Sorry it's been a few days since my last post. I have been just a tad busy.We received my back-disability this week, and we had a lo of long needed things to get. Now we are in the market for a car. God will provide.
Not to mention that Sue and I are both still in school, and also homeschoolng Sandy. I need to have a 48 hour day.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Hello everyone: This is Mike's better half Sue. I finally got around (I was looking for my square, but couldn't find it, so I thought I would just go with the round) to posting on here. Hi Mike! Love you sweetie. I probably won't be posting on here much at the moment as I am busy with my schooling and Sandy's (our oldest daughter) schooling. We are homeschooling her at it is a challenge to keep her interested in school. Anyway, here is my hello and welcome to everyone.
Sue
Sue
Monday, January 16, 2006
Moday Musings
Monday Musings
Well it's Monday. I just finished reading a book about the Apostle John, called The Beloved Disciple." by Beth Moore. A very interesting read.
I am now reading "An Autobiography of God", by Loyd John Ogilvie. He uses the parables of Jesus to give a better picture of God.
Can you tell I am on a theological kick? I read a lot of different types of books. I read novels, Sci-fi and fantasy, thrillers, horror, Cop stories and the like. I also read biographies, autobiographies, true life crime cases, and have recently added theological studies to my list. I get the feeling that God is behind this latest interest.
It's probably got something to do with having found a great church a couple of years ago now, and taking over the library at that church. I have been cataloging the books into a computer database, and as I do, I have been seeing titles that make me think, "Hmm, I ought to read that!"
One excuse after another has caused me to not read most of the books I have found interesting, and now I feel led to read most of them. Will it make me a Theologian? I doubt it. Will it give me a better understanding of the God I serve? I hope so.
I do not mention this pursuit to show that I think I am better than anyone. I know well that I am no better in many ways than the lowliest of the lowly. I am just a struggling Christian who wants to find a better way to find what path God has set before me. If anyone who reads this is lifted up by God to follow similar pursuits, then Praise God. He put the idea into your heart, not me.
Blessings to you all.
Well it's Monday. I just finished reading a book about the Apostle John, called The Beloved Disciple." by Beth Moore. A very interesting read.
I am now reading "An Autobiography of God", by Loyd John Ogilvie. He uses the parables of Jesus to give a better picture of God.
Can you tell I am on a theological kick? I read a lot of different types of books. I read novels, Sci-fi and fantasy, thrillers, horror, Cop stories and the like. I also read biographies, autobiographies, true life crime cases, and have recently added theological studies to my list. I get the feeling that God is behind this latest interest.
It's probably got something to do with having found a great church a couple of years ago now, and taking over the library at that church. I have been cataloging the books into a computer database, and as I do, I have been seeing titles that make me think, "Hmm, I ought to read that!"
One excuse after another has caused me to not read most of the books I have found interesting, and now I feel led to read most of them. Will it make me a Theologian? I doubt it. Will it give me a better understanding of the God I serve? I hope so.
I do not mention this pursuit to show that I think I am better than anyone. I know well that I am no better in many ways than the lowliest of the lowly. I am just a struggling Christian who wants to find a better way to find what path God has set before me. If anyone who reads this is lifted up by God to follow similar pursuits, then Praise God. He put the idea into your heart, not me.
Blessings to you all.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
The Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel
We watched this controversial new show out of curiosity. For those not familiar with the storyline, “The Book of Daniel” is a new NBC show starring Aidan Quinn as The Rev. Daniel Webster. Daniel is an Episcopalian minister with a gay son, a daughter who gets arrested in the opening for selling pot, a brother in law who has just absconded with $3.2 million in church funds, and a pill popping habit. On top of this he sees and talks with Jesus Christ. (Garret Dillahunt) Therein lies part of the controversy this show is already causing. Without having seen it a many people are up in arms over the depiction of Jesus in a weekly television show.
Jesus, as portrayed by Dillahunt uses humor, empathy, and love. When Daniel asks Him to solve a problem, Jesus advises, but makes Daniel look within for answers. Instead of giving Daniel a specific answer to a problem, Jesus comforts him and offers advice.
Several TV stations have refused to air the program, and that is their right certainly, but condemning this program without even giving it a look , in my opinion is the same as judging a book by it’s cover.
I suspect the show will not last through it’s 13 episodes that have been filmed, but I for one am intrigued enough to give it a chance.
A couple of seasons back, CBS ran a series called” Joan of Arcadia, which starred Amber Tamblyn as a 15 year old high school freshman who saw God, in various forms. Sometimes it was a “Cute Guy” other times He would appear as an old lady. Sometimes He was even a child. The show was slow to pick up an audience but managed to last 2 seasons before the network dumped it. Again my opinion is that canceling “Joan” was a loss for quality television.
Is “Book of Daniel” quality television? I don’t know it’s hard to say from one episode. I hope NBC gives it a chance for us to find out. I hope the network doesn’t bow to pressure from people who have not or will not watch it, to decide for the rest of us.
We watched this controversial new show out of curiosity. For those not familiar with the storyline, “The Book of Daniel” is a new NBC show starring Aidan Quinn as The Rev. Daniel Webster. Daniel is an Episcopalian minister with a gay son, a daughter who gets arrested in the opening for selling pot, a brother in law who has just absconded with $3.2 million in church funds, and a pill popping habit. On top of this he sees and talks with Jesus Christ. (Garret Dillahunt) Therein lies part of the controversy this show is already causing. Without having seen it a many people are up in arms over the depiction of Jesus in a weekly television show.
Jesus, as portrayed by Dillahunt uses humor, empathy, and love. When Daniel asks Him to solve a problem, Jesus advises, but makes Daniel look within for answers. Instead of giving Daniel a specific answer to a problem, Jesus comforts him and offers advice.
Several TV stations have refused to air the program, and that is their right certainly, but condemning this program without even giving it a look , in my opinion is the same as judging a book by it’s cover.
I suspect the show will not last through it’s 13 episodes that have been filmed, but I for one am intrigued enough to give it a chance.
A couple of seasons back, CBS ran a series called” Joan of Arcadia, which starred Amber Tamblyn as a 15 year old high school freshman who saw God, in various forms. Sometimes it was a “Cute Guy” other times He would appear as an old lady. Sometimes He was even a child. The show was slow to pick up an audience but managed to last 2 seasons before the network dumped it. Again my opinion is that canceling “Joan” was a loss for quality television.
Is “Book of Daniel” quality television? I don’t know it’s hard to say from one episode. I hope NBC gives it a chance for us to find out. I hope the network doesn’t bow to pressure from people who have not or will not watch it, to decide for the rest of us.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Film Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
I told you the other day I would write a review of this film, and here it is.
Sunday afternoon, Sue and I took our three girls, 14, 12, & 10 to see the movie. (Tara and Elisa, the younger two had already seen it in Missouri, but the rest of us had not).
This was a much-anticipated film, having seen the teaser trailer, then the main trailer of it several months ago. I had not read the books before, so this summer we borrowed them from the church library, and proceeded to read them. Sue had read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a child and enjoyed it. We both enjoyed all seven books.
Now to the movie: There are a few, very few, departures from the book. One, depiction of a German attack on London prompts the mother of the four Pevensie children to send them to an imposing mansion in the country. The event was mentioned only briefly in the book, but opened the film. I know there were a few other minor alterations, but for the life of me I cannot remember them.
The director, Andrew Adamson (Shrek& Shrek 2) has done a marvelous job of translating this beloved C.S. Lewis work to the silver screen. The film was shot almost entirely on location in New Zealand, which also recently doubled for Middle Earth in Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
The casting of the children was artfully done. Casting children in film roles can be problematic at best in many cases. You often wind up with a kid who cannot act, or are so sickly “cute” as to invoke immediate diabetes. In this case however, the filmmakers held out for some kids who could actually act, and do it well. The older Pevensies, Peter and Susan were superbly played by William Moseley, and Anna Popplewell, respectively. Skandar Keynes plays the sullen Edmund who finds himself led astray early in the story.
However young Georgie Henley as Lucy, the first of the four children to enter the magical realm, easily steals the show! She is a delight to watch, and could be likely be among the youngest actors to be nominated for a best actress Oscar.
Tilda Swinton (Vanilla Sky, Constantine) is regally evil as the White Witch, but manages to bring to the role an icy humanity even though she is clearly the villain of the piece.
Liam Neeson (The Phantom Menace, Schindler’s List) voices the enigmatic lion, Aslan.
The visual effects are outstanding. When you first view the Land of Narnia, you can almost feel the cold of the winter without end. I would highly recommend this film. See it, and then go back and see it again. There are some battle scenes, and mild violence that may be a bit frightening to younger children. The film is rated PG.
I told you the other day I would write a review of this film, and here it is.
Sunday afternoon, Sue and I took our three girls, 14, 12, & 10 to see the movie. (Tara and Elisa, the younger two had already seen it in Missouri, but the rest of us had not).
This was a much-anticipated film, having seen the teaser trailer, then the main trailer of it several months ago. I had not read the books before, so this summer we borrowed them from the church library, and proceeded to read them. Sue had read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a child and enjoyed it. We both enjoyed all seven books.
Now to the movie: There are a few, very few, departures from the book. One, depiction of a German attack on London prompts the mother of the four Pevensie children to send them to an imposing mansion in the country. The event was mentioned only briefly in the book, but opened the film. I know there were a few other minor alterations, but for the life of me I cannot remember them.
The director, Andrew Adamson (Shrek& Shrek 2) has done a marvelous job of translating this beloved C.S. Lewis work to the silver screen. The film was shot almost entirely on location in New Zealand, which also recently doubled for Middle Earth in Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
The casting of the children was artfully done. Casting children in film roles can be problematic at best in many cases. You often wind up with a kid who cannot act, or are so sickly “cute” as to invoke immediate diabetes. In this case however, the filmmakers held out for some kids who could actually act, and do it well. The older Pevensies, Peter and Susan were superbly played by William Moseley, and Anna Popplewell, respectively. Skandar Keynes plays the sullen Edmund who finds himself led astray early in the story.
However young Georgie Henley as Lucy, the first of the four children to enter the magical realm, easily steals the show! She is a delight to watch, and could be likely be among the youngest actors to be nominated for a best actress Oscar.
Tilda Swinton (Vanilla Sky, Constantine) is regally evil as the White Witch, but manages to bring to the role an icy humanity even though she is clearly the villain of the piece.
Liam Neeson (The Phantom Menace, Schindler’s List) voices the enigmatic lion, Aslan.
The visual effects are outstanding. When you first view the Land of Narnia, you can almost feel the cold of the winter without end. I would highly recommend this film. See it, and then go back and see it again. There are some battle scenes, and mild violence that may be a bit frightening to younger children. The film is rated PG.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year one and all. Here’s hoping 2006 will bring joy to everyone. I know in our lives he prospects are looking pretty good thus far. We have many blessings heading our way, some have already arrived; our kids, some of the disability money, and most important of all, my continuing relationship with my Wonderful Counselor, Jesus Christ. None of the former would have been possible without the Latter!
Today we plan to take the kids to see The Chronicles of Narnia. I will write a review of the film for tomorrow’s blog.
In the meantime, we are getting Tara and Elisa packed for their flight home tomorrow. Our good friend Kurt ( one of the contributors to the blog ) has offered to take us to the airport, and we greatly appreciate it. This will be their first time on a plane. They will be flying with each other under the watchful ( hopefully ) eyes of the flight attendants of the airline. We will miss them, but we will soon be busy getting Sandy on insurance here in Texas, getting her curriculum figured out for home schooling, oh yes, and Sue and I will be starting our next classes in school ourselves.
Friday and Saturday I will be attending the Church Officer retreat at our church, and preparing for ordination as a Deacon on Sunday. Quite an honor to have been called, I pray that God will guide me in this service.
At any rate there are a lot of new things happening in our lives this year. May your lives be as blessed as our lives are. Happy 2006
Today we plan to take the kids to see The Chronicles of Narnia. I will write a review of the film for tomorrow’s blog.
In the meantime, we are getting Tara and Elisa packed for their flight home tomorrow. Our good friend Kurt ( one of the contributors to the blog ) has offered to take us to the airport, and we greatly appreciate it. This will be their first time on a plane. They will be flying with each other under the watchful ( hopefully ) eyes of the flight attendants of the airline. We will miss them, but we will soon be busy getting Sandy on insurance here in Texas, getting her curriculum figured out for home schooling, oh yes, and Sue and I will be starting our next classes in school ourselves.
Friday and Saturday I will be attending the Church Officer retreat at our church, and preparing for ordination as a Deacon on Sunday. Quite an honor to have been called, I pray that God will guide me in this service.
At any rate there are a lot of new things happening in our lives this year. May your lives be as blessed as our lives are. Happy 2006
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