The biggest thing that happened this month is that Olivia and I moved into a new house! We are so excited for what is to come and blessed by The Lord answering so many prayers we have prayed over the years. It is wild to think that this is our first photo with our house, and one we will look at and share for years to come.

What I Watched: Survivor Season 50

Project Hail Mary is by far the best thing I watched in March, but I already wrote a whole review on that, which you can read here. To avoid repeating myself, let me tell you about Survivor Season 50. I have never watched Survivor before, but turns out it’s Olivia’s favorite show to watch when she’s sick. But then her being perfectly well saw season 50 was coming, and it was going to be a big deal, so we have been watching week after week. I have long missed the time when Survivor was actually popular and part of the culture, so it feels obvious to say this show, pretty good. It’s basically Naked and Afraid with Wipeout with The Bachelor thrown in there. It’s trashy reality mixed with absurd challenges, all while they are dehydrated. I would recommend watching, especially if you need a show to watch on your phone while eating lunch.

What I Read: N/A

I read three books in March and am currently on my fourth, and let me tell you, I am on the biggest cold streak of my life. Moving has cut down on the time I have had for reading, and then with the time left, I have chosen poorly. Here’s hoping April has better books, or else I am going to be sharing the best meme I read.

Worship Song: Hollow Grave: Aodhan King and Benjamin Williams Hastings

https://music.apple.com/us/album/hollow-grave/1886054936?i=1886055078

Coming in at the buzzer, this new worship song from former Hillsong worship leaders is a great Easter tune. It is upbeat and folky in a fresh and surprising way and invites multiple listens because it sounds so different. The lyrics are strong, and hearing them lead this song together is enjoyable and not your standard worship song.

Song: Can’t Figure It Out: The Brook & The Bluff

https://music.apple.com/us/album/cant-figure-it-out/1844870787?i=1844870803

I had fully believed The Brook & The Bluff had peaked, and it was all downhill from here. If you have never heard of this band’s music, yes you have. If you have ever been to a local coffee shop, congrats you’ve heard their stuff. They are alternative soft rock and, in my opinion, run their course. I found their previous new releases were reiterating on their previous work and not taking new ground. Can’t Figure It Out is the version of T Brook & The Bluff I have been waiting for. It is their signature sounds and storytelling while also creating something unbelievably catchy. I just pray the local coffee shops don’t run this song into the ground.

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5. I’ll Be The Branches: Chris Renzema

Years from now, Chris Renzema will be the poster child for the Indie Worship movement. I would argue he is the first artist of the Spotify era to come out of nowhere and stand on his own, compared to mega church releases or fellow worship leaders who could, for the first time ever, release with ease to the general public without a record deal. The reason why Renzema stands out is for his songwriting abilities. He writes with the authenticity of someone who knows the highs and lows of faith and isn’t afraid to share them. I still can’t listen to How To Be Yours without being choked up.

4. Citizens: Citizens

There is no worship artist who combines original music, covers of hymns, and The Psalms like Citizens. Their first full length and self titled album Citizens, showcases this and is them at their very best. From the fast paced hype of Made Alive to the climactic build of I Surrender All to Psalm 18, which puts Scripture to electric guitars that haven’t been sounded down, so they actually include grit and personality. The good news is, even though this is Citizens’ first album, they did not stop here and continue to push their own limits of how creative they can be.

3. We Are Young and Free: Hillsong Young and Free

This is my most biased pick, as this was the first worship album I ever got into. Yet, I stand by it as Sinking Deep is my third favorite worship song of all time, and Wake will never not be a banger. I grew up on this album, as a summer retreat was based off the idea of what does it mean to be young and free, and used the songs to soundtrack the weekend. Coming back, the songs made their way into so much of the everyday life of the church. From End of Days becoming a response song in youth group to Alive and Brighter stayed in the kids ministry song rotation for close to ten years. It will age a lot over the years, as the whole point is this was the anthem for the next generation of youth group, which will explain why there is so much EDM. But at the end of the day, this is a snapshot of what it was like to be in my youth group in the 2010s, and nostalgia is a powerful thing.

2. Singalong 2: Phil Wickham

I tried to avoid compilation albums, but it is impossible to deny the perfection that is Singalong 2. For those who just know Phil Wickham from Christian radio, this will prove he is so much more than This Is Amazing Grace (possibly the only song I have heard 10 million times). The point of the Singalong albums is that it’s Wickham with an acoustic guitar in a room with a couple of hundred people all singing at the top of their lungs, and it’s all recorded. For people who love hearing the crowd sing louder than the worship leader, this album is for you. The version here of You’re Beautiful is the perfect example of why live worship music is a picture of what Heaven will be like one day.

1.United We Stand: Hillsong United

The number one slot had to belong to Hillsong United, but I didn’t know which album. They are my favorite worship band ever and have created several perfect albums. Depending on the day I am having, I could have said Zion, Live In Miami, The I Heart Revolution, or People. But when your album has The Stand, Came To My Rescue, and From The Inside Out, you are immediately given the crown. Every song on this album is perfect and timeless. You could play each of these songs this Sunday, and you wouldn’t know this album came out 20 (!) years ago. It is the gold standard for contemporary worship music and my favorite worship album of all time.

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This post is to spotlight my ten favorite Beatles songs as well as highlight just how creative they are. Another sign of creativity isn’t just reinvention, it is inspiration and invitation. The Beatles created music that inspired hundreds of musicians and invited them to create their own sound in the world of music. For the past year, I have been diving into bands covering Beatles songs and how they take their base creativity and put it into their own voice. Good art is meant to be shared, and better art can build off each other. Below are my top ten favorite Beatles songs, as well as my covers playlists.

Top Ten Beatles Songs

10. This Boy

9. Don’t Pass Me By

8. Please Mister Postman

7. Got To Get You Into My Life

6. You Really Got A Hold On Me

5. Long, Long, Long

4. A Day In The Life

3. With A Little Help From My Friends

2. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

1. Something

“The Beetles”

Below are my playlists of every song covered by a different artist. For people desperate for new music, the first playlist has over 200 songs. For those who just want the best of the best, I have also linked my top 25 Beatles covers.

Full Playlist

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/the-beetles/pl.u-d2b01blILJ26vG8

Top 25

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/beetles-top-25/pl.u-DdANXLNs01BbZN3

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I want to give my thoughts, but also respect people’s reading habits when it comes to reviews. For me, I want to know as little as possible; some want what the trailers tell them and nothing more, while others want to know every twist and turn. I have divided this review into these three categories using how you like your steak cooked (yes, it’s intentional that my preferred way of reading reviews is also my preferred way of eating steak).

Rare

If you like Apollo 13 or Weir’s previous book that was adapted into a movie, The Martian, you’ll love this movie. Both of those films boil down to problem solving under enormous pressure, with clever people dodging and weaving through life and death situations. Ryan Gosling carries this movie and uses his movie star charm and skills. It’s sci-fi for people who don’t like sci-fi, and a movie meant for the big screen and a night out to see it.

Medium

On top of it being Apollo 13 and The Martian, it’s also E.T and How To Train Your Dragon. Yes, the trailers told you this: there is an alien. Now you may hear alien and think the movie has gone too far into sci-fi, but they somehow pull it off and make him one of the strongest parts of the movie. I wish they didn’t spoil this in the trailer because in the book, he doesn’t come in till you’re deep into it but I get it some people can’t just have an alien dropped on them in the middle of the movie. Every performance in here is great, especially the performances of people on Earth. Both moments from Earth and space have different strengths, and you’re not groaning to get back to one of the other as the two places that give the movie two distinct moods that pull you in further. It is an engaging movie that I would recommend to anyone. It is for the people who see four movies a year; this is your one this quarter.

Well Done

The biggest change from the book to the movie is the overall message of the movie. The message of the book is the power of what can happen when we work together, not separately. What happens when nations look past their differences to unite to save the planet? What happens when a human and an alien have to team up and learn from each other? These messages are still in the movie, don’t get me wrong, but the focus shifts.

The message of this movie is: What does it mean to be a hero? Gosling’s character struggles with not being brave enough and doesn’t see himself as a hero. The movie concludes by showing the bravest people are not the people in the showiest positions but the people who would lower themselves for the good of others. The people who would go on a one way mission to a star for the good of others. It is a Gospel centered message of the point of life and the impact we have is not found in exalting ourselves but in lowering ourselves as servants. Looking to the example of Christ, who did not despise the cross, but for the joy set before Him, took the very form of a servant. In a movie filled with amazing visuals, great performances, problem solving, I loved that the point of it all is servanthood.

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One Battle After Another

The plot of One Battle begins following Leonardo DiCaprio’s character as he falls in love with a member of a resistance group fighting against the government. The first thirty minutes of the movie is their story, displaying their revolutionary tactics including releasing everyone in an immigration detention center, blowing up empty buildings, and robbing a bank. It is an intense opening act and when I saw it in theaters, a couple in the audience bailed after seeing what was put on screen. The movie is not exactly telling you to go follow in their footsteps, but it has no rebuke for these characters. The only time the revolutionaries are painted in a clear negative is when an innocent bystander is killed.

The film then jumps many years to DiCaprio’s character as a single father taking care of his now teenage child he had with his fellow revolutionary. The overall message of the movie is about family, emphasized when the worst things happen to the characters who reject their families. There is an argument to be made at the end that the greatest act of revolution is having a family and committing to them no matter what life throws at you. One Battle After Another is a response to a lot happening in our world today, but these are not new ideas, and Acts gives us an alternative to violent rebellion.

Andor

The Star Wars from when I was eight years old of lightsaber fights, LEGO video games, and action figures is very different from the Star Wars of today; At 25, I am watching some of the most gut wrenching TV episodes of my life. Andor is a two season TV show set in between Revenge Of The Sith and Rogue One. It serves as an exploration of one of the primary characters of Rogue One, Cassian Andor. It shows Andor becoming a key member of the rebellion which we know from A New Hope as an organized rebellion with clear leadership, standards, and oversight. Not so much at the beginning of Andor, which starts with a group of revolutionaries across the galaxy trying to stop the growing power of The Empire.

The reason why Andor is less complicated than One Battle After Another is because Star Wars is one of our clearest depictions of good and evil on screen. The Empire has always been evil (as it is based on the Nazis.) Therefore, the revolutionary tactics shown in Andor are a fight of good versus evil and are less politically complicated than what One Battle presents. Andor is a slow burn TV show that plays out more like a novel than a sci-fi blockbuster. It was my favorite TV show of 2025 because it points to the role of everyday people in pushing back to darkness, which is a common theme in the book of Acts.

Acts

Both One Battle and Andor present compelling questions, but both present answers that are lackluster. The best answer to these questions is seen in the example of the early church found in the book of Acts. One Battle is about the danger of the rejection of family but also the need to reject oppressive governments. Acts is about the creation of a new family, The Church, and how it is a battle against so much more than just oppressive governments like that of Rome–there is a dominion of darkness we are fighting. Governments are important, but we cannot miss that there is something bigger going on behind the scenes. The Kingdom of light found in Jesus the light of the world is in direct opposition in battle against the darkness of the enemy.

Andor does an incredible job showing the fight against good and evil in the movements from scattered rebels to an organized rebellion. It is an encouragement for Christians that we are more powerful together than we are alone. One of the greatest acts of rebellion we have against the dominion of darkness is participating in corporate worship in the local church. We unite to encourage one another to pursue Jesus and to fight and flee from worldliness. Acts is the story of an organized church inviting people into the life change found in Jesus, and because of this The Kingdom is taking new ground.

C.S Lewis put it so well when he wrote, “Enemy-occupied territory–that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” Every piece of revolutionary media and every desire to rebel comes from a deep righteous desire that there has to be something more. There is something more, it is The Kingdom of God coming on earth, and Jesus is inviting us into the revolution.

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Bibles

NIRV Bible

The Bible I use every Sunday in kids ministry, and the one I recommend to every parent for their child in elementary school is the NIRV translation. It is the NIV translation put into a third grade reading level, and it is the clearest and easiest translation I have found. There is no audio version, which is a bummer for younger kids who are learning to read, so if any of you are NIRV employees, please contact me–I will do the recording in a heartbeat.

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Sally Lloyd Jones (Illustrated by Jago)

As kids are learning to read and jumping into the story of The Bible, this is the one I recommend parents start with. It has great illustrations and breaks down Bible stories in a way that is accessible to any child. We give this book out at our Parent Child Dedication as a baby’s first Bible, and I have twenty year olds at our church who talk about how much they love this resource.

The Biggest Story Bible Storybook: Kevin DeYoung (Illustrated by Don Clark)

The next step after The Jesus Storybook Bible is this resource (which unfortunately has the most complicated name for no reason.) It goes into more detail with each story and does not shy away from evil acts recorded in The Bible. The illustrations are more mature as well, but are stunning. If I could print out some of these pages and hang them on my walls, I would. The illustration for creation is a true work of art and worth the price of the book alone.

Discipleship

Habits Of The Household: Justin Whitmel Earley

I would recommend this book to anyone, not just people leading families. Habits Of The Household looks at ten rhythms in families’ lives and how to invite Jesus into the center of each of these rhythms. It is a great book on habits, routines, and what it means to have a Jesus-centered life.

The Intentional Father: Jon Tyson

Tyson is my favorite “celebrity” preacher, and this book is a perfect encapsulation of why. He is a person of deep discipleship while also being practical and realistic. This book is designed for fathers and sons to create a rite of passage for a son to move from being a boy to being a man. It has so many ideas to apply and gives practical next steps on what the journey can look like for a son to leave home and start his own life built on the foundation of Jesus.

Show Them Jesus: Jack Klumpenhower

During my first few months on staff at my church, I had coffee with parents and leaders, trying to understand more about the context I was working in and to connect with people. In one of these meetings, someone recommended this book to me, and it is still the best book on children’s ministry I have ever read. It talks about the dangers some ministries fall into while making The Bible story more like fairy tales that have no application. Or a danger of having the story just be about moral correction and solely focusing on attributes like honesty or kindness. There is nothing wrong with kind and honest kids, but divorcing these ideas from the person of Jesus removes the whole point of the local church.

If Your Kid Loves ______ Try ________

How Great Is Our God: Louie Giglio with Tama Fortner (Illustrated by Nicola Anderson)

If your kid loves science, try How Great Is Our God. Each chapter of this book takes a different idea in science and connects it to God and His power and creativity.

Bible Infographics for Kids Epic Guide to Jesus

If your kid loves fun facts, try Bible Infographics for Kids Epic Guide to Jesus. This is a book filled with facts and figures on the person of Jesus communicated in fun and interesting ways. For example, one of the first pages has hundreds of crowns that are clumped together by colors. At the bottom of the page is a key that tells you that each color represents a name Jesus is called in The Gospels, like Savior or Lamb of God. It visualizes this data and is basically an engaging commentary on The Gospels.

Soul Fuel For Young Explorers: Bear Grylls

If your kid loves adventure, try Soul Fuel For Young Explorers. Yes, Bear Grylls wrote a children’s book, and it is honestly incredible. He frames up the journey of following Jesus like an adventure and casts a vision so much bigger than church attendance. He is a great visionary and understands deeply Jesus’ promise of life and life to the fullest and offers that to each kid reading.

Love Does For Kids: Bob Goff and Lindsey Goff Viducich (Illustrated by Michael Lauritano)

If your kid loves stories, try Love Does For Kids. The original Love Does was one of the first Christian books I read, and it is still one of my favorites. Goff is a great storyteller and a refreshing author who delights in the love of Jesus. He has taken the stories from his original book and put them into a context for kids.

The Case For Christ For Kids: Lee Strobel with Robert Suggs and Robert Elmer

If your kid loves asking questions, try The Case For Christ For Kids. The arguments found in the original Case For Christ have changed so many lives, and Strobel has taken his arguments and questions and invites kids into the conversation. Kids are asking the big questions like who created everything, why do bad things happen, and who is Jesus? Showing kids that Jesus isn’t scared of questions and, in fact, The Bible speaks into these questions can inspire a child to trust God more and grow their faith in powerful ways.

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10. Frankenstein

Not only is Frankenstein my least favorite Best Picture nominee, it is also one of my least favorite movies released last year, which surprises me because people whose opinion I trust (or at least used to trust) recommended it wholeheartedly. Part of why it is so frustrating is that it has a lot of interesting ideas: creation, anti-aging, playing God, what it means to be a dad, and so much more. The issue is, it never picks a lane on which idea it cares the most about, and it doesn’t gel together into one story. Also, truly some of the worst CGI I have ever seen.

9. Hamnet

It would be helpful if before Hamnet starts, a warning would come on the screen not dissimilar to a warning on cigarette packages to warn of what you are about to ingest. This movie is brutally sad and depressing, but unfortunately, in a way that did not click for me whatsoever. It follows William Shakespeare and his wife as they fall in love and have children. When tragedy strikes their family, it inspires Shakespeare to make Hamlet. My issue with this movie is that it is a tragedy that is trying to make you feel things, but doesn’t actually connect with the viewer, and this makes the film a chore to watch. I sat there bored and waiting for the tragedy to strike, as the movie tells you in the first frame what is going to happen. Yes, there are good performances, but I found it overall alienating.

8. The Secret Agent

One of the most frustrating things when watching a movie is when you can name the two changes that could make it a hundred times better. The Secret Agent could have been my favorite Best Picture nominee, but it wasn’t interested in making an engaging movie. I am not exaggerating when I say you don’t find out the plot and the problem of the movie until halfway through and everything that takes place prior is just people getting set in their places. The movie hides the ball to the point where it is no longer a cool misdirect but a misunderstanding of the story. It is a great looking movie with interesting performances, but when the climax of your movie happens off screen you turn off a large portion of your audience.

7. Bugonia

There is a really compelling idea presented in Bugonia about who is to blame for the suffering we expierence in the world. The movie points out that conspiracy theorists are people trying to find reason behind what feels like an unreasonable life. The movie asks what are the lengths you would go to if you found out who was behind your suffering and what happens if you come to the wrong conclusion. I found the movie long winded in the execution of the ideas where the first thirty minutes can be really cut down. But after a certain point the movie takes off and showcases some of the craziest and most creative scenes you will see this year.

6. Sentimental Value

When the filmmaker father of two sisters comes back into the picture after their mom dies, they have to choose whether reconnection is worth it. Sentimental Value is all about family, with some of the best sibling dynamics I have ever seen put to screen, while also spotlighting what makes an absent father absent. Where does he go and why does he do it? One choice this movie made that I loved is that while it is about the past, I found it future oriented, looking towards how reconnection could be possible and what it will cost. So many dramas get bogged down in what has happened and don’t make any progress forward. It is a hopeful movie in an unexpected way that I really enjoyed.

5. Sinners

The most Oscar nominated film of all time gets number five on my list. I liked Sinners, but I am not on the Sinners train full steam ahead. With both times I watched it, I forgot one thing until I got into it–I think vampires are really dumb. The rules of vampires take me out of the movie and make me feel like I am playing some crazy involved board games with stupid rules. I am not terrified by them because I can’t be scared of an instruction manual. With that being said there are some really interesting ideas here about music being spiritual and creating a thin place. Of all the Oscars it got nominated for I think it should win best score… and then nothing else.

4. Train Dreams

Where I thought Hamnet was alienating, I found Train Dreams to be inviting and a testimony for what it means to be human. It follows an average person in an average life of working hard and trying to put enough food on the table. This average person starts a family and deals with the heartbreaks of life. Truly, it could be set in any time period and be about anyone’s story, it just so happens to be about a logger in the early 1900s. The reason being is it is not about the details but about the highs and lows of a life here on Earth. It is a captivating story with visuals that are immersive and that create a quiet, reflective film which makes you consider your time here on Earth.

3. F1

I believe that on slow movie weekends, IMAX movie theaters should rotate between five movies that have to be seen on the biggest screen possible, and one of them should be F1 (the other four being Interstellar, Dunkirk, Top Gun: Maverick, and Gravity.) It was an experience seeing this in theaters but a testament of how well made the movie is that not only does it work in large formats, but it also captivates at home and even on a plane screen. It is a simple story, but it does simple exceptionally well. It’s a sports movie, so there are only two outcomes: winning or losing. You have a 50/50 shot of guessing where the movie is going, but at least along the way, the movie makes you feel like you are in the driver’s seat better than any other movie out there. Some people were upset that this made the ten nominees. I believe it deserves to be up here for the craft alone, but additionally because this is the most accessible movie of the year that I could recommend to anyone of any age with no caveats.

2. One Battle After Another

I plan on writing a lot more about One Battle After Another as it should win Best Picture this Sunday. If it doesn’t… I haven’t gotten that far. In short, it is a complicated movie that has a lot for people to stumble on, but in the end it has some profound things to say about family. As thrilling as the movie can be, I have found that hearing people’s opinions and reads on the movie can even be more interesting than the movie itself. It is a rich text for many different interpretations.

1.Marty Supreme

My 2025 Ranked post was written the day after I saw Marty Supreme for the first time and it came in at number nine. If I were to redo the list today, it would come in at number three. That change is because I saw it for a second time and the more I thought about the more I realized this movie has something to say. It feels like a father talking to his kid about the worst week of his life that led to the father finally deciding to stop being selfish. You see the worst person in the world for almost three hours being unbearable and ruining his life with the way he exalts himself. And then, at the last minute, you see that man shatter and come of age right before your eyes. It is a story of transformation and forsaking childish selfishness for a greater purpose. Also, it is a great reaction movie. Show it to your friends and just watch them as certain things happen and it makes the whole movie even funnier.

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Whiplash

For those unfamiliar with this movie (or the memes that have come out of it) Whiplash is a movie about a young drummer, played by Miles Teller, who wants to be the greatest in the world and will stop at nothing to get there. He is invited to join a premier jazz ensemble led by J.K Simmons, who you probably know as J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man films or from those Farmer Insurance commercials. What you quickly discover is that Simmons is not some soft spoken man trying to get your house insured, but he is cruel and demanding to his students with some of the most jaw dropping insults and fits of yelling ever put to screen. You find out he does this because he wants to produce the best of the best and he believes that there is nothing more dangerous than telling someone, “Good job.”

Teller rises to the challenge and plays the games, getting yelled at and broken down because he believes it will build him into a stronger drummer. What he doesn’t realize is that he is losing his soul in the process. The film ends with what can feel like a triumphant moment, but in the context of the movie it is really someone who has cut off everyone important to him and has offered up his life on the altar of being the best in the world. Whiplash shows us the extreme of believing our dream is worth everything, to the point of it becoming an idol in our lives. This perspective believes that the people who aren’t on board with our dreams are actually in the way and should be removed from the picture. Whiplash confronts viewers with the brash reality of someone following a dream of success at all costs into the abyss of an empty soul.

La La Land

Spoiler alert (even though this movie came out almost ten years ago at this point.) La La Land is written and directed by the same writer/director as Whiplash, Damien Chazelle. This movie follows Ryan Gosling’s character, an aspiring jazz musician and hopeful jazz club owner, and Emma Stone’s character, an aspiring actress, as they fall in love and navigate their dreams together. The movie ends with Emma Stone auditioning for the role of a lifetime, and then a time jump years into the future. The time jump reveals Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling broke up so that they could both pursue their dreams. They meet at a chance encounter years later, and there is a dream sequence of what their life could have looked like if they had chosen each other instead of their dreams. In that alternate reality, Gosling doesn’t get to own the jazz club and Stone never becomes an actress, but they have a family and are happy together. The dream sequence ends, confirming they chose a different path, and then the movie ends.

Now, many people hate this ending because they think the two should stay together. But if you have seen Chazelle’s previous movie, he is more interested in people’s passions than in a love story. Whiplash leaves you with a haunting tone of someone who has lost themself, while La La Land plainly and unjudgmentally shows the cost of following one’s dreams. If you give everything to your purpose in life, there is little left to give to anything or anyone else. The opposite is also true–if you give everything to your spouse, little will be left for the dream that demands every part of you. The ending is an opportunity to reflect on how you should spend your life and what is worth it. I find it a powerful ending, although heartbreaking, to see a life devoted to simply getting a role and missing out on the joy of a loving relationship. Some may say the dream is worth forsaking that relationship, but I think there is more to life than our individual dreams.

Ecclesiastes

Written by King Solomon at the end of his life, Ecclesiastes is a reflection on a life of abundance though void of meaning. Solomon had everything: the power, the wealth, the pleasure, and at the end of his life, it still was not enough. He needed something greater than climbing the ladder of life; he needed a deeper purpose. The issue is most people will spend their life investing in a passion that will never give back. A title, social standing, or corner office that won’t actually fill the God sized shape in our heart. Neither a passion that becomes an idol like in Whiplash or a dream that takes up your whole life and pushes out the joys of life like in La La Land will satisfy. The invitation of Jesus to fullness of life cannot be satiated by The American Dream or by our greatest passion project. As C.S Lewis famously said, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” There is a greater joy, a greater purpose, and a greater dream out there for us. Anything else would be selling our lives short.

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Worship Song: Thank God I’m Free: Elevation Rhythm (2026)

https://music.apple.com/us/album/thank-god-im-free/1857992259?i=1857992266

Do you ever have those songs you like just fine the first time you listen to them, but then you can’t stop listening? And then finally, by the fiftieth time you’ve listened to it, you realize the song isn’t just fine, it’s phenomenal. That was my experience with Thank God I’m Free. The more I listened to it, the more the lyrics struck me about the freedom found in Christ, as well as the power of sharing our testimony of freedom. On continued listening, it wasn’t just the lyrics that struck me but the high energy. This song is unlike other breakthroughs by Elevation Rhythm, like Goodbye Yesterday or, more recently, Washed. I find it less geared toward jumping around and dance breaks, and instead it finds its high energy from its declaration that in Christ there is freedom.

Book: Trouble Boys: Bob Mehr (2016)

Trouble Boys is a biography about a punk rock group called The Replacements. Before reading this book, I liked two of The Replacements’ songs (Can’t Hardly Wait and I Will Dare), but I was recommended the book as an amazing work of biography, whether you liked the band or not. And they were absolutely right as this is possibly the best music biography I have ever read. A real testament to the quality of this book is that I committed to listening to all of The Replacements’ discography. I only found one or two songs I enjoyed; overall the band is not my cup of tea. Even without having a heartfelt connection to the band the book was still exceptional for two main reasons.

First, Mehr writes in a nostalgic, thoughtful way that feels like you are on the road with the band, having fun with them while still acknowledging the insanity of their decisions and the pain that caused their anarchic performances. A great example is a story of The Replacements on Saturday Night Live at a time when SNL was one bad show away from being canceled. After hearing this, the band decides to say the F word live on television and do a somersault into mooning the audience at home. There are hundreds of stories about the band intentionally shooting themselves in the foot in the name of punk rock and not being sell outs, which leads to my second favorite part of the book.

Mehr does a great job connecting the spider web of music history explaining who came before The Replacements and who was influenced by them in the future. What you soon discover is that The Replacements influenced the genre forever, but never had a breakthrough in pop culture. The book becomes a tragedy of a band who impacted group after group but never impacted the world. They become an object of cult fascination instead of a culture-defining band. I could not recommend this book more if you are interested in music history, well researched story, and a deeply honest look at what it means to create things.

Song: All Shook Down: The Replacements (1990)

https://music.apple.com/us/album/all-shook-down/690391769?i=690391778

While reading Trouble Boys, I listened to all of The Replacements’ work, and this was the standout of what I found. Much of the book is dedicated to the group’s struggle with drugs, and All Shook Down is them at their darkest. This song is off their last album before they fell apart from the infighting and addiction, and all of this is painfully apparent in the lyrics and melody. It has a moody atmosphere that I have not heard in many songs and creates an intimate listening experience that is one of a kind.

Movie Crime 101 (2026)

If there is one thing I love, it’s police jargon in movies. Statements like “He avoided all of our cameras–this dude is a ghost” make me want to do a backflip. Crime 101 is filled with police jargon and crime movie cliches, and that is a very good thing. It is coloring inside the lines of a familiar story while bringing tension, interesting characters, and great action. The story is about a robber with moral code who is being hunted by another robber with no such code, as well as being tracked by a nothing-to-lose officer, all revolving around a potential target in Halle Berry. It is a high quality execution of an at times thin story. It is supposed to be arriving on Amazon Prime in the coming months, and it is a great airplane or Saturday afternoon watch.

Photo: Foreign Language High School Musical

My favorite photo of February 2026 requires a lot of context. One of my hobbies is collecting Blu-rays, and I am always on the hunt for Blu-rays of my childhood favorite movies. One of the biggest discs missing was the High School Musical trilogy, which defined my childhood, as it did for a lot of Gen Z. The only issue is that there is no Blu-ray edition to be found unless you buy it off Amazon from Japan. I have done this before, and sometimes it has Japanese packaging, but the movie is still in English. I told my friends that I ordered it, and we devoted an entire Saturday to watching all three movies. The only issue is that it was, in fact, not just the packaging in Japanese but the entire movie and main menu as well. The photo above is me using the camera feature of Google Translate to find how to switch it to English. Eventually we figured it out and now have this photo to always remember the epic struggle to watch 5 and half hours of High School Musical in English.

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Advent 2023: The Loud, Noisy, Roaring, Life Changing, Not So Silent Night

Advent 2023

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This was my first Advent devotional and will always hold a special place in my heart. The main idea was to show how while Jesus being born was not a peaceful moment in itself, because He was born, died, and raised back to life, we can now have peace. Most people do not experience a calm, peaceful Christmas. Opening presents, extended family all in one roof, and the busyness all create chaos and not peace. Yet we can have a personal relationship with Jesus and the serenity and stillness we feel when we sing Silent Night can be felt everywhere you go when Jesus is king of your heart.

My favorite aspect of this devotional is that there is a song for each day for the family to listen to that ties into The Bible story. My least favorite aspect is there are really two themes going on, one being the chaos vs. peace theme, and the second being ADVENTure showing how Advent is the destination of the adventure of The Old Testament, and Jesus is the destination of the adventure of our lives. Both ideas are good, but in hindsight, I would have spotlighted one at a time.

Advent 2024: Join The Triumph

Advent 2024

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Join The Triumph is all about winning, because who doesn’t like to win? The message of the Christmas story is this: because Jesus was really born, He could really live, really die, and really resurrect from the grave, defeating death. Because Jesus was born, we are welcomed into the victory Jesus won on the cross and empty grave. Our main verse for this devotional was: “But let us give thanks to God! He gives us the victory because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done” 1 Corinthians 15:57. The devotional highlights different stories throughout The Bible to show the major victories and show how God is a God of victory. On top of that there are some stories of loss that show even when we don’t feel victorious and we have lost the battle, God has still won the war.

My favorite aspect of this devotional is how applicable it is to kids and families who find Christmas to be a hard time. Christmas can be a season where loss and grief is amplified as you notice people are no longer around the table celebrating with you. For people walking in darkness, this is the good news of God’s victory. My least favorite aspect is that I find it too similar to the first Advent devotional. Again, in hindsight, I wish I had been more creative and not just gone through different Bible stories, but had taken a bigger creative swing.

Advent 2025: The Savior Is Born

Advent 2025

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The vision statement of the church I work at is Elevate The Name of Jesus. This was my goal as I began writing the devotional, to highlight the person of Jesus. It took many forms in the early drafts with one idea being Christmas In Red Letters: looking at the words of Jesus of why He had to come to Earth and who He is. That seemed like the winning idea until realizing most kids don’t know what a red letter Bible is. Still, we wanted to make this devo the most Jesus centered and Jesus magnifying. Because of that mission, this one is structured after 25 different names and titles given to Jesus, both titles that Jesus gave Himself and what was prophesied about Him in The Old Testament.

I have two favorite things about this one. First, I love the structure of Who? Why? What? … Who is Jesus? Why is this important? What do I do about it? It clearly lays out a process that blesses any Bible reading to read for God and not for us, but also takes up the call to action present in the text. The second favorite thing is this one was the first year we did an Advent calendar and each page had a matching sticker they would put on the tree. My least favorite thing is the opening paragraph. This is the thing I want to change the most of the things I write, but I always wish there is a clearer reason given to the audience to keep reading. The ultimate question of “Why do we celebrate Christmas?” is buried and should have been addressed sooner.

So, these are my three Advent devotionals and my retrospective thoughts on them. I hope I get to make a fourth, which I have some exciting ideas for already. It may seem odd to post these in February, but the birth of Jesus is a world changing event and one that has a daily impact on Christians. It is always great to remember that Jesus took on flesh and became a servant out of His great love for us.

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12. Insomnia (2002)

Of all of Nolan’s movies, this one feels the least like himself. There is nothing special in here that another director could not do. The actual movie is not bad on its own. A movie all about guilt after a police detective’s actions make him the guilty party, and him running away from this reality. It even has interesting aspects that set it apart from a normal police investigation movie, such as a villainous Robin Williams performance. Even with good performances, the movie feels like Nolan had to prove himself. Not proving he was a good director, Memento had already done that. Rather, he is proving he can be trusted within the studio system and was given a simple movie to get on base. Because of this, Insomnia is the safest of all of Nolan’s movies, and one I have never revisited after watching.

11. Following (1998)

Following is Nolan’s first film, and even at a low budget, you can see his creativity shining through with ideas and storytelling techniques he will later return to. The movie (coming in at an hour and nine minutes!) is about a man bored with life who follows people for entertainment and purpose. He then finds purpose when a man he follows turns out to be a burglar. The ideas of boredom with domestic life and turning to sin and crime for purpose are fascinating and deeply human. The movie is not mind blowing, but there is a clear indie filmmaker spirit that is endearing and holds your attention even as the story is not as refined as later ones.

10. Batman Begins (2005)

I am sure that at the time of release for Batman Begins, audiences could not believe what they were seeing, and this was revolutionary for the superhero genre. Today, after dozens upon dozens of other superhero movies, this movie is just fine. It is a long winded origin story to a story that has been beaten to death. The movie does not seem like a foundational text but rather a template for so many other superhero movies that have caused what we now know as superhero fatigue. It does have interesting ideas about fear and how you can either be inspired by your fear to live a bold and worthy life or use fear to control the masses. Even with the ideas in place, it is Nolan’s worst Batman movie.

9. Oppenheimer (2023)

The first time I saw Oppenheimer, I did not like it. Part of the reason why is because the showtime started at 10pm, and by the time it ended, I was exhausted. No matter the time I saw it, I would still be worn out as it is an exhausting and maximalist movie that takes multiple rewatches to understand all that is going on. This makes sense after reading the book, the movie is based on American Prometheus (coming in at 721 pages). Both the book and the movie span decades with hundreds of names that are mentioned once but expected to be remembered. Yet the overwhelming story is in service of telling a story of regret. Based on the title of the movie, you may believe this is a movie about a great man. But the title of the book highlights what makes this movie incredible. What really makes the movie stand out is that, like Prometheus, he was responsible for a world changing event in human history, but is now being punished. Living with immense guilt and under constant scrutiny. The idea of the movie being regret makes it so engaging, especially the idea of regret, knowing you did your best, but you will never be fully understood by outsiders. One of the highlights of this movie is that Nolan puts a soundtrack to the feeling of regret with the crowd stomping on the bleachers, which is turned into the best score of the 2020s by Ludwig Göransson.

8. Memento (2000)

To this day, this is still Nolan’s most creative plot and a bold proclamation that he is one of, if not the defining, director of the 2000s. Memento is about a man who has memory loss that resets about every fifteen minutes. To remember things, he has mementos to remind him of what his objective is in life. What makes this movie so creative is that it is broken up into two sections. One section is in color and starts at the end and is working backwards. While the other section starts before the events of the movie and goes in chronological order. Then at the end of the movie the two plots converge at the beginning of the story. When boiling down this movie to a single word, it is easy to say confusion, as even by my explanation, it leaves you scratching your head. But a better word would be incomplete. The audience is always confused because you are not given all the pieces of the puzzle, but more so, our main character is incomplete, as he does not know his purpose in life. So much so, he is being taken advantage of by others as they offer to make his life complete through purpose, but he is just a pawn. It shows the danger of purposelessness and how there are always people out there ready to take advantage of that and give the wrong purpose.

7. The Prestige (2006)

The Prestige has become the cool film bro answer to what is the best Nolan movie, and they have a strong argument. This movie is about two rival magicians and the lengths they would go to outperform each other. You may have just checked out, thinking how could a movie about magicians be good? What do you mean by “outperforming”, like who can pull a bigger rabbit out of a hat? What makes this movie so good is its ideas on ambition. Human beings are ambitious people; it does not matter if it is climbing the ladder at work, the ambition to get a bigger bank account, or the ambition to win. So yes, it does have magicians, but it is more so about the lengths someone is willing to go to be the best in their field and what humanity they are willing to give up to do so.

6. Inception (2010)

From here to the end of the list, any of these six movies could be number one on any day of the week. They rotate in and out depending on my moods or seasons, and because they are all that good. Inception is the announcement of the Christopher Nolan we know and love today. Memento showed his creativity, and The Dark Knight showed he is a master at spectacle, but Inception puts the two together in an original story that dominated at the box office (the fourth highest grossing movie of 2010 and the only original movie in the top five). Inception follows a team who infiltrates people’s dreams. Again, sounds crazy, but ultimately it is a story about family. A man trying to get home to his family and another dealing with the loss of his father. It is a movie that shows the reality of family with the profound regret we have with certain members of our family, but the unwavering love that is present that gives people drive.

5. Tenet (2020)

The options for the one word description of Tenet are as follows: cool, sick, legendary, mesmerizing, and insane. While in the 2010s James Bond got more serious and darker, Nolan creates his own Sci-Fi James Bond who goes on missions while moving backwards in time. There is a device in this movie that, if you enter it, you stop moving forward on the timeline of life but start moving backwards. To the people around you, you look like you’re literally moving backwards. So you get to watch gun fights, car chases, and explosions happen backwards, and it is freaking sick. The first time I saw this movie was a drive in theater with some friends. The movie premiered in August of 2020, while COVID was still going on, but there was no way I was waiting till home video release, so to the drive in I went. Two memorable things from this experience, one the people I saw it with hated this movie, and they do represent a faction of Nolan fans who think this movie is nonsense. Secondly, this movie has been critiqued for having a poor audio mix. Let me tell you, having the audio come out of your car radio did not help whatsoever.

4. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Eleven year old me had never been more hyped for a movie before in my life than The Dark Knight Rises. I had watched the trailer a hundred times and, to this day, still remember quotes from it. Many find this movie the worst of the trilogy and even Nolan’s worst movie. And while I agree it is long and easy to point out plot holes, I find it a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy and a great examination of what legacy is. The movie is dealing with the legacy of Harvey Dent and creating a lie for the good of the city. Bane is continuing the legacy of Ra’s Al Ghul, which is to really confront the problems of the world, is to destroy it without mercy. While Batman is leaving a legacy of hope and sacrifice. It presents interesting questions of what legacy are we leaving on Earth through our actions at both a personal and global level?

3. Dunkirk (2017)

As much as I did not like Oppenheimer the first time I watched it, I did not like Dunkirk even more. I was expecting Saving Private Ryan for the next generation as Nolan becomes the new Spielberg, mixing character and cinematic depictions of history the world has never seen before. I was shocked to find out there was little to no character development in this movie, and to this day, I cannot tell you the name of one of the characters. In hindsight, I realize Nolan was not creating a character study, he was documenting perseverance. In the face of hopelessness, what does it mean to rise to the challenge by land, air, and sea? What did it take to win WWII, and the answer is courage in the face of defeat. The reason why there are no characters is because any of these men can represent the soldiers who lived out perseverance at the Battle of Dunkirk and throughout the war. Once I got over the hurdle of unmet personal expectations every time I watch this movie, I am overwhelmed by the breathtaking filmmaking. The aerial combat, the sinking ship, and even the way the beach looks makes this movie unlike any other war movie to ever exist.

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

From fifth grade to my freshman year of college, this was my favorite movie of all time. There is little that needs to be said about this movie, as it has been widely celebrated and universally acclaimed as one of the best movies of the 21st century and the best superhero movie ever. To sum up what this movie is about, I would use the word control. At the beginning of the movie, everything is under control, and crime is being shut down in the city. Yet The Joker walks in and shows their control is an illusion, and man made control buckles when chaos is introduced. This leads to our heroes crossing moral lines for even greater control, including spying on an entire city, and in the process losing their humanity. This movie shows the evil nature of chaos, but the way to fight it is not through crushing might, but, as shown in The Dark Knight Rises, through hope.

1. Interstellar (2014)

Interstellar is the best of Nolan’s movies put together. It has the creativity of Memento, Inception, and The Prestige. It has the spectacle of Dunkirk, The Dark Knight, and Tenet. Even with Nolan’s upcoming movie, this year, The Odyssey, he has already made it in a way by showing Matthew McConaughey trying to get home after an epic adventure. It is a combination of his themes, like the idea of family from Inception, the idea of legacy from The Dark Knight Rises, and the ideas of finding purpose, an avenue for ambition, and completeness. All of which comes together in this movie with his message on love. Love is what unites a family, love is one’s legacy, and love is where someone finds purpose in life. I believe Nolan will always be remembered for Interstellar, and as time goes on, it will continue to impact others with its message on the unstoppable nature of love.

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The message, themes, and spectacle of this movie give us an insight into Gen Z and what they are looking for in life. The reason why I believe I can speak on this subject is my experience in youth ministry and having thousands of conversations of what Gen Z believes about God and what they are looking for in faith. On top of that, as a member of Gen Z myself, most of my friends are fellow members, and we have talked about what people our age are seeking and where many have walked away because of how Jesus was presented at church. With all of that being said, below are the three things that people love about Interstellar and show what is essential for faith in this generation.

Love

Over two hours into Interstellar, we find McConaughey’s character Cooper in a tesseract, a five dimensional space where he can communicate with his past self and his daughter. The first time I saw this, I was immediately taken out of the movie. I was so lost at what was happening because the movie had taken such a huge swing. The movie then states that there is something that can transcend space and time— that thing is love. Many people flinch at this idea and fault Nolan for being too sincere and sentimental. And yet, what took me out of the movie years ago has become one of the most powerful moments in the movie for me. And it highlights what Gen Z looks for in Jesus. Human beings desire love and Gen Z is no different. They want a powerful love and have great affection for Nolan’s depiction of it. They want the love of Jesus to transcend space and time to cover their past sins and extend to their future self. This generation has not given up on love and wants to know if they are accepted. On top of this, at the end of the day Interstellar is a story about family. It is about the love of a father and the lengths he would go to to protect his kids (mostly his daughter, which has been correctly pointed out since its release.) The Gospel is so clearly present as we see the love of a father, the sacrifice required in love, and how love transcends and covers.

Spectacle

When I was 14, I was already a Christopher Nolan fan boy. The Dark Knight was my favorite movie and I had a Christoper Nolan Blu-ray box set (and still do.) Because of this, I had made a pact with myself to not watch any trailers for Interstellar. It was the only time in my life I have done this, and I am so glad I did. I walked in and was blown away by the spectacle shown on screen. The black hole, the ice planet, and even the cornfield chase were amazing to see for the first time on an IMAX screen. Speaking of IMAX, one of the reasons Interstellar was able to make so much money in 2024 is because it was only shown on IMAX screens. People wanted to see the film on the biggest screen possible, even if it did cost extra. The spectacle captured on screen is something I truly believe has not been replicated in the past ten years since its release. When I did see it again in 2024, the spectacle was too much for some. I was sitting next to a mom who brought her teenage daughter, and when the rocketship took off, she covered her ears because she found it too loud.

Now, what does this have to say about Gen Z and their faith? I earnestly believe that many members of Gen Z leave the church because the God preached from the platform is too small for them. They are not hearing about a God who split the Red Sea or who raises dead people back to life or even who created time and space. They are hearing about a person who is mad at them because they broke the rules. They are seeing images of a dude in robes who sounds like Santa Claus in the sky. Gen Z does not want a small god who cannot handle what they have going on. They need an all consuming fire worthy of worship and who can carry their heavy burdens. God is loving and approachable, but also He is a mighty warrior worthy of holy fear. So often we paint a picture of God that is all love and no power, or vice versa. Instead, we can point to Jesus, who is both gentle and lowly and also the King of Kings.

Creativity

It is not just the images on the screen that have captivated this generation; it is also the creativity. Creativity in the design of the technology, in the storytelling, and possibly the most creative thirty minutes of any movie ever during the water planet set piece, leading to McConaughey watching videos from home over the decades. I think the biggest example of creativity in Interstellar is Hans Zimmer’s score. His song Cornfield Chase from the film is his number one listened to song on Spotify with over 490 million streams. Zimmer’s score has clearly gotten him many fans, but it is how he describes his score that fascinates me. In an interview with Vanity Fair, he said, “If you think about the church organ by the 17th century it was the most complex machine, bit of technology, ever built by man. And if you think that the most complex piece of technology was actually built to be in the service of music that’s not so bad.” Zimmer is on the right track, but misses something. This technology was the most complex, most creative at the time, but it wasn’t just for music’s sake, it was in response to who Jesus is. The creativity of the music captivates Gen Z because so much of worship music today is not on the cutting edge of creativity or technology. Rather, it is mimicking culture to the point of having no identity of its own. The music of Interstellar recalls what humans are capable of when it comes to creativity and it inspires this generation.

Interstellar is a wildly sincere and hopeful film with a message of love inside of an epic spectacle set to grand music. It is almost a rejection of 2001: A Space Odyssey, even though it takes clear inspiration from it. 2001 is a movie about technology becoming so advanced it destroys us and how there is something greater out there, but it may simply be death. The difference between Interstellar and 2001 reminds me of the two moments during the space race between the Soviet Union and The United States. The Soviet Union, during the space race, created a poster of a Russian astronaut in space with the words: “There is no God!” written in Russian. 2001 seems to be an advancement of that idea that there is no God, there is no hope, there is simply human growth and decay, and no bigger purpose. Compare that to Buzz Aldrin, who, when landing on the moon, took communion as one of his first acts. A reminder that yes, hard work got him to the moon, but it is not willpower that saves; only Jesus does. There is one who made the stars and the moon, and He alone is worthy of worship. Interstellar does not go so far as to name a Creator or show McConaughey taking communion. But, it is a deeply reflective film that leads to deeper reflection on whether Jesus really could be the God of love, of spectacle, and of creativity.

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I am thrilled to say that Raising Wise Kids In A Sexually Broken World by Laurie Krieg with Matt Krieg is the best resource I have ever read on this subject. Since starting the book, I have already recommended it to over a dozen people because it is so helpful. I want to give three reasons why you should read this book and why it is the best resource in this field.

1. The Gospel Is On Every Page

Where so many Christian sex talks start with shame or moral striving, this book starts and ends with The Gospel. The book is structured so that each topic gets two chapters. The first of the two chapters is on how we can see the topic through the lens of The Gospel. It is creating a biblical worldview that is backed up with Scripture and the good news of Jesus. The second of the two chapters is about how to live out the teaching from the previous chapter in practical application. How do we live as people affected by the good news? I was blown away by the amount of Scripture cited and how every sentence pointed back to the good news of Jesus. Each topic can open up wounds or bring a heavy load of feeling like one is not doing enough. These thoughts are combated with the healing name of Jesus, who brings hope and carries our heavy loads.

2. The Ideas Are Tackled Head-On

My favorite genre of book is concise. There may be no greater sin a book can commit than wasting time or overexplaining a subject. I am happy to say this book is as direct as it comes. It names hot button issues and dives in head-first with both grace and truth. As I said already, the book is organized with two chapters per topic, and there are five topics total. There is Marriage/Singleness, Gender, Sex, Abuse, and Pornography. Clarity is kindness and this book is so clear on what The Bible says and what the rival voices of culture are saying currently. Part of what makes a good resource is the ability to be easily digested and easily revisited. This book is so well written and well structured that you could read it in its entirety in a weekend, but also easily return to it for quotes, statistics, and to revisit topics.

3. The Action Steps Are Practical and Lived Out

Revelation 12:11 tells us that we overcome through the blood of the lamb and the testimony of the saints. Not only do the authors point back to the blood of the lamb as the only thing that saves us, but they also use their personal testimony. You can tell all the ideas in the book have been lived out personally by this family with their own children. On top of that, there is honesty when moments are hard or awkward. You really feel the authors opening up their heart and their story to help give practical ways to live this out. These conversations and topics are some of the hardest to overcome but both the grace of Jesus and encouragement from other believers are here. Not only is it their stories included, but they also use data to back up their arguments. This book is not interested in being based in opinion; it is rooted in Scripture, supported by data, and lived out through everyday followers of Jesus. All of this makes the application portions understandable and possible to perform through thoughtful and well informed wisdom.

No resource is perfect, but I do believe this one can bless parents. There is the hope of The Gospel presented over and over again. There is piercing clarity on how these topics are affecting children and a clear biblical argument for each well defined and well researched topic. And finally, there is realistic practicality that does not just introduce lofty ideas but makes every topic grounded in reality and grounded in The Gospel.

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If I were to teach a Christianity and Film class, I would not promote the stereotypical lackluster Christian movie. Instead, I have come up with a syllabus of Christian movies that have impacted me and my faith. Below are five categories with three movies each. These categories are to cover different aspects of faith that followers of Jesus have experienced or should think about.

Savior Figures: The Matrix, Superman, The Passion of the Christ

The first trio of movies is to compare and contrast the savior figures of Hollywood and of Jesus. The Matrix presents Neo as the savior, with his name literally being an anagram for showing that he is The One. Neo is unassuming and has no idea he is chosen to save the world, but learns to step into this role. He is an ordinary person who is chosen to be the savior. Superman is about a savior who is not unassuming but rather the ideal person. Superman is supposed to be a source of positivity and strength that inspires others. Compare this to The Passion of the Christ, where Jesus is depicted as a suffering servant, and that is what makes Him the Savior. These movies pose the question of what it means to be a hero in our day and age and how we are to live our lives. Are we supposed to be like Neo who has hope that even when no one sees them deep down they are the chosen one? We often live mundane lives, believing that one day someone will see we really are special and elevate us to that level. Are we supposed to be like Superman and be an example of positivity and strength, and that is what makes us helpful? Or are we supposed to be like Jesus, who served others to the point of death, as our purpose in life?

What Do Others Think About The Church?: Wake Up Dead Man, Lady Bird, Spotlight

Movies allow you to go places you have never been before, and these three movies can take you somewhere you may have never been before. A place where people are honest about what they think of The Church. Wake Up Dead Man is, of these three, the most complimentary of The Church, but it also has problems with the modern celebrity pastor who uses rage bait to gain a following. It highlights the complicated feelings many are carrying around. Lady Bird is a helpful representation for many as it shows what it means to grow up in private Christian schools. Many people’s understandings of God are shaped by their high school curriculum, mandatory chapels, and their peers in these schools. Many of these schools have left a bad taste in people’s mouths when it comes to organized religion. Spotlight is a hard movie to watch, as it is an investigation about sexual abuse committed by priests in the Catholic Church. Many see The Church not as a hospital for sinners but as a home for scandals. These movies represent what many around us feel and believe. It puts into words what they may not know how to tell people inside The Church. Explicating these perspectives and critiques and responding with truth and grace can create conversations that lead people to Jesus and His vision for His Church.

Exodus: The Prince of Egypt, Exodus, The Ten Commandments

If you give three different artists the same subject, they will produce these wholly unique works that highlight different aspects of the subject. That is what these three movies do with the book of Exodus. Watching these three movies shows the power of art and creativity and how we as humans have been given gifts to tell the truth of The Bible in our own unique voice. The Prince of Egypt uses animation and music to depict the exodus. The Ten Commandments is an epic film taking 3 hours and 40 minutes (!) to tell this story. Exodus: Gods and Kings takes some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and most modern technology to recreate Egypt right before our eyes. These different voices all highlight the same story in the same way The Body of Christ all has different gifts for the same goal of glorifying Jesus.

Cults: Dune Part 2, The Master, Fight Club

Back to what others think about The Church, many think it is a religious cult full of brainwashed people. It is helpful to watch these movies and compare and contrast who Jesus is and what The Church does. Dune Part 2 and The Master both show a cult leader who is after power and fame. We can hold that up to Jesus, who, when He saw He was gaining a following of people who were not for The Kingdom of God, clarified and gave a hard teaching of what it means to follow him well. Jesus was not after power or after popularity; He is after people’s hearts. Fight Club highlights the cult more than the cult leader and how they see destruction as the best way of helping the world. Compare that to The Church, who wants to be the light of the world and lead others to flourishing through a relationship with Jesus. Others may see The Church as a cult, but its founder and its mission are for people’s good.

My Picks: The Tree of Life, Sound of Metal, The Irishman

As I have written previously, all movies can become Gospel conversations since all movies have something to say about the human condition. I have found these three movies to be some of the most interesting to think about in the light of The Gospel. The Tree of Life is a modern depiction of the book of Job and the question of suffering. I had never seen a movie like it, nor will I ever again, and it is hard to put into words how powerful it is. Sound of Metal is about a drummer who begins to lose his hearing and, therefore, lose his identity. He is on a quest to restore his hearing when he realizes there has to be something more to give him peace. It is one of the most nuanced and real depictions of the crisis of when our identity fails us, and the tenderness of Jesus to meet us as we are spiraling. The Irishman is one of many Martin Scorsese movies with a lot to say about faith. Many of Scorsese’s movies are a variation of Ecclesiastes, showing how sin can never satisfy and there is not enough money, power, or drugs to bring us peace. I find The Irishman to be the best example, as it is a man at the end of his life grappling with that fact, just as King Solomon did.

There are so many more movies I could put on this list, but at the end of the day, every movie is in conversation with faith and The Gospel if we lean in. Art can drive us closer to Jesus, and I hope you check out at least one of these movies and it blesses your faith.

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Growing up, there was probably someone you imitated because you wanted to be like them. It may have been your friend, your older sibling, or the major pop star of the time (I am proud to say I never got the Justin Bieber haircut). We imitate who we want to become in so many different areas of our lives, yet when it comes to faith, we often think we have to figure it out ourselves. A pastor once gave me the wisdom to find a dead mentor. Not because saints of the past can save me, but because past faithfulness can be the example for current sanctification. I can become more like Jesus every day by following the people who have already run the race before me. I want to share three ways we can imitate followers of Jesus who are now face to face with Jesus in Heaven, and how it can bless our walk with Jesus today.

Imitate Posture

One of the easiest things to imitate is posture. Growing up, you may have played a game of shadow where you did everything your sibling did (and they loved it and had no issue with you mimicking them.) When looking for a dead mentor, one of the best places to start is to look for their posture towards The Lord. Sometimes, before we can imitate someone’s heart or faith, we should start by imitating their actions. Our spiritual posture can then catch up with our physical posture. To me, one of the most inspiring postures in church history is that of Oswald Chambers. After recently reading his biography by David McCasland, as well as Chambers’ most famous work, My Utmost For His Highest, it is evident that he lived his life on Earth with a posture of open hands to The Lord. Just the title of his book is inspiring—my everything for God’s glory. My all for God to be magnified in my life. Chambers’ provides a posture worthy of imitation and that challenges my faith to grow.

Imitate Wisdom

The next reason you should have a dead mentor is to find wisdom. Wisdom is experience passed down. It is following in the footsteps of someone who has made mistakes so you don’t have to. One of the best sources of experience passed down is C.S Lewis. Lewis is someone you hear often quoted on a Sunday morning, and the reason is that he had wisdom that transcended his present circumstances. Lewis experienced war, grief, community, atheism, academics, and so much more that led to him being an authoritative figure on much of the human experience. Lewis knew how to apply God’s truth to man’s questions. Finding a dead mentor who has seen more life than you equips you to know the right and wrong path and how to stay close to Jesus even when life comes at you fast.

Imitate Faithfulness

For every Christian, we long to hear the words from Jesus, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We want to stand before Jesus in Heaven one day and for Him know us and welcome us into eternity with Him. And while we can never know someone’s heart fully, as only The Lord can, there are many figures in history who have lived a life as good and faithful servants that we can imitate. For me, this person is Charles Spurgeon. If I had to choose one dead mentor, he would be my guy. He is a man who was committed to Jesus, The Bible, and lived a full life of faithfulness. He was a pastor who did not waver or fail. He shows me what it means to be a broken, sinful human, but also to be faithful and to do the hard work of The Kingdom while finishing well. We can find encouragement on our run of faith by seeing people who have finished the race. But in the end, the goal of this race is Jesus, and in His great love, we run this race with Him, our Immanuel, God with us. Mentors are great, but the greatest prize will always be Jesus.

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Worship Song: Alabaster Box: CeCe Winans (2021)

A worship song from the perspective of Mary pouring her oil on Jesus’ feet, which has more emotion and heart than 99% of every other worship song.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/alabaster-box-live/1550189726?i=1550189735

Song: Whales: Flipturn (2022)

Flipturn is quickly becoming one of the bands I listen to the most. They are a great encapsulation of what I love about the indie alternative genre. Whales is a showcase of their talents and my favorite new song I found last month.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/whales/1751803918?i=1751803932

Movie: Train Dreams (2025)

Olivia and I are slowly working our way through the best picture nominees and watched Train Dreams on Netflix. This is a movie about the beauty of life and also the hard parts that define people, but shape us into who we are. While other best picture nominees are sad for the sake of being sad (cough cough Hamnet) this movie actually shows you why life is worth living. This makes the suffering that much harder, but in the end is the very thing that gives life so much depth.

Book: My Utmost For His Highest: Oswald Chambers (1924)

A collection of sermons turned into a 365 daily devotional. If you don’t walk away from every day convicted, encouraged, or changed, you weren’t reading close enough. I definitely did not read this properly (in two weeks I read all 365 days of devotional.) Even still, this is a book I will return to countless times.

Photo: Throne and Crowns

One of the defining parts of my January was an annual student retreat I went on with my 8th grade small group. During worship there was a time to symbolically do what we will do in Heaven one day and lay our crowns at the foot of the throne. Students and leaders got to write down an idol in our lives on a crown and then lay it down. Every crown laid is an image of casting all we are into the worthy hands of Jesus. It is why I do ministry in a single photo.

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1. Should a follower of Jesus watch this?

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV

The first question is pretty obvious, but one we cannot move past. It is true that there are movies, songs, books, and posts that are not helpful for us, not bringing us closer to Jesus but moving us farther away. Philippians 4:8 gives us a standard of what we should be consuming and putting in our lives. The criteria being true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Everything we engage with should be run through this filter. It is setting a standard of quality that we will not move from. It is important to note Paul ends this verse with saying we should think about these things. Jesus is shepherding our thought life, and what we watch does affect what we think about. We have to ask if what we watch is loving The Lord our God with all of our mind. There are many songs, movies, TV shows, and reels where the answer is no and we should humbly reject them from our viewing diets.

2. Should I watch this?

“One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.” Romans 14:2-3 ESV

The second question is should I watch this? While the first question is about a Jesus follower comparing the standards of The Bible to what they are watching in general, this question is for specific Jesus followers. Romans 14:2-3 tells us that some people will call things that are not a sin sinful to put an extra boundary in place. For example, it is not a sin to have a drink of alcohol, but for someone who has a family history of alcoholism, they have decided to say no to alcohol and put an extra boundary in place. It is based on personal calling and their personal relationship with The Lord. It is not the rule for everyone, but it is a rule they are called to by God so they can flourish.

The same can be true for the content we consume. There may be movies that you say no to because of who you are called to be. For example, if you are called to singleness, you may not watch rom coms because it sparks worship of marriage and not worship of Jesus. If you are a person bent towards anger, maybe you shouldn’t watch action movies where the person snaps and gets revenge. It is about personal calling and what the boundaries are that you need in your life.

3. Should I watch this right now?

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life…’” John 6:68 ESV

The last question is again a personal one and all about timing. One of the reasons people watch movies, read books, listen to music, or scroll is for escapism. To be transported somewhere else. It is a blessing of art and creativity to live different lives, go places you’ll never be able to go, and participate on adventures. Yet escapism can be used alternatively for turning away from our present problems. Peter tells Jesus here that where else can they turn to when Jesus alone has eternal life. It brings up an important question: What am I turning to first?

Sometimes we choose the mindlessness of scrolling over talking to Jesus about what’s going on. We choose the escapism of movies instead of wrestling with God about our real lives. There are moments and times when escapism is pulling a Jonah and running away from God. We need wisdom to know why we are turning to content and if there is something we are avoiding. Discernment is a daily pratcice but it is a practice that leads us closer to Jesus.

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100. At The Altar: Elevation Rhythm

99. Cornerstone: Hillsong Worship

98. I Will Exalt You: Hillsong Worship

97. Because He Lives: David Crowder Band

96. Blown Away: Hillsong United

95. Set A Fire: United Pursuit & Will Reagan

94. Lamb: Elevation Worship

93. Echoes: Hillsong United

92. Defender: Upperroom

91. With Everything: Hillsong United

90. You Know Me: Bethel Music

89. Grace Alone: Kings Kaleidoscope

88. Give Me Jesus: Upperroom

87. Out Of Hiding: Steffany Gretzinger

86. Arms Open Wide: Northpoint Worship

85. I Surrender: Hillsong Worship

84. What A Beautiful Name: Hillsong Worship

83. Great Is Thy Faithfulness: The Eagle and Child

82. Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing: Phil Wickham

81. Be Thou My Vision: The Eagle and Child

80. ‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus: Church of the City

79. White As Snow: Rivers & Robots

78. Highlands: Hillsong United

77. Closer: Bethel Music

76. Agnus Dei: Jesus Culture

75. Christ Be Magnified: Cory Asbury

74. Never Going Back: United Pursuit

73. Where The Love Lasts Forever: Hillsong United

72. Pieces: Bethel Music

71. Here I Am To Worship: Mercy Culture Worship

70. Better: Chris Renzema

69. Give Me Faith: Elevation Worship

68. Lord Send Revival: Hillsong Y&F

67. Oxygen: Elevation Youth

66. Blessed Assurance: Worship Circle

65. Before The Throne: Citizens

64. The Blood: Kingdom Culture Worship

63. All Creatures: Kings Kaleidoscope

62. Our God Reigns: Passion

61. Came To My Rescue: Hillsong United

60. Made For Jesus: John Mark Pantana

59. The Goodness of Jesus: CityAlight

58. This Love: Housefires

57. How Deep The Father’s Love: Kings Kaleidoscope

56. Shout To The Lord: Damascus Worship

55. Aftermath: Hillsong United

54. Another In The Fire: Hillsong United

53. Splinters And Stones: Hillsong United

52. Springtime: Chris Renzema

51. King Jesus: Brooke Ligertwood

50. All I Need Is You: Hillsong United

49. It Is Well With My Soul: Phil Wickham

48. What A God (Extended): SEU Worship

47. Fire Fall Down: Hillsong United

46. Our King Has Come: Elevation Worship

45. Good Plans/Doxology: Red Rocks Worship

44. Where Were You: Ghost Ship

43. As The Deer/ Nothing But The Blood: Citipointe Worship

42. Rest On Us: Maverick City Music & Upperroom

41. Spirit Have Your Way: Engedi Worship

40. How To Be Yours: Chris Renzema

39. The Dove: The Belonging Co

38. Come And Get Your Glory: Kory Miller

37. Jesus We Love You: Bethel Music

36. Where You Are: Leeland

35. Nothing I Hold Onto: United Pursuit & Will Reagan

34. I Surrender All: Citizens

33. Highs & Lows: Hillsong Y&F

32. P E A C E: Hillsong Y&F

31. Conquered All: Elevation Youth

30. How Great Is Our God: Chris Tomlin

29. Gracious Tempest: Hillsong Y&F

28. God Is Love: Chris Renzema

27. Nothing Else: The Belonging Co

26. Strength And Beauty: Citizens

25. Older Than Our God: Chris Renzema

24. Tear Down The Walls: Hillsong United

23. Rhythms of Grace: Hillsong United

22. I Have Decided/ Jesus Paid It All: David’s Harp

21. I Love You Lord: The Belonging Co

20. Amazing Grace: Liberty Worship Collective

19. End Of Days: Hillsong Y&F

18. Ready Or Not: Hillsong United

17. Prince of Peace: Hillsong United

16. Your glory/Nothing But The Blood: All Sons And Daughters

15. Oh God: Citizens

14. Homecoming: Bethel Music

13. From The Inside Out: Hillsong United

12. Jesus Paid It All: Worship Circle

11. How He Loves: John Mark McMillian

10. The Rock Won’t Move: Vertical Worship

9. Messiah/You’re beautiful: Phil Wickham

8. The Stand: Hillsong United

7. Nothing Is Wasted: Elevation Worship

6. As You Find Me: Hillsong United

5. Freedom Is Here/Shout Unto God: Hillsong United

4. One Thing Remains/This Is Amazing Grace: Phil Wickham

3. Sinking Deep: Hillsong Y&F

2. Doxology: Gungor

1. Nothing But The Blood: Hillsong United

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Hebrews 5:12-14 ESV states, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” These verses are a clear picture that there are people who need spiritual milk and some who need spiritual meals. The goal of every children’s ministry is to find the balance between education and entertainment. Let us look at the dangers of choosing one or the other instead of a both and mentality.

Educational

I know many churches do not even have a children’s ministry and kids go into service with their parents Sunday after Sunday. Here is my issue with that: Kids will never grow if you start them on a diet of steak as their first spiritual meal, they will choke. We wonder why kids don’t want to go to church when they have to hear a message designed for a forty old. There are few things that will make someone check out faster than realizing I’m not supposed to be her,e or this is not for me. Have you ever been in a meeting where you realized you didn’t need to be there? I have and that is where I set the Olympic record for zoning out the fastest. Now, some churches do have children’s minisrty but their goal is not to create disciples; it is to create Bible scholars. Now I love The Bible and I want kids to love The Bible too, but are we creating the next generation of Pharisees or the next generation of disciple makers. Being a disciple is not just about information it is about embodied faith that goes on the adventure of following Jesus. That is what provides true fun and true joy, unlike a different form of entertainment, which we will talk about next.

Enternatining

One of my favorite Sundays of the year is what we call Move Up Sunday. It is when all the kids officially transfer to their new classrooms and grades. It is all the best parts of the first day of school all over again. Yet the issue with the entertainment only model of children’s ministry is that kids may be born in the ministry, grow up in it, go through every single classroom and grade, but never make it out of the spiritual nursery we keep them in. When we prioritize games over messages, spectacle over discipleship, and three minute messages over equipping God’s image bearers, we should not be surprised they are spiritually malnourished. I don’t think church should be boring, don’t hear me say that, but I do think a church that brings lasting transformation is more than just fun.

Engaging

A metaphor I used early was not seeing children’s ministry as a lecture hall but a dining hall. I find this picture helpful because if you have ever walked into a school cafeteria it is loud. There is no doubt there is some life in that room. The goal of children’s ministry is to create a room that is entertaining and beaming with life, but also gives a place for any child to pull up a chair and find spiritual nourishment.

An engaging kids ministry is entertaining and educational, but is above all equipping. These children are disciples and not only that many of them are ready to be disciple makers. It is our job to make sure these kids are trained up in The Way of Jesus and know Him so well they can share their faith, answer questions, and pull up a chair at this life changing dining hall.

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The question then becomes what order should these categories be in or should they all be valued equally? We will look at different responses we see in the modern world of faith.

The Three Legged Stool

One metaphor that is often used to explain what has authority to answer questions and problems in The Church is a three legged stool. There are two different kinds of three legged stools, the first of more Protestant churches who say the three legs are Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. We see here that experience is cut out and also that all three of these categories are viewed equally. It is not Scripture alone or Scripture only, but Scripture is on equal footing with Tradition and Reason.

The second three legged stool is found primarily in Catholicism, which names Scripture, Tradition, and the papacy. The papacy includes the pope and the overall governing body of the Catholic church. The main issue I take with both of these interpretations is that Scripture is put on the same level as other things. I believe that Church History is a helpful blessing, but to equate it to Scripture is to lower the authority of Scripture. Reason is important as well, but it often involves relying on human reason more than God-given truth. My biggest issue with this is contributing power to earthly institutions. It is ironic that people who value tradition so much cannot see that the history of popes having equal authority to The Bible has led to some of the most unhealthy and horrific time periods in The Church.

The three legged stool is not helpful for followers of Jesus as it elevates humans above reliance on God’s Word.

Feelings First

The opposite of the three legged stool is to interpret problems and events through personal experience. This has become a common trend in the modern church where worship is rated on how many goosebumps you get, where The Old Testament is rejected because God makes us feel bad, and where theology is based on what is most accepting versus what is most true. Paul warned about this kind of viewpoint when he wrote, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3 ESV).

Don’t get me wrong—experiences are important and our feelings are important, but they are often driven by the flesh. They are about instant gratification, self seeking, and satisfying the cravings of the flesh rather than The Spirit.

Mentors and Friend Groups

So how do we use The Wesleyan Quadrilateral? I use it as if I am talking to four different mentors. I have people in my life who I take what they say with more value than others. The reason being is they have clearly shown they want what’s best for me even when it challenges me. Therefore, they can speak into my life, unlike if some random stranger came up to me on the street and said that I suck (I would ignore them.) Now, if one of my spiritual mentors came up to me and said they are concerned about my pridefulness, I would stop everything to listen to them and evaluate my life. There are other mentors in my life where I value their opinions but they are not as authoritative in my life.

Using this metaphor we can see The Bible as our most trusted mentor. The Bible should be our primary source of authority. Personally, I see Scripture having the number one voice in my life because it is God breathed. I see tradition as second because if it has been accepted for 2,000 years of Church History and it lines up with The Bible, I don’t want to be found going against the grain. The third category I would use is reason. Through research, consideration, and even healthy argument one can find the answers to questions using Scripture and Church History. Finally, the last category of experience. You may not convert someone by saying, “I believe in God because I have felt His presence,” but your faith may be encouraged by the personal experience you have with God. Thankfully, experience is not your only indicator of God’s goodness because we can know through Scripture, tradition, and reason that God is still good even if our experiences aren’t.

There are a lot of questions in this world. Having a clear guideline on how you approach these questions can lead to a deeper relationship with Christ. It can also lead to deeper confidence in knowing what He is calling you to in your everyday walk with Jesus.