Held Hostage

I’ve probably just seen too many bank heist movies but I can’t help wanting to be part of a bank robbery. And it seems that bank robberies currently are all the rage. I can think of several recent heist movies:

· Ocean’s movies

· The Italian Job

· Inside Man

· The Bank Job

I also read a great article in last week’s Sports Illustrated on the largest cash robbery by a team that included a former UFC fighter.

Now I don’t think I’d want to be apart the actually holding up of the bank or be involved in the criminal aspects of the robbery. While I talk a big game I don’t particularly like physically hurting people just for the sport of it. Um…that’s not entirely true. More accurately I don’t particularly like seriously hurting people…squeezing a pressure point until some gives is always fun. However I will say that if I were going to be a part of a heist gang I would like the atmosphere to light and jovial. Because those movies where it’s always serious, the heist always ends with multiple deaths and failed robberies. But the movies where the atmosphere is filled with laughter and friendliness things just seem to work out.

Although I do think I’d have a knack for this type of activity. For some reason it is really important to me to know exactly where things are in a bank. For instance, today I took the deposit from work to the bank. As soon as I enter I know where all five cameras are that are pointed towards the door. There is a sixth camera that covers the rest of the small lobby. I also know how many ladies work at said bank, and would have to assume there might be one or two more in the back. I’ve seen inside the vault. I know the busy and slow times of the day. And I know where they keep their jar of lollipops, of which I prefer the root beer flavor.

I don’t see myself going into law enforcement either, so a negotiator or S.W.A.T. team member is out of the question. A bank security man doesn’t seem to appeal to me either. Expect for said robbery you’re usually just sitting around all day. Plus being in bank security and wanting to be apart of a bank robbery seem to be in direct conflict. I suppose one could be the bank security man and be a part of the heist gang, but that seems like twice as much work.

Also I don’t see myself having the type of influence that can alternately bring about resolution to this type of activity. I’m thinking here of Jodie Foster’s character in Inside Man. I bring her character up mainly because this affords me the opportunity to say that Jodie Foster looked really hot in that movie. Maybe it has to do with her long straight hair or her great legs…I don’t know, but either way she’s never looked that good to me before. (fyi…I’m watching The Brave One tonight)

Now a hostage has some potential for excitement and, in case of a long stand off, free pizza and subs. If someone is waving a gun around at me I think I can obey orders. But I think I’d also have enough courage and awareness that if one of the gunmen was not paying attention or distracted I’d do what I could to take him out. Now I’m not saying I’d be heroic or somehow have illusions of grandeur, I have seen Die Hard and know that fighting back will get your t-shirt dirty and you may lose your shoes. But I think I’d also like being a hostage for the fact that when the conflict is resolved I could write a book about the experience that would be #1 on the New York Times Bestsellers list for a few weeks and then I could sell the rights to the story and maybe have some small role in the movie. Hmmm…maybe a few illusions.

If you are looking for a good heist movie I can also recommend these to you:

• Dog Day Afternoon
• Reservoir Dogs
• Bottle Rocket
• Ronin
• The Score
• A Fish Called Wanda
• How to Steal a Million
• The Thomas Crown Affair (I’m talking about the original with Steve McQueen, the newer one with Bronson and Russo sucked and unfortunately there is a sequel coming out)
• The Usual Suspects
• Heat
• Bonnie and Clyde
• The Getaway (I liked both the McQueen/MacGraw more than the Baldwin/Basinger, but both are good)
• the Die Hard movies

And these are few more than I want to watch:

• Dog Day Afternoon (I know, I know…how have I not seen this?)
• Sexy Beast (Kingsley is supposed to be brilliant in it)
• The Killings
• Flawless
• RocknRolla (directed by Madonna’s Guy)

clean water

Least we forget just how rich we are...

...could you imagine this being apart of your daily routine?

How would this change who you are and what you do?
Knowing that this is what 1 out of every 6 people in our world has to do for inadequate drinking water is unacceptable.

Darn Cute

quote

“Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke?  Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it?  The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning.  It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets.  Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews.  For the sleeping god may wake someday and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return.”

-Annie Dillard

 

What are your expectations on Sunday morning? 

What are your expectations in your prayers?

What are your expectations in your everyday relationship with Jesus?

Just There.

Practicing the Presence of Christ sometimes means being the presence of Christ.
-t-

(thanks)

You know how...

You know how some people say that they think their life would make a great movie or TV show? Or that they see their life as a show or movie?
There are times that I think that, but...

• ...then I remember that there are days that nothing really happens in my life. Days where it's even hard to Twitter.
• ...then I remember I've never been in a hostage situation at my bank or local gas station.
• ...then I remember I've never been locked in a closet, on the roof, in the basement, in the bank vault or in a restaurant freezer with the girl that I am secretly in love with, and is secretly in love with me, but we can only seem to argue with one another, yet use the time trapped to resolve this tension and ultimately fall in love with one another... at least until the rating sweeps.
• ...then I remember that I don't have a quirky best friend who enters my place in an unusual manner (i.e. sliding through the door, climbing through the window, climbing over my balcony railing).
• ...then I meet my neighbors and none of them are the girl next door.
• ...then I remember I've never owned an exotic pet.
• ...then I remember that I've never been knocked out and had an adventure in black and white.
• ...then I remember I have never been involved in a high speed chase, jumped out of a rapidly moving vehicle, just barely jumped out of the way of an explosion, or landed a airplane even though I was a week or two away from my pilot's license.
  

While my everyday is fairly uneventful it's always good to know I still have my movie star looks.

This is my...

profound huh?

Unexpected

This is incredibly unexpected but completely awesome.

I wish I had seen it.
Did anyone out there catch this on tv? Was there some sort of set up or explanation? Or was it just somewhat random? I'm guessing it had something to do with the Idol gives back...
This is still one of my favorite songs. We sung it so many times during chapels at Ozark. But hearing Carly Smithson wailing at the end is chilling.
Really cool.

Douglas Howser

I've been watching Doogie Howser, M.D. on Hulu lately. I love watching the background actors, they remain completely emotionless...like zombies.
I do have a couple of thoughts that came to my mind last night:

1. For such a boy genius he can not type. Seriously he's supposed to be able to sew delicate surgical procedures but it takes him a minute to type two lines consisting of 3rd grade vocab words.

2. Why in Christmas movies and television shows do the main characters always decorate and light up their Christmas trees on Christmas Eve?

Goodiness

I'm trading one vice for another! But this stuff really is sweet.
Oh and fyi this is my first post from my new phone. Hopefully it works.

MLB 2008...early thoughts

-         What is wrong with Detroit?  I thought they would have some issues, but assumed that line-up would be able to power a few wins.

-         If some shmuck watching baseball on TV can see the brown substance on Jake Peavy’s hand, I have to assume the umpires did as well.  If the umpires didn’t feel like it was anything worth pursuing then why is it news?

-         I love seeing Boston as the bottom of their division.  I don’t think they’ll stay there, but for now it’s awesome to see.

-         I think we are still failing to give Greg Maddox the recognition his career deserves.

-         I think a bad year is what San Francisco deserves.  They used Barry Bonds during his chase and then removed any memory of their association with him from their ballpark.  It’s one thing to not resign him because of his play, but to complete erase him from the stadium’s history is wrong.  (I have other opinions about the Barry Bonds witch hunt as well, but let me just say this:  If the whole situation was so cut and dry, then he should have easily been caught in his lie and in jail, or it’s time to just let it go.)

-         Florida’s ability to put a competitive team on the field with such a limited budget is un-freakin-believ-able.  I wish San Antonio had been able to snatch them up a few years ago. 

-         San Antonio needs another professional sport.  As the eighth largest city in the U.S. (larger than Dallas), and the easy accessibility from Austin, using the tired cliché that there is no market for another sport is ridiculous.  The real issue is Houston and Dallas want to continue to feed off of what is a vital revenue source. As of now we have more fans in the stands on average at the AA team, San Antonio Missions, than the Marlins will for the year.

-         Tori Hunter is on a early season tear. 

-         Arizona with their young talented team may be my early favorite for the N.L.  They have a strong line-up and an outstanding pitching staff. 

-         Texas is play .500 ball.  This is actually just above normal.  It’s good to start over each year!

In The News

Bride, groom spend wedding night in jail

 

I have a good feeling about this marriage. 

Do you think they were given a separate cell? 

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been to those kind of receptions.

-tsh-

check "yes" or "no" (conclusion...?)

Here's what I'm believing:

In order to truly love someone as God intends we must love as God loved.
In Jesus we see the fullest expression of that love. Therefore we are to love like Jesus loved.
While God has had to make some difficult choices where His love towards one pales in comparison towards another ["Jacob I have loved, Esau I have hated" paraphrased Mal. 1 or Rom. 9], God being in the very nature love - cannot help but love.
Love protects with a fierce demonstration of love. Jesus once referred to God has a mother protecting her offspring (Mt. 23). Therefore one can conclude that righteous anger towards anything that would destroy what is loved isn't necessarily "hatred", but in comparison towards the love it is. (I must be careful here as we are getting into a place of defining words...so dangerous in our postmodern/deconstructive world).
These are thoughts that probably should be flushed out more, but for the sake of brevity I'm going to assume you understand the argument I'm making and move forward.

Now my beef, as of late, is "I love them, I just don't like them". I really don't think that statement is possible.

Now being able to distinguish between the sinner from sin is important. God hates sin. But it was in our sinfulness that God was moved to send His son to die for us. It was when we were most offensive towards God that He demonstrated His love toward us. When we were in our least like-able state Jesus was born, He died and He rescued.

If forgiveness is being able to truly desire the best for someone else, then I believe that love is to truly like who that person is, despite their flaws, and desiring what's better for them too.

Not that not-liking someone is an admission of wanting harm to come on them, but neither is it an admission of wanting the greater things for them as well.

Jesus spoke to the connection of our thoughts with our actions. He said that if we lust in our heart we have already committed adultery. I think we can make conclusions from this teaching. If we covet - we have already stolen. If we hate - we have already murdered. If we do not trust God - we have committed idolatry (putting faith in something higher than God). If we don't like someone - we hate them.

To love like Jesus I think we must see a person as God sees them, created uniquely and with purpose and value. Significant. Beautiful. Treasured.

Can I like someone enough to love them?

I'm not there yet, but this is my new standard.

I'd love to hear your thoughts?

Bracketology

I showed off my bracket this week and it came back to bite me in the end (ha ha that's a play on words).
UCLA lost tonight by Memphis and North Carolina was crushed by Kansas.
Those were my final two teams. All in all I had a pretty good tournament run and surprised myself this year.
And as far as who will win between Memphis and Kansas...I have no clue!

irony

Sports Illustrated published this photo on their website today and had the same thought that I immediately conjured up.

Pamela Anderson shields her son’s eyes from the gyrations of the Los Angles Lakers cheerleaders.

Quote

"Faith is a vision that your destiny is to be absorbed in a tremendously creative team effort under unimaginably splendid leadership on an incomprehensibly vast plane of activity through ever more comprehensive cycles of productivity and enjoyment and that is what eye has not seen and ear has not heard that lies before us in the prophetic vision." (Dallas Willard)

(Used in a message given by John Ortberg, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, February 24, 2008)

How Did This Happen

How does a big ol' music mogul like Jay-Z allow a photo like this to be published by People magazine. Surely they could have found a less embarrassing photo.

The Pig Bank

According to the group Citizens Against Government Waste, in their annually published Pig Book, the total for this year ear marked items on the national budget is $17.2 billion spread across 11,610 “pork barrel” projects.  Some of these projects include:

• $211,509 for research on olive fruit flies in Paris, France
• $1,950,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service in New York – earmarked by Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY)
• $3,000,000 in research into shrimp.
• $98,000 to develop a walking tour of Boydton, Virginia
• Go to the website to the CAGW website to read more.

ABCnews presented the earmarking down by the three remaining presidential candidates

1. Hilary Clinton with 281 ear marks totaling over $296,000,000
2. Baraak Obama with 53 ear marks totaling over $97,000,000
3. John McCain has never requested an ear mark.

Proposal

Deuce - Here is that video I told you about.
Do it once - Do it right!
Good luck Todd.


p.s. I've posted this before.

Digital Holograms

This is awesome!
And should have an almost immediate impact in churches. Especially as the multi-site phenomenon continues.

Need a New Life?

If you feel that you are in need of a new life, maybe you'd like to buy Ian Ushers. He is selling his life on ebay. His entire life - house, vehicle, job, friends - everything! The bidding starts at $1.
This is an incredible story. And thousands are gravitating towards and encouraging his cause.
Why?
Why would so many people desire to have a complete fresh start?
Why would so many people be willing to leave everything for something new?
Why would so many people feel a connection to a Ian's situation in life?

Ian reasons that if he couldn't have his old life, than he wants nothing to do with it. It requires a complete abandonment of his old life and accepting a brand new one.

This is only one more reminder to me of how much I love my life with Christ. And one more reminder of how much I desire to leave everything else behind and die to self. And even one more reminder of the price that Christ paid for me.

Bracketology

I can't believe I haven't posted my bracket at all in the past two weeks. Usually by the Final Four I my bracket is in complete ruin. I may have one team left in the Tourney, but this year it's different. This year I have 3 out the four teams left still. Awesome!
My strategy is that my Final Four must have a total of 5 to 8 (in terms of rankings).

So the chaos of the Final Four weekend have already begun to descend upon the city! It's exciting. Hopeful this year I can catch a glimpse of Dickie V.

Recent listenings

• Mark Moore - Seeing Evil More Clearly, his text Revelation chapters 12-20. It’s an extremely thought provoking message on the systemic evils in our world today and our response as believers in light of the Rev. passage.
• In addition to Mark’s sermon (Mark who serves on the faculty at Ozark Christian College as a professor of New Testament and Hermeneutics) I began listening to Mark’s Life of Christ class lectures. I took several classes with Mark while attending Ozark, but only one of his LoC courses (out of four). Mark is a brilliant preacher, thinker, instructor and communicator.
• Dave Stone, at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, - Who’s Going To Love Me from their series on the “I Am” passages in John. His text was from John 10 and his answer to the question Who’s Going to Love Me? is the Good Shepherd. Dave read a passage from Ezekiel 34:12,16 that I haven’t caught before. At the end he preformed a monologue from the perspective of Simon of Cyrene.
• Jon Weece, from Southland Christian Church in Lexington, KY - continued the B.R.E.A.TH.E. series with Thinking A Whole New Way. I really like his illustrations with the shoes. “With God’s help, take your everyday ordinary life…(Romans 12, MSG)”
• Mike Breaux - finished the B.R.E.A.TH.E. series with Encourage Others with My Life and Story. If you’ve never heard Mike preach, you need to. Mike was born to preach. Quoted, C.S. Lewis said “God whispers to us in our pleasures, but He shouts to us in our pain.” This is a great recap sermon leading to challenging words about sharing our lives/our stories.
• Kyle Idleman, at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, - What’s Going to Satisfy Me? from their series on the “I Am” passages in John’s gospel. When I was a freshman at Ozark Kyle was a senior. I was enamored with him and tried to be around him when I could. I envisioned that four years of Ozark would mold me and train me to be like Kyle. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on what angle your looking at life, I wasn’t transformed into the spiting image of Kyle. And as polished as Kyle is now, this is exactly what he was like way back then…amazing.
• Kyle also preached the Easter service using the I Am the Resurrection and the Life statement to answer the question Who is Going to Save Me?
• Randy Frazee, my new senior pastor, preached this past weekend at Oak Hills, and he showed up at Journey Fellowship for our evening service as well.
• Mark Buchanan (author of my favorite books) preached his Easter sermon entitled “I can’t believe it!” Mark suggest three reasons people don’t believe. 1. cynicism. 2. bitterness. And 3. it’s too good to be true.
• Doug Fields - Determining What Matters Most from a new series called One Month To Live. He asked us to make a couple of list, (1) What are your one month values?, (2) What would you do if you had one month left to live and how would you actually live those out?
• Jud Wilhite was a guest speaker at Saddleback back in August and he preached Passport to Freedom.
• Dave Stone – The Moment of Truth: When No One Is Looking. Used the story of Daniel resolving not to defile himself.
• Jon Weece – Series: Grace Anatomy, Message: Neurology...Jesus on Brain Surgery

Politics '08

I don’t like to spew too much about politics, because I know very little and have way too many opinions. I do like, however, to read about politics to some degree and enjoy friendly discussion/debates (just not to the point that someone’s feelings get hurt, which is almost always).

Anyways I reveal all of that because I read this interesting interview with Karl Rove today. Karl Rove was the chief advisor to President Bush since his days running for governor of Texas, recently he has resigned and is pursuing other opportunities.

I think he is an incredibly interesting and polarizing figure. Many see him as the evil genius or the conservative savior. I don’t know about either of those. But I would agree that he is someone who just “gets” politics.

Read the interview and see what I mean.

I’m really curious about the off-the-record parts.

What’s your opinion of the man and his thoughts?

-tsh-

check "yes" or "no" (part 2)

I know that God loves everyone, but does God not like anyone?

Question and Link

Mark Moore asks (and answers) this question on his blog:

Does Confession of Sin bring Physical Healing?

Are you feeling sick?
Do you need to confess anything?

Headline

Turner Teams With Churches Despite Christianity 'Loser' Comment

Once a Critic of Christianity, Turner Is Joining Churches in Anti-Malaria Efforts

 

Opening Day (For Me)

Major League Baseball official got under way on Sunday, but for me as an Astros and Rangers fan things really got going yesterday. 

Sure Opening Day officially began in Japan last week, but I am refusing to acknowledge such a poor decision. 

So if Monday was any indication as to how the rest of the season will progress I have 322 more games of disappointment. 

 

Astros (0-1)

Lost 4-0.  The sad thing in this game is that Oswalt just got out-pitched by Peavy.  It doesn’t help when the Astros’ supposedly upgraded their offense and still dropped an egg.  You can’t win games in you don’t cross the plate.  Even with a bad outing by Oswalt they only gave up four runs. 

 

Rangers (0-1)

Lost 5-2.  More sluggish offense.  I expect the pitching to be bad, but to be able to compete they are going to have to score more than 2 runs every night. 

 

Other Thoughts

Mets vs. Marlins.  I’m curious how many Mets players make more per year than the entire Marlin team ($21 million)

Cubs vs. Brewers.  I love that the Cubs lost. 

Tigers vs. Royals.  Kinda surprised that this is how the Tigers get out of the gate.  High power offense out pitched by the Royals bullpen?

Rays vs. Orioles.  If the Rays weren’t in the East I’d say they would make the playoffs.  However as of yesterday they are in first place!

 

Out of Context

I get really annoyed when people quote scripture out of context, especially really obvious passages.

For instance, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people quote Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them."
- First: it's often misquoted. Usually people say something like, "Where two or more are gathered I with them." It's just not the same. If you're going to quote it - memorize it.
- Second: Clearly when the passage is read in its whole context it's about Church discipline or rather brotherly reconciliation. It's not make a statement about the nature of God, Jesus is giving authority to those seeking healing and forgiveness.
and
- Third: When people misquote and pull out of context this text they are making a huge theological error. Is God ever not there? Is God not with you when you are alone? Do you have to be with someone in order to experience God's presence.

How about you? Are there any passages that you often here out of context?

Quote

"I don't drink liquids of any kind. That's the Devil's temperature."

Insight into Trevor - I agree with the above quote.

Asking For Help

I seem to have a problem with my side page element in my blog covering videos.
I'm not very techno-inclined and really need some help.
If you know how to widen these page elements or the space between the blog post and the side elements I would be forever grateful.
Thanks,
-trev

2 Minute Date

This is pretty doggone smooth.

I have a great feeling about Stella (Sarah Chalke). She just may be the girl with the yellow umbrella.

FYI - The song is "Thirteen" covered by Elliot Smith.

"Happiness only real...

...when shared."

And so concludes Christopher Johnson McCandless toward the end of his journey into the wild.
I read this book about 11 years ago and had a haunting feeling then of the sadness that comes from a life only in pursuit of solitude or personal fulfillment. I really need to go back and reread this again.
I read it in college when many young men have the notion that they could just leave it all behind and enter nature as God gave it to us and have a better life on own.
But what happens we when pursue our personal idealistic illusions of grandeur to their fullest extent.
It probably didn't help that Rich Mullins had recently passed in that fatal car accident, and was reaching that legendary status that happens when heroes fall. Who then didn't want to give it all up, drive a Jeep and live on an Indian reservation?
But is that what we were made for or called to.
And what is it that drives us to that place that longs for that?
It's interesting what drove Alexander Supertramp, as Chris liked to call himself. The dysfunction and disappointment of his parents is a familiar pain for some many people today.
But I love the words of wisdom passed on to Chris by one older gentleman he befriends name Mr. Franz:

"When you forgive, you love. And when you love, God's light shines upon you."

Working with students has challenged me to forgive. It's also one of my best pieces of advice. So much bitterness, despair and brokenness is caused by our inability to forgive. And so many people miss out on the opportunity to love and be loved because of unforgiving hearts.

So today I must ask (1) Who and what and I unwilling to forgive, and (2) who and what are you unwilling to forgive?

check "yes" or "no"

Can you love someone without liking them?

List without a View

Others have posted this recently and I feel the need to again. I seem to think I've done this in the past, but am too lazy tonight to look up past post. However it's a good reminder of what I still need to see. Some of these I've had numerous opportunities to see but I feel like the need to be watched with a certain mood or certain people.
Anyone want to come over and watch a movie...dibs I'm not renting it!...okay I will.

The American Film Institute's 2007 list of the top-100 American movies:

1. Citizen Kane, 1941. *
2. The Godfather, 1972.
3. Casablanca, 1942.
4. Raging Bull, 1980. *
5. Singin' in the Rain, 1952.
6. Gone With the Wind, 1939.
7. Lawrence of Arabia, 1962. **
8. Schindler's List, 1993. **
9. Vertigo, 1958.
10. The Wizard of Oz, 1939.
11. City Lights, 1931.
12. The Searchers, 1956. *
13. Star Wars, 1977.
14. Psycho, 1960.
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968.
16. Sunset Blvd., 1950.
17. The Graduate, 1967.
18. The General, 1927.
19. On the Waterfront, 1954.
20. It's a Wonderful Life, 1946.
21. Chinatown, 1974. *
22. Some Like It Hot, 1959.
23. The Grapes of Wrath, 1940.
24. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, 1982.
25. To Kill a Mockingbird, 1962.
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1939.
27. High Noon, 1952.
28. All About Eve, 1950.
29. Double Indemnity, 1944.
30. Apocalypse Now, 1979.
31. The Maltese Falcon, 1941.
32. The Godfather Part II, 1974.
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1975.
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937.
35. Annie Hall, 1977.
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957.
37. The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946.
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, 1948. *
39. Dr. Strangelove, 1964. *
40. The Sound of Music, 1965.
41. King Kong, 1933.
42. Bonnie and Clyde, 1967. *
43. Midnight Cowboy, 1969.
44. The Philadelphia Story, 1940. **
45. Shane, 1953. **
46. It Happened One Night, 1934.
47. A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951. *
48. Rear Window, 1954.
49. Intolerance, 1916.
50. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001.
51. West Side Story, 1961.
52. Taxi Driver, 1976. *
53. The Deer Hunter, 1978. *
54. M-A-S-H, 1970.
55. North by Northwest, 1959.
56. Jaws, 1975.
57. Rocky, 1976.
58. The Gold Rush, 1925.
59. Nashville, 1975.
60. Duck Soup, 1933.
61. Sullivan's Travels, 1941.
62. American Graffiti, 1973.
63. Cabaret, 1972.
64. Network, 1976.
65. The African Queen, 1951.
66. Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981.
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966. **
68. Unforgiven, 1992. *
69. Tootsie, 1982.
70. A Clockwork Orange, 1971. **
71. Saving Private Ryan, 1998.
72. The Shawshank Redemption, 1994.
73. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969.
74. The Silence of the Lambs, 1991.
75. In the Heat of the Night, 1967.
76. Forrest Gump, 1994.
77. All the President's Men, 1976.
78. Modern Times, 1936.
79. The Wild Bunch, 1969.
80. The Apartment, 1960.
81. Spartacus, 1960. **
82. Sunrise, 1927.
83. Titanic, 1997.
84. Easy Rider, 1969. **
85. A Night at the Opera, 1935.
86. Platoon, 1986.
87. 12 Angry Men, 1957.
88. Bringing Up Baby, 1938.
89. The Sixth Sense, 1999.
90. Swing Time, 1936.
91. Sophie's Choice, 1982.
92. Goodfellas, 1990.
93. The French Connection, 1971.
94. Pulp Fiction, 1994.
95. The Last Picture Show, 1971.
96. Do the Right Thing, 1989.
97. Blade Runner, 1982.
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy, 1942.
99. Toy Story, 1995.
100. Ben-Hur, 1959.

already seen
* want to see again
** really want to see for the first time

This is the Truth

Saw this today. Apparently it's been seen over 750,000 times on Youtube. A great idea executed well.

Quote

"Now it is comparatively easy to be faithful if we do not care about being contemporary, and easy also to be contemporary if we do not bother to be faithful. It is the search for a combination of truth and relevance which is exacting."
—John Stott, Christian Mission in the Modern World, page 43

Thanks

At Your Own Risk

Juvenile?
Yes.
But "stinking" hilarious!

Question

My roommate Chris asked a great question on his blog yesterday.
I think the answer is a "yes" and would like to extend the question a bit.

How does Wonder Woman's lasso work in a postmodern world?

I have some ideas, but do you?

These are my two sisters at Chelsy's wedding a few weeks back. Chelsy is on the left in the wedding dress, of course, and Cayla is giving her the hug. The little lady in the bottom right corner is my niece Halie. And blurred in the back is Mickey, Chelsy's husband, in the Marine uniform.
We should be receiving all the wedding photos soon, but you may check out some early ones at the photographers Flickr account here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/guamjpegs/
I'm hoping they have one of my in the pimp suit for all to see.

Billy Jean

I just heard this and...brilliant!
I had this Jackson album memorized from beginning to end back in the day with my glove (yes I had a sequenced glove) and I don't listen long to too many remakes or covers. But this is awesome!

Question

Do you throw your hat into a ring?
or
Do you throw your name in a hat?

Opportunist

Opening Day Thoughts

In honor of opening day...

While I believe in everything this clip has to say, I don't know if I like having opening day in Japan at a time when no sensible American is awake.
Opening day should occur in Cincinnati with the President throwing the first pitch.
Also I don't like these teams playing official games over there yet returning to the states to resume their spring training. That's just stupid.
So Commissioner, while you may have built it, I don't think anyone is coming. Figure out another way to globalize the game.

Records

This is a cool unique site.

Deconstruction

Justin McRobert's new album is now available.Visit his website and purchase his album(s)!
Or visit his youtube site and watch him play all 13 songs from the album.

Beautiful

This is a beautiful post.

Pic

I saw this today and had to share it with ya'll.--------------------------------------------------

Me Likey

Freddie Highmore may be my favorite young actor right now. Between Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and this.
Also if you've seen it...didn't you love the Peter Pan connections? As well as the Oliver Twist type storyline with Robin Williams as a Fagan type?
Plus Keri Russell's really pretty.
Good flick...and I only escaped with a couple of wet eye moments, no crying. Barely.
(I'm a crier, sad but true, so this is a achievement. Although I'm not a weeper, just let tears flow sometimes. I've learned to accept it.)

Easter Quote

"To preach the Resurrection is to announce the fact that the world is a different place, and that we have to live in that "different-ness." The Resurrection is not just God doing a wacky miracle at one time. We have to preach it in a way that says this was the turning point in world history."

- N. T. Wright

Thanks

Lunch w/ Celebrities

Today the Deuce, MyPhilip and I ate lunch at Red Robin. As usually we all ordered the Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Wrap (with campfire sauce for the fries).
This isn't anything news worthy, because we go here often and order the same thing every time.
What was amazing was the celebrities that we sat near.
First while we were beginning our meal, and I must clarify that I'm not a big WWE fan (although I will watch occasionally and recapture some of my youth), non other than Shawn Michaels - The Heartbreak Kid sat down next to us with his wife and children.
MyPhilip suggested I take a stealth photo for you all, but with his wife and children there it didn't feel right. I've seen several of the Spurs around town before, but this was the first time I'd seen HBK.
It's always amazing how much smaller celebrities are in person. I could have taken him...except for that "sweet chin music" kick to the jaw.
After we had finished eating, enjoying a good conversation about church history and how there really is nothing new under the sun in walked Colonel Sanders of KFC fame and sat down beside us too.
I'm telling you it was a glorious lunch!
Maybe tomorrow I'll somehow pump gas next to George Strait or Eva Longoria.

(Okay it wasn't really the Colonel, but HBK was for real.)

Book Review

As much as I'd like to be able to tell you this review is completely unbiased, I can't. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson was already a favorite of mine halfway through the second introduction. Of course I had a feeling that this would be the case even before receiving my advanced copy in the mail. (BTW - Thanks to Staci Carmichael of Random House for the free copies and the chance to have a sneak read).

In case we aren't friends (I've already confessed my deep admiration for Andrew Peterson on numerous occasions with my pals and to those who frequent this blog) and you are unaware of who Andrew Peterson is, let me quickly try and inform you. I first heard Andrew Peterson (along with his wife Jamie and fellow musician Gabe) at a Caedmon's Call concert in the spring of '98 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. My music world the previous year had a huge missing piece due to the loss of Rich Mullins, and I thought I'd never hear music like that again. Then Andrew opened the show. I promote Andrew Peterson as the artist who filled the void of Rich Mullins. I don't say this lightly.

So as you can read, I had a bit of a bias as I cracked the pages to On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.

Upon receiving the two copies (one I'm allowed to give away) I read the three introductions and first couple of chapters sitting outside the door to my apartment. I had accidently locked myself out, leaving my keys inside and my phone had just died on me. Surely those were the makings of a bad evening, but my laughter as I read the introductions removed all my day’s frustrations.

When my roommate, the Deuce, arrived we went to Chipotle with MyPhilip, where I read aloud to them the three introductions as well. They were hooked too and asked me to hurry up so they could borrow the book.

Now I'm a slow reader, somewhat dyslexic, but I devoured this novel. Well what I consider devouring, for many others you might have been able to read the book twice, but nevertheless.

I hesitate to compare this story with C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia or with the Harry Potter series, although it might be in the same vain as those, but it truly is its own story.

Here are three of things I initial appreciate about AP’s writing:

1. Timing – He’s takes his time with the story, allowing the story to build and the characters to develop without having to write an entire “year-in-the-life” story (not that I don’t like that either, this is just unique now a days.)

2. Humor – using wit, puns, and just clever wording

3. Built In Soundtrack - As I was reading I could hear Andrew’s songs in my head. Especially from the ablum The Far Country.

This is only Book One in The Wingfeather Saga, and I can’t wait until the next book comes out.

Here is how one person summarized the book:

In the quiet land of Skree, the Igiby children—Janner, his younger brother Tink, and their crippled sister Leeli—stumble upon the lost jewels of Anniera and determine to return them. Unfortunately, the scary-bad Gnag the Nameless seeks the jewels for his own evil ends… and so our band of friends, accompanied by their trust dog Nugget, must escape with the help of their mom and grandfather (who happens to be an ex-pirate).

Their journey takes them through an inventively fantastical world of wonders, complete with memorable characters (like Gnag’s evil minions the Fangs and Peet the Sock Man), fanciful creatures (like sea dragons, snickbuzzards, toothy cows, flabbits, and bomnubbles), and captivating places (like the Books & Crannies bookstore, Shaggy Tavern, the Dark Sea of Darkness that divides the land of Skree from Anniera, the Glipwood Forest, Ice Prairies, and the Stony Mountains).

Through fast-paced storytelling, little ditties, songs, and poems, side-splitting asides, sensory descriptions of time and place, and characters rich in heart, courage, and smarts, Andrew Peterson has created a wondrous tale you’ll enjoy and treasure—just like those lost jewels.

Seriously, bad guys named the Fangs of Dang, loathsome toothy cows, and a used bookstore. What an amazing book!

BTW - - On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness came out on Tuesday!!!

I want to encourage you to run out and pick up your copy. Try ordering HERE from Amazon. While you’re buying yours think about buying a second and giving it away to a pre-teen in your neighborhood. Even though I got my copy for free I still plan on purchasing one as well. I know exactly who I want to give it to. There is this one young guy at church who always has a book with him and I talk to him often to hear what I should be reading.

FYI BooksChristian.com, as of today, has the best price online.

Hope

I love this song...

...especially the lyrics:

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along

Tonight I'm thinking about Paul and Silas sitting in their Philippian jail, beaten and shackled, and yet "singing a robust hymn to God (Acts 16, MSG)."
What's got you singing tonight?

Quote

I took the day off from work today and hung out with Zach and Josh, here from Harlingen still.
Tonight while looking through my movies Zach said this after I recommended The Departed,

"I don't want to watch a senseless violent movie. Do you have any Zombie movies?"

Also I learned today that Zach has a man crush on Mark Wahlberg. A good day.

Quote

Josh and Zach Taylor, some high school fellas from Harlingen, are here for their spring break. They have graced me with their presence. At 12:30 this evening they began to scavenge my food supply. While eating what little I had to offer, Uncle Ben's Instant Rice, Josh posed this significant question while talking about Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup:

Don't you think it's weird that the chicken is dry despite being soaked in fluid?

Cravings

Some days I crave Dr. Pepper more than others. Today is one of those days.

Today is 77 days without DP, 289 more to go.

65 day until Indy!

Lunch plans

I had lunch with my mom today. She brought me my cell phone, because I'm an idiot and left it in her car after a family luncheon Sunday afternoon.
I love my mom, and I wish I was a better son.
If she don't mind I'll just keep trying to be the best me, and hopefully somewhere down the road something good just might come of this mess.

DOTHETEST

Have you done the test?
Click HERE.

Pink Shorts

Tonight the Deuce, Philip, Chris and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings for some grub. Across the tables from us was this couple in the photo (sorry my camera phone sucks). It's hard to tell in the photo but the gentleman was rockin' some pink short shorts. Awesome!

It would be real easy to mock him, but I chose rather to be in awe of his confidence. Hey he was actually on a date tonight, while I was eating with three other dudes...maybe there is something to the pink short shorts.

The question here is two fold:

1. Guys at what point in a dating relationship do you feel confident enough to sport some pink short shorts?
2. Ladies at what point in a dating relationship would you accept your man wearing pink short shorts?
   

As the man left with his lady friend, who was cute, I tipped my hat to him.
Rock on pink short shorts man, rock on!

Weekend Plans

I saw this and immediately made weekend plans. You in?

Juno Politics

Up and Over

http://view.break.com/469591 - Watch more free videos
You have to admire the way he finishes the segment. Brilliant commitment.

Daniel Needed (a revisit)

Just in case you don't follow this blog: I recently asked my readers for some help interpreting a recent dream I had.
My friend Jon McClarnon (J-Mac), who has planted True North Church in Apex, NC (near Raleigh), offered these thoughts:

T-Rev, this is truly fascinating. I rarely remember dreams myself, so when I do, I pay special attention to them.
I think this one is clear. There are 2 obvious gleanings:
1. The 1/2 assed version of yourself today is much better than the full on version of yourself 8 years ago.
2. The trip is irrelevant. It only means that if "she" had won rather than you, the prize would have been the girl. But since you won - she could only see it as having lost. She would never have ended up with you because of the male tendency to always have to be right. Thus, you got Thailand.

My roommate Chris, offered these thoughts:

I don't think this as confusing as you want to make it.
There's a contest, and there's a girl. There was at least one girl you wrote letters to. The girl in the dream may or may not be this girl, but in general, it represents "the one that got away." The contest being back at Ozark shows a deep internal desire to relive those days, in hopes that those relationships might come out differently.

I replied to Jon with this email:

That's very insightful. I would never had seen that.
The question now is what is this dream telling me. Is it a call for behavior or thought change? Or is this just my dreams mocking me about the one that got away? Why would my subconscious want to inform me that I'm a better man today than 8 years ago? And should I still go to Thailand?

I decided later that it should have read, "Why would my subconscious and/or God want to inform me...", because I do believe that God can speak to use via our dreams. Even though I haven't had those clear experiences in my life yet.

Jon then replied:

that's about all I got...try consulting a "what do my dreams mean" website - might be interesting.
It's a good sign for you to say that you've come a long ways in the last 8 years - you're twice the man you used to be. Was there a hot girl at Ozark who ended up in Thailand?

To which I responded with:

I'll google some dream sites today and see what I find.
Not sure of anyone that ended up in Thailand. I know I passed on a trip to Thailand my first summer at East Tulsa. I wasn't sure how to ask for a month off, and didn't know how I was going to manage the next years tuition if I didn't have a job.
Oh wait. Kara Kunkel (now married, so Kara Somethingelse) went on that trip. I was head over heals for her.
But then again why would God or my subconscious bring that up?
On to the googling.

Now there were plenty of other hot girls at Ozark who could be in the dream girl (ha ha), but Kara was the only one with ties to Thialand.

Well my googling turned up a website called Dream Moods (it was the first one, and I didn't really look at any others...yet). Here is some of what it had to share with me:

Competition
To dream that you are in a competition, represents your need to grow and expand. Learn the value of endurance and perseverance. Also be more assertive.

To dream that you win a competition, suggests that you possess the necessary skills to accomplish a goal or solve a problem in your waking life.

Crush
To dream about a former crush, refers to that particular period in your life and what you were feeling. The former crush represents a point in time when you first had the crush on that person.

College
To dream that you are in college, indicates that you are going through some social or cultural changes. You may be wanting to expand your knowledge and awareness. It also suggest that now is a good time for you to experiment and try new things. If you had gone to college in your past, then also consider your personal experiences and memories of your college days. However, if you are currently in college, then it may be a reflection of your current surroundings. It may also represent stress.

Paris
To dream that you are in Paris, symbolizes your need for romance and passion. It also suggests that you are a person of distinction. You own personal experiences and knowledge of Paris will supercede the suggested interpretation here.

Asia

To dream that you are in Asia, suggests that you need to adjust to some situation. If you are traveling to Asia or thinking about visiting Asia, then your dream may indicate your anticipation of such a trip.

Writing
To dream that you are writing, signifies some sort of communication with someone or with your conscious mind. It also denotes a mistake that you have made.

Eight
Eight stands for power of authority, success, karma, material gains, regeneration, and wealth. When the number eight appears in your dream, trust your instincts and intuition.

Emotionless
To dream that you are emotionless, suggests that you are closing yourself off from those around you. You may be neglecting your own feelings and should start paying more attention to them.

Emotions
Emotions expressed in dreams is a way for people to act out their feelings which they would not normally express if they were awake. This provides a "safe" outlet for these emotions instead of letting them be pent up.

Guilt
To dream that you feel guilty about something, relates to how you are handling your successes and failures or competence and incompetence. You may feel undeserving of your achievements or on the other hand, you may feel that you have let other down. Alternatively, it is also symbolic of repressed and negative feelings that you may have about yourself.

Lazy

To dream that you are feeling lazy, signifies that you will make a terrible error in a business deal resulting in bitter disappointments.

Friend

To see your friends in your dream, signifies aspects of your personality that you have rejected, but are ready to integrate these rejected part of yourself. The relationships you have with those around you are important in learning about yourself. Additionally, this symbol foretells of happy tidings from them and the arrival of good news.

Woman
To see a woman in your dream, represents nurturance, passivity, caring nature, and love. It refers to your own female aspects or may also represent your mother. Alternatively, it may indicate temptation and guilt. If you know the woman, then it may symbolize the concerns and feelings you have about her.

Win

To dream that you win at something, signifies triumph and success. You have much confidence and belief in yourself. All your self-doubts have subsided.

Victory
To dream of victory over something, suggests that you are in need of some motivation or confidence in your abilities. Sometimes you need to imagine or visualize success before actually achieving it.

Um...I don't think I have gained anymore insights beyond what J-Mac shared. Some of Dream Moods insights seem to conflict.
Oh well.
But I suppose I should look into plane tickets to Thailand.
Does anyone have any contacts in Thailand?

Spliting Potter

They are turning the final Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, into two movies. 

I guess I’m fine with that; I’m just disappointed that they didn’t do it earlier with some of the other films.  They sacrificed a lot of elements that, after reading the final book, seemed more significant to me.

Also I’m worried that we are going to get two movies about 80 minutes each with an awkward break in between. 

 

Oh well.  It would be really hard to mess this stories up, so I think it will still be awesome!