"Tonight we look beyond the dark days [of the writer’s strike] to focus on happier fare: This year's slate of Oscar-nominated psychopathic killer movies. Does this town need a hug? What happened? 'No Country For Old Men,' 'Sweeney Todd,' 'There Will Be Blood'? All I can say is, thank God for [the comedy "Juno's"] teen pregnancy. I think the country agrees."
-Jon Stewart in his opening remarks at the 2008 Oscars
If you don’t believe his assessment of these movies, or haven’t heard of them you can check them out.
http://www.therewillbeblood.com/
http://video.movies.go.com/nocountryforoldmen/
http://www.sweeneytoddmovie.com/
And this year (2008) was the lowest rated Oscars ever
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/movieawards/oscars/2008-02-26-oscar-ratings_N.htm
The usual hand wringing has followed…."oh if only we had Billy Crystal back" or "the Oscars are too stuffy" or…. any number of things. But the bottom line is that people watch the Oscars when they care about the movies. And as Jon Stewart pointed out, this was a depressing, violent crop of movies. They have received great critical acclaim, but people didn’t want to watch them as much as they wanted to watch 27 Dresses, a movie all the critics hated.
Then we turn to the election in the US and the "politics of hope" has become code for "Barack Obama fills yet another stadium to overflowing with happy, wildly excited voters."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0228/p09s01-coop.html?page=1
The newscasters, even in Canada, are in shock and awe as they try to figure out what is happening. Especially here in Canada. Try to find someone who wants an election in Canada. We don’t want it here but I bet there are a few who are trying to figure out if they can vote in the US.
I know that the first rule of news is, "if it bleeds it leads" but I just wonder why shows that give pure hope, Extreme Makeover and Oprah are so popular if that is all we are want to watch?
I think that at the end of the day, we need hope. We need to leave the sadness, stress, and violence aside and know that there is a choice. We want to dream. And make those dreams live.
Unconsciously perhaps, we know that we need to do this. That we can’t wander too much in the dark without becoming blind.
Not that this years Oscar movies were not good movies. But I think we were perhaps hoping for hope.
Ephesians 5:8-14
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=71327042
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
We are stardust...
(Spoiler alert!!) This post deals with the 2007 movie Sunshine, just released on DVD. The topic of this post may reveal some details of the movie.
Having a cold, and having children with colds, in combination with a long weekend, meant a trip to the video store. We picked up a few movies.
(One was a real stinker, which I won’t mention by name but which may rhyme with "bragon bors." A lot got lost in translation in this movie: including plot, character development etc.)
One was an interesting surprise, Sunshine. From the description of the movie (a brave crew sets out to restart a dying sun with a giant bomb) I thought, "Aha, science shmience we’re making a movie. Perfect for mindless entertainment." Instead it turned out to be a good movie, although it did fade out at the end into classic horror/thriller stuff. What I found interesting was the religious/scientific debate that took place within the film. I guess my disappointment stems from the fact that instead of dealing with that issue the film just went a little slasher.
The debate in the film centres around the captain of the previous mission who (went insane?) and sabotaged it. He finds his way onto the second mission and tries to sabotage it as well. The director, Boyle, commented about this character in an interview last summer,
"Because he believes that science is wrong….the rest of us believe in science. We believe we can improve our lives. We believe we can innoculate [sic]. We believe that science can extend life. If nature threatens us, if smallpox threatens us—whatever it is—we can protect ourselves. The whole film is about that belief apart from him."http://theeveningclass.blogspot.com/2007/07/sunshine-evening-class-interview-with.html
or as the captain puts his belief more poetically in the movie
"At the end of time, a moment will come when just one man remains. Then the moment will pass. Man will be gone. There will be nothing to show that we were ever here... but stardust."
So the question becomes who is wrong here. The crew for wanting to change what has been mandated (the sun is dying), i.e. "playing God," or the crazy captain for interfering and possibly ending the lives of people on Earth.
The image of dust is everywhere. When the Icarus II crew enter into the Icarus there is dust everywhere, "80% of all household dust is human skin" When the crew are forced to try a crazy jump to their ship after they are disconnected, one character says, "We’re only stardust."
Sunshine (Clip of jump back to the other spaceship)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBRVZPBu8cU
But we know that even as dust creatures our lives have impact, as does the mission of this doomed crew, stardust they may be.
Each one of us is a dust creature, or more biblically
Having a cold, and having children with colds, in combination with a long weekend, meant a trip to the video store. We picked up a few movies.
(One was a real stinker, which I won’t mention by name but which may rhyme with "bragon bors." A lot got lost in translation in this movie: including plot, character development etc.)
One was an interesting surprise, Sunshine. From the description of the movie (a brave crew sets out to restart a dying sun with a giant bomb) I thought, "Aha, science shmience we’re making a movie. Perfect for mindless entertainment." Instead it turned out to be a good movie, although it did fade out at the end into classic horror/thriller stuff. What I found interesting was the religious/scientific debate that took place within the film. I guess my disappointment stems from the fact that instead of dealing with that issue the film just went a little slasher.
The debate in the film centres around the captain of the previous mission who (went insane?) and sabotaged it. He finds his way onto the second mission and tries to sabotage it as well. The director, Boyle, commented about this character in an interview last summer,
"Because he believes that science is wrong….the rest of us believe in science. We believe we can improve our lives. We believe we can innoculate [sic]. We believe that science can extend life. If nature threatens us, if smallpox threatens us—whatever it is—we can protect ourselves. The whole film is about that belief apart from him."http://theeveningclass.blogspot.com/2007/07/sunshine-evening-class-interview-with.html
or as the captain puts his belief more poetically in the movie
"At the end of time, a moment will come when just one man remains. Then the moment will pass. Man will be gone. There will be nothing to show that we were ever here... but stardust."
So the question becomes who is wrong here. The crew for wanting to change what has been mandated (the sun is dying), i.e. "playing God," or the crazy captain for interfering and possibly ending the lives of people on Earth.
The image of dust is everywhere. When the Icarus II crew enter into the Icarus there is dust everywhere, "80% of all household dust is human skin" When the crew are forced to try a crazy jump to their ship after they are disconnected, one character says, "We’re only stardust."
Sunshine (Clip of jump back to the other spaceship)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBRVZPBu8cU
But we know that even as dust creatures our lives have impact, as does the mission of this doomed crew, stardust they may be.
Each one of us is a dust creature, or more biblically
- Genesis 3:19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.
- Genesis18:27 Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes
But, we have been made by God, and breathed into by God, so that we may glorify God through our words, and our actions.
Job 34:14-15 If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, 15 all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
We are dust, and to dust we shall return. But for now, we breathe, we live, we love.
K
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Sojourn? Journey? Adventure? Temptation?
Today’s Scripture
Matthew 4:1-11
As I was reading this passage it occurred to me that even though the passage is titled "The Temptation of Jesus" I often respond to it as if it were an opportunity, "Jesus’ Chance to Go Into the Desert"
The urge to go on retreats, to get away from it all, to go deeper into ourselves, is an ancient one. In the Christian tradition there were "The Desert Fathers and Mothers" and the monastic tradition. In Plains Indian groups there is a tradition called "the Vision Quest," where people facing an important decision or approaching adulthood go to be by themselves, without food, and wait for a vision. Or how about the weekly emptying of Toronto into the cottages of Muskoka. The philosopher Gary Larson captured this in a brilliant cartoon showing a couple of bears in trench coats on a busy street-corner. One bear turns to the other and says, "Isn’t this great, you just feel like you can relax." Or something like that.
Myself, I like to go cross country skiing and hiking. I walk/ski, I drink in the air, I listen quietly (unless my children are with me in which case quiet often has very little to do with it), and I ask myself "THE BIG QUESTIONS"
But I wonder. The real journey is an inward one. Not getting away from it all, but getting to the centre of ourselves. And in the end it can be dangerous, even though it has a romantic air of adventure. Even if there is no physical danger, we can be irrevocably changed, for good or ill. Recently Sean Penn told a story about this very thing.
Official Site of "Into the Wild"
http://www.intothewild.com/
Original Article in "Outside" Magazine
"Death of An Innocent"
http://outside.away.com/outside/features/1993/1993_into_the_wild_1.html
This idea is deeply embedded in our culture: a time of sojourn and testing. How is it playing out in your life? Where is your journey taking you?
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
-- J R R Tolkien
K
Matthew 4:1-11
As I was reading this passage it occurred to me that even though the passage is titled "The Temptation of Jesus" I often respond to it as if it were an opportunity, "Jesus’ Chance to Go Into the Desert"
The urge to go on retreats, to get away from it all, to go deeper into ourselves, is an ancient one. In the Christian tradition there were "The Desert Fathers and Mothers" and the monastic tradition. In Plains Indian groups there is a tradition called "the Vision Quest," where people facing an important decision or approaching adulthood go to be by themselves, without food, and wait for a vision. Or how about the weekly emptying of Toronto into the cottages of Muskoka. The philosopher Gary Larson captured this in a brilliant cartoon showing a couple of bears in trench coats on a busy street-corner. One bear turns to the other and says, "Isn’t this great, you just feel like you can relax." Or something like that.
Myself, I like to go cross country skiing and hiking. I walk/ski, I drink in the air, I listen quietly (unless my children are with me in which case quiet often has very little to do with it), and I ask myself "THE BIG QUESTIONS"
But I wonder. The real journey is an inward one. Not getting away from it all, but getting to the centre of ourselves. And in the end it can be dangerous, even though it has a romantic air of adventure. Even if there is no physical danger, we can be irrevocably changed, for good or ill. Recently Sean Penn told a story about this very thing.
Official Site of "Into the Wild"
http://www.intothewild.com/
Original Article in "Outside" Magazine
"Death of An Innocent"
http://outside.away.com/outside/features/1993/1993_into_the_wild_1.html
This idea is deeply embedded in our culture: a time of sojourn and testing. How is it playing out in your life? Where is your journey taking you?
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
-- J R R Tolkien
K
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Spring Cleaning
Today’s Scripture
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Well, if yesterday was party day - today is the hangover. And when the hangover hits, what’s the phrase?….Oh yeah, "I’ll never do that again."
In many churches there is a prayer of confession, or maybe an altar call, or maybe a tradition of confessing to a priest. And then the list of what we did wrong comes out and then we promise never to do it again.
But it can be all surface stuff. The real part of the prayer of confession is when we honestly open our hearts to the "assurance of God’s Grace." When we really let God in to make some changes. It’s the difference between reorganizing the closet and going through the closet to get rid of stuff you don’t need and then figuring out what you do need to get.
Lent (the period between now and Easter) is supposed to be a time of fasting and housecleaning. But as the passage above points out we have to figure out what we are trying to do. Are we just trying to impress with a well organized closet or are we trying to make a series of changes that will honestly make our lives easier.
I saw a series of videos on youtube based on the Mac vs. PC ads that get at this phenomenon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIXDLUUn830
What is important? What is the point? These are questions that we can only answer for ourselves after deep and serious reflection.
Happy Spring Cleaning!
K
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Well, if yesterday was party day - today is the hangover. And when the hangover hits, what’s the phrase?….Oh yeah, "I’ll never do that again."
In many churches there is a prayer of confession, or maybe an altar call, or maybe a tradition of confessing to a priest. And then the list of what we did wrong comes out and then we promise never to do it again.
But it can be all surface stuff. The real part of the prayer of confession is when we honestly open our hearts to the "assurance of God’s Grace." When we really let God in to make some changes. It’s the difference between reorganizing the closet and going through the closet to get rid of stuff you don’t need and then figuring out what you do need to get.
Lent (the period between now and Easter) is supposed to be a time of fasting and housecleaning. But as the passage above points out we have to figure out what we are trying to do. Are we just trying to impress with a well organized closet or are we trying to make a series of changes that will honestly make our lives easier.
I saw a series of videos on youtube based on the Mac vs. PC ads that get at this phenomenon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIXDLUUn830
What is important? What is the point? These are questions that we can only answer for ourselves after deep and serious reflection.
Happy Spring Cleaning!
K
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Life in Full
Today’s Scripture
Mark 2:18-21
In Ecclesiastes we are told that there is a time for everything. Aficionados of folk will well remember the musical setting of this, "Turn, Turn, Turn."
Today is Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. This is a time for feasting and indulgence ahead of the traditional Lenten fast. Often people will complain about such excess. I am sure I have. Similar to New Years when before we quit drinking, smoking, or eating, we spend a good solid night indulging in these things. But then I remembered today’s passage from Mark and the passage from Ecclesiastes and my thoughts began to go down a different road. We were not made for only fasting, nor were we made for the party life. Instead we were made to experience life in full.
New Orleans is a living example of the richness of life. The vibrant culture and music we associate with New Orleans comes out of a context of poverty and suffering. And Mardi Gras since hurricane Katrina comes out of a similar place. There is plenty of time to worry about rebuilding, but there is also a time to celebrate.
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/
http://www.mardigrasday.com/mardigrasinfo.php
In other parts of the world the celebration of this day is focused around the pancake. The humble pancake is a great way to eat food that would be avoided during Lent. And hey, what about having a race too….
http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Ideas/Album/PancakeRace.htm
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/politics/threelinewhip/feb/mpsflipout.htm
So this day is a time for fun and celebration. There will be time for fasting and contemplation. There is a time to run a race, and a time for a nap. There is a time for everything.
Enjoy
K
Mark 2:18-21
In Ecclesiastes we are told that there is a time for everything. Aficionados of folk will well remember the musical setting of this, "Turn, Turn, Turn."
Today is Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. This is a time for feasting and indulgence ahead of the traditional Lenten fast. Often people will complain about such excess. I am sure I have. Similar to New Years when before we quit drinking, smoking, or eating, we spend a good solid night indulging in these things. But then I remembered today’s passage from Mark and the passage from Ecclesiastes and my thoughts began to go down a different road. We were not made for only fasting, nor were we made for the party life. Instead we were made to experience life in full.
New Orleans is a living example of the richness of life. The vibrant culture and music we associate with New Orleans comes out of a context of poverty and suffering. And Mardi Gras since hurricane Katrina comes out of a similar place. There is plenty of time to worry about rebuilding, but there is also a time to celebrate.
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/
http://www.mardigrasday.com/mardigrasinfo.php
In other parts of the world the celebration of this day is focused around the pancake. The humble pancake is a great way to eat food that would be avoided during Lent. And hey, what about having a race too….
http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Ideas/Album/PancakeRace.htm
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/politics/threelinewhip/feb/mpsflipout.htm
So this day is a time for fun and celebration. There will be time for fasting and contemplation. There is a time to run a race, and a time for a nap. There is a time for everything.
Enjoy
K
Monday, February 4, 2008
Made in the Image of God
Today’s Scripture: Genesis 1:27, 31
Well, I’m back. I crawled out of my burrow and saw no shadow. Then I saw my Reflections page on the website (www.minesinguc.org) and remembered how much I enjoyed doing them. So I decided to spring into action. Instead of sending out emails I will simply be posting on my blog. And so…
Having promised myself that today I would return to the blogging world and “Reflections” (my look at the intersection of scripture and culture) I began by checking my email.... "when what to my wondering eyes did appear [in my inbox]" but a wonderful article from Christian Science Monitor.
“There's so much focus in the media and in individual conversations about who is the most beautiful, most successful, best dressed, or most powerful or influential.”
Click here to continue reading...
It so captures some of the things I have been thinking about that I decided to let a link to it be my first blog of February. But I can’t just leave it there.
I started to think about those words, made in the image of God and all the wonderful diversity of that image. On a whim I decided to see what google would come up with. I found two interesting portrait sites. The first is a project that includes pictures and autobiographies. Some of them are whimsical and light, others are more searching and critical. Even in our approach to a seemingly simple task such as answering the question, “who are you?” we are diverse.
You can check out the project here,
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/pubinfo/div/divpeople.html
Last I offer the work of one artist. Chosen at random really, but I liked the way that she captured the unique character of each person. And it seemed to connect with the original article – a horizontal portrait of the “Image of God”
http://www.sssalas.com/comm.html
Shalom
K
Well, I’m back. I crawled out of my burrow and saw no shadow. Then I saw my Reflections page on the website (www.minesinguc.org) and remembered how much I enjoyed doing them. So I decided to spring into action. Instead of sending out emails I will simply be posting on my blog. And so…
Having promised myself that today I would return to the blogging world and “Reflections” (my look at the intersection of scripture and culture) I began by checking my email.... "when what to my wondering eyes did appear [in my inbox]" but a wonderful article from Christian Science Monitor.
“There's so much focus in the media and in individual conversations about who is the most beautiful, most successful, best dressed, or most powerful or influential.”
Click here to continue reading...
It so captures some of the things I have been thinking about that I decided to let a link to it be my first blog of February. But I can’t just leave it there.
I started to think about those words, made in the image of God and all the wonderful diversity of that image. On a whim I decided to see what google would come up with. I found two interesting portrait sites. The first is a project that includes pictures and autobiographies. Some of them are whimsical and light, others are more searching and critical. Even in our approach to a seemingly simple task such as answering the question, “who are you?” we are diverse.
You can check out the project here,
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/pubinfo/div/divpeople.html
Last I offer the work of one artist. Chosen at random really, but I liked the way that she captured the unique character of each person. And it seemed to connect with the original article – a horizontal portrait of the “Image of God”
http://www.sssalas.com/comm.html
Shalom
K
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)