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Once upon a time I was studying to be a film director. Though I didn't stay on that path, I love movies, and every once in awhile a movie comes along that makes me say, "That's the kind of film I would have made." Reign Over Me is one of those movies. Ultimately it is about the power of friendship, the impact a person can have on another's life by caring and being willing to give one's time and bear with a person even when it's difficult. This is a very different role for Adam Sandler, but he does a great job playing Charlie Fineman, a man whose wife and three daughters were killed on 9/11. Charlie has shut down, closed himself off from people. But then his former college roommate in dental school, Alan (played by Don Cheadle) runs into him and their friendship is rekindled. Alan wants to help Charlie, and Charlie eventually opens up to him about what happened to his family. This is the kind of stuff I like to write--wounded characters, characters who have experienced loss but are impacted by someone who cares. This is a powerful film.
Now all the vault of heav'n resoundsIn praise of love that still abounds:'Christ has triumphed!He is living!'Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear!Repeat their song of glory here:'Christ has triumphed!Christ has triumphed!'Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!Eternal is the gift He brings,Therefore our heart with rapture sings:'Christ has triumphed!He is living!'Now still He comes to give us lifeAnd by His presence stills all strife.Christ has triumphed!He is living!Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!O fill us, Lord, with dauntless love;Set heart and will on things aboveThat we conquerthrough Your triumph;Grant grace sufficient for life's dayThat by our lives we truly say:'Christ has triumphed!He is living!'Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!Adoring praises now we bringAnd with the heav'nly blessed sing:'Christ has triumphed!Alleluia!'Be to the Father and our Lord,To Spirit blest, most holy God,All the glory,never ending!Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.Text: Paul Z. StrodachTune: Geistliche Kirchengesang, Koln, 1623I love any hymn with this tune. But I especially love this hymn that speaks over and over again that "Christ has triumphed. He is living!" It is such a joyous hymn, and I love singing it with gusto. Apparently I've made it known to Kathy (my friend and the music director) that I love this hymn to the point that that if we're going to be singing it in an upcoming service she says, "We're doing your hymn." V. 3 makes a great prayer.
You can click on this to enlarge it. I guess I really like this one since I hate math so much!
This is an interesting reality show (actually I think this was one of the earlier reality shows on TV) in which people live out in the middle of nowhere for over a month and do their best to survive in the wilderness. They are put on teams and compete in challenges for rewards and for immunity. Tribes that don't win immunity have to vote someone off. As more and more people are eliminated, there are individual immunity challenges. Then in the end, the last people voted off comprise a jury and vote from the remaining 2 (or now 3) players who they want to win the million dollars and the title of "Sole Survivor." The goal is to outwit, outplay, outlast. I have watched this show for years, and honestly sometimes I ask myself why I watch it. I think I enjoy watching the dynamics of groups of people who are of all different ages and backgrounds. I like seeing how people interact, and what they are willing to do to win. It's quite fascinating actually. And it's interesting to see the challenges they compete in.
"...For the Law always accuses and terrifies consciences. Therefore, it does not justify, because a conscience terrified by the Law runs from God's judgment...
By their own strength, people cannot fulfill God's Law. They are all under sin, subject to eternal wrath and death. Because of this, we cannot be freed by the Law from sin and be justified. But the promise of forgiveness of sins and of justification has been given us for Christ's sake, who was given for us in order that He might make satisfaction for the sins of the world. He has been appointed as the Mediator and Atoning Sacrifice. This promise does not depend on our merits, but freely offers forgiveness of sins and justification, as Paul says in Romans 11:6, 'But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.' And in another place, Romans 3:21, 'The righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law.' In other words, forgiveness of sins is freely offered. Nor does reconciliation depend on our merits. Because if forgiveness of sins were to depend on our merits, and reconciliation were from the Law, it would be useless. Since we do not fulfill the Law, it would also follow that we would never gain the promise of reconciliation. Paul reasons this way in Romans 4:14, 'For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.' If the promise would depend on our merits and the Law, which we never fulfill, it would follow that the promise would be useless.
Since justification is gained through the free promise, it follows that we cannot justify ourselves. Otherwise, why would there be a need to promise? Since the promise can only be received by faith, the Gospel (which is properly the promise of forgiveness of sins and of justification for Christ's sake) proclaims the righteousness of faith in Christ. The Law does not teach this, nor is this the righteousness of the Law. For the Law demands our works and our perfection. But, for Christ's sake, the Gospel freely offers reconciliation to us, who have been vanquished by sin and death. This is received not by works, but by faith alone. This faith does not bring to God confidence in one's own merits, but only confidence in the promise, or the mercy promised in Christ. This special faith (by which an individual believes that for Christ's sake his sins are forgiven him, and that for Christ's sake God is reconciled and sees us favorably) gains forgiveness of sins and justifies us. In repentance, namely, in terrors, this faith comforts and encourages hearts. It regenerates us and brings the Holy Spirit so that we may be able to fulfill God's Law: to love God, truly fear God, truly be confident that God hears prayer, and obey God in all afflictions. This faith puts to death concupiscence and the like. So faith freely receives forgiveness of sins. It sets Christ, the Mediator and Atoning Sacrifice, against God's wrath. It does not present our merits or our love. This faith is the true knowledge of Christ and helps itself to the benefits of Christ. This faith regenerates hearts and comes before the fulfilling of the Law."
This is definitely something to check out while in the Cleveland area. Lots of cool artifacts of various musicians--outfits, letters written by performers, guitars, all sorts of stuff. And there are also videos and interactive kiosks. Once someone has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, virtually every song of that performer is put on a computerized jukebox, so you can search by artist and hear pretty much all their music if you want. There was one interactive thing where you could select an artist and then see who their influences were and hear clips of music from each of them. A person could really spend days there. If I were alone, I could probably be there a long, long time listening to music! http://www.rockhall.com/I really think this building is cool too. It's very unique.
This is a great song performed by Smalltown Poets (which can be found on the album Third Verse). The lyrics of this song contrast God’s love to any other love. Any other love is “imagined,” and “infatuation, fun fades and loses its appeal.” The lyrics say that in contrast God’s love is real.
The second verse says:
“Any other love
Is misplaced identity
Paring pride and shame
With the life it fakes of me
Faces of familiar loves
Fall in shadows on the floor
Chased there by
The light that pours
When you open every door.”
These lyrics remind me that people often look for love in the wrong places or make the love of/for another person a god sometimes. But any other love but God’s is not perfect; it cannot satisfy one’s deepest needs. Only God’s love is perfect and unconditional. And as long as people not know that perfect love of God, there will always be an emptiness inside them. God sent His Son to suffer and die for our sins. That is love!
I love the music of this song too. I really like it when the group does harmony in parts of the song.
Listen to a sample and/or download
Jesus the Great High Priest
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.So much comfort in this passage! Jesus understands what we go through. He has been tempted like we are. But He did not sin. He lived a perfect life and was the perfect sacrifice for us. And how awesome that we can come to God with confidence because of what Jesus has done and receive mercy and grace.
Cat is my mom's sister. She is a lot of fun and can really tell a story. She married Al several years ago. He is a lot of fun too, and is quite the business man. He owns/runs a smokehouse (which makes great beef jerky), and is involved with several renovation projects. They live in Ohio, so I don't get to see them often at all, but it is nice when I can visit them.
Lola is located in Cleveland, Ohio. The owner/executive chef is Michael Symon who was named The Next Iron Chef in 2007 and was listed as one of the ten best chefs in America. In my opinion, this place lives up to the hype. Nice atmosphere at Lola, friendly service, and outstanding food. The beef cheek pierogi (wild mushrooms, horseradish crème fraiche) appetizer was excellent. The duck was incredible. And the desserts too were wonderful, especially the “6 a.m. Special” which is French toast, maple-bacon ice cream, and caramelized apple. Good stuff. I look forward to going back someday.http://www.lolabistro.com/
I have a fondness for Cleveland since my mom grew up in the Cleveland area, and when I was growing up, my parents and I would go visit my grandparents (and aunt) in the Cleveland area every year. Cassie and I took a great trip to Cleveland years ago too. One of Cleveland’s most famous landmarks now is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame which is pretty cool. There are also other museums, the zoo, shopping, and great restaurants (like Lola, which will have a post itself!). I also saw a baseball game at Jacob’s Field once (it is now called something else), and would say the Cleveland Indians is my second favorite baseball team. The city takes a lot of pride in its Indians and in its football team, the Browns. Something else I think is cool about Cleveland is this area called The Flats. It’s an entertainment area which has a lot of restaurants and bars, but it’s cool cause it’s located right along the Cuyahoga River. Cleveland Rocks!
"The knowledge of original sin is absolutely necessary. The magnitude of Christ's grace cannot be understood unless our diseases are recognized. (Christ says in Matthew 9:12 and Mark 2:17, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician.') The entire notion that a person is righteous is mere hypocrisy before God. We must acknowledge that our heart is, by nature, destitute of fear, love, and confidence in God......we will never be able to recognize Christ's benefits unless we understand our evils."
This was such an engaging crime drama about private investigators searching for an abducted little girl in Boston. There are twists and turns, and the end is really interesting and makes you think. The movie was directed by Ben Affleck and is based on a novel of the same name. Casey Affleck, Ed Harris, and Morgan Freeman are great in this film.
Preus does an awesome job of addressing the central doctrines of sin, grace, Law and Gospel, the Sacraments, worship, ministry, etc., always focusing on how Jesus is at the center of all Christian teaching. He lays things out in a way that's easy for people to understand and beautifully speaks of what Christ has done for us. Excerpts from this book can be found in my theology posts. Awesome book!
This museum is definitely something to check out if you're in Toronto. I love the extension on the building, the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, which the Museum's website calls, "one of the most important architectural projects of our time and a distinctive new symbol of Toronto for the 21st century." I think it's awesome looking! There is quite a lot to see in the museum--lots of World Culture and History Galleries. The Canadian gallery is cool, displaying various images, symbols and emblems of Canada.http://www.rom.on.ca/index.php
Once upon a time I was studying to be a film director. Though I didn't stay on that path, I love movies, and every once in awhile a movie comes along that makes me say, "That's the kind of film I would have made." Reign Over Me is one of those movies. Ultimately it is about the power of friendship, the impact a person can have on another's life by caring and being willing to give one's time and bear with a person even when it's difficult. 
