Hugging the Cactus...

Oct 15 2011 11:11 AM ET

Robert Downey Jr. asks Hollywood to forgive Mel Gibson at American Cinematheque Awards
by Grady Smith
Tags: Awards Shows, Mel Gibson, Robert Downey Jr., News

Last night at the 25th Annual American Cinematheque Award Ceremony, which was honoring Robert Downey Jr., the Iron Man actor asked Hollywood to forgive Mel Gibson.

Gibson was invited onstage to present Downey Jr. with the prestigious award, since, in the words of Garry Shandling, “The Cinematheque was concerned a bit about Robert’s checkered past, so they chose someone to present the award who could help balance that out and the choice was so obvious, Mel Gibson.”

Gibson spoke kindly of the star, who he famously helped to make a comeback by paying Downey Jr.’s insurance bond so he could star in 2003′s The Singing Detective. “You are my friend,” Gibson said. “When I saw you all those years ago and got all those warnings, I just thought, ‘There’s nothing so much wrong with him.’” Gibson explained, “You’re a good dude with a good heart.”

During Downey Jr.’s acceptance speech, he had even kinder words for Gibson. “I asked Mel to present this award for me for a reason,” he said. “When I couldn’t get sober, he told me not to give up hope and encouraged me to find my faith. It didn’t have to be his or anyone else’s as long as it was rooted in forgiveness. And I couldn’t get hired, so he cast me in the lead of a movie that was actually developed for him. He kept a roof over my head and food on the table and most importantly he said if I accepted responsibility for my wrongdoing and embraced that part of my soul that was ugly – hugging the cactus he calls it — he said that if I hugged the cactus long enough, I’d become a man.”

He continued, “I did and it worked. All he asked in return was that someday I help the next guy in some small way. It’s reasonable to assume at the time he didn’t imagine the next guy would be him or that someday was tonight. So anyway on this special occasion and in light of the recent holidays including Columbus Day, I would ask that you join me, unless you are completely without sin in which case you picked the wrong [...] industry, in forgiving my friend his trespasses and offering him the same clean slate you have me, allowing him to continue his great and ongoing contribution to our collective art without shame. He’s hugged the cactus long enough.”

Life in Christ...

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
 Why?
Because: "...You have died to the Law through the body of Christ..." (Romans 7:4)
..."   Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." (Romans 7:24-25)
I can't do it on my own! That's reality!
"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."  (Romans 8:2-4)

"The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us..." (vs. 4)
What does that mean?
Let me give you this illustration: Internet law, if you will, requires a server. You want a web site, you need a server. In order for a website to be their at all times, the server must remain on at all times. However, I can post on my google blog (as I'm doing right now), turn my computer off, and walk away; and yet my post will remain online for others to view at their leisure even though my computer is off, and I'm in deepest darkest Africa. That is because the requirement of internet law (a server) was fulfilled by someone else (Google). I published my blog post on their server. In essence the requirement of internet law was fulfilled in me, since the post has my name on it, even though Google did the law fulfilling.
See, what happens is that God through Christ fills up what the law requires in us, as we walk by the Spirit.

Ever swing a splitting maul, and hit a dry oak log right in the center? As the log splits in two, you feel that sensation: " Yes! One hit K-O Baby!"
Last night I had the priveledge of sharing a few words of my testimony with a co-worker. When I finished talking I felt that ax-swinging sensation, that I had said exactly what God wanted me to say, and it had hit exactly where He wanted it to. I found out later that my co-worker spent the next three hours thinking about what I had said, and told me that He wanted me to teach him (in essence) how to have a relationship with God. Wow!

Love - just thinking out loud and on paper.

I watched a couple go by today, as I went on a late morning walk along Copper-Creek. They stayed in close proximity to one another, yet neither said a word during my observation. They were not bothered with one another, they were just enjoying a quiet intimacy of being together. In our lives words are not always necessary; but words mingled with love can be very beneficial. According to 1 Cor. 13:1 I am guilty of making a lot of annoying sounds. The couple I mentioned were two of the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen. They were Wood Ducks.

Faith

I was cleaning up around the cardboard bailor at work when Randy came and started inserting his cardboard. I said hey Randy! how's it going? he said: good, but I'm surprised because we had two trucks today instead of one, I was expecting it to be a really difficult day. I was like see, that's what everyone says, oh it's gonna be hard or difficult or whatever, but you can't go by that. Yeah you should expect that it might be difficult, or challenging, but don't expect a bad day; expect your co-workers to step up at the right time, and expect to get a lot done in a short amount of time. That's faith, if you're driving a race car around a turn at 120 mph, you have to have faith in yourself that you can make the turn at that speed or you will crash. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must beleive that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)      

Today at Wally-World...

A co-worker of mine was struggling with a pile of boxes today, and said: "Jesus hates me..." I asked her if I could lend a hand and she told me what she needed help with. I said: "Jesus didn't stack this pallet, I watched the person who did, are you a Christian?" I told her that Jesus was telling me to help her with the pallet, and wanted her to know that He still loves her. she said: "I don't think that's what He's saying". It was awesome to see God at work today.

Staggering Chapter...

                               Psalm 24

1. God owns the earth, the world, and everyone in them.

2. Because He was the architect and Builder of each one.

3. Who will make the hike up Yahweh’s hill?

    Or who will stand before Him?

4. Someone who has washed their hands with clean water (Eph. 5:26), and who’s heart has been made pure through shed blood; one who’s mind, will, and emotions only hear truth (falsehood can enter the ear, but not reach the heart) and they keep their promises.

5. This pure hearted person will receive blessing from the LORD

They will also receive righteousness from the God of their salvation.

6. God-seekers have their own generation

-Those that seek His face.

7. Lift up your heads, O gates!

        And be lifted up O ancient doors,

              (Let the real King come in.

                     The High King of heaven.)

                            The King of Glory.

8. Who is this King of glory?

          The LORD strong and mighty,

                The LORD mighty in battle!

9. Lift up your heads O gates!

         And lift them up, O ancient doors,

                That the King of glory may come in.

10. Who is this King of glory?

           The LORD of hosts,

                 He is the King of glory.

-Paraphrase by N.L.  Vss. 8-10 From the ESV

Do you see the picture painted by David?

We’re part of this huge procession of people who are God seekers. We are in the capital city waiting and watching as the King returns. As He approaches the entrance of the city, we give the command that the gates and the ancient doors be opened, so the King of glory may enter. And when He enters we introduce Him as the LORD of Hosts – The King of Glory!