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December 31, 2005
I will pick up blogging after the New Year! Until then, have a great night.
Posted by rhett at 06:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 29, 2005
More Lewis.....even though I have been reading him my whole life, he gets more and more amazing.
This is a great article that I just read on C.S. Lewis. If you are looking to read up on Lewis, now is the time as Christian History and Biography, as well as Christianity Today Magazine are filled with them.
I have been reading Lewis my whole life, and I am just continually impressed with the breadth and variety of not only his work, but of the man himself.
Here are a couple of snippets from this article that I find fascinating, but that I need time to think through, for I believe they have a lot of implications in various areas of the Christian faith.
The distinction between scientia (knowledge, the makeup of things) and sapientia (wisdom, the significance of things) informed all of Lewis's writings, especially his fiction.......In "Letters to Malcolm", he says, "In fact we should never ask of anything 'Is it real?,' for everything is real." We may think our world as a stage set, but it is a real stage set. Because he thought everything was real, Lewis could create imaginary worlds with gusto.
and later.....
In his worlds, missing reality is the prime error. It happens in two ways: either to focus completely on facts and miss significance, or to become self-centered and miss the real beauty of creation.
and later.....
To teach the Chronicles as Christian doctrine is to defeat Lewis's purpose in writing. Similarly, to demand that the reader respond with the "delighted praise of beauty" is to foster the literary snobbery that Lewis hated.
Posted by rhett at 06:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The rising costs of trying to live in the city....
"People earning the median income can afford only 2% of the homes in the Los Angeles area and 24% in Boston."
More of the young and hip fight urban urge
This is a sobering article about what it costs to try and live in some of the U.S.'s biggest cities.
My wife and I bought a home this year in Los Angeles, and it was a pretty frustrating experience, especially knowing what our friends are paying for, for homes in other states such as Arizona and Texas.
Try bringing out a pastor from another state, for a position in Los Angeles. End of story.
I hear stories about pastors coming from places like Ohio where they live in a five bedroom home on like three acres, that had cost like less than $200,000. That won't get you a small, run down condo in Los Angeles. Pretty scary.
I think this is going to be a big concern for churches in the future...though I alread know it is now.
Posted by rhett at 06:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Can't escape the bloggers.....
Blogger's aircraft emergency account draws praise, scorn
Posted by rhett at 06:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 28, 2005
Wow! Watch this....
Posted by rhett at 12:47 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Da Vinci Code...
How big is the Da Vinci Code movie going to be?
Newsweek dedicates their cover to the movie
Posted by rhett at 12:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bono and the bloggers....
Brian Leport at Fog City Narrative has a wonderful blog, and it is one that I have been reading for a while.
He does a great job posting about an issue regarding Bono, Relevant Magazine, and some other bloggers. This topic has been brewing for a couple of weeks, but I haven't had much time to blog over the holidays.
is Bono anti-Christ? is a great post by Brian and it will catch you up on the issue at hand.
I've posted before on Bono and my experiences of seeing U2 in concert. If you happen to read that post you would have read that my experiences of seeing them live were about as worshipful an experience than I have often had in church. When they closed with "Yahweh" and "Psalm 40" last time in Los Angeles, it was unbelievable.
Posted by rhett at 11:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 25, 2005
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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December 23, 2005
New college pastor blogger.....
I love the college ministry that I pastor, and I am therefore, always looking for, and trying to find other college pastors who blog.
Here is a new, and good one. Chris Gonzalez is the college pastor of Vital Impact Ministry in Tempe, AZ. Check out his new blog.
And if you are a college pastor who blogs, or who is wanting to blog, I am wanting to connect with you.
Posted by rhett at 11:43 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
December 22, 2005
More Pictorials....
I have been enjoying the blog pictorials going around. Here is a new one:
Signs The Emerging Church Isn't For You
Related Links:
Help! I'm Going Hyper! 25 warning signs that you might be obsessing about Calvinism
Posted by rhett at 02:20 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
December 20, 2005
Please read the primary source/book if you are going to have a critical comment about something.....and the blog site Emergent No.
I usually try and stay out of any blogging wars, or ongoing debates, which seem to take up a lot of energy and creativity, and which usually end up going nowhere. I find that most bloggers could care less about spending time in these battles, and prefer to continue to just blog away, promoting their views, or those of others that they espouse.
As a blogger, everyone is free to post what they want (within the law of course), and to have their own opinions.
But I want to ask a favor. I would like those who have a real strong opinion on another blogger, writer, book, etc., to have at least engaged in the original source material.
For example, if you are going to have an opinion on say, Rob Bell's book, Velvet Elvis, than you better have read the book yourself, and not simply be regurgitating the words of others. Sure, you could not read the book, and still have an opinion, and it may be a good one, but I think it's quite ridiculous when someone is critical of another person, yet hasn't read the book themselves, or taken time to interact with original source material.
Another example is when I hear people talking about Karl Barth, insisting that he is a universalist, but when you ask them if they have ever read anything by Barth, the answer is no. Usually what has happened is that they have read someone, maybe a pastor, who has read another theologian, who has an opinion on Barth. So by that time, this person isn't even interacting with primary or secondary source material, but rather with a bunch of people who think they know a lot about Barth, but who have never read a lick of Church Dogmatics themselves.
These examples can go on and on. Those who already have Henri Nouwen pegged as some new agey, Buddhist inspired, non-Christian, simply because he was Catholic and influenced by Thomas Merton.
And on and on it goes....please people. You can have opinions, but if you are going to argue and fight tooth and nail over an issue, then please read the original material, and develop your own thoughts, rather than simply parroting the words and writings of others, who possibly haven't read the original material themselves as well.
Why do I bring this up now? Well, there is a site I frequent pretty often. Not because I agree with anything they say, because I don't. But rather because I am always interested in other's perspectives on certain topics, and these three women are very interesting in the agenda they have chosen and the methods by which they organize their blog. The site is Emergent No, and is what is says. An anti-emergent site. They are free to do this and those who are anti-emergent will find plenty of material to fuel their fires.
I am of the opinion that Emergent is an important voice in theological circles, and church life, because they bring up important issues that need to be discussed, but no one is talking about. They are not the saviors, nor do I believe that they think that either. But even movements or reformations that we disagree with can still raise valuable issues. And even though I pastor in a college group, in a presbyterian church, I would consider myself a friend of Emergent, and enjoy the many relationships that I have with those in that community.
Just yesterday, Emergent No posted this blog on Rob Bell.
They quote Rob Bell in an article as saying this:
"What do you do when you can hear the room filling up with thousands of people who are expecting you to give them words from God, and you don't even know if it is true anymore?"
This quote actually comes from Bell's book. They basically take this quote to show that Bell is not fit to be a pastor according to the standards of I Timothy 3:2-7.
Did I miss something here. Is Bell breaking one of the requirements of I Timothy 3:2-7 because of this statement? They go on to say this, In case you wondered if I took that out of context from the message Bell is trying to relay:
followed by this quote,
"It's an appealing picture, though Bell takes it in surprising directions. For one, he suggests that you can doubt a doctrine or two -- say, the Virgin Birth of Jesus -- and still be a good Christian."
Okay, so let me get this straight. They take a quote from Rob Bell's book, which they basically pulled out of an article...and from that, they determine his "fitness" to be a pastor. And to back up their argument, and to prove that their points are not out of context, they quote another snippet from the article, which is the opinion of the writer.
So get this. They come to their view, and are willing to criticize this guy to death, because of an article they read. Doesn't sound like they read his book at all. If they had, they would have seen that Bell's statements were referring to a time in his life and ministry when he was really wrestling with his calling, and his theology, but out of that wrestling time came a stronger affirmation of ministry, and of the person of Jesus Christ.
You can not understand the totality of a person, and define them, simply from a one sentence statement that is couched in a book. That sentence hangs on so many other things, and people who read the book, would understand that.
By the way...that statement is written by Bell as he is looking back into the past at his earlier ministry, not a statement referring to some incident that happened last Sunday.
I would hope that all of us would extend the grace to one another to be able to live in the present, rather than hold our pasts against us. Christ seemed to do that with the disciples, and obviously with us.
I think the Church needs more leaders like Rob Bell who are willing to be authentic with those they minister to. That authenticity often leads to a greater and more real affirmation of our faith in Jesus Christ. The other option is that we can pretend like we have no questions, and we move through life like robots, not really living for anything, or having any real belief.
Posted by rhett at 03:12 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Lewis Mania....and how Lewis doesn't really fit the evangelical mold....
I just picked up the new issue of Christianity Today Magazine, which is not online yet. The new issue has C.S. Lewis on the cover and is full of articles about him, his writings, etc. He is also on the cover of the new Christian History & Biography Magazine, which is also full of articles.
Good stuff.
I found this paragraph in the opening story in the Christianity Today magazine interesting:
Clive Staples Lewis was anything but a classic evangelical, socially or theologically. He smoked cigarettes and a pipe, and he regularly visited pubs to drink beer with friends. Though he shared basic Christian beliefs with evangelicals he didn't subscribe to biblical innerancy or penal substitution. He believed in purgatory and baptismal regeneration. How did someone with such a checkered pedigree come to be a theological Elvis Presley, adored by evangelicals?
That is a very interesting question indeed. I love Lewis. Mere Christianity changed my life when I was in college, and helped me begin a theological curiousity in me that I still have today. A Grief Observed comforted me in college as well, 11 years after my mother's death. The Chronicles of Narnia I have read three times, and they have brought me much joy, and have helped me understand the importance of story and narrative in theology. And The Space Trilogy taught me that evil is pervasive, and that we cannot be silent. And on, and on.
I am indebted to Lewis, and it is not only his writings that I admire, but his personality and character as well.
But I wonder what most evangelicals would think of him, or his writings, if they were really aware of some of Lewis's theological positions, which are quite different I would say from the average evangelical? Would they be concerned about some of his literary criticisms in regards to the Bible? Or what would most evangelicals think about his cigarette and pipe smoking? Or his drinking in the pubs?
I would just be curious if people's views would change of him, or his work, if they found out, or knew that his theological beliefs, or lifestyle were incongruent with their own?
Posted by rhett at 01:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 19, 2005
Main stream media is a little slow on picking up on trends....but I guess better late than never....
I saw this article on vlogging this morning on Drudge Report.
Aaron Flores has been vlogging for quite a while. Check out his site for some great stuff!
Posted by rhett at 08:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 17, 2005
Interesting interaction....
Good post by Tony Jones about his visit to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Posted by rhett at 08:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 16, 2005
Some people have a lot of time on their hands...I hope they are getting paid!
If you have never seen stick figures fight, Matrix style, then you are in for a treat.....it's a tad violent (for stick figure fighting), but man these people are talented....
Posted by rhett at 07:13 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
a new read....
How can we further specify spirituality on these orthodox Christian terms, especially as it bears on the concerns of this book? Out of this tradition, we can say clearly what spirituality is not. It is not opposed to the body, it is not nonphysical. It is not removed from history, the ongoing flow of time. It is not asocial, a solitary activity or state of being. It is not primarily inward and invisible, a hidden affair of the private heart. In all these ways it is unlike a common conception of "spirituality" in our day as a compartmentalized experience, customized by and for the lone individual, removed from any pesky, constraining traditions or social bodies (institutions). There certainly are private spiritualities of this sort about; there are even quite a number of spiritualities considered Christian which are marked by these characteristics. I will not insist they have nothing going for them. I do insist that in their very nonphysicality, privacy, and denial of history they are not orthodox, or catholic and evangelical, Christian spirituality.
Tortured Wonders: Christian Spirituality For People, Not Angels by Rodney Clapp.
Posted by rhett at 01:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Typepad problems?
How come all the blogs I was visiting last night who use Typepad were missing entries? All of the blogs reverted back to mostly Dec. 9th...some as far back as late November.
Is my computer whack, or was Typepad having issues last night?
Posted by rhett at 12:42 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
December 15, 2005
Is King Kong racist?
This is the question being posed by James P. Pinkerton in his Thursday Newsday.com Column. This is being reported over at Drudge Report.
Interesting....
Posted by rhett at 09:33 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Signs that you are obsessed with Calvinism...really hilarious!
I know I posted this story in the previous blog with the other stories, but it's too funny not to put into it's own blog entry.
Help! I'm Going Hyper! 25 Warning Sign That You Might Be Obsessing About Calvinism
Posted by rhett at 02:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Something to ponder...something scary...something funny...and maybe something prophetic?
There is a lot of stuff in the news right now, and floating around the blogosphere. So I don't know where to start. But let me list a few things that have intrigued me. Most of these are pretty quick hits, but I might be expanding on them shortly. First there is a story to ponder, then a story that I find scary, then one that is funny, and then one that might be prophetic.
In the "i'm not sure what to think about this yet" topic is this story
Some megachurches are closing their doors on Christmas Sunday, and at first I really didn't think much of it. But now I have been thinking more about this topic.
While originally I could go either way, I now wonder what kind of message it sends to the rest of the world, or the culture around us? And is that important?
Also, as someone who is on staff of a church, I originally thought it was nice to give staff and volunteers time to be with their families. Especially if you are a big megachurch, and have to do 5 or 6 services. Then I started wondering about the megachurch structure, and should we be doing 5 or 6 church services anyways. This article over at Common Grounds Online mentions this. Jollyblogger also has some thoughts on the topic of skipping church on Christmas.
But at this point, I have really appreciated what Tod Bolsinger has to say on this topic, especially the quote he uses by Karl Barth in this post.
Is the shutting down of church on Christmas a very individualistic view of Christian faith in the 21st century? Is it the church's catering to a consumeristic culture, Christian and non-Christian alike?
I could probably be swayed for arguments on either side, but I do know this. I will be going to church with my family on Christmas, because there is nothing better than for us to celebrate the birth of Christ on such a day. His birth (incarnation) is a reminder to me of the love of God, and just to what extent He went to save us.
In the "this is a scary, developing story", is this topic
Iranian president says the Nazi Holocaust is a "myth" and that Israel should be moved to Europe.
I just find this to be a scary story. Why? I guess because it reminds me of the events surrounding WWII, and the rise of Hitler, while many seemed to be sitting around, unaware, or at least apathetic to what was going on. After reading many of the works by, and about Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Barth, you can't help but find similar events in their histories that resonate with some of the things going on today.
I wonder how this story will develop, and if we will be passive observors, realizing that by the time we act, it will be too late.
Hugh Hewitt has some thoughts, and historical insights.
In, "this is a really, really hilarious, photo essay", is this story
From the blogger, Purgatorio, who brought to you the hilarious photo post called, You Might Be Emerging If, has now brought this to you, Help! I'm Going Hyper! 25 Signs that you might be obsessing about Calvinism.
Hilarious. I had been thinking about doing a post about those who are anti-emergent. But after looking at this blog from Purgatorio, all the people I would have chosen for anti-emergent show up on the list of those who are obsessed with Calvinism.
In the, "is this true, or prophetic regarding orthodoxy", is this story
Tallskinnykiwi has some thougths about who will define orthodoxy in the 21st century
Posted by rhett at 01:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 14, 2005
Common Grounds: Conversations About The Things That Matter Most
Books are a popular gift during the Christmas Season, so I have a really good book to recommend to you during this time. Common Grounds: Conversations About The Things That Matter Most.
This book is written by Glenn Lucke and Ben Young, who are regular contributors to Common Grounds Online.
One of the things that was most appealing to me about this book, and what resonated most with me is the style, or really the environment in which they chose to place this book. In a coffee house, around casual conversation, between friends. Why is this appealing? Because this is the environment in which many of us, Christians and non-Christians spend our time, forming and building relationships with one another. And it is during these encounters that many of the most important questions of our lives are raised, discussed, debated, re-affirmed, etc.
I remember during my college and post-college years I probably spent a majority of my free time around a cup of coffee with friends in a coffee shop as we discussed our lives, our beliefs, and it proved to be an important training ground as I moved out of the coffee house and into other places such as the workplace, the home, etc.
If you resonate with this, you will resonate with this book.
As the book states on the back, "Three friends all at different places in the journey. A Baptist investment banker, a former Catholic corporate attorney, and a Charismatic graduate student meet a retired seminary professor who becomes their Socratic guide to explore Christ's teachings."
As I continue to pastor a college group, and live and interact in its community as well as being in the young adult community, it seems that many would hope for, or wish for an older mentor who could act as a Socratic guide to them, and use a Socratic dialogue as guiding source for their lives.
Another thing that this book does really well is to take three very different people in many ways, and to place them in a situation, or environment with an older, wiser mentor, who doesn't force information upon them, or who doesn't pressure them to have all the answers, etc. This is real life. Los Angeles is a big city, where people are spread out, all over the city, and they are a part of other communities outside of church. I believe that this book can demonstrate, or provide tools for those who are in friendships, relationships, and other communities where there are many different beliefs, or viewpoints within the community. The interactions between the three friends and the older seminary professor model what it looks like to converse with others, and what it means to learn from each other.
Whether you and your friends gather in a coffee house, pub, pool hall, sporting event, a church small group, etc., you will glean from this book tools and wisdom to help you in your Christian journey with others.
Just to give you some hints, or insights into some of the chapters, here are a couple of excerpts that have stuck in my mind:
One, the authors use an interesting discussion in the chapter called "Vogue and the Wall Stree Journal", to parlay it into a disussion about general revelation. The retired seminary professor is very insightful in understanding what is important to the three friends, and what subculters they are a part of, and he skillfully crafts a discussion about their subculture and the tools of their trade into a discussion on theology. What I found fascinating about this, is that we all are doing this all the time. We are thinking about spiritual things, or doctrines of theology when in conversation with people, and we sometimes wonder how to spin that into a conversation that is relevant to others. This professor shows you how.
Second, in the chapter "The Stories We Live By" I appreciate their discussion on narrative. I think that I resonated with this section quite a bit because of my current work in graduate school on narrative therapy. This chapter spins off into an interesting discussion on communities and its stories, and how we understand what stories are Truth for our community. Or what scripts are we living by?
These are some of the things that have stuck out in my mind. But if you are wondering about how this book may impact you or your friends, don't worry, you won't be left alone to go through these things without any guidance. Like the retired professor acting as a guide to the three younger friends, the authors act as a guide as well, providing important questions for discussion of each chapter, at the end of the book.
Students and friends are always wondering what books to read, and I think that the environment and style of this book will resonate with those who are asking. This book helps put important theological and philosophical discussions into concrete narrative form, and in actual situations among friends. So for those who struggle with how to approach difficult topics, this book will help you do that. And most importantly, it helps you from keeping theological truth only in the ivory tower, and to help place it in real life where it is much needed.
So go out and get this book, and if you have questions about the book, as I know you may have as you read through it, don't hesitate to contact the authors at the Common Grounds Online website. This is something I have enjoyed doing....dialoguing with them on different topics. I have found that their book is really just an outpouring of who they really are. Guys who like dialoguing and guiding others in the Truth of Christianity.
Posted by rhett at 01:45 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 12, 2005
Narnia: Trying to live up to my imagination!
I wonder if it is ever possible for what we have built up in our imaginations over the course of many years to possibly be transcended, or even emulated on film? That is the question I have been pondering.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis are thought of by me in almost mythical proportions, as I hold them above almost any and every book that I have ever read. Why? Because they penetrate my heart, soul, mind and body in ways that few books can possibly achieve. They are simple, yet complex. They can be read to, or by a child, yet interpreted on a whole new level. Each time I read them it is a spiritual experience that leaves me nothing less than transformed by the work of the Spirit. Every time I read them I see and understand new spiritual realities, or components, or ideas, or ways to live in regards to my Christian faith.
There are lines from the book that have etched their way into my heart and soul that will forever be there. And whenever I have become too bogged down by my attempts to classify and systematize God, Aslan is there to make sure that I see God in ways that are wholly other than the tamed God I often make Him out to be.
For me, The Chronicles of Narnia would be the one set of books I would want to be stranded on a desert island with, and they are a schooling in what I believe it means to live out our faith and beliefs in this world. The Chronicles of Narnia are practial theology set down in story form. They keep the ivory tower theologian from residing away and solely in his or her books, and they challenge all Christians to understand God in ways that are beyond our comprehension.
So as I sat down to watch Narnia last night there were many things flying through my mind. It is almost as if I was fearful of what I had been imagining in my mind for over twenty years to not be equaled on the screen. Seeing this movie brought home more realities than the sake of being entertained on a Sunday night. It was the culmination of seeing on screen the books that my mother began to read to me when I was a child. It was a culmination of seeing on screen the work of a figure that helped me wrestle my way through college and understand my faith in a new light after reading Mere Christianity. It was the culmination of seeing on the screen the work of the figure that I could relate to most intimately after learning that Clive Staples and I had both lost our mothers in early childhood. A Grief Observed brought home this reality, and the reality of losing someone to cancer. It was also the culmination of seeing on the screen a love for Narnia, its characters, stories and themes, that was instilled in me one summer school session up at Regent College in Vancouver, BC by Lewis afficionado Earl Palmer. When he read parts of the Chronicles out loud to us in class, these stories helped me connect a childhood appreciation for narrative with a maturing Christian faith that was sometimes too embedded in systematics, and away from the stories that I think Jesus loves.
That is a lot of weight and expectation for a movie to carry. It was a few years ago, when Lewis' friend, J.R.R. Tolkien had his own books, The Lord of the Rings, made into a move. It was then that I began to hear rumors and whispers that Chronicles was next. I wasn't sure what I thought about that. I was excited on one hand, hoping that my favorite books would come to life on the big screen, and fearful on the other hand, wondering if the big screen would do them justice.
Hopes realized, or hopes fallen short, I have been anticipating this movie for the last couple of years, with increasing excitement as each month brought us closer to December. With popcorn and coke in hand, and a few napkins readily available to wipe the certain tears from my eyes, I was ready.
From the beginning to the end I believe that the film told a remarkably accurate re-telling of the book itself. And I think that purists could not complain about Hollywood taking liberties with a book, or characters that they have grown to love all these years. As the movie began to progress I really wondered how anyone could possibly pull off a movie such as this.
There were times during the movie that I felt like my expectations were met, and there were times when I felt like I will stick with the imaginations that my mind has conjured up over the years. If you have never read the books before, then you came to this movie with no huge expectation perhaps, and I think the movie more than delivered. If you came to this movie, having read the books over and over, I think the movie picked up on a lot of nuances that casual readers would have missed, and so I think it delivered.
It was a great movie, but the only critique I have is that it can not match the actualy literary work of C.S. Lewis himself. Compared against any other film, it is magnificent. Compared against Lewis's book and the imaginations of many, built up over many years, I think the film is good, but falls way short of the imagery that has played through my mind time and time again.
One of my favorite relationships in all of the books is of that between Aslan, and the youngest female child, Lucy. Lucy, unlike any other character picks up on all the spiritual realities within her world especially Aslan. Her and Aslan share a special kinship. I think Lucy and Aslan captured this in many ways, and I thought the character of Lucy was pretty much dead-on.
When it came to Aslan though, that is a tricky one I must admit. I mean, who can play Aslan? This must have been some of the difficulty Mel Gibson experienced in trying to play Christ in The Passion. In these books, I think Lewis did the most amazing job of capturing God in the form of the lion Aslan, almost to the point in my own life that when I think of Aslan, I think of God. The lion has come to personify God Himself in a certain sense. So who can compete with that? I was somewhat disappointed with the voice of Aslan, feeling like it lacked a sense of authority, love, fear, joy, etc., that I experienced in Lewis' writings. I also missed some of the conversations about Aslan, or between Aslan and others.
One of my favorite sayings in all of the books is "Aslan is on the move." But coming out of the mouth of the beaver on the screen didn't strike the awe, or reverence, or fear that the book seemed to strike in me. Or this other favorite scene of mine. Mark Roberts puts his thoughts into words that I resonate with as well:
I found myself disappointed and surprised by one bit of the book that didn't make it into the movie. For me, it's one of the most moving and enticing parts of the novel. I'm referring to the dialogue between the children and the beavers, in which they discover who Aslan is, that he's not a man, but a lion. Susan asks, "Is he – quite safe?" Mr. Beaver responds, "'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you." A new revised standard version of this line made it into the film, but only at the end. I wish the original dialogue had been left intact and in place.
I could go on and on, but let me stop here and conclude. I think that the movie is a great movie, one that I will see time and time again, and one that I am glad they made. It is a faithful re-telling of Lewis's story, but a story nonetheless that captures me more than anything when I read the books and imagine the characters and story without the help of Hollywood. Maybe in the end I share the sentiments of Lewis himself as expressed in this letter of his:
The Kilns,
Headington Quarry,
Oxford
18 Dec. 1959
Dear Sieveking
(Why do you 'Dr' me? Had we not dropped the honorifics?) As things worked out, I wasn't free to hear a single instalment of our serial [The Magician's Nephew] except the first. What I did hear, I approved. I shd. be glad for the series to be given abroad. But I am absolutely opposed - adamant isn't in it! - to a TV version. Anthropomorphic animals, when taken out of narrative into actual visibility, always turn into buffoonery or nightmare. At least, with photography. Cartoons (if only Disney did not combine so much vulgarity with his genius!) wld. be another matter. A human, pantomime, Aslan wld. be to me blasphemy.
All the best,
yours
C. S. Lewis
[Letter to BBC producer Lance Sieveking (1896-1972), who has written at the top: 'The Magician's Nephew' and, after the address, the phone number "62963".]
Maybe the great thing about God is that no matter how we portray Him, whether it be in book, or film, or story....He is so much greater than we can imagine Him to be. (I think Lewis has a quote similar to this...which would be apropos). And just maybe the great thing about this movie, is that these beloved books have been introduced to a whole new generation of people, both Christians and non-Christians. And what a remarkable story it is.
Posted by rhett at 02:35 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Christian bloggers bashing other Christian bloggers, especially over some trivial things....
Posted by rhett at 01:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Narnia....
I saw Narnia tonight.
Could a movie possibly live up to my expectations, especially since these books have held a close place to my heart for over 20 years?
There were scenes in the movie that transcended my own expectations....scenes that made my cry....scenes that sent a shiver down my spine....scenes that quite didn't live up to the imagination that I had....scenes that captured the nuances that the books have....etc., etc.
I will give a full, detailed review of the movie tomorrow.
But I will tell you that it was a great movie....one I will see again. But in the end, like any masterpiece, nothing will come close to capturing what my imagination has created over all these years. That is not a knock against the movie, but rather a tribute to the master, C.S. Lewis
More to come tomorrow....
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Concur.....
Pope says materialism pollutes Christmas spirit
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bloggers win again, and get over on the major news networks....
At 12:05am, just pass midnight on Sunday, I went to Technorati and saw that Cronulla was the top search that hour. I didn't know what Cronulla was so I clicked on it. Cronulla I found out is a beach in Australia where major race riots broke out on Sunday between Australians and those whom they believed to be Arab immigrants.
So I went to this story which I found over at The Drudge Report. Nothing slips by him.
Then I went to CNN, then to Fox News, then to MSNBC. Nothing. This huge story, which is at the top of Technorati (which means blogs all over the world are talking about it), but nothing at the major news networks. Unless I missed these stories on their sites, it's once again a case of the bloggers beating the major networks to the major stories.
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December 09, 2005
Seven Habits of Successful Emerging Discussions
Awesome! Scot McKnight gets it.
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Narnia
I have been anticipating the opening of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe forever. I plan on seeing the movie on Sunday. I was intrigued by some thoughts from John Mark Reynolds. Mainly because the books stirred my heart, and awoke feelings and passion in me that no other books ever have. And I am glad that it appears the movie does this as well.
Forget ideological whining by reviewers who confuse their hatred of traditional Western values with thought.
If you think the wolves in the wood should never be fought, then you will hate this film. If you think evil does not exist, you will be uncomfortable. If you believe forgiveness is cheap and bad behavior has no cost, then this film will make you furious. But if you are like most of us, then this film will make you shout for joy.
Tonight for the first time in a long time I watched a film that made my heart ache with the beauty of the scenes, made me cry, stirred my passions, and made me think. (All those neo-Platonisms! Surrounded as I was by Torrey students all of whom have read the Timaeus, we were the only audience in the world to burst into applause when Aslan asked, "Where is the fourth?")
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Just another reason why In-n-Out Burger is the best....
I was driving home from college group this last Wednesday night, and I decided to pull into the In-n-Out Burger in Pasadena on Walnut, just west of Sierra Madre. It was about 11:45pm, and as always, this tiny little drive-thru was crowded. As the guy took my order I asked him how he was doing and he responded with "I am doing good, thank you for asking." Which may not seem like a big deal. But seriously, In-n-Out Burger is about the only fast food restaurant where the workers are friendly, courteous, personable, etc. No matter how long the lines are, and they are usually very long, they are friendly to everyone. Even the people who are rude.
So I decided to send an email to In-n-Out, letting them know how great their service and employers are, and specifically how great the three guys working during my Wednesday night drive-thru were. I sent that email out at about 1am on Wednesday night/Thursday morning, and by 6:20pm on Thursday evening I received a call from someone in the customer service department of In-n-Out, thanking me for my comments, and wanting to know if they could be of any service to me. They also wanted to know if there was a specific time and place that I was thinking of so that they could let the people know. How amazing is that? I even told them in my email that they didn't need to respond to me, but they did. What are the chances that any other fast food chain would have done that? Or any business for that fact?
I wonder how often we encourage people who do a job well. Most often we are super quick to let them know when they don't do a good job, or if they don't meet our demands. But I think as people, and as Christians, we should take the opportunity to encourage people when they do a good job. Even if it is something they should be doing, I think it's worth pointing out, and letting them know how we appreciate them, or their work ethic and personality. Often, people are only known for what they are against, and only speak up when they criticize. What about being known for what we are for, and speak up when we want to encourage.
When I was in college I made my first trip to In-n-Out Burger on a road trip from Phoenix, AZ to Los Angeles with a bunch of guys, as we were headed to a big Promise Keepers rally in the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1995 with about 75,000 other guys. On the way to Los Angeles we pulled over into the first In-n-Out Burger we saw. It was like pulling into the "promised land", and into this place that I had only heard about, but had never experienced. On occassion when I was growing up I would see someone walking around with an In-n-Out t-shirt, but I didn't know what it was, and I had never been there. It was this almost mythical place that I had heard many things about, but had never been. So on my first visit I remember ordering two Double-Double's. They were amazing. That was all we thought about on that trip, and so we made sure that we stopped by on our way out as well, where I ordered two more Double-Double's.
In-n-Out has the most simple, and best menu around, which is probably part of the reason for their success. Keep it simple, and make it good.
If you have never been to In-n-Out Burger, then you probably don't know what I am talking about, nor care. And if you live in California, you probably take this fine institution for granted. It is now in Arizona and Nevada, but that is relatively new. I remember being in college and people taking road trips from Phoenix to an In-n-Out Burger in California, just to get some burgers and taste this "food from heaven" and the head back home. Yes, that is a 12 hour round trip, just to get a Double-Double. In fact, the first thing that my roommate and I did when we moved to Pasadena from Phoenix, was to visit the In-n-Out on Walnut to get some food late at night. I was so excited to have this place so close to where I lived. It was one of the huge perks of living in Pasadena.
Then there are the things that aren't on the menu, but that you can itemize yourself. I only know about ordering my burger or fries "animal style" (special sauce with onions, etc.), or ordering my burger "protein style" (burger wrapped in lettuce, no bread), or ordering a "four by four" (four pieces of meat, four pieces of cheese). I think there are more options, but this is the most that I have learned of the hidden secrets of ordering food at In-n-Out.
If you are sitting here wondering why I would talk so much about fast food, well that's because it is a big part of our lives, and because it has been very influential in shaping the American landscape and culture. For a very interesting read on this topic, read Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal.
You might be wondering why I am talking about this book, when I am talking so highly about fast food at In-n-Out. Well, that's because this book time and time again states how In-n-Out is the exception to the rule. They are the best fast food company to work for, providing the best benefits and salary for their employees, as well as providing the best working conditions, and the most fresh food. And on that topic, you have to wonder if the family's religious beliefs play a big part in this. I have heard that the Snyder family are Christians, though I don't know that for sure. If you haven't noticed before, there are verses on the cups and hamburger wrappers as well. This has caused some interesting conversation for many, and I found this interesting article on this topic over at Snopes, where people were wondering if this was urban legend or not.
Fast Food Nation is a compelling and intriguing read, as it is interesting to follow the development of the freeway/highway/interstate system in the United States, and how fast food restaurants boomed because of this, and helped give shape to the American culture. It's even more interesting if you are on the West Coast, as you get an interesting history of the car, the sprawl of the West, fast food restaurants, highway systems and suburbia. Very intriguing.
So make sure that you let those who are doing a great job, know how appreciative you are of them.
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December 08, 2005
Over $1.2 Billion a Year....
A Charlie Brown Christmas might be anti-commerical/consumerism, but it sure is making a lot of money
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Marquette Dental Student Suspended For Blogging This also makes me wonder as well, if people who post stuff online really think they are anonymous, and whether or not people are reading their stuff. When I told someone that I read their My Space profile, they were almost shocked. Like what, I don't know how to navigate through cyperspace. Remember. Whatever you post online is for public consumption. Along with that can come a whole slew of things from notoriety, publicity, consequences, etc.
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Coke's new coffee drink. Great. Do I want a soda or coffee? Which has more caffeine? Ugggh. Can you speall A-D-D-I-C-T-I-O-N. Market it to youth ministers, and you will be set. Doesn't sound too appealing. We will see.
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Last night my wife and I were sitting on the couch, flipping through some channels until we landed on A Charlie Brown Christmas, which I think we might have actually been Tivo'ing, and if we weren't then we will next time. And I have to say that I was completely amazed and sucked into this cartoon. It originally aired ten years before I was born, so though it is on every year, I don't think I have actually sat down and watched it. And if I have, I was younger, and didn't quite pick up on all that was going on. Last night my wife and I were sitting on the couch, flipping through some channels until we landed on A Charlie Brown Christmas, which I think we might have actually been Tivo'ing, and if we weren't then we will next time. And I have to say that I was completely amazed and sucked into this cartoon. It originally aired ten years before I was born, so though it is on every year, I don't think I have actually sat down and watched it. And if I have, I was younger, and didn't quite pick up on all that was going on. But it is a beautiful story about Christmas, that captures the innocence, and naivete that sometimes gets lost at Christmas as we become pre-occupied with the hustle and bustle of the season, shopping, consuming and rushing around. There was something very beautiful and poetic about these young children interacting, and eventually discovering what Christmas is all about. I think that I resonate with Charlie Brown quite a bit during the holiday season. Wondering why we spend all of our energy on activities and events that seem totally irrelevant to what Christmas signifies to us as Christians. I am not against shopping and buying and giving and receiving gifts. I just don't want that to be my dominate experience of the Christmas season. The first of nearly 50 Peanuts television movies, A Charlie Brown Christmas is the longest-running cartoon special in history, airing every year since its debut in 1965. Whimsical, melancholy, and ultimately full of wonder, it is a holiday favorite for countless families. But this cartoon classic almost didn't make it on the air. and Schulz wanted A Charlie Brown Christmas to have the religious meaning that was central to his own experience of Christmas. And though the special was made in California, Schulz wanted it to include snowy scenes that recalled his native Midwest. Christmas Critics Even Schulz admitted that he was probably the only person who could have gotten A Charlie Brown Christmas made. Television executives hated it from the start. It was criticized as being too religious—Linus quotes straight from the King James Bible (Luke 2:8-14). It was criticized for featuring contemporary jazz, an offbeat choice for a cartoon. It was criticized for not having a laugh track. It was criticized for using the voices of real children (except for Snoopy, who was voiced by animator Melendez). And it is powerful, having me in tears a couple of times (though I tried to conceal that from my wife). "Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is about", then he goes on to recite this passage: 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Amazing. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, Linus reminds us of the most important thing about Chrismas, and of one of the most important things about our faith as Christians, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, coming in the form of a child. And when the children surround the little Christmas tree that they have decorated, and Charlie Brown almost seems redeemed, they begin to sink "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", and then I pretty much totally lost it. Very beautiful. I look forward to watching it again this year, and for years to come. This is the only essential holiday special for me, and to me it is as big a part of Christmas as Handel's Messiah. It is the patriarch of modern Christmas-themed mass media entertainment, and the standard to which other holiday programs should aspire. As the fateful day approaches, Charlie Brown is depressed -- not because his parents don't like his gifts, or he might not get the Red Ryder BB gun, but because he feels alone, friendless, and lost in the maddening competition the season seems to have become. Almost all of the people he encounters are consumed by parties, decorations, presents, and other superficial aspects of the holiday. "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" he cries. Linus answers. "Sure, Charlie Brown. 'There were in the same country shepherds....'" Charlie Brown learns, and by his silent example shows his friends, what is at the center of the Christmas holiday. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" preaches without being demagogic or condescending, and the comparatively understated "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!" which closes the show still packs as emotional a punch as the end of It's A Wonderful Life. The difference is that Charlie Brown is living the existential angst George Bailey had to be transported to an alternate universe to see. When the kids start singing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," it's like they've given our hero a big hug -- which is the least we can hope for, or give, not just at Christmas, but any time. Accept no substitutes.
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Podcast, is chosen as 2005 word of the year
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I decided last night, on a whim, to peruse through some of the profiles of some people that I know, know of, as well as through some of my student's profiles at My Space. And I was sort of disheartened. That is the best word that I can muster to express what I was feeling. One, My Space will give you plenty of sermon topics for years to come, if you are looking to find topics that your congregation/my students are struggling with, talking about, etc. Two, I was disheartened, I suppose, really at the lack of congruence between a person's online personality, and who they are in person, and the real lack of congruence. What people decided is safe, or respectable, or appropriate to put online, whether it be in words, or photos is pretty mind-blowing. I wasn't shocked, because I expected some of it, but I was disheartened at the lack of congruence, and the real split in lifestyles...the one that is put up front, in church especially, for everyone to see, and the one that would probably make most parent's blush, or least turn faces red. I decided last night, on a whim, to peruse through some of the profiles of some people that I know, know of, as well as through some of my student's profiles at My Space. And I was sort of disheartened. That is the best word that I can muster to express what I was feeling. One, My Space will give you plenty of sermon topics for years to come, if you are looking to find topics that your congregation/my students are struggling with, talking about, etc. Two, I was disheartened, I suppose, really at the lack of congruence between a person's online personality, and who they are in person, and the real lack of congruence. What people decided is safe, or respectable, or appropriate to put online, whether it be in words, or photos is pretty mind-blowing. I wasn't shocked, because I expected some of it, but I was disheartened at the lack of congruence, and the real split in lifestyles...the one that is put up front, in church especially, for everyone to see, and the one that would probably make most parent's blush, or least turn faces red. As Christians I know that we struggle at many times to bring our life into a healthy, wholistic balance between what we believe and profess, and how we live. But I think I'm disheartened by the fact that we can sometimes not even try, or desire, or want to bring those two aspects together. Rather, we would just rather be the "cool Christian", that is rebellious, and who doesn't want to be fenced in by any type of system, rules, boundaries, etc. I'm about to get up on my soapbox, so I think I will stop. I guess I'm just surprised what some people are willing to be online, without realizing that they have just created a permanent record (regardless if they erase the entry or site, it will always be there, just a Google away), for everyone to see.....family, friends, future employers, present employers, etc. Maybe they don't care, but I think most just aren't thinking, and are a little naive. I was told by someone pretty prominent in the business world, that we are really only a couple to a few years away from employers typing in a person's name into a computer system, so that everything they have ever done online can be accessed (writings;, blogs; photos, etc), and based on what they pull up, the will determine whether or not to hire that person. In fact, he said it is already happening now in many places. What a person puts online says a lot about their character, personality, beliefs, etc, and many employers will determine if it matches what they want in their workplace. Just some thoughts I am thinking about.......do you have any?
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Below are some snippets from Are Students Losing Their Religion on Campus? "When I came to college I was so excited to get out of the bubble that I'd been in, in high school and in my family, and i just kind of went crazy," Parrish said. "It's definitely the norm to be drunk and to have premarital sex and just kinda live a very — it's all about me, whatever I can get tonight," Colclasure said. "My grades suffered, I had a great social life but that's pretty much all I had. My spiritual life and my academics suffered a lot." "Good Morning America" parenting expert Anne Pleshette Murphy said that parents shouldn't despair — the UCLA study also found that 76 percent of college undergraduates want to have a spiritual life.
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8 Simple Rules for Surviving in Hollywood HT: to my good friend Mike Chiles I don't think Hollywood has the market on these rules of survival...they tend to function in a lot of other environments. Church? School? Work? Family?
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The two largest groups at The Quest are UCLA and USC. My first experience as an intern in 2001 was walking into their (then a Sunday night group called CHARGE)service, while UCLA students seemed to sit on one side, and USC on the other, and they began to chant back and forth. Crazy. Well, times have changed, and other groups such as LMU are growing, but it's fun to have these two schools in this ministry. Sorry UCLA.....and congrats to USC. Maybe one of the few ministries in Los Angeles where retreats have to be planned around football schedules.
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Interesting article in the Washington Post, Disappearing Act: Here is a brief quote from the article: Colleges and universities across the country are grappling with the case of the mysteriously vanishing male. Just found this to be interesting....why? Because this article is about the disappearing male in college, university, higher education, etc.....but this is also something that students, both men and women, within my ministry, and others have been asking me about men. "Where are all the men in church?" That is the question I get asked pretty often these days...I don't have a good answer...I have some thoughts, theories, etc...but I'm not sure.
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Despite the problems with many forms of postmodern thought--its tendency toward relativism, objective pluralism and continued traces of modernism--the postmodern vision of reality approaches more closely the biblical view than the vision of the so-called modern period. Doing practical theology in the present culture, in which modern and postmodern thought vie for allegiance, calls for critical and cautious reflection on the hermeneutics of divine revelation. To subsume divine revelation under the banner of modern thought with its claim to universal truth is outright arrogance from a theological standpoint. On the other hand, to allow culture and convention to determine what is normative apart from the compelling and convicting reality of God's self-revelation is only a thinly disguised form of modernism.(pp.21) The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis. I have found this book to be one of the most helpful and insightful to me in ministry, and I find it extremely helpful in the "emergent church" conversation. Though this book wasn't written for that (though he has a new book coming out in 2006 from Intervarsity Press, Emerging Theology for Emerging Churches), I think it is beneficial, as he addresses the issue of postmodernity and modernity and how they relate to the church. Common Grounds: Conversations About the Things That Matter Most This is a really good book written by Glenn Lucke and Ben Young whom you can find at Common Grounds, a great website of which they contribute to. It is an interesting book that uses a very conversational style of writing. I will be posting more at length on this book asap, but for now I want to recommend it to you. Look for a review in the next two weeks. Good stuff!
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So I just finished reading December 07, 2005
Think before you post something online college students...
The power of Coke and Coffee, together at last
A Charlie Brown Christmas...Cultural Commentary, Amazing Cartoon Special and Beautiful Message.
The cartoon is almost begging for a response from a sociological, philosphical, cultural and theological perspective. Charles Schulz was definitely making some statements about the mid-twentieth century, especially in regards to consumerism. But my mind is always thinking this way, and I don't really want to head there today. Watching this cartoon and not analyzing it for its messages on culture, is like trying to read The Chronicles of Narnia and not analyze them for their Christian themes.
But one of my favorite scenes in the television special is when Charlie Brown and Linus go out looking for a Christmas tree. They end up in a lot full of lifeless aluminum Christmas trees. In this lot they come to the middle where there is one, tiny, pathetic looking Christmas tree with like three branches, and needles falling off. But in the midst of lifeless aluminum, this tree stands out. And then Linus says something to him in the effect, that this little Christmas tree doesn't resonate, or go along with the modern mind or spirit. Hilarious coming out the mouth of a young boy. Maybe Linus and Charlie Brown were postmodern. Haaaa.
Apparently, according to this article, How A Charlie Brown Christmas Came To Pass, this special almost never made it to TV. Here are a few snippets:
I absolutely loved the jazz in this special because it was so uncharacteristic of most cartoon specials. I was amazed at how frequently they talked about the Bible or its characters, laughing at one point when Charlie Brown remarks to Lucy about not arguing with an "old theologian." Again, hilarious if you realize it is coming out of the mouth of a young boy.
And speaking of consumerism, you can buy the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree at Urban Outfitters
Though I can bounce back and forth between critiquing the special for its cultural commentary, I also just enjoyed it for what it was. A cartoon special, and a piece of American history.
It is really beautiful when Charlie Browns questions whether or not anyone knows what Christmas is about and Linus responds:
Luke 2:8-14 (King James Version)
I leave you with a bloggers comments about this special. They come from Tom at Comics Ate My Brain says thisDecember 06, 2005
Technology is dominating our language....
My Space? Are you concerned about what you are putting up online?
Are College Students Losing Their Religion On Campus?
A recent UCLA study found many college students drift away from their religious upbringings. In the study, 52 percent of the students said they attended religious services frequently the year before entering college, but by their junior year attendance had dropped to 29 percent.8 SIMPLE RULES FOR SURVIVING IN HOLLYWOOD by Bruce Feirstein
December 05, 2005
USC and UCLA Football: One of the best things about being the college director at Bel Air Presbyterian....
December 04, 2005
Hmmmm....interesting!
Where Have the Men Gone? No Place Good.
HT:Hugh HewittDecember 03, 2005
Two books.......
This is an amazing book written by Ray Anderson, whom I have learned tons about ministry and theology. I admire Dr. Anderson because not only does his have a wonderful theological mind, but his foremost concern is the practice, or praxis of it in ministry. Where many people are content with "ivory tower" theology, or with only ministry, minus any theology, he beautifully weds the two of them together.
Some closing thoughts on Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures.
And I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the "emerging church", whether you are a critic of them, interested in them, or in favor of them. Does that cover the bases?
Let me leave you with a couple of different paragraphs from their conclusion:
This study sought to identify the essential practices of emerging churches in the U.K. and the U.S. As explained, after five years of research, we identified nine practices of the communitites that are engaging postmodern culture. To clarify, emerging churches are not young adult services, Gen-X churches, churches-within-a-church, seeker churches, purpose-driven or new paradigm churches, fundamentalist churches, or even evangelical churches. They are a new expression of church. The three core practices are identifying with the life of Jesus, transforming secular space, and commitment to community as a way of life. These practices are expressed in or lead to the other six: welcoming the stranger, serving with generosity, participating as producers, creating as created beings