Avatar 3-D

An absolutely phenomenal movie. A breath-taking, story so epic that it’s been told many times before – but never this well. It’s the epic-sized version of Up! The obvious story comparisons are Pocahontas (colors of the wind and savages) and Dances With Wolves (haven’t seen it, I’ve just read the Wikipedia summation), but the futuristic angle does a lot more by showing history repeating itself and demonstrating the evils of man. Made me think of Watchmen with it’s hunt for a new energy source. But it’s really about not letting anything stand in the way – doesn’t matter if it’s sentient, just cast it as a backwards savage and middle-class America will swallow it like syrup(presuming America took over the Earth and that’s went on from there – we’re here in the name of Earth, not in the name of America). Yay Stephen Lang! I’ve loved him since he told … Continue reading →

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

A very enjoyable movie.  Lots of star power: Sean Bean as Zeus, Catherine Keener as Percy’s mom, Steve Coogan as Hades, Pierce Brosnan as the centaur Chiron, Uma Thurman as Medusa, and Joe Pantolioni as Percy’s drunken slob of a stepfather. I haven’t read the books, so I don’t know how it compares.  I was initially confounded at the mythology being presented to me – I’m told it’s supposed to echo Percy Jackson’s confusion, but I felt a little more confused than normal and found it harder to get my bearings in the mythology of the story.  It could be that I just ask too many damn questions about the mythology up front… Not sure how I feel about the emphasis of the three brother gods of Greece being focused on – sure it kind of matches the patriarchal society that the mythology was founded on, but Artemis, Hera, and … Continue reading →

Furiously Obsessed – The Rock Church Worship Service

Paul Jon Hebrews 1 1 After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, 2 in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world. 3 The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my son! Today I have fathered you”? And in another place he says, “I will be his father and he will be my … Continue reading →

An Anchor For The Soul – The Rock Church Worship Service

Paul (The Whole Earth Is Filled With His Glory) Jon Mark B has malaria Walking through the Book of Hebrews Last 2 year have been turned upside down He struggled with his faith and does so frequently Keeps finding new facets of God as he turns the infinite diamond Book of Hebrews has been an anchor Show me what I need to change 6:19-20 Jesus is an anchor for the soul Written to urban Christians living in a city Very pluralistic society – lots of different beliefs Pressed to answer: is there a better way to life than Jesus If we’re honest, we face similar difficulties If God is so comitted to our joy, then why is life so hard? Why does God seem to be silent sometimes? How can He be miles away in a minute? Is there something I’m doing wrong? The Book of Hebrews is chasing and … Continue reading →

Sweeney Todd – Musical Theatre West

Phenomenal!!! I walked out of the theatre like. giddy fan boy! This musical is almost tied with Urinetown as the show I’ve seen the most (I’ve seen 5 different productions of Urinetown and now 4 of Sweeney – once with Norman Large (EEEE) at Riverside Community Theatre; once with John Massey Jr directing, musical directing and starring as Sweeney at STAGEStheatre; and once at the Ahmanson with it’s Tony-award winning “artistic” rendition). Does the movie count as the fifth time? ;-D This was hands-down one of the best large stage productions of Sweeney Todd I’ve ever seen. The set design, the lighting, the dancing, the singing, the acting – it’s all absolutely phenomenal. It’s no small wonder that the director (who has been in several productions of Sweeney as The Beadle – including the first National Tour) was able to pull this off, but even today it’s still a masterful … Continue reading →

The Rock Church Worship Service

Jon 1 Cor 13 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit. 4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. 6 It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all … Continue reading →

The Rock Church Worship Service

Charlie: We’ve won the coin toss and elected to receive from the Holy Spirit Paul (I Will Sing A New Song) Matt: Psalm 9:1-2, He is way better than a football team or a quarterback Paul Jon Mark B, Adam E, Jeami Duncan are going to Uganda next week to prep the summer trip As they go, if we could raise some extra cash Drop a check with a Uganda memo in the basket Jeami is going to purchase land for Mercy’s Village 10 day exotic retreat in Uganda He had something prepared, but looking at us he’d rather fly by the seat of his pants His devotional time has been pressing on him so he’s sharing it What are you rejoicing in? what do you take joy in? it hits the heartstrings He’s yelling at us Caps lock in an e-mail Galatians 6:11-15 11 See what big letters I … Continue reading →

The Rock Church Worship Service

Paul All of my life i offer you Jesus-He gives back double Matt Jon is prepping his next series The past few weeks he’s been wrestling with God’s goodness Disaster on the otherwise o the world doesn’t directly affect your life Personal disaster though makes you ask, is God good Goodness of God doesn’t depend on your character God is good … All th time. All the time…god is good He is risen…he is risen indeed Good is very relative Good or great haircut, Kobe have a good or great season, Good job or great job Mostly take great over good in our culture More an eater than a cook Ribs he cooks Getting it right is a process If you put all this work into something and it’s just good, you’re demoralized Maybe the authors of the Bible didn’t intend for us to interpret it that way, that tamely … Continue reading →

The Rock Church Worship Service

Paul (Saved by Your Mercy), chaser of Jon Free To Love / Galatians 5:1-18 Salvation = Freedom This letter was written to people saved out of paganism and started following Jesus Some pagan leaders were converted and started introducing confusing teachings 1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! 3 And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ … Continue reading →