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“Jobs,” the recent biopic about Apple computer creator Steven Jobs, came out last week, and the rated PG-13 film was mostly disappointing. I was interested in the movie because I was curious to find out more about the man who greatly impacted society through technology. Frankly, I felt I was jobbed.
Profanity, drug use, adult situations are the glaring reasons for the PG-13 rating. The “free love, getting high” craze that was popular in the ’70s is revealed early in the show.
Jobs is painted to have lived a rather dissipated lifestyle, while engaging in Eastern mysticism, during his college drop-out days, and to have a self-absorbed personality throughout his life. Whether or not this is an accurate depiction, I do not know. If it is, I am disappointed.
I agree with critics who believe the film has a “made-for-television” feel. There is a lack of character development, and not much “big screen glitz” was shown. The only thing the film excelled in doing is featuring actors who appear identical to the actual people in Jobs’ life.
As bad as the movie is, Ashton Kutcher gave a good performance as Jobs. The actor has come a long way from “Dude, Where’s My Car?” He is the only redeeming element of this movie. Kutcher was consistent impersonating Jobs, from voice tone to mannerisms to his unique gait.
Overall, I suggest you save your money because “Jobs” just doesn’t seem to work.
I admit it. I watch “Duck Dynasty.” One of my favorite episodes is the one when Jase and the boys took the RV to pick up Willie’s new four-wheelers, and Si ends up riding in one of them on the pulled trailer, wearing a helmet, as they head down the highway. If you have never seen the show, this will mean nothing to you, but if you have seen it, I’m predicting you’re laughing out loud right now.
To the surprise of many, this reality TV show started its fourth season. I am not intending to convince anybody to watch it regularly because it probably does not appeal to the various entertainment preferences (Raise your hand if you watch both “Duck Dynasty” and “Downton Abbey”). But if you WERE ever to watch it, don’t be surprised if you become hooked.
The purpose of my writing is to share how much I appreciate the most recent episode, the season premiere, which has the Robertson family and their friends planning a surprise wedding for Phil and Kay, the patriarch and matriarch of the brood. The happy, happy, happy couple are celebrating their 48th wedding anniversary.
Early in the show, we find out that Phil and Kay never had an actual wedding. They just went to the justice of the peace to get married. Phil shares his perspective of this, and it’s quite humorous. So the wives of the Robertson brothers plan to have a big ceremony to remedy the couple never having a formal ceremony.
There’s much to appreciate about this episode, many hilarious parts. One of the funniest is Si talking to Kay on a speaker phone about how he is taking her and Phil out for ice cream and almost blows the whole surprise element two minutes into their conversation. I was laughing so hard, I was in tears.
More hilarity follows throughout the special one-hour show. When they finally get to the wedding, Alan, the oldest brother who is an ordained minister and makes his first-ever appearance in the show, is officiating the ceremony. Phil and Kay exchange wonderful remarks about each other and how they endured many hardships and made wonderful memories.
This was the best one ever, in all the episodes they made. This show presented something you won’t see probably on any network. I don’t know any current show where you will find the celebration of marriage like this. Nobody in Hollywood today will write a script that involves a couple who has been married 48 years.
A friend of mine has said on more than one occasion, “Everybody enjoys a good wedding, but few are willing to put in the hard work for a good marriage.”
So much has happened in modern society that has cheapened the institution of marriage. If it weren’t for the interest in weddings, I’d be willing to predict that marriage would be extinct in 50 years.
Couples now live together regardless of marital status. More women are having babies out of wedlock. Sexual intercourse is practically expected within three dates. In fact, dating isn’t even a requirement. You can go on Craigslist and find random sex partners within the hour of going online. But I digress.
Well done, “Duck Dynasty,” and congratulations to Phil and Kay! Thank you for showing an example of Biblical marriage and giving some hope that this sacred institution is still valued in perseverance.
I have seen every bit of 20 seconds of Paula Deen’s show. I was channel surfing and stopped on the Food Network because I got a phone call.
In this show, she was at President Jimmy Carter’s house, cooking something with Rosalynn. Two thoughts came to my mind: 1) Rosalynn looks exactly the same as she did during the 1980 election and 2) Surely I can find something better to watch.
I am not qualified to give an accurate perspective about Ms. Deen and her recent issue which involved her no longer being on the Food Network. I don’t even know for sure that she isn’t on the Food Network anymore. I’m just going on what I’ve been reading on Facebook and what my wife tells me.
Here’s what I do know. She said a disgusting word that by today’s cultural standards is at the ultimate worst. I definitely do not approve of the word she said and would not justify it being said in any way, shape or form. Those who know me know I’m very critical of all forms of obscene language, so for me to say I’m against what Paula Deen said should not be much of a surprise.
So when I was given the task of sharing a perspective of the cultural uproar surrounding this TV celebrity, I had to do some thinking. What would be the best aspect to share about Paula Deen on “Word Slingers,” this website that shares as its mission “Blogging with Jesus in mind”?
The example Jesus gave during His earthly ministry could be applied so many ways. One of the more popular examples people use is the setting of the adulteress who was thrown on the ground near a setting where Jesus was teaching. He, of course, voiced one of his most commonly quoted saying, “He who is without sin, cast the first stone.”
This could be used appropriately, but I choose a different setting, when Jesus was speaking to the woman at the well (John 4). In that situation, Jesus initiated the discussion with her. He chose to connect with her when it was not socially acceptable to do so. She was a Samaritan woman coming to a public well to fetch water. Jesus, being a man with Judean descent, was not supposed to socialize with Samaritans, especially with Samaritan women and ESPECIALLY not in public.
Something Jesus pointed out well after he developed his conversation with her was that he knew the woman was living with a man who wasn’t her husband. He also pointed out she had five ex-husbands. Not just one or even two. Even by today’s standards, this woman would have a rather “loose” reputation.
Here is what I find fascinating about Jesus in this encounter. Jesus knows everything about her, yet he didn’t let her flaws and failures become issues of hindrance. He still connected with her and treated her just like he would treat anybody else. Again, Jesus initiated the discussion. He loved her intentionally even when he knew ahead of time that she was doing something wrong.
So what does this have to do with Paula Deen? Again, I really don’t know much about her, but even if I knew as much as Jesus knows, I should still accept her and forgive her.
Yes, that is easier to say than do. We are prone to hold celebrities to higher standards, which means they are also susceptible to heavier criticisms.
So let me also share something that I have heard my pastor say on more than one occasion: “What I say about you says more about me than it does about you.”
Paula Deen is being punished by the harshest of courts – the court of public opinion. Her television career may very well be over, or at least heavily hindered, because of her using an unacceptable word.
What I would suggest to anyone who feels justifiable in passing judgment on her, choose your words wisely.
People have been leaving churches and joining other churches for years. Of course, we should be aware of the unfortunate growing trend of people leaving the church, in general, and never returning. This is troublesome, no doubt, and Christians should pray for this to change; the sooner the better.
What has troubled me recently is a particular church-leaving reason: “The church is too big.” Explanations follow such as “I feel lost… It seems impersonal… I hardly know anybody… It’s hard to connect with people…”
The size of a church is relative. If you live in a large city, a church drawing around 500 people may not seem so big. If you live in a rural area, more than 250 could be overwhelming.
Suppose that you have been a member of a church for a few years, and the church started to grow in size. This can be a good sign that you are part of a healthy, faithful congregation. People are hearing Biblically-based preaching and teaching, involved in ministry, giving faithfully, evangelizing and discipling. God is blessing the work of your church, and people want to be a part of what God is doing.
Now that we’ve qualified this church as one that is obediently following the Lord, would you leave this body if, in your mind, it becomes too big? And then, suppose you find another church that meets similar standards of obedience, and it starts to grow. Would you leave it as well?
What is the “perfect” size for a church? Can there be a definite formula? Going back to the explanations I listed, are “small” churches the absolute remedy for people who feel lost and want to better connect with others? There are reasons why some churches remain small and don’t grow in size. Some of the reasons are not appealing.
Instead of focusing on the size of the church, focus on how you can serve IN the church. Chances are, the larger the church body, the greater the opportunities there may be to serve. Regardless of church size, though, when you find your place of service, be aware that God is using you to impact others. You may not see it directly, but it is happening.
Paul shares in Ephesians 4 about how the church is like an anatomical body with Christ being the head. God designed the church to operate in a similar structure as a human body, and just like a healthy body grows, so does the church body. “From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part” (Eph. 4:16).
See that part where Paul talks about “every supporting ligament”? You are to be one of those muscles and tendons that help grow the body of Christ, the church. If you are doing your part in serving in church ministry, then you are helping the church to grow and make an impact on others who come to your church.
Whether you’re a nursery worker, a greeter, an usher, a choir member, a Sunday School teacher or however you may be serving (and there are many other ways to serve), you are encouraging others. Let this be your focus, and then it should not matter how big your church may be.
Before last year, I had never heard of Chris Broussard. He was featured on ESPN’s studio panel during the network’s coverage of the NBA last season.
The sports reporter has been in the business since 1990 and has worked for ESPN since 2004. Before, April 29, 2013, I would think Broussard would be considered a “no-name” in many social circles. But after his appearance on ESPN’s show “Outside the Lines,” that day, he caught the attention of many.
For most in the national media and throughout the NBA, this was the day to recognize Jason Collins, who admitted in a Sports Illustrated article that he is a homosexual. Collins is an NBA journeyman who played for six teams, most recently with the Washington Wizards.
Both the league and national media praised Collins for his admittance. He was admired for the bold move he made and is considered to be heroic.
Though he won’t be given the same fanfare, Broussard also made some bold statements during a panel discussion involving L.Z. Granderson, a sports writer who admitted to being homosexual. Here is the transcript of Broussard’s comments from “Outside the Lines”:
“I’m a Christian. I don’t agree with homosexuality. I think it’s a sin, as I think all sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is. [ESPN’s] L.Z. [Granderson] knows that. He and I have played on basketball teams together for several years. We’ve gone out, had lunch together, we’ve had good conversations, good laughs together. He knows where I stand and I know where he stands. I don’t criticize him, he doesn’t criticize me, and call me a bigot, call me ignorant, call me intolerant.
“In talking to some people around the league, there’s a lot Christians in the NBA and just because they disagree with that lifestyle, they don’t want to be called bigoted and intolerant and things like that. That’s what LZ was getting at. Just like I may tolerate someone whose lifestyle I disagree with, he can tolerate my beliefs. He disagrees with my beliefs and my lifestyle but true tolerance and acceptance is being able to handle that as mature adults and not criticize each other and call each other names.
“… Personally, I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or an openly premarital sex between heterosexuals, if you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits, it says that’s a sin. If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be, I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ. I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I do not think the Bible would characterize them as a Christian.”
Guaranteed, Broussard will be chastised for these comments. Though his remarks are just as bold as Collins’ remarks, Broussard won’t be acknowledged in the same light. Following the telecast, ESPN released a statement of apology regarding Broussard’s comments, saying, “We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction from today’s news. ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins’ announcement.”
As I said, Collins’ remarks are accepted, but not Broussard’s.
Bob Costas would consider Broussard to be a Neanderthal, as the NBC sports personality classified such a perspective on homosexuality during an interview on Dan Patrick’s sports talk show. Others will come out harshly against Broussard.
The fascinating thing about this whole experience, though, is this is done under a banner called “Tolerance.” However, it appears such tolerance only goes one way. Very few will actually address what Broussard said.
Critics will pull out portions and label him “anti-gay” and will not acknowledge he is willing to discuss the topic as mature adults without name calling. Even more, they will disregard the truth he spoke about living in unrepentant sin, not just homosexuality.
Just like the prophets of old, Broussard spoke the hard truth, and just like the prophets of old, he will face persecution, maybe not life-threatening, but society will not treat him favorably.
