courage | Heartstone Journey

What The Movie Gladiator Can Teach Us About Ourselves!

Recently watched the movie Gladiator, which is in my top five favorites along side Braveheart, Last of The Mohicans and Passion of the Christ.

For those who have not seen this epic movie, here is a brief walk through of the movie.

The movie is set in the second century A.D. and tells the epic story of a warrior from Spain called Maximus. He is a commanding general of the Roman armies and is adored by his men and by the aging emperor Marcus Aurelius. The plot thickens when the emperor’s son Commodus learns of his fathers plan to make Maximus keeper of Rome so that rule might pass from the Caesars back to the people and Senate.

Before Marcus can name his successor, Commodus devastated my the disapproval and love of his father strangles him and declares himself emperor. When Maximus doesn’t acknowledge Commodus as emporor, Commodus sentenced Maximus to death and his wife and son to crucifixion and burning.

Are You Living Life, Fully Alive?

For those of us who live in the United States we are celebrating July 4th. Wikipedia describes this event as follows. Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Spending time with family and friends. Having a cookout. Going to see a fireworks display.

Have you paused and thought about the significance of this day? Do you even remember the courage, resolve and the sacrifice that hangs in the shadows of this day? What is it that drives this level of resolve, courage and sacrifice?

#003: What I Learned From Life’s Struggles [Podcast]

I had the honor of being a guest on a Fire Press Radio podcast with missionary and author Steve Bremner. Join our conversation as we walk through places in my book Heartstone: A Journey Out of the Midnight of My Soul and some things I learned from life’s struggles.

As I was reflecting on my journey, I thought to myself, can God take the clutter of our lives, with everything seemingly stacked against it and redeem it?

Kris Vallotton

It’s not how many years that are left in your life but how much life that is left in your years that matters!

What I Learned From Jumping Out Of A Plane

The trees were proudly parading their vivid colors that warm and inviting autumn day in October of 2003 as I headed out to Orange, Massachusetts, to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Upon my arrival to the jump school, an employee with a detached personality and a large Mohawk haircut handed me a phonebook-size bundle of paperwork so I could begin the long process of signing my life away; so I wouldn’t hold the jump school responsible if I ended up a human pancake.

If that wasn’t enough, the whole family decided to show up to see if I would really follow through with this incredibly crazy stunt, which meant there was no way I could chicken out. You know, we men have our pride.

What The Movie Gladiator Can Teach Us About Ourselves!

Are You Living Life, Fully Alive?

#003: What I Learned From Life’s Struggles [Podcast]

Kris Vallotton

What I Learned From Jumping Out Of A Plane

Favorite Quotes

Cool Scripture

Never Out Of The Fight!

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