The Bare Necessities

A couple things struck me while watching Jungle Book with my daughter last night...I hadn't seen the film in a long time.

One of the characters actually quotes Jesus:

Greater love hath no one than he who lays down his life for his friend.
-Bagheera the Panther

Jesus says this when talking to his disciples about the importance of love just before he died:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (King James Version)

Interestingly enough (to me anyway), while this film was released in 1967, and the New International Version New Testament wasn't published until 1973, the NIV quote (except for the "hath") sounds closer to what was said in the movie:

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Something else that I noticed was how the song The Bare Necessities speaks a lot to our culture today - and seems to echo the sentiments of a subculture that's trying to be less consumerist and less about our stuff, so that we can be more about generosity and giving. Take a look at some of the words...

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life
[...]
And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true
The bare necessities of life will come to you

This is what Jesus had to say about the very same things:

Don't worry and ask yourselves, "Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?" Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.

Ultraviolet, Comic Book Movie

Pure, pure comic book, indeed.

That quote from writer/director Kurt Wimmer proved more prophetic than statement of fact.

I saw Ultraviolet this weekend, and I'm glad I did - it was well worth the watch. I won't spoil all the comic connections here (check out my review for a more in-depth discussion), but the film has an intense comic book feel. And it appears that all the internet references to the obscure European comic was a sly marketing ploy akin to what Mark Hamill did with Comic Book: The Movie, albeit with a little more cash behind it.

The movie started extremely strong, but kind of languished in the middle. It ended stronger, but if it could have maintained it's intensity, it could have been an excellent film, rather than just a good film.

I remember thinking something similar at the end of Wimmer's Equilibrium where the climactic end lost something...I think his movies would have more success, if he could maintain what he does right with some consistency throughout a film.

I have to get in one more comic book connection (external to the film): Milla Jovovich has a quote in an article I saw over at ComingSoon.net, comparing her protagonist in Resident Evil (Alice) with Violet in this film:

I think Violet is very much like some mythological character I had in my head, where Alice is a bit more of a modern character in my head. Violet was kind of all my dreams of being a ninja my whole life, like coming true in this moment. There was a bit more of that comic book edge so it was a bit brighter.

Health: Weeks 7 & 8

I've lost a few pounds over the last few weeks. But when I had lunch on Ash Wednesday at Krystal's (mainly to see if there was WiFi access - there was, but it wasn't much better than Atlanta Bread Company's), I came away with this awful, bloated feeling. Is it apparent that I'm not in the practice of doing anything different during this time of year?

That day, with some prayer and reflection, I decided to give up food, in a sense, during Lent. Or more specifically, give up that "full" feeling I'm so fond of. It's interesting that gluttony is an indulgance we never discuss; but I've talked about that before. If there's anything I abuse, I'd have to say it's food. So during Lent (the 40-day period, excluding Sundays, before Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday), I'm going to concentrate less on food. Whether that means not eating anything after lunch (which I did after that Krystal's meal), or just halving portions of regular meals and reducing the amount of snacking I do during the day, my actual practice will probably change from day to day. The point being getting used to getting physcially hungry at least every day; hopefully several times during the day.

I'm not doing this primarily to lose weight (or at least I don't think so - if I was I'm pretty sure I'll fail - we'll see). I'm doing this for a number of reasons. For one, to understand what it's like to not be full all day long. I live in a culture where it's easy to gorge myself at every meal. Plus, the constant barrage of marketing of snack foods really helps me in keeping that "overly full" feeling throughout the day. I feel like I need to understand what it's like to not feel that all day long. Understandably, at any time during the day, I know that I can eat, so it's not like I'm able to relate to someone who unwillingly experiences hunger on a regular basis; I'm not deluding myself that I'll have some new kind of understanding of what it's like to go hungry. Jesus fasted for 40 days; and while I'm not ready for that, I want to be reminded just how long he went without food, even if it's just by experiencing hunger on a daily basis.

Also, I think there is this major disconnect with food in my life that needs "fixed", so to speak. Sometimes I think it's odd that to say a prayer of thanksgiving for my food because it seems like it would go like this: "Dear God, Thank you for this food I am about to abuse myself with..." I mean, how can I ask God to bless something "to the strength and nourishment of my body" when there's nothing to work with? "Bless this deep-fried, fatty, non-nutritious food to my health." I realize He's God, but it seems somehow wrong to ask Him to do all the work when it comes to my health.

I just need to put food in a different perspective, and I'm asking God to do that over the next 40 days or so. It's not the traditional Lenten fast (one meal a day, around mid-day), but I think it's a step in the right direction.

Current Weight: 267#
Total Change: -6#

That clears that up...sort of...

Well, in the wake of continued sitings to the contrary (for example, the Manic Panic tie in with the movie), The Beat finally confirms that Ultraviolet is not a comic book film. They don't say according to who, but they do say that Sony is marketing it as if it really were (making it sound like that was the intent all along). To cap it all off, if you take a look at the official site now, you can see an on-line comic and game (which are worth a look if you're interested). In the background, there are clips of the concept art I mentioned before that make it really look like a comic.

So was that the design from the beginning, or was it just the rumors of comic books that turned into a little bit more?

What does God really want?

An arrogant question to answer, to be sure, but I feel like it's easier to determine than we think it is. Of course, a lot of people over time have attempted to answer that question; many in ways that are opposite to what God wants. (I thought about listing some of the atrocities done in God's name here, but where would I start?) This is long, but bear with me, I think it's important.

The reason I think that I can answer this, is that there are a lot of people, much closer to God than I, that have asked this question and answered it for us.

God's prophet Samuel called David a man after God's own heart. This is what David had to say on the topic:

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Hear Isaiah the prophet (speaking God's words) tear into God's people, particularly the last few lines:

Quit your worship charades.
I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings--
meetings, meetings, meetings--I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You've worn me out!
I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I'll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I'll not be listening...
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down--and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.

Micah the prophet says:

The LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands:
"See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God."

God's words from Jeremiah:

I will keep you safe only if you change your ways. Be fair and honest with each other. Stop taking advantage of foreigners, orphans, and widows.

From Hosea:

I'm after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know GOD, not go to more prayer meetings.

How can these words not speak volumes to us today?

I think the clearest words on this subject to me, however, are the words of Jesus. In the end, how will God separate His people from everyone else? Does Jesus talk about our morality? Does he talk about the religious laws we kept? Where we went to church? This is what he says:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, "Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'

"Then those "sheep' are going to say, "Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, "I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me.'

God wants a broken heart more than rule-following? He wants us to help those who need help more than he wants religion? He wants us to be merciful? He wants us to give someone who is thirsty a drink of water?

Is this what the rest of the world sees when they look at us? What is it that brings me to say things to my wife like, It's crazy when Bono of U2 seems to know God better than a lot of Christians I know. When I blogged about boycotting the other day, I wrote Why does it seem like celebrities are doing more than believers to stop human suffering? I was going to write something like "Why do Brad Pitt and Bono seem to be doing more for ending human suffering than Christians?" I couldn't write that after Krista directed me to Bono's address at the National Prayer Breakfast.

Am I saying that helping people is the only thing? Obviously not; I just want to point out that it might be more important to God than a lot of things we focus on. Sometimes it would do us well to remember that God is a God of love. No matter how much time we spend talking about Jesus, it's going to be pointless until we start acting like Him.

Addendum (10:35 am): Providence? Maybe I should have read Larry James' post from yesterday...I guess I left some of God's prophets out...

Words and Whatnot

Did I miss a memo somewhere that told everyone that "whatnot" is the cool new word and that everyone was to go around saying it all the time? Is there a conspiracy to make Jim crazy wondering about this kind of stuff? Am I the only one that's noticed that everybody seems to be using this word lately?

I'm not kidding here! I hear it all over. It seems like people say it at work constantly. It's on TV - check out nearly every episode of My Name is Earl. Hmmmm...maybe that's the connection - everybody's watching that show and is picking up on it.

Pay attention - you'll start to hear it. Unless you're in on it, too...

The 3-year-old Genius

I know all parents think their kids are the smartest, but this is different. I'm talking Einstein-level genius here. (Ok, maybe not, she can match her socks. So maybe I don't want Einstein-level genius.)

Anyway, yesterday, my daughter was trying to tell me something, and she started it by saying, "OK, get this, this is the deal." I realize a lot of the time she's parroting what she's heard, but she parrots it in context, and that's pretty impressive, at least to me. So I asked her: "Did you turn 15 overnight? Did you go to bed and wake up and suddenly you were 15 years old?" It was her response that got me.

She replied to me in all her 3-year-old innocence, "Do I look 15?"

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried...

Health: Week 6

or Never Change Your Instruments in the Middle of an Experiment

I've been using my brother's scale, so this week we decided to get our own. Unfortunately, the scales are calibrated differently, and I wasn't able to get ahold of Joe's scale to make a direct comparison. So it looks like I've gained 5 pounds this week (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). In all seriousness, though, I've stuck with the water drinking, have drank almost no soda (or coke as we say here in the South), and have still been eating better. I'm still in the process of trying to replace the coffee (extra cream, extra sugar) with tea (honey only). Still haven't started to exercise. This isn't easy, but I'm still convinced the answer is sticking to it and leaning on a higher power.

Current Weight: 270#
Total Change: -3#

Boycotts, Boycotts, Every Where...

...Nor any thought to think.

It seems like every time I turn around, someone is boycotting something, protesting something, or at least asking me to get some company to change it's behavior by complaining. If it's not Will & Grace, it's Brokeback Mountain, or even Kraft Foods (actually, I think I’m seeing a pattern here). Have we found our voice? Is this what it means to be a Christian? Is this the way we are salt and light? We organize? Call your TV station if you think something is bad on TV. Call your Senator if you find this law in contrast with your moral views.

Don't get me wrong here - I'm not against Christians taking a stand on moral issues, and I appreciate the fact that we live in a democracy that allows us to exercise freedom of speech and have a say in what goes on. But what concerns me is that lately this seems to be the primary way of sharing what we believe. Maybe if we organize, we can force other people to live how we know God wants.

The thing is, our activism seems to be only about personal morality. Let's force people to not be able to watch things we find morally reprehensible. Let’s figure out ways to legislate how people behave.

Are we not concerned with the bigger picture? Why does everyone know us for what we are against, instead of what we are for? Why does it seem like celebrities are doing more than believers to stop human suffering? (Not that the two are necessarily mutually exclusive.) Do we really think that getting the local Carmike to stop showing a movie about gay cowboys will make the world a better place? More so than finding ways to help people in poverty? I actually did something this week to help someone - I got out of my box for a change, got out of my selfishness, out of Jim's World, and helped someone who needed it. The strongest thing I can remember thinking is, this is what following Jesus is all about.

My wife Krista thinks that until we become consistent in our morality and in the stances we take, no one will hear our voice (...hey, after picketing Brokeback Mountain, let's go see Date Movie). I'm not sure I agree. I think no one's going to hear us until we start figuring out what Jesus was really all about.

And that's why next, I arrogantly answer the question: What does God really want?

Crazy weekdays

No time to write...no time to blog...

Here's a humourous story...Halle Berry's "punishment" for Catwoman.

Berry Promises No CATWOMAN II

More substantive stuff later.

Health: Week 5

I don't know if I should be glad or even more frustrated. I continued on the same path of eating less, eating better (though I fell short a number of times), and even with my 3/4 of a gallon of water a day (except for the weekend). But, I haven't exercised at all. I ended up getting back to where I was 2 weeks ago - losing the 2 pounds I gained last week.

I think it's time to start the exercising.

Current Weight: 265#
Total Change: -8#

The Old and the New...

Just surfing around, seeing if there's anything new about Ultraviolet (whose release date, BTW, has been pushed back to March 3).

I came across a recent post on IMDB by the writer who will be doing the novelization for the movie. Interestingly enough, she said:

As I understand it, it's based on an obscure British comic. I tried to get my hands on a copy, but failed.

While looking up that quote, I came across another thread where it seems no one could actually figure out whether it was based on a comic or not.

I also found an old comment (the 3rd post in this thread) in March 2004 on the Milla Jovovich forum where a fan said:

I don't know much about Ultraviolet the character other than she's a comic book hero.

Although I know what I think, I'd like to cut the hypothesizing and get the facts straight...

Do The Right Thing

I think God would want me to do what is right regardless of what other people are doing.

The more I realize what is important to God, the more I see people who claim His name, so to speak, but are interested in their own agendas.

I start to see hypocrisies everywhere:

• the sexual content of Desperate Housewives is ok, but not the sexual content of Will & Grace
• we need to know everything Paul said about how to worship, but don't really know anything Jesus said about love or compassion
• we need to expend our energy picketing Brokeback Mountain, but never lift a finger to fight poverty

And it frustrates the crap out of me.

But the more I think about what to write here, the more thankful I am that I've been led to write.

I think this exercise in itself helps me realize that I'm letting other people be an obstacle to me, and an obstacle to my attitude.

If I'm really doing what I believe is God's will, then it shouldn't matter. I don't need to fall prey to my own frustrations:

• I think I'll spend my time finding the logical holes in everyone else's theology, rather than showing people what Jesus is like.

Ouch.

Health: Week 4

Moving backward is always a comforting feeling. [That's sarcasm.] I ate better this week. I stuck to my V8 juice everyday. I've been drinking more tea (with honey) and less coffee (with cream and sugar). I drank 3/4 of a gallon of water Monday through Friday (and as a result drank a lot less soda). I think I actually ate an orange at some point.

And I gained 2 pounds.

And that's before all the soda and chips and barbecue that comes with Superbowl Sunday.

I know my eating isn't perfect, but I feel like I was making good progress in the right direction this week. Well, I guess since I'm doing this for more reasons than just to lose weight, I shouldn't let that bother me, right? I guess now's the time when I allow the thought to kick in that I knew I couldn't do this on my own anyway I need to lean on Him a little more.

This week: Keep up the good food and start the exercising.

Current Weight: 267#
Total Change: -6#

The Vicious Cycle

I ran across the novelization of the V for Vendetta movie today. That's odd.

I guess that would make it a book based on a movie based on a graphic novel.

Now I can't wait until the comic book adaptation comes out!

I wonder who'll write it...maybe Ron Marz. I hope Jim Balent does the artwork...or maybe Kelly Jones.