Movie Review: 9

It’s not very often we get an animated film that isn’t directed toward kids. But it’s even rarer when an animated film that isn’t directed toward kids can find an audience. With Shane Acker’s new “9″, co-produced by Tim Burton, they try to find the middle ground. It’s a shaky ground, but the film does find a groove–thanks to some amazing visuals and creature designs.
The story of “9″ is fairly underwhelming–after all, it is based on a short film that Acker made, and even though they brought in some good screenwriters (Pamela Pettler being one, who co-wrote “Corpse Bride”), the …

Christianity 2009.3: Should We Care?

Jesus said the world would hate us and Christians certainly go against the modern day “do whatever feels good” attitude but shouldn’t outsiders just repent and accept the truth of Jesus? Many people try this route with outsiders with little success and actually cause more damage.
As Christians, we often want to preach the good news but we fail to exhibit the other side of Jesus. Grace. See John 1:14.
Embracing truth without embracing grace leads to legalism. Just as grace without truth leads to compromise. Still, the Barna research shows that Gen X and Y say …

Christianity 2009.2: Who's To Blame?

We are going to look at the 6 biggest themes that draw the most skepticism and
objections from outsiders.
1. Hypocritical
2. Too Focused on Getting Converts
3. Anti-Homosexual
4. Sheltered
5. Too Political
6. Too Judgmental
We are going to look at how these outsiders arrive at these conclusions as well as how these perceptions affect their acceptance of Christ.
We will also look at how we can change these perceptions and how to build bridges to reach these generations while not compromising our own faith and values.
I will also look at a concept I call the “Followers of the Way” or simply Followers. This is a reference …

Christianity 2009.1: What They Think

Christians have an image problem. Many people outside the Christian faith, many of them young adults, have little trust in the Christian faith.
Outsiders admit their emotional and intellectual barriers go up around Christians and they reject Jesus and Christians because they feel Christians are rejecting them.
I don’t meet a lot of people who have never heard the word of Jesus Christ. I do however meet a lot of people who were once Christian but have now left or even worse reject the faith altogether.
Generation X and Y have thrown a whole new dynamic into our faith. These generations …

Christianity 2009: Preface

These posts are going to be a huge collaboration of my frustrations, opinions, and my “state of the union” for our faith currently. It will encompass numerous posts and probably take us a month.
I have been extensively researching this topic as this is one of my biggest issues and concerns with Christianity currently.
“What has happened to Christianity and why are we seen as the enemy to many of the younger generations.”
Please understand, I am going to quote a lot of data and research from people looking at our faith from the outside and much of it will make you …

Vaccinations

I took Chloe to the doctor last week. When we walked in the door, the nurse (I’ll call her “Susie”) met us with a smile. “Hi, Mr. Myers. Hello, Chloe. How are you today?” Susie was friendly, efficient and good with the children. I always liked her.
“We’re fine,” I said. “We’re here for Chloe’s checkup.”
“Okay,” she said. She looked down at the chart. “Uh-oh, it looks like Chloe’s going to get shots today.”
“Shots?”
“Yes, sir. But don’t worry,” she said with a light laugh, “they won’t hurt a bit.”
Honestly, who did Susie think she was lying to? She was going to …

The Importance of Date Night

Almost every book/blog I have ever read on developing a lasting marriage and preventing sins of all kinds in the marriage relationship, has included the idea of having a regular date night. The frequency varies, but the theme is consistent: men and women who continue to date continue to mate, and continue to deepen the bonds of intimacy and attraction that first brought them together.
There are all kinds of reasons people give for not having a date night. No time, no money, and no baby-sitter are among the most popular. But let me ask you this, “If your spouse confessed …

Health Care Priority

This is not about our President or “town hall meetings”. This is about priorities.
Our nation is caught up in a debate that centers around health care and insurance plans and thus the media has sucked us into a feeding frenzy. TV has become a nightmare of Jerry Springer shows … all over another political or social issue that has absolutely NO eternal value. Is this stuff important ? Yes. Is this stuff everlasting ? No.
There is only one health care plan that deserves to be at the top of our priority list. And …

You Do It.

We started our little adventure through the neighborhood with Chloe sitting in the wagon and me pulling it.  Things quickly went downhill from there.
For about half a block, she was content to sit still and let me do all the work.  Then she wanted out so she could walk.  After about ten minutes of walking, she wanted to pull the wagon herself.  I tried to talk her out of it but she was so insistent, I finally let her.
It was quite a sight to see.  She did very well at the beginning, but she lacked the ability to control its …

"annoying bells"

In 1994 my wife and I were living in a small house in the small town of Hudson, Iowa.
Next door was a small church with a small bell tower. If my memory serves me correctly. at noon and 6pm every day the church bells would play one or two old hymns. At first the noise was sort of annoying, but as the months went by I began to remember the lyrics of these hymns from my days as a child back in the 50’s and 60’s.
Words from old songs my mother used to sing before, during and after …