This movie was good (www.amazinggracemovie.com).  I had high expectations for the movie and it surpassed even those high expectations.  It was not a cheesy Christian or sentimental message.  The cinematography is excellent and the acting is convincing.

A few things stand out to me.  First, the perseverence of Wilberforce - he endured through tremendous opposition, the rejection of his best friend, and slander.  If anyone is going to change long-held beliefs in this world we must persevere.

Second, the faith of Wilberforce.  The movie did not dumb this aspect down even though it was not produced (as far as I know) by a Christian.  Why would someone oppose the slave trade and at the cost of his own name?  Only because He believes God has called him to the task.  Wilberforce realized that he could serve God by being a politician.  May God give us more godly political leaders!

Third, the marriage of Wilberforce and his wife.  Behind any man who will accomplish anything is a woman who is spurring him on.  This movie shows a Wilberforce about to crumble and give up, but marriage spurs him on with a new passion.  It spurs on our imagination to think about how marriage makes both men and women. 

Fourth, the gospel affects culture.  At one point in the movie Wilberforce points out that the people want an end to the slave trade.  His chief opponent says in an incredulous voice, "People?"  Only through the American system of government do the political elite see that their job is to serve the people.

Anyway, Amazing Grace (www.amazinggracemovie.com) is one of the best movies I have seen and request that everyone sees this movie.  We need more high quality movies like this, movies with a good message and quality workmanship!

For a good review, click this link (http://feeds.christianitytoday.com/~r/christianitytoday/ctmag/~3/94818362/dispatch.html)

Today is my last day of a three-week fast.  Though I am hungry and look forward to eating tomorrow (watch out refrigerator!), I have felt better for these three weeks than for a long time.  The main reason I feel so good is because I sense a closeness to God that comes only when a person is dependent upon Him.  Not eating for 21 days tends to make one dependent as discouragement, depression, and hunger kick in.  How can I survive and continue but through prayer!  As I pray, I sense His strength and ministry.

I want to invite everyone to join me next year, January 2008, to join me for all or some part of my 40-day fast.  I fast every year for a different length of time, and, Lord willing, next year is my chance to go for 40-days.  Right now, I plan to start on our church's day of fasting and prayer on January 2, 2008.

Why fast?  Basically, I think fasting is expected of all Christians.  I hesitate to say it is a command because I know some people literally cannot fast.  Still, I think it is an expectation.  Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount said to his disciples, "Whenever you fast..." (Matt. 6:16).  Jesus expected that we would fast for periods of time and cry out to our heavenly Father.  Fasting is mentioned many other times through the Bible.  The best book I have read describing fasting and prayer is by John Piper, "A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer".  The title gives away the point - by stripping away all of our earthly securities by starving our bodies, we cultivate a hunger for the only thing that can really satisfy our deepest hungers - Our Savior and God.  Pick up a copy and read it today.

This year I fasted and prayed for five specific things:

1. 1.       That I may taste and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  This year, more than ever, I realize that if I am to minister with any effectiveness I must be totally consecrated to the Lord and filled with power from His Holy Spirit.  I tend to be overly concerned about my lack of gifts, the opinions of others, and too little concerned about my calling and the spiritual needs of others.  I need the Holy Spirit to revive my heart, illumine my mind, and empower my lips with His power (Acts 1:14; 2:1-47).  My prayer for the fast is from Genesis 49:23-24, I pray that this would describe my life as I minister the gospel, "The archers bitterly attacked him, and shot at him and harassed him; but his bow remained firm, and his arms were agile, from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob."
2. 2.       That my own family would grow in love for God, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and hunger only for God.  I pray that they would bear fruit, not just "be saved", but bear fruit for the glory of God's kingdom.  I have enjoyed praying for them as I teach them some Bible and history curriculum from our church's Covenant School.
3. 3.       That God would revive our hearts at New Life in Christ Church and especially among the Young Adults.  In our Care Groups we are studying the Ten Commandments.  I have prayed that learning these would bring a great sense of conviction to us all and lead us to repentance and faith in Christ.  I have been blessed to see the Lord answer this prayer through large Young Adult Care Group (one week, 27 people tucked into Scott Ross' otherwise large living room) and a large Sunday School classes (22 last week), through the resolution of some conflict, and some personal areas of repentance.  All this in only three weeks.
4. 4.       That God would bring revival to the Fredericksburg region especially through church planting, particularly church planting through New Life in Christ Church.  We want to plant 5-7 churches in the next 5 years.  We want to plant 20 churches in the next 13 years.  For success in this we certainly need God's help!  The past three weeks, I have cried out that He would guide and empower this process.  We have hired Leonard Bailey to start this task for us.  He and Pastor Doug were at a church planting conference, so I was able to pray for them and that God would give them vision and strength to carry this vision to completion.  I was able also to pray for Leonard as he starts the challenging task of raising $55,000 from individuals and churches to get this process started.
5. 5.       That abortion-on-demand would be destroyed from this country (Isaiah 58:6).  This is the most evil of the social plagues currently in this country.  Over a million babies are killed each year.  It gave me a chance to pray for Gloria Whitley as she spoke to our congregation on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.

I covet your prayers for me, my family, our church, our city, and our nation. 

If you are interested in joining me for a fast next year, let me know, and if enough people want to do this, we can have a couple classes training you how to fast, how to do it safely and how to get the most out of a spiritual fast.  As I mentioned above, the best book for this is John Piper's book "A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer".  Some key things to do in 2007 are to pray about fasting, build your "fasting muscles" through short periods of prayer (1-3 days) and fasting, and seeing a doctor to ensure that you are healthy enough to fast.  Let me know and we can seek the Lord together.