Quotes From Movies That I like 3:42 PM

"You are who you love, not who loves you." - Donald Kaufman (Adaptation)

"There's an old joke - um... two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of 'em says, "Boy, the food at this place is really terrible." The other one says, "Yeah, I know; and such small portions." Well, that's essentially how I feel about life - full of loneliness, and misery, and suffering, and unhappiness, and it's all over much too quickly. The... the other important joke, for me, is one that's usually attributed to Groucho Marx; but, I think it appears originally in Freud's "Wit and Its Relation to the Unconscious," and it goes like this - I'm paraphrasing - um, "I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member." That's the key joke of my adult life, in terms of my relationships with women." - Alvy Singer (Annie Hall)

"As the great Balzac once said, there goes another novel..." - Alvy Singer (Annie Hall)

"Mia: Don't you just love it when you come back from the bathroom and find your food waiting for you?"
"Vincent: We're lucky we got anything at all. I don't think Buddy Holly's much of a waiter." -Vincent and Mia (Pulp Fiction)

"After all, the wool from the black sheep is just as warm." - Sister Margaretta (Sound of Music)

"Oh. So that's puce."- Sulley (Monster's Inc.)

"Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, "biblical"?
Dr Ray Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.
Dr Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!
Mayor: All right, all right! I get the point!" - (Ghostbusters)


"Francis Fratelli: Tell us everything! Everything!
Chunk: Everything. OK! I'll talk! In third grade, I cheated on my history exam. In fourth grade, I stole my uncle Max's toupee and I glued it on my face when I was Moses in my Hebrew School play. In fifth grade, I knocked my sister Edie down the stairs and I blamed it on the dog... When my mom sent me to the summer camp for fat kids and then they served lunch I got nuts and I pigged out and they kicked me out... But the worst thing I ever done - I mixed a pot of fake puke at home and then I went to this movie theater, hid the puke in my jacket, climbed up to the balcony and then, t-t-then, I made a noise like this: hua-hua-hua-huaaaaaaa - and then I dumped it over the side, all over the people in the audience. And then, this was horrible, all the people started getting sick and throwing up all over each other. I never felt so bad in my entire life.
Jake Fratelli: I'm beginning to like this kid, Ma!
Mama Fratelli: Hit puree!" - (Goonies)

Steady Pt. 2 4:20 PM

So I am "home" from the hospital now. I feel a bit like I've been put through a fax machine and mailed to "home," but I'm feeling better than I was before. Much better. Which is a tad scary, because I get out of breath when I walk up the stairs...

I put "home" in quotations only because I am back at my Calgary home, not my real home where my family is in Vancouver. But what is the difference between a "real home" and a "sort of real home?" I only ask because I have a large number of "sort of real homes," that I love deeply. Joel and Jessy's, for example. My Grandma and Grandpa's house on Park Lane, too. I'll tell you more about Park Lane later, though.

Anyway, now that that's cleared up, and you know that I'm home and not dead I want to start this post by saying THANK YOU to everyone. I cannot honestly communicate how overwhelming it is to be in the hospital not knowing which way your health is going to go and all of a sudden you and your family are literally flooded by phone calls, texts, flowers, surprise gifts, in person visits, skype visits, cards, candy, rice crispies. These may seem like small things to all of you, but they are elephant in size when you're in a small room waiting to go into surgery.

Especially prayers.

I can't tell you how moved I was knowing the amount of people who were praying for me. I could write an entire novel on how powerful prayer is and how blessed it is to be abundantly prayed for (maybe I will one day), but for now, I'm just going to say that this part isn't about me thinking that I'm popular because so many people were praying on my behalf.

This is me saying that the prayer that happened is about you. Completely. It's about you responding to God's work in somebody's life - including yours - with ultimate conviction and faith in the fact that when you speak to God, he responds with nothing but open ears, outreaching hands, love, and compassion.

So I will say thank you for being you; thank you for being faithful.

I will also say I am proud to call you friends and family. I don't ever feel I can repay what I owe all of you (I guess that's the point of Grace, though, right?). So I'll just say this: "God Bless you in all that you encounter."

The second thing I wanted to share with you was something I've been thinking about since I've been back "home." Right now, "home" has become Grandma and Grandpa's on Park Lane here in Calgary.

Now I've never been someone who places too much emphasis or importance on geography, but I will say that for some reason, the idea of geography - as in a physical space where you sleep and eat and interact with people (what we would call home) - has become a huge comfort for me in this distressing time. Being in some place familiar has steadied me in way I didn't really think was possible.

I can honestly say that God picked me up and placed me here at Park Lane for a reason. All the memories that I have here have grounded me; put my shaky legs on firm ground where I can rest easy and think about the time when my three brothers and I were in diapers running around with our cousins and my brother Peter decided that he didn't need clothes anymore - including his diaper - and then, eventually decided that it would be most appropriate and efficient to relieve himself - including a substantial "bam bam" - on the kitchen floor in front of my parents, grandparents, and uncles and aunts as they sipped their pre-dinner gin and tonics.

I would pay a great deal of money to go back and time and witness that event...

The point I'm getting at here is this: where do you call home? What places keep your feet planted firmly on the ground when the world starts to spin? What people are in those places? Have you told them that you love them lately? Have you put your arm around them not because you have to, but because you want to? Have you made them a breakfast wrap and filled their glass with juice even though you were tired and would rather just throw a box of cereal at them and say "eat?" Have you asked them for help? Have you opened yourself to them and shared with them how you really feel? Have you let them open themselves up to you?

These are all questions that I have failed to ask myself before. But being home after being in the hospital, I've started asking myself these, and more, as much as humanly possible.

So ask yourself: where is this place and how can I get there? After you come up with an answer, or answers, find a way to get there sooner than later.

You can find a lot of beauty there. You can also find dusty books and art work; lumpy couches; hardwood floors; warm dens; real rugs from Persia; peace; quiet; love. Jesus.

Machines 2:55 PM

Expressed Thought: "You're a machine, to say the least."

Response: "It's the Spirit of Christ. Keeps me well oiled."

Save Blue Like Jazz! 12:56 PM

Hey Everyone,

I'm sure most of you have read Donald Miller's book "Blue Like Jazz." If You haven't, I'd suggest taking a look. I'm not going to give a full synopsis of the thing here, but I'll just say that Miller writes from a perspective that I think many of us can relate to. His writing is packed with insight into what it means to be a young person struggling with faith and what it means to be a follower of Christ. His writing is anecdotal, theologically provoking, irreverent, and self deprecating all at the same time. This book is a favorite of mine, and a favorite of many. Seriously, if you haven't already, check it out.

Really, though, this post isn't so much about the "Blue Like Jazz" book as it is about the "Blue Like Jazz" movie. Basically, the book has been written up into a screenplay and is ready for production. For a while, things looked hopeful. Then all of a sudden the project crashed because they were not able to find enough investors. Apparently, there aren't a great deal of church institutions and rich Christians out there willing to invest in a movie about Christianity that isn't filled with rainbows and unicorns. Pretty sad, really, because it's not as if the movie needs a lot of cash to be made. There aren't any car chases or blue people in it...

And yet, when all looked grim, a few people started up a campaign to raise money so that the film could be made. What has resulted is that the movie is going to be made because so many random people like you and me have been donating what they can. It's crazy, look at Miller's blog to see the epic story (because he tells it better than me).

Anyway, although the movie is going to be made, the poor guys are running on a ridiculously low budget. So many people believe in this project, though, they are literally working without pay to make this happen.

Now, if this interests you at all, and you want to be a part of making this movie happen, go to THIS SITE and donate some money.

It may seem weird to post a blog telling you to donate money to something, but underneath all of this, I believe, there is a great God working. You see, insightful and creative art and media is one of the last few things we have to show the world that God is good and he loves them deeply. I sincerely believe that Blue Like Jazz is something that can do that. It has been made apparent to many people that God wants this film to be made: this story is actually getting attention on huge news media networks - movie production just doesn't go this way: usually, investment comes from a few rich conglomerates of people, groups, or corporations. With Blue Like Jazz, investments are coming from anywhere and everywhere. This means records are actually being set; rules being broken.

So become a part of something bigger than you. And really, even donating a dollar will help something beautiful become a reality... Save Blue Like Jazz, and maybe save a few lost souls in the process. Here's a video about what's going on, and what needs to happen:

It has been a few days... 9:29 PM

Yes, it has been a few days since my last post. Moving back to Calgary and throwing myself back into school has made me a bit too busy to write in a context outside of "assignments." That being said, I'm enjoying my "assignments" and am nerding out in regards to all the awesome new books I get to read. Is it wrong that I love the library? I hope not. Either way, I don't really care if it is.

Also, I'm taking a break for about two minutes to say a few things:

1. Cats are funny. The place in which I am living has two cats. Their names are Broccoli and Cheddar. Every morning I wake up and Cheddar assaults me because she wants attention. Broccoli has thus far remained a bit distant. She's the alpha cat, I guess, so I suppose that means I have to put a bit of time in before she lets me pet her. Anyway, just wanted to say that cat's are funny. Especially when they do the worm - I couldn't even describe this in words if I wanted to - and play soccer with their food before they eat. Also, it's funny to watch what happens when you sneak up on a cat and make sudden and loud noises...

2. Books are awesome. Read this book. It may wreck your mind because it's all about ecclesiology and the Trinity and Volf is a tough nut to crack, but I was seriously up until 1:30 AM last night reading this because I couldn't pull myself away. Maybe it'll do the same for you:

3. Read the Psalms daily. In fact, don't just read them, study them. If you want to know what I mean by "study them" ask me and I'll give you some resources. Trust me on this one.

That's all for now. I'm sure I'll have some long winded opinionated piece for all of you very soon.

Oh, and one last thing. On the topic of cats, my friend shared this handy clip with me. It explains the art of "cat massage:"

Eyes to See, Ears to Hear... 9:22 PM

It is beginning to seem as if I am going to be unable to escape the outpouring of cynicism these days in regards to Christians and "how they do things." I thought retreating back to school in Calgary might give me shelter from the proverbial cynicism storm for awhile, but much to my dismay, no dice...

The phrase "Christians and how they do things" might appear as a pretty vague statement, so I'll try and zero in on what I mean.

Essentially, I mean that people - both Christan and non Christian - have become considerably frustrated with the way in which Christians proclaim a certain belief and choose to reflect that belief through the way in which they live their lives (i.e. the choices they make, the Churches they attend, how they spend their time, what they consume, and so forth).

Of course, at the top of the list of complaints is "Church." A close second - or maybe even a tie for first - is the way in which "Church" and Christians are reaching out to people.

I could share anecdotes about the way in which people have expressed their anger and frustration on this subject, but that's not what I want to get into here.

The main point I want to get across is that people are angry, and this anger leads to the resolution to "check out."

Now "checking out" may look different depending on the person and what they believe, but I've found two main ways in which people are checking out (and it usually is related to what they believe about Jesus).

The first type of "check out:" an individual who believes in Jesus, has attended a church for at least a short span of time, but has reached a point in which conventional church just doesn't speak to them anymore. Because they are frustrated with the conventional North American model of contemporary churches they respond by not going. They complain. They take an individualistic approach. Note: this type is not to be mistaken for people who choose to form a "home church" or choose to "do church" in a less North Americanized format. There are many Christians who approach Church in a way that lines up with scripture, but whose model for worship, preaching, discipleship, etc. does not match up with a conventional contemporary Church service. I'm not really here to judge what constitutes a church. What I am here to do though, is say this: 


If you aren't actively part of a community that gathers together to worship Jesus Christ, study scripture, pray, do life together, take communion, and baptize people in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I encourage you to find a place where this happens. Most, if not all, of the people reading this blog live in North America. That means you can worship freely without persecution; that means there a thousand different ways to "do church" and a thousand different places out there that honors God and all you have to do is show up and participate!

The second type of "check out:" an individual who doesn't believe in Jesus, may have been to church once or twice, but is looking at the state of the North American Church from an outside perspective - usually atheistic or agnostic - and is doing nothing but laughing, mocking, scorning, spurning, satirizing, condemning, and on, and on, and on.

Here's an example of a second type of "check out" that a friend shared with me today. Just a warning and disclaimer: I don't read this blog, so I can't promise that it's content/language/general perspective on life is something that is valuable or appropriate. I am sharing this link to illustrate the way in which Christians are being viewed by many people today; I am not sharing it so that you become a regular subscriber to that blog.

Anyway, whether it's the first or second type, I have this question that has been nagging me and I can't ignore it anymore: do I get angry when I hear these people speak/read their writing because they are wrong, or do I get angry because they are right?

Honestly, I can't arrive at a solid answer to the question.

In some ways, I think they are "right."

In another way, I think their response to "being right" is completely erroneous and out of line with scripture.

Two verses helped relieve a little bit of my stress and anxiety on this issue today. The first is Jesus proclaiming that the prophecy of Isaiah has been fulfilled:

"For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them." (Matthew 13:15)

The second is the Apostle Paul writing to Christians struggling to figure out how to "do it right:"

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Phillipians 2:12-13)

Now what I have gleaned from these verses is the following: though there may certainly be many things wrong with the way things are being done today as far as Christianity goes, it is not an appropriate response to "check out." Rather, the appropriate response is to continually be seeking God for an answer to the question "how do we do it right?" If love something or someone, you invest in them or it. You don't check out when things get messy or difficult.

We cannot allow our hearts to become dull. We cannot close our ears and eyes because we are sad that there isn't a church out there that lines up completely with the way you think it should be done. We cannot passively discover the salvation that Christ freely offers; discovering and receiving this gift requires active, pursuit, passion, adventure, fear, and trembling. It is not a journey that is meant to be done alone thankfully. It is a journey that God will guide us on if we only humble ourselves and ask Him to.

If you call yourself Christian, you are called to do everything you can to make Church, the Body of Christ, as strong and as beautiful as it can possibly be. You are not called to take your ball home and sulk because they wanted to play CFL rules, and you only watch NFL; because they call it "soccer" and you call it "football;" because you wanted to be shortstop, and they made you play first base.

If you aren't Christian, I pray that your ears and eyes would be opened to the beauty that is Jesus Christ and the life He has to offer you.

Surrender 2:52 PM

sur·ren·der (redefined):

It is often the case that surrender appears to be our last option. As in: "I will only give in when I run out of options; I will only quit trying to be in charge when (insert circumstance here)."


Could it be that we have a skewed vision of what "surrender" is? I think in many cases yes. We often view surrender as weak, as a shameful admittance that we are not in control.


Here's what's been on my mind lately: maybe surrender is not such a shameful thing; maybe it should not always be viewed as a last resort - at least not when it is God who is involved in the equation of us surrendering.