One Night with the King

Peter O'Toole begins this story as the prophet Samuel, proclaming that the Amalikite king and queen must be killed because they are haters of the Jews. The king that is beseached by Samuel disobeys and the Amalikite queen escapes with a baby in her womb. That baby grows into the man Haman who eventually seeks his revenge in Persia. John Rys-Davies is Mordecai, Hadassah or Esther's uncle. The beginning of the movie starts out a little cheasy w/ some bad acting as the movie sets the scene for Esther's time. But eventually it smoothes out into a pretty decent, epic experience. The palace of Persia is definately CG-ed but with some good results, made me even think hey they'd been using WETA workshop. Even Denethor from LOTR's (along with Gimli) makes a good performance as the King's second-hand man before Haman. Jesse and I loved every single dress Esther wears after she becomes queen. Her free-spirited and bold personality made me like the heroine even more. She wins the king's heart with beauty and intelligence set apart from the rest. I love the fact that a Jewish woman became queen over a nation. That is practically unheard of. She conceals her origin from the king until the end where she must plead for her people's lives. Haman is about to order the annihilation of the Jews in Persia, when Mordecai tells Esther she has to go to the king. He says, who knows, you might've been placed here for such a time as this (the famous and often quoted verse). To go before the king without being summoned is practically a death sentence. So she says, if I perish, I perish and then off she goes. The king is moved with compassion toward Esther and lowers his sceptor, a sign of favor. She asks him to meet her privately and then she makes her plea. I also love the fact that Haman's demise came from a Jew. That is God's justice. Haman is hung on the gallows intended for Mordecai. Anyway, go see it. It's an uplifting tale about the goodness of God and some of the scenes are beautifully shot. The costume design is pretty amazing. The king even has a tattoo.

Fairytales 4

Well in the process of waiting for some song lyrics I've written a new edition to my fairytales. I actually was inspired by something I read that James wrote on Chris' blog about the woman at the well and so infused that story with sort of a Hosea feel and here's the final product.

Water and wine, blood and sorrow
that which wets my lips
never quenches the thirst or the hunger.

IV

A tattered, porcelain remnant scrapes the dust, a hand of ancient wisdom in the ways of man, from her birth a beauty of the night and a seer of carnal desire. Her fingers quicken the search in the muddied waste-trough, skillfully attending to the gnawed bones and spit soaked napkins that have dabbed more than the corner of a mouth. She allows a frenzied laugh, empty as a toymaker’s speaking doll, when she wraps her grip and wish around the ringing coins. If she could sing, if she remembered how, to set free her words into the black, smothered night with praises of victory, she might. But a pallid fist of her day’s pay, a familiar memory of what it is like to be comfortably desolate in a broken bed while the wind screams cigarette smoke through cracked glass, are the companions she asks for. Not the stars and promises of higher things. Wealth and lust invited her in, now the yellow mustached face repays with a kind toss of her wage, an endearing name to surpass all other names, to remind her who she is, a weathered rag to soak in the broken life that flows through every gutter and street. She pukes to cleanse herself of the filth she has carried, a reflex, not penitence and stares from her watery eyes. A dirt road runs between house and business, quietly escaping town like an old dog waiting to die. She does not want wine or course company, just silence while it can be had, even if it is not found within. Her cheeks are sea-pale and wild, touched by the darkness that plays in the ally-ways. She moves through the laughter laid streets that streams from every swinging door and balcony. It is far from being kind, but an ominous delight that nips her mind and bare feet. At the edge of town, where the road bends and dissolves into the hills, stands a well of simple means. She rests her head on its stony mouth before sending for water to pour over her worthless skin. A shadow, a tall but humble form, stops her hand without touch or imposing approach. The man bends beside her, his eyes searching the well’s black depths and takes the bucket to lower down. As the rope slides across his palm, he says, the water I have satisfies your deepest thirst. She chews on his words and spits them out, another line in the history of lies. He goes on, what is it you want? Riches or peace? for both are mine to give. She laughs, her cold voice aimed at his kindness, and what do I have to do? His eyes meet hers, a timeless age, a childlike life, encircles within like a calming rain. Share my name. Marry me. Her heart stutters a steady beat of fear. Sir, do you know who I am? He nods. Do you know who I am? If you did, you would ask me to cover your shame.

Updates from the Burgs

We finished filming the first episode of the mini-series. I snuck a peak during church and the shots look great. The premiere is this Friday night. I think this year we've made leaps and bounds and alot of times the enemy gets in there and throws accusation or discouragement our way that so blocks our view from what is really being accomplished. God takes the small steps and uses them to cross oceans and climb mountains. He is the One who leaps over them both, and the safest place, I am reminded, is out there with Him, even though sometimes it can be painful.

We sang a song of mine a couple of Sundays ago...Open Eyes. Really felt on target and just excited me to continue on. I am 90% sure that I will be going to Morningstar's conference on writing and the arts this November. I have some time in there where I'm free so I think it's probably the Lord's will.

So worship is going to undergo a small change since Ducky is taking some leave for a couple of months. Keep us in prayer that that will all be worked out.

Morning Fiddlings

X

Winter, the end to everything,
a wasteland for my dreams,
a beginning to my sorrow and
the quiet sleep of life underneath.
Nothing breathes unless it is dead
and even then, it's a foul smell
of haunting respite, lingering
time that is not time nor forgotten.

Where I Been

T-shirts are on the way. I'm excited about that. Heading to Big Stone for the weekend only to return to the mini-series meeting we're having sunday night. All good things...must come to an end. LOL, just thinking about a star trek episode that jumped through three different time periods in jean-luc's life. And how he says, "our future is not written in stone. we can change it." I love that b/c even after seeing what is was he didn't let that discourage him, he just said, well we'll change it. It was only a possibility.

Here's a little ditty from something I'm working on:

He talked poison in his mouth.
He walked lazy in his step.
He loved hating in his heart.
He made crazy the world.
'Why do you keep his company?'
'Cause I'm believing I'll never be like him.'

Anyway, I guess you'd have to see where it's used and for now, that's a secret. ;)

A working cover. I put some color to it recently also. Man, lots of good and creative things to look forward to. The TV mini-series will hopefully prove to be a worth-while undertaking. I think with a multitude of talent and dedication it could really prove to be something. Neil, this pic is for you, no matter where you go. Love you! You've been the truest of knights to me.

had to change a few things

Bm G D A
Here comes a dreamer with wild claims
Bm G D A
He’s alive but his passion will die
Bm F#m D G
and from the pit, a cry of his shame
Bm F#m G D
that it’s too much to believe again

Who was once a son, now a slave
far from the place of childhood dreams
Under the far sun, he grew in wisdom
and on his finger, a ring of kings


Pre-Chorus:
Bm G D A
In the prison his dreams go on
Bm G D A
Not by might but the Spirit of God

Chorus:
G A F#m Bm
For My ways are not the ways of man
G A F#m Bm
And My kingdom is hidden from the wise
G A F#M Bm
Soon your faith will carry you high
G Asus A
into the promises of your time

Songs for Worship

Ran out of printer ink...going to dad's. First one I kept simple cause I want it to be a sort of punkish worship song.

Am F C G
You’re the one I run to
Am F C Em
the light after the rain
You’re the one I hold onto
the goodness of my day

Pre-Chorus:
Am F Dm G
You’re embrace will never end

Chorus:
C F Am G
Hey yeah, yeah all praise
Hey yeah, yeah to the King
Hey yeah, yeah to His name
It is Jesus, It is Jesus


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreamer

Bm G D
Here he comes, a dreamer with wild claims
Bm G D
He’s alive but his passion will die
Bm F#m D G
and from the pit, a cry of his shame
Bm F#m G D
that it’s too much to believe again

Who was once a son, now a slave
far from the place of childhood dreams
Under the far sun, he grew in wisdom
and on his finger, a ring of kings


Pre-Chorus:
Bm G D A
In the prison his dreams go on
Bm G D A
Not by might but the Spirit of God

Chorus:
G A F#m Bm
For My ways are not the ways of man
G A F#m Bm
And My kingdom is hidden from the wise
G A F#M Bm
Soon your faith will carry you high
G Asus A
into the promises of your time

Song Revisited

Hosea

Verse1:
This one You said she is beautiful Gm Cm Bb F
and You knew her so deeply,
before her days began. As a child
everything she would be wonderful,
trusting a holy love.

Verse2:
It was You who taught her how to walk,
she walked away into another’s arms.
Sold her heart for a dying comfort
when all along it was Your healing,
it was Your pleasure she needed.

Chorus:
Then You said, one day Eb F Gm Bb
you’re gonna change your mind Eb F Gm F
One day you’ll lose/find Me Bb Gm Bb F
in the sands of Achor
But I won’t leave Eb F Gm
No I’ll never leave End: Gm Cm Bb F
For there you’ll find the door
that leads to freedom

Some Beach Pics

The fam before dinner. You can see gram's arms in the background. The sands of Tatooine. I thought bout calling Adam to say we saw a few Jawas. But we had to run from some Tuskan Raiders.

Aaron and fellow dinner mate. A blue crab...he ate 8 lbs. of alaskan that night as well.

Nagshead

Currently I'm in North Carolina, at the beach. Aaron and I rented surfboards for the week and I'm trying to learn the sport. Not easy, my friends. I thought snowboarding was frustrating. Throw in waiting for the right wave, paddling with exhausted arms, and balancing well there ya have it. But, once up it is fun and rewarding. My knees are bruised though...can't wait to check out Hattaras in a few days. The weather's been great. In between relaxing and swimming, I've been thinking on a graphic novel idea. I want to do something story wise w/ my art but I'm not really interested in children stuff at the time. So, I thought of a neat concept for a short GN. Anyway, that's it for now.

Good Morning America

Let's see, I saw "Lady in the Water" recently. Spoilers, so be warned. The characters were great. Paul Giamatti had a stutter...I love that actor more and more. His broken, downcast spirit made him the unlikely hero. When the Howard girl started talking about why she was chosen to lead, and goes into this list about the things that are wrong with her, it was funny to me cause I just wanted to rise up and say, "Oh but that's what makes the best leaders...the ones who feel the least likely but who have the most courage when the time comes." And although it's a classic model of storytelling, I can identify most with a tale about a run-down, outcast lot that's the mold for our heroes.

The August 19th show I believe is still for the go. I'm excited b/c it will be a good attempt at meshing several styles and giftings. So be praying for us...

FNT has been going good...we're learning a lot and enjoying the journey, even the rocky parts. I'll be glad to spend some time with Robert Mearns in the near future, as he said he'd meet with our team and just speak some wisdom into us.

Em C G D
It is time to forget your past
Em C Am D
It is time for sacrifice
Em C G D
It is time the saints lay down their lives
Em C Am D
There’s a cry for freedom


Em C G D
It is time to leave behind your dead
Em C Am D
It is time to redeem the land
Em C G D
It is time to go to His mountain
Em C Am D
There’s a cry for freedom

G D Em
So run on to freedom
G D Em
Run on, run on (repeat)

C G D G
The old is gone, the new has come
C G D
The old things have passed away

It Is Finished

Well it only took about a year. I'd estimate about fifty hours of work, not including drying time. But as I look at it, it's sort of bittersweet cause so much has happened in the past year and it's been poured out onto that canvas. I miss it and as much of a pain in the arse that it was sometimes, wow, I can say I am so pleased that it's done. Noah, I hope ya like it.

War and Justice

The past week has been crazy hard and rewarding. The FNT turned out awesome after a day of warring through anxiety, stress, and frustration. I felt like we pushed through something major cause ever since that night, although it hasn't been butterflies and gumdrops, I have had this new level of confidence and vision. Anyway, I've been thinking more and more about wanting to play out. I wrote this this morning as a sort of recap to my thoughts from friday and a way to get it out there.

Verse1:
A word can kill your soul
like a hammer to a nail
Too tired to let it go
Hope is a broken anchor

Verse2:
When’s it gonna be your time
There’s been a fight so great
and now it’s hate you carry
You find, somewhere, truth is buried

Verse3:
The face of your beauty
is it scratched by weeping
Cries of the innocent ring
for the sick to rise off their beds

Chorus:
Just trust and let your heart rest
He is a saving defense
There’s a war with enemy lines
But He rides on the back of justice

I Miss You Guys!

Belgrade at its finest. We walked all over the city and I'm pretty sure we know it like we would know something we know very well.
A beautiful day at the Adriatic Sea. What the heck...it's weird to think I was all the way across the world only a short time ago. And where is my Danielle? Where have you gone to???
Autumn and Tim after the treacherous boat ride. We barely escaped with our lives. Here they recall how many times they puked.

I'm very slow at getting film developed. I have about 500 pics that need it. Currently I'm working on a little travel essay about our trip. Maybe I can post it when it's done.

T-Shirt Design

It'll say life after slavery, life after religion. Something to that affect. Proceeds will go toward friday night thing.

Black Makes me Laugh

Do you ever find yourself leaving a movie, still feeling like you're one of the characters and somehow a part of their world? Well, last night I saw Nacho Libre. And I definately did not feel like that after leaving this quirky comedy. My favorite part is Satan's Cavemen. Those little ankle biting gremlins had me laughing till my stomach couldn't take it anymore. The movie was out there, odd in a Napoleon Dynamite way...w/ some Wes Anderson nods ;) ;) that one was for you Kimbo. Jack Black brings another one home. So, for my pals that will remember this movie experience, a xxooXoXXO!

Tom Petty's Free Fallin'

So me and Keith had this idea to do this song soon for friday night. Only we'd have to change a few of the lines. But otherwise it would work well. So, give me opinions of ways we could alter some lyrics. Just whatever you think. Here's his song:

She's a good girl, loves her mama
Loves Jesus and America too
She's a good girl, crazy about Elvis
Loves horses and her boyfriend too
It's a long day living in Reseda
There's a freeway runnin through the yard
And I'm a bad boy cause I don't even miss her
I'm a bad boy for breakin her heart
And I'm free, free fallin
Yeah I'm free, free fallin
All the vampires walkin through the valley
Move west down ventura boulevard
And all the bad boys are standing in the shadows
All the good girls are home with broken hearts
And I'm free, free fallin'
Yeah I'm free, free fallin'
Free fallin', now I'm free fallin,' now I'm...
I wanna glide down over Mulholland
I wanna write her name in the sky
Gonna free fall out into nothin
Gonna leave this world for a while
And I'm free, free fallin'
Yeah I'm free, free fallin'

Psalm 29

Can we say russ? Is anyone else's blog acting stately? ;) Well, I was spending some time with the Lord one morning in Serbia and was reading through Psalm 29. So I worked some of the passages into lyrical form. Then, today I re-worked them to a melody I liked. It's a simple song, but lately I've been trying to get back to the simplicity of loving Jesus.

Psalm 29

Verse1:
F#m A D A
Your voice comes like the wind
F#m A D A
to a heart troubled again
F#m D A C#m
Nothing can keep You away
F#m D C#m D
No nothing can keep You away

Verse2:
F#m A D A
Your words burn with desire
F#m A D A
the dry and dross from my heart
F#m D A C#m
So I can love You again
F#m D C#m D
And I will love You again

Chorus:
E F#m D A
In Your house everything cries glory
In Your eyes we are, we are holy
In Your house everything cries glory
E F#m D E
In Your eyes we are, we are holy

Orson Scott Card

If ya've never read anything by him...do it. I've come to realize he is not only a Christian whose career has been primarily in the secular world, but his insight into the character of God and humankind is point blank. Here are some quotes that hit a chord in me. But read Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow and find them for yourself (and then on to Speaker for the Dead if so inclined). Warning: SPOILERS!

Bean's musings on Ender from Ender's Shadow: The important difference was in the way he led the others. He had their fierce devotion instead of the ever-so-slightly-resentful obedience Bean got from them, which helped from the start. But he also earned that devotion by noticing, not just what was going on in the battle, but what was going on in his commanders' minds. He was stern, sometimes even snappish, making it clear that he expected better than their best. And yet he had a way of giving an intonation to innocuous words, showing appreciation, admiration, closeness. They felt known by the one whose honor they needed.

Bean's thoughts in the last battle: There was no way, at the beginning of this battle, to predict that the Buggers would make such a mistake. Yet throughout history, great victories had come as much because of the losing army's errors as because of the winner's brilliance in battle. The Buggers have finally, finally learned that we humans value each and every individual human life. We don't throw our forces away because every soldier is the queen of a one-memeber hive. But they've learned this lesson just in time for it to be hopelessly wrong---for we humans do, when the cause is sufficient, spend our own lives. We throw ourselves onto the grenade to save our buddies in the foxhole. We rise out of the trenches and charge the entrenched enemy and die like maggots under a blowtorch. We strap bombs on our bodies and blow ourselves up in the midst of our enemies. We are, when the cause is sufficient, insane.

Description of grown Ender by his sister in Speaker for the Dead: Ender was quiet and unobtrusive, but he could not possibly conceal his brilliant understanding of human nature. The average students would overlook him, but the best of them, the ones she hoped would come up with original thought, would inevitably follow the subtle but powerful clues he would inevitably drop.

Ender's thoughts on the Mayor in Speaker for the Dead: He was used to the way religious people assumed their sacred stories must sound absurd to unbelievers. But Ender did not consider himself an unbeliever, and he had a keen sense of the sacredness of many tales. But he could not explain this to Bosquinha. She would have to change her assumptions about him over time. She was suspicious of him, but he believed she could be won; to be a good Mayor, she had to be skilled at seeing people for what they are, not for what they seem.

Orson Scott Card has also recently written "Sarah", "Rebekah", and "Rachel and Leah," fictional books about the lives of those women in Genesis. I've only read Rebekah but it was well written. This was really my first clue that he is not just a pronounced Christian but a man of Godly character and understanding. Ever since I've looked for the clues throughout his "secular" novels.