Treasures

This week's Bible study post (Stuff) has a cooler title, but I still think you'll like Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Treasures" text
"Treasures" podcast (coming soon)

Salt

I saw the Angelina Jolie double agent movie. Here's my short review.

I'm afraid of Evelyn Salt. Jason who?

Here's a little more.

This film is really, really violent. And everyone in it is bad. The challenge is to find where there is good.
Angelina Jolie is simply awesome in this film.
Bourne or Salt? Salt. (And I like Bourne!)
Is this a masterpiece film? No - but if you're looking for an action flick - you'll like it.

I will, of course, see the followups.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

I caught a Regal Cinemas' 'Value Days' ($5 admission all day weekdays, free popcorn and a soda) showing of the Mickey Mouse inspired Nicholas Cage movie. Here's my short review:

Nothing epic here, but it's pretty good.

Here's a little more:

Nicholas Cage looks the best he's looked in years in this film. It also looks like he was having fun!
The mopping scene made me smile.
This is the first movie where I've seen a nerdy kid who talks like Christian Slater act a little bit like Indiana Jones.
Alfred Molina is excellent as Maxim Horvath. He is definitely the go-to actor for a comic bad guy. Any movie he is in seems worth seeing just to enjoy his performance.
Best stupid term in this film: "The Prime Merlinian"

There's a setup for a sequel, though I'm not sure there's enough steam in the engine to get one moving.

Stuff

Here's this week's Bible study post:

How much stuff do you have? How much of your stuff do you hold onto simply because having more stuff makes you feel more secure or powerful?

In this week’s Bible reading from Luke 12:13-21, Jesus addresses stuff.

• Stay away from greed
• Stop accumulating so much stuff
• Focus on having a rich relationship with God
• The sum of your life is not measured by how much stuff you have.

• So how much stuff is too much?
• When do our earthly possessions become things we are just accumulating instead of investing in a rich relationship with God?
• What do you think the sum of our lives should be measured by?

That Prayer

This week's Bible study post (Rote) has grown into a series of mini-sermons for Sunday at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk, IL.
"That Prayer" text
"That Prayer" podcast

Inception

It wasn't on my list of films to see this summer, but I think the new dreamy Leo film has become the must-see event of the summer. I saw it last night with Cassie. Here's my short review:

I'm going to have to see that again.

Here's a little more:

• Cassie said that this film was sort of like Lost -- but with a much better payoff. I agree.
• Expect to say "What?" a few times. And hang in there. It will get more confusing and more entertaining as the film progresses.
• This is the kind of film that will generate conversations, arguments, and term papers.
• Special effects? Yeah -- they are very cool.
• The snow scenes made me think of James Bond.
• Oh yeah -- there was great acting, too!

Who needs a sequel? People will have to see this several times over the next several years to fully understand it.

Rote

Here's this week's Bible study blog post:

“I’ve said the Lord’s prayer so many times it has lost all meaning for me.”

I’ve heard that and likely even said it a few times in my life. I’ve said the words of the Lord’s prayer so many times that I can say it without thinking at all.

But does that mean it has lost all meaning?

Ask the person who has lost so many memories that the familiar prayers and songs are the only things that bring comfort and recognition.

Ask the person who is in a time of fear or stress or confusion and the only words they remember to say or pray are the ones they have repeated so often that they come by rote.

Ask God, who understands our prayers no matter what the words – or whether the words match what is going on in the depths of our souls.

Peaceful Valley 2010 – 3

Well then . . .

Things are winding up with this year’s Colorado vacation. There’s still another day at the ranch and a train ride back to Illinois, but here’s an update from the past few days:

Rodeo – The Peaceful Valley Guest Rodeo brought us all together with events like: Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Flag Race, Musical Buckets, the Boot Race, Spoon Race, and even the Wrangler Relay. I felt very Cowboy.

We also made a return ride to Beaver Reservoir. Our last ride of the week was an awesome one – we rode quickly on the trail and even faster on the road around the reservoir. I think I shouted “yee-haw!” at one point, thought it may have been just inside my head.

Estes Park – We went “off site” to Estes Park for a day of regular tourist stuff. We took in some Americana with a trip to Ride-a-Kart (Go-Karts, Bumper Boats, Bumper Cars, and the Bungee Trampoline) and then ate at Vega Grill and Bar Terrace Restaurant before shopping in downtown Estes Park.

And then today at Allenspark Community Church it was Christmas in July! The place was packed as we enjoyed the July tradition at the little log church with the Christmas Cantata, “A Christmas Carol Gallery.”

We’re relaxing the rest of the day and tomorrow until we leave for the Denver train station tomorrow afternoon.

The vacation has been wonderful – and I’m ready to head home.

Peaceful Valley 2010 - 2

Oowwwwwwwwww
The past few days have been filled with horse riding. It hasn’t been without pain, but it has been mostly marvelous.

Beaver Reservoir – we rode to a location with a racetrack-like road around a giant reservoir. Though I never got my horse (Sky) into her fastest run, we did move very quickly. Unfortunately, her speed just below her fastest is a little bit rough. Ouch.

Jamestown – We rode to the old Jamestown settlement for a picnic lunch and some time tubing down a short section the St. Vrain River. I’d been to this place several times but had never been in the (cold) water. This time I rode the rapids in an inner tube, got dumped out 3 times, and twisted my knee a little. It was fun, but the knee pain remains. We ended the ride with another fast run down the road back to Peaceful Valley.

Overnight. We took a long walk (3 hours) with riding horses and pack horses to Coney Flats for a campout. The company was wonderful, the scenery breathtaking, the food extraordinarily tasty (campout food usually is, right?) and the night partially sleepless (There were high winds all night that shook and tried to lift the tents off the ground)

All Day Ride. I got another new horse (mine kept having loose shoes – First Sky, then Charlie), Valentine, and we met up with another group and left the campsite bound for Red Deer Lake. We ran as much as we could and arrived at the beautiful lake and glacier for lunch. We had a snowball fight and even made a small snowman. During the first part of our ride back to Peaceful Valley we ran much, but then we hit the part I had (once again) forgotten. That’s the part where your body says, “I’m REALLY done riding for the day” and there are two more hours left. I have a sore everything this morning.

And yet we headed out this morning for Breakfast on the Mountain and then a quick (and fast!) ride to Three Bears. A few of us climbed up Papa Bear (really a big hill, but mountain-ey enough for me!) before heading back to the ranch for a slow afternoon in anticipation of tomorrow’s return visit to Beaver Reservoir.

The soreness is starting to wear off.

Challenging the status quo

Here's this week's Bible study reflection:

Martha worked while Mary listened. Jesus told an annoyed Martha that Mary had chosen the better part. Paying attention only to work and not attending to spiritual matters isn’t the better part.

I don’t think that that is the main message in this week’s Bible reading from Luke 10:38-42. I think the main message has to do with challenging the status quo.

Martha was doing the traditional tasks for the women of her time. She was providing hospitality to a guest in her home. Mary was doing the traditional activity of a man of her time. She was sitting at the feet of a teacher – learning as a disciple.

Jesus embraced this out of bounds behavior on Mary’s part because that’s what Jesus does. He invites the least likely into the circle. Jesus welcomes the ones who are not allowed to be not only in the club, but leaders in it!

Think of all the reasons we have for keeping people out. Think of all the people that the ones who make the rules say are not allowed to join or lead.

Jesus invites and welcomes. And Jesus followers must challenge the status quo that tells people that they are not good enough to be in the club.

I’m really tired of the playground bully rules.

Peaceful Valley 2010 - 1

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh.

I've been in Colorado at Peaceful Valley Ranch for the past couple of days -- what a great beginning to vacation.

These first couple of days have been a warm-up for a week of dude ranch horse riding. There hasn't been much of a schedule or any significant "gotta do this" things during the warm-up. But here are a few experiences I've had so far.

The talent show -- The Moores are total show-offs. Each of us sang, played, or acted in the ranch talent show a few hours after we arrived.
Rooftop Rodeo -- For my first rodeo experience ever (not counting the guest rodeos at Peaceful Valley) I went to Estes Park for one of the nations premier small arena rodeos.
The petting zoo at Peaceful Valley. It's the kind of place you hang out with goats that come up and expect to be pet like a dog.
Mountaintop Chapel hike -- I hiked up to the Peaceful Valley Memorial Chapel - about 1000 feet up from the ranch. The view from the chapel is spirit-awakening.

Tomorrow we start the horse riding. I'm ready to run. And I'm pretty sure Ibuprofen will be my good friend.

Samaritan

Here's this week's Bible study blog post:

What does the parable of the Good Samaritan get you to think?

This thought comes to my mind:

God’s neighborhood is one where everyone is important.
God’s neighborhood is one where the way a person dresses or how much money they have doesn’t make them special – the fact that they are a child of God makes them special.
God’s neighborhood is one where unconditional love really does exist.
God’s neighborhood is big enough for all kinds of different people.
God’s neighborhood is big enough for babies, children, youth, young adults, middle age- adults, seniors – everyone.
God’s neighborhood is big enough for those with no education and those with advanced degrees.
God’s neighborhood is big enough for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people.
God’s neighborhood is big enough for rich people, poor people and “barely scraping by” people.
God’s neighborhood is big enough for people with disabilities and people with brain disorders.
God’s neighborhood is big enough for Republicans, Democrats, independents, Greens, Tea Partiers, political activists and political apathists.
God’s neighborhood is big enough for soldiers, militia, and terrorists.

God's neighborhood is big enough for all.
Everyone in God’s neighborhood is a neighbor.
Show mercy to your neighbor.

Clean

This week's Bible study blog post (Position) gives a taste for what is now Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk.
"Clean" text
"Clean" podcast

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

I willingly saw the latest vampire/wolf/teenager screamfest with Cassie last evening. Here's my short review:

I don't think I can review this film fairly. Don't listen to me.

Here's a little more:

The special effects in this film were not good enough. They detracted from the story.
The acting wasn't too bad at all. I think it missed out on much of the emotional impact from the book, but it wasn't bad.
That said, I sure experienced more "Oh please" moments in the movie than I did in the book.
The screaming teenagers in the audience were entertaining.
Two significantly great parts of this film: The tent scene and Charlie's quote: "I'm liking Edward a whole lot more now."

There's nothing in this film to detract the target audience from loving it. I just thought it was OK.

Position

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry:

There’s a certain level of respect that people of a high-power position in society get. There’s a certain level of respect that people of a high-power position in society demand. And sometimes there’s a certain level of respect that people of a high-power position in society are denied. When that happens, people of a high-power position in society usually whine and say that their rights are being violated.

I really have no patience for it.

In this week’s Bible reading from 2 Kings 5:1-14, a high-power position person, the Aramean army commander Naaman, was sick with leprosy. He was desperate for healing. He was so desperate that he took steps to ask a prophet of Israel to heal him.

And the prophet, Elisha, wouldn’t even see him. He simply sent a message, “Wash in the Jordan River 7 times, and you’ll be clean.”

Naaman didn’t like the level of respect he was given. He whined and complained that he was being treated unfairly. He whined that the Jordan River was dirty and that the rivers in Damascus would be so much better. He was enraged that he did not get the respect that people of a high-power position in society ‘deserve.’

It’s a good thing for Naaman that wasn’t stubborn to the point of death. He listened to his servants, who told him, essentially, “Just do it – what can it hurt?”

Naaman was healed. He was clean. He was grateful.

I wonder if he got over that position thing, too?

Change

This week's Bible study blog post (Zeal) provides a beginning, but doesn't really give any clues as to where things are headed in Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk, IL
"Change" text
"Change" podcast

Toy Story 3

I saw the newest (and greatly anticipated) Toy Story sequel this weekend. Can it live up to the expectations? Here's my short review

The best movie of the summer -- I dare you not to love it.

Here's a little more:

This film has it all. Compelling and believable (even though they're toys!) characters, great visuals and a powerful and engaging story.
Yes. I cried. You probably will, too.
Favorite character this time? It has to be Spanish Buzz -- voiced by Javier Fernandez Pena
One slight disappointment. The two short references to Ken's sexuality (high heels and handwriting) weren't really funny. I don't think they were particularly offensive, but they weren't necessary, either.

I'd see this film again, and again . . .