Posted on 03/03/2014 9:43:45 AM PST by CHRISTIAN DIARIST
Over much of its history, the Academy Awards have been the backdrop for some rather off-putting acceptance speeches.
In 2011, for instance, Melissa Leo dropped a so-called “F-bomb” when she accepted the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in “The Fighter.”
In 2003, “Bowling for Columbine” was awarded Best Documentary, which provided Michael Moore a platform to rant against duly-elected President George W. Bush. “We live in the time,” he said, “where we have fictitious election results that elects a fictitious president.
And, in 1972, Jane Fonda took the stage after winning “Best Actress” for her performance in “Klute,” telling the audience, “There’s a great deal to say and I’m not going to say it tonight.” Then she proceeded to go backstage, where she declared, “There are murders being committed in our name in Indochina.”
Last night’s 86th Annual Academy Awards ceremony was decidedly different. That’s because the Holy Spirit showed up most unexpectedly.
It began when Darlene Love, a 1960s backup singer, strode to the stage to accept the Oscar for Best Documentary for “20 Feet From Stardom,” the film in which she starred.
Midway through her remarks, she was filled with the Holy Spirit and suddenly gave a powerful, impromptu performance of the gospel hymn, “His Eye on the Sparrow.” When she finished, Bill Murray leapt to his feet – yes, funnyman Bill Murray – and much of the audience followed suit.
It truly was a God moment.
Then there were the remarks by Matthew McConaughey, who’s leading role in “Dallas Buyer’s Club” won him an Oscar statuette for Best Actor. McConaughey didn’t deliver a mere acceptance speech, but powerful, Spirit-filled testimony.
“First off,” he told an audience of an estimated 40 million television viewers, “I want to thank God, because that’s Who I look up to. He has graced my life with opportunities that I know are not of my hand, nor any other human hand.”
He concluded, “Amen and all right, all right, all right.”
The secularist media didn’t get it. Like Time’s Isaac Guzmán, who posted an article today riffing on “McConaughey’s Confounding Acceptance Speech,” which the writer disparaged as “semi-bizarre.”
Well, of course it was confounding to Guzmán; to others who “didn’t get” McConaughey’s remarks.The Book of Corinthians advises, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.”
Meanwhile, to those of us who are Christ followers, it was stirring to witness McConaughey’s testimony last night; to hear him give God the glory for the opportunities, the blessings he has received over his film career.
It proved the Oscar-winning actor is not ashamed of the Gospel.
God did not show up at the Oscars
>> God did not show up at the Oscars
Did He telephone you and reveal that?
Hab 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
It would have been nicer had “Son of God” had more to do with the Bible...
If God showed up, it would look nothing like the Oscars last night. Perhaps Isaiah 6 would be a good place to get a glimpse of what the Oscars would have looked like if God was there.
“It would have been nicer had “Son of God” had more to do with the Bible...”
What a mockery for actors to give credit to God for their performance in blasphemous movies.
I did not mean the Bible mini-series, but the Word of God.
Matthew McConaughey is an actor, he makes a living by being someone else. So is he Christian in real life? Is he spiritual in real life? Just asking. On stage at the Oscars he is an actor. I don’t know since I don’t follow celebs. Now his speech was terrific but.....?
“I did not mean the Bible mini-series, but the Word of God.”
I was confirming your post.
My bad. I thought that was the link that purported this new movie as closer to the truth.
>> Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
Before I put any stock in the applicability of that verse, you’re going to have to show more clearly how it maps onto the situation. It’s not at all obvious to me.
Isn’t God everywhere? At all times? At all places?
Thanks
“Meanwhile, to those of us who are Christ followers, it was stirring to witness McConaughey’s testimony last night; to hear him give God the glory for the opportunities, the blessings he has received over his film career”.
He’ll be back to making B-movies within the year. It is an absolute no-no to praise God in Hollywierd.
Meanwhile his co-star, who won the Best Supporting Actor playing an AIDs infected transsexual, made his acceptance speech, of course didn’t mention God but did say something about not being “ashamed of who you love”. So sodomites get the nod over God with this creep.
Maybe more people would stop watching disgusting movies and start reading their Bibles.....
Thanks for this report. I didn’t see the show due to epic internet fail and a broken antenna, but I am sure the clips will show up on YouTube eventually.
Meantime, reading about Darlene Love’s impromptu song during her acceptance speech last night, I was reminded of one of the most beautiful performances ever recorded... Kathleen Battle performing the same song, His Eye Is On The Sparrow, in 1983... it was an encore of her choice and she performed it often. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It’s almost impossible to believe any human voice can reach the notes she hits effortlessly, and they sound lovely and velvety, not the least bit squeaky or stressed. She actually comes down on top of the notes rather than climbing up to reach them. And watching her face is a bonus that is nothing less than mesmerizing. I keep a copy of this video in my iPod.
Enjoy:
Kathleen Battle - His Eye is on the Sparrow - live! 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkUoxCGPWrw
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.