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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR2011.037.3

Episode 3 - A Difficult Thing
(2008), Not Rated [High PG-NR*] (13.9min)

Final Score
Analysis Date
Date Posted
Influence Density
MinMax
April 3, 2001
April 4, 2011
84
0.29
-48

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SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)

If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary.



Episode 3 - A Difficult Thing


(2008), Not Rated [High PG-NR*] ... a hard shell to crack


Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Sonlight Pictures, Cloud Ten Pictures
Distribution (US): Sonlight Pictures
Director(s): Pete Bauer
Producer(s): Dea Bauer, Pete Bauer
Writing Credits: Pete Bauer
Film Editing: Pete Bauer
Viewed at Cloud Ten Pictures Online Screening Room


This analysis was made possible by the professional courtesy of Cloud Ten Pictures.


  Cloud Ten Pictures is launching a special Dove™ Foundation Family approved series for television, five episodes of Nikki & Babs: DOs & DOUBTs. They have invited the CAP Movie Ministry to prepare analyses of each of the episodes. This is analysis of the third episode: A Difficult Thing.

A difficult thing indeed. Trust is. Developing trust is a hard shell to crack and is almost impossible to mend once broken.

Nikki is loosing trust in her boyfriend. He hasn't written her since she came to live with Babs for the summer. Nikki's trust in Babs is also challenged once Babs failed to get Nikki to an audition for an acting part which Nikki deeply wants. And her trust in the Lord? She gave her want over the Jesus and trusted Him to work it out ... that she would get the part. But when Babs failed to get Nikki to the audition on time and the doors were locked, Nikki started to doubt and swore to never trust Babs again. And maybe her trust in the Lord is weakening?

There is indeed a lesson for the young and old alike in this episode that inspects trust, its immense power and its delicate fragility. As Nikki reads Ps. 115:11 (the base theme of this episode) we are reminded that God admonishes we who fear the Lord to trust in Him. But in our human frailty and weakness of faith it is most difficult to trust. Consider the disciple Thomas, also called Didymus ("doubting Thomas"). Thomas did not trust that Jesus was raised from the dead. Thomas bellowed that he would not believe Jesus was raised from the dead unless he could put his finger into the nail prints in Jesus' hands and his hand into the spear wound in His side. The resurrected Jesus, yet to ascend, came to the disciples and told Thomas to "reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." Thomas then believed. [John 20:24 - 29] The point here is that as Jesus acknowledged they who had seen Him believed He was resurrected because they had seen Him after His resurrection, but that blessed are they "that have not seen, and yet have believed." THAT is trust ... and faith ... which are akin. Since none of us has ever seen Him or witnessed His glory in person, we are blessed.

On a side note, take a look for a moment at "fear" in "fear the Lord." That means we must be afraid of Him, right? Wrong! The translation for "fear" in "fear of God" is three-fold. Please visit our publication Fear of God to learn more about fearing God. It will help you understand how I can boldly say "I fear God. Deeply. But I am not afraid of Him."

As promised a comparative of the first three episodes of Nikki & Babs - DOs and DOUBTs follows.


The span of scoring across the three episodes is so minute -- 83, 83, 84 -- hardly enough scoring difference for a comparative to be useful. Such comparison is typically useful when comparing an original Hollywood film with its remake or when comparing the first installment of a Hollywood film with its sequel because there is typically a wide diversity of assaults on morality and decency between them. But not so with Pete Bauer to whom congratulations are indicated. I will, however, continue with the comparative through the five episodes.

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 100 out of 100
There was nothing noteworthy regarding violent or criminal content. Nothing at all.

Impudence/Hate (I) - 52 out of 100
Though entirely intended in humor, exceeding flatulence is used to make a point. [Eph. 5:4]

Sexual Immorality (S) - 76 out of 100
Nikki and Babs place themselves in a men's bathroom. Maybe the conditions surrounding their invasion into women's no-no land justify their presence but the CAP Analysis Model does not deal with justification for assaults on morality and decency. We tell you what is there. You decide on whether it has merit. See our BEFORE You Read On... publication for more information.

Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 76 out of 100
Babs spiked a man's drink with a laxative.

Offense to God (O) - 100 out of 100
As with each of the first two episodes there is no abuse of God's name, no witchcraft, sorcery, occultism or the like.

Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100
No one gets murdered and no one commits suicide.


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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)
If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page.

CHAPTER/VERSE
  • Ps. 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
  • Eph. 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
  • John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

    ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
  • Jer. 37:9 This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, 'The Babylonians [the destroyers from within] will surely leave us.' They will not!
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences and present it to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, enjoy it, want it, submit to it. I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."]
  • Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
  • 1 Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: evil [kakov: of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be] communications corrupt good manners.
  • Rom. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
  • Jude 1:4 For there are certain men* crept in unawares [secretly slipped in among us], who were before of old ordained to this condemnation [whose condemnation was written about long ago], ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [a license for immorality], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female]
  • Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
  • Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. [Offend: skandalizo {skan-dal-id'-zo} - scandalize; to entice to sin; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away.]
  • Ps. 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me [let no sin rule over me].
  • John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  • 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. ["Evil" includes all things that are sinful.]


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    As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie.
  • FINDINGS / SCORING:
    (The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)


    Niki & Babs: Dos & Doubts - A Difficult thing (Episode 3) (2008) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 100 out of 100
  • none noted

    Impudence/Hate (I) - 52 out of 100
  • flatulence, repeatedly

    Sexual Immorality (S) - 76 out of 100
    • two teen girls in a men's restroom

    Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 76 out of 100
  • spiking a man's drink with a laxative

    Offense to God (O) - 100 out of 100
  • none noted

    Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100
  • none noted















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    There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings.



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