Esther

I love the story of Esther. She was a beautiful young woman who listened to others and used wisdom. I love telling her story because she demonstrated that it takes more than beauty to change the world. Today at Seek God With Me, Esther’s story takes center stage because she showed strength in a life and death situation.

I think Esther had a serious poker face. She didn’t give away what was behind her initial invitation to a banquet. She set up the king to listen to her plea to stop a massacre.

Join me as I take a look at the strength and patience of a woman who saved the lives of her people.

 

All About Eve, 1950

Bette Davis is Margo Channing, a woman trying to continue her successful career as a stage actress. However, she hires Eve to help her out. Eve, played by Anne Baxter, decides she must take advantage of every opportunity if she’s going to become a big star.

Celeste Holm is lovely as her friend Karen. One of Marilyn Monroe’s early roles was in this film as Miss Casswell. I loved Thelma Ritter as Birdie as well.

The screenplay was written by Joseph L Mankiewicz. He adapted the story from Mary Orr’s “The Wisdom of Eve.” Those writers went to work with fireworks in their pens. This film is where the famous line, “Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a bumpy night,” is from.

This film was nominated for fourteen Oscars and walked away with six wins. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Joseph L. Mankiewicz won Best Director and Best Writing of a Screenplay. Thomas Moulton won Best Sound, Recording. George Sanders won Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Edith Head and Charles Le Maire won the Oscar for Best Costume Design, Black and White.

Jael

Jael was a strong woman who accepted the opportunity that came right to her door. She’s famous because she killed a runaway who was an enemy of the Israelites.

Last week, I highlighted the efforts of Deborah, who encouraged Barak to lead 10,000 men into battle against Sisera as the Lord had commanded. Barak was able to succeed in battle. He and his men killed all of Sisera’s men. But Sisera fled on foot.

Where did Sisera go? He thought he was safe at the door of Jael’s tent. She greeted him with kindness, covered him with a blanket, and let him go to sleep in her tent. What a nice woman. Right?

Not so much. This is not a woman you want to mess with.

Join me at Seek God With Me to read more about this strong woman.

 

Captain Cautious, 1940

All onboard an  American ship are finally on their way home from their last European port. They miss their families, and they all want to be back home in Maine. However, the war with the British has started since they’ve been gone. They aren’t aware of the war and are surprised when a British ship aims its cannons and kills their captain. 

The daughter of the captain becomes the new captain, goes to France to get supplies, and plans to go back well able to join in the fight against those awful British who killed her father.

There are many twists and turns in this romantic adventure. I thought it was written well enough for those who enjoy a good “woman in a man’s world” adventure. The women are talented and courageous, and even though they try their best to be heroes, those guys just won’t allow it.

Victor Mature, playing Daniel Marvin, exhibited intelligence in his decision-making. He also revealed courage, strength, and a love for his woman. Louise Platt played Corunna Dorman, Daniel’s love interest.

Leo Carrillo was wonderful as Lucien Argandeau, the man to whom every woman was supposedly attracted. And Vivienne Osborne played Lucienne’s wife, Victorine, who was prepared for everything, except paying her bill in France. 

The villain, named Lehrman Slade, was played by Bruce Cabot. He was handsome enough to make a viewer think he could be competition for the hero, but he was a real scoundrel. Many other actors found a brief moment to steal the show: the guy with the stutter, the musician who helped set the stage for the romance, and the young British drummer. I must also mention the one running gag where the sailor continually mentions how having a woman on a ship is bad luck. 

This was an adaptation from the novel by Kenneth Roberts. I haven’t read the novel, but the movie was good enough that I might be interested.

Deborah

Want to know what Barak said? Find out at Seek God With Me.

Today, I’m looking at how the prophetess Deborah handled a difficult situation. She was a strong woman who had to do whatever it took to find success. The story of Deborah and Barak is a story of victory, but there was a struggle to get to that victory.

Deborah was not some mousy little people pleaser. She was bold enough to stand up for what God said. How many in our day would stand up for God’s commands? How many of us would rather not stand out in that way? Deborah had to stand out and be bold in order to save her people. To read more, join me on my devotional blog at Seek God With Me.

 

Strong Women

Happy Groundhog Day!

February is known for a lot of different things. It is the month of love. It’s Black History Month. It’s the month of Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day. It’s the month we celebrate Presidents’ Day. It’s the month of the Super Bowl. And it’s Creative Romance Month.

I'm glad a lot of guys out there take this month, the month of love, seriously and show appreciation for the women in their lives. Encouraging women is something both genders can do. I’ll be celebrating strong women of the Bible and in classic movies during this month.

You might know some strong women in your family or on your street. Or you might be a strong woman, a current day heroine who makes everyone else’s life better.

So come back and check out the women in movies who have to overcome challenges. There are women in the Bible who stood up to adversity and changed the lives of those around them. These women are not mice who skitter into the corner when danger shows up. They have the guts to face down the obstacles and press on toward the goal.

 

Edison, the Man, 1940

Two years after he was Father Flanagan and ten years before he was Father of the Bride, Spencer Tracy played Thomas Edison, Father of Electric Light, in a movie about the struggles of getting inventions accepted by others. This film shows the inventor as a poor single guy who has to make money in order to continue developing his inventions. As he begins meeting with success, he finds a love interest and men who want to help him in his work.

This film showcases the sixty-year career of Thomas Alva Edison, as remembered by Edison on the night he is honored as an 82-year-old inventor. Edison’s fight to bring electric lights to a city park showed his determination to achieve success. Other inventions such as the stock ticker and the phonograph are also given important screen time.

Tracy was fabulous as Edison. His acting made everything seem like I was being invited to eavesdrop.

A Better Life

Children can be called Forces of Change. I use that phrase because adults have to adjust their schedules and habits when children come to live in their home. Becoming a parent causes us to take a closer look at ourselves and the decisions we make.

Today at Seek God With Me, I’m taking a closer look at myself to find out if I’m showing the character of God. If I’m learning from God, it should show up in my decisions. New attitudes taken from a wise teacher will change how we see, but also how we are seen. Join me today at Seek GodWith Me to take a closer look at a better life.

Laugh and Get Rich, 1931

Mrs. Austin must rent bedrooms to boarders to keep money coming in to pay bills. However, her kind-hearted, happy-go-lucky husband invests her money in everyone else’s projects. While the woman tries to keep her family afloat, her daughter is sought-after by two men: a young inventor and a charming liar.

Mrs. Austin, played by Edna May Oliver, reminds me of the Carol Burnett Show. Carol Burnett could’ve easily played this mother – and probably came very close in one of the many comedy sketches she was in.

Hugh Herbert is Mr. Austin. He’s always into something, a little odd, but likable. Russell Gleason is the very appealing inventor Larry Owens who’s sweet on Miss Austin.

I loved the party at Mrs. Austin’s sister’s house. There was a dance, and there was conflict. That scene added a good mixture of awkward, funny, uncomfortable, and sweet.

A Better Word

Here we are, mid-January, trying to set up new routines in order to fulfill new promises we make to ourselves. We get frustrated with our bodies because they don’t lie. They tell the secrets of our dessert-eating past. They make us and everyone else fully aware of our lack of fitness.

How are we going to be happy with ourselves in this new year?

We have to learn to let go.

God gave us Jesus so that we could learn to let go of what we’ve been in control of and accept what he’s in control of. God has a better handle on things than we do. By far. And we know it. But we still try to control our own lives with our feeble little plans.

Meanwhile, God waits for us to run to him.

So this year, let’s run.

Let’s run to Jesus since he’s made himself available for everyone. We can all rush forward to him and be accepted. We don’t have to drag our feet anymore through our old lives, trying to make things better on our own. Because of the blood of Jesus, we have a new life to be thankful for. New direction. Instead of hiding from God, we can run into his arms.

Run with me this year as we seek God together. Today on my devotional blog, Seek God With Me, I’m sharing about this new life that we have with Jesus. Thanks for joining me.

 

 

So Goes My Love, 1946

Myrna Loy plays Jane, a woman who is ready for a new life. She’s a smart, determined country girl on a mission to find a rich husband. Jane has a plan, but a neighbor foils her plan.

Don Ameche is Hiram Steven Maxim, a charming inventor who promises no fortune nor notoriety, but he succeeds in turning her head. Ameche plays this quirky character well. The matter-of-fact part of Maxim's personality doesn’t overwhelm his compassion.

The story, “A Genius in the Family”, was written by Hiram Percy Maxim. The screenplay credits go to Bruce Manning and Clifton James. The film doesn’t spend much time on specific inventions, but emphasizes the inventor’s family life instead. The happy ending shows that happiness requires patience and adjustment. Although we can easily identify with the characters, they’re certainly not a cookie-cutter family.

New Stuff

Last January, I reviewed some Edith Head movies (The Sting, A Place in the Sun, Sabrina, and Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid) and paired the movies with devotionals about clothing. We took a look at garments of skin in Genesis, David trying on Saul’s armor in 1Samuel, the full armor of God in Ephesians, and Aaron’s priestly garments in Exodus.

February of 2012 was Girl Power month. I reviewed four movies from the 1930s with powerful female characters. I think a lot of people like to see a girl with strength and grit. Imitation of Life, Reckless, The Mad Miss Manton, and Too Hot to Handle all showed that kind of girl who, when she is down, that doesn’t mean you should count her out. My February devotionals were about powerful women of the Bible: Hannah, Deborah, Lydia, and a powerful mother from Matthew 15.

March was about World War II, and April was about murder. But I lightened things up a bit and discussed food in May. My devotionals were about the food issues of Jacob and Esau, Mary and Martha, Samson, and Jesus. My May movie reviews covered The Harvey Girls, The Lady and the Tramp, and That Touch of Mink.

June, July, and August gave me time to share the Psalms on my blog. Together, we read through 150 Psalms in 92 days.

September came along and helped me discuss convincing others of the truth. Truth is something that is sometimes amazingly difficult to persuade people about, at least in Alfred Hitchcock’s films. Therefore, I reviewed four of his films from the 1930s.

Last October, I encouraged us all to face the scary things in life. My devotionals covered topics like facing demons, facing disease, facing God, and facing self-will. I reviewed classic scary movies like The Invisible Man, Frankenstein, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

November was an important month for voters, so I covered ways of praying for our leaders. Some political-themed movies were highlighted: Kisses for my President, Goodbye my Fancy, and Meet John Doe. There were a lot of movies to choose from, so it was hard narrowing them down to only three.

December seems like a long time ago, now that Christmas is behind us. I helped us all get our Christmas wish list together by reminding us of how to pray for stuff. We prayed for God to help us make personal changes. We prayed for stuff like: being near God, allowing God to speak through us to our neighbors, and speaking helpful words. I reviewed movies that we see on TV every year: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and It’s a Wonderful Life.

So now, it’s January again. What will we see this year? I can imagine good things for this year. But we’ll need to set good goals in order to see good things happen.

In order to help us get in the mood for welcoming good changes and working to make things better, I’ll review movies about inventors. My devotionals will cover Bible verses that relate to a topic I’ll call New Stuff.

I will start today with a post about the new covenant. Join me at Seek God With Me and let me know what you think.