MRM: The Butterfly Circus

Hey everyone, today I’m reviewing a short film. That’s a bit of a break away for me, but I couldn’t resist.

“The Butterfly Circus” is quite possibly the most inspiring short film of all time. It’s a fiction work, but is the story of Nick Vujicic, a man who was born without limbs. 

The film is about a circus sideshow attraction named Will, the limbless man. Will has been told his entire life that he is worthless, half of a man, “a man whom God Himself has turned His back upon”. But, when Will begins to see that our differences are what make us special, and discovers how God can use his incredibly unique situation for His glory, he begins to believe in himself, and in God.

This short film is magnificently put together. It’s the story of how Christ redeems us from ourselves to His purpose.

“The greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph.”

ACTING

Surprisingly, as old as this film is, and for a Christian film, the acting is not only unobtrusive, but is nigh flawless. Every role is picture perfect, and no character is without purpose in the story to prove a point. 

SCORE and CINEMATOGRAPHY

Both of these key elements were brilliantly done. The score complimented the climactic elements which were brought about chiefly with the use camera angles. This project could almost be called a handbook for how to make a short film. There was hardly a mistake I could find in the many times I’ve watched it.

STORY and WORLDVIEW

These always go hand in hand, as the worldview is based upon the story and the story centers around the worldview.

The story was built out of a single thought and inspiration message: no matter what your circumstances, God can use you. As worldview-ish as that seems, that wasn’t the worldview or even the message, it is simply the story. The message was that God not only can but wants to use you. The overall worldview was that it takes someone believing in you for you to believe in yourself.

Will believed the lies he had heard his whole life, until someone told him he was better than a nothing. From a story where God’s grace is manifested in a circus showman, (seeking the broken and outcast), a message is displayed in the lives of each member of the circus, (redemption from their past to a glorious future), and a worldview of a man finding his worth, (realizing God can use him), we see the true reason “The Butterfly Circus” is such a powerful film: it is us. It’s you and me, our stories, our lives. 

Once upon a life, everyone feels they are worthless, that’s when God breaks us and shows us we are worthless for anything but bringing the ultimate glory to Him through our circumstances. No matter what you think you are, or what people say about you, you have a purpose in God’s plan. You can be His champion if you believe He is yours. Let Christ fight your battles and He will bring the victory in and through your life.

I highly recommend you watch this short film and be encourage and inspired by it. I don’t do this for almost anything, but I give it 10 stars!

As always, thanks for reading.

–the anonymous novelist

The Song That Never Dies

I was going to title this post “The Song That Never Ends”, but I decided against it. The song I speak of is not a song that is sung, but the source of all singing. The Song, the Everlasting Song is not something as fleeting as a melody of a single voice. It’s a symphony of praise lifted by the creation to the Creator. 

This entire week long I’m at a large Southern Gospel music convention in Myrtle Beach, SC where my family will be singing multiple times on various showcases as well as appearing on the “Main Stage”, Saturday night. This is one of my favorite events of the year; not only do I know practically every artist performing, but there is a personal connection with the fans and a spiritual presence in the singing and speaking each night. Every night a preacher will take the stage for 45 minutes to an hour and preach the Word of God.

It’s a special time for me, and a tremendous opportunity for my family and I to proclaim the love of Christ to thousands of people. Several of my greatest encouragements in the Southern Gospel realm are at this event, and I’ve already had conversations with them. If inspiration was a place, it would be this week of Singing in the Sun in Myrtle Beach, SC. I find encouragement, reprieve, spiritual convalesce, and inspiration from both God and Man. 

But more than all of that, it is a place where The Song is lifted up to heaven. The praise of God’s creation is magnified by the voices of 6,000 people to the glory of God the father! The Song is my escape. The praise of my God and my Savior is my bridge, and The Song never dies. As long as this creation has breath he will sing of the creator. I devote myself to The Song to the glory and praise of the great God and the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. It is my calling and my duty, my peace and joy, my bridge of escape.

Everyone needs a bridge. Mine is The Song of creation. What’s yours?

As always, thanks for reading.

–the anonymous novelist 

Nothing too Absurd- by Jared Allen

A life in the mind of Jared Allen is interesting. Living inside of my own body is a strange experience when I look at life from the outside. For me, nothing is too absurd… nothing is too ridiculous. Having this perspective, the complexities of life don’t surprise or puzzle me. The absurdities of life, the minute details, the little things excite, perplex, and bewilder me.

This is the second in a trilogy of posts ideas derived from Facebook comments. Today’s is about the theory that nothing is too absurd. I wholeheartedly believe that nothing, nothing is too absurd: everything is just as absurd as it should be. The proportions of absurdity are correct in all things and only the measure of perception varies. Now, simply because things can never be too absurd doesn’t mean things cannot be too stupid. When someone says “There is no such thing as a stupid question”, they are lying to your face.

Stupid: lacking intelligence or common sense.

Any question that is asked me that Siri could answer in as much time or less, is a stupid question; unless the motive of the question was not in the answer but in the person from which it came. I get stupid questions asked to me all of the time. Questions like, “Do you have a Sharpie”, or “Do you have your keys?”, both of these items are things I am reputed for having on my person at all times. I haven’t gone a day since 2012 that I didn’t have a Sharpie with me. Rarely if I have bus keys, car keys, or hotel room keys will they ever be absent from me.

Those are stupid questions because my family already knows the answers to them. All they have to do is pause a second and think. Some questions are just stupid. However, absurd is a little different. Absurdity is something so ridiculous or impossible that you would never think it could happen. Absurdity towards people comes in the form a request rather than a question. People don’t often care for absurd requests because they are so impossible to accomplish. But God, He loves absurd requests, (are you ready for this?), nothing is too absurd for God.

God wants your absurd requests, He wants your impossible dreams and plans. He wants you to make ridiculous requests of Him so that He can amaze you with the results. God loves to do the impossible to shew forth His glory and might. So, ask. Nothing is too absurd for God. Give Him your hopes, dreams, future, and impossibilities. Let Him make them possibilities.

As always, thanks for reading, and a big thanks to Facebook for the ideas.

—the anonymous novelist