Simul Iustus et Peccator

Question

2012-05-10T09:28:00.000-04:00

John Wesley's Small Group Questions:

16. How do I spend my spare time?

Cultivating a Life for God (Church Smart Resources 1999

Owen on Temptation

2012-05-05T16:35:00.001-04:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Closing Remarks From Testimony Night

2012-05-05T10:27:00.000-04:00

Here's the transcript from my closing remarks at this years testimony night. Marking the completion of a great season of discipleship to the 48 students who shared know that I'm honored to have walked this leg of the journey with you and am exited for the next one. See you at Impact.

I will make my remarks very brief as we have been here a while and we do have a party to get to. I want to tell you about an old bishop named Augustine. Dr. John Piper in his biographical work says this of Augustine… “Four years before he died, he had handed over the administrative duties of the church in Hippo to his assistant Eraclius. At the ceremony Eraclius stood to preach, as the old man sat on his bishop's throne behind him. Overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy in Augustine's presence, Eraclius said, "The cricket chirps, the swan is silent."

That is how I feel today. After hearing all the wonderful things that Jesus has done in the transformed lives of all of you the only thing I can add is merely a chirp.

So please listen to my chirping.

Run your race as a believer in Jesus not as a sprint but as a marathon, Fight this fight of faith not going for the knock out but standing toe to toe every round, keep this faith like a prize so people look on you and see you not merely as a Christian but as someone who treasures Jesus Christ.

Know that you are not alone in this. Know that your families are here to support you, the Church is here to rally with you, and most of all know that Paul tells us in 2 Cor. That “ God’s Grace is sufficient for you and his power is made perfect in our weakness. “

Families let me talk to you for a moment. The amount of influence you have over your student is vast. Please don’t believe the culture when it tells you otherwise. Time and time again studies show this to be true. What I would like to encourage you to do is to honor your student by helping them take the next few steps. You see there’s a false belief that Confirmation is the end of a journey, when really it is only the beginning. Encourage your student to continue growing. Let them see you studying scripture, ask them questions about their prayer life, their life group, what God is teaching them on a regular basis, and help them not be so over scheduled that their faith takes a back seat.

We are doing everything in our power to help these 8^th graders transition well into high school. So much so that we’re opening up “Impact” our high school youth group to them starting this Sunday at 10:45. We want to see these students not just survive high school but truly make an Impact, and we know you do too. So pray for them, encourage them, help them take these next steps in their faith.

In closing please know that as much as we care about your students, as much as you love them dearly, Christ does even more. There will be hard times, and times when conviction wanes, and sin drags down but please know the beauty of the gospel is that we are not playing injured. We in fact were taken off the field and our great substitute Jesus has come on in our place. And it is his “Great Joy” to do this.

Confirmation students please stand because I want you to hear this, if I could I would tattoo this on your very souls.

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God , our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory , majesty , dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever..” I’m proud of you, I’m excited for the future. Amen.

Let’s party.

Question

2012-05-03T18:31:00.000-04:00

John Wesley's Small Group Questions:

15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?

Cultivating a Life for God (Church Smart Resources 1999

Baptism

2012-05-02T08:09:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we had the wonderful opportunity to baptize a handful of students in the Atlantic Ocean. Each one of them has an amazing story of how Jesus has impacted their lives and become their savior. The act of baptism is a great example of obedience which is the result of a changed heart. Often it's described as an outward expression of an inward faith. The weather was beautiful, families turned out in force, and some of us are nursing the first sunburn of the summer!

Worship

2012-05-01T15:23:00.003-04:00

To school to Him

2012-04-30T12:40:00.001-04:00

We're about to begin our final teaching series of the year with out high school ministry. I've been chewing over John 15:7-8 and found this little bit of conviction...

"There really are no options as to the demands of discipleship. No one can follow Jesus on his own terms. Jesus himself defined the terms. The word “disciple” means learner. When we bear that name, we do not declare ourselves to be saints. What we have said is that we go to school to him. We learn from him. We start as babes, we mature, we grow toward manhood, we err, we stumble. But we are always instructed, always disciplined...”

Paschall, F. H., & Hobbs, H. H. (1972). The teacher's Bible commentary

Silence the Demons

2012-04-27T16:00:00.000-04:00

"Jesus would not permit the demons to speak. (Mark 1:34) Lord silence these voices that make you small and unattractive."

~ John Piper

Giving Up Gimmicks: A Book Report

2012-04-26T15:57:00.000-04:00

Several days ago I finished Brain Cosby's book "Giving up Gimmicks Reclaiming Youth Ministry From An Entertainment Culture." Which I was led to by an article Brian wrote on a fairly popular website. Both the book and article were well written.

It would seem that recently its become popular to criticize where youth ministry has developed from. While I think there is much to learn from avoiding the mistakes of the past I do think a lot of the current rhetoric is not very helpful. I can't pull up my google reader with out being inundated with such attention grabbing headlines such as..."Youth Ministry Fails" or "6...7...8...10..out of every 10 students leave the church after youth ministry." (Barna's name is often thrown out with this stat. I can't say I have much respect for the man after reading some of the books he's attached his name to and would take issue with his research criteria for what constitutes a Christian.) While there is some truth to what these "academics" are saying I had yet to find anyone suggesting concrete ideas to address the issues beyond stop having fun and teach the Bible.

Enter: Giving up Gimmicks

*Disclaimer: I hold to a Reformed viewpoint of scripture an God's sovereignty.

I have to admit I was honestly worried that this book would be 150 pages of telling me I've done youth ministry wrong for the past 10 years and I need to repent and do things different if God was going to be pleased with my ministry. Luckily Cosby only takes the first chapter and some time near the end to explain why the old adage is true that "What you draw them with is what you draw them too." I appreciate his admittance near the end of the book that...

"The purpose of any ministry, any church, and all worship is the glory of God. How do you lead a youth ministry, then, that has the glory of God as its overarching purpose? Doug Fields lists five core purposes for building a youth program: evangelism, worship, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry. But what I’m talking about is one step further. On the one hand, you can have entertaining evangelism, entertaining worship, entertaining fellowship, and so on. Not all entertainment is wrong. What is wrong is a ministry driven by entertainment. But on the other hand, you can have ministries of evangelism, worship, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry that find greater purpose in displaying the glory of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. How you go about these five purposes that Fields mentions gets at the heart of the greater purpose of your youth ministry"

(underling is mine for emphasis)

I believe that the entertainment debate boils down to a missional level. For a missionary to go to a culture that speaks Rundi and tries to communicate in English it's going to be a hard road. Youth ministry needs to use entertainment as a vehicle to communicate the Gospel of Grace. For us one of the most fruitful nights of the year is our "Yuck Worship Project" we play a bunch of entertainingly gross games and get really messy. Then as students are covered in goo I have an opportunity to share the gospel and how we are not just messy before God but we are dead before him. Christ doesn't merely just clean us up but he transforms us. We end the night with a great time of extended worship. You can read more about it here.

The meat of the book lands around the concept of "Means of Grace"...

THEOLOGY OF THE MEANS OF GRACE The Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 154, asks: “What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation?” Answer: “The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation are all his ordinances; especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all of which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation.” The Westminster divines agreed that Christ builds up his church in many ways including various ordinances, but they highlighted God’s Word, the sacraments, and prayer.

He continues to say that the church, working with the family, are to offer the transformational and sustaining grace of Christ though the means that he has given us. Namely scripture, prayer, and sacraments. It's refreshing to read this book and see references made to great theologians and historical orthodox Christian practices. I've personally been in the youth ministry world for some time and can say that I have not come across a book directed at youth ministers that grounds itself so firmly in rich reformed theology the blessings therein.

"God has called ministers and parents to supply his church with means through which he communicates grace and peace, love and forgiveness. God’s Word, the administration of the sacraments, prayer, service, and grace-centered community all provide a God-glorifying and biblical method of making disciples of Jesus Christ."

Question

2012-04-26T14:58:00.000-04:00

John Wesley's Small Group Questions:

14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

Cultivating a Life for God (Church Smart Resources 1999

The Heavens Declare The Glory of God...

2012-04-24T12:54:00.000-04:00

Psalm 19:1-4

"1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.

4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

Daddies of Daughters

2012-04-24T09:10:00.000-04:00

Here's a good article that appeared over on The Resurgence.com on raising daughters. It's some good stuff to chew over. Jen Smidt writes...

"Respect for daughters has its roots in the same place respect for sons does: the image-bearing equality that both sexes reflect given at creation (Gen. 1:27). That said, respect just looks different in some ways for daughters who are growing into women than respect for sons who are growing into men.

Respect is a deep admiration for someone elicited by his or her abilities, qualities, or achievements. This honor is not shown because of gender or deservedness but because of love and grace, specifically, love and grace that find their origins and power in Jesus Christ. Treating daughters with respect trains them to be women who offer respect to others. It models for them that they have dignity, value, and worth because God created them. It urges them to grace others with respect because God loves and values his creation.

Similar and Different
Respecting daughters has some similarities with respecting sons. I have seen, however, in my daughter, a different core heart desire. She deeply desires to be loved and the deep admiration of respect is most profoundly felt for her in words and acts of love. She is comforted and secured by the knowledge that God and her parents love her.

Practically, here are 10 ways that respect can be lived out for your daughters:

1. Lavish Her with Love
That deep longing for love was designed for God to fill. Lavish your daughter with love while continually pointing out that her heavenly Father is the one where love originated. You love because he loves; she is loved because he loves her more than you ever could (1 John 4:10).

2. Help Her to Learn Submission
Submission isn’t just for wives. We are all called to submit our hearts and lives to God (James 4:7) and the earlier your daughter sees that in you, the sooner she will rest in the sweet protection of God’s will for her life.

3. Teach Her to Tame Her Emotions
Big feelings are hard to manage. The devastation over losing something, anything from a favorite earring to a dear friend, can be all-consuming. Daughters need to be instructed and discipled in expressing emotion without being owned and identified by those emotions.

4. Differentiate between Truth and Lies
In my own heart and my daughters, I have watched the battle play out time and time again. We are easily lured into the snare of unbelief. Urging your daughter to verbalize the thoughts in her head will allow you the opportunity to separate what is true and what is untrue with her. Apply the truth of Scripture to the distortions that your daughter may be believing about God, you, or herself.

5. Involve Dad
A daughter’s relationship with her dad is a source of great joy or heartache. He plays an integral part in treating her with respect and teaching her what respect from a man looks like. Regular daddy dates and heartfelt conversation with him helps her trust and respect a man. If Dad is not present or available, seek a godly man in your church who would give your daughter the respect of his time.

6. Emphasize Inner Beauty
While there are few more purely sweet moments in life than dressing your daughter in a frilly pink dress and putting her hair in pigtails, teach her that true beauty and respect come from a changed heart. Jesus transforms ugly hearts, emotions, and attitudes into beautiful reflections of himself."

You can read 7-10 and the rest here.

5 Reasons I Didn't Make That Big Decision

2012-04-23T06:49:00.000-04:00

Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
(Proverbs 4:26 ESV)

This is in no way an original thought, however it is a thought that has served me well in the past and continues to do so. It's fairly simple, almost cliche, and trite but still is worth much when it comes to decision making. Here it is..."When making big decisions be sure to H.A.L.T.S. and think." (Bad grammar I know. Roll with it.)

Before I make a decision I need to examine myself and ask. Am I...

Hungry : My physical well being has a lot to do with my motivation behind decisions. Like it or not it is what it is. Ever go grocery shopping on an empty stomach? Your total bill is much higher.
Angry : Emotions can be a good motivation for action however a true test of soundness, for me, is will the same decision still be a good one once the emotional aspect has passed?
Lonely : Decisions made in isolation can't end well. Community and fellowship are basic needs of the Christian walk. When decisions are made as a result of loneliness I need to put the brakes on.
Tired : As of late this is the state which I find myself in. With a 3 year old and a 3 week old in the house there's not much rest. This is a sign to me that I need to be careful of any big decisions I make.
Scared: Finally any decision made out of fear isn't the right one. To make a choice because you are scared is to forget that we serve a God who's "perfect love casts out fear..." 1 John 4:18

There are times when I have to make a call that will have large repercussions and I'm tired, or angry. It's good to keep in mind a robust view of God's sovereignty. The above 5 should defer decisions being made. It should never paralyze the process. What matrix do you have to safeguard your decision making process?

Question

2012-04-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

John Wesley's Small Group Questions:

13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

Cultivating a Life for God (Church Smart Resources 1999

Question

2012-04-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

John Wesley's Small Group Questions:

12. Do I disobey God in anything?

Cultivating a Life for God (Church Smart Resources 1999

Impact: Resurrection

2012-04-11T21:19:00.000-04:00

Here's a little promo piece for a series we will be starting on April 15th See you at 10:45 Impact....

Good Friday

2012-04-06T21:13:00.003-04:00

"Freedom found in Your scars
In Your grace my life redeemed
For You chose to take the sinner's crown
As You placed Your crown on me

In that moment of glorious surrender
Was the moment You broke the chains in me
Lifted out of the ashes
I am found in the aftermath"

Aftermath by Hillsong United

Question

2012-04-05T09:15:00.000-04:00

John Wesley's Small Group Questions:

11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

Cultivating a Life for God (Church Smart Resources 1999

St. Andrew's Needs Your Help

2012-04-04T15:25:00.001-04:00

The following is from our Senior Pastor Steve Wood regarding recent events involving St. Andrews Church. The precedent outlined below will have a negative impact not just at our church but on all churches in the town of Mount Pleasant.

Dear Friends,

St. Andrew’s needs your help.

In 2009 the Town of Mt. Pleasant ratified a “Comprehensive Plan” that has since served as the blueprint for growth and development for our community. As a part of that plan, a new category of zoning was created. This category, known as Public Institutional (PI 1), identifies all those buildings that serve the public good as eligible for inclusion. This includes government buildings, schools, hospitals and churches, which were specifically identified by the Town of Mt. Pleasant as those entities eligible for rezoning. Not only were these entities eligible but the Town Planning Commission specifically recommended that such entities, including churches, pursue PI 1 status for the benefit of the wider community.

In a recent meeting with the Town planners they suggested that St. Andrew’s apply to change our zoning from Residential to Public Institutional (PI 1). Their rationale for this suggestion is that a zoning designation of PI 1 allows St. Andrew’s, and every other public institution, to work directly with Town officials as we explore solutions to the problems created by our limited and antiquated building space (i.e., we need to rebuild the Day School, children’s and youth areas, etc). Under our current zoning classification we have to apply for a zoning variance for each and every alteration we may wish to make. Recognizing the protracted, expensive and difficult process imposed on public institutions to make changes to their facilities due to being zoned as residential, the Town created the new PI 1 Zoning status and, as stated above, recommended that we apply. St. Andrew’s was happy to comply with the Town’s request. As a part of that process public input was sought. At our hearing last week with the Town Planning Commission we received a favorable vote by a 6-3 margin.
The next step was to appear before the Planning Committee of the Town Council, which we did yesterday. Though we enjoyed much local support from our kind neighbors, one family did attend to speak against our request. They cited a concern over growing traffic problems as well as the desire to have public input in future building projects that St. Andrew’s may undertake. As to the first concern, the matter of traffic is not an issue in a rezoning request. As to the second concern, not only out of neighborly courtesy but also as a legal requirement there will always be public input in any future building projects that St. Andrew’s may undertake. First, we must submit a traffic impact assessment and secondly we will have to appear before the Old Village Historic District Commission. Both of those steps require public input.

Considering the above, we were surprised and disappointed when the Town Council Planning Committee voted to deny our request 3 -1. After all, we did pursue the rezoning of our property at the Town’s suggestion. We fear that the precedent set by this decision will have a negative impact not just on St. Andrew’s, but on every church in Mount Pleasant. This concern is also shared by other local churches who sent representatives to speak on our behalf.

What can you do?

Our Town Council meets this coming Tuesday, April 10 at 6.00 p.m. Town Council has the final responsibility for deciding this matter. You can do at least four things to help us:

You can pray. It seems as if some have adopted an unsympathetic posture towards church growth. But often it is growing churches who have the resources to enrich the local community with medical clinics, day schools and community outreach/assistance programs all of which St. Andrew’s is privileged to provide for the Town of Mount Pleasant. Pray that we might continue to do so.

You can attend the meeting and speak on our behalf. Having Mt. Pleasant residents present and participating in Town Council meetings is always beneficial for our elected officials.

You can call, or email, our Mayor and Town Council members and express your support. This, in fact, is an exceptionally helpful way you can participate in this process. In your communication, you should be courteous, you should note that you are a Mt. Pleasant resident and you should ask the Town Council to support our rezoning classification from Residential to Public Institutional.

Lastly, you can forward this information to all of your friends who attend a church in Mt. Pleasant and ask for their verbal support as well. If the Town Council acts against their own recommendations, set forth in their own Comprehensive Plan, there will be negative ramifications for every church in Mt. Pleasant. There is no reason that churches, having been specifically identified by the Town’s 2009 Comprehensive Plan as eligible for Public Institutional zoning, should now be denied.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration and your action on our behalf. It is appreciated.
Yours in Christ,
Steve

Please note that there is one – and the same – phone number and email address for both the Mayor and all Town Council Members. The phone number is, 843.884.8517, and the email address is, councilclk@tompsc.com
Mayor
Billy Swails
Town Council Members
John Burn
Elton Carrier
Ken Glasson
Chris Nickels
Chris O’Neal
Linda Page
Craig Rhyne
Thomasena Stokes-Marshall

http://treadinggrain.com/2012/st-andrews-needs-your-help

Resource for Families: Holy Week, Beyond the Bunny

2012-04-01T09:05:00.000-04:00

How does your family celebrate the week leading up to Easter? Here are a few great thoughts thanks to Thriving Family Magazine.

Most of my ministry world revolves around teenagers. So right away I can tell you that some of these might be a little young for a 15 year old boy to do. However keep in mind these two things...

First get creative mom and dad! There are some unique ways that you can celebrate this amazing week that will help your teenager take the importance of their redemption and own it.
Second start family worship young. Family worship might be a strange concept to you and your family. It might be foreign to how you were raised and really awkward. Stay posted as you can expect some blog posts coming soon to help you transition well. Just know that the earlier you start the easier it is to disciple your teenage!

North Americans celebrate Easter in a variety of ways — treat-filled baskets, egg hunts, new Sunday clothes. Although there is nothing wrong with these traditions, Easter is so much bigger than dyed eggs and bunnies. As Christians, we celebrate Christ's resurrection and the new life He gives us.
To help you bring the Easter story to life for your children, the editors of Thriving Family have compiled a week of Christ-focused activities. They are not meant to replace your family's traditional Easter activities, but to help your children learn more about Jesus' sacrifice and victory over death at Easter.

Palm Sunday
In Jesus' time, palm branches were used in celebrations or to honor dignitaries. Read John 12:12-13. Have your kids make palm branches out of green construction paper and decorate the dinner table with their creations. Place extra "branches" on a path from the entryway to the table to mark a path of honor. Before dinner, discuss the meaning of Hosanna, which could have been an appeal for divine help or salvation, or a way to praise Jesus. Ask your children what they might shout if they saw Jesus coming down the road today.

Monday
Bake bread as a family, and discuss why Jesus called himself the Bread of Life. Point out that just as bread gives us nutrition and sustains us physically, Jesus offers us eternal life and sustains us spiritually. Put the bread in a basket. Then add some Easter goodies and at least one item that shares the Easter message, such as a bookmark, tract or Biblezine (for tweens). Deliver the basket to someone who may need an extra dose of kindness this week.

Tuesday
Make an Easter picture tree. Anchor a small branch in a pot. Have your kids look through magazines and cut out images that remind them of Jesus. Examples: A lamp because He is the Light of the World or a road because He is the one way to heaven. Glue pictures on card stock, attach short pieces of string, and hang the pictures on the branches.

Props to Shay Gaillard for finding these and ThrivingFamily.com for posting these great ideas about how families can make the week leading up to Easter meaningful and worshipful. Be sure to click the above link for the rest.

Live to See Your Lust Dead At Your Feet

2012-03-30T20:50:00.000-04:00

"Set faith at work on Christ for the killing of your sin. His blood is the great sovereign remedy for sin-sick souls. Live in this, and you will die a conqueror; yea, you will, through the good providence of God, live to see your lust dead at your feet."

~ Owen "Means of Mortification"

Welcome to the World Little Natalie

2012-03-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

On March 27th at 6:18 my second daughter, little Natalie Michelle was born at 7lbs 11oz and 20 3/8" long. She is such a blessing and a gift. My wife is such a champ. Both mama and baby are healthy and home resting.

How Shall We Know When Christ Speaks? - Owen

2012-03-28T14:57:00.001-04:00

"How shall we know when Christ speaks?"

"There is if I may say a secret instinct in faith, whereby it knows the voice of Christ when he speaks...faith leaps in the heart when Christ indeed draws nigh to it. "My sheep" says Christ "know my voice" Jn10:4"

- John Owen "Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers" 1656

Great Finds 3 of 3: "The Essential Role of The Family in World Evangelism"

2012-03-24T01:43:00.000-04:00

Here's the final great find which I've been chewing on recently. It's a great piece by Rob Rienow on the necessity of family worship as a means of evangelism. While I'd disagree with some points I do believe that it's good, challenging, and a strong wake up call.

Charles Spurgeon was deeply concerned about the changes which were occurring in Christian culture during the late 19th Century. In his article, “The Kind of Revival We Need,” he wrote:

We deeply want a revival of family religion. The Christian family was the bulwark of godliness in the days of the puritans, but in these evil times hundreds of families of so-called Christians have no family worship, no restraint upon growing sons, and no wholesome instruction or discipline. How can we hope to see the kingdom of our Lord advance when His own disciples do not teach His gospel to their own children? Oh, Christian men and women, be thorough in what you do and know and teach! Let your families be trained in the fear of God and be yourselves ‘holiness unto the Lord,’ so shall you stand like a rock amid the surging waves of error and ungodliness which rage around us.⁴

Spurgeon’s message is desperately needed today! Godly men and women in growing churches receive the constant call to get involved in “ministry.” Often “ministry” is synonymous with “volunteering at a church program.” Spurgeon understood that “to see the kingdom of our Lord advance” ministry needed to begin at home.

The Global Challenge
Many countries today are seeing an explosion of new converts and church plants. China is a great example of this. Praise God! But Satan isn’t giving up. When he loses one generation to Jesus, he makes it his top priority to keep the next for himself.
The first task of discipleship with a new believer is not to encourage them to share Christ with a friend. Their first “Great Commission” is to share Christ with their spouse, parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren. For those who are parents, the souls of their children are to be their top spiritual priority. Imagine if we win all of our friends to Christ, but lose our children to the world. What happens to the church? When we die, it dies.
One of my great concerns is that in our zeal to train pastors in these new church plants we will give them the broken, age-segregated, church-building-based model of the West. The mission of making disciples has not been given to professional church leaders, but to every believer.
Satan would love to see nations like China follow the spiritual pattern of Europe and North America. If we want to see the gospel thriving in China 100 years from now, the church must follow the pattern of the early church which kept families together and equipped parents to disciple their children at home.

Toward a Theology of Family
Here is the fundamental question:
What is the biblical relationship between the Great Commission and the institution of the family?
Ten years ago I would have had no idea how to answer this. When it came to the Great Commission, I thought only of the institution of the local church, and, as a result, I had an anemic view of God’s redemptive strategy. God has created two essential institutions to advance His Kingdom—the local church and the Christian family. In the Bible, God gives each institution unique roles, responsibilities, and jurisdictions.

Above is a snip it. I'd encourage you to read all of it here.

Hunger Games Movie Review

2012-03-23T13:00:00.001-04:00

So last night we took some of our high school leaders to see the premier of the highly anticipated Hunger Games movie. If you live under a rock here's the wiki link to get the plot of the movie.

*disclaimer: not big on movie reviews but feel some of this needs to be said.

I enjoyed the books, I enjoyed the fun of a midnight showing, and I enjoyed being with our team. The movie had some really inherent flaws. What appealed to me about this trilogy was the internal conflict the main character faces. To cover the amount of ground that this film needed to cover and develop the characters in a way to make the audience connect with them is almost impossible. Katniss (main character) has a lifetime of memories about the game, insight into culture, and background about the government that informs why and how she does things. The movie handles these in rather lame way by having cut scenes to the reality show announcer who explains things away. There were three other issues I took with the movie.

Lack of slaves. The book portrays those who stand up to the government and are caught as tongueless slaves who server the elite class. This helps the reader highlight the major theme of rebellion against tyranny in the book. Removing this bends the read towards the belief that the plot is only about violence.
The Mocking Jay is never explained as a symbol of the rebellion prior to the games. It's never explained that the bird was used to transfer false information. Again a key point which highlights what was for me the theme of rebellion.
Halfway through the coverage of the games there's a cut scene to an uprising starting. This clues the viewer in to what is happening in other parts of the country while the games are going on. However one of the shocking parts for the main character to process is that she had no idea her actions had such massive consequences. It helped me the reader relate better when I didn't know what was happening outside of the arena.

Other then some of the plot issues trying to translate a book into a movie I thought it did a fair job. I'd be very interested in hearing how someone who had no idea of this book or the other two felt about the movie.

So what do we do with this movie? Receive it? Reject it? Anything worth redeeming?