These posts are a collection of reviews or commentary on movies I like, books I am reading, and/or music that I wish to recommend.

Prone to wander

"Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love." —Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Robert RobinsonOf the Bible's myriad stories, I see myself most clearly as the wandering son in Jesus' parable from Luke 15:11-32. I'm currently reading Henri Nouwen's reflection on we ... Continue reading

Gravity

In Alfonso Cuarón’s beautiful film, Gravity, Sandra Bullock is part of a team of US space shuttle astronauts on a mission to repair the Hubble space telescope. As Dr. Ryan Stone, Bullock feels lost on earth, weighed down by grief, loneliness, and gravity. She spends her nights driving aimlessly, ... Continue reading

Whiplash: God, grace and the pursuit of perfection

"But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." — Matthew 5:48, NLT Terence Fletcher is a sadistic, Machiavellian jazz instructor who believes the only way to create the next generation of musical greats is to push young musicians to the breaking point, and beyond. Andrew ... Continue reading

Troubled Minds: A review

Time and again in the Gospels we see Jesus turning the accepted wisdom of the people of God upside down. He challenged the Sabbath orthodoxy by insisting that doing good works is no violation of God's commands. He touched lepers to show that there are no untouchables in God's Kingdom. He calmed a ... Continue reading

Monuments Men: Living redemptively

"Can anyone hide from Me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?" says the LORD. — Jeremiah 23:24, NLT War is the application of violence against an enemy for political ends. It's a brutal business, but in the midst of the killing and destruction men can act with honor, ... Continue reading

A heart like His

Even if you've never darkened the door of a Sunday school class in your life, you will have grown up with a culturally-formed understanding of the biblical allusion to David and Goliath; every kid with a slingshot in his back pocket is confident he can slay any foe. In sports, politics, or whenever ... Continue reading

Anything: Yielding to an unsafe God

"Then Aslan isn't safe?" asked Lucy."Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. "Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you." — The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis What might happen if I put my career, my ... Continue reading

God in the details

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities — His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. — Romans 1:20, NLT If you spend enough time reading me here at ... Continue reading