#29 on my list, Watch 30 new documentaries (#1, 2, 3, 4)

I had not originally intended for this to be a very long post, however, I noticed that though I've had a slide show of documentaries that I've watched so far rotating on my blog, I had not actually posed any info, or reviews on them. Those that I've been remiss in posting will have a brief synopsis at the bottom of this review.

Who should be "Expelled", in my opinion not the scientists that have simply dared to suggest that there is a possibility that we didn't come from nothing. That there was in fact an intelligent designer (BTW, God is very intelligent).

Ben Stein, most notably of Ferris Buler fame, explores this subject in this documentary. Most of the scientists in the movie don't argue the intelligent design "theory" from a religious perspective, however, they merely want to introduce a new idea and study it out, as any scientist worth his/her salt should want to do. I think that this is one of the reasons why this movie should be appealing to all types of people, not just those, like myself, who are proponents of a 6 day creation (on the 7th day God rested, Genesis 2:1). Even if intelligent design is not something that you espouse to believe, the movie is worth watching because of the logical questions that these scientists propose, like the one David Berlinski states in the film. Mr Berlinski states "Before you can ask if Darwinian theory correct, you have to ask the preliminary question of is it clear enough so that it could be correct?" That sounds like a completely reasonable question, but one that evolutionists refuse to want to try and answer.

But what about those that believe that life originated from crystals (a popular belief within the evolutionary community). Even crystals had to com from somewhere. And what about Nobel prize winner Francis Crick who proposed that life was "seeded" on earth? Does that mean that we were planted here by Aliens, ummm I think not. But they would rather take those as a probable theories than look for a more simple explanation.

Probably my favorite part of the film is at the end when Richard Dawkins, author of numerous evolutionary books and self proclaimed athiest calling religion "primative superstition", actually back pedals his stance and actually does leave room for the intelligent design theory. Ben Stein asks Mr. Dawkins "What do you think that the possibility of intelligent design might turn out to be the answer to some issue in genetics?" Mr. Dawkind bables for a while about some inteligent life evolving from Darwinian means and the seeding life as we know it on earth, but then follows that up with the statement that "in those means we might find the signature of some kind of designer, and that that designer might be a higher form of intelligence in the universe." In essence intelligent design is OK as long as God wasn't the designer.

I could go on and on, but sufficeit to say I think that people should see this film. Ben Stein does an excellent job of asking intelligent questions to intelligent people in the search for what the truth is. He interweaves his interviews with film footage from Communist Russia and Socialist WW2 Germany to artistically illustrate the point that the intelligent design theory is trying to be suppressed and silenced like Nazis and Communists tried to do with liberty and the Jews.

I'm including the Expelled super trailer so you can take a look for yourself.

If I seem like an alarmist I appoligize, but I do believe that we were created and that it was God that did so. I alo have a specific invested interest in theory since once upon a time when I was in HS. I challenged my 9th grade biology teacher and was sent to the vice pricipals office for it. As I recall the debate it went something like this. The teacher started talking about how we evolved from apes.I raised my had and said if we cam from an pe then how come we don't see that happen today? The answer I got back was "Because we are all that there is and are at the top of the evolutionary scale." She tried to continue her lecture, but my hand went up again for another question, which went like this "Well then if evolution then does exist like you're teaching and we have evolved from apes and if evolution coninutes then shouldn't we be seeing people evolve into other life forms, since the world is supposed to be billions of years old?" Of course she didn't have an answer to that, and since I was the voice of dessention she opted to send me to the vice princilpals office rather than look for a reasonable answer to a perfectly legitimate question. I'm no scientist, actuallly it's not my strongest subject at all, but science is all about asking reasonable questions in order to find out how something works, right. Of course that's not my first dessenting view from a class that I've been in. I'll have to tell you all about the feminist teacher I had for my women's literature class my senior year of HS. Now those were some fun times.

So that's my review and my life experience with this topic. I'll be glad when I'm done with my final science class this quarter!!! I hope that you all get a chance to rent the movie. I got mine from Netflix, but I'm sure you can find it at your local viseo store as well.

Now here are some of my other reviews . . .

2. Famous Authors: Jane Austen: Arguably the most influential novelist of her era, Jane Austen was born in 1775. She never married and spent most of her life within her family circle. But her quiet country existence belied the novels she wrote, literary masterpieces rich with satirical wit and insight into women's lives. Through period documents, artwork and other archival material, this program explores the sheltered life and enduring works of the treasured British author.

Unfortunately this was not a great documentary:( And I feel bad for subjecting my friends to it's boring nature. This documentary is why documentaries get a bad rap.

3. The Fanny Crosby Story: Blinded soon after birth, Fanny Crosby adapted to her disability and went on to pen more than 10,000 hymns, more than any other person in history. This biography follows Crosby's life from her extraordinary childhood and her ability to memorize complete books of the Bible to her formal schooling and speech to the U.S. Congress, her role as a wife and mother, her selfless work as a nurse during the cholera epidemic and her prolific hymn writing.

This documentary doesn't have a lot of flashy graphics, but neither is it dry. It was interesting to learn about he life and if you like reading books about Christian figures in history you'll like this documentary. It's amazing to see what God can do with a willing spirit. I only wish that the producers had dedicated more time to looking into her salvation testimony.

4. Do you Believe in Miracles?: In February of 1980 amidst growing Cold War fears, the U.S. hockey team created an unforgettable moment of national pride when they miraculously beat the Soviets on the ice. Revisiting lake Placid twenty-one years later, this film takes a look at the team's emotional climb to gold while exploring the tumultuous political and social landscape of the time.

I love a good underdog story, especially when it comes to sports, and this one is one of the best. If you've seen the movie Miracle with Kurt Russel then you're well prepared for this documentary. It's enjoyable to see the hockey players as they are today and what they remember. This documentary also does a good job of explaining the back story of the politics and economics of the time, so that those of us that didn't live through it can get an idea of what's going on. They also do a good job of explaining how imposing the Russian team actually was at the time, which makes it even more astounding how they one. However, just so you know, this was not the winning game of the 1980 Olympics. Team USA actually had to play one more, against Sweden I think, rent it to find out what happens;)

#12 on my list, Learn 30 new words (#4)

Vi·tu·per·a·tion

Pronunciation: (vahy-too-puh-rey-shuhn)
Function: Noun
Date: 15th century

1. The act or an instance of vituperating; abusive censure.

2. Sustained, harshly abusive language; invective.

I read this word in another blog that I read and of course I don't know it so it has to count for my list:)

#4 on my list,Get flowers for 30 people (#2)

My co-worker Sarah went home sick today (there's a nasty bug going around) so I sent her some virtual flowers (i.e. a picture from the net).

Time is really flying by on this list and though I have 2 items completed, I still have much left to so. I probably won't complete all of them, but it would be nice to at least make a dent. Overall though the list is coming along. I'm enjoying myself with it and it's fun entertaining my friends. Seriously, I know we're way overdue for some girls nights, but once the summer is over it seems like there's never enough time. Don't worry Nicki we'll have one soon.

#19 on my list, Read 15 new books (#4)

This was book number four for me. I'm a nut for reading true stories about peoples lives. I've always had a fascination with knowing what makes people tick and how they get by in this life with the decisions that are put before them. It started when I was little.

One summer my mom took us to the library almost weekly, there was a contest at the time for the people who could read the most books by the end of the summer. Me being the driven and competative person that I am I was determined to win. I forget what the grand prize was, but that's a mute point since I did win something awesome anyway, 4 tickets to and Oakland A's baseball game!!! It was a fun family outing. Anyway, most of what I read that summer were biographys about historical heros like George Washington, Betsy Ross, Helen Keller and Benjamin Franklin (yes, even at 7 I was a dork).

This book, however, was way beyond that but no less heroic in the sense that an ordinary woman met extrodinary cirumstances head on in order to keep her sanity as well as her family together.

Carolyn Jessop was born into the FLDS and was at 18 married into an abusive family (I'll spare any details). I'm not going to lie, this book was hard to read at times. Carolyn not only talks about the abuse that was leveled against her, but against her sister wives, as well as her children (These were especially hard passages to read in one sitting. More than once I had to put the book down and come back to it at a later time.), and there are a few curse words that are in it as well. However, if you can get through it, by the end of the book, you are cheering for Carolyn and her family as they over come their challenges and learn to live in a world that they were raised to believe as evil, and find not only love in stable relationships, but within themselves as well.

#18 on my list, Put together 30 new Sunday school lessons (#4)

Lesson #4

Topic: Asking God for His help

Scriptures: 1 Kings 17:17-24

Synopsis: This is the account of the widow of Zarephath. The prophet Elijah has just declared to King Ahab that it will not rain. Elijah was fed by the ravens and lived near a small brook, for a time, until the Lord told Elijah to go to Zarephath where there was a woman who would be able to continue to feed him. She did, even though she only had a small amount of meal and oil to feed herself and her son. In fact when Elijah told her to make her the meal, she was preparing to make the last one for them and then they were to die. Well after the meal was made the oil and meal didn't run out, by itself I think this could be a lesson in ho the Lord blesses giving. However, my particular lesson last week was about the second part of the story. Time has passed and the widows son gets sick and ends up dying. The widow gets mad at God, and Elijah has to be the one to take the boy aside and asks the Lord to revive him. The Lord restores the boys health, but it's only at the end of the chapter that the widow praises God for restoring health to her son. Which brings me to what the Lord revealed to me.

What the Lord revealed to me: The Lord takes such good care of the widow, and of us. He sent her a messenger to provide her with a message of hope, he provided food for her when she was in danger of loosing all the food that she had, and he performed a miracle and revived her son from death. However, what struck me about this story is that even in the first part of it, the widow has no sense of gratitude or thankfulness to God for how he has taken care of her. Only when her son is brought back to life does she become thankful to God, and for his provision. That made me think about myself, and us as a society in general. Does God have to take away those things, and people, that mean the most to us in order to get us to express our gratitude toward him? It seems like more and more that may have to be the case, and it really should not be the case when it comes to Christians. We should always have a spirit of thankfulness, even when things look their bleakest I do believe that there is something worth finding to be thankful for. We connot see the end of the things and circumstances that God places in our life, but they are all a means of bringing us closer to him. He should not have to bring us to the ends of ourselves in order to get our attention, nor do I think it is something that he desires to do, but I believe that He will do it if it will bring us closer to him, and get our hearts right so that we can stay in communion with Him.

#7 on my list, Have 30 girls nights (#4)

YAY for Jane Austen!!! The 4th installment of girls night's (which included me, Kali, Maggie, Nicki, Anna, Deborah, and Sharon) had us watching the PBS adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, and it was outstanding! The evening didn't really start out as a girls night since Josh and Chris decided to "watch" it with us, which really amounted to then trying to distract us from our enjoyment of watching it. So it was a lot of turning up the volume, and rewinding the TV (you gotta love DVR) until the boys realized that their attempts to thwart our fun were finally becoming futile and so the retired to Josh's room to watch a movie as well. After they left we were finally able to enjoy a wonderful re-telling of a classic romantic tale of two sisters who, in their own ways, want nothing more than to be loved and to find a husband. What's to like about it you ask? Well of course I'm going to tell you.

First of all I think the casting was much more age appropriate than Emma Thompson's version. Of course she told a beautiful story, but because she wanted to play the part of Elinor Dashwood, the casting of the mother and sister had to altered in order to fit the age requirements. In actuality the mother in the book was only in her 40's, and in the big screen rendition they had her in her 60's. The casting I thought was excellent. In the previous version, you know that Whilloughby is a scoundrel, but he's so good looking that sometimes I almost want the story to change and have Marrianne end up with him, but in this version he still plays a cad, and you can understand why Marrianne likes him so much, but you also get to see how despicable he really is, and so I'm happy that Marrianne didn't end up with him. Edward Farrows is also, much better looking in this adaptation. The actor still maintains the quiet charm of the character, but without half of the bumbling that Hugh Grant brought to the role (which quite frankly I've had enough of). The Colonel (Brandon) as well was excellently cast. He's got much more of the brooding sense of charm than the other version, and unlike the big screen adaptation he never lets you pity him, or the state of his loneliness. He just does the right thing. Don't get me wrong I love Alan Rickman's interpretation of the character, but I liked this Colonel even more (plus I think he's just hands down my favorite Jane Austen character period, so I'm not an impartial judge). I also liked the fact that we got to know more about and see more of the Farrows family, as well as the fact that the characters, especially the more ostentatious ones were not quite as comical, even though they did add comedy to the story, they didn't steal the scenes. Fanny, the Dashwood's sister in law, is deliciously spiteful, and we love to hate her.

Secondly, I liked the setting. The lighting and scenery were all set up to look more realistic than the big screen version. The lighting set a tone that was much more moody than then the other version as well, it helped to add to the sadness of the family and the precarious existence that they lived in. I always find that it including the scenery and atmosphere as a character in any movie adds to the depth of a story.

Once again it was another wonderful night with the girls. I'm so blessed to have their friendship!

#14 on my list, Meet 30 new people (#4 & 5)

Last night I met 2 new visitors out at church. Their names are Vanessa and John, both were out visiting from the Navy base. They seemed nice. It's always nice to have people visit us, especially on a Wednesday.