too many thoughts for a pithy subject line title

I took J & K to see The Incredible Hulk last night. It was a pretty good flick. I appreciated the nod toward the series that was on TV while I was growing up (with the use of the theme music in the score, images reminiscent of the series' opening credits in the movie's opening credits, a "cameo" by Bill Bixby via another television show, and a cameo by Lou F.) Those parts were well done.

I also enjoyed the pseudo Christological theme of sacrifice of personal wants/dreams/desires for the sake of others...as well as the reminder that absolute power corrupts absolutely...especially when we crave that power for powers' sake alone.

But as I sat through battle sequence after battle sequence after battle sequence...I found myself becoming numb to the horror of exploding buildings and flying bodies (not in the Superman way either) and in my numbness I wondered...when did we make exploding buildings and flying bodies entertainment? Yes, war flicks and cowboy movies have been around for a long, long time, as have television show in the same genres.

But have we gotten so far away from the Eleventh Day of September, when we sat fixed to our televisions watching the towers of Babylon fall, weeping and filled with dread because we didn't know what was coming next? Have we gotten so accustomed to war and the perceived inevitability of violence that we can watch movies filled with sequences of building demolition and not flinch at all?

Sad thing is, I don't know what to do about it personally. I love comics and movies based on comics; I'm looking forward to the release of The Dark Knight in July (it comes out on my birthday) and it's just as full of blown up buildings and perhaps even a deeper level of terror than was the Incredible Hulk...

Like I said in the subject line, there's too many thoughts rolling through my head right now to sum it up in the pithy subject line or even to offer a simple answer. Maybe this was just a form of confession, a way of saying I feel my heart and mind being changed, a hope that we will not become so numb to what's happening around us that we become apethetic and view entertainment as reality.

Oooh, Big Water!

I spent thirteen years of my life on some kind of coast. I had no idea I'd miss the water as much as I do. When we cross Sandusky Bay I get giddy: "Gonna see some Big Water!" (Big Water is what Kathryn called the Ocean when we lived on the North Coast of California. She didn't like Big Water.) Then when we get to Lakeside I just go calm in my soul. I don't know if it's the spirit of Lakeside that makes me calm of if it's the maritime breezes and sloshing sounds of water on the rocks that sets me calm. I doubt it's the onset of Annual Conference that makes me calm...that would make me sick...or something. It must be the water.

You might think that coming to a gated resort community for the work of an annual conference of a church that supports the work of a social gospel would be a contradiction--and that I would be all over that contradiction--but Lakeside speaks Sabbath to me, and it speaks Sabbath to my family. (Again, not the work of Annual Conference, but the water, and the breezes, and the fact that I can let my kids be kids and not worry about them, all of that is what speaks Sabbath.)

It's good to be home.

Take me for everything...

I had never heard about this video until I searched for the song this morning.

I was on my way home from youth group on Sunday night, and this song (All the Same) came on the radio. I found myself hearing the voice of God saying some of these words.

Then I came across the video for the song, the "Free Hugs" version anyway, and found out that I'm way behind the power curve on this one because the song came out two years ago.

So, I guess don the Captain Obvious costume (again) and offer this up for your viewing/listening/hearing pleasure:



One comment on youtube says, " this video makes me smile so much I want to cry, it's wonderful how much love is in this video."

My daughter said, "You can tell this guy is a Christian." I don't know if he is or not, but I sure do see Jesus in him.