Bronzeville – The New LATC

Delightful straight play about an African American family that moves to California after the Japanese internment of the 1940’s, allowing them possession of an interred family’s house with one caveat…a young American man from that Japanese family has evaded internment by hiding in the attic! Now this family must adjust to this new surrogate family member in a situation akin to the plight their culture found itself in before Emancipation…a desperate struggle for freedom against an oppressive government. Meet the Goodwins: Patriarch Jodie, leading his family West from Mississippi to Los Angeles; His grandmother Janie, the aging matriarch and reigning chef of the house; His brother Felix who won’t be forced into the military just because the family has a history of fighting for a country that doesn’t recognize their rights…he just wants to play jazz; ….

The Rock Church Worship Service

Paul Easter hymns and songs Jon A consistent theme of life after death Putting treasures in some celestial kingdom Focus on going to Heaven Earth is not our home Is Heaven our final destination? Was that the New Testament belief that led them to missions? 2 Peter 3:13 Revelation 21:1-5 Sea is symbolic of darkness separating Everywhere you look you can see goodness What it’s supposed to be like Jesus coming down to us John 1:14 Like marriage, it’s a union of two people into one He is one He is the bridegroom, we are the bride Wisdom of Solomon Chapter 3:1-3 Writer describes disembodied souls with God, but wait…there’s more Wisdom 3:7 They will shine forth, some kind of resurrection Matthew 28:1-10 Jesus’ resurrected body, a physicality Why weren’t the disciples waiting there Challenge: believed Messiah would throw Rome out and lead Israel to a renewed existence Didn’t imagine … Continue reading →

Disneyland

As we went through the bag checking line, one of them announced, “Please have your-happy birthday-bags open and ready for inspection”. When I got to him, I complied, but slyly threw in that I didn’t have any happy birthday bags and he chuckled. Yay! Really great host for the last Tiki Room show of the day..when we cheered loudly, he replied, “That makes the Tiki gods smile!”. Awesome! Great tram announcer on our way out…asked about birthdays and anniversaries (coincidentally it was our 17 month anniversary) and engagements and congratulated the birthdays and anniversarys but for engagements he said good luck! Tee hee!

12 Rounds – AMC Westgate 20, Glendale, AZ

The advertisments all highlight the fact that this is a film from the director of Die Hard 2 (which to me is the more lackluster of the quadrilogy) and the producer of Speed (eh), but it’s basically the plot of Die Hard 3. Not to say this is a bad movie…it’s very exciting and terse and enjoyable. John Cena gives a very enjoyable performance (in my opinion not as good as Dwayne Johnson, but not bad for his second tour of the leading man position…The Rock was a little stiff in The Scorpion King) as Officer Danny Shaw, a beat cop in New Orleans who gets dragged into a sadistic terrorist’s 12 round game where the rules are solve the puzzle or people die.

Avenue Q – OCPAC

Yay! We got Brian Benoit (the original Trekkie Monster, et al.)! I was lucky enough to see him AND John Tartaglia when I first saw the show in Vegas (before it was trimmed down to 90 minutes), and it’s awesome that he loves doing the show so much that he’s now on the national tour. Great production. Obviously I can (and will) complain about things, but first and foremost, I had a great time! Why didn’t the orchestra play the final hit of “My Girlfriend Who Lives In Canada”? Rod was even sitting there waiting for it?!?!?! Why were lyrics cut from “Schadenfreude”? Straight-A students getting B’s? Ex-es getting STD’s? Watching tourists reading maps? Seeing doormen taking naps? CEO’s getting shackled? Watching actors never reach the endings of their Oscar speech? Brian and Christmas Eve didn’t say that they sold all their wedding gifts for money… Why didn’t the ensemble … Continue reading →

The Rock Church Worship Service

Paul ??? Jon Holy Spirit this week 2 weeks ago- listening to the voice of God 1 weeks ago- spiritual warfare John 8:31-32 Where’s all the freedom? We know the truth, where’s our freedom. Psalm 51:6 We remember negative things and deflect positive things What happens when the Holy Spirit pushes truth into our innermost being Do you believe that your heart matters to God? Our needs, our concerns, our fears Isaiah 61:1-3 Luke 4 Jesus’ mission: Restore people’s hearts Take passages of scripture like these and repeat them out loud… Gal 5:25 Proverbs ?:? Jesus wants to replace false ideas with truth Isaiah 45:2-3 Takes the work of God’s creation What is He up to in my life John 14:16 It’s like Jesus said, we need a constant counselor Goal of a family: to see glory, encourage it and release it upon the world Joseph David 1 Samuel 17:28 … Continue reading →

The Rock Church Worship Service

Paul Hosana = deliver us Jon 10 years ago he and Shannon were youth pastors at Bel Air Church, driving home to Alta Dena Stopped walking casually to his car when he saw a mountain lion in the parking lot 1 Peter 5:8-9 Spiritual warfare It’s not for elites It’s part of daily Christian life Revelation 12 defines the battleground Satan doesn’t cease to exist if you don’t think about John 10:10 Do we want the freedom Jesus is offerring? Genesis 1:26-28 Subdue Earth and have dominion Designed to rule Adam goes passive, wimpy At the end of time, we will reign and rule with Christ Matthew 25:14-23 Talents Put into positions of responsibilities Don’t want to sing in a heavenly choir for all time Enter into the joy of your master Get to work Matthew 25:31-34 Original job description: rule and reign We all have a drive to do … Continue reading →

Race To Witch Mountain

Can you judge a franchise film without being familiar with it’s predecessors? Can a film stand on it’s own regardless of it’s origins? Who am I to judge…I enjoyed this movie very much, despite (or thanks to) having never seen the original Witch Mountain movies (released in the late 70’s by the Walt Disney Company). Dwayne Johnson is a very capable action comedy hero (don’t go in the pimped out fridge Jack…), and I very much enjoy his acting. Carla Gugina once again gets to have fun in a supporting actress role (from Spy Kids to Watchmen, she just keeps working it on screen…). Anna SophiaRobb (Bridge To Terabithia, Because Of Winn-Dixie) is joined by newcomer Alexander Ludwig as insensitive-but-loveable aliens on a mission.

Brsinger – Christopher Paolini

Delightful! Although I find rather disturbing the amount of parallels I continue to spy between the Inheritance cycle and the original Star Wars trilogy (at least plot wise)…especially during the recap of the first two books at the beginning. Part the First: Farm boy’s boring life explosively interrupted by exciting worldly politics; Story about an ancient race of peacekeepers with magical powers that died out due to betrayal leading to the current oppressive regime; Farm boy’s surrogate parent(s) killed and farm boy runs from danger with the town’s storyteller; Storyteller reveals he is one of the surviving peacekeepers and begins to train farm boy in their ancient ways; Storyteller is killed by primary henchman of the evil leader; Cocksure stranger aids the farm boy in his quest to join the rebellion, but wants nothing to do with the rebellion himself; Farm boy and stranger rescue princess from primary henchman’s headquarters; … Continue reading →