. There are many ministries and organizations working to fight this horrendous offense against human beings and God. One of these ministries is Make Way Partners.
Make Way Partners is passionate about sharing the hope of the Gospel with “the least of these,” and choses places of ministry where women and children are at highest risk of human trafficking, forced prostitution and other forms of modern-day slavery, and where little to no other help is available because it is considered either “too” dangerous, “too” expensive or “too” remote for most people to go. It’s focus is on Eastern Europe and Africa.
From its website:
Make Way Partners is a Christian mission agency committed to prevent and combat human trafficking and all forms of modern–day slavery by educating and mobilizing the Body of Christ. We build partnerships within the Body of Christ to call forth those willing to answer the Biblical call to seek justice on behalf of the oppressed through prayerful intercession, financial support, and ministry and mission service. To those who are oppressed and at high risk of trafficking, we offer indigenous ministries of counseling, discipleship, education, employment, food, medical, shelter, and transportation which offer hope and practical assistance in the fight for freedom
There are many ways to support Make Way Partners, from going on a short-term missions trip, to fundraising, to setting up a local MWP chapter. Some easy ways to give utilize Good Search (donates money for every Internet search you make) and iGive (a portion of your online purchase is donated to MWP – or the participating ministry of your choice).
While not affiliated with Make Way Partners, Stop the Traffik (a global movement working to combat the fastest growing global crime) offers an excellent 21-day prayer diary, highlighting the stories of men, women, and children who have experienced human trafficking firsthand, and giving specific prayer requests for each of the countries represented. Download it here for free.
Other ministries involved in the fight against human trafficking:
The Salvation Army: Due to the inherently abusive and exploitive nature of human trafficking, the Salvation Army considers all forms of trafficking in persons abhorrent. Combined with its mission to preach the gospel of Jesus and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination, these beliefs motivate it to work diligently for the prevention of human trafficking and for the restoration of trafficking survivors. For a free packet of information about sex trafficking, email your request along with your name and mailing address to: anti_sextrafficking@usn.salvationarmy.org.
Nightlight: A ministry in urban Bangkok, which reaches out to women and children working in the bar areas of Nana/Sukhumvit. Located in a neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the Light of the world in both word and deed to those who live in darkness. Donate directly or purchase jewelry made by the women who have left prostitution and are trying to support themselves and their families in other ways.
Second Tuesdays – Operation Kid-to-Kid
Jacob and I tend to have our most thought-provoking conversations in the car. We’re on the go often, and I suppose staring out windows lends itself to pondering. (I’m not going to admit I can’t count the number of times I’ve driven past my exit on the highway because I’ve been thinking…) The other day, we’re going to our homeschool co-op, and he said, “I don’t feel like I’m serving God enough.”
“You know what? I feel the same way,” I told him. “That’s the Holy Spirit talking to both of us. So, we need to pray together, and see what God might have us do.”
Now, Jacob is a 7-year-old man of action. He likes to do things. He likes tangible results, and wants to be directly involved. I went online, trying to find a way he could be a participant in a ministry, not just an observer or a fund raiser.
What I found was Operation Kid-to-Kid.
From the OK2K website:
Operation Kid-to-Kid is a partnership of Group Publishing, Inc., and nondenominational Christian organizations dedicated to creating hands-on service projects for children in North America. Operation Kid-to-Kid projects have impacted hundreds of thousands of kids all over the world.
Over the years, Group’s Operation Kid-to-Kid has become one of the largest forces mobilizing children in serving other children around the world. Hundreds of thousands of kids have been impacted with gifts of school supplies, Bibles, hygiene kits, Christmas gifts, Bible Coloring Books, and socks and shoes.
OK2K has has offered different projects over the years (but all seem to be on-going; you can still order the supplies from the Group store); this year’s projects are the Comfort Critters and the Prayer Bears. They’re similar – a flannel bear or turtle that children can stuff themselves. Each animal also has a pocket where kids can write a personal message to the recipient. The bears are distributed by the International Bible Society to orphans in Africa, while the turtles are given to children in the United States who have been though disasters, such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes, or hurricanes.
This was just what Jacob was looking for. We ordered 80 bears and turtles, and in April we’re having a Kid-to-Kid ministry party; Jacob sent invitations to his friends, asking the to “come help share Jesus’ love,” and we’re going to stuff animals, eat pizza, and then pack up the little critters and pray over them before shipping them off to their new homes. I’ll post photos of the project party next month.
For ordering information on the Prayer Bears, click here; for the Comfort Critters, click here.
Second Tuesdays – Living Water International
A child dies every 15 seconds dues to the lack of clean water. But, Living Water International has been working in 26 countries for the past 16 years, bringing water to 9.5 million people every day.
From its website:
Living Water International exists to demonstrate the love of God by helping communities acquire desperately needed clean water, and to experience “living water”—the gospel of Jesus Christ—which alone satisfies the deepest thirst.
Access to clean water is the foundation for other forms of development. Without easy access to water that is safe, countless hours are spent in water collection and household income is spent on purchasing water and medical treatment for water-related diseases. Safe, clean water removes the single heaviest burden from the lives of the poorest people in our world. Not having to deal with this daily crisis means time for school and work, life and health, and allows individuals and communities to plan for tomorrow.
Living Water International lists many ways to take action and help provide pure, fresh water to those in need. Monetary donations are one way, of course. It costs an average of $0.98 per day to one person for one year. The organization also provides media materials and ideas for fund raisers or “getting the word out.” You can also volunteer to help both in the United States or be trained to get your hands dirty doing field work internationally.
Jacob and I are now taking a “$1 a day” challenge for the month – he’ll earn the money doing extra chores around the home, and I’ll match his earnings, and each night we will add gift to the giving jar, praying that our donation will quench the physical and spiritual thirst of two individuals.
