War of the Words...Rosebud

While the film version of Wells's novel is highly regarded by science-fiction and cinema buffs and was successful upon its release, the impact it had on mass consciousness cannot be compared to the effect of the radio broadcast of War of the Worlds on the day before October 31st in 1938.

At that time, CBS's "Mercury Theatre" presented Orson Welles and a talented cast simulating a live news broadcast of an invasion of Earth by mechanized Martian war machines.

Because the account of unstoppable alien beings landing in the New Jersey farmlands was depicted so realistically—and because many listeners tuned in after the Mercury Theatre production was already in progress—the greater part of the nation was in panic over the invaders from Mars.

CITIZEN KANE's tale begins when wealthy media magnate Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) dies, and he utters the enigmatic word "Rosebud".

At the end of the film, the camera pans over workers burning some of Kane's many possessions.

One throws an old sled, with the word "Rosebud" painted on it, into the fire, the same sled that Kane was riding as a child the day his mother sent him away.
So what would happen if you missed the first 5 minutes?

Good movie...BUT IT WOULD NOT MAKE SENSE.

So why is the beginning so important?

Have you ever heard that Jesus Christ Loves You and He Died for Your Sins?

So had I...

I had heard about the death burial and resurrection of Jesus.

BUT I had no idea that I had missed the 1st 5 minutes and walked into the story after God had already clarified several things.

#1. His Law...The Ten Commandments had shown ME guilty before God and deserving of His Righteous punishment.

RU?

#2. It is not His Will that I am punished for my transgessions.

#3. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for the Law I had trespassed.

#4. Through Repentance of my sins and Faith in Jesus Christ I can partake in His Forgiveness and be Born Again.

What If...I'm Pretending?

What if the definition of pretending is to deceive or give a false appearance? What if pretending can fool men, but it cannot fool God? What if it's true that we are known by our fruits? What if Jesus was right in saying that not everyone who calls Him their Lord will enter heaven? (Matt 7:21) What if Satan wants me to believe I can sin and get away with it? What if God is not only a God of love and forgiveness, but also a God of justice and wrath? What if it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God? (Heb 10:31) What if my love for the things of this world reveals that I do not belong to Christ? (1 Jn 2:15)

What if I really should examine myself to see if I am truly in the faith? What if I have not honestly been broken over my sins against God and completely surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? What if I have broken God's commandments thousands of times without even caring that it spits in the face of God? What if God holds me accountable for every lie, every lustful thought, and every time I felt hatred toward a person? What if God even considers my lust as adultery and my hatred as murder? What if I'm actually ignoring the God who gives me my every breath? What if I don't see myself as a despicable, wicked person who deserves nothing but eternity in hell? What if God does not desire for me to go to hell, but He will not force me to stop living my self-centered life? (Mark 8:34-38) What if even though I have been so selfish in my self-centered life, Jesus still desires me as He lovingly took the wrath of God upon Himself on the cross for me? What if this conviction on my heart is begging me to genuinely repent and to surrender my life and desires to Jesus Christ alone?

What if God had me read this for a reason? What if I'm pretending ...?