Cars 2-My Official Review

    
        "Cars 2" is one of those movies that I am divided on. On the one hand I see a movie that was not up to Pixar's usual high standards. However on the other hand I was thoroughly entertained as I sat there with my two kids laughing and enjoying the show. I do wish they had done more with Doc Hudson's death. They missed a chance to make a sad montage in the vein of "Up" and "Toy Story 3".

        This movie is more about Tow Mater than anything else and has a real clear message to be yourself. They go out of their way to show how a true friend doesn't try to change their friends, but loves them for who they are. As believers we should put this principle into practice. I am not saying that our friends should never change. I am saying that the thing that needs to change in all of us is our sin.

        Christ came to free us from our sin, not our personalities. As a believer I am to love my unbelieving friends even if they never choose to come to Christ. I cannot change them, only He can. It is my job to love them where they are.

Love is . . .

I was created by Love. I opposed Love. Love pursued me anyway, in spite of my spurning. Love found a way back to me. Love met me where I was. Love gave me everything. I resisted Love and Love died. Love soon sprang to life again. I fell in Love with Love and Love changed me. Now Love is my purpose and the object of my affection. Love never fails me and Love enables me to love. Love knows me and brings out the best in me. After all, Love is who thought me up. God is love.

TOMS is Not Just a Shoe Company Anymore

        TOMS founder and CEO Blake Mycoskie  just announced that they are expanding to eye-wear.  They have already given away over one million pairs of shoes to underprivileged children. Now they are going to be a one-for-one company with every product that they make.


        Instead of giving sunglasses away when a pair is purchased they have opted to give the gift of sight instead. This could be as simple as glasses to as complex as cataract surgery. There are so many people going blind in this world that this will be a welcome change making program.


        This one-for-one movement could be huge if it catches on. Would you pay a couple of dollars more to see a movie if it meant that kids in a local children's home could attend for free? Would you be willing to pay a little more to get your oil changed if you knew that a garage would change a widow's oil at no cost? Would we as individuals be willing to buy an extra can of veggies for our local soup kitchen with every can we purchase for our family?


        What other ways could companies or individuals make a difference?

James Arness Dies--What Can We Learn From Old Westerns?

         James Arness has died at age 88. He played Matt Dillon for twenty years on Gunsmoke, which is arguably the best western ever on the small screen. He was also in four different John Wayne movies. In fact Wayne endorsed Gunsmoke and his friend Arness before the first show aired.
        Sometimes I miss the old westerns. I know that movies such as "3:10 to Yuma" have more "realism", but sometimes it is better to see authentic heroism. Back in the day a hero was a hero and right and wrong were actually right or wrong. Integrity and upright characters are hard to find in today's cinema. All of our heroes have been tainted or have some dark element in them in order to make them "realistic".
        As I reflect, I find myself longing for shows like Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and The Rifleman.  Longing to see characters who stand for justice and defend the weak and oppressed. Perhaps I long for them because our society and not just our cinemas are devoid of this type of character. Its not to late for a few "Matt Dillons" to man up--take responsibility in their fatherhood, love their wives, and stand up for the weak. Thats who I wanna be. What about you?