Category Archives: Entertainment

The Comforter Has Come

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Music and Video from the group Jars of Clay.  This is for their song “The Comforter Has Come,” which speaks of the gift of God’s Spirit and presence with us.  Pentecost is just around the corner after all!

Btw, I think this is a beautiful song and hope to learn to play it on my git-fiddle (guitar) before May 23rd so I can sing it in church

The Prodigal

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There are two hymns that I love that focus on the parable of the prodigal son.  The first (“Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy”) does so only in part and was written by Joseph Hart in 1759.   I do not have any publication or author information on the second, entitled “The Prodigal.”  Both should be sung to a tune  from “The Southern Harmony” called “Restoration.”  A PDF of this tune in four-part harmony can be had by clicking the link below.  It is a lovely tune and one of my favorites . . . perfect for either hymn.

Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

Joseph Hart, pub.1759

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and pow’r.

Refrain:
I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
Oh, there are ten thousand charms.

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.

Come, ye weary, heavy-laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.

View Him prostrate in the garden;
On the ground your Maker lies;
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Sinner, will this not suffice?

Lo! th’ incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.

Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.

Below is a contemporary version of this song.  If the player does not appear, just click on this link.

Come Ye Sinners – Robbie Seay …

The Prodigal 

Verse 1
Far away from my loving father, I had wandered wayward wild
fearing only lest his anger overtake his sinful child.

Verse 2
Feign I fed on the husks around me till to myself I came and said.
Plenty have my fathers servants perish I for want of bread

Refrain 1
I will arise though faint and weary home to my father I will go.
Woe is me that ere I wander ah, that I such need should know

Verse 3
Then I rose, came to my father, grace amazing, love unknown,
he beheld me, ran, embraced me, pardoned, welcomed me back home

Refrain 2
I will arise and go to Jesus. He will embrace me in his arms
In the arms of my dear Savior, O there are ten thousand charms.

 

My Favorite Movies of 2009

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Below you will find a list of my favorite 16 films of 2009.  Why 16?  Why not.  Let me know what you think.

16. ‘Watchmen’
An intriguing adaption of Alan Moore’s graphic novel that raises some great questions for watchers to consider.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

15. ’Bright Star’
A lovely love story that is quietly and exquisitely told and beautifully filmed.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

14. ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’
We see a grown-up Harry Potter and a movie in which violence and love abound.  This is the best adaption of the Potter books since Cuaron’s third installment in the series.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

13. ‘Coraline’
A beautiful stop-motion animated film from the strange and imaginative mind of Neil Gaimen.  The movie lives up to his book.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

12. ‘The Princess and the Frog’
A traditionally animated film that features Disney’s first African-American princess.  A charming, fun movie for all ages.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

11. ‘Where the Wild Things Are’
Spike Jonze  does a great job of adapting Maurice Sendak’s original, and very short, work.  The music alone is worth the price of admission. Let the wild rumpus begin.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

10. ‘Up’
A touching and delightful film.  The opening section is worthy of a full movie all by itself.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

9. ‘The Blind Side’
An inspirational film of love and acceptance and hope.  It succeeds in conveying its message without being preachy.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

8. ‘Zombieland’
A bloody (what do you expect from a zoombie movie) but fun movie.  Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg are great in their roles and Bill Murray’s cameo is priceless.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

7. ‘District 9′
As another has said, “Neill Blomkamp’s first feature gave us something new: a sci-fi movie with brains.”  It is a brilliant allegory against segregation, it is also one of a few movies that deserve a sequel.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

6. ‘Star Trek’
An exciting movie and great reboot of ‘Star Trek’ by J.J. Abrams.  It would be rated even higher if it hadn’t erased all of future history of the all the Star Trek series and movies.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

5. ‘Avatar’
The story is nothing new, but the movie is still amazing.  It needs to be seen on the big screen and in 3-D, if at all possible. 
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

4. ‘Inglourious Basterds’
It has been called a Jewish revenge film, and maybe it is, but this movie, set in an alternate history of WW 2, is vintage Quentin Tarantino. 
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

3. ‘The Road’
This faithful adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book by the same name is both horrifying and beautiful.  A father and son (Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee) try to survive in a post-apocalyptic America, and we are mesmerized watching their story.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

2. ‘Up in the Air’
Jason Reitman, 32-year-old director extraordinaire has now made three fantastic films:  ‘Thank You for Smoking,’ ‘Juno’ and now ‘Up In the Air’.’  A near perfect film featuring great work by George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, and Vera Farmiga.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

1. ‘(500) Days of Summer’
A romantic comedies that is not, I repeat not, a love story.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel give great performances. The most fun I had at the movies this past year.
Watch the Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

And here are some movies that haven’t seen yet that very well may cause me to reorder and redo everything listed above.

The Hurt Locker
Precious
A Serious Man
The White Ribbon
An Education
Adventureland
Moon
Gran Torino
Sunshine Cleaning

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Number 1 Songs on My Birth Date and Every Birthday Since

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BIG BAD JOHN

Image by MR38 via Flickr

I just found this link and decided to see what the number 1 songs for my birth date and birthdays since would be.  I do not think my birthday will ever be known for it’s musical history.  Of the 49 songs listed:

  • I can say that I only like five of them (In bold and italics below . . . and one of those – “Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves” is a very guilty pleasure).  In fact, the last song I liked is from 1974 (The only recent one that comes close to being liked is “Smooth,” and that is in part due to the very cool video).
  • I own only three of the songs (from albums I bought long along – “With Arms Wide Open,” “Cream” and “Private Eyes” (I know . . . what was I thinking).
  • The last non-hip-hop song was in 2000 by Creed (gag . . . “With Arms Wide Open”).
  • My list includes two of the sappiest songs ever recorded – “Up Where We Belong” and “You Light Up My Life” (double gag).
  • Least favorite artists in the list (there are way too many really) include: Eminem (though “Lose Yourself” isn’t bad), Meat Loaf, Jan Hammer, Lionel Ritchie, and Rod Stewart (triple gag).
  • I have unfortunately danced (back in my college dancing days) to “Wild, Wild West,” “Caribbean Queen,” “All Night Long (All Night),” and “MacArthur Park.”  How very sad is that???
  • There are two Elton John songs – separated by 22 years, and two Mariah Carey songs.
  • My least favorite songs are stricken through.
  • If I had to pick a favorite song in the last decade, it would have to be “Gold Digger.”  But if I have to listen to it, I would listen to the version recorded by the kids and teacher from the show “Glee.”

2009    Whatcha Say – Jason DeRulo           
2008    Live Your Life – T.I. featuring Rihanna       
2007    Kiss Kiss – Chris Brown featuring T-Pain       
2006    My Love – Justin Timberlake featuring T.I.       
2005    Gold Digger – Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx       
2004    My Boo – Usher and Alicia Keys       
2003    Baby Boy – Beyoncé featuring Sean Paul       
2002    Lose Yourself – Eminem       
2001    Family Affair – Mary J. Blige       
2000    With Arms Wide Open – Creed       

1999    Smooth – Santana featuring Rob Thomas       
1998    Doo Wop (That Thing) by Lauryn Hill       
1997    Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997 by Elton John
1996    No Diggity by BLACKstreet featuring Dr. Dre       
1995    Fantasy by Mariah Carey       
1994    I’ll Make Love to You by Boyz II Men       
1993    I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) by Meat Loaf       
1992    How Do You Talk to an Angel – The Heights       
1991    Cream – Prince & the N.P.G.       
1990    Love Takes Time – Mariah Carey       

1989    When I See You Smile – Bad English       
1988    Wild, Wild West – The Escape Club       
1987    I Think We’re Alone Now – Tiffany       
1986    Amanda – Boston       
1985    Miami Vice Theme – Jan Hammer       
1984    Caribbean Queen – Billy Ocean       
1983    All Night Long (All Night) – Lionel Richie       
1982    Up Where We Belong – Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes       
1981    Private Eyes – Daryl Hall & John Oates       
1980    Lady – Kenny Rogers       

1979    Heartache Tonight – The Eagles        
1978    MacArthur Park – Donna Summer       
1977    You Light Up My Life – Debby Boone       
1976    Tonight’s the Night – Rod Stewart       
1975    Island Girl – Elton John       
1974    You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – Bachman-Turner Overdrive       
1973    Keep On Truckin’ – Eddie Kendricks       
1972    I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash       
1971    Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves – Cher       
1970    I’ll Be There – The Jackson 5       

1969    Wedding Bell Blues – The 5th Dimension       
1968    Hey Jude – The Beatles    
1967    To Sir, with Love – Lulu       
1966    Poor Side of Town – Johnny Rivers       
1965    Get Off of My Cloud – The Rolling Stones       
1964    Baby Love – The Supremes       
1963    Sugar Shack – Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs
1962    He’s a Rebel – The Crystals    
1961    Big Bad John – Jimmy Dean

As I said, this is a pretty bad list overall.  How about the music for your birthday?  Click the link above or here to find out what the number one songs were.

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A Break-up Letter to God

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The following quote is from the NPR Song of the Day blog:

Until 2005, David Bazan led the indie-pop band Pedro the Lion, which had spent the previous 10 years making smart, crushingly bleak records with Christian themes. Bazan himself has always sung outspokenly about his faith, but his work is invariably shot through with disappointment and doubt, with an emphasis on the sordid underbelly of human nature. For someone working in Christian music, he’s spent his entire career dwelling on religion’s many gray areas.

Still, it’s something of a surprise that Bazan’s new album (Curse Your Branches) is about the singer’s conversion to agnosticism — in some ways, it plays like a breakup letter to God — which has accompanied his forays into parenthood and sobriety. Many albums document the process of finding God, but not so many reflect on losing God, especially coming from someone whose work has been so outspokenly spiritual in nature.

I would submit that there are very few Christians who have not had attacks of atheism or agnosticism sometime during their lives.  Even Mother Theresa admitted as much in letters to her friends, and I know that I have had a few myself (but that is for another post).  So I think it is necessary for us to examine our faith closely, and to also be open to listen to what others who do not share our views are thinking or saying.  I found his song “Hard to Be,” which can be found at the top of this page, to be thought-provoking and decided to share it with you, my gentle readers.  I hope to buy Bazan’s album soon, and when I do, I will post my review of it here for you to read as well.

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