Zion Red's Head

the nerd test

2008-07-01T02:10:02Z

meh

little gods

2008-06-30T23:06:46Z

Listen in as Joyce Meyer falls under the same deception that Adam and Eve did. Witness how little she understands a basic fundamental of Christianity...

I'm a god, she's a god, he's a god, we're a god.. wouldn't you like to be a little god too? (as sung to the Dr. Pepper theme song)

this "little gods" theology is nothing new. it is now a staple of the Word of Faith doctrine. However, the Mormon church had this cornered a long time ago.

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Link of the Week

oh the arrogance

2008-06-28T23:12:50Z

seriously, could this guy be any more arrogant? Even if it was for a one time use only, the "Obama seal" shows just how dangerous this man really is.

(click picture to enlarge)

money, its a gas

2008-06-28T15:22:52Z

I've finally figured out the meaning of life...it's all about money!!! Thank you Brian Houston, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar (yes, that's his real name). Without you guys, I'd be totally lost.

"New car, caviar, four star daydream,
Think I'll buy me a football team." - Pink Floyd

Never trust extravagantly wealthy ministers. Their first love is not God.

Demon Hunter tonight!

2008-06-26T15:22:16Z

(special thanks to R.C. for the free ticket!)

the crisis in Christianity

2008-06-26T02:26:43Z

I recently received a hoax chain letter e-mail that described an effort by the FCC to ban religious broadcasters. Needless to say, it's not true. It's an old internet meme that's been going around for years. The only thing that changes are the names of the pastors that it lists. This time, it listed Word of Faith movement leaders Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen. Instead of replying to the e-mail with the information about its validity, I replied as follows:

"personally, I really wouldn't care if false prophets like Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer are taken off the air. They give Christians a bad name."

However, when you make such a bold statement that challenge people's belief's, you are bound to ruffle quite a few feathers. Therefore, I thought that I'd try and clarify my position. No doubt, there are many who will disagree with me and that's ok. Be that as it may, I haven't come to these conclusions very lightly. I've done the research, I've listened to what people have to say, I've read many books on the subject and I've had many conversations with people on both sides of the issue. Although I'm no expert, I have a clear understanding on what I'm talking about.

First, let me say that none of us are perfect. We all fall short of the Glory of God. We all say and do stupid things. I am a prime example of this. However, when someone in a ministry leadership position continually espouses theological concepts that are contradictory to the Bible, even after they've been shown the error of their ways, then they need to be held accountable. They are leading scores of people down the wrong paths. Their followers' spiritual maturity falls on their shoulders.

It saddens me that so many Christians around the world are duped by these extravagant evangelists that claim they are the mouthpieces of God. Although not exclusively, many of these leaders can be grouped within the Word of Faith Movement. They preach a theology similar to the ridiculous assumptions of new age philosophers such as Rhonda Byrne who wrote the best-selling book The Secret. For example, Word of Faith leader Kenneth Copeland defines it as a formula:

Kenneth Copeland states the faith formula this way: "All it takes is 1) Seeing or visualizing whatever you need, whether physical or financial; 2) Staking your claim on Scripture; and 3) Speaking it into existence" (Christianity in Crisis, p. 80).

One of the problems with this, among many, is the fact that God is not a "vending machine." All things are granted or done according to His will, not ours. These pastors seem to forget this vital piece of information. They live extravagant lives and preach a "prosperity gospel" (a religious belief and behavior in a person will result in their material prosperity) that is so counter to what Christ taught that it would be laughable if so many people didn't follow them.

When confronting their followers or even they themselves, they often lash out accusing others of "witch hunting." Sometimes, they even go so far as to claim that the good they do outweighs the bad. However, this argument falls flat in the face of facts. After all, there are many people that would claim that Hitler did some good. We acquired numerous medical advances due to him. However, we don't discount his horrible actions against jewish people and others around the world. History, as it well should, sees him as a monster. Of course, this is an extreme example, but the principle remains the same.

The Word of Faith Movement includes such notable "pastors" as Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Paul and Jan Crouch, Joyce Meyer, T.D. Jakes and others. As well as what I've already mentioned, they also base their theological constructs around emotional experiences and abuses of The Gifts of the Spirit rather than the undeniable Truth of The Word of God. They spinkle just enough truth within their sermons so that many are not able to recognize thier many contradictions and heretical statements. The movement is born out of an extreme Charismatic evangelical theology where emotions outweigh actual knowledge. While within these hyper-emotional experiences, the follower is open to any number of suggestive interferences from the pastor that can get them to believe anything. This is one of the reasons why, ever since I graduated high School, that I've distance myself from the Charismatic movement. Don't get me wrong...there are some great Charismatic churches and pastors out there. However, in my personal experiences, I've witnessed too many extra-Biblical manifestations within these churches that I could no longer participate.

So, then the question begs...who am I to judge? Well, first of all, I'm not judging these peoples hearts. Only God can do that. That is exactly what Jesus was referring to when he said "Judge not, lest ye be judge." However, all Christians have the responsibility to confront heretical teachings that are contradictory to what the Bible says. Especially when those teachings are presented as fact and from God, Himself. They lead too many people astray to simply be ignored. Thankfully, there are watchdog groups such as The Trinity Foundation and The Christian Research Institute that have taken the responsibility upon themselves to bring these false teachers and prophets to light. In this day and age, they are sorely needed.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop here. Throughout this entry, I've inserted hyperlinks (in blue) that offer more information. However, I'll also list some other reference below. I suggest that anyone interested in this should check them out. It's time that Christians start thinking with their heads instead of solely with their emotions. We are living in an age that is at often times verty confusing. Therefore, we all need to be equipped to see false teachings for what they are. It's easy to point out the false teachngs of Satanists and Pagans. However, when the same teachings are entering our churches under the guise of Christianity, it's time for us to take a stand against the apostacy.

"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it [Jesus' return] will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction" (2 Thess. 2:3, NASB).

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 3:15-4:4)

"Test everything. Hold on to the good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) (NIV)

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Other References:

The Word of Faith Movement

Joel Osteen on Larry King Live (Joel has trouble defending his faith)

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) NIV

Joyce Meyer - "questionable teachings"

Benny Hinn's false prophecies

Word of Faith Movement and The Secret

Christianity In Crisis

Counterfeit Revival

Smile As You Lie (Osteen)

T.D. Jakes

Freedom From The Faith Movement

From the "Horses" Mouths:

Joyce Meyer

Benny Hinn

Paul Crouch

Kenneth Copeland

the Obama legacy

2008-06-24T15:19:44Z

(click pictures to enlarge)

"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it."

- Barack Obama

"If Barack Obama had given a speech on bowling, it might well have been brilliant and inspiring. But instead he actually tried bowling and threw a gutter ball. The contrast between talking and doing could not have been better illustrated." - Thomas Sowell

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Link of the Week

Bleed Into One

2008-06-12T15:08:04Z

this should be very interesting...

(nod to The Nord Report)

Rolling Stone's 100 Top Guitar Songs

2008-06-03T00:23:43Z

Rolling Stone Magazine recently published a list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time (their opinion, of course). After reading the list, I found a lot of it to be laughable at best. Of course, Rolling Stone lost thier credibilty and relevancy in music a long time ago. So most of the choices shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Still, some of them are just outright ludicrous (Nirvana?! Get Real.). In my opinion (whatever that's worth), only about 50% deserve to be on the list. For better or for worse, here is the article:

100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time

the chief sinner

2008-06-01T02:08:32Z

If we could as Christ first loved us, there would be no wars, no violence and no one's needs would ever go unfulfilled. So, why is it so hard to love? For that matter, why is it so hard to allow ourselves to be loved?

I have so much difficulty with both. I have so much animosity toward so many people in this world. If it's not outright hatred, then it is close to it. It comes in all forms..it can be politically, socially and even religiously motivated. I want to let go of it, but I don't know how. My human self clings to my prejudices like an old security blanket that I haven't outgrown. Jesus said that His followers would be known by their actions. In that, I have failed time and time again. I say and do so many stupid things that it's a wonder whenever I do something right. I see nothing good in me. Therefore, I feel unworthy to be loved. Not only from God, but also from my family and friends. The apostle Paul once alluded to himself as "the chief sinner" (I Timothy 1:15). I think that same title could easily be applied to myself. I never seem to do anything right. I feel like such a loser sometimes that it drives me into an isolated depression. I build walls around myself so that no one else can get through. There are times when I even think that physical penance isn't a bad idea..if only I could beat the sin out of me. However, that goes against the concept of God's perfect grace. We can never be good enough. That is why Christ died for us and rose from the grave in the first place. As the perfect man, he was able to make the sacrifice for us all. So, that begs the question, why can't I seem to live like I believe it? I feel like God turns his head in disgust whenever He sees my face and I don't blame Him or anyone else for that matter. I want to learn how to love like He has called me to do. There are a few times when I feel like I'm on the right "track,' but those are few and far between.

I just finished reading the book The Shack. Among other things, it beautifully illustrates God's love for us. I so want to believe that I could be loved like that. I just don't see why anyone would/should bother. I feel totally unlovable. I have plenty of people (friends and family) that love me and I have the "head" knowledge that God loves me unconditionally, but I don't understand why.

Stump Harrison Ford

2008-05-30T02:20:51Z

This is a clip from Harrison Ford's interview on Conan O'Brien the other night. I thought that this particular clip was hilarious. What's really funny is that there was a time when I might have asked him a similar question...

dear suspect (aka the unlikely soldier)

2008-05-30T02:17:05Z

As you know, I recently posted a scathing and unflattering blog entry about you. Now, being human, I have a lot of faults. It's only by the grace of God that I'm ever able to do anything right in the first place. However, one of my good traits is that I'm not afraid to admit when I am wrong and I do believe that I was clearly wrong in this case. I went back and read a lot of your older posts and I have to admit that I had the wrong impression of you. Plus, I had listened to some others that had the wrong impression of you also. Therefore, the only thing for me to do is to say I'm sorry and ask for you and your readers' forgiveness. Of course, you don't have to forgive me. That is totally up to you. It will not hurt me one way or another. However, you might find some freedom in it. I wish you nothing but the best and I hope you return safely. God bless.

I also posted this same entry on my own blog (not that anyone really reads it. It's basically just for my own therapeutic values).

p.s - I find it interesting that we share a lot of the same musical tastes...just an observation. I'm
actually listening to your playlist right now as I'm writing this.

How To Crack A Whip like Indiana Jones!

2008-05-27T23:13:22Z

In honor of the new movie, here is "How To Crack A Whip Like Indiana Jones." Watch the whole thing. (the ending is priceless)

edit

2008-05-27T22:27:32Z

So, after some thoughtful consideration, I've decided to go back and edit my post entitled "Memorial Day ramblings." Too many people have taken personal offense to some of what I said and for that I'm sorry. That's not what I'm about.

Unfortunately, it also means deleting the comments because they will make no sense any more. However, if you still want to vent, please feel free to go right ahead. Again, thank you to those who posted respectful comments. You definitely challenged me to re-think some things through. I think I've learned a lot.

caspian and the crystal skull (no spoilers)

2008-05-27T20:29:42Z

Raiders of the Lost Ark has always been my favorite movie. It was the first movie I remember seeing in the theater and the first that made me excited about movies. Althgouh they didn't really compare to the original, the next two sequels were also great. After 20 years of waiting, we finally have a new addition to the Indiana Jones franchise: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. (has it really been that long? wow!) The critics have been raving about it (for the most part) and the fans seem divided as to whether or not it's a good movie. Personally, I found it to be quite enjoyable. At least, I thought it was much better than I thought it was going to be. After the debacle that Lucas has made of the Star Wars franchise, I wasn't going to get my hopes up as to whether he and Spielberg would be able to deliver another decent Indiana Jones movie. So, I was presently surprised.

Harrison Ford looks old, but comfortable in the role that defined him as an actor. Perhaps a little slower, but still full of the adventurous spirit that fans have come to know and love. It was also nice to see Karen Allen reprise her role of Marion Ravenwood and to shed some light on what exactly happened between them over the years. Shia Lebouf also did a decent job as Mutt Williams. He didn't totally embarrass himself like I thought he would.

The plot itself was a little convoluted in places (especially the ending). However, what else would you expect from Lucas these days? There were also some pretty "cheesy" scenes (mostly having to do with Mutt), but, then again, they are in all of the Indiana Jones movies. That's what makes it so "campy."

All in all, I thought it was really good and I can't wait to see it again. It brought back a lot of memories and feelings from when I was young.

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Another movie that was recently released was The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. I thought it was very good, even better than the first. However, many C.S. Lewis loyalists will probably be dissapointed. They pretty much rewrote the book from beginning to end. That was expected, though. The book, in my opinion, is Lewis' weakest offering in the series. A movie version would have to be turned into more of an epic adventure in order to draw the crowds. And that is exactly what it is.

Favorite lines from Caspian:

PETER: Why won't [Aslan] just prove himself to us?
LUCY: Perhaps he's waiting for us to prove ourselves to him first.

Memorial Day ramblings

2008-05-27T00:49:22Z

Our soldiers in uniform are so often demonized by the media-at-large and by the self-righteous idiots on the left, that it's quite amazing how they are able to keep their spirits high while protecting America's interests. At times, it makes you wonder why they even bother to serve a country full of ungrateful morons. Thankfully, these heroic men and women understand much more about the costs of freedom than those lunatics ever will. Just about every interview I have either seen or heard from a U.S. solider currently serving in a war zone indicates the highest level of commitment and optimism. Of course, you do hear of a few that stray from the pack and try to give American soldiers a bad name. Unfortunately, those are the soldiers that the media often profiles while ignoring the rest. Thankfully, most soldiers are not like this.

In an age when there is so much disinformation and propaganda from the left about America and it's operations in Iraq and elsewhere, it is so refreshing when truth actually breaks through and shines a light no matter how rare it may be. For example, check out reporter Michael Yon's blog and website. he is a former special forces solider, and he has been embedded with the troops ever since the beginning of the war and still chronicles the soldiers' trials and triumphs. He is also the author of the book Moment of Truth In Iraq which is in discussions to be made into a movie starring Bruce Willis. (imagine that! a pro-American war movie!). Although not very fond of much of the military leadership, Yon is is non-apologetic his his uncompromising support for the American soldier and the miracles they are performing on a daily basis in Iraq.

On this Memorial Day and every day ,for that matter, we should behold our soldiers in the highest regard possible. They do the jobs that most are too cowardly to do. They protect our freedom and our country's interests with their lives.

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   "A right time for birth and another for death,
   A right time to plant and another to reap,
   A right time to kill and another to heal,
   A right time to destroy and another to construct,
   A right time to cry and another to laugh,
   A right time to lament and another to cheer,
   A right time to make love and another to abstain,
   A right time to embrace and another to part,
   A right time to search and another to count your losses,
   A right time to hold on and another to let go,
   A right time to rip out and another to mend,
   A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
   A right time to love and another to hate,
   A right time to wage war and another to make peace" - Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 (The Message)

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Link of the Week

What American accent do you have?

2008-05-23T06:03:55Z

What American accent do you have?
Created by Xavier on Memegen.net

Neutral. Not Northern, Southern, or Western, just American. Your national American identity is more important to you than your local identity, because you don't really have a local identity to begin with.

Take this quiz now - it's easy!

no going back

2008-05-20T15:56:48Z

Following is an excellent article by Thomas Sowell, one of the brightest men in America today (nod to Steve Rupp). If only someone like him would run for president...

Random events

By Thomas Sowell

Sometimes unrelated events nevertheless tell a coherent story.

One newspaper story that caught my eye recently was about two high-powered schools in South Korea where Korean girls study 15 hours a day, preparing themselves for tests to get into elite colleges in the United States. Harvard, Yale and Princeton already have 34 students from those schools.

When a copy of the 50th anniversary report on members of the Harvard class of 1958 arrived in the mail recently, I thought back to one of my fellow students in that class who had worn a hole in the sole of his shoe but put a folded piece of newspaper in his shoe to cover the hole, rather than tell his parents.

He realized that they would buy him a new pair of shoes if they knew— and he also realized that they could not afford it.

He went on to become a professor at several well-known medical schools and to have various achievements and honors over the years.

From even further back in time, I received a letter recently from a man who grew up in my old neighborhood back in Harlem. When he and I were in the same junior high school, one day a teacher who saw him eating his brown bag lunch suddenly arranged for him to get a lunch from the school cafeteria without having to pay for it.

It happened so fast that my schoolmate had already taken a bite from the school lunch when he suddenly realized that he had been given charity— and he wouldn't swallow the food. Instead he went to the toilet and spat it out.

By now his brown bag lunch had been thrown out, so he just went hungry that day. He went on to become a very successful psychiatrist.

Like everyone else, I have also been hearing a lot lately about Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of the church that Barack Obama has belonged to for 20 years.

Both men, in their different ways, have for decades been promoting the far left vision of victimization and grievances— Wright from his pulpit and Obama as a community organizer for the radical group ACORN, as a collaborator with former Weatherman terrorist Bill Ayers, and as the member of the U.S. Senate with the farthest left voting record.

Later, when the ultimate political prize— the White House— loomed on the horizon, Obama did a complete makeover, now portraying himself as a healer of divisions.

The difference between Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright is that they are addressing different audiences, using different styles adapted to those audiences.

It is a difference between upscale demagoguery and ghetto demagoguery, playing the audience for suckers in both cases.

People on the far left like to flatter themselves that they are for the poor and the downtrodden. But what is most likely to lift people out of poverty— telling them that the world has done them wrong or promoting the work ethnic of the Korean girls, the dogged determination of my Harvard classmate with the newspaper in his shoe, or the self-reliance of my fellow junior high school student in Harlem who had too much pride to take charity?

When young people go out into the world, what will they have to offer that can gain them the rewards they seek from others and the achievements they need for themselves?

Will they have the skills of science, technology or medicine? Or will they have only the resentments that have been whipped up by the likes of Jeremiah Wright or the sense of entitlement from the government that has been Barack Obama's stock in trade?

In the real world, a sense of grievance or entitlement, as a result of the mistreatment of your ancestors, is not likely to get you very far with people who are too busy dealing with current economic realities to spend much time thinking about their own ancestors, much less other people's ancestors.

Another seemingly unrelated experience was being in a crowd at a graveside in a Jewish cemetery last week. That crowd included people who were black, white, Asian, Catholic, Jewish and no doubt others. This country has come a long way, just in my lifetime.

We don't need people like either Jeremiah Wright or Barack Obama to take us backward. The time is long overdue to stop gullibly accepting the left's vision of itself as idealistic, rather than self-aggrandizing.

"emergent?" at what cost?

2008-05-20T06:19:01Z

There are very few pastors and/or theologians that I look up to in this day and age. On one hand, you have pastors that are more concerned with tradition than with reaching the lost. They cower at the mention of "change" while ignoring the culture's plight. They regard anything modern as a tool of Satan that should be shunned at all cost whether or not that "tool" could be used to the Glory of God. This is especially true in regards to music and worship. They are also afraid of any opinions that might easily contradict the theological constructs that they themselves have etched in stone.

On the other hand, you have many so-called "emergent" pastors that have strayed so far from the original intent of the emergent/seeker-sensitive movement that they present a watered-down version of the Word of God, afraid of offending people with the absolute Truth. They are more preoccupied with being relevant or cool than with presenting the gospel to a culture that is slowly being consumed by the fires of hell. Instead of impacting the culture for the glorification of God, they become part of it, forgetting what it was they were supposed to be doing in the first place. They adhere to a more liberal theology that minimizes the importance of spiritual maturity.

That being said, there are still a few pastors/theologians that I consider to be on the forefront of modern thought concerning Christianity. One of those is Mark Driscoll, the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. I don't agree with everything he always says (ie - see his rant concerning the book The Shack), but he definitely makes me think. He has become a controversial character ever since he started his church. He can be a little "ruff" around the edges at times with some of the language he often uses as well as having a very sarcastic nature about him (hmmm, sounds like someone else I know), but he is still very knowledgeable and well-learned in the things of God. Our former church (The Church @ Hickory Hollow) was somewhat even constructed around the Mars Hill model. Especially where the music was concerned. We used to play quite a few of the Mars Hill worship songs when I played guitar there. It's some of the most insightful and heart-felt worship music I have ever heard. Plus, it also rocked!

The reason I bring this up is because I "ran" across a quote from Driscoll that I thought must be shared. It has to do with the current trends in the "emergent" church phenomenon. Mars Hill was once considered one of the original "emergent" churches, but have tried to distance themselves from it in recent years. Here is what he has to say:

"There is a strong drift toward the hard theological left. Some emergent types [want] to recast Jesus as a limp-wrist hippie in a dress with a lot of product in His hair, who drank decaf and made pithy Zen statements about life while shopping for the perfect pair of shoes. In Revelation, Jesus is a prize fighter with a tattoo down His leg, a sword in His hand and the commitment to make someone bleed. That is a guy I can worship. I cannot worship the hippie, diaper, halo Christ because I cannot worship a guy I can beat up. I fear some are becoming more cultural than Christian, and without a big Jesus who has authority and hates sin as revealed in the Bible, we will have less and less Christians, and more and more confused, spiritually self-righteous blogger critics of Christianity."

amen, brother, amen

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Link of the Week

man vs wild

2008-05-18T00:08:38Z

Last night, our church held another 'man vs wild' event which is basically where men from the church are invited over to our former pastor's (Tim Basagno) house to play wiffle ball, have a fish fry and sit around a bonfire smoking cigars. I've gone to a couple of these, but haven't been in a long while. So, I decided to go last night. It turned out to be pretty fun. At first, I thought that would probably leave pretty early. However, as it turns out, I was actually the last one to leave.

It was a little awkward at the beginning. Besides Tim, I didn't really know anyone. Since we've merged with The Journey Fellowship, our congregation has changed quite dramatically. I barely know anyone there anymore. Anyway, I felt like the odd man out for quite a while when I first got there. I don't know what it is, but I always feel that way in large groups. For some reason, people just don't like talking to me or paying attention to me. I'm not sure why that is. I guess I must "put out" that type of "aura" around me. I'm not aware of it though. I don't understand it. Whatever the reason, it can be very lonely no matter how big of a crowd I'm in.

As the night progressed, some more familiar faces showed up and we had a great time together. I was able to talk to some old friends that I haven't seen in a while plus meet some new people that I've been meaning to introduce myself to. I also had my first real conversation with our current pastor (Jamie George). We talked mainly about books, but it was still great being able to "breach" that gap. Hopefully it will open other doors of conversation.

There ended up being about 25-30 guys that showed up. Near the end of the night there were only about 5-6 of us left. Since we were at Tim's house, we definitely couldn't leave without blowing something up in the bonfire. One of the guys was able to make a sparkler bomb and it was a blast (pun intended). I think we probably woke up a few neighbors since we set it off around 11:00pm. Except for a small fire in another area of Tim's yard, no other harm was done. ;-)

I'm still visiting other churches off and on, but I haven't found anything worth pursuing just yet. Not that there was anything wring with the churches, I just don't feel God leading me anywhere just yet. I actually plan on returning to a couple of them again. Who know... He may just keep us where we're at for now. I'd really like to find somewhere that I can get involved in the music program again. I'm just dying inside right now, musically. I need a release.

King's X!

2008-05-16T21:06:40Z

Quackers, come back!!!!!

2008-05-13T01:58:56Z

Does anyone else remember these? They were sooooo good. I sure wish they were still around. I once e-mailed Nabisco about them and they told me, "sorry sir, but most people didn't like them as much as you." geesh, whatever.

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Link of the Week

the iron man

2008-05-08T15:36:49Z

If you haven't seen Iron Man yet, then do yourself a favor... drop everything right now and go see it! It is one of the best movies that I have seen in a long time. I'll probably go and see it again this weekend. I'm pretty excited about the new Indiana Jones, Batman, Narnia and X-Files movies coming out as well. However, with the release of Iron Man, these movies have a lot to live up to.

Robert Downey, Jr. was fantastic in the title role. Now, sober and clean, he has a new outlook on life and it definitely shows through his work. Check out this article from Newsmax regarding the actor:

Iron Man’’s Robert Downey Jr. No Longer a Liberal

Robert Downey Jr. may be the actor least likely thought of to play a comic book superhero.

But the critics and public love Downey in Marvel’s latest big-screen spectacular, “Iron Man.”

“Iron Man” is the first film to be produced by Marvel Studios, although it is distributed by Paramount. Marvel is now financing its own flicks after an impressive track record of blockbusters like “Spider-Man,” “X-Men,” “Fantastic Four” and sequels.

Meanwhile, during a recent interview with the New York Times, Downey disclosed a change he experienced in his worldview as a result of his troubled past.

The veteran actor noted that his newfound politics would not necessarily be well received by his Hollywood friends.

“I have a really interesting political point of view, and it’s not always something I say too loud at dinner tables here,” Downey said.

“But you can’t go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary and really understand it and come out a liberal. You can’t. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone else, but it was very, very, very educational for me and has informed my proclivities and politics every since,” he added.

The New York Times commented on Downey’s educational experience in this way: “Suffice it to say he is not one of the Hollywood types who weeps over innocents trapped behind bars.”

The effects of Downey’s new views are obvious—he’s happily married, a father to teenage kids and far distance away from the struggles he had to endure.

He explained, “If I see somebody who is throwing their life away with both hands and is raging around and destroying their family, I can’t understand that person.”

“I’m not in that sphere of activity anymore, and I don’t understand it any more than I understood 10 or 20 years ago that somehow everything was going to turn out O.K. from this lousy, exotic and dark triple chapter of my life. I swear to God I don’t even really understand that planet anymore,” he shared.

Things on Downey’s new planet turned out really okay. “Iron Man” looks to be the start of a Downey franchise. The movie had the second best opening weekend ever for a film that’s not a sequel, with over $100 million being brought in on the domestic front and another $97 millioironmanmovien from overseas ticket sales.

In Variety’s review, “Iron Man” was contrasted with previous anti-war flops: “Finally, someone's found a sure-fire way to make money with a modern Middle East war movie: Just send a Marvel superhero into the fray to kick some insurgent butt.”

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Link of the Week

the Mike Roe house show

2008-04-15T01:17:58Z

One of my favorite bands, The 77's, are releasing a blues/gospel album this summer. In preparation, lead singer/guitarist Mike Roe is embarking on a mini "house show" tour. During the tour, he travels to friend's houses in different cities and performs various songs from the upcoming CD for a small audience. About 30 tickets are all that are sold to each performance. The first stop on the tour was last night In Nashville and I was able to "snag" a couple of tickets for Amy and I. The show took place at the home of John J. Thompson (True Tunes, The Wayside) who recently moved to Nashville from Chicago. it was a great show. Mike was his usual eccentric self as he gave us a teaser of the upcoming album.

One of the advantages of seeing this kind of show in Nashville is that it usually attracts a number of "usual suspects" in the way of musicians that tend to show up. So, along with MIke, a number of other artists showed up to play with him. They included Phil Madeira (The Phil Keaggy Band, et al), Matt Slocum (Sixpence None The Richer), Jimmy Abegg, and Steve Hindalong (The Choir). Needless to say, it was a once in a lifetime event that I was glad to have been a part of.

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Link of the Week

almost here...

2008-04-01T21:39:30Z