Carnage

What’s the worst thing that can happen when a group of civilized adults meet to discuss an incident on the playground between their children? This is the plot of the new Roman Polanski film Carnage. The film is based off of a French play that has been translated into English. It’s obvious from watching Carnage that it was written for the theater. With the exception of two brief scenes at the beginning and the end, the entire film takes place in an apartment. I know this is an ideal situation for a play, but I found it to be very interesting. What can happen between civilized individuals in a matter of hours within the confines of one room? This is one of the things that made 12 Angry Men so great.

The first scene of the movie is a long shot of the incident in the playground.  Although this scene may sound important, it’s really not.  The first scene of great importance is the next one where both set of parents are hovering over a computer screen in the apartment.  They are typing up an account of the incident to sign.  Everything goes smoothly with the exception of one minor disagreement. Was the child “armed with a stick” or “carrying a stick.”  The parents briefly quibble over the wording and then move on. That scene foreshadows the devastation and carnage that is to follow.

Carnage is an intelligent and witty comedy that causes us to examine our own lives. It is a movie about the facades we put on before others. What seem to be two reasonable and caring couples eventually turnout to be two highly dysfunctional families. The highlight of Carnage is the wonderful acting that brings these characters to life.  Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christopher Waltz, and John C. Reilly all hold their own throughout this story that does not have one lead, but four.

Carnage is not for everyone. It is an adult comedy with adult language. There is no action and it is character driven. The script is well-written and the dialogue is tremendous. Although Carnage, may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I found it to be a rewarding movie experience. I loved the acting within the confines of the apartment, and I went away entertained and motivated not to be the kind of parent or husband that was portrayed in the film.

Meditation Schedule for the Gospel of Luke

Here is a meditation schedule for the first 11 chapters of the Gospel of Luke.  This works great as a daily Bible reading.  Feel free to copy it and distribute it as you like.  I will post a meditation schedule for the rest of the book later.

Meditation Schedule for Luke

Psalmfest 2012

For more information go to http://www.timelesspsalter.com/

Stanley Hauerwas on Being a Christian

Top Films of 2011

The following is my list of the top films in 2011.  Some of these films are full of beauty and truth, while others are simply fun and entertaining.  There are a few films I would have liked to have seen in 2011, but didn’t get a chance. They include: Drive, Take Shelter, The Artist, and a few others.  If any of these films are worthy of being in the top 10 I will post a review later. I would love to hear your feedback and see your own top 10.

The Tree of Life may be the most beautiful film I have seen. It is also one of the most spiritual films that has ever been made.  It tackles subjects such as creation and the afterlife in a reverent and respectable way.  The camerawork and images are breathtaking. The acting is superb.  This is easily the best film of the year. Words cannot adequately describe it.  It is something that has to be seen.

Almost top 10 – The Tree of Life is an art film.  People either get it or they don’t.  If you do not want to sit through long scenes with little or no dialogue you may want to check out Of Gods and Men another beautiful film about faith. It is the true story of how a group of Trappist monks respond to local terrorists.

Martin Scorsese is the most talented filmmaker alive today. He is known for making violent films set in New York City. Hugo is none of these things. It is a children’s movie set in Paris. It also incorporates 3D like no film has ever done before. I try and avoid seeing most films in 3D, because it is a gimmick Hollywood has come up with to make more money, but Hugo is one film worth seeing in 3D.  Scorsese not only gives us a Dickonsesque movie full of wonderful performances (most notably Sacha Baron Cohen as the station inspector), but it is also an homage to the silent film era. It’s a must see for children and adults.

Almost top 10 – I have not seen The Artist but there is a lot of buzz around this film which also pays homage to the silent film era.

Moneyball is a baseball movie without much actual baseball.  Baseball is the subject and it is discussed throughout the movie, but we see very little of it played.  Instead the movie is about getting the right players at the right places. It is more about figuring out the right stats, than hiring the biggest names. It also explores the subject of going against tradition, which baseball is steeped in. Brad Pitt gives a great performance, but Jonah Hill really steals the show in his first non-comedic role.

Almost top 10 – If you like a little more action in your films, then don’t miss Warrior, a Rocky-like story about two UFC fighters. My wife hates the UFC, but she liked this movie.

Not many people are putting The Muppets in their top 10, but I don’t care. This movie could have easily been a disaster, but it turned out to be great. Jason Segal poured his heart into this project and it shows. I’m not sure what non-Muppet fans will think of this movie, but anyone who has grown up watching the Muppets couldn’t have asked for anything better. It is smart, witty, and a whole lot of fun.

Almost top 10 – I was also glad to see Winnie the Pooh brought back to the screen in 2011. I was impressed how the filmmakers kept the feel of a book with this children’s classic.

The Help is a great film about the social injustices in the south during the 1960′s. It showed how some people who thought they were living respectable Christian lives were really the biggest hypocrites of all. It also brought attention to the courage it took for people of color to stand up for what was right. The Help is a movie about the past, but it should cause to think about the present. Perhaps we are overlooking certain injustices and we don’t even know it.

I avoid most summer blockbusters, because they’re not worth watching.  This movie is what a summer blockbuster should be.  It’s smart, funny, and entertaining.  I won’t try and defend the artistic merit of this film, because that’s not what it is, but if you like having a good time at the movies Attack the Block will not disappoint.

Almost top 10 – Super 8 has shown up in a few “best of 2011″ lists.  I liked Super 8, but not nearly as much as I liked Attack the Block.

The Descendants is a wonderfully acted film about a dysfunctional family having to deal with an unexpected crisis.  The family has been pulled apart over the years by time and circumstances, but now they must learn to live together again.  George Clooney delivers another great performance, this time as a husband and father, and as a descendant of a great Hawaiian family.

Almost top 10 – Clooney also starred in and directed The Ides of March which has some great performances by some of the best actors in the business.

A wonderfully acted film that has the feel of an old Hitchcock mystery.  Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is not action packed.  It is a movie based off of a novel written by an actual British spy.  The action comes in conversations with spies and informants who may or may not be a mole.  This film is confusing at times, but the acting is superb and the look and the feel of the film is exactly what one would hope for in a British spy movie set in the 1970′s.

Almost top 10 – I highly recommend Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, a spy movie that is the complete opposite of Tinker Tailor.

Woody Allen continues to turn out movies year after year, but it has been a long time since he has made anything as good as Midnight in Paris.  If you have never been to Paris, then watching this movie may be the next best thing. It is about a writer in love with a city.  While walking the streets of Paris one night he is mysteriously whisked back in time to Paris in the 1920′s. There he meets F.Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, and others.

Win Win is a story about how life can become complicated. Paul Giamatti gives a great performance as a man wrestling with the motives behind his actions. This movie is funny, witty, and heartfelt.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Check out my review of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy for Relevant magazine.

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/film/reviews/27767-review-tinker-tailor-soldier-spy

 

Should Christians pay attention to pop culture?

I’m looking forward to reading Christian Shcharen’s new book “Broken Hallelujahs.”  Here are some of his thoughts on why Christians should be aware of pop culture.  I believe this is an issue Christians need to think seriously about.  Too often Christians have demonized pop culture without even considering it.  Instead I believe Christians should critically examine pop culture.  If we discover things in pop culture that are evil, degrading, or simply mindless, then people will respect a well thought out critique of those things. At the same time we need to praise things in pop culture that we find to be beneficial, good, and uplifting.

The Magnificat

The following is a sermon I recently presented at Austin Graduate School of Theology.  It was adopted from an earlier sermon I preached this summer at the La Grange Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 1:39-56; 1 Sam. 2:1-10

Luke is a wonderful storyteller, and he begins this narrative by introducing, not one, but two stories. The birth announcements of John the Baptist and Jesus are placed side by side. In our text, these two stories are intertwined as Mary visits the home of Elizabeth. These two expecting mothers come together to share their excitement, and perhaps comfort one another in what has to be a stressful time for both. Mary and Elizabeth are both expecting for the first time, but their situations are very
different.

Elizabeth and Zechariah had been trying for years to have a baby, and they were getting older when finally, Zechariah received a message that they were going to have a child. You can imagine their excitement, but there must have also been a little stress involved. After all, they had tried unsuccessfully many times before, and this may be their only chance at having the child they always wanted. Elizabeth may have been especially nervous. Have you ever known a couple who have tried and tried to become pregnant and finally it happens? They are excited, but they are also nervous. They may wait to tell others. They want to make sure everything is just right, so they will have a normal pregnancy.

Mary, on the other hand, may be nervous for a very different reason. She wasnʼt expecting to have a child at this young age, and she doesnʼt want to tell others because she knows the results could be deadly. She doesnʼt know how others will react when they discover she is an unwed woman who is pregnant. The world Mary lives in is a scary place, and she doesnʼt know how it is all going to play out, but she trusts in God. So, here are these two women, who are probably a little bit nervous, and so they come together to comfort one another, but this is not the only reason they come together. Their nervousness is overshadowed by something greater, and that is the joy they both share at this moment. Mary and Elizabeth find themselves in a unique situation. They are living in special times.

What would make you jump up and down in celebration? Maybe if the woman you asked to marry you said yes. Perhaps you find out you are going to get to visit the one place you always wanted to visit. It could be the opportunity to meet the person you have looked up to and respected for years. Whenever we hear news like this, we often do the unexpected. We might shout out loud in the middle of a crowded room, or we may hug someone we barely know. We may cry uncontrollably, or we might sing a song. We may even add words to an old song that we are familiar with, making it our own. This is what Mary does. She sings a song based off the prayer Hannah prays in 1 Sam. 2, but it is not the same. Mary makes it her own.*

The song Mary sings, known as the Magnificat, has brought hope to many throughout the years. Mary begins by offering a personal praise to God. She is overwhelmed with joy and canʼt help but sing. She cannot believe what God is doing in her life, so she responds out of the overflow of her heart. The rock band, U2, who often sing about their faith, have written a song entitled “Magnificent” which captures the heart of this text.

I was born
I was born to sing for you
I didnʼt have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice
From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise
Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar
Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent

This is what we are here for. We were created to praise God. From the womb to the grave, our soul should magnify the Lord. We are to give back, because God has already given so much. We are to magnify the Magnificent. This is easy to do on Sunday morning when we gather together as the Christian community and read passages about Godʼs grace and mercy, but then we have to go back into the world.

We go back into a world where students at a prominent state university riot after the university fires the coach, because he would rather protect the football program more than some innocent children. We go into a world of economic uncertainty and civil unrest. A world where parents will lock their child in a dog cage, deprive him of food and water, and beat him until he eventually dies. How can we magnify God in a world where atrocities like this occur everyday? Were things that much different 2,000 years ago when Mary sang her song? Did she not have a realistic take on the world around her? The answers to these questions are found in her song.

When Mary begins her song, it seems that it is a personal praise and nothing more, but as she goes on she acknowledges that God is working in more lives than hers. Listen to her words again.

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the
hungry with good things.

If anything, the world in which Mary lived was not any better, it was worse. Israel was an oppressed nation living under the harsh rule of the Roman empire. Iʼm not sure we can really grasp what that would be like. We complain about the taxes we have to pay to our own government, but Israel had to pay higher taxes to a foreign government. Many people, such as women, children, and slaves had no rights at all. Mary was aware of her surroundings. She perfectly understood the complexities of the world she lived in, but she also trusted God, and that made her sing.

When Mary and Elizabeth met for the first time after becoming pregnant, Iʼm sure they were both a little nervous. Elizabeth nervous about the pregnancy she had waited years for, and Mary nervous about the dangerous world she lives in. They are fully aware of the dangers that lie before them. Even though there is so much to bring these women down, you would never know it from their meeting; it is a meeting overflowing with joy. They are not filled with joy just because they are pregnant. That is a great joy many have experienced over the years. No, there is something different about their joy. They are filled with joy because of what God is doing. The world they live in is not a good one and there are many dangers around them, but God is at work and so Mary sings.

When we look around, it is easy to get depressed at the news we hear and the things we see around us. If we are not careful, we will go around being angry or depressed. We will be just like the people in the world, and who can blame them? This world can be a depressing place. The difference is, as Christians, we have eyes to see and ears to hear. We know what God has done, and we also know what he is doing. We know there is something on the horizon the world cannot grasp, something that Mary sings about. It is a day when the proud will be brought low, and the humble shall be lifted up. The hungry will live well, but the rich will go away empty handed. God is coming, and because of that, we can sing!

* The illustration in this paragraph was adopted from an illustration in Luke for Everyone by N.T. Wright.

The Evolution of the Vampire: How Twilight is Ruining the Vampire Genre

“Thus we are ministers of God’s own wish: that the world, and men for whom His Son die, will not be given over to monsters, whose very existence would defame Him.” Van Helsing

“Edward in the sunlight was shocking.  I couldn’t get used to it, though I’d been staring at him all afternoon.  His skin…literally sparkled, like thousands of tiny diamonds were embedded in the surface.  He lay perfectly still in the grass, his shirt open over his sculpted, incandescent chest, his scintillating arms bare.  His glistening, pale lavender lids were shut, though of course he didn’t sleep.  A perfect statue, carved in some unknown stone, smooth like marble, glittering like crystal.” Bella

I will admit up front that I am not a fan of Twilight.  I have not read any of the books, and I have only seen two of the movies.  I was not always prejudiced against this cultural phenomenon.  In fact, I was somewhat excited to see the first film.  My wife had read the books and she was telling me how good they were, and I like vampire movies, even bad ones.  There was no bias on my part going into the first film, but after seeing it my mind was made up.  I did not like it, and knew I would probably not like any of the films to follow.

There were plenty of reasons to hate the first film: Terrible acting, Horrendous script, Hideous directing.  I better stop now before I run out of adjectives.  Those things made the film bad, but that’s not why I really hated it.  I see those things all the time.  The real reason I hated the film so much was because of what Stephanie Meyer did to vampires in the story.  ”What did she do that was so bad?” you might ask.  As one recent writer put it, “She defanged them.”

“Ok, Ok, Stephanie Meyer doesn’t know anything about vampires, but why should this subject make it onto a Christian blog?”  That is a great question and one I would like to explore.  Susannah Clements in her wonderful book, The Vampire Defanged, has clearly documented how vampire stories have become more and more secularized over the years.  The pinnacle of this being the Twilight series, where vampires have lost all of their original characteristics and are glorified as some kind of superhuman/angel.  Before I criticize what Meyer has done to the vampire genre, I must explain what vampire stories were once all about.

The myth of vampires has been around for a long time, but modern vampire tales can trace their roots back to one story, Dracula.  The novel Dracula written by Bram Stoker first appeared in 1897.  It has been made into a film several times.  The most famous being Nosferatu (1922), Dracula (1931), and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992).  The character Dracula has appeared in over 200 films.  The only other character to have appeared in more films is Sherlock Holmes.  Dracula has had a tremendous influence on the vampire genre over the years, and it is important to understand the character Bram Stoker created him to be.

In no way is Dracula a Christian novel, but it does contain many Christian elements.  Some of these elements, such as a vampire’s fear of the crucifix have been a part of vampire stories for years.  Many of the Christian elements found within Dracula, which remained staples within vampire stories afterward, have recently disappeared.  Perhaps the most shocking element of Dracula that has been done away with is that vampires represent evil and sin.  To become a vampire is to become eternally damned, cursed forever.  Christian symbols, such as crucifixes and holy water, are used to combat this representation of evil.

All of this is absent in the Twilight series.  In fact, in Breaking Dawn Bella goes as far as describing Edward as being “more angel than human.”  Clements identifies this drastic change in the vampire genre and writes, “Instead of vampirism being an irrevocable damnation…Meyer portrays the nature of the vampire as the ideal – as something higher than human, rather than lower.”  Twilight uses vampires as a device.  The story is not a vampire story at all.  It is a romance novel where vampires are romanticized.

Whereas Dracula and some of its successors addressed elements of theology and spirituality, Twilight is devoid of all of these elements.  Dracula is a complex novel that challenges us to think on many different levels.  The most intriguing in our modern time may be how religion and science relate to one another.  Van Helsing makes use of science (blood transfusions, etc.), but never abandons religion.  Twilight on the other hand is a shallow romantic story, that takes something which has traditionally been viewed as evil and glorifies it.

I highly recommend reading Susannah Clements’ book The Vampire Defanged and Kent Woodyard’s article You Can’t Marry a Hot Vampire.

Some Thoughts on a Tragedy

I had been looking forward to this day all week.  This is the day when my Alma Mater takes on Iowa State and moves one game closer to the national championship.  Now that we are within an hour of the game beginning all of that seems to matter very little.  I was awaken this morning by a phone call from my brother informing me that the women’s head basketball coach and an assistant were killed in a plane crash.  My first thoughts were, “No, not again!”  It was just ten years ago when OSU experienced another devastating plane crash and ten people lost their lives.  It’s hard to believe the same thing could happen again, but it did.

Stillwater, Oklahoma is a small town that mainly consists of students and people employed by the university.  To say the university is the center of the town is an understatement.  Everything revolves around the university.  All year people are talking about basketball, football, baseball, wrestling, and many other activities associated with the school.  When people say that the OSU community is family they truly mean it.  It is a family that stretches all over the world, but comes together to celebrate victories, as well as mourn the loss of our members.

I will watch the game tonight, and I will hope for a win, but if we do win it will be bittersweet because two of our family members will be missing.  I don’t know why tragedy has struck Oklahoma State twice in the last ten years.  I don’t believe any person knows.  Although some people may want an answer I’m not sure it would help any.  One player on the Oklahoma State basketball team described Coach Budke as a man who put God first, family second, and family third.  I think this is what Coach Budke would want all of us to do in this time of mourning.  Put our faith and trust in God, even though the answers are not clear.  Remember that the OSU family is ready to offer our prayers and support for each other.  Finally, remember that athletics are not the most important thing in life.  Perhaps we will be able to find a little joy in a ballgame this evening, but that is not what life is all about.

“To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.”  Psalm 123