Rock you like a hurricane

I've been listening to David Crowder's Church Music a lot recently. I think it's a great album, but I am particularly moved by How He Loves. Here's the music video, but I actually prefer the album cut (it's slightly different), they are both great.

I love the opening lyrics:

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

I love the imagery of God's love as an overwhelming force. It reminds me of another powerful Crowder song, Here is our King. You can listen to him tell the story behind the music here, but the song is an allusion to God returning as a tsunami to sweep us back to him. I think that both of these are amazing and moving thoughts about the power of God completely changing the landscape of our hearts and lives. After all, when a hurricane or tsunami passes, everything left behind is totally transformed; there is no mistaking that an unstoppable, unwavering force has been there.

We often use themes from nature to talk about God, but I think most of the time it tends to be a soft, whispering wind or the brightness of the sun. We rarely talk about God in terms of the terrible forces that we fear (hurricanes, forest fires), probably because of the devastation and loss associated with them. However, I appreciate and am awed by this lyrical re-interpretation of those incredible events.

I hope you are touched by it too.

The End of Bauer Power

Well Bauer-ites. It's been confirmed... this is the last season of 24.

It's not over until Jack says it's over

Through 8 'splosion filled seasons, Jack has un-apologetically shot, fought, and tortured his way through friend and foe alike to protect the USA (and you and me). Eight television seasons in this century should be measured in dog years, there aren't many series that last that long in an era of instant criticism. So it's really like 20 seasons.

I must admit that after watching the first 4 or 5 episodes this particular season I gave up. Perhaps we've been desensitized to the constant action and ever impending doom (there's always another terrorist...), but I just didn't find it as compelling as past seasons.

Too soon? or is it time to pull the plug?

No 3D for me

Am I the only one bothered by the recent explosion of 3D technology? I am not interested in this emerging technology at all, and I'm normally excited about tech trends.

I saw Avatar in 3D because I wanted to see what it would be like. I loved the movie, but I didn't really feel like the extra dimension added to the film. It was cool, but it didn't make it better. And I was not happy with the fact that it cost FOUR MORE BUCKS to watch it in 3D. Not cool. I plan on seeing very few other films, if any, in 3D if I have to add a premium onto an already pricey ticket.

That is one of the reasons why Avatar made a bazillion dollars, because they charged even more money per ticket. And that's one of the reasons why Alice in Wonderland is making so much money right now. Eventually the public hears about how much money a film is making and they don't want to miss the action, and they pay up for a new pair of shades for one use.

I am really not looking forward to every new film rushing to become 3D. And it's already happening. They are retrofitting movies already in post production to cash in on the fad; Alice was the first, Clash of the Titans is next. They aren't filmed in 3D, they just use computers to make it 3D (which James Cameron hates). They are even making a 3D computer animated Popeye. Yeah, that'll be awesome...

And now they are releasing 3D blu-ray, 3D tv's (which you have to watch wearing stupid goggles).

Although they'll be less conspicuous once they develop transitions lenses

Nintendo, just today, announced a new 3D handheld DS system to be released next year. An my fear is that all of this is going to lead to crappier and crappier media getting shoveled at us just because it's "the next thing".

Call me old fashioned, but I'll be looking for 3D in real life, not on a screen.

A Tale of Two Dunks

I was listening to Jim Rome today as he debated between the which is the top slam dunk of the year: Amare Stoudemire over Anthony Tolliver or Dwayne Wade over Anderson Varejao. They are both devastating dunks, but Jim went with Dwayne Wade because he's a smaller guy throwing down over a big guy. I respect that argument, but Amare absolutely destroys Tolliver, crushing it with everything he's got. I've got to give it to Amare.

Which do you think is better?

The Cove

Becky and I watched the "The Cove" a last week. It won the '010 Oscar for best documentary feature, and boy was it good. It is about the slaughter of dolphins in a cove in Japan, looking at it from two angles: the first is the needless and brutal killing of such a beautiful creature, and the second is the health hazard created by putting the meat into the marketplace (they have extremely high levels of mercury).

I recommend this film both the for compelling story and the quality of the film-making. If you think documentaries are boring, this one isn't. You should watch it.

A week later I find myself unsure of how to respond. I mean, I was genuinely moved by the storytelling and frustrated by the unbelievably convoluted politics surrounding the entire operation. But nothing has changed in my life, and that's got me thinking about the process of change: how it moves from inspiration to action to commitment.

I saw "Super-Size Me" a couple of years ago. Another fantastic documentary. It really makes you reconsider fast food. But I still eat it, still love it, just as much today as I did before I saw the film. Facebook is inundated with cause after worthy cause, but does being a Fan really mean anything?

There are changes that I want to make in my life. Personally and Professionally. Spiritually and Socially. However, we all know that there is a big difference between desiring change and creating change. So here I am at the crossroads between the two... what's next?

Why do you LOST?

LOST gave us another fantastic character developing story last night. It gave us more and more insight into the motivations and development of the individuals who make up this complex drama. It also continued to set up the pieces of the final chess match (or backgammon match if you prefer) that is the overarching drive behind LOST.

Smokie/ Bear

I have really enjoyed these last few episodes, they are very reminiscent of season 1. However, the last several episodes have answered very few questions that LOST has raised over the last 6 years. And as a result, many viewers are frustrated over the lack of answers; but I, on the other hand, am just enjoying the journey.

It reminds me of the competing belief systems of Locke and Eko in Season 2. If you recall, in the swan station there was a computer, a computer which needed to have a code entered every one hundred and eight minutes. Locke oversaw the responsibilities of entering the code once the oceanic survivors found it. As time went on, he became more and more frustrated with the experience because he never saw results, he never got the answers he wanted. Mr. Eko, on the other hand, found purpose in the data entry. He wasn't concerned with the outcome, but found his place as part of the Dharma experiment.

There are many people who are watching LOST to get answers. And I don't blame them, this show has constantly walked the line between too many questions and too few answers. I, however, am more focused on enjoying the journey as it happens. I certainly hope we get some answers, but I certainly won't see this season (or series) as a failure if we don't get them. I'm loving season 6!

What's your take?

Sundown

LOST was incredible tonight.


I might blog about it later, but I just had to put it out there that if you are not watching this show you are missing something remarkable. Go rent/buy/download season one, thank me later.