Movie Review - "The Iron Lady"

To be quite honest this movie was not one that I had on my "must see" list, nor was it one that I had read a great deal about. But with a free afternoon, being in the area of the city it was showing, and the "cheaper" matinee tickets, June and I went. I am not necessarily a fan of Meryl Streep, though I recognize her as a greatly talented actress, and I assume that she is politically a bit further to the left than I am (but then again so is Rush Limbaugh). Nevertheless, despite my reservations, I came away from this movie with a greater appreciation for the acting ability of Ms. Streep and greater appreciation for Margret Thatcher as a leader.

Though the movie centers around the memories of the aged, and senile, Prime Minister Thatcher, it shows the values and principles that formed the basis for her political career. She was not a political opportunist who shifted with the drifting tides of public opinion, but a woman who made hard decisions based on what she believed was right. She was unwavering in the face of opposition from those outside of her political party, and from those within. She was as the Russians nicknamed her the "Iron Lady."

One scene that I found enlightening was when she had to make the difficult decision concerning the Argentians taking the Falkland Islands. More specifically, what should be done with the Argentine battleship that was circling the islands at the beginning of the war. Whether or not this was the way it happened - the film has it powerfully depicted. Thatcher is surrounded on one side by her military commanders who have told her what can be accomplished by taking military action. On the other hand her civilian advisers were calling for negotiation and caution. The viewer can see Thatcher's manicured nail tapping on the table and you hear the monumental lines; "Sink it". What is further gripping is that you see her tears and agony at the impact of her actions and the loss of British lives.

The film is not intended to be a "hagiography" of Margret Thatcher, but I would not want it to be. She was certainly a flawed person, as we all are. She sometimes put her public service above her family, and she was difficult to deal with at times. Nevertheless, we need leaders like her and her American counter-part Ronald Reagan today.

Martin Luther King Jr.

I have read the major biographical works on Martin Luther King Jr. and recognize that he was a greatly flawed man, with many weaknesses, and whose theology was less than orthodox. But at the same time I recognize him as an instrument of God, a prophet if you will, who God raised up at a crucial moment in our nation's history to confront the injustice of racial segregation. He become the leading voice of the civil rights movement, not because he sought such a role, but because he found himself thrust into it by the circumstances of the day.


He acted with great physical courage in the face of brutality and lived with the awareness that he most likely would face a martyr's death. I have visited the place where the assassin's bullet took his life and was greatly moved by the recognition that he had given his life to help set a nation free - both black and white.

I have read, and in some instances listened to, several sermons by Dr. King.  Most people are familiar with his famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. You may remember the message he delivered the night before his death in Memphis entitled “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop.” But the sermon that has most impacted was one that is less known. It was entitled “The Drum Major Instinct.”  It was delivered in the Ebenezer Baptist Church, in Atlanta Georgia, on February 4, 1968. The message conveyed in this sermon based on Mark 10:35-40 resonates with me.

Dr. King begins by laying out the situation as James and John ask to be “seated on Jesus’ right and left in glory” (vs. 37). He then points out that James and John were expressing a common desire for all of us. The desire to be in front leading the parade – the drum major instinct. He then uses this metaphor to describe the negative manifestations it can produce such as racism and class oppression. But he goes on to show that this desire – the drum major instinct – can be properly directed for good. Here is the conclusion of his message:

“If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize—that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards—that’s not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school. 

I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. 

I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody.

I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. 

I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. 

And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. 

I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison.

I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity. 

Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace.  I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind.  And that's all I want to say.

If I can help somebody as I pass along,

If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,

If I can show somebody he's traveling wrong,

Then my living will not be in vain.

If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,

If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought,

If I can spread the message as the master taught,

Then my living will not be in vain.

Yes, Jesus, I want to be on your right or your left side, not for any selfish reason. I want to be on your right or your left side, not in terms of some political kingdom or ambition. But I just want to be there in love and in justice and in truth and in commitment to others, so that we can make of this old world a new world.”

It is my prayer that the desire in all of us to be the “drum major,” out front leading the parade, be properly directed by the Holy Spirit for Christ’s honor and glory.

Personal Update

One of the things I have resolved to do for 2012 is to post more on my blog. As a consequence, I am taking the time today to post a new personal update regarding my life and ministry. The year 2011 was an eventful one with both triumph and tragedy.

In November our daughter-in-law Raina was suddenly taken from us as a result of a rare myocardia virus. She entered the hospital,with what was thought to be pneumonia, on the evening of October 31 and suddenly went into cardiac arrest a few hours later. She was placed on life supports immediately and never regained consciousness. She was eventually taken off life supports after three days, and passed into the arms of our Lord. The last couple of years of Raina's life was a period of tremendous spiritual growth. She had entered into a closer walk with the Lord and had experienced a freedom from many of the things that had hindered her for so long.

My son, Eric, has been left alone to father the two girls, Alicia (14) and Haley (6). But God's grace has been evident in many ways. We have been able to see how God in His providence had been preparing the way for this event. My son is part of a very supportive church and this event has drawn us all closer. This is only a "tragedy" from the earthly perspective and the pain that we have all felt at the temporary loss of Raina. But because of Christ even this is a triumphant event.

This past year was also one of continuing fruitfulness with the prison ministry. I found myself unexpectedly receiving a good deal of recogition for what has been a major focus of my life for the past three years. I was given a national award by the Corrections Corporation of America and flown to Nashville to the corporate headquaters. As a result, the newspapers locally, and Christian radio nationally, called attention to my ministry to prison inmates. Prison Fellowship also did an interview with me about my work.

I teach, at this time, seven or eight Bible studies a week. These include my ministry in the prisons, churches, and home groups. I ministered at a conference in Costa Rica last year with my friend, Ted Sandquist, and spoke at a conference in Kentucky as well. I am not traveling like I did a few years ago, but the reality is I'm grateful to be free from all the air travel.

I "re-engaged" my relationship with Kingdom Ministries International a couple of years ago. This has been an additional blessing of God's grace toward me. I am most thankful to our Lord for the various ways He has demonstrated His mercy toward me. June and I remain involved here in Leavenworth with an Evangelical Free church, where we feel God has placed us. But we also have our house church in Raytown, Missouri, that I would describe as our "covenant family." It is there that we meet on the Lord's day for the breaking of bread, prayer, fellowship, and the study of God's Word.

Yesterday, January 1st, June and I celebrated 36 years of marriage. Without exaggerating June is my best friend and I am grateful to have her as my wife. All of of children, and sons-in-law, are walking with the Lord. Our relationship with each other continues to grow. In addition, our relationship with June's side of the family is closer than it has ever been.

I am looking forward to what God has in store for 2012.