On soul saving
Chain of Grace
Released 1992
FAITH AND MUSIC. Dallas Holm’s gospel album from 1992 is personal notes and reflections on saving souls. At the time, Dallas Holm had been in the gospel music industry for twenty-five years.
Released 1992
FAITH AND MUSIC. Dallas Holm’s gospel album from 1992 is personal notes and reflections on saving souls. At the time, Dallas Holm had been in the gospel music industry for twenty-five years.
Released November 19, 1991
IN SOCIETY. We are all in this together.
Released 1991
CONNOISSEUR’S CHOICE. I’m keen on The Race, and not just because I sprinted in school sports.
Continue reading “Unique sounding piece – Michael Omartian’s “The Race””
Future this week involves artificial life (the movie A.I.), a virus outbreak (28 Days Later) and what the Presbyterian Church … Continue reading This week in the future
FAITH AND FILM. There may be something to be said about Bunuel’s so-called masterpiece from a certain point of view. … Continue reading Something to be said
Released September 15, 1972
CRITIQUE. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is described as in the social grotesque genre. Watching it gave me good information about how socialists view capitalists.
NOTES. As they say, so I’ll say it, “I’ve been thinking” about (The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie in my case, among other things)
FAITH AND MUSIC. I’m ambivalent about the album Love is Reality by Al Green. Released in 1992, I gravitated towards … Continue reading Ambivalence and experience
NOTES. I have just seen The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, released in 1972. It is described as in the … Continue reading Discreet filmmaking?
2002. Wellington Pastor Anthony Walton views writing books, including his latest, Future Church: Church by Design, as a leadership tool for producing vision, “casting a direction the church needs to head down”.
Just adding the word may have provided accuracy when one could have missed it out. But is it true?
The idea at the moment is to present themes each week from the material I have filed and from pieces … Continue reading New idea
Released September 20, 2012
IN SOCIETY. Growing old in Paris is not an easy spectacle.
Born of a woman every day; We are never alone in this world. The family of humans Reborn every day. Continue reading With you
As crude as the priest put it, The answer he gave made sense, Although I questioned the expression, The answer … Continue reading A life giving word
Released July 4, 1962.
CONNOISSEUR’S CHOICE. That 1994 prison movie called The Shawshank Redemption seemed to take from the book of the film under review here, the 1962 prison drama Birdman of Alcatraz. The similarities between the films are striking. Both films have a sadistic head of prison, and the key inmate (played by Tim Robbins in the Shawshank film) has a redemption of a sort. This is where the similarities end. Birdman of Alcatraz is the true story of inmate Robert Stroud (played by the Hollywood actor Burt Lancaster) who discovers his individuality and self-respect while in prison when he becomes an authority on bird life.
Continue reading “Birdman of Alcatraz gets you in the shoes of an inmate”
2004. New Zealand recording artist Bic Runga is on her one-month Acoustic Church Tour playing at 10 churches on a 16 date tour.
Bic Runga is a 26-year-old singer songwriter, signed to Columbia Records in New Zealand, and with two albums to her credit, Drive and Beautiful Collision.
Continue reading “Beautiful churches with “great acoustics, cool pulpits and loads of leadlight””
FAITH AND FILM. Love that was once for a cousin, as in the version of Cyrano from 1990, is now for a friend, and I am more comfortable with this leaning. Cyrano is also a story of shame and fear of rejection — something that single people of faith can struggle with.
2006. Knox Presbyterian Church in Lower Hutt (New Zealand) is undertaking the extension and renovation of its Grimes Hall at a cost of nearly $750,000.
Continue reading “Hall extension intends to make room for all”
Released May 21, 1982
REVIEW. The 1982 movie Annie, one of the few musicals of the time, was based on the Broadway musical which in turn was based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. The movie was a crowd pleaser and a box office success.
A reviewer assumed a screenwriter/director was driven by anger to make a work, but being driven by this emotion seems … Continue reading Writing in anger
Like Ibsen, he knew that to create is to judge oneself From the article “Film Autobiography” by Oswell Blakeston (Film … Continue reading The mirror
As I am progressing my sentence, and stuck for the right word, I try and use two words. Why use … Continue reading One word says it
Kind of nice, but bitter The taste of convenance Easy. Homemade. Over there, not. Nowhere to find. In the place … Continue reading Bittersweet to hunger
A straight line I go alone Steps along the way The spring is infectious Buoying me every day Veering not … Continue reading Strait through
I better write this While it is not compelling me, but Impelling me to. While not knowing why, I have … Continue reading Feeling today
The rain is about to fall. So, they told us. But it didn’t come. They all breathed a sigh of … Continue reading Alive
The day long A miracle at the end She saw everything all white And not a drop of negativity passed … Continue reading That day passed into
Weatherboards, straight across— A roof, four walls. I see. Over there, I see you. Close and near. Not in that … Continue reading We
March 28 is Children’s Picture Book Day. This brings back memories and inspiration. I must bring out that picture book manuscript I wrote all those years ago…
It’s been thirteen years since I first started devising and writing a tale and this week I revisited the story … Continue reading As it was on the schedule…
I looked up. peace overcame the dreary sky. the clouds left behind, a ray of light broke through Shining bright … Continue reading Looking up
The plan is this. That it goes to plan. What is the plan? No pain in the game that’s lived … Continue reading Ways
You think you know it all. I got to help you, son. The other guy is coming with a message … Continue reading Help me see
ARTICLE. If you want to see a film with accurate history, see a documentary.
That is probably the advice most filmmakers would give.
The Salvation Army’s theme this year is “together we can help Kiwis in need” elaborated in a breakfast presentation with a series of short messages about the work of The Army and their annual appeal. One hundred and twenty years serving New Zealanders was celebrated at Booth House in Wellington, April 16, which also looked forward to Salvation Army Week, to kick off on April 28 until May 4.
Continue reading “Annual appeal and rebranding church website”
God loves us more than we can love God God gives more to us than we could give to God … Continue reading The giver
Move over the religious services column in Saturday night’s newspaper. Advertise in a movie theatre, or the local rag. That’s what a Brethren church did in an attempt to re-invent itself in the eyes of the community.
It was do or die for a small Brethren church in Petone that was vulnerable to losing members, especially youth.
After approximately four years of soul searching and seeking God on their situation, a decision was made to go contemporary and be a place where people find reality in community.
When Treena and Marcus van Rijssel purchased a house in Wellington last year for the purpose of housing and supporting pregnant teenagers, two pregnant girls approached them to use the facilities which were not furnished or decorated. One of those girls has gone on to appear on Kids – a TV 2 documentary about teenage mums.
God did his work And I am proud of the work he made. It was awesome that he rested after … Continue reading Labour’s love
Aglow New Zealand encourages women to become whole in body, soul and spirit in an age where it can be fashionable to focus on form rather than content.
New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services is challenging the Government to sufficiently fund rest homes and hospitals of elderly people, and says a 3 percent funding increase is too little too late.
“We exist so that God, working in and through us, will use us, to help people know, apply, experience, embrace and proclaim God’s truth on marriage and family. The result is godly families reaching others with God’s truth”, explains Andy Bray, Director of FamilyLife (in New Zealand), a ministry that encourages a variety of couples at different stages in life in their marriages and roles as mothers and fathers.
A retired New Zealand vicar who’s been blessed with two long, happy marriages knows the secret of success.
Cecil Marshall, now 86, was married to Barbara for 40 years. After her death 18 years ago he was devastated, but remarried and has enjoyed another 17 years of marriage to Margaret.
The YWAM New Zealand outreach team experienced a “fruitful” three weeks at the Sydney Olympic games this year says Jay Granat, team leader.
Blood, sweat and tears is going to flow from thousands of people worldwide at the Olympics this year. And it will not be just the athletes. The YWAM 2000 Games outreach in Sydney, where the Olympic games are being held in September, will be well underway with an estimated 3000 people. Lots of travelling, little sleep and battling crowds is the order of the day, but promises to be one of the most memorable and exciting times in someone’s life. The NZ organizers are looking for 250 New Zealanders to take part.
Deft defying acts, skills she said. Looking good. Cool. Beautiful. Got to, when getting the coffee. In front of you. Continue reading Keeping up Appearances
Whetting my appetite on a diet of malnutrition things I am supposed to not eat but eating them anyhow no … Continue reading Integrity
I got my coffee and wish time would stop because it is National Gormet Coffee Day. I would go home to have dinner, but since it’s Rid the World of Fad Diets & Gimmicks Day I don’t go home. My wife is trying to replace her fad diet with a real one and I want Gormet burgers with my coffee. Just imagine it if I went home. For a start, I can’t even cook my own meal…
A palatable easy rock sound coupled with some interesting philosophical lyricism leading more to unbelief than belief, in the face … Continue reading Stuck
New Zealanders will be consulted this year on climate change and related issues, initiated by the Government.
According to the Cabinet paper, early decisions and directions, more public education about energy efficiency choices and actions available in the residential, commercial and other sectors, is to be considered.
Continue reading “Circa 2001: Renewable energy generation in New Zealand – State of the nation”
First impressions of work can be favorable, but later, an objective eye may see the flaws and blemishes. It should … Continue reading If one is in doubt before submitting
Janeen Norwicki laughs. “The fat thing is in now,” says Janeen Nowicki. “It makes me laugh. They’re so late getting on the Ferris wheel really.”
Janeen runs Big, Bold and Beautiful aerobics. When she started the business nine years ago, she says fat was not in and she engaged the services of a marketing consultant friend who believed in her. Now, she has eleven contracts a week.
No, not laughable Breezy, uplifting and touching A hint of how much I love you She’s rich but not annoyingly … Continue reading Appeal
Songs like, but Are they any good? Hey, does it indicate my self-centredness– That I don’t like songs like these? … Continue reading Songs like these
Autopsy is a television series from Britain’s ITV studios that analyses the events around the untimely deaths of famous people. Dr. Jason Payne-James looks at the cause of death that is on the celebrity’s death certificate but looking closely at the evidence he concurs with the certificate or comes to another conclusion.
The subjects of the series are people well-known in film, music, and sports. The days leading up to the deaths of actors Robin Williams and Heath Ledger, and others, are analyzed.
In the episode I am looking at today, the life and death of the Irish-born, Manchester United footballer George Best is scrutinized.
Free verse is all porridge and poetry Mixed and thrown together like a whirlwind of expressive rage Hot in the … Continue reading Porridge and poetry
The barrister winked at him. “Nothing like a change to get customers back, eh?” Secretly, she slipped something addictive into … Continue reading New story
He couldn’t kick the habit. He kept on taking the same path to the same coffee shop every day. Three times a day.
It is this way, so the illusionist said to the one he called the magician. The illusionist saw it no … Continue reading Illusion
The barrister promised the customer something special in the coffee today. “You’ll take off,” she said.
The weather may have been the same, but not his coffee. The barrister slipped something extra special into his coffee today…
ARTICLE. Outer space, regarded as the final frontier, is often a source of fascination for filmmakers. The deep space black, the stars and planets have conjured metaphysical quagmires and dreams in the recesses of script writers and filmmakers minds. Some of these films are coated in candy colored flavor that give us more a sense of popcorn cinema than what it is like in outer space, but they can make for fun films and provide imagination theatre for young and old. One is just captivated by the mesmerizing images. Space films of the late 1970s were fun escapades for audiences who wanted to escape into the deep space black, candy colored. The success of Star Wars (1977) brought a surge of space films to the cinema.
I like outrageous stories and tall tales that have an exaggerated sense of life. So, here is a short tale of going to the coffee shop.
Commercial intent, he said. They said his nose was out of joint, Because he smelt commercialization. “You just hate anything … Continue reading Smelly
How does one understand today’s poem “The Persian Rug”. Although it may sound like red carpet service for politicians despite … Continue reading Understanding “The Persian Rug”
Persian rug for a sow, Not fitting the soul, Dark and dead, With the sin that he did. He said … Continue reading The Persian Rug
More than deluxe And a tip of the hat There’s a love transcending love That I got to have It’s … Continue reading I will
In moments, words were said, Were they two divergent things expressed about the same thing? One moment straight as an … Continue reading All I need to know
The previous ‘poem’ I wrote, “The Friend”, was written out of more a matter of intent than designing something artistic. … Continue reading Intent
An oppressor they called him; Two thousand years of oppression! And women are down? Blame it on the Apostle Paul … Continue reading The friend
Upside means the sunny side up, The bright side of life, The brighter side. But there’s the upside down, The … Continue reading Upside
She entered the coffee shop and stopped. A song was playing inside the shop. She recalled the song and smiled.
Continue reading “Recall”I have been trying to wean off coffee for years, blaming the cafe for making too many good coffees.
Continue reading “Bliss?”FAITH AND FILM. Movies made by Christians in the United States are not finding distribution in New Zealand, but the solution could be a small Christian-themed festival.
Continue reading “What to do when there are no Christian films in theatres?”
Uncomfortable he yelled deep down inside subtler than a scream but more telling of his distress than a deep down … Continue reading Day’s in
Grace besides the shadows, but The shadows overcome me, I could tell they had, I was there to see The … Continue reading Graces
The calm sea comes to the busy street, merging into stillness, The tide rises to the moment And all is … Continue reading Being
I am not hiding In this shell. In this shell Is what I am really feeling. I don’t need to … Continue reading Down real
Not exactly magic this service of mine, They got me throwing, flipping pancakes At the Café Dime. I wait around … Continue reading Struggling to the way
I have been reflecting on the Gospel of John. The read has been enjoyable and compelling. This week, I have been reading the chapter on Lazarus and I learnt why Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead. I now share my findings from the gospel itself.
Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha, who lived in the village of Bethany, two miles from Jerusalem, in the first century. Jesus at the time was staying on the far side of the Jordan and was told that Lazarus was unwell.
Two days later, Jesus said to his disciples that Lazarus was physically dead. Jesus explained to his disciples, who were with him, that he meant that Lazarus was resting–meaning his disembodied spirit was resting in Hades, the waiting place for judgment of the dead (as David Pawson explains in “The Road to Hell”). Lazarus was not in heaven or hell. He was resting, in a waiting place for the spirits of the dead.
Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters and was going to wake Lazarus up, so his spirit would come back to his body. Lazarus would come back to life. Jesus went to Bethany and met up with Mary and Martha. Lazarus had been in a tomb four days and Jesus prayed and Lazarus came out of the tomb, alive.
Why did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead? Love. Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters. They would have been grateful they got their brother back and Jesus delivered on this for them.
I discovered that Jesus’ love in raising Lazarus has a much wider application as well.
I’ve been thinking…and there should be more writing and literature on this blog, in the future, than general writing and … Continue reading More writing to come read: articles etc.
I have come across some odd sayings in my day. But more than odd, they were controversial sayings, but delivered palatably, with even with a hint that it should be accepted. Except when I heard it, I may have had the advantage of my knowledge over others in the crowd.
The controversies were told at church, but if one knows their Bible quite literally, as I do, you would think twice about the saying. You would recognize it as controversial and that it did not quite fit the evidence of the Bible. Maybe they were aiming for mass and consumer acceptance, but I sat there dismayed. Waiting for someone to correct. So here it is. The fallacies that appeared from time to time on my journeys. How do I reply…
Continue reading “Myths and facts”The English teacher warned the eagerly listening class about waffle. Let me add: you only waffle when you don’t write … Continue reading Why waffle when one can be convinced
There are millions even trillions of stories in the Mind’s eye, but only one, maybe two or three, that should … Continue reading One among the million stories
The media recently seems pretty up beat about the future with Joe Biden, the G 7, and overcoming Covid. That’s … Continue reading Background to today’s “Come Back” poem
The world is running, Going forward, Hopes it will stay, Getting better every day, Around the corner, something bright, News … Continue reading Come back
He started the weekend on Weds. And ended on Monday midnight. Wth a head full of air, And seamlessness of … Continue reading Excited for the weekend
Almost sleeping, but aware. Almost dreaming in the light, during the lamps of day. Reverie. I have been pondering in … Continue reading Lan of Nod
I’ve been working on a book of reflections based on my readings of the Gospel of Mark. The gospel is … Continue reading Writing reflections is, well, a reflective exercise
Am thinking is my favorite hashtag. Because when I am thinking I am thinking about how I can move forward, … Continue reading Thinking before writing
I was in the middle of watching a advertisement about sagging skin and the product they claimed would get rid of this ‘physical problem’ under the eyes. It seemed it would alleviate the emotional pain that came with having physical unattractiveness as well. That was never said, but isn’t feeling unattractive emotional? Then put the cream on again and again and make sure you get a good night’s sleep for good measure! That does not solve the emotional side of it.
I was hearing the reviews customers gave about the product and how it solved their problem. I always find reviews in advertisements a little if not a lot ingenuine. How can one prove the review is sincere in a format intended to promote a product? I guess some people feel this way about churches.
Surprise, surprise It is a new story this time. I watched with wide eyes, It had never happened before, That … Continue reading TV
So, as I was talking about in my previous post, I have been taking notes on the gospel of Mark. From what I gather, if I remember right, the gospel of Mark is about personal identity. Namely, the identity of Jesus.
Continue reading “Identity”