Warrior

In scene 1, Just Passing Through, we're introduced to our antagonist Tommy and the reunion with his estranged father Paddy after 14 long, hard years.  While this scene lays the foundation for the remainder of our story, it does little in offering any solutions to deeply rooted issues leading to today's major problems.  Tho Paddy has found faith, it's definitely lost on Tommy who's pain of yesterdays blinds him to any sense of restoration for today.

Exodus 34:5-8

⁵ And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the Lord.

⁶ And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth,

⁷ Keeping mercy and loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.

⁸ And Moses made haste to bow his head toward the earth and worshiped.

In scene 19, Proud of You, Paddy attempts once more to reconcile with Tommy who's not open to the idea to say the least.  After being denied a last ditch reconciliatory attempt, Paddy turns to "the devil that he knows" in returning to their room to get drunk.  Tommy, upon finding his father wildly out of control, appears to react to his displayed vulnerability with acceptance and compassion.  

1 Corinthians 9:18-24

¹⁸ What then is the [actual] reward that I get? Just this: that in my preaching the good news (the Gospel), I may offer it [absolutely] free of expense [to anybody], not taking advantage of my rights and privileges [as a preacher] of the Gospel.

¹⁹ For although I am free in every way from anyone’s control, I have made myself a bond servant to everyone, so that I might gain the more [for Christ].

²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to men under the Law, [I became] as one under the Law, though not myself being under the Law, that I might win those under the Law.

²¹ To those without (outside) law I became as one without law, not that I am without the law of God and lawless toward Him, but that I am [especially keeping] within and committed to the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law.

²² To the weak (wanting in discernment) I have become weak (wanting in discernment) that I might win the weak andoverscrupulous. I have [in short] become all things to all men, that I might by all means (at all costs and in any and every way) save some [by winning them to faith in Jesus Christ].

²³ And I do this for the sake of the good news (the Gospel), in order that I may become a participator in it and share in its [blessings along with you].

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.

In scene 24, New Beginnings, we follow the action as two combatants enter the cage vying for so many things but exiting with the likelihood of becoming so much more...brothers.  While a distant, displaced Paddy watches from the distance, his two sons literally fight for more than a prize, but for the chance for reconciliation.  How fitting that we often arrive at the same place in our walks, only with the willingness to fight for them?

2 Timothy 4:2-7

² Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning andurging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.

³ For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,

⁴ And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

⁵ As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.

⁶ For I am already about to be sacrificed [my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering]; the time of my [spirit’s] release [from the body] is at hand and I will soon go free.

⁷ I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

  

The Sunset Limited

In chapter 5, Suffering and Human Destiny, we find our counterparts in the middle of their debate as to  the nature of the meaning of our existence.  White, the professor, would contend that suffering coincides with the ideals of human destiny as an inevitability while Black argues that it serves to allow us to know happiness as compared to it.  We as believers can stand confident that our father allows for pain to direct us back to him to enter into something even more sustainable than happiness, and that is purposeful pain that brings about true joy.

2 Corinthians 7:8-10

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁸ For even though I did grieve you with my letter, I do not regret [it now], though I did regret it; for I see that that letter did pain you, though only for a little while;

⁹ Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained, but because you were pained into repentance [and so turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that in nothing you might suffer loss through us or harm for what we did.

¹⁰ For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic of the pagan world) is deadly [breeding and ending in death].

Chapter 7, Everlasting Life, is where we begin to come to recognize the underpinnings of White's philosophical construct.  While Black wonderfully describes an everlasting life as one that is lived to the full as we would readily recognize, White sees more of the same miserable, inane, doldrums that has brought him to where he has now come to be.  Praise be to God that we are to walk in the everlastingness that Black so proclaims rather than the logically deduced state of misery that White would foresee.

John 10:9-11

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁹ I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.

¹⁰ The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

¹¹ I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep.

In chapter 12, Is That Ok?, the sun rising on this new day finds that Black has failed to prevent White from leaving and seemingly changing his mind about his very terminal solution.  Black even briefly lashes out at God for not giving him the words to win the debate and maybe even White's soul.  How often have we played the role that Black has, knowing that we've heard his voice, kept his word, and yet, not seen the outcome as we thought that it should have been?  

John 4:37-39

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³⁷ For in this the saying holds true, One sows and another reaps.

³⁸ I sent you to reap a crop for which you have not toiled. Other men have labored and you have stepped in to reap the results of their work.

The Sunset Limited

The Sunset Limited (2011)

Two men in an apartment with their opposing beliefs.

Director: 

Tommy Lee Jones

Writers: 

Cormac McCarthy, Cormac McCarthy (play)

Stars:

 Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones | See full cast and crew

Taglines:

 Nothing is ever black or white.

Quotes

White: All right. I think the answer to your question is that the dialectic of the homily always presupposes a ground of evil.
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User Reviews

Superb, all-around...

13 February 2011 | by scooterdude17 (United States) – See all my reviews

Right off the bat, this movie is a great watch for anyone, no matter what they believe about life, death, or what's next. This movie does an amazing job of addressing theological philosophy without alienating anybody. These are things we all think about, whether or not we've come to any conclusions.

The acting and directing are terrific. Couldn't be better. The writing is good enough to make it worth reading the play by itself.

In the same way that a really good "sports movie" can be deeply moving to people who aren't exactly sports fans, this movie will be deeply moving to people who aren't necessarily into thinking about God, death, or the afterlife.

If you're wondering whether or not to watch, rent, or buy this movie; do it. It's worth it.

Field of Dreams

In chapter 4, Night Talk, we find Ray and Annie discussing the highly illogical proposition that is to be the focus for the rest of the film.  Ray struggles with the man he is becoming and is driven by the dread that accompanies it.  Rather than pushed to be who he was created to be, Ray is motivated by reactionary forces instead.  We as believers should be given pause to analyze our own way in pursuit of a call and be cautious that it's the call that proceeds our way, rather than the run from what we'd rather not be.

Ephesians 2:9-10

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁹ Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]

¹⁰ For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), ^[a]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

In chapter 22, To Grant a Wish, we find Ray once again, this time with Doc Graham of Chisholm, Minnesota.  While Ray tries to imply that Doc has incurred a great tragedy by not being able to achieve his dream of having an at bat in his major league baseball career, Doc argues that he has lived a fulfilled and blessed life with no regrets.  This dialogue points to the contrasting differences between dreams, reality and responsibility.  It also goes a ways to illustrate how we miss the present, often due to varying reasons.  

John 3:36
And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God’s displeasure remains on him; His indignation hangs over him continually.]

In chapter 33, "...He will Come", we find that Ray's journey has come full circle and that he realizes what his mission has been all along.  However illogical, Ray's trip has brought him to a place of reconciliation with his father.  Ironically, the run from his father has brought him the thing that he unknowingly wanted all along, relationship.  Often times our own running parallels that of Ray's in that they point us to the thing we all long and desire for.  

2 Corinthians 5:18
But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].