The success of the recently released movie, TOP GUN: MAVERICK, seems to have stunned most everyone except those who produced, directed, and/or starred in it. The highest-grossing film of 2022 has now taken in $709.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $754.2 million in other territories, for a phenomenal worldwide total of $1.464 billion. And this does not include home video releases, which is available later this year!
After passing the $800 million worldwide, it also became the highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise's illustrious career, proving that at age 60, the versatile actor still has “leading man” star power. His 53 films to date have grossed over $4 billion in North America and over $11.1 billion worldwide.
His accolades include an Honorary Palme d'Or and three Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards. All total, he has received 103 film nominations and won 38.
Obviously, when stars reach this level of accomplishment and notoriety, they are accustomed to having things their way. The same may well be true for Cruise. A quick Google search will reveal how many times he has infamously had issues with film fellow actors and/or crews over their not having met his expectations.
But even a star of his magnitude does not always get to have things his way. Witness a recent news article captioned “Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible 8' Set Interrupted by a Flock of Sheep”. Apparently, Cruise and the rest of the cast had to pause production after a run-in with a flock of sheep in the Lake District in England.
The crew was in the middle of filming a sequence for “Mission: Impossible ― Dead Reckoning ― Part Two” when the massive flock of sheep invaded the set. All the actor and others present could do was laugh as they were forced to make way for the animals to pass.
As I read this article, I reflected on the power of humble sheep. One sheep alone is not much of a force to be reckoned with. But when numerous sheep come together to form a flock, it becomes a different matter. And when that flock grows to the size that it is described as “massive”, it does indeed become a force with which to be reckoned.
Such notions have particular meaning when we remember that the followers of Jesus Christ were likened by Him (in the New Testament Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 14) to be sheep, with Him as their Great Shepherd. That same Jesus told us (in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 10, verse 16) that His followers were being sent out by Him as sheep among wolves.
Of course, in time, those very sheep were going to disrupt the world’s agenda – so much so that the New Testament Book of Acts (in chapter 17, verse 6) tells us that the people of Thessalonica in ancient Greece referred to the followers of Christ as people “who have turned the world upside down”.
Jesus Himself told His followers not to be surprised if they faced opposition in this world. After, as He stated in the Gospel of John (chapter 15, verse 18), long before it hated His followers, the world first hated Him! And yet, He overcame the world.
For this reason, as followers of Jesus Christ - that is to say, as sheep of the Great Shepherd Himself - we can and do have victories in His name. Moreover, such victories are often made more likely when we band together as one. Truly, there is strength in numbers. This is especially true when we remember that Jesus assured us that “where two or three are gathered together, there will I be also”! Indeed, if our God be for us, then who can be against us?!
Perhaps such thoughts should be on our minds as we go forth into the world and enter everywhere from the marketplace to the voting booth. Wise old King Solomon once said: “Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken!” If this is true, and it certainly is, then imagine the power of a “massive” flock of sheep working together as one body while the Evil One is forced to stand by with his own plans undercut and thwarted!
Remember… sheep count!
STORY SOURCE:
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/tom-cruise-mission-impossible-set-
interrupted-sheep-flock. Fox News' Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report. The writer, Janelle Ash, is an entertainment reporter for Fox News Digital.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://biblehub.com/john/10-14.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/10.htm;
https://biblehub.com/acts/17-6.htm;
https://biblehub.com/john/15-18.htm;
https://biblehub.com/matthew/18-20.htm;
https://biblehub.com/romans/8-31.htm;
https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/4-12.htm.
SEE ALSO:
https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/that-loving-feeling.
After passing the $800 million worldwide, it also became the highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise's illustrious career, proving that at age 60, the versatile actor still has “leading man” star power. His 53 films to date have grossed over $4 billion in North America and over $11.1 billion worldwide.
His accolades include an Honorary Palme d'Or and three Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards. All total, he has received 103 film nominations and won 38.
Obviously, when stars reach this level of accomplishment and notoriety, they are accustomed to having things their way. The same may well be true for Cruise. A quick Google search will reveal how many times he has infamously had issues with film fellow actors and/or crews over their not having met his expectations.
But even a star of his magnitude does not always get to have things his way. Witness a recent news article captioned “Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible 8' Set Interrupted by a Flock of Sheep”. Apparently, Cruise and the rest of the cast had to pause production after a run-in with a flock of sheep in the Lake District in England.
The crew was in the middle of filming a sequence for “Mission: Impossible ― Dead Reckoning ― Part Two” when the massive flock of sheep invaded the set. All the actor and others present could do was laugh as they were forced to make way for the animals to pass.
As I read this article, I reflected on the power of humble sheep. One sheep alone is not much of a force to be reckoned with. But when numerous sheep come together to form a flock, it becomes a different matter. And when that flock grows to the size that it is described as “massive”, it does indeed become a force with which to be reckoned.
Such notions have particular meaning when we remember that the followers of Jesus Christ were likened by Him (in the New Testament Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 14) to be sheep, with Him as their Great Shepherd. That same Jesus told us (in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 10, verse 16) that His followers were being sent out by Him as sheep among wolves.
Of course, in time, those very sheep were going to disrupt the world’s agenda – so much so that the New Testament Book of Acts (in chapter 17, verse 6) tells us that the people of Thessalonica in ancient Greece referred to the followers of Christ as people “who have turned the world upside down”.
Jesus Himself told His followers not to be surprised if they faced opposition in this world. After, as He stated in the Gospel of John (chapter 15, verse 18), long before it hated His followers, the world first hated Him! And yet, He overcame the world.
For this reason, as followers of Jesus Christ - that is to say, as sheep of the Great Shepherd Himself - we can and do have victories in His name. Moreover, such victories are often made more likely when we band together as one. Truly, there is strength in numbers. This is especially true when we remember that Jesus assured us that “where two or three are gathered together, there will I be also”! Indeed, if our God be for us, then who can be against us?!
Perhaps such thoughts should be on our minds as we go forth into the world and enter everywhere from the marketplace to the voting booth. Wise old King Solomon once said: “Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken!” If this is true, and it certainly is, then imagine the power of a “massive” flock of sheep working together as one body while the Evil One is forced to stand by with his own plans undercut and thwarted!
Remember… sheep count!
STORY SOURCE:
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/tom-cruise-mission-impossible-set-
interrupted-sheep-flock. Fox News' Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report. The writer, Janelle Ash, is an entertainment reporter for Fox News Digital.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://biblehub.com/john/10-14.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/10.htm;
https://biblehub.com/acts/17-6.htm;
https://biblehub.com/john/15-18.htm;
https://biblehub.com/matthew/18-20.htm;
https://biblehub.com/romans/8-31.htm;
https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/4-12.htm.
SEE ALSO:
https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/that-loving-feeling.