JONESTOWN

I just finished watching a PBS movie called Jonestown, the Life and Death of the People's Temple. It was a 90 minute look at the "Church" as it began as a dream of Jim Jones' in Indiana, to it's move to Ukiah, CA, to build a commune-like community, to it's move to San Francisco to reach more people, to it's final move to Guyana leading to the murders of Congressman Ryan and of 900+ Church members.

It was unfortunate and tragic and I have always wondered how people could be caught up by such deception and obvious crazy evil. This movie helped me to get more of an understanding of how and why people got involved.

Jim Jones was a charismatic leader and exceptional speaker that brought an incredible vision of hope and change to people. The church was all about helping people, building community, accepting the outcasts, caring for poor children and the elderly, racial reconciliation. The People's Temple was a beacon in San Francisco in it's time, showing that people of all different races, backgrounds, etc. can live together in harmony.

Unfortunately, it was led by an megalomaniacal drug addict that was paranoid, transferred blame for all his problems to others, was entirely disingenuous in all he said and did and eventually thought it was better to kill everyone than face the consequences of his mistakes.

It shows me that a compelling vision can be powerful and intoxicating. And, if you learn about The People's Temple, you will see that it really was a compelling vision. As it resonated in people's hearts, it made it easy for the people to follow Jones and ignore the warning signs all around.

The movie included interviews with Jones' family members, survivors of the People's Temple and survivors of Congressman Ryan's ambush. It was a very interesting look at the sort of thing that never happens here and could never happen to us when it really did happen here and happened to people just like us.

Anyone..........

So, this weekend the local alternative sort of theater was playing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.....not to be confused with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which, although technically more like the book, was just too weird. In fact, after we saw it, Diane had to immediately watch Pirates of the Caribbean to wash her mind of the image of Johnny Depp as a very disturbed Willy Wonka.

So, the theater was playing the movie and allowing you to sing along with it, which I thought sounded like great fun. Apparently, everyone else I know thinks thinks this is just bizarre. Even my own children.

While I admit that a song early in the movie, which admonishes Charlie to 'Cheer Up', is one of the most boring songs on the big screen since "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" was released, most of the songs are fun.

Consider the "Candy Man" or all the Oompa Loompa songs. What's not to like? According to everyone I spoke with, plenty.

So, I am wondering, does anyone else enjoy this movie? At all?

What's Your Remedy?

Here's some pics from the ball game we went to tonight. Agent Pipes brought a couple of his kids, Diane's parents met us there, Emily's friend Sarah came with us and AJ(The house-sitter) came with the little guy he is mentoring. It was a good end to a busy weekend. We even left early so we didn't have to see if the Sidewinders won or lost.

The weekend included a dinner with Carrie Jones, a lunch with the Mcghee's, A Baby Bash, a lunch with the Shermett's, coffee with the Sickels, Church, a dinner with the Sickel's and Smith's and the ball game. I think I will try to get alone for a while tomorrow, as I have to go back to work on Tuesday.

Pagan Christianity???

I am taking in Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and George Barna.

This provocative volume delineates the pagan roots of many of the practices we have in the modern Church. Some of the not surprising items that have roots in paganism include the ideas of the Church being a building and the ministry belonging to professional clergy. Some of the more surprising items include chapters on how the sermon as we know it has more in common with Greek sophistry than the way it was done biblically, how the order of worship comes from tradition rather than biblical directive or precedent and how Christian training and education is more about "swelling the cranium" than it is about training the heart.

The purpose of the book, I believe, is not to do away with Church as we know it. Rather, it is to get believers to think about why they do what they do and to diligently seek to follow God and His plan for His people.

It is worth the read.

Check out the book's website here.

And here is a spoof of the book being the most reviewed book by those who have never read it.

A Small Victory

Diane's Doctor told her her blood pressure was 110 over 60 yesterday.

No, she hasn't had struggles with it, but she has been getting regular exercise and trying to eat well and all, so it was fun to see some of the rewards of that. The Doctor said those numbers are great!!!

I, on the other hand, haven't even been to the Doctor in years.

Hancock, off the Beaten Path..........................................Does contain a spoiler or two

If you know our family at all, you probably realize that we don't do things quite the same as everyone else. We try not to eat the same foods, we don't send our kids to the same schools, we don't watch tv at home, we expect our children to behave at nice restaurants, we try not to get caught up in current fads and trends....etc.

So, instead of going to see The Dark Knight, like everyone else has, Diane and I went to see Hancock. Part of the appeal, I think, was that Hancock is an off the beaten path hero. the story is basically this:

Hancock is a reluctant hero, angering the public in LA as he saves lives and generally wreaking havoc and causing millions in damage while he does it. Justin Bateman plays a PR man that gets a hold of Hancock and helps to remake his image into someone the public actually calls on in dire circumstances. The story takes a weird twist when it is discovered that Hancock is actually an ancient supernatural character somehow linked to...well, I won't spoil it that much.

But, the movie is entertaining. Some of the best scenes are those of Hancock trying to do good, but ending up damaging things and generally embarrassing himself and angering everyone else. I wished they had even more of those scenes.

Cheesy Personal Application

If you feel you need a moral lesson from a movie, then here it is:
Hancock wants to do good, but has some serious personal issues he needs to deal with before he can make a real impact. Justin Bateman not only helps him, but befriends him and believes in him. Many of us want to do good stuff for others and make an impact on our world, but sometimes we need to get over ourselves before we can do it. And, if we believe in someone and befriend them, maybe we can help them become a hero too.

I think I will try to go see The Dark Knight next.

re-aquired

Ok, I put Bruce and Travis back on. They are blogging again. Good for them.....and all of us.