Our Hangout

Awesome!

18 shows into season one and the words out of my mouth at the end of each show is always, "WOW!"

Now, I know everyone doesn't agree with me, all good.

I know, not quite the depth of the last post. Truth is, I have been going through a funk lately and posting just hasn't been high desire or priority.

Everything's good, just haven't felt much like posting. Or I always think of things I could post, but don't get around to it.

Nina watching TV

I like it how Marcelo gets in on the action. Free entertainment.

Heroes

It's been a long time since I've watched a show that completely leaves you yearning for more. The endings to each show are awesome.

Ok, if you don't agree.

Heroes

Okay, until now Prison Break was my favourite show. However, yesterday I watched the second episode of the new series "Heroes" and I'm hooked. But I don't really want to follow more than one show so I'm dropping Prison Break, was getting tiresome anyway, too slow and too much drama.

I've always liked the superhero genre, so I'm looking forward to what they're going to do with this. Looks good so far.

Kingdom of Heaven

Watched "Kindom of Heaven" last night. Was pleasantly surprised. Originally, I didn't watch it as it seemed a very Hollywoodish violent movie. I don't mind violence, but gratuitous violence is now lost on me.

Anyway, watched the movie last night and really liked some of the themes that were in it. IE. The Kingdom of Heaven is not a city (Jerusalem), or not encapsuled in stone or buildings...but the Kingdom of Heaven is people and is found in the mind and the heart. Because of that the Kingdom of Heaven can happen anywhere. The other interesting theme coming accross was that part of the theme of the Kingdom of Heaven is to protect the helpless, safeguard the peace and work toward harmony between cultures so that a Kingdom of Heaven can flourish on earth. Read that anywhere lately.

Yes, I know, it is hollywood, and yes, there's more to the Kingdom of Heaven, but for Hollywood, these two themes come real close to Jesus' heart and what the Kingdom of Heaven really is about.

on "The DaVinci Code"

Lots of commenting going on about the release of The DaVinci Code.

Brian McLaren makes the following comment.

"Frankly, I don't think it has more harmful ideas in it than the Left Behind novels." He goes on to explain...

"Brown's book is about exposing hypocrisy and cover-up in organized religion, and it is exposing organized religion's grasping for power. Again, there's something in that that people resonate with in the age of pedophilia scandals, televangelists, and religious political alliances. As a follower of Jesus I resonate with their concerns as well."

I do think Brown has more of an agenda than McLaren states, but I don't want to get into all that. I do think it's a great open door for discussions about spiritual things.

And I do like the comparison to the Left Behind series. As works of "fiction" I have no problem with either. It's where they try to lead people to accept them as factual that we get into problems.

Looks Awesome

Saw a preview for the upcoming movie...The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe...looks awesome, can't wait!

Shrek II

Going to watch the first half of Shrek II this evening.

Why the first half? A few weeks ago I decided to go watch it with some pastor friends. When I got there (due to some circumstances I won't talk about here - all speaking to my absent mindedness - I locked the keys in the car (rental) with the car still running. Normally I could break into most cars, but the newer cars are getting pretty smart, anyway, an hour after trying to break in with no success I called a tow truck - $50 bucks later I had my key and caught the last 3rd of the movie. Today, I go to watch the beginning with my wife.

Most money I ever spent on one movie.

Darryl did point out later on that had I called the rental company they would have found someone to come and get it open - that didn't make me feel better.

The Passion - Review

A review by Roger Ebert - very good - in my humble opinion.

The Passion of The Christ

I watched the movie at a preview screening about a month ago. I had posted this back then. I post it here again because it impacted my heart deeply.

Yesterday morning I had the privilege to watch a preview screening of the film by Mel Gibson, "The Passion of The Christ." I haven't been able to write about it until now. I have shared with a few friends, but this is hard.

I have anticipated the release of the movie ever since I heard it was in the works. I knew that somehow this movie would help me to see the events of the last few days of Jesus life in a whole new way. IT DID! Only in a much deeper way than I could have imagined.

Someone said after the movie ended, "This wasn't a movie, this was an experience." In my experience, they were right! I'm an emotional guy. I cry at stuff. Not at everything, but sometimes things touch me and I cry. But yesterday there were a lot of pastors shedding tears. There were a lot of men and women cringing and being unable to keep their feelings from escaping their lips as sounds. Like me, I think there were a lot of people there who wanted to scream, "NO MORE, PLEASE NO MORE!".

For me, it wasn't the crucifixion. I think I've seen enough crucifixion scenes to almost have become somewhat sedated. Yes, it was more gorry and bloddy and even more touching, more "real" than other crucifixion scenes I've seen on film. But that wasn't what opened up floodgates within my heart.

It was Jesus' beating!

I think I've seen worst things, more gorry things. It wasn't the gorryness. It was something deeper. With every whiplash, with every spike that stuck into Jesus' body - one thought assaulted my mind, my heart, and eventually my body - it was a simple thought - "FOR YOU! - FOR YOUR SIN." And over and over again the thought came. And with each lash I cried more, and I wanted to hide it, but I couldn't. And I wanted to scream, "Please, no more!" But I knew that's what it took. That's what it took to make things new again. That's what it took to pay for my sin, the sin that kept me from him. And so, all I could say, deep in my heart, was, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

The movie ended. But the experience has stayed with me. I was a mess yesterday. I couldn't do anything else, so I tried to occupy my mind with other things, eventually I tried to sleep. But, even today, when I see the scenes in my mind. I cry and I say again, "I'm sorry!" I don't think I could be flippant about that anymore. I used to say I was thankful so easily. But I'm not! I'm not thankful my sin caused his pain, his absolute destruction. He was forsaken because of me. I fail to find the words that would show appreciation for what he did for me. Maybe there are no words. Maybe just silence. Maybe just tears. Maybe it's not about words at all, just about faithfulness - about following.

Go, and sin no more!

The Passion of The Christ

Yesterday morning I had the privilege to watch a preview screening of the film by Mel Gibson, "The Passion of The Christ." I haven't been able to write about it until now. I have shared with a few friends, but this is hard.

I have anticipated the release of the movie ever since I heard it was in the works. I knew that somehow this movie would help me to see the events of the last few days of Jesus life in a whole new way. IT DID! Only in a much more deeper way than I could have imagined.

Someone said after the movie ended, "This wasn't a movie, this was an experience." In my experience, they were right! I'm an emotional guy. I cry at stuff. Not at everything, but sometimes things touch me and I cry. But yesterday there were a lot of pastors shedding tears. There were a lot of men and women cringing and being unable to keep their feelings from escaping their lips as sounds. Like me, I think there were a lot of people there who wanted to scream, "NO MORE, PLEASE NO MORE!".

For me, it wasn't the crucifixion. I think I've seen enough crucifixion scenes to almost have become somewhat sedated. Yes, it was more gorry and bloddy and even more touching, more "real" than other crucifixion scenes I've seen on film. But that wasn't what opened up floodgates within my heart.

It was Jesus' beating!

I think I've seen worst things, more gorry things. It wasn't the gorryness. It was something deeper. With every whiplash, with every spike that stuck into Jesus' body - one thought assaulted my mind, my heart, and eventually my body - it was a simple thought - "FOR YOU! - FOR YOUR SIN." And over and over again the thought came. And with each lash I cried more, and I wanted to hide it, but I couldn't. And I wanted to scream, "Please, no more!" But I knew that's what it took. That's what it took to make things new again. That's what it took to pay for my sin, the sin that kept me from him. And so, all I could say, deep in my heart, was, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

The movie ended. But the experience has stayed with me. I was a mess yesterday. I couldn't do anything else, so I tried to occupy my mind with other things, eventually I tried to sleep. But, even today, when I see the scenes in my mind. I cry and I say again, "I'm sorry!" I don't think I could be flippant about that anymore. I used to say I was thankful so easily. But I'm not! I'm not thankful my sin caused his pain, his absolute destruction. He was forsaken because of me. I fail to find the words that would show appreciation for what he did for me. Maybe there are no words. Maybe just silence. Maybe just tears. Maybe it's not about words at all, just about faithfulness - about following.

Go, and sin no more!