Androids and Conscience

Check out this perceptive passage on humanity, the fall,  and the broken conscience in Philip K. Dick:

“You will be required to do wrong no matter where you go.  It is the basic condition of life, to be required to violate your own identity.  At some time, every creature which lives must do so.  It is the ultimate shadow, the defeat of creation; this is the curse at work, the curse that feeds on all life.  Everywhere in the universe.”

“It is an amazing arrogance that allows Christians to so readily believe that their mental understanding of things is anywhere close to that of Jesus.  Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life’  I think the intended effect of that often misused line is this: If Jesus is the Truth, then you probably aren’t.”

                                                                                                                                 -Richard Rohr

Best of the Decade…

In the spirit of the moment, I offer what I believe were the ten best movies of the decade (one disclaimer, I have lumped together trilogies and franchise movies – upon reflection of the past ten years this seems most appropriate).  

#10 Gone Baby Gone

Heartfelt, honest, and intensely provocative.  This one stuck with me for a long time.

#9 Napoleon Dynamite

Completely original.  This film accomplished the rare feat of not only creating a remarkably innovative movie, it created a new American icon.

    

                                         

#8 About Schmidt

A funny and truthful examination of the American Dream.  Alexander Payne made some great films this decade.  This one was his best.

 

 

#7 Memento

Remember the first time you saw this fiercely imaginative film?  Has there been a better or more creatively constructed mystery in the past 20 years?

 

#6 Wall-e

This was Pixar’s decade.  The studio cranked out beautiful and thoughtful movies   just about every summer.  This was the best.

 

 

#5 The 40 Year Old Virgin

Funniest movie of the decade.  (Quite perceptive and poignant too).

 

 

 

#4 Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2

What if the world’s most dangerous assassin was also a loving mother?  The           most fun Tarantino has offered since Pulp Fiction, and the best revenge picture       in recent memory.  

 

#3 O Brother Where Art Thou?

Speaking of original.  This was more than a movie.  It was a bluegrass and folk extravaganza that ignited a whole generation.

 

 

#2 Mulholland Drive

If you haven’t seen this yet, you probably won’t…and maybe you shouldn’t.  Eerie doesn’t begin to describe it.  One of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had at the theater…ever.  

 

#1 The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Best time at the movies this decade.  Kudos to any movie franchise that can offer this much fun and mythology at the same time.  Watching these movies was like settling in for a long trip to unforgettable places.  Bravo.  

 

 

 

   “The fact that the myth could not be understood literally made it more effective.”

                                                        -Karen Armstrong

2009 – Best Album

I’ve decided to refrain from listing my top five albums of the year mainly because I purchase so few new records anymore.  For example, my list last year has changed dramatically because I hadn’t discovered Bon Iver or listened to Shelby Lynn’s Just a Little Lovin until after the new year had begun.  

 I will unabashedly proclaim, however, my favorite album of 2009.  Son  Volt’s American Central Dust is the real thing…a refreshing return to  roots rock that rings true and honest.  

 After ’07’s The Search I had pretty much decided I wouldn’t buy another  Son Volt record.  Their last few records were accomplished  and accessable rock and roll, but they were beginning to sound too  similar and a little stale.  I simply wasn’t thrilled with the  direction the  band was heading.  

 I never saw this one coming.  Who  knew their best  and most direct  album would appear fourteen years after  their groundbreaking ‘95 debut? 

Aristotle and Disney

 My family recently returned from a trip to Disney World (thanks to my generous in-laws).  I think  it was Aristotle who originally quipped the famous maxim: “Generalities are the refuge of weak  minds.”  I found myself continually reminded of this principle as my family enthusiastically  participated in the great  American pilgrimage to Orlando’s Magic Kingdom.  

 Let me explain…

 I found myself tempted and pulled to stand securely on skeptical and cynical ground regarding Disney World.  It was easy to criticize (to myself – not to my children…I’m not that much of a downer father) the pandering to consumerism and the co-opting of imagination.  T-Bone Burnett has a song that compares Walt Disney with Hugh Hefner.  Two American Icons who contribute to the degradation of our culture by creating false images and telling us these images are what we should desire and what we should pay money to consume.  Fleeting experiences that ultimately rob our souls rather than nourish our imaginations.  

But here’s the kicker – I couldn’t stand on that ground.  Disney World was just too fun, creative, and ultimately redemptive.  Yes, redemptive.  Too bad the church doesn’t spend as much time challenging its constituents to reflect on how they contribute to a better future as one ride at Epcot.  As me and Kari were enjoying the last part of a tram ride through the Epcot Iconic “globe” – a ride which traces the development of civilization by tracing the development of communication – we were listening to Judi Dench’s voice challenge us by declaring that the future is ours to do with what we want.  After seeing manikin “robots” of everything from Michelangelo to Egyptians discovering papyrus, Disney firmly pointed the finger at us and asked, “what are you going to do?  How will you take the story further?”  

I turned to Kari and said, “you know, this is really four chapter gospel (i.e. “redemptive”) stuff.”

Her reply: “The four chapter gospel is everywhere here.”  

Generalities are the refuge of weak minds.  As with most things in life, the temptation is to stand firmly on one side or the other…it’s easier that way.  Truthful living, however, requires us to live in the grey.  To wrestle and live with the tension…even at Disney World.     

 

The Unforgettable Fire – U2’s Best…

 Reason to celebrate – the remastered 25th anniversary edition of this – my personal favorite – U2  record has arrived.  This is the record that helped the band turn the corner and paved the way to  the iconic Joshua Tree and infamy.  Working with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, U2 never  sounded as punk and raw again.  

 And even though the album was recorded in and features a cover photo of Slane Castle, this is the  record where they began turning their attention toward America and began forming what I consider to be one of their distinctives through the years – a prophetic voice directed to our country.  This distinctive climaxed during the Zooropa Tour when they unabashedly telephoned George Bush every night from stage, but on this album it’s still subtle and quiet, coming through in songs about Elvis, Martin Luther King, and the 4th of July.  Beautiful.

Why Dallas Willard Sometimes Frustrates Me

“A missional church, in a wording often used today, is actually one that cannot be stopped from increasing, because it grows by contiguity – skin on skin.”

 

Why I Love Dallas Willard

 

 ”Life is primarily devoted to work.  All legitimate work is devoted to the creation of value, of what is good to a lesser or greater degree.  That was God’s plan.  He not only creates; he creates creators – you and me.  One of the saddest things in human life is the desecration of work in a loveless world.  Discipleship to Jesus, properly guided by pastors, enables individuals to find in their work a divine calling and see the hand of God in their efforts to create what is good and to serve others in love.”  

 

 

 

One of my favorite lines from my new favorite TV show, Mad Men:

“We let the creatives be unproductive so they can be productive.”