Movie Reviews

     This was a banner year for movies. As I watched the Oscar presentations, I felt sad that only one picture and only one actor and actress would win an award. Several films, Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Walk the Line, and Crash were all deserving; several actors and actresses, Felicity Huffman, Reese Weatherspoon, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Heath Ledger, Joaquin Pheonix, were deserving. In addition to the movies mentioned above, March of the Penguins, Chronicles of Narnia, were also great.
     This month we will be reviewing movies. You can write about a current movie, one of last years, or even go back and review a classic like Shane if you wish. The other day someone recommended to my wife an Australian film, Muriel's Wedding(which I understand is considered a dark comedy) and we found it to be interesting.
     Just click the comments link and write your review. (You will have to check "Anonymous" if you do not have a password with blogger.com and then just type your name, first and/or last.)

Book Review

     So many good books. So little time.
     That is often my thought. Just recently a good friend recommended The Red Tent, an historical fiction by Anita Diamant. It turned out that quite a few of my friends had also read this book. All of them shared my feelings that it was excellent. I just finished The Kite Runner, a very informative book about Afghanistan that I would highly recommend. I am currently reading The curious incident of the dog in the night-time, a novel about an autistic boy. With so many books being written and on the market, how do we decide which ones to read. I think one of the best ways is to find out what others have read and would recommend. Another way is to attend book discussions. I currently attend one at the Rock Island Public Library and another at Mother Jone's Coffee House in Rock Island.
     Please take some time and write a review of a book that you have read within the last year and that you would recommend, and write it in the comments section. Just click on "Comments" to read reviews and then add yours, putting your first and/or last name at the end. Don't worry if the book you are reviewing has been done by someone else. Write yours too as it is always interesting to see how different people view things. After you have written your comment, you will have to check "anonymous" unless you have a password with blogger.com.
Happy reviewing.

Week 1

"... maintain constant love for one another"
"... be hospitable to one another"
"Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received."

These words are taken from 1 Peter 4, last Friday's Bible readings. As Pastor Jim said in his message at Carbon Cliff last Sunday, as a church we do many things to show love for one another and to serve God. I know that this is true for each of the churches in our Parish. For this week's blog discussion, please tell four or five things you feel your church does to show love for God and for one another. Also, give one suggestion or idea that you feel we could do that would help our church to flourish more. Feel free to elaborate on any of your comments. Please give your first name and church.