Author: Doug

Facing Fear

Blondie Boomer Noises150205(2) 800x500Someone is getting in some target practice with what sounds like a civil war cannon.  As the BOOM rolls around the valley, Blondie goes nuts.  She is filled with fear by gun fire, thunder, firecrackers, cars back-firing … you get the idea.  When we encounter such things she attaches herself to me.  If I’m sitting at the table working she will shove her head into my arm pit and peer up at me, “Save me Dougie, save me!”

Blondie_Scared of gunfire-foot wort 800x500Today I’m working in the kitchen, so she’s a fear filled foot-wort.  Every time I have to shift position, she shifts too.  It’s kind of a pain.  But then I remember that I too have been dealing with some fear and self-doubt issues. Continue reading “Facing Fear”

Interpretations

interpretationsPeople like to say that there are many interpretations of the Bible.  They say this in order to justify their viewpoint when it differs from that of established thought.  This is why we have SO many denominations of the Christian church.  The problem is that if we allow people to interpret the Bible any way they want, in order to validate their precepts, we end up with the mess we have where denominations are constantly squabbling over points of scripture.  Sniping at one another creates disunity in a body that should be perfectly united in the love of God.  Some are trying to rewrite the Bible because they can’t force existing scriptures into the mold they want to follow.  God does not allow us to “interpret” His word.  If we change His word, it is no longer His word, but our word and we are no longer believing in God, but in a god of our own design.  That is idolatry, even if we use the traditional names and images. Continue reading “Interpretations”

Movie Review: Them!

Them!
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This week’s Classic Sci-Fi Movie selection was another great example of the 1950’s creature features, except this one stands head & shoulder above its brethren.  Movies like Beginning of the End, Creature From the Black Lagoon, Monster From Green Hell, The Giant Gila Monster prove entertaining  in a “so bad they’re good” fashion.  But, despite its Saturday Matinee style title, Them! delivers a crisp and witty script, high quality performances from the actors and some decent special effects – considering that this film was made in 1954. Continue reading “Movie Review: Them!”

Share for Quality in Life and Corn

sharingThere was a farmer who grew excellent quality corn.  Every year at the fair he won the award for the best grown corn.  One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it.  The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

“Why sir,” said the farmer, “Don’t you know?  The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field.  If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn.  If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

So it is with our lives … Those who want to live meaningfully and well must help enrich the lives of others, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches.  And those who choose to be happy must help others find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

– Author Unknown

Firefly Reborn

Serenity_crew

September 30th, 2015 was the 10th anniversary of the release of the movie Serenity (wow, has it been 10 years already?) Though it was canceled after a single season, Whedon has said that Firefly is his favorite creation.  The series inspired intense fan devotion, and fan devotion is exactly what Whedon credited for its 2005 big-screen revival in Serenity​.

Josh Whedon — creator of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Dollhouse and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., co-writer of Toy Story, and writer and director of The Avengers and its sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron — offered some thoughts and remembrances of Firefly. Continue reading “Firefly Reborn”

The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Original

Day the Earth Stood StillThe original The Day the Earth Stood Still, made in 1951 starring Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Lock Martin, and Frances Bavier, has become more than a classic, it has become an icon of classic Sci-fi.  This is a bit odd because the movie does not contain any of the usual hallmarks of early Sci-Fi: no massive explosions, no creepy monsters, no flying saucers whizzing around destroying things.  This film made its mark because of superior writing and some truly memorable performances by the cast.

To be clear, there is a flying saucer; but it lands on a park in Washington DC and stays there (in a very unthreatening manner) throughout the movie until its departure at the end.  There is a fairly fearsome robot that could be considered the “monster” of the film except it does not go on a rampage; its role is purely defensive.  And there is an alien, but he’s not some tentacled monster with eight eyes.  In fact, once he gets out of his space suit he is able to walk around the city unnoticed because he looks so human. Continue reading “The Day the Earth Stood Still”

Trogoltis Syndrome

| Part One of a Larger Story |

space-inspired-wallpapers17A knock at the door of my cabin, “Captain, may I speak with you, sir?”

“Of course, Chief. How are things below?”

My Personnel Chief stepped into the room. The set of his eyes and fidgety fingers told me he was nervous.

“Not good, Sir.” I turned away from the console I’d been working with and gave him my full attention. “Most of the labor force is quite sick. The Medical Officer is unable to fight it effectively. He’s sure it’s Trogoltis Syndrome.”

My face contorted in thought. This was not unexpected, but I had hoped it would not be so soon. “Just how bad is it, Chief?” Continue reading “Trogoltis Syndrome”

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Sky Captain WOTThis American pulp adventure, dieselpunk film starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, and Givanni Ribisi, written and directed by Kerry Conran is his directorial debut.  The action is fast, the dialogue terse and witty, and the characters are larger than life. The script is very well written and, of course with this cast, the acting is excellent.

Jude Law is the almost superhero, millionaire, mercenary aviator Joeseph “Sky Captain” Sullivan who is called upon to save New York City when it comes under attack by giant robots.  Giovanni Ribishi is his brainy scientist/inventor side-kick, Dex.  Gwyneth Paltrow is the old-flame, spunky newspaper reporter, Polly Perkins, who gets pulled back into Joe’s life when she is contacted by a German scientist who is fleeing a mad genius named Totenkoph (Lawrence Olivier) who is bent on destroying the world.  He gives her information vital to Joe and Dex’s quest to find out where the robots came from and what they are after. This mission takes them all over the world and causes them to enlist the aid of Captain Franky Cook (Angelina Jolie), who also has a history with Joe. When they finally ferret out the mad genius and his secret World of Tomorrow, what they find is more surprising, and sinister, than any of them had dared imagine! Continue reading “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow”

Movie Review: Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells

Infinite Worlds H.G. WellsIf you like Doctor Who and Young Sherlock, you’re sure to like this solid Sci-Fi romp through the novels of H.G. Wells.  Even if you’ve never read his novels, this four hour, 3 part mini-series from the Hallmark Channel will delight and amaze you.

The tale opens with a reporter (played by Eve Best) coming to an aged and highly successful Wells’ home to interview him about the inspirations behind his most successful books.  Reluctantly, Wells (played by Tom Ward) begins a tale of adventure, romance and mystery which begins when he was a struggling pulp writer haunting the local university laboratory for inspiration.  And what inspiration he found! Continue reading “Movie Review: Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells”

The Commission

sharing our faithThe Great Commission is a topic often preached upon, but seldom followed. At least, not followed accurately. It seems many Christians feel that “evangelism” is an old-fashioned notion and modern believers don’t need to share their faith as long as they attend church regularly. Many others try to buy their way out of the commandment by financially supporting mission efforts. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it does not relieve us of the responsibility of speaking of Jesus to others ourselves.

Matthew 28 is where the most popular version of The Great Commission is found, but there are others. Each one has a different focus designed for the intended audience. Continue reading “The Commission”