A Study Of Revelation

Having finished reading the last book in Tim LaHaye's "Left Behind" Series a little over 18 months ago I have not seen or heard many new mentions about the "last days" as prophesied in the Bible. I have found very few preachers who even approach the subject of the "end times." I have never heard it preached in my church or any Southern Baptist church for that matter. The most information I've heard has been from Hank Henegraaff, who is the host of the Bible Answerman radio broadcast.

Well today on one of my favorite online websites I discovered a series of sermons about Revelation chapter 6. The website is called "Grace To You" and the preacher is John MacArthur. The series started on the website on July 21 and continues through today. I have only listened to the first in the series. However I am captured once again by Biblical prophesy. MacArthur uses various prophetic scriptures to define and coordinate the events in Revelation 6. You too can listen to the sermon series through this link:
Grace to You (John MacArthur) - Broadcast Archives.

I hope you find it as interesting as I do.

The Look of Miscommunication

Here's an interesting experience I had today. I went to the local mall to get my hair cut. I went to the same place I've been going to for the last few years. It's called Master Cuts. Like a lot of places in malls around America this one has about half a dozen stylists working there at any one time. When it comes to getting my hair cut I'm not very patient. I wrote my name and services requested on the sheet on the counter hoped it wouldn't be very long until the next available hair cutter to called my name.

Today it was a woman whom I'd say was between the ages of 50 & 55. I didn't get her name but I will always remember her. As I sat down in her styling chair I told her that I wanted a buzz style cut with the 1 inch blade. I added that I didn't want it any shorter than that because I was looking for a job and wanted to present a neat but normal look to potential employers. I added that I didn't need to look like Curly from the 3 Stooges.

She said something to the effect that she would be happy to use the clippers to give me a #1 cut. I didn't realize what she had said until she finished cutting my hair.

With my back to the mirror the entire time she was using the clippers we talked about how thick my hair is and how I'm lucky to be blessed with it at my age. That's the banter I share with my hair stylist nearly every time.

When she finished cutting she turned me around to the mirror and I saw myself as you see me in the picture at the beginning of this post:completely buzzed. Instead of using the 1 inch clipper guard to cut my hair she used the #1 gauge guard which made it the shortest it could possibly be cut.

I pointed out what she had done wrong and started to get upset. I quickly realized that there was nothing that could be done about it. She couldn't glue it back on. I was stuck with this short hair but the thought that it would definitely grow back quickly came to mind. The woman apologized over and over and then said the haircut would be free.

I told her that I understood it might have been a miscommunication. I couldn't see any reason to make her feel any worse than she did. After all everyone makes mistakes. After making sure there would be no charge I wished her a good day. I told her again that I understood it was an accident.

I'm glad I exercised some self-control in the situation. I wasn't worried about being "the bad guy." This was a situation where I could have gotten angry and notified the manager, who I know well from being a long time customer, and been justified in doing so. But who would that have helped? Just me. It wouldn't have done anything to improve the stylist's day. I don't know her or what her life is like. Perhaps a little kindness and understanding was just what she needed at that point in her day or her life.

Anyway I believe I reacted like I believe Jesus would have. (No "Jesus didn't cut his hair" remarks please)I know it doesn't make sense to most people but perhaps the next time I go back to Master Cuts for a hair cut, if I see her working, I may give the same woman a second chance. After all God has given me more than my share of second chances after my mistakes. That's something I should always remember.

Franklin Drive-In is a Nostalgic Experience

Ever since I found out there was a drive in theater in Franklin, Kentucky a few years ago I've been wanting to go. Last night I got that chance.

My wife and I drove to the Exit 2 of Interstate 65 not far from the Tennessee border and found one of the 20 drive-in theaters still operating in Kentucky.

If you're over 40 chance are you remember going to the drive in sometime, if not many times, while you were growing up. Historically Drive Ins were places where families go for an inexpensive and unique movie experience. For teenagers it was a place to take your special someone to watch a movie and, hopefully, enjoy a little private romance.

In this day and age the Franklin Drive In is a very good bargain. It's about a 30 mile drive from where we live but with the admission price only $9 a car load. You can see a double feature for the price of one at an indoor theater; and that includes the cost of gas to get there and back.

Of course there are plenty of snacks to be purchased at the concession stand. But there's nothing to stop you from taking your own cooler and snacks to save money. I must say though that the prices at the Franklin Drive In are probably a little lower than a regular theater.

Although the 21st century drive in experience is very nostalgic there is some modern day technology that comes into play. Long gone are the metal tethered speakers that you hang on the edge of a partially rolled down window so you can hear sound. Now all you have to do is put your car's ignition system on the auxiliary setting and tune your FM radio to a specific frequency. Then you'll have in car sound with all the fidelity and volume of your own car stereo.

We saw two movies: "Hancock" starring Will Smith and "Wanted" starring Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman. I had already seen "Hancock" but enjoyed being with my wife while she watched if for the first time. It was a superhero type movie; just the kind she likes. "Wanted" was an action packed thriller with a pretty weak plot and lots of special effects and chase scenes. The presence of Jolie and Freeman along with a unique CG train wreck made the movie rather entertaining.

An added element to our evening at the outdoor theater was the ever present lightening from a cluster of thunderstorms which were passing just to our north. We didn't get any rain or hear any thunder but the sky put on a light show for us during the entire second feature.

As we exited the lot back onto Rt 31W Paula and I talked about how we hadn't been to the drive-in for a long time. It was a lot of fun and we plan on going back again later in the summer. So a return trip is definitely in our future for more than one reason. On our way back to I-65 we passed a building that advertised another American institution we've been wanting to revisit: a BINGO hall. I have a feeling we will be spending a few more evenings in Franklin, Kentucky

Materials for Creation

Yesterday I received a product in the mail called "peepers." It's a pair of puppet eyes fit into a small plastic frame. This allows you to wear it at the base of your middle finger just above the palm. The eyes rest on the knuckles on the back of your hand enabling your hand to become it's own puppet. I don't describe it very well but you can see what I mean from the picture.

The reason I got the "Peepers" is because I am going to use them along with a silicone oven mitt I bought a few months ago to create a ventriloquist puppet. This my first effort to create a character from the "ground up." I already have a name and character lined up for the puppet. It will be unique and used in specific situations.

Right now I'm still reviewing different ideas for putting these materials together and creating my first original puppet. I'll let you know how it works out.

An Unexpected "Thank You"

As a ventriloquist I have about done about a dozen or so performances. All of them have been either at my church or as a volunteer through the local library. My next goal is to start getting paid for my performances. This past Tuesday I received and unexpected blessing that I consider a step in that direction.

I was given a gift card to Barnes & Noble book store as a "thank you" from the local library. This may not seem like a big deal to you but it is my first financial reward for something that I love doing. My relationship and experiences with the local library has been both a wonderful way to serve the community and launch my ventriloquism career. Based on the result from reaching out to that organization I am very much encouraged to look for other avenues of service. I believe performances in nursing homes will be next.

Vacation Week So Far...

Although I have been on a "forced vacation" since April my wife has not had any significant amount time off at all this year. This week she's on vacation. We aren't going to any specific destination just spending time together and relaxing.

Sunday night we spent the evening at home together and watched the movie "The Bucket List." We both enjoyed it. The most interesting thing to me in the movie was the periscope glasses that Jack Nickelson was wearing in the hospital.

On Monday we drove to town my wife met up with her sister and they went to see the new movie "Momma Mia." A trip to a local Japanese restaurant for some sushi followed. Not interested at all in either of those activities I went to see the new Disney movie WALL*E. You can read about my experience with that movie in the post before this one.

Tuesday afternoon about 2PM we left for Nashville. The movie theater at Opry Mills Mall was our initial destination. We wanted to see the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, at the I-Max theater but it sold out as we stood in line. We did get to see it on the regular screen though.

I enjoyed the movie but knew a lot about the plot because I had read a detailed review beforehand. There was a lot of action, plenty of plot twists, and lots of character development. Heath Leger's final performance as The Joker is worthy of at least an Oscar nomination. His role would have been memorable even if he hadn't died before the film was released.

Once we were out of the movie theater we hurried to the other side of Nashville to one of our other favorite entertainment spots, Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theater. We arrived just in time to go through the buffet line before it closed.

I was disappointed to find out that after 8 years of going to Chaffin's and enjoying their wide variety of desserts on their dessert bar they have changed the way the serve dessert. There is still fresh fruit and jello desserts available on the buffet. However any of the other cakes, cookies, pies, ice creams or other desserts you now have order from a menu and pay for in addition to your theater ticket. I guess the change in the economy and food prices has hit everyone. I'm sorry that Chaffin's had to make this change. But I did order dessert. I had to have my traditional piece of Chaffin's peanut butter pie.

One good thing about the evening though was that our waiter was a guy who'd played our favorite character in the play "Smoke On the Mountain" that we'd seen last year. It was great to talk with him. I even got a new ventriloquist joke from him.

Anyway enough about the "dinner" part of our evening. The "theater" part was a play called "The Bop She Bops." It was about a trio of high school friends who made their singing debut in a high school talent show in 1962 but made awful fools of themselves. Ten years later they reunite and start practicing to perform at their high school reunion.

It was a musical and included songs by all the girl groups from the 60's including the Shirelles, The Chiffons, The Dixie Cups, and The Supremes. There were also a lot of other songs from that era. I enjoyed the music but the overall performance of the show was not among the strongest we've seen.

So that's been our vacation week so far. We'd like to do something else fun before the end of the weekend. We are thinking about going to the drive in tonight or Thursday night.

Even if we don't do anything special just being with my wife all this time without worrying about her job and just enjoying each other's company is something we've needed to do for quite a while.

The Missed Message of WALL*E

Yesterday I went to see the movie Wall *E . Ironically I had not seen or heard much about this movie at all except for its basic premise. Wall*E is a machine left to clean up all the garbage on earth after the human race abandons it because it is no longer inhabitable. The movie takes place 700 years after the initial abandonment.

Prejudiced by the fact that a majority of the products coming out of Hollywood and network television recently clearly were made to promote an environmentalist agenda, I immediately decided that the premise of this movie was based on an extremist view. I put up my guard and began filtering what I saw in a defensive manner. I interpreted it with the mindset that there was a negative message about the human race attached to every aspect of the film.

As the movie plot develops Wall*E arrives on a large spaceship called “The Axiom.” It is essentially an ark housing the current generation of people descended from those who left earth centuries earlier.

The life style and habits of those aboard the intergalactic ark are depicted as self indulging, glutenous consumers. They are all over weight, have limited ability or desire to move. They spend their entire existence leaning back on a mobile lounge chair while staring at a computer screen. Robots do everything for them including personal hygiene, getting them dressed, and bringing them food and beverages. The only contact one of these people has with others is through the previously mentioned computer screen.

I immediately saw the depiction of these earthly descendants as a negative commentary on the issue of obesity. I interpreted the people's lack of energy, ambition, and deterioration of their bone structure as a consequence of their obesity. This movie was not only taking general shots at the human race it was targeting over weight people. I thought “Hey, I’m part of both of those groups!”

I felt insulted and betrayed by both Disney and Pixar. The companies whose partnership has produced some of the most original and entertaining animated movies for more than a decade has sold out to the environmentalists and the anti-human movement.

The main characters and action in the movie were both interesting and funny. I enjoyed the visual effects and the overall plot line of the film. But I couldn’t get past the aspects that offended me. I left the theater very disappointed.

After seeing the movie I went to visit with my friend Brent. I told him about the movie and what I thought of it. He showed me a magazine article that included an interview with the films writer/producer/director: Andrew Stanton.

Stanton is a Christian. In the interview he openly discusses what his intentions were in making Wall*E. He stated that he did not intend to infer any kind of environmentalist message when he decided to use the human abandonment of earth as a starting point for the movie. He just needed a reason for the main character, a machine, to be alone on the planet just doing his job.

As far as the depiction of the people and life on the spaceship is concerned Stanton stated that the message he wanted to send was not a negative one about obesity. What he was trying to do was play out the eventual consequences of man’s obsession with leisure. The ability to ultimately have the world at your finger tips, which is portrayed to the extreme in the film, has one drastic drawback: the deterioration of human relationships.

Stanton states that the reason for living is to have relationships with God and with people. The highest degree of this would be a personal relationship of Love with God and his only son, Jesus Christ, but love, friendship and companionship with others is a close second.

As I read about the intention and perspective of the man who created and produced Wall*E I began to understand what the film’s message was supposed to be. As I reviewed the movie in my mind once again I realized that it was communicated loud and clear but I missed it. I was too busy focusing on the wrong messages.

Knowing what I know now about Andrew Stanton and the story he’s trying to tell I need to watch the movie again. This time knowing the true message the filmmaker wants people understand as it's communicated through the actions of a kind, compassionate, faithful machine named Wall*E.