My Humble Opinion

I went to see this movie on Tuesday night. To preface this, I had heard rave reviews from friends since it first came out, before all of the Oscar buzz. Then it got nominated, and won an award, then got nominated again, and so on and so forth. And because I love a good underdog, and so many people around me praised the film, I thought I should check it out.

The Oscars always have these obscure, "film festival" movies nominated for Best Picture, and I guess this falls into that category. From what I've heard, it was a fairly low budget film, with no huge names to back it (in the U.S., at least). It's the story of how a young man who grew up in the slums in Mumbai goes on to win 20 million rupees ($1,000,000) on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" in India. As he answers more and more questions correctly and reaches the final question, he is arrested and accused of cheating. The film, then, is a beautiful and often sad story. Each question leads to a different memory in his past, where the answers can be found. For example, at one such question, the man/boy claims that he "prays every day that he didn't know the answer to that question." I won't spoil it for you by telling you more details or the end.

I really liked the movie on many different levels. One, it is very different than all these Clint Eastwood mega movies we usually get nominated. It shows people a different side to the world they are used to. On top of this, it is beautifully filmed, and the score is amazing!

I'm definitely a film novice, but I will also assuredly recommend this film to anyone who can get a chance to see it, whenever you can.



Also, I can't believe it's almost February! All I can think of is the movie Groundhog Day. Oh man! I'll have to rent that again. Will the groundhog please predict us out of this hellish winter?

Enjoy the weekend!

Peace,
J

Whirlwind

I don't know how, but life sometimes seems to have the capability of going by ridiculously fast yet dragging slow. I think it's a conspiracy on the part of WINTER. These past few weeks have been filled with a surprise party for Amanda, packing her up, driving her down to Cincinnati and staying for a few days, coming back in the middle of a work week and getting chewed out by clients who insist that our business install a public bathroom because, and I quote, they have to "pee real bad," moving Lindsay from my room to the now Amanda-less room, and basically getting our house in order. Throw in grad school applications, my sister moving to PA, and family coming to visit, and it all seems to go so fast! But for some reason, I'm really feeling that winter will never be over, it seems so slow! Oh well.

Hopefully I'll be able to post a picture or two of our newly arranged digs in the next few days.

That's been it for life lately, spinning around, working, tutoring, etc. I've hardly had time to read, or catch up on some movies I've wanted to see. Hopefully, tomorrow night I'll either see Slumdog Millionaire or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Oh, and by the way, I did not fail to recognize that we got a new president at some point in all of this. :)

Peace,

J

Boasting

A friend and I were discussing the genre of science fiction the other day. I personally get a lot of jibes for reading it (all in good fun, the covers of these books are awfully cheesy), but I continue to read it for many reasons. My friend said something to me that I agreed with, along the lines of how "all good science fiction is usually a very good social commentary." And it's so true! I think the reason I love the genre, especially the Ender series, is that it certainly comments on how the world is today, and definitely on society itself.
I was reading through my most recent Orson Scott Card book, Speaker for the Dead, and came across a conversation between the main character, Ender, and a young boy, Olhado. Bear with me--a little background: Ender has decided that he is going to allow an alien race headed by a single queen, who 3000 years earlier had tried to destroy the human race, come back to life based on the fact that he believes that the alien race never intended to hurt humans, but rather learn from them. The conversation starts when Olhado asks Ender how sure he is that this is true:

"I'm as sure," said Ender, "as I am of anything."

"Not absolutely sure," said Olhado.

"Sure enough to bring her back to life," said Ender. "And that's as sure as we ever are of anything. We believe it enough to act as though it's true. When we're that sure, we call it knowledge. Facts. We bet our lives on it."
"I guess that's what you're doing. Betting your life on her being what you think she is."

"I'm more arrogant than that. I'm betting your life, too, and everybody else's, and I'm not so much as asking anyone else's opinion."

As I was reading this, I couldn't help but think of the verse in Galatians where Paul speaks of boasting:


But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (6:14)

The term "boast" implies arrogance. Only those who are arrogant boast. And I am sure to many, Paul often seems arrogant in his claims--but the thing is, Paul is willing not only to be his life on the truth that is Christ, he'd probably be willing to bet yours, too--without asking your opinion.

How many of us would do the same? Many of us are okay with betting our own lives on Christ, but how many of us are "arrogant" enough to bet our brother's, our sister's, our parents', best friends', our own children's lives on Christ, without so much as asking them? When it comes down to it, are we believing in his redemption of our souls enough to actually act like we do? It's always easy to say you are sure, and to say you believe--the acting part is hard. Boasting in Christ is hard--it's seen as arrogant and obnoxious to many lost souls. I myself fail at this a lot--I often want people I've just met, or have known forever, to like me. And being so arrogant as to claim that Christ has died for this world--that that and its implications is the only truth that matters--and that I'd be willing to bet your life on it, stranger, friend, family-- doesn't result in many people liking us.

I pray that it doesn't always work out that way--that somewhere, our boasting in Christ gets through to someone. That being that sure about something is inspiring to others. I pray that we act on what we believe.

And all this from a little sci-fi! Maybe you should try it out yourself ;)

Peace,
J

Much Too Long

I was wondering how many of us feel "un." By that I mean, unmotivated, uninterested, just plain old blah. January will do that to you! At least here in the winter states.

Christmas and New Year's just flew by in a flurry of activities, emotions, illnesses, and of course, unexpected (and happy) events. Now I am getting settled back into a routine, which is welcoming to a certain point, but I still wish I had vacation time! Oh well. The grass is always greener on the other side.

Posts will be sporadic for a bit--Amanda is leaving us in two weeks! So we will be packing, moving, saying goodbyes, and all around contemplating how much life changes in the next two weeks. In addition, I am still trying to complete the last bit of a university application. If anyone feels up to it, prayer for Amanda's move would be appreciated. We are really going to miss her. And if anyone wants to pray for motivation for me to get this application going, I wouldn't complain.

Thanks to anyone who actually takes the time to read this! It boggles my mind how even one person would visit here, so I am in awe.

In leaving, here is a quote by Pablo Picasso that I love:

I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.


Keep the peace,

J