Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

A Tale of Two Movies

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Photo by Lynda Sanchez on Unsplash

Summertime is movie time, and I recently talked my husband into paying good money to go see  The Hustle starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson.  Don’t come at me Hatha-haters, I think she is alright.  The main reason I wanted to see it, however, is that it was marketed as a remake of the 1988 cult classic Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Steve Martin and Michael Caine.  I love Steve Martin and I LOVED this movie, which Rotten Tomatoes certifies at 89% fresh.  Now, I don’t always agree with the Rotten Tomatoes critics, so I was undeterred by it’s paltry 15% rotten rating of new flick.

 

I should have been deterred.  Rebel Wilson, who I think can be charming, has built her career thus far on the cheap and easy laugh.  My husband hates that type.  But he loves me.  Bless him.  So he endured what was, mercifully, a short cinematic disappointment.  The stars, frankly, lacked charisma and the whole thing fell short of the wit and appeal of the original.  I know, I know.  Remakes are never as good as the original.  Except sometimes they are.  I loved The Fugitive (ok a TV show remake, but still a remake), the new Aladdin (critics didn’t really agree with me), Ocean’s 11, The Parent Trap, Freaky Friday and Hairspray!  Even my beloved Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a remake of a 1964 movie called Bedtime Story.

 

As much as I love a good movie (let’s face it, even a mediocre one will do), I think I still prefer reading for both entertainment and enlightenment.  I post here often about my latest literary conquests, as I devour novels and comedic tomes as well as biographies, memoirs, and other forms of non-fiction.  Perhaps my favorite, though, are contemporary works written about the Christian faith.  By studying the stories and research of others, my beliefs are often strengthened, encouraged and challenged.  Some of my recent favorites are:

The Louder Song:  Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament by Aubrey Sampson

Winning the Heart of Your Child:  9 Keys to Building a Positive Lifelong Relationship with Your Kids by Mike Berry

Stolen Jesus:  A Unconventional Search for the Real Savior by Jami Amerine

Your Future Self Will Thank You:  Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science by Drew Dyck

It’s a Love Story:  From Happily to Ever After by Lincee Ray

Prototype:  What Happens When You Discover You’re More Like Jesus Than You Think? by Jonathan Martin

Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands:  People in the Need Change Helping People in Need of Change by Paul David Tripp

A Practical Guide to Culture:  Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkel

 

All very different and, in my estimation, excellent works. 

But…much like The Hustle, none of these compare to the original.  The Bible.  The OG.

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It makes no sense to spend more time reading ABOUT the Bible than I do reading the Bible itself.  But I’m guilty.  I mean, when have I ever claimed to make sense?  But I want to do better.  Often, another author can give me insight into a scripture passage that I’ve never seen before, or add a personal story that gives me deeper understanding.  These are good things and one of many ways we can encourage each other in the faith, but the BEST way to get to know God is to go straight to Him and His words.

 

I’m not cutting back on my reading habit.  I wouldn’t know how!  But I want to make sure I’m discerning and seeking God’s voice above all others.  I read recently (yes, in one of my books – the last one in my list) that, “Christian is the greatest of all possible nouns and the lamest of all possible adjectives.  it’s meant to describe a person, not a thing.”  A person can be a Christian.  A book, song or movie cannot.  And just because someone is a Christian doesn’t mean their art has merit for me.  Many Christians have wildly differing views of theology.  So what is a blue stocking  to do?

 

  1.  Give weight to the source of a recommendation.  Not everything labeled “Christian” is worth your time, money and intellectual energy.  When someone I know and trust likes a book, I’m much more likely to pick it up than if I see a review in a magazine.
  2. Hold what you are reading up against scripture.  Does it jive with what you know to be true of God’s character and His commands?  If you aren’t sure about something, research it.  Pray about it.  Ask a pastor, friend or mentor for their take.
  3. Don’t just skim over scripture references.  Look them up.  Read commentary on them or reference the Blue Letter Bible (by app or online) for information on the meaning of words in the original language.  Are the verses used in the appropriate context?  Double check me too!
  4. Use good books to compliment your study, but focus your study on the Bible.  God’s holy word.  That is the true meat.  Our daily bread.  Everything else is gravy.

Happy reading!!

 

Sharing is caring! If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of sharing it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to make sure you don’t miss anything, subscribe!

 

And look up these great writers I link up with every week:

InstaEncouragements, Literacy Musing Mondays, Hello…Monday,

Dream Team link up, The Good. The Random. The Fun.

BloggerClubUK, Tea and Word Tuesday, Purposeful Faith,

GraceFull Tuesday Link-Up, Different Dream,

Let’s Have Coffee, Welcome Wednesday, Recharge Wednesday,

Worth Beyond Rubies, #TellHisStory Link Up, Porch Stories,

Encouraging Word Wednesday, Tune In Thursday,

Stories of Hope, Moments of Hope, IHeart Verse Link Party,

A Blogging Good Time, Fresh Market Friday, Feature Friday Time,

Friendship Friday Blog Hop, Faith on Fire, Traffic Jam Weekend,

Faith ‘n Friends, Dancing with Jesus, Grace & Truth, Booknificent

 

Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.

Confessions of a Former Piano Student

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Photo by Geert Pieters on Unsplash

I took piano lessons for 5 years.  From the 2nd grade through the 6th, I went for once a week instruction and practiced on an old upright as faithfully as my Mama made me.  I started with a teacher who was young and fun.  She let me help pick out the music I wanted to work on and lovingly encouraged me.  Once she, sadly, became ill with cancer, my parents found another instructor for my sister and me.  By this point (around age 11-12) I was less interested in the piano and much into my friends and what they were doing.  Combine this fact with the poor opinion I had of my new instructor (she was old with long yellow nails that clicked on the keys as SHE played and she sang off-key as I played), and I had less than 0% interest in continuing my music education.  It is really a shame, too.  I come from a very musically talented family.

 

My parents made me stick with piano through the remainder of my 6th grade year and then mercifully let me quit.  I was spending half of my lesson time in my teacher’s bathroom anyway to avoid the torture.  I only wish I was kidding.  When I finally walked out of my last lesson, I felt the shackles fall off my ankles and the prison gates open up.  Ok, maybe now I’m kidding.

 

Five years is a long time to conscientiously (welll…) practice something – anything.  And yet today I cannot play a note.  Okay, that might not be entirely true.  I can show you where middle C is on a keyboard and play a chord from there.  But I couldn’t accurately name the other notes in that chord.  Anyway.  My point is that the skill and knowledge I acquired learning and studying and practicing for 5 years was lost without perseverance and repetition.

 

I’m being reminded of late how important perseverance and repetition are where Bible study is concerned.  Because it is “living and active” God constantly reveals different things about Himself to me – often from the same passage.  I heard someone say recently (I wish I could remember who – see how much I need repetition?) that we need to have an open Bible and an open life.  I love that.  But I would take it a step further to say that our lives need to be open to the Bible.  The more time I spend in God’s word, the more conviction and correction I experience.  If that sounds like a big, fat bummer to you, let me encourage you that great freedom comes from confession and repentance.

 

I listened to an audio book (I wish I could remember which one – yes, it’s a theme) that referred to a believer’s regular time with God as “the daily office”.  I got fired up about this.  Time in God’s word and prayer is the real work of a Christ-follower.  Calling it my “daily office” makes so much for sense to me than “quiet time” (Mine’s not always quiet) or “daily devotion” (what does that mean?).

 

In my personal study recently, I’ve been more and more enlightened to the story of God’s rescue plan for us.  Spoiler alert:  it’s the Bible.  The whole thing tells this story.  Not just the Christmas story.  Not just the parts we read at Easter.  All of it.  Every verse, every story points to our need of a Savior and how God sent His Son Jesus to be just that.  I want to know a God who would do that for me, and the best way to get to know Him is spending time with Him.  In prayer.  And especially in His word.  Every day.  As much as possible.  The Bible is His story.  It’s our story.  It’s my story of rescue.  If there is anything about this rescue story that you are unsure of, please send me a private message to lauren@laurensparks.net.  Or pick up a Bible and start reading in the book of John.  God longs to rescue you too.

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