The Kid Synopsis Disney's THE KID is a delightful family fun fantasy picture that has something to say to the child in each one of us. At times hysterically funny then poignantly sweet, it does what it is designed to do -- entertain. Who better to judge the person we are than the child we used to be? Such is the premise behind the very amusing family comedy. Russ Duritz is a highly successful and affluent image consultant who spends his day telling other people how to change their lives for the better. Never mind that he does so in a heartless, non-compassionate manner... he gets results. And he is well rewarded for his efforts - nice home, fancy car, uncontrollable tick beneath his left eye. Enter Rusty, a pudgy, precocious 8 year old boy who sees through the materialistic trappings of Russ's life and realizes that Russ in nothing more than an unmarried 40 year old man who has a dopey job and a nervous twitch. Holy Smokes, he doesn't even have a dog! In other words, he's a loser. This is an opinion of great importance because due to some unexplained cosmic intervention, Rusty and Russ are one in the same person, separated by 32 years. Russ, who has spent a lifetime trying to forget his unhappy and embarrassing childhood, has also forgotten his childhood dreams. Rusty has not and he is not happy to learn that his adult life will apparently not contain the things that he is planning to do or have when he grows up. Both Russ and Rusty have something to teach the other before they can return to their respective times. The Message It is interesting that it takes a child to ignore the physical affluence of Russ's lifestyle and recognize that despite all his expensive adult "toys," in his heart, Russ is still unhappy. With so many in our culture coveting wealth and all the things that money can buy, we need to be reminded from time to time that money is not the way to happiness. In fact, oftentimes it will actually lead people away from true personal satisfaction. Rusty calls his adult personality "a loser" because he compromised all of the desires of his heart in order to become somebody different than the person he was. It matters little how much wealth is acquired if it comes at the cost of one's own soul. There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. Proverbs 13:7 (KJV) Ultimately, our lives will not be judged by how many things we have in our garage or how much money we have in our bank account. The key to a successful life is and always will be what we have and hold in our hearts. Scriptures Rev 3:17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Pro 22:5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will keep far from them. Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Problems People often come to God for a quick fix to their problems. Russ enters a therapist's office and asks for medication, not  therapy. The doctor doesn't understand why Russ won't sit down and talk about the problem. Russ refuses to sit because he's very happy with his life, and he's afraid that talking will force him to expose and deal with his past. All he wants is medication that will end his hallucinations of a phantom plane that's chasing him and the child who keeps appearing in his house. He needs some pills that will fix his problem on the way to work! This reminds me of my prayer life at times. Something outside of our control rocks the boat, and we desperately turn to God-not to hear his thoughts, but for a quick fix to the situation. God wants to help us deal with the root issues-not just help us solve the current situation. Unfortunately, our natural response is to demand immediate help, rather than stop and listen to a solution that requires actual work on our part over a long period of time.  Wisdom comes from listening to God's advice and not from demanding that he become our emotional janitor, quickly sweeping up the mess we leave behind. Discussion Questions:  ·What one problem in your life, past or present, do you wish God would erase? Explain. ·Why doesn't God just erase our problems? ·Read aloud Genesis 39:17-23. When have you seen God bring a great good out of a serious problem, as he did for Joseph? Gen 39:17 &ldots;, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to insult me; Gen 39:18 but as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled out of the house." Gen 39:19 When his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. Gen 39:20 And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. Gen 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Gen 39:22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's care all the prisoners who were in the prison; and whatever was done there, he was the doer of it; Gen 39:23 the keeper of the prison paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph's care, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper. ·What do you think God wants to teach you through the problem you wish he would erase? ·How does God want us to respond when we face problems? Other Topics for discussion Actions As Christians, it's important that all our actions match our words. Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5 Mat 7:1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. Mat 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Mat 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Mat 7:4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? Mat 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Everyone can spot blatant hypocrisy. We are challenged to strive for consistency between speech and actions and  to truly follow Christ by shunning all forms of hypocrisy. Discussion Questions:  ·How did the coach display hypocrisy in this scene? ·What are other forms of hypocrisy that you've see in everyday life? ·Why do you think it's so easy for us to become a hypocritical? ·Read aloud Matthew 7:1-5. As Christians, what makes hypocrisy especially damaging for us? Mat 7:1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. Mat 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Mat 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Mat 7:4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? Mat 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. ·Is it possible to live a hypocrisy-free life? Why or why not? ·Do you have any "logs" in your life? If so, what practical steps can you can take to live more authentically? OUR WORD TO THE WISE:  Comedy: Two versions of the same person learn something about themselves when a high-powered businessman meets himself as he was when he was eight-years-old. Language is what earns the film its rating and consists of various colorful phrases that are generally mild for what's commonly found in a PG film. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, including the adult protagonist who's cold, demeaning and occasionally disrespectful to others. Violence consists of a brief fight between schoolboys, a father briefly reprimanding his son and some accidental hitting, and some of those scenes might be a tiny bit suspenseful to the youngest of kids. Meanwhile, some behavior that occurs in the film might prove to be enticing to imitate to impressionable kids. Some tense family moments are present (including talk of a boy's mother dying and him being afraid of not being perfect in front of his father), while some "adult" comments are made and a few characters briefly drink. Beyond that, the film's remaining categories have little or nothing in the way of major objectionable content. Nonetheless, should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for anyone in your home, we suggest that you more closely examine our detailed content listings. BLOOD/GORE  ·We see Rusty and Russ standing at urinals in a restroom, but don't see or hear anything related to bodily functions. ·After getting into a fight, Rusty has a tiny bit of blood from his nose while a bully has a little bit of a bloody lip. PROFANITY  ·2 uses of "Oh my God" and 1 use each of "God" and "My God" as exclamations. SEX/NUDITY  ·While reluctantly visiting a psychiatrist, Russ mentions that he's not going to talk about the hypothetical example of seeing his mother naked in the shower. He then adds that among the many vices he does not have is possessing a closet full of ladies undergarments. He then goes on to talk about the guy in a plane he's seeing (to which she makes a note and he then clarifies that by saying it's not that kind of "seeing" - meaning a gay reference). ·Kenny's fiancée shows some cleavage.  ·While asking Russ about his future, Rusty wonders when he'll get a hickey.