A Concert , A Movie and Awesomeness

Saturday I had the pleasure of joining my two sons and my brother and his wife , to see the contemporary christian rock group Mercy Me in Moncton . The band was in stellar form , delivering a tight and energetic set. The band used a huge back drop featuring the cover of their new album , The Hurt and the Healer . On each side were huge led set up that allowed for graphic effects unique to each song they played. It also allowed for the lyrics to be displayed and the band encouraged the audience to sing along.

The lead singer , Bart Millard , was a excellent front man.Telling stories , interjecting both some humor and at the same time calling for us all to trust and rely  on only Jesus through no matter what trials one may face. His voice was strong and clear . The band worked like a well oiled unit , benefiting from years of touring and playing together. The highlight for me was the new song The Hurt and the Healer . A song that was written after a close cousin of Millards was killed in the line of duty as a fire fighter.It dealt with the hurt and pain one feels when a hurt of this magnitude occurs . But on the other side , we encounter the healer , the one who understands the pain and hurt . The one who will make all things new . It was a moment of real worship.

It was a night that had much fun , like the song Move , some sing along moments and many moments where the audience  and the band were one , in singing the praise of our Lord . Awesome night .

The Avengers -  Anyone who has read this blog knows from past post I loved comics as a kid. Just to set the record straight , I still do . The old ones that is . From the 60's and 70's mostly . So over the last 10 years , it has been amazing to see so many  solid outings come to the big screens . But in this one movie you have the mother lode of comic super heroes . Building from  Iron Man , Captain America , Thor and the Hulk films , which all hinted at the coming of the Avengers , it ties all them together .

The movie begins with Loki  , Thors brother , talking to a mysterious figure about taking over the earth . Loki of course wants revenge on his brother concerning what happened to him at the hands of Thor ( as told in Thor's movie) . He is bringing a army with him from another portal and bottom line . if the world is to survive , one hero will not do. So Nick Fury the head of S.H.I.E.L.D , begins to try and recruit a group of heroes under the Avengers banner.

At first it all doesn't go well . Ego's , different world views and each hero bringing baggage to the game cause for some real friction and even fights . This allows for some really excellent dialog . The sarcasm , the wit and humor of some of the script is well above what many would probably expect. But the reason it works is that its written with a seriousness that this is a real world , with real conflict . Yes it has many zingers , delivered mostly by Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man to perfection but it also has heart and real depth . As the movie moves along and all our heroes come to realize they must work together and put aside petty differences if they are to overcome the threat , it gives the movie a emotional connection to the audience that is needed if a movie like this is to work. Boy does it.

Joss Whedon , as the director , paced this movie very well .  Each hero is given time and space to shine . Even the two new comers , Black Widow and Hawkeye have their own moments . The battle scene between Thor , Iron Man and Captain America is amazing . Yes they had real issues when they first met , and it allowed for a truly fun and exhilarating scene . But the Hulk scenes and his fight with Thor before they are allies and then his scenes after they are the Avengers , is the Hulk I loved form the comics . Plus Mark Ruffalo plays him perfectly . Always on the edge , containing the monster within . Plus when the Hulk takes over , he still has the resemblance of Ruffalo. This is the Hulk.

The final battle scene rivals anything I have ever scene . The special effects are amazing but they never over shadow the human element . In a movie like this the effects could have over taken the movie , but Whedon keeps the story and our heroes at the center . He draws us in and we cheer them on. Each actor playing our heroes were awesome as well . Chris Evans as Captain America , Chris Hemsworth as Thor , Downey Jr. as Iron Man , Mark Ruffalo as Hulk , Scarlet Johansson as the Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye , make up what truly is a perfect cast . Throw in Samuel Jackson as Nick Fury and what more do you want.

As a comic book geek , who loved this comic , this has it all . It is fun , intense , highlights sacrifice , loyalty , friendship and bravery . The Avengers have indeed assembled.

This movie gets 2 Cap shields , 2 Thor hammers , 2 Iron Man blast , 1 arrow form Hawkeye , 1 Balck Widow kick and a huge Hulk smash fist . Totally it up and it is a 10 in my books . Nuff said.

Fav Line in movie : Black Widow concerning the plan to attack Loki " But he's a god"
                             Capatain America "Ma'am there's is only one God , and I'm pretty sure He doesn't look like   
                                                           that". 

Great Weekend

Wow what a great weekend . Went to see Mercy Me in Moncton , New Brunswick Saturday night . What a great show . I will post some pics and a review of the concert within the next day or so.

I also bought a Charlie Brown mug while shopping at Hallmark . Hey one cannot say no to a Charlie Brown mug to have your morning cup of great coffee . This morning at my brothers , I tried a new blend put out by Just Us coffee , a local fair trade coffee roaster and cafe as well . Trust me , after you drink real good coffee you will say , how did I ever drink Tim Hortons . Talk about "brand" washing or what . Anyway I digress , I can't remember the coffee but it was a three cup explosion of love for my taste buds. Awesome roast .

On a final note , a real big thank you and hug to my wife for being such a support , love and friend . Because of her seizure disorder she cannot attend concerts and I really miss her not being there with me and our boys , but she is so happy to see our excitement and just is a wonderful woman. Glad as well while we gone , she had time to spend with her dear friend Hillary , which they had a blast doing yard sales , enjoying a farm market and some good wine as well .

So a good weekend . May we truly be thankful to God for family , friends and all the blessings they bring into our lives. Nuff said.

Freedom to Dialogue or Not

Freedom to express ideas within a public space is seen as a fundamental measuring stick to the health of a society and true freedom. Not matter how one may feel or think about certain views , the freedom to express said ideas in a non-violent manner should not be censored or limited. If we are to develop true tolerance and understand that we don't have to agree or accept another persons belief or views then we could go a long way to at the very least allowing multiple ideas to compete within the public sphere. This includes religion . Yes religion .

Recently in a local city , in my home province , a student was told that their T-Shirt was not to be worn again . Then it was reversed and said that Jesus T-Shirts could be worn as long as they aren't negative and put down another person belief system . Now here is the problem . If one claims to be a Christian , then one is claiming not only the uniqueness but the superiority of Jesus over all other prophets ,sages ,seers and religious leaders. He is not just a prophet , a wise sage or teacher but the Son of God , the one and only way to God . Read through the gospels . Jesus claims for himself and his message is not an  ambiguous message .

Now should one be allowed to wear a T-Shirt with any religious saying on it within a public school , even if it references a "negative" saying. First , who makes the decision as to what is negative. If one wears a shirt with a fish with Darwin written through it , many Christians might be offended . But I hold not one would complain . Nor would they if someone wore a shirt promoting gay marriage or a shirt that slandered Christ . I witnessed a few of these types of shirts during a brief time as a day custodian  at a local high-school . To my knowledge nothing was ever said . But I know that if someone had worn a shirt that proclaimed a stand against abortion or homosexuality , even if it tried to be "sensitive" , there would have been something done , I'm certain .

As the west moves further away from its Christian roots and embraces a pluralistic society with multiple beliefs systems and secular humanism being hammered at kids within our school's , to stand or call any attention to Jesus is going to be met with push back . However here is what drives me nuts , public schools are just that , public. The whole system is paid for by tax dollars from the public. Teachers , Principals , those within the department  of Education are all paid by the people. Therefore I argue that all ideas and expressions should be allowed as long as they are tolerant of others to co-exist in disagreement. I tolerate others around me who disagree with me , as they do of me . Within a publicly funded school system , all ideas that reflect the diversity of beliefs should not be censored.

Why are so many afraid of open debate and allowing religious beliefs a open form to be examined . I don't care if you are a atheist , Buddhist , Hindu, gay,Muslim , Pagan , Wiccan etc... I will defend your right to hold to your views within a public place . As I hope you would extend me the same freedom to proclaim Jesus Christ as well . I'm not afraid of dialogue are you ?

Preparing the Body and Soul For Worship

Lately I was thinking of how I prepare my mind and body for attending worship . Now I admit I have given this some thought before but thinking about it and doing something about are two different things . In the past I recall reading articles about how many would get their Sunday cloths out , pre plan what they would eat for breakfast if they had children , going to bed early enough to get rest and numerous other things .

These are all good things to do . Gathering together with other saints to worship our Lord is a beautiful and wonderful thing. We are called to worship God , so it really is something we shouldn't just approach without some real purpose and intent. It should be an act of love and adoration but its hard to so if one is over tired , rushed and the mind has been filled with worldly pursuits.

So going forward my plan for Saturday is to make it more of a preparation for worship , which includes for me , getting to bed earlier . A tired mind and fatigued body cannot serve the Lord very well . Also to spend some quiet time before resting in God's word to focus my heart and mind on the things of God . The world can distract very easily so to step back and refocus is a most .

So may all who are gathering to worship this Sunday , do so in grace and truth . Are you ready to encounter God as He is proclaimed by the preaching of His word ? I hope I'am .

Some Week Wrap Up Thoughts

I love hockey . More importantly I'm a Boston Bruin fan . Last year I had the fun and excitement watching the Bruins run the gamut and win the Stanley Cup . It was a truly thrilling run and anyone who is a sports fan and has a fav team understands the joy it is in seeing your team win it all .  However on the flip side , when your team loses and is taken out of the play-off hunt , its like a kick in the gut. Well they lost , in a 7th game , in over time and it did suck . I know in the grand scheme of things it doesn't move mountains but as a fan it is not that simple to detach. However , you cannot win them all and in sports that is so true . In general all players and teams lose more than they win . That is the nature of any game . So you recall the wins with a even sweeter feeling and just appreciate them more in hindsight . So thanks to my Bruins for a great run . Now here is to next season . Bring back the cup.

Why are so many scare to call a spade a spade? I'm a Calvinist , I hold to a the 5 sola's , I hold to the truths of the reformation but many it seems today don't like to label themselves . They like slogans like , lets just love Jesus etc... but here is the thing to say you just want to love and follow Jesus , well in order to do that you have to at least have a basic understanding of doctrine.  So have the guts , the honesty to grasp what you believe and why you believe and stand by it . Wishy washy believers leave most people shaking there heads.

I need a time machine . I loved and still love comics . Old comics that is . Mostly ones from the 60',70's and some of the 80's.  But if I had a time machine , I would go back and tell my younger self to collect doubles and triples of as many issues as I could get and keep them all in a safe place . For who knew that today many of them are worth thousands and thousands of dollars . It is fascinating to read of Spider-man , Thor , Hulk ,Iron Man etc... sell for over 5000 dollars or more . I personally could not justify spending that much on a single comic but if you had have told someone 40 or 50 years ago , they would be selling for amounts over a million dollars , you probably would have been declared nuts . 

Lastly , I hope to start next month working through Michael Horton's Systematic Theology . I have read sections but plan I on committing  reading this amazing magnum opus from Horton and posting some insights from it .

Falling From Grace in the Public Eye

Recently I was reading a magazine that had its annual most trusted professions list . As I was reading the top 10 one that was absent once again was that of the clergy. Yes it seems that Pastors have fallen to new lows to be heaped in with CEO's , Car Salesmen and the like . It has been a long time when the Clergy would have been in the the top 5 and now they have slid out of even the top 20 according to many polls . The decline has been steady and fast over the last 10 years.

I still recall back in the late 60's and 70's , Pastors would have been always in the top 10 of professions people trusted and looked to in times of crisis . They were often the very well known within their communities and over all respected. So why in less then 40 years have they completely fallen in with those professions people think of as shady and open to scorn?

Lets be brutally honest , the scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church with sex scandal after sex scandal has not helped . It has been repugnant to read of the cover up , silence and lack of concern for the victims that this institution shown . Granted many have spoken out and where rightly angered but the stigma bruised the Pastorate .

Another spot of trouble has been the lack of accountability within many denominations in holding Pastors to account when it has come to light of affairs and re-marriage . Those outside the Church do understand that a Pastor should be at the very least different and if one does fall , when discipline is not served and the Pastor not removed , it damages the vocation.

Then add in the sickening , money grabbing , false healing con artist that have infiltrated the late night TV shows and why would the general public trust the clergy . All it seems these false teachers do is beg for money and manipulate those who are desperate .

Plus many wonder what does a Pastor really do . Most who sit outside the Church basically believe they get paid for speaking once a week for about 30 minutes . Many are not well known within the areas they minister and most move on within 3-7 years so how can even the community get to know them . Mix that in with the growing secular culture we are living in , who have no respect for matters about God , Jesus , the Church and well your on the bottom rung looking up . Now I know there are many faithful servants who have and are laboring within this world daily and it is simply not fair for them to be painted with the same brush. But it is where we are at .

So how can the Clergy regain at least the respect among people . Its one thing to be reviled because of the gospel , and I would venture some of the disdain does come from this but much comes from the moral failures and perceived greed of the few projected on others. Here is my few suggestions , not exhaustive but things I think they must attend to .

First make sure you are serious about your calling . Do not enter the ministry unless you are deeply and profoundly conscious that this is a call of God to be a under Shepherd to group of sheep God has given you to care for . To preach , to love and mirror the great Shepherd Jesus Christ to them first . Second , stay and work the field you have been placed . I just do not believe that one is "called"to leave every 3-5 years . How can one get to know anyone in such a short time . Plus the general public view this as salary chasing. Oh he moved on for more money , I have heard this . Stay , work , get to be known and know your flock and be about the community . Third , and this is more to the powers above , the denomination heads , discipline Pastors that not only morally fail but doctrinally as well . This shows the public you hold those who take this call serious and demand a high standard. Last , Pastors need to be more open in calling out those who are in the wrong . Many look at the pastorate like , you protect your own mind set . This in large part to the sex scandals . This must not be . Paul called those out needed to be and so did Jesus . This openness show you have nothing to hide .

As I said there is nothing wrong when the world hates and mocks because of the gospel of Christ but much of the fall has been due to moral and doctrinal lapses . One last thing that those who sit in the pew need to do for their Pastor is pray . Pray for your Pastor , encourage him to be courageous , bold and to stand firm . The world , the devil and his own sinful nature desires to tear him down , so may we help them stand strong against these attacks .

A Little Break , Now I'm Back

Over the last week I decided to take a week away from blogging about anything. It was to more or less re charge my mind and get the writing juices going. Needless to say there is much to write about over the next couple of days and I truly feel ready for a long streak in daily blogging.

So in between cheering my Boston Bruins on in the Stanley Cup Playoffs , I will try to write with both purpose and passion , with a little fun thrown in for good measure . So look out , I'm back with vengeance . Well I hope anyway.