To China With Love

Naomi and I are heading out to china in a few days. It's kind of crazy... I know we are leaving but it doesn't really feel like it. The past few weeks have been stressful in getting ready, but things have settled down. You can read more about our dealing with preparation on Silhouette.

I was able to get away with a buddy for two nights and go camping and hiking. The weather was beautiful, the hikes were awesome, and there didn't feel like any rush to do anything (which i what I needed).

I also started a Briercrest in their distance learning program for a Bible Certificate (33 credits). I'm almost done to the introduction seminar and will be working on the Spiritual Formation coursework while in China. I've liked it so far and feel like the intro class is preparing me to complete the certificate (there is a 70% attrition rate for distance education programs). I'll be taking my time but being persistent... hope to finish in 2 years or so and then look into some graphic design certs and journalism classes. We'll see.

It was eight years ago today that I was reborn into redemption by the blood, Spirit, and grace of Jesus. I re-read some part of an old classic for me, The Normal Christian Life. I leave you with some words from Brother Nee before heading out to China.

I appreciate the blessed fact of God's forgiveness, but I want something more than that: I want deliverance. I need forgivness for what I have done, but I need also deliverance from what I am.

God makes it quite clear in His Word that He has only one answer to every human need - His son, Jesus Christ. In all His dealings with us He works by taking us out of the way and substituting Christ in our place. The Son of God died instead of us for our forgivness: He lives instead of us for our deliverance. So we can speak of two substitutions - a Substitute on the Cross who secures our forgivness and a Substitute within who secures our victory. It will help us greatly, and save us from much confusion, if we keep constantly before us this fact, that God will answer all our questions in one way and one way only, namely, by showing us more of His son.

@echo: Once

If one were to see a modern day musical, what would it look like? And more importantly, would it work? In the case of Once, winner of the Audience Award at both the Dublin International and Sundance film festivals, the answer is a resounding "yes". Real world acting, great music and a solid storyline have made this film an audience favorite.

Guy and Girl (as their credits name them) of Once meet in the alleys of Ireland. He busks in the evening and repairs vacuums by day; she works odd jobs, like selling flowers on the street, to support her struggling family. They form a musical kinship as their lives, and especially their relationships, are in repair. Girl starts to complement Guy’s music like Lisa Hannigan does for Damien Rice.

We watch as layers of each's character are revealed to each other, and watch as they become more comfortable with each other. Gal makes Guy believe he is good at what he does, and they commit to making a demo of Guy’s music. They spend a weekend in a studio recording the rhythm and lyrics borne from their everyday lament.

The ending, foreshadowed in the title but not appreciated until it takes place, was trying at first. You might have entered the movie expecting the predictable and then, when you don't get it, feel jaded. But as you sit and listen to the credits, you realize that, Yes, that’s the way it needed to end.

Many scenes are shot with a hand camera, but it never becomes annoying. This sets the mood and strips the would-be pomp, making you really feel as if you are there. The movie is like good indie music video, but with real characters and real dialogue.

Both Guy and Girl have music flowing through their veins in real life. In fact, they wrote just about all the music for the film themselves. Girl is played by Markéta Irglová, a Czech musician and songwriter. She has been into music since she was seven, learning piano and playing tunes by ear. Glen Hansard, Guy, is known as the front man for the a popular Irish rock band The Frames. John Carney, former bassist of The Frames, wrote and produced Once. Both Hansard and Irglová have a certain texture to their voice which helps to convey emotion in the film - whether brokenness, anger, or determination.

Even though the movie is well-written and well-executed, it takes a moment to adjust for the multiple full-length song scenes. But this is a musical, and it should (and can) be enjoyed as such. Apart from the abundance of Irish F-bombs, it’s the cleanest R-rated movie you can ask for. It also proves that you can have good story, drama, and movie-making without the Hollywood budget.

Once is a peculiar love story that is focused not on romance, but on the beauty of music and connection even when life is unattractive and confused.

- review assistance from James and Naomi -

s|ice: Last Tube of Toothpaste

Naomi and I will buy our last tube of tooth paste today before we leave for China... and while 74 days may seem like a long time to some, it really isn't. Naomi found out that she can do her practicum for TESL over there which will be great experience and hopefully won't stress out her husband too much.

I finally finished up Church History in Plain Language which I've been working on here and there for the better part of six months. I think it's safe to say that most Christians don't have a basic knowledge of the church's heritage, in both a positive and a negative context, and I thought that CHiPL was a great topical overview. One of the things that stood out for me about the early church was how many heresies came out of holiness movements. Apathy might our greatest weakness but Pride is our truest enemy.

The Imitation of Christ was the other book on my list. I had to do something with that book that I never do: read about 65% of it and then skim the rest. It was a defeat on some levels and a victory on others. It's the second most read book of all time and has some good stuff in it but I wasn't connecting with it alot... while I believe in man's wretchedness I couldn't continue to constantly read the self abasement phrases reinstated over and over again. That said, I would probably use the book as a resource for Lent liturgy and pull quotes from it for teachings. One of my paragraphs wasn't so much about human frailty as it was about Christ's Glory:

O Jesus, Splendor of eternal glory, Consolation of the pilgrim soul, with You my lips utter no sound and to You my silence speaks. How long will my Lord delay His coming? Let Him come to His poor servant and make him happy. Let Him put forth His hand and take this miserable creature from his anguish. Come, O come, for without You there will be no happy day or hour, because You are my happiness and without You my table is empty. I am wretched, as it were imprisoned and weighted down with fetters, until You fill me with the light of Your presence, restore me to liberty, and show me a friendly countenance. Let others seek instead of You whatever they will, but nothing pleases me or will please me but You, my God, my Hope, my everlasting Salvation.

Below are some picture from two occasions. The first is when Dad came to visit we headed to Vancouver Island for some ferry and moped action and then to the Diablo area for some hiking. the second is a 1,773 mile guy road trip which included visiting the Stand By Me town, hiking, swimming, camping, and In-n-Out Burger.

Dad Week '07

In N Out Road Trip