Sunday, August 30, 2009
Roots and Wings, or Why I am what I am.
Some times you cry because of a touching deep down
Where your pain and the pain of others meet and greet like old friends.
Sometimes you cry out of a sense of justice
When words fall on your ear and clearly articulate your soul
Making you inwardly known
Clearly you are not alone.
Clearly you now see
Your feet, your heart, your life, is a part of an endless succession of witness...
God Bless The Poets!
The ones that seek the whisper unspoken,
Winds from the eternal throne, they point me, through me, to the one we desperately seek!
God Bless The Poets!
This video from Amena Brown blessed me with that sense of justice gained from being known. Through her words I found a part of my own calling renewed, inspired, and enriched. I would love to thank this sister face to face but for now, this blog will have to do. to learn more about her go here
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Eric Liddell: a man of missional living
Chariots of Fire is a British film released in 1981. It was written by Colin Welland and directed by Hugh Hudson, and based on the true story surounding the 1924 Summer Olympics. It focus on the lives of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell.Both are runners both are fast but each run for difreent reasons.
The Life of Eric Liddell is a seminar in commitment and passion. His life was a sacrivice of praise, a procuit of plesure, this permiated down to how he ran. His running style was wild. When he ran his head would be back his hands fallaling about, it was as if his whole self was causght up in the act of running. His spiritual life was much like his running, passionate and fully given to the task at hand, nothing held back. For him, Life was worship and Liddell ran well. In this clip from the movie he explains what it means to run a straight race.
Eric Liddell made it to the Olympics, but found out his race was on Sunday and rather than go agganst his conscinces he disqualified himself from the 100 meters. Later, a teammate gave up his spot in the 400 meters so that he would have a chance at a medal on another day. The clip below is of that race.
After winning the gold, Liddell moved to china as a missionary and never returned home. He was still running but this race was for a crown that would not rust. He was a man of missional living and example to us all. In the field after many fruitful years the Lord let him run in to the arms of his Lord and Savoir.
The Life of Eric Liddell is a seminar in commitment and passion. His life was a sacrivice of praise, a procuit of plesure, this permiated down to how he ran. His running style was wild. When he ran his head would be back his hands fallaling about, it was as if his whole self was causght up in the act of running. His spiritual life was much like his running, passionate and fully given to the task at hand, nothing held back. For him, Life was worship and Liddell ran well. In this clip from the movie he explains what it means to run a straight race.
Eric Liddell made it to the Olympics, but found out his race was on Sunday and rather than go agganst his conscinces he disqualified himself from the 100 meters. Later, a teammate gave up his spot in the 400 meters so that he would have a chance at a medal on another day. The clip below is of that race.
After winning the gold, Liddell moved to china as a missionary and never returned home. He was still running but this race was for a crown that would not rust. He was a man of missional living and example to us all. In the field after many fruitful years the Lord let him run in to the arms of his Lord and Savoir.
Life as worship and the pleasure we run after.
"Whatever you do, do it for the Glory of God, and give it as expression of worship to Him."
The Christian life is embodied one of two ways, an attitude of self-sufficiency or a passion for God's glory. A picture of this is displayed in the movie Chariots of Fire. The contrast between Harold Abramham and Eric Liddell is a picture of the contrast between Law and Grace.
Abramham is determined and ultimately out for personal gain. He is a picture of one who has done all the right things to the letter, seen success from his hard work, praised by others and yet something is missing. Liddell is no less focused or disciplined yet He runs for the pleasure of God. In short Abramham runs for personal glory and Liddell runs for the pleasure of God. They point to two different styles of life, a life resting on grace and moved by worship and a life held up by its own power, moved to prove its own existence.
What pleasure do you run after?
Ravi Zacharias has explains the analogy with a clarity and beauty that only he can.
The Christian life is embodied one of two ways, an attitude of self-sufficiency or a passion for God's glory. A picture of this is displayed in the movie Chariots of Fire. The contrast between Harold Abramham and Eric Liddell is a picture of the contrast between Law and Grace.
Abramham is determined and ultimately out for personal gain. He is a picture of one who has done all the right things to the letter, seen success from his hard work, praised by others and yet something is missing. Liddell is no less focused or disciplined yet He runs for the pleasure of God. In short Abramham runs for personal glory and Liddell runs for the pleasure of God. They point to two different styles of life, a life resting on grace and moved by worship and a life held up by its own power, moved to prove its own existence.
What pleasure do you run after?
Ravi Zacharias has explains the analogy with a clarity and beauty that only he can.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
''Battlestar Galactica'': Crack the clues! - EW.com
After being hit up on "what is the deal with the last supper?" All I can do is point to the director of BSG's comments and let him explain.. Below is the link from E online.
''Battlestar Galactica'': Crack the clues! - EW.com
Shared via AddThis
''Battlestar Galactica'': Crack the clues! - EW.com
Shared via AddThis
Thinking when we watch!
Some Good TV episodes for ethical and spiritual reflection. [Note - I said refection not education are we clear people!]
Battlestar Galactica.
Ever since I got hooked on Battlestar Galactica a couple of years ago, I noticed not-so-subtle references to Judeo-Christian theological influences. There are countless examples throughout the show: a “chosen” or select group of survivors traveling great distances trying to find the prophesied “home”; and the twelve tribes of mankind, the debates of spiritual vs. material reality. The influence is almost exclusively the use of archetypal character arches and not some subversive plot of Hollywood to destroy the faith. But like most on the SyFy channel it is always a little bit off at times. Either way it is always-good drama to talk about with other old-time of the genre and the occasional SyFy neophytes.
•“Flesh and Bone” (season 1, episode 8) - Compelling scenes with aural allusions to waterboarding and torture, as well as rich dialogue about the being human and being an artificial life form.
Other good episodes are
“Guess What’s Coming to Dinner” (season 4, episode 7)
“No Exit” (season 4, episode 15),
“Deadlock” (season 4, episode 16),
“Someone to Watch Over Me” (season 4, episode 17),
“Islanded in a Stream of Stars” (season 4, episode 18),
“Daybreak parts II & III” (season 4, episodes 20 and 21)
Lost – Thanks to Mark D. Liederbach for turning me on to this show, (you just got to love TV on DVD!)
•“White Rabbit” (season 1, episode 5) - two scenes from this episode are great - jack Shepard tells the group that they have to learn to live together or die alone, and the other in which John Locke speaks dramatically about looking into the eye of the island and seeing its beauty.
•“Exodus part 2” (season 1, episodes 24/25) – there is a a rich discussion between Jack and Locke on science and faith.
•“There’s No Place Like Home, parts 2 & 3” (season 4, episode 13) - Locke says the island is a place where miracles happen and tries to persuade Jack to stay on the island.
House. – this show is a train of bioethical questions and sometimes the train wrecks.
•“Informed Consent” (season 3, episode 3) - Here we have multiple scenes featuring a patient who wishes to die and not be treated while Dr. House tricks him into continuing testing/treatment.
•“Damned if You Do, Damned if You Don’t” (season 1, episode 5) – It has a scene where Dr. House and a nun with a mysterious ailment debate God and faith.
•“The Socratic Method” (season 1, episode 6) - I strongly encourage the scene with Dr. House and his nemesis Dr. Cuddy about the ethics of using unapproved protocols to shrink a patient’s tumor so it could be operated on. It is very interesting!
(Roll credits!!!)
In the end I ask myself…. Do I watch to much TV? Sadly a little vices whispers yes.. ….
Battlestar Galactica.
Ever since I got hooked on Battlestar Galactica a couple of years ago, I noticed not-so-subtle references to Judeo-Christian theological influences. There are countless examples throughout the show: a “chosen” or select group of survivors traveling great distances trying to find the prophesied “home”; and the twelve tribes of mankind, the debates of spiritual vs. material reality. The influence is almost exclusively the use of archetypal character arches and not some subversive plot of Hollywood to destroy the faith. But like most on the SyFy channel it is always a little bit off at times. Either way it is always-good drama to talk about with other old-time of the genre and the occasional SyFy neophytes.
•“Flesh and Bone” (season 1, episode 8) - Compelling scenes with aural allusions to waterboarding and torture, as well as rich dialogue about the being human and being an artificial life form.
Other good episodes are
“Guess What’s Coming to Dinner” (season 4, episode 7)
“No Exit” (season 4, episode 15),
“Deadlock” (season 4, episode 16),
“Someone to Watch Over Me” (season 4, episode 17),
“Islanded in a Stream of Stars” (season 4, episode 18),
“Daybreak parts II & III” (season 4, episodes 20 and 21)
Lost – Thanks to Mark D. Liederbach for turning me on to this show, (you just got to love TV on DVD!)
•“White Rabbit” (season 1, episode 5) - two scenes from this episode are great - jack Shepard tells the group that they have to learn to live together or die alone, and the other in which John Locke speaks dramatically about looking into the eye of the island and seeing its beauty.
•“Exodus part 2” (season 1, episodes 24/25) – there is a a rich discussion between Jack and Locke on science and faith.
•“There’s No Place Like Home, parts 2 & 3” (season 4, episode 13) - Locke says the island is a place where miracles happen and tries to persuade Jack to stay on the island.
House. – this show is a train of bioethical questions and sometimes the train wrecks.
•“Informed Consent” (season 3, episode 3) - Here we have multiple scenes featuring a patient who wishes to die and not be treated while Dr. House tricks him into continuing testing/treatment.
•“Damned if You Do, Damned if You Don’t” (season 1, episode 5) – It has a scene where Dr. House and a nun with a mysterious ailment debate God and faith.
•“The Socratic Method” (season 1, episode 6) - I strongly encourage the scene with Dr. House and his nemesis Dr. Cuddy about the ethics of using unapproved protocols to shrink a patient’s tumor so it could be operated on. It is very interesting!
(Roll credits!!!)
In the end I ask myself…. Do I watch to much TV? Sadly a little vices whispers yes.. ….
Are we wired fro music?
For all My Musical friends and the Science geeks repressed deep within them I suggest the world science festival this year one of the panel discussion was on
“Notes & Neurons” See the full discussion here.
They asked the questions Is our response to music hard-wired or culturally determined? Is the reaction to rhythm and melody universal or influenced by environment? The only name you may recognize is Bobby McFerrin but the other smart guys on the panel are Jamshed Barucha, scientist Daniel Levitin, and Professor Lawrence Parsons it was hosted by John Schaefer.
At one point, I was pleasantly surprised to see Bobby McFerrin give this simple, fun, and extremely effective demonstration of the universality of the pentatonic scale. Also, McFerrin made me raise my ear brows and smirk with approval when he gave the following quote:
“Music for me is like a spiritual journey down into the depths of my soul. And I like to think we’re all on a journey into our souls. What’s down there? That’s why I do what I do.”
Below is a clip the demonstration begins around 2:30 min into the clip.
“Notes & Neurons” See the full discussion here.
They asked the questions Is our response to music hard-wired or culturally determined? Is the reaction to rhythm and melody universal or influenced by environment? The only name you may recognize is Bobby McFerrin but the other smart guys on the panel are Jamshed Barucha, scientist Daniel Levitin, and Professor Lawrence Parsons it was hosted by John Schaefer.
At one point, I was pleasantly surprised to see Bobby McFerrin give this simple, fun, and extremely effective demonstration of the universality of the pentatonic scale. Also, McFerrin made me raise my ear brows and smirk with approval when he gave the following quote:
“Music for me is like a spiritual journey down into the depths of my soul. And I like to think we’re all on a journey into our souls. What’s down there? That’s why I do what I do.”
Below is a clip the demonstration begins around 2:30 min into the clip.
World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.
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