Act of Valor with Paul McDonald and Pablo Ceron
This week on the Men at the Movies podcast, we enter the battlefield to talk about Act of Valor. Being dangerous is sacred, but what does it mean to be dangerous? Our worldview shapes who we are becoming, and we discuss a framework for seeing the world we live in. And we find that our mission is to live out our Father’s legacy. Find out what that means as we discover God’s truth in this movie.
Quotes
I want to be a dangerous man—I want to have a strength to bring to the world and have evil be afraid of me.
In order to counter the threats that are present, we have to be someone who is considered unsafe.
The men we become will be the fruit, the byproduct, of the world we believe we live in and the understanding of the role we play in this world.
Masculinity is not toxic in and of itself.
In a lot of ways, mission is easier than dealing with life at home.
If we’re constantly focused outward, without settling inward, we’re going to have problems in the field.
Our first duty is at home.
There is a switch we must make from doing things “for” God to doing things “with” God.
Life is not as black and white at home as it is on the battlefield.
The Biblical worldview is the only one that can actually explain the reality we live in that satisfies the soul. There is a battle for good and evil, and you must be trained for battle against the spiritual forces at play in the world.
In order to pursue the hearts of those around us, we must become wholehearted.
Our mission is to live out our Father’s legacy.
A dangerous man is one who has consented to death to bring life and love to the people entrusted to him.
Themes
Being dangerous is sacred.
Assumptions from our worldview shape who we become:
There is a need for dangerous men. Why? To oppose evil, to rescue those being tortured, to stand against those who abuse their power,
Is the world a cruise ship, where we want comfort and ease? Or are we SEALs on a mission?
We live in a world at war with an enemy intent on stealing, killing, and destroying
Games like Halo and Call of Duty resonate with us because we are designed to be powerful, capable, competent, and to take a stand against evil. These games and movies can be smelling salts to wake us to our mission, or sleeping pills to soothe and diminish our desire for calling.
It is important to handle our families first. And the enemy will use the family to pull us off the mission.
Our journey and mission are not intended to be solo efforts, but to have brothers and a team around us united on the mission.
We must become wholehearted, we must be rescued from the torture chamber first before we can engage and impact those around us.
Our mission is to live out our Father’s legacy.
The world is full of sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Both wolves and sheepdogs are dangerous, but in different ways.
Brotherhood
Enemy
Resources
Art of Manliness
“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.” - Matthew 7:15 (NLT)
“A newly married man must not be drafted into the army or be given any other official responsibilities. He must be free to spend one year at home, bringing happiness to the wife he has married.” - Deuteronomy 24:5 (NLT)
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” - G.K. Chesterton
“The LORD is a warrior; Yahweh is his name!” - Exodus 15:3 (NLT)
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” - Matthew 16:24-26 (NLT)
“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.” - John 12:24-25 (MSG)
Questions
What words would you use to describe the world you live in?
What words would you use to describe how you see yourself? How do you think others see you? How do you hope they see you? What do you fear they would say about you?
How has evil manifested in your life?
Where do you see others being tortured? How are you tortured?
What have you neglected to pursue your calling/mission? What’s the difference between sacrificing and neglecting?
How have you been the single twig that has broken?
How have you experienced a bundle of twigs that carried you through a breaking experience?
What do you turn to for smelling salts for the warrior within?
How do you numb the warrior within?
How have you locked away the pain and trauma? How has it rotted within you?
Who has God placed under your care and protection?
Are you a wolf, sheep, or sheepdog?