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Let's face it. Guys like movies with lots of pyrotechnics, gun fights, and car chases. This movie has all of that but little else. A bevy of action stars insures there will be plenty of fist fights, exploding bullets, and things blown up.

Mercenaries, led by Sylvester Stallone, take on a job offered by Bruce Willis (cameo) who represents the CIA (although this is just speculation), to rescue a small island nation from the American bad guy (Eric Roberts) backed dictator. The General's daughter is one of the leaders in the movement to rid the country of the tyranny.

The Blushing Bride (who enjoys a good action flick with me once in awhile) couldn't find the enjoyment in the exploding screen. My assessment--it was a good story, told badly with poor acting highlighted by some really great pyromania thrown in to appease the crowds.

It's time for a Columbo marathon. Actor Peter Falk (who made the role come to life) died today. And while we're at it, maybe we should read some of William Harrington's adaptations.

As a matter of information, I also enjoyed Falk's performances in The Princess Bride and the made for TV movies (A Town Without Christmas, Finding John Christmas, When Angels Come to Town) where he made the "angel" Max come to life.

HT - Bill Crider

Pardon a political moment, but I received another of those e-mail messages that come from people I know who should know me. But if they really knew me they'd know that I rarely if ever really care about their political statements, and I NEVER (strong word I know, but I NEVER) pass these messages along even though I'm told at the end (assuming that I've taken enough time to scroll to the end of the message) that if I don't pass the message along I'm lower than a snake's belly and will forever be known as the proverbial scum of the proverbial earth--so I must hang my head in shame.

Here's the real reason that I'm so riled about such messages: They assume (rightly or wrongly) that my political views are just like theirs. Even if I support/oppose the people/issues that they support/oppose, I don't care for these inbox filling wastes of space. And even if I support/oppose the people/issues that they support/oppose, I am vehemently opposed to vilifying our elected officials. I may not care for a person or their policies, but if that person holds an office that demands my respect shouldn't I respect the office?

The catalytic email that inspired this post was one of those that was definitely Republican in nature in that in the guise of political humor made the point that we must vote for "Anybody but" the current administration. My position: vote your conscience. If you don't like the current administration/congress vote to replace them. If you are happy with the direction our country is going, vote accordingly. If you feel your vote will make no difference so you choose not to vote at all, keep you opinions to yourself.

So, having said that, if you have this perfect email chain letter that you think I should read because it states perfectly your views on any upcoming election, please keep it to yourself.

As always, commentary on this post is welcome in the "comments" section.

Political statement over.

I recently had the opportunity to see the newest release from Sherwood Pictures (Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof) in a preview with my Blushing Bride. For Father's Day this weekend, we'll be showing the trailer at church! (see below)

The movie releases on September 30 in theaters all over the country. If you are a Father you will want to see this movie. If you are a Mother, you will want to take the father of your children to see this movie.

Going back to their original playbook, the guys at Sherwood have opted to use lesser-known acting talents to present their story. (You'll still see familiar faces if you have caught any of their first three releases.) Don't let that bother you, though. The writing is excellent, and the acting works most of the time (which could be said of many of today's top-grossing pictures).

Four police officers and their handy-man friend start to find ways to become the kind of father that all fathers are meant to be. This movie has drama, action, and comedy. If you're like me, you will want to become a "Snake King" because of this movie!

One quick note: because this movie is produced and marketed by church-related organizations, there is a strong faith element included. For some it will be rather "preach-y". I didn't find it to be over the top, though. Partly because it is the faith message that the producers are trying to get through, and partly because, while clear and definitely there, it is not too pushy.

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be glad you saw this movie. I know I did, I did, and I was.

. . . why Leo Sayer was one of my favorite singers in my younger years. I can guess that it had something to do with his cool hair:

Just got an email from a news source that I subscribe to. It opens with a plea that reads sort of like this:

"Help keep this resource free."

Bottom line boils down to: "To keep this resource free, please send money."

Does anyone else get this oxymoron? or is it just me?

Click through to Challies.com. And definitely do not enter his giveaway, because I want to win and if you enter, then I may not.

Pause with me for a moment as we consider those pesky 'postrophes. The apostrophe should be your friend, not another headache, but he does have to do his work properly. And being a lesser used punctuation mark, he gets misused almost as often as his big sister the comma.

And now today's lesson:
1) The apostrophe can and should be used to show possession--as in the previous phrase ("today's lesson"). The lesson belongs to today. Just as you can refer to this webpage as Benjie's blog because it belongs to me. [The most notable exceptions to this rule come from the pronoun family in the form of the words "it" and "who" in which we find that when the dog owns a bone (and we don't know the dog's gender) we say that the item is "its bone"--no apostrophe. In the case of our little interrogative friend who, possession is shown by asking "Whose book is this?"--again, no apostrophe.]

2) One may also use the apostrophe when contracting words (creating contractions) such as can't or won't (can + not = cannot contracting to can't; will + not contracts to won't). This is the rule that applies to our pronouns from example one in conjunction with the apostrophe. It's is the contraction for it and is, just as who's is the contracted form for who and is.

Please do not use the apostrophe when forming plurals (notice I did not write plural's) because that would just be silly. The struggle you will have is when writing about decades using numerical designation instead of words. Let me help you: the decade of the Sixties (including 1961-1970, another lesson altogether) would be written as the 60s, not the 60's (you may include an apostrophe to indicate that you have left out the first two numbers if you want: '60s).

Please treat him nicely because, after all, the apostrophe is your friend.

Then celebrate Limerick Day!

Our nation has set aside this day to honor our others—both those who are still living and those who have gone on to their reward. There are several ways to do this. Some of the more common ones include giving a special gift to your mom, be it a bouquet of flowers or a new piece of jewelry. Maybe some chocolates. Some people make a special effort to visit their mother if they live some distance, and they often honor Mom by attending worship with her. If you are in this category, you are especially welcomed in the worship hour today.

If a trip to Mom’s is not an option for you, contacting via phone or e-mail is always nice. With today’s technology, you might even want to set up a Skype account and video chat with Mom over the Internet.

Here are a couple of suggestions that you may not have thought of, but are really some of the best things to do to honor your mother today: Give generously to the annual “Mother’s Day Offering” which benefits the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services (If you're not located in Illinois, find a worthy cause to support in honor of your Mom). Share your faith in Jesus with an unsaved friend or family member.

However you plan to do it, honor your mother today.

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Here's an old spiritual -- I don't know the source, but the sentiment is Resurrection Day!


I looked up and saw my Lord a-coming,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-coming,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-coming down the road


I looked up and saw my Lord a-dying,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-dying,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-dying on the tree


I looked up and saw my Lord a-rising,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-rising,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-rising from the grave!

(chorus)
Hallelujah! He is coming!
Hallelujah! He is here!
Hallelujah! He is coming!
Hallelujah! He is here!

April has been designated as National Poetry Month. You may want to read some poetry with a friend or loved one, or write a haiku, sonnet, or ode. And now, before the month gets away from me, I thought I'd share something simple:

Dear Lord, my God, I always pray
To keep Your precious will each day.

And when I can no longer stand
I pray You'll keep my in Your hand.

And when I can no longer hear
Your words, I pray, will bless my ear.

When, eyes grown dim, I see no more
May others see more of You in me than ever they have seen before.

And when my voice allows no speech
I ask that my actions souls will reach.

When finally I lay down and die
May people have seen more You than I. --Benjamin Potter (July 3, 1983)

If you'd like, you can join in celebrating by posting a poem in the comments section, at your own blog, or just giving a poem to someone. (Be sure to tell them that it's National Poetry Month.)

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"Texas, Our Texas"

Texas, Our Texas! all hail the mighty State!

Texas, Our Texas! so wonderful so great!

Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test

O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest.

Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star,

Sends out its radiance to nations near and far,

Emblem of Freedom! it set our hearts aglow,

With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.

Texas, dear Texas! from tyrant grip now free,

Shines forth in splendor, your star of destiny!

Mother of heroes, we come your children true,

Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.

Chorus

God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,

That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.

God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,

That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.

Again and again and again! Apparently people are not paying attention to my posts.

As I was perusing one of the several many blogs that I frequent daily, buried deeply in the text the author did it again. So I was ready to go on a long rant about the proper use of lead, led, and lead. But I've already waxed eloquent on the subject, so I'll just point you there.

You must understand that I read a lot of blogs by preacher-types like myself. It's good for my professional education. That said, most of us are expected to be professional communicators--either verbally or through the written word. So is it too much to ask my colleagues to learn to say that any church they pastor "will be led" rather than "will be lead"? Please preacher, learn your usage. And by the way, it's just a cop-out to say, "spelling/grammar was never my strong suit." Are you educated? Then act like it. Even when you write.

By now everyone's probably seen the church sign.

While I'm not sure about using a church marquee to ask people to stop praying, I'm right there with the sentiment.

From Yahoo! News we learn that some US Cities are running out of people.