Courageous

Wednesday night our little Bible Study group, which usually follows The Andy Griffith Bible Study, instead watched the new movie Courageous, made by the same church that gave us Fireproof, Facing the Giants and Flywheel.  Considering it was a tie for our largest-ever Bible Study group in the Beatty family's two and a half years at Drennon, I'd say the response was pretty good. 

The movie's hard-hitting for sure, and I for one am glad of it.  There are so many Christian, or so-called Christian movies, that are poorly made, painfully obvious and sugary sweet.  This movie seemed to pull out the unexpected surprises all the way up to the final few images of the story.  As one Drennonite said, "It was a good movie, but I didn't enjoy it."  I understand that sentiment exactly:  Courageous is a wonderful Christian film, but there's so much hardcore depth and truth that it's hard to just enjoy.

I actually did enjoy it, maybe even more than the first time I watched it in the theater, because I was able to step back and really reflect on what the filmmakers at Sherwood Baptist Church were trying to do.  The Christian life isn't always pretty, it isn't always nice, and it isn't always perfect.  It's certainly not always going to be easy.  I really look forward to seeing what the Sherwood folks do next.

PS--A special shout-out to local Christian actor, Tony Stallings, former Louisville Cardinal and Louisville Fire football player, who played the main villain of the movie, TJ.  I hear he is a wonderful Christian man who now works and worships in the Louisville area.  Big-time kuddos to him for getting into this movie and having the gumption to play the bad guy.