E.T. with Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney
This week on the Men at the Movies podcast, we close out our summer blockbuster series with the movie ET. This is a story of wonder, of how the impossible comes to what we think is ordinary, and colors the world differently. We find that when the supernatural touches your life, the impossible manipulates the environment and changes everything. But if we allow ourselves to stop worrying and connect to a life of mystery, mess, and miracles, we find that the impossible becomes possible. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.
Paul and Sarah discuss why ET is one of her favorite movies, and which scene she likes the least.
Quotes
Just one impossible thing happening changes your perspective on everything.
Our resistance to growing up is related to what we think growing up means.
When we talk about the impossible being possible, our problems are put in appropriate perspective.
If I’m looking at Jesus, walking on water is easy. If my focus is elsewhere, walking on water is impossible. Life in union with Christ comes easier; life without union with Him is impossible.
When the supernatural touches your life, the impossible manipulates the environment and changes everything.
The Larger Story we are invited into is full of mystery, miracles, and mess.
Themes
The impossible comes to what you think is an ordinary world, and it colors everything differently: that’s the story of the gospel.
A story of wonder, Peter Pan themes
Childlike wonder and joy in play
Feeling of abandonment, unsure of our place in the world
Adults miss the amazing (mom doesn’t see ET in the closet or when Gertie is trying to introduce them)
Wonder versus worry
Wonder: seek first the kingdom, see the impossible, expect to see God show up, see the value in all of life, response to seeing the world through our union/connection with God. Wide open with possibilities.
Worry: reflection that God knows and doesn’t care, or God is incapable of providing, saying I can provide for myself. If you believe what you know to be a lie, that’s the same as lying. Constrained by the fences of duty and obligation.
ET as a template of Jesus’ life: arrived not of the world; did not appear to authorities looking for him; revealed himself to the childlike, broken, fatherless; brings people together; miracles happen, manipulated his environment; the supernatural redeems what’s here, but has to return home; death and resurrection; commissioning and ascension.
Resources
Men at the Movies YouTube channel (@menatthemovies)
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” - Matthew 6:25-34 (NLT)
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” - 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” - Matthew 7:9-11 (NLT)
“Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.” - John 14:11-14 (MSG)
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” - Romans 8:1 (NLT)
Questions
Where is the wonder in the moment?
When have you seen the impossible happen?
How do you diminish or explain away the impossible when it enters in?
What does it mean to you to “grow up?” Is this an appealing invitation?
How would “growing up” become something that you want to do?
Do you think worry is a sin? Why or why not?
More info
If you would like to support our work (and get some behind-the-scenes perks), visit our Patreon page, www.patreon.com/menatthemovies. Get invites to livestreams, ebook devotionals drawn from a movie, even free merch. If you’d like to do a one-time contribution (a cameo appearance), visit www.menatthemovies.com/investors.
Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster (https://graysonfoster.com/)
Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston (https://ianhjohnston.com/)
Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).
Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock
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