books

the importance of story

March 6, 2006

In his commentary on last night's Oscars, Marc Newman concludes,

The one thing said at the awards ceremony that rang true was that while technological advances in film making will continue, what remains the same is the importance of story. Every culture in the world has them. They are used to make sense of the world. They are the means by which Christians have been entrusted with spreading their faith–we tell the story of Christ and then testify to our own. Stories invite more stories. So if there is anything to applaud about the tales that pour relentlessly from Hollywood, it is that these films provoke confrontation and response. May we be as bold in telling His story, and our stories, as Hollywood is in telling theirs.

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vote with your wallet

March 3, 2006

Cultural critic Marc Newman makes a compelling argument for the power of Christians to impact Hollywood. In “The Academy Awards: Whose Vote Really Counts,” he discusses this years Oscar contenders and their monetary value to the studios. He writes:

The collective domestic box office of all five Best Picture nominees currently stands at about $230 million. That is nearly the domestic gross of The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe–if you are willing to knock off $50 million from Narnia’s take to date.…

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“freedom is for love”

March 3, 2006

from Lent and Easter Wisdom:

The greatest light comes from the commandment to love God and neighbor. In this commandment, human freedom finds its most complete realization. Freedom is for love: its realization through love can reach heroic proportions.–Pope John Paul II

In thinking about yesterday's post, I see that part of Jesus’ agenda was love. To write that seems incredibly foolish in a sense…

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journey to Jerusalem

March 2, 2006

from Lent and Easter Wisdom: In the passage for today, the Pope works from Mark 10:33, “We are going up to Jerusalem.” He says, “This journey to Jerusalem…is the model for the Christian who is committed to following the Master on the way of the Cross.”

This prompted me to read Mark’s account of Jesus’ journey to his crucifixion. I hesitated to write “to his crucifixion,” though Mark 10 is the third time that Jesus clearly predicts His death to the disciples. Yes, Jesus knew He was headed for death, and He knew that His death was necessary. My hesitation comes from the fact that Jesus didn’t go to die, He went, in the words of John Paul, “to complete his redemptive mission.”…

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Ash Wednesday

March 1, 2006

Growing up in the Church of Christ, Easter was nothing more than an opportunity for candy and perhaps some new clothes. We took communion every Sunday and talked about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ regularly, so Easter was not treated as different from any other Sunday of the year…

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God’s work-rest rhythm

February 21, 2006

Benny Tabalujan makes a compelling argument for honoring the sabbath in "Re-discovering Sabbath" in the most recent issue of Regent Business Review. Tabalujan explains that sabbath is not so much about resting as reflecting:

God used the sabbath to look over, reflect upon, enjoy and celebrate the work he performed. It follows that if work is about results, then sabbath is about reflection; if work is preoccupied with mission, then sabbath delves into meaning.…

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the familiarity of the cockpit

February 9, 2006

In Pursuing Your Life Dream, Eastman Curtis tells of a conversation he had with a trainer of fighter pilots in Vietnam. This trainer said that most of the pilots who were shot down could have escaped from their planes…

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