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I watched a very good movie yesterday while I was stranded to the couch due to a nasty head cold caught. I watched Good Night, and Good Luck, which is a movie about a newscaster in the early 1950’s who stood up to a bully politician, Joseph McCarthy. This is a true story of how Ed Murrow refused to be silenced due to the fear techniques of a very powerful McCarthy. McCarthy was basically accusing people of being communist, there did not seem to be much rhyme or reason as to who was being accused, but if you were on McCarthy’s radar then you would surely be dealt with. The problem was that McCarthy was going about this business in a unconstitutional way. No news broadcasters would stand up to Sen. McCarthy for fear that they may be accused of themselves being a part of the communist party.
The movie was co-written by George Clooney, who also had a role in the film. The film was nominated for an Oscar in 2005.
In the film, Murrow asked an audience of very well-off folk what the television was for. He had his regular Tuesday night program taken away from him after he stood up to McCarthy, I suppose he was a bit too controversial at the time. While talking to the audience he was questioning if they really wanted news, and the truth about politicians and current affairs, or if they just wanted to waste away with meaningless programming. Huh… interesting thought. I started to think about the television today. You see when Murrow was talking to this crowd the television was still fairly new to the American family. Not everyone had a television in their home, let alone 3 or 4.
Back to the television. What has it become today? What are all the top spots filled with? I know some people who claim to not watch television. I always get angry when people say that. Mostly because I want to not need television in a way that I just never think to turn it on. I don’t watch much t.v., but when I do it is pretty much useless stuff, mindless entertainment. I watch The Office, Friends, American Idol, The Bachelor (yeah so what?!), sports, and a whole bunch of other stuff to take up time.
Tonight I was riding my bike through my neighborhood and I noticed that nobody was outside. The streets were empty, as they almost always are. But… then I started to look inside of the windows of the houses I was riding by ( not in a creepy way, just a curious way), and I could see the glow of television sets at almost every house. We have become slave to the tube. By the way, the weather was absolutely perfect out.
So I guess my question/concern is what have we made the television? What do we get out of it? We watch these programs that really do not better us as humans beings, but we do it with such regularity that we schedule things around our favorite shows. Mr. Murrow wants to know what we plan on doing with the programs we watch? If we do not want honest reporting, then what do we want?
What are your thoughts? Have you seen Good Night, and Good Luck? If not, I suggest you watch it. It is a piece of our history that we may not know much about. Do you ever feel like your slave to the T.V.?
Last night I was privileged to be a part of a good discussion on the parable of the sower in Luke 8. It was a great discussion on a familiar passage. It got me thinking about me and what kind of soil I am preparing in my life. I must admit that this is quite humbling when I have to look closely at my life and my choices. As much as I may desire to follow in the way of Jesus, I am often times starving my soul of the nourishment it needs. I read the Bible for my job, I teach 5th and 6th graders (previously high schoolers and jr. highers), but sometimes I do not do outside of the preparation times. Wait… a lot of times I do not do it outside of that. I hate to admit it, but I can see a direct correlation in my way of living when I am being fed and not. I tend to be too cynical, I think there is a healthy cynicism and an unhealthy cynicism, I border on the unhealthy. As a result of my cynicism I will not read the Bible in defiance of being too religious, but that creates a whole new problem. In trying not to be too religious I have in turn starved myself of the food I need. I need a fresh start.
I want to be someone that produces a good fruit. Someone that is feeding myself healthy food.
Do you ever struggle with preparing good soil?
Sometimes I wonder if we in the church are as shallow as the dog-eat-dog culture we live in? This may seem harsh, but I think that sometimes we are guilty of this. Have you picked up a Christian magazine lately? Well neither have I, but I have a feeling that we would find a commonality with “secular” magazines. i.e. – pretty people make the cover and all the ads. Our culture puts such an emphasis on beauty and outward appearance, and I am afraid that the church is following suit.
Then Peter began to speak: ” I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” Acts 10: 34-35
What do you think? Do we often push those people out of the way? I think about who Jesus hung around, and who Jesus chose to be his disciples. Is it possible we have strayed from the example set by Jesus himself?
If you are not aware, I am now working for the company Aspect Foundation. Aspect is a non-profit organization that looks to place students from around the world in good American homes. My job is to find the families that are willing to take a student in for a year of school.
So far I am feeling overwhelmed with the idea of approaching people and asking, “hey do you want a foreign exchange student for a year?” But… the more I think about it, what a cool experience, have a kid from a completely different culture come and become a part of your family.
Liz and I are considering taking a student in this year. What about you? So, I know that there are a few youth pastors that read this blog, which I am thinking can be an amazing resource for me. If you or anyone you know may be interested in taking in an exchange student, then let me know. I would be more than happy to fill you in on more details.
Tonight Liz and I had a wonderful night. We picked up a $5 footlong @ Subway. After that we stopped and got some delicious fat-free peanut butter yogurt ($5), then we stopped and picked up a redbox ($1). When we got home we made some fresh squeezed lemonade and orange juice. It was all delicious and cheap. A full night of activities all for $11.
This guy at Starbucks told me about full-beard February, so I thought I would give it a try. I have to say that the facial hair is starting to itch a lot. What do you think? Should I keep it? Will you join?
I can’t wait for Mustache March.
Here is the premise: these guys are playing a game show in a library, so they can’t make any noise. They must do what is on the card. The guy with the skull and bones is the “winner”!
Enjoy. I hope you laugh as hard as I did.
Tonight I watched Transformers for the first time. I know, I must be the last person this side of the Mississippi to watch it, but at least I watched it. Here is the thing, I am not always a big fan of watching those action packed movies with no plots. But I will say that this one was surprisingly Awesome! I was literally on the edge of my seat.
You see, when I was a little kid I watched Transformers, I even had them as toys. But I was never one of the kids that would remember things about the shows or characters. So Optimus Prime is a stranger to me, wait, was a stranger to me.
Anyways, the movie was rad, and it makes me excited to see the next one coming out this summer. However, I will not be one of those people out at the theaters at midnight to see the movie, and I will not dress up as a transformer. ( no movie is that good for me to wait in line for hours )
Did you enjoy the first Transformers? Are you looking forward to the 2nd one? Will you be waiting at midnight to see the premier? 
