Overcomer - a review

I was blessed to view an advance screening of Overcomer, the new film by the Kendrick brothers.

The outer shell of the story is about high school sports: a coach, football players, a young female runner and their families. But the deeper story that weaves through the entire film is about where each one finds their identity. 

As one who has learned the lesson of needing to find my identity in Christ, I found myself nodding in agreement throughout the movie.

Those who found Fireproof, Courageous and other Kendrick films a bit heavy handed with their sharing of faith will probably stumble over the same here. I would hope however that people can watch this with open minds and open hearts, allowing the truth of the message to touch them.

Screening link has been provided courtesy of Sony Entertainment Releasing Canada and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

ever a door

there is ever a door

ahead, open

or closed, asking

what will we do here?

will we stand, stubborn

afraid to knock

or touch, or push

will we crawl under, squeeze

through, jump high

hurdling over

will we peek through

and uncertain

turn to face another door

another time, another place

there is ever a door ahead

Strive to enter by the narrow door

[force yourselves through it], 

for many, I tell you, will try to enter 

and will not be able.

Luke 13:24 Amplified

thick clouds

friends dear to us

have had their hearts exploded by tragic loss

clouds dark have settled over us all

in my quiet time with the Lord this morning

He spoke these words

in Africa funeral houses fill with wailing cries

this, when there are no words

they do not fear the depth of mourning

this makes sense to you now

your people, your village is shaken

I hear cries that they think they should suppress

there is no need, no reason 

to be strong

I Am the strength for all

stand together in your weakness

those who already have answers

did not hear them from Me

around the curve

I have been frozen in my brokenness

dry, splintered, fragile

the road ahead and behind

rocky, rutted, slippery

hard to see signposts

in clouds of dust

my steps are small, painful

both in body and heart

yet surely the refreshing

the eruption of new life

is waiting, ever waiting

just around the next curve

For I will [fully] satisfy the weary soul, 

and I will replenish every languishing and sorrowful person.

Jeremiah 31:25 Amplified

short hop

travel day

that's usually tiring to even think about

but this is a short hop

mere hours

not the multiple days

to or from Africa

no meals or movies

no free snacks

2-1/2 hours for our first flight

1 hour for the next

as always

we're in His clouds

in His hands

no better place

slow to change

the seasons are slow to change

this year, uncertain

samples of heat, retreat

as cool returns

two weeks into July

and summer has no foothold

this blood, thinned

by African years, shivers

I see the shrugs, hear

the snickers, loud

from those already awash

in sweat and complaints

leaves me wondering

will I ever be warm

will I ever be home

again

excavating

there's a leak in the water line on our street

water is shut off until the problem can be solved

this morning the heavy equipment rolled in

sometimes the only way to fix an issue

is to excavate, dig deep

a noisy, dirty process

exposing hidden things

buried so long ago

you don't remember

would prefer to forget, but

there is no longer any choice

if you want to stop the bleeding

the only way to healing

is down, opening new paths

to freedom