Glory (Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, 1989)

Pray for Morgan Freeman's recovery from his automobile accident. If you see that car, you'll know there's definitely a God! I'm so grateful that he's okay.

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Ironically enough, Sunday's sermon was about spiritual warfare. I say that it's ironic because I blogged about this throughout last week. So, I'm convinced the Lord was/is trying to show me something about this topic. I think it finally clicked!

1. Spiritual warfare is life--every single day--not just the conflict and trials that arise here and there.

2. The war is against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places, not people (Eph. 6:12).

3. Even in conflicts with people, I need to rely more on my spiritual armor than my natural defenses.

4. My spiritual armor isn't as effective when I view things through a carnal lense. So, I'm charged to evaluate the spiritual implications of every situation I encounter before I respond.

5. Life really is a battle. My enemy never takes a break. So, I really do have to be "always ready." That's my challenge--being ALWAYS READY.

In the end, it's this journey through spiritual warfare that will ultimately take me from glory to glory. I love how Romans 5:1-5, puts it all into perspective:

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Midnight Madness (Michael J. Fox, 1980)

Lastnight, my son woke up at least five times between 10 pm and midnight. I don't know what the problem was. He didn't seem to be sick or in pain. Initially, I was not a happy camper. Afterall, Sassy's "me time" usually occurs then. But, when I checked on him, he reached for me and kissed my cheek in the dark. It was the sweetest little touch. So, I held him, rocked him, sang him a song, and laid him down. Of course, he was screaming 10 minutes later. I'm sure the sleep Nazis would kill me for this. But, I stopped fighting it, and brought him to my office. I held him while finishing up a website. After all, how many more opportunities will I have to just cuddle him in the middle of the night? I guess that was all he wanted because when I laid him down this time, he went to sleep for the rest of the night.

It was a sweet sweet time. I could have been my normally cranky self (as I like to be when things interrupt my schedule). But, instead, I just enjoyed the moment and I think we both slept better because of it. So, the next time you're thrown a curve ball, relax, take a breath, and try to find something good in it. It may be one of those midnight blessings in disguise.

A Star is Born (Judy Garland, 1954)

What is in the water over in the UK? In the last few years they've produced some powerful contributors to the R&B scene through female vocalists with smokey soulful sounds: Joss Stone, Amy Whinehouse, Leona Lewis, and Corinne Bailey-Rae are among those. I'm sure I've missed several, but, you get the picture. Well add the artist, Adele, to this list. I think she may be Sassy Jesus Girl's new favorite. I fashion myself a music enthusiast, not writer. Therefore, Sassy is posting a review of Adele's album, 19, written by Ron Heart. You must check this out! This girl is really talented.
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Twenty-year-old Adele Adkins, is the exact opposite of the tabloid fodder who have inundated the mainstream in that she actually seems to have a good head on her shoulders. Sure, the London native is brash and likes a good drink, but her vices come with an air of confidence that give her a precocious, Artful Dodger-esque quality that makes the idea of her speaking against British indie royalty charming, not tragic.

She’s the kind of girl you could see yourself settling down with in your 30s, which for her at her age, is not exactly something you want to hear. And therein lies the concept of her astounding debut album, 19, a collection of songs that ache with the longing of the perfect would-be girlfriend who just can’t seem to find the right bloke her own age to recognize that she’s such a major catch. She’s a buxom beauty with “a little more to love”, as it would say on her own private MySpace page. But given that most guys, especially in England, seem to prefer anorexic Kate Moss clones who just smile and wave their way through life than real girls, one can see where Adele is coming from in her music, especially on tracks like the vibrant first single, “Chasing Pavements” and her heartbreaking, seemingly Randy Newman-inspired rendition of Bob Dylan’s “To Make You Feel My Love”.

This is music, mind you, that clear blows the roof off any other blue-eyed R&B album that has come out of Great Britain since Macca got down with Stevie Wonder. Boasting a trio of producers that includes Mark Ronson, Eg White and Jim Abbiss, 19, indeed boasts several distinct sounds by which Adele is given to do her thing. These are utilized quite harmoniously to fit her powerhouse vocal delivery, a stirring combination of her diverse influences ranging from the Cure’s Robert Smith to Philly soul queen Jill Scott to legendary rhythm ‘n’ folk chanteuse Karen Dalton.

Adele Adkins is certainly the real deal, standing before what could potentially be a monster career with worldwide crossover, one that could prove that her staying power is far more plausible than those of her tabloid-driven contemporaries. So long as she doesn’t start hanging out with Amy Whinehouse or Pete Dougherty, or finds true love and then starts getting all sappy, that is.

Ron Heart, http://www.popmatters.com

Fools Gold (Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, 2008)'

Sassy apologizes for her disappearance from the blogosphere. But never fear, I am back, and I have PLENTY on my mind. So, you'll be in Sassy Jesus Girl overload today.

Do you remember my blog about the DVD I lost when I put it in a safe place? Well, Fool's Gold, would be the DVD in question, and I STILL haven't found it.
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Sassy must admit that once upon a time she took sick pleasure in seeing people humiliate themselves on those "Love" series shows that air on VH1. You know the ones, Flava of Love and I Love New York. The crazy behavior baffled me, yet drew me into the series. It was like driving by the scene of an accident. You know it's bad and you shouldn't stare, but you can't help yourself! Well, that's what these shows became for me. I'd watch and laugh at how ridiculous these "characters" (because I don't believe people accurately portrayed themselves) would behave.

It was while watching the Rock of Love series that I finally became sensitive to God convicting. It became too much and I knew it was time to press the "channel" button. The Holy Spirit was screaming: "Enough is Enough." This was no still small voice (1 King 19:12). I was reminded that, my eyes are the lamp of my body. When my eyes are good, my whole body is also full of light. But when they are bad, my body also is full of darkness (Luke 11:34). Now, Sassy doesn't ascribe to the belief that seeing something bad immediately makes on bad. But, I realize ongoing viewing of immorality can desensitize me and draw my focus toward carnal things, thereby making my body dark. So, I had to be true to my personal conviction and stop watching these shows.

Last night, I was channel surfing (because we all know summer TV is awful) and happened upon "I Love Money." I'd heard about this show but never watched it. Out of curiosity, I stopped to watch a few minutes. The title says it all. I don't know if this show is worse than the others or I'm just more sensitive now. But, I could not believe what I saw. There was something about the extent these people will go for money that amazed and saddened me. The contestants had to make themselves cry to win a competition. So, one girl put Cayenne pepper in her eyes while another young man, put hot sauce in his eyes. It was absolutely ridiculous. Why would one do that to their EYES? Why? How empty must one's life be to resort to something like that just to win money--especially when they're not strapped for cash from the beginning.

Needless to say, I had to change the channel. But, I'm glad to have seen what I did. It made me reflect on my life. It's true that money is not a negative thing. However, the love of it is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Titus 6:10). I don't condemn those "contestants" for what they did. But, I do pray they'd one day see, there's so much more to life than that. God has great riches for us that far surpass anything this Earth can give. In the meantime, I'm reminding myself to, keep my life free from the love of money and be content with what I have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Heb. 13:5).