Best of 2011 (2-1)

Before I get to my two favorite films of 2011, I want to reveal my pick for favorite song from a movie for 2011. It actually comes from one of the most laughable movies of 2011, and maybe even all time! My favorite song from a movie is Sleeping At Last's "Turning Page" featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1. I may be a little biased since my cousins, Emi and Kumi played violin with Sleeping At Last at a show at the world famous Troubador a couple of weeks ago, but that doesn't make it less of a stellar song. It was by far the highlight for me from that movie. Yes, even more so than Alice. If you haven't listened to Sleeping At Last before, I highly recommend doing so. I'll help you out by embedding a video now. You're welcome!

Now to wrap up the countdown, here are my two favorite films from 2011!

2. Super 8

When I heard one of my favorite directors, J.J. Abrams, was teaming up with the living legend Steven Spielberg, Super 8 instantly became one of my most anticipated movie experiences of 2011. And for me, it delivered the kind of movie that transported me back to my childhood movie experiences, back when I was easily awestruck. Back to the times of Stand By Me and The Goonies. I think as we grow up, we begin to lose that ability to be taken by a movie and to lose ourselves in the story. This film allowed me to get caught up in the story, in the moments of suspense as a mysterious train accident occurs in a small town. In the anxious moments as our youthful lead characters attempt to find out what's really going on and why the military is called in. In the heart wrenching story of a family broken by a workplace accident, leaving a father without a wife and a son without a mother, I could feel the strain the loss was causing these two characters. To experience the dynamic of their scarred relationship, played wonderfully by Kyle Chandler and Joel Courtney, just ate me up. The overarching theme of letting go of the past to move on with the future is something that we all should be reminded of. It is one of the toughest things to do in life because we hold on to memories, we hold on to pain. And while there should be time allowed for us to reflect on the past, we also must know when to move on because sometimes it's our inability to let go that hinders us from living a fuller life.

1. Moneyball

If you've been reading along throughout this countdown, you may have noticed that I talk about chasing dreams a lot. This is because I believe that having a dream and doing everything you can to make that dream come true is how you live a heroic life. In Moneyball, General Manager Billy Beane had a conviction that it was possible to go against the odds and put a winner of a baseball team on the field without spending an extravagant amount of money on players. He saw the value in players where all of baseball had written these players off. He also proved that some old, stodgy institutions like major league baseball, can be turned on their ears and revolutionized by visionaries. A more efficient system was needed to allow smaller market teams to contend with the behemoths in the major cities with endless amounts of cash. While some of the facts have been stretched for the film, it was still an educational experience watching Beane, along with his new assistant, Peter Brand, blaze a path for the future of baseball. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill couldn't make for a stranger pairing but they had a chemistry about them that made it that much more enjoyable to watch. Pitt's portrayal of a man dedicated to his work who was also trying to balance his relationship with his daughter was stirring to say the least. Bottom line, if you put a compelling story together with my favorite sport, it will more than likely be one of my favorite films.

There you have it, my favorites films of 2011. Thank you to everyone who followed along and I hope you all have a fulfilling 2012! Happy new year!

Best of 2011 (4-3)

As I delve into the penultimate entry of 2011, I found that while all of these films evoked some kind of emotion out of me, the top 5 have the power to influence. Hugo inspires to chase dreams while cherishing your history even though it may be painful. For me, that's what separates my favorite films from the rest, that feeling of empowerment or enlightenment from a well told story. I hope that you will be able to draw your own thoughts from the films you see in the future. If a movie has done its job, you'll be able to experience the story with such exquisite clarity that you will be able to draw truths for your own life. Now back to the countdown...

4. X-Men: First Class

No doubt about it, a good percentage of blockbuster movies are based on comic books these days. Only a handful of these films improve upon, or even replicate for that matter, the source material. Count me as thankful that some skilled story tellers take a shot at bringing their own creative style to some of my favorite comic books. I grew up watching the X-Men cartoon series on TV and reading the books and collecting the cards issued by Marvel. The story of the X-Men, humans with special abilities labeled as mutants, is a story that I think everyone can relate to in some way. We're all different with different abilities and we love to use labels for each other as well as ourselves. These labels are dangerous, in the X-Men lineage as well as real life. In our struggle to shed ourselves from these labels, we fall somewhere in between Professor Xavier's longing for understanding and Magneto's intolerance. These two characters, played brilliantly by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, showcase that even though people may strive for the good of others, their ways couldn't be more different. Discovering how these two characters came to their own dispositions was intriguing, especially to a fanboy like me. I was hesitant to get excited when I first saw some of the costuming but director Matthew Vaughn gave this film a tone that separates it from the first trilogy. It plays to the strength of the writing as I could really connect with the characters and their plight. This was easily my favorite film of 2011 based on a comic book and boy, were there a lot of them!

3. The Muppets

Staying with the theme of memories from childhood, there are some things that just won't ever go out of style. Kermit the Frog and his friends are just that sort of thing. Jim Henson's genius creations prove that just because you've been out of the limelight for awhile, that modern technology has seemingly passed you by and that it may seem as though you don't have any more relevant stories to tell, you can prove the skeptics wrong. When you hear that a movie has heart, this film epitomizes that. This is the kind of film that can appeal to the youngest and the oldest because there's just something about the Muppets as story telling devices that just plain works. Seeing Gonzo as a savvy businessman, who is just waiting for a call to be who he really wants to be and then leaving his successful business to follow his dream when he gets that call, personifies what the Muppets are all about, doing what you love with who you love. With infectious songs and hilarious cameos, this film brought me back to some of the fond memories of childhood while still speaking to my adult ideals. It's never too late to pursue a dream and dreams are worth pursuing. Only the most cynical could find this movie experience a negative one. And try not humming the Muppet Show theme. I dare you. It's time to play the music. It's time to light the lights.

Best of 2011 (6-5)

Midway through my top 10 films of 2011 and I have to preface this entry with saying that I haven't seen The Artist or The Ides of March as of this posting. From the reviews I've read, these two films may have affected my top 10 and I can't wait to see them. Now, back to the countdown!

6. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

The fourth installment of Mission: Impossible headlined by Tom Cruise proved to be the best so far. From the death defying stunt work to the dry wit of the always funny Simon Pegg, this movie never really stalled with a dull moment. Director Brad Bird (The Incredibles) masterfully put together complex sequences and gave each actor their moment to shine. Experiencing the scene where Ethan Hunt must scale the Burj Khalifa through the lens of an IMAX camera is nothing short of breath taking. I actually held my breath! It was definitely worth the extra cash to experience this movie in IMAX. Also, getting to see the The Dark Knight Rises prologue wasn't a bad thing either. This movie had everything you could ask for from an action movie, cool toys, bone crunching fights and floating in midair using magnets! Oh, science...


5. Hugo

When I first glimpsed the trailer for Hugo, I couldn't tell if it was shot live action or if it was a CG movie. That's a testament to the look of this live action film that legendary director, Martin Scorsese achieved with Hugo. A lot has been made of movies now resorting to 3D for the cheap (and not so cheap to our wallets) thrill but this was really stunning to see in 3D. Proving to be the innovative visionary that he really is, Scorsese utilizes the 3D effect as a storytelling device. Right from the opening of an impossibly long push in shot that can only be produced in 3D, I was immersed in this love letter of a movie. That love letter is to film restoration and the history of innovation that filmmaking has. Watching this film pretty much fills you in on the 2 years of cinema courses I took in college. The only fault I had with this film was that it felt like a history of cinema class was plopped in the middle of the actual story. But it is something easily forgiven when taken in the context that filmmaking represents dreams and imagination. Something I think some of us use too little of and don't strive for enough. This film may open your eyes to that. It served as an always welcomed reminder for me.

Check back tomorrow for films 4 & 3!

Best of 2011 (8-7)

Continuing on with my countdown of my top 10 films of 2011, I give you 8 and 7.

8. Drive

Drive was probably the most pleasant surprise on my list. Before I read anything about the movie, I had seen the billboard with just an image of an actor and the word "Drive" in script font and thought to myself, "What a strange way to promote a movie." Shortly after, the buzz started and after hearing some of the songs from the killer soundtrack, I made it a priority to see this film. And it did not disappoint. Beauty oozes out of every frame and the jarring, visceral action provides a stark contrast to the elongated moments of real life silence not often addressed in film. I can view this movie with the audio off and see how cool it is. But I'd recommend turning the volume up and submerse yourself in the aforementioned "driving" soundtrack. (Sorry, couldn't help myself.)



7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

It's been a decade long journey with Harry and his friends and we were given a fantastic farewell. While I did like the first half of this two part chapter a tad better, this finale delivers on an epic scale. We've experienced a lot with Harry ever since the first time we heard the chime and flew through the Warner Bros. logo. We've seen loved ones come and go. We've seen Harry suffer pain both physically and emotionally. We've seen Harry learn just how important and absolutely essential it is to have people to trust, to hope for the future and to love in the moment. All of this set to a magical background gave us whimsical story to delightfully process. This film, more than any other in the series, pushed the visual effects and really gave us stunning visuals. The journey ends with the face off we've all been waiting for and what a journey it's been.


Come back tomorrow for 6-5!

Aside note: I just watched Ip Man and Ip Man 2 and if you haven't seen them yet, do yourself a favor and make some time. Now excuse me as I go learn kung fu!

Best of 2011 (10-9)

I love making and reading lists. Around this time, at the end of each year, people and organizations organize their lists of what they thought was best or worst of the year. It could be movies, music, books, events, tweets, people, the list of lists goes on and on. The best part about these lists is that everyone will have a different opinion and that makes for some great conversation. Getting to know what tickles a person's fancy (just wanted to use that phrase) gives you insight on what fuels that person.

Films fuel me. For as long as I can remember, I've consumed motion pictures like an ice cold drink on a warm, sunny day. I just can't get enough of this genre of storytelling. Over the years, I've developed a taste for films with a compelling story, innovative storytelling devices and films with a focused attention to detail. One rule of mine in determining if a film matters to me or not is for the film to make me care. It's not a unique sentiment but it is the basis for cherishing a movie or not.

With that said, I'll be featuring my top ten films of 2011. It's always tough to determine an order but here's what I came up with starting with 10 & 9.

10. Rango

Loved this story about a chameleon trying to find acceptance and a community to call his own. The animation is top notch and Johnny Depp plays Rango with the right mixture of awkwardness and wit. Great voice performances all the way around and the textures give the setting the right amount of grit to make it feel like a true western. Los Lobos offer flavorful songs to a stellar soundtrack. The oddball nature of this film really endeared itself to me and pulling for Rango to find a home even when his house of cards comes crashing down was a joy to experience. One of the surprise hits for me of 2011.




9. Attack the Block

The title instantly caught my eye and when I heard the plot featured inner city kids fighting against aliens from outer space, the geek in me was all aboard. The creators of Attack describe it as "Inner City Vs. Outer Space". What I found interesting about this film was how a fractured community of people were brought together by literally fighting for their lives. The look of this film has style for days with monster effects that compliment the overall tone. The dialog features vernacular uncommon to an American audience which made me pay closer attention than usual. The boys are all great especially when the action calls for them to "man up". Basement Jaxx created a thumping soundtrack which only adds to the coolness of the film. Definitely one of the most enjoyable films of 2011.

Exchanging Pleasantries

It's always sad to hear of a person succumbing to cancer. When I saw that #GodIsNotGreat was a trending topic on Twitter, I had to investigate why. After rummaging through many defensive tweets, some that were aimlessly offensive, I found out that Christopher Hitchens had passed away from cancer. Hitchens had wrote a book in 2007 titled, God Is Not Great, where he criticizes all religion. By accounts, he was a brilliant intellectual and he fervently stood for his convictions. Relevant Magazine featured a masterful piece on the reflection of Hitchens' legacy. After reading more about his work and his life, a notion stirred inside of me that I need to engage in more conversation with people about their passions, even if they may stand on the opposite side of faith.

Engaging in meaningful conversations, where real progress is made, isn't as easy as it may sound. I know many people who don't even know what they might be passionate about. I dream of a setting where we are free to express our thoughts and dreams without the fear of judgement. I believe if I had the chance to sit and talk with Hitchens, the truths I would discover about myself would be golden. I think the simple truth we would both agree on is that we are broken people. He spoke of liberating people from the tyranny of religion. I can relate to an extent that Christianity has left a bad taste in a lot of mouths. That's why I take it on as my responsibility to change that. A question I may have posed to Hitchens is that if my faith, boiled down to its lowest common denominator, moved me to be compassionate, to dish out radical grace and to be a better human being, is it conceivable that it is God that moves me to these ideals? Even though he may have argued that faith in God is my admission of reverting to infancy in my way of thinking, I would not take offense, nor would I argue. Faith is where my values only begin and we always begin with the basic. The things I am moved to be, compassionate, overflowing with grace, liberating in the name of love, all stem from my faith. I may not have the answers to every event in the timeline of the biblical age but I know that the teachings and actions of Jesus lead me to a pursuit of a better life for not only myself, but for others.

Here's what I do know. I know that we're all people who are flawed, broken and 100% human. Although we don't always agree on everything, it is absolutely essential that we stay open to talking about our differences to get to know more about our own humanity. Simply living is hard enough, let's not close doors too quickly on people. Everyone's story is sacred and that is what fuels me, discovering the stories of others. I encourage you to share your story and be a part of other people's stories, even if you think it may not be worth it. This life is too short to simply write people off or even write yourself off. If you don't know where to start, write the next thing that comes to your mind. That's always a good start.

Grace Before Malice

This portrait is part of POTSC's Labels Lie Campaign.

Bullying didn't really play a major part in my story as a child. I am fortunate to have many happy memories and very few painful ones. I can recall one instance of being intimidated when I was in kindergarten. Our school was basically one two-story building with K-3rd grade classrooms on the first floor and 4th-8th grade on the second floor. Amongst the students we were labeled "Lower Graders" until 3rd grade and "Upper Graders" once we were promoted to 4th grade. Needless to say, the "Lower Graders" always stayed out of the way of the "Upper Graders" due to human physiology and older kids' disdain for the younger kids. We even had separate recess times. One sunny day, as a kindergarten boy sometimes does, I got lost in my playtime and didn't hear the call to come back into class for the end of recess. I didn't notice my peers leaving the playground and the "Upper Graders" coming down the stairs to take over their territory. As I sat on the asphalt looking up into the blue sky, the Southern California sun was soon blotted out by three boys looking down on me. I was instantly snapped out of my play time fantasy and a sense of panic took over. The boys, who seemed like giants to me, asked me what I was doing out of my classroom. They started to shout at me, the "little lower grader",  to get out of there and get back to my class. I got up as quickly as I could and got into my classroom. My heart was racing and I must have looked like a terrified puppy. To top it off, my teacher reprimanded me for being late to class. Not the worst case of bullying ever documented but it obviously has stuck with me to this day.


We live in an age where the stories of people from all over the world are easily accessible. I have seen and heard bullying stories that would fill a lifetime of nightmares. These stories strengthen my conviction that people all over the world are in dire need of grace. Or at the very least a reminder of the golden rule. I love the way Matthew 7:1 is phrased in The Message; "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults - unless of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging." The next time we are drawn to our natural inclination to be cynical, let's think about the influence we have with the words we use. Grace before malice. This video, that's been making the rounds across the news outlets, sums up what labels and name calling can do to a person. This is a 14 year old boy named Jonah and he wants you to know his story.

To quote Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson from one of my favorite films, A Few Good Men; "We were supposed to fight for the people who couldn't fight for themselves." Let's do our part by spreading awareness, dispensing grace and fighting for those who struggle to fight for themselves.

My Zombie Apocalypse

I never thought a show about the zombie apocalypse could grip me so emotionally as AMC's The Walking Dead does. After watching the mid-season finale, I was really moved by the wrap-up of a major plot line. (Won't spoil it for you if you haven't seen it yet but dang, that was sad in a great way.) I think what separates this show from your typical zombie movie is that we get to spend time with the characters over an extended period of time and kinda get to know them. I start to relate to their emotions about surviving in a fallen world, losing loved ones and living in a constant state of fear. What's great about this second season is that we get to see how these characters deal with their own fears and regrets embodied by the "walkers" (zombies) and how that affects a community of people. It got me to thinking while in the shower (that's where all of my greatest ideas and thoughts happen) about my own personal zombie apocalypse.

We all deal with fear in our own ways. Sometimes I might choose to run from it, I might slow it down without dealing the eliminating "headshot" and other times I'm still dealing with the recovery and restoration. A lot of times I try to handle these things on my own. But we all know the survivors of the zombie apocalypse work together in tandem with each other. The same can be said of humanity right now. We survive and thrive when we work together. Even those we write off as "hopeless" or "useless" can serve to help a community. There is a prime example from the show in a character named Daryl Dixon who starts as an outcast in the series. In this second season, he finds purpose for his life by searching for a missing little girl. The nature of this purpose, noble and righteous, sets him on a path of redemption and breaking free from the label cast upon him. He begins to form a bond with the missing girl's mother and she provides affirmation that there is a magnificent goodness in him.

When we begin to see the goodness in others and celebrate that, we begin to see lives change for the better. Free yourself from labels cast upon you. Then help to free others. Visit the newly launched campaign by People of the Second Chance called Labels Lie. There you can be part of a community and have a conversation about radical grace. We can survive in a fallen world. We can find purpose in the chaos. We are POTSC.

Occupy: Me

I've seen more and more coverage on the Occupy Los Angeles protests and to be honest, I really didn't know what they were about. After reading some articles and watching some videos, I know a little more and I admire the courage of the people who want to be heard. They believe in something bigger than themselves, they can see glaring problems within existing institutions and hope for a better future. I don't pretend to know all of the issues with government and how it is influenced by corporations and how these corporations don't pay taxes but I can understand the outrage it can cause when it appears our government is not acting in the best interests of the majority of its people. While these issues do directly affect lives, sometimes it is difficult to see the process because the negative effects aren't always visible in our everyday lives. It is also difficult for some to pinpoint a specific solution to these ongoing issues. That leaves many people in the dark. Many people don't think about these things and don't care to say anything about it or don't think it applies to them. As much as I'd like to think I wouldn't fall into this category, I do.

So with that said, my question is, "Is there anything I can do to have a positive affect not only on my future, but more importantly, the future of generations to come?" I believe the answer is a resounding "yes" for everyone. The next question would be, "Where do I start?" We can all agree there is a lot wrong in not only our cities, our country but around the world. It would seem like too huge of a problem to solve something like global economy especially for a person who knows little to nothing about it like me. But I do think there is a step in the right direction and it all starts with me. I see a lot of the protests against "corporate greed" and while it sounds reprehensible, I have to be honest and say I don't know exactly what it means. I can tell you though that I want another kind of greed to go away and that is the greed in my own life. If I'm honest, I can tell you that 90-95% of my thoughts, actions and emotions are spent on myself. Same goes for my finances. If I take steps to lower that percentage, then I begin to help others around me and maybe even the world. Much like the greed that influences our government which makes policy, I have to rid myself of my own greed which influences my decision making which defines my life.

It may sound strange but I want to start a protest of myself. Occupy: Me goes into effect today. Would you join me in making a better tomorrow? Let's shed some light on those living in the darkness of uncertainty.

Muppetational!

A friend of mine told me I should share some of what I've been consuming when it comes to entertainment. So, I've finally caved and here is what I've come up with:

Here is the reason behind the title of this post: OK Go and The Muppets - Muppet Show Theme Song Love OK Go's videos, love The Muppets, what's not to love here?

Albums currently listening to: Death Cab for Cutie's Codes and Keys, The Civil Wars' Barton Hollow and Sleeping At Last's Storyboards. I'll have to include Taylor Swift's Speak Now since I'll be seeing her at Staples Center this Sunday. (I have to admit, I really like that album.)

Movies I've recently seen: I actually haven't been to the movies in a few weeks. Captain America: The First Avenger was actually the last movie I watched and I'd give it a 3 out of 5. Solid action, straightforward storytelling and your typical comic book hero movie dialogue. Stanley Tucci was the highlight of the movie for me. Always an outstanding performance with the short amount of screen time he was given. 3D was unnecessary. In comparison, I actually liked Thor a bit better but not much. If you're looking for a rental, I'd recommend Rango if you missed it. Great vocal performances, cinematography was pretty incredible as director Gore Verbinski's attention to detail really stands out upon repeat viewings. You can really see his visual effects background stand out here.

TV I've been watching: Choices for TV series during the summer are usually slim but this summer offered some interesting stories to follow. AMC's Breaking Bad has been outstanding once again. You really can't find any better story telling, production value, acting performances, music choices and week to week consistency anywhere else. Almost every scene is filled with some kind of intense emotion. I was really curious to see how TNT's Falling Skies would turn out. I'm happy to say that it turned out to be a better than average TV show experience. There are a lot of big names amongst the creative team behind this series, and I think that really shows in the creative choices made throughout the series. Knowing they had to work off of a TV budget, they showed just enough of the aliens (Skitters as they are referred to) and just enough of the battle to give it a more cinematic feel than other shows. Other shows really quickly, FX's Wilfred is sometimes raunchy, sometimes touching and mostly hilarious comedy about a man and his neighbor's dog, who he sees as a man dressed up in a dog suit. Syfy's Alphas has been a show that feel's like it's on the cusp of being a great series. Very similar themes to X-Men, it's a show about people with special powers who make choices to use them for good, use them for bad or hide them from the rest of the world. The effects have been cheesy in parts and the characters' backstory a little too light in some cases but it has been a good combination of action, visuals, wit and emotion. Hope it continues to grow as a show.

I'm cutting this post right here but I'll be back for some more tidbits soon. Thanks for reading!

"It's been a long time...

...I shouldn't have left you, without a strong rhyme to step to." Eric B. & Rakim's classic hip hop song, "I Know You Got Soul", is one of the most quoted lyrics for bloggers that haven't blogged in awhile or people between the ages of 30 and 40 that haven't kept in touch and need a quick, ice breaking reference that both people will understand. So here's my awkward reacquaintance, followed by an awkward pound/handshake where one person goes in for the bump and the other is open handed and knuckles meet palm. (To make it even more awkward the open hand closes on top of the fist.) Or the side hug/one arm full hug where one person comes in sideways with one arm and the other person has to over rotate and ends up leaving a foot of space in between bodies and you end up just patting their back to end the weirdness. I love awkwardness. It's a feeling that is mutually shared most of the time and always ends in laughter when you share it with others. Great stories come out of awkwardness. It's what makes us human, when we feel what we feel. It goes beyond science and synapses. It has to do with soul.

I read a quote the other day in my twitter feed that said something to the effect that we are not bodies with a soul, we are souls with bodies. This is something that I believe to be key to living a full life. The perspective that if we have a healthy soul, we can live our most fulfilling lives, no matter what our body is going through. Some of the most inspiring stories come out of people who have every excuse to be down and out because of physical difficulties but still find joy in life because of their faith and their ability to love. They have healthy souls because they feed their souls with things that matter. A healthy soul will always win out over an unhealthy body.

In my small group, we're going through a book called Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus, a book that I've read and thoroughly enjoyed. In the book Erwin explores three areas of our souls' desire, Intimacy, Meaning and Destiny. These are things our souls crave and need to thrive. Things such as hope, purpose, community, love, passion, the ability to create and faith just to name a few. We can take steps right now to strengthen our souls like getting involved with our communities and helping those that need help. Or taking steps to find out what we really are passionate about and then doing whatever that may be. Or something as simple as spending time (real time, in person, not just in the cyber world) with people so that we can share our lives with people. Or even contacting a person you haven't spoken to in a while and see how they're doing. Give that awkward hug and start telling real human stories. Like Rakim said, "You got it. I know you got soul."

Do we get what we deserve?

It's easy to sit down and hear of a terrorist mastermind's death and quickly label it as "he got what he deserved." Just days before there was a little event called "The Royal Wedding" and we can say these two people "deserve each other." As I've mentioned in a previous post, Rob Bell wrote a book that created a firestorm of debate on whether or not a loving God could decide if people deserve to spend eternity in hell. Today, we define "deserve" as what we are entitled to, or what we have coming to us. The actual word originates from the Latin "to devote oneself to." More times than not, our lives become what we devote ourselves to.

If we believe that everyone deserves loves, then we, in turn, should devote ourselves to loving everyone. If we say that everyone deserves a second chance, we should devote ourselves to handing out second chances left and right. Jesus devoted himself to serving and loving others. He deserves to be loved by everyone. This kills me when I think about all the time I've spent serving myself because if this theory holds true, then I deserve to be alone. But here's the amazing part. I've been afforded grace beyond all of my selfishness that I don't receive what I deserve. Instead, I've come to know the redemption of my own wrongs and the restoration of hope for a better life. I've been given freedom and experience it daily through the people I love and that love me.

This liberation from what we actually deserve is not just for me but offered to each and every person. This includes tyrants, royalty, pastors, self proclaimed nerds and you. Whomever may be reading this, Jesus wants to give you what you don't deserve. A life where you can truly say, "I'm alive!" As long as we know that we are devoting ourselves to what is right, there is hope for us. It doesn't matter where you've been, what you have done. When we get what we deserve, or understand what we devote ourselves to, we can begin to change the world.

rescue

I was fortunate enough to attend a prayer & worship night called Rescue Japan hosted by Life on the Hill last Friday. It was great to see many of the local churches come together and dedicate time to prayer for Japan, for those already serving there and the people on the way to help the recovery of the affected area. I know there will be more opportunities for us to come together and be the Church by supporting one another and serving together, all in Christ's name. This is exactly what the Church should be, a movement towards redemption and radical, tangible grace.

One of the pastors at the prayer night said that the people of Japan are more open than ever to hearing about the gospel. Just seeing what they went through, I would also search for answers, search for understanding to make sense of why something so terrible could happen. When I think about the pain I've experienced in my life, (which is so small compared to the total devastation people went through and continue to experience) I'm overcome with gratefulness that people were there for me and continue to support me. I can't even fathom where I would be without the guidance I've been afforded and the grace shown to me in spite of all my shortcomings.

We've been working on the upcoming Easter service here at SBCC and I can't help but think the story that the Church is built around (or was originally intended to be built around) is the story that we miss sharing with people that need to hear it. That story is the Easter story. The story says that when Jesus died, the earth shook. Immediately people knew that He was the Son of God. People opened up to new ideas, new beliefs. Much like Japan, people started searching for truth. The truth is that Jesus' death still reverberates today. The earth has not stopped shaking since and people continue to search for truth.

This is where we can be a part of the rescue. We all experience some kind of flood in our lives, where the circumstances of life seem to consume us. It is in these moments where we need rescuing that Jesus plucks us out of the wreckage. He uses many ways to do this and it is almost always through others. If we are open, we can be used to help in the rescue of people. And that's the beauty of it all. The beauty of the resurrection is that we all experience the same flood, the flood of Jesus' grace that consumes us and allows us to live the lives God intended. And as the song goes, "find hope in the aftermath".

Super Secret Creativity

Sorry I've been MIA for a little while! I've been working on a "super secret project" to help promote SBCC's Easter service this year.

Working in different mediums, whether it be writing, editing, design, etc., keeps me from feeling the monotony of the "everyday" job. I believe that we are all gifted in creativity, no matter our vocation or our self-image of our creative selves. We all desire beauty. It's our definition of beauty that differs from others. You might consider a painting or photograph as beautiful art. Or how numbers tell the story of our financial history, our present situation and to plan our future. That can be beautiful and creative to some. (Definitely not me but to each his/her own.) What do you consider beautiful? Whatever it is, pursue it and find joy in it. Share it with someone. When you begin to uncover your super secret creativity, you begin to find true life.

Image of God

A recent firestorm within the realm of religion and the media regarding pastor Rob Bell's new book titled, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, has sparked a fascinating and difficult conversation about the afterlife and the choices we make in our lifetime. I do not envy Rob Bell as he has faced difficult questions from various people in the media and in the religious community. Questions such as, "Are heaven and hell real places?", "Is accepting Jesus the only way to get to heaven?", "If I were an Atheist and I give to the poor, help those that have been abused, love to the fullest of my being, would I still be sentenced to eternity in hell by a God who says He is love?" These are some of the most difficult questions to answer for people of faith because there is no physical evidence to support either side. None of us have died and come back to tell us how it all works. The truth is, we don't have all of the answers. This is what I believe is so beautiful about being human.

Discussion about what we think and how we formulate these thoughts and beliefs is what I believe is what we are here for. If we can have these conversations with an open mind and respect everyone's point of view, we can broaden our own definitions of who God is and why we are here. I don't think it is our job to say who is going to heaven and who is not, to assign blame for the bad things that happen in our lives. It is simply our job to bring the attributes of heaven here to this world. The bible describes heaven as a place without sorrow, pain, suffering. A place of never ending joy and peace. Isn't that what we should be working towards here in this world? If we were to focus on loving people, supporting one another and enabling people to be more fulfilling versions of themselves, then who could argue our own salvation? Especially a God who sent his son to endure death on our account?

For me, the image I project of God is evolving everyday. I believe the more I dwell on who God is, and broadening my view of Him, the more I feel that I can begin to be an image of Him. I've gone from thinking God is this divine being sitting up in heaven, punishing me for my sins, to believing that God is here with us, shedding a tear when we shed tears and celebrating right alongside of us when we celebrate what is good in this life. I would never think that God caused an earthquake that caused a tsunami that caused massive destruction that is still on going because I believe that God loves us too much. He is all powerful and loving but it is not my place to question why He would allow this to happen. I am merely to respond to it. I believe that He works through situations like these to gather His people to demonstrate love and support through trials such as natural disasters because we all experience some kind of trial and hardship in our lives. We all require that love and support and the more we practice giving it out, the grace we experience is as close to heaven as we will ever get here on earth.

Here is a great post by Fuller President Richard Mouw on Rob Bell and his book so you can get another point of view.

Tipping Point

I attended a conference called Catalyst West last week down in Irvine. This is the third consecutive year I've been a part of it and each year I am filled with inspiration and dreams. The theme was "Take Courage," a great reminder in these times where our faith is stretched to unseeable ends. We get to hear from some of the most innovative minds and extraordinary communicators from all parts of the world. My next blog posts will offer some insight to my experience at "Cat West."

The opening speaker was Andy Stanley, the founder of North Point Ministries. He gave a talk about individual acts of courage, the tipping point of something extraordinary. Though not always dramatic as say, David and Goliath, we have ample opportunities to live out the most heroic versions of our lives. Whether it's having the courage to stay when it would be easier to leave, or vice versa, we all have moments that may seem insignificant at the time, but prove monumental down the road of our journeys.

As we travel through life, we all need a little help, or a lot of help in some cases. It takes courage to ask for that help. It takes courage to be honest and vulnerable. Secrets compensate who we are. We are afraid of what others might find out about us or we're afraid of what we might find out about ourselves.

The encouraging news? Every high profile leader has sought out help. You and I are not alone in our need for help. We are no less for asking for help. It takes courage, so take heart.

When all is said and done, what story do you want to tell? This could be the most courageous story of your life so take it by the horns and don't ever let go.

backstory

a little glimpse into the meaning behind the title of this blog:

i heard this statement last year at a conference called catalyst west that forever changed my definition of righteousness:

righteousness is simply doing the next right thing you know you ought to do.

dallas willard said this. wise words from a wise man. inspired me to ask the question, "what is the next right thing?" i think we all have an innate desire to do what is right. and often, the right thing to do is right next to you. my computer or my droid is always right next to me. both can be used to do what is right. whether it's communicating with people who want to connect with others, sharing moments with photos or video, giving what you can to causes such as charity:water or compassion, or even writing a blog, there's always something you can do. for me, using words to share in life's joy, passion, pain, tension, and even laughter is the right thing that is right next to me. this is just a place to share life with others out there. this world is a tough place to live in alone and you don't have to. whatever you are going through or thinking about, bring it. share it.

what is right next to you that is the right thing to do?

hate to admit it

so i woke up with these lyrics floating in my head: "all you have to do is, close your eyes and just reach out your hand..." definitely a "hate to admit it, but i know the words to this song by heart!" moment. know what song this is? what's your "hate to admit it" moment today?