My wife and I were able to see The Stoning of Soraya M. last night. The movie was intense and disturbing, featuring a gripping plot line with fantastic acting, an excellent script, and great camera work. The character development of Soraya and Zahra was superb. The filming was done in Jordan and the movie is mostly in Farsi with English subtitles. It was incredibly realistic, and as the story line built to a crescendo the horror of the betrayal and human suffering were almost unbearable. The R rating is appropriate given the theme and the violence. This is the kind of movie that is worth … [Read more...] about Brief Review of The Stoning of Soraya M.
Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009)
Michael Jackson passed into eternity today. With phenomenal talent, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as part of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career at the age of 13. In time, he would become one of the most celebrated pop stars of all time, with a series of best-selling albums and a worldwide audience. He would amass a mind-staggering amount of money. He literally lived in a Fantasy Land. Yet he remained (and in all likelihood died) confused (about his gender, his race, his very human identity), without hope, and without the Greatest Treasure in the … [Read more...] about Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009)
Not Watching TV and Rarely Going to Movies
A great word from John Piper on the dangers of TV and movies. An excerpt: I think relevance in preaching hangs very little on watching movies, and I think that much exposure to sensuality, banality, and God-absent entertainment does more to deaden our capacities for joy in Jesus than it does to make us spiritually powerful in the lives of the living dead. Sources of spiritual power—which are what we desperately need—are not in the cinema. You will not want your biographer to write: Prick him and he bleeds movies. If you want to be relevant, say, for prostitutes, don’t watch a movie with a lot … [Read more...] about Not Watching TV and Rarely Going to Movies
A Prescription for American Health Care
Looking for some perspective on the health care issue, currently on the table in the U.S. Congress? John C. Goodman, President and CEO at the National Center for Policy Analysis received his Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University, and has taught and done research at Columbia University, Stanford University, Dartmouth College, Southern Methodist University and the University of Dallas. He writes regularly for such newspapers as the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Investor’s Business Daily and the Los Angeles Times, and is the author of nine books, including Patient Power: The … [Read more...] about A Prescription for American Health Care
Why Doug Wilson at Desiring God National Conference?
HT: Desiring God I had the privilege of editing a book a few years ago in which Doug Wilson contributed a chapter. Doug has a sharp and witty mind, not to mention a great ability to engage with words. … [Read more...] about Why Doug Wilson at Desiring God National Conference?
The Stoning of Soraya M
Looks like a great movie, based on a true story, coming to select theaters this Friday: This film is based on a true story that occurred after the Iranian Revolution of the late 70s. A village persecutes an innocent woman, and another dares to challenge the injustice. The movie shows the true, wicked face of Islamic Sharia Law as it is applied unjustly against women. Staring Jim Caviezel. Update: Peter T. Chattaway writes about The Stoning of Soraya M in Christianity Today . … [Read more...] about The Stoning of Soraya M