Love, Love, Love

Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community by Andrew Marin could be the most important book you read this year. Marin and his wife live in Boystown, a neighborhood in Chicago which is predominately GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) populated. the organization he founded, The Marin Foundation, is conducting the largest-ever research study on religion in the GLBT community. Christians have gotten so much wrong in the name of God. why are we so concenred about being correct? why are we so concerned about winning arguments? we know we can be accused of judging and being intolerant. however, i cannot see God saying we were too loving and kind to people, regardless of their orientation. read Love is an Orientation.

April showers bring May films

summer comes early for Hollywood. forget June 21, with big summer movies being released, the official start of the season is now May. last May saw Iron Man and the year before that Spiderman 3. this year there are four big ones.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine. not the worst movie i've ever seen, but i was a little disapointed. do not see it unless you like the X-Men movies.

Star Trek. AWESOME!!! i've never been a trekkie. the older films i've seen are ok. however, this reboot is just what Dr. McCoy ordered. if this team can live long and prosper with more films in the future, beam me up. (i am officically a nerd).

Angels and Demons. very good. the parts of the book i thought were lame and would slow down the film were taken out. a very good quick-paced thriller.

Terminator Salvation. off the hook! at first, i have to be honest, i was skeptical. Mc "Charlies Angels" G was directing. those movies weren't the worst ever, but not the material you want to see someone doing before a Terminator film. that being said, it was excellent. i hope this team can make another film or two as well.

The Way of the Heart

one of my favorite writers is Henri Nouwen. his book The Way of the Heart was first published in 1981. it's inspired by the writings and teachings of St. Anthony and the Desert Fathers. the text speaks of three steps of connecting with God: solitude, silence, and prayer.

solitude is not simply being alone; it is being alone with God. Nouwen writes: "Solitude is the place of purification and transformation...the place of our salvation."

silence is not simply being quiet; it is listening to God. for Nouwen, silence "makes us pilgrims...guards the fire within" and "teaches us to speak."

prayer is not simply talking to God or requesting tasks be completed or hurts be taken away; "The prayer of the heart opens the eyes of our soul to the truth of ourselves as well as to the truth of God." Nouwen also writes: "And before we speak any words, the Spirit of God, praying in us, will make his presence known and gather people into a new body, the body of Christ himself."

Henri Nouwen's The Way of the Heart is wonderful. it's the perfect devotional book for an afternoon or evening of solitude, silence, and prayer.

Baby Update

Hannah is going to have a baby brother this summer. Nancy and i will have a son this summer. we are all very excited about the addition to our family. we have photographic evidence of the tell-tale appendage.

NO LINE ON THE HORIZON

get on your boots, turn up the volume, and press play for NO LINE ON THE HORIZON, the new album from U2. it's getting mixed reviews and it may not create a new U2 following. however, it does rock and it does roll. U2 fans will enjoy the disc very much. check it out.

Hollywood Stories

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How The Sex-Drugs-and- Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood by Peter Biskind is a great read for movie fans. it tells the stories of Coppola, Spielberg, Scorsese, Lucas, Friedkin, among others, and their most respected films. Biskind, a journalist and author of other books looking at Hollywood, writes with clarity and tells these stories, informs, and educates readers with ease. the book is a must read for film lovers.

Super Bowl XLIII

after a great regular season with new faces, big hits, and amazing plays, Super Bowl 43 is finally here (well, almost. two weeks yesterday, on Sunday, February 1, 2009). the game takes place in Tampa and has the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals going to battle with the AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers. the early line has the Steelers as a 6.5 favorite. i've picked against the Cardinals in every game this post season; i have to again. i love everything the Steelers do on the football field. Arizona's defense has played great these playoffs and their offense has blazed a trail to Tampa for them. however, the Cardinals are going to fly into the windshield of an eighteen wheeler that is the Pittsburgh defense. for most of the season they were number 1 in the three main defensive categories; against the run, the pass, and total. they ended the season number 2 against the run, number 1 against the pass, and number 1 in total defense. the Steeler offense is too much for the Arizona defense. the Steeler defense is way too much for the Arizona offense. the Cardinals will not be shut out, but with Big Ben and that offense controlling the ball and scoring when they need to, and that defense getting 2-3 turnovers and directly scoring with one, Pittsburgh wins this game big. Steelers 34, Cardinals 13.