Archive for Jesus
Movie Reviews
Herbie Fully Loaded – 4/5 Really Liked It
Watched this because Tonia and Tanner were watching it for the 17th time one evening. It was surprisingly fun to watch. It had that mac guy in it (who was great) and Lindsay Lohan showed what could have been had she not taken the paths she took later in life.
The Constant Gardner – 4/5 Really Liked It
Slowly paced but in the end you’ll be happy you saw this one. It’s a great love story, as well as a great testament to taking action against injustice. To my surprise there was very little gardening going on.
What Would Jesus Buy? – 3/5 Liked It
Could have been so much better. I agreed with the premise, and I even laughed a few times, but it was lacking that punch that could have made this a real winner. It did reinvigorate my quest to kill santa however.
Walk Hard – 3/5 Liked It
I laughed out loud a lot during this movie, especially during the first 30 minutes as they parodied Walk The Line. But then they started showing male appendages and I did a few dry heaves. It also seemed to drag on there at the end, which is weird for a 90 minute movie.
Kite Runner – 5/5 Loved It
It took a good 10 minutes to get used to the sub-titles, but this was a great movie. I may end up reading the book even though I know how it turns out. It’s just a well done movie of a really great story.
Punch-Drunk Love – 3/5 Liked It
Quirky movie, but after it gets rolling the second half is pretty good and you find yourself enjoying the characters. Adam Sandler did a really good job in this one.
Stealth – 2/5 Didn’t Like It
A Tonia special—she loves the action flicks. Too bad this movie sucked. It’s hard to imagine given the stellar cast, but man… so bad. Possibly the worst ending line in a movie ever. I did have fun laughing at it with Tonia though.
The Insider – 4/5 Really Liked It
How can you go wrong with Russell Crowe and Al Pacino? I’m not sure how I missed this movie nine years ago, but it didn’t disappoint. It’s kinda scary how powerful the tobacco companies are. Major props to guys like Jeffrey Wigand who are willing to put their lives on the line for what’s right.
Hope, In Perspective
By: Becky Garrison
Here in Manhattan, the city streets hum with hope following the announcement of the first African American to be nominated for president by a major political party. According to news reports, similar scenarios are taking place across the world. As we celebrate this historical moment in electoral politics, Sara Cunningham, author of Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation, offers this cautionary tale to her fellow Christians:
When we market ourselves as the hope of the world, or when we believe that other humans hold the hope of the world for us, without proper acknowledgement of Christ as our source, we foster disillusionment.
So how do we keep this hope alive should one’s preferred candidate not win the coveted presidential prize? My prayer is that regardless of who resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, we can keep singing a hopeful tune. As I’ve reported elsewhere on the blog, I keep seeing glimpses of the kingdom here on earth that are led not by polticos but by ordinary radicals who are transformed by the words of Jesus Christ. My buddy Shane Claiborne reminds us all, “No matter who is elected on Nov. 4, what matters is how we live our lives as faithful Christians on Nov. 3 and 5.”
Sara Cunningham concurs with Shane’s assessment:
We Christians were never the hope. Yes, we were and are carriers of the hope. But we ourselves are only reflections—often dim reflections—of the hope we internalize: Jesus Christ.
In his latest book, Surprised by Hope, N.T. Wright explores how we as Christians can implement this hope here on earth. He reminds us:
The kingdom will come as the church, energized by the Spirit, goes out into the world, vulnerable, suffering, praising, praying, misunderstood, misjudged, vindicated, celebrating: always—as Paul puts it in one of his letters—bearing the body of the dying of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed.
So, as we see hopeful signs all around us, let us remember that as Christians our declaration of hope lies ultimately with the Risen Christ.
(Copied in full from Becky Garrison’s post on the God’s Politics blog.)
Joy Apparel
I just ordered a shirt from my new friend Jeff from Joy Apparel.
Joy apparel is a socially conscious t-shirt company created to promote peace and equality on a global scale. Here’s how it works.
1. Visit JoyTshirt.com
2. Pick a face (and passion)
3. Pick a color and size
4. Wait for your shirt to arrive
5. Wear your shirt and think about the person on your heart
6. Submit a photo of yourself for rest of the world to wear
When I was picking mine out I wanted a good passion to go with the face. It was great fun looking through all of the different passions each person stated. After a tough decsion I landed on Tim Mann from Toronto. His passion was simple and pretty close to one I would state — Music. Jesus. Loving People.
What’s your passion?
Come All You Weary
Come All You Weary — Thrice
Come all you weary with your heavy loads
Lay down your burdens find rest for your souls
Cause my yoke is easy and my burden is kind
I’ll take yours upon me and you can take mineCome all you weary, move through the earth,
You’ve been spurned at fine restaurants & kicked out of church;
I’ve got a couple of loaves, so sit down at my feet,
lend me your ears and we’ll break bread and eatCome all you weary
Come gather round near me
Find rest for your soulsCome all you weary, crippled you lay
I’ll help you along you can lay down your canes
We’ve got a long way to go but we’ll travel as friends
The lights growing bright further up, further inCome all you weary
Come gather round near me
Find rest for your soulsRest for your souls
Come all you weary
Come gather round near me
Come all you weary
Come gather round near me
Find rest for your souls
Rest for your souls
Rest for your soulsRest for your souls
PFP Reviewed: Chapter Four
Peppermint-Filled Piñatas
Chapter Four: A Fellowship of Freaks
Finding a Common Cause to Create Community
To move out of our rut and routine, we should look to connect with others through a cause, hobby, or area of passion. Because cause creates community.
When I read this chapter all I could think about was my dad (and Paul), and all the different hats he puts on with the sole purpose of connecting with someone on a deeper level. He’s well known for working on peoples cars just to create a more inviting environment for others to be real. And just recently he told of a story how he was trying to develop a relationship with a bee keeper, so he dove in head first and learned everything he could about keeping bees. He even dawned the appropriate gear and had his own bee colonies.
For many of us, our cause remains too small. Survival binds some of our churches together, yet in order to thrive we must change our priorities. When our cause focuses inward, we develop unhealthy relationships.
This cuts pretty deep for most churches. We need to be constantly looking for opportunities to connect with others that aren’t a part of the body of Christ. Jesus spent most of his time with people like that. Why do we act just the opposite?
What are your causes that foster relationship development?
Related:
PFP Reviewed: Introduction
PFP Reviewed: Chapter One
PFP Reviewed: Chapter Two
PFP Reviewed: Chapter Three
PFP Reviewed: Chapter Three
Peppermint-Filled Piñatas
Chapter Three: Peppermint-Filled Piñatas
Partying to Expand Our Influence
This is one of my favorite chapters in the book. I mean who doesn’t enjoy a call to party more? Eric challenges us to throw more parties, as well as to accept invitations to more parties. It actually reminds me a lot of what my buddy Brandon talked about in this post. He hosts events at his house at least twice a month where he invites a broad spectrum of friends—college students, photographers, theology majors, working professionals, elders, and preachers all come together in an informal setting. In his words, “…its been our experience that when we do that, really good things happen.”
The world too often sees the invitation to connect to the church as irrelevant or at best as involving a cumbersome process. People have to learn our religious language, sing our songs, and discuss our topics. For those who make the effort to connect with us, we reward them with rules, traditions, and conditional acceptance, yet Jesus offered grace, forgiveness, and love. Rather than religion, Jesus offers relationship. As part of the body called the church, we need to strive to eliminate barriers that keep others from connecting with our community and connecting with Jesus.
The story at the end of this chapter will change your perspective about accepting invitations to things you really don’t want to do. As a matter of fact, just tonight my wife Tonia was considering backing out of an invitation to hang out with some friends and their friends this weekend because we’re getting a little backed up in house work. I would have nothing of it because this application is still fresh in my mind. I am now actively pursuing opportunities to hang with people I don’t know. To build and strengthen relationships.
Ultimately, we need to reorient our lives so that we begin to invest in the people we already know and start investing in people who need a friend.
Related:
PFP Reviewed: Introduction
PFP Reviewed: Chapter One
PFP Reviewed: Chapter Two
