Door's Howl: Jurassic World

Synopsis

Jurassic World is the fourth installment in the Jurassic franchise. The movie pulled no punches in trying to be cutting edge and sci-fi like.  From rides of rolling spheres to holographic images it was a dive into theme parks of the future...with a little bit of horror. The story follows the ongoing Jurassic debate about genetic manipulation, corporate greed, science and ethics.  This installment even threw in the tried and true evil military applications. It's a long movie filled with action sequences. I saw the 3D version, but it doesn't really add much. Chris Pratt continues to move into the most sought after actor spot delivering a solid performance. Rumor has it, he's already signed for a 5th and 6th installment.  Bryce Dallas Howard plays the female lead, although the decisions about her wardrobe, hair and makeup reminded me of a plastic doll rather than a person. Her performance was not robotic but the context of her dress, makeup and corporate management role left her too distant to connect to in the movie.

Throughout the movie there are homages to the original franchise, (the raptor claw being dug up, the aviary dome, the raptors, the T-Rex and more). The movie is a good night out and worth seeing...but then, it's already the #1 movie in the States right now!

On a side note, its worth checking out AMC's Dine In Theaters.  Same price as a normal ticket, but with servers bringing you food (good food with a wide range from burgers, to tacos, to salads) and drinks. Seats are recliners with automated footrests and back adjusters.  

Score
Jurassic World scores a new moon
Scoring System

Wolves are thought to commonly howl at the moon. So, the better the moon, the greater the howl. Description of scoring system below.

Full Moon - best you can get, must watch and must own
New Moon - great movie, worth seeing and/or buying
Crescent Moon - average to above average, good to watch, but may want to wait for DVD
Sliver Moon - below average, not worth seeing and only get it on DVD when you have nothing better to do, like having a root canal
Moonless Night -not even worth mentioning - avoid at all costs!

Joy Is...

I wrote the following piece for our celebration service.  Thought others might like it.

Joy Is...

A Brady Pass to a Gronk Catch

As Crowd goes wild in the match

The last out in the final inning

The curse reversed cos we are winning

The first kiss after vow is made

Hands clap for couple arrayed

The sweet embraces of two lovers given

Over years and years of joyful livin’

Your favorite song and your favorite band

Experienced live at concert grand

The simple strum of a clean clear string

By an artful hand on the down swing

Shouts and cries,

Claps and sighs

The communal buzzing

of individual humming

It’s loud and soft, the bold who cheer

The crowd moving in high gear

For joy is better

When we’re together

That’s what Joy is…when it’s outside of here!

But in here, joy like that seems to disappear

Behind silent rows, and vacant eyes

Beneath this mystical disguise

This must not be,

It should not be…

For we have Thee

To joyfully see

For His arrival was with angel sung,

Good news, great joy for old and young

The Jubilee did He instate

With powerful words most potentate

Good news to poor, freedom from chain

Sight for the blind, still more we gain

The naked clothed, the hungry fed,

The sick made well, the sheep well led

The broken healed, the thirsty sated,

and Yet his Joy is unabated…

Grace He brings and mercy too

For us who sin from God most true

And that, dear church, is worthy stuff

For us to celebrate with joyous puff

His joy continued throughout his life

Right up to that most darkened strife

Where with last words, what would he tweet

Why… “My joy in you, your joy complete”

That is why we gather today,

Not for numbers, though they sway

It is for Him we gather

To help us close this chapter.

His work for us

… in us

… through us

…from us

You see, Faith Church, we have permission

To let loose our dumb condition

For we can with joyful shout proclaim

To God our Savior with great acclaim

That He is alive within our anatomy

“How?” you ask seeking clarity

From painted walls at Serenity

To prayers offered with sincerity

From groups that meet with authenticity

To humble work done with complexity

From children cared for oh most tenderly

To students reaching out so meaningfully

From baptisms done so forcefully

To stories shared so wonderfully

Yes, Faith Church, he is alive assuredly

Still more you ask for so expectantly

From tons of food raised so incredibly

To care teams working so compassionately

From global needs brought devastatingly

To us sitting here so quietly…

But why so quiet…Faith Community

Have you not heard of his activity?

Rise to your feet and join the throng

As we declare with word and song

Amen, Hallelujah, Praise God above,

The God of Joy, The God of Love

God is alive! So let’s celebrate

Let’s shout it out and emulate

God’s Word which says don’t hesitate

Come one, come all, lets celebrate 

Umm...Sleep Anyone!

I would love to know how those blog writers keep up a daily pace amidst the normal routine of life.

Life has filled these past weeks with...work, sermons, counseling, meetings, meetings and more meetings, soccer, lacrosse, piano, projects, school projects (you know the ones that start out as your kids and then become yours!), added responsibilities, surprises, support, friends, crisis, gym, diets and meetings again!

It's certainly the reason God gave us the story of Genesis 1 (not really to tell us the detail of his creative work - sorry literalists), but really to tell us two key things.  He created it all and he rested.

God rested!

He modeled the concept for us. He took a break!

I don't know what it means for God to take a break.  How does God rest? What does it look like for God to take a rest?

But let's not get sidetracked.

Rest is the key idea. God rested to tell us we should rest. Rich coming from the "stay up till 2am and get up at 6am" person I've become.

Perhaps this was sparked by a conversation with my son asking about why we need to sleep, He was incredulous that you could die from lack of sleep! That's the end result of not sleeping - death. So, since God is life, he rested!

All that to say...in life's busiest moments, it is more important than ever to take a time out and rest!

To all those fellow insomniacs, over thinkers and sleep strugglers - may you find some rest!