BIG MIRACLE AND OTHER THOUGHTS

I'm driving the BUS for The Home now. I like it. I have to pull myself up to get in the drivers seat. It is a little high. Then when I get out I have to get into position so I can drop to the ground about 8 inches. I do wish my legs were longer. We have had two successful outings with the wheelchairs going. You can’t believe how happy that makes me. We left twice before without those two as I could not get the lift to work. I cannot take the disappointment they faced. I think I have the lifts little secrets figured out now.

I got a note from My friend Brent that he and Liz, his wife, are extras in the movie Big Miracle. He was my roommate on my cruise to Alaska a few years back and then he and his wife moved to Alaska a few months later. They auditioned as extras and were accepted and appear in six or seven scenes. My whole family plans to go see Big Miracle on Tuesday as a family Valentines gift to each other. I was in Poulsbo with a group today just to look around and enjoy this quaint little tourist town so bought a few very nice chocolates for the night. We all plan to study Brent's appearance on the screen schedule so we don't miss him in the movie. I believe his longest time on screen is the restaurant scene behind Drew Barrymore. He and his wife are eating. I do wonder if they actually ate anything. We are all looking forward to it.

I preach again on this weekend. Brent sent me a note earlier talking about messy lives. I am using that as a theme for this series. No one gets through life without some mess or another. Mostly we all have several messes. No one is untouched. I will use examples from some of the great characters of Scripture: Adam and Eve (they first parents had their son kill his brother – how hard is that?), Abraham (the father of our faith told what we call a little white lie. Sarah was his sister, very far removed, but he neglected to mention she was also his wife), King David (where do we start – the man after God’s on heart was an adulterer a murderer, and a weak minded man when it came to his daughter’s rape), Peter (denied Christ three times – I have heard several people say “I would not have done that.” Really), Paul (He got so angry at Barnabas for wanting to take John Paul on a missionary trip, that it ended their team relationship, but expanded the mission), and maybe even my own life. I am starting with a clip from "Hoarders." I also took a few shots of my own apartment at it's worse, but don't know yet if I will use them. I suppose it will be a matter of whether I am willing to be embarrassed.

While I reconsidered off and on right up through Friday, I am not applying for the Resident Commissioners position with the Housing Authority. There is just way too much unknown. I have no idea what I would be getting into. While I would like to see some things changed, I like the ministry I have here. I have added driving the bus. That is enough for now.

Things are going fairly well around here. It’s calm. There were even two mortal enemies on the bus to Poulsbo today and were able to completely avoid each other so there were no conflicts. That's a step in the right direction.

I have also decided to return the PC computer I bought. Maybe I never said I bought a new computer, but I talked about it. I really cannot afford it. I will muddle along with my love-able old Mac. It may be on its last legs, but so am I. I will keep it until it dies. When that happens, I will most likely give up the newsletter I do and go back to using the Library computers for emails and blogs. When that happens I will save $50-60 on the cable line. That will be a good thing.

MOVIES

Run do not walk to the nearest theater to see “Courageous.” It is the most powerful and entertaining sermon I have ever heard/seen on the value and responsibility of fatherhood. And take Kleenex, a lot of Kleenex. You most likely will need it unless you way more control over your emotions than I.

Courageous is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the film division of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Perhaps you saw “Facing Giants” or “Fireproof” films 2 and 3 of their wildly successful film division. With each film they have become more and more successful. Fireproof was made for $500,000 and took in $33 million. With the profits they built and 82 acre sports complex for the community just to give back to Albany.

The senior Pastor, Michael Catt writes about the beginning of this ministry.

“I met Alex Kendrick while preaching at a youth camp one summer and was impressed with his videos and media talents. When the time came for us to fill the Media Minister position on staff, I contacted Alex. Though Alex was using his gifts and talents in ministry, he was not the director of media for his church. I saw a diamond in the rough. Alex came on board in 1999, and we called his brother Stephen in 2001.

“God had been preparing these two from childhood to make movies. As kids they lived next door to a man who was interested in technical gadgets. He bought stop-and-go animation cameras, and Alex and Stephen used his equipment to make short videos. For years the boys put together homemade “chase ‘em down and beat ‘em up” movies. Later they produced commercials, movie trailers and even school projects.

“All along, their parents supported them through prayer and by modeling authentic Christianity. As a result, Alex has long had a deep desire to make Christian films.

“The Kendrick brothers are an asset to our staff. They have a great respect for pastoral authority and are very teachable. They have put aside egos and brotherly competition to produce movies that have made a mark on our church, on the culture and around the world. Through His sovereignty, God even placed their families in the same neighborhood in Albany. This has allowed Alex and Stephen to work on story ideas or write scripts more easily.

“After reading an article from George Barna listing the top cultural influences, we learned that church was sliding down the scale while movies, media and music were becoming the predominant means of influence. Since the church was listed behind sports, education and movies we concluded we could either complain about this or address it. This mindset has been the key initiative behind the development of the Sports Park, Sherwood Christian Academy and Sherwood Pictures.

“In 2001 we went to Orlando, Florida, for staff retreat and took a day off to hang out at Disney World. We took a behind the scenes tour and learned about their “imagineers.” As we walked around the park observing the attention to detail everywhere, we were challenged with this thought: If a secular company can be this committed to excellence, why can’t the church of Jesus Christ?

“While in Orlando, I talked with Alex about where he wanted to be in five to ten years. He said, “I want to make movies, but no church is going to let me stay on staff and do that.” I replied, “Why not? Bring me a script and a budget, and let’s see if God is in it.” That conversation was the genesis of Sherwood Pictures. Our goal from day one has been to make family-friendly movies that build on the Judeo Christian ethic and communicate the gospel without compromise. We want to make movies you could take your girlfriend or your grandmother to without embarrassment.”

They has succeeded, May they be blessed multiply abundantly. I have seen “Facing Giants” and now “Courageous.” I have ordered “Fireproof” from Netflix. If this is the future of faith based films we are in good hands.

UPCHUCK AND MORE

Every once-in-a-while I get hit in the stomach with whatever and it begins to leak out of both ends. I start with the runs that seem more like a sudden explosion. I did manage to get to sleep and at 2:30 I began the upper volcanic explosion that felt like it might last as long at Mount St. Helens. It kept coming and coming and coming and — have you had enough yet. Just one more, the next day I had the runs all day. Enough said.

That was yesterday. I did get a good jump on reading The Help. Since I have already seen the movie I am delighted about how closely the movie follows the book. This is only the second time a movie has motivated me to get the book. My neighbor across the hall loaned me her copy. There are three descriptions of people in the book that are physically dramatically different than their movie counter parts. However, I will give the actors credit, they certainly convey the right spirit and attitude.

So today is my first day I sorta fell like myself. That is if I have any idea what it means to feel like myself. Would that be my 16-year-old-self, my 24-year-old self, my 35-year-old self, or my 50-year-old self? I remember each of these phases and that is not what I felt like. I think I feel lie my 80-year-old-self. I’m not that old yet, but went the way of the missing cat. Gone, but where?

Work has been piling up. I have a terrible habit to pile my dishes in the sink until I have no clean ones. I managed to get a few done today so I could survive the weekend. I had no clothes for Sunday so I had to do laundry. But my book was calling. When I get hooked on a book I like that will consume me. I argue that I am retired, no one visits my apartment, my family is across the water for the weekend, and I can do all this later. When my eyes gat tired I watched a Netflix rental called John Rabe. In German, Chinese and English. You have to keep your eye3s open and read quickly. I missed some, but not much. Maybe I will be able to read faster when my hearing aids arrive.

John Rabe is a terrific true story of a German in Nanking, China, in 1937 when the Japanese were attacking China. He had been sent by Germany 27 years earlier to bui8ld a power plant. He had done a terrific job and was set to go home when the Japanese began the attacks. Stuck in Nanking negotiated a safe zone and saved over 200,000 Chinese from certain death. There’s a lot more, but this isn’t a movie review — is it?

I spend some time on the porch with the Precious Ladies of The Front Porch.  Chas is usually there but he goes to church on Saturday night. My laundry was drying so I joined them until the crowd got so large I could not hear everything. I am now very aware of my lass of hearing. I now realize how often I say “pardon.” I talked to my daughter on the phone today and just skipped over something she said that I did not understand. I wondered how often I did that. Pretending! Takes me back to acting days — I guess I’m still in those. Also, the larger the group, the less interested I am in hanging out. I suppose I’m frustrated by the lack of my ability to focus.

I guess that will all change. I will either be like my brother David who is glad to have his hearing aids, or like my oldest brother Harlow who hated them and refused to wear them. His children hated visiting him since he could not hear them and gave up trying. I don’t want that.

GOOD MOVIE

I have never tried to make a secret that I like movies. I like heart warming warm puppy type movies, based on fact (current or historical), and action. The bigger the explosion the more I seem to like it. I want to there to also be a story. That’s why one of my all time favorites stars Harrison Ford as the “Fugitive”. Good story and terrific train wreck. The jump down the wall of the damn from the tunnel was very good as well.

I went to see “The Town” is afternoon. Usually a group of us go, but there were only two today. It stars Ben Affleck, is directed by Ben Affleck and partially written by Ben Affleck. To many did not care for Ben Affleck. Too bad! They missed out. He is showing his chops as a very good director and his acting is also improving.

I’m sure it was filmed in Boston. If not there, some other eastern town with very narrow streets. If swearing repulses you, you will not like this movie. But it had one of the greatest car chase scenes I have ever seen. It was edge of your seat exciting. I turned left when the cars went left. I leaned right when the cars went right. I can only guess the number of cars smashed beyond recognition. Maybe a 1000! Ok, that’s too many, but not by much. Half the budget had to be for vehicles. They were racing down very narrow streets with cars parked on both sides cars crashing at the turns, others rear-ending cars or being rear-ended. Unfortunately, I tend to laugh at these scenes as I do at explosions. It seems impossible that the lead car can have that many cuts and bruises and keep on running. They must be made by Timex! There were some explosions, but not over the top ones that make you wonder how anyone walked away alive let along unhurt.

I will most likely see “Hereafter” next week. I like both Matt Damon and director Clint Eastwood. I’m not that interested in the topic – can we talk to the dead, but the central character, Matt Damon, considers his gift to see the future a curse, rather than a blessing.

I do believe God gifts people beyond their abilities. I am thankful for the gifts I had. I believe I was gifted when I was teaching. I considered it a blessing. I have never enjoyed speaking in front of groups. When I had to take speech in high school, I was physically ill every time I was to speak. I never did speak in class. I only passed because of the written part.

I eased into teaching gradually with very small groups. I learned quickly that it was the teacher’s responsibility to capture the attention of the class. I had to speak in some college classes, but was never very good. I preferred smaller group interaction. When I began working in my first church I knew the time would come when I might have to address the congregation of about 700. I was a nervous wreck when the day arrived. When I rose to approach the pulpit, I followed my senior pastors lead. When I got to where I could hang on and hide my wobbly knees, I said, Let us pray. As the congregation bowed their heads, I reached under the pulpit to get a glass of water. As I pulled it up to get a sip and wet my extremely dry throat, my hand began to shake uncontrollably. I grabbed it with both ands and got my drink. Meanwhile, back in the foyer that was separated from the pews by glass. The ushers saw what I was doing and began to roll on the floor (we were not Pentecostal).

WHO WILL STAR?

There’s lots of talk about the barefoot bandit. Since he started in our part of the world he is our hometown hero. Did you know he never hurt anyone? There was never any violence. Isn’t that good. It is hard to believe how stupid people are. I know I’ve had lots of practice listening, but there is always something new. That’s why life is so interesting. How big is his fan base on Facebook? Something like 10,000. He did elude police for over 2 years. Yeah! Terrific. What a clever and bright boy he must be. He’s a boy of above average intelligence we’re told. Did you know he figured out how to fly a plane just by playing video games about flying? He’s brilliant. Maybe if he had practiced on video games about landing he wouldn’t have crashed those planes.

These admiring people are the same ones who would have cheered on Bonnie and Clyde, Billy the Kid and any number of criminal folk hero’s. I know he will be in the headlines for many months. He will most likely be tried in 6-7 states. Since he took planes and boats across state lines there will also be federal charges.

There will be a book and a movie. There is money to be made off the barefoot bandit. The law prohibits him from profiting from his own crimes, but can mom profit? She hired a lawyer to protect those rights. Both the book and the movie had better move quickly. You have to strike while the iron is hot. The book is probably mostly written — just needs a conclusion. If it’s cheaply done it should be on the market in less that a month. Paperback of course. A good movie will take more time. I know a TV movie of the week would be faster, but I want to encourage them to hold out for a major motion picture. Smaller audience, but more money! I’m sure casting directors already have ideas. Colton is tall. 6.4” or something like that. He is sorta thin. Leonardo DeCaprio has the build, but he’s getting to old. Matt Damon is over the age limit and short. Who is tall, somewhat thin, good looking with a smirky smile? They also have to be likeable and sneaky. The role may have to go to an unknown. There really isn’t such a thing as an unknown. The actor’s parents know him. So do his siblings and friends. I guess that just means we don’t know him.

Maybe a young TV star, or up and coming Broadway star. It must be someone who runs well barefooted. Maybe Logan Leman would work. He’s been on a couple of series but may be best known as the kid from 3:10 to Yuma, the son of Christian Bale. He has the looks and the build. He is also 18 years of age. Very close! Other suggestions?

If Logan doesn’t work, I’m stuck. Set up a national open audition. Go ahead see all 10,000 who audition and try to keep them strait. We don’t know that the barefoot bandit had a girlfriend, but one should be written in. We need a hook for the teenage girls. A tragic love story would help a lot otherwise it may only be guys interested in the movie. I’m not sure there are enough explosions for that crowd, but there are some pretty cool crashes. One can always add bigger explosions and crashes. It doesn’t have to be a true story, just based on a true story. The final boat chase is pretty cool. Did you see all those bullet holes? How did they avoid hitting him? Amazing.

The story is great if you don’t take into consideration the damage he did, the live’s he destroyed and the emotional harm he did, but if it has comic overtones these people can be presented as just slightly annoyed instead of devastated. We do want a good movie.