Archive for February, 2007

I posted this at MonticelloLive today:

The contemporary Christian band Jackson Waters released its first label-released CD today. Entitled Come Undone, it’s being released by Word Records. Monticello native, David Leonard is the lead singer, song writer and plays guitar and keyboard on the album. The band has been together for four years and have been with Word for a year.

Two singles have already been released on the radio, Give Me Amazing Grace and the title cut from the CD, Come Undone.

“It’s got something on it for everybody! It’s a good mix of style and sound,” says Leonard. “We’re hoping to get on the road and promote the album.”

What I didn’t say there is how old this makes me feel. Dave is Rob Leonard’s son. Rob and I were campus ministers together at UAM. I was the director of the BCM, while he directed the MBSF. Rob is still there, carrying out a wonderfully effective ministry to collegians. He has not been recognized enough for his tireless commitment to collegians.

Back to Dave. I can still remember him as a kid running around on campus at different ministry events. It’s a little surreal to see his band hitting the big time right now. Heck, the closest I’ve ever been to actually knowing a famous musician is the gals of Point of Grace, whom Caro and I went to school with. Then there’s Ben Coulter, who I’m still hoping will allow me to introduce him in his first concert when he makes it big.

But I’m excited for Dave and the Leonards now. Way to go, Dave!

The rest of you, go buy the album here!

Is anyone else out there feeling overwhelmed? If not, then offer words of enlightenment. If you are, share why. Nuff said.

Morris Chapman, president of the nation’s largest evangelical denomination, asks a pertinet and piercing question. Read the article here.

The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)

by Neil Burger

A great movie that made my head spin! Reminded me of Sixth Sense, for some reason.

See more about The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)

Get ready for a media blitz next Sunday, March 4, on the Discovery Channel as they air a show called The Lost Tomb of Christ. I’m sure skeptics and antagonists of Christianity will come out of the closet drooling in delight again, as they did with the Jesus Seminar, The Da Vinci Code, and the supposed “Gospel” of Judas. Here’s a great link to demonstrate that scholars are already debunking the claims of the show; however, it makes for good money to cause a stir, so DC is moving forward. Use the information for intelligent dialogue.

In advance, YES, I know this is a beer commercial. If this tempts you to go get drunk and rob a bank, then you’re, well, an idiot. But for some reason, I’m fascinated by the video.

OK, it’s in the middle of a tornado warning here in our small metropolis of 10,000. I had just finished posting the National Weather Service warnings on MonticelloLive. I had the front door open listening and stepping out to look at the swirling clouds intermittently. Carolyn is out of town at the Journey Ladies’ Retreat, and so the kids had made a shelter in the hallway closet. They kept yelling, “DADDY!!!! Come get in here!” I walked back to comfort and lend them my manly presence only to discover that with them, the stinking chihuahua, the cat-that-has-become-ours, the bird and cage, and the hamster and cage, there was no room in the inn.

The thought of their dear old dad not being able to fit in the closet in case of an actual tornado apparently didn’t concern them. Rather, I placed last after a dog, cat, hamster, and parakeet.

Disney War

by James B. Stewart

It was a fascinating and disconcerting read at the same time. Having just come back from a week in DisneyWorld earlier this month, this book revealed the “dark side” (as Eisner claims everyone has) behind the magic.

It all boils down to this: Michael Eisner’s 20+ year stranglehold on the Disney Corporation was highlighted by almost a manic obsession with anyone receiving recognition beyond himself. He routinely lied, twisted, and covered truth. As author James Stewart concludes at the end of the book, it doesn’t appear that Eisner even became aware that there was a “truth” – that whatever he said was “truth.”

A legion of amazingly talented folks exited from Disney during his reign of insane, uncontrolled outbursts and character assassinations. Some formed Pixar; others formed DreamWorks, and still others head literally dozens of media and household corporations that you know and love today.

What would Disney be today without Eisner? Who knows? But I imagine it will be years before a culture of openness and creativity without fear are restored. You can’t abuse people for 20+ years and then expect for the dysfunction to disappear overnight.

Name one Disney movie or park or thing that you like, and chances are, Eisner was NOT behind it. In fact, chances are, the folks who were behind were forced out later because of their success.

An interesting omission in Stewart’s book… there is only one mention of “evangelicals” in the book as a passing sentence describes Eisner as “secular” and relates how deeply he hated Pat Robertson. However, there was absolutely NO mention of the Southern Baptist Convention’s boycott of Disney, nor of the numerous evangelical ministries’ call for reform within it.

It’s clear from reading the book that the downward spiral for Eisner began nearly simultaneously with the evangelical community’s call for a return to family-friendly fare. While I knew that a few years following the boycott, Disney’s stock hit an all-time low, I was not aware until I referenced the dates that perhaps there may have actually been some divine intervention, even judgment taking place within Disney, far from the eyes of those praying for it.

See more about Disney War

I was quite intimidated recently by a long list of excellent Christian blogs offered. I scrolled for hours, it felt like, to reach the end of the list. Needless to say, many of my frequent stops weren’t on the list, and in fact, Notes wasn’t there either. So if you’re here, reading and enjoying, pat yourself on the back for having discovered one of America’s little-known blogging jewels of insignificance. ;)

However, I’ve noticed in the past few weeks that my frequency at a few blogs has become quite steady, and I wanted to list them just to let you know of some that I really like and appreciate. For the most part, I’ve corresponded with the authors, and they’re very personable, helpful and friendly.

Ta-dum! Here’s the list:

• Live a Big Life
• Fighting to Stay Awake
• Monday Morning Insights
• Tim Challies
• Church Relevance

If you find one you like, let me know! Or if you have some to recommend, post them in the comments.

Shawn adds to the plethora of information out there on boosting your blog traffic in a simple, helpful and very readable way. Stop by and check it out. Tell him thanks for his work.

Lifeway Christian Resources named Thom Rainer as their new executive director. Read his address here. He has the spirit that the SBC desperately needs in these days of growing isolationism. Let’s hope that Rainer can indeed build bridges and convince his fellow SBC leaders to do the same. For too long, they’ve been bridge burners.

Thanks to Shawn for a fun idea! What’s your desktop look like? Here’s mine:

Post it on your blog, or post a link in the comments. If you’re using a Mac, hit apple+shift+3; if it’s a PC, uh, I have no idea.

The movie that I’ve been waiting to see for quite some time opens Friday. It’s called Amazing Grace, and it’s the story of William Wilberforce (1759-1833). Wilberforce singlehandedly was abel to move England to outlawing slavery in his generation. A vibrant Christian, he was also a prolific writer. I read his Real Christianity a couple of years ago and was amazed by how relevant his assessment of dead religion and living faith is to today’s church.

I’d highly encourage you to go and take a friend!

Blogged with Flock

Tim does a great review over at his blog today on a new book that’s out. Profound reflections. Might be worth picking up for some of us.

She found that her vocation, which is premised on caring for those who are ill, also systematically depersonalizes dying. Final Exam: A Surgeon’s Reflections on Mortality, another book I found on the New York Times list of bestsellers, represents her attempt to come to terms with this brutal truth of the medical profession.

In a profession made attractive by the power to cure, it is rare to find the young medical student who dreams of caring for terminal patients. But in a society where more than 90 percent of us will die for a prolonged illness, physicians have become the final guardians of life, charged with shepherding the terminally ill and their families through the intricacies of the end. Most patients and their families fully expect physicians to be able to comfort and provide that support. For doctors, this care at the end of life is, as this book’s title implies, our final exam.

Chen’s next words are revealing. “Unfortunately, few doctors are up to the task.” The problem is that most doctors quickly learn to suspend or suppress any shared human feeling for dying patients, as if this is the key to being a successful physician. Chen found that these lessons in denial and depersonalization began as early as her first encounter with death in the gross anatomy dissection lab where she spent weeks dissecting a cadaver, and that they continued through her residency and practice.

Challies Dot Com: Book Review – Final Exam

Blogged with Flock

I’m really growing to enjoy mondaymorninginsight.com. Two posts there today made me think. One was about whether the senior pastor model for churches is irrelevant today, and the other is related to the importance of a home church for spiritual accountability. Read ‘em and let me know what you think.