To begin with, this is a rant. It is only a rant. Do not take this seriously. This entry, like the books and films that it is criticizing, should not be taken seriously. And that is exactly my point.
For a long time men have enjoyed westerns, crime dramas and action movies. But we are careful to not think that they are too important. Certainly some are made better than others. There are some films and books in these genres that will last for several years- or even decades. But we are not so deluded as to think that we have great culture because we like Clint Eastwood or Jack Bauer.
Women, on the other hand, have perfected the vapid romantic comedy. (I believe that there are only about three stories that are ever made into romantic comedies. Those stories get altered and alternated for each film. But that's an entirely different problem.) And not only have they perfected it, they want everyone else to experience it and rave about it.
The recent uproar about Sex and the City is a good example. I have not seen the film, but have watched the television program from time to time. I have found it to be funny and generally well-written. But Carrie and her three friends will never be mistaken for Lucy and Ethel. Mary Tyler Moore has nothing to worry about. Sex and the City is very popular because it speaks to a particular demographic group. And that is why it will not remain popular.
When television, literature, movies or music are focused on reaching one gender, age group, ethnicity or socio-economic group they are destined to mortality. No matter how "hip" they are now, when the group ages or changes the popularity will wane.
So, do not tell me that "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," or "Miss Congeniality" are great movies. They may be entertaining, but they will pass.
Do not be a snob and think that everyone has to agree with what you think is excellent. My opinions are probably going to be different than yours. And I am probably going to pass on your Oprah books and your Nicholas Sparks movies.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
What Happens in Vegas??
What kind of world are we living in?
Young people are convinced that it is okay to cheat, lie, steal, speed, etc., as long as they do not get caught. Adults justify and rationalize all kinds of evil behavior by re-assuring themselves, and others, that no one gets hurt. We accept drug and alcohol use, gambling, smoking, prostitution, pornography and other vices because we believe that they are victimless crimes. And one of the most prevalent advertising slogans in America encourages drunken reveling and debauchery by proclaiming, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!"
My first problem with this idea is that it is encouraging me to do something that I know that I should not do. "Live it up!" "Go for the gusto!" "Carpe diem!" Life is short, I can rationalize, I should be able to do whatever I want. No matter what. I am entitled. This sense of entitlement has gotten many good boys and girls into a lot of trouble.
The second problem I have with this slogan, and the whole way of thinking, is that it encourages me to keep secrets. This is the philosophy behind the feeling that says, if I don't get caught, it's not wrong. But that is very wrong. If a tree falls in the woods, it makes a sound. It does not matter whether or not anyone is there to hear. There is a sound! If I do something wrong, it is wrong! The effects of my actions on others is immaterial. Sin is sin.
But, let's take this one step further. The secrecy inherent in this motto, leads me to dishonesty. The spouse, parent, child, employer, pastor that I am trying to keep this information from are hurt. In fact, when I keep secrets from the people who love me, it limits their ability to love. They can love me more fully when they know all my needs, desires, sins and activities.
Keeping small secrets today will only lead to committing greater infractions and keeping bigger secrets in the future. Stumbling a little now can very easily lead to stumbling a lot later on.
I am probably being a little too harsh. After all, Las Vegas seems to be proud of it's designation as sin city. However, we should be careful about adopting this carefree, wide open attitude and philosophy in our own lives.
Young people are convinced that it is okay to cheat, lie, steal, speed, etc., as long as they do not get caught. Adults justify and rationalize all kinds of evil behavior by re-assuring themselves, and others, that no one gets hurt. We accept drug and alcohol use, gambling, smoking, prostitution, pornography and other vices because we believe that they are victimless crimes. And one of the most prevalent advertising slogans in America encourages drunken reveling and debauchery by proclaiming, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!"
My first problem with this idea is that it is encouraging me to do something that I know that I should not do. "Live it up!" "Go for the gusto!" "Carpe diem!" Life is short, I can rationalize, I should be able to do whatever I want. No matter what. I am entitled. This sense of entitlement has gotten many good boys and girls into a lot of trouble.
The second problem I have with this slogan, and the whole way of thinking, is that it encourages me to keep secrets. This is the philosophy behind the feeling that says, if I don't get caught, it's not wrong. But that is very wrong. If a tree falls in the woods, it makes a sound. It does not matter whether or not anyone is there to hear. There is a sound! If I do something wrong, it is wrong! The effects of my actions on others is immaterial. Sin is sin.
But, let's take this one step further. The secrecy inherent in this motto, leads me to dishonesty. The spouse, parent, child, employer, pastor that I am trying to keep this information from are hurt. In fact, when I keep secrets from the people who love me, it limits their ability to love. They can love me more fully when they know all my needs, desires, sins and activities.
Keeping small secrets today will only lead to committing greater infractions and keeping bigger secrets in the future. Stumbling a little now can very easily lead to stumbling a lot later on.
I am probably being a little too harsh. After all, Las Vegas seems to be proud of it's designation as sin city. However, we should be careful about adopting this carefree, wide open attitude and philosophy in our own lives.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
How Hard Can it Be?
If you have been reading this blog, you know that one of my favorite movies from 2007 was Juno. It was smart, funny, human and realistic. Ellen Page was fantastic. So when I saw an Ellen Page movie in the discount DVD bin at Wal-Mart, I had to have it. I was not disappointed.
Hard Candy is a movie that will stay with you for weeks (months...years?). Ellen Page plays Hayley Stark, a 14 year old girl who has met a 32 year old photographer on the Internet. Jeff, played by Patrick Wilson, turns out to be a pedophile. Hayley seems much more mature than her 14 years and appears to want to hook up with Jeff. The odd couple end up at Jeff's house where one thing leads to another. Suffice it to say that Jeff is a creepy child molester/ abuser and Hayley is smarter and more clever than most 14 year olds.
I am not going to give you any more of the plot because I do not want to ruin the story for you. You should definitely see this film. But I will say that this is one of the best "edge of your seat thrillers" that has come out in several years. Most of the action takes place in or near Jeff's house. The dialogue is great. I had no idea what would happen, until it happened. Alfred Hitchcock would be proud.
There has been a debate brewing in my house for a while about what makes for a scary movie. I think that there are two distinct "types" within the horror genre. First of all, there is the 'startling' movie. Startling movies are the ones that use music, light and stereotypical creepiness to make you jump. There may be bloody murders or dead bodies coming out of the darkness to get you.
The second type of horror movie seems even more terrifying to me. A 'creepy' movie does not make you jump or scream, but it causes you to have an emotional response of anxiety. The Ring is a startling movie. Silence of the Lambs is a creepy movie. Hard Candy is one of the best creepy movies you will ever see.
Hard Candy is a movie that will stay with you for weeks (months...years?). Ellen Page plays Hayley Stark, a 14 year old girl who has met a 32 year old photographer on the Internet. Jeff, played by Patrick Wilson, turns out to be a pedophile. Hayley seems much more mature than her 14 years and appears to want to hook up with Jeff. The odd couple end up at Jeff's house where one thing leads to another. Suffice it to say that Jeff is a creepy child molester/ abuser and Hayley is smarter and more clever than most 14 year olds.
I am not going to give you any more of the plot because I do not want to ruin the story for you. You should definitely see this film. But I will say that this is one of the best "edge of your seat thrillers" that has come out in several years. Most of the action takes place in or near Jeff's house. The dialogue is great. I had no idea what would happen, until it happened. Alfred Hitchcock would be proud.
There has been a debate brewing in my house for a while about what makes for a scary movie. I think that there are two distinct "types" within the horror genre. First of all, there is the 'startling' movie. Startling movies are the ones that use music, light and stereotypical creepiness to make you jump. There may be bloody murders or dead bodies coming out of the darkness to get you.
The second type of horror movie seems even more terrifying to me. A 'creepy' movie does not make you jump or scream, but it causes you to have an emotional response of anxiety. The Ring is a startling movie. Silence of the Lambs is a creepy movie. Hard Candy is one of the best creepy movies you will ever see.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Weekly Prayer Thought
I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9.1-2
When you are first starting your journey of prayer, the most difficult part of praying is the worship part. We find it easy to bring our petitions, our requests, to God. After all, for most of us our whole prayer life has been asking God for stuff. Thanking God is also fairly easy because we have asked for things that God has given us. We also find it simple to thank God for the blessings that surround us on a daily basis.
But praising God? Praising God is a completely different story. It feels uncomfortable, unnatural. We are not used to saying the words of praise. Since praise can be a source of tension, let me make a few suggestions from Psalm 9.
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9.1-2
When you are first starting your journey of prayer, the most difficult part of praying is the worship part. We find it easy to bring our petitions, our requests, to God. After all, for most of us our whole prayer life has been asking God for stuff. Thanking God is also fairly easy because we have asked for things that God has given us. We also find it simple to thank God for the blessings that surround us on a daily basis.
But praising God? Praising God is a completely different story. It feels uncomfortable, unnatural. We are not used to saying the words of praise. Since praise can be a source of tension, let me make a few suggestions from Psalm 9.
- Praise God with your heart. You do not necessarily need words. Praise is a matter of attitude.
- Tell of what God has done. You can incorporate this aspect of praise in your prayer time by rehearsing God's work. You can also praise God by sharing the news of God's deeds to others.
- Be glad about the work of God. You may not be wealthy, beautiful or in perfect health, but God is with you. Be glad for God, with God and to God.
- Sing to the Lord. Not everyone loves music the way I do, but most people can sing, at least a little. Next time you are alone, or driving, or in the shower, sing a song of praise to the Lord.
PRAYER: Lord, you are good and your mercy endures forever. You are high and lifted up. You are worthy of all glory and power and praise and worship and honor. I love you, Lord. Be exalted in my life, in my words and in my heart. Amen.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Going to the Doctor
I have recently had a lot of time in doctor's offices. That time has allowed me to catch up on some reading (a lot of reading), and to do some thinking. I did some reflecting on my early days of life and where I was in church.
When I was a boy we attended Pentecostal churches. First the United Pentecostal Church and then the Assembly of God. In those environments various manifestations of the Holy Spirit are welcomed and encouraged. In fact, we longed for, prayed for and hoped for the Gifts of the Spirit. In many cases people without the Holy Spirit's gifts, such as prophecy, wisdom, healing and especially speaking in tongues, were viewed as somehow less spiritual than those with the gifts. Often worship services became show and tell time, when everyone made a example of their own spirituality by displaying their personal gift(s).
One of the crucial gifts was/is the interpretation of tongues. I remember occasions as a child when someone would give a message in tongues and then we would all wait nervously for someone to interpret what had been said. If no one interpreted the message, then someone was being disobedient to the Spirit. It was tense until finally someone would speak up.
You see, if someone speaks in tongues most people cannot understand what is being said. The message comes in a language that the hearers cannot understand. They need someone to translate or interpret what is spoken. This is the only way that most of us can understand what the Holy Spirit is saying in a message in tongues.
After my doctor's appointment it hit me. He was almost speaking in tongues. I had waited for a long time to hear what he had to say. And then when he said it, I did not understand. I had to ask questions. I had to probe. I needed the interpretation.
Many things in life can be just like that. Worship. The News. A Book. Your Spouse. God. A Class. Sometimes we need to ask some questions, pray, wait and be a little bit anxious until we get the results from God.
When I was a boy we attended Pentecostal churches. First the United Pentecostal Church and then the Assembly of God. In those environments various manifestations of the Holy Spirit are welcomed and encouraged. In fact, we longed for, prayed for and hoped for the Gifts of the Spirit. In many cases people without the Holy Spirit's gifts, such as prophecy, wisdom, healing and especially speaking in tongues, were viewed as somehow less spiritual than those with the gifts. Often worship services became show and tell time, when everyone made a example of their own spirituality by displaying their personal gift(s).
One of the crucial gifts was/is the interpretation of tongues. I remember occasions as a child when someone would give a message in tongues and then we would all wait nervously for someone to interpret what had been said. If no one interpreted the message, then someone was being disobedient to the Spirit. It was tense until finally someone would speak up.
You see, if someone speaks in tongues most people cannot understand what is being said. The message comes in a language that the hearers cannot understand. They need someone to translate or interpret what is spoken. This is the only way that most of us can understand what the Holy Spirit is saying in a message in tongues.
After my doctor's appointment it hit me. He was almost speaking in tongues. I had waited for a long time to hear what he had to say. And then when he said it, I did not understand. I had to ask questions. I had to probe. I needed the interpretation.
Many things in life can be just like that. Worship. The News. A Book. Your Spouse. God. A Class. Sometimes we need to ask some questions, pray, wait and be a little bit anxious until we get the results from God.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Best Concerts
Here is a list of some of the best concerts I have ever attended, their locations and approximate dates (in no particular order).
- Planetshakers, Live from Studio B, South Bend, Indiana, 2004
- Tree 63, Elkhart, Indiana, 2005
- The Beach Boys, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1980
- Phil Keaggy, Pendleton, Indiana, 2000
- David Crowder Band, Elkhart, Indiana, 2008
- Third Day, World Pulse Festival, South Bend, Indiana, 2005
- Willie Nelson with Kris Kristofferson and Billy Swan, Tucson, Arizona, 1979
- Bob Dylan with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Indianapolis, 1986
- Huey Lewis and the News with the Robert Cray Band, Indianapolis, 1989
- Andrew Peterson, Live from Studio B, South Bend, Indiana, 2003
- Eagles, Indianapolis, 1998
- Willie Nelson with Waylon Jennings, Lima Ohio, 1984
Monday, August 4, 2008
Weekly Prayer Thought
No one is holy like the LORD,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2.2
This verse comes as a part of Hannah's prayer for a son. Up to this point, Hannah had been unable to bare children. We do not know the details of Hannah's situation, but we do know that in her time and culture, the worst thing that could happen to a woman was for her to be unable to provide children to her husband. A woman could be neglected, divorced, or even killed for her barrenness.
Hannah, like so many of us, found herself in a very difficult situation and so she did the natural thing- she prayed. She prayed for a child, and specifically for a son. She turned to the Lord for assistance in what surely seemed like an impossible situation. She prayed. And she prayed. And she prayed. This verse is interesting in the context of Hannah's prayer. Instead of being bitter about her lot in life and blaming God, she was careful to recognize his goodness and his greatness.
Too often we try to blame God for our difficulties when we need to recognize that he is the one getting us through those hard times. Hannah knew this and her prayer reflected that. You and I would do well to learn this lesson in our prayer lives as well.
PRAYER: Lord God, keep us in your care. Remind us of your greatness each day. Teach us to praise you in all our circumstances. We worship you, Lord. We honor and praise you. You are good, and your mercy endures forever. Amen.
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2.2
This verse comes as a part of Hannah's prayer for a son. Up to this point, Hannah had been unable to bare children. We do not know the details of Hannah's situation, but we do know that in her time and culture, the worst thing that could happen to a woman was for her to be unable to provide children to her husband. A woman could be neglected, divorced, or even killed for her barrenness.
Hannah, like so many of us, found herself in a very difficult situation and so she did the natural thing- she prayed. She prayed for a child, and specifically for a son. She turned to the Lord for assistance in what surely seemed like an impossible situation. She prayed. And she prayed. And she prayed. This verse is interesting in the context of Hannah's prayer. Instead of being bitter about her lot in life and blaming God, she was careful to recognize his goodness and his greatness.
Too often we try to blame God for our difficulties when we need to recognize that he is the one getting us through those hard times. Hannah knew this and her prayer reflected that. You and I would do well to learn this lesson in our prayer lives as well.
PRAYER: Lord God, keep us in your care. Remind us of your greatness each day. Teach us to praise you in all our circumstances. We worship you, Lord. We honor and praise you. You are good, and your mercy endures forever. Amen.
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