Good Night, And Good Luck (review)

Finally got back to working through the Netflix queue and watched "Good Night, And Good Luck," the famed film highlighting the legendary battle of wills between journalist Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joe McCarthy.

This is one of those films that interested me when if first came out and I just never made time for it. I was glad to get the chance to see if it lived up to the hype.

I liked it a lot. I'm a sucker for McCarthy drama, and this one was packed with it. My only problem was that the movie seemed really short. It felt almost like an independent short-film. I'm not sure why. Perhaps if the Fred Friendly and Ed Murrow relationship had been developed historically it might have felt a bit more broad.

The other strange thing for me was the overall positive ending of the movie. It might sound dumb, but I tend to expect this quick, "indie" feeling films to end on a darker note. But this one didn't. That was a surprise, albeit a good one.

The movie was a little slow for my taste, but I'm glad I watched it.

Ever see it?
Like it?
Hate it?

Jonah gets in the car Monday after school and begins telling us that we went to an assembly at school where a guy and girl bent steel pipes and broke baseball bats.

I immediately remembered seeing signs for the Next Generation Power Force Team at New Life Church just down the road from Bethel, but didn't think much of it.

Once we get home, Jonah finds a "free admission" coupon in his backpack and is begging me to go. I'll be honest, I did not want to go. Mostly because I didn't want to leave the house, but I also because I figured it would be ridiculous.

But Jonah wanted to see it and I'll never pass up the chance to get a look at somebody's church facility. (I'm weird like that.) Below is a list of observations from my night.

• New Life has a pretty cool sanctuary. I liked it. Nothing too fancy, but nicely put together.
  
  
• The Power Force team stuff seemed a little blah. It seems strange that you could be so ho-hum about smashing 8 bricks with your head, but it came off a little "phoned-in."
  
  
• I heard one of the longest, most horrible altar calls in my life. Seriously...a 10 minute analogy about a worldwide virus. It was not cool. I'd tell you, but when I got home and told Kristen, she essentially told me to never repeat the story because it was so long and boring.
  
  
• There was a strange "separation of church and state" thing happening during the presentation. I think it's because these guys do a lot of stuff in public schools.
  
  
• Worst metaphor of the night, spoken from the stage: "Did you know there were 16 school shootings this year? We don't the blood of students running down our hallways...we need the blood of Jesus running down our hallways and delivering children from their sin." Kinda' weird.
  
  
• I will give props for racial diversity in the crowd. I think it was primarily a church crowd, but I enjoyed seeing so many groups represented in the congregation.
  
  
• Lots of "preacher voice." Lots.
  
  
• Jonah loved the strength stuff. The spiritual side gave us a good chance to talk about following God and allowed me to steer Jonah through what ended up being a pretty high-intensity emotional ending of the service.
  

BOOKS I'M READING!

Trying to work through a few different books right now. I normally don't read 3 books at once because I'm not smart enough to do that. I keep bouncing from book to book lately. I think I probably ought to focus on just one, but I thought I'd share and see if you guys knew anything about these books or had thoughts about them.

Flickering Pixels (Shane Hipps)
I had read a few ads for this, then caught an article written by this guy in a magazine, so I figured I'd pick it up. So far, I've liked it, but it's a slow read. A friend who read it tried to wave me off on it, but I'm trying to finish it and make my own judgment about it. It does look like Hipps is arguing for a medium-is-the-message idea h ere, which I personally don't agree with. However, it's too early to tell.

One cool thing about this book is the use of imagery. As Hipps takes us through different modes of media/communication, he often will include pictures/diagrams to support what he's saying. It helps a pretty thick text come alive.

My feelings on this book remain to be seen. Anybody else read it?



Forgotten God (Francis Chan) I've never read any of Chan's stuff. I've liked what I've heard/seen through some conference and church videos.

As a worship leader, I'm always interested in seeing what scripture says about the Holy Spirit. In the worship world, I think God's Spirit has been really misunderstood, abused, denied, etc. I'm hoping this book will help me be clear on what God's Word has to say.

This one started slow for me, but I'm digging into now.

Who's reading this one?




Cod (Mark Kurlansky) Dan Bolin handed me this book and said, "Do you like to read weird things?"

Dan doesn't know me very well.

I love reading weird things.

So, I'm guessing I'm going to love an entire book about how cod changed the world.

This one will definitely warrant a blog review, huh?

This is reportedly a new video of Microsoft's "Courier"tablet.

Don't even act like you're not impressed.

If thing is real, it will be unbelievable. Wrights might need one of these!

VIDEOmate

Caught this over on a friend's Facebook page. Too great (and uncomfortable) to pass up!

Check it:

Dating Montage
by smithy00101

Okay, favorite line?

Check Yourself...

WORSHIP LEADERS UNITE!

Let's be honest - worship leaders are a weird lot.

It's not without cause, though. Leading worship is a strange and terrifying job; you have to stay aware of the needs and responses of a large group of people, you have to keep an eye and an ear on numerous technological and musical element all at the same time, you have to make sure your heart is right and your mind is focused on scripture, you have to wade through tons of songs and ideas about worship leading.

Add to that mix the fact that you're also seriously messed up.

I say that because I'm messed up, too. Chief among sinners and all that, you know?

That's why it's so vital that we check ourselves constantly. Because adding our own egotistical, arrogant, insecure drama to a job that's already a difficult needle to threat is dangerous and foolish.

Lately, I've been compiling a list of questions I need to constantly ask myself when it comes to my ministry. For me, answering "yes" to any of these questions means I need to do some work on my heart and get my mind right.

• Am I choosing songs just because I like them? Am I pounding songs into my congregation over months in an effort to make them connect with those songs?
  
  
• Do I talk about gigs more than what God's doing in my local home church?
  
  
• Is my image (how I look, sound, am perceived) taking priority when I lead worship?
  
  
• Do I name-drop?
  
  
• Do I think my 25 minutes are the most important part of the service?
  
  
• Do I balk when asked to cut a song, change a set, adjust from my previous plan?
  
  
• Do I "play" to a certain group of people in the congregation?
  
  
• Do I spend more time on song lyrics or spiritual books/blogs/tweets than in scripture?
  

Let's face it, worship leaders...we operate in a relatively high-profile capacity. It's easy to get consumed with self. It's tempting to become obsessed with our own ministry. We want it to be so good, done with such quality, but we have to be careful.

These are just a few questions I need to ask myself on a pretty regular basis. What about you? What other ways should worship leaders "check themselves?"

Well, it's finally here!

David Crowder*Band's brand new release, "Church Music" releases today and fans far and wide are digging into it.

But some of you may still be considering the purchase. Would a review help you in your decision? It would? Well...lucky you.

I am very pleased to announce the return of the ToddCast. Oh yes...it's a podcast. Named after me.

Last week, Justin Romack and I sat down at our computers and talked a good 20 minutes about this record and we'd love for you to check it out! We had a good time analyzing this record and it's been a good CD to discuss among friends.

So click the pic and start listening!

Day #1 of the new song project. I'll be heading over to Kirk Bozeman's "studio" this morning to work on scratch acoustic and vocals for the song.
Not expecting it to take a real long time, since staying dead on the click isn't quite so essential in this first-pass phase. However, Kirk and I probably will spend a little time talking through arrangement ideas and getting that form down on paper and in the computer.

The next phase will be primarily Kirk's. At this point, we're planning to utilize loops and programming on the drum end. The ideal, of course, would be a live kit, but there are a few challenges to recording a full drum kit in an apartment.
We have a few live drum options in our back pocket, so we'll just see our drums are feeling after phase two.

Hopefully by tonight, we'll have a quick vlog update on the process so you see how the first session went. You can always find those vlogs over at the YouTube channel.

Thanks for following along.
Let's hope this song gets used in churches near and far!

RETIREMENT

10 Things I Want To Do As An Old Man

1. Show up at church one Sunday and totally rock an overdriven guitar lead during worship. (Come on...would you not PAY to see that happen at your church one day?)
   
   
2. Growl at somebody at least once each week.
   
   
3. Write sci-fi/fantasy books. You think I'm playing.
   
   
4. Sleep as late as my body can stand it.
   
   
5. Go with Kristen to watch movies in the middle of the afternoon.
   
   
6. Become the oldest living vlogger. Again...you think I'm kidding.
   
   
7. Keep writing songs.
   
   
8. Be a blessing to my kids.
   
   
9. Buy my wife jewelry.
   
   
10. Own more books.

What about you?
What are '10 things' you'd like your life to be when you're old?
Comment below!

(MINI) BOOK REVIEW: The War of Art

Finished Stephen Pressfield's The War of Art a few days ago and I'm still amazed by it.

This little book is designed to give artists, writers, runners, dieters, business owners and the like a shot of perspective and renewed passion.

It's a quick read, but its effects will last. I'm still processing through some of the stuff. The end of the book gets a little weird w/ some very artistic/New Age stuff, but that doesn't matter. It might sound weird to some, but God really used this book to convict me and to inspire me toward living the type of life that He's built for me.

It's not prosperity-gospel, it's not emergent mumbo-jumbo...it's an in-the-trenches, brutally honest look at the foolish things that we allow to distract and confuse us.

It's not a book just for creatives - if you believe God's calling you to something substantial and valuable but can't seem to sustain any sort of commitment, this is the book for you.

WHY RAIN IS AWESOME

• Naps
• Cooler weather
• I can't mow in the rain
• Everything seems clean
• Naps
  

WHY RAIN ISN'T AWESOME

• Moving sound gear and trying to keep everything dry
• Picking up kids from school
• Todd gets lazy
  
• Kristen gets grumpy
  

Movie Review: SON OF RAMBOW

I caught some reviews and internet chatter awhile back about a movie called "Son of Rambow" and immediately added it to my Netflix list. Now that I'm flying through the list, I finally got to this film and figured I'd share my thoughts.

"Son of Rambow" is creative, unpredictable and heartwarming without overreaching. The story follows a relationship formed between a boy from a strict religious family and a wealthy bully with no adult supervision.

The film takes off from young Will Proudfoot's accidental viewing of "First Blood" and the subsequent adventure once Will and Lee Carter decide to make a war movie all their own.

I've seen this movie labeled as an "adult movie, starring kids" and I think that's fair. The movie is about a lot of things...imagination, death, friendship, social interaction and religion. It's a great film that will engage you on many emotional levels.

In spite of being an 'indie' film, it has great production values. The actors were great and the writer/director has really created something imaginative.

This Conversation Actually Happened...

I'm not getting this exactly right, but the spirit's the same.

Kristen: I saw the dumbest thing on 'General Hospital' today.

Me: Okay.

Kristen: So, there's this carnival that comes to Port Charles. And...well..the whole town decides to go.

Me: The whole town? Soap operas are so stupid.

Kristen: And then you see Edward Quartermain driving down the street and he just...uggh..passes out. And then his car crashes into the whole carnival.

Me: Wait. How did they do that?

Kristen: What do you mean?

Me: It's on a soundstage. They drove a full size car through a soundstage?

Kristen: Yes. So now everybody is at the hospital.

Me: Oh, that's ne-

Kristen: See, Jack is hurt and is gonna' end up needing a kidney and Sarah knows that James is really Jack's son, and not Bryan's. James is going to end up giving Jack a kidney, I bet.

Me: Who...is...Jack?

Kristen: He's this guy. And Sonny has the guy working for him named Dante, but Dante is actually an undercover cop. AND SONNY'S SON! But only Angel knows.

Me: Please stop telling me this story.

Kristen: And Lucky suspects something is up with Dante because he caught him in Sonny's office and only Joe and Tony have the security code to get in there.

Me: Okay. That's it. I'm done.

Kristen: They think Edward is going to be okay...

It's at this point I realize I'm not quite sure what the "dumb thing" was that my wife actually saw. I opted not to ask.

Is There Anything Better Than...

• Keith Urban's solo on "Kiss A Girl"?
  
  
• Napping while it rains?
  
  
• The finale of Season 1 and premiere of Season 2 of The West Wing?
  
  
• Chocolate milk?
  
  
• www.peopleofwalmart.com
  
  
• Diet Dr. Pepper..with anything?
  
  
• Versatile bassists?
  
  
• Going out to eat...anywhere. I don't care. Isn't it awesome?
  
  
• Pausing live TV?
  

BOOK REVIEW: The Reason For God

The Reason For God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
Timothy Keller, Dutton

In his profound, yet conversational "apologetic" book, pastor and teacher Tim Keller takes an in-depth look at some of the most common objections that skeptics have about Christianity.

The book is conversational and full of first-hand accounts of Keller's experience as a pastor who has maintained a commitment to open dialogue with skeptics throughout his career. Keller addresses these concerns and objections with logic as well as grace.

Although skeptics tend to color claims in all sorts of styles, the author consistently combats them with the logic that some one simply cannot declare "There are absolutely no absolutes." Granted, he finds many unique variations of this response, but his consistent responses to those claims is pretty singular.

When he moves to actual "reasons for God," it gets great. You won't find Keller battling from a scientific viewpoint, but you will find him to be completely in control of what academic study and philosophy have to prove about the reasons for God.

The most surprising element of the book was the gracious way Keller addresses the reader. I enjoyed this book, but there is no doubt that it's written for the skeptic. The way Keller wraps up such a detailed, thoughtful presentation and segues into what following Christ really looks like is great. I would think even the most cynical of non-Christians would find this book thought-provoking and kind in its delivery.

I think it's a great book and think that any Christ-follower would benefit from it, but I'd also urge those that have questions about Christianity to check it out. I don't think you'll find a more concise, kind, perfected collection of thoughts on the reason for believing in the God of the Bible.

Trying to work my Netflix queue down to 5 movies w/o adding any.


I wouldn't consider myself a die-hard Woody Allen fan by any stretch, but I tend to enjoy his stuff.

A while back, I caught an old commercial for "Sleeper" and had to check it out.

I'll be honest...I'm not much of a send-it-back type of guy. Even if a movie is dumb, I'll probably finish it. But I gotta' say, Sleeper was just that. Seriously debated throwing it right back in the mail-box, but I made a commitment to this process and I'm going to honor that commitment. That's the way I was raised, church.

It's funny...Allen is as self-deprecating as always and who doesn't love young Diane Keaton, right? But the story line is just way too foolish for me. Another huge distraction was the fast-paced, jangly jazz soundtrack that exploded on and off screen throughout the movie. In most cases, the songs didn't even 'end;' they just stopped cold as the next scene started.

The movie felt long and wasn't really funny enough to sustain its length. I could have used more of Woody Allen's one-liners and less dumb sci-fi (or should I say 'SyFy') posturing.

If you've somehow made it your life's mission to see everything Allen has created in his career, go ahead and get it. Otherwise, steer clear.

FREAK OUT...

Let's be honest: dc Talk's Jesus Freak record changed the game.
Spent some time recently listening back through it and had a couple of thoughts.
___________________________________

• The songwriting is really good on this record. It's more than just cool production. Look through a track listing and you'll realize just how many great songs are on the record.
  
  
• They should have subtitled this record, "Kevin Smith Discovers Bono." I'm serious, the whole record is like Smith trying to channel Achtung Baby. I'm not hating...it sounds good...but I think it's maybe a little much.
  
  
• Every time I hear this record, I'm amazed that TobyMac is the dude who ended up at the top of the heap. I like Michael Tait and Kevin Smith's solo stuff, but who would have thought the rapper would end up the darling of CCM?
  
  
• I think anybody who grew up with contemporary Christian music of the 90's remembers their first "Jesus Freak" moment. I remember riding in the car with two church friends, Joel Greene and Kendall Miller, when they were on break from college in Arkansas. They had the "Jesus Freak" single and I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
  

What was your favorite Jesus Freak song?

(LIST)

• Recently saw a woman at late night karaoke calling her son on the phone to tell him goodnight since he had school the next day. There are a lot of possible explanations, but I can't seem to think of any. Lame.
  
  
• I have ten or twelve good worship blog/vlog ideas, about five new ideas for Bethel and two or three new original songs I want to start testing. I've got make time for these things or else, I'm gonna' lose them.
  
  
• Finding that I can't go to be early. I wake up way earlier than everybody else with massive back pain. Old. I am getting old.
  
  
• The other day I got really freaked out by the fact that I'll be 40 in seven years. Yeah, I know..."7 years is a long time." I think it was more of a realization that one day, I will be 40.
  
  
• Celebrated our one-year anniversary at Bethel this past week. So grateful that God brought us here. He's challenging us and growing us in ways we never expected. Thank you, Bethel, for letting us join up.
  
  
• I ain't gonna' lie. I want toddvlog views to go up. Spend ten minutes on YouTube and you'll see what I mean. Some of the highest viewed stuff in the world is horrible and lazy and a waste of time.
  
  
• Okay, toddvlog is a waste of time, too. But at least it ain't lazy!
  
  
• Proud of how great Jonah's doing in school. He's fitting right in and loves to go every morning. His sleep schedule still isn't adjusted, but we'll get there.
  
  
• Hope a bunch of students turn out for the FCA deal this coming Wednesday. I think it's going to be cool.
  
  
• Ross Strader and I have a cool idea for a worship thing in October, but I can't hone in on a way to promote it and invite folks without seeming dumb.
  
  
• Can't wait to "take a meeting" in Tyler's new Einsten Brothers Bagel Barn or whatever it is. I predict it will become the go-to spot for church dudes to hang out and pat each other on the back.
  
  
• I cannot get enough of the Garlic Flatbread at Buffalo Wild Wings. I live everyday in the hope that somebody will say, "Hey, Todd...wanna' go to Buffalo Wild Wings?"
  
  
• Krist and I really need a date. Life is getting really crazy and I think we both need a little break from offspring. I need to make that happen.
  

Netflix Mission: Review

Trying to work my Netflix queue down to 5 movies w/o adding any. Added another to the "watched" list last night. Here are my thoughts.

I don't want to say it...but Heder really can't act. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in Blades of Glory, but once again, his character just seems like Jon-Heder-says-lines.

I think it's because for the first time in his career, this film didn't give him some over-the-top, ridiculous lead to play (a la "Benchwarmers, Blades of Glory, etc.)

In addition, the story line was pretty random. I won't spoil any story-line stuff here, but it seemed like the screenwriter couldn't decide if the "mom's boyfriend" character was really pure evil or a lovable, sincere idiot.

And Heder's not alone...Diane Keaton and Jeff Bridges both feel vastly overqualified for these weird little roles. Characters aren't developed well, there's not much 'funny,' and the movie progresses very slowly. There are a few side characters that aren't present enough and dare I say a bit too much Heder.

There's some profanity, a drug reference or two. Nothing that's going to shock your socks off, but with a bad story, bad acting and nothing very memorable, why fill your head with a few curses to boot, right?

My review: avoid Mama's Boy.

Next movie up: Woody Allen's "Sleeper." Looking forward to this one.