How to NOT Create Bad Things

Dear reader, 

I was struggling to find a topic for this morning’s letter, then I remembered a rather horrible experience. 

My childhood is full of memories of watching many movies. It’s always been something my siblings and parents would connect around, so realistically I’ve seen far more movies than I can count. 

One of which Is Atlantis: The Lost Empire. 

If you know this one it was released back in 2001, and it was a very interesting story. It wasn’t a musical or a love story, so as a kid, it gripped my attention. 

I recently rewatched this movie and was enticed by the story elements once again. The protagonist’s struggle with confidence, the villain’s desires for fame and fortune, and the rag-tag group of characters made me think of the people I surround myself with. 

After I had finished it I thought to myself, “Wait, didn’t they make a sequel to this?”

I searched for it and scrolled down to the duration time. “Oh, I have enough time to watch this one too.” 

I don’t know how you are with sequels but very rarely do any actually hit the target for me. Nine times out of 10 they don’t honor the original story, they reuse the same jokes, and actors don’t always return so they are replaced all for the sake of making more money. 

Atlantis: Milo’s Return was absolutely horrible. I don’t know if you plan on ever watching it, but I will happily rip it apart. 

The film itself was a direct-to-video release from 2003, and back in those times, it was just another effort to make more money. They cut corners in the animation, the story fell flat, and it honestly was just upsetting to watch compared to the epic narrative of the original. 

The movie itself was three short stories all poorly duct-tapped together. They didn’t flow or make sense, it was as if they were trying to make a TV show and ended up just pushing this all together instead. 

Now, why am I whining about this? 

I don’t believe that God wants us to cut corners for any reason. In our pursuits of creative worship, there is no reason we should ever carry out a task half-butted. 

That’s dishonorable, it’s as if we’re saying in those moments, “God is worthy to be praised for sure. Just not with this, this one is just for money.”

We should never pick and choose what brings God honor and what doesn’t. There truly should be no difference between the secular and the sacred. If we are truly transformed by the blood of Christ we must be avid worshipers in every sense of the word. 

In everything, we must be glorifying God. We don’t get to hold back. 

I urge you to evaluate your life and your pursuits, is there anything you’re putting less effort into because you believe you get a pass? 

Don’t make any half-hearted sequels. 

Whatever you do bring glory to God. 

That’s not a suggestion. 

Sincerely, 

Your Advocate for Consistent and Authentic Worship

-Mitchell