Amusing Ourselves: Commercials
My favorite two Super Bowl commercials...which ones did you like?
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Friday, February 05, 2010
The Wisdom of Conan O'Brien
In his farewell speech, in the final moments of hosting NBC's the Tonight Show, Conan O'Brien went out with class and dignity. He did not give into a compromising situation, he left with his strong reputation, a nice sum of money...and with respect. I think his words were heartfelt and were saturated with leadership and sincerity. Conan O'Brien's final words, particularly to young people, were as follows:
"...please do no be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it's my least favorite quality. It doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you. Amazing things will happen. I'm telling you. It's true."
At some point in life, I believe, we will be faced with a situation that is unfair, not coming even close to what we expected would happen ...probably done by someone else, by ourselves, or something out of our control in nature. Regardless the circumstances leave us with a choice to make...we can either be cynical or we can be optimistic or hopeful for a redemptive outcome. My generation is one that finds it hard to trust the Baby Boomer generation for a myriad of things. Many are cynical about the Church, which it does need to rise up, take responsibility, and move forward. We can be cynical about the unfolding of life. We did not expect to be where we are right now. Somewhere along the way, perhaps, our plan changed. Cynicism hardens the heart and causes hope to be stolen. Cynicism is brutal. I struggle with this at times. With faith, hope, and love I believe cynicism can be changed into optimism, hope, and something redemptive. I appreciated Conan O'Brien speaking words of wisdom to work hard and be kind. I would add to the words to have faith, work hard, and be kind. Blessings to you friend. Have faith. Be kind. Work hard.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
On The Book of Eli
Blogging on. Not sure who even reads this blog? : )
It has been a long time since I've seen a movie like this one! I know there are skeptics out there saying everything from calling this a Christian propaganda film...to a mixed message of pluralism...to slow and boring due to some scenes when Eli walks a lot. To each his own. When in Rome. Fool me once.
The Book of Eli is a movie that left me asking many questions. It left me wanting to see it again to see some things I missed or thought of later as the film progressed. Many of my friends believe this to be on the best movies they have ever seen. I tend to agree that it was incredible...that is the reason for the post. Am I right? Some thought it was alright, which I disagree with but it was an extraordinary film! I would definitely put this movie in my personal top movies. Visually the movie was fascinating: the gray tones, the burnt browns and blues...the sky shots and the way the earth looked was cool. The movie, directed by the Hughes brothers, is set in a post war America, which finds Eli walking across America heading west protecting a book of power. As they say, some will kill to get the book, Eli will kill to protect the book. So it is in the journey, the walk we find this adventure. It's a strong story of the journey of hope. This was Denzel's best performance in my opinion since Training Day. The action scenes were great and mind boggling at points. But for me it was in the metaphors...the story is a great metaphor of faith. Gary Oldman plays a really creepy bad guy named Carnegie complete with an army of ignorant goons. The soundtrack is cool with a nice scene with an Al Green song. It is a great story I believe that offers hope and encourages faith. It is worth your time to see. You won't be disappointed.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
That Just Happened
In small group last night one of my students said something that made me laugh and marvel at his brilliance. It was a genuine surreal moment in the small group arena. The other answers are generally staple comments from most high school guys because most of the time it is a one track mind thing going on. The context of this scene came from a question I put out there for them to think about: "How can we sometimes miss the truth within the Bible? What causes us to miss the powerful truths within?"
One students said that, "Money could cause us to miss the truth of the Bible." The group laughs. Another student said, "Girls make it tough to read the Bible and draw out the truth! It's tough you know, look how they dress sometimes." Students laugh...I wasn't sure that was answering the question but it was funny. And another kid said "democracy!" Students laugh because that is not even close to the question. Then...out of the blue... like Gandalf riding over the hill with his army in the final scene of The Two Towers... a sharp kid speaks up with the confidence of Clint Eastwood, "We misinterpret the message of the Bible because of eisegesis. We interpret the Bible sometimes by reading into it and putting a meaning that was never meant to be. I heard that word used in a rap song." Students go quiet...baffled by his answer...one kid silently mouths the word, "Wow!" The senior in the group said, "I should listen to rap more." I laugh and say, "That was amazing!" The student was right.
I was so proud of him. That just happened.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Take action - PKN Haiti Relief Fund
PKN and the Haiti Relief Fund on Channel 11 News in Pittsburgh.http://www.wpxi.com/video/22229506/?taf=burg
Please take action.
Immediate giving through texting:
- Text "HAITI" to 90999 and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts.
- Text "YELE" to 501501 and a donation of $5 will be given automatically to the grass roots organization Yele Haiti relief effort started by Wyclef Jean.
A way to help out with the Haitian Earthquake Tragedy with the Pittsburgh Kids Foundations
(click here Haiti Relief Fund)
A WORD FROM DR. BRAD HENDRESON
Hi All,
Here are some important thoughts on Haiti! Please forward this on to anyone that you know that may be helpful (I think this is that one email you might want to forward to everyone on your mailing list).
1) Pray for Haiti!
We are still very concerned about 10 of the EBAC orphans (young adults now) that were in Port Au Prince during the quake. No one has heard from them. As every minute passes this becomes more of a concern. We have all seen the video and heard the reports; those we know and those we don't know desperately need our prayers!!
2) Relief Efforts
God has put us in a very strategic place to help with the relief efforts. We have been in direct contact with trusted missionaries & nationals on the ground in Haiti this morning that need our help more than ever!!! We have a 20 year history of working with these people. We have a container (semi tractor trailer full of food & essentials in Cap Haitien right now waiting to clear customs) and more food, water, etc. on the way. Money is the greatest need right now! The quickest way to get supplies in to the quake area right now is to drive across the border to the Dominican Republic (two hour drive), load up our trucks with as much food and supplies as possible and start hand delivering the food,water & medical supplies.
3) We Need Money
People can send money & make donations on the PKF website. We will strategically pass this money on to those organizations that we know and trust on the "front lines." 100% of that which comes in for Haiti relief will go to these efforts (our overhead is nothing compared to the more highly visible ways people are being asked to give, I'm not even sure if we have any "overhead").
4) Pray For Our Trip
Our plan is to fly into Cap Haitien on Monday on a private plane (someone has offered their private corporate jet) full of doctors, workers, medical supplies & all the food, water and cash we can put on there. Please pray that we get "airspace clearance" to do this. The plan is to minister to folks as they flee out into the countryside. Our contacts on the ground have told us that Port Au Prince is very "unstable" right now and that there has been a mass exodus of people fleeing Port Au Prince to the countryside looking for food, water and medical help. We believe we can stay safe and effectively help more people without being inside the broken city.
5) Pray For Our Future Ministry In Haiti
We have 20 years of a ministry investment in Haiti. The needs were overwhelming before the Earthquake hit. This is not going to be a "quick fix." Pray that we don't ransom the future by directing all our energy to the present crisis. We are going to be needed in the months, years & decades to come!
We Are In This Adventure Together!
Dr. Brad Henderson
President
Pittsburgh Kids Foundation
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
whatever condition
"Live up to the best that is in you: Live noble lives, as you all may, in whatever condition you may find yourselves." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
McKnight on the Bible as Story
"In our Bible, God did what God has always done: he spoke in Moses' days in Moses' ways, in Micah's days in Micah's ways, and in Jesus' days in Jesus' ways. Which meant, when Paul came around, Paul got to speak in Paul's ways for Paul's days, and when John put quill to parchment, he was freed up to speak in John's ways for John's days. This discovery liberated me, and (to use puns now, so catch them) it justified Paul and gave new life to John to take Jesus' kingdom story and make it their own story of the Story. I've come to see these stories of the Story to be like the seventh day of creation - very, very good. No single story, not even Jesus' story, can tell the whole Story. We need them all."
- Scot McKnight, The Blue Parakeet, p.63
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