I check out NASA's picture of the day, and occasionally the organization has something really cool. Today's "picture" is actually a video (runs a little over 4 minutes), but well worth the short view.
Check it out.
22 July 2008
21 July 2008
I am such a deviant!
I recently watched two movies, one to preview for my youngest, and the other to see of the advance hype was warranted.
The Spiderwick Chronicles had some "jump" scenes and probably is not a good film for younger kids, especially those prone to fear monsters in the shadows. But it's a good (though not accurate) adaptation of the five-book Chronicles series. My youngest (11.5) has read all five books (I read the first two yesterday--they're that easy to read. And they are very entertaining because they incorporate a lot of creatures from fantasy literature. It dawmed on me as I read the books, and leafed through the companion field guide (a "faithful" reproduction of Arthur Spiderwick's compilation, which serves as the focal point for the books and the movie) that this film would be an excellent springboard to talk about spiritual things. We Christ-followers focus so much on what we see--while doing lip service to the super-natural--that it helps to be reminded that throughout human history, there have always been stories about unseen, magical, mystical creatures all around us. So where did the stories all come from? Did one person one day come up with them and manage, just manage to dupe a bunch of people? Or can it be possible that, as WB Yeats said in The Celtic Twilight, there are unseen people all around us, some ugly, some mischievous and some beautiful.
The other movie I watched was The Dark Knight. It was a good movie, but I didn't think it lived up to the hype (contrary to the irrational ravings of practically every other person on the planet). Not as tight as the first movie, it ran much so long because the director wanted to work with two villains, not just the Joker. Frankly, the movie should have ended when newly-appointed Commissioner Gordon visits Harvey Dent/Two-Face in the hospital. That would have been set up a sequel perfectly! Bale's voice-over as Batman got a bit old. It's not like he's wearing anything over his mouth that would alter his voice! Did I enjoy the movie, yes. Was the acting good? Yes. Was Health Ledger's portrayal of the Joker noteworthy? Yes. Does all this--or should it--automatically warrant the hype about an Oscar for Ledger? No. And it definitely should have carried an R rating!
I liked Hancock much better.
The Spiderwick Chronicles had some "jump" scenes and probably is not a good film for younger kids, especially those prone to fear monsters in the shadows. But it's a good (though not accurate) adaptation of the five-book Chronicles series. My youngest (11.5) has read all five books (I read the first two yesterday--they're that easy to read. And they are very entertaining because they incorporate a lot of creatures from fantasy literature. It dawmed on me as I read the books, and leafed through the companion field guide (a "faithful" reproduction of Arthur Spiderwick's compilation, which serves as the focal point for the books and the movie) that this film would be an excellent springboard to talk about spiritual things. We Christ-followers focus so much on what we see--while doing lip service to the super-natural--that it helps to be reminded that throughout human history, there have always been stories about unseen, magical, mystical creatures all around us. So where did the stories all come from? Did one person one day come up with them and manage, just manage to dupe a bunch of people? Or can it be possible that, as WB Yeats said in The Celtic Twilight, there are unseen people all around us, some ugly, some mischievous and some beautiful.
The other movie I watched was The Dark Knight. It was a good movie, but I didn't think it lived up to the hype (contrary to the irrational ravings of practically every other person on the planet). Not as tight as the first movie, it ran much so long because the director wanted to work with two villains, not just the Joker. Frankly, the movie should have ended when newly-appointed Commissioner Gordon visits Harvey Dent/Two-Face in the hospital. That would have been set up a sequel perfectly! Bale's voice-over as Batman got a bit old. It's not like he's wearing anything over his mouth that would alter his voice! Did I enjoy the movie, yes. Was the acting good? Yes. Was Health Ledger's portrayal of the Joker noteworthy? Yes. Does all this--or should it--automatically warrant the hype about an Oscar for Ledger? No. And it definitely should have carried an R rating!
I liked Hancock much better.
14 July 2008
On praying
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)
Our guest speaker yesterday cast a vision for the new community-based student ministry to be started in our area, targeting primarily unchurched kids. It will be a chapter of the LifeBridge ministry in Wolfboro, New Hampshire. The speaker commented at one point about the need for patience with some of the kids, which sparked a thought which I developed a bit in my journal. I include some of that here.
When we pray for patience, are we really focusing on ourselves and not on what God wants to accomplish in our lives? Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, and I suppose we should always purpose to produce such fruit. But desire, effort, willpower--and prayer--don't produce such fruit. The Spirit does.
We typically pray for patience in the context of a trying situation, whether from circumstances or another person. It's in the middle of such a trying time we breathe the prayer: "God, give me patience." Why do we ask for it? If we're honest with ourselves, we want to endure the situation until everything goes back to "normal," when we are again comfortable, perhaps even in control again.
Instead of asking God for patience--how often do we pray for the other fruit?--which comes naturally from God's work, perhaps we should pray for open eyes and a soft heart to learn the wisdom God has for us in the middle of the situation. What can we learn from it or from the person we're dealing with? What can I learn about God? About me? "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)
I'm not suggesting we never pray to avoid things such as sin, temptation, etc. But we live in a broken, sinful world, among broken, sinful people. And guess what? We are broken, sinful people! So if the "state of the union" is such, we will always, in the course of events, run into situations that arise from the consequences of that brokenness and sin.
Maybe we should focus less on praying the fruit out of the ground, and instead make sure we're doing our part to keep the ground fertile for growth to occur.
Lord, may I be a diligent husband of my heart-soil.
May I focus my efforts on the work of self-care so that my heart becomes the fertile ground where Your Spirit may plant and grow and produce good fruit.
May I stop wasting time praying for a result that will come naturally, but requires time and work (mine and Yours) to produce.
May I focus on Your work, not out of performance, "works," duty or obligation. But out of Your power which works in me.
May my prayer remain aligned with Your purposes and not my sinful desires.
Amen.
Our guest speaker yesterday cast a vision for the new community-based student ministry to be started in our area, targeting primarily unchurched kids. It will be a chapter of the LifeBridge ministry in Wolfboro, New Hampshire. The speaker commented at one point about the need for patience with some of the kids, which sparked a thought which I developed a bit in my journal. I include some of that here.
When we pray for patience, are we really focusing on ourselves and not on what God wants to accomplish in our lives? Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, and I suppose we should always purpose to produce such fruit. But desire, effort, willpower--and prayer--don't produce such fruit. The Spirit does.
We typically pray for patience in the context of a trying situation, whether from circumstances or another person. It's in the middle of such a trying time we breathe the prayer: "God, give me patience." Why do we ask for it? If we're honest with ourselves, we want to endure the situation until everything goes back to "normal," when we are again comfortable, perhaps even in control again.
Instead of asking God for patience--how often do we pray for the other fruit?--which comes naturally from God's work, perhaps we should pray for open eyes and a soft heart to learn the wisdom God has for us in the middle of the situation. What can we learn from it or from the person we're dealing with? What can I learn about God? About me? "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)
I'm not suggesting we never pray to avoid things such as sin, temptation, etc. But we live in a broken, sinful world, among broken, sinful people. And guess what? We are broken, sinful people! So if the "state of the union" is such, we will always, in the course of events, run into situations that arise from the consequences of that brokenness and sin.
Maybe we should focus less on praying the fruit out of the ground, and instead make sure we're doing our part to keep the ground fertile for growth to occur.
Lord, may I be a diligent husband of my heart-soil.
May I focus my efforts on the work of self-care so that my heart becomes the fertile ground where Your Spirit may plant and grow and produce good fruit.
May I stop wasting time praying for a result that will come naturally, but requires time and work (mine and Yours) to produce.
May I focus on Your work, not out of performance, "works," duty or obligation. But out of Your power which works in me.
May my prayer remain aligned with Your purposes and not my sinful desires.
Amen.
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