Pastor's column: People of America still believe in Jesus

As we approach another Christmas surrounded by a cloud of mysteries, we desire to believe in a possibility that deity became humanity, The innocence of a new born broke the silence of a creator reconnecting with His creation. The pieces of life's puzzle can fit together.

I was a lonely teenager struggling to find acceptance from anyone who would look in my direction. I felt so empty, so lost in a sea of humanity. Everyone, it seemed to me, had a direction and a purpose but me. I believed the birth narrative of Jesus, but so what. What did it have to do with me?

Alone in my bedroom one night I couldn't get out of my mind a statement from my best friend, "sure we know we're going to Hell and we're going to raise a lot of hell when we get there."

I had no desire to go to Hell but somehow know I was headed in that direction. Suddenly, I had an encounter with Jesus that shook me to the core of my being. I felt the very presence of God come into my bedroom that night. I was all alone humanly speaking. I dropped to my knees and cried out for help to a God I believed in but had no personal experience with. He spoke to my heart, "you are good when around the good and bad when around the bad, who are you?"

I cried out for God to forgive my hypocrisy and I felt a warm rush of love pour over me and I felt His acceptance. It marked me on the inside. Jesus became an abiding presence in my life from that moment on.

Christmas has a very special and personal meaning to me now. Christmas is Jesus to me. Jesus is not a religion or a belief system any more — He is my best friend, the lover of my soul. The One who guides me through life, picking me up when I fall, holding me when I'm lost or lonely, my encourager, my strength and my Lord, my Savior and my God. He is Emmanuel (God with us).

He's soon to return to the earth to receive His followers to Himself. He came 2,000 years ago, He comes every time someone opens their heart to Him and He's coming again to restore the broken world to Himself! Do you believe the birth story of the New Testament? Do you believe the death/resurrection story? Do you believe there is life after death?

Merry Christmas. Merry CHRIST-mas! "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. His Name is called wonderful counselor, mighty God, Prince of Peace." That Jesus was/is real! You who know Him must stand up proudly and end your quiet testimony. When the apostle Paul encountered Jesus in that blinding light experience (Acts 9), he then traveled the whole know world sharing his encounter.

I had a powerful encounter with Jesus while alone in my bedroom just before I turned 16 (44 years ago). It marked me forever. I don't just believe now, I know Jesus is who He said He was because of that one divine moment in my history. But more yet, He gives me daily strength and guidance. I was a nobody from a poor family who had little education. God called me to serve Him almost immediately and since has taken me all over the world giving me opportunities to share His message. What message? "I love you so much that I'll pay the price to cover your sins." That's John 3:16 in a nutshell. That's our only hope for America; for the world.

It matters what you believe. Paul tells us in Romans 10:9-11: "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed."

The setting of Jesus' first advent (coming): Rome is rising to its full strength. Jews are oppressed and a census is being taken to count everyone and to know who and where they are. People are nervous and scared. They begin to cry out for the Messiah to come. They beg God and they are believing the time is ripe for Him. A young virgin named Mary is engaged to be married. An angel appears to her and tells her she has been chosen to bare the Son of God. She accepts. The time for delivery has come but Rome won't wait on anyone so Joseph (her espoused) takes Mary to Bethlehem (the place of his ancestry — King David). The city is packed and there's no room for them so they find themselves having to take refuge behind a packed Inn in the horse barn/stable. Too late, babies wait for no one! Jesus is born in that barn and His first crib is a feeding trough/manger. His birth is announced by angels to shepherds who were keeping watch over their flock outside the city. They are led to the manger to worship Him.

There is awe. There is reverence. There is wonder. This is He… the long awaited Messiah now asleep in a lowly barn. A humble beginning into a world of turmoil. In about 70 years from this moment the Roman Empire will destroy Jerusalem leaving both Jews and Christians running for their lives.

But for 33 years, Jesus lives among us teaching and demonstrating to us the ways of God and the directions to His coming Kingdom. That's CHRIST-mas.

In our world of turmoil where unrest surrounds us (not unlike Rome in Jesus' day), there is hope. There is a Christ shouting to our hearts, "I love you" and willing to reveal Himself to us if we but ask! He came and told us before He left that He's coming back ... soon. He's preparing a place for us so that we can be where He is ... for all eternity (John 14). Choose now to include Jesus in your new year. Include some quiet, for some awe, for some wonder. Jesus loves you — yes all of us and He awaits your response. Soon, very soon He's coming again. Have a blessed New Year, Licking County filled with God's love and the hope only He provides.

5 things to know about Alamo Village

BRACKETTVILLE, Texas (AP) — A Texas businessman wants to revive Alamo Village, the movie set built by John Wayne for his epic film about the historic Alamo siege. It's been closed since 2009. Here are five things to know about the 400-acre park's history:

— Nearly a half-dozen Alamo-themed TV shows or movies were made there, as well as hundreds of other productions. One was the acclaimed 1989 TV miniseries "Lonesome Dove," where Alamo Village served as a stand-in for San Antonio, Fort Worth and Santa Rosa, New Mexico. A cantina used in the series, which also was a restaurant for tourists, has a saloon bar that came from a San Francisco brothel.

— Wayne's 1960 movie was nominated in 1961 for seven Oscars: best picture, supporting actor (Chill Wills), color cinematography, editing, sound and two for music, including the song "The Green Leaves of Summer." It only won for sound.

— "The Alamo" was among the top ten grossing movies in the U.S. in 1960, with nearly $8 million in box office receipts. But that equaled only two-thirds of its $12 million budget, a good part of it financed by Wayne himself. TV rights purchased a decade later by NBC put the film in the black, according to IMDb.com.

— Happy and Virginia Shahan owned the 22,000-acre ranch. He was a former mayor of Brackettville and lured Hollywood after the post-World War II deactivation of Fort Clark, a frontier Army post established less than 20 years after the fall of the real Alamo in 1836. Happy Shahan saw Westerns as a way to offset the economic losses from the closing of the fort, whose commanders included a young colonel, George S. Patton.

— Among Alamo Village performance alumni is country singer Linda Davis, who won a Grammy with Reba McEntire for their 1993 duet "Does He Love You." Davis' daughter, Hillary Scott, is lead co-singer in the multiple Grammy-winning group Lady Antebellum.

Guess Why Rush Limbaugh Thinks Idris Elba Can't Play James Bond

There's one sticking point for Rush Limbaugh on Idris Elba.

Idris Elba is widely considered to be the favourite to play James Bond once Daniel Craig hangs up his tuxedo - and Sony emails reveal that Amy Pascal is sweet on the idea - but not everyone thinks old Stringer Bell should be sipping martinis for a living. During his news programme this week, controversial commentator Rush Limbaugh offered his two cents on the matter. Ok lets cut to the chase: Limbaugh says Elba is black, so therefore cannot play Bond.

"James Bond is a total concept put together by Ian Fleming. He was white and Scottish. Period. That is who James Bond is," Limbaugh said.

"But now [they are] suggesting that the next James Bond should be Idris Elba, a black Briton, rather than a white from Scotland. But that's not who James Bond is."

"I know it's racist to probably point this out," he accepted.

Elba has gone on record as saying he would be interested in becoming the franchise's new star and during a Reddit AMA he told one user: "Yes, if it was offered to me, absolutely" when quizzed on the possibility of it happening.

During an interview with NPR, Elba - who returns as Luther for a two-part miniseries in 2015 - basically smashed Limbaugh's argument to bits anyway: "I just don't want to be called the first black James Bond. Do you understand what I'm saying? Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond. So if I played him, I don't want to be called the black James Bond."

Given the speculation in recent days, the bookmakers now have Elba as the heavy favourite to become the next Bond, with previous frontrunner Tom Hardy now available at odds of 4/1.

Kim Kardashian I'm Upset ... Because I Can't Get Pregnant

Kim Kardashian is upset for a very good reason ... as hard as she's been trying, she can't get pregnant.

Kim has been very open with friends and family ... she and Kanye have been trying to have another baby for the last 9 months but nothing has worked. Kim has been to fertility doctors, but they've made it clear ... having another baby is a long shot.

Turns out North West was a miracle baby ... she had 3 specialists tell her she couldn't get pregnant before North was conceived.  

Kim and Kanye assumed the second baby would be easier since it worked once, but the doctors are telling her that's not the case.

We're told Kim is trying to reduce her stress and cut down on traveling ... per doctor's advice.

The pic was taken Tuesday in Bev Hills after visiting her doctor. We're told Kanye has been to almost every doctor's visit ... Kim goes once a month.

"Unbroken" Tops "Into The Woods", "The Hobbit" On Christmas Day

With "Unbroken" surprisingly leading the pack, it looks like the 2014 domestic Box-Office is set to go out with a bang - and should thankfully carry over into 2015.

Heading into the 4-day Christmas weekend, "Unbroken" surpassed expectations by finishing with the best domestic box-office for Christmas Day. 

Heading into the weekend, most expects felt it was a fait accompli that "The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies" would win the Christmas weekend with $30-35 million total, with most estimates pegging "Into The Woods" at $25 million and "Unbroken" at about $20 million, at best.

Since it is late/early, depending on your point of view, I wil simply give you the raw numbers according to "Deadline" and add some brief analysis:

Word of mouth is on fire: Universal-Legendary’s Unbroken smashed through the onslaught of studio wide releases and holdovers on Christmas day and is looking to take No. 1 with $15.6M according to industry estimates, racing past Disney’s musical Into the Woods, which according to noon estimates was expected to finish first. As such, it comes as no surprise to learn that Unbroken earned an A- Cinemascore. Into the Woods, with a B, should land second with an estimated $13.6M while Warner Bros.’ The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies will settle for third with $12.7M, a 112% surge over its Christmas Eve low. A very good Christmas indeed with 25 films already expected to gross $75.9M, which is ahead of 2012’s $74.9M, but is just 2% off last Christmas’ $77.3M.

The success of "Unbroken" can be attributed in large part due to a major marketing effort that saw an appealing trailer shown on TV constantly. As a project of love by Angelina Jolie, it obviously helped that she was out there pushing the film. this included a 1-hour special on the film that aired on NBC.

Sony’s hot potato political comedy The Interview is eyeing about $1M from its 331 locations for a $3,000+ per theater. It’s a decent opening day, certainly not as jawdropping as the headlines the film has spurred from Sony hacking to 9/11 threats. Comps are spotty as limited bows in latter December are relegated to award contending titles. Not to mention, if you’re in the right arthouses, you can make $1M+ off of as little as 18 venues. The last political comedy to play the year-end holiday frame was 1997’s Wag the Dog (the film brilliantly pre-dated the 1998 Clinton sex scandal by a matter of weeks), which in its Jan. 2-4 sophomore weekend made $1.12M off 69 locations. It will be interesting to see how high Sony might expand The Interview‘s release. Such political football pics such as Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 and comedies like Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat have grossed $24-26M bows off engagements in the low 800s.

I feel, given the attention this film has received, this debut is hardly surprising. In fact, I think if "The Interview" continues to perform well during it's run st the smaller theaters that chose to air it, at least one of the major chains will decide to show the film. The others will then likely follow suit - especially if Sony's other Holiday release, "Annie", continues to wither - it finished sixth on Christmas Day. 

"The Interview" would also likely be considered strong counter programming to the family and :serious" fare that will dominate screens leading up to awards season.

Finally, while films like "Fahrenheit 9/11" were polarizing and considered by some to be ant--American, the odd journey of "The Interview" has made it a sign of patriotism among many to go see the film.

Unbroken‘s anticipated $30M-plus four day bow couldn’t come at a better time for the Angelina Jolie-directed World War II film as it aims to pique Oscars’ voters before nom ballots are due on Jan 8. The film was overlooked by the Golden Globes and SAG Awards (except for a stunt ensemble nom), however, the Critics Choice Awards lauded Unbroken with noms for best pic, director, adapted screenplay and cinematography. Weeks prior to its opening, faith-based film marketers told Deadline that Unbroken was clicking with Christian audiences in a way that Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings was not, giving high praise for Jolie’s finesse in portraying Louis Zamperini’s spiritual stamina.

Yes, "Unbroken" and "American Sniper" were shut out at the Golden Globes, leading some to feel the organization was against any military films that portrayed the American military in a positive light. 

But Jolie, Bradley Cooper and ("American Sniper" director) Clint Eastwood carry a lot of star power and seem to be well-liked by the Academy. Stroong Christmas weekend showings by each will lead to positive press, which should generate more box-office, and so on. 

Both films are also being received well by critics, with "American Sniper" even moreso.

Regarding "Unbroken", it's worth noting that it proves something Hollywood gets wrong time and time again. Christian audiences are not going to flock to films that simple tell Christian stories. They also want to see films that have Christian values.

Toss in the fact that "Unbroken" is appealing to a lot of veterans across generations, and it should do well for quite a while.

If Unbroken and Into the Woods’ opening estimates hold until tomorrow AM, they’ll respectively rank as the third and sixth highest Christmas bows of all-time. The top four currently are Sherlock Holmes ($24.6M), 2o12’s Les Miserables ($18.1M), Django Unchained ($15M) and Marley and Me ($14.4m).
Paramount’s The Gambler earned a C+ Cinemascore and is expected to bring in $4.6M. It’s a bit gritty for holiday crowds, hence the low grade. Paramount bowed the hard R-rated The Wolf of Wall Street last Christmas and wound up with a C Cinemascore and a $116.9M final domestic cume (though many will attribute that to the film’s awards traction, of which The Gambler has yet to notch).

That is still a decent start for Mark Wahlberg's picture.

Weinstein Co.’s The Imitation Game clocked into seventh place after its expansion from 34 to 747 theaters. TWC executed a similar rollout for The Imitation Game as The King’s Speech, and the Alan Turing biopic’s Christmas B.O. is 39% higher than that of the King George VI biopic. TWC’s Big Eyes looks to be opening in 11th place with approximately $1.33M off 1,307 runs. The film is just beginning its awards season run at the B.O., powered by Golden Globe music/comedy noms for Amy Adams (best actress) and Christoph Waltz (best actor) as well as a third for Lana Del Rey’s title song “Big Eyes”.

This is good news for both of these critically-acclaimed, wildly different films. Cumberbatch and Adams are both getting raves, which can only help.

Paramount’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. biopic Selma is looking to post $300K off 19 venues for a per theater of $15,789 while Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper from Warner Bros. made $200K at four theaters for a $50K per screen at the Arclight Hollywood in Los Angeles, Northpark in Dallas, the Union Square and Lincoln Square in New York City.

"Selma" should expand and resonate with many, especially with all that has gone on this year. Word is the film is excellent and could pick up significant steam. In the end, more people may buy tickets to see this in theaters than the sinking "Annie" - or even the highly touted "Birdman".

'The Interview' leads movie sales on Google Play, Youtube

Sony's comedy "The Interview" has become the best-seller on a pair of Googlestreaming sites -- Google Play and YouTube Movies.

The controversial Seth Rogen-James Franco is listed as the top download as of late Christmas night, ahead of "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "The Maze Runner."

The studio began streaming "The Interview" on Wednesday through the sites along with Microsoft's Xbox Video and its own dedicated site, www.seetheinterview.com, for $5.99 or $14.99 for an HD version. None of the sites disclosed sales numbers.

Variety reported Wednesday that Netflix was in talks with Sony to stream the film to its subscribers. Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., the leaders in online movie sales and rentals, have not joined signed deals with Sony.

Sony's PlayStation Video store said Wednesday that it would make the movie available in the U.S. "at a date to be determined shortly" but the site was hit by hackers on Christmas.

The movie began showing in more than 300 independent theaters on Christmas Day -- its original release date before Sony announced Dec 17 that it was scrapping the release due to threats by the hackers behind the massive cyber-attack that began on Nov. 24. Sony did an about-face five days later in the face of criticism by President Obama.

Death anniversary of poets Parveen Shakir and Munir Niazi being observed today

The date 26 December marks the death anniversaries of two great poets, Munir Niazi and Parveen Shakir who left an everlasting impact on modern Urdu literature.

Born in Karachi, Shakir completed her Masters in English and became an acclaimed poet with her first published collection “Khushbu” in 1976. Following 'Khushbu', she further wrote volumes “Sadburg” and “Khudkalami”. After her last published work, “Inkaar” in 1990, a collection “Kaf-e-Aina” was published posthumously in 1996. All of her collections can be viewed in the volume called "Maah-e-Tamam".

Popular for her outspoken feminist sentiments in poetry, Shakir received country’s highest honor—the “Pride of Performance” award for her significant contribution to Urdu literature. She also served as a teacher and a civil servant.

Belonging to the generation before Shakir, Munir Niazi was born in 1928 in India and following independence of Pakistan migrated to Sahiwal with his family.

Known for his melodious ghazals and harmonious poems, Niazi also penned songs for famous films like Uss bewafa ka shehr hai aur ham hein dost for Shaheed (1962) and Zinda rahen to kya hai jo mar jaaen ham to kya for Kharidar (1976).

Unlike Shakir who wrote in Urdu, Niazi also had command over Punjabi and published three of his works in Punjabi namely “Safar di Raat”, “Char Chup Cheezan” and “Rasta Dasan Walay Teray.” Some of his Urdu collections include “Taiz Hawa aur Tanha Phool”, “Jungle main Dhanak” and “Mah-e-Munir”.

While it has been 20 years since Shakir’s sad demise in a car accident in Lahore in 1994, Niazi passed away in 2006 after suffering from a respiratory disease.