tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764238116173174292024-03-20T20:32:13.365-07:00Everything I Thought I Knew Might Be Wrong...Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-74553220790384948852011-08-29T13:39:00.001-07:002011-08-29T13:39:52.100-07:00MOVEDI have moved my blog to <a href="http://robcarmack.blogspot.com/">robcarmack.blogspot.com</a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-58763370659645304002011-01-27T07:04:00.001-08:002011-01-27T07:04:29.076-08:00Child Sex Trafficking at the Super Bowl<div>Child Sex Trafficking is a major problem at the Super Bowl. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; ">According to the Dallas Police Department children exploited through sex trafficking have an average life expectancy is just <b><i>seven years </i></b>. The average age a child is tricked and trapped in sexual slavery is <b><i>13 years old </i></b>. These children are beaten, brutalized and tortured for the profit and pleasure of others.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; ">Please sign this petition, post this link to your wall, and do anything else in your power to raise awareness of this cruel injustice. People can only do these evil things to children when nobody is watching.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div id="change_BottomBar"><span id="change_Powered"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions" target="_blank">Petitions</a> by Change.org</span><a>|</a><span id="change_Start">Start a <a href="http://www.change.org/petition" target="_blank">Petition</a> »</span></div></div><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://e.change.org/flash_petitions_widget.js?width=300&color=1A3563&petition_id=36821"></script></div><div><br /></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-69139793832772660712010-08-16T09:05:00.001-07:002010-08-16T09:18:00.663-07:00The Baffled Mind<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1owgckFg3xuif184KintXvtLyNlXdjKuccKzKzYCokA6YkJzBT4paWtL5KLQt9ca_OjCAdlUAlhAV6t1ORNKqQP9waDGcJ2tbZ1xf4OqEBhy3QPeC9p9Riv7ei6dNb2dcxEQWM3-N1jU/s1600/contentdf37d0847118b473b0b397918c609b54.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 167px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1owgckFg3xuif184KintXvtLyNlXdjKuccKzKzYCokA6YkJzBT4paWtL5KLQt9ca_OjCAdlUAlhAV6t1ORNKqQP9waDGcJ2tbZ1xf4OqEBhy3QPeC9p9Riv7ei6dNb2dcxEQWM3-N1jU/s200/contentdf37d0847118b473b0b397918c609b54.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506040655981490994" /></a>Alissa Wilkinson posted this on her blog recently, and I thought it was worth sharing. It's a quote from Wendell Berry. I'm sorry I don't know the original source of the quote, but here it is:<br /><br /><i>"It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and that when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings."</i><br /><br />(Note: the picture above is of Wendell Berry, not Alissa Wilkinson)Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-58096064723043807912010-07-19T14:55:00.000-07:002010-07-19T15:48:46.405-07:00Top 5: Christian Albums That Have Aged Well<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LMvkcMomlkSwjwzesr09BRHCAyPZMH4d01Z5lLinKInpL1lNBKba-0y29mLkBhVdoe-nsYzkvj3Dd_QT9nCRAFhanhVbOU6UYl_SRtdWMpZdLt-Ic9mqip-1hXAiS5qThEkBmpX72nAs/s1600/cooltolovejesusman.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LMvkcMomlkSwjwzesr09BRHCAyPZMH4d01Z5lLinKInpL1lNBKba-0y29mLkBhVdoe-nsYzkvj3Dd_QT9nCRAFhanhVbOU6UYl_SRtdWMpZdLt-Ic9mqip-1hXAiS5qThEkBmpX72nAs/s200/cooltolovejesusman.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495749643249680498" /></a>In high school, I was a big fan of Christian music. I was a faithful attender of my church youth group, and I was always up on the new releases of the big Christian artists. I am probably one of the only people to have seen the Newsboys "<a href="http://www.newsboysdeluxe.com/articles/wrapupdome.html">Airdome</a>" tour, not once, but <span style="font-style:italic;">twice</span>. In fact, if you were to name a Christian band that was popular in the late 90's, the odds are excellent that I have seen them live at least once (go ahead, try me).<br /><br />Yes, I am a child of the 90's Christian music movement. However, I have been spending a lot of time sorting through my iTunes library (doing a bit of housekeeping and trimming the fat where it is necessary), and I have found that (no surprise here) not much of that old music has held up. Christian music is not like a fine wine; it does not, as a rule, age well. There was certainly a time in our world that <a href="http://www.lyricsdownload.com/newsboys-breakfast-lyrics.html">songs</a> taunting people in hell by pointing out that they are no longer able to eat breakfast cereal were in high demand, but I think those days may be behind us. In fact, I was once in a conversation with someone who manages a Christian retail store, and they explained to me that most music in their inventory has a fairly short shelf life. It does not take long for a Christian album to go from being a huge hit to becoming fodder for the clearance bin.<br /><br />I have largely found this to be true in my own aging music collection. I have found a great deal of the music that I once loved has become lame, preachy, and cheesy, none of which are qualities I look for when I shop for new music.<br /><br />With all that said, I will acknowledge that there are some definite exceptions to the rule. Some of the music from this phase of my life, I have found, still has some life left in it. Against the odds set by their outdated peer group, there are those albums and artists that have been able to transcend the flash-in-the-pan nature of Christian pop art and have left us with some pretty good music. And now, without further ado, my top 5 Christian albums that still hold up...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnd40Vx5yYyCPcyZ0aC0VHecOAVmTIMJrj_kYLuJ8GWaXJ4FMjISM1q_MxzOZY3W-6tYo5SPJnjSHcHJQF6wYh2XXCku2Tbt7cN8FxmHUmvQO6rMQHsxwdFy00ED16rk8ZcTYqnEk8Pk1/s1600/6119810ae7a03ab24b9ec110.L.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnd40Vx5yYyCPcyZ0aC0VHecOAVmTIMJrj_kYLuJ8GWaXJ4FMjISM1q_MxzOZY3W-6tYo5SPJnjSHcHJQF6wYh2XXCku2Tbt7cN8FxmHUmvQO6rMQHsxwdFy00ED16rk8ZcTYqnEk8Pk1/s200/6119810ae7a03ab24b9ec110.L.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495744218941564450" /></a>5) "Great Lengths" (Artist: PFR)<br />PFR was a great group of musicians. While some of the lyrics from certain albums could certainly be described as "preachy," the music itself holds up. This band currently stands as the only Christian group for whom I'm secretly hoping for another reunion album/tour.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3Gj4Ca38GjI1eQqNptSLAVR1ADdnKzOS9_CdhYIb-SuuV99upXrsWb0Ue-ifSg8-ZdKVfsVEaCl00fJSpkMeNyJXf1O1d4zhhiAyNz_sRfdhsYLH3OnjiyIkTIH-oAaH8KJV0_iqDYse/s1600/0826872001729lrg.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3Gj4Ca38GjI1eQqNptSLAVR1ADdnKzOS9_CdhYIb-SuuV99upXrsWb0Ue-ifSg8-ZdKVfsVEaCl00fJSpkMeNyJXf1O1d4zhhiAyNz_sRfdhsYLH3OnjiyIkTIH-oAaH8KJV0_iqDYse/s200/0826872001729lrg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495745008543429746" /></a>4) "Without Condition" (Artist: Ginny Owens)<br />There are some truly beautiful songs on this album.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81oWqA0m-PcY3crQPXrNfjMkdNKDkg34J0R1Iv7Ytb-PqsoDsP-MLh9W96ZJuTSa3xmEi3R1H9nftD1tGzwBjLHkHDrIfYT-yiVla7ULIPByAR1T_LK82P7IAcVJEbr5tjCLoQDS8llny/s1600/40_Acres.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 196px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81oWqA0m-PcY3crQPXrNfjMkdNKDkg34J0R1Iv7Ytb-PqsoDsP-MLh9W96ZJuTSa3xmEi3R1H9nftD1tGzwBjLHkHDrIfYT-yiVla7ULIPByAR1T_LK82P7IAcVJEbr5tjCLoQDS8llny/s200/40_Acres.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495745872269308146" /></a>3) "40 Acres" (Artist: Caedmon's Call)<br />I'm sure some more devoted Caedmon's Call fans than myself would have something to say about my choice of "40 Acres" as their best album, but it really is. This is where we see the range and diversity of Derek Webb, who continues to make good music. Songs like "Somewhere North," "Table for Two," and "Faith My Eyes," are reason enough to keep this one in the playlist.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPXFOeaG7UC04Ovf4yb3hh0AMoCrMGsuFGicyZR9YW7yTRXvQ__vetNufwOV9M0SNaJA4A2erYtt1HqYGlIn7005XweRtBUvfG1H1bwvhyphenhyphenj-hfqpkdM4QtvKM8HEkmF9ROhFu6BgH9gZv/s1600/jars-self-titled.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPXFOeaG7UC04Ovf4yb3hh0AMoCrMGsuFGicyZR9YW7yTRXvQ__vetNufwOV9M0SNaJA4A2erYtt1HqYGlIn7005XweRtBUvfG1H1bwvhyphenhyphenj-hfqpkdM4QtvKM8HEkmF9ROhFu6BgH9gZv/s200/jars-self-titled.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495746306189234514" /></a>2) Self-Titled Album by Jars of Clay<br />This was probably the biggest album used by Christians to convince themselves that our music could be cool, too. The single, "Flood," received a lot of mainstream radio play, and it was a good representation of 90's alt-rock (in fact, if you look closely at the album cover, you'll even see some long hair and a flannel shirt). This album holds up as well as any other that came from this period in music. Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and Del Amitri had nothing on Jars of Clay.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqF3Z1_uClij9y1zEPaJ_Eze_6ypYnJpBSMEX6tn0Qj2bElxucvRmqtN2jwUUVyxngqt4IXZrpv-gPdsnNJOx22w9Uelb-58T_to97MCQv4ui8razwerUuUg9uvB2WEPt0G__gdt9UaOzm/s1600/kansas.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqF3Z1_uClij9y1zEPaJ_Eze_6ypYnJpBSMEX6tn0Qj2bElxucvRmqtN2jwUUVyxngqt4IXZrpv-gPdsnNJOx22w9Uelb-58T_to97MCQv4ui8razwerUuUg9uvB2WEPt0G__gdt9UaOzm/s200/kansas.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495747788047557490" /></a>1) "Kansas" (Jennifer Knapp)<br />I still listen to Jennifer Knapp. She actually just released a new album, and it's really good. "Kansas" was her first release, and it holds up quite nicely. She has always been a good songwriter, and one listen to "Kansas" will show this to be true.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't want to make a list of the Top 5 albums I needed to purge from my iTunes, but I probably would have called it the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Liberty_Disco">Love Liberty Disco</a> Memorial List.</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-16405730688538100912010-06-29T13:11:00.000-07:002010-06-29T13:13:01.072-07:00"Sunday's Coming"This video has been circulating for a while, but I thought it would be good to post it here.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11501569&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11501569&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/11501569">"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/northpointmedia">North Point Media</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-88564415163105979012010-06-23T08:08:00.000-07:002010-06-23T09:37:14.551-07:00Reading List 2010 (or what's left of it)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowguBJf-l-JwCC0wH8nkn96nKVefaTskA6ERED2tJguRzRhb2YXb9aERiTBjWqwLe8txY3XrSmvoThBRgl4SkbozPlnDH665A-BFYPSLn6iX217gCUrXc41_8Bd35pV3-GZ7rRUqf2L8a/s1600/mpj043952700001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowguBJf-l-JwCC0wH8nkn96nKVefaTskA6ERED2tJguRzRhb2YXb9aERiTBjWqwLe8txY3XrSmvoThBRgl4SkbozPlnDH665A-BFYPSLn6iX217gCUrXc41_8Bd35pV3-GZ7rRUqf2L8a/s200/mpj043952700001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485995340576945218" /></a>I just finished all of my course work for graduate school. I haven't quite graduated yet; that won't happen until December. But I am done with commuting, classes, exams, papers, and group projects. To celebrate, I have compiled a list of books that I have been wanting to read for a while and then, after compiling the list, I had to decide which ones would get read sooner than later. That was tough. Inspired by another blog that I read (Alissa Wilkinson), I've decided to make annual reading lists at the beginning of every year. I like to set goals for myself, and I like to read. So, a beginning-of-the-year reading list is a natural fit for me. I realize that it is not January, but as far as I'm concerned the year is just beginning. I don't have to translate anything from Greek or Hebrew, and I'm no longer hip-deep in documents from the early church fathers. So, for me, this is the beginning. And as such, I have my "Back Nine" Reading list for 2010. Here it is. (Audiobooks are excluded from this list)<br /><br />Nonfiction<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Big Man</span> - Clarence Clemmons and Don Reo<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Intuitive Leadership</span> - Tim Keel<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Tribes</span> - Seth Godin<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Save the Cat</span> - Blake Snyder<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Artist's Way</span> - Julie Cameron<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Understanding Comics</span> - Scott McCloud<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Shop Class as Soulcraft</span> - Matthew Crawford<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Justice</span> - Michael Sandel<br /><br />Essays<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Shakespeare Wrote For Money</span> - Nick Hornby<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Killing Yourself to Live</span> - Chuck Klosterman<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Assassination Vacation</span> - Sarah Vowell<br /><br />Theology<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Secrets in the Dark</span> - Frederick Buechner<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Culture Making</span> - Andy Crouch<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Sacred Way</span> - Tony Jones<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Invitation to the Journey</span> - Robert Mulholland<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">This Beautiful Mess</span> - Rick McKinley<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">In the Beginning</span> - Henry Blocher<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Understanding Genesis</span> - Nahum Sarna<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Fidelity of Betrayal</span> - Peter Rollins<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places</span> - Eugene Peterson<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">After You Believe</span> - N.T. Wright<br /><br />Fiction<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">High Fidelity</span> - Nick Hornby<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay</span> - Michael Chabon<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Glittering Images</span> - Susan Howatch<br /><br />Poetry<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Ballistic</span> - Billy Collins<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Compass of Affection</span> - Scott Cairns<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Primitive Mentor</span> - Dean YoungRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-61196803389007023702010-05-12T08:41:00.000-07:002010-05-12T08:42:21.307-07:00Violence for Jesus?I have no words...<br /><br /><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-may-11-2010/god-smacked'>God Smacked</a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:309140' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/'>Daily Show Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/Tea+Party'>Tea Party</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-23030879652224869702010-04-30T11:36:00.000-07:002010-04-30T12:02:14.748-07:00Music: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjE8PIUQu53owDT93Fb_Ca1NIU_pGvskXvv81Kz8gj8unPS-PP8hgRjQH2U7RlIEtM9GL8lD3ty3rMwvRngfJuVLLxCxiBLUfbJ3Sm-ltv1Cz-do8SfuOOJiOUVVqh8L6Q-mG_G4lGAQu9/s1600/2119_full1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjE8PIUQu53owDT93Fb_Ca1NIU_pGvskXvv81Kz8gj8unPS-PP8hgRjQH2U7RlIEtM9GL8lD3ty3rMwvRngfJuVLLxCxiBLUfbJ3Sm-ltv1Cz-do8SfuOOJiOUVVqh8L6Q-mG_G4lGAQu9/s320/2119_full1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466001961933568242" /></a><br />I love the old Motown style of music. When I am in need of musical revival, I will almost always reach way back into my music collection for a little Stevie Wonder or The Jackson 5 or Sam & Dave or Aretha Franklin or Al Green...etc. So, I was incredibly happy a year or so ago to hear about <a href="http://www.sharonjonesandthedapkings.com/">Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGelrCPexVdBpR-TeeFhNjfr7KqzDx2gzAZQAV5wIh45CXLmpxpcyFjfykPnPFUJ4VmCYIJsWbOFP1VmxOhTpXQ1sKeuPrmutVhH5y0oEkIzugBgIsli8r9y06LsvERUN1LDNS3PaXt1x9/s1600/Sharon_Jones_and_the_Dap-Kings-I_Learned_The_Hard_Way_b.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGelrCPexVdBpR-TeeFhNjfr7KqzDx2gzAZQAV5wIh45CXLmpxpcyFjfykPnPFUJ4VmCYIJsWbOFP1VmxOhTpXQ1sKeuPrmutVhH5y0oEkIzugBgIsli8r9y06LsvERUN1LDNS3PaXt1x9/s200/Sharon_Jones_and_the_Dap-Kings-I_Learned_The_Hard_Way_b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466007761406435378" /></a>In a music industry over-saturated with American Idol winners and runners-up and compressed recordings, you might not expect Sharon Jones and company to make a blip on the radar. First of all, she is 53 years old, which is not a common age for a musical star to arise. Before being a recording artist, Jones worked as an armored car driver for a bank as well as a prison guard at Riker's Island. Without getting into the whole story (which you could probably get either from reading back-issues of Paste Magazine or by visiting her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Jones_(singer)">Wikipedia</a> page), suffice to say that she has been able to quit her day job and make amazing music.<br /><br />As her influences, she cites James Brown, Otis Redding, Tina Turner, and Marva Whitney. Her (and the band's) recording style seeks to bring revival to the funk/soul movement of the late 60's and early 70's. In doing so, they have opted against any modern digital recording methods in the studio. So, their albums have not been digitally compressed or altered. Also, no instrument can be played that was not available into the mid-70's.<br /><br />I had already owned Jones' previous album, <span style="font-style:italic;">100 Days, 100 Nights</span>, and it was good. However, I think they are just hitting their stride with the newest album, <span style="font-style:italic;">I Learned the Hard Way</span>, which just released a few weeks ago. Currently, my two favorite songs on the album are, "The Game Gets Old" and "She Ain't a Child No More." While these are my personal favorite tracks, the whole album is well worth a listen.<br /><br />Here is a video of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings performing "She Ain't a Child No More" on the Colbert Report last week:<br /><br /><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com'>The Colbert Report</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/308063/april-26-2010/sharon-jones---the-dap-kings---she-ain-t-a-child-no-more'>Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - She Ain't a Child No More</a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:308063' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/video/tag/Fox+News'>Fox News</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-79758479501746913922010-04-12T07:50:00.000-07:002010-04-12T09:28:45.271-07:00Television As Art?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkWCxruoLrUVUa5rVgWks1TCCKuAI0Pse5Cqrm2cbn6Z1NuiaRjydIGDxdZjUEHKGyaaLDk7-0yILZPMx7ZN_t9QY7aD95WgjhDfdm3IrZVNh9pl8HEvzc0rMPKjpgLNrfJ0UvWMDI9iz/s1600/television.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkWCxruoLrUVUa5rVgWks1TCCKuAI0Pse5Cqrm2cbn6Z1NuiaRjydIGDxdZjUEHKGyaaLDk7-0yILZPMx7ZN_t9QY7aD95WgjhDfdm3IrZVNh9pl8HEvzc0rMPKjpgLNrfJ0UvWMDI9iz/s200/television.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459285348167763090" /></a>"In my house, we don't watch television," the man says with pride as he scans the room looking for reactions from our classmates. He is a middle-aged pastor who has decided to return to school for his Master's degree. He is obviously quite proud of his anti-television position.<br /><br />"You don't own a TV?" I ask.<br /><br />"No," he corrects me. "We own one, but we don't watch it much. There's nothing on television but garbage." He looks at our professor for validation, but the instructor's body language gives him none. Interestingly, the class discussion revolves around cultural relevance and how Christians would be better served to be more culturally aware. I'm not sure why this is the moment this gentleman has decided to reveal his hostility towards in-home entertainment, but it is.<br /><br />One of my other classmates asks, "So, why do you own a TV if you don't use it?"<br /><br />"Well," he replies, "I like to watch the news."<br /><br />Fair enough.<br /><br />This gets me thinking. I've heard this accusation quite a bit. The idea that TV is nothing but garbage or a waste of time is something I hear articulated by people who feel superior to those of us who never miss our weekly programs.<br /><br />I will admit it. I'm a TV watcher. Some may even call me an addict. A few years ago, I gave up television for Lent, and it was the most difficult fast I have ever attempted. When I was a kid, if my dad wanted to really get my attention he would ground me from watching TV. This was my Achilles Heel. In some ways, it still is. I am a man who loves his stories.<br /><br />But let's return to the original question. Is TV really without value? Is it, as my classmate suggests, "all garbage"? Does it really offer nothing but distraction and opportunity for laziness?<br /><br />I would argue that TV is none of these things. Not as an absolute rule, at least. Like music, theater, literature, photography, painting, and filmmaking, television is an artistic medium. It is a venue in which art is presented, critiqued, and accepted or rejected by the general public.<br /><br />I won't go so far as to say all television is good art. In fact, most of it is probably not. But there is no medium in the world in which bad art does not exist. For every Vincent Van Gogh, there is some hack with a paintbrush who only traces bowls of fruit. For every WIlliam Shakespeare or Tennessee Williams, there is a playwright who is going for the cheap laugh. For every John Lennon, there is a Britney Spears. For every Alfred Hitchcock, there is a Steven Seagal.<br /><br />The same is true with television. Obviously, there are some TV shows for which there is no artistic defense. There are those programs that thrive on the exploitation of human weakness and bad behavior. There are shows that are designed to test people to see if they will cheat on their spouses. There are shows that are designed to do nothing but please focus groups and test audiences. There are shows that are exact replicas of a half-dozen other shows that we have seen before. There are shows that, without cliches and predictable plot points, they would not possibly be able to exist.<br /><br />However, there are TV shows that reveal the artistic potential of television. There are programs that invite us to see the world from multiple points of view, that offer intelligent social commentary on our culture, and that tell compelling and interesting stories.<br /><br />I wanted to share the Top 5 TV Shows I Would Consider "Good Art"...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPS5EnKoxdAHSNgcqKZUDWV7-ZGIOUUdh2mFGXQSWU2soNAaDXOU8N38LVTsGfmHMsEBgB4LH6UK_17D6szMifTi1x_I_hpJK0pc-UJdIzNWUww5394IP2F-hIv99vheovC7eDwg450LR/s1600/TheSimpsons.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPS5EnKoxdAHSNgcqKZUDWV7-ZGIOUUdh2mFGXQSWU2soNAaDXOU8N38LVTsGfmHMsEBgB4LH6UK_17D6szMifTi1x_I_hpJK0pc-UJdIzNWUww5394IP2F-hIv99vheovC7eDwg450LR/s200/TheSimpsons.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459285571586775618" /></a>5. <span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Simpsons</span></span><br /><br />In college, I had a professor who claimed that <span style="font-style:italic;">The Simpsons</span> was the most intelligent and socially aware show on television. I once heard comedy writer Dana Gould in a radio interview state that if you want to gain respect in the comedy world, you need to go work as a writer on <span style="font-style:italic;">The Simpsons</span>. In its 20-plus years on the air, this show has employed more Ivy League graduates than you may think likely. I realize that this is a show that has drawn a great deal of controversy (especially in its earliest seasons) because it was a cartoon that was not for kids. However, if one were to truly watch this show, particularly the first ten seasons (admittedly, I have stopped watching in the past few seasons), you would find a highly informed and intelligent commentary on social trends, subcultures, and pop culture. There have been many books about philosophy and religion as depicted on <span style="font-style:italic;">The Simpsons</span>. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a show that revolves around bathroom humor and cheap laughter (although those things are certainly present), but this is a show that sharply reveals perspective and confronts absurdity all through our culture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLNj0K7WWQjssa_kYxbXVk2M0sHcfMGDp-3rKVFng4Aj2FGJ48-dVkxX4-R5VbvoThkffia9klS23BDtoxBHvlB5KqhQ4DIYtPJ1ptgGSC7LwqDnWGH0qYFUT_X-t0_1I6j1mvd7IsTMN/s1600/lost-image.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLNj0K7WWQjssa_kYxbXVk2M0sHcfMGDp-3rKVFng4Aj2FGJ48-dVkxX4-R5VbvoThkffia9klS23BDtoxBHvlB5KqhQ4DIYtPJ1ptgGSC7LwqDnWGH0qYFUT_X-t0_1I6j1mvd7IsTMN/s200/lost-image.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459285929416177170" /></a>4. <span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lost</span></span><br /><br />This is storytelling at its finest. I know a lot of people who have given up on <span style="font-style:italic;">Lost</span>, claiming that it is too complicated and confusing. I will admit that it is those things, but is one of the most well thought-out exhibits of narrative I have ever seen. There is intricate symbolism as well as multiple layers that exist in every episode. It is completely original, and it is in no way predictable. I am a movie lover, but I am hard-pressed to think of very many movies that have challenged viewers as much as <span style="font-style:italic;">Lost</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BTWHo68geH8MuyNY4hx4Ndo_jz946c-GNbQGDDCwbPuT25B5-5bDkZ426TSSzHQnRDWFkhsR0-o-VbMlpR7999jzhlxLZ5hNxDyq-GcS18ZjaH6xVUZJoxI6ONy-ZFVAcf8eqt3ITHOn/s1600/west_wing_cast.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BTWHo68geH8MuyNY4hx4Ndo_jz946c-GNbQGDDCwbPuT25B5-5bDkZ426TSSzHQnRDWFkhsR0-o-VbMlpR7999jzhlxLZ5hNxDyq-GcS18ZjaH6xVUZJoxI6ONy-ZFVAcf8eqt3ITHOn/s200/west_wing_cast.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459288206402793538" /></a>3. <span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">The West Wing</span></span> (Seasons 1-4)<br /><br />I can't answer for the final few seasons of this show, but the first four years, almost every episode was touched by writer Aaron Sorkin. He has written several other works, and probably his most well-known film was an adaptation of a play he wrote. Perhaps you saw it. It was called <span style="font-style:italic;">A Few Good Men</span>. Nobody writes smart dialogue like Aaron Sorkin. Under his leadership, <span style="font-style:italic;">The West Wing</span> sought to raise questions in the public forum about issues such as capital punishment, terrorism, women in leadership, social justice, education, and foreign aid. Not to mention that the characters were rich with depth and humanity. I have watched my DVDs of the first few seasons of this show several times, and it never gets old.<br /><br />(Also, if you want to see more of Sorkin's writing, check out <span style="font-style:italic;">Sports Night, Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip,</span>and the Tom Hanks film, <span style="font-style:italic;">Charlie Wilson's War</span>.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bL5CV7mcILKqEIAkOI2znutBV8t06w3nMhvA-Z5ij01_FKuxAzSGshH8Cn36wVM3Yvp4ZMMekF3nLlcZb8kDBRsgJ3z31aT3vuIQ6FSJlZawJLucbA8YBM8IMCqGdkSLtAcOCex8cmYN/s1600/6a00d8341dc73753ef00e54f7851d18834-800wi.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bL5CV7mcILKqEIAkOI2znutBV8t06w3nMhvA-Z5ij01_FKuxAzSGshH8Cn36wVM3Yvp4ZMMekF3nLlcZb8kDBRsgJ3z31aT3vuIQ6FSJlZawJLucbA8YBM8IMCqGdkSLtAcOCex8cmYN/s200/6a00d8341dc73753ef00e54f7851d18834-800wi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459288505370828562" /></a>2. <span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Wire</span></span><br /><br />I have written elsewhere about David Simon and Ed Burns' masterpiece, but I cannot say enough about <span style="font-style:italic;">The Wire</span>. Pulling no punches and sparing nobody's feelings, The Wire revealed the hopelessness of life in inner-city Baltimore as well as the deadly grip of drug addiction on those who suffer under the tyranny of poverty. Each season confronts a different social issue, ranging from how inner-city kids are helplessly drawn to gang life to how the public perception of the status quo is manipulated through the press. Not only was The Wire the most thought-provoking show I have ever seen, it was one of the most well-written. Among the staff writers were crime novelists Dennis Lehane, George Pelecanos, and Richard Price.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfuoiNc54YXF3bLfVXIlt6iIOSp3BZARqJPxNEfNqQ4NBUnq2kiCcyM4djMA8mgQocGBvcBnUe2YhWnyrURTqX1z-iXTT3NJCgCtSCjQ1GAJhO9CqRjI-xrlnLnO1dcFxrjGoN_tG7Z5q/s1600/sesame_street.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 141px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfuoiNc54YXF3bLfVXIlt6iIOSp3BZARqJPxNEfNqQ4NBUnq2kiCcyM4djMA8mgQocGBvcBnUe2YhWnyrURTqX1z-iXTT3NJCgCtSCjQ1GAJhO9CqRjI-xrlnLnO1dcFxrjGoN_tG7Z5q/s200/sesame_street.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459288672330339970" /></a>1. <span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sesame Street</span></span><br /><br />Not only is it educational, it's brilliant. I can't say what it has been like lately, but when I was growing up, nothing was better than <span style="font-style:italic;">Sesame Street</span>. I have seen a lot of the programming on television that is designed for children, and it is often written for the lowest common denominator. Many shows depend on nothing more than loud noises and silly facial expressions to entertain children. <span style="font-style:italic;">Sesame Street</span> (in my experience) would not reduce itself to such amateur antics. I have ordered DVDs of the earliest seasons of the show, and I cannot wait to share them with my son.<br /><br /><br />*Honorable mentions: Friday Night Lights, Seinfeld, The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live, Charlie and Lola, Oz, Arrested Development, Mad Men, The Cosby Show, The Office<br /><br />I'm sure people can think of shows that I have left out. If so, please feel free to post about it in the comments section.<br /><br />This blog post was brought to you by the letter "T".Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-8460550902499159592010-04-05T12:37:00.000-07:002010-04-05T12:42:48.892-07:00Resurrection: Rob BellWhen I heard that Rob Bell was going to be shifting from the Nooma format of short films into something else, I wondered what that could possibly be. This just goes to show that this is a man who thinks and creates on another level than I do.<br /><br />More than anyone else alive today, Rob Bell gives me hope for the future of the church and the followers of Jesus. This is the kind of thing that makes me excited to see what's next.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wjXYlwvS5LY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wjXYlwvS5LY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />*If the video won't fit in the browser, click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjXYlwvS5LY">here</a> to watch it at YouTube.Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-50239118213644365882010-03-30T12:43:00.001-07:002010-03-30T13:01:25.455-07:00A Well-Written Life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoc3_Saf2YtpN36CL2urSjgo1L4KC-4WPE7t-Zz1FL1ssAnxaqyyhukzqQ4v6_5WW3UUnqTthWtdRUNC8Cp5HZOs4p12xqiBF3nMwHWsBCB6BW0Yr8EC43SQhnIt0tNwjk9Pd51sAzr5R/s1600/the_brothers_bloom-poster.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoc3_Saf2YtpN36CL2urSjgo1L4KC-4WPE7t-Zz1FL1ssAnxaqyyhukzqQ4v6_5WW3UUnqTthWtdRUNC8Cp5HZOs4p12xqiBF3nMwHWsBCB6BW0Yr8EC43SQhnIt0tNwjk9Pd51sAzr5R/s200/the_brothers_bloom-poster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454519131742441490" /></a>Don't you love it when two pieces of media that you have recently consumed intersect with one another? Several months ago, I read Donald Miller's newest book, <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Miles-Thousand-Years-Learned/dp/0785213066/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269978418&sr=8-1">A Million Miles in a Thousand Years</a></span>, which unpacks and explores the idea that all of us are living within a grand narrative and that our calling is to live a truly great story.<br /><br />Last week, Caroline and I watched a movie called <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844286/">The Brothers Bloom</a></span>. The film is about two brothers who are lifelong con artists. Toward the beginning of the film, one of the brothers (Bloom, played by Adrian Brody) tells the other brother (Stephen, played by Mark Ruffalo) that he does not want to be a con artist anymore. It's a pretty typical scene in which one one character asserts that he wants out and the other character coaxes him to join him for just "one more job." Despite the fact that I have witnessed scenes like this one in several other films, the writer (Rian Johnson) keeps it interesting with truly good dialogue. At one point, Bloom says something quite profound. He tells his brother that he wants to live an "unwritten life," which is to say he doesn't want to live as a character in one of their cons anymore. The story becomes a journey in which Bloom wrestles with this notion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhaOVCtV3qMBhasJVDfYF64HONontAqm201sI1yjQIG8NNj85qR7qjYJ5I2iQ9z_-7Cj1bHRCAvcE_zqCbEyOODIP-WCQPWugWAIvZ2eTSnR8jLbTTo3caTwvJbULICbAoQi0GrTSSyu7/s1600/a-million-miles-in-a-thousand-years1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhaOVCtV3qMBhasJVDfYF64HONontAqm201sI1yjQIG8NNj85qR7qjYJ5I2iQ9z_-7Cj1bHRCAvcE_zqCbEyOODIP-WCQPWugWAIvZ2eTSnR8jLbTTo3caTwvJbULICbAoQi0GrTSSyu7/s200/a-million-miles-in-a-thousand-years1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454519428849390290" /></a>I recently listened to an interview with Rian Johson, and he talked about this piece of dialogue. He pointed out that Bloom desires something that is incorrect. None of us truly live an unwritten life. The true quest of his character was not for his life to be unwritten; it was for his life to be written <span style="font-style:italic;">better</span>. This is also the point of Miller's book. We are seeking to live a life that is well-written.<br /><br />The reason we respond so well to stories (movies, TV shows, books, etc.), is because this is how we filter all of our experiences. We live our lives and we retell our memories to ourselves in a narrative form. We don't think of our lives as a series of random events (at least most of us don't), we see them as a series of stories and, ultimately, one large story.<br /><br />To be a follower of Jesus is not only to see our lives as stories with meaning, but also to see them as part of a greater story--God's story.<br /><br />So the question remains, <span style="font-style:italic;">Who is writing my life?</span> It will not go unwritten, but it may very be poorly written. What does it mean to live a life that is truly well-written?Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-29135547574889989362010-03-24T08:22:00.000-07:002010-03-24T09:52:33.385-07:00Reading With Your Ears<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJe_5CyIwh5bP5BGDXixCa4oXIeX88ck6wFlU2XCtKDek3vRG_pmbZjecxvFHhZ6_vr1kjim1uTLNV8CQxFBraLVxtcerppIgziY4BolbB9rPLMWpQ0XmsRjA-HunYqU9egv-3c67XXAx/s1600/expensive-headphones.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJe_5CyIwh5bP5BGDXixCa4oXIeX88ck6wFlU2XCtKDek3vRG_pmbZjecxvFHhZ6_vr1kjim1uTLNV8CQxFBraLVxtcerppIgziY4BolbB9rPLMWpQ0XmsRjA-HunYqU9egv-3c67XXAx/s200/expensive-headphones.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452241361619234258" /></a>For the past five years, I have been gradually working toward my Master's Degree at Baylor University. The reason it has taken so long is that I live north of Fort Worth, and every time I need to go to class it takes a minimum of two hours to get there and another two hours to get back. In that amount of time, my listening tastes have gradually evolved. At first, I listened exclusively to music. After exhausting all of my music radio stations and iTunes playlists, I switched over to talk radio. This was alright for a while, but I grew tired of hearing the same voices every morning. Then, a year ago, I discovered the very best in non-visual entertainment: Audiobooks. I resisted this trend for a while, because I am a purist when it comes to books. I like to hold a book with all of its papery goodness. However, I have given in, and it has made my commute quite the positive experience.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSdBoztqitpCxtYlcPQlXin2-GS5ztsiAOmirCTJOwqhhJAWyS6GgSeyGsIfTFBXkNVDZzru3g4dCcSrQiov3lfw9Y292ey8Bn6XfKMTD1SJQSlkMF11cVQ07lJwXUhMqrs8WQ0vVctJw/s1600/given_day.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSdBoztqitpCxtYlcPQlXin2-GS5ztsiAOmirCTJOwqhhJAWyS6GgSeyGsIfTFBXkNVDZzru3g4dCcSrQiov3lfw9Y292ey8Bn6XfKMTD1SJQSlkMF11cVQ07lJwXUhMqrs8WQ0vVctJw/s200/given_day.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452243681015851794" /></a>Recently, I listened to a great book by Dennis Lehane (he also wrote <span style="font-style:italic;">Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, and Shutter Island</span>). It was called <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/products/ProductDetail.jsp?productID=BK_HARP_001761&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes">The Given Day</a></span>, and it is a novel that takes place during and around the Boston Police Strike of 1919. I highly recommend it.<br /><br />I have gotten into this type of listening because of a service called <a href="http://www.audible.com">Audible.com</a>. If you are at all interested in audiobooks, this is the best service out there. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuJqWYrt7VxJKikBqZvx8bc077n9J5jvGjdeSA3FXOhT62PbFcuXeIpBl6cO-hKI_nCc26Rj3Wi6qIFmPvOZ6EMrvnLBW987DUpWTiRORpNsftXT9gZxNUOQlqXAMaEtGkNYz1mUtbgGd/s1600/Book_HighFidelity.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 122px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuJqWYrt7VxJKikBqZvx8bc077n9J5jvGjdeSA3FXOhT62PbFcuXeIpBl6cO-hKI_nCc26Rj3Wi6qIFmPvOZ6EMrvnLBW987DUpWTiRORpNsftXT9gZxNUOQlqXAMaEtGkNYz1mUtbgGd/s200/Book_HighFidelity.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452244225535283282" /></a>Another new discovery is that I can use my iPhone as a Kindle! This is another medium that I had resisted until recently because of my staunch traditionalism about books. I like the feeling of paper in my hands as I read. In spite of my Fallwellian fundamentalism toward all things literary, I have been won over to the digital book. I am currently reading Nick Hornby's <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/High-Fidelity-Novel-Nick-Hornby/dp/1594481784/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269449193&sr=8-2">High Fidelity</a></span> on my phone/Kindle, and it's pretty stinking cool (although it does make my eyes hurt a little if I read for too long).<br /><br />Anyway, I suppose I'm saying all this to say that it has been quite a liberating experience to overcome my preconceived ideas and prejudices toward various mediums of reading. My fears and trepidation were doing nothing but paralyzing me from experiencing all there was to be experienced. I have found that I have never gained anything from being closed-minded.Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-79413669203197721142010-03-19T07:56:00.000-07:002010-03-19T08:07:44.851-07:00Responding to Glenn Beck, part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa96qLImVYSVEE5Fze-kikclbUVePkIqPCuycJADRxbMZfMtpNFsLUspq3mjWhsb_ClDTxAztY0qfaQF4pJK08_PpTAjm3HrJADeTfFJkCEMCPH2dglD3cyIA1ZFIgCTQxhBQTqUXU6Qj/s1600-h/donald.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa96qLImVYSVEE5Fze-kikclbUVePkIqPCuycJADRxbMZfMtpNFsLUspq3mjWhsb_ClDTxAztY0qfaQF4pJK08_PpTAjm3HrJADeTfFJkCEMCPH2dglD3cyIA1ZFIgCTQxhBQTqUXU6Qj/s200/donald.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450361659448255794" /></a>Well, he's done it again. Not Glenn Beck. Donald Miller. He's one of my favorite writers, and he always seems to know what to say and when to say it. He had a perfect response to Pat Robertson's comments on Haiti, and now he has aptly responded to Glenn Beck. If this has been a controversy that has interested you at all, you should absolutely go read Miller's latest blog post entitled, <a href="http://donmilleris.com/">"Jim Wallis Loves His Enemies."</a> As always, when everyone else wants to respond with hate and rage, Miller offers thoughtful grace and empathy.<br /><br />Also, just for fun, here's a video of Stephen Cobert's response:<br /><br /><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com'>The Colbert Report</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/267673/march-18-2010/glenn-beck-attacks-social-justice---james-martin'>Glenn Beck Attacks Social Justice - James Martin</a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:267673' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/267153/march-11-2010/the-colbert-repoll---scott-rasmussen'>Health Care reform</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-55010251069340641682010-03-17T04:25:00.000-07:002010-03-17T04:49:09.014-07:00Are There Churches That AREN'T Preaching Social Justice?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXerQGH767hP0Ph8YTmZNJRW1VdpfTLuHGlD4DuqdGKfCcgd3qnFE2LxSRq4Df38fDUKA2FBvHbp8sR53LRw8UW-iE9Ul8TC7ENPF8s7mcHOirwfRoLtoU6XPQXpXIXTZ3PCS_BFAsajad/s1600-h/angelina_and_baby.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXerQGH767hP0Ph8YTmZNJRW1VdpfTLuHGlD4DuqdGKfCcgd3qnFE2LxSRq4Df38fDUKA2FBvHbp8sR53LRw8UW-iE9Ul8TC7ENPF8s7mcHOirwfRoLtoU6XPQXpXIXTZ3PCS_BFAsajad/s200/angelina_and_baby.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449568205074145042" /></a>So, last week Glenn Beck instructed churchgoers who watch his show to leave their churches if they are hearing messages about social justice. Social justice is, of course, what church leaders call the broad scope of discussion in which preachers talk about the importance of caring for the poor, the sick, the orphan, the widow, and the foreigner (I'm not quite sure, but I think I may have read that somewhere before...). So, of course, it has the word "social" in it, so Beck probably thinks we church leaders are secretly advocating a Marxist takeover when we are simply pretending to care about people who are hungry. I wonder if Glenn will close his Twitter account because it is a "social" networking site, just like the kind Hitler used.<br /><br />I realize this is a topic that has been tirelessly blogged and commented over. I also realize that anyone who knows me or even reads this blog will have no doubt about where I stand on this issue. However, the best response I have read so far has not come from any theologian or church leader. Interestingly enough, it comes from a film critic. The great Roger Ebert wrote on his blog about this, and I thought it was worth sharing. I hope you'll visit the link below and enjoy Ebert's commentary as much as I did.<br /><br />The title of his post? "<a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/03/jesus_was_a_nazi_and_sos_your.html#more">Jesus Was a Nazi. So's Your Preacher</a>."<br /><br />In the meantime, if you're in the mood for some good old fashioned, Nazi/Communist/Socialist activity, go visit some of these great organizations:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ijm.org/">International Justice Mission<br /></a><a href="http://www.wateraid.org/">WaterAid</a><br /><a href="http://www.ntfb.org/">North Texas Food Bank<br /></a><a href="http://">Mission Arlington</a><br /><a href="http://www.savedarfur.org/">Save Darfur</a><br /><a href="http://www.toms.com">Toms Shoes</a><br /><a href="http://www.freethechildren.com/">Free The Children</a><br /><br />And don't forget. If you ever start to feel compassion towards other human beings, seek help immediately. That's your inner socialist demon trying to get control over you. It will probably pass eventually. Just tune in to Glenn's show, and it will all fade away.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1qLZCUiAxTK0LF7f_DxcIJX6jVRnCUhFjc6GOJFMQiB9sj6y9-V3psX1ItOJGU3mxXVTsL7TYnJUwg1NPKgSSs4tXMoJlnk_mVe95hanJIEBUjtOBeWLCEL1-g632Up9nfcyfHMB9ye6/s1600-h/not-for-sale.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1qLZCUiAxTK0LF7f_DxcIJX6jVRnCUhFjc6GOJFMQiB9sj6y9-V3psX1ItOJGU3mxXVTsL7TYnJUwg1NPKgSSs4tXMoJlnk_mVe95hanJIEBUjtOBeWLCEL1-g632Up9nfcyfHMB9ye6/s320/not-for-sale.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449568352492433346" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-60532146150392614252010-01-26T07:43:00.000-08:002010-01-26T07:57:17.014-08:00Fatherhood for Amateurs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVPfcDG8uQG8sxFwwHw_dWuEmPN0Yz1TRobKbYwatk4dubg4q0I44KVHh8wCIJnI81ZmPgWaPMiOetMqXUkAmbfUQ8_ECYIp328JxY6K3Loz3PE1oV0aXXsP1D_zsgD6KStexD8pFFCMD/s1600-h/97815546820581.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVPfcDG8uQG8sxFwwHw_dWuEmPN0Yz1TRobKbYwatk4dubg4q0I44KVHh8wCIJnI81ZmPgWaPMiOetMqXUkAmbfUQ8_ECYIp328JxY6K3Loz3PE1oV0aXXsP1D_zsgD6KStexD8pFFCMD/s200/97815546820581.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431075159179342882" /></a>I recently started reading a book called <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Manhood-Amateurs-Pleasures-Regrets-Husband/dp/0061490180/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264520742&sr=8-1">Manhood for Amateurs</a></span> by Michael Chabon (who has become one of my favorite writers). This is a book of essays in which Chabon reflects on his experiences in the various capacities in which we exist as men (sons, husbands, fathers). <br /><br />In the very first essay, he recalls an encounter at the supermarket. He is holding his small child in the checkout line when a random stranger addresses him and says, "You're a good father. I can tell." Chabon reveals that, in that very moment, he was not doing anything spectacular. In point of fact, he was literally doing nothing at all. He was simply holding his child. He points out that nobody would ever approach a mother under these circumstances and say, "I can tell you're a good mom." The standards for being a good mom are much higher than the standards for being a good dad.<br /><br />He points out that the good and bad news for fathers is that the bar has been set embarrassingly low. You simply have to avoid physically abusing your child in public, and you very well may be approached by strangers to be commended on your outstanding performance as a paternal figure.<br /><br />The sad truth is that Chabon is completely correct. We have come to expect so little from fathers that a man could literally be doing nothing and still be praised as a good parent.<br /><br />So, here is my question for you. What do you think makes someone a genuinely good father? I acknowledge that this is a question that has been the subject of countless books, seminars, workshops, sermon series, and movies-of-the-week, and we could never, in a blog post, encapsulate the width and breadth of this topic. However, I want to try. I want to know how people perceive their own fathers and how that has influenced their perspective on good dads. What would a father have to do in order to raise the bar (or at least pick it up off the floor) for the rest of us?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOpq8ZZA8aYmNO2kMipFzFfKF-L1i9qBDtEiWaxOW0ICUqeJNztd69_MLa0-RUGtXUhMbsl7vrKKITtYM6FXag0jIJjuA3wKQ1hhmXHSmzmCGwdDgtAyHS4exKYNd87aVbSattd77tK8N/s1600-h/dragon.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOpq8ZZA8aYmNO2kMipFzFfKF-L1i9qBDtEiWaxOW0ICUqeJNztd69_MLa0-RUGtXUhMbsl7vrKKITtYM6FXag0jIJjuA3wKQ1hhmXHSmzmCGwdDgtAyHS4exKYNd87aVbSattd77tK8N/s200/dragon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431077997923883026" /><br /><br /></a>Another great book that explores this topic is Donald Miller's <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Own-Dragon-Reflections-Growing-Without/dp/B002PJ4P1O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264521330&sr=1-1">To Own a Dragon</a></span>.Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-90667554003609516562010-01-16T12:31:00.001-08:002010-01-16T12:34:17.028-08:00The Daily Show's Response to Various Responses to Haiti<table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-14-2010/haiti-earthquake-reactions'>Haiti Earthquake Reactions</a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:261842' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-69288769586835529062009-12-26T12:18:00.000-08:002009-12-26T13:13:35.362-08:00Top 5 of 2009My Top 5 Movies of 2009:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeu2cXfgh_euFa7KYMOpzdlrjW2MXa-VyexCWt49bBqwvhfeGCRzS4OzV-XPZz4MzrxPeEqZvNJW9tUhYRgJlQNG4WEYtHBVToYupjSOMPkp4xQYhBeo1RrCFJreXJRZdZZwTwY3xZH7N/s1600-h/inglorious_basterds_empire1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeu2cXfgh_euFa7KYMOpzdlrjW2MXa-VyexCWt49bBqwvhfeGCRzS4OzV-XPZz4MzrxPeEqZvNJW9tUhYRgJlQNG4WEYtHBVToYupjSOMPkp4xQYhBeo1RrCFJreXJRZdZZwTwY3xZH7N/s320/inglorious_basterds_empire1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419642659677698482" /></a>5. Inglorious Basterds<br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1TIkky5HgnEJ-ayy4NYL3Z7nF0fEVzlM0RezHzlU2IpZrqihR9IWsZ8ul-ByWPN3XjL0K1yBims_-kvm7q-2zkIq4-9gKoSR8xZObSCbqsYjMo155gyTjnr2ex7y_7_6w6znFu_LFpYC/s1600-h/hurt_locker_ver3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1TIkky5HgnEJ-ayy4NYL3Z7nF0fEVzlM0RezHzlU2IpZrqihR9IWsZ8ul-ByWPN3XjL0K1yBims_-kvm7q-2zkIq4-9gKoSR8xZObSCbqsYjMo155gyTjnr2ex7y_7_6w6znFu_LFpYC/s320/hurt_locker_ver3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419644286302728850" /></a>4. The Hurt Locker<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7ZFBtNHf2ZtNZej6nWy_jp2sx8Sz3sQVxS01mjOCiYjQNfbIVNKBVw9waG2u1VGj84m9TbwmaPFWLDkFUMGqNpe6Fhll5t_8cjoS2I_TLerbekjaW-0BTlMdjjW24u0gwRonK6JZKFaP/s1600-h/up-poster.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7ZFBtNHf2ZtNZej6nWy_jp2sx8Sz3sQVxS01mjOCiYjQNfbIVNKBVw9waG2u1VGj84m9TbwmaPFWLDkFUMGqNpe6Fhll5t_8cjoS2I_TLerbekjaW-0BTlMdjjW24u0gwRonK6JZKFaP/s320/up-poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419643141070848050" /></a>3. Up</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCwG63CdlGZgaiD8sqMfTLkzgv1Y-aBDDIEMoUoKPmSIgkfOJRxW3IgDZ6R0I0ybOo5NTUv2weWTZYE3OQ5uMSTWOoFRs4E9ovdly9jclMm2nsL5XJPWwkm3tmsnMJqVY6PoDddX8YHeD/s1600-h/500DaysPoster.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 207px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCwG63CdlGZgaiD8sqMfTLkzgv1Y-aBDDIEMoUoKPmSIgkfOJRxW3IgDZ6R0I0ybOo5NTUv2weWTZYE3OQ5uMSTWOoFRs4E9ovdly9jclMm2nsL5XJPWwkm3tmsnMJqVY6PoDddX8YHeD/s320/500DaysPoster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419644592778788178" /></a><br /></div><div>2. (500) Days of Summer</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3-n5rPJJm6caoLFXA5cADao7wPUQdS-VxaVkNHGsBuRPASkfM8ngPDx_hG_DuOII5YoQtXOelCPICMIiPTBX_ReXkWJftideOCDkqp_noJMkt-xBI6ocMzoMH9fh7rJgad7A9gXHZOk7/s1600-h/up_in_the_air.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3-n5rPJJm6caoLFXA5cADao7wPUQdS-VxaVkNHGsBuRPASkfM8ngPDx_hG_DuOII5YoQtXOelCPICMIiPTBX_ReXkWJftideOCDkqp_noJMkt-xBI6ocMzoMH9fh7rJgad7A9gXHZOk7/s320/up_in_the_air.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419643912928131938" /></a><br /></div><div>1. Up in the Air</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br />My Bottom 4 Movies of 2009 (I only saw 4 movies that I hated this year)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfZXuhBfxm5c094NiuZhidxEIf9SXmlzaFaX1hl2IMUPbqGLuenaGQCuaUWeN8ro2y3X28pDLjZoPwVL0uNtYfnjL0f6VRPJ_vBCHBO1BQXshAzsydn6gCxpw6OZEe9mcs85_ZDkgOd9Y/s1600-h/terminator-salvation-poster-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfZXuhBfxm5c094NiuZhidxEIf9SXmlzaFaX1hl2IMUPbqGLuenaGQCuaUWeN8ro2y3X28pDLjZoPwVL0uNtYfnjL0f6VRPJ_vBCHBO1BQXshAzsydn6gCxpw6OZEe9mcs85_ZDkgOd9Y/s200/terminator-salvation-poster-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419645587992036210" /></a><br /><div>4. Terminator: Salvation<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfQz-5r7lK5ZRhyphenhyphen_UqCTBL05mtMAnqOVguWb8K0B_Itq0l6cHWv5ZWVGLnNlFMFa48TTl6XF7hX5tH3OksUJsj7kK3sgD9p-pe83Zu1FXtOEgWxm_5lq2gDSFRl42vIGmUMiDKRe636o2/s1600-h/ghosts_of_girlfriends_past.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfQz-5r7lK5ZRhyphenhyphen_UqCTBL05mtMAnqOVguWb8K0B_Itq0l6cHWv5ZWVGLnNlFMFa48TTl6XF7hX5tH3OksUJsj7kK3sgD9p-pe83Zu1FXtOEgWxm_5lq2gDSFRl42vIGmUMiDKRe636o2/s200/ghosts_of_girlfriends_past.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419645813120035202" /></a><br /></div><div>3. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mJkzgTTxuVUHETFE9wnQsbPc_X9oROwJM5miikrnjJOwlRK2K0YkHC0yTrqhztmSeXOM7FxVSDSbai_F6rSiRzkucIOZIMfYxcAfQ8pn9sl8xKQYERjsd1fY_RUCOCLz3YPMJhwJG3ja/s1600-h/1242470298_x-men_origins_wolverine_poster_01.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 141px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mJkzgTTxuVUHETFE9wnQsbPc_X9oROwJM5miikrnjJOwlRK2K0YkHC0yTrqhztmSeXOM7FxVSDSbai_F6rSiRzkucIOZIMfYxcAfQ8pn9sl8xKQYERjsd1fY_RUCOCLz3YPMJhwJG3ja/s200/1242470298_x-men_origins_wolverine_poster_01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419646094977157778" /></a><br /></div><div>2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97sEA0i6tpfy79375lALqrb5axioftVQEZcGVNTS5wDlh_EPg0lP9bdloxGfF-P5XDs5w2pUCPn7KYtu0FKeRW66SOLnsj30NWIywSl7CGJCQaekSCwoUydU8qDf8sI8PfBpR9GLvAfYJ/s1600-h/5636_main_image_1246543043.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97sEA0i6tpfy79375lALqrb5axioftVQEZcGVNTS5wDlh_EPg0lP9bdloxGfF-P5XDs5w2pUCPn7KYtu0FKeRW66SOLnsj30NWIywSl7CGJCQaekSCwoUydU8qDf8sI8PfBpR9GLvAfYJ/s200/5636_main_image_1246543043.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419646595722816418" /></a><br /></div><div>1. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Top 5 Nonfiction Books:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQKmD54csXtwid_0uoc9z4amytdMm2GCBxUz3mwL-bL9PRxRad2dXWxdc8yl6TuT0zrcgy99ZW7pz26K_8utvqSPumKUJ6G2DbC0kkUiC5HjKjAhsJoE1YFXaCphaHrVJEcukpWshhXWB/s1600-h/roose.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQKmD54csXtwid_0uoc9z4amytdMm2GCBxUz3mwL-bL9PRxRad2dXWxdc8yl6TuT0zrcgy99ZW7pz26K_8utvqSPumKUJ6G2DbC0kkUiC5HjKjAhsJoE1YFXaCphaHrVJEcukpWshhXWB/s200/roose.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419650165816982274" /></a><span><br /></span></div><div><span>5. </span><span style="font-style:italic;">The Unlikely Disciple</span>, by Kevin Roose<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38YREWUWli4TF8djn57AGFBUu45J_CfVuaW-KZTnMccL_8COPepR384UlgX6Hwi2ZIJgilelZxFq3-VfcCP8Qw74_XQY1AajWTskFU3E9pcHugHpoU9f9K72fk7KrKppIkzRzDuDJSs9t/s1600-h/columbine-cover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38YREWUWli4TF8djn57AGFBUu45J_CfVuaW-KZTnMccL_8COPepR384UlgX6Hwi2ZIJgilelZxFq3-VfcCP8Qw74_XQY1AajWTskFU3E9pcHugHpoU9f9K72fk7KrKppIkzRzDuDJSs9t/s200/columbine-cover.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419650429630955074" /></a><br /></div><div>4. <span style="font-style:italic;"> Columbine</span>, by Dave Cullen<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsRcWE-nR3V6cNIJnENXOKB8zz0KNU259-HZG1-eRa8lxzxFnsGXMTJTtA-7ZILKJrhlGrLtIuwY3d9YpUAXUTMCm2uy19NUllbOq1Wo7BzVqSJgWWbDp-wNQqv1MJcDo39PHJYqOrQyR/s1600-h/flickering_pixels.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 129px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsRcWE-nR3V6cNIJnENXOKB8zz0KNU259-HZG1-eRa8lxzxFnsGXMTJTtA-7ZILKJrhlGrLtIuwY3d9YpUAXUTMCm2uy19NUllbOq1Wo7BzVqSJgWWbDp-wNQqv1MJcDo39PHJYqOrQyR/s200/flickering_pixels.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419650803270592162" /></a><br /></div><div>3. <span style="font-style:italic;">Flickering Pixels</span>, by Shane Hipps</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMY7Xn7g4FaIsVB43pRqZsHKcO1P-b2ok9F4hVw_zZA2GnFOta5o7YtdD2FHk6XmCibE44DCALY5-J2Zqa_CFX4GxK1odQe_GvFUrn88FzhP4BQWpKpkL7HsJ7__29ErHsrm-U4n4Meim/s1600-h/drops+like+stars.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 163px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMY7Xn7g4FaIsVB43pRqZsHKcO1P-b2ok9F4hVw_zZA2GnFOta5o7YtdD2FHk6XmCibE44DCALY5-J2Zqa_CFX4GxK1odQe_GvFUrn88FzhP4BQWpKpkL7HsJ7__29ErHsrm-U4n4Meim/s200/drops+like+stars.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419651006989658546" /></a><br /></div><div>2. <span style="font-style:italic;">Drops Like Stars</span>, by Rob Bell<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeOl4D2zHFogeICN-X6Ev1GLCeeWtehjxNqXX77lTqjlraD5iRNlOTA9ypKbNaOLx9uPnM-eYF-KO9SFY8I82pSagf_qr12rqIXYx0yiSk7yhYNiCYtwdCpZi57rDH4iwZZWfIInBirYT/s1600-h/million-miles.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeOl4D2zHFogeICN-X6Ev1GLCeeWtehjxNqXX77lTqjlraD5iRNlOTA9ypKbNaOLx9uPnM-eYF-KO9SFY8I82pSagf_qr12rqIXYx0yiSk7yhYNiCYtwdCpZi57rDH4iwZZWfIInBirYT/s200/million-miles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419651223217598066" /></a><br /></div><div>1. <span style="font-style:italic;">A Million Miles in a Thousand Years</span>, by Donald Miller<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Top 5 Fiction Books I Read in 2009 (not necessarily released in 2009):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-htXXicQSb0c1IY77l6blkkfly9QxaUXKSmfqa6AiqUA5gw9CLMJa5GVUwn4yKHS_hA5cYcT6Enz0qiojCV5-bKsJNv2LuOm3D0hYJc8WR8RwUI_nuMDR0g32y74IhqHHH5FYuPAhk4s/s1600-h/americangods-hard.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-htXXicQSb0c1IY77l6blkkfly9QxaUXKSmfqa6AiqUA5gw9CLMJa5GVUwn4yKHS_hA5cYcT6Enz0qiojCV5-bKsJNv2LuOm3D0hYJc8WR8RwUI_nuMDR0g32y74IhqHHH5FYuPAhk4s/s200/americangods-hard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419651510503759170" /></a><br /></div><div>5. <span style="font-style:italic;">American Gods</span>, by Neil Gaiman (Released in 2001)<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunrgP-U3rxztc9pUnuOzmUId8thHNNIkyz9rO2FK-iUggyfwTBIiqNOvR8ePo4L0G8jgdsrwbvUlj3-83qPoEg_y25h8CvPx5iLWty2mwM7EWmkPX_5o6ECGTPh521cMiIrePePwdJ5Vd/s1600-h/juliet-naked-hornby.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 127px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunrgP-U3rxztc9pUnuOzmUId8thHNNIkyz9rO2FK-iUggyfwTBIiqNOvR8ePo4L0G8jgdsrwbvUlj3-83qPoEg_y25h8CvPx5iLWty2mwM7EWmkPX_5o6ECGTPh521cMiIrePePwdJ5Vd/s200/juliet-naked-hornby.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419651705419938178" /></a><br /></div><div>4. <span style="font-style:italic;">Juliet, Naked</span>, by Nick Hornby (Released in 2009)<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9OfkB4f5jwvwjydqmd_MoPVtlgld_ivN41WR0WFZo-nun_OtfYAvnQvVS2rB6FGQ9mbjdP4TaaXcpzwidMZRgKtKstX0wRzHYFcav9n0t2uYEKq4fSt74xTo_fSAo7lQUDZ3zpJEBLmQ/s1600-h/lamb.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9OfkB4f5jwvwjydqmd_MoPVtlgld_ivN41WR0WFZo-nun_OtfYAvnQvVS2rB6FGQ9mbjdP4TaaXcpzwidMZRgKtKstX0wRzHYFcav9n0t2uYEKq4fSt74xTo_fSAo7lQUDZ3zpJEBLmQ/s200/lamb.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419651959297838610" /></a><br /></div><div>3. <span style="font-style:italic;">Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal</span>, by Christopher Moore (Released in 2002)<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVm_ctftY_yVQXz8k4eYxYKiIGLQ3TKoKKIEQxqUrQIWYjjILeP-01vcVaZUsAXKSKvmACGWa9euZjLBVfSF_IIxseN5tp-FAHb63JdZOBybOPOCOdqpefMiVUahPWrl7Sp7qnvEOlM7a/s1600-h/life-of-pi2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVm_ctftY_yVQXz8k4eYxYKiIGLQ3TKoKKIEQxqUrQIWYjjILeP-01vcVaZUsAXKSKvmACGWa9euZjLBVfSF_IIxseN5tp-FAHb63JdZOBybOPOCOdqpefMiVUahPWrl7Sp7qnvEOlM7a/s200/life-of-pi2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419652148673131634" /></a><br /></div><div>2. <span style="font-style:italic;">Life of Pi</span>, by Yann Martel (Released in 2001)<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd-0JTcWbPpD1RYrKuwaFq0MF9EWcLFHW2DrbTuHnQ4xmHtNeJ0OpMXGchNoMpky_Lv-E_ac3e3KlacwJwdxceERCG90r7zszdegX2RGbEPOSFrIm6_KEt1dyUv-9In5HlCom_cXhNH42/s1600-h/4.wonder-boys.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd-0JTcWbPpD1RYrKuwaFq0MF9EWcLFHW2DrbTuHnQ4xmHtNeJ0OpMXGchNoMpky_Lv-E_ac3e3KlacwJwdxceERCG90r7zszdegX2RGbEPOSFrIm6_KEt1dyUv-9In5HlCom_cXhNH42/s200/4.wonder-boys.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419652588945625122" /></a><br /></div><div>1. <span style="font-style:italic;">Wonder Boys</span>, by Michael Chabon (Released in 1995)<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Top 5 New Albums of 2009:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirr1qqhUEB5P18J6smzt-DH8O-dr9V5kCUXGL2uhtq9N8ZSxM0nXs9RklZ1vs3MNn7AKVdY269TrEpN0NxfiVkkYByIrxUuWvvAywgLlltfWGub2VzV2NqXf_mDs-C12_K-YTu2xq7hyce/s1600-h/Monsters-Of-Folk.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirr1qqhUEB5P18J6smzt-DH8O-dr9V5kCUXGL2uhtq9N8ZSxM0nXs9RklZ1vs3MNn7AKVdY269TrEpN0NxfiVkkYByIrxUuWvvAywgLlltfWGub2VzV2NqXf_mDs-C12_K-YTu2xq7hyce/s200/Monsters-Of-Folk.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419653461122485426" /></a><br /></div><div>5. <span style="font-style:italic;">Monsters of Folk</span> (by Monsters of Folk)<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11-8NIGAqH3ciDRhihEIUFeZHrW-DWmyt-URIJLb6rFgRpGmBKp_bbSivJgQEC2wMF9FOwKW9uGt33d10oIt5RXdds_W2oEsaqKM9Gd_2GkZNGxYHelQ6cxiJnsvnDGpqAV83YIBwiuTJ/s1600-h/1254234124_david_gray__draw_the_line.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 195px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11-8NIGAqH3ciDRhihEIUFeZHrW-DWmyt-URIJLb6rFgRpGmBKp_bbSivJgQEC2wMF9FOwKW9uGt33d10oIt5RXdds_W2oEsaqKM9Gd_2GkZNGxYHelQ6cxiJnsvnDGpqAV83YIBwiuTJ/s200/1254234124_david_gray__draw_the_line.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419653843329682578" /></a><br /></div><div>4. <span style="font-style:italic;">Draw the Line</span> (by David Gray)<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacqvskeF8kkmZ7yKTgYYOXg7tHS8m2JyLk12PEXzFpJkbx6adKmvSaPiHdERjwW3RSI4FGI9AVxwZ0D8hL5o5BQgODVwDok1dRzUPHXdnZoYMxLg-dGJ6o-otDi1z4LBtqqwmRoRg4tkx/s1600-h/61I+OOkxX-L._SS500_.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacqvskeF8kkmZ7yKTgYYOXg7tHS8m2JyLk12PEXzFpJkbx6adKmvSaPiHdERjwW3RSI4FGI9AVxwZ0D8hL5o5BQgODVwDok1dRzUPHXdnZoYMxLg-dGJ6o-otDi1z4LBtqqwmRoRg4tkx/s200/61I+OOkxX-L._SS500_.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419654216013203058" /></a>3. <span style="font-style:italic;">A Sucker's Dream</span> (by The Alternate Routes)<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8juQdOazE2Py8-Bm2TPAYXR3Js2ffdzBws49d6TxWoF23P9P10q9VexZNgyZ0RNGFkPXydMkGewyxPwATKI8iLEkSBeQtknVHsD3-ryjo22OnVjsIwXVgYnqMtsQYQhghOCRo3d0e4pv/s1600-h/the_hazards_of_love_cover__resized__17518.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8juQdOazE2Py8-Bm2TPAYXR3Js2ffdzBws49d6TxWoF23P9P10q9VexZNgyZ0RNGFkPXydMkGewyxPwATKI8iLEkSBeQtknVHsD3-ryjo22OnVjsIwXVgYnqMtsQYQhghOCRo3d0e4pv/s200/the_hazards_of_love_cover__resized__17518.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419654825462070354" /></a><br /></div><div>2. <span style="font-style:italic;">The Hazards of Love</span> (by The Decemberists)<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NQjb9zZ5GPIkN2g5eoV7qIAb2CghLNM6niB4zrKUhYh_5vYdM4CPIIpuUW-DsbXau4KYnoZA1sUMzRQC-lyJLlmYssvVQBbusu-w5ZXaiDR5GoiHJODpcfJbMH0aQGLuLG0eO97gjy_A/s1600-h/newswoadcover-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NQjb9zZ5GPIkN2g5eoV7qIAb2CghLNM6niB4zrKUhYh_5vYdM4CPIIpuUW-DsbXau4KYnoZA1sUMzRQC-lyJLlmYssvVQBbusu-w5ZXaiDR5GoiHJODpcfJbMH0aQGLuLG0eO97gjy_A/s200/newswoadcover-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419655273696200722" /></a><br /></div><div>1. <span style="font-style:italic;">Working On A Dream</span> (by Bruce Springsteen)<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />(Honorable mention: "Wilco: The Album" by Wilco)<br /><br />Does anybody want to share their top five lists from 2009?</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-51345447889000276122009-12-17T09:58:00.000-08:002009-12-17T09:59:44.327-08:00Better Know a StephenHere is a really funny interview between Stephen Colbert and Stephen King.<br /><br /><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com'>The Colbert Report</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/258583/december-16-2009/better-know-a-stephen---stephen-king'>Better Know a Stephen - Stephen King</a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:258583' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/254015/november-02-2009/sport-report---nyc-marathon---olympic-speedskating'>U.S. Speedskating</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-80504650732852349452009-12-10T15:47:00.000-08:002009-12-10T15:59:18.913-08:00My Subconscious is Tuned to a Very Specific Radio StationOn Monday, I posted this on my Facebook status:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I had a dream last night that I was invited to dinner at the White House. I was given the opportunity to ask the president one question. So, I asked, "Do you think Bruce Springsteen might show up?" I woke up before he could answer.</span><br /><br />What I did not know is that very same night, Bruce was actually being honored by the President at the Kennedy Center. I had no idea that there was an event at the Kennedy Center or that Springsteen would be among the honorees at any upcoming event. However, given the chance to answer my question, the president obviously would have said, "As a matter of fact, yes. He will be here." How about that?<br /><br /> Here is the video of President Obama honoring Bruce:<br /><br /><embed pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://necn.com/avp32.swf?zur9tCGBds;m8t>D(5AI.^|O0zlyWE7yU<LR.}hn6Z*s7Z1qMh8pn3^e'H&MO]p_49($E5]:l|.X.>~nDa iQcZSl_Y<{ISa[zYwTVknDC)(C A#YNh-?5NFDg)4l]k7 DEh!kB7#s}V>di3LG$-`th`be2K?x,CjV$D.qop1v>qvS}b'>6]z}]KP-;4D X0h_}4(#$n>!7raK&1(]|&,*kTBHCrZjF3|.$M6;_@[rX}T:W-9&o-K#FiJp:~^UH#z/qJTN]1^,]S&UC]Rom7a@ vTRS#3Hff eAei~F=m$:" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="always" width="320" height="240"></embed><br /><br />First of all, I love what he said. It's all true.<br /><br />Second, I am obviously psychic regarding all things Springsteen-related. This is a gift that I plan to use with wisdom and responsibility.<br /><br />Now excuse me as I embark on a last-chance power drive down Highway 9...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDTK-9Qvt5NJ9pHM8C_fXvCQJIai6ULINrvE7lVZG0UmeDHdJhHAuz2AyO3556plt1-iUyKpLAv5jphA1ir-99yUA0ZRIExrp62tmZ2NeVF6YPaMvMclJpZcc9EUD-QE-LbenDeUaNCSP/s1600-h/album-Bruce-Springsteen-Born-to-Run.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDTK-9Qvt5NJ9pHM8C_fXvCQJIai6ULINrvE7lVZG0UmeDHdJhHAuz2AyO3556plt1-iUyKpLAv5jphA1ir-99yUA0ZRIExrp62tmZ2NeVF6YPaMvMclJpZcc9EUD-QE-LbenDeUaNCSP/s320/album-Bruce-Springsteen-Born-to-Run.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413760215916727586" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-47213659866329993662009-11-18T08:44:00.000-08:002009-11-18T08:48:26.548-08:00Free the ChildrenThis seems like a really great organization.<br /><br /><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com'>The Colbert Report</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/256429/november-17-2009/kid-gloves---marc-kielburger'>Kid Gloves - Marc Kielburger</a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:256429' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/254015/november-02-2009/sport-report---nyc-marathon---olympic-speedskating'>U.S. Speedskating</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-29434766224402597412009-10-27T11:34:00.000-07:002009-10-27T11:45:31.015-07:00Peter Rollins Cracks Me Up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyvtY_jAR_1AWX6HWAcgCwQGWGa463lOLp_ylwYWxCah3cG8kS7JCTfIF4aZ9VV0JwXb5oltQG3gMtSKU5GJDI_67KVEXcH_XcKN7RYYXTCac84yE3VULVjYMkGZ1CCuV7j6mupQpm6N1/s1600-h/5891_117441542396_521042396_2856533_7729023_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyvtY_jAR_1AWX6HWAcgCwQGWGa463lOLp_ylwYWxCah3cG8kS7JCTfIF4aZ9VV0JwXb5oltQG3gMtSKU5GJDI_67KVEXcH_XcKN7RYYXTCac84yE3VULVjYMkGZ1CCuV7j6mupQpm6N1/s320/5891_117441542396_521042396_2856533_7729023_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397351542271368482" /></a><br />One writer/speaker that I really enjoy is Peter Rollins. One of the coolest experiences I had last summer was that I was sitting in a pub in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a bunch of guys from Texas, and Rollins came and joined us for a few minutes. We were in town for a preaching conference, and Rollins was one of the speakers. As it turned out, he was friends with the guy sitting directly to my right. It was an amazing thing to get to simply sit and listen to him talk. He's incredibly dynamic and brilliant.<br /><br />Last week on his blog, he talked about putting the finishing touches on his new book. Then, at the end of the post, he wrote this:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">In the mean time don’t forget T<span style="font-style:italic;">he Orthodox Heretic</span>, she is very lonely in the Amazon store house and is being picked on by the Mark Driscoll books. Please consider giving her a good home!</span><br /><br />It's even funnier if you imagine the words being spoken in Rollins' Irish accent.<br /><br />If you want to read Peter Rollins' blog, click <a href="http://peterrollins.net/blog/">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-MW_hJsFAD3nHxk5z3jlrArTMXBeL_YqGxbmljrMm8nMEP-5wLIaMyTFe-kdhnlIDoO8hqNRN-EUn0IHw3RBv6uCIhRvZ94T9EMT_Zjy2ab_KXKQWg_aNGHChPDUb1dLEGppVQmrtRf3/s1600-h/5891_117441522396_521042396_2856530_8171560_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-MW_hJsFAD3nHxk5z3jlrArTMXBeL_YqGxbmljrMm8nMEP-5wLIaMyTFe-kdhnlIDoO8hqNRN-EUn0IHw3RBv6uCIhRvZ94T9EMT_Zjy2ab_KXKQWg_aNGHChPDUb1dLEGppVQmrtRf3/s320/5891_117441522396_521042396_2856530_8171560_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397351652881653922" /></a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-47111112098761119812009-10-14T08:41:00.000-07:002009-10-29T13:03:05.035-07:00Humanity Sounds Like...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0rekAXq6eUNYKViJaGLmLXspHNm5KNuUZa7W9FhMbcfNVe0TbvA9d_AzS1PE5oqVrSQNp4bFlQkLQhOBhooL8FVqFA2mqdNo8yRNa_3srByU9Z908ZJGQmr3rRf1Z-r7HE7CHnaWSsgU/s1600-h/4937_673323771693_9218404_38307542_8319498_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0rekAXq6eUNYKViJaGLmLXspHNm5KNuUZa7W9FhMbcfNVe0TbvA9d_AzS1PE5oqVrSQNp4bFlQkLQhOBhooL8FVqFA2mqdNo8yRNa_3srByU9Z908ZJGQmr3rRf1Z-r7HE7CHnaWSsgU/s200/4937_673323771693_9218404_38307542_8319498_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392484646495067266" /></a>Back in June, I was walking out of a hotel in Chicago and spotted a group of guys unloading a van. It was clear that these were musicians. It's about as easy to spot a band as it is to notice when someone has accidentally caught themselves on fire. People in bands tend to have a specific look. If you see five guys hanging out together, and they all appear to be strategically disheveled, you are probably looking at a band.<br /><br />I was with my boss, Doug, who walked right up to one of the guys and said, "Hey, what band are you in?"<br /><br />"It's called <a href="http://www.augustanamusic.com/">Augustana</a>," the guy said.<br /><br />I geeked out a little bit. Not because I'm a big fan of Augustana (although I do like their music), but because I knew that they were touring with Counting Crows, which is my favorite band (even more than Springsteen). I asked if Counting Crows were in town, and he said that they were all playing together that night at the Taste of Chicago festival. So, later that night, I ditched Doug and attended the (free) Counting Crows/Augustana concert in downtown Chicago. While the entire set was amazing, the best parts of the show were when every member of both bands were on stage. During the Crows' set, Augustana reappeared on the stage for seven songs on the setlist. They did some amazing cover songs including Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Going Nowhere" and "Caravan" by Van Morrison. There were no fewer than twelve musicians on the stage, all doing something different than everybody else. And while each person was doing something independent, it all came together to make beautiful music. If one person had started playing the wrong song, everybody would have gotten off. Each part contributed to the whole, and the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.<br /><br />This is what it means to be a part of the human race. Each of us, in a thousand different ways, does something different than everybody else. However, each person's contribution informs the result of the whole.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexzf_VKN4CxvUcn8mDcYVHBk5Ecsd0wpn4EtbMjAS-9e5BEYAMPhilZ20udBsjCaNw49dp-5SorK0gfXcybdyW9DPHUrl20a6g9ogN2mISBYor7D5ePjZzJe5Fx0l8WevPVzb9C7QY85z/s1600-h/beautiful-boy.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexzf_VKN4CxvUcn8mDcYVHBk5Ecsd0wpn4EtbMjAS-9e5BEYAMPhilZ20udBsjCaNw49dp-5SorK0gfXcybdyW9DPHUrl20a6g9ogN2mISBYor7D5ePjZzJe5Fx0l8WevPVzb9C7QY85z/s200/beautiful-boy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392488045559796882" /></a>I just finished reading a gut-wrenching book called <span style="font-style:italic;">Beautiful Boy</span> by David Sheff. It's a memoir about a father who struggles and journeys through his son's drug addiction. One of the striking details of the book is how many times, when he is confronted with the destructive nature of his choices, the son shouts, <span style="font-style:italic;">"It's my life!"</span> In other words, "My choices are mine alone. They only affect me, so I should be the only person who has an opinion about it."<br /><br />As I read through the book, it became intensely obvious how false this claim really is. The father, the mother, the stepmother, the stepfather, the younger brother, the younger sister, family friends, and so many other people are deeply wounded and suffer at the hands of the boy's addiction.<br /><br />This is a powerful example of how we are all connected. The consequences of my choices are not isolated to me. It's like being in a band. When I stop playing good music, the whole band suffers.<br /><br />Perhaps this is what it means to be truly human; to understand the connectedness of all other humans. The realization that my choices have profound and endless ripples. Every choice leaves a fingerprint on all those who surround us, whether we realize it or not. We do not live in an isolation chamber. We live in a world filled with people making thousands of choices every day.<br /><br />Dallas Willard says it like this:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Anyone who says, ‘It’s just between me and God, or ‘What I do is my own business,’ has misunderstood God as well as ‘me.’ Strictly speaking there is nothing ‘just between me and God.’ For all that is between me and God affects who I am; and that, in turn, modifies my relationship to everyone around me."</span> (from <span style="font-style:italic;">Renovation of the Heart</span>).<br /><br />Perhaps being human means making choices and interacting with people in such a way that brings good into the lives of those within my sphere of influence. There is a deep level of naive self-absorption that accompanies the claim, "It's my life." Perhaps at some level, this is true, but my life leaves a mark on hundreds of other lives. So, my life is not just about me.<br /><br />In his book <span style="font-style:italic;">Jewish Spirituality: A Brief Introduction for Christians</span>, Jewish mystic Lawrence Kushner says it like this:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"We are joined not only to people who have lived long before us, and who will live after we have died, but to people now living and to people we do not know…Nothing is ever detached, alone. We are all parts of one great living organism."</span><br /><br />Each of us is part of the same band. When one person stops playing the music, everybody suffers. It's a train wreck.<br /><br />But when everybody is playing their part, it's a beautiful sound.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBM6xjBiAhtA2ogNFN6Kkf-E2VWRfg9nqt4bWBBTdXElmegezHlSPisph036hvinCkG-R6yCcdUHq0J94fWxmPGo-rK543frbnGnC7wNorvSbrl63sCTe6Qn3NQyEvkoJLtNCWkmXcI0h1/s1600-h/NPCA+PBS+Host+Feel+Free+National+Parks+Celebration+qntyojnR-3fl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBM6xjBiAhtA2ogNFN6Kkf-E2VWRfg9nqt4bWBBTdXElmegezHlSPisph036hvinCkG-R6yCcdUHq0J94fWxmPGo-rK543frbnGnC7wNorvSbrl63sCTe6Qn3NQyEvkoJLtNCWkmXcI0h1/s320/NPCA+PBS+Host+Feel+Free+National+Parks+Celebration+qntyojnR-3fl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392490179770200386" /></a><br /><br />**********<br /><br />Here is the set list from the Counting Crows concert at Taste of Chicago on June 27, 2009:<br /><br />Caravan (with Augustana)<br />Omaha<br />Mrs. Potter's Lullaby<br />A Long December<br />Colorblind<br />Hanging Tree<br />Catapult<br />Washington Square (with Augustana)<br />Hard Candy<br />Mr. Jones (with Augustana)<br />Why Should You Come When I Call? (with Augustana)<br />Rain King/With a Little Help From My Friends (with Augustana)<br />Cecilia (with Augustana)<br />You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (with Augustana)<br />Holiday in SpainRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-90497715260405785822009-10-05T11:38:00.000-07:002009-10-05T12:33:58.995-07:00Memoir Fever<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-JQrj011vUqffBbU3BzdRt2lWKKrdNxX9pN0IEtTqk2Yjh4L_oPyBI8I765hrqVUp8oytd91yaLURfTivstXfl-NVmzUovzp14IjBpV5hYVsMwvO2Q-Voj3WNZ3JW4F9Nzj6daCLX1xF/s1600-h/guinea-pig-diaries-my-life-as-an-experiment.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-JQrj011vUqffBbU3BzdRt2lWKKrdNxX9pN0IEtTqk2Yjh4L_oPyBI8I765hrqVUp8oytd91yaLURfTivstXfl-NVmzUovzp14IjBpV5hYVsMwvO2Q-Voj3WNZ3JW4F9Nzj6daCLX1xF/s320/guinea-pig-diaries-my-life-as-an-experiment.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389188898588062498" /></a>Recently, I've read two books that I feel are worth recommending.<br /><br />The first is called <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guinea-Pig-Diaries-Life-Experiment/dp/1416599061/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254767967&sr=8-1">The Guinea Pig Diaries</a></span> by A.J. Jacobs. I've talked about Jacobs before. This book is a compilation of several short experiments that he has put himself through over the past few years. I'm amazed at what I've learned about the human mind and relationships as I've read through his experiences. There is one experiment in which he chooses to abandon all multi-tasking for a full month. In another, he relinquishes all decision-making ability to his wife, which she refers to as the best month of their marriage. This is one of the most interesting and entertaining books that I have read.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaiYICu3qv9ezvgAYGBKjERS_a-yF5M6q0DPYD7jxh-Xjs0neOjVqf5epO0drcUxAOciGLsaFHhdaFZdDh8_HYzTLoNEodaI3hv2dIpxqReKeFx2BxjhKjrZz3ZRzAYaLL3zQX7U3yQ5T/s1600-h/2009369131%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaiYICu3qv9ezvgAYGBKjERS_a-yF5M6q0DPYD7jxh-Xjs0neOjVqf5epO0drcUxAOciGLsaFHhdaFZdDh8_HYzTLoNEodaI3hv2dIpxqReKeFx2BxjhKjrZz3ZRzAYaLL3zQX7U3yQ5T/s320/2009369131%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389190126292847234" /></a>The second book is a memoir by Mishna Wolff called <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Im-Down-Memoir-Mishna-Wolff/dp/0312378556/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254768381&sr=1-1">I'm Down</a></span>. It's hard to explain what makes this a good book, but it is. In her own description of her upbringing, she describes being one of the only white kids in a mostly predominant African-American neighborhood and living in the home of a white single father who desperately wanted to be black himself. If you're looking for a good memoir, I recommend this one.Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-36743649598991048602009-09-29T05:59:00.000-07:002009-09-29T06:15:23.394-07:00TexasA couple of months ago, I was in Michigan for a pastor's conference. At the beginning of the event, the main speaker asked the crowd: "Do we have anyone here from another country?" And after one person yelled, "Canada!" and another, "Ireland!" one guy near the front shouted, "TEXAS!" Everyone laughed.<br /><br />Not originally from Texas, I've been going this whole time thinking the idea of Texas existing as its own country was just a running joke. That is, until I saw the following bumper sticker on my way home from church yesterday:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOC6n9SZY-4VeUh8HNUiQJgYQVxO1fm7iSbrZwn86lGqxzavMuqq04iBzOi1-RRSUR3zDi9-hy8RcdutKDOXbw6tqpXd_ADjyw1TEEE9DmksBbDVLbVzhGa2r2QwBbkiJ5Ojt09Z4F_vJm/s1600-h/IMG_0157.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOC6n9SZY-4VeUh8HNUiQJgYQVxO1fm7iSbrZwn86lGqxzavMuqq04iBzOi1-RRSUR3zDi9-hy8RcdutKDOXbw6tqpXd_ADjyw1TEEE9DmksBbDVLbVzhGa2r2QwBbkiJ5Ojt09Z4F_vJm/s320/IMG_0157.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386874665716860914" /></a><br /><br />This was the only bumper sticker on the car. On my car, the only bumper sticker says, "Love Wins." I put it there because it's something that I really believe in and I don't want to just put anything with text on my car. I think this guy feels the same way about his sticker. I took a look at the driver, and he's definitely not the kind of guy who uses irony in his choice of bumper stickers. This guy is seriously ready to declare Texas independent from....well, everything.<br /><br />I didn't know people were making these stickers.<br /><br />I didn't know people were buying these stickers.<br /><br />I'm not saying I wouldn't buy one. I would. I would buy one right now if the opportunity presented itself. But I would immediately place it in my office somewhere near my Transformers-themed Mr. Potato Head and my Jesus <a href="http://www.celebriducks.com/">CelebriDuck</a>. In other words, I would put it somewhere that, when people see it, they would think, "Oh that Rob. He loves silly novelty items that nobody takes very seriously."<br /><br />As I was staring at the back of this guy's car (and subsequently missing my turn), I had a little conversation with him in my head:<br /><br />Me: "So....secede?"<br /><br />Truck Guy: "Yup."<br /><br />Me: "You know, the last time someone wanted to do that, it started this huge war and hundreds of thousands of people died. Not only that, it didn't even work. By the end of the war, the secession had failed. And they had 11 states and a couple of territories. You're talking about just Texas. That would be Texas vs. The Other 49 States. How do you feel about that?"<br /><br />Truck Guy: "We can take 'em."Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376423811617317429.post-79700098624869028302009-09-18T09:59:00.001-07:002009-09-18T10:21:39.477-07:00Spiritual Practices<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrohwQuFTbDMGCbs_PyEAB3KlNjjIPlcxX-IlPI9-GYS2yy5C3pZEM8-iAFBEpM42A7e-_gQNY0YfApHbIxCcsn-nM35GEzYL9Gw8Ax7Q8y7O-N68FNzah3l3EyCJ5o5gajctzw-_6VFV/s1600-h/9780830833337.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrohwQuFTbDMGCbs_PyEAB3KlNjjIPlcxX-IlPI9-GYS2yy5C3pZEM8-iAFBEpM42A7e-_gQNY0YfApHbIxCcsn-nM35GEzYL9Gw8Ax7Q8y7O-N68FNzah3l3EyCJ5o5gajctzw-_6VFV/s200/9780830833337.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382855219987071138" /></a>I have been doing a lot of study on the concept of spiritual practices. I think we tend to think of spiritual practices in terms of Bible study, prayer, and fasting. If you were to ask most church-goers to talk about spiritual practices, you probably wouldn't get much more than this. But there is so much more to be considered.<br /><br />Taking a Sabbath is a spiritual practice.<br /><br />Listening to music or a sermon can be spiritual practices.<br /><br />Reading a book can be a spiritual practice.<br /><br />Spending time alone in silence can be a spiritual practice.<br /><br />Eating can be a spiritual practice.<br /><br />Breathing can be a spiritual practice.<br /><br /><br />My Sunday night small group is going to spend this semester considering what it means to engage in spiritual practices, so I've wanted to get through as much research as I could. One of the best books that I've found that speaks to this is <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Rhythms-Arranging-Spiritual-Transformation/dp/0830833331/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253293145&sr=8-1">Sacred Rhythms</a></span> by Ruth Haley Barton.<br /><br />I'm curious about something. If you're reading this, what are your thoughts? What are some things that you have learned to engage in a spiritual way that you never would have previously categorized as "spiritual" before? How big does this category of spiritual practices get?<br /><br /><br />*EDIT: Just after I posted this, I read this quote from Henri Nouwen: <span style="font-style:italic;">"Precisely because our secular milieu offers us so few spiritual dsciplines, we have to develop our own. We have, indeed, to fashion our own desert where we can withdraw every day, shake off compulsions, and dwell in the gentle healing presence of our Lord. Without such a desert we will lose our own soul while preaching the gospel to others. But with such a spiritual abode, we will become increasingly conformed to him in whose Name we minister."</span> (this is from <span style="font-style:italic;">The Way of the Heart</span>)<br /><br /> Once again, Nouwen brings the thunder.Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05831057377187886146noreply@blogger.com4