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SURVIVAL

The number one movie of the holiday season was Tom Hanks newest film "Castaway." In it he plays the part of Fed Ex systems engineer, Chuck Noland. Flying across the Pacific Christmas Eve night, Noland's plane goes down in a fiery crash. He is the sole survivor. The film chronicles Noland's life after he washes ashore on a small, deserted island somewhere in the south Pacific. Yet the film is more than an updated Robinson Crusoe or a film version of the "Survivor" television series. Director Robert Zemeckis put it this way, "CAST AWAY celebrates the idea that no matter how many obstacles are thrown in our paths, we will find ways to accept them. The story is not so much about the survival of a human being, but rather the survival of the human spirit and an illustration of the idea that surviving is easy, it's living that's difficult.

—http://www.castaway.com Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Matthew 6:25, 33 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

SURVIVOR

John Raymond, the executive pastor of the World Harvest Church in Slidell, Louisiana became the first clergyman on reality television when he appeared on Survivor Tahiti this fall. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Raymond was the first contestant voted off the Island.

Raymond says he grew up hunting and fishing in Louisiana, so his outdoors skills were good. The film footage shows Raymond starting the fire, finding water, catching most of the food, and even digging the latrine. The producers said they figured Raymond was so capable in the hostile environment that it made the others uncomfortable.

Raymond says, “Someone also suggested that many people are uncomfortable around ministers because they feel they have to be too cautious or that they have a second conscience floating around. So maybe they didn’t want me around long.”

Pastor Raymond wanted to bring things along that reflected his faith, so he asked to bring along a Bible, and the Christian flag. The flag turned out to be a 6 by 10 foot waterproof tarp that happened to be the color of the Christian flag.

Reflecting on his experience Raymond says, “I was just hoping they wouldn’t vote me off because I was a pastor. I didn’t think that they’d accept Jesus Christ or give me the lead or anything like that.” He says his reason for appearing on the program was simple. “Jesus preached the sermon on the mount, not the sermon in the valley. The reason he preached it on the mount was because he got more exposure on the mount. If I can get more exposure for the church and the kingdom by getting on the highest rated show in history, then great, as long as I kept my integrity in the game.”

—http://christianitytoday.aol.com, ‘Pastor John’ Sees Himself as a survivor on the Mount, October 2, 2002. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Ephesians 4:1 NIV “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

SURVIVAL

Researchers counting Monarch butterflies during the annual migration along the California coast are disturbed by the low numbers. The most recent count found less than 30,000 butterflies, which was an 86 percent decline over 2017. The Xerces Society conducts the annual counts and they say thirty years ago, they routinely counted more than one million butterflies wintering in California. The society says there are many theories as to why the numbers may be declining and more needs to be done in order to ensure the butterflies survive in the long term.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

http://www.klove.com/news/2019/01/06/Count-Finds-Sharp-Drop-In-Monarch-Butterflies-In-California/

Philippians 4:6–8 (CSB) “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.”