Movie review: Fireproof
posted at 6:37 pm on November 9, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Earlier today, I took my wife to see Fireproof, a movie produced with an explicitly Christian message about marriage and faith. Kirk Cameron has focused more on Christian evangelization than on his film career, but does both as a self-centered firefighter with a marriage on the rocks. Our big question: can a theatrical film succeed in delivering a message while still entertaining its audience?
The story behind the film is certainly intriguing. Fireproof was produced by Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia, which used volunteers in most of the behind-the-scenes work. With the exception of an eight-person team of professional filmmakers, most of the effort came from volunteers. That would normally set expectations much closer to Plan 9 From Outer Space than Citizen Kane.
Surprisingly, the film was technically competent. It may have had a Lifetime Movie of the Week feel, especially in the first half of the movie, but audiences won’t find anything distracting as they did with Thèrese. The Lifetime feel includes some of the dialogue and dramatic staging, especially in the first half. The conversations feel forced, and with some of the interactions with the supporting characters, gets formulaic and artificial.
However, Fireproof improves, especially in the second half, as the story focuses more on Cameron and Erin Bethea. The Holts are heading to a divorce, mostly through the destructive actions of Caleb (Cameron), a firefighter who pays more attention to his computer than his wife. She feels rejected as he spends his days looking at Internet porn and saving his money for a boat. They’re more roommates than a marriage, arguing over who has to pay for what. She’s starting to become more receptive to flirting from a young doctor where she works. Until Caleb’s father intervenes, the only question is whether the lawyers will get rich off the split.
In the end, the movie works because of Cameron and Bethea. Audiences will connect with both, and Cameron especially gives a good performance as he eventually discovers how destructive he has been. Those who have been through rockiness in their own marriages will recognize the struggles, the lost trust, and the difficult recovery in their relationships.
The movie relies heavily on Christian themes. Those who feel uncomfortable with explicitly religious messages will not enjoy Fireproof. It’s not going to win any Academy Awards, either, but it’s not bad at all, and better than a lot of what appears in the cinema. Those who want to see theaters featuring Christian values and uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness, and love should support Fireproof before it disappears from the big screen.
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Thanks for these posts Ed. It’s stuff like this helps sustain me as I see the political world going down hill.
D0WNT0WN on November 9, 2008 at 6:40 PM
Ed you are a very nice hubby for taking your wife to see this movie. We don’t see too many movies, but maybe I can con my hubby into taking me to this one. Thanks for the review. I thought it would be “cheesy” but would definitely welcome the christian themes in our crazy world!
ConMom on November 9, 2008 at 6:44 PM
This has been on my list for a while.
I plan to see it.
annoyinglittletwerp on November 9, 2008 at 6:46 PM
I saw this movie! It is tremendously good movie for ALL couples. Three thumbs up!!!
grapeknutz on November 9, 2008 at 6:46 PM
That’s the guy from growing pains.
Palinpuma on November 9, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Yea, it’s a good movie. Wife drug me to it.
Static on November 9, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Why is it always the man’s fault and obligation to fix everything in these movies?
AbaddonsReign on November 9, 2008 at 6:49 PM
oh please… super ick… Kirk Camroon is everything that makes Christians look stupid… if you’re gonna make an argument at least have a few facts.
Kaptain Amerika on November 9, 2008 at 6:49 PM
I am not a Christian, nor married or even close, but the trailer looked interesting and I may pick this up on DVD.
SpencerFan on November 9, 2008 at 6:56 PM
I went to the movie somewhat reluctantly with my wife thinking it would be 1-sided and basically browbeat on how the husband needed to do more.
I was pleasantly surprised and it turned out to be a great movie!
timinnc on November 9, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Is Kirk still a Catholic?
barry norris on November 9, 2008 at 6:59 PM
This looks really good,and it will be interesting as to
see if the MSM does a hit peice on this movie!
Earlier,I visited Drudge,and I can not help to think
that the MSM went after Sarah Palin with the so-called
‘witch doctor’,and yet I come across an article of a
surmon about Hopey!
Now,I can Imagine how the Left will treat this movie,and
yet when the Left practice religion and politics at the
same time its A-OKay!
Going to be interesting how this gets treated!
Here’s a small piece of that article: ———————————————————
Farrakhan Says Obama ‘New Beginning’
CHICAGO (AP) ―
In a Sunday address celebrating President-elect Barack Obama, Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan said Obama has a God-given capacity to handle any burdens he’ll face as the nation’s leader.
Farrakhan added that Obama will only be able to make positive changes with help from “God and people of good will,” and he urged the Chicago-based movement’s followers to do their part.
canopfor on November 9, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Why is internet porn a threat to your marriage? The guy who is forced to pretend his spouse is the only person they’ll ever find attractive is a guy who’s eventually going to cheat on his wife. Why do conservatives insist on dishonesty within a relationship. Faithfulness is not lying and saying you would never want o sleep with someone else. Faithfulness is REFRAINING from acting on those desires. Internet porn is one of the better ways to facilitate the difficulty of monogamy. God..no pun intended.
DeathToMediaHacks on November 9, 2008 at 7:00 PM
My mini review:
The acting was a tad wooden or overacted, depending. Not enough to be “bad” or intrusive, but some parts you kinda thought “put some heart in it”, or, “cool it down a little, Mr/Mrs. Schatner”
The production value was very good (scenery, props, shots, etc.), except for one really bad green-screen scene, it looked like a lot more was spent on it than was.
The writing was a little overstated in a few parts. (Subtle wasn’t the style). And there weren’t many surprises. It was completely predictable (from someone happily married for 14 years). But it was still a good story that was told quite well.
But while it isn’t necessarily going to be nominated by the Academy, as outstanding in any category, it was a very nice movie, and one I was glad to pay for, and certainly didn’t walk away regretting my decision to see it. Especially refreshing in contrast to the usual tripe coming out of Hollywood. Entertaining, touching, and some nice messages. I would gladly recommend seeing it.
suzy.denim@gmail.com on November 9, 2008 at 7:00 PM
My husband and I saw the movie a couple of weekends ago. I can’t say enough about it. We both loved it. It made me laugh, cry, but most importantly, think. We absolutely loved it.
Glad to see you’re recommendation here Ed.
SoldiersMom on November 9, 2008 at 7:03 PM
It’s too bad we have to rely on church volunteers to make Christian-themed movies. With all the time and money wasted in Hollywood on anti-war, anti-morality, anti-Bush, anti-anything good for you movies, you’d think they could spare a few bucks to make something uplifting.
Dee2008 on November 9, 2008 at 7:03 PM
DeathToMedia, I didn’t personally take that as TOO heavy handed. (It had slight overtones of cliche’d preachiness). But my take-away was just that obsessive behavior that takes your “eye off the ball” of your life/marriage/family is a threat to your long term happiness. So I’d too the message as porn is like alcohol (fine in moderation), and his problem was more like that of alcoholism rather than just having an occasional drink with friends.
suzy.denim@gmail.com on November 9, 2008 at 7:05 PM
Since you and my friends have been raving about this movie. I will have to knock hubby out, drag him there then. The trailer looked interesting.
sheebe on November 9, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Don’t think he’s ever been a Catholic. He says he was an atheist before finding God in his late teens or early twenties.
Dee2008 on November 9, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Jerkoff.
Clearly you know nothing about this subject. At least have a few facts before commenting. Your argument is a lame straw man. Nobody ever said faithfulness means lying. But hey, thanks for being honest about your addiction to internet porn. At least now we know the mentality that sits behind your other lame posts.
fossten on November 9, 2008 at 7:10 PM
Ha, actually, Cameron was looking a tad bemused and embarrassed by the obvious there.
The point is, admiration of God’s design but the guy’s example using a banana was a tad too much. Cameron appears to understand that.
ED: great, saw the film, it’s wonderful.
S on November 9, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Farrakhan continues to deceive humanity. Because evil renders many qualities via vanity to those it can, and, presto: charisma, money, booming voice, applause!
God tells us what He wants us to know, we just have to read and listen. Not all shiny things are from God, not all material bombast is from God, and, in fact, a lot of that is often not from God intended to lead people astray, away from God.
My take on things, anyway, just sharing. Farrakhan wrongly and misguidedly associates (as Oprah does, and others like these), wrongly associates worldly “success” and charisma with being evidence of someone elevated by God, which runs counter to most of what Christ teaches (and also as found in the Old Testament). God “blesses” and provides, yes, but worldly goods and excesses are not in themselves evidence that one is doing what God wants.
(Not directed to you, just sharing my point of view about Farrakhan’s misleading messages, is all.)
S on November 9, 2008 at 7:18 PM
This movie was great! Kirk Cameron did a wonderful job!It was refreshing to see a movie that was clean without gratuitous violence and sex.
mcplumbercuda on November 9, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Ed how do you know it has a Lifetime feel? Now whenever you aren’t posting a lot I’m going to check what is on Lifetime and see if that explains it.
PS- There is no way in the world my husband would go see this movie. We’ve been together over three years and the total amount of girl movies we have gone to see is 1 and half. Sigh. I’m a good wife.
sammypants on November 9, 2008 at 7:19 PM
I enjoyed the movie very much, and I am single. Facing the Giants is another one folks should check out if they like this genre.
tdau1997 on November 9, 2008 at 7:19 PM
What fossten said. There’s a huge gap between finding other women attractive and deliberately seeking out titillating (to say the least) images of other women to look at.
Gina on November 9, 2008 at 7:21 PM
It sounds good (*adds to movie list*). Hadn’t heard of the movie. So thanks, Ed, for the heads up.
inviolet on November 9, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Sincerely hope this is a bad joke.
tdau1997 on November 9, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Ed, glad you finally saw this. I saw this the day it came out because I wanted to support a Christian movie and I didn’t know how long it would be out.
It wasn’t a great movie (production-wise) but it was a very good movie with a fantastic message, especially if you’re a Believer. The fact that it’s still in the theaters says something. It’s made over $28 million and it only cost $500k to make. I’d say that’s a success, no matter how you look at it.
thebronze on November 9, 2008 at 7:27 PM
sammypants it isn’t a “girl movie”.
thebronze on November 9, 2008 at 7:28 PM
sammypants It is not so much a girl movie. I haven’t talked to a guy who has seen it who has not liked it. THe teens at my church went to see it and the guys liked it.
mcplumbercuda on November 9, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Wanker!
yubley on November 9, 2008 at 7:34 PM
the people behind this movie also made ‘Facing The Giants’ a couple of years back.. it’s not ‘Fellowship of the Ring’ but a very good movie overall that my wife and (and 5 year old daughter) all enjoyed together.
Very religious theme in that too.. and they dared (shocker) to quote several Bible verses as well :) (fair warning to the atheistic members )
DaveC on November 9, 2008 at 7:39 PM
A very ’secular humanist’ argument that completely misses the point.
Internet porn isn’t about glancing at a good looking woman.
It’s about lusting after a woman.
And as far as Christians are concerned, lust IS the same thing as adultery because it is the beginning of a slippery slope:
Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 7:40 PM
@ DaveC on November 9, 2008 at 7:39 PM
Don’t worry. Atheists know to avoid Kirk Cameron like the plague. Atheists have a thing about being lectured about bananas.
muyoso on November 9, 2008 at 7:41 PM
You’re dead wrong. Internet porn is more likely to be a cause of affairs rather than a deterent, as a man begins to compare his wife to the unrealistic women he sees on the screen. He begins to look at women as mere sex toys, including his wife. When she ceases to satisfy him by acting like the porn actresses, he goes looking for someone who will.
Faithfulness is not about pretending you’re not attracted to anyone else. It is about a commitment to another person, and putting them first in all things.
Jezla on November 9, 2008 at 7:41 PM
yeah you’re another case in point… brilliant argument there… maybe you should be in his next movie…
Kaptain Amerika on November 9, 2008 at 7:48 PM
I couldn’t imagine what the divorce rate would be if all Christian women harshly enforced the no pornography rule on their husbands that some are advocating here.
muyoso on November 9, 2008 at 7:52 PM
The Passion of the Christ – $612M worldwide gross
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $745M worldwide gross
Prince Caspian – $420M worldwide gross
Fireproof – $28M domestic gross
————————————————————————————-
W. – $25M worldwide gross
Redacted – $779K worldwide gross
Stop-Loss – $11M worldwide gross
Religulous – $12M domestic gross
Rendition – $27M worldwide gross
Lions for Lambs – $63M worldwide ($15M domestic)
For people who are ostensibly in business to make money, they sure seem to be willing to sacrifice money in order to make themselves feel good.
Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 7:53 PM
I predict this movie will stop alot of marriages from the fatility of divorce. It will cause couples to stop an look at their self-centeredness and reach out.
Marriage is sacred in the eyes of God (Hebrews 13:4)
Thank God for people who are willing to step up and do a production like this. If just one marriage is saved… there is one less child who grows up with insecurity… which means there is one less self-hating liberal in this world.
Steve_Montana on November 9, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Jezla on November 9, 2008 at 7:41 PM
Nicely said. I’m wondering if DTMH would be so complacent about his wife making comparisons between him and male images online.
Quisp on November 9, 2008 at 7:54 PM
I agree.
If they did this the divorce rate might actually fall below 50%!!
Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Is that the excuse you use when your wife finds porn on your computer? Because that excuse doesn’t fly with my wife. Are you even married?
vcferlita on November 9, 2008 at 7:57 PM
This is a great movie for guys and gals. I think your guy will appreciate seeing it. I loved it.
muyoso, Christianity has never been about enforcing rules on those who do not want to follow them. In fact, Christianity is just the opposite. Christians follow certain rules because we choose to. Anytime someone is forced to follow a rule, it has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity, by definition.
Christianity is the freedom to choose plus the wisdom to know what to choose.
JohnJ on November 9, 2008 at 7:58 PM
Jezla,
Just an FYI but the Bible states that adultery is looking at another woman in a lustful manner (I.e. Internet Porn)
It was a good movie also, nice to go to the movies to watch a Christian movie in the theatres.
Two other notes…one of the trailers for the movie had a pro America film. The audience was clapping for the trailer which was nice to see.
All of us cheered at the end of the movie as well.
If you notice in the movie, the same actors were in the movie, “Facing the Giants”, including the preacher at the end of the movie.
HarryStar on November 9, 2008 at 7:59 PM
@ Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Yep, pornography is the reason for super high divorce rates. Amazing though how divorce rates increase as you go from atheist to evangelical, increasing as you get more fundamentalist.
muyoso on November 9, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Google pornography and its effect on men and you will hear about the slow changein the mans attitiude toward sex and women. The women become objectified and just used for gratification. A mans normal sexual response if he is married requires more external stimuli (I.E. Porn) tobecome aroused. It is aslippery slope which evetually harms the relationship badly. If i focus all my love and affection on my wife our life is enriched in every aspect. Doesn’t mean |I don’t notioce a beautiful woman, just that i don’t carry it forward into fantasy. Porn is nothing but fantasy. Honor and loveyour wife and she will be a|Proverbs 31 wife worthy of a thousand porn Goddessess
Kevin in Southern Illinois on November 9, 2008 at 7:59 PM
DeathtoMediaHacks,
Just an FYI but the Bible states that adultery is looking at another woman in a lustful manner (I.e. Internet Porn)
It was a good movie also, nice to go to the movies to watch a Christian movie in the theatres.
Two other notes…one of the trailers for the movie had a pro America film. The audience was clapping for the trailer which was nice to see.
All of us cheered at the end of the movie as well.
If you notice in the movie, the same actors were in the movie, “Facing the Giants”, including the preacher at the end of the movie.
HarryStar on November 9, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Apparently what it is now, because I and plenty of other wives I know enforce that rule. Not harshly, but out of love, because we know what it can do.
pookysgirl on November 9, 2008 at 8:01 PM
1) I didn’t say it is THE reason, just ONE of the reasons.
2) Please supply a link to divorce statistics that list the couples religious affiliation.
3) I find it hard to believe that marriages are STRENGTHENED by husbands jerking off while watching a bunch of “enhanced” people getting it on.
Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 8:02 PM
@ JohnJ on November 9, 2008 at 7:58 PM
Wow, your definition is amazing.
Lets take a completely random issue for example, Abortion. I won’t spell it out for you, you can fill in the blanks of your hypocrisy.
But just remember:
So the whole right to life thing won’t play.
muyoso on November 9, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Porn is fantasy, and any man that prefers to live a fantasy is already castrated. If you want sex, find a real body. If you aren’t committed to a relationship, sex is nothing more than animalism. If you are just an animal, then nothing matters: not morality, justice, fairness, hope, fear, love. All that matters is the black hole of insatiable desire. Enjoy!
You are welcome to free the Greek argument for Christian Monogamy.
anti-boomer on November 9, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Yeah because the Christian message is so scary that the non-believers (including not a few at HA) want to see Christ’s message eradicated from the face of society.
The film Amazing Grace was outstanding but it hardly saw the light of day and took forever to be available on DVD. I guess the heathens just don’t want to acknowledge Christ’s presence in their life.
highhopes on November 9, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Pookysgirl,
AMEN!!! (Pun intended)
HarryStar on November 9, 2008 at 8:04 PM
you’re joking right? Internet Porn can easily become a problem. It is instant gratification. Quick, instant, easy and often free. It is a sordid fantasy world which can further detach you from reality. If someone is going through a a tough time in their marriage, they would be less likely to go through the considerable effort of fixing what was once important to them and seek the easy escape.
Common sense here.
Daemonocracy on November 9, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Thanks, I’m looking forward….
DL13 on November 9, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Never mind my previous request, I found statistics that show your post to be an out-and-out lie.
From this blog that quotes statistics from the General Social Survey:
Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 8:05 PM
@ Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 8:02 PM
3. They are enhanced if the wife has a stong self image and is not offended by it. It allows her husband to relieve himself, reduce stress, etc, without bothering her constantly. Believe me, all husbands would rather have their wives on constant call for their needs, but it just isnt going to happen like that.
Here is the link BTW.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm
and the stat I am referencing:
Jews 30%
Born-again Christians 27%
Other Christians 24%
Atheists, Agnostics 21%
muyoso on November 9, 2008 at 8:06 PM
eradicated…interesting choice of diction. methinks religious persecution has been tried. failed. and, now the challenge is for you to explain to people of faith either why we should not believe or why anti-faith is superior. give us something. you give nothing.
anti-boomer on November 9, 2008 at 8:07 PM
Hey muyoso,
care to link to a non-atheist website?
My link went to a University study.
Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 8:08 PM
@ Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 8:05 PM
No clue wher eyou pulled that from. Obviously not a peer reviewed study, the numbers are way high.
muyoso on November 9, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Ya, great analogy there, genius. Like Christians support a right to murder.
Freedom to choose does not imply the freedom to choose to kill someone else.
JohnJ on November 9, 2008 at 8:09 PM
@ Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 8:08 PM
You linked to a blog, just read the damn site and stop attacking the damn messenger. There are references at the end.
muyoso on November 9, 2008 at 8:09 PM
nice stats. heathens like divorce. very clear.
anti-boomer on November 9, 2008 at 8:10 PM
The only way conservative values will be portrayed in movies in an honest form with a positive message is for conservatives to do it theirselves. BRAVO! to the producers and crew of ‘Fireproof’ as well as the viewers supporting their efforts.
Griz on November 9, 2008 at 8:11 PM
Hey muyoso,
Just read the damn links and stop attacking the damn messenger.
Better yet, google “divorce statistics religious affiliation” and you will find a veritable goldmine of different stats all showing the same thing: religious affiliation DECREASES the divorce rate.
Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 8:12 PM
From my blog:
I had seen Facing The Giants about a year ago, and I was sure that Fireproof would be similarly slightly cheesy and occasionally poorly acted, since both movies were produced by the same Albany, Georgia, Baptist church. I was very wrong. It seems that they took the considerable profits from Giants and invested them into making a substantially better product this time. And Kirk Cameron excels as the fireman whose home is figuratively burning down.
Fireproof is not just tear-jerking drama, action, and suspense, along with some laugh-out-loud funny moments. It is also a valuable lesson on what makes a marriage work, without being too preachy. I highly recommend it for everyone who is married or who wants to be one day.
Don’t forget to bring the Kleenex.
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:15 PM
One of the pieces that is lost here is not their religous affiliation, but are they actually BELIEVING AND DOING what they’re supposed to be doing?
As our Pastor said, Christianity isn’t so much a religion, but a way of life. If each couple acted in a Christian manner, there wouldn’t be the rates that we’re seeing today.
HarryStar on November 9, 2008 at 8:15 PM
allow me to be clear; follow the bouncing ball of logic:
Porn is fantasy, and any man that prefers to live a fantasy is already castrated. If you want sex, find a real body. If you aren’t committed to a relationship, sex is nothing more than animalism. If you are just an animal, then nothing matters: not morality, justice, fairness, hope, fear, love. All that matters is the black hole of insatiable desire. Enjoy!
You are welcome to the free Greek argument for Christian Monogamy.
anti-boomer on November 9, 2008 at 8:03 PM
anti-boomer on November 9, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Kevin in Southern Illinois on November 9, 2008 at 8:17 PM
muyoso, the vast majority of Americans claim to be Christian, but a tiny minority are really following Jesus.
The USA is NOT a Christian country:
http://jgapinoy.blogspot.com/2007/05/good-ol-usa-not-christian-country.html
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Way tro go Pooky! My Wife is proud of you.
Kevin in Southern Illinois on November 9, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Right on, Ed! Thanks for the post. I hope to watch Fireproof soon. Hey! Somebody might watch this movie because of you and get saved. Then, when you get to heaven they’ll be there to thank you, and God will reward you with the soul-winner’s crown (1 Thessalonians 2:19). Is this actually possible? You better believe it is! The rewards that a believer may receive are found throughout the New Testament, and for each a crown will be awarded. Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort are two of my heroes in the faith. Especially Ray Comfort. That guy I tell ya… he is a wild street preacher on fire for the Lord. I just love that guy. I’ve learnt so much from him. Kirk and him have a Television series called “The Way of the Master”. It’s brilliant. I highly recommend all of you watch them when you find some time. They are are really doing a good work for the Lord (Nehemiah 6:3). Question: Are you a true or false conversion? Find out. Watch them in action here.
The Way of the Master – True and False Conversion – Episode 17
apacalyps on November 9, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Porn is the biggest reason Viag ra is such a big seller, as well as increasing the divorce rate. Men aren’t satisfied with their wives when they’re accustomed to ogling air-brushed girls half their age.
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:22 PM
@muyoso on November 9, 2008 at 8:06 PM
You have to get married before you can be counted in the divorce statistics. It would be interesting to note how many people that are not religious get married in the first place. What is their motivation to get married? Tax breaks?
Unfortunately, I believe that many people activity attending church are not Christians. They attend church because they believe it makes their life better. The problem is, many churches these days re-enforce that false idea.
thule on November 9, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Thanks, guys. Trust me, it’s not easy (and Covenant Eyes is truly a Godsend, especially when you make a pact to put it on both your computers).
pookysgirl on November 9, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Interesting story here, but I can’t vouch either way for its veracity:
Online chat, porn contributing to divorce
And how about an article from TIME from 2004:
Religious_Zealot on November 9, 2008 at 8:30 PM
my wife applauds you as well
DaveC on November 9, 2008 at 8:34 PM
Windows & Microsoft has “Family Safety” which also works well.
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:36 PM
methinks you didn’t read the post close enough.
highhopes on November 9, 2008 at 8:36 PM
To reinforce the notion that some churches are flaky, look at the Headlines section for the account of the Monk Rumble At The Tomb. Pathetic.
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:38 PM
I have long thought that your username is ironic. Intentionally?
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:40 PM
If he gets rid of his porn I would have to get rid of mine!
By the way having an orgasm while watching porn may be instant gratification, but it is not nearly as satisfying or fulfilling as being with your partner.
sammypants on November 9, 2008 at 8:41 PM
I have heard good things about this movie, and plan to purchase it on DVD when it comes out (since I don’t expect it to light up the silver screen in Australia anytime soon). That being said, I wanted to toss in my $0.02 in regards to some things mentioned in this comments thread:
* One of the strongest admonitions in the Bible is to not covet. In the negative sense of the word, to covet is “to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others”. IMHO, the source of coveting is wrong expectations, and that goes for both sexes. The worst expectation of all, I think, is that a marriage must always be “happy” or else it can be thrown out like so much old clothing. Sadly, many people in the Church seem to have latched onto emotional well-being as a metric to judge the ongoing validity of a marriage, rather than understanding that the vow is a lifelong commitment to each other that must be maintained often.
* Someone above wondered why it must be the man to have the responsibility to fix things. Without going into the level of authority discussion that people who follow Gothard get hooked into, I will say this: the man is the head of the marital relationship as Christ is the head of the church. Many people misinterpret Paul’s admonition for women to “submit” to their husbands to mean that they must be subservient to them. Quite the opposite. I learned from a Hebrew scholar that the word translated “submit” comes from a Hebrew root word that means, “to duck” – as in, duck out of the way. That is, a woman submits when she ducks out of the way when problems come to the relationship, and the man has the responsibility to sort those problems out. Ducking out of the way, in that meaning, is seen as a privilege to the woman, not a punishment.
I suspect that most marital problems these days come from two mistaken beliefs: first, that in relationships, men and women must be equal; and second, that marriages can be easily discarded if they do not meet the temporal expectations of the spouses, whether those expectations are based in emotions/feelings, looks, or physical desire.
Not being equal in relationships is a good thing; it means that our roles and responsibilities are different, and as the Arby’s commercial used to admonish, “different is good”. Would that we understood this.
/thus endeth the lesson
Wanderlust on November 9, 2008 at 8:42 PM
What is covenant Eyes?
Kevin in Southern Illinois on November 9, 2008 at 8:44 PM
In what sense? Just curious what you mean.
sammypants on November 9, 2008 at 8:45 PM
From The Heritage Foundation:
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:45 PM
http://www.covenanteyes.com/
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Kevin, it’s a kinda hi-tech way of making yourself accountable to other men regarding where you go online. It gets its name from the Biblical patriarch Job, who said,
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:49 PM
My husband and I saw the movie a couple of weeks ago and concur with ED on the production quality…but the story was wonderful.
My husband gave up internet porn and, voila! 4 years later I still feel like a princess, he is still a veeerrrrry happy man and our marriage has been saved. I know of a dozen more couples in my large church that can say the same thing.
LEBA on November 9, 2008 at 8:52 PM
I appreciate (and notice) a woman’s beauty as much as any other “dirty old man” that hangs out at HotAir (I still have a pulse, ya’ know) — and with the perpetual bombardment of sexually explicit or sexually suggestive images that we are all constantly exposed to (courtesy of the media — yet another reason to hate them with a passion), I dare say that NO straight man can say that he’s not guilty of the sin of adultery (a sin that begins in the heart when we entertain thoughts that we should dismiss outright).
This much I can say for certain. Pornography IS violence against women. Furthermore, it is an anathema to the family unit. Christians should guard their hearts against it. Any man that calls himself a Christian and that can not see this has been blinded by Satan’s lies. Pornography is NOT harmless, nor is it somehow beneficial — under ANY circumstances. Anyone that thinks this, knows NOTHING about love or truth, and the light is not in them.
That said, I’ll come down off my soapbox now, and confess that I have struggled with temptation myself — especially while I was single (in-between marriages). Fortunately, I still have my collie to keep me sane.
My collie says:
CyberCipher on November 9, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Fireproof was released two weeks before An American Carol, yet it’s still at #14 while Carol has already dropped to #59. Both expected to attract conservatives. The reason? Carol is dirty.
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:55 PM
This church is doing wonderful work! Other movie Facing the Giant was good also.
Bullhead on November 9, 2008 at 8:56 PM
I got so many responses, so can’t go specific but let me make a couple of points.
First. I agree that pornography (like alcohol, cigarettes, gambling etc.) CAN create a destructive addiction that ends a relationship. I’m in a relationship, though unmarried, and here is how I deal with the pornography issue.
1. Be polite. If your partner is gracious enough to recognize that the occasional (once a week or so) porn and special alone time is part of your sexual cycle, then you need to be gracious enough to not be conspicuous. Don’t leave screens open, don’t push it in their face.’
2. Put sex/intimacy with your partner first, period. This needs no explanation.
The problem with pornography (like any addiction) is if it comes to REPLACE intimacy/sex with your partner in any significant way. That’s bad. And if that’s what’s being portrayed in this movie, then great. But based on the strident responses in this threat, alot of people are banned from engaging in, not only porno, but ANY kind of fantasy life. That’s just..not natural. I don’t believe for a second that a single man in here does not have a sexual fantasy life that, at times, does NOT involve his wife. For that matter, I don’t believe there are women here who never fantasize about men who are not their husbands. But a fantasy is just that, it’s not reality. And when you start regulating thoughts you move beyond a loving, mutually respectful relationship, to mental prison. That’s not fun and that’s not the basis for a lasting bond.
I might also add, that the integration of fantasy INTO your sex life is how you keep it vibrant and going for 5, 10, 15 and more years. Pretending that fantasy is sin is a way to create a sexless marraige. Those of you out there with these insane rules, no doubt know exactly what I’m talking about. Now I’ll prepare myself for the stoning.
DeathToMediaHacks on November 9, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Thanks, jgapinoy. You were quicker than I was.
pookysgirl on November 9, 2008 at 8:57 PM
I can relate to what you said. And your collie is funny. Tell him you’re thankful he’s covered in fur.
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Don’t you wonder why marriages lasted longer before porn became easily accessible?
jgapinoy on November 9, 2008 at 8:59 PM
DeathToMediaHacks on November 9, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Your woman yearns to be ‘enough for you’…she wants to be your princess. She doesn’t want to share you…not even with an image on a screen.
LEBA on November 9, 2008 at 9:02 PM
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