Real Life by Peggi Tustan

Welcome to Real Life. On Good Friday, we reflect on Christ’s sacrifice. We do so knowing what's coming on Easter morning. But, the apostles didn't. Here’s how the events of that weekend might have looked through John’s eyes. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” [1] I've never seen Jesus so visibly shaken. It scares me. So, I stay and try to pray. But, the hour is late. I fall asleep along with the other disciples. I’m just beginning to dream when I’m awakened by angry voices and the light of torches. A mob is approaching. Can it be? Is that Judas leading them? What’s he doing? He greets Jesus as he normally does, with a kiss. Yet, something’s horribly wrong. “Am I leading a rebellion,” my Lord asks, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” [2] The gu

Welcome to Real Life. I saw the movie Noah . I heard the hype. Still, I wanted to see and judge it for myself. Since the recent success of The Bible miniseries, Hollywood has rushed to capitalize on biblically-inspired movies. However, not every movie with a biblical reference is inspired by the Word of God. Such is the case with Noah . The director, Darren Aronofsky, considers the flood a myth. His film is inspired by his own childhood imaginings of the flood, [1] as well as the teachings of a mystical sect of Judaism known as Kabbalah . [2] Aronofsky calls Noah the least biblical biblical film ever made. [3] In the biblical account: The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have c

Brother and sister reunion! Welcome to Real Life . How well do I know God? If I knocked on his door, would he open it? Ten years ago, I accompanied my parents on a trip to their homeland, Slovakia. My father fled his country at the close of WWII to escape the incoming communist takeover by Russia. Some sixty years later, on the day we arrived in Slovakia, Dad was overcome with fear that somehow his past might catch up with him. That is, until we arrived at the home of his sister, Františka. The moment she opened the door and he saw her face, he lit up like a sunrise. He said, “I’m in heaven!” _____ Do many doors lead to God? Will all who die enter heaven? “Will only a few be saved?” someone asked Jesus while he was teaching. He answered, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” Though they knock, no one will open the door. For, the Owner of the house won’t know them. Does God know me?