after seeing this movie and previously watching the behind the scenes special, i had a thought about the integrity and morality of using entertainment to tell “based on true” stories in film. denzel said he didn’t want to make frank lucas look like a hero in the movie (and i think he did a good job). but i was still left feeling like it might have romanticized a life of crime. without the movie, this is one story from the streets of harlem i would have never known about, and i think it may be an important part of american history.

was there a book written about this time in history? was the movie based on that book? i have no clue. but if there was, i bet most of us would feel more comfortable with the telling of the story. and i am guessing that most of us would prefer the book over the movie (especially in accuracy and historical documentation).

isn’t that funny? the book would still be entertaining. in fact, a lot of people read for entertainment, and even reading a true story is entertaining. see where i am going with this? whether it is a book or movie, if it is based on history, reality or a true story with facts and witnesses, it is an acceptable form of telling a true story, communicating to, AND entertaining an audience at the same time.

why would God write a book? why would God use a tool of entertainment to tell His story, and communicate with earthlings. just a thought.

unrelated link: The Ministry of Morality

i am a millennial. this is one of the labels for the generation (who hates being labeled) probably best described vaguely as being born between late 70’s and late 90’s. this seems to be the generation that everyone in america wants to figure out. i have identified a couple statements that describe how i approach the world around me, and i think some in my generation might agree with them. *

i prefer written communication. the implication is that i do whatever i can to say exactly what i mean, and i expect the same. mean what you say, or don’t mean anything that you say (for complete sarcasm: see Stephen Colbert’s book) i can handle either of those, but i am not good at translating whatever is in the middle - part lie, sometimes honest, mostly dramatic vacant language.
marriage works? most of our parents’ marriages ended up in divorce (i am a rare exception!). preachers do evil things that get exposed, and i grew up in a culture branded by broken promises. i watched words not translate into life. i have learned our obsession with security and sanitation is empty. the god of money is disappointing and boring. i noticed that hiding and faking it didn’t work for the generation(s) before me. if you need a good example of how our words have become meaningless just look at prayer. most of the phrases you and i use in prayer are cliche (see: [re]understanding prayer by Kyle Lake, the best book i have ever read! Thank you Tanya!). we use prayer for transitions and crowd control. also, what does it mean to have a “best friend”.

i am skeptical of all advertising. and everything is advertising.

The purpose of the vast majority of advertising today is not to inform consumers so they can make wise choices; instead, the intention is to persuade consumers to buy the advertised product, regardless of whether it will yield the satisfaction they have been led to expect. Much of today’s advertising is targeted at children, turning impressionable children into naive persuaders of parents. Most advertising today could be correctly labeled as “disinformation by design”. [from Sustainable Capitalism by John Ikerd]

most of the kids in my generation reject marketing. this doesn’t mean it doesn’t work; we just don’t like being brainwashed. i want to know: what do i really need and why? give me something useful and meaningful. i feel this most in the church. to ask “how can we get your generation to come to church?” is like asking “how can we get your generation to sing karaoke?” the flip side is that i like anti-marketing marketing (complete sarcasm: see Apple commercials)

in conclusion: (and application!)
- get a thesaurus and dictionary combination and use it. find the word that means what you want to say. if you can’t find a word that means exactly what you are trying to say use multiple words, or make up your own word.

- don’t “try” to reach me. don’t create another program for me or assume that i love the programs you already put on. please don’t get angry at me becasue i don’t understand why you are doing what you do. if you want to have anything to do with me i prefer a friendship with a real “no strings attached”. and i am good at smelling out the hidden agenda. save the money you would spend on marketing and use it to do something meaningful in the world. help someone. if we hear of it, we might be inspired to see more about the who, what and why you are. please spend the time to think through the why you are. if you try to fake an answer or it isn’t an inspiring answer i will be very disappointed.

church? just because we reject or question the modern church doesn’t mean we reject Jesus. you can’t get offended at our rejection of your advertising, programming, or the performance currently called church. it’s nothing personal, we just don’t feel right about it, so we probably won’t show up.

*i do not claim to be an expert on this subject in any sense or dimension, nor do i feel like i have exhausted the subject. i am most likely very wrong and wasted your time by even suggesting that you consider reading this. this is probably just a rambling post of complacency and cynicism. and sorry if uncapitalized words, bad grammar, or misspellings offend you. oh yeah, i don’t like fine print either!

Julie and i have been helping with some research for Make Mealtime Family Time where we try and have 5 meals together as a family each week and keep notes about our experiences. During our meal tonight some things clicked for me, and i felt moved to write about it.

Our modern (and traditional) view of mealtime has made it hard to have regular family meals in our culture. The real problem is that we have formalized mealtimes. There are certain protocol involved, nice dishes, quiet, clean, and stiff environment we have created. I am sure this will sound uncivilized and rude, but i think the words “meal” and “formal” should be divorced forever. So here are some tips, and things i have learned help to “make mealtime family time”

1. Have conversation.
Chew with your mouth open. Talk about everything. It is possible to eat and talk at the same time.

2. Play Games.
Take a break from rules. Put your elbows on the table. Play with your food. Play while you eat.

3. Laugh at Everything.

4. Take a Break from Titles.
If you encourage the use of “sir” or another respectful title, make this the time where they can call you “daddy” and see a side of you they normally don’t get to see.

5. Use Your Hands.
Utensils are over-rated. If you need to move something closer to the fork with your left hand, do it. I never understood the correct method for fork to knife and spoon handling anyway.

6. Play Music.
Sing along. Any kind of music works, but whatever will lighten the mood is best. Let family members choose the music for each new meal. Julie and i play the same music at every meal time - this relaxing jazz piano music from Target, it’s actually kinda corny but it works for us.

7. Bring Everything to the Table.
Minimize the time spent getting up from the meal to get food or drink or anything else, it’s distracting and takes away from the experience. This is a hard one for me because i am ADHD.

8. Turn Off Electronics.
How can i say this when i just answered the phone during the meal tonight? Well, obviosly this is a tough one in our culture. good luck. I think it would help, test it out and let me know how that goes.

9. Change it up.
Move to other rooms. Don’t get married to the table and chairs set-up. Make it an adventure.

I know it is silly to write a list of rules to help to encourage a time where rules are ignored, but the main idea is: do whatever it takes to loosen up the atmosphere.

See more tips at Make Mealtime Family Time

Lately every night has ended with a routine starting with bath time around 7:30 PM and then story time with Dad around 8 - 8:30 PM.

The great thing is we read the same two books every night (and sometimes three)…

Go, Dog. Go!
and
The Giving Tree
(and sometimes Oh! The Places You’ll Go)

David is usually asleep by story time, so Natalie brings the books to the living room and sits in Dad’s lap hanging on my every word.

We have read these two books so many times that some nights i can let her read them, picking out the words she remembers, adding some of here own, and licking her fingers as she turns each page.

Her favorite part of Go, Dog. Go! is where they wake up from sleeping because i get real quiet and slowly turn the page as she giggles and then i loudly break into the morning page.

Mostly i have really been taking in the message of The Giving Tree. I realize it’s just a kids book, but it seems to have some deeper meaning to me.

I think the tree represenst life, and as children we just enjoy life, and life makes us happy. Then things get complicated….

We learn about money. I have been there. Where life is all about money, and you learn how it seems to make everything happen, and the only thing that makes you happy is financial security, and having things figured out… make money, budget, save, give, spend, happy.

Then we build a house. That is where i am. It’s the settling stage i think. Not in location, but in relationships. You marry, maybe have some kids, things are easy to understand and you find happiness in going through life in cruise control, avoiding too much drama, and learning when to shut up.

Then there is the next stage. I don’t understand this stage. When we get to it in the book i take my time and just stare at the drawing of the middle aged man. He wants “a boat that will take me far away”… I seriously ponder that stage. That is where i will be soon. 20 years will have gone by and most will be a blur. Not a whole lot of adventure. Sure, i will use some grand words like “life-changing” and “meaning”, but for the most part things will stay unchanged, and i will be disappointed with my life … i guess…
And the final stage. There is no way i can even sample this stage yet, but i have seen it. Life doesn’t have much to offer, and you really don’t have much need for life anymore. Then old man is searching for “a quiet place to sit and rest” because he is tired. I am not tired yet, but i will be someday…i think…

Anyway, that is my deep thoughts from story time with Daddy.

*the ideas and interpretation portrayed in this mediocre, melancholy blog post are by no means whatsoever a reflection of the authors original intentions so just don’t try and sue anyone over it.

I know i haven’t written anything in awhile, and the funny part is this post won’t be anything special.

I had the opportunity to be a lead worshiper tonight - for the first time in a very long time. Phil and Jenny helped (and actually did most of the leading… he he he) and it was refreshing to connect with God that way again. I think it really helped that i got to lead with two people i really trust, and who think sorta the same way i do, so we were able to having never had sang or played together before meet for 45 minutes a couple hours before we led for a practice, and make it happen. It was encouraging for me as i think ahead to 7:07 - The college worship night hosted by the Refuge, where we may have a reunion to lead again… maybe a little louder this time.

I have been thinking of this new worship song, and i really have a problem with one of the lines… you may have heard it if you keep up with the “new stuff”. I won’t tell you who it is or anything, it’s really not a personal issue, it’s just.. maybe artistic, or maybe even theological?

The lyric reads this way:

I know that your alive
you came to fix my broken life
now I sing to glorify Your holy name Jesus Christ.

I really only have a problem singing that bolded middle line.

I mean, couldn’t they think of a better line? Seriously. I am no writing expert by any means, but i do try and steer clear of making any statement about “Jesus came for this reason” when crafting or choosing a worship song.

Think of all the better lines that could have been used, and let’s assume we want to use the word “life” to connect “alive” and “Christ” (which may be the choice in question) but at the least keep the same amount of syllables.

how about:

I know that your alive
You are the way, the truth, the life
now I sing to glorify Your holy name Jesus Christ.

corney i know, but come on…

or how about:

I know that your alive
you came with truth to conquer lies
now I sing to glorify Your holy name Jesus Christ.

i don’t know, i guess am glad i don’t have the pressure of writing “high profile” worship lyrics because it’s a daunting task. (i won’t even mention the offset melody, that makes it more complicated to sing than it needs to be for some, although i guess that doesn’t bother me as much as it should).

I don’t know if i told anyone, but Impact is attempting to cover two 24 hour periods with prayer (Tuesdays & Fridays according to east coast time zone). I pray on Thursdays from 10 PM - 11 PM (which is 1 AM - 2 AM EST on Friday).

Tonight i spent my hour in “The Prayer Room” with candles lit, Delirious? cranked up and i was just pleading out loud with God for this generation. As the song “I’ve Searched for Gold” came on, these lyrics stuck out to me:

Is there hope enough these days?…
Is there grace enough these days?…
Is there love enough these days?…

These were my questions to God tonight.
There are so many people. Is there enough of You to go around? Is there enough forgiveness to cover this generation? Is there enough to cover me, and my mistakes?

Sometimes, i have found, prayer comes down to asking God the right questions.

I came across this in study today, and it made me think of memorial day:

“There is no remembrance of men of old,
and even those who are yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow”
(Ecclesiastes 1:11)

I think Solomon really had some depression issues.

Lately i have found myself praying “God prepeare me.” It’s the only thing i can come to ask Him right now. It struck me as funny tonight because i thought: here i am, this Bible college graduate degree holding practiced somewhat experienced professional minister, and all i can ask God is make me ready. I am pathetic and weak.

“for my power is made perfect in weakness”
-God. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Remind you of anyone?
“Like one from whom men hide their faces” (Isaiah 53:3)