House: The Tyrant (S603)

Through out the pervious five seasons of House MD, addiction and all of the unsightly nuances acquainted with it drove the show down roads many popular television shows have yet to travel. Gregory House, trusted Vicodin to ease and, perhaps mask, physical pain caused by a dying leg. I have been an avid viewer of the show for…a long time, and over the years I, and many others, have watched House plummet to the depths of despair and, during season 6, climb over his addiction. House, as defined by pervious seasons, is ruthlessly ‘independent’, self-serving, pragmatic and conniving. With a dark wit, he drives the show to places and dilemmas that often make House think about his world view and leave the viewers to think over the problems themselves.

This, I believe, is where the true heart of the show lies: the ability to question. While House’s attitude towards humanity has been described as ‘misanthropic’ his real driving force comes from needing to solve ‘the puzzle’, to find the truth. This idea is very apocalyptic in a society that often calls for ‘unity’. However it must be said that House is not the ‘poster-boy’ of the Kingdom. In fact, his strong sense of independence, extreme cynicism and dislike of human contact strongly contradicts the goals of the Kingdom as well as suggesting a particular form of modernism. While the drive to find the truth is incredibly important to God’s Kingdom, House rejects religion avidly and tries to find objectivity through his medium: science. David Shore’s character can continue to be striped down and examined, however I will move on.

This particular episode, The Tyrant, focuses strongly on the idea of righteous killing verses ‘just doing your job’. Dibala, a ruthless dictator, becomes ill and is treated by ‘House’s Team’ lead by Forman. The dictator is rumored to be planning an ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the Sitibi people in his kingdom. This question is huge and is often not thought about by the normal human being with a normal work life. However, as people of the Kingdom we must constantly be in question and challenge ourselves and our faith. It is this reason that House MD is incredibly important to popular culture.

1. I have praised House MD as a show, however the main character loudly proclaims to be an Atheist. What are some of the unpleasant things about this show that cannot be over looked?
2. If Dibala was in your living room, what would you do?

Cultural Artifact - Jayesslee

Jayesslee (link) are two twenty-three year old identical twin sisters, Janice and Sonia Lee. They are Koreans who are currently living in Australia and are both pursuing music. They do not have an album out (yet), but they have many videos on their youtube channel and are a very talented duo. I think that these two show the human purpose of giving all glory to God. At the beginning and end of their songs they always say "be blessed" and they are not afraid to express their faith. I think that they are a wonderful testimony because of the songs they sing and of the short message they say before their songs. It is also obvious that they have become more popular lately and they are really thankful to God for it because they recognize that their amazing musical talent comes from Him. They reveal the Kingdom of God in a way that shows that God gives everyone a spiritual gift, no matter what it may be, and when we use it to glorify and testify His name, we will be greatly blessed. They also reveal that we can be witnesses anywhere and bless others through anything, in their case, it's through music on youtube.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your spiritual gifts that God has blessed you with?

2. How can you reach out to others through simple activities?

The Godfather

The Godfather
The original film The Godfather, the first movie in a 3 film trilogy, takes place in the 1940’s in New York City shortly after the conclusion of World War II. One of the main characters, Vito Corleone, runs one of the most prestigious, yet deadly Mob gangs of New York City (as well as the United States) along with his sons Michael, Santino, and Fredo. Early in the movie, Vito meets with Virgil Solazzo, a “top narcotics man”, to discuss a possible business partnership. Skeptical of the proposal, Vito declines the offer citing political and financial risks to his “family”. In spite of rejecting the offer, Vito insists that his decision was based purely on business and political savvy, rather than personal feelings. Feeling bitter and angry, Solazzo partners with the Tatagglia family, a rival “family” of the Corleone’s in New York City. The Tatagglia’s attempt to assassinate Don Vito, but were unsuccessful. With Vito recovering in the hospital for an extended period of time, Santino takes over the family and orders a series of violent attacks in response to the assassination attempt on his Father. Amid the violence, Santino is assassinated and Michael takes over the family business for the duration of the film (and the rest of the trilogy).

Overall, the film has a variety of elements from the Empire, but also promotes a variety of virtues and values that are consistent with the Kingdom. Concerning the Empire, the film has a plethora of events that occur as a result of the desire for vengeance. Throughout the film, violent vengeance was referred to as promoting “justice” or in other cases, “They hit us first, so we hit ‘em back.” The empire tells us that vengeance is almost always justified if somebody treats you poorly or hurts you in some way. In many ways, the empire insists that bad things happen to people who deserve it. The kingdom, however, insists that mankind ought to bless his or her enemies regardless of how poorly they may have first acted. Concerning vengeance, Romans 12:17-22 says, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. On the other hand, the film has a variety of moments that promote positive values that are consistent with the kingdom. Specifically, Vito Corleone emphasizes the importance of providing for one’s family, having mutual respect for others, and valuing genuine friendship.

Questions

1) As a society, do we value frienship or family the same way as many did during the 1940's ?

2) Though the film takes place in an entirely different time period and social environment, is it safe to say that certain principles and virtues will always be cherished and valued ?

Origins of Symmetry

For my second artifact, I decided to listen to the album Origins of Symmetry by Muse. Muse is an alternative rock band from England; the album was based on the book Hyper Space by Michio Kaku, which mainly debates metaphysical questions. I think Muse, like the bands named in David Darks book Everyday Apocalypse, while being very anti-religious, can have glimpses of an apocalyptic worldview. The band’s music is very intense, and the whole album seemed to have a creepy, sort of chilling demeanor. Also Matthew Bellamy’s voice (who is the lead singer) went into falsetto quite often, adding to the impactful style of music that Muse produces.

Through listening to Origins of symmetry I immediately picked up that the lyrics suggested a lack of faith, and a sort of hopelessness towards the future. For example, songs like “Hyper Music” spoke to me with lyrics that asked, “Who’s returned from the dead? Who remains?” and put a sour taste of helplessness in my mind. Other songs on the album, such as “New Born” and “Dark Shine”, have a very depressing feeling, and almost bitter. The song “Space Dementia” is referring to the feeling of being complete alone, or total isolationism. The songs that rang apocalyptic to me most were “Plug in Baby” and “Screenager”, which both question technology and calls attention to the apparent disconnect and isolation between communities of people due to computers and other gadgets. Muse seems to be saying people hide behind technology, and replace companionship with machines. Through these songs and others on the album, I would say that Muse values human relationships. They aren’t Christian, and by observation I think that they believe redemption comes from interpersonal relationships, and ultimately yourself. The album reveals many issues of the empire. Isolation, depression, loneliness, hopelessness, envy, and longing (which is specifically addressed in the song “Bliss”) are all addressed. Though the band calls out these exasperating feelings, they do not offer any solutions to fix this brokenness in the empire.


Discussion Questions:
1) What are possible solutions to the problems addressed by Muse about the empire? As Christians, should we have a different perspective?

2) Would you consider this band apocalyptic? Why or why not?

The REAL? Housewives of Orange County

The Real Housewives of Orange Country are anything but real. They are a group of currently 5 women who live in Orange Country, California in exclusive gated communities. They are all very rich and really don’t do much during the day except for Vicki who owns her own real estate company. The cameras follow the woman around as they interact with each other, the salon, their kids, the nail salon, their husbands and the mall. They love their Botox and tanning salons. Beauty and money is the most important thing in their life right now.

The lifestyle they live and try to live is, bigger is better. They are all about is how much money my husband or man in my life make, so I can do whatever I want. They set up this standard for each other and each tries to top it just a little bit. For example, Gretchen has said before, “you need to shave EVERY day; they always need to be silky smooth”. The scary thing is people may watch not just for entertainment as I do, but they may begin to think this is the way we should really be. These are the things we should strive for, the gold of the empire. Some people call it keeping up with the Jones.

I am absolutely not saying that everyone shouldn’t be rich, but not once have I seen these women, at least on camera, given back to ANYBODY. Not in service, not in monetary gifts and definitely not in kindness. They say they are just honest woman and will call you out. Being honest is fine; but doing it to be rude and stick it to the other person is what they intend to do and cover it up by saying I was just being honest.

Jesus calls us to give to the poor, to speak kindly, to not put things of this world first. It doesn’t look like this show is getting those items across. Lynne says, “It’s not about how much money you have, it’s about how good you look spending it”. First of all, that totally contradicts itself, but more importantly, that is the idea of culture today. Maybe not to the drastic measures that these ladies make it out to be but the Kingdom is not on the pedestal, Lip plumper is.

Questions:
What can we do to make sure our earthly things are not becoming more important to us than our work for the Kingdom and God?

What example can we set to those who want to follow the RHOC?

Family Guy: Apocalyptic, or Nihilistic?

After reading David Dark's thoughts on The Simpsons, I was interested to watch The Family Guy with new horizons. Dark proposed that The Simpsons was a kind of contemporary piece of apocalyptic literature, similar to the biblical book Revelation, in disclosing what N.T. Wright calls the "cosmic significance" of everyday events. We are invited to take a more heightened, alert perspective on people and facets of our everyday lives, and have a renewed perspective.

The Family Guy is notorious for its slap-stick humor, fast pace and cutaways, and taboo jokes. I've always loved the show, and thought of it as something of the "next generation" of a show like The Simpsons. The show follows an average dysfunctional family and watches as chaos ensues. The father is the stupid simpleton (Homer), the children Meg and Chris don't like their family (Bart & Lisa), and the mother Louis is a guiding figure (Marge). I had never been a huge follower of The Simpsons, so I figured this was probably just the next itineration of the similar idea. So after reading David Dark's analysis of the Simpsons as an apocalyptic window into culture, I was excited to see Family Guy as much of the same. I was wrong.

I seem to remember in class us discussing that David Dark had come to Calvin College, and discussed this very point. If I recall correctly, the significant difference that Dark himself noted with the Family Guy in particular was a distinct lack of love. Rather than the show being a kind of amplified caricature of people around us, and showing redeeming qualities of such characters, the Family Guy definitely seemed strictly interested in the tearing down of characters without redemption.

In the episode I watched, Meg wants to attend college, but doesn't have a strong enough extra-curricular portfolio for her application. She decides to write an article for her high school paper. Her father Peter thinks the article is boring, so secretly swaps it with a more sensational story of his own making: "Luke Perry is Gay." Perry finds out and files a lawsuit, so Peter tries to lure Perry into a gay pose with him to take a photo, to redeem Meg in the situation. In the end, Perry decides to do an interview with Meg, to which the episode closes with Peter's moral of the story: "Things work out if you do whatever you want and don't worry about the consequences."

Perhaps there are some redeeming qualities of the show: a strong demonstration of a father's sacrificial love, for example. But it's certainly a bit of a stretch, and it's a thin observation at that. On the whole, I think Dark's analysis rings true: the characters are more bent on hurting and humiliating one another without remorse, than striving for something more. While the show does indeed play on caricatures and stereotypes, rather than lovingly redeeming them, they serve as surrogates for racial and prejudiced jokes.

Augustine wrote in De Doctrine Christiana that people may variously interpret the scriptures, and some may even interpret them wrongly. But as long as the ultimate product is love, that is a relatively safe place to be. While The Simpsons perhaps strikes this balance, The Family Guy seems to not be interested.

Avatar

Well I went out with some of my friends on Saturday and saw Avatar in 3D at Rivertown Crossings Celebration Cinema. Both a wonderful mall experience and film experience at the same time. I didn't get around to shopping as my trips to the mall are usually go in, get my items, pay, and then leave. I am not big on trying on clothes or commenting on how cute the clothes look. Anyways, I went to the 5:30 showing. Several weeks after the movie's release, the movie theatre was still packed! Since there was five of us and we wanted to sit together, we had to take the seats in the very front of the auditorium (don't ever sit there unless you want neck problems). From the very start of the film I don't think I was ever let down. If the story line ever failed to intrigue me I instantly became enthralled in the animations. The $350M budget must have paid of since the movie has grossed over $1,000,000,000 worldwide, if not $2B. My friend, who is huge into movies with constant action was let down. I harassed him that just because you had to look a little deeper into the plot, that it didn't make it a bad movie. The graphics were phenomenal! I was amazed at the wonder of this new world, "Pandora", that they created. It was amazing how we could be sucked into this world and how beautiful it was. Plants lit up, creatures flew, and the world they created was amazing.

Through all of this I was just reminded how amazing our God is and how amazing the abilities are of the people he created. Hundreds of people spent hours and hours creating, directing, casting, and animating this film. It just blows my mind how complex God made us humans that we took what this world had to offer and made it into so much more. God's world is absolutely marvelous and it just amazes me the splendor of it all. But he lets us be so creative with our minds to the point that we make up entire new worlds in these movies along with new creatures and a new way to live. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone who has not seen it yet. It is a great film!

How does God feel about us creating other worlds when he has provided us with a beautiful one right in front of us?

Why did God create so many stars and planets when creating the skies to have them unreachable by human beings?

Cultural Artifact: Rage Against the Machine

I decided to talk a little bit about Rage Against the Machine’s self titled debut album for my cultural artifact. This album debuted in 1992 and when you think of what was going on in America at this time the album is very appropriate. The country was emerging from the Gulf War and was seeing itself on the way out of a major economic recession. The music seems to almost be the definition of apocalyptic. Rage cries out against the ills in American society that lead to militarism and materialistic economic woes but the country did not listen. When we think of what is happening in America today we are yet again in the midst of a war in the Middle East and in the middle of an economic recession. Some of these Rage lyrics resonate so clearly today despite the fact that this album is 18 years old.

-Take the Power Back
The present curriculum

I put my fist in 'em

Eurocentric every last one of 'em

See right through the red, white and blue disguise

With lecture I puncture the structure of lies

Installed in our minds and attempting

To hold us back
We've got to take it back

Holes in our spirit causin' tears and fears

One-sided stories for years and years and years

I'm inferior? Who's inferior?

Yeah, we need to check the interior

Of the system that cares about only one culture

And that is why
We gotta take the power back


Yeah, we gotta take the power back
Come on, come on!

We gotta take the power back

-Know Your Enemy
What? The land of the free?

Whoever told you that is your enemy?


Now something must be done

About vengeance, a badge and a gun
'
Cause I'll rip the mike, rip the stage, rip the system

I was born to rage against 'em

-Township Rebellion
Rebel, rebel and yell

'Cause our people still dwell in hell

Locked in a cell

Yes, the structure's a cell

Mad is the story I tell

How long can we wait?

Come on, seein' what's at stake

Action for reaction

If your mind's in a somewhat complacent state

Get a check up
This is a stick up

Our freedom or your life

Lord, I wish I could be peacful

But there can be no sequel

Now freedom must be fundamental

In Johannesburg or South Central

On the mic, 'cause someone should tell 'em

To kick in the township rebellion


Yeah, what about that, sucker?


Yeah, so you thought you could get with the hardlines

That fill your mind

Thoughts, battles fought

And lessons taught

Yes I'll display the fitness

And flip like a gymnast

Raise my fist and resist

Asleep, though we stand in the midst

Of a war

Gotta get mine

Gotta get more

Keepin' the mic warm against the norm
'
Cause what does it offer me?

I think often it's nothin' but a coffin


Gotta get wreck

Till our necks never swing on a rope

From here to the cape of no hope


Now freedom must be fundamental

In Johannesburg or South Central

On the mic, 'cause someone should tell 'em

To kick in the township rebellion


Why stand on a silent platform?
Fight the War, F**k the norm

All of these lyrics are very apocalyptic in the sense that they cry out against the empire. They encourage people to break out of the systems that hold us captive and limit our imaginations. While Rage might be more angry and violent then we are supposed to be as Christians I think this is art that most Christians have dismissed as completely evil instead of listening to the prophetic message that this music carries. This album carries a message that transcends time and speaks to us today with the same vigor that it did in ’92. It is only appropriate that the final scene of The Matrix would include “Wake Up” by Rage.

1) Did what you read about Rage Against the Machine surprise you based on what you had heard about them from Christian people and organizations?
2) Why do you think the church is so scared of this kind of music?
3) Why do we have to go to anarchist violent radicals to hear this kind of message instead of the church?

They're Only Chasing Safety

So I decided that I should listen to the rest of Underoath's They're Only Chasing Safety since I have only heard about three or four songs off of this CD. This album was release in 2004 and became the third album that the band released.

Although I have listened to many different albums by this band I never spent the time realizing what they were about. Some have labeled them as a Christian band while others put a secular label on them. When the band was asked whether they were a Christian and they stated that they all loved God and they do what they do because of him and for him, but that they didn't want to label themselves as a Christian band just to sell out. Guitarist Timmy McTague wrote a wonderful blog while they were on tour a couple years ago:

The Velocity of Existence

It's 3:30 am and I'm feeling a bit emotional pressed so I'm writing on this computer screen hoping that somewhere someone is needing something. I'm listening to the new Mogwai record in an almost pitch black front lounge in Chicago. What a night. Sometimes life seems to throw you curve balls for no other reason than watching you hurt. A flawed people medicating a flawed people...resolution is unreachable. I watched "W" today. It's cast and acting was a mediocre attempt at being a worthwhile performance, but the content overshadowed any flaws in casting/directing. It is just the thousandth piece to the puzzle of our corrupt government, and it's doings therein. So many times Christians naturally move toward to the conservative candidate due to pro-life issues with abortion, while they ignore the utter disregard for life already being lived out on earth. Is standing up for unborn children enough to negate the disregard for human life already in motion pertaining to the acts of war and sacrifice? Misplaced energy seems to be a re-occurring theme in our society as of late. We're based on hard lined inconsistency and selective conscience. The left and right are far off the mark at this point, but a line must be drawn somewhere. Secondly, Humanity is meant to self destruct itself, im sure of it. We are born to be children of purpose and hope, yet we are filled with lies and sow destruction at every turn. We have no regard for others, just selfish gain on all accounts. What a waste my life has been, so many days of this last quarter century....the only thing bringing any validity is God's grace and purpose. I feel that if there were some way to tally up my days of purpose against my days of neglect, they would be out numbered 100/1. We spend our days sneaking and lying through sleepless patches of existence. We are going to hurt and be hurt. God is the only thing worth living for. I see this clearly at such random points in life. I know it's truth, but only at the most desperate points do I see it so beautifully and clearly. I've given up on this life, but the future is bright. We just have to do our best to push through and seek God in all things until it's time to move on. God's mercy on us all.

-Tim McTague, Underoath

:I was very intrigued at how true I thought this was. I really enjoyed his line, "We are born to be children of purpose and hope, yet we are filled with lies and sow destruction at every turn. We have no regard for others, just selfish gain on all accounts."

When I read this line, it instantly reminded me of the documentary we watch, 'The Corporation'. I myself am a global business marketing major but I was appalled by the measures companies would take just to get good numbers on their quarterly report. I don't blame people who work for that corporation for the things that the corporation is doing, but I think that they should all be aware of what the company is doing. Sweat shops in other countries employ kids whose only option is to work their to stay alive. The corporations know this and they know that the labor is cheap and that their products will still sell for the same price, and so they take advantage of this situation.

I work for a company that distributes Maytag appliances. These parts are made in factories in Mexico where the labor is cheap and are shipped to the United States to be assembled. Maytag hides the fact that these parts weren't actually made in Mexico by only put the "Made in Mexico" stickers in small locations or inside of the machine while they print "A product of the USA" in big letters on the side of the box as a marketing strategy.

It amazed me that my mind could wander from Underoath's album to kids slaving away in sweat shops. I guess that just goes to show how well that movie was directed to get me to think about these situations while I sit on my couch drinking grapefruit juice with my laptop on my lap listening to music. I have it so well of and I thank God that he has placed me where I am in life today.

What can we do, as an employee under 'the Corporation' to further God's Kingdom?

How is sin so powerful to allow for situations for those in the sweat shops and poor countries when we complain when the only job we can get pays $8 an hour:?

Brother Ali's Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitiker Lyrics

And yo whatever comes up comes out
We don't put our hands over our mouth
And whatever comes up comes out
We don't put our hands over our mouth
Whatever comes up comes out
Please mister bass-man lay it on me

Ayo, Dependin on the day, and dependin on what I ate
I'm anywhere from 20 to 35 pounds over weight
I got red eyes and one of them's lazy
And they both squint when the sun shines so I look crazy
I'm albino man, I know I'm pink and pale
And I'm hairy as hell, everywhere but fingernails
I shave a cranium that ain't quite shaped right
Face tight, shiny, I stay up and write late nights
My wardrobe is jeans and faded shirts
A mixture of what I like, and what I wear to work
I'm not mean and got a neck full of razor bumps
I'm not the classic profile of what the ladies want
You might think I'm depressed as can be
But when I look in the mirror I see sexy ass me
And if that's somethin that you can't respect then that's peace
My life's better without you actually
To everyone out there, who's a little different
I say damn a magazine, these are gods fingerprints
You can call me ugly but can't take nothing from me
I am what I am doctor you ain't gotta love me

[Spoken]
If you would please turn in your bible
To beauty tips according to Forest Whitiker
In the third chapter of the third line
Brother Ali would you please read to the choir for me son

[Sung 3X]
I'ma be all right, you ain't gotta be my friend tonight (you ain't gotta love me)
An I'ma be okay, you would probably bore me anyway (you ain't gotta love me)

Forest Whitiker y'all

I decided to use a song written by Brother Ali, an Islamic hip hop artist out of Minneapolis Minnesota. Brother Ali's "Forest Whitaker" can be found on his album, Shadows on the Sun."The Brother" uses a linguistic technique that battles the mainstream hip hop/rap industry. I feel the most commonly heard hip hop on the radio or at a dance is rooted in the empire. Most mainstream hip hop suggests the key to happiness looking a certain way (along with other shallow requirements such as having money and getting high). The empire is constantly sending messages to people of all ages and races that to be cool, and to be you, you're going to have to buy item A, B, and C. Now, this messages seems to contradict itself. I mean, if you want to be you, why would you dress in accordance to what someone else is telling you. If you want to be a preppy private school girl who's always styling, you are supposed to wear popped collars, have a tan in February, and weigh just over 100 lbs. If you want to be a tough gang-banger lookalike, you need to have a NY Yankees flat bill, fresh Nikes, and baggy jeans. If you want to rebel to mainstream fashion because you no longer care, you need to wear tight girl jeans (whether or not your a girl), a black shirt, and die your hair black. I'm flat out tired of society telling me how to be me. "Forest Whitaker" proclaims that just because your not beautiful by society's standards, or you don't wear the right clothes doesn't mean your not actually beautiful, or that you don't wear the right clothes. When I hear this song I ask myself, "Who decides who's beautiful? Or, who decides what the right clothes are?" And now I know, the empire. But, how can the empire know what I think is beautiful, or what I think is cool? It doesn't know. It seeks to know for me. The empire tries to pervert what I value by throwing me into a giant melting pot where all individualism is lost. My favorite line is, "To everyone out there, who's a little different, I say damn a magazine, these are gods fingerprints." This line reveals the truth about human purpose by declaring beauty is not found on the front of a magazine, but rather everything is beautiful because it was created by god. Our purpose is to live in the Kingdom, and allowing the empire to distract us with what our physical appearance "should be" is not living in the Kingdom. "The Brother" is not the picture perfect image of what we think of as beautiful, or rather "Hot," but this doesn't faze him. He sees his differences as beauty created by god.
Dicsussion Questions:
1)Where do you see beauty in life? And if this intoxicating beauty can be found in the first few pages of "People" magazine do you think some things should be reaccessed?
2)Why do we get so caught up with our physical appearance? Imagine all the stress that could be prevented if our self-image was not held at the high regard that empire holds it at.
3)How are you physically different? How can you celebrate "gods fingerprints" as beautiful?

"I Am A Rock"--Simon and Garfunkel

I listened to some of the songs on the Greatest Hits Album for Simon and Garfunkel. My favorite song is "I am a Rock," released in 1965. While you might consider this song "old," I still think it is relevant today. It is played on the radio and is a classic song.

"I am a Rock" has been one of my favorites ever since I first heard it. I find it captivating. If I were to walk into a room and hear it playing but didn't listen to the words, I'd think it was a happy-go-lucky song. However, if you listen to the words, it is a very sad, lonely song. This is one great strength the song has to offer, and I find it extremely artistic because of it. The music doesn't seem to "fit" at first, because the music sounds fairly "bouncy" and care free.

"I am a Rock" tells a story in which the message is this: If you are hurt by love, go and be alone and don't try again. Two lines include, "I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died/ If I never loved I never would have cried." The idea of "I am a rock/I am an island" is clarified at the end. The final two lines are, "And a rock feels no pain/And an island never cries." This sad song does not leave off on a happy note through its lyrics. One could argue that the music in the background of the lyrics is the source of hope in this song, which I find very interesting. Hope can be conveyed through hearing music, and not simply through the lyrics. The song also conveys some apocalyptic insight, in that its words end in despair.

The song conveys that if you're someone hurt by love, you don't really have a purpose at all. There is no point in trying again once you're hurt. You should wallow away in agony by yourself. Nobody would ever really be loving towards you. You have to fend for yourself, all alone. I think the song conveys that the nature of evil is all around in people's hearts. The ability for people to hurt is evil. The song doesn't explain exactly where that evil came from, but it lies in everyone's hearts. The song ends with no insight of redemption at all. You're just left there lingering alone.

Loneliness is a product of Empire. Empire wants you to get burned out, thinking that you have to do it all by yourself. Or, in the case of advertising, you can get help "if you only buy our product!" I wonder if advertisers for medicine for depressed people would rather someone stay sick and need the pills than to get better. If the latter, this is an example of Empire. Kingdom can be attained by Kingdom-builders helping the lonely and depressed. They can try to show them the Kingdom by befriending them, even if the sad individuals don't believe it will work.

Discussion questions:

1) In what ways can we relate to "I am a Rock?" Do we find ourselves feeling alone, even though we know God has designed us to be community-0riented people?

2) Do you find hope somewhere in the song?

3) What do you think the songwriter wanted listeners to get or learn from this song?

Grand Torino

Grand Torino is another great Clint Eastwood Film. Still, at the age of 80 years, Eastwood makes for a stunning performance playing Walt Kowalski, a grumpy old war veteran who is disgusted with the changes happening around him. The film is based in a run down Detroit neighborhood, falling apart because of the failing auto industry. Walt is particularly upset with his new neighbors mostly made up of Hmong immigrants. Through lots of racism he ends up building a relationship with his new neighbors, ands leads him to a change of heart towards those around him. He helps the wimpy neighbor kid to stand up for himself, and to be what Walt considers a "real man".

In the beginning of the film Walt is a racist jerk who cares for nothing but himself and his possessions. He seems dead set in his ways, usually sitting on his porch with a cheep cold beer in hand, scowling at the changes taking place around him. But we see a major change in his life during this movie. After catching the neighbor boy trying to steal his prize Gran Torino, the boy's family encourages a cultural tradition, making him work for Walt for a couple of weeks. During this work Walt begins to take a liking to the kid, and they end up being pretty close neighbors. Walt ends up risking his own life for his once despised neighbors. At several points in the movie Walt claims that because of what he has scene and done in Korea, his life has been ruined or "soiled" as he puts it. He says that he knows death, but as a Hmong "witch doctor" of sorts exposes, he knows very little about life. However through the short glimpse into the life of Walter Kowalski we see a remarkable change, and he finally learns about the goodness of life in his relationship with his new neighbors.

The film also does a great job of portraying a changing America. Walt worked at a Ford factory most of his life, and in his younger years he lived in a nice suburban neighborhood, which had now turned into a ghetto of sorts. The film helps us realize that the image of the American dream is changing. America is now a much more diverse place, and communities are rapidly changing. New industries are replacing new industries such as big time american automakers.

How have you seen communities in your life change?

Have these changes been for better or worse?

Mall Post

Because I must fit into the male stereotype, I typically go to the mall only when necessary and make the trip as short as possible. Though the idea of going to the mall just for the sake of looking around made me sick, once inside, the smell of the Auntie Anne's pretzels and refreshing look of Surf City Squeeze's smoothies tingled my senses and I began to reach for my wallet, it was dinner time and the emptiness of my stomach seemed to justify the purchase. Suddenly I snapped to my senses when Chris pointed out that we were there to observe how corporations and advertisers control our minds. Ashamed I put away my wallet and we continued on our ADventure. Once I was in the right mindset, the advertisements seemed humorous, as if we had been more enlightened than the shoppers who were sucked into stores by the deals that seemed great that they offered. The picture shown made me think of a type of advertising that I give in to easily. Advertisers will claim that a deal is only for a limited amount of time or that there is a limited quantity of the product. Websites such as chainlove.com or WhiskeyMilitia.com which give a huge discount on an item for around 30 minutes pressure me into buying things that I really wouldn't bother with otherwise.

The Screwtape Letters

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure to watch Max McLean at Calvin's January Series. He performed an excerpt from The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. I watched McLean with no knowledge about McLean, as I usually try to do a little bit of research before watching a lecture, and I was really surprised that he continued to perform from the book. He a had a great theatrical voice and it made it very easy to listen to him. McLean is an actor and he performs The Screwtape Letters as a full-on show with costumes and actors. I once tried to read The Screwtape Letters but I could not get five pages in without being bored and confused. But because of his ability to engage me, as an audience member, I gave the book another try. The Screwtape Letters is about a senior demon, Screwtape, who writes a series of letters to his nephew, Wormwood. Wormwood is a junior tempter and Screwtape's letters serve as advice to ensure the damnation of a British man, “the Patient.”
The Screwtape Letters show how the devil works in a slow-placed manner. He uses ordinary things and everyday life to try and slowly tempt the new Christian to reverse his ways. Screwtape focuses on greed and selfishness, as does the Empire. The Empire tries to fool us into thinking we should only care about ourselves and that we are our main priority. In the book, Screwtape says, “Never having been a human (Oh that abominable advantage of the Enemy's) you don't realize how enslaved they are to the pressure of the ordinary.” The Empire can make us feel trapped by the average pace of life, that can never be broken. But the Kingdom says that this can be broken and we can live the life that we may feel is impossible. As I continued to read, I found it interesting that Screwtape said that they need to conceal themselves. This reminded me of a quote from the movie, The Usual Suspects. It says, “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.” This makes it easier for him to find his way into unsuspecting people and it is easier to convert them to the ways of the Empire. Materialism, consumerism and selfishness are important in the Empire and not knowing there is a way out to the Kingdom of God. Screwtape and the other demons live in a world like the empire. But the Kingdom of God is the opposite, or the upside kingdom.
At the end of McLean's lecture, he was asked by an audience member what the best way to engage kids and teens to Christianity and to the Bible. He said the best way was for kids and teens to read the Gospel. This also is important because it makes it easier to defeat the devil and the Empire.
Why does Lewis write from the devil's perspective? What do you think happens to Wormwood at the end after his patient's soul his given to the Enemy?

Webkinz

Webkinz is the current popular trend of stuffed animals that is sweeping across the world. If you don't know what Webkinz are, just think of Beanies Babies with an online counterpart. Once you buy a Webkinz (prices ranges depending on the size you get), you go onto the online website to enter the secret code, which is featured on the tag, to get a chance to enter the mystical online world of Webkinz. In this world, you get to play with your pet(s) with online games, activities, chatting, and play in your own "house", do jobs, and many more. It's almost like a community!

I chose Webkinz for this journal post because of the documentary we watched in class last Monday where they had a section of how the children’s whining is like the company's gain. Even though Webkinz doesn't advertise on television, Webkinz get most of their sales due to word of mouth. One example I can think of this kind of advertising is with my sister. My sisteleer would bring in one of her Webkinz to school to show it to her friends. In turn, her friends would go home and whine/beg that they need a Webkinz in order to be cool or play with my sister. (I have to say, my sister has a pure talent at whining because every time she begs or whines for a Webkinz, my mom gives in and she gets one.)

But how does Webkinz fit in the struggle between the Empire vs. the Kingdom? Webkinz, like all other toys, have kind of confused the wants, desires, and needs of children. Like the documentary said, companies are targeting children at a young age in order to have their wants and needs be solely on the Empire/the companies. For example, the Empire would play on my sister's feelings of security, friendship, and the world of her imagination to make her want to buy these stuffed animals. We, as Christians, see this wrong because our wants, desires, and needs should be direct towards God. And it's especially keen for a child to know this concept because they are at the age that they are still learning about what is the fine line between right and wrong. One solution that we can combat this issue with is teaching our children at an early age what is they real needs, desires, and wants.

(I will admit that I am victim of Webkinz as I own thirteen. While, my sister owns over sixty (but I lost count a while ago). But, I am not obsessed like my sister because I mainly play the games to de-stress from studying and communicate/play with my sister and my cousins, who are many miles away. There is some good from the outcomes of the Empire.)


Discussion Questions:

1) What are some ways that the Christian community can do for children to combat the globalization of the Empire?

2) What are some reasons that God uses things like Webkinz in order to teach children about things like the fine ling between right and wrong?

-- Amy Braun

"The Office"

This week I watched "The Office" 's much anticipated showing of the newest episode: "The Banker". I always find "The Office" to be a very enjoyable show, a satire poking fun at not just one type of person, but a wide array of personalities and characters. Basically the show is about the boss, Michael, and other people who work in the office of Dunder Miflin Paper Company. The documentary-style filming shows what goes on in a "typical" office space. This week's episode was a bit disappointing, simply being a banker who questions human resources (a.k.a. Toby) about productivity, tensions, happiness levels, etc. of the office. Toby has flashbacks with each point of issue to parts of previous shows. Even though it was an overview and I had seen each clip before, I still laughed. Why? Michael and Dwight are some of the strangest people you could ever meet. We laugh at the stupidity and ignorance of their words and actions. With the other employees, we either relate to them or know someone who is similar to them. The office is certainly a direct reflection on our American culture, but is this good or bad? What does "The Office" teach us? To ignore people who we think are of lower status or intelligence and to laugh at individual's faults? "The Office" shows the nature of our evil in human interaction and relationships. People get tossed around and chastised for not being "like us" and friendships are just thrown out the window at a moment's notice. Once in a while, you could say, God's kingdom is shown when employees forgive each other, show kindness, and laugh WITH instead of AT one another. I suppose this isn't as funny to see as their mess-ups and awkward moments, but why should there be a "limit" to the Kingdom on television?

Discussion Questions:

1. How is "The Office" a reflection of the way you live?

2. In what ways can you change your life to reflect more of the Kingdom?

Meghan Murphy Blog 2

For my second blog post, I decided to listen to Belle and Sebastian's album, Dear Catastrophe Waitress. I decided on this album because I love the band and this was one of my favorite albums during my middle school years and still is. The songs are catchy and always put me in a good mood. The lyrics are inspirational, and sometimes slightly odd, but so am I and I enjoy the uniqueness.

Many of the songs are about a girl, more specifically love. These songs vary between sex, breaking up, beginning a relationship, and eloping. Relationships and love are gifts form God. I believe when 2 people love each other, it is a reflection of God and His love for human beings. In fact, there are many allusions to God in many of their songs. If you find yourself caught in love is a song about thanking God, or in this case "the man above." One stanza reads: "If you find yourself caught in love say a prayer to the man above But If you don’t listen to the voices then my friend You’ll soon run out of choices What a pity it would be You talk of freedom don’t you see The only freedom that you’ll ever really know Is written in books from long ago Give up your will to Him that loves you Things will change, I’m not saying overnight You’ve gotta start somewhere." I've never really paid much attention to these lyrics and what they were really speaking about. It wasn't until today when I read the lyrics online and really thought about how this song really reflects both the empire and the kingdom. It's saying that love should be cherished, it's a beautiful and rare gift, and for this thank God. The song appears to be suggesting that human beings are incomplete without love. Being single is not a coveted or good thing ("if you're single and looking out, you must raise your prayer to a shout.") I believe this is true to our society today. People are constantly in search of something to complete them. Whether it's money, or in this case love, something becomes an idol in their life. God is love, and created human beings to love one another. However, we must first love Him and not put anything in place of our relationship with Him, including another a person.
I still cannot get over the previous stanza. I found myself quite surprised when I read those lyrics, mostly because this isn't a "Christian band," yet I feel like they really have an understanding on salvation and God's love, and what life is about. Being thankful, cherishing love, and finding freedom through God. Just by a "secular" band which references drugs singing about reconciliation and love through God is pretty kingdom-like and stepping outside of the empire. Whether that was the purpose of the song or what the band truly believes, I don't know, but either way it does attribute to the kingdom of God.

Questions:
Do you think it is odd when God is mentioned in "secular" songs today? Should we think it is so odd? Why do you believe these artists do so? What does that say of music, the music industry, and the empire?

Do you think music has an effect on your spiritual growth whether it's Christian or non-Christian?

Muse - the resistance

I just bought Muse's recent album titled 'the resistance'. Muse is a three piece band from Devon, England and are one of my favorite groups, not only because of their phenomenal musicianship and well crafted catchy songs, but also because of their deep and inspiring lyrics and how they use their position as rock stars to be activists for a variety of causes. Their music is a blend of many different styles, incorporating progressive rock, classical music, electronica and elements of several other styles. In their early career they had difficulty getting signed because they wouldn't do what the record companies wanted them to in terms of changing their music to be more accessible to a wide audience. Too bad the record companies were wrong: Muse did their own thing, got signed and have received numerous music awards. Muse's songs are very recognizable thanks to Matthew Bellamy's unique voice. Muse are a great example of an apocalyptic artist. They attempt to erode the empire's boundaries and write music that goes against the norm. Muse participated in live 8 to pressure world leaders into giving money to the world's poorest countries. When one of Muse's songs was used without permission in a Nestle commercial, they successfully sued Nestle and donated the 500,000 pound ruling to Oxfam, a confederation of organizations seeking to introduce lasting solutions to poverty around the world.
Muse's epic new album 'the resistance' is one of the band's best to date. It has some hard hitting rock songs, but also very strong classical symphonic influences. On the song "Unnatural selection", Muse talk about the injustice in the world inherent in our class structured society where the rich have far more say than do the poor, ending in a demand for truth and justice.

I am hungry for some unrest,
Let's push this beyond a peaceful protest,
I wanna speak in a language that you will understand

They'll laugh as they watch us crawl,
The lucky don't share at all,
No hope for fate, it's a random chance selection,
I want the truth

Try to ride out the storm,
Whilst they'll make you believe, that they are the special ones, (we have not been chosen),
Injustice is the norm,
You are not the first and you know you won't be the last

Counter balance this commotion,
We're not droplets in the ocean
Ocean

They'll laugh as they watch us fall,
The lucky don't care at all,
No hope for fate,
It's unnatural selection
I want the truth, I want the truth,
I want the truth! I want the truth!

Aren't Muse just as or more 'christian' through their actions and lyrics than many self-labeled christian bands? Is it necessary to even have Christian music be its own genre? Is it a good thing?
Can God use people who may not be professing Christians to carry out his will? Are actions just as important as doctrines?

John Mayer: Continuum

John Mayer released his third album, Continuum, in September of 2006. This album included his nation-wide hits such as “Waiting On the World to Change”, “Belief”, and “Gravity”. This album was thought to be more deep and “blues-like” unlike his other pop-rock style albums. Mayer showed his fans in Continuum that he views the world with unblinking clarity. His songs included in this album are instantly accessible and memorable, which influences listeners such as myself to thoroughly enjoy his work. Each song gives off a certain vibe and sends the fans a message through his lyrics. His major hit, “Waiting On the World to Change” deals with his exploration of political inaction of his generation that rings true. “Stop This Train” explores the topic of fear and death and finding wisdom within one’s self at a certain age. One other piece of work, “Gravity”, gives us a view on the concerns of self-destructive thought. It is easy to say that John Mayer’s album, Continuum is an album that speaks to people at different intensities. I can compare this album to the lecture of Ken Heffner we listened to in class on January 11. Throughout Ken’s speech about art and what art makes possible for us, he emphasized that we are always searching for artists who have the ability to hit the nail right on the head. In my opinion, John Mayer is one of the few artists in the music industry these days that has the ability to speak through people. People all of the country turn to music when it comes to expressing feelings in a stronger way rather than just words or phrases. Ken Heffner said that, “music and phrases can be stretched out and make a stronger point that a normal statement being spoken.” I completely agree with that statement. For example, in the song “Belief”, John Mayer sings, “Belief is a beautiful armor, it leads for the heaviest sword”. Those words were stated in a “story-telling way” that leaves us listeners to feel and understand his feelings to the fullest. Although most of his words comfort us by being able to relate issues we have in our lives to his lyrics, in some ways music can give us a negative impact. For example, in Heffner’s lecture he discussed the views girls have on the song written by John Mayer, “Your Body is Wonderland”. He talked about how this track makes his fans, mostly females, think “he gets it, he understands.” Sin reveals itself by changing our third or fourth priorities, and making them first. Music is completely capable of doing this, especially the lyrics that are written by artists such as John Mayer. In my own personal opinion, I believe that Continuum is an album that is able to reveal life in the Kingdom of God. John Mayer’s music reveals and exposes us to the truth in impacting ways.

Discussion Questions:

- Have you ever listened to a song or a poem that spoke through you and you realized, “Wow, this is exactly how I feel!”? Why do you think music has such influence on people who feel like this?

hg Do you believe that artists like John Mayer reveal life more through the Empire or more through the Kingdom of God?

-

Cannons-Phil Wickham

The album entitled, “Cannons” by Phil Wickham has inspired me to pursue the art of writing music and lyrics that touch and resonate with the very soul of the human being. Wickham’s opening song “Must I wait” talks about a heart that is longing and waiting for the Lord. All of his songs that follow are about the deep desire he has for finding God and wanting to give up his life to serve the Lord’s kingdom for God’s glory. The human purpose is to be servants of the God who created all the universe, to praise our Jesus Lord of Heaven. His songs profess the majesty, the beauty, and the love of Christ that he preaches to be worthy of praise. The description of the beauty of the Lord is well described in his song called, “You’re beautiful.” Here are the lyrics to this song:

I see Your face in every sunrise

The colors of the morning are inside your eyes

The world awakens in the light of the day

I look up to the sky and say

You’re beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night

Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright

We are amazed in the light of the stars

It’s all proclaiming who You are

You’re beautiful, You're beautiful

I see You there hanging on a tree

You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me

Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne

Soon we will be coming home

You’re beautiful, you're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore

Where death is just a memory and tears are no more

We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring

Your bride will come together and we’ll sing

You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

In the song, “Sailing on a Ship” Wickham describes life as a ‘sailing ship’ that will be hit by storms struggles and problems but he describes in the end of this song something that we can be hopeful for, a ‘golden shore’. Although there is evil all around us our lives are not in vain and we as believers have something to look forward to in the mean time, and that is the very constant steadfast character of Christ that will lead us to that very golden shore some day.

Phil Wickham uniquely portrays the victory Jesus has won over death and darkness in the song, “The Light will come.” It describes the truth that Jesus has overcome the night, death, and darkness but that there is still more to come, that the Light is still coming, and that it will come ultimately on the last day when Christ’s returns for the second time.

Discussion Questions:

1.) Christian Artists like Phil Wickham, Brit Nicole and Natalie Grant have become quite famous the past couple of years (if you haven't heard of any of these artists, shame on you...haha just kidding), How do you feel about the popularity 'contest' of Christian Artists, like the 'top 10 Christian singers/artists of 2009'? Is the whole idea of "GMA (Gospel Music Awards) Dove awards" becoming like "MTV's music awards"? What are the pros and cons?

2.) Some CCM artists like to make music videos that show themselves singing outside in nature with a beautiful background which, in my eyes, promotes only their own self image and nothing more. Videos like these lack the power of recording/filming images that could impact peoples hearts in a totally different way then does Brittany Spear's scandalous music videos. My question is- How do you feel about music videos like this, and do you think that their money could be used for a better cause? What do you think? Or is there a redeeming factor to videos like these?

21

The movie 21 is about Ben Campbell, an MIT student who is in need of a lot of money for medical school. One of Ben's professors at MIT, Mikey Rosa, trains his best and brainy-est students to count cards in the game Blackjack and then they head to Las Vegas on weekends to win big money. Rosa recruits Ben for his team and Ben, who is in need of $300,000 for tuition and is also really into one of the girls on the team, agrees.
21 is a great example of how the Empire is always telling us that we need more and more-what we have isn’t ever enough. Ben was drawn in by all the money he would get, the freedom he would have, the excitement of the city, and the fact that it was a chance to get away from reality. The Empire was deceptive and allowed Ben’s imagination to go where it wanted. Ben had said toward the beginning that he would just participate up until he got his $300,000 and then he would be done, but gluttony got in the way and he kept going for more and more. Pretty soon, he really wasn’t even the same person. He was neglecting his friends back home, he lied to his mom, he wouldn’t listen to his teammates, and he turned into kind of a jerk. As a result of his greediness, he ended up losing everything- all the money he won, his friends, teammates, and his pride. But like Jesus redeemed us, Ben’s friends redeemed him and helped him out even though he did not deserve it. We are often like Ben in the Empire. We get excited about all the things that the Empire offers us and then we bite off more than we can chew and we get carried away, but through the Kingdom of God we find can find redemption.

Discussion Questions:

1)Is there really anything wrong with Ben’s initial joining of the team? They weren’t really doing anything illegal…

2)What is it about the Empire that’s so attractive to us?