Tuesday, April 25, 2006

United 93: A Film that Defines Our Generation

I just got back from a sneak preview of the film “United 93”. It opens in the US this Friday, April 28.

You need to see this film. Take your family members, friends and co-workers to see it with you. Take your high school age and older children to see it with you. Take your neighbors along if they can’t get a ride to the movie theatre. Just go and see it.

There are very few films that I would say define a generation. This one is it. If you only see one film this year, see “United 93”. If you attend only one film per decade, attend “United 93”. You won’t be sorry.

I don’t know when the film opens overseas, but as soon as it hits your shores go and see it. You don’t have to understand “American” to understand it. In fact, you don’t have understand any of the dialogue to read the surprise, shock, fear, horror and awe on the faces of the actors­-and some of the actual people who manned the air traffic control centers on that fateful day. If they gave an Academy Award for ensemble casts, this one would win big time.

This is a movie that everyone will be discussing around the water cooler. Forget “The DaVinci Code”. It’s Mickey Mouse stuff. If you read the book, who needs to see the movie? “United 93” ranks miles above such a silly thriller. "United 93" is based on a real-life drama. It will provoke real-life and real, meaningful discussions. Perhaps positive, life-altering discussions.

I won’t get into it here. You have to see the film­--then we can talk about it. Yeah, people will definitely be discussing “United 93” for a long time after they’ve forgotten the brouhaha over Dan Brown’s infantile piece.

And skip the popcorn. You’ll be riveted to your seat. It’ll be cold and you won’t want to eat it by the time you leave the theatre anyway.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Christians Can Persecute Christians, Too

A Serbian Orthodox priest jailed for practicing his faith:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/opriest;_ylt=AqeDNvylr.
W6Grr0_fCEzwNbbBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-


It's stories like these that give all Christians a bad name. The bad blood between the Serbian and Macedonian Orthodox Churches is nothing more than nationalism thinly disguised as religion. Macedonians simply do not have it in their hearts in the 21st Century to forgive Serbians for past persecutions.

Let's pray these two churches can come together in the Spirit of Christ and forgive their ancient hurts. Let's pray that all denominations can agree that the most important thing is to share the Good News, not to address old political and culturual scores. Let's pray that 1 John is taken to heart: "God is love." That leaves no room for hatred of our fellow man--including fellow Christians.

P.S. My Easter blog is posted at my Every Day *Is* Mother's Day blog site: http://momsday.blogspot.com or http://www.cynthianna.com/momsday_index.html

A Blessed Easter to you and yours. He has risen! :)