During our last tour (Don’t Waste Your Life ’09) we had the opportunity to bring our personal commentary to John Piper’s Book of the same title. This blog is my personal commentary on chapter 4 “Magnifying Christ Through Pain and Death.”
Chapter 4
When my father passed away, the last thing I wanted to hear was, “He’s in a better place.” I knew this cliché was true but that didn’t help me with the current struggle of dealing with my father’s death. It goes without saying that he was in a better place. He was in the presence of our LORD, the creator of heaven and earth. He would no longer suffer or feel pain again (Rev. 21:4). As much as I felt the hurt of knowing that I would no longer be able to speak to my father, I was just as disappointed and hurt to come to the realization that I would continue to face a variety of pains and sufferings. I couldn’t help but think that one day I would bury my wife and kids, or they would bury me. I began thinking that I would possibly face serious persecution of some kind or be stricken with some terminal illness since the scriptures promised that I would face trials and suffering of some kind (James 1:2). The question is, how would I handle those trials and tribulations?
I had to come to the conclusion that pain and suffering is only as painful as we allow it to be. The disciples considered it a pleasure to suffer for the sake of Christ (Acts 5:41). For many of us, our treasures are in the world. So, when Jehovah takes away our possessions, health, people or life, we become rocked to the point of depression. I was very close to the tipping point. It’s not that Jehovah finds pleasure in seeing his children suffer, but he finds pleasure in his children being conformed to the image of his son (Rom. 8:29).
I’ve read over James chapter 1 many times and never before had this text become more real to me than when I was dealing with my father’s death. James teaches us to count it pure joy, because these life issues will bring out the sincerity and fidelity in our faith. Separate the real from the fake.
When I was no longer mastered by my fear of suffering and death, then I was able to excel at living for Christ. We must understand that this shell we live in is temporary (2 Cor 4:7-10). Pain, suffering and death is designed to remind us of that. It’s a necessary means to get the believer to loosen his grip on the world and have an eternal perspective.
Donald Martin, a sophomore at BIOLA, is the founder of the independent production company “Cracked Cistern Productions.” Check out how he plans to master his arena for the glory of God.
1) What brought about the passion to do what you do now?
It’s hard to pinpoint the origin of that passion. I guess I can say that I was SURE that I wanted to be a filmmaker when watching the making of documentary for the film “Jurassic Park” when I was about 11 years old. I was sold. The idea that I could make a living by making great art and entertainment to serve people and God was mind-blowing to me. I later thought of the possibilities of how I could reach people with the goodness of Christ through my film, and my passion began to grow as I worked harder and harder to get better. I get more and more passionate the more I see people hurting…I want to somehow aid them and relate to their pain through my work. I want to show them Christ. I long to weep when others weep and rejoice when others rejoice.
2) How do you plan to master your arena for the glory of God?
I plan to become a feature film director in Hollywood (preferably independent); however, I know that I need to work my way up through the system. I am not 100% sure of how I will end up doing that, but I am working hard at BIOLA University to get my BA in film and hope to move on to USC to get my Master’s. I honestly want to be the best filmmaker that God will allow me to be, because I don’t believe he desires less than greatness in any of our crafts. The world works hard for what is temporary, and I work hard for that which is eternal. Therefore, I must strive to be better.
3) How can the body be a benefit or in some ways a discouragement to what you do?
The body of Christ is beautiful, and ugly at the same time, which makes it infinitely more beautiful. As ironic as it is, that is, what the relationship with the body can be like–a roller coaster. I feel that the community and support that the body can give is crucial to the walk of a follower of Jesus, and if more people actually care and are selfless to one another (me included) in living out the humility that Christ tells us to, we can be a great support for each other. However, we are a fallible people in a society of selfishness. A lot of times, I feel that the church can be a little too judgmental–sometimes not focused on outreach as much as it should be–and sometimes tries to be relevant when it really isn’t relevant at all. For example, just because a church looks young, fun and geared towards high school kids, doesn’t mean it’s actually relevant to them. I believe relevance comes out of relationship. I feel that the Church is largely in this boat of ”following Christianity” instead of “following Christ.” We have many Christians who strive to be so radical for Christ and end up preaching from the rooftops but are not good listeners and do not relate well. And then we have Jesus, who stooped down to our pitiful level and spoke to us as a man and sat with the prostitutes, the tax collectors and the samaritans, washed the disciple’s feet etc. That is being a TRUE, relevant radical. The world expects us to be boisterous and “unashamed” of the Gospel (when it can end up being just pride), but truly being radical comes out of dying to ourselves and being humble in serving others and Christ. Note: I am also not one who has reached this place, but I want Christ to get me to this place of humility. Essentially, I am saying that the rest of the body INCLUDING myself must be more humble.
4) Who are some creative influences?
My creative influences are very broad, but to name a few: Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorcese, Paul Greengrass, Walt Disney, and C.S. Lewis.
5) What does cracked film mean?
Cracked Cistern Productions is a name that I came up with out of a season of pride and insensitivity to the people around me. It’s basically a statement of my weakness as a follower of Jesus. I was at a point in my life where I thought I had the right ideas about everything, the answers to most things, and was able to stand on my own two feet. A couple of physical afflictions and an ended friendship later, I realized how wrong I was and was feeling truly broken before the LORD. But in the midst of being broken, I realized he still loved me and Christ still lived in me, and that really rocked my world. A cistern holds water so that others may draw from it, and the living water of Christ is in me, but I am cracked, flawed and ugly. My prayer is that His living water seeps through the cracks and waters the ground beneath my feet.
6) What would be success or failure in your pursuit?
Success in my craft would be to point people to Christ using my art as a channel for that relationship. Failure would be to just pursue this solely for money and fame, neglecting family and God in the process, and forget to whom my gratitude is owed.
I have been a Hip-Hop head since I can remember. 1988 is the date that comes to mind, although I’m sure it dates back further.
I remember guys like Slick Rick, N.W.A., LL COOL J (before he went to prison), Gangstar, Kool Mo D, Big Daddy Cane, Ton Loc, Black Moon, Artifacts, Hieroglyphics, Das efex, Common (when he was Common Sense), Public Enemy, Wu tang clan, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, EPMD, Digable Planets, K-Solo, Tribe Called Quest, Leaders of the New School, Naughty by Nature, Mystical, Master P, Snoop (when he was Snoop Eastwood), Redman, Tupac (before he was Tupac), Chi Ali, Big L, Eminem (when he was a positive rapper), AZ, Nas, Outkast (when Andre dressed in fitteds and jerseys), and the list goes on and on.
The list above, for the most part (other than nostalgia), makes me think of guys and women who took the craft seriously. Their mission: to come hard on every track through lyrical composition and representation of their plight and story. One of the things that is highly offensive to an artist and orator, such as myself, is when you can tell guys are winging their 16 bars or speeches. That communicates, “This guy thinks he’s too good to give us his best, and on his worst day he thinks he’s good enough for listeners.” So what does this have to do with Amisho Lewis aka “Sho Baraka?”
EVERYTHING!!! After reviewing “Lions and Liars,” on MC-ing alone, I would rate it a 4.5 out of 5 Red Rev stars and stripes. Sorry Sho, but every artist has room to grow. I would put Sho on a short list of Christ centered MCs that take the craft as serious as they takes the message of Christ. The knock on Christ centered MCs is that they sacrifice the method for the message. They feel since they have the message of Christ and the “Spirit,” then their art doesn’t have to be as good. But shouldn’t the Holy Spirit actually make you better?
