Evan 'O-Mighty'

Watched this comedy last night. It tells about the story of a 'modern-day' Noah who determined to change the world (until 'God' permits him), after he became a politician from news reporter. Besides the humour in the movie, i think there are a few things we can learn (for the 1st time) from a Hollywood movie.

Mr. Baxter woke up in his new mansion 6.14am everyday and in his alarm clock unclearly show the time written Gen 6.14 ( i donno what the 'Gen' doing in that clock) every single day - even his new car plate number given was Gen 614. And if it's appearing repetitiously, there must be some kind of calling then. So, when it's time to check the Bible, it says: "So make yourself an ark of cypress (wasn't cypress in the movie) wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. " and at the same time, huge piles of wood were delivered to his mansion. Suddenly too, pairs of animals keep appearing and following him everywhere, not missing even the Senate House's office.

There remembering Gen 6:19-20 -->"You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. ". That's where the comedy developed because Baxter became animal magnet all of sudden and 'God' appears to him everywhere reminding him to build the ark as soon as possible but all Baxter did was ignore, ignore and avoid. Until one day where his beard and hair has to grow longer and longer until shaving and trimming is pointless (it grows back the minute after), and he has to appear like a jungle man in the parliament and once he received a stoneage kind of robe from 'God', only did he have to take 'God's' command seriously (as in really built the ark) and further, he is to built it with his family!

At that point of time, I was thinking, God couldn't be calling for another major flood again isn't it? I mean He did promise us that He wouldn't destroy the earth with flood again (Gen 9:11-17). I just read that there's debate whether God has meant the flood locally or globally but it's not relevant here. I mean they wouldnt be sooooo out of idea to repeat Noah's story blindly. There must be something else.

I haven't exactly figure out what kind of theme this movie is trying to show us, but I have my own observations.

God's call to us. How many of us made silent request/promises to God that we want to do something or be His instrument and when the task really come to us, we shied away? The best example would be prior to baptism, everyone is with burning spirit to be good Christians by repenting from sins etc etc. After one year, yes it's good that some keep up to the task, but after 10 years? Do we still respond to God's call at least as eagerly? Try read Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23. We are the seeds and guess how many can make it to the fine grounds? I don't know.

Can you imagine yourself being asked by God to build such a big ark while having to dress like stoneage in a modern metropolis area (and while you're a renown person)? Do you still have the mustard seed like faith? (Or maybe real life situations not as dramatic).

By own's courage, I don't think anyone can simply perform God's will. What I mean is, we still need the Holy Spirit to guide us on, in which, this was not shown in the movie. I'm not going to debate on the nature of Holy Spirit or how it is, when it comes and so on. But John 14:26 have said it clearly for us: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.". I was even reminded by a friend some time ago about this verse in Luke 12:10 :" And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. ".

In Luke 12:11-12 too: "When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.". Any guess whether Baxter was guided by Holy Spirit? Hhehehe definitely not, because he was given the 'Dummy's book to build Ark' by 'God' himself. Did Noah had the Holy Spirit? I don't know, maybe God directly communicated with him.

In the movie too, 'ARK' also stood for Act of Random Kindness. Creative and certainly knocks my head too. Pure kindness i mean (not those with intentions to get things in return -except when dropping few coins on the beggar's mug). There's many things we can do with this, but with certain social 'climate' change in the world, I guess it's not easy to be a kind and loving person. Purely kind and loving i mean.

Good comedy show nevertheless, but since it's adapting some parts of the Bible, surely we can learn something from this modern Noah besides laughing louder inside the cinema. And oh...I must say the last bit was the most [erm] should i say silly and funny because the ark was actually built to prepare for the dam in Baxter's neighbourhood being damaged. And the sudden flood sail them towards the front door of Senate House. Can you imagine building such big ark and enduring embarassment from the whole country for that short time of flood and they din't even sail far. I was thinking, couldn't God just ask him to move his place of residence, stay somewhere else and get him to inform others too or just alert him about the upcoming disaster and do something about it? ....but then it is always stated, put your trust in God (although in that movie, such trust in 'God' were indirectly ridiculed).

You remember Noah persuading people to board his ark but no one will listen? Well, in this movie everyone who was at the site (where the ark was) [to witness possibility of flood, make fun of, and destroy the ark] managed to board it when the dam broke (they too refused at first). At least no one died from the disaster of the dam.