I was watching a movie titled Fireproof last weekend on a Youth service at our church. I really recommend you to watch this movie too if you haven’t!

It’s the same maker (Sherwood Baptist Church) of the movie “Facing the Giants” which I saw on our Easter camp last year. If you like “Facing the Giants”, you’ll love Fireproof (I think Fireproof is even better than Facing the Giants). It has a great storyline, great actors/actresses, and also great biblical values (much better than Facing the Giants).

The story is about a ruined marriage between Caleb and Catherine who just can’t understand one another (although I thought that the guy was more like the jerk lol). Caleb’s father asked his son to hold off the divorce for 40 days while he gave a ‘Love dare’book for his son to try to fix the relationship. Caleb agreed and followed the book that his dad gave him.

Not going to spoil the story too much but I agree that love is not about a feeling. It’s about a long term commitment that you make and it depends on how much effort you put into the relationship to nourish the love. But most importantly, it’s through Jesus that you can truly give pure love to others. If you haven’t experienced the love of God in you, you can never love others wholeheartedly.

I love this part the most when Caleb was talking to his dad near a lake (movie quotes taken from imdb):

Caleb: “No! And you’d think after I washed the car, I’ve changed the oil, do the dishes, cleaned the house, that she would try to show me a little bit of gratitude. But she doesn’t! In fact, when I come home, she makes me like I’m – like I’m an enemy! I’m not even welcome in my own home, Dad. That is what really ticks me off! Dad, for the last three weeks, I have bent over backwards for her. I have tried to demonstrate that I still care about this relationship. I bought her flowers, which she threw away. I have taken her insults and her sarcasm, but last night was it. I made dinner for her. I did everything I could to demonstrate that I care about her, to show value for her, and she spat in my face! She does not deserve this, Dad. I’m not doing it anymore! How am I supposed to show love to somebody over and over and over who constantly rejects me?”

His dad was actually standing near a big cross near the lake and he touched the cross after his son said those. It was a wonderful & perfect moment that explained what Jesus had been through on the cross, yet He still loves us so much.

You can view the trailer here:

Amazon has quite a good deal on the Fireproof  DVD so feel free to purchase one. Note: I put my Amazon affiliate link so I’ll get a few dollars out if you buy through the link. For every income that I get from the link, I’ll use it to buy another Fireproof DVD to be given freely to those who will be blessed by the movie as it has blessed me. I hope you don’t mind.

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.  His father was very concerned for his son’s future and thought hard about how he could explain to his son why relationships are so important and controlling his temper is a key factor in this.

After much thought his father gave him a bag full of nails and told him,  “Every time you lose your temper,  hammer a nail into the back of the fence.”  His son did not understand but knew that his father was wise so he agreed.

On the first day that the boy received his bag of nails he ended up driving about  37 nails into the fence.  Each day he learned little by little to control his temper.   He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all.

He was very proud of himself and went to share his good news with his father.  His Father was very proud of him and offered a challenge to his son.  “Why don’t you pull out a nail everyday that you are able to hold your temper?”

As there were many nails in the fence it took the boy sometime to finally remove the nails from the fence.  But eventually that joyous day arrived.  He was so pleased with himself and he wanted to share this with his father.

His father was so proud of his son, but he wanted him to understand that holding his temper was more than just being able to add or remove nails from a fence.  He took his son’s hand and showed him all the holes that were left from the nails.  “As you see my son, this fence will never be the same, the fence is scarred with holes from your temper.  Think of these holes as the words you have spoken in anger, the wounds you have left in people’s lives.  Words really are like weapons they leave a wound, that does not heal easily.  Son, your family and friends will  make you smile and encourage you to succeed,  they will lend an ear,  share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.  Always remember the fence before you speak words of anger.”

I read this story from Lazy Bear Blogs. I hope it touches you as much as it does on me.