Summer means movies, and "Henry Poole Is Here" is one movie worth seeing. You'll laugh, shed a few tears, and take a journey through doubt and faith. Confronted with a terminal illness, Henry Poole returns to his childhood neighborhood to die. He drinks and sleeps his way through his struggle with sadness, anger and and despair but the neighborhood refuses to leave him alone.
He is confronted first with devout Catholic Esperanza's overriding belief that "Everything happens for a reason." When she sees the "face of Christ" in a stain on a freshly painted wall of his house, an intimate tale of faith is launched. The struggle between Esperanza's infectious desire to tell the world of this miracle and Henry's desire to die alone animate this charming and intriguing story of faith and healing.
- Have you ever wondered whether there is anything to the images of Christ in windows or on walls?
- Have you heard about tears of blood appearing on statues or walls with no explanation?
- Were Jesus and the disciples the only ones who could heal with miracles or do miracles and healings occur today?
If you want to struggle with these questions, your doubts and your hopes, this is a movie for you!
You will fall in love with Millie, the 6-year-old girl from next door, who has been silent since her father abandoned her. Though silent, Millie likes to spy on Henry and record his arguments and statements. There's nothing like hearing your own sadness and anger played back to you to make you reflect...and wonder.
After a series of miracles occur as a result of the miraculous image, Henry's struggles between hope and anger--"Don't let me hope again...unless..." This tale of faith, love and the power of a faith community that lives out God's love in some very special ways makes this a must see movie for Christians...and seekers.
This film leaves you wanting to know more. One of the topics discussed in our upcoming Alpha Program is healing! Take a non-believing friend to see this movie. Go to dinner after seeing it and discuss the film--what you felt and thought. Let them know that the Alpha program which starts September 7th is a safe place to learn more about the Christian faith and to see whether faith works for them.
Andrew was the disciple that said to so many--"Come and see!" Come and see the movie. Come and experience Alpha. Both will add to your faith journey and may just be used by the Holy Spirit to touch lives as few movies do.
Luke Wilson, George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Radha Mitchell, and the young Morgan Lily provide moving performances in this intimate and compelling film (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf97fnD3ed0).
See this film and then add your comments!
Terry Paulson, PhD
In today's paper, we read a report by Lindsay Tanner titled, "Many look to God to save lives, poll finds: Belief is that divine intervetion works."
Suggesting that doctors need to be ready to deal with families who are waiting for miracles, the poll of 1,000 adults finds that more than half of those randomly surveyed--57 percent--said God's intervention could save a family member even if physicians declared treatment would be futile. And nearly three-quarters said patients have a right to demand such treatment.
The article suggests that though doctors should be prepared to deal with such beliefs, they also should not 'sugercoat' the truth about the patient's situation. One doctor acknowledged that current advances in medical practice result in critical patients being kept alive longer. Doctor's need to be able to say, "It's not that I don't want a miracle to happen, it's just that it is not going to happen today with this patient."
Prayer is powerful, but not all patients will survive. One has to pray for intervention knowing that we will never fully understand why some are healed and some are not.
God does not do our bidding when we ask him to intervene; we pray, "if it be your will, may you heal...."
That patients may not be saved should not stop us from providing healing prayers. Even if it does not heal, it keeps us connected as a family of God praying for those we love and support.
What do you think?
Posted by: Terry Paulson | August 19, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Hey Terry: The movie looks very interesting. In a related note, I gave Kristine "The Shack" for her birthday and she read it straight through on the plane on the way home from Ohio. She really enjoyed it! I'm looking forward to reading it soon (a couple more assigned books to go). : )
Perhaps we can see "Henry Poole" and then discuss "The Shack." It sounds like the themes intersect. Don't give up hope. God is loose in the world and is finding people (Jesus said that all along but somehow we forgot it). Awesome!
I can't wait to see you guys. Miss you! CB
Posted by: Pastor Craig | August 20, 2008 at 12:12 AM