Raiders of the Lost Ark - The Adaptation

There's something in me that is quite glad that this exists...



More on the topic, if you are interested...
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Raiders-Lost-Ark-Shot-Shot-Fanmade-Remake-Getting-Its-Own-Feature-39840.html

The Permanent Endurance of Art - Joseph Conrad

"The artist appeals to that part of our being which...is a gift and not an acquisition...and, therefore, more permanently enduring."

...good stuff.  I especially like thinking about the difference between gift and acquisition, and, how to touch the 'gift' side of the spectrum with art.

"The changing wisdom of successive generations discards ideas, questions facts, demolishes theories. But the artist appeals to that part of our being which is not dependent on wisdom; to that in us which is a gift and not an acquisition--and, therefore, more permanently enduring. He speaks to our capacity for delight and wonder, to the sense of mystery surrounding our lives; to our sense of pity, and beauty, and pain; to the latent feeling of fellowship with all creation--and to the subtle but invincible conviction of solidarity that knits together the loneliness of innumerable hearts, to the solidarity in dreams, in joy, in sorrow, in aspirations, in illusions, in hope, in fear, which binds men to each other, which binds together all humanity--the dead to the living and the living to the unborn." - Joseph Conrad

Disney movie pitch...

"Let's make a children's movie where we get the kids emotionally attached to some puppies.  Then, we steal the puppies from the parents...put them in a situation where a crazy lady wants to kill them and skin them...and, make a coat out of them."

"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!  It will become a classic."

- Possible sales pitch for 101 Dalmatians

Primer - Good Time Travel Movie

Primer is a movie in which I couldn't understand pretty much anything the characters were talking about, they could have been speaking in another language.  I couldn't really understand the chronology of the plot.  Basically, in general, I couldn't understand much of anything that was going on in the movie.  But, I loved it.  And, I keep thinking about it.  If you like short, brain-teaser movies, this is one for you.

And, after you're done, here are info-graphics for you:

Best one:  http://qubitrot.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/primer.png

Also good: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Time_Travel_Method-2.svg

Here's the movie's webpage:  Primer

Here's a blog all about Primer: The Primer Universe

From This Valley - The Civil Wars

From This Valley

Oh the desert dreams of a river
That will run down to the sea
Like my heart longs for an ocean
To wash down over me

Oh won't you take me from this valley
To that mountain high above
Oh I will pray, pray, pray till I see your smiling face
I will pray, pray, pray to the one that I love


Oh the outcast dreams of acceptance
Just to find pure love's embrace
Like an orphan longs for its mother
May you hold me in your grace


Oh won't you take me from this valley
To that mountain high above
Oh I will pray, pray, pray till I see your smiling face
I will pray, pray, pray to the one that I love


Oh the caged bird dreams of a strong wind
That will flow beneath her wings
Like a voice longs for a melody
Oh Jesus, carry me


Oh won't you take me from this valley
To that mountain high above
Oh I will pray, pray, pray till I see your smiling face
I will pray, pray, pray to the one that I love

Want to Go To Mars?

If you want to go to Mars, I have two options for you:

1. Short(er) trip - www.inspirationmars.org

2. Long trip - applicants.mars-one.com

Let me know if you end up going.

On the Overratedness of Being Rational

Here's a paragraph from Stanley Hauerwas defending the irrationality of faith in God.  He's not claiming that Christianity will make sense to everyone.  He's also not claiming that it will always make the world run more smoothly.  He is claiming Christianity is true...and, that there's a bit of arrogance to believing that we can discover on our own power what is right or wrong or true about the world. 

"An ethic claiming to be 'rational' and universally valid for all thinking people everywhere is incipiently demonic because it has no means of explaining why there are still people who disagree with its prescriptions of behavior, except that these people must be 'irrational' and, therefore (since 'rationality' is said to be our most important human characteristic), subhuman."  - Resident Aliens, 101

Favorite Scene from The Cosby Show

To all the 'regular people' reading this blog post,

My favorite episode of The Cosby Show is the very first episode.

The clip below is my favorite scene.

Enjoy...

Bill Hybels - "This is Church"

There is a simple concept (axiom) that I heard from Bill Hybels called "This is church".  I think of often, almost every week.  "This is church" means that you and I don't define what it means to 'do church'...there's an element of trusting that the situations we come into every day are God determining what the "job" actually looks like.  Church life as a pastor (or, a church member) is not simply important projects, lesson planning, etc.  It's the interruptions as well. I think this principle is true for anyone in any career.

I think this link may take you to that chapter in Google books:
http://books.google.com/books?id=hSn4DcOav-MC&pg=PT60&dq=bill+hybels+%22This+is+Church%22+axiom&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FqcGUbm5AorgyQGpx4HYDw&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAA

Here's an older blog post that covers the same principle.  It's short and worth your time...

http://lp.willowcreek.com/WCA-Blog/December-2012/Our-most-valuable-asset-sits-63-feet-ahead

Going to Disney...See you soon...

Alterra > Colectivo? This seems an April Fool's joke

For the Milwaukee reader(s)...

Long Week? ...Use your "rest"

The Pulley
By George Herbert

   When God at first made man,

Having a glass of blessings standing by,

“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.

Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,

   Contract into a span.”

   So strength first made a way;

Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.

When almost all was out, God made a stay,

Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,

   Rest in the bottom lay.

   “For if I should,” said he,

“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,

He would adore my gifts instead of me,

And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;

   So both should losers be.

   “Yet let him keep the rest,

But keep them with repining restlessness;

Let him be rich and weary, that at least,

If goodness lead him not, yet weariness

   May toss him to my breast.”

When God Becomes the Monster...

"If one is oneself one's god, then God himself, the will of God, the power that would destroy one's egocentric system, becomes a monster.

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
     I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
     Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter."

- Joseph Campbell, The Hero With A Thousand Faces

Who has 5 fixed years ahead of them?

"If a man had a fixed five years to live, he could not possibly think at all without intending to make the best use of them all...  Who but a madman can reckon that he has five certain years to come?  ...again if we were to add twenty years to the five...what a small thing this is." - William Law

Seafaring Imagery Part 3 - Shipping Up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys

Not for the faint of heart, two minutes of ridiculous rock-and-roll-ness...

Someone from a YouTube video comment says it well: "This song makes me want to grow a beard, rip off my shirt and bare knuckle box a timberwolf."




Lyrics:

I'm a sailor peg
And I've lost my leg
I've climbed up the top sails
I've lost my leg

I'm shipping up to Boston...repeat alot...to find my wooden leg

Notes: 
In my five minutes of internet research to prepare for this blog post, I discovered:

1. I've been belting out this song at the top of my lungs in the car (aka - minivan) incorrectly for years.  I thought that the initial lyric was "I'm a sailor in pain...".  ...Which I have to say, I sort-of prefer.  Although, I respect Woodie Guthrie (see next point).
2. I had no idea that Woodie Guthrie wrote this fine bit of poetry (per Wikipedia).  That's what the golden age of internet-music / non-liner-notes music gets you...

Seafaring Imagery Part 2 - "The Seafarer"

One of my favorite poems...

The Seafarer
Anonymous
Translated by Margaret Williams
from A Sacrifice of Praise

Full little he thinks     who has life's joy
and dwells in cities     and has few disasters,
proud and wine-flushed,     how I, weary often,
must bide my time     on the brimming stream.
Night-shades darken,     it snows from the north,
frost binds the ground,     hail falls on the earth,
the coldest corn.     For this my heart-thoughts
are knocking now,     for I must set out
on the high streams,     the rolling salt-waves.
Hour by hour     my heart's lust urges
my spirit to go forth,     that far from here
I may seek a land     of strange people.
There is no one so proud     among earth's men,
nor so gifted with goods     nor so bold in youth,
nor so brave in deeds,     with a lord dear to him
that he has not sorrow     in his sea-faring--
too little the Lord     will do for him.
He thinks not of the harp     nor of ring-giving
nor of the joy of a woman,     nor of the world's hope,
nor of ought else save the     roll of the waves;
But ever he feels longing,      who goes on the waters.
The woods have bright blossoms,     the burghs are fair,
plains gleam with loveliness,     the world full of life;
all these urge on     the eager heart
to go journeying,     for the man who thinks
to go afar     on the flood-ways.
And the cuckoo warns     with wailing voice;
summer's guardian sings,     telling the sorrow
bitter in its breast-hoard.     The man who is well off
knows but little     of what they endure
who go in exile     the farthest away.
So my thought wanders     over my heart treasures,
my inner spirit goes     over the sea-flood,
over the whale's home,     wanders away
on the earth's face.     It comes back to me
hungry and greedy;     the lone flier cries,
urges unceasing     the heart to roam
on the whale-way     of the wide waters,
the broad streams.     Thus the joys of the Lord
are hotter within me     than this dead life
passing over the land.     I do not believe
that the wealth of the earth      will stand forever.

Seafaring Imagery Part 1 - When the Ship Comes In (Bob Dylan)

I love imagery of the sea...ships, masts, wooden legs, etc.  Here's one from Bob Dylan, with an accompanying NT Wright video (thanks Rabbit Room).

N.T. Wright Sings Bob Dylan from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

Oh the time will come up
When the winds will stop
And the breeze will cease to be breathin’
Like the stillness in the wind
’Fore the hurricane begins
The hour when the ship comes in

Oh the seas will split
And the ship will hit
And the sands on the shoreline will be shaking
Then the tide will sound
And the wind will pound
And the morning will be breaking

Oh the fishes will laugh
As they swim out of the path
And the seagulls they’ll be smiling
And the rocks on the sand
Will proudly stand
The hour that the ship comes in

And the words that are used
For to get the ship confused
Will not be understood as they’re spoken
For the chains of the sea
Will have busted in the night
And will be buried at the bottom of the ocean

A song will lift
As the mainsail shifts
And the boat drifts on to the shoreline
And the sun will respect
Every face on the deck
The hour that the ship comes in

Then the sands will roll
Out a carpet of gold
For your weary toes to be a-touchin’
And the ship’s wise men
Will remind you once again
That the whole wide world is watchin’

Oh the foes will rise
With the sleep still in their eyes
And they’ll jerk from their beds and think they’re dreamin’
But they’ll pinch themselves and squeal
And know that it’s for real
The hour when the ship comes in

Then they’ll raise their hands
Sayin’ we’ll meet all your demands
But we’ll shout from the bow your days are numbered
And like Pharoah’s tribe
They’ll be drownded in the tide
And like Goliath, they’ll be conquered

3 Short Quotes on Planning

"Plans are nothing, planning is everything." - Dwight Eisenhower

"Plan your work and work your plan." - Anonymous

"I am busy because I am lazy." - Eugene Peterson

(From Going the Distance by Peter Brain)

Quote on Laws & Principles & Temptation from Jane Eyre

"I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad--as I am now.  Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation...They have a worth--so I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane--quite insane: with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster than I can count its throbs." - Charlotte Bronte

(I came across this in the book Unseduced and Unshaken)

What will ruin the church...

"The church's greatest troublemakers are not those outside who oppose, ridicule, and persecute it, but those inside who try to change the gospel." - John Stott