The late Norman Vincent Peale, senior pastor of New York City’s Marble Collegiate Church for over 50 years, grew up in Ohio, a preacher’s kid. His father, Clifford Peale, was a tremendously compassionate man. If there was a need within his congregation, he was determined to meet it.

Norman remembers the phone ringing in their parsonage one cold winter’s night. His mother answered, and passed the phone to his father. The woman on the other end of the line explained that she didn’t know any other preachers, but had one night slipped into Dr. Peale’s church. She didn’t remember anything he said, but she did recall that he struck her as gentle and kind, which is why she had picked his church out of the many from the phone book.  She was calling with an awkward but serious request. As it turned out, she ran a local brothel.  One of the prostitutes was dying. Would Dr. Peale be willing to come and pray with her?  He agreed and hung up the phone, quietly explaining the situation to his wife.

Suddenly, he turned toward his boy. “Norman,” he said, “put on your overcoat and come with me on a pastoral errand of mercy.” 

The young Peale’s mother gasped. “Clifford,” she said, “you are not going to take our ten-year-old son to that place of sin.”  But his father pressed on. “Yes, I am,” he replied. “Norman can see Jesus Christ reaching for one of the sheep who was lost, but wants to come home to the father’s house.”

At the brothel the Peales encountered the nineteen-year-old prostitute, now near death.  "I am a bad girl Reverend,” she said, “but my family are godly people and I was raised a Christian and I attended Sunday school, I was baptized by our preacher, but I have brought shame on my mother and father. I am bad. I am a bad girl."  Norman’s dad placed her diminutive hand inside his.

"Do you love Jesus, Mary, and do you believe that he has forgiven your sins and that he will forgive your sins and wash them all away, so that in your soul you will be pure?"

"Yes."

"Do you give yourself now, your whole soul, your whole self to the Lord asking for salvation?" Again, she said, "Yes" adding, "I asked the Lord to save my soul." Dr. Peale then concluded.  "Well, then I declare to you in the name of Jesus that you are saved."

In the midst of this conversation, all the other women in the brothel, one by one, had begun to surround Mary, openly weeping at the sight and sound of her pain, confession and finally, absolution and assurance of salvation. Years later, Norman Vincent Peale said that night was one of the determining factors that led him to his decision to become a pastor. He had witnessed the strength and power of the Gospel firsthand.

Would you have allowed your ten-year-old son to accompany you on that mission?

I have been thinking of that in light of my own boys. I wonder if we have sterilized our faith to the point of rendering its appearance powerless to the younger generation.

If it appears all sweetness and light without struggle and strain, how is that going to match up with reality when times grow tight and tough?

Why would a young person find our faith relevant and vibrant if it doesn’t appear viable to the good and bad in life?

Norman Peale’s father gave his young son a great gift that cold winter’s night. In that difficult visit, he shared with his son a vivid snapshot of the source of our strength.

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According to the National Retail Federation, nearly $19 billion will be spent on moms this coming weekend. From flowers to cards to candy, a lot of people will dig deep into their wallets to try and express their love and appreciation for their mothers.

But according to a recent survey, it would appear that what many moms really want is something that money can’t buy:

They just want to go to church with the whole family.

Lifeway Research has determined that when it comes to church attendance, Mother’s Day ranks only behind Christmas and Easter.

On some level, this finding might surprise some people, but it speaks, I believe, to the inherent nature of a mother. When you peel away every worldly influence, this is the very thing that a mom wants most of all, to be able to say with assurance that “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4).

So, if you’re a dad, and you don’t regularly attend church with your family, it’s time to step up and make a plan for Sunday morning. It won’t cost you a dime, only an hour or so of your time. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you get there. The pastor might very well have a special word for you! If you’re a mom, feel free to forward this post with a wink and a smile to your husband. And if you’re old enough to decide whether or not you should go with mom to church on Sunday, I have one word of advice for you:

GO!

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Political consultant Frank Luntz calls it “poll-driven language” – the tendency to phrase a question in a way that will generate a desired answer. Operatives on both sides of the aisle have been doing this for years, but it’s especially blatant when it comes to the reporting of support/opposition to same-sex marriage.

Case in point, a recent New York Times story which was headlined, “Support for Gay Marriage Outweighs Opposition in Polls.” The report was based upon an average of various polling data which supposedly revealed that 50% of Americans support same-sex marriage while 45% oppose it.

It makes for a neat and tidy story, but when you dig a little deeper you can see why the polling data never seems to jibe with actual state votes on the issue.

On Tuesday in North Carolina, citizens were asked to vote either “For” or “Against” regarding the following statement:

Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.

When the votes were counted, 61% voted “For” – and 39% voted “Against.”

Yet, when pollsters ask the general populace about the issue, the question is invariably asked very differently.  For example:

Gallup: “Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”  Results: Yes 50%, No 48%

Pew: "Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally?"  Results: Strongly Favor/Favor: 47%, Oppose/Strongly Oppose: 43%

ABC News/Washington Post: “Do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married?" Results: Legal: 52% Illegal: 43%

Contrast these polls with one conducted by our friends at the Alliance Defense Fund, an admittedly socially conservative organization:

Statement: “I believe Marriage should be defined as only a union between one man and one woman.”

Results: Total Support: 62%  Total Oppose 36%

What this dichotomy tells me is this: When asked to define what marriage really is, the majority of Americans still see it exactly as people have seen it for millenia – as a union between one man and one woman. You can ask people about the issue any number of ways, and get different answers in the process. But as a nation of laws, what ultimately matters is how the people vote – and each time the American people have gone to the polls, traditional one-man, one-woman marriage has been affirmed.

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In a recent article in The Atlantic, writer Stephen Marche serves up a provocative perspective on the impact of Facebook and other social network software on society:

We live in an accelerating contradiction: the more connected we become, the lonelier we are.

In the opening lines of the lengthy piece, Marche describes the defining moment of Social Network, the film that chronicled Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s life and career.

The film’s most indelible scene, the one that may well have earned it an Oscar, was the final, silent shot of an anomic Zuckerberg sending out a friend request to his ex-girlfriend, then waiting and clicking and waiting and clicking—a moment of superconnected loneliness preserved in amber. We have all been in that scene: transfixed by the glare of a screen, hungering for response.

The reason there’s such power in the scene is because there’s a lot of truth in it. How many people are addicted to Facebook not so much because they enjoy connecting with friends but because they’re eager for affirmation, hungry to feel appreciated by their personal network?

Too many, I believe. 

There’s no question that Facebook often either feeds or fans the flames of narcissism. But so do a lot of things. And it’s always been unwise to dismiss out of hand new technology, if only because it’s being misused. Still, it is a bit peculiar to see some people living so vibrantly in a virtual world – yet remaining so lonely in real life.

Something is not right.

Marche’s conclusion sums it up nicely:

What Facebook has revealed about human nature—and this is not a minor revelation—is that a connection is not the same thing as a bond, and that instant and total connection is no salvation, no ticket to a happier, better world or a more liberated version of humanity. Solitude used to be good for self-reflection and self-reinvention. But now we are left thinking about who we are all the time, without ever really thinking about who we are. Facebook denies us a pleasure whose profundity we had underestimated: the chance to forget about ourselves for a while, the chance to disconnect.

Moms and dads, I would urge you to keep close tabs on your child’s Internet usage in general (click here for help), but especially their management of social networking sites and software. If a child or young adult is communicating more virtually with friends than in person, I think you have a problem on your hands. God made us for relationship, for those bonds that do not break, to hear the sound of another person’s voice, to hear their inflection, to laugh out loud (not just LOL) to see the sparkle and light in another person’s eye, and yes, just spend quiet time sitting together, side by side.

How would you answer the question, “Is Facebook making us lonely?”

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The following editorial was first published in The Washington Post on May 1, 2012:

A Chance to Vote Your Values — And Act On Them, Too

Jim Daly

With the withdrawal of Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich from the race, the Republican Party all but has its presidential nominee. That means our country’s major issues will be faced by former governor Mitt Romney or President Obama after the ballots are counted on Nov. 6. But before the ballots are cast, voters must first address two critical challenges.

The first is to vote through the filter of the morals and values by which we live. The second is to robustly engage the democratic process that allows us the right to choose our leaders and to do so in a way that demonstrates reverence for our system of government and respect for those who answer the call to serve in it.

We all know the issues in this year’s election: The economy. Jobs. The ongoing and multifaceted threat of terrorism. Abortion policy. Health care and what role the government ought to play in it. Whether same-sex marriage should be legalized nationwide. Immigration.

There is no shortage of deeply held, passionately articulated opinions on these matters. You talk about them with your friends and family. You see, read and hear them discussed and debated. Right now, as you’re reading this sentence, someone is being polled on some aspect of one of them.

But when you step into the voting booth the first Tuesday in November, what “they” wrote or said shouldn’t matter as much as what you think, feel and believe. With our right to vote comes a responsibility: to look inside our hearts and identify what we hold most dear, then check the box, punch the card or tap the screen next to the name of the candidate who most closely aligns with our values.

That’s where the real challenge comes in: Chances are neither Romney nor Obama will earn a perfect score when you go through this exercise. There is no way that every decision they’ve ever made, every bill they’ve ever supported or opposed, and every sound bite they’ve ever contributed to the 24-hour news cycle is going to line up exactly with your core beliefs. Some things the candidates have done or said might disappoint you. So your decision will come down to this: Which man most closely stands for what I stand for? Whom do I trust more, based on his public record and personal convictions, to lead the nation in the direction I hope to see it go?

Note that “values” do not equal “religion”; while for many of us, it is indeed our religious faith that informs our values, we must remember that we are electing a president, not a pastor, priest, rabbi, imam or elder. It is a civic, not spiritual, position with secular, not sanctifying, duties. What is of paramount importance in selecting an occupant for such an office is not whether he or she attends the same house of worship as we do; it’s whether he or she adheres to a moral and ethical code, rooted in natural law rather than doctrinal purity, that we believe offers a better vision for America.

This brings us to voters’ second challenge: to model something different than the rhetorical savagery that too often colors political discourse in the United States. Some people, on both sides of the ideological aisle, have become so consumed with winning a political “battle” that they’ve lost sight of basic virtues like the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

It’s easy to argue with someone who holds a different worldview. But let’s not take the easy way out. Let’s look for points of mutual cordiality where they might be found. We may persuade some to our way of thinking by taking a reasoned approach. And even if we fail to change each other’s minds, we don’t have to call each other names.

This does not mean we stop ardently engaging the culture and advocating for the morals and values we hold dear. It does mean we do so in a way that recognizes the dignity and respect we all deserve as humans. We must remember that both names at the top of the ballot belong to human beings.

This is likely to become more difficult as the campaign grinds on and the candidates, and their surrogates, target the opposition’s jugular. That’s all the more reason for the rest of us to point to a better way. As the late British writer and aristocrat Mary Wortley Montagu put it, “Civility costs nothing, and buys everything.”

If recent trends hold, a little less than half the country will wake up Nov. 7 unhappy with the election’s outcome. But there is no reason any of us need to be unhappy about the process we personally follow to get there.

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It’s been nearly two weeks since our dear friend and the founder of Prison Fellowship, Chuck Colson, received his eternal reward. It was announced recently that a public memorial in his honor will be held at the National Cathedral on May 16^th. It will be a privilege to attend and collectively thank the Lord for the life of this good man.

As some of you may know, Chuck loved movies. He saw them as a wonderful way to communicate truth and the many characteristics of our loving and all-powerful God. By viewing and studying certain films, he believed we could be inspired to live better lives. I think he was right.

This philosophy is one of the primary reasons we launched Plugged In, a website dedicated to providing insightful reviews of movies, music, television and video games. If you’re not already familiar with the site, I’d invite you to click here to check it out.

For today, though, I’d like to share with you a list of the 50 movies that Chuck Colson believed every Christian should see. The list was compiled several years ago, so it’s not entirely up to date. Not all of these films are suitable for all ages, of course, but it’s nevertheless a very thoughtful compilation.

How many of these films have you seen? Does one rise above the rest? Is there one missing from the list?

You might want to consider hosting a family movie night. Many of these films can be borrowed through your local library. If they don’t have it, ask about the possibility of an inter-library loan. Then there’s the internet and several companies who can make renting films a snap.

Take a look at the list and Chuck's comments, then I’d welcome your feedback.

Films with a Christian Theme

1. Chariots of Fire (1981, PG). Inspiring story of a young Scottish runner who is willing to put obedience to God before an Olympic gold medal.

2. A Man for All Seasons (1966, G). The inspiring story of Sir Thomas More, the 16th century Chancellor of England who was beheaded by Henry VIII because he would not compromise his beliefs. More is played by Paul Scofield, whose last lines in the film are: "I die his majesty's good servant, but God's first."

3. Shadowlands (Both the 1985 version, no rating, and the 1993 version, rated PG.). Flawed but interesting films about C. S. Lewis and his marriage to Joy Davidman.

4. Sergeant York (1941, not rated). A young man is converted to Christ, and then must decide whether killing in the context of war is authorized by the Bible. Based on a true story.

5. The Robe (1953, not rated). A Roman centurion who carries out the crucifixion of Christ becomes one of His most fervent followers. A dramatic tale of heroism and sacrifice.

6. I Confess (1953, not rated). A Hitchcock drama about a priest who hears a murderer's confession--and then is himself arrested and tried for the crime. One of the most inspiring portrayals of Christian faith on film, this movie depicts a priest who is willing to give up even his life before betraying his vows.

7. Ben-Hur (1959, no rating). A young Jewish man who lives at the time of Christ battles the Roman Empire and ultimately becomes a Christian.

8. Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1973, PG). A lovely film about St. Francis of Assisi.

9. The Hiding Place (1975, not rated). The true story of a Dutch woman named Corrie ten Boom whose family hid Jews from the Nazis, and were themselves sent to concentration camps when the Nazis discovered what they were doing. A tremendous example of Christian courage. NOTE: The film depicts the brutal reality of life in a concentration camp.

10. Saving Grace (1986, PG). A new pope finds himself locked out of the Vatican by mistake one day, and goes incognito to a small town run by a local thug. A sensitive and amusing film that illustrates the New Testament meaning of servanthood. Produced by Robert Wise of "The Sound of Music" fame. NOTE: Attempted seduction scene, one child is killed through an accident.

11. Les Miserables (1935, not rated). The redemptive Victor Hugo story of Jean Valjean, who is sent to prison for stealing a loaf of bread, and becomes a Christian through the sacrificial love of a bishop.

12. Tender Mercies (1982, PG). A down-and-out country singer turns to Christ. An on-screen baptism is beautifully depicted.

13. Repentance (1987, PG). This film was banned in the Soviet Union. Ted Baehr's MovieGuide says: "Repentance is the movie that destroyed Communism. This ... magnificent movie exposes the evils of communism ... while lifting up the suffering Church and the triumphant, eternal Church of Christ Jesus." (In Russian with English subtitles.)

14. Cry the Beloved Country (1995, PG-13). Set in the 1940s, the film is about a black South African minister whose son has been accused of the murder of a white man. A Christian worldview is portrayed throughout. NOTE: Implied murder, implied prostitution and fornication.

15. Inherit the Wind (1960, no rating). If you want to understand why our cultural elites think Christians are poor, ignorant, and easy to command, watch this film. Based on the 1925 Scopes "monkey trial," this film depicts Christians as ignorant, intolerant, and hypocritical.

16. The Brothers Karamazov (1958, no rating). Is it possible to be good without God? This film correctly says no.

17. Dead Man Walking (1995, R). A nun becomes the spiritual advisor to a death row inmate. Contains a very strong conversion scene. NOTE: A murder and rape are shown at a distance, two corpses (one unclothed) are depicted. Some obscenities and vulgarities.

Films with Moral Themes

The following films are worth watching for their serious and inspiring treatment of moral themes, or because characters face moral challenges and rise above them.

18. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939, not rated). A Frank Capra classic about an idealistic young senator who takes on corrupt politicians.

19. It's a Wonderful Life (1946, not rated). A classic Jimmy Stewart film about a depressed man who is reminded on Christmas Eve of how much he has to be grateful for.

20. Casablanca (1942, not rated). This classic is set in Morocco during the Second World War. Unlike the characters in "The English Patient," Rick and Ilsa sacrifice personal happiness for honor.

21. The Winslow Boy (1948, no rating). Based on a true story, the film depicts the sacrifices an entire family is forced to make when the son is wrongly accused of theft at school, and the father decides to fight for the boy's honor.

22. High Noon (1952, not rated). A good man stands alone against the forces of chaos and evil. A landmark Western.

23. Shadow of a Doubt (1942, not rated). In this Hitchcock thriller, an ordinary young woman realizes her uncle is a murderer and must decide what to do with that knowledge.

24. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1955, no rating). A Hitchcock film in which an ordinary man on vacation is thrust into a crisis and forced to make difficult moral choices.

25. North by Northwest (1959, no rating). In this classic Hitchcock film, an advertising executive is the victim of mistaken identity, and must ultimately choose between his own safety and helping his country.

26. War of the Worlds (1953, no rating). The antidote to 1996's Independence Day. When aliens attack, who you gonna call? This film says you call God, and he will answer.

27. War and Peace (1956, no rating). Hollywood's version of the Tolstoy novel about three families caught up in Russia's Napoleonic Wars.

28. Twelve Angry Men (1957 version, not rated). A jury explores issues of justice and race.

29. The Sound of Music (1965, G). A family is willing to sacrifice everything rather than join the Nazis.

30. In the Heat of the Night (1967, no rating). A classic film about a black New York detective who travels to the South to help solve a murder and becomes a victim of racial bigotry. NOTE: Adult themes.

31. Rudy (1993, PG-13). The true story of a young boy who dreams of playing football for Notre Dame. A film that celebrates having a dream and working at it. Ted Baehr's MovieGuide says: "The film presents a moral view of character, the need for prayer, the sovereignty of God, and a positive view of the human spirit." NOTE: Some foul language and a skewed depiction of Catholicism.

32. Sense and Sensibility (1995, PG). The story of a couple willing to give up private happiness for honor. Based on the Jane Austin novel. Beautifully filmed.

33. Mr. Holland's Opus (1995, PG). A film that celebrates the glory of teaching, and of how one person can make a difference in the lives of others. NOTE: Some mild obscenities. No sex, nudity, or violence.

34. Spitfire Grill (1996, PG-13). The characters and their stories serve as springboards to lessons about forgiveness and the possibility of healing and restoration. The film was financed by Gregory Productions, the film-making arm of the Sacred Heart League. NOTE: Mild violence and mild foul language, references to rape and child abuse.

35. Stand and Deliver (1988, PG-13). Based on a true story, a new teacher in a rough urban school refuses to believe his students cannot learn and excel. NOTE: Rough language, violence.

36. Braveheart (1995, R). Set between 1280 and 1314, the film is about the Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace who leads his people to freedom from England. Christian film critic Ted Baehr writes: "The movie is a rallying cry for the supremacy of God's law and [His] judgment of those who unjustly govern their fellow man." NOTE: The violence of war is graphically depicted, brief nudity, two discreet sex scenes.

37. Schindler's List (1993, R). A Holocaust drama about a German businessman who helps Jews escape the death camps. The film shows what one individual can accomplish in the face of great evil. NOTE: Contains profanity, graphic violence, and nudity, as well as some anti-Christian references.

Other Worldviews and Philosophies

The following films provide insight into other philosophies that help us understand ideas that shape the world in which we live:

38. Star Wars (1977, PG). Ted Baehr's MovieGuide says: "Pagan worldview of impersonal, monistic force empowering man and controlling circumstances." An introduction to New Age monism.

39. Annie Hall (1977, PG). Woody Allen's magnum opus anticipates the self-centeredness and therapeutic culture more than a decade before anyone else. NOTE: Contains scenes of sensuality, some crude language.

40. Days of Heaven (1978, PG). A brother and sister end up on a farm in Texas in a world with no meaning or purpose. Terrence Malick, a philosophy instructor turned filmmaker, made this film to be a window of insight into existentialism. This movie shows what is wrong with a world that excludes God.

41. The Dark Crystal (1982, PG). Two muppet-like creatures attempt to return a crystal shard to the castle containing the Dark Crystal. If you want to see how Hollywood sneaks New Age spirituality into children's films, here's a perfect example. Use the film to teach your kids how to be discerning.

42. Gandhi (1982, PG). A carefully Westernized introduction to this famous Indian, who used passive resistance against India's British rulers.

43. Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989, PG-13). A man kills his mistress, and then remembers the lessons of his childhood in a Jewish home. The film illustrates the true struggle of conscience: that without God, man has to "kill" his conscience or go mad. NOTE: Adult themes.

44. Jurassic Park (1993, PG-13). Rampaging dinosaurs are used to promote evolutionary arguments. NOTE: Violence may be too intense for many children. Some profanity.

45. Contact (1997, PG-13). Based on a novel by the late Carl Sagan, this film about SETI (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) raises all the Big Questions of life. Portrays worldview of evolutionary scientific materialism. Ted Baehr writes: "A beautifully produced, sophomoric film which will give pseudo-intellectuals much food for thought while . . .offending the Christian moviegoer." Excellent for discussion. NOTE: Rough language, some nudity, implied fornication.

Children's films with a strong Biblical worldview

46. The Chronicles of Narnia (1989, not rated). Based on the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis (3 volume set).

47. The Lion King (1994, G). This animated film is a reminder that we cannot flee either our responsibilities or our troubles; we must face them head on. We also see a father willing to sacrifice his life for his son.

48. The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963, PG). An example of what the Disney Studios were capable of before the forces of political correctness took over. A heartwarming, turn-of-the-century tale of a Scottish veterinarian who loses--and then regains--his faith in God.

49. Beauty and the Beast (1991, G). This animated film echos the Biblical teaching that what's inside the heart is more important than outside appearances.

50. The Secret Garden (1993, G). Ted Baehr's MovieGuide says: "this profound story has been treated by many as a Christian allegory of death and new life through the power of love." NOTE: In one scene, the children are depicted chanting a magical spell around a bonfire.

**

What would be your top five films of all time?

ALSO: President Obama's Prayer Proclamation,  It Takes Guts To Walk Away From a Fight and Billboard Wisdom

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A colleague’s son snapped a picture of this billboard the other day.  He sent it to his father, along with the following three-word message:

“Love you, Dad.”

“I wonder what was on his heart,” his father wrote.

I think I have an idea. The teenager is growing up and doesn’t just see life from his own perspective anymore.

That’s a sign of maturity. That’s a sign that the boy is becoming a man.

How does this billboard strike you?

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