The Dying Wreath

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV)

In time my high school and college diplomas will turn yellow. The paper will eventually crumble at a touch. All of the money I have ever made will eventually be spent. My aging Macbook, my shiny new Giant bicycle, and my already aged Ford Taurus will occupy a landfill. All of the trinkets, toys, and treasures I can collect in this life will some day turn to dust. And in 100 years there will likely not be a person living who remembers hearing the sound of my voice. Like almost every other person in history, I am a rain drop in the ocean of time.

What is important then? What really matters? What is imperative on my life? All of my life comes down to this: running in a way that I might win the prize. What is the prize? God -forevermore. He is the eternal prize and the goal and the delight for anyone who attains him. Long after everything that has ever been in this age has melted away, God will remain. There are greater pleasures in him than in any dying wreath the world has to offer. Even the praise of men that may come from being an esteemed preacher of the gospel cannot compare to the pleasure of God. And if you run in such a way to get that praise, you may have it but lose the race for the prize of the universe. If we trust him for the forgiveness of our sins, then we must run in a way that shows the value of him to us.

I fail at this. I live in a country of cheap gods and cheap pleasure. It's only by the transformative work of the Spirit of God within me that I am able to run. He gives me the ability to do the hard work of being a disciple. If you're reading this today, and you are running aimlessly, then remember the prize and run for it. Think of the eternal pleasures in God that await you forevermore. If you are not even running the race, then trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sin. Stop trying to run backward on the track toward sin and turn toward God, runnig the race to win the prize

The Ten Best Movies of 2010

10. Kick Ass -There were some refreshing moments in this movie where Kick Ass fails miserably at being a crime fighter (or fumbles into victory in a non comedic way). These were the best moments of this film. The movie has some notable flaws, and probably appears on this list, because I only saw fourteen 2010 releases this year. Yet, the movie knows its audience and delivers well enough to not demand a straight to video sequel.

9. Black Swan -In this film, Aronofsky does what he always does. He makes a movie that is visceral, beautiful, and reality distorting. If you are going to go with style over substance, you have to have a LOT of style. Aronofsky pulls it off marvelously. The storyline is simple but not a thinly-veiled ripoff like some other films. This film would probably be higher up on the list, but it's extremely sexual. Even though there is no nudity in the movie, it is probably one of the most sexual that I have seen. But if you've seen Requiem for a Dream, I don't think that Aronofsky can do much to surprise you anymore.

8. Catfish -I'm not sure whether it's the movie or the controversy that surrounds it that is so entertaining, but I know this: your stomach will be cutting flips the entire time. The only drawback is that you have to resist the urge to yell at the hipsters to stop smiling so ironically.

7. Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World -This is sort of the anti-Kick Ass. The protagonist is an amazing fighter with no reason given (and none needed) as to why he can so adequately lay down the smack on some ex-boyfriends. This movie makes the list because it is novel. The fight scenes and editing really give the viewer a primer on today's teenage ADD 8 bit manga culture. Oh, and it gets the Michael Cera bump.

6. The Social Network -Jesse Eisenberg knocks one out of the park, and Fincher is brilliant. He somehow makes coding (the nerdiest most mundane activity on the planet) into a thrilling ride. The history of the rise of social networking could not have been told in an more entertaining way. You have made Pirates of Silicon Valley and Hackers very proud.

5. The Fighter -Mark Wahlberg trained for four years to play the role of Mickey Ward. His training was worth every minute. This is not a typical rags to riches story. The Fighter is full of quirky characters and humor. David O. Russell's hand shows in this aspect. Amy Adams is solid as always. Melissa Leo transforms herself completely into Alice Ward. Watch an episode of Treme and then watch this film. She is unrecognizable.

4. Winter's Bone -A harsh look at meth addiction and one girl's search for her missing father set and shot in the empoverished Ozarks. Director Deborah Granik sums it up best: "I think that the subject of meth for everybody involved – for local people and the crew – it was extremely upsetting. There is not one aspect of looking at meth that is mellow or benign: what it does to a human being’s body, their faces, their teeth. Everything about it is so vicious, and so dramatic and so relentless. There is basically not one bit of solace in that whole depiction of actual reality of it." Jennifer Lawrence hits every single mark.

3. Inception -The play within the play within the play within the play. If you put all of Christopher Nolan's other films into a blender, dump them into a glass and put whipped cream on top, what you do get? Inception. Think about it. And Joseph Gordon-Levitt...where have you been since 2005? Nice to see you're back buddy.

2. Toy Story 3 -For the second year in a row, Pixar has made me cry at the movies. Thanks guys. This is the best ending that the franchise could have had. I cannot wait to watch this with my kids in the years to come. Toy Story 3 ties for first more than it sits at second.

1. True Grit -The Coen brothers do it again. I cannot say enough about how good this movie is. Jeff Bridges is acting perfection as Rooster Cogburn. Matt Damon shows his versatility. And where in the world did Hailee Steinfeld come from? Spoiler alert: No one uses contractions in this movie, and it is music to my ears.

There were a lot of movies I didn't get to see this year. Some of them may have made my top ten if I had gotten a chance to see them. Here's my short list of movies I wanted to see this year but did not get to:

• The Other Guys
• Salt
• Get Him to the Greek
• Babies
• A Prophet
• The king's speech
• Hereafter
• Red
• Let the Right One In
• Waiting for Superman
• Please Give
• Iron Man 2
• Splice
• Cyrus
• The American

Thanks for reading the list! Drop me a comment and tell me why I'm wrong or right about the best films of the year.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes ...and Christmas

Recently, I've become scared of my blog. It's wierd. I know this. The feeling is a bit like when you're supposed to call someone, but you wait too long. You know you should call, but you're embarrassed, because you didn't call. This leads to you waiting longer and being more embarrassed. Eventually, you just have to pick up the phone. So, here I go on a purge post.

We moved into a new house! It's a half shotgun in Algier's Point. The place is newly renovated. All of the fireplaces have been redone. The kitchen and bathroom are completely new, and we finally have a dishwasher. No more paper plates and long clean-ups for us! The kitchen cleans so quickly now. One problem with these old shotguns is usually that they aren't sealed well, but ours is very well insulated. It also has a yard and a white picket fence, and if you know me, then you know that is not a positive thing. It really is a wonderful place, and we are only four blocks from the Algiers Ferry, meaning that we are only four blocks from the front of the Quarter. We can take the kids on a four block walk and a short boat ride, which thrills Amelie, and be standing in front of the Aquarium of the Americas.

I would like to go into a discussion of the real estate market in the French Quarter -about how they smile at you and take your rental application for a place, knowing the whole time that they aren't going to give it to you, because you have kids. I would like to do that, but I won't. I will say this though. If you want to move into the Quarter, and you have kids, then you should buy a house there. That is the only way you will get in, because they just don't want you there. Fair housing laws don't exist in the French Quarter. The place will suddenly need renovations or some family friend will appear from thin air to rent it from the owner.

Moving along...

Christmas was great! I had four vacation days left at the end of the year and I was actually able to bridge the gap between Christmas and New Years. I was off of work for a total of ten straight days. It's never easy to go back after that. So what did I get for Christmas? Well here are a couple of the highlights. 

First up is my new Hookah! My lovely wife bought me a Mya Petite, a box of 100 coals, and three flavors of Social Smoke tobacco (Mint Chocolate, Chai, and Double Apple). The Mya is a small personal Hookah, which it perfect for me. If I ever want to smoke with someone, it does convert to a two hose hookah with an adapter. It has really high ratings all around the web. I plan on buying a second hose adapter, a washable hose, and possibly a larger bowl for it. By the way, the Mint Chocolate flavor is superb.

Another gift that I absolutely loved is the French press that my mother-in-law bought for me. I have never tasted coffee with as much flavor as that which is made by the French press. My drip pot has sat on the counter alone and unused since I brought the French press home. If you've never used a French press, here is how it works. You pull off the lid and press and put in your ground coffee. Pour in hot water after that. Stir the coffee grounds and water, and let it sit for four minutes with the press/lid on and the press pulled all the way up. After four minutes place your hand on top of the press and let the weight of your hand carry it down. All of the coffee will be trapped at the bottom under the press. Finally, pour yourself a cup of the best coffee you've ever had.

I got lots of other fun gifts. I won a machete and a pair of laptop speakers in a white elephant. The machete is going to come in handy when I have to take care of the banana trees and the bamboo in the yard. My sisters/brothers-in-law got me funny "Camping is in tents" shirt and a neat ring. My brother got me a Star Wars scanimation, and my mom got us loads of Groupon/Living Social vouchers. We are trying to cut down on the amount of money we spend eating out, so having free meals at some of New Orleans' awesome restaurants is great.

The kids...well they got a lot. Here's a video I made of the footage:

All in all it was a very good Christmas.We got to relax and spend time with family. It was a much needed break after a long and tiring season of life. I'm looking forward to 2011. I am full of hope in God as our lives are getting back on track spiritually and emotionally. God is good, and he has blessed us beyond measure with family and friends who love and care for us. Most of all he sent his Son to Earth to live the life I could not live and die the death I should have died. When I think about Christmas, I think about the God of the universe identifying with me experiencing the stress, pain, and hardships of being a human.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:1-11 ESV)