Princess Movies

Princess Movies...there certainly are a lot of them.

Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, and these are only Disney Titles.

So why do these films deserve a blog post. Plain and simple, I wanted to share with you all that we do not let our daughters watch them.

As parents we must determine what is and what is not good for our children to view, and how much to view.

For our family, princess films paint a fairytale picture of life. It is a beautiful picture but the picture does not portray reality. These films teach young girls that happy ever after is as easy as to come by as a princess toy in a happy meal. They teach young girls that one must be beautiful on the outside before the prince can ever see her inner beauty.

There is no sense of working at relationships and often times the prince isn't really even that involved in the story.

Maybe some day when our girls are older and we can better help them understand how these films are not exactly accurate, they might get to watch a few. But for now, they are too young and we do not want to create false expectations that will lead to their never being satisfied in any relationship because they are not story book perfect.

You may disagree with our approach here, and that is ok. I am just sharing what we do for our girls.

What do you do to help filter what your children watch? And do you talk with them about the messages in the movies they do see?

To Skin or Not to Skin

There is a lot going on in the news right now about a new show on MTV called Skins.

This show is an Americanized version of a British show.

The plots will focus on the daily issued faced by some teens about drug use, partying, and sex. Mostly sex it would seem.

The entire first episode is about the lead character trying to get his best friend de-virgined for his 17th birthday.

One interesting thing about the show is that it uses actors who are actually in the proper age categories.

This has caused the Parents Television Council to have the show investigated for child pornography.

Now at least two main sponsors of the show have backed out, namely Taco Bell and H&R Block.

You can learn more about this from ABC News at: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/porn-teens-mtvs-skins-draws-parents-ire-12729717

I am not convinced that they are literally breaking any child pornography laws, but the show is excessive in what it portrays.

I watched the first episode and found it rather disturbing. The actors have stated that kids are really faced with these issues. Some probably are, but I would venture to say that most are not or only to a lesser extent.

Has MTV gone too far? There show is toned down from what is played in the UK.

I would recommend praying for the writers (some teenagers), producers, and actors (mostly teenagers). Pray that they will understand what they promote and that they would realize that most teenagers don't think critically enough about the messages in shows to really know what to accept or reject when watching it.

Any thoughts?

WingClips

What is WingClips, you ask?

Good question...

WingClips is a great resource for movie clips to be used in teaching for schools, churches, and other organizations. They have made a large number of movie clips available that are intended to inspire people or illustrate points.

The best part is, they are available for use free of charge. You can download higher quality resolution clips with a paid subscription as well. The WingClips ministry works in Hollywood with film companies and is allowed to post clips of movies it is willing to promote. The idea is that when these clips are used in group settings to illustrate points, then many people in those settings will be more inclined to go and see the film or purchase it.

If you are a teacher and you would like to illustrate points with scenes from a movie, you can probably find whatever you are looking for on this site.

Some topics that you will find clips for include: adoption, bankruptcy, Baptism, civil liberty, coaching, embarrassment, giving up, grief, and repentance.

Feel free to check it out. You might just be inspired.

http://www.wingclips.com/

Master Media

There is a ministry I want to introduce you to called MasterMedia International.

Their founder, Dr. Larry Poland, has spent over 20 years now building relationships with producers in  Hollywood, praying for their needs, and doing what he can to share the light of Christ with them.

You can visit their website at: http://www.mastermediaintl.org/

They also send out a daily email asking people to pray for a cultural influencer and a maker of culture. I receive their emails and pray for whoever is on the list each day. Instead of throwing stones at these makers of culture, I find it more constructive and more in line with the teachings of Christ to pray for these people. I encourage you to do the same.

To sign up, visit this link: https://www.mastermediaintl.org/identify

Subliminal Messages

Subliminal Messages...What are they? Do they work?

See the product placement in the picture above?

Subliminal messages seem to be a constant issue of controversy in our culture.

People generally view them as visible messages, but in the world of music there has been a lot of controversy as well.

In music, it was argued that people would write words to songs that when read backwards would have a deeper and often more satanic message.

Petra, a Christian rock band, recorded a song in the early 80s that began with a garbled message. The message was recorded forwards, but then placed backwards on the intro to the song. Forwards the message read: "What are you looking for evil for, you outta be looking for God."

That has always been my take on these pesky little advertisers. In most studies, it has been concluded that subliminal messages may have a sort of "placebo affect" on people but that they do not actually have any lasting results.

With movies and advertising, people always being up issues like The Little Mermaid, or The Lion King. The thing is, that if you are not looking for most of those things, you will probably never notice them. I think the content in The Little Mermaid was in fact purposely placed in the film. However, I am not convinced about The Lion King.

I sometimes wonder if finding subliminal messages says more about the person who sees them than it does about the messages themselves.

I think it usually does.

So should we all be worried that through subliminal advertisement that we will all come to lose faith in our morals, be convinced to vote for communists to take over our country, or anything else like that?....I think not.

Christians, Culture, and Freedom

I am often asked questions about how to interact with the culture. “Is it ok to play this video game?” “Is it alright to watch this movie?” “Is there anything wrong with playing sports where people get hurt?” “Is it wrong for Christians to get tattoos?” Each of these questions is usually asked with some kind of ulterior motive. Perhaps the teenager who wants my permission to play a specific, violent, game is looking for a reason to justify it to his parents. Perhaps a college student knows a movie will contain a substantial amount of questionable content and so she wants me to help her justify the decision she has already made to see the film. It may feel less “sinful” that way. Or, perhaps a person knows not to do something and what he or she really wants to hear is the word “No!” Sometimes people ask questions so that I will help confirm to them that they should not do whatever they were thinking about doing. Either way, most of us have a number of questions about how to live in the world, without embracing its sinful aspects.

In our culture, Christians generally react to their environment in one of four ways. hey condemn all things that are not explicitly Christian. They think about everything in it as a Christian, but do little to redeem any of it that is out of line with Christian values. They imitate it by writing their own “Christianized” music, movies, or books; or they make their own “Christianized” clothes, knick-knacks, and other products. Or, they simply consume cultural and never think about how what they do effects their walk with Christ. These ideas are expanded upon in the book, Culture Making, by Andy Crouch. He suggests that while it is acceptable to condemn, critique, copy, and consume culture, these things must be done in moderation and from the standpoint of cultivation and creation. Christians must work to cultivate a culture by preserving the parts of it that are exemplary of God’s kingdom and they must learn to create new culture that further extends God’s Kingdom for the good of all people.

When Paul states that Christians are free he also states that not all things are beneficial for Christians and he never anywhere condones the willful participation in sin. Christians are to become all things to all people without losing their identity as Christians. They must be willing to condemn culture when it violates their moral principles, they must be willing to critique culture and analyze it for its merits, they must be able to copy it in some areas in order to make the Gospel relevant to the culture, and they must be able to consume enough of it that they will not lose touch with what is happening in the world around them.

Jesus stated in Matthew 5 that Christians are to be a city on a hill and a light in the darkness. How can Christians be a light in the world if they are completely removed from it? Jesus clearly spent his time in public interacting with the religious and irreligious people of his day. What Jesus never did, however, was condone the sinful practices of either group of people. Neither did he partake of those things.

As Christians, we must ask ourselves how we can be in the world as a light in the darkness without letting the darkness consume us. We must ask ourselves how we can know when it is acceptable to use our freedom in Christ to partake of culture, and when it is not.

To this end, several important questions may be asked in order to help believers know when something is and is not acceptable: 1. How will participating in this particular thing affect me as a person? If it will affect me negatively, then it should be avoided as much as possible. 2. How will my participation in this event effect others?  As believers we are not to knowingly cause others to stumble. We are also not to do things that could hurt someone else. 3. How will my participation in this event affect the cause of Christ? If it will mar my witness, I should not do it. If it will not negatively affect my witness and the Scriptures do not instruct me to avoid it, then it is most likely acceptable.

These questions may provide a basis to help believers know what they should participate in, and what they should avoid. It is not black and white, but unfortunately in life, very little really is. Christians need not be legalistic about the culture; they merely need to evaluate all things in light of Jesus Christ and what he would have them do. Is it ok to get a tattoo? Is it ok to go to the movies? Perhaps, but not just any tattoo and not just any movie.

Each aspect of culture must be evaluated individually from the family, to the neighborhood, to ethnic background, to vocation, to entertainment. All things that surround us must be understood in light of Christ, and all we are and all we do must be reflective of his glory. We are humans and sometimes we make the wrong choices, we say something we should not have said, we watch something we should not have watched. Whenever we fall, we simply need to humble ourselves, repent, and ask for the Lord to give us the wisdom and strength to learn from our faults and to make better decisions in the future. May God grant us all the grace to know what things to participate in within our culture and the knowledge to know how we can live in the world as a light in a dark place.

Violence, Teens, Media, and Character Building

In his article, Violent Media is Good for Kids, Gerard Jones recounts that as young teenager in the late 60s, his parents taught him that conflict was wrong and that he he withdrew into passivity and loneliness. His parents built up a wall between their son and crude American culture....that is until the Incredible Hulk "smashed through it."

Somehow another teenager was able to convince Gerard's parents that these violent comics had good moral messages. His mother allowed him to read the comics thinking they would be good for her son. Gerard shares that they were good for him, "But not because they preached lofty messages of benevolence. They were good for me because they were juvenile. And violent."

In his article he goes on to discuss how these violent comic books helped him discover his identity and how he was able to share stories with his son to help his son discover his identity as well.


Mr. Jones quotes Melanie Moore, Ph.D., a psychologist states: "Children need violent entertainment in order to explore the inescapable feelings that they've been taught to deny, and to reintegrate those feelings into a more whole, more complex, more resilient selfhood."


The article shares a number of stories and it does not deny that violent media can lead people to literally act out violence. But it also argues that this kind of media has helped more people. In fact, for every 1 person that takes violent media and performs violent acts in public, violent media probably helps around 100 others who become better people through it.

I really would like to encourage you to read his article linked above.

So now...My thoughts.

I grew up in West Texas in the 1980s. My favorite cartoon was G.I. Joe. While the Superfriends were off battling tornados and earthquakes, G. I. Joe's were fighting a terrorist organization. My favorite G.I. Joe character was Snake-Eyes. He could not talk because all his vocal chords were burned in a helicopter crash, as well as his face. He always wore a mask, and he only showed you what he was thinking by his actions. But mostly, I liked him because he wielded a sword and a machine gun and had a pet wolf.

Growing up, I played with toy guns, my friends and I imagined we were superheroes, army men, wild west gunslingers, pirates, and ninjas.

Most of our games involved all of us getting shot, stabbed, blown up, and sometimes dying. But of course, if you died, you just became a different character and kept playing.

As it turns out, I also listened to a lot of Rock Music, some of which was quite violent, but mostly full of angst.

As an adult, I have a strong sense of identity, I know what I like, and I have a lot of self-control. I also do not have any anger issues.

I turned out perfectly fine. But I still enjoy superhero cartoons and movies. I also still enjoy a lot of hard rock.

I don't care for all superheroes or rock bands, but mostly as a matter of personal taste.

So here is my official position.

#1. It is good for parents to keep their children from exploring violent media before they are of an age when they can properly digest it. (ex. letting a 3-year-old watch The Expendables would not be a good idea, but letting a 5 year-old watch Batman: The Brave and the Bold might really have a positive effect on the child). Each child develops differently, and boys and girls see things differently, so it should be up to the parent to determine when it is and is not appropriate to allow a child to play a specific video game, or watch a specific cartoon.

#2. When a child  is old enough to watch action cartoons or play video games that involve killing, the parent needs to teach the child how to engage those things in a healthy way. Ex. We hit people in a video game, but we do not bully other children at school. The video game let's us release our frustrations, and teaches us how to funnel our emotions properly, but it is all pretend. We do not act that way towards our friends and neighbors.

#3. I think it is good to let children, especially boys play with toy guns. It can teach them important lessons. It also helps them learn how to accept the real-life concept of death and gives them a foundation for understanding what it means to be alive. The first time I shot a real gun, I was 5 years old. I was with my father and my uncle. My uncle let me shoot his 9 millimeter. I fired the gun and as a small boy, it was powerful enough to actually knock me down with its kick-back. My uncle and my father looked at me to see if I was going to hand the gun back to them after falling down. Instead I got back up, steadied myself, and fired the entire rest of the clip. I may have even hit the target once. I learned from that experience how incredibly powerful a real gun was, and I was never tempted to play with one with my friends.

I believe that there is a place for violent media. I believe that it should not be shunned, and parents should not be made to feel bad for letting their children be exposed to a healthy dose of this kind of media. But parents need to really get to know their kids and know when they are ready for it. They also need to be ready to recognize the signs of this kind of media effecting their children negatively. If that happens, then the parents need to help the child learn how to positively channel this media as growing experience.

To learn more about Gerard Jones, you can check out his blog at http://undressingamerica.blogspot.com/ .

Let me know what you think. Do you agree or disagree with me? What about violence in the Bible?

Real-Life Superheroes

So this week, several culturally important things have been reported on in the news.

First, last week, some of the numbers used on Hurley's lottery ticket from the show "Lost" were actually on the winning lotto ticket and in the same order.

The "Lost" Numbers: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42

Mega Millions Draw: 4, 8, 15, 25, 47, 42

It must be fate...

To learn more, check out: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2011/01/05/winning-megamillions-mirror-mystery-numbers-lost/ 

Second, this past week, ABC aired a news story about real life superheroes in Seattle Washington. The group appear to be led by the masked crime fighter, Phoenix Jones. I especially liked his white tube socks on his costume...instant classic.

The whole story reminded me of a movie from the late 90s called "Mystery Men." The film featured such characters as The Blue Raja, whose power was the ability to throw forks at his opponents. Then there was The Invisible Boy, the funny thing about this character is that his powers of becoming invisible only worked when no one was looking at him and when he was not looking at himself. Finally, there was Mr. Furious. His power, you guessed it, he was able to get really mad. What do all these heroes have in common...you guessed it again, they actually don't have any real super-powers. And that is exactly what the movie characters have in common with these new avengers in Washington.

As it turns out, there are cities all over the US that have their very own caped crusaders. Most of them give out food to the homeless--clearly something that requires one to conceal his identity.

What I appreciated most about the news interview was that Phoenix Jones stated plainly that they are better able to help the police do their duties of catching criminals, because their presence in a situation is probable cause for the officers to approach the scene. Really...

So, I probably do not need to bag on these guys too much. I am a big fan of Superman and Batman. But I am not about to dress up like the Dark Knight or the Last Son of Krypton just to keep a drunk driver from getting behind the wheel. Last I checked, citizens were well within their legal rights to do that kind of thing without wearing a mask.

And while it is sometimes nice to provide someone with an anonymous gift, I am not sure the homeless really care who the food is coming from, they are probably just happy to have a good bite to eat.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this one. To see the story check out: http://abcnews.go.com/US/real-life-superhero-phoenix-jones-tackles-streets-seattle/story?id=12562715

One last thing...if you have not seen it, "Mystery Men" is one of my all-time favorite films. It boasts an all-star cast including Greg Kinnear, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, Ben Stiller, Eddie Izzard, Paul Reubens, Geoffrey Rush, and Claire Forlani.

Celebrity Skinny

It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what is often not emphasized is that each of us are regularly our own beholders--especially every morning when we look in the mirror.

Are you happy with how you look?

Last night ABC ran a show about celebrity weight loss that was very interesting.It seems that celebrities are under a lot of pressure to stay very thin. One celebrity on the show said that Hollywood made a bigger deal out of her moving from a size 8 to a size 4 than it did when she went from a size 24 to a size 8.

As it turns out, most celebrities that are skinny have a personal trainer and workout regularly.

But why must celebrities be made to feel that if they are not skinny they are not cutting it? And what message does that send to teenage girls about true beauty? What message does it send to adults? I don't think that people who have a low self image as teenagers magically come to accept and enjoy how they look when they become adults.

Whatever happened to seeing virtue as a sign of beauty? Aren't the most beautiful people the one's who are honest, willing to help others, kind, and compassionate?

I do think we should take care of our bodies. I work at a desk 8 hours a day and so whenever I workout, I feel much better about myself than when I go days without breaking a sweat. I also try to work out 5-6 days a week.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to look good. In fact, physical attraction is an important part of romance. It is an important piece of the human puzzle. But it is not the only piece of a puzzle that determines whether or not someone is beautiful.

Our physical appearance is part of who we are, but it is not all of who we are.

 All of our experiences and beliefs are a major part of who we are. But what is inside of us is expressed to the world through physicality. Our facial expressions for example, say a lot about what is going on inside of us.

When we are at war with ourselves emotionally, it takes a toll on us physically.

So I guess what I am proposing is that we not see beauty as simply wearing the latest and greatest in clothes, accessories, haircuts, or makeup, and instead see people as beautiful based on who they are as a whole.

Perhaps more should be said here, but alas, it must wait till another day.

Charlene Amoia

More recently I interviewed Charlene Amoia from the show, How I Met Your Mother."

Charlene was a great person to interview and she was really encouraging. I hope you enjoy reading our conversation.

An Interview with Charlene Amoia

by Scott Shiffer

Charlene Amoia is a television actress who has appeared on many shows but who is perhaps best known for her recurring role as Wendy, the waitress on How I Met Your Mother. With this shows new season underway, she agreed to answer a few of our questions. We hope you will enjoy getting to know her. She is a fabulous actress who is quite talented and able to play a variety of roles. After reading her interview, be sure to check out some of her shows and films. As always, my questions are in bold and her answers are underneath them.

Charlene, can you tell us a little bit about your family (kids, husband, boyfriend, etc.), and where you grew up (brothers and sisters, etc.)?

I was born in Buffalo, New York and come from a big, Italian family. I have one brother and two sisters. I am currently unmarried and have no children.

What current projects are you working on?

 

I recently did guest stars roles on House, Castle and my first episode back on How I Met Your Mother this season. I also shot a commercial for Eureka vacuums that just started airing.

What political or ethical issues are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about keeping art, music, and physical education in schools. I also believe it is important to support preventative measures verses treating symptoms in healthcare.

Do you have any religious beliefs? If so, what are they?

I currently have a strong spiritual practice.

What code of morals do you live by?

 

The pursuit of truth in everything I do. I continually search for the truth in my work, but most importantly in my relationships. I believe in humility, kindness and altruism.

 

Altruism, for any readers out there unfamiliar with the concept, is the practice of the selfless act of doing good things for others. It is being concerned with the well-being of those around you without expecting anything in return.

What is one thing you have always wanted to do but have never had the chance to do?

I’ve always wanted to take a screenwriting class.

What are some of your favorite books, movies, and/or music?

This list is constantly changing but for now...Favorite books include all of J.D. Salinger works, Kissing in Manhattan, Inner Game of Tennis, Atlas Shrugged, Memoirs of a Geisha, and The Alchemist. Favorite movies: Pulp Fiction, Amelie, Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind, American Beauty, On the Waterfront, The Graduate, Annie Hall, Some Like It Hot, The Godfather movies, When Harry Met Sally, Fargo, Juno, Garden State, Clueless, Coming to America, Liar Liar, The Wedding Singer, My Cousin Vinny, Goodwill Hunting, and Fight Club. Favorite bands: Radiohead, Otis Redding, Ben Harper, Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, The Swell Season, Ray LaMontagne, and Bruce Springsteen.

What are your favorite kinds of movies/TV shows to appear in? What are your favorite kinds of roles to play?

I love to work on sit-com’s and dramaties. I’m most drawn to characters who are off-beat or corky in some way. Any role that challenges me to go outside of my comfort zone is always the most exciting.

Do you think anything should be done as an attempt to change the way that female beauty is portrayed and understood in America?

Absolutely. Real beauty comes from within. The airbrushed, unflawed image sends the wrong message to young, impressionable girls. We have forgotten how beautiful uniqueness is.

Do you support any charities? How can we help support those groups?

A charity I’m strongly passionate about is Women for Women International, an organization that provides women in war-torn societies the tools and opportunities to not only survive, but to thrive in unimaginably harsh conditions. http://www.womenforwomen.org/.

How are you treated when you go out? Does being a celebrity ever get you special treatment here? What about over seas?

I’m treated like everyone else; I don’t garner any special attention. Although, I wouldn’t cry if some free designer samples showed up at my door.

Looking back, have you ever played a role that you wish you would not have taken?

I’ve never taken any roles that have compromised my values.

Do you like to cook? What are your favorite foods?

I love to cook. A friend of mine and I get together a couple times a month to cook some healthy dishes to eat on the go for the week. Italian food is my favorite!

What is something you would like your fans to know about you?

 

Hmm. I drive a stick a stick shift.

 

What is your perception of Christianity? What do you think of Christ's claim to be the only person through whom one can gain eternal life?

 

Christianity is a beautiful mosaic of faith, love and sacrifice.

 

Charlene, thanks for taking the time to share with us about yourself. Now that some of our readers know a little more about you, I hope they will feel a little closer connection to you as they watch you on TV this fall.

_____

 

I was especially impressed with her comment on the uniqueness of beauty. What a novel concept, beautiful is unique. It is not the cookie cutter idea that everyone fits a specific mold. I was also intrigued by her desire to play roles that are “outside” of her comfort zone. How often do people love what they are familiar with to the point that they are afraid to try something new? If more of us were willing to embrace challenges, who knows what new things we might really learn to enjoy.

 

Readers, you can also see Charlene’s list of projects on her IMDB page at:

 

www.imdb.com/name/nm1006439/

 

You can also check out her page on YouTube where you will see her commercials for Eureka, Walmart, Ross, Dodge, and more.

http://www.youtube.com/user/amoiaclips?feature=mhum#p/u/0/59ZXYdYvb5M

Amy Hathaway

Several months ago I was able to interview Amy Hathaway. I decided to repost that interview here for anyone who want to read it.

You can look for Amy in 2011 in the film Gemini Rising.

An Interview with Amy Hathaway

Amy Hathaway’s career began in 1988 with Mutts and continues into the present. Some of her most recent roles have been in The Proposal, “The Closer,” “Castle,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” and Mr.& Mrs. Smith.

I was fortunate enough to work with extremely supportive people throughout my career and have developed a theory that great projects attract great people. Some of my favorites have been Courage Under Fire, The Client, “The Wonder Years,” and most recently “The Closer.”

--Amy

All of Amy’s responses have been printed in full.

Scott: Can you tell us a little bit about your family (kids, husband, boyfriend, etc.), and where you grew up (brothers and sisters, etc.)?

Amy: I grew up in La Canada, California. I have one older sister and am currently single.

Scott: What are your favorite kinds of movies to be in?  What are your favorite kinds of roles to play?

Amy: I love projects with good stories. That may sound simple, but there is something amazing about a good story that is well executed and entertaining whether it’s TV or film, comedy or drama. I love to play roles with a lot of heart—even if the character is dark or misguided.

Scott: What current projects are you working on?

Amy: My most recent project is a recurring role on TNT’s “The Closer,” starring Kyra Sedgewick.

Scott: What political or ethical issues are you most passionate about?

Amy: I am most passionate about improving our education system. I believe that everyone deserves an excellent education.

Scott: Do you have any religious beliefs? If so, what are they?

Amy: I am not religious though I meditate every day.

Scott: What code of morals do you live by?

Amy: I believe that world peace starts with individual peace. I find peace and happiness in forgiving people and being kind and accepting of myself and others.

Scott: What is your perception of Christianity? What do you think of Christ's claim to be the only person through whom one can gain eternal life?

Amy: I believe in Jesus, yet my take on spirituality is secular. I believe that if Christianity nourishes and fills your soul then it is right for you. I also believe in many paths to enlightenment.

Scott: Do you think Americans care too much about the lives of celebrities?

Amy: I think that for some people caring about celebrities becomes a way to avoid major world issues. I also think it’s great that many celebrities are passionate about social and environmental change and have used their fame to highlight issues and to promote positive change.

Scott: What is one thing you have always wanted to do but have never had the chance to do?

Amy: There are many places in the world I have yet to visit.

Scott: What are some of your favorite books?

Amy: I love books! Some of my favorite authors are Hemingway, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Garcia Marquez, Salinger, Joan Didion. I also love non-fiction i.e. Malcolm Gladwell and Eckhardt Tolle. My taste in literature is very eclectic. I basically read all the time and still probably will never get to read all the books on my list.

Scott: What are some of your favorite songs or bands?

Amy: My favorite band is Radiohead. I love classic rock like Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones. I like early punk music, folk music [and] I love everything from classical music to Reggae—my taste in music is always expanding. I thrive on music.

Scott: Do you like to cook? What are your favorite foods?

Amy: I love to cook. My favorites are rack of lamb, pot roast, prime rib, baked chicken and apple pie. I also love Italian and French cooking. I am pretty inquisitive and fearless in the kitchen.

Scott: What are your thoughts on global warming, the environment, and how we can better take care of the earth?

Amy: I think the first thing we can all do is become aware of the ways in which we waste resources and then gradually come up with solutions. I drive a hybrid and recycle; I use my own water bottle and reusable grocery bags, for instance.

Scott: Do you think anything should be done as an attempt to change the way that female beauty is portrayed and understood in America?

Amy: I think the way that females are portrayed is gradually changing. The amount of roles for women above the age of 30 has significantly increased, and there are a lot of projects with strong female leads. I see this pattern continuing.

Scott: Do you support any charities? How can we help support those groups?

Amy: I support Amma.org: a charity involved in improving conditions for impoverished communities worldwide.

Scott: Looking back, have you ever played a role that you wish you would not have taken? Why?

Amy: I have no regrets because everything is a learning experience. [Although], there is a role in which I played what I perceived to be a strong character though after editing and general low quality of production ended up being objectified.

Scott: What is something you would like your fans to know about you?

Amy: I would like my fans to know that I am a very grateful person and I believe that we all have a lot to be grateful for.

I hope I have answered your questions completely…

Art as Dialog

Should I watch this? Should I listen to that? Is it safe? Chances are that if it is good art, it is not safe. But then, when C.S. Lewis wrote the Chronicles of Narnia and he used the lion to represent Christ, he noted that the lion was not safe either.

Here is my big dialog proposal when it comes to engaging the arts. Music, movies, and television should be viewed as dialog.

In education, most dialog takes place at conferences and in producing journal articles, theses, and dissertations. You also have different subjects like History, English, Mathematics, and Philosophy.

What would dialog look like if it was applied to the most popular forms of entertainment in America? How would it help us make more sense out of what we listen to and watch?

Here’s how I see it.

Subjects in school are like genres in art. For movies you have major categories like Drama, Comedy, Thrillers, Documentaries, Horror, Adventure, and Westerns. For music, you have major categories like Rock, Pop, Blues, Country, Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, and Rap.

Conferences are like movie theaters and concert halls.

Presentations are like individual films and songs.

A thesis or dissertation would be like a trilogy in film, or a concept album in music.

When a screen writer decides to join the dialog, he or she writes a film. Then a director (sometimes the same person) films the dialog. Then it is edited and given a soundtrack. The dialog is then presented in a theater or on television.  It is critiqued by movie critics or tv critics.

When a composer decides to join the dialog he or she composes a song or group of songs. They are recorded by an artist (again, sometimes the same person), and then they are edited and placed on an album. The album is released and it is critiqued by music critics.

Here are some examples of how it works:

King Kong was written and produced in 1933. It was remade several times each giving a new take on the conversation.  Here you see one conversation being re-presented.

Armageddon is produced as a film. Someone else says, that can be done better. Deep Impact is produced. A conversation is started about what it would be like if earth was destroyed. Then comes, The Day After Tomorrow. Then comes 2012.  Each work is similar in concept, but it is a different take on the what if scenario.

In music, Chuck Berry writes and records Johnny B. Good.  Then nearly everyone who ever wanted to play rock music records the song, including Jonny Rivers, The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, AC/DC. Buddy Holly, The Beach Boys, The Carpenters, and even Elvis Presley. Again each one is a different presentation of the same conversation.

John Mellencamp records Smalltown. Allen Jackson sings Small Town Southern Man. Kelli Pickler sings Small Town Girl. Miranda Lambert sings Famous in a Small Town. Charlie Robinson sings My Hometown. Each song is about something similar, but they are each a different take on what life is like in small town USA.

When one begins to see art as conversation or dialog, then that changes how one interprets art and how one enjoys it.

In academic dialog, the goal is to arrive at the truth. In viewing art as dialog, one looks for a truthful expression. More than one person can be right, but perhaps some people can also be wrong.

So, when I am asked if it is ok to listen to this or that, I wonder if the person is asking me if they can listen to it without having to think about it, or if they are asking me if I agree with it.

Simply put, I don’t think anyone should ever listen to a song or watch a film that they are not willing to think about. If they are willing to think about it, then they can watch or listen to it. But if they think about it they are joining it in dialog. Music and movies speak to us. If we listen to what they have to say, then we must choose to agree with them or disagree.

So are there films we should not engage in conversation? Probably so. There is also music we should not engage in conversation. But I think we do a great disservice to ourselves when we watch or listen to anything (even something that is Christian) without thinking about it. We also do a great disservice to ourselves when we refuse to watch or listen to something just because it was written by a non-Christian.

God created human beings in his image. That means that all humans bear God’s image to some point. God is creative, I mean he created the world right. So if we are made to be like God, then we are made to be creative. Whenever anyone creates something, they are showing that they are made in God’s image, whether they know it or not. Unlike God, all of what we create is not good, but if all truth is God’s truth, then any created art that bears the truth is glorifying to God.

What does all this mean?, You ask.  Good question, I respond.

Dialog NOT Debate

When someone hears the word debate, it generally brings up images of two people in an argument. The people are seen as enemies. A good example would be any political debate. In debates, people often lose sight of the issues and begin attacking one another. The idea is to win a debate. And the most interesting thing about debates is that usually those involved in them are so set in their ways, that neither person is willing to admit that he or she could be wrong. In debates, minds are not changed, but often, feelings are hurt.

This blog is not about debate, it is about dialog. Dialog is a discussion that is civil, with someone who may or may not agree with your own ideas. In great dialog, different ideas (maybe even contradictory ones) can be shared without the conversation erupting into a verbal fist fight.

Dialog causes people to evaluate their own beliefs in light of the beliefs of another. It does not always end up changing someone's position, but the two people in dialog together should understand where the other is coming from by the end of it.

A problem I see with many Christians, especially here in the Bible Belt (The southern United States), is that they often think it necessary to "debate" with others about God. If someone is not a Christian, they attempt to argue with that person as if he or she is purposely living as an enemy of God. However, most of the time, people who are not Christians do not hate God, they either don't know God or have a different view of him. Even if I believe that Christianity is the only true religion, I don't think Bible bashing is the best way to help others see the light.

There is no room for dialog in bashing. If I am to share my faith, I want the way I share it to reflect the faith I profess. The Jesus of the Bible ate with sinners, he loved the worst of the worst and they loved him. As Rich Mullins put it:

"The whores all seem to love Him
And the drunks propose a toast
And they say, "Surely God is with us."

If some of the worst people around by social standards loved Jesus, then how come so many people from all walks of life seem to hate Christians?

I think it is because they put up the front that they are better than everyone else--you know, holier than thou. And then they judge everyone, condemning them without ever trying to understand them.

That is not how Jesus did it, and that is not how I will do it.

I will dialog with anyone about Jesus and.or Christianity, but I will not debate. I don't have time for it--life is too short and time is too precious.

I think the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. I like to think that people who do not share my beliefs feel less threatened by me than they do when talking with other Christians. I think that is also why so many non-Christians feel like they can ask me questions about faith. I hope that they do not feel condemned by me, but I hope they feel loved.

So the question is, if you are a Christian how do you treat non-Christians around you? Do you debate them? Do you dialog with them? Or do you simply do nothing?

It's My Life

"I am not Scott, Granny, I am the Ice-Man." I do not remember making this comment when I was two years old, but I guess I had seen the Ice-Man on TV's Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. I guess I was also quite influenced by this character whose whole costume is ice, because I took the liberty of losing all my clothes to be more like him.

Recently I have been talking about how we are each influenced by many cultures. You could consider these cultures sub-cultures if you wanted.

I thought today, I would give you some insight into who I am and why I think the way I do.

To begin, I was born in Odessa, Texas on August 24, 1981, which makes me 29 years old. Odessa has a population now of just over 90,000 people. Odessa is located close to where the state of Texas makes a "boot" connecting it to New Mexico. The primary employment of the region is oil-field work. As the oil field business goes up and down, so does the population.

When I was born, my parents lived next door to my grandmother on Madera Street. We went to her house some nearly every day, but the whole family ate lunch there every Sunday after Church. First Baptist Church, one of the largest churches in town is where we all attended.

So I grew up as a white, male, middle-class American in a small town. All that helps make me who I am.

One of the first things I remember about music is that when I was around 4 years old, my dad would get out his LPS (Vinyl Records) and play me "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles. It was on the album, The Early Beatles which is the American version of Please Please Me (Remastered). I was also wearing cowboy boots before then, but more on that later.

From day one, I was hooked. I loved music and I listened to it every day. I liked Herman's Hermits, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jim Groce, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Sly and the Family Stone, and just about any other band from the 60s I could find. In Odessa the Oldies station was 96.9 and I listened to it all the time from the age of about 6 until I was about 12 years old. I can remember taking my radio into the back yard and just listening to music for hours, while I did things like shoot a BB gun or the bow-and-arrow. Back then it was not that big of a deal to do those kinds of things in the backyard.

When I was 6 my dad built me a fort. It was a lot of fun to play in and jump out of. It was also about a 6-ft. drop to the ground which would be quite painful if you didn't land it right.

I loved riding a bicycle, playing in the sand, looking for snakes, scorpions, box turtles, horney toads, and just about anything else we could find. My family never bought me a snake, but if dad ever caught a wild one, he would bring it home and we could keep it for a while.

Here are some pics of some of my favorite critters!!!

 This is a hognosed snake. I think we had about 4 or 5 of these by the time I could drive.

In 4th grade, I began taking piano lessons. I ended up taking 10 years of lessons plus one semester in college.

In fifth grade, my parents bought a horse for my sister and I. Her name was Shanon. She was a bay, she was gentle, and she was very old. Soon after, they bought another horse for my sister, but that one ended up being better suited to me. His name was Appache. He was a paint, and he was the same age I was. He died when I was 28, and my parents still had him.

From fifth grade through high school I was on a horse nearly every day. I loved riding, and I loved...wearing my boots. Mine are never as clean as the one below. But that is the only brand and color I wear.


In addition to riding horses, I showed horses. Some of my favorite memories come from those times.

Just before going into 7th grade, I went on a pre-teen retreat with my church. There I decided to get serious about faith in God. I had accepted Christ as savior when I was 6, but never really did much about it besides show up on Sunday's and Wednesday nights.

I just liked the kind of person that Jesus was and I wanted to be more like him, more understanding and forgiving, more caring and loving.

Let's skip junior high.

So now I am a white, male, middle-class teenager who likes rock music, rides horses, and plays piano. What an odd combination. Oh...in junior high, two things: Music after 1969, and a Black Leather Jacket.

Ok, so my first car was a 1981 Toyota Celica, Supra.
 Just like this one...

It was a standard and it had a straight 6, so I could start in 3rd gear if I gave it enough gas.

Unfortunately, it had a little crash.

So I drove my dad's old truck from then until my third year of college.

At the beginning of high school, I felt the Lord calling me to full-time ministry. So I surrendered to it. But back then I thought he was calling me to music ministry. In tenth grade I started a band that played praise for a mission church for about two and a half years.

I played keyboard. This one...

Yes, I still have it and yes, I can still ROCK IT!!!

In college, I began to feel like God had different plans. Instead of playing music, I thought he was calling me to teach. I decided to pursue a Master's Degree and a Doctorate.

While in college I had two really great roommates: Tanner Tollett, and Thomas Brandon. Thomas is working on becoming a film director in Hollywood. You can check out his blog at: http://findtheblueflower.blogspot.com/

It was Thomas who began introducing me to really great films. I knew music was a window to the soul, but never really gave movies that much thought. Thanks to his friendship, God has allowed me to see the depth in music and film. Hence the development of a love for dealing with popular culture in ministry.

In 2005, after taking a class on Pop-Culture and philosophy, I believed God was calling me to create a special ministry for dealing with culture, and Pop-Culture and Faith Ministries was formed.

That same year, I met Lindsy, the love of my life and the woman who would later become my wife.

We were married in 2007 in the summer, and we have since had two daughters. They are very important to this blog, because those girls have really effected how I view certain things in the media and on television.

So I guess that sums it up. I feel bad for making you all read so much on this one, but hey...at least you got to see some pretty cool pics!!!

I am a white-middle class male who sees the world as a husband and father. I have a heart to share the world I see with others, and a desire to have great dialog with all those who see it differently than me.

Scott

Coming soon...dialog not debate

My OWN Review

What are some of Oprah's Favorite Things? Probably her new network and the shows on it.

I spent some time watching the new Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) today for its BIG premier. At first I was not sure what to expect; Oprah helps a lot of people and offers some really great advice, but I do not always find myself agreeing with her messages or the stance she takes on some social or religious issues. The first show I watched was the debut of Miracle Detectives. The show was quite interesting in that they were able to use science to replicate the experience that several people believed to be miraculous. The show was intriguing and I would be willing to give it a second look.

OWN will also be premiering other new shows this week and throughout the spring. After watching the station for some time today, including Oprah's own previews for her shows, I must say that some look very promising. The network will primarily consist of reality shows. Some will follow celebrities such as Shania Twain, the Judds, and the O'Neal family. Others will follow non-celebrities. One such show is Deliver Me, about 3 female OBGYN's living in L.A.

One that really stands out is premiering tomorrow, called Master Class. This show will be almost autobiographical for celebrities to share the wisdom they have acquired in life. The first segment will feature Dianne Sawyer, with others such as Lorne Michaels (SNL producer), Simon (from American Idol) and Sidney Poitier will follow.

Several shows look like they will be spin-offs of other popular shows. There will be a show kind of like The Apprentice, American Idol, and Top Model, that will be taking contestants and seeing which one has what it takes to be a talk-show host. Another, Enough Already! with Peter Walsh looks like a spin-off of Hoarders. Regardless, I am sure that both shows will provide ample entertainment.

The line-up will even include one live show 5 days a week with Gayle King. This show will be the televised edition of her radio talk show.

All-in-all, I must say that if she is going for mindful television, I think she is achieving the goal. Content similar to what was seen on ABC for 25 years as part of her own show will now be played 24/7 on this network.

I do think this Network will revolutionize television in its approach to reality shows with an educational flair. I cannot say that I will agree with the conclusions of every show or their messages, but I think the critical mind will be enlightened upon viewing.

If you are a fan of Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, and/or Suze Orman, you will see plenty of them--especially on Ask Oprah's All Stars this January. If you don't like them, well, that may influence how you view the other shows, but before judging the network, I ask you to give it a chance. Grab some popcorn, sit on the couch  and OWN your network.

For more info on the upcoming shows and the station, visit: http://www.oprah.com/own

I would love to read your comments, even if you disagree, so don't be shy now...

Scott