"Prayers That Rout Demons and Break Curses" by John Eckhardt
This is really two books in one with the first book on prayers that rout demons. The first book consists of many very short prayers based on familiar Scriptures. The second book includes more explanation and then suggests longer prayers which are, once again, based on Scripture.
In confess that I am unfamiliar with John Eckhardt though I note from his web site that he has written more than 35 books and regularly does preaching and teaching tours and deals particularly with spiritual warfare and deliverance from demons. One of the notes refers to him as an apostle.
I used Eckhardt's book for my personal devotions the last couple of months and I found his writings (especially in the second book) to be very helpful. The prayers aren't particularly unique but are simply a careful application of Scripture. He addresses so many issues that are troubling our world and God's people. What could be better than a book of Scriptural prayers?
I recommend this book (these books) as a fitting way to grow in your prayer life.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Movie Review of "The Odd Life of Timothy Green"
Movie Review of "The Odd Life of Timothy Green," a Disney movie.
This was a very moving and emotional movie, for sure. The young couple (the Greens) are unable to have a baby and try everything and are very sad. They accept their fate and go home for one last time and decide to brainstorm what kind of child their child would have been. They write it on little pieces of paper and bury the papers in a wooden box in the garden. During a special rain storm which only blankets their area (the rest of the area is caught in a drought) a boy appears and they name him Timothy Green.
They try to be good parents and love the boy but make some common mistakes. He reaches out to others with a love and kindness and friendship that is so pure that it is somehow refreshing. He has leaves on his legs and these leaves figure into the whole point of his life. A slightly older girl befriends him and together they develop a special leaf garden. The leaves also suggest a special invention that could save the town which is doomed to lose its pencil factory where his parents and most of the town work.
The movie is not meant to be sad or maudlin but it does suggest that even when parents are doing the best they can, their expectations for their children may not always be realistic or be the best. The parents learn. The grandparents learn. The cousins learn. The whole town learns. The people at the adoption agency learn. We learn if we listen and learn to care.
This is a great movie. The ending is predictable, but oh, so sweet. We loved it and it reminded us of our oldest son and the heady days when he joined our family by adoption. You will not be disappointed.
This was a very moving and emotional movie, for sure. The young couple (the Greens) are unable to have a baby and try everything and are very sad. They accept their fate and go home for one last time and decide to brainstorm what kind of child their child would have been. They write it on little pieces of paper and bury the papers in a wooden box in the garden. During a special rain storm which only blankets their area (the rest of the area is caught in a drought) a boy appears and they name him Timothy Green.
They try to be good parents and love the boy but make some common mistakes. He reaches out to others with a love and kindness and friendship that is so pure that it is somehow refreshing. He has leaves on his legs and these leaves figure into the whole point of his life. A slightly older girl befriends him and together they develop a special leaf garden. The leaves also suggest a special invention that could save the town which is doomed to lose its pencil factory where his parents and most of the town work.
The movie is not meant to be sad or maudlin but it does suggest that even when parents are doing the best they can, their expectations for their children may not always be realistic or be the best. The parents learn. The grandparents learn. The cousins learn. The whole town learns. The people at the adoption agency learn. We learn if we listen and learn to care.
This is a great movie. The ending is predictable, but oh, so sweet. We loved it and it reminded us of our oldest son and the heady days when he joined our family by adoption. You will not be disappointed.
Book Review of Classics Illustrated A Cultural History (Second Edition)
Book Review of "Classics Illustrated--A Cultural History" (Second Edition) by William B. Jones, Jr.
This is a fine book and it brings back lots of memories about my Classics Illustrated Collection. I started buying Classics Illustrated comics about 1955 or so and ended up collecting about 85% of the 170 or so that were printed. I really didn't collect them as items to be saved because "we" (my brothers and sisters...especially my brothers) read them over and over again. For example, hen my brother, Bud, was in the hospital for many weeks after a major injury he enjoyed reading my Classics Illustrated Collection. I even put them in binders that I created out of large old books. I cut the covers off these books and put the Classic comics in them.
This book spends a great deal of time on the history of Gilberton publishing and its rise and fall. It is the story story of the Kanter family's series of comics-style adaptations of literary masterpieces from 1941 into the 21st century. It is a 70 year history. Several times the series would end, only to be revived in a somewhat different format.
The book also features information on the careers and contributions of such artists as Alex A. Blum, Lou Cameron, George Evans, Henry C. Kiefer, Gray Morrow, Rudolph Palais, Norman Nodel and Louis Zansky.
There are large appendixes that help collectors to realize the extent of these publications around the world.
The book contains more than 300 illustrations. I loved the book and it's one of those books that I can't give up.
This is a fine book and it brings back lots of memories about my Classics Illustrated Collection. I started buying Classics Illustrated comics about 1955 or so and ended up collecting about 85% of the 170 or so that were printed. I really didn't collect them as items to be saved because "we" (my brothers and sisters...especially my brothers) read them over and over again. For example, hen my brother, Bud, was in the hospital for many weeks after a major injury he enjoyed reading my Classics Illustrated Collection. I even put them in binders that I created out of large old books. I cut the covers off these books and put the Classic comics in them.
This book spends a great deal of time on the history of Gilberton publishing and its rise and fall. It is the story story of the Kanter family's series of comics-style adaptations of literary masterpieces from 1941 into the 21st century. It is a 70 year history. Several times the series would end, only to be revived in a somewhat different format.
The book also features information on the careers and contributions of such artists as Alex A. Blum, Lou Cameron, George Evans, Henry C. Kiefer, Gray Morrow, Rudolph Palais, Norman Nodel and Louis Zansky.
There are large appendixes that help collectors to realize the extent of these publications around the world.
The book contains more than 300 illustrations. I loved the book and it's one of those books that I can't give up.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Book Review of "Dimiter" by William Peter Blatty
Book Review on “Dimiter” by William Peter Blatty.
I was a little surprised to purchase this book “Dimiter” by William Peter Blatty (Forge Book, copyright 2010) at the Dollar Store but even more surprised that it was far from a horror or demonic book. Blatty is famous for authoring “The Exorcist” and the movie screenplay of the same book but he is also known for his humorous “John Goldfarb, Please Come Home” and his co-authoring of the Inspector Clouseau movie screenplay, “A Shot In the Dark.”
This book, surprisingly, is a religious book about an assassin who takes the role of a priest and then finds that the priestly role begins to take over his life. The narrative begins in Albania with the “hero” (Dimiter) being tortured to tell the truth. When he, surprisingly, escapes his captors the book turns to Jerusalem and a series of circumstances which bring Dimiter and several other characters together—detective and otherwise.
I found the narrative very engaging and Blatty’s writing style varies from chapter to chapter. I was especially intrigued by his interview dialogue in several chapters. I would be interested in trying this style for our annual drama of the Last Supper.
The book grinds to a slow halt and, sadly, leaves the reader wanting more information and a more neat and clean ending. The assassin turned priest truly has a religious experience but the ending might strain the market credulity of Hollywood film makers.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
“Forget About Today” by Jon Friedman
I received the book in the mail from Amazon.com on Monday, August 27 and finished it Wednesday evening, August 29. It helped that I had time because of a cross country trip by bus and plane but the book is that good. It is worth reading.
Its subtitle is, “Bob Dylan’s genius For (Re)Invention, Shunning the Naysayers, and Crating a Personal Revolution.” What more can I say. That really describes the book. In chapter after worshipful chapter Friedman praises Dylan’s ability to keep working, to rise against boredom, to ignore advice when his instincts say otherwise, to collaborate, to not look back, and to live beyond the expectations of others.
Friedman keeps going back to several Dylan decisions—to walk off the Ed Sullivan Show when asked not to do a certain song, to go electric when he saw the leveling off of folk music, to refuse to become a dissident leader, to continue the “Never Ending Tour” in venues which are much smaller than what most Rock stars desire, and to refuse dozens and dozens of interviews. In fact, Dylan even refused to talk to Friedman as Friedman prepared this book. However, Friedman quotes extensively from Dylan’s books, music, friends and co-workers.
I loved the book except for one chapter in which Friedman bows to our world’s insistence on throwing in some four letter words. The quotes in that unfortunate chapter, even if they are true and accurate, would be better left unreported. They detract from the author’s point.
I suspect that famous self-help gurus will recommend this book or recommend that people spend time emulating Bob Dylan. It couldn’t hurt!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Book Review on "Germania" by Brendan McNally
I bought this book at a dollar at Dollar Greentree. I know. I know. I hardly need to buy anymore books. This book intrigued me a bit because of its premise of a brief German "Reich" for a few weeks which follows the fall of the Third Reich and Adolf Hitler. Admiral Karl Donitz was the successor of Hitler and the "Fuhrer" for about 3 weeks. He ended up serving 10 years in prison for his war crimes. This part of the book is true and many of the characters in the book are real characters woven in with a historical novel on the four Flying Magical Loerber Brothers who are far from real. Actually, I found the Loerber brothers very distracting as I read this book. Albert Speer and his attempts to thwart Hitler's final orders to annihilate German culture and history are an interesting read and (as far as I understand) are the true part of story. Speer ended up being tried as a war criminal and served his time of 20 years despite the protests of many that Speer should be regarded as a tragic hero for preserving many things in Germany in the final days of World War II.
Getting back to the Jewish Loerber brothers, I found that their "antics" were puzzling and would be puzzling to many Jewish people. The main brother, Ziggy, strangely enough, is a Jewish Nazi sympathizer if such a thing is possible. The other brothers, Manni (an assassin, Franzi (a triple agent) and Sebastian (who works for the Blood of Israel) have powers that are a bit unbelievable.
Many other true historical characters grace the pages and the history buff will be pleased with many of the references. At the end the author spends several pages telling the "rest of the story" on the real characters in the book.
However, was it a good book? Well, I think it was worth the read...but as I said above, I would have been OK if the Loerber Brothers would have had less dialogue and narrative. If you like World War II books you will probably enjoy it. I did.
Getting back to the Jewish Loerber brothers, I found that their "antics" were puzzling and would be puzzling to many Jewish people. The main brother, Ziggy, strangely enough, is a Jewish Nazi sympathizer if such a thing is possible. The other brothers, Manni (an assassin, Franzi (a triple agent) and Sebastian (who works for the Blood of Israel) have powers that are a bit unbelievable.
Many other true historical characters grace the pages and the history buff will be pleased with many of the references. At the end the author spends several pages telling the "rest of the story" on the real characters in the book.
However, was it a good book? Well, I think it was worth the read...but as I said above, I would have been OK if the Loerber Brothers would have had less dialogue and narrative. If you like World War II books you will probably enjoy it. I did.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Book Review of "The New Codependency" by Melody Beattie
On the bookshelf of my office I have a half dozen copies of Melody Beattie's original book, "Codependent No More." I find that this is one of those "entrance level" books that help people deal with a variety of issues include divorce, emotional dependence, workaholism, anger issues, alcoholism, child-rearing challenges, drug abuse and more. Anyone who is a caregiver needs to understand the issues of the Twelve Step Program and how to minister to self while serving others. I appreciate her books and give them out freely while warning people that we must add our Christian faith and passages from the Bible to best use what she talks about.
This new book by Melody Beattie (and I believe she has authored more than a dozen books on this issue) brings some of her original thoughts into the 21st Century. She begins by again trying to define the elusive term "codependency" and explains what it is and isn't. One of the greatest challenges is breaking free from what she calls "the control trap." In talking about this she tackles issues such as boundaries, communication, denial, dependency, manipulation and more.
Her book is not always an easy read and I did not find her mental and journaling exercises at the end of each section as being very helpful. However, if you read the book slowly--perhaps a couple pages at a time--you can learn and grow. Also, if you would read this book with someone else you could find it even more helpful.
Section Three contains multiple quizzes as she helps the reader to make a "conscious connection with yourself." Each quiz could probably be a week's worth of self-therapy. Not bad...but I just couldn't take the time to painstakingly track through each quiz. I confess that I had to skip through this section.
I appreciate her focus on God though sincere Christians would argue about the absence of Jesus in most of her chapters. As far as I can tell, she has a very Christian approach but in keeping with her focus on the Twelve Steps she focuses more on "God" (or our "Higher Power") instead of using purely Christian terminology.
This new book by Melody Beattie (and I believe she has authored more than a dozen books on this issue) brings some of her original thoughts into the 21st Century. She begins by again trying to define the elusive term "codependency" and explains what it is and isn't. One of the greatest challenges is breaking free from what she calls "the control trap." In talking about this she tackles issues such as boundaries, communication, denial, dependency, manipulation and more.
Her book is not always an easy read and I did not find her mental and journaling exercises at the end of each section as being very helpful. However, if you read the book slowly--perhaps a couple pages at a time--you can learn and grow. Also, if you would read this book with someone else you could find it even more helpful.
Section Three contains multiple quizzes as she helps the reader to make a "conscious connection with yourself." Each quiz could probably be a week's worth of self-therapy. Not bad...but I just couldn't take the time to painstakingly track through each quiz. I confess that I had to skip through this section.
I appreciate her focus on God though sincere Christians would argue about the absence of Jesus in most of her chapters. As far as I can tell, she has a very Christian approach but in keeping with her focus on the Twelve Steps she focuses more on "God" (or our "Higher Power") instead of using purely Christian terminology.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Mr. Monk Is a Mess by Lee Goldberg
We like Monk.
It's as simple as that. We used to watch the first run of all of the Monk TV programs starting about the second or third year. Then we watched the program until it's sad demise after eight seasons. Things got "wrapped up" in the TV program but the books by Lee Goldberg continued until this fourteenth installment published a few weeks ago.
The last few books continue the story of Monk where the TV program left off and, unfortunately, this fourteenth installment reads as if it is the end of the series. I understand that it may well be unless the "powers that be" decide to hire another writer. I don't want to give away the plot of the book but suffice it to say that many loose ends are "wrapped up" to coin a phrase I used in my previous paragraph.
Strangely enough, I've never really thought of the Monk books as being terribly funny but there are times when you find yourself laughing out loud (Is that what LOL stands for on texts and tweets?). This book has one such page/incident that almost brings tears to your eyes. I also never really thought of the Monk books as really focusing on the various murders. They, like the TV program, are more on character development than anything. Oh, there are a few memorable criminals but Monk and his "family" (Natalie, Stottlemeyer, Julie, Randy, etc.) are really the "stars" of the series and in some ways you just want to know what's going on in their lives.
The TV program was probably a bit more realistic at times concerning Monk's quirks because the books seem to suggest some very outlandish habits. However, obsessive compulsive people can be, what can I say?...obsessive and compulsive.
Monk is a mess because of the possibility of seeing Natalie move to the East coast with Monk deciding not to go. Coupled with this is a new friend from the East coast that Monk really doesn't want to give up and also the fact that Monk's brother, Ambrose, is slowly coming out of his shell.
Well, to say much more would mean to give the plot of the book away. Take time to read the book...but you may prefer to read them in order and save this fourteenth book for last.
We like Monk and hope that there will be something to read or see in the future about this unique character.
It's as simple as that. We used to watch the first run of all of the Monk TV programs starting about the second or third year. Then we watched the program until it's sad demise after eight seasons. Things got "wrapped up" in the TV program but the books by Lee Goldberg continued until this fourteenth installment published a few weeks ago.
The last few books continue the story of Monk where the TV program left off and, unfortunately, this fourteenth installment reads as if it is the end of the series. I understand that it may well be unless the "powers that be" decide to hire another writer. I don't want to give away the plot of the book but suffice it to say that many loose ends are "wrapped up" to coin a phrase I used in my previous paragraph.
Strangely enough, I've never really thought of the Monk books as being terribly funny but there are times when you find yourself laughing out loud (Is that what LOL stands for on texts and tweets?). This book has one such page/incident that almost brings tears to your eyes. I also never really thought of the Monk books as really focusing on the various murders. They, like the TV program, are more on character development than anything. Oh, there are a few memorable criminals but Monk and his "family" (Natalie, Stottlemeyer, Julie, Randy, etc.) are really the "stars" of the series and in some ways you just want to know what's going on in their lives.
The TV program was probably a bit more realistic at times concerning Monk's quirks because the books seem to suggest some very outlandish habits. However, obsessive compulsive people can be, what can I say?...obsessive and compulsive.
Monk is a mess because of the possibility of seeing Natalie move to the East coast with Monk deciding not to go. Coupled with this is a new friend from the East coast that Monk really doesn't want to give up and also the fact that Monk's brother, Ambrose, is slowly coming out of his shell.
Well, to say much more would mean to give the plot of the book away. Take time to read the book...but you may prefer to read them in order and save this fourteenth book for last.
We like Monk and hope that there will be something to read or see in the future about this unique character.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The Amazing Spider Man (2012)
Contrary to a mini-blog review I read a few days ago, I found that this was a very good movie...not quite as good as the first movie in the previous series...but very good.
I guess what surprised me was the fact that it was not a remake in any sense of the word of the previous 2002 Spider Man which starred Tobey Maguire. Oh, many of the characters were the same but the origins of the web slinger were somewhat different from the first movie. And Andrew Garfield was a very different character. Thinner. Less of a baby face. Barely able to pass as a high school student. But, wait, I still like his characterization.
For me, after a while the computer generated graphics occasionally got in the way of the story. That's why the first half of the movie was a bit slow for many, I'm sure, but it was laced with a lot of character development. Gwen, Uncle Ben, Aunt May, Flash Thompson, and even Curt Connors (the Lizard) were well developed characters before the computer graphics captured the movie. But even that wasn't so bad. We didn't see the movie in 3D but that was OK. (I tend to dislike most of the 3D movies I saw. It's not worth the extra $2.00 or so and definitely not worth the discomfort of the glasses.)
This movie had Spidey struggling with identify issues and even the horrible promise that he has to make at the end. I'm all in favor of keeping promises but in this case the promise is just too demanding for life itself.
I was surprised at how many people knew Spiderman's secret identity. Well, perhaps it's difficult when you are starting out to get your secret identity in place. But, again, I forgive this as part of normal character development.
Well, I best not pick apart the movie anymore. It's worth seeing. It's enjoyable. It's certainly not dirty or suggestive. And if you don't learn a couple of moral lessons from the movie, what were you looking for?
I guess what surprised me was the fact that it was not a remake in any sense of the word of the previous 2002 Spider Man which starred Tobey Maguire. Oh, many of the characters were the same but the origins of the web slinger were somewhat different from the first movie. And Andrew Garfield was a very different character. Thinner. Less of a baby face. Barely able to pass as a high school student. But, wait, I still like his characterization.
For me, after a while the computer generated graphics occasionally got in the way of the story. That's why the first half of the movie was a bit slow for many, I'm sure, but it was laced with a lot of character development. Gwen, Uncle Ben, Aunt May, Flash Thompson, and even Curt Connors (the Lizard) were well developed characters before the computer graphics captured the movie. But even that wasn't so bad. We didn't see the movie in 3D but that was OK. (I tend to dislike most of the 3D movies I saw. It's not worth the extra $2.00 or so and definitely not worth the discomfort of the glasses.)
This movie had Spidey struggling with identify issues and even the horrible promise that he has to make at the end. I'm all in favor of keeping promises but in this case the promise is just too demanding for life itself.
I was surprised at how many people knew Spiderman's secret identity. Well, perhaps it's difficult when you are starting out to get your secret identity in place. But, again, I forgive this as part of normal character development.
Well, I best not pick apart the movie anymore. It's worth seeing. It's enjoyable. It's certainly not dirty or suggestive. And if you don't learn a couple of moral lessons from the movie, what were you looking for?
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Book Review - The Coming of the Third Reich by Richard J. Evans
I started reading this book a long time ago and continued to wade through the book until finishing it today. The book is the first of a planned trilogy on the Third Reich. Only the first book was available when I started reading it but I understand that all three books are now completed. I enjoyed the book but right now I'm not sure that I will read the trilogy. Years ago I read "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" by William Shirer and also have read several other World War II books.
I continue to be amazed at the circumstances leading to the Third Reich and World War II and especially the extermination of millions of Jews and many others. Our late 20th Century and 21st Century minds cannot begin to fathom the depth of the prejudice and actions which led to this travesty.
However, as you read this book you find that anti-Semitism was not limited to one nation or culture and the roots of anti-Semitism are very deep. This was coupled with the anti-Communism mentality of the Nazis. I'm afraid that some people might excuse one "anti" while condemning the other.
Toward the end of this book and its details about the pivotal year of 1933 the reader has to be astounded by the systematic expulsion of artists, educators, cinematographers, Jews, and many others.
It's a good book if you can dedicate the time to read it.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Hold on to your hats. You may think that this movie is strange and ridiculous. Well, yes. The premise is strange and ridiculous but I found it to be a very good movie and I enjoyed the triumph of good over evil. I read the book about a year ago and enjoyed the book. It is one of several contemporary books that combines a traditional story with horror themes. They are called "mashups." I was surprised when I saw that "they" were making this book into a movie and I convinced Alice that we should see it. I confess. She didn't really like it very much.
It was filled with vampires and lots of computer generated action. Yes, and there was more blood and gore than necessary and a lot more than I cared for. But the plot was unique and some of the historical scenes were absolutely riveting. Oh, I confess that the depiction of Mary Todd Lincoln just didn't live up to facts but the weaving of the evils of slavery and racism and Lincoln's unique bravery in a variety of situations made for an interesting movie. I understand that a movie about the last year or so of Lincoln's presidency is in the work. Unlike this movie, that one will be factual but they will have to work hard to have a better actor for Lincoln and will have to work hard to keep that movie as interesting.
This movie was described as an action fantasy horror film and it lived up to that. Vampires figure into Lincoln's life as his mother dies from a Vampire bite and his hatred of vampires (and slavery) is based on that fact. Henry Sturgis who happens to also be a vampire enlists Lincoln to do his dirty work of eradicating vampires because he himself cannot do it because of an unwritten code that vampires cannot kill other vampires. Hey...I said it was a fantasy.
Lincoln's friend, Speed, and a boyhood black friend, William Johnson, join forces just before the Battle of Gettysburg in supplying the Union forces with silver bullets. A fight against vampires on a speeding train is truly unbelievable but totally "logical" and heart-pounding.
The movie ends with Lincoln on his way to the Ford Theater. His vampire friend Henry is trying to convince Lincoln to become a vampire himself to continue the fight but Lincoln refuses. The book has a somewhat different ending.
One criticism--I long for the vampires to be a little more human and a little less horrifying. I think that this would have been an even better movie with fewer sensational scenes and a little more dramatic interaction. In that, the book was probably better.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Dark Shadows
I never got around to reviewing "Dark Shadows" when we saw it a few weeks ago. I suspect that it has pretty much made its run and is almost ready for video.
It's not that it wasn't a good movie. It was. I enjoyed it. Oh, it had its seamy moments and in true vampire tradition, it was gory and outrageous at times.
It's just that it was very, very funny and the anti-hero Barnabas Collins was "drawn" to be quite humorous in his encounters with the world. And, yes, in a strange way, good did triumph over evil.
The main drawback was the strange evil powers of his antagonist. If she was so adept at keeping him buried for a couple hundred years, you would think that she could have been adept in keeping him in his place and defeating him.
The characters in general were also quite funny. It was like watching a spoof of Daytime soap operas but, hey, I think that's what it was supposed to be.
I enjoyed seeing the movie on the big screen but I think it will be no less entertaining on video. I recommend it to adult viewers who hail back to the 60's. I suspect that many young adults will find it pretty boring.
It's not that it wasn't a good movie. It was. I enjoyed it. Oh, it had its seamy moments and in true vampire tradition, it was gory and outrageous at times.
It's just that it was very, very funny and the anti-hero Barnabas Collins was "drawn" to be quite humorous in his encounters with the world. And, yes, in a strange way, good did triumph over evil.
The main drawback was the strange evil powers of his antagonist. If she was so adept at keeping him buried for a couple hundred years, you would think that she could have been adept in keeping him in his place and defeating him.
The characters in general were also quite funny. It was like watching a spoof of Daytime soap operas but, hey, I think that's what it was supposed to be.
I enjoyed seeing the movie on the big screen but I think it will be no less entertaining on video. I recommend it to adult viewers who hail back to the 60's. I suspect that many young adults will find it pretty boring.
Brave
"Brave" was a wonderful movie and has got to be one of the best this year.
The heroine is pretty unique in the fact that it's the first time Pixar has chosen to have a female heroine. It's also pretty unique when you think about it that the mother and daughter were more alike than people might think. Perhaps that's why they kept coming to verbal blows. The red haired Scottish daughter does not want to be confined to "ladylike" roles and activities but she never seems to notice that her mother the queen is pretty much in charge of most everything in the kingdom.
The image of the Bear permeates the movie and even the wicked witch focuses on bears. I went out for popcorn during this scene of the witch and the heroine in the cabin so I missed part of the plot sequence but, hey, popcorn at the movie is always worth the distraction.
I loved the King, the Queen, the three brothers (triplets?) and the heroine and her trusty horse. Though the Scottish brogue can sometimes be distracting it simply added to the mystique of the movie. I'm not sure how this will come across when the movie is shown in other countries and featuring other languages. For example, is it possible to have a Spanish Scottish brogue?
This movie definitely celebrates the triumph of good over evil and even though the 3 suitors for the princess' hand are stereotypical I felt that they were good reminders of how people are all different. If you were a girl you might not want one of them as a boyfriend...but then, again, you might. Many of the characters were just everyday people...pretty much like the people of the world. The three kings with their three sons were all lovable characters in unique ways.
The final scene of the good bear versus the bad bear might suggest Chicago football images but I am trying my best not to focus on this.
It is a great movie...again, one of the best of the year. See it and/or see it again!
The heroine is pretty unique in the fact that it's the first time Pixar has chosen to have a female heroine. It's also pretty unique when you think about it that the mother and daughter were more alike than people might think. Perhaps that's why they kept coming to verbal blows. The red haired Scottish daughter does not want to be confined to "ladylike" roles and activities but she never seems to notice that her mother the queen is pretty much in charge of most everything in the kingdom.
The image of the Bear permeates the movie and even the wicked witch focuses on bears. I went out for popcorn during this scene of the witch and the heroine in the cabin so I missed part of the plot sequence but, hey, popcorn at the movie is always worth the distraction.
I loved the King, the Queen, the three brothers (triplets?) and the heroine and her trusty horse. Though the Scottish brogue can sometimes be distracting it simply added to the mystique of the movie. I'm not sure how this will come across when the movie is shown in other countries and featuring other languages. For example, is it possible to have a Spanish Scottish brogue?
This movie definitely celebrates the triumph of good over evil and even though the 3 suitors for the princess' hand are stereotypical I felt that they were good reminders of how people are all different. If you were a girl you might not want one of them as a boyfriend...but then, again, you might. Many of the characters were just everyday people...pretty much like the people of the world. The three kings with their three sons were all lovable characters in unique ways.
The final scene of the good bear versus the bad bear might suggest Chicago football images but I am trying my best not to focus on this.
It is a great movie...again, one of the best of the year. See it and/or see it again!
Madagascar 3
I'm probably going against tradition, popularity and life in general if I try to be honest in my evaluation of Madagascar 3. After the movie I was heard to say "It had no plot." Well, that thought was quickly corrected when it was shared with me that the plot was that the animals wanted to get home so badly that they forgot that when life changes going back to the way things were before may not be possible. OK. OK. That's the plot. And that's not a bad plot. I just like to have someone explain the plot to me during the movie. But that's just me.
Beyond that we were surprised that the action centered on a circus. This was especially curious because we had just experienced the Carson and Barnes Circus the day before in Freeport, an event sponsored by our church and school. Who would have thought that the next day we would see a movie that focused on a circus? (And I have this running joke about being "Circus" Counselor.) The difference, of course, in this circus was and is the fact that the circus was run by the animals. This is especially curious when you consider the fact that the Madagascar animals were seeking to get back to New York City and were willing to be confined in cages as part of their sense of being "at home." Hmm. There's something deeper in this thought. Oh, well. You have to dismiss all forms of reality when you enter the cartoon world.
The inspector and her crew were definitely part of the movie and you could easily learn to dislike her and her style. Question: Why was she so intent on capturing these animals and why were the animals so much wiser than humans and especially these particular humans.
We saw this movie in 3D and it is clear that many of the circus scenes were more spectacular because of the 3D animation, however, it seems that even in regular 2D the scenes would be quite unique and spectacular.
Should you see the movie? I guess so. You will probably find it entertaining. It was clean and cute fun.
Would I see it again? Probably not...not even on TV. It just wasn't my kind of movie.
Beyond that we were surprised that the action centered on a circus. This was especially curious because we had just experienced the Carson and Barnes Circus the day before in Freeport, an event sponsored by our church and school. Who would have thought that the next day we would see a movie that focused on a circus? (And I have this running joke about being "Circus" Counselor.) The difference, of course, in this circus was and is the fact that the circus was run by the animals. This is especially curious when you consider the fact that the Madagascar animals were seeking to get back to New York City and were willing to be confined in cages as part of their sense of being "at home." Hmm. There's something deeper in this thought. Oh, well. You have to dismiss all forms of reality when you enter the cartoon world.
The inspector and her crew were definitely part of the movie and you could easily learn to dislike her and her style. Question: Why was she so intent on capturing these animals and why were the animals so much wiser than humans and especially these particular humans.
We saw this movie in 3D and it is clear that many of the circus scenes were more spectacular because of the 3D animation, however, it seems that even in regular 2D the scenes would be quite unique and spectacular.
Should you see the movie? I guess so. You will probably find it entertaining. It was clean and cute fun.
Would I see it again? Probably not...not even on TV. It just wasn't my kind of movie.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
The Tao of Willie by Willie Nelson with Turk Pipkin
Someone gave me this book. I don't remember who. I do love Willie Nelson's music and probably have 15 of his albums. I also recently read a biography of Willie. This book (called a National Bestseller) was disappointing for several reasons. First of all, it just didn't sound like Willie. Maybe the co-author Turk Pipkin came through more than Willie. Secondly, I was a bit disappointed in his universalism. As a Christian I have always appreciated his Christian albums and songs. However, Willie in this book pretty much says that all religion is good. The sincerity in his Christian music, however, just doesn't seem to match some of the comments in his book. Thirdly, the book has to throw in a few off-color stories and an occasional four letter word. These diversions add absolutely nothing to the book; in fact, they detract from it. Fourthly, on a positive note, I do appreciate Willie's defense of common people--farmers, those who are down and out, women and children. He is definitely not a chauvinist and is not full of himself. With Willie, what you see is what you get. Hey, you might enjoy the read. I'll loan it to you or give it to you if you want it!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
"Acedia and Me"by Kathleen Norris
This is a great book. I listened to it on CD but it is a great book on the unusual theme of "acedia" which is, basically, the inability to care. It strikes people (as does its partner, sloth) and makes it difficult to live and act and be.
Kathleen Norris wrote the book and also provides the audio. She is not the most polished speaker in the world but her narration lends an authenticity to the book that you would not get if it were narrated by a professional reader. She relates her battles with acedia and spends quite a bit of time relating it to the challenges she faced as her husband experienced all sorts of emotional and physical problems.
She found herself, strangely enough, in the two very different worlds of North Dakota and Hawaii. She enjoyed (and enjoys) the monastic tradition and writes with great insight into clinical depression and "cures" (and especially spiritual cures) for diseases which afflict all of us from time to time.
One of the memorable passages concerns the last minutes of her husband's life and the need for the visiting clergyman to read Psalm 27. She longed for it to be read in the poetic verse of the King James Version or from the older Book of Common Prayer "because my husband is a poet and would want it read that way." Her desire here was somewhat frustrated by the events but I enjoyed her (and her husband's) need for something more than just translated words.
Part of the package of this CD was also receiving a down loadable book of Acedia comments traced through history.
This book was well worth listening to and reflecting upon. You will not be disappointed.
Kathleen Norris wrote the book and also provides the audio. She is not the most polished speaker in the world but her narration lends an authenticity to the book that you would not get if it were narrated by a professional reader. She relates her battles with acedia and spends quite a bit of time relating it to the challenges she faced as her husband experienced all sorts of emotional and physical problems.
She found herself, strangely enough, in the two very different worlds of North Dakota and Hawaii. She enjoyed (and enjoys) the monastic tradition and writes with great insight into clinical depression and "cures" (and especially spiritual cures) for diseases which afflict all of us from time to time.
One of the memorable passages concerns the last minutes of her husband's life and the need for the visiting clergyman to read Psalm 27. She longed for it to be read in the poetic verse of the King James Version or from the older Book of Common Prayer "because my husband is a poet and would want it read that way." Her desire here was somewhat frustrated by the events but I enjoyed her (and her husband's) need for something more than just translated words.
Part of the package of this CD was also receiving a down loadable book of Acedia comments traced through history.
This book was well worth listening to and reflecting upon. You will not be disappointed.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Book Review of "American Savior" by Roland Merullo
What if Jesus came back to earth and openly ran for president of the United States. The premise is somewhat outrageous and the book might be considered a little strange but I found it a very interesting read.
The narrator is a disgruntled TV reporter whose faith is shaky at best. He finds that Jesus calls him to be in charge of security and enlists his entire family in the process, including the reporter's Jewish father, his very Catholic mother, his handicapped brother, his fiance, and a bunch of other people very close to him.
At first the premise is a bit outrageous but as the book unfolds the reader finds that you really wonder how it's all going to turn out. Jesus and His Divinity Party find strange opposition from both Democrats and Republicans and discover that political parties often use religion for the wrong purposes. Who would ever have thought that.
At times the author, Roland Merullo, strains his credulity as he invents names which sound strangely familiar to the political pundits of real life.
I'm tempted to share spoiler alert facts but I can't bring myself to do this. You have to read the book to find out whether or not Jesus winds and what happens to him. You will find yourself a bit breathless and you may indeed come closer to the Lord of 2000 years ago and the Lord of today.
I'm not sure why this book ended up in the Dollar Store. Yes, it's true...this was another Dollar Store special but I confess that I enjoyed the book very much.
The narrator is a disgruntled TV reporter whose faith is shaky at best. He finds that Jesus calls him to be in charge of security and enlists his entire family in the process, including the reporter's Jewish father, his very Catholic mother, his handicapped brother, his fiance, and a bunch of other people very close to him.
At first the premise is a bit outrageous but as the book unfolds the reader finds that you really wonder how it's all going to turn out. Jesus and His Divinity Party find strange opposition from both Democrats and Republicans and discover that political parties often use religion for the wrong purposes. Who would ever have thought that.
At times the author, Roland Merullo, strains his credulity as he invents names which sound strangely familiar to the political pundits of real life.
I'm tempted to share spoiler alert facts but I can't bring myself to do this. You have to read the book to find out whether or not Jesus winds and what happens to him. You will find yourself a bit breathless and you may indeed come closer to the Lord of 2000 years ago and the Lord of today.
I'm not sure why this book ended up in the Dollar Store. Yes, it's true...this was another Dollar Store special but I confess that I enjoyed the book very much.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
The Three Stooges
I wanted to see this movie because I've always liked the Three Stooges. I had also heard that Jim Carrey was considered for one of the parts. He, however, was noticeably absent. I wondered if the realists in today's world had also limited the kind of outrageous slapstick humor that the Stooges "patented." I was pleased that the Farrelly brothers apparently decided to pick up where the old Stooges programs left off and continued the humor for which they were "famous."
The Lindo Theater was about half full but most of the watchers were having a very good time. We couldn't remember the last time that we heard this much uproarious belly laughs. The movie was funny. There was basically no plot. OK. OK. There was a plot The stooges were left at the doorstep of the Sisters of Mercy Orphanage and grew up not being adopted--perhaps because of their stupid pranks. A prospective couple decides to adopt Moe but bring him back when he insists that Larry and Curly also be adopted. Instead, the couple adopts Teddy. Twenty five years pass and the Stooges are still in the orphanage and now have to come up with $830,000 to save the orphanage. They get involved in a plot where a lady (Sofia Vergara) is trying to kill her husband and the Stooges agree to help her out because her husband has a terminal disease. See...I told you there was no plot.
The movie also stars Chris Diamantopoulos, Sean Hayes and Will Sasso as Moe, Larry and Curly. Who? The cast of Jersey Shore are also there and their involvement is pretty funny.
OK. What did I think of the movie? My last name has 14 letters. I wouldn't give it a 14 but it was certainly better than a 7. I found myself laughing. It won't win any Emmys for anything but it will make you laugh. At the end the producers even saw fit to explain that when the Stooges use hammers and sledge hammers and similar inappropriate items to beat each other over the head, it's all a matter of sound effects and pretend tools. I guess I always knew that. I hope so. My brothers and I pretended we were doing 3 Stooges stuff but I don't recall really hitting my brother with a hammer. I'm glad for that.
So, if you have underage children that don't understand outrageous slapstick humor, don't take them. If you understand it, you might want to go. You could end up with some major belly laughs.
The Lindo Theater was about half full but most of the watchers were having a very good time. We couldn't remember the last time that we heard this much uproarious belly laughs. The movie was funny. There was basically no plot. OK. OK. There was a plot The stooges were left at the doorstep of the Sisters of Mercy Orphanage and grew up not being adopted--perhaps because of their stupid pranks. A prospective couple decides to adopt Moe but bring him back when he insists that Larry and Curly also be adopted. Instead, the couple adopts Teddy. Twenty five years pass and the Stooges are still in the orphanage and now have to come up with $830,000 to save the orphanage. They get involved in a plot where a lady (Sofia Vergara) is trying to kill her husband and the Stooges agree to help her out because her husband has a terminal disease. See...I told you there was no plot.
The movie also stars Chris Diamantopoulos, Sean Hayes and Will Sasso as Moe, Larry and Curly. Who? The cast of Jersey Shore are also there and their involvement is pretty funny.
OK. What did I think of the movie? My last name has 14 letters. I wouldn't give it a 14 but it was certainly better than a 7. I found myself laughing. It won't win any Emmys for anything but it will make you laugh. At the end the producers even saw fit to explain that when the Stooges use hammers and sledge hammers and similar inappropriate items to beat each other over the head, it's all a matter of sound effects and pretend tools. I guess I always knew that. I hope so. My brothers and I pretended we were doing 3 Stooges stuff but I don't recall really hitting my brother with a hammer. I'm glad for that.
So, if you have underage children that don't understand outrageous slapstick humor, don't take them. If you understand it, you might want to go. You could end up with some major belly laughs.
Monday, April 16, 2012
The Discomfort Zone by Jonathan Franzen
I probably shouldn't purchase audio Cd's at the Dollar Store for a dollar. Sometimes they are worth every penny or even less!
"The Discomfort Zone" by Jonathan Franzen has its moments but they are few and far between. Basically, it's a book about someone dealing with fears and depressing things. He tells of his frustrating and frustrated youth and for some reason spends page after page (minute after minute) talking endlessly about the life of Charles Schultz. There was probably a reason for that but somehow that reason escaped me.
He also spends a lot of time talking about his Christian youth fellowship and the various trials and tribulations associated with this.
Yes, I know that he wrote many fine essays and received all sorts of awards for his writing. It's one of those books that I probably would have stopped reading but since it was an audio CD I kept listening to the bitter end.
I learned a few things but, very frankly, I cannot quite remember right now what they were.
If you want to borrow it, it's yours! Free and worth every penny!
"The Discomfort Zone" by Jonathan Franzen has its moments but they are few and far between. Basically, it's a book about someone dealing with fears and depressing things. He tells of his frustrating and frustrated youth and for some reason spends page after page (minute after minute) talking endlessly about the life of Charles Schultz. There was probably a reason for that but somehow that reason escaped me.
He also spends a lot of time talking about his Christian youth fellowship and the various trials and tribulations associated with this.
Yes, I know that he wrote many fine essays and received all sorts of awards for his writing. It's one of those books that I probably would have stopped reading but since it was an audio CD I kept listening to the bitter end.
I learned a few things but, very frankly, I cannot quite remember right now what they were.
If you want to borrow it, it's yours! Free and worth every penny!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The Age of Anxiety
This is a book review of "The Age of Anxiety" by Haynes Johnson.
I didn't "read" this book but listened to it on CD. It is a careful look at Joe McCarthy and how his red-baiting history of anti-Communism created countless problems in the 1950's as he tried to find a Communist under every rug. For some five years his crusade (which was picked up politically by many people) found most people (including journalists and senators) reluctant to check the facts or confront this demagogue.
Some politicians cynically used McCarthy for their own purposes. Most would agree that Edward R. Murrow's famous interview of McCarthy was the "beginning of the end" for this man who drove himself into alcoholism and extreme health problems.
Haynes Johnson did a pretty good job with the historical narratives but was downright offensive in the final 1/3 of his "book" as he shamelessly and arrogantly attacks George W. Bush and finds desperate comparisons with him and McCarthy. President Bush had his problems, to be sure, but the comparisons to McCarthy are strained and contrived.
I bought this book at the "Dollar Store" and I think I know why. The last part of this book was the downfall of this publication and probably the reason why it was relegated to the bargain bin.
Hey...read the first 2/3 or the book or listen to the CD but then turn it off before he starts his ranting and raving. It gets mean-spirited and arrogant. I suspect that even Bush detractors would find themselves cringing.
I didn't "read" this book but listened to it on CD. It is a careful look at Joe McCarthy and how his red-baiting history of anti-Communism created countless problems in the 1950's as he tried to find a Communist under every rug. For some five years his crusade (which was picked up politically by many people) found most people (including journalists and senators) reluctant to check the facts or confront this demagogue.
Some politicians cynically used McCarthy for their own purposes. Most would agree that Edward R. Murrow's famous interview of McCarthy was the "beginning of the end" for this man who drove himself into alcoholism and extreme health problems.
Haynes Johnson did a pretty good job with the historical narratives but was downright offensive in the final 1/3 of his "book" as he shamelessly and arrogantly attacks George W. Bush and finds desperate comparisons with him and McCarthy. President Bush had his problems, to be sure, but the comparisons to McCarthy are strained and contrived.
I bought this book at the "Dollar Store" and I think I know why. The last part of this book was the downfall of this publication and probably the reason why it was relegated to the bargain bin.
Hey...read the first 2/3 or the book or listen to the CD but then turn it off before he starts his ranting and raving. It gets mean-spirited and arrogant. I suspect that even Bush detractors would find themselves cringing.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Mirror, Mirror
Alice is always worried that I'm going to write a negative review. She wasn't sure if she wanted me to write this one about "Mirror, Mirror." But, wait a minute, I loved the movie. Funny. Witty. Unique. Unpredictable. Tongue in cheek. It was just a very nice movie. Hey, and it's not really for kids. They probably wouldn't get a lot of the subtle humor...but, then again, our children are pretty smart!
This is a comedy fantasy generally following the book by the Brothers Grimm. I was waiting for Snow White to be tempted with the poison apple. That finally happened at the end but the you will be a bit surprised about what happens in that scene.
Julia Roberts plays a negative character as the wicked stepmother (and evil witch, I guess) but her evil plots and comments make the viewer smile. Nathan Lane as her trusted servant, Brighton, is very funny and his character helps carry the movie. Lily Collins (who's Lily Collins?) plays Snow White and Armie Hammer (who's Armie Hammer?--I thought he was some old guy) plays the Prince.
The Queen's kingdom is facing bankruptcy and the sudden appearance of the Prince is of great interest to the evil queen but she must get rid of Snow White so that she can have the prince. She banishes Snow White to the forest (and an evil roaming beast) where she assumes Brighton has killed Snow White but Snow White is rescue by seven modern dwarfs. Though some politically correct individuals might object to the word "dwarf" I felt that the whole issue was handled well and with tongue-in cheek humor. These seven diminutive men quickly capture the heart of the viewer as well as the heart of Snow White.
The dwarfs teach her how to fight back against the evil queen and the kingdom is eventually rescued.
The movie viewers, we felt, were very impressed. All of the theater-goers (and place was pretty full) stayed through the interesting closing credits.
We recommend the movie. It was funny and well done.
This is a comedy fantasy generally following the book by the Brothers Grimm. I was waiting for Snow White to be tempted with the poison apple. That finally happened at the end but the you will be a bit surprised about what happens in that scene.
Julia Roberts plays a negative character as the wicked stepmother (and evil witch, I guess) but her evil plots and comments make the viewer smile. Nathan Lane as her trusted servant, Brighton, is very funny and his character helps carry the movie. Lily Collins (who's Lily Collins?) plays Snow White and Armie Hammer (who's Armie Hammer?--I thought he was some old guy) plays the Prince.
The Queen's kingdom is facing bankruptcy and the sudden appearance of the Prince is of great interest to the evil queen but she must get rid of Snow White so that she can have the prince. She banishes Snow White to the forest (and an evil roaming beast) where she assumes Brighton has killed Snow White but Snow White is rescue by seven modern dwarfs. Though some politically correct individuals might object to the word "dwarf" I felt that the whole issue was handled well and with tongue-in cheek humor. These seven diminutive men quickly capture the heart of the viewer as well as the heart of Snow White.
The dwarfs teach her how to fight back against the evil queen and the kingdom is eventually rescued.
The movie viewers, we felt, were very impressed. All of the theater-goers (and place was pretty full) stayed through the interesting closing credits.
We recommend the movie. It was funny and well done.
The Lorax
When my parents moved I had to leave the one room country school that I had attended for years. Since our move caused the enrollment to fall below the required number, the school actually ended up closing. I had to attend school in the "big city" of Waterville, Minnesota and I remember experiencing many new things, including going to the library where the librarian, Mrs. Bishop, read a Dr. Seuss story, "The Cat in the Hat." I was in fourth grade. I confess that I didn't really care for the book. For some reason, I have never cared for Dr. Seuss very much. And that describes "The Lorax," a current movie that was puzzlingly boring, preachy and certainly not memorable.
I know. I know. Many reviews praised this book and movie and its focus on environmental concerns. That part was OK and the last third of the movie did a fairly good job of reminding the viewer of environmental issues. The movie finally got a little better however, I feel that movie was generally a waste of time. I'm sorry. That's not a popular opinion but it's heartfelt.
Oh, if you want to take the children, it's OK. It certainly is harmless clean fun. It's just that I wouldn't want to see it again.
I know. I know. Many reviews praised this book and movie and its focus on environmental concerns. That part was OK and the last third of the movie did a fairly good job of reminding the viewer of environmental issues. The movie finally got a little better however, I feel that movie was generally a waste of time. I'm sorry. That's not a popular opinion but it's heartfelt.
Oh, if you want to take the children, it's OK. It certainly is harmless clean fun. It's just that I wouldn't want to see it again.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
"Mr. Monk on Patrol" (Book Review)
This book is the thirteenth book in a series of paperback and hardback books continuing the Monk series. Alice and I really have enjoyed reading these books and find that they are filled with laughs and clean humor. The books are all "narrated" by Natalie and remind us of the brilliant yet quirky mind of Monk.
This book finds Monk and Natalie travelling to Summit, New Jersey, to help Randy Disher with crimes that he faces in his new "charge." Randy "left" the series when it ended and joined Sharona (Monk's former nurse) as police chief in Summit. In this book he has Monk assist in solving a series of burglaries and then a murder mystery. The narrative includes a side trip to New York and finds Monk and Natalie "in uniform" to assist Randy in his work.
It ends with things "up in the air" as Monk and Natalie consider continuing their work in New Jersey.
Hey, it's harmless fun and a nice way to spend a few days in reading this wonderful book.
This book finds Monk and Natalie travelling to Summit, New Jersey, to help Randy Disher with crimes that he faces in his new "charge." Randy "left" the series when it ended and joined Sharona (Monk's former nurse) as police chief in Summit. In this book he has Monk assist in solving a series of burglaries and then a murder mystery. The narrative includes a side trip to New York and finds Monk and Natalie "in uniform" to assist Randy in his work.
It ends with things "up in the air" as Monk and Natalie consider continuing their work in New Jersey.
Hey, it's harmless fun and a nice way to spend a few days in reading this wonderful book.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
"I Heard the Owl Call My Name" (book) by Margaret Craven
This is a book review for "I Heard the Owl Call My Name" by Margaret Craven (Doubleday, 1973)
I think I read this book about 25 years ago after seeing part of the movie which was on CBS. I read it again in February of 2012. It is a very interesting and profound read about an Episcopalian "vicar" who unknowingly has 2-3 years to live and who is assigned by his bishop to serve Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest. Vicar Mark Brian's church is in Kingcome and in all humility he endears himself to the people a step at a time. He does not dismiss the old culture of totems and pot latch but he sees that the change in the life of this people is far more than spiritual.
The children of the community are sent to boarding school to get an education but their parents find that in doing so the younger generation becomes disenchanted with their way of life. Mark is befriended by Jim and learns many things from him. He becomes part of the village.
One of the legends is that when a person hears an owl calling his name the inevitability of death is close. In that moment Brian recalls he medical tests he took and the bishop's grim assignment for him to serve Kingcome.
The writing is engaging and memorable. I notice that the book is used as reading material in many schools. An example of the unique insight of the author concerns the atheist teacher who teaches the very young but who refuses to become a part of the community. When he sees the preparations for the vicar's funeral the narration is memorable: "In his tiny house the teacher heard the running footfalls on the path to the river bank, and he went quickly to the door and could not open it. To join the others was to care and to care was to live and to suffer." (page 164) The vicar cared and thus he suffered with a richness that made life meaningful.
I think I read this book about 25 years ago after seeing part of the movie which was on CBS. I read it again in February of 2012. It is a very interesting and profound read about an Episcopalian "vicar" who unknowingly has 2-3 years to live and who is assigned by his bishop to serve Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest. Vicar Mark Brian's church is in Kingcome and in all humility he endears himself to the people a step at a time. He does not dismiss the old culture of totems and pot latch but he sees that the change in the life of this people is far more than spiritual.
The children of the community are sent to boarding school to get an education but their parents find that in doing so the younger generation becomes disenchanted with their way of life. Mark is befriended by Jim and learns many things from him. He becomes part of the village.
One of the legends is that when a person hears an owl calling his name the inevitability of death is close. In that moment Brian recalls he medical tests he took and the bishop's grim assignment for him to serve Kingcome.
The writing is engaging and memorable. I notice that the book is used as reading material in many schools. An example of the unique insight of the author concerns the atheist teacher who teaches the very young but who refuses to become a part of the community. When he sees the preparations for the vicar's funeral the narration is memorable: "In his tiny house the teacher heard the running footfalls on the path to the river bank, and he went quickly to the door and could not open it. To join the others was to care and to care was to live and to suffer." (page 164) The vicar cared and thus he suffered with a richness that made life meaningful.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Excellence in Preaching
"Excellence in Preaching" by Simon Vibert (published by InterVarsity Press, 2011)
This book by Simon Vibert is a book about twelve "famous" preachers.
As part of our work as pastors we attend a monthly meeting of pastors from our denomination in what is called a "circuit." Also, we have two larger gatherings a year which are called regional and general pastor's conferences which consist of 100-200 fellow clergy. Over the years I have always felt that every one of these meetings should include some kind of focus or topic on preaching. Even though the work of pastoral ministry involves many different areas of work, we find ourselves preaching at least once a week and often more than that. To me, pastors need help with preaching. I know I do.
That is also the thrust of Vibert's book. He sets out to examine these twelve famous preachers after he acknowledges that Jesus is the primary "preacher." I enjoyed this book and found it very helpful, even though I had not heard of most of these preachers. I found it interesting that Vibert noted that some preachers are completed "manuscript free" while others write out and preach their sermons "word for word." He found that both styles, though completely different from each other, can be viable and helpful.
Another piece of information that he shared was that many of these preachers often preach 45 minute sermons and some preach sixty minute sermons. I wonder what our congregations would feel about that.
Many of the preachers highlighted in this book are part of very large churches but I still felt that the information that he shared applies to preachers serving churches of all sizes.
I highly recommend this book and recommend that preachers continue to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest all they can to stay relevant and helpful in their preaching.
This book by Simon Vibert is a book about twelve "famous" preachers.
As part of our work as pastors we attend a monthly meeting of pastors from our denomination in what is called a "circuit." Also, we have two larger gatherings a year which are called regional and general pastor's conferences which consist of 100-200 fellow clergy. Over the years I have always felt that every one of these meetings should include some kind of focus or topic on preaching. Even though the work of pastoral ministry involves many different areas of work, we find ourselves preaching at least once a week and often more than that. To me, pastors need help with preaching. I know I do.
That is also the thrust of Vibert's book. He sets out to examine these twelve famous preachers after he acknowledges that Jesus is the primary "preacher." I enjoyed this book and found it very helpful, even though I had not heard of most of these preachers. I found it interesting that Vibert noted that some preachers are completed "manuscript free" while others write out and preach their sermons "word for word." He found that both styles, though completely different from each other, can be viable and helpful.
Another piece of information that he shared was that many of these preachers often preach 45 minute sermons and some preach sixty minute sermons. I wonder what our congregations would feel about that.
Many of the preachers highlighted in this book are part of very large churches but I still felt that the information that he shared applies to preachers serving churches of all sizes.
I highly recommend this book and recommend that preachers continue to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest all they can to stay relevant and helpful in their preaching.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
From the ads on TV you might think that this movie is about 9/1/1. I think it's more of a movie about a child finding himself and finding his father and mother. Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) "loses" his father in the Twin Tower tragedy and is devastated as he listens to his father's voice on the answering machine on what Oskar calls the "most horrible day."
When he eventually looks through his father's stuff he finds a mysterious key and sets out to find the lock that this key opens. In doing this he encounters all sorts of individuals and they minister to this reluctant boy and he "records" their visits on his psyche and on a camera inherited from his father. As his search continues he enlists the help of an aged boarder who lives with his grandmother (Zoe Caldwell). Max von Sydow plays this mute character who ends up having a key link with Oskar's father (Tom Hanks). This character helps Oskar deal with some of his fears--especially his fears of public transportation and enclosed places...obvious reactions to the 9/1/1/ tragedy.
Oskar is also very angry with his mother (Sandra Bullock) who desperately tries to allow her son to grieve and search and question. As Oskar tries to connect with his father he ends up connecting with her.
What Oskar eventually "finds" with the key is not what you expect. The movie is straightforward and sober and reflective with just enough humor to make you smile from time to time. The movie draws you in and you just can't stop watching. If and when it is shown on TV I suspect that commercial and station breaks will ruin the rhythm.
At the end of the movie everyone in the theater just sat there for a while. You couldn't really stay but you just weren't ready to leave. Oskar and the rest of the survivors would be OK and you will be OK too. However, you will be changed forever! That's what such tragedies do.
When he eventually looks through his father's stuff he finds a mysterious key and sets out to find the lock that this key opens. In doing this he encounters all sorts of individuals and they minister to this reluctant boy and he "records" their visits on his psyche and on a camera inherited from his father. As his search continues he enlists the help of an aged boarder who lives with his grandmother (Zoe Caldwell). Max von Sydow plays this mute character who ends up having a key link with Oskar's father (Tom Hanks). This character helps Oskar deal with some of his fears--especially his fears of public transportation and enclosed places...obvious reactions to the 9/1/1/ tragedy.
Oskar is also very angry with his mother (Sandra Bullock) who desperately tries to allow her son to grieve and search and question. As Oskar tries to connect with his father he ends up connecting with her.
What Oskar eventually "finds" with the key is not what you expect. The movie is straightforward and sober and reflective with just enough humor to make you smile from time to time. The movie draws you in and you just can't stop watching. If and when it is shown on TV I suspect that commercial and station breaks will ruin the rhythm.
At the end of the movie everyone in the theater just sat there for a while. You couldn't really stay but you just weren't ready to leave. Oskar and the rest of the survivors would be OK and you will be OK too. However, you will be changed forever! That's what such tragedies do.
The Book of God
This is a brief book review of "The Book of God" by Walter Wangerin Jr. The book itself says that it is "The Bible as a Novel." I started reading this in October and finished it today (January 27). It proved to be very satisfying and, like the Bible, approached the different narratives in many different ways. Usually it was written as a straight forward account but sometimes it included first person readings or songs or character reflections. Notable unique approaches included the Song of Solomon, the temptation of Christ, and Simon Peter's struggles with his tongue.
The Bible is presented in chronological order beginning with Abraham with the Creation accounts and poetic psalms being presented as "flashbacks" or in similar reflections. Wangerin is not preachy but the law and the Gospel constantly emerge as the narrative unfolds. It would be a wonderful tool to get the reluctant Bible reader to understand the scope of the Scriptures.
I confess that I wish that he went beyond day of Pentecost but he only spends a few paragraphs on the work of the Early Church. Perhaps he meant to write a second volume based on Acts-Revelation. Or perhaps the 850 pages that he did write would make including the "rest of the story" a bit too ponderous.
Used copies of the book might be available at Goodwill or the Salvation Army. That's where I got my copy. No matter how much you pay for it, I think you will be very satisfied when you take the time to read it. The pages of the Bible literally come alive!
The Bible is presented in chronological order beginning with Abraham with the Creation accounts and poetic psalms being presented as "flashbacks" or in similar reflections. Wangerin is not preachy but the law and the Gospel constantly emerge as the narrative unfolds. It would be a wonderful tool to get the reluctant Bible reader to understand the scope of the Scriptures.
I confess that I wish that he went beyond day of Pentecost but he only spends a few paragraphs on the work of the Early Church. Perhaps he meant to write a second volume based on Acts-Revelation. Or perhaps the 850 pages that he did write would make including the "rest of the story" a bit too ponderous.
Used copies of the book might be available at Goodwill or the Salvation Army. That's where I got my copy. No matter how much you pay for it, I think you will be very satisfied when you take the time to read it. The pages of the Bible literally come alive!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Book - 11/22/63
I have a separate book review blog but I have decided to combine this with my movie blog.
The book 11/22/63 is by Stephen King. I confess that I have never before read a Stephen King book and have never seen a complete Stephen King movie. This title and the dust jacket, however, intrigued me greatly and I had to read this book since I have always been interested in the Kennedy assassination and various conspiracy theories and resolutions of these theories.
Stephen King writes horror books and the dust cover suggests that the book if "terrifying." I would have to disagree. It is an interesting and good book but far from terrifying It has the hero Jake Epping following the lead of his friend, Al, in entering and trying to alter the past through a portal which has him emerge in 1958. Al wants to prevent the Kennedy assassination by killing Lee Harvey Oswald. That premise is interesting, to say the least, but the only struggle I had with Jake (who disguises himself as George Amberson) is really capable of killing anyone.
He falls in love with a teacher named Sadie and again and again he finds that the past is "obdurate" and resistant to change. All sorts of things get in his way time and again until he finds himself rushing on November 22, 1963, to prevent this terrible day in history.
The book is very good and may very well be adapted to a movie or TV movie, though there are so many sub-plots that it would be impossible to really bring the entire book to the screen. My son says that a book always has an "unlimited budget" when it comes to our imagination. How true this is. I found myself quickly turning the pages when "we" finally after 700 pages get to the key date.
I like the book but don't always appreciate the street language that invades the pages. King manages to make us sympathize just a bit with Oswald and paints an incredible picture of what life was really like in the late 1950's. Just reading about restaurants, movies, music, and dances fills one with nostalgia. I remember this stuff!
Hey...if you want to read an 850 page book, read it. I don't think you'll be disappointed...especially if you like Kennedy assasination reading.
The book 11/22/63 is by Stephen King. I confess that I have never before read a Stephen King book and have never seen a complete Stephen King movie. This title and the dust jacket, however, intrigued me greatly and I had to read this book since I have always been interested in the Kennedy assassination and various conspiracy theories and resolutions of these theories.
Stephen King writes horror books and the dust cover suggests that the book if "terrifying." I would have to disagree. It is an interesting and good book but far from terrifying It has the hero Jake Epping following the lead of his friend, Al, in entering and trying to alter the past through a portal which has him emerge in 1958. Al wants to prevent the Kennedy assassination by killing Lee Harvey Oswald. That premise is interesting, to say the least, but the only struggle I had with Jake (who disguises himself as George Amberson) is really capable of killing anyone.
He falls in love with a teacher named Sadie and again and again he finds that the past is "obdurate" and resistant to change. All sorts of things get in his way time and again until he finds himself rushing on November 22, 1963, to prevent this terrible day in history.
The book is very good and may very well be adapted to a movie or TV movie, though there are so many sub-plots that it would be impossible to really bring the entire book to the screen. My son says that a book always has an "unlimited budget" when it comes to our imagination. How true this is. I found myself quickly turning the pages when "we" finally after 700 pages get to the key date.
I like the book but don't always appreciate the street language that invades the pages. King manages to make us sympathize just a bit with Oswald and paints an incredible picture of what life was really like in the late 1950's. Just reading about restaurants, movies, music, and dances fills one with nostalgia. I remember this stuff!
Hey...if you want to read an 850 page book, read it. I don't think you'll be disappointed...especially if you like Kennedy assasination reading.
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