Movies, TV, Music, & Books: Recent Comments

Comment on Lifehouse Everything Dance/Skit

marilyn — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:34:54 GMT

Loved this Stacy. It reminds me of my pantomime days but more importantly, of what an incredible God we serve - A God who wants to serve us with a perfect love. What more could anyone need or want?

Comment on The Gathering's "Library"

Melanie Fowler — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:42:15 GMT

The Library Shelf has been moved into back office, but I have added several of my own non-fiction books and I hope to draw some attention to the little library we have going. Maybe some more folks would trust us with books to read and dissect together? I am about a year behind, but I finally read the Shack and was able to reread all the posted comments. It all made sense finally!

Comment on Lars and the Real Girl

Leeann Kelley — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:46:14 GMT

Jewel, I wanted to say that I enjoyed Lars and the Real Girl, Eddie really thought it was good.

As I think back, I realize that I appreciated as you did, the friends response to Bianca in their choice to love in deed a troubled person. But you can't help but wonder how giving life to Bianca outside of Lars' time with her effected them. It was surely a way to teach Lars something about life and women and relationships.

Eddie saw Bianca as a way for Lars to work out his own problems and be healed.

Okay, you and Eddie are right, it was a really good film. In fact I told him that I didn't think we wanted it in our every growing library, maybe I was wrong.

Comment on The Shack

Leeann Kelley — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:35:01 GMT

Hi guys, isn't this fun?
In reading your comments what stands out to me is that I really didn't connect with Sarayu. I mean, I remember watching Richard Harris' portrayal of Abraham and thinking, that is the person that I have come to love when I read the scripture. And personally I have been paying more and more attention to the Holy Spirit in the Word, and have been amazed to realize how much Jesus "trusted" the Holy Spirit to leave us here as He did, with "only" the Holy Spirit to guide/teach us. The Holy Spirit is awesome, just like Jesus and like the Father....I didn't connect that way with Sayaru. So basically, I appreciated a number of the things "she" said and didn't pay a lot of attention to her character. This after all, just a novel, written by a man. I think that probably it would be impossible to represent the Holy Spirit adequately.

Honestly, I connect more with Aslan than I did with any of the characters in " the Shack". Funny, huh?

I listened to the audio reading of the Shack and every time the discussion about God's trustworthiness came up I would quote, "No,He is not safe,He's not a tame lion, but He is good!".

As I said, I did not connect with the characters personally, but oddly, I guess because it was a novel, I did love that Mack connected with them. I loved that even though he was still filled with anger and hurt, he couldn't resist the love, and he wanted to trust, he wanted to obey.

As Josh has pointed out, there seems to be some C.S. Lewis teaching here...there is none greater than God, and He can handle our anger and rage, and not be threatened one little bit by it. Oh, and I love that He/she listened to Punk and loved "those boys". I loved how the book reminded us that we have evidence to believe that God loves us like a doting parent. I had a little bit of trouble with all the cooking and food.

Well, I thought I would be done talking about the book by now...but I am encouraged more and more by our discussions to delve more into the characters of all three, in the Word.

Comment on The Shack

Josh Kelley — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:01:34 GMT

Hi Jewel,

In reference to Young’s statement about other religions: I think he may be borrowing from C. S. Lewis, who said something like “What we know is that it is only by Jesus that we are saved, what we don’t know is if we actually need to know his name to be saved.”

Lewis is right in far as “we don’t know.” When it comes to “who’s in and who’s out,” it is best to leave that judgment in Jesus’ hands. We know that he has made some provision for Old Testament saints who didn’t know him and have to assume that he has done the same for children who die before they reach an age of accountability.

So what then about the “ignorant native” who has never heard of Jesus but has sought God as best he could? I don’t know. I only know that God is loving, just, and holy. “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25).

At the same time, this is largely a moot point because the majority of people in North America know enough about Jesus accept or reject him. For that reason, I don’t like Young’s statement, though I am fairly certain he isn’t a universalist – his understanding of the atonement is far too clear and he also says that “most roads don’t lead anywhere.”

Comment on The Shack

Josh Kelley — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:33:15 GMT

I stayed up late last night and the night before to read The Shack, and I must say that I really enjoyed it. In its own way, this book reminded me of some of C. S. Lewis’ writings in its ability to look at deep spiritual questions (such as the problem of evil and the nature of community as a reflection of the Trinity) and answer them in a practical and accessible manner.

This book will be especially helpful with those who have either been struck by tragedy or struggled to know God as a loving Father. But don’t read this book looking for clear-cut answers or a theologically treatise. Rather, think of it as being filled with images that are not literally true but help our heart more closely embrace the truth.

I know that doesn’t make sense, so let me give an example: I don’t believe that the portrayal of the relationships between the Trinity is necessarily accurate, but has (for the first time) given me a glimpse of love and affection found in the Godhead.

One final thought: I have a deep respect and appreciation for Mark Driscoll, so I was very disappointed by his comments on the book. Not because we disagree on the book (I disagree with him on a lot) but because his misrepresentations of the book are so blatant that I have to believe that either he didn’t actually read the book or that he came in with such strong presuppositions that he ignored large swaths of the book.

Josh

Comment on The Shack

Jewel — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:27:16 GMT

First of all, Heather, Amazon.com sells copies for around $8.00. I just promised my copy to someone but maybe she's a fast reader, and I'll encourage her to pass it on to you.

I was a little turned off by Mark Driscoll's comments as well. I don't think he really read the book. I think he probably got to that point where God was introduced as an African woman and then threw the rest away. I almost did the same thing myself. Partly because there is a lot of liberal garbage out there in print. However, I kept going and found that Young's characterization of God the Father is more metaphorical in how God relates to us. I think you may have said something along those lines Leeann.

The question I would have for the author, and maybe someone else can answer this in case I just missed something, is regarding how the author talks about people of different religions being saved. He doesn't say that ALL roads lead to heaven, but I thought I heard him say that MANY roads lead to heaven. I understood what he said about God coming to people of different religions, but the bible is clear that we must look to Jesus to be saved.

Another issue I have is that the charactor for the Holy Spirit was very illusive and stayed at arms length compared to Papa and Jesus. I would have liked Sarayu to have a little more personality. He compared the Holy Spirit to the wind, but the wind is more than a gentle breaze making its way through a garden. Wind makes 100 foot waves, changes landscapes and is a remarkable source of energy.

Going back to Driscoll's comments, I was disapointed that he missed the main point of the book. The question of why God allows pain and suffering I would guess is number one or two for most people living in today's world. It's a question that keeps people from wanting to understand the heart of our Creator. I know that some things are just beyond our understanding and we just need to trust and know that God is perfect in His ways, but I also believe that when we search for answers in His word and in wisdom of his children it only helps us know God better. Jeremiah 29:13 says "You will find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Comment on The Shack

Leeann Kelley — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:49:20 GMT

okay, I think this may be the last thing I have to say about the Shack. I watched a Rant by Mark Driscoll on Utube, and was so turned off, like I thought, "I heard this guy is intellegent?" I've got this thing about dishonest and deception...and the following utube review on The Shack is a much better presentation.
here is the Utube address:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK8gm0C3MCU&NR=1

Comment on The Gathering's "Library"

Leeann Kelley — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:30:02 GMT

I have been doing a lot of reading. I love biographies and have a number I am willing to lend. I will soon be going through ALL of my books and need to consider whether I should donate them to the Gathering Library.

Comment on The Shack

Leeann Kelley — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:00:29 GMT

I say that Driscoll must have not read the book because when Mack comments that Papa doesn't look much like a "father", Papa explains that Mack didn't relate well to "father" given his life experience with Mack's dad. When in the course of the story Mack reconciles with his own father, Papa, becomes a man. "Today you are going to need a Father..." Papa tells him. Driscoll doesn't mention that which explains exactly why Papa presents Himself initially as a woman.

In the Utube spot Mark Driscoll also talks about false teaching on the Trinity. And I am sorry, he made a stupid statement or two during his rant, just playing with semantics.In The Shack I didn't feel that I was being taught about the Trinity, and honestly I didn't agree with a few of the author's statements....but my faith has been changed by reading Oswald Chambers, even though I disregard a lot of what he says as just strange.
I still agree with what The Shack said about "religion is about being right" just as I have said for a long time now "denominations are about being right, and their doctrines can lead to sinful pride"

We have to be careful to know the Word, and know the Father, and know the Son, and know the Holy Spirit. How does knowing God -The Three In One effect my life?

The important issues in the Shack was pain, sin, God's love for all people, judgment, forgiveness and relationship...and what happens when we live independent from God.

Little of what I heard in the book was new to me (I have had my own bit of suffering and struggles getting to know God), but I liked the words the author used.

More than one comment and blog I read made the comment that we should be concerned when a book becomes so popular so quickly, that it is sure to be full of that which would tickle ears. And you know what? I remember one of my friends saying to another, "I think that you are ready to read Oswald Chambers". And I don't give Oswald Chambers to just anyone either. You gotta know the Word, you gotta be grounded.