Review: DragonHeart

From March 2005.

DragonHeart

Dennis Quaid, Sean Connery. PG-13.

Action/Adventure/Fantasy

In the tenth century, evil lurks. It is in the hearts of kings and the sons of kings. The question is: what or who put it there?

Who is this Bowen, Knight of the Code, fencing with wooden swords, teaching Einon the son of the King? Oh, it is Dennis Quaid; I recognize the crinkles when he smiles. He is wholly devoted to his student, serving the wicked king because of his love for the boy.

In a twist of events, the cruel and avaricious king is slain. The prince is mortally wounded.

To save the prince’s life, Bowen and the Queen bring him to the cave of the dragon. Treachery is afoot. A life is saved, two lives are– you guessed it– forever intertwined.

Einon immediately follows in the steps of his father, the cruelty even worse than that of the former king. Bowen is cheated, bitter, living in exile, slaying dragons for lucre out of hatred for the dragon who cursed the young king.

Along the way, Bowen meets Gilbert of Glockenspur. He is played by Pete Postlethwaite, an amusing priest and poet. (Postlethwaite is far more believable here than in his psychopathic madness seen in Sharpe’s Company. He still carries the hint of insanity, but this time, he’s harmless. Harmless, that is, unless he’s armed.)

Bowen one day meets his match in a talking dragon who sounds rather like Sean Connery. We are then treated to a mild case of scoundrel-turns-honest. Bowen must finally face the wickedness of the king who will not die as long as the dragon lives. Will he go Han Solo?

DragonHeart is a strange mix of genre.   In addition to the PG-13 rating, there are other concepts young minds aren’t ready to interpret. These include making a deal with a devil. There is also the theme of one determining the value of another person’s life. We receive a [sanitized] version of male to female violence. There is cruelty and murder used to show the despicable evil of one character.

Don’t confuse with Braveheart, although we do have Sean Connery’s Scottish lilt poking through at times.

CFI: 0

Rental Value: $2.50. Think “rainy afternoon” fare. Not a date movie unless your date likes Star Trek, Hitchhiker’s Guide or Zorro. (I confess.) No raging hormones in this one, Quaid’s dimples notwithstanding. But I was referring to teenager dates, anyway.

[Initially when I wrote this review, I put the value as $1.50, but I increased it due to inflation.]

Review: the OLD Journey to the Center of the Earth

This review is from 2005, the movie long before Brendan Fraser.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

We grew up watching this movie, one of those that got frequent Saturday afternoon slots, not to mention “The 4:30 Movie.” Back then, we loved the saga of the duck Gertrude, were amazed by the giant lizards. Although I could giggle with the adults when we saw him in the kilt, back then the opportunity to see Pat Boone shirtless was lost on me. 

James Mason reappears as another Jules Verne scientist, this one not as crazed and self righteous as Captain Nemo. Driven, yes, but more personable.

Kid rating: my seven year old watched the movie with the ceaseless question, “Will the duck be all right?” punctuated by “Oh, no!” and again, “Will the duck be all right?” I had forgotten what happened to Gertude. Mea culpa. After the movie, we talked about movies being pretend and Gertrude really wasn’t ever in danger, which helped.

Romance: beats me how they could spend a year underground and still be speaking to each other. There is a tender scene in the sand, well done with restraint on parts of actors and directors. (If you’re looking for it, you see some untanned flesh, but so mild by today’s standard you wouldn’t have noticed it if I hadn’t told you. A big contrast to Liz Taylor’s sprawling in Cleopatra! Blech.)

I don’t quite understand the forest of giant mushrooms. Any sensible person (other than a hobbit) knows you don’t just walk up to mushrooms and eat them! Evidently these weren’t amanita, nor were they hallucinogenic. Did Verne use mushrooms for –er– medicinal purposes? I don’t know. 

It was a fun flick from memory lane, overall acceptable for 10+ year olds (due to suspense and peril). Parents could use the movie to discuss fidelity to one’s sweetheart. They could also use it to springboard kids into the concept that scientists aren’t automatically boring. Honor and betrayal concepts in the storyline also merit discussion. 

Recommendation: Kind of a goofy movie, but fun. I don’t think it will kick teenage hormones into overdrive, so not too bad for a date movie. Then again, there is Pat Boone. 

Catch Me If You Can: a review from 2005

Here's one of my reviews from 2005.

Catch Me if You Can

PG-13 for crime and sex.

Based on a true story of a boy who rips off two nations, CMIYC is intriguing fare. It’s a Spielberg, so there is a lot of detail but without as much of Spielberg’s once-typical gadgetry. One can’t but help admire the chutzpah of this kid, and his marvellous mind which enables him to carry off his numerous identities.

In truth, I had little respect for Leonardo DiCaprio until this movie. He performs the age range of his character well, manages to look the “all American boy.” He has greater presence and believability than in The Man in the Iron Mask. I wonder if it is because he might be a truly nice person and is uncomfortable with playing harsh characters like the spoiled king. That, or he’s truly a jerk and can’t carry off playing himself. [I hope it’s because he’s a nice person.]

I liked Tom Hanks as the G-man. (Strange, seeing the aging of an actor. It appears he doesn’t resent his own aging and subsequent changes in casting.) Under this agent’s prickly exterior is a kind man who would be a good father if he ever got a second chance. You get the feeling he would be a good father for the lost boy who has trapped himself in his own deception. If he can only catch him.

Crime and sexual situations abound, but Spielberg does give DiCaprio heart. 

There is actually no violence! Guns, yes, some unlovely images, but no one getting shot.

DiCaprio plays substitute teacher, pilot, lawyer, MD. A few of these just don’t work well. The pilot, however, does. It’s the persona with the most screen time, and I find it effective.

Puzzling is the presence of Martin Sheen. You’d think with all his “West Wing” mileage, he’d either be a more important character or left out of the film entirely. His role as a southern lawyer amounts to a dog and pony show compared to his role as Captain Willard in Apocalypse Now. A no-name actor would have been far less of an embarrassment. But hey, actors gotta eat, too, I guess.

CMIYC is long, over two hours. I’m still trying to decide whether it glorifies or downplays dishonesty. I do not recommend it for minors, due to sex and dishonesty.

Anastasia review

Here is another review I wrote in the 1990's or "aughties." I introduce my CFI, the chewed Fingernail Index.

Anastasia

with Ingrid Bergman and Yul Brynner

This was a funny and interesting version of the fairy tale – or is it fact?– of a lost Russian princess. 

Anastasia isn’t focused on the transformation of pauper to princess. It is there, but understated. Credit the editing process? This is not Sandra Bullock becoming Miss Congeniality. Nor is this the controlling Rex Harrison relentlessly forcing Audrey Hepburn into his Fair Lady. We gradually learn less about Anna by our time spent with her and more about the general (played by Yul Brynner) by what isn’t said about him. Indeed, perhaps more important than Anna’s simoultaneous ascent and descent is the general’s subtle progression.

  During her encounter with the Dowager Empress, the observer is treated to varying stages of acceptance for the mysterious girl. Unlike The Snows of Kilomanjaro (sp?), where we miss the crux of Gregory Peck’s salvation in his brief introspective whisper, (did he actually say any words there?), we do not miss the connections established between Anna Karen and the Empress. The coughing bit was a little much, but it confirmed rather than proved, if one might be allowed the distinction.

In an interesting twist, the true theme and high concept of love and acceptance is hidden through the whole movie until the fateful encounter between Anna and the woman she would call “Grandmama.” This is the whole point of the movie and we fortunately do not miss it.

Catty corner:

Ingrid Bergman looks a whole lot older than twenty six. It must have been the ten years in and out of asylums after the Russian royal family was murdered. She does sound Slavic when she speaks, very much like that delightfully exotic lilt of my Bosnian coworkers’. Just think: someone did accents before Meryl Streep. Therefore we can forgive the weariness in Anna’s eyes.

Yul Brynner looks a little young for his lofty title. Then again, how old was Yul Brynner? I don’t think he ever aged. And he sports some cool leather boots. Perhaps this reveals my own bias. I was, at four years old, the youngest of the princesses in our high school play The King and I. Our Siamese king was Michael Leslie, who later went on to be in The Wiz and Little Shop of Horrors. At least  I think he went on to Broadway from Manasquan. Manasquan is also the alma mater of another actor who was in the first movie of Little Shop of Horrors. What was his name? Oh yes, you may have heard of him: Jack Nicholson.

Mom’s corner:

Commendable (and rare in today’s entertainment world) is how the general restrains himself. There’s one zinger of a line where the general confesses his restraint, without actually saying it.  And there is the guitar scene. It doesn’t have the electricity of Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed sharing the telephone, but it is seasonably warm, if not hot.

Chewed Fingernail Index:

0.

Recommendation:

If you’re going to spend some money and time on pseudo-historical entertainment, don’t waste it on Disney’s version. Rent this one. It’s safe for ten and up, but probably boring for the younger children. Anastasia has some amusing characters that add sugar and spice, which teenagers might enjoy. 

A Touch of Mink

As I haven't blogged much lately, I'm dusting off some movie reviews I wrote years ago. This one is from 8/8/99.

A Touch of Mink
Young single woman meets handsome, rich, worldly fellow. Young single woman feels she must prove her worth by losing virginity with handsome, rich, worldly fellow. A typical '90's theme? This time, however, it's Doris Day and Cary Grant.
The movie is funny in the way The Seven Year Itch is funny. It was interesting to step backward a few decades to see how Hollywood handled premarital sex then. In thirty (now 40) years, people have moved far, far from blundering into doing the right thing. In that way, this comedy is sadly sobering.
Don't let teenagers watch this one without a lot of discussion with parents afterward. There are many choices these people make, each worth noting. Not every young woman is as fortunate as this character. If your kids want to watch "Pretty Woman" (which I HATED), rent this one instead. It doesn't have graphic sex and doesn't have Julia Roberts or Richard Gere, three compelling reasons.

On another note, my hubby has challenged me to pick apart Ben Hur. Ouch! ALL RIGHT. Too violent and Charlton Heston really isn't that good of an actor. There, I've said it. But where else do you get a fabulous exchange like this?
      "If you were not a bride, I should kiss you goodbye."
      "If I were not a bride, there would be no goodbyes to be said."
Ben Hur is still my favorite flick.

shameless self promotion !!!!!!

Yep, I've taken the plunge into new waters. I posted (The Song of) Deborah and Muddy Skye on studios.amazon.com.
Deborah isn't yet open to the public; I wanted to see how "she" does on her own merit. I forget how many years I spent working on Deborah. I worked on her after my play Rizpah and screenplay Jeremiah and between the would-be computer generated Crows and my first thriller, Muddy Skye.
Muddy Skye, on the other hand, I wrote in about two weeks. I joke about "selling out" by writing a thriller rather than a biblical epic. Because I'm less emotionally involved in it, I posted it for the world to see. (I copyrighted it first; only $35 via copyright.gov. Writers: check it out!)
Writing Skye, I realized that I don't have much of a stomach for the depraved, so my "bad guy" is rather weak. At least that's what my first reviewer said. I'm ok with that. It's comforting to know that I don't quite have what it takes to be a bad guy.

So I guess it's time to write another biblical epic.

Thoughts From a Scooter Newbie

Part 1.

      About a year and a half ago, my mechanic said I really should think about finding another car. I drive a ’96 Corolla. Although it’s 15 years old and now only gets thirty something miles to the gallon (instead of forty something), it is a great car. It does, however, sport two colors: black and rust. A year later, it passed inspection again, but even with my babying it along, I know I’ll need another vehicle.

      Driving along Shelburne Road, there it was: a happy orange and black Jeep. Used, 2010! There was something about the color that said, “I’m too cute to be used only as a truck.” I fantasized about it for days and then finally looked it up online. $23K! For a used Jeep? So much for happy fantasies.

      About the same time, my fifteen year-old son saw a commercial for the Can-Am three wheeler. It was happy yellow and too cute for words. The commercial illustrated all the joy and utility that could be ours. He and I fantasized about it for days and then I looked it up online. $16K! Wow, if we got that, then we’d be saving $7K!

      The reality of impending college bills and daily life nudged its way back into my thinking. I’d also need to get a motorcycle endorsement. Can-Am? Successfully ruled out.

      Or was it?

      For a month or so, I researched three and two wheeled scooters. Why could one purchase scooters online for thousands of dollars less? I found out why, several reasons why.

      I realized that I hadn’t done this much research since before we got our WBC (white bellied caique). I hadn’t quite hit obsession, but I had definitely progressed beyond casual interest. I read reviews, watched more videos, learned the Vermont DMV regulations.

      I found a local shop.

      I dragged my husband to The Daily Rider in Burlington. (I shouldn’t say “dragged,” because he would gladly indulge me more than I ever ask. He was happy to see my enthusiasm.) I emailed the shop with more questions. I practically memorized the Genuine Scooter Company catalog. I brought my husband back again.

      I was in love.

      The only problem: winter was coming. I’d have to wait until spring, I thought. But no, the 2013 models were already available. With October so unseasonably mild, I could very likely get in some decent commuting during November.

      I ordered my Buddy 50, in tangerine. That happy orange and black would be mine, “saving” thousands of dollars compared to that Jeep that first caught my eye.

      During the waiting time, I devoured more videos and articles: safety, cold weather riding, counter steering, two stroke and four stroke engines. I polled my coworkers about motorcycle gear. I lurked the scooter discussion boards.

      The happy day finally came. On my lunch break, we loaded my Buddy into my father-in-law’s truck. As I drove, I beamed as brightly as the scooter in the sunlight.

      We stopped at work and I ran in to tell my friends. They came out, ooh-ing and aah-ing. I think they were as excited as I! We brought it home and I went back to work, in four wheels. I had waited so long, what was a few more hours?

      And so begin my adventures as a scooter newbie.

On Stink Bugs and Buttered Toast

       I was in the middle of a twelve day stretch. Sprinting down the hall, carrying copies of a chart for the ambulance crew, I realized I was smelling buttered toast. It was hours after breakfast. “Strange,” I thought, “but oh well.” We saw our patient off to the ER.

       Finally at the end of my shift, I sat down to chart. I realized I had worked up a sweat and still felt a little damp. It hit me again: the smell of buttered toast. It wasn’t the fresh, yummy kind of toast; it was the smell of older, reheated, smeared with margarine kind of toast.

       For a moment I had a dreadful thought that it was some sort of menopause thing. Even though I’m as old as the Super Bowl, I still am too young for menopause. I dared to sniff my armpit. No, it wasn’t there. Did a resident with buttered fingers touch me when I helped transfer him or her? I didn’t know. My only solution was to shower as soon as I got home.

       How does this relate to stink bugs?

       About a month ago, at the in-laws, we saw a large beetle on the ceiling. It looked like one of the stink bug family. They’ve been an oddity I started noticing over the last ten years or so. The ones I’ve seen have a proboscis, tiny head and heavily armored legs. They move slowly, mechanically.

       [Once, years ago, I watched one such bug trapped in a spider web. The spider, maybe 1/20 its size, was biting the behemoth’s armored leg and trying to spin more web around it. Like a wildebeest being slowly killed by inexperienced lions, its sheer strength was exactly what was causing it to suffer. The scene wasn’t going to end well, but I had neither the heart to watch nor the oomph to end the creature’s misery. I’m not proud to say that I turned away.]

       As we looked at the large beetle invading our dinner party, I said we should scoop it up and put it outside because I thought it was a stink bug. Well, my niece’s boyfriend smushed it.

       In a few seconds, we were enveloped in a green, wet smelling odor. We laughed because there was nothing else to do.

       That week, I ran out of conditioner at the wrong time of the paycheck. I stopped off at the store and picked up some 88¢ or 99¢ conditioner. It would have to do. One was labeled as freesia scented. I like the smell of freesia; why not? I’d get paid in a few days anyway.

       In the shower, I shampooed and conditioned.

       Oh, no.

       Why didn’t I test smell the conditioner before I bought it?

       Instantly I was back at the in-laws’, the memory of stink bug and unspoken “I told you so’s” making me laugh. Only I didn’t laugh. I was trying to not gag in the shower.

       Payday came and I bought a different conditioner, one more expensive (and hopefully better quality) per ounce. Then came that crazy, busy day at work when I first smelled the buttered toast.

       Always ready to play detective, the next day when I showered, I sniffed the new conditioner. Nope, nothing out of the ordinary. I shampooed and conditioned as usual. By the end of the day, I was smelling buttered toast again.

       I hadn’t eaten differently, except maybe a lot more fast food in what turned into a 60 hour work week. I hadn’t worn perfume. It was the same laundry detergent.

       The next day, I used the stink bug– I mean freesia– conditioner. No buttered toast scent taunted me. The next day, I used the other conditioner. It had done that which for which I had bought it: increased the volume to my hair. But I smelled buttered toast.

       My experiment indicated that the conditioner was the cause. Happily, I wasn’t experiencing olfactory hallucinations after all.

       I asked my husband and he said he didn’t notice it, even when he smelled my hair. Since I don’t normally have people come that close to smell my hair, I decided to ditch the freesia and go with the buttered toast.

       At least until my next shopping trip, that is. Maybe I can find a conditioner that smells like pizza.

Numbers 30: When a Woman Makes a Vow

       Nu 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

       3 If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her youth; 4 And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. 5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.

       In the subsequent verses, the LORD covers the woman’s vow in various circumstances. If she is married and her husband hears the vow and allows it, she is bound to it. If he negates the vow, it is negated. The caveat is that he must make his decision “yea” or “nay” that very day that he hears of it.

       A divorced or widowed woman’s vow will stand, just as a man’s would.

       Please don’t immediately reject this rule as outdated. It corresponds to the Biblical roles of men and women and families. It further explains Biblical submission.

       “Vow” is [rdn neder], from [rdn nadar]. Translated, it means, “to vow.”

       In verse 2, the man might nedar a neder unto the LORD, or swear [ebv shaba`] an oath [hewbv sh@buw`ah] to bind [roa 'acar] his soul with a bond [roa 'ecar]. Shaba` means to swear, adjure, make an oath or curse. Sh@buw`ah means an oath or curse. 'Acar means to tie, bind and imprison! 'Ecar is a bond, a binding obligation or obligation.

       With the definitions in mind, look at verse 2 again. The man might nedar a neder unto the LORD, or shaba` a sh@buw`ah to 'acar his soul with an 'ecar.

       Now look at verse 3. The woman doesn’t swear an oath. She may vow and bind her soul, but she doesn’t shaba` a sh@buw`ah.

       Sorry, I had to pause because I was enjoying the phrase “shaba` a sh@buw`ah.”

shaba` a sh@buw`ah

shaba` a sh@buw`ah

shaba` a sh@buw`ah

       Okay, the moment has passed. I’m better now.

       I have no theological framework for this; I’m just commenting. Did women never swear oaths? Later in verse 13, sh@buw`ah is there and seems to apply to women. In that case, maybe the writer is sparing us of the tongue twister in verse 3.

       Have you ever felt God directing you to do something and you felt immense drive and desire? Was it to sell all you have and give to the poor or become a missionary? Was it to give up sex and make your husband understand? Don’t go all defensive. Perhaps you did hear from God. But if you have a family, you have responsibilities. Take a step back and discern whether it was a momentary sensation, a lifelong pattern, what the impact will be on loved ones and is the timing truly this instant vs. some day when the time is right.

       Obviously if a husband hears his wife say, “I vow to read my bible every day for the rest of my life or may I die from some disfiguring disease,” he better negate that. Sometimes one can get caught up in a moment and vow vows that are silly or life changing. As a parent, if I hear a vow come from my child, I have roughly 24 hours to think about it and approve it or disapprove it.

       Oh boy, am I going to get myself in trouble if I say anything about the Silver Ring Thing? Well, I am: Some kids are too young to understand when they make that celibacy promise. Some kids may actually be making vows instead of promises. (I was such a zealot when I was a kid!) In the case of avoiding premarital sex, simple obedience to God’s word is all that is required. No soul-binding vow is required.

       As parents, we need to be careful about pushing our children to make commitments that may be binding their souls. I may know my child well, but I am not able to get inside the mind of another human being to tell whether he’s vowing, promising, or simply following God’s commands.

       Please understand that I’m not going against the Silver Ring Thing. Sex outside marriage is sin. Period. If a child wants to wear the ring, it can be a wonderful reminder and witness. I’d just ask that parents help their children understand not just the sex part, but the intention/promise/vow part.

       Moving on, let’s look at the last line of verse 8.

       8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.

       Here is hope for the woman or child who would vow a vow unto the LORD. If the person in authority refuses to let you bind yourself with a vow, then the LORD will forgive you. You may have been directed by the Holy Spirit to make this vow, but you are released from it. You will be forgiven.

       15 But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity.

       Verse 15 offers sobering words. With headship over the household comes responsibility. Lest the husband or father think he can take such matters lightly, he needs to be prepared to bear [asn nasa'] the iniquity [Nwe `avon] of his wife/daughter if the vow isn’t completed.

       James 3 puts it succinctly:

       3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

       There is always a balance in Biblical authority.

       Look at that: we’re almost done with Numbers!

Shalom!

Nu 28-29: a quick review of offerings

Numbers 28 covers various offerings.

Verse	Offering
1-6	The burnt offering
7-8	The drink and evening offering
9-14	The Sabbath offering
15	The sin offering
16-25	The Passover
26-29	The  first fruits offering
30-31	atonement

Numbers 29 covers the feast of Trumpets (7^th month, 10^th day) and the day of Atonement (7^th month, 15^th day).

There is then a countdown of offerings to mark the days, first 13 bulls, then 12, then 11 and on down to 7 bulls and then one bull.

Nu 27: Who's next?

       Numbers 27 opens with the Zelophehad’s daughters. Their compelling status and request move the LORD to clarify directions regarding inheritance when there is no male heir.

       Next, the LORD instructs Moses to ascend Mount Abarim {= “regions beyond”}. There he will see {har ra'ah} the land which the LORD has given {Ntn nathan} to the children of Israel. After he has seen, looked at, perceived, considered it, Moses will be gathered unto his people as Aaron was.

       It is probably no surprise to Moses why the LORD is doing this.

       12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. 13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. 14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

       Moses responds akin to that wonderful way he did in Exodus 33. In that amazing (to me) account, Moses dares to tell the LORD that if He doesn’t go with Moses, Moses doesn’t want to go.

       [If you want to have your socks blessed off and if you want to grasp a deeper perspective of the LORD, spend some time in Exodus 33 and 34. I’ve spent days, perhaps weeks, meditating on this passage.]

       Back to Mount Abarim. Like Solomon years later, Moses is concerned for the well being of his people, of God’s people.

       15 And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,

 16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

       Even as Moses goes to face his own judgment, he thinks about the children of Israel. The LORD responds with His choice.

       This man was known for his confidence in God’s ability. In the same chapter of Exodus, Exodus 33, we see that this man didn’t leave the tabernacle. The LORD notes his spiritual state, too. Who is he?

       Joshua.

       18 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; 19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

         22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: 23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

The kind of conservative you just might respect

I'm a gun-toting, constitution-loving conservative.
I'm also a nurse who pays through the nose for insurance. I worked my way through school to get my degree. I'm adamantly pro life, but I think medicating an 80 year old for high cholesterol is a waste (because the side effects are possibly worse than the benefits). I do not presume to define someone's quality of life for him or her. If a severely handicapped individual (whether old or young) finds joy or purpose, who am I to say that  s/he's better off dead?
I believe the Bible is God's love letter to mankind, with blessings and warnings. Those warnings are against behaviors that separate us from each other or put us in danger. Those behaviors are called "sin." 
I have good friends that participate in what the Bible calls sin. I still love them where they're at. I won't deny someone a job because of his or her sin (unless it is contraindicated, such as stealing or violence). Whether "gay" or "straight," if you're a jerk, it will be harder to like you, but I will still try to be kind.
I believe we are made in God's image, no matter what color.
I shouldn't care whether people like me or not, but I sometimes do. I am not responsible for other people's thoughts, feelings and actions. Even so, I walk and speak circumspectly.
I am not impressed with statistics. In my job I have learned "statistics don't lie, just tell me what you want them to say."
Correlation does not imply causation.
I take a Biblical perspective on immigration. It's not what you think! (Unless you've been reading my blog, that is.)
If you challenge me on a belief, I will go to God's word and find out what He says. If you are right and I'm wrong, I'll try to thank you.


If we disagree politically, I don't need you to like me, but I do desire your respect. I hope this essay helped earn it.


Peace.

Muddy Skye

I just finished my fourth screenplay: Muddy Skye. I'd been wanting to write a nursing home thriller for some time. I put it to paper (or rather, wrote it on my laptop) in about a week. Having a deadline for a competition helps me get to "fade out."

Now it's time to get back to exercising and eating right and oh, yeah, family.

At first, I joked that I was "selling out" by switching to a thriller and away from Biblical epics. When I read the first drafts, however, I realize once again that I can't help teaching, no matter what I'm doing.

I had my Truby 22 steps before me the whole time. This makes for a format that might be cookbook, but by using the tools for good structure, it helps hit all of the beats. I've read writing coaches who say you should get 5 or 6 scripts done before you look for an agent. If that is true, then I'm that much closer.

It also gets me that much closer to making Jeremiah (The Last of the Kings) a reality.

Bemusement

About 9 or 9:05 am yesterday, I experienced a benign, perhaps divine, royal bemusement. The matter seemed incredibly small to me, but to the other person, it was huge. I received grace to go with it and value the person.
I don't know how to put a landmark on it, but for several hours I was a changed person. Maybe I still am.

Nu 26

       24,000 people have just died. Phinehas’ zeal stopped the plague. What next? Take a census.

       Numbers 26 is the resulting census of all who can go to war. Before you fear you’ll be bored to tears with bean counting, give it a read. You’ll find some narrative tidbits and refreshers.

       Remember Dathan, Abiram and Korah? Remember that they rebelled and were swallowed by an earthquake? Look at verse 11. Korah’s children weren’t wiped out. That might be an important clue some time.

       How about Er and Onan? There’s a story in itself. That’s in Genesis 38. It’s not rated G.

       What was the name of the man who had no sons? Zelophehad’s daughters were granted the inheritance and a new rule was established. (Feminists and readers of Jane Austen should take notice. The old English concept of “entailment” is antibiblical, hence the anger we feel at the injustice the Misses Bennett may suffer.) This concept is so important that the story of Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah is repeated in Numbers 27 and 36 and Joshua 17 and I Chronicles 7.

       Next, Nadab and Abihu are referenced. Even though they died for their sin, they are still remembered generations later.

       Verses 64-65 tell us that there are none of the first generation of wilderness walkers except for Caleb and Joshua. Their faith and confidence in God brought them out of the wilderness into the promised land. That’s a great way to end a chapter.

Nu 25: Phinehas saves the day

        Nu 25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined [dmu tsamad] himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

       Tsamad means to bind/fasten/frame. It's not a casual attachment. They spiritually duct taped themselves to Baal Peor.

       To quote Douglas Adams’ bowl of petunias, “Oh no, not again.”

       The LORD tells Moses what to do: hang the leaders in broad daylight. This will turn away the LORD’s anger.

         Nu 25:4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads [var ro'sh] of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.

       It doesn’t seem that Moses follows the LORD’s direction. If he did, the Bible doesn’t say so. Also, if he obeyed, why didn’t the plague stop?

       Verse 5 says Moses tells Israel’s judges [jpv shaphat] to slay [grh harag] those who have joined Baal Peor. Do they? Again, the Bible doesn’t say.

       Please don’t get mad at me over questioning whether Moses obeyed the LORD. Clearly he has disobeyed before. It’s not really the point of the chapter. The point is that there’s widespread sin going on: sex and idolatry. As a result, there’s a plague. 24,000 are going to die by the end.

       Enter Zimri, a prominent leader from the tribe of Simeon. He’s showing off Cozbi, the daughter of a prominent Midianite leader. Right in front of everyone.

         6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

       Enter Phinehas, Aaron’s grandson. He grabs a javelin and goes after them.

       There’s no way to be delicate about what happens next. Well, maybe there is. I’ll just quote it and leave the circumstance to your imagination.

       7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; 8 And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.

       Yeah. That’s what he did.

       But it stopped the plague.

       And the LORD noticed.

       10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

          12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

Black caps part 2

       In my Black Caps entry, I quoted from Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

       Leviticus 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

       Deuteronomy 24:19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. 20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

 22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

       Clearly, the LORD commanded to not be greedy about harvest, to give the opportunity for the unfortunate to eat.

       My liberal friends might jump to their feet to shout “Hallelujah!” That’s ok, but this is only one facet of the LORD’s code of conduct regarding harvest. Please read what we find in Deuteronomy 23.

       Deuteronomy 23:24 When thou comest into thy neighbour’s vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel. 25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn.

       The concept of ownership and rights is deeply endorsed by scripture. Certainly greed is sin. It is sin in the wealthy and in the poor. Being poor is no more virtuous than being wealthy. It’s what you do with what you’re given. It’s what you do in your heart about it.

Black Caps!

The Backyard Naturalist Strikes Again:

Black Caps!

       Ah, black caps: the thorny weed with sweet and sour black gems of pitty fruit. The outdoor baby sitter. The source of pennies from Mom. The dye for making pretend blood for play-acting.

        It’s black cap season again, and by my calculation, it’s a week or two early. Usually they are at peak just before my birthday. This time, they’re at peak for Dad’s.

       To me, picking black caps has been a favorite part of summer for as long as I can remember. The pleasure of the prizes is almost always worth the pain of acquiring them.

        Black caps are protected by an astringent white powder on the stems and thorns. The thorns vary from large enough to draw blood to nearly microscopic enough to drive one to itchy exasperation. When pricked by the thorns, the powder seems to create an extra irritant to one’s skin. Additionally, it is rare to find a stand of black caps that are mosquito-free.

       Through the years, this backyard naturalist has noticed something about the black caps. Perhaps you have, too. Daddy longlegs seem to frequent the black caps. One hot summer day, I watched a daddy longlegs on one of the juicy black berries.

       “What are you doing?” I may have whispered.

       Then I saw it. The daddy longlegs had its fangs in the fruit. It was drinking the juices out of it, its tiny fangs poking into the fruit and then slipping them into its mouth and then back into the fruit again. I delightedly reported it to Mom and Dad, who gave me more than just parental interest. Dad made his “I’m impressed!” face. He raises his eyebrows slightly, draws his chin and lower lip upward and sometimes tips his head. That expression is one of those things I live for, as my father is a brilliant man. Impressing him makes my whole year. I’m definitely, as they say, my mother’s daughter and my father’s daughter.

       Today, at the end of a walk with my sweetie, I was struck by the immensity of this year’s black cap harvest all around the edge of our development. No one had touched them, although they’ve been ripening en masse for several days. The plants seemed to be begging to be relieved of their load of juicy black fruit.

       I went inside and changed to a long sleeved shirt (even though it’s 80+º out there). In about 20 minutes, I had picked a quart.

       When it comes to harvesting “weeds,” I remind myself to not be greedy. My biblical precedent is found in Leviticus.

         Leviticus 19: 9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

       And, in Deuteronomy:

       Deuteronomy 24: 19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. 20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

 22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

       Even with my quart of berries, there’s at least another quart out there ready for the picking. After that, maybe another wave of ones that are still pink. 

       I’ve picked enough manna for one day.