Mike and Kenny review and spot faith elements reflected in the film The Life of Chuck. Written and Directed by Mike Flannigan (Dr. Sleep) and starring Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers) as the adult Chuck Krantz. Based on the Stephen King novella of the same name, The Life of Chuck examines the life of Chuck through formative moments of his life.as a child, youth and adult. Benjamin Pajak and Jacob Tremblay (Room) portay Chuck as a child and a older teenager. The film co-stars Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years Slave), Mia Sara (Ferris Bueller's Day Off), Mark Hamill (Star Wars) and Karen Gillan (Avengers: Endgame).

The film is presented in three acts that go backwards and forwards in time unveiling the person and life of a man, Chuck Krantz, amdist natural disasters and disruptions facing the world.

Faith Notes:

In the midst of tragedy and personal and societal loss, joy and peace can still be experienced. Two psalms speak to the theme of The Life of Chuck, Psalm 8, given the wonders of creation, the vastness of the stars and the heavens, God still knows and treasures every person intimately. The film also calls for rejoicing in every day as it is a gift of God, Psalm 118:24, and there is no guarantee of tomorrow. These themes also reflect the teachings from Ecclesiastes 3, that there are seasons of life and living. These themes also reflect the teaching of Christ in Matthew 6 not to worry about tomorrow, but focus on the joy in/and of challenges today.

The freedom that comes when we release control of our lives and the world to God.

The implications of the reality that all creation belongs to God.

Mike and Kenny review and spot faith reflected in the latest film from writer / director Ryan Coogler which stars Michael B. Jordon in dual roles as Elijah "Smoke" and Elias "Stack" Moore, twin brothers returning from a mysterious time Chicago to their Mississippi Delta home town to start again. Set in the 1930's "Smoke" and "Stack," flush with cash and mystery on how they made it, seek to start again by opening a Juke Joint for the black community in their town. Amidst the challenges they were expecting such as from the Klan, their biggest threat is supernatural evil.

Faith Spotted:

The destructive power of temptation and greed, whether for riches, power, influence, or eternal life. Although sin and the brokenness of the world impact all of creation, people have freedom and choose to invite or let sin and unrighteousness into their lives. As taught in Scripture, God offers people the freedom to accept relationship with, and righteousness of, God. Likewise people choose to accept or invite sin/the Devil into their lives, rather than it invading or taking over.

Life outside the grace and love of God is not a blessing but a burden that imprisons the body and destroys one's spirit.

The film depicts the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 10:28 that one should not fear that which can kill only the body, but fear that which kills the soul.

The vampire /Dracula mythology and symbolism that dates back thousands of years depicts the struggle of evil against good.

The place and role of music in black culture and the black church.

Kenny and Mike discuss discuss and spot faith elements in the film Eric LaRue. Included in this epispose is an interview with Director Michael Shannon and the film's star Judy Greer.

The film, based on the play by Brett Neveu who also was the screenwriter, presents the parents of a school shooter and the challenges that they face in their lives, their relationships with each other, and with their community. The film also portrays how the faith communities of each parent respond to the needs of the parents as well as the faith and extended communities.

Faith Elements:

The film depicts how faith communities and leaders should NOT respond to persons involved or impacted by tragedy. Faith leaders, members, and communities should not be focused on solving the issue and removing the pain but should offer a ministry of presence, allowing the victims to share their pain without a rush to "get through" things.

While faith and faith communities are places to find and receive comfort, they first are places that are willing to step into and be in the midst of the uncomfortable spaces, including pain and anger.

Judy's character responds to her husband's trying to convince her to seek solace in his non-denominal and "giver her burden's to Jesus" by saying she does not want to because they are "my burdens." The incident has become a part of her, and to seek immediate comfort would be forget and deny the incident has happened and is to deny and erase such an important part of their life. Such desire for immediate relief comes through denying the pain and what work that needs to be done.