Rudy and hallelujah I'm saved and other faves

Photo Jennifer Weber 2010I love the movie Rudy.

I love it because it's about dreams, and how we pursue them, and how they sometimes come true.

I love Sean Astin's absolutely spot-on performance. Patty Duke's son did himself very proud.

I also love the music! Movie soundtrack perfection.

My favorite scene is in the middle of this clip, when Rudy finds out he's been accepted to the University of Notre Dame after a lifetime of dreaming and being continually dumbed down, discouraged and denied.

Upon acceptance to Holy Cross, two more years of destitution and determination ensued as Rudy worked toward achievement of the goal that had gripped him since childhood.

And then with the slitting open of that final envelope on a beautiful late-summer day, Notre Dame's iconic golden dome gleaming across the water, all Rudy desired was his. The keys to the kingdom had been placed in his palm at last.

The Reason I'm Telling You All This

May I state unequivocally -- this will make more sense later in the post -- that I am not a Catholic.

If my making an issue of that offends you, may I remind you that you click out the same way you clicked in.

I am an independent fundamental Baptist by conviction ... one of those born-again believers, saved by the blood of the Lamb, saved forever.

It's not my good works (or baptism, which was for me and still is by definition immersion in water in obedience to Christ's command, and which came after my salvation and functioned only to identify me publicly with His substitutionary death, symbolic burial, and supernatural resurrection), that will be getting me to Heaven.

Heaven will be my home within moments of my death because I've trusted in the finished work of Christ my Savior on the cross of Calvary for forgiveness of sin.

Wait ... was I just preaching? Somebody slap me.

Not Just Another Catholic-Bashing Baptist

Anyway, I didn't want anyone to think I'm glorifying the Catholic church or the Catholic way of thinking, which is most definitely a good works situation ... praying to Mary and paying money to get people out of purgatory and all that nonsense.

And let's not smarm around: it is nonsense.

I would rather be confronted with the truth than comforted by a lie.

Although our Catholic friends (and yes; I do have a few friends who are Catholic) are some of the most sincere people in the world, it doesn't change the fact that they are sincerely wrong.

Remember! Offended? Bye! We will miss you but we understand. It's still a free country for a little while longer.

(Mary was a lost sinner who had to be saved just like everyone else: by trusting in Christ. A little weird for her, no doubt, since she gave birth to Him. But there you have it. God's ways are not our ways.)

(And there is no such place as purgatory.)

Baptists were not part of the Reformation because Baptists were never part of the Church of Rome ... but no one can deny Martin Luther was a man of great courage (Yes! The just SHALL live by faith!) and so we'll show this clip and listen to him for a moment or two, because the actor is after all telling the truth, and the song that starts about one minute into the clip is what I want you to hear.

How in the world did I get off on that tangent yet again?

Oh! Rudy. Yes.

Rudy Was Going Somewhere And So Are You

So anyway, I was watching the clip of my favorite scene in Rudy on YouTube and I may very well watch the whole movie later, because of course it being one of my favorites, I own the DVD. 

And I was thinking of the calendar turning today to August first and that turning-of-the-calendar indicating the imminent approach of my favorite month, October.

That thread led me back to the first time I set foot on the soil of South Bend, Indiana, and saw the the golden dome of the University of Notre Dame with my own eyes.

It was a gray, raw, wet day -- my favorite kind of weather -- in October of 1978 and I was with my darling TG, whose girlfriend I had been for approximately six weeks but with whom I was already deeply in love. 

He was taking me home to meet his parents in Toledo, but we made a stop in South Bend so that he could coach a soccer game.

And he pointed out the golden dome (which wasn't glowing like it is on the perfect day captured in Rudy's acceptance scene, but which was dull and dripping but still beautiful like all stunning architectural showpieces), of Notre Dame, which until then I'd only heard of.

Architecture And Even More Artistry

Many years later our daughter Audrey went to Paris. As she floated down the Seine on a pleasure boat, she took this picture of the Cathedral of Notre Dame with its grand spires and stained glass and flying buttresses:

Notable mainly for its architecture! All I'm saying.

We heard Man of Sorrows: Hallelujah, What a Savior ... now let's hear Oh What a Savior, the Southern Gospel, slightly-off-the-chain version of the same wonderful truth.

Very well done by Mr. Ernie Haase et al.

I hope you'll listen and be blessed.

And if, like Rudy dreamt of someday going to Notre Dame, where you dream of ending up someday is Heaven, I pray you'll trust Christ.

The work is done; Jesus paid it all. If you haven't already, He patiently waits for you to come to Him and accept eternal life.

Jesus saith ... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Happy Sunday!

Comments

[Mari]

You've said it well today!
PS - I've never seen Rudy - it's going on my must see list!

[Sue the hobbit]

Wow, Jenny, no one ever said you were wishy-washy! We own Rudy, too, although I have to admit I've never sat down and watched it all the way through. My boys loved it and I bought it for the grandkids. My favourite movies are inspirational , especially those that are based on true stories.
I happen to believe that we are saved by a combination of God's grace first, but that it does us no good if we choose to live an unworthy life. It's the day to day trying to magnify Christ's love that I find the most challenging. Some days, I just don't feel very charitable. 8-} But, endure to the end I will. I'm certainly not disagreeing with John 14:6!
Is the first clip from "Luther"? We own that too, but, again, I haven't watched it.
So, Sean Astin was most notable as a hobbit. Just sayin'.

[Jennifer]

Mari ... I think you will like Rudy! Most inspirational. Except for the unfortunate several times the Lord's name is taken egregiously in vain by Rudy's buddy D-Bob, it's a near perfect movie!

Sue ... No, when God was passing out wishy-washy, I didn't get any. Now see, just as you have never seen Sean in Rudy, I have never seen him as a hobbit! I have never been able to get interested in those movies! Perhaps I should try again.

And I'm not saying everyone has to be a Baptist in order to make it to heaven ... au contraire. But everyone has to believe exactly as a Baptist believes -- i.e., For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast -- in order to see Heaven!

God sure didn't waffle on that point. There is one way to Heaven: faith in His Son's finished work on the cross, and not on our own good works. The good works come after salvation has been accomplished in the life ... and serve as evidence that the person has been reconciled to God through His dear Son. Where there is new life in Christ, good works will abound ... but all works will point back to the absolute necessity of trusting only in Christ for eternal life. It's sort of like a beautiful circle.

Anyway, as always thanks for reading and for always being interested in happy discussion and healthy exchange of ideas!

BTW I have never seen Luther that I recall, but if that clip is indeed from the movie, it looks like something I'd like to see! I think I'll look it up on Netflix.

[irene]

I've not seen either of the movies you mention, and I'm Catholic, but I do believe there is a room in Gods house for everyone. He didn't just die on the cross for Catholics. And you are definitely not wishy washy. thanks for your inspiration.

[Jennifer]

Irene ... you are absolutely right; Jesus did not die on the cross for Catholics, or Baptists, or for people of any religion. He died for all mankind, and each person must individually believe and trust and accept His perfect sacrifice as atonement for sin. There is certainly room at the cross for all who will trust Him fully, and for those who do, Heaven is their home. I don't think as some say that we will be "surprised" at who "made it" to Heaven; I think when we stand in His presence, all doubt will be removed that only He has the power to save, and that we are powerless to save ourselves. At any rate, I thank you for reading and commenting.

[Debbie]

I'm Southern Baptist but I believe the same way you do. We cannot be saved, then lose that salvation, then gain it again... Doesn't work that way. And nothing we do here on this earth could EVER be good enough to get us into Heaven (don't believe in pergatory either as Catholics do, nor the way Mormons do). Having said that ....

I believe there are Christians in both churches, Catholic and Mormons (Latter Day Saints) who believe as we do, I have know some of both.

"For it is by faith that you are saved, not by works ...." But if you are truly following God's Word, you will desire to do good works, it is a fruit of the Spirit.

Great post.