Samson Is Coming To The Big Screen! Entertainment and the Culture - The New Samson Book and Movie with Eric Wilson: We”€™ve got a great entertainment program for you today!  First, David, Tim, and Rick do some fun Hollywood trivia and we discover some amazing facts about old-time actors and actresses. We learn about some of the striking differences between Hollywood then and now in the things that actors and actresses used to support, such as our military, compared to the sad lack of support today. We also learn about the number of Bible movies there used to be compared to the lack of them now. And then our special guest, Eric Wilson, talks about the exciting new Samson book and movie that is coming out soon!

Air Date: 01/02/2018

On-air Personalities: David Barton, Rick Green, and Tim Barton

Guest: Eric Wilson

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Transcription note:  As a courtesy for our listeners’ enjoyment, we are providing a transcription of this podcast. However, as this is transcribed from a live talk show, words and sentence structure were not altered to fit grammatical, written norms in order to preserve the integrity of the actual dialogue between the speakers. Additionally, names may be misspelled or we might use an asterisk to indicate a missing word because of the difficulty in understanding the speaker at times. We apologize in advance.

Faith And The Culture

Rick:

Welcome to the intersection of faith and the culture. This is WallBuilders Live. We’re glad you’re with us today to talk about some of today’s hottest topics on policy, faith, and the culture. And today it’s entertainment in the culture. We’re always having these discussions from a Biblical, historical, and constitutional perspective.

Today we’re here with David Barton. He’s America’s premier historian and our founder here at WallBuilders. Also Tim Barton, national speaker and pastor and the president of WallBuilders. My name is Rick Green I’m a former Texas legislator.

You can check us out at our two websites – WallBuildersLive.com, that’s the radio site. There”€™s a list of stations across the country where you can hear us if you’re traveling or you just want to listen right there on your local station. And then also archives from the last few weeks.

You can also get at WallBuilders.com, our main website, a ton of great information. Including some great materials that you can share with your friends and family. Everything from DVDs, and books, and CDs – things that will teach you not only about the country and our history, but what you and I can do about that history and do about restoring our Constitutional Republic.

An Entertainment Program Today

Rick:

So, David, Tim, we”€™ve got an entertainment program today. We”€™re going to talk a little bit about what’s happening and coming up this year of 2018 to give people some better choices in entertainment. The entertainment realm has great influence on the culture. I should say bad influence in the last few decades, but it has a lot of influence would be a better way of saying that.

David:

Well, one thing about Hollywood is because of what’s happening with Weinstein, you’re getting kind of  “€œsunlight is the best disinfectant”€, look at all the stuff coming to light. Our friend Everett Piper, President of Oklahoma Wesleyan, put in an article recently and I had not realized all that has come to light since Harvey Weinstein came to light. All the other names and all the other — I mean, just scandals everywhere. So, I guess that’s one good thing about what’s happening in Hollywood, but that is certainly different. By the way-

Hollywood Coming To Light

Rick:

Not meaning it’s good that they have scandals, meaning it”€™s good that the sunlight is– David:

Yes, thank you.

Rick:

–shining on what’s happened there and it’s making people realize what a cesspool Hollywood has been for decades.

David:

Yeah. Thank you. Thanks for that clarification because you’re exactly right – what happened is not good. The fact that it came to light, and is starting to help clear some of that stuff out is good, but that it happened is not good. Now, I’ve got a little bit of movie trivia for you guys here.

Rick:

Uh oh.

David:

So, I’m going to give you a name of — I’m going to give you a list of names from, I don’t know, 15 years ago to 65-70 years ago.

David”€™s Collection of Classics

Rick:

See, I was worried about that, Tim, as soon as he said that it was going to be trivia. I mean I’ve seen your dad’s movie collection and the DVDs that probably could fill up, I don’t know, a massive storage container. And a big chunk of it is from 40-50 years ago, a lot of great classics, and I’m going to fail that part. So, I hope you”€™re going to help me, Tim.

Tim:

Yeah, pretty much as soon as they started rolling film, my dad started collecting it. Yeah. You know–

David:

Ouch.

Tim:

You mentioned our DVD collection, our VHS collection is even larger. So, yes.

Rick:

I forgot about that.

Tim:

Yes. We have a lot of those.

Actor and Movie Trivia

David:

So, if I say Jimmy Stewart or Henry Fonda you guys don’t know who that is?

Rick:

Oh, yeah!

Tim:

No, it’s– I know It’s A Wonderful Life.

David:

Okay, you got that one. Alright, Charles Bronson?

Tim:

Well sure–

Rick:

And Mr. Smith Goes to Washington — not Charles Bronson.

David:

Not Charles Bronson. He tore up Washington, he blew it up when he got there.

Tim:

Yeah, he kicked people in the face and shot them.

Rick:

Yes. Yeah.

David:

Alright. Charlton Heston?

Rick:

Sure, of course.

David:

Paul Newman.

Tim:

Okay.

Rick:

Yes.

Tim:

Oh, no, no, wait a second.

Rick:

Yes, it”€™s the Sundance Kid. Yes.

Tim:

Yes, now, but he– Paul Newman was not Cool Hand Luke – or was he?

Rick:

Wait, he was wasn’t he? No.

David:

Yeah. I thought he was.

Rick:

Yeah.

David:

Paul Newman Cool Hand Luke.

Tim:

I was looking it up, but okay–

David:

Yeah.

Rick:

And he makes some pretty good salad dressing, I hear.

Tim:

Actually, it’s quite delicious.

David:

Rock Hudson?

Rick:

Yup.

David:

Clark Gable?

Tim:

Frankly My Dear.

David:

Richard Burton?

Rick:

Yes, man–

Tim:

I know I”€™ve seen something with him.

Rick:

Yeah, yeah.

David:

Alright, Mel Brooks?

Rick:

Oh yeah, sure.

David:

Audrey Hepburn?

Tim:

Absolutely.

David:

Burt Lancaster?

Tim:

Yes.

David:

Audie Murphy?

Tim:

Absolutely.

Rick:

Oh yes.

David:

Steve McQueen?

Rick:

To Hell and Back.

Tim:

Yes.

David:

There you go, that”€™s his life story.

Rick:

Steve McQueen is Dirty Dozen, right? No wait, yeah, is he Dirty Dozen?

David:

No, no, no, Great Escape.

Rick:

Great Escape! That”€™s what I”€™m thinking about! Great Escape when he’s on the motorcycle–

David:

Yeah, yeah.

Rick:

Yep, I remember that scene.  

Tim:

Magnificent Seven, by the way.

David:

Yep. Lee Marvin?  

Rick:

Oh yes.

Tim:

Magnificent Seven, by the way.

David:

There you go.

David Barton and James Coburn

Rick:

In fact, it’s David Barton–

David:

Not Lee.

Rick:

Wasn’t it Lee Marvin that you look just like in the — you know the scene where he gets and throws the knife?

David:

No, James Coburn.

Rick:

Oh, that”€™s Coburn, yes, James Coburn, yes.

David:

Lee Marvin–

Rick:

The folks at home are going, “€œWhat are you talking about?”€ Well folks, just watch a David Barton video and then go watch the original Magnificent Seven. And you will see David Barton throw the knife and you’ll think they said it was Coburn, but it was actually David Barton. Okay, sorry, go ahead

David:

How about an actor named Ronald Reagan?

Rick:

Seems familiar.

Tim:

Yes. Seems like bringing up something, babies or something.

David:

Oh, no, no, no. No, no, no, Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant.

Tim:

Oh yeah, that was one with, they had the cat or something. He had the monkey. Okay, I was thinking of monkey.

David:

Yeah, that”€™s off of Bonzo.

Rick:

The chimpanzee, yes.

Tim:

Bonzo, that was the name, Bonzo.

Rick:

Yep.

Tim:

Got it, okay.

Rick:

But, where’s the rest of me, the scene where you know his — that’s from the * film, right?

David:

That’s right. That’s right. Mickey Rooney?

Tim:

Sure.

Rick:

Yep.

What Do They All Have in Common?

David:

Alright, I can keep going for a long time. Here’s the trivia – what do they all have in common? Audrey Hepburn, Burt Lancaster, Mel Brooks, Clark Gable, Ronald Reagan, what do they all got in common?

Tim:

They all served in the military.

David:

They’re all World War II veterans.

Tim:

Wow.

Rick:

Oh man.

Every one of them.

Tim:

I took a shot in the dark.

Rick:

I would not have guessed that.

David:

All World War II veterans. Now,

Rick:

I knew Jimmy Stewart was, I knew Ronald Reagan was. He actually made films in, during World War II, some of the training films and all kinds of cool stuff.

David:

Yep.

Rick:

But I did not know that about Hepburn for sure.

Audrey Hepburn – Courier for World War II Resistance Fighters in Holland

David:

Yeah, well, she was a courier for World War II resistance fighters in Holland.

Rick:

Wow.

Tim:

Wow.

David:

She carried messages back and forth in World War II–

Tim:

Wow.

Another Set

David:

–as a resistance fighter. And by the way, here’s another set, Humphrey Bogart, you know?

Tim:

Absolutely.

David:

Walter Brennan?

Tim:

Sure.

David:

Ronald Coleman?

Tim:

Yes.

David:

Prisoners and other things. Henry Fonda?

Tim:

Sure.

Rick:

I missed my chance. You did Bogart and I was going to say, “€œHe”€™s looking at you, kid.”€ Okay, sorry, go ahead.

David:

That sounds gangster-like. He”€™s a good gangster.

Tim:

Just play it again, Sam.

David:

Alright, Spencer Tracy?

Tim:

Yes.

David:

Alright, Victor MacLauchlan?

Tim:

Strikeout.

Rick:

Yeah.

David:

Seven John Wayne movies. He”€™s the old Irish sergeant in every–

Tim:

Oh, absolutely.

Rick:

Yeah.

Tim:

Sure, sure.

David:

Yeah, alright, Rex Harrison?

Tim:

Yes.

David:

Alright. So, Henry Fonda, Clark Gable, all of those, what do they have in common?

Rick:

I feel like I should know this since the first one was World War II. So–

David:

These are all–

Tim:

Pilots.

All Academy Award Winners Who Served in World War II

David:

These are all Academy Award winners who served in World War II.

Tim:

Wow. Okay.

David:

Now here’s the next piece of trivia – name three guys in Hollywood today that have served in the military.

Rick:

Oh, wow.

Tim:

Oh, gosh.

David:

I wonder if there’s a difference between Hollywood now and Hollywood in days gone by?

Tim:

Oh gosh.  

Rick:

Wow. That is such a great comparison. I have never thought about that.

David:

In the last 15 years, name one Academy Award winner who served in the military.

Tim:

Okay, well now I can name one for the military – Kylo Ren, from Star Wars. And so I was thinking there has to be somebody, but I don’t, beyond him, I don’t know.

David:

It’s pretty sad, but see, look at Hollywood in the old days where you actually had people who loved their country.

Tim:

Yeah.

David:

So, what kind of message do you get out of those movies compared to Hollywood today where that we all want to protest our country and how bad it is?

Hollywood Tearing Down the American Dream

Rick:

Man, that is such a great point, David. Even the attitude of the movies that are taught and how few of them– now sometimes they know their market, they’re going to put a few out like American Sniper where they”€™re, those are for folks like us that really want to see that. But most of the time Hollywood is tearing it down, like you’re saying, tearing down the American dream.

David:

So, here’s the next thing about Hollywood past. Let me run down a list of movies done by Hollywood past.  See if you can find anything common to all these movies.

The Passion of the Christ 1903, The Ten Commandments 1923, Ben-Hur a Tale of the Christ 1925, The King of Kings 1927, Noah’s Ark 1928, The Sign of the Cross 1932, Samson and Delilah 1949, Salomé 1953, The Robe 1953, Demetrius and the Gladiator’s 1954, The Prodigal, The Ten Commandments, Charlton Heston, Ben-Hur, Solomon and Sheba, The Big Fisherman, The Story of Ruth.

Now we’re into 1960s – Barabbas 1961, Anthony Quinn The King of Kings the Greatest Story Ever Told. What’s the theme?

Tim:

Well, the obvious is the Bible.

Bible Movies in the Past 15 Years

David:

Sure. Now try to name 15 Bible movies, big time Bible movies, over the last 15 years that deal with the Bible.

Rick:

Well, you mentioned The Passion of the Christ 190– what was it?

David:

Now, that was Mel Gibson. So that”€™s 2004.

Rick:

You mentioned one from the early 1900″€™s.

Tim:

The first was 1903.

David:

Well, the first Passion of the Christ was 19o3, that’s Edison. We’ve actually got the poster for that in the collection here at WallBuilders.

Rick:

Interesting.

David:

Edison is credited with doing the first motion pictures. And the first one he does is The Passion of the Christ–

Rick:

Wow.

David:

–which kind of says something.

Rick:

So, in the last 20 years, Passion of the Christ was Mel Gibson in the late 90″€™s.

David:

Mel Gibson. Yeah, what else you got?

Rick:

I don’t know that we could really call it a Bible movie based on how inaccurate it was, but The Exodus and then what was the latest version of that?

Tim:

Noah. You have Son of God, right, that came out on Easter a year ago or whatever it was, two years ago, I don’t remember. Maybe this year – I don’t know. It was not a blockbuster though.

David:

No, but see, we’re talking Cecil B de Mille thinks where that your lead actors, or your Hollywood blockbusters–

Tim:

The greatest in Hollywood.

The Best Bible Movie in Recent Time is a Cartoon?

David:

Yul Brynner and you”€™ve got Charlton Heston, and you’ve got Stuart Granger, and you’ve got Anthony Quinn and all these guys who were blockbuster stars in the day with the best producers and the best directors of the day doing Bible movies. And except for The Passion of Christ with Gibson, maybe the best Bible movie in the last 20 years is a cartoon. You know, it’s the Prince of Egypt. So, it’s again, another difference in Hollywood on the God factor and on the country factor and look at where it is today and what it puts out. And that’s a real difference.

And maybe there’s a chance to see something go back in a different direction. At least some money is being invested by Pure Flix anyway. It’s a movie that”€™s going to come out that tells the story that was actually told on the big screen back in 1949 with Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature. And when it came out in 49 it was nominated for five Academy Awards and won two Academy Awards.

Tim:

Wow.

David:

Story of Samson. So, we’ve got a re-do of it coming out here this next year which is going to be a fun look.

Rick:

I had no idea that Samson had been produced in 1949 and won Academy Awards. So, that’s news to me today. And we’ve also got now a new, like you said, version of Sampson coming out in February. So, it’s going to be here before you know it.

And today we actually have the author of the novel that is being written based on the movie that’s coming out in just a week or so. Eric Wilson will be our guest. Stay with us. You’re listening to WallBuilders Live.

Avalon Project

Tim:

Hey, guys, this is Tim Barton with WallBuilders. I know you hear my dad and Rick talk a lot about our Founding Fathers about the original intent of our nation, a constitutional heritage that we have. And really we’ve seen how far we slipped away from that. And I know a lot of us as we hear my dad and Rick talk think, “€œI wish there was a place that I could go where I could see these documents and I could read and learn about the Founding Fathers firsthand.  See the things they did.”€  

I want to give you some websites today that can help you accomplish that very thing. If you get online you can go to places like Library of Congress and you can look under their century of lawmaking or historical documents. You can go to the Avalon Project, to the Founders Constitution, Google Books, or even the internet archives.  

Or you can just go to WallBuilders.com. We have a section for our WallBuilders Library. And under that section, we have different subgroups for historical documents, historical writings, even a place where you can get helpful links to find out more information about other websites.  Where you can do research for yourself and find the truth for yourself. Friends, this is the time that we need to know who we are and where we came from. WallBuilders.com is a great place to go.

Rick:

Welcome back. Thanks for staying with us here on WallBuilders Live.

Eric Wilson is with us. He was the author of the movie editions of Facing the Giants and Fireproof and now a killer epic new movie coming out, Samson. Pure Flix is putting it out. The trailer looks amazing. It will be available on our website today at WallBuildersLive.com. Eric Wilson, thanks for coming on today, man.

Eric Wilson:

Thank you for having me.

Rick:

Okay, first question I’ve got for you – why Samson? So, there are so many great stories in the Old Testament. This is definitely one of the great stories, but there are so many good ones. Why did you guys pick Sampson?

Why Samson?

Eric Wilson:

Well, I think two things. Number one, Sampson has got to be one of the biggest mess ups in the Bible and I’m always drawn to those people because I can relate.

Rick:

Me too, brother.

Eric Wilson:

Yeah. And I think a lot of us men are in that position where we can relate to wanting to be kind of the man’s man, but then you make mistakes and kind of alienate yourself and pull away. And I thought that was a timely story.

Rick:

Yeah.

Eric Wilson:

Something we can relate to even 3,000 years later. And then probably the other part of that is I felt like it hadn’t been explored in any of the books I’ve read. It’s usually explored more from the romance side with Delilah. Or some of the old movies will go another route, and that’s definitely there, there was a lot of not what you’d expect. But I also wanted to explore a little bit the idea of his parents and how it helps for parents to know God has called their child and wants him to continue in the faith.

Rick:

Yeah, yeah. I’m sure you share this thought as well, as involved as you are in these projects, but I’ve thought for a long time, man, we’ve got some of the best stories in history there in the Old Testament that would make such great movies. I’m thinking Lord Of The Rings style movies.

Eric Wilson:

Yeah.  

Rick:

And from what I can tell in the trailer, that’s what we’re about to get with Samson. So it’s really exciting to see this happen. I’m curious, tell us a little bit about the process on how this all came about. Did you write the book first and then go to Pure Flix or did they come to you and say, “€œHey, we’ve got an idea for a movie just tell us how some of these cool things happened.”€

Novelization of a Movie

Eric Wilson:

Yeah. Well, with the novelization which is what that is considered, we take the screenplay — so the screenplay was already in place, I haven’t had anything to do with that. They were working on the movie, I believe it was already in post-production when I was approached about taking the about a 15,000-word screenplay and turning it into a full 75,000-word length novel.

So, that’s how that process works is I’m on the back end of the whole process, but I’m able to take some liberty depending on what they give me. And they actually didn”€™t ask me to change anything which I”€™m having quite a bit of sub-thoughts, and backstories of these characters.

And I expected them to kick back a little bit with some of it, but they were good with everything I did. So, I was able to add to the story and you know the movie and the book both give you some different aspects while feeling very much like the same story.

Rick:

I love the, I don’t know, Eric, you’re a pro at this – I’m probably using the wrong word. I call it faction though where you really, you give the backstory that we don’t necessarily see in scripture. And it’s consistent with scripture, but it gives us a chance to kind of be a fly on the wall and see some of those conversations that maybe didn’t take place in scripture, but very likely those types of conversations took place. How fun was that for you to say, what would it have been like to have been in that room–

Eric Wilson:

Yeah.

Rick:

–and in those battles, and to create that backstory so that more people could enjoy the full story of Samson?

Bringing Truth Through a Story

Eric Wilson:

Yeah. That’s a blast to do that. For those who kind of argue that, “€œWell, you’re not, this isn’t scripture and who are you to put words in their mouths?”€ It’s basically what Jesus did of taking a parable and trying to bring truth through a story.

Rick:

Yeah.

Eric Wilson:

The stories that are in the Bible and I believe they’re there for a reason for us to relate to today and draw from. It’s just a way of bringing that to attention to a modern reader. Hopefully even to those who aren’t in church or don’t know the Lord they could read this as a historical novel and be like, “€œWow, I didn’t know this was in the Bible and I really wanna read more.”€

And then make it really relatable. But one part that always hit me with Samson was, how could this guy be so stupid to be tied up numerous times, and keep trusting this lady, and telling her his secrets, and finally to be betrayed by her.

So, in the story, it was a lot of fun to explore that a little bit. Like, why was he so stupid?

Rick:

Right.

Eric Wilson:

I know we guys can be pretty stupid when we”€™ve got a beautiful woman in the room, but this was beyond normal.

Rick:

I’ve always thought the same thing. So, I’m glad you cover that and had fun doing that.

Eric Wilson:

Yeah, and when you read it I think, believe it or not, I think when you read this scene it makes a lot more sense and you’ll almost find yourself going, “€œBoy, that could have been me.”€ That was part of my goal with that and to get into his head and understand. It doesn’t mean I always agreed with the *, but at least I understood him more as I read it.

But For the Grace of God Go I

Rick:

Yeah, the older I get the more I’ve learned when I say, “€œWhat were you thinking?!”€, the next thought should be, “€œBut for the grace of God go I.”€

Eric Wilson:

Yeah, exactly.

Rick:

So, you really do have to understand it that way. Now, the movie will release nationwide February 16th. When is the book available and where can people get it?

Eric Wilson:

I believe the book comes out January 9th. You can get it on Amazon, any online retailer, of course, bookstores, Christian bookstores. Right now, probably the easiest way to get to it is to go to TheSamsonBook.com. And you can actually, pre-order it, get free sample chapters, music from the movie, there are some fun little giveaways there. And you can read a little bit more about the book, and about me, and see the trailer – that kind of stuff.

Rick:

Very cool. Very excited about sharing it with folks out there. It’s, the website is TheSamsonBook.com and you can actually preview a few of the chapters there on the website and get those downloads. And it will be available in just a few days from now and the movie itself will be out in February.

Eric Wilson, appreciate your work on this and thanks for coming on and sharing it with us today.

Eric Wilson:

Yeah, thank you so much for having me.

Rick:

Stay with us folks. We’ll be right back with David and Tim Barton.

Biographical Sketches

Hi friends! This is Tim Barton of WallBuilders.This is a time when most Americans don’t know much about American history or even heroes of the faith. I know, oftentimes as parents, we”€™re trying to find good content for our kids to read.

If you remember back in the Bible, the Book of Hebrews it has the Faith Hall of Fame, where they outlined the leaders of faith that had gone before them. Well,, this is something that as Americans we really want to go back and outline some of these heroes not just of American history, but heroes of Christianity and our faith as well.

I wanted to let you know about some biographical sketches we have available on our website. One is called, “€œThe Courageous Leaders Collection“€ and this collection includes people like Abigail Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Francis Scott Key, George Washington Carver, Susanna Wesley, even the Wright brothers.

There’s a second collection called, “€œHeroes of History“€ in this collection you read about people like Benjamin Franklin, Christopher Columbus, Daniel Boone, George Washington, Harriet Tubman, the list goes on and on.

This is a great collection for your young person to have and read. And it’s a providential view of American and Christian history. This is available at WallBuilders.com.

Rick:

Welcome back to WallBuilders Live. Thanks for staying with us and special thanks to Eric Wilson for joining us as well. Be sure and check out the book when it comes out in a week or so. We’ll have a link to the website today at our website, WallBuildersLive.com. And then the movie Samson coming out in February, a Pure Flix release.

The Cheese Factor

It will be available all across the country. And based on the trailer, that’s all I’ve seen so far, based on the trailer it looks like it’s going to be very good. David, Tim, we’ve — we”€™re back with David and Tim Barton by the way, we’ve joked in the past quite a bit about “€œChristian films”€ and the cheese factor being pretty high. When they try to put out something dramatic in the last few decades it hasn’t been great, but we’ve done better and better it seems like over the last few years. And you mentioned, David, at the beginning of the show that there haven’t been a lot of epic type Hollywood movies on Bible stories that have been done well and certainly not Biblically accurate.

David:

Well, we did have Noah that came out a few years ago. Of course, they said that was probably one of the greatest science fiction movies out.

Rick:

Right.

David:

It was supposed to be based on the Bible, they forgot to consult the Bible when they wrote the movie. They just used the name, so that one didn’t count.

Tim:

And, guys, let me throw too, I love the fact that we’re going back to the story of Samson. You know, Rick, even as Eric pointed out in the interview, it’s fun telling the story of a flawed individual because we can relate on some levels. Definitely a connection and a sense of, man, that this dude messed up and we can look at our life and go, man, have we messed up at times.

Rick:

Yeah.

How Much of the Story Can You Tell?

Tim:

But, I always, thinking about if you could make some of these Bible story movies, how much of the story can you tell and on what level can you tell it? Because I’m very curious with the movie, and even the book, when I read the story of Samson it reminds me of something like Braveheart or Gladiator on the sense of there are some fight scenes in this thing that should be rated R.

Rick:

Yeah, this is–

David:

Are you kidding? Taking the jawbone of a donkey and killing a thousand people with the jawbone of donkey–

Rick:

Yeah. This is not–

David:

If you show that fight, ooh.

Rick:

Yeah, our friend Cliff Graham he says, “€œThis is not Jesus petting lambs.”€ A lot of people think the whole Bible is just Jesus sitting around petting lambs. That’s not what’s happening here with Samson.

Tim:

Well, and so it will be very interesting. In the trailer, they had a brief glimpse of this jacked up dude as Sampson which I appreciate the fact that we have a * dude playing Samson, awesome. But, I’m very curious to see how some of this unfolds. Which, obviously as the book is coming out and kind of “€œfilling in gaps”€ of what things could have been and might have happened. And probably as, Rick, you said, kind of this faction where we’re keeping it as close to the Bible and then adding details that the Bible doesn’t give clarity on.

Where to Find the Cliff Notes Version

Tim:

Which by the way, any time you want to have the cliff notes version of this book you can just go to a Judges Chapter 13 through 16 and read the actual Biblical account of Samson. But it certainly is great that now you have a venue that is a fairly significant venue that is putting out a Biblical film. And again, we have not seen the film. Hopefully, they do an incredible job of keeping it Biblically accurate and yet telling a great story. Because there’s a lot of great story that can be told with even the redemption of Sampson at the end and coming back and asking God for help.

And he finally wants to fulfill what God created him to do and conquer the Philistines. But, it will be very interesting to see how this all unfolds.

David:

Well, it”€™s cool, too, because I’ve read that story so many times and I”€™ve always tried to look at it from different perspectives. Like if I were the Philistines and were messing with a dude like that how would I try to take him down and what would I do?

Tim:

With a bow and arrow from a very long distance.

Rick:

That”€™s right. Right.

David:

And you’re not sure that’s going to work. So, you look at it from the parents. If I were the parents, and you know how frustrated they would be because he gets into sleep with harlots and he’s not doing what he’s supposed to, but he’s got this commitment of a Nasserite.

Tim:

And he wants a wife from the one place you’re not supposed to get a wife. No, bro, look around you, see all these pretty girls, don’t go there. I can only imagine as a parent the frustration level that would be. Or even as a bystander if you’re watching this dude, this jacked up dude, and he”€™s ripping the gates off a city and walking off with them. And you’re going, “€œOh my gosh.”€

David:

Yeah, that”€™s right.

A Cool Redemption Element

Tim:

That is the biggest man or the strongest man ever. It really is interesting to see his story and the way it unfolds. And again, if you’re not familiar with the story, go to the Bible, go to the book of Judges, go to chapter 13 through 16, and you can read the story of this very flawed individual that God had sent to be the hero, to be the rescuer. And he just doesn’t really embrace what God created him to do and be until he”€™s tried every other venue. Nothing works.

Finally, when he’s enslaved at the end, he realizes, “€œThis is not where I’m supposed to be.”€ I mean, really, there’s a cool redemption element to the end. There’s a lot of sadness in the midst of it, but it’s great that this is now going to be something that has potential to reach millions and millions of people with this story.

Rick:

Yeah.

People Going in the Bible Direction Again

Tim:

So, I’m very excited to see what’s going to happen. And then even the book coming out, what details he’s going to add that’s beyond what’s in the movie, this is fun that people are going in the Bible direction again.

Rick:

And it’s coming from people with a Biblical worldview. You guys might remember a couple of weeks ago, we had Dallas Jenkins on that”€™s doing The Chosen. And one of the things he said was, “€œThese are movies and these are shows that need to be done by us.”€ In other words, by the church, by Biblical worldview people, and not by Hollywood who doesn’t get it. We’ve seen how much they’ve messed that up.

Look For The Great Movie Coming Out!

We were talking about that earlier in the program. So, it’s so cool that the dollars are being put behind a movie like this, but also being done from a Biblical worldview.

And, guys, one of the best lessons from Samson is when God said, “€œHey, he’s going to come and deliver you.”€ But that was 20 years- that”€™s a baby that He was saying that about. So, we need to be patient sometimes and not think the whole world’s going to change overnight. It”€™s another good lesson on that as well.

Guys, we’re out of time for today. The other links, both to the book and to the trailer for the movie, available at our website today so check it out at WallBuildersLive.com. Thanks to Eric Wilson for joining us. Thank you for listening to WallBuilders Live.