What a fight! Chuck Liddell has fist of stone. He is a brawler for sure, poor Ortiz put up a good fight but was no match in the end for the Iceman's two sledge hammers for fists. First round had Ortiz bleeding and on the ground getting pounded by a locomotive of a man. The dude is awesome to watch.
The UFC has cleaned up its act and put some good rules and restraints into the matches. It is not for everyone but if you like martial arts, boxing, wrestling and on the edge of your seat action...UFC is the place to see it.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
unexpected tears...
One of the things that I have been able to see in my visits with people who have been to Burma and in the Karen sate, is the beauty of the natural area. I've seen some recent video inside the conflict area and have been surprised by the country's lush wildness.
I can see that longing for the mountains, dirt trails, the open spaces, the trees, the small creeks and the fishing in the faces and voices of the Karen refugees here. I cant wait for it to warm up so we can take them out and into the rivers and the lakes to swim, walk and rest in the quiet...a small but hopefully rejuvenating experience for them.
There is such loss in all of this forced resettling for the refugees...home is such a powerful thing and to lose it or have it driven out of your life, taken from you or burned to the ground has far reaching effects on the soul and heart of a people.
I see this especially in the eyes of Haley the 12 year old son of Moon Light....the loss of friends and playmates, of home, of simply understanding...is caught in the far off look in his face at times.
It is a look that....well, is just...sadness.
Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are, but more often than not God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from and is summoning you to where, if your soul is to be saved, you should go to next. --Frederick Buechner
I pray they find that way.
I can see that longing for the mountains, dirt trails, the open spaces, the trees, the small creeks and the fishing in the faces and voices of the Karen refugees here. I cant wait for it to warm up so we can take them out and into the rivers and the lakes to swim, walk and rest in the quiet...a small but hopefully rejuvenating experience for them.
There is such loss in all of this forced resettling for the refugees...home is such a powerful thing and to lose it or have it driven out of your life, taken from you or burned to the ground has far reaching effects on the soul and heart of a people.
I see this especially in the eyes of Haley the 12 year old son of Moon Light....the loss of friends and playmates, of home, of simply understanding...is caught in the far off look in his face at times.
It is a look that....well, is just...sadness.
Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are, but more often than not God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from and is summoning you to where, if your soul is to be saved, you should go to next. --Frederick Buechner
I pray they find that way.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Flashes of Fire...
. . . . and with eyes
of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,
And meek surrender, half-embracing lean'd
On our first father, half her swelling breast
Naked met his under the flowing gold
Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight
Both of her beauty and submissive charms
Smil'd with superior love, as Jupiter
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds
That shed May flowers; and press'd her matron lip
With kisses pure: aside the devil turn'd
For envy. . . . (Milton, Paradise Lost, IV, 492-503)
I have recently been delving into the works of Rodin, master sculpture and a old dead dude that could make your blood boil with his hammer and chisel! The man was on fire.
"Art can never exist without naked beauty displayed" -William Blake
It amazes me how frigid most christians are about sexuality when one of the most sensual and erotic books on the subject is in the Bible. The Song of Songs is a romp through the passions of marital pleasure and yet, we act like sex is somehow ungodly. Or at least it's insinuated to be lower nature impulses that need to be hidden in the basement like the red headed step child; instead of a gift worth celebrating.
Speaking about love and it's many faces, Solomon spoke of it's combustible nature when he testified: "It's flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord." -Songs 8:6
Notice the ease in which he speaks of the the surging passions of love and God. The two are not cloven as they are in the church. Fire is dangerous, it can harm, destroy and consume a fertile plain and make it a smoldering field of ashes. But it can also awaken the soul with it's light. It's steam has propelled mighty vessels with it's power. It's warmth makes the cold of life bearable and it's dancing magic offers respite from the haunting shadows of night.
Our God is a consuming fire according to the writer of Hebrews; a reflection of which we can experience in the smoldering bosom of our passions. It's a wonder being created in the image of God and this side of God is a mystery indeed!
of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,
And meek surrender, half-embracing lean'd
On our first father, half her swelling breast
Naked met his under the flowing gold
Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight
Both of her beauty and submissive charms
Smil'd with superior love, as Jupiter
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds
That shed May flowers; and press'd her matron lip
With kisses pure: aside the devil turn'd
For envy. . . . (Milton, Paradise Lost, IV, 492-503)
I have recently been delving into the works of Rodin, master sculpture and a old dead dude that could make your blood boil with his hammer and chisel! The man was on fire.
"Art can never exist without naked beauty displayed" -William Blake
It amazes me how frigid most christians are about sexuality when one of the most sensual and erotic books on the subject is in the Bible. The Song of Songs is a romp through the passions of marital pleasure and yet, we act like sex is somehow ungodly. Or at least it's insinuated to be lower nature impulses that need to be hidden in the basement like the red headed step child; instead of a gift worth celebrating.
Speaking about love and it's many faces, Solomon spoke of it's combustible nature when he testified: "It's flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord." -Songs 8:6
Notice the ease in which he speaks of the the surging passions of love and God. The two are not cloven as they are in the church. Fire is dangerous, it can harm, destroy and consume a fertile plain and make it a smoldering field of ashes. But it can also awaken the soul with it's light. It's steam has propelled mighty vessels with it's power. It's warmth makes the cold of life bearable and it's dancing magic offers respite from the haunting shadows of night.
Our God is a consuming fire according to the writer of Hebrews; a reflection of which we can experience in the smoldering bosom of our passions. It's a wonder being created in the image of God and this side of God is a mystery indeed!
UFC 66
Liddell VS Ortiz, this Saturday night at my house.
6:30 PM, bring a snack or drink if you wish.
6:30 PM, bring a snack or drink if you wish.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Conan reborn...
Here is a great article on another of my favorite artists: Cary Nord:
http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/?p=331
He is one of the lead artists in a new series on Conan the Barbarian graphic novels. Issue one and two have been out and I am awaiting number three in May. His work is very Frazetta like...manly, monstrous men, full figured, beautiful women(no puny, sickly waifs here), intense battles with art and striking coloring that is superb.
http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/?p=331
He is one of the lead artists in a new series on Conan the Barbarian graphic novels. Issue one and two have been out and I am awaiting number three in May. His work is very Frazetta like...manly, monstrous men, full figured, beautiful women(no puny, sickly waifs here), intense battles with art and striking coloring that is superb.
Frank Frazetta
Here is a great 3 part article on Frank Frazetta, my personal favorite fantasy artist of all time.
part one: http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/?p=341
part two http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/?p=344
part three http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/?p=343
part one: http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/?p=341
part two http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/?p=344
part three http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/?p=343
self portrait
This is one of the gifts I gave my wife LeeElla for Christmas...a self portrait done in pencil and charcoal.
It comes from one of her favorite pictures of me that was taken at a friends pool. We had taken the kids there on a hot afternoon and were having a grand old time. This came out amazingly well considering faces are real difficult for me to do at this point. I was pleased.
It comes from one of her favorite pictures of me that was taken at a friends pool. We had taken the kids there on a hot afternoon and were having a grand old time. This came out amazingly well considering faces are real difficult for me to do at this point. I was pleased.
Monday, December 25, 2006
300 spartans
After seeing the trailer for the movie "300" I decided to read a historical novel on the battle. In the book is a quote from the Spartan Leonidas to the invading Persian king Xerxes when told to lay down their arms. "come and get them" was the Spartans reply. Looks like a good read.
Those who sit in darkness...
"The Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." -Luke 1:78-79
This is one of the main verses I spoke on yesterday. A message about the dawn of God that was found in the face of Christ. Trying with all my might to help capture the hope that was and is pregnant in the above verse. Christ is the dawn of God and the gospel is the good news that the Light of God has come. As I preach, I often wonder if the same inspiration that is released like a fragrant flower to me in the verses...is as intoxicating to those hearing.
It's impossible to pass on revelation, we can only pray that the same light we encounter by His Spirit through His word will be ignited in the minds and hearts of those listening.
Yesterday after the message a man came up and stood before me. He was taller than me and he looked just like the picture of this man.
Hard and worn...he stood there silent more than anything else.
You never know what someone is going to say in those moments until you look into their eyes.
He didn't say much and didn't really know what to say other than in a slightly hushed tone..."I am really glad I came today". I could sense the spiritual weight that is present in a moment when something is taking place that is the work of the Holy Spirit. So as he started to withdraw, I reached out and asked if I could pray for him. He said yes and I laid my hands on this big man's shoulder and I prayed.
As I ended and looked at him, his eyes were melting before me.
Tears were rolling down his leathered face, trailing downward in the deep lines in his cheeks, that seemed more like canals than wrinkles.
Moments like those are holy.
You can see "the way of peace" being opened right before you and...you can perceive shadows passing.
This is one of the main verses I spoke on yesterday. A message about the dawn of God that was found in the face of Christ. Trying with all my might to help capture the hope that was and is pregnant in the above verse. Christ is the dawn of God and the gospel is the good news that the Light of God has come. As I preach, I often wonder if the same inspiration that is released like a fragrant flower to me in the verses...is as intoxicating to those hearing.
It's impossible to pass on revelation, we can only pray that the same light we encounter by His Spirit through His word will be ignited in the minds and hearts of those listening.
Yesterday after the message a man came up and stood before me. He was taller than me and he looked just like the picture of this man.
Hard and worn...he stood there silent more than anything else.
You never know what someone is going to say in those moments until you look into their eyes.
He didn't say much and didn't really know what to say other than in a slightly hushed tone..."I am really glad I came today". I could sense the spiritual weight that is present in a moment when something is taking place that is the work of the Holy Spirit. So as he started to withdraw, I reached out and asked if I could pray for him. He said yes and I laid my hands on this big man's shoulder and I prayed.
As I ended and looked at him, his eyes were melting before me.
Tears were rolling down his leathered face, trailing downward in the deep lines in his cheeks, that seemed more like canals than wrinkles.
Moments like those are holy.
You can see "the way of peace" being opened right before you and...you can perceive shadows passing.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Navigator...or you can call me The Skipper.
In order to discover new lands, one must be willing to boldly lose sight of the shore for a very long time...
navigator |ˈnaviˌgātər|
noun: a person who directs the route or course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transportation, esp. by using instruments and maps...steersman, pilot, guide, wheelman.
It amazes me how frightened people are of new things....even old words applied in new ways.
I heard that some people "out there" got all bent out of shape because I have used the word "navigator" to describe the work and way of a pastor or leader. Ummm...read the above dictionary meaning folks...I think it applies quite correctly.
It is this kind of thinking and paranoid nit picking that keeps many people far from our doors. I am so glad that the people we are in community with are of a different mindset and heart. If we are to reach this generation we must be willing to dare, to stretch, change and sacrifice some things we are familiar with. In every karos moment of history there were those who feared and those who dared.
We are children of the new creation...that means "newness of life" is in our redeemed blood. We are ushering in a kingdom that is not of this world. We are releasing a new dawn that will extinguish this present darkness and result in a new earth and new heavens in the age to come. We live on the crest of a crashing wave of God that will one day culminate in the realization of a dream that has been dreamt by God alone.
The torn veil in the temple on the day Christ died was as much about God getting out as us getting in. That is wildly unpredictable and daring!
The word of God says: God has not given us a spirit of fear that leads to slavery again. Those who have tasted freedom know the prison fear creates and flee those who use fear to control, malign and poison.
God help those who are sailing with such people...in the end they sink ships.
Beware fellow travelers: The guns they point at others will someday point at you!
God never intended churches to be places of safety and predictability. We’ve taken Jesus’ barbarian call and have sanitized it into a religion we call Christianity; a far cry from the movement we see in the apostolic church...Jesus wants to pull us out of the doldrums of this civilized and tamed religion of mediocrity. He wants to release us to become an uncivilized, untamed incitement of faith, love and hope and reclaim that primal passion to serve a lost and broken humanity...designed to unleash the barbaric faith within the hearts of leaders and cultivate the dreams lying latent in their souls.
(from: Mosaic)
navigator |ˈnaviˌgātər|
noun: a person who directs the route or course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transportation, esp. by using instruments and maps...steersman, pilot, guide, wheelman.
It amazes me how frightened people are of new things....even old words applied in new ways.
I heard that some people "out there" got all bent out of shape because I have used the word "navigator" to describe the work and way of a pastor or leader. Ummm...read the above dictionary meaning folks...I think it applies quite correctly.
It is this kind of thinking and paranoid nit picking that keeps many people far from our doors. I am so glad that the people we are in community with are of a different mindset and heart. If we are to reach this generation we must be willing to dare, to stretch, change and sacrifice some things we are familiar with. In every karos moment of history there were those who feared and those who dared.
We are children of the new creation...that means "newness of life" is in our redeemed blood. We are ushering in a kingdom that is not of this world. We are releasing a new dawn that will extinguish this present darkness and result in a new earth and new heavens in the age to come. We live on the crest of a crashing wave of God that will one day culminate in the realization of a dream that has been dreamt by God alone.
The torn veil in the temple on the day Christ died was as much about God getting out as us getting in. That is wildly unpredictable and daring!
The word of God says: God has not given us a spirit of fear that leads to slavery again. Those who have tasted freedom know the prison fear creates and flee those who use fear to control, malign and poison.
God help those who are sailing with such people...in the end they sink ships.
Beware fellow travelers: The guns they point at others will someday point at you!
God never intended churches to be places of safety and predictability. We’ve taken Jesus’ barbarian call and have sanitized it into a religion we call Christianity; a far cry from the movement we see in the apostolic church...Jesus wants to pull us out of the doldrums of this civilized and tamed religion of mediocrity. He wants to release us to become an uncivilized, untamed incitement of faith, love and hope and reclaim that primal passion to serve a lost and broken humanity...designed to unleash the barbaric faith within the hearts of leaders and cultivate the dreams lying latent in their souls.
(from: Mosaic)
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
Painting surpasses all human works...
Painting surpasses all human works by the subtle considerations belonging to it. The eye, which is called the window of the soul, is the principle means by which the central sense can most completely and abundantly appreciate the infinite works of nature and the ear is the second, which acquires dignity by hearing of the things the eye has seen. If you, historians or poets or mathematicians had not seen things with your eyes you could not report of them in writing. And if you, O poet, tell a story with your pen, the painter with his brush can tell it more easily, with simpler completeness and less tedious to be understood. And if you call painting dumb poetry, the painter may call poetry blind painting. Now which is the worse defect? To be blind or dumb? Though the poet is as free as the painter in the invention of his fictions they are not so satisfactory to men as painting; for, though poetry is able to describe forms, actions and places in words, the painter deals with the actual similitude of the forms, in order to represent them. Now tell me which is nearer to the actual man; the name of man or the image of man. The name of man differs in different countries, but his form is never changed but by death....though you may be able to tell or write the exact description of forms, the painter can so depict them that they will appear alive, with the shadow and light which show the expression of a face; which you cannot accomplish with the pen though it can be achieved by the brush. -Leonardo da Vinci "from his notebooks".
Dylan in black
Here is a recent charcoal piece I completed for my upcoming showing at Jacob's Well January 5th, at 7PM, during our "First Friday...on the other side of the tracks" . An artist reception and live music night that we put on every First Friday of the month.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
A must see for me in 2007!
One of my favorite quotes is in this upcoming movie:
"Our enemies are before us," exclaimed the Spartans at Thermopylae.
"And we are before them." was the cool reply of Leonidas.
"Deliver your arms," came the message from Xerxes.
"Come and take them," was the answer Leonidas sent back.
A persian soldier said: "You will not be able to see the sun for flying javelins and arrows."
"Then we will fight in the shade," replied a Lacedemonian.
(From "Pushing to the Front" by Orison Sweet Marden)
300 is based on the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller. 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valour and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy.
You can see two trailers here:
http://300themovie.warnerbros.com/
"Our enemies are before us," exclaimed the Spartans at Thermopylae.
"And we are before them." was the cool reply of Leonidas.
"Deliver your arms," came the message from Xerxes.
"Come and take them," was the answer Leonidas sent back.
A persian soldier said: "You will not be able to see the sun for flying javelins and arrows."
"Then we will fight in the shade," replied a Lacedemonian.
(From "Pushing to the Front" by Orison Sweet Marden)
300 is based on the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller. 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valour and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy.
You can see two trailers here:
http://300themovie.warnerbros.com/
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
The vampire strikes back
You dont know the power of the darkside...
This blasted pestilence keeps descending on my poor little flesh. This time everything didn't expand like a small volcano thank God. But instead it just looks like I got tagged with some lead in the hood. I guess that is what I will tell people...I got these in a drive by.
Or...there's an urban vampire on the loose that has some nasty meth eaten fangs that after he bites...you get infected.
This blasted pestilence keeps descending on my poor little flesh. This time everything didn't expand like a small volcano thank God. But instead it just looks like I got tagged with some lead in the hood. I guess that is what I will tell people...I got these in a drive by.
Or...there's an urban vampire on the loose that has some nasty meth eaten fangs that after he bites...you get infected.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Our first...First Friday
First step in realizing a dream of opening a gallery & acoustic cafe will happen January 5th here at Jacob's Well. I will be exhibiting my art and Kristen Marlo will be playing and singing afterwards. We already have February booked and are looking to secure artists for upcoming first Fridays as well.
It didn't save this soul....
I got a email today from Relevant magazine and in it they had an article about the 16 best films of the year. Number 5 stuck in my craw like a broken chicken bone and I had to write a letter to the editor....
#5
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada: A beautiful, slow-burning drama about love between friends, the length to which loyalty should be prepared to go and how sometimes our memory of events makes us feel better than the events ever did in reality.
-Gareth Higgins is the author of How Movies Help Save My Soul: Finding Spiritual Fingerprints in Culturally Significant Films (RELEVANT Books).
As someone who considers himself a fairly post-anal-retentive-knee-jerk-hyper-sensitive-navel gazing introspective-law yoked-do gooder...I must protest! Come on Gareth, come on Relevant, in the name of all that is even semi good, can you really promote this foul mouthed, brutal and chaos filled film? It plummeted me with non-stop profanity and ugly sexuality that was oozing from juvenile selfishness instead of marital beauty. It forced me like a train wreck, to endure a wife being practically raped and humiliated from behind by a self centered pervert. I finally dove for the remote after what seemed like an eternity of wading through a continual flow of putrid humanity for the proposed cinematic gem hiding underneath the viral video; when in reality it had been less than a half hour!
Excuse me while I spiritually puke into the proverbial toilet of regrets. I'm sure in this post-everything judgmental atmosphere, quoting a "slice" of scripture might seem a bit less avant-garde' but hey in the spirit of all things controversial...
"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. -A letter from the apostle Paul to a bunch of idol humping barbarians, that had recently emerged from a flesh drenched, panty praising pagan culture." (Galatians 5:19-21,24)
Come on relevites...please don't turn this radical cultural reformation into a fleshy free for all. True gems come from extreme pressure, like the kind that produces excellent films that don't drag the viewers into cinematic hell...just to find a Cubic Zirconia!
#5
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada: A beautiful, slow-burning drama about love between friends, the length to which loyalty should be prepared to go and how sometimes our memory of events makes us feel better than the events ever did in reality.
-Gareth Higgins is the author of How Movies Help Save My Soul: Finding Spiritual Fingerprints in Culturally Significant Films (RELEVANT Books).
As someone who considers himself a fairly post-anal-retentive-knee-jerk-hyper-sensitive-navel gazing introspective-law yoked-do gooder...I must protest! Come on Gareth, come on Relevant, in the name of all that is even semi good, can you really promote this foul mouthed, brutal and chaos filled film? It plummeted me with non-stop profanity and ugly sexuality that was oozing from juvenile selfishness instead of marital beauty. It forced me like a train wreck, to endure a wife being practically raped and humiliated from behind by a self centered pervert. I finally dove for the remote after what seemed like an eternity of wading through a continual flow of putrid humanity for the proposed cinematic gem hiding underneath the viral video; when in reality it had been less than a half hour!
Excuse me while I spiritually puke into the proverbial toilet of regrets. I'm sure in this post-everything judgmental atmosphere, quoting a "slice" of scripture might seem a bit less avant-garde' but hey in the spirit of all things controversial...
"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. -A letter from the apostle Paul to a bunch of idol humping barbarians, that had recently emerged from a flesh drenched, panty praising pagan culture." (Galatians 5:19-21,24)
Come on relevites...please don't turn this radical cultural reformation into a fleshy free for all. True gems come from extreme pressure, like the kind that produces excellent films that don't drag the viewers into cinematic hell...just to find a Cubic Zirconia!
Monday, December 18, 2006
Eragon, dragons and film making...
The people who get into this business are fast-buck operators, carnival people, always have been,” Mr. Altman said in a 1993 interview. “They don’t try to make good movies now; they’re trying to make successful movies. The marketing people run it now. You don’t really see too many smart people running the studios, running the video companies. They’re all making big money, but they’re not looking for, they don’t have a vested interest in the shelf life of a movie. There’s no overview. No one says, ‘Forty years from now, who’s going to want to see this?’ No visionaries. -Robert Altman NYT Obit November 21st, 2006
Our family and some of the kids friends joined us and we went and saw "Eragon" at the theater the other night. My son Christian has read both books and is a fan, so he was pretty excited to see it. I am a major fantasy fan (I watched LOTR the two towers and almost all of the ROTK last night on tv, which makes ??? times). It was a good film as long as you dont compare which is hard to do in the wake of LOTR trilogy for me. CGI in the movie was real good, the dragon was by far light years ahead of say, the "Dragon heart" movies. Those blow compared to this dragon. I dont think there was one scene where I thought, that looks cheesy or obviously blue screen.
But in the end after looking back, it was the story that suffered, even though according to the book readers it was the story that was supposed to make this movie great. But I think the adaptation failed yet again. In this day you have to have a killer story to really compete for the attention of the viewer. There are just too many effects available to see today.
But I actually think that is good because it is going to force the best writers to the top. I really have a hard time trying to connect with a character in a 1.5 or 2 hour movie that is trying to CGI me into oblivion. I am not going to care if the dragon dies if I have no story to connect me emotionally to the character. That is what sunk The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe for me....I didn't give a whit for the characters, they were unbelievable and too cutsie.
After watching some of the LOTR last night, it nailed it again for me, you have to have a great story and people who are able to turn story into a great film are critical to making something work on film that was a book. My son thinks the readers will yet again be disappointed by yet another film that castrates a fantastic book. Thats what made LOTR such a success, you saw on film what you had visualized when you read the books, thats a gift.
Eragon is a good movie worth seeing on the big screen (dragons have to be big you know) but I would go at discount times.
Our family and some of the kids friends joined us and we went and saw "Eragon" at the theater the other night. My son Christian has read both books and is a fan, so he was pretty excited to see it. I am a major fantasy fan (I watched LOTR the two towers and almost all of the ROTK last night on tv, which makes ??? times). It was a good film as long as you dont compare which is hard to do in the wake of LOTR trilogy for me. CGI in the movie was real good, the dragon was by far light years ahead of say, the "Dragon heart" movies. Those blow compared to this dragon. I dont think there was one scene where I thought, that looks cheesy or obviously blue screen.
But in the end after looking back, it was the story that suffered, even though according to the book readers it was the story that was supposed to make this movie great. But I think the adaptation failed yet again. In this day you have to have a killer story to really compete for the attention of the viewer. There are just too many effects available to see today.
But I actually think that is good because it is going to force the best writers to the top. I really have a hard time trying to connect with a character in a 1.5 or 2 hour movie that is trying to CGI me into oblivion. I am not going to care if the dragon dies if I have no story to connect me emotionally to the character. That is what sunk The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe for me....I didn't give a whit for the characters, they were unbelievable and too cutsie.
After watching some of the LOTR last night, it nailed it again for me, you have to have a great story and people who are able to turn story into a great film are critical to making something work on film that was a book. My son thinks the readers will yet again be disappointed by yet another film that castrates a fantastic book. Thats what made LOTR such a success, you saw on film what you had visualized when you read the books, thats a gift.
Eragon is a good movie worth seeing on the big screen (dragons have to be big you know) but I would go at discount times.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
6 dangers...
6 dangers that result from a pastor not having a good grasp of biblical theology
1. Congregations will not understand the unity of the Bible or the progressive nature of revelation. They will fall prey to those proclaiming the disunity of the biblical message; and a fragmented Bible cannot be recognized as the inspired word of God.
2. Congregations will not understand the centrality of Christ for interpreting Scripture and the meaning of life in our world. Recourse to people and events—particularly those of the Old Testament—will be valued mainly for their exemplary lessons, and not for their typological contribution to understanding the person and work of Christ. They will not see that Christ in his gospel is the interpreting principle for scripture and, indeed, for all reality.
3. Grace will be eroded by legalism. Preaching that principally points to the examples of Bible characters leads almost inevitably to legalism since the connection with the gospel of grace will be clouded or even completely lost.
4. The application of Bible texts will often be short-circuited. The Bible is reduced to a lucky-dip of texts all of which are perceived as standing in the same essential relationship to the Christian believer, and the progressive nature of biblical revelation in salvation-history is ignored.
5. The presuppositions of the New Testament in portraying Christ as the fulfiller of the Old Testament will be overlooked so that the fullness of Christ’s person and work is undermined. Teaching from the Old Testament is particularly at risk.
6. The doctrinal formulations of the church will be seen as less important in that their relationship to the progressive revelation of the Bible will not be evident. Biblical theology and doctrine work together for a robust understanding of God and his purposes for his people and the world. -Graeme Goldsworthy
1. Congregations will not understand the unity of the Bible or the progressive nature of revelation. They will fall prey to those proclaiming the disunity of the biblical message; and a fragmented Bible cannot be recognized as the inspired word of God.
2. Congregations will not understand the centrality of Christ for interpreting Scripture and the meaning of life in our world. Recourse to people and events—particularly those of the Old Testament—will be valued mainly for their exemplary lessons, and not for their typological contribution to understanding the person and work of Christ. They will not see that Christ in his gospel is the interpreting principle for scripture and, indeed, for all reality.
3. Grace will be eroded by legalism. Preaching that principally points to the examples of Bible characters leads almost inevitably to legalism since the connection with the gospel of grace will be clouded or even completely lost.
4. The application of Bible texts will often be short-circuited. The Bible is reduced to a lucky-dip of texts all of which are perceived as standing in the same essential relationship to the Christian believer, and the progressive nature of biblical revelation in salvation-history is ignored.
5. The presuppositions of the New Testament in portraying Christ as the fulfiller of the Old Testament will be overlooked so that the fullness of Christ’s person and work is undermined. Teaching from the Old Testament is particularly at risk.
6. The doctrinal formulations of the church will be seen as less important in that their relationship to the progressive revelation of the Bible will not be evident. Biblical theology and doctrine work together for a robust understanding of God and his purposes for his people and the world. -Graeme Goldsworthy
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Rob & Big
Ok, I must confess, I really get a kick out of this show. It's an mtv produced gig but it makes me laugh every time I watch it. I really love their dog named "meaty" thats a cool mutt! A show about two guys these days usually means its pushing some gay agenda but this one doesn't, you can remain completely heterosexual and enjoy watching these two buddies living fun. It's not reality but hey, it's entertainment.
Christmas 06
Merry Christmas everybody!
Wishing all of you a blessed holiday season.
From all of us :)
Wishing all of you a blessed holiday season.
From all of us :)
Friday, December 08, 2006
be spiritual, I know you want to...
Here is a list of some spiritual things you can go out and do today, if you want to be spiritual. Lifted from http://markhorne.wordpress.com/2006/11/27/how-to-be-spiritual-according-to-the-bible/
- Drink and eat a lot with family and friends (Deuteronomy 14.22-27; Ecclesiastes 9.7).
- Include strangers, people below your socio-economic status, and characters of ill-repute in these parties–if you notice they aren’t being treated in a really welcoming manner, you may need to invite fewer of your friends in order to produce the right environment (Deuteronomy 16.10-15; Luke 14.12-14; Luke 15.1, 2).
- Have frequent sex with your spouse (Ecclesiastes 9.9; First Corinthians 7.2-5).
- Enjoy your work (Ecclesiastes 9.10).
- Work hard (Ecclesiastes 11.6).
- Worship God in public with other people (Psalm 100, ad infinitum).
- Sing really violent songs as prayers (The Psalms).
- Loan money without expecting payment in return (Luke 6.35).
- Pursue profit in business–otherwise you are never going to be able to afford to be open handed (Luke 19.20-26; Ephesians 4.28).
- Enjoy the luxuries you have (Ecclesiastes 9.8).
- If it is an especially holy day, and you hear the Law of God and are feeling especially convicted for your many sins, make sure you don’t weep but rather go party and share food and fellowship with others (Nehemiah 8).
- Gently restore people you catch in wrongdoing and don’t demand payback when you are the victim (Galatians 6.1, 2).
- Teach your children to be spiritual(Deuteronomy 6.1-9).
- Don’t care if anyone else judges you or your children as unspiritual; care what God thinks (Romans 2.28, 29).
a word in season...
"The Frieze of the prophets" (Hosea, Obadiah, Joel and Zephaniah) by John Singer Sargnet captures a refreshed theme in my inner life lately.
Prophecy is a spiritual gift that has been an ongoing gift that the Holy Spirit has manifested through me ever since I was born from above at age 15.
It is a gift of the Holy Spirit though and like all the gifts they come and go like the wind. Jesus said that those born of the Spirit would operate much like the wind. There would be a coming and going nature about them that is unpredictable in its pridictableness.
For me it comes in seasons. Like a spiritual tide that I cannot command, call or force but simply await and flow within. Sometimes it is strong, sometimes calm, at times His voice is loud and in others moments...quiet like a whisper.
Lately His voice has been approaching gently but clearly. This morning at 3:30 am, I was awakened by a tearing sound. I woke up and lay there and then prayed and He spoke.
"I have put the power of my Holy Spirit in your hands"
I immediately laid my hands on my head and chest and prayed for my health issues. Then this phrase came to my mind. I have never heard it before but it summed up the moment and I anticipate the days ahead, he spoke again.
"In the name of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God"
All of my advancing moments of change and new ground being taken have been prophesied times. I have "seen" them before I ever did them. I know the "My times are in Your hand" as David said. These days are fruit from years of suffering, prayer, sowing and waiting. God's word and His promises to us are coming to pass in some phenomenal ways. We should take time to prayerfully thank God for His plan, His love and His goodness to us.
The new year is almost here and I sense that it will be another amazing year of deeds done...In the name of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God!
Prophecy is a spiritual gift that has been an ongoing gift that the Holy Spirit has manifested through me ever since I was born from above at age 15.
It is a gift of the Holy Spirit though and like all the gifts they come and go like the wind. Jesus said that those born of the Spirit would operate much like the wind. There would be a coming and going nature about them that is unpredictable in its pridictableness.
For me it comes in seasons. Like a spiritual tide that I cannot command, call or force but simply await and flow within. Sometimes it is strong, sometimes calm, at times His voice is loud and in others moments...quiet like a whisper.
Lately His voice has been approaching gently but clearly. This morning at 3:30 am, I was awakened by a tearing sound. I woke up and lay there and then prayed and He spoke.
"I have put the power of my Holy Spirit in your hands"
I immediately laid my hands on my head and chest and prayed for my health issues. Then this phrase came to my mind. I have never heard it before but it summed up the moment and I anticipate the days ahead, he spoke again.
"In the name of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God"
All of my advancing moments of change and new ground being taken have been prophesied times. I have "seen" them before I ever did them. I know the "My times are in Your hand" as David said. These days are fruit from years of suffering, prayer, sowing and waiting. God's word and His promises to us are coming to pass in some phenomenal ways. We should take time to prayerfully thank God for His plan, His love and His goodness to us.
The new year is almost here and I sense that it will be another amazing year of deeds done...In the name of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God!
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Jump in the pit...
Dreams can be tricky to interpret at times and I think must always be held in the left hand of confirmation loosely, while our vision, values and convictions must be held firmly in the right hand of purpose.
As Paul modeled in Acts: 21:10-14
“After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."
Notice that the brothers and sisters seemed to misinterpret the Lord’s statement about the future or at least they handled it with emotion first and put pressure on Paul as a result. That whole interchange is fraught with emotional pull. Imagine the pressure, you can hear it in Paul’s response. I think many christians would hear that word and heed it as some kind of warning not to go to Jerusalem because they wrongly assume that danger is somehow to be avoided instead of endured or faced. Many people prophesy about “pit’s with Lions” and expect us to flee or avoid such dangers but there are some who see the dangers, observe the horrid circumstances and challenging obstacles and yet...still jump in the pit!
“And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he smote two ariels of Moab. He also went down and slew a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver's beam; but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. He was renowned among the thirty, but did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard. (1 Chronicles 11:22-25).
Jump in the pit!
Someone’s life depends on it, a nation depends on it, your own soul depends on it.
Is it dangerous? Yes. Could you die? Yes. Would it be easier to avoid the pits? For sure, most people do. Will you regret it in the end? No. You will never forget it because the fight in the pit is a completely different brawl. It makes you who you are supposed to become.
Avoid the pits and avoid your destiny.
God help us to lead “mighty men and women” who don’t run from prophesies of danger but hear them as confirmations of being on the right road! Let us lead the way with courage and boldness in the spirit of faith. Humbly hungry for dead lion meat!
As Paul modeled in Acts: 21:10-14
“After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."
Notice that the brothers and sisters seemed to misinterpret the Lord’s statement about the future or at least they handled it with emotion first and put pressure on Paul as a result. That whole interchange is fraught with emotional pull. Imagine the pressure, you can hear it in Paul’s response. I think many christians would hear that word and heed it as some kind of warning not to go to Jerusalem because they wrongly assume that danger is somehow to be avoided instead of endured or faced. Many people prophesy about “pit’s with Lions” and expect us to flee or avoid such dangers but there are some who see the dangers, observe the horrid circumstances and challenging obstacles and yet...still jump in the pit!
“And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he smote two ariels of Moab. He also went down and slew a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver's beam; but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. He was renowned among the thirty, but did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard. (1 Chronicles 11:22-25).
Jump in the pit!
Someone’s life depends on it, a nation depends on it, your own soul depends on it.
Is it dangerous? Yes. Could you die? Yes. Would it be easier to avoid the pits? For sure, most people do. Will you regret it in the end? No. You will never forget it because the fight in the pit is a completely different brawl. It makes you who you are supposed to become.
Avoid the pits and avoid your destiny.
God help us to lead “mighty men and women” who don’t run from prophesies of danger but hear them as confirmations of being on the right road! Let us lead the way with courage and boldness in the spirit of faith. Humbly hungry for dead lion meat!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Divine Design....
Inspiring people to use their passions to help bring change and alleviate injustice in the world is a driving vision that I have. I believe that the ARTS are a powerful medium to bring about change both within and without.
Learning how to blend our interests, education, economics and mission into a unified plan that will provide economic sustainability for producers and the consumer is critical if we are going to truly help the poor. Throwing money at the problem doesn't work, finding ways to empower and prosper will. This company catches that vision and models what I envision happening on a multitude of levels.
EDUN is a socially conscious clothing company launched in Spring 2005 by Ali Hewson and Bono with New York clothing designer Rogan Gregory. The company's mission is to help increase trade and create sustainable employment for developing areas of the world with an emphasis on Africa, providing a business model that others can replicate and follow. Buy a shirt and change lives here: http://www.edun.ie/one.asp
Do you have a interest in fashion? Imagine working in a chronically vain industry and finding a way to mine some of those rich gold veins of wealth for good, while still creating great art! There has to be a major enlightenment in our minds as to how to advance justice, mission and humanitarian aid in order to truly engage all of us in the work of ministry. Our mindsets need to be shifted to see possibilities that are just waiting for the entrepreneur to discover, design and deliver.
A whole new missionary force is just waiting to be unleashed....if they could just see the gifts God has given them are His call.
Learning how to blend our interests, education, economics and mission into a unified plan that will provide economic sustainability for producers and the consumer is critical if we are going to truly help the poor. Throwing money at the problem doesn't work, finding ways to empower and prosper will. This company catches that vision and models what I envision happening on a multitude of levels.
EDUN is a socially conscious clothing company launched in Spring 2005 by Ali Hewson and Bono with New York clothing designer Rogan Gregory. The company's mission is to help increase trade and create sustainable employment for developing areas of the world with an emphasis on Africa, providing a business model that others can replicate and follow. Buy a shirt and change lives here: http://www.edun.ie/one.asp
Do you have a interest in fashion? Imagine working in a chronically vain industry and finding a way to mine some of those rich gold veins of wealth for good, while still creating great art! There has to be a major enlightenment in our minds as to how to advance justice, mission and humanitarian aid in order to truly engage all of us in the work of ministry. Our mindsets need to be shifted to see possibilities that are just waiting for the entrepreneur to discover, design and deliver.
A whole new missionary force is just waiting to be unleashed....if they could just see the gifts God has given them are His call.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
KaRen clan...
Klee, Sar Loe, July, Klow, Haliey, Yoo Yue, Lee, Kan, Lardhe, Baehdo, Thahser and Moon Light. Our good friends from Burma.
Friday, December 01, 2006
World Aids day
Here is an amazing picture of a young boy named Bokang Rakabaele before and after starting to take antiretroviral drugs (ARV) twice a day for the treatment of HIV. He started in May. You can find out how to make a long term impact with a phone call today at www.one.org
Would you...or wouldn't you?
OK...I need some help out there.
My wife and I are arguing about whether the below invitation to a
free, afternoon pedicure would be appealing to anyone other than a
homosexual male or girlfriend.
Invitation for my husband:
You and I
side by side
sipping coffee
soaking our feet in a hot, sudsy pool.
A messaging chair gently works on our tired muscles.
Next, we get a full foot and leg message, strong and slow,
while we chatter about our dreams and wishes.
Next of course we get cleaned and clipped and scrubbed,
followed by a paraffin wax, hot and smooth for our rough parts.
Ahh...you wait outside while I finish off with polish.
Wanna join me?
My wife and I are arguing about whether the below invitation to a
free, afternoon pedicure would be appealing to anyone other than a
homosexual male or girlfriend.
Invitation for my husband:
You and I
side by side
sipping coffee
soaking our feet in a hot, sudsy pool.
A messaging chair gently works on our tired muscles.
Next, we get a full foot and leg message, strong and slow,
while we chatter about our dreams and wishes.
Next of course we get cleaned and clipped and scrubbed,
followed by a paraffin wax, hot and smooth for our rough parts.
Ahh...you wait outside while I finish off with polish.
Wanna join me?
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