Holy week is one of the most focused and intimate times of the Christian Faith. As a church we are currently reading through John Piper's Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ. It is simply brilliant.
It cannot be read in a rush and it needs to be pondered on. Piper provides some great insight into the glory of Christ, his suffering and the reason for Satan's continued existence in a thought provoking manner. If you have not picked it up download it here
Have a wonderfully rich Holy Week and celebrate with effervescent joy this weekend.
God bless
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Glee
I just finished watching the first season of Glee on NetflixWI. I know it is in the third season now, but I never quite watched it before. It is brilliant!
It captures many of the core emotional themes of teaching, adolescence, heartache, celebration and reality very well. It deals with the challenges of growing up in this modern world head on and powerfully, albeit from a distinctly non-Christian view. The music, choreography, plot, characters, costumes and sets are wonderfully done. The script is wonderfully put together. For me some of the most powerful moments are:
I look forward to a second season when it becomes available. Now I can get some sleep!
It captures many of the core emotional themes of teaching, adolescence, heartache, celebration and reality very well. It deals with the challenges of growing up in this modern world head on and powerfully, albeit from a distinctly non-Christian view. The music, choreography, plot, characters, costumes and sets are wonderfully done. The script is wonderfully put together. For me some of the most powerful moments are:
- Quinn's parents kicking her out - so amazingly acted and very heartbreaking.
- Artie's mob scene - well sung and choregraphed
- All of Sue Sylvester's character - she is just brilliant (some of the funniest lines ever), you love to hate her to love her.
- Rachel's voice
- Brittany's dancing
I look forward to a second season when it becomes available. Now I can get some sleep!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Catching Up
How bad is it to have a blog and never write on it? Well, bad...very bad!
So enough of that. It is now 2011 and it has been a full year. We visited South Africa earlier this year as a family, then I transitioned to a new job at First Congregational Church in Hopkinton as their new Pastor of Care and in the midst of this I contracted MRSA.
So the year has been filled with many highs and one or two lows, but overall the year has been great. Even the MRSA ordeal was an incredible growth time for me as I was able to experience first hand the generosity of those at FCCH, the wonderful care of the nurses and doctors at Framingham Union Hospital and the immense and God-honoring support of my wife and friends. I truly am surrounded by wonderful and loving people.
My transition to FCCH has been excellent. I love what I am doing and I thoroughly enjoy my role and contribution to the church. The church is wonderful with meaningful services, a dedicated staff, wonderful people and a solid commitment to caring for and reaching out to those in our community. Come check us out this Sunday, especially with a brand new series kicking off - Face to Face. Check out www.fcch.org for more info.
Door's Howls will be back soon with more movie reviews. I recently saw Battle LA and while very predictable the movie was a great action, shoot 'em up with Aaron Eckhart doing a great job in the lead.
The weather is now warming up and I am looking forward to some warmer and sunnier days.
Finally, Hammer and Chisel Inc, the non-profit I work with and help lead is bringing some students over to New York and Boston in April. It should be a good time as these students experience these two cities in ways they never would have before.
More to come!
So enough of that. It is now 2011 and it has been a full year. We visited South Africa earlier this year as a family, then I transitioned to a new job at First Congregational Church in Hopkinton as their new Pastor of Care and in the midst of this I contracted MRSA.
So the year has been filled with many highs and one or two lows, but overall the year has been great. Even the MRSA ordeal was an incredible growth time for me as I was able to experience first hand the generosity of those at FCCH, the wonderful care of the nurses and doctors at Framingham Union Hospital and the immense and God-honoring support of my wife and friends. I truly am surrounded by wonderful and loving people.
My transition to FCCH has been excellent. I love what I am doing and I thoroughly enjoy my role and contribution to the church. The church is wonderful with meaningful services, a dedicated staff, wonderful people and a solid commitment to caring for and reaching out to those in our community. Come check us out this Sunday, especially with a brand new series kicking off - Face to Face. Check out www.fcch.org for more info.
Door's Howls will be back soon with more movie reviews. I recently saw Battle LA and while very predictable the movie was a great action, shoot 'em up with Aaron Eckhart doing a great job in the lead.
The weather is now warming up and I am looking forward to some warmer and sunnier days.
Finally, Hammer and Chisel Inc, the non-profit I work with and help lead is bringing some students over to New York and Boston in April. It should be a good time as these students experience these two cities in ways they never would have before.
More to come!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Goodbye Thanksgiving...Hello Christmas
We had a very relaxing Thanksgiving, which was great. Over the weekend we put up our Christmas decorations and rearranged our house to fit them in. It actually looks really good and spacious. We bought a fake tree this year (due to our vacation) and I prefer it to the real one...no sap on the fingers, no needles all over the ground and no need to water it.
I am looking forward to the Christmas season...my favorite time of year, despite it's busyness. We lighted the first of the advent candles last night - The Candle of Hope and read from Isaiah. As we prayed as a family it was amazing to hear our eldest son's prayer as he prayed for the upcoming season. I am truly blessed to have the people in my family that I do.
I am looking forward to the Christmas season...my favorite time of year, despite it's busyness. We lighted the first of the advent candles last night - The Candle of Hope and read from Isaiah. As we prayed as a family it was amazing to hear our eldest son's prayer as he prayed for the upcoming season. I am truly blessed to have the people in my family that I do.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The World at Night
I have for the last few weeks experienced the world between the hours of 1am and 3am. Now, I have always been a night owl, but lately, due to a number of factors, I find myself awake until late into the night (or is that early into the morning?).
It is amazing how different the world looks and feels at night. There is a quietness that just does not exist at other times. It is almost as if the earth is holding its breath. There are no demands on you. There is no constant hubbub of background noise like there is during the day. And I must say, speaking to God at this time of night is quite unrestricted.
Of course, the ongoing conversation in my mind can get annoying. It goes something like this:
"Go to sleep!"
"Would love to, but I'm not tired."
"Just try and lie down."
"Already done that for an hour."
"Read a book."
"Finished one already."
"Just go to sleep..."
"Would love to, but..."
So anyway, here's to getting to sleep tonight before 1am
It is amazing how different the world looks and feels at night. There is a quietness that just does not exist at other times. It is almost as if the earth is holding its breath. There are no demands on you. There is no constant hubbub of background noise like there is during the day. And I must say, speaking to God at this time of night is quite unrestricted.
Of course, the ongoing conversation in my mind can get annoying. It goes something like this:
"Go to sleep!"
"Would love to, but I'm not tired."
"Just try and lie down."
"Already done that for an hour."
"Read a book."
"Finished one already."
"Just go to sleep..."
"Would love to, but..."
So anyway, here's to getting to sleep tonight before 1am
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Door's Howl - Inception
Synopsis
Ever had a dream where you didn't know what was going on, how you got there or how it will end....that's Inception. Beware, there may be some spoilers here so read with care. I loved Inception as a movie. Great acting - DiCaprio is at his best and the rest of the cast give performances reminiscent of Ocean's Eleven. Good interplay, wonderful dialogue and building tension. As far as twists go there are more twists and surprises than you can count. Essentially the idea is about stealing information from people's minds through created dreams which is easy in comparison to planting an idea - called inception. One warning though...anyone with suicidal tendencies should stay away from this movie.
Special effects are excellent and audience is kept in tension even through complicated time sequences. The director and editor did a masterful job of putting together the scenes of four different time frames to create a sit on the edge of your seat watchability. One of my favorite aspects of this movie is that it is not a remake. An original idea well executed
My least favorite aspect though is the ending. In an attempt to create one last twist the story leaves you speculating what just happened. Sadly, this was one twist I called in the first five minutes of the movie. I would have preferred the alternate ending of the totem falling! But that might be the best thing about this movie...it makes you think...which would you rather have...the dream or the real life, and what after all is real. Like a shout out to Plato are we all in the cave looking at reflections or are we stepping out of the cave?
Score
Inception 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 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!
Ever had a dream where you didn't know what was going on, how you got there or how it will end....that's Inception. Beware, there may be some spoilers here so read with care. I loved Inception as a movie. Great acting - DiCaprio is at his best and the rest of the cast give performances reminiscent of Ocean's Eleven. Good interplay, wonderful dialogue and building tension. As far as twists go there are more twists and surprises than you can count. Essentially the idea is about stealing information from people's minds through created dreams which is easy in comparison to planting an idea - called inception. One warning though...anyone with suicidal tendencies should stay away from this movie.
Special effects are excellent and audience is kept in tension even through complicated time sequences. The director and editor did a masterful job of putting together the scenes of four different time frames to create a sit on the edge of your seat watchability. One of my favorite aspects of this movie is that it is not a remake. An original idea well executed
My least favorite aspect though is the ending. In an attempt to create one last twist the story leaves you speculating what just happened. Sadly, this was one twist I called in the first five minutes of the movie. I would have preferred the alternate ending of the totem falling! But that might be the best thing about this movie...it makes you think...which would you rather have...the dream or the real life, and what after all is real. Like a shout out to Plato are we all in the cave looking at reflections or are we stepping out of the cave?
Score
Inception 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 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!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Door's Howl - Predators
SynopsisThe movie opens with a fast start and pretty much never slows down. It is a great movie with wonderful throw backs to the original predator with Arnie. The plot and cast are well put together and Adrien Brody does a great job of being the mysterious experienced soldier/killer that we all hope will survive. Not too mention he has clearly been working out - see pic above. Topher Grace (Eric from "That 70's Show") probably gives you the greatest surprise - both in role and plot twist out of the whole movie. Alice Braga, of "I am Legend" fame, provides the female lead and does a great job. Lawrence Fishburne sadly is given a minor cameo, and while his entrance is simply masterful and reminds you of his "Matrix" work, his character is woefully under-scripted for such a talent. The biggest drawback to this movie is the swearing and language. Most of it is completely unnecessary and actually distracts and detracts from the script rather than adding to the characters or story. Clean up the language and you have a great movie, but because of the language it is merely above average.
Score
Predators scores a Crescent Moon - worth howling at, but get ear soap for the language.
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 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!
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