Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, we continue our three part series with Toy Story 2. Corey and I talk about how, just like Woody, we have God’s name written on our souls, even when he feels old, abandoned, and forgotten. Like a missionary, Woody gets sent to people who need to be rescued. But he only sees two options—leave them behind and return to Andy, or join them a live life in a glass box. It’s only when Buzz shows up that his true purpose becomes clear, and it’s the same as every follower of Christ—to invite others to join our family. You’ve got a friend in me, so join me as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, Corey and I begin our three part series, opening with Toy Story. At some point in our lives, we all feel like either Woody or Buzz. Like Woody, we fear rejection, struggling to believe we are still beloved. Or we can be like Buzz, who doesn’t have a true grasp of his identity, either believing he is more important or less important than he was designed and created to be. But once they grasp the truth of who they are, they find peace and joy in the presence of their master. To infinity, and beyond—join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, Britt and I discuss the movie To End All Wars. The POW camp represents the places in our lives where we feel helpless, where injustice occurs. When that happens, we can respond by our human nature, or empowered by the grace of the gospel. When we experience tragedy, injustice, helplessness and loss, we find out if the words of Jesus are hyperbole or the true way to find life. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Happy 4th of July from the Men at the Movies podcast. What better movie to kick off the week than Superman, a person who stands for truth, justice, and the American way? Sarah and I dig into the parallels we find between Kal-El’s and Jesus’ stories. Their most significant similarity was that they received their identity from their father. When we follow their example, and seek out the father in our own fortress of solitude, we have the freedom to ask our questions and discover our purpose. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, Dustin and I get you ready for summer with Nacho Libre. Play is important, we need it to transform the drone of every day life into a dance. Watching a movie like this, which is playful and funny, simply for the joy it brings is a form of play. We dive into the playfulness of God, and how important it is for us to engage in play—doing an activity simply for the joy it brings us. They don’t think I know a buttload of crap about the gospel, but I do. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

To celebrate Father’s Day, Britt and I discuss Martian Child. We can’t be David unless we’ve gone through being Dennis. It gives us compassion, empathy, and humility necessary to provide a safe environment. Because we all need to feel safe in order to find healing. As we do that, we find that there is a difference between telling a story and living a story. Let’s live an interesting story today, and discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, we collaborate with the guys from JB’s Bible and Bourbon podcast to discuss The Return of the Jedi. We talk about homecoming, success, training and discipleship, but the primary theme of this movie is redemption. Luke Skywalker wins, not by beating the bad guy, but by redeeming him. How can we redeem the world around us? Listen and find out as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, Britt and I talk about what it means to grow up from the movie Hook. We don’t realize how often God allows crisis to enter our lives so that we can recover our hearts and discover the hero we were meant to be. We can’t remain a child forever, but how can we avoid become a pirate who lives in fear, who takes, and whose life ultimately doesn’t matter? We must learn to crow, to fly, and to fight, combining the heart of a child with the strength of maturity. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, I talk with Britt and Sarah about Ladyhawke. This movie reveals the failure of false religion in contrast to the conversational relationship Mouse has with God. Like Isabeau and Navarre, we long for intimacy but constantly fail. We need a community to succeed. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, we’re discussing Inception once again. This time, Britt and I are diving into the power of the themes of this movie. Ideas are resilient, contagious, and can define us. Our moments of shame and regret act as entry points for our enemy to infect us with lies. But if we reject the lie and replace it with the truth, we live in freedom. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this move.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, Grayson Foster and I get technical with Inception. One of the best parts of this movie, and really any great movie, is the sound design that helps to tell the story. We nerd out on how that happens, and the work that it takes to bring that story to life from an audio standpoint. Having a better grasp of what makes an effective story will help you appreciate and understand the story even more. He who has ears, let him hear.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, Britt and I celebrate the 30th anniversary of Tombstone. This story takes place in a time of chaos and lawlessness, but through that context we discover the right reasons to fight, who our true enemy is, and the power of having the right friends beside us. I’m your huckleberry—join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, I seek the glimpses of the gospel found in the Disney movie Hercules. In his attempt to find a place of belonging, Hercules chases his worth through accomplishments. Doing things. Being famous. But it’s only through the power of self-sacrificial love that he defeats evil and becomes the hero he’s meant to be. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, I talk with Britt Mooney and Sarah Daniels about the Neverending Story. We all get tempted to either lose ourselves in escapism or busyness. But great stories have the capacity to reveal our worth and our identity. We were never meant to live an ordinary life. Every real story…is a never-ending story. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, I talk with Troy and Stacy Hooker about the Bourne Identity. This movie reveals two of our greatest desires: to discover who we are and to be really good at something. Even though Jason couldn’t remember his past, his actions revealed his true identity. If we stay here, we die. Join me on the journey as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, what better way to celebrate Easter than by talking about a movie with an invisible 6 foot rabbit? Britt and I discuss Harvey because the way Elwood acts is instructive for those of us who believe we walk around with an invisible God beside us. How can we tangibly experience the presence of an unseen God? And what impact would that have on the way we see life and treat other people? For years I was smart. I prefer pleasant. You may quote me. Join me as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, I sit down with Dustin Oprea to talk about Only the Brave, a true story about the Granite Mountain Hotshots, wildfire firefighters from Arizona. We dwell on this line, “We don’t see things as they are. We see things as we are.” We only live to the identity we have received and we have embraced. How can this help us in our initiation and discipleship to become more like Jesus? Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, I discuss Moana with Corey Stumne. Brokenness comes in many forms. Tafiti had something sacred stolen from her. Maui was rejected by those whose acceptance he needed. Moana was broken by her failure. We have also been broken. Thankfully we have a savior who has crossed the horizon to find us, who knows who we are, and can give us our hearts back. What can I say except you’re welcome, and let’s discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies Podcast, I talk with Britt about one of his favorite movies of all time, Stranger than Fiction. Stories like this one force us to look at ourselves and ask what are we doing with our lives. Like Harold, when we face the truth of our mortality, we realize what matters most and what makes life meaningful. And when our life is worth living, our death is not a tragedy. “little did he know” changes everything, so join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, Rob Porter and I discuss the Horse Whisperer. We see how trauma can become a holy invitation to walk with God. But in order to deal with our pain, we must create boundaries in order to create space. And if we can do that, we can become a man like Tom: A man who knows who he is, where he belongs, and what he has to offer. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.