Category: jesus

Job Nonfulfillment

You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.

—Commencement address by Steve Jobs, delivered on June 12, 2005 at Stanford University.

The only time I have felt like I have been doing “great work” or at least meaningful work, to me, was working for the Montreat Conference Center. And that was in any capacity. I’ve been a wilderness ranger taking care of their 2,500 acres of wilderness, a bellman in the Assembly Inn, a night auditor in the Inn (3rd shift one winter and read The Shining. Awesome.), AV Technician on up to Director of Production. I, also, felt like I was doing good work as a sound guy and sometimes bartender at the original Grey Eagle in Black Mountain working for beers instead of money. In each of those positions I have felt like I was doing something I loved. Maybe it was being surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Maybe it was the folks I was working with or the people I was serving. Maybe, in Montreat, it was working for the “Dear Lord baby Jesus, lyin’ there in [his] ghost manger, just lookin’ at [his] Baby Einstein developmental videos, learnin’ ’bout shapes and colors.” It just might be a combination of all of those things. While I’m in an industry that I enjoy I just can’t get behind what I’m doing here. Sure, it’s putting food on the table and insurance for the family, but, ugh. I just can’t stand being here wearing a tie and pushing for the almighty dollar instead of the Almighty.

I suppose I’m having some employment angst. It’s come up more so since I have been the new director of event technology at my current location. Also, with the Elder Extroverted Holy One’s graduation from Vanderbilt Divinity School and her current church search (that’s sounds kinda cool, “Church Search ’08” should be a t-shirt). There is a possibility that depending on the call she gets I might be able to be a stay-at-home dad. With the Young Extroverted One going to public school I could stay with the Bobblehead to save on childcare costs. We’ve even had a short discussion of possibly just owning one car.

With all of the possibilities of being able to be more of the domestic goddess that I could be I am certainly finding it difficult to get motivated to get up in the morning and put on that tie and coat. Thankfully, my work ethic kicks in and I continue to do the best I can no matter what I’m doing. . . . Stupid ethic . . .

Another Worthy Article from the Wittenburg Door

The 10 Worst Movies About Jesus

05/27/2008

(Not Counting The Passion of the Christ Because That Would Be Too Easy)

By Danny Gallagher

The Robe

Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter

Jesus Christ, the Mini-Series

Zombie Jesus!

In Search of Historic Jesus

The Prince of Peace, a/k/a The Lawton Story

The Gospel According to Matthew

Ultrachrist

The Miracle Maker

The DaVinci Code

So, another fine article featured in the Wittenburg Door. There are some here that I haven’t seen. I might have to present a Jesus movie film festival at the church. Or maybe not. I don’t want to jeopardize the Elder Extroverted Holy One’s future job prospects. I’ll wait until she gets a job and offer the film festival at that church.

**UPDATED: Peter Rabbit vs. Jesus Christ*

*But not that vampire hunter version. That wouldn’t be fair for that poor rabbit.

The other day the crew (Young Extroverted One, Elder Extroverted Holy One and I) went to the 12th South Taproom to attend the CD release party of Leslie McClure. We got there a little too early but we sort of planned to eat before the show. After finishing our meal the YEO started to get restless and began singing Easter songs which mostly consisted of bunnies and stuff.

While we aren’t freaky and fundamental about it we do try to be intentional about the Christian holidays. So, EEHO brought up that we also, and mostly, celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at this time of year. “So, why don’t we sing songs about Jesus instead of Easter?”** thus spake the YEO. Because in her mind Easter is the candy and bunnies and chicks and that annoying fake grass you put in baskets.

It’s kind of difficult to keep a balance between the secular, commercial side of holidays and the other religious side. For Pete’s sake (ya like that don’t ya?), the YEO is a potential preacher’s kid. She shouldn’t go through life just celebrating the Roman-pagan holidays. I think she needs to see both sides of the festivities (while not demanding the double-up of goodies).

Not only do we like to be religiously appropriate but also historically appropriate. It’ll make for a nice clash of ideals for teachers/authoritarian figures to deal with later. Maybe we’ll send her to a private Christian academy of some sort in Kansas.

**UPDATE: Apparently, my recollections of the YEO’s quote were clouded by the many Highland Brewing Company’s Gaelic Ales that I consumed. I suppose the EEHO should be my editor before I publish my posts. But that would take way too long.

The Young Extroverted One actually said, “Why would we sing songs about Jesus at Easter?” I apologize for my misquoting of the YEO lest she sue me for libel.

4 Words=Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter

 

Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter Theme Song

jcvh_lg.jpg

This movie has everything to make a great movie; Jesus Christ, vampires, Kung Fu, Musical (as in genre), lesbians, Mexican Wrestler El Santo, God talking through a bowl of ice cream and cherries, revenge, bad acting, bad audio dubbing, and made by Canadiens. What more do I need to say except, “Thank you, Netflix!”

Check out other reviews of this . . . ahem . . . film:

Rotten Tomatoes

BadMovies.org

Wikipedia

Green Cine

Internet Movie Database

Odessa Filmworks

All Backed Up

I have a backlog of things to write about. I just need the time to do it. So, here’s a little teaser:

  • The Young Extroverted One’s Spring Break adventures with daddy at the library
  • The Young Extroverted One’s Spring Break adventures with daddy at Shelby Park
  • The Young Extroverted One’s Spring Break adventures with daddy at the new ice cream joint in East Nashville
  • The Young Extroverted One’s Spring Break adventures with daddy at the zoo
  • My missing cooking/baking
  • Good times down at the farm
  • Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter

Soon to come:

  • The Young Extroverted One’s first hockey game

Sunday Happenin’s

Anyone in the Nashville area that is without a place to worship or want a change of scenery should come to Trinity Presbyterian Church tomorrow.  This is where the Elder Extroverted Holy One will preach at 11:00AM.  I’ll be there even though by then I will have heard it for the fourth or fifth time.  I guess it makes up for all of the unchurchiness I have done in the past.

My lovely bride is so awesome up there preachin’ to the masses!

We Celebrate Whose Birthday?

Just a quick observation to ponder . . . What is the connection between some churches and Santa Claus? I’ve seen several Baptist churches advertising breakfast with Santa?!? And then I read some blogs about the same here, here, here and here. The last three describing a breakfast with Santa accompanied by photos that occurred at the Otter Creek Church.

I don’t have a problem with the jolly, old elf. Nor do I have problems with pictures of kids and the guy. They’re kind of funny. But this whole blending of Santa with the birth of Jesus. What are we REALLY celebrating here? I don’t get it.

Any thoughts?