A Short Review of a Netflix Disappointment

 My daughter and I both recently finished reading All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, and we both loved it.  She was reading it for school and kept saying I just had to read it, so I did, and we have had some wonderful discussions about it along the way. It is a great book, very beautifully written, heart-wrenching story, and it left us both feeling a bit melancholy at the end. The Pulitzer Prize it won is well-deserved. So, loving it as we did, we thought we'd try watching the miniseries Netflix recently released.

My advice if you loved the book: DO NOT BOTHER with the Netflix travesty. 

My advice if you haven't read the book yet: Read the book, skip the Netflix mess. 

It's too bad, really, because the casting for the miniseries was excellent, but the screenwriting for the adaptation was terrible, in my opinion. I understand that movie adaptations are difficult and they will necessarily have to leave some things out. But this was just quite bad. The book does a wonderful job going back and forth between flashbacks and the present day of the story to let the reader understand the characters and learn important plot reveals slowly and at the appropriate time to make for a beautiful, heartbreaking story. The miniseries changes important plot points and reveals things much too early that you didn't read until well into the book, such that in the miniseries they just don't make any sense without the background build up, and if you hadn't read the book, I'm not sure you'd even know what was going on or why it was all that significant. It just ends up being a confusing mess, and you don't really feel much of anything for the characters, whereas, in the book, you grow to love and understand them. Werner's character is especially flat in the miniseries, and that is just inexcusable. His character growth arc is one of THE major significant points of the book, and by episode 3, I am not seeing ANYTHING about him yet that hints that the show will be getting any better. Granted, we've only made it to episode 3, but I hate it enough that I just don't care. I am done with it. If it hasn't been able to win me over by this point, well, life is just too short to waste any more time on it, in my opinion.

Read the book. It is very much worth the time spent. The miniseries is really just NOT. And that is a shame. 

Don't Be the Monster

An episode of The Twilight Zone that originally ran on March 4, 1960 was called “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.” If you haven’t seen it, this is an edited look that gives the basic idea of it. Youtube isn't cooperating this morning for me to get the embed link, but you can click here to see it. 

Basically, strange things like the power going out, for example, start happening on Maple Street, and at first the neighbors are talking together about it and wondering what’s happening.  One neighbor decides to go over a few blocks and see if the power is out in other parts of the neighborhood, while other neighbors start listening to conspiracy theories about a more sinister reason the strange things are happening - maybe it’s aliens that look like us who have infiltrated and are coming to do more harm. One neighbor attempts to be a voice of calm and reason  and eventually decides to go into town to see if he can find out what’s going on. Meanwhile the neighbors continue to spin up their worry and look upon certain neighbors with suspicion. The question becomes, who can you really trust? They begin turning on each other en masse as the mob mentality begins to take over when people voice their various suspicions.  The voice of reason man returns, and the neighbors now suspect him. Eventually the episode ends in tragedy when, now that it is becoming dark, they see a lone figure walking slowly up the street and in panic one neighbor shoots.  It turns out it was just the neighbor who had decided to walk a few blocks away to investigate.  At the end, the actual aliens who have been turning the lights on and off discuss how easy it is to generate the mob mentality and turn people on each other.  They don’t even have to conquer, just sit back and watch them destroy themselves. The point is, who, exactly were the monsters here?

I’m bringing that up today because I have found that the more I read comment threads on the NextDoor app, the more I think about this episode.  Especially now that we find ourselves in this unusual crisis, I’m feeling this when I make the mistake of following the rabbit hole in the comment threads. I don’t know what your neighborhood is like on that app, but the two I’ve been part of now have both seemed to draw out the kind of people who seem bent to assume the absolute worst rather than assume the best.  The worry-warts come out in droves and peddle panicky posts and theories. If they ever see someone in the area doing something that doesn’t fit their understanding of things, they post about it and shame strangers all over the comment threads.  Never, ever give someone the benefit of the doubt that they might have a truly valid reason for what they are doing that you don't understand, or might have made a simple mistake while driving, or had a bad day, or been swamped with work and couldn’t mow the lawn as soon as the neighbor thinks they should have. Nope. They are portrayed as idiots who we have every right to shame all over social media.  It’s so easy to see a snippet of a moment of someone’s life and assume the worst rather than try to put the best construction on it.  It’s so easy to assume motives, but, truly you DO NOT KNOW what someone is thinking if they don’t tell you! Just because people don’t think exactly like you or do things exactly like you does not mean they are bad people.  They might just be different. They might be having a difficult day.  You DO NOT KNOW.  Everyone makes mistakes - even the people who write those shaming posts.  How about we treat each other with the same gentleness we would like to be treated with when we mess up - and we will mess up.  Everyone has a bad day, and everyone makes mistakes, no matter how careful we try to be. Would you want to be judged all over social media based on a bad moment you had which isn’t a true picture of who you are all time? 

And then you get the comment threads.  Oh my.  People pile on with judgment and assumptions and vilification that makes me cringe and hurts my heart.  

When I watch all that go down, on almost a daily basis, it makes me sick to my stomach.  We are all just one crisis away from what we see on that Twilight Zone episode.  I truly do hope that not ALL of us are as easily triggered, this lacking in understanding, gentleness, and grace as what the NextDoor app dredges up.  Maybe it’s just a small portion of people who feel the need to get on there and vent against any and every grievance or quirk or perceived gripe and the rest of us more rational people choose to stay away.  I hope there are more of us like the voice of reason guy on that episode.  Truly, I do.  But looking at that app on any given day, I do feel like I’ve dropped into Maple Street on The Twilight Zone.  So much so, that I have to severely limit my exposure to it.  Once in a while there is good information, but the bulk of it - we act like the monsters of Maple Street, so easily spun up, so quick to think the worst of our neighbors and people who are just trying to live their lives, so quick to be suspicious and griping , so quick to make sure we point out when someone does something we perceive as wrong, rather than extend the grace of trying to put the best construction on things and assume the best as long as we possibly can.  Nope.  We are inherently selfish and thinking much too highly of ourselves.  

The point isn't that there was no danger.  There apparently was someone manipulating things.  The point here isn't that there isn't an actual crisis that we need to be aware of and taking reasonable precautions about.  The point is how quickly we seem to degenerate into mistrusting each other and being quick to assume the worst of others and quick to go from caring about and helping our neighbors to worrying about how to protect me and mine and mistrust our neighbors and turn on people because we assume the worst and how easily we can allow ourselves to get spun up and feed off of other people's anxiety. 

Don’t be the monster.  Be the voice of reason and calm.  Assume the best and don’t let yourself get spun up by everyone else’s paranoia and anxiety.  Take reasonable measures to be safe and love your neighbors and stop assuming that others don’t actually want to do the same.  

On a Lighter Note....Once Upon a Time

On a (much) lighter note.....anyone watching “Once Upon a Time”? If not, you’ll probably want to go ahead and skip this post. It’s a pretty frivolous post anyhow. If you do watch, there’s a tad bit of a spoiler from last night’s episode at the end, fair warning. My husband and I really enjoy it, which, sad to say, usually means it won’t last and they’ll pull the show leaving us with a cliff-hanger and no resolution. I don’t understand why trashy, crummy shows like, oh, say, “The Bachelor” (No, I don’t watch it, can’t stand it, hate it, hate the whole premise of it, saw a bit of it the other day by accident and was reminded why I hate it) keep coming on season after season, but smart and interesting shows like, oh, say, “V,” “The Event,” “Flash Forward,” “Jericho,” and “Earth 2” to name a few, don't last (anyone remember “Earth 2”? I still feel all out of sorts over the way NBC left that one hanging and it’s been at least 16 years or so....).    :-) 

I don’t think I can name one 30-minute sitcom on any of the networks that I like or even try to tolerate at the moment. Most I’ve tried are - again - trashy in one way or another. But I do like creative, well-plotted mystery/story type shows, like “Once Upon a Time.” I’m also really enjoying “Downton Abbey” on PBS Masterpiece Classic, if you’re interested, and I could share a few other shows we enjoy if you care to know.  I liked LOST for most of the show’s run until they totally ruined it with the ending, which I hated, by basically saying ALL of the mysteries and storylines were so many red-herrings and pointless, IMO. I still find myself trying to remember what was the point of that dishwasher scene with Sayid, Hurley, the knives, and the bad guy, whoever he was, because I think about it every time I load the silverware into my dishwasher. I am weird like that. And the Others.....I don’t think that really got resolved to my satisfaction. Saw a funny video about that the other day, though, and it made me laugh.

Anyway, we’re enjoying “Once Upon a Time” and the way the backstories of the characters are peeling away each episode. 

Last night’s episode was really good, too. I found myself saying, “Oh, maybe Rumpelstiltskin won’t be so bad, after all.” And then, “Whoa....maybe not. Evil he is...and scary to boot,” And I keep thinking maybe, just maybe the queen/mayor won’t be totally corrupt, but then I think, “Nope, wrong again.”

So, now I’m thinking Emma Swan is going to one day find herself faced with the same decision Rumpelstiltskin had in last night’s episode...only I’m hoping she makes a better choice. 

If ABC is patient and lets the show unfold and stay on the air long enough to answer such questions, that is.....

Status Report - May 2011

Sitting.....in the kitchen, smelling the ham and bean soup that is simmering for dinner. Mouth is watering. Corn bread will complement it nicely.

Sipping....Earl Grey tea, hot. A delightful afternoon treat.

Thinking....how strange it is that right when I’d decided to take a blogging break for a while, I all of a sudden felt like blogging again.

Resigned.....to the thought that I will probably never get the hang of short blog posts. I must learn that less is more. Somehow.

Pondering....how wrong it is that I get most of my news from Facebook lately. I may need to take something of a break from that time distraction. Social media doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but time wasting sure is.

Wondering....how it is possible that my baby is going to be five next week. Also wondering if I have the energy to survive the birthday party that will be at our house on Saturday.

Excited.....that The Lady and the Tramp DVD I ordered from Amazon was shipped today. I think I’m more excited to see my little girl open it than she will be to receive it. Lady Dog is her special toy - goes with her everywhere. Finally she’ll get to see the movie. I find it irritating that Disney locks away certain movies in the vault. Marketing genius, but I wanted Boo to get to see it before she doesn’t care anymore.

Thankful....for my church family. I’m constantly at a loss for words to describe how full my heart is on Sundays and after. I love how the gathering together on Sunday spurs us on to worship and serve throughout the week. May I have ears to hear and eyes to see!

Praying...for those who have been so drastically affected by the tornadoes. My heart is heavy as I hear of the damage and loss. May God have mercy, and may those who can help have strength and wisdom and compassion and resources.

Glad...there are only five weeks left of the school year. Looking forward to summer with the kids.

Realizing...that working with preschoolers on a weekly basis isn’t really my gift. I like kids, but didn’t so much love the job. Now to find where I am supposed to be serving.

Once again, I’m thankful for Lisa’s status report format.

Okay, I Did Say "Maybe" Last Time....

So, I was done with the whole LOST thing until my friend shared this with me on Facebook and it was just too funny not to share. For all those people who are saying those of us who wanted more answers just don't get it....pheh.

See more funny videos and Entertainment Videos at Today's Big Thing.

My Last Post About LOST....Maybe***Updated at the End, and Now I'm Really, Really Done :-)***

In which I write an impossibly long post that probably no one will read.

I feel kind of dumb writing about a TV show. In the grand scheme of things, it’s just a TV show, after all. Who really cares? But I did have a few things to say, some directly about LOST, some more indirect but that the season finale left me thinking regarding how I process things like TV shows and books and stories and pop culture.

I enjoyed the series LOST. I did not love the ending, but after thinking about it and reading some blog friends, I don’t hate it like I did right after watching it. It is not the direction I would have taken the show, but I know from some reading that it is where the creators always intended it to go, and they are the ones who wrote it, so they get to decide.

Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer pretty much summed up how I felt about the ending in her post here. For a show that was incredibly plot driven and character driven, it was a let down at the end to find that the plot twists that were developed in agonizingly slow and meticulous detail during parts of the series weren’t really all that important at all. In fact, so unimportant that I kind of wonder what some seasons were about anyway. Some questions were left hanging to the point where I don’t really see why they were there at all. For example, who were the Others really and why were they so antagonistic toward the Losties when so many of the Losties were Jacob’s candidates? My only answer for that one is that the point seems to have been that the Losties’ main objective was to survive on the island, and the Others gave them a lot to survive against. What about the BIG deal that was made about Walt and the raft and the Others during that season? Turned out to go nowhere, really, except that it did cement the friendship between Jin and Sawyer. And don’t come swooping in here telling me it’s because the actor who played Walt grew up too fast. They really dropped the ball on that whole story line - in fact on the whole ‘Others’ story line in my opinion. The biggest unanswered question for me is, “Why did the people of the Dharma Initiative have to be murdered? Who ordered it?” It just doesn’t fit to me for it to be Jacob, yet Richard was there and a part of it, and we thought the Others were following Jacob. I’m not so sure about that, because I think maybe Ben thought he was following Jacob but it was really Smokey/Man in Black all along. Telling us it wasn’t about weird stuff happening on the island but really just about the characters just doesn’t cut it for me.

Anyway, now that we’ve seen the finale, it is clear that none of that mattered. It wasn’t about the island minutiae as much as it was the main characters, and especially Jack. I always thought it might be largely about Jack and his ‘redemption’ and it turns out that seems to be just what it was about - I don’t really like to use that term because ‘redemption’ in LOST terms is NOT Christian redemption by any means, but for the purposes of discussing this strangest of shows, I’ll use it here. The other characters were important, too, but the show was really about Jack, it seems. I did enjoy reading Leslie’s take on the ending and the discussion following her post. Helped me not to hate the ending but to more dislike it.

I get that the show was very character driven, and that people matter and that we should care about their stories. What was disappointing in the ending, however, was to find that it was really ONLY about them. Because, I don’t know about you, but the build up with the plot devices really led us down a roller coaster to get to the point where we find that they were ONLY a device to get these characters together to interact and learn to ‘live together or die alone.’ Great lesson, great emotional moments, but, really? The plot really was that unimportant in the end? I didn’t expect them to answer everything, but the whole purgatoryish ending was just sappy to me. The way I felt after the finale was like craving good chocolate but all you get is that nasty cheap Easter bunny chocolate instead. It's chocolate alright, but not nearly as satisfying as, say, a Ghirardelli chocolate. I almost would have liked a more sci-fi ending where they got to live an alternate reality or something and have some other meaning to the island mysteries than just that it wasn’t really about the island at all. I get the point that people are really what matters, I’m not dense, but still....

I did like some of the emotional moments at the end as the characters remembered who they were, especially Sawyer and Juliet - to me that was the best part of the whole finale. That was done very well. Looking at the show as a whole, taking a long view of it and blurring out the details, the writers did a great job of showing how the characters grew and learned to give to and for others and by bringing their story arcs to a resolution. Well done. Now that I know it was really about that, I can appreciate the ending in that way. It's just that during the journey they really led us to think the story details were more important than they ended up being. One thing I didn’t like was I wish Charlie had not been such a reprobate in the in-between time. Even though they didn’t remember their lives, shouldn’t it have reflected some of the growth they’d worked so hard for on the island? Jack’s character did. And Charlie, especially, had changed so radically on the island, it was disappointing to me to have him be such a mess in the in-between time.

I didn’t like the implication that was made quite overtly, quite obviously, quite heavy-handedly and so totally in your face that faith doesn’t really matter at all but that it’s about self-redemption and knowing yourself and learning to live together so you don’t die alone that ended up being THE message of the entire show. I told you I was pretty sure I wouldn’t like the faith implications once the ending came, and I was right to think so. Before you jump on me and tell me that I shouldn’t expect a show from Hollywood to match my worldview, hear my point, please. I didn’t expect a Christian resolution. I wasn’t watching for one or hoping for one and it doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a show if they don’t hold my worldview. I can still appreciate the show for what it was. And, for the most part, I did enjoy it.

BUT, if you think that the writers weren’t trying to send a message with that ending, think again. There have been hints all along that ‘faith’ isn’t always a good thing, and that’s exactly where I was sure the show was heading, and it did. One thing I disliked about the show all along was the subtle subversion of religious faith, and some of it was very subtle. Another thing I didn't like was the blurring between good and evil that was never resolved, even in the end. That scene in the ‘church’ where all the religious symbols were there? I would have liked the ending better if they’d been a little less obvious and left out the symbols and just ended it and let viewers draw their own conclusion. The fact that they very obviously placed those symbols prominently in what was clearly a gateway to ‘moving on’ in the afterlife was clearly making a statement, and not a subtle one. In a show where the people behind it were not shy about saying all along the way that they were exploring and discussing ‘deeper’ questions, it is not wrong for me to point out the dangers of the conclusion they are clearly drawing, that religious faith is pointless, what really matters is community and learning to love and live together and sacrifice for each other and redeem yourself through that - faith in yourself and your purpose and your relationships and not worrying so much about who is ‘right’. The writers are free to push that view, but I’m also free to point out how empty it is ultimately. Precisely because they showed us in the end that the plot itself wasn’t that important but it was always about the characters shows me that this was the message they intend to send - humanism in a postmodern mindset.

I know it’s just a TV show. I get it. I know that they don’t have to hold my worldview. Fine, they’re free to advocate any agenda they want. But I watch everything filtered through a biblical worldview, and what I couldn’t help being bothered by is that, though it’s just a TV show, it did deal with deeper life issues and thoughts. And people are discussing those things, which is a good thing. So, as part of the discussion, I’m adding here that self-redemption won’t cut it. As good as community and working together and love and marriage and all those things are, they are empty in and of themselves. There is a hereafater, and there is a God who will call all men to account. Apart from Christ there is no hope of peace in life or death. And what bothers me is that the view presented at the end of LOST really is what a lot of people hold if you get right down to it - that it will all be okay as long as you’re true to your ‘purpose’ and you sacrifice for others and learn to love others, that’s what matters, and even if you’re not, there will be a way to make it right. Seems to me the message here was let’s just all get along and not worry about religious truth claims because they are irrelevant in the long run. Getting along is what matters. In the LOST view, it didn’t even matter if they were ‘good’ people before ‘moving on’. Like I was saying about Charlie, shouldn’t his in-between existence have shown some residual of the growth on the island?

The only reason I even bother to think any of this through is because everything influences our worldview. Everything we read or watch or talk about influences how we think, and we need to know how to discern even our entertainment. I’m not saying only watch and read things that agree with a Christian worldview. I’m not saying LOST wasn’t a good show. I enjoyed it and enjoyed the discussion and thought it provoked. That’s good. I am saying be aware that once you strip away the trappings of the island this show really reflects how a lot of people in our culture think about issues like faith and religion and the ‘deeper’ issues the show explored. I am saying be aware how very subtly things like TV shows and books and pop culture can influence the deeper way we think about things and don’t be afraid to digest even entertainment through a rigorous look at the worldviews behind it. That’s not a bad thing to do. And in all of that be grounded in the word of God so you can adequately discern what is good and what is not in everything.

And now you can go ahead and tell me to lighten up, Beck. It’s just a TV show. Yeah, okay. In spite of all I just said, I did enjoy the series. I’m glad it’s over, but I’m not sorry I watched all six years of it. I’ve enjoyed the discussions along the way, and even the openings it’s given me to talk about matters of faith and the gospel.

***Update***A friend on Facebook passed this blog post along. I don't know how legit it is, but after reading it I can concede that we, the viewers were actually given more answers than some of us gave them credit for, but I was just looking for something so different I didn't see them for what they were. I didn't realize just how much of their weird 'spiritual' speculations and worldview mishmash they were actually pushing throughout, and just how committed to it they actually were. I was looking more for just an interesting story, not an extended speculation on 'faith' and the 'afterlife' from people who don't look to the Bible as our sole authority for such discussions. I think their weird spiritual syncretism is so far off the grid for me I just wanted to see it a different way. Looking back over the last season, I can buy all that about the Others being people Jacob brought who were corrupted by MIB and the show being an exploration of free will and faith vs. science, etc. In fact, I don't know why I didn't see it more clearly. We were actually told that, if you think about it, in one of the early conversations we see between those characters before we really knew who/what they were when MIB asks Jacob why he keeps bringing them when things always go badly.... Anyway, I think what I dislike most about the whole thing is the weird spirituality, but you knew that would be my concern anyhow, right? The blog author says the show ultimately comes down on the side of faith, and that's the issue, isn't it? Faith in faith or faith in your own made up system or worldview really isn't very helpful and is ultimately damning, if you want to be honest. The only faith that really has saving power is the faith that clings to Jesus Christ alone. But that is not what our world wants to hear. And in a postmodern society, absolute truth claims like that are taboo, but it's just fine to push a mishmash and feel good 'faith' where you're given lifetimes to connect and progress. But the thing is, there is true truth. And that, my friends, is probably why I had the strong reaction to Lost that I did, and why I really wasn't that surprised after all the hints we'd been given along the way. And now I'm really, really done with Lost. :-)

Status Update

Hmmm. I seem to be taking a blogging break. It isn't a planned or intentional break, more of an incidental one, I suppose. Lots going on in real life and too tired to blog much, plus not much to say when I finally remember I have a blog. Hello! I have a blog!

I think I'll shamelessly borrow Lisa's format again to spur at least some kind of post today.

Sitting....where I always sit when I blog, at my computer desk.

Listening....to my daughter play with her toys nearby. She has the funniest little voices for all her little people and stuffed animals. I love listening to her imagination at work.

Waiting....for my coffee to finish perking. I am in serious need of a caffeine pick-me-up this afternoon.

Anticipating....more rain. It's still pretty gray out, so I am quite sure the rain we've already had today is not all we will yet see.

Feeling...a little bittersweet as things are winding down this May in preparation for summer break. I always do, but more so this year since we'll be moving next month.

Preparing...for our big move. I spent all of yesterday cleaning out one boy's room and getting it ready for the move. I won't even get started on my frustration over teaching some people the value of being neat, orderly and organized. That would be much too long a post. Anywhoooo....lots still to do before the movers come to pack us up the week after VBS in June. At least my guys will get to go to VBS here one more time.

Contemplating....being finished with choir here once Awana is over on the 26th. I have enjoyed singing in the choir again at church after not singing in choir since while we lived in South Carolina, but I think the kids' activities being finished on Wednesday nights is a good time for me to go ahead and say, "Adieu," as well. After that there are only a few weeks left, and I'm still having a hard time really realizing that we are, in fact, leaving shortly.

Excited...about our new house. We are building in Kentucky, where we'll be going. Drew was just there yesterday and brought pictures of our soon to be completed new house. We've never lived in a brand new house where we got to pick the carpet and paint and all. It's exciting.

Praying....we find the right church when we do move and that we are wise in how we go about searching for that church - meaning, that we will be looking at and for the right things prayerfully, a place where the gospel is proclaimed rightly, God's word is upheld as the authority for life and godliness, and where we will be challenged to grow in the faith, and where the worldview training we are seeking to give our children will be reinforced.

Ready...on a less serious note, for the TV show Lost to be finished. Last Tuesday's episode....not my favorite. I enjoyed the ride, but I think I'll be ready to get off when it's finished. I will be ready to see where the writers have been going on this most interesting of stories, but, as I've said all along, I'm pretty sure I won't really like it. If Tuesday was any indication, I'm still saying it. More questions that will probably never be answered. At this point, I just hope enough answers are provided to at least have some closure. It is definitely a show that will finish when it's supposed to and not keep trying to drag on past its expiration date. Sorry, too tired to really blog about the story itself right now.

Wondering....if I'll ever get back to real blogging again. I'd like to.

Noticing....that my coffee has finished. I think I'll take that as a good time to quit this insubstantial post and go enjoy it. Besides, my daughter is asking for help putting her doll's hair in a ponytail. Priorities, you know.

Movie Recommendation

"Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason and not by Popes and councils who have so often contradicted themselves, my conscience is captive to the word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot and I will not recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me."

We just watched the movie Luther with the boys. Excellent!! I had not seen it yet, and Drew brought it home the other day. I'd like to watch it again without the boys' interrupting every so often with questions so I missed a lot. But it's all good - good to have the conversations we had with the boys that the movie generated for us.

Some Thoughts About LOST

My apologies to those of you who are not LOST watchers. I am one. My blog. I had some thoughts I needed to write about it. Feel free not to read if you find that boring.

Though I’m fairly certain it is not the point the writers of LOST are trying to make, I think last night’s episode is a great argument for how bad theology leads to bad decisions and much heartache. Anyone else wish you could have taken Richard aside and explained the real meaning of that cross last night?

And for those of you who, like me, are reformation Christians, anyone else a little concerned that the character who had a more biblically accurate view of the nature of fallen mankind is the ‘bad’ guy (MIB) and the implications of what that means for the worldview of the show? It seems to me, depending upon just who Jacob is supposed to be in this weird show, that the writers just may be subscribing to an openness theory that I do not like - did you catch how Jacob was surprised by Richard’s suggestion that if the ‘good’ did nothing to intervene, the evil certainly would. He had not adequately thought through the implications of his little game he is playing with people.

Something else that just occurred to me: Do you think when the doctor threw the gold cross on the ground, calling it worthless, do you think we were supposed to only think of it as monetarily worthless and a slap in the face of Isabella's gift, OR was there a deeper message being implied by the writers that faith in the work that was done on that cross is worthless? Maybe I'm just reading too much into it, but you have to admit that this show has been laden with all kinds of religious symbols from all kinds of religious systems and I can't keep myself from wondering if the message we are meant to get from it is that it is all worthless? I sure hope that's not what they are saying, but it did occur to me. If so, I am profoundly sad. Not disappointed, because you may remember that I mentioned at the beginning of this season that I was pretty sure I might have a major problem with the direction this show is going to go and that I am quite sure it is not being written from a Christian worldview. Last night confirmed that thought. So, not surprised, not expecting anything different, not ever expecting to get my theology from a TV show or expecting Hollywood to get it right, just commenting on what I saw.

Yeah, yeah, I know.......lighten up, Beck, it’s just a TV show. Whatever.

LOSTie

The beginning of the end of LOST starts tonight!! Finally some answers! I promised Drew I would try to contain my excitement and wait to watch it on DVR with him when he gets home later tonight. I think I can manage that, at least.....

For LOST Fans:

I got hooked on the story line of the TV show LOST during its first season, and I've followed it through each agonizingly slow revelation of plot twist and each much-too-long break between seasons up to now, when we are anticipating its final (finally!) season which begins in February. Finally we'll get answers. I have to tell you, that as a Christian I have become pretty sure I may not like the answers or the direction it takes, but, as I've said before, the story became so intriguing that were it a book I would have stayed up all night to finish it. Every episode, not to mention season, left us hanging, usually scratching our heads and saying, "I didn't expect THAT!" I drive my husband nuts with speculation after every episode. He will probably be very glad when the show ends, too.

Anyway, Drew stumbled across a Christian blogger who is writing some interesting discussion about the show, and, though I don't know if I will always agree with him and I try not to get too excited about supposed Christian themes from a secular show - mostly because I am pretty sure it's not being written from a Christian perspective and I am quite wary about the direction it may take, I thought I'd share a link for my blog friends who may share my interest in the show. Enjoy!

She's A Detail Oriented Girl

We were watching Disney's The Jungle Book this afternoon. Actually, Boo was watching and I was reading a book. I was drawn out of my little reading world when Boo kept saying, "That's the Winnie-a-Pooh snake. That's the Winnie-a-Pooh snake!"

I looked up and the movie was at the part where Ka'a the snake is hypnotizing Mowgli in the tree. I said, "Yeah, the Winnie-the-Pooh snake." Then I started wondering why in the world she called him that. Then I realized that somehow she was recognizing the voice. The same actor is the voice for Pooh.

The thing is, I think she's only ever watched the Pooh movie once. And that was a while ago. How did she put that together?

I think this girl is one smart cookie. She's going to keep us on our toes. She really seems to pick up on details, in a way that's a little bit scary in a three-year-old. I have to remember how much she notices. Anyway, I thought it was something that she could remember the voice like that and put them together. And just felt like sharing.

A Movie We Enjoyed

Drew and I watched the movie, Tender Mercies last night. We use Blockbuster Online and I decided to add some older movies into our queue, some things we either had never seen or had not seen in a long time and wanted to see again. Last night's choice was one we had not seen before. Both of us really liked it.

I remember my dad one time telling me that Tender Mercies was one of the few movies out of Hollywood that gives favorable or sympathetic treatment to Christians, and now that I've seen it, I have to agree that is so. The Christians are presented as genuine and not hypocritical and not falsely preachy, either.

Some of the characters did take our Lord's name in vain, which I really hate and wish they could have left out, but it was in keeping with the character, and the transformation of the main character's life rang very true.

Also, one of the hallmarks of good writing is the rule, "Show, don't tell." This was drilled into us daily by our creative writing teacher in high school. It's also a rule I apparently have a very hard time following, as I am often much too wordy. Anyway, this rule was excellently applied in this movie. Especially the ending. It was very clear what point was being made, without any character saying a word of explanation. I loved the ending, and I'm glad I finally got around to watching this one.

Status Report - Early April

Sitting…at my computer desk, shamelessly stealing Lisa’s blog post idea and writing a status report for April. I, too, treat my laptop like a desktop. It’s just easier that way for this girl who barely even knows how to switch all the techie equipment on. If you knew how long it is taking me to figure out how to use our swanky new digital camera and the software affiliated with it, you’d laugh at me.

Drinking….coffee, decaf with hazelnut creamer and Sweet N’ Low. Drew and I have decided Sweet N’ Low is probably the least toxic of the diet sweeteners. Who would’ve thought?

Noting….that I am not ready for my middle son to be eight-years-old. But, ready or not, as of today he is. Today is his birthday. At 12:01 PM today he was officially eight-years-old. Where is the time going? Want to see one of his birthday presents? This was the big surprise I had waiting for him when he came home in from school! He named it Sid.

Weighing….too much. Okay, I know Lisa doesn't mean literally when she says this, but weighing options. Still. The scale is not my friend. Actually, maybe it’s just a really good friend – the most honest one I know…..

Tired….of potty training. She’ll get it, I know she’ll get it. But it’s just tiring these days. I bought one of these:

(Bissel Little Green ProHeat)

It was necessary. I like it. And then once she’s potty trained, I’ll be whining about how she’s growing up so fast I can’t stand it. I’m already whining about it. But I really cannot see myself weeping over being finished with diapers. Unless they are tears of joy.

Wondering….if we will be dog owners again soon. We found an adorable little guy while web surfing local animal shelters. When we contacted them about him, they told us he currently has pneumonia, but we can meet him once the vet says okay. I think he’s seeing the vet today. I hope we get to meet him soon. I’ll let you know.

Reading….The Last Jihad by Joel C. Rosenberg. I like it so far. Also reading Saved Without a Doubt by John MacArthur. I really like it. I think I need to write a whole blog post about it soon.

Recently finished…Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin. Okay, that’s me being funny. Boo got this at the library, and has insisted on having it read to her more times than I can count already. She loves the ‘fox book’ (Ruthie is a little fox). It is due back at the library on the 7th. I have a sinking feeling there will be much wailing and gnashing of toddler teeth on that day. We may be making and outing to the bookstore soon. As for me, recently finished is Sons of Fortune by Jeffrey Archer. I liked it.

Also wondering….why the manufacturers of my new blender felt the need for this:

I had to use scissors to cut it off. Really, was that necessary?

Needing….some new clothes. I hate shopping. This, too, could be an entire blog post, and since I’ve been so lax about blogging, maybe it will be soon.

Not liking….how seldom I seem to be able to focus for long enough to write a decent blog post these days.

Really liking….this season of LOST. Some things are beginning to come together, and the story is moving along. Confusing, yes. But very interesting. I’m driving my husband crazy with my speculating and wondering. I still think if it were a book I’d have to stay up all night to finish it. I really want answers.

Thanks for allowing me to copy your status idea, Lisa!

Wading Through the Bookstore

The other day we were out shopping, and while Drew and the boys were at Circuit City looking for deals from their store closing sale, Boo and I walked on down a few shops to a Christian bookstore. It has been a very long time since I have visited a Christian bookstore, and can I just tell you that, rightly or wrongly, I was really sad after my visit?

It is not that there weren’t some good things there. There were. I even bought a few things, most notably this:

It’s a modern day retelling of the Pilgrim’s Progress, and it generated some good thinking and discussion with the boys. We’ll be watching it with them again and discussing more, I am sure. So don’t hear me saying that Christian bookstores have nothing to offer. I’m not saying that.

What I am saying is that I walked away from that store a little depressed. What I am saying is that you have to wade through a lot of junk and a lot of questionable stuff before finding a gem among the rubble. So much of what is on display is just not what we are to be about. And so much of what was on display was stuff that I hope people will be discerning enough to just stay away from. There is an awful lot of self-help and financial success and body image and other kinds of things that seem to focus too much on thinly veiled worldly thought and worldly lusts. That’s the bulk of the things I saw. Plus a lot of charismatic emphasis and a lot of big names you would recognize who are either shallow or downright dangerous in their teaching. And a lot of emergent/emerging/ etc. type stuff, too. Pretty much anything with a Christian label is there. Whether it is biblically sound or not. But it’s in the Christian bookstore, so it must be okay, right?

And I won’t even start on the kids’ stuff. Ugh. It’s depressing. Sometimes I wonder if the marketers are laughing at what an easy market we are as they offer us ‘Jesus Junk’ and we gobble it up without realizing that it is actually offensive when you start thinking about the glory and the wonder of who Jesus really is. I used to like the whole Christian subculture, was steeped in it you might say, but I have come to be very, very wary of it. So much of it is just not good.

When complaining about the goofy children’s stuff, Drew told me I should write something good and see what happens. His complete confidence in my ability is sweet and so affirming, but I’m pretty sure I don’t have what it takes to write something anyone would want to read. Maybe I should try it anyway, huh? We’ll see.

And the other day we found a Christian station that was not TBN and we were watching some kids’ show with our children, and Drew made an interesting observation about the commercials. Almost every ad had something to do with exercise, body image, or financial success. Not necessarily bad in and of themselves, but pretty revealing about what the advertisers think the target audience of that station is most interested in, don’t you think? And, no, I’m not saying it is wrong to want to take care of our bodies and to eat right and exercise, nor is it wrong to want to be wise with the finances God has provided. We should be good stewards of all that He gives us. I just think that our main focus shouldn’t be on the externals. And that’s the impression I walked away with, just judging from the sheer volume of the books on the shelves and the ads on the TV station, that we are preoccupied with things that are temporal. There is so much on those shelves that either feed our worldly desires or address our anxieties, hurts, self-esteem using worldly psychological models with a veneer of Christianese painted over them that I found it really depressing.

But maybe it is just me.

So Funny

I saw this last night and thought it was hysterical. Anyone else tired of the soul patch, postmodern, truth is relative, metanarrative story telling emerging lingo huh????, I'm so intellectually superior and emotionally tuned in you 'modern' behind the times thinkers just don't get it, wannabe cool and unique but really they just look like every other wannabe "look"? So funny.....

Status Report - Wednesday, Jan. 21

Borrowing from my blog friend Lisa again, I present you with my latest status report:

Sitting…at my computer desk (duh) and wishing for more inspired blog thoughts to flow onto the screen. Unfortunately they are probably flowing from someone else’s fingers onto someone else’s blog. Sorry.

Eating…popcorn, popped in the microwave as an after school snack for the boys and their little sister who also loves ‘poppers’. Let’s face it, I really popped it for the mommy who was craving it all afternoon, but we’ll just say it was for the boys.

Drinking…sweet tea. I broke down and put real sugar in it. Not much, but enough. Here’s the thing, we have dinner at church tonight, and, well, we’re not in the South anymore. Lemonade, water, hot chocolate and coffee are the drink choices. No iced tea. So I’m bringing my own. As an aside, did you know that down South when you order tea, if you want it without sugar you usually have to specify “UNSWEET” and really make sure they hear that “UN” loud and clear or you’ll get tea-syrup (I don’t make mine the real ‘southern’ way). Anywhere else, you have to specify “SWEET” if you don’t want it without sugar. If they even offer it with sugar at all. Lots of places don’t. Just sayin’.

Sore….everywhere. Arms, legs, back, everywhere. Drew signed us up at the local YMCA. The Army gives us a free family membership, but we have to use it on average at least twice a week, or 8 times a month. Free is good. The YMCA here is a very nice facility, the nicest Y I’ve ever visited, in fact. You should see the cool indoor swimming pool. The boys had a blast the other day when Drew took them – there is a huge twisty water slide, and I looked in at it today and I think Boo will love the kiddie pool. I’ve been to exercise twice this week. Yesterday I did the weight circuit and walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Today I was so, so, so sore when I got up this morning. More on that later. Anyway, today it was 45 minutes on the treadmill and no weights – the plan is to do them tomorrow.

Managed…to get the daily recommended 10,000 steps two days in a row. Drew gave me a pedometer that he got while working at his old job at the hospital outpatient rehab. Being a numbers and goal oriented kind of gal, it helps to have the little thing clicking away. It’s really depressing to have it not even get close to the goal after a really busy day, though. Anyway, yesterday I just barely cleared 10,000 steps before bed, but today I’m already at 11,187 and counting. That extra 15 minutes on the treadmill helped.

Motivated…to avoid fatty snacks today. When I got up this morning, I was so sore (did I mention how sore?) that I really, really, really wanted to just roll over and go back to sleep. But I’ve decided to get back on a decent schedule, which has really suffered since the move, and get up early, read my Bible and pray before the kids get up, and be ready to go exercise after dropping them off at school. It almost didn’t happen today. It would have been sooooooo easy to skip the Y this morning. My brain was screaming at me to just skip it. Just go home, Beck, don’t torture your legs today!! But, I got up and took a shower, yes, I’m nutty that way – I can’t go to exercise without taking a shower first, I just can’t wake up enough, and limbered up and went downstairs and had my quiet time and got breakfast and took the boys to school, and then Boo and I headed for the Y. I’m glad I did. If I don’t get the habit established, there’s only me to blame. Anyhow, after forcing myself to go this morning, I found that I really didn’t want to undo the good I’d done by snacking and eating unwisely today. So maybe it’s a good thing it was so hard to get moving today.

Hoping….I’ll stick with it. I’ve got 20 pounds to lose. I know, I know, I said a while back it was 10 or 15. Well, what with the move, not having our kitchen stuff for a long time and eating out too much, feeling depressed and just not being careful about eating, I’ve added back the little I had lost, so now we’re back to trying to lose 15 or 20 pounds again.

Proud…of my boys for getting along so well lately. Monday was a GREAT day. We’ve been reading The Fellowship of the Ring together in the evenings, and they got the idea of making rings with paper, markers and tape and they’ve been pretending to be characters from Middle Earth during their free time. And they have been getting along, cooperating, agreeing on rules….I’m pinching myself. Do you think it could possibly last? It is so much fun listening to them play together.

Frustrated....with our cable provider. We have been trying to see about getting DVR added to our current cable package. We get a different answer and vastly different price schedule from every single person we talk to, and they wouldn't talk to me today, as the wife, because Drew's was the only name on the account since he set everything up during those weeks he was here before we came up. Anyway, when I called and told him that, he called the provider and was told that we could not get DVR with our package. When he told me that, I said, then why did the woman today tell me that it was only x number of dollars per month and etc. and why is it listed in our welcome packet as an additional service we can purchase? He's on the phone with a very helpful representative who is scheduling our service right now. Grrr.

Going…to choir tonight, in case anyone was wondering. I’ll just watch LOST tomorrow on the computer. Like you all care. But, no matter, I decided I need to go to choir. Anyway, it's time to get off the computer now.

Adaptability and Other Random Thoughts

According to the thermometer on my porch, it is 4 degrees today. According to the weather channel website, it feels like -13 degrees. Did you get that, minus 13 degrees. We did not walk to school today. M was so funny this morning. He bundled up in long sleeves, sweater, and heavy coat and kept going out and walking around and then he would come in and say, “It doesn’t feel that cold!” I told him he’d be singing a different tune if we were to walk all the way to school out there.

By the way, I don’t think my car has ever been so cold. The principal was on car line duty today, and when she opened the door and greeted the boys, she said to me, “Now this really isn’t South Carolina weather, is it?” You got that right. On the way home, my car thermometer was reading zero degrees. Now that is just plain cold, no lie. Not to mention the raging, and I do mean raging, sinus headache I have at the moment.

But the big disappointment these days in the Sweet Tea family (at least if you ask my boys, that is) is that there has been no snow to speak of since we moved here. The boys, especially M, were all excited about snow, and visions of snow men and snowball fights played prominently in their minds and dreams, but as of today, no snow to speak of yet. We did have flurries the other day while we were out running errands and you should have seen how excited they got about actually seeing falling snow. J managed to scrape enough off the car to make a very dirty snowball, which is now in a baggie in my freezer. Don’t ask me why. I just live here.

Drew informed the boys (and me) that it doesn’t snow when it’s this cold because it only gets this cold when it is clear. Who knew? Is that fact, or is he just making that up? Anyone know? I figure he knows what he’s talking about, having grown up in Connecticut and Indiana. He spent enough undergraduate days trudging through cold and snow when he was at Ball State, so I guess he knows better than this Florida girl.

Boo is getting better about not fighting me when putting on her coat. I guess she’s finally figured out how cold she is if she doesn’t wear it, and warm is good!

And another thing about adaptability, I thought it would be great to be an hour behind – the good TV shows are on earlier. Just shows how much I know. The only show I really watch anymore is LOST, because I got so hooked in earlier seasons that now I just really need to know how it’s going to end. Only ABC has put it back on Wednesday night. NOOOOOOOO! Why couldn’t they leave it on Thursday night??? The big premiere event is next Wednesday at 8/7 Central. Meaning 7pm for me. I went to choir practice for the first time last night at the church we are pretty sure we’re going to be joining. I loved it. And I’m feeling really guilty that I’m so torn about wanting to stay home next week and watch LOST, when I really need to be getting involved and committing to choir. Why not just tape it, you ask? Because I am so technologically inept that I cannot figure out how to get our recorder to work with our cable system. I asked Drew if he could figure something out before next Wednesday…..please, oh, pretty please? I’m hoping that the regularly scheduled time for LOST will be later and that they are just doing one of those premiere thingies with the early start next week.

And one more random thing about change: I’m working on the new laptop Drew got us. It was loaded with all this new stuff, and the version of Word I’m using to write this post is a newer version. I cannot for the life of me find the ‘save file’ button. Why do they keep changing things around? Change, in and of itself, is not always a good thing. Sometimes not changing is good. I finally get used to something, and they go and change it, just like the time and day for LOST. Grrrrrr.

And, another thing about the time change from Eastern to Central: when we first moved here, I had a really hard time adapting to the hour behind thing. I would wake up around 4:30AM and have a hard time getting back to sleep and then be petering out by 8:30PM. I’m kind of a morning person. I don’t mean I’m all that perky in the morning, just that I do better in the morning. I have to get things done early in the day. That’s just how I am. Well, I’ve adapted. I’m staying up way too late, and today I had the hardest time waking up at 6:15. That would be 7:15, island time (or Eastern Standard, if you prefer), and normally would have been late for me, but today I had a really hard time getting up. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the night before I woke up stressing about a whole bunch of silly stuff around 3:30AM and couldn’t get back to sleep and then last night Boo had a bad night, meaning another short night for me. Anyway, I’m tired. My neighbor back ‘on the island’ told me that the first week we were gone her kids almost missed the bus because she used to watch for us to walk by at 7:30 and then she’d know it was time – she knew I was a morning early bird, and she so wasn’t. The boys’ old school started at 8:30. Here, they don’t have to be there until 9AM, which is 10AM on my body’s time table, and I looked at the clock the other day, thinking of my neighbor friend, and realized her kids had already been in school for an hour and a half. I thought I’d have no problem getting the boys to school on time here. Well. I’ve adapted. I’m not sure I’d be able to get them there any earlier if I tried.

Must be the cold weather.

Boo. Hoo.

I hate to bump my last post with this, but I read this and I just had to say: Do you blame her? I think I'd steer clear, very clear, very very very clear, too. Oprah. UGH. I don't even watch her show (can you say colossal waste of time and I have no desire to fill my head with her weird spirituality) - I think if I ever had the misfortune to be famous enough to be asked I hope I'd decline to be on it, too. And yes, I meant to say misfortune. I relish my obscurity, thankyouverymuch.

Randomly Boring Me

Jules at Everyday Mommy has tagged me with a meme. I’m supposed to share 6 random things about myself. I hope I can come up with six things that won’t just bore the socks off of you, but here’s my attempt to complete the meme.

1. I find coloring in Boo’s coloring books to be a very soothing activity when I’m feeling stressed or in need of a mindless occupation when I can’t settle my brain enough to read. I colored a nice scene of Elmo’s birthday party while watching the last presidential debate.

2. I don't watch a whole lot of TV anymore. There are just a handful of shows I still follow, and with all the available channels, there just isn't much I can stand to watch these days. And I don’t turn the news on much anymore, either. For one thing, I'm really tired of politics at the moment, and besides, with 24/7 news channels, just how many different ways can you spin the same few news stories, anyway? I’m pretty much “news”-ed out.

3. I crave diet cherry Cokes from Sonic all the time. Drew knows what to get when he feels like a Sonic run on the way home from work. I also like their unsweet peach tea. Sonic happy hour half price soda drinks from 2-4 is a winner with me and the boys.

4. I can’t wait for LOST to come back. That's one of those handful of shows I mentioned, and I am pretty much hooked on it. I clicked on the ABC website the other day and piddled around just to fill my craving for a LOST fix. Does anyone else think these really long hiatuses are too long? How much longer will we have to drag out the suspense? Will the ending be satisfying, or have I wasted all these years following the Losties? Drew and I were laughing that we will be getting off our island before they resolve the mysteries surrounding theirs. I’m not good at waiting. As Inigo says in The Princess Bride, “I hate wait.” Me too.

5. Speaking of The Princess Bride, that’s one of my all time favorite movies. I had a friend in college who would go back and forth with me quoting lines from it when those lines would apply to various situations around campus. It was funny. Drew and I find ourselves spouting out Princess Bride quotes a lot, too. Especially the clergyman from the wedding scene. That has got to be one of the funniest movie scenes ever. “Mawidge. Mawidge is wot bwings us togevah today.…..”

6. I love Autumn. It is my favorite season, and, growing up in Florida where we didn’t really have much differentiation in seasons, I am looking forward to moving a little further north where we will have a true Fall, with colored leaves and that crisp feeling in the air and pumpkins and all that goes with Fall. Except for Halloween, I'm not such a big fan of that, though in years past we have let the kids dress up and trick-or-treat. I'm just as glad we'll be at Disney World this year (oh, yes, we're going to Disney!! The kids are beside themselves in anticipation). I'm so not good at the whole finding a costume thing.

7. Okay, we were supposed to only list 6 random things, but my brain is randomly firing now and I have one more, but it’s about the boys, not about me so much. Both of the boys have been reading our old Calvin and Hobbes books, and they can’t wait to live in a place where we’ll have leaves to crunch and snow for building snow men, just like Calvin. M is already planning how he wants to build his snow men. I’m a little worried that he’s adopted Calvin as a role model in this endeavor….

Well, I hope my lame attempt to play along hasn’t bored you to tears. Sorry, I’m just not all that interesting.

Have a nice Friday, and feel free to consider yourself tagged!