Valentine’s Day Breakfast
This year, make Valentine’s Day memorable for your entire family without breaking the bank!
There’s no need to venture out to a restaurant and subject yourself to the movie theater, when you can make it even more special at home…
This past week Dale and I watched an amazing movie that I want to share with you. It’s a love story. Quo Vadis is a romantic and powerfully heart- gripping film that was created by MGM in 1951. It beautifully portrays the conflict between pagan Nero, his Rome, and early Christianity in a stirring love story between an agnostic Roman general and a Christian woman. Can you sense the tension yet?
The Apostles Paul and Peter are both characters in this moving film.
It’s directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Produced by Sam Zimbalist and adapted from Henryk Sienkiewicz’s classic 1896 novel- Quo Vadis.
It’s a three-hour movie! But, don’t worry- you won’t get bored! The first two hours are setting the scene for the final hour. Be awake and fully alert for the finale. You won’t want to miss a second. That’s the part when you’ll literally be sitting on the edge of your seat. (Oh and have a tissue or two nearby.)
Its rated PG, but there are moments that wouldn’t be good for younger children to see; Christians eaten by lions and burned at the stake as sport in Nero’s Coliseum. However, it is NOT a scene to fast forward through. It is one of the most POWERFUL moments to see on screen when the lions are unleashed into an arena full of Christians. (GULP/GASP…)
At first fear grips them. Then they start to sing and worship. The entire stadium is in awe and amazement. The scene is a testimony even to this day that we are to worship even in face of death, hardship and persecution. Oh King Jesus, help us all to worship on the hardest day of our life!
I shouldn’t say more since I don’t want to spoil anything for you. But there’s more- so much more. The love story is. . . epic.
MGM spared no cost in making this film. Thirty-thousand people were used in one scene. It is a story of immortal combat. Once a man has the zeal of
the Lord within him- the fire within cannot be quenched! He can and will endure anything for the sake of love.
A few important questions to ask ourselves…
What will I be doing when persecution presents itself? How will I choose to give glory to God even in the face of suffering?
My suggestion for Valentine’s day evening is to enjoy a homemade simple dinner at home and rent Quo Vadis from Amazon for $2.
I don’t have cable or watch television shows so my review of a movie may be different from yours but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it.
Here is part of Movieguide.org summary of the movie Quo Vadis:
“QUO VADIS was made in the days when major studios like MGM were willing to invest absolute fortunes in unabashed Christian epics. It was like spending an AVATAR budget on a movie with the message of COURAGEOUS.It’s the story of the Christian martyrs in Rome contrasting gross pagan excess with Christian love and compassion. It deserves a Plus Four Acceptability for its profound Christian message but slight caution should be applied to young children because even tastefully done images of martyrdom can cause young children anxiety.…On that road, General Marcus Viniculus (Robert Taylor) returns to Rome after conquests in Britain. Emperor Nero (Peter Ustinov) has him camp his troops outside the city and wait for a spectacular entry to provide the proper conquering hero victory procession for the entertainment of the Roman citizens.
Marcus is instructed to wait in the home of retired General Plautius, whose whole household is Christian, including Lygia (Deborah Kerr), a hostage the general adopted as his own daughter. Marcus mistakes Lygia as a slave. His bold advances show a very low regard for women. Marcus is frustrated and puzzled that Lygia is not thrilled by such an important general as himself showing interest in her. Her Christian values don’t fit his pagan concept of male/female relations.
Marcus’ victories are celebrated with a massive spectacle. Because all hostages are at the mercy of the Emperor’s wishes, Nero rewards Marcus with the gift he desired, Lygia.
Feminists who consider Christian’s attitudes about marriage to be a form of bondage should see this movie. The Romans treated women like sex objects for sale, while Christians considered women partners in having and raising a family. Nero had his wife and his mother murdered.
Peter Ustinov’s Nero is a truly disturbing character. Like Hitler he justified the senseless killing of thousands in pursuit of his own warped sense of greatness. His decision to burn Rome, so he could rebuild it as he wished, was horrific enough. He then blamed it on Christians and made a spectacle of feeding them to lions and burning them on crosses before a Coliseum full of spectators.
As Nero becomes more and more crazed, Marcus begins to see the purity of Lygia’s Christian faith and values. Also, the words of Paul and Peter ring out with moral and spiritual clarity. He decides to take a stand, but Nero sentences him and Lygia to death in the Coliseum. Only a miracle can save them.”
Another movie I LOVE is the 1948 Joan of Arc– read my review here.
Yummy Gluten Free Valentine cookies, Valentine’s Day Goodies
Valentine breakfast recipes!
Valentine’s Day Breakfast