As a follow up to the last post here is an interview with Justin Vernon (front man of Bon Iver) talking about: the song Holocene, his nomination for four Grammys; his views on what’s important; selling out; artistic integrity; why he can be considered a honourary Canadian; drawing the line at aesthetic; Kathleen Edwards; and his collaborative relationship with Kanye [...]
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Follow-Up to Bon Iver Post: Justin Vernon talks about Grammys and artistic integrity
Posted: May 2, 2012 in MusicTags: Bon Iver, Justin Vernon
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Holocene: The Significance of Insignificance
Posted: April 30, 2012 in Music, Redemption, Transformation, UncategorizedTags: Bon Iver, Brene Brown, Holocene, Redemption, Significance, Vulnerability
The following post was published in a column in the first issue of “The Garden” – a new monthly news magazine distributed to +20,000 homes in the Mt Eden area of Auckland…. Brené Brown, research professor at the University of Houston, in one of her acclaimed TED talks, makes the point that we live in [...]
So… after nearly two and half years I have decided to re-start my blog. During this gap a whole heap of life has happened: interviews in New Zealand for Ruth and me at Laidlaw College; Canadian citizenship; selling our house and saying good-bye to familiarity and friends in Vancouver and heading off for new adventures [...]
Clint Eastwood as Jesus
Posted: October 31, 2009 in Christus Victor, Movies, Redemption, Sin, The CrossTags: Christus Victor, Clint Eastwood, Jesus Christ, Redemption, The Cross, the last castle
Just finished watching Gran Torino – moving and thoughtful and funny as well. I know… I’m a bit behind on my movie watching (as well as my blogging). If you haven’t seen it, Clint Eastwood directs, produces and also plays “Walt”, a recent widower living in a Michigan suburb now populated by poor Asian immigrants [...]
God’s Revolution, the Establishment Today, and the Dolly Rockers
Posted: September 4, 2009 in Contextualization, Culture, Jesus, Kingdom of GodTags: Grace, Jesus, Paris Hilton, Pioneer Pacific Camp, The Dolly Rockers, The Kingdom of God
Sorry it’s been so long since my last post. The past couple of weeks have been fairly busy. I was the main speaker at “The Edge” Pioneer Pacific Camp on Thetis Island. I had to give 7 main talks and 4 smaller talks. My theme was the Kingdom of God which I presented as God’s [...]
Francis Ford Coppola – Culture Cannot Save You
Posted: August 15, 2009 in Culture, Movies, RedemptionIn today’s Globe and Mail there was a review article of Francis Ford Coppola, winner of 5 Oscars and Director of classic movies such as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. In referred to Copploa’s new movie “Tetro” Michael Posner says the following… (Coppola is) also interested in the gap that separates artistic and intellectual achievement from [...]
Just got back from a super quick tour of the North Island of New Zealand, as well as chatting with the fine people at Laidlaw College. One of my chats was with Dave Wells who teaches courses on youth ministry. Later that day he was teaching and class and sent me a link to video he [...]
Movies, Church and the Yearning for Shared Experience
Posted: July 30, 2009 in Church, MoviesTags: Church, church in the 21st century, cinema and church, Movies
I’m currently in New Zealand – hence, one of the reasons for my lack of posts. The weekend before we left Canada Ruth and I (plus our two daughters) “attended” two fairly popular “cultural” events which made me think about the latent need for communal ritual and connection which still resides within our post-Christian culture. [...]
The Importance of Benediction at the Movies
Posted: July 17, 2009 in Movies, WorshipTags: Aaway We Go, Alexi Murdoch, Benediction, My salvation is in your love, Orange Sky, Prodigal Son, the embrace of the Father
A few years ago I heard a talk by Ron Reed, Artistic Director of Pacific Theatre, on how movies can feed our souls. And one of the thing I remember his saying was that staying for the credits was like staying for the benediction at the end of a worship service. For many people today going [...]
Away We Go
Posted: July 14, 2009 in MoviesTags: Away We Go, Jacob returning home, returning home, searching for a sense of home, the embrace of the Father
A week ago Sunday morning I was preaching at church (Point Grey Community Church) and spoke on Jacob coming home 20 years after he has fled from his brother Esau whom he has cheated out of his father’s blessing. Coming home can be hard and scary. The night before (Saturday) Karis and Alana, our two daughters were on [...]
